The Order

Prelude - A.D. 509

Taliesin’s fingers plucked the harp strings while tears dripped down his face. Singing in perfect pitch, he was too proud of his voice and talent to let emotions prevent him from performing the Lay in honor of the man who lay dying… Áedán, the man he loved dearly.

His grief over Áedán powerful, guilt overpowered even that, and his heart ached with conflicted emotions over the events that led to that moment. His actions, uncharacteristically sporadic, were driven by passion rather than intellect and ultimately resulted in Áedán’s demise.

As Áedán’s court bard, it was Taliesin’s duty to perform the Lay, and he took it seriously. Áedán was the most powerful mortal ally of The Order in the known world; however, he refused to be a part of the ancient brotherhood, bowing to no one, not even Charisa, bearer of The Mantle. Considering himself a righteous man, he followed his own heart and became a great leader and commander of men, the greatest in his age of the world certainly.

With his death, Áedán’s kingdom would end, and his court assembled for its final time. There were no heirs or bastard children and the time of his influence in the world over. His light, which shone so brightly in the world when it was desperately needed, would dim and fade into memory. His final command to his knights was to disband and return to their countries, homes, and families and live the remainder of their lives in peace.

Conflict stormed within Taliesin’s heart. Áedán did not care for Charisa, and Taliesin was torn between his love for the two. Begging Charisa to come and heal Áedán’s wounds, he knew The Mantle would give her the power to do so if she wished. For reasons of her own she refused, but she traveled to Ynys y Afalau to witness events surrounding his death as a chronicler.

Taliesin’s plan in seeking her assistance backfired. In his attempts to convince her to heal Áedán, he lied, telling her he had a dream regarding Áedán. She pressed him for details, and due to a slip of his tongue she deduced Taliesin’s dream must lie in the future. She would not heal his wounds but would preserve the Chamber so it would remain unaffected by the passage of time until reopened. At that time, Áedán could re-enter the world if he were destined to do so.

Áedán’s wounds were fatal, and knowing he would not survive, Taliesin cringed inside, wondering if Áedán’s soul would remain trapped by Charisa’s actions. However, he could not reveal his manipulation of the truth or the Gift in his efforts to try and force her to save him. Inwardly numb with grief and self-loathing over his actions, his outward demeanor showed none of it.

Cavall, Áedán’s hound, refused to leave his master’s side. Curled in a ball, he whined softly beside his master’s body, watching everything and understanding his master was going to a place he could not follow.

While Taliesin performed his duty, the court filed out, slow and somber. He was the last to exit, and Charisa waited for him by the door. Cavall refused to leave, and Charisa would not wait for him. She coddled no one, especially a dog.

Taliesin moved to retrieve him, determined to take Cavall as his own to honor the man he called brother, but Charisa forbade him.

“Leave him. He wishes to remain.”

The tone of her voice brooked no denial, and bowing his head, another piece of Taliesin’s heart broke with the sound of the chamber doors shutting. 

Present Day

Surprised, Taliesin heard a knock on his door. His condominium was private with excellent security, and he never had visitors. Aaron and Albrecht arranged a monthly stipend for living expenses along with the condo, so he was financially comfortable.

On promises of good behavior, which he was surprised they agreed to, he took a job at a local community college as a music instructor. He didn’t need the money, but it was something to occupy his time, and he knew Albrecht would see it as a means to keep him busy and out of mischief. Adopting the name Talbert Hutchins, he went by ‘Tal’ for short… it was one less thing he would have to adapt to.

With the Gift no longer in him, and after a lengthy and painful discussion with Aaron about Charisa, he was appalled she altered his memories, but it explained much. He declined Aaron’s offer of counsel, preferring to work through his issues on his own. The irony that Charisa had done to him what he had done to so many over the centuries was not lost on him.

To be on the receiving end of such manipulation was painful and gave him a perspective of compassion he never expected to feel towards the individuals who suffered from his actions. However, even with what she did to him, he knew deep down he was responsible for his actions, and amid his anger towards her, now bordering on hate, there was a great deal of shame and guilt.

A survivor, Taliesin was determined to find a place in the world he now found himself in, one without the Gift. At first, he felt vulnerable, especially knowing The Enemy would kill him if they discovered his identity and whereabouts, most likely after prolonged and painful torture. Brad placed protections over his mind, but that was little comfort if they tortured him physically.

One thing he did not expect to find was relief from the dreams. It was as if his mind was waking up from a long-blurred sleep, and he could now see everything clearly for the first time in thousands of years.

As a highly skilled agent of The Order, perhaps one of their best, Taliesin knew how to keep a low profile. After a few months his apprehension lessened, and he began to feel somewhat comfortable in his new life; however, he was always cautious, his training ingrained too deep for him to be otherwise.

His jaw nearly hit the floor at the sight of Giovanni standing with Aaron and Albrecht on the door camera. Opening the door quickly, he stared wide-eyed at the man he thought dead for the last 800 years. Giovanni stared back. Neither man smiled; they had never liked each other much.

After a long, drawn-out pause, he whispered, “How?”

Albrecht smiled, and Aaron asked, “May we come in?”

Moving back, he motioned for them to enter.

The cleaning agency he employed had visited the day before, so the den was not yet a complete wreck. Chord sheets were already strewn about the coffee table, and two guitars sat on the couch. He quickly cleared the area, and as everyone sat down, he mumbled, “I don’t think I’m going to like whatever you’re about to say….”

<><>  

Taliesin sat in stunned silence. Aaron’s question caught him completely off guard, and the emotions and memories it evoked confused him, especially after recent events.

Slowly, Taliesin was reverting back to the man he started out as, the man before the Gift and his unrequited love for Charisa. The man he was before she tampered with his memories and his heart. He was not proud of his actions the day Áedán died and was still secretly terrified of what they might find if the chamber were opened.

Unsure if the terror was over Áedán’s possible condition or the potential exposure of his deception, he sighed heavily, realizing he still had a long way to go.

His heart twisted due to Charisa’s manipulation, his actions during those many years were etched in his memories. He caused so much pain and hurt over the centuries, and although he now realized why, it didn’t excuse his actions; it explained them but did not justify them.

Some of those years weren’t bad, and the changes in him had been gradual; so gradual it took looking back over centuries to see how extreme they eventually became. Through those long years, he seduced himself into believing his actions justified, eventually learning to bury his guilt and negative emotions, planting them deep in his unconscious mind. He did not expect those seeds to grow and break out, let alone take on the form of sadness and self-loathing.

His current life seemed a buffer against his past, and in all honesty, he was more interested in starting a new life and forgetting his old one. He felt there was too much to atone for in his past life other than by his death, and Lane forbade him that act with a compulsion.

Now, Aaron asked for his help.

“You truly wish me to go back to Ynys y Afalau and open the chamber?”

Taliesin hadn’t spoken Welsh in years, but the ancient name flowed off his tongue as though he spoke it every day.

“I know it is much to ask Tal, but you are the only one who can open it. Charisa keyed it to members of the court, and you are the only one still alive.”

“You realize if it is opened, what will occur? Time will rapidly catch up to itself, and all that is left will be gone forever in a matter of days.”

“I do, but it is the only fitting place for what we wish to accomplish. Do you not see the relevance?”

“You know I loved him too, don’t you? Áedán?”

Taliesin’s pronunciation of the ancient Scottish dialect was perfect, rolling off his tongue as fluidly as the Welsh. Taliesin knew nearly as many languages as Aaron. Over the long span of his life as a bard, he needed to perform wherever he lived, in whatever Age, and sing songs flawlessly in any language necessary.

“I do. If it is too painful, we will make other arrangements.”

Pausing, Taliesin stared at the three men sitting across from him. He always touted his own subtle cleverness. Aaron and Albrecht taught him that way of thinking, and he knew there was more to Aaron’s request than the obvious.

“Why are you really asking me, Aaron?”

“Because I have your best interest in mind, Tal, whether you believe it or not. I think it will be good for you.”

“You mean, by doing this, it will somehow count against my self-proclaimed penance of atoning for my centuries-long crusade of decadence and cruelty. Call it what it is.”

“If you wish to see it that way, then yes.”

Aaron’s voice remained gentle, not rising to the bait.

Giovanni muttered, “Stronzo!” under his breath.

Reaching over, Albrecht lightly slapped the back of Giovanni’s head, who shook his head but didn’t say anything else.

Aaron hesitated, and Albrecht’s presence increased in him, urging him to continue.

Share it with him, love. He needs to hear it, and you need to say it. I’m with you.

Continuing, Aaron said, “Performing the ceremony in that place is a gift I wish to give the men I now call my sons. I consider you among them, Tal. I always have. I never saw you as a means to an end. I had no knowledge of Lane Weaver’s existence all those years ago when I asked you to carry the Gift. That was never my intention. I have carried my own pain as far as you are concerned for many years, blaming myself for the way you turned out. I now know what happened to you was not my fault, at least not entirely. You should see it that way as well. I feel some responsibility because Charisa was my daughter, and what she did to you was reprehensible. I, too, seek a way to atone for what I see as my responsibilities. I wish to help you, along with the other men I count as my sons.”

An awkward silence fell, and the minutes rolled by as Taliesin sat staring at nothing, lost in his thoughts.

Just as Aaron was about to speak again, Taliesin whispered, “I’ll do it. Damn you for asking, but I’ll do it.”

Lowering his head, Aaron quietly said, “Thank you, Tal.”

“I suppose you wish me to perform at the ceremony as well?”

The corner of Aaron’s mouth rose in a very uncharacteristic grin as he said, “Well, you were the court bard when you lived there. It would be appropriate, and Lane will be occupied.”

“Very well. I will make it special.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.”

Codon, Alabama – Just south of Mobile

To the neighborhood, it looked like an elderly black couple moving in. Keeping an illusion over everyone, Brad altered their appearance under the guise of a moving company. The large truck displayed the logo “Ten Men and a Truck” on its sides. Years before, the doctor arranged for the collection of Olive’s furniture and personal belongings from her apartment in Atlanta and had them put in storage. Anything further needed to furnish her new house he purchased with her input.

It was a hard decision for the old couple to move out of the lab, but Tag and Olive insisted. They would miss everyone, and everyone would miss their solid, sage presence, especially Drew, who had become extremely fond of ‘Auntie Olive’ and ‘Grandpa Tag.’ No one knew where he came up with the terms of endearment, but it didn’t matter. Tag and Olive loved the names and the young boy.

For the last year and a half, they helped raise him through some tough times. Henry especially would miss their help when Drew was upset about something. The wise old couple always seemed to know what to say to calm him down or make him feel better. Henry still wasn’t sure if he would have made it without their help after Liz died.

With events ramping up and space running tight even after renovating the Atlanta lab, the older couple made their decision known. Fully cognizant of the battle between The Order and The Enemy, through no fault of their own, the old couple were a part of it. They met and walked with angels in their time in the lab, but now felt they were more of a hindrance to ‘the boys’ and wanted to get out of the way, although they would always be available to any of the men for any reason.

With Tag’s leg regenerated and some slight genetic remodeling from a magical standpoint, neither Tag nor Olive matched the descriptions any Enemy agents might have of them. They looked the same to each other, Brad made sure of that, but to the outside world, they appeared different.

The doctor purchased a small house for them in Codon, AL, just south of Mobile, where the warm climate would suit the older couple. Tag loved to fish, and the ocean was within walking distance of their house. It was also the Deep South where they would blend in more with their way of speech and food preferences.

The doctor implemented strong, subtle protections into the house, but nothing overt enough to alert The Enemy. There was a safe room that would seal itself, empowering runes strong enough to hold The Enemy at bay until help could arrive if they were ever discovered.

The hardest part of the arrangement was the ‘no contact’ rule. For the immediate future, there could be no interaction between the guys and the older couple. It was a standard safety protocol from their days in the military and witness relocation. The more communication, the higher the risk of exposure.

Emergency phone numbers and email addresses were set up, and even a sealed memory sphere that could reach anywhere on the planet in seconds, all for emergencies, but no regular contact was permissible for the foreseeable future.

The physical move was no effort for the big men, even if some of them appeared thin and bony under Brad’s illusion. Spending the better part of the day moving Tag and Olive in, they arranged everything and helped them unpack. They took their time, not wanting to let go of their friends just yet.

There were tears when they said their goodbyes away from prying eyes. The last gift to them, and one Loy cleared with Olive before committing to it, was a puppy. Loy went to an animal shelter, never an easy thing for him, and found the perfect dog.

It was already intelligent, but Loy made it smarter, instilling his will upon it and imprinting Tag and Olive on its mind and spirit. It would be their companion and guard, and Loy could use it to look in on them; any of the mentalists could when needed. Through their Avatars, the puppy was an undetectable way to keep tabs on them without breaking the communication protocol.

After the guys pulled away in the moving van and trucks, Tag said to Olive, “Well, Momma, looks like we’s home. Dis is a good place. The doc did us right.”

“It is, baby. They picked a good spot. I’m gonna miss those boys, though, especially that little one.”

Olive’s soft voice sounded sad, and she took Tag’s hand, giving it a squeeze.

After a brief silence, Tag asked, “We did right, didn’t we?”

“We did. I can feel it.”

“I don’t think we’re done wit ’em yet.”

“We never will be, baby. We never will be.”

The guys unpacked everything for them and arranged it all. Olive would have to redo some things, but they knew her habits well.

Going into the kitchen, she found her cast iron cookware to start dinner. Bryan stocked her kitchen, refrigerator, and freezer, and she smiled when she opened the fridge. She wouldn’t have to cook that night after all! Bryan had made a big batch of chitlins, fatback, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and cornbread, and for dessert, strawberry shortcake, Tag’s favorite.

“Oh, baby! Look what we got here! That Bryan!”

Tag laughed and cleared the small kitchen table.

“Yeah, I’m gonna miss dem boys.”

Bullet, the puppy, whined, looking at Olive and then the food.

“Don’t you even think ’bout it. I promised Loy I’d take good care ‘a you. I might make my husband fat but not you. Loy would have my hide if I fed you table food.”

Sitting down, the old couple ate their first meal in their new home, with their new puppy and their new life. Happy with each other, there was sadness too. It was hard to go back to the world after all they were used to, but, like always, they would persevere.

<><><> 

As usual, Kevin woke first. The house would seem absolutely quiet to anyone else, but he picked up on all the small sounds in the house with his enhanced hearing. Smiling sleepily, he also heard the new noises he and Bill were getting used to.

The water in the refrigerator turned on briefly, filling the ice maker. Kevin heard Bill’s soft breathing next to him and his steady heartbeat, and he smelled the aftereffects of their lovemaking from the previous evening. The remnants of their exertions permeated the sheets, but instead of being gross, it was a comfort, even a bit of a turn-on, an affirmation of their relationship and what they had done to one another only a few hours before.

Breathing deeply, he smelled Bill; each of them had a distinct scent that Kevin and the other bodies identified. Early on, his enhanced olfactory sense was challenging to adjust to; the hand lotions and perfumes people used were often overpowering. Most of the guys used unscented soaps and deodorants or mild cologne. Bill smelled like Bill, and Kevin smiled.

The newest sounds in the house widened his smile even further. One of the boys, either Tommy or Brett, rolled over in his bed, resettling himself. Bill and Kevin had the boys less than a week, but they seemed to be settling in nicely. Anything was an improvement over the orphanage, and even on nights Bill and Kevin were on duty at one of the labs, the boys loved being with their new dads.

No matter where they were, Bill and Kevin had an established routine. The doctor stressed the need for normalcy and regularity with the boys to make them feel secure, so their regular, regimented patterns would work well with a few minor adjustments.

The doctor also recommended Bill and Kevin not link with the boys often, especially at first, and only enough for a feeling of emotional comfort. Bill would read them every time he hugged or held one of them anyway, so they would be aware of anything they needed to know.

Still amped up mentally from last night’s sex, Kevin deepened the boys' slumber enough to keep them asleep a little longer and then gently repositioned Bill against him. Bill woke enough to move into position, and once in Kevin’s arms, he fell back into a deep, contented sleep.

Knowing Bill would soon be up, Kevin let his partner sleep, content to hold and watch him. The short gap in the mornings waiting for Bill to wake up was Kevin’s personal time, and he relished the physical but non-sexual intimacy with Bill. Kevin used the time to organize his thoughts and go over the coming day or reflect on recent events.

Thinking a lot about Drew and what they faced as a team, he also reflected on Ken, Loy, and Darren because they went through the most recent hardships. Most of the time, though, he thought of how much he loved the man in his arms and immersed himself in their combined souls.

As Bill slowly woke, Kevin’s hands roamed over his partner’s muscled body. He loved bringing Bill pleasure any way he could and making him feel good emotionally. Bill’s Avatar affected him more adversely than any other team member, except possibly Lane, and Kevin regularly made himself a barrier between Bill and what his Avatar subjected him to. The doctor taught Bill how to separate much of what he absorbed when he read people, places, or objects, but the information and experiences still became a part of him.

As Bill’s mind transitioned from unconsciousness to wakefulness, he became aware of Kevin’s hands. Kevin knew all the right places to touch him, those special spots that turned him on and made his toes curl. As Kevin’s hands continued down Bill’s body, by the time he reached his target, Bill was hard.

Opening his eyes, Bill gave a bleary-eyed smile as he turned to kiss his lover. Their arms encircled each other as Kevin rolled on top, pressing his hairy chest against Bill's smooth one. Their erections rubbed together between their stomachs; God, he loved that feeling.

Bill wasn’t sure if it was being an original man or part Nephilim that kept them from having morning breath, but he was thankful regardless, and he chuckled. Kevin heard his thought and laughed.

Yeah, me too. Come here!

Making love to one another, the two men lit up the spiritual realm. Sensing most of their brothers doing the same thing, they didn’t bother shielding themselves, and their auras shone brightly over Tommy and Brett as they slept.

An hour later, freshly showered, Kevin made breakfast for the boys. Kevin and Bill were off rotation for the day and planned to have a long talk with Tommy and Brett. The doctor recommended having ‘the talk’ as soon as possible.

Even if the boys couldn’t comprehend everything, they needed to be told who their dads were along with the rest of the team and about The Order and The Enemy. The boys needed a secure framework; they would see and hear things soon enough that would scare them and Bill and Kevin wanted them to feel safe and protected as much as possible. Tommy nearly died in the Eschphene attack on Drew’s birthday, proving how dangerous and severe things could become.

Kevin and Bill still needed to do their morning PT and arranged with Henry ahead of time to wait for them so they could do it together. Henry laughingly called it ‘The Dads Club.’

They planned on taking the boys to the lab with them to start their school lessons with Sally alongside Drew. After lunch, they would have ‘the talk’ and hang out to have dinner with whoever was around. Plus, if the boys got upset over what they learned, it would help to have some of their ‘uncles’ around to soften things and let them know they were loved and protected.

Bill picked up Kevin’s thoughts on the boys.

This is going to be nice. I like having the boys here.

Yeah, it is. I never in a million years would have thought we’d be dads. I’m glad the doc intervened.

Henry makes it look easy, but I know we’ve got a lot of learning to do. I’m glad you’re smart.

Bill nearly snorted his coffee at Kevin’s comment.

You aren’t sluffing this off on me!

Chuckling, Kevin leaned over the table and gave Bill a kiss. They realized the boys were watching but decided open shows of affection were not going to stop. Sexual advancements would most definitely be private, but the boys needed a lot of physical affection and needed to see that their dads knew how to give it to each other and them.

<><><> 

Craig seemed happier than ever to have his father back, but Jacob was now the one having a difficult time. After Craig and his father reappeared, both apparently back from death, Jacob acted indifferent towards his father and wouldn’t talk to anyone about it.

He worked out with the rest of the young soldiers and continued his studies under Albrecht, but something was off. The spark that previously made him the leader of their group of friends was gone.

His indifference grew and seemed to be all-encompassing. Running on ‘auto-pilot,’ he only did the bare minimum of whatever was needed to get by. He ate, but it was mechanical; he complimented Rich on his cooking, but it was obligatory.

Put off by his attitude, Kelly withdrew into her old habits. She lived in the Australian lab full time to help take care of the guests there, and Chloe took most of her attention. Darren worried about her, but the doctor told him not to be overly concerned yet.

Due to recent events, Ken altered the roster in the Australian lab. It was tougher on everyone, but two couples would be present at all times for the foreseeable future. None of them saw what happened to Kent Peterson as neglect, but it was not something they would tolerate happening again.

Tommy and Brett loved bouncing back and forth between their home in Atlanta and the two labs; they especially loved it when they got to stay on ZEUS in the Pacific. The boys were already thriving under the care of their new dads and their ‘uncles,' and just like they did with Drew, the guys took on the roles and loved it.

They were careful to spread the attention evenly as the three young boys all had issues, and it would be easy for jealousy or hard feelings to develop. Speaking with the boys at length, the doctor explained the issues in terms they could understand, planning to counsel them often, both singly and as a group.

Sally had no issue expanding her role as a teacher to include Tommy and Brett along with Drew. Brett was slightly ahead of Drew in his subjects because he attended school regularly, and even though Tommy was two years older, he was only a year ahead in school because of when his birthday fell.

The young soldiers missed Jake’s old self. Craig tried talking to him numerous times but was rebuffed, causing a rift between them. Craig’s feelings were hurt, but his happiness at having their father back helped. He actually liked spending time with his dad now.

Glenn Hampton and the other fathers didn’t know what to make of Kent coming back. Not only was he back from the dead, but he looked twenty-five years younger, and they were freaked out. No longer a part of their circle, frankly he didn’t want to be. After his revelations during the time in his personal Hell, he realized what jerks and assholes they had been their entire lives and still were.

One night, a week after Craig and Kent returned, Albrecht was finishing up their evening exercises. The young men, as usual, were shirtless and sweating bullets. Exhausted, they made their way into the showers to clean up and then read before bed.

Reclining in his bed, Jacob read “How Should We Then Live” by Francis Schaeffer. He discovered a video series made to go along with the book, but Albrecht insisted they read the book and bypass the videos. Not much of a reader, it took him a while, but he was making his way through it when his door chime activated.

Pressing the Comm button on his headboard, he said, “Come in.”

Sighing, he expected Craig or his dad which would mean another argument, and he was surprised when Rich stuck his head in.

“Hey Jake, can we talk?”

“I’m tired, Rich. Can it wait?”

“It could. But whatever’s going on with you isn’t going away, and I want to talk to you. It’s gonna happen whether it’s now or later. Up to you.”

Jacob’s face reddened in anger, but before he could say anything, Rich interrupted him.

“You can be as pissed as you want, bro, but I’m gonna say what I need to say.”

Jacob was surprised and annoyed at Rich’s comment. Rich was so different from when he arrived after their rescue. Before, he was quiet and unassertive and usually Jacob would be proud of his new confidence, but at the moment it annoyed the shit out of him.

Why the fuck does he have to choose now to be this way?

Noting the look on his face, Rich grinned and said, “Yeah, the new me annoys the shit out of my father, too.”

Moving into the room, Rich shut the door, hanging his head and taking a deep breath to gather his courage to continue his push. Sitting on the edge of the bed by Jake’s feet, after a short pause, he started.

“I get what happened, Jake. I don’t think anyone else does, but I do. I’ve lived that way most of my life.”

“What do you think you get, Rich? You don’t know anything about me. Fuck off.”

Jacob was surprised at the vehemence in his own voice, but Rich seemed unaffected.

“I know a lot more than any of you guys think. You thought I was dumb and fat when I got here. Now you just think I’m dumb. Well, I know some things, Jake, even if you don’t think so.”

Rich’s comments hit Jake hard, and he immediately felt like a jerk.

“Hey, Rich, I never thought that about you. None of the guys did.”

Rich grinned slightly and replied, “Now it’s my turn to tell you to fuck off. I know the looks you all gave me when we were rescued. I fucking fainted like a girl, just like my old man said. I’m a cook, not a soldier. I don’t measure up to any of you. I’ve seen those looks my whole life Jake, so don’t lie to me about it.”

Jake’s anger went on hold, replaced by embarrassment, and he felt horrible. He had felt some of what Rich mentioned, but only briefly. After they got to know each other and began working out, Jake thought of Rich as a slightly older version of Craig and wanted to help him.

“I’m sorry, Rich. I never meant to hurt your feelings.”

“Yeah, whatever. I’m used to it.”

“No man, I mean it. I feel like a fucking heel. You don’t deserve that from anyone, especially from the guys and me.”

Hearing the sincerity from his friend made Rich feel good. After spending time with Albrecht, Ken, Brad, and the others, all of them were more open about their feelings. They fought it at first, thinking it wasn’t ‘manly,' but Albrecht gently chastised them for that attitude, and once they got used to it, it enriched their lives and relationships.

“Rich, I’m sorry, man. So, what is this you think you have figured out about me?”

Rich paused again. Now that it boiled down to it, he was hesitant, but he pushed on, saying, “I think you’re afraid and don’t know how to deal with it.”

“Afraid of what?”

“Everything. Us getting captured, The Enemy, The Order, our new friends, who they are and what they can do, at what happened to your dad… Craig dying. It’s so out there and fucked up you don’t know how to deal with it. You’re rattled and don’t know how to react. Craig and your dad coming back was the real kicker, though.”

Staring at Rich, Jacob mulled over his words. His first reaction was another ‘fuck off you don’t know anything about me,' but Rich’s words resonated with him. He thought a lot about his own emotions and didn’t understand them. Maybe Rich was right. Until a tear fell down his cheek, he didn’t realize he was crying.

“What did you mean when you said you'd felt this way your whole life?”

“You don’t know what it’s like being a dumpy fat kid with an overbearing father. I’ve been bullied my whole life by everyone, especially my dad. I’ve lived with fear every day as far back as I can remember. Eventually, I got used to it and thought that was the way the world was. I joined the Army to make myself not afraid anymore. That didn’t work out so well either.”

They both chuckled at his statement.

“Guys like you, Jake, and Nathan, Guy, Caleb, even Craig… you don’t know what it’s like not being an ‘alpha’ kind of guy. The world is easy for you. People want to be around you. No one ever wants to be around me.”

The depth of what Rich shared astounded Jake, and his heart broke for his buddy, hating the cruelty and unfairness in the world, and Jacob felt horrible for adding to it, even a little bit. He was better than that. Jacob also realized Rich saw something inside him. He recognized fear when he saw it because he was so familiar with it.

“Rich, can I tell you something?”

“Sure, Jake. I’m your buddy; you can tell me anything. That’s part of what I’m trying to tell you. You aren’t alone. I understand, and it makes a difference when you know someone else knows what you’re going through, even if you don’t understand it yourself.”

The two men, already good friends, bonded even deeper. Jake was amazed at Rich’s insight and how smart he was. He had already finished Albrecht’s entire reading list. Working with Albrecht and Bryan had opened him up, and Jacob made sure Rich understood Bryan and Albrecht didn’t make him a new man. The man he was had been inside him all along; they just brought him out.

Rich was grateful, and it took some coaxing, but he eventually believed what Jake was telling him. Staying up talking the entire night, by morning Rich helped Jacob work through the worst of what was bothering him. It was nearly 0500 when Jacob hugged his friend tightly, fresh tears in his eyes.

“Thanks, Rich. I needed a kick in the ass. I never thought it would have come from you, but I’m glad you came to me. You’re a man and a stud, and if anyone ever says otherwise come find me, and I’ll set ’em straight.”

Jacob got up to hit the head before trying to get a few hours’ sleep. Sticking his head in the hallway, he noticed his dad at one of the tables in the kitchen sipping a cup of coffee, alone in his thoughts.

While relieving his bladder, Jacob made up his mind. Even though he was shirtless and in his skivvies, he felt a pressing need to move forward before he chickened out.

Kent was surprised when Jacob came into the kitchen. It was 0506, and no one was usually around at that time of the morning unless whoever was on duty from Atlanta was up and working out in the gym. He was shocked to see tears in Jacob’s eyes. Kent looked at his son, the stud marine, and pride filled him. Albrecht told Kent of Jacob’s bravery during the rescue in Syria and how badly he had been hurt.

Jacob’s voice, usually strong, seemed hesitant.

“Hey, Dad? Can we talk?”

Setting his coffee down, Kent said, “Of course, son. I’d like that.”

Before he could get any more words out, Jacob moved forward and pulled his dad into a fierce hug, sobbing.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I’ve been an ass.”

Kent hugged his son back just as fiercely. He wasn’t surprised that Jacob’s body was so rock solid, but it made him feel proud again. Gripping Jake by his shoulders, he held him at arm’s length, crying too.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, son. I’m the one who’s sorry. I’ve been a horrible father my whole life. It took a couple of hundred years of being alone with nothing but time to reflect on my life to realize just how bad I was. I fucked my life up, and you and your brother and your mother suffered because of me. I don’t know if I can ever make things right with you, but I want to try Jake. I really do!”

Pulling Jacob back against him for a few minutes, they stayed that way, man to man, working through their emotions and coming to grips with what was happening between them.

Jacob pulled back first and asked, “Is there any coffee left? I didn’t sleep, but I want to talk.”

Kent’s heart warmed at his son’s words, and he liked that feeling.

Grinning, he said, “Let me guess… strong and black.”

Jake chuckled, saying, “The only way military guys are allowed to drink it. I remember you saying that when I was little.”

“You aren’t little now, son. Damn, you’re a fine-looking man! I’m so proud of you and your brother.”

Like Craig, Jacob noticed some of his father's obvious differences, aside from his age and appearance. He looked Jacob directly in his eyes while they talked, which he had never done before. Kent and Jacob talked, and Kent shared the important events that turned him around. Jacob couldn’t completely forget everything from his life, but he forgave his father.

Craig came out and joined them, and eventually Margie. Thrilled his family was back together, Craig’s face showed it.

Later, Jacob made sure to thank Craig privately for his actions and efforts and apologized for being a jerk. Hugging tightly, they went back to that place inside them when their minds touched with Brad’s help. They would always go back to that place.

<><><> 

Awake, Ken held Brad, the man he loved more than anything; even Frank’s perfect hash browns at Waffle House. The little kid grin Brad loved so much crossed Ken’s face at his thought, and he chuckled softly as he pulled Brad closer, resettling them both. He loved being naked and in bed with Brad; they fit together perfectly as if they were made for each other.

Looking at Brad’s familiar face, etched into his mind and heart, Ken marveled at how handsome he was. All of the team were handsome men, rugged, powerfully built, and strong. It was Brad’s manly features that Ken found so attractive… his body was solidly muscled, and he was so fucking handsome he took Ken’s breath away to look at him, even after all the years they had been together.

Knowing Brad felt the same about him, it was both humbling and heartwarming. His gaze continued down Brad’s body over his powerful chest covered with blond hair. Brad’s body hair was perfect and in all the right places that drove Ken wild. His eyes couldn’t see any further because of the sheets, but Brad’s warm, soft dick rested against his leg, the defining appendage of his male anatomy. Ken loved the solid feel of Brad’s erection when he held it in his hand. Brad’s dick was just as perfect as the rest of him, and the intimacy of that act was deeply special to both of them.

As Ken tightened his arms around his lover, Brad sighed contentedly, unconsciously snuggling closer. Ken’s arms and warm breath on his shoulder affected him, even in sleep.

Ken’s thoughts continued wandering, going over many of the events that led them all to where they were. He remembered the day he interviewed with the doctor for the program and running missions as a SEAL in Syria with Brad and all his buddies… And his capture and torture by Dr. Cromwell a few years ago, the event that triggered the awakening of their Nephilim heritage years ahead of the doctor’s schedule.

The song from Lane’s first dream was a big part of his memories, the words of which, they now realized, were far more prophetic than initially thought. The song spoke of things already accomplished and things yet to happen. The lyrics of The Humbling River ran through his mind, hearing them as if Lane were in the room singing them. The words invoked powerful memories and emotions running through him as he held Brad.

There were always rivers in their lives to cross. The first was the challenge of their awakening powers and abilities, but each challenge they faced, each hardship, was a river that had to be traversed.

Their angelic grandfathers referred to time as a river, viewing mortal lives as rivers, with many streams, outlets, and rapids along the journey. The fact they were all related to archangels still boggled Ken’s mind; the archangel Michael was his fuckin’ grandfather! Ken and Brad and the others were immortal now, and their lives invisible to the higher powers, even Luke, The Dark One. It was a part of the paradox of their Avatars and their existence. The doctor was convinced it was from some outside influence, but whose?

That influence made it apparent there was more to their creation than they were aware of. The doctor, they now realized, had been manipulated, but even the archangels had been manipulated by someone or something. Who or what that could be they didn’t yet know. The Dove that appeared and spoke to Drew, and all of them once… Was it God?

The voice terrified Henry, and Henry knew how much it frightened Ken. As the team leader, Ken reassured Henry, but when they merged, Henry saw the fear in Ken over it. Yet Henry trusted in Ken’s confidence and optimism that somehow, they would succeed. They would find a way to save Drew, the boy who held the second oldest human soul within him…The little boy who carried the Curse and the potential redemption of mankind on his small shoulders. The boy who found his way into all their hearts. They would become whatever they needed to be and pay whatever price necessary to save his life and defeat The Master.

In his military training, Ken learned to break problems down into smaller pieces. Saving creation, or even mankind, was too big to wrap his head around. It was too easy to become overwhelmed by the immensity of it, but saving Drew was personal and something Ken and the guys could dig into with everything in them.

As specific lyrics from Lane’s song echoed in his mind, images came to the forefront of his memory. Despite the pain and trials he had already faced, Ken was happier than he ever had been. His fierce love and protectiveness towards his best friends and teammates, the men he called brothers, and towards the man he held against him ran deep, defining him as a man.

Ken let himself drift in his bond with Brad, the man he loved more than life itself… the man who would be his husband in a few hours….

Two weeks earlier

 Training schedules were back on track and everyone’s days full, especially after Ken changed the coverage rotation between the labs. He included Henry in his rotation, who, of course, would have Drew with him, so every third day, one couple would be off.

Tommy and Brett stayed wherever Kevin and Bill happened to be. Ken talked to Brad at length over the idea of keeping Drew, Tommy, and Brett together all the time, which would mean pairing Henry with Bill and Kevin on the schedule full time. They both decided it would be better not to do that. They each had different reasons; Ken’s was more tactical from a leadership position, and Brad’s was more compassionate, but the end result was the same.

Besides, no matter where the boy’s dads were on the schedule, Drew, Tommy, and Brett would be with Sally during the weekdays, working on their lessons. Having fathers and uncles who could teleport them anywhere in the world in the blink of an eye was a nice perk.

On top of their training, there was the pressing need to continue finding new sites to build labs around the world and get them up and running. Once they defeated The Master, Luke would be free to retaliate; they had to be prepared, and the other bases would be crucial to their defense.

They had less than a year to discover a way to keep Drew alive and defeat The Master, and they were all getting married in a couple of weeks. There were so many things to do, and time wasn’t slowing down.

Collectively, they considered postponing the weddings. It seemed selfish in light of their responsibilities, but Aaron and Albrecht insisted they go through with the ceremony. Henry did too; he loved his brothers and wanted any possible happiness for them amidst the darkness they relentlessly faced defending his son against The Enemy.

It was unclear whether the dreams came from Remiel or the Ether, but each mentalist dreamed of their wedding rings. While they slept, images formed in their minds accompanied by powerful emotions. Each pair of rings was unique, deeply personal, reflecting aspects of each man and couple, as well as their Avatars.

Their awe of Albrecht only increased as he somehow maintained his tutelage over the young soldiers in Australia and helped craft their wedding rings. He asked Bryan to take him to the valley several times and was very tight-lipped about his purpose, only saying it had something to do with the upcoming wedding.

He arranged for Brad and Darren to contact him at specific times to teleport him back or send him where he needed to be. Bryan and the bodies smelled Leroy on him after every trip, which told them Albrecht had been inside the cave. They trusted Albrecht completely, and he knew the dangers and risks, but they couldn’t fathom what he needed to do there.

<><><> 

Finally, the day arrived. As soon as Ken woke up, holding Brad in the early hours of the morning, there was something subtly different. Oddly, he couldn’t discern if the feeling resided within him or if it was something external.

A tingle of excitement in his gut brought a smile to his face, knowing he was on the verge of a life-changing event. Laughing to himself, he related the feeling to the first time he and Brad made love all those years ago. At the time he was technically a virgin, and that icy ball of excitement was the same as what he presently felt.

Each man awoke to the same subtle difference as Ken. That morning they instinctively merged, becoming one, remaining quiet and resting in one another. No jokes were tossed out, and no shit was hung. As Ken had done throughout the previous night, most of them reflected on the journey they shared as men, brothers, and couples.

As close as they were and as often as they lived together in their hearts, minds, and souls, they were very different and unique individuals. Humans often picked up traits of those closest to them, mimicking behaviors of the ones they loved and looked up to. The guys had enough ‘alpha’ in them to prevent that, and they were glad.

Their rugged inner strength and individualism staved off the chameleon-like effect that lesser personalities often succumbed to. None of them thought they were better than the mortals they defended; they were just mentally healthy, well-adjusted, and awake. Aside from being half Nephilim, they were original, unfallen men, what all humans were intended to be at the outset of creation. Throughout the morning they stayed in a light link, enough to feel each other.

Reluctantly, Ken released his partner as Brad threw his legs off the bed, putting his feet on the floor. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he rubbed his hands over his face trying to wake up. Ken looked at Brad’s muscular form and handsome face, more cute at the moment than handsome, with his sleepy face and bedhead hair. Scooting closer, Ken wrapped an arm around Brad’s stomach from behind and hugged him one last time.

“Mornin, B.”

Leaning forward Ken kissed Brad’s back, tasting the salt from the sweat of their lovemaking the night before. Brad twisted, and Ken watched the muscles of his lean body flex as he turned so they could embrace. Cradling Ken’s head against his torso, Brad kissed the top of his head.

“Today’s the day, Ken.”

Emotions swam thick between them, and Ken detected a slight tremor in Brad’s voice.

Giving Brad the little kid grin that melted him, his own eyes went glassy.

“Fuck, I love you so much, B. It’s hard ‘ta believe this is really happenin’.”

“No matter how long we live, Ken, even if it’s forever, I’ll remember every second of this day.”

“Well, you can’t help it. You’ve got a perfect memory.”

Laughing, Brad squeezed Ken’s head more tightly against his chest.

“Douche.”

Still grinning, Ken twisted his head slightly and covered Brad’s nipple with his mouth, hardening his tongue and flicking it. Brad’s sharp intake of breath told Ken his ploy worked, and it ignited the fires of their libidos. Neither of them became ‘that guy,’ instead making gentle love to one another. Well, gentle for them. The strength of their bodies and the power of their souls were involved, and they both ended up in a satisfied, sweaty heap.

Their brothers did the same thing. The day's unique feeling ignited affections they held for each other physically, mentally, and spiritually. As they climbed towards their impending orgasms, they were with one another. As a group, they rarely shared that, wanting to do it only on special occasions, never wanting that feeling to become commonplace or taken for granted.

The depths of the bonds they shared were deep and more profound than even they knew. The being behind their creation knew it was necessary. It was His Gift to them.

Istariel’s father smiled on them, and it was his presence they felt, although they didn’t realize it for what it was. Many things would happen that day, but nothing bad, even if it didn’t seem so on the surface. He would make sure of it.

<><><> 

The first surprise of the day presented itself when everyone arrived at the lab. They had been under strict instructions from the doctor not to come to the lab the day before, explaining his need to make preparations for the wedding.

Being former military, they were always punctual and usually arrived early out of habit. Coincidentally, they all pulled into the parking lot within minutes of one another. Loy and Rick were the first to arrive, and as they got out of their SUV, Bryan and Lane pulled in. By the time they exchanged hugs and backslaps, Bill and Kevin arrived with Tommy and Brett. Before they made the rounds of hugs and kisses with the boys, Ken, Brad, Pat, and Darren pulled in.

Filing into the building, they found the lab quiet, but the smell of fresh coffee pulled them into the kitchen. A note on the coffee maker in Sally’s handwriting said, “Come into the gym after you’ve had a cup or two.”

Bill and Kevin sent Tommy and Brett into the gym ahead of them, suspecting Drew was already there with Henry. Curiosity was killing them, but Sally’s coffee was so good they filled their cups first. That morning, in honor of the occasion, she used the ‘good beans,’ and the aroma and flavor were exquisite.

Pushing the gym doors open, Ken found Henry, Drew, Sally, Tommy, and Brett sorting racks of clothing bags. Drew knew his uncles were there because of Tommy and Brett and was waiting for them. As soon as they came through the door, he took off running, literally leaping into Ken’s arms.

“Good morning, Uncle Ken!”

Receiving and returning the ritualistic wet sloppy kiss on his cheek, Ken added a big loud raspberry to Drew’s belly button before he passed Drew off to Brad. Drew was passed from man to man, and there were smiles all around from seeing Drew so happy and excited. When they set him down, he ran over to Henry and knelt, putting his arm around the wolf-spirit Loy called to protect his dreams from The Master.

Chorusing, “Good morning, guys!” Sally and Henry continued sorting through the suit bags as Sally checked things off a list, her organizational skills in full effect. The large insulated coolers used to store extra food on ZEUS were stacked nearby, and their gym bags looked full.

Eyebrows rose at the sight of the gym bags, and laughing, Henry said, “Don’t worry fellas, Sally didn’t go through your privates. I got everything out of your lockers and packed those. She didn’t see anything that would scar her for life.”

Henry’s comment brought a round of laughter and an actual “Whew!” of relief from Rick and Loy, who were undoubtedly the kinkiest of the group. Of course, Sally knew everything there was to know about them, but it was still funny.

Brad asked, “So, where’s the doc?”

Henry replied, “The doc left town early yesterday morning. He told me once you all were here and had your coffee to have you contact him.”

Curious looks passed between them; they expected the day to be very low-key. The plan was to have the doctor and Albrecht perform the ceremony in the gym with Henry as Best Man for all of them and Drew as the ring bearer.

They decided not to bring in the families from the Australian lab and hoped that wouldn’t cause any hurt feelings with the young soldiers. The Keenans couldn’t join them because of their relocation. The timing of that was terrible, but Ken insisted they not break protocol.

 Noticing their looks, Henry said, “Look, fellas… This is a special day. We know you wanted to keep it low-key and all, but it’s not. You guys are special. As much as you don’t like to think of yourselves that way, you are. You’re the most special guys in the world aside from the doc and Albrecht, and they want to make this day special for you and made a few plans. Just go with it, and I promise you it’ll all be good. There will be some surprises, but I think you’ll enjoy them.”

Henry joined their link as soon as they entered the gym, and his sincerity and depth of feelings for them were evident. Proud of them, Henry had come to love them like he never thought he could love another human being, especially other men. With their help he transcended such pettiness and existed in them as much as they did in him. His happiness for them was apparent and warmed them deep down inside.

“Let us treat you to something special for a change, alright? You all do so much for us; it’s our turn to treat you guys. So, deal with it.”

The grin on his face took any sting out of his words.

“Now, let’s get this shindig started. I think we have everything sorted. These suit bags are our tuxes and Sally’s dress. We have food and drinks and a few extra accouterments stored in the coolers. By the way, no peeking in the red cooler, and I mean that. I swore under pain of death and dismemberment to the doc and Albrecht that it would stay sealed.”

Sally blew her nose, and when they looked she had tears in her eyes.

Smiling, she said, “Sorry guys, I’ll try to keep the tears to a minimum, but I can’t help it. I always cry at weddings.”

Brad brought Sally into their link, and her emotions became apparent. She loved them and was extremely happy for them, but there was a tinge of sadness in her. She planned to marry Carlo before The Enemy killed him, and the event brought those memories back fresh and clear. Darren, closest to her, pulled her into a hug. Teleporting a nearby box of Kleenex into his hands, he gave it to her with a wink.

Patting his cheek, she said, “You’re so handy.”

Darren’s dimples showed with his grin, and he winked, replying, “Tell that to these yahoos.”

It took a few minutes to rinse out their coffee cups and put them in the dishwasher. A few of them made last-minute bathroom breaks, and then they were ready to go.

Looking and sounding sad, Drew asked, “Daddy, can’t she come with us? Please?”

“Sorry, Drew, the doctor said she can’t. There has to be a good reason. She’ll be fine without you for a day.”

The wolf-spirit looked directly at Henry, and her thoughts were plain.

Bring him back to me safe.

Once everybody was ready, Brad’s eyes turned white, and he cast his voice across the planet, not knowing where the doc was.

Doc?

Hello, Bradford! Gather tight! Darren will need help getting all of you here, along with the supplies. Look through my eyes when you are ready.

They delved into one another; Ten, five, one, plus Henry. Brad pulled Drew in as deeply as he could. Tommy, Brett, and Sally remained on the surface so they could hear everyone talk.

Darren synchronized their Avatars, and using the image in Brad’s mind through the doctor’s eyes, they all vanished.

<><><>  

None of them had any idea where the doctor was. Of course, Brad had a visual for the teleport, but it was a small clearing outdoors with few discernible features. The day was sunny, bright, and slightly breezy. The grass was deep emerald green, and Bryan sensed the difference in the flora immediately, indicating they weren’t anywhere close to home.

The strangeness of the place hit their senses right away, and it almost felt like they were across the veil. Brad and the mentalists knew they weren’t because their Avatars didn’t react, but something was different. With Pat’s Understanding, it struck them that the area they stood in was unaffected by time!

Ken and the other bodies smelled the salt of the ocean on the breeze. Loy became acutely aware of nearby sea life and other natural fauna of the area, already enjoying the presence of animals indigenous to the region. In turn, the animals sensed their steward as he cast his mind outward, relishing the sense of completion all animals felt towards Loy and the men.

The doctor smiled when they appeared. It was a big smile for him and one that they weren’t used to seeing, and they all smiled back.

Ken’s curiosity was on fire.

“Hey, doc! So, where are we? What is this place?”

The doctor grinned when he saw Brad roll his eyes at Ken’s questions and winked at Brad, knowing all about Ken’s inquisitive nature.

Before the doctor could respond, Ken continued, “Where’s Albrecht?”

“He and the others are waiting nearby. You can carry everything now or help Darren move it to where we are setting up. I will leave that up to you.”

A quick consensus ended with them carrying everything. Powered up, with the load spread among them it was no trouble. The guys made sure there was nothing for Sally or the boys to carry. The boys were more interested in looking around than helping anyway.

Following the doctor, they left the clearing, walking a few hundred yards around a large rock outcropping. As soon as they rounded the corner, the beauty of the place struck them. The scene before them looked like something out of a fantasy novel. A long row of trees lined with flowering vines formed a tunnel of interwoven branches. At the end of the trees stood two large ornate doors surrounded by white marble covered in ivy. The doors were the entrance to a small castle, but one unfamiliar to any of them.

With the mentalists' perfect memory, they were surprised at least one of them had never seen the castle in a history book or on a web page. The doctor rarely used his abilities openly, so they were surprised when he extended his shields over Sally and the boys.

Noting their curiosity, he said, “You will see why momentarily. There is no cause for alarm; however, this place is protected.”

As soon as they passed the tree line, a powerful compulsion hit them. Their Nephilim heritage made them immune, but Sally and the boys had no defense. It was a harmless command to ignore the castle and see the area as a thick copse of trees, coupled with the urge to move away from the area. The illusion was extraordinarily potent, and short of The Master himself they doubted any of The Enemy would see through it.

Even unaffected by time, the age of the place was apparent, and it was breathtakingly beautiful. As they moved forward, the next surprise came at the sight of Giovanni and Taliesin waiting for them at the doors, along with Albrecht.

Everyone felt Lane’s reaction through the link when he caught sight of Taliesin. The doctor knew his young charge well and noticed his response. Everyone held Lane a little tighter and collectively told him: Don’t let him being here ruin what this day is about!

Bryan, in particular, put down the cooler he carried and pulled Lane against him. He reiterated the words of his brothers.

Don’t let him bug you, Lane. You know he wouldn’t be here if the doc didn’t need him for something. I trust the doc, and I know you do too. It’s all good… And I love you, you handsome fucker, so smile and chill out.

Relaxing, Lane smiled, leaning his head on Bryan’s shoulder for a second.

You’re right Bry. Sorry guys; knee-jerk reaction. I’m cool with it.

The spot they were in was as good as any to set everything down, so they unloaded and took the opportunity to pat Lane on his back or ruffle his hair. In the link, they hung shit on him for his reaction, and he took it in stride, even managing to laugh at himself.

Moving to the doors, everyone shook hands with Giovanni. Albrecht was all smiles, but Taliesin seemed tense and on edge, even distracted. Aware of their arrival, he ignored them.

The doctor continued, “So, I know you are wondering where we are and what this place is.”

If they didn’t know any better, they would swear the doctor paused for dramatic effect.

“The tales of this place are woven throughout history. None of the stories or legends are accurate, of course. We made sure of that, although a few grains of truth occasionally rang true. Most of those, I think, were more due to chance. The Order wished this place to remain hidden and did what was necessary for it to stay so.

“This was once the seat of a small but powerful kingdom. The man who ruled here was not of The Order, though he was our greatest ally in the human world. Enchantments were set to preserve this place; however, once these doors open, the magic will cease and time will overtake everything in a matter of days.

“I wished to bring you here for many reasons. First, there is no place more fitting to bind yourselves together in marriage. You are my sons, and I wish to make this place a gift to you. The Old World is fading, and as you have surmised, the Old Ways failed to defeat The Master.

“However, the man who ruled here followed the same principles as all of you. He fought for the free will of mankind and was a light in the world for many years. I think he would find what we wish to accomplish here a fitting end to his legacy.

“Tal is the only person alive who can open the chamber, and at my request, he is here to do so for you.”

The tension in Taliesin was visible. Brad’s Avatar was going haywire as he watched Taliesin examine the door. Lane, Loy, and Darren picked up echoes from the others, but Bill had the strangest sensation of all, feeling as though he stood behind a dam about to burst. The place they stood was a seat of incredible power and change in the world, and all those impressions were held at bay by the magic Charisa used to preserve it. The imprints were there, waiting to break loose and flood back into time.

Pat’s Understanding filled his vision, magnified by his brothers. Charisa didn’t stop time; that was magic too powerful even for The Mantle. What she did was buffer the effects of time.

The team, including Henry, stayed deeply linked in a private bond, sharing and observing everything. The outer link comprised the doctor, Albrecht, Giovanni, and Sally, and one other light link included the boys.

Standing before the door, Taliesin’s eyes raked in every detail and nuance, comparing it to his memory. Of course, nothing had changed. His apprehension and anxiety were tangible, and they saw it but did not understand the reason. The doctor reached for his shoulder, but Albrecht waved him off with a nod. Aaron had a pained look on his face but quickly masked it.

Patrick and the others saw the link between the doctor and Albrecht, although they didn’t know what was said. They were always curious about what the doctor and Albrecht spoke of. Their mentors were the two wisest men they knew and had been alive and partnered for thousands of years. They hadn’t grown tired of one another, and their relationship seemed as fresh as ever. The men took great comfort in that knowledge, and while they looked forward to living together forever, the idea was as daunting as it was comforting.

A strange feeling fell over the area like the icy calm they felt as soldiers before a difficult mission. Henry and Sally sensed it as well, even the boys. Tommy and Brett moved to Bill and Kevin and Drew moved to Henry, wanting to be held. Something profound, a deep magical event, was about to occur.

Bowing his head, Taliesin stretched out a hand. There was no longer any power in Taliesin, only knowledge. The Gift he carried all those centuries now resided in Lane, bound to his Avatar, so they were surprised when his voice echoed in both realms.

“Ynys y Afalau.”

The effect was subtle but powerful, as the enchantment Charisa cast nearly 1500 years ago lifted. Images and sensations flooded into them through Bill, not unpleasant but intense, and Brad slowed their perception of time so they could take it all in. Áedán’s funeral procession appeared around them. The entire court, along with Charisa and Taliesin, seemingly solid but non-corporeal, moved through everyone.

Albrecht pulled Aaron tightly into his heart at the unexpected sight of Charisa. Images gripped them, immersing everyone in a wave of memories and events too important to go unseen. For nearly an hour, they stood motionless while events around them transpired, catching up in time.

The magic of The Mantle was so potent that Brad and the other mentalists heard the thoughts and experienced the emotions of the ghostly images and Ken and the bodies through their partners. They Understood the various languages spoken, mostly ancient dialects of Welsh, Irish, and Scottish.

Instinctively, Brad knitted their souls more tightly together. He wasn’t sure why, but his Avatar reacted to what was happening. Including Henry, he left the others in the secondary link so they could see everything but not feel the emotions or hear the thoughts. At first, Tommy and Brett were frightened, clinging tighter to Bill and Kevin, but Drew was fascinated. In his mind’s eye he saw they were only memories, almost like the entities that lived inside of him. Henry held him anyway, to be doubly sure he felt safe, and they watched together.

Ken’s Avatar reacted too, locking them all together, and the intangible ‘something extra’ the doctor spoke of became present, bringing their own magic to the place. All ten Avatars, each in its unique way, became active in what they witnessed. The events of the world at the time of Áedán’s life were made clear to them, and the knowledge of who Áedán was took their breath away.

They stood in Avalon! The chamber before them housed the man that history and legends named King Arthur. Áedán’s full name was Áedán mac Artur. They also realized what a remarkable and extraordinary man Taliesin had been at the time. It was apparent why the doctor wanted to bring them there for the ceremony, and they were humbled. The first tears of the day fell down their faces, loving the man they called father more than ever, to do such a thing for them.

Even after the impressions caught up, the imprints were intense and palpable to Bill’s Avatar as the potency of the place continued to make itself felt. When the impressions caught up with the present and the images faded from sight, the doors stood open, and Taliesin was gone.

<><> 

Taliesin confidently predicted what would occur when the enchantment broke. He was the only one among them who had been present 1500 years ago, and based on his knowledge of their abilities, he accurately foresaw the reaction of their Avatars. He regretted Aaron seeing Charisa, knowing it would cause him discomfort, but he wanted to be in the Chamber alone and uninterrupted for a time and knew of no other way to orchestrate the situation.

It seemed as though he had stepped back in time and admonished himself at the thought because that’s precisely what he just did. Moving quickly down the hallway, even knowing what to expect, he was still astounded that nothing had changed in 1500 years. Everything was just as he remembered in the last minutes before Charisa sealed the doors.

Making his way to the main hall, he stopped. His hands shook so hard he had to stop and focus, realizing his palms were sweating. Emotions boiled forth, a combination of his love and affection for Áedán, and harsh fear and anxiety over what he was about to find.

Was he still alive? Could he be alive after all this time, trapped between life and death? Could Lane heal him and bring him back to the world?

Emotions from 1500 years ago returned, fresh and poignant, gripping him so tightly they took his breath away. He felt caught in the time trap Charisa cast on the place.

Had he been responsible for centuries of Áedán’s torment? Could he live with himself if he knew beyond doubt Áedán suffered because of him?

His heart pounding in his chest, Taliesin knew he didn’t have much time and forced his emotions in check, opening the great doors.

He choked at the sight of Áedán, resting on the huge marble slab. In reality, Áedán had been dead for nearly 1500 years, although by the enchantment it had been minutes, perhaps even seconds. He wondered if Uriel had taken his soul or if it still resided in his body. He didn’t know the exact details or timing of what Charisa had done.

Would Áedán hate him if he had been trapped all this time? Would he even be aware?

Moving forward, trancelike, to the edge of the slab, he looked upon the face of the man he loved, the man he called brother. Áedán was one of many people Taliesin loved over the centuries, but one he loved equally as much as Charisa, and perhaps even more intensely. As with Charisa, his love was not returned, not in the way he wanted or needed. The tragedy of that love, so like his love of Charisa, also unrequited, added to his misery.

Taliesin wasn’t aware of the tears falling down his cheeks until a dark spot appeared on Áedán’s sleeve. Staring at the wetness, he panicked as the garment began to disintegrate. The remains of Áedán, so lifelike, collapsed into fine dust in a matter of seconds.

He wasn’t prepared for that, and his heart wrenched, ripped out of his chest at reliving the death of his brother all over again. Taliesin’s mind pieced together that what he witnessed shouldn’t have happened. Charisa must have done this! She must have seen through his deception and done this to punish him!

Utter shock and numbness overtook him, and he sat down hard, leaning back against the massive marble base with a blank expression. Staring at nothing for minutes, he tried to process his emotions and the impact of what he felt.

Taliesin intended to bottle it up as he taught himself to do, but after everything he had been through recently, he wasn’t able to and all the pent-up emotions, not just over Áedán but from most of his life, came rushing to the surface. His shoulders shaking, he put his head in his hands and cried.

At first, he cried so hard he almost passed out from lack of oxygen, but once he found his voice, Taliesin wailed, and his anguish echoed through the empty chamber. For the first time since he was a boy, Taliesin cried hysterically, and there was no one to comfort him.

He was alone and knew it was his fault. Realization struck him at how foolish his attempt to stop loving all those centuries ago had been. He thought himself clever but realized the folly of what he tried to do, and delving to the bottom of the well of his emotions, he wallowed in self-pity.

He was angry at Albrecht for recruiting him into The Order, at Aaron for asking him to carry the Gift, at Charisa for what she had done to his heart, and even at Áedán for not returning his love and dying from wounds attained in a ridiculous hunting accident.

Looking back on his life, Taliesin saw moments of happiness, but he had been, and was primarily, lonely. He liked both men and women, trapped between their worlds, with neither side fully able to satisfy him.

Reeling, he wanted to end his miserable existence but couldn’t because of Lane’s compulsion; so, he cried. Curled up in a ball at the foot of the tomb of his best friend in life, the man he loved deeply, the man whose death his heart experienced twice, lost in his grief and depression, he wept.

Taliesin wasn’t sure how long his tears fell. His head ached terribly from the strain, and in his ego, he worried about his voice and ability to sing at the wedding. The idiocy of that thought caused him to laugh at himself amidst his tears.

His soul was weary and tired of hurting, and with Lane’s compulsion preventing him from taking action, in his mind, the cruelty of The Order continued. The emotional pressure of his pain coupled with the sight of Áedán falling to dust at the touch of his tears was too much, and his vision faded to blackness.

A.D. 509 

The Chamber doors sealed with a boom of finality, and the echo of their shutting reverberated throughout the room. Cavall whined, and looking at the closed doors, he rested his head on his paws. He wanted to go with his master but knew he could not. He was faithful, though, beyond measure, and would stay by his master’s side until he breathed his last. Then he would go to sleep himself. The long sleep all animals knew about; the dark sleep before being reborn.

Cavall was unlike other dogs. Legends in the future would say he could see the wind with his silver eyes. He was a dog of uncanny intelligence and Áedán’s loyal companion. In truth, as a newborn pup, Cavall was blessed by the angel Ariel at Raphael’s direction. Raphael never knew the purpose of his instruction, other than that there was a need in the world for Cavall to fill, so the deed was done.

Cavall raised his head when a new presence appeared in the room. First two, then eight more men stood before him, shining so brightly he could barely look at them. The steward stood among them, and his presence calmed Cavall. He did not understand why they were there or what they did to his master. Present only for a moment, they vanished quickly, leaving the chamber cold and empty once again.

Immediately after, Cavall watched as Uriel came to collect Áedán’s soul. Growling deep in this throat, he did not want the archangel to take his master, but Gabriel appeared, speaking in his mind.

Be calm, Braveheart. Your master travels to a place you cannot yet go; you know this. You have another task, and a new master awaits. You already love him and will be happy again. He will be in much pain the next time you see him, and he will need your strength.

Uriel saw Gabriel kneeling by the hound and wondered what his task might be. With their provinces so vastly different, their paths rarely crossed while fulfilling their duties.

Cavall heard Gabriel’s words, and with a heavy sigh, his head returned to his outstretched paws.

Uriel and Gabriel made eye contact, and the infinite depths of their ageless eyes met, giving comfort to one another as they continued on the paths they were created to fill.

With a nod, Uriel vanished, and Gabriel turned back to Cavall.

Sleep now, Braveheart. Dream in peace, and soon you will awake to a new life.

The magic Charisa invoked spread through the chamber. Gabriel slipped Cavall out of time long enough to fall into a deep natural sleep and then let the enchantment envelop him. He also witnessed the cruelty of Charisa’s action, realizing she never intended to save Áedán. Charisa was a political creature, always scheming and weaving her webs. Looking deeper, Gabriel realized she did it to protect a secret of her own and wondered if she would have acted similarly if she knew the wound in Taliesin’s heart would only widen further with her actions.

Marveling at the malice in humans, even ones who were awake, he thought long and hard about the fate of man and how they could possibly survive against The Enemy when even those dedicated to the light treated each other with such cruelty.

Present Day

Hearing his name, Cavall woke with a start.

Cavall! Awake! Your new master needs you! Go to him!

<> 

 As soon as Cavall’s eyes opened, he smelled his new master. He remembered Taliesin’s scent well and knew instinctively he was the new master Gabriel spoke of. Moving out from behind Áedán’s resting place where he had slept for the last 1500 years, Cavall saw Taliesin on the ground, unmoving.

Moving forward, he looked at Taliesin’s face, wet with salty tears. Cavall always liked the taste of tears and had no idea why his master would sleep in the middle of the day. He caught the scent of something else… The smell of Áedán, his old master, but it was strange and weak, like a memory. Áedán was gone, and one-day Cavall would see him again, but for now he needed to stay with Taliesin.

Something tickled Taliesin’s face, and he tried to brush it away, thinking it was dust. His hand found something coarse and furry, and he jerked awake in surprise.

Waking in the Chamber and seeing Cavall, Taliesin thought he was back in time, expecting to see members of the court milling about or to hear Áedán’s voice bellowing for him as he usually did. Looking into the silver eyes staring into his, Taliesin realized he was awake and when he was.

Speechless, he thought it must be a dream, yet he no longer carried the Gift. Cavall was real! He smelled him, felt his fur and his rough tongue on his face. Sitting on his haunches, Cavall looked at his new master, wondering at his strange behavior.

In a quivering voice, barely a whisper, Taliesin asked, “Are you real?”

Leaning forward, Cavall butted his head gently against Taliesin’s chest in a manner that clearly stated: I am real. Hardly daring to believe, Taliesin rubbed his hands through the rough fur and knew beyond any doubt it was, in fact, his old friend.

It was unimaginable how Cavall could be alive and with him! Taliesin’s reaction was instinctive, and he hugged the big dog against him, breathing in the smell of his fur. Cavall pressed his muzzle against Taliesin’s head, and it was a comfort he had not felt in centuries. Taliesin cried again while Cavall sat patiently with him, lending him his solid strength and presence, occasionally leaning up to gently lick fresh tears from his face.

<><> 

Minutes later Cavall didn’t growl, but he stood up quickly, facing the door to the main hallway. Taliesin heard echoes of the boys talking, and the doors pushed open. The men fanned out across the room, looking with wide eyes and taking everything in.

Bill stopped, and for a moment, he saw Áedán lying on the marble slab. He watched the impression of Taliesin standing over him, crying, and Áedán’s form falling to dust. Everyone but the boys saw it through the link Brad kept between them. The emotion of what happened was fresh and moving, evident through Bill’s Avatar.

Aaron and Albrecht saw Cavall and stopped.

Aaron found his voice first and asked, “Tal, how? How can he be here?”

“I don’t know, but he is.”

After a short pause, he continued, “He’s mine now. I wanted to go back for him, but Charisa forbade me. I will never leave him again.”

His tone expressed a finality that dared anyone to say otherwise.

Compassion filling Albrecht’s voice, he quietly said, “We saw everything, Tal. We’re so sorry.”

Albrecht’s voice shook with emotion for his old friend and in anger at Charisa, knowing her actions hurt Taliesin even further. It was impossible not to eavesdrop with everyone in the room. Lane, in particular, listened and saw Taliesin’s tear-streaked face. They all witnessed what happened, but only the doctor and Albrecht had enough knowledge to know what transpired and why Taliesin seemed so upset. Before Henry could stop him, Drew moved forward and knelt in front of Taliesin and Cavall.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Taliesin.”

Sounding like an adult, once again Drew expressed an emotional awareness beyond his years. Drew’s action caught Taliesin off guard, and he didn’t know how to react. He never liked children and was awkward around them.

His voice still trembling, Taliesin mumbled, “Thank you, boy.”

Leaning forward, Drew hugged him. Embarrassed to be seen in such a state, Taliesin stood up quickly, saying, “I need to make preparations. Aaron, you and Albrecht can give them the grand tour.”

Abruptly, he left the room with Cavall at his heels. The doctor, not wanting to mar the day for the men, recovered quickly and said, “Everyone, follow me. The room where we wish to perform the ceremony is at the end of the next hall.”

There was a lot of chatter in their minds. For some reason, none of them wanted to disturb the quiet sanctity of the place by talking aloud. Feeling it too, Drew raised his arms, wanting Henry to carry him. Drew wasn’t afraid of what he thought of as ghosts in the place, but he wasn’t entirely comfortable either and needed the security of his father.

Astute, Henry learned a great deal about his adopted son. He knew seeing Taliesin in such an emotional state affected Drew, and it was another reason he wanted to be held. Drew was uncannily compassionate for a child of his age, especially after his own hardships.

Tommy and Brett continued talking aloud, their voices echoing in the empty hallway, oblivious to what everyone else felt.

The doors to the next room were large and ornately carved. Wooden panels depicted stories from Áedán’s life, with runes decoratively carved along the borders. The craftsmanship was superb. One panel, in particular, showed what could only be Yggdrasil in the valley and fascinated Bryan. Reverently running his fingertips over the wooden carving, he realized immediately it was wood from the tree! Anger rose rapidly to the surface of his emotions, but Albrecht quickly responded.

It is rare, Bryan, but occasionally branches fall. The tree was never harmed. The wood in those panels left the valley before the veil was called and took centuries to collect. It is most likely the only wood from the tree that now exists outside the valley. Áedán hired the best craftsman of the age to carve the panels. They are exquisite, are they not?

A sudden flash of insight hit Bryan.

I can save these. When time catches up here, I can preserve these panels. I want to keep them.

Another thought struck him; the wooden box Gabriel kept for Lane that housed the memory sphere his future self sent back, the one that allowed Lane to assimilate the Gift from Taliesin… It came from this wood! He stood at one of the ripples of that paradox. Deeply merged with his brothers, they heard his thoughts - the significance of the panels being there and the doctor bringing them to the castle.

Puppet strings.

None of that lessened their happiness or what the doctor and Albrecht were doing for them, so they pushed those thoughts away for the time being. Thrilled and excited, in a few hours they would be married. After living together for decades, things shouldn’t seem different but being married mattered to them. It was more than the rings and the ceremony's outward symbolism; marriage would create another bond between them that nothing could touch, and they wanted it.

Coming up behind Brad, Ken wrapped his arms around his chest in a hug and rested his chin on Brad’s shoulder while gently squeezing them together.

Is this place cool, or what?

It’s beyond cool, Ken. It reminds me there’s so much more to the doctor, Albrecht, and even Taliesin than we know. The history they’ve lived through, the historical figures they met and interacted with… It’s mind-boggling, and it makes me feel young and inexperienced.

I get what you’re sayin’, but we all gotta start somewhere. In a few thousand years we’ll be those guys. That is if you can put up with me for that long.

Grinning as he thought his words, Brad felt the little kid grin on Ken’s face, one of the many parts of him he loved and was attracted to.

Each couple ended up holding one another, talking privately and to the group, along with Henry.

The doctor gave them a few minutes to look around before he pushed the doors open. Their excitement built as they moved through the small castle, now knowing where they were and who had lived there.

The first thought through their minds when they saw the table was – it wasn’t round! It was a decagon. No specific images came from the table, but the emotions and impressions tied to it were powerful. Righteousness was the most pervasive, coupled with bravery, mirth, anger, and one thing that surprised them: a lack of hate. Áedán and his men must have been remarkable humans based on the impressions that remained.

The table wasn’t exactly a table either. Hollow in the middle, each of the ten sections folded back as an entrance to the center, presumably to be the focal point for whoever spoke.

Of all the team, Lane read the most science fiction and fantasy and recalled the various books he read about King Arthur and admonished himself for not realizing Taliesin was ‘the’ Taliesin in those legends. The stories Taliesin could tell if he wished… But he probably wouldn’t.

Bryan: Ask him, Lane. You’re assuming he won’t.

He’s such an ass, Bry, and he hates me because of the compulsion. I feel like a heel for keeping it on him, but we need him for something. I still don’t know what for, but he’s crucial to our success.

The doctor’s voice entered their minds through the link: All of you continue to look around. There is nothing dangerous here and much history if you wish to explore it.

Lane: Hey doc, sorry to interrupt, but I have a question.

Yes, my boy?

The doctor’s tone indicated he knew what Lane was about to ask but was humoring him.

Were you Merlin? We saw Áedán’s court in the memories of this place except for him, and Merlin was one of the most prominent characters in the legends.

I am not sure if I should be flattered or angered by your question. Do I look old and have a white beard?

The guys were all smiling, waiting to see if Lane would dig the hole deeper or find a way out of it.

Awww, come on, Doc! You know what I mean! It would have been so cool to use your powers openly as a wizard!

The doctor’s mental voice dripped with sarcasm.

Yes, my boy, I am sure it would have been. I am sorry to disappoint you, but no, the persona of Merlin was nothing so grand. He was an herbalist who had more than passing skill at healing, and he was not of The Order. He was a good friend of Áedán’s, and sadly not present when Áedán was injured.

Oh, well. It would have been a lot cooler if it was you. You would have made a great Merlin.

Thank you, my boy. I think.

Smiling, everyone shook their heads at Lane, Bryan most of all. A mental chuckle ran through them once again when Bryan thought: God, I love my nerd.

<><> 

Two hours later, Brad, Lane, Darren, Bill, and Loy stood in a small side chamber off the main hall, adjusting each other’s ties and straightening the shoulders of their tuxes, looking devastatingly handsome in their formal wear. Mixed in with their nervousness was a high level of anticipation. To help keep themselves centered, they treated it like suiting up for a mission.

The doctor requested they drop all active links an hour before and asked that no one speak mentally or raise any power until after the ceremony unless called upon to do so during the ceremony. He said it was important, and they took it to heart.

Henry came in to check on them a few minutes before the ceremony was due to start.

“Hey fellas, how are you? Any last-minute jitters?”

Now that the moment was upon them, there was a high level of nervousness. Palms were sweaty, and their stomachs held a cold ball of anxiety. All eyes turned to Henry when he came into the side chamber, grinning at them. He looked stunning himself, and his smile was a mile wide.

“You faced off with a demon, and you’re nervous about getting married?”

His comment brought a chuckle out of them.

“Things are just about to kick off here. I need to check on your other halves, and then we’re a go. I want to tell you all how proud I am of you. You’re the best men I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing, and I can’t imagine my life without you guys. You’re the best, and I love you. I mean that.”

Working his way around the room, he shook each of their hands before pulling them into a tight embrace. Emotions were high, and all of their eyes were bright.

“I’ll be back to give you the signal in a few minutes. Until then, no one breaks away and runs screaming like a little girl, okay?”

Lane said, “Hey, that’s my line!”

Henry winked at him and said, “Yeah, I see why you use it all the time! I’ll be right back.”

<><> 

Henry moved to the other side chamber where Ken, Bryan, Kevin, Rick, and Pat were getting ready. The scene was almost identical; when he opened the door, they were helping each other.

“What a group of handsome fuckers! You all look like you belong on the cover of GQ!”

The guys grinned, and before Henry could say anything else, Ken pulled him into a tight hug.

“We just wanna say, Henry, how proud we all are of you and how much you mean ‘ta us. There’s no man we’d rather have by our side today than you.”

Choking up, Henry said, “Thanks, guys!”

Making his way around the room, he shook hands and hugged each of them as he had in the other room.

“I feel the same way, fellas. You know I do. It’s an honor and a privilege to be with all of you. You’re the best.”

Pausing at the door, he said, “I’ll be back in a few minutes, and things will start. No need to be nervous… You’re just committing your life for all eternity to other guys who are immortal half-angels with perfect memories that will never let you forget the slightest mistake. But look on the bright side! They don’t have periods!”

His comment got them to laugh, which is what he wanted. Ken winked at him as he closed the door, and Henry winked back with a grin.

<><> 

Seconds before Henry opened the doors, something changed. A feeling of calm washed over them. It was tangible, like a warm, comforting hand on their shoulders that took away any nervousness and trepidation. They were about to get married, and the step they were taking in their lives became the center of their thoughts.

Instinctively, both groups of men turned to one another, putting their arms around each other’s shoulders, forming a ring just like they did when treading water after a jump. They weren’t merged but had rested inside one another so often they knew each other intimately, as well as they knew themselves and their partners. Lending strength, confidence, and courage to one another, they shared the joy of the moment.

Intuitively, Ken knew Brad and the others were doing the same thing in the other room.

The doors opened, and Henry quietly said, “It’s time.”

Stepping into the hallway, Ken sought out Brad, and while looking, his gaze connected with most of the other men. Eyes bright, they smiled, their happiness for each other fully evident. Starting as ordinary humans and deepening through their transformations and awakenings, their bonds and history ran to their cores.

Lining up, they stood at attention, tall, with shoulders squared back, handsome beyond words; their Nephilim heritage apparent in their noble bearing and angelic charisma. Sally had their tuxes tailored perfectly, and the formal wear enhanced their appearance.

The acoustics in the hallway were excellent, and even without heightened hearing, the beautiful sound of a stringed instrument was audible. The tune was nothing Ken or any of them had heard before, and it was beautiful.

Smiling brightly when she saw them, Sally had tears in her eyes as she moved forward so Henry could take her arm. Glancing back at them, Henry nodded, indicating for them to follow.

Walking in formation, shoulders back and heads high, their military bearing was evident. When they reached the large double doors, Henry stopped and turned. Five large bowls of water with linen towels sat along the wall.

“Everyone take your shoes and socks off and wash each other’s feet.”

The doctor and Albrecht planned everything, and there had been no rehearsal, so none of them knew what to expect. Henry and Sally took off their shoes but didn’t wash their feet.

The symbolism of purification and cleansing one another was clear, and they were thorough and tender in their ministrations towards one another. Ken knew Brad was ticklish on the bottom of his feet and intentionally kept his touch firm. He did wiggle Brad’s big toe, getting a smile out of him.

The mood was solemn yet light at the same time, and no words were spoken. Something was building within them… a sanctity difficult to explain.

When they finished, Henry said, “Leave your shoes off.”

Once they were ready, Henry pushed the doors open. They didn’t expect anyone else to be present and were curious and surprised to see the faces of their angelic grandfathers staring back at them. Istariel and the other two Nephilim who always accompanied him were present as well. All of them, especially Loy, felt the absence of his half-brother Alariel who should be standing among them. Close to Loy, Ken squeezed his shoulder while Rick’s hand was on Loy’s other shoulder, doing the same thing.

Brad was out of reach, and they were told not to link or merge, so he wasn’t able to express his support for Loy as he would have liked, and he was glad Ken was close enough to do so. Perhaps it was the moment, but Brad was acutely aware of how each of them supported one another. Besides their partners, they all took care of one another. If there was ever the need of a shoulder, ear, or even a kick in the ass, they were ever-present and available to one another, helping to carry each other if needed. They were strong men emotionally and physically, but the battle they were in took its toll, and the support they showed one another was apparent.

Smiling, Ken made eye contact with Michael. Each man did the same with his heavenly ancestor, nodding acknowledgment and greeting as they moved into position around the table. It was an honor that their heavenly ancestors would take the time to be present. Wearing various styles of white and ivory garments made of a soft material, their collars were stitched with runes, and their bodies shone with a slight aura. Their inhuman grace and beauty were apparent, and Sally couldn’t keep her eyes off of them. Drew, Brett, and Tommy stood to one side of the door, looking very serious and extremely cute.

Albrecht and the doctor wore unfamiliar robes that looked monkish but more stylized, with elaborately stitched stoles draped around their necks and ropes cinched around their waists with tassels. Giovanni stood with the doctor and Albrecht in traditional dark brown monk’s robes with a simple cord and tassel around his waist. His role was primarily to assist the boys if needed.

Ken’s emotions ran high, and his love and respect for the doctor and Albrecht were foremost in his mind, along with his love of Brad and his brothers. Their devotion to Ken and his brothers was humbling; as Ken discovered more about the two men who mentored and cared for them, he was awestruck at the depth and importance of the ancient couple.

Albrecht motioned for the men to come forward.

“Come, my sons, gather around the table.”

When Albrecht spoke, Ken noticed a difference in the timbre of his voice. He often called them ‘son’ as a term of endearment, but this time, in the context of the ceremony, he was acting as an ordained priest, and it took on a new and deeper meaning. Ken got goosebumps at the thought; Brad felt it too and squeezed his hand in response.

Grins spread across their faces at the tiny Post-it notes with Sally’s handwriting, indicating who was to stand where. They arranged themselves accordingly; Ken was to Brad’s left, and the pattern of the body on the left and the mentalist on the right repeated. With the table essentially circular, there was no beginning or end.

“For now, all of you face inward.”

With one section of the table folded back, the doctor and Albrecht moved to the center area where another small table stood, covered with many items. Drew, Tommy, and Brett stepped inside, and Henry followed. Once inside, the table was made complete, and the men spread out evenly, with each archangel moving behind his descendant.

Taliesin sat to one side of the door perched on a short stool, plucking a stringed instrument in his lap. Numerous instruments on stands sat around him within easy reach. It wasn’t clear whether he was focused on playing or indifferent to their presence, but Taliesin didn’t look up as they entered. Cavall lay on the floor by his side, silent but watchful with his silver eyes.

One of the doctor’s rare smiles crossed his face, his eyes bright. Looking on them with great pride, he wished he could call them his flesh and blood sons.

Spreading his arms with a smile, Albrecht said, “It has been a road well-traveled, my sons, that has led us to this point. Your lives thus far have been filled with torment and grief, as well as love and joy. You have learned you must be a refuge for one another, not just as husbands moving forward, but for each other.”

Albrecht’s deep voice assumed a quality they had not heard before. They had no idea what religion Albrecht was a priest of. He was older than many faiths and knew truths about creation that no modern religion would ever acknowledge. His voice rich, the inner peace of his heart resonated through his words as he raised his hand in an ancient Celtic sign of blessing:

“Deep peace of the running Water to you.

Deep peace of the flowing Air to you.

Deep peace of the quiet Earth to you.

Deep peace of the purifying Fire to you.”

“The Four Corners stand in this room, and I call upon the elements of their blessings to protect this ceremony from any outside influences. May they call the light of Heaven to fill your hearts and bring you peace and sanctity within yourselves and each other. Amen.”

Michael, Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel shone brighter as their ghostly wings appeared, encircling the room. When their wings interlocked, the dome sealed, and an otherworldly presence filled the room.

Taking a deep breath, Albrecht exhaled, relaxed and smiling at all of them. They smiled back as he said, “I cherish every day I spend with you, and I’m grateful you are in our lives. I knew you long before you knew me. During the time of my separation from Aaron, at times Charisa instructed me to watch over you. I observed you during your time in Syria, and later, once I met you in person, it was my privilege to watch you grow into the men you are today.

“The step you take today is eternal. It is different for you than for mortals. You are unique, first and foremost; immortal, both original, unfallen men, and Nephilim. There are no other beings like you in existence. In essence, I consider today another form of awakening. The human side of you was created to be in a relationship. It is something all humans are born with, a yearning to know and be known by their creator. With human minds and hearts closed under the Curse, that is impossible, and thus the tragedy of humankind exists.

“With your souls combined, you are already inseparable, but today you will take the final step in an affirmation of your love and devotion to one another in the eyes of the creator and the universe. After today, there can be no doubt in your minds or hearts that you truly belong to one another and are bonded forever, no matter what happens.”

Each word that passed Albrecht’s lips sank into Ken. His emotional high charged his body, and the anticipation was almost too much to bear. He was finally marrying Brad! All those years ago when they first met… At the time, they had no idea they shared their souls. Their natural attraction was a part of that, but he and Brad believed, as did Bryan and Lane, and all of them, that they were destined to be together. Whoever was pulling the puppet strings in their lives was most likely responsible, and as badly as Ken wanted to punch whoever it was in the mouth most of the time, he was also grateful beyond words if that being was responsible for bringing Brad into his life.

Albrecht nodded to Tommy and Brett, who picked up a large coil of white rope from the table. It was long, with many knots along its length, and the boys had some difficulty because it was so heavy, but they managed. All the men smiled at their efforts and how seriously they took their job. Bill and Kevin swiped the corners of their eyes as they watched their boys perform the task. They felt especially blessed; in addition to their brothers, they now had two wonderful young boys to call sons.

Again, knowing each other as intimately as they did, the men closest to Bill and Kevin put an arm on their backs or shoulders, acknowledging and sharing their intense emotions of the moment, happy for them and letting them know it.

With his Understanding, Patrick noticed it first; the rope had power interlaced within the strands, existing in both the physical and spiritual realms.

“Aaron and I crafted this. Normally, it would be much shorter and only used for one couple. However, the bonds you form today are not only between you as partners but also as brothers. Each couple, please take hold of each other’s hands and hold them out.”

Doing as he asked, they clasped their hands together. The touch and warmth of their hands helped settle them, and they squeezed each other firmly in a show of love and comfort. As he spoke, Albrecht moved over, wrapping the rope around Kevin’s and Bill’s wrists in an intricate knot that was elaborate and secure yet comfortable. He moved on to Patrick and Darren and then around the room until he ended back at Kevin. The rope was soft, made of silk, and woven into the strands were an intricate series of runes in fine silver thread.

“This rope, in the physical realm, represents the binding of your bodies as partners and men. In the spiritual realm, it represents the binding of your souls as partners and brothers.”

When the rope was secure, a feeling of tranquility washed over Ken. He knew Brad and the others sensed it, too; Albrecht brought inner peace and depth to the ritual he crafted for them. Their bare feet touching the earth connected them to the physical realm. Uriel’s presence filtered into their bodies through the cool, stone floor, adding to the magic.

Ken, as with all the bodies, being in tune with his physicality, had an epiphany at the moment. He realized some time ago that as Nephilim, they operated as meta-physical beings. They were, in essence, magical themselves in an elemental sense. As Ken took a deep breath to calm himself, he was aware of the energy passing into him. It was subtle but present in the earth beneath his feet, the water in his body, the air he breathed, and the fire of his emotions. Through the blessing Albrecht intoned, each of the four elements called from Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel affected them. The magic ran through them, empowering the ceremony under Albrecht’s direction, and a tingle ran down his spine at his realization.

Noticing the look on Ken’s face, Brad winked with a grin. He mouthed, ‘pretty cool, huh?’ and melted at the smile Ken returned. The seriousness of the moment returned quickly as both of them refocused on the ceremony, but their smiles remained.

Albrecht had a way about him. He was, arguably, the greatest human warrior on the planet and found inner peace millennia ago. Carrying that peace within him, it radiated in everything he did. The ancient blessing he opened the ceremony with and the binding rope; he made it all matter in a profoundly simple way that awed them.

Smiling at each of them as he bound the rope around their hands, he cupped his hands over theirs, holding them briefly in acknowledgment of the moment and the significance of the event, and bestowed a short, individual blessing. He made it uniquely personal to them as only he could. The doctor followed Albrecht, adding his own blessing and laying his hands on them as he did.

When the ropes were complete, Albrecht and the doctor bowed their heads in silent prayer. Albrecht and Aaron became one, and their auras shone over the men. The silken cord began to glow, and power, not insignificant, ran through it, activating the delicate runes.

“Turn your hands palms up, please.”

Turning to Drew, Albrecht asked, “Do you have the rings?”

Henry beamed with pride at his son, acting so solemn and taking the role of ring bearer for his uncles very seriously. Picking up a long, narrow wooden box from the table, Drew opened it, revealing two rows of five rings on white silk padding.

Carefully picking up the first two rings, Drew handed them to Henry, who moved to Bryan and Lane. With their hands out, Henry placed Bryan’s ring in Lane’s palm, and vice versa. Henry looked at them and winked with a grin. Bryan and Lane glanced down at Drew and smiled at him, letting him know what a great job he was doing. Drew moved back to the box, and he and Henry continued around the circle until all of the rings rested in their palms.

“Five of you were shown an image of these rings in a dream. Together we crafted them, and in the physical realm, they represent an outward symbol of your love and devotion to one another. In the spiritual realm, they will bind your souls together tighter in the eyes of creation.

“Normally, this is the time where I would ask if there are any objections or if either partner has cold feet. In this case, that would be an unfair question while you are standing barefoot on a cold stone floor.”

He grinned, and all of them chuckled. Ken appreciated the small joke, understanding it was done to lighten the mood, often employing a similar tactic.

“What you do today, before Aaron and myself, before Henry and Drew, before Sally, before Thomas and Brett, before the High Hosts present, before the creator and all the various realms, is eternal. All are witness to this event. You live in one another, one heart, one mind, one body, one dream, and this step binds you irrevocably together.

“I ask you now; do you commit yourselves to one another, as lovers, husbands, and brothers? Do you commit your lives to one another, to hold each other physically and spiritually? To be true to each other and to protect one another? To be a refuge, haven, and sanctuary for each other? To be strong for one another, even amidst the darkest of times? To keep each other safe, sane, and balanced?”

As he spoke, Albrecht walked around the inner edge of the table. As soon as he began moving, he pulled them into a link with him and Aaron. It was strong, and they felt the love between their two mentors and the love Aaron and Albrecht had for them.

They offered no resistance, trusting him implicitly. As he phrased the questions within their vows, he drew from each man separately and as couples, forming images and invoking emotions, showing them their lives as he saw them, and they were amazed. It was a testament to their humility that Ken, Brad, and the guys were surprised by what they saw, but in Albrecht’s eyes they were the salvation of the world, and he honored them, cherishing their presence in his life. His sharing brought fresh tears to their eyes.

Albrecht relived various moments where one of them nearly died… Darren hanging from chains in Thomin’s Vault, Ken consumed by the blood curse, Kevin injured on the living room floor while Bill was trapped inside his own mind, Loy and Rick near death at the hands of The Master’s Amalgam, Lane sacrificing himself to save Bryan in Taliesin’s construct… He went even further back to their time in Syria before they were awake, as SEALS running covert missions for the US Government.

Weaving memories and experiences together, he showed them the darkest times of their lives and how they always succeeded due to their devotion to one another. Reliving the first time they fully merged, he reminded them how horribly painful yet exquisitely beautiful the experience was, as they were genuinely naked and intimate with one another for the first time in their lives, learning to love each other all over again.

Henry and Sally watched the tears falling down the faces of their friends. The scope of feelings was far-reaching, but the one defining emotion in each memory was love.

Their hands were out in front of them, bound by the rope, and the rings rested in the palms of their hands. They couldn’t embrace one another, but all the couples leaned closer together, pressing foreheads or cheeks together as everything Albrecht brought forth churned within them.

Even though they weren’t linked, except to Albrecht and Aaron, the Understanding of Patrick’s Avatar could not be turned off. The bodies saw the connections between them, and the compassion and empathy from Brad’s Avatar affected the mentalists in the same way. The entire ceremony, from the time they took off their shoes, to the presence of the archangels, to the binding of the rope, to the vows they were taking, stirred something within them. It was more than just a wedding taking place between great friends and lovers. There was some other event happening, and they stood at the nexus of it.

“The strength and love you expressed in those times, both light and dark, is what led you to this day. I ask you to carry that strength inside you, together, forever, and commit your lives to one another, using everything that has happened to you so far as a launching point for the rest of your lives. Will you take each other as husbands and make this oath to one another?”

Looking directly at Rick, he asked, “Richard? Will you?”

Staring into Loy’s eyes, in a steady voice, Rick stated, “I will.”

“Loy? Will you?”

Loy responded, unwavering, with a firm, “I will.”

Patrick and Darren were next, followed by Kevin and Bill.

When it came to Ken, his throat was so tight he couldn’t talk, and it made him laugh at himself. Everyone smiled and laughed with him, and he managed to choke out, “I will” loud enough for all to hear.

“Brad? Will you?”

Smiling, Brad said, “I will.”

“Bryan? Will you?

Bryan’s deep, gravelly voice stated clearly, “I will.”

“Lane? Will you?”

Lane’s mischievous grin was present, but he held himself in check, and instead of replying in Elvish, he simply said, “I will.”

“Place the rings on each other’s fingers.”

Quietly, but with steady hands, each couple did so. The difference was subtle but very real… Something happened as the rings slipped onto their fingers. A slight sense of vertigo hit them, extremely brief, as something moved through them. At first, they thought the light in the chamber increased, but it was only around them and the table.

The most incredible sensation washed over them, a sense of wholeness and well-being, as the final piece of the puzzle that completed them snapped into place. The whiteness of the rope shone brighter, and their rings gleamed.

Albrecht paused briefly as a reverent silence filled the chamber, giving them time to settle and reflect on the moment. When he sensed they were ready to proceed, he continued.

“There is one remaining part of the ceremony to perform.”

Albrecht nodded to Henry, who moved over and lifted a white silk cloth off the table, revealing five ornate objects. They looked like small lanterns of an archaic design, and beside them sat a large bowl filled with what looked like quartz granules.

Handing the lanterns out, Henry placed one in the hands of each couple. They were small enough to fit in the palms of their hands.

Albrecht and Aaron waited patiently until each couple held one.

Aaron said, “Now, merge yourselves completely in one another as husbands. Go as deep as you ever have and be one in each other. Be more than the sum of your individual selves.”

They couldn’t wait to be in one another, and a look of serenity crossed their faces as they did as Aaron asked. How it was possible to feel even more for each other, they couldn’t comprehend, but after the ceremony, there was a difference.

Aaron gave them a moment to settle into one another before he continued.

“Now… leave your bodies and hover over your hands.”

Fresh tears fell down their handsome faces as the intense intimacy of merging with their lovers consumed them. Five beautiful orbs of liquid golden light emerged from their bodies, bobbing gently over the hands of each couple. Their light filled the chamber, permeating everything. The archangels felt it, as did Henry, Sally, Albrecht, Aaron, and the boys. It affected Drew deeply as the incarnations in him basked in the light, calming their voices.

Picking up the bowl of granules, Aaron moved to Ken and Brad. Albrecht followed, positioning their hands so the lantern rested in the center of their combined soul. Using a silver spoon, he filled the lantern, and as soon as the granules came in contact with their souls they swirled and dissolved, transubstantiating into the pure life energy of their combined essence.

Moving to each couple in succession, Aaron filled their lanterns while Henry and Sally watched, fascinated. Henry never tired of the beauty of his brother's souls when he saw them in such a manner. Human souls are beautiful in and of themselves, but the souls of his brothers, being original men and Nephilim, made them even more breathtaking. Seeing them with his mind’s eye, each one was a distinct mix of the men they belonged to.

Albrecht picked up a silver scoop that looked like a tiny melon baller.

Be still and rest in one another while the lanterns finish.

Going back to Ken and Brad, he scooped out a small portion of their light and moved to Bryan and Lane. Each lantern had four small peripheral chambers orbiting the central globe, and he placed the light in one of them.

It took a few moments to fill the smaller chambers, but once complete, Henry passed Albrecht the seals, and he enclosed them. Tiny runes inside the lip of the lids activated and the lanterns permanently sealed, shining with the light of each couple, surrounded by the light of their brothers.

A shiver ran through them and their breath caught in their chests from the sensation.

Now return to yourselves.

It was always a struggle to separate, and their desire to stay together, in one another, was more potent than ever. The new depth and dimension to their immersion was like a drug, and they wanted to stay in each other, forgetting the cares of the world and remain one forever. Reluctantly, each man unwound his soul from his partner, withdrawing back into himself. Once in their bodies, they opened their eyes, blinking from the tears.

Looking down, they viewed the soul lanterns that were now a part of them. They saw the smaller spheres containing their brothers’ souls orbiting their own, each one innately identifiable to their sight. The design of each chamber was unique for each couple; Bryan and Lanes was a mix of branches of the Tree and a stringed instrument, Loy’s was a bear holding the orb of Rick’s soul, and so forth.

Moving to Kevin, Albrecht began unbinding the rope, careful because their hands held the lanterns. Re-coiling the rope perfectly, he handed it to Tommy and Brett, bowing to them and placing his hands on their heads, grateful for their assistance.

“The vows you expressed today are eternal, spoken with open heart and open mind. I am proud of you, my sons. You are now wed, and husbands. Go with our blessings and live your lives together, now and forever.”

As soon as Albrecht said the words ‘you are husbands,' Ken’s eyes glazed over. Stunned, it hit him that Brad was now, finally, his husband. He was Brad’s husband! Albrecht’s words reverberated in his mind. What he hoped for and dreamed of had come to pass.

Managing to look up, he saw the same look on Bryan, Pat, Kevin, and Rick as they processed the moment. The light in the room became normal again as the Four Corners released their protection.

Albrecht and Aaron looked at them expectantly. Brad grinned, and almost as one, he, Lane, Darren, Bill, and Loy cupped their partners' cheeks, bringing their faces together for a kiss. That seemed to break the spell, and their arms wrapped around each other tightly, and the kisses became more intense.

Ken’s deep voice shook, and he quietly said, “We’re married, Brad! Can you believe it? I’m the happiest man on the planet!”

Henry grinned and said, “I’d say there are a few guys here who might argue that point! Congratulations, fellas!”

Taliesin began playing again, softly in the background so as not to intrude, and the angels moved forward to embrace their grandchildren in celebration.

Sally cried the entire time and blew her nose loudly, bringing a chuckle. Shortly after, she left the room with Giovanni and Henry to make arrangements for food and drink.

After hugging Brad, Raphael asked him if he could see the lantern he held.

Studying it curiously, he smiled, saying, “Aaron and Albrecht are truly remarkable men. I have never seen the like. What they did is fascinating.”

Michael squeezed Ken so tight he could hardly breathe.

“I am pleased for you, Ken. You justly deserve today and what it brings to your life, and you are stronger for it.”

Hugging Michael back, Ken didn’t bother trying to explain to Michael that marrying Brad was not a move to become stronger. In his time spent with Michael, Ken had come to love his angelic grandfather in a way he could never have imagined, but he also realized they would never see eye to eye on some things.

Emotions ran high as each man embraced his brothers; most still had tears in their eyes. The lanterns and their effect were unexpected, and they could feel each other through them even though they weren’t linked at the moment.

Brad remedied that by bringing them together, merging them for the briefest of seconds in the physical realm, but it gave them plenty of time together. Appearing naked to one another in that place where their souls were one, they shared their joy and love for one another in private.

<><> 

Twenty minutes later, they gathered between the trees by the front entrance. Giovanni, Henry, and Sally, with the boys' help, set up tables and spread the food out. There were five small cakes, each with two men in tuxes on top holding hands. Sally ordered them custom for each couple, knowing their preferences, and labeled them with Post-its. Drew insisted on ice cream, so she made sure it was included and packed appropriately.

She had the other food catered and was nervous about what Bryan would think. He made sure to give her an extra hug and told her everything was fantastic. All the guys appreciated her efforts. Sally let them know she was counting on no leftovers except for one slice of each cake that needed to be frozen for their first anniversary. The rumbling from Ken’s stomach assured her there would be nothing left.

Taliesin relocated, setting up outside, and continued to play. He didn’t sing anything with lyrics, using his voice as a secondary instrument, interweaving it with whichever one he played. Aaron and Albrecht recognized many of the songs from ancient cultures used in marriage ceremonies. Each song was beautiful and fit the occasion perfectly.

Henry changed out of his tux into casual clothes, wearing his ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ t-shirt, and said he was taking the boys for a short hike. The doctor assured them the area was safe, and the boys had a lot of energy after being still for so long and on good behavior during the ceremony.

<><>  

Kevin and Bill got a promise from Tommy and Brett to behave for Henry and have fun. Henry could contact them if necessary, and no wildlife would bother them with Henry present.

The boys took off with Henry in tow, excited and ready to explore.

A few miles from the castle, they discovered a stream filled with crawfish. The boys had never seen the tiny creatures before, and fascinated, they wanted to devise a way to catch some.

<><> 

In the warm afternoon sun, jackets came off, and sleeves were rolled up. Lane was surprised when one of his favorite songs started playing. Taliesin brought his iPod along with some high-end battery-powered speakers. Setting down his instruments, he changed to modern music they were familiar with.

Lounging around, everyone was still caught in the emotional high. Between the company, the weather, and the music, the day could not be more perfect. After a while, they all changed into casual clothes, silently thanking Henry for packing their gym bags with shorts and t-shirts. He even put in ball caps and sunglasses.

It was also nice to hang out with their angelic relatives and their Nephilim cousins in such a relaxed setting. The social situation had only occurred once before during Lane’s Christmas gift from Bryan, and Ken and the men were honored by the amount of time and caring interest shown on their behalf.

Sally underestimated the amount of beer and wine consumed, and Darren and Pat had to make a quick trip back to a package store in Atlanta. Taliesin remained quiet and unobtrusive the entire time, taking care of the music and sitting with Cavall, who kept his head in Tal’s lap most of the time.

Noticing Lane glance at Tal, Aaron said, “I wish you could have known him a long time ago, Lane. He was not always as he is now.”

Giovanni interjected, “I knew him, then, Aaron. He was still a horse’s ass.”

Grinning, he added, “I would know, I became a horse once.”

Lane started to chuckle at the joke but saw the doctor’s face. He did not look happy at all. In fact, his expression seemed more sad than anything, and Lane felt sorry for the doctor. He couldn’t imagine seeing a friend change over centuries into what Taliesin was today.

<><><> 

Henry was having a great time. His day was perfect too, and he was almost able to forget the weight on his and Drew’s shoulders. For the short span of the afternoon, he was just a dad spending time with his son and his ‘adopted’ nephews, enjoying the outdoors. The boys were being boys and having a blast.

Deciding he would pay the price if there was any backlash, he let the boys wade into the stream to try and catch some crawfish. They were having such a good time, and he knew Tommy and Brett had never done anything like it before. The looks on their faces was all it took, and Henry caved.

The water was less than a foot deep, so there was no danger. It was icy cold, though, and Henry wondered at the ability all small boys seem to have to ignore cold water. Laughing and giggling, they even shrieked once in a while, but they got along well.

Henry reclined on a large rock, warm from the sun. Taking off his t-shirt, he tucked it under his head as a pillow, soaking in the warm sunshine while the boys played. He missed being out in the sun, and the breeze over his bare skin coupled with the heat of the day felt wonderful.

Finally tired of trying to catch the elusive, tiny, lobster-like creatures, the boys came over to Henry. Blue and shivering but happy, Henry chuckled when their teeth chattered.

“Climb up here with me, guys. You need to thaw out.”

He pulled Tommy against him and then Drew and then Brett, from largest to smallest. He chaffed their arms and backs and let the warm sun do its job.

He gave them a group hug before he asked, “So what now? Do you want to head back or do a little more hiking?”

The boys wanted to play hide and seek. Of course, Henry would have to be the seeker as it was his job to make sure they had fun.

The pleading tone of their voices convinced him, and he said, “Okay, guys. We’ll play a few rounds and then explore some more. By then, it’ll be time to head back.

“Alright, I’m going to count to twenty! The rock here is home base. Go!”

Tommy and Brett were much better at hiding than Drew. Sadly, Henry thought that came from having to hide in the orphanage from the older kids that occasionally meant them harm. He pushed that thought away, focused on making it fun.

Henry made a big deal of looking for them, but their giggles gave them away when he got close. He did a great job of barely missing them and letting them reach the rock before grabbing them and swinging them around a few times. They each got a high five and a hug for winning the round.

The next round went the same, and Henry had to admit to himself how much fun he was having. When all the nastiness with Drew was over, he would have to make up as much time as possible with his son. Staying cooped up in the lab was crucial for his protection, but it robbed him of a normal childhood, and Henry hated the fact that what should be a typical day outside playing became a special event.

<><>  

Drew was having the time of his life. Playing hide and seek with his dad, Tommy, and Brett was more fun than he had since his mom… Well, since before his mom died. Sudden guilt for having fun without her jarred him, and tears filled his eyes. Suddenly, Drew wanted his dad very badly.

Sticking his hand under his shirt, Drew grasped the wedding rings Henry gave him for Christmas. His uncles had done something to the rings, put memories in them, just for him. Closing his tear-filled eyes, he remembered.

Sometimes if he let himself get lost in the memories, he would lose track of time. He snapped back to himself when he heard the sound of fluttering wings and a soft cooing.

A white dove sat on the rock by his hand.

Come, Drew.

The Dove spoke in his mind and then fluttered away from where they were playing. Drew knew he shouldn’t go far, but he also knew the Birdman would never hurt him. He was torn, knowing how worried his dad would be if he went missing.

Come.

The voice was so calm and gentle, Drew decided he would make it fast so his dad wouldn’t worry.

The adult-like part of his mind kicked in, and he thought: Okay, but I can’t go far or be gone long. It would be mean of me to let my dad worry.

Turning away from where Tommy and Brett were hidden, he took off running into the woods.

<> 

As Drew ran after The Dove, Henry, Tommy, and Brett stopped moving. They were motionless, caught between breaths, momentarily slipped out of time.

A discussion needed to occur that would take longer than a few minutes.

<><> 

Henry saw Brett first but made an exaggerated show of not seeing him. Giggling, Brett took off running for the rock that was home base. When Tommy saw Henry focused on Brett, he took off, and both boys made it safely to the rock again.

Breathless, they laughed as Henry picked them up, spinning them around.

“Alright, boys, sit tight while I try to find that son of mine!”

Henry went back to where Brett and Tommy hid themselves, figuring Drew would be close. Looking around carefully, he didn’t see any sign of him and felt a twinge of panic.

Henry was just about to contact Brad when Drew called to him. He didn’t sound far off, just enough not to be loud. Drew didn’t sound panicked, and Henry breathed a sigh of relief, thinking Drew probably saw something that caught his attention and wandered further than he should have.

Trotting in the direction of Drew’s voice, as soon as he passed through the small copse of trees, fear gripped him when he saw Drew sitting with a man in the grass.

Henry’s shields flared brightly around himself and his son as he ran with all the speed in his enhanced body, crossing the distance in a matter of seconds. Snatching Drew into his arms protectively, he was careful not to hurt him from the momentum and inertia of his movement. Drew’s arms instinctively wrapped around Henry’s neck and shoulders, and as soon as Henry felt his little arms around him, he felt a small sense of relief.

Trying to listen to the man’s thoughts, Henry was prepared, if necessary, to defend them and keep Drew safe, but to Henry’s mind, it was as if the man wasn’t there. That scared him even more, and he pulled Drew protectively against him.

“Are you alright, honey?! Why did you run off? You know better!”

Drew knew Henry was upset, and the tone of his voice upset Drew, and he started crying. Putting his head on Henry’s shoulder, he squeezed his arms tight, afraid Henry was mad and disappointed in him.

Henry looked at the man sitting on the grass in front of him, yet unable to sense his presence. The doctor said there was no danger in the area, but Henry put every ounce of his strength into his shield regardless. Red fire flared from his core, oxygenating his muscles in case he needed to fight.

The man seemed perfectly calm and didn’t react, other than to stand and casually brush some grass off his jeans. He was handsome, lean and muscular but not huge, darkly tanned, and appeared to be in his early forties. There was a hint of grey at his temples and in the scruff on his chin. His hair was medium length and a dark brown, and his eyes amber.

Smiling, he looked directly at Henry, and Henry knew without a doubt, those eyes knew everything about him.

“Hello, Henry. It’s nice to see you.”

He held out his hand, but Henry didn’t take it. His voice wasn’t as deep as Henry expected, but he felt the sincerity of his words.

Drew felt the tension in his dad; Henry’s shoulders were like rocks, and he trembled. Drew knew Henry was afraid, not for himself, but Drew. Putting one small hand on his dad’s rough cheek, he whispered in Henry’s ear, “It’s okay, Daddy. He’s the Birdman.”

Groaning, Henry’s voice was barely a whisper as he asked with wide eyes, “Who are you? Are you… God?”

“There’s not a simple answer to that question, Henry. I’m a friend; let’s leave it at that for now. I needed to have a chat with Drew about something very important, and this was the perfect place to do it.”

“What do you want with him? He’s just a boy!”

Henry studied the man’s face as they looked at one another. His careworn features gave him a rugged appearance, and he had visible care lines. His eyes, though… he had the same eyes as the archangels, filled with stars and the ageless depths of time, and Henry tore his eyes away before he got sucked into them. Even if the man standing in front of him was God, Henry would fight even Him to protect his son.

The man grinned, and his face transformed when he smiled.

“You should be getting back, or there won’t be any cake left for the boys. You know how the guys like to eat.”

Looking directly at Drew, he said, “I have to go now, Drew. Remember what we talked about.”

Drew seemed sad and quietly replied, “Okay.”

Looking back at Henry, the man said, “You’re a good man Henry, and the best father Drew could hope for. I’m sorry about Liz.”

Henry heard the grief in his voice; deep, soul-wrenching sadness that struck Henry. He saw more pain than he could imagine in the man’s eyes when he mentioned Liz, and the man reached out and gently put his hand on Henry’s shoulder.

Terrified, Henry had so many questions but needed to protect Drew above all else. Turning, he fled, holding Drew tightly against him. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw the man walking away.

What he saw next stunned him even further. Another man and a woman Henry hadn’t noticed stood in the distance, waiting for the man. Henry felt nothing of their presence either; he just needed to get Drew away. He had to get back to Tommy and Brett, who waited at the rock and then back to the guys.

Running as fast as he could, holding his son tight, his thoughts spun even faster than his legs.

<><> 

Sitting on the rock, Tommy and Brett talked while they waited. Brett was still excited about the wedding, and when he got that way, he turned into a chatterbox. Tommy was worried Henry hadn’t come back yet but didn’t say anything to Brett.

Once the boys were in sight, Henry slowed down. His tears were under control, but he was an emotional wreck. He had to get himself together so he didn’t scare Tommy and Brett. Taking a few breaths, he forcefully stopped his trembling.

Henry set Drew down, holding him at arm’s length, looking at his son carefully. Drew seemed perfectly fine. He had stopped crying, but his face was still red, and Henry used his thumbs to wipe away the remaining tears. Drew had a dirt smudge on his cheek, and Henry licked his thumb and rubbed it off, getting a grin out of his son.

Giving Drew’s thin shoulders a gentle squeeze, with a heavy sigh, Henry said, “Drew, don’t say anything about that man to Tommy or Brett yet, okay? Not until I’ve talked to the doctor and Bill and Kevin.”

“Okay, Daddy. Don’t be scared. He’s nice.”

“Honey, what did he say to you before I got there?”

“He made me promise not to tell. I can’t, or something bad will happen.”

Keeping his voice calm, not wanting to upset his son more, Henry pushed, saying, “Drew… Listen to me, honey. I’m your dad, and I need to know. We talked about this.”

Tears returned, and Drew looked at his feet. Putting his hand gently under Drew’s chin, Henry forced him to look up. He seemed terrified, even desperate, and launched himself against Henry, burrowing his face in the crux of Henry’s neck and shoulder.

His cry of “I can’t!” was muffled.

Holding Drew snugly, Henry knew how upset he was by the strength of his hug and ran a hand up and down Drew’s back.

“Shhhhh. It’s okay, Tiger. We’ll talk about it later, alright? Let’s get Tommy and Brett and head back to the rest of the guys. We need to hurry before they eat all the cake!”

Henry decided not to contact Kevin or Bill, or any of the guys. It was their special day, and he didn’t want to cause any undue stress or disruption to their day. Now that he was thinking more clearly, other than his fear for Drew, neither he nor Drew seemed to be in any danger. The voice… that man… while terrifying to Henry, had never hurt Drew. There was nothing any of them could do at that point, so he would talk to Ken and the others first thing the next morning.

Tommy and Brett looked worried when they saw Drew crying and asked what was wrong.

Forcing his voice to remain steady, Henry replied, “Everything’s fine, boys. We just had a little scare, but it’s nothing to worry about. I think we’ve all had enough fun for a bit. I’m tired, so I bet you are too. Let’s skip the hike and head back to your dads and the rest of the guys, okay?”

Brett looked upset, so Henry held Drew under one arm and took Brett’s hand in his other. After a few minutes Drew wanted down, and with the resilience of children, by the time they got back to the party, the boys were running around and laughing again.

Henry couldn’t get the image of the stranger out of his head. Oddly, he felt ashamed for being rude and not shaking his hand.

<><> 

 Receiving an Edict, Remiel groaned; none of them wished to be the cause of any undue sadness amid their grandchildren's perfect day. His face went still, even sad, but he had no choice. dreams and visions were his province.

Raphael, wisest of the archangels, saw his brother’s sorrow and realized something was happening. He wondered at the timing of the instruction given to Remiel but didn’t question it. It wasn’t in their nature to question the creator, especially when he was present.

He had been on Earth the entire day. It was the first time since the calling of the veil He manifested Himself in the physical realm, and as a result, Raphael knew many miracles and blessings would occur that day.

The Master and those of The Enemy on Earth felt His presence and wondered. The arrogance of their dominance was put on hold, and they stayed silent. Luke felt it, and his anger deepened, but he too wondered at it.

Glancing at Lane, Remiel’s eyes flashed white…

<><> 

A short distance away, Lane’s eyes flashed white as images and emotions entered his mind through his Avatar. Shaking his head as if clearing cobwebs, he immediately glanced at Taliesin, who still sat by himself. Isolated from everyone, with Cavall’s head in his lap, he pet the dog absentmindedly. Lane noticed Cavall hadn’t left Taliesin’s side since he woke in Áedán’s chamber.

One thing was certain; Cavall was no ordinary dog. Lane was sure Loy would find out everything there was to know once he had time to focus on it.

Excusing himself from the conversation, Lane made his way to the beer coolers, looking pensive, even hesitant. He did not want to do what his Avatar showed him, and his usual mischievous grin was absent. Bryan sensed the change in Lane’s mood first, but his brothers noticed it as well.

Briefly, Lane considered confronting Remiel but knew that was a bad idea. If Remiel sent the images he had no choice in the matter, at least the way Lane understood it. Their angelic relatives were conduits for their provinces, and Lane could relate to that. Sighing in resignation, he moved to Taliesin, who looked up in surprise when Lane held out a beer.

Kneeling to pet Cavall, he said, “Thanks for playing today and for being here to open the doors. I know a little more about you now, after seeing the impressions. I know being here isn’t easy, and I want you to know we… I appreciate it.”

Taliesin took the beer, but the smirk Lane detested came quickly to his face, and he said sarcastically, “You know very little about me, Lane Weaver. Just because you read some memories of this place, don’t presume. This was but one life of many I’ve lived.”

Lane bit his tongue. His natural reaction was to return the attitude and sarcasm Taliesin threw in his face, even though he knew it was a defensive mechanism. Taliesin seemed to get under his skin like no one ever had, which made him dread what he was about to do all the more.

Bry, can you come over here, please? I’m going to need you very badly in a second.

Lane!? What’s going on? What’re you doing?

A sudden realization struck Lane. The first time he met Taliesin face to face, Bryan, overwhelmed by Leroy's rage, tried to kill him. Lane died in a construct Taliesin created as a trap for Bryan in an attempt to force Lane to accept the Gift now bound to his Avatar. Bryan broke Taliesin’s nose, and Lane set it before he healed the cartilage. Why hadn’t his Avatar read Taliesin when he touched his face? More happened at that moment than he remembered, and he had a perfect memory.

Fucking puppet strings.

Lane realized, for whatever reason, he wasn’t supposed to read Taliesin until that moment. A great deal of tension dwelled inside the man Lane wanted so badly to hate, and he put his hand on Taliesin’s shoulder and neck, squeezing firmly in what he hoped would be perceived as a friendly gesture of comfort. He was, however, fully prepared to block any attempt to punch him in the face.

Lane’s eyes flashed white as his Avatar glowed, and he read Taliesin as soon as his fingers touched the bare skin of Taliesin’s neck. Being so close to Bill, that aspect of his Avatar was magnified, and even though he braced himself for what he needed to do, it was still more than he expected.

Thousands of years, Taliesin’s entire life from the moment of his conception in the uterus of a prostitute, being born a street urchin, and up to that very moment, became a part of Lane. Sucking in his breath, he would have fallen if not for Bryan catching him and pulling him into a tight embrace. Lane gripped Bryan’s arms so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Lane’s shock went through the link, and his brothers turned immediately, reacting and ready to do whatever necessary to protect him. Their training made the reaction instinctual; there was no hesitation, and Brad formed a shield around all of them. Not knowing the immediate cause, he included Sally, the doctor, and Albrecht.

Cavall watched everything with his silver eyes. He felt no animosity from Lane or any of the men. He would lay down his life for any of them as he would for his master. He knew who they were and loved them and would never hurt them, especially the steward.

As Cavall watched, he sensed the emotional pain in his new master and looked at him keenly. Whining in sympathy, he raised his head to lick Taliesin’s face. He couldn’t lick the wounds in his master’s soul, but he tried to comfort him in the manner he could. He would have done so even if he wasn’t commanded to; Taliesin had always been more than kind and a good friend to him.

Fury raged in Taliesin when he realized Lane had read him, but even more, he was ashamed. Lane now knew every secret thought and desire, every deed committed over his entire life; every lie, betrayal, and manipulation. For the first time ever, Taliesin was overcome with shame, and not knowing what else to do, he fled.

He couldn’t be there anymore. He couldn’t face them. What one of them knew, all of them would know, and he couldn’t stand the looks they would give him. He would find his way back to America, or maybe he would stay in Avalon with Cavall.

<><> 

Appearing naked to one another where their souls were one, Lane fell to his knees sobbing, surrounded by his brothers.

“Fuck!”

Bryan cradled him in his strong arms, with his legs wrapped around Lane’s waist and his chin on Lane’s shoulder. Everyone else gathered around, holding the two of them. Their hands and arms around him, they held him wherever they could reach. Their touch, not just the physical sensation but their hearts and souls, comforted him as nothing else could.

Brad was the first to notice their wedding rings. Nothing on their bodies had ever visibly expressed in that place, and it was an unexpected but pleasant surprise.

Time wasn’t moving, and Lane rested in their combined presence until he settled. Merged as they were, all of them saw Lane’s vision and wondered at it. They also knew everything he read in Taliesin.

Wondering out loud, Ken asked, “Why now? Why today?”

A sharp thread of anger from Darren towards Remiel ran through the link, and he said, “I’m sorry, Lane.”

“God, Dar, don’t be. This has nothing to do with you. They operate on their own agenda and timetable. I’m sure he didn’t have a choice, so I don’t blame him.”

Sadly, Brad said, “Damn. Taliesin’s a hot mess. I feel sorry for him. He never stood a chance.”

Sniffing loudly, Lane wiped his eyes.

“Yeah, I know, and it pisses me off. I want to keep thinking of him as a jerk, but now I can’t.”

Bryan ruffled his hair in affection as they chuckled at his comment.

Grinning, Loy said, “Don’t you hate it when that happens?”

Every moment of Taliesin’s life was now a part of them. He had nearly thirty relationships, primarily men, but some women, and the two people he loved the most, Charisa and Áedán, rejected his love in the way he most desired and needed. The rest loved him, but he lost them over time, some brutally and some from old age.

Seeing everything, they realized how traumatic and far-reaching Charisa’s tampering proved to be and what an emotionally torturous existence Taliesin lived. It was also staggering how brutal the world used to be. More sadness and grief existed in Taliesin’s life than joy or love, and as Taliesin said, he was not meant to be immortal. Sharing a soul with another person would have tempered his life and made it not only bearable but desirable, but he never had that.

Bryan showed the keenest insight of them all. At heart, Taliesin was an artist, like Lane. A creative man, he was a poet and songwriter before he was a warrior. Each loss, each deed performed under Charisa’s command, dug into his psyche and his soul, slowly chipping away at it. His unconscious mind created scabs over the wounds, and eventually, he became sociopathic to survive.

Already soul-weary by the time he fell in love with Áedán, centuries after Charisa altered his memories, Áedán’s death was a noose around his heart that strangled what good was left in him.

The events up to and immediately after Áedán’s demise were also made clear to them; Taliesin’s desperate plea to Charisa to heal Áedán and his fear over what he would find when the chamber doors opened. The terror of wondering if Áedán would still be alive, and then discovering Charisa’s cruelty as his body collapsed into dust… Taliesin’s heart finally broke just hours before, and he was running on autopilot. Lane’s compulsion, forcing him not to hurt himself or commit suicide, was the only thing keeping him alive.

Looking at Brad with a helpless expression on his face, Ken asked, “Guys, what can we do for him? He’s in so much pain, but we can’t win without him. Fuck, I hate this!”

Brad said, “Remember, Ken, we’re seeing him through our Avatars. Taliesin carried the Gift and was awake all that time, but he’s still human, and his memory is good but not perfect. He’s a culmination of what he remembers, mostly pain. It’s that way with most humans, and being awake doesn’t change that, but our Avatars see everything about him, even what he doesn’t know or remember. We show him what he is through our eyes. We need to merge with him and show him he’s still human and deserving of love.

“Remember, he’s of The Order, even though he doesn’t see himself that way and hasn’t for centuries. That mess is a leftover of Charisa’s doing. We need to bring him back, not for ourselves or our cause, but for him. He doesn’t deserve the life he has. Yes, he did all kinds of despicable things and left lives in ruin, but that’s in the past, and well… He wasn’t in his right mind. I know that shouldn’t excuse his actions, but based on what we now know, I don’t see any other outcome to the way he turned out after what was done to him.

“He sees himself as beyond redemption. It’s not up to us, or even Uriel, to judge him. Our job is to love him unconditionally, and as hard as it might be after seeing his entire life and some of the things he’s done, we have to do that for him. He’s also responsible for a tremendous amount of good in the world over all those years, and we need to remind him of that.”

Speaking for the first time, Pat said, “That’s a tall order, Brad. After what he did to Lane and Bry… I don’t know.”

Closing his eyes, Brad took a deep breath, focusing himself. His Avatar shone brighter and his compassion for Taliesin, for the tragedy of his life, filled them. Ken couldn’t help himself and put his hands on Brad’s strong shoulders, squeezing them gently, expressing his love and pride for his husband.

Brad’s compassion was one of the main things that attracted Ken to him all those years ago. He was proud of his lover and his ability to carry them all when needed. He was just as proud of his brothers for stepping up and overcoming their misgivings. They weren’t just doing this because it was their job; they were doing it to help a human being in incredible pain.

Brad said, “I think I know why this happened today. Let’s not see this as a dark spot on our perfect day. Let’s see this as a chance to gain another brother in our lives. This is a present to us, an opportunity. Aside from each other, this could be the best wedding present of the day.”

His words rang through them, and they knew they had to try. It would be up to Taliesin to accept their offer, and they prayed he would.

<><> 

Taliesin ran. He didn’t know what direction other than it was away, but the guilt and shame existed within him, and he couldn’t outrun it. He ran until he was breathless, but it was still there.

Faithful as always, Cavall ran at his side. Taliesin still had no recollection of how Cavall could be present, but he was, and Tal was grateful. One good thing from his past, at least, was comforting and present.

He lost count of the miles he ran in the hot sun, but his clothes were soaked through with sweat. Cavall loped alongside him as though out for a stroll. His tongue lolled slightly, but he wasn’t tired. Used to hunting with Áedán, this was no different.

Finally stopping, Taliesin fell to his knees, his chest on fire and heaving as he sucked air into his burning lungs. Cavall plopped down on his haunches, pressed against Taliesin. At his master’s side, as he should be, he lent Taliesin the comfort of his presence.

Still crying and hardly able to talk from breathing so hard, Taliesin managed to say, “I’ve made a mess of things, Cav. I can’t go back. Not now. It’s you and me.”

He sat beside his dog with an arm around him, trying not to think or feel. Once he caught his breath, he asked, “Is there water nearby? There used to be a stream close to here, but after all this time it’s probably dried up.”

Cavall stood and after taking a few steps, looked back, growling to get Taliesin’s attention.

“Go on; I’m right behind you.”

Cavall led him into the woods, and in minutes Tal heard the sound of a small bubbling creek. Kneeling, he sipped the icy water and splashed some on his neck. Taking off his shirt, he wet it and wrapped it around his neck. His tightly muscled body was slick with sweat, and his hair matted against his head. He missed his ponytail, but it was another physical change he made to throw off being recognized. He determined he would grow it back, along with his beard. He always looked better with a beard.

The presence of the steward entered Cavall, and the dog knew his eyes were being used. Loy got a surprise looking through the dog’s silver eyes. He would have to explore that some other time, but he saw Taliesin, which was all he needed for the moment. Taliesin disappeared, and Loy’s voice and will entered Cavall’s mind.

Come back to us, boy. We have him safe. I’ll stay with you until you’re back.

Cavall liked the steward's presence, and he took off running towards the ruins of the castle, his tail wagging. He loved running in the hot sun and chased a few rabbits on the way back but didn’t kill any. He wasn’t hungry and just did it for sport. The world smelled different than he remembered, not as alive. In his own way, Cavall wondered at that, but it didn’t matter. He remembered Gabriel’s words about being happy with his new master.

The one thing Gabriel couldn’t know, because of the randomness of Lane, Bryan, and their brothers, was that his words weren’t entirely true.

<><> 

Aaron and Albrecht stood talking with Istariel and the other Nephilim. Aaron wasn’t comfortable with the archangels but seemed at ease with Istariel and his cousins.

Aaron, astute as ever, caught the glow of Lane’s Avatar and the white flash of his eyes. He noticed the change in Lane’s posture as he moved to hand Taliesin a beer. Aaron continued to watch as Lane touched Taliesin and then saw his former charge run off into the woods. He heard and witnessed the entire exchange, and while his heart ached for Tal, he felt a thread of hope. If anyone could bring Taliesin back to them, it was his adoptive sons.

Shrewdly, Aaron glanced at Remiel, who looked back. They maintained eye contact for a few seconds, and Remiel was the first to look away.

<><> 

Taliesin didn’t have a sense of physical transition except the sudden temperature shift from the cool shade of the forest by the stream to the hot sun on his bare skin. An icy ball of anxiety formed in the pit of his stomach. He should have known they wouldn’t let him go. The Order would never be finished with him. Sitting down hard, his shoulders slumped, he put his head in his hands with a heavy sigh.

Kneeling in front of him, silent for a moment, Lane finally said, “I’m sorry, Taliesin.”

Taliesin knew Lane’s words meant far more than ‘sorry we brought you back against your will to make you suffer some more.’

Glancing up, he saw the look on Lane’s face, on all their faces. This time, instead of his ever-present smirk, his expression remained flat and obstinate. Their looks were precisely what he feared.

Kneeling on his other side, Brad said, “Taliesin, let us help you.”

“Why? How? How do you think you can help me? Can’t the high and mighty Order be done with me? Why must you continue to badger me? Haven’t you done enough!?”

Reaching down, Ken wrapped a hand around each of Taliesin’s biceps, pulling him to his feet.

Using his Captain’s voice to try and make the words sink in, Ken said, “In case you haven’t noticed, the old Order is gone. It’s different now; we’re different.”

Brad continued, “You’re miserable, Tal. You’ve felt this way so long you don’t know how else to feel. It’s no way for a man to live. Stop punishing yourself.”

Losing it, Tal screamed, “I deserve to be punished! I deserve to die for what I’ve done! With the Gift out of me, I see more clearly than ever, and I know what I’ve done! And you!” he pointed at Lane, “You forbid me the one thing that will bring me peace!”

Bryan spoke, surprising everybody.

“What if we could prove you don’t deserve to die?”

“I cannot stop you from entering my mind, but it will be against my will.”

Looking at Uriel, Bryan called out, “Grandpop? Can you come over?”

Uriel disengaged from his conversation with Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel and came over to Bryan.

“Grandpop, can you tell us, if he died right now, where would you take him?”

Uriel’s face showed surprise at Bryan’s question, and he said, “I am not permitted to say.”

Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel took an interest in what was transpiring and moved over.

Raphael spoke, “Try, brother. If you are forbidden, you will not be able to answer. I sense more going on here than we know.”

Raphael glanced at Remiel when he spoke.

Uriel looked at Taliesin, and their eyes met, dark and pain-filled to ageless depth. Uriel looked at the river of Taliesin’s life up until his interaction with Bryan and his brothers, where he could see no further.

Raising his eyes to the bright sky, Uriel silently invoked the Ritual of Passage. Based on what he saw of Taliesin’s life, he expected his wings to be raven black, but they were so bright they outshone the sun.

With raised eyebrows, his deep voice rumbled, “There is your answer.”

Taliesin’s eyes filled with tears, and in a choked sob, he whispered, “Your cruelty knows no bounds. After all I have done, I am permitted to go to Heaven, and yet you still hold me prisoner to your cause.”

Turning to Uriel, his voice trembling, he said, “I beg you, angel, take me now.”

Taliesin fell at Uriel’s feet, sobbing. Cavall moved to his side, licking his face and whining.

Taliesin’s brokenness was so tangible it tore their hearts. To see any man reduced to such misery was heart-wrenching.

Lane said, “I’ll remove the compulsion, Taliesin, if you do one thing for me.”

Taliesin’s head whipped around, not believing what he heard. His cynical nature took over, and he sneered, “Why? So you can humiliate me further? You already know everything there is to know about me.”

Kneeling, Ken got very close, and rested a hand on Taliesin’s shoulder, gently saying, “Yeah, but you don’t know everythin’ there is ‘ta know about you. We can prove we want ‘ta help you, but you have ‘ta let us.”

Taliesin went limp, collapsing on the ground. Cavall moved over him, making encouraging sounds, nuzzling his nose against Taliesin’s neck and face. Cavall saw how much pain his master was in and wanted to chase it away but didn’t know how.

Ken saw it too, and it was eating him up. His Understanding, magnified by Pat, clearly showed Taliesin’s pain and turmoil. The mentalists saw the same thing through Brad’s Avatar, which was going haywire as he looked at Taliesin.

After a time, Taliesin sat up. Holding his head in his hands, his shoulders shook as he cried, and Ken put a hand back on his shoulder in comfort.

Aaron spoke for the first time, saying, “Tal, let them help you. Please, I am begging you. For once in your life, do not be so stubborn.”

The resignation in Taliesin’s voice was plain. With a heavy sigh, he finally said, “I have nothing else to lose. Do with me as you wish. You always have.”

<><> 

Ken: Fuck, guys, it’s killin’ me seein’ him like this. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so broken.

Bryan: We need to make this right.

Kevin: I want to reset him, but we can’t.

Lane: If we reset him, whatever he needs to do for us to defeat The Master can’t happen.

Brad’s mental voice was sad: Guy’s, I don’t think it’ll be enough. He’s hurt so deeply, and for so long, his soul is too severely damaged.

Patrick: I see it too, Brad. You’re right.

Ken: There has ‘ta be somethin’ we can do.

Their conversation paused as they pondered what they could possibly do to make enough difference to save Taliesin.

It seemed like minutes before Bill blurted out: Guys, I have an idea.

They were one, and Bill’s thought instantly became known to them. His plan was crazy and extreme, and they had no idea if they could pull it off, but they were willing to try anything. Ken’s pride and optimism filled the link. Bill’s idea was the answer, and Ken had every confidence they could do it. Conviction filled them through his Avatar, magnified by the other bodies.

Lane: We need to be inside where Áedán’s body was, and we’ll need what’s left of those granules Albrecht used to make our lanterns.

Kevin: Hopefully, there’s enough left. I’ll get them and meet you guys inside!

<><> 

A few minutes later, the guys, minus Henry, stood around the marble slab that held the remains of the once-great man named Áedán; the man history called King Arthur.

Completely docile, Taliesin let himself be led, numb to what transpired around him, his external indifference a clear indication he was shutting down. Brad was concerned about Taliesin’s psyche; pushed beyond his emotional limits, broken pieces were all that remained. It was painful for any of them to look at him, and Ken was glad Henry and the boys were still out hiking.

Kevin came in holding a small silk pouch, saying, “This is all that was left. Albrecht said he harvested everything he could find in Leroy’s cave, and it took thousands of years to grow what we used today. They’re unique to the cave, and Leroy’s presence affects them. Hopefully, this will be enough.”

Ken, “Alright, guys, power up.”

Still linked, they settled into one another as they surrounded the marble slab. Lane and Bill guided Taliesin, sitting him at the base where he cried right after Áedán turned to dust.

Once he sat still, they moved back, and all of them joined hands. Countless times they merged as a team; Ten, five, one, but this time was different… they felt their wedding rings on their fingers. Knowing glances passed amongst them, and they smiled. The knowledge that they were now married and the day's emotions were still present, but Brad brought them back to the surface.

Lane listened, Loy called on the animal spirits, Bryan called on Yggdrasil, and Brad fluttered their souls across the veil. Power filled them, and they shone like stars in the spiritual Realm.

Outside, the archangels paused, taking note of the power their grandchildren raised.

Their bodies and minds soaked in the power as they rested in each other, supporting and holding one another. The emotional intimacy stung as fresh and painfully sweet as always, and tears fell down their handsome faces. The muscles of their arms and shoulders bunched as their hands gripped each other tighter. The warmth and strength of their hands was as much a comfort as their souls touching; it was part of their physicality and reinforced that side of their deep friendship.

A hot wind blew around them, whipping the hair on their heads, arms, and legs. With bright eyes, their Avatars spit arcs of color off their solid shoulders. Ken locked their Avatars, and the symbols shifted into the master rune, the one that would allow them to remove the Curse on Mankind once The Master was defeated.

Lane: Here we go, ladies. Hold onto your skirts!

Lane’s Avatar glowed even brighter as he brought the temporal aspect of his nature into play, casting his mind back 1500 years, in the very spot in which they stood. Bryan traveled with him, and once they were anchored, Lane created a bridge between the two times. The years flowed around them like a rushing tide, and suddenly they existed in both times simultaneously; a paradox.

Áedán rested on the slab, and they watched him breathe his last. The desire to heal him was almost overpowering, but Lane and Brad knew the ripples would be too severe and the effects catastrophic.

There was a small window in which to act before Uriel arrived to take Áedán Home. Together, they opened Áedán’s energy centers as his soul lifted gently out of his chest, a beautiful sphere of liquid golden light. The Cavall of the past saw them with his silver eyes, and he felt the steward's presence, so he did not attack. The contentment and completion in him were more comforting than anything he had ever felt, and he put his head on his paws, watching.

Bill touched Áedán’s hand, reading him, intending the knowledge as a gift for Taliesin, and his breath caught as the knowledge passed to his brothers. They smiled, hoping their discovery would make enough of a difference. What they found was entirely unexpected and sent a chill down their spines; it also spoke of the brokenness of humans and the fucked-upness humanity wallowed in, even great men like Áedán.

Leaning forward, Lane and Bryan cupped Áedán’s soul in their hands. Their brows furrowed as they exerted their power, and his soul separated into two halves. Kevin poured the remaining granules into Brad’s waiting hands, and taking his half of Áedán’s soul, Bryan placed it amid the crystals.

Immediately the crystals dissolved into life energy. Bryan felt it, just as when the lanterns lit with the life energy of their souls in the ceremony hours before. The granules attuned to Áedán’s soul, and it was once again whole and complete. Bryan reverently pushed it back down into Áedán’s body.

Elation ran through them at what they accomplished. When working together, there was little they couldn’t achieve, and when fulfilling a purpose, the profound sense of rightness and perfection permeated every iota of their beings. They knew they were doing the right thing.

Listening, Lane heard the fluttering of Uriel’s wings approaching, and he shifted them forward in time. A fraction of a second after they disappeared, Uriel arrived to take Áedán Home.

<><> 

To Taliesin, it was as if they never left. He saw a slight glow about them and knew they raised a considerable amount of power for him to see a visible Aura. One difference he noticed immediately was that Lane held a human soul in his hands.

Brad: Okay, Tal, here we go.

Taliesin hadn’t merged with anyone so fully in centuries. He had toyed with people’s minds, bent them, and manipulated them in twisted ways to suit his needs, but he rarely ever merged with anyone, especially someone who cared for him. It was painful blending with unawakened humans, even ones who loved him. Their human jealousies and imperfections were excruciating, even through the love a few of them held for him. Eventually, he stopped entirely and found it easier to stay inside himself.

However, this time, merging with Lane and the others, the love permeating his heart was a shock. His soul had gone cold so long ago that the presence of the men around him was like a hot fire as he appeared naked with them in the special place where their souls were one.

Their presence around him was euphoric, and he nearly passed out. He fell, and they caught him, holding his body, heart, and mind. They held him, letting him see them for who and what they were even as they saw him, and he became aware of everything they knew about him through their Avatars.

Brad: Rest, Tal, as long as you need to. See yourself as we do, and let the rest go. We know everything and still love you. Please accept that as we mean it. It’s not out of pity. You deserve to be loved. Everyone does.

Intellectually, Taliesin knew Brad spoke the truth; he knew they couldn’t lie mind to mind, but the cynical part of his mind told him it was their version of the truth. If they believed it, they weren’t lying, but deep down, he remembered Albrecht and Aaron telling him the same thing as a child.

The ten men walked with Taliesin through his life. He had a good memory, but it wasn’t perfect, and they knew and saw things about him he was unaware of or had forgotten. They gave him a perspective he lost long ago, after Charisa’s manipulation. Continuing through the centuries of his life, they stayed in him and with him every step. They shared his pain at Áedán’s death 1500 years ago and the recent loss earlier that day.

Taliesin lay cradled in Ken’s arms, and everyone else gathered around, touching him, and holding him. He couldn’t cry anymore and let himself be held. It had been so long since anyone held him he forgot what it felt like. Their bodies' warmth and strength affected him and he became aroused, but it didn’t matter. No one acted on it, and he got over his embarrassment.

It took a long time in that place where time nearly stood still, but Taliesin’s heart slowly softened. His sadness was as deep as ever, his loneliness a well that couldn’t be filled. The other feelings - the guilt, shame, and self-loathing - were not gone but pushed back to a manageable place. The fact that Uriel’s wings were white proved he was forgiven. He was truly repentant for his actions over the centuries and would never forget what he did, but he could now move forward.

Lane: We have a gift for you, Tal. You weren’t ready for this before. I hope it will make life more bearable moving forward.

I deserve nothing.

You deserve happiness. Especially after all you’ve been through.

Lane moved to face Taliesin, who lay in Ken’s arms like a child. One hand holding half of Áedán‘s soul, with his other, he reached out, putting his hand inside Taliesin’s chest. Tal’s eyes went wide as Lane touched his soul. It was a strange sensation, not pleasant or unpleasant, but unnerving.

It’s alright, Tal.

Withdrawing Taliesin’s soul, Lane held it, and they gazed at its beauty. Seeing it, they were reminded of Liz and her sacrifice, and the last time they heard her voice. Taliesin, being one with them, saw their memories and pain at her sacrifice. He saw so many unexpected things about these men and was embarrassed at the thoughts and opinions he held towards them in his ignorance.

Lane brought Taliesin’s and Áedán’s souls together. All of them lent Lane their strength, and with their combined power, he wove the two souls together. Fine, lacelike weaves of power drifted from his fingertips, and the two souls became one.

The light of his effort was blinding, and by the time Taliesin could see again, Lane had pushed the glowing orb back inside him. Taliesin’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as the comforting presence of his best friend and brother, Áedán, rested within him.

Fresh tears spilled from his eyes, and he whispered, “How? How is this possible?”

Lane’s mischievous grin was present, and he said, “Don’t worry about the details. There’s one more piece to this.”

Glancing at Bill, Lane nodded. Moving in front of Taliesin, Bill cupped his chin, and with the skin contact, he pushed Áedán’s life into Taliesin.

Again, Taliesin’s eyes widened in shock, and Ken hugged him tighter. Áedán loved Taliesin deeply, more than any person in his life. The bond of brotherhood they shared through the battles ran deep. Taliesin, because of his love of Áedán, never used his powers on him, knowing that if he forced Áedán to love him, it would be false, and he could never have lived with that.

To find love there all along was both tragic and elating. For a dominant figure and commander of men, Áedán was afraid of his feelings towards Taliesin and never acted on them. He was fearful of losing his best friend, so he restrained himself and lived in misery. He never sired any children or bastard heirs because he was in love with Taliesin and never looked at women.

There were never rumors of Áedán being a lover of men. As a king and a warrior, folk thought he had no time and loved matters of war more than women. However, inside his deepest self, Áedán was a man in love and alone. Joy in the heat of battle fended off his feelings in those moments, but he wished to be with Tal in the quiet of the night when he was alone. Áedán longed to hold and be held by the man he loved.

Taliesin cried again while he assimilated the lifetime of knowledge and memories Bill put into him. The irony and tragedy of what he learned were shocking… but also the joy! He had been loved in the manner he needed and wanted; he just didn’t know it. It was within him now, a part of him, and he would carry it until he died.

It took time, while Ken and the others held him and supported him. Taliesin was merged with them, and they were with him through every thought and emotion. The hurt to his psyche began to heal, and Áedán’s presence washed away much of the damage Charisa caused him. Taliesin was a new man, and a genuine spark of happiness ignited in his heart for the first time in nearly two thousand years.

<><> 

Aaron and Albrecht wondered what was happening when Kevin ran to retrieve the last of the granules. Aaron wanted them to experiment with, but Kevin’s urgency prevented him from asking any questions. He knew his sons had a plan to help Tal, and he put his trust in them.

It only seemed a few moments before they came back out with Tal. Lane even had an arm over Taliesin’s shoulder! Tal’s face was wet with tears, but he wore an expression Aaron thought he would never see again.

When he saw Aaron and Albrecht, he stopped, standing motionless until Lane nudged him forward with a gentle, “Go on.”

Once in motion, Taliesin surged forward, throwing his arms around Aaron and Albrecht. Clinging to them with desperate strength, they felt his trembling.

He whispered in their ears, “I’m so sorry!”

Aaron, overcome himself, had tears in his eyes and said, “There is nothing to be sorry for, Tal. I am the one who is sorry.”

Holding him at arm’s length, Albrecht looked into his eyes, then glanced at Lane, who smiled back. All the men had smiles on their faces, and many cried.

With a solid clap on his shoulder and a strong sense of relief in his voice, Albrecht said, “Welcome back!”

Cavall barked and moved to Taliesin’s side, looking up at him. He felt the difference in his new master immediately and saw Taliesin’s combined soul with his silver eyes. Both his masters were one!

The thanks and tears in Aaron’s eyes said everything he needed to convey to his sons. He mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ to them and saw their smiles and nods in return. The miracles his sons managed to achieve never ceased to astound him, even as long as he had lived.

<><> 

Henry calmed down on the walk back. Keeping the boys corralled helped, along with their laughter, running around, and playing while they made their way to the castle. When they got close he heard music, and once he saw the camp, he smiled.

Most of the guys were shirtless and sweaty as they performed some form of archaic dance to fast-paced music. Taliesin and Gabriel played violins, and the guys were doing something along the lines of ‘Riverdance.’ It had to be some ancient dance that Albrecht or the doctor taught them. It looked cool and a lot of fun, but Sally wouldn’t be able to keep up.

The expressions on their faces clearly showed how much fun they were having. Along with the movements accentuating their muscular bodies, their grace and agility were breathtaking. Henry’s heart warmed seeing them have so much fun and enjoying themselves. It was an indulgence that didn’t happen often enough.

Henry noticed most of the archangels were gone. Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, and Uriel were the only ones still present. Istariel and the other Nephilim were gone as well.

The song came to an end, the final movements extreme, and they all stopped, breathing heavy and laughing. Catching sight of Henry, they called and waved him over.

Tommy and Brett took off for Bill and Kevin, excitedly telling them about the crawfish as soon as they were within earshot. The boys didn’t care that their dads were sweaty, but Darren’s eyes flashed white, and the sweat evaporated before the boys reached them, throwing themselves into the arms of their dads. They talked nonstop about everything they did, rushing and trying to get it all out at once.

Drew rode on Henry’s shoulders, content to stay with his dad. He knew how upset Henry was over the Birdman, and Drew wanted to comfort him. Keeping his arms wrapped around his dad’s head to steady himself, he knew the physical contact was a comfort.

Drew still thought about everything the Birdman told him and why he couldn’t say anything. His silence was the only way to save Henry.

…I do not wish for you to lose Henry as you lost your mother. With your uncles, nothing is certain. I do see one possibility, but you must promise not to tell any of them, especially your father. I am sorry, Drew, that this falls on your shoulders. It was never my intent, any more than what happened to your mother, but I am proud of you and Henry and cannot think of anyone more capable of doing what needs to be done…

The Birdman told him a lot about his brother, The Master. Not how to defeat him, but about him. Drew wanted to know how to beat him, but the Birdman wouldn’t say. Everything he said, Drew tucked away in a special place he was given to keep it secret.

On the walk back, Henry decided to lock the memory of the afternoon away in his mind. He didn’t want to spoil any part of their day, and after seeing the smiles on their faces, he felt better about his decision. Nothing could be done about what happened anyway. He didn’t know anything, and Drew seemed adamant about not divulging his conversation with the stranger he called the ‘Birdman.’

Henry noticed a difference in Taliesin right away. He hadn’t spent much time with the man but never remembered seeing Taliesin smile. Everything about him - his face, his posture, his mannerisms - indicated something was different. The doctor had a smile on his face as well, which spoke volumes.

“Well, I can see we missed something! I can’t wait to hear about it!”

Ken noticed right away how tense Henry was and also how poorly he tried to hide it. Tickling Drew as he lifted him off Henry’s shoulders, Ken blew a raspberry on his belly button before passing him off to Loy. Drew was passed from uncle to uncle, and they all wanted to hear about his day and tell him how proud they were of his role in the wedding. The three boys were almost dizzy from being passed from uncle to uncle before everyone got their hugs.

Henry knew Drew wouldn’t say anything about the Birdman. Drew always seemed reluctant to talk about him, as though it was something of his own and very private. He promised to tell Henry if he ever heard the voice, and so far, to the best of Henry’s recollection, Drew kept his promise, except this time, and Henry was terrified of what they talked about. He was sure it had something to do with The Master and the inevitable confrontation.

Once Drew was out of earshot, Ken put an arm around Henry’s shoulder and turned him around, facing away from everyone, whispering, “What happened, Henry? What’s got you so uptight? Why aren’t you back in the link?”

Henry had to catch himself to keep a tear from escaping. He swiped his eye quickly but knew Ken saw it. Ken squeezed his shoulder and shook him a little.

“Spill it.”

“I promise I’ll tell you tomorrow, Ken. Really. For today, just enjoy yourself.”

It shocked Henry when, after a brief pause, Ken said, “Okay. I trust your judgment; you know that. Today has been a great day.”

Putting his mouth right up to Henry’s ear, his voice barely discernible, Ken whispered, “Thanks.”

Squeezing Henry’s shoulder, he then patted him on the back and shoved a beer into his hand. Ken had a way of cheering him up when things were bothering him, and he had to smile.

The next hour was relaxing and enjoyable. Lane played with Gabriel and Taliesin, and they all tried to outdo one another. It was odd but pleasant hearing Taliesin laugh, and much to everyone's amazement, he kept up with Lane on every instrument they played. He had thousands of years of practice under his belt, after all. Even Gabriel was impressed.

Eventually, the archangels left, and it was just the guys, Sally, the boys, the doctor, Albrecht, Taliesin, and Giovanni.

Brad checked in a few times with the Australia crowd to make sure all was good, and he was happy to discover Jacob reconciled with Kent and everyone else.

As the afternoon wore on into evening, they built a campfire, and everyone sat around drinking beer, wine, or juice for the boys. Bryan brought everything needed to make s'mores for the boys, and it was fun watching them try not to burn the marshmallows. Their venture with Henry wore the boys out, and they soon fell asleep. Bill and Kevin made a pallet for them to sleep on until it was time to leave.

Giovanni entertained them with stories from his time in the world; he was a good storyteller with a wicked sense of humor. He dropped a few stories about Albrecht and Aaron that raised their eyebrows and caused the doctor to blush. Albrecht smiled when that happened, enjoying seeing Aaron more relaxed and treated as a peer rather than a mentor all the time.

Almost as one, everyone decided it was time to start packing up to leave. None of them wished to… the day, and what it meant to them would be etched in their hearts forever. It had been a while since they had such a fun, relaxing time where nothing terrible happened.

Standing, Lane said, “Hey, I have one thing left to do, guys.”

Looking at Taliesin, his eyes flashed white. They felt the power he exerted, and Taliesin blinked. The compulsion was gone.

Lane said, “I told you I’d remove it if you merged with us. I don’t think it’s necessary anymore anyway, and I was uncomfortable placing it to begin with. Everything we do is based on free will, and taking the decision away from you as far as your own life goes didn’t sit well.”

Overcome for a moment, Taliesin got up and embraced Lane.

“Thank you, Lane. After what you did for me today, I no longer feel the need to take my life. It’s difficult to describe what I feel now; I have so many regrets, but they are tempered by having Áedán as a part of me and knowing he felt as I do. I have a gift for you, too, if you all will indulge me for a few more moments before we depart.”

Assenting nods from everyone followed, and he moved to get his lap harp. Sitting close to the fire, he plucked a few notes. The instrument was beautiful, sounding magnificent in his hands.

None of them knew the melody, and only Lane recognized the language once he started singing. Patrick’s Understanding kicked in through the link, and they understood the words.

Taliesin put to music perhaps the most famous Elven song from The Lord of the Rings, the “Lay of Leithian.” It had never been set to music that Lane knew of, and Taliesin’s rendition was stunningly beautiful. Lane, being the Tolkien geek he was, had the various languages from the books memorized. The look on his face was priceless, wide-eyed and speechless, and the smile on his face that followed was a mile wide.

When he finished, Taliesin said, “I hope you liked it. I wrote that piece about twenty years ago when I lived in South America. I’ve loved the books since I first read them and wanted to pay homage to the story. Aaron mentioned you liked the books as well, so I thought you would appreciate it.”

When everything was packed and ready for Darren to take them back to Atlanta, Aaron said, “I have one last request. Now that the enchantment over this place is broken, time will rapidly overtake it. It will crumble to dust in less than a week; however, I do not wish even the slightest chance of discovery for many reasons. I am sorry to ask, but I feel it necessary.”

Ken said, “Of course, doc. We get what you’re sayin’. Let’s power up, guys.”

They had been in one another all afternoon, since right after the ceremony and through what they did for Taliesin, but Brad took them deeper once again. His intuition told him to include Taliesin this time. His presence filled the link, and they embraced him as a new brother. He was sad at the passing of the place he called home so long ago, but he now held the most essential piece within him. Avalon as a place would be no more, but they carried the ideal of what Áedán always wanted it to be inside them.

Bryan directed the flows. The cycle of life was a part of his Avatar, and he accelerated the decay of the entire area and then new growth to cover it all. In minutes, all that was left of Avalon became dust, leaving no evidence of the castle. The only items remaining were the wooden panels Bryan had removed from the doors to the meeting chamber where the Round Table had been, and he would treasure those his entire life.

<><><> 

A few hours later, late in the night, Brad and Ken crawled into bed. The lantern sat on their dresser, shining with the beautiful light of their Souls surrounded by the souls of their brothers. The gift from their beloved mentors was still hard to wrap their heads around. As Brad settled against Ken’s warm, solid body, he sensed strong emotions, not only strong but sudden and overpowering.

Turning to look at his husband, there were tears in his eyes, and his throat was so tight he couldn’t talk.

Ken?

You’re my husband, Brad. We’re fuckin’ married! After all this time, it finally happened, and I’m so happy I don’t know what to do!

The intensity of Ken’s love, expressed at that moment, overcame Brad. It was always there, but right then it was on the surface, and Ken’s heart was about to burst from it.

Rolling over to face one another, Brad cupped Ken’s face in his hands, running his thumbs over the day’s growth of stubble, loving the rough sensation.

Pulling Ken forward, they kissed. It lasted a few minutes as they expressed the depth of their love for one another. Ken smiled through it as the fire started inside them and their erections pressed against each other.

Rolling on top, Ken managed to squeak out, “I’m gonna make love to my husband now for the first time. You know what I mean, so no smart-assy comments!”

It wasn’t frantic as it sometimes was, and they didn’t become ‘that guy’ for each other. They made passionate love to one another for hours. It wasn’t long before each man was sweating as their bodies heated up. They couldn’t get enough of each other as hands and mouths roamed over their muscled forms, and each of them reached release multiple times before they were done.

As Brad drifted off with Ken’s arms around him, the safest place in his world, Ken kissed his shoulder and said, “I love you, B. More than ever.”

“I love you, too, Ken. More every day. I don’t know how that’s possible, but I do.”

Brad held their souls, hearts, and minds together as they fell asleep, even as Ken held their bodies. With his heightened sense of touch, Ken felt Brad’s skin against his own, his body hair, his sweat, taking in every detail about his husband that he loved.

Brad always talked about Ken’s natural scent, and Brad had one too. Ken smelled it the first time they met. The feel of Brad’s muscular body, coupled with his scent, the sound of his heartbeat, his body heat, his body hair, everything about him was perfect to Ken and desirable. He knew it sounded silly to say he was the luckiest man in the world, but he honestly felt that way. They felt that way about each other, and it made them both think about all the years they would be together. Ken squeezed Brad a little tighter; they were both in each other’s thoughts, and everything they felt and thought was part of the other.

Their brothers expressed their love for one another in the same manner and intensity. In the sense that they had already lived together for over twenty years, nothing changed, but in reality, everything changed with their marriage. There was an intangible difference, but they all felt it, and it was perfect.

Istariel’s father, whom Drew called the ‘Birdman,’ smiled and was glad. Tragedy would strike again soon enough, but he kept his promise, and the day was theirs. They gained another brother in Taliesin, and their bonds grew even more profound, as he intended. They would need each other so much in the days ahead if they were to survive and be successful.

<><> 

The following day, regular routines for everyone were back in motion. With the new lab policy of two couples being in Australia, Ken decided Brad would create a construct of the conference room every morning at 0900 Atlanta time for everyone to meet. 0900 EST was workable for whoever was in Australia, and with the deadline of their confrontation with The Master less than a year away, Ken was stepping up their training regimen.

Pat, Darren, Rick, and Loy were in Australia, and everyone else was in Atlanta. Drew, Tommy, and Brett would be in session with Sally for half that day in the afternoon, so, for the morning, the boys were in the gym with the adults after the morning meeting.

Everyone appeared in the construct in their black Kevlar assault suits. In the construct, Brad made the suits far more comfortable than they really were, and everyone appreciated the difference. Each of them looked incredibly handsome and hyper-military with the tight-fitting high neck suits, the bodies’ trimmed in dark red, and the Mentalists’ in a muted cyan.

Their wedding rings were evident, and everyone seemed to fiddle with them unconsciously, still getting used to them. Bryan wore his ring depicting Leroy on the opposite hand.

Standing at the lectern, Ken leaned forward, saying, “Alright, fellas. Let’s get the meetin’ started. We all know what a great day yesterday was, and I’m sorry about the lack of honeymoon time. I’ll try to swing some ZEUS time for everybody in the next few weeks on the schedule.”

Grins and high-fives were passed around at the mention of time on ZEUS. Because all of them had been so profoundly merged the day before, everyone was aware of the tension in Henry when he got back from his hike with the boys and his decision to wait and fill them in later.

Noticing the change in Henry first, Loy said, “Hey, Henry, what’s with the hair?”

Everyone looked at Henry, and they were shocked no one had noticed it until just then. A patch of hair above his forehead on the right side was now snow white. It wasn’t large, but it added to his already handsome appearance. It looked like he added a highlight to his dirty blonde hair.

Through the link, he saw it through everyone else’s eyes. He hadn’t seen it in the mirror that morning after his shower, so he was just as surprised as everyone else.

All of them looked concerned, and Ken asked, “Henry, what the hell happened yesterday?”

Now that it was time to speak, Henry went quiet and paled. They were deeply linked but not fully merged, and they felt his anxiety spike, especially with the mark in his hair. Loy and Bill, sitting on either side of him, put their hands on his shoulders in concern. After everything they had been through together, it must be something big for him to react the way he was.

His voice held a slight tremor to it when he said, “I talked with the voice yesterday. He was a man. I found him talking to Drew, and he wasn’t alone; when he left, there were two others, a man and a woman, waiting for him. I’m guessing they were angels, but I’ve never seen them before, so I don’t know for sure.”

Their reaction was extreme when Henry shared the encounter, drawing from his memory so they could see and hear everything.

Ken said, “My God, Henry, why didn’t you say somethin’?”

Henry shrugged his shoulders before responding.

“Could you have done anything? I didn’t want to upset anything about yesterday for you guys.”

Ken made direct eye contact and said, “It’s not about that, Henry. You didn’t have to carry that by yourself. That’s why we’re here.”

The appreciation was apparent in what Henry did for them, but there was some admonishment for keeping something so important from them, and a few of them hung shit on him to try and lighten his mood. At the same time, his point was right; what could they have done?

They sat in silence for a few seconds before Henry spoke again. “This is the first time Drew has directly disobeyed me. It hurts… and I’m scared as hell for him, guys. Whatever that guy said to him I’m sure has something to do with The Master, and Drew won’t budge. He got really upset the two times I’ve pressed him on it, and I don’t want to keep doing that. He doesn’t deserve that, especially from me.”

Brad said, “Don’t push him, Henry. I think that would be bad. Just keep an eye on him, even closer than you already do, and don’t for a second think about keeping something like that from us again. You’re one of us, and we share the good stuff with the bad.”

Loy ruffled Henry’s hair affectionately, which got a slight grin out of him.

Ken asked, “So you have no idea what this guy said to Drew, huh? Fuck.”

Henry continued, “I wonder if the doc or Albrecht might have an opinion on who or what he is? You heard what he said when I asked him who he was… “There’s no simple answer to that.” What the hell does that mean?”

Speaking up, Brad said, “You know, guys, I’ve been thinking a lot about who the voice might be. I see a pattern.”

Looking at Patrick, he continued, “Feel free to chime in if you see anything in this.

“We’re pretty sure the voice is Istariel’s father. After thinking about it, I’m also pretty sure that he’s the one who left Darren the Book of Loagaeth in Sydney. I’ve made a few concerted efforts to put memory triggers in my mind to ask Istariel about his father, and each time they disappear. I have no idea how many times that’s happened, but my gut feeling is that it’s happened more than I’ve managed to figure out. A few times I know my memory was altered by Raphael, but I’m also sure a few times must have been whoever this mysterious voice is.

“I don’t think he’s God, based on Henry’s question and how he answered it. I think he’s a part of God. According to the bible, God is a triune being… Father, Son, and Holy spirit. Maybe he’s one of the three incarnations? I don’t know… the man and woman Henry saw might be the other two. He’s a paradox; all three, but one.”

An epiphany ran through them as his words… ‘He’s a paradox... all three, but one” hit them. If he was the one pulling the puppet strings… there were ten of them, but they were one… had he intervened to fashion their creation to be the same? That thought and its implications were mindboggling.

Henry interjected, “Brad, if He is God or even part of God, what does he want with Drew? Why is he involved? He can snap his fingers and do whatever he wants. He could vaporize The Master with a thought. Why does he need Drew?”

Bryan’s deep, gravelly voice filled the silence that fell after Henry’s question, “Free will. If he snapped his fingers, it wouldn’t mean anything. It has to happen because of free will.”

Grinning, Ken said, “You’ve been hangin’ around that nerd husband of yours too long, Bry.”

Bryan blushed, and everyone grinned at his discomfort.

Pat said, “You’re right, Bry. That’s definitely part of the pattern building around everything. I have to back out pretty far to see it. All our decisions, our sacrifices, the sacrifice of Tony… It’s all a part of this, and the significance is… well, it’s huge! We aren’t robots, and we can’t be. That’s why our Avatars are a paradox, like He is. If we’re on track with this, He’s taking a huge gamble with us. If I Understand things correctly, we could fuck everything up royally if we wanted to.”

Brad said, “Yeah… the idea of predestination goes out the window with our Avatars, and I’m not sure that idea is valid anyway. That would be a few years’ discussion with the doc or Albrecht if we had the time.”

Henry looked angry. Veins in his neck showed, and his face flushed.

Slapping his hand on the table, he exclaimed, “I still want to punch him in the face! I don’t care who the hell He is; He’s screwing around with my son! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; Drew doesn’t deserve any of this!”

Sighing, Ken lowered his head, saying, “I know, Henry. I know it sucks for Drew, and you too, but always remember we’re in this with you, every step of the way.”

Loy interjected, “We’ve said this before, too, Henry, but there’s no better man in the world than you to be Drew’s dad. He needs you. The voice picked you! That says a lot if you were hand-picked by God, or a part of Him, to be involved in this. We’re thankful it’s you.”

Patrick continued, “We get what you’re saying, Henry; believe me. Look inside us and see it, but I think it has to be Drew. He was the start of all this eighty thousand years ago. He’s the origin of the pattern, and it has to end with him. He’s got to be the one to finish it. It’s another ‘David and Goliath’ story… who would think the instrument to redeem mankind and remove the Curse would be a little boy? Who would ever think he could defeat The Master? It’s unthinkable and unorthodox, but like we’ve said before, sometimes the best thing you can do is pull a bat-shit crazy stunt out of your ass.”

Henry sighed as their words sank in. All of them mulled over everything in their thoughts. Brad brought them together, and the conference room vanished as they appeared naked to one another in the place where their souls were one. When they closed their eyes, the golden liquid light of their souls surrounded them.

Ken held Henry tight: It’s gonna be okay, bud. Somehow, it’s all gonna work out. I believe it, and you should too. You have to, for Drew. There can be no doubt in your head; no room for negativity. Drew will pick up on it if it’s there.

Letting the dam of his emotions loose, Henry took the comfort Ken and his brothers offered. Wrapping him in their support, they helped him work through his anger and his anxiety.

When Henry felt better, Brad returned them to the construct to continue their discussion.

Darren asked, “So what do we think? Should we try and work on this more, or let it go for now?”

Brad said, “I think we should let it go. I think it would be bad to put a spotlight on the voice for a few reasons. It will upset Drew, and we need him to be focused and continue to prepare. He has enough on his shoulders with whatever the voice said to him. I think there’s a reason the voice is staying behind the scenes, and we don’t want to rock that boat. There’s got to be a compelling reason he told Drew not to say anything about their conversation.”

Pat said, “I think you’re right, Brad. It sucks, but I think you’re right.”

Switching to his Captain’s voice, Ken said, ‘Okay, guys, we’re movin’ forward as planned. We can’t do anythin’ about this voice anyway. If He shows back up or talks ‘ta Drew again that we know of, we can rehash this, but until then we plow forward. Henry, you good?”

Henry sighed, “Yeah, Ken. I don’t have a choice, do I? I’ll do my part.”

Ken stood up and said, “Alright, ladies, those of us in Atlanta, hop in the gym, and let’s get to it.”

In their extensive training as soldiers, they all learned to compartmentalize things when necessary to focus on the mission, and they were forced to do so over the issue of Drew and whatever or whoever the voice was. Henry didn’t have their training, but he followed their lead, and with their help he shouldered the burden.

He was Drew’s protector, his dad, and would do whatever necessary to keep him safe and help him defeat The Master.

Beyond the Pale

Hidden and veiled, Orophir listened as Luke instructed his most powerful and loyal servants. Luke’s mood had been foul since the Nephilim hybrids forced him to swear on the Oathstone of Heaven to remove himself from the battle on Earth and leave them alone until The Master was defeated. It angered him just as much that they included Thomin in the oath, so he could not retaliate and gain access to the vault and its treasures.

With Earth out of the picture, the rest of creation remained open to him, so he focused on areas long neglected. Luke had not called on Orophir for some time, and Orophir spent his time mastering the runes Luke taught him, and through much experimentation, he created new and potent combinations.

His mastery was as complete as possible without the Book of Loagaeth or another archangel to teach him. He was unsure and afraid of approaching any of the archangels and revealing his existence. Orophir was convinced Luke gave him no further commands or instructions because his father no longer trusted him.

Orophir’s thoughts once again turned to the memories Brad Wilson shared with him from the alternate reality. With the insights garnered from that memory, coupled with eavesdropping on his father, he knew where he stood with Luke. The sad fact was, he didn’t have any standing with his father. Luke saw him as a tool to discard when the time was right or if he perceived Orophir as a threat.

Knowing his father could turn on him at any moment, Orophir decided to hide from Luke and so far managed to elude him. He knew his father was angry but wasn’t sure if Luke knew beyond question it was he who betrayed Thomin’s location; however, it was only a matter of time before that knowledge became fact.

Convinced Luke would seek to destroy him, Orophir spent his time preparing. Losing count of the dark Nephilim he drained, he used their essence to power runes and matrices for his crafting.

As he reasoned matters, there were two significant risks regarding his defection. The first would occur in the next few moments once he was sure of Luke’s departure from the chamber. He planned everything meticulously, but Luke would quickly become aware of his actions once he initiated his plan, which would trigger the second great risk.

His life was forfeit either way, but he wanted his father to pay. Through his decision and actions, he was now an ally of the Nephilim hybrids, although they didn’t know it. He hoped they would accept him, or he would die much sooner than expected.

Luke vanished, and Orophir waited. He knew his father was suspicious and might remain veiled, and he must be absolutely sure The Dark One was gone before revealing himself. Luke’s lieutenants spoke amongst themselves, some complaining about the situation, but none speaking against Luke outright for fear of a spy among them.

Waiting patiently, once convinced Luke was gone, Orophir moved to the middle of the chamber. Standing where Luke was moments ago, Orophir slipped off the ring that veiled him.

Luke’s followers reacted as expected. Surprised at his sudden appearance, black bolts of power flew towards him; however, their attacks faded before striking his shields. He had prepared long and precisely for that moment, and his defenses were potent.

Bile, the strongest and oldest demon among them, spoke with a voice like grating rocks.

“Why are you here?”

Orophir kept his voice steady and confident. As The Dark One's offspring, they would expect nothing less, and he had to play the part.

“There is something I require, and you will assist me.”

“We do not answer to you, Nephilim.”

“That is irrelevant.”

With inhuman grace and agility, Orophir spun, throwing five matrices on the ground around him, each inscribed with runes to trap and contain the five specific demons in the chamber. They screamed and howled their rage, but his preparation, foresight, and knowledge overcame their raw power as their essence sucked into the traps, becoming available for his needs.

After collecting them he quickly vanished, returning to his cave to complete the final part of his plan against his father.

<><> 

Orophir’s cave sat quiet and empty. The only light in the chamber came from a dagger floating over a pedestal. The artistry and workmanship were exquisite, the design simple and elegant while fully functional. Except for a dull, lifeless gem set at the base of the pommel, it was truly a thing of beauty.

Dust motes, like tiny fireflies, shone brightly in the dagger’s light as the cave trembled. Luke brought all his anger and power to bear against Orophir’s defenses built around his sanctuary.

It was inevitable that the defenses would crumble, but Luke was impressed at what his son accomplished. The final blow that shattered the cave’s protections was felt throughout the Pale. Nearby Eschphene stopped and wondered, calling their leader to rally their people in case they were under attack.

Luke’s fury at his son’s betrayal was as intense as when the Nephilim hybrids trapped him in the Four Corners ritual on earth. He did not have to restrain his wrath in the Pale; there was no danger of ripping a hole in reality as there was on Earth. The entropic and chaotic forces of the realm were in a constant state of flux, and his efforts only added to the natural instabilities.

When Luke discovered it was Orophir who had betrayed him, he was furious, but when his five most loyal and powerful servants vanished, and he realized Orophir was responsible, it nearly drove Luke to the point of losing control. His son had grown truly powerful to do such a thing, and Luke underestimated him.

Luke suspected his offspring had more interaction with the hybrid Nephilim than he was aware of, and their Avatars must have influenced him. He realized even more deeply how well designed and potent their Avatars were, and whoever their silent benefactor happened to be was a worthy opponent. Their very existence worked against him.

Luke hoped to find his son and destroy him. He had no plans to torture Orophir, wanting the satisfaction of annihilating him and ending his existence. He expected a fight as he moved into the chamber where his son stayed hidden for so long.

Luke was impressed with the runes and his son’s mastery of them. He took the knowledge Luke fed him and expanded on it. The combinations used to mask the cave from his presence bordered on genius. Yes, he underestimated his son, and that would not happen again.

Quiet fell as the dust and rubble settled. Luke appeared out of the shadows, cautious of traps. He wasn’t surprised but was disappointed his son was gone. He wished to take care of this business quickly and return to other matters.

The light of the dagger in the center of the room caught Luke’s attention. Anticipating a trap, he moved forward slowly, certain of some deception. He was enthralled by the beauty of the object floating above the pedestal.

A parchment rested on the ground that must have fallen in the shaking of the cave when he broke through the protections. The symbol meaning “Gift” in the language of creation covered the vellum. The calligraphy was stunning and done in a high form; he wondered where Orophir could have learned that. Luke never taught him the higher forms of any of the runes.

The craftsmanship of the weapon was exquisite. It glowed softly, and yet Luke sensed no power in it. Perhaps it was a peace offering? No matter; he would take it and discover its secrets.

Luke destroyed the chamber out of malice. It was the only place his son ever called home, and Luke wanted it erased. The empty spirit jars and work area, the tools, everything there Luke ruined just as he would destroy his son the next time their paths crossed.

<><><> 

Hopping over the top rope of the ring, Ken and Kevin landed deftly on their feet. The two men dripped sweat, and each grabbed a towel to wipe themselves down. Their muscles pumped, veins showed across their bodies from their sparring and training efforts.

Breathing heavily, Ken and Kevin both looked happy. The exhilaration of working out and sparring, of not holding back on their strength or abilities, gave them a rush like little else. They were the oldest friends of all the guys and enjoyed their time in the ring; it brought back good memories from their early days in the Navy.

Ken glanced at Henry and Bill, who still went at each other in the adjacent ring. He noted their form; they were faultless, their movements fluid perfection. Aside from their skill in the ring, Ken admired their bodies; their grace and musculature, accentuated by their sweat, was beautiful to look at.

Henry, shorter than Bill but stockier, held his own against Bill’s height and reach advantage. Even though Henry wasn’t part Nephilim, his genetic alterations gave him agility and dexterity far above a normal human, and with his powers boosted by the Tantric ritual Albrecht taught him, he was Bill’s physical equal. Henry had grown in every aspect since joining them, and Ken was extremely proud of him. He was proud of all of them and made sure they knew it.

As their leader and the best fighter among them, Ken continually evaluated their skills. Brad helped with the emotional and mental aspects of their training, but Ken was the focal point. It was also a part of his Avatar, but even before his first awakening, he was their Captain.

As Ken toweled off, he saw the veins in his biceps protruding. Catching Brad’s eye, he nodded his head towards his arm in a subtle motion. Arm veins were one of Brad’s turn-ons, and he gave his husband the little kid grin he loved so much and flexed his arm. Brad grinned back, and Kevin rolled his eyes.

Kevin: God, get a room!

Ken: Hey, I can’t help it. B has good taste!

Kevin: Your arm is not good taste, Ken. You don’t have good taste. You eat at Waffle House, for crying out loud.

Ken: Hey, you eat there too!

Kevin: Only because I’m such a good friend I don’t want to hurt your feelings by telling you how shitty the food there really is.

Ken was about to retort and defend his love of hash browns when they heard the chime of the main door alarm, even through the noise of Henry and Bill fighting and their own conversation. The chime usually meant a delivery, but they still tensed every time they heard it. A few seconds later, Sally stuck her head in the door, and they knew immediately something was wrong.

Brad brought her into their link, and there was no need to talk, seeing the image in her mind of a man in the parking lot, standing and waiting. Staring at the door, open and exposed, he seemed nervous. Sally had never seen Orophir in person, but the rest of them recognized the Nephilim immediately. His actions were unusual enough to cause concern, so she immediately came to get them.

Ken: B!

Knowing Ken’s intent, as soon as he shouted his name, Brad cast his thoughts across the planet to Uluru, Australia, contacting Darren. It was late, but Dar and Pat were in the gym working out with Lane and Bryan, mirroring the training in Atlanta.

Loy and Rick were off duty on ZEUS, and he hated to bother them but leaving them out wasn’t an option. They were stargazing on the upper observation deck, naked and holding each other. One, Loy rested their awareness in the sea life around them; it was how he liked to ‘recharge’ himself. Making love to one another on and off all day, they were about to start again when Brad entered their minds.

Brad brought everyone together: Ten, five, one, plus Henry. Darren synchronized their Avatars, and in less than a second from the time Sally put her head in the door, the rest of the team appeared in the gym. Brad knew Loy and Rick were naked and put the illusion of swim trunks on them as they appeared with everyone else.

Ken said, “Sally, get the boys back in Henry and Drew’s room until we come get you.”

That was now standard protocol if anything unusual happened while she tutored the boys. Not seeing any alarm in their faces, she didn’t panic. Their demeanor helped keep her calm, and she quickly and efficiently did as instructed.

The security monitor by the door showed Orophir standing there, but he seemed unnerved and kept glancing about.

“Dar, take us out. Put us in front of him, within the protection of the runes just in case.”

Orophir didn’t start or even blink when they appeared in front of him. In fact, he looked relieved. That wasn’t something they expected.

Stepping forward, Ken asked, “Why are you here, Orophir?”

“I… I seek sanctuary. I wish to join you in the fight against my father, The Dark One.”

Shocked at his words, Brad took them deep into a construct of the conference room where time nearly stood still. All of them were wide-eyed. Orophir was Luke’s son!

Lane broke the uncomfortable silence: Didn’t see that coming. Fuck! We knew he was powerful, but that explains a LOT.

Ken: Is it a trap? Luke shouldn’t be able to involve him until after we beat The Master.

Brad: Why now? Something must have happened, and we need to find out more. He looks nervous, Ken, and the runes will stop him if he’s not sincere.

All of them felt Ken’s discomfort at the order he was about to give, but Bill pre-empted him.

Bill: It’s alright, Ken. We have to know. We can’t take even the slightest chance with Drew if Orophir’s got ulterior motives.

I’m sorry, Bill.

Ken looked at all of them.

We all share the burden on this one. Shields up and be ready. B, take us back up.

Orophir was sure they conversed among themselves regarding his presence. He had not come to his decision lightly and knew it would eventually mean his death. The hybrid Nephilim were his last hope of survival, at least for a while. He was also determined to try and cause as much disruption to his father’s plans as possible before he died.

He was young for one of his kind and for most of his short life, unmindful of anything other than his father’s influence. He wasn’t initially aware of the light or the dark… he simply knew his father. Luke sheltered him, and Orophir came to realize his isolation was a means of controlling him. He knew Luke wanted to keep him ignorant and dependent, and it worked until Brad Wilson opened his eyes.

With his Understanding, Pat saw the objects of power Orophir wore on his person, all defensive in nature and extremely powerful.

Ken gestured, saying, “You need ‘ta take off any runes you’re wearin’.”

Orophir looked hesitant. He expected as much, but his life was in jeopardy.

“If I take off my ring, my father will know where I am. He will come to kill me.”

Brad: Ken, are you sure about this? I know he could be a powerful ally, and heaven knows we could use one, but if this is a trap, we’re screwed.

Ken: What’s your gut say? You, too, Lane… are you pickin’ up any vibes one way or the other?

Closing his eyes, Brad’s Avatar glowed brightly on his shoulder. When his Avatar flared, the light reflected off the musculature of his thick shoulder, and Ken couldn’t help but notice how handsome his husband looked standing there, shirtless and sweaty.

A silent thread of humor ran through the link as most of the guys wanted to stick their fingers down their throats at Ken’s thoughts. At the same time, it was just shit they hung on him. They all got it, and everyone thought the same thing about their husbands all the time.

I can’t help it, guys! Situations like this get my adrenaline flowin’ and….

Lane: That’s not all that’s flowing…

Bryan: Fuck! Not again! Bill! Touch that fucker before these two yahoos start making out in front of us!

Orophir saw the smirks on their faces but didn’t understand.

Ken said, “We’ll protect you if he shows up. You have ‘ta understand we need ‘ta be careful. This is a precaution; it’s called trust, but verify.”

Staring at them, Orophir slowly removed his matrices, putting them on the ground at his feet. All of them observed him carefully, ready for anything. Brad noticed the haggard and forlorn look on his face and wondered what he had been through. They would find out as soon as Bill touched him.

When only his ring remained, he looked directly into Ken’s eyes and said, “Be ready,” and he slipped off the ring.

Nothing happened immediately. The objects disappeared as Darren teleported them onto ZEUS for the moment, wanting them away from Orophir and any of them for the time being.

Ken: Good thinkin’, Dar.

Bill: Here goes nothing.

Bracing himself, Bill didn’t know what to expect. Reaching out, he gripped Orophir’s hand firmly, and his Avatar erupted in a silent light show, spitting off bright arcs of color. Everything about Orophir was now known to them, including his fear and sincerity in seeking sanctuary.

One thing surprised them right away. Orophir, while he consorted with demons and Luke his entire existence, had done remarkably few evil deeds and those in ignorance. He created amulets, learning runes from Luke and passing items on to The Master, so his activities caused many tragedies, hardships, and loss, but he committed few of those actions himself. He was another of Luke’s instruments, used to wreak havoc and spread pain and confusion, but in ignorance.

Luke kept Orophir isolated and emotionally dependent, intentionally retarding his development to control him. A child at heart and emotionally stunted, he was terribly lonely but brilliant and giving up everything that made him happy to risk his life and join their cause. The memories Brad shared of Orophir’s death at his father's hands were the ultimate reason for his decision.

They also saw the trap he laid for Luke with the dagger and what it meant for Orophir if his plan worked. That shocked them, and an immense sadness ran through the link at what he had done. The risks alone were incredible, but the feeling of futility that led him to craft such an object and what he intended to do shook them hard.

Orophir created a weapon specifically designed to kill Luke. Using the idea of the blood curse, he translated the language of creation using runes, inverting multiple layers of power and deception so complex even Luke would not see the intent of the weapon. The Runes were in place, needing only Orophir’s death to activate them; his essence, created from his father's essence rather than blood, would complete the matrix and invoke the curse.

Standing with wide eyes, they took in the knowledge, dealing with the emotions of the pitiful creature standing before them. Knowing little happiness and never loved, he already planned his death as if his life had no value or meaning; to him it didn’t, and certainly not to his father. Even sadder to them was that Orophir didn’t comprehend his own misery. To him, it was all he had known.

Orophir’s eyes widened at Bill’s touch, and he muttered, “What a wondrous gift!”

Looking at Bill, his eyes filled with reverence, his voice literally quivered as he said, “Would that I had such a gift!”

Bill knew Orophir was a curious creature with an inborn desire to understand things. Existence to him was a puzzle, and he delved into any mystery voraciously. His happiest moments were in his cave, tinkering with his amulets and mastering the objects his father instructed him to make. He set out to learn and grow when he first started down the path of betraying Luke, and they saw that. He learned much of betrayal, and his experience was seriously skewed.

One unexpected piece of knowledge hit them hard… The Master was very close to discovering living blood relatives of Kevin. Orophir spied on The Master as well as his father and heard much of his plans. His servants were currently scouring Tucson, Arizona, digging for the final connection that would enable him to invoke another blood curse. Clues also led to Rick’s family, but those were still vague and unclear, whereas Kevin’s was immediate.

Even with the emotional reaction to everything they just discovered, they were ready as Luke appeared only a few feet from them. He did not look happy.

Brad brought everyone tighter together, and their shields flared. Orophir, trusting them, was defenseless without his devices. He was a powerful Nephilim but no match for his father.

Luke held the dagger he found in Orophir’s cave.

“So… You come to them.”

Surprisingly, Orophir sounded confident, and his voice didn’t waver as he replied, “You gave me no choice, Father. I have watched and listened to you in secret and heard all you said about me to your underlings. I saw my death at your hands in another reality, and I know I am nothing to you but a useful tool to be discarded once you are finished with me.”

“I should never have given you life. You will wish that was so before I am done with you. Your death will be swift but painful beyond belief.”

Putting a hand on Orophir’s shoulder, Ken squeezed. Enveloping Orophir in their shield, Ken gently but firmly pulled Orophir back, interposing himself between the father and son. Orophir crossed the line into the rune’s protection, and under their protection there was no reaction.

Facing Luke, Ken stated clearly, “He’s under our protection now.”

Eerily, Luke vanished without another word. The parking lot became deathly quiet, and they remained tense, expecting something to happen, but after a few seconds, they breathed a sigh of relief. Luke could not act directly against them, but he was still one of the most powerful beings in existence, and they were on the top of his shit list.

Brad: We need to let Michael and the others know about this. Orophir is the proof they need to link Luke to the sharing of information.

Ken’s Avatar flared on his shoulder as he looked up to the heavens, his voice echoing with power as he shouted in his mind into the spiritual and physical realms: Michael!

Michael appeared in front of them, wearing jeans and the black leather jacket they were accustomed to seeing him in. Michael’s gaze swept over all of them and stopped on Orophir. A slight crease in his forehead showed, and he looked at Ken questioningly.

“We found the proof you need. Orophir is Luke’s son. Luke’s been usin’ him ‘ta pass information ‘ta The Master and The Enemy here on earth.”

Expecting Michael to be happy, they were surprised when his face contorted in fury and his sword appeared in his hands, blazing with light and pointing at Orophir. A bolt of power shot from his sword but hit the protection of the runes. The shockwave nearly knocked the mentalists off their feet, including Orophir, who went white as a sheet.

Interposing himself, Ken shouted, “What the hell!? Grandfather, stop! He came ‘ta us for protection!”

Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel appeared as Ken grabbed Michael, throwing him back. Michael sailed through the air, and as he flipped, his wings appeared, stopping him about thirty feet above the pavement.

Ken took a defensive stance, ready to defend himself and Orophir, and all the guys were with him, backing him up.

Ken: Dar, Pat, Bry, and Lane take Orophir to ZEUS! Get him outta here! Add his name to the matrix so he can stay there for now. Loy, Rick, I’m sorry guys, I know that was your alone time, but I don’t want him near Drew.

They vanished, and Michael shouted, “What have you done!?”

Ken shouted back, not giving an inch, “I told you he’s under our protection! Calm the fuck down!”

The other archangels looked confused. Michael summoned them, but they didn’t know the situation.

Raphael looked at Brad: What is going on?

Brad gestured, and three memory spheres shot out of his hand, each going to one of the archangels. Landing, Michael walked up to Ken, still furious.

“The darkling must be destroyed! He was the instrument used to break one of the first Mandates!”

Raphael interjected, “He is a child, Michael, and not his father. He was used. You see this!”

Brad: I left out the memory of the dagger and what Orophir plans to do. I don’t want them knowing that, especially the way Michael’s acting.

Ken: Good thinkin’, B. He surprised the hell outta me, reactin’ this way.

Michael’s sword and wings vanished.

Looking at Michael, Ken said, “I thought you’d be happy we found proof. Orophir’s not the one you need ‘ta blame. He risked his life coming ‘ta us. He’s the reason you found Thomin and the Vault is safe. He doesn’t deserve the attitude.”

Looking at Raphael, Michael said, “Call everyone together. We must meet to discuss this.”

Turning away, he vanished, and Raphael noticed the hurt look on Ken’s face.

Do not worry, Ken, he is not angry with you. This is a complicated situation.

The other archangels vanished, and Ken sighed. Brad put a hand on Ken’s shoulder, giving him a squeeze of comfort.

Loy: He’ll calm down, Ken. Don’t worry.

Ruffling Ken’s sweaty hair, Kevin said: Sucks being the adult, doesn’t it? Nice throw on your granddad, by the way.

Grinning, Ken thought with a sigh: It’s always somethin’ around here.

Pulling his thoughts together, he continued: Henry, Bill, and Kev, you guys go check on the boys. Make sure they’re okay… Bein’ shunted off ‘ta their rooms might have ’em a bit rattled.

Turning back to Loy and Rick, he thought: Guys, I’m sorry about sendin’ Orophir to ZEUS. There’s nowhere else we can keep him right now.

Rick: It’s no big deal, Ken. It’s a big boat! It’s not like we make out 24/7.

Loy grinned: Well… actually, we kind of do.

Rick laughed: Yeah, okay, we’ll have to tone things down a notch, but honestly, we’ll deal with it. Orophir will just have to get used to us running around naked, or whichever of you pervs are there besides us.

Ken: From now on, whoever’s on their off time will have to spend it on ZEUS. I don’t want Orophir left alone.

Henry: So, you’re forcing us to stay on a luxury yacht in the Pacific on our time off? You bastard!

They all laughed at Henry’s comment, but Ken’s face turned serious again.

Guys, we need ‘ta jump on that Intel about Kevin’s family. Orophir didn’t know specifics, but if The Master is close ‘ta findin’ Kev’s relatives, we have ‘ta get movin’. B, have Dar get himself, Kev, Bry, and Lane back to Australia and Loy and Rick back to ZEUS. Let’s all get cleaned up. Trainin’s over for the day. In an hour, B will pull us together ‘ta figure out a plan of action.

<> 

An hour later, in a construct of the Atlanta conference room, the eleven men plus the doctor and Albrecht sat around the table. Kevin looked tense, and Bill held his hand under the table, one with his husband in support. Standing at the lectern, Ken looked every inch their leader.

“Doc, we need more information on the blood curse. Can anyone in our families be used?”

“It must be an immediate direct line: mother, father, brother, sister, son, or daughter. Nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, or uncles can be used in other ways, but none for the full curse.”

Albrecht interjected, “We are unsure if the minor, secondary curses would affect you. Being part Nephilim might make you immune… There is no way to be sure without a test, which we cannot perform. If they do affect you, the results would likely be less than expected.”

The doctor’s face stern, he said, “The manner in which the victim is exsanguinated is extreme and time-consuming. Old blood magic is strong but also limited in when and how it can be used. My main concern is if Kevin has any extended family, they can be used as leverage against all of you as well as others in his immediate family.”

After Henry recovered the body of Ken’s brother Richard, Bill read him, transferring everything about Richard to Ken, knowing he would want to know everything about the brother he barely knew. One of the most challenging pieces of that knowledge was Richard’s pain and torture at the hands of The Master as the blood curse was invoked. It took a full lunar cycle, and Richard was brutally and horrifically tortured the entire time.

Ken’s emotions were still fresh over losing his brother and mother, and while knowing they were in Heaven was comforting, there was still deep sorrow over what was taken from him. Ken suddenly became acutely aware of his wedding ring, and the knowledge Brad was with him now as his husband was a boon he never expected. Taking a deep breath, he focused on the moment.

“Okay. The only real Intel we have from Orophir is that The Master’s flunkies are searchin’ Tucson. Does anyone have any ideas on how to track down Kev’s family?”

Pat said, “If I’m in visual range of Kevin and a family member, I’ll see the connection. Any of you would, too, but we can’t just drive around Tucson looking.”

Brad added, “His family doesn’t know about Kevin either, so scanning memories randomly won’t work. We’d have to go deep to find that type of connection. I’m not sure, but I think it would be the same for Bry trying to use the tree. We don’t know the souls were looking for.”

Lane mused, more to himself than really asking the question, “Why haven’t I had any dreams about them? Or about your family, Ken? Or any of us?”

Again, the doctor looked stern, saying, “I believe it is because of your nature, the way you are invisible to the higher powers. I have no way to prove that theory, but it makes sense. Whoever, or whatever, is pulling the puppet strings regarding Drew’s confrontation with The Master most likely is responsible for that, Lane. The same aspect that makes you invisible to the higher powers, I believe, keeps your Avatars from seeing them. That is just a theory, however. Once The Enemy has found any of your relatives, they will employ one of Orophir’s Amulets to block that aspect of your Avatar.”

Brad added, “We know The Master’s servants are digging in people’s memories. They’re finding connections even in their unconscious minds. They must have been searching for decades to find the few they have, and even then they’ve gotten lucky.”

“I agree, Bradford. The initial clues were most likely mere chance, but their diligence and perseverance have prevailed. I am sorry I was not able to do more. I feel the blame rests on my shoulders.”

“Doc, we talked about this. None of us blames you. You did an amazin’ job keepin’ our identities secret. This is just bad luck, pure and simple.”

Darren spoke for the first time, “I wouldn’t be surprised if Luke was involved in this. I know he can’t be right now because of the Oath, but before that, he was already pissed when you guys rescued me from Thomin’s cave. There might be some of that mess left over.”

Albrecht replied, “That is a strong possibility.”

Ken said, “Well, for now, none of that matters. If it was bad luck or Luke… we need ‘ta figure out a way ‘ta find Kevin’s family. We also need a plan once we do.”

Kevin frowned, saying, “Yeah, their lives will never be the same. If we find them, and they survive, their lives will be ruined because of me.”

Bryan, sitting next to Kevin, lightly smacked the back of his head, saying, “Cut that shit out, Kev. All this started with Drew and The Master, eighty fucking thousand years ago.”

Catching himself, Bryan said, “Sorry, doc.”

He continued, “We didn’t start this… but we’re sure going to finish it. If anyone started this, it’s Luke… The Master never would have done what he did if not for that slimy bastard.”

Kevin sighed, but his eyes were bright, saying, “Thanks, Bry. Yeah, I get it, guys. Sorry. So, what are we going to do?”

Loy said, “I say we set up shop in Tucson and wing it. I can use local animals to help look for Enemy agents. More than likely, they have some of those amulets Orophir gave The Master, so we probably won’t be able to detect them, but they still give off bad vibes that animals might sense. We go there and hit the streets like we did in Syria in the good ole days.”

Ken nodded, “That’s the best idea anyone’s had yet. Henry, you’ll stay here with the boys and Sally. Doc, I hate ‘ta ask, but I need you or Albrecht to stay with Orophir on ZEUS and the other to stay in Australia until we’re back. We’re stretched pretty thin right now.”

The doctor nodded, “Of course, Kenneth.”

Albrecht nodded his assent as well.

Ken said, “Alright, ladies, let’s get to it. Bill, contact everyone in fifteen minutes, and we’ll head to Tucson.”

<><><> 

Twenty minutes later, they stood in the lobby of the Tucson Marriott University Park Hotel. Located downtown and close to the college campus, it was centrally located and would work as a good base of operations.

Darren booked their rooms using one of the doctor’s untraceable credit cards. Lucky, he managed to get the largest adjoining suites the Hotel offered. Kevin kept his Avatar synchronized with the other bodies to keep their auras masked and invisible to any Enemy agents that might be in the area, and Brad kept them all linked for communications.

Ken: Okay, guys. Loy, you do your thing. If you need help or backup, sound off. Brad and Lane, keep your guts attuned ‘ta anything. Bill and Bry, you two cover the local news station’s internet archives. Everyone else, chip in and help when or where you’re needed. Kev and I are gonna find food for all you bottomless pits. Come on, Kev.

When Ken walked up to the Concierge desk, the young woman almost melted. Ken’s sleeveless t-shirt hugged his body, and between his physique and especially, in her eyes, his biceps, and his devastating looks, the young lady was beside herself. His smile caused her to stutter, but he put her at ease with the way he had with people. Getting the information he wanted, he thanked her.

As Ken walked over after getting the information, Kevin grinned and said, “You enjoyed that, didn’t you? You fucker.”

Assuming an innocent look on his face, Ken asked, “What?”

Kevin just shook his head and chuckled. Wanting to keep Kevin close and distracted, Kevin knew what Ken was doing but still appreciated it. Ken kept a hand on Kevin’s shoulder as they walked out of the lobby through the main entrance. A few blocks from the hotel, Kevin saw the sign and knew precisely where Ken was headed, and he actually laughed.

“You’ve got to be shitting me!”

“Hell no, Kev. We never get ‘In and Out’ burgers in Atlanta. I say we take full advantage of bein’ here. This’ll be our grease fix for the year.”

“What about hash browns at Waffle House?”

“Those don’t count and don’t bring facts into this. I get enough of that shit from Brad.”

I heard that.

Kevin couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of him at Brad’s comment.

The talk of food, plus the smell as soon as they walked in the door, caused Ken’s stomach to let out a cavernous rumble. Shaking his head in amazement, Kevin walked up to the counter with Ken.

 Two Days Earlier

Dr. Archibald Ferris, head of the History Department at Arizona State University, better known to his friends as Archie, wrapped up his evening lecture. He enjoyed teaching night classes where most of the students were more serious and studious. For the current semester, he taught World Civilization I, one of his favorite undergraduate courses. Amanda, his wife of thirty-two years, took advantage of the two nights a week he taught the class to join her bridge club, so Archie didn’t feel guilty about not being home.

The only one put out by his schedule was Mr. Buckles, their miniature pomeranian, who took being left alone as a personal insult and would most likely leave a ‘surprise’ on the carpet in protest. The rule was whoever got home first cleaned up the mess unless one of their kids happened to stop by the house unexpectedly, and then they usually took care of it.

As Archie made his way to the parking lot, the sky was clear and the evening warm, dry, and beautiful. Putting the top down on his convertible, the car his wife teasingly called his ‘midlife crisis car,’ although she drove one too, he started towards home.

Turning on the radio, he set the station to Talk Radio. As a diehard liberal, Archie prided himself on listening to different viewpoints, so he usually tuned in to a local conservative talk show. He tried, but the panel of speakers that night, practically every night he thought, were all arguing and yelling over one another. The rude, screeching chaos blaring through the speakers started his blood pressure rising, so he switched the car to Bluetooth and found a playlist on his phone.

Traffic was light, and once the music started, the drive went much better. On a whim, Archie decided to swing by Starbucks and pick up two Iced Caramel Macchiatos for himself and Amanda. Pulling into the house ten minutes later, a black Escalade stood parked in the driveway. The lights were on in the house, so he assumed Amanda arrived home first, and a friend from her bridge club must have dropped by for a visit.

Amanda liked to entertain, occasionally hosting her bridge club at the house. She and Archie lived in a large upscale neighborhood, and the square footage of their house was enormous. Archie didn’t care about having such a prominent place, but Amanda insisted on a home fit for the Department Head of a major University. Archie loved his wife and would never criticize her, but she was stuffy about social status, whereas Archie didn’t care.

With his satchel over his shoulder, Archie fumbled with the lock, juggling the two Macchiatos while opening the door.

As soon as the door opened, he hollered, “Hey, honey! I’m home!”

Going into the kitchen, he set the drinks down and started through the den to put the satchel in his office. As soon as he saw Amanda, he knew something was wrong. Something about her body posture was off, and when Archie walked into the room, his life changed in an instant. Jerry, his oldest son, sat on the couch next to his wife Laura, and Renee, his daughter, sat next to her husband, Zack. They seemed frozen, their faces expressionless. Amanda stood in the middle of the room, stiff as a board, her eyes wide and terrified, with tears covering her cheeks.

Four strange men occupied the room; one well-dressed in an expensive suit, and the other three large and extremely muscular, dressed in black jeans and tight t-shirts. Terror hit Archie as an aura of fear he had never felt before struck him hard. Before he could react, the well-dressed man’s eyes flashed white, ensnaring Archie’s mind.

Forcing Amanda to witness her children and husband being controlled, she wasn’t allowed to speak or move, but the well-dressed man left her mind clear, delighting in the waves of terror running through her.

<><> 

When Archie came to, he sat in a chair at the breakfast table off the kitchen. Everything snapped back to him, and he panicked. He wasn’t restrained but couldn’t move. His mind, his beliefs, didn’t account for what was happening. He didn’t believe in God, or Satan, or magic… his faith was in science and humanity, and the well-dressed man laughed at Archie’s thoughts.

That’s humorous, Archibald. If we haven’t changed your mind already, my Master will be here soon, and then you will see true Evil.

As badly as I want to break you now, I must be patient. I have permission to play with your wife and children, not their bodies but their minds. It’s too bad about your daughter; she’s delightfully attractive and her husband Zack as well. My associates wouldn’t mind taking a turn with either one of them, and they will probably get their wish once my Master arrives.

For now, though, I need information. I will not let you talk, but I have released your mind enough to think on your own. The memories I need are deep, and you need to bring them further up for me. We must be sure.

Archie couldn’t believe what was happening. He couldn’t even shake but began to sweat from fear.

Do you have a brother?

A brother? No! I’m an only child!

Are you sure? Is there no possibility? Think hard, Archibald… the lives of your wife and children depend on your answer.

Archie knew immediately what the man referred to. He never knew his mother; in fact, he didn’t even know she was alive until her lawyer contacted him. In his mid-twenties, right after finishing his Master’s Degree in History, he discovered she was dying from complications related to advanced Alzheimer’s. In a lucid moment, she told her lawyer about Archie and asked him to contact her son.

The memory was uncomfortable, and he tried most of his adult life to forget it. The well-dressed man latched onto it, immersing him in it and taking Archie, against his will, back to that day.

<> 

Archie was in massive student loan debt from his undergraduate and graduate degrees when a lawyer contacted him, claiming to represent his dying mother. Raised in foster homes, Archie never knew his birth mother. He was surprised at her condition when the lawyer explained everything to him. He was also surprised at her age; she must have been nearly fifty when she had him. Even so, she seemed young for Alzheimer’s.

According to the lawyer, his mother lived in a nursing home in Phoenix, a few hours’ drive by car. He said if Archie contacted her, he would receive a small inheritance.

Archie went for the money. He didn’t know the woman and frankly didn’t want to know her. She had abandoned him as a child, and if he weren’t in so much debt, he wouldn’t even bother with the drive.

Hating what he called ‘old people’ homes, they often smelled and were depressing. Making his way to her room, he stopped and stood, staring at the door. It was a private room, and he wasn’t sure if he should knock or just go in, but a nurse saved him the decision when she came up behind him.

“Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m here to see Leona Abrams. She’s my mother. Her lawyer told me she was here.”

Archie wasn’t sure how to interpret the look the nurse gave him. Opening the door, she nodded for him to enter.

<> 

Raphael stood in the room, veiled from the mortals. Leona Abrams needed to be lucid, if only for a few moments, a near impossibility in her condition, but it was a miracle he would make happen. Nearly gone, Uriel would soon take her, but Raphael’s instructions were clear on what needed to happen before she passed.

From the small alcove just inside the door, Archie saw his mother’s feet first, covered by a blanket. An overpowering smell hit him, making him nauseous. The nurse cleared her throat, and he moved forward until he could see the rest of her. She looked so… frail; unbelievably thin she appeared to be sleeping. Her skin nearly translucent, she was covered with age and liver spots, and he was shocked at her appearance.

As he moved to the bedside, her eyes opened slightly. Her eyes were droopy and watery, but her face lit up in a beatific smile when she saw him, and her bony hands reached for him. The texture of her dry, thin skin disgusted him, and he pulled back.

In a weak, trembling voice, she asked, “Keith? Is that you?”

“It’s Archie. Archibald.”

“Oh. I thought you were Keith, my son. I named him after my husband, you know.”

He didn’t know what to do. She wasn’t making sense and had him confused with someone else.

“I’m your son Archie. Your lawyer contacted me. He said you had something for me.”

Looking confused, she trembled so severely she couldn’t really do much, but she tried to reach for the drawer beside her bed. Impatient, Archie opened it for her. There was a small manila envelope inside, and he put it in her hands.

Her hands shook so violently it took her a moment to open it.

“I want you to have this. To remember me.”

Her watery eyes looked at him, and her trembling stopped. The change in her demeanor was abrupt and disconcerting. Seeming to come out of her fog, she gripped his forearm.

“I never meant to hurt you, either of you. Can you ever forgive me?”

Stepping over, the nurse said, “Ms. Abrams, don’t get too excited. You need your rest.”

In his mind, Archie ranted and railed his response, but outwardly he remained silent. His anger and resentment clear in his eyes, without saying a word, Archie took the envelope and looked inside, seeing a photograph and a tarnished silver locket. The picture showed a younger version of his mother with an infant on her lap. The locket contained pictures of her and her husband, Archie’s father.

Putting the picture and the locket back in the envelope, he looked at her. The way she stared at him made him uncomfortable, wanting something from him he wasn’t able to give. Taking the envelope, he left quickly.

She called out to him, but thankfully the door shut, cutting off her plea to come back. His eyes red and bright, he kept moving down the hall, the envelope clutched in his hand. He fulfilled his obligation, and when he got back to Tucson, he called the lawyer and told him he visited his mother. The lawyer contacted the nursing home and verified Archie had signed the register at the front desk.

A few weeks later he received a check in the mail for a much larger sum of money than he expected, enough to clear out most of his student loan debt. He also learned that his mother died that same day, shortly after he left.

<> 

The emotions of that day came rushing back, ashamed at his behavior and treatment of a dying woman. Regardless of whether or not she was his mother, no one deserved what he did to her. He had changed much since his college days. After marrying Amanda and having his own children, he became a good father and husband, and he was not the same person he used to be. In the back of his mind, he always regretted his behavior that day.

Laughter filled his mind as the well-dressed man felt his shame and embarrassment, forcing Archie to relive the encounter with his dying mother over and over.

Those emotions are the least of what you will feel once my Master arrives.

The well-dressed man knew his Master needed every bit of evidence aside from the memories. Memories could lie or become inaccurate over time. Looking back to shortly after Archie returned from the nursing home, he needed to find the envelope with the picture and locket. Despite everything Archie felt all those years ago, he couldn’t bring himself to throw the items away. They were hidden in a trunk in the attic. Even Amanda didn’t know about them; it was the only secret he kept from her.

Turning to one of the large muscular men, the well-dressed man said, “There is a manila envelope hidden in a trunk in the attic. Inside is a picture and a small tarnished silver locket. Find the envelope and bring it to me. Do not touch the contents.”

Archie, released enough to talk, found his voice amidst his fear.

“Why are you here? What do you want!?”

“If you are the one we seek, we need something vital from you. We might also take it from your son and daughter, but that will be up to my Master. Your wife and daughter-in-law are disposable. Your son-in-law might be useful; however, that remains to be seen.”

“I’m just a History Professor! I’m nobody! Please, let my family go! Keep me and do whatever you want but let them go! Please!”

Archie had never felt so desperate or afraid. He was helpless, powerless to do anything about the situation. Making eye contact with Amanda, he saw her tears, begging him to do something. His own tears were as much from frustration as fear.

One of the big muscular men came into the den from the kitchen, handing the well-dressed man one of the Macchiatos.

“Thank you, Kyle.”

Taking a sip, he smiled.

“Ahhhh… I love Starbucks.”

An odd silence fell over the house. The only sound was the big man in the attic moving things around. It wasn’t long before he came back into the room, shirtless, his body dripping sweat from the intense heat of the attic. He had a damp towel wrapped around his thick neck, and he wore latex gloves.

Walking over to the well-dressed man, he held out the envelope.

Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, the well-dressed man took the envelope without touching it.

“Did you open it?”

“Only enough to make sure it’s the one you want. I didn’t touch anything.”

“You are sure? If the objects are contaminated, he will not be pleased.”

“I was careful.”

“Very good.”

“Any word on his arrival?”

“He will be here late tomorrow afternoon. You should go and get us food or send one of the others. You know what I like.”

“Yes, sir.”

The three large men conferred in the kitchen, and a minute later Archie heard the door shut and the Escalade leave the driveway.

 The Present

In his shock and confusion, Archie forgot about Mr. Buckles, who cowered upstairs under the bed in the master bedroom. The tiny dog felt the dark aura of the men as soon as they entered the house. He was old, and the terror consuming his limited intellect overcame any desire to defend his humans. Running to his safe spot, he hid there, trembling uncontrollably. Hours later, he still shook.

He was hungry and thirsty, but his survival instincts told him to stay hidden. Mr. Buckles did whine and yelp when he heard the screams downstairs, but the noise overshadowed his own cries. He was a pomeranian, not a hound, but even his nose smelled the blood.

Hours after the screaming stopped, a new presence entered the house. It was pure evil, and his tiny heart beat so hard it nearly burst. Whimpering and whining, he pushed himself against the wall under the bed.

Moments later, footsteps came up, and the light turned on. Mr. Buckles couldn’t help the yelp of fear that escaped him; the terror was just too much. Feet walked to the edge of the bed, and he saw knees on the floor as a man leaned down to look under the bed.

Mr. Buckles’ big brown eyes reflected the scene. It wasn’t just a man he was looking at; it was the evil inside the man he sensed.

Suddenly, his trembling stopped. Calm washed over him as the presence of the steward entered him, looking through his eyes, and he felt a wonderful sense of calm and completion. His steward was back in the world and with him, where he belonged, and he no longer had anything to fear.

I’m so sorry, little one. If I bring you to me, they’ll realize we’re here. There’s no more need to be afraid. I’ve got you. You were brave to hide, and you made a difference, more than you will ever know.

For some reason, Loy remembered Liz’s words to Uriel just before her sacrifice:

Will it hurt?

No child, it will not hurt. I will be with you until the end, and it will be peaceful. You will simply go to sleep and never wake up.

With tears streaming down his face, Loy snapped the bond holding Mr. Buckles’ spirit to his tiny body, calling the spirit to him across the city. Loy made it peaceful for the little dog and painless.

The protector found Mr. Buckles, lifeless, hiding under the bed, thinking his heart had burst. Grabbing the body, still warm and limp, he tossed it into the bathtub and went back downstairs.

<><><> 

Ken and Kevin made it back with a massive bag of cheeseburgers and onion rings, and while everyone hung shit on them for getting such greasy food, in minutes there was nothing left, and everybody picked through the bags for more.

Bill scanned the news feeds with Bryan’s help, while Brad and Lane cast their thoughts over the city, helping each other filter and sense for anything out of the ordinary. They knew The Enemy would most likely have Orophir’s Amulets with them to prevent detection, but someone might have seen or felt something they might pick up on.

They weren’t hopeful, and it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, but they made the effort. It was difficult and uncomfortable, even physically painful to be in the thoughts of unawakened humans, and they shielded one another as best they could. Ken and Bryan did their best to be a buffer against the ‘fucked-upness’ Brad and Lane immersed themselves in while scanning for anything that might help.

Loy put himself into all the animals in the city and the surrounding area, but it would take time to look through their eyes. Usually, being inside animals was comforting and he could meditate in their presence for hours, but he found in Atlanta and most large cities, more abuse and neglect occurred than he could ever have imagined, and Tucson wasn’t any different. It was difficult because once the animals sensed his presence, he felt responsible for them and their situation. They looked to him for protection.

Starving dogs tied up for days outside in the hot Arizona sun with little or no food or water hurt him deeply. Rick stayed with him, holding him from behind, trying to ward off the harshness.

The natural cycle of predator and prey didn’t bother Loy; it was a natural part of the cycle of life, at least under the Curse, and expected. Cruelty and neglect by humans towards creatures dependent on them for their care and survival was another matter, and he vowed to one day correct those transgressions.

Breathing deep, he took comfort in Rick’s warm strength, wrapped in his arms and the souls of his brothers. If he could limit his awareness to one species or another his search would go much faster, but they couldn’t risk overlooking anything, and the number of animals in a city the size of Tucson was staggering.

Seeing through different types of eyes slowed him down and gave him a headache. Snakes, spiders, rodents, dogs, cats, lizards, turtles, even fish had anatomically different eyes and visual perceptions, and he had to take the time to sort the images. The varying intelligence and empathy levels were also extreme, but he couldn’t afford to let anything slip by, so he was painstakingly thorough.

After searching for nearly two hours, he jerked upright, his eyes filling with tears. He shut down the terror before it overwhelmed him and spread through the link. Few entities in the physical realm could induce the fear he felt.

Loy threw himself into the tiny animal cowering under the bed in a house across the city. He read its spirit and the last two days of its uncomfortable, terrified existence. Loy felt Mr. Buckles’ heart beating rapidly in fear and saw the man kneeling down about to find him. His own heart reacted in a burst of adrenaline, and he slowed his perception of time to nearly a standstill.

I’m so sorry little one. If I bring you to me, they’ll realize we’re here. There’s no more need to be afraid. I’ve got you. You were brave to hide, and you made a difference, more than you will ever know.

With tears streaming down his face, Loy snapped the bond holding Mr. Buckles’ spirit to his tiny body, calling the spirit to him across the city. It appeared as a small glowing ball of light in his hands. His Avatar pulsed on his shoulder through his t-shirt, and by its light, Mr. Buckles became corporeal.

The tiny dog snuggled against Loy’s big frame, wriggling in happiness at being with his steward. Attacking Loy’s face with his tongue, he licked every inch he could reach, especially his salty tears.

Everyone felt Loy’s reaction and was with him instantly, and everything he read from the tiny pomeranian became known to them. The Master was in the house where Mr. Buckles lived. They heard the screams in Mr. Buckle’s memory and smelled the blood.

Kevin’s anxiety spiked. Whoever owned that house was most likely related to him, and he was terrified for them, whoever they were, and what was happening to them. What The Master did to them was because of him and who he was.

Ken: Ten, five, one. Loy, show Dar where to go.

Loy: Show me, little guy.

The spirit lost its physical form and shot through the wall of the hotel room. Loy was with it, flying across the city back to its body. All of them were with Loy, and Kevin had the Avatars of the bodies synchronized, masking their auras.

Half a block from the house, Loy passed through some type of warding. Rick, deep in Loy, looked with his Understanding. The Enemy had the area warded against them, and they could not physically cross it or teleport through it. His Avatar ignored the warding, and he followed the spirit, entering the house and seeing the carnage.

Back in his body, Loy let out a, “Fuck me!”

The living room was a bloodbath, with body parts strewn about the room. The Master, four protectors, and two well-dressed men were getting into two Escalades in the driveway. Two men with them looked disheveled, one young and muscular and the other older.

The older man was tall and reedy with thinning, wispy hair, that blew in the breeze. They were both under the control of the well-dressed men with The Master. The older man looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot from tears. Both captives had a few days’ growth of beard on their faces. They were put in separate vehicles, and the Escalades drove off in different directions.

They groaned at the thought of what the two men had already gone through, held captive by The Enemy for days. Ken knew if The Master got them back to one of his strongholds, there was little chance of rescuing them. It had to be done now while they had the element of surprise.

Ken: As far as we know, they don’t know we’re here. Loy, keep The Master’s vehicle in sight. Whatever you do, don’t lose ’em. The rest of us’ll make a plan. Kev, don’t worry, they aren’t gettin’ away. Get the other tag number so we can track the second Escalade. I’m bettin’ The Master’s keepin’ Kev’s brother with him, so stay on that one.

In the hotel suite, Loy moved to the window, pulling back the drapes. It was a hot beautiful day in Tucson, and the sky clear. He vanished, appearing high in the air over the house where the spirit of Mr. Buckles waited.

Go, little one, and be reborn. Thanks for your help; you were awesome!

The tiny spirit filled with joy at his praise and its unconditional love for him. Loy felt it slip from the physical realm, going back to be reborn.

Even as he started to fall, Loy’s form shimmered, transforming into a Golden Eagle. It had the eyesight and speed he needed to track the Escalade while the rest of the team formulated a plan. He had the license plate number of the second vehicle in his memory so they could track it.

Rick, one with Loy, masked his aura just in case. As an eagle, his ability to see was unbelievable, and he had no issue following them from even a mile away. Loy’s exhilaration of flying was dampened by Kevin's need and anxiety and the mission, but it still leaked through.

<><><> 

The Master brutally dominated the mind of the human Archibald Ferris. The absolute terror Archie exuded was intoxicating, and The Master feasted on it. He had no care if the man went insane… he only needed Archie’s body and blood, not his mind, and for him to live long enough to perform the ritual.

Ken Habersham escaped the blood curse against inconceivable odds, and The Master knew there had been some form of intervention against his will. His servants had been thorough in their diligence, but the oversight of Samuel Evander failed him. His servants pledged their souls to him when he opened their minds and were bound to him, and he felt Samuel Evander’s death at the hands of The Order.

He knew the pettiness of his human servants; well aware they could become overconfident and complacent. Their powers over humans were nearly absolute, but they were like children against the new warriors of The Order.

The Master pondered the new warriors, even as he thought about his brother. How his brother’s soul could be on Earth was a mystery. The Master still didn’t understand the significance or how his brother’s presence could lead to his defeat. The Curse was unbreakable, eternal… and yet Aaron Thomas claimed they knew a way to defeat him. False bravado from the leader of fools. He would relish the day when he could eat Aaron Thomas’s heart, still warm and beating from his lifeless body.

Archibald Ferris continued to moan as black fire raked his mind and soul. Thoughts of his brother always made The Master tense, so he breathed in Archie’s fear, letting it soothe his mind.

Feeling the amulet against his chest, he also wondered about the Nephilim who crafted it. The creature had not appeared in some time, and The Dark One was silent again. There had been so many changes and upheavals in his plans recently, yet his confidence was unshaken. He knew he was invincible with the Curse, and it would take a paradox to remove it, an impossibility. He could not die while under the Curse, and the Curse could not be lifted while he lived.

Secure in that knowledge, he looked ahead, anticipating the next blood curse, one that could not fail.

<><> 

Nabil Rasheem, the protector driving The Master’s Escalade, tried not to glance in the rearview mirror. He knew his Master did not like to be stared at, and with the darkness covering his face, you could never tell if he was looking at you. Nabil arrived in the United States only a month prior, summoned with many other protectors from the Middle East to bolster their ranks.

The Order was taking its toll on their numbers, and protectors from all over the globe were being brought in. There were even whispers that The Master was losing ground against them. Nabil was nervous having those thoughts in such proximity to his Master, lest he hear the stray thought. He did not believe the rumors himself, but he had no wish to be the focal point of his Master’s ire for any reason.

Nabil was a willing servant, and the moans of the human did not bother him in the least. A cruel smile occasionally crossed his face at the sounds of Archie’s suffering.

<><> 

Loy’s form briefly shimmered into that of a pigeon. Calling on Pat’s Understanding, he saw the exact timing and trajectory for what he wanted to do. Emptying his bowels, as pigeons are wont to do, he sent a gooey, purple, slimy message to the Escalade below.

Shimmering back into the golden eagle, he pooled his power with his brothers.

The rock was heavy, but with all of them supporting Darren, it was little effort.

<><> 

Suddenly, a purple, gooey blob of birdshit splattered on the windshield. Cursing under his breath, Nabil turned on the windshield wipers, but the washer fluid reservoir was empty, and the gooey mess smeared across the glass. The gas gauge was barely off full, and he would have to put up with the filthy windshield for hours.

Leaning forward, Nabil looked at the sky. Only moments before it was clear and blue, but now towering thunderheads blocked the sun. Nabil was unfamiliar with the United States, but he was no stranger to the desert and knew the clouds were not ordinary.

The sudden turn of the weather was the last thought Nabil had in the mortal world as a large boulder fell from half a mile up, impacting the roof over the driver’s seat of the Escalade, pulverizing the man in an instant.

The Master knew immediately he was under attack. Clutching Archie to his side, he tried to open the door as the Escalade launched into the air from the sudden shift in momentum, but the door jammed from the distortion of the car frame.

After failing to kill Ken Habersham, he refused to let another opportunity to destroy The Order slip through his fingers. Flexing his distorted muscular body, he punched the door off its hinges, rolling out of the car and taking his human captive with him. The pavement scraped his back painfully, tearing his shirt, but his skin was tough, and the Curse healed him. Rolling to his feet, he glanced around to get his bearings. Holding Archie under one arm like a child, he took off running at an impossible speed across the Arizona desert.

Wondering how the warriors of The Order found him, that unknown infuriated him even more. However, he prepared well, and the amulet would keep them physically away from him as long as he wore it. Still cautious, he kept his prisoner close, knowing they would not drop another boulder from the sky and risk killing the human.

Loping at a remarkable pace, even in the dry air his grotesquely muscular body sweated heavily. Flexing, his clothes shredded off, revealing his ruddy skin covered in thick, coarse hair. Where Ken and the others' physical perfection was beautiful to look at, their inhuman grace and agility glorious, The Master was ugly and his movements ungainly. His muscles were big but gnarled, like tree roots, and his appearance primitive. Their appearance was but one reason he hated them.

Struggling to hold his rage at bay, it boiled under the surface, ready to burst forth. The interference of these new warriors would stop soon enough. He would destroy them and eat their souls, taking their power for his own. Their flesh would adorn his new throne, with their Avatars prominently displayed for all to see, proof of his invincibility. With their power added to his own, he could challenge The Dark One himself.

His instincts told him he was no longer alone. He heard them first, and then his sharp eyesight detected movement. Blending in with the desert and difficult to see, a dozen cheetahs ran blindingly fast straight towards him. Unable to outrun them, they were on him in seconds. Cheetahs were not pack animals, so he knew they were controlled and by whom.

The sounds of other animals rushing towards him soon reached his ears. Loy Barton, the steward, used nature against him, trying to prevent his escape with his captive. Birds dove at him, raking at his face, slowing him down as numerous other animals swiped at his feet and legs. Many of the birds fell lifeless when they passed through the dark aura covering his face.

As fast as he was, and as many as he killed, they continued swarming over him. He could not unleash his full power on them without destroying Archibald Ferris, and it angered him. Letting his rage loose, he became the primitive savage he hated. Retaliating with no physical restraint, the screams of animals filled his ears and he smiled, crushing their bodies as he batted them away.

He realized too late they weren’t trying to kill him, as the teeth of a Cheetah that pounced on his back did not sink into his flesh but bit at the chain of the amulet. The silver was not strong, and the chain snapped.

He dealt the cheetah a crushing blow, but as the amulet fell from its mouth, another picked it up as it ran. The remaining animals hindered him, and soon he was beyond the protective range of the charm. With the amulet no longer warding him, he was blinded by the light of the warriors appearing around him. The remaining animals stopped and moved away. Loy had tears in his eyes at the carnage done to his beloved friends that came at his call and obeyed his will. With Darren’s help he brought the cheetahs from Africa, and he put his presence in the local wildlife, calling them to his need. His pain at using them in such a manner ran deep.

Along with the men came the image of Yggdrasil and the ghostly spirits of the animal kingdom flying about it. Lane listened, and Brad fluttered their souls across the veil as they drew on their sources of power. They stood together, one soul, stronger by far than the sum of their individual selves. Ken’s Avatar had them locked together, and their light stung The Master even as his dark shields flared.

Thunder rolled in the skies at the confrontation taking place as ten pillars of light faced one black, clashing and struggling for dominance.

Loy’s brothers felt his pain over the animals, but he would have done the same for any of them. Their lives were too important to the world, and sacrifices had to be made. Kevin especially held Loy tight in their link. Loy made the sacrifice for his family. There was no ill feeling between the two men, and Loy made sure Kevin knew that. They did what they had to do, becoming what they needed to be to face their adversary.

It didn’t lessen the pain, though, so they clung together all the tighter within themselves to fend it off and carry one another. Ken wanted to take the weight of it all on his shoulders to spare them, but no one would let him, sharing their burdens equally as brothers.

Loy was surprised when he heard Ken say: Take care of ‘em, Loy. We’ll hold. He’s not goin’ anywhere.

Filled with relief, white healing arced out of Loy like chain lightning, entering the hurt or deceased animals. Their broken bodies mended as his brothers lent their strength to his efforts. Through Darren’s Avatar synchronizing with the other mentalists, broken and shattered bones straightened. The spirits of the freshly dead had not yet departed to be reborn, and they rose, alive and whole. Unconditional love from the animals and spirits pushed into them, giving their strength as well as their love. Commanding the cheetahs to wait nearby, Loy sent the local animals away for their safety.

Observing everything, The Master hated them all the more for what he saw. The dark holes where his eyes should be emitted black tendrils of abhorrence and loathing.

Thanks, guys.

Loy’s gratitude over what they helped him accomplish was evident in his voice. Kevin knew if it came down to it, Loy would have sacrificed all of them to save his brother, but he didn’t have to do that. They made it possible, working together, and Loy felt their arms around his shoulders in response.

The Master’s shield was powerful, and Archie was behind it. Darren couldn’t teleport him away, and Brad couldn’t penetrate it to reach Archie’s mind. Bryan couldn’t reach his soul through the tree either; somehow, The Master learned to ward against that ability.

Dropping Archie on the ground, The Master sat on his haunches, his sharp nails at Archie’s neck, ready to snap it. Seeing the determination on their faces, the Master smiled, and looking at Archie, he released his mind enough to let him speak.

Archie gasped when the restraint lessened as tears ran down his face, his heart about to burst in his chest. Looking at him with their Understanding, they cringed at what they saw… his terror, his pain, and his connection to Kevin. Kevin could barely stand seeing Archie in such a state, unable to do anything about it and knowing his brother would most likely die any minute.

Making eye contact with Archie, Kevin said, “I’m sorry.”

Archie looked at Kevin, wondering who he and the other men were. He saw them as beacons of light that drove back the fog in his mind simply by looking at them. As the haze lifted, his emotional turmoil came rushing back; the anguish of watching his wife, son, and daughter-in-law being slaughtered in front of him, slowly, while their captors laughed. Seeing Amanda die, looking at him, her eyes demanding, pleading for him to do something, anything, to save their children while he was powerless, broke something in him.

Archie returned Kevin’s gaze, knowing the man he looked at was his brother. His captors said he had a brother, and the memory of his mother flashed through his mind again. He remembered her calling out a name, thinking it was him.

His voice barely audible, he asked, “Keith? Are you Keith?”

Kevin’s throat tightened when he heard his birth name.

“Yes, Archie. I’m Keith, your brother.”

The blame in Archie’s eyes hurt Kevin horribly. Kevin knew Archie was out of his depth and couldn’t possibly understand the how or why behind events happening to him. He heard the name Keith, and everything that happened to his family was because of that name.

Everyone’s eyes were bright, and Bill tightened his presence in his husband. He didn’t say anything, just held him, lending him strength and the knowledge he was with him and sharing his pain. They all did. In the place where their souls were one, they wept with Kevin, holding him close. There was no good resolution to the situation.

Archie was quiet for a few seconds, and his voice was barely a whisper when he asked, “Why?”

The Master’s deep voice spoke, “You cannot save him. If I cannot use him for my purposes to destroy you, then I will destroy him to cause you further pain. You will watch him die as I consume him.”

Ken watched, knowing the pain and helplessness Kevin felt. Their only fear was for Archie; they weren’t afraid of The Master. They were created to fight him and The Dark One; it was the purpose of their existence. They couldn’t destroy him now, but they eventually would.

They couldn’t complete that purpose until The Master asked Drew’s forgiveness, and Drew found it inside himself to forgive his brother for killing him eighty thousand years ago. Only then would the Curse on The Master be broken, allowing his defeat.

Anger burned in them, righteous outrage at what The Master did to Archie, his family, and Kevin. The anger was there from what he did to Ken before, and all the other times he caused them pain and loss.

Their minds worked, taking in everything around them with the full capacity of who and what they were. They spent so much time in one another during their training they reacted as one, and their thoughts blended, another paradox since they were all strong-willed and unique individuals.

Taking the strategies from each of them with all of their abilities, Brad collated them into a single plan of action. There were still many unknowns about The Master… they knew the Curse protected him from death, but they had no idea how far that protection went from actual harm.

Their plans took a microsecond for Brad to formulate. All they had to do was either get Archie physically away from touching The Master or penetrate his shields. Either would be extremely difficult because he was ready for them and powerful.

<><>  

Archie faced a dilemma unlike any he could have imagined. He didn’t believe in God, Satan, Heaven, Hell, or magic. His faith was in people and science, in humankind and his accomplishments… yet he sat at evil’s feet. It held his mind, and its hand was at his throat. In his last two days of torture and misery, Archie was forced to come to grips with the fact that he had been wrong about everything. The claw marks of The Master’s darkness raked his mind and soul, leaving wounds that would never heal.

Angry at himself for being wrong, he somehow felt betrayed, although he didn’t know by whom unless it was God. As an ‘Academic,’ Archie had a huge ego about his own intellectualism and was furious at the God he now knew existed. How could any being, supposedly omnipotent and omniscient, allow the world to be in the condition it was? How could God not intervene to save his wife and children?

When Archie’s mind was free enough for him to move, and he saw the form of the creature that enslaved him, his blood ran cold. The darkness covering The Master’s face was impossible, and the two darker spots that should have been his eyes…. It drove the terror even further into him that whatever this creature was, it was the personification of evil.

Archie wasn’t able to react when the car exploded, and the creature grabbed him and ran. He wasn’t able to yell or scream as the animals attacked, but even in his terror, he noted none of the animals touched him, only going after the creature. When The Master set him down and released his mind, he was still held physically. The clawed hand around his neck was tight and ready to kill him with nothing more than a twitch.

Archie gasped when he was released, and the emotions he was forced to bottle up came rushing out all at once. Men appeared out of nowhere, shining so brightly he could barely look at them. Their light was warm, and he felt it in a way he had never imagined. Their light touched his soul.

They were tall and powerfully built with inhuman charisma; rugged and muscular, yet handsome. Looking military by their haircuts and bodies, they had tears in their eyes. Their tears reflected the light shining from them, making bright trails on their faces. One of them, in particular, looked at him with recognition, and something inside Archie’s mind connected the pieces of the puzzle.

With disbelief in his voice, he asked, “Keith? Are you Keith?”

Archie heard the pain and sadness in the man’s deep voice as he replied, “Yes, Archie. I’m Keith, your brother.”

So many emotions ran through Archie with that revelation. The anger and other emotions churning within him merged to the focal point of the man standing before him, the man responsible in Archie’s mind for everything happening to him. It wasn’t God he should blame; it was his brother.

Archie was quiet for a few seconds, and his voice was barely a whisper when he asked, “Why?”

The Master’s deep voice spoke, “You cannot save him. If I cannot use him for my purposes to destroy you, then I will destroy him to cause you further pain. You will watch him die as I consume him.”

The anger in Archie overcame his fear; anger at himself, God, his brother, the evil that held him, and the deaths of his wife and children. He wanted to strike back, hit something, anything, to feel better.

More and more clarity came back to Archie as the fog lifted from his mind. He saw thunderheads in the sky, a near impossibility in the desert. Suddenly a hot wind blew, whipping around and picking up the dirt and sand. A vortex formed, swirling around Archie and the creature holding him.

Archie’s hands rested on the ground, and his fists clenched, filling with sand. He jerked as the being holding him was hit by something, knocking him into the vortex. Something hot and wet splattered all over him. Closing his eyes against the wind and debris, the hot wetness covered his face.

So much happened so quickly he wasn’t able to take it all in, his mind buffeted by the confrontation of the powers battling around him. The Master’s shield covered him, offering some protection, but The Master wasn’t trying to buffer him from the fight as the men would do.

His vision was blurry, but he forced his eyes open. He was covered in blood, and a significant portion of the creature’s face hung by a few threads of flesh and tendon, just outside the darkness. Archie stared in disbelief as, in less than a second, the bone and tissue were sucked into the darkness, and he knew whatever damage he witnessed was no longer there.

Archie felt the rage as the two black orbs that were its eyes turned even blacker, and a freezing chill spread out from him, causing Archie to shiver violently. The cold was physical but also spiritual, quenching the light of the men he saw.

Archie was sure he would die, but the anger in him would not let him meekly accept it. Channeling the anger welling up inside him, he threw the sand from both hands directly into the darkness covering the face of the creature holding him. At the same time, he brought one knee up between the legs of the beast.

<><> 

Being elemental creatures, they called the wind, forming a vortex. Darren controlled it with his Avatar, his brothers with him, feeding him their strength, using it to block the view of The Master and trying to hold at least some element of surprise.

Brad teleported a rock the size of his fist high up into the air, high enough to reach terminal velocity. Through Pat they watched everything, seeing through the vortex and observing the rock. As soon as the stone reached terminal velocity, it blinked as Brad changed its trajectory.

The rock appeared just outside the area warded by The Master’s shields, and it impacted his face like a high-caliber weapon. They had no idea what to expect and were ready for anything, any opening to try and get Archie to safety. The rock, like a bullet, went straight through The Master’s head in a gory explosion of skin, bone, muscle, and blood. He didn’t even have time to scream. Archie didn’t hear the impact over the wind, but he felt the tug at his throat as the rock impacted The Master, its velocity and momentum jarring his huge body.

The Curse knitted his face back together in less than a second, but what happened next caught them by surprise. Pat’s Avatar allowed them to see through the Vortex, Understanding the connections between everything as clear as day in the entire area. They watched Archie throw two fistfuls of sand directly into The Master’s eyes and drive his knee right into The Master’s balls!

The howl that erupted was one of anger as much as pain. Instinctively, The Master’s hands went to his eyes at the same time doubling over in pain. Archie, more out of instinct than anything, rolled away. The Master didn’t expect any such action from his captive and was caught by surprise.

Archie lurched far enough away for Darren to grab him, and suddenly Archie was in the arms of his brother. The rest of the team closed ranks around Kevin, their shields a barrier The Master could not penetrate. Brad was ready as a black talon came out of the vortex aimed directly at Archie, attempting to destroy him. Their Avatars flared, and their defense was equal to the attack. Adrenaline ran high, both spiritual and physical, and they were more than equal at the moment. Their need to protect Kevin and his brother was foremost in their intentions, and the talon hit the wall Brad put up. They felt the impact, but their shields held.

Darren let the wind go, and in a matter of seconds the dust settled, revealing the form of The Master. Thwarting him yet again, The Master’s hatred and malice were as intense as ever. Standing up, his posture almost apelike, he glared at them. His chest heaved, more from anger than exertion, and he let out a roar that echoed in both realms.

You will pay for this a thousand times over!

Ken: Yeah, yeah. Keep tellin’ yourself that. You should’ve learned by now; we protect our own.

The Master looked directly at Kevin.

Enjoy what remains of your brother. Even though he did not die by my hand, he is broken and will never recover. Relish the pain and the emptiness that follows.

With that, The Master turned and sped off, loping on all fours. Quickly picking up speed, he was soon out of sight.

<><> 

Archie rested in the strength and power of the man named Keith. His strong arms held Archie as he would a child, and his light flowed through and into his brother.

Kevin quietly said, “It’s alright now, Archie. He’s gone. I’ve got you.”

Archie struggled to get out of Kevin’s arms, unsteady on his feet, but he didn’t fall over. Disheveled, his thin hair wispy, he was covered in The Master’s blood. Emotional trauma churned within him. Moving off a short distance, he sat down hard, his expression vacillating between pain, fear, and confusion. Each emotion was equally strong in him, and he started to cry.

Kevin moved towards him, but Archie shouted with great vehemence, “Get away from me!”

Everyone but Bill moved a short distance away, still ready to retaliate if The Enemy should try anything, their shields firm.

Kneeling a few feet from Archie, Kevin made no more attempt to touch him.

His voice trembled as he said, “I’m sorry, Archie. I didn’t even know you existed until a few days ago.”

Glaring at Kevin, Archie had difficulty talking as he sobbed, “They killed Amanda! They killed my son, his wife, and my daughter! They took my son-in-law! WHY!? Who the hell are you? What are you?”

Kneeling beside Kevin, Bill held his hand. Hunching his shoulders, Archie’s confusion, pain, and desperation were evident in his voice.

“I don’t know what to do. Everything is gone. Everyone is gone.”

The truth of Archie’s statement cut Kevin, and he had no words to make things right. Archie’s existence was still a danger to him and Drew by default. They had to take him and protect him, but he knew Archie would never come willingly.

The devastation in Archie’s mind was significant, and Brad’s Avatar reacted, his compassion filling the link. Kevin cried too, and Archie found it odd that such a big, rugged-looking man would cry.

Finding his voice, Kevin said, “Archie, you have to come with me. We can keep you safe, but that guy still wants you, and the people who work for him will never stop trying to get at you.”

“Why do they want me? Why did they kill my family? They laughed! While my wife and children screamed and begged, and they tore them apart in front of me! They did something to me, so all I could do was watch! I could see Amanda’s eyes, begging me to do something to save our children!”

“I can explain it all, but you have to come with me.”

“No!”

Bill squeezed Kevin’s hand.

Do you want me to say it, Kev? You don’t have to be the one. Let me or one of the other guys be the bad guy to Archie.

No, Bill. It needs to be me. He’s my family, and it should be me.

“I’m sorry, Archie. This is hard for me, too. We operate on the pretense of free will, but I can’t let you walk away. There’s too much at stake here you don’t know about.”

Brad saw it first through his Avatar, and immediately the others did too. Pat’s Understanding confirmed it. Archie was breaking in front of them. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping him coherent while his mind started to unravel. The Master’s claws ran deep and raked his soul too harshly. Seeing his family slaughtered in front of him, on top of The Master torturing his mind, was too much. The supernatural battle raging around him, with no protection, overwhelmed him. He was mortal and through no fault of his own, too fragile to endure such things.

The question came from left field, but Archie blurted out, “How did you find me? Why now? After all these years, why didn’t you just stay away?”

Kevin sighed, “Someone recently defected to our side and told us about you. We didn’t know where to look other than Tucson. Your dog is the one that let us find you.”

“Buckles? Oh my God, he’s still at the house! I have to get back!”

Kevin groaned but steeled his voice, “He’s gone too, Archie. It was peaceful, though.”

Blinking, Archie started to laugh, his voice holding a hysterical edge that was painful to hear.

“So, of all my family, the only one who had a peaceful ending was my fucking dog?”

Archie flinched away when Bill touched his shoulder, but everything about Archie was made known to him in that brief contact.

Bill’s eyes squeezed shut in pain for his husband and Archie both; the brokenness inside Archie was too much to repair. Archie started walking away, but Kevin moved in front of him.

“Archie, please, you can’t leave.”

“I have to get back to the house. I went to Starbucks for Amanda. I have to hurry, or the macchiatos will get too warm. I need to put them in the freezer.”

The Master spoke the truth. Archie’s mind was fracturing more every second.

Kevin’s tears were so thick he could barely see. He knew everything about his brother thanks to Bill, but he didn’t know him, and he wanted that more than anything. Kevin understood even more the pain Ken went through with his brother while he was under the effects of the blood curse.

Brad’s compassion made everything he took in so painful he could barely stand it, and Ken’s strong arms wrapped around him in support, along with his mind and heart. Brad knew what had to happen at this point, they all did, but Kevin was the one who needed to make the decision. No one wanted to put such a burden on him, but Archie was his family, and no one else had the right. Brad’s intellect, bolstered by his brothers and their presence, created a construct from Archie’s mind and took them inside. It would give Archie some small comfort to be in familiar surroundings in his last few minutes.

None of them were visible to Archie except Kevin, but they were present with Kevin, deep in him. In the place where their souls were one, Ken had him wrapped up so tightly he could barely breathe, and he was grateful beyond words for the presence of his brothers.

<> 

Fumbling with the keys to the door, Archie tried not to spill either of the iced caramel macchiatos he brought home. They were Amanda’s favorite from Starbucks, and he got them as a surprise. She would chastise him for the calories, but the smile it brought to her face was worth it. He hoped she had a good night at her bridge club. She wasn’t a very good player, but she enjoyed the social aspect.

Making it into the kitchen, he set the drinks down before the strap on his satchel fell off his shoulder and caused him to spill the drinks.

He hollered out, “Honey, I’m home!”

“I’m in the den, Archie! We have a guest! Come see!”

Making his way to the den, Archie saw a man sitting on the couch across from Amanda. He was large, very muscular and fit, and Archie was struck by how handsome he was; he had short black hair and dark brown eyes.

He was also surprised that everyone else was at the house. Jerry, his oldest son and his wife Laura were there. Mr. Buckles sat on Jerry’s lap as usual. His youngest child, Renée, was there with her husband, Zack.

Smiling, Archie said, “Wow! What a surprise!”

He moved forward, and the big man stood to greet him, shaking his hand. His grip was firm and warm.

“Kevin Ayers. Pleased to meet you.”

“Archie Ferris. Pleasure.”

Amanda said, “Archie, you better sit down for this.”

Amanda’s tone said it was serious, but everyone looked happy, so it couldn’t be too bad.

“Alright. So, what’s this all about?”

“Honey, this man is your brother.”

Archie thought it was a joke. He didn’t have a brother… but wait… he remembered the visit to his mother in Phoenix. She had mistaken him for someone else. She called him Keith, her son, but he thought it was the dementia of her Alzheimer’s.

Archie’s face went blank as he remembered, and with a furrow of his brow, he asked, “Your name is Kevin? Not Keith?”

“My real name is Keith Abrams, Archie. I had to change my name when I was in the military. I’m not supposed to go by Keith anymore, but yes, that’s my given name.”

Archie sat in stunned silence.

Amanda stood and said, “Kids, let’s give your dad and Mr. Ayers some time alone.”

They all filed into the backyard and sat around the patio by the pool.

“I’m sorry to show up unannounced, Archie. The situation is complicated, and I couldn’t talk to you about it over the phone. I know this is sudden, but I want to get to know you if that’s alright.”

At first, it was awkward because the two men seemed so dissimilar. Kevin was big and muscular, while Archie was tall and thin, an academic at heart. He was surprised at how intelligent Kevin was, though, and they managed to find some things in common.

Archie recounted the visit to his mother right before she died. He went into the attic and retrieved the envelope with the locket and picture to show Kevin.

As time went on, they continued to talk and laugh. Archie found he liked the man who was his brother and regretted not knowing him sooner. He was glad they found each other.

They had been talking for hours when Archie blurted out, “I’m hungry. Can you stay for dinner? I’ll get Amanda to start something for us.”

Standing up, he went to the back door, but there was no one on the porch.

“Where did they go?”

“They had to leave, Archie.”

Archie looked confused and started to cry. He knew they were gone… something terrible happened to them.

For a while, during their conversation, Kevin held his emotions in check. He had to make every second count, but now the tears were back and the tightness in his chest.

“They’re safe, Archie, and happy. They’re waiting for you.”

Kevin could barely control his voice. The pain over what he was about to do was almost more than he could bear, and he leaned hard on everyone. They were with him, and his pain was theirs.

“What about my job? I’m a professor, you know. I have responsibilities.”

“I’ll take care of all that, Archie.”

“I… I miss Amanda.”

“I know you do. How long were you married?”

“Thirty-two years.”

Archie wandered into the kitchen and picked up the Starbucks cup, staring at it.

“She left it. She doesn’t like it once it gets warm. It’s supposed to stay cold. What about Mr. Buckles?”

“He’s with them, Archie.”

Becoming more confused by the second, Archie’s words and sentences were more fragmented and jumbled.

“Can you take me to them?”

Kevin choked, starting to break down. Bill appeared beside him in the construct.

Archie frowned when he saw Bill.

“I’ve seen you before.”

Bill: I’m with you, Kev. We all are. You don’t have to do this. Let me do it...

Kevin: No. It has to be me.

Kevin managed to say, “I can take you to them, Archie.”

“Now? Should I pack?”

“No, you won’t need anything.”

Archie’s mind was almost gone, but he had one last lucid thought.

“Will you find Zack? They took him.”

“I will. I promise.”

“I wonder if this was how Mother felt when her mind was gone? Is this real?”

“It’s real, Archie. I’m real, and I am your brother. I wish I’d known you growing up.”

“I wish I had known you, too. You might not have liked me when I was young, though.”

Managing to laugh, Kevin said, “Well, that goes for both of us. I wasn’t exactly a saint either, trust me.”

Archie looked around the house. Brad created the construct from Archie’s unconscious mind, and as his mind crumbled, the construct was disappearing. It was happening more rapidly, and the only room left was the kitchen where they stood.

Finally, it too faded, and he and Kevin stood naked together. Archie had blood on him, and his hair was wispy and windblown, looking disheveled. He appeared as he did in the real world, cradled in Kevin’s arms.

He panicked, ashamed of being naked. His body was unattractive and frail. Kevin calmed him as he would a child, and after a moment, Archie stopped struggling and allowed himself to be held.

Kevin embraced him, letting his soul shine on his brother. Archie had never felt anything so soothing in his life, and he closed his eyes, resting his head against Kevin’s chest.

Kevin’s tears fell on him as his big body shook with quiet sobs.

Archie whispered, “I’m ready.”

Kevin’s voice choked, “I’m not.”

“Will I see you again?”

Kevin struggled to get the words out, “It will be a long time, but yes, I’ll see you again.”

With everything Kevin had been tasked with, all the missions in Syria, his fight against The Enemy and The Master, facing off against Azaziel and even Luke… none of that was as hard as what he was about to do.

Raphael was present, as he was with Leona Abrams those many years ago. Keeping himself hidden, he had a similar task; to bring one small moment of clarity to Archibald Ferris.

Archie looked up at Kevin, and their eyes met. His voice was quiet but firm as he said, “It’s alright, Kevin. I don’t blame you.”

The memories in Archie of not forgiving his mother and walking away came to his mind. He had grown as a man and always regretted his actions that day. Raphael made sure he learned that lesson, and Archie would not make the same mistake with his brother. Kevin knew from his expression that Archie understood what he said.

How Archie’s mind rallied at that moment, none of them knew or would ever know. Archie’s words were meant for his brother. He understood what Kevin was about to do, and he was alright with it.

Kevin’s heart broke as he whispered, “I love you, Archie,” and he snapped the bond anchoring Archie’s soul to his body.

Archie went limp, and Kevin fell to the ground, cradling his brother, rocking him as he sobbed uncontrollably.

Everyone appeared around him; Bill first, then Ken, and then everyone else, holding him in the special place where they were one, crying with him. Time wasn’t moving for them, and Kevin held Archie for a long time. Finally, he sniffed loudly and stood.

Looking at Brad, Kevin said, “I’m ready.”

<><> 

Brad took them back to their bodies in the desert. The day was once again hot, and the sky crystal blue. A siren wailed in the distance, back towards the highway. Someone must have reported the damaged Escalade and the body of the protector. The Master ran more than a mile from the road to where they now stood, so there was no immediate danger of being seen.

They stood quiet, waiting for Uriel. The short seconds seemed an eternity, but finally, he was there in a silent blaze of light. Standing before Kevin, Uriel looked at him with ageless love and compassion. Death was his province, and it was always bittersweet.

Kevin’s voice shook, his words pleading as he said, “Please take good care of him.”

Kevin knew his words sounded stupid, but he said them anyway.

“I will take the greatest of care. Archibald Ferris is going Home to be with his family. Be at peace, Kevin. He will never know pain again, and there he will be whole.”

Putting a hand on Kevin’s shoulder, Uriel squeezed it as his wings appeared to wrap around them all, brushing against their souls, a gift to them amid their grief.

When the light vanished, Uriel was gone, and Archie’s soul with him. Kevin now held the lifeless body of his brother. Setting him on the ground gently, Kevin bowed his head.

Letting out an intense “Fuck!”, he stood up, putting his grief behind him. He was a soldier of The Order, and as Ken taught them, he would turn his grief into a weapon to make him stronger. He would take the pain and embrace it and use it to defend Drew and the world. It would make him that much more powerful, but it still hurt like hell.

<><> 

 There was a lot of cleanup to take care of, so they broke into groups. Bryan and Lane took Archie’s body back to his house for the police to find. The bodies of Amanda and the kids were there, everyone but Zack. The murders would be chalked up to random violence. The story made the national news, and the case would never be solved.

Going back to Atlanta immediately after, they hacked the government satellites to try and find the other Escalade but had no luck. They promised Archie they would find Zack, and they would, but not that day. It was another task to add to their list.

Loy and Rick returned to ZEUS to find Orophir talking with Aaron.

Ken took Kevin and Bill out of the rotation for a week, and everyone filled in the schedules. That meant no time off for anyone, but no one begrudged Kevin the time he needed. Even though they weren’t physically present, none of them left Kevin alone and were with him the entire time.

Tommy and Brett didn’t know how to react to the news of Kevin’s brother. They understood the loss of family, though, and they were a tremendous comfort to their dad in their own way. They were a light in his life along with Bill, his brothers, and his mentors that buffered the darkness.

<><><> 

The following week at the Atlanta lab, early in the morning before their training was due to start, Kevin and Bill sat at the conference room table. Lane and Bryan came in early, joining them while they drank coffee together.

Setting a manila envelope on the table, Lane slid it across to Kevin, saying, “I thought you would want this.”

It was the locket of Kevin’s mother and father, and the picture.

“It was in the house when we took Archie back. I didn’t want to leave it, but if you don’t want it, I’ll take care of it.”

Kevin’s eyes misted when he looked at it, and he dumped the contents onto the table.

“Thanks, Lane.”

The picture slid out first, followed by the locket. Bill picked up the picture of the woman with an infant on her lap. He read the photo and Kevin’s mother’s memories associated with it; the intensity of the memory imprinted on the picture was strong. Her memories were both happy and sad. It was her favorite picture, but later in life it only brought sadness, reminding her of the tragic mistake she made in giving up her sons.

Smiling, Bill said, “That’s you in her lap, Kev.”

The fact that it was him in the picture was such a simple thing, but it meant everything, and he would treasure it forever. He was the only one of the guys that had a picture like it.

Kevin smiled as he looked at it, already treasuring it. Sniffing as tears threatened, he swiped at his eyes. Bill, Lane, and Bryan could see Kevin’s hands trembling from his emotions.

Picking up the locket, Kevin opened it. It was small, oval, and made of silver but badly tarnished. When he clicked it open, two old and faded photos of his mother and father looked back at him. Because the locket was silver and the pictures were originals, there was silver in the paper, which could absorb and store psychic energy.

Kevin nodded to Bill, who asked, “Are you sure, Kev?”

“Yeah.”

Taking one of Kevin’s hands in his own, his other hand touched the locket, reading it. Lane and Bryan joined them in their link, and Lane used the temporal aspect of his Avatar to take them back in time.

Using the locket as a focus, they looked back, and Bill read the man and woman in the tiny portraits. Kevin’s parents were good people, and theirs was a sad story, but it was a part of Kevin’s family history he would cherish forever. It was his, and he shared it with everyone. There were happy memories, too, and Kevin would spend much time observing and reliving them.

Bill was happy and sad for his husband, as were Lane and Bryan. Bryan ruffled Kevin’s hair and put a hand on his shoulder in affection. They were family and a refuge for each other, as brothers and husbands, just like their wedding vows stated.

They were, and always would be themselves, yet one; a paradox.

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