Honey Glayzed 49
Final Integration : 2 Become 1
Moira held the hourglass in her hands watching as the sands fell from one globe to the other. "It's amazing, how one grain falls into another building a mountain of sand one small spec at a time." Moira said with a small smile.
"Things start with one, and build to more," Count D gasped when Aoi spoke. "All things start with one." Aoi paused then she smiled offering Moira her empty teacup. "One drop leads to another and another and soon..." Aoi removed her hand from the now full cup. Count D rushed to her side as she gasped and tears fell from her eyes. "Papa," Aoi held Count D close. "O-Ji-Ue will have to risk much sacrifice to save the love of one he cares for." Aoi coughed then leaned her head against Count D. "Pa Pa." Moira gasped when the mature child turned back into a toddler.
"The child's knowledge," Moira stared aghast at the small child.
"Tired," Aoi tucked her thumb in her mouth and began to doze in Count D's lap.
"She has the power of myself, my father and my grandfather." Count D affirmed rocking his daughter back and forth. He refused to impart his fears for his child. He just held her close as the child like empress looked on.
Break
Dee maintained a hold on Bikky while they waited. Day slipped into evening and still he and Andy did not return. Ryo sat watching as Laton paced. The gargantuan dragon bristled with temper. Ryo had told him that he and Torcha were to stay out of the situation. Under no circumstances was Mr Hayes to be harmed. Casey would come clean and he would go to prison. "You humans are so fast to cage your demons instead of incinerating them. Unless you see some virtue to the greater good."
"Yes, we humans," Ryo said trying not to think of how bereft he felt in the total absence of Rain's wind. He had felt the loss as soon as the cuffs had been placed on his son's small wrists. "Don't try to apply your Arcadian absolutes here." Laton gasped to have his own sentiments turned on him. "I am sorry that my son's mental state endangered the hidden realms. But I will, if I have to, protect the human realms."
"Don't you understand Snap Dragon?" Torcha moved to embrace Ryo. "The human realms would be endanger if the hidden realms fall. We must protect all. For every reality, there is an alternate. For every choice there is a consequence. Why do you think we brought the slayer here instead of going to the Hellmouth?"
"I don't know," Ryo looked away thinking of Moira and her kin as well. Why did they bring so many to Arcadia instead of going to the point of origin of the danger and dealing with it.
"Sanctuary," Bikky's soft voice carried throughout the cavernous room. "This place is a sanctuary to all the others." Bikky looked at the many doors into the throne room. "This palace is connected to just about every place where humans live other countries, other realms. They are all connected. I mean It was a long shot that Ryo happens to be the son of your Daughter," He looked at Laton and Torcha. "Or was it? George's family is related to the dragons of Ireland and Wales. It is all interconnected. Space and time and life and death and war and peace it is all connected held together. Many kingdoms all under the guidance of one High King."
Dee took a deep breath. "And Rain endangered them all."
"It is not exposure that upset me so," Zarro sighed then sat down on his haunches as a giant feline. "That young man is so fragmented, he is not allowing himself to heal. This place is a sanctuary but... Also a place of healing for mind, body and soul."
"He'll be okay." Ryo looked down the hall. "We have to have faith in him and believe that he will be okay."
Break
Andy sat on the bed rocking Rain. "I can not walk those paths for you." Andy whispered in his ear as he sobbed in her arms. "But you will not have to walk them alone."
"I want... I want..." Rain held her tight then closed his eyes. He saw it again, the alley slick with condensation, the smell of trash, the bruises on his body. He could taste the terror all over again. He was already in so much pain and he knew, he knew what was to come. Rain stood at the door of his nightmare. He could see the stairs. When balked he was pulled inside and carried up. No questions asked no one cared. Did no one see? Was it usual to carry a gagged naked child up the back entry of this place? What was this place? Was this hell?
"Rain!" Andy saw the strange tinge to his face. "Breathe!" Rain sobbed and gasped at the same time. "Breathe! It's okay."
"She's dead," Rain wept holding on to Andy. "Mother is dead, he's a monster. If all he wanted was me, I would trade just don't kill her." Rain choked again, then gagged. Andy held him over the trash.
"Its alright Rain," Andy held his hair back. "Let's go back."
"No Andy," Rain shook his head and wiped his mouth. "Every time someone comes to get me." Rain thought of the years of his nightmares. He always awoke with Ryo, Dee or Bikky. "I have to walk out on my own. Or I won't leave at all. I will keep going back." Andy sighed, then let him go. "I have to go alone."
Break
Watching the smaller white horse run wild with the larger wild beasts was a beautiful. The plains of Arcadia spread out before him in the lush folds of summer. He inhaled the fresh grass that seemed to glow silver in the moonlight. He did not know why there was an upset here. As the family had come in earlier he had stayed out of the way. There was no way that he could help. The entire palace seemed to tiptoe. Breath held as they waited. What they waited for Atreyu was not sure. Bastion had retired to the petshop with Moira leaving him to await the family he would stay with.
Splitting them up seemed like a grand idea to hide them among their families. Whatever plan that the demon courting the empress had would fail. Atreyu could not say why but he had faith in the Arcadian's. He left the balcony after a wave at Artax to see Andy walking the hall. Bikky and Ryo rushed to her side. While Dee looked confused to see her walking the hall. "Where is he?" Bikky asked, his frown mirrored by Ryo.
"He wanted to go alone." Andy sat down in a chair allowing the tears. "I used the incense that Count D gave me."
"I think he knew," Ryo said looking down the hall where his son's suite was. "Maybe not outright, but deep down, in his subconscious he knew."
"What do you mean?" Dee asked. He placed his hand on Ryo's hip.
"His lyrics, when he first joined Slash." Ryo shook his head. "Don't hold my hand this time, I'll save myself. Maybe I'll wake up for once." Ryo sat down. No matter how long it took, he would wait. They all would.
Break
He stood alone in the alley. Rain shivered. He heard the clink of metal chains attached to his pants. He could feel the wet slide of the brick wall. Then he saw it. The young boy dragged behind the large man. Rain winced as the boy dropped to his bottom and was picked up and hauled in. The door slammed and Rain stood with his back pressed against the wall. Rain took several deep breaths. He closed his eyes. This time Ryo was not there to pull him out of the mire of his own mind. This time he had to travel the terrain of his terror alone.
He placed his hand on the door and was hit with the smell of lemon polish and alcohol from the club below. He could also smell the tang of sex and blood. With his Arcadian senses heightened he could even taste the fear and lascivious nature of his attacker. Rain swallowed his bile and placed his foot on the stairs. He could hear the screams over the sound of the music. Could they hear him downstairs? Rain wondered he dropped down to his bottom.
Rain was unsure how long he sat but the cries died down. Whether from his exhaustion or if his attacker was forcing him to eat. He wasn't sure but he knew he had to get up. He had to keep going. Rain could feel the cuffs on his wrists. Their weight reminded him of who he was. They also reminded him of who he would become.
Getting to his feet, Rain looked up the stairs. No one was coming, he had to remind himself that this time, he had to get up there. Each step was a battle with his heart and mind. Making it to the top was a relief as the sporadic cries would reach his ears and he would be nearly blown back from the force of his own memories. On he pressed, step by step. Rain Reached the landing and stood tall. He saw the door and stood.
Going back down was an option. Andy had not said that he would lose his abilities, just be suppressed until he could control them. He had done enough today. He had come far. Rain heard the whimpers on the other side of the door. His ears rang with the high pitch of his own voice begging 'please, no more.' Rain braced his hands against the door, he could feel the brush of his own silky hair on his cheeks as it fell over his shoulders. He heaved, and swallowed before he raised his hands. 'Stop... please... why won't you just kill me?' Rain gasped blown away from the door. His head rocked back against the wall and he looked down the stairs for his escape, or his rescue. Where was Ryo? Where was Dee? He had come to expect it. At this point in his nightmares they were always there. They came.
Rain fell to his knees. He had to get up. Rain looked at the door again, this time he gasped as it was glowing red. Was this how it was? No. This was the demon of his own mind making a monster manifest in his heart. Rain pushed himself to his feet. Approaching the door again he raised his foot and kicked it open. He walked into the room and there was no attacker. There was no terror looming to grab him and force him to submit. Looking to the bed he saw a small pre-teen, curled up and naked. Shivering and alone, scared and in pain. Rain walked to the bed. The image heard his approach and shrank away.
"Hey," Rain said softly. He was startled when the bright green eyes met his own. He was dirty, as if he had been buried many times. Rain brushed the dirt from his head then lifted the blanket to wrap around his shoulders. "Come on." Rain pulled the boy into his arms. "It's time to go. Let's get out of here." Rain embraced the young boy. His tears washing away the dirt. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. Rain gasped to be sitting in his suite. He looked down at his wrist to see the bracelets glowing before they opened and fell from his wrist.
Break
George smiled into the living room as Buffy was talking to her watcher. Mr Giles accent gave him a brief touch of home, yet at the same time made him miss his family. He was just setting dinner on the table when Jhaymes entered the back door. He saw George and the days troubles melted away. Jhaymes waited until the plate of rice, vegetable and mushroom stuffed peppers were on the table before he wrapped his arms around George and inhaled his scent. "My love," Jhaymes whispered placing small kisses behind Georges ear along the markings of his brand. George waited until Jhaymes reached the end before he turned his face to offer his lips.
He would forever marvel that he still felt flutters in his stomach every time Jhaymes touched him. The flush of new love should be gone and yet every time he was within reach of Jhaymes he felt as if he was a school boy with a crush all over again. "Welcome home, love, just in time for supper."
"And here I was hoping for desert," Jhaymes licked George's lips. Hearing giggles, he backed away to see Dawn standing with a large pitcher of iced tea. Nari was beside her with the heavy dish of sauce. He sidled past to set his burden down brushing against the side of the slender teen. Dawn's hands wobbled and Nari was quick to grab the container before there was a mess of glass and liquid on the floor. "Ah," Jhaymes noted the wet hair of his squire. "Dare I hope that the fresh showers mean that you and Wali had an active training session today?"
"More coordinated, that I am," Wali beamed holding the chair for Dawn to sit while Nari took Jhaymes sword then offered him a hot fragrant towel. Jhaymes wiped his hands then gave it back while Giles, Willow and Tara crowded around the table. "There are more of you?" Wali asked recalling the others who had visited.
"Oh, Xander and Anya went back to the hotel. Spike is being held at the consulate" Giles answered the strange pale child. Watching him wield a sword against Nari in the backyard had been an eye opening experience. So serious, he was. Different from the young man singing off key while setting the table. It seemed as if he was a young child on the verge of becoming a teenager at one point and an adult at the same time. How could he switch. Giles recalled that the boy was Arcadian, therefore, he was not as he seemed.
George sat with his food feeling like a good house 'wife' as Jhaymes took his first bite and smiled. "Glad you like it," George felt grateful for Ryo's recipes on vegetarian cuisine. He had noted a drop in his waistline and hoped Jhaymes would not mind. His butt was still round thanks to the squats he had begun to do. "How was work today, love? Did you find who you were looking for?"
"Unfortunately not,"Jhaymes sighed after a moment. "But there has been some activity that may require a visit off shores for a while."
"For a while?" George asked. Zarro had said he was off. That he would not have large missions. Small local missions for the duration of Wali's training. George forced a smile recalling Torcha's words about a knight going into battle needing a smile to come home to.
Jhaymes breathed a sigh of relief when George smiled. "Actually Buffy," Jhaymes said. "What can you tell me about Glory?"
Giles cleared his throat. "The human prison Ben is dead," he answered before Buffy could swallow and respond.
"Well that would explain it," Jhaymes frowned.
"Explain what?" Buffy asked when Jhaymes seemed sad.
Jhaymes sighed then looked at George. "Ddrie Goch has contacted Laton. Seems someone has manipulated the time weir. Stolen a few of their larvae. They are trying to go back and retrieve Glory. The only chance they have of fighting you." Jhaymes finished the last looking at Buffy. "There is a friend of Lord D who may be able to help us. To control this shift."
"Who?" Giles asked for Buffy sat staring ahead in wonder at the thought that Glory could be coming back to plague her. Tara frowned recalling having the hell beasts fingers wriggling in her head.
Jhaymes smiled then looked over at Nari. "Who indeed?"
To Be Continued.
Wow, so much going on, I feel great to be back writing again.
Ja Ne Chi
