Wicked Rage of the Moon: Book Three of the Airendell Chronicles (31 page)

“Ma, we are fine,” Rebecca assures Morna.

Morna nods, but she really doesn‘t look convinced, but continues with her explanations; “It’s not exactly a place, it’s more an existence.  My babies have been with me all this time.  Just outside of my range of sensing them, until now.  The Spiritual Plane is an existence too, not really a place.  That is why the Dark One has been able to monitor me so closely over the years, she has followed me by visiting that existence to keep an eye on me.  But Cirona was working on a way to buffer this dimension from her sight.  She will have to actually come to this dimension or send spies to know what we are doing now.  Am I right?”  Morna looks at her older Highland children for confirmation.

“We are safe Ma.  We learned our magic well from you.  Cirona developed a protective spell that keeps us all safe in this dimension, at least while we are here in Asgard.  And, yes, she has woven a buffer firmly in place between Asgard and the Spiritual Plane dimension. The natural protection of this realm combines with the spell to keep us safe.  Cirona put the spell on our siblings here in Asgard as soon as we heard about the attack by the other dimension jumpers.  They won‘t be able to touch any of us now,” Robert says with a smile.  “Ma, you have kept us well informed.  The only time that you did not come to us when you are sleeping, was after the accident, before Lucian helped you get your memories back.  It was a long, sad eleven months.”

Morna nods and smiles as she strokes Robert’s handsome face.  She turns her attention to Luca, “Darling, how are you taking all of this?”

“Morna, I am, as ever, amazed by you.  One only has to look at these young ones to know they are your babies. “Luca looks again at them, they all have her exact coloring, red hair and brilliant emerald green eyes.  The four older ones have facial features and darker red hair that resemble her original incarnation and the four younger ones favor the current incarnation.  “I am not surprised.  I am surprised by the facts of the situation, but I am not surprised that you have been working to free your sister and help the Highland Jumpers, that is just what you do, who you are.  But I do have some specific questions that I need answered.  Where are the seven fathers?”

Rebecca chuckles when Morna looks uncomfortable.  “We don’t know who they are.  It was decided before our birth that we would be born using random sperm from all the healthy Highland Jumper males.  Years ago they all contributed for a study to try to save our race.  Our women are becoming infertile and we don’t know why.  When Ma learned of the stock of samples, she thought it would be best to not know who the Fathers were.”

Luca looks at Morna in confusion and asks, “Why Morna?  These children needed Fathers.”

Taranis who had been silent until now steps forward and says, “Lucian, they have all been under my protection.  I have been acting as their foster Father until we could come to you and you could assume your rightful role as their father.”

Luca gasps at that bit of information and looks at Morna questioningly, “Love, I don’t understand.”

Michael laughs and says, “Lucian, mother was confident from the very beginning that when she was able to bring both families together that you would willingly step up and assume the role as our Patriarch, our Father.”  Luca’s face is totally unreadable as he digests that information.  “But if you have no desire to do so, do not feel compelled to do so.  Taranis has been truly dedicated to us all… We will be fine without a real, I mean an official Father.”  Michael finishes sounding somewhat lost.

Luca looks at Michael and the other seven Highland Jumper children and says, “Any who my Morna treasures, I treasure.  I would be honored to be your Father.” 

Morna reaches out and strokes his face and kisses him soundly. “I knew it.  I told you that you have never let down me since I first met you.  I knew you would willingly do this, no eagerly do this.”

“I have always wanted a huge family and spent many centuries thinking I was lucky to have my Aideen.  Now I find I have many, many children.  I am truly a blessed man.  I look forward getting to know all of our children and doing my best to be a good Father to them,” Luca says quietly.  He is looking into Morna’s face searchingly and says, “I hate to break this up, but your mother is tired.  She has performed strenuous healing rituals lately.  She must rest before the Paternal Bond hearing at 5:00 this evening.  It is after eight now, she really needs to sleep.”  Luca scoops her up into his arms and looks around at all of his children with a huge smile on his face.  “Tena can get you all settled in rooms if you need to rest.  I am certain Auggie almost has breakfast ready.  Nothing surprises the woman, so she must have prepared enough food for all.  Go eat breakfast and get to know each other.  I will try to get your Mother to rest until 2:00 or 3:00.”

Hector steps forward and says, “Lucian, may I remain?  I am enjoying myself immensely.”

Luca laughs and says, “Of course, Old Friend.  We will be back in four hours.”  With that he takes off so fast no one sees him leave.

Kyle whistles and says, “Dad’s even faster than ever.  How is that possible?”

Aideen laughs and say, “Mama has truly changed him.  Physiologically speaking, he is much like her, but stronger.  It’s amazing.  I can’t wait for things to calm down and really get a chance to study him, and Mama for that matter.  This family is a medical marvel.” 

Aideen looks at her new siblings and says, “You guys hungry?  I know we can’t wait to get to know all of you.”  The siblings and their guests make their way to the grand dining hall and enjoy a huge breakfast together.  They spend a couple of hours just going from sibling to sibling, talking about their lives, their mother and the all the changes they have been through lately.  The atmosphere in the dining hall is bright and happy, very much a joyous family reunion.

Odin, Thor, Valliant, Vali, Bellona, Collingwood, Taranis, Tarvish and Hector remain off to the side, listening to the conversations and enjoying the interactions.  After a couple of hours Heimdall and Gullveig join them. 

Soon Breena, Damian and Rinda join them.  Breena is nearly over come with joy at meeting so many new nieces and nephews.  Soon she looks at Damian and whispers, “I need to feed again.”  Damian disappears and comes back with a glass of blood for her.

Rebecca is looking at her Aunt Breena with a smile on her face, “You are almost as strong as Ma now.”

“Not quite.  She was much, much stronger than I was before she was changed by Luca’s venom.  But I am certainly strong enough now to carry my child to full term and to defend him and myself.” Breena says happily.

“Ah, you know you carry a boy child?” Rebecca says softly.

“We do,” Damian says with a smile.  “Surth, an Asgardian healer told us today.  We are very excited.”

“Nora and I have known the baby was a boy for a week now.  Haven’t we, Pumpkin?” Rebecca says with a smile.  Nora nods and smiles at Rebecca.   

Aideen was pleased to learn that Rebecca, Michael, Cirona and Robert are all training to be healers.  “Our people will need us to be skilled healers when the battle on the Assylian Plain takes place.  The Dark One has many minions.  Ma will be able to rescue Valgullveig and Cirona can protect her from the Dark One’s power, but the other Highland Jumpers will have no choice but to do her bidding.  And the Gregory Clan will continue to willingly align themselves with Nyx.  We will try not to kill any of our jumper brothers and sisters on the Plain, but many will be seriously injured.  We hope to be strong enough by then to help the Spell Weavers save them.  We are grateful that we will have three years for Father to train us in the ways of Spell Weavers before that confrontation.  But it will not be a time of peace.  The Dark One will send many attacks our way.”

Nora nods, “I have seen the same thing.”  She looks over at Taranis and smiles at him.  Taranis gets up and comes to join them.

“What would you like to ask me, little one?”  Taranis asks Nora with an open smile on his face.

“Taranis, do you think that you could persuade Belenus and Lenus to help train my siblings as healers?” Nora asks quietly.

Taranis looks surprised and then smiles hugely.  “Nora that is an excellent idea.  You will soon be as wise as your mother.  I will speak to them today after the Paternal Bond hearing.  Many from the magical realms will attend to witness today.  There will be six of us from the Celtic realm there today, and the presiding entities will be Athena, the Greek goddess of Wisdom and Arete, the Greek spirit of Virtue.  It will be a fair hearing.”

Gullveig comes up to Rebecca and says, “Morna saves my Val?”

Michael joins his sister and they both reach out and take a hand of the Vanir.  “Madam, Ma remembered recently that Val has not been acting on her own accord.  But it has been her plan ever since the Dark One recaptured Val to rescue her.  She has just had to wait until the right time.  Tomorrow is the night.” Rebecca assures Gullveig.  “Ma didn’t retain her knowledge of us when awake after she was born as Deidra.  She has been living a dual existence for a very long time.  I don’t know how she has the strength, but she has.”

“How did this Dark One recapture Val?  I thought she was safe in the Neophasic dimension.”  Gullveig asks.

“She was, but your daughter is stubborn.  She left the dimension when I was ten years old to try to find you and tell you that she was alive and safe.  She missed you very much, Lady Gullveig.  Unfortunately, the Dark One recaptured her and has held her ever since.  I hate to think of the hell that Val has been through being under the Beast’s control.”  Rebecca says softly.

“How will Morna rescue her sister?” Valliant, who had joined them asks.

“She will weave a finding spell that takes her to Valgullveig, and then I will bring the three of us back to this dimension.” Robert says quietly.  “I am the strongest Jumper among us.  I am the only one who can jump with two passengers.  And Ma is the only Spell Weaver who is strong enough to weave a finding spell that will carry another with her and still get through the Dark One’s defenses.”

Valliant frowns and says, “It sounds very risky.”

“It is Grandfather, Ma will be injured.  But she and the baby will both be fine in four days.  Nora has had the due date mixed up.  Madigan isn’t born on the 29th of March, he is born 29 days after conception, on April 14th.  She’s young, she didn’t understand the 29 that she kept seeing.  Ma will be in a deep sleep for several days to heal.” Michael says.

Nora looks at Rebecca, “Becky, did I get other visions wrong too?”

“Not that I know of, Pumpkin.  Ma shares with us what you share with her when she comes to us when she is asleep.  But you are very young sweetheart and sometimes you might interpret things just slightly off.  But your gift is strong and as you mature it gets even stronger.  Your visions of Rodrigo are correct, never fear that future is certain,” Rebecca says with a smile.

Nora blushes and looks around to see if anyone else understands what they are talking about.  No one seems to, or if they do they have the good grace not to show it.  Nora smiles and hugs her big sister and fellow seer.

Breena looks around the room and says, “It’s 2:30, Morna and Luca should be getting up soon.  I am going to check on them.” 

Cirona laughs and says, “You think it’s safe yet?”

Breena nods and says, “Luca will make sure they are here by 3:00.  I just want to check on Morna without all these other emotions in the room.”

“Don’t worry Breena, once Ma assimilated the knowledge of us, all of our plans are firmly in her mind.  She has a strong grip on what’s going on and knows what Rebecca has seen.  She’s well on top of everything,” Cirona assures her Aunt.  She can’t help it, she reaches out and draws Breena into her arms and hugs her.  “Ma has told us so much about you.  I have been so eager to get to know you.  Ma said you would probably be willing to be my lore mother.”

Breena hugs the young woman back and says, “Of course I would Cirona.”  She smiles as she lovingly rubs the back of her new found niece.

Cirona steps back, “Sorry Aunt.  I am the most emotional, except for the twins.  I have longed for our family.  I am so excited to be here with everyone.”

Breena smiles at her niece and says, “I can only imagine.  But let me assure you, we are all just as happy to be united with you and your siblings.  Today is truly a joy filled day.”

CHAPTER NINE - PATERNAL BOND HEARING AND THE ENEMY EXPOSED

“What is going on?”  Everyone turns at the sound of Elias’ voice.  He and Samantha are standing in the doorway, arm in arm.  They look very surprised to see everyone. 

Breena steps forward intending to explain, when Elias stops her; “Breena, I know who these folks are.  Morna included me in the plan before Rebecca was born.  I have been to the Neophasic Dimension many, many times over the years.   Taranis has kept me informed all these years.  I just had to keep quiet until Morna could reconcile the two existences.  The timing had to be exact.  I just didn’t realize that Morna would be rescuing Val so soon.”

“What’s going on Elias?” Samantha asks.  Elias leans in and kisses her gently and strokes her face lovingly and then he puts his forehead to Samantha’s and is silent for many minutes.  When he finally moves away Sammy opens her eyes and smiles.  She stands up on tiptoes and kisses Elias again.  “Thank you Love.  Now I understand why I saw all those redheads standing with Morna on the Assylian Plain.  I had no idea who they all could be until now.”  Elias and Sammy go around greeting all the newcomers.  The room is just humming with excitement.

Rinda walks up to Breena, “Did you see that?” she gushes excitedly.  “They are so blessed!”

Breena smiles and nods, “They have a very powerful connection.  They are true mates, just as Luca and Morna are, just like Damian and I are.” 

“Why do you say that?” Damian ask curiously.

“Elias mind shared all he knew about the Highland children and the plans they have been making for the past sixty years.  Only Spell Weavers who are bound tightly to their one true mate can mind share like that.  Like I can do with you.”  Breena says with a smile.

Damian nods and smiles, “I gotta go congratulate Elias.  He’s a lucky man to find a woman to bond with as I have been able to bond with you.”  He kisses Breena happily and walks away to greet his friend Elias.

Thor joins Valliant, and says, “You are a very lucky god!  To gain all these beautiful grandchildren in one day!”  Thor suddenly gets very serious and says, “Brother, I must apologize.  I have spent a great deal of time being angry at your oldest daughter.  I believed that she had stolen Morna’s chance to be a mother to all the children that she was destined to have, but it seems she had a hand in making it possible.  Forgive me?”

“Certainly Brother!”  Valliant booms.  “I thought my daughter guilty of the same things.  I am just glad that we were both wrong.”  Gullveig looks up at her beloved and Valliant takes her into his arms, “We are blessed, woman!”  She agrees heartily and Valliant leans down to kiss her passionately.

This is the scene that greets Morna when she calls everyone into the great dining hall to eat lunch.  She and Luca had been up and in the kitchen for about twenty minutes helping Auggie, Tena, Skjarr, and Surt get the meal ready.  She greets everyone as they walk by.  She hugs her friends and family alike.  Exchanging greetings and family jokes alike with each one.  When Aideen comes through, she is near the end of the line of people entering the dining hall.  She is gushing about how nice it is to have so many siblings. 

Morna smiles indulgently and hugs her back and urges her to join her mate at the table.  When Kyle and Kylor bring up the rear Kyle is scowling.  Morna takes his hand and leads him away for a private chat.  She sends Kylor along to tell their Father to get everyone started eating lunch that she and Kyle will be along in a minute.

Morna leads her son back to a settee and sits beside him.  “Son, Aideen has seen me do things that you have not.  She has seen your father in hell because of those things.” 

Morna stares off into nothingness or perhaps back into time.  After many long moments she shakes her head and looks at her son.  “Aideen knows how badly those things hurt your father.  She also knows that if I conceived those children during my limbo years, I fully remembered Luca.  I only stayed away from him because I had to let the curse run its full course, to reach the end and allow me to mature into my full power.  It is reasonable to assume I slept with a man to get pregnant.  Aideen didn’t know I had come up with a way to magically use the seed of a man to artificially inseminate myself.  I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that she thought I was knowingly screwing around on Luca.  It just hurt that she jumped to that conclusion.  But go easy on her.  She and I are learning to trust each other.  It takes time sometimes to build that kind of trust between women.”

“But she is your daughter.  How can she not trust you?” Kyle demands.  “I think she acts like a stupid bitch a lot of the time.”

Agnar laughs from the doorway, “Perhaps you are right Kyle.  But I think you are focusing on Aideen as an outlet to vent your anger.”

Morna looks up at Agnar angrily.  “What are you doing poking your nose in this, Ag?”

“Morna, I have made it a point to keep my empathic abilities focused on Kyle since the Jumper attack.  Killing a man is a hard thing.  I have been trying to help him deal with it,” Agnar says.

Morna looks at Kyle who nods and says, “Yeah Mom, he has.  Agnar is why I am dealing so well.”

“Kyle, you are doing well, but you have a lot of anger still that you have to deal with.  And focusing that anger on Aideen is not the best way to do it.  It will only hurt both of you, and your mother.  She loves you both,” Agnar says reasonably.

“I know Ag.  Thanks.  I will watch out for it.  What else can I do?” Kyle ask softly.

“Be honest son, Morna says quietly.  “Be honest with me, Dad, Ag, whoever can help.  Would you consider letting Rinda and Breena talk with you?” 

Ag raises an eyebrow at that suggestion and Morna tells him telepathically, “No Ag, I am not planning to have them wipe his memories.  They are both excellent therapists.  Rinda can help him relax as a hypnotist and Breena can help him recognize and deal with his feelings.”  Agnar nods and returns his attention to Kyle.

“Maybe Mom.  Maybe after Madigan is born.  Nora and Rebecca told us that you get hurt really badly when you rescue Valgullveig.  I am scared, Mama.  Isn‘t there another way?”  Kyle asks softly.

“I do honey, but this is the best plan we could come up with.  But I will heal, and your brother will be fine.”  Morna says gently as she pulls him into her arms.  At that moment Luca comes into the room and takes them both into his arms.  When Kyle finally pulls out of their embrace he looks at Luca and says, “Dad, tell her she can’t go!”

Luca looks at Morna over the top of his son’s head and says, “I can’t stop her son.  She has to do this.  It’s her sister.”

“Yeah her sister who has been trying to kill her for hundreds of years,” Kyle spits out in frustration.  “She doesn’t owe her a damned thing.”

“Maybe not Kyle, but I think Mom is doing this because it’s the right thing to do and because her Father’s heart is broken over Valgullveig,” Luca says gently.  “This really sucks kid, but people in our positions have to make painful sacrifices for the good of others.  Being blessed with long life, strength, power and magic carries a lot of responsibility with it.  Do you understand?” 

Kyle nods and wipes his eyes.  He looks at Agnar and says, “Sorry I called Aideen a stupid bitch.”

“You didn’t call her a stupid bitch, you said she sometimes acts like a stupid bitch.  There’s a difference.  We all act in ways we hate sometimes.  Just like your mother explained.  We just strive to do better.  Aideen is striving to do and be better.” Agnar says wisely.

“I know.  I really love her.  She’s an awesome sister.  Especially to Aiden.  It’s really cool how close those two are,” Kyle says quietly.  Agnar nods and smiles at his future brother in law.

“Agnar, please go with Kyle to the dining room.  You two should eat.  Morna and I will be along in a moment,” Luca says softly.  Agnar looks at Luca for a long moment, and then tells him telepathically, “She won’t back out of the rescue.  You know that.”  Luca just nods and keeps his eyes on his mate’s face.

When Agnar and Kyle leave the room Luca kisses Morna and says, “How bad will it be?”

Morna looks away, “Bad.”

“What are you going up against Morna?” He demands quietly.  When she doesn’t immediately answer, he gently tilts her face back to his and says, “I have a right to know.  You are my mate, my life.”

“I know.  The Dark One collects dangerous things.  She has collected a couple of Amaterasu’s sun breathers.” Morna says quietly.

Luca gasps, and jumps up and starts pacing.  “NO WAY IN HELL MORNA!!!!  You cannot go up against that!”  Luca knows that Amaterasu is the Japanese sun goddess who has a fondness for creating dangerous creatures.  Her sun breathers are ancient dragons that breathe fire.  But not just normal fire, it is hotter than true fire.  Luca knows it would cause a typical vampire’s body to combust in seconds.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Everyone in the dining hall fall silent.  Valliant looks around and says, “What could make Luca lose his temper like that?”

Rinda chuckles and says, “Morna.”  But Rinda gets very serious when Nora, Sammy and Rebecca get up from the table and Auggie joins them as they walk toward the other room.  “What the hell is going on?” she demands.  She knows it must be serious if all four seers are going to talk to Luca.

Cirona who has been sitting between Rinda and Breena sighs and looks at Michael and Robert, who both nod.  “Ma is going to face Japanese sun breathers.  The Dark One has two of them guarding Valgullveig.  She knows Ma will come to free her and she can’t keep Ma out so she will extract her vengeance in a great deal of physical pain.  She has had Val staked out for two weeks now, she has been harassing you all with a shadow image of Val.”

Cirona looks sick as she continues, “Aunt Val hasn’t had any food or water in all that time.  She is very weak. Actually, she is dying.  That’s why she must go very soon.  I worry that tomorrow will be too late.  The sun breathers were created eons ago by Amaterasu, the Japanese Sun goddess.  She will also be physically attacked.  They breathe fire so hot that it is like the sun.  Ma will be burned very, very badly.  Rebecca worries that Luca will interfere, trying to help.  He’s very frightened for Ma.  He really loves her.”

Damian gets up and starts walking into the other room.  “Where are you going?” Breena asks.

“I have to talk sense into Luca.  He could get her killed.  Besides, if she gets burned that badly she will need a lot of our venom to recover.  Luca and I will have to milk a great deal of it in advance.”  Damian says quietly.  Breena nods and looks away, she and every other empathic at the table knows how scared and angry Damian is.  He wants to protect Morna, it’s his duty.  And keeping Luca out of the way and preparing to treat her when she returns is all he can do.  They understand the deep sense of uselessness and frustration the young vampire is feeling.  But they also admire his strength.

Everyone can hear Luca yelling at his mate and the seers.  He is irrational in his rage over the idea of not being able to protect his mate.  When Damian walks in he says, “Dammit Luca, stop it!  If you make her second guess herself she could get killed and not just hurt badly.  Leave her the hell alone!  Her plan will work and you know it!”

Luca stops dead in his tracks and looks at Damian.  He starts to argue, but he can’t argue with the logic.  He knows Morna won’t, no can’t change her mind about rescuing her sister.  She had already told him that if she doesn’t go tonight, Valgullveig will be dead before midnight.  Her intuition has convinced her today while she slept that she cannot wait until tomorrow. 

Luca is silent for couple of minutes and then he nods and offers his hand to Morna.  She takes it and rises to stand before him.  “I am sorry, darling, I would not put you through this if there was another way.” Morna whispers so quietly that Damian who is standing a few feet away can barely hear the words.

Luca nods and kisses her gently.  “I know, Love.  I know.  I truly do.  And I am trusting you to come back to me.”  Morna strokes his face and then kisses him passionately. When she breaks the kiss off, Luca again says, “I trust you,” He nods and then leads her into the dining room to eat.

When they enter the dining room everyone is trying to act like they had not been straining to hear what was going on in the other room after Luca’s outburst.  Octavius had arrived when Luca screamed at Morna and quickly figured out what was going on.  After several minutes when Luca and Morna are trying to eat and behave normally the ancient vampire chuckles and says, “Lady Morna, I can’t believe you made him understand you had to do it.  He loves you so much I was certain he would interfere.”

Morna looks at him sharply and demands, “What do you think you know about this matter?”

“I know the prophesy Madam.  I also have several seers in my employ.  I have had them watching you for a while now.  I know you go to rescue your sister.  I know she will die if you do not go.  I also know that she is suicidal and will try to break away between dimensions.”

Every one of the Highland offspring and Tarvish gasp at that news.  Morna swallows hard.  If she successfully breaks away between dimensions she will be lost.  “What does that mean?” Luca asks.

Tarvish quickly explains and then Morna says, “If she is truly suicidal, she won’t use her magic to get back to us.  Someone like Val or even me Luca could find our way back if we lost contact with Robert… but if she chooses not to come back…”