Light in Torment: An Annora Park Novel: Book Three

Chapter Fifteen: Strange Bedfellows

The room was a large as Helios had promised and had a nice layout.  A large circular table sat in the middle of the room and tool up a lot of space.  Chairs spaced out evenly finished the look. 
I put the map I was currently holding down on the table and started to study it when I was startled by the warm body that came to rest at my back...Helios, I'd know his scent anywhere.  All my men (wait, was I thinking of Helios as one of my men?) had distinctive scents.  His arms caught me in and he pressed harder against me, so much so that I felt his very impressive length pressing against me.
   "What are you doing, Helios."
   "May I just wish for your company before all 'hell breaks loose'—human say that do they not?"
   I nod feeling a little lightheaded.  "Okay, stop with the pheromones they're making it hard to breathe alone think."
   "So I do effect you, ma cherie."
   I growl.  "You're throwing out pheromones like they're eggs on fucking Easter, so of course you effect me."
   He leaned down and brushed the hair from my beck and placed a soft kiss there.  "I would hope that is not all that draws you to me,  ma cherie."
Suddenly two pointed, very pointed swords at at his neck from either side.  I gulp and look left to where Terrenel has not let up his grip on his sword.  I look right and there is Branuel holding a similar stance and glaring the demon.
   "Step away from our Lady." Terrenel says, iron in his voice.
   "I was merely attempting to help her with maps.  Especially with the in-between."
   That was definitely NOT what he had been doing,  I slowly try to move but it's hard being braced on either side my Helios and having Branuel and Terrenel holding swords at his neck.
   "I need to back up Helios and slowly."
   "Awe you worry about me ma cherie"
   "I worry that this meeting with be done before we've started."
   "And you two idiots put your swords down."
   "Ahhhh looks like I arrived just in time, Chamuel says.  And I'm actually glad to have his presence here, maybe he can stop this madness.  Chamuel whips his hands out and all men go flying in opposite direction and groan as they hit walls.  "Better, my love?"
   "Yes." Inside I'm hoping this hasn't ruined everything.
   "Looks like I'm late to the party." Walker jerked his head "I came with birdie."  He notices the swords on the ground and the men still getting up and looks toward me morosely.  "Why do they get to have all the fun, and I'm not allowed to have any fun."
   "You fun would kill someone."
   "So? I'd make sure they'd deserve it."
  Oy! I drop my head to the table and grown.  Suddenly they are all there hovering over me.  "I'm fine, I'll be just fine.  It's just you all drive me crazy."
   "I'm pretty sure you were crazy before you met us," This from Walker.
   I glare at Walker and wave my hand around.  "This meeting isn't about my mental health it's about what I saw at the last Tread."  Suddenly everyone grows somber.
   "What did you see baby girl?" Walker asks.
  He didn't take much this time.  He didn't need to.  He knew exactly where to cut and did so quickly and efficiently ."
   "And the wing buds." Branuel asks grim faced.
   "Gone."
   Everyone swears and slams their hands on the table.  I hold up my hand.  "Listen he'd need access to surgical tools right? You don't just materials surgical skills, right?"
   "No.  We often need to see and be acquainted with the object we are trying to bring forth."
   "Okay well that's a stars.  He can clearly take corporeal form and he'd need to walk among human."
   "How long do they las in Corporeal form before they need a recharge from the dark forest?" I ask Terrenel.
   Terrenel shakes his head.  "I'm embarrassed to say I do not know.  Each one is different, some stronger som weaker."
   "But we were told he was runt, right?" I say, hating that word.
   "Yes, but he's taking power with those wings, even just for a short period of time.  He siphons them while he works.  He would steadily be getting stronger."
   I draw a hand across my face and grown.  "Because we don't have enough shit going on right now.  Now he can gain energy from the dead.  Perfect just peachy keen."
   "I take it that is you human sarcasm," Terrenel says.
   "Yes, I snap."
   "You know Mortaine I've looked around, and I must say I'm not impressed.  You don't even have a castle."
   I notice Helios's hands bunch into fists so hard his shifted hands have left bleeding marks.  "Stop, you've seen nothing.  You have no idea what the in-between is like.  If you'd like to I'm just Helios could give us a quick tour."
   Helios's eyes widen.  "You would trust me to guide you."
   "Yes."
   "No"
   "No"
   "No"
   "No"
   I smack my forehead.  "God you'll all give me an aneurism before this is all done.  Helios has done nothing, absolutely nothing to harm me or mine.  He's suffering from these murders as well.  You are all prejudice about the in-between don't you think you saw more of it than his office and a meeting room?"
   "I still don't like it," This from Walker
   "Walker you don't like anything," I chortle.
   "Are you set on this, ma cherie?" Helios asks whispering in my ear and causing me to break out into shivers,
   "Yes.  They are being a bunch of ninnies.  I'd like you to show me this community you've build, Helios.  And I don't know what compels but I take his hand in my own, much to the consternation of my other guys and their subsequent growling.  I ignore them all an just give Helios my comfort.
We all need comfort sometimes.