Les Gris - TI4

by Heckrotte, Fran

  Once Belle was seated, Intunecat lowered himself into the chair in front of her and crossed his left leg over his right knee. Leaning back, he glanced around the room, noticing how neat everything was. Although she was blind, Belle had several pictures of her family on the walls and some oddly shaped knickknacks on the credenza and end tables.

  "Why do you hang pictures of your family around you if you are blind?" he asked, switching his gaze back to the woman.

  Belle shrugged.

  "I don't need the pictures to remember them but knowing they're there makes the place more homey. Being blind doesn't diminish my need to have such reminders."

  "I see." Intunecat thought about the black orbs that existed in his realm and realized he would miss them if they disappeared. Perhaps the feelings were similar. "Do you miss not being able to see your world?" he asked. "I should think it would be hard to cope, even with the help of your Les Gris."

  "Sometimes. Lunara more than makes up for my loss though. She's my best friend."

  "She? I wasn't aware that Les Gris were gendered. Interesting."

  Belle had never really thought about it. She had automatically assumed Lunara was female like herself.

  It's unimportant! Lunara interjected. We are what we are!

  "Does that mean you're not female?" Belle asked, frowning at the thought. Surely she wouldn't have a male Les Gris.

  Belle! It's unimportant! We are what we are! Gender means nothing to my people, although we may refer to each other as he or she from time to time. It's mostly for the comfort of the life partner. Now isn't the time to get hung up on it! Lunara admonished.

  "You're right. It's a little late to worry about it, now," she agreed. "As far as I'm concerned, Lunara is a she," Belle said, addressing Intunecat. "It really doesn't matter."

  Intunecat nodded. He suspected that Belle hadn't really thought about it. That was good. Assuming that her Les Gris was female probably made it easier to accept in the beginning.

  "I suppose we should get down to business. There are matters I need to take care of. Much of what I have to say will seem unimaginable but I assure you, all that I say is very real. You and Lunara are about to begin an adventure that few humans have experienced. I hope you're up to it."

  "We'll manage," Belle replied confidently.

  Such confidence, Lunara teased. Let's hear what he has to say first before we agree to anything.

  "I doubt we'll have any choice. Okay, shoot!"

  Intunecat smiled slightly and then began describing the events leading up to his arrival at her apartment. Occasionally, Belle would stop him to clarify a few things but for the most part simply listened. When Intunecat finished, he sat quietly for a few moments, watching the human as she processed all of the information. Obviously, she was conversing with Lunara, although for the first time, she remained silent while doing so.

  This is serious! Lunara said.

  It's also beyond our expertise, Belle replied. How in the world are we going to re-join a demon with her Les Gris? That's if we can even find it! Even with the help of The Society, we don't have enough power.

  We have no choice, Belle. Intunecat is right. This could destroy all the realms. I, for one, wouldn't want to battle any demon, let alone one that is insane. If she is the offspring of Lilith and Dis, then she is potentially the most powerful demon ever to exist.

  Okay, let's say this isn't just a bad dream. Again, what can we do? We're going to need help.

  Ask him, Lunara suggested. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't willing to help – and surely the demons will have to pitch in.

  Belle nodded unconsciously.

  "You know we can't do this alone. I mean, someone is going to have to find the lost Les Gris."

  "Lilith and the other demons are working on it, but I don't have much hope."

  "You realize, we have less than a week before the Blood Moon! If we can't pull things together by then, it'll be several years before the next one."

  "Yes. Unfortunately, your world wouldn't survive those years. Unlike us, you have nothing powerful enough to combat a demon such as she. The demons and spirits could hold her off for awhile but it would wreak havoc on our realms."

  Jumping up, Belle startled Intunecat. Lunara smirked but didn't tell her life partner what had just happened. She suspected Intunecat would be embarrassed if Belle knew. Spirits such as he needed to maintain a sense of dignity.

  "I'll have to call a couple of Society members. They may have some suggestions. Can you gather the others and meet me here later?"

  "Certainly." Without saying another word, Intunecat vanished. Unaware that she was now alone, Belle continued. "Oh, and don't forget to knock before you..."

  He's gone!

  "Gone?"

  Gone! Poof!

  "Without a goodbye or thank you very much? That's rude!"

  I'm sure it wasn't...

  Before she finished her thought, the black void reappeared and Intunecat stepped back into the room.

  "I apologize for my rudeness," he said, bowing his head slightly. "Until we meet again." And then vanished a second time.

  There you go. Not only a goodbye but an apology. Problem solved.

  Belle shook her head and headed to the phone.

  CHAPTER 18

  The Moment of Truth

  BELLE HAD THOUGHT later meant hours. Instead it was less than thirty minutes. Without warning, Lilith and the Child appeared in her living room.

  They're hee-er! Lunara announced dramatically.

  "Damn!" Belle cursed.

  Lilith laughed.

  "Not yet," she replied, walking over to Belle to take her hand. "And it's not always as bad as you imagine. I'm Lilith. It's nice to meet you."

  "Umm, hi," Belle wasn't sure about the formality of addressing a demoness, let alone trying to interpret the odd comment.

  "You can call me Lilith. My daughter's name is Caelene, a.k.a. the Child."

  "Hi, Caelene," Belle said hesitantly.

  The Child glared at the human, willing the lifeless eyes to see – wanting the woman to tremble with fear at the sight of the fires that burned within her angry gaze. It wasn't to be. Blindness was Belle's protector, at least one of them. The Child was powerful but she would have to expend a lot of energy taking on Lunara in her weakened state – energy she wasn't willing to waste on this particular battle.

  "You'll have to forgive her. Obviously, her manners are somewhat lacking at the moment." Lilith could barely control the anger she was feeling. Enough was enough. Walking over to her sulky daughter, she leaned down and whispered something in her ear. Immediately Caelene stiffened but refused to make eye contact with her mother. Instead she grumbled a reluctant greeting, deciding that civility was better than facing Lilith's threat.

  Good thinking, Lunara interjected.

  "Lunara thinks you've made a wise decision."

  Ignoring Belle's life partner, Caelene began pacing back and forth. With each passing moment, she could feel the instability growing and blamed her mother. Lilith had forced her to meet with the human when she had more important things to do. She and her demons had still not located her lost Les Gris.

  "This is a waste of time." Turning toward Lilith, she glowered. "If I weren't a half-breed, it wouldn't have this effect," she accused.

  "Apparently demons suffer the same end if they de-sync or detach. They may not have been a primary target of the Shadow Demon until recently. We can only assume humans simply serve its purpose better. Maybe because they are easier prey," Lilith reasoned.

  Prey! The Child was appalled at the thought. She was a hunter, not the hunted. To think otherwise made her weak.

  "I am not prey!"

  "You don't like being a victim, do you?" Belle interrupted.

  "Do not test me, human. I'm not a victim either!"

  "We're all victims in some way. You think because you're different that you're special? Look at you. If you're so mighty, why are you here now?"

  "I'm here
because she made me come," pointing at Lilith accusingly.

  "Don't be ridiculous! You're here because you need us. Have you learned nothing from this?" demanded Intunecat.

  "I don't need your help. I am the daughter of Dis and Lilith. That makes me special. That is enough to give me the strength to overcome this minor inconvenience. It is only out of respect for them that I'm here."

  Perhaps it was Belle's blindness that allowed her to hear the fear behind the false bravado in the Child's voice. Still, she couldn't help but laugh at the arrogance.

  Fire flared in the demoness' eyes but it wasn't Belle's laughter that bothered her. After all, the woman was only a mortal – but the mocking laughter of her life partner grated. How dare... Caelene glared at Belle angrily.

  "I can hear her!" She hissed.

  We can be heard by some when it serves us.

  "And laughing at me serves you?"

  Yes. Your ego is your weakness. It will be your undoing. Already you are losing your way. Continue to play the fool and you'll end up one.

  I'm not... I mean, I can...

  What? You can what? Survive without your life partner? Do what no other creature has been able to do without losing part of who you are? No, Caelene! You will lose this battle. Does that not tell you something about yourself? You are weak when you're incomplete. You need our help and it will be a lesson well worth learning.

  "Lunara is right," Belle said, again joining the conversation. "We haven't found your life partner. There are few options left to you. Lunara thinks we may be able to merge you with a human Les Gris."

  Lunara had mentioned the idea to Belle after Intunecat left but hadn't been able to go over the details before the arrival of the two demonesses.

  "No! I already have too much human in me. I'll not allow myself to be compromised by sacrificing more of me to a mortal. I'll prove all of you wrong."

  Before Belle or Lunara could respond, the Child vanished.

  Sensing the abrupt departure, Belle chuckled.

  "She's got a temper."

  "She gets it from her father," Lilith said. "I'll try to reason with her. There are very few options available now. Thank you, Belle and Lunara." Unlike Caelene, Lilith left through the front door.

  Wow! She's a classy lady.

  "Too bad the same can't be said about the brat."

  She's young and barely in control of herself.

  "Young?"

  By demon standards, yes. Not to mention, she hasn't had much of an opportunity to interact with mortals or experience emotions. She has a lot of growing up to do.

  "You like her," Belle accused, surprised at the thought.

  I like what she can be, not what she is. Her life has been hard. She has every right to think she can go this alone after having spent what must have felt like an eternity trapped in loneliness.

  "So you feel sorry for her. I guess I can understand that."

  Lunara thought about it for a few moments.

  No, I admire her. I don't know of any creature, mortal or otherwise, who could have survived what she has and kept their sanity. That alone is proof of her strength and it's that strength I respect and fear. If she de-stabilizes completely, I'm afraid many of us will be destroyed before we destroy her – and destroy her we must.

  Belle had to agree. What complicated the situation even more was not knowing which side Dis would take. It was hard to believe he and Lilith would allow their child to be destroyed, no matter how difficult she was.

  "What can we do?"

  Unless she's stabilized soon, she'll be unreachable even for us. I think our plan is the only choice but it's going to take her consent and...

  When Lunara hesitated, Belle knew she wasn't going to like what she was about to hear.

  "And?"

  And several may die during the procedure.

  Belle frowned.

  "I'm not sure she's worth the sacrifice. Wouldn't it be better to destroy her before she completely de-stabilizes while she's at her weakest? I know it sounds harsh but if she's as much a threat as you think, now is the time to move. We can deal with Dis and Lilith after the fact if there's a problem."

  Lunara's mental snort was like a small explosion in Belle's mind.

  You really are an optimist. Trust me when I say you don't want those two angry at you or humanity. Not even God himself could prevent the devastation they would reap upon this world.

  "It was just a thought," Belle replied, suddenly feeling guilty that she even suggested such an idea. "Tell me what needs to be done to resolve this. I suspect we have very little time to act."

  Belle patiently listened to her Les Gris as Lunara quickly outlined part of her plan. Had anyone been watching the blind woman, they would have thought her behavior strange as she nodded her head, frowned and then nodded again.

  "I don't like it, but at least it's better than doing nothing. I get the feeling you're not telling me everything though," she said when Lunara finished.

  Lunara ignored the last comment. She knew she needed more help than the Les Gris could give yet she wasn't sure the one she had in mind would be willing to get involved.

  Doing nothing isn't an option. I'll pass the information on to the others. We have only a few days before the Blood Moon rises. If we miss this one, it'll be several years before the next.

  "I think I need to call Randi and get her over here tomorrow. I'll contact The Society members when I know a little bit more. Anyway, it's too late to call them tonight. Besides, I think I need a nice, hot bubble bath and a good night's sleep. I'm exhausted and I think you have something to do."

  Belle knew she didn't need to tell Lunara how she was feeling, but it always felt good verbalizing her thoughts whenever she could. Having such an intimate relationship with a Les Gris sometimes made one feel almost schizophrenic. Belle did have the advantage of being blind, though. Without the visual senses, she was accustomed to hearing only voices.

  Heading off toward the bathroom, she ran her fingertips slowly along the wall, an unnecessary action but one that she had retained over the years. Its solid feel always gave her a sense of comfort.

  CHAPTER 19

  Rainbow

  LUNARA WAITED FOR Belle's mind to relax a bit before shifting her attention to her surroundings. Granted, the evening wasn't the best time to locate Rainbow but as long as there was light, there was a chance the Elemental would appear. The mystical creature often dropped in to visit with Lunara and occasional offered her services when the Shadow wanted to treat her life partner to a visual experience.

  Where are you? I need you.

  Within seconds a shimmering prism of light danced into the room, her rainbow hues glistening brightly in the dimly lit bedroom.

  Lunie, how are you?

  I'm fine, but I need your help.

  Never one to stop moving, Rainbow continued her dancing, her vibrant colors swaying with a seductive innocence that fascinated Lunara.

  How can I help, mon bel ami Gris?

  Lunara laughed. The Boreal was a joyous creature and always teasing her, but the Shadow wasn't fooled by the superficiality she projected. Elementals enjoyed life to the fullest but like all living things, understood the seriousness of a world in environmental chaos. For that reason alone, Lunara knew enlisting the aid of Rainbow and the other Elementals in assisting humans could be problematic. On the other hand, the whimsical creatures felt no animosity toward demons so there was a small chance they might agree. By nature they tended to be kind as long as something didn't arouse their ire.

  A Les Gris has detached from her demon and cannot be found. We hope another will take her place.

  And what does that have to do with me? Rainbow asked, swaying gently back and forth. Demons don't interest me.

  I know, but this isn't a normal demon. She has the potential to do great harm to both human and demons.

  All the better, the Elemental replied, gliding smoothly away. Her colors began to flicker rapidly, an indication that Rainbow wa
s becoming agitated. The humans have destroyed most of us. It's only a matter of time before all Elementals pass beyond because of their foolishness.

  They're changing, Rainbow. Many have realized what they have done and are doing. They seek to save the future of our world.

  Not soon enough for us.

  Lunara knew the Elemental could be right. Time was running out for the earth spirits. If the humans didn't act quickly, the toxins would send nature into a downward spiral that would take Gaia hundreds of millions of years to correct. By then life would have changed so radically that humanity would cease to exist.