Son of Ra

by Cyndi Goodgame

  I looked at Cas.

  Cas, sat here beside me, in my father’s court like some suitor that might have been sent for me when I was preparing for marriage. And that is now. This age. What I would do to laugh at one of the many factory owners who sent their upcoming son to take over the family business and take a wife of royalty to assure his fortunes.

  I laughed out loud. I was sitting here with a Vampire lord holding my hand, my brother next to me possibly taking over my own court, and an ex-boyfriend back at school who would eventually take the Hunter throne. Was this all planned? It dang well had to be because no one would believe it unless it all came to pass. And what of the Weres? I’d have to figure it out.

  “Well, then that is that.” He checked his watch. “I need to go. I’ll leave you two.” He pushed play on the wall projector and the movie started up. “Twilight. Figured you two could bond.” He was out the door faster than the thunder could sound after a lightning strike.

  “Funny!” I walked over and turned off the projector yanking cords around.

  What’s wrong?

  He was behind me, his arms on my shoulders.

  He just tries to make me angry.

  And he is always successful.

  And of course, you know that too.

  No, but it’s a little obvious.

  I turned around to give my well deserved comment but...

  Let’s just sit and—

  “No. I want a movie date.”

  He chuckled softly.

  I found the perfect one. I was bent over sliding the DVD into the player.

  “I like that one. Pop quiz, hot shot. You have a boyfriend who is extremely hungry, wants popcorn, what do you do?”

  I froze in mid step, glued to the ground.

  Boyfriend?

  Um, yeah…what else would I be?

  I didn’t move. The fear overtook me. I wasn’t ready for this. Didn’t see it coming.

  “Or not.” He stood and started to walk past me.

  I had to react fast. “Cas, I didn’t mean…I do love the idea. You just caught me off guard.”

  He turned back around so he was standing too close. I rocked back on my heels.

  “So, is it okay then?” he was talking aloud and looking sideways at me with that single drop of his hair falling in his eye. For a Vampire, he was a sap sometimes.

  This is what I focused on rather than the fact that he just asked me if I could call him my boyfriend. It seemed almost like I was too old for that, but even older people called it that too. Yet, this six foot three dark angel was showing a very sensitive “boyfriend” like side of himself. He wasn’t this hardcore heartless lord of the Vampires I’d made him out to be all these years. I’m still wrapping my brain around the idea of him being in charge of this court since he’s so young. Did his father die and that’s why he was in charge so young? Will he age?

  I finally left my thoughts alone and said, “Yes. It is very okay.” Ja! Now, I really had to talk to Calum. Soon!

  The movie started. I grabbed the popcorn and settled in next to my Vampire boyfriend lord who was sitting in my brother’s sitting room of my father’s court acting like a normal couple might.

  It felt awesome.

  At the kissing scene when the bus exploded, Cas nudged his nose up against mine. Eskimo kissing. “Why do you switch your languages around when you talk?”

  “What do you mean?” I enjoyed the closeness. It was still a mystery to me that the hard, crass Vampire lord was nuzzling my face close to his. He wasn’t the spawn of the devil himself.

  “Sometimes you answer in Finnish or Danish or other languages. I speak them myself by way of being drilled my whole life too, but why the switching around.”

  “That’s just me. Father made me learn them all so I figure I have the right to mix them all up,” I smiled. “Keeps the crowds guessing.”

  “Crowds?” Cas raised an eyebrow.

  “Singular. Crowd of one I guess.” I smiled just for him. Smiling was a new thing for me. I liked it.

  Almost near the end of the movie and all the popcorn gone, I knew his thigh was against mine warming me in every way. I didn’t have any desire to move. Cas’ hand held mine and it rested on his leg. His leather pants rubbed against my hand. His bare thigh was below those jeans.

  I’d seen half of Cas already. He’d seen a lot me already.

  “Can I go back to your weapons room?” I ventured to ask.

  “Of course. Anytime Kissa.”

  “Right now would be good, but I would rather be dressed better.”

  I think you look ready now.

  “For what?”

  Anything. But for now, you need to remember that you have to be ready in anything you wear. Besides, where would you hide your knives without clothes?

  I slapped his chest. I didn’t know how to swallow that so I just hissed inwardly, You!

  I’m just saying. That pink see-through combo you had on the other night wouldn’t have hid much if I’d been an intruder on that balcony.

  “Yeah, and I had you. I was safe.” Nej! I was insinuating I needed him. And it was a tank top and it wasn’t see-through.

  “Ja. At least you admit that much.” He answered me back in my favorite side language lingo. He really can speak other languages, I learned. Maybe I was giving him a new style, who knows. I stiffled the giggle.

  I answered instead with venom, “But I can take care of myself. My knives weren’t far.” I don’t need anyone, right?

  Absolutely no one will hurt you if I’m there. Mina rakastan sinua.

  My face lit up with the shock of him using my father’s native tongue. He’d told me I had to learn the Finnish language along with the rest of the court because of his heritage background. Cas just told me he loves me...in another language. “Well, maybe I like the idea of being taken care of, but I like the idea that I am me also. I am me first.”

  You’re right. I back you 100%! And I hope I didn’t scare you.

  THANK YOU! And you did, but I’m adjusting in the quickest way I know how.

  I turned my hips a little where I sat making him so close that I couldn’t squirm much. I was trying to turn so I could put my finger in his face and tell him what he would and would not do around me but he had another agenda.

  My hand landed on his instead and he pulled me over onto his lap. I fell straight into the trap. And we stayed there until the movie went blue screened.

  “That’s what I’m talking about sis! Narly!”

  I hopped up off Cas and landed beside him. “Brother!” I sassed.

  “Sister!” he taunted me like Szar always does.

  “Where did you go anyway? Narly?” I was being nosy, but I didn’t care. I should have been concerned. Angry. Somewhere in between.

  “Since when have you cared where I go? And you told me to find a new word. You’re wish is my command.” He bowed to me with that same smile on his face.

  “Since I never ever got to leave and you leave freely whenever you want. Always have.”

  “You’re a girl. Your reputation was easier to taint. And you seem to be popping up unsupervised as of late anyway.”

  “Wrong answer you dang freaking moron.” Taking a deep breath, I ripped my hands apart from gouging my fingernails into them. My mind was screaming to stop, turn around, and snap a new string of foul words. I didn’t feel strong right then. I felt coldly afraid of what was to come.

  Cas raised his eyes at my tone or my language one. He didn’t say.

  “I think it’s time we go.” Cas rose and led me towards the door.

  “We’re not finished here, brother. I’ll have my girl ass back here to have it out with you.”

  He stormed over to me.

  “That’s it. You have had your say. I have lived with being your twin baggage all my life. I had to hear my whole life how you were the golden girl. You had to be reserved, preserved, served, and without a worry in the world. And now that the cat is out of the bag, you’re pissed
that you were left in the dark. Sis, you have no idea how wonderful you had it living your lap of luxury life and not knowing what would happen. I knew. I friggin’ knew. And now that I have the turn of the hat a little, you feel wronged. I was wronged. You’re still the spoiled brat who wants her way. And by the gods, you’re gonna get it anyway. Because that’s the way the cards were going to fall. I just want my life separated from you and in control of my own destiny. Not yours. Not his. Not anyone’s but my own. And you will stop telling me what went wrong in your life because it’s you who ruined everyone else’s.”

  “ME. HOW IS IT MY FAULT?”

  “Because dear sister everything has always been about you. Why I was born, he was born,” he pointed to Cas, “Calum was born, and the other damned one you haven’t had the pleasure of. We had to be here all for you. We were just the afterthoughts. You were the prized possession, the cynosure of our existence.”

  Is he nuts? How could they only have been born for me? Cas cringed his face up to the point I couldn’t see his eyes open. He is right, Stace. He is telling all truths, just in a very crude unconventional way.

  “STOP. YOU TWO JUST STOP TALKING WITHOUT ME.” Szar’s fists were balled up and looking for a place to slam out his anger.

  I blew the largest audible breath I’d ever sounded out loud.

  “Well, I don’t want it.” I didn’t whisper, but it was louder than I meant it to be.

  “Too late, sis. It’s all about you. Or didn’t you hear? The only way to stop it is to off you and the whole thing falls to pot. But then, father would off me for sure because his precious little goddess of the sun will drive him insane with grief and then there won’t be a lord of anything anymore. Heck, Cas here will off himself because he lost you and Calum probably already offed himself because you cut him loose. Wait till you see the pining for you OTHER one. He can follow suit. Then we all be happily ever after.”

  “I do remember that your monologues used to bore me. However, dear brother, your drama has run out. All this offing each other could get messy and seeing as how I am the ruler of the both of us it seems, I’ll just have my way and let you lie in your misery. If it is as you say, it will happen anyway. So if that’s how it is, then I’ll leave you to wallow in your self pity. When you are ready to work as a team on this, let me know and I’ll return. I can’t help what I didn’t know. You never bothered to tell me, did you? So quit blaming me and blame you-freaking-you.”

  I walked on the balcony hoping with anything that Cas was there and we could leave.

  In the air away from the court he whispered, “Remind me to never ever cross you.”

  I was still shaking. “You knew everything all this time. I’m trying not to be mad at you too, but I’m the only one who still gets surprised with heart stopping shockers. How did you cope with such a head full of what if’s?”

  “I only did what was asked. I had no way of knowing and still don’t know if any of it will come to pass. You are the only sure thing that has ever happened to me.”

  Wrong, you were a Valkyrie turned Vampire.

  “Your father knew our connection was strong because he caught me one time telling a few things that I couldn’t have known. After the connection we had at our births, the run-ins with the dreams, and my need to not stay far from you, he met with Dr. Green to assure the course was still in motion. That was the first time I realized that another person knew about you and me. They’ve tried very hard to comply with what the mothers wanted. And so far, Lee was the only monkey wrench in the box of truth mixed with lies.”

  I am the sun, the Hunter is the stars, and you are the element who pulls us either into day or night. So you have the choice to become day or night. That leaves Szar the ruler over this court.

  He was switching back and forth. He continued on, “If my dad hadn’t changed me, either I would kill Szar or he would kill me. Szar was insane with the fact that I could hear you, hear your dreams, know you without knowing you. He was an overprotective brother just like he was a few minutes ago. I stayed quiet because it was his place though his inappropriate language around you was less than admirable. It just wasn’t meant to be. My father was a Valkyrie. My father in this life took care of the problem. He confronted Lord Hathown after he changed me, told him the dilemma of thinking that me close to you would change things if we could read each other too early in life, and changed me to save both me and your brother. Calum is a Hunter and would come into your life at the same time as I and one other. At your coming of age. That is now. And for you...you are destined…you are a true goddess.”

  “A what?” It wasn’t a compliment.

  He was battling with some internal decision. He sighed heavily. “You are the direct descendant of the mothers created by them and placed here, on earth. They put you here.” He closed his eyes.

  “I’m a Valkyrie. Knowing all this doesn’t change who I am.”

  “Essentially, but not really. You are not human either. And you can’t…die.”

  “How in the he…how do you know that?”

  “Because you told me.”

  Land NOW.

  He moved fast through the air. He touched down and I was running. I found the nearest tree. I hit it as hard as I could.

  Blood trickled down my hand.

  “I’m not Valkyrie. Then why do I bleed?” I held up my hand in his face.

  His eyes glowed. Red! He veered away from me hiding his face. Oh my God. I just held up blood in your face. I’m sorry.

  He turned back after a long silence. I rubbed my hand in the grass trying to remove any trace of my attempt to prove myself not evil and heartless. He held my hand up. The cut was gone. Healed.

  “You bleed, Stace. You hurt, you heal. But it is more than that. I’ve seen it.”

  “When?” How did he know? I wondered if he looks different when he was...hungry.

  “Several times. The Hunter knows now too. You can’t die with the exception of one removing your head.” He sounded so clinical. You knew, didn’t you? he asked.

  I nodded. I thought no one else did though.

  “Once when you were thirteen you were sparring your teacher and missed a parry. He struck your head. You went down so fast. The doctors said you were in a coma. After a week, you just got up and went back to your everyday routine. Everyone was in so much awe they just called it a miracle and moved on. But your father knew what it meant and he told my father one night while l silently pretended to sleep.”

  You don’t need sleep.

  How perceptive you are. But I choose to sleep when I have need or want to. The second time at the garden. With the spy boy. He hurt you, but couldn’t finish the job to see with his own eyes if you healed. I watched in silent desperation to make it disappear. He cursed several times in his brain. He paused and spoke aloud, “And the third is when you were there with Szar at the warehouse. You threw the knife at me. I saw the glass slice through your hand. And in a minute it was gone.”

  “But that doesn’t explain how you just know.”

  His hands in his hair again. “Both times you told me in your dreams that it wasn’t real. That they can’t hurt you. And that your mother would protect you from death.”

  “That’s not possible.”

  “But it is. Don’t think I’m crazy. I couldn’t tell you all this before. You’d have thought me mad.”

  “I do now. I think you’re insanely mad, that is. And what’s crazier, I remember those dreams. Vividly! But they were just dreams then and there was not a gorgeous dark haired angel in my dream giving me shivers every time he looked at me. At least not in that dream.”

  He cocked his head back.

  “What?” I was clueless. I did know that any doubts I had about his loyalty dissipated.

  “Gorgeous, huh?”

  Oh, don’t go getting a big head. You know you’re gorgeous.

  Am I to you?

  You sat there and left your shirt off just to torture me the other day. You know what you�
�ve got.

  Does it affect you?

  I blushed, even in the darkness again.

  He reached up and pulled his black t-shirt shirt off.

  “What are you doing?”

  “An experiment.”

  What are you doing, Cas?

  I found the sun. I looked to his eyes for permission. He smiled. I traced it slowly with each fingertip taking turns, memorizing every detail. I traced up the center of his chest making him shudder slightly. I liked that.

  His face moved closer into the deepest, longest kiss we’d ever shared. When I finally allowed myself to forget anything else, he stopped, pulled back, and moved to put his shirt on.

  “What are you doing?” I was completely confused.

  “Confirmation.”

  “Of what?” I was getting impatient and wanted his lips back.

  “That you made a point to notice my eyes when you’ve spiked my desire.”

  I blushed brightly. He knew I’d figured it out.

  “And you’re eyes glaze over. A shiny, dreamy look. I’ve seen it several times this week, but I didn’t appreciate it till you pointed out my symptoms.”

  “Symptoms? We are catching this from each other. Like the flu?”

  He laughed at me. “I think I caught whatever you’re giving and I am willing and able to take regular doses on a daily basis.”

  “Sounds permanent.”

  “Hoping for it anyway.” He was serious sounding, but shrugged.

  This conversation is way out of hand. He recognized my discomfort. Embarrassing! Incredible! Craziness! All at the same time. I’m going to explode with emotions.

  Let’s get you home.

  Not home, just a place to go. I have no home.

  He smiled. Nothing more.

  Chapter Sixteen

  …Never Did Run Smooth.

  Neither of us would give anymore tonight. We would part once again with an ache inside that only the other could fulfill. The only comfort was in knowing when I would see him next. And twenty-four hours wasn’t quick enough. I hastily told him I would leave my ring off before bed to meet him in my dreams. He smiled at my forwardness and kissed me goodnight. I wondered after he was gone if I’d made a good decision doing that. I systematically ice princessed back to my old thinking of allowing myself to be vulnerable and considered it just plain stupid. But...my heart was pushing the ice out and over the edge. His warmth was taking me over. Once again the wisdom of Jane and Eliza and the others from my book of knowledge we call love ran through my thoughts, except this time it was pushing me towards him even more. “When she is secure of him, there will be a leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.” Was that where I am at? Not falling in love before hampers the decision making skills in my opinion, but no one really falls in love more than once. I believe they may have infatuations, even think they are in love, but when you know, you just know. Do I?