Past Lives

by Kirsten Bij't Vuur

  They went back to the big bed, still holding each other closely, until it started to get light outside, and Lukas dressed to go for his run.

  'I'll go by the manor to pick up my bicycle, I'll try to bring yours too. Give him a hug from me.' That last he said nudging at Paul, who opened his eyes and said: 'Better give him a hug yourself, you can spare the time. And a kiss.'

  Lukas certainly had a kiss to spare for Paul, and a hug. His intense happiness translated itself to his friend, who found himself laughing for no apparent reason.

  'That is a nice way to wake up, instead of your usual gloom over the cold or the dark! Glad your dad's visiting?'

  'Can't remember you being awake to hear me complain about getting up, ever, lazy lout. Melissa will tell you why I am happy, and it's not my dad's visit, though I'm surprisingly glad to see his sleek old self again. Bye now, see you in an hour!

  And he was off.

  By now, Melissa was in his arms, and Paul kissed her and waited for her to tell him what Lukas was so happy about. Frankly, Paul had thought Lukas a bit low since their return from Greece, he suspected it was not just the weather, but his growing awareness of the suffering in the city, it always intensified in fall, when the weather turned and living outside became downright dangerous. Lukas must be feeling it day in day out.

  It would get worse with the onset of winter and freezing temperatures, they would have to keep a close eye on their beloved friend, he had learned to keep a tight rein on his feelings. But now, Melissa was trying to tell him something, and it didn't make her as happy as it did Lukas, so he knew what it was, and she didn't need to look for words.

  'It has happened, hasn't it? We're going to be parents?'

  She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  'Lukas checked? With his talent?'

  Still no voice, but a nod.

  'I think I'm actually glad, Melissa, I hope you don't mind. Lukas is so happy, and he knows everything there is to know. He'll need something to keep him cheerful this winter, I think the plight of the homeless hits him hard. It's so much worse when it's cold.'

  He tightened his hold on her, looked her straight in the eye, and said: 'I'm taking a certain risk here, beloved, but I'm going to do it anyway.

  Congratulations, dearest, you're going to be a mother!' And he kissed her tenderly.

  Instead of starting to cry, as he had more or less expected, she found her voice back, and said: 'Thank you, love. And congratulations to you too. I find that I'm like Lukas, intensely afraid that something might happen, and now it has, I'm not nearly as afraid anymore.

  Of course it helps that he is over the moon, and not able to hide any of it.

  But there is more.'

  Reassured that she was not dismayed, he asked quietly: 'More news?

  More reason for Lukas to be very happy?'

  'Both. He is certain that this baby is his. Remember what his grandfather said to me? And Aphrodite hinted at it as well, he said. Do you mind?' She asked, but he could see she expected him not to mind at all, and she knew him well.

  He kissed her again, nuzzling her neck, glad she was so calm about this,

  and kind of happy for themselves as well, and said: 'I don't. You know me well. It may sound strange to you, but whoever was the father, this baby would be mostly Lukas' anyway, since he wants it so much. It'll probably look just like him, I saw his face everywhere in Ephyra, didn't you? Imagine him as a baby, the cuteness of him, though there is only one true Lukas.

  We'll be a real family, and Tristan and Ilsa as well, you can share complaints.'

  That was a comforting thought to Melissa, Ilsa had been so down to earth about the whole thing, Melissa could use some of that attitude.

  'So you don't mind, that is what I told Lukas.'

  'It will not have hoofs, will it? For that would be unfair to a child, even with the Nomes' nearby. I loved those little satyr babies, make no mistake, but there is no place for them in London.' Paul did show a little worry at that idea. But Aphrodite had been very clear on that score: 'Aphrodite assured me that was not going to happen. They must have checked before we left, Zeus did take my hand, remember? Still way above us, those gods, not telling me about it.'

  'Well, I wouldn't have dared to tell you either, you were so emotional, they were probably afraid you'd bite their heads off, bringer of bad news, you know.' That got him a cuff around the ears, a playful one, and Paul received it in the spirit in which it was offered, by retaliating with a pillow.

  Of course their horsing around quickly turned to exchanging intimacies, and Paul observed: 'Well, two of your worst fears have not come true, you're not an emotional wreck, and you're certainly not sexless. You may be more attractive than ever.'

  'Thank you, love, now get to it, or I may start to cry.'

  And he did get to it, and Melissa was very pleased to find that he did not suddenly treat her differently, he was as gentle and as loving as ever, but he didn't hesitate at all to thrust himself in her, and he let his body shove hers as he did so, making her feel very wanted and taking her to glorious heights before he climaxed himself and crashed right on her, taking only the slightest bit of his weight on his own arms as he usually did, heaving from the exertion.

  They spent some more time in bed, but decided to get some work done before Hermes visited, so after getting dressed and having breakfast they went to work, still processing the idea they would be a family next summer.

  About an hour later, Lukas came in by the back door, having put his bicycle away, and he brought Hermes with him. 'No George?' Paul inquired mildly, and Hermes said: 'No, we've had a lovely night, but I wanted to see you by yourselves. It was so good to be with him again, I've missed him so much. Though I'm very happy with Ophelie as well, but she looks up to me, and George keeps me on my own level, and he's such a haven of safety.'

  'Let's go to the living-room, I'm hungry,' Lukas stated, and they all went upstairs and downstairs again, making tea and coffee, and getting some rich treats for whoever wanted them.

  As they sat down, Hermes looked around to ask permission to sit with Melissa, and she decided matters by inviting him in her arms: 'I want to hold you close, next you'll be with George again, but now you're mine for half an hour.'

  And he settled against her, snugly, and he wondered if she saw him as a kind of pet, but the guys expected the news from him so he delivered it.

  'Our family decided to spare Dionysus on Aphrodite's and Lykos' request.

  He has been given a last chance to redeem himself, though Hera wanted his guts for dinner. She has hated him from the start, though no-one knows why.

  Dionysus just turned up one day, complete with a string of followers and worshippers, no-one knows where he originally came from. Maybe Hera hates him for being an upstart.

  Anyway, we have blocked his magic and put him in a situation where he needs to work for a living, bear responsibility. If he can prove to us that he can be useful, we will give him his Gift back. Whether he gets his position amongst us back depends on his own actions.

  His boredom and selfishness have brought him where he is now, if he can conquer them there is still hope. He will certainly have a rough time, but we hope he will grow for the suffering he will do, as I became a different person through my own.'

  'I suppose you're not going to tell us where he is?' Lukas asked.

  'We're not. It is of the greatest importance that he is left by himself, so we will keep his location a secret. His estate is managed by a faithful underling, I've learned a lot from you, Paul, about delegating to mortals, Ophius and me have selected him after hearing Hailee, we offered her the position first but she refused.'

  Lukas was disappointed, but he was not going back to Greece anyway, so what did it matter?

  'Rhoda is doing well, according to my father, his spouse could not restore her magic but she did manage to heal the trauma. She is still at their villa, and working at becoming an artist, apparently she has a talent for developing mosaic
. That is a noble job, and she will have a good chance at a normal life.

  Rhoda remembers all that has happened, and she has begged Zeus to relay a message to you, Paul. She hopes you can find it in you to forgive her what she did to you. The memories of your suffering were the last Hera managed to fade, Rhoda did not think she deserved to forget the pain she inflicted on another innocent.

  Paul did show some pain at the memory of that horror, but Lukas was already with him, and the two of them seemed to share some unspoken feeling of satisfaction, that could have nothing to do with what happened in Greece.

  Suddenly Melissa knew, it was their impending fatherhood, they were both looking forward to it, and somehow they were sharing their feelings wordlessly, their joy transcending their bad memories.

  Hermes saw it too, and commented: 'You two are not looking that smug because Rhoda apologized, you have some news as well. Let's have it then.'

  Smiling broadly now, Lukas said: 'It's not ours to tell, I'm sorry father. I just get to look smug and share my satisfaction with Paul. You're the one sitting with Melissa.'

  Of course this got her a surprised look from Hermes, and since she was eager to share her experience with Ilsa anyway she decided to just be open about it: 'I seem to have gotten with child in Greece, Hermes. Lukas has been told by family members of his that it is his child, and apparently both gentlemen over there are pretty pleased to become fathers.'

  But Hermes remembered a scene on the terrace of his villa, looked at her intently and asked very seriously: 'And you, lovely, are you still so very afraid? Or can you look forward to becoming a mother, like Katarina?'

  That showed those men, to be so secretive.

  'Katarina is finally with child? I'm so happy for her, she wanted it so much! Ophius told me it was Aphrodite's touch, do you think that's true?'

  Hermes had never heard that one before, so he thought for a second, then replied: 'Actually, I think it's someone else's 'touch', I think both gentlemen are going to become fathers, that taller, lighter haired one in my family-circle.

  But you haven't answered my question yet, are you upset by your condition?'

  He was so sweet when he allowed himself to be, and Melissa answered

  honestly: 'I'm the one who is going to do the hard work, so I'm not as happy as they are. But I can face the idea, and I trust Lukas to tell me what to do.'

  That answer satisfied Hermes, and told them the rest of the news, how the satyrs were doing, how Aphrodite had turned to her husband for comfort, and not without mutual benefit, for their difficult relationship had improved immensely.

  How Ophelie was very happy to get a grandchild, and not yet one of her own.

  How she had pleaded Hermes to let her be monogamous because such was her nature, and how Hermes had reminded himself of Paul's statement that some people just loved that way, and weren't unhappy or unhealthy, just different, and how he had decided to not bug her anymore with sharing and just let her be herself.

  He also told them how Galan was already making a name for himself with his excellent steel swords, practically forced to get himself an apprentice to increase his production and free himself from the less involved jobs.

  That reminded Lukas to ask a question that might become important once Melissa's time was approaching: 'How many days have passed since we left, father?'

  A bit surprised by the question, Hermes answered it readily: 'Three weeks, son, plus one day. Why do you want to know?'

  'Because here, a month has passed already, so it seems as if time passes by more quickly here. If Melissa wants Aphrodite to be here when it is her time for birthing, we need to take that time-difference into account.'

  Hermes thought about that for a few moments, then replied: 'It is interesting to know, but it doesn't matter a whole lot: if you have need of Aphrodite, just stick your head through the portal and call out for her. She will hear, and if she is able to, she will come, or send word. The same goes for me, no need to even enter our world, just call out and I will hear your need.'

  Time passed by quickly as they talked about a lot of things. Melissa enjoyed the feel of Hermes and his presence, though she had not exactly missed him.

  Paul was amazed that Galan's steel swords were already well-known in the entire area, he had been at home for the same amount of time, he had made his own swords within the week, shown them to Mr Jones, but he had not had any demand for it yet.

  'But Galan has undoubtedly taken his to the group he practices with, and they would have seen its superior quality immediately. You are not a fighter, you have no skill to demonstrate a sword, no connections amongst fighters, plus, this city is so much larger than our villages, so many people live here, most of them don't speak to one another,' Hermes offered as explanation.

  Melissa wondered how he knew, he had never been to the city, hadn't he?

  Maybe George had taken him?

  'That is true, I hadn't thought of that. I did sell a lot of bicycle parts made of the stuff, that is what I'm known for here. Oh well, they look very nice on the mantle-piece, very decorative. Maybe someone will show up for them.

  After two hours of talking, a carriage stopped in front of the house, it was George, coming to pick up Hermes for a tour of the city.

  Melissa gave Hermes a big hug, and the two men went away together.

  The three of them quickly went back to work, for with George busy, Jonathan would probably come by for a lesson in magic, or to ask a lot of questions.

  As they were working, Paul asked Lukas: 'How are you holding up under the feelings coming in from the city, Lukas?'

  Lukas answered: 'Reasonably well, I'd like to go into town more often and help people, and eventually I'd like to open a practice. Problem is, I can only heal with magic, wouldn't that be suspicious? Doesn't a doctor need pills and instruments?'

  This seemed to please Paul, for he replied: 'You know the copper boiler, the large, undecorated one, that is ready to install? Well, I have an appointment for tomorrow, and the buyer is a doctor with a real practice, on the other side of town. We might hear something useful there. It's in the afternoon. Do you want to come too, Melissa?'

  She decided she would, a pair of extra hands was always useful at an installation, and whilst they were working, she might have the opportunity to ask some questions.

  'Where would you want to have the practice, Lukas?' she asked, knowing Lukas would not be able to see people hurt and do nothing.

  'As close to home as possible, I wouldn't want to treat people all day, nor for money, I'd do it afternoons, and work with you in the mornings.'

  Paul offered: 'But using magic in one place is usually not a good idea, it tends to attract hunters, or you'd have to shield it really well, like Tristan has

  done for my house.

  Maybe you can get a space on the factory grounds, it would put you right close to your clients.'

  Glad to be sharing thoughts on his intentions, Lukas replied: 'You are right, and destitute people usually don't travel, do they? Having a practice would make me vulnerable to discovery. But healing outside or in a hovel is often a problem, too. We really have to find a solution to that. I'm glad you want to help me think that through, you know the city so much better.'

  Melissa offered: 'My father knows it better still, maybe you can go talk to him about it. I'm sure he will want to help you.'

  'I will, love, I'm weighing my options, and thinking things through, and in the meantime I'll just keep practising outside, or wherever I'm needed. I have a good coat now, and I'll take someone along for protection at all times.' After that remark, Lukas had to concentrate on his work once more, and the conversation stopped, but Paul knew Lukas could still bear the feelings of the world around him, and was rather trying to find a way to help, than let himself be hindered by the knowledge he could do only so much.

  Chapter 23

  Of course they dined at the manor that night, and Melissa told everyone they would be having a child in summer. Ils
a was thrilled, and frankly, so was Melissa herself. It was good to share the experience with someone she liked.

  They visited her parents the next morning, and shared the news, and whilst Melissa got some good advice from her mother, and assurances that her mother had always managed to keep her job, the guys talked to Jakob about practising healing magic.

  'The best thing would be to either keep moving around and use magic openly, or to have a practice and cover the magic with pills and powders and instruments,' Jakob said, 'but it will be very hard on you, Lukas, there is so much wrong in this city, you cannot cure everyone. You will have to take great care not to become depressed, though you told me you can detach yourself from emotions, since becoming a god?'

  Lukas replied: 'I can, but my emotions make me human, I'd hate to not feel things anymore.'

  To this, Jakob commented: 'You need the detachment to stay sane, Lukas.

  You cannot help people if you are raving mad, and you will become raving mad if you feel everything you witness. Better detach yourself from the worst of it, and go on doing good.

  You keep an eye on him as well.'

  That last of course was meant for Paul.

  'And don't overprotect my daughter, she really hates that. Just make her promise to tell if she is overburdened.'

  “What if she doesn't keep it?' Paul asked, laughing.

  “You let him eavesdrop,' was his reply, Lukas looking guilty as a clear sign he had already done as much, 'she can be stubborn.'

  In the afternoon they hired a cart with driver to take the boiler and the piping to the other side of town, and followed it with their bicycles. Though the roads were not improving with the weather, they all managed to keep up

  with the cart, and after half an hour they arrived in a neighbourhood much like their own, except that it was less green.

  They padlocked the bicycles to a little fence, and unloaded the cart, then paid and dismissed the driver. The door was opened by a small and slight young woman, who nonetheless had quite a presence. She introduced herself as Adison, nothing more. They introduced themselves by their first name as well, and got ready for the job.