Shadowed Magic (The Enlightened Species Novella) (13 page)

He looked at each confused face of his children, well aware he must share the same expression. If this were possible, they need not have lost their mothers … except Umbrae’s of course. For Eros, a lifetime with Aymee meant everything, but he couldn’t have done it with each of his wives. “Thank you.” He met the eyes of his children individually, flooding them with his love and gratitude through his paternal bond to each of them. Umbrae withdrew her Sicarius dagger from her ankle holder. Each of his sons followed their sister’s lead. Eros took one more look at Aymee whimpering with pain.

“I’ve got her,” Herme whispered. The healer still appeared sickly.

Eros gave the healer a nod of appreciation, withdrew his dagger and took his place in the circle of his family. “We are—“ he began. “SICARIUS!” The voices of his children unified with his in a choreographed drop to one knee, daggers plunged into the soil. They took a moment of silence in that position to thank the Fates and the universe for the bond of family before rising.

His family united, Eros resumed his spot on the ground and lifted Aymee into his lap. A strangled cry gurgled from her throat. He rocked, clutching her to his chest. Eros needed answers … now.

Herme brushed Aymee’s cheek, the compassion in the healer's face spoke volumes. He met Eros's gaze. “We discovered last year that
potentially
the blood of an
ancient
Volaticus Elven could re-animate a human upon a human's last breath of air and final heartbeat. Though any ancient that might try it would likely die of blood loss before the transition was completed or the human’s spirit was lost to the hereafter.”

Innanna picked up the conversation from there. “That is the scientific aspect. Returning a human to life is not the same as enlightening. That is something the Oracles' and Fates' advisors have known far longer than it took science to prove. The Fates have been adamantly against our interference, so we’ve been bound by oath to remain silent. Through your incredible bond to your children and vicariously your children’s blood bonds to others of our species, your pain rippled through our kind with monumental force. The Fates reached out to me in response to your pain and revealed the course needed for Aymee to live and enlighten. Please understand, Eros, the Fates will still bar us from instigating human enlightenment. Aymee received this gift because she is barren, her psychic enlightenment can never be passed down. Therefore, the destined path of natural human enlightenment is not compromised. The other contributing factor is your love for her, together with the strength and integrity of you personally. For those reasons, the Fates gave her this gift. Aymee is the first and only enlightened human in existence. This will be a challenge for both of you. She will need your unwavering support.”

His gaze returned to Aymee as her cries faded to whimpers. “And she will have it. Do you have an idea of what abilities she will possess?” Aymee slowly quieted in his arms, her eyes opened and closed.

Herme clasped a hand to Eros's shoulder. “We believe humans will have a few abilities similar to ours though not as pronounced. Telekinesis and possibly the ability to port … no one is sure. If the abilities do manifest, they will likely have more limitations in range and distance. It's doubtful she will be able to initiate telepathic communication though a Volaticus might be able to bridge telepathically to her psyche
and
maintain
that bridge. We currently can’t do that with the humans of today. She will undoubtedly have abilities specific to humanity that are currently unknown.”

Whatever they needed to walk through, Eros was willing. Aymee released her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Eros, I can't see right. It's like looking through night goggles … only I can see details, too.”

Eros met Herme's gaze while holding Aymee against his chest and spoke to his children standing behind him in view of Aymee. “Shadow,” he ordered.

Aymee sucked in a breath. “I can see them. Well, sort of.” Her voice trailed off in wonder. “The details went away. Now, everyone is just colors of red, orange and yellow. I can’t tell the boys apart. Umbrae’s shorter, so I know which one is her.”

“It sounds like infrared, my love.”

The healer nodded in agreement to Eros evaluation.

“I will work with you to help control it.” Eros smiled.

Aymee quieted in his arms. “Why is Umbrae so … happy?” She lifted from him to hold his face between her hands. “You love me.” She searched his face, blinked hard and searched his face again.

“I love you.” Eros kissed her lips gently. “You are empathic, too. That one I can help you with as well.”

“Aymee,” Herme called her attention. He handed her a leather bound book. “The SOSC is here for you. We will be learning as you learn. You are the future of humanity.”

Aymee took the book and flipped through the blank pages. “I don't understand.”

Herme smiled at her kindly. “You are enlightened. The first of your species. The book is so you may document your abilities toward the aid of humanity … someday. If you feel yourself weakening, you must drink from Eros or another ancient Volaticus Elven.”

Aymee glanced from face to face blinking and shook her head as if to clear it. “Like
blood
?” She shivered at the thought. “Won't that
weaken
Eros?”

Everyone laughed. Daniel piped up. “Holy shit, girl, you already sucked him down like a Big Gulp.”

Aymee’s jaw dropped, but happiness ripped through Eros. This was his Aymee.

Herme patted Aymee’s shoulder. “Don't worry, I assure you he will be strengthened by your blood in return. It is the way of mates.”

Aymee sucked in another breath, and Eros braced himself. What if she didn't accept him?

Her hushed question filled him with hope. “I can bloodmate?”

Herme shook his head. “Not exactly. Yours will be a life-mating … I think. And only if you choose, of course.”

Aymee spun her face to Eros, blue pools full of yearning. “Will you mate with me?”

Eros grinned and kissed her hard. His heart pounded in his chest.
MINE!
Aymee sighed and embraced him returning his passion with hers. Herme cleared his throat and ended the moment. Eros unfurled his feelings for her knowing they would roll through her developing psyche. “You stole my line and my heart. Will you be my mate?”

Aymee gave him a mischievous grin. “You going to do anything else stupid?”

Of course, Aymee would bring that up now. He grinned back at her. “Probably. I will also love you without measure for the rest of our lives. And, cherish your love as the great gift it is. I will –“

Aymee put a single finger to his lips. “I’m all yours.” She dropped her finger and winked at him. “Hope you own a helmet.”

“Witch.”

Aymee leaned in her breath warmed his lips. She smiled into his eyes. “I love you, Eros Sicarius. I promise I will honor you as your mate. Always.” Eros groaned with pleasure and kissed her. His mate -forever.

Aquaties:
An enlightened species whose primary habitat is in the water. They have the ability to use sonar and high-frequency sounds. They have extremely sensitive hearing but average eyesight, and their skin is opalescent and capable of absorbing solar energy from the sun for conversion to thermodynamic energy. They manipulate current and tides, generating gravity and stability to the chortals. They have retractable fins, and their hair and eyes are usually pastel shades of coral, blue, green, and pink. They can manipulate melanin to appear flesh-colored and with typical hair and eye color when they want to blend in with humanity. Extremely tall, both males and females are usually between five foot ten and seven feet, with legs that are long in comparison to their torsos. Prone to multiple births called paired siblings.

Bonds:
Established by birth or blood, bonds enable communication and locating/tracking/finding/aiding the bond-mates. Physical bonds can be established by touch.

Types include:

A)
Bloodmates:
A chemical/biological compatibility within Volaticus couples that determines forever mating. Once mated, the pair have private and full access to each other’s emotions and minds.

B)
Bloodbonds:
A bond created between parties that allows for private telepathic communications, port sigs, and aid when necessary. They can be either temporary, with the exchange of less than an ounce of blood between parties, or permanent with the exchange of an ounce or more between parties. Permanent bonds once established can only be diluted in strength by a series of full blood transfusions, and completely removed by death.

C)
Close
relation
bonds/birth
bonds:
Same as a bloodbond, only acquired at birth to members of immediate family, ie: mothers, fathers, and siblings born of the same mother.

D)
Physical/family
bonds:
When physically linked, members of the same bloodline or highly developed ancients (usually over seven thousand years old) can boost, share, or transfer their psychic abilities, memories and powers temporarily.

Chortal:
A permanently fixed port between two locations that requires less psychic energy; a safe exit point.

Elven:
One of the two separate races within the Volaticus species, Elven are born with all the Volaticus physical and psychic abilities. The young mentally and physically develop at a far slower rate than humans or their Hulven counterparts. Their abilities continue to grow throughout their lifetimes, with focused targeting of potential. Elven female reproduction is limited to an estrus period that occurs once every twenty-five to fifty years and lasts two weeks. All Elven are anemic and require iron from a blood host.

Energy
weavers:
Elven with an ability that allows the bearer to create energy weaves.

Energy
weaves:
Large blankets of energy that can sense, alert, block, protect and camouflage anything they cover. Weaves are primarily used to hide communities of enlightened species from human vision by making it appear to be harsh or inhospitable terrain, i.e. cliffs or canyons. Though immovable, it can flex to continue the illusion if a human encounters it.

Fates
: Heavenly manifestations that communicate with the Oracles on behalf the source of all energy known as the universe.

High
Ones:
Volaticus usually over ten thousand years old

High
Panel:
A Volaticus governing body with an elected speaker and separate advisers chosen for having reached the highest potential of ability. There is an advisor for every demographic within the species.

Hulven:
Human/Elven hybrid race within the Volaticus species, they are born appearing fully human and develop mentally and psychically at the same rate as human children. Hulven go through a painful transformation around the age of twenty-five, suffering through the rapid body changes to obtain wings, sanguindentes, and directional hearing. Hulven young can be either anemic or iron rich after Becoming. Females retain the capacity for both human ovulation and Elven estrus, making them highly fertile. Males are born sterile.

Morsdente:
Volaticus killers of enlightened species who use their dentes to kill at the vein of another, temporarily trapping the victim’s psychic energy and consciousness. This psychic energy is addictive and creates a “high” in the Morsdente.

Oracles:
Individuals of enlightened species who are able to communicate with the Fates/universe. They receive visions and precognition of events to come.

Port:
The process of using electromagnetic energy to fold space and travel between locations.

Readers:
An ability that allows the bearer to read and project into minds and create private or public transfer of another’s personal thoughts/memories without requiring any type of bond. Historically persecuted and exploited or killed, they tend to hide their gift and are usually members of the Oracles.

Rogue:
Those among the three enlightened species who undermine the systems. Rogues kill and/or exploit humans. They create blood/breeding compounds, birthing an army raised with a cult mentality in an effort to achieve world domination or other diabolical plans. Some are into slave trading or illegal research that treats people of any species as specimens.

Sanguindente
(aka
dentes):
Retractable fangs. A characteristic of the Volaticus species developed to feed on the blood of humans to maintain their iron levels

Shadower/Ghosts:
An ability genetically specific to a particular bloodline that allows bearers to become invisible and shield their psychic energy signatures to all but the very powerful and ancient. Vulnerable to the pressure sensitivity of the Tellus and the sonar echoes of the Aquaties.

Siphon:
An ability genetically specific to a particular bloodline that allows the bearer to see and draw off the energy of others.

Symbiosis:
The close and mutually beneficial interaction between two or more different biological species.