by L. A. Boruff
“I've traveled and observed the many creatures you call the Unseen. I’ve figured out where most of them descend from. For example, the Olympian gods such as Aphrodite and Hermes came from Olympus. They mated with humans and created the Fae. They have their own idea of how they were created, but that's their story to discover.
“There are several factions of Unseen that have become legend. They’re extinct, or so we think. Riley, you are a descendant of one of those races. You have Unseen blood in your veins. I can't tell you anything about your ancestors, as I never learned much. They were here before I arrived on Earth, and their extinction was something I wasn't a part of. Supay tried to warn me, as I said before, but I didn't believe the portals could be closed.” She sighed and smiled.
“But close they did. Once the last of your kind was killed, they closed. And now, now…we can open them again. I know where one is and I know how to open it. I want you to send me home, finally. Send me home and then don't open the portals again. If you do, the gods will return and with the technology you have discovered, they wouldn't find the Earth the same welcoming land they once did. They would likely try to take over again and humans today wouldn't have it.”
I was beginning to think I was actually in some sort of crazy fever dream. Leaning against the head of the bed, I stared at Mama Pacha and tried to sort the information in my mind. None of it could be happening. I wasn't the descendant of ancient extinct gods. I’d never been anything but ordinary, it couldn't be. And if the legends we thought we knew were not true, what about the spring of life? I asked Mama Pacha.
“There’s a spring in Uku Pacha. Rather, there was one. Time moves slower there, but it's still been over a thousand Earth years since I left. I have no idea if my home is the same. I simply hope my family lives, and they will recognize me. I don’t even think they’ve aged as I have here on Earth. We’re immortal, save grievous injury. If I’d been home, I wouldn’t have aged.”
“But can I go there? Can I drink from the spring so that I can stay with my family?” I was desperate for her to tell me it was possible.
“You can't. We never understood why, but whenever one of us passed through any portal, we were only able to pass through to our home worlds or here. You may be able to pass through to the land of your people, but you wouldn't be able to go to Uku Pacha. Only these three would be able to go with me, if they so choose. But they wouldn’t be able to return unless you provided your blood to the portal stones again.”
My heart crashed. I couldn’t go to the spring. I couldn’t extend my life. Tears rushed to my eyes and I covered my face with my hands. A hand touched my shoulder, and I turned and buried my face in someone’s chest. I wasn’t sure whose chest it was until Michael whispered in my ear, “Baby, we'll find another way. We won’t let you leave us.”
I sobbed in earnest. I didn’t even process her words about going to my own world. I didn’t think about her revelation that it must be my blood on the portal stones. I just wept for my children and Michael. I sobbed harder when I thought about Elias and Anthony. The three of them would have to watch me age and die.
Someone else squeezed onto the bed on my other side and pressed a kiss against the side of my head: Anthony. He rubbed my shoulders as he asked Mama Pacha what else we could do or if she knew of any other options.
“The only thing I can think of that you could do to extend her life is to travel to my home and bring some of the liquid from the spring to her here. The magic may not travel through with the water, but you could try.” She squeezed my knee.
“Other than that, she could try to travel to the home of her people, but that has the potential to be dangerous, as she’d be going alone into an unknown world.”
I lifted my head up. “If that’s what I have to do, then that’s what I’ll do. What information do you have about my home world?”
Michael’s chest rumbled as he spoke, “Maybe it would be best to try to find something to help us on Earth and not open the portals at all.” His words caused Mama Pacha’s eyes to flash.
“You must do this. You wouldn't be alive if it were not for me. I created your entire species, Michael Effler. Oh yes, I know you. I know your entire line; I know you. As my children had children, I kept up with my descendants, and you are my several times great grandson. And you’re supposed to be dead, hmmm?” Michael’s jaw dropped.
Elias, quiet since we’d entered the room, spoke up. “There’s one thing I don't understand. If we're so long lived, how has our history been completely twisted in the span of a handful of generations? At worst, you are what, five or six generations our ancestor? That’s not that long for the legends to be so twisted.”
“It suited us for you to believe we had created you, and the same for the humans,” she replied sadly. “While my brethren and I ruled, the Inca were so cut off from the rest of the world that they believed us completely. We made some terrible choices in those days. That’s why I'm so glad that the old gods were sent to their homes. If any are still alive in this world, they have done as I have and stayed hidden, watching and waiting.
“To answer your question, your lore is twisted because we twisted it from the beginning. Your people never knew the truth.” She gazed out the window at the darkening sky. Michael disentangled himself from me and went to stand at the window. Mama Pacha followed him over, and I rolled over to rest my head on Anthony. Elias slid into Michael’s spot on the bed, hugging me from behind.
“Since we're the last three male pure blood Supay, or whatever we should be called now, do you know who Elias and Anthony hail from?” Michael asked.
“I do,” she replied. “Elias, you are the descendant of Inti, who was known as the Sun God. He was also blond. You resemble him, actually. And Anthony, you are descended from Supay himself. You also favor your ancestor. His features have been dominant in the faces of the men of your line.”
She turned to Michael. “If you’d seen me in my youth, you would think we were brother and sister. Apparently the blood of my people is extremely dominant. Being around you three makes me miss my kinsmen more.” She lowered her head as she stood beside Michael at the window. She seemed old and exhausted.
Michael tentatively put his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of comfort, but she jumped and backed away as soon as he touched her. “Oh goodness, you shocked me!” she said, looking rather uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, I’m not one for hugging and the like. I’ve been on my own for so long.” She trailed off.
Seeing her sorrow calmed me. If she could survive hundreds of lonely years away from her family, I could find a way to stay with mine. All was not lost. I would find my people, there must be a way. “Mama Pacha, why did you not reveal yourself to your descendants sooner?” I asked. Surely she was miserable looking in from the outside.
She turned and stared at me sadly. “How could I? Even my own children were raised to believe Supay created them. They were raised by humans and never saw my face. That alone almost broke me.” She plopped down on the spare bed and turned away from us.
“I spent the better part of a century searching for portals. I then spent at least half a century retracing my steps and searching for more immortals.” She took a deep, steadying breath before continuing. “I would constantly return and find my descendents; keep an eye on them. But I found no other immortals, and the portals I found were closed. Supay’d been right all along.”
She turned her body and looked at me. “When the last of your ancestors died, the portals closed. I don't know why, and I only think I know why they'll open for us.”
“Why?” I asked.
“I won’t tell you. It isn't my story. The only thing I want is to go home.”
We were startled as she lost her melancholy and jumped up energetically. “Right then, any more questions?”
I shook my head at her. I was too overwhelmed to think of a question. “Right, then!” she exclaimed. “Let’s be off!”
“Now?” Anthony’s tone was incredulous.
“Now. Why wait?”
I raised my hand like a school child. “Um, how far will we be walking? It’s almost dark. It’ll be cold, and I’m hungry. They need blood. Remember, I’m just a frail human.” I rolled my eyes and may have pouted a little.
“Stop!” exclaimed Michael. “The portal is here on the island? How can that be? I thought it was in the Andes!”
We turned to stare at Michael. “What do you mean you thought it was in the Andes?” asked Elias. “What the hell are you hiding from us?”
“I wasn’t hiding anything. We said all along we suspected it would be there. I’m merely surprised. I really did think this island would be a dead end, I’m only here to find a library with more clues.” Michael shrugged and looked at us like we were crazy.
“Michael, darling.” I walked over and took his hand. “You did make it sound like you were clueless about the location before.” He gave me a bewildered look.
He ran his fingers through his hair, catching on the bun. Jerking out the hair tie, he quickly tied it into another knot. “I don’t know. I feel like the past few days are a blur. Maybe I’m more affected than I thought by the potions.”
Mama Pacha grabbed his face and pulled him down to her level. His cheeks were squashed and his expression perplexed. She studied his face inch by inch. She even looked at his eyebrows and in the short beard on his face. Then she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead on his, breathing deeply and evenly.
Michaels eyes darted to me, bulging at the angle, and his expression clearly said “Help!” I shrugged. I wanted to see what she did.
“You are the one throwing me off,” Mama Pacha declared. “You don't feel like a pure Supay.” She licked his skin on his right cheek from the top of his beard up to his hairline. He let out a squeak and tried to pull her hands from his face, but she wouldn't let go.
“You taste off.” She wrinkled her nose. “You say you were filled with potions?”
“Yes ma’am,” he said, his words muffled by his compressed cheeks. “Witches and sorceresses and a few warlocks poured potions over me, forced me to drink them, breathe them in, you name it.” She released his face and he shrank from her, wiping the saliva from his cheek.
He sidled around her and stood behind me. Oh, way to protect me, big strong vampire man. Hide behind the only human in the room. I gave him a shaming look over my shoulder.
“Do you think he’s ill, Mama Pacha?” I asked. “His memory has been spotty. They were trying to erase it, but his genes fought through most of the poisons. He only has small holes in his memory.”
“Whatever is wrong with him, our home will fix it. He can drink from the spring and any ailments will be healed.” I nodded and smiled, relieved. Even if I was never able to find a way to extend my own life, at least our children would have their father, and two exceptional uncles.
The thought made pain shoot through my abdomen. I’d been in pain for so long. Finally I had hope, albeit a thin sliver. My first love, my husband, was back, and along with him, the possibility of an unconventional, yet incredible relationship with three gorgeous men. I gave an exaggerated sigh. I’d probably just end up dying on a hike.
Michael put his foot down and refused to allow us to go on the excursion that late in the afternoon. He argued our need to eat and rest before such an unknown adventure. He didn’t mention me specifically, but I knew his only reason to stop our expedition was my human limitations.
My heart swelled with love to have him in my life again, protecting me and caring about my well being. I felt like a genie granted my most fervent wish. I got what I asked for, but the genie twisted the wish so that it was warped and almost unbearable. My five-year long wish came true, but I also loved two other men. At least they were willing to share. I didn’t see how it would work. It’d be too hard.
I grabbed the cooler of blood to take an inventory. I’d filled a bag that morning, so I couldn’t do another until right before we left the next day. There was enough for three more days. “Boys, we need to resolve this in the next couple of days. You can’t keep splitting one bag a day. You’ve got to be weak.”
A huge grin split across Mama Pacha’s face. “If this goes well, we'll be in our homes and celebrating by this time tomorrow!” She bustled out to see if there was another room she could rent for the night. There was no doubt she’d be able to charm her way into a nice place to sleep.
Chapter 15
Elias and Michael ran out to the market to get the toiletries we needed, then we took turns brushing our teeth and washing up for the night. I didn’t bother showering, my hair got oily so quickly I knew I’d have to wash my hair in the morning before we left anyway. As vain as it may have been, I wanted to look as nice as possible for my trek into an unknown world. I was glad I’d been able to pack a little bit of makeup before we took off on this crazy trip.
I was finishing up my teeth when a soft knock came at the door. I cracked the door to see Michael and pulled him in the minuscule bathroom with me. He pressed up against me from behind and rubbed his hands up my spine. It wasn’t an erotic move, more intimate and loving. A shiver swept up my spine at another beautiful moment to remind me how thankful I was to have Michael back in my life.
When I finished rinsing my mouth, I turned and tucked myself into Michael’s arms. “I wanted a quiet moment with you,” he said.
I was glad to have some privacy with him. “Michael. We need to talk.”
He looked down at me. “I know. Big day tomorrow.”
“Yes, tomorrow. But we also need to talk about our future, our kids. And we need to have a more private conversation about the past five years. I understand that what happened to you was hard to tell, but—”
“There’s plenty more. I couldn't go into great detail. It was too much. And I want to hear every detail of what you endured. It was torture for you as much as for me.” He rested his chin on my head. I giggled, remembering the multitude of times he’d done it in the past.
“Why are you giggling?” he asked.
“I was thinking about the fact that I couldn’t count how many times you’ve dug your chin into my head to annoy me. If you told me then that one day I’d miss the dig of your sharp chin and heavy head on my scalp, I would've called you crazy.” Tears pooled in my eyes. “But I sure did miss it.”
“Of course, right. I did too. I wished and hoped one day I’d feel your breath tickling my neck again, while you hugged me standing on our stairs so you’d be tall enough. It always caused goosebumps to crawl over my body when you did that.”
I laughed at the memories, and the relief to be able to enjoy those memories again. “Okay, Michael. Like you said, we have a big day tomorrow. Let’s focus on that. Once we're done, once our grand adventure is over, we have to talk about our past and our future. But there's one thing I need to talk to you about first.” I took a deep breath. “Elias and Anthony.”
“Riley, I told you, I’m okay with it. It was our dream for years to form a strong bond, a lasting relationship, with one woman. And if you are happy for that woman to be you, then that thrills me. If you decide you’re not okay with that woman being you, then say the word.” He squeezed my shoulders and pulled me even closer.
“I’m with you, Riley. They’ll be my friends and brothers forever, whatever happens with you. But you and I, we're forever. I chose you fourteen years ago, and when I chose you, I chose you for the duration of your life or mine, even though you didn’t understand it at the time. I choose us, Riley, whether us means two strong, or four strong.” He turned us around and grabbed his toothbrush.
“I’ve always planned to try to make your life longer. Now we have help, and maybe we'll end up with a huge family with a lot of love. I’m thankful to my brothers for protecting you, for getting you out of there before the Junta caught up to you and turned you into a brood mare.” He brushed his teeth, his back to me. I slipped my hands around his waist and hugged him close.
“You have to let me g
o tomorrow,” I said into Michael’s shoulder. He stiffened and spat his toothpaste into the sink.
“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“This seems to be our only option. Your people have been searching for the secret to their long life since…well, since they were created. They haven’t found it yet.” I squeezed him tighter and he grabbed my hands. He was upset, angry at the thought of me going off into an unknown world, a place he couldn't follow.
“Michael, I’m not sure we can trust Mama Pacha. We need to make sure she goes through first, if it even works. Then I’ll go. You have to wait, let Elias and Anthony go if you want to, but wait until you’re sure it’s safe before you go. If something happens to me, you have to be around for the kids. You have to take care of them.” He turned around and faced me again, a glob of toothpaste on the corner of his mouth.
“Please don’t go. Let us research your lineage. Let us try to find out what you are. I’ve never heard of a Unseen species that the Unseen lineage wasn’t dominant. You’ve got to be something rare.”
“Great. Even if we manage to make me Unseen, they’re still going to be after me.”
“Naw, there’s lots of rare creatures out there. They usually leave them alone once they get over their initial novelty.”
Talking about the maybes of the future was wearing on my nerves. Hell, I might not even survive the next day. I didn’t want to worry about what we may or may not do once it was over. “Let’s push both beds together so we can all sleep side by side. I don’t think Elias and Anthony would mind sharing the other bed, do you?”
Michael smiled and opened the bathroom door. He walked into the bedroom and asked the other two guys if they’d mind.
Anthony answered for both of them. “Coya, I would snuggle with a porcupine for you.” I smiled and pulled him into a hug.