Evander and Agrippa had spent hours talking about everything and anything. Deep in Evander’s mind, he knew he needed to head for the capital, but he just wasn’t ready to give way to the weight he carried around before coming to Agrippa’s store.“I’ve missed you and all but I know you aren’t here just for me. I wish it were that way but it is you after all. So what’s up? Why did you come back?” Agrippa questioned knowing whatever it was had to be very important if Evander felt the need to come back.Evander made a motion of protecting his heart as he let his laughter die out, remembering the very reason he was here. Just the thought of what this visit could mean was enough to kill what little flower of happiness had been brought back to life for a few seconds.Agrippa always the observant witch didn’t miss the change in his mood, especially with frown lines branding his otherwise handsome face. “I didn’t mean to pry, I’m sorry.” She immediately apologized feeling stupid for ruining the
The walk down the straight path leading to Ametis, land of the time shifters, was a long one. It, however, gave Evander just the right amount of time to think of his next move. There was no way Agrippa would help him now. He remembered a witch Agrippa had been close to growing up. He couldn’t quite place a pin on her name but he knew the direction to her house like the back of his palm. He had dragged Agrippa from the very hut countless times when she would go to learn about potions and dusts despite being a traveler witch. He could almost laugh at the memory of a chubby kid pulling at his forearm to run back into the brightly painted hut. He could think of no one else he could call family that stuck by him through the trial and even after. He would apologize to Agrippa but he needed to do see Thomas first. He had to make sure the past century of his life had not been wasted serving a megalomaniac.He arrived at a second entrance that day. The entrance to his hometown, a land filled
“Wha- how do you know that name? Who are you” Evander narrows the questions one after the other. First she knew him and now she knew what he was and possible what he might have done and he had no idea or rather he was sure he had never seen her before. She didn’t look like any of the witches brought to the castle so that couldn’t have been their meeting place either.“Doesn’t matter. You’d find out soon enough.” Andela repeated getting on the now elevated broom.“I can’t remember meeting you in the past. I would really love to know your name” but Andela was already gone before those words left his lips.He couldn’t believe it. He thought he would never hear those two endearments attached to his being again but there they were. Inescapable. He racked his brain for an image, something connected to the traveller witch but could not associate her with anyone from before. He struggled with buried memories even as he walked through the huge golden gates that served as the entrance to the ca
“Ev? What are you doing here? I thought you’d be gone for a month?” Clara asked, her confusion plain as day. The blue vest Evander had on usually hugged his upper body so well, the craters created where two muscles met were usually visible through the thin fabric, but the day, he could barely fill in the shirt.“I couldn’t be away from you too long. It just didn’t sit well with me missing this.” He reassured, grinning for her benefit. He had missed Clara but if he was being honest, with the unsettled issue with Thomas, this was the best he could do.Clara, on the other hand, was elated and relieved, she couldn’t however shake the feeling that something was off with Evander.“Are you okay?” She blurted watching as his grin turned into a frown.“I don’t get you, what do you mean am I okay? I know I’ve been a bit distant and all but not bad enough for you to question my sanity Clara. I mean I’m here, ain’t I?!” Evander shot back, the frustration of the past months’ events finally taking
“I’m late for my next class!” Clara hollered at Julianna, a sprightly blonde she had met in her practice of archaeology class.“See you third period!” Julianna yelled as she scurried in the opposite direction. It was a sunny Tuesday and Clara was realizing what Julianna had meant when she said the previous day had been a cakewalk. Half the lecturers had been yet to resume which Julianna had explained happened most Mondays because most of the teachers come from other states, so it was mostly free periods on Mondays. That Tuesday however had been the exact opposite, everyone had resumed hot and ready for school, except Clara. She was not used to the demanding nature of Easton, wasn’t ready for the endless assignments every class seemed to bring. She was halfway through the day but felt as if she had gone through an entire week already. She hurried through the hallway, alternating between her pink parchment paper and scanning through the crowded hallway. She made a turn to the left, th
The wind picked up pushing her hair against her reddened cheeks. Shivers swept through her as howls rang loud in the area surrounding the crater she held onto. The wolf continued to nibble and drag on her boots, it’s razor sharp, crowded teeth burrowed into her muddy boots. Clara ground her teeth in pain as she begged all her muscle strength and pulled her weight higher but it was no use, the tree trunks dragged her right back where she started, red oozing through the cotton fabric and onto the creature’s teeth as it bit even deeper. The dimming night sky did nothing to placate her growing anxiety. How had she gotten there?She did all she could even as the sand gave way to the extra weight of the ten pound wolf holding her legs captive and the tree trunks pulling her down. Clara reached for a tree trunk few millimeters from her sandy support, she lost her balance feeling her muscles protest as all the weight was transferred to her other hand. The wolf ripped off her boots, its claws
The walls were patchy, almost cracked, and present in its interstices were thick lines of crusted blood. Blue trails, so timeless, they had inadvertently contributed to the aesthetics of this black pit, a colourful mural for the dungeon walls. The hardened blood tracks told stories of the countless lives taken in that very room. The dominant yet equally aversive smell of dewy metal akin to the blood of the witches, deepened his need to be excused from the scene. Wails, screams and tortured sobs filled the cramped room as more witches were mutilated, dismembered and frivolously punished. The air was stale with a disgusting mix of charred flesh, sawdust, sweat and rotting corpses. A paroxysm of strong mournful squalls broke out as yet another witch was bludgeoned with the swing of the long, heavy sword, its tip gleaming in the sunlight peeking through the only window in the dungeon. A stream of blue blood jetted from the lower half of the body comparable to a fountain of paint, her plea
The journey from the capital to Jailoon was short and uneventful. Janus wasn't to return for the next three Lecanther days and Evander couldn't wait that long without Clara noticing and becoming suspicious. Agrippa had once mentioned a potion witch she had trained with that taught her all she was allowed to a traveller witch by potion witch laws. Evander disembarked from the thin broom, wobbling a little as he stood on his two feet, the slippery ground doing nothing to help him get his footing. He was struck by a sudden wave of weakness he could not explain, his vision swirling with each step he took deeper into Jailoon. He paused for a few seconds, shut his eyes and when he opened then back up, his vision has cleared out.The village had been plagued with endless rain for as long as Evander could remember but never as bad as this. The puddles of dirty water lured in a variety of bugs, insects and amphibians. The bark of trees separated off the trees, falling limply and weakening the
“Breathe, Clara," Lucian said, getting on his knees.He held her hands and her trembling stilled, as her eyes met his. He wanted to look away, at anything but those grey abyss but he couldn’t bring himself to. She stared at him like she wanted to remain there but also wanted to die. They had been so lost in each other that they hadn’t notice her breathing slowing and her shaking stopping. Clara felt much better but didn’t make a move to move away or take her hand back either. She felt comfortable with him and oddly enough, dare she say, safe?Lucian noticed that her hand laxed against his, bringing back an image from few months ago when she had been having a mental breakdown. That had been the first time he had held her hand and the familiar connection repeated itself. Who was she and why did he feel this uncontrollable pull to her? Why her and not someone not already involved with Van? Not someone he’d be risking his job being around, not someone he was starting to feel something he
"Aside from him visiting after so many years, what else that made you think your bestie could be the one working with Mars? I mean why not suspect one of the witches? It is their hometown after all," he questioned.Evander was not stupid as to form an alliance with someone whose wife he was entangled with, most especially not someone like Mars who was known for being utterly ruthless when it came to punishing offenders and betrayers alike.“I know what you’re thinking. Evander is not that stupid.” Wait, Evander? As in her Evander?! Clara pressed her ears harder against the desk, straining to hear more. If she was caught at this point, she didn’t care, she was too far gone at this point. She couldn’t have heard that right, right? Had to be another Evander, not hers. Hers knew nothing about any supernatural nonsense and most of all would never sign to a unison with someone even these two didn’t trust. Her Evander was sweet, thoughtful and definitely was no side dude to any bimbo!Just
Peeking from the side of the desk, she could see a big breasted blonde woman. She walked in like she owned the place, wearing a skirt shorter than Clara’s short shorts. Clara was sure she had seen that face somewhere on campus before but could no remember where exactly that was. She looked too young to be a college lecturer but what if she was?! Shit! Clara ducked deeper into the desk when the lady was a few steps away. She heard shuffling above her, deepening her curiosity. No, it just wasn’t possible. Did Mr Snowe have a girlfriend or worse, wife?! She hadn’t even thought in that direction in all her mindless drooling. But again, she looked too young. Wait, why did that matter now? Most importantly, why was she thinking about that now? If you have a potential lecturer’s wife going through said lecturers files above you while you’re on nothing but short shorts and hoodie, you think about how to survive with an ounce of your dignity intact and not think about your chances with said l
He watched her pick her things, his eyes drifting ever so slightly to the widening of her hips as she bent to pick up the handout she had dropped on a desk earlier. He couldn’t help but be drawn to the sway of her full hips as she strutted out of the hall. He had wanted so badly to stop her or say anything that would, but his faculties were still intact and couldn’t let him do so. Just a second longer and he would have known how those plump lips would feel against his.Would she pull away or would she melt against him, he wondered. He had not intended to close the distance between them but when it happened and he could see the desire coursing through his veins reflected in her eyes, he couldn’t help but wonder what explosion of pleasure awaited him should he choose to think with everything else but his brain.He cursed as he swept a sweaty palm through his hair frustrated at how she had once again clouded his thoughts. What was she doing to him? He had gone decades without so much
“Uh maybe we continue this some other time?” Clara offered creating some much needed distance between her and the reason for the ache between her thighs. An attempt at escape, maybe, but she didn’t need it. He hadn’t move a single inch closer.She pulled her hands to her side, picked up her notes and handout, and walked the final steps out of the auditorium. Their private lesson long forgotten, but something else proving more stubborn to push out of her head - a certain pale embodiment of masculinity forged to turn her defenses to mere crumbs, a man she should run in the opposite direction from, a man with an infinity symbol on his forehead that gnawed at her curiosity.She walked by a few students loitering the hallway but paid no attention to them. Her thoughts well occupied by a bronze-skinned, lean lecturer of hers with a questionable stubble and a shadow of a beard that begged to be caressed. She could just see her dorm a few turns away but decided to make a quick stop at the li
That was how what should have been ended as a squabble between the two factions became the match to a raging fire. "Ever heard of the Punic wars?" He asked, hoping he wouldn't have to explain that to a history and archaeology student."Wow! I knew to expect something unexpected but nothing could prepare me for that!" Clara exclaimed, a faraway look in those stormy eyes.Lucian inched to grind out his question again but held himself back. If she really didn't have any idea about being a supernatural then she was taking this as best as anyone would. He chose to be patient instead."Like I've heard stories about the wars between the humans and gods and how gods once lived among us but I always thought they were just that. Stories," she said, daring to look at Lucian."Then why are you a history and archaeology student? If you already have your mind set on not believing anything you have read or are taught.""I don't know. I just can't help myself when it comes to history. It's like this
217 BCThe air was stale, spiced only by the bad blood and barely held back opinions. The tension could be cut by a knife and suffice should a thread suddenly be needed. He heard the double doors shut behind them and the walls closed in on him, they were trapped.What have they walked into?The division was as obvious as the grey sky and the strong wind. The Lortals sat on the left and the Lecanthers on the right. Usually the majority of the Lortals did, but on other days -good days, there would be a few Lortals scattered on the right and a few shifters scattered on the left. The gods, however, never left the right but today, no one was even a toe on the wrong side.Laura pulls on Lucian's hand as she sat looking just as confused as he felt. Their confusion was soon cleared when a bag of blood with a touch of flesh was dragged in, a trail of merlot in his wake.Gasps erupted just as quickly as he had seen one of theirs in chains. It filled the space turning threads of bad blood into a
217 BC"Luci, come here," Laura, a tall, brunette called, her hands outstretched waiting to be joined by her son's. "We're having a meeting with the leaders and I want you by my side, who knows you might be one of them someday." A hopeful smile graced her face as they brisk walked to the court room."Yes, as if those fragile aliens would ever allow that.""Well, they'd have no choice if your dad has something to say about it," She assured pulling his arm as she hurried to the double doors that marked the entrance to the town hall where fates were decided."Mother, wait. I told Van we'd go in together. Can we wait just five more minutes? Please mother." "You'd both be locked outside or sitting on air if we wait even a minute longer." She retorted not slowing down her pace in the slightest, if anything, she increased her pace."Well, I don't care about the stupid court case in the first place. Why do we even let powerless people contribute to our fates?" His face scrunched up in disgust
The barghest had been vanquished. Not a trace of hair, smoke or the smell of onions and garlic left. Still Lucian remained at that one spot where he had uttered the last words of an ancient chant he was taught as a kid to vanquish evil. He hadn't been sure it would work but it was the only thing he could think of that could work.He could feel her eyes on him, the hair at his nape standing as sharp as a pin. Voluntarily or not, he knew when she was around, could sense her presence before he even confirmed it. If it wasn't the citrus mixed with flowery scent that gave her away, it was the rush of his pulse, the skip in his breath, the feeling of eyes watching him, caressing him, making him yearn for something he shouldn't.He dreaded turning to her. What would he say? What could he say? She had asked if he saw it meaning she did as well so that could only mean she's a supernatural. What he wasn't sure of however was if she actually didn't know, or she was just pretending. The surprisin