by Sumida, Amy
A high, thin sound drew my attention back to the column and I saw a very thin thread of putrid yellow blip away as it was cut from the code the imps worked on. When I turned back around, the spider was there. He must have felt the line break and come to investigate. He was pretty far away but he started toward us with alarming speed. I swore and glanced over at the imps.
“He's coming,” I hoped they could hear me in there. “Are you about done?”
“Yes,” Meilyr popped out and the rest quickly followed. “All finished. The nymphs belong to the Horned One once again.”
“Good,” I was searching the other threads, trying to find the best option to leap on, when the patterns wove together in my mind and I saw the possibilities. We needed a distraction and I could supply it.
Several tainted threads were nearby. If cutting one upset the spider, what would violently severing several do? I grinned as I ran over to the closest and called forth my dragon claws. I guess I could have just imagined a knife and the Inter Realm would have provided it, but I liked my claws.
I cut a thread as the imps gaped at me. The thread emitted a high pitched whine and then blinked rapidly like a dying television, before simply vanishing. A horrible screeching resounded and we all turned to see the spider raised up on its back legs, pawing at the air like an enraged beast.
“Guess he didn't like that,” I smirked.
“My Queen,” Bearach didn't take his eyes off the spider, “let's go, that's enough damage for now.”
“Just a few more,” I leaped over to the next poisoned thread and severed it. Then one more to the left, and another to the left of that. Each cut was accompanied by a screech and a slight vibration in the atmosphere. “Okay, let's go.”
I located the thread I'd already decided upon, one that took me to the Kaneohe Public Library in Hawaii, and leapt on it. The imps followed closely and we were swept away quickly by the flow of information. Behind us, the spider raged, thumping the pliable ground with enough force that we could feel the ripples in the thread we rode.
“We're here,” I shouted back as we approached the library and then a column similar to the one the imps had infiltrated, though not as large.
I held on all the way into the column and found myself staring at lists of books. I turned around until I saw the shimmering paths which led down to the monitors, and followed one out. I cloaked myself in invisibility right before I touched the back of the screen and then popped into the Human Realm.
The imps must have followed me out but I was too busy staring around me to notice. The entire room was overlaid with the brightness of the Inter Realm, threads of energy everywhere, glowing and pulsing. From computers to ipads to cell phones, they connected to practically every person in the room. The exception being one old man, huddled in a chair as if he could feel the energy pushing in on him. Everyone else was a part of it, holding the end of a cord that could easily make them a victim... a sacrifice. My stomach turned and I lurched out of the library.
Outside, even the bright, Hawaiian sunlight couldn't compete with the glare of the Inter Realm. There were no tubes to separate the realm, like in Pride Palace, only places where the brightness dimmed a bit and if I'd thought the library was full of threads, outside was much worse. Threads covered the sky, filled the air, would have blocked out the sun if they hadn't been transparent.
I gaped at a tangle of pus yellow cords so thick, it looked as if you'd be horribly ensnared the moment you took one step forward. Yet there were people, walking blissfully unaware through the tainted web, threads passing through them harmlessly. Cars drove through the conglomeration, birds flew through it, and all the while it pulsed and buzzed, shooting energy everywhere, connecting everything without anyone realizing it. I don't think I appreciated the magnitude of the problem until that moment.
“Meilyr?” I whispered. “Are all of you here?”
“Yes, my Queen,” he whispered back. “Shall we trace to your Lion Palace now?”
“Yes,” I swallowed hard. “I want to go home.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
When I got home, I found an angel in my bed.
“Azrael,” I said with a fair amount of relief. “You couldn't have better timing but then you seem to have a knack for that.”
“I've felt unsettled lately,” he swung his legs over the side of the massive platform bed and leaned against one of its thick posters. “I had a need to see you, make sure you were okay.”
“I'm so much better now,” I slid into his arms with a sigh.
Azrael had been the one man in my life whom I'd accepted easily, without argument or even much consideration. From the moment I'd met him, I'd felt comfortable with him, maybe because my soul remembered being held by him when Azrael transferred me into the Viking well. We had a mutual love of art and he had a lot of modern interests, gathered from all the time he'd spent watching over humans. I considered our relationship the most normal out of all my men. Since Azrael was the Angel of Death, I also found my assessment amusing.
Also amusing was the fact that if you were to ask me who the most down to earth of my men was, I'd say Azrael, even though he was literally the opposite. I could talk to Azrael for hours and never have a lull. He was honest, loyal, sensitive, funny, gorgeous, and seriously bad ass. I never had to worry about protecting Azrael, the very notion was ridiculous. And he was just who I needed to see right after seeing the web.
“What's happened?” He pulled back to look me over. Did I mention he was perceptive too?
“I've had a bad day,” I grimaced and told him what I'd discovered.
“Vat happened?” Kirill was standing in the open doorway behind me. “Veb is everyvere?”
“Yeah,” I slid over and sat beside Azrael on the bed. “It was a little disturbing to see.”
If I considered Azrael the most down to earth of my men, than I'd consider Kirill the most stable. That used to be Trevor's position but we'd had a rough go of it for awhile and I'd changed his status in my head to the wild card. Kirill was now the man I knew would never leave me, no matter what. There was security in that, a great relief to the stress that normally accompanied relationships for me. The stress of knowing it probably wouldn't last.
I know, I know, if I was going to start handing out labels, I should start with myself: the cynic.
My men were helping me with that cynicism though. I had a special bond with each of them but with Kirill our bond was formed out of salvation. We'd saved each other from insanity, first I'd saved him and then he returned the favor. When someone pulls you back from the darkest places in your mind, the abyss we try not to look into, something forms between you. Something you can see when you look into the other person's eyes. A deep sense of safety, a knowing that should you ever falter again, they'll be there to catch you or bring you back. They know the way.
“I think I need to take a little breather,” I smiled at my angel and then my lion.
“Why don't I take you both to Heaven?” Azrael smiled sensuously and I raised my brows.
“Figuratively or literally?” I grinned at him.
“Both or either,” he shrugged and we looked over at Kirill.
I'd been with Kirill and Trevor together several times but never anyone else. The thought was a little exciting and a little worrisome. I didn't want to disturb the fragile peace that existed between my men. So I wasn't sure what the fluttering in my belly was about but I wanted to find out.
“It's okay vith me,” Kirill smiled.
“How about you take us to Shehaquim,” I used the term for Azrael's domain, the third Heaven. “And then we can think about the figurative.”
“Okay but just remember,” Azrael winked at me, “I can only carry one of you when I fly, so we'll have to stay grounded.”
“I vould like to fly,” Kirill said seriously and then looked Azrael over, “but not in vay you fly vith Vervain.”
“Don't worry, I'm only into female passengers myself,” Azrael laughed.
“It can't be avoided, I'm afraid,” Azrael led us out of the bedroom and over to the tracing point as he and Kirill continued to make witty plays on words involving threesomes, Heaven, and flying.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Kirill was in Heaven.
He gazed around himself with the softest expression on his face, one he usually reserved for me. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, taking in the crisp air of Winter and the cool sweetness of Spring since he stood at the merging of the two seasons, in the Garden of Eden.
The garden was set up in a half-circle around two trees. The Tree of Life was gold, not an autumnal gold but a true metallic gold, with plum colored fruit wafting a richly sweet aroma. It was the fruit that made the angels immortal. The second tree was the Tree of Knowledge, completely silver in the way that Life was gold, it had tear drop shaped fruit that looked like cut crystal and shimmered in the gentle sun of Heaven.
Around these two trees was the Garden of Eden, divided into the four seasons. Starting with Winter on the left, the barren trees and shrubs were stark against the snow covered ground but their coating of ice crystals made them sparkle beautifully. There wasn't a lot of movement in this part of the garden, most of the animals preferring the warmer sections, but the pure white stream gurgled softly through it, ending in a pool of Heaven's milk.
Next to Winter was Spring, the cold season warming slightly and merging into the renewal of Spring with gentle ease. The snow became patchy until it disappeared entirely and the dark earth was revealed. Grass replaced the snow and buds were barely sprouting on the trees, while a few flowers stretched out their petals as if rising from sleep. Birds chirped there and some smaller animals would peep out occasionally from hollowed nooks. In the center of it was a pool of anointing oil, fed by a stream that ran through Heaven beside the other three.
Beside Spring was Summer. There the full magnificence of the garden came to life, blossoming and fruiting to scent the air with robust smells. The trees were lush and so was the undergrowth, full of animal life that lifted their voices in praise of the beauty of Summer. All sorts of birds flew through the trees while deer wandered unmolested beside predator cats on the ground. There were no lambs to lay down beside the lions but if there had been, I was betting they'd be safe to do so.
Through Summer ran a stream of wine, though I thought wine the wrong word to use to describe it. It was ambrosia, a delectable drink that hovered over your tongue long after you swallowed and warmed you as it strengthened you from within. It was even better than the wine of Duat.
On the end was Autumn, its trees rustling with drying leaves in rust, gold, orange, and brown. The animals seemed to like Autumn almost as much as Summer, gorging on the nuts that littered the garden floor and gathering around the pool of honey that flowed in on a golden river. The air was crisper there but nothing like the chill of Winter.
I've never been a lover of the cold, having been raised in Hawaii, and the river of milk running through Winter cinched my dislike for me, but the anointing oil that meandered in a stream through Heaven and ended in Spring, was another story. Azrael and I had enjoyed it thoroughly and the thought of adding Kirill to the mix made my face heat.
“Maybe we should show him the rest of the Garden,” Azrael nudged me from my fantasies, “and then let him decide where he'd like to tarry.”
“Oh, sure,” I gave him a nervous look.
I'd been with both of them many times in the past but walking through the Garden of Eden with an angel and a werelion, contemplating where to make love to them both, at the same time, made me feel like I was being very naughty.
“Come along, Kirill,” Azrael gave me a look that said he knew exactly what I was thinking. “There's a river of wine that ends in Summer and one of honey in Autumn.”
“Really?” Kirill glanced at me with a boyish grin.
“Really,” I nodded, “and if we're very good, Azrael may let us have a drink.”
“I can be very good,” he stalked over to me and slid his hand around my waist as his head dipped and he quickly bit my ear.
“That's being very bad,” I laughed as I grabbed his hand and pulled him along to where Azrael was waiting for us.
“I can appreciate that too,” Azrael grinned. “You know I'm kind of the bad boy of the Angelic Host.”
“Aren't bad angels called demons?” I smirked at him.
“Only if you want to make them angry,” he raised one brow at me. “And I don't recommend making an angel angry, we've been known to rain fire and brimstone.”
“I thought that was the Christian god,” I looked at him skeptically.
“Nope,” he lifted his nose in the air, “that was us. God's kind of a back seat driver. He prefers to drink wine and watch movies all day.”
“Well who doesn't?” I laughed. “Plus, he has a river of the stuff, might as well drink it.”
“Can I use cup for to drink wine?” Kirill was really excited, his Russian accent was getting thicker.
“Help yourself,” Azrael put an arm around me and led me over to where Kirill sat on the banks of Summer's river.
Kirill scooped up the deep red liquid and held it to his nose to inhale appreciatively before taking a sip. Then his eyes shot open and he gaped at me. I thought he was overwhelmed with the flavor of the most amazing drink I'd ever tasted but the words that came out of his mouth were totally unexpected.
“I'm sorry, Tima,” he huffed, “I should have offered you first sip.”
“Oh please,” I laughed, “go ahead, honey, I've already had some. I can wait.”
“Not for zis,” Kirill shook his head, “you shouldn't have to wait for zis.”
He brought the cup to my lips and suddenly I was surrounded by men. Kirill was staring at me intensely as he held the cup to my lips and pressed his body to mine, while Azrael pushed up against my back, his wings coming down to enfold us all.
“Sharing this wine is done only between lovers wanting to make clear their commitment to each other,” Azrael put his hand over both of ours. “Vervain and I have shared the wine and I would be honored if you let me be involved in your communion.”
“Commitment?” Kirill looked from Azrael to me. “You'll do this with me? Commit to me?”
“Kirill,” I touched my forehead to his briefly. “I'm already committed to you in my heart, this will only be a confirmation.”
“Vervain,” his free hand slid up to my cheek. “I... zis means everyzing to me.”
“Hold your hands over hers,” Azrael moved Kirill's hand from my cheek to slide over my hand on the cup. “Now offer her the cup as you offer yourself, pour yourself into the wine for her to drink of you.”
I glanced back at Azrael, a little surprised. I didn't remember doing all this with him but then that day had started with him marking me with his claiming kiss. I may have been just a little loopy from that rush. Azrael smiled at me, obviously remembering the same moments I was.
“Look at your lion, Carus,” Azrael whispered. “Know that you accept all of him when you accept this wine.”
I smiled at Kirill, something inside of me was bright with joy over taking this step with him. I wanted this for both of us, a connection beyond the Intare, something that was entirely him. His eyes shone and he swallowed hard as I raised the cup to my lips, his hands hot over mine. I took a sip and closed my eyes, my senses reeling from the vibrancy that lit me up from inside. It felt strong and safe, solace and loyalty, and steadfast love. It was Kirill, a part of him flowed into me, sinking into my cells like it had always belonged there. I looked back up at him with wide eyes.
“Now you, Carus,” Azrael directed us again. “Switch your hands so that yours are above Kirill's and do as I bade him, send yourself into the wine, give of yourself to your beloved.”
My magic rose up, the butterflies, the lion, even War and Victo
ry, but that wasn't me. The true Vervain was housed in a hybrid now, a white jaguar who had aspects of dragon to her, and it was her I needed. I called her up and felt her race through me, felt her face raise beneath my chest and her paws reach down my arms until they dipped into the wine. I lifted the cup for Kirill to drink.
He kept his gaze on mine for as long as he could, until the gold rim blocked me from him for a second. I saw his throat work, felt the wine surge into him along with a part of myself, and then a heatwave rose up between us and I knew I was as deeply embedded into him as he was in I.
“Azrael,” I whispered but I kept my eyes on Kirill. “I don't remember feeling this with you.”
“Because I didn't take it this far,” his lips found the racing pulse in my neck and he kissed it gently. “I'd already claimed you that day and you seemed so startled by it, I didn't want to push you with the full ceremony of the sacred wine. We shared a simple commitment, not the depth of sharing that you just experienced with Kirill.”
I exchanged a quick look with Kirill and he nodded. My lion was always so understanding and frankly, he seemed so happy to have this connection with me, I don't think it bothered him to share the moment with Az.
“Would you like to go further?” I turned in their embrace, so I was facing Azrael with Kirill pressed against my back.
“Vervain,” Azrael put his hands over mine, “I would like nothing more.”
He lifted the cup between us and I took the wine into my mouth, taking in Azrael with it. It lit my senses like fireworks, sizzling down into me and exploding in my chest with a pure brilliance. It was all Azrael, so different from Kirill but just as treasured. Here was laughter, affinity, intensity, and the love of a soul-mate. He sank into me, becoming a part of me as Kirill had, and I looked up with a smile, ready to reciprocate.