Tersa stood on the flag stone court yard looking all too long at what appeared to be a very old eyrie. She had been here before. Though that had been when she was a child. The men who lived here had been kind to her mother and to her. Had hidden her when she had made the offering for her birthright ceremony. Then later had given her a place to stay after she had been broken. She had never told anyone about them but she knew they could help her boy. Blood recognizes blood and there was too much of a tie not to recognize this particular bond.
A tall man with broad shoulders and dark black hair that was just starting to turn gray at the temples, stepped just outside of the cottage and into the shadow, so not to be directly into day's sun. It would make him weak and give such a nasty headache if he tried to be out here during his resting hours but he would meet her. Had to know why she was there. In a rough voice that came from being waken up he slowly said, "Tersa?"
She noticed his long narrow face and deep gold eyes. Looked closer at how his brow furrowed while he was looking at her. Then let a grin form on her face when she saw his gray jewel handing from his gold chain. "The boy needs you now. It's time for you to go."
"Darling, what boy? Whose boy?"
Tersa ran her fingers though her already tangled hair. How to word it for him to understand? No, not him the winged one would understand better. "Your brother, he's up?"
The man turned slightly to acknowledge the cabin. "He's still awake." and wondering why your here during the day. No we're both wondering about that. Hell's fire where have you been for the past nearly two decades? Neither question he would ask now. Nor would he ever get a real answer for. After all time didn't pass the same way in the twisted Kingdom as it did for everyone else.
She didn't say anything else just slipped past him and into the cabin that was much bigger then what the outside showed. In fact the illusions spells that had been weaved into the stone and walls were holding quite nicely even now.
Locking eyes with the eyrien who understood her best she said, "My boy needs you."
His dark, membranous wings snapped out and in a deep voice that was still soft asked, "And when did you have a boy?" Meaning who was he going to gut for using her that way. Not to mention why was he just finding out about it?
"Blood recognizes blood. You Will Help The Boy." She spoke the last part spacing out the words. Her eyes never left his. Then she smiled when he started to curse.
"Blood recognizes blood." he muttered along with some very creative words then he gasped, "Mother night what did you do?"
Tersa waved dismissively. "You go now."
The other one came up behind her and slid his hands over her shoulders. Not in a sexual way but more of a brotherly manner. "You remember the spell your mother taught you. The web for dreams and visions?"
Her fingers caressed an un-jeweled chain that held her hourglass pendant. "I remember." Her voice no longer sounded broken but showed a glimpse of whom and what she had been before. Then she turned to face the male who was behind her. Hesitantly her fingers caressed his gold chain lifting it just a bit. Lifting it enough to show a small crystal attached by a small ring that was hidden by his shirt.
He nodded in agreement, "Use the web so we can meet this boy. Then…" he sighed, "…we'll meet his flesh after the sun falls." Assuming that this 'boy' was nearby and they don't have to ride the winds very far.
"Draca will tell you how to find the boy." She turned but stopped just before she reached the doorway. She didn't turn to face the two men but she managed to speak loud enough for them to hear, "You have been missed."
The two men stared at each other of a long time. Draca? She had said Draca and the only person they knew that held that name lived at the Keep. Even riding the winds it would take several hours to get there.
The non-winged man groaned, "Can we go back to not remembering where we were raised?"
"Not a chance. Three years ago when the spell - or web or whatever the bitch used to cloud or minds – broke we knew we would have to go back sooner or later."
"Feels like walking into a battlefield again. And I don't like it."
"No puppy what you don't like is you're going to have to talk to the High Lord… Soon."
"Prick." Of course he would bring that up. It wasn't like he would have to face his father anytime soon.
A wicked smile formed on the eyrien's face, "Can't help it if I'm right."
Kalush softly knocked on Tersa's cabin door. Her soft brown hair blew in the night's air. She waited for a moment then knocked again. Her eyes narrowed. If something had happen to Tersa – as strange as she was- she didn't want to think about how Daemon would react let alone Lucivar who was already fighting panic and hot anger. Worried she went over to Manny's.
"At least she opened the door." Kalush thought then smiled. "You haven't seen Tersa have you?"
Her voice was sweet, but the question worried her. "Not since last evening. There's no trouble I hope."
Biting her lip and knowing better then to worry the woman… she took a deep breath. What else could she do but tell her everything. Besides Manny had cared for Daemon and would want to know.
The door to the eyrie open in an eerie slowness as Tersa came in. She seemed nervous but not distraught. In a soft whisper she spoke, "Where's my boy?"
Aaron slid his hand around her back. No mother should ever have to sit next to her son like this. Not under these circumstances. No, no one should have to keep a vigil over Daemon, he corrected. "He's this way sweetheart."
Chaosti watched the door with narrow eyes. Where was Kalush? A moment later she sent word she was bringing Manny back with her.
Odd but no one questioned it.
Saetan sat watching both of his sons. Lucivar sat in a chair next to the bed. His body slouched over and his head resting on his arm that was outstretched and laying all to near Daemon's hand. Daemon at least looked comfortable, although if he was or not Saetan did not want to know. It wasn't that he was unkind but he could not bare not one more bit of worry, not when he was sure he wouldn't be able to hold the leash of his temper if knew the truth.
Tersa came in the room with a very stalking king of feline glide. Her gold eyes held worry as much as they held what only could be described as excitement. In a very motherly tone she said, "My boy needs rest now. You and my winged one must leave."
"When Hell froze over." He thought it and bit back the words. No he wouldn't let them slip from his lips, or at least not now. Biting his lower lip he took another look as Tersa. Her green dress was smudged with dirt and was wet at the bottom. Her hair although long and black looked more tangled then it had recently. Yet she stood straight with all the confidantes in the world and she was there because she was Daemon's mother. And as Daemon's mother she did have the right to shoo people out of her son's healing room, although he never thought she would.
Calmly and a very soft masculine purr he said, "Our son is resting…." He stopped when the look in her eyes changed to one that was closer to feral. Then started again, "Lucivar needs to stay. I don't think it would be healthy to move him right now."
Blowing a bit of her tangled hair away from her face she huffed, "Fine. My winged boy can stay. He won't get all snarly while he's sleeping."
She waited till the High lord was out of the room with the door shutting tight behind him before moving over to the bed. Her fingers lightly touched her son's face. She needed to speak to him so that he understood. Regret of waking him hit her a moment later as tears slid down his face. Softly she placed her finger over his lips beckoning to remain silent.
He only nodded slightly. What else could he do?
Slowly she called in a sliver chain. Dangling at the end was a small piece of cut glass, what looked like a gray ghost like web rested in its center. As carefully as she could she clasped it around his neck then brought his hand of so that he could hold it and feel the web pulsation through the glass.
"It will take you to a special place. You can rest there. The boys will help you."
"The boys?" his voice came out as a whimper as his eyes started to become too heavy.
"Sleep now." her voice not of a broken witch but that of a concerned mother
Anything she said after that he never heard the sleep web was strong and he was not about to fight it.
He felt like he was falling through the darkness. Kept falling till he realized that he was… till he realized he was deep in the abyss and falling much too fast. The colors whirled by him in a blur till he reached the Red. Then he was able to control his fall, slowly he descended to the Gray web and wrapped himself before dropping down to the Ebon gray. He lingered there briefly before dropping down to the Black. For the first time in so long he felt stable there. Just resting, lingering. The webs were wrapped around him almost a cocooning him. Almost like they had done to Witch all those years ago. Still he didn't understand why he was here.
Coming up from beneath him he heard a deep voice. He knew that voice… but why had Lorn brought him here? His mind raced … was this where he was going to be broken? It wouldn't matter not really, not when his chalice was already so fragile and cracked… it would just mean he wouldn't be much of a threat after…
"You made a more graceful landing thiss time?" his deep voice sounded amused.
"Ah… thank you?" not knowing what else to say Daemon stood there on the black web for a moment before asking, "Lorn, why did you bring me here?"
"Becausse Witch assked. Ssomething about undoing a sspell. My queen ssaid just thiss once."
He was going to ask more about the spell but thought better of it. Asked instead, "Can I ascend now?"
His answer was dark swirls surrounded him till he felt like he was going to be sick. He stood still for a moment trying to figure out where he was. If he hadn't been a black widow and hadn't been taught how to recognize dream and vision webs he never would have understood.
Tersa wanted to tell him something or show him. Either way he had to listen carefully.
Daemon took a few unsure steps as the mist separated to make an opening just big enough to walk through. As he glided past it, the mist closed behind him. In front of him now was a half circle of high back chairs in front of that a sing chair facing the other three. That one was empty.
A male voice called from behind the chairs, "Come sit down puppy. This won't take long."
He knew that voice. Not well, but he knew it. Puzzled he spoke as he took a seat, "Memphis? How?"
"Only two witches I know can seek out whispers. Guess who asked if I could smooth this out for you?"
He almost said "Jaenelle" then thought before saying , "Tersa?"
The other two men looked at him with amused interest. The one who sat to Memphis right – who looked like a younger yet more toned version asked, "So what happen that we have to come back to Kaeleer?"
Come back? Who in the name of hell was he? No all things in time and in order. Tersa's web, Tersa's order that's how it had to be.
Before he could speak Memphis answered for him, "Witch was caught in a web. And father … ah… well, if Daemon makes the transition because of this." he paused then quietly added, "Remember what he did to Zuulaman?"
The man's face paled, "Shit."
"Exactly. Besides the puppy here needs a bit of a refresher course on proper court protocol and besides you should know how to treat at least some of the wounds he has."
Daemon shifted in his seat. They were talking about him like he wasn't even there. Damn them both. Damn his brother and… father. Memphis said father. "Payton?" his voice came out as a cracked squeak.
"Figured it out that quickly? Hmm and from what the darkness was telling us… ah well I thought I would be dealing with someone a bit more like Tersa."
"And how do you know her?" his eyes narrowed and his voice like his face held a board sleepy tone.
"Puppy we can discuss that later. But I will tell you that as a child she could make my hair stand on end. It's no wonder she was bound to carry the High Lords mirror."
"You knew her… before…"
The surprise and amusement in Daemon's voice surprised him and if anything it would give them something to talk about. "Listen to the healers and don't scare our brother any more. We'll talk soon."
Was the last thing heard before Daemon found himself in a restless sleep.
I've been going back through this story and others. upon doing so I have found some errors and also a missing chapter. please bare with me while I fix what I saw then the end of this story will be posted. thank You. and R&r always welcome