Ms. Selly owns Fire Blossom, Frank, Annabellina and Lynx. Nyneve owns Saxen Maverick and Moksha.

Chapter 26:

Leather. Myth. Jealous

"This is dull," Tabby complained, leaning down to rest her head on the arm of the couch. Effie sat across from her, leaning gently against Duo, quietly enjoying each other's company. Jack and Dru were sharing an armchair on the end, making no effort to hide their romance, as she was perched directly on top of him, hands ever twisting through his long hair.

"Come on, Tabs. I think it's fun."

"Only you, honey," Tabby buried her face in the cushion in utter despair. "Hate to break it to you, but 'Chutes and Ladders' is not at the forefront of top-of-the-line entertainment."

"Aww, everybody loves 'Chutes and Ladders'! Right, Duo?" Effie poked him when a response did not come quickly.

"Um, sure."

"Do you remember all that kissing we were planning to do ever again?" she asked, a faux-cheerful smile plastered on her face. It was most frightening. Duo got the message and looked at Tabby, grinning.

"I adore 'Chutes and Ladders'."

"That's better," she kissed his cheek fondly.

"Ugh. I cannot stand all this couple-y stuff any longer," Tabby rolled her eyes.

"You're just saying that 'cause you haven't got anybody to snuggle," Effie pointed out.

"Yeah, well, it's not like there's a huge market in space."

"What about the new guy? He's cute," Effie offered. Duo looked at her in horror.

"You looked at another man! I thought you were true to me alone!"

"You're sweet," Effie patted his knee sympathetically, "But Tsume's got leather."

"That's all? You dump me for leather?" Duo asked incredulously. Tabby wagged a warning finger at him.

"Do not discount the power of leather, my innocent little boy. All women love leather. Right, Dru?" The vampiress smiled lustily and rolled her shoulders.

"Mmm…straps and chains for the naughty puppy, yes?"

"Ah, that all depends on who gets to be the puppy, love," Jack told her, looking at once disturbed and intrigued.

"Grubby thievikins," Dru growled hungrily under her breath, baring her teeth in a vicious grin. Very gracefully, she slid her body around until she was facing her pirate. They then commenced to kiss loudly and heatedly.

"Oh, sick," Tabby shut her eyes and covered her ears in an attempt to block out the rest of the room, as Effie had wrapped her arms around her own man's neck.

"Not to complain," Lynx leaned back against his headboard, a small smile twisting his lips, "but you spend much more time in here, people will talk." Kira looked back at him, eyes wide.

"They wouldn't…" he trailed off at the glitter in the older man's eyes.

"They would," Lynx confirmed. "But we don't have to listen."

"I don't…" Kira looked down at his hands. "I don't really mind. I like it here." Lynx grinned, then sobered suddenly. It was a very quick change, and Kira was somewhat confused at the sudden mood swing. The reclining man held up the thick brown book in his lap.

"Would you like to hear a story?"

"A story?"

"Myth, really," Lynx clarified. "It's very old and religious, but it's interesting."

"Religious? What religion?"

"I wouldn't guess you'd know it. I think it only exists in my home dimension. Ever hear of the Minear System?" Kira shook his head silently and Lynx nodded. "Still want to hear it?"

"Sure." Lynx flipped through the dry and dusty pages carefully, then found what he was looking for. He traced his finger down the lines of faded text and found his starting point. He cleared his throat and began to read.

"'In the beginning days of the light world, Ziah, Rapturous and Glorious, would walk the realms of man. He appeared to his worshippers and all were dazzled by his brilliant beauty. Nearing the end of the Age of Flame Spinners, in the city of Contner, birthplace of Pleseus the Wise and Mighty Gillum, he came under the cloak of night and appeared in a dream to a beautiful young painter, Chite. The vision of Ziah caused Chite such ecstasy, he was awakened from his slumber and immediately began to paint a portrait of the beautiful god. For five days and five nights, Chite worked feverishly, never pausing to rest. At the dawn of the sixth morning, his masterwork was complete. Ziah himself witnessed the painting and was driven to awe. No mortal had ever had the ability to capture the truest beauty on canvas.

Ziah pledged to Chite that no other would behold his glory. But Chite was a kind and devoted man, and he knew it was unfair for him alone to enjoy the wonder. So he in turn created painting after painting. Ziah loved the mortal Chite, and for years, Ziah's twin, the moon, shone in the sky throughout all hours of the day and night, she was so filled with joy for his happiness. However, Chite was no more than mortal. His fate was controlled, as are all by…'" Lynx paused. Kira was jolted. He had been greatly engrossed in the story and was startled by the sudden stop.

"What is it?" He asked.

"It's a word…there isn't a truly accurate translation…the closest thing I guess would be 'She Who Weaves Lifelights'. Sort of like destinies." Kira nodded. Lynx took a breath and continued.

"Where was I…oh. There we go. 'The lifelight that shone for Chite of Contner foretold his early darkening. When Ziah discovered this truth, his divine heart failed to beat. However, he knew that interfering with the lifelight of a mortal was strictly forbidden, and dire consequences would be in store. So Ziah prepared himself for their parting. The sun rose again, but the whole world wept salty tears on his behalf. When the day came for Chite to die, Ziah stood by, ready to let his lover go. However, the moment that Chite's light was about to go out, Ziah could no longer control his grief. He seized the painter and, with a crash that shook all the heavens, infused part of his own godly aura into the man's body.'"

Kira gasped and Lynx paused again. He smiled slightly before continuing.

"'And so it was that Chite of Contner was elevated from the level of mortal man, and became a demigod. But in immortalizing his love, Ziah had lost some of his own power, and he was so exhausted that he fell into a deep sleep. He slept and caused the Age of Blindness, until he finally awoke and brought about the dawning of the Age of Broken Lights. He awoke to a far different world than the one he had known. As he slept, the hearts of those who had not fully known him darkened. Those who loved him stayed pure and strong, but the rest fell into debauchery and terror. But the worst and most painful change the Tender and Beautiful Ziah found was in his own lover, Chite.

Chite had not slept. He had awoken mere moments after Ziah had shattered his lifelight, a half-soul. He was not of men and could never die. But he was shunned from the realm of the gods, unworthy to share their glory. He was angered, and he resolved that for as long as he might exist on this and any plane, he would make his wrath and pain known to the one who had caused it. His once beloved Ziah. So it was that Ziah was stripped of his perfection and pays the terrible price for his crime throughout eternity. As it was written, so it becomes.'"

Lynx shut the book and pressed it to his lips. He murmured a soft phrase in a strange language, and then set the book on his bedside table. When he looked at Kira, he found matching tears in the boy's eyes.

"It's so sad," Kira whispered, the salty drops beginning to roll down his cheeks. "He only wanted to help him. He just wanted to save him. It's not fair."

"Seldom is, honey. Seldom is." Lynx smiled sadly at him. Kira wiped the tears, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I'm getting all worked up and…it just," he bit his lip, struggling to find the right words. "It just feels like it's more than just a story."

"I know what you mean," Lynx replied, setting an affectionate hand on his head and gently stroking Kira's hair. "Believe me. I know."

"I wonder…." Van Helsing began to speak, but trailed off, and looked back at the wall of the kitchen.

"Hmm?" Effie asked, pulling a bottle of soda out of the refrigerator and bumped it shut with her hip.

"Grab me one?" Duo asked hopefully from the table. Effie snorted and continued walking.

"I'm not a waitress. Get it yourself."

"Fetch me my beverage, wench!" He ordered, pointing back at the fridge. Effie, so startled by his sudden change, actually obeyed. She set down the bottle in front of him, but did not sit down herself.

"What the hell was that?" She asked. He grinned sheepishly and shrugged.

"Thought I'd try another technique," his eyes were round and innocent, and she elbowed him as she slid into the seat next to him.

"Don't do it again."

"Yes, milady."

"What were you saying, Van?"

"It was nothing," he shook his head slightly and smiled. "I was just wondering what Carl is doing now."

"Carl?" Duo asked. Effie twisted her lips in thought, then snapped her fingers.

"I remember him! Dude in a habit." Van Helsing smirked a little at her description, but nodded.

"Yes. I was thinking about what he might be doing. What he thought when I disappeared."

"That you'd run off to join the circus?" Effie suggested. She was rewarded with a completely blank look from Van. "Never mind. Really lame joke."

"I wonder too," Duo interjected, "about my friends. The other pilots," he clarified, "and Hilde."

"Hilde?" Effie stiffened slightly. "I don't think I met a Hilde." Tragically, Duo completely missed the accusing tone in her voice.

"Oh yeah. She wasn't there when you guys bumped me off. I really miss her."

"Oh, well I'm terribly sorry we ripped you out of her loving embrace," Effie snarled at him. He looked at her in horror. "Interdimensional matters of extreme urgency obviously shouldn't have an effect on your relationships. We would have taken her with us, but she wouldn't like it here. She might object to vampires and vampire hunters and bounty hunters and pirates and demons and mutants and wolf-dudes and purple-haired brothers and hippie hitchhikers who have pyrokinetic powers and vaguely masochistic tendencies."

"Effie, I didn't…masochistic?" His eyes widened in somewhat intrigued surprise and she just scowled at him and stood up quickly, snatching her soda off the table.

"I'm going to my cabin." She stormed out the door, then popped her head back in and pointed a furious finger at Duo, "And don't you dare come and try to 'talk it out'. I've had enough of you." And she was gone. Duo turned, completely shell-shocked back at Van Helsing.

"What the hell was that?" He asked, echoing his girlfriend's…well, he certainly hoped she was still his girlfriend…earlier sentiments.

"That, my friend," Van Helsing said, picking his hat up off the table and setting it squarely on his head. "was jealousy."