“Humans, Animals,” Savitar announced as he walked in the room, “belly up to the table.” He sat in a cushioned throne off to the side of the large circle table and looked them over. Most were curious as to why they were here, while some were annoyed, and even a few held guilty looks.
He waited for them to be seated before speaking again. “Here we gather, one representative from each branch of the Arcadian and Katagaria patrias. We come in peace to make peace. I am your mediator, Savitar. I am the summation of all that was and will one day be again. I make order from chaos and chaos from order.[i]” His dark eyes sparkled as if he thoroughly enjoyed that idea. “You all know the rest, so lets skip the stroking of egos and get on with this.”
Savitar looked at Vane, who had requested the Omegrion, then glanced at his brother, Fury, who was the Katagaria Lykos representative. “Fury Kattalakis,” he said, “I believe you have something to tell us?”
Fury started to grimace, but stopped himself in time. It was never wise to piss Savitar off. Last Omegrion representative that did that ended up a small pile of dust. It didn’t even occur to him to wonder how Savitar knew that he was the one with the main information.
“Recently,” he began, “a Katagari wolf started spreading a warning apparently from Strykerius, regarding threats over an Arcadian eagle. It was confirmed through a searching of his memory that it originated from Stryker’s second in command, and most likely from the Spathi Leader himself.”
“What was the exact threat?” Dante Pontis, the Panthiras Katagaria representative, asked in a terse voice.
“The wolf said that Davyn, Stryker’s second in command, told him, ‘Be warned…if any ‘Were’ helps Aiden Falconidae, then they will join her in death’.”
“Where is the wolf so he can confirm this?” the Arcadian Jackal representative asked.
Fury leaned back slightly. “He’s indisposed.”
“Indisposed?”
“As in dead.”
“You killed him?” the Arcadian shook his head. “Typical animal behavior.”
“Is it, isn’t it?” Fury replied with a malicious grin. “Care for a demonstration?”
“Back to topic,” Savitar reminded from his seat just off the side of the large table.
The Arcadian Gerakian held his hand up slightly. “I don’t really see where the problem is. One eagle, especially this one, is not worth placing our patrias at risk. If she is really worried, then she can go to another time, past or present and get away from him.”
“True,” Dante put in. “But what’s to stop her from being hunted in the future? If the threat stands now, then it’s logical that it stands then.” He paused. “As for going to the past… why should she?”
Fury nodded. “If we, as a whole, bow to Stryker’s wishes, then what is to stop him from making other threats?” He looked around the large table. “What happens if he threatens anyone who knows Acheron Parthenopaeus? Are you going to turn your backs on half your population just to save your own ass?”
He looked at Savitar. “If the Arcadians don’t have the balls to protect her, then I formally offer her sanctuary with my pack.”
Savitar kept a neutral expression as his respect for the wolf grew. “Dangerous decision,” he said.
“Where is Aiden Falconidae?” another representative asked.
“Safe,” Savitar replied.
“That didn’t exactly answer my question.”
Savitar glared at her. “It wasn’t intended to.” He looked at the others. “The question before you is as follows. Do you bow to Stryker or tell him no. All in favor of telling him no…”
~~~~~~~~~~
In her eagle form, Aiden flew from one end of the island to the other, then crisscrossed it. Not overly large, but not small, the island seemed just as perfect from the sky as it did from land. Only this way, she could get a better sense of where she was.
The palace sat on a narrow portion of the land, with water nearly surrounding the entire thing. She could also see small stands at various areas, all with surfboards stacked neatly on them.
Simi was off flying over the water, scooping up fish and eating them. She had told Aiden that ‘Savvy never said nothing about the fishies!’ and off she went for an early evening snack.
Aiden looked as a figure walked out of the palace, and headed across the sand, the long flowing robe changing into a wetsuit as he walked. Savitar headed straight for the water, bypassing the boards, and dove in as soon as he was deep enough. He surfaced, then started in a parallel line with the shore, his strong even strokes propelling him effortlessly though the water.
Well, guess he does other things than surf. Aiden watched him for a while before landing on the beach and instantly reverting back to human. She willed on a pair of shorts and a bikini top, then sat in the sand. She wasn’t much for water, but she liked the sounds, smell and the occasional fish while in eagle form.
She looked up as someone approached, and smiled at Ash as he crouched in the sand.
“He’ll probably be awhile,” Ash said. “The Weres pissed him off.”
“How?”
“Stryker put a death warning out on anyone helping you.” Ash felt that she needed to know that fact. “The Omegrion narrowly voted to tell Stryker to shove it.”
“I…see.” She looked out at the water. “He’s pissed because of that?”
“No. He’s pissed because it had to come to that.” Ash finally sat in the sand. “Stryker’s becoming more and more…desperate…about killing you, and Savitar doesn’t want to see other’s hurt because of this.”
Aiden pulled her gaze away from the water to stare at him. Doesn’t want to see others hurt… She stood, brushed the sand from her clothes and walked back to the palace.
Ash watched her go and sighed. “Maybe I worded that wrong…” he whispered to himself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Aiden walked in to the bedroom, stopping short when she saw the figure on the bed. Savitar was already under the covers, his eyes closed in sleep. He moved pretty fast for a…how old?… immortal who had still been swimming a few minutes ago when she left the beach.
Changing her clothes, Aiden laid on top of the covers on the other side of the large bed from him and stared at the ceiling as she thought.
Others are in danger because of me. She could see his point, since he had been the one to create the Omegrion, and had overseen it since its conception, but damn it. She had kind of hoped that he would care more for her feelings in the matter. It seemed like the only issue around was other Were-Hunters, and she was actually starting to feel like some little concubine that he had to protect others from.
This sure as hell wasn’t what she had even remotely imagined her life would be like when she was younger. All she had ever wanted was to find a mate that respected her, and raise a nest full of healthy, happy children. Instead, she got Pierce, and this lovely little drama that had engulfed her life for the past year.
Casting a glance at Savitar as he slept, she had to admit that all of it hadn’t been bad. In fact, some parts were rather wonderful. Savitar went a long way to healing her psyche, and regardless what the future held, she would always be grateful for the time they spent together.
Suddenly, her eyes felt too tried to keep open, and she immediately drifted off to sleep. A dream started right away, and she found herself standing in the living room of her condo.
“I have to talk to you.”
Aiden spun at the voice, and took a step back at the deadly handsome man that stood in her living room. She tried to teleport out, but found that she couldn’t.
“It’s only a dream,” Stryker told her.
Aiden still tried to leave. “I don’t care.”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said calmly. “I just want to talk to you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine, talk.” Savitar? Ash? Simi? Anyone?
Stryker sat on the arm of a chair, but stood when she gave him a dirty look. “Of course,” he said smoothly. “Where are my manners?” He eased himself into the chair and began to speak.
“I had to talk to you, and forcing a dream was one of the safest ways to do it,” he told her.
Fucking skoti she thought, referring to the rogue dream-hunters that could influence the sleeping for their own benefit. She had to give Stryker his due, though….it took serious gonads to even attempt to manipulate her while she was under Savitar’s protection.
“Is it so wrong to want to be able to walk in the sunlight?” he asked honestly.
“I was never wedded back.”
“I know,” he said.
“Then why are you trying to kill me?”
He gave her a sad smile. “I’m not trying to kill you, cousin. I’m trying to save you from Savitar.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Simi’s head raised suddenly and she sniffed the air around her. She looked at Ash who raised his eyebrow at her in amusement.
“What?” he asked, slightly offended.
“Simi smells something.” She continued to sniff the air.
“We’re on an island, Simi,” he said easily. “A lot of things smell here.”
“This different.” She stood and inhaled deeply. “Smells like…D’Alerian?”
The mention of the Dream-Hunter’s name got Ash’s attention. He and D’Alerian were good friends, but Ash could see no reason why he would be on Neratiti. Savitar had no real use for Dream-Hunters, and Ash hadn’t called for him.
“Wait,” he said, something close to dread creeping in. “Smells like D’Alerian, or similar to D’Alerian?”
“Like there’s a difference?”
“Simi,” he said patiently. “Which one?”
“Similar.”
Ash closed his eyes. Savitar.
I’m sleeping, Atlantean.
Thought you might like to know that you may have a skoti around.
I know, but thanks for the confirmation.
Ash looked over at Simi. “It’s taken care of.”
“Good. The Simi doesn’t like strange smells, akri.”
Ash had to clamp down on the laugh that wanted to erupt at that. Charonte Demons weren’t fond of being laughed at.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Stryker walked around in her dream, looking over her condo and running his fingers over her possessions. Even though it wasn’t real, Aiden reminded herself to get her place fumigated before returning to it.
“Think about it, “Stryker said. “Savitar’s island lies outside of normal time. He can see all, and maybe he saw you. Who knows what he thinks, but you’re the first person in history that he’s cared for. Now, he sees you, and you’re an eagle so to get you, he makes it so you can’t have children. This, well, it comes to my attention, and he knew that I would grab at it.”
“Nice story.”
“Funny how he stepped in to help, then ends up with you….”
Aiden stared at him. “You’re wrong on quite a few levels there.”
“Am I?” Stryker stood and faded, his voice continuing on after he had gone. “Savitar is very unpredictable and completely deadly. Even Zeus is afraid of him. Do you honestly think he would stop at anything to get what he wanted… even if it meant messing up your life?”
Opening her eyes, she sat up in the bed and ran her fingers through her brown hair. She looked to her side, and stared at him as he slept. It couldn’t be as Stryker said, could it? Savitar was certainly enigmatic, and unpredictable. He was secretive to a fault, and there were areas of his palace that he had told her she wasn’t to go.
Yet, he had brought her to his home when she was in danger, and instead of quickly whisking her back home with a ‘wham bam, thank you ma’am’, he accepted her presence with grace and courtesy.
He rolled towards her on the bed, reaching across her body with one arm and continued to sleep. Her eyes slowly closed, and she fell back to sleep with one thought on her mind; was she just some pawn in Savitar’s sick game, or was the Spathi Daimon toying with her?
As soon as she was asleep, Savitar opened his eyes and sat up in bed.
Damn Stryker for telling her. Of course, the idiot had warped the truth for his best benefit. Two can play at that, loser, Savitar thought…and I’ve been messing with people’s brains for a helluva lot longer than you have.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aiden gasped a she saw her mother sitting alone by the tree she used to love. It had been a little over eighty-five years since her death, and although Aiden remembered her face like yesterday, it shocked her to see her now. Her youthful face held a timeless patience, and she had never known her mother to once raise her voice in anything even remotely similar to anger. Gods, how she missed her.
She blinked as a man appeared to the side, and then walked to the woman.
“You asked to see me, Creda?” Savitar said. He looked the same as he did now, except he was clean-shaven with slightly shorter hair. His usual beach attire was replaced with simple pants and a shirt.
“I think the time has come,” her mother said.
Savitar sat on the grass beside her. “Yes, it has.”
“She’s reached the age of maturity, and will begin looking for her mate.” She sighed heavily. “I doomed her to this, didn’t I?”
Savitar smiled kindly. “Fate can dictate us, but your choice was the right one for you. The cosmos is as it should be.”
“But will Aiden understand, or will she hate me for doing this?”
Aiden’s head jerked up at the mention of her name.
“If she’s anything like her mother, then she will understand.” Savitar stood and faced her. “I’ll send Acheron to meet her. There’s no one I would trust more to see this through and get your daughter out alive on the other end.”
“Thank you, Savitar.”
Aiden woke to find herself alone in Savitar’s bed.
~~~~~~~~~~
Stryker rolled over in his sleep, trying to wake from the nightmare that had taken place after his dream induced visit to the Were-eagle. His eyes flew open as he gasped for breath, and he clenched his teeth as he tried to gain control of himself.
After leaving the eagle in her dream, Stryker had been nearly back to consciousness when the skoti who had led him screamed and vanished. Stryker looked around, suddenly alert, then was attacked from all sides with images of his life and those he killed during his extremely long existence.
The worse image, and the one that played over and over again in front of him was the memory of his son’s death. Urian had died by his own hands not too long ago for betraying him. Then, somehow reincarnated by Acheron, he joined the one real man that his father hated.
Stryker closed his eyes as the scene played in his mind again…he could feel the blood from his last surviving son trickle over his hand as he sliced his throat… then, it changed to the joy he had felt the first time he held his newborn son in his arms, and the loving look on his wife’s face as she watched them… then, he slit his throat…
Growling, he stood and walked out of his quarters while cursing the man he knew was responsible for the nightmare. Leave it to Savitar to get all bitchy about an 'innocent' visit in a dream.
Damn, but that man had serious control freak issues.
~~~~~~~~~~~
He was, as usual, surfing, and she waited by the waters edge until he decided to come in. Without warning, Savitar teleported himself from the surfboard, and was standing in front of her. He studied her face, as if he knew what she was going to say.
“How did she doom me?” Aiden whispered, not sure if she wanted to know or not. Both dreams were very convincing.
“By giving birth to you,” he answered slowly. “Fate decreed that she could only have sons. She wanted a daughter, so as retribution, the fates made you barren.” He was silent for a moment.
“Why would I hate her for that?”
“Creda knew that a childless woman would be sacrificed, and she wanted my help to make sure that it was you. “
“What?!”
“After she had you, she asked me if you were the one of prophecy. You weren’t.” He ran a hand over his mouth. “She couldn’t tolerate the idea of Daimons ever being able to walk in the light and feed off of humans, so…she asked for my help.”
“What did you do?” she whispered, horrified.
“As you know, Neratiti exists outside of normal time and matter, so… I went back a few thousand years, and slipped in the ‘flying’ part into legend, then waited.”
“Stryker was right. You used me.”
“Stryker is never right, and you played a very important part in keeping this world from being destroyed. If that curse is ever broken, then all that you know will cease to exist. Permanently.”
“I hate you.”
“I don’t blame you.”
“How much of the rest is right?” She asked in an angry voice. “Did you see me and use me? Want me and bent reality to your whim?”
“The first time I ever saw you was on the beach that night.” Savitar ran his hands through his wet hair. “I never planned on even meeting you then. But you needed to be convinced to do it. I never planned on liking you. Hell, I nearly screwed it all up by…” He stopped and glared at the sand.
Aiden bent down so that she was in his line of vision. “You nearly screwed what up?”
“Nothing,” he said. “If you want to leave, I’ll find someplace safe for you to go.”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Savitar,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “And I either get the truth out of you, or I find the nearest Daimon, and present myself to Stryker.”
Savitar snarled slightly when he realized that it wasn’t a threat; she would actually follow through unless he started talking. “Fine. You weren’t supposed to be in any danger. There was no chance of you being killed. Then, I started caring for you, and that screwed up the timeline. It nearly got you killed. I. Screwed. Up.” He gave an angry sigh.
He looked up at her. “So, yeah. I used you to save the universe. If that makes you pissed at me, then so be it.”
Author notes
[i] From ‘Unleash The Night’ by Sherrilyn Kenyon, page 176, paperback ISBN 0-312-93433-5
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Comments
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trey cool by far. i love that she is never left in the complete darkness. someone is always letting her in on something. too bad no one can read her mind! they have a lot of fun going through the secrests burried there.
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Fury! You wrote Fury in again! ( ) And Dante!
" I’m trying to save you from Savitar.” huh? Oh, this is getting good!
Simi’s head raised suddenly and she sniffed the air around her. She looked at Ash who raised his eyebrow at her in amusement.
“What?” he asked, slightly offended. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, now THAT was funny!
Stryker gets what's coming to him. Good. Serves him right for palying with people's dreams.
Oohhh... The plot thickens. So, Aiden wouldn't even be in all that trouble if her mother hadn't wanted a daughter?
Part four, here I come!!!
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Yeah!! Another late morning, another chapter to read.
First typo. First section, seventeenth paragraph, fourth sentence. Here's the sentence:
"'What happens if the threatens anyone who...'"
"the" should be "he"
Second typo, in that same paragraph, fifth sentence. Here's the sentence:
"'Are you going to turn you backs...'"
"you" should be "your"
This typo is starting to get funny... (no offense intended) Third typo, second section, first sentence. Here's the sentence:
"In her eagle form, Aiden flew form one end..."
"form" should be "from"
Fourth typo. Third section, fifteenth paragraph, second sentence. Here's the sentence:
"She had to give Stryker is due..."
"is" should be "his"
What!!!? Save her from Savitar? And the plot thickens...
(Might be) fifth typo. Fourth section, sixteenth paragraph (or line). Second sentence. Here's the sentence:
"'The Simi doesn't like strange smells, arki."
I'm not sure, but isn't "arki" supposed to be "akri"? I could be wrong...
Great chapter- fantastic. There's so many elements to this story that keep me interested the whole way through.
MoonNight
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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From and form
sigh.
yes, it's akri.
Thanks for spotting that. I stare at these so long that I miss even the simpliest of things.
Thank you, thank you. The plot thickens, and twists and turns.. but, all will be revealed.
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