Shivers

by Remmy Duchene

  “I don’t know if I want to be different.”

  “Bro, I’m married to a Shiver, a being who controls the weather and whose father everyone wants dead. We have Greek gods and demigods popping in and out of our houses. I’d say the normal ship has sailed.”

  He reached over and took Carter’s hand. Together, they sat there.

  * * * *

  Osaki’s anger at being called away manifested in a slight thunderstorm over the town and followed him as he walked across the heavens and let himself into the Hall of Clouds. His coat danced about his ankles with each step and the sheath of the sword bounced slightly, comfortingly, against his back. He was never one to let his anger get the best of him, but he just couldn’t help himself.

  He stormed into the meeting room on Olympus. He stopped long enough to whisper to Ciro. After his friend had left, Osaki sat. He didn’t have long to wait before Ciro returned, closed the door with a gust of wind and sat across from him. For a moment, they remained silent until Osaki’s anger at being taken from Kofi was too much.

  “You called me here to merely sit?”

  “No. You were attacked before today,” Ciro spoke.

  Even with the softness in Ciro’s voice, Osaki sensed anger. “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “You have a husband, Ciro. Be happy with him. Enjoy the time you have with him. Not every attack by a Shiver is something you need to focus on.”

  “I am elder!” Ciro snapped, his voice echoing through the room. “When one of my brothers attacks the people I care about, it affects me. Do you not see that?”

  “Yes. But I am not a child. I wasn’t alone and I dealt with it.”

  “But when they also go after Kofi, it becomes my problem.”

  At the mention of Kofi’s name and the attack on him, Osaki felt as if he could die right there. Seeing that beautiful dark skin scarred broke him in inexplicable ways. “I lost sight of what was happening. I saw him bleeding and I took my eyes off Goji—”

  “Osaki, do you love this man?”

  “It does not matter what I feel for him. They will go after him if I make my feelings known.”

  “That will not stop my brothers, so why torture yourself?”

  “You should know better, Ciro. It is never that simple. I must protect him from what is coming. Now, enough about this and feelings. Why else did you request my presence here?”

  Ciro inhaled. “Hades picked up some chatter about why you have been attacked. Apparently, they believe you are responsible for Aerios’ death. They think you unworthy and now they will come again.”

  “Then let them.”

  “We need to ramp up your training.”

  “Give me tonight with Kofi. I overstepped my bounds and I must apologize.”

  Ciro arched an eyebrow.

  “I kissed him. I gave him the chance to walk away and when he did not, I thought for sure he was interested. Then he felt my passions for him and he ran.”

  “Apologizing is the absolute wrong thing to do in this situation. A man does not want you to be sorry you showed him some intimate affection.”

  “Then what do I do?”

  Ciro laughed softly and moved to sit beside him. “You be you.”

  Osaki stuck his fingers through his hair and gripped tightly. “That was not very much help but—”

  The door blew open and Koi stalked in. “Enough boy talk, guys. We must go. There is a storm over Jamaica and Allos is responsible for it.”

  Ciro stood but Osaki stopped him. “No. Koi and I will go. If we need help, we will call. You go to Kofi and Carter—stay with them, because if we fail, Allos will be going there.”

  “Do not worry so, brother,” Koi told Ciro. “Two Shivers are always better than one.”

  Chapter Eleven

  All Osaki wanted to do was go back to Kofi. He had to make what he did right. Normally, he would have more control, but with Kofi, he felt so weak—and aroused—that he couldn’t think clearly. Still, he had to put those thoughts to the back of his mind as he appeared beside Koi over the island of Jamaica. The north coast of the island was under a storm. Osaki could feel the shock in the people below him. Ciro had never warned him about that. Perhaps it was a new side effect. Besides, he was the first inherited Shiver. The emotions threatened to drive him crazy. Still, keeping it together to fight was something he had to do. There was no room for a mental breakdown. Yet, even with that thought, Osaki could feel their fears and their pain. The wind howled around them as rain pelted the earth. He watched lightning streak across the sky heading toward a lady running for shelter with a piece of newspaper over her head.

  Osaki stretched his left hand out, using his power to deflect the bolt into a nearby hillside. The screams that followed were enough to make Osaki’s head hurt.

  “Are you all right?” Koi’s voice was calm from his side.

  “Hai,” Osaki replied. “Let’s find Allos. This time I shall not be as merciful.”

  “They didn’t expect this,” Koi said. “Everything is being destroyed—their fields, their homes—why will this not end?”

  “I know not, my friend, but we can sure try to end it today.” Osaki had the same questions but he needed to remain silent. “Divide and conquer?”

  “Yes.”

  Both men looked at each other and, with a silent understanding passing between them, Koi disappeared. Osaki looked down toward his right hand to watch the lance appear, glowing blue as it elongated. When he turned his gaze up again, he was calm.

  “Allos!” he thundered, searching the earth and the sky.

  The rogue Shiver appeared some ways across from him. If it were any other situation, Osaki would have gone as far as to say that the tall, blond man floating in the rain across from him was handsome. But now, Osaki just wanted him dead.

  “This is going to end—now,” Osaki told him, twisting his wrist against the lance. “So how do you want to do this?”

  “I expected Ciro.”

  “Too bad. Ciro is busy. You have me—now, enough talk.”

  Allos smiled, a strange look on the face of such evil. Osaki braced himself, knowing that Allos did not intend to fight fair. They clashed, Allos charging forward. Osaki vanished then reappeared behind his opponent. He brought his knee up high into Allos’ spine. He heard a loud snap and Allos flew through the air. Koi appeared, sending a hard kick to Allos’ side. A white trail of light followed Koi’s leg because it moved so fast. Instantly, Koi was gone and Allos fell fast toward the earth.

  Just before he hit, however, the rogue Shiver stopped himself and soared upward through the pouring rain. Osaki looked up in time to be hit on the arm by a lightning bolt. The shock of it all caused him to scream in pain. He slipped to the ground, landed, braced himself then surged upward. Dodging and weaving to avoid getting hit again, he brought the lance up, catching Allos in one leg then the other. Koi was there again and together, they attacked.

  The battled waged on.

  Both of them were attacking Allos, and the storm lost its strength whenever Allos focused too hard on the fight.

  “Koi, go!” Osaki called.

  Koi nodded and vanished. Allos looked toward Koi and that gave Osaki time to land the deathblow. He pulled the katana from the holder and slashed it forward. He remained in that position until he heard Allos’ body hit the dirt. Koi came back and together, they floated through the air to land by Allos. Koi stood by his head, Osaki landed lightly by Allos’ feet. Osaki allowed the lance to go away. He knelt and brought the blade to the Shiver’s neck.

  Allos gasped while trying to get up. It seemed he was too weak.

  Osaki didn’t like what was happening. He hated having to kill someone, but it was war. Allos and his other brothers were bringing the fight to him and he’d be damned if he sat back and allowed them to win. He couldn’t lose Kofi, even if Kofi was with someone else.

  “Do something about this storm,” Osaki told Koi.

  Instantly, the older Shiver nodded and rose
upward through the rain. Osaki didn’t take his eyes off Allos, for he wasn’t about to turn his back on the enemy a second time in his afterlife.

  “I let you go the first time, Allos,” Osaki spoke. “I always thought you were smarter than everyone else believed you were. I figured if I showed you mercy, you would feel some kind of goodwill toward me and the people of this planet.”

  “Goodwill? This is not about them.”

  “Then what is this about?” Osaki snapped. “Some misguided sense of being wronged? You believe I am a Shiver because I have stolen from you? My new life was given to me for Aerios having dishonored the Shiver. Though he is still alive, you will not share the same good fortune.”

  “What happened to your honor?” Allos gasped, gurgling through blood. “You are samurai. Where is your mercy?”

  Osaki frowned. “I am fresh out.” He pushed the sword down and watched Allos’ head fall heavily to the earth.

  After ensuring there was no evidence of what had recently happened, Osaki and Koi parted ways with a hug. Osaki was hell-bent on getting back to Kofi, but things just kept getting in his way. He managed to avoid a meeting with Zeus—the truth was he had nothing to say to that over-sexed zealot. Though he knew what the meeting was about—him being a Shiver—he still was in no mood to have another discussion about giving up his powers. Shaking his head, he glanced at the sky and pushed up, soaring through the air.

  * * * *

  Kofi stared out of the window. For about an hour, all he saw was rain. From time to time, lightning lit up the room, followed quite closely by thunder. Carter joked that the gods weren’t happy for they didn’t like ugly. Kofi smiled and rested his bare shoulder against the cold window. When Ciro arrived, he knew something was wrong. Osaki had promised to come back and though he wasn’t sure he wanted to face him yet, Kofi was worried.

  Watching Carter with Ciro made Kofi jealous—seeing the two of them wrapped around each other, kissing and exchanging glances that only two people in love understood. Then the guilt was too much to bear. He excused himself and locked himself in the bedroom. Soon, his shirt felt as if it was choking him, so he removed it. The rain was coming down harder now, which made no sense. The war was in Jamaica—wasn’t that what Ciro had said? That was a world away—an eight hour flight. It wasn’t as if a stone tossed in the water of Mexico had caused a tsunami in Japan.

  Kofi rolled his eyes, leaned in and peered up at the dark sky. It seemed the rain was tapering off. His heart hammered faster. “Come on, Osaki,” he whispered. “Come home to me.”

  The rain stopped and suddenly Kofi’s heart was racing. The rain was gone and that could mean one of two things—Osaki and Koi had won the fight and Osaki was coming home. Or, they’d lost and Allos was coming. Either way, Kofi was ready. Knowing that Osaki was in trouble or in danger did something to him—something quite unexplainable. He knew what Carter would say if he told him—‘You like him, Kofi.’

  Kofi rolled his eyes.

  A soft knock interrupted his search for reason. “Go away, Carter. I’m not a child. I don’t need you checking up on me.”

  Instead of the knocking going away, the door opened and Kofi frowned while spinning to give Carter or Ciro a piece of his mind. But instead of his brother or brother-in-law, Osaki stood there, hair wet and finger-combed back. He was dressed in a slightly damp kimono. For a moment, Kofi’s heart stopped and he felt frozen to the spot

  “Osaki…” Kofi forgot himself and rushed forward. He threw himself against Osaki’s body and tangled his arms about the samurai’s neck. Holding on, Kofi pressed his face to Osaki’s throat, inhaling deeply then exhaling with great relief. Osaki clutched his hips tightly. Kofi’s words were quiet against Osaki’s neck.

  “Kofi… Your voice is muffled in my neck,” Osaki explained, laughter in his voice. “And that tickles.”

  Kofi lifted his head and Osaki eyes danced mischief at him. “I thought you were hurt. Ciro told me you went to fight some rogue Shiver.”

  “I was not alone, Kofi,” Osaki reassured him. “I had Koi with me. I promise you, I am unharmed.”

  Kofi pulled himself together and eased himself from Osaki’s strong hands. He took a step back and shoved his fingers into his back pockets. Inhaling deeply, he held the breath then exhaled, never taking his eyes off the samurai before him. “How did it go?”

  “It went as well as could be expected. Allos is no more.”

  “By no more you mean he is human or as in Tony Montana walking into a club with an uzi?”

  “What’s an uzi? And who is this Tony Montana person you speak of?”

  Kofi laughed. “One of these days you and I should watch Scarface.”

  It seemed Osaki was fine with that answer.

  “You should sit,” Kofi told him, motioning to the bed. “You look tired.”

  For a moment, Osaki didn’t move but when Kofi nodded, he walked by him and sat on the edge of the bed. Kofi sat beside him and together, they remained silent. Kofi picked at the corner of his fingers.

  “I need to speak with you about my behavior earlier,” Osaki began softly. “I acted in a way that was not appropriate for you. It was not my intent to dishonor you.”

  “Dishonor me?” Kofi twisted to face him. “You think us kissing dishonored me?”

  “You ran from me, Kofi. I never thought a man running from me would hurt and any other man I would not care as much. But you sensed what I was feeling and you…”

  “I ran because I was embarrassed.”

  “By my behavior. I am truly sorry.”

  Kofi shook his head. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “No. This is new to me, Osaki. I knew I was different but having my brother put a word to it was earth-shattering. I didn’t mean for you to feel as if you were hurting me.”

  Osaki nodded but didn’t lift his head. He was still looking down at the floor with both his hands pressed flat to the bed by his sides. Kofi turned to sit sideways again and they fell into silence once more.

  “Goji said I was your mate. What does that mean?”

  “You are old enough, Kofi, to know what that means.” Osaki’s voice sounded tired. “He should not have said it. There is no truth in it. He only did it to throw me off my guard. I am certain he did not mean it.”

  “Did you have your future read by an oracle too? Like Ciro did?”

  Osaki shook his head. “I was not born a Shiver. Besides, the Oracle is being purged since her little mishap with Ciro and the elder Shivers. I am not certain if they will use her again.”

  “So you don’t know who your mate is…” It was more of a statement than a question on Kofi’s part.

  “No. I do not have that luxury.”

  “So Goji could be right.”

  Osaki said nothing. He only stared at Kofi with an unreadable expression.

  Kofi nodded. He stood. “You should get some rest. Are you hungry?”

  “I am fine.” He rose. “I should seek my own bed.”

  “It’s okay.” Kofi touched his shoulder. “You can stay here. I’m not going to be getting much sleep tonight anyway. I should go for a walk.”

  “Be careful.”

  Kofi nodded and exited the room, closing the door behind him. For a moment, he merely stood there, back pressed into the hard surface behind him, head bowed and eyes closed. Suddenly he was really breathing again, pushing air out that he hadn’t even known he’d been holding. The haunted look in Osaki’s eyes tore at him, pulled pain through him that he had never thought possible.

  Eventually, when he trusted himself to move, he made his way down the corridor and walked into the living room where Carter and Ciro were in hushed conversation.

  “I’m going for a walk,” Kofi announced.

  “I’ll come with,” Carter said, dropping a kiss to Ciro’s lips and immediately standing.

  Though Kofi wanted to tell him it was an attempt at being alone, Kofi said nothing. He merely nodded. After a quick wave, Kofi headed out of the door with
Carter close behind. The night had fallen over Japan and it was more peaceful than he was used to. They walked back along the path and over the bridge Kofi had used that day. Their footsteps scuffled across the wood until finally they reached grass then climbed up to the gazebo.

  “You all right?” Carter asked.

  “I don’t know,” Kofi admitted with a shake of his head. “Osaki and I kissed before he left. He came back and all thoughts of being scared of being gay or terrified of hurting Osaki—every fear I felt while I was in that room, alone, driving myself insane—was gone. I ran to him like we were lovers and he was coming home from war.”

  “Kofi…”

  “He apologized for dishonoring me. Can you believe that shit?”

  Carter chuckled. “Yeah, I can.”

  “You should’ve seen how distraught he was.” Kofi sat on the concrete bench in the gazebo and rested his back against the rail while stretching his legs out before him. He folded his arms across his chest. “What do I do, Carter?”

  “Are you open to the idea that you are gay?”

  Kofi looked toward the house. His gaze passed the area where his arm had been grazed by a bolt of lightning. He remembered the look in Osaki’s eyes when he’d screamed in pain. Then he thought of Osaki’s lips on his and the question slapped him hard. “I think it’s past what I want now, isn’t it?”

  Carter sat beside him and rested a hand on his thigh. “No. It doesn’t work like that. If you are and you hate being gay, that means you hate yourself and you can’t love someone else if you can’t love yourself. You cannot go into this despising who you are. I won’t let you.”

  “But…”

  “No buts. This is serious. Talk to Osaki. He is a good man— Er, samurai— Er, Shiver.”

  Kofi laughed before bumping his brother with his shoulder. “Maybe I should ask him out on a date…”