THE GOLIATHUS CHRONICLES
Chapter 18- Motives
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It was finally the smell of burning meat that separated the two from each other. Dinarius mumbled something about "I better tend to that before I burn the place down.." before lifting himself off of her and heading back towards the kitchen. Ami watched him go for a moment then got up herself, brushing imaginary dust off herself as if to occupy her mind with something...something other than what just happened. She then went into her room quickly to get some new clothes on and throw out the ruined ones... it was none too soon either, for at that moment Goliathus returned, with Navius in tow, tucked under one powerful arm.
There is now one less vampire in this world. He sent the telepathic message as he landed on the top of the atrium's glass dome. Ami practically ran from her room and went to hit the switch which would open the roof and allow him back into his dwelling.
Which is an excellent fact, mind you. How is Navi doing?
Heh...she has your stubbornness. But she learns quick.
Yeah, I bet she gets that from her smart dad.
Goliathus grinned, and as he came down from the ceiling he set Navi on the sleeping ledge, allowing her to explore. Though she only mostly crawled she was still quite capable of climbing around and knew not to get too close to ledges.
Goliathus landed on the floor with an effortless leap, and as he neared the door out, he paused, taking a mixture of very fresh scents.
Did...something burn?
Ami nodded, trying to act as if nothing unusual occurred. Yeah, dumb Dinarius over there went to warm some meat and forgot about it. Huh.
Did something distract him?
Yeah...he thought he smelled a vampire in here...but the scent left as quickly as it came. I think we had a visitor, and I'm not happy about it. Ami frowned. She never did like how vampires could be so damned sneaky. Or that some knew the location of the Facility...
Goliathus growled, slightly baring his teeth. Then I'll keep a close eye on things.
Ami noticed he was staring at her then, which caused her heart to skip a beat. Crap, he didn't already sense something else was amiss, did he?
Although it seemed he might say something else, he didn't. However the growing tension was making Ami really uncomfortable, so she was more than relieved when it was her daughter who saved the day.
"Momma!"
She had somehow climbed all the way down to the bottom and was clinging to the door, peering out like a jailbird.
"Momma."
"Yeah, I'm coming, cutie." Ami moved the door and picked her up, cuddling her close.
Navi squealed and pushed herself against her mother's neck, always seemingly delighted in close contact.
"Did you have a fun time with daddy?"
She nodded, but didn't budge from her rather comfy position. "Momma. Need bath."
Puzzled, Ami looked her over and sure enough...her feet and legs were caked in blood. Normally this might cause any other parent to scream, but for Ami, this was commonplace.
"Uhm...yeah. I'd say you do."
As Ami left quickly to go wash her, Goliathus followed her every move with an intense gaze. Even after she vanished from sight, he stared, until finally he turned his head, looking towards the kitchen.
He saw Dinarius there, eating the meat despite it having been burned.
Their gazes locked.
Eyes narrowing, Goliathus turned away, heading for his art ledge to soothe his nerves...something he always did when he felt angry.
/
From somewhere nearby, Marcus, the new leader of the Royal vampires, silently cursed himself for almost being spotted. No matter how hard he tried, somehow the heradus could always pick up his scent, even if only brief. He had yet to figure out a way to stop that from happening, but their keen noses were impossible to fool as far as he was concerned. Tossing that thought from his mind, he crawled down the large boulder that was near the Facility's back entrance. It wasn't safe to hang around for much longer, but he had already seen enough to realize he had discovered an advantage. The girl...there was obvious attraction between her and the other, smaller heradus.
How fun that would be, to use that against them. Somehow, he would get Goliathus so full of rage and jealousy that perhaps it would be enough to allow the demon to win again.
Hmm...yes...plenty of plans to make.
On that thought, Marcus vanished into a wisp of grey smoke.
/
The painting was at last complete. Their had been so many distractions to delay it's unveiling...everything from vampire problems to dangerous, six-headed demons.
Heh...make that four-headed...
Goliathus couldn't help but smirk. The demon, with two heads gone, had less power now. The King heradus had lost his desires completely to feast on human flesh, which was a huge blow to his nemesis.
Clearing his head of thoughts on the demon, he stared at the painting again. Would Ami like it? He hoped so. Her birthday had passed a few months ago, she had turned twenty, but it still seemed fitting to give it to her, a "belated" present as the term went.
The artwork glittered and sparkled softly in the dim light. It was done in the same fashion as the giant dragon painting in his old cave (which he at times still visited), with small jewels of varying colors embedding lines and curves. Covering it up again for the time being, he left his easel, climbed down to the floor, and went to find her, to tell her it was finished.
Instead, he met Dinarius, who was walking down the same hall, and towards the same room. He was going to Ami as well.
You...
Dinarius turned, facing him. It seemed there was very little he could say at the moment, nothing clever that usually came from his mouth. His bat familiar, Puvo, was eerily silent, nestled close against the back of his master's neck.
The silence reigned for many tense-filled minutes.
Finally, Goliathus snorted loudly and he stared with icy coldness back at the other heradus, who flinched, just slightly, from that expression.
You took her, didn't you? To engage with her as you did means nothing. I am her soul-mate. You are merely a younger, weaker heradus. You look like me to her. That is all. Goliathus was making fists with his hands, and one clawed foot tapped dangerously on the stone floor.
Dinarius' eyes widened. Clearly he knew that the other was very intelligent, and his senses near perfection. But it surprised even him that he had deduced the whole situation so fast. Had he gathered all this information from mere scent alone? Perhaps if it had been more time between what had happened with Ami and Goliathus returning...he would not have picked up on it?
There was no point in lying about anything, he would have to come clean.
Yes...that happened. And if that's what you want to believe, go ahead.
The grey, reptilian slits staring back at him widened, and the anger that shone within them was as a fire being set ablaze.
You feel otherwise? Do tell me, I want to hear this. Tell me that I am wrong.
Huh, no, Dinarius would not tell him that at all. He wasn't stupid...though he was sure he could give the other a fair fight...he doubted he could win.
Relax, Goliathus. That's not what I meant. I know you love her...and I know she loves you. To be honest, I think some of her affections are there...for me as well...but...I don't know if it's love. Not like with you. I know that.
A snarl broke the silence between them. I should hurt you, and painfully. I could, you know. Truly, you are a fellow creature...but to take advantage of the one thing I care about most? Who ARE you, Dinarius? Who do you feel you are? I am King, and even if you are the only one of us left...save for my daughter now...you must learn your place. I will show you your place, if you are uncertain. Just give the word and I will teach you that lesson.
Although Dinarus felt he was right, he also started to bristle with his own anger, the white hairs on his back standing on end. Did he deserve to be spoken to in that manner? And yet...Goliathus was the King...the leader... and if he no longer played the solo game, then those who followed him had to listen. It was the intention of the Dark Mages from the very beginning...to avoid chaos, and have some kind of control...especially over the more primal, wild heradus that once existed. Still...memories of playing leader while Goliathus was out of the picture haunted his mind. He was a leader once...and so therefore being submissive was really not his thing...but still...
Still...
I...I am sorry.
He wanted to say more. He wanted to snap back and defend his pride, but he knew that it was not the time...nor the place...it would have to wait. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to resume control.
Yes...sorry...I am sure you are. I will pretend it did not happen, or that it was a weak moment, ruled by lust. In fact, I am sure that it was just that. I have had many such moments of weakness myself. I mean not to sound as if I am far superior...it is really not about superiority, but the role I was given. I failed to fulfill that role once, so now I am trying to do what my father originally intended. So...that being said...if I know my place, then please, know yours.
Dinarius nodded. His anger was fading, but he couldn't help feel a lingering ache in his heart when he heard the next words in his mind.
Do not touch her again. I swear, if you do...I will let you feel all of my own anguish as pain upon yourself. Do not test me...I am fragile in mind. I cannot bear to be tested on this. Do you understand? Tell me you do, for you have the choice to either be my friend and fellow heradus...or my enemy. And very few...in fact none...have ever survived as my enemy.
Puvo made a small, pitiful keening sound.
I understand, Puvo. I will not harm him, so long as he promises me this.
Dinarius was so mixed with emotions he trembled. He didn't want to forget about Ami, how wonderful she felt, how intense that love-making had been. But when Goliathus growled, catching his thought, he forced it away, and nodded. There was a fierce look of determination in his eyes.
I will promise this.
If Goliathus took the time, he may have read even more pages of what was trying to be expressed in the other's gaze, but there was no more he wanted to talk about on the subject. He quickly brushed by Dinarius, and headed for Ami's room.
/
When Ami saw the painting, there were tears that fell from her eyes. The many layers of emotion that it expressed, complicated emotions, was a thing of beauty in itself. No human could draw like this, could possibly express what Goliathus could when he really set his incredible mind to it. In this painting, the sky was full of heradus, some clearly drawn and detailed in full form, such as Goliathus, and his daughter ( who interestingly enough, he had drawn in an adult form), and others just silhouettes against the ghostly moonlight. He had used jewels to accent them, as if he wanted the heradus to be able to produce light...a glimmer of positive air...other than just darkness that seemed to surround them. Navi herself was lined with tiny, blue sparkling jewels...the moon accented in clear ones...the stars, more diamonds...but below, this is where the emotion reigned. The humans, many of them, were looking up, and they did not seem afraid. There was no killing of these humans, in fact, it seemed like some kind of peaceful meeting.
A meeting that did not happen, and was never meant to. Though it was only a true fantasy...a fleeting moment of imagination, Ami saw the message Goliathus tried to convey.
The humans were in a rough sort of circle. And in the middle of it all, was Ami, looking at the heradus as the others were. Her hands were held up high in the air, as if trying to embrace them all.
Acceptance. Light. Understanding.
The painting held powerful meaning. Ami thanked him, of course she did, but words were really not enough to express anything about this work of art. Ami framed it, and had it hung right above the Atrium entrance.
It seemed the perfect place to put it.
/
Dinarius felt miserable as he glided through the night air. He wasn't really on the hunt, he just needed time to get away. How could he have been so stupid? Realizing the gravity of the situation, he sighed, shaking his head. All he had proven to himself and Ami by allowing himself to lose control was that he was weak, and just like Goliathus said, he had taken advantage of her. Or at least that's what he believed. Perhaps secretly he hoped Ami could love him too, but he knew how horribly selfish that was.
He had no right to just butt into their relationship.
He reached up, pulling at his hair.
Even if that was all true... then why was it so hard to just let it go?
Swooping down to the ground, Dinarius landed by a clear, cold stream and took a long drink.
While he satisfied his thirst, he heard something again. Was that a quickly fading chuckle he heard or the wind?
He listened for another several long moments, but nothing...
Oh great. I AM losing my mind, aren't I? First the kitchen, and now this.
Puvo screeched. Apparently, he didn't agree.
Puvo?
The bat swiveled its ears, Dinarius felt him scrambling from behind his neck, and leap off, taking into the air.
Hey, where are you going?
Quickly, he followed. What was that bat up to?
/
Marcus flew fast, trying hard to suppress another chuckle. Heh, this would almost be too easy, wouldn't it? Using Dinarius to cause jealousy was an idea that seemed to fade fast...especially after he learned that Goliathus had been more understanding about the whole thing then he ever thought he would be.
But had a new idea now.
Dinarius himself.
Oh yes, this was such a great idea. He once again tried hard to fight the laughter that threatened to erupt from his throat.
Maybe there was no Creeper anymore. But there could be a new one.
The bat? A perfect distraction. He knew the high pitched sonar noises would drive the bat insane...and that his master probably wouldn't detect it.
Even if he did, it didn't matter. He was just a lure.
He would turn Dinarius, oh yes he would. And with that new problem on their hands to try and deal with, he would find a way to renew the demon's waning strength. Perhaps Goliathus would get it to leave.
If that was the case, then Marcus would need to find it a new host.
The perfect host was right behind him.
/
End Chapter 18.
Ah, the twists. Don't forget how I told you about those. HA HA, I am evil, yes I am. Another cliffhanger.
I'm pissed though, because my muses are being choppy and hard to read. I am having such difficulty with writing whereas before the ideas were more flowing. Well, I hope you enjoyed it anyway and THANKS SO MUCH for my faithful readers who are sill reviewing after all this time!