Chapter 4: Realization
Innokenti Oborin, October 16, 2187
Innokenti slowly walked out of the precinct as he tapped away at his omnitool. He hadn't called anyone to pick him up and slowly began walking the wards. As he walked, he turned and stared at his reflection in a shop's window. As he watched, his reflection began to morph into John. The figure looked younger than the man Leontina had shot, but he still had the bullet hole between his eyes. Innokenti couldn't restrain the satisfied smile from spreading across his face. His smile faded as John's image began to change. His vision was filled with faces frozen in horror and he slammed his eyes shut in an effort to avoid them. He fought against the memories of the past that he never wanted to remember, but had made him who he was.
Leontina Telibus, October 16, 2187
Leontina stood in the shuttle port staring up at the schedule. She was going to leaving for boot camp shortly and her thoughts were elsewhere. How much will Neridia change before I next see her? After boot camp and, hopefully, officer's candidacy school, will I see Alerio before he goes off to his own boot camp?
Thinking of her family inevitably led to thinking about Innokenti. She instinctively brought her hand to the bandage that still covered her cheek. She remembered the looks on the humans' faces when they dragged her into the construction site. There was sick pleasure in their eyes at their apparent ability to cause Innokenti pain through her. Had Kenti not come when he did, she would have been sliced up enough that she would never have made it through boot camp. She would have been a child forever or she might not have survived the experience at all. Now that she thought back on it, they deserved what Innokenti did to them. When the doctors had finished stitching her cheek, her mother had told her all that she knew about Kenti's past. She had never seen her mother so uncomfortable, almost lost in a bad memory
Iuterna hadn't known all the details, but she knew enough. Innokenti had been used as a tool to kill rivals gang members or cripple traitors, at the age of twelve. He had been indoctrinated to enjoy the pain and suffering of others and to never question whether or not someone deserved it. After turning in his gang, Kenti spent the last ten years trying to lead a normal life.
Leontina couldn't help the guilt she felt on being told that. She felt that if she hadn't been captured, then Innokenti would still be the male that she grew up with. She even said as much, but her mother had been quick to mention that Carla, Kenti's former mate, had died recently. Leontina had been shocked by the news, because Innokenti had never mentioned her death.
Leontina's thoughts were interrupted by her family as they walked up to wish her good luck. Her father smiled at her proudly. "How are you feeling first-daughter?"
Leontina looked at him. Has father heard about what Kenti did? She tried to bury her worries about Kenti and hid her feelings behind her teeth. "I'm a little nervous, actually. I am not sure I am properly prepared."
Hadesian, who was hiding behind her family, laughed. "I doubt we could have beaten you any more without causing permanent damage."
Leontina looked at the male. She expected her family to be here to see her off, but she didn't expect Hadesian to be with them. Hades had been helping Innokenti prepare her physically for boot camp. The male was frighteningly strong. His fighting style revolved around hard kicks and grappling. He attacked viciously, but still reacted easily to counters. She doubted anyone at boot camp would fight like any of her trainers. "What are you doing here, Hadesian?"
Hades shrugged. "I can't come see a friend off to boot camp? Hilaria wanted to be here too, but she actually has a job, unlike me. She did tell me to pass on a message to ya. She says 'good luck and remember to duck them high kicks."
Leontina couldn't stop the laugh. "I doubt anyone at boot camp can kick as hard as she can. After sparring her, I have a new found respect for you." She remembered Hades and his mate demonstrating how to dodge a high kick when she first started training. Hilaria's kick used all of her momentum to slam her shin into Hades head. Hades had avoided it at the last moment, but the speed of the lithe female was staggering. Had the kick connected, Hades might not have been standing in front of her now.
Hadesian didn't look surprised or concerned. "Why does everyone always say that?"
Alerio walked forward. Judging by the wide eyed stare, Alerio was probably told that his sister had been blooded the night before. "Will you write to me, sister?"
Leontina smiled. "Of course, but you better keep me informed on things here. I don't want to come back home to a new sibling I have no knowledge of."
Alerio nodded and Fidelis clasped his daughter's wrist. "You will make us proud first-daughter. You always do." Leontina clasps the wrists of her friends and family, before smiling warmly and walking into the shuttle. As the shuttle flew away from the station, she stared out the window and into the black. Her hand went to the stitches on the left side of her face and she thought back to the night before. She didn't know how she felt about the male now. Will you be back to the male I know when I next see you, Kenti? Will I be the same?
Hilaria Faucus, October 16, 2187
The day had been typically uneventful one. Hilaria never liked guarding the embassy. She wasn't used to the lack of fighting and gunfire going off, even after a year of it. However, today the boredom was a positive thing. She had another fight with her first-brother the night before. His wife died almost a year ago and he is still carrying her futtari knife. She sighed and looked out over the crowds moving throughout the courtyard. I know you miss her fradu, but you deserve to be happy too. She remembered the lack of news she received from him after he got married and tried not to sigh again. You never told her I was biotic did you, Pyrrhus? So much for not being ashamed of your family. She shook her head to try and avoid the negative thoughts. She looked closer at the crowd, a majority of the people looked the same, but some had a colored aura around them.
Hilaria noticed something unnaturally dark in the corner of her vision. She turned her head, spotted a human male walking through the crowd, and was stunned. Kenti? He ordinarily gave off a cobalt blue aura, but his aura had darkened to an almost black. She tried to focus on Innokenti's mind, the auras of those near him flaring into color. She noticed his body tense and met a fierce barrier.
Whoever you are, stay out of my head!
Hilaria recoiled and, erecting her own mental barrier in reflex, stared at him as he walked out of view. The darkness around him wasn't glowing, but almost steamed off the male, like smoke. She fought against her want to go and confront the male. I have never seen someone change like that. What the hell happened?
She thought back to the night before. Hadesian had come to her house the night before to eat with Pyrrhus and herself. The night had been going well until Hades' omnitool had begun chirping. He had stood and nipped at the back of her neck apologizing for having to leave. She had let it slide the night before because it gave her uninterrupted time to talk to her first-brother without Hades foot hooked behind her spur, but now she was concerned.
When Hadesian walked into her house, carrying a bag of groceries, Hilaria was waiting for him, with a level stare. Hadesian blinked and locked his cerulean eyes with her amethyst ones. A long moment passed between them and Hilaria's expression darkened. She didn't connect her mind with his, which was abnormal for them. Hadesian blinked once more his voice was worried. "Oh spirits, I'm in big trouble, aren't I? If this is about the brandy, I bought more." He barred his teeth at her, not breaking eye contact.
She stared at him watching the dark violet aura as it flowed out of him. He really has no idea then. She reached out with her mind and felt the calmness of his. His smile grew as his voice echoed in her head. Ah that's much better. What did I do, Hil?
What happened to Kenti? There was a flash of a read out on an omnitool from Hadesian's mind. It read 'Kenti was arrested – Iuterna." Kenti was arrested? What did he do?
He nodded his mental voice calm as always. When she first started talking to him mentally, he picked it up quickly. Though, that was to be expected with two biotic parents. From what his mother told me, he killed four people who were attacking Leontina.
Hilaria felt her rage flare at the thought, but Hades' mental voice was like a bucket of water, calming the heat of her rage almost instantly. I hope they suffered.
Hadesian laughed out loud. It was darker than normal. "Knowin' Kenti, the spirits 'emselves were prayin' for 'em."
Hilaria caught the darker tone and brought their minds closer getting flashes of a younger Kenti with shining yellow eyes. What aren't you telling me Hades?
Hades smile never wavered. He used to run in a gang with the men that he killed last night. Hilaria tried to process the information as Hades continued. He was their 'secret weapon', for two years, before they grew scared of him and tried to kill him. He sold them out to Iuterna.
So that's how she became Kenti's guardian? She and Hadesian had been together for nearly a year and Kenti let her into his mind occasionally, but she never looked into his distant past.
You got it in one, Hilaria. The men were put away for ten years and then had the great idea of hurtin' Innokenti by attacking Leontina. Worst mistake of their short lives. Hades shrugged and placed the bag on the counter and pulling out an unopened bottle of brandy. He walked behind the counter to pull out two glasses. He poured a half glass for each of them and offered it to her with a smile. "You want a drink before we go?"
Hilaria took the glass from her mate and sipped at it. "Where are we going?"
Hadesian sipped his drink before he tipped the glass back. He answered as he placed the empty glass onto the table. "Kenti's aura has changed, hasn't it?"
How did you-? She saw a flash of memory containing Kenti with his new dark aura. Hilaria was impressed again by Hades' ability to adapt. His biotic potential wasn't enough to create useable fields, but he had impressive mental ability.
You connected our minds, amatra. I just looked into your memories. He walked toward the door before turning and baring his teeth at her. Let's go find out what's wrong with Kenti.
Innokenti Oborin, October 16, 2187
Kenti walked into his empty home and moved immediately to the liquor cabinet. His body was screaming for a fight. It wanted him to kill something, anything.He took a swig from the lone, smaller bottle of vodka that he found. The vodka used to quiet the voices of John and Yetara when they would appear, which they hadn't in the last year. John's voice faded from his mind, but Yetara's only grew louder. He walked down to the basement drinking from the bottle. He looked into the mirror next to the door and noticed the blue skinned female he saw beside his reflection.
Yetara was a former eclipse sister that John hired to train Innokenti to use his biotics. She was a brutal teacher, focusing on showing him to focus his biotics when in extreme pain, but seemed genuinely impressed with his ability to adapt and learn. She had spent almost two years teaching him how to use his biotics and improving the abilities he was proficient at. Despite her brutal teaching methods, the asari would always connect her mind with his, after every assignment. She would share all the pain the boy had accumulated from murdering or maiming his targets and fill him with better thoughts. He was certain that the only reason he kept his sanity was because of Yetara.
Innokenti couldn't hold back the laugh at the thought. Sanity? You're seeing dead people and you think you're sane? Yetara smiled at him with her permanently black eyes. The memory of her death flew through his mind again and the rage returned. He released an almost animalistic growl and punched the mirror as hard as he could, as if that would help everything. The mirror indented on impact and the cracks spider-webbed out from the crater. He removed his hand and watched as the red blood oozed from the various cuts. The rage remained, in spite of the pain, and he lifted the vodka to his lips.
The next thing Kenti knew he was punching the heavy bag with his now bandaged hand. Whenever his body started itching for a fight, he would beat on the bag for a few hours. No matter how hard he struck, his frustration only increased. He growled low in his throat and kicked the bag as hard as he could. Why can I not futtari calm down? He walked to a nearby wall and leaned his back against the cool steel. He was panting and his body was covered in sweat. How long have I been working out? He looked at his omnitool and chuckled. Three hours and I don't feel any better. Innokenti screamed in frustration and let his biotics surge. He imagined a large, claw slicing through the air, opened his eyes, and watched the energies surge over the heavy bag. The biotic energies distorted the space around the back and ripped the bag in half. His breathing became more ragged as the bottom half of the bag hit the ground and sand pooled over the floor. I am not going to stop, am I? At this rate, I am going to start hurting people.
For a few minutes, all Kenti could hear were the rush of sand and his own labored breathing. The door opened and Innokenti lifted his head when a voice came from the doorway. "I hope you're plannin' to clean up your mess, Kenti. I do live here occasionally."
Kenti stared at Hadesian and Hilaria as they stood just inside the basement. Hadesian's accent was thicker than normal and he was carrying a medical kit. Hilaria was staring at him her biotics flaring.
Hilaria Faucus, October 16, 2187
Hilaria couldn't stop staring at Kenti after she walked in. The darkness that surrounded him had expanded and now she could barely see him through it. She took a breath and tried to reach out to Kenti with her mind. There was a chaotic stream of images. There was an asari in yellow armor leaning her head forward with completely black eyes. A similar image with the asari's head shooting to the side. Another flash of a man with a smoking gun. There was a final image of the same man with his neck gaping open and bleeding, before Innokenti threw her out of his mind with a growl. She stared at Kenti, who had pushed himself off the wall and was glaring at her with bared teeth. She hissed and shook the images from her head as Hades walked forward, placing the medical case down by the doorway. Hadesian's accent was thicker and his aura was flowing slower. "What's the matter with ya, Kenti? You were a soldier, for the spirits sakes. You see a little blood and go crazy?"
Kenti took a step forward bringing a hand up to his head with a pained look on his face. "Hades, you should leave. I'm not in control of myself, at moment. I might kill you."
Hadesian chuckled lightly. "The fact that you think you could win, says a lot." He looked toward Hilaria. Can you get into his mind, Hil?
Hilaria stared at her mate. No, he is putting up a barrier. Do you think I will be able to repair whatever is hurting him?
Hadesian's mental voice was calm as always as he walked forward and spoke in her mind. If Kenti can't be brought back to normal, I'll just kill him.
Hilaria stared at her mate. He's your best friend, amatus.
Hadesian simply continued his advance. I'll keep Kenti focused on me while you try to break down his mental barrier. He lifted his lip plates and bared his teeth at Kenti. "You seem tense, Innokenti. Now, spar with me so you can relax."
Innokenti's voice was almost a growl and his eyes were darker than normal. "Now is not time to be sparring me, Vulpis."
Hadesian's smile never faded as he walked closer to Kenti. Hilaria took a breath and reached out to Kenti's mind. I hope you know what you're doing, amatus. She felt the force of Kenti's mind pushing her back, but it was weakening as Hadesian drew closer.
Hades' face became blank when only a few feet separated Kenti and himself. "It wasn't a request." Hadesian turned quickly and delivered a savage kick to Kenti's ribs. Innokenti growled and struck back with jabs and kicks of his own. Hadesian struck back with jabs but, Kenti to rush forward, striking and blocking in one motion. Hades caught Kenti's wrist and threw him onto the sand.
While the males grappled on the floor Hilaria tried to force her way past Kenti's mental barrier. She would get images, flashes of memories, before being forced out again. Kenti's focus was waning as he kicked Hades off of him. Kenti was already panting and had blood dripping from his left bicep. Hilaria could see Kenti's biotics flare as he prepared a charge and tried to break through his barrier again. Innokenti's biotics were focused away from his charge and into throwing Hilaria out with a concentrated dose of rage. Hilaria fought her body's natural response to retaliate while Hadesian seized his opportunity. As soon as Kenti lost focus on the match, Hadesian struck with lightning-fast kicks to Kenti's ribs.
Innokenti was pushed back, but quickly retaliated, matching Hadesian blow for blow. Hilaria managed to push through the barrier long enough to see and image of a younger Iuterna with her gun pointed toward Kenti, with blood covered hands, before being thrown out again. Well that is certainly one way to make a first impression.
Kenti growled and used Hilaria's momentarily lapse of focus to connect his mind with hers and barrage her with images of bloody, tattered bodies. Just as quickly as the connection was established, Kenti severed it. She hissed and recoiled from both the images and the rage behind them. What the futar? She noticed Hades look in her direction and saw Kenti's biotics build.
Hilaria barely had time to connect her mind with Hadesian's before Kenti struck out with a fist surrounded in biotic energies, his eyes a shining gold color. Hades moved his head to the side to dodge, but Kenti's blow still snapped his head back with a crunch. Hadesian's rage flared, feeding off of her own anger. Hadesian used the force of the blow to turn his body and backhand Innokenti. Hadesian followed with a swift kick to the center of Kenti's face. As Kenti moved back with blood dripping from his nose and water streaming from his eyes, Hades closed it and delivered a punch across Kenti's face. Hades brought his knee up into Kenti's ribs. As the human doubled over, Hades brought his hands together and slammed them down between Kenti's shoulder blades, sending him to the ground. Hadesian's aura, once calmly flowing, was almost steaming off him. Hades looked down at the coughing human and his rage seemed to calm to a slow boil.
Hilaria tried to calm her own mind, aided by Hadesian's calming mental voice. She could still feel the anger as she reached out to him mentally. Hades, are you alright?
Hadesian walked toward her spitting blood and teeth onto the sand. I'm fine, but I don't think I will be able to get through to him before he makes me kill him. He seems close to breaking.
Hilaria smiled at the taller male. I will take it from here. You just focus on fixing yourself up. Hadesian nodded and smiled, which showed quite a few missing teeth. Hilaria saw Innokenti rise and ran forward while focusing her biotics. Innokenti wrapped his biotic energy around himself, preparing to charge at Hadesian's retreating back, just as Hilaria threw a ball of biotic energy at him. The force of Kenti's charge was exactly canceled by Hilaria's throw. Kenti staggered due to his body's expectation of movement being denied and Hilaria closed in. That's enough, Innokenti!
Hadesian Vulpis, October 16, 2187
Hadesian's jaw was throbbing, but he was more focused on watching his mate and best friend duel. With his mind still connected to Hilaria's, and his limited biotic potential, Hadesian could see the biotic energies as the pair fought. Kenti wrapped his biotic energies, that weren't focused on his barrier, and punched through Hilaria's barrier. Hilaria's barrier absorbed a majority of the force and wrapped her own leg in biotic energy and slammed it into Innokenti's ribs. Innokenti's barrier soaked up a majority of the energy before it shattered. Innokenti rebuilt his barrier and renewed his assault.
Hadesian walked to the door as he listened to the exchange of blows. He picked up his medical kit and continued to watch the pair. Hilaria was fresh and her defensive abilities were better than Innokenti. The biotics were focusing most of their energies on simple biotically enhanced blows as opposed to their more powerful skills. At the range they were fighting, if one of them missed their attack, the other would use the opportunity to strike. This fight should be over soon. Kenti is physically and mentally exhausted. I just hope I don't have to kill you, Innokenti. The battle was clearly reaching its end as Innokenti's barrier became weaker and Hilaria's blows connected harder.
After one savage blow, Innokenti's head snapped back and his barrier seemed to dissolve on its own. Hilaria moved quickly behind Kenti as he snapped his head back and dug a small trench in the ground with a reave. Hilaria focus her biotics and threw Innokenti across the room. Innokenti landed on his back and Hilaria closed in. She planted both knees on his arms and wrapped her hands around his throat. "Now, let me in."
Their eyes were locked and they were both breathing heavily. Hades walked over to the pair just as Kenti broke eye contact and sighed. "You're intent on entering my mind. I won't guarantee you'll enjoy experience." Hilaria stilled as she connected her mind with Kenti's. Hadesian crouched down with some gauze and tape to fix Innokenti's nose. Kenti turned at him and his voice was nasally. "Will you stop her if I scream 'rape'?"
Hadesian grinned at his friend as he cracked his nose back in place and covered it. "You'd have better luck winning the lottery."
Innokenti Oborin, October 16, 2187
Kenti felt Hilaria's mind connect with his own and he didn't fight against it. He was too exhausted to even slow her down as the memories started to reemerge from his mind. Suddenly, he was back in the small room that John had rented for his 'comrade'. He was sitting on the sofa facing Yetara as he stared at his shaking, red-stained hands. The asari sat beside him and placed her hand against his cheek. The boy turned to her as her mind connected with his.
He tried to fight against Hilaria as the memory continued. You really don't want to see how it ends, Hil.
Hilaria's voice was reserved. I already know how it ends. Yetara's head snapped to the side as their connection severed. For a fraction of a second, their connection deepened and Innokenti saw his younger self through Yetara's eyes. As quickly as their connection deepened, Yetara's mind was gone. There was no chorus of angels, or the warm caress of the spirits. There was just a cold silence, as Yetara's body sagged against the back of the couch, and rage, as he turned on the man holding the gun. His mind was rattled, trying to regain focus, blood dripping from his nose. The boy focused on the gunman, imagined a claw raking the air, and the man's throat was ripped open.
Innokenti rode the wave of rage from the memories and tried to throw Hilaria out of his mind. She was prepared for it and Kenti's effort just send Hilaria forward in his memories.
Now he was running through a very familiar corridor. He desperately tried to resist the memories as he and the rest of his fire team moved through the gray corridors of a complex, with screams reverberating off the walls. I guess it's relive your worst futtari memories day!
Hilaria still pushed forward as his younger self moved forward with a shotgun in his hand. His squad moved through the door where screams were emanating. There were slaves, mostly barely clothed women, being slaughtered by a group of batarians with vibroknives. Some were pinned to the ground and had blades run across their throats while other were scrambling away to try and avoid their captors. As the door opened, a male had tried to attack a lone batarian carrying a long blade, with a krogan bodyguard. The krogan simply blew a large hole in the man's stomach with its shotgun. Hilaria's voice was surprisingly calm. Batarian slavers.
Kenti was watching, trying to keep himself calm. Mission was to clean out slaver compound. They didn't want to give us pleasure of rescuing their slaves. They must have been saving their ammo for us. The younger Innokenti moved into the room, leveled his shotgun against the side of a batarian's head, and pulled the trigger. As the blood flew from the headless neck, and over the screaming slave the batarian had been pinning, Innokenti assessed the situation and dropped the shotgun, letting the strap carry it. He drew his pistol as the other three members of his squad started shooting at the batarians. Some of the batarians dove for the cover of boxes and pillars while others grabbed human shields. Innokenti raised his barrier as he unloaded his pistol at the krogan. The krogan bellowed and started unloading his shotgun at Innokenti as he advanced. Kenti used a pillar as cover and popped a new thermal clip into his pistol. He looked to his comrades, who were spread out on the other side of the room.
Private Li moved up unloading his assault rifle at a pair of batarians, keeping their heads down. One of the batarians leaned out of cover and overloaded Li's shields. Kenti saw a shimmer pass by Li and started unloading his pistol into the stealthed attacker. Li turned toward Innokenti's incoming fire in confusion before his head was removed from his shoulders. The batarian leader materialized behind Li's headless body, using it as cover from Kenti's squad, and Kenti ducked back behind his cover as the batarians started firing at him.
Private Cambell moved out of cover to engage the batarians, as the leader cloaked again and dropped Li's body. As one of the batarian's shields dropped, Lieutenant Shiloh, his commanding officer, put a hole in the center of its helmet with her rifle. The other batarian ducked down as the krogan moved toward Shiloh's position, firing his shotgun as he walked. Kenti recreated his barrier, moved out of cover, and, after making sure there was no cowering slaves in the way, unloaded his shotgun into the krogan's back.
Shiloh ducked around the crate she was using for cover to recover her shields as the krogan turned around and unloaded his shotgun at Kenti. The shards of metal just struck Kenti's barrier and fell to the ground as Kenti's blast ripped through the krogan's shields and into its armor. The krogan roared in his own language and charged at Kenti, with his head lowered. Kenti dropped the shotgun and braced himself as the krogan ran at him. Kenti dropped his center of mass as the krogan hit him and wrapped his arm around his waist as best he could. Kenti moved his leg behind the krogan, coated himself in biotic energy, and through the krogan to the ground. Kenti righted himself, slammed the barrel of his shotgun into the krogan's eye, and fired.
Hilaria's voice was impressed. You really have hip-thrown krogan before. You seem as precise in your movements now as you were back then, Kenti.
Kenti's voice didn't have its usual warmth. I fucked up my right leg doing that, human body wasn't built to throw over 600 pounds of krogan. I just wanted thing dead before any more comrades died. I don't care how much natural armor you have, eye is still soft tissue. Regeneration won't help when your brain's full of metal.
The younger Innokenti turned toward the incoming fire from the remaining visible batarian and pulled his pistol out, to avoid hitting the slaves that were cowering against the wall behind it. The bullets pierced his barrier, but his shields deflected them while Kenti limped to cover, still firing his pistol at the batarian.
Cambell moved around his cover and fired into the batarian's shields. The batarian turned toward Cambell as Kenti bit back the pain, closed in with a biotic charge, and slammed his good knee into the batarain's helmet, shattering the faceplate. The batarian hit the ground and didn't move. As Kenti turned back to Cambell, the private was pulled upright and the batarian leader materialized with his sword against Cambell's neck. "Put down your weapons!"
Shiloh put down her rifle and nodded to Kenti, who dropped his own weapons. The batarian backed out toward the loading bay, and likely a waiting shuttle. When they reached the door Cambell pushed the batarian back against the door while grabbing the leader's sword hand. The batarian pushed Cambell away and slashed. Cambell ducked under the blade as the batarian cloaked again. Shiloh moved for her rifle while Kenti pulled a knife from one of the pouches on his armor and moved toward Cambell, who was looked around for any sign of the batarian. Kenti saw a shimmer and unleashed a reave attack on it. The batarian's shields disrupted and he became visible as he lifted the krogan's shotgun with one hand and fired at Cambell. The shot disrupted Cambell's shield as he pulled out his pistol. The leader ducked behind a crate, as a round from Shiloh's rifle flied through the air where his head had been. Cambell moved forward as Shiloh kept her rifle at the crate and Kenti picked his shotgun up. Cambell kept his pistol trained on the area where the batarian disappeared. "Show me your hands!"
Suddenly, the door to the landing bay opened and a batarian moved in with his assault rifle firing. Cambell, whose shields were still down, didn't get down fast enough. The rounds knocked him to the ground, but some had already pierced his armor. Cambell screamed in pain, but still managed to get his rifle up and joined Shiloh as she fired her rifle at the visible batarian. Kenti was already moving when he saw the shimmer close in on Shiloh. He jumped on a crate and charged strait into the cloaked batarian. He slammed the leader's head into the platasteel wall. The leader materialized and Kenti immediately grabbed the batarian's hand and twisted. The sword dropped from the leader's hand and imbedded itself through the floor. Kenti twisted the leader arm behind his back and pinned him to the ground. When Kenti looked up, ignoring the pain in his leg, to see that the other batarian was dead and Shiloh was moving toward Cambell, who wasn't moving. "Is he alive?"
Shiloh kept her rifle up, in case her newest victim wasn't really dead and checked Cambell. Innokenti noticed her shudder slightly. "No. He's not breathing." Shiloh moved and pinned the leader her voice not as calm as normal. "Check him, Oborin!" Kenti removed his gauntlets and checked the male's pulse. He laid him down and removed his armor. Kenti took one look at the lieutenant's blood stained undershirt and knew that one of the rounds must have grazed the male's heart. Kenti shook his head and moved to the batarian that he had kneed in the face. Kenti checked his pulse and then immediately rolled him over and bound his wrists. Kenti pulled the unconscious batarian back to where Shiloh was securing the leader and dropped him.
Shiloh removed the weapons from the leader, including the sheath for the blade, and looked up at Innokenti, her face solemn behind her helmet. "He's dead, isn't he?"
Kenti took the sheath and pulled the vibroblade out of the floor, clicking the jewel turn the vibration off. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant. He was dead after the initial burst."
Shiloh slammed her armored hand against a box, looking away. After a moment she led the slaves toward the door. Her voice was cold, but her eyes betrayed her pain. "I am going to take the victims back to the ship. I will return with more soldiers, to secure the area. Keep the prisoners secure, Oborin."
Kenti nodded. "Yes, ma'am." After his commanding officer left, Kenti grabbed the leader by the throat and brought his face close to his. "You killed one of my comrades, batarian. I would really love to kill you right now, but you might know about other slavers in this area and my superiors will want a word with you."
The batarian spat in his face and spoke with thickly accented galactic. "I won't tell you anything, filth."
Kenti smiled and removed the batarian's helmet before he walked behind him. "You're probably right." He placed his hands on the batarian's shoulders. "You'll probably just send more men to their deaths with bad information. Then you will probably be executed quickly and painlessly after spending your days with three meals a day." He placed his hands on the side of the batarian's head. "I won't let that happen, batarian. I know there is nothing after this life but, no one who kills people so ruthlessly deserves even a chance to live on after death."
Hilaria's voice was concerned. Innokenti?
Kenti's laugh was dark. You wanted to see me. You get what you ask for, Hilaria. The younger Kenti lifted the middle and ring fingers of each hand and curled them into all four of the batarian's eye sockets. The scream that ripped through the leader's throat was so loud, that it made Kenti's ears ring. The young man ripped his blood soaked fingers from the batarian's eye sockets and limped around to the front of the batarian, cleaning his fingers with a piece of fabric he found. The batarian was screaming in his language while Kenti simply stood in front of him and watched. The batarian pulled a knife from his boot and cut his bonds, but Kenti just watched him. "My superiors aren't going to be happy, but you won't be alive to see it." The batarian leapt at Kenti with a vibroknife. Kenti backed up as the batarian slashed in the air. Innokenti staggered do to the damage to his leg and felt the blade slice through his flesh. Kenti's biotics flared as he felt his body temperature rise. He imagined a claw swiping through the air and suddenly, the batarian's head exploded, like it was hit by a shotgun. Kenti saw the light fade from the leader's body, as the blood pooled. Kenti could taste blood, his body slowly mending, the pain fading. When Shiloh ran back in, he walked to the body calmly, his leg no longer damaged.
Hilaria sounded disturbed. What the futar was that?
Kenti couldn't hold back the pride form his voice. That was a little something I gained from Yetara. I can't explain it myself. My understanding is that I rip into my enemy's flesh and armor, if they are unshielded. For some reason this causes my body to regenerate faster than normal. The regeneration itself functions when I am using my biotics. He felt embarrassed by what she had seen of him. I am a monster, Hilaria. I would start running now.
Hilaria dug through his memories, going through information on Slavic history. You think yourself as an azdaja? A dragon-like creature from ancient Slavic folklor. It was thought to be a creature of pure evil, driven only by instinct.
Kenti chuckled as he tried to remember the specifics. It's well fitting, I would say.
Her retort was explosive. No! Kenti tried to distance his mind from hers, to not be fueled by her anger. Hilaria continued to deepen their connection. I felt your disgust at the feeling. You don't enjoy taking that energy from them. You are not a creature of instinct, Kenti. I have seen the way you look at your family. You are a male that would do anything for your family, regardless of what it took. She dug through his memories. You are zmaj, a dragon that was said to be wise, strong, and have a strong grasp of 'magic'.
Kenti couldn't hold back his laughter. The 'lustful for females' part fits quite nicely.
I was going for the 'not always benevolent, but never as an entirely evil creature.'
Kenti laughed harder as he was brought back to the training room. Hadesian was watching the pair with a grin, which showed the left side of his face missing quite a few teeth. Innokenti grinned. "This would be where I say 'I'm home', right?"
Hades chuckled and stood up. "Don't expect a warm welcome. I won't be eating easily for a while."
Innokenti chuckled and deepened his connection to Hilaria, who was looking at Hadesian now. Thanks for assistance, Hil. Kenti could feel his body temperature rise and his heart was pounding in his chest, diverting blood away from his brain. Hilaria was excited, and it was affecting him. Um, Hil, could you get off of me. You are enjoying this way too much. He noticed Hadesian sniff the air and Hilaria hissed. Oh futar!
Before Innokenti broke the mental connection, he received the full brunt of Hilaria's need, as she cycled into estrus. Kenti brought his head back and gritted his teeth against the need, as Hadesian tackled Hilaria. The turians rolled around the sand covered floor and Kenti bolted out of the door and didn't stop until he reached the top of the stairs. He placed his head against the cold wall and panted trying his best to ignore how tight his pants were. He tried, desperately, to focus on anything else. Okay. All I need to do is get in the shower and everything will be okay. His body was shaking, almost violently. He fought against it and started moving toward the restroom when the front door opened and his mother walked in. Spirits of air and darkness! Could this night get any more awkward? At that exact moment, Pyrrhus Faucus walked into the house before stopping in the doorway. Kenti growled and slammed his head into the wall, repeatedly. Mary walked around the corner.
"Just let me clean up, and I'll make you some aph- Kenti?"
Kenti turned to look at his mother, making sure to not look at her directly with the way he was currently feeling. She is Mamushka, not a female. Don't look down! His voice sounded husky, even to his own ears. "Hello Mamushka. I would hug you, but I am very sweaty."
Mary didn't seem to notice his voice change, but she did notice his broken nose and bandaged arms. "Kenti, what did they do to you?" She brought her hand up to touch his left arm, where Hades had covered up the cuts.
His smile was strained. He really didn't want to notice that his mother was actually very attractive at the moment. He could restrain himself from such thoughts consciously, but he really didn't need those kind of dreams. "I am fine, Mamushka. I promise I will explain everything in the morning."
Mary glared at him. "No, Kenti, talk to me."
Kenti grit his teeth as his brain began to bring back images of previous sexual encounters. He was finding it very hard to focus. "Mamushka, please drop it. I will tell you tomorrow."
Mary sounded very concerned. "Kenti, what's wrong?"
Pyrrhus was breathing a little heavily as he walked over. "Hilaria cycled into estrus?"
Innokenti nodded looking up his hands were shaking. "Yes and I got a full dose of it biotically now, for the sake of the spirits, leave me alone." He turned and almost ran into the bathroom. He locked the door behind him panting. His body was on fire as he stripped and turned on the shower. He growled as he used one hand to brace his adrenaline-fueled body as his other hand moved lower.
His mind travelled through his memory looking for something, anything, to give him release. He thought of Hilaria straddling his waist, in the basement, and leaning down to bite his neck. The image of Hadesian removing his head from his shoulders brought an end to that line of thought. He groaned and thought of Clara when she was lying under him. She had smiled up at him as she wrapped her warm arms around him. His mind strayed away from Clara as the memories of her death returned. The various nights he spent with women from his college days, both good and bad, filtered through his mind. Every time he became close to sweet release, his mind would bring him back to Carla's death.
Suddenly, Kenti was brought back in his bedroom with another female under him. She was a very attractive drell girl, Kynia Thantos, who he had taken a few courses with. She had bright red scales with black scales over her scalp that trailed down her spine. He bit under her neck and ran his tongue over her scales, feeling the secretions of her skin work on him. There saw colors he had never seen before emanating from the room as he moved with the female. Another pair of soft arms wrapped around him from behind as Carla nipped at his ear and ran her hands over his hips as he thrust. His release hit him hard and he braced himself against the stall.
The memories continued as Carla straddled his waist, moving on him, as Kynia lay over his chest, biting at his neck and torso. Carla's eyes were wide and her pupils were dilated. Now, Carla was giving him the pleasure of her mouth as he lay on his back. Kynia was straddling his head and digging her talons into the headboard as he gave her his tongue. More memories of that night continued. The last memory was Kenti waking up with his bed on the roof of the school with candles surrounding him in the shape of an Oroboros, the ancient symbol of a snake swallowing its own tail.
He didn't know when he lost consciousness or how long he had been asleep, but when he woke up he was still in the shower. He did know that he couldn't feel his left arm and that the automatic water supply system had shut off the shower twenty minutes after he started it. He limped out of the shower and had to brace himself against the wall. I think I was in there a little too long. He looked down and noticed that he was still at attention. He sighed and righted himself before flicking the fingers on both his hands and putting on a robe. He walked out and looked at the digital readout on his clock, looked down at the bulge in his robe, and then looked back at the clock. Aren't I supposed to consult a doctor if an erection lasts longer than four hours? Oh, that's right. I can't consult my doctor, because he is in the futarri basement! Kenti flicked his fingers at the door to the basement and then walked toward his mother's room. He opened the door and was met by the image of Pyrrhus lying in bed with his mother. The larger turian was lying on his side and had an arm wrapped around Mary's waist. Mary was actually smiling contently and Kenti just stared at her. He had thought that the smiling, fierce woman from his memories was gone and couldn't keep the smile off his face as he walked toward the couple. Pyrrhus, due to his superior hearing, opened his eyes and stared at Kenti. Kenti dropped his voice below human hearing. "If you hurt her, Pyrrhus, I ensure that spirits themselves pray for you, before you die."
Pyrrhus tightened his grip on Mary's waist, which she responded to by pushing her back against the turian's warm chest. "I would never do such a thing."
Kenti bared his teeth at the turian. "I know. Required to say it, though. It human thing." He turned and walked back out of the room. As he closed the door, there was a knock on the front door of his house. Kenti opened it to find Iuterna standing there with Ambrosii standing beside her. "Oh hello, mada. How are you this morning?"
Iuterna blinked at him and tried to speak, but Ambrosii beat her to it. "Welcome home, brother. When did you get back?" His voice was calmer than Kenti expected.
Kenti let them inside and smiled at his little brother. "I got home in the afternoon yesterday. No charges, thankfully. Mamushka is sleeping so try to be quiet."
Rosii nodded and looked at his brother. "Okay. Can I go to the basement to practice?"
Kenti rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah…I don't think that would be good idea. Hilaria and Hadesian are down there."
Rosii blinked. "They don't want to be disturbed?"
"Exactly, little brother. Why don't you get some sleep? From the looks of it, you were up all night. What were you doing, playing Galaxy of Fantasy?"
Rosii shook his head. "No. Alerio and I were sparing. He said that he needs to start training for boot camp."
Kenti laughed. "I bet it has nothing to do with that female he is interested in." He turned to Iuterna, who had a confused look on her face. "Hilaria cycled into estrus, mada, but don't worry. Hadesian is tending to her. You might want worry for Alerio, though. He quite taken with Medea Porcarius. You might want send pada to her clan leader."
Iuterna grinned back at Kenti. "I just might, Kenti. However, I am more concerned about you, after yesterday. I trust you are okay. I don't want to see you return to what you were."
Kenti smiled warmly at her. "Mada, worries too much for me. Hadesian and Hilaria ensured that I better. I will never return to animal you remember."
Iuterna's mandibles twitched slightly, but her face was otherwise still. "I'm glad. Now, I will leave the young male to you. I think I know why Mary wanted me to keep Rosii at my place for the evening." She grinned. "I hope to see you at dinner this week, Kenti."
"Of course I'll be there, mada." He walked her out before returned to Ambrosii, who was stretching in the living room. "You really should rest your body, Ambrosii."
Ambrosii shook his head. "If I'm going to be like you, I need to get stronger."
Innokenti grabbed Rosii by the shoulders and sat him on the chair. Innokenti sat down on a nearby table and looked his little brother in the eye. "You don't want to be like me, Ambrosii."
Rosii shook his head. "Yes I do. You're strong. If I was as strong as you, Maht wouldn't have been hurt."
Kenti sighed. "I am not strong, little Rosii. A strong person knows when a battle is won and has a worthy cause in why he fights. I fight because I like fighting. You're a good kid, Rosii. I don't want to see you turn into a monster."
Rosii shook his head. "You're not a monster."
Kenti reached his mind out to Rosii bringing them both back to that night. "When you saw me that night, what did you think?"
Ambrosii's response was immediate. "You were saving Leontina." Kenti dug deeper and felt the fear in the back of Rosii's mind. He was scared of the Innokenti that he saw. The Kenti that could curb-stomp a fallen enemy with a sick smile on his face. The Kenti that stared down the barrel of a gun with eyes a brilliant yellow. Ambrosii was ashamed of his fear.
Kenti smiled warmly at him and broke the connection. "Don't be ashamed of it, Rosii. It is a natural response to danger and I am a very dangerous person. You should train to be strong, not to be like me. I will show you some of my moves, but only enough to cripple an attacker, not to kill. I don't want you to damage Alerio when you spar." Rosii nodded and couldn't meet Kenti's eyes anymore. Kenti looked up and smiled. "Ambrosii, why don't you go to your room and rest? I think Mamushka is here to scold me." Ambrosii turned to see Pyrrhus and Mary standing behind the chair and then did as he was told. Kenti sat up and grinned. "Pyrrhus, I trust you will join us for dinner tonight. If you're going to be dating my mother, it would be nice if I could actually get to know you as a male, as opposed to Hil's brother."
Pyrrhus chuckled as Mary flushed, but kept her eyes locked on her son's. "Of course, I will see you both this evening then." He walked out and left Mary and Kenti alone.
Mary sat in front of Kenti and her eyes were locked on his. "Thank you for talking to Ambrosii."
Innokenti met her gaze with ease. "Of course, Mamushka. I don't think you would like two criminal sons."
Mary looked down and her voice cracked a little. "It's my fault. I should have looked for you more."
Kenti chuckled. "You did all you could mother. I don't blame you. I blame Ivan and John."
Mary met his gaze again and he could see her fighting against her pain. "Who's John? This has to do with what you were doing before Iuterna found you, isn't it? Why don't you talk to me, Kenti? I know you're hiding things from me, but don't I deserve to know what's wrong with my own son?"
He couldn't meet her gaze anymore. He looked to the ceiling and chuckled. "If I knew keeping secrets would return the mother I remember from my childhood, then I wouldn't have told you anything when I first contacted you again." He looked down, noticed her fiery look, and sighed. "Mamushka, I have done things that I am not proud of. I have seen things that would scar you for life. I have even done terrible things that I am proud of."
Mary reached out tentatively and took his hands in hers. "Innokenti, you were a soldier. I understand that you have had to kill people."
Kenti met her gaze with a cold stare. "Mamushka, I killed dozens of people before I joined the military. I was trained to do it."
His mother's eyes widened. "Trained?"
He sighed. "After you left for Earth, I was found by a man named John. He ran with a gang and decided that a young biotic would make a great weapon. He was right. I killed a lot of people, Mamushka, usually because John told me to kill them. I never asked what they did wrong or why they deserved to die. I just killed them and the damnedest thing was that I enjoyed it." He saw all the color drain from his mother's face, but he continued on. "He trained me a little too well, though. He tried to have me killed ten years ago. I killed the man he sent to kill me, but not before said man killed someone I cared very deeply for. I tracked down some more members of the gang and slaughtered them like animals. That was when C-Sec showed up."
He allowed the information to seep in as his mother just stared at him with a pale face and wide eyes. "That's where you met Iuterna."
It wasn't a question, but Kenti answered anyway. "Yes. She took me to jail and I gave her the whole gang. The Executor at the time wanted to send me to a psychiatric ward, but Iuterna volunteered to be my guardian instead. It's probably why she didn't get many field assignments until the Executor was replaced by Bailey." He smiled sadly in response to his mothers shocked expression. I suppose it was too much to hope for understanding…
Mary reached forward and pulled her to him. Her body was shaking and her eyes were filled with tears, but her voice was steady. "I still love you, Kenti. I always will." She put her head down on top of his and he felt the tears flow. "I am so sorry…"
Kenti wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back whispering softly, his voice was breaking a little. "It's not your fault, Mamushka. You're here now and I'm okay. That's all that matters." Mary's tears continued and Kenti just held her there. Every tear she shed made him wish that Ivan was still alive, so that Kenti could kill him. That bastard took my mother away from me, beat her and my little brother for years, and gets out of it with a quick death. Such a man doesn't deserve that.
Mary rubbed his back. "You are so angry now. What happened to the little boy I remember watching as he played with Hadesian."
Innokenti grinned at her. "I think he is in here somewhere. He is probably sleeping right now. Can I take a message?" He received a smack on the back of the head for his trouble. "I should go check on the pair in the basement."
Mary blinked. "Check on them? What have they been doing all this time?"
Kenti shrugged. "Making babies?" He laughed as his mother turned bright red and raised her voice.
Hadesian Vulpis, October 17, 2187
Hadesian rubbed fingers against Hilaria's fringe as she slept. He looked at her, covered in fresh marks and sand, and couldn't keep the grin from his face. He didn't want to move, but he knew that she would need food and water after all the time they spent together. He slowly unwound himself from his mate and stood up. He smiled as he walked toward the door. I suppose I should ask her when she wakes up, especially if there is a youngling involved. His smile dropped from his face as he thought about it. He didn't know if he could take care of a youngling. He could handle older offspring fine, but he hadn't had experience with infants.
He stopped at the door and looked back at Hilaria. Hilaria isn't one to neglect her meds and she is half way through her latest prescription so it isn't a bad batch.
A voice responded in his mind. You're not the only one who suspects foul play, Hades.
Hadesian turned and opened the door, to see Innokenti standing there with a smile on his face, but it wasn't a friendly smile. Hadesian followed him upstairs and noticed Mary staring at him. He looked down and realized that he wasn't wearing any clothes. He was covered in fresh marks, which brought his thoughts back to the wonderful night he had. He smiled warmly. "Good morning, Ms. Ryan."
Mary stared at him before blinking and turning a darker shade of red. "Morning, Hadesian. I take it you need…uh.. food?"
Hadesian smiled. "Yes, thank you. I was just about to go get some." He walked into the kitchen with Innokenti and drank from a bottle of water before looking back at his friend. "What exactly do you mean by 'foul play'?"
Kenti sat down and drank from his own bottle before pulling out pans. "Exactly what I said. I think I could be some male she works with who thought it would be nice if she 'just happened' to go into estrus around him."
Hadesian growled low in his chest. He was ordinarily a very calm male, but some things irritated even him. The doctor in him also said that the pheromones from Hilaria's estrus were still lingering in the house and would increase his adrenaline. "Who?" If I find out a male tried something that stupid, they will regret even having the idea. He felt the rage start to bubble over and focused on the mental training his parents had taught him.
Innokenti looked over his shoulder at the turian male, the apatarae slices sizzling in the pan. "Calm down, Hadesian. I know it's irritating, but I am just making a hypothesis here. The real question is, now that you have gone through estrus together, are you finally going to marry the female?"
"Are you finally going to finish your adoption into the Telibus clan?"
Kenti stilled before he started stirring again, adding some spices to the meat. "I don't know if mada wants me to join the clan, after the incident at the construction site. I would be very happy to wear the paint though."
Hadesian chuckled. "You'd look good in green." The human male laughed and Hadesian started to think back to all the enjoyable times he had spent with Hilaria. He had a few mates before Hilaria, but none had been able to make him laugh as hard and argue as fiercely as she did. Just thinking about his paint on her face was making him breathe a little heavier. He cleared his throat and tried to calm his voice. "I was waiting for the right time, to ask her. I think now is as good a time as any."
Innokenti sighed heavily. "Hades, I know of glaciers that move faster than you. Now would be very good, especially if there is a youngling involved." Hadesian felt his adrenaline increase as he thought about the possibility of a child. Kenti, apparently, noticed and couldn't seem to keep it behind his teeth. "You're nervous? You? Now that is scary."
Hades flicked his fingers at the human, who laughed. "I don't know if I can handle a child. I also don't want Hilaria to give up what she loves doing, because of me."
Innokenti chuckled. "She wouldn't have to, Hades. Just make sure that your next job allows you to work from home and it should be fine."
Hadesian shook his head. "No. I know Hilaria and she would want to stay at home and help take care of the child. I could argue with her about it, but even I am not stupid enough to keep a female from her nestling."
Innokenti chuckled warmly. "That's certainly true."
Hadesian nodded and looked up at the ceiling for a moment. He thought back to when he first met Innokenti, twenty years ago. They were sitting in an alley laughing together and jabbering in their respective languages. They hadn't been able to understand each other, but they still ran around and laughed like all younglings. So many things have changed and yet some things remain the same. "We have been friends for twenty years, Kenti."
Innokenti looked confused. "What about it?"
"We survived the fighting on the Citadel."
"Including the attack when they managed to land husks in the Wards. What is this trip down Memory Lane about exactly?"
Hadesian chuckled a little nervously. He knew Kenti picked up a lot of turian culture from the time he lived with Iuterna, but was unsure if he would understand what Hadesian was going to ask him. "Have you ever thought of taking sangua'fradae rights?"
Innokenti dropped his glass. "You sure you want us to be blood-brothers. You're offspring might end up a biotic like me."
Hadesian grinned. "I am pretty sure that you're genome has nothing to do with any potential offspring I have, but, between Hilaria's and my own genes, it's pretty much assured that my children will be biotic. Both of my parents are biotics."
Innokenti bared his teeth at the turian. "Sounds like fun. Let's not have it on the same day as your wedding, though. I don't want to upset your fiancé. She has a dangerous high kick."
Hadesian laughed and picked up a couple of bottles of water before returned to the basement. When he opened the door, he saw Hilaria slowly sit up and hold her head. Hadesian grinned widely as he saw his fresh marks on her body again. "Good morning, Hilaria."
Hilaria nearly jumped out of her scales and looked over to him. "Hades?"
Hadesian smiled and handed her a bottle of water. "What's the matter, Hil?"
She couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm sorry…"
"For what? The best mating session I've had in years?"
Hilaria flushed through her chest and squawked at him. "Hadesian! This isn't funny!"
Hadesian chuckled lightly. "I thought it was a pretty good joke, for me." Her glare almost drilled a hole in his head. "You're right. I'm sorry. I have more important things to talk to you about, anyway." His face grew serious. "Hilaria Faucus, will you consent to marry me?"
Hilaria choked on her water and connected her mind with his. W-what? Hadesian, this is the estrus talking. You don't want to marry me.
Hadesian smiled and opened his mind completely to her showing her his feelings about her and the numerous times he wanted to propose before. I have wanted to marry you for some time, Hil.
Hilaria's embarrassment was growing. Hades, I don't want you to get tied to me. I don't want you to think you're responsible for any problems that come from this. She broke eye contact.
Hadesian put a hand to her face and made her look at him. And if there is a youngling involved.
I won't make you stay with me if you don't really want to, Hadesian. It's likely that there isn't a youngling, anyway. I'm a marine, Hadesian. I won't be assigned here much longer, nor do I want to be.
Hadesian growled a bit. "Then I will rejoin the Hierarchy. No problems there and I can work with any ships doctor you're assigned to."
Hilaria growled at the male. "Hades, you're making decisions without thinking!"
Hades bared his teeth and growled at her back. "I don't care! I love you and I am not going to let you just walk away like it's nothing!" He advanced and loomed over her. "Now, stop avoiding my question and answer me."
Hilaria looked away flushed, though Hadesian was unsure if it was from embarrassment or adrenaline. "Do you really love me, Hadesian?"
He leaned down and bit the side of her neck. "Beyond hope, Hilaria."
Hilaria sucked in breath as he bit her. "Then I accept."
Hadesian held her close and bit her throat, small nips from her shoulder to her mandibles. "Good, I will talk to your brother about the contract tonight then."
Hilaria chuckled and pushed him off. "Can I eat something before you take me again, Hades?"
Hadesian grinned back at his mate. "Certainly. Kenti is cooking up some food now. Speaking of Kenti, I have more news for you."
Hilaria looked skeptical. "Why am I afraid?"
Innokenti walked in carrying a steaming pan and a couple of plates. "Your husband and I are pledging blood-brotherhood, Hilaria."
Hilaria blinked and her gaze shifted from Hadesian to Innokenti and back again before she started laughing. "Oh spirits, now I am going to be related to Kenti." Hadesian laughed heartily and Innokenti squawked in mock offense.
