Sliced Toast

[raihnstar]

Neil had been pacing anxiously for the last hour, feeling a horrible pressure in the back of his head that threatened to overwhelm him. He'd tried to leave the house three time but his children seemed supercharged tonight...nothing that he couldn't usually handle, but he'd been snapping at them back and forth for the past hour to leave him alone. And they were still running around the house. Kira had left, her ears down and growling at Neil in fear.

Neil himself was afraid. He wasn't ever really afraid...but now he was. He felt the feeling settle like a stone in his stomach, and his mind kept exploding. Dizzily, he sat on the floor, his eyes in a half daze and his eyebrows drawn into a sharp V.

Janine, who wasn't usually the most observant, suddenly sat down next to him, "Da...are you okay? There's something...a storm..."

"...There's no storm, Janine..."

Next was Yuli, who approached him quietly, like a cat, "Da...there's a storm coming."

"...Thre is no storm, Yuli."

Then Rorr, and he looked the most serious, "It's him." he told his father simply, and this time the man listened. "J-jamie...I'm...going out..." he muttered, and walked out the door, but he barely got three steps past the door when he had to sit down again. The barrier's in his mind had unraveled. It was the storm. Every cell in his body ached in sudden pain...and then it was over.

Next to him, an exact copy... with black hair instead of blonde, and with light eyes instead of dark stormy blue ones. The man got up and smiled... "Ah...It's good to be free." he muttered, glancing down at Neil, who was clutching his head and writhing in pain. "Neil. Nice to meet you. You've kept me out for quite awhile but it was always foretold that it'd be the ninth to let me out." He giggled, a little high pitched chuckle that was nothing like Neil's.

Neil couldn't answer, instead he grunted. The door swung open, and two children stood there, staring at this other man who was not their father. Yuli had run back inside to get Jamie, "Jamiiieee! There's a THING out there!"

Finally, Neil managed one word, "Belosus."

"My name sounds so musical..."

[ßlue]

<sub>Jamie had been taking a bath, thinking everything over. Her hair was short and damp from her sweating. She loved to sit for as long as she could stand in the boiling water and let herself sweat. It made her skin so soft and scented afterwards and he pores felt so clean. She sighed, slipping deeper into the steamy water, closing her blue eyes. Another deep breath. She submerged her skin in the water as far as she could go in the medium sized bath. Her skin was turning a blotchy healthy red color. If she hadn't wanted it to turn red she could have prevented it, but she let her body float freely, balancing on the looks she wanted and letting everything else happen naturally. She dipped lower, lips submerging and blowing small bubbles. Her eyes opened, feeling something and hearing the faint sound of someone falling down. She bolted up, listening. It had been too loud for a child just plopping down. Neil. Her eyes widened slightly and she stood, getting out of the tub in all her naked beautiful glory, grabbing her towel just as Janine screamed her name. Jamie gasped, wrapping the towel around her and slipping for the door. Luckily she didn't fall and she opened the door, racing out and following a distressed daughter. She followed into the room wearing just her towel, eyes landing upon another man that was not Neil. Her eyes went to him, seeing the pain on his face and feeling her heart squeeze. What was going on?

"Neil!"

Her eyes flashed dangerously at the other man, as if warning him to get away from Neil.</sub>

[raihnstar]

Neil could barely look up, but he heard Jamie and he winced, "No-- No-- inside! INSIDE, ALL OF YOU!" he finally managed to roar over the noises in his head, but they were becomming unbearable. And then there was silence. He couldn't hear anything. Sh.it. Sh.it. Shi.t This was so bad. He opened his eyes, but couldn't see anything, couldn't feel anything....there was nothing...no taste, no smell in the air--

And then it came back sharply. So sharply he had to lay on the ground shuddering before he was right.

What had happened was this: Belosus had taken the opportunity of having control of Neil's mind to shut down everything in his body...but Rorr had acted with thei mpulse a six year old would act with. He lit Belosus on fire. And then doused him with cold water because of the screaming the man made. Shivering, the man who looked exactly like Neil glared out at the boy, "I see Neil has been generous with his seed..." he said heavily. Neil was up like a shot.

"All of you, I said go inside." he spat at them in a wild frenzie. The children didn't move an inch, staring defiantly at their father. Belosus laughed, "They've got spirit. It'll be nicer for when I kill them later, mm?"

Neil jerked towards his mirror image, "I doubt-- I doubt you'll be doing that."

"Interesting. Well you've got nothing to worry about now, I'm leaving."

"No-- No you're not leaving--" Neil started, but the other man laughed shrilly, in a laugh that was eerily alike to Neil's...but there was no warmth or friendship.

"Just try and stop me, mage. You'll hear of me soon enough...for now I'd enjoy what little time you have left." Belosus giggled again, and a bolt of lightning transported him away, to the town where he'd been born.

Neil let out the breath he'd been holding, and looked at this children and Jamie as if he'd cursed them for life, "Well that can't be good..." he said in a weary voice. "Go back inside, all of you...I'll be right there...and... I'm so sorry." It sounded as if he was apollogizing for himself. And he was. His time was finally running very short. Once he'd ushered everybody inside he sat down on one of the small plastic chairs with his eyes closed meditatively. "...I...suppose you'd like an explanation?"

It's the least you deserve.

[raihnstar]

((...we've totally forgotten about this. :3 I want to start it up again. that okay blue?))

[ßlue]

<sub>Jamie watched, hatred instantly coursing through her. She felt danger in the air, but the kids stood strong and tall against this person who looked exactly like their father. Jamie herself knew the difference between a copy and the real person. She could feel the difference. It was something, and her face contorted, black fur growing on her as she turned into a black panther, sleek, beautiful, deadly. She growled, hissing at him, ready to pounce. It was the bets she could do. She didn't have much of a offensive power, and she was proud of Rorr for attacking the man, felt proud of the kids for standing so tall and defiant as she stood in front of them, protective and daring. Neil said everyone inside, he was up now, something had happened to him, and she felt her stomach drop at thinking he was in danger too. She hissed, and in a flash black scaled replaced the fur, glittering dangerously and hard, red slitted pupils glades at the man as her wings quivered and tail lashing, careful to stay in front of the kids in this stronger animal. She growled, a deep hissing horrible sound... the sound of a dragon. What powers did this man have? What could she do to keep the children and Neil safe if he attacked? Probably very little, but she had to do something. Neil told them all to get inside. Yeah right. The kids didn't budge, and Jamie stayed in front of them, giving a screeching roar as the man said something.

Enjoy what little time you had left? Was that a threat? Her eyes flickered to Neil. Her heart making a little flutter and then a poor stabbing pain as she imagined him dead. An image came to her of staring into his blank eyes, him not seeing anymore with those beautiful blue eyes. She shivered, growling low again as the man disappeared in a bolt of lightning. Neil relaxed and looked tired. They got the kids inside, Jamie switching back to brown haired blue eyed and a comfortable shape. Sexy, yes, but still comfortable. She wandered over to him, resting her hands on his shoulders as he sat down and rubbing him softly. Huh? Explanation? She stayed silent, rubbing his shoulders trying to relax him. What was he talking about? She had a feeling he needed to tell her this and she remained quiet, rubbing harder.</sub>

[raihnstar]

Nobody answered, and Neil almost drifted off, until Yuli spoke up quietly but firmly, "What. Just. Happened." she said quietly. Neil smiled a little, but his hands were still shaking. "Ah. Story time." he joked without humor. "No. Really. This goes back far beyond me." He sat still for a moment and thought about how to begin. There was complete silence in the room, and Janine observed that her father looked...smaller. He was still tired, but it was as if something had suddenly sucked out all the air in him.

"It was called Old Country back then," Neil began in a voice that was not quite himself, "Because the rocks and trees were there before Us, and we knew that they allowed Us to be there only because they felt sorry for Us." His voice gained strength as the story continued, "We were the first people and soon we grew as old as the land, and grew more numerous and there was villages of great power. On the outskirts there were ferral vampires which we feared, and hunted, and killed. On the planes there were the wild beasts, which we killed for food. This is the story of Us. There came to be a demon. They say his mother was a snake and his father dragon, but those are lies. His parents were outsiders. They were not a part of Us, they lived in the whitelands, where people who did not look like Us lived. We did not venture there. And they did not venture near Us.

But this man...this demon, he did. He came to Us wounded, because he had passed through the land of the vampires and We took him in. We took him in and cared for him, until his eyes could see clearly, and soon he began to work there, and his skin became as dark as the land itself, and he became one of Us. In this man was great power. Weather power. And in this man was the blood of a vampire, which none of Us knew about.

And he turned. At night, he turned, and he found his power. And the name he shouted from the rooftops wasn't the name We had called him. He shouted his name like a curse, his true name, his demon name. Belosus." Neil's voice had receded to a whisper, "And men came out to see who spoke-- and saw him standing on the roof. And he ordered them to worship him, made them bend. There was a small boy, there, they called him Anansi. He was a spider and he was tricksy as any. He saw what was going to happen and he killed the man then and there. He climbed up onto his leg and bit him. But the man's demon soul remained, and flew into the boy. For nine generations, the demon has been passed on." A pause, now. Neil shifted a little, uncomfortably.

"And it came to be my burden. I had been trained as a child. We were marked with blue eyes. But it was said that the ninth would be the one to let go of him. The ninth would let go of the demon, release him into the world--" he stopped, closed his mouth into a hard line and his eyes flashed. He could hear the rest of the prophecy, 'release him into the world, and perish at the demons hand.' Neil kept silent, "Release him into the world, and bring him down." There was no hint of a lie in his voice, and it spoke of finality.

"And so it has come to be." Neil finished gravely, feeling his old energy course through him. Die. Him? Yeah. He'd come close, but it hadn't been time. And now he could smell his death ahead of him. But he wouldn't let them know. He wouldn't be mourned until he was dead, thank you very much. He shut his mind off to all of them, and his face was unreadable. Get out. You can't look into me. Not this time. Not if my life depended on it. Me or you. And it's going to be me.

[ßlue]

<sub>Jamie listened to the story, the feeling of dread in her growing as she came to put the pieces together. Before the story was done she knew what was going to happen. She could feel it and her face showed her worry and anguish for a moment as she thought. She covered it though, looking like this must be a joke and not to be taken seriously. She was not going to break down and cry. There had to be something she could do. Something that could stop Neil from dying. She would find it. She felt a fierce flush of determination as her heart thumped almost painfully in her chest. She swore then on everything, She swore on her soul and everything she owned that Neil would not die. She would not let him. Never. It was impossible. If he was going to die, they were going to die together, at the same time, of old age. She let her hands rub his shoulders lightly, as if she touched him too hard he'd break away form her. She knew it was selfish, but she wanted to keep him forever. She didn't want to leave him. Ever since they had before friends and he had stolen her heart. Before he'd taken her virginity it seemed like she could tell. She was already so in love with his carefree ways and how he could be serious in a flash. She loved his warm skin and that musky scent like pine and earth. She realized she'd been in love with him now since laying eyes on him. Give or take a minute.

"Well that doesn't sound too good...Tell you what..."

She leaned down, slipping her arms around his neck and resting her cheek on his from behind him. Her fingers traced his shoulder lightly in a tickling way as she thought over some way to bring that carefree air to him again.

"Why dont I get naked. That always makes you feel better."

She slipped in front of him, somehow having captured his hands as she stood smiling, worry still in her eyes. But he never liked her worrying about him. He didn't like anyone to worry about him. So she would smile, and joke around, like always, and she couldn't hide the pain in her eyes. It would be there any time she pictured him in danger. She would always love him with her entire being. She wanted to think that if he ever did die she would be able to feel it, even if she was on the other side of the world.</sub>

[raihnstar]

How dare she? thought Rorr immediately, glaring at Jamie. How dare that woman make light of this situation?! He couldn't see how tense she looked, and how she hunched her back a little, and how there was an obvious strain in her voice. "Yes. Good solution. Get naked." he said icily, causing Yuli to turn to him with surprise. Janine's face was as unreadable as ever, and she seemed to be deep in thought. "Rorr don't--" Yuli began, but Rorr was angry. He was six, but he was furious. He seemed a lot older then six. As if he'd gained an understanding just by seeing what he'd just seen.

"No, Yuli! How could she even suggest-- This isn't something to joke about!" he shouted, getting up and glaring at Jamie. He turned to face his father and then faultered, seeing a bizarre expression on his father's face. "...I'm not sure how you arrived at such an odd conclusion, Rorr. I didn't hear anybody laughing in the room...so to suggest that Jamie would have made a joke is quite silly. Do what you want, children. I need something nice to relieve my tension." He got up and stretched, grinning wolfishly, his eyes flashing, as if already his old self was returning. From the other corner of theroom Yuli relaxed. "Preferably something naked." he added, pinching Jamie from behind and giving her a quick, nonchallant kiss. He began heading towards the room, but Janine stopped him.

"Da-- he's out there right now. The more time you let him stay out there--" The more time he has to gather forces to destroy you. She fell silent and Neil shrugged, "There will be water if the Gods wish it." he told her cryptically, and whistled his way into the room. His whistling seemed to relieve the childrens tension, and Yuli giggled a little. Da? Dead? Yeah right. It wasn't possible. Janine went back to reading her book, unconcerned as always, and Rorr glanced at Jamie shamefaced, "Sorry..." he muttered, before hiding his face and running out of the room in embarassment, just like a little kid.

[ßlue]

<sub>Jamie looked over at Rorr, feeling stung at his words. He was only a little boy, and he was already so grown up. Her little Rorr. She remembered when he was younger, he hadn't trusted her at first, but she'd finally gotten to him, handing him some chocolate, holding out to him like a peace offering. She looked at him, wishing he could understand that his father would probably prefer sex to war any day, but when the time came Neil would fight and if he died, it would shatter them all. So Jamie let herself intake air, afraid she might cry if she didn't do something to gt these poisonous thoughts out of her mind. Then Neil spoke. She wasn't joking, and he got up and stretched, being like his old self as he smiled and walked whistling from the room. Jamie smiled after him, the pain still in her eyes. Maybe the girls could read it, more sensitive to emotions than boys were, but Rorr seemed to understand what his father said and even if he didn't like it he apologized, racing from the room.

She looked at the girls as they went back to what they were doing, her blue eyes returning to where Rorr had fled the room. She thought about going to Neil, but she had to do something first and she left after Rorr, looking briefly and finding the boy. She walked in silently, watching him for a moment before going up to him and slipping her arms around him in a firm but warm hug.

"Rorr, I am so proud of you. You and your sisters. You were all so brave. Thank you. Thank you so much..."

She felt her throat strain against the flood of tears. Her mind was still twisted around thoughts of a life without Neil, Neil dead or dying, Jamie being away and a sudden evil person coming to kill them all. Her whole family, all she knew. Gone. It was a horrible thought and she wished it gone, but she didn't want Rorr to think she was just some tramp. She loved his father as much as the rest of them and like them she would give her life to save his. But Neil should never hear that. He would hate it.

"Thank you Rorr..."</sub>

[raihnstar]

Rorr hid his face in Jamie's shoulder, too ashamed to speak for awhile, wanting to be comforted. He felt sad. Like something bad was coming-- something that couldn't be stopped. If only he'd kept the man on fire! He held on, and then when he tired of it, he fidgited until she let him go, "I'm going to go look for Kira." he said solemly, "She's afraid of Belosus." The word rolled off his tongue and caused him to shudder. "But she wouldn't want to miss this." a little globe of fire lit up his face and he ran out into the cold air, needing to get away from the opressive surroudings as well as wanting a big furry animal to cling to.

In the other room Janine put her book down and stepped over to Jamie, "He's waiting for you." she told her with a hint of a smile. "Yuli-- let's go look for Kira!" she called, willing to give the adults their privacy. Yuli glanced at Neil's room one last time before hurrying after Janine with moaning cries of 'wait, you said you'd wait!'

[ßlue]

<sub>Jamie smiled, laughing lightly in a tickling chime as Rorr finally escaped, saying he was going to look for Kira. He said Belosus' name and she saw him shudder, her smile faltering a moment before coming back, proud of him again. He dashed off and she straightened, turning to look at Janine as she said they would go look for Kira too. Yuli dashed after them, leaving the house empty with the sort of quiet and peace you'd find in a church. It made her rub her arms against the cold as she turned, walking solemnly back to Neil's room. She paused in the doorway, leaning against the wood and watching him. She slipped inside, closing the door and floating to where he was.

She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him softly, her eyes sparkling softly in the dim light. Her heart felt high and she thought she could have floated away. She'd never told him much about what kissing him did to her. It made her want more, it made her want to get as close to him as possible, she wanted to meld to him, and thats where sex came in. She gave herself over to him, body, mind, soul, and for a short time she felt as if she was the only woman in the world for him. As if with each smooth caress and thrust he was confessing his love to her, just like how her heart seemed to only beat for him. She sighed, letting out a small soft moan that passed her lips like a sweet prayer. It might have been, she was praying deeply in her heart. Jamie wasn't very religeous, but she wanted Neil to live more than anything in the world. She smiled, lips curving.

"You're so damn sexy..."

She nipped his ear, tongue tracing the dark skin with a devilish flick.</sub>

[raihnstar]

Neil snorted, and wrapped his arms around her, just holding her close without making an attempt to explore her body. She was there, and for now, that was enough. They were quiet together, and Neil hadn't ever felt more there. He wasn't thinking about anything else. He was just there. Finally, with an air of a man stretching after a long nap he broke the silence, "I need you to be strong."

That was all he said alluding to what had happened before he turned, and kissed her, and made love to her, and fell asleep with his arms around her, dreaming uneasy dreams that were only quelled by the faint smell of coconuts that drifted off her skin.

[ßlue]

((XD yay! coconut!!! I ♥ the smell of coconuts, I'm glad you got that right XD))

<sub>Jamie listened to the thump of his heart, trying to quell the tidal wave of thoughts and feelings that threatened to drown her in their depths. She looked up at him as he told her she would have to be strong and with a sinking feeling in her stomach and a flying feeling in her heart she nodded, giving in to his kisses as he finally moved with her and for that sweet moment in time again she felt like she was the only one in the world that could be there with him. Her heart raced, her inside quivered brilliantly as she moved with him, and all too quickly it was over and he was asleep and she curled up into him, kissing his fingers while he slept and feeling his warmth against her back. She could feel his slow shallow breathing, hear his heart and the sound of his lungs expanding to take in life. The soft earthy smell as she kissed his knuckles relaxed her and she smuggled deeper into his arms. Maybe now was the time. She'd never done this before, but now she felt like time was running out, and even if he was asleep, couldn't hear her, she had to let him know.

"I know I have to be strong. I know I have to protect the kids, but... I want to protect you too. I dont think I can, but... Neil, God... I love you so much, you know? My head knows I have to keep smiling and not worry about you, and que sera sera, but my heart... It squeezes thinking about you in danger. It hurts. I love you... I always will... always...

Well, I just wanted you to know..."

She gave each of his fingers one last kiss before she snuggled up into that soft protective warmth and fell asleep too, her bare chest rising and falling pleasantly as she dreamed of her dad and her, sitting on a couch and watching TV, hugging and just enjoying the moment. She missed him. He'd been gone about three years now. He'd had a stroke and hadn't lived. She felt her heart give a little quiver for him in her sleep but she went on unperturbed. A sweet sleep.</sub>