Father of Storms

by Dean Jones

  They placed the blanket down and unloaded the food before Seth popped the cork on a bottle of wine he had smuggled into the basket.

  “I can’t have many glasses of this,” she said, “I am driving back remember…unless you have other plans?” there was a hint of an invitation in her voice and she felt herself becoming aroused at the possibilities.

  “Maybe I do,” he said cryptically before resting his hand on the ground next to him, in an invitation for her to sit.

  “I have been wanting to talk with you for a while Marcy, I have so much I need you to know. I do not want you to be in anyway concerned about what I am about to say, and you should remember that I love you very much.” Marcy felt there was about to be one of those I-have-a-wife-and-children conversations that she had heard before.

  She settled herself and crossed her arms waiting for what she felt was inevitable, after all, she had had no luck with men why would this one be any different.

  “I see you are already defensive, there is no need” he watched her shift slightly but kept her arms folded and eyes firmly on him.

  “I need you to be open-minded, can you do that for me?”

  “Hmm,” she grunted and was now sure that her idyllic plans of settling with this man were about to be blown out of the water.

  “You see the rocks?” He pointed back up the hill and she nodded without looking, “I came here before they had added the steps, before the road, and before anyone thought of these as anything other than just rocks…although I do recall a story one of the farmers told me about a giant who had placed it here but I didn't really believe him” she blinked slightly confused with how this was beginning.

  “You see, I was born…how do I say this” he scratched his head and took a deep breath “I am over one thousand years old Marcy, I was born under the rule of King Aethelbald the first in a village called Fethan-lea..or Faddiley as it is now known” he stopped and looked at her trying to see what she was thinking. He could, of course, use his abilities to gain her trust and confidence but that was not how this was going to happen. He needed her to feel those things on her own and knew he would have to ride out uncertainty and questions of insanity before she got there…if she ever did.

  Marcy just nodded for him to continue.

  “I was married to a woman named Meredith who I loved with all my heart and soul, but she was taken from me.” A tinge of pain touched his eyes and Marcy sat forward slightly at the mention of a wife. “You see, I was told she would be reborn only, I would have to wait” he reached out a hand towards her, but she didn’t take it.

  “I have waited, for a very long time…for you. I knew that I would feel her energy return which is how I know I love you so truly. You see you are her…well you have the same soul more specifically” there was no need for the added detail and he regretted it as soon as it left his lips, but Marcy remained silent and watched him curiously.

  “What are you thinking my love?” he asked when the silence became unbearable

  Marcy eyed him warily and her mind was filled with questions but she kept them to herself and just looked at the man she loved, looking for something to cling to among all this madness he was saying and there within the heart of everything that seemed so crazy was the single thing she knew to be true…he loved her and she loved him and she had from the minute he walked into the travel agents over three years ago, it had been like putting on a warm coat in the winter and feeling the soft security it gave whenever he held her.

  “So, you are old then?” she smiled

  “Well, yes, I was born around seven hundred and thirty-two, I think. They didn't really keep track of the years back then, everything was measured in seasons.” He grinned and shrugged his shoulders slightly. “So that would make me,” he thought about it for a bit as he worked out his age. Something he hadn’t ever done before. “Erm…one thousand two hundred and eighty-two years old!” he widened his eyes at the sound of the number, “no wonder my knees hurt!” he smiled hoping she would too, and she did. His heart leapt.

  “I have always had a thing for older men,” she quipped. “Anything else you want to tell me like, I don’t know, how you don’t look twelve hundred years old?”

  “A good question and the answer will need you to open your mind further,” he looked in her eyes and trying to think how best to explain it. With Meredith, it had been a much simpler conversation as Spae was known then and people who still followed the old Gods believed in its magic and the wisdom of those who worked it.

  “Well, there’s energy all around us, in the air, the grass and in this bottle.” he lifted the wine bottle, “though the energy in this is dormant as it has been manufactured, but if you were to melt it down again then it could be released…” he was aware he was rambling “anyway energy is everywhere and time is an energy of sorts. I can manipulate energy so have kept time from affecting me until now.”

  This wasn’t going well and his initial confidence she was believing him was slowly ebbing away.

  “Interesting,” she said as she got to her feet. “And this is all very nice, but I think it’s probably time we went back” Marcy was struggling with the tales he was telling her. She loved him, that was true, but she didn’t understand why he was saying these things and felt the need to be at home and away from him to try and get her head around it.

  “What’s this then lads, two lovebirds readying for some action?” A voice called from above them on the wall and Marcy quickly moved away to stand with Seth. A large boy, probably eighteen, vaulted the wall and landed on top of their blanket eying Marcy predatorily. Behind him, two of his friends, who were smaller but around the same age walked from behind the wall.

  “Lovely spot you have here mate, the boy said as he examined the contents of their picnic and took a sandwich from the plate.

  “Pass us one Gaz,” the smallest of the three shouted. He was thin and spotty with blonde hair which was long on one side and shaved on the other. His friend ‘Gaz’ who was almost as tall as Seth with spiked black hair and nose piercing threw one to him.

  “There you go Ste, you want one Smitty?” he asked the other who was staring at her creepily with his small brown eyes from behind his greasy black hair. Smitty just shook his head slightly, clearly, his intention was for something else.

  “Pretty little thing you have there mate,” Gaz said to Seth, “feel like sharing her, do you?”

  Marcy tucked into Seth who, instinctively, placed a protective arm around her. She could feel the muscles in his side and arm tensed and felt she knew he was ready to fight if needed.

  She placed her hand on his chest “let’s get our stuff and go Seth” she said trying to sound confident and not at all concerned by these three louts.

  “Don’t go yet darling, we have walked a long way and need something to…reward us if you know what I mean?” Smitty and Ste both sniggered and closed the distance between them.

  Now she was getting scared. Seth was big but there were three of them.

  As she considered Seth’s chances Gaz pulled a knife from his belt “there are two ways this can go mate,” he said to Seth, “we get our way and you watch quietly, or I cut you and she watches you die as we take her anyway!”

  Marcy looked around for help, perhaps some passers-by but there was no one within shouting distance and she knew full well that the chances of people stumbling on them up here were remote, Seth had chosen this location for a reason and it was to avoid other people entirely, so they could enjoy their meal and time together alone.

  Until then Seth had just been watching them and Marcy wondered what he was thinking.

  “There’s a third option and possibly a fourth,” Seth said confidently. “Option three is you and your little friends turn around and go back the way you came, and we’ll be on our way no harm done.” She watched as Seth made eye contact with each of them.

  “Fourth option? Well let’s just say if I were you, option three is a no-brainer!” again he looked at eac
h of them but lingered on Gaz. “No one lays a finger on my woman, understand?” he had called her his woman, and Marcy felt little butterflies dance in her stomach.

  “You’re mental mate,” Gaz laughed, “there’s no way you leave here without me sticking my cock into her” he pointed with his knife and suddenly, the two smaller boys had her arms and were dragging her away from Seth.

  Seth reached for her, but Gaz was onto him in a flash and she saw the knife plunge into his side as he tumbled with the large boy.

  Panic took her, and she screamed but she felt a hand over her mouth cutting it off and then hands all over her pulling at her jeans and top.

  Gaz pushed himself up from the ground and wiped his knife on Seth’s arm before turning and walking towards her.

  “Said he could have watched” he announced as he walked up to her and grabbed her breast through her t-shirt.

  Everything became unreal as she was thrown backwards and landed on the blanket they were just about to have their picnic and watched as the three argued over who was first. Gaz, wielding his knife at the other two, won the discussion and started to unbutton his pants.

  “Got something in here that will keep you from screaming darling!” he said as he began stalking towards her.

  There was a guttural noise from behind them and Seth stood with fire in his eyes.

  The three turned in unison to face him.

  “Seriously, you are best staying put…I’ll give it to you though, you're a tough fucker ain't you mate?” Gaz retrieved his knife and started towards Seth again. “Well, time to finish….” He was cut off as the air became electric.

  Seth raised his hands and roared clenching his fists and advancing on the three of them.

  In a flash Gaz had swung for Seth with the knife but compared to Seth he appeared to be moving in slow motion. As soon as he started his swing Seth had grabbed his arm and twisted it before throwing him to the ground and stamping on his chest. Marcy heard the crack of his ribs and grimaced just as Seth reached the other two and planted his foot into Smitty’s guts as he brought down his fist on Ste’s head.

  Both boys collapsed to the ground and Seth lifted Ste from the floor by his ears and held him at eye level. Both of his feet were six inches from the ground.

  Sparks emitted from around Seth and Marcy felt the hairs on her arms stand on end as she watched him glower into the frightened face of her would be rapist.

  “I am not in the habit of giving mercy to any who attack those I love you piece of shit!” he growled.

  Groans came from the other two and Seth looked down to Gaz who was just finding his breath. In a sharp movement, he head butted Ste and dropped his limp body in a heap.

  Seth moved like a wolf towards Gaz. He stood over him watching him struggle for air through the pain of broken ribs. Satisfied, he grabbed the boy’s shirt and dragged him back to the other two. His eyes where wide and she could see the intensity of his stare as he looked at them at his feet.

  Gaz tried to stand but stopped as he saw Seth create a ball of energy in his hands and it floated towards him with eerie movements. The other two boys watched in silence and Marcy could see Smitty cradling his friend, who was openly sobbing. The tears mixing from the blood running from his clearly broken nose.

  Fear took hold of Gaz and he tried to scramble backwards clutching his chest, but Seth moved quicker and was on top of him again before he’d had the chance to gain his feet. Seth grew larger and more ominous as the sky blackened and all that could be heard was the crackle of the ball of energy suspended mere feet from the four of them.

  “I gave you an option to walk away,” Seth’s voice boomed, “and you thought you could take my love from me again?” Gaz raised his hand placatingly.

  “No, I’m sorry I didn’t mean it I was just having a laugh...please?” Marcy watched in awe as Seth dropped his hands and with them, the ball hit Gaz in the chest before he lifted from the floor.

  The sight of this huge weeping boy hanging in midair in front of her boyfriend gave Marcy pause and despite the events around her, she began thinking about what Seth had been telling her before these boys turned up. She had thought he was teasing her but now…

  “I know you, Gary Lowes, I can see into your very soul.” Seth’s voice was deep and powerful, and Gary’s pants started to become wet as he lost control of his bladder.

  “I know all of you.” he looked down at the other two who were visibly shaking

  “Phillip Smith, Smitty to his friends and Steven Quale.” he looked both in the eye as he spoke their names.

  “I know where you live, and I know who your family is…I suggest that when you awake you forget all about this incident and never speak of it again!” Gary nodded his head as did the other boys.

  “I see we understand each other.” there was a flash and when her eyes adjusted back to daylight she could see all three boys lying unconscious.

  Seth reached out to her and she took his hand knowing that everything he had told her had been the truth.

  ***

  She turned from the window and looked at her daughter sleeping on the bed, she looked so peaceful. Marcy wrapped her arms around herself and looked back down to the street.

  “Please come back to us my love,” she whispered.

  Good Morning Seth

  Seth awoke to see the sun filling his room and felt the heat of summer warming the air around him. His mother was humming to herself whilst she swept the floor around his bed.

  Seth watched her sleepily whilst he contemplated getting up and starting the day.

  “Good morning Seth,” his mother said, and she sat down on the edge of his bed.

  Seth looked sluggishly at his mother, now in her fiftieth year, her greying hair plaited neatly as ever down her back. The kindness he loved so dearly was written all over her face as was her love for him.

  “Your father is waiting for you in the fields, he was going to wake you an hour ago, but I convinced him to let you sleep.” she ran her hand across his hair and down to his cheek, her tender touch filled with love and Seth felt as warm from that as the room did from the sunshine spilling in through the windows.

  “Come now, up you get, and I’ll make you some breakfast before you start your chores.” She ruffled his hair, got up and moved towards the larder. Moments later the sounds of food being prepared filled the house and Seth felt the pang of hunger in his stomach.

  Getting out of his bed, he stretched his arms over his head and let out a long, contented sigh. Seth grabbed his pants and shirt from the chair next to his bed and quickly pulled them on and made his way to the wash bowl to clean himself up before he ate.

  He could hear his mother humming to herself again and found her laying the table with cold meat and fresh bread for his breakfast. The aroma filled the kitchen and his stomach grumbled at the smell and the anticipation of being filled.

  Seth ate, and his mother sat and watched, a smile never leaving her lips.

  “Mother, do you have to watch me eat?” Seth snapped.

  There was a chuckle and the smile broadened. “My darling Seth, I have watched you eat every morning since the first day you entered this world and I intend to watch you a little while longer.”

  She turned her head slightly and looked hard at Seth, who knew he wouldn’t win an argument over the subject so returned to tearing his bread and filling his mouth with the cold ham.

  “Ahh Seth, it only seems but a few mornings ago when I held you close for your first breakfast and watched you contentedly drink your first meal.” There was a pause as she let the words hang in the air and Seth knew she would be embarrassing him with whatever she said next, so he lowered his head and tried to concentrate more on his food than what his mother was saying.

  “Your little nose wrinkled up as you hungrily took my milk for the first time, and you were an eager feeder too…I remember Mae telling me you would grow to be big and strong like your father and she wasn’t wrong,” she let out a little s
igh.

  “Each morning you seem to be bigger than the morning before, eighteen years I have watched, and you grow faster than I can keep up with, you were wearing your father's old furs two winters ago and you’ll soon be too big for the ones you wore last winter.” She reached across the table and placed her hand on Seth’s chin and slowly raised his head, so she could look into his eyes.

  “I do not know where the time has gone, but it seems I blinked and the babe I held became a man…and Mae tells me a man needs a wife.” Panic filled Seth and he coughed as a piece of bread lodged itself in his throat.

  His mother giggled at the reaction “I felt the same way when Mae told us of her plans, but I now see she was right, you are a grown man and the time is right for you to begin a new life outside of our home. You have so much potential my son, you are kind, strong and filled with love and passion enough to melt even the coldest of winters, she will be a very lucky girl to get you as a husband.”

  Seth looked hard at his mother, “she…you have chosen someone already?”

  His mother nodded “Mae and your father spoke for a long time about the subject and she has since been to visit the girl and her parents and tells me you will not be disappointed, Seth.”

  She got to her feet and retrieved her broom and began humming around the house whilst she swept and cleaned.

  Seth stared at the chair where his mother had just informed him he was going to get married and swallowed the meat and bread that was still in his mouth with a gulp of milk to wash it down. He knew his life had just changed and that his ideas of travel and adventure he had been planning for the whole summer had just been taken away.

  No Longer Useful

  Ardeth stood waiting in the usual place waiting for him to arrive, over the years her impatience at being left alone had diminished as her fear and reverence for her master had grown.