She’s gone,
I can’t believe it,
She’s gone.
I better learn how to face it.
She’s gone.
I’d pay the Devil to replace her.
She’s Gone
Hall & Oates

While Daniel slept peacefully nestled in Calla’s arms, the sun rose on Tiberia and Naganti Kanan awoke with no woman by his side. Lonely were the days ahead but he might finally be able to find some peace in them as well. Wanting to be near her, he slipped out of his room and made his way to third floor and to the center tower, to the room where the man called Daniel had waited for the ritual that would take her away from him and this world.

Kanan opened the door to the tiny room and climbed into the small canopy bed pulling the pillow and the rag doll that lay there close to his large body, they still held the faint scent of her. What had he done and why? Some of his counselors would call him a fool and admonish him for letting her go. The Gesh’tah had returned and she was their best defense against them if nothing else. Kanan already knew that he would lead his people through the N’kte once more, they would find another home one far away from the Gesh’tah. The priests would understand they would stand up for his decision. Almost as if on cue, a faint knock fell upon the door. Kanan clutched the pillow tighter. Kanan did not turn around as the door squeaked open and its shadow fell across him, he did not have to look up to know who had entered the room.

“I thought I would find you here, my Lord.”

“Go away.”

“You did the right thing.”

“Then why does it feel so horrible?”

“It was time.”

Kanan knew those words to be true. Calla had been with him for more years than he could remember. Always there, always by his side, always so willing to serve.

Always so willing to please him.

“You love her.”

“Once, perhaps I did.” Kanan agreed and turned on his back, his eyes looked up to behold the sight of Marteen, the High Priest who had presided over last night’s ritual. “No more.”

“You still do, my Lord. I can see that you worry about her.”

“I fear for her, whether she is with me or him.” Kanan turned away from the man standing next to him and stared out through the window at the ring of trees with a blank expression on his face. “They will never come for her. They have has forsaken her, you know.”

“Hei.” Marteen agreed in an undersized voice. “You did the right thing.”

“They left her here too long.” Kanan raised his arm to cover his brow. “Too long.” His voice was nothing but a whisper confessing to the darkness. “I tried, so hard and in the end, I could no longer stop myself.” The dark man drew a deep breath into his lungs that exited as no more than a sigh.

“She has a new Master now, she is not your concern any longer. Your burden has been lifted, my Lord. You should rejoice.”

Kanan dropped his arm to stare into the eyes of his High Priest. “She made a foolish choice.” Denigration was clear in his voice. What a foolish girl. What a clever girl. Calla had decided she wanted to leave Tiberia with Daniel when she first saw him of that Kanan was sure. However, she had not allowed Daniel to challenge for her. No, that might mean he would lose and she would still be stuck here with him. She had waited for her chance to make her break and then forced Kanan into letting her go. Daniel was unharmed and she was free. Clever, clever girl.

“It was hers to make. You always knew you would have to let her go one day.” Marteen felt pity for his Lord and tried to hide that fact from his tone.

“You don’t know.” Kanan lamented as he lay on the bed where Calla slept as a child. “The things I did to her. Those that I made her do for me. Perhaps if she had been Shankuk and I could have taken her for my wife….”

Marteen interrupted, “She is not. Pardon my arrogance, Lord Kanan,” he began, “you and I both know if she continued to stay here she would never be anything more than your whore. Callestah deserves better than that. She is more than that.”

“Yes,” Kanan agreed without looking at his High Priest, “don’t you think I know this?” He grumbled. “Look at me, Marteen!” Kanan demanded as he looked up at the gray haired man standing over the bed. “I am older than you are, I remember when you were in diapers.” Kanan held his youthful hands in front of his eyes. “Look at me.”

“Her gift to you, my Lord?”

“Gift?” He snorted. “She kept me young so that I could what? Fuck her longer?”

“So that you would live to keep watch over her.”

“Ah, is that what it was for? Now she will give this gift to her precious Daniel. Nevertheless, Daniel is weak. He will turn on her sooner than I did. She will be stuck with him. What will become of her when that happens?”

Marteen thought about it for a moment. “Daniel is not weak, Lord Kanan. Do not underestimate him, his heart is strong and his mind stronger. Do not despair there is hope for her. The bond he forged is powerful, it will last.”

“You have seen this?”

“Hei. Even if he is not aware of it, he did come here for her. When the time comes, if she allows him to, Daniel will stand.” Marteen left the room and his Lord.

End Chapter Fifteen
Daughter of the Gods: Every New Beginning
By Moon Mistress
Continue to
Chapter Sixteen

This story and all stories in the Kingdom of the Gods & Daughter of the Gods series are copyrighted to Lisa Beth Darling these stories may not be transferred outside of this URL in any fashion.