Chapter 12 Characteristics #2
Jahara, Tez and Kaila were dealing with the walls.
Mapping where they were and dismantling them.
While the Behemoth was gone, none of them believed it was forever.
But the Hydra would not find them unwatchful again.
Nor would it find walls in every territory.
Though, for as many as they found and took down, one new fresh one had been discovered.
People were still working against them, still worshipping the Hydra of death, still wanting a war.
“I did. I wanted to destroy it myself. Mephous and I were going to dismantle it brick by brick!” Illarion’s eyes glowed a hot green. “But Jahara told me that we needed to wait. That they wanted to investigate it. It’s a wall! They’ve found nothing special about them!”
“Except that we know them when we see them,” Caden pointed out.
“Not every blank wall is a doorway. Only some are and we all know which ones are different. I’m certain that Jahara and the others will figure it out.
When Anwar is able to change his focus from the people who…
well, who didn’t come back to their bodies, he’ll help too. ”
There was silence in the SUV at that. While many of the souls--like Landry, her brothers, and Jasper Hawes--returned to their bodies immediately upon the destruction of the Behemoth, many others did not.
Sakhra and her sister Tamira, whose brave video had alerted Anwar and them to what was happening, did not return.
And, of course, Fadel, Anwar’s lower, also had not.
Their bodies remained alive, but empty. Anwar had taken the lead in caring for these people.
No one wanted to say that they would never return.
But, unlike the souls that Caden had met in the Spirit Realm, theirs were seemingly nowhere to be found.
Hence why fuschia was going to be the main color at the wedding regardless of Valerius’ feelings about it.
He so wanted to give Anwar some joy, but he wasn’t sure it was working.
While the other bodies were kept at a state of the art facility in Anwar’s territory, he had brought Fadel with him, helping with the physical therapy to keep Fadel’s muscles from wasting away as he now lay still and silent on a bed.
It was Illarion who, thankfully, broke the silence and their thoughts when he suddenly said, “And they are not the only women that plague me! Vozyth! Vozyth is driving me insane!” Illarion shook his head, which disturbed the dogs.
“I’m sorry, my darlings! I did not mean to jostle you! Oh, my sweet ones, forgive me.”
“Wait, wait, wait! Vozyth?! The Ruby Dragon Spirit is bothering you? Why? How?” Caden boggled.
Valerius frowned as well. “Has she been attacking Mephous?”
“Attacking? No, if only that were true then she would be gone by now, because Mephous would have trounced her again.” Illarion grimaced.
“Ripped her head clean off. That was a great battle, wasn’t it, Valerius?
When you were all pathetic and human and needed my protection.
And there I was! Strong, gallant and brave!
Rescuing your weak, puny self. Yes, it was a great battle. ”
Valerius rolled his eyes. Repeatedly. Illarion never went a single day without reminding him of that battle. He supposed it was a small price to pay for his life having been saved and Illarion being a team player then he would pay it. Gladly.
“So she’s not attacking Mephous and Mephous is not attacking her…” Caden left the sentence hanging meaningfully.
Lips twitching, Valerius asked, “Does Mephous like Vozyth?”
“What? That’s so ridiculous! Mephous and I are lone wolves. Lone wolves,” he repeated as he thumped the dogs’ sides and ruffled their ears.
“Does Vozyth like Mephous?” Valerius turned the question around.
“Who would not like Mephous? Mephous is marvelous! And has many admirers,” Illarion shrugged.
Caden had turned around in his seat and was studying Illarion. In the rear view mirror, Valerius could see Illarion begin to squirm.
“They like one another. Are they mates?” Caden asked.
“NO!” Illarion shouted and then winced as the dogs, evidently annoyed, stomped on his crotch. Valerius felt a welling of happiness. “No, well… no, but… no, well, maybe. I don’t know! Vozyth sits in the area outside Mephous’ lair. She hasn’t tried to come in, thank the spirits!”
Everyone was quiet again as Valerius drove the car towards the bridge that led to High Reach.
Finally, Valerius said, “You know when Iolaire first appeared, Raziel acted quite upset about it. Raziel was alarmed at the idea of being connected to another being. As was I.”
Raziel and Iolaire were currently completely asleep, nestled against one another, dreaming dragon dreams that were likely full of sheep.
Valerius reached over and ruffled Caden’s hair. The young man beamed at him.
“But not anymore,” Caden stated instead of asked. There was no need to ask.
“Not anymore.” Valerius smiled at him broadly. “But my point, Illarion, is that Mephous may have an issue with--”
“Mephous has no issue!” Illarion had crossed his arms over his chest and looked like a very unhappy little boy.
“So Mephous… is good with Vozyth? Wants Vozyth to move in?” Caden blinked.
“Evidently.” Illarion’s expression grew thunderous then it seemed to break. “I think they are mates! I know they are, but it is the human part of the equation that is the problem!”
“How do you mean?” Valerius frowned. “The Spirits find the human that they are meant to be with--”
“No! NO!” Illarion roared.
Valerius looked over at Caden who shrugged. He didn’t understand it either.
“Vozyth has shown interest in totally inappropriate people!” Illarion informed them.
Caden’s forehead furrowed. “Uhm, isn’t there only one person that--”
“She is toying with me!” Illarion gasped as Vanya did a double stomp on his genitals. She had been looking out the window and he had nearly made her hit her head on the door.
“You mean she’s not apparently choosing a beautiful, voluptuous woman?” Valerius asked dryly.
“You are not one to talk! You got the whole package!” Illarion gestured to Caden.
Caden blinked and pinked. “Ah, thanks, Illarion. I didn’t know you thought that about me.”
“You are perfect for the big grouch over there! You are sunshine! He is shadow! You are fun! He is dour! You are smart! He is--”
“We get the point, Illarion,” Valerius ground out.
Caden petted his arm. “I love my grouchy, dour shadow.”
“As I do you, my ray of sunshine.” Valerius pursed his lips.
Caden leaned over and kissed him, which made him truly happy.
“Your Spirits and you two are made for one another. Why should I not get the same? Someone I’m attracted to! Someone I can love and who adores me just a little bit more. That’s key,” Illarion said with a wagging finger that was hit by a wagging tail. “The little bit more.”
“Key to what? Never finding anyone for you?” Valerius asked as he drove over the bridge.
Every time he crossed this bridge now he thought of finding Chione’s broken body in the center of it.
His heart twisted in his chest and he pushed on the gas.
She came back, he reminded himself. She was fine.
In fact, she was likely waiting to pounce on him the moment they arrived back.
Caden reached over and squeezed his arm.
It’s okay. Everything is good. Everyone is safe, Caden soothed him.
Luckily, in addition to Caden’s gentle words, he had Illarion’s diatribe to distract him.
“All I want is a woman of uncommon beauty,” Illarion waxed poetic.
“Of course.” Valerius rolled his eyes.
“And uncommon intelligence, right?” Caden perked up.
Illarion did a one-shouldered shrug. “She shouldn’t be too smart. I want her to admire me as her intellectual superior.”
“Intelligence would have had to pass her by then,” Valerius murmured.
Caden poked him in the side. “A good sense of humor? You’ve got to want that, Illarion.”
“Oh, yes, I think that would be useful,” Illarion said.
“So she can laugh at her lot in life as Illarion’s mate,” Valerius said under his breath.
Another poke.
“And she must love dogs?” Caden suggested.
“Yes! Vanya and Viski must approve of her first.” Illarion nodded and kissed his dogs’ heads.
“You said that Vozyth was playing with you? How so?” Caden asked.
“The humans she’s interested in! She was looking at a babushka! A Russian grandmother that would have made Esme look spry!” Illarion cried.
A chuckle tried to escape Valerius’ mouth, but he bit down on the side of his cheek to keep it in.
“And then--then she was interested in a man!” Illarion looked stricken.
“Oh, the horrors,” Caden replied neutrally.
“I know! It’s truly horrible! I think I swayed her off those two! But just by the skin of my teeth!” Illarion moaned.
Valerius debated saying anything, but finally he couldn’t help himself, “You know what the most important thing will be about the person Vozyth chooses?”
“That she is between 25 and 29 years old and lovely to look at?” Illarion appealed to him.
“No, that Vozyth is meant to be with her or him or them,” Valerius cautioned. “There is nothing that says you and the person Vozyth chooses have to do anything more than tolerate each other. After all, would you want Mephous with someone other than you?”
Illarion appeared stricken, but got out, “Nooooo, it would be a travesty. But--”
“Maybe the person Vozyth chooses will be your help-mate, Illarion,” Caden suggested. “Someone you respect who can help you rule.”
“I don’t need help ruling.” Illarion was pouting.
Valerius pulled into the courtyard and turned off the ignition. One of the staff would take the car into the garage or replace it out on the street with the other of his nondescript vehicles.