by Jo Penn
“I will. You will attend the meeting, Zed.”
“The big guy’s throwing himself around a bit.” The one Gloom had called Zareb peeked in past Gloom. “I’ll lull him.”
Before anyone could stop the brethren, Zareb teleported into the cell.
“Crap. He’s going to be torn apart.” Rico grimaced. “We better go get him out.”
Doom held up a hand. “Wait.”
Crammed around the little window in the door, Rico did expect to see Torrent in his dragon form attack the pouvoir in his cell. All Torrent was currently thinking was getting to his mate. He would stop anyone who interfered. The strangely attired brethren with his long lavender and black hair, multi piercings, and easy smile neatly sidestepped Torrent’s thick tail swinging toward him. Before Torrent’s next attack, Zareb’s eyes began to shine.
“Look away a sec,” Doom instructed.
They all did. Rico doubted any of them would normally just follow the orders of someone they barely knew, but Doom had a particular quality in his essence. You knew you could trust him implicitly. Doom was the pouvoir who could hold the entire brethren together.
It was a unique and powerful quality and would be much needed in bringing the two sides together and unifying.
Glancing back inside, he saw that Zareb’s eyes were still glowing, but not blindingly, and Torrent was flat on his dragon back, legs in the air and making strange little noises. Rico thought for a second about taking a picture with his phone but didn’t want to encourage anyone else to.
“Right, you have the lulling magic,” Dray said when Zareb teleported out of the cell. His tone was stern and apprehensive. “You got something to keep those eyes covered?”
Doom stepped in front of Zareb, his brown eyes turning red, arms crossed over his chest. They were all singed by the heat of the flames, Dark throwing up a shield for protection.
“Hey, hey, it’s cool, man.” Zareb patted Doom’s shoulder. He held up a pair of blue-tinted glasses, small and round, and put them on. “The big seer dude didn’t mean any harm, cuz.”
Doom just glared at Dray. Gloom watched without saying a word, his fingers moving in a pattern. Zareb yawned and stretched.
Another brethren appeared. He had a satchel strapped over his shoulder and looked like he’d just come from the beach.
“Okay, who ticked off Doom?” The brethren grinned. “Hi, I’m Kaimi Akana, a healer. You must be Draykus Kandinski.” He pointed at Dray. “Daray Darkness Arkman Tarok and Rico Genuis Arkman Tarok. Let’s chill.”
Dark stepped forward and removed the shield. Doom’s eyes went back to brown. Kaimi Akana was a defender of the balance and had used some essence to take the tension away.
“Dray meant no offense. We have a lot to learn about each other. Lulling is a powerful magic. It can have side effects to those around when it is used. Dray thought only of protecting the brethren,” Rico said soothingly.
“You don’t have to worry about Punk,” Kaimi Akana smiled. “He’s our miracle brethren. Multi essence, multi magic. Does the dragon in the cell need healin’?”
“No. He will be fine soon,” Dark assured.
Doom watched them all neutrally, stepping back to lean against a wall. Zareb Punk moved between everyone, chatting and creating with his magic, while Kaimi talked to Rico about dragons’ healing blood. Dragons’ blood had powerful healing, just like a pixies blood amped up magic and so on.
Torrent, in his human form and naked as his clothes were torn away when transforming into a dragon, appeared at the door. Gloom held up a hand but frowned when encountering Dark’s shield.
“I cannot open the shield,” he murmured. “Without causing damage to everyone around the palace.”
Torrent smiled. “My cousin’s shields are the strongest and most difficult to unlock. Hello, mate.”
Dark unlocked the shield and used an air wave to open the door to the cell. Torrent stepped out, eyes only for Gloom.
Rico decided it would be an interesting, eventful, and probably, at times, out-of-control meeting. Unifying two sides would have its challenges but also its benefits.
Chapter Ten
Meetings bored Freddie. He preferred action. A little chat then out in the field. A meeting sounded like a long-winded bore fest.
Rico really had not spoken to Freddie properly since waking, aside from at breakfast this morning before he rushed off with his cousins to meet with the other pouvoirs. After days of being with Rico only, their focus on each other, it was hard not seeing him much and dealing with lots of other people in a big black gothic castle. He'd even petted a baby dragon this morning with Callum.
Man, the castle needed a lick of paint everywhere. There was a bit of golden, like someone had taken a brush with gold paint and spread it around. And there was some electric blue and sea blue. But Freddie wasn’t sure it was better or worse because a streak of different color along a wall wasn’t really what he thought of as great interior design.
Pondering all this and more, Freddie walked along the pouvoir palace halls with Uriel Golden.
Pouvoir homes were spread mostly across Europe and were hidden behind heavy shields implanted with alarms and illusions. No creature could sense, feel, see, or go through these shields, so he wasn’t sure what to expect of their communal palace. Apparently, Darkness had adjusted the shields to always accept Freddie. He was startled when they arrived in the vibrant garden outside and had stared up at the vast old building.
It was huge and ancient, very beautiful. They’d entered through large double doors gilded with silver and gold in a woven pattern, and Uri pointed out the different rooms and areas as they walked. They passed a few pouvoirs along the way, one who had bleached blond hair and trailed sand behind him. Then an ethereal-looking woman with long black hair and skin as pale as the moon.
They’d expected to meet up with Rico, Torrent, and Darkness when they arrived, but as they waited, Golden heard from Darkness via their linkmate telepathy that Torrent had met his soul mate and they needed a bit of time to go through first sighting.
Freddie met a few of the brethren who weren’t scared or put off by Uri Golden’s growls and threats to blast everyone with sunray beams. Golden was a touch anti-social, Freddie was finding.
When Rico arrived, there were more with him than Darkness and Torrent, who Uri brought clothes for the man to change into. Freddie did his best not to stare! Now there were two big pouvoirs with similar features, a punk and a beach bum.
Freddie grinned, loving it. Each was unique and unusual and just so damn interesting!
Rico introduced Freddie to Doom, Gloom, Zareb Punk, and Kaimi Akana, who said to call him Kai or Healer and congratulated Freddie and Rico.
“I have a mate. Honi. She’s a nymph,” Kai said happily. “We live in Hawaii on a little island. Come visit and we’ll have a mega cookout!”
“That sounds awesome,” Freddie said.
“I’m in.” Punk grinned. “Love your cookouts, Healerman.”
“You hid the parchment here, brother?” Darkness looked around the law library they’d come to on the second floor of the Palace. “Were you not concerned someone would access the palace and discover it?”
“No one has gotten into the palace in a millennium, except the young pouvoir. And even if someone did, do you really believe they’d come to the law library and steal our old law scrolls and books?” Rico smirked.
Freddie guessed Rico was right.
“Your logic is very helpful,” Gloom said quietly in his beautiful, lyrically serene voice.
“Except there’s a pouvoir in the corner over there.” Uri pointed. “Our little light judge, Ale Light.”
“I’m not surprised. No one has had access to these rooms in a long time. I’m sure the judges and lawyers, the teachers and anyone with a dispute is going to make a point of coming here.” Rico frowned, looking around. “We need a few librarians to get this place in shape. There’s valuable information that needs transcribing an
d digitizing.”
“We don’t have any librarians in the brethren. Any on your side of the equator?” Golden asked Gloom.
Gloom appeared serene with a touch of baffled. He shook his head. “Zani has the organize essence.”
Doom grunted and looked like he wanted to be anywhere but the library. Punk zoomed around, checking everything out. Admittedly, Freddie kept a bit of space between him and Doom. The guy emitted power that could be a little overwhelming.
Doom frowned at him. Freddie gulped and slid behind Rico. Obviously, Doom could hear thoughts.
“Sprites are sensitive to the feel of magic,” Rico said and wrapped an arm around Freddie’s waist.
Doom inclined his head and tapped a finger on his leg. The immense power that had been vibrating in the air faded to a gentle hum, one that had Freddie smiling. Magic had a nice feel. He guessed Doom had put up some sort of pouvoir shield. Freddie felt a bit bad about that. He liked others to be able to be themselves, but he guessed the man had a lot of magical juice, which might take Freddie a while to grow accustomed to.
“I will ask Aleta Light to join us.” Torrent lightly touched Gloom’s right hand with his fingertips then strode across the room.
Rico took Freddie’s hand. “Everything okay?”
“Sure. Just another unusual day with the pouvoirs.” Freddie grinned. “I like it and don’t know why I ever said you didn’t behave like a pouvoir.” Freddie shrugged. “Though you didn’t, not at first, anyway.”
Leaning down, Rico lightly kissed Freddie. It was probably meant to be a little, sweet kiss, but it felt like they’d been apart for years, not hours. Freddie wrapped his arms around Rico’s neck, and desire and need flared hot between them, a need so strong he felt he couldn’t get enough. He wanted more of Rico’s mouth, his hands tugging Rico’s brown hair and clutching, their kisses quickly growing deeper as Freddie forgot where they were and who was around them.
Rico growled, the sound only turning Freddie on more.
They were interrupted by Uriel Golden, who zapped Rico in the ass with a sunray energy beam. They parted reluctantly, Rico stroking Freddie’s back lightly.
“Hello, Rico Logic and Soothing, it is very good to see you safely here with your family.” Aleta Light joined them, speaking softly. “Congratulations on finding your soul mate.”
“Thank you, Judge Aleta. Sorry we interrupted your time in the law library.” Rico inclined his head to the beautiful judge. “Aleta von Hous, my mate, Freddie di Moor.”
Aleta Light beamed at Freddie. “I am most pleased to meet you, Freddie. If you require anything, please call on me.”
“Good to meet you, Aleta.”
“Hurry up and get what we came for!” Uri grumbled. “The sooner we do this, the sooner I can leave.”
Waving a hand in front of a pile of scrolls, Rico reached over and pulled a thin one out. Leaving the library, Torrent requested Ale Light join them, and they headed across the large hall to a conference room. There were already a number of people seated around the wide, long meeting table, but enough space had been left for them. Rico pulled back a chair for Freddie then Aleta, who sat next to him.
“Saving Rico Logic was very nice of you and your sprite friends.”
“It was the right thing to do,” Freddie mused. “I wasn’t expecting Rico would be a pouvoir. Or that the crāwan would trash my house and chase us across the country.”
“They have become much more aggressive lately. Reports I have received indicate they are not as careful to avoid being detected by humans,” Ale said worriedly.
While brethren took their seats, everyone introducing themselves, Freddie chatted to Ale Light, really liking her. She was softly spoken, smiled a lot, and had a classic style. She also shared who the pouvoirs around the table were and explained their positions.
“Our magic, or powers if you like, are used to aid the world and its inhabitants. We cannot change natural events, and we cannot stop people from their chosen path. We can protect, guard, and defend. I was born with the Defender of Justice mark. I know what is right and wrong. I understand laws. In my essence, I have light and truth. I know truth and falsehood. I can place these in my energy beams and give others a light feel, taking away stresses, burdens, and worries. I can help others see the truth and what is false. I can reverse this and give lies and burdens.”
“That’s amazing. I can see why you’re a judge.”
“Each defender and guard have their duties and magical talent. The brethren over there with dark hair just past her shoulders and wearing the red top is Zahi di Marco. Zahi is a guard of heavens. Her brother is two seats to her left. Sebastian, who we call Player, is a guard of hells. While Zahi protects and guards the heavens to stop the souls escaping, or anyone entering that shouldn’t, Sebastian does the same for the hells. They also fight crāwan and defend the scales of balance.”
“Right.” Freddie nodded. “Is it going to work bringing both sides of the equator together? And do the pouvoir share info with other supernaturals?”
Aleta smiled brightly. “Uniting is going to be wonderful! And yes, we had a great tragedy a millennium ago, and it has taken time to rebuild our kind and lands. We are ready. It appears defenders and guards have arrived for the meeting. We shall talk more when you are ready.”
Yeah, Freddie wanted to know lots more.
Jazz Colton rushed into the room carrying a large tray with cups, tea pots, and baked goods. It smelled so good Freddie’s stomach rumbled.
But then all hell broke loose, and they were ducking for cover as tiny icicles exploded around the room, mini missiles shooting out like bullets. Rico pulled Freddie down behind the table, keeping an arm around him and holding him close to his body. Freddie managed to turn his head to check on Ale and saw that another pouvoir was shielding her with his body.
“Whoever is a goddamn heater brethren, blast Jazz!” a woman yelled out.
“Mate! Mate! Mate!” Jazz chanted. There was the sound of china breaking.
Freddie managed to glance up and saw Jazz race across the table, no more than a blur with a trail of ice behind him, and land in Doom’s lap.
Doom grunted, tiny little gray and red lights vibrating in the air around him. The ground shook, the entire palace shaking so much that bits of ceiling began falling, furniture overturned, and cracks appeared in the walls and floors.
“We’re going to be crushed!” Freddie exclaimed, afraid now. “We have to teleport away!”
“Everyone! Work together to hold up the palace!” Torrent’s voice rose above the yells and the noise of the palace breaking apart. “You, Punk, use your lulling ability on Doom. Gloom, my mate, can you cage your brother and take him to a dungeon cell where Dark, Rico, and I can shield him in? Everyone else try and contain Jazz’s freeze magic from turning all of us to freaking icicles!”
Freddie wasn’t sure what he could do to help the situation. He was agile and had a little magic, but it was more to help a plant grow. He decided, as a smart sprite, to get the fuck back and let the pouvoirs contain their own kind during first sighting. He told Rico what he was doing, his mate looking worried but nodding.
“I’ll cover you in a shield. Do not get near the little lights around Doom and Jazz. They look harmless but are full of energy that can cause burns and stings.” Rico hastily covered Freddie in a protective shield then gave a sharp nod and pointed to the back of the room.
Moving fast, Freddie leapt back, knocked over a side table with a marble top, and dropped down behind it for protection.
“Good move, sprite. Stay here, Ale Light, and use your light beams on Jazz and Doom.” Player helped Ale squeeze in next to Freddie then raced off.
All this happened fairly quickly, Freddie guessed, but it seemed to go on for hours. He watched the pouvoir work together. Some kept the palace from falling down around them, directing their energy beams to keep the building from moving too much. Others stopped the invasion of ice that was creeping up walls, over the f
loor, and covering the ceiling. Punk had his glasses off, and his eyes blazed white, Freddie averting his eyes fast.
Gloom seemed unaffected by it all, gliding across the room, feet not touching the ground, a piece of ceiling falling on his shoulder and icicles bouncing off him. He raised a hand, and a cage appeared over Doom and Jazz. They disappeared, along with Punk, Rico, Torrent, Darkness, and a few others.
“There’s a freaking massive crack in the ground outside!” The bleached-blond man stared out a window. “Earthquake!”
“Stop screaming and contain it!” a woman snapped. “You’re the freakin’ Defender of the Earth! Protect the damn earth!”
The man disappeared.
As suddenly as it all began, it stopped. The building stopped shaking and crumbling, the ice stopped invading the palace, and everyone breathed out in relief.
“Holy mother!” A brethren flopped into a chair. “That Doom brethren deserves his name of Big Bad.”
“Your freezer brethren is pretty awesome and powerful.” Another pouvoir chuckled.
Ale rose and tugged Freddie up beside her, Freddie moving the table out of the way. A pouvoir swooped in and put the table back where it had been. Rico appeared with Uri Golden and hugged Freddie then checked him over for injuries. Freddie smiled and took his mate’s hand.
“You did good.”
Rico smiled. “Thanks. What did I do good at?”
“Trusting me to protect myself. You didn’t teleport me away or take over.”
“I’m a quick learner.” Rico laughed.
“Ah, nope, not really. But you’re getting there. So, Doom and Jazz are soul mates?” Freddie thought that was a crazy combination.
Doom was this big, stunning pouvoir who grunted instead of talked and had immense power while Jazz was so pretty, cheerful, and chatty. He was pretty damn powerful too, Freddie thought, looking at the remaining puddles where ice had been. A brethren was soaking up the water with some towels someone had fetched.
“They are. I don’t know Doom, but I’ve known Jazz since we were teenagers. He’s pure goodness. I think Doom could do with a bit of cheerful and chatty.”