The morning sun blazed against the back of my eyelids and the chill of the autumn morning made me want to dig deeper into the warmth of Bry's body. The frost filled air caused an involuntary shudder in my chest as I yawned.

I pulled Bry's arm around me and tried to squirm deeper into the covers to hide the small bits of flesh that were exposed to the cold during my night's slumber. He let out a gasp as I twisted around and buried my face into his warm chest. The tip of my nose felt like ice, and I tried to hide from the frigid air and memories that threatened to tear me permanently from my sleep.

"Morning Ty." Bry's fingers trailed through my tangled hair, pulling against the night's work of knots and pillow-made curls.

I responded with a grunt.

"Rise and shine beautiful; we have to pack." I wanted to cry. That piece of spoken reality destroyed any illusions I had of sleeping later into the day.

Sliding up the length of his chest in a stretch, I looked higher and found his loving deep green eyes staring back at me. I couldn't help but smile, and trailed my fingertips along the curve of his jaw. It tapered to his chin but promised a prominent square line in adulthood. He was beautiful, even now, with his crazy mess of blond hair and warm emerald eyes. Dusting the line of his jaw with my lips, I kissed him gently on the parcel of skin beside his ear.

Sitting up, I let my head hang and breathed a heavy sigh as the blue comforter gathered at my hips. I was happy with my wraith-like body and took a moment to admire my narrow waist. I'm not packed with muscle, but my work around the house, and my diet, keep me lean.

I needed a shower and a hot cup of coffee. Shadow kicked her legs out and I felt the sharp ends of her toenails graze my back. Our movement woke her and she didn't seem any happier at finding the dawn than I was.

The last remnants of my morning 'tension' withered as I threw back the covers and let the cool air assault my flesh. I crawled out of bed and heard Bry follow. The crunch and creak of bed springs told me I wouldn't spend my morning misery alone. I liked the cold weather when I slept. The brisk air would make me burrow so deep into the covers I might never see daylight, but I always rose with the sun. Climbing out into the crisp surroundings, however, was another thing. Fall mornings in Illinois are not your friend.

It was November; the smell of earth, dried leaves, almost sausage, and coffee filled the air. 'Thank the gods, they were already up.' A smile spread across my cheeks with the thought. The uncles had already started breakfast.

We shambled, zombie-like, down the hall to the bathroom. I turned the shower knob labeled 'H' as far as it would go, and gave the 'C' a barely perceptible nudge. The hot spray of water gradually changed the bathroom into a mist-filled sauna. We stepped beneath the raining torrent of heat and came to life under the cascade of steamy rivers flowing down our skin.

My mind told me we were clean, but my body seemed to have other ideas. Bry's rigid manhood mirrored my own as we slowly pressed against each other in a lingering kiss. Our hips ground together in a slow rhythm as our mouths danced against each other. At one point I thought I might suffocate, but let my worries go as a strange burning sensation erupted along the skin of my neck beneath my ears. My lungs filled with a fresh breath of humid air. I ran my hands along the silk-like skin of his back and pulled him into me even tighter. Our frenzied embrace continued until release. I felt him shudder against me as we spilled new warmth between us.

At that moment, I felt my heart open and touch his. The rhythmic beating in our chests filled my ears as our souls joined. We were one being, complete, and I knew we were now in another place. The sweet smell of lilac filled the air and I felt the blaze of heat from the sun shining overhead.

"You lost the bet!" Doris' voice echoed in the wind. It was something spoken from far away, but found me as if the words had been whispered into my ear.

"Later, my love." Galen's voice resonated with the same hollow echo.

I reared back as if stung by a bee, and marveled at our surroundings. Bry and I stood in a field of waist high grass that swayed in a gentle breeze. Looking out, it reminded me of the ocean. The lazy plants bent away from the warm breath of wind like currents of water. It was a landscape of rolling green lit by the blazing warmth of the sun. We stood atop a hill, across from Galen and Doris. The wind pulled my shoulder length brown hair behind me and the feathery touch tickled my back, as the earth seemed to breathe in and out.

'Doris!" I couldn't contain the joy in my voice, and didn't want to.

Blue light trailed along the edges of her petite form. Her fiery red hair and piercing green eyes were the same as when she and Galen had battled. I don't know why, but seeing her comforted me. I missed her. They both continued on, and it put my mind at ease.

Galen stood beside Doris in a different but equally bright white light. He was as young as I remembered seeing him, and he was smiling. I can't remember seeing him do that before and it warmed my heart. They were together at last.

Their forms seemed to wink out of sight and draw closer. They were crossing the distance between us without taking steps. It wasn't the covert movement of rooting. They simply shifted closer as we watched them blink in and out of sight, drawing closer and closer. Soon they stood before us. Their forms were a strange contrast to what I had become accustomed to in the past. There were no illusions.

"We come with a warning and a gift." Galen's voice echoed across the landscape as if bouncing back from the sky itself.

Galen and Doris clasped hands. Together they reached out with open palms toward us. A small white sphere emerged above their fingertips and lingered in the air.

"Your time is short young druids. This will speed you along your way." Doris spoke the words in a sure and level voice as the balls of light shot forward and into our chests. A gust of wind buffeted our bodies, as the spheres seemed to grow and merge with our souls.

"I'm sorry to pass this burden on to you." Galen looked to Bry and continued, "But, if you cannot dissuade Asher from his search for his brother Lucif, you must destroy him. You cannot risk the balance."

"WHAT!?" Even with our new abilities, I didn't believe we could destroy Slegna.

It had never been attempted and I wasn't about to try. Even with our recently acquired knowledge and abilities I knew it was an unthinkable act. Who in their right mind would ever consider killing the oldest of things? That is what and who Asher and Lucif are. They are Slegna: beings beyond time.

"You have a destiny, and there is a price to pay if you invoke free will. Choose wisely." Their forms wavered before us and a white blast of light pushed us back to our reality beneath the less than warm spray in the shower.

The water heater failed in its task to keep up with the demand, and we now stood shivering in the tepid spray. I reached down and gave the knobs a few quick turns to staunch the flow.

"We can't kill him Bry." I stepped out onto the cold tile floor and steadied myself by grabbing the towel holder.

"You can't... but I can." Bry stepped out behind me and held my shoulder for balance.

The low hollow tone of his voice made me pause, and I turned my head to look at him. His ominous words worried me. I had seen his darker side once before. It was after I fought the bullies during my brief stint in 'public' school. He absolutely reveled in their defeat and there had been an almost sinister glint in his eyes. The expression on his face now, was the same as it was then. A dark, resolute wave of emotion pulsed through him and subsided.

"By the way, you might want to lose the gills." I jumped hearing the words.

I was lost in thought and his statement startled me. He turned to look at me and a grin dimpled his cheeks. My sweet Bry emerged as if someone had flicked a switch in his mind.

"We'll talk about it later. How about some breakfast?" I wanted desperately to change the topic.

"Gills?" It took a moment for what he said to register in my mind.

Standing in front of the fogged mirror, I ran my palm over the glass to get a better view of myself. My dark brown, almost black eyes stared back at me. Normally, my mess of wavy coffee brown hair would be my first concern. I spent many mornings staring at the thin line of my nose above my square jaw and imagined how I might change it. I suppose it is a person's nature to pick out flaws that do, or do not, exist in our own appearance. Today something new stole my focus.

I brought my hand back and trailed my fingertips along the delicate ruffles of skin. There were five slits of flesh, like open wounds, on either side of my neck. They flared and relaxed with each breath I took. Well... now I knew what caused that burning sensation while we kissed. My awe quickly turned to worry, and I felt a lump begin to form in my throat. Bry chuckled as he watched my terror unfold.

I calmed myself with a deep breath. 'No longer required.' I thought the words and my worry faded as the slits sealed. Pink lines were all that remained, and they quickly returned to the natural tan color of my skin.

Bry gave me a quick peck on the cheek and chuckled. "I would have told you sooner, but we were kind of interrupted."

I wanted to protest, but couldn't fight the growing smile on my face. It wasn't his fault I had become part fish. I suppose I should have been a little less zealous during our embrace.

After we finished toweling ourselves dry, we skittered down the cool hallway. Finally in our bedroom, I shut the door quickly as though it might give us some higher degree of warmth. 'Our bedroom' The thought made me pause. Everything was moving so quickly. 'We' and 'Our' had replaced 'Me' and 'Mine', but I couldn't remember exactly when it had happened. It felt natural, but the realization was a bit unsettling. He had slipped into my heart, and my world, and was now a part of me. I felt a strange and petty emotion flood my chest. I suppose it is silly, but in some strange way I mourned for the loss of things that were only mine. The emotion was short lived as I watched the one I loved..

Bry shivered as he hunched over the drawers, rifling for clothes. His legs were pressed together and his arms clung to his sides, giving an image of some frenzied ancient T-Rex. Every few seconds I'd fail in my attempts to stifle giggles as he slung a sweatshirt or other piece of clothing backward, without care of where it fell. He was getting clothing for both of us instead of just covering himself to escape the cold. He thought of me before himself and it warmed my heart.

My giddy thoughts were pushed away by worry. Bry was such a polar being that his mood shifts frightened me. He went from darkness to light at a moment's notice. We'd have to discuss it later.

Bry finally finished slinging clothes this way and that, and began to dress. Taking his queue I began to dress as well. More necessity than ritual, I pulled on socks and underwear first, and then the bulkier stuff. In the summer I went without underclothes. During the autumn months every layer was necessary to protect my nether regions from the cold.

I moved to the door and rested my hand on the knob. Turning, I found deep teal eyes staring back at me. I had heard of people whose eyes changed color, but had never actually seen it first hand. His eyes seemed to shift from the greyest tint of jade to the exotic depth of emerald and sometimes the oceanic blue-green that stared back at me now.

"Hey. Promise me something okay?" Bry stood looking at me as though I had just grown a second head.

"Sure, anything." His eyes lifted and he tilted his head forward as if bearing down and preparing himself for something ridiculous.

"Promise we will take time to talk before we go to meet Asher." I felt worry furrow my brows as I asked.

Bry's shoulders lifted and fell with a shrug as he smiled. "Okay." It wasn't a flippant reply, but one more of confusion. He didn't have the burden of my concern, and I suppose the request seemed a bit odd.

"Thanks Bry." I twisted the doorknob and walked into the hallway.

"C'mon Shadow." I slapped my leg to get her attention and to let her know I meant 'Now'. We spoke with as much body language as we did words. She knew me and my ways as well as I knew hers.

The three of us tromped down the stairs like a herd of elephants. Our heavy footfalls echoed along the stairwell and announced our impending arrival, like a stampede. I went straight for the side door as Bry squeezed into the chair between the wall and the kitchen table. I pushed against the frosted glass of the screen door and let Shadow out to go about her morning business. She would scratch when she was finished. Giving the yard and sky one last glance, I turned and walked back into the kitchen. There were no threats that I could sense. She would be safe for the time being. I didn't close the heavy wooden door and left the storm door as the only barrier against the cold of morning. I wanted as little as possible blocking my path should Shadow need me. I was going to miss her and hoped that we wouldn't be away from home for long.

I sat down at the table across from Bry and we began loading our plates. The clink of metal against glass filled the air as we skewered our breakfast of choice. The coffee was already poured and sat steaming only inches away. This was definitely a special morning. Normally, I was elated with the simple fact that the coffee was brewing. To have it already poured was just over and beyond. Something wasn't quite right.

I chewed tough crisps of almost bacon while studying the design on the ugly yellow and brown tablecloth beneath my plate. Paisley could keep a mind busy, but not enough to deter my thoughts from our recent visitors or the pre-poured coffee I sipped.

I heard the scrape of Shadow's nails against the door and left my place at the table. The scratch of metal seemed to catch Mark and Kent's attention as I stood. They looked up from their plates, and then quickly down again, and continued to fiddled with their food. I let Shadow in the door and then put her breakfast on the floor. She ate leisurely as I ran my fingers through her grey curls. Giving her one last quick scratch, I went back to my chair and stood against its back.

"Okay you two, what's up?" I wasn't in the mood for more mystery and I couldn't help the angry tone of my voice.

A strange burst of air erupted from Kent as he coughed and hacked. He had nearly choked on his latest mouthful of bacon.

"Nothing. Why do you ask?" Mark's voice wavered and was less than convincing.

Tapping my foot, I shifted my eyes to Kent and then back to Mark. "Bullshit."

My one word reply drew everyone's attention as I watched Mark's eyes widen. He sighed in defeat and looked to Kent. Finding no help there, he released another deep tension filled breath.

"You're going to be leaving us for the first time, and we're worried about you two. It won't be the same as when you went to school. We could keep an eye on you then." His uneven voice did little to hide his concern.

Mark's forehead was creased with worry and his eyebrows furrowed together above his hazel eyes. His short-cropped blond hair seemed to lighten as I noted the beginnings of grey at his temples.

"We'll miss you too, Uncle Mark. We're not going to be gone forever. We'll be fine." I smiled, hoping that the words might comfort him.

"We'll take care of each other. Please don't worry." Bry reached out and gave Mark's shoulder a light squeeze.

I walked around the table and gave Mark a hug from behind and felt a small shudder roll through him. Kent had that 'What? No hug for me?' look, so I walked over and gave him a squeeze and a peck on his forehead.

"Let's finish breakfast before you two have us locked in a dungeon for our own protection." I watched Mark's face change expression as his mind wrapped around the idea. There was a subtle tug on his heart as I pulled the chair back and sat down.

"Don't even think about it." I chuckled and snatched the last remaining piece of 'almost bacon' from my plate.

After finishing our breakfast, we made short work of the morning dishes. My mind wandered as I watched the small flecks of dust float in the sunlight. They hovered lazily in the sun's rays shining through our kitchen window. Kent cleared his throat, pulling me back to reality, and I turned to see what he wanted. It was a familiar sound that meant you were to give him your undivided attention.

"Ty, Bry, come sit, and bring the coffee pot. We have a few things to discuss." Kent's voice was steady and held a serious tone.

Bry rounded the table and squeezed into what was now his spot between the table and the wall. I filled our cups and sat the coffee pot back onto the burner on the counter. Adding a couple of spoonfuls of sugar, I brought the spoon with me as I rested my cup on the ugly paisley tablecloth and sat down at the table.

"You know we are well off and money is of no concern to us. Our family's investments during the past few generations have been more than fruitful. We will need to book you both a flight to Orlando, and get you each a debit card from the bank." A smile crept across his face as he watched the realization of what he said sink into my mind.

"How'd you know we were going to Florida?" Bry apparently found the meaning in his words before I did.

"It's been your every thought since you came crashing down the stairs. 'Asher and Florida' We weren't prying, it's just that you were thinking it so loud we couldn't help but hear." Mark grinned and took a sip of his coffee.

"We won't be booking a flight. We'll blink there. I'd rather not leave a paper trail for anyone to follow." It was my turn to grin as Mark and Kent were left wondering.

Mark leaned forward and squinted his eyes. "You'll 'blink' there?" The tone of his voice told me he expected an explanation.

"It's a different form of travel, but we'll need to practice before we go. I don't want to accidentally emerge in a wall or something worse. Galen and Doris gave us the knowledge and ability." That we gained the ability after our coupling in the shower, was a tidbit of information I thought they could do without.

The impromptu visit was special, though not exactly timely, and I didn't know if the uncles would understand. We were linked with Doris and Galen in a way that I didn't understand myself, and I didn't want to offer details about something I couldn't explain.

"At dusk, we'll need to cast 'The Call'." My eyes rested on Kent as shock raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, we know there are quite a few things you neglected to explain to us, but they are not what's important now. We're running out of time." The surprise on Kent's face melted into one of worry as he looked away from me and now focused on Mark.

"I'm so sorry. We had hoped the old legends were only stories. I..." Mark's shoulders rose and fell with a heavy sigh.

"It's alright Uncle Mark. You meant the best." Bry's dimpled smile chased away some of the oppressive gloom that slithered about the room.

A gnawing at the back of my mind made me pause and twist in my chair as if expecting to find something or someone behind me. There was still hope, although the ominous feeling seemed to grow and press against me like ants crawling along my skin. Our dark mood was neither natural nor accidental.

"Shit!" My chair slammed against the floor as I jumped to my feet.

"Extrak‚!" With my arms raised, I pushed the light of my soul outward in all directions.

A blinding white flash burst from my chest and an anguished cry echoed through the room from some far away place. It was much closer than that however. The question now, was how long had it had hidden in the shadows? I could only assume the worst.


To be continued...