Spinning Fate's Threads

Tazzy: You'll like where Cain's mind is going even less after this one.

DarkCrusnikMagician: Glad to have you back. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.



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Abel was making a concerted effort to stop his trembling legs from collapsing completely. Gun’s hand at the small of his back steadied him somewhat but it didn’t quell the urge to run that had so suddenly risen in him. Then there was the fact that 02 was fighting him hard for control and had been since the war goddess had first made her presence known. Nothing in her stance spoke overtly of threat but it was clear that 02 felt the resounding ring of power she exuded and was reacting to it. There was also no doubt in his mind that if it came down to it, she would annihilate him without so much as batting an eyelash regardless of what Blaze had to say about the matter.



He was mildly startled when not Gun but Hunt’s hand ran along the back of his neck, easing some of the inner turmoil and getting 02 to settle somewhat.



“We all had that reaction to her at first. Yes, she’s probably the strongest thing you’ll ever encounter in your life but she takes family very seriously. And as far as she’s concerned, if Blaze is adopting you in the official sense, you’re family.”



“I’m terrified of her,” Abel said.



“That’s healthy. It took years for the fight or flight not to kick in on me every time I came into contact with her,” Gun said, rubbing his back gently.



For her part, Morrigan got impatient with waiting for the gangplank to lower and took matters into her own hands. She backed up a few steps, took a short run and vaulted onto the deck of the ship, landing steady on her feet. She turned and grinned wryly at Blaze, Takara, Jeirn, Star and Skye then made a straight shot for Abel.



Abel put one hand on Gun’s shoulder to keep his knees from buckling as the war goddess approached.



“Stand down, bairns,” she said, catching first Gun, then Hunt’s eyes. “I won’t hurt him. Much.”



“Mother!”



“Relax, Edana,” Morrigan said, while reaching up to take Abel’s face in her hands. To his credit, he didn’t try to pull away from her, even when she frowned a little. “Gunther what are your intentions toward this child? Hunter, I know what yours are.”



“I . . . we . . . um, it’s complicated,” Gun stammered.



“You know that he’s broken. Not just a little broken but vastly so,” she said, her eyes never leaving Abel’s. “So much that the Sidhe may not have the ability to help him.”



“That doesn’t matter to me,” Gun said firmly.



“I never said it would.”





Circe had flopped face first onto the softness of the bed after pulling the nightshirt over her head. It had been such a strange night. She had felt as though someone was watching her while she danced. She hadn’t really registered it at the time since there had been no threat evident but now that she thought on it there had definitely been that feeling. She shook her head and settled down to try sleeping.



At first she felt only an odd tickle at the back of her neck almost too soft to really register at first. The tickle turned into a light brush, then a more forceful one, sliding up into her hair. She opened one eye groggily then turned over and stared.



“What in the world? Abel, have you lost your mind?” she asked, then remembered that Abel was with Blaze and the others. Even in moonlight the hair was too wavy to be his and the firelight revealed the gold instead of silver. “Cain?”



He chuckled, running his hand along the full length of her hair as she sat up. “So glad that you remember me, Sorceress.”



“Are you crazy? You have to get out of here before anyone sees you,” she said.



“Concern for the enemy? What will you family say?” he said, a faint mocking smile in place on his lips.



She sighed heavily and shook her head. “You were never my enemy, Cain. Only the enemy of the world. It was never personal.”



“No. It never has been between the two of us. They are sheep, you know that. It would be better to just start the world over.”



“That may be true but I don’t think it’s necessary to destroy the current world in the process.”



“I don’t think you really believe that the petty hatred and prejudices will ever be stamped out. You know better than most the narrow scope of tiny minds.”



“Exactly why are you here, Cain? It can’t be to discuss your rather unorthodox world view.”



“I would have thought that was obvious. I came here to begin claiming what’s mine, Sorceress.”





Circe woke with a strangled gasp. She got up, turned the light on and looked all around the room to find no one else there. She sat back down on the edge of the bed shivering. It had been so real. She shivered again and then checked every corner one more time to make certain Cain wasn’t lurking somewhere in the shadows. She grabbed one of the pillows from the bed, stuck her face into it and screamed. She nearly jumped out of her skin upon hearing a light knock on her door.



“Come in,” she said, noticing that her voice sounded unnaturally high. She jumped a little as a blond head poked into the room but breathed a sigh of relief upon recognizing Hugue.



“Sorry to disturb you so late,” he said. “But I heard you moving around so I thought you might still be awake.”



“I wasn’t until a few minutes ago,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck. “Come inside, don’t stand in the hallway all night.”



He came in but left the door ajar for propriety’s sake. “Are you all right? You sound . . . odd.”



“Just . . . dreams. What did you need to talk to me about?”



“It’s nothing important. I should probably go. Let you get some sleep,” he said, turning to leave.



“Hugue.”



“Yes?”



“I know this is a lot to ask but could you stay for a little while? The dream I had made me kind of shaky and I’d like some company if you don’t mind.”



“I don’t mind at all.”





Cain put his hands behind his head and flopped back against the pillows, smiling.



“Now surely you don’t think running to another man will keep me from you, Sorceress. It’s only a matter of time.”