by Sumida, Amy
“She was so smug though,” Teharon was seated next to Karni Mata of course.
“She was,” I ground my teeth. “It was really fucking irritating.”
“Pardon me,” Huitzilopochtli stood a little down from our table.
“Blue!” I stood and went to go give him a hug. “How are you? I'm so glad you're here.”
“Thank you,” he smiled and hugged me back. “I'm glad to see you as well, little witch.”
“Come meet Karni Mata,” I took his arm and steered him toward the table. “She just saved me a lot of headache.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” he bowed over Karni's extended hand.
“Nice to meet you as well,” she nodded.
“How is it that you've prevented Vervain head pain?” He settled into a chair at the end of the table as I went back to my seat.
“I removed some infected rats from Chinatown and protected the rest so that Xi Wangmu couldn't infect them with the plague.”
“Rats?” Blue's eyebrows went up. “How did you manage that?”
“I am the Goddess of Rats,” she said sweetly.
“Of course,” Blue waved his hand like he'd been silly not to realize it sooner.
“Now that this is done,” I spoke up. “And please don't take offense to this,” the men groaned, probably knowing where I was going. “But Brahma told us your story and I'm curious as to why you chose rats for the form your people would reincarnate into.”
“What did you tell them?” She looked over at Brahma like he was a moron.
He told her concisely what he'd told us and she laughed and hit him on the arm.
“You never pay attention when a woman is talking,” she shook her head. “All your brain cells migrate and you can only focus on the female form.”
“Well,” he smiled and shrugged. “It's how I'm built.”
“No, it's how we're built. Now pay attention this time,” she sighed. “It was not just any child who died but my stepson, Laxman. He drowned and when I went to Yama, he said that Laxman had already be reincarnated... as a rat. Since he couldn't bring him back for me, he promised me that all my male descendants would be reborn as rats and upon the very next cycle, they would be made human again, reborn as my descendants once more.”
“Oh,” I nodded. “So you didn't actually chose a rat.”
“No,” she shrugged, “but I was not unsatisfied with the choice. Rats are highly intelligent creatures, with a language of their own. They are representations of the night, as well as foresight, prudence, and the sense of smell. In India, people view them as cute animals, similar to squirrels in the United States. Most Indians will not kill a rat if they find one in their home but instead, catch them and release them in nature. It would be like killing a bunny is for you.”
“Wow,” I shook my head. “To each their own and all that. I don't think I could view them like bunnies.”
“You have grown up with a different perspective,” she waved a hand delicately. “They are both rodents, you know.”
“Indeed,” I laughed. “So were you a goddess before you became a rat goddess?”
“Ah, yes,” she nodded. “I was Atlantean and I had migrated to India but I hadn't chosen my deity identity yet. All the other Atlanteans were becoming gods but I just wanted to live normally. So I lived amongst the Indian people in Deshnok and I became a sort of mystic. Kings would come to me for advice and I would help them choose sites to build upon. I became a goddess slowly, without even realizing it. People just admired me and then the thing with Laxman happened and I began to be worshiped.”
“Why don't you like to leave your temple?” Yes, I can be pushy. I was just so curious about her.
“I've seen the world,” she shrugged. “I know its secrets. I just want to relax in my sanctuary. Though I must say, I may have found a reason to venture out.”
She and Teharon smiled at each other. Oh so sappy but I was excited for him. Teharon deserved love. As soon as the thought entered my head, my love magic rose up and discretely fluttered out of my chest and over to the couple, a single butterfly hovering between them. I smiled in delighted surprise. I'd never seen my magic behave like that before.
It glowed a little but no one seemed to notice it, including the two people sitting with it between them. Then it sparkled, glowing brighter, until the glow grew large enough to enclose the two of them. It pulsed once and the butterfly disappeared, as if it had never been. A blessing, I knew it instantly. I'd just given my first blessing.
Teharon looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back.
“Vervain,” Blue caught my attention. “I actually came by because I wanted to pose a question to you and your Squad.”
“Really?” I leaned forward in my seat. “Go on then.”
“I find myself bored of late and I don't want to be at odds with you again,” he gave me a sheepish grin. “I was wondering if you, all of you, would allow me to join the group and help where I can.”
“Holy Blood Biting, Blue,” I laughed. “Really? You gonna come over into the light for good?”
“I'd like to try it.”
“Well, I have to speak with the others,” I looked around at the members who were present and they nodded their approval, “but I'm sure they'd be happy to have you with us. We can use all the help we can get.”
“Wonderful,” he smiled wide enough to flash his vampire fangs at me.
“I think you're a little late to help with Xi Wangmu but I'll be sure you're in on the next piece of action,” I sat back in my chair to allow my Froekn waiter to put my dinner down.
Blue was thrilled and I was glad to have him on board finally. It was a relief to know I'd never have to worry about fighting him again. He ordered some food too and we all ate in between bouts of companionable banter. It was so nice to have a night like this, happy, secure, and well fed. I was with good friends, sitting between two of my men, and eating good food in my own nightclub. It was time to take a breath.
I got up to use the restroom and suddenly remembered my vampire stalkers.
“Blue,” I tapped him on the shoulder. “Could I talk to you a sec?”
“Sure,” he got up, folding his napkin precisely and hanging it over the back of his chair. He followed me along the railing and over to a hill. It was right next to the stream that flowed over the second story and down into the waterfall. I sat down and he followed.
“I noticed awhile back, before we made up, that I was being tailed by vampires,” I took a breath to continue but he cut me off.
“What? How many? When?”
“Okay so that answers my question on whether you knew,” I frowned. “This was after we had our falling out and I figured you were just keeping an eye on me so you could get revenge or something but now I've been seeing them again, mainly cars with really dark windows following me suspiciously. I couldn't figure out why you'd still want to keep tabs on me, so I thought I'd ask you.”
“It's not me,” he frowned thoughtfully, “but I'll definitely look into it. I don't like the sound of that, Vervain. Please be careful when you leave the house. Try not to go out alone.”
“I can handle vampires,” I laughed. “I'm just curious as to what they want.”
“You and me both,” he nodded.
“Well, worry about it later,” I got up and he followed suit. “I need to go use the restroom. You go back and enjoy your dinner.”
“Don't discount the viciousness of my children,” he warned as I walked away.
“I won't Blue,” I smiled at his concern. “I'll be careful, I promise.”
“Okay,” he headed back to the table, still frowning.
I wandered down the stairs to the first floor. Halfway to the bathroom, Rain walked up and blocked my path. He had that look on his face, like he was going to mess with me. He must have had some sort of psychic vision and decided he was going to lay it on me in ridiculously difficult riddles again.
“No,” I backed up. “Please, not tonight. I
'm having a really good time and I just want to continue to enjoy my evening, Rain. Don't go Psycho Horse on me.”
“Psychic, V,” Rain laughed, “not psycho ,and it's nothing really. Just a quick observation.”
“No doom and gloom?” I watched him warily.
“Nope.”
“Promise?”
“I pinky swear,” he held up his little finger.
“You're an asshole.”
“Yes,” his mouth stretched into a lazy, sexy smile, “But the women love that about me.”
“Not this woman, now just spill already.”
“No spilling,” he pouted. “Just an observation, like I told you.”
“Fine,” I sighed. It was like pulling teeth. Huge horse teeth. “Observe.”
“Well, you've seen Hell now,” he sighed back at me. “I just thought it might be about time you saw Heaven.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“What did Rain say to you tonight?” Trevor pulled off his shirt and threw it in the hamper.
We had just got home from Moonshine. Kirill was staying in his room tonight so I could spend some quality time with Trevor. It felt strange not to have him there but I was looking forward to being alone with Trevor.
I glanced at the closed bedroom door and felt a little twinge in my chest. I wanted to be with Trevor, I just didn't want my lion to have to be alone. It was the first time I'd ever really felt the heartbreak involved in loving more than one man. I knew there was going to be difficulties, I just hadn't expected this to be one of them.
“He told me that since I've seen Hell,” I smiled and sauntered over to my alpha lover, “it was time to go to Heaven. Wanna take me there?”
“I'll try my best,” he grinned and peeled his jeans off.
As he walked over to me, I looked him over thoroughly. I had missed this so much, just seeing him walking towards me, glorious in his nudity, with that smile on his face. He had that look he always got right before we made love. A kind of sexy excitement with an added twinkle of delight in his eyes. It screamed pleasure but it also sang softly of love.
When he reached me, I felt his hands go to the hem of my dress but I kept my eyes on his face. The material lifted over me, breaking my line of sight for one annoying moment. Then he was working my bra free and sliding my panties off. I thought he'd move us to the bed then but he didn't. He kissed me, arms coming around me tightly and body pressed to mine. It went on and on, tongues and teeth and lips, a ferocious dance that was going to leave me marked but excessively happy.
My hands were in his hair, pulling him even closer, and then his mouth was at my neck, biting, marking. He lifted my legs around him, rubbing against my center sensuously. I groaned and threw my head back, grinding against him. One of his hands trailed under my ass, delving between my legs and working me with gentle skill. He knew exactly where to touch me, exactly how.
I rode his hand and my pleasure to its crest, screaming in completion and shaking against him till I collapsed in a weak heap against his chest. I felt him adjusting us, working himself into me and came out of my stupor. He slid in, so perfect, not too huge that I'd be stretched uncomfortably but big enough to fill me completely. That was my Trevor, a perfect fit.
He slid an arm firmly under each of my thighs, lifting me up and bringing me down with ease. I clung to his shoulders in surprise. Soon the tempo was going and I got the hang of it, clenching my legs around him to help with the effort. I leaned back in rapture and his mouth found my breast, wet and hot over me. The sensation of being held in mid-air while he pumped into me and sucked at me, sent me reeling over the edge and I called out his name as I came again.
He finally let me down but not all the way, merely bent me over the end of the bed, right in the opening with the walls framing me. I tried to get up but he just pushed me back down and held me there with a hand on my back. I felt him spread my legs wide and wedge himself between them.
“You wanted me to take you to Heaven,” he growled as he leaned over me. “So let me do it.”
Again, he was inside me, sliding through my body and satisfying all the magic inside me. I clawed at the sheets, pushing up a little and back into his thrusts. His hands transferred from my ass to my breasts, grabbing hold of them hard and kneading. Fingers found my nipples and squeezed them together, just shy of pain. I cried out and thrashed my hair back, away from my face. A hand left my breast and wrapped in my hair, pulling my head back and baring my throat.
As his teeth bit into my neck, I knew what Heaven was.
Chapter Thirty-Five
A light knock sounded at my front door and both of my men rushed to get it. I knew who it was and so did they, which was explained the sudden rush. Azrael had sent a request a few days ago, in the form of a beautifully calligraphed letter. He wished to accompany me on a date tonight. He said to write my response on the back of the letter and leave it on my doorstep. I had responded with one word, yes, and the letter had disappeared as soon as I placed it on my porch.
“Hey,” Trevor greeted the angel, leaning against the door frame, like he was some overprotective shotgun father.
“Hello,” came the calm reply.
“Come on in, Azrael,” I called out from behind them.
Kirill and Trevor parted, with twin looks of annoyance sent my way. I had ruined their fun. Azrael smiled at them, shaking his head a little as he passed. He looked amazing. He was in dark slacks, a dark blue silk knit shirt, and a tailored leather jacket. His short hair hung over his forehead in a choppy side sweep and his light blue eyes shimmered very slightly beneath. In his hands was a bouquet of delicate orchids.
“For you,” he said and handed them over.
“Thank you,” I brought them up to my nose and inhaled the scent of vanilla. He'd brought me flowers that smelled like him. I hid my smile behind the blooms. It was kind of evilly brilliant. I'd be thinking of him even after our date, with this smell in my house. “Have a seat while I put these in water.”
He sat at the dining table, Kirill and Trevor sitting down across from him, as I went to find a vase in the kitchen. While I filled it with water, the boys made small talk, being surprisingly cordial to the angel. Trevor did look him over quite a bit but he seemed to decide that Azrael was passable because when I met his gaze, he gave me a brief nod.
“Okay, I'm ready,” I placed the vase in the center of the table and Az got to his feet. “Goodnight, boys. I'll see you later.” I kissed each man on the cheek and turned to the angel.
Azrael indicated we should go to the door, where we could trace, then put his arms around me. I focused on his glittering gaze as our bodies became thought and traveled through the Aether. We arrived in moments, in a dark paneled room that was actually quite bright. Two walls were open frames, black stone pillars connected by shiny black arches. They showcased a scene that could only exist in fantasy.
I hardly noticed that we were in a sort of library, that in itself spoke volumes of the view. I barely glanced at the beautiful books which filled the shelves lining the walls. I walked by the comfortable stuffed chairs covered in wine colored velvet, briefly saw the marble topped tables and curio cabinets filled with curiosities. I drifted out onto the balcony with barely a thought for anything other than the scenery outside of Azrael's home.
Spread out before me was a land of bright green grass, rolling hills, and four distinct rivers. Doesn't sound all that fantastical? Just wait. The rivers came from somewhere in the far distance and they were strangely colored. One was an opaque white, the second a golden amber, the third was a lighter gold, and the last was a rich red. They seemed to originate from one spot but then fanned out to spread across the land, stopping here and there to curve a little or splash down a slight decline.
In the center of this vibrancy, were two magnificent trees. One was gold but didn't appear in any way to be manufactured. This was a living tree which happened to be gold in color. It was full of broad leaves and heavy with a plum-colored, round fruit.
The other was silver, in the same manner that the last tree was gold, and from it hung crystalline colored fruits, shaped like teardrops. Around those trees, forming a loose half-circle, was a magnificent garden with brightly colored trees in the full spectrum. It was all the seasons at once in this garden, a clear section for each but with a gentle blending of one into the other.
The white river ended in what was obviously Winter, the trees bare and covered with snow. Flowers were absent but the ice sparkling off the barren bushes and trees made the entire area seem like it was adorned with jewels. In the center of it was a pool of white, the river's end, crusted with crystallized formations all around it's edge.
Next over from that was Spring. Trees just starting to burst with buds, flowers sprouting from the ground and little animals scurrying about. The transition from stark white to soft green was actually gentle, a gradual blending till you couldn't see the seam. In places on the Spring side that bordered Winter, there were patches of melting snow and Winter in turn, held patches of green shoots along this edge. In the center of Spring was a pool of light gold, the ending of a river.
From Spring it went to Summer, a glorious, full-strength riot of color. Flowers were everywhere in full bloom, ivy climbed the lush trees, and bushes were heavy with berries. Fruits of red, yellow, orange, and dark purple, hung from the trees and the wildlife was extensive. Animals of every type walked through the scenery, sampling the offerings of Nature. In the center of all this, was the end to the deep red river. It looked right at home in Summer's harvest.
Last was Autumn, finishing the semi-circle on the right. Everything was brown, red, and yellow in this part of the garden. Leaves littered the ground thickly and animals scurried beneath them, searching for food. The colors were vibrant but totally different from Summer, a warmer range that heralded the cold to come. In the center of this was a pool of dark amber. The river leading to it seemed to move thicker than the others.
Beyond this garden were homes, elaborate houses in a range of styles. I saw Mediterranean influences next to stark adobe and Renaissance fretwork on modern metal. It all blended together like some crazed architect had run awry but somehow, it seemed to work together. To the left, far past the scattered dwellings, the sky went dark and a strange fear clutched my chest when I stared at the foggy land beneath it. I started to back away and ended up walking into Azrael.
