CHAPTER 38
~ Teleióti̱ta, Victory, and Consequences ~
Erebus, the primordial god of night, bows over the hand of the new dragon queen. A large group of paranormals have assembled just inside the interdimensional gateway in the panhandle of Oklahoma to officially open the Queen’s Door and to allow Callie to take her seat upon the high throne of the newly emerging Western Péntearchy. “Welcome to the Queen’s Door, High Dragon Queen Mother. This is now the official entrance to Teleióti̱ta, the Dragon Homeworld.”
Callie smiles beautifully and looks to her two leather clad bikers at her sides, and then back to the massive biker kissing her hand like a practiced courtier of olden times. Even though Morrígan protested Callie’s choice because tonight was meant to be, in the Raven’s words, an affair of state, Callie chose to dress simply for this event. Her 1920’s Flapper dress is resplendent with delicate dangling strands of ruby crystals adorning the skirt and hem. Callie chose the dress for its simplicity and the fact that it is loose enough to hide the dagger strapped to her thigh. She reaches up to stroke the tiny china dragon which hangs from her throat, before lovingly brushing her fingertips along the carved wooden bracelets adorning her upper left arm. These three talismans of her past lives remind her she has gone through much to be here. The armor breastplate has magickally bonded to her battle form, and the secret information stored in Bella’s box has armed Callie mentally to deal with many of the darker immortals who might threaten her reign as dragon queen. In short, the woman she was in each of her past incarnations lives on in this lifetime through those talismans.
Once Erebus releases her hand, she turns to look around her, and the beaded strands on her dress sway and move gracefully with each movement Callie makes. She feels elegant, confident, and attractive in the simple dress bolstered by her talismans and, more importantly, the presence of her consort mates. In truth, she was relieved to see that the official guardian of Teleióti̱ta and the lovely blond female at his side are dressed just as informally as Callie and her males. Even so, when she returns her attention to those gathered around her she cannot resist teasing her mates and this impressive god before her. “What is the deal with all of you ancient paranormal guardians posing as bikers?”
“We are not posing, Madame.” Erebus booms with a grin on his sexy face. “Since Pegasus and his winged kin have all gone the way of the dinosaur, riding my Harley down the highway at a hundred and twenty miles an hour is the next best thing to flying.”
Callie gasps. “Flying horses are real?”
Erebus croaks his laughter. “Madame, you were born a human who now turns into a ten ton dragon. Is the idea that winged equines once existed truly that difficult to fathom?”
Callie blushes while shaking her head, and then giggles. Her nervousness is showing. Logan and Morrígan have instilled just how important today truly is to shifter kind everywhere and she is feeling a bit edgy despite her hard resolve to not get caught up in a bunch of unneeded hoopla. In an attempt to stop feeling like a school girl meeting the senior heartthrob for the first time, she asks; “But in all seriousness, why bikers?”
“Because humans are very predictable, my dear,” the tall, dark and deadly god says with a smile on his handsome face. “In centuries past, I have posed as a Native Spirit warrior, and later as a cowboy outlaw. Anything to keep humans at a distance. The biker gig works because once most humans spot the shaggy hair and beards and then get a look at the leather cuts as we ride up on our motorcycles, most will simply tuck their figurative tails between their legs and run the other way. It makes functioning in the mortal realm without revealing our carefully guarded secrets much easier if humans fear us just enough to stay away. And as previously stated, riding a motorcycle is almost as good as flying.”
“No way,” Callie says with a satisfied smirk. At the disgruntled noises of her mates, Callie giggles. “Easy there, my mates. I adore riding on the back of your motorcycles. But you too have wings on your battle forms. Can you honestly say a motorcycle beats flying?” She giggles again when they simply grunt. Apparently, her males find the experiences a draw.
“No fair, High Dragon Queen,” Erebus says with a grin, obviously enjoying the light hearted banter. “You have two forms with which to take to the skies. I lost my ability to fly when I decided to take on the role of guardian of Teleióti̱ta.”
That remark sobers Callie instantly. While she prepared for this day by learning the histories of the players in the resurrection of the dragon queens, she did indeed learn exactly how much this deity before her willingly gave up in order to protect all of the known realms in the cosmos. So much was at stake, and Callie knows that she and all of creation owe this male a great debt for his selfless sacrifice.
When Erebus turns his attention to Kazar, the males shake hands like old friends. “Viri Sánguinum, you look well. I see that being consort to the High Dragon Queen agrees with you.” Kazar’s response is open and friendly, telling Callie more clearly than anything else could that she can trust in Erebus.
Callie watches the two males interact for several moments, wondering why Erebus called her mate by that name. Erebus, either reading her thoughts or guessing what she is thinking supplies; “Viri Sánguinum was the name given to your Kazar when he served Rome as one of its generals. It was during his days as one of Rome’s most successful generals that I met your lover for the first time.”
“Okay, I’m not really fluent in Latin,” Callie hesitates, not wanting to risk reminding her mate of something he might rather forget from his very dark past. “… but sánguinum… isn’t that word derived from the word for blood?”
“Indeed,” Kazar says quietly. “Viri Sánguinum means bloodthirsty. A name I deserved because I was utterly vicious and relentless when facing my enemies, as a Roman general or in any incarnation of my very long life as a vampire.” He smiles lovingly at his female before adding; “In truth, I haven’t changed much in all these centuries. At least, not in this regard.”
Callie nods her agreement easily. She is well aware of how deadly and ruthless her mate can be in the name of protecting his family and those weaker than him. “But you did not use that name, did you? When I went back in time, you did not use that name. I mean, you introduced yourself to me as Kazar of Alexandria.”
“Indeed.” Her ancient lover smiles wanly. “Because that is how I identified with myself, not as a Roman general. Back in those days, I preferred to recall my origins as the son of one of Cleopatra’s protectors, not to dwell on what I had become because of Nyx.” His smile turns genuine. “But now I am proud to declare who I am. I am Kazar, Consort to the High Ruby Dragon Queen of the Western Péntearchy and foot soldier of the Twin Ravens Enforcers. And that is the identification I will proudly bear until the day I meet my final death.”
Thoughts of Kazar someday being no more causes Callie’s gut to clench painfully and for her heart to slam erratically in her chest. She somehow ignores her desire to vehemently voice her denial of his or Nyle’s possible demise. Ever! But her full lips simply form a grim line and she nods her understanding. This is not the time, nor the place, to entertain her fears for the wellbeing of her mates.
Erebus turns to shake the hand of her other mate. “Néos Lýkos, I am pleased to meet you. My son speaks highly of you, as he does of your beautiful queen and other mate.”
“Logan and Mara are good people,” Nyle replies, answering Callie’s unasked question about the identity of Erebus’ son. “I’ve been honored to work with them in the past on several rogue shifter cases, especially in the region between Tulsa and Tularosa. And as you know, your son and daughter in law have been instrumental in assisting our female to be ready to take on her new role among shifterkind.”
“Wonderful!” Erebus proclaims, clapping his hands together and turning to look to his right hand. “I am honored to introduce my agapitós, Coramina Prostáti̱s, Guardian of the Light, daughter of Aithḗr and Hēméra.” The massive god, who looks like the roughest of bikers, pulls his dainty, ethereal goddess tightly against his side and tenderly kisses the top of her blond head.
Callie cannot help but smile at the marked contrast in their appearances and roles among their own kind. Erebus, or Adrian as he is known among the humans, looks every inch the ill-tempered, bad to the bone biker, while in truth he was created to be the primordial god of the night. His dark good looks certainly fit the image. Logan had told Callie that Erebus essentially gave up his role in the Greek pantheon as the Primordial God of Darkness to protect the homeworld of the dragonkind after his former mate, Nyx, murdered the last of the ancient dragon queens.
On the other hand, Coramina’s appearance is fair, delicate, and dainty, quite a contrast to her mate, as is her role as guardian of the light, and daughter to the god of the heavens and the goddess of light. Her duties now, and always, are to protect those who choose to live their lives in the light. Essentially, they both seek to maintain the balance between light and dark in the magickal realms and the world of mankind. Still, Callie cannot help but wonder how these two ever came to be together.
Coramina seems to realize Callie has questions. “Perhaps, at least on the surface, Erebus and I were created to serve cross purposes, but that’s not exactly the whole truth. But this bond between us, it’s pretty new, in case you were wondering. As you probably already know, Erebus and Nyx were mates for eons, but he turned his back on her when she murdered the last original dragon queen.” She waves her hand back and forth to indicate herself and Erebus. “We have only been together since Erebus was able to break his old bond because Nyx was captured ten years ago, right here on the Assyllian Plain of the dragon homeworld. Their time as mates began and ended in this dimension.”
The ethereally lovely goddess turns to point out the gateway entrance into Teleióti̱ta, the dragon homeworld. But Callie doesn’t look that way, no, she is filled with rage at the very mention of Nyx’s name. After Kazar shared some of the horrors he endured at that bitch’s hands in the Nihility, Callie wants to enter the realm of nothingness in her dragon form to bite the fiend’s heads off… literally.
Erebus and Coramina chuckle, obviously amused. At first, Callie is confused about what exactly they have found so humorous. “That, your majesty, is a sentiment I can wholeheartedly get behind. Unfortunately, that is not to be your destiny. Your path as the Fierce High Queen and Mother of the new monarchy will certainly keep you busy enough without plotting the demise of my amoral bitch of a former mate,” Erebus drawls with a grin. That is the moment Callie realizes these two Greek primordial deities are reading her mind. Suddenly, she is not quite as comfortable in the presence of these two as she was just moments before.
“Rest easy, beautiful one. I can read your thoughts only because I assisted the Father of all spirits and Odin when they created your spirit and the spirits of your four sisters.” The god of night smiles in what he intends as reassurance. “My son and your other trainers have taught you well. You are quite adept at shielding your thoughts. Only the creators of your spirit will be able to read your mind as long as you maintain those shields around your mind.”
Somehow, Callie isn’t quite convinced. She nods to the blond goddess at his side. “Really? It seems Coramina did not have any trouble.”
“She cannot read you… she simply saw your thoughts in my mind.”
Coramina smiles. “Forgive us for the intrusion.” She smacks her mate’s belly, hard enough to make him oomph. “The most ancient of us tend to forget about the most basic boundaries of common courtesy.” She smiles in placation. “Erebus actually surrendered his godhood to seal Teleióti̱ta for safekeeping until such time as Nyx could be captured and the rightful Queens awakened. However, he maintained many of his god abilities, and I was able to hear your thoughts because of my bond with this big gorilla.”
Callie can’t help but to be totally charmed and disarmed by the diminutive Coramina. Goddess or not, this gal is cute as a button and so vivacious. That’s when she decides she’s really not all that bothered that a god who was present at the creation of her very essence can see into her mind. Not much, anyway.
However, all these thoughts float away when Red marches forward with the princess in his arms. Clara was so excited about today’s events that she has been in dragon form ever since rising at day break. Callie can wholeheartedly relate. She has spent the last month and a half drilling daily in all three forms for battle, and practicing the ceremony she will take part in today. Logan has drilled her endlessly on the etiquette and steps involved until she wanted to scream. But now that the moment is upon them, she finds she is just as excited as her toddler.
“Ahhh, welcome to your ancestral home, Princess Clara,” Erebus coos happily as he steps toward the dragonling. Clara, in all her excitement, flies out of Red’s arms to cavort around the heads of everyone gathered before the Queen’s Door. “I see our young princess is eager to enter Teleióti̱ta and take her rightful place at her mother’s side.” The wee dragonling trumpets her agreement and then flies back into Red’s waiting arms. The massive gargoyle leader and tiny Clara have become very close since Nyle returned from his mission into the inter-dimensional gateways.
“How old is the princess?” Coramina asks with a happy and indulgent smile on her lips for the adorable dragonling.
“Not quite four months old,” Callie supplies. “But her development is on par with a child five times her age.”
“Really?” Coramina gasps. “That is amazing!”
“Our Clara is truly one of a kind,” Nyle boasts proudly. The dragonling chirps happily and flies into her Daidí’s loving arms. “I am beginning to wonder if we will get her back into her humanskin before her first birthday. She seems so at ease in this form.”
“That is not at all unusual for dragonlings,” Red supplies quietly. “As I recall, the elders say that the last queen of the old dragon monarchy remained in dragonskin from the time she could walk as a human until she was six or seven years old.” When Callie gasps at that shocking and unwelcome tidbit of news, Red shakes his head and reassures the queen. “Never fear, mo bhanríon, our Clara is not nearly as insecure and uncomfortable around others as was the old queen. Clara lives up to her name. She is the light. She is joy. She shines bright and clear in her love for everyone she encounters.”
Red’s words marginally reassure Callie. Honestly, she’d love for Clara to shift back into her humanskin right now and let her mother hold her as they pass through the Queen’s Door to get their first look at Teleióti̱ta. As always, Clara and Callie’s minds are in sync, and the child instantly melts into her adorable human form. Reaching out to Callie, she beckons; “Mamamama!”
Callie is laughing as she takes her daughter into her arms and brushes the unruly copper colored curls from her lovely apple cheeked face. “I adore you, baby girl,” Callie coos before planting a kiss on her daughter’s puckered lips. “Are you ready to see the dragon homeworld?” The precocious toddler purses her adorable pink lips as though deep in thought for only a moment before nodding enthusiastically, causing her rapidly growing curls to bounce delightfully.
“By all means then, let us go forth,” Erebus booms excitedly and ushers Callie and Clara toward the door. Red halts the trio, and slips in to check to make sure that half of his battalion is already in position to guard the royal family. Callie giggles and mumbles something about the Secret Service not having a thing on gargoyle protectors. But her laughter dies immediately when she steps through the doorway from the gateway into the realm of Teleióti̱ta.
Before her is a rock ledge which extends out for 50 feet or so, but the absolutely breathtaking aspect of the view is the vast plain with five massive mesas in the distance. The vibrant, otherworldly colors put her in mind of Monument Valley on an acid trip. Of the five mesas, the center one being the tallest, all sport a regal looking castle. But it isn’t the crazy colors, the amazing mesas nor their castles which have rendered Callie speechless, it is all the people standing upon the plain between Callie and the mesas. The area is only about the size of five or six football fields, but Callie is convinced there must be a thousand souls down there. Some are in human form, while others are in their shifted animal forms. Still others are obviously vampires, monoliths, gargoyles, giants, dwarves, trolls, Elves, blood wraiths, and plenty of beings whom she has no idea what they might be. And every single one of them are looking up at her and her daughter.
“Holy. Shit.” The words are out of her mouth before she can censor her reaction. When the assembled crowd laughs softly, she realizes that despite the distance between them and herself, somehow, they can hear her every word. Feeling a bit like a fool after muttering what she did, Callie lamely gives them all a two finger wave and says; “Hi, nice to see all of y’all.” She licks her lips and mutters; “Nice of y’all to come to meet me.”
Erebus leans down to whisper in her ear as he gently urges Callie to step forward, nearer to the edge of the viewing ledge, “Your majesty, if you wish to address your subjects, might I suggest we do so from your palace?” He turns to indicate the center mesa.
“Callie. I. Am. Callie. Not your majesty. And right here is just fine, as long as that doesn’t offend everybody.”
Many of those assembled below chuckle and shake their heads. But in just a moment, someone begins chanting her name. “Cal-EE, Cal-EE, Cal-EE!” Soon, the chant reverberates throughout the massive plain and echoes off the very impressive mesas.
“Now you’ve done it,” Coramina giggles. “This is going to be so much fun! The very idea of having a powerful paranormal monarch who isn’t a stuffy, self-important, pretentious ass is such a novel concept! We may not know how to behave.”
“That’s fine, I haven’t a clue what is expected of a Dragon Queen, except I know protecting shifter kind and other mixed magickal races seems to be my jam these days, and it’s a job I am happy to take on.” Callie turns to smile at first Kazar and then Nyle. “I have two amazing consort sentinels who will be at my side,” she looks over to Red, “…and I’ve recently learned I have an entire race of specially bred gargoyle protectors. I have goddesses, yes freakin’ goddesses, who come to my home to train me to kick ass. There’s also this amazing billionaire Alpha wolf who trains me on the ins and outs of running an empire, and so, so many folks in my corner that I cannot possibly manage to mention them all, but rest assured… I will do my bes…”
The explosion which rocks the Queen’s door behind Callie would have thrown her down unto the Assyllian Plain below, had Kazar and Nyle not immediately reached out to grasp their mate and shelter her, and their child, between their very bodies. Before Kazar and Nyle can even lift their heads to look around, Callie opens a portal just like Val taught her to do and sends Clara to safety with the Ancient Spirits of the Red Earth cavern below the Twin Ravens MC. She shoves her mates off of her body and instantly assumes her battle form. Unfurling her wings, she faces her mates, her lovers, her very hearts and begs; “Please, go keep our daughter safe.” Without even a hint of opposition, first Kazar and then Nyle step through the portal to do as their mate has bidden.
Once Callie seals the portal, she turns to face the intruders who are pouring in through the destroyed threshold which once comprised the Queen’s Door. The sight of dozens of bloodthirsty vampires, flesh starved ghouls, and insane Blood Wraiths does not shock Callie a single bit. She’s seen them before, over and over, throughout the centuries. She doesn’t fear them because she knows it is not her destiny to fall at the hands, fangs, claws, or teeth of these vicious, blood feeding freaks in this lifetime. The fact that her new Gargoyle guards assemble front and back of her to protect her from all sides, is also no surprise. No, the only thing about this encounter which shocks Callie is what comes through that door next.
It is the stuff of nightmares, and something that Callie knows will haunt her for the rest of her life, whether that life ends today, or several millennia into the future. Dsynomia, proud, arrogant, and coldly beautiful, haughtily strides through the shattered portal in all of her evil goddess glory. But it is not the sight of the goddess which chills Callie’s blood and strikes true fear into her heart, it is her hostage.
Susie Williams. Battered. Bloodied. And looking half dead.
“Oh, Susie,” Callie whispers her horror.
“Damn it,” Morrígan swears from somewhere behind the Ruby Queen. “I should have expected something like this from that fucking bitch.”
“Yeah, we both should have seen this one coming,” Callie agrees without tearing her hate-filled glare away from the much despised goddess of anarchy. The bitch is certainly living up to her hype today, and Callie means to put an end to it.
“Dysnomia,” The coldly regal voice of the new Ruby Dragon Queen rings clearly throughout the massive plain. “I’ve already figured out that you are nothing but a sniveling cowardly brat, just as your grandmother Nyx is a coward, and your mother Eris, but did you really have to prove your spineless nature to all of these souls by showing up with a puny human for a hostage?”
“Human?” The deranged goddess spits venomously. “This bitch is no more human than you are. She simply has not awakened to her true nature, yet.” The insane goddess cackles like a witch from Callie’s worst childhood nightmares. The sound only strengthens Callie’s steely resolve to end this… today. “As you can see, I have brought the little cunt along with me today to make certain that she never does.” She shakes the battered blond violently and Susie whimpers softly, in spite of her apparent unconscious state.
“She is fully human, you idiot!” Callie spits back, matching Dsynomia’s venom with her own. “I’ve spent weeks with the girl. She’s perfectly nice and lovely, but wholly human. Why must you always pick on those too weak to fight back?” Callie laughs dryly, and everyone present is well aware the sound conveys zero amusement. “Is it because you are too weak, too frightened, to leave the humans alone and play with the big girls?”
“I will personally drain her body of every ounce of her life’s blood!” The crazed goddess screeches. “And then, I will do the same to you, Ruby Queen!” She utters Callie’s title with such derision that the gargoyles snarl as they stand in readiness to defend their queen.
“Bring it, chicken little,” Callie taunts. “Drop the human and face someone more on your level of nastiness.” She then smiles… a predatory, feral, utterly unholy smile. “Or… do you fear Anarchy will meet her final end at the hands of the Dragons you seem to despise?”
Dysnomia’s responding laughter clearly reveals just how far off the deep end of insanity the Greek goddess has fallen. “I do not fear you, lizard bitch! I do not fear this disgusting gathering of weak willed sycophants and paranormal fangirls you have surrounded yourself with. I fear nothing and no one!”
“Prove it,” Callie challenges quietly. “Release the human female and join me down on that plain so we can hash this out, once and for all.” Callie is desperate to get Dysnomia as far away from poor Susie as she can.
“Resume your human form!” Dysnomia demands imperiously. “Or I will snap this puny human’s neck and toss her to my pet ghouls for a snack.”
“Fine,” Callie agrees defiantly. “I can take your pitiful ass in whatever skin I might be wearing at the time.” Without further fanfare, Callie shifts back to her humanskin, and steps forward, confident challenge radiating from every pore, echoing with every foot fall.
Dysnomia laughs maniacally as her grip on Susie slackens and she leans toward the approaching Callie. “You little fool. You honestly have no idea just who you are dealing with, do you?” She moves to shove Susie toward a massive ghoul standing at her right hand, but Gunnar Northman, surly Berserker and Twin Ravens enforcer, darts forward so quickly that no one anticipates his move until he has the unconscious Susie firmly wrapped up in his arms and has whisked the poor human to relative safety behind Callie’s gargoyle guards and other supporters.
Anarchy’s screech of outrage blasts through the realm and quite frankly, gives Callie a bad case of the chills, but you’d never know it as she charges forward, shifting on the fly into her battle form. Wrapping the flailing, scratching, kicking, and biting goddess firmly in her arms, Callie takes to the air. Everyone assembled upon the plain below gasps in awe as the gleaming, blood red winged, ruby scaled, five-horned, fang and talon wielding warrior effortlessly soars toward her castle upon the highest mesa. She circles her mesa and castle below with an eye for strategy. Deciding she doesn’t need strategy to kick this bitch’s ass, Callie simply drops the goddess from fifty feet in the air. She doesn’t fear Anarchy using her magick to flash out of Teleióti̱ta because as the high queen of the realm, Callie herself has locked the realm down tighter than Fort Knox. None shall leave this realm until the Ruby Dragon Queen says so.
Not surprisingly, however, the foul goddess manages to land on her feet. Her stance appears battle ready, as she spouts vile curses and deranged taunts, one right after the other up at the still soaring warrior. Once she reckons the psycho has stewed enough in her own juices, and she notices her gargoyles and other allies have easily rounded up Anarchy’s blood horde, Callie simply lands about six feet away from Dysnomia. Planting her hands upon her hips, with her wings partially unfurled to present a truly impressive sight, she simply stares down at the much reviled Greek.
After a few more increasingly vile and vulgar curses spew from the lips of the beautiful but wicked goddess, Callie finally speaks. “You have well and truly lost your grip on reality, have you not?”
“What do you mean?” Dysnomia demands with an expression of true confusion upon her face.
“You stand there spewing threats you cannot carry out, while facing your doom and you don’t even realize it, do you?”
“You? My doom?” Anarchy laughs loudly, but everyone upon the plain and the observation ledge can plainly tell the goddess is play acting. She’s scared and trying to hide it. “You cannot defeat me! I am the granddaughter of the mighty, unstoppable Nyx – the goddess of the night and the moon! Daughter of the incomparable Strife!”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve read the cliff notes. I know for a fact that Mara Montgomery, the guardian of the Beast Realm, captured your granny over ten years ago on this very plain. I also happen to know that just a few short months ago, a lowly vampire named Devlin Wick killed Strife with his bare hands for daring to threaten his beloved Jolie, a human girl.” When Anarchy begins to snarl and snap like a rabid dog, and tries to charge at Callie, the dragon queen simply waves a hand to freeze the bitch in her tracks. “Not yet, you little brat. You will hear every word I want to say to you and then I will release you to let you do your worst.”
“Let me tell you what else I know. From this day forward, myself and my sisters who have yet to awaken will protect shifterkind everywhere. Be they full blood, mix-breeds, or accidents of magick, they will be mine, and I always protect what is mine! That also goes for every single mix-breed magickal being or misfit who needs a realm and protectors to call upon in times of trial.”
Callie moves away from Dysnomia to address the crowd assembled on the plain below. “Not only will I protect these beings, I will hold them to a higher standard of behavior. Taking advantage of the weaker humans and supes will no longer be tolerated. If you belong in the world of the supes and hurt one of mine, I will make you pay. If you are one of mine, and you deliberately hurt someone weaker than you, I will see justice done. But don’t begin thinking that the Western Péntearchy will be a dictator state. Oh no! Offenders will face their peers and be judged. Those found guilty will be punished, again by their peers. Justice and protection for all!”
When the legion of supes below respond with resounding cheers and the words; “Justice and Protection for all!” Callie cannot help but to smile her satisfaction. She knows cashing the checks she is writing right now with her mouth will not be easy, but she believes it can and must be done.
“Awesome!” Callie lifts her hands to interrupt the cheering. “Perhaps this queen gig won’t be such a pain in the ass after all.” The answering laughter makes her smile warmly. She looks over at her shoulder where Anarchy remains frozen like a very angry but totally powerless statue. “Now, I have a bit of bidness to wrap up here.”
Striding back over to stand just a few feet from the irate Dysnomia, Callie drops the battle form, and the magick holding her enemy in place. Of course, Anarchy charges forward instantly, murder on her mind. Callie simply goes in low, to plant her shoulder in the goddess’s gut and easily throw her over her shoulder. Turning to face her foe kicking and screaming on the ground like a toddler denied a cookie before dinner time, Callie cannot suppress her chuckle. “That all you got?”
“Hardly!” Dysnomia spits and leaps to her feet to throw a god bolt, an obvious gift from Zeus himself, at Callie. Calling upon the magick she learned from her three trainers and the ancient magick of her ancestor queens, Callie easily catches the volatile bolt and absorbs the power as harmless energy.
“Better, but still not enough,” Callie taunts but nearly buckles to her knees when the goddess launches her psychic attack. Images of sweet little Clara being torn limb from limb by feral vamps, half-starved ghouls, and lust crazed blood wraiths. When images of the same thing happening to Nyle and Kazar fill Callie’s mind, she finally recognizes the attack for just what it is… a mind fuck. Clara is safe in the heart of the Ancients with her Tata and Daidí watching over her. That is why Callie has been able to focus on her foe, because her males trusted her enough to watch out for herself and do her damn job while they protected their baby. So, Callie proceeds to do her damn job!
With a savage roar, Callie shakes off the psychic attack and stomps over to the bitch goddess. “Threaten my daughter? My mates? You die! But not before I take away the only thing you truly value…power.” With those words, Callie places her hands on either side of Dysnomia’s head and literally drains every power, every bit of magick and god ability that Dysnomia possesses from her body in a matter of two seconds, tops. When Dysnomia drops to the ground in a sobbing heap, Callie transforms into her full dragon form in the blink of an eye.
Her roar of fury fills the realm, causing friend and foe alike to shudder at the horrible sound. Throwing her head back to shoot flame into the air, she then roars again, before returning her attention to her victim lying helpless in the dirt. Without even an ounce of finesse or thought for the more sensitive among the gathered witnesses, Callie lowers her massive dragon head, opens her vicious mouth filled with rows of deadly teeth and chomps the Greek goddess Dysnomia into two distinct pieces. Spitting out the top half of the body as though the taste is too foul to be withstood, Callie once again roars her fury before using dragon fire to turn the corpse to a pile of ash in a matter of seconds. Swinging her massive head back and forth like a pendulum, the more savage side of her dragon nature is not yet satisfied with the punishment extracted for threatening the baby dragon. Despite the unsatisfied feeling in her soul, the dragon and woman alike know there is nothing more to be done at the moment, so she takes to the sky.
Flying around the castles of the Dragon queens and roaring her frustration that she did not make Dysnomia suffer more, Callie finally, finally calms the dragon spirit enough to land. She wrests her human form back from the dragon and strolls over to plant her butt in the gaudy and ostentatious ruby encrusted throne long ago forged by mountain dwarves to honor the high queen during official state ceremonies. “There! Logan Montgomery told me that coming to Teleióti̱ta today was essential. That I had to ascend to the throne to show all the realms that I mean business as the leader of the dragon queens and shifterkind.” She shrugs and says; “Well, my butt is on the throne. I hope no one doubts I am not here to pussy foot around.”
Rising to her feet, Callie allows her gaze to travel slowly over every soul gathered below and across the way. “I hope I have not offended anyone with my actions, if so, feel free to take it up with me, any month, during the three days following the full moon on the earth realm. That is when I will hold court, or whatever it is called, right here in this over the top palace behind me. On those days, I will hear any and all grievances. Any other time that a truly urgent issue arises which needs my attention, you can reach me by text at 918….” She easily rattles off the rest of her number and slumps as though exhausted.
When her smart phone in the side pocket of her vintage red dress begins to ding like a carnival game on the midway, she chuckles and shakes her head. “Really?” She cocks a brow and smirks down upon the assembled onlookers. After a moment, she mutters; “Those texts better not be a bunch of dick pics.”
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
When Callie flashes into the cavern of the Ancients, she is shocked to see what looks like half of the Twin Ravens and a few of Nox’s Legion assembled there. And guess what? They all look like they’ve been in a battle. “Oh my gosh! What happened here?” Callie asks as she runs forward to scoop a giggling Clara out of Tank’s arms. The little dragon princess quickly lets her mother know that she is not well pleased with the fact that her mother stopped her play time with the bouncer’s shaggy beard.
But the precocious child instantly calms and plants a kiss on her Mamama’s cheek as though she just remembered that she is happy to see her. Callie looks to her mates for an explanation, but it is Glory, who is standing next to Blood, who actually speaks up first as Nyle and Kazar move to embrace their mate and check for themselves that she is indeed unharmed. Callie eagerly kisses them both in greeting and wants to take a private moment with them, but decides this isn’t the time. “Ares got wind of a plot to attack the MC while your ascension ceremony took place inside the Queen’s Door. So, Blood sent me, the munchkin here,” the gorgeous blond fury indicates adorable Sunny in her arms, “… and Amberta down here to wait in relative safety with the Ancients.”
“Amberta? Who is that?” Callie asks, suddenly feeling confused until a massive female Troll half-breed wearing a neon pink halter dress and matching platform pumps rises from her perch upon a rock near the rear of the cavern.
“That would be me,” the Troll says with a little finger wave and a toothy grin. “I’m Sunny’s new nanny.”
“Nice to meet you,” Callie says with a welcoming grin before looking to Glory for further explanation.
“It’s a long story.” Glory rolls her eyes. “Let’s just say sabretooth shifter children are hell on wheels when they are going through their terrible twos. Blood has been so busy with all these damn rogue blood wraiths, vamps, and ghouls that I needed a helping hand.” She smiles happily. “Amberta is freakin’ amazing with kids.”
When Sunny demands down, and promptly shifts into her animal form, Callie can see why a nanny might be a good idea for children who have alternate and dangerous forms. Especially when her own daughter shifts and flies out of Callie’s arms to join her playmate on a blanket spread out near the adults and covered in toys. Callie giggles and looks over at Amberta to playfully inquire; “Do you have sisters who are looking for a nanny gig?” She giggles. “I’m thinking I might need an extra set of hands very soon.” Surprisingly, Callie learns that Amberta does indeed have a sister and she will have said sister text her with a number and her resume.
“Wow! So was there actually an attack?” Callie asks. “I would say yes judging by the looks of some of y’all.”
“Indeed,” Kazar supplies. “Dysnomia actually sent the larger portion of her remaining blood horde to attack the MC. She apparently relied too heavily on her hostage and her magick to deal with you inside the Queen’s Door.”
“Damn! I’m a crappy friend. I got wrapped up in stuff at Teleióti̱ta, I haven’t really even thought of poor Susie since I saw Gunnar snatch her away from Dysnomia.”
“She’s fine,” Nyle assures his mate before giving her another kiss on the cheek. “In fact, she’s upstairs in our rooms, being treated by Spell Weavers.”
“Okay… so the attack on the MC? It failed, I assume.”
“In a big way. We were ready,” Rage supplies. “We even captured Dysnomia’s second and he has been singing like a songbird.”
“Yes, things are going to have to change around here,” Blood says glumly.
“I know,” Callie says sadly.
“Did you get Dysnomia’s memories along with her powers?” Kazar asks quietly.
“Wow! How do you know about that?”
“The Ancients. They can show me pretty much anything that directly affects my realm. You and how you dealt with Anarchy affects my realm,” Blood adds almost drolly.
“I didn’t actually absorb her powers, just her energy as I robbed her of her powers. I did however get a shit ton of information. Eons worth of it. Sadly, since I also have the knowledge of my five past lives, my dragon essence and my own knowledge rattling around in my noggin, it may take a while for me to process it all.” Her frown is thoughtful before she says; “But I have processed enough to realize this is far from over. Doom is the one pulling the strings. Dysnomia suspected he had been the real one with the power in that crazy, dark family all along.”
“Which is exactly what we have believed for a long time now,” Blood concedes. “That is why the Twin Ravens is finally cutting official ties to the United Council of Immortals. Moros has corrupted that once noble council so much they can’t find their ass with both hands.”
“Yeah,” Callie says sadly.
“Do you mind if I take both girls up to my suite and let them play a while longer?” Glory asks.
“No, thank you, in fact. It would be very helpful to know she is safe and entertained while I check in with my males here and then go check on my bestie.”
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Once the triad exits the cavern, Callie’s phone again begins to ding with incoming texts. “That’s odd. My phone worked in Teleióti̱ta but not in the Ancient’s Cavern.” She withdraws the phone and shuts it off. “I’ll check them later. I may need to hire an assistant for real just to wade through all of these.”
Nyle shrugs. “Perhaps Erebus did something to ensure he could always be reached while in the Dragon Homeworld? He’s pretty tech savvy for an ancient Greek.”
“Maybe,” Callie concedes.
“Personally,” Kazar interjects, “… I’m a bit more concerned with why my mate gave her private number to over a thousand supes.”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time. I think the flood of texts will slow down… eventually,” Callie says as she comes to a stop a few steps from the door to their rooms in the MC. She turns to wrap her arms around the neck of her nearest lover, who this time just so happens to be Nyle. “I am so grateful,” she turns to look at Kazar, “…to both of you.”
“For what, aingeal mine?” Nyle asks before planting a sweet kiss upon her lips.
“For not hesitating, not arguing… you just walked through that portal to protect Clara.”
Kazar chuckles. “Yes, well, as you said moments ago, it seemed like a good idea at the time.” He shrugs. “You were right to send our daughter to safety. Dysnomia would no doubt have tried to use her against you. And as her fathers, we love Clara. Of course, we will protect her. Always.”
“Oh, I’ve always known that. Even when you both feared she might injure me, you would have died to protect her.” Callie smiles sadly as she recalls those difficult days of adjusting to becoming the strong triad of mates they are now. “I was saying thank you for proving to me and everyone else that you have total confidence in my abilities as dragon queen.” She blinks rapidly and swallows to push the lump out of her throat. “It means a lot to me. Truly.” When both of her males embrace her tenderly, she relaxes into their love and simply savors the peace of knowing she is loved and respected by two such powerful, capable and loving males.
When they hear raised voices coming from the partially open door to their suite, the triad pulls apart and exchanges puzzled glances. “Sounds like I should get in there,” Callie says tiredly.
Kazar tenderly cups her face to plant a chaste kiss upon her lips. “Soon we can go home. Relax and talk…if you need to.”
Callie smiles sadly because she understands what he is talking about. Today was hard because Callie deliberately put on one helluva show disposing of her enemy in front of so many witnesses. She honestly felt it was necessary to do so to make sure others would think twice about going after Callie and anyone under her protection. Plus, the Dragon truly wanted to strut her stuff. But Callie does have mixed feelings about how she handled herself. “Maybe,” Callie responds vaguely. “I’m fine for now, and this day is far from over, judging by the discussion raging in there.” Her lovers nod and release her so that she can slip quietly into their bedchamber at the MC.
“I’m ambivalent,” Mara says with a shrug. “Either way, there are major drawbacks.”
Lucian Michaels, who appears to be weaving healing spells over an unconscious, but mostly healed – at least on the surface, Susie. He also looks as though he is about two seconds from throwing everyone out of the room. Callie thinks that is a marvelous idea, and yet she decides to listen before trying to kick these bad-ass women out of her room.
Morrígan, Mara, and Roxana Av̱gí̱, three of the five proxy guides for the future dragon queens, are arguing, quietly, but heatedly. Finally Val, who has been assisting Lucian, speaks up; “Susie has a right to know the truth. Hell, Glenna died today protecting her. Shouldn’t the girl know that? Shouldn’t she know she has powerful people who would die to protect her?” The women exchange glances, but do not comment.
“Susie had a concussion,” Lucian points out. “It is likely she won’t recall anything that happened inside the Queen’s Door today. The secret about her future is probably safe… from her, at least.”
“She cannot know,” Morrígan asserts angrily. ““Not yet! You know how this shit works, Valgullveig. If you tell her too much, you risk screwing up the magick. She has to recall her past lives, face those ancient losses, and then can decide whether or not she is strong enough and willing to embrace her destiny. If we just tell her who she really is, it’s like forcing this fate down her throat, and I won’t let anyone do that. She has to choose for herself.” Callie’s heart aches at the prospect of her friend having to go through many of the same struggles she did.
Suddenly, Callie begins to feel lightheaded. She staggers a bit and leans against the wall. Fortunately, the odd sensation passes almost instantly, so she interjects her opinion into the debate. “But can she really make that choice without knowing the truth?” Callie demands from the corner. “I won’t lie to her. She’s my best friend and I love her. I just won’t do it.”
The rest of the occupants exchange odd looks before Lucian speaks again. “You won’t really have a choice. Odin, Cocidius, and Erebus were just here.” He glances over at Val. “They clouded Susie’s memories of today’s events, well, hid them from her conscious mind. If you tell her what really happened to her before she recalls on her own, the stress could do irreparable damage. Plus, I am pretty sure the assholes bespelled you. I bet you cannot tell, I mean physically are incapable of telling, Susie the truth.”
“No way!” Callie sputters, shaking her head in denial. “No one was just here.” She looks at her friends seeking confirmation. When none is forth coming, she knows Lucian speaks the truth. Those damned meddling gods were here and screwed with her head right along with Susie’s. Her frustration with the powers that be is nearing a boiling point, but she isn’t really sure what, if anything, she can do about it.
“Yep, they spelled or hexed her,” Val says disapprovingly. The smile she turns toward Callie is almost apologetic. “Perhaps, the rest of us as well. Callie simply doesn’t recall their visit because those three meddling know-it-alls created her spirit.”
“So that means they can control me at will? Any time they want?” Now Callie’s frustration has exploded into full blown outrage over the audacity of those gods.
“No,” Roxana assures gently. “You are much too strong of mind for that. However, I suspect that you, at least on some level, understand the need to keep Susie in the dark about who she really is until the time is right. That’s the only way their magick could work on you.”
“I hate lying!” Callie screeches her defiance. She lowers her voice and tries speak in a more calm tone when she sees Susie react to her outrage. “She is my friend. I should never lie to her.”
“I understand you all feel the need to discuss this matter, but please do not do it here,” Lucian says gently. “By debating this matter in the same room while she is unconscious, we risk her recalling at least part of the conversation and that will only add to her confusion and likely create a deep sense of betrayal.” He shakes his head. “They may have clouded specific memories, but the mind is very complex. No doubt, she will know she is being lied to, and if she recalls any of this conversation, I am certain it will make matters much worse.”
Callie basically herds the gaggle of stubborn immortal females from the room. They pick up the debate in the MC’s sanctuary. But Callie soon realizes the gods certainly did something to her. She cannot even speak the truth about Susie’s future. She cannot say that her friend was kidnapped and dragged into Teleióti̱ta. Eventually, Lucian comes to tell them he has done all that he can. Susie simply needs rest and quiet.
Val and Callie sit vigil through the night. When Susie finally awakens in the morning, Morrígan is there and she tells Susie that she was mugged in the parking lot of the MC the day before. Instantly, Susie begins to argue, looking to Callie to back her up. Sadly, because of the spell, all Callie can do is look away. She won’t lie and she is physically incapable of speaking the truth. Susie quickly realizes her friends are lying to her. In a fit of anger, she blasts out of the club house. Callie catches up with her in the parking lot.
“My hands are tied, Susie,” Callie says earnestly. “Those pushy, nosey gods who set this whole dragon queen reawakening thing in motion have put a spell or a curse on me to make me keep the secret. I literally cannot speak the truth of what happened to you yesterday. I am so, so very sorry.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” Susie demands with tears running down her cheeks.
Callie advances another step with her hands out as though in surrender or supplication. “No, I guess not. But I need for you to know that I will never willfully lie to you. We are sisters of the heart. I love you.”
“I know,” Susie concedes. “Maybe that’s why this hurts so damn much.” Without another word, Susie climbs into her car and roars out of the Twin Ravens MC parking lot.