InSpire (19 page)

“Now get the doctor,” Liz directed Darian. He looked a little stunned but did as he was bade.

They both sat back down where they had been sitting. Athena had his hand in hers and Liz was stroking his hair. They both knew he was dead but they were hiding it from the doctor. He leaned over the other side of the bed and put his ear to Johan’s chest. He waited for a moment than shook his head. Athena let the river behind eyes go. All pretenses were gone which freed her up to let the emotion just flow. Darian sat beside her and she buried her head in his shoulder. He kept her tightly wrapped up in his arms, soothing her very soul. When he could tell it wasn’t going to stop he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their room. He laid her down on the bed and covered her with the blankets. He left her there to cry herself to sleep.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“You only think you have the upper hand here.” The woman was hissing at Athena. She had never seen her before, but knew instinctively this was Olivia.

“I will kill you,” Athena spat back.

“You can try,” she snickered.

“I will have your blood, Olivia,” Athena shouted.

Athena lunged for her, but Olivia disappeared. Athena heard her cackle for a moment then she was gone. Damnit. Athena missed her chance. She felt a sudden pull on her body. Then a shake on her body. It was that moment realization hits her hard. Her soul had traveled to find Olivia without her body. She couldn’t have killed her like this for the wanting. She must have searched for Olivia in her sleep. As her body demanded her return she swallowed the disappointment.

“Babe,” Darian shouted, shaking her body.

“Stop that,” she said with eyes still closed.

He grabbed her up in his arms almost smothering her. “Phew. I thought you were dead,” he sighed.

“I’m not, but if you don’t let me go I might become that way,” she said, trying to get some air.

“Sorry, but your breathing was so shallow. I was very afraid,” he replied.

“I’m right here.”

“I wouldn’t survive without you,” he said a single tear roll down his cheek.

“I’m not leaving.”

“What happened?” he said, finally getting control over his own emotions.

“I moved through time. I found her, Darian,” she admitted.

“You found who?” Darian let her lay back down. He wanted to see her eyes. This way he could understand what he was really hearing.

“Olivia.”

“Where?”

“I’m not sure where I was. It was dark and damp. It must have been somewhere in the human plain. I’m sure if I concentrate I can figure it out.”

“But you know it was her?”

“I’m positive. She was about five foot and had long dark hair. She was cackling like a crazy person.”

“She’s only five foot?”

“Yeah.”

“How can such a short person being causing so much trouble,” he laughed.

“Big things come in small packages.”

“I guess so,” he stated still laughing a little.

She put her feet down and headed to the closet. She could still wear some of her jeans, but the room her dresses afforded was more important. She found one and threw it over her head. The undergarments didn’t seem necessary right now, so they got left behind. He went to his closet and came out looking ready for business. Dresses still disappointed her, but it came with the territory. Stepping toward the bed she heard Bowen. He was hungry. Her breasts were well aware of his need. She went over to his crib. He grew over night again. He was now about the size of a three month old baby and she saw the start of teeth. She cringed thinking how that was going to feel. She picked him up and took him over to the chair. She pulled her right breast out. Yep, teeth were bad. He started feeding greedily.

“You know you should really use the wet nurse,” Darian said, sitting on the bed and tied his boots. He liked boots even on days where he was just going to be sitting on the throne.

“Not you too.”

“What? I’m just thinking of your health. He isn’t getting any smaller and neither are you,” he said smiling.

“Thanks,” she huffed.

“You know what I mean.” Darian got up and kissed Athena on the forehead. She was sensitive right now and he knew that. He should have watched what he was saying.

“Ouch,” she complained as Bowen bit down.

“See,” Darian said, walking into the bathroom.

“He has teeth.”

“Yet another reason to let the nurse do it.”

“I want to okay, ouch.”

“Sounds like you are having a great time,” he said.

She smelled his shave cream. The smell of it always made her hot. She started to get excited when Bowen bit her again. “Okay I get the point,” she whispered to Bowen.

“Did you say something?” Darian shouted from the bathroom.

“Just talking to the baby.”

“Oh.”

“Now stop biting mama. That really hurts,” she said, rubbing his head. She moved him to the other breast for a few minutes. While she was nursing she surveyed the damage. Her nipple was bloody and red. Great. He seemed to be content not to bite her. She was lost in thought when Darian came back in the room.

“Did he do that?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He walked over and knelt beside her. He gently put her nipple in his mouth and rolled his tongue over the end. It was erotic and weird at the same time. He looked up at her. She saw he was enjoying himself. He kissed her nipple then got a strange look on his face. He thought for a moment and the sucked her nipple back into his mouth. He swallowed.

“No wonder Bowen likes that. You taste delicious,” he said.

“Gross,” she said, swatting his shoulder.

“More?” he questioned.

“That’s for your son, not you pervert.”

He smiled then got up. She couldn’t believe some of the things he did. She finished feeding Bowen then handed him off to the nurse. The nurse always arrived at the same time every day. They figured out very quickly that morning sex was off the menu while Bowen shared their room. She wasn’t one for knocking. She would just come right in and take Bowen.

Darian went to the throne as she headed to the barn to practice. Mastering the powers given to her hadn’t been easy. There were still quite a few things that required more practice. She walked into the barn to find a surprise.

“I know you weren’t expecting me, but I thought after your loss I would come talk with you for a while,” Aunt Liz said.

“That would be nice,” Athena said, shutting the barn door. She enchanted the barn quickly and walked toward the office instead of the ring. Athena followed her in and took a seat behind the only desk. Liz stood for a few minutes before gliding to a chair. Athena didn’t want to hurry her so she put her nose to the books and started crunching some numbers.

“Watching Johan die was especially painful for me,” she started. She wasn’t looking at Athena so she know this was coming from a very deep place inside Liz.

“Yes,” she said, putting my pen down and folding my fingers on the book.

“I have to tell you the truth,” Liz said.

“There is more truth?” she asked bewildered.

“A lot more I’m afraid,” Liz admitted.

“Well I have all day so start at the beginning,” Athena said, sitting back in her chair. She rubbed her belly waiting for Liz to begin her story. The baby kicked her a couple of times.

“I have told you before that your father had several siblings and that we all rule separate kingdoms,” she stated, looking at Athena. There was no need for words. Athena answered with a simple nod of the head.

“Your father was the oldest of the nine. That is why he ruled Spire. His father granted it to him when he was very young. He handled the responsibility well enough that his father let him assign the other kingdoms,” she explained.

“Why did he give you Hiver?”

“Because I love the cold. It was one of the reasons why Spire was never an option. The heat is too much for me,” she laughed.

“Okay, please continue.”

“I hate to bore you with names but it is the only way to explain,” she stated.

“I should know my family, so go ahead.”

“Kathleen was given Torcus. This is the place where the dead wait. Marcus was given Horendale. He is in charge of the new angels. Melodius was given Muscanta. This is where the musical angels abide.  Torin was given Adlandia. I have never ventured that far so I am not really sure what he rules over. I only know he was the most hated of all the siblings. This was your father’s way of punishing him,” she explained.

“Sounds like something he would do. If I am counting right there are three more?”

“Yes. Sasha was given Manta. Another kingdom I have never traveled too. You father used to call her a no good whore. No surprise he sent her away. Then there was Josiah. He was given the plain between us Heaven. The last was Evelyn. She was never given a kingdom. She died two days after her birth,” she stated.

“That is sad.”

“It was yes.”

“Okay. I know my family now. Is that all there is?” Athena asked.

“No there is more,” she replied.

“I thought so. Please continue.”

“I want you to know who your enemies are. You must understand your father wasn’t loved by all of his siblings. For the most part they all got along, but there are times when I feel the pull of Sasha and Torin. I know they are just biding their time in banishment,” she explained.

“You are afraid of them?” She was not giving Athena much. It wasn’t clear why she was trying to hide her true feelings from Athena.

“I am not so much afraid as I am nervous. Your father didn’t send them for no reason. They are dangerous creatures that think only of their own needs. When word reaches them of your father’s death, I fear they will try to return,” she stated.

“Then I should train harder.”

“Yes.”

“This doesn’t explain why Johan’s death was harder for you though.”

“I wanted to tell you who your family members where so when I tell you this story you won’t be confused,” she admitted.

“Okay.”

“Johan was not your brother,” she started.

“What?”

“Your father adopted him when he was a baby. He told the court he was his son because he desperately needed an heir after your unfortunate accident,” she explained.

“Then who was he?” Athena stood up and began pacing the office. Her mind was reeling. She had been told Johan was her brother. She loved him like a brother and mourned his death.

“He was my son,” she admitted.

“What?” Athena stopped dead in her tracks. She looked right at Liz. She could find no sense of a lie in her face.

“I had gotten pregnant before I married. If my husband knew I was with child he would have cast me off. I came to your father for help. He told me not to worry. He let me hide here until Johan was born. After he told the court his wife had died in childbirth. She was dead but it wasn’t because of that. They believed him. We have kept it a secret ever since,” she explained.

Athena went back to pacing the floor. There had to be more to the story than this. There were going to be lots of changes over the years, but nothing could have prepared her for this. Liz had been in the castle hundreds of times. She never let anyone know. There was no hint even for Johan.

“Have you nothing to say?” she asked, begging for some response with her eyes.

“I don’t know what to say,” Athena admitted.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. I wasn’t sure I should tell you, but I didn’t want Torin or Sasha to be able to use it against me,” she explained.

“So they know?”

“They know because they killed your mother and your father’s second wife,” she stated.

“Why would they do that?”

“They didn’t want your father to have an heir. They would have killed you if you hadn’t done it yourself. It was the second murder that caused your father to banish them. When he finally put the pieces together he was angry. I was shocked that he didn’t kill them,” she stated.

“So who is Johan’s father?” Athena finally started seeing some missing pieces from Liz’s story.

“What?” Liz tried to play off the question, but Athena’s interest was piqued.

“You’ve conveniently left out whether or not they are your siblings?”

“What are you talking about?” Liz was biting her lip. She was clearly nervous at this new line of questions coming from Athena.

“You said at least two times his father. Not our father. So what are you to my father?”

Liz paced back and forth for a moment. It was clear she was thinking about the next few words she was going to use.

“You are right.”

“Then tell me the truth. I think at this point I deserve nothing less.”

“Fine. You’re father and I have been together for centuries now. I was accepted into the family when I first started showing signs of the gift. He and I were lovers until I became pregnant. When Johan was born your father offered to keep him here as my marriage had been arranged. His wife had just recently died, so hiding him here was easy to do. Then I went back to Hiver without my son. The rest you know,” Liz explained.

“Why was I told you were his sister?”

“Because it kept my frequent visits to the castle unquestioned. If anyone knew we would have both been punished.”

“So Johan is my half-brother?”

“Yes he is.”

“And you just left him here?” Athena wasn’t angry anymore. She just wanted to help Liz deal with the loss she had just suffered. Not only was her son gone, but her longtime lover was as well. It was a heartache Athena knew all too well.

“I had too,” Liz answered, walking over to Athena and touching her hand.