Chapter 45

A/n: HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! Surprise!

Grace

The intense, sudden snowstorm nearly blinded me if not for the morn’s flame. It was like a small beacon, but it also shielded me from the newfound chill….

I howled again… And it was responded to by at least 4 wolves. I couldn’t make out who… until there was almost a mirage… or some kind of weave over the area…. Like a barrier…

It seemed the longer I ran, the longer I was still on the lake, making no progress until I felt… like I went through something. It felt almost like running through fabric. There was even a small rip sound.

Before me was a wolf the same height as me…. though he had no horns.

[My blood you are not Dead.] Said the black wolf… His wolfspeach was Old… yet I understood him without issue. He grew until I was half his size…. Show off. [Though your horns tell me you are welcome…. And your flames tell me one day yet… I may see you lead armies.]

[Father, this is your grandchild. Grace, daughter of my granddaughter Isabelle, and of the God of Retribution…]

[Ah yes… I shared wine with Zuviel the day they were born.] He said as if he were smiling. [ I am Grendel, the First Wolf, Guardian of the In-Between…. But for You, I will make an exception.] He said walking off, disappearing with his mate.

The smaller black wolf, and the moon-blonde, off-white wolf I missed dearly remained.

[Grandma, Grandpa!] I ran, shifting so I could hug them around their necks.

[Do not cry for us.] Said Grandfather. [You act as if we are here forever.] he chuffed a chuckle.

I wiped my eyes, not caring how cold it was.

[Shift little Grace. Run with us.] Said grandma. [The In-between does not adhere to time… as it is a realm of the departed, a place that leads to all afterlives… each gate guarded by their own champions.]

“That sounds Amazing… why have I never been here?” I asked.

[The Goddess does not wish her grandchildren wandering here unattended. Through her permission, you are here, and we may see you…. If only for a little while.] Grandma looked up at the sky. [How peaceful this rest is… how calm and quiet this place is for the soul…]

I shifted again… and it seemed I was my truest form, the way I look in hell… I was the size of grandfather… and I’d never noticed, but my horns did hold a darker flame between them here as well… But… here there was peace…. Nothing mattered anymore.

The trees here were massive, as big around as a small house… as tall as you could look up. It was cold here, cold enough that even in fur I could feel winter’s bite, yet the fluffy snow did not hinder my movement….

[You are the second to visit us.] Said grandma as we ran. Deer here was as prevalent as water in the rain…. And birds sang despite how cold and snowy it was…

[I bet Aunt Heidi was first.] I smiled. She was a half witch. I loved my aunt… she was always the one to give us treats when we were little…. And she let me ride on her broom with her to my father’s disapproval many a day.

[Yes, but it was because she wanted to make Sure we weren’t staying.] Said grandpa. [And Yes, we Know about Tyson and Kaizen. We will not interfere. We watch over all our little ones equally… and I know in my heart they will come to Some resolution if that’s what you came for.]

[No… this was spontaneous…] I said looking down…. Here I Could feel both my brothers…. The connection was Weak, but both were ok…. And both had their own troubles, but that was all I could get out of it.

[Then run and hunt with us. Since this is the spirit world, our food will not fill Your belly, but you will still enjoy the flavors.] Said grandma.

I really did miss them dearly….

-----Aureus-----

I watched her disappear into the In-between…. I sadly smiled. It was bittersweet that my plan and preparations worked….

A small worry of if she would ever return to me laced my heart… but I knew better. She enjoyed life as much as she loved her grandparents.

“You’re mate’s beautiful son.” Said father behind me….

I turned around, and in the snow, his spirit was here. My father was dressed in black roman robes, with a black satchel around his shoulder. He looked Well… as fit and vibrant as the old days… He reached into my pockets, and put the earrings in my ear…. But they did not reject me.

“There… a crown for a king.” He smiled.

“I don’t understand.” I said silently.

“You don’t think I’d allow my eldest son to stand at the throat of the Afterlife and not at least share a spell with him.” He said sitting down. “Master gave me a bunch of magic to hang out with you.”

A campfire of black stone and crimson red flames appeared….

I sat with him.

“I never got to apologize like I wanted….” I said seeing him laugh.

“What are you apologizing for?! I got what I wanted. I was Sick of this world…. Sick of being restrained…. TIRED of serving to save this world, when my master is one of Destruction… sick of the power struggles created by my lust…trying to fill the void of not being with my mate…. Your mother…. The war I made that you finished…. And on top of it all… the only real heir I ever made sits on my throne, and there is peace is there not?” He asked with a raised brow.

“No, you’re right…” I mumbled.

“I only ask that you see to the blood I left behind… please protect them….” He said pulling a log out his satchel and put it in the fire. I could only assume its magic extended his time here. “Wanna fish?” He asked.

“Why not.” I said being passed a log that became a fishing rod. He just sat in the silence with me. And I cast it out into the ice… hell’s fire melted a perfect whole in the lake.

“I bet you’re wondering why the earrings didn’t reject you? Why they don’t burn…” He said with a sly grin. It was as if we were kids about to share naughty secrets.

“I did…. Also, why isn’t mother here…” I mumbled…. Did she not want to see me…?

“Your mother is Always with you son. Freeya loves her only child, as much as the Lord of Fire, Apolis loves Eternya, the Flaming One….” He leaned back a little. “Your daddy really did fuck a god. An Already Married Woman… but how many people can brag about that?”

“Not many… I’m not surprised though.” I lied. I wanted to spend time with my father. I would likely get no more time with him ever again…. I would not waste it asking questions I could figure out on my own…..

“Just… know that I am always with you. I did not accept you because I knew the day I did… a massive coup would kill so many of my children…Your blood and lineage would have disrupted the very Council I made… it’s order would be dismantled… None of them, NONE of my children, nor grandchildren qualify for where you stand right now… Even the mere mention of heirs started even concubines to slit each other’s throats for power they didn’t deserve.”

“No it wouldn’t.” I said looking at the fire… it looked… alive as if we were being watched.

“It Would… Sainevvi wanted to be Crown Prince so badly…but he lacks the Power to be a Dragon King…. Othek, before my fuck up, did as well…. All the while your peaceful life would have been disrupted with assassins from even little Saiyoken. He would because of his sons… he would have seen you as a threat, and Freeya would sheer the scales off my back for it.” He smiled.

“…Why didn’t you go to her realm?” I asked.

“I was offered… , but then I’d have to deal with Apolis… her husband… The Volcano God has a temper… and he is not kind to one so sweet… but Arviel will not allow them to divorce. They don’t even share children, because she will not touch him.” He grumbled.

“I see his side of it.” I said seeing father nod…. And I actually got a fucking fish.

“I do too… they are Gods, true immortals… they cannot die… they are connected by marriage, and it would be a scandal for said marriage Arviel made, be undone for the gods he wanted to pair… be paired with mortal souls.” He said grabbing the fish I reeled in, and a log became a plate, seasonings, and a Dutch oven. “I have three logs left.” He mentioned.

He prepared it, and seasoned it.

“Maybe… I could summon her?” I asked.

His eyes lit up.

“If you call my mate… son I don’t think I’d spend anymore time with you.” He said happily.

…. That explained his last words…

“Did…. Did the Moon Goddess do that because you two loved each other?” I asked.

“Freeya begged her… and Lady Lulliba obliged in secret to spite her father.” He chuckled. “The Moon Goddess is the sweetest, meekest little woman I’d ever met… but she is also very cheeky. Originally, that bond was meant for Apolis… but it would have been a waste… He does not treat her well… having an army of concubines, sex with mortals, and anything else he can do to be a thorn in her side.…” he growled. “He isn’t a good husband, yet in contradiction he wants her to be a good wife.”

“…Does Arviel or Apolis know you’re her mate?” I asked….

“Nope.” He popped the P.

I figured… fuck it. I’d summon my mother…

“Lady Freeya, I ask your presence.” I said holding my hand in the air… and a gentle hand was placed on my shoulder.

An 8 foot tall woman appeared… Freeya… the Lady of Wind… Her wispy hair gently floated with the breeze… her skin was pale and perfect, and her blue eyes were kind.

“My son and my mate…” She gave me a pat on the head. “I am glad you call on me so often… it makes my husband burn.” She giggled. “How strong you are my golden son….”

“Why did you not tell me?” I asked.

“I thought it best to leave you be… it made you who you are… and you were born during the war… I didn’t want anyone trying to manipulate you, or take advantage of you…or try to take vengeance on you…” She said sadly. “I blessed you all I could… anyway I could…. But staying away, as much as it hurt, kept you out of it…. That you wanted no part in Any of it, made my job easier…”

“Then I thank you.” I said seeing her sit at the campfire with us…. Father sat in her lap, and she pet his hair…. I was starting to feel like a third wheel…

“I’m glad you respected my neutrality back then…” I said silently. I knew her words were true… A neutral dragon could eventually fade away into obscurity… the Only Child of the Wind Goddess…. That attracts attention.

“Freeya… come with me to Tarteron… the Master will side with us.” Said father.

The fire crackled excitedly, and her face turned to concern if only for a moment…

“Saiyatok, my little copper salamander...” She kissed him. “It would be…. dangerous to include his majesty, the Night King… I dare not do more for fear of his wrath… The Light King ruled this before the war was over… but here.” She gave him her necklace. Her symbol was the silhouette of a flying dove. The small pendant looked to be made of clear crystal. “You may visit me every new moon my love…”

“He doesn’t even live with you.” Said father.

“I know… but I don’t want you killed, punished, or maimed….” She mumbled. “On new moons, he indulges in his collection of consorts…” She growled. “If I can get my request approved, you will be my only my love.” She smiled.

They snuggled while I cast another line…. Being out here… at the edge of eternity, with my parents this time wasn’t that bad...