Chapter Fifty-Two

Annie was frantic all day long and Randy played the part of the dutiful boyfriend as she ran a battery of tests on her dying son.  Wolfgar couldn’t help but drink in the irony of being asked, not just to watch, but to help the boy who lay dying because he, Wolfgar, had poisoned him.   Danny wasn’t long for this world, he was sure of that. There was little chance Doctor Beautiful would find a cure and that would be one more obstacle out of his way. Of course that little fact wouldn’t stop him from standing by her side, holding her hand and comforting her in this most distressing time.  Someone had to show a little support for Annie, by the looks of things at breakfast this morning her family was not on her side in matters. By lunch she was talking about moving Danny out of the little clinic and to a larger more modern hospital nearby, maybe even to the SGC.

“Do you think that’s wise?” He asked.  “I mean, look around, Annie. I don’t know too much about this place but I do know that it’s well known for its magickal inhabitants a lot of whom are said to have extraordinary healing abilities. I’m pretty certain that if you can’t find a cure for whatever’s wrong with Danny here then you just can’t find one anywhere.”  He took her shaking hands and stared into her worried eyes. “He’ll be fine, you’ll find out what’s wrong and he’ll be just fine.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with him,” she said in a quaking voice. She should have listened to Calla and to Morgan and to Colleen. She should have come home and taken care of Danny but she’d so angry with Nick that Annie couldn’t stand to return to Altair Ain.  Danny was young and healthy as a horse so surely it was only a cold or the flu but it wasn’t either of those nor was it any of the normal diseases a boy his age might pick up; measles, mumps, chicken pox, rubella, none of them. He didn’t have salmonella or e-coli there were no signs of food poisoning at all. He had a high fever but his blood and urine showed no signs of infection.  The most frightening thing to Annie was the fact that he wouldn’t wake up though his brain waves all read normal. His white blood cell count was down and his electrolytes were up.  “I don’t know how to help him.”

Why wasn’t Nick here? Why the hell was he always off on some distant planet instead of here helping her?

Randy slid his arm around her waist as they stood in her lab behind closed doors. “You’ll find it, I have great faith in you.”

Nice to know someone did, certainly seemed she was the odd-man-out around here lately.  “Thanks.” She gave him a wilted smile. “What if they’re right? What if Wolfgar, that bastard son of my rotten husband, has poisoned my son?” Annie was nearing hysterics. “What if he’s that close to us? What about Kiki?”  The thought of her oldest child fell on her like the proverbial ton of bricks. “Oh my God, Randy! Kiki!”

It was difficult not to sneer at the words ‘bastard son’ but he managed it and more in the form of a sympathetic smile.  Still, she was one to talk, Annie been there when he rotten husband fucked Raven and impregnated her, it wasn’t as though Nicholas had gone behind her back and had an affair. He did it right in front of her, with her help from what he understood from his mother.  Pious bitch. “I’m sure she’s fine, you’re just working yourself up for no reason.” Randy fished a cell phone from his pocket. “Here, call her or the school and make sure just to ease your mind.”  He watched her grab for the phone and then waited and listened while on the other end, Kiki Jackson, eldest child of Nicholas and Annie, assured her mother that she was just fine and looking forward to coming home for the Christmas holiday in a few days.  Color rushed back into Annie’s weary ashen face and he reached out to rub her shoulders a little.  “I told you she was fine.” He kissed her cheek.

Maybe it would be best if Kiki stayed at school for the Christmas break. If she was fine and it appeared Wolfgar didn’t know where she was then why risk bringing her home and possibly putting her in danger?  Annie twirled her graying blonde hair around her fingertip as she sat there trying to figure out what to do and wishing Nick was here. He’d know what to do and what was best.  “What do you think about staying at school over Christmas?”

Kiki went into instant Tantrum Mode. “WHAT? I wanna come home, I wanna see everyone…MOM! It’s CHRISTMAS!”

Annie let out an exhausted sigh. “I know but, Kiki, Danny’s very sick.”

“What’s wrong with Danny? I thought he had a cold.”  The agitation was gone from Kiki’s voice and it was now hushed and serious.

“So did I.” Annie agreed. “Your Grandmother’s not doing very well and things, well they’re sort of a mess right now.” Without thinking about it she looked up at Randy. Yes, how was she going to explain to her daughter about the new man in their house? “Kiki, it might be better, well it just be best, if you stayed at school for now.”

Randy stood there, smiling warmly, rubbing her shoulders supportively and listening, listening, listening.  He’d been thinking of snatching Kiki first but Annie’s suspicions played against that idea. So then, it was better to let her have a false sense of security for a little while then pull the rug out from under her feet.  “Let the girl come home,” he whispered softly, “she’s perfectly safe here.”

“You’re scaring me, mom. What’s wrong with Grandma? What’s wrong with Danny?  Have you heard from Dad and Grandpa yet? Who’s that? Who’s with you, I heard a voice.”

Randy traced his fingers along Annie’s cheek and jaw and mouthed the words; it’s ok.

Annie swallowed hard and felt her face turn red and burn with color.  “I’ve brought my, my, my friend Randy with me from the SGC. He’s helping me with Danny and your Grandmother.  He’s working in the lab with me.” She explained and hoped she sounded believable.  “All right, I’ll tell you what, why don’t you just come home as planned, ok? I’ll pick you up in a few days. We’ll talk about everything then no need to worry in the meantime.”

**

It was several hours before Athena felt ready to attempt opening the pathway once more. The energy was so very strange and it lingered so incredibly long that for a while she felt her mind was not her own.  All she could do was to sit in the pew staring down at her hands which were folded neatly in her lap while the world spun around her. When she did make a second attempt it was just as unsuccessful though not to such a spectacular degree.  It seemed her ability to harness the energy was strong but her ability to focus it was not.

“Well, we will just have to wait for your Mother to awaken.”

“So it would seem.” Athena admitted in defeat. She’d been so certain that she would open this pathway but she’d failed.  Failure was not well tolerated by Athena Jackson not others and not in herself. “I don’t know if we have that much time.”

“What did you see?”

Had she seen something? Athena wasn’t sure.  “Fear,” she whispered to Poseidon. “Isolation. Disease. Death is all around them.”

Not a happy picture, certainly not a Club Med Vacation by any means.  “Death? Who’s dead?” Sam asked from behind them. She and her team had been quietly monitoring events but staying out of the way.  Poseidon didn’t hide his displeasure with her and Sam thought it best to give him a wide berth.

Slowly Athena turned her head to look at Samantha. “All of them, they’re all dead.”

Sam’s face turned pale and her eyes misted over. “Jack?”

“Not them, they’re alive, all of the Sengul are dead.”  Now Athena turned back to Poseidon. “The entire planet has been slain.”

“Who could have done that?” Sam asked as her heart began to beat at a steadier pace.  For a moment there she thought she’d lost Jack. 

Athena didn’t hesitate. “Wolfgar. He used this pathway and he killed them all then he sealed my Father and the rest on the other side.”

Poseidon stooped down to look Athena in the eye. “You saw all of this?”

“I felt it,” she answered in a confused tone, “now that I speak it I see it and it becomes clearer in my mind. They know we are looking for them now and they will try to get to us for our next attempt.”

“Do you wish to try again?”

“No,” Athena shook her head, prideful as she was she knew when she was beaten. “It’s too powerful for me. I have failed them.” She hung her head and took in a deep breath.  She’d been so positive that she could do this and had told everyone that she would do it now she had to return home empty handed.  Strange thing about it was, Athena felt more for her Mother and those stranded on the planet then she did for herself.  That was a new sensation. Although she still disliked the idea of having Colleen on the throne it was clear that Athena was not yet ready to take the reins.  An idea came to her as she sat there on the verge of wallowing in self-pity. “Perhaps if the three of us try, Aiden, Amy and me, perhaps then we would be successful.”

Sam and Poseidon looked at each other, he with cold watery eyes and she with those which hoped for understanding.  Her opinion wasn’t wanted and, some where along the line, this had gone from a military mission to a civilian one.  Behind her she could hear the technicians who’d monitored the event chatting excitedly and they might be able to make some sense of this new energy but she doubted they’d master it any time soon.  “Sounds like a good idea.” She offered carefully.

Yes, it sounded reasonable enough if the three of them could combine their powers and work together.  “Rest a while then we will try this.”

**

As he promised, David had Calla brought down from Thor’s ship just around suppertime. He had a little chat with Hades first whom he summoned to Daniel’s office and Hades was not happy to be called to pavlar with David Jackson.  “Look, I know you can’t talk, I get it.” David said hurriedly and took in the quizzical expression on the face of the God of Death.  “Olympians aren’t Gods but they’re close.  Since they’re not Gods then that means there’s somebody higher up the food chain than you. My bet is you know who it is.” Hades just stood there stoic. “All I wanna know is this; is it safe for me to bring Callie back?  If I bring her home is that thing gonna reach out for her again?”

Hades’ tightly set jaw loosened a little. “It will not be bothering her again.”

“Put the lid on the hole, did’ja?”

“Something like that.”  The hole didn’t have a lid but Oblivion was weak now and he would be for a while to come. For Oblivion, reaching out from the pit took more energy in a few moments than was needed to launch the first rocket ships into deep space. “You are doing a good job, Sa’Tan, you surprise me.”

“Just gimme a heads-up if you start thinking something’s gonna happen, ok?”

“I’ll do my best.” Hades agreed.  “Where’s Athena?”

Athena and Poseidon hadn’t returned yet and when David told Hades so, Hades said he would go to Russia and find out what was going on. In the meantime it was best if Calla was brought home and given her treatment.  A few moments later David had Calla beamed down from Thor’s ship right to her own bed. Sleeping Beauty never knew she’d been moved.

“This is for you,” Thor said and handed over a small hand-held device to David.

“What is it?”

“We monitored Lady Calla continuously while she was in our care and saved the data for your physicians hoping it might be of help.”

“Thank you.” David said honestly.  “How’d she do last night?”

“She slept peacefully.”

“You’re sure?” David asked. “She didn’t dream?”

“I wouldn’t know if Lady Calla dreamed or not,” Thor said thoughtfully, “she did achieve REM sleep for a long period.  If you’re asking if she appeared to have a nightmare the answer is no.”

That was good news and it made David smile and feel a little relieved.

“If you would like me wait and take her back when Morpheus is done I would be happy to do so.”

“Thanks again, little guy, but I think she’s gonna stay home for now.”

“If you change your mind you know how to reach me.” With that Thor disappeared in a beam of blue light.

“Hey, Sunshine.” David said and sat down on the bed next to her.  “How you doin’, girl? Everything ok in that head of yours, huh? What do you know about that thing Hades keeps in the pit?”  Although he didn’t expect her to answer him, David remembered that Morpheus said she would have periods of light waking near the times when she was to be dusted again and David was hoping she might open her eyes and give him a smile. He needed her to wake up long enough so that he could feed her. Ambrosia had been chosen at Callie’s meals while she was sleeping. It was the easiest thing to get down her and it had everything she required as far as nutrients went.  That didn’t make the stuff any more appealing than a bowl of cold snot.

Aiden suddenly walked through the far wall. “Mom’s here?”

“Yeah, she’s right here.” David said and moved aside so that Aiden could see his Mother. “She’s fine, none the worse for wear.”

Amy wasn’t far behind her Brother, both of them sat next to her and took a hand.  “She looks so old, Adie.” Amy said sadly and brushed a few errant gray hairs away from Calla’s face.  “Maybe it’s me but does her eye look better to you?”

Aiden leaned in a little closer to get a better look at his Mother’s aging face. “Yeah, ya know what, maybe it does.”  The right side of her face didn’t seem to droop quite as much as it had last night. “Maybe it’s working.”

Slowly that slightly drooping eye fluttered open and it was followed by its healthier twin. “Hey, Sunshine.” David said easily as he stepped into her view. Those pretty eyes were hazy and distant. Calla was neither awake nor asleep but somewhere in between the two. “Most aside, she’s gotta get something to eat.”   Amy backed away as Aiden stood up and then gently lifted Calla to a half-sitting position so that David could feed her the Ambrosia and hopefully get her to drink some of the Nectar. “There’s my gurl, huh?” He laid a light kiss on her forehead before prying her lips open with the spoon and dumped a lump of the cool slick stuff into her mouth. Good thing she didn’t have to chew it, to him she didn’t seem to be aware that she was eating anything as he reached out and massaged her throat coaxing her to swallow. She stared up at him with a dopey grin on her sleepy face. Three spoonfuls of Ambrosia and a swallow of Nectar were what he was able to get into her before Morpheus appeared in the bedroom.

“How is she?”  The King of Dreams inquired as he reached out a transparent hand to touch Calla’s cheek.

“All right, I guess.” David answered. “One of you go and get Inez.”  The nurse had to be around here somewhere. Annie was supposed to come and take Calla’s vitals when she returned home but with Danny so sick David didn’t want to pull her away from her son’s sickbed.  He reached in his pocket. “Thor left this, they monitored her all night.”  He should give that to Annie for sure.  Inez probably wouldn’t want it but he would offer it to her first, maybe she could download it into the computer at the clinic where Annie could look at it when she got a spare minute.  In between taking care of Danny and screwing Randy, Annie was one busy woman he was sure of that.  He was just as sure of that as he was of the fact that when Nick came home there was going to be a small to medium thermal event here in Altair Ain.

Amy held her hand out over her Mother’s head with the flat of her palm facing down. She let it hover there, just above Calla’s skin and it began to glow with a familiar blue light. David—and Daniel—were jealous of Amy’s ability to conjure it so easily when they hadn’t even been able to bring about a single spark of it years.  Everything felt good, heartbeat slow and steady, breathing the same, her pulse chugged happily along. “She’s just sleeping but “I’ll find Inez,” Amy said as the blue light retreated into her palm, “she’s gotta be around here somewhere.” David was born a Mortal and would always want to see things laid out for him in black and white if at all possible. He would never trust magick the way he trusted science.  Unfortunately for the rest of them it seemed that was a trait the Daniel shared with his twin.  The King might also never accept Magick over Science.  That could very well be the downfall of the whole of Altair Ain.  That was all along time down the road, first things, first, and that was Mom. She was First. “I’ll take it.”

David nodded. “Check down in the clinic, Annie might have her helping out down there.”

“Be back in a jiff.” Amy said with a grin and disappeared from the bedroom.

David went back to feeding the heavy-eyed woman hoping to get most of the Ambrosia and all of the Nectar down her before Morpheus put her under once more.  For a few long moments everything around him seemed captured by the aura of that gently blue light.  Callie glowed with it, so did the bed, the lamp, Aiden and David imagined he did as well—at least in his own mind. When he looked over at Aiden the boy didn’t show any signs of seeing anything out of the ordinary.  It was just him.  So many times he and Danny tried to raise that light over the last 5 years.  Nothing happened.  Every attempt failed and most showed no promise at all.  Whatever magick they’d had between them was gone it died in whole when Danny became an Olympian.  That Drawing sensation never went away. He could feel it right now as he sat here coaxing food down her throat. It was mild, weak even, but it was there, pulling on him just the slightest bit and drawing something out of him. Something that didn’t hurt, something that felt just ever so slightly warm and strong.  It grew a little more intense when Danny was here and both of them touched her but it never exploded into that ball of energy which became streams of blue light. Still, Callie did love it when Danny said ‘all right’ to David spending the night in their bed.  It wasn’t the sex which wasn’t often to begin with but she just adored snuggling down between the two of them and sleeping the night away.

Athena and Poseidon appeared in the bedroom just as David as getting the last of the Ambrosia into Calla.  “She’s awake.” Athena said happily.

“Not fully,” Morpheus returned.  “I see it is just the two of you.”

A puff of black smoke and flash of dark light and Hades stood by them. “Three of us. Athena was unable to open the pathway.”

“I tried very hard.” Athena explained contritely. “I believe if Amy and Aiden will accompany me in a few hours or tomorrow morning perhaps,” she added feeling wearier than her Mother looked, “we should try to open it together.”

“Me?” Aiden asked and pointed to himself. “I’m only half-Olympian, remember? You ought to, you called me a mud-blood enough times while we were growing up.” He added in a low growl.

“Your Father was Immortal. You are more than a mere mud-blood.” Athena said without apology.

“Did that sound like ‘I’m sorry’ to anybody else?” He looked around at the others in the room.

“’Bout as close as you’re ever gonna get.” David said and wiped the corner of Calla’s mouth as the last of the Nectar went down her throat. “That’s a good gurl, sweetheart.”

Inez had been in the clinic helping Annie when Amy popped in and informed all of them that Calla had returned and David intended to let her stay the night.  Randy seemed interested in this fact and wanted to know when he could go up and see her.  Annie explained that Randy would be Calla’s physical therapist since Nick was away for the time being. In her sleep he would exercise her muscles by moving her arms and legs to keep them limber.  “Whatever.” Amy said with the toss of her head. “You’re going to have to clear that with David,” she said to Randy. “Look this is for you.” She put the small hand held device down on the desk in front of Annie. “Results and stuff from her stay with Thor.”

“Thank you,” Annie said and picked up the device which was known at the SGC as a PHR-Personal Health Recorder.  Much like the Goa-uld mind device the PHR was placed on the side of the head of the person being monitored but until like the mind device the PHR recorded every possible nuance regarding the patient; blood pressure, pulse, oxygen level, brain wave activity, electrolyte levels, white and red blood cells, level of c02 in the exhale…everything.  Annie would look at it later. She was still trying to find out what was wrong with Danny who had woken up a little while ago but he’d gone back to sleep not long after.  He woke up just long enough for her to get him to drink some ice water and to babble something that she couldn’t make out.  Annie called his name but Danny didn’t respond to his mother’s voice. “Inez is in the lab you can take her up to the house.”

“Tell your Uncle I’ll be along soon.” Randy said as he laid a hand on Annie’s weary shoulder. “I need a close look at your Mother.”

“Not too close.” Amy returned not liking the strange glare in the man’s eyes then she left Danny’s bedside to retrieve Inez and bring her back to the house.  A few moments later the nurse was taking Calla’s vitals while Morpheus readied to put her back into her deep sleep.  The nurse pronounced that Calla was fine just as Amy had done a few minutes before then Morpheus smiled as he sprinkled the Dream Dust over her head and those around her held their breath so as not to breathe it in.  She drifted off to sleep once more.

Morpheus said he would return tomorrow at the same time before he left them for the night.  Duncan and Morgan didn’t stay very long but long enough for Morgan to give her report to David as to the status of the chain they were making.  All of the jewels had finally been separated from the original adornments and the chain was well on its way toward being a reality just as Calla depicted in her painting.  They were paying very close attention to every detail as they went along and were sure that when the time came the chain would be perfect.  “Only another day or so,” Morgan promised David, “and it will be finished.”

“Let’s hope it works.” David sighed.

**

Just after one in the morning Sengul time the pathway stopped trying to open. Whoever was working it on the other side was giving up on being able to maintain it and going back to futzing and puttering and trying new ways to boost power.  None of them slept, all of them kept watching the sky above the small mountain top looking for any signs of the pathway.  The sky was quiet for the remainder of the night.  Even the animals had taken note of the strange events in the heavens above them and all night long, now and then, their heads turned toward the mountain, their ears pricked up and they listened.  It seemed no one was broadcasting or attempting to open the door. Soon the animals would turn their attention back to the doors and windows of the old church. The doors all held the scars of deep gouges from their claws.

When morning came the party of five trapped inside the church would all do their best to hurry along to the cave at the top of the mountain even though Daniel and Ares were sure Nick wouldn’t be able to make the final descent to the small plateau at the mouth of Adoy’s home.  Any other time Daniel and Ares would say that Nick would beat them all to the top with ease but now they doubted he could even reach it.  The Sengul had their own version of crutches and Daniel glommed the biggest pair he could find but they fell far short of Nick’s armpit and were more like overly long canes, a nuisance if anything.  Daniel stood looking at the set and wondering how he could gerrymander them into something useful when Jack came up from behind him.

“They don’t look so good.”

“I know.” Daniel agreed. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m good.” Jack said and held his arms out to his sides so that Daniel could inspect the wounds on his flanks.  “Not great to be sure but not horrible. Not like them.”

“Yeah.”  Nick and Ares were sweating they were pale and breathing heavily.  The few antibiotics they’d brought with them were gone and it was time for Daniel to decide which medicines he was going to give his Son and Father in-Law. “I’m not a medical doctor.” He said to no one as he picked through the bottles he’d brought back with him. Daniel grabbed bottles that he believed to be either antibiotics or painkillers but that didn’t mean he was right or that whatever was in these bottles wouldn’t do more harm than good.  Saying a little prayer he picked up one bottle then another and then brought them along with a cup of water over to Nick. “Here, take these.” The gauze, which Jack changed earlier, was soaked through with Ichor which looked rusted and pitted with pus. “I have to change your stitches.” Daniel told him. He had managed to steal a nice bit of clean suture material and proper needles but he had no local anesthetic to dull the pain. “We’ll let those kick in a little bit first.” He watched Nick swallow down the antibiotics and painkillers. 

“I guess the same goes for you,” Jack said with a grin as he held out the same items to Ares.

“I guess it doesn’t.” Ares sneered.

“Oh, yeah, I can see you’re in the pink of health.” He held back the pills and water. “What the hell am I thinking? That’s not sweat from a fever, right, no it’s a nice healthy gloss and…”

“Shut up, O’Neill!”  Ares snatched the pills away from Jack’s hand and swallowed them. He looked down at his own flanks to see they were no healthier than Nick’s. He was so thirsty he was certain he could drain a good sized mountain lake.

Daniel handed Jack a bottle of Sengul liquor that he’d grabbed on his way back from the clinic.  He didn’t know if he’d taken anything which would disinfect their wounds or not and when he saw the light in the sky he just grabbed everything within arms reach and ran.  On his way past the bar he thought it might be a good idea to duck inside and grab a few bottles of whatever was closest for sterilization purposes.  “This is gonna hurt.” He said to both of them as they uncapped the bottles. Jack poured half of the contents on Ares’ flanks, the God of War gripped the pew until his knuckles turned white and a jagged chunk of the wood gave way.  Daniel poured half of his bottle onto to Nick’s legs and Nick did his best not to pass out. 

Working quickly Jack and Daniel removed the old stitches, cleaned the wounds as thoroughly as possible pouring alcohol directly into them in a flowing river of burning fire which carried away globs of pus and disease. They re-stitched their wounds using clean sterile sutures and covered them with clean gauze.  “You two rest.” Daniel said when it was over and done with.

“We need to plan.” Ares countered.

“You need to rest.” Daniel said again. “We’ll plan and pack.” He pointed to Jack and then to himself. “Don’t worry.  First light we’re out of here so get some sleep, you need it old man.”

Old man? Any other time Ares would have taken objection to such a phrase but right now…fine let the younger ones do the packing as for the planning that was obvious for there could be but one plan; leave here by first light and arrive at the top of the mountain alive and whole by last light.  “They will try again tomorrow.”

“I know.” Daniel agreed. “Maybe sooner.”

The painkillers were good but they weren’t enough to over the torture going on inside Nick’s insulted calf.  If he went to sleep perhaps it would be better when he woke. He stretched out on the pew, closed his dark eyes and drifted off to an uneasy sleep.  Ares soon followed him. Jack, Daniel and little Adoy packed up necessary items for their trip, including all of the new medical supplies and the canned goods in the basement.  There didn’t seem to be much prepared food in Adoy’s little home they would have to bring what they would need with them. Unfortunately they were limited to what they could carry on their backs. Nick and Ares, the two bull moose, didn’t look like they were going to be lugging anything but themselves up that mountainside.  Whatever they could manage to scrounge and carry, it would have to be enough to last a few days at least. How long would they sit up there in that miniature lair waiting for rescue with the beasts so close by?

**

An hour into her return to slumber, Randy appeared in the doorway of Calla’s bedroom. Annie was still playing around with her test tubes and equipment when he told her that one of them should go up to the house and check on Calla.  Since Annie was so busy in her desperate search that he would do it.  She seemed relieved at his offer and kissed his cheek before he made his way out the door.

Wolfgar had been very dismayed upon his arrival in Altair Ain early this morning when he discovered that his Grandmother wasn’t here.  His anxiousness was soon calmed when David announced he’d be bringing her home, it abated completely when he felt her return. He didn’t Amy to run down to the clinic and tell him that Lady Calla had returned to Altair Ain, everything in him felt her presence just as he had felt the presence of Oblivion last night.  Yes, there had been a deep and meaningful shift in the ka of this world as he indulged in the talents of Annie Jackson. Oblivion was much upset at the plan the Olympians put into action.  In all of the eons he’d searched for her and lifetimes she’d lived, died and been reborn, she’d never been this close to his embrace and now, here in this last hour of fading light, they’d tried to snatch her away from him.  Wolfgar would see that she was delivered as promised but right now, standing here gazing down upon the helpless elderly woman, he knew that Oblivion would salivate and piss himself to be this close to her once more.

David looked up from the newspaper he was reading as he sat in the chair by the burning hearth. “What do you want?” He wasn’t alone, Aiden was keeping vigil for a while tonight as well and soon Brigid and Lilly would come in for the remainder of the night.

“Annie sent me up to check on her,” Randy said easily. “With Colonel Jackson gone it’s important that we keep a good eye on her muscles so I’m going to give her a few tests, don’t worry they won’t hurt and they won’t wake her.”  Without waiting for an ok he crossed the room to where Calla was sleeping and pulled the blankets away from her.  She let out an involuntary shudder as the chilly night air descended upon her.  Aiden stood up to get a closer look but David remained seated. 

In silence they watched Randy as he moved Calla’s arms up over her head, bent her elbows and felt along the length of her shoulder to fingertips.  He moved her head side to side and up and down before standing at the foot of the bed to take one chilly foot in each hand.  Randy picked up those feet and pushed forward, Calla’s knees bent and her nightgown rose to just below her hips.  Behind him Randy heard Aiden clear his throat but paid it no attention. Settling one foot gently back on the mattress he took the other in both hands and felt the length of her leg from the tip of her big toe, over the arch and ankle, up her supple calf and then ascending further until his own fingertips disappeared below the white nightgown.  On the bed the sleeping old woman let out a low sigh. With his back turned to them he allowed himself the luxury of a brief grin before repeating the maneuver on the other leg.

“You finding something interesting up there?” Aiden asked as he took a step closer.

“Just her muscles,” Randy returned.  “She hasn’t been worked since she left the SGC, has she?” Now he turned to David for an answer as he knew that was who Randy spoke to last.

“Haven’t had much time,” David explained.

“No, I guess not.” Randy said and then turned his attention back to Calla.  Truly she was the Sleeping Beauty of story and legend.  I’m here, Grandmother. Can you feel me?  Randy moved silently from her toes to her arms once more.  Do you know who I am?  Do you know what I am? Kneeling down beside her he took up her bad arm at the wrist and began to run his hands along it. I’ve had them all, each one was so sweet as they lay beneath me, begging me for my touch, my thrust, my kiss.  Each one is full with my seed soon they will ripen. When this is over, I will take Lilly for my Queen. Would you like that, Grandmother?  Bending her arm at the elbow so that it raised high in the air and then gently bringing it toward her shoulder he leaned in close. “Of course, I’ll have to kill the rest.” He whispered softly.

“What did you say?”

Randy stood up and turned around. “I hope she has a peaceful rest.” He said in an annoyed tone.  “I’m only here to help her, Aiden and this will go much easier if you just stand back and let me do that.”  Looking past Aiden he caught David’s attention. “I’ll be back in the morning and I’ll want to work with her for forty-five minutes or so,” he looked back to Aiden, “alone if possible.”

“I don’t know about alone but I’m sure you’ll get your time.” David said without getting up.

With a sigh he looked back at Calla and then to David. “Whatever you think is best.” Randy agreed and made his way toward the slightly open door, pulling it fully open he turned around as he began to close it. I’ll see you soon, Grandmother, we’ve so much to discuss and so much time to do it in.  Quietly closing the door he made his way down the hall. Just a few doors down he came to a partially open door and peered inside to see Athena, Amy, Brigid and Lilly deep in discussion about their common ex-lover. Soon he would take them away from here to some place distant and safe. A place suitable for future Kings and Queens of the Universe to be gestated and birthed, some place secret and safe.  Kiki would be there with them, he had such special plans for her after all. He would keep his exotic little harem locked away in a place where they would powerless, in a place where he could have take over and over again until they were no longer appealing to him and when their bellies bulged to bursting and their muscles clenched in spasm he would cut them open, stem to stern, setting the children within them free. Drenched in their blood and Ichor he would take their knowledge and power, he would fulfill his destiny and take his place as the True God. All would cower in fear.

Standing here eavesdropping for a few moments it seemed he’d missed the big catfight and it certainly sounded as though he missed a hell of a show. Damn. He always did love a good catfight especially when he was the cause of such commotion.  Now they were forgiving each other and banding together against him. They were vowing to find him and make him pay for his treachery.  Women, sisters most of all, were such strange creatures. One moment they were yelling, screaming and cursing each other while the next they were all weepy and hugging a moment after that they were doing what women do best; seeking revenge.  He heard several things regarding his balls and how they were going to be hung from a highest tree.  Wolfgar had to put his hand over his mouth to hold back the laugh rising inside of him.  They were going to be seeing a lot of his balls all right but they wouldn’t be hanging from any tree.

Tomorrow, it seemed, was going to present him with a golden opportunity. They were all going to Russia, even Brigid and sweet Lilly. So then tomorrow he would grab them and take them away from here. Wolfgar would even make it look like some type of catastrophic accident had occurred while they were trying to open the pathway.  They would simply disappear in a blazing ball of light and no one would even think to look for them because no one would suspect that they were still alive.   All of Altair Ain would be deep in mourning for their lost Princesses and Prince.

Aiden couldn’t leave him out of this equation.

Wolfgar still wasn’t sure what to do about the half-breed.  Death was going to be the end result to be sure but getting there was proving to be a challenge.  Moving along down the hallway he grinned a little, surely Raven and Tula would like a new play toy.  Aiden would be good for that. He was young, good looking and strong they could fuck him until he was so worn out that all he could was lay there in a ragged breathless heap.  Wolfgar would have Lilly in his bed and the Universe at his feet.

End of Chapter Fifty-Two of
Golden Years
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
Go to
Chapter Fifty-Three