by Audra Hart
“Marks from my hands, I think.” He rasps. “Some sort of bruising, I guess. I am sorry; I didn’t realize I was hurting you.”
She turns to him and embraces him, “You weren’t,” she assures him. “You never hurt me Luca.”
“Morna,” he rasps. “My venom has changed you. Oh my God, what have I done?”
“Not you. We.” she states flatly. “We did it. Whatever we did, we did it together. You only acted at my urging, my pleading even.” She strokes his face lovingly, the familiar fires are raging in her body, but then she is quickly distracted by her hunger. “When are they going to get here with that food?” she wonders out loud.
She turns from him and tidies up the bathroom. She walks into the bedroom and straightens up the bed. “Whew,” she says. “We need to get maid service up the change the sheets.” She flits around the room tiding up as she goes. She zips her suitcase and stores it by the dresser. Then rethinks it and sets it back on the dresser opens it again and quickly puts the clothes away neatly in the drawers.
A knock sounds at the door to their suite. She dons a robe and goes out and signs for the food. And then she returns to the small table in the bedroom and sits down to eat. The food is delicious and she makes very short work of it. She gets up and goes back to the bathroom to wash her hands and brush her teeth. Then she goes and picks up her phone from the bedside table. Flips it open and is shocked to realize it is after two in the afternoon. “Wow! Where has the time gone?” she murmurs.
Then she looks at Luca, When will you contact Air and Almeda?” she asks.
“I did that while you were unconscious,” he says.
“Unconscious? I only took a little nap,” she says in consternation.
“No Morna, you were out for days,” he says quietly. “It is now Wednesday, March 9th. [this isn’t right… go back and get the days straight.] You’ve been unconscious since early Tuesday morning.
She gasps in disbelief. She snaps her phone open again and looks at the date. She is shocked to see he is right. She sits suddenly on the edge of the bed. “Wow, what have we done to me?” she whispers.
Luca comes to her quickly and takes her in his arms. He sees that she finally understands that something colossal has happened. She snuggles into him and says, “I don’t understand. I feel fine. I feel like me, just really rested and strong.”
“Does your throat burn?” he asks quietly.
“No, but I could eat another burger. Do we have any more water?” she asks distractedly, and then gets up and looks around. She goes into the bathroom and gets a disposable cup and fills it with tap water. Drinks it down and refills it. She drinks the second cup of water slightly slower. Then sighs, somewhat relieved. She walks back to him. She kisses him quickly and fires ignite at that brief touch. She steps back, completely overwhelmed by intensity of her reaction to him. She walks over the little table and sits down. He joins her at the table.
“Ari and Almeda will be here any minute,” he says in a hushed voiced. He’s silent for a moment then says, “Morna do you realize you have been running around in here this afternoon moving, well, like I do? You certainly aren‘t human anymore.”
“No,” she admits. “I feel energized and eager to be moving. But I didn’t realize I was moving any different than I always do. Maybe they can tell us what has happened,” she offers hopefully.
“I am afraid of their reaction when they see you. I have infected you with what I am,” he moans despairingly.
She slams her fist down on the corner of the table. A chunk of the solid wood flies off on impact. “INFECTED HELL!” she storms. “There is nothing bad or diseased or impure about you Lucian Michaels! If we have somehow changed me, it is not an infection. It is not evil! It is not bad in any form or fashion! Do you understand me?” she demands. He just looks back at her, his face utterly unchanged.
“Dammit man! I am sick to death of you acting as though you are some vile, impure creature and I am some sort of pure, perfect being. We are just what we are! Nothing more, nothing less. We just are.” By this point she is crying. He comes around and kneels before her to take her in his arms. As he holds her in his arms, she tries to smother the uncontrollable conflagration that is burning inside her; she is absolutely on fire with desire for him. Her heart is racing faster than she can ever recall, and her breathing is labored. She seeks his lips with her own, and kisses him deeply, eagerly invading his mouth, relishing in his taste, savoring the fact that she doesn’t have to fear his teeth any longer.
Suddenly she realizes what has seemed ‘off’ ever since she awoke. Luca’s body does not feel cold to her. Total shock over takes all her thoughts. She looks into his eyes… and says in awe, “You are warm… You don‘t feel like marble, you feel like flesh and blood to me. Warm, wonderful flesh and blood.”
He kisses her lightly, and her internal fires flare wildly. He nods and says, “I was wondering how long it would take you to notice that,” he chuckled. “I suspect you will need a little while before you can fully process everything your senses are registering.” He leans in and kisses her again, gently, and chastely.
She captures his head with her hands and invades him again with her eager mouth, her tongue plundering his mouth, savoring his taste and her newfound freedom to really kiss him. Her hands work down his body, as she moves out of the chair and kneels before him, intent on loving him right there in the floor. Suddenly, she pulls away and says, “We have company coming. I must stop that!”
He laughs, and kisses her chastely as he stokes her face. She shudders as need and desire ravage through her body, and he says, “Now you know how I feel every single time you touch me.”
She starts to ask him what he means, but suddenly realizes that she should get dressed before their company arrives. She flies into the bathroom and quickly dresses. She dons a bra and panty set made of rich burgundy satin and lace, and a bright emerald green jersey dress, similar to the sapphire one she wore to the piano bar. She so surprised at the way she looks in the dress. She is positively glowing. Even her hair is different. It is now a deeper, richer, glimmering strawberry blond. The soft, healthy waves frame her face in a very flattering manner. The richer color accentuates her brilliant eyes and slightly luminescent pale skin tone.
She is starting to realize she is truly changed in some way; she is growing fearful about what this change might mean, when a knock sounds at the door of their suite. She rushes out to join Luca. They look each other in the eyes. He takes her hand, she shudders as desire spreads through her body like a wildfire, and they walk toward the door. Both are slightly fearful, but determined to face whatever comes next. Together, united, and strong.
Luca opens the door to Almeda and Ari. Ari’s serene countenance changes instantly to one of shock. Almeda gasps and steps quickly into the room. She takes Morna by the hands and leads her into the bedroom and shuts the door securely behind them. She turns to Morna and places her hands on either side of her face, places her forehead against Morna’s and asks, “What did you have him do to you child?”
Morna blushes, and Almeda says, “Never mind. My mate is long since gone. I suspect I really don’t want to know the details.” She laughs heartily as Morna‘s blush becomes even brighter.
She steps back and holds her hands splayed out in front of Morna. She starts at Morna’s head and works her way down to her feet. She stands up and says, “Well, I am not sure if you are human anymore, but you are not a vampire. That’s clear. Your aura is still clear. Your mixed heritage, warrior persona, the magic of the Talismans that resides in your body, and this new development have created something I don’t believe has ever existed before.”
Almeda lets her hands fall to her side and looks thoughtful. “Hmmmm, let’s see, how do we progress from here. Link with Breena and Aideen. Get them over here as soon as possible. I am going to go reassure those boys in the other room. Ari is shocked. You have to remember he was only seven years old when he ascended. He will never comprehend
the passion that exists between you and your mate. But he won’t judge it either,” Almeda assures Morna.
“Luca is absolutely beside himself. He thinks he has defiled you. On the contrary, I think he may have solved many of our problems, or at least given you the ability to solve them,” Almeda continues thoughtfully. She takes Morna’s hand and gives her a little squeeze. “It’s okay child. Do as I asked you. Then come back to the sitting room.”
Almeda quickly goes into the sitting room and embraces Luca. “Rest easy child, she is fine. You have not created some monster as I am sure you fear. She’s still Morna… just different. I think this may have solved some of the issues we have been facing. Sit, please.” She indicates the sofa.
She extends her hand to her son Ari. He takes it lightly in his own. He looks at his mother thoughtfully. “Oh, I see“, he says quietly. He releases his mother’s hand and looks at Luca. “I can know all of Mother’s thoughts with just a touch of her hand.” Ari explains to Luca. “Morna’s aura is still pure and powerful. But somehow, you have imbued her with all your positive physical characteristics. Mother thinks she may even be stronger physically than you are now. Her mental abilities are probably greatly enhanced as well. Astonishing!”
Morna comes into the sitting room. “Surprising, but the link is two way now. They can speak to me. Fortunately, its only communication, not a total transfer of everything I see, hear and feel. They just hear me and I hear them, almost like telepathy,” she relates to the trio as she sits beside Luca. Almeda is looking thoughtful at this new development.
“It’s not telepathy, this connection requires both parties to be magical beings. Telepathy does not. It’s a psychic ability, not a magical one,” Ari informs them. Morna shakes her head and wonders how that information is relevant to their current situation, but says nothing.
A knock sounds on the door, “That’s probably Breena,” says Luca. He opens the door and she looks at him, very confused. Then she looks over to Morna. “Are you okay? We have been so worried,“ she demands. Morna tosses her head towards the door to the bedroom, and hooks her hand at Breena, indicating she should follow her through the door. She gets up and leads the way into the other room. As an afterthought, she excuses herself from the room in general saying, “We will be back in a few minutes. Oh, by the way, Aideen was in surgery, it will be a while before she can join us.”
After Morna and Breena have exited the room, Luca leans back and exhales loudly. He rubs his hands across his face and then drags his fingers through hair. “How do I explain what I have done to Aideen?” He groans.
Almeda walks over and puts her hands on his shoulders, “My child, do not explain anything to her. We will just tell her that Morna’s condition is evolving. If she by some freak chance figures it on her own, so be it. But otherwise, it really isn’t anyone’s business. Morna is your mate. Your lives are your business, and your’s alone. And rest easy. Morna is fine, in fact, she is better than fine.”
Luca seems somewhat comforted by Almeda’s words. Then Ari’s says, “Luca, why don’t you call Brigid and ask her to come over here? We need to make plans.” Then Ari looks at his mother and says, “I think the ascension is just a formality now, don’t you?”
Almeda nods, “Yes, but she still needs to go through the steps and hear the lore again.”
Luca looks up from his telephone conversation and says, “Hasn’t she done enough for right now? I can’t stand to see her in any more pain.”
Ari speaks up, firmly but kindly, “Luca, we doubt the kind of attacks she has endured up now can reach her anymore. She has nearly full control over every aspect of her mind. It is our hope that she can effectively keep the fiend out, never fear. Unless the attacker somehow enhances his abilities, perhaps joining forces with someone else.” Ari looks thoughtful and then realizes Luca is looking at him strangely. “I apologize, I am just speculating out loud. But I am confident that Morna will be fine now.”
Luca looks doubtful, but nods and goes back to speaking to Brigid on the phone.
In the bathroom, Morna is whispering to Breena, hoping against hope that Luca cannot hear her. But she has to tell her sister. She needs her sister’s insight into what has happened. “You won’t believe what happened!”
Breena leans in and whispers, “Luca called me. He was frantic. He said that he bit you, on accident. He was convinced that you were changing into a vampire! You look different, but you don’t look like a vamp. What’s going on?”
“He didn‘t bite me exactly. We were too…distracted…” her voice trails off and understanding illuminates Breena’s face.
“Well, no wonder he is so upset.” Breena says thoughtfully.
“Well it wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t so, so enthusiastic. Breena it was like my body had a mind of its own. I was compelled to take risks we normally wouldn‘t. I desperately needed for him to bite me, to get his venom in my body,” Morna moans. “My poor Luca.”
“What did you do Morna?” Bree asks gently.
Morna blushes and ducks her head. Breena laughs and says, “Well you definitely are not a vampire, you blushed bright red. But you are a fire cracker aren’t you? Your poor Luca, indeed!”
Morna looks hard at her sister, “Keep what you just pieced together to yourself, okay? I’d die if Aideen knew.”
“Yeeesh, sis, I wouldn’t tell anyone. I am kind of proud of you. You are fearless, you love that man and you just go full throttle forward with him all the time. It’s pretty cool. While I on the other hand, am afraid to even look for someone to love.”
“Yes, but I often go too far. Push him too hard,” Morna laments. “I bet he is out of his mind with worry. He always worries too much about me.” Breena hugs her sister, not knowing what to say to that.
“Well, let’s get back out there,” suggests Breena. Morna nods and they join the others in the sitting room. The sisters sit on either side of Luca. Luca takes Morna’s hand in his. He feels her quiver ever so slightly at his touch. He smiles slightly, thinking “She’s finally getting a look at what my life with her is like.” He feels Breena’s head snap up and turn to look at them when the desire floods through his mate and himself.
Almeda looks at the pair of lovers and smiles. Her empathic abilities are nearly overwhelmed by the love and sexual excitement she feels from the pair, and knows that Breena is experiencing the same emotions and feelings that she is. And then she draws a deep breath and exhales slowly, framing her next words carefully. “We have to talk about Aideen before she arrives.”
Morna and Luca look up at Almeda, wondering what she means. Almeda continues, “I got a pretty good look at Aideen’s situation from all three of you. Her jealousy toward her mother concerns me. I am no longer certain she is the right one to act as Morna’s lore mother and guide. She is more powerful than Breena, but Breena’s feelings toward Morna are more pure.” When Morna and Luca look as though they are about to argue about Aideen, Almeda puts her hand up to stop them. “Peace children. I am not saying your daughter is impure or bad in anyway, she has just had to grow up without the opportunity to build a real mother-daughter bond with Morna. The bond between Breena and Morna would be much more suitable.”
Morna is saddened by this but at the same time relieved. She would be much more comfortable being vulnerable with her sister than with her daughter. The process of preparing for ascension leaves the recipient wide open, exposed. She nods her acceptance of Almeda’s words. Luca too sees the logic, but doesn’t like it. He looks at Morna to try to guess what her deepest feelings toward their daughter really are. She squeezes his hand reassuringly.
Ari speaks now, “Morna’s training and ascension rite are top priority. Breena, you must accompany them to their home. Luca and Morna must return to Oklahoma, to be near that gateway. There must be a reason why she was born into this vicinity.”
“There is a gateway in Oklahoma?” Breena asks Ari.
“Yes, near Robber’s Cave. It was unguarded for many year
s when Mulder was sickened. That was reason for all the outlaw activity that flourished in that area‘s history when America was a young country. Evil beings from the underworld roamed the area unchecked. Evil men were drawn to the vicinity like a moth to the flame,” informs Ari.
Breena chuckles at the thought of Jesse James, Cole Younger, Belle Starr and others of their ilk rubbing shoulders with evil beings of middle and inner worlds without knowing it.
Morna is silent while she considers this, then understanding shows on her face. She has vague memories of working with Mulder and someone else to protect that gateway. Almeda asks Morna, “Child, do you not remember yet?”
“It is coming, I think,” she says hesitantly. Her face is wearing a look of deep concentration, I remember Mulder, and he is one of the fifty-two children of the original Ari and Almeda… Did they really produce a child a week for a solid year?”
“Very good child,” says Almeda. “Yes, they did. What else do you remember?”
“Valiant! My father!” She turns excitedly to Luca and says, “When I am away from you, between lifetimes, I am with my father. We have fought countless battles, side by side over the years to protect the gateways. Father has assigned my half-brother, Archer to permanently stand guard, just inside the gate to Airendell, until I can break the curse and return. Archer is Valiant’s son with a mortal named Rebecca from Killiarney. My father certainly gets on well with the human ladies, doesn’t he?” she asks Almeda.
Almeda chuckles, “Let’s just say you probably come by your passionate nature very honestly. But to answer your question, he has a total of thirteen children that he has conceived with mortal and magical beings of Asgard, Eire and Wales. His most recent addition is only three years old and still resides in the care of his mother in Cork. He is very fond of that part of what we call upper-world. Valiant and his kind call it Midgard.”
Morna looks at Almeda doubtfully, “So my father and grand-father are truly gods?”
“No, they are just very powerful magical beings. In ancient times, they would have seemed like gods to the mortals. Some of those powerful beings even started to think of themselves as gods. It caused the world a lot of grief. But Morna, you know there is only one true God.” Almeda assures her. “He allows all of his creations free will.”