by Unknown
“That's what it's called,” Teharon peered at the cabin as speculatively as the rest of us. “I think whoever named it needs to look up the definition of camp.”
“Where to, trusty injun guide?” I sighed and turned up my internal fire. I'd worn only a leather coat over jeans and a clingy cotton shirt, figuring it was better to not be weighed down with clothes in case there was a fight.
“Vervain,” Teharon groaned and shook his head. “That's offensive.”
“What is? Calling you trusty or calling you a guide?” I frowned as everyone chuckled. “What?”
“The word injun is a racial slur, darling,” Karni Mata giggled. “Started in pioneer times, I believe.”
“Oh crap,” I huffed. “I'm sorry, Teharon. I'm from Hawaii, remember? We don't really know too much about those kind of words.”
“You don't have racists in Hawaii?” Teharon lifted both brows.
“No, I'm sure we do but most of the local population doesn't use racial slurs,” I shrugged. “The Hawaiian race itself is a mix of different races and then when people started immigrating to work in the cane fields and stuff, well, they were struggling and they learned to band together and get along real fast. They don't call us the Aloha state for nothing.”
“How did you hear the word injun then?” Thor asked.
“Well we have cable,” I huffed at him.
“Alright, Vervain,” Teharon just shook his head. “Remind me to spend more time in Hawaii, since evidently it's Heaven on Earth.”
“It is,” I confirmed.
“And you're not at all biased,” Thor chuckled.
“Hey, you have a boat there,” I lifted a brow at him.
“Yes, it's lovely,” he nodded. “But I moved my boat there so I could keep better tabs on you.”
“You mean back when you were my god stalker?” I waggled my brows at him.
“Yes, back then,” Thor got a soft look in his sea green eyes and I blinked, surprised. Trevor cleared his throat.
“So vhere to now?” Kirill got us back on track.
“This way,” Teharon caught my eye and shook his head even more. I mouthed an emphatic What?at him but that just made him add eye rolling.
The going was pretty rough but I had great stamina now, so I did alright. The snow made things more difficult though, causing treacherous slick spots while concealing ditches and other geographical dangers. Being completely graceless, I fell a few times, usually hauled to my feet afterward by either Kirill or Trevor. Once, I almost fell down the side of the mountain and Thor caught me. He held me a little too long and I cursed internally. He was in rebound mode from that whole catastrophe with Brighid, and what was the first thing men did in rebound mode? They called up their ex-girlfriends. Sigh. It wasn't even all that flattering. He'd probably called Epona too.
“Here it is,” Teharon whispered as we came to the edge of a clearing.
Walls rose in front of us, sleek stone walls built by a master hand. Beyond them was a mansion, completely out of place there, in the middle of nowhere. I blinked in confusion. Was it a mirage? Didn't you have to be in the desert to see a mirage? And really thirsty? Then I saw the people wandering about in front of the soaring masterpiece of architecture. They didn't look quite right, backs at strange angles and limbs of varying odd lengths. Then one of them turned toward us and I got a good look at his face.
I gasped and pulled back.
“I told you they were monsters,” Teharon continued in his soft voice, never taking his eyes off the large black door set into the center of the building.
“Mutants,” I hissed at him.
“Mutants,” he sighed and then straightened. The door was opening.
Teharon walked boldly out of the treeline and we all followed, albeit more warily. He strode through the open gates and past the wandering mutants, who looked as if they were hard at work doing whatever it is mutants do. Maybe Professor X was here somewhere and I could ask him about it.
A man appeared in the dark doorway and then slowly came into the frigid sunlight. Tawiskaron. I saw the resemblance immediately, now that I was looking for it. His face was an exact replica of Teharon's, the only difference was that extravagant mohawk, so out of sorts with the immaculate suit he was wearing. Oh, and his black eyes. Maybe he wore the mohawk specifically to differentiate himself from his brother. Wasn't that something twins did?
“Teharon,” there was affection in the tone and it shocked the hell out of me. I'd been expecting a cold reception and I didn't mean the weather. “Brother, welcome!”
Tawiskaron came down the stairs quickly, with open arms, and embraced Teharon. Teharon hugged him back and the twins shared a moment of familial warmth that had us all gaping at them. Even the mutants had stopped what they were doing to watch. Then they broke apart and Tawiskaron got a better look at the rest of us.
“You brought the Godhunter?” He looked at Teharon with a wounded expression.
“In peace, brother,” Teharon patted Tawiskaron's shoulder. “We're only here to talk.”
“I will take you at your word then,” Tawiskaron nodded and waved us into the house. “If peace be offered, then it shall be reciprocated. Welcome to my home.”
“Zank you,” Kirill bowed his head, his royal upbringing showing through, and then went forward to shake Tawiskaron's hand. “I am Kirill, Ganza of ze Intare, and zis is my Tima, Vervain.” He looked back at me and I hurried forward.
“We've met,” I stumbled over the niceties that came so easily to Kirill. “But it was under difficult circumstances. I hope you won't hold that against me.” I extended my hand to him and he blinked shocked eyes at me.
“Not at all,” he shook my hand and grinned. “It's not like you were there of your own volition.”
“Speaking of such,” Blue came forward with a grin. “It's good to see you, old friend.”
“Huitzilopochtli,” Tawiskaron went to shake Blue's hand. “So you've gone to the dark side?”
I froze at that. The dark side. I guess it was all in your perspective, who was good and who was evil. If Tawiskaron truly believed in his cause, we were the bad guys. I'd never thought of it like that. I watched Blue's face as it seemed to radiate warmth onto the demon god. He truly liked this man.
What a horrible complication that I didn't need. I couldn't give up the fight, humanity needed someone to defend them in the war they weren't even aware of, but meeting the enemy as a friend soured the thought of victory and weakened my convictions. I didn't want to have to fight this man, this god who was beloved by two of my closest friends. At least no one had liked Sif. Ull had loved her of course, she was his mother, but I don't think he really liked her and that made the hurt a little easier to take. But this, this was true affection and if I had to kill Tawiskaron, it would wound my friends deeply.
Oh fudgesicle.
“Come inside,” Tawiskaron motioned us all up the stairs and into his home.
I followed everyone down a hallway hung with Native American art, then up a stairway and out into a large room with picture windows overlooking an incredible view of Vermont. The furniture was beige leather, there was a large fireplace with a fire burning to the left, and a bar to the right. Tawiskaron headed to the bar.
“Coffee or something stronger?” Tawiskaron offered. “Or coffee with something stronger?”
“Yes please,” I headed over and hopped onto a bar stool as he poured me a cup of coffee from a pot that was waiting.
“Sounds good,” Teharon nodded and everyone else came over to get something warm to drink. Then we all made ourselves comfortable on the sofas and armchairs, facing the amazing view.
“Oh nice,” I murmured into my cup.
“What's that?” Tawiskaron asked. “The view? Yes, I like it very much. I built my house here for that reason alone.”
“No, ah, the view is wonderful but I was talking about the coffee,” I admitted sheepishly. “What did you put in this?”
“Oh,” he laughed. “A
maretto and Bailey's. It's my favorite combination.”
“I have to say,” I added seriously. “If it were possible to make sweet love to a hot beverage, this would be my choice.”
“And I'd have to agree with you,” Tawiskaron laughed.
“Brother,” Teharon got serious again. “We came to talk to you about your monsters.”
I made a reprimanding grunt.
“Mutants,” Teharon gave me a little smile.
“Mutants, eh?” Tawiskaron looked at me.
“I've known a lot of monsters,” I explained. “And it has nothing to do with how you look. I'm told you have the power to mutate, so to me, that's a mutation not a monstrosity.”
“How very politically correct of you,” he offered with a guarded look. “But they are monsters. Aren't they, Teharon? Isn't that what Father always called them?”
Tawiskaron,” Teharon shook his head. “He's dead, can't you let go of the hatred?”
“No. I like it,” he lifted his chin, causing his mohawk to crunch up against the back of his chair. What an unwieldy hairdo. “It motivates me.”
“Into what?” Teharon leaned forward. “What are you trying to do here?”
“Well, I can't tell you that, can I?” He smirked. “We may be gathered here under a flag of truce but it doesn't change the fact that we are on opposing sides of a war. It would be stupid of me to reveal my next move.”
“Yes, I suppose you're right,” Teharon sighed. “I just wanted to try and persuade you from any action you might take that will harm people. This is so unnecessary now.”
“That's where you're wrong, Brother,” Tawiskaron narrowed his eyes on Teharon. “It is very necessary. This world has too many damn people in it. We need to cull the herd.”
I cast a nervous glance at Blue, this rant sounded similar to one he'd given me once. He caught my eye and shrugged, even smiled a little. That's when I knew that Blue had never changed his views on humans. He'd given up manipulating them purely out of friendship for me. I was both touched and concerned. If our friendship was ever threatened, would he return to his old ways? Damn but I hoped not, Blue was a hell of an adversary.
“What abut our people?” Teharon cajoled. “You surely don't want to harm them?”
“No, and I won't,” Tawiskaron scoffed. “They're a small fraction of the population now. I do this for them as well.”
“I love you, Tawiskaron,” Teharon stood and we all followed suit, I took big gulps of my coffee as I did so. “But know this; the Thunderbirds are onto you. They came to warn me that if you continued forward, they'll consider it a declaration of war against them. I too, will try to stop you.”
“Fair enough,” Tawiskaron held out his hand and Teharon shook it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I was floating down a river of lava, sipping from a jug of rum as I sang A Pirate's Life. On the banks of the river were demons, not like Tawiskaron but the Christian version with bat wings and horns and stuff. They were playing badminton and volleyball in sweatpants. Valkyries flew in the air above them, cheering them on with bright pink pom poms.
“You truly are a strange person,” Thor was sitting in the boat with me suddenly. “How does this boat not catch on fire?”
“It's a dream,” I huffed, knowing exactly who it was, despite the Thor facade. “Why him?” I waved my hands at Thor's awesome physique.
“I dunno,” Vex shrugged. “I saw him in another dream of yours.” He laughed. “I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream,” he sang in Thor's rich baritone and damn if he didn't do it well. “I know you, that look in your eye is so familiar a gleam.”
“You're singing a Disney song? Really?” I feigned disinterest.
“What are you drinking?” He leaned forward and took the jug from me. “Rum? Really? You drink this swill?” He tossed the jug overboard. It exploded into an impressive fireball.
“Hey!” I shouted. “I don't drink often but when I do, it's rum.”
“That can't possibly be true.”
“No it's not, I just wanted to use the quote,” I admitted. “But my rum...”
“It was clouding your judgment obviously.”
“It was dream rum.”
“And your dream self was enjoying it too much,” he glowered at me in a very Thor manner.
“But why is the rum gone?!”
“Two quotes in under two minutes,” he clapped. “That's got to be a record.”
“Doubtful,” I cast baleful eyes into the river. Then I brightened and remember it was a dream and I could do anything I wanted. Pop, another jug of rum appeared in my hand. “Yay, rum!” I took another swig. Rum always tasted better in my dreams. Actually, now that I thought about it, it tasted more like a Mai Tai, all fruity and delicious.
“It's bad manners to drink in front of a guest without offering them some,” He looked pointedly at the rum.
“Good, bad, I'm the one with the rum,” I grinned. “And after that little stunt, you ain't getting any.”
“What's with the demons?” He decided to ignore the fact that he'd lost that verbal sparring match and looked over his shoulder to where the demons were playing, further upstream from us now.
“What's with you being here?” I shot back. “You said you'd leave me alone.”
“No, I said I'd leave,” he grinned endearingly. “I never said I'd stay gone.”
“Don't you have other people you could bother,” I sighed. “Or friends to hang out with?”
“I don't have any friends.”
“Shut up,” I rolled my eyes and drank more Mai Tai, I mean rum.
“I don't,” he shrugged. “I don't meet a lot of awake people.”
“You need to get out more often,” I recommended. “And not into the Dream Realm. Go clubbing or something. Oh! You should check out Moonshine, that's my club. Well, mine and my boyfriend's.”
“Boyfriend, eh?” He frowned, looking so much like Thor that I couldn't help laughing.
“Oh please,” I waved away his grumpy face. “Like you're interested in me. Whatever.”
“I could be.” He protested.
“You tried to strangle me when we first met.”
“I try to strangle everyone,” he shrugged. “It's nothing personal.”
“That could be why you don't have any friends,” I laughed harder. Then something occurred to me, something I'd been neglecting ever since I'd met Vex. “Wait, do you actually kill people in their dreams? I mean, like so that they die in real life?”
“No, of course not,” he scoffed.
“Liar, liar,” I pointed at the pants he was wearing, pants which were now burning.
“Okay already,” he patted out the flames. “I have to replace my energy stores. I'm a god after all.”
“You don't need any more energy,” I waggled my finger in his face. “You can be immortal without sacrifice and you know it.”
“Sure, if you have friends who'll let you drink from the grayel,” he huffed. “Or eat a golden apple.”
“What?” I deflated. “You don't have a way of keeping yourself immortal?”
“I just told you,” he waved angrily. “I have to kill people. I'm like a damn vampire except not sparkly.”
“Vampires aren't sparkly, those are faeries,” I frowned. “Though most of them don't sparkle either. I think the only sparkling person I've ever met is Luke. Though Azrael's eyes sparkle sometimes, if he's really mad or really turned on. Or working. It's strange what get's him to sparkle actually.”
“Luke?”
“Oh sorry, Lucifer,” I amended.
“Lucifer sparkles?” He sounded horrified.
“Just his wings and his eyes. They're like diamonds, very pretty actually. It's why they called him the Morningstar.”
“Ah,” he nodded sagely.
“I can't let you kill humans,” I said with a serious tone. “It's kind of my thing.”
“Killing humans?”
“No, stopping gods from killi
ng humans,” I hiccuped and looked down at my jug of rum accusingly. Was dream rum supposed to make you hiccup? “I can't let you kill people, it's just not right.”
“Let me?” He sat upright. “You don't control me, Godhunter.”
“No, I mean-”
But he was already gone.
“I could help you get some immortality,” I finished. “Well, that didn't go well.” I took another sip of my dream rum. “Maybe I should have let him have some rum.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Torrent?” The very next morning, I walked into the computer room(a little room inside Pride Palace's library) and found Torr sitting on one of the couches.
“Hey, V,” he looked up from the book he was reading. He wasn't there to use the computers, he just liked to be near them. “What's up?”
“I have something that I need you to check out for me.”
“Research?” He perked up. Torr loved research.
“Yeah and I'd prefer it if we kept it between us for now,” I bit my lip. “I don't know if it's something to be concerned about yet.”
“On the down low, okay, I got you,” he nodded, his platinum bangs falling into his eyes. We needed to get him a haircut. “What am I checking out?”
“I need you to see if you can find any reports of people who have died in their sleep,” I held up a hand when he started to protest. “Not the elderly or people with medical conditions. Look for cases where the death was deemed unusual. People who simply died for no reason, their hearts just stopped.”
“While they slept?” He narrowed his eyes on me.
“Yes, exactly.”
“Is someone killing people in their sleep, Vervain?”
“Yes, I believe so,” I nodded. “I need to be sure before I tell the others about this. I need more information. Who knows? I could have just imagined it all.”
“Imagined it all?” He stood and came to peer in my face. “Are you telling me you've met this sleep killer in your dreams?”
“Yeah, I may have.”
“Did this person try to kill you?”
“Yes.”
“Vervain,” he shook his head.