The Untamable
Chapter 8
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"We cannot delay any longer."
"This isn't right."
"No good will come of this."
The voices in my head were overlapping. I heard words that strung together but didn't form sentences until I realized who was speaking them. Taurus' voice was soft, muted. Pisces sounded frustrated. Eventually it was the voice I couldn't hear that prompted me to wake.
"Leo?"
A hand caught mine and it was familiar. A feeling of rightness washed over me, like stepping through a waterfall. Consciousness returning, I lifted my drowsy eyes to see him and my heart sank. Those eyes were glittering aquamarine, streaked with lightening and guilt. "You are the stupidest human I have ever met."
His words didn't sting as badly as the lack of emotion in his voice. It was as if he could not allow himself to even speak with inflection. Although, he had changed to his usual short cropped hair, his white uniform in its place. His eyes were all wrong.
"Didn't your mother tell you it's rude to stare?" An auburn eyebrow arched.
Flushing, I pulled my hand out of his and rose to sit on the bed. It was Leo's and the rest of the fallen deities stood around like a silent vigil. I paused and held the sheet closer to my chest. It was a nervous gesture. Not because I was not dressed, but mostly because I felt like they'd seen something deep inside me. Their eyes sad and pitying.
"Out."
Head snapping around, I saw a muscle work in Leo's jaw, his eyes narrowed on the others.
Taurus opened his mouth to protest, but then thought better of it. The rest of them looked just as reluctant to leave. Pisces tried to offer me an encouraging smile, but it only set my nerves on edge. Something had gone horribly wrong. Something that worried them all.
When the door closed, I glanced up at the deity silently sitting beside me on the bed, his back against the ornate headboard, but his mind somewhere else.
I wanted to give him a moment, but I was afraid. "Giving a favor? Changing the flow of time?" Stubbornly, his eyes remained somewhere in the distance. I sighed and shook my head. "And here I thought you were so smart."
"And what would you have me do!?" The sudden snap of his accusation cut through me and I jumped; his eyes furious as they turned to me. His carefully rein on his emotions slipping. "What exactly did you want me to do Storm, because I grow tired of trying to live up to your expectations."
"Me?"
"YES you, you infuriating woman." I gasped when I felt his hands wrap around my shoulders and shake me slightly as if to bring me to my senses. "Have I not done exactly what you wanted?"
I stared up at him in confusion. "I don't understand."
His eyes narrowed into slits, the lightening color leaking from them as he drew me closer, my nose nearly level with his as he growled. "This is what you wanted, right? What you were constantly wishing for?"
And for the life of me I had no idea what he was talking about. "Leo, you're scaring me."
"I'm scaring you!?" He laughed incredulously and was across the room in a flash, a strange vibration building in his tall frame as he began to pace. "That is the one thing you have never done Storm. Was that so hard to do?" He glared at me across the room and it was then that I realized he was using my name. I didn't know if it was infinitely gratifying or heartbreakingly sad. "I am your god. It is your duty to love me, fear me and obey. But have you done any of them?"
My confusion giving way to slowly simmering anger, I threw off the sheet that covered me and rose to my feet as well. "You have been nothing but ornery, obnoxious and unreasonable since you came down to earth! Did you really thing that would prompt love and devotion?"
He was in my personal space within a heartbeat, my breath caught in my throat as he bore down on me. Almost menacing. "Stop your games Storm. I am done playing to your whims."
My eyes wide, my anger lit, I used all my strength to shove him away from me. "Don't you dare! I never tried to manipulate you!"
His own anger all gone, his mouth widened into a wicked leer. "Oh you are a clever goldfish."
Now beyond my anger, shaking with how he'd turned everything against me, I stalked after him, my finger poking into his chest as I threw the full bluster of my fury at him. "YOU kidnapped me, tried to defile me, and ordered me around like I was your chargeable battery, tripped me at every turn, intimidated me and were an all-round asshole. How is THAT getting everything I wanted?"
"It must be gratifying then."
"What!?" I shouted.
"Having a god on his knees." My heart sank with each word he spoke, with each defeated sigh; with each degree of soft longingly he suddenly threw at me. "Inexcusably in love, feeling for you despite himself. It must be gratifying to have me exactly where you said I should be. Humanly, foolishly in love with you after all the nonsense I spewed about how idiotic it all was." His arms seemed to find their way around me magically as he shook his head sadly. My knees turned to jelly as I gawked at him like the goldfish he liked to call me. "It must be gratifying to defeat me."
I shook my head, the tremble in my legs suddenly threatening to off-balance my world.
He was wrong.
This isn't what I had wanted at all. I had never wished for this. I had thought my crime was to make him grant wishes for love, only to find out they had been nothing but greed and ill-intent. I had contented myself in the knowledge that I loved a being not in my reach, unable to return my tender feelings. It was easier knowing I'd helped him come to terms with the reason for his banishment, to see that human sanctity and vulnerability was not something to use or abuse. But the frank truth of his admission had rendered me speechless.
Not even in my wildest dreams had I thought Leo would love me; as a god or a human.
"Don't believe me," he murmured, his nose nearly brushing mine, eyes still slanting cerulean light. "Then I guess I'll just have to show you."
My breath hitching in my chest, I only got a moment of panic and shrieking happiness before he kissed me and my world spun off its axis forever.
I've kissed men in my life. I will not lie, that kissing Leo was nothing like anything I could describe. It was not a feeling I could put in words. It was a hurtling, shrieking thing that streaked through my very being. A feeling of such powerful happiness that it sapped the strength from my bones. His hold tightened on me, his mouth slanting against mine. Conquering and supplicant all at once. The dichotomy of everything I was feeling nearly had me insensible. It was too beautiful, too horrifying, too sweet, too intense. The rightness, the wrongness of it all.
I would have continued to drown as Leo drank from me, his mouth demanding and coaxing, his hands moving fitfully, almost disbelievingly over my skin, but there was a crash and a flurry of voices around us. It took a few more seconds of swimming in thick, inundating bliss before I slowly came to sensibility. Leo's arms were still around me, his mouth smiling against my forehead as I clung to him like a babe clings to its mother. Around us was pandemonium. Libra and Cancer were screaming, enraged. Taurus, Pisces, even Aquarius and Scorpio, placating.
Eventually, Leo turned to them with a scowl, his arms still around me seemingly unable to release me. Or unwilling. Either way I was grateful, I would not be able to stand on my own. Somewhere I recalled Taurus saying Leo never kissed. I could now understand why. His kisses had none of his barriers or lies that kept his true self hidden. His kisses gave all of himself.
I was humbled and completely freaked out with just how much I meant to the Wild Lion of the Heavens.
"Enough," Leo snapped and the room went silent. "It is done."
"Are you insane!" Libra snarled. "Do you have any idea what you have done!"
"Leo, for the love of Almighty, do shut up!" Scorpio was practically holding Libra back physically.
"She is claimed. I am committed. It is pointless to try and salvage this."
"You will be terminated! She will be put to death!" Cancer exclaimed.
My head snapped around as I stared at Libra. "Terminated? Like be fired?"
"I am NOT talking to you!"
Leo turned to face Libra, releasing me reluctantly, but one of his hands was still firmly wrapped around mine. "You will not talk to her Libra. You will talk to me and me alone." His skin nearly gold with his power, Leo glared at the deity responsible for dispensing justice. "This is my sin. I will fall for it. No one else."
My hand tightened in his. "Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Libra's eyes were like violet fire. "Do you have ANY idea what you have done!"
"Address me!"
"No." Leo shifted to move forward and I tugged him back, my free hand coming to rest between the open lapels of his shirt, the red jewel nearly burning beneath my hand. Leo's cerulean eyes snapped down to glare at me, but I met his gaze with more determination than I thought I possessed in his presence. "You cannot stand between me and everything Leo."
"I can and I will."
I sighed and met his eyes resolutely. "Then you may not." Surprise flickered across his handsome face and I smiled at him. "Give me a little credit. I almost held my own against the Wild Lion of the Heavens. Do you think I won't be able to defend myself against them?"
"Insolent human!" Libra snarled. "You think_"
"I do!" I retorted and glared at him, stepping around Leo, nearly having to shake off his hand before he let me go. "I know I'm human. I know I'm expendable."
"Obviously," he snorted.
Leo growled low under his breath, but I took another step towards Libra. "I am not beneath you." When Libra looked struck, I continued. "God or not, I was created for a purpose and I'm not the most spiritual person in the world, but I believe that I'm meant to be here. So do not disregard me, go around me or pretend like I'm not important. Because I sure as hell don't plan to go down without a fight."
Silent for a moment, a muscle worked in Libra's jaw. "You forgot excessively brave."
"Tell me," I persisted.
With a sigh, he ran a hand over his hair, his purple ponytail limp over his shoulder for once. "The law of the heavens is absolute. He will be stripped of his rank and power. His loss will drive him mad, ruin the careful balance of the heavens and throw your world into chaos."
My mouth dropped open and I spun around to stare at Leo. "WHAT!"
He rolled his eyes. "I can handle it."
I shook my head. "Are you kidding me! Death, destruction and chaos! That's what's pegged against us being together? And you tell me this now!?"
He shrugged as if it wasn't a bother. "I told you I can handle it."
"Well I sure as hell cannot."
The other gods watched me with caution. Leo's brow darkened, hurt. "Are you saying you don't trust me?"
"I'm saying, you cannot damn everything to be with me." My voice was gentle but my words were firm. Stubborn blue fire built in my god's eyes, but I reached out and took his face in my hands. "Tell me the alternative."
"No."
Libra spoke before Leo could stop him. "You will lay your soul in service of the heavens and Leo will be spared."
"NO!" Leo's bark even made Libra flinch.
Now Libra only looked tired. "It is the only way. Her soul has always belonged to the heavens. If she removes herself from the equation, the balance will be restored."
"I will not allow it!" Leo's light began to brighten, the air around him beginning to heat.
I kissed him. Hard and long and completely. It took a few moments, but eventually, he softened and cooled against me with a groan of defeat, his hands desperate as they held me to him, skating over every inch they could reach. "Don't," he pleaded against my kiss-swollen mouth.
I sighed and smiled. "Remember Leo. Good people love without reason, without selfishness. They love the earth they live on. They love animal and human alike. You asked me to prove it to you. You knew what you were doing when you asked for my soul, right?" A muscle worked in his jaw and I kissed it lovingly. "Let me prove it."
His eyes were painfully bruised. "I will raze everything if you leave me."
"I will never leave you," I nuzzled my nose with his. "Let me prove it."
"Storm…"
"Please," I whispered against his throat.
He looked at Libra helplessly and I knew then that he'd never be able to deny me anything. Not even my own death. Pushing myself out of his arms took some doing, but as always he could not hold me back.
I took a deep breath and met Libra's judgment. "Let's get this over with; I need to wash my hair."
A violet eyebrow arched in amusement before he held out his hand. Leo vibrated behind me, but I saw Taurus and Aquarius move and I knew they'd caught him. With one last look at my Lion, I took a step forward and put my hand in Libra's.
I expected it to hurt. I expected pain and suffering and redemption and fulfillment.
What I got was a flare of dizziness and a flush of soft, comfortable warmth flooding every pore.
My eyes snapped open when I realized the world around me had shifted and I stood there amid the shocked deities, Libra's hand still frozen around mine, their eyes fixed on something behind me.
When I turned the flare of light was nearly blinding so I shielded by eyes with my arm.
There was nothing to see. No form, no shape. Just the warm glowing light of the Almighty's presence and a firm collective voice that had always spoken in my subconscious. It was my own and my mother's and my father's and my little sister's. A voice that signified love, forgiveness and comfort.
You are indeed presumptuous Storm. The soul you forfeit is not yours to give away.
Almost too bright to look at, I let my gaze drop to my feet as I sighed. "I've never prayed enough."
As if I need your prayers, the voices chuckled. The prayers are always for your own self. For your soul.
"I will not let my own selfish need for love destroy the world."
As if I would allow you to destroy my beautiful creation. How self-important.
I blinked in surprise, but dared not look up. "Then?"
A sigh.
You are more loved than you'll ever know, Storm. And now you have taught my Wild Lion to love as well. Real love, despite himself, everything he despised. The being I made as the embodiment of the power of the sun itself. For a feat such as that, did you really think I'd be angry? I am not. I am benevolent and I am very happy. He has learned the folly of his mistake, the reason for his banishment was never because he defiled a goddess. It was because he defiled himself by refusing to believe that love was also power. The power you now hold over him. I could hardly punish him for accomplishing just what I had hoped. And I cannot punish you for teaching him the error of his ways.
Unbidden tears filled my eyes.
"You are most benevolent," Leo murmured reverently.
Stop kissing ass, the voice snickered. You have passed your test, as has Storm.
I squinted up into the light. "My test?"
A fallen goddess cast into the world for a purpose. To be human enough to change my lion's heart. You loved him unrequited for too long Goddess of storms. My mouth dropped open, even Leo stood thunderstruck beside me. You are reunited. He will not shun you now. You were indeed wise to choose this path.
Leo's eyes snapped up to me in shock. "You. It has been you all this time."
Speechless, I shook my head. "I don't understand. I don't remember."
And you may, if you wish.
I stared at Leo. Could it be that easy? The power of a wish? An eternity? To just go back to another life. A snap of one's fingers. "I…" turning to the light, I looked down. "Will I be someone else?"
You will always be the Storm Walker. No matter what you choose.
Taking a deep breath, I met Leo's eyes resolutely. "Then I know exactly where I want to be."
Leo's mouth broke into the widest, brightest smiles I had seen him smile.
"Pointless bit of drivel."
The cushion came and hit him square in the face. The auburn haired god scowled and glared at me across the room where I sat on the lip of the great fountain. "Watch yourself goldfish."
"Come on!" I held my arm out to the vision in the water below me. "It's just child!"
"Wishing for a brother," Leo spat. "That's worth as much as making the effort to go down and impregnate the foolish woman myself."
Rising from my perch, I placed my hands on my hips, eyes narrowing.
A clap of thunder froze the god in his place and his eyes snapped up to mine with a potent warning. "Don't. You_"
I ignored it and snapped my finger.
A torrent of rain fell from a tiny little cloud that formed above his head.
My mouth twitched with laughter as he sat there, his mouth open, his head completely soaked, as rain water began to creep into the black collar of his shirt.
Lips widening into a smirk that would have shamed even him, I only allowed myself one last gratifying look at the consequence in his honey eyes before he came out of the bed and I started running.
"COMERE!"
Cackling with laughter, inhuman speed licking at my heel, I streaked through the halls of the mansion as the rest of the fallen gods jumped and cursed to get out of the way. Another woman Scorpio had found with stars in her eyes shrieked and nearly plastered herself against the dark haired god, who though held her steady, was rolling his eyes. Behind me, Leo's grin was feral and I was pretty sure where I wanted him to catch me. But before that, I wanted to make sure Leo understood.
Whether our union was blessed or forbidden, the storm was untamable.
THE END
