Authors: T. J. Loveless
I imagined four threads braiding into a beautiful rope, each a different color and separate outcomes. But together, oh together, they were breathtaking. My parents alive, our safety assured. I gave myself to the instinct. I watched each color
- blue, green, gold and silver - come together and form a lovely sunset of oranges and purples. The world before me blurred. I glanced at the great dragon, surely a figment of my imagination, glow with pride before disappearing. I felt weightless, powerful and infinite.
The world stopped spinning and I fell to the ground, the world peaceful, my parents no longer on the ground looking with sightless eyes, the rivers of blood gone.
“Come to me, Braider. The pain will be harsh.” The dragon grabbed me in a huge, terrifying claw and brought me into her surprisingly warm chest, holding me as close as my mother did after a bad nightmare. “Don't fight the price of braiding. Let it wash over you.”
I was confused. The pain and agony came out of nowhere, rending apart something deep inside. A sloppy scalpel, the cut burning, taking a substance
I didn’t know existed.
“Tiamat! Give her to me, let me help her!” My mother's voice pushed through the fog of torment.
I reached for her.
The great dragon handed me gently into
Mom's arms. I welcomed the beckoning darkness.
I woke to find a dazzling woman sitting on the edge of my bed.
“Hello, young Kylie. I am Anahita.”
Chapter Fifteen
With slow precision, I returned to the present. The
memory of watching my parents die made me shudder, and I quickly shut it out. Aki hugged my back, Bru hugging me from the front.
Bru stepped out of our little circle first. “They knew about you, Kylie. Was your mother a Braider?”
“No. She didn’t inherit the ability, Dad’s family is wonderfully normal. Grandma was the last known Braider.”
“How
could they have known, then
? Unless they watched your grandmother.”
I shrugged
and flipped through the various stories, unable to find the connection. I was told Grandma used the ability twice in her twenties, long before giving birth to my mother, but none of the gods she mentioned were involved, although it didn’t mean gossip wasn’t exchanged.
Bru straightened, snapping her fingers,
“No. Anahita. Think about it. She’s been waiting. She arrived after Kylie’s first braid, to act maternal upon her waking, and staying around constantly. Kylie, did your mom or grandmother know about Anahita?”
I thought about it, frowning. “You know,
I never really said anything. I always assumed they knew.”
Aki spoke up, “The Persian goddess is known for her cunning and ruthlessness. I am surprised she sold Kylie
out considering she is the patroness of women, but when you are dying out, and desperate for power, you will do anything necessary for survival.”
He was right. I’d never thought of Annie in those terms.
It was kind of like learning your mother is a person with needs.
“Be that as it may, I am damned tired of being hunted for their use.” I turned to Aki, my expression cold.
“What did you have in mind?” A wicked smile spread over his features.
“I say
we do the hunting for a change.” I smiled at Bru, watched her frown slowly curl upwards. The idea a small one, but I needed to stop the insanity ruling my life. I actually missed the boring nine to five job, my house, and the mundane acts of simply living.
“What did you have in mind?” Aki's stance changed in subtle ways, which I wouldn't have seen if not for the fact I'd become used to his calm side. His feet moved shoulder width apart, the left foot slightly behind. I watched his weight shift to the left foot, his expression hard. A strange, aggressive light filled his eyes. Aki wanted war.
“I think we should make plans, think of ways I can be useful, without braiding.”
The fo
ur of us spent time planning. They took it upon themselves to train me in swordplay, and find my strengths.
“Why are you swinging that sword up
wards?” Aki laughed at my pathetic attempts.
“Look, I suck with weapons, okay? They feel weird. Plus, there isn't a snowball's chance I could become proficient in a matter of days or weeks.” I handed the heavy steel weapon back. “I tried shooting once. Dad couldn't stop laughing. I need to find a better way to defend myself.”
“Stop pouting. All right. What about your secondary ability? Can you practice without symptoms?” Aki sheathed the sword in a fluid movement I would never be able to replicate.
“Once, maybe twice
, before exhaustion sets in and I end up with a pounding headache.”
He nodded. “Let’s begin.”
Aki could take a beating. I hit him several times before he cried mercy. I found it strangely satisfying.
“Yeah, stop beating the Be
rserker, Kylie. We know you can use it. I think you'd best leave the weapons to us, and learn to signal Tiamat from the ground.”
“Bru, what good does that do? Seriously. If I'm busy running away, I think she could see it easily.”
“Not what I meant,” she chuckled. “If we are going to hunt, Tiamat should at least have an idea of what you plan.”
“I can see you clearly from a hundred feet away,” the goddess chimed
from her position. She’d been laying quietly, watching us, lazy wisps of smoke curling from each nostril.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“How do you manage to be in two planes at once? Surely the humans have seen you more than once.”
“I've been the subject of many myths and legends.”
“But, how?”
“Child, I am ancient, from the time humans did not have writing, fencing or world wars. I long ago learned the art of traversing two planes simultaneously.” She gently slid one claw over my head.
“Do you know why I can see in the different planes? Able to see the gods?”
“Yes.”
I laughed. “Would you please explain so I can use it?”
Her chuckle reminded me of a lion's roar. Deep, echoing. “Because you see the threads of time, it enables you a view into other planes which may be affected by the use of your ability. You have the power to destroy the very planes others reside.”
I blinked, blown
away by her words. Unsure of how to react, I stroked her leathery cheek and went into the shack. I sat on a rickety rocking chair and stared out the window. I was sure I didn't want to destroy other realms, but scaring the hell out of those hunting me sounded like a great idea.
Bru and Aki left in the early morning hours, leaving me in the care of Tiamat. Something about needing to hit a few storage facilities and
find old weapons. I'd sneered about the use of Aki's flashy Ferrari. Bru laughed, Aki gave me a dirty look, and Tiamat shook her massive head.
I was
informed Aki traded the car for a less conspicuous SUV.
Continuing to stare out the
dirt-streaked window, I rocked slowly, trying to find any emotion, instinct or idea to grab. Inside, where others couldn't see, a large Arctic landscape ruled. Cold, and with only a few hardy emotions scattered around. The thought of stalking Amun tweaked something, but I put my foot down about Modi and Magdi. Modi and I had a tenuous truce at best, and he would take great offense if we actively sought Magdi. Thor, however, remained a bullseye. As did Artemis, Carman, and any other who decided to get in my way. The idea of chasing them, giving a taste of their own medicine - and keep them away long enough for Riot to grow up - fueled me, but no emotion.
“You look lost.” Aki's deep voice startled me.
“Sorry, yeah. Trying to think.”
He walked over, relaxed. Every step
charged with electricity, telling me what he wanted. He leaned in close, hands on the arms of the rocking chair. I closed my eyes, turned my head to the side, attempting to keep from giving in to the urges.
“Look at me, Kylie. Tell me why you avoid what we both want and need.”
“I can't. Please,” I whispered.
“I need to know why. Otherwise, I am going to kiss you senseless.”
A moan filled the room. Several pregnant moments passed before I realized it came from me. I gripped the chair arms until the antique wood threatened to break. I swallowed loudly and opened my eyes. Meeting his stare, I was lost. I wanted let go, let the chips fall where they may. His eyes blazed with recognition, nostrils flaring slightly, lips parting. He only waited for permission. Aki knew exactly what I wanted.
Moving so fast I couldn't track
him, he pulled me out of the chair and made good on his threat. His mouth on mine, I responded with a little hop, wrapping my legs around his waist, grabbing his long hair and bringing him closer for a punishing kiss.
“Oh, hell,
” Bru's voice rang through the room. She grabbed my shoulders and yanked backwards.
“What the bloody hell? Would you let
her have what she wants?” Aki sounded angry, his voice a low growl.
“Aki, before you let her do that, you should find out what will happen. It isn't all starbursts and floating on clouds of post coital happiness
.”
They turned to look at me, one angry and scared, the other hungry and pissed.
I stood, dusted myself off, and tried to gather some modicum dignity. His need was palpable, a siren's song calling to me. It took sheer will to ignore it. I shook my head hard, trying to find sanity rattling around what few marbles remained.
“I'll take your immortality
,” I answered, my voice flat.
“I'm sorry. What?”
“When Modi and I were lovers, I weakened him. The power takes all the energy it can find. Usually from me in the form of my soul, one of the greatest forces in the universe. But when with another, it takes from them. It’s fatal to mortal lovers. Immortal males can lose their immortality over a long period of time, and then it becomes fatal for them as well.” I crossed my arms, holding tightly, and slouching while I shuffled my feet.
The answering silence caused tears
to teeter on the edge, and threaten to fall. I'd almost given in, needs long neglected overshadowing logic.
“Tell him the rest, Kylie.” Bru's voice said
there was no room for debate.
“I'm also in a permanent state of fertility. Even if you double wrapped it, used gel, a diaphragm and birth control pills, I'd still become pregnant.” One tear escaped and I
roughly wiped it away.
“Would my immortality restore the losses?”
Footsteps moved in my direction and I quickly backed away, my control tenuous at best. “I don't know.”
“Are you against having my child?”
My head snapped up, eyes wide. “I can't keep one child safe!”
“So is
that the real issue, not having another child?”
“Who gives a shit?”
“I'll give you my life if it means you are restored. The thought of you pregnant with my child ...”
Bru stepped between us, stopping Aki's advance. “Aki, who will help her survive if you give all? Who will protect another child?”
His intake of air meant the words had the intended impact. “Damn it, Valkyrie.”
“Exactly. Don't push her.
The attraction helps bring forward what emotion is left, helps her remaining soul to shine. But killing you will rip her apart, take away much needed protection and create a child who would have a soulless, insane mother and no father. Is that what you want?”
Not thinking
,
I stepped towards him, one hand out. His face held despair, pain, need and anger. I wanted to comfort him, say it wasn't his fault, anything. But Bru was right. I had so little soul left
, and needed it to make sure Riot remained safely hidden. If I was lucky, to see him again.
Aki noticed my steps and with a strangled groan, moved away. My arm dropped, the Arctic feeling restored. Somewhere deep inside, I screamed.
Chapter Sixteen
They
decided to teach me some basic moves, such as kicking the side of a knee, running my heels down a shin, how to fall down without breaking anything. To become even close to proficient, I'd need at least a year, but we didn't have that kind of time. Our plans to start stalking Amun would start at the end of the week.
I tried to consciously use my spidey senses. Aki or Bru would leave, I'd stand still and try to taste the air.
I had a fifty percent hit rate. It was better than nothing.
One cold morning, the smell of coffee permeating the shack, a little shiver
tracked down my spine and I could taste exotic spices on the back of my tongue, smell desert heat, sand, clay and male. Amun was nearby.
I acted as if I didn't notice him, going through my morning motions of falling out of bed, stumbling to the coffee pot
, jumping onto the old, laminate countertop and drinking three mugs of the dark, bitter brew. I kept my eyes slitted, watching for him. At the same time, I slowly heated my palms, carefully letting the secondary ability float to the top in a gentle swell.
The seventh pass
around the kitchen showed a shimmering to the left, unmoving. I barely controlled my expression at the new visual. In the past, I either saw them, or didn't. The slight shimmer moved slowly as a hand reached out to stroke my hair.
The heat of my palms almost boiled the coffee and dropping the mug, I reached for the shimmer. Making contact, a masculine scream filled the air as Amun's form solidified. Holding onto his forearms as tightly as possible and sliding off the counter, I planted a knee in his groin, riding him
as he fell. My knee moved and landed on his abdomen, keeping me from landing to the floor. He tried to roll, but with a leg planted solidly on the hardwood, I held his bucking bronco form in place.
“Stop!” I screamed in his face, backing off the heat.
He went rigid. The sensation of a lock breaking burst over me. As if a hand reached for something in Amun and grabbed hold. His mahogany eyes widened, bled black, and a strangled sound filled the silence. White light blinded me, followed by the impression of a wet hand grabbing a live wire, and I flew across the small kitchen.
I slid down the wall
, the back of my head throbbing from the impact. I blinked and found Amun still on the ground, convulsing. Using the wall as leverage, I stood over him. Slowly I squatted, put a hand on his chest and the convulsions ceased. I lifted my hand slowly, his chest following the motion.
What the hell?
“Oh crap. The legend is true,” Bru whispered. I jerked, and turned to stare at her. The quick intake of breath after meeting my eyes meant something was up.
“What?”
“Your eyes, Kylie.” She turned and ran out, yelling for Aki. Within moments, both of them stood at the kitchen entrance, staring with wide eyes and slack jaws.
“Considering how muted my emotions are, the staring is starting to piss me off.” I looked at Amun, black eyed and lying on the floor, chest in the air, a puppet waiting for
the strings to be pulled. The thought gave me an idea and I stood. My hand moved upwards, and Amun's body followed. Strangled sounds quietly filled the air, but slowly he stood at the same angle as my hand. Interesting.
“Kylie, please, let him go. You have to release Amun.”
I met Aki's eyes, watched as worry filled the light blue depths. My gaze moved to Amun, meeting his eyes, recognizing the pain. I was hurting the big bastard somehow. Good to know.
“This isn't you, Kylie. Please. Release the hold
,” Bru pleaded.
“I don't know how I got a hold on him in the first place.” I wavered my hand, fascinated
as Amun’s body continued to mirror my movements.
“Think, damn it! Braider, do not allow this to take over
. Don’t lose more of yourself. It’s immortal slavery,” Aki moved forward, a hand on my shoulder.
Turning, I pushed on the massive chest with my other hand and he crashed through a thin wall.
Cool
.
Bru ran, yelling for Tiamat. A great roar
from outside vibrated the floors of the shack, a claw punched through an outer wall and grabbed my waist, jerking me outside. I blinked in the bright morning light as she launched into the cold winter air.
Tiamat's grab and drag worked. Whatever the connection between myself and Amun abruptly ceased.
The fog lifted and I knew exactly what I'd done.
Held tightly against her broad, leathery chest, I let the information brew a few moments. Without knowing it was possible, the same ability to braid and change events in time also took complete control of a god.
The trick was dangerous.
Bet I could use it to get rid of them,
I thought
.
“You can put me down, Ti. I'm fine. Sort of.” I wiggled a little in her claws, careful not to slice myself in half.
She didn't respond, instead allowing me to freeze in the high air, circling over farms until I shivered uncontrollably.
“Tiamat! Put me down
, I'm okay now.” Another small wiggle, the razor sharp underside of her claw slicing into my waist. The burst of pain made me see stars.
“No. You are not done cooling off, little mortal. You must first prove you know the enormity of what you did to the Egyptian.”
“I held his immortality in my hands, Tiamat. I had control of him. I want to keep controlling him, but I don't know exactly how I did it.” My body shiver.
We descended lower, the air warming by slow degrees. I continued to shiver until Tiamat took pity and hugged me tightly. Her body heat felt as if I'd been shoved into a furnace. The circling continued, the shivers slo
wly easing.
“I need to know what I did, Tiamat.” Damn, eve
n I could hear the choked tears. Emotionally stunted, the fact empathy filled my heart meant I truly regretted the actions against Amun.
She landed gently, sitting and holding me in both claws, forcing my head to her chest. A steady
thump-thump-thump filled my ears, relaxing every muscle.
“Kylie, your abilities are of legend. Your grandmother did not have a tenth of the power you possess. I am going to reveal a truth. You must not judge. Promise me, little mortal, you will not judge the actions of others.” Her voice rumbled against my ear.
“I promise.”
The dragon goddess sighed. “Your mothe
r did not inherit the ability, this you understand. But some of the male demi-gods did not know. He tricked your mother into an affair and you are the result. It is why you can fill the soulless bodies of the immortal and control them.”
“Who did this to my mother?” I sure as hell didn't judge Mom.
“I will not tell you the name. I want you alive, not dead. He knows what happened, and pays dearly every day for his deception. He is also far too powerful for you to hunt.”
“You know about that?”
“Yes.”
“But if I carry immortality, why do I use my soul for fuel?”
“Your biological father was a demi-god. He did not pass immortality to you.”
I moved backwards, hands on hips. Whomever the sperm donor was didn't matter. I had my daddy and that would never change. But at the same time, I could take on the very ones who posed a serious threat to my son
... and me.
I hugged Tiamat, kissed her cheek and walked inside.
Time to eat crow.
Aki jumped from the battered couch, Bru watched with a wary expression. Aki swept me into a bear hug, growling low in his chest, almost squeezing the air out of my lungs.
“Can't. Breathe.”
The hold eased, my feet meeting the floor again. I reached up, grabbed his face and kissed him lightly. “Thank you, for trying.”
I moved to Bru and hugged her. “I'm sorry.”
I held her hands for a moment and caught a shimmer to the left and behind me.
A body slammed me into the floor, one arm behind my back at a painful angle, leaving me breathless and with a broken nose.
I heard grunts, yells, flesh hitting flesh in hard thuds. The body on my back made it impossible to get any leverage. They yanked my arm and I felt a sickening
pop
as the injured shoulder became a huge mass of agony. I screamed, struggling to get away.
Strands appeared as colors of the rainbow. Each ending led to this moment, the personal cushion f
or an immortal knee. I resisted, refused to let the heat rise in my palms. Instead, I released an inner lock and the new power flowed, a wet hand reaching for a puppet.
While the fighting continued around us, I took hold of the one on my back. Like a hand in a glove, I slid into the soulless body, rolling to the side despite the throbbing shoulder. I stood, cradling the injured arm, trying to find who'd done it.
Frigga stood, her beauty the epitome of Norse features and coloring. Striking red hair flowed freely, with tiny braids at the top. She wore a loose white dress, animal skins made into a coat and leather boots trimmed with fur ending below her knees. Her green eyes dull, expression slack. I could feel the hooks inside of her and moved a step. She followed, mirroring me with precision.
I turned to find Thor and Odin fighting Bru and Aki.
Nice, a Nordic throw down
.
Thor
threw a right upper cut and Aki spun out of control into a wall, sliding down. Bru kicked Odin on the outside of his knee and the big god fell screaming, knee clasped hard and close. She walked to Thor, tapped his shoulder as he landed two kicks to Aki's solar plexus. Thor turned, sneering, when Bru's booted foot landed square in the thunder god's groin. He collapsed.
Aki lay on the floor, bloody, breathing fast and hard. His eyes opened, diamond bright, staring at me. “Let her go, Braider.”
“You do not command me.” I turned, Frigga mirroring me, and walked outside, leaving Thor and Odin screaming inside the small shack. Tiamat stood in the field, watching with a cautious expression.
“You must let her go, Kylie.”
“I don't want to.”
“As a child doesn't want to release
the candy cane before dinner, but you must.”
The threads appeared, colors neon br
ight, so many choices. With the new power, I could finally be in control. No longer running, hoping to see Riot someday. I could be the one calling the shots, allow the child to see the one who birthed him eight years ago. I didn't need to release Frigga. She would be a great hostage and the perfect example. I turned from Aki because to continue listening meant giving in to his demands.
A throb in my shoulder served as a reminder of the injury. “I think I need to go to the hospital and have this corrected.”
Warm hands gently gripped my shoulders. “No, I can do it, Kylie. But first, you must release the goddess. You must let her go.”
Turning to meet Aki's eyes, I prepared to argue. I tilted my head slightly, watching as he gripped my face, la
ying a gentle kiss on my lips. As the kiss became fierce, I swayed, falling further into his embrace, moaning at the wonderful sensations.
He pulled back slightly and whispered against my lips, “Let her go.”
I nodded and cut the connection, pushing against Aki at the same time. He obliged, but the taste of copper pennies and iron broke the kiss. A swipe of my face showed blood poured out of my broken nose. I collapsed, moaning in agony.
The world became fuzzy, unable to process the reams of information inundating me. I heard Tiamat make short work o
f Frigga.
The world went silent.
The hands stroking my hair brought me gently back to reality. Shivering in the cold air, I cracked swollen lids, hearing soft murmurs of comfort from Bru. Through the bond, I understood her anger at my actions, worry over my future, affection for another. My soul soaked it up even as my heart swelled and returned the feelings.
“Come on, Braider, wake up. It's been a few days.” Her voice quiet, calm.
“Why do I keep losing days, months?” My throat felt like sandpaper and without asking, a hand slowly lifted my head and put a glass of water to my parched lips. After a few sips, I lay back exhausted. Not the hangover of braiding time, but loss of energy. Whatever took control of Frigga used me like a Duracell and the resulting exhaustion was unpleasant.
“Tiamat said you are using more and more power in your attempts to correct situations. It leaves you in the middle plane before falling back. This time, we think it might be the amount of energy necessary. It isn't something you should do again, Kylie. The enslavement of others leaves you inhumane. History should have taught you that.”
She was right. I craved the total control over immortals and justifying the use of it. They weren't human, their atrocities against mortals legendary, a taste of their own medicine might be the answer.
See Riot.
The thought circled endlessly, the need to hold my son's small body painful in its urgency.
I walked away from my son for his safety. The last time I'd been to Wyoming, we'd ridden Dad's old gelding, Maker, around the property, laughing in the summer sun, his small body fitted perfectly against mine. The feel of his baby arms wrapped around my neck, the smell of his skin kissed by the sun and wind, his little heart beating as he laughed at the sensation of spinning while being hugged.