Author's Note:
Why am I writing this. Why am I doing this to myself...Oh, wait, that's right, 'cause I shared this idea with my brother who now really wants to read this. And for him to read this, I have to write it first. And so, fellow readers, you learn the truth: I write for my siblings' amusement. Love you, bro. I've uploaded the damn chapter. Are you happy? I sure as hell hope so.
Yes, I am spreading myself thin with my stories. But I want to write all of 'em...so I hope no one minds. Please don't hate me for writing this when I need to update JoCM and MoAM more often.
So, setting the scene for this story:
The main character is DH Nick/Ambrose from 2015 or thereabouts. If you haven't read the entirety of the DH Series (Up to DragonBane)...
STOP READING.
Now.
Please.
Spoiler Alert.
Seriously, I do not want to spoil any part of this series for anyone, and I'll probably write something that does that. So be warned. Also, things might not even make sense if you haven't read the DH series.
Now, why am I also listing this story as a CON fic? Because...well...It's everybody in the future reading the CON books. Sorry, it's the only way I saw this story working out in my head, even though it sucks not everyone will be able to read this without getting a spoiler. I strongly suggest you read the DH books first, and if you're not old/mature enough, to wait until you ARE old/mature enough to enjoy the DH books to their fullest. Or you'll be traumatized trying to read Acheron and Styxx...
On second thought, I take that back; no one can read Ash and Styxx's books without being emotionally gutted. But seriously, wait until you're older. For all you folks who have...enjoy! Maybe. Please read and review, and point out spelling mistakes! If this doesn't go over well, I'll just list it as a DH fic.
Also, thanks to BlueCinder for inspiring me to write one of my own. (I actually didn't care for these kinds of fics until I read hers. Sorry, bro.)
I swear, if I find any horrid spelling or story errors...*Curses incoherently*
Mrs. Kenyon Owns Everything, DH/CON And whatever else is hers. Which is how we like it.
0000
Alright, so maybe the whole 'going back in time' thing had sort of been his idea. Technically.
If, of course, Nick claimed the psychotic asshole he becomes in a few centuries (Ambrose) him; but that was out of his control, and frankly, Nick was insulted that he loses his last three brain cells in the future and does something so tantamountly stupid that he'll never recover from the after-effects...
Putting Nick's future existential crisis aside, this was not his idea.
Nicholas Ambrosius Aloysius Gautier stood in the marbled hall of Savitar's Island where he'd been summoned, staring not at the Omegrion (which was the governing body of the Were-Hunters that normally met here and Nick had nothing to do with), but the familiar faces of his adopted family and crew of ex-friends. Some of the Deveraux's, The entire Parthenopaeus crowd, some ex-Dark Hunters- Kyrian and Valerius, namely- along with some others who must have tagged along.
How had this happened? Nick mulled over the past five minutes, trying to calm himself.
Sav had summoned Nick to his island.
Acheron had accused him, Nicholas Gautier, of messing with time. Not quite, but how the hell had Ash learned that?
Acheron claimed it came form a valid source.
What source? Nick had asked.
One he wouldn't divulge just so they could be killed by an irate Cajun, Ash responded.
Why was everyone here? Nick questioned.
To Judge you. Not Acheron's words- Bethany's. Bathymaas, the original Goddess of Justice.
Nekoda's mother.
Everyone, the people he knew and some of which he still claimed to love, were here to judge him.
For something that wasn't his fucking fault. (Entirely).
Yeah, this was not his idea of a good time. Nick breathed deeply, trying to keep a leash on his temper, and focused on something different-the people who weren't there, for one.
The Peltiers. Mark and Bubba obviously weren't here. Artemis wasn't present, thank God; he didn't want to deal with her right now. His Usumga-
Scratch that.
Nick narrowed his eyes on Aeron, who was making a pathetic attempt to hide behind Cadegan.
Stop using your nephew as a shield, asshole.
Aeron used his eyes to plead his case, trying to avoid garnering anyone else's attention.
I'm not apart of this, Boyo. I was dragged along. I swear, I am not stabbing you in the back.
Like that changed anything?
Nick eyed Seth and his wife Lydia in the center of the Parthenopaeus bubble. Of course Savitar would summon them to rend judgement on him; not like his father hadn't screwed Seth over in the worst way possible. If anyone had any right to be pissed at the Malachai line (other than Xev and Caleb), it was him. And here Nick had thought he might have smoothed things over and made up for his father's dip shit ways. Apparently not.
Pushing that dismal thought away, Nick turned his ire on Ash, who was glaring at him in equal measure. Probably wondering how much BBQ sauce he needed to Flambe his Cajun hide.
Speaking of BBQ sauce...Simi wasn't in the room. Nick could sense her with Danger and Alexion in the next room over, where they must have set up as the nursery of sorts and were babysitting everybody's rugrats; Nick doubted half the parents would be here unless their kids were properly secured. But why would they set up a nursery and bring their kids? Surely, damning him to hell wouldn't take that long.
Not like I'm in Hell already.
"So that's it? You're not even going to ask for my side of the story? Not reading me my Miranda Rights? What kind of a court is this, and can I call my lawyer?" Nick snarled, crossing his arms and cocking his hip.
Screw it.
Even the damned had a right to a fair trial.
"You're right punk. The damned should have a right to a fair trial. Which is why all these undesirables are all gathered here." Savitar stretched on his throne, his legs thrown lazily over the side of the armrest, dressed in his usual Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. Nick was mildly surprised he wasn't wearing a wetsuit. Not that it boded well for him. If Sav was dressed for people, that meant things would drag out longer than Nick wanted.
And Nick really didn't like the tone in Sav's voice.
Savitar eyed him as if he heard Nick's thought...which he probably had."Sucks to be you then, kid, 'cause you're really not going to like the next ten minutes. Or days."
Before Nick could respond, Menyara moved to the front of the group and turned to face them, strategically placing herself in front of Nick to protect him from the group of beings who were slowly losing their patience as the seconds ticked by. The issue of time and how it was dealt with was a serious matter, and no one present would dare do such...except, you know, idiot future Ambrose. And Savitar, but who was keeping track?
Of course, it's not like Nick needed Mennie's protection from any of them. 'Malachai' wasn't exactly synonymous with 'roll over and take it'.
Menyara flicked her eyes over to him.
"Calm down, Nick."
Oh.
Icy realization filled his veins. So that's how it was; she wasn't there to protect him, but to protect the everyone else from him. Flippin' figures. How could he have forgotten the criminal treatment, even for a moment?
He ignored the stab of pain that wrought; he didn't need anyone reminding him that as a genetic fuck-up, he needed to be tranqued and put down before he tore some pathetic person in half for sneezing. He shook his head and forced those thoughts away, and instead focused on what Menyara had moved on to say.
"If Nick is to be judged…" She glanced over to Styxx and Bethany, who stood side by side holding hands. Menyara breathed deeply before continuing. "Then those who wish to stand in Judgement of him must hear the whole and unabashed truth. From the beginning."
Wait. Nick thought.
Waaaiit a sec. He sucked in a breath as own eyes flicked to Styxx and Bethany, passing over Urian to scan the whole room in an instant before settling his eyes on Menyara's small frame in front of him.
No. She couldn't be thinking what he assumed she meant.
No.
That word was too simple- a single syllable- to encompass that absolute rejection Nick had of this entire plan, this fiasco. The feeling of panic that crept into his lungs as he realized that things he kept from people for a fucking reason would have to be told to everyone he loves and loved, and any dwindling respect left to him by the people who swore they were his family (and then promptly treated him like a threat the moment 'Ambrose' had awakened as the Malachai- because teen-Nick has yet replaced any of his adult memories-) would be washed down the drain.
What respect and trust would be left to him, when they realized the full extent of everything he knew but never mentioned? All the secrets he had kept by pure accident or on purpose? Normally, Nick wouldn't care. He liked being a BA asshole and had almost gotten used to the concept...But not at the cost of everyone's dwindling trust in his eroding sanity.
No way in Hell.
And not, for the love of God, in front of Nekoda's parents. Her brother. He knew what teen Nick was doing in the past with her -Nekoda- was a mistake. He had already been thrown through a wall and cursed to die because of one daughter, he damn sure didn't need to know what would happen when Styxx found out about Kody.
Except, maybe unlike Ash, Styxx might actually kill him this time. Or Bethany would.
That thought actually made him relax. Happy, even. Styxx or his wife would realize he had dated their baby girl, and would kill him. Or Urian would slit his throat. End of story.
Peace at last.
No, bad Nick! He thought, scolding himself. If he died, then the world was screwed. So as much as he wanted to…
Bad move. Which meant, for obvious reasons, he needed to stop this ball game before it got started.
"If we're talking about me telling them," he gestured at the Atlantean family in front of him before waving his hand at everyone else, "about what really happened...how about no, Mennie. I'd rather they mark me down as guilty with a capital G and stake my ass to an erupting volcano. No, in fact, I'd rather they hand my ass over to the asshole who's name I can't say and call it a day."
Yeah, that might actually be more enjoyable than watching everyone's faces as he told them the truth. Screw the whole 'the truth and nothing but the truth' mentality.
Menyara shook his head at him, as if he misunderstood.
"Not tell them. Show them."
Show them? How the hell...Nick's thought trailed off as he realized why they were gathered at Savitar's Island, of all places.
Not only was it secure and normally used by the Omegrion for Judgement, Savitar had the power to show them all Nick's past like it was a damn movie. Even though there were others with that power, Savitar was a Chthonian and far enough away from Nick emotionally that he'd be mostly unbiased in his power. He hoped. Styxx would also be a good bet, but it's possible he didn't have as good a handle on his new powers yet. And once he learned about Kody...yeah, that wouldn't end well. Nick would turn into a Nicolette.
"Not happening."
Ash raised a brow at Nick's immediate response. "What? Have something to hide?" He asked, a threat lying underneath his breezy tone of voice.
"And you don't?" Nick retorted. A low blow, but he wasn't in the mood to play this game.
Ash let out an irritated breath."Right now, what you're 'hiding' could cost us the lives of our families and friends. Messing with time isn't a fucking game, Cajun. Thousands upon thousands of lives could be lost by a single misstep."
Nick couldn't believe this.
"You're preaching to the damn choir. Of all the people you could lecture to about this, Acheron," he growled out in between clenched teeth, making sure to use a full Greek pronunciation of the name to piss Ash off, "I am not one of them. I know the dangers, I know the consequences, and I have spent my entire fucking life trying to FIX what all of you keep screwing up!"
Nick hadn't meant to raise his voice at the end, but it echoed throughout the chamber.
Ash frowned at the last bit.
"What do you mean, 'Your entire life'? That makes-"
"-No sense, if you didn't know what we do." Menyara stated, cutting Ash off before he could finish his thought. Menyara gazed around the room.
"I understand all of you are angry, and seeking a proper punishment for the person who has ripped the fabric none of us are allowed to touch. But you need to understand what happened. It's...not that simple. And not Nicky's fault. Not entirely. Please. I implore you to see his life as he lived it. Then judge him for the actions he has taken, right or wrong."
Savitar yawned and stood.
"There you have it folks. Pull up a chair, conjure some bean bags, pop that corn, and get comfy 'Cause we're gonna be here awhile. Unfortunately." He glared at Menyara. "You just had to crash at my place, didn't you? Do I have a 'Come one, Come all' sign on my door? No. Is this a Limani? No. What the hell did I do to piss you off? You do realize I'm missing some serious waves off the coast of Hawaii right now?" Menyara pouted and pressed her palms together as if to pray.
"Remember, Sav...you like me."
Savitar growled. "Negatory. Not today, I don't." He looked at the group of people who had yet to move. "Did I stutter? Summon some damn bean bags, because you poor morons are booked until dinner time. And since it's currently morning, you're in for the long haul." Savitar summoned a couple of papers and a large movie theater screen* that he placed in front of his large, French styled double doors...mostly so that he didn't have to move away from his throne. What could he say? It was his spot.
The rest of the beings grumbled their complaints, but soon enough there were love seats, bean bags, fluffy blankets and couches being summoned.
Because if Sav had to give up the surf for any length of time, he meant business, and that meant you followed his orders or you became a stain on the wall.
Ash continued to stand, as if waiting for Nick to make a move before he did anything. Savitar sighed and shook his head. "Trust me, Grom. You'll want to be sitting for this."
Ash straightened and looked back at Savitar. The last time the Chthonian had said anything of that regard, in that tone of voice, Ash had learned that his twin brother had not only been to Atlantis more times than he cared to remember, but had been officially tortured for a year and brutally bought and sold for the majority of his life.
Basically, it was the tone of voice that foretold life altering details that still made him feel like complete and utter shit years later. Which didn't do anything to offset his sudden anxiety.
Ash looked back at Nick, who met his glare with a fervor of hatred Ash could only guess was fueled by his own person. A bad feeling settled in his stomach.
What the hell had he done this time…?
000000
Nick didn't wait for Ash to move, or for him to sit down next to his wife Tory, who was munching down on a pizza Urian had conjured. He immediately flashed to the back of the room, near Savitar's throne, where Nick wouldn't have to feel their eyes on his back. He didn't need to be in front, regardless.
Nick had seen everything up close and personal before in the first go-round, and Malphas was was right: Re-loop's a bitch and whoever created it needs to go to the lowest level of Tartarus to rot and die a grisly death.
What he needed to focus on was who had told Ash about Ambrose's blatant stupidity. Someone had it out for him, and he needed to know who….Grim? Lagurre? Could that bitch still be after him? Of course she could, what was he thinking?
"Here."
Sav tossed Nick a couple of papers stapled together, 'Prologue' being printed in bold on the front page.
"Okay, folks. Ladies and Gents. Others. Eyes on me. Quick run down of the rules: Most of you know them, but for sanity's sake I'm repeating them and adding new ones. 1. No leaving this chamber and exploring, unless you have kids being baby sat in the next room over. But here and there are the only places you get freebies; anywhere else, and you give me permission to smite you." Savitar paused in his lecture as something occurred to him. "Actually...on second thought, please explore, that way I have an excuse to kill you."
Menyara growled at him from where she sat with her niece, Bethany. "Be nice, Sav."
Savitar scoffed at her. "Uh-uh, Mennie. Not after you ruined my surf day. They piss me off, they die. That's rule number 2."
"Pretty immature rule." muttered Ash.
"You say something, Grom? Speak up, I couldn't hear you." Ash grinned and tilted his head up to look behind him.
"Just saying you have an interesting set of rules. So, number 3?" Savitar rolled his eyes.
"Yea, not what you said. Rule number 3: No fucking trash. I ain't cleaning up after you ass-wipes. No breaking my shit, either. It's expensive, and the price is more than your life. Number 4: You follow whatever rules I feel like adding. Number 5: No staking Nick's behind to a erupting Volcano or tossing him to my least favorite God until after you've heard everything and judged him. And that includes killing him." He gave a pointed look to both Ash and Styxx, the latter of which having no idea why it would be directed at him.
Sure, Nick had attempted to stab him when he was disguised as Ash, but Styxx could hardly blame the boy for that. Not when there were days he wanted to stab the asshole himself. (Major asshole-brother-issues died hard. Could you really blame him for that?)
Nick scowled at Savitar. "You just assumed I'm going to be found guilty."
"No, I just said they're not allowed to do A, B, or C, until they judged you."
Nick blinked. "Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm so damn lucky you're on my side. Why don't you just drench me in gasoline and light a match? Save you some time?" Savitar shook his finger at him.
"You skipping steps, kid. Rule Number 6: You read the intro. This is your trial, so you start it. Then we'll watch your train wreck of a life. Once that shpeel is done, we'll hold a trial. And possibly burn you at the stake. Which brings us to Number 7: Myself, Mennie, Grom over there, Styxx, Bethany, Seth, and Thorn will act as judges. The rest will act as jury and witnesses. Since this is a sensitive topic, more judges were required."Savitar grumbled under his breath about 'persuasive egyptian bitches' and scowled as if this was not what he imagined doing when he woke up this morning. "That aside, it's showtime kid." With that, Savitar made his chair more comfy by adding cushions and reclined in them, leaving Nick standing with the entire group of Gods, ex-Dark-Hunters, Humans and Others staring at him.
Good God, it was Mrs. Richardson's class all over again.
Some, like Seth and Lydia, had turned back around fully so that they weren't craning their necks so much. Set smirked as if he was enjoying Nick's discomfort, and others were giving him a penetrating stare so reminiscent of his loathed English teacher he felt a tingle of serious discomfort crawl up his spine.
Come on, Nick. You're over thirty years old. This is nothing.
He ignored the stares and skimmed the intro Sav had tossed him before he started reading. It was only a couple of pages, so...
A ball of horror caught in his throat. This wasn't in his memories; this was from Ambrose himself- his words, not...well...his. Where had Savitar even gotten this?
Nick couldn't read it. If this was a trial, just him voicing these few paragraphs would taint the jury against him viciously- what the hell was Savitar thinking? He glared at the man in question.
Sav only yawned in response. "It's you who has to read it, kid. Get a move on so I can start this show."
Nick glanced back at the papers as anger and hopelessness consumed him...not to mention embarrassment.
But what did it matter? The only reason anyone was here in the first place was because they thought he was guilty of sending everyone here straight to hell, along with the rest of the world, by messing with the timeline.
If he read it, he looked guilty. If he didn't, he still looked guilty.
Damn it.
He just couldn't win.
Nick focused his attention on the words, and tried to shut out the looks everyone gave him.
Free will.
The first words rung out, and Nick let them hang in the air for a second before plowing on. He could do this.
Some have called it the greatest gift bestowed on humanity. It is our ability to control exactly what happens to us and exactly how it happens. We are the masters of our fate and no one can foist their will on us unless we allow it.
Urian snickered at the corny line, but a raised brow from his mother made him stop. Seth merely curled his lip at the naive thinking; If that was how the world worked, he wouldn't have been stuck in hell for centuries on end.
Others say free will is a crap myth.
Ash frowned at the tone in Nick's voice.
We have a preordained destiny and no matter what we do or how hard we fight it, life will happen to us exactly as it's meant to happen. We are only pawns to a higher power that our meager human brains can't even begin to understand or comprehend.
Styxx felt a twinge of...disgust. And annoyance. He had fought his entire life against the gods and the fates. Even that simple statement was enough to incite a fire of defiance within him against the words. Of course, it made him wonder why Savitar was having this read out loud to them, with Nick of all people as the speaker.
Nick, for one, looked at the next line and grimaced. Seriously? Do I have to say this next bit? Fine. He'd suffered greater indignities.
My best bud, Acheron, once explained it to me like this. Destiny is a freight train rolling along on a set course that only the conductor knows. When we get to the railroad crossing in our car, we can choose to stop and wait for the train to pass us by, or try to pull out in front of it and beat that bad boy across.
That choice is our free will.
"Yas! Cancel that date with destiny!" Tabitha called, fist bumping in the air. Her husband sighed and gently lowered her fist.
If we choose to rush ahead, the car we're in might stall on the tracks. We can then choose to try and start the car or wait for the train to plow into us. Or we can get out and run, and fight the destiny of the train slamming into us and killing us where we stand. If we choose to run, our foot could get caught in the tracks or we could slip and fall.
We could even say to ourselves, "there's no way I'm dumb enough to fight the train" and hang back to safely wait. Then next thing we know, a truck rams into us from behind, throwing us straight into the train's path.
"Pretty crappy choices, considering." Stated Urian, stealing a slice of pizza from his dad.
"Yea, just warm and peachy." Sin muttered. His twin Zakar turned to him. "So if we don't have a license, do we get jail out of free card and screw the Destiny crap?."
Styxx allowed his slice to be stolen by his son with only a mild scoff in protest before turning to his brother. "You have a rather negative outlook on things, huh?" Ash shrugged.
"It's a good analogy." Although, he was most surprised that 'best bud' and 'Acheron' were in the same sentence and Nick had read them both without choking. The man probably needed an applause for that feat alone.
Nick cleared his throat for their attention. "May I continue, or what…?" Sav waved him on. "'K then."
If it is our destiny to be hit by the train, we will be hit by the train.
"Woow." Tory drawled out. "I'm so glad I got up this morning." She turned to her husband.
"You're just Merry Sue Sunshine, aren't you?" Ash rolled his eyes.
"Honestly, can't even remember where or when I said this."
The only thing we can change is how the train turns us into a hamburger.
"Sounds about right." muttered Savitar.
I, personally, don't believe in this crap. I say I control my destiny and my life. No, nothing controls me. Ever.
Nick couldn't help saying that line with finality; simply because it was true. Some things changed, but others stayed the same. Even if people like Urian and Set laughed at him in disbelief. Nick growled and spat out the next paragraph.
I am what I have become because of the interference and secrets of one creature.
Ash felt that pit in his stomach reform. Yea, this was so not going to be fun.
Had things been done differently, my life would have been a whole other enchilada. I would not be where I am today and I would have had a life worth living instead of the nightmare my life has become.
Kyrian winced at the words and Nick's voice, and slipped his hand into Amanda's. It hurt to hear Nick in pain; as a parent, and as someone who took care of Nick when the cajun was a kid, it felt like someone was pushing splinters into his heart. He had never, in any way, wished this kind of life on Nick.
But no, by keeping his deepest secrets, my best friend betrayed me and turned me into the darkness I have come to embrace.
Nick kept his eyes focused on the words, on mouthing them and giving them sound. He tried not to let any emotion leak out. This wasn't him. These weren't his words. Not exactly. But did it really fucking matter?
Our fates and destinies were mashed together by a freak event that happened when I was a kid, and I curse the day I ever called Acheron Parthenopaeus my friend.
Ash tried to keep himself from flinching, but it was hard. Somehow, this was slightly different than when Nick would insult him on the spur of the moment. Ash could then just write it off as Malachai-Demon-Nick being an asshole. But this...it was written like an open letter. No, it was an open letter. Addressing anyone who cared to listen that Acheron Parthenopaeus was calmly, and rationally, hated. With no preamble or sugar-coated words.
He didn't even need to hear the next few lines to know who had written this in the first place. As it was, Tory wrapped her arm around his waist and held it, squeezing his side in reassurance. At his age, he really should be used to people hating his very existence. He thought he had been. But this...Ash had a feeling this would always sting.
I am Nick Gautier.
And this is my life and how things should have been….
Nick finished and crumpled the paper in his hand, shoving it into a pants pocket. That had been obnoxious and humiliating..."Any questions?" He asked.
Jo raised her hand. "Uhh, yeah. 'Should have been'? What do you mean, 'Should have'? 'Cause that kinda refers to things being different than normal, and if this is your life we're talking about that's...that's a little weird." Urian leaned back to address Cadegan's wife.
"Remember, he's on trial for playing with time. So you see, this here is what we folks like to call 'foreshadowing'. Obviously, shi-" Urian glanced at his mother, "-stuff get tossed up and out of hand."
Nick snorted. You have no idea.
"All right, kiddies. Fasten your seat belts and hold on, 'cause we're all going for a crappy ride." Savitar stated, snapping his fingers. The lights dimmed in the room while the large movie-theater screen lit up.
And Nick's torturous hell down the memory lane with company began.
000
Stupidly Long A/N To explain crap and give you all seating charts. Why? 'Cause I can. Although, I will probably do some editing if I find a spelling mistake or if I really just can't stand a particular line... Please Review! Seriously, posting this scared me. Why do posting stories and chapters terrify me? Please tell me I'm not alone with that feeling.
*I'm making Savitar do this Movie-theater style for a few reasons.
First is that even though I know Savitar, Ash, and a lot of the gods can just zap everyone with Nick's memories, since they're trying to judge Nick, I think it'll be easier story-wise and trial wise to process everything slowly. (We also wouldn't have a story if they did that. Or at least, we'd have a much shorter story. What can I say? This is Fan Fiction.)
Second: Since Savitar's using his powers for this, and I think it'd be easier for him to light up and play memories like a movie on a screen instead of doing 360 surround-sound (Like what he did in DragonBane) for days on end. But that's just my take on his powers. Maybe he could, but this is Sav we're talking about. He's...lazy with purpose.
Peoples present: Savitar, Menyara, Acheron, Styxx, Bethany, Urian, Tory, Kyrian, Amanda, Tabitha, Cadegan, Aeron, Chi, Simi, Seth, Set, Zakar, Katra, Sin, Tabitha, Val, Jo, Lydia, and DH Nick.
All their kids are being babysat by Danger and Alexion in the next room. (Simi's helping them at the moment.)
Who is sitting with whom:
Screen
Nearest to Screen:
Ash, Tory, Styxx, Bethany, Menyara, Urian, Katra, Sin, Seth and Lydia, as she insisted on being there with her husband. Set is also there with Zakar, and no, Sav is NOT a happy camper about Set's presence.
Tabitha and Amanda are sitting near the middle with, Kyrian, Val, and Chi
Towards the back is where Thorn, Cadegan, and his wife Jo are sitting. They're the one's nearest to Nick and Savitar; Aeron is kinda sitting next to Nick but still near Cadegan. And no, Thorn is not happy with the Malachai and Cade being so close together in proximity.
Everyone's really spread out, though.
Alexion and Danger are in the next room babysitting the kids with Simi, so they can still hear things. Kids present in next room over are Ari, Bas, Theo, Mia, and Amanda's recently born infant (From what Mrs. Kenyon has stated, Amanda now has three kids) along with Marissa and NJ. Val and Tabitha's son Valerian are in there as well, with Cadegan's son. (Damn, Alexion and Danger are basically running a preschool. Also, I think Mrs. Kenyon may have mentioned Katra having another child, but I'm not sure. If so, just imagine he/she's in here as well.
At this present time, those are the only beings present. Don't worry, others will join us. Maybe. :D
Please review and point out spelling errors...And please don't hurt me for starting a new story when I have others to work on... -RS