Chapter 4
I've been all over this friggin place and no sign of the seaweed loon. She just left me here, nobody to talk to… she was right about one thing though.
I don't know how long it's been…
I felt them kick.
I don't know how I know but there's two. Boys or girls, I have no idea, I don't really care either. I wish I could tell Ryan, I wish I weren't alone in this…
I was alone for Bastían but that was my choice, didn't need the dead weight or the stupid comments about me being fat or hormonal-.
Great, I'm getting pissed off for nothing. I doubt Ryan would behave the way Dante had.
Would he have been happy to know he was going to be a Dad? Would he have driven me nuts by being overly cautious? Maybe I would have driven him up the walls with crazy midnight cravings. Guess I won't know now. That I have to thank these Od VaiLumen for, taking my chance at happiness with my husband. I wonder which one of us would have gotten fat. You'd think I'd be fat right about now, but I can't really tell if I am. I just have a big belly; my babies are in there… I'm happy. Even out here, alone in the vast body of water with nothing but other sea creatures-. I did find a little underwater cavern, the water seemed just a little warmer in there and it was safe.
No matter where I went though, I couldn't find land, not above water anyway. I hadn't run into any boats either, nobody, not a plane- it's like being the last person on earth. Then again I couldn't be sure I was still on earth. Fred had told me all about the possible dimensions and her having been a slave on Pylea for five years, I kinda think she knows what she's talking about. Still, would any of them be looking for me? The last thing I know for sure is being in that cavern with Buffy and the Slayers then that freak with the stone yelling at me to get out. Like I hadn't been trying to do just that. I swear, if I see him again he's not going to like me, not that he does now. I'll think of something suitable to do to him when the time comes.
Now I'm here.
Where ever here is.
***
They came for me. Guess it was time what with the pains I was having when I woke up or rather that's why I woke up. No pain killers this time, not like with Bastían and boy did I wish they had something like that. Still, I can't complain…
I'm a Mom again.
I can't believe they're here. Sebastián has another brother and a sister though I'll never tell them who came first. That's only going to lead to trouble and I can just tell these two are going to be a handful.
Tane, the earth Fury helped me get settled into my land legs again. Kayzar checked the twins, come to find out the Guardians really are healers. Huh. Then he walked in. All blond and blue eyes, bare muscles all over the place in his- his- his… you know, he doesn't stick with the regular Guardian uniform of black leather trousers and vest. I hate to call it a dress only that's what it looks like but I get why, I mean he's Greek and it's that- well it was his uniform.
Still, its way cool! I mean he's a freaking legend! I would never have believed it had I not seen him with my own eyes. Nobody ever proved he was real, not like the story says.
And he's so not like the movie version of him. Brad Pitt barely resembles this bad ass and nowhere near in good looks. I mean he's got this aura about him… Tane says he's quite the lover. He's had more than half the Fury's in one way or another. It figures though, one of those Od VaiLumen must have a bad sense of humor if they think pairing us up is going to be anything other than painful.
Aquilles only gave me a couple of days to get settled into what they call my house. It's more like a temple, all pale colors or just white and all marble or some other stone. It looks like my vision, when the ice queen shoved her hands in my head. Yeah, she's here too. Had the displeasure of meeting Nisha just a few minutes ago.
"You are here to learn and prepare. War is upon us." Her words exactly but no explanation as to why they're fighting or who. I know there are some, the Others, who want us dead, homosapiens or anything that walks on two legs. They think we're killing the Light and I can't be sure we aren't but that doesn't mean we have to die.
So here I am, on my way to my first lesson with Aquilles. I'm not supposed to try bonding my elements yet, not so soon after the twin's birth. That's why I'm forced to spar with the blond. I can't wait, I haven't been in a good fight since… well, since for ever. All that training with Angel has to come in handy, the vamp may not be as old as this Greek but I'm hoping I wont get my ass kicked too bad.
"Wish me luck, corazones."
I dropped a kiss on the sleeping pair, both tucked in together, the fluffy fleece covering their little limbs.
"You shouldn't keep him waiting."
Tane stood in the doorway. Her smile serene as her brown eyes rested on the twins.
"It's not like I can blow him off completely which is what I really want to do." She looked at me like I was some weirdo and maybe my choice of words doesn't help. "It's just… Tane he's a freaking legend in my dimension. There's stories about what he did- they made a movie! A movie and I'm supposed to just… spar with him?"
So what I'm a little nervous here.
He's a freaking legend!
"Aquilles is one of our oldest Guardians. His experience in combat will be invaluable to you. Do not let your legends of his deeds interfere with your training. This is life and death, Phade." Her eyes flicked to the twins again and I couldn't help but do the same. They were sleeping peacefully, no trouble at all. I could stare at them all day but Tane's voice brought the rest of Hë'lîa into my happy cocoon.
"You do not want to leave these two."
"No. I don't."
*****
The twins were two by the time they decided I was ready to bond with my elements. We worked with the stone first since I seemed to have more control over it already. I could make my skin hard, make little missiles from rocks or dive into it like I was in a pool. Guess that's what they called control because when I tried fire I seemed to just combust.
Not a pretty sight.
Today I was with Nazrin in the stone temple. Literally, this place is made of regular rock, all gray and serviceable nothing pretty or grand like the other temples but this is where they-we.
I have to get used to saying 'we' because I chose to be here- well, not exactly but I did choose to answer so I guess it counts. Still, it seems weird to think I'm this super Amazon that's going to fight in a war. I'm just a woman, one with twins currently in residence… I haven't been able to get any of them to let me go home, or tell them I'm ok, not even to give Ryan the news he's a Dad. That would so freak him out. I wonder if it would be in the good way.
"Phade." Nazrin walked in on me doing the forms Angel had taught me. I was nervous and with so much room I figured why not try and relax.
"Nazrin, so how old is this place?" because naturally I was curious. I was learning about them-us. Four years I've been here, you'd think by now I would've gotten used to the fact I'm one of them. Its not just them anymore. I'm part of the us, part of this place and these… I still haven't decided what exactly we are. Why it is we… do what we do or how, who put that little extra umph inside us that makes us different from regular people.
The history lessons from Lyrus were my favorite, I've always liked to read- I've got tons of books in LA- and history is just that, a long interesting story about people and events. The Air Fury is also really good at the story telling, sometimes it feels like I can see what she's telling me…
"Older than you would imagine. It was here long before I ever answered."
That had a whole new set of questions going through my mind, like how old was she? Where had she come from and why?
"We should start. Now," and the lesson began.
It wasn't so hard, getting the stone to mold to what I wanted or what Nazrin told me she wanted. What got difficult and tiring was using very little of the element to get big things done. That was a skill I struggled to master and Nazrin was very patient.
"Xyne made it look so easy." I muttered after I had to make a staircase. Yeah, you're probably thinking she's gotta make some stairs big deal, ha! Try a winding staircase five feet wide with a trellis banister on both sides topped off with some winged sphinx on each end.
"Xyne?" the question wouldn't have caught my attention but Nazrin was looking at me funny.
"In Monte Rio, I sort of met her." No need to mention the ugly lizard demon or the Winchester's or the evil KKK.
"You – she has long been dead."
Well, that was true I guess. There was also something in her voice, the way she said Xyne's name.
"Uhmm… yeah, but-." Should I say I saw her ghost and she sort of possessed me? I didn't think it was the kind of thing you told a person.
"How?" a simple question, nothing I couldn't give an answer to I just didn't want this Fury, who'd been so helpful, to grieve again and by the look in those gray eyes I could tell it was a little late.
What ties did Nazrin have to Xyne? I'd sort of got the feeling all the women were close, like sisters or something and there were those who simply chose…
"I was help- trying to stop some men from sacrificing an innocent child to the demon. Xyne just happened to have died there, somehow- and she sort of… possessed me." There, I said what I wasn't going to say and no mention of the guys.
"The demon, was it a large scaly monster?" Nazrin waited quietly for me to answer but there was something in her face that made me think she already knew who I was talking about.
"Yes, she called him Mictlantecutli."
She nodded as if she'd known. I couldn't help my curiosity but held my tongue. See, I can be tactful when I want to.
"Xyne and Mictlan were mortal enemies. Their feud went on for centuries, before I was ever born." She sounded sad and moved slowly to the low bench, her long limbs stretching out. Beside her I felt like such a midget but I was long over the fact I wouldn't grow past my 5' 1 and a half. Yes I said half an inch. I know, what's the point of having that half inch, its not like it helps but that's what heels are for.
"How old are you, Nazrin?" at her look I hastily apologized. "I'm just curious because- well, you don't look old. Actually, I wouldn't put you past your early twenties."
None of the Fury's looked their ages though it varied. Some looked much too young, reminded me of the Potentials the Slayers had activated, teenagers but they were much older than me. Everyone here, though some didn't act like it.
She laughed then, a soft sound kinda sad but she answered me.
"Older than that. Probably two thousand or a bit more. You loose count after a century, especially here."
Wow, two thousand?
She'd lost count after a century!
"Xyne was older than that, more experienced…" she looked at me then, very serious. "It doesn't matter how good you are, how much experience you've gained. Bonding to your element is essential, exerting control even when you think it's insignificant a task or beneath you, is vital. A Fury without control, without the strength… she gets lost to the element. Once gone there is no bringing her back."
Okay then, I didn't know that. I'd learned something else today but in Hë'lîa I couldn't help but learn. Its why they weren't letting me go home.
"You were using too much, that is why we work on small things so that you learn to focus and limit the output of light."
"Light?" I questioned. All I kept hearing was control this, control that and more control but this was the first any of them mentioned light in conjunction with control. I already knew about the Light or some of it anyway. I had theories as to what this Light could be, I knew our history but that was slow going considering I had to translate to English in order to understand it.
That was a pain.
"Each of us have light, it's what we are made of. You were using too much, any longer and you could have killed yourself. Burned out."
"Burned out…" yeah, that doesn't sound like fun and now I'm really happy they got me when they did. Somehow the idea of dying doesn't feel right, guess I'm just weird that way, huh?
*****
"And how are the lessons?" Tane asked coming out of the twins' playroom. It was nice having her around, she was so peaceful but that's one of the traits of an Earth Fury. She tends to mellow out anyone around her, comes in handy in stressful situations.
"Tedious and slow but good." I gave her my fake toothy smile and two thumbs up which earned me a genuine smile in return.
"Nazrin has the patience of a saint. I wouldn't put up with me." I sighed knowing it was true. I'm just not patient, never have been and for as long as I live I doubt I'll ever get some. I'm pretty sure that if there's a way to get something done faster I'll find it just so I don't have to waste time.
Thing is; time doesn't seem to matter here. I mean, I'm friends with some women over a century old! The Guardian's, though some behave like teenagers, are actually older or just as old. There aren't many you could label as ancient, just a handful who were there when this war started. Direct descendants of the woman who gave us our purpose.
"I may not be as patient but there is something else you could learn." Tane offered taking a seat beside the small fountain. It was the first thing I made that hadn't given me a headache or taken over a month to finish. Proof that Nazrin was a really good teacher.
"More school…" I grumbled but obediently sat opposite her. The faster I learned what they wanted me to learn the sooner I'd get to go home.
Aquilles had promised.
"This wont be so difficult for you, not after the fountain." Her eyes roamed over the delicate statue I created. I have no idea where the image came from or why but it was in my head and I couldn't get it out so I tried. I wasn't expecting it to be exactly the way I had pictured it, the clean lines of her body or the way her hair seemed to blow in a breeze. The robe outlined her legs as if she were walking and the delicate wings on her back were so thin I was amazed they hadn't broken off already. Her bare feet were covered by the water, miscalculation on my part. It was her face that I couldn't look at too long. The eyes, nose and mouth… it was so like her…
"You've stopped demanding to be sent home-."
"I figure you guys would have sent me already but you're all too damn patient." I snapped. I wanted to apologize because it wasn't her I was mad at or the fact they were keeping me here because I know it's for my own good. It was the statue and who it reminded me of…
"I can offer you a window to them." Tane ignored my outburst. "For a short period, Phade." I ignored her warning tone, grateful to get even a glimpse of my family.
"Can you show me Sebastián?" I tried to keep the eagerness out of my voice but I'm sure I failed. Tane only smiled, having heard me speak of Sebastián plenty of times before, comparing both experiences in motherhood. I was surprised Tane had no children considering she spent so much time with the twins and enjoyed their company. She was so good with them, I was amazed.
"Of course." Her eyes flashed the golden color then she dipped the tip of her index finger in the water. Ripples broke the surface extending outward form her hand, the water shimmering. It wasn't long before the water stilled, bright white light made my eyes squint to see and then it faded leaving a clear mirror like surface. Framed in its center was the Hyperion lobby and at the edges, the violent ripples of water seemed frozen.
It was like watching TV.
My Dad walked out of Angel's old office, directly into the lobby talking with a couple of men. I recognized the one to his left, Ignacio. They'd worked together when we were kids but then the company had gone bankrupt or the owner sold it, I can't remember but that was about the time Dad started looking for work outside of California.
Sebastián jumped the last steps in the lobby, as always ignoring my warning or the fact I had said he couldn't do that. But I wasn't there to scold him and my Dad didn't seem to notice.
"Luis?" I was surprised my big brother was around. Then again I guess Dad probably called him in to do some work. It was obvious Dad was getting the Hotel in shape, fixing what we hadn't and repairing the damage we did while fighting the big bads.
"They're ok." And I was happy about that, happy they were together and Sebastián had them around. I don't regret the choice I made, leaving my Dad in charge of everything. Ese Viejo, wouldn't let anything happen to my son.
"Show me Buffy and the other Slayers, Tane? I want to know where they are. What they're up to."
"Of course." She touched the tip of her finger to the image and it wavered. The white glare wasn't so bad this time and when it faded there was Buffy standing in some dark room filled with young women and teens, a bunch of monitors-.
"Oh my God." I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.
There stood Xander, a group of young impressionable girls all around him but all I could focus on was the black eye patch and the leather outfit. He looked like some kind of comic book action figure. On second thought, he looks rather dashing, more grown up and manly. He was giving orders and looking as if he were a very capable in charge man. Guess he was taking it seriously now.
On one of the monitors I could see Faith and that's when I noticed the lack of sound.
"Why can't I hear them?" I turned to Tane but she didn't reply just pointed to the water and the Slayers. I could see Vala on another screen and Willow- they were setting up for something.
"Mamá!" they startled me and I almost put my hand through the picture.
"Who's that?" and their little hands clutched the stone lip of the fountain, noses practically dipping into the watery image.
"That… they're friends… of mine." So, I stretched the truth a little big deal. I'm older, definitely wiser and the little ones have no need of hearing about the past. Well, not my recent past.
"The blond lady," Val pointed and I noticed Buffy, arms crossed over her chest looking stern. "Is she a Fury too, Mamá?"
"No." I laughed, just the thought of the Slayer- no, not that she couldn't but her destiny lay somewhere else and the Powers That Be wouldn't let her switch sides. She's too important to them, all three of them.
"Cariño, you see the two beauties in the screens?" she nodded, her eyes just like Ryan's, dark brown flecked with rich green, observed Faith and Vala. "They're Slayers."
"What's a Slayer?" I couldn't help the twitch of my lips at Jericho's curiosity. He's always asking questions, getting in trouble, appearing at the strangest most inopportune moments.
"Why don't we check on-."
"Fred!"
"Angel!"
"I want to see Fred and Gunn."
"I want to see Angel, he's better than any humans. He's a vampire-."
"Enough, you two." If I didn't stop them now the argument would only turn into a screaming match. I love my twins; with all my heart but their screaming… even a saint would turn to murder.
"You are correct. It is enough." Tane replied and dipped her finger into the image. It wavered, the ripples fanning out before I could protest. I hadn't seen nearly enough to pretend I was ok with staying on for how ever long they kept us. Where was Ryan and the Hell'sAngel's? What was Angel up to? How where the others getting by at Wolfram and Hart? This is what I wanted to know.
Tane stood up, her eyes shimmering golden in the late afternoon light. Once again I had been gone longer than I'd planned.
"Alright, kiddos." I sighed turning to my little beasts. "Time for our lessons and some dinner." Twin cries of displeasure rent the peaceful evening. I couldn't blame them, learning to read the ancient language of the Fury's was a bitch.
***