DISCLAIMER: I don’t own any of the Tortallans. HOWEVER, Sapphire, Loki, and their friends I own! Er, don’t sue. All yer gonna get is a hunk of junk computer that got fried by a virus and a junky old lap top that is SLOW!!!! And a few cents….which is all I have to my name! Yeah, and the books….That’s where all my money goes. This is Rated R!!!! Enjoy…. Oh yeah, rather mushy at some parts.... New characters.... I might end it in Part 7, though, now that I've got a pop ending, I might have to make it longer. 8, 9, or 10 parts. Just what I need!!!! ^_^ Hope you all enjoy it. If ye've got ideas for Part 6's title, email me at SkySorceress5000@yahoo.com ^_^
The Tortallans stared as they watched five globes of light floated down from the sky. Jon, Thayet, Raoul and Buri had been inspecting the ruins at the back of the palace when the five globes had appeared.
"Jon, what the hell are those?" Thayet asked, clutching her husband's arm tightly. Her face was pale and Buri had her sword out. Jon frowned and probed it with magic, and got no feeling from it.
"I don't know," he said, trying to ease her death-grip on his arm.
The five balls of light swirled in the wind and separated. Each went to a stone doorway, and exploded. One stayed in the air, and it glowed a blinding silver color. Then, as the other four exploded, it settled down on top of the middle stone doorway, and exploded as well.
Jon, Thayet, Buri, and Raoul all stared. Five women had appeared, and four of them looked to be fierce warriors. The fifth one, the one who had landed in the middle looked like a queen, and a beautiful one at that. Thayet gasped as they all jumped down from the top of the stone doorways.
The one who looked like a queen floated down. "We seek the one who is called 'king' of this land," she spoke. Her voice was soft, and musical. It was beautiful, and almost terrible to listen to.
Jon gathered his courage up around him and said, if shakily, "I am King of Tortall."
A woman with long white-blonde hair knelt before him, as did the others, following her lead. The one who looked like a queen curtsied. "We are the Guardians," said the one with white-blonde hair. She stood, and the others did as well. "I am Trista, Guardian of Wind, Unity, and Time."
"I am Talisa, Guardian of Water and Truth," said a silver-haired woman who was much younger than the silver in her hair showed. She looked the be about twenty.
"I am Vesta, Guardian of Fire and Honor," said a black-haired beauty. Her eyes were such a dark violet, they seemed to be a black.
"I am Ebony, Guardian of Earth and Justice," said a woman with light brown hair and emerald green eyes of the darkest shade possible.
"And I am Harmony, Guardian of Spirit and of Love," said the one who looked like a queen.
"Who sent you?" Thayet asked.
Then the middle stone doorway blazed with light, and someone was standing there when the light cleared. "Sapphire sent them," Alanna said, smiling.
"But, you're Sapphire!" Jon cried.
Alanna held up a hand. "No, I am not. I am something of a split personality of hers. She usually brings me forth when something is needed, or when she needs a good talking down to. I'm her….Confidant, I guess. But I am also my own person, mortal, and in sore need to be with her friends," she said, almost hugging herself. Jon knew that gesture. It said that she was completely unsure of their reaction and of their welcome.
Jon and Raoul stumbled over to her and hugged her as tight as they could. Jon most assuredly felt Alanna's heat beating, and saw her chest moving in what looked to be her breathing. Thayet and Buri did the same, only flinging themselves at her instead.
Alanna laughed and gasped, "What are you all trying to do? Kill me?"
No, that would be too human, said a voice they all knew.
"Faithful?" Jon breathed.
Alanna made a face at the cat. "What? Sapphire set you on my tail again?"
No. I decided to keep you out of trouble, the cat said, teasingly.
Alanna moaned, "Just what I need. A know-it-all cat." Faithful gave a cat-snort and leaped up onto her left shoulder.
Trista coughed politely, and they turned back to her. "We are here to help you. We are honor-bound by the Oaths we took to be Protectors of Life and Elements. Daemos is filth, as are his creations. We shall destroy him."
Alanna looked slightly amused. "I am sure you will."
Vesta stood straighter. "You would be wise not to talk back. You may have been Bright Lady's confidant, but you aren't ours! We will not bow to you!"
Alanna simply chuckled. "Oh, I doubted you would." She screwed up her face into a mask of pure mischief. "I would love to see how you plan on making sure that you don't listen to me. I rather suspect that Sapphire might make you listen to me!"
Jon looked at them. "Don't underestimate her. She knows what she's talking about."
Spirit sighed. "We know she does."
Then the Ysandir appeared. Ylon smirked. "Back, are you? How can you exist without your cities?" he asked, with the air of someone who knows he's immortal and can never die.
Fire began to gather in Vesta's hands. She made sure it had a full fury of eons behind it. "Die, like the scum you are," she hissed at him. Vesta threw the fireball at Ylon, who ducked. It hit the Ysandir behind him. The male burned up to a crisp, screaming in pain the whole time.
Jon, Thayet, Raoul, and Buri stared. Alanna looked mildly impressed. Trista looked at the Ysandir who was still burning. A strong gust of wind, scented with and carrying rose petals on the wind. The fire blazed up, with the wind to move it, and the body to feed it. Suddenly, it leaped to another Ysandir, and burned him alive, and then that one bumped into another. Soon, four Ysandir were engulfed in flames, and screaming and wailing.
The remaining ones went behind Ylanda and Ylon. "We will meet again, Old Ones. And this time, we will destroy you!" Ylon hissed, and the remaining seven vanished.
Talisa looked at the burning Ysandir. With a sigh, a ball of water appeared in her hand and she threw it at the four. To everyone's amazement, it did not put the fires out. If fire hurt them, water hurt them even more. Boils popped out all over their backs and fronts. The fires burned furiously on the boils. Soon, the air was filled with the stench of burning flesh, and a sickening smell of that like dead skunk. Green slime was dripping down the now dead Ysandirs' bodies.
"What is going on?" Alanna demanded. The Guardians looked totally confused. Faithful's ears and tail were twitching.
They are reproducing. They reproduce asexually. We have just created more Ysandir.
Talisa looked sick. "Trista, the Time Wand. It's basically the only thing. I doubt even the Twain could handle something like this!"
Trista reached her hand to the sky. Light gathered there, as if all the starlight and moonbeams had gathered right in Trista's hand. A long staff fixed with a shinning silver half-globe appeared in her hand.
It began to glow brighter and brighter, until it blazed like a small sun. Trista took a deep breath. She began to chant in her native language, the language of the Old Ones. Time began to slow to an agonizing crawl. The Tortallans, Alanna included, were moaning with pain. The slow of time was giving them an awful headache!
Then time froze. The Tortallans looked around, the pain eased in their heads, and vanished. The Ysandir's bodies were riddled with the boils, and were all oozing the green slim.
"Vesta, Ebony. Do something about that," Spirit said.
Vesta threw fire at the bodies, evolving them in fire. They burned down to a fine ash, though the green ichor was still there. Ebony looked dumbfounded.
"I don't know what to do. If Hazeka and Lysander were here, we could handle this more properly."
"Who?" Raoul asked.
"Hazeka is the Guardian of Weather and Nature. She basically invented wild magic. The nature aspect, the animal aspect…. Everything," Alanna said, stroking Faithful fur. The cat began to purr softly. "Lysander was one of the first mortals ever made. He was a prince, one of the first, actually. He sketched out the Code of Chivalry, though there have been thousands of adjustments.
"If I recall correctly, he was the Guardian of Majesty, Loyalty, and Honor. Your basic knight, except relatively un-killable."
"No one is un-killable!" Jon said, frowning. True, Alanna had always been interested to death about the past. In a way, she and Myles suited each other. But now, she most likely knew more than Myles did!
"We are," Spirit said. Everyone stared at them, except Alanna.
"She's right. Sapphire gave them the Gift of Immortality. And you're wrong Jon. I don't know more than Myles on any subject. What I know I either learned from him, or learned in books. I had Sapphire block my memory of those things I saw with her. Unless it was rather resent," Alanna said, scratching Faithful's ears. "I can't go around talking about things that happens over ten eons ago as if they happened yesterday and there were tomes after tomes on it."
"Did you read my mind?" Jon asked, a tad afraid.
"Nope. Your face said it all. I just guessed you were thinking Myles and not, say… Harailt. You're very predictable after someone has know you for awhile."
"Did you know I was going to put Keladry on probation?" Jon countered.
Alanna's face stayed bland. "No. I though you'd either let Wyldon say no to the whole subject, take back the declaration, and let me tongue lash you; or that you'd make sure she'd train as a normal boy."
"So did everyone else, Jon," Buri said. "Most people were shocked at the compromise."
"Sapphire wasn't all that shocked," Alanna said. "Don't ask me why, but somehow she knew."
"Eavesdropping on my thoughts, most likely," Jon muttered.
Alanna shook her head. "Nope. She doesn't know how to do that. She has the power, just never learned how to use it. Thoughts come out all chaotic. She half way lost her mind the first time she tried to read a mortal's mind. Rather interesting."
Thayet and Buri started laughing. Raoul chuckled, and Jon just smiled and shook his head.
Vesta looked annoyed. "Excuse me?" she snapped. "But can you please ask Bright Lady to send the two down?"
"You're asking the wrong person," Alanna said. She smiled. "I'm as mortal as my friends. I have everything a highly Gifted person has, and nothing else. You ask. I'm not," Alanna said, smiling slowly.
Trista smiled. "We can send the plea on the wind. Vesta, calm down. She is right. She wished a normal life, as did we all. She must have done fast talking to get Sapphire to separate from her good sense."
Alanna chuckled. "Actually, I told that if she was so sad at the loss of me, to create another confidant who has better good sense than I do. I'm more likely to plunge right into a thing, without looking to see if anyone's there, holding an anchor for me. In battle, I just don't care. I just go out and fight. It's more fun that way."
"I thought that was Sapphire!" Raoul exclaimed.
"Hah," Alanna muttered. "Not a chance. I'm the Alanna you knew. Sapphire came out when I got pulled up to the Realms. Not my favorite place, let me tell you. I don't like the Realms, and I never did."
Jon laughed. "You certainly do sound like our Alanna!"
Alanna looked at him through the side of her eyes. "Hunh. Don't test me, Contè. I've had a ruff morning."
"Doing what?" Jon quipped.
"Aside from becoming mortal? Putting up with you."
Raoul, Buri, and Thayet laughed as Jon gave Alanna a look that would be better suited to a convict. Alanna gave him her sweetest smile. Jon shook his head, chuckling.
Trista gathered wind in her hands, and continued to. Soon, there was a massive globe of wind. It looked blue, silver, and green all at once, with the way the colors shifted. Rose petals appeared in it, and Trista threw it into the still, frozen air.
"The Bright Lady should get it, now," Trista said.
"Who is Bright Lady?" Buri asked.
"It's Sapphire," Alanna said. "Lael is Bright Lord. The two together are called the Twain, or the Twins. Loki and Lael Gifted the Old Ones with most of their knowledge. While Sapphire Gifted the with many things, including the Guardians. They have been immortal ever since they were created. Well, except for in their time. They were more like the Ysandir than gods. Now, they are as immortal as there can ever be."
"I thought you said that your memory was blocked," Jon said.
Alanna stared, then frowned. "Sapphire must've thought that I might need these memories. Either they disappear, or I'll make her disappear!"
"Bright Lady is immortal. How will you make her disappear?"
"Just like each aspect of the Blessed Trinity makes the other two disappear! Pure will and strength," Alanna said. Two swirling balls of light descended from the sky. "About time, Sapphire."
The balls exploded, and there in the air hung two people. One male, and one female.
The male, Lysander, was dressed in black and silver armor. His hair was white blonde, and his eyes were a riveting amber. From his height and build, he was Trista's brother. Underneath his black cape, he wore a light, black shirt. His breeches were skin tight, and were also black. His sword was unmistakably made by the same sword smith as the one who made Lightning, and the other Guardians' swords. It looked terribly like Trista's and Vesta's swords. The shield that was strapped to his arm was made of well worked silver metal, inlaid with real silver and real black onyx.
The design of the shield was a lion rearing with a coronet on the head of the lion. Two boughs of ivy and willow tree lay in the corners. The Prince himself wore a coronet made of silver.
Hazeka was a beauty. Her long light brown hair was shinning in the sun. Her hazel eyes were beautiful, riveting, and enchanting. She might be a warrior, but she was also a mage. She was tall, about an inch shorter than Trista. Her skin was golden brown, and lovely. The complexion was fair. She could easily rival Thayet and Gary's wife, Cythera of Naxen and Elden. She might not be as exotic as Alanna, but she could give Alanna competition if either of them actually cared about such things.
Hazeka wore a violet colored shirt with no sleeves, except for a thin strap. She wore something like leggings, cut like Vesta's skirt, but only that short, if not much shorter.[**AN: Shorts. I have a hard time describing these things in the Fantasy world. So, I'm calling them VERY short breeches.] They were colored a dark blue and looked to be of sturdy material. [**AN again): Denim. HEY! Can't Tortall have jeans? <grin>]
Suddenly, the dropped from the air. Hazeka fell in a controlled tumble and stood up from her crouch. Lysander fell and dropped down into a crouch, his armor and mail making surprisingly little noise. He stood up and pushed his hair out of his eyes.
"Trista?" Lysander asked. His voice was a nice baritone, deep, and gentle. Trista saw her brother and flung herself into his arms, speaking in their home dialect.
Hazeka raised an eyebrow at Trista and Lysander, but shook her head and said nothing. She sighed and looked at the other Guardians. "It's been a long time," she said. Her voice was quiet and was a high soprano.
Talisa bowed to Hazeka. "A very long time," she said, bowing her head.
Jon and Raoul looked at Alanna. "Why…?"
"Hazeka was the First. She was created by Sapphire alone. Therefore, she is the most powerful, and the most respected. Trista was made next, with Lysander as well," Alanna said. She frowned slightly, "Though….I actually forget what their powers are. How strange…."
"Does it really matter?" Thayet asked, softly.
"No, not really. Shall we take this greeting inside? I don't like the look of the sky."
Jon looked up. The sky was turning a deep, dark gray and purple thunderheads were quickly moving in. Lightning could be seen throughout the storm, and thunder could be heard. Suddenly, the thunder boomed as loudly as eight cannons firing at once. Everyone clapped their hands over their tortured ears.
The rain began to pour, and everyone felt the rain burn like acid. The Old Ones moaned with pain, all except Hazeka. She walked to the center of the circle they were standing in.
"Blessed Goddess, Bright God. I call for thee to listen!" Hazeka called, standing in the stone doorway. Though it hurt the other six, they went to their stone doorways and said the words.
"We call upon you, to send us the twain we miss. Bless upon us the Two of One! The Magick and the Night! We call upon you! We pray unto you! Send us the twain! The Magick and the Night!" the seven yelled into the air. Rain that splashed upon them was slowly turning gold and black. Light began to shoot from one of the clouds above. And the seven continued yelling.
The two stone doorways that stayed empty, were now filled with light. One black, one gold. Alanna was staring as openly as any of the others.
"Uhm, Alanna…. What is this?" Jon asked, shielding the rain from his face with his arm.
Alanna's eyes were wide. "Beats the hell out of me. I don't know what they're talking about. Theoretically, there are nine Guardians. Only seven were created, only seven had been needed. That's what Sapphire had said once. Confused me then, and it still does."
The sound of gates opening came from the two doorways. Out of the one glowing black stepped a tall woman. She had pure black hair that went to the floor and continued to fall around her feet. It had to be at least seven feet long, her hair! Her eyes were a pale silver, and the iris of the eye was black. Her dress was a black silk dress that clung to her waist, hips, chest, and then went into a slight skirt. The sleeves were wide, bell-scallop shaped sleeves that fell away from her arms, but covered them. [**AN: I have drawings of these people and their dress. At the end of the miniseries, there will be a gallery of how they look]
Out of the one glowing gold stepped a tall, slender, and cat-like woman. Her eyes were gold, her hair was flowing amber-gold, her skin a lustrous gold. Her legs were covered with a golden material unseen in the world for centuries upon centuries. Her shirt was a glowing white material that looked as if it had been made out of the summer clouds. Her boots were made of sturdy brown leather and tied with black silk. She had no sash, but didn't need one. Her left ear was studded three times with gold stud earrings, while her right was studded twice with silver crescent moons.
Then the light collapsed, as did the seven Guardians who had done the calling.
Alanna, Jon, Raoul, Thayet, and Buri all stared at the two impossibly tall women who had suddenly materialized out of, seemingly, thin air. A bird who looked to be on fire, black fire, landed on Night's hand. Faithful walked over to Magick and bumped her leg. She looked down and spoke softly to the cat, picking him up.
And the five Tortallans did the only thing they could do. Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump. All five decided to take a nap.
Magick, for she did not have any other name, looked at the cat with violet eyes. "Protector," she said to the cat, using her native language. "Why have we been summoned?"
There is need for you.
"Do we get a better explanation than that?" Night asked, coming over with her black fire phoenix.
No.
"Why not? We deserve an answer," Magick said.
It is up to Bright Lady and Warrior Lord to decide what to tell you. Not I. I am only a messenger and a watcher.
Who are you watching? the phoenix asked.
Faithful jumped out of Magick's hold and went over to Alanna and nudged her. This one. She is an aspect of Bright Lady, though she wished freedom over immortality. When she dies as a mortal, she will return to Bright Lady.
Bright Lady has to explain a lot of these things! the bird said crossly, flames flickering along his crest.
"I will explain all, if you give me time, Lennox," Sapphire said, appearing next to Loki.
"We both will explain," Loki said, holding Sapphire's waist.
Lennox flapped his wings and flew over to Sapphire and landed on her arm, digging his talons into her immortal flesh to keep himself balanced. You released your aspect? It is unheard of!
"Unheard of, yes. Need, yes. Alanna may be an aspect of mine, but she had a mortal life, until I awoke from within her. Now, she wishes to return to her mortal life. She is already alive." Sapphire walked over to Alanna and knelt beside her, heedless of the dirt that was getting on her gown. She put her hand over Alanna's chest. "She is alive. She breathes."
Lennox flapped wildly and hopped onto Alanna's arm, watching her chest fall up and down with the pattern of breath. Why? he asked, annoyed. Why go and create life…AGAIN? You have not learned your lesson?
Sapphire rolled her eyes, and picked the bird up, off Alanna and carried him. She had her hands over his wings so he could not fly away. "Now, you listen to me, you two-bit bird!" None of them noticed Jon stirring and coming awake. "Alanna is needed. Her husband is in a state of shock for what has happened. Daemos is loose. He has this warped idea that he will get revenge. He has brought back the Ysandir and is raising the dead! Legions walk among the living, killing them, so that more of the undead can fight against us and Tortall!"
Lennox freed himself of Sapphire's hold. Who released Daemos? Who was the one who gained your powers back? This is all happening for a reason! Daemos is meant to do this! But you two, and you, Lael, have been mucking all this up! he screeched at her. He flew over to Night's shoulder. We will not help. You should not have brought the Guardians into this, Sapphire.
Faithful leaped onto Lennox and unsheathed his claws. Jon watched in awe and shock. You will help! Faithful hissed. If you do not, you will wish you had died as a hatchling. I will gut you if I have to, but you will help!
You cannot make me, Essex, Lennox said. His feathers burst into flames. We will help no one to kill.
"Then everything will be lost," Jon said, standing up. Everyone looked at him.
Lennox flew over to him, hovering in front of him. You are who?
"I am King Jonathan of Tortall. From what I understand everyone is willing to help, but you. Magick and Night, they have their own opinions surely. Should they allow you to make up their minds for them?" Jon was not sure what had come over him. He was lecturing a god.
Magick looked at Lennox. "I wish to help. I have known Sapphire, Lael, and Loki for a long time. While we were not the First, we have been given powers the other seven don't have. We have sworn to protect Life, Love, Unity, and everything life stands for. Daemos is a plague. He has always been a plague. He should be brought to a halt."
"Daemos is trouble. The Guardians, from what I understand, have sworn their lives to fighting and stopping trouble. Then, why are you stopping them from completing what they vowed?" Jon asked, voice raising.
Suddenly, the Dominion Jewel flared up from the pouch on Jonathan's belt.
*Listen, Lennox. He speaks the Truth, said a gravely voice. It was aged, but not old.
I did not ask your in put, Elder! Lennox screeched at the Jewel.
The voice was amused, *I am giving it anyway. Daemos was a mistake. A mistake that now needs to be corrected. Will you stop it from happening again? It was through your mistake that the Old Ones' world ended so quickly. It was because of Daemos that it ended. Will you again make that mistake?
Lennox was silent. I will not fight. With that, he burst into light and vanished.
The voice was laughing and said, as if bragging, *He never could stand up to me!
"Yes, but…. Who are you?" Jon asked, taking the Jewel out of the pouch.
*I am Chitral. What your Lioness fought was me, not a real element, as she so thought. I made this Jewel, and I live in it. I am it's power. Your talent with magic is lovely and easy to work with. Unlike some of those who have used me.
Jon's jaw dropped.
Don't let him get to you, Faithful said, hissing at the Jewel. Chitral always has to be wiser and grumpier than everyone else. Even worse than the Badger god.
An arch of dark gray magic sped towards Faithful, or Essex, as his name really was. A shield of black magic surrounded the cat as the magic was rebounded.
"They always fight…." Night said, as if it made up for the fact that Essex and Chitral were engaging in a hissing battle.
The others were slowly waking up. Alanna, whose body was not used to such things as fainting, softly moaned a protest. Raoul helped her to her feet, a smile on his face.
"Not used to having a completely mortal body, Alanna?" he asked, teasingly. Thanks to that teasing, he earned himself a very black look from Alanna.
"Hah," she muttered discontentedly. She rubbed the back of her neck, which was rather stiff.
Jon chuckled. "Don’t tease her, Raoul. She’s not used to being in a body not completely broken in."
Alanna, who was standing next to him, punched him in the shoulder. He cried out in shock and pain. Her punch was harder than it had been when no one had know that Alanna and Sapphire were one. [**AN: I’ve gotten emails where you all have said that I have 100% ignored the little part about Sir Sylvia’s prophecy about a "man who loves her secretly" or whatever the hell I wrote. HAH! Well…. Here begins your enjoyment!]
Jon stared at her, and that satisfied smile on her face. Damn her to all the deepest hells, his mind grumbled. Then he looked at her, and saw something he had missed before. She had changed. "Alanna, let me see your hand."
She stared at him. "What?"
"Let me see you hand," he repeated. He knew that she had some very deep scars on her palms, ones she’d had even since her Ordeal of Knighthood.
She, Thayet, Raoul, and Buri all looked at him strangely. Still, she gave him her hand. He turned it toward the sun. As he’d thought, not one single scar or line marring her perfect, long and slender fingered hand.
A flash of memory. . . .
Jon watched Alanna run her fingers through her hair, which Alanna was grudgingly allowing to grow longer. She was eighteen, and it was only a few months before her Ordeal. He knew she was worried, but he didn’t really allow her to think too much about it. He sighed, finally tirering of watching her twirl a strand around one of her long, slender fingers. She may have been standing in front of her mirror, but her face held no sense. It was devoid of anything.
He walked over to her and kissed her on the mouth, pulling her into his arms. She yelped and tried to pull away, surprised. He released her, a smile playing on the corners of his face.
She looked at him, then hit his shoulder, making him laugh. "Don’t do that to me again!" she cried at him.
He continued to laugh. "I’m sorry!" He was still laughing, and she obviously didn’t believe his apology, because she hit him again. "Ow!" he cried, trying to stifle more laughter.
She humphed and turned her back to him, crossing her arms. He looked at her, a wicked grin playing across his handsome face. He softly crept up behind her, grabbed her waist, and kissed her passionately. She would have pulled away, but thought better of it, and let him do what he wanted. . . .
He dropped her hand, and nodded to it. "No scars," he said, looking away from her eyes.
Alanna looked at him, and looked at her own hand. She looked so dumbfounded, he almost choked on his laughter. "What the….?" she asked, puzzled.
Raoul looked at Jon, then took Alanna’s hand and laughed. "You might owe Sapphire a disclaimer, miss."
Alanna snorted. "Not in this life time."
[***AN: Sudden thought. HOW THE HELL DID I END UP DOING THIS?!?!?! *growls* MEAN! My stupid imagination, Raven, must’ve gotten loose. So, I will end this miniseries in the next part. I might continue it at a later date, but I’m angry that it’s gone so far from my idea.]
"Let’s get back to the palace," Jon said. "I know someone who will most definitely want to see you, Alanna."
For some reason, the joy and hope in her eyes seemed like a blow to his heart and soul. How could her simple joy at seeing her husband almost crush him? Jon swallowed and closed his eyes tightly. He knew why; he loved her.
Night and Magick watched them go, and Essex trailing after them. They turned as one to see the seven laying on the ground, moaning, but waking.
Magick turned and frowned. She looked at the sky, and saw birds frozen in flight. "UNFREEZE!" she yelled out, and everything unfroze. The day looked as it had a few hours before.
Night frowned, crossing her arms. "That’s a waste of magic."
"I have enough to waste," Magick said. "I am Magick."
"Your too cocky for your won good," Night mumbled, going over to the Guardians and checking on their vital signs. Magick laughed and followed, to help.
George looked moodily into the fire, mad at the god Loki. He had seen his Alanna transform into this goddess with unlimited powers, with this god in total admiration of her and her body. George snorted angrily and threw his wineglass into the fire. As soon as the wineglass broke, and the wine spilling on the logs, it erupted in a blaze.
"Gods, damn it," he cried, falling back down into his chair. He put his head in his hands. He felt so much like crying out his frustration.
A hesitant knock on the door sounded.
George swore silently, got up, and pulled the door open, a vexed expression on his face. The person at the door shocked him as heavily as being electrocuted by lightning. It was Alanna.
He stared at her, shocked. He watched her, and was even more shocked, to see that she breathed. He counted each precious breath she took.
Alanna steeled herself, and knocked on the door to the suite she and George had when they were in Corus, either alone or together. It was a soft, hesitant knock, but she heard movement in the room. Then the door flew open.
George stood there, vexed and annoyed. But the expression vanished when he saw her. After a few minutes, Alanna began to get edgy. She moved forward, and buried her head in his chest.
Hesitantly, he put his arms around her. She tried to stifle a sob as she relaxed in his arms. She had had no idea how nervy she had been about seeing him again. She was half terrified that George would turn her away.
Though, she wouldn’t have blamed him if he had. After all, in his eyes, she had betrayed him with Loki. Oh, gods! He had no idea how wrong he was! At times, it was all she could do to be pleasant to the idiot. She hated Loki, and Sapphire wouldn’t hear anything about her feelings.
Suddenly, George pulled away from her.
"What’s wrong?" Alanna asked, trying to wipe her eyes of tears. She winced, her skin feeling raw. "Gods, this is going to get verily tiring fast," she muttered.
"What?" George asked, puzzled.
"Nothing. You didn’t answer me, love."
George’s face turned hard and he walked into the room. Alanna followed.
"Answer me, please."
"Why did you come back? Did you come to taunt me, Sapphire?"
George had his back turned to her, but she could hear his hurt and the tears he must be holding back.
Alanna cried out and ran to him. "No! No! George, I’m not her! I’m not Sapphire! I’m my own person! I’m not someone’s puppet!" she cried. Tears were slipping down her cheeks, blurring her vision.
George yanked out of her hold. "Prove it," he said coldly.
Alanna fell to her knees. "Please, George," she cried, tears falling in a flood now. "I’m begging you! Please…."
George stared coldly at her. "No goddess would ever beg. For that matter neither would Alanna."
Alanna wept. "Tell me," she choked out. "Tell me what I can do to prove to you who I am."
"Who is Loki to you?"
Alanna could not stop the look of disgust that stayed on her face at the mention of his name. "He is no one," she snarled. "If Sapphire wishes to make a fool of herself for that idiot, that’s her problem. I’d rather not see that sorry excuse for a god!" Alanna yelped, and slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
George was staring at her as well. "What?" he choked out.
Alanna gulped, and looked around. She winced as Sapphire’s black and gold magic filled a corner, and she appeared.
She did not look pleased.
"I’ll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself, Alanna," she hissed.
Alanna snorted. "Why the hell should I?"
"If you don’t watch it, I’ll snap you right back up to the Silver Realms before you could say ‘kedesh’a!"
"Go ahead and try! Would Thom let you? Lael? I truly hate to say this, but, would Loki allow you to?" When Alanna said "Loki" it held a world of disdain and hatred.
George looked at them both. He went to stood between the two women, a hand on Alanna’s shoulder. "What is going on?" he asked Sapphire.
She looked furious. "She wished to be mortal, so I allowed her to be. She wished to be with you, which I feel is foolish."
"At least I don’t make a fool of myself, nor do I act like that I am not," Alanna muttered.
Sapphire glared at her and pushed George out of the way. "You had best watch yourself, myself. It could be quiet painful to die as a mortal does. And I could arrange it that you spend the rest of your life in the Silver Realms reliving a very painful death." With that, she vanished.
Alanna was quiet.
"Alanna?" George whispered.
Alanna could not help it. She fell to her knees and cried. She knew not the reason why she cried, she just couldn’t help it. George knelt beside her and gather her unresisting body close to him. She clung to him and cried.
Minutes later, she had calmed herself down, but still clung to him.
"I’m sorry I doubted you," he murmured into her hair. "It’s just…."
Alanna wasn’t interested in talk. She pulled George’s face close to her and said, "Talk bores me," and kissed him. When they pulled away, George chuckled.
"You’re an evil bitch, you know that?" he asked, pulling her into his lap and kissing her deeply. Alanna pulled away.
"The floor is more comfortable than the bed?" she asked breathlessly.
George laughed and stood. He swept her off her feet as he had done so many times since they were married. A blurred thought occurred to Alanna: a new body—never made love—she was in trouble.
George dumped her into bed, and pressed against her. Alanna wasn’t thinking quite clearly, and frankly, she didn’t want to think clearly. George and Alanna were both more interested in getting each others’ clothes off. What followed most definitely proved that they still loved each other, no matter what had happened.
Jon took a sip of his wine and finished telling their what had happened.
"So, she’s mortal?" Gary asked.
"Pretty much," Jon said.
"So, where is she?" asked Numair, puzzled.
Jon and Raoul laughed. "If George lets her out of his sight within the next two weeks, I’ll be very surprised!" Raoul said.
Most of the people in the room laughed. Thayet was staying close to Jon, maybe because she had seen Jon watching Alanna earlier.
"So, the lovebirds are back together?" Thayet asked, claiming Jon’s right hand.
"Looks that way."
"Good. Now maybe things can get back to normal," she said, holding Jon’s arm closer to her.
Jon laughed. "Thayet, what does the word ‘normal’ define into for you?" asked Jon with a laugh.
Everyone joined them in the laugh, until something smashed into the curtain wall and made half the palace shake from the mere impact. Of course, since it also slammed into the palace itself, smashing two or three walls while it was at it.
"What the hell!?" Raoul cried.
"What now?!" Jon moaned at the same time.
"Here we go again!" everyone else cried, laughing shakily and diving for cover.
"What is it?" Buri asked, cautiously.
Jon, Gary, and Raoul went to the window and froze.
Outside lay an army of thousands of thousands of soldiers. All of them dead. Hovering about thirty feet in the air were the Ysandir, multiplied at least twelve times, laughing and goading on the soldiers of the undead. And sitting in a chair wrought of black iron was Daemos, sipping from a glass of blood and wine.
He was laughing.
He would destroy them, then crush the gods and the Elementals.
And then he, Daemos, would rule.
Roger stood next to his master, laughing evilly.
It was their worst nightmare.
APOCALYPSE:
2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 8 hours, 48 minutes, and 28 seconds.
