Reincarnated Poet: Hello all, I'm writing this immediately after posting the last chapter so I'm not sure who all has reviewed. I'll do one big thank you at the beginning of the next chapter. Last chapter was kind of a fluffy, set the stage sort of thing, this chapter we'll start to see some real conflict erupting, and dare I say it?, yes I do! We're going to see an actual antagonist! Although he wont actually start antagonizing until next chapter, he will be set up in this one. Ooops! Maybe it's a she? Oh crap, I've already told you. Oh well, here goes!
A Father's Love - Chapter Nine of The Conduit
Alex grabbed the boy's arm and pulled him backward, letting him fall into her place on the couch and crawled forward onto her knees and sat back onto the floor. "I'm not sure what to call you." She said finally, to the wolf, one hand reaching a hand out to the wolf.
"The woman in my dream said you were called Iovan." She said, and the wolf brought a paw up to his nose, pawing it as though he were rubbing a hand over his eyes. The boys stood still, not knowing quite how to react, and not even sure if they could as the big cat's eyes watched them warily before returning to Alex and the wolf. "I wasn't sure if you'd let me call you dad." Her words had barely left her mouth before the large creature was on top of her. Caleb brought the shovel up over his shoulder and brought it down hard.
It never hit the large creature. A small hand caught the iron rod and jerked it easily from the boy's grasp. A woman stood there now, in the place of the cat. Pogue and Reid both sat down hard on the over turned chair, eyes wide. Caleb simply watched the woman for a moment before she turned to the wolf. The large animal was running playful licks over the girl's hands and face as she laughed. "Please, Iovan, that type of thing might give them the wrong idea." A delicate eyebrow rose and widened her eyes slightly.
A delicate huff came from the wolf and it took a few steps back and howled, long and loud. Its shoulders widened and it rose up on two legs. As the boy's watched, an elderly man stretched through the wolf's image and stood on two legs, one hand reaching out to Alex. "Alexandra." The man said, pulling her into a tight hug, "my daughter, how I have missed you." He paid a heavy kiss on her forehead and pulled away. I knew Anann wouldn't not leave you in the dark for long." He picked her up and swung her in a circle like a father might a new born child.
"Iovan, you're scaring the only people who actually still might believe in us." The slight woman handed the shovel back to Caleb. "There you are boy, if you still want to hit him with it, I might let you." She smiled and Caleb nodded.
"Alex…" Reid whispered in an entirely scripted way. "Are you going to introduce us to your friends?"
The short woman laughed. "Boy, we aren't her friends." She mocked and let a hip stick out. "Iovan is her father. I'm Abnoba." She nodded to the group. "Our sister is…ah." She smiled and waved a hand in the direction of the only window in the room. It flew open and a large hawk landed on the ledge. She didn't change as quickly as the woman did, now as loudly as the man, but her long grey wings rose out quickly and became arms as the rest of her took shape.
"Teacher." Alex said, half happily and half out of respect.
"I'm Anann." She smiled slightly at the girl. "Are these the descendants?" She asked, eyeing the boys, "And a girl." She shook her head. "Childlike love is futile at best." Pogue nearly growled from his spot on the chair, but didn't move as Anann eyed Kate carefully.
"Did you hear that, Abnoba?" Iovan asked, with a laugh. "He's your hunter, sure enough." The smaller woman took new interest in the dark haired boy now.
"First meetings often merit introduction." Anann finally said as the group fidgeted nervously in the room. "Let us sit, and talk a while." The room shifted and one couch bled to two as the two chairs bled to four. "Much better." The taller woman commented and took a seat in the high backed chair next to the fireplace. She eyed Tyler carefully. He still had the poker in his hand, though it was held loosely at his side. "Boy if you're going to try and stab one of us, please make it Iovan, he's been giving me a headache for the last two millennia." Tyler laughed nervously for a moment as the big man eyed him. He quietly placed the poker back on its rack and sat down lightly on the edge of a chair. Abnoba did the same and Iovan collapsed into a heap on a couch, long legs stretching out to take up the whole thing.
"Alex?" Kate called, speaking up at last. "Come sit with me?" She elbowed Caleb gently making him scoot closer to the end of the couch. "Pogue?" The long haired boy was quick to take up residence on her other side as Alex sat against the arm rest on her right. "Now that we've all taken a seat…" Kate trailed off, letting the room grow silent again.
"Oh, alright, children." Reid mocked the silent group. "I'm Reid Garwin, if you're looking for descendants, I'd be one of them. As would Pogue Parry, Caleb Danvers, and Tyler Simms." Reid gestured around the group. "Kate would be Pogue's girlfriend." He looked lazily at the group, most of who were staring at him. "What?"
"Iovan." Anann laughed. "We've found your boy." The large man reached a hand out and curled it around the arm of Reid chair and pulled it closer to his couch.
"I like this one." He said, laughter in his voice. Reid shifted slightly uncomfortable in his chair.
"If I'm yours does that mean I get to turn into a wolf?" Reid asked, laughing to break the silence.
"Of course." The big man growled out and took the room by surprise.
"Iovan," Anann chided. "Don't get the boy's hopes up any more than they already are." Anann gestured to herself. "I'm Anann, Lady of Wisdom. Iovan you have heard enough of already. Abnoba is the Lady of the Hunt, you would do well not to make either of them angry."
"Okay." Alex said, tired of the uncomfortable introductions. "This is my dad," Alex left the couch and pulled Kate's hand with her. "Dad this is Kate." Alex looked into her newly found father's eyes and something in her own was questioning, hopeful. "She's my friend." Kate gave her hand a small squeeze at that. The big man sat up, studying the girl's face for a moment.
"You're the girl that fed her at that bar." Iovan growled the last word and Kate shrunk back slightly as if in fear. The big arms came out and wrapped around Kate's shoulders and pulled her into a tight hug. A small gasp was all it took for the man to release the girl and look apologetically at her. "Humans are so fragile. " He glanced from Abnoba to Anann, both women shrunk visibly.
"Fine, Iovan, but only this one." Anann sighed and shook her head, a small smile on her face. Iovan's face brightened.
"Do you want to be as fragile as you are, my little Katie?" Iovan asked, pulling both Alex and Kate under an arm.
"Um…fragile? No." Kate finally decided, glancing over at Alex and Pogue for some sort of input but none came. A wolfish laugh escaped the big man's lips and he reached around Alex and pulled Abnoba to her feet. He kicked Reid's calf lightly and gestured him to follow. Abnoba made the same gesture at Pogue who shadowed Kate closely. Caleb and Tyler moved to stand, but Anann shook her head and pointed back toward the chairs. Both boys sat down quickly, as if it weren't quite their decision to do so.
"If you cannot tell, we are not of your world." She explained slowly, both boys nodded. "We are also the ones that gave your families your powers centuries ago. Each of your families has one of our blood running through their veins. Normally it is apparent who belongs to who, but in your generation…it is more difficult. Pogue and Reid are obvious; you two, on the other hand, have proved a bit difficult to place, and you must be placed."
"There's only one more of you." Caleb observed quietly and Anann nodded.
"There is one more." She sighed deeply. "We must find who will follow in his steps quickly. He is not to be trifled with, nor should he be allowed to be close to his family."
"You mean you don't remember?" Tyler asked, disbelief on his face.
"It might be hard to understand, boy, but we are on a higher plain than most. We couldn't be bothered to keep track of you over the years. Each generation we've taken the time and made the sacrifice of one of our own children to save your families, and each generation your families have proven yourselves unable to accept what has been given them." Caleb watched the woman carefully, while Tyler studied his shoes with greater intensity every second.
"She's your daughter as well?" Tyler asked quietly.
"No, rather, she's my student. Iovan and Abnoba are lovers. They bare the children and we all teach them. Each generation we lose our most…promising child to your families." She took a deep breath. "The question remains which of you is of my blood and which of you is his." She let a hand float out before her and touched the back of Tyler's hand, fisted in the arm of the chair. "Its you." Anann looked across to the couch where Caleb sat. "Come, we'll talk." She looked sadly down at Tyler. "Go see Iovan and Abnoba. They will fill you in on what needs be done.
~R.P.~
Up in the darkness of the heavens a dark figure stood, looking down at the blue eyed boy Anann had touched. A feral smile slid across his features and his chest rumbled as if holding back laughter. The rumbling carried on the wind down into the human world, where thunder rocked the skies above Alex.
~R.P.~
Iovan stood out in the middle of the Danvers' lawn. His large form seemed to expand out in the open, but neither girl seemed to mind. They were still tucked, one under each arm, as Reid stood a few paces off, watching. Quickly he stepped backward, leaving Alex and Kate standing side by side. "Now, my girls." He smiled affectionately down at Alex before turning the same beaming smile to Kate, "For that is what you'll be my Katie, if you decide to take my gift."
"Ummm…" Kate glanced at Kate from the corner of her eye.
"Dad?" Alex asked, drawing his attention. "Why don't you explain what would be happening. Kate might want to talk to Pogue about it as well." Kate sent a thankful glance toward Alex, and at the mention of his name, Pogue appeared by Kate's side, leaving Abnoba by herself a few paces away. Seeing the small goddess alone, Reid took a couple steps toward her.
"You know…" He trailed off, watching Pogue and the girl next to him. "You two do seem alike." A low rumble echoed in the air and Abnoba dropped her stance slightly, a growl of her own leaving her chest. Reid watched her for a moment and glanced back over at Pogue, who had also let his knees flex slightly. His eyes darted up to the clouds and back to Kate. "You're practically the same person!" Reid exclaimed, laughter bit back at the look on Abnoba's face.
"Do not laugh now, human. This is not thunder." Reid glanced up at the sky and back to the goddess.
"Whatever you say. You're the all seeing all knowing one." Reid rolled his eyes at the near purr that left the small woman. "And you both like compliments." The smaller woman rolled her eyes and rolled her shoulders in acceptance.
"We haven't been believed in in quite some time, boy." Abnoba sighed, "Its nice to have our own blood descendants know of us again." Her very skin seemed to vibrate as she spoke. "I feel the need to run for the first time in centuries." The woman stalked forward. "I can teach him while I do it." Reid chuckled and watched as Abnoba placed herself at Pogue's back. The long haired boy glanced from his mentor to his girlfriend. He nodded his head and placed a light kiss at Kate's temple.
"Do whatever you want baby, you're still you." Pogue rolled his eyes as Kate's lit up. "It was going to kill you if I told you anything different, wasn't it?" Kate blushed and nodded her head.
"I'm tired of you protecting me. I want to be able to do it myself." Kate glanced from Alex to Iovan and nodded at the elderly man. "I'll do it."
"You'll feel differently when this is done, my Katie. Alex can teach you how to control your body. She's grown up with the heightened sense of self. You'll be a bit differently, as Abnoba gifted Alex with the feline movement, not the canine." He reached up to his mouth and swiftly pulled a long canine from his mouth. Kate's eyes widened as he brought it down swiftly and pierced her upper ear with it. She winced slightly and felt heat flow from her ear down through the rest of her body.
"I feel hot." Kate mused as she brought a finger up and wiped it along her ear, collecting a small trail of blood and looking at it for a moment. She stared at the blood for a moment, before Reid made his presence known to the three.
"Kate, babe, I knew I got you all hot and bothered, but in front of our guests…" Reid trailed off and Alex laughed as Iovan reached a hand out and sharply clipped Reid's shoulder.
"The girl is under my protection, boy." His voice was hard, but his eyes shone with laughter.
"It's okay, it's a running joke." Kate said, scrunching her nose as she wiped the blood on her jeans. "Why I do feel looser?" Kate asked, sending a warning glare at Reid, who had started to open his mouth, mischief playing in his eyes.
"You're relaxed." Alex explained. "You're not loose, just aware of the muscles. At least, that's what Anann told me in my dreams." Alex laughed as Kate rolled her shoulders. "Let's go for a run." Kate's eyes lit up at the idea.
"Why do I want to run?" Kate asked as the two girls left Reid and Iovan standing in the clearing. Iovan chuckled as the two girls left, moving from a walk to a jog to a quick lope.
"They're not even that fast." Reid watched as they left. "I almost caught up with Alex, but you cut me off." Reid almost glared at the big man. He'd hated feeling trapped in place.
"Sorry about that, my boy, but I needed to make sure my daughter was protected. A blonde headed human was chasing after my injured daughter. I took the necessary precautions." He clapped a large hand on Reid's shoulder and the slight boy almost collapsed under its weight. "Let's talk, boy."
