The Last Days of Atlantis (35)

Dawn crested the watery horizons of Atlantis when the messenger arrived from Miss Hope with the news of Lord Kestrel’s removal from Atlantis. Sert sat with the remaining three of us, reading the message to all of us. Silence reigned around the dinning room over our untouched breakfast meal. I avoided looking at them while thought flooded their mind at the fact Kestrel had been removed by those that had sent him here.

“If we petition Odin? Or the other deities?” Meli suggested suddenly. Sert’s and Cole’s head snapped up and turned to look at her. I know what they were thinking and knew I would have to crush this hope within them.

“We send word out to the people of what has happen and request they all implore their deities to intercede in Kestrel’s favor.” Cole replied quickly.

“Lord Kestrel’s name will be in their thoughts, on their lips, and in their hearts as they beseech all the deities for his return to us.” Sert added with a triumphant smile.

“It will fail.” I grumbled softly. I did not look away from my plate as a growl had replaced my normal background purring. “Our Heart and Queen stands above them all.” I reminded them. “Petition her for Lord Kestrel’s return since she is the one that had him sent away.” I concluded. They could see my shoulders hunched, trembling, as I sat gazing blindly at my plate of untouched food. I feared my eyes would betray my ruse I placed in my words.

“The people have started fearing her in her madness.” Cole returned slowly. Realization started dawning in his mind about this possibility failing. “None would willingly call upon a mad woman to save them.” he added softly and dejected.

“But they will cal for the son of Madness and Passion?” I retorted with a growling snort. “Then we are forced to save ourselves without the deities’ hand to interfere.” I growled. My plate flew across the room before I stormed away from them. The heard the main door to our house slam shut loudly followed by silence. I stood in perfect silence at the side of the opening to the dining room, listening to their words.

“We are truly idiotic.” Meli stated under her breath. “Talking like we are while not realizing how hurt young Kestrel is feeling.” she explained. A sigh escaped the men at the table.

“He was Kestrel’s shadow.” Sert commented.

“Anywhere Kestrel went, Redpath would follow somehow since he was a kitten.” Cole replied. “He even sneaked into the Council Chambers with Kestrel and no one knew but me.” he added so softly.

“And now Kestrel is somewhere that he cannot follow and continue protecting him.” Meli continued. I could sense the sadness slowly weighing them down. “It must be driving him mad with frustration of not being at Kestrel’s side.” she added. I nodded my head before silently leaving for real.

I did feel bad having to lie to them but for all the others to believe Kestrel has been removed, I had to maintain this painful lie to them. Cole would get a notice to head out to visit Ambassador Rosalia within this week keeping him safely away from what was to come. This was the trap to draw in Callistra onto Atlantis and end her plans permanently. I thought I would feel rage at his half-sister but I felt calm thinking of destroying her. As I paced the street feigning angry annoyance, I felt the twin primordial dragons swirling around Atlantis in the same pattern they had upon the ring. They waited patiently for their orders to either crush the land under Atlantis to sink it or hold it up until I succeeded in my duties.

“Patience!” I mentally ordered them. I received a mental nod from both in return. Their ephemeral form glided in the space where water and earth met as they spiraled. “If I need time, hold the central core above the waves until I can end this part of the plan.” I informed them. I received flashes of their memories of the torture they suffered at her hands. Their growl matched mine as I felt no doubt that she needed to be destroyed. I also received visions all the times Genin saved them from Genia’s twisted form of kindness. He could not harm her because of a promise to his mother, but I was not held back by this promise. “She will not survive beyond the day she sets feet upon my island.” I assured them in a deep mental growl. She was the true opposite of Kestrel and had done her last evil deed towards existence.

It would be a week before Callistra’s bomb went off. I had been stalking Peregrine during that week while listening to the darkening rumors. With the destruction of Lemuria at the Queen’s own hands, an air of death had fallen upon the citizens of Atlantis. Even Munin had ran away from Atlantis during this week as his concubines were left behind. Many of the foreigners added to the list of people evacuating during that last week. Word of the Queen’s insane actions, Her rebuking Lord Kestrel, and lying about all of it, had the foreigners and non-humans leaving in droves. I quickly had Shal, Siren, and the other abandoned concubines moved to a place closer to the harbor and arranged a ship ready to take them away as the first signs of Atlantis sinking.

Chichi remained manning the Royal Kitchen while his staff was moody and unmotivated. Nightingale had sent her trio of retinue away the day after Kestrel died using the excuse of his reported removal as reason enough for her. The world pulled away from Atlantis as if a mist had risen to cloud it from their mind. It was already being turned into a legend thanks to the Secret Faeries. I did not let a sign of mirth show on my face as I shifted forms and faces while keeping Genia’s bomb under surveillance. I did notice Sert and Meli searching for me to ask for my forgiveness to their stupid comments. I did not reveal myself to them, they needed to think I vanished into the shadows trying to find my own way to reach Kestrel or abandoned Atlantis for Dia’s kingdom.

As the week was coming to an end, a decree that was mostly ignored come from Annianka. She ordered the Royal Guards to kill any that approached her Royal Tower. She claimed all of Atlantis had become her enemy and the enemy of the Heartstone itself. This was received by the Atlantians as their mind believed this fact and most moved to the outer rings of Atlantis. The Royal Guards obeyed by simply making sure she could see no one from her prison. Miss Hope sealed the door and joined in the patrols to protect the citizens from her misplaced rage caused by her insanity. And Peregrine’s daily walking pattern changed as this happened.

He was heading directly towards the forbidden weapon that had crushed Lemuria. The Guards did not even realize what was happening as they fell to his swift surprise attacks. I did not prevent him from doing this. I simply followed in the shadows as he did another thing he had no knowledge about. He set the controls of the device to target Atlantis itself. His hand hovered over the crystal button to activate the device as I sense him resisting this final action. His head snapped to one side as blood dribbled from his ears, nostrils, and bubbled out of his mouth as he fell forward to slam down upon the button.

The first tremors made everyone panic as they started rushing towards the harbor. The dolphin shriek madly as they emptied the pools around Atlantis made for them to visit the citizens. Realization was slow at how truly bad things were turning but the Guards and my friends worked together to get them upon ships and out to sea. The outer rings started collapsing first moving inwards as those that had not boarded ships were forced to pull back. I warned the dragons to hold firm keeping the central rings above the waves. Part of it would keep some alive on the outer edge while I could deal with Genia in the central zone by the Heartstone. The growling reply from the dragons was both their acceptance and my warning. She was here.

I reached to open spot between the Heartstone and Annianka’s tower. The Queen was stumbling around lost in her delusions as she faced off with Genia in her Callistra form. I duplicated myself having my echo become my feline form while I took Chichi’s appearance. I knew, with a quick mental check, that he was assisting in the evacuations with Meli, Sert, Nightingale, the Royal Guards, and the Council Guards. I moved my echo into position while I watched the events closely.

“No Royal Consort of the worm Munin shall ever sit upon the throne of Atlantis!” Annianka screamed at Genia. “She is using the power of Atlantis against me.” she muttered loudly to herself. The sneer of disgust on Callistra’s face at been confused with a common concubine was priceless to me. This, unfortunately, showed how lost she was within the delusion that thing in the Heartstone had over her. A bolt of black energy formed in Genia’s fist before launching toward the lost Queen. She did not even try to dodge the attack, walking directly into the bolt. Her body was tossed back from the strike to slam against the broken walls of her tower.

“Silly broken thing.” Callistra cackled at her. She stepped directly toward Annianka. “Once you are gone, I will shatter that Heartstone and destroy everything including the Balance shard within it.” she threatened. She raised her hand to create another bolt of negative energy to slaughter Annianka. “Goodbye Joy!” she interjected. She released the bolt as I stepped into the path, catching her attack in a hand easily.

“Not nice hitting someone when they are down, sister.” I replied wit a sneer. I absorbed the bolt in to my hand and body. “Too bad this body is not as easy to run as my own.” I added. Even she had been lied to about this situation. She was attacking Hope and not Joy. She believe the vanished shard, Balance, sat here in the Heartstone terminating any chance they could ever be one again. I felt pleasure seeing how she was as deluded about everything nearly as badly as Annianka herself.

“Using that fool’s body will not stop me from killing your shards of light here in Atlantis.” she screeched back at me.

“Thank you for coming, my love.” Annianka whispered. And consciousness left her a crumpled mess by the wall. I started moving at Genia while my furry echo moved into a closer position while staying hidden.

“Do you believe that destroying the HeartStone will kill what is within it?” I asked calmly.

“We will not know until I blow this island out of existence, will we?” she returned bluntly. Her cold sneer and blazing eyes proved that none of my words would reach her. She did this to spite me, anger me, hurt me. How little she truly knew Genin, or me.

“You will only release a monster upon this world.” I answered. “You will release my wife’s murderer.” I added hoping this might have her faltering in her next attack. The maniacal laugh erupted from her as black crackling energy formed around both her fists. With a double punch motion, the bolts fired directly at me. My duplicate moved with his unnatural feline speed to block the negative energy projectiles path. They hit him directly in his chest as he is tossed back into my arms. “No more!” I growled.

One step forward had my pawed fist striking across her cheek. A fist wreathed with solar flames drove deep into her solarplexis. Twin stars spun willy in both my amber feline eyes while my body shifted fully into Kestrel’s form. My fist wreathed with solar flame and nebular lightning as I pushed her back toward the edge of the open section. My clawed hand grasped her by the throat as I pinned her against a broken wall.

My other hand reached back as my cat claws popped out fully. They were blazing like comets as I slashed at her body merciless to cause her all the pain she had inflicted to others. My grip at her throat tighten into a straggling grip as I rose her to stand straight. My other hand went back and closed upon the hilt of the Sword of Light. I drew it into existence in this place as I growled deeply at her. Her eyes were fluttering as she noticed what I held. I drove the blade into her vile heart and deep into the broken wall.

“Have you forgotten your oath to mother?” she hissed out to me. I smiled as my new cosmic feline form filled with liquid night skies, 3 sets of stardust wings sprung from my back, and the white robes flowed along the lines of my much larger body.

“I forget nothing, foolish child.” I growled at her. Her eyes grew wide as she realized what stood before her. “Genin did leave a parting message for you Genia.” I whispered as my growl turned into a pleased purr. I grinned at her my nose nearly touching hers. “How does it feel to have a bit of Balance in you before you truly die?” I asked in a purring arrogant whisper.

“No!” she screamed before the white flames erupted over her body. Her form as Callistra was being consumed first before the flames turned true black removing her immortal spirit from existence. I pulled the shining sword from the wall after she was gone. A flick of my wrist had it slipped back in place within the pillar of light housing the rest of the Ley’ä’Luna. I held my cosmic force reaching out with my mind to touch the last remaining beings alive upon Atlantis. None of them would escape if I did not interfere this one last time.

The spiraling dragons’ speed increased as they pulled Atlantis to the bottom of the seas and deeper with their vortex. Portals open under the feet and fallen bodies of the living safely pulling them away from the disaster. The ships that had escaped on the breezes from Cassis held those that I did not need to assist as I myself sunk with the city under the waves. Lady Nightingale, Sert, and Meli looked upon the empty sea that once was their shining island home. Atlantis was gone and they were now all refugees sailing towards Africa’s southern tip where Aurora had already made arrangement for them to be spread out in groups around the world to help educate and make the world grow along the proper path.

“One life can be wasted from my nine so a part of me remains with the ruins hidden away.” I stated. My feet touched the bottom of the ocean while Atlantis slipped deeper to disappear. An echo of myself formed and collapsed sinking into the mire of ocean soil. My other form raised skyward but my body had been left behind with that echo that died for and with Atlantis. I crossed the skies heading to Egypt to my niece. My last duty was to tell her of her mother’s death at my hands and how Genin had stolen her away to protect her from her mother, Genia.

I did make one stop first not counting my echoes upon the edge of South America. A large group of Atlantian refugees stood by Chichi as they tried understand how they had end up there. They had been spread out along the outer remaining rings while Chichi had been scavenging for provisions to feed them. And the next moment they were on the this unknown rocky beach as waves slowly lapped at the shore. I appeared and floated to him as the refugees of Atlantis cleared a path for me.

“I bring you your last orders.” I stated in a hollow voice. My feline body shimmered and seemed partially transparent to their eyes. “Head northward to the place you will feel the energies of heaven and hell making war at their gates.” I explained to all of them. “You will also feel my presence within the earth and air of this place keeping both at bay behind their barred gates.” I continued as a few nodded their understanding. “Make this place a bastion for Atlantis by covering it with a mystic network from the minds and hands of your healers.”

“We will die long before reaching this place Lord Kestrel of the Redpath.” one survivor muttered.

“We shall never be able to accomplish this task, sir.” another added softly. They looked crushed under this command I had given them. My feet touched the ground as I place a gentle paw on the cheeks of the two that had spoken. I lifted their face to look into my eyes.

“Your bodies may die, but your spirits will know my words and recognize your Atlantian brothers and sisters.” I informed them in a soft purring voice that echoed around all of them. “With each rebirth, you continue moving towards this point to create this wondrous bastion for the return of the true Queen and Princess.” I explained to all of them. “Have faith in what sits deep inside each of you and know I have faith in all of you.” I continued. “Nothing you do will end in a failure in my eyes.” I added specifically to those two that had spoken.

“What of our other brothers and sisters that survived?” a different one asked. She was a mother and her child sail on a ship with Nightingale.

“They shall receive their orders in dreams and know what they must do to create their own bastion for a future where Atlantis returns to protect all of us.” I answered. “Many spirits lay trapped with Atlantis where it rest below the ocean waves.” I warn them. “When Atlantis return, those will be reborn once more in this world. “Their wait will be very long, but you will all be able to return to Atlantis one day.” I concluded. They looked at each other as the eyes sparkled with life again. In one voice they agreed to the task placed upon them. I bowed formally to all of them before drifting aside with Chichi.

“Help them little brother.” I ordered. “When your true land calls, heed it since others will be in place to continue encouraging them.” I explained.

“By your command, Brother Order.” Chichi replied. We bowed to each other before he returned to start organizing them to erect a temporary camp and to collect needed supplies for their coming trip. I took one last look over all of them before dissipating this echos from here. My true self stood with Muse since I had a few last requests for Muse. I lowered myself before her in the bow of a begging dragon child to her. I then ask that she send messages in their dreams to keep them all strong and walking the path towards righteousness and light until I was to be awaken again. Her silvery giggled told me without words that she accepted without any more explanations. I then requested she sent me a dream in each my future lives to remind me that she is still working to keep the dream of true peace alive. She kissed my furry head and whispered her agreement and her love for my noble spirit. I was then back upon the sky path to Egypt. All my copies had disappeared and returned to me as I landed before her home. She was smiling at me as I stood looking into her eyes.

“Your mind is very open to me, little cat, including my Uncle’s memories.” she stated. I nodded but said nothing as I allowed her to see everything including her true birth. “I have seen the evil my true mother has wrought upon the beings of the universe and understand why my Uncle removed me to this place.” she said calmly.

“I am happy you accept what has happened.” I returned in an empty tone.

“Her death could not be averted without cursing this world into decay and self destruction.” she replied with a sigh. “Are you ready to become two separate beings while your true self is sealed away indefinitely?” she asked smiling. I nodded yes as she stepped closer to me. “You will always be forgiven no matter what you do for the greater good.” she added in a whisper. I smiled as I felt my mind spiraling through shadows into darkness

...

“Wait, where am I?” I asked as I now stood within the Temple of Light but no sound met my ears. I cloaked figure move to me, taking hand in his liquid blackness hand, he pulled me toward the pillar and through it into an odd place. I knew this was the Void himself showing me something in the frozen moment between seconds of my being sealed away. The land we floated over was pockmarked and some still smoked from the destructive force that had struck it. Flashes of dark light followed by explosive thunder was trailing parallel to our flight path. We arrived to the edge of green valley to see a small blob-like humanoid form of liquid night skies filled with all the cosmic elements laying there. He stood slowly as the blasts approached toward the other end of the green patch. A little girl about the same size as the first child appeared on the field. She had indigo and dark blue tones of scales on her body with blazing purple eyes. They fell upon the first boy I had seen and rushed at him with black fire blazing at her tightly balled fists. She screamed incoherently as she charged with flames spreading from her fist to wreath her fully small body.

The boy stood staring as she charged at him. Her steps faltered then stopped as she stood face to face with the boy. Her eyes grew wide showing the black sclera surrounding her blazing purple eyes. Her angry battle screams shifted into giggles and laughter of happiness as she started dancing around the other child. The flames had disappeared as she twirled in a frenzy of elation I could feel were I floated witnessing this meeting. She rushed up to take the blob child’s hands into hers as her eyes locked on his twin star spinning eyes.

“Me Genin?” she asked softly. She was trembling with excitement and worry. “Me Genin?” she asked louder. I could feel her fear, her despair, and her utter confusion. The boy shook his head rapidly as truly awaking before his eyes looked into hers.

“Me Lyra?” he asked softly. Shock, disbelief, and happiness filled this boy as he looked the little girl over. “Me Lyra!” he screamed tossing his arms around her neck. She shrieked back merrily as they hugged.

“Me Genin came back to me.” she giggled. They started dancing around holding hands. “No more being alone.” she added before pulling him into another tight hug. They returned to dancing in circle until the both feel to the grassy ground laughing. We floated higher and I could see that everything outside this patch of greenery was blasted desolated landscape. My guide, the Void, must have hear my deep harsh hiss at this scene.

“She has been very angry without him.” the cloak being explained in a gentle musical voice. He floated us back down to see them tightly pressed together while lying on the grass. I could see their chests rising and falling in the exhausted sleep that had taken them. “Even after all those many millenniums apart, they still remember how deeply they always loved each other.” he added in his more musical voice.

“Elyria and Genin reunited at last after all the pain they both suffered being apart.” I replied softly to him. “Is this the prize for all their actions?” I asked. I could not hold back the tears of joy I cried seeing them together again after their final death. The musical chuckle had me turning to face my guide as we drifted back towards a beam of light. The face under the hood took shape of bones while the hand that guided me turn to skeletal reality. The bony face crinkled into a wink as a skeletal finger crossed his lips.

“Would a father let his son feel such deep pain without giving him a reward he most deeply deserves?” he asked in musical whisper. I nodded smiling brushing the tears of joy from my eyes. “And how better than to give them an eternal childhood together.” he continued. “Best this gets locked away with everything else, but know that I will be singing to all that fall around you, my second son, KreGenin.” he added as we slipped through the light.

I floated back into the instant that this complete version of me was being hidden away while I lived multiple double lives until that future date. One last flash of memory or vision appeared in my mind. The ornate pouch holding the active shard of the Heartstone was stitched to the boy’s waist unable to ever be opened again. She had lost her edge and her immortality. Genin had saved us all and never knew it as I knew we could defeat her now much easier.

On that date, I will be named Kestrel George Wrightman, but would eventually be known as Kestrel Redpath, soldier and heroic were-panther still trying to save the world. But, I will also be someone else, a shadow that knows the whole story but remains silent as they move the pieces I cannot reach into place. We will reunite as we face her upon the last battle field to opened a new path all are blind about existing. Goodbye, and I will see all of you in that new future, my friends.

Signed: Lord Kestrel of the Redpath clan, Immortal Knight of Diadem, New Brother Order, Great Lord KreGenin.

 

La Fin, pour maintenant. (The End, for now.)

Redpath's Journals: Lord Kestrel of the Redpath (33)

The doors opened and the trio walked out with triumphant smiles on their faces. Cole reacted instantly giggling like his ‘Flower’ persona would. He shouted his thanks as he rushed off to warn Sert and Meli of this victory. I nodded to Kestrel smiling while knowing this was sealing the fate of all of us. I followed behind the three as they were escorted to the harbor. Scarabea was given a chance to have a parting hug with Kestrel and a final kiss upon his cheek. She drifted beside as the Brothers made their own parting movements.

“Please do not tell him of his missing daughter.” she whispered to me. I smiled and nodded to her with a quick wink. She giggled before rushing up the gangplank before the Brothers slowly walked to stand on the deck of the Leviathan. Kestrel traded a salute to them while the plank retracted. The Leviathan glided to actually navigate the protective reefs instead of disappearing from the harbor waters. I let Kestrel turn before matching his move. We both smiled as I walked with him back to our home. We barely entered before he called all of us together. He requested our help to carry all his musical instruments to the garden where he gave all of us a day filled with music and leisure. Runners from the Royal Kitchen filled our need for food while the day was spent in joyous idleness.

I watched over everything during the next few weeks as words that the crystals were being loaded on ships ready to be spread to the other world arrived to Kestrel and the other powers in Atlantis. Kestrel, to give me more time away from him, spent his time lounging in the garden. Word started as rumors but word from outpost looking seaward confirmed what was being seen. A massive fleet was positioned on the horizon all flying the emblem of Lemuria. The rumors turned this flotilla into an attacking force ready to target Atlantis. As I reported this to Kestrel a sad mild came onto his face.

“And the world strikes out to force the hand of Atlantis.” he replied. “Once Atlantis acts, they will retreat and our last days are upon us.” he stated. “We still have time for you to complete your final arrangements before you are me.” he added in a whisper. He waved me away to continue my mission of getting all the multiple group of Guards ready to start moving people out of Atlantis. I felt a tremor under my feet before learning that the fleet had retreated. I sighed knowing nothing could divert the path we now rode upon. My path did have me keeping tabs on the Council member named Peregrine at Kestrel’s request. He stayed much closer to the Royal Enclave than the Council Chambers as time passed.

The Holy Queen was taken prisoner by a combined squadron of Royal and Council Guards under the crime of ordering and activating the device that had destroyed Lemuria without consent of all divisions of Atlantis. She had went peacefully while claiming it was the Council that had done all these evil deeds to discredit her. Witnesses told a different tale of a raging bloodthirsty Queen ordering the erasure of Lemuria from existence and proceeded to do so when no one obeyed her. She had been seen activating a forbidden device that the engineers of Atlantis could not dismantle or disarm. The sheer volume of mixed witnesses made it hard to be seen as a plot against her own actions. Kestrel still spent his waking hours in the garden commenting about the clouds or wishing he could play as sweetly as our song birds sang. Two days passed by while Kestrel sat acting the fool in our garden. We did not speak since it was not needed until the third day.

“It is time for my last act.” Kestrel told me. He had me follow him to the empty foyer as he locked arms with me. “Be ready once I call for you, my Squire, since it is the last chance to save Annianka or Atlantis.” he added before leaving. I did not try to follow him knowing where he was going. Miss Hope had been assigned as her Warden as she was placed into her tower to never leave again. The respect all Atlantis had for Lord Kestrel allowed him to be the only other person that could enter the Queen’s prison tower.

“Redpath!” bellowed in my mind and I was off running toward the Queen’s Prison Tower. I came across Miss Hope rushing in my direct.

“He called me.” I stated as I flew passed her. It took barely a minute for her to be at my side as we climbed up a back stairwell to what I presumed was her private room. My feet did not falter seeing the room having been transformed into the central circular room of the Temple of Light. Miss Hope paused as she took in the sight before her. I faced Kestrel from across the pillar of light as they spoke loudly to us while the albino tigress covered her ears.

“The only way for him to take your place is to be you in every way possible.” it told us in a single voice. “Your power and abilities mean nothing without the memories and knowledge that fuels and controls it.” it continued in unison. “Give everything you are and we will accept him as we accepted you, Great Lord Genin.” it concluded with blunt finality. Our eyes meet as Lord Death’s song sounded from behind Kestrel. Lord Death did not touch him but stood as his back sing a serenade for him to be whisked away as we nodded our mutual agreement. Tendrils of light shot out from the pillar to connect us as his form dissipated into nothing as my mind flooded with everything he had ever been.

I felt his grief of placing this upon my young shoulders but his mantle felt like a perfect weight for me. I stood discovering myself taller as I stood in a room looking towards an empty bed with Miss Hope kneeling beside it. I also knew why he could not openly attack Genia because of his promise to his mother Universe. I was not him but need her to believe I was meaning I would only attack without truly being angry at her. The plan was simple but could not fail in this case. Miss Hope still looked upon the empty bed with no trace Lord Kestrel ever existed.

“We cannot allow anyone to know that he is no more.” I stated. I did not realize I spoke with his voice. Miss Hope turned and gasped wide eyed at me. From a mirror in the room, I saw that I now had Kestrel’s appearance as well as his voice.

“The eyes he had shown me when we first met.” she whispered still staring at me. I glance to the mirror closer to see my golden amber cat eyes studded Kestrel’s face. I focused my mind remembering all the details of my previous form and watched myself shift back into my feline form. I smirked at my reflection.

“Please listen carefully, Miss Hope.” I purred out softly. “We must pretend that Lord Kestrel was removed and never let it be known that he has died the final death.” I started explaining slowly. I created a second copy of myself and manifested it standing beside me. “She, who attacks Atlantis, will not believe he would charge her unless he lost something dear to him.” I continued purring from both bodies. “She will know, upon seeing my cat formed duplicate, that I am his chosen Squire, sacrificing myself to save a weakened Lord Kestrel.”

“How have you been able to present twice?” she asked confused.

“He had many more abilities than he allowed any of us to see.” I answered softly. “He was hiding who and what he truly was to protect us as much as to protect himself from a pair of ancient enemies.” I added softly.

“You will face two enemies here?” she asked bluntly. I saw her feral nature rising in her ready for a challenge and to call all into this battle. I raised a hand to touch her shoulder.

“Only one may be defeated here if Atlantis is to survive for the far future when it will be needed once more.” I told her softly. “The second of his enemies cannot be destroyed yet.” I continued softly. “And it is best if no one else interferes in the battle since I know they will die the worse death possible.” I informed her. Her eyes turned to meet mine. “It has no form to be defeated on the last day of Atlantis being above the waves.”

“Continue with your plan.” she ordered in a half growl.

“My supposed death will allow me to attack her with the full strength of my righteous rage.” I began weaving the details. “When she think I am done, the true death blow will take her.” I explained. “In her last moment, she will see my true face and learn a secret she craved to know.” I concluded. A smirk was on my face but it was not a snarl nor were my words filled with aggression as I describe murdering her, his half-sister.

“I do not hear, see, nor smell anger in you.” she muttered. She stepped back examining both myself and my copy. I let my original body return to Lord Kestrel’s form.

“I do this for Atlantis and the world, and not for the revenge I would previously be my motivation.” I replied with a soft deep throated purr. “He has enlightened me that anger need not be what makes a person act or hold back from acting.” I said. “An emotionally empty vessel is feared more than any other since opponents cannot fathom what they will do.” I concluded in a purring chuckle.

“How long will we be forced to play this farce?” she asked. I could see how difficult it was on her to see Kestrel and myself standing before her. I let my copy dissolve but kept his countenance.

“Until Atlantis is rising again from the waves, or has been freed from the darkness hidden in its Heartstone.” I admitted quietly. I sighed softly as visions of future possibilities flashed in my mind. “A very long time, sweet tigress.” I added. I slipped back into my feline form giving her a cattish grin and wink.

“It is best you return to the others before they believe something has gone amiss.” she suggested. Her padded hand came out to touch my cheek as she looked into my eyes.

“Still the exquisite and wise tigress Kestrel could have fallen in love with, even if this life had him held in a bird’s nature.” I returned with a chuckle. One of my hands covered hers as my other hand touched her cheek. “Dia can chide me for this later.” I purred. I leaned in and rubbed my cheek along hers while we both purred to each other. “Until we meet again in the far future.” I whispered in her ear. I pulled back to look at her. “None of my future forms will remember this until the first shadows of the great darkness touches this world, unfortunately.” I added before disappearing from her room.

I had one last duty to perform since some needed to know that I was the new Kestrel and stood as his replacement for the being that has existed nearly forever. My body splintered into multiple copies ready to manifest around the globe and in other planes.

Redpath's Journals: Revelry of Mortals and Immortals (31)

The brother flew down the gangplank to tackle Kestrel to the dock. The mass of legs, arms, and heads was laughing with joy I had not seen upon Kestrel in my time within his household. It was the mirthful merriment of siblings reuniting while still very young children. I held back the urge to help or join them while watching the young Egyptian woman daintily walked down the plank towards the mess of writhing bodies.

“Meakita?” she whispered hesitantly as she curtsied to him.

“You should wait until I get these two off me before greeting me, little Sister.” he exhaled between chuckles. He finally disengaged himself from his Brothers and to his feet to give her a quick bow. “Lady Scarabea of the Sands.” he announced to us as a greeting to her. The fluid flowing second bow was of an Egyptian style. I barely had a chance to notices the sudden mischievous sparkle in her eyes before she launched herself at Kestrel. Cor and Twin were blocking his knees making it easy for him to be back on his back on the dock. Their laughter rushed around from them as they rolled and twisted on the wooden dock like playful children and not noble figures of their lands.

The shock and relief on my three companions had me relaxing while the Guards, including their Captains, looked dumbfounded at this spectacle of childish mirth. I waited until they all were laughing merrily before I offered my hand to assist Kestrel to his feet. I then held a hand to Lady Scarabea to help her as well. The Brothers had assisted each other while still laughing at the insanity they had caused within minutes of their arrival. The Egyptian woman curtsied to me once standing again followed by the odd action of pressing her cheek against my armored chest. A whispered thanks glided from her before she finally straightened.

Cor, Kestrel and Twin walked in our lead with their Guards drifting at their sides and along our sides. I followed with Lady Scarabea grasping my elbow to select me as her walking partner. She did not look at me, simply walked at my pace with a gentle touch on my furry forearm with her elbow wrapped behind mine. Sert, Meli, and Cole followed in the same silence we held allowing Kestrel and his Brothers to banter during the walk. Listening mostly to the Brothers and Kestrel had me nearly missing the soft whisper from Lady Scarabea.

“Is he always been this odd?” she whispered in a breathe. I knew not even the Captains would hear her words meant just for me. My purring hide my reply.

“Lord Kestrel has been changing lately.” I admitted under my purring. “I know what is coming but he will explain it to you, his Sister Chaos.” I added without showing I had spoken. Her grip tightened on my arm for a moment before relaxing.

“I thank you for your service, Squire of Order.” she stated before returning to silence.

I did not stiffen being named outright by one of them by a title I had only acquired lately. I remember Chichi’s words regarding me being seen as an oddity and his shocked sounding reaction to learning I was Kestrel’s Squire. All these thoughts mixed with the multitude of others in the back of my mind to simmer away until I could truly focus on them. Our greeting at the Royal Court screamed of something more festive and merrymaking than the normal solemness of the Royals.

The Queen sat on her throne with a large mug in her hand raising it at a cheered greeting slammed into us from the many nobles present. The King’s absent was easily overlooked as the small groups of nobles floated around the large room with flagons in hand while pages ran pitcher with drinks for them. The queen hailed us a second time to a taste of Valhalla upon Migard’s jewel. I could feel the odd tension in the Brothers, Kestrel, and Scarabea as we stepped cautiously forward into this.

“A slice of home away from home!” the Queen called loudly in the room. A ring of cheers answered her. “Enter and be merry!” she ordered. She stood with mug held high towards us. A shriek of laughter escaped the Brothers as they rushed at her. They had barely reached the dais when the Queen, in some childish urge, vaulted at them to toppled both to the marble floor. A short but, as laughter filled, moment as the four had shared on the docks. The nobles laughed and cheered on their Queen as she acted silly and playful. Scarabea remained by my side and Kestrel side-stepped to place himself upon her other side. She seemed so small standing between us but I purred happily and noticed the matching smile on Kestrel’s face.

“It is always good to see you smile Brother Order.” she whispered allowing my purring to conceal her words. “It has been a very long time since I have seen you smile in earnest.” she stated softly.

“Lord Kestrel smiles and laughs often since he has been on Atlantis.” I remarked. I shrugged to show my words had no importance but it earned me her turning to look up at me. “When he does not need to crush threats towards Atlantis and the world.” I concluded. I felt the corner of my lips twitching up into a smirk.

“I am sure the grin they receive is a very vicious smile when doing so.” she returned, giggling.

“Only when they truly deserve to see his full vengeance.” I replied letting my smirk show fully. I turned to look above her head towards Kestrel. “You should join in the festivities, sir.” I suggested. A tilt of my head towards the floating crowd showed what I referred to directly.

“This celebration is for my two Brothers and not for our Sister or myself.” he answered softly. I noted how he did not see the Queen and her echoes as his sisters. “It is why we two stand here removed from it while enjoying the youthful performance.” he added to me, chuckling deeply. His chuckle did not hide the soft tinkling giggle from Scarabea. “You are right about how long it has been since you last saw me smiling.” he told her.

“What has happened to you to regain this shine in your eyes?” she countered slowly.

“My answer would be the Holy Queen Annianka.” I purred out turning it into a vibrating teasing chuckle.

“She is of your age category which few can claim except...Genia.” she retorted. The hatred she placed in her voice stating that name had my hair on my spine rising as I held back a growl. “Any words on where that psychopath of a half-sister has been hiding, Great Lord Genin?” Scarabea continued with a growl in her voice that had mine sounding to hide it. A soft glance and my gentle hand upon her shoulder had her calming while the snarling set of her mouth returned to a pleasant smile. I had in part forgotten she still held onto my forearm until the tension released from her grip.

“All I know is that her little walking bomb is in place on Atlantis.” Kestrel replied. “She will show when it goes off to hide her interference by destroying the island.” he continued. I saw the snarl on Kestrel’s face and felt the anger within him that dwarfed the hatred I felt from Scarabea. It was gone the next moment as I watched his face. Our focus returned to the open floor where tales of tricks upon the deities of Asgard mostly targeted at Loki were being told to the amazement of the nobles. The shocked gasps, upon realizing how cunning their Holy Queen truly was, were mixed with laughter. She explained it as just her childish whims that she had mostly outgrew with adulthood. No business nor politics were discussed as this turned into true revelry around the trickster Brothers. The last shafts of light disappeared from the tips of the highest spires of Atlantis before this celebration was ended. We waited until all the nobles had exited and left with their small retinue of private Guards.

Using the same marching order, we escorted Cor, Twin, and Scarabea to the hall that Nightingale had prepared and Chichi had loaded with the food for their meal. Miss Hope and the Queen followed but were firmly told she could not join them. I barely noticed how Scarabea pulling me along side her into the circular great room. I missed the rest of the conversation between Kestrel and the Queen as the others took places equally separated along the inner wall. I stood where I had been left by the door waiting for Kestrel to enter and dismiss me. He entered, gazed at me with a smile, and turned towards the closed door. I saw and felt the sudden silence falling upon us as they sealed the chamber closed from outsider. I turned and started filled their glasses since I was now given permission to be here.

I did get curious glances from Nightingale, Cor, and Twin. Chichi shrugged at my presence and Scarabea smiled gently at me when our eyes met. Kestrel said nothing as they sat around the ring table. His back was towards the only door as I moved to stand behind his right shoulder. A pale version of the pillar of light formed in the middle of the ring formed by the tables. I quickly realized no servers where present meaning part of my duties would to serve them. The each spoke to the pillar of light and concluded this in a languages that I did not understand but felt that I should know. With all this done, all eyes had returned to me.

“One must serve and we cannot accept the other Squires within this hall in Brother Order’s domain.” Chichi replied before anyone could ask. Slowly, starting with Scarabea at Kestrel’s left, nods came around the table. I stood in my knightly armor that hinted to a golden alloying making it reflect golden arches from the central pillar of white light. A soft chuckle rolled from Kestrel as he looked at the faces around the table.

“This will be the last time we can gather like this.” Kestrel told them. “It is best we reveal in our own way in our own skin.” he stated with a hint of a smirk. I had seen his other form but now I was witnessing all their true form. Scenes of the night sky filled each of them as their form shifted to what they must truly be.

Cor, now War, appeared like a heavily set human of a taller height than Atlantians, covered in patches of blazing red sun like armor over liquid black skin of empty spaces with fiery star filled wings. A blazing giant sword, matching his armor, sat diagonally across his back without interfering with his 3 sets of wings.

Chichi, Famine, appearance shifted in size and formed to be a dragon-like creature filled with pulsing bluish-green stars in the black liquid background of space. His chef style had become aged and grey threadbare rough cotton looking as a set of weighing scales hung at his waist. His 6 wings were lined like scales at their attachment point while bluish-green micro burst of color filled the liquid blackness in their wing tips.

Nightingale, Pestilence, grew a pair of yellowish-green horns as she grew in size to match the others. Her normally dusky skin turned into true blackness sparsely filled with swirling yellowish-green stars in the liquid foreboding blackness. Her only covering was a cloak of the purest blackness darker than Lord Death’s own robes. Her nails were hooked sickles curving out longer than her hands and her wings appearing partial torn and filled with the same yellowish-green stars.

Twin, Death, simply grew in size while still looking human shaped. His liquid skin held dim yellow stars floating around in slow patterns in the blackness of the cosmos. The robe was a dark grey and threadbare as a long wicked scythe leaned against his chair. His hand were not skeletal but long slender and emaciated as well as his new face. The three pairs of wings, like his skin, was filled with the pale yellow stars sprinkled in the liquid blackness.

Scarabea, Chaos, face and head elongated like what has been stated of the Egyptian gods Anubis or Seth being a jackal headed being. A thick collar at her neck clashed with the softer colored smock she wore now over her liquid black skin show bursting lights of exploding stars underneath the surface. Fingerless leather gloves, heavy boot at her feet, and wide belt cinched at her waist completed her clothing. Studded sparkles on the leather sections of her collar, gloves, boots, and belt while her eyes were filled with pure darkness only. Her 6 wings looked sharply cut but only filled with the liquid blackness like her eyes.

As for Kestrel, Order, his cosmic filled body had all the myriad star colors and forms within the blackness. His unslung bow-staff had grown to match his new height while a crown sat upon his brow and he was clothed in the brightest white linen with golden highlights at the hem and around his belted waist. His wings matched his body but they blurred to white sparkles in the blackness of the skies high above at night.

“We are here to be together one last time before the great darkness engulfs the light jewel of Atlantis.” Kestrel added softer. A mild murmur ran around the room but none commented about why they were there. I moved around the room exchanging platters as they emptied and refilling glasses. I ignored the fact they did not touch the food from the platter, from their plates, nor the liquor in their glasses. Their words were foreign to me but I still had that inclination that I did know this language that I could not understand. What I saw here, was never to be spoken about outside places sealed with this cosmic protection.

“I must ask that he understands our words!” Chaos growled in Atlantian. “We know that your time is short, Brother Order, and I believe your replacement deserves to know the role he will play as our future leader.” she concluded hissing. Order sighed as he looked at me.

“I will go only at my proper time.” he told them. His voice like the others had taken an echoing quality that was causing odd resonance within this circular room. The brightness of the pillar of light flowed with their tones while only a whispering of the buzzing of its voice was a backdrop to the voices of the six. “I will agree for him to hear and understand our words my little Sister, if we all agree.” he offered. A smirking smile appeared on each of their faces as they nodded in turn their agreement. It had started with Chaos and circled the table until War nodded his acceptance. My left ear tingled as I felt a light weight upon it. “He shall hear and understand our words while within this hall with us.” he concluded. He had spoken the other language and I understood it in my left ear.

“Thank you, sir.” I whispered in his ear as I had swiftly returned to his side. The soft intake of a breath had my eyes moving to look upon the fiery form of War.

“We are founded to protect and rally the Fallen Ones, you call humans, until they face their final great darkness.” War stated calmly. I nodded and moved my eyes to Famine.

“We have existed since long before Earth was formed being from the first five races.” he explained. “We five were chosen by the Lights of Life and through their Envoy, Brother Order, for this purpose.” Famine added. With a nod from me, my eyes glided to Pestilence.

“The races did not start existing until Universe, beloved mother of Genin, sacrificed herself to let her blood flow and bring all things in existence from the first to the last race.” she announced oddly softly. Nod and move my view to the next one.

“His race bears only two beings, Genin and his half-sister Genia, the children born from Universe.” Death stated. “He is fathered by the Void, while Genia was born from an act of violence.” he added more quietly. Nod as I changed my point of view.

“We are to rally six armies to defeat the great darkness in the far future if Atlantis survives the dark knot it faces.” Chaos reported calmly. “We stand as Brothers and Sisters of the Light of the Ley’ä’Luna.” she added. I nodded and looked at Kestrel.

“All of us have sacrificed everything about our pasts to be reborn in this plane as defenders of the human race.” Order said. “Each have lost much along the way here even their own original bodies to stand together until it is done.” he concluded. They nodded as one towards him. A small whimper escaped Chaos drawing my eyes back to her.

“Some have sacrifice their true bounded pair to stand here with us.” she commented as her eyes, now swirling colors, turned towards me. “Order lost his life partner to a very evil monster that is still free.” she explained softly. Order looked at her. “The lost had removed true laughter and happiness from him for so very long.” she added. And this fact was being revealed to me fully as my heart ached for him and how I would feel seeing Dia die before me.

“His wife stood by his side in all his actions as Order or Genin.” War began.

“She was willing to sacrifice her existence for him even if she was considered evil.” Famine continued.

“She died to save him from the evil released upon all existence.” Pestilence added in.

“”Know that this enemy is the enemy of all of us.” Death continued.

“He is all of us and without him, we are nothing.” Chaos concluded this tale and their personal vow to me.

“Enough of this history lesson.” Order told them. “We have more important things to discuss than my darkest moment.” he added. The echoes of his words held more pain than I ever thought possible before this moment. I felt how closely this could have been me if I had remained at Dia’s side.

“True!” Famine interjected.

“What have you foreseen for us to do?” War returned calmly.

“You and Death shall stand against the hordes of Lemuria trying to run.” Order bluntly stated. I felt that the peace that was about to be sign was only a facade hiding a truth unknown to others. “Chaos will be igniting the crystals to cause a chain reaction destroying all of them.” he continued easily. “With luck or Lockey’s trickery, part of your essence will be trapped outside this plane until the worse of the future darkness has moved upon us, Brothers War and Death.” he concluded. My mind struggle to understand and accept this information.

“As you order and warn us, eldest one.” War replied for the three of them.

“And of us three?” Famine asked.

“You will attempt to save many who should die because of their ships will be sucked down with Atlantis.” he replied quickly. “Pestilence will be doing the same but this will all happen before the battle hidden by Atlantis sinking.” he continued calmly. “Your survival for a rebirth will only be known by the winner of that battle.” he explained slowly to them. There was no doubts in his voice as he slowly looked at each of them. “As for myself, it is unsure but I will be here in one facet or another facing she who wishes to destroy Atlantis.” he concluded. A shiver ran up my spine forcing me to speak.

“And my place?” I asked softly. All six sets of comic eyes turned towards me at my simple words. Silence was my answer.

Kestrel's Journals: Tying Up the Loose Ends (28)

The meeting with the Council was swift as we, as a group, entered the central chamber. The Council seemed bewitched making my words law in their ears. Hope’s little spell still worked but I would rather they listen out of logic and not by this coercion. Cole seemed very pleased that they had finally accepted the reason in listening to my great political wisdom as Royal Advisor of Atlantis. Cole was practically crowing the whole way home about our great victory. Young Kestrel seemed a little more perplexed and silent as we returned home. When I asked him about it, he said it was nothing and everything was fine as he flashed me a cattish grin. I sighed and let it be knowing I would question this if I stumbled upon it.

The rest of Cor’s and Twin’s visit went very smoothly and I could remain sitting in the background listening and watching the events unfold in silence. I would give my advise if asked but I could mostly live my final years in peaceful relaxation. I stood on the dock with my Brothers bidding them farewell and good luck with a smile on my face. Cor and Twin told me in a whisper before boarding the Leviathan that they had felt something new inside me, something they had never seen in me before. They felt a peacefulness and quietness from me they had never seen within all my multiple lifetimes and millenniums prior to arriving here on Earth. I did not tell them this was my growing acceptance with my own final death and with whom I had selected to replace me in this fight. I did thank them while claiming it was the peace of Atlantis that had seeped into my spirit replacing something I lost long ago. A pained look showed in their eyes but they said nothing more.

Five years would past before they would return as planned to report how close they were to sign the peace agreements between Atlantis and Lemuria. They were very hopeful that by their next visit they could report Lemuria was ready to hand over their crystals to the world and sign treatise with Atlantis within the following month. I did warned them that Lockey would not hand over her Leviathan’s crystals being a free vessel not linked to Lemuria nor Atlantis. They laughed at my warning telling me they would never dare suggest disarming the Leviathan. I remained on the dock long enough to wave at them before their ship jumped away. I finally turned to make my way home but was impeded by a group of dolphin chirping to get my attention. I moved to sit upon a bench by their pool to converse with them.

“You do not seem like yourself.” the lead dolphin spoke for the pod. The mental whisper from the lead was strong, clear, and concise for only my mental ears. My reply was verbal but this is the way when speaking to Atlantian dolphins.

“I have discovered that my time left here is very short.” I replied softly to them.

“Can you still save Atlantis?” it asked with a loud chirp.

“No.” I admitted sadly. “I will arrange for another to take my place who will be able to save it from destruction.” I explained in a quiet voice. I glanced around to see no one listening to me. “Nothing will stop Atlantis from vanishing from the world for many millennium.” I concluded. I let them witness my final visions of Atlantis before it sank under the waves still intact. They did witness the final battle knowing who was going to replace me which gained many chirps and whistles from them.

“Sad it be, but you have done your duty.” it returned softly. “We are happy star child that we saved you even if you feel like you have abandoned us.” it told me gently. “Be at peace since you shall see her once more.” it added. These last mental words turned into a loud series of chirping whistles as they slowly swam away from this pool. I sat on the marble bench in the half shadows by the empty pool with their words echoing in my mind.

“They truly are wise.” a deep voice but fully female whispered from behind me. I did not need to turn to know Princess Muse stood at my back.

“You have come to speak or warn me of another problem heading my way?” I asked softly. My body was ready to have a rush of emotions driving me to action and shortening my remaining life.

“I saw the images you showed the dolphins.” she stated by my ear. “Genin becomes KreGenin for the good of the world to come.” she continued. She moved around the bench to kneel by my knee at the edge of the dolphin pool. “A scion of the stars empowered by the fall of another scion to defeat the other remaining scion.” she concluded in a whisper. I turned my head to look upon her glowing golden eyes looked up at me with a gentle smile.

“She will not know that it is not me she faces until the true death blow claims her.” I returned calmly. “I must still find a way to protect Atlantis after it slides under the veil of ocean waves.” I continued. The soft sigh was stopped by a lone finger across my lips. She smiled at me as a quick wink flashes at me.

“A gift from my kind to you as a solution.” she whispered at me smiling. The thin lines of her scales showed in her face as the golden scales glittered from the light of her eyes. A small ring box was pressed in my hand as her smile and eyes showed a hint of her mischievous nature. “Let Annianka decide if she should be saved or Atlantis be protected with this small gift.” she added quietly.

My eyes moved to the box in my hand. I slowly opened the lid to see an ornate ring that no technologies on earth would ever be able to create. Two stones set in a perfect swirl of opal, for Atlantis’ light, and hematite, for the dark strength of Lemuria, or so my mind decided. Muse’s giggle in my ears rang like deep bells ringing as she called me silly.

“The opal stands for the Ley’ä’Luna’s light upon everything that lives and the hematite stands for you being the shield and sword against the darkness.” she corrected me. “Give her the ring when all seems lost.” she explained with a giggle in her breath. “If she accepts it on her finger, she will be freed from Atlantis and the corrupted stone.” she continued. “If she refuses it, it will bind with the land of Atlantis to make it return into reality at the appointed time.” she concluded. I watched the stones as she spoke and noticed something moving within each stone making the two stones swirl in reality.

“The first two dragons of the second race.” I stated as I realized what I looked upon. “The Dragon of Light and the Dragon of Strife.” I whispered to her. I barely saw her nod to me.

“They are you hands and the hands of your replacement until the true darkness tries once more to claim this world.” she explained quickly. I sensed the sudden rush in her behavior. “They will only serve the Chosen One of the Ley’ä’Luna, sweet Genin.” she stated merrily. “Words of others will mean nothing to them.” she added. She touched my cheeks with soft kisses before she dissipated from this place. The ring box and ring sat in my hand as the only proof she had ever been here.

“Thank you.” I whispered both verbally and mentally to her. I closed the box and hid it within my clothing securely. I smiled knowing my only worry was now solved. Atlantis might rot if ‘Hope’ realized she could be saved, but the crystal would become that monsters tomb deep under the waves to never be found again. The words from the dolphins had me confused the most since they could not mean Elyria since nothing of her remained which I had searched for during a few centuries after her sacrifice. True death was the point where everything turned into nothingness to never return to the life in any form. I accept this as my fate to save the world from this knot that could destroy this world too quickly. A delay would give them all a chance to be better prepared with my sacrifice.

I will wait until no other choices remained before using the ring to place protection on either Annianka, in this world, or Atlantis, in its millenniums of slumber. My hidden mind let memories flow into my active consciousness of playing with those two mighty dragons. I was still cold to the new races coming into being remembering my mother, Universe, sacrificing herself to create all this spreading out from father’s, the Void’s, domain. Is this what Elira felt at that moment, like Universe, before her sacrifice? This peaceful assurance and certainty I felt ready to sacrifices myself to give my strength to young Kestrel becoming the new Chosen Avatar of the Ley’ä’Luna? Too many possibilities with so many variables that constantly increased as time marched forward for me to answer my own questions. I face the present challenges stretching my life with my dwindling powers to give young Kestrel the best starting point for his required actions. Genia would never know she did not face me by this action of my own hanging out for the longest possible.

I had not even realized that, as I thought all of this, I was already walking home. My foot faltered by my distracting thoughts as a strong furry black hand grappled my shoulder to keep me standing. I turned expect to see my feline's face but looked into burning red wolf eyes. I froze for but a moment before stepping back from this creature I did not recognize.

“He is not an enemy, Lord Kestrel.” Ichcui commented softly. She stepped from the shadows to stand beside this wolfish thing blended with demonic essence. “Sara suggested that you and Steel should meet.” Ichtaca Cuicatl whispered to me. “She calls him ‘wolf-boy’ and he has spoken to your mind before.” she explained. I had known of him without meeting him which had me confused but appeared calm. I nodded to him while also examining this infernally infected wolf child. Gouges from claws could not hide the enslavement mark he bore having me stiffen.

“You bear her mark and dare to stand before me?” I asked feigning anger. I heard a soft whistle from a kestrel in the air above us but did not look up.

“My slave mark has me feeling the same before any celestial beings.” he growled back. A smirk instead of a snarl showed on his face.

“You face one that she allowed cast from the heavens but barred from hell by her former lover.” I returned stiffly. “What is this about IchCui?” I snapped back at the Royal Governess. Steel moved to be between us protecting her.

“He offered his half-breed army that have escaped captivity to protect Sara.” she explained. “Many demons and devils have abandoned the hell over the mistreatment from Lucifer’s and the other fallen angels’ hands to join with Steel’s clan.” she informed me.”All of them would rather be Sara’s army than return to the servitude they were previously under.” she added softly.

“An army of demons, devils, and the mixed blood of half-beast and half-infernal serving the daughter of Seraphim?” I returned with a hard laugh. “The being cast out for giving the Archangels the weapons to save heaven from Lucifer’s rebel army?” I added as a reminder to them. I was chuckling at this absolute ludicrous turn of events.

“You may have been up there but you are not angelic.” Steel snorted back.

“True, but it is the same principle.” I replied softly. My hand lashed out to snag a feline on the back of his neck. He was pouncing towards Steel and I could not allow a fight starting during this odd moment. I placed young Kestrel at my side but he moved into a protective position between Steel and myself. Whispered words passed between them as they growled at each other like true cat and dog reaction.

“Redpath, Steel. Steel, Redpath” Ichcui introduced them to each other.

“And I thought cats and birds had problems when meeting.” I remarked as my eyes drifted from my feline to Ichcui’s wolf. I noticed by their size that they were very close in age as well as in attitude. “Yaotl Tonatiuh! What does your temples say about this arrangement?” I asked her using the title from her people formally.

“They have proven themselves as fighting for their own existence and chose to follow Sara because they believe in her cause and her vision of a future freed from darkness.” she answered directly.

“Do you swear to protect her?” I asked bluntly to the wolf-boy.

“I swear, like my group, my allegiance to her directly and not to you.” he returned in a deep growl. His eyes remained locked on young Kestrel as they stood in a challenging stance at each other. “You are not long for this world to earn my allegiance.” he added in a snort. Redpath’s tail was a slow undulating pendulum as his body was tightly held ready to strike.

“Then swear to the one you are growling at, Steel.” I stated calmly. Those infernal wolf eyes snapped up to me for but a moment to read if I was being serious. I let the images of the final battle where young Kestrel defeated my sister Genia to save Atlantis from destruction. “Swear to the one that will still exist after Atlantis falls.” I mentally told him. His body stiffened as he stood straight which Redpath mimicked perfectly. Then the wolf-boy bowed deeply to my feline replacement.

“I swear to you, Kestrel of the Redpath clan, in the name of all my clan and allies to protect Sara until we have all been slayed to the last.” he stated still bowed before the feline. A purring chuckle came from Redpath. A confused look appeared on Ichcui’s face which possibly reflected my own confusion at this chuckle from my feline name-sake.

“So we can stop pretending we are not friends now?” he asked in a purring voice. The growling chuckle from the infernal wolf replied as he stood. They locked arms in greeting and sealing the oaths exchanged. He turned his head to look at me. “The household is worried since you seemed very detached from us during the Celebratory Supper.” he informed me. A soft squawk of a kestrel sounded from a roof above us. “My little bird friend made it easy to find you, sir.” he added. I glance up to spot the small kestrel that I had noticed but ignored within my garden.

“I had many thoughts that needed clarification.” I replied softly to him. He nodded still purring softly.

“You saw your Brothers off, you visited the dolphin pool where you had a dragon guest, and now you parlay with a half demon and the Royal Governess that should be with her charge.” he listed my evening events in quick precise fashion. “Anyone else you need to meet before we return home, sir?” he asked in a purring chuckle.

“Protective cat he is.” Steel stated with a respect filled nod to Redpath. “He also sees more than all others perceive.” he added with a growling chuckle.

“Even my training did not reveal the link between you and Sara.” Ichcui admitted softly. “How many others have you set deals with to protect and serve your child?” she asked in a whisper.

“None but the oath your Steel already gave her and now to young Kestrel.” I replied truthfully. “My other arrangements and oaths are to protect the world and the remains of Atlantis while it is hidden from the world.” I explained honestly to her. “Her protection, as Steel has stated, is not mine to arrange beyond the Brothers and Sisters of light.” I concluded quietly.

“And her three aunties of Wisdom, Joy, and Depression with Balance waiting to strike if needed.” the other Kestrel remarked. I gazed down at him. “I have met Depression as she comes to visits the ghost of the old and abandoned Royal Halls.” he informed me quietly. “I have collected many odd friends both outside and within Atlantis, Lord Kestrel.” he added in a near whisper.

“You have always been a resourceful kitten who can find the truly heroic and make them follow the right path for them.” I told him softly. “You have earned this truth.” I stated. I bent my head to be near his ear. “You are my Squire and will soon be replacing me.” I whispered to him before pulling back. He only turned his head to look at me to give me a single simple nod of acceptance.

We bowed to each other before parting. Young Kestrel walked beside me proudly as I felt that I had finally done enough. It was a weight lifted from my shoulders as we walked along the empty marble streets. We retired to our rooms upon entering the residence. Sert’s question was answered with the fact I was fatigued from my long day, which he accepted. By the time the moon reached its zenith, I was before the pillar of light. I explained my plan of releasing my vows to them upon young Kestrel’s shoulders. They agreed easily citing that he could do what I could not when facing my half sister. Then I was back in my bed in Atlantis as sleep took me for real. My dreams were of my time with Elyria reliving them and even changing them to make them last longer in this dreamed reality.