Chapter 43 Chapter Forty-Three - Jartre
The moment she’s out of sight, I let out the breath I hadn’t realised I was holding as I scrub my hands down my face and sit up. I thought I’d experienced everything this universe had to offer, but since meeting Gabriella, I’ve begun to realise how much is still new to me. I thought I knew what love was, only to find out I had but only touched the tip of it. I now see what true, unyielding love is and it makes me wonder how I ever lived without it. Not only is true love new to me, but so is fear.
Thinking back over my long existence, I can’t think of a single moment where I felt true fear. I’ve never been scared of anything. Not of someone or even my own actions. I’ve known pain, but not fear. Until now, that is. From the moment I met Gabriella fear has taken root within me, branching out and spreading throughout my being like a noxious weed sucking the life out of me. Fear of her rejecting me, fear of her hating me, but this morning was by far the worst. To feel the echo of her enduring such excruciating pain – a level I would have assumed should be enough to kill a human – terrified me to my core. To see her writhing as tears fell from behind her eyelids, staining her gorgeous face, I felt the blood in my veins turn to shards of ice. I felt panicked and helpless, that feeling only easing when I was able to heal her. I would rather tear my own heart from my chest than ever feel her in pain ever again.
If there’s one thing to learn from this experience, it’s that Gabriella is right. I’ve been grossly underestimating just how strong she is. I haven’t given my Starlight nearly enough credit, but I’m going to rectify that moving forward.
In the midst of my existential crisis, I feel a voice calling out in my mind, one I haven’t heard from for some time.
“Jartre? Jartre, I have to speak with you urgently,” they call out, the timbre of his voice ringing with disconcertment.
I get up, minding my head as sweatpants appear on my body. I walk over to the bathroom and rap on the door. “Gabriella, there’s someone who needs to speak with me. Would it be alright with you if I brought them here to speak?”
“Is everything okay?” she calls out.
“Not sure yet.”
“They can come over, that’s fine,” she says without missing a beat.
“Thank you, beautiful,” I say graciously.
I make my way downstairs and step into the living room, now better able to bring myself to full height and snap my fingers as a familiar face appears before me. As soon as he sees me, he drops onto bended knee and lowers his head in respect.
“Thank you, for seeing me,” he says with a tone of relief.
“Ayawamat,” I nod in greeting. “It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen each other. How have you been?”
His head snaps up, his bright rainbow-coloured eyes looking up at me in astonishment as he slowly stands up. “Did…Did you just ask me how I am?”
“Yes?” I say with confusion.
“Wow…That’s the first time you’ve ever asked me that. I don’t even think you’ve asked Orenda that,” he says, looking more shellshocked by the second, and he’s not the only one.
Just when I think I’ve realised the depths of my dickishness, I learn there’s another layer I missed. I’m responsible for Ayawamat and Orenda’s very existence, yet I’ve never so much as asked how they are? I’m not just a dick, I’m a fucking cunt.
I look at Ayawamat, that uncomfortable pang of guilt hitting me as I take in the closest thing I have to a son, which I suppose makes me a deadbeat father. Ayawamat is 6’2” and almost as muscular as me with long, deep, dark brown hair that flows straight down to his hips. He has deep, tanned skin and the shadow of a goatee peeking through his strong features. When I created him and Orenda, I took inspiration from the native humans of the land, which is why they look the way they do. If it weren’t for their eyes, they would look no different to the very humans I modelled them after.
This would probably be an appropriate time to address my lack of compassion for my creations, but I’m not ready to open that can of worms, so I focus back on the matter at hand.
“You said it was urgent you see me.”
“Huh? Oh! Right. I came to tell you about the eyti,” he says, his tone now turning serious.
An unpleasant chill ripples through me at the word. Eyti. Plights on this world that I am responsible for. Somehow, I don’t think my sins will ever leave me be.
“What about them?”
“They’re moving, all of them and collectively.”
“What do you mean?” I ask in confusion, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Orenda and I were doing our usual flight patrols last night. I was flying over Germany at the time, and she was flying over Macao. She reached out to me saying that the eyti she spotted suddenly began acting very unusual. She said in perfect unison, they turned and started heading in a different direction as if with purpose. I thought maybe she was just tired and exaggerating, but in hindsight, I should have trusted my sister as she is more diligent than that. Shortly after she reached out to me, the eyti I was tracking in Germany did the exact same thing. Just suddenly turned and started heading in a new direction, like dogs responding to a dog whistle.”
I frown as I take in his words. In all the years the eyti have existed, I’ve never heard of or known them to act with any type of purpose. They’re mindless shadows, drawn to even the smallest traces of malice in humans. For them to suddenly show signs of renewed sentient behaviour makes no sense.
“Have either you or Orenda figured out where they’re going yet?”
He shakes his head. “Orenda is still following them, and I said I would reach out to you. I’ll pick up the trail after I leave. What do you want us to do? We could wipe them out, but I felt it was better to observe them.”
“You made the right call. Keep following them, see if you can find out what it is they’re moving towards. I’ll join and check out other groups of eyti to see if they’re behaving the same way,” I say, stroking my beard pensively.
“You will? Really?” he says with great surprise.
“Why does that surprise you so much?”
“Because you’ve never done this before…I mean no disrespect, you’re just acting very…different.”
And the hits just keep coming. I know I created them to handle the eyti, but realising I never even lent a hand in taking care of the very creatures that only exist because of my fucks up, is in itself, fucked up. I knew I could be a prick, but I thought I at least had some redeeming qualities. Turns out I have none. They should retitle me from God of Worlds to God of Assholes, it feels more appropriate.
“Sorry, am I interrupting?”
Ayawamat and I both look over as Gabriella walks down the stairs, wearing a tank top and short shorts with her hair up in a wet messy bun. She looks between us apprehensively, taking one slow step at a time as if ready to go back up the stairs. Firstly, she looks fucking gorgeous. Secondly, wow. I was so focused on my talk with Ayawamat that I never even heard her get out of the shower. I’m really fucking off today, and as a God that’s saying something.
“Not at all,” I say as I reach out my hand.
Gabriella quickens her pace, coming to take my hand as I pull her close, wrapping my arm around her as I breathe in her sweet scent, my mind clearing and the tension leaving my body as I feel her in my arms. Her skin burning mine like the sweetest fire.
“Gabriella, there’s someone I’d like you to meet. Gabriella this is Ayawamat. Ayawamat, this is Gabriella, my animai,” I say, smiling down at her with pride.
Gabriella beams up at me then extends her hand to Ayawamat. “Hello, it’s very nice to meet you. Wow, your eyes are incredible,” she says in awe.
Ayawamat stares at Gabriella with his mouth hanging open ready to catch a swarm of flies. I clear my throat to get him to snap out of it, and he responds accordingly. He snaps out of his trance and reaches out, shaking Gabriella’s hand.
“Uh, hi, nice to meet you too, and thank you for the compliment. I’m sorry, but did you say animai?” he asks, looking between us.
“I did.”
“Holy…I mean, congratulations, that’s…” he lets out a strong gust of air, placing his hand on his hips, looking off as if he’s trying to do some great maths equation.
“Are you okay?” Gabriella asks in amusement.
“Yeah. What? Yeah, sorry, I’m just stunned. Never would have expected to hear the big guy had an animai, but I’m really happy for you both,” he says with a genuine smile.
“Thank you, that’s very kind of you,” Gabriella says sweetly, “So, how do you two know each other?”
“Ayawamat is a raitruum. One of two I’m responsible for creating. The other is his sister, Orenda,” I explain.
Gabriella’s eyes widen in realisation. “Oh, wow. I see. So, in the span of a couple of weeks, I’ve had two Gods and a thunderbird in my loft. I feel like a celebrity,” she teases.
Ayawamat chuckles, “Which other God?”
“Ezillus,” I say begrudgingly.
Ayawamat continues to chuckle, nodding in response to my answer, “Yup, makes perfect sense. Forgive me, but…are you human?” he says to Gabriella, that look of confusion returning to his face.
“I feel like I’m Lucy meeting Mr Tumnus. Yes, I am a human,” she says, a hint of exasperation in her tone. She really hates people pointing that out, especially me.
“Sorry, I’m just surprised. I mean nothing by it,” he says apologetically.
“Ayawamat wanted to talk to me about the eyti. He and his sister are responsible for tracking and stopping them. He was telling me that they’re behaving…differently. I’ve promised to go with him and see what’s going on,” I explain, so Ayawamat doesn’t put his foot in his mouth.
“Eyti? Oh, those shadow people,” she says sympathetically. I guess Ezillus really did tell her everything. I still owe them a fat lip for that.
“I’ll be back before you know it, but it’s important I deal with this,” I say, gently caressing her cheek watching the way her eyelids flutter.
“You’ve got work to do; I understand that. There’s just something I want you to do first.”
“Name it,” I say happily.
“Reverse what you did to Mitchell,” she says without batting an eye.
I look at her in disbelief, “You’re serious.”
“Deadly. If you want things to move forward smoothly, then bring him back,” she says sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.
I give her a disgruntled look, “You won’t let this go, will you?”
“No, I won’t. So, it’s in your best interest to put everything back to normal.”
I close my eyes taking in a deep meditative breath, then open my eyes to look down at my Starlight, looking up at me with the strength and fierceness of a lioness. She’s got me wrapped around her finger and I don’t even mind. I summon forth a surge of my power and raise my hands. I put my hands together in a thunderous clap that causes Gabriella and Ayawamat to cover their ears as a pulse of energy radiates outward in the blink of an eye.
“It’s done. Happy now?”
Gabriella holds up her finger, walks over to the kitchen counter and grabs her phone. She scrolls through it for a moment, then drops her finger and gives me a bright smile. “Very happy, thank you.”
I stalk towards her, quirking my eyebrow at her, “Were you checking up on me?”
“Yes,” she says unashamedly, placing her phone back on the counter. “You’re a very sneaky God, and it’s my job to keep you honest.”
The sound of a snort draws my attention and I look back at Ayawamat through narrowed eyes. He clears his throat and looks down.
“Sorry.”
I look back at Gabriella who has a smug smile on her face. The old me would be annoyed by her little stunt, but even through this minor bond, I can feel nothing but her relief and playful pride. I know I keep saying it, but I feel I need to constantly put things in perspective for myself. Here she is, a human, standing in a room with a God and a raitruum, and she has nothing but nerves of steel. She’s not even the slightest bit nervous or insecure. I knew Zarseti made perfect pairings, but I’m realising I underestimated just how perfect.
I capture Gabriella’s face in my hands, bring myself down to her height and place my lips on hers in a slow, searing kiss that I feel awaken desire within her. She wraps her arms around my neck, returning my kiss as a sweet, minty moan vibrates against my lips sending tingles of pleasure through my body and has my dick twitching in my sweatpants.
“I promise I’ll see you soon,” I murmur against her lips before giving them a light peck. “Maybe spend the day with Derrick,” I say encouragingly.
She looks at me in shock, “Excuse me? Did you just willingly suggest I spend a day with another man? Remind me to send a gift basket to this Zarseti because this bond thing is better than therapy.”
I roll my eyes. “Knowing her, she’d love that.” I place a tender kiss on her forehead, “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Her glacial eyes twinkle as she gives me a warm smile that melts my heart, “I’ll miss you every second.”
I smile back at her, “As I will you.”
I reluctantly let her go and walk over to Ayawamat, “Let’s get this over with,” I say as I place my hand on his shoulder.
“Jartre’s in love,” he sings teasingly, making Gabriella snigger.
“Oh, shut up,” I grumble, disappearing with him to find out what the hell is going on with the eyti.