#atheona

As he walked through the eerie woods, John felt as if he was being coated in tar. Evil things lurked in every corner, making his fur stand. He had never felt so much evil and it broke his heart to think that this is where Atheona would stay if he didn’t do something about it. His paws beat a path only his nose could find. Her scent, vanilla and roses, was faint and he’d taken a few wrong turns here and there but he thought he was getting closer. If only for the fact that the darkness seemed to be concentrating on one area of this godless place.

John finally pushed through the brush and found himself in a meadow. In the middle sat Atheona’s cottage, but something wasn’t right. As he watched, John noticed shadows crawling all over the little house. Every inch was covered in dark shapes with evil seeping from them. He steeled himself and walked towards the cottage, unsure of what he would find. Reaching the front porch, he shifted back into human and walked up the steps. The air was heavy and cold. Every instinct he had was telling him to run but he opened the front door and stepped inside.

“Atheona,” he called out softly. He waited for a reply, quietly shutting the door behind him. The house was freezing and dark. He wanted to get out but he wasn’t leaving without her. John slowly made his way through the home, checking the kitchen and living room for any sign of her. As he walked down the hallway, he began to hear a soft sobbing coming from her bedroom. He bolted the last few feet, slinging open her door. 

He found her, curled into a tight ball, in the darkest corner of her room. At first, he couldn’t understand what she was saying. Her lips were moving and there was sound emanating from them, but he couldn’t quite comprehend what the words were. “Easy,” he said as he scooped her into his arms. “Easy, love. I’ve got you.” John carried her to the living room and sat with her in his lap, stroking her back as she continued her mutterings.

They kept telling her she had powers. Taya had even pulled fire from her fingers shortly after her memory had been lost. But since then, she hadn’t been able to produce flame again. Well, except for when she was with Addan. For some reason, she felt more of who she was when he was around. But how much longer would that last? She sighed, sitting on her bed and pulling out her knife, she began to sharpen the blade. Her anger and frustration from the recent happenings she poured into every stroke of the stone. Why did it have to be like this? Why wasn’t there some other way to save the man she loved? 

Her hands stopped. Had she really just thought that? She stilled her body, waiting for panic to rise in her throat, for her heart to try to beat out of her chest. But nothing happened. She simply felt warm, content, like everything for once was right. A smile graced her lips as she returned to sharpening her knife. She loved him. Gods, did she love him! Which was why it was going to be so hard to kill him. 

 Suddenly, she was overwhelmed with a memory. Blood on her hands. Her blade in the belly of the man she loved. But it wasn’t Addan she was seeing. This man was different. Not wolf but panther like her. A knowing smile on his lips as he fell to the ground, his crimson blood soaking the grass. And just like that she was back in her room with her knife in her hands. She tried to remember his name, tried to understand why that had happened. How did she find herself in another situation where she would have to kill the man she loved? But this time was different. This time had to be different. Eres would make sure that Addan would survive.

Looking down at the blade in her hands, she noticed her eyes were now glowing red, flames reflecting in the silver of the knife. She held her hand in front of her face and focused, forcing the fire she felt inside towards her fingers. And just like that, flames appeared. She balled her hand into a fist and pushed the fire out, opening her palm and releasing a fireball that blew a hole in the wall opposite her. She would have to fix that later but for now, she relished the fact that she had found her fire. 

Atheona’s eyes bore into John’s as the tension built between them. She wanted to slap him, to yell and scream and cry. She wasn’t supposed to be back. He wasn’t supposed to have saved her. But damnit, she was happy to see him. She itched to touch him, to wrap herself in his arms and take comfort in the solidity of his body. But she knew the second she touched him, she would forget why she was so pissed. She searched his face for answers and found caution, tension, and a bit of fear stretching his features. 

“Brought what back,” Trez asked from the shadow behind her. Atheona didn’t even glance at him. She was afraid if she looked away John would put up his walls and she’d never be able to help him if he did that. “The Dorchadas,” Atheona said quietly. John closed his eyes and stiffened his muscles as he felt the pit inside him stretch at its name. When he looked at Atheona again, she had steel in her eyes while Trez bit back a curse. John heard laughter echo deep in his mind and he shook his head to clear it. “I knew I should have been the one to go get you,” Treznor said. Atheona whipped her head to look at him, flames jumping in her eyes. “The hell you should have! Both of you should have respected my wishes and left me in the Rubicon,” she yelled, her hands balled into fists. 

John shook his head once more, trying to dissipate the dark cloud that seemed to settle around him. He watched as Atheona railed against the young pup’s statements. He wanted to tell her that he was right in going back for her but she may have been right. Perhaps they should have left her on the other side. “So what is this,” John asked, breaking the quiet. Atheona sighed and turned to face him, worry etching lines on her face. “It’s pure evil, the most vile of things that has ever walked all the worlds. It’s like tar that sticks to your soul and mayhem walks in its wake,” she said. 

He felt like he was being split in two. The darkness that sat inside him wanted to stretch, to take over, to show him exactly what it was. But the wolf in him fought it back, just barely. The  Dorchadas was not something to trifle with and he cursed the fact that he had brought it back to this realm. Who knew what kind of problems it would cause? “Does Taya know,” Atheona asked, breaking through his thoughts. John shook his head and Atheona nodded. “I don’t imagine the Dorchadas and her Chaos would get along well.” Treznor scoffed. “Or they’ll get along famously and we’re all screwed,” he said. 

After assuring Taya that he was fine, John had left Taya with a look on her face that suggested she didn’t believe him. But he needed to get out of there. He needed to get back to the cave and check on Atheona. He considered shifting to get there quicker but he needed time to think and to settle himself. The trip across the Rubicon to reach Atheona had been a trying one. And he didn’t think he’d come back alone. 

Rubbing his chest as he walked through the woods, he felt the heavy ache that resided there. He’d assumed it was just a side effect of crossing the line between life and death. But every time he reached for the spot where that ache pulsated, he felt a darkness so cold and empty it made him sick. John probably should have mentioned it to Taya but she was already worrying over him. So he stalked through the woods, trying not to think about the pit of darkness he had and wondering whether Atheona was okay. 

It was a matter of minutes before he made it to Addan’s cave. As much as he may hate the man for putting Atheona through everything, he did have to admire him for having a safe haven. He just wished Atheona’s safe place was with him rather than the black wolf. John shook his head, putting the missing wolf out of his mind. If he had his way, he wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon. 

Stepping into the cave, he found Atheona still laying on the bed and Treznor kneeling next to her. He seemed to be praying but the young pup had never struck him as someone to believe in the gods. Trez never heard him enter. “How’s she doing,” John asked, startling the other wolf. Treznor simply shook his head. “She’s warmer than she was, and I can feel a pulse but...” Trez let the sentence die on his lips. He didn’t want to say what they were both thinking. Maybe this plan didn’t work.

“Stop,” John said sternly, walking towards the slumbering fireshade. Trez moved out of his way and stood against a wall, watching carefully. “I saw her. I spoke with her. I brought her back. I know I did,” John said, reaching out for Atheona’s limp hand. The second their fingers were within inches of each other, a spark flared between them. John swore he could feel her fire in his blood as Atheona’s body took on an ethereal glow. A glow John was well familiar with. The two wolves watched curiously as Atheona took a deep breath and flung her eyes open. 

John’s presence outside her bedroom door did nothing to soothe Atheona. She knew he couldn’t be here. It just wasn’t possible. She was living in a nightmare and if he was here, that meant that he had gone against her last wishes and was trying to bring her back to the land of the living. As she stayed curled in her corner, she prayed to all the gods that he would come to his senses and leave her here. But then the doorknob turned and the door slowly creaked open.

“Hey, can we talk,” John asked, his eyes pleading and sad as he took in her state. Atheona watched him, like a mouse being stalked by a large cat. John wished there was something he could fight for her, something he could protect her from. But this was all in her head, something she had to do on her own. He just hoped she would want to win. He walked towards her and sat in the floor a few feet in front of her. He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms but feared that would probably make things worse. So he sat, his hands clenched in his lap, and he watched her.

Atheona refused to meet his eyes, using her hair to hide her face from him. She couldn’t stop shaking and muttering “I’m sorry” again and again. “Hush now,” John said, reaching to brush her hair back. But she flinched at his touch, and he withdrew his hand. “What do you have to be sorry for,” he asked softly. “For killing you,” she said, her voice shaking. John sat up in surprise. “Atheona, you didn’t kill me. I’m right here.” He reached for her hand again. She fought him at first, keeping her hand balled tight in a fist. John stroked her knuckles, trying to soothe her. “Here, feel,” he said gently placing her hand against his chest.

He tried not to wince at how cold she was. It was like ice against him. But it was worth it to watch her expression relax as she felt his heart beat against her palm. John wanted desperately to push light into her, to help heal her somehow, but as he reached for his light he felt a wall blocking him. Atheona frowned pulling her hand back. “You’re not real. You can’t be! I saw you. I saw your...corpse...,” she said, her voice cracking. John clenched his fist, trying to figure out a way to make her believe he was really there for her. 

He inched closer to her, maintaining eye contact. Atheona furrowed her brow, watching him curiously. John brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, stroking her cheek with his thumb. He leaned forward and softly brushed his lips against hers. Instinct made him want to pull back from the icy cold touch of her lips but instead, he pushed harder, pouring a bit of himself into her and he smiled when he felt her melt against him. 

She heard John approaching long before he actually entered the room. He’d had a heavy foot every since Atheona split herself into the pendant. Taya knew he was frustrated about more than though. Irritation and anger rolled off of him in waves as he flung open the door. “Good morning, sunshine,” Taya said with a smirk, lifting her eyes to his. “Have you found anything,” he asked with a growl. 

Taya’s face fell and she shut the book she’d been reading. She had indeed found a way to bring Atheona back but he wasn’t going to like it. “What,” he said, his voice dropping. John didn’t like the look on Taya’s face. “So far, the only way I’ve found to bring her back requires her to want to come back. She has to give her consent, John. Otherwise...well, let’s just say it gets ugly.” John sat down in a chair next Taya. “How the hell am I supposed to do that? I can’t exactly hold the pendant up and ask, can I?” 

Taya smiled softly. She could understand his frustration. Personally, she wanted to bring Atheona back just to kick her ass for being so selfish. “No, you can’t ask the pendant but...” “But what,” John asked, sitting up with interest. Taya sighed. John was a grown wolf and could handle himself but Taya still hated giving him the option to put himself in danger. “You can visit her,” Taya said. “I can what,” John said, raising an eyebrow. “You can visit her, talk to her, wherever she is now. I found a ritual that would allow you a short amount of time to speak with her, get her consent, and we can restore her soul.”

John shot to his feet, pulling Taya with him. “Well what are we waiting for?” John started dragging her to the pile of books that sat on her desk. “What do we need?” “John,” Taya protested, trying to pull her hand from his. “John, wait! Listen!” He turned to face her, his eyes showing annoyance. “It’s not that simple.” “Why not,” he asked. “One of the key requirements is that your heart is clean.” John’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?” “I mean, that the ritual makes it very clear that you have to be blatant in your intentions. If you lie or are secretive about why you are doing this, everything can backfire.”

Standing together, she thrilled at her hand in Addan’s steady grip. Looking down at her he said, “You have a room upstairs, don’t you?” Honestly, she couldn’t remember. She had regained some of her memories but those mostly revolved around Addan and the way he made her feel. She shook her head and he smiled, making her heart skip a bit. “Well, I know someone who does.” He dragged her upstairs behind him, knocking on a door. When there was no response, he opened the door and led her inside. “We can sit in here for a while. Eres won’t mind.” Atheona looked around the room and smiled at the amount of glitter it contained. The Valkyrie certainly had quite the collection. A mischievous glint lit in her eyes as she looked at Addan.  “Won’t getting glitter all over you ruin the asshole image you’ve worked so hard on,” she asked with a smirk. He graced her with another smile as he sat down on the couch. “Or they’ll think the Valkyrie has attacked me.” She sat in a chair across the room. She wanted to be close to him but she still wasn’t sure he would accept her presence that close to him. “That actually would be pretty believable.” “It wouldn’t be the first time,” he said, his eyes never leaving her. She tried to relax under his watchful gaze, but the fire inside wouldn’t settle, and strangely she liked the feeling. “Really? The glitter lady has attacked you before? For what?” “I believe, at the time, her reasoning was that I’m an insufferable ass,” he said smiling and a little cocky. “She took offense to my attitude.” Atheona couldn’t help it as laughter bubbled out of her.  “Well, she’s not wrong,” she said, letting her eyes rove over the angles of his body. She could feel herself melt as she remembered his touch, how his hands had felt on her body, his lips on hers. 

 She didn’t want to bring up the issue but she needed to know. She had lost so much time taking those damn pills. “How much time do you have left?” “A week,” he said as the smile faded from his lips. She cursed herself for breaking the light mood. “One week and then it’s all or nothing.” She folded her arms with a sigh, leaning back in the chair. “So research with the professor has come to a halt. What about Ret?” Addan rubbed his forehead and she was afraid he was becoming impatient with her. “He’s not said a word to me so I assume that means he’s got nothing. So far at least.” Suddenly, his eyes met hers, studying her. “I did hear it said that someone had returned from your past but I suppose you don’t remember, do you?” Atheona’s brow furrowed with confusion and a little bit of panic. Something deep inside her told her that was the reason she’d taken the pills. “I don’t have any idea.” She chewed her lip, weighing whether it was a good idea, and then came to sit beside Addan. “Do you want me to hunt down the pirate?” “No, I have no doubt he’ll talk if and when something comes up.” His hand reached across to take hers and she sucked in a breath as their fingers entwined. “But I’m not holding my breath, beautiful.” 

“I don’t...I can’t lose you. Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me,” she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. The panic and confusion from the past few days dissipated with him nearby and she breathed a sigh of relief. His arm came around her shoulders, and she almost purred as he pressed his nose to the top of her head, inhaling. “Maybe we should tell Eres,” he said. Her eyes shot to his, resting a hand on his chest. “Are you sure? I mean, you were pretty upset when I told Ret.” She felt him sigh, whether from frustration, sadness, or contentment she wasn’t sure. “I’m beginning to realize I can’t handle this alone.” Her heart broke for him as the words passed his lips. She knew how hard it must be for him to admit that he actually needed help. And she vowed that she would do whatever it took to save this man. “Then tell Eres,” Atheona said. He nodded and brushed his lips across her cheek, sending a thrill of pleasure through her body. “Perhaps I will.” 

On impulse, she turned and pressed her lips to his jaw, inhaling the warm scent of him. She couldn’t help but smile as he sucked in a breath at her touch. He turned his head to face her, their lips just a breath apart. Their eyes met, his hand coming up to brush his thumb along her bottom lip.  Atheona let her tongue slip out to touch his thumb and closed her eyes as the taste of him made her tongue sing. She moved a bit closer, wanting his lips on hers. Addan’s eyes never left hers as he tentatively brushed his lips across hers. Her body responded immediately to his gentle kiss. The flames she’d been trying to hold back leapt to her skin and she pressed into him. Her lips found his hungrily, her fingers tangling in his hair. Goddess she had missed this man. She didn’t hold back the moan that left her lips as she melted into him. 

To her disappointment, he pulled back, looking into her eyes. “I’m a bad person to need, Athie.” She leaned back with a sigh. When was he going to realize that he was more than she could have ever asked for? “Bad or good matters not to me. All I know is you are a piece of me that I’ve been missing.” She purred as his hands slid into her hair, his lips meeting hers again, pushing her onto her back. She hungered for him, her teeth grazing his lips as her hands slid under his shirt to dig into his back. Addan pressed his body against hers as his hand moved into her hair, tightening into a fist as though he was afraid she would run. She wrapped herself around him, her fire blazing hotter at his touch. She dug her fingers deeper into his back, trying to drown herself in him. His hands tugged at her clothes until they found skin and his mouth dipped to taste it. Teeth, tongue, and lips teased her neck and down to her breasts. She worked desperately to get his shirt off him, wanting to feel as much of him as she could. Her fingers found his hair and she urged him on. Her heart raced with every touch and she bit her lip to hold back a moan. 

Addan left her long enough to pull his shirt over his head and toss it on the ground. His belt followed suit before his lips were on hers again, hot and hungry. He was torn between wanting to savor her and devour her. Atheona’s hands roamed his body, her nails scoring his back as they moved lower to push his pants off him. Her fingers brushed lightly across his cock, making his breath catch, as she pondered taking him in her mouth. She glanced up at him as a low growl rumbled through his chest, his thumb stroking her bottom lip. Quickly he moved so she was straddling him. When her eyes met his, the flames were evident in her gaze. Leaning over him, she softly brushed her lips against his, slowly sliding his length into her. A moan escaped her at the feeling. Instinct took over when she heard the growl rumble through Addan. She rested her hands on his shoulders, burying a hand in his hair, she began grinding her hips against him. 

She tried to keep a slow, steady rhythm but she wanted so badly to make this a primal meeting of bodies and not the reacquaintance it was. His hands moved over her hips, up her torso, his thumbs brushing across her breasts sent a shiver through her. She moaned as he kissed her neck and shoulder, his teeth grazing against her burning skin. Her hips began a faster rhythm, her body silently begging him to sink his teeth into her. Addan’s arms tightened around her as he buried his face in her neck as she felt him begin to pulse inside her. She cried out in pleasure as she felt her release become a typhoon. Wave upon wave washed over her and she was powerless to stop it. As their breathing returned to normal, he leaned back and squirmed against him with a purr. Atheona pressed her lips to his in a deep sensual kiss. Resting her forehead against his, she whispered, “What the hell are you doing to me?” “I could ask you the same thing,” he said, brushing his fingers through her hair. She felt like she was soaring here in his arms. And honestly, she didn’t want to come down any time soon.