Orion (36 page)

Dr. Green looked over his shoulder and left swiftly saluting the two of us as if we were soldiers.  In a sense, we might be before the night unfolds.

“Why should I survive?”I asked when he was out of earshot.

“Maybe he knew that I wouldn
’t live without you.”

“That
’s pretty heavy for a teenage boy to say.  We just met weeks ago.”  He was hurt.  I seemed to be good at doing that to him.

“Yes, but I told you before, I can
’t go back now.  There is just something about you.  I can’t sleep or focus right when I can’t see you.  And besides, we just became aware of the fact that my mother knew you were coming.  That seals a lot more than male and female desires and believe me…”

My hand flew up.  I do not know what he was coming out with next but instead I moved onto to something else, “Why were our mother
’s friends?  A Valkyrie and Hunter.  There is something we are missing.  And your father knows what it is, for sure.  They were all friends.”   

My finger tethered to my lip in thought.  “And your mother knew I
’d need this.”  I held the ring in my hand now fastened around my neck.  Everything comes down to this night somehow.

He shrugged in honesty.  So many secrets.  “We need to get back,” I changed my mind telling him I should have read the rest of the le
tters. It couldn't help us now.

“NO!  Let
’s tick off the facts real quick.  What was in that letter?”

I ignored him and tried to walk away.  He followed reluctantly.  I knew the Hunter in him was in constant worry over missing any fight action so made him multitask. I held up a finger for each fact as we walked.

“1.  We were born at the same time.  I’m betting we could even compare the time of day.  2.  Our marks.  3.  Our names – most likely chosen for reasons not known yet.  4. We are different species.  5.  The letters.  6. The rings. 7. They kidnapped my brother to bring him here tonight – not going to happen now. 8.  The two docs are being black-mailed to get us here.  9.  They, whoever
they
are, are trying to kill us.  10. We don’t know why this is all happening except some prophecy said we are both tied to it somehow.  11.  Your mother knew I was coming.  12.  I didn’t!  13. Our bodies pump electricity to each other.”

He watched my face when I
stopped but looked preoccupied.  “I still don’t know what it all means.”

He looked back at the party that was close enough others could see us now.
  Finally he said,   “You are an amazing records keeper.  Now let’s get back to the party of doom.  I want to be on my guard.”  He looked at his watch like I was the one holding us up.

“Time?”

“Nine o'clock.”

We returned and played friendly towards the natives for what seemed like hours into the night but in reality was a little over two hours.”

I tried very hard to enjoy just chatting and watching Calum’s eyes dance while he watched me from across the grove as we circulated as guests of honor but staying within feet of each other.  Every time I was caught in a conversation with someone, I let my eyes travel unsparingly over to find Calum in the crowd.  Maze and Lee didn’t stay far from either of us.  I found they were doing the same eye thing but not with the intensity that Calum’s kept throwing at me.  Once I caught him spanning the length of my body and thought he was just letting his eyes wander, but the pattern of the way his eyes were darting in a zigzag showed he was counting my knives.  How interesting.  I wonder if that was for the coming fight or pure curiousity.  Both, I guessed.  I decided on the perfect birthday gift right then.  And he would have it when we wake up tomorrow.  I sighed at the thought.  I decided I’d do it anyway not knowing the next day’s events.

I dialed Szar
’s number.  He’d have the dagger I wanted ready and delivered to Calum’s dorm before the morning.  Szar was home still, which shocked me.  I still wasn’t used to having the new cell phone my father snagged into my hands when I saw him last, but I was adjusting.  Szar said he’d call the blacksmith right away and would have it delivered the next morning.  He sounded as agitated as Calum did and I tried to calm him by saying nothing has happened so far.  He sighed into the phone and let me hang up with a breathy, "Take care, sis. And remember not all are as evil as you know.  Trust your instincts.”

Did that mean Green or Quinn?  He couldn’t mean Borgon.  And certainly not Lee.  I didn’t have any others to go on but a missing Were and two Vamps I didn’t know the purpose of yet.

I made my way over to Calum in lieu of announcing my secret for tomorrow.  I sidled up next to him and squeezed beside where he was crowded in.  I wrapped my arm tightly around his waist signaling that we were still safe.  Where did that come from? his face said all over it.

I shrugged off any answers to keep from sounding too much like the scared on the inside girl I was.  I nestled into him more and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.  I liked this.  I could get used to safe. 

“He!  He!”  I heard beside me.   The giggling picked up when I kissed his cheek in a friendly gesture.  His face reddened.

He took my hand now and led me away from the four or five Hunter girls who were all trying very hard to wish him a happy birthday.  I hadn
’t realized I’d interrupted him.

“What was all that?” he asked.  I plead the American fifth amendment.  I didn
’t answer.  His mouth washed over mine.  Musky and a hint of sweat with a nervousness I've never detected in him before.

He chuckled instead and pulled his face back to see my eyes open with beat red cheeks blaring at him.  “
I don’t know what to do with you.”

My eyebrows wiggled up and down like I
’d seen Maze do every time she talked about kissing Lee.  Calum took a turn pecking my cheek.

“You know, I
’m beginning to think I’d be worthless in a fight if it involved you near me.”  My eyes watched the side of his mouth raise up a touch.  I was still amazed at all the things his face could do.  “Did I just say that out loud?” Calum freaked. 

I nodded.  I was such a guppy around him.  Not a burning fire, but I couldn
’t help but smile any time he spoke.  He was just an all around make you feel good guy.  He was more of my best friend than anyone had ever been.  He knows my secrets and still wants to be with me.

He shook his head up and down very slowly.  “Don
’t worry princess, your secrets are safe within me.  And mine with you.  No enemy can torture it out of us.”  I smiled at the intimacy of it but frowned at the word torture.  I hoped like everything that could never happen.  He was fast becoming the best friend I really never had and might still lose.

Calum tossed me fast out longways and bowed
like a character from one of my books.  One I knew well.  He dipped me like I’d seen at the many Val weddings and kissed me quick.  I was falling again.  And this time for real, I think.  My hand let loose of his hip and went to my knife at my stomach.  I don’t know why really.  A feeling I think.  He twirled me around and danced me to the side table with no one standing near it.

“Why did you reach for your knife?” his voice was
turned desperate.

“I…
I don’t know.  I felt something.”  My eyes darted around.  My Valkyrie sense of dark feelings started to sensor out, but all I found was joy and happiness emitting from everyone.  And I couldn’t sense any of that previously.  That was new.

I kept my eyes searching while he put his hand to my stomach.  I looked down at his bold attempt.

“Yes?” I asked.

My knife. 
He was hinting to be ready.  I slid it just slightly out feeling the anger closing in on me.  Calum’s arm held mine pinching off the blood flow.  His own hand reached for his knife.  He nodded behind the table to someone.  He reached under and heaved a long bow and sword out from under the tablecloth.

“I think we have company.  I feel them.”

…if I could be absolutely certain…that our love would be returned.  Then maybe we wouldn’t be half the person we turned out to be.

ANAT
(goddess within many)

...goddess who destroyed Orion with the Scorpion to punish his misdeeds including stealing her bow, excessive bragging towards the intention to kill the earth
’s creatures, and ignoring her. Legends say Artemis, and even Apollo her twin brother, set out to punish him but Anat beat them to it using trickery and good timing.   She used her sordid past to help solve an escalating dilemma among the supernatural factions on the earth.  The humans were passive and set in their ways, but those living among them are restless.  They want to own each other.  That could never happen.

Anat set out to create only one, but that would be impossible.  It went awry last time.  She would need reassurance when the time came.  Who would make the group compatible?  Who would make them achieve their goal?  Not all decisions can be easily identified as explainable, but sometimes you just know. The goddess rings made available will keep them safer.  All asked have willingly accepted her plea for help.  The five chosen
will
bring back unity.

STACE
(marked with ALL signifying the connection between the five)

Goddess ring
- multi-colored and blocks thoughts from Cas (and ability to have power increased when touching Cas physically but not revealed until later), enhances electricity with Calum (doesn’t officially know it yet), shields others combined with Szar (finds out later), sees specific future events with Cord (later)

...is the child born to a goddess- daughter of Anat who killed her lover Aqhat (Orion) in the legends.  She was created to change a dying supernatural world from destroying itself from the inside out.  After many dangers, traitors, and feuding allies she finally makes the group whole in book two with a unified beginning towards peace.  But it
’s a long road.

Anat tells Stace in book two that she took the name Anat over any other simply because she wanted to and that all the names she and the other gods have held are synonymous regardless of how the different people of the world change it.  Her name well become legend.

SZAR
(SHIELD)
(other connections- Saiph, star in Orion)

Goddess ring
- seemingly useless at first and he sees it as a dud especially when he sees the others in use, but later a happy chance brought about a situation where Szar actually felt the group in real danger and his own high emotions created a shield from any danger (thus a shield- hasn’t happened yet...)

...is the half god/ half Valkyrie- son of Lord Hathown, leader of the Valkyrie court faction in the supernatural world.  He doesn
’t find out till much later that his sole purpose is to save Stace.  Can he run a faction and save her too?   Stay tuned...

CALUM
(ORION-Hunter strength)
(other connections- Rigel, star in Orion)

Goddess ring
- enhances the power of electricity through Stace when he wears it combined with highly intense emotions- allows an alert system to know when each is close

...is the half god/ half Hunter- who was created to make sure Stace stays safe from all with his brute strength alone, but ultimately in the end he is still (Orion) and Cord (the Scorpion) does show up.  Can legends be broken?

Letter to Anastacia Anat Hathown
(hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till she is 18)

Dear Daughter of Anat, 

              I haven’t forgotten you.  My time on earth was short, but carrying you was the highlight of my time there.  I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold.  Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead.  I hold your abilities above all and will stand above to watch them grow when all have our children have found themselves in one accord.  The frailty of the human race kept us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the powers of the gods.  Please use this wisely and step forward on hastened feet.  We need you.  We are counting on you.  They can’t do it without you.  Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you. 

             
              With Love.

The hunter by day will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own.  She will bear the mark of Orion, as will he.

The hunter by night will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own. She will bear the mark of the sun.  As will he. 

They will bring forth a mighty nation of all who come together.  They will find Saiph at their right shoulder.  Rigel and his stinging adversary will rule like no other.   Cross will come between severed twins.  Let who stands in the way of fate perish and be no more.  In this great peril, the Anat goddess in human form will be the only light.

Lost Letter to Szar Hathown
(hidden by father- told before Stace as a young boy and asked to guide her)

Dear Son of Anat,

I haven’t forgotten you.  My time on earth was short, but carrying you and your sister were the highlight of my time there.  I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold.  Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead.  I hold your abilities as most important to the survival of your kind and ours and for the single event that it will cost all if you choose to ignore it.  You understand what this is if your father followed as I asked and gave this to you at the right time.  The frailty of the human race kept up us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the power of the gods.  Please use this wisely. We need you.  We are counting on you.  The rest can’t do it without you.  Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you. 

With Love.

Letter to Calum Rigel Green
(Hidden for proper time with Lord Green till he is 18 but revealed that he’d seen it years before)

Dear Son of Neptunia,

              I am the Father of Neptunia.  My daughter was chosen for this task to bear you.  I was asked to help build a ruler who would prove strong and agile among the many.  I adhere to whatever Anat, the battle goddess and her children deem necessary until such time I should need to intervene and shut it down.  You do me proud.  Please do nothing else.  Beware of your enemies, for they are many.  Keep the girl safe from all harm, first and foremost.

             
              Father of Neptunia.

Letter to Cassius Rathorth Cross
(Hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till he was ten only because he needed someone to personally protect her)

Dear Son of Eos,

             
Son, I am only the pawn in this.  Asked by Anat to comply with her orders, I give you my undying love and respect for what you must do in the following years.  As goddess of the dawn, I foresee what actions you did and will take to have the human emotion love and to fulfill your destiny.  Please use the powers you hold to complete these tasks.  Do not let her go alone.  As the son of Ra, you are bound by all orders of our kind and hers.  When choosing another form, take care that you are taught properly.  The ring will return and be of use to the both of you.
 
Take care.

             
With Love.

Letter to Cord Ryan
(Hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till he is 18 but given early because he is turned earlier than planned)

Dear Son of a Human,

             
The Valkyrie court has and will keep watch over you.  At the appointed time, lord of the manor will see to it that you are properly prepared for your destiny as the Scorpion.  Know that your original lineage stems from great rulers and will allow you to harness the power you will need to lead the most ruthless of the factions. Guard it well. 

             
              With Thanks.

             
                            Anat.

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