It had been two days since they talked on the beach, and Savitar kept his distance from Aiden. At times, it was almost like he vanished off the island. She wasn’t sure but she thought he retreated to the portions of the palace that he told her were ultra-private and the only being ever allowed there was him.
Yesterday, Ash and Simi had returned to Katoteros, leaving her alone. Through the day, she thought, and cried, then thought some more. She had decided that hiding out on Neratiti wasn’t going to do her any good in the long run, and decided to leave for one of the limani, or safe houses. Not even Stryker could get to her while she was there, and it would give her the much needed feeling of controlling her own life once again.
She could stay on the island, but she didn’t want to appear to be needy, or like she planned on camping out in his bed for the rest of her life. Not that she minded that, but she knew from the start that their time together would be limited. She was a Were-Hunter, and he was a… she didn’t really know exactly what he was, but he was very good at being whatever it was, and had made it abundantly clear that a lasting relationship was not his style.
On the second evening, she was walking along the beach at sunset when she saw a figure standing about fifty feet in front of her. Slightly annoyed at him for ignoring her these past two days, she turned to walk the other direction, stopping when he appeared directly in front of her.
Without a word, he brought one hand up to run through her hair while his other hand reached out to grab hers.
“I’m leaving,” she whispered.
“I know.”
She nodded lightly as his hand worked its way down to her shoulder and arm. “Not going to try to convince me to stay?”
“No.” He brought her hand up to place over the golden eagle tattoo on his chest. “I would like you to stay longer, but…it’s your decision.”
“Thank you.”
He bent down and gave her a kiss, pulling her closer to him as he lowered them both to the ground.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Stryker walked around the room, nodding in appreciation at the open space and comfortable furniture. It was far different than his abode, and he felt a little pang of jealously that one of his kind was able to enjoy the benefits of actually living.
He looked at the patio door, and imagined that there were probably some beautiful sunrises seen from there. He made himself at home on the couch, putting his feet up on the coffee table and grabbed the remote control to turn the television on.
For the past week, he had made it a ritual to come to this condominium and wait, hoping that the owner would return. One of the humans who worked for a Daimon had broken in to the place, then invited him in. And so, he waited for Aiden Falconidae as he watched her television and made himself comfortable with her things.
He never made much of a mess, in case she actually did return some night and he needed to hide quickly. So far, she hadn’t returned, and he had always left before dawn. Eventually, she would be back, and he would be here waiting.
Besides, she had satellite television, and he had gotten interested in a mini-series that was being shown about mythical legends. He cheered when Atlantis ‘sank’, and laughed in annoyance at the misconceptions that were being spewed about the Greek gods, especially his father, Apollo.
He’d actually felt normal, for a few hours at least, and considered thanking the eagle for the opportunity before he killed her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aiden smiled to herself as Savitar played with a lock of her hair as she lay in his arms. “I was starting to think that you’d never talk to me again,” she whispered.
He kissed the top of her head. “You needed time to absorb everything,” he said. “If I was there, then every time you looked at me, it would just annoy you.”
She had to admit that he had a point. She had spent the first day with Simi, watching ‘chick flicks’ and cursing men. Then, when Ash and his demon left, she had to think long and hard about what she had found out. Her mother had essentially set her up to be sacrificed, even though she wasn’t the right person.
People she trusted had spent nearly one hundred years lying to her, and her mother’s desire to have a daughter made her ashamed as others whispered when the years passed without her providing a child to the patria.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“So am I.”
“What could you possibly have to apologize for?”
“Until you met me, your life was ordered…” She stopped as his chest moved slightly below hers and a deep chuckle emerged from him.
“Don’t ever apologize to me for anything,” he said gently as he sat up. They slowly stood and faced each other. Savitar dressed in a pair of beach pants, and willed a flowing beach dress on to Aiden.
“I’m going to go home, grab a few things, then go to one of the Limani,” she told him.
“Okay,” he whispered.
She gave him a kiss, then vanished.
Savitar stood there for a long time, staring at nothing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Akri?
Yes, Simi?
May I appear in form?
Ash pulled the corner of his black formesta open. “Of course.”
He watched as the dragon tattoo on his stomach detached, then changed into Simi. She was in the form of a young woman, with long black hair, violet horns, and a long matching tail that tapped on the floor behind her.
“Why is Savvy being stupid?”
“Simi,” Ash admonished.
“Well, he is,” she said her tail flicking from side to side. “He likes Aiden. The Simi can tells. But he ignores her, which isn’t smart, even though Savvy is a very smart god, but even smart gods can be dumb sometimes, like you, Akri, not that you’re dumb, no, the Simi doesn’t mean that, well, except when the heifer goddess is around, but, Savvy doesn’t like her so that doesn’t make him dumb, but he likes Aiden, and he ignores her.”
Ash blinked as she finished talking. Huh?
“But,” Simi tapped a blood red fingernail on her chin in thought. “Maybes because Savvy doesn’t really likes anyone, anyway, he doesn’t like Aiden even though he likes her. The Simi can tell because when he looks at her he gots that same look in his eyes that Vane gots when he looks at Bridie.” She looked at Ash. “Don’ts you think?”
“Yes?” Ash asked, hoping he got it right.
Simi smiled. “Right! Even Akri agrees with the Simi, which he does anyways since he always does. See, you’re a smart god too. Now if Savvy would listen, then he’d be even smarter than he is.”
“You can explain all this to him the next time we see him,” Ash said. It was always amusing seeing the look on Savitar’s face while he was trying to decode Simi-talk.
Simi nodded and sat on the floor where she was, manifesting a small notebook and pen out of air, she started to write. “Got to write it alls down so I can shows Savvy what Simi means.”
She stopped suddenly and looked up at the vaulted ceiling high above her. Simi immediately changed into a shadow, and nearly slammed herself against Ash’s open formesta.
“Ow,” he said, rubbing the slight burn that her returning to tattoo form always gave.
Aiden’s in troubles!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Placing the small suitcase on the couch, Aiden walked in to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee before leaving for another place where she could be safe. Feeling a breeze, she turned to look at the patio door, and took a step back as a man was standing right beside her.
Before she could even think, her mind started to fog and her vision went hazy. The coffee cup slipped from her hand, smashing on the floor, the burning liquid unnoticed as it splattered against the hem of her dress and her bare legs.
Stryker smiled lazily and pulled her out of the liquid and in to the living room. “That’s it,” he said in a soothing voice as he moved behind her, cradling her body against his front.
Aiden tried to break free from his grip, but her body wouldn’t cooperate. All she could do was stare as it felt like she was trapped inside her body, with no way out. A frustrated tear slipped from the corner of her eye when she realized that she was about to die, and she had no way of taking this jerk with her. He’d messed with her life enough this past while, and damn it, she wanted to at least kick is ass before he killed her.
Stryker lowered his lips to Aiden’s neck, and ran them across the vein that was just below the surface. “It will be such a pleasure to take your life,” he whispered in her ear. “All that power and courage you have inside…”
“That’s your pickup line?” a voice said from behind. “Totally, completely, lame.”
Stryker turned, bringing Aiden with him, and faced Ash. “Is it too much to ask that you just go away?” Stryker asked with a fake sigh.
Ash took one look at Aiden’s eyes, and realized that she was under some sort of spell of Stryker’s. The demi-god had a hypnotic effect with his eyes, and used it regularly to bend people to his will. “Let her go.”
“No.” He glanced around. “But I had thought Savitar would make an appearance.” He caressed Aiden’s neck with a fingertip. “Guess you’re not that important to him.” Tipping her neck to the side, he lowered an open mouth.
Ash shot at him, only to have his god-bolt bounce harmlessly off some sort of shield. Stryker raised his eyes in a victory glare, and then sunk his incisors into Aiden’s neck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Savitar decided to walk back to his home, the crisp night air needed to clear his mind. He didn’t like feeling this way, and knew it had been a big mistake to start caring for someone.
Love cripples the emotions and occupies the mind until it destroys the one thing that should bring contentment. He’d always believed that and damned himself for breaking one of his most primal codes.
He was tempted to bring her back…but that wouldn’t have been right. Aiden had free will, and only by letting her choose her own path would he see her again. Savitar ignored the hypocritical feeling that came with that thought, since it was he who altered her life path in the first place.
She needed time alone, and he needed time to get back to doing what he did best. He stopped walking suddenly and looked at the sand as a horrible vision passed through his mind.
“No!!!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ash fired another god-bolt as he helplessly watched his friend being killed in front of him. Stryker seemed to be taking his time, enjoying himself as he slowly drank the life from the eagle. With Ash there, and unable to do anything, he wanted to make a lasting impression in the Head Dark-Hunter’s mind.
A blue mist started beside Ash, then solidified into a very angry Savitar. His eyes looked like boiling lava, while an unseen wind whirled around him, making his hair and clothes move in an unnerving rhythm. He shot one small god bolt at Stryker to get his attention.
Stryker pulled himself from Aiden’s neck, licking her blood off his lips. “I’ll give you this,” he said, “you have magnificent taste in females.”
Savitar gave him a lethal glare, then vanished, only to reappear behind him. He immediately shot out with a god-bolt, while using his magick to dissolve Stryker’s protective shield.
His eyes went wide when the Spathi Leader spun at the last moment, pulling Aiden in front of him. The blast hit her full in the chest, flinging her back and changing her from human to eagle, and back.
Ash immediately launched himself at Stryker, while Savitar motioned to Aiden, making the electricity stop changing her, and he was instantly at her side.
“Aiden?” Savitar breathed, his voice wavering. “Babe?”
Pain flowed through her with each breath, and she tried to see through the tears at the figure crouched by her. Aiden felt comfort as he ran a hand over her cheek. “It’s okay,” she mouthed.
He hated seeing her cry, and knowing that he had caused it was frightening. “I’m so sorry,” He closed his eyes briefly, ignoring the fighting going on behind him. His hands shook as he gave her some of his own power to heal the Daimon’s bite wound.
It wasn’t supposed to end this way. Aiden had too many years in front of her left to live, and he might have just killed her all because he tried to save her.
This, this is what happens when you care.
Anger engulfed him as he looked up at Stryker, and sent him flying across the room. He shot again, and again, the room lit by the constant stream of bolts that crashed into the Spathi leader.
Stryker fell to the floor his body jerking in unbelievable pain with each bolt that pounded in to him. He couldn’t breathe, and all he could hear was a roaring sound that snapped each time he was hit. Had he not been the son of a god, he would have been nothing more than a pile of Daimon ashes on the floor. As it was, he was getting dangerously close to the amount of abuse his body could take.
Although he knew he'd hate himself in the morning, Ash placed himself in front of Stryker, blocking Savitar’s way.
“Out of my way,” Savitar growled.
“No,” Ash said. “Think about what happens if he dies tonight.”
“I don’t care!” Savitar roared. “Now get out of my way, or you join him.”
Having no choice, Ash raised his hand, sending a god bolt, or a bolt of electricity straight at his old friend. Savitar absorbed it without flinching, and glared.
“So be it.” He gently laid Aiden down, and rose to face Ash.
“No,” Aiden whispered through the tears that her injuries were giving her. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, trying to heal herself quicker than a Were-Hunter normally could. She didn’t know if she could heal the god-bolt injuries in time, but she owed it to the two most important men in her life to try. Her body grew warm as she called on all of her magick and tried to direct it to the places she needed.
“Savitar,” Ash said calmly. “I’m not your enemy, but damn it, I can’t let you do the one thing that you tell me to never do.”
Taking the opportunity of the immortals arguing, Stryker summoned a bolt-hole. It appeared, then vanished just as quickly. He spun to face the enigmatic Savitar.
“You’re going nowhere,” Savitar said then motioned, pinning Stryker to a wall. “Now just stay there while I finish this.” His gaze flicked back to Ash, and delivered a warning god-bolt shot that barely missed Ash’s head.
A shadow immediately came from under Ash’s shirt, and solidified in front of him. Simi glared at Savitar, her demon form frightening and ready for battle. She took one step towards Savitar, stopping as Ash snapped an order.
“Simi, return to me!” Panic seized him as he saw the indecision in Simi’s eyes, then she returned to tattoo form on his body.
“Wise choice,” Savitar said. “Now make another one, and get the hell out of my way!” He shot another burst of electricity, which hit Ash harmlessly in the chest. “Next time it will be full-strength,” Savitar promised.
“Remember what you told me?” Ash asked, trying to get through to him. “It’s how we handle it when the time comes that is important.” He took a small step forward. “Come on, Sav…think about what you’re about to do.”
“Move!” Savitar yelled, making the entire room rock. The wind increased around the immortal as colored lights danced at the tip of his fingers. His chest heaved with anger as he glared at Ash.
Although interested in this sudden power struggle that he was witnessing, Stryker also felt the unfamiliar emotion of fear that was starting. Savitar could kill without hesitation or remorse, and he wondered if the immortal would destroy Ash before turning on him. His entire body ached, and his head felt ready to explode. One or two more god-bolts was all he could take until final death claimed him.
“Damn it, Savitar,” Ash said. “Don’t do this!”
With anger clouding his judgment, Savitar raised his hand at Ash, stopping quickly as a figure appeared in front of him.
“Don’t.” Aiden stared at him. “Please,” she said in a pained voice. She wasn’t completely healed, and had to force herself to keep upright.
Savitar stared for a full ten seconds before the anger melted from his eyes and he took a step back. He couldn’t hurt her, regardless of what he wanted to do. He looked over at Ash, realizing what he could have destroyed. “It’s cool,” he said, then turned and walked away.
Ash exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding, then turned to Stryker. He paused as a small hand touched his arm.
Aiden walked past him to Stryker, who was still pinned to the wall. He was now smirking at her, working this new information in to future plans to destroy the three present.
“These two may have some cosmic reason for not killing you tonight,” she said. “But I don’t.” She manifested a knife, and pulled her hand back to strike him, only to have it gently grasped from behind.
“Not worth it,” Ash said gently in her ear. “He’s beaten, and will go back to Kalosis in shame…yet again.”
Aiden sighed in annoyance as he let go of her hand, then nodded before speaking to Stryker again. “You, or one of your Daimons come near me again, and I’ll toast your ancient ass.” Aiden moved until she was about an inch from his face, and tapped his chest with the tip of the knife. “You got me?”
Stryker smirked as if he would entertain the very idea of taking orders from her. “Whatever.” He stumbled as he was released from the invisible grasp that held him to the wall. Savitar waved a hand at him in a dismissive gesture, and he immediately vanished back to his underground abode.
Aiden looked from Ash to Savitar. “You, and you,” she said as she pointed. “Apologize to each other." She looked at Savitar. "I’ll be in your bed, sleeping.” With that, she vanished.
Savitar smiled at the thought of her in his bed, then sobered. This couldn't work with her. He'd nearly destroyed the universe out of anger because something had happened to Aiden. He couldn't take that chance again. The cosmos came before all others.
Just...tell her...goodbye.
No. That would not be fair to her; and above all, he wanted her to know how much he valued her. Even though the outcome would still be the same, he would talk with her about it, and they would decide... together.
He stared at Ash for a few moments. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Ash sounded confused.
“For not letting me destroy Stryker.”
Ash nodded once. “And I thank you for not killing me.”
“Only said I’d try to kill you.” Savitar looked at the wall. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what? Only trying to kill me?”
Savitar laughed.
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1 - 5 of 5
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*LOL* they really are good all buddies XD, me like it. i must say that you have inpreses me. You write, almost, like Kenyon. you know here caracters welll. eventhought I havent read all the books i know must of them and there actitud and you have captured all of then perfectly. Si I bow to you and say "keep moving forward with purpose" XD
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i knew that was how it was going to happen! yes i am a smart as simi! i love that she was going to write all that down... oh goodness...
im glad that she got her say in with stryker but of course this isnt over yet
nor is the relationship fiasco... damn these hot mysterious gods!... but not the fate... *dont retaliate please!* -
Someone has relationship issues....
Stryker wanting to stay in her condo because she has satellite television
Figure out what a formesta is yet?
Oh, I love the way Simi works through things...
No, wait.... Styrker has her? And is killing her????????
Oh, yeah... Savitar's pissed!! Nice to see some anger from the dude. And, they let Stryker go. Sigh. Oh, well... he's the bad guy, and needs to survive. I think if he dies, then maybe something happens to Apollo, and allthat stuff. Love the closing lines.. Too funny.
beginning: 5, language: 4, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 4, characters: 5.
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Stupid Stryker.
First typo. Second section, fifth paragraph, first sentence:
"Beside, she had satellite..."
"Beside" should be "Besides"
Second(maybe) typo, in the same paragraph, second sentence:
"He cheered when Atlantis 'sank', and laughing in annoyance..."
"laughing" should probably be "laughed" The whole past tense to present tense made it awkward to me...
I wonder if Savitar will get over this one quick or if he really really fell for her... I wonder if he really let himself get ensnared in that wonderful trap called love... (not that I would know of course...) I wonder, I wonder, I wonder... now I'll keep reading
I love the Simi, she puts everything into perspective. A confusing perspective, but a perspective none the less.
Third typo. Sixth section, third paragraph, first sentence:
"He was tempted to bring her back her..."
The second "her" in the sentence should be "here"
Fourth typo. Seventh section, third paragraph, first sentence:
"Stryker pulled himself from Aiden's neck, licking her blood of his lips."
"of" should be "off"
Savitar does care... this story is so good. How do you come up with these ideas? (I know this is fanfiction, but still!!)
And so, the storylines meet.
No, kill him!!! Why do the good guys have to be stupid? Isn't it the bad guys who usually make the cliche mistake of letting the good guys live only to have it bite them in the butt later on?? My goodness.
That was by far the most exciting chapter out of all of them... Wow. I don't want Savitar to say good bye to Aiden, even if it's for the best of the cosmos!!
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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At least all the from and form were right.
Savitar getting over her... That's a secret.
I'm bending a lot of DH canon in this, but the one thing I'm keeping true to is that Ash has been told numerous times not to kill Stryker. Not sure, but there's some connection that would destroy the world, or something like that... or destroy Ash, which would free his mother and she would destroy the world. Only Sherrilyn Kenyon knows for sure.
Besides, Stryker makes such a great bad guy.
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