Speaking Of Survival
by Shadowy Star
January 2007
Disclaimer: I don't own the Coldfire trilogy. It belongs to C.S. Friedman. I do own this story. Characters not appearing or being mentioned in the original trilogy are likewise mine. Do not archive or translate or otherwise use the story without permission.
Summary: It's not funny to anger the family. As Riven's about to find out.
A/N: Another sequel to 'Survivals'. Fic finished as part of my New Year resolution. Two down, three to go!
Geraldine smiled faintly, regarding the couple outside, her fingers toying idly with the window's thin curtain.
Her father was sitting on the wooden bench he'd put under the nu-apple tree, reclining comfortably. Her step-father was standing in front of him, arms crossed, his posture obviously aiming to be regal and forbidding. All the black-haired man managed, however, was looking ridiculous. Which was why Geraldine could see a warm and exasperated smile curling her father's lips.
They'd been arguing for over an hour – and now they seemed to have reached a stalemate. Her father was smiling which meant Daddy Dearest –and Gerald's been so delightfully furious when she'd first called him that– had run out of arguments. Good for Riven, she thought, chuckling softly. He isn't going to end up as Unnamed Ones fodder. Yet. Her step-father's angrily drawn brows on the other hand still promised the young Iezu all kinds of deadly surprises in the near future.
As if in agreement, her unborn daughter delivered a healthy kick to her liver. Geraldine swore under her breath. If the sheer amount she'd gotten until now was anything to go by, the girl was aiming for a black belt or something.
Common, Dad, do something, she urged silently. A snarky Gerald da Silva-Vryce was an unpleasant experience at any time of day, and her hormones were running wild that far into pregnancy.
Almost as if he'd heard her unvoiced plea, Damien da Silva-Vryce quickly leaned forward, grabbed his husband around the waist and pulled the other man into his lap. Any possible protests were successfully silenced as the couple kissed. And kissed. And kissed. And ki- alright, you get the picture. Geraldine's smile grew at that train of thoughts.
"How cute," a voice said right into her ear.
She frowned in annoyance, and the being behind her finally decided to take shape.
"Did you truly expect me to jump in surprise?" she asked dryly.
"Not really," Riven Forrest said. "What exactly did you tell them?"
"Umm… Nothing, except for the fact you're intending to move in…"
"And?"
"My father rather suggested another trip to Novatlantis."
"You sure? Not to send me to Hell?" he asked hopefully.
"That was what your father suggested!" She gave him a look of exaggerated concern. "You should be worried, you know? They have lots of practice."
Riven Forrest blinked, decided the human half of his family was strange even by Iezu standards and quickly reconsidered his wish to move in. There was more than a little truth to her words after all, and he preferred his so far rather short existence to continue. He shrugged in artful disappointment, making his step-sister-in-law grin at how perfectly the gesture was copied from his father. "What do you humans always say? It was worth a try?"
"No, it wasn't. Oh and now to the funniest part," she made. Her grin was entirely too wicked for a human. "I told you so."
Put out, Riven disappeared, already seeking out 'Uncle' Karril and 'Aunt' Saris. They were much more fun to annoy anyway. Kasari might even want to help. They would start a rebellion! His mood was improving fast.
Alone in the room, Geraldine was still grinning.
Not even Iezu, it seemed, were immune to puberty.
FIN
Extra Notes:
1) I don't have the faintest idea if any martial arts are practiced on Erna. Just thought that being a loremaster, Geraldine would know the term 'black belt'.