It had been a few days since the events on the beach, and although this time Savitar didn’t distance himself from Aiden, she could sense that he was pulling away. He was still talking and was with her as usual, and even held her at night while they fell to sleep.
To her, it seemed like Savitar was avoiding certain things, while going overboard on others. Avoidance wasn’t one of her strong suits, and she preferred to face things head on, either working to solve the issue to a suitable conclusion.
The fact that he always seemed to have some ulterior motive for things lately was really starting to get on her nerves. He wanted her to learn to master her magick for some reason that he wouldn’t tell her, and hinted that she was now an important part of something… again, which he refused to elaborate on.
That pissed her off, and she didn’t really know why.
He had even started asking her about her dreams, which should have been charming had she not suspected that he was looking for something in particular. She’d wake in fright, gasping for breath, or wake to find her pillow soaked with tears she never recalled crying. She didn’t remember most of her dreams past the moment she woke, although lately she did know that the ones she was having were disturbing.
Rolling over in bed, she stared at the ceiling, waiting for sleep to claim her and most likely wake with something else that would bother her. She glanced to the side as a small light started, then solidified quickly into Savitar.
He looked down at her with an intense expression, almost like he was studying her, trying to figure out what to say. Deciding to save him the trouble, she rolled over and closed her eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means to me… sock it to me, sock it to me….”
Ash watched, amused and slightly horrified as Simi bounced around the throne room, singing the song at the top of her lungs. He blinked as she did a series of cartwheels, followed by a body shimmy that made his eyes go wide. He reminded himself to talk to her about never doing that in public…ever.
The song ended, only to begin again. At least it’s better than Britney. Ash shook his head, and walked to the throne, grabbing his solid black guitar intending to waste a few hours doing nothing but strumming.
Stryker had been quiet since his Spathi had been out, and although Ash knew that it was too early to relax, he doubted that it would happen again in the near future. Stryker was, if nothing else, a creature of habit. He liked to keep Ash guessing when he would strike next.
The death count, although high, was manageable, and by bending a few perceptions and altering reality slightly, the world was shocked by the deaths of the people in two plane crashes and one ferry boat sinking. Rumors abounded that it was terrorism, and a few groups even claimed responsibility. The deception was a necessity, since that many deaths would cause a larger panic if it was thought that mass murders or serial killers were loose. Or, worse case, it would be downright apocalyptic if the actual truth got out.
Ash longed for the old days when events like that could be explained by things such as plagues or volcanic eruptions. Nowadays, global communication made that next to impossible. Things were quieting down, and Ash fully intended to take advantage of the lull.
Even Nick seemed to be calming down and doing his job without too much complaint. He had heard from the Squire’s Council that Nick requested that he be able to permanently remain in Keegan’s house, and Ash authorized it. If the Cajun was looking for the arrow, then that seemed the best place for him to be.
He tried to wrap his mind around why Nick would even want something that could kill, and even tried to kid himself by thinking that it had nothing to do with him. Sooner or later, he had to face the fact that Nick would probably never forgive him. At one time, Ash had even toyed with asking Savitar to go back in time, and warn him about what would happen, but he dismissed it as soon as it crossed his mind.
Doing something like that would stop Nick’s death, but it would also alter the time lines that had already been altered by Nick’s death. Things that were now in motion would stop, and things that were to be would be, and those that were never to be could not continue. It was enough to give him a headache.
He stopped, surprised when he found himself strumming along with Simi’s song that had restarted yet again. That was another thing next to impossible… concentrating on anything with Simi’s music blaring.
~~~~~~~~~~~
After the length of time that he had spent tearing the house apart, Nick was positive that the arrow was not hidden on the premises. He’d even gone as far as checking the small garden behind the house, digging up the flowerbed in search. The next step would be accessing the safety deposit boxes that belonged to the ex-squire, and checking out any other properties held by him.
Checking his watch, he sighed when he realized that he had to get out of the house and make an appearance as a Dark-Hunter. He knew that squires were watching him, although they tried to make it look inconspicuous. Hell, he knew every squire by sight, and made sure that at least one saw him a night in case they were reporting back to their superiors. He didn’t take it personal though, since every new Hunter went through the same probationary period in a new city.
He just wished they would bugger off so he could stop searching out Daimons and killing them. Stryker had already mentioned his displeasure with that little activity, even after Nick told him that if he didn’t make it look like he was into the game, then others would be suspicious.
Deciding to walk instead of taking his luxury car, he closed the gate behind him and worked his way towards the downtown area. Luckily, Keegan had also liked to be in the middle of things, and his house sat not quite fifteen blocks from the main action centers.
The night was still young, with a lot of the larger stores open to cater to tourists, and Nick did a little window-shopping as he arrived on the main street. He needed to toss most of the furnishings that were in the house, and replace it with his own. Keegan may have had good taste, but Nick didn’t like the idea of using things that belonged to a man that he had killed.
Besides, Dark-Hunters received a rather large monthly payment from Artemis for their services, and Nick fully intended to put a large dent in the amount that he got. He gazed in one window, making sure that he projected his reflection in it for others to see, and checked out the group of people that were across the street from him.
Just to the left of the crowd, Nick spotted the first of the two squires that kept an innocuous eye on him. Deciding to change things around a bit, Nick turned and walked straight up to the man, smiling as the other tried to look like he wasn’t interested in Nick. He walked past him and into the restaurant on the corner, exiting shortly with two steaming cups of coffee.
The Squire jumped as Nick stopped by him and held one of the cups out.
“I know how hard it is,” Nick said in a sympathetic voice as the other man slowly took the offered cup.
“Pardon?”
Nick smiled, flashing his fangs quickly. “Relax. I know all the squires. Just thought you might appreciate a coffee.” With that, he tipped his cup in a small salute, then walked away.
He could tell that the squire was watching as he left, and could also tell that he took his cell phone out to make a call. At least with that one busy, and the other one more than a few blocks away, it gave Nick a small window of opportunity to get some much needed business done with a few of the local Daimons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Slightly stung by her turning her back on him, Savitar manifested a chair and sat in it as he stared at her. He knew she wasn’t sleeping, and felt a little perverse delight mixed with annoyance that she had the nerve to actually dismiss him like that.
She certainly was a special woman, and although he wanted her to stay with him for the rest of eternity, he knew that she couldn’t. Aiden deserved to be happy and even though she seemed that way now, he knew for certain that eventually she would end up hating him. He could already see the future look that she would bestow upon him to let him know that she thought he was the worst scum in the entire universe.
In his customary narcissistic arrogance, he would push her too far, and unintentionally hurt her. He could feel the tendrils of it now, creeping in between them, and he had no idea how, or even if he wanted, to stop it from happening.
It wouldn’t be tomorrow, or even soon, but it would happen.
Watching as she tried to sleep, he realized that he cared for her. Regardless how much he tried to deny it to himself, deep down he knew that he did. And he couldn’t let the two of them end without making sure that she would be happy in her future.
His mind quickly went through the population of the Arcadian eagles, narrowing down the possibilities of who would be good for her. He felt a pang of sorrow and guilt in what he was doing, but knew it was for the best.
If he could find someone that he knew could make her happy, then any hatred she eventually gave him would be worth it. Hopefully, when it eventually happened, he would have the strength to stay away from her.
Wanting to be with her while he could, he slipped into bed behind her, wrapping an arm over her waste as he spooned against her back. He kissed her bare shoulder lightly, then closed his eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~
Nick sighed in aggravation as the Daimon in front of him continued to talk about things that he really didn’t care about. He had a limited amount of time, and this vampire seemed to think that he needed to know every little nuance of the plans that he had been told.
“Okay, look,” Nick finally interrupted. “Shut up and tell me the basics.”
The Daimon glared at him. “Fine,” he snapped. “You are to stop the little side thing that you have going on, and focus on what you’re-“
Nick shut him up as he spun quickly and motioned to a shadow just behind a dumpster. The pulled his hand back, using his Hunter powers to drag a person out into the dim streetlights.
The Squire who he had given the coffee to stared at him, hatred fighting for betrayal in the gaze. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
Thinking quickly, Nick sighed in annoyance and released the psychic grip he had on the man. “Damn it,” he snarled. “No one was suppose to know about this.” He sighed, and motioned the man closer, then pointed to the Daimon.
“This is Marcus,” Nick said, making up the name. “I met him the first night I was here. He tells me where the Daimons are, and in return, I don’t dust him.”
The Daimon glared at Nick, then forced himself to look at the ground. “It’s true,” he muttered.
Not really knowing if he believed them or not, but certain that his own life was on the line, the Squire decided to play along. “All Daimon informers are suppose to be listed with the Council,” he said, then looked at Nick expectantly.
“Which I will do as soon as I leave here.” Nick returned his gaze, hoping that he wouldn’t have to kill the man. That would open a whole set of problems that Nick didn’t want to bother with at the moment. “We have to get moving,” he continued. “Can’t stand still for too long in case other Daimons see us.”
“Of… course,” the Squire said as he turned and started to walk away. He could feel two sets of eyes on his back as he forced himself to walk easily to the street not to far from him.
“Oh, what the hell,” Nick muttered the Daimon. “Bon appetite.” He turned and walked the other direction as the Daimon silently slipped after the man who was still heading toward the street and his freedom.
Ignoring the muffled cries that signified the loss of another squire, Nick worked through the message that he had been given. It seemed that Stryker might know that Nick was looking for something, and he didn’t like it. Well, too bad. Nick was tired of waiting for Stryker to get off his ancient code of ethics and get down to the dirty and eternally satisfying planning of killing Ash Parthenopaeus.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The horses skittered around as men in some sort of uniform milled about making sure the crowd didn’t get too big. The uniforms they wore were crude and the only similarity was that they were the same color and cut, along with the leather-type helmets that donned their heads.
Feeling like she was watching some historical movie with an ancient Roman feeling to it, Aiden studied the area with interest. Even though the time period seemed to vastly predate Ancient Rome that was the best thing she had as a comparison.
She couldn’t shake the déjà vu feeling that came with everything she looked at, and she somehow knew what to expect when two large doors opened in the wall that was suddenly in front of her.
She looked around again, realizing that she was no longer an observer, but had changed to a participant. Gasping in dismay, she watched as a group of what were obviously soldiers walked out, dragging a man with them.
He was tall and thin, but muscular, with flowing blonde hair, a face that would be the envy of anyone, and eyes that sent a chill through all that looked. Rocks flew out of the crowd, pelting the man and a few soldiers as those that threw them cursed the man as evil.
Unable to move, Aiden watched as the prisoner pulled himself out of the grip of the men holding him, and slowly stood straight. He walked with a dignity that showed he was brave enough to take what he was about to face, and he turned to gaze out over the crowd. He stopped when he looked at Aiden.
For a moment, all was silent as her eyes met his, and she read the wisdom of the ages in his swirling silver gaze, and she felt a jolt run through her as he smiled in understanding. The noise of the crowd came roaring back as he was shoved from behind, knocking him to the ground.
Everything seemed to spin as one soldier held the man down on the ground, while another drew his sword and plunged it straight into the man’s stomach.
Aiden jerked, her eyes opening in shock and she sat up in the bed. She closed her eyes again, forcing herself to remember the dream, hoping that her photographic memory would be able to capture it.
She looked down to find Savitar watching her. “It’s a dream,” he whispered, then decided to go the distance and tell he the truth. Maybe if she knew, then she would stop dreaming of it. “That’s not the way Ash died.” At least not completely. He ran a finger over her cheek and down her neck and shoulder. “I don’t know why you’re dreaming it over and over.”
“Thank you,” she finally said, “for telling me.” She knew how hard it was for him to divulge certain things to anyone, and the fact that he did that for her made her want to cry. She sniffed back the tears, determined not to cry in front of him. It wasn’t every day that someone broke one of heir long standing personal rules just to make her feel better.
Lying back down, she kissed him gently, then placed her head of his shoulder. “How much time?”
“For?” he asked as his fingers rubbed her stomach.
She didn’t want to ask, but the animal in her could sense the tension and subtle change in things around her. “How much longer do we have together before we have to say goodbye?”
He stopped rubbing and looked at her. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “All the reasons still stand for why it has to end. And I meant what I said about always being there for you.” He paused, then smiled slightly. “There’s a phrase…friend’s with benefits…”
Aiden laughed lightly. “Since we’ve already said goodbye twice, and still ended up together…” She rolled so that she was on top of his body. “Let’s go with that for now.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“The Simi wants to see Aiden.”
Ash’s eye’s opened and he rolled over on his bed to look at the Charonte Demon as she sat at the foot of his bed. “What did I say about knocking, Simi?” he reminded her gently.
Simi reached out and knocked on his bed frame. She smiled innocently as he rolled his eyes, and then bounced up the bed, narrowly missing landing on his chest. “The Simi had a bad dream about Aiden and wants to makes sure that she is safe.”
“Bad dream?” Ash frowned, and was suddenly awake and interested. “Like what?”
“Like she’s betweens two buildings, on the ground, not moving with a guy who is holdings her but it’s not Savvy, and he’s yelling for helps but no one comes and can we go see if she’s safe?”
“I’m sure she’s-“
“Simi will call,” she said, interrupting him, “and ask Savvy if she can check.” She vanished off the bed before Ash could say another word.
Ash lay back on the bed, slightly disturbed by Simi’s dream. According the Savitar, Aiden had quite a few years to live...centuries in fact. Maybe the dream was not of her death, then, but of another event that would be happening to the eagle.
Simi reappeared in his room, then turned and knocked on the wall beside the door. “Savvy said that we can come, and that Aiden would like to see me, and you too, I guess, but he didn’t say, although the Simi knows that Aiden likes you so it would be fine.”
“Okay.” Ash stared as he tried to decode that. He stood as clothes appeared on his body, and teleported both him and Simi to Neratiti.
They appeared on the beach, and looked around. The sun was shining as usual, with a few fluffy white clouds in the sky while sea birds swooped down low to grab fish out of the clear blue water. Ash turned to find Savitar leaning casually against a tree as he watched them, and he hesitated slightly at the feeling the surfer was giving off. Usually Savitar was a classic study in relaxed indifference, but this felt different… almost like he was at peace.
“Savvy!” Simi said as she approached. “Thanks you for allowing us to come to sees you and Aiden. The Simi appreciates it greatly.”
Ash smiled at the politeness of Simi as she thanked him…a feat that had taken nearly five thousand years to achieve. Charonte demons weren’t known for their manners, and Ash was forever trying to get her to remember the basics. Savitar accepted her words with a gracious nod.
Simi continued talking, “The Simi was going to tells you last times, but you was busy trying to hurt Akri, which you really shouldn’t do again, ever, cause them the Simi would have to hurt you and that would make Akri mad, buts the other gods might likes it, ‘specially the Heifer Goddess, and we can’t have her liking anything the Simi does so don’t do it agains, thanks you, and anyway you like Aiden and she likes you and you should stop being stupid and just keep liking her.” She turned to Ash. “Simi is going to see Aiden now.”
Savitar blinked a few times as she turned, then launched herself in to the air. He looked at Ash, who was trying not to smile at the look on Savitar’s face.
“Tell your demon never to threaten me,” Savitar said in a light voice. “As for the rest, well… I’m trying.”
“You understood that?”
“Of course. Didn’t you?”
“You’re in a particularly good mood,” Ash said in a quiet voice. “Who did you kill this time?”
Savitar smiled slightly. “No one. Yet.”
“How are…things?”
“Things are fine.” Savitar’s face lost some of its cheer. “But, we’ve agreed that we can’t continue being together.”
Ash sighed. Here we go again. “Why not?”
“Did you miss the part not too long ago where I could have destroyed the universe?” He sighed. “It has to end.”
“No it doesn’t.”
Savitar looked at him. “Okay, let’s hear the reasoning from the man who has been stuck in the same relationship with the ultimate Bitch Goddess for the past eleven thousand years.”
Ash ignored the caustic sarcasm in the other god’s voice. “Aiden likes you. You like Aiden. You make her smile. She makes you think of other things besides who to kill next.”
“Is this summary going somewhere? Like, oh, say, a point?”
“The point is…stop thinking of it as god and Were-Huntress.” Ash glanced up as Simi in her demon form flew large circles with a golden eagle. “Look at it as Savitar and Aiden.”
“Same thing.”
Ash sighed. “Okay. Then how about looking at it as it’s your responsibility to make sure that she’s safe and happy. You caused this, and by being with her, changed her impact of the universe.” He paused. “It would be cruel and downright mean to just toss her out now.”
Savitar growled slightly, letting Ash know that he was getting annoyed. He shook his head. “She’s strong, she’ll get over it.”
“Will she?” He looked at him. “Everyone she’s ever cared for has betrayed her…used her for their own end. Her mother, her mate… even you. Can you add to that and still keep a clean conscious?”
“My conscience is always clean,” Savitar reminded him. But inside, he was churning at the thought of hurting her again.
“Don’t worry,” Ash said with an evil smile. “She’ll get tired of your sorry ass soon enough, and you can go back to being alone and miserable like the rest of us.”
Instead of being angry, Savitar stared. He could sense the jealousy in Ash, and realized that it was directed at him. Looking further, he could see that the Atlantean craved to experience even a fraction of comfort that Savitar felt with Aiden.
“She’s there,” Savitar said gently.
“Pardon?”
“She’s out there,” Savitar said, his voice holding a promise. “The woman who will soothe you.”
Ash’s eyes narrowed, and instead of replying, he nodded once, then turned and walked down the beach.
Author notes
I have many people reading, but only a couple who comment. I can't tell if I'm writing into 'crap-ville' without feedback. Besides, it's rewarded... double points...
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Comments
1 - 7 of 7
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luv i vant wait thoug to read the real book
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uhhhh, thats true Ash lisend to that fool 'cause she 's out there. There's always someone ment for someone no matter what XD.
Great chapter, I like the part about the dream with this Skoti XD -
fantastic, as always. if i was awake enough to give a more coherent compliment, i would. i just hope no skoti get me... lol...
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I love it! five stars!
Very good! You're not writing in 'craps-ville' trust me on that okay? no worries!
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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Okayy so the comment :-) Like it a lot!!!! And can't wait till Sherrilyn tells us who is that woman! BTW haven't read Devil May Cry yet :-(
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omg! first of all its not crap ville though you already know my opinion.
but seriously right now im choking up! ash needs to find his woman now... and i volenteer... teehee. oh i know its really sad. but im not the only one so i dont feel that bad about it.
god though i think im getting as annoyed as ash about the whole should i stay or go between savvy and aiden. they need to figure something out soon...
and by the way- great job once again with your simi talk!
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Aiden and Savitar will figure something out soon
(I'm just trying to get it 'right' in the chapter I'm working on, so that it doesn't seem like a 'huh?' moment. Besides, Savitar's got the whole 'never loved, never will love' and 'all people do is stab you in the back' things going since the dawn of time, so he's not quite sure how to handle it)
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