Phantom Queen Book one

Chapter Five

“Morrigan, nice to see you again.” Adam says with a grin as he grabs me and hugs me.
“Who is this, Morrigan?” Cu Chulainn asks behind me.
“Adam, God of Purgatory. Who are you?” He asks him I look up to see him frowning.
“Cu Chulainn, demigod.” He responds.
“I told you to stay away from him, Morrigan.” Adam says angrily as he pushes me behind him and an axe appears in his other hand.
“Do not attack him, Adam.” I say angrily as I fight off his hand.
“Why? You said he wanted to kill you.” Adam says as he glares at him.
“I don’t want to anymore.” Cu Chulainn says with a smile.
“Why?” Adam asks him.
“She is nothing like her, she is caring.” Cu Chulainn says as he smiles at me, I feel Adam’s hand drop and he stands back up right as his axe vanishes.
“You kill her, I will kill you.” Adam says as he glares at him, Cu Chulainn nods to him.
“Why do you care about her, if I may ask?” Cu Chulainn asks with a frown.
“I watched her grow up, her and I would play card games at the palace together. And when she ran from the palace we would hang out in taverns.” Adam says with a grin down at me as I walk up beside him, I laugh at him.
“More like I would serve you alcohol while you talked to me in taverns.” I say with a smile up at him.
“Why were you serving alcohol? You are a princess.” Cu Chulainn asks me as his frown deepens.
“I ran away from home and worked for money.” I say as I smile at him.
“This stubborn one wouldn’t take money from home before leaving.” Adam says with a laugh.
“Not my money.” I say as I frown up at Adam.
“She would also sneak out in peasant clothes.” Adam says with a grin. “I do not understand you, you spent most of your life running from this place, and now you are running it.” Adam says as he laughs.
“I do as Creation wishes.” I say angrily, I feel someone appear in the palace. I look around the hallway trying to find the source, and I see Emnos running towards us, I back away from him preparing to run.
“Adam, claim me please.” Cu Chulainn says angrily to him.
“Why?” Adam asks with a frown, Cu Chulainn moves to the side and points at Emnos.
“You are a demigod?” Emnos asks with a grin as he stops. “Well, this just got much easier.” He says with a laugh as he vanishes, I see him reappear behind Cu Chulainn.
“No! Emnos stop!” I yell at him as I run towards them.
“Then I will take you.” Emnos says with a grin, Cu Chulainn turns around and grabs Emnos throwing him back down the hallway.
“Claim me, Adam.” Cu Chulainn says angrily as he watches Emnos. “I want to kill him.” He says with a grin, I watch Adam touch his arm as Emnos runs back to us.
“I, Adam God of Purgatory claim you Cu Chulainn as my demigod. Kill him.” Adam says to him and I watch Cu Chulainn charge at Emnos with a sword drawn, I watch as they fight. “He is quite powerful.” Adam says quietly, Emnos’ head rolls over to our feet as Cu Chulainn walks towards us as his sword vanishes.
“Thank you for the satisfaction, Adam.” He says with a grin as he stops in front of us, I look down at the head of Emnos and I frown as I feel pain in me.
“Are you okay, Morrigan?” I hear Cu Chulainn ask me, I look up at him as a tear falls down my face.
“I don’t know.” I say as my frown deepens.
“Do you want me to unclaim you, Cu Chulainn?” Adam asks him.
“No, we can stay chained together for now. As long as you are okay with me staying here to protect her.” He says with a frown.
“I can agree with that.” Adam says with a laugh. “I will get rid of the body, Morrigan.” Adam says quietly to me and I nod as I fear another tear fall.
“That is the magic, Morrigan.” Cu Chulainn says quietly as he looks down at the floor. “Seems you were with him long enough for it to take effect, it is not as strong as it will be if he gets his hands on you again. The longer you are with a God the more powerful it is.” He says quietly.
“How long were you with Morrigu?” I ask him.
“Six thousand years.” He says quietly as he looks back up to me.
“How did you survive that?” I ask him as the pain inside me increases, I get angry at the fact I am actually mourning his death.
“The way you are right now, anger can be a powerful escape from loss.” He says as he gives me a small smile. I feel someone appear in the palace and I turn to see Dhuna, he glares at me and runs towards me as I see a sword appear in his hand. I feel my swords appear as I turn to face him.
“Do not kill him.” I say to Cu Chulainn as I charge towards Dhuna letting my anger loose, Cu Chulainn watches us as he leans against the wall. Dhuna gets angrier the longer the fight goes on. “I didn’t kill him.” I whisper to Dhuna as I shove him against the wall.
“Who did then?” He asks me angrily as he shoves me back.
“I will never tell you, he got what he deserved.” I say angrily as tears fall down my face, Dhuna watches me as his anger vanishes. I raise my sword and bring it down on him, he doesn’t bother to block me, the sword stops above his head the magic stopping me. “Fight me, Dhuna.” I say angrily as I glare at him.
“No, I will just wait for him to return. He will tell me.” Dhuna says as he vanishes.
“You are as skilled as her in the sword.” Cu Chulainn says to me bringing me out of my anger, I look over at him and he grins at me. “Want to fight? I will fight you.” He says as he walks towards me, I grab his hand and vanish. An arena appears around us.
“I am not destroying the palace and risking human lives.” I say angrily as I vanish to the other side of the arena.
“As you wish, Morrigan.” Cu Chulainn says to me with a smile, his sword appears in his hand and he charges towards me. The magic reacts differently to him, as if it is going to predict every single move he is going to make before he has even reached me, I frown at him.
“You and Morrigu used to duel?” I ask as I raise a sword and his blade hits it.
“Yes, all the time.” He says as he moves slightly and I raise the other sword up as his blade hits it.
“The magic already knows all your moves.” I say with a laugh as he moves again and I move a sword down low as his blade hits it.
“I have learned a few new things.” He says with a grin as I fall onto my back, I frown confused as to how it happened. He kneels down beside me looking at me with a grin. “If I do not plan my next attack, I can get you.” He says as he offers me a hand.
“Keep that one to yourself, otherwise the Gods will want to fight for the right to have me again.” I say with a laugh as he helps me up.
“That is a closely guarded secret that will never be spoken.” He says with a grin, I feel someone appear I look over to see Theros he grins as he runs to me.
“Morrigan!” He yells as he sweeps me off my feet in a hug and squeezes me.
“Hi Theros.” I say with a laugh as I hug his head against my chest.
“I think I may not let go.” He says with a serious tone.
“Drop me you depraved man.” I say with a laugh as I push his head away from me, he sets me on the ground with a grin.
“Who is this?” He asks as he smiles at Cu Chulainn.
“Do not attack, he is a friend.” I say to Theros and he nods with a frown. “Cu Chulainn.” I say with a smile, he glares at him.
“Did you try killing her?” Theros asks him.
“Back then or just now?” Cu Chulainn asks with a smile.
“Back then.” Theros says to him.
“Yes, but I have realized she is not Morrigu in anyway. Except maybe the nice ways.” Cu Chulainn says with a grin.
“It is that awesome body is it not?” Theros says with a grin, I glare at both of them.
“That is not appropriate Theros.” I say angrily.
“Yeah, not appropriate.” Cu Chulainn says as he hides his smile behind a hand.
“Really? You are just as bad as him?” I ask him angrily, he grins at me.
“You should see her in the outfits I have, it will stop your heart. Though that dress she has on is one of mine too.” Theros says with a grin as he looks at my chest.
“You made that dress?” He asks with a laugh.
“Yep, I enjoy to see women be free from high dresses that smother them.” Theros says with a laugh.
“I applaud you on your valorous effort.” Cu Chulainn says as he claps his hands a few times.
“I do my best.” Theros says with a bow as he laughs.
“You two are despicable.” I say as I glare at them, they both grin at me.
“Speaking of outfits, it is summer festival again, Morrigan. Why don’t you two come enjoy the water.” Theros says as his grin widens. “Now that Emnos is gone it will make it easier to lay back and relax.” He says with a laugh.
“I guess we can, I think he could use some relaxing.” I say with a small smile, Theros grabs both of us and we vanish a bedroom appears around us.
“I will come get you once you are changed.” Theros says with a wink and vanishes with Cu Chulainn, I walk over to the rope and ring it, a maid walks in and takes the dress off me and pulls the small swimming outfit on me and walks back out. I walk over to the door and open it to see them waiting for me in the hallway, Cu Chulainn and Theros are wearing the short pants for the men. Cu Chulainn turns to look at me when he hears the door open and he grins.
“You truly are a mastermind Theros.” He says with a laugh as he offers his arm to me and I take it, Theros offers his arm to me as well and I take it.
“I do my best.” Theros says with a laugh as they lead me through the hallways to the platforms. We walk to the platforms and Theros slides off into the water and turns raising his hands up to me, I fall into his hands and he sets me on the floor under the water, I watch as Cu Chulainn slides off into the water with us. He smiles at me as he joins us, I look around at the Gods gathered as the feelings of loss rise up in me again, I let my anger rise up in me to kill the feelings.
“I have never seen someone so angry while relaxing.” Theros says to me drawing my attention back to him as he grins at me.
“I am sorry, Theros. Just angry at some feelings I cannot get rid of.” I say with a smile.
“Emnos?” He asks me with a frown.
“Yes, I was happy as soon as it happened. But then I felt sorrow and pain at his loss.” I say angrily.
“Who did it by the way?” Theros asks me with a grin.
“Promise not to speak a word?” I ask him with a frown and he nods, I point to Cu Chulainn. “I don’t want someone coming after him.” I say quietly.
“Yeah, Dhuna is that way, Emnos is his obsession. I find it pathetic.” Theros says with a frown.
“He came after Morrigan, she fought him off brilliantly.” Cu Chulainn says with a grin.
“Why not just let him get the other one?” Theros asks me with a frown.
“I don’t hate him; I just want to left alone.” I say with a frown.
“Adam claimed me, so I am her protector.” Cu Chulainn says with a grin.
“Adam is not usually one to come up with great ideas.” Theros says with a frown.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Theros?” Adam asks angrily as he slides into the water by us, and Theros grins at him.
“Absolutely nothing, but Cu Chulainn came up with the idea, did he not?” Theros asks with a laugh.
“If he had not, I would have.” Adam says angrily as he glares at Theros.
“I totally believe that.” Theros says as he laughs harder, Adam smack him on the shoulder.
“Shut up Theros.” Adam says as he glares at him, Theros laughs harder.
“Cu Chulainn I was told you could turn your head into a demon, is that true?” Theros asks him as he calms down his laughter.
“Yes, it is. But it is not something that should be let out unless there is a very dangerous threat.” He says with a frown. “I cannot control myself when it comes out. Everything around me dies, or I go after it.” He adds.
“Is it true it is a permanent death for Gods?” Adam asks him with a frown.
“Yes, it is, I killed the God of Fury with it.” Cu Chulainn says with a frown.
“We have a God of Wrath, but no Fury.” Theros says with a small smile.
“You called Theros?” Ante asks as he walks over to us.
“Nope just talking bad about you behind your back.” Theros says with a grin, Ante glares at him.
“Who is this?” Ante asks as he looks at Cu Chulainn.
“I am Cu Chulainn, demigod to Adam.” He says with a smile.
“Never thought you would get a demigod Adam.” Ante says with a grin.
“It just kind of happened.” Adam says with a laugh.
“Morrigan, nice to see you again.” Ark says with a small smile as he walks over to us.
“Nice to see you again as well, Ark.” I say to him.
“Why do you look familiar?” Ark asks as he frowns at Cu Chulainn.
“Not sure, maybe I just have one of those faces.” Cu Chulainn says with a smile.
“What is your name?” Ark asks him.
“I prefer not to say.” He says with a frown.
“Cu Chulainn.” Theros says with a grin, I see Ark’s large battle axes appear in his hand as swords appear in my hands, I throw myself into the attack blocking it.
“Back off, Ark.” I say angrily, he glares at me.
“You back off, Morrigan.” He says as he presses his battle axes down on my swords.
“War versus War.” Theros says with a grin, Ark back up and tries throwing a battle axe at Cu Chulainn I shove a sword out and it bounces off my sword, Ark charges at me trying to grab me I dodge his hand several times.
“Cu Chulainn go to my home.” I say angrily as I flip Ark under the water.
“Are you sure? I can defend myself.” He says angrily.
“I can handle him, just go.” I say as I feel a hand wrap around my ankle, Ark stands up with me dangling upside down, Theros starts laughing hysterically as I feel Cu Chulainn vanish. “Going to put me down, Ark?” I ask him angrily as my swords vanish and I cross my arms, Ark glares at me and drops me into the water. I stand up and look up at him.
“Stay out of things that has nothing to do with you.” Ark says angrily as he glares at me.
“He is my protector, and I did not want him killing you. That makes it my business.” I say angrily.
“If I see him again, he is dead, Morrigan.” Ark says as he leans down into my face as he glares at me.
“So, you prefer I go unprotected just because of a bad past with him?” I ask him angrily as I get closer to him. “I will defend him against you every time, so be prepared to fight me.” I say as I glare into his eyes.
“Then I will not be seeing you again.” Ark says angrily to me as he vanishes, I feel tears run down my face as I stare at the empty space where his eyes were. I vanish, the palace roof appearing under me and I sit down watching the ocean. I feel someone appear behind me, and sit down beside me.
“Are you okay?” Cu Chulainn asks me, I shake my head, I feel an arm wrap around me and pull me close to him hugging me.
“I have always seen him as a father, and he does not want to see me anymore because I defended you.” I whisper as tears fall down my face.
“I am sorry, Morrigan. It is my fault.” Cu Chulainn says quietly.
“I do not blame you; he is being an insensitive ass.” I say angrily.
“If you knew why he hated me you wouldn’t think so.” He says to me quietly.
“Past is the past; you have to move on otherwise you will never enjoy what the present and future holds.” I say angrily.
“I have never heard that before, I like it.” Cu Chulainn says as he grins down at me and I laugh.
“It is something I came up with after reading too many history books.” I say with a smile.
“Well, it is helpful. But I think we should go inside and get you changed. You have a lot of stuff to do for the palace.” He says with a laugh.
“You don’t think I should go like this?” I ask with a laugh, and he shakes his head as he laughs harder.
“No, a princess should never wear that while trying to fix a kingdom. They may not take you seriously, or pay attention to what you are saying.” He says with a grin.
“I will take your word for it, personally I think I look regal in this.” I say with a grin and he laughs, we vanish and my room appears around us.
“I will wait outside.” He says with a smile and opens the door as he walks out and closes it behind him, I ring the bell by the wardrobe and a maid walks in and freezes when she sees me with a frown on her face.
“I need a dress; I think the seneschal would have a stroke if I came to him looking like this.” I say with a smile and she nods, she pulls it off me and dries me off, then dresses me again. “Thank you, miss.” I say with a laugh and she bows with a smile as she leaves the room. I open the doors to see Cu Chulainn waiting for me. “Now we need to dress you, those things are not very proper.” I say with a smile and he nods, I take him to one of the Lords visiting rooms and open the door for him, he walks in and I close it behind him. I lean against the wall waiting for him to come out, I see the seneschal running down the hallway towards me with a smile.
“Princess Morrigan, I have a list of things that need to addressed in the city today.” He says with a bow when he approaches me.
“You can just call me Morrigan, we are going to be spending a lot of time together and it is going to get irritating hearing you call me that repeatedly.” I say with a laugh, he looks up at me with frown.
“I will try, but I am not sure I can.” He hesitates. “Morrigan.” A pained looks comes across his face as he says it and I laugh.
“You can also stop bowing to me.” I say with a grin and a horrified look appears on his face.
“That would be me treating you as my equal, I could never Princess Morrigan.” He says quietly as he shakes his head.
“You need to loosen up, I will not flog you.” I say with a smile and he smiles at me.
“There is one matter that has been bothering me, Princess Morrigan.” He says with a frown.
“What is it?” I ask him as I watch him.
“Who are you going to marry?” He asks me, I hear the door open and I see Cu Chulainn come out in noble’s clothes.
“No one, seneschal. I am a demigod; I will live forever so humans are out of the question. And Gods do not make a commitment like that to demigods.” I say with a frown.
“Who is this?” He asks me with a smile.
“Cu Chulainn, my protector. He is a Gods demigod.” I say with a smile as I look over at him, he walks over to us with a grin.
“So, princess what is on the agenda today?” He asks as he looks down at the seneschal.
“Do not call me that, and we are going into the city.” I say with a laugh, the seneschal hands me the paper in his hand.
“This is all the places you need to visit today, to address the issues they are having.” He says with a smile as he hands me another paper with a charcoal pencil. “This is for you to write down what you want done to each place.” He says and then bows and runs off.
“I guess he is not coming along.” Cu Chulainn says with a frown.
“Probably too dangerous for him out there.” I say to him and he nods as he offers his arm to me and I take it, we vanish appearing outside the main entrance of the mansion. I look around at all the building to find most of them are in a state of disrepair. “One moment I need to ask Creation something.” I say to him and he nods.
Can I repair these buildings with my magic?
“Yes, but it will drain you like before.”
Cu Chulainn can protect me.
“I leave this up to you.”
I pull him with me as I walk to one of the buildings, I hesitate before I touch it and look up at him. “Once I do this, I will need you to be more protective than usual. This weakens me quite a bit.” I say to him with a serious look on my face and he nods, I touch the building and I gather all my magic letting it flow into the building and all the buildings around it until I have all the buildings drenched in the magic and I direct it to repair all of them at once. I feel the magic drain out of me and I feel myself loosing the strength to stand, I feel him wrap an arm around me to keep me upright. Once the magic is done, I remove my hand from the wall and look up at him he grins down at me.
“You did that even though you knew it would make you weak? Why do that for humans?” He asks me.
“They deserve happiness too.” I say as I give him a weak smile, he laughs as he stands me up better.
“I do not understand you, but I plan on eventually understanding.” He says with a smile as he leads me through the city to the places on the list. The sun has already set by the time we make our way back to the palace, and I have regained enough magic to stand on my own again.
We walk through the main doors and he leads me down the hallways towards the dining hall, I frown up at him as we walk into the room and he leads me up to the King’s table and pulls out a chair for me, I sit down and feel the chair slide back under the table. He sits down beside me with a smile.
“We don’t need food.” I say to him with a laugh.
“It helps you regain your magic faster.” He says with a smile as a maid places two plates in front of us with cups of wine.
“Does it really?” I ask with a frown and he nods, I look around at the visiting nobles sitting at the tables watching us closely. I start eating as Cu Chulainn does, I watch the nobles whisper to each other.
“They love to gossip, do they not?” He asks me with a smile.
“Yes it seems they do, probably gossiping about how I am a demigod. Wondering if you are my God and if you would be ruling with me.” I say with a laugh.
“Are humans that ignorant when it comes to Gods?” He asks me with a frown.
“When I was a human, I wanted to meet Emnos, if that tells you anything.” I say with a laugh.
“That explains more than you think. I think humans should be taught about us.” He says with a smile.
“I agree but Gods prefer to stay out of human affairs.” I say with a smile, I feel the magic inside me coming back faster after eating half the food on my plate, I smile down at the food. “You are right, it does work.” I say with a laugh.
“I told you, when you have been around as long as me, you pick up these things.” He says with a laugh, I see one of the Lords stand up and walk toward us.
“Great we are going to have company.” I say quietly as I smile at the approaching Lord, he sits down in the chair to my left beside me.
“Princess Morrigan, you are a beautiful woman.” The Lord says with a smile.
“Was there something you needed, or did you just come up here to compliment me, sir?” I ask him as I look up into his eyes.
“I would like to ask for your hand in marriage.” He says with a grin.
“No.” I say as I go back to the food on my plate, I feel Cu Chulainn trying to restrain a laugh on the other side of me.
“No? Why not?” He asks me angrily, and I turn back to him.
“Are you a human?” I ask him.
“Of course, I am.” He says with a smile.
“I am not, I am a demigod. Being married to you would be like the blink of an eye and you would be dead and buried and I would still be alive. There is no point.” I say with a frown.
“Wouldn’t our marriage make me immortal as well?” He asks with a smile.
“No, it would not. You would be unaffected.” I say with a laugh, he stands up with a glare and walks away angrily.
“You do not mince words at all.” Cu Chulainn says as he laughs.
“What is the point?” I ask as I frown at him. “If I am nice, they feel the need to come back. If I am blunt and truthful, they stay away.” I say with a laugh.
“You can expect a lot more of those though, no one ever tried that with Morrigu after she ripped a man’s head off for asking.” He says with a grin.
“Well, I will not do that, but I will tell them truthfully, I will not lie.” I say with a smile.
“For you two to look so similar you are so different. I love it.” He says as he smiles at me.
“Really, which do you prefer then?” I ask with a grin.
“I prefer the way you do things.” He says with a laugh, we finish the few bits of food on our plates when we see another Lord making his way to us, we stand and he escorts me out of the dining room while we laugh. “He will think you are avoiding him.” He says with a laugh.
“I don’t care what he thinks, you should have seen what I did to the boys my father threw at me trying to get me to marry one.” I say with a laugh. “I punched one, kicked another between the legs, and electrocuted another. All three never tried to speak to me again.” I say as I laugh harder, he laughs harder as I say it.
“That sounds like it was fun.” He says as he grins at me.
“It was, I ran away before the others were brave enough to approach me. That was when I worked as a barmaid.” I say with a smile as he leads me through the halls. I see my bedroom door up ahead of us, and I watch as he opens it for me.
“Resting in a bed helps a lot too.” He says with a smile, I walk into the room and he closes the door behind me, I walk over to the bed and lay down staring up at the ceiling. Pain from Emnos and Ark shoots through me as I lay there, I roll over and look out the balcony to the trees swaying in the wind.
Will this pain ever stop?
“Eventually, yes.”
Anyway, I can make it go away faster?
“Not really. Most humans keep themselves busy during moments like this, others let the grief out, let themselves feel the pain of the loss and feel better afterwards. Everyone has their own way of dealing with these feelings.”
I think I am one of those that keep busy.
“I have to agree, after your mother and sisters you kept busy with running away.”
I cannot exactly run away now.
“No but you can escape, fly.”
Thank you, Creation.
“Here to help when I can, Morrigan.”
I roll off the bed and walk to the balcony, I reach out to the magic as Cu Chulainn lands on the balcony railing in front of me. “You need to rest, Morrigan. Flying is not resting.” He says with a sad smile.
“I cannot just lay there; I need to do something.” I say with a frown.
“Do not behead me for suggesting this, but what if I lay down with you. We can talk as you regain your magic.” He says with a grin and I laugh.
“I am fine with that.” I say as I turn away from the balcony and lay back down on the bed, he walks into the room and lays down on the bed beside me. “Do you know how long it takes for Gods to reincarnate?” I ask him as I turn over to look at him, he turns to face me.
“About four hundred years.” He says as he looks at me.
“How long does it take for us?” I ask him.
“Same amount of time.” He says with a smile. “Morrigan, how long were you with him?” He asks me.
“Fifty years, most of it I was sleeping.” I say with a sad smile.
“Even as you sleep the magic settles and takes hold, even if you do not realize it.” He says as he watches me. “Do you know why you are taking care of this kingdom?” He asks me with a frown.
“No, Vhaanth told me to.” I say with a smile.
“If he told you to, its because Creation wants you to.” He says with a small smile.
“He is right, I told Vhaanth to tell you to.”
Why am I doing it?
“This will eventually be Myrddin’s kingdom.”
I smile at the thought of Myrddin running the kingdom, and he frowns at me. “Get your answer?” He asks me.
“Yes, a boy who is immortal that I taught will eventually run this kingdom.” I say to him and he smiles.
“I have not see you smile like that before, who is this boy?” He asks me.
“His name is Myrddin, I love him like he is my child. I had to leave him with humans capable of killing Gods, and they hate us. But I will see him again eventually.” I say as I smile at him.
“How do you know?” He asks me.
“Creation told me.” I say to him.
“Morrigu could talk to Creation in her mind too. After a certain point she stopped listening to Creation.” He says with a sad smile.
“Why?” I ask him with a frown.
“She was trying to save Morrigu from herself.” He says as he watches me. “You look just like her.” He says with pain in his eyes.
“I am sorry, Cu Chulainn.” I say with a sad smile.
“It is fine, I at least get the joy of getting to see her again without all the bad.” He says with a small smile.
“Sometimes I am afraid I will be just like her.” I say quietly. “Vhaanth showed me what she looked like when she was angry, and then showed me a memory of me. We looked the same, I have been afraid of it since. I do my best to keep my anger under control.” I say as I roll over onto my back, I feel him sit up on the bed and he leans over me.
“You do not have to worry about that, Morrigan. You are completely different from her, and if I think you are turning into her, I will do everything in my power to change it.” He says with a sad smile.
“Thank you, Cu Chulainn.” I say with a smile, I see him leaning closer to me. “Cu Chulainn.” I say to him and he stops, he looks up into my eyes with a frown and vanishes.
“He momentarily forgot you are not her.”
This is getting annoying; you couldn’t have made me look different?
“I enjoyed the way I made Morrigu look, why would I change that?”
For moments like this, it causes him pain and confusion looking at me.
“But his love for her should show you she was not all bad. She was able to inspire that much love in someone, even without the magic.”
I roll off the bed and walk out onto the balcony as I grab the magic and I feel it wrap around me; I fly up into the sky I see him on the roof of the palace with his head in hands. I feel bad for him, I cannot imagine what he is going through. I would go to him, but I think my face is the last thing he needs right now, I turn and fly away from the palace over the ocean. I glide down closer to the ocean looking at my reflection in the water as I fly across it, it is strange to see a crow staring back at me in the water. I feel someone appear on the land coming up in front of me, I look up to see Vhaanth waiting for me with an arm held out for me to perch, I slow myself down and glide onto his arm.
“What is it, Vhaanth?” I ask him.
“Thought you might want someone to talk to, that will not run away.” He says with a sad smile.
“I do not know how to help him.” I say quietly.
“Maybe next time, just let him have the kiss. It is harmless enough.” He says with a grin.
“A kiss is no longer harmless to me.” I say angrily.
“His would be, he would not force himself on you, Morrigan.” Vhaanth says with a frown. “He has made a lot of mistakes in his past, but unlike Emnos he learned from them.” Vhaanth adds with a small smile.
“How do you know?” I ask him.
“Creation has watched him for a long time.” Vhaanth says as he looks across the ocean at the palace. “If she thought he was a danger in any way she would have told you to stay away.” He says with a smile.
“Why does it feel like you two have ulterior motives?” I ask him, and he laughs.
“We do at times, but it only for the good of everything, and sometimes for you.” He says as he smiles at me.
“Am I almost done with the kingdom?” I ask him.
“Almost, you need to hire some people. Tomorrow the seneschal is going to show you a horde of paperwork for dealings with the kingdom. Tell him to hire ten administrators to handle the paperwork.” He says with a smile. “After that visit the poor district and help out where possible.” He says to me as he looks back out over the ocean.
“How do you know what is going to happen?” I ask him.
“Father Time tells Creation she tells me.” He says with a laugh. “I already knew as soon as I saw you that day before your birthday, that you were going to transition during dinner.” He says with a sad smile at me.
“Why did you not warn me?” I ask him.
“Creation told me not to, otherwise I would have.” He says as he watches me.
“She seems devious at times.” I say angrily, and he laughs.
“She can be, but it is for the better. You should return to the palace; someone wants to talk to you.” He says with a smile, I turn and fly off his arm back to the palace, I feel him vanish behind me. I fly through the balcony door and change to see Cu Chulainn sitting on my bed.
“Welcome back, Morrigan.” He says as he smiles up at me.
“Thank you, Cu Chulainn.” I say as I sit on the bed next to him.
“I am sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I sometimes forget who I am looking at.” He says quietly.
“No need to apologize, I only said something because I figured that is what was going on.” I say with a smile, he gives me a pained smile.
“Sometimes when I am with you, I see you make a face she would and I have to fight kissing you. I adored her more than words could possibly describe; the magic is some of it but the rest is me.” He says as he looks at the floor, I feel the magic swell up in me I feel my arm lifting on its own I frown at it.
“Cu Chulainn.” I say in fear as I watch my hand raise he looks up at me with a frown and I watch a finger touch his forehead, the void falls in around us as I feel my other hand raise to the void, and the hand near him grab his hand.
“What are you doing?” He asks me.
“I don’t know, I am not controlling this, her magic is controlling me.” I say hurriedly and he frowns as I feel the magic pour of me in two directions, I feel a link forming inside me between him and the void. I feel my eyes glow as the link falls into place, I see a woman who looks just like me appear in front of me with a smile. “Morrigu?” I ask her and she nods.
“Nice to meet you, Morrigan.” She says as she watches me. “Sorry for taking over, but I needed to talk to my demigod.” She says with a grin as she looks over at him, he watches her closely. “No need to worry, love. I am not going to kill you. Where I am, I am at peace.” She says with a laugh as she steps closer to him.
“Why did you try to kill me?” He asks her with a frown.
“I saw how much pain I was causing you, from what I had turned into. My only goal at that point was to end all suffering, so I wanted to end yours.” She says as she cups his face in a hand.