Hey everyone,
A few things that I have planned for this story. A lovely romantic scene between Petra and Adam, both Petra and Adam reminiscing on the day they just had, Merlock giving his specialty another try on his beloved – and of course that new annoyance on their path to a happily ever after. I also plan to let Merlock have a few secrets that he will reveal to his beloved and the Goodmans and have a few plans for the new Council.
Let's do this,

Venquine1990

Chapter 08
The End Of The Day

3rd of May 2418
Tama City, Japan
Merlock's POV

The voice that shouts is male and yet it screeches so badly, it almost hurts my ears. Tony recognizes the voice and questions how the owner of the voice could have found them. I turn in the direction of the sound and notice a young man glaring at me as if I just broke into his house and stole his most precious belonging. The boy is of average height and has a few muscles in his upper arms. Otherwise he mostly looks just like an average teen.
"What the hell, dude? Let go of my girl right now! What kind of a creep do you think you are? You think just some random stranger can walk right in and take another man's girl? You've got some nerve, jerk, I'll give you that. Now let go of Rara before I call the cops on you." My eyes widen in disbelief the more the lad speaks and I even sweat drop when I hear his nickname for my girl. Yet instead of complying, I just look around.
"What's the matter, you blue-skinned freakazoid? What are you looking for? An escape route to get away with my girl? Ha, go ahead. If you want to prove to the world that you're nothing but a creep and prove to Rara that I can be her knight in shining armor, be my guest. Huh, maybe you're not as stupid as I thought." I hardly listen to the boy's ranting as I just observe my surroundings. Sarah looks at me worriedly, but I ignore this, for now.

Instead I turn to the lad and say: "Funny, I really can't say the same of you." Sarah looks startled and the lad looks shocked. I smirk at him and say: "The only one who has a problem with me holding Sarah in my arms is you. However, the only one who isn't having a problem with you making a fool of yourself is me. I can't say the same of the crowd of bystanders though. I can only assume that this isn't the first time you've made a public fool of yourself."
The lad looks around at everyone who has come to stand around us. And most of their faces indeed show looks of aggravation, disbelief and annoyance. A few of the adults have their hands in their sides and are shaking their heads at him. I turn to my beloved and ask her if she has any issues with me holding her. Sarah beams at me and whispers back: "I am where I want to be, Merlock. Though I would like to go home."
I nod at her and quickly tell Flint and the others that I'll meet them at home. The lad tries to step up and stop me, but I feel inspired by his earlier words. And, both because I am sure that Sarah will deeply appreciate and enjoy it and because I feel like using the lad's own words against him, I crouch down and take another leap. A lot of people scream and yell and shout in awe and shock as I cross the street in a single jump and reach one of the lower houses.

I nudge Sarah to make sure she tightens her hold on my neck before I release my arm around her waist. I turn my head and send the crowd below and my friends a two fingered salute and a wink before I grab hold of my beloved once again. And with one leap after another, I jump from one building to another and cross through town. Sarah holds onto me the entire time and my heart sings in joy. Sarah's form in my arms feels as delightful as the grin on her face and as I carry her through town, she lies her head on my shoulder.
And Tama City itself is quite beautiful. The houses are made of either marble that shines white, grey, brown and red in the setting sun or of bricks that also have a natural beauty to them. And some of the flower pots that are either hanging from windows or set on balconies have flowers in them that seem to have been recently watered. Thanks to this, the petals sparkle as well. There are a few people out on their balconies who are shocked, yet I ignore them.

After about twenty minutes of jumping I reach the two tall flats that are set on both sides of the two-story home of my beloved. Sarah looks down worriedly as the flat on the left is ten stories tall and the one I'm on is eight, yet I give her a reassuring smile and whisper: "Hold tight now, love. I'll need to make a few flips in order to break my fall." Yet then suddenly another Time Portal appears in front of me and Unita Master flies out.
"Come, Merlock. I'll help you and Sarah down." The noble steed tells me from within my mind and I silently think to myself: "Considering my tendency with accidents and falling down when I least expect it. Do I really want to risk my Sarah's health just because I suffer from random bouts of being accident prone?" And even before I even finish that thought, I already know the answer. I help Sarah onto Unita-Master and then climb on behind her.
And while I hold Unita's mane with one hand, I wrap my other arm snuggly around her waist. Sarah beams at me as Unita-Master neighs and gently floats down to the ground, his wings spread wide to each of our side and his body tilted slightly to the side. Thanks to this he swirls in elegant loops as we descend eight floors. Unita Master stays afloat slightly above the ground for a moment before he lands and I help my beloved off of the Time-Shifter.

Again we have quite a few onlookers and Sarah's face heats up as she realizes this. Yet I just calmly pull her against my side and thank the being in front of me. Unita-Master nods, leaps up on his rear legs and flies up a bit before he vanishes through another Time Portal. Then I notice how the onlookers are starting to upset my sweet love and I can't help but think: "If they want to gawk, I'll give them a reason she'll enjoy."
And so I take her sweet, heart-shaped chin between my thumb and forefinger and lift her face up and closer to mine. I press my lips against hers and kiss her with passion and love. Sarah's tenses for a second, but then she happily wraps her arms around my neck. Most of my senses are entirely focused on the gorgeous, lovely maiden in my arms, yet my ears still pick up on other mortals mumbling in displeasure and I hear footsteps fading.

A satisfied smile adorns my lips at how this sudden bout of impish inspiration helped me both break up the crowd around us, distract my One and please her at the same time. Yet then suddenly I feel something thin, long and hard hitting me on the head and leaving a stinging pain. I yelp and pull away from my Sarah as I rub my head at the spot I was hit at. Then, to my confused surprise, I get hit again and an elderly female voice shrieks:
"You inappropriate bastard. You let go of her right now. Back! Back!" The woman hits me twice more, once each time she chants the word back. I scuttle back, not because the hits of the cane actually hurt, but because I want to be sure that the old woman doesn't accidentally hit Sarah instead of me. Yet then my love steps in and grabs the woman's raised arm with one hand and lies the other on the woman's back as she says:
"Grandma, cut it out. This is my boyfriend. He was just bringing me home from our date in the forest. Everything's fine, grandma. Don't worry. Oh, is that Mr. Purrfect I hear meowing?" The old lady calms down slowly as my beloved talks, yet she looks nothing like my beautiful Sarah. Then at the end of my love's little statement, she looks up shocked and turns around. And while she's quite slow in her movement, she calls out to reassure Mr. Purrfect.
The woman slowly moves away and while she does, Sarah returns to my side. I grin at her and ask her about the honorific she gave the older woman. Sarah shrugs and says: "Miss Moslate is an old woman whose partner died in combat before they could get married. She's basically the grandma of everyone in the neighborhood. She's caring, protective and can be either incredibly caring or intensely fierce. We love her for it, really."

I nod at her in understanding and then I hear running footsteps coming closer. I look up and my smile widens into a grin as I see Flint, Tony and Uncle Bernie coming closer from the other side of the block. All three of them have huge grins on their faces, though Uncle Bernie also looks slightly out of breath. "Dude Merlock, you were AWESOME! You totally put Jake in his place. And most of the crowd even cheered for you as you left."
Tony cheers for me, yet I just feel startled and ask him that was Jake? Tony nods and Sarah sighs as she says: "Yep, that was We-were-childhood-friends-and-I-like-you-so-you-should-return-my-feelings Jake. That was I-made-up-my-mind-and-you-can't-change-it Jake. That was I-will-change-your-mind-whether-you-want-to-or-not Jake. That was we-avoid-him-when-we-can Jake." By now I am really feeling for my resigned looking beloved.

I pull her close against my form in order to offer her some reassurance and Sarah sighs. I bury my lower face in her hair and whisper: "If you want, my love, I can always stay near the school ground and use the trees around the school to keep an eye out. Then I can join you if you're not in class and help you bring it to Jake's mind that you're not interested. That the emotions he wants from you, you want to share with someone other than him."
Tony and Flint easily start to grin in excited agreement to this idea and Sarah happily mumbles that she would like that. I lovingly confirm that I will do so from now on and then Uncle Bernie leads us across the street and into the two-story, green-painted building with the logo and name of the Bureau of Time and Space halfway up the building and with orange panes on the roof. There is also a large open space to the right full of trash.

But after we pass through the entrance hall and into the living room, we suddenly spot a woman with short, cropped orange-red hair and red eyes standing in the area that is cut off for Uncle Bernie's office. Uncle Bernie asks the woman, Miss Jillian Grey, what she's doing here and the woman answers: "Apologies for breaking into your house, Dr. Goodman. But I have a mission for both Detective Flint and Detective Merlock."
She turns to the two of us, but because we've been working together for so long – longer than my new family actually knows – I am sure I already know what her mission for me might be about. And the fact that she requires both my little brother and me confirms this for me. Because of this, I speak up before she can go beyond opening her mouth. "Adam has been cured, Miss Grey. Petra Fina has been determined as his One.
We managed to bring them together and they have already shared a sign of romantic affection. Adam has regained his rationality and he has managed to deal with the Council and their attempts to revive the Broodmare program. The Old Timer also sent Unita, Bubblegum, Mosbee and Wing to aid us and with their help, Adam managed to bring the Last Witch to the period in time where she was meant to flourish, at least according to Adam's own memory.

You can expect a full report on the whole event sometime later this week." The woman blinks in shock for a few moments before she regains herself. "I see. Very well. Thank you, agent Holmes. It would appear that, once again, you are ahead of me on the ball. I am glad to know that the warning signs I spotted are not on the level of seriousness that I feared they were. I look forward to your report." But before she can leave, Uncle Bernie asks:
"Hey Miss Grey, why don't you stay? It's almost dinner time and I make a mean dish of pasta. And we do have something to celebrate. After all, Merlock told us about his kind and how deep his feelings for Sarah go. And she admitted that she returned his feelings. They're together, Miss Grey. Isn't that great? Surely, you can stay to celebrate such a wondrous couple?" I smile at the kind man, yet at the same time I feel conflicted.
I turn to Miss Grey and as I do, my smile gets replaced with a confused look as I wonder: "Has she really still not told him? I understand that she has the policy of keeping her private and professional life separate. But normally she would come clean much sooner than this if she realizes that one of her coworkers has a thing for her. Doesn't she consider Uncle Bernie as a coworker or does she just not care enough for him to be honest?"

I look at Miss Grey as she stares back at Sarah and me. My concerns for the woman increase as she seems to study us, as if she wants to determine for herself that Uncle Bernie is telling the truth. After a moment longer her face relaxes as she accepts Uncle Bernie's invitation. By now I'm frowning and I grumble: "Miss Grey, considering that I have come clean about me and my past, I believe you owe the Goodmans the same. Especially considering your slight just now."
The others look at me shocked and confused, but I just stare Miss Grey down. The woman sighs as she says: "You are indeed right, Merlock. Dr. Goodman, my apologies. I should not have doubted your words in regards to the happiness of your niece or one of my finest Detectives. And I also owe you an apology for how long I have let you go on with your flirting instead of telling you the truth. You see, I am married – and a widow."

My friends gasp and gape at the woman, but I just raise my eyebrow at her. She sighs and mutters how she's also the last Fae, which shocks the others even more. Then, while she looks up and away, the woman starts to talk. "Yes, I am a Fae. The last of my kind. I am also 406 years old. Unfortunately Fae are not able to share their longevity with their partner if their partner is mortal. Thankfully, unlike Vampires, Fae have a bit more of a safety net.
If our partner dies a peaceful death, we can easily move on and will always feel as if we are living for them, to make them happy, to make them proud. This counts for me and my partner. My partner died little under 300 years ago. He died peacefully in my arms and while fast asleep at the fresh age of 112 years old. We had kids and our kids have also blessed me with wonderful grandchildren. Naturally, my family knows of my nature.
Now both my kids and their kids inherited their father's mortality, but I do not really care for this as I worked hard to help them live successful lives. And what Agent Holmes thought is true as well. Yes, I know Agent – I know Merlock well enough to know how he thinks. We have been working together for 200 years now. I was already the secretary of the previous Chief of the Bureau when he and his two friends applied for a job.

As I said, Merlock is indeed correct in his thoughts. Normally I would put a stop to someone's flirting with me much sooner. I simply believed that if I kept refusing you, you would eventually just give up." The others stare at Miss Grey for a bit and I sigh and roll my eyes at her excuse. The woman frowns at me, but I just raise my eyebrow at her as I am really not impressed with her behavior towards my new pseudo uncle.
Then Flint proves that even with his childlike mind, he can still be incredibly intelligent as he asks the woman about the one time that Uncle Bernie and Tony argued about the woman telling Uncle Bernie that he had a 1 in a 1.000.000 chance to be with her. Miss Grey sighs and says: "You are indeed correct, Agent Flint. I really should have taken that argument as a sign that my efforts were going to end up futile and be honest instead. Again, my apologies."

Flint blinks and nods and then Uncle Bernie says: "Miss Grey, I know the perfect way you can make it up with me." Instantly the woman seems strangely tense and on guard, but Uncle Bernie winks at her like a playful friend and says: "Considering how close you are to Merlock and how close he now is to Sarah, you accept that I consider you a colleague and a friend and you and I start calling each other by our first names. As friends. Deal?"
The woman blinks and it's obvious that she hadn't expected such a simple request. I really wonder what could have happened between her and Uncle Bernie that made her have such a negative opinion of the man and feel that, if it's his constant flirting, she really doesn't have the right to criticize and think so negatively about him. Then one of the reasons why I myself respect the man cuddles closer against my side.

I beam at Sarah as she moves closer against my side and wrap my arm back around her side. My fingers lovingly wrap themselves around her side and I feel her hair brushing against the side of my jawline as she lies her head on my shoulder. And just like every time her head lies close against mine, I smell the lovely aroma of her shower-gel and shampoo. Combined with her own delightful jasmine scent, the mix sets my heart aflame.
Then, while Tony follows Uncle Bernie to the kitchen, Flint wants to escort Miss Grey, Sarah and me to the living room. Yet my beloved interrupts him and says: "Actually Flint, I'd rather if you could go upstairs and clean out that spare bedroom we have. Merlock is going to need it for the night." Instantly I offer to help my little brother, but the boy shakes his head and tells me that I might be Sarah's boyfriend, but I'm a guest too.
Again my heart warms at how kind the young man is and I thank him before Sarah guides Miss Grey and me to the living room. The woman takes a seat in a chair and Sarah happily guides me over to sit close against her side on the couch. The woman smiles at the sight of us, yet I can't help but turn to her and ask: "Jillian, if I may ask. What has Uncle Bernie ever done that gave you such a low opinion of him? Why are you so distrusting of him?"

The woman looks startled, but then she says that she'd rather discuss it later. I nod at her and silently decide for myself that I will use the day that I will bring in the report on today's events to also discuss this problem. Then Sarah cuddles her head closer underneath my own and I once more happily decide to just let it be as my sweet little angel is just more important to me at the moment. I turn my head her way and gently press my lips against her temple.
Her skin feels soft as silk against my own and I deeply enjoy the scents coming off of her skin and hair once again. I move my face from her temple into her hair and while vampires don't need to breath, I just enjoy sniffling up her scent way too much to care for this. And Sarah proves to me that she enjoys this as well as she giggles and slightly tightens the hold she has on my shirt. Then Flint comes down again with a proud smile on his face.

"Alright Merlock, your room's all cleaned up. It's the last one on the right of the hallway on the left of the staircase. The first is Uncle Bernie's, the second is Sarah, then Tony's then mine and finally yours. There are also three rooms on the other side of the hallway and those are a storage room, a bathroom and a restroom respectively. Oh, and I don't know if you're a light sleeper, but we all have at least one moment during the night that we need to go."
The boy happily continues to ramble about random things, yet while I know that it's kind of rude, I stop listening. This is because Sarah has pressed her body a little closer to mine and I suddenly feel her breast rubbing against me. This sensation shocks me and again I feel the desire and the demonic side within me flare up with the strength of a lightning strike. "Our One! Our precious One! Her body is beautiful. It belongs to us! We must claim!"
Yet while I try not to let the others notice what is going on inside me, I withdraw myself mentally. Within the mindscape I have created over the centuries, I come to stand in front of both beings. My desire looks just like me, yet there is a lewd smirk on his face, both his fangs are visible and his eyes are dark red with lust. My demonic side looks just like it did when Uglinator took control of my mind a few months ago.

I glare at them both and forcefully state: "Yes! Sarah is ours! Ours to protect! Ours to cherish! We will cherish her for who she is! Remember what happened today! Do we want to be like Adam before he met Petra? Do we?" And thankfully the two step back and I notice the emotions lessening in the eyes of Desire while the strength of Demon seems to diminish as well. I nod at both and growl at them that I am in charge. Then I pull back out again.
And while my inner debate may have taken a few minutes within my mind, the whole thing only really takes as long as me blinking my eyes once at the same time. This means that the others really don't notice a thing change about me. Yet both to prevent something like this happening again and because I deeply enjoy Sarah being as close as possible, I gently pull her so that she is slightly seated on my lap instead of against my side.
And to my utter relief and delight, the beautiful young lady beams at me for this and even presses her lips against mine. I can definitely feel my desire for her to show me this much physical signs of affections singing and cheering within me, but I don't care. All I care for is wrapping my arms around her form. All I care about is answering her kiss. All I care about is the beautiful young woman who I have loved for so long and her love.

Good on you, Merlock,
Okay, so next chapter is going to be the last chapter to cover the 3rd of October. And for the first time in 08 chapters we are going to cover a POV other than Merlock's. I've been using this method before in other stories. We're going to – sort of – recap the last few chapters, but then from the POV of other characters. I'm planning to cover at least Sarah and Petra and maybe Tony as well. And maybe a bit of little Flint as well.
Fun, right,

Venquine1990