When in your life did you know you were not alone?

[birthrightgreen]

Even after everything I'd been told, after Jaenelle's messages, after meeting the High Lord of Hell...even after all of that, a part of me still couldn't believe. I didn't believe travel like that was possible. And despite always being careful to finish the kill lest I run into one of my victims wanting revenge one day, I still didn't really believe in the demon-dead. Not that they were still themselves, still sentient, and living in the way that matters. Dead, but not gone.

Or mayhap I'd just hoped she'd been spared that. I think I thought it was bad, to make the transition to demon-dead instead of sliding into the Darkness. An in between world where they were trapped. Would you want to be consigned to live in Hell? (No offense, Uncle Saetan) At least, as I had heard the tales, the answer was no. No. I didn't care if only the strongest made the transition. The Darkness seemed preferable, and I wished that for her. That final peace instead of continuing agony.

When he told me what she was, that she was not only demon-dead but Queen of the Harpies, I struck out in denial and fury. She couldn't be. Not her. Not something so filled with hatred and rage. But harpies are witches who die violently by a man's hand, and that is what happened to her. To Titian.

The Hall is an odd amalgamation of the living and the demon-dead and a Guardian. Nowhere else does it exist. The dead are supposed to stay in the Dark Realm. They shouldn't keep following the ties of the living. But Saetan's sons, his friends, they still follow him, dead or not. And she was still there.

All those years, just a passage through a gate away. All those years, crying for her when no one could see. Missing her. Alone, save for Sadi and no matter how wonderful a friend he is, he's no substitute for a mother. For my mother.

I stood on the other side of the door, my hand resting there, feeling the pulse of the room, the power of the Black, of the Ebony, that seems to make the Hall breathe. My hands were shaking and I wasn't sure how to make the knob turn. In the end I had to use Craft. And there she sat, looking like I remembered her, only far more nervous. Fear still in her eyes, though perhaps of rejection not the horrors my father visited on her. A moment. Two. We stared at each other.

And then I was in her arms, and she was holding me and humming softly the songs she sang to me as a child. And for once, I wasn't alone.

Comments

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

It almost seemed strange that a week was too long to spend without talking to her, or seeing her every day. Almost. Certainly it was a change from the norm, the acuteness of it.

He smiled, though, thinking about it. Hid the smile behind the bouquet. Flowers were never not in vogue, he thought. He'd taken up an hour and a half of some poor flower seller's time, inquiring about the courtship languages and significance of one flower over the other, just to create the right effect.

And even with all that, he still fidgeted as he waited to be announced, or whatever it was that more normal servants did.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She'd just been reading, resting from a few too many social demands, but she smiled brightly when the maid told her he was there, and hurried to the room they'd put him in.

The flowers were beautiful, but mildly in the way when she threw herself into his arms.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

He laughed, catching her easily, scooping her up into his arms (and juggling flowers and girlfriend was easier with magic powers, oh yes) and twirling her around.

"Hello, love."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Hello," she said, mildly muffled. She lifted her head to smile at him. Repeated more clearly. "Hello."

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

He grinned. He couldn't help it. She was adorable. Beautiful.

He kissed her.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled, arms around his neck and kissed him back.

*I missed you*

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

Holding flowers in the air telekinetically only worked as long as he was thinking about them.

*I missed you, too.* Soft kisses, over and over, holding her tight in his arms.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Mmm..." Little purr against his lips, kissing him back. She managed to save the flowers, just, floating them to the table to be examined when his lips weren't on hers.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

That might be a while.

He set her down but didn't let go, one arm around her waist, one hand tangling in her hair. Still kissing.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She clung to him tight, molding herself to him and matching him kiss for kiss.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

Hm. Couch. There was a couch around here somewhere.

Ah yes. There.

He scooped her into his arms, somehow managing not to break the kiss for even a moment, transferring them to the couch and pulling her onto his lap.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She settled there, shifting to be more comfortable. Her fingers wound through his hair, kissing him fiercely.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

His fingertips caressed over her cheek, down her neck. At some point he'd started undoing the back of her dress, only to slide his hand over her back, just to feel the heat of his palm against the heat of her body.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She whimered a little, pressing into him more. One hand slid down his chest, undoing his shirt, sliding over skin.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

He gasped, snuggling tighter. Clutching, almost clinging to her.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She nipped at his lips, wriggling a bit to shrug her arms out of her dress, then leaned in, pressing skin to skin.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

He smiled against her mouth, making a little noise of pleasure that verged on a giggle. His hands slid up to help her lose the clothing, sliding along her arms, just caressing for the moment.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She thought to throw a Grey lock on the door before someone tried to offer their guest refreshments. She nipped again, smiling.

*Missed you a lot*

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

His mind's voice held the definite undertone of giggling. *I can tell!* He shivered a little, snuggling closer, teasing the tip of his tongue over her lips before kissing her again. *Missed you bunches and bunches.*

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

There was a laughing challenge in her voice as she tugged his shirt off. *Prove it*

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

*Mm...* He nipped at her neck for a moment before helping her get his shirt off. *What kind of proof?*

One hand covered hers, guiding it between his legs. *That kind?* Low and teasing and lustful amusement.

*Or the kind that makes me want to cover you in kisses and tell you I love you over and over again?* Still the edges of lust, but with adoration and affection.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her fingers curled over him, stroking, as she pulled him back to her, kissing him hard.

*Either. Both. In rapid succession*

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

Cover her in kisses, he did. Lips, cheek, throat, neck, collar. Shoulder, back down to throat, over the swell of her breast.

*I think we can manage that.*

His body twitched, responding, pressing closer. Small, strangled moan.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She arched back to give him better access, but kept her fingers working over him slowly, before unpatiently undoing his pants and stroking over skin.

[oldestbeloved.livejournal.com]

He closed his mouth around her nipple, suckling gently for a moment, then scraping teeth. Just lightly. Pulled back with a groan as she touched him, stroked him, to concentrate more on getting naked for a moment.