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http://vergilxanon.blogspot.com/2010/10/xanon-chronicles.html

This is the 8th book of series

Azrael

Azrael

  Introduction


  I was curled up at The Akashic Castle, rereading ‘The Hero With a Thousand Faces’ by Joseph Campbell. I was on the couch in the main living room of this place in front of a fire I couldn’t feel, under a blanket that was there more as a psychological comfort tool than having any practical application for keeping me warm, being I could now not be aware of heat or cold. I was not temperature sensitive, at the moment.
  ‘Yo! Donn!’
  I closed my eyes. “Azrael! Where are you?”  
  ‘Right in front of you.’
  I looked in front of me. I could perceive nothing with mine eyen. “If you say so. What brings you here?”
  ‘Only a piece of me is here, really. After all, one of me is never enough, and I am time tripped all over the place, but I just reabsorbed your earlier writings, freshly absorbed your two latest tales, and though you are hardly the next Victor Hugo or Charles Dickens, your material was rather amusing. I’m rather curious as to what it would be like to stay with you for a bit.’
  “You’re more than welcome. Now would you like to materialise, or shall I continue to appear to talk to myself, not that I don’t talk to myself, though not quite in this fashion?”
  A man who looked to be perhaps in his mid twenties appeared before me. He was a little taller than me. He looked to be about Warren’s height, which was five foot ten. He had slightly longer than collar length, blue-black hair in a feather cut, wide raven eyes under medium thin, sculptured looking eyebrows, an olive complexion, a respectable aquiline nose that fit him well, medium lips of a rather sensuous formation, a thin mustache that was split under his septum, and a thin vertical stripe down the middle of his chin. Definitely male, but more beautiful, than handsome! It was the same façade he wore when he came to my riding exhibitions. He wore a long white robe, and cross garter sandals. My own standard uniform of the past, when I acted as Gate Keeper!
  “Better?” he asked me.
  “Much,” I said.
  “This is quite an impressive place. You’re happy in your retirement, I see.”
  “Very much so. In fact, I’ve never been happier. Of course now that you’re here, you must agree to be painted.”
  “Par for the course, huh?” he asked.
  “If you continue to look like that, it is.”
  “It's as I was made to be, but I'd be more than happy to sit for you. Honoured, even.”
  “I'm fine with painting you as you are, but are you staying in your work clothes for now?”
  “What do you suggest? Late twentieth, early twenty first century casual?”
  I shrugged. “Whatever.”
  “You’re back in your black tunic, I see.”
  “And Stefan is generally in his black silk shirt with neck scarf or white silk shirt with cravat, knickers and boots, though at least he’s not in his cloak and gloves, as much.”
  Azrael changed his clothes to jeans, running shoes, and a flannel work shirt. “Better?”
  I smiled. “Thanatos meets Warren in a blender.”
  He sat down at the other end of the couch. “And you and Stefan never change your look.”
  “I was more a leine wearer in ‘The Second Time Around’, but now? It happens, but not too often. It works for us. Why bother?” 
  Azrael faced me. “As this group grows, I wonder how in the past you managed to exist without each other.”
  “Sometimes, I wonder that myself. What if you decide you don’t want to leave us?!”
  “Then I stay. Some of me, anyway! I’m both post and pre-Ahau Kankin, as you say.”
  “Will you ever retire?” 
  “Oh, eventually. I enjoy what I do.” He materialised an obsidian Omega pendant. “Can you give this to your newest arrival for me, please?”
  “Warren? Sure.”
  “And show him what he would have faced, if he’d stayed alive.”
  I scowled. “I thought that was settled.”
  Azrael smiled. “Almost. Warren also has a couple of other issues to deal with, and so does Deliah, in fact.”
  I tilted my head. "Really?!"
  "With both of them, all it really entails is relating properly to the rest of you in their own eyes, but of course you know what that can include."
  Yes, I did. It was also something that could be settled without Azrael's help. If I didn’t see that Azrael had an ulterior motive, I would have been as blind as an earthworm. "I suppose I do, and I hope I won't be directly involved."
  He winked at me. "Nothing you can't handle."
  I wasn't sure I liked that answer. "Do what I have to do to get to where I'm going, huh?"
  "You should have said to get to where 'WE' are going, but trust me. It's nothing terribly objectionable."
  I closed my eyes, smiled, and nodded my head. "Shouldn't you be having this conversation with Thanatos?"
  "No need for that. He's totally where it's at."
  So I guess I wasn't. I looked at him. "Hey, angel. You've got a direct connexion to Chaos, right?"
  "That's not what I call It, but I sure do."
  "What is it you know that you're not telling me, and why?"
  "Let's just say that two of you are glitching something major, and I want to make sure that all is ironed out for everything to move as it's supposed to move so that everything will end up in the way it's supposed to."
  "How can anything end up any other way?"
  "It can't. That's why I'm here."
  I chuckled. "That makes sense. Anyway, I'm glad to have you here. Tickled pink, even."
  "Thanks. I love you too."
  "If I still drank tea, I'd raise my cup to you."
  "You can, you know. In fact, in the far future it would be conducive for you to reacquire the habit. Same with eating."
  "Why on Earth would we do that?"
  "You'll find out before you finish writing your last novella."
  I scowled. I figured that by now any sort of dietary intake was an unnecessary distraction, not to mention that my stomach churned a little just thinking about it. "That is such a strange statement, I don't know what to make of it."
  A cup of tea did appear in Azrael's hand, and he raised it to me. "All I can say is to expect the unexpected, and I can tell you no more so that you won't sabotage the best of your existence." He had a sip of that tea.
  I materialised my own cup of tea, and just raised it to him for the sake of ritual. I couldn't get myself to sample what was in the cup, and put it on the coffee table after I made my move. "What and when will be my last novella?"
  "The one you're going to start planning as soon as I leave this room."
  "I don't know if I like the sound of that."
  "Who says it's the end of your writing? Maybe it'll be time for you to start on a new literary project in a different vein, huh?" Azrael had another sip of tea.
 
 "I can't imagine what that could be."
  "It'll come to you. Now, let's you and me walk these halls and let me see all of your paintings in person."
  "I'd love to give you another tour. It's been forever, and we have so much new stuff," I said.
  "Then I want to see Warren."
  "All right."
  "Ever miss being a Gate Keeper?"
  I shrugged. "A little, on and off. I think about it every now and then." 
 We reviewed the paintings, hand in hand. There were thousands. I was also curious about what Azrael saw was in store for me, though I knew better than to ask. Whatever it was, he did imply it wasn't bad.
  And no, I’m not going to the Akashic Library to find out.
 
 
 
 



































  Chapter 1


  We found Warren in the music studio. His guitar was on the stand, and he was hovering over the keyboard synthesiser with a piece of paper and pen on it, testing out a tune one key at a time. He noted Azrae and l coming in, and he turned to us. Without saying anything, I just put the pendant around his neck. He hadn’t ever worn any decorative jewelry in the past, but he’d tolerate this. He knew who it was from.
  He smiled. “Thanks.” He looked at our newcomer. “Azrael?!”
  “Hm hm. Hi there.”
  “Hello. Nice to really meet you in person! I’ve read a lot about you. None of it true, no doubt,” said Warren. They shook hands. Warren had only met him briefly during a couple of my exhibition rides. During Azrael's past visits to Tech Duinn, he seemed preoccupied, so Warren had left him alone.
  “Very little of it,” said Azrael. “Like I’m actually writing names in a book and erasing them all day? What an existence, huh?”
  Both Warren and I chuckled. “Insane concept and waste of an existence if it could so be,” I said.
  Azrael pointed at Warren. “You haven’t been taken to the Akashic Library yet.”
  “I haven’t seen a reason to go. I also don’t care about what’s in store for me anymore, so why bother? I read it can be a traumatising experience.”
  Azrael tilted his head. “You’re curious about one thing. It’s not a pressing issue, but it’s there, and you’ve blocked it from the others.”
  “Then maybe he should resolve it in his own time,” I suggested.
  “No, I think it’s better to get everything out of the way now,” said Azrael. "Anyway, it deals with the past, not the future."
  Warren scowled. “This is about the curiosity I feel about if I’d lived, right?”
  “Indeed. As for your next question, you can’t block anything from me. I’m a different class of entity than the others here. I’m a direct created tool of The Source, not that this makes me any better or worse. Just different.”
  Warren crossed his arms. “I will never get used to you people telling me, ‘as for your next question’, and then answering it.”
  “Wait until you spend more times on the higher planes. Also, you should get over your aversion to being more receptive of everyone. If there’s something that they don’t want you to know, it will be blocked from you. It would make for a better relationship. What is considered impolite on Earth, isn’t necessarily so.
  “I know, there have been some things you’ve been too embarrassed to ask for, but they’ve been automatically given to you, because your thoughts were known. Do you see my point?” asked Azrael.
  “I’ll work on it,” said Warren. “I admit I haven’t adjusted all the way to how things are around here. I have twenty one years of mental programming to overcome.”
  “Understood,” said Azrael. He extended a hand to both Warren and I. “Now there is something I think Warren should resolve with himself as quickly as possible. Shall we go to The Akashic Library now, and then we can come back here right after? I myself would like to see the creative process of your new song, Warren.”
  “All right,” said Warren. 
  I looked at Azrael. “Did you just come here to tell everybody what’s wrong with them?”
  Azrael shrugged. “Sure. You and me also know that I know something that you don’t know and I’ve got to get the ball a’rollin’ to bring what is to be to fruition, huh?”
  “And you can't give us the remotest hint?!,” I asked.
  “Nope. Can’t risk interfering with anyone’s free will in gently guiding them to make the right decision, can I? Not outright, anyway.” 
  “But you can be tersely impolite and outright manipulative in doing so?!” I asked.
  Azrael smiled. “I can make suggestions that you can either heed or ignore.”
  Warren had to laugh. “Then let’s go and let me verify the allegedly hideous future that I missed on Earth.
  Both Warren and I took one of Azrael’s hands, and he transferred us to the library.

  *****

  Warren looked like he was in a state of shock. I was behind him, and had my hands on his shoulders. “Thanatos told me about my death, but...” Warren trailed off.
  “It didn’t really sink in. I know. That’s why I wanted you to see it, and never mind about the times you almost did yourself in via alcohol poisoning, huh?” asked Azrael.
  “How long would it have taken me to die?” asked Warren. He ignored Azrael’s snide comment on one of his Earthly vices that did lead him pretty close to death a few times.
  “About half a day. Having a bombed out wall fall on you isn’t the most effective way to go for a fast, painless death,” said Azrael.
  “How could anyone destroy such a beautiful city as Darlington?” asked Warren.
  “The same way every other beautiful city or nation of the past was destroyed. It doesn’t matter to the opposition,” said Azrael. "Remember Dresden and Carthage, as if your room mates will let you forget?"
  Warren leaned into me. “Donn, you have no idea how grateful I am.”
  I rested my head against his shoulder. “Yes I am. Now shall we go back, and you let us watch you finish up your latest song?”
  “No. I can’t, now.”
  I stepped back from Warren. “Off to the room dedicated to Denmark, and you want a cider.”
  “Please?”
  We transferred.

  *****

  Warren had a hot mulled cider this time, in a glass stein with cinnamon stick. He looked at Azrael. “You wanted me to make sure I didn’t have one last bit of doubt or question, I assume.” We all sat in different chairs.
  “Basically. It’s better that way, and you had to actually see and feel it for it to sink in. I also like your guitar work. I checked it out in The Library.”
  “Thanks,” said Warren. “Are you an artist?”
  Azrael crossed his left ankle over his right knee. “I can be. I haven’t been so inclined. Passion generally drives art. I’m devoid of that, so I’m not likely to start anything under my own initiative. I haven’t even written Stefan as Kyle back, from the stuff she wrote me when she was alive.”
  Warren said, “Stefan. Ye gods, as you say. I have never met anyone who is so hard to refer to.”
  “Try, ‘it’,” said Azrael.
  “That’s going to take a bit more reconditioning than I’ve got at the moment,” said Warren.
  “Stef loves being referred to as ‘it’, though I rarely humour that penchant, myself,” I said. “Especially now. I mean, there’s no further cause for it to switch gender.”
  “He did it for me for a moment, because I was curious as to what ‘Stephanie’ looked like,” said Warren. “There’s nothing further to say other than you’re lucky to have someone as devoted as that in your existence, Donn.”
  “I’ve got two,” I corrected.
  “Mustn’t forget dear Thanatos,” said Azrael. “I’m not sure even Stefan would have made the sacrifice Thanatos made for Donn.”
  “The walking into the fire to be with me? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” I said. “Still, in our former Earth life, when Stef was Daphne, and I was Adrien, Daphne got herself viciously slain going after me. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again! They’re about equal.”
  “That was so sad,” said Warren.
  “I generally don’t dwell on it. It’s over. Like I care about it now?” I asked.
  “No, you don’t. You think more about other peoples tragedies, like Hadrian’s and Roxane’s.” said Azrael.
  I scowled at him. “Another wise-ass comes to the already severely inundated with such, homestead.”
  “Oh, yes,” said Azrael. “Only there’s a reason for me being a wise-ass. I’m not just obnoxious to get a laugh.”
  “No, you make us face ourselves, though you’ll probably still get a laugh. I’m glad you’re here, dude,” I said.
  “Thank you. And by the way, my being here will not help you get over your attachment to things you feel you shouldn’t be attached to any faster. However, this is a good thing,” said Azrael.
  “Oh?” I inquired.
  “Not with Warren, Ronin, Del, and Tonya here. They’re not ready to move beyond this locale. In fact, you really lucked out that Warren managed to adapt as he did. Most ‘mortals’ would spiral down into a state of complete decay, being brought to a place like this.”
  “Warren was a channel,” I said.
  “Barely getting started, but true.” Azrael looked at Warren. “Glad you’re here. You’re a rare one.”
  “Thanks,” said Warren.
  Azrael closed his eyes. “Shall we now go to Thanatos and Stefan, so I can hear more dubious comments on my nose from Red Tail?”
  “It’s not that big,” said Warren. “Respectable, though.”
  “Can we please change the subject for now,” I requested. “I fear Azrael’s nose may be all we’ll hearing about, after we meet Stefan.”
 Thank the gods, I was wrong.

  *****

  Stefan and Thanatos were found on Tir na nOg, and we went to them. We arrived just in time to watch Thanatos smash a pre-shot dart with the one he just fired from his crossbow. “Just aim a little higher to compensate for the distance, Stef. At lease you’ve got the vertical alignment right.”
  “Easy, with the scope and no wind,” said Stefan.
  “Target practise, huh?” I asked, as me, Warren and Azrael landed beside them.
  “Hm hm. Red Tail’s doing pretty good,” said Thanatos.
  “Yeah, right. I have yet to split an arrow or dart,” said Stefan.
  “You shoot well enough to make an effective warrior, not that you care,” said Thanatos. "You're not too bad with a compound bow, either." He acknowledged Azrael. “Nice to see you again, Azrael.” He walked over, and shook Azrael’s hand.
  “Nice to see you, as well. Stefan! You’re doing nicely, I see,” said Azrael.
  Stefan smiled, and dematerialised his crossbow. “Statistically. How’s it going?”
  “Not bad, but things can always be better.” said Azrael. 
  Warren went up to Thanatos. “That is so cool. Can I see that?” He asked, pointing at Than’s crossbow.
  “Hm hm.” He loaded a dart, and showed Warren how to fire. 
  Warren aimed, fired, and hit low. “This will take a while,” he said.
  “If you want a lesson later, I’ll be only too glad to give it to you.” Thanatos turned to Azrael. “You’re working into the new age?”
  “Not as hard. There’s not as many to deal with in the final era, though my clientele will prove to be a tad more tenacious, if you get my drift.”
  Thanatos chuckled. “Aye. That’s why they had to still remain in the Physical to begin with.” 
  “Say, what?” asked Warren.
  “Earth will exist for three Platonic Years, total. Three eras,” said Azrael. “You lived your last life at the end of the second era.” 
 Warren waved his hand between Azrael and Thanatos. “Which one of you is older?”
  “I am,” said Azrael. “Not much more powerful, though. Not anymore, anyway. Soon enough, there will be no difference between us, other than what class of being we are.”
  “What exactly is the difference between you?” asked Warren.
  “I am unchanging,” said Azrael. “I’ve always been what you see before you. Thanatos, on the other hand, did evolve from scratch. He wasn’t made omniscient, though he shall soon so become. Also powerful enough to break a few rules now and then.” He chuckled. "For the right reasons, of course." 
  Thanatos crossed his arms. “I am not going to begin to speculate on what you just said, but I evolved from scratch, huh? You make it sound like, get the flour, the eggs, the sugar, the cream, the yeast, and the anise seeds, you know?”
  “That would sound good, if I could still stand to eat,” said Stefan.
  “You might consider reacquiring a taste for the procedure,” said Azrael.
  “Why bother?” asked Stefan. “I’ve grown bored with it, among other things. It’s just so pointless. I don’t know why I didn’t give it up sooner.”
  “Old habits die hard, but it's a good way to break the ice with new acquaintances if and when you should ever come across another,” said Azrael.
  “Tell me about it,” said Warren. “Even though I know damn well I don’t need it, the last thing I want to do is give food up right now, and it really is more fun to share a meal than eat alone.
  Azrael looked at Stefan. “See?”
  Stefan shrugged. "Aye, I guess so, but still."
  "I kind of wish I was here when the tea rituals were still going on,” said Warren.
  I sighed. Do what you gotta do to get to where I'm going. "I'll think about it," I said to Warren. A small sacrifice to make him happier!
  “I hope you’re moving in,” said Stefan to Azrael.
  “A fraction of me might, provided there are no objections.”
  “Never,” I said. “And maybe you can tell us any interesting things that other parts of you may encounter, since this lot has become mighty sequestered and reclusive.”
  "Perhaps,” said Azrael. “I thank you all for your welcome. Now for the rest of you?! I’ve never met Tonya, Andre or Ronin face to face.”
  “They are wonderful,” said Thanatos. “Let’s go see them first, then go see where the inseparable Macha and Kevalyn are.”

  *****

  Thanatos and Azrael focused on the household members who weren't yet aware Azrael was here, and they just let Deliah, Sylvia, Macha and Kevalyn know that Azrael was now with us. We all met in front of our favourite fireplace. Everyone was pretty thrilled with the idea of Azrael moving in with us, and me, Stefan and Warren went our own way and crash landed in the ancient Kassite Empire. 
 Warren materialised a cup of tea, as we made ourselves comfortable. “Azrael’s rather funny, some times,” said Warren.
  “Oh, he can be,” said Stefan. “I haven’t talked too much to him in the past, but let’s say he’ll fit in quite well, here.”
  “Four psychopomps in the same household, huh?” asked Warren.
  “Well, three of us are completely retired, and I was barely one,” said Stefan.
  “You were one,” I said. “It’s just that you’re too new to have made any legends out of, but you really eased my workload later.”
  “Thanks,” said Stefan.
  "What an uber cool opportunity that was," said Warren.  
  Stefan looked at Warren, and caught his eye. Suddenly they both pointed at each, other, and both said, “Damn, I still wish I could have traded places with you,” concurrently.
  I had to laugh. “You two! I swear!”
  Stefan stepped over to me, and embraced me. “Not really. I wouldn’t trade one second of our time together.”
  I kissed him on the nose. “Neither would I.”
  “Sounds like I did get the short end of the stick, here,” said Warren.
  Stefan and I stepped away from each other. “Are you sure? Do you have any idea what Kyle/Stephanie/Stefan had to go through? All the loneliness, pain, and desperation?! All the sacrifices she/he/it made for me? The garbage that almost caused Kyle to destroy herself in the first place, just before our initial, fateful meeting?” I asked.
  “Donn!” exclaimed Warren.
  “Yes?”
  “You and Stef have never done a complete merger with me. Do you think I’m ready to know all this that you said about Stef/Kyle/whatever? Am I ready for a complete mind share?”
  “You tell me. Can you bear the intensity and the power of what we are?”
  “What’s the worst that can happen?”
  I scowled. “You might feel a very strong void after you separate. Not necessarily, but you might feel like Kyle or should I say Zanna, after she finally came around to falling for me, then finding out she couldn't stay with me right after the Southern Pacific incident."  
  “Can you repair or mitigate,” asked Warren.
  “Yes. First think of what it might be necessary to do, in order to accomplish this,” I said.
  “You’d just take my mind over, I assume?”
  “And when we become ourselves again?” I asked. “What then? Can you deal with it on your own?”
  “Maybe,” said Warren, “but maybe not.”
  “How about a trip to the Lethe my way, in analogy; if he can’t?” asked Stefan.
  Warren was stunned. "You'd do that for me?"
  "Yes," said Stefan.
  "ME? You love ME that much?"
  "Warren, I'll do it! Yes, I love you that much."
  “Maybe I should wait…or can one of you...Stef...Stephanie...uh...no! I’ll wait.”
  “Why?” I asked.
  “I don’t know if I can...this is so embarrassing. Sylvia! Deliah! Can one of them…you know...”
  “Beckon them,” I said.
  Warren first hesitated, and then shook his head. “No! I can’t. This is too...personal. I’ll wait.”
  I walked over to him, and put my hand on his shoulder. “Think you’ll ever be ready, before the curiosity drives you insane?”
  Warren put his hand on mine. “Donn! You’re giving me conflicting messages.”
  “Sort yourself out,” I said.
  He embraced me with one arm, held his other hand out to Stefan, and closed his eyes. “Stefan...Stephanie. Help me, after. Please. Stay with me.”
  Stefan came over to us. He embraced both of us. “I will.”
  I transferred us to low Astral, and we unified completely.

  *****

  Red Tail landed in the feminine, when we came back to The Akashic Castle. Stephanie was wrapped around Warren. Warren looked on the verge of tears. He didn’t vocalise his thoughts. ‘I can’t believe what I’m a part of,’ he conveyed. 'I can't believe you let me in. I never knew that feelings could be so powerful, or that relationships could be so touching, or...' he trailed off.
 Stephanie pressed herself against him. “That you could be a part of it? You’ll get used to it,” she said.
  I stepped behind Stef, moved the long, two layer tail of her shag out of the way, and kissed her on the back of the neck. “Take care of him. Go to Tech Duinn, both of you go full sensation and take him to the edge of the Lethe, as you said, in any way you can Stef. You've both got issues with each other, and there's only one way to resolve them.”
  “You ready, Warren?” asked Stephanie.
  ‘Yes.’
  They transferred.

  *****

  Stephanie landed them on the couch of the main living room. The still perpetually burning fire was roaring, there were several blankets on the couch, including an electric that was hooked up to a generator. Stef materialised Warren a cup of tea first, then decided to materialise one for her self. Maybe she could even get it down. She sat beside him, having an arm around him, as he worked on his creamed black lichee. “How can anything rip you up so bad, that feels so good?” asked Warren, as he stared into the fire. He was almost unaware of Stephanie’s touch, considering he was so fixated on his memories.
  “You’ve never experienced anything like the emotional intensity of our relationship.”
  “It’s so strange. Yeah, it’s intense, but at the same time, it’s so calm.”
  Stephanie caressed Warren’s hair. “The element of detachment.”
  He had a sip of his tea. “What’s going to happen between us?”
  “You are going to forfeit your mind to me, and I am going to regress you to a time when nothing mattered, and make you as comfortable as possible in the process, both physically and psychologically.”
  Warren leaned into Stephanie, as he held his teacup with both hands. “You never let me know how strongly you felt for me until that merger. The love?”
  “I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
  “You were probably right.” He finished the now cooler tea, and dematerialised the cup.
  Stephanie had a small sip of her tea, managed to swallow, put the cup down, and faced Warren. She put a hand on his chest. “I’m picking something up from you.”
  He smiled, closed his eyes, and rested his head on her shoulder. “I can't help it. You're so pretty, and now that I know how much you love me? There's so much I missed with you and the rest. Is it all right to want you and what I read about with the long intro of the oilings and all? If you don't think Sylvia or Del would mind?”
  Stephanie undid his top button. “They won't care. It's fine. I never let you know, but I want you too. Just once, for both our sakes! Sandalwood oil to start, right?”
  “That subtle scent that Thanatos wears? Yeah, I like that a lot. Will I be able to perceive it fully over your Drakkar scent?”
  “Aren’t you used to that, yet?” Stef finished unbuttoning his shirt.
  “I'm not sure I can get used to it, but it's OK. I like that, too,” he said, as he got out of his shirt.
  Stephanie got off the couch. “Lay down.”
  He did. “Thanks.”
  Stef materialised a vial of sandalwood oil, and poured it over his back. She applied the oil in as sensual a manner as possible. “As if I’m not enjoying having such a fox under me.”
  “I think my face is too long.”
  “It looks fine.”
  “If you say so. I’ll do this to you, later?”
  “Sure,” said Stephanie. "Some other time, maybe. This meeting is for you."
  "I don't know what to say, but thanks."
  "No problem." Stephanie worked on him in silence, for a while. Then she said, “You can sit up, now.”
  He did, and when he looked at her, the longing he felt was obvious.
  Stephanie leaned into the couch, and pulled him toward herself. “Let go of yourself.”
  “Stef, after what you just did to me, you really think I just want to drift away?”
  Stephanie smiled. She traced his bare chest, then ran her hand down him, to below his beltline. “Shall we?”
  “I'd like to, and I don’t have to feel guilty?!”
  “Not at all.” Stef dematerialised both her clothing, and his. She straddled him, and wrapped them both up in a blanket. “Gentle, easy.”
  He looked to the ceiling. “Stef! Ye gods!” That initial connexion felt wonderful. They wouldn't move after that. Warren wasn't in position to, and Stephanie just held him. She repeatedly contracted on him. It took a while, but eventually Warren went over, taking Stephanie with him in their empathic-telepathic union.
  Stef ran her fingers through his hair, and gently held his head to her self. “Let yourself go now. Don't think of anything. I'm going to take you over."
  He held onto her, like his life depended on it. "With us like this? Is this OK?"
  "I've never done it like this, but we can see if it works."
  Warren closed his eyes, and smiled.
  The takeover of Warren's mind took place. It was so different from anything that had taken place with Sylvia and Deliah. Stef’s motivation for their intimacy was also so far removed from what Sylvia’s and Deliah’s had been. The way it was done was purely for the direct sake of himself, from Stef's perspective, not that Stef considered it a sacrifice. He also knew he would never have Stephanie like this, ever again. It would be the first, and last time. There would be no point to repeating any of this.
 She took him to where nothing mattered to him in a way she had never done with anyone else.
  They both passed out on the couch in the process.
  The stifled, nagging longing each had for each other from the beginning, was now sated.
 
 
 
 


  Chapter 2


  Stef woke up first. ‘It’ took its masculine gender back, redressed, and made sure Warren was completely covered up, and warm.
  Should he let Warren sleep, or should he materialise a cup of fragrant China black with peach and mango flavours, and hold it under his nose?  
  It was nice to have Warren more fully integrated, and also have him know to a greater degree how much his presence was appreciated.
  Oh, Hell. Wake him up. Stefan materialised that cup of that black fruit tea with cream, and held it by Warren’s face, as Stef stroked his hair.
  Warren woke up with a smile. “Hi Stef. Stefan?”
  “Yup. Hiya. Feeling OK?”
  Warren sat up, materialised some clothing onto him self, but kept the blanket over his lap. “You know, I can’t honestly say if I’ve ever felt better. More at peace! More accepting of myself.” He took the teacup.
  “Sometimes an outside perspective helps, huh?” Stefan materialised himself another cup of tea, and actually managed to get a couple of sips down. This wasn't as hard to re-acclimate himself to as he thought it might be.
  “Apparently. I can't believe you feel for me like you do, but thanks. I've never even conceived that kind of love could exist. Also, thanks for the little addition that wasn’t supposed to be a part of the procedure. That was one of the weirdest, most beautiful things that was ever done to me.” He blew on the tea, and had a small sip.
  Stefan laughed. “One day, you’ve got to share Thanatos' way with him. He’s a way better man than I, and I’m certain an interlude with him would leave what we did in the dust.”
  Warren looked at Stefan, and raised his left eyebrow. “I’m not sure I really wanted to hear that, but I’ll take your word for it. And thanks for having some tea with me.”
  “No problem, but dude! Thanatos wouldn’t have to touch you to take you to where I took you.”
  “Ah, yes. Maybe later, I’ll ask.”
  “You probably won’t have to ask. He’ll know.”
  “Convenient,” said Warren, after he had another sip of tea. “After this cup of tea...uh...and a cider, want to go to the studio and see if we can come up with anything?”
  “Sure. I sense you have something in mind already.”
  "Sure do."

  *****

  I sat between Deliah and Sylvia in the room devoted it ancient Israel. “I’m glad Warren didn’t beckon me,” said Sylvia. “I wasn’t part of the merger, so how can I be effective in helping him fix the mental state it induced?”
  “It was better that Red Tail did it to get them closer, anyway. That weird attraction they have for each other, and all? They also really have complimentary musical styles, and Warren likes Stef’s lyrics,” I said. “This should persuade them to hang out together more often.”
  “If Stefan can stand being apart from you and Thanatos,” said Deliah.
  “Oh, I think one or both of us can arrange to be with those two much of the time. Granted, Warren might get a little fed up if we get too snoggy too often, but hey. Maybe not,” I said.
  Deliah scowled. “Damn! I get fed up, sometimes. After all, I’m in the room, and you and Stefan are paying more attention to each other than to me always, you damn fruits.”
  I had to laugh. “Will you ever stop calling us that? You've got to remember what we all started out at in our initial meeting.”
  Deliah smiled. “Yeah, I know. You guys are forever. I just can’t let a good set-up slide.”
  “Isn’t that the truth?” I said. I closed my eyes. “And as for me and Thanatos, that was technically platonic until Macha messed with us, not that my former innate taste are relevant anymore. By the way, Stef and Warren are both in the music studio. Feel like listening to a jam session?”
  “Love to,” said Sylvia.
  I took Deliah’s hand, and extended my other to Sylvia. “Let’s transfer.”
  Sylvia took my hand. “Yes, lets.”
  The three of us transferred to outside the studio, and walked in as delicately as possible, so as to cause as little disruption as we could.

  *****

  Ronin, Tonya, Andre and Azrael were lounged about in the room dedicated to Byzantium.
  “It’s been said many times before, and I’ll say it again. This is a student’s dream,” said Ronin. “All available information, unfiltered, and as it is, happened, or will happen, and the reasons behind it with no falsifications.”
  “I’m eternally grateful everyone welcomed me,” said Andre. “I never dreamed I’d have Tonya back with me when I first came here.” 
 “Too bad life couldn’t have been like this,” said Ronin.
  Azrael shrugged. “Not everyone is like this group. Not everyone cares about knowledge, or giving each other space, or appreciating each other’s differences, or working in a cooperative setting, or building each other up instead of tearing each other down. Also, do you have any idea how rare your feelings for each other are, on Earth? The love you all were capable of, even when you were all alive?”
  “I guess so. You really had to analyse the psychology of others not to hate them, though. To be black in the United States wasn’t easy,” said Tonya. "I'm glad I found Andre. He helped keep me mellow."
  “I think it was harder to be black in Japan, not that I’ve ever been there,” said Ronin.
  “Woe to the illusion of separateness,” said Azrael. He chuckled. “Stefan was one of the worst, there. In fact, he still occasionally writes obnoxious poetry about dissing life and everyone in it, and how no mortal lover could compare to his dear Donn and Thanatos.”
  “Stef is quite steadfast, I’d say,” said Andre.
  “Yeah,” said Azrael. “Very much so, outside ‘Stephanie’ having had ‘her’ way with Warren just now, but there was a reason for that.” He gave an enigmatic smile.
  As if everyone just had to know that.
  Ronin laughed pretty hard, not that the other two didn’t react with amusement. “No doubt.”

  *****

  Warren was on guitar, and Stefan on keyboard, though Stef also had a bass strapped to himself.
  They were working on a piece than sounded Elizabethan, which Warren had come up with. It was absolutely gorgeous, and Stefan stepped back from the keyboard to switch to bass at set intervals. He could have changed the synthesiser setting, but he didn’t. The synthesiser was set on harpsichord, and those two really worked well together.
  After the song was done, they unstrapped their instruments, walked over to each other, interlocked each other’s wrists with their hands, and put their foreheads together. “That was great,” said Stefan.
  “We’ll record the next set,” said Warren, before acknowledging the rest of us. They stepped back from each other.
  “Hi guys,” said Stefan to us.
  Me, Del and Sylvia waved, and said our hellos. “Awesome work, you guys,” said Del. “Sounds Stefanesque.” 
 “It's not,” said Stefan. “The lead lines are all Warren's. After this, we work on a quote ‘modern progressive’ unquote piece.” 
 “Hanging around here, it’s hard to stay focused on a single style of music, and thanks for the compliment, Sylvia,” said Warren.
  "Hey! It's all good," said Sylvia.
  “Tell me about it,” I said. I was glad to see the two who initially did so much to avoid each other, despite having a mutual fascination for each other, finally have every last barrier between them broken down.
  “You guys want to add something to it after we get our tracks down?” asked Warren.
  “We might,” I said.
  “Sounds like I could work with it too, unless you’re fixated on an instrumental piece,” said Sylvia.
  “If you want to add lyrics, feel free,” said Stefan.
  “I think I will. It’s a very inspirational tune,” said Sylvia. “I’m glad we dropped by.”
  “So am I,” said Stefan. “Warren, shall we record, then we can get out of here?”
  “Sure. Can we go to the Tech Duinn garden after?”
  “Yup!” I said. It had its advantages to the holographic garden at this castle.
  The recording session was flawless.

  *****

  Macha and Kevalyn walked into the studio. Kevalyn picked up the new CD left on the recorder. “What have we here?”
  “I haven’t a clue, but there’s one way to find out,” said Macha.
  Kevalyn chuckled as she loaded the CD into the player. “Oh, yeah.”
  When it played, Macha and Kev looked at each other.
  There would be another, more complex version of the song on another CD before those two would leave the studio.

  *****
 
 After we landed in the garden, I ended up making various modifications to the gazebos and seating arrangements to accommodate more people in case we should ever meet here all at once. I struggled not to laugh, when Warren told Stefan, “You know, dude. I don’t know what to see you as.”
  Stefan shrugged. “Like you ever did?”
  “You have a point.”
  “I've said it before, and I'll say it again. 'It’s' ahead of 'its' time, on the evolutionary scale,” I said.
  “That, or as confused as Hell,” said Deliah.  
  “Oh, 'it’s' not confused,” I said. “Stefan knows exactly what 'it' wants. 'It' just never agreed with your agenda.”
  Stefan said, “Does this mean you guys are finally going to refer to me to the neuter state I so long for?”
  “Probably only for this conversation,” I said.
  Warren looked at Stefan, and shook his head. “There are some things about existing like this, that I am really having a hard time adjusting to.”
  Stefan scowled. “Shhhhh.”
  Sylvia gave Stefan a condescending look. “As if the whole household doesn’t know you screwed him, among other things.”
  “Damn telepaths,” said Stefan.
  Sylvia chuckled. “Well, considering for how long you two barely talked to each other at first, yet would always look at each other walk away with unspoken yearnings for closeness, and now that you’re snoggin’ buds, you know?” Sylvia couldn’t leave it alone. “So, Warren. Was he any good for you?”
  “SHE! That wasn’t the issue. Getting me to the point where nothing in my life mattered, and getting me to stay in the frame of mind where nothing in my life would ever bother me again was the purpose to everything that happened.”
  Sylvia had to keep on. “Judging from the lack of answer to my question, I’d say Stefan has not improved in his old age.”
  “STEPHANIE! Sylvia, if you ever want me to...” Warren broke off.
  Stefan looked at Warren. “What are you bitching about? It’s not your feminine skills and charms that are being put through the mill.” 
  Warren laughed, and shook his head. “Ye gods, as you say. Who’s being mocked, here?”
  “Both of us,” said Stefan. “I think I’m getting the best of it, however.” 
  “Well, you were the one to put yourself in a good position for it,” said Sylvia.
  “Oh, yeah. Now do I thank you, or throw something at you?” asked Stefan.
  Warren interrupted before Sylvia could reply. “Stephanie was quite adequate for the occasion, considering she surpassed all my expectations in everything.”
  “And not wishing you were Donn or Thanatos while she had you, right?” asked Sylvia.
  “Not to my knowledge,” said Warren.
  I just couldn’t resist. “Hmph! Damn slut!”
  That got a few chuckles from all. “Oh, let’s go to the Japanese gazebo,” said Deliah. “I think we’ve been picking on these two enough.” 
 “Please,” said Warren. “A cup of green tea would be nice after we get there.”  
  “Stay in cultural focus with the environment, huh?” I asked. "I think I'll join you in that tea." I think I was actually beginning to enjoy the ritual again.
  “Thanks, and I’m finally really digging the other nationalities,” said Warren. “I’m so disgusted with how I used to be on Earth. My old prejudices?! I didn't used to like a lot of cultures. It took me until you guys adopted me, to learn to appreciate them.”
 “I was the same way when I was younger, but I had more of a problem with parts of Europe because of all the damage they'd done. The genocide spread in the New World, Australia, and Africa? I outgrew that in my late twenties.” said Stefan. “It takes time to overcome the bigotries instilled within us by the majority, and you really didn’t have very much of that. Also, you were English, not American. There was a different overt social mindset.” 
  Warren smiled. “Overt social mindset. I like that.”
  “Well, that depended on what part of the country you were in. Bay Area politics frowned on open bigotries,” said Stefan, as we got to the pagoda gazebo. "It wasn't like that in other parts of the U.S.."  
  Stefan pulled Warren and I next to himself, Deliah sat in Warrens lap, and I had to extend the bench for Sylvia to sit next to Warren. Somehow Warren still managed to hold that cup of green tea that he wanted.
  “I remember being pretty bad with the Pakis, as I’d called them,” said Warren.
  “And I didn’t want anything to do with those of my ancestral heritage for a while due to the Nazi phenomenon.” said Stefan.
  “Life is weird, huh? You learn so much that you have to unlearn? Devolve to evolve, so to speak?” asked Sylvia. 
  “Sounds so counterproductive,” said Deliah.
  “A lesson in ‘think for yourself’, is more like it,” I said.
  “Gods, it’s all so stupid,” said Stefan.  
  “Isn’t it, though?” I asked. “Forcing us to lose ourselves only to make us find ourselves again?”
  “Yeah. Go left to go right, as our own little group cliché goes. That’s what life is all about,” said Stefan.
  “Can I ask a question?” asked Warren.
  “Go,” I said.
  “If this was the time of your second book, what would be different about now?”
  “We’d all be holding a cup of tea, and perhaps some of us may be having a scone or a buttered crumpet with some sort of preserve.”
  “Very British,” said Warren.
  “Well, it’s not like all your food was blood pudding and kidney pie,” said Stefan “Some of it was actually very good.”
  Warren scowled. “I hate blood pudding and kidney pie. And before you bring it up, I’m not overly fond of the concept of haggis, either. I couldn’t get one bite down of any of it.”
  “And I never tried menudo,” said Stefan.
  “Tripe wasn’t bad,” said Sylvia.
  Stefan wrinkled his nose. “I’ve had it. I didn’t think one way or another of it. I liked chicken hearts and breaded chicken liver. Same with turkey. The gizzards tasted OK, but I cut those up into small pieces, being they were hard to chew, but organ meats weren’t my thing when I still ate red meat.”
  “I wish I’d been more aware of all the pain I caused by being a meat eater,” said Sylvia.
  “As if you didn’t have enough problems,” said Stefan. “Anyway, I never gave up chicken and some seafood all the way. Cut down, but never gave it up, so I didn’t go all the way vegetarian, and I certainly would not have gone vegan. I could never give up my cream and butter when I was alive.”
  “And there was the gelatin factor,” I said.
  “Yeah! They even put that in yoghurt, the assholes. You had to read all the labels. It was a pain, but it’s like the whole food industry was out to kill us. Titanium dioxide became a food additive, of all things,” said Stefan.
  “Are we going to get another lecture on the evil pharmaceutical companies putting profits before the interests of the people, which is what every damn corporation on Earth did, anyway?” I asked.
  “If you like, I can do that,” said Stefan.
  Deliah chuckled. “Stef, after we’ve heard it in the triple digits several times over, I think we can be spared.”
  Warren said. “I’ve only heard it in the double digits several times over, and I’d like to be spared as well.”
  “You could pet my nose, instead,” said Stefan.
  “Not when I have a cup of tea in one hand, and my other arm around the lovely Deliah,” said Warren.
  “You mean, you’d actually rather hold Deliah, than pet my nose?”
  Deliah glared at Stefan. “You’re asking for it, babe. It’s bad enough that you took Warren without him even asking you, while I had to fight tooth and nail to get you in bed for the first time.” She exaggerated more than a little bit.
  “This was different,” said Stefan.
  Deliah leaned into Warren. “Hey, lover. Can you think of a comeback?”
  Warren gave Stefan a sardonic smirk. “I’m not going to favour you over this foxy lady. Deliah’s a better lay than you, anyhow.”
  Stefan gave both Warren and Deliah a raspberry.
  Deliah looked at Warren. "If you weren't holding a cup of tea, I'd smack you for being so eloquent...WARREN!" Not really, but it seemed to be an appropriate response.

  *****

  Thanatos looked at the chessboard. “It’s going to be a draw. Shall we even bother finishing up?”
  “No,” said Azrael. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Macha trained you well.”
  “I’m mostly self taught.”
  “You’ve remade yourself as perfect as they come,” said Azrael.
  “I did have help.”
  “Your design is fascinating.”
  Thanatos smiled. “Based on one of the most beautiful lads to ever walk the Earth, and eroticised to suit the once most licentious goddess that ever existed in the eyes of said goddess. The infra-red eyes do come in handy, though.”
  “You’ve been known to put those fangs to use.”
  “That was a long time ago. I don’t see them anything but a dubious cosmetic enhancement any more.”
  “All so ironic.” said Azrael.
  “Sometimes I wonder if the Ui’Midir household is not the biggest joke in existence.”
  “You’re nothing like one would expect. That I’ll say.”
  “Shouldn’t you have said, ‘We’re nothing like one would expect?’ You are now part of the household.”
  “Oh, I suppose so, though I wasn’t here for the really fun stuff.”
  Thanatos chuckled. “Like in the old days, when Donn and Macha were always at odds, not to mention Stefan’s frustrations?”
  Azrael shook his head. “Ye gods, some of the passages in Donn’s saga. I’ll never forget the time that Stef challenged Donn to that race in the outer halls of Tech Duinn, only to turn himself into a cheetah.”
  “No one has outdone that prank to this day,” said Thanatos.
  “I don’t think I’ll even try.”
  “I’ve had ideas, but I’d rather we all remain friends, if you get my drift.” 
  “Indeed, I do,” said Azrael.
  Thanatos reached forward toward Azrael, and spread his fingers. “So strange.”
  Azrael touched his fingertips to Thanatos’. “Both of us a completely different class, but we were made to do the same thing.”
  “You knew how from the start of your creation, being a direct offshoot of The Source, but I had to learn.”
  “You have the illusion of your own identity and free will. You choose to serve The Source. I am a direct part of The Source. An aspect.”
  Thanatos said, “Aren’t Warren and Stefan going through what we seem to be going through right now?” 
  “That’s been settled.”
  Thanatos closed his eyes, and chuckled. “Oh, yes. It has indeed. Closure couldn’t get more complete.” 
  “Let’s not go there in anything remotely resembling their technique.”
  “I wasn’t planning on it.”
 
 
 

 Chapter 3 


 Warren went off with Sylvia and Deliah, and Stefan and I went our way. Stef and I went back to The Akashic Castle, while the other three stayed at Tech Duinn.
  Stefan and I went straight to the music studio, and we saw a CD on top of the one that Warren and Stefan had made. Of course we listened to it, and of course we knew what had happened.
  “Damn, this is getting better,” said Stefan. “I can’t wait until Warren hears this.”
  “I think some violin would be a good addition, too.”
  “I’m game. Let’s see if the three of us can add one more layer after my original co-writer gets back from whatever he’s up to. Would you believe he wouldn’t let go of Del to pet my nose?”
  “Stefan! You are technically aware that your nose is not the most desired object of worship in existence, are you not? This is still a game, right?”
  “Please don’t make me confess that. I’ll never be able to face myself if I actually verbalise that.” The tone of voice he used was filled with a hilarious histrionic panic.  
  I couldn’t help but laugh. “All right. I won’t make you say it. Stefan, you are a whack case. Pure and simple, you are a nutter and a half.”
  “Thanks. I try.”
  I just shook my head. “Stefan, it takes you no effort to be like that, and you know it. Now let’s get out of here and come back after we meet up with Warren. I just wanna do some sky watching for the time being.”
  “Up to the telescope?”
  I didn’t say anything. I just took off running.
  Stefan flew after me. Not literally, but he ran all out. With my head start, I got there first.
  Hey, he did it to me all the time.
 
 *****

  Speaking of towers, that’s where Del, Sylvia and Warren went after they got to Tech Duinn. They lucked out. A storm was going full blast. They were not temperature sensitive, and they decided that they didn’t want to get sopping wet either in the windowless tower, so they were kind of on the more ephemoral side.  
  It was mid afternoon. It would be a while before nightfall, but the sky was pretty dark, except for when the lightning flashed. “This is pretty cool,” said Warren. “Not quite as impressive as at home, though.” 
 There was something I forgot to mention, previously. The plateau the Akashic castle was on was pretty high. It didn’t touch the realm of the storm clouds, but it was close. Imagine being outside, and the lightning playing sixty to a hundred metres above you, with a red sky as a backdrop.  
  This happened at ground level, on the plateau. The tops of the tallest towers of the castle did touch the lowest storm clouds on occasion. It’s nice, when you’re in such a state where you can’t be injured by it.
  If The Akashic Castle were a hundred percent true to the Physical reality of the planet, it would have gotten hit all the time. We would have had more than a few repairs to do, but it wasn’t, so it was irrelevant.
  “I know what you mean,” said Sylvia. “It’s more interesting when you’re almost right in the middle of the light show.”
  “You used to sometimes do this where you could feel it?” asked Warren.
  “Wear lots of leather, and never be without a cup of tea, now that we seem to be gravitating toward the tea parties again.” said Sylvia.
  Warren looked down. “The drainage grid’s a good idea. Where does the water end up?”
  “Outside,” said Deliah. “It just goes to a passage pipe that runs to the outside of the tower, and dribbles down. Donn didn’t forget anything. This place has no structural flaws of any type, and it’s probably the best place to be in this realm.”
  “If you like art, history, gothic architecture, and knowledge,” said Sylvia. “The ultimate historical art museum, outside of The Akashic Castle.”
  “It’s pretty luxurious too,” said Deliah.
  Warren held his hands out, and both Sylvia and Deliah took one. They stepped toward him, and he let go of their hands and put his arms around them. They held him, in turn. “Do we time trip forward to night to see if the storm is still here then, or shall we just enjoy it as it is?”
  Deliah ran her hand over his rear. “We could go away to do something else for a while, and come back later.”
  Warren kissed Deliah on the temple. “Aren’t you innately supposed to be over this sort of thing?”
  “Innately, but being I am an, 'in-touch' telepath-empath, I feel what you feel. I like your mortal passions, your sweet personality, and your good looks. I have no problem resurrecting my so called old desires for you, which I must admit seem to be making a comeback with you around.”
  He kissed Sylvia on the cheek, and turned to Deliah again. “Personally, I don’t think I can compare to who’s already here, in the department of aesthetics.”
  Sylvia pressed him to herself. “Nonsense. You’re a nice change.”
  “No accounting for tastes,” said Warren.
  “I have excellent tastes,” objected Deliah. “Now, shall we go down to the whirlpool so I can sample the plate?”
  Sylvia didn’t give him time to answer. “Sample the plate? I want to clean it up to the last crumb. I know what you mean, Deliah. This man is irresistible.”
  “I’d be a fool to turn that down, wouldn’t I?” asked Warren. 
  “Statistically, yes,” said Deliah.

  *****

  Azrael and Thanatos sat across from each other on the floor. They weren’t touching. They both came back fully into themselves from a complete mental merging. Azrael opened his eyes, and smiled. “In part you’re my grandson, and looking at you is as close to looking into a mirror as I’ve ever come.”
  “I’ve never become one with an angel before. Quite an interesting experience! The one most renowned psychopomp, at that.”
  “The curiosity on what it would be like to reside with a bunch like you just got the better of me. I think I do want to stay with you on a semi-permanent basis.”
  “I'm glad to hear that. I hope this faction of you wouldn’t be inclined to depart after it’s satisfied that curiosity."
  “I’ve considered that, and you know damn well that I'm here for more reasons than just wanting to see what it's like to be with you,” said Azrael. “I’ve thought about it long, and hard. I’d have been with you sooner if I had it in me to act more impulsively. I had my first desire to become a part of this when I saw Donn’s first exhibition ride. After I absorbed the stories, I developed a pretty strong fascination with everyone involved. An unrelenting attraction even, but you are the only one who knows my primary reason for being here. I’m also rather fond of the newcomers, in addition of having a job to do.”
  “I saw that in our union. Understandable.”
  “Thanatos! Just for the Hell of it, shall we test our skills against each other?”
  “Oh, some I suppose. I have a feeling all will end up in a draw. Where shall we start?”
  “How about the miniature golf course of Tech Duinn?”
  Thanatos chuckled. “Fine. Then we can split each other’s darts with a crossbow?”
  “A compound bow takes more skill, but sure. We can do both. Then we can think of another eight or nine competitions and give it up, being you are correct in everything ending in a draw.”
  “I'm game. There's lots of things I haven't played in a while that I wouldn't mind engaging in again, for old time's sake.”

  *****

  Stefan and I just looked out the windows. A view couldn’t get more impressive by our standards.  
  Would we ever adjust to our fascination with our red to purple sky, or land of perpetual twilight? Or the multiple moons, and the second star that added a bit of light to our sky, for half the planetary rotation?
  We stood at the window, both hypnotised by the stunning scenery. We were so high over everything, and we could see for so many kilometres. We’d leaned into each other and were holding each other, both of us in total bliss. Eventually we ended up focusing more on each other, and losing touch with the scenery. We faded Astral, blended into each other, and ended up going High Causal.
  The only thing missing was Thanatos.

  *****  

  What happened in the whirlpool wasn’t quite what anyone had anticipated. Yes, all were in the water. Warren and Deliah were sideways on the seat, facing each other, and just holding hands. Warren had some questions regarding things he couldn't yet get himself to partake in, so Deliah ended up satisfying his curiosity in a vicarious fashion via a historical replay of what she’d done in the past. Sylvia sat behind Warren, just enjoying the warmth and jasmine scent of the water, having one hand of Warren’s shoulder.  
  Warren asked, “But what if you’d done this if you were another gender?”
  “That’s not going to happen. I’m fervently opposed to the concept. You can ask Stefan, Donn or Thanatos to see it they can take you on,” said Deliah.
  “You know, we don’t really have that kind of a relationship.”
  “You and Stefan were intimate just recently,” said Deliah.
  Warren scowled. “Stephanie. Not like that. There's no way we can do more than what we did. That was very strange. A guy changing his gender just to do to me what he did? It was nice, but what we did was 99 percent psychological, and I don’t want to do that again or go any further with him...uh...her, it, whatever. Neither does Stefan. His heart’s with Donn and Thanatos, but what we did broke the ice in other ways. He’s a very good working partner, and I love him, but not in the same way as I love you two. And you two don’t want him again either.”
  “For almost all the same reasons you don't want him again. He's not interested in us like that, and we don't really mesh in style. We never did. We were drawn to him like that out of curiosity, and yes he is one Hell of a good looking dude, but he's just so wrong for us in that respect.” said Sylvia.
  Warren leaned forward, and kissed Deliah on the forehead, being she was in reach. “I thought Stephanie's 'devoid of lust for her own sake' style was fine for the occasion, but it's more than that. The thing Stef and I have is so calm. At first 'it' confused the living daylights out of me, from both what I read about him/her/it/whatever, and by how he avoided me after I got here. I didn’t have a clue on how to relate to someone like that. It just seems what happened between us was necessary to resolve all the issues, and form a close, creative bond.”
  “You two do compositional masterpieces together, as if you hadn’t heard it before. That I will admit,” said Deliah. “That last piece that you wrote and Stef and the rest of us added to was a mind blower.”
  “Thanks, probably from both of us,” said Warren.
  “Now what?” asked Deliah.
  Sylvia wrapped herself around Warren. “Now, I get to hold him for a while.”
  “I might want to do more with him than just hold him after you’re done with him, under these circumstances.”
  Warren looked at both of them. “I have a better idea. Let’s go High Astral and do a complete merger so I can at least live through it.”
  “Dude! You’re not technically alive as it is,” said Deliah.
  “Well, you know what I mean. It feels better and is more meaningful, anyway,” said Warren.  
  “I suppose I can’t argue with that,” said Sylvia.
  “No, you can’t,” said Deliah.  
  They soaked for a little while longer, and then switched Planes. 

 *****

  The golf game was a tie, they split every dart and arrow that was fired on the target range, they bowled a perfect game, and then Azrael and Thanatos decided to call it quits. 
  “OK, so we’re both programmed with computerised accuracy,” said Thanatos.
  “I’m programmed. You're learned,” said Azrael.
  Thanatos chuckled. “Twice.”
  “Keith was quite a remarkable personality.”
  “What an existence that was. Especially in the early days! Gods, how shallow I was.”
  “And how you overcame it.”
  “Inspired by Donn, really. My long lost love whom I couldn’t recognise, for the circumstances. I fell for him the minute I laid eyes on him, though.”
  Azrael chuckled. “In reality, he fell for you. You had to catch him, from what I recall.”
  “I never knew I could move so fast. He sustained no injury whatsoever. I actually carried him to the couch.”
  “I would have done the same.”
  “At the time, I can almost say he brought out a maternal side in me.”
  “I know what you mean, but I wouldn’t say that around Stefan. He’ll never let you forget it,” said Azrael.
  Thanatos ran his right forefinger down Azrael’s nose. “Stef knows me well enough not to make an issue of it. Shall we go for a ride, somewhere?”
  “Sure. Elysian Fields?”
  “Let’s see if Aslan is available.”
  He was.

  *****

  When Stefan and I landed back in the castle, we decided to go look over our old paintings and drawings. Stef was actually in more than full regalia with white shirt, cravat, vest, tailed coat, cloak and gloves. We were standing in front of our ancient art from the first book, including some of ‘Kyle’s’ sketches, which we’d decided to salvage from the Akashic Records.
  “Gods,” said Stefan. “You know, I still remember those days like yesterday.”
  I chuckled. “So do I. It’s weird. In some ways we’ve changed so much, but in more, not at all.”
  Stefan put his arm around me, covering my back with his cloak. “Those years without you were a nightmare.”
  I kissed him on the temple. “Such a short time in eternity. Quit dwelling on it.”
  He smiled. “I want to write a poem.”
  “Now?”
  “It’s coming to me. I’ll tell you after I sort it out in my head.”
  “OK,” I said. “I’ll keep quiet.”
  In a few minutes, Stefan said, “I got it.”
  “Then let’s hear it.”
  “OK.

  “Did I Ever Tell You That I Hate Life?

  Thank you gods above and below,
  For inconveniencing me so!
  Can we twist those thumbscrews tighter?
  Can we bleach my eyeballs whiter?
  Can my skin, we flay any more?
  Can we please cook me, to the core?
  Can we roast me over the spit?
  Can we arrange another hit?
  Can I request an acid bath,
  Or a trek through a thorny path?!
  Might I ask to be skinned alive,
  Or my guts get thrown on a hive?
 
  Oh give me any kind of strife,
  Just don't give me another life.”
 
  I just had to laugh. “Keep it up, Stefan.”
  “Oh, I will.”
  “No doubt. You are such a crackpot.”
  He embraced me. “Now makes it worth every second of the self-imposed pain I felt, babe. You know that.”
  I hugged him back. “Oh, yeah.” At least he admitted it was self-imposed.

  *****

  “Gods, every illusory moment I'm with you, I wish I’d come to your group sooner,” said Azrael, as he rode beside Thanatos. Both were dressed simply in T-shirts, jeans, Thanatos was in his usual work boots, and Azrael wore running shoes. Both horses were un-tacked of course, following the mental instruction from their riders, as always.
  “Like, um...when we were still working?” Thanatos clicked his tongue, and winked at Azrael.
  Azrael gave Thanatos a thumbs-up signal, and chuckled. “Uh...yeah. We could have talked shop, and Stefan might have had us compare gruesome stories, or something.”
  “Donn didn’t write about it, but that’s happened. Actually, more morbidly humourous commentary from Stefan than comparisons, but you can only imagine, huh?”
  “Do I want to find out the specifics?” 
  “Dude, Stefan’s humour can make Kali cringe.”
  Azrael laughed. “OK, then I must hear it.”
  “All right. You asked for it.”
  *****

  Warren, Sylvia, and Deliah landed in Tir na nOg after they came down from the Astral. Warren was sitting under an oak tree, while Sylvia and Deliah were lying in opposite directions, each using one of Warren’s thighs as a pillow. “I’m feeling a little useless, right now,” said Warren.  
  “You can go to your music, later. We can signal everyone involved to get their tails to the studio then,” said Deliah. “Now, I just want to relax.”
  Sylvia said, “To my knowledge, still no one wears a tail.”
  “I’m surprised Stefan’s never worn one,” said Warren. “He’s crazy enough to pull something like that.”
  “Well, on those rare occasions where he’s become another species, he wears a tail,” said Deliah. “That doesn’t happen too often, though. Most of his sight gags and jokes don’t need him to shape shift.”
  Warren said, “Strange, but now that I can do it, I have no inclination to.”
 Deliah sat up, got beside Warren, and put his arm around her self. “There’s no point to it, is there?” she asked.
  Warren looked at her, and put his hand on top of her head. “I guess not.”
  Deliah pressed herself against him. "There's something different about you, since what you did with Stephanie. Something seems to have shifted."
  "I have a confession to make," he said.
  "What?" asked Deliah
  "Stef gave me something that was pretty deep, when she took me to the Lethe, so to speak. She did for me what she once promised herself she'd do for no one but Donn and Thanatos. She also did it in such a way that Donn and Thanatos never experienced. It kind of killed something in me."
  "Yeah, you didn't want to do anything in the whirlpool," said Deliah.
  "It just isn't the same to me anymore, not to say I never want to do it again. I'm just more ambivalent toward sex!" said Warren. "I don't know how to explain it, but it...uh...well...um...OK, let me put it like this. After Stef I kind of feel like standard screwing to Astral and Causal mergings is like what a trip to a burger joint is to a trip to a fancy French restaurant. Sorry, but that's the best I can come up with."
  "I have to admit it, but I know what you mean," said Sylvia. "Though I'll have to get you personally out of my system like that to want to go celibate again." 
  Deliah stroked Sylvia’s hair. “Sylvia, do studmuffins evolve faster than chicks?”
  “If you’re talking about what I think you’re talking about, I don’t think so. I just think you tend to wear them out before their time.”
  “You know I’m talking about what you think I’m talking about,” said Deliah. "I also think I like your answer."
  Warren laughed. "Del, I just have different priorities now. I'd rather stick to what's more real."
  Sylvia asked. “So you want to minimise the shallow stuff, and stick with the good stuff?”
  "Mostly, usually. Not quite all the way, just yet."
  “Now that I'm back into it, I don’t mind wasting a little time and effort on the light weight activities once in a while,” said Deliah.
  Warren looked at her. “Yeah. I like what it feels like too, but on the other hand, remember that last time when I went over you with the scented oil, and we just went Astral to Causal after? That was better than anything.”
  “I have to admit that was pretty intense,” said Deliah. “You have a point, and I guess I should work on moving back to what I was before you got here. You brought out the worst in me, babe. You also moved forward so damn fast. I have to admit I admire you quite a bit for it.”
  Warren shrugged. “I suppose it’s a case of individual priorities, finding what’s really important, and exposure to so much poetry that epitomises lustless interludes. That tends to rip my heart out more, you know?”
  Sylvia sat up, and pressed herself against Warren’s free side. “Yes, I know. I've heard you say it often enough, and I think we can cut the crap soon enough, huh?”
  Warren looked at Deliah. “Yes. Del?”
  “Fine! Provided I still get those full body massages, of course.”
  Warren kissed her on the temple. “I quit those, over Stefan’s detached nose.”
  “That’ll never happen,” said Deliah.
  “Well, neither shall my continued aesthetic appreciation of either of you two ladies.”

  *****

  Stefan and I were still in the halls of the paintings. Memories, sweet memories! Usually, anyway!
  “It’s so nice to be able to come back to this place,” said Stefan. “Sometimes I could care less about it, but I have to admit it depends on my mood. It would be so hard to leave it for good.”
  “That will happen eventually, but that’s a ways down the road,” I said. “It won’t happen until we’re good and ready.”
  “Are we shallow for still being drawn to this place?”
  “Do you think Thanatos and Azrael are shallow?” I asked.
  “No.”
  “They’re way beyond this, but they still enjoy it,” I said.
  “So that excuses us?”
  “Yes.”
  “Does anyone else here question themselves as much as me?”
  “Stefan, I don’t think Warren questions himself as much as you question yourself and your own motivations. You still have these silly insecurities and a need for redundant reassurance triggered by the dwellings on your past. It is so pointless, but you seem to get such pleasure out of doing this to yourself, and for the sake of not stifling your inspirations for writing your silly little verses like the last one you just wrote, I personally hope you never stop being the sometimes inane twit you sometimes are.”
  “Thank you. I appreciate the consideration and the in depth thought you put behind that statement.”
  I took his hand, and brought it to my lips. I kissed his fingertips. “Stef, I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
  He traced the back of his left forefinger down my left cheek. “Can I do you, for anything?”
  “You know what I think would be fun?” I asked.
  “What?”
  “You and me on a couch at Tech Duinn with a big, black sabre tooth cat between us, temperature sensitive in front of a fireplace, all three of us under a blanket, and you reading Blake aloud.”
  “I’ll see if Percy is available.”
  He was. For a while!
  Attention whore cat, of fickle nature.

  *****

  Thanatos just finished reciting a litany of 'Stefanisms' to Azrael.
  “Does a larger collection of cannibalism jokes exist anywhere in any reality?” asked Azrael.
  “I think not,” said Thanatos.
  “Perhaps they should be recorded somewhere else beside your mind.
  “They’re in the Akashic Hall Of Records,” said Thanatos. They were on a wooded path, headed for a mountainside on horseback. “I hear what sounds like a waterfall.” 
 “Hm. Yes. Shall we let the horses go when we get there? We can rest a while, then go back to the castle.” 
 Thanatos slid off Gilgamesh with no effort, as graceful as always. “Sure. It’s close. The stream is probably by the ground break up ahead.”
  Azrael dismounted Aslan. “It is.” Azrael focused on Aslan, and told the stallion he was free to go. He decided he didn’t want to. Aslan thought it might be nicer to just kick back and get coddled for a while.
  “Deliah’s companion isn’t leaving me. After we get settled, he wants some attention.”
  “No problem, I assume,” said Thanatos.
  “None, whatsoever.”
  Thanatos sent Gilgamesh the message that he too, was free to go, and he’d get a good grooming for his services later. Gil did choose to go.
  There were thirty metres to go, and yes, there was a stream in the gulch they came to. The area was heavily wooded, and you had to be almost standing by the pool to actually see the waterfall.
  Aslan lay down in a patch of fallen leaves, and Thanatos and Azrael leaned against the stallion’s opposite sides, and divided their attentions between themselves and the horse.
  Thanatos embraced Aslan’s neck, and closed his own eyes. “Everything always seems to happen at the right time.”
  “I shouldn’t have come any sooner.”
  “True. You’re too far removed from us. It would have caused problems with some of us.”
  Azrael touched Thanatos’ hand. With a chuckle, he said, “We might have had to resist the urge to run off together, too.”
  Thanatos all out lost it. After he controlled his own laughter, he said, “Ye gods, what a concept. Never would have happened, though. Donn would definitely have had to have been part of the package, and if we’d already had Stefan, so would he.”
  “Stefan would have been in Seventh Heaven. Three psychopomps?”
  “I think all four of us would still be working in the field full time, as opposed to only a piece of you.”
  Azrael tilted his head to the right. “You and me both know that's destined to change. Can you imagine the after hours talk when it does, if you pardon the technically inaccurate cliché?”
  Thanatos looked to the sky. “Aye! Go to an Irish pub and have some ale or stout, and maybe a couple of games of darts and snooker, and keep the other customers entertained with our tales on the road?”
  Azrael chuckled. “Yeah, right.”
  “Considering Stef can’t stand any kind of beer or real competition? That would have gone over like a lead balloon, as they say.”
  “Or bucket of water to put out a phosphorus fire?”
  “That’s been used in our circle.”
  “You also ought to write down all the Stefanisms he’s come up with.” 
 “Perhaps one day. I’ll go the fast route, though. I’m not going to do a Donn, and sit in front of a word processor to record this,” said Thanatos.
  “Neither would I. I must confess even I still enjoy hardcover reading, though.”
  “So, we’re a bunch of Luddites.”
  “A messy part of history, I might add.”
  “Indeed. I like doing poetry readings snuggled between Donn and Stef, or sometimes Percy claiming a side of me and resting his head on my lap,” said Thanatos.
  “I’ve never seen such a beautiful cat in my life.”
  “Thank Andre when you see him again. He started it by convincing that cute little housecat into becoming a leopard. The later changes...”
  “Being inspired by a painting. I know. I read about it, remember? I’ll also have to thank Percy for agreeing to the concept.”
  Thanatos raised his left eyebrow. “It’s not like he doesn’t get fringe benefits for that self-modification. When he’s in the room, everybody wants him next to them.” He got to his knees, and leaned over Aslan. “The most beautiful cat that could never have existed.”
  “You’re like that for the form you wear.”
 “Thank you, Donn Ui’Midir, and Macha the Red. You know something?”
  “You kind of have a desire to take on a few more cases as a Gate Keeper right now.”
  “Indeed. You being here lit my fire a little earlier than the rest of us.”
  “Just don't push it on anyone else. Let them come full circle on their own. Let’s take care of the horses first, then visit the rest of the guys before takeoff.”
  “Good idea. Let’s double up on taking care of both the horses. They really appreciate that. I can't wait to see the outfit Deliah is going to take for the job.”
  Azrael shrugged. "I think she'll just wear whatever is necessary for the occasion. After all, she dresses up for us all the time. There's no novelty left to impress the mortals with."
  "Understood."
 
 
 
 




























  Chapter 4


  When Thanatos and Azrael got back to the castle, the first individual they beckoned was Percy. In feline form, Percy stood on his hind legs, and put his front paws on Azrael’s shoulders. Azrael scratched him behind the ears. “Hey, kitten. You’re bigger than I am.”
  ‘Yet you call me ‘kitten’.’
  “Doesn’t everybody?”
  Percy gently rubbed his cheek against Azrael’s. ‘So they do.’ He got down. ‘Are you two going to spoil me for a while, or are you going to call Donn and Stef first, so I can have quadraphonic, as opposed to stereo service?’
  Thanatos kneeled beside Percy, brushed his finger down the bridge of his nose, and embraced him. “How about we save you for ourselves for a while? I haven’t seen you for a couple of planetary rotations.”
  Percy leaned into him. ‘You used to call those, ‘days’.’
  “In a land of perpetual twilight?”
  ‘I see your point.’
  Azrael got to the floor, and started petting the self-modified, former house cat. “You know, Percy? I think you’re the most ravishing panther I’ve ever seen.”
 ‘And as Donn previously wrote, on Earth quite a few would want to shoot me for that fact. Stick my head on a wall, and tell people how brave they were for killing me from fifty yards away. Or should I say forty-five point seventy-two metres or five and forty point two and seventy metres since Donn thinks in metric and Warren's arrival has him using that again full force?’
  Thanatos kissed him on the forehead. “Whatever. You really know how to spoil a beautiful moment.”
  ‘Dude! Stefan is my main servant. What do you expect?’
  Thanatos asked him, “So, is Stefan as obnoxious as he is because he learned it from you, or is it the other way around?”
  ‘I think it was parallel evolution. I follow no one’s way. I’m a Krishnamurti-type cat. Most felines are. We must also remember that Stefan/Stephanie/Kyle was never very fluent in Catonese, not that I don’t give him/her/it credit for trying. Now, can at least one of you please brush me down with a soft bristled cat brush?’
  Azrael materialised one. “Cats!”
  “Oh, yeah,” said Thanatos. “Ancient Egypt had it right, huh?”
  ‘You betcha,’ sent Percy, as Azrael started running the brush over him.

  *****

  Andre, Tonya and Ronin came out of their Akashic research, pleasantly stunned. “We knew each other in past lives. Four of them,” said Tonya.
  “The one in Bonaparte’s military was hard,” said Ronin.
  “At least we died together,” said Tonya.
  “I’m glad it’s over,” said Andre.
  “So am I,” said Ronin, as he put his arms around both of them. “Glad we’re together again under more fortuitous circumstances.”

  *****

  Stefan had finished his reading a long time ago, and we were just sitting there staring at the fire. Of course we were pressed into each other, both of us with an arm around each other. Par for the course!
  I reacted immediately, when Stefan looked at me. A tear trailed down the outer corner of his right eye. “Oh, Stef! Not again,” I said.
  He smiled, and shrugged. “Sorry. Old habits are hard to break.”
  I wiped his tear away. “Impossible to break, is more like it. How old is it?”
  “It’s new. The perspective is Kyle.”
  I kissed him on the nose. “Red Tail, you are so silly, but let’s hear it.”
  “Some of it is repeat.”
  “That’s OK.”
 
  “What, when I've transcribed your last tale?
  What, when I've writ down our last verse?
  What, when my art does end its trail?
  Is there more for me to immerse
  Myself in your service?!
 
  There's nothing I can give you,
  That you have a need or want for!
  Nothing I know, nothing I do,
  Has a use, to those I adore.
  Before the next Solstice
 
  I know I will be through with this.
  My life's mission, I'll have compiled.
  For that, I'll feel a fleeting bliss,
  But for a while! You, who've beguiled
  Me; can I apprentice
 
  Myself to you,
  Who I cannot live or die without?
 
  No title.”
 
 When I went to embrace him fully, I actually lost my balance and brought us to the floor. Both of us landed on one knee, and it was a convenient interlocked landing. “Oh gods, Stefan. I remember the doubts you had on those occasions when you thought I was leading you on. Those times hurt me more than anything.”
  “And you never let me know.”
  “I couldn’t always get through to you. Stef, why do you keep doing this to us? I almost want to cry.”
  “Does that mean it’s a good poem?”
  I looked him in the eyes. “Stefan, it ripped my heart out. Yes, it’s a good poem.”
  “And you forgive the repeat phrases?”
  “Totally. Stefan, I am going to get even with you, for this. I will one day write you a piece that you won’t recover from for year’s illusory time. Maybe two.”
  “Of course you’ll stay the whole time, to console me.”
  I thought about it for a moment. “You’re trying to get me to change my mind?”
  Stefan smiled wanly. “Hell no. If we’re going to war, I want you to suffer some collateral damage too, lover.”
  We let go of each other. I caressed his hair. “The sweetest war, that ever was.”
  Stefan closed his eyes. “Oh, yeah.”
  “Stefan.”
  “Ayuh?”
  “Wanna go Causal?”
  He opened his eyes, and caressed my cheek. “Slowly. Peacefully. One step at a time! I wanna forget what I just wrote for now.”
  “So do I.”
  “You want to do that the old way?”
  I scowled. “I can’t. I’d...you know. I can’t keep...uh...yes, but no. I want oblivion!”
  Stefan nodded. He switched gender. “Gotcha. No problem.”  
  Stephanie stood up, and pulled me off the floor. I sat beside her on the couch. To the Lethe she took me before we drifted to Astral then Causal under her direction.

  *****

  Warren, Deliah, and Sylvia finally met up with Macha and Kevalyn. “That was killer, what you did to our song,” said Warren to Macha and Kevalyn.
  “Thanks. We were hoping you'd like it,” said Kevalyn.
  “We love it. Red Tail, too! Me and Stef were wondering if anything else should be added, but it sounds so good, already,” said Warren.
  “I think it can be filed away as is,” said Deliah.
  “All right, let’s,” said Macha. “Now that we actually have five of us together, shall we work on some more recording, or shall we do something completely different?”
  “Anyone for sitting in the whirlpool and talking philosophy?” asked Deliah. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in the one outside the castle.”
  Warren looked everyone over. “Me in a whirlpool, with four of the most attractive women in existence in the water with me, and you want me to keep my mind on philosophy?”
  Deliah scowled. “Uh, you did basically kick me and Sylvia out of bed the last time.”
  Warren looked up, and closed his eyes. “We went Astral, then went Causal for something better.”
  “Like, you think we’d mind doing that with you?” asked Kevalyn.
  Warren lowered his head, and looked at Kevalyn. “OK, so let’s hit the whirlpool then. Walk?”
  “Sure. Temperature sensitive after we’re in?” said Macha.
  “Oh, yeah.”
  Warren took Sylvia's and Deliah’s hands, Kevalyn took Macha’s, and they walked the kilometre to the spa, going down two flights of stairs in the process. “I wish Stefan was here,” said Kevalyn, as they entered the tunnel. Warren let go of Deliah, because there was only room for two to go through the tunnel, without someone scraping the sides.
  “So we can hear him bitch about life?” asked Deliah.
  “I can fill in for him,” said Sylvia. “We have a lot in common. In fact with our attitudes, we might as well be the same individual.”
  “I’ve noticed,” said Warren. “I also agree, that life did suck.”
  Kevalyn said, “I’m sorry, but I had it a lot worse than you until I met Ste...I mean Kyle.”
  “So you did,” said Warren. “I was a spoiled brat compared to you, and I will again admit most of my problems were self inflicted, as were everyone else’s, as you all know.” 
  “Oh, the stupid decisions we make,” said Sylvia.
  “I didn’t make any,” said Deliah. “I had a great life, but I was also born into a filthy rich family, and was about as selfish with myself as I could be.”
  “I wish, I’d been,” said Sylvia. “I couldn’t defeat my programming, though.”
  “That wasn’t done in our time,” said Deliah.
  “So we made everyone around us, totally miserable for it,” said Sylvia.
  "I didn't," said Deliah.
  “Some of us did,” said Warren. “I generally tried to be nice.”
  “Sometimes you were too nice,” said Sylvia.  
  They got to the end of the tunnel.
  Warren was the last to dematerialise his clothing, and go into the water. He looked away, when everyone else did that. He didn’t fully trust himself to not react. Of course, he didn’t.
  He sat between Sylvia and Deliah, and materialised an iced-lemonade. “We’re always bitching about how life sucked, even though we’ve been not there in how long?” 
  “A lot longer for me than you, babe,” said Macha. “And I agree more now that life sucks, then when I was in Ireland.”
  “If Stefan were here, he’d probably suggest reincarnating to start a revolution against life,” said Sylvia.
  “Kyle said stuff like that when she was alive,” said Kevalyn with a laugh.
  “Figures,” said Sylvia.
  “Huh! He’d sooner part with his nose, than reincarnate again,” said Deliah.
  “I don’t know,” said Kevalyn. “That might be a pretty tough call for him”
  Warren finished his lemonade, and dematerialised the glass. “Let’s be glad this conversation only deals with theory. I’m glad I never have to go back again. I’m surprised I was initially resentful of being brought here prematurely.”
  “We all have our moments,” said Sylvia. “Ye gods, I’ve had enough of them myself.” She put her arm around Warren, and he put his two both around Sylvia and Deliah.  
  Deliah returned his hold. She closed her eyes. She found Stefan was definitely not available. “Northern Europeans don’t seem to like life. It seems like me, Andre, Tonya and Ronin are the only mortals who aren’t completely bitching about it.”
  “Northern and Eastern Europeans do seem to be the most miserable lot. It’s their native population that was first in not breeding enough to keep the population steady,” said Kevalyn.
  “Europe as a whole, there,” said Warren. “Of course Stefan would comment on how it’s Europe that was responsible for the destruction of the world, and how it all boils down to Rome.”
  “Oh, yeah,” said Deliah. “Even I’ve heard that thousands of times. And it’s not like Rome did my old cultures any favours. Jewish or Greek.”
  “Who needs Stefan’s physical presence after a mindshare, huh?” asked Kevalyn.
  Deliah smiled. “Something like that!” She leaned into Warren.
  He kissed Deliah on the temple. “You forgive me, for my nose not measuring up?”
  Deliah said, “You can fix that.”
  Warren looked forward, and scowled. “I don’t think so. I mean, then there wouldn’t be enough room in this tub for all six of us.”
  “That about tells it,” said Deliah.
  “Actually, I wish Stefan was here too,” said Warren.
  “I checked up on him. He’s with Donn,” said Deliah. “They’re Causal. It’s not gonna happen. Not now, anyway.” 
 “Understandable,” said Warren. He let go of both Deliah and Sylvia, who in turn, loosened their grip on him. “You know, I’m kind of losing it, here. My train of thought is a little detoured, and I think I have to resolve something within myself.”
  “Is it anything I can help you with?” asked Deliah.
  He looked at her, and took his time answering. “I don’t think so. This is something I have to deal with on my own. I really don’t want to impose myself on anyone.”
  “Is this about wanting to experience your one mortal indiscretion once more?” asked Sylvia.
  “I'm sorry, but yes. I have a question,” said Warren.
  “Yes?!” asked Macha.
  “Can I meet with a past or future version of myself?”
  “In theory, but it's not a good idea. No one I know has ever done it!” said Macha. “You still don’t know how to split yourself up in a time trip, anyway.”
  Warren pointed at Macha. “Can you teach me?”
  Macha smiled a predatory smile. “Yes, but what you want to do is really not a good idea. In fact, I've never heard of anyone doing it, and trust me! I can see right through what you’re saying, and I can eliminate the theoretical requirement for you to meet yourself.”
  Deliah looked at Warren. “I think I can help. Sort of, kind of vaguely.”
  Warren scowled. “No! I think I’ve just become absolutely mortified, and never mind. I think I’ll pass.”
  Macha stood up, and waded over to Warren. “You can't do that. You'll mess yourself and all of us up if you don't do what you have to do to resolve yourself. You think I’ll let you do that?”
  He looked up at her. “You’d be interfering with my personal sovereignty. Yes.”
  Macha crossed her arms, and smiled. She took his mind in, completely. What he was saying, and what he was wanting, was not the same. “If you say so.” Macha reached forward, and put her hands on Warren’s shoulders. They both disappeared from the pool.

  *****

  Macha took Warren to the room dedicated to France. They sat across from each other. “So, the vicarious histories you experienced are getting to you,” said Macha.
  “Macha, you embarrassed the living daylights out of me. In fact, I wish I could fade away right now. I think I’d rather just stay curious for the rest of eternity, rather than...you know...”
  “Repeat your experiment similar to what you once did as a mortal, but right this time?”
  “It’s not the same.”
  “No. It’s not. It’s also nothing to be embarrassed about. Every old timer here has had every experience imaginable, including Ronin, though it's been a while. Andre and Tonya were just too hung up on each other and each other’s memories to bother with any distractions of this sort with any of us, but they've hit all bounds with each other. It's OK.”
  “When I read Donn’s stories, it seems like no one would want to cater to me anymore, anyway. Del and Sylvia didn’t mind, and Stef.. oh gods, Stephanie was...I almost want to cry. It was so weird, but so beautiful. Stef took me exclusively for the sake of myself, I never had to move, we never let each other out of our embrace, and then...she...uh...oh man...it was like the ultimate drug. She glued me together completely. And she’s usually a guy, but I get the feeling asking for Stef in this case is a bit much, and I don’t want Deliah to try to fill in. It wouldn’t be real.”
Macha laughed. “Oh, what a way to word that. Anyway, the only reason is that Stef wouldn’t agree is that he doesn't really like to go out of his usual ménage à trois. Neither does Donn,” said Macha. "It's true that Donn, and Stefan would refuse to indulge you, and though he'd rather not, Thanatos would take care of you just to set your mind at ease."  
  Warren smiled. “I wouldn't like that. I can't see inconveniencing Thanatos any more than I already have.”
  “Thanatos doesn't see you as having inconvenienced him, but as for your connexion that you're doing your best to only imply you want, how about Ronin, and me throwing myself in the blend so you won't have any additional questions in the future?”
  “Ronin? You seem sure he wouldn’t mind.”
  Macha smiled. “I've blended with him. Japan is very enlightened in so many ways. He's not gay, but he's open-minded. Though you two don’t exactly have the closest relationship here, you two are quite fond of each other, and in case you haven’t noticed, you give us all a run for our money in the department of aesthetics, as the old cliché goes. You’re mighty easy on the eyes. Even Ronin thinks so, and that will help do his best.”
  “Will you ask him for me?”
  Macha nodded, and closed her eyes.
  Both Warren and Macha got the response of, ‘Gladly.’
  Warren would know the enrapturement of unconditional surrender for the second time in his existence, and the state of being idealised as a priceless work of art, for the first.
  The conclusion would be High Causal!
  I think I’ll leave the intricacies of what happened before that conclusion to everyone’s imagination. After all, I supplied enough implied information, right?

  *****

  Stefan and I ended up landing on the rooftop of the old flat in The White City, after we came back from a short eternity on the Causal Plane. “I’m feeling absolutely homeless, and it’s wonderful,” said Stefan.
  “We do seem to be spending a lot of time everywhere but at The Castle,” I said.
  “It’s a nice feeling, what I feel. So free! So unbound,” said Stefan.
  “I’ve thought about your state of mind. I even wrote about it in the first saga. Living like a universal tourist, or something like that! No sense of ownership of static location.”
  “Like you ever had a sense of ownership?” asked Stefan.
  “No. You seemed determined to make me own you for a while, though.”
  “You might as well. Time share, of course.”
  I chuckled. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. In that case, you own me too.”
  “I think you’ve done more for me than anyone from the first day we met.”
  “Then, there were our former lives in Sparta, not that we were together much.”
  Stefan smiled. “I guess I loved you more than I should have.”
  “Conditions were pretty un-conducive to establishing parent-child relationships in that society.”
  Stefan shrugged, “Come home with your shield or on it. Yeah, but in some ways it was a killer society before the ideal started falling apart.”
  I ran my finger down his nose. “In your eyes, babe. I like peace.”
  “The concept of peers, and equality.”
  “We recognised that in Ireland, despite the class difference,” I said. “Stef, when you were alive as Kyle, you gave me your everything. There was all your poetry, your drawings, your thoughts, your always wanting to drive me to rapture, and all that. You even neutered yourself on Tech Duinn so that you and me could exist without unwanted tension. Gods, for the millionth time; I wish I’d paid more attention to you.”
  “You didn’t know any better. I also had to establish a greater detachment toward you in the proper respect, which I did. Everything turned out just fine.”
  I put my forehead against his, and then we embraced. “I know. As usual, I guess everything was as it was meant to be.”
  “And the second time around at Tech Duinn was a bit more of a party.”
  We separated, and I ruffled his hair. “Little bit.”
  ‘Can we come by?’ came a third party question.
  “Thanatos?” I asked.
  ‘And Azrael,’ came another thought.
  “Please,” I said.
  Thanatos and Azrael materialised before us. “Sorry we haven’t been around, but we’ve been getting to know each other and comparing notes,” said Thanatos.
  “Nice to see you again, Azrael,” said Stefan. “You too, Great White. We’ve missed you.”
  Thanatos blew Stefan a kiss. “Missed you, too.” He and Azrael sat down across from us. “How goes it?”
  “Pretty good,” said Stefan. “Got a new tune started with Warren, Kev and Macha; enjoying the scenery of what is, and all that. And you?” He was looking at Azrael. 
 “You guys inspired me to try some of your wacky adventures. I found a part of me had to ride my own comet, float between my own colliding stars, and such.”
  “And of course, the volcano incident,” said Stefan.
  “Rather boring, compared to some of the other things you’ve done,” said Azrael. “Did anyone ever tell you guys that you are absolutely insane?” 
  “So you had to follow our example,” said Thanatos.
  “Definitely,” said Azrael.
  It was silent for a moment. No one really knew where to start. Stefan finally said to Azrael, “I will never get over what I used to think of you, when I was alive.” 
  “Dark, mysterious, somber, and unapproachable. Yeah. I hear it all the time.”
  “You know, instead of just sitting here, let’s go down across the street to the park,” I suggested. Gods! Anything to get out of this stupid, stilted, somewhat forced conversation.
  “Sure,” said Azrael. “Then maybe the museum? They do still have your art, right?”
  “Oh, yeah,” said Thanatos. “As Donn wrote previously, once anything goes in, it never leaves. If you don't mind seeing what you already saw again, that is.”
  "You don't have the whole museum, I assume," said Azrael.
  "Uh, no. Only a small part of it, really."
  "Then let's check the other stuff out first."

  *****

  Macha had Warren and Ronin land in the Elysian Fields with her. They rested under a peach tree, and of course, Warren was the only one interested in the fruit. He was working on a peach, as he said, “I used to be so stupid. I can’t believe the things I used to feel bad about.” 
 “Conditioning. That’s all,” said Macha. “I’ve tried everything myself, just because it was there, but you can’t condemn something without at least sampling it.”
  “Except Limburger cheese, and those disgusting English organ dishes that we all find so revolting. I’ve never felt so protected in all my days, as I did when I was with you two. So secure. Not even with Stef. Also, I can’t believe I could feel so intensely good, while so not turned on, if you get my drift,” said Warren.
  “Fully understood,” said Ronin. “Though not in my case, I’m sorry to say, not that I’m in any rush to repeat the experience.”
  Warren scowled. “You really think I’m that pretty?”
  “What kind of a question is that? We were one in mind,” said Ronin.
 Warren shook his head. “I just can’t see it. People have been telling me that since I was about seventeen, and I just didn’t know what they were talking about. I have too much space between my nose and my upper lip, and my chin is too long.”
  “No you don’t, and no it’s not,” said Macha. “You are positively beautiful. Do I have to drag you in front of a mirror?”
  “No. Please don’t do that. I also thank you for compromising yourselves for the sake of satisfying my curiosity,” said Warren.
  Macha, who was beside him, ran her hand through his hair. “It’s OK. I enjoyed myself.”
  “I have no complaints, either,” said Ronin. “Gods, though. It’s been lifetimes, since I last did anything like that.”
  “And I wonder if this will be the last time for me for this sort of thing?” asked Warren. “All that motivated me, was the recollection of Donn’s writing, and the fact I’d never experienced anything like what was written.”
  “No clue,” said Macha. "You haven't had time for any Earthly instincts to fade yet, and you're even making us all relapse in your own way."
  "I don't know if I'm complimented or disturbed by that comment. I also feel sated for eternity, but I've felt like that before for various durations only to backslide," said Warren. 
  Ronin said, “I wouldn't call it backsliding. I'm no worse off than I was before we met.”
  “I don't know. I feel a little confused, but all that probably has something to do with being brought here prematurely, all the mental mergers, and the fact I think Thanatos, Donn and Stefan have one of the coolest relationships possible, and sex was always such a minor part of it,” said Warren.
  “Uh...during the time ‘The Second Time Around’ was written, it happened with regularity,” said Macha. “Nothing too extreme, but those three weren't exactly convent material. I do have to admit they liked snogging better then, too. I didn’t think any of them was anything to write home about even during that period.”
  “Too subdued, huh?” asked Warren.
  “Oh, yeah. The attitude just clashed with me. I was into wild and passionate, and they were just into appreciating the artistry of the passive party. I got off on a guy getting off on me for his sake too. After Keith went Tantric, that was complete history with him. Thank the gods for Kev, as in Kevin!” said Macha.
  “All these gender switches. I swear,” said Warren.
  “I wouldn’t be surprised if you do that once to actually feel what it’s like, as opposed to feeling what I remember,” said Macha.
  Warren shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe later. Maybe. Now, I couldn’t care any less, quite frankly.”
  Macha kissed him on the nose. “Now what just happened wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about, was it?”
  Warren shook his head, and smiled. “No, actually it was quite beautiful. Pretty awesome! Nothing like what I did before. It also felt way better than that time when I was still on Earth, but circumstances are so much different. Amazing what a proper attitude and style can do.”
  Macha stroked his hair again. “Thanks.”
  Warren finished his peach, dematerialised the seed, and the mess on his hands. He leaned forward, and kissed Macha on the cheek. He then looked at Ronin. “Can we go for a ride, here?”
  “Oh, yeah,” said Ronin. “I haven’t been on a ride in ages, and this is a great place to do it. Can I borrow Gilgamesh?”
  "Ask him," said Macha.
  Gilgamesh agreed.

  *****

  When we got to the park, the four of us got over our initial awkwardness real fast.  
  We must have been an amusing sight. When space permitted, we all walked hand in hand, with me, Stef, Thanatos, and Azrael, all in a row. Stef tried to get us to do little skippy steps a few times, but that didn’t go over too well.
  Of course, Stefan just couldn’t let that go. When we all had to disengage due to opposing people traffic, Stefan ended up doing a cute little dance, while singing the first verse to a childhood ditty called “The Muffin Man”, in an accent that I hoped I wouldn’t hear too soon again. If you ever heard an Irishman trying to do a Dixie drawl, you’d know what I mean.
  Yes, Stefan was feeling a bit silly, and a bit giddy. He was absolutely ecstatic at the arrival of our newest adopted family member. Azrael, aware of how Stefan could be, but not having had any first hand experience with him, almost hit the ground, laughing. Stef really did put on a good performance. It had me, Thanatos, Azrael, and a few spectators laughing as well, with The Muffin Man incident!
  Thanatos led us under an elm tree by a fountain, after that. There was actually a marble square, with a circle of benches under that tree, and we all sat down. “Thank you, Stefan,” said Azrael. “It’s been a while since I laughed that hard.”
  “No problem,” said Stefan 
  “I didn’t write about it that much, but it’s kind of typical behaviour for Stefan. He’s the court comedian,” I said. 
  “I deduced as much,” said Azrael. “I wish I’d come to see you when you were here.”
  “We didn’t think much about you then,” said Thanatos. “We were kind of on our own little trip, not that we spent that much time here, if you pardon the use of the technically incorrect terminology.”
  “Art and evolution. Yeah. I was kind of focused on my job, for the most part,” said Azrael. “All of me.”
  “I’ve been there, not that you don’t know this” said Thanatos to Azrael.
  “True.”
  “Can I say something stupid?” asked Stefan.
  “Feel free,” said Thanatos.
  “Now that there’s like, no stress, no internal conflicts other than my obnoxious tendency to dwell on the negative aspects of my past, and that I know how to divide myself up once, a part of me kind of misses being a psychopomp. Would there be anything wrong with me doing a split with myself, and taking on a few cases every now and then?”
  “No,” said Azrael. “In fact it would be conducive to The Source, for you to do that. It’s not stupid.”
  “That sounds like a great idea,” said I. “As an occasional diversion, it might be kind of fun.”
  “Then, let’s,” said Thanatos, as he gave Azrael a fang baring smile and a wink.
  Azrael winked back at Thanatos, and nodded his head once.
  “And after, we can all get together, and compare how disgusting our cases were,” said Stefan.
  I chuckled. “I read the news today, et cetera, huh?”
  “Yeah, sure,” said Stefan. “Wanna go now, and meet here after, same bat time, same bat channel, or shall we split ourselves up?”
  Thanatos closed his eyes, threw his head back, and shook it, as he brought it down again, chuckling. “Stefan, what will we do with you?”
  “You could take me past Nirvana, after we get back.”
  “You know, we were going to go to the museum. Let's go back to work after we get everyone in on this, and just enjoy our tour for now.” 
  Stefan said, “No problem. I’m not even sure yet where I want to go a'psychopompin'.”
  I just shook my head.

  *****

  Macha, Ronin, and Warren ended up going for a slow ride down a forest trail, enjoying the wildlife and scenery.
  A Cooper’s hawk decided she liked Warren, and landed on his shoulder. Warren ended up materialising a falconer’s glove, and persuaded her to perch there, instead.
  “Looks like you got a new friend,” noted Ronin.
  “She’s beautiful,” said Warren, as he stroked her neck. They exchanged loving thoughts. “Too bad she can’t come back with us.”
  “It would be disruptive to her,” said Macha. “Even when we kidnap a horse, we make sure it’s OK with the animal. We haven’t been turned down yet, though. They like the promised fringe benefits. The freedom, the interplaner transfers, and getting spoiled rotten for any work they’re asked to do, and the added knowledge they get by having the likes of us as companions, as opposed to another type of individual who sees them as less than what they are.”
  Warren kissed the hawk on top of the head, and sent her a thought picture telling her she was welcome at The Akashic Castle at any time.
  Warren got something back about her not wanting to leave her mate.
  Warren sent back that her mate was welcome too.
  Maybe a pair of hawks would occupy The Castle later, if they were told how to get there.
  Macha told them.

  ***** 

 Right after we got out of the museum, Stefan stepped out of time and painted himself with me as 'The Reaper' again, me being in a tattered robe that showed a bit of skin, not that it wasn't tasteful. It was a nice painting, but for the umpteenth time, I really wished Stefan would keep it real and quit representing me as a death figure of the wrong culture. I didn't complain, though.
  "I thought you wanted to get everyone together to go to work after we were done with the museum?" asked Thanatos.
  "Sorry, but seeing all those gorgeous pieces of art just lit my fire. I had to paint this first. Now I really can't wait to get back on the job," said Stefan.
  Azrael smiled. "I'm going to beckon everyone now to let them know and give them the opportunity to join us in our endeavours if they so choose. This picture is a good excuse. It's also quite flattering to you, despite your aversion to being painted as something that you're not," he said, as he looked at me.
  "I can't escape it, it seems. I do look damn good in it; I have to admit, though. Better than I do off canvass."
  "Thanks," said Stefan. "I beg to differ with your opinion, though. It's all you."
  "You're sort of welcome, but I don't know. And when will you stop using me to represent a Germanic myth?" I asked. 
 Stefan chuckled. "I'll make it up to you."
  I smiled and winked at him. "You always do."
  Azrael signalled everyone to drop what they were doing, and get over to us. We ended up having a very good meeting in an oak grove in the park across from Than's old flat, and Stefan, who could be damn brilliant some times, came up with an idea to make our jobs a hell of a lot more interesting, a hell of a lot easier on our clientele, and a hell of a lot more fun for us...usually. His idea made everyone who lived with us want to help us out.
  We would generate illusions to ease the trauma of our cases' experiences for the newly transferred, and not even let them know they'd 'died' until they were good and ready.
  What a change that would be!

  *****

  I totally enjoyed myself as acting Gate Keeper now. I really got into it. I was totally immune to any discrepancies I had with the job in my past. This new way gave me a chance to do some three dimensional art. Put up buildings and city or country scenes. It was great. The fact that I felt under no pressure, and I could do what I wanted, when I wanted, with circumstances never dictating what I must do and when, made it even better.  
 Of course I called up Hesper for the job. He didn’t mind at all. I ended up taking on a hundred sixty eight cases.
  My first case was Bactria, and then I spent the rest of my stint in Zimbabwe. Oh, it was a mess. A lot of people were a bit hacked up, and most had AIDS. All this never would have happened if Europe could have left its greedy paws off of Africa. In addition, none of the wildlife would have been endangered, the so called ‘uncivilised’ people who must have been ten times as spiritually evolved as their European counterparts would still be living by the Higher Laws, and the continent wouldn’t have been one tenth as wrecked.  
  I’m not saying Africa didn’t have her problems. It just would have been so much better, if she had been left alone, and not so exploited by Europe and Europe's New World offshoots.
  Oh, well.
  I was beyond getting all bent out of shape over it any more. The second time you watch a movie, you usually understand it better. 

 *****

  After we got back, me, Thanatos, Stef and Azrael went our way without the bird that Stefan had kidnapped from prehistory on his sequence of adventures (More on Stef's new buddy at the end of this tale. He's not too relevant to this story.), Andre and Tonya went theirs, and Warren, Deliah, Sylvia, Macha and Ronin got together in their group. Deliah immediately claimed Warren as her sideman, and put an arm around him. He put his around her shoulders. “France is close, and has good seating accommodations for us without having to rearrange anything. Shall we go there?” asked Sylvia.
  “Sounds like a good idea. It’s just down the hall, so I assume we walk,” said Macha.
  “Sure,” said Warren, as he and Deliah coordinated themselves to walk as one unit. “Had a great ride in the Elysian Fields before the job. A hawk took a fancy to me. I invited her, and her mate here if they so choose to come.”
  “What kind was she?” asked Sylvia.
  “Cooper’s,” said Macha. “She was a real beauty.”
  “So, one day we might expect a couple of Cooper’s hawks to show up unexpectedly,” said Deliah.
  “Remotely,” said Macha. “We’ve invited lots of animals to our residence in the past, but few have ever taken us up on it. They generally have their own agendas.”
  “Seems like our agendas should overlap,” said Warren. “After all, ultimately everybody wants the same thing, regardless of species. Love, right?” His voice was a bit dreamy. He was talking a bit slower than usual, and he gave the impression of being a tad zoned.
  “Ultimately,” said Macha.
  “If Stefan, or should I say Kyle could have afforded a big place, and the right kind of food to feed him, even Percy as he is now would have been a real pussycat from how he was treated, right?” asked Warren.
  “I don’t think he would have let Kyle go to work,” said Macha. “He hated being left by her. He probably would have blocked the door.”
  “I’ll have to ask him later, if I remember,” said Warren.
  “I wouldn’t bother,” said Deliah. “Percy has more important things to do than dwell on things that were, anymore. That kind of thought process is for us stupid humans, and he’d probably tell you that.”
  “Other than he eternal gratitude for how Kyle had treated him, huh? You know him better than I,” said Warren.
  “Aye on the former, and Percy is the best platonic lover I ever had,” said Deliah. “Scent mark frenzies are wonderful.”
  “Hm.” 
  They walked the rest of the way to the room dedicated to France, in silence. After they got there, Macha and Ronin sat by each other, and Warren sat between Deliah, and Sylvia. He leaned back, draped his arms over his usual female companions, and closed his eyes. He wore a faint trace of a smile. He had a very attractive smile, with the way the corners of his lips tended to dimple in. He had a very gentle facade that rivalled my own.
  “I don’t know if I’d want to get into a scent mark frenzy with something as big as Percy,” said Ronin. “He's almost knocked me over a couple of times, rubbing into me when I wasn’t ready for it. Then he does his equivalent of laughing his head off, and calling me a clutz.” 
  “You know how obnoxious cats can be. He’s very careful and very gentle with me, but he’s been my baby when he was a housecat. If you paid more attention to him, then maybe you wouldn’t be the victim of his sometimes derisive pussycat humour,” said Deliah. 
  “Sometimes derisive? He’s worse than Don Rickles,” said Ronin.
  “He got that from me. On top of being a cat, of course,” said Deliah.  
  “You never argue with him, do you?” asked Ronin.
  Deliah shook her head. “Hell no. He never argues with Stefan either, though Percy does make fun of him some times. After all, we are his number one slaves. Though as you all know, no one is spared his delightful sarcasm.”
  “Isn’t that the truth,” said Macha. “Warren, are you falling asleep over there?”
  He chuckled, and looked at Ronin. “Almost.”
  Ronin tilted his head, and reached toward Warren. Warren aligned his arm with Ronin's, and they sent each other energy waves that felt like total body caresses. "Thinking a bout me, huh?" asked Ronin.
  "Oh, yeah," said Warren.
  Deliah looked and Ronin. “Damn, dude. You must have been good.”
  “In all honesty, I didn’t do much.”
  Macha glared at Deliah. “Keep it up, Del.”
  “All right, I will. Ronin, can I have you too?” asked Deliah.
  “No.”
  “We’ll see about that later,” said Deliah.
  Ronin tilted his head. “Del, I was Japanese. You were of God’s chosen people, and we were divine. You’ve met your match. You won’t have me.”
  “Wanna bet?”
  “Sure.”
  Ronin would lose.















 
 








 Chapter 5


  Never, ever challenge Deliah to anything and expect to win, unless you are a deity. Even then, you might lose.
  Deliah caught Ronin alone lying on the couch reading a book by Trevanian, called ‘Shibumi’. 
  Deliah, who was still in the habit of looking as exotically seductive as possible, was in something of a belly dancer’s outfit. The harem pants were sheer and transparent, and so was all but the thong she wore underneath, and what little there was of her brassiere. She wore nothing on her feet, but was decked out in lots of silver, and the sheer fabric was black. Her eyes were kohled, and she looked about as striking as she could.
  She snuck up behind him, and in a sultry voice, said, “Hi, there.”
  Ronin looked up. “The contest begins?”
  “I read the book you’re reading. Remember the scene with the razors?”
  “Of course. I’ve never wanted to experiment with that, by the way. If someone gets distracted, the other could get hurt.”
  “I never wanted to experiment with that, either,” said Deliah. She twirled the top of his hair with an erotic gentleness. “When we became one, you hid this part of your history from me. What were you like?”
  “I was born and raised in the United States. I wasn’t into Japanese pornography, and I was statistically conservative in life. Like you, you know? Different reasons, though. My parents didn't like it when I dated outside of my race, and there weren't very many Japanese women in Cranbury, New Jersey at the time.”
  Deliah came to his side, and did her best to sit on what little there was available to sit on. Ronin moved back, to accommodate her.“ Looks like New Jersey’s a good place for hot sausage casings. You and Andre, at least! Is there anything in Donn’s saga that you haven’t done, that you’re curious about?”
  “No. Not in Kyle’s either. I've had my fill, though. Eventually you get bored.” He closed his book, and looked at her. “And if you call me a sausage casing again, I’m going to turn myself into whatever Percy is most of the time, and lick your nose.”
  Deliah laughed, and ran her hand ever so delicately down his chest. “I’ll keep that in mind. You’re not fighting me off.”
  He reached forward, and ran his index finger down her nose. “You're very beautiful, but what if I don’t respond to you?”
  “Have you desensitised yourself?”
  “No. I just overdosed, and I haven't been that keen since. I had to use a little bit of mental effort to allow myself to be used by that artistic masterpiece named Warren.”
  Deliah materialised a vial of jasmine oil. She unscrewed the top. “A little bit, huh? Can I?”
  “A massage from Deliah. That’s a different animal. You’re damn good I hear, and I still like those.”
  “So, you want it here or on a bed?”
  Ronin smiled. Damn, what a vision she was. “You know, it’s tempting to forfeit the contest to you if I don't have to do anything but maybe give you an all out oiling after you're done with me.”
  “Does that mean you’re mine?”
  “Oh, I suppose so. I want to look at the most beautiful woman that ever walked in any reality, as she’s making love to me, however. Can we go to Macha’s bedroom in Tech Duinn, with all the mirrors?”
  “That was too easy of a victory.”
  “I guess I’m too weak willed when met by the one who can give the younger Macha a run for her money on the battlefield of lust and wit. Especially when she's as intelligent and as beautiful as you.”
  “I like that response.” Deliah transferred them both to Tech Duinn, to Macha’s room. She pulled the covers back. “You will undress all the way?”
  “For satin sheets? I’d be stupid not to.”
  “And all you want to do is oil me after I'm done with you??”
  “I want to take you in. Explore you completely, and maybe do a painting of you in a little while. I love that outfit you're wearing now,” said Ronin.
  “Lay down, you gorgeous bastard. We’ll see about your attitude.”
  He dematerialised his clothing, and got halfway under the covers.
  Deliah poured the whole vial on his back, and uncovered his rear. She worked the oil into him as gently as she could, covering every exposed nanometre of him. She ended up pouring four vials over him, to get him as slicked up as possible. He just lay there, with his eyes closed. His breathing was silent, and he might as well have been asleep.
  She ran her index finger down his spine, over anus, and down testicles. He was still nonreactive. “Are you sure you can feel this?”
  “Hm hm. Feels wonderful. Thank you.”
  "I thought you wanted to watch what I was doing? You have your eyes closed."
  "I changed my mind. Now all I want to do is relax," said Ronin.
  "Oh, really?!"
  Deliah narrowed her eyes. 'Relax, my ass,' she thought.
  Nice having an immaculate simulacrum of a digestive tract that doesn’t work, available to her! Despite that, she still materialised a latex glove, and of course, a lubricant. Time to work on that sphincter and prostate. She invaded his thoughts and senses, so she could feel exactly what she was doing to him, not only to make sure she could drive him to an ecstasy, but also to make sure she wouldn’t hurt him.
  He clawed the mattress as she first tongued him, and then slowly, delicately entered one finger into him. Her other hand massaged his prostate from the outside. He finally became erect.
  No, he wasn’t easy.
  After a while of this stimulation, she said, “Turn slowly on your side.”
  He did as instructed, and she took his shaft in her mouth.
  Deliah knew every technique in existence, and she used them all. Very slow, very delicate, very frustratingly subtle.
  She was good. She took all of him in. She prolonged his agony for countless (illusory) moments. Right when he was about to go over the edge, she stopped everything, and totally withdrew from him.
  “You’re kidding!” said Ronin.
  “No. Get on your back.”
  He did.
  More jasmine oil! She worked on the front of him, now. She ran her lips and tongue over his nipples, gently caressed his neck, lipped his ears, and worked her way down him.
  He had a nice build. A well-defined martial artist! He looked as good as Thanatos as far as his body went, she thought. In fact, his definition was a little clearer.
  A little.
  She continued taking her time with Ronin. When she finally decided to concentrate on his shaft again, she reinserted her now again gloved and lubricated index finger into his rear.
  The only reaction from him was a sigh.
  With her trapped hand, she worked on his prostate internally. The other hand went for his shaft, in addition to her oral stimulation of that.
  Again, she almost brought him to culmination. Again, she withdrew.  
  Deliah was in pain, from what she was doing to him. Not only in her own right, but from what she was feeling of Ronin’s sensations.
  “Deliah,” he groaned. “You are killing me.”
  “Can I force you to take over?”
  “I will hate myself forever, if I do that to you.”
  Deliah dematerialised the glove, and ran her hand down his chest. “One more time, and again, and again.”
  That motivated him to sit up. “Get on your knees then, you uncompromising bitch.”
  “Oooooh yeah!”
  Ronin did to her what she’d done to him with the glove, and the oral stimulation. He was a bit nicer, though. He let her culminate a few times, as she screamed for him to get into her. Then as she was in wild contractions for the fourth time, he entered her and thrust away like there was no tomorrow.  
  With an incredible amount of self control he managed to hold himself back for a while, but he had to hold on tight to the now screaming Deliah as she was overtaken by her own senses, and not able to escape them or Ronin’s sensations, nor his powerful hold on her.
  When Ronin finished, Deliah almost blew out his eardrums.
  He collapsed sideways, taking her with him, still connected. He didn't let her go, not that she wanted him to. “I think I want to go to sleep. I don’t even want to go to the Higher Planes,” he said.
  “I know I want to go to sleep. I think that was the best fuck of my entire existence.”
  “I never want to do this with you again, after what you just did to me. You're just too much. Is this alright with you?” (How self-deluded can a man get?)
  “Oh, I guess so. Thanks.” (Deliah? Are you all right? Let me check your temperature.)
  “Thank you, too.”
  “So now Andre is the only man I’ll spare, I suppose.”
  “Please. He doesn’t deserve to be so abused. Also, you can’t disrespect his devotion to Tonya, nor hers to him! Not even I ever did anything remotely like this with her, for the sake of her memories and loyalty to her husband.”
  “Hm.”
  Deliah passed out in Ronin’s arms, and they still hadn’t separated themselves. They’d wake up like that.

  *****

  Me, Thanatos, Azrael, and Stefan ended up going off to The White City after our stints. Azrael looked pretty neutral, but the rest of us looked like we’d just gotten out from the biggest gala in the realm.
  “I actually loved doing that,” said Stefan.
  “So did I,” I said. “That was a total blast.”
  “This is so weird. I remember my last job run on Tech Duinn. It was horrible. Donn, it hurt so bad being apart from you even for a little bit, I couldn’t stand it,” said Stefan. “It’s easier now, but we always have some part of each other with us now, so...”
  “I know. Even with the telepathy factor, nothing beats one’s company. Of course we could split ourselves up now in time trips,” I said. “That way we’d never be completely apart.”
  “I don’t really like doing that unless it's strictly for the job,” said Stefan.
  “Neither do I,” I said.
  “Also, you both need your own space sometimes,” said Thanatos. “There have been times you two wanted to be alone, or with someone else for a wee while.”
  I extended my hand to Thanatos. “Once in a while, but you know how much it hurt me when you were living under my nose, and I didn’t know who you were.”
  He came over to Stefan and I, and ended up manoeuvring us so he could embrace us both. “Oh, yeah.”
  Azrael asked, “Can I have in on this group hug?”
  “Hm hm,” said Thanatos.
  A rather nice thing happened, then. Azrael faded from our view, and suddenly our whole reality shifted.
  Oh, we were embraced, all right. In a whole nother fashion, with Azrael’s whole being. We all faded, then.
  Azrael. Death Angel. A direct connexion to The Source!
  I almost couldn’t tell the difference between Azrael’s takeover and Thanatos’ takeover, in my mental surrenders to them.
  It was like with my initial merging with Thanatos in the beginning of ‘What Revelation Never Told You’.
  Azrael took us a little further than Thanatos could, however. He took us to the ultimate Awareness. The ultimate Unity! Of course the ultimate Love was in there too, but I’ve already experienced that, and I suppose I was really never without it anymore.
  So, all four of us were as far as you can go. The apex of everything! Home again, for a little while.
  Did it hurt, after we got back to our more usual state?
  Hell no. In fact, all it did was ease our curiosity of what it would be like. We weren’t ready for it, and that was as plain as the nose on dear Stefan’s face, using the now common old cliché of my adopted family. Well, two of us weren’t ready for it, and the other two were NOT going to desert the two that were not evolved enough.

  *****

  Azrael landed us in the old flat of The White City after we were done with the Higher Merging. We were all crammed on the same couch. Stefan, Thanatos, Azrael, and I!
  “You three have an overwhelming, inescapable nostalgic streak,” said Azrael.
  “So you noticed,” said Stefan.
  Azrael leaned forward to look Stefan in the eye. “I’m not talking about your penchant for dwelling on your hatred of Physical life, and your tendency to dwell on the worst aspects of your past to write more hostile, morbid, insulting, dismissive and antisocial poetry. I’m talking about moments like what we’re sharing right now. All of us snuggled on a couch, and the only thing we’re missing is a fireplace, a blanket, and a copy of Byron.”
  “And a cold room,” said Stefan. “This is the wrong local for that. Tech Duinn, maybe! The Akashic Castle is torture for temperature sensitive.”
  “That could be fixed,” said Azrael.
  “We don’t want to,” said Thanatos. “We might as well be in the state we’re supposed to be in, in one locality. Unless we use the whirlpool, of course.”
  “Of course,” said Azrael. “You know, you are the strangest set of individuals with the most bizarre relationships I have ever heard of.”
  “Is this bad?” asked Stefan.
  Azrael chuckled. “Actually, I don’t think it can be surpassed in beauty, in an abstract sort of way.”
  “You make us sound like a Picasso painting,” said Stefan.
  “Actualy, you guys are more like a Dali painting,” said Azrael.
  “We can live with that, said the psychopomp not technically alive,” said Stefan.
  Thanatos ruffled his hair. “That's a real groaner. Try harder, babe.”
  “Next set up I get, sure,” said Stefan.
  “You really gotta watch what you say around here, huh?” asked Azrael.
  “Percy and Deliah are worse,” I said. “I don’t know who’s got top billing.”
  “Percy,” said Thanatos. “After all, he is a cat.”
  “Usually,” I said.
  “When was the last time you saw him in the form of a man? Percy thinks being a modified leopard is the bomb,” said Thanatos.
  “I concede,” I said. “He also gets snogged more. You should see how Deliah was, a couple of times when he had taken on a human form. She really let him have it for looking so good, being neuter, and not doing anything about it.”
  Azrael scowled. “She knows animals don’t take sexual behaviour beyond the Physical Plane.”
  “But he’s been hybridised,” said Stefan.
  “He’s still innately himself,” said Azrael. “It’s just like with you merging with someone. You learn them, you take on what knowledge they wish to share, some of their traits which do fade in time if you don't value them, but you are still yourself.”
  “Of course, we know this by now. Still, the other's emotional state can carry over for a little bit and may induce you to do something you ordinarily wouldn't.” said Stefan.
  "Tell me about it," I said.
  “Indeed. Can't happen to me, though. Sorry,” said Azrael. "As for the rest, I must also apologise for stating the obvious. Dealing with who I have to deal with on a day to day basis, I find I often have to do that."
  “Indubitably,” said Stefan. “Mortals can be a dense bunch, speaking from personal experience. My own, that is.” 
 “Don’t be so hard on yourself,” I said. “The decisions you made weren’t one tenth as bad as those the majority makes.”
  “Just choosing to live, you know?” asked Stefan.
  I kissed him on the cheek. “Wasn’t two and forty years a worthy price to pay to get us together again?”
  He leaned into me, pulling Thanatos with himself. “Oh, yeah.”
  “It was supposed to have been forty five years. You got taken early,” said Azrael.
  “Thank the gods,” said Stefan.
  “Thank Donn,” said Thanatos, who had to reshuffle himself slightly due to Stefan forcing him off balance. Than put one arm around Stefan, who as expected, did return the hold on him!
  Stefan looked at him. “And you, Thanatos! Thank you, as well!”
  “Stef, I didn’t even know who I was, when you came to us,” said Thanatos.
  Stefan shrugged. “Keith. No big deal. You’re incredibly adorable, both ways.”
  “Thanks.”
  Stefan rubbed the side of his face on Than’s shoulder. ‘I wish I could have done more for you,’ he sent him.
  Thanatos kissed Stefan on the temple. ‘You’ve done more than enough.’
  Would we ever stop having this conversation?!

  *****

  When Warren, Macha, Sylvia and Kevalyn ended up together, of course their first stop had been the music studio.  
  The session had been kind of a disappointment. No one seemed terribly inspired to come up with anything new. Warren, Macha and Kev played, while Sylvia watched, and tried with no success to come up with any type of poetry imaginable.
  Hey! It happens to the best of us!
  After they put their instruments up, Warren asked, “Now what?”
  “Want to do something different?” asked Kevalyn.
  “Maybe. What?” asked Macha.
  “Want to do something wild and crazy, and play doubles on the tennis courts of The White City?” asked Kevalyn.
  “I could whup two of you alone,” said Macha.
  “Then go easy on us. Try for a long rally, instead of actually playing,” said Sylvia.
  “Aim for each other, huh?” asked Macha.
  “Hit light, please,” said Warren.
  “How do you know you’ll be on the opposing court?” asked Macha. 
 “I think it would be a good idea to have you and Kevalyn and me and Sylvia going at it,” said Warren.
  “Makes sense,” said Macha. “This household never plays for points, anyway.”
 “Unless it’s in the wit department,” said Kevalyn. “I don’t even go there, anymore.”
  “Not when Percy’s in the room,” said Macha. 
 “I’d like to see him again pretty soon,” said Warren.
  “Well, all you have to do is promise him your undivided attention, and he’s all yours,” said Sylvia.
  “Easy enough,” said Warren. “So, a tennis rally it is?”
  “Aye!” said Macha. “Let’s hold hands, and transfer.”

  *****

  Ronin woke up first, and he’d been right in the middle of a dream. As I’d stated before, he was still connected to Del, and his right hand was cupping her left breast. He gently scraped his teeth on her shoulder. “Del. Oh gods, are you awake?”
  She groaned. “Damn, you feel good. Move!”
  He thrust slowly. “Did I say I didn’t want to do this again?”
  “Again? Aren’t we still on the first time?”
  Ronin chuckled. “Appears that way.”
  “Now, get in my mind, and give me what I want. I think you’ll like it.”
  Ronin did as instructed. “You're right. I think I've come to the conclusion you might also be the most addictive drug in existence.”  
  "And I'm going to fight every effort you make to withdraw, baby."
  "Who says I'll even try, luv?"
  "You know, I think I've finally found a man to suit me."
  "Besides Warren?"
  "I think I'll leave Warren to Sylvia. Those two really are for each other.
  "And I think you're the first woman I truly fell for in every respect."
  She pressed herself into him. "Gods, and we had to go where to find each other?!"
  "But find each other we did. Better late than never, huh?"
  "Totally," said Deliah in her best Valley Girl voice.
  Ronin laughed. "That affectation isn't even from our time on Earth."
  "No, but it's ludicrous enough to be funny."
  "Totally."

  *****

  Azrael said, “I am so hooked on that museum.”
  “So, let's go again,” I said. "It's worth it."
  “Can we go down the stairs, so I can slide down the rail?” asked Stefan?
 “Sure,” said Thanatos.
  We’d all been out of the scene for so long, we all forgot about the banister post at the bottom of the stairs. Stefan, it turned, spotted it before he got himself royally clobbered by it, but as we could tell from his scream he didn’t get off that easy.  
  I’m glad I didn’t see it, but Thanatos actually had to sit down on the stairs, he was laughing so hard after Stefan cut loose his yell.
  I chuckled myself, but at least I had the courtesy of transferring myself down, to make sure he wasn’t totally wiped out.
  He had ended up throwing himself off the rail, and crashing into the wall, just seconds before a major disaster.
  Damn zone case. Served him right, but I helped him out, finding him a bit stunned from the incident.
  I pulled him up. “Dude! You OK?”
  He held his finger up, and closed his eyes. “Yeah. I would have had a few bruises, but nothing more. I didn’t break anything. Damn me, for forgetting about the post.”
  “Will you ever grow up?”
  “Do you really want me to?”
  I smiled, and hugged him. “I guess not. You’re too much fun like this.”
  He hugged me back. “Thanks. I promise, this won’t happen again.”
  “You won’t go down the stair rail again?”
  “No! I won’t forget to dematerialise the post, again.”
  Figures.

  *****

  The tennis rally didn’t happen as planned. After they got there, and played for five minutes, they decided to split up and use two courts. Macha played Warren, and Sylvia played Kevalyn.
  If Macha had actually played for real, she would have left Warren in the dust. Sylvia also would have creamed Kevalyn, but it ended up just being a case of trying to keep the ball going for as long as possible without a break.

  *****

  Azrael, Thanatos, Stefan, and I walked into one of the rooms filled with obsidian statuary. I’d never seen this before. “Wow! We actually missed this the last time. This is great,” I said.
  Stefan went to a three-metre tall obelisk. “Looks like we should have left a little later.”
  “This one took a bit more skill,” said Azrael, as he pointed to a life-sized unicorn, nuzzling a winged horse.
  “Awesome,” said Stefan. He pointed to the black leopard I’d mentioned in ‘The White City’. “We’ve seen that one.”
  “So we have,” said Thanatos.
  “I’m glad we came,” I said.
  “So am I,” said Azrael. “Can we look at the paintings again after this room?”
  “Sure,” said Thanatos.

  *****

  Ronin sat on the couch in front of the perpetually burning fireplace of Tech Duinn, with Deliah in his lap. “You wore me out so much, I didn’t even want to go Astral to Causal,” said Ronin. He was in jeans, T-shirt, socks, and running shoes.
  “It was fun, though. You’ve gotta admit that.” Del wore hot pants and a sleeveless shirt that tied under her breasts.
  “Not as much fun as what’s beyond it.”
  “Nobody here has ever done to me what you did. No one has ever taken me for them selves like that. Not even Warren was that wild and passionate, and he’s pretty damn good.”
  “I took you for both of us. Any other way is so damn classless,” said Ronin. “Crass and low.” 
 “I can’t seem to get completely over it. On Earth, I can count on one hand, how many times I’ve screwed someone. It wasn’t worth it. Then I have all these drop dead gorgeous dudes around who are worth it, and either they’re in a state where they don’t want me at all, or they treat me like a fragile, priceless museum piece, and that gets boring real fast.”
  He kissed her on the back of the neck. “You do look very delicate. You’re on the petite side, and you’re absolutely flawless. The epitome of femininity, too! I also have to admit that I don't like what you just said. It doesn't show the right sort of motivation.”
  “Thanks, but I'm sorry. I've never experienced what you just did, and it was something I've been phantasising about since I've met Donn, Than, and Steffy-poo.”
  Ronin materialised a soft-bristle brush, and started working on Del’s hair. “I actually went against my innate style because of what you did to me.”
  “And I appreciate it. I also promise that I won't do it again. It was something I just had to go through once, you know? I wonder how many more will join the household?”
  “Understood. As for finding out how many more will join us, that’s easy enough to find out, but don’t tell me about it please.”
  “To tell you the truth, I don’t want to really know, either.”
  Ronin scraped his teeth on her neck. “After I don’t want to brush your hair anymore, will you come Astral to Causal with me?” 
 “Definitely.”

  *****

  When my company and I got out of the museum, we went back to the park again. We actually spotted, Macha, Warren, Kev and Sylvia. We went over to them, and they dematerialised their racquets and came over to us as we approached.
  “Hiya. Having fun?” I asked.
  “Just rallying. We're too unevenly matched to play,” asked Kevalyn.
  “I like doing that," I said.  
  Stefan looked around. “Oh man! Remember the parties we used to have here?”
  Thanatos closed his eyes. “They’re still happening. We started a trend.”
  Macha chuckled. “I still remember the Mexican gala. Donn looked absolutely ridiculous in his native Mexican peasant outfit, with his blond hair, and milky skin.”
  “I acted pretty bad, too. That silly dance me and Stef did to Cielito Lindo?” I said.
  “I must have laughed so hard, I’m surprised I didn’t get a hernia,” said Thanatos.
  “Can someone transmit me the image?” said Warren.
  “Will you still respect me in the morning?” I had to ask.
  Warren chuckled. “Of course, Donn. I can accept you’re a part time prankster by now. I already read about what you did. I just think it would be fun to see it.”
  I pointed at Thanatos. “Than?”
  Thanatos looked at Warren. “Close your eyes, love.”
  He did. In a few seconds, a wide grin crossed his face, and he shook his head. “Ye gods, Donn. You and Stef put on quite a performance.”
  Stefan flicked his wrist, and in a gay accent, he said, “Oh, didn’t we, though?”
  Warren opened his eyes. “I don’t want to do this now, but we can time trip me to these adventures?”
  Thanatos said, “Uh...you, not us. It would also be appreciated if you do this; that you not talk to us, not get anywhere near us, and please change your form. Do not, under any circumstances acknowledge us in any way, or do anything that could possibly change things between us in the here-now.”
  “He could visit from an unperceivable perspective,” I said.
  “That would be the best thing to do,” said Thanatos.
  “Only if someone materialises an horchata for me,” said Warren.
  A glass of the rice beverage appeared in Thanatos’ hand, and he gave it to Warren. “Here.”
  Warren tried it. “This is pretty good.”
  “I used to love ‘em,” said Stefan. “Me and Kev used to order them all the time when we went to a Mexican restaurant.” 
  “It was the only thing we ordered,” said Kevalyn.
  “I can see why,” said Warren. He finished the glass, and dematerialised it. He looked at Thanatos. “Can you go with me, out of sight to the party so I don’t get lost?”
  “Sure. Oh, the Hell with it! Shall we do this now? I note you’re curiosity is over the top.”
  “I admit that I’d love to, if everyone else is OK with this,” said Warren.
  “Go,” I said. “Have fun, huh?”
  “I think we will,” said Thanatos.
  The two disappeared from our sight.

  *****

  Those of us left behind in the park headed for an elm tree to sit under. Stefan made sure to sit between Azrael and I. Stef put an arm around me, and looked at Azrael.
  “Go ahead, Red Tail. We know each other well enough, and ask all the questions you want.”
  Stef and Azrael exchanged a loose hold on each other. “Just when I think things can’t get any better, they always do,” said Stefan. “By the way, Azrael. How many else of you are running around?”
  “Eight thousand, four hundred sixty two.”
  “How do you keep track of all that?” asked Sylvia.
  “It’s pretty easy, really,” said Azrael.
  “There’s one hell of a lot of you,” said Stefan
  “There’s over a billion Muslims and Jews, before the era change. A lot of them expect me. They keep me busy enough, and not all those factions of me are working. Some are out there having fun in various time continuums.”
  “Like?” asked Stefan.
  “The one who’s sitting next to you,” said Azrael.
  “OK,” said Stefan.
  “Stef, I wish I’d paid more attention to you when you were a mortal,” said Azrael.
  Stefan scowled. “You did visit me a couple of times, I think.”
  “Hm hm. To keep you going,” said Azrael. "After all, you did chose a life with a mission."
  Stefan nodded. “I remember. You appeared to me in a hooded robe, and when I looked to where the face should be, I saw space. Like looking at the night sky. You embraced me, and I remember you telling me that everything was going to be all right. That’s all you said, but there was more. You sent me a feeling. I woke up at peace. I never thought about that, until now.”
  Azrael shrugged. “I was never your main squeeze, ya know?”
  That one got all of us chuckling.
  I had to say, “Be glad you were spared.”
  Azrael scowled at me. “Donn Ui’Midir, considering what you were when you first took Stephanie on at Tech Duinn; I think you were a complet idiot!”
  “I fixed that on the second time around,” I said.
  “It’s all cool,” said Stefan. “He made me appreciate him more for it all. I probably love him more for it, too. I never felt so unused by someone in all my existence. That poetry he wrote me was way more heartfelt, and important to me. He actually had to work for that.” He leaned into me.
  Azrael said, “Yes, we're one of the few mortals who was as weird as Donn. You two were definitely made for each other.”
  “Actually, I sort of had to become that way, not that I didn’t start out a bit on the unusual side,” said Stefan.
  Azrael smiled. “Stefan, look at yourself. You’ve travelled inward enough. Donn basically brought out your true nature. If you had been any different, don’t you think you would have eventually rebelled and turned on both Donn and Thanatos...or Keith rather, for not giving you themselves? That never happened.”
  I signalled Stefan to turn to me, and kissed him on the nose. “Thanks.”
  “Thank you more,” said Stefan. “Both of you.”
  “I, on the other hand, have experienced numerous occasions where I wanted at least two of that trio spit roasted, and I mean on a skewer,” said Macha.
  I chuckled. “Until you had me.”
  “Yeah, then I wished I hadn’t. The phantasy was more fun,” said Macha.
  “Tell me about it,” said Sylvia.
  “I wouldn’t have traded him in for anyone,” said Stefan. “Him and Than are insurmountable.”
  “And you, Red Tail! You have got to be the absolute worst lover I ever had,” said Macha.
  “Thank you,” said Stefan.
  “All a matter of taste,” I said.  
  “I didn’t go there,” said Macha. “I gave up on him before I had the opportunity.”
  Stefan looked at her. “Macha, why don’t you materialise a megaphone, and broadcast that to the whole park.”
  “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you.”
  Stefan smiled. “About as much as I used to like mango mousse pies with whipped cream.”
  “You are jesting, I would hope,” said Azrael.
  “Definitely. The verbal sparring has gone down, but it’s hardly disappeared,” I said. “Unless Percy or Del are in the vicinity! They jump on any set up.”
  “Huh!” said Sylvia. “Percy sets up the set ups.”
  Stefan sighed. “Cats!”
  “And noses,” said Macha.
  Stefan let go of Azrael, and petted his own nose. “Yeah.”  
  “What a household, this be,” said Azrael.
  “Welcome on board,” I said.
  “Guaranteed to be silly, huh?” asked Azrael.
  “I think so,” I said. To be honest, it got downright stupid some times, but hey. Par for the course!”
  “I know so,” said Sylvia.
  Stefan put his free arm around Azrael again.

  *****

  In a low Astral form, Warren and Thanatos enjoyed watching the activities of the Mexican gala that happened ages ago. They stayed close to our group of the time. “What would happen if we materialised?”
  “You don’t pull stuff like that, unless you really want to risk traumatising and disrupting your past. Why don’t I just find out when another party of choice is that we didn't go to, and what culture is going to be presented?”
  “Sure. That sounds good.”
  “Or we could time trip there right now.”
  “That sounds even better.”
  The two would go to a Greek celebration. Warren would take delight in the music, and the food, just having to sample the alien dishes.  

 *****

  “That was very nice,” said Deliah, after Ronin dematerialised the brush. “Would you like the same?”
  “Not particularly. I just wanted a further excuse to appreciate you, and keep you in my lap a bit longer.” He lipped her right ear.
  “Keep that up, I’m going to insist that you fuck me again.”
  “I really don’t want to do that. Anyway, we're supposed to go Astral to Causal. We both know that feels much better.” He crossed his arms in front of her, and cupped her breasts.
  “That’s not what you’re acting like.”
  “Well, I do want to do what I said I want to do. I'd like to try doing it differently, though. How experimental are you feeling?”
  “I love trying new things, as long as they don’t hurt,” said Deliah.
  “I wouldn’t dream of hurting you. Shall I tell you what I have in mind, or do you just want to surrender yourself?”
  “Surprise me, babe.”
  Ronin held onto her very snuggly, went Astral, and moved forward into Deliah while he was sending her powerful thoughts of appreciation. The Astral-Etheric overlap felt very good to Deliah, though Ronin didn't get too much out of it. Deliah herself shifted Astral a little at a time. Eventually they were on par, and shifted Causal.
  It was different, but not really what Ronin had hoped for.
  They wouldn't do it again, nor would they recommend it.
 
 

















 
  Chapter 6


  Thanatos and Warren met us were they’d left us. Thanatos time tripped himself and Warren back to us, so they seemed gone for what we may have perceived as a few minutes by Earth standards.
  “We time tripped forward, and went to another party,” said Thanatos. “It was Greek.”
  “How convenient for you,” I said.
  Thanatos shrugged. “You know damn well, by now I think I consider myself more Irish.”
  “You’ve always had the accent down,” said Macha.
  “From the day you remade me,” said Thanatos. “You could also have given me an Irish name, if you were going to put me together in County Cork.”
  Stefan scowled. “County Cork? Isn’t that in the Munster Province? So you were Keith...”
  “STEFAN, SHUT UP!!!” exclaimed Thanatos, not that he was really upset. Let’s say, he was playing Stefan's game.
  Me, Warren and Sylvia would have hit the floor, if we weren’t already sitting down. Kevalyn was laughing, but not that hard. Stefan was the antagoniser, and he just chuckled slightly, and wore a satisfied grin.
  Thanatos was struggling not to laugh. “Stefan, I swear. One of these days!”
  “What?!”
  “Oh, I don’t know. I’ll think of something. Maybe one day I’ll kidnap your nose, take it to Earth, and use it to feed post Mugabe Zimbabwe for a year, or something,” said Thanatos.
  “There’s enough in volume, but wouldn’t it be kind of hard to chew?” asked Stefan.
  “They invented food processors specifically for the occasion,” said Thanatos.
  “Do you have a recipe in mind?”
  “Oh, I imagine you mix the pureed nose with eggs, flour, black pepper, grated garlic, Worcestershire sauce, chopped onions, and oatmeal.”
  “Actually that sounds pretty good,” said Sylvia. “A little haggisy, but hey.”
  “I asked for it, huh?” asked Stefan,
  “To say the least,” said Thanatos.
  “Well, I’m not having any,” said Stefan.
  “We didn’t think so. Now shall we pick another topic of conversation that might actually have some enhancement value?” asked Thanatos.
  “Please,” said Stefan. “Or else I just might start introducing you as Keith Munster.”
  “Oh, we couldn’t have that,” said Thanatos. “Not that Keith Cork would have been any better.”
  Azrael said, “Ye gods, you guys are whacked.”
  “We have not yet begun to get silly,” said Stefan as he raised his right arm, with index finger extended.
  “From what I’ve read, I believe it,” said Azrael. 

 *****

  When Deliah and Ronin rematerialised, they landed on the couch that they’d left, and they sat beside each other. Deliah was in the crook of Ronin’s arm, and they sat on a blanket, which was wrapped around them. They hadn’t bothered getting redressed, enjoying each other’s warmth and smooth skin.
  They were in a hedonistic state of temperature sensitivity, relishing the fire, and each other. “It’s tempting to get into tea again just for the hell of it," said Deliah.
  “For a time like this, I'm inclined to agree. Let's!”
  "No argument."
  They both materialised a cup for themselves, and after what amounted to the concept of about a minute, they had no problem getting it down. "Yes, this is a pleasure, but is it counterproductive, I wonder?" asked Ronin
  "We were told it's good for being Gate Keepers."
  "But we're not on the job right now. Strange, but I never wanted to be a Gate Keeper. Stefan's idea of basically creating something like a movie set and giving people these weird or pleasant phantasies to ease their transfer makes it like the coolest job there is." 
 "I'll have to agree," said Deliah. "I also did a damn good job for never having done it before."
  "We've gotten enough vicarious lessons from the mind shares with the experts."
  Deliah smiled. "You did damn good too, my dear."
  "And I loved every minute of it. I almost can't wait to do it again."
  "I can wait, but I'm glad it's in our future for as long as we want it."
  "Amen!" 
  Deliah laughed. "Shouldn't I be the one to say that?"
  Ronin crossed his arms, and raised his left eyebrow. "Dude! I was born and raised in the United States!" 
  "I’m glad that didn't corrupt you too badly."
  "Strong family influence in tradition."
  "Thank the gods," said Deliah.
  "Tell me about it." 

  *****

  After a while of a bit more constructive conversational topics than picking on Stef’s nose and the concept of calling Keith, Keith Munster, we split into two groups again, and me, Stef, Thanatos and Azrael went back to The Akashic Castle.
  We were met by a rather neglected feeling Percy. ‘Where the Hell have you guys been all this time?’ he sent us. 
 “There is no time. We were at The White City,” said Thanatos.
  ‘I spent some time in human form grooming Hesper. Nothing better to do, so I take care of your master, Donn! Do I get compensation?’
  I immediately materialised a soft bristled cat brush. “It looks like I’ve been hijacked by a beautiful sabre cat. Where shall we go?”
  ‘I want on a couch. Main living room, I guess.’
  “Main living room it is,” said Thanatos.
  We transferred, and Stefan sat on one end of Percy, and me on the other. Stef got Percy’s tail end, but Stef also materialised a cat brush, and we both went to work on him.
  “You know Percy, you do know how to time trip, and you could have done that,” I said.
  ‘Uh, dude! I’m a cat. Cats adapt to their environment. They don’t make the environment adapt to them.’
  “Dude! You’re more than a cat. You have the knowledge, power, and inclination to do more than your average cat,” I said.
  ‘Fine. Next time warn me when you go on extended trip, or I might develop a taste for long pig, buster.’
  We all chuckled. I looked at Stefan. “Stef, are you teaching him these words?”
  ‘Yes, he/she/it did. It’s what Kyle used to call children half the time,’ transmitted Percy.
  “Tsk tsk, Stefan. Using that kind of language around a cat,” said Azrael.
  ‘Oh, it’s all right. I never liked pork, anyway. I was mainly into seafood, though I sometimes tolerated chicken.’
  “I also couldn’t leave olives on the table,” said Stefan. “You’d always be in them, licking off the juice. You'd ask me for the dried olives from my olive bread, too. I couldn't leave that unguarded, either. Who'd expect a cat to attack pieces of bread?!”
  ‘So I liked olives. Who could blame me? If it’s there, I take it. What did you expect from a person of feline persuasion?’
  “Whipped cream, too,” said Stefan.
  ‘Like can you think of anything as stupid as leaving dairy products in reach of a cat, and not expecting him to touch it?’
  “No,” said Thanatos.
  “Well, it didn’t happen very often. I learned kind of fast, unless I forgot,” said Stefan.
  ‘It did too happened often. Kyle was quite a zone case, as we all know.’
  “Kyle worked a lot of overtime to keep you in shrimp, langostinos and organic cream, love,” said Stefan, referring to his former self in third person.
  ‘If I didn’t have such a raspy tongue, I’d kiss your nose, babe. I did appreciate it.’
  Stefan leaned forward, and halfway embraced Percy. “You’re such a sweetheart, Percy.”
  ‘Get away from me, you damn fruit.’
  Stefan sat up. “Say what?”
  ‘Heh-heh-heh.’
  I had to laugh, and so did Thanatos. “Percy, what will we do with you?” I just had to enquire.
  ‘Just keep brushing me out, Donn. A little more pressure would be nice, too.” 
 “Yes, my liege,” I said.
  “And I can resume brushing you out?” asked Stefan.
  ‘Please.’
  We didn’t notice Azrael sitting there with his lower jaw dropped, perceiving the whacked out 'conversation' in disbelief.

  *****

  “Gods, Azrael is a fox,” said Sylvia.
  “Very good looking, I will agree,” said Kevalyn. “His facial hair design almost makes him look Satanic, though.”
  “The gentle eyes ruin that,” said Macha.
  “Not my type, but I’ll have to agree on him being a very attractive individual,” said Warren. 
  “Actually, he isn’t really anybody’s type. He’s an angel. Technically, all the way, innately genderless, despite his façade,” said Macha.
  “Thanatos was real close to that before you retrained him,” said Kevalyn to Macha.
  “Thanatos destroyed his own first stream of consciousness. I didn’t really retrain him. Who knows what would have happened to him if I hadn't put the form of Keith together,” said Macha. “I did what I think was the best that could have been done for the beautiful entity who’s body I conjured.”
  “Well, he had it better than any of us mere mortals,” said Sylvia.
  “He had it better than most of the Tuatha,” said Macha.
  “Yeah, you didn’t have it easy, from what I recall of the legends,” said Sylvia.
  “It wasn’t easy living in Ireland proper. I had my fun, though. Gods, I used to love a good battle,” said Macha.
  “I’ve never seen a battle,” said Warren. “From all my mergings, I can’t remember having been exposed to one.”
  Macha said, “We take your sensitivity into account. You’re a very sweet, gentle natured person. Actually experiencing lopped off limbs, the screams of pain, the gore and the smell just wouldn’t leave you in too good of a state. I wouldn’t recommend you go off by yourself, either. You’ll be unduly traumatised, and then you’ll come running to somebody to fix you.”
  “I’ll heed your advice,” said Warren.
  Macha smiled. “I know. I’m glad you’re comfortable here, Warren.”
  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, anymore. I know you’ve heard it a million times, but I still can’t believe I was initially resentful of being brought here.”
  Macha said, “And you’ve heard me say this just as often, but it happens with some who are taken before their contract time is up. You wouldn’t have had time to live up to your dreams anyway, as you saw.”
  “Not that I even had the inclination, I have to now admit. My job just took so much out of me, that I don’t think I would have gotten very far. At least here I have time to play and write a lot. An appreciative audience is nice too, not to mention having reliable people who I can work with.”
  Macha pointed her fingers at him, and sent Warren an energy surge along with feelings of affection. Warren smiled, and shivered. “With the help and push of Tonya and Ronin, you would have done some amazing things before you were killed, even if it never made it to the mainstream. You just would never have gotten the message to the masses, but that would have been OK. It doesn’t matter. I am just so glad things worked out the way they did,” said Macha.
  Warren returned what Macha had just done to him with the energy surge. “Thanks.”

  *****

  After their tea, Ronin completely enveloped Deliah, and they both had their eyes closed. They were one in mind, still on the couch, and still wrapped up in the blanket. In reality, there was no conversation, for there was no need for it. The thought of one belonged to the other, but in analogy, the exchange went like this: 
  ‘Ronin, I have never been drawn to one like I am to you. I’m not sure I see the others in the same light anymore.’
  ‘Actually, your new detachment is progress, but you should feel the same toward me.’
  ‘Uh huh. Your words don’t match your thoughts when it comes to me.’
  ‘I’ve never been in love before.’
  ‘On Earth, neither have I. I didn’t fall in love until I met the Ui’Midir household, but what I feel for you is a bit different. It’s more like what Donn, Thanatos and Stef have; or Macha and Kevalyn. What Sylvia and Warren seem to be headed for,’ conveyed Deliah.
  ‘I know this is sounding a bit hedonistic, but shall we go to Nirvana pretty soon?’
  ‘Hm hm. And after we get back, can we see what I can do with what I learned in theory about your Karate skills? Think we can go Nirvanic without Thanatos or Azrael?’
  'I can. I've been there.'
  'Then our first martial arts lesson?'
  ‘I’d love to see you in action.’
  ‘Having you as a sparring partner is OK, despite the fact that you’re about twenty-three centimetres taller than me?’
  ‘Doesn’t matter,’ sent Ronin. ‘Of course, my pretty little shape shifter, you can do something about that, if you wanted to. On the other hand, I know you won't.’
  ‘Then you couldn’t hold me, like this.’
  ‘You are such a paradox. A strategic warrior who could out think the best strategists, who likes to be in such a position of the ultimate vulnerability.’
  ‘I’ve never had this kind of comforting before being adopted into this family, and I’ll never get enough.’
  ‘You remind me of Percy, in this regard. I mean Percy could really kick some ass, but he’s a real pussycat for a tummy rub.’
  Deliah laughed. ‘Tell me about it.’
  Ronin lowered his head, and gently rubbed his right cheek against Deliah’s left. They slowly moved in on each other to lock their lips. ‘I want to go straight to Nirvana, but you want to go there in tiers.’
  ‘All of them.’ She took hold of his shaft. ‘Ground zero and rising.’
  ‘You have corrupted me beyond measure. You have destroyed what it took planes for me to build.’ Ronin was a lot easier to arouse, this time.
  ‘I don’t hear you complaining.’
  ‘In reality, I don’t think I have anything to complain about. I guess I’ll just have to wait a little longer for this issue to become irrelevant again.’
  ‘Ronin, we’re both making up for lost time. We’ll get there soon enough,’ she conveyed, as she straddled him.
  ‘Hm. I suppose so. Can you please try not to scream so loud this time? You hurt my ears.’
  Deliah chuckled. ‘OK.’ 
  Right at the edge of shared culmination, they transferred Astral.
  Every time they hit the border, right before they went over the cliff, they shifted a plane higher, until the end.
  Way to go.

  *****

  Percy had gotten his fill of being brushed out, and was now on the carpet, on his side, with Azrael enjoying him. Azrael lay down, pressing himself against the modified leopard’s back. “You are such an irresistible creature.”
  ‘So, will you take me on your next Gate Keeper run?’ asked Percy. 'I think I can help.' 
  “That would be real interesting,” said Azrael.
  “Better with you, than the rest of us,” said Thanatos. “We prefer the less intimidating look.”
  Azrael looked at Thanatos. “If you didn’t take the form born to Nyx most of the time for your job, you’d probably be stuck with a few million groupies from the way you look.”
  “I don’t have a problem with that, and we almost look the same,” I said.
  “Donn, you give the impression that you were born yesterday. You have an air of innocence that leaves the myth of Virgin Mary in the dust. The Great White Thanatos, on the other hand, oozes an exotic seductiveness as he is, that is rather hard to resist.”
  “You are not making a pass at me, I presume,” said Thanatos, as if Azrael even could have an interest.
  “No,” said Azrael. “I mean, come on. I’m spooning the most desirable man in the room right now. Why would I do something silly like that?”
  ‘Uh...I’m a cat. Please stop insulting me!’
  Azrael scratched Percy behind the ears. “I’m being sarcastic, you raven twit. We all so are.”
  ‘I hope,’ sent Percy.
  “Don’t fight with Percy,” said Thanatos to Azrael. “You're asking for it.”
  Azrael nosed the back of the great cat’s head. “I don’t want to fight with him. I’d rather be his ally. I mean, anything with teeth and claws like that...you want him on your side, right?”
  ‘Not to mention, speed, power, reflexes, and sheer good looks that leave everyone in this room in the dust,’ sent Percy.
  “They almost rival your ego,” said Thanatos.
  ‘Hey! I’m a cat, goddessdammit. I coulda ruled Egypt, looking like this.’
  “Shall we go to work now, before we get slaughtered any more?” asked Thanatos.
  “Might be a good idea,” said Stefan.
  Azrael embraced Percy. “Hm, kitten. Do you have any preferences?”
  ‘What culture and what time period could I scare the living shite out of someone by being there?’
  Azrael kissed the top of his head, “If you snarl, bare your fangs, lay your ears back, and get into pounce position, all of them.”
  ‘How about dealing exclusively with the Inquisitors of the late fifteenth to early nineteenth centuries.’
  “You’re good with dates, babe.” 
 ‘Thank Andre, for that.’
  “Actually, I already did.” Azrael looked up. “Shall we be off?”
  “Oh, yes!” I said. 
  And, off we were.  
 
 *****

  Eventually Kevalyn and Macha split off from Sylvia and Warren. Kevalyn and Macha went to the library, while Sylvia and Warren went to the pole of the Dark Side of the planet.
  The second star gave Sylvia and Warren some light.
  They were not temperature sensitive, and they weren’t solid to the locale. The winds were gale force, and it would have been a fight to remain standing. They also would have needed snowshoes. The ground was hard to cover.
  ‘Stefan would love this,’ sent Sylvia telepathically.
  ‘It’s always like this down here, isn’t it?’ asked Warren.
  ‘Sometimes it snows, sometimes it sleets, sometimes it hails, sometimes the winds are higher. No, I think this is probably a calm day. We ought to remind Red Tail of this place after we see him again.’
  Warren went next to Sylvia, and put his arm around her. ‘This is so strange. Like Donn said, it’s like instead of being a solid person looking at holograms, you’re a hologram looking at solid objects.’
  ‘Basically. It took a while for me to adjust to that backward reality, too.’ Sylvia held Warren.
  ‘I do feel so privileged, but some times I really wonder what it would have been like to be Stefan.’
  ‘Painful at times, ecstasy at others,’ sent Sylvia. ‘I figure it was a manic-depressive sort of existence until everybody got themselves together. More pain than ecstasy! Par for the course.’
  ‘Sounds like your life.’
  ‘Sounds like life in general, which is also Stefan’s philosophy, if you don’t mind me stating the obvious.’
  ‘My own left a bit to be desired, though my worst mistakes were self-inflicted, as I’ve said countless times before.’
  ‘We tend to be our own worst enemies,’ sent Sylvia.
  He stepped before her, and embraced her. ‘Damn, I wish I could have known you in life. I can’t believe Ted messed around on you.’
  Sylvia caressed his hair. ‘So did you.’ 
  ‘Different circumstances, though! You demanded I have Deliah. I also had your approval with Stefan...or should I say Stephanie, Macha and Ronin. I don’t want them again, though. Just you.’
  ‘Warren, you know what a bitch I was in life. A distrustful perfectionist who had to have everything my way! I forgave Ted a long time ago, though I fell out of love with him when my hatred still burned, and never regained it. It took a lot of self-analysis for me to forgive him. It took an analysis of what he did for me after I killed myself, and I also had to go into his mind while he was still alive. He paid even after he died, for my suicide.’
  ‘Oh well, huh?’
  ‘All the way,’ sent Sylvia. ‘It’s better we didn’t meet when I was alive. It really is. I was so unstable. I would have hurt you in the worst ways possible.’
  He kissed her on the cheek. ‘And I knew so little, compared to you. You probably would have grown impatient with me.’
  ‘You’re probably right, but we’ll never know. If you’d been eager to learn things, maybe not.’
  ‘I wasn’t, but I had no reason to, nor any inspiration. On the other hand, if you’d been there...’
  ‘That was then, and this is now. You’re writing a lot. Not only that, you’re putting it to music. Let it go. What was doesn’t matter any more. You’re turning into another Stefan.’
  ‘He writes great stuff dwelling on past miseries.’
  ‘But you don’t always write about the past.’
  ‘No,’ sent Warren. ‘Not always.’ He pointed to one of the moons. ‘Look.’
  ‘Beautiful. We should name them, someday.’ 
 Warren laughed. ‘We haven’t even named this planet.’

  *****

  After the sixth time she tried, Deliah broke the wooden plank with a loud yell and a kick. Both her and Ronin were in Karate uniforms. They had worn shield guards earlier for a sparring contest. Deliah remembered the concepts to a tee. She also managed to translate those concepts into action without too much trouble.
  “At this rate, you’ll be a black belt in ten lessons,” said Ronin.
  “I doubt it.”
  “All right. Maybe eleven.”
  “Yeah, that’s more like it.”
  Ronin had to laugh. He walked over to her, and ruffled her hair. “What is it about you?”
  Deliah smiled. “I’ve always learned fast. I was a spoiled, competitive, only child, rich bitch Jewess. Daddy trained me to stand up for myself, and not back down. In a way, I was the son he never had.”
  “Then in a way, I’m gayer than Liberace.”
  “Works for me.”
  “We’ve been at this for a while. Want to keep at it, or do something else?”
  Deliah looked rather contemplative. “You know what I want to do?”
  “Please say anything, but fuck.”
  Deliah laughed. “Oh, ye gods, no! Even I can get too much of that. I was thinking more along the lines of a walk in the garden of Tech Duinn.”
  “That sounds absolutely great.”
  “And if it’s cold and wet in the garden, we can have a nice innocent snuggle session in the spa.”
  “Is that physically possible?”
  “Now? I think so. Then? I don’t know.”
  “If you want to, and I don’t; will you take my feelings into consideration?”
  “No.”
  “OK then, let’s go.” 
  They transferred, and both landed in jeans and T-shirts, with Deliah’s being of the artistically ripped variety. Ronin wore socks and running shoes, and Deliah was in her preferred low heeled, cross garter sandals. Deliah didn’t need heels to accentuate the definition of her sexy legs. She never wore them, considering them nothing but a silly hindrance. On Earth, she instinctively knew about the health risks, and she’d never thought much of the days’ fashions.
  Dressing in the garb of several millennia in the past hadn’t been an option for her when she was alive.
 
 
 
 













































 Chapter 7


  Me, Thanatos, Azrael, Percy, and Stefan all synchronised our reunion in the main living room. I could hardly believe the first thing I saw on return.  
  Azrael was facing down Percy. He'd materialised a large feather duster. He said to Percy, “Do you see this?” He then proceeded to wipe it across Percy’s face, very fast, making the cat recoil. “I am NEVER taking you on an outing again!” He looked at us. “Do you have any idea of what this guy did?”
  “No, but I get the feeling you’re going to tell us,” said Stefan.
  “I admire Percy’s intolerance for injustice and all, but he actually jumped up, put his paws on our first and only inquisitor’s shoulders, roared at him, ever so gently scraping said inquisitors cheek with one of those five inch fangs. (OK! Sometimes I use metric, sometimes I don’t. I THINK in metric, and have to sit down with a pen and piece of paper, or calculator to convert, all right? Before, I used to use only the U.S. measurements in order to try to cater to the U.S. readership, but now with more non-U.S. people on board, it’s hard for me to remember to switch to U.S. all the time, OK? Instinct over-rules what I should do, so tough shite!) The man was certain he’d gone to Hell!” said Azrael, as he again attacked Percy with the feather duster. “Needless to say, I only got one case done.”
  ‘How many people were tortured, and burnt at the stake for this man?’ asked Percy, trying to cover his face.
  “That is NOT our job, dude. We just put them where they belong. It’s not like Antonio Duran is going to like living as a Spartan Helot in his next life. Gods, Percy! Justice is not ours to deliver.” Azrael let up with his soft weapon.
  “I wish I’d seen that happen,” said Stefan with a slight chuckle.
  Percy faced him, and sent Stefan the pictures of what happened.
  Stefan had to laugh. “Ye gods, Percy. Are you another soul mate of mine? I would have done stuff like that before I knew better.”
  Percy sent, ‘I did know better! I did it anyway!’
  Azrael dematerialised the feather duster. “Please, never do anything like that again. Do you have any idea how much you held me up? How much work I had to do, to undo your damage?”
  ‘Uh, yes! I was there, as a matter of fact. And you know something else? If I could it to do over again, I would!’
  “You incorrigible little bastard,” said Azrael.
  Percy raised his upper lip, baring the rest of his teeth. ‘All cats are bastards. We don’t do stupid rituals like weddings.’
  “Weren’t those invented for the reason of economy?” asked Stefan.
  “Makes one wonder,” said Azrael.
  “Handfastings, as you’re prone to call them, were a reason to throw a party in my day,” I said. “It wasn’t anything like what you’re familiar with, Stef. You know how people like their rituals.”
  “I’d hope so, by now,” said Stefan.
  Azrael kneeled down, and hugged Percy. “Babe, I love you as much as ever, but I am really not risking taking you on the job with me again.”
  ‘Too bad Thanatos doesn’t generally wear his snowy form on the job. He’d make a way better fashion accessory for me than Azrael, anyway. I mean the contrast and all, with his alabaster colouring to my ebony beauty?’ Percy actually motioned his head toward Thanatos.
  Stefan said, “You haven’t changed, huh?” He looked at me. “You know, when he was a housecat in San Jose, he used to spend hours grooming in front of the mirror. I kid you not.”
  “Well, with you continuously telling him how gorgeous he is, he’s bound to believe you and get a bit of a swelled head,” I said.
  ‘I did get a swelled head, but I was gorgeous. It was true. I had the looks to back myself up, and now I also have four inch claws, and five inch fangs, if anyone wants to argue.’
  Azrael kissed him on the forehead. “As if you’d hurt a fly, these days.”
  ‘Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!’

  *****

  Deliah and Ronin lucked out. It was a densely foggy night when they landed in the garden. They chose not to be temperature sensitive after about ten seconds of checking it out. It was way too cold for comfort, unless they were going to really go heavy on the clothes. Deliah? Yeah, riiiiiiiiiiiiiight!
  “Oh, what timing,” said Deliah.
  “It’s nice to see what I thought I’d only read about. Shall we materialise a torch or two to hand carry?” 
 “Sure.” She did, and so did Ronin. Of course, their other hands held each other’s. “You know Ronin, Donn has really done so much for us. We’ve never done anything for him.”
  “You did do a few paintings of him, and some of the poetry in the archives is yours.”
  “But, look at what he gave us. Look at this island, and everything that’s on it. He engineered the whole thing. And that thing we live in now?”
  “Stefan’s idea, and Thanatos’ architecture.”
  “Stefan. Gods, I can’t believe he isn’t as old as Donn, with his imagination.”
  “What’s even more amazing is that it goes back to his Kyle days, and she was only in her early twenties when she thought of it.”
  Deliah scowled. “You know, I’d really like to give something back to all of them. Donn, Stef and Thanatos?”
  “Besides having insulted them for their alleged sorry skills in bed, and having it recorded for all to see in The Akashic Records, thanks to Donn?”
  Deliah laughed. “I almost wanted to kill Donn for writing that down, but I’ll forgive him. I mean, he did give me a reputation that’s kind of grown on me.”
  “That you’re hard and very demanding of your lovers, or that you don’t compromise yourself for anything?”
  “Yes.”
  “Del, can I ask you a personal question?”
  Deliah cocked her head. “Sure. I might even answer.” 
  “Are you really a cat wearing the form of a person?”
  She pulled her hand out of his, and put it around his waste. “If I were taller, I’d kiss you for that compliment.”
  He lowered his head, and presented his cheek to her. “Since you refuse to shape shift, I shall accommodate you.”
  She kissed him. “I am so glad you agreed to come with us.”
  “I’m so glad you guys invited me.”
  “Yeah. Let’s walk the whole garden, and see if we can think of something to give our favourite psychopomps.”
  “Good idea. I hope the fog stays for our entire stay.”
  It would.

  *****

  After Warren and Sylvia came back from their little sight seeing tour of the dark pole, they landed in the library. The one with books! “That was on awesome little adventure,” said Warren.
  Sylvia pulled out ‘Dragons of Eden’, by Carl Sagan. “Want to read about all the misconceptions of evolution?” They were in the section we humourously named, ‘Delusions of Mankind’.  
  Warren chuckled. “Why read about world illusions? That book is an awfully long joke, wouldn’t you say?”
  “Actually, I’m not sure. I obviously couldn’t have read any of his material while he was alive, being I killed myself a few years before he was published and it never occurred to me to read about erroneous theory after, but now I wonder if it wouldn’t be an enlightening look into the later myths of science.”
  “There were enough of them, huh?”
  Sylvia put the book back. “And those who made those myths were virtually considered gods by many.”
  “Including Ste...Kyle, when she was younger. When Kyle was still a ‘food product’ named Zanna, she thought scientists were the bomb. I don’t want to read Sagan. I’d rather read what made you what you are.”
  “My parents did that. Let’s just walk the aisles, and see what catches our fancy.”
  Warren looked to the ceiling. “You know, I think a phantasy novel would be kind of cool.”
  “Then I should just pull out Dragons of eden again.”
  Warren laughed. “You know what I mean!”
  “OK. It’s a bit of a walk to get to that section, but I love libraries.”
  “I like this library. It’s so eerie, and atmospheric. It’s better than anything we had in Darlington. The quiet of this place just overwhelms me.”
  “I have an idea. I got this from Stefan, but I haven’t read any of her work. C.J. Cherryh. I think I want to read ‘The Morgaine Saga’.”
  “I’ll check it out. I might join you.”
  “OK. Let’s go.”

  *****

  After their walk in the garden of Tech Duinn, Deliah and Ronin walked into the castle. “So, shall we go to the spa?” asked Deliah.
  Ronin stopped, crossed his arms, cocked his head sideways, and looked at her. “My love, my dear. Will it help you to think something up, or do you have something else on your mind?”
  “Oh, wouldn’t you like to sit right in front of a couple of hot jet streams of scented water in a dark room of many coloured torches, with me in your lap facing you?"
  Ronin closed his eyes, shook his head, and laughed. “Oh, maybe.” He uncrossed his arms, stepped forward, and kissed her on the forehead. “If you let me take care of you first.”
  “You have something in mind?”
  “Oh, yeah.”
  "I can't read you."
  "I want to surprise you."
  “So I see. You’re mind is closed to me.”
  “And I would like yours to be as well, after it happens. I do NOT want to see this in print,” said Ronin.
  “Understood.”

  *****

  Percy was sitting down. ‘The asshole had cats thrown into the fire, as well. Black cats where especially high on Antonio’s hit list. I’m sorry, but this was a personal issue with me.’
  Thanatos and Azrael were on each side of Percy. “We forgive you,” said Thanatos. “We understand, but you can’t go around avenging the species that you were.”
  ‘Understood.’
  “I also have to admit, looking back on it, it was as funny as hell,” said Azrael. “You should have seen the look on Antonio’s face, when Percy came at him with a ‘¿Usted no tiene gusto de gatos, eh? ¿Usted mató muchos gatos?’ (You don’t like cats, huh? You killed a lot of cats?) Tony looked like he saw the devil himself. I mean, if I didn’t know better, it was a case of ‘Satan, thy name is cat’, you know?”
  Thanatos said, “We know. We saw what you experienced. It was on the amusing side, in a crude sort of way.”
  “Gods, if I could have been there!” said Stefan.
  “NO!” exclaimed Azrael.

  *****

  Deliah sat next to Ronin. “Oh man, I never even imagined what you just did to me could be done,” she said. 
 “Yeah, well it’s something I’ve been curious about on and off and I’m glad it works, but we really have some thinking to do.”
  “But what do you give to someone who has everything?”
  “You know, I have not a clue. Their ultimate desire is to see the reunification of The One. Other than that, Thanatos cares about omniscience, Donn cares about omniscience, evolution, and everything that exists, and Stefan cares about is everything that exists, omniscience, evolution, cannibal cookbooks specialising in children, and his nose.” 
  “That’s all so abstract, or I just don’t want to go there.”
  “Let’s concentrate on Stefan. He might be the easiest, and then we can find some common ground. I mean, what are his real interests?”
  “Besides his nose? Poetry, history, philosophy, art, animals...I don’t know. The list is huge,” said Deliah.
  Ronin closed his eyes, and threw his head back. “Could there be a clue in the paintings of these guys?”
  “You know, I think you’re onto something. Note how when they put buildings in their paintings, the architecture is always so ancient? There’re a few temples in there, too. Shall we materialise a temple of Death?”
  Ronin straightened up, and looked at her. “That’s an idea. Stef would get a kick out of it, but I don’t know about the others.”
  Deliah scowled thoughtfully. “You know, the temple would also get boring after a short while. This plateau is huge. Do you think we can materialise a whole, small, ancient, cross-culture city?”
  “Oh my God, Del. Are you nuts? Do you have any idea what goes into something like that? I mean, that is a job for Thanatos.”
  “Or Azrael?”
  “Let’s find out if he’s available,” said Ronin.
  Deliah nodded, and closed her eyes.
  Azrael, or rather a piece of him was with them in seconds. He sat on the opposite end of the spa. “Ooh. This is nice.”
  Deliah opened her eyes. “That was fast. Anyway, we were wondering what we could give back to our wonderful hosts, we thought of a concept, and we find we don’t have the skill or technical know-how to do it.”
  Azrael nodded. “I see what you have in mind. Interesting idea.”
  “Greco-Roman, Celtic, Asian, Aztec, Atlantean, all kinds of stuff mixed in there,” said Deliah.
  “Would it be appreciated?” asked Ronin.
  Azrael smiled. “About as much as the garden of Tech Duinn. It actually is a good idea. I’ll do it, and of course, being it is your idea, it is your present.”
  “I hope we didn’t pull you away from anything,” said Deliah.
  “Can't be done. I just split myself up a little more in another time trip. I’m also with Donn, Stef and Thanatos, and in a few thousand other places, remember?” asked Azrael.
  “Oh, how could I forget,” said Deliah. “If I were mortal, I’d probably get a migraine from thinking about it.”
  “I doubt it. You were pretty good at grasping strange concepts. You two are a pretty awesome team, on an intellectual level. You know, I think it would be a good idea for us to do a complete merger and let me get all of your input and present ideas, as we build this thing,” said Azrael.
  “Now, or shall we sit here for a wee while longer?” asked Deliah.
  “I don’t see the harm in indulging in a little bit of hedonism. It’s not one of my more common habits, and I might as well have some real fun once in a while.”
 “A piece of you, huh?” asked Ronin.
  “Oh yeah,” said Azrael.

  *****

  Warren and Sylvia lay on Warren’s ‘not used until now’ bed, atop the covers, both with a copy of ‘Gate of Ivrel’ in hand. When they were both about halfway through, Warren snuggled up to Sylvia. “This lady reminds me of the young Macha.”
  “I can see your point of view. Interesting, about the name, too. Morgaine, Morgan, Morrighan. I don’t know anything about Cherryh, but I bet you anything there’s a correlation,” said Sylvia.  
  “I love her style. You have to put yourself into another mind frame to read it, though. I had to read the first four pages three times, then everything just clicked.”
  “Her writing is kind of poetic. Unusual structure, but I had no problem with it,” said Sylvia.
  Warren raised himself up a little, and put his arm around Sylvia, with her cooperation. “Well, off to her world again.”
  “Hm hm.”
  They both resumed reading. 

 *****

  Azrael, Ronin and Del decided to make the city white. Buildings would be of white marble, alabaster, quartz and limestone, among other things. There would be a few clear crystal structures as well, and effigies off all the cultural Death deities of history known to those of the twenty first century would grace the squares. The effigy of Kali would be the only black statue in the city.
  The city would be walled, it had one entrance, and it had no geometric pattern. It was just placed where there was room, and it would surround the back and sides of the Akashic Castle. There were perhaps a hundred metres between the castle and the city, and it would cover the entire plateau.
  Of course, living plants were out of the question. Thank the gods for holograms and Azrael’s ‘new, improved’ Astroturf, which actually did give the concept of grass a run for its money.
  Oh, it was great. It had seven pyramids of varying cultures, temples all over the place, incredible ancient mansions, and it was a work of art that rivalled The White City, and everything in those realms.
 
 Azrael, Del and Ronin were completely one in mind and form, consisting of an energy mass. They floated above the plateau, and watched their progress, with a few new ideas developing as the city grew. It was an incredible sight, which we all would pick up later by vicarious means.
  Thank the gods it didn’t have to be done by hand. The proportions were identical to that of earth, one of them was like the large pyramid of Khafre in Giza, and is there a need for me to describe the Mayan, Inca and Aztec ruins?
  The first thing one saw when one entered the front gate of the city, was a clear, quartz crystal temple. A silver omega symbol adorned the top front, and centre. Everything the building was made of was quartz, except the floor, which was white marble. In the centre of it, was an altar. It was very simple in design. That altar was the only thing in it, and it was a pretty good-sized edifice. Impressive, to say the least! It was perpetually lit by many torch lights of different coulours, of course. By now, that was expected and mandatory.
  From the perspective of my dear builders, it took a bit of (illusory) time. It wasn’t an easy project. Not even for Azrael. One couldn’t just throw it together like a Lego village. It had to be properly engineered. It was Physical/Etheric. It needed drainage, lightning rods, and plumbing. The thing HAD to have fountains, being the whole lot of us were pretty hooked on them. Floral scented water, of course. We were spoiled beyond spoiled, but I think we deserved it.
  The place would have been blinding in broad daylight. In the dim view of eternal twilight, it had an air of an eerie peace that would be hard to rival.
  No, I haven’t seen it yet in the chronology of this story, but this story is a reflection, so I did see it to describe it before I saw it.
  Hm. I think it’s time to switch scenes, here.

  *****

  Me, Thanatos, ‘our’ time tripped Azrael who wasn’t working on building our city, and Stef were now coddling Percy. That creature actually managed to make Azrael feel guilty over how he had reacted over Percy’s indiscretion. I swear; Percy could make The Source Itself feel guilty over something that Percy did wrong.
  Well, considering how Azrael was a direct connexion to The Source, I might not be being sarcastic.
  I scratched Percy behind the ears. “It’s OK, kitten. We’ll still take you on our cases once in a while, but maybe not on those that affect you so personally.”
  ‘I’m sorry, but all detachment I had just fell to the wayside when I saw that man’s history.’
  “He had a lot to learn, and learn it, he will,” said Thanatos. “I wouldn’t exactly want to face what he’s due to face.” 
  ‘As far as I’m concerned, he can’t pay a high enough price.’
  “Not even being forced to live again?” asked Stefan.
  ‘Stef, you have got to see it from my perspective. You hated your life, but mine was absolutely wonderful thanks to you. I had everything a feline could dream of.’
  “Kitten, I loved you so much. Still do,” said Stefan
  ‘I love you just as much, and I’m grateful you appreciate my constant derisiveness.’
  “It's hilarious, and we wouldn’t want you any other way. It’s nice to have one individual in the household who can stand up to Deliah,” said Stefan.
  “I’ll have to second that opinion,” said Thanatos.
  “Same,” I just had to say. “The comedic aspect to their sparring matches leaves mine and Macha’s past sessions in the dust.”
  “Oh, I don’t know about that,” said Thanatos. “I’ve witnessed some pretty witty interludes that you didn’t write down.”
  “Let’s keep them like that,” I said. “I think there are some conversations I’ve had that my readers would really rather not know about.”
  “Yeah, right,” said Stefan. “I’d like to know about them.”
  “No you wouldn’t,” I said.
  “Some of them were quite vulgar, in analogy,” said Thanatos.
  “Now I definitely want to hear about them,” said Stefan.
  “Sure, but I want an exchange,” I said.
  “My nose on a plate, right?” asked Stefan.
  “Sounds good to me,” I said.
  “Forget it. Keep your witticisms to yourself then,” said Stefan.
  “And you can keep your nose.”
  “I’ll look you up in the Akashic Library,” said Stefan.
  “Then you better keep your guard up, Red Tail,” I said.
  “Me, or my nose?”
  “Yes.”
  “OK, I concede. I can’t exist with the threat to my most precious...”
  ‘Will you two please shut up,' sent Percy. ‘I mean how old are you guys?’
  I chuckled. “Point taken. So what shall we do now?”
  Azrael extended his hands. “Link up with me. You too, Percy! You’re going to like this.”
  “What?!” asked Stefan.
  “I’m going to take you forward to everyone else’s perception of time. Deliah and Ronin gave the four of us psychopomps a present, and it’s not finished as we speak, so I want to take us to when it is finished.”
  “What is it?” I asked.
  Azrael smiled. “You’ll see.”
  We all held hands, and Stefan put his arm around Percy.
  We were moved forward.


























 Chapter 8


  Gods above, and below! Ronin and Del were there to greet us, and we made an ‘emergency call’ to everyone who lived on this planet to ‘Get your asses here NOW, dammit!’
  Needless to say, everyone was overwhelmed. Deliah and Ronin had dedicated the walled city to every psychopomp that ever existed, with of course, the ones of my current household truly being in the forefront.
  Huge statues of Thanatos and I stood at the sides of the main entrance, and we had Claymores crossed. I was in my oft worn tunic, and Thanatos was in the battle gear that he wore as the Keith persona. He was in loincloth, boots, gauntlet, torque, and sword harness. A thick bracelet was on his left wrist, and an asp was on his upper right, not that he wore jewelry very often in real life, but hey. Artistic licence.
  The statues were beautiful, but weird. Two identical looking dudes guarding the gate, just one was a bit shorter (I was eleven and a half cent...I mean four and a half inches shorter than Thanatos, since I’ve let myself hit full maturity status.), and dressed differently. White marble.  
  Of course, Del and Ronin got a hug from everyone, and a kiss on the forehead from some.  
  How did we see the city? We walked. We went on a tour. We didn’t split up. We’d never spent so much ‘illusory’ time together as a complete group in all our history together. We walked in total amazement. Even Thanatos, Azrael, Del and Ronin were pretty awed. If the artists themselves are blown away, it must be good.
  “This has got to be one of the greatest contributions to our kind that ever was or will be,” said Thanatos. “Del, Ronin, Azrael, I am eternally grateful for this wonderful work of art, and I’m sure I speak for everyone who’s aware of it.”
  “You definitely speak for me,” said Stefan.
  “I think Tech Duinn and the Akashic Castle are just as good,” said Azrael. “Just more contained.”
  “I thank you, but I beg to differ in how this astounding work affects me,” I said. “I have never been so overwhelmed by a sight in all my existence.”
  “That’s because it’s new. Wait a while, and after a few trips here. You’ll get a better perspective, but I will admit that this is one of the wonders of existence,” said Azrael. "I'm proud to have helped build it."
  “You know, I don’t think I want to go to work for a while,” I said.
  “I know I don’t,” said Stefan.
  “I do, with the new perspective on my job, but I’m just going to split myself up again so I can join you in enjoying this new addition to our plateau,” said Thanatos.
  “I'm not splitting up by time tripping again until I get my fill of this. I'd rather be completely focused on this with no distraction.” said Stefan.
  “I'm with you there, Stef,” I said.
  Thanatos moved in on me, and put his arm around me. He kissed me on the temple. “Keep this conversation up, and I may change my mind and join your way of thinking.”
  I put my arm around his waist, and leaned into him. “My love throughout eternity. Please do.”
  He stroked my hair. “Be a little selfish, huh?” 
  “Sure,” I said.
  “OK, I will,” said Thanatos. He held out his free hand. “Stef?”
  Stefan came over to us, and wrapped himself around Thanatos with Than returning the hold, as usual. “With us wanting to go back to work, you think that it might be a good idea that we become as effective as possible after we're done having our fun here?” Stefan asked. 
  “What do you think?” asked Thanatos.
  “I think I have a damn good idea, and how to get there,” said Stefan.
  'A rare lobster and a bowl of organic cream for your thoughts,’ conveyed Percy.
  Stefan said, "I think we should make this city a way station like Tech Duinn.”
  I scowled. “It’s too advanced a level. It’s higher than The White City.”
  Thanatos smiled. “It worked for Warren.”
  “So it did,” I said.
  “It can also work for any of those in his mind frame.”
  Warren’s eyebrows went up. “I was just a dreamy blue collar kid who wasn’t motivated by anything you guys are.”
  “And what are you now, that the opportunity's presented itself? Driven to learn and create just like everyone else here. I said, ‘mind frame’. I didn’t say anything about what kind of a life you lived, and didn’t have a choice in after you chose it, did I? This was a statement regarding your potential, which you are meeting with flying colours,” said Thanatos.
  “Oh,” said Warren. “Gotcha.”
  “So, I say we save this locale for those having aspired to make the world a better place for humanity through their dreams and endeavours. Yes Warren, you wanted to make the world a better place with your music. You are in the league,” said Thanatos.
  “That’s one hell of an appealing idea,” I said.
  “Totally,” agreed Stefan. 
  “This is so mind blowing. I think my euphoria metre just blew its top,” I said.
  “Fine,” said Thanatos. “Let’s share that, and let’s all do a complete merger, and go as far as we can go, to celebrate.”
  “Good idea,” said Deliah. “All those opposed, raise your tails.”
  ‘I’m not opposed, and it seems you’re not giving anyone else a choice,’ sent Percy.
  “Actually, I want to see if anyone will grow a tail to raise,” said Deliah.
  “Not likely,” I said.
  Everyone convened in a circle. “Then let us go,” said Macha,
  We all held hands, though with Percy, Stefan and Kevalyn held his tail, and we were off for one of the most beautiful unifying moments we ever had.























 Chapter 9


  The idea of the new way station, worked. In fact it ended up being very conducive to existence itself to make our locale a stopover for the more enlightened members of the world, though statistically there weren't that many.
  Of those that we brought here, quite a few grew very interested in us, and stayed for a long-term span. A select few actually joined our ‘family’. Of course they were those who actually chose to join the ranks of psychopompery. It ended up being a very productive manoeuvre that sped up the reunification process even more.
  The One had become the many to recognise all aspects of Itself, and then Itself did experience the desire to become The One again, and so it would be.
  Would The One remain content to remain united, or would It break apart again?
  If It did break apart again, we hoped all worlds would be as wonderful as ours, with the evils, inconveniences and stupidity of the past just being a bad subconscious memory.
  Yes, we all finally found out the 'real' main reason Azrael came to us. He was out to get us all on the job or back on the job to make everything glue itself together a little faster. After he and Thanatos told us, I just couldn't do anything else but laugh and shake my head. After all, it was a good thing not only for The Source, but also for us. Of course he also wanted us to work out the last few problems we still had with ourselves, and we did. We all shortly ended up hitting the same level of evolution after we came out of full retirement, and we enjoyed ourselves more than ever before in ways we couldn't have imagined before, while on the job. As for Stefan's 'bird' that he brought back from prehistory that I'd mentioned earlier, he was an archaeopteryx who Stefan had named Reggie. Stef also hybridised himself with the animal, like what Andre had done with Percy. Granted, if took a while due to a bit of 'culture shock' from the perspective of our lovely new feathered friend, but eventually Reggie proved to be quite helpful to us. He will be mentioned in my future project. I'm going to write of some of the more interesting cases we've had on the job. Sometimes the tales will be from the perspective of the case, and sometimes the tales will be from the perspective of the Gate Keeper. I hope you enjoy them after they are complete. They will be called 'The Gate Keeper's Archives'. 
  So end The Xanon Chronicles, proper.
  For real this time, for there is really nothing left to say about us on this tangent.
  Maybe I’ll see you some time.
  Maybe I’ll adopt you.
  Maybe we can work together at our new leisurely pace of whenever the Hell we feel like it.
  Maybe not, but hey! It’s up to you to follow your own path.
  Be well.
  Ta-ta. Before I go on to something completely different. For this is an ending, but not THE end.










End of Volume Eight, and End of Introductory Set.

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