Trying To Save This Blog!

So I do another pointless post.

Salvage

Post

If you come here first, check order of volumes

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

This is the 2nd book of series

Stefan

Stefan



Introduction



Hi! Donn Ui’Midir back again, still on Tech Duinn, with Hesper, Keith, Macha, the former Kyle Shannon; now Stephanie, Kevin; now a foxy chick named Kevalyn, and Percy the cat.

This is a sequel. Do not read this if you haven’t read, ‘What Revelation Never Told You’, also by yours truly. Everyone was introduced in that book, and I’m not going to sit here on this word processor, telling everyone about the last 125 pages I wrote. I’m sure you don’t want to reread it either. Especially since I did a bit of reflecting in that tale, and ended up rewriting a number of passages twice already.

I’m still an Irish ‘Gate Keeper’, still Thanatos-less, still a slave to the pony that kept me sane through all my turbulent times, and I still love to skate, paint, write poetry, and so on. The only thing that’s changed is now I have three more roommates to treasure, to love, to enlighten me further...and to drive me crazy.

I’m going to cover from when Stephanie, or Stevie; as she was generally called, and Kevalyn got back to Tech Duinn after their adjustment period at the Hall of Records, and after it was made clear to them that they were going to hold back their personal evolution by staying with the lowly evolved likes of us Tuatha dudes, which they fully agreed to; to the now-here. Hopefully this will be the worstly structured sentence of this story.

And hopefully you, my reader, will tolerate me jumping from scene to scene like a damn soap opera, but it was the only way I could write this series. Hey! Peter Straub, I am not.

On the other hand, aren’t people noted for having shorter attention spans these days?



* * *



Stevie and Kev were pretty blown away by what they viewed as their ‘rescue’. They were equally blown away by their new home, and they wanted to see the whole of Tech Duinn as soon as possible. I acted as tour guide, and Hesper was along for part of the trip, though he remained un-ridden. Hesper left us about one sixth of the way through, being he was pretty bored with the scene. I promised him a rubdown in the spa, when I was done.

We went through the whole castle, with the large garden in back included, in one trip. Stevie and Kev thought it was great being able to go on without tiring, or requiring food, although they still ate and slept a lot in the beginning of their stay. Force of habit and all! That would not go away completely by the time I’d finish this story, but the tendencies would ease up considerably as their existence here progressed.

We started from the bottom floor, which was two levels underground, and we worked our way up. The two found themselves exposed to cultures they’d never heard of before, and we didn’t go very fast. They wanted to really absorb the place. If the tour could be measured in Earth time, it might have taken about three months.















































































































Chapter 1









We had a blast on the tour, and we did a quite few tea stops here and there.

The last sight to see; was the tower. Unfortunately, the weather was calm. It was a partly cloudy sky, with perhaps a twenty-mile an hour wind, not that any of us were affected by it at the moment. “We’ve got to come up here during the next electrical storm. It is the most awesome sight,” I said. “Or do we want to step out of time to experience one, now?” I will never stop loving electrical storms.

“It’s been a pretty long tour. I’d rather wait,” said Kevalyn.

“Same,” said Stevie, “and can I help you groom Hesper?” She knew the routine.

I scowled at her. “I’m taking care of him in the whirlpool. It’s not a currycomb session.”

‘I want to talk to you, alone,’ she sent silently. “Should it matter?” she then said aloud.

‘I’ll talk to you after I’m done with my liege,’ I sent back. “I’d rather not. The pony and I’ve been apart for longer than usual, and I have some things to make up to him. You must understand he’s a Sidhe pony. He’s more like us, than a regular horse. He ranks with Keith and over Macha, as far as my affections go.” I added telepathically, ‘I’ll find you as soon as I’m done.’

“Nice to know I at least still rank,” said Macha.

I winked at her, with a smile.

Of course, the real reason for turning Stevie down; was like Hell I was going to be in such a potentially intimate setting with someone who thought I was hotter than the ‘big bang’. I had a strange feeling the conversation would revolve around that, and I was terrified of the concept. We haven’t been together alone yet, and it was something we had to resolve as quickly as possible, for I couldn’t tolerate what she wanted of me, and I'd have to let her know that without a doubt. I ruffled both Stevie’s and Kev’s hair. If they were in the same room, I’d do my best to treat them equally for now. Hey, it’s what you were supposed to do with cats...





* * *



I spent twice as long on Hesper, as I usually did. I went over him a few more times than usual, and we just communed. I wasn’t deliberately postponing anything with Stevie. I really was making up for lost time, and Hesper appreciated it. He gently nosed my cheek, and I was wondering if he was taking lessons from Percy. The two did like each other, and they hung out sometimes. They understood each other as well as they understood me. Thought picture communication was universal in this realm.

When I dried Hesper off, I was informed that he didn’t want to leave me just yet. He’d be with me, when I talked to Stevie. In a way, that made me very happy. He’d be my defensive back up if things got too weird. I kissed him on the cheek, and we were off. I gave Stevie an ‘incoming’, before we appeared before her. She was waiting on the main couch, in front of that perpetually burning fireplace.





* * *





I sat beside her on the couch, leaving about a foot between us. It seemed a 'proper' distance for a friend. “So, how is the world’s greatest poet of the day?”

“Confused. This is like a dream come true, but I don’t know why you took us on.”

"I suppose I couldn't ignore your devotion, your talents, and your love which though I do believe is slightly misguided."

"Misguided?"

"You're fascinated by my position. You didn't even know me, but I obsessed you."

"You rescued me from myself when I was fifteen. I remembered it. How could I forget how much you cared?"

I chuckled. "And when we first met, you were as cold as absolute zero because of my too blond hair and if I’d still had turquoise eyes when we met; you probably would have thrown something at me, which was about as senseless as your infatuation of me later."

"Thanks to that cunt of the breeder cow incubator that was my vehicle to get to Earth. Nazi bitch."

"The one you chose to use before it happened."

She looked away from me. "Gods, I was stupid."

"You are what you are because of it all. You're here now because of her. We met because of your so-called incubator in part, not to mention a few other things in your rather unusual life. You wouldn't have almost committed suicide in a less dysfunctional circumstances."

"Your love for me is so strange. So different."

"I wish yours was a little saner, and without the lust. I've never had a relationship with anyone like what you want of me, and I can't say I'm comfortable with the concept. I can't do it. I don't think I ever will be able accommodate you."

“I'm sorry, but it’s hard not to get hot and bothered by an improved version of Sebastian Bach.”

I couldn't help but laugh before I said, “The man towers over me, he’d have to work out pretty hard for at least six months to get my level of muscular definition, his eyes are covered with eyebrows you can barely see from a distance, and his lips are a bit more sensuous than my own lizard lips. I don’t think you’d like his personality either, but thank you.”

“You know a lot about him.”

“After the nineteenth person told me I looked a little like him, I just had to look him up. I’m not that gaunt, and although he is quite attractive in the face; at least, I think the semblance is a bit superficial. Also, he has a lot of growing up to do.”

“And he doesn’t have an Irish accent. It’s going to be a pain to innately see you in the right light. I wish you guys were more like what I wrote about.”

I just shook my head. That was something I really wished I could forget about. “No! It’ll never happen. Macha won’t have you, Keith will never take another after Macha, and we all know about me.”

Stevie cocked her head. “Will my desires go, if I do what you did to yourself, after I learn how to destroy my nerve endings?”

“Maybe eventually, but most of the problem is psychological.”

“Can I try? I don’t want any conflicts of interest.”

“You actually love me enough to do that to yourself?” I was genuinely moved. It was a little painful for me to hear that. It was the last thing I expected.

My question allegorically slapped her upside the head. She simply nodded. I knew she offered a reluctant concession, and she looked like she suddenly had to fight back her tears.

Well, I sure and hell wasn’t going to help her do that. I was so touched by her declaration, that I lost it myself. I extended my arms and a wet streak ran down my left cheek. “You can let yourself go too, Stevie. You’ll feel better, later. Holding back your tears is not a sign of strength!”

She accepted my embrace, and held me in return. “Can you teach...me...how...to...?” She trailed off.

I brushed her hair back from her face. “I’ll take you Astral. I’ll teach you all you need to know to live here. I’ll share a bit of myself with you. What you want and need to know about me, and what I feel for you. Maybe you can develop a more proper perspective.

She waited a while before answering. She wanted to be sure she could get everything out without cracking. “I’ve adored you since I was nineteen. If you'd had another hair colour, I probably would have been obsessed with you from the day you rescued me after the Southern Pacific incident.”

“I could have, but that wasn't how I was born. I knew about your so-called Aryan aversions, but I wasn't going to give you any illusions on what I was. That would have been so wrong, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Nothing matters anymore.” I held her tight. “I’m going to transfer you now, and you’re not used to this. Maybe you’d better close your eyes.”

She did, and we were gone.



* * *



Stevie was still as whacked as ever, but much more reasonable than the youngster who wrote the Xanon Chronicle Trilogy. Her sense of humour would stay outrageous until the end of time, but she was really determined to make a few compliances for the greater good of everyone here.

I took her in as completely as I could. Not a shred of her mind and personality would remain unexplored, except for what she was unaware of at the moment.

It was so strange. She went through absolute Hell because of her memories of me, yet at the same time, she couldn’t have coped without them. I offered her a profuse apology and more of myself than I originally intended. As I’d said before, she was also very psychic. She picked up on so much, though she had no control over it. This one had also been in a tremendous amount of internal turmoil for a ‘mortal’. Of course it hadn't been anywhere near as bad as Macha, and I found it pretty easy to deal with. Learning her inner workings completely, I found I really adored Stevie, though there were aspects to her I couldn’t deal with, which I’d work on. It was completely different from what I felt for anyone else, but I was so glad she was at Tech Duinn.

This was a peaceful merging. Our colours blended softly, and our energy exchange was strangely gentle. We were both holding back slightly. Stevie was so unsure of herself and what was going on, but at the same time, she was beyond ecstasy in realising that what was happening was beyond her wildest dreams. It felt so good, but in a way, completely alien to her. The intimacy was way beyond what a carnal union could bring and it was so much more intense, on an emotional level.

I taught her everything from how to shape-shift, to how to materialise that cup of tea herself. I also taught her some of my own history. Not everything, only what I thought was important. Mostly, I just enveloped her with what I felt for her.

We blew apart eventually, and it was the most drawn out experience of the sort I’d ever had. It wasn’t forced, like when Macha kept us together by sheer exertion of will, so it wasn’t torture. It was just a strange, gentle lingering, and I didn’t mind it.

We collapsed into each other, when we landed back on the couch.



* * *





“You’re a paradox,” I whispered, finding myself pleasantly exhausted. It hadn’t been a difficult process emotionally, but I felt pleasantly drugged. This was...well...oh, never mind!

“I’m tired. I feel like I’m going to pass out in seconds.”

“You shouldn’t have lived your last li...” I didn’t finish the sentence. I keeled over, and Stevie did the same, though she’d end up on the floor.



* * *





Kevalyn, Keith and Macha found us out cold, with Stevie sprawled on the rug. Kevalyn kneeled by her, and asked, “What happened to you, babe?”

Stevie was too far-gone to answer. Macha explained, “Donn took her High Astral. That’s hard on us, since it’s not our natural place, and it wears us down. It’s a psychological and emotional overload, too. Keith is the only one of us who can handle it. He’s the most levelheaded of us, and isn't really fazed by anything. He’s tougher than us, by my design.”

“Thanks,” said Keith to Macha, as he kneeled by Stevie. “Let me get her off the floor. Macha, you want to get Donn in a more comfortable position, so he doesn’t wake up feeling like a pretzel?”

“Good idea.”

Keith picked up Stevie, and put her securely on the couch. Macha then repositioned me, so I wouldn’t wake up with half my limbs asleep due to squished nerves. I didn’t wake up, either.

“Hopefully, they resolved their differences,” said Keith.

“Going Astral’s the best way to do it!” said Macha. “It’s also the fastest way to learn how to live here.” She looked at Kevalyn. “Someone should take you. Who do you want?”

Kevalyn asked Macha, “Can you do it?”

Macha smiled. “You flatter me, Kev. Don’t you think Stevie or Donn would be better?”

Kevalyn shrugged. “I don’t know what it means. I don’t know what it is, but those two are kind of on the unconscious side, unless you want me to wait.”

“The thing is, it usually includes a mental lovemaking. It’s not generally a lust thing though that can play a part with work. Just an exchange of unconditional feelings for each other, if they’re there to begin with! If they’re not there to begin with, most of the time the two end up feeling pretty strongly for each other, since they end up with shared memories. It’s a psychological merging. I don’t know if it would be too good of an idea for me to take you. Even though I’m not innately gay, because we’d be sharing personality traits, I still may want you for a while after we’re done, until we come completely back into ourselves. Donn’s innately asexual, for example, but he ceded himself to me a little while after our merging. I almost took him up on it, but changed my mind at the last minute. He got pretty mad at me, but in the long run, it was the best thing I could have done. I don’t know if he could have forgiven himself or me, if I’d let it happen. This being your first time, I think it would be best if we didn’t complicate matters.”

“How long before these guys come out of it?” Kevalyn asked, clearly eager to experience the process herself.

Macha shrugged. “No telling, really. Shall we have tea in the garden to pass the time, go for a walk on the beach or...how about a horseback ride?”

“I don’t have a horse.”

“Would you like one?”

“Sure. Black Connemara pony? Stevie said they’re one of the best breeds.”

“They are, and they’re Irish. No problem. You're pretty tall, but I'll find you a big one.”

“The only thing is, um...I’ve never been on a horse before.”

Macha looked at Keith, then at Kevalyn, then back to Keith again. "Oh, to Hell with it! Kev, I’ll take you Astral. Keith, can you go to the main island to steal a young stallion with an amenable personality and tame him?”

“You want me to what?” Keith asked, totally stunned.

“You heard me.”

“You made me! Can’t you make a pony?”

Macha put her arms akimbo. “Do you know how much effort it took to put you together?” She walked over to him, and put her right hand under his chin. “I swear, running a race against a horse just before giving birth to twins was easier. And you want me to make a creature I have no vested interest in?”

“What if I can’t find a wild one?”

“Steal one. What do we care? Oh, for the gods’ sakes, never mind. I’ll get the damned pony. You take Kevalyn Astral. It’s probably best that way anyhow. Is that alright with you, Kev?”

Kevalyn was chuckling. In reality, she thought Macha was to die for, but she said only, “Whatever you think is best.”

Keith shrugged, “Fine by me.” He planted both feet on the ground, and swallowed. “We better sit down on the second couch. You don’t want to risk coming back to a standing position. You might crash to the floor on return if I’m not with it enough to catch you.”

“OK,” said Kevalyn, as she walked to the couch.

Kevalyn sat down, and Keith sat beside her. “Close your eyes,” he said, as he put an arm around her.

She did, and they were gone.



* * *





Information exchange was the primary reason for the merging of Kevalyn and Keith, but of course, it didn’t end there. Kevalyn was awed and astounded by her gorgeous, now Astral lover; and barring the fact he was the wrong gender, Kevalyn had no inhibitions on developing an emotional bond with him, not that gender even had any relevance at the moment. She shared herself completely with Keith, but Keith was more reserved. He didn’t want to tangle up his existence any more than he had to.

In this merging, Kevalyn learned how to ride, how to materialise and de-materialise what she wanted, how to focus her attention to materialise herself to whatever location she wanted without help, and basically how to exist here with no need to ask any questions on her new, unused abilities. It also included what was the High Astral version of a light snogging session.

Their separation was nice, but nothing extravagant. When they landed back on the couch, Kevalyn was mighty relaxed, more euphoric than she’d ever been in her past memories, and an absolutely beautiful, black Connemara pony was waiting for her, tacked with a halter, and a light racing saddle. Macha was stroking the pony.

“So how did you like it?” Macha asked Kevalyn.

A slightly dazed Kevalyn put her arm around Keith, and leaned into him. “It was great,” she said, in a dreamy fashion. The experience had not been intense enough to flatten her completely.

Keith caressed Kevalyn’s hair. “Dude, you’re supposed to be lesbian!”

Kevalyn suddenly ‘woke up.’ “Oh man, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to...sorry, Macha.” She backed away from Keith a little.

Macha laughed. “It’s OK, Kev. I think Keith is picking on you.”

Kevalyn looked at Keith, “Are you?”

He smiled at her, and ran his right index finger down her nose. “A little bit. You’re a trip, Kev. I think you’re pretty cool. I also think that we now have one of the world’s most innovative composers here amongst us.”

Kevalyn still looked very confused, so Macha said, “It’s OK for you to snuggle with Keith, or anyone you want. I don’t own him, and we’re a fairly demonstrative, affectionate, lot. So how do you like your pony?”

Kevalyn stood up. “He’s beautiful. You let all the horses stay in the castle?”

“They don’t eat, and they can’t make a mess here, so yes. If they want to, they stay indoors. You already know that Hesper likes to use the whirlpool, and demands that Donn give him sponge-downs. Donn is owned by Hesper; you must understand! What do you want to name your pony?”

Kevalyn walked up to him, and stoked him. “I’m not sure yet. Aren’t stallions supposed to be harder to handle?”

“They can be, if they’re distracted. They’re more time-consuming and you need to forge a very strong bond with them. Things are a little different here than on The Physical Earth, though. Here you can just tame him with love, and talk to him by sending him pictures of what you want to convey. Then if you can blank your mind out, he’ll answer you the same way. The horses here get the same consideration that we give to each other. If you think a request might inconvenience him, you ask. If he doesn’t want to do it, you abide by his wishes. So, would you like to go for a ride now?”

Kevalyn looked at the pony. “Uh, no. Not just yet.”

Macha said, “Then you just have to will away his tack, and then tell him he’s free to leave. I assume Keith showed you the ropes on how to do this?”

"Yes, he did." Kevalyn closed her eyes in concentration, and the saddle and halter disappeared. She then sent him a picture of him walking off alone, while running her hand down the front of his face. In turn, the pony nosed her and then walked away.



* * *





I was the first one to come out of my unconscious state. Macha, Keith, and Kevalyn were waiting for us, and I sat up. “Hi guys.”

“Hello. So, how was it?”

“Her head’s mostly in the right place,” I said. I looked at Stevie, and wondered if I should try and wake her. I was polite about it. “Kev, you want to see if Stevie’s ready to be rousted, or shall I?”

“You’re already there. Go for it.”

Stevie was another perpetual boot wearer. I gently yanked on her ankle. “Stevie?”

She rolled over, into the back of the couch.

“Stevie? Are you awake?”

She stretched. “Yeah, I guess so. Donn, I think I’ll go celibate.”

Kevalyn stood up, “WHAT?”

Stevie fought her way to a seated position. Oops! “Kev?”

Kevalyn came to us, and stood over Stevie. “How could you do that to me? You’ve been wanting a female lover since the day we met, the option is finally here, and before we even have the chance to enjoy it, you decide to go platonic?”

Oh no! No stupid fights! I moved closer to Stevie, and patted the couch on the other side of me. “Come here, Kev.”

Kevalyn sat down, and I put an arm around each of them.

“I’m sorry, Donn. Airing dirty laundry here,” said Kevalyn.

I pressed Kevalyn against me, and said to Stevie, “Stef! Why don’t the two of you discuss it before you do the switch over? After all, there’s no need to rush into anything now that you’re here, is there?”

Stevie reached around me, and ruffled Kevalyn’s hair. “You’re right; I’ll wait,” she said aloud. To me privately, she sent, ‘You drive me absolutely nuts, Donn.’

I smiled at her. ‘Hopefully only for a little while’ I kissed both of them on the cheek.

Stevie hadn’t changed her form from what she looked like on the Physical Plane. She had even kept her scars. Kevalyn, on the other hand, had gone from a fairly attractive 48-year old male to an absolute knockout babe, who might have been in her mid-twenties. Her long hair was now a deeper red. She had large, green eyes with gorgeous long red lashes, cheekbones to die for, and a cute, classic Irish nose. She retained her height of about five foot eleven, but thinned down to about a hundred forty pounds, from her formerly masculine weight of a hundred seventy. She was pretty enough that I found it hard to not study her as we sat there together. I leaned into Stevie, and asked Kevalyn, “Kev, can I do a painting of you?”

“Sure. What sort of pose?”

“What would you like?”

“Warrior slut on the black stallion? I think I want to call him Nova.”

“Hm.” I said, as I brushed my head against Stevie’s shoulder in a feline fashion.

Macha said, “Donn, I never knew you could be such a flirt.”

‘Peacekeeper, Macha! Peacekeeper. They know where I’m coming from,’ I sent, then said aloud, “There’s a first time for everything, huh?”

Keith was enjoying my previously unheard of little display. He just smiled, and shook his head.

Stevie caressed my hair, and moved back slowly, causing my head to slide down into her lap with a little guidance. I didn’t think it was a good idea to fight what she was doing.

Kevalyn took my hand. “Shall we feed you some grapes, Donn?” After all, I was in the perfect position for it.

I covered my eyes with my other arm, “Oh gawd!” I said, amidst the groans.

Yes, we were all going to get along just fine.

















































































Chapter 2









Later, Stevie and Kevalyn were face to face on the bed, with the slighter Stevie straddling Kevalyn. They were in embrace; both still fully dressed. Stevie brushed her cheek against Kev’s. “I don’t know if I can ever bring myself to do this again, so I don’t want to know what I’m missing, OK?” asked Stevie.

“So you don’t want me to do anything?”

“Right.”

“You’re crazy. There’s so much I want to do with you.”

Stevie said, “Fine! Tell me about it when it’s a good time. I’ll deliver it to you.”

“Stevie, you have no idea how much I adore you.”

Stevie kissed Kevalyn on the forehead. “As much as Keith?”

Kevalyn smiled. “He did win me over, but this is different. I mean, you saved my life, dude. We’ve been together forever. You’ve been my life for the last quarter of it.”

“I love you too, but what I’m going to do with you is a pale comparison of what he did with you.”

The currently very turned on Kevelyn winked at Stephanie, and said, “Well, you can try to measure up.”

“Oh, yeah!”



* * *





Stevie made love to Kevalyn in a very ritualistic, stylised, methodical fashion. For Kev, it would be beyond anything she had felt when she was ‘Kyle’s’ male lover, on Earth.

Though it would have been better for Stevie to ‘neuter’ herself before the one-way interlude she'd insisted upon, she tested her own will power to the limit, and waited until after it was over before eliminating her own ability to feel anything regarding unquenched sensualistic desires went.

The memories of the event would drive Kevalyn crazy for a while. Around here, you really had to be careful of what you asked for. If you got it, it was with you for eternity.



* * *





You don’t ask a pony to pose for a few hours. I ended up taking a mental photograph of what Kevalyn wanted me to paint, though I had the live Kevalyn available for the fine details. Kev, like Macha; was into the ‘if you got it, show it off’ attitude. Dress down, and flaunt your wares. Though Kevalyn was nicely toned, she was nowhere near as muscular as Macha; the serious warrior as opposed to the one time poser. The finished product was nice, and all of us ended up staring at it for a while.

My painting of Kevalyn was reminiscent of a Boris Vallejo work. Same style, but I thought my three models surpassed anyone Boris ever had posing for him. Who could beat Keith, Macha and Kevalyn, not to mention our ponies and horses were the best reality had to offer.

In the picture, Kevalyn was mounted on Nova, wild red hair blowing all over the place, G-string, tattered brassier, sword at her hip, necklace, a few bracelets, a rag tied around her thigh, a band around her forehead, a boot knife in the tattered boot exposed to the viewer, and a threatening look on her face. The real Kevalyn actually looked quite angelic.



* * *





Macha stood behind Kevalyn, as we all looked at the finished product for the first time. She gently held Kev by the shoulders. “Seems like I have some stiff competition in the looks department, here,” she said.

A self conscious Kevalyn objected. “No way!”

I said, “Oh, I don’t know. I think Etain now ranks as the third most beautiful woman that ever was.”

“True,” said Keith. “So, are you having second thoughts about remaining celibate?” he asked me. Damn button pusher.

“Hey!” I objected. “I’m an artist, OK? I like to paint beautiful people, animals, landscapes and else. I’ve scaped out the most beautiful garden in existence but I assure you, there’s not a plant in there I’d like to shag.”

Everyone found that somewhat amusing, and Keith said, “Never mind.”

Kevalyn, now dressed in twentieth century hippie attire with miniskirt, knee high boots, and a sleeveless shirt tied to show off half her midriff; said, “Thanks anyway, Donn.”

I scowled at her. “Aren’t I the wrong gender?”

She scowled back, and pointed at me. “You look so much like a chick, I’d almost forgive you your plumbing.”

I said, “I think I’ll shut my mouth, before I bury myself any deeper.”

Keith was silently convulsing, and Stephanie was doubled over a little. Macha, amid a few chuckles said, “It seems like we finally have someone who can put Donn in his place.”

“Two queens of sarcasm! Wonderful. How will I ever live myself down?” I asked.

Macha came over to me, put an arm around me, and kissed me on the cheek. “There’s nothing to live down, babe. You’re perfect as you are.”

I looked at Stevie. “And you, Stevie! Aren’t you the one with the reputation for coming up with the absolute worst one-liners?”

“Kevalyn comes up with more of them; mine are just more outrageous,” said Stevie, still chuckling a little.

“Lovely,” I said, though I was secretly longing for the next verbal sparring session. One that I might be able to win!



* * *





Later, Macha caught a very interested looking Keith in front of my latest painting. “She’s one of the most beautiful women I ever saw,” said Macha.

“Someone different. I’m not used to her yet.”

“New dish on the menu?”

“I wouldn’t phrase it quite like that.”

“But would you think it?” asked Macha.

“I can’t help but be curious, yet in a way I’m disgusted with the thought of thinking about someone other than you.”

“Why? I’d take Donn in a second, if he wasn’t like he was.”

“If Donn wasn’t like he was, I wouldn’t exist.”

“This is true, but I’m glad he is, because I can’t imagine how I ever lived without you. Would you like to go to the garden for some tea?”

Keith stepped in front of Macha, and gently held her by the upper arms. He kissed her on the forehead. “Actually, I’d rather go to your room.” He was in a rather ‘distracted’ state, at the moment.

“Shall I take on Kevalyn’s simulacrum?”

“No! It’s not just what she looks like. I already had a more intimate merging with her on the Astral level. It’s her whole essence. Besides! I love how you are. I love being ravished by a woman who can beat me up.”

“If that closet borderline switch-hitter makes a pass at you, then go for it. I never asked for your exclusive devotion. The only reason you had mine was that Donn doesn’t play. Your sense of obligation to me is a chain of your own forging.”

“In one way, I hope she does, but in another way I hope she doesn’t. I’m at war with myself over this. I really do love her, but it’s so much different from what I feel for you, and...and...”

“Let’s go to my room, and let’s do something we’ve never done before,” said Macha.

“Is there something we’ve never done before?”

“Hell, yeah!” Macha embraced him, and in less than a second, they were surrounded by luxury.



* * *





Macha said, “Sit down at the head of the bed, and get as comfortable as you can. Move the pillows to completely support you.”

Keith followed her instructions; the fireplace in her room lit spontaneously and became a raging inferno. Macha crawled up beside Keith, and caressed his left cheek. He smiled, and turned his head slowly to the right. Macha willed their clothing away, ran her hand down his chest, barely touching him, and straddled him after he was ready. She held him tight, and took him Astral.

Macha filtered through only her feelings of the intensest love for Keith. There would be no history, or old emotional turmoil for him to deal with.

The two had never been together in the Astral Realm. What happened between Macha and I had dissuaded them from doing that.

Macha forced herself and Keith back to the physical, right before the forced explosive separation on the Astral would have occurred. She contracted herself on him with all of her might, and Keith held on to her as if his life depended on it. For the first time in his existence, Keith didn’t remain silent for the culmination, though he did only let out a soft groan, where most men would have been moved to a primal scream session.

Even Keith passed out after that one.

Now, that wasn’t too explicit, was it?



* * *



Later, Stevie and I had the pleasure of listening to Kevalyn practise an electric Gibson. Boy, that lady could play, and I had never heard any of it before. Kevalyn didn’t do covers. She played her own material, or nothing. From classical rock, to Renaissance, to space music! There was even a Celtic influence to some of her work. It was auditory heaven, and it lasted for a very long, long time.

“Ye gods, that was beautiful,” I said when she was done. Stevie and I were snuggled on a temporary two-seater couch.

Kev willed the guitar away. “Any room for me on that?”

“If someone sits on somebody’s lap, and you’re not sitting on mine, lady. You’re bigger than me,” I said.

Kevalyn asked, “Stevie, want to sit on mine?”

“Sure,” said Stevie, as she got up.

Kevalyn sat down, Stevie got comfortable in Kev’s lap, and now I had Kevalyn wrapped around me, as opposed to Stevie. Kev’s other arm went around Stevie’s waist. What a picture, we must have been. Fine time for an intellectual conversation! “Stevie?!” I asked.

“Yes?”

“Rome is about the only culture I have any problems with, as far as total detachment goes, other than Ireland. It is a place I am not at all fond of, for all the destruction she was responsible for. How is it, that in your Xanon Chronicles, you managed to not only come up with a Latin first name for me; but also an also-known-as surname, that is Italian, though you did rearrange the spelling.”

“Huh?”

“Zanon, with a Z is an Italian name. But you gave me a Greek identity, a Scottish accent, and you made a royal mess of me in your story set that made absolutely no sense.”

“I thought you forgave me for that little indiscretion?!”

“I did, but I think I missed picking up what I asked, during our merging.”

“Probably because I didn’t know the reason. I just thought the name up, spelled with an X, and I had no clue. I’d never heard the name before, and I thought it was so pretty, so... By the way, have you read the Aeneid?”

“Ah, yes! I know about my Latin first name being inspired by The Maiden of Mantua, who actually is Celtic, by the way! You became smitten with him, from reading Dante’s Inferno. I never met him, but from what I know about him, I like him.”

“Can you meet him?”

“Of course! I can meet anyone. I’d rather not, though.” I ran my finger down Stevie’s nose. “I have everyone I want to talk to right here. Now, is everyone OK, or should I build a bigger couch?”

“I’m fine”, said Kevalyn.”

“I love it,” said Stevie.

I pressed myself against Kevalyn. “So do I.”

I got my hair stroked by Stevie.



* * *





A bit later, Keith was the first to wake up. He immediately dressed himself in tight fitting, bleached jeans tucked into black moccasin boots, and a black T-shirt. He also desensitised himself from the physical. The fire had died, and it was cold in the room. He covered Macha with the comforter, and pressed himself against her. He looked at the fireplace, and started another one. Of the unconscious Macha, he asked, “Will you ever cease taking me to new heights, dear lady. That felt damn good.”

“Hm?” She opened her eyes.

“Will you ever stop out-doing yourself?”

She smiled. “Not if I can help it.” She dressed herself in leather pants, smooth leather boots, and a long sleeved satin shirt, all black. She moved out from under the covers.

“I hope you want to do that again, real soon. Even my dreams were influenced by what you did to me.”

“It took a bit of effort. The last thing I innately want to do when I get back here from the other side is work, but yes; I want to do it again, too.”

“How do you come up with this stuff?”

She sat up, and put her arm around him. “I lie awake at night, thinking about it.”

Keith held her, in turn. “I don’t know if I want Kevalyn any more.”

“That wasn’t the point.”

“Was there a point, other than sheer hedonism?”

“No. Donn was right in calling me the lady sage of lust and war.”

Keith threw his head back, and closed his eyes. “Ye gods, that was way more than lust.” He turned his head aside to look at Macha. “The way you enveloped me with your feelings, and then that transfer of the Astral culmination to the physical...that combination of the most absolute sense of love, and that indescribable thing I felt when...oh, why did it have to end?!”

“So we can do other things, like maybe evolve, and one day get off of this island.”

“I’d like to evolve, and am working on it; but I do love this place. I’ll never get through its library.”

“Maybe one day, we should go to the Akashic Library. Find a Sybil to filter the information for us, so we don’t get everything at once.

“I find it strange, that knowledge can make one mad.” He didn’t admit he’d already been to the Akashic Library more times than I can count, though even I didn’t know that at the time. There was a lot I didn't know about Keith that he'd hidden from all of us for a while.

Macha rubbed the side of her head against Keith’s shoulder. “Reality is a very vicious thing. You’ve been exposed to the horrors of physical life, and how cruel people can be to each other when Donn shared himself with you. That’s not even one percent of how bad it can get. Think a sensitive one like you can deal with that?”

“Never mind.” What Keith really knew, he thought had best remain unknown to all the others who lived here. For the time being, anyway.

“Hug me, Keith.”

He did, while she wrapped herself around him. “I hate being separate from you, too,” he said. “I do love it here, but I’d love being truly one with you on the Astral even better than this. That even outranks what you just did to me.”



* * *





“I think I want to get my rear off this couch and do something. I haven’t skated in a while and I’m going a little stir-crazy,” I said. Me and Stevie, and Kev were still on the couch.

“Can we watch?” asked Stevie. “I mean, I know you’re good, from when you took me in.”

“Sure. I’ll even put the music on.”

“Great!” said Kevalyn.



* * *





I did my thing to Blue Oyster Cult, Rush, Hawkwind, Rising Force, Led Zeppelin, and Queensryche. I ice-danced in my black tunic, and went soley for the grace in this session, and no impressive acrobatics whatsoever. I tried to remain as un-erotic as possible in my performances, considering the audience. When I was done with the sets, I skated over to my viewers.

“That was awesome,” said Stevie. Sensationally neutered or not, she was still having problems in the lust department. One didn’t have to be a telepath to notice. Damn those memories.

“Like, totally,” said Kev, with a grin.

“Thank you, my dearest ones.” I turned to Kevalyn. Privately, I sent her, ‘Kev, I have some stuff to discuss with Stevie. Can we meet you later?’ Of course I closed the request by kissing her on the nose.

Kevalyn smiled at me, and said, “Yeah, that was great. In fact, I really have to go and practice my guitar, you know? Listening to those tunes sort of lit my fire.”

“OK. We’ll see you later,” I said with a wink.

With a wave to Stevie, Kevalyn transferred out.

The second she was gone, I pointed at Stevie. “I have one more, just for you.”

Stevie smiled. “Thanks.”



* * *





I put on a rendition of a song she wrote when she was Kyle. ‘Take Me.’ I had done the vocals myself, and I recorded the instrumental part with guitar, and keyboard. I did an interpretive ice-dance to the lyrics, and Stevie couldn’t handle it. Tears were streaming down her face, when I was finished.

I’d done that deliberately. I knew damn well what would happen. I could be very manipulative, when I had to be.

I skated up to her, and sat beside her. I put an arm around her. “You OK, babe?”

She couldn’t talk, so she sent me, ‘I think that was the most beautiful, and most painful thing I ever saw in my life.’

I embraced her, and held her close to me, and she held me in turn. I said, “I thought the same thing when you sent the song to me. I couldn’t perform it without crying, for some time.”

‘So, you’re getting even?’

I put my right hand gently on the back of her head, and I brought our foreheads together. “I wouldn’t put it like that, but you have no idea how much I appreciate you.”

‘I don’t think I can say the same. You know me like an open book, huh?’

“I do. You’re beautiful. Not perfect, but absolutely beautiful. You know you used to drive me crazy, but you have evolved into something I would trade no other mortal for.”

“Not even Kevalyn?” She could finally talk, again.

“Stevie! Get yourself some self-confidence, love. Aesthetic beauty is for art, not relationships. I don't fall for people because of what they look like. Kevalyn is wonderful, but it’s not her-him that lived her-his life for me, is it? Also, Kev seems to be fascinated with Keith.”

“He’s the one that absorbed her. She’s pretty hung up on him, for him being a guy. He’s as pretty as you. He’d make a decent looking chick. His face, anyway! Rest of him is definitely male.”

“Does she want him, anyway?”

“Sort of.”

Poor Keith. “OK.” Not my problem, thank the gods. “And how does she view me?”

“You’re fun and safe. I think it would make her day if she could borrow Macha.”

Lovely phrasing, but thank the gods I was spared her potential attentions. “And is what you and me have now, really, intrinsically, and truly enough for you? You’re comfortable with what is to be our relationship?!”

“Donn; being in your arms is a dream. I’ve mentioned it in enough of my poems. I love you so much, I can’t stand it.” I noticed that she didn’t answer my question.

I placed my cheek against hers, and telepathically enveloped her with what I felt for her. Yes, it overwhelmed her.

She buried her face against my chest. I just held her, without moving, and waited for her to get everything out of her system, shedding a few tears of my own in the process.

When she was done, she backed away from me a little. I put my hands gently on her face, and smiled. “I love you more than I ever loved Etain, but will you be content to let the virgin god remain so?” It was something that had to be said. No, my ego has not expanded and I still didn’t really think myself a deity.

She gave me a weak smile. “What you just did for me is more than what I could have imagined. Nothing that ever happened to me on Earth could compare. There’s not a feeling alive, you know?” Again, she didn’t answer me. She hated lying with a passion. That had gotten her in trouble a few times on Earth, but honesty was important to her.

I held her tight, again. “Where have you been all my existence?”

“Living on Earth, like a complete idiot. I think I want to get back into playing music again too.”

That was more than I hoped to hear. (Remember! This period takes place right after they got here.) “Maybe we can write some stuff together.”

“Can you also teach me how to skate?”

“Anything you want, dearest protégé, excepting a shagging!”

“I’ll get over it,” she said.

I hoped that was true.































Chapter 3







Kev really was at her guitar when Stevie and I found her. More killer music to listen to! Great!

I materialised another temporary couch, but this time a three-seater, in case Kevalyn wanted to join us later. Of course, Stevie and I were wrapped around each other.

I have no idea, what happened to me. I was acting just as obsessed with Stevie as Stevie was with me. Residuals from our earlier merging, maybe?! Or has it been too long for that? Was I making up for lost time? Would I now ever stop acting so disgustingly co-dependent? Or like a school kid in his first relationship?

With Stevie, I would declare myself a platonic lover. No ifs, ands, or posteriors, as Stevie would say. I hoped I was making up for all the past sadness our being apart had caused her. I’d find out soon enough. I wanted to take her Astral again as soon as possible. Maybe after the conversation we’d have with Kevalyn, when her awesome performance was over.

Kev was dressed in a long, flowing, pastel skirt with a flowery print, a peasant shirt, and sandals. Kevalyn was totally into the hippie look of the 1960s. She also moved very gracefully, when she played. Her fingers moved along that fret board, like that guitar was her passive paramour. She was beautiful to watch, not only because of what she looked like, but because of how she moved. Her music was definitely worthy of Tech Duinn.

My attention was divided between the music and Stevie. ‘Would you like to become one on the Astral after this?’ I sent her.

‘Yes, but if you’re going to take my mind in, I guess I’ll admit right now I’m not coping too well with the limitations imposed on our relationship,’ she sent back.

‘I know that. I’m trying to help you reprioritise.’

‘What I want is stupid! It’s only obvious. Your way is so much better, but I’ve...well, you know how I feel, and I know what I wish I didn’t want will never happen. It's just that I want you in the way I was familiar with on Earth. That was the only thing I knew for so long. Is there anything I can do to get rid of these unwanted yearnings?’

I pressed her to myself, and put my chin on her shoulder. ‘Be honest with yourself. A mere lust session would leave you a bit hollow. Really, deeply analyse yourself and the concept. Think of what we’ve done, and wait until we’re truly one again on the Astral after Kev stops playing. Think how marginal and self-centred your current desires really are. I mean, what’s more beautiful? To share our innate love and our innate being with each other while we’re truly in one space on the Astral, or your little phantasy of teasing me to the point where I lose all control of myself and take you like an animal? I am so far removed from that I almost can’t take it seriously, not to mention that as you are, or rather were before you desensitised yourself, it wouldn’t feel half as good as you imagine it would. You’re not designed like that, and I couldn’t have been made to break down like that when I was sixteen, and living in Ireland. I’m not that kind of guy; not to mention if it that took place in reality, as opposed to only in your mind, you’d think just a little bit less of me! I’m intimate with you for reasons of love, not lust. I don’t ask you to take on a beautiful façade, or even heal your scars. I see you as someone to cherish and adore as they are, and not as a sexual conquest. I just accept you and love you. Your entire being and soul!”

Oh, yeah! I knew I was breaking her down again, but I was so desperate for her to see the light.

Stevie was losing it, as I planned, but I really picked a bad time. I never said I couldn’t be an impulsive twit. Kevalyn was concentrating intently on her guitar and didn’t seem to notice us, and I just had to take Stevie out of here. Now! I didn’t even warn her, when we transferred to the Astral.



* * *





I shared so much more of myself with Stevie. I also found I was making real headway with what I was doing to her.

I admit I was pretty ruthless in getting her to change her views, but I had to do it as quickly as possible. It was the only way it would work, and I was desperate to make it work.

OK, so this relationship had one string attached from my perspective. It wasn’t totally unconditional.

Suddenly, I knew how to put the final nail in the coffin. ‘We will be so much closer, and so much more at peace if you see our relationship from the proper perspective. True intimacy without the tension! The day you can handle it, I might even sleep with you, in the literal sense. The day you want a lover, not a stud.’ Hey! I wasn’t above bribery.

No, she wouldn’t be immediately transformed. That would still take time. It sure motivated her, though.

When we got back, Kevalyn was still on her guitar. Did she even notice we were gone for a bit?

The very relaxed, but still awake Stevie was very happy on this return. We sat there with our arms around each other, and were both now able to focus all of our attention on the remainder of Kevalyn’s concert.



* * *





Macha and Keith went to the room dedicated to Japan, for tea. They both stuck to the atmosphere of the place, and they both indulged in Japanese green, actually sharing a pot. They sat across the low table from each other. “What you did to me is so strange. Ultimately gender is irrelevant, but a male cannot do to a female what you did to me?” asked Keith.

“Nope! It’s a matter of parts. It’s nice to be able to feel what you feel, though.”

“Same,” said Keith.

“Now, about Kevalyn!”

“She wants you a lot more than me.”

Macha said, “I’m not going to start any precedents. The only way she can have me is if she switches gender again!”

Keith laughed. “That’s not going to happen. She’s totally hooked on being a woman.”

“And I’m totally hooked on heterosexual sex, not that I’d change gender. I’m totally hooked on being a woman, too.”

“I wish Stevie was still available to her.”

“It would make our lives easier, huh? Well, now we have two celibate nutcases amongst us.” (Uh huh. Suuuuuure. Oh, for a little while.)

Keith had a sip of his tea, looked down, and shook his head. “Ye gods, what do the fates have in store for me?”

“You do want Kevalyn. I know that! There’s no way for you to lie to me.”

“You also know how bad I feel about wanting another besides you.”

“You already had her. You also love her, and she loves you. If you don’t go to her on your own accord, I’m going to hog-tie you and deliver you to her myself, on a pole!”

“You wouldn’t!”

Macha stood up, and smiled. “Try me!”



* * *





Kevalyn willed the guitar away, and sat beside Stevie, who immediately put her other arm around Kevalyn. “Awesome show, Kev,” said Stevie.

“Thanks,” she said aloud. ‘How goes it, Stevie? You were gone for a few.’ Kevalyn then sent to her.

‘He’s killing me, and I can’t live without him.’

Bad move on Stevie’s part. Kevalyn busted up. “Oh, my God!”

I looked at Kevalyn. “Yes?”

“Can I plead private joke?”

Stevie said, “She wondered why we disappeared, and I told her that you’re killing me, but I can’t live without you.”

I chuckled. “Oh. OK. You know, it’s proper telepathic protocol to make something up, rather than expose the private conversation.”

“It is?” asked Stevie.

“Oh yeah! Then again, we usually save the provocative one-liners for spoken word, so the private conversation isn’t risked by the listeners potential reaction.”

“Sorry,” said Kevalyn.

“It’s OK,” I said. “It happens all the time. We occasionally want to convey something to one, but not the other.”

Stevie asked, “Donn?”

“Yes?”

“Anyone ever tell you that you sound like a young Geddy Lee?”

“No, but I’m aware of it. I mean, I did play ‘Between Sun And Moon,’ for one of my ice-dances.”

“Your facial structure is similar to his, too. I know because I once did a drawing of him. He was cute, when he was younger,” said Stevie.

“You called it ‘The Nose of Rock and Roll.’ Yes, I know. You got it out in two drafts, and it was an excellent piece of work.”

“Also, can I read your version of ‘What Revelation Never Told You?” asked Stevie

Kevalyn asked me, “You wrote a version?”

“Yes. I figured maybe the actual narrator should narrate the story instead of a very distracted kid, short on the facts?” I looked at Stevie. “Stevie, I think maybe I should be over the hills and far away, when you read chapter seven. I was venting after I read your version of the story, and I wrote about my temper tantrum. I insulted you pretty badly, and I apologise ahead of time, for what you will read.”

“Accepted.”

“Can I read it too?” asked Kevalyn.

“Sure!” I manifested two copies. “Why don’t you both read this now? I have to go to work for a little while.”

Stevie took the copies, and gave one to Kevalyn. “Sure.”

I left them.



* * *





“So, what happened with you two?” asked Kevalyn.

“It was weird. He was really messing with me. I can’t really explain it, but if he’d been anyone else, I would have been mortified. I swear, I never cried so hard in my life, but he actually joined me. It was so trippy. He knew just what to say, to send me over the cliff, you know?”

“Not really.”

“I’ve never felt loved like what he sent me in my life. And the way he points some stuff out, and it’s so weird, but you don’t have sex with something like him. It would just mess everything up so bad. He’s got such a...um...oh yeah! Courtly love! That’s what it’s called! Courtly attitude! All artistic, and sex not allowed. As soon as I get over him in the wrong way, I’m in paradise.

“And you leave me in the cold.”

Stevie hugged Kevalyn. “No. We’ve been celibate for extended periods when we were alive. I’m not withdrawing my affection for you. I just can’t turn myself on and off in the sex department. It has to stay off. I have to banish the desire from my mind.”

Kevalyn hugged Stevie back. “Now that I’m drop-dead gorgeous, and sensuous, I lose my lover of ten years.”

“As a sex toy, not as a friend. I’ll still give you back rubs, and all that.”

Kevalyn backed up, and kissed Stevie on the forehead. “I guess I can live with that, though I’ll probably try to break you down, every chance I get.”

Stevie ran her finger down Kevalyn’s nose. “Maybe that’s good. Maybe I need the practise of resisting temptation, you foxy thing you.”

“Thanks. Now let’s read this.”



* * *





Three rebels from the U.S. Civil War, one Egyptian execution for running over a cat in a chariot, one Saudi stoning case for infidelity, two bride burnings from Uttar Pradesh, and sixteen pancakes from a Turkish earthquake. Light day. No problem. I’d materialise back before those two got halfway through the story, deliberately manipulating my time of entry.



* * *





When I got back to Stevie and Kevalyn, they were snuggled up in the left corner of the couch. Stevie was a faster reader, and she was a bit ahead of Kevalyn, and when I sat down at the right end of the couch, Stevie smiled at me. “Twat plug? I don’t think I ever heard of a funnier insult.”

I shrugged. “From when we were one, I recall once a co-worker of yours called you a walking toilet brush, because of a bad hair day.”

“Contender. This book is even funnier than the one I wrote, in some ways. It really bares your soul, huh?” asked Stevie.

“Pretty much.”

“I think I’m falling in love with you head over heels, too,” said Kevalyn.

“The more the merrier. I’m just glad you’re a lesbian, and I assume your attitude is what Stevie is fighting to attain.”

“Probably,” said Kevalyn. “You came back fast.”

“Time here and when I’m gone from here don’t have anything to do with each other. There isn’t really any time here. To me, it might seem like I’m gone for a year; to you it might seem like I’m gone for ten seconds, or the other way around. In this case, I controlled the re-entry period to make sure you guys weren’t done reading, yet. Now I’ll shut up, and let you resume. Ignore me while I enjoy your reactions.”

“OK,” said Stevie.



* * *





“Next time we meet alone, if Kevalyn starts anything, I won’t fight her off,” said Keith.

“That’s the way to do it,” said Macha.

Keith gently ran his hand down Macha’s back. “Now, I can’t get over what you did to me last time.”

“Oooooooh! You’re not going to let me get over it either, are you?”

Keith gave her a playful snarl, baring his fangs. “Wouldn’t it be just outrageous, to do that in the whirlpool?”

Macha tilted her head. “We have to stay awake after our trip to the other side. At least long enough to get out of the water, or we are going to be in for a very unpleasant surprise.”

“Walk, or transfer?”

“It’s not that far. Let’s walk.”

“Prolonging the agony, again?”

Macha smiled, and traced her fingers across his chest. “Oh, yeah.”

Keith clenched his teeth, and almost hissed. Macha loved to arouse him like this. It didn’t quite work, this time. Keith successfully fought himself back. He was finding the concept of being in full conscious control of all his faculties quite appealing, and he'd been working on himself.

Macha scraped her teeth on his neck. “It’s going to be different this time.”

“Oh?”

“I’m gonna see if I can crack your style, baby. You’re always so cool, so restrained in your passion. I’m gonna see if I can break that down. I'm gonna see if I can make you scream.”

Keith narrowed his eyes in irritation. That was the wrong thing for her to say, especially now. “I’m not stupid enough to challenge you, you gorgeous bitch.” Not verbally, anyway, but Macha would end up paying for that statement forever.

“You sound like you’re going to be some fun, baby.”

'I don't think so,' he thought to himself. 'Not for you, if you keep up your present attitude, though it sounds like that's not going to be a mutual case.'



* * *





Macha took one hell of a long time prepping Keith. Much longer than necessary, but what she intended wasn’t what was the reality of the situation. By the time she straddled him, Keith was where every Tantric practitioner (Which he was starting to dabble in, still unbeknownst to me.) could only dream of being, and he wasn’t going anywhere else, for a while.

Macha transferred them Astral, soon enough. It was an even intenser version of what was left behind. The forewarned Keith was having the time of his life, but remained seemingly non-reactive.

They didn’t stay Astral very long. There was no point to it, but when Macha transferred them back to the physical, she didn’t take them back to the whirlpool. There are some things that just can’t be done under water, without potential recourse of a rather unpleasant nature, especially when trying to do three things at once.

Hm! How in the hell do I phrase this?

OK! Let me say when they landed on Macha’s bed, a ‘prop’ of sorts came with them. With a triad technique of method I will leave to my reader’s imagination, Macha left their last session in the dust.

On return, the initially, somewhat ‘invaded’, and very stunned Keith decided not to register any complaints about the unexpected in less than a second. What Keith went through probably would have killed me in the sensory overload department.

After it was over, he simply smiled at Macha. “Thanks, babe. You’re great.”

Macha smiled back. “You win this one, you foxy bastard.”

“You’re free to try and break me down anytime, my love.” He winked at her.

They embraced each other, and held each other tight.

Hey! You want high-resolution graphics, read Harold Robbins, huh? (For now, anyway.)

































































Chapter 4







Stevie finished my story a bit before Kevalyn. If I hadn’t been right next to her, I probably would have been knocked off the couch, from the iron to magnet plus inertia principal. The second Stevie closed the book; I was enveloped. ‘Gods, that was beautiful. You are too good to be true.’ she sent me, so not to disturb Kevalyn, as if her actions alone weren’t disruptive enough.

Kevalyn looked up at me. “I’m on chapter Eighteen. This is a great story. If I’d experienced you like Stevie, I think I would have devoted my life to you, too.”

I kissed Stevie on the nose. “No point to it,” I said. “The Tuatha don’t want worshippers.” One was more than I could handle, thinking back on it.

“Yeah, I know,” said Kevalyn. “I’ve read about the Celtic philosophies, and gods.” She went back to the story.

Stevie materialised two cups of creamed China black, and gave one to me. I took the cup, and sent, ‘Thanks.’

‘Can we hit the ice, later?’

‘I’d like that.’

‘I guess you taught me the mechanics of the moves when you took me in, but I’d like to see what I can do in reality.’

I stifled a chuckle. ‘If you try to put what you know in theory into practise, no holds barred, I’m going to guarantee that you are going to be in for a lot of pain.’

‘I think I’ll heed your warning. It must have been a sight to see, when you crashed into the mirror.’

‘I can be stupid, too.’



* * *





After Kevalyn finished the story, we all repositioned ourselves, so I was in the middle, with both Stevie and Kevalyn wrapped around me. I think between the three of us, we went through fifteen cups of tea, before Stevie and I got to the ice rink. I was grateful for being in a state where I didn’t actually process the stuff. After a stint like that, if I were mortal, I’d probably have to relieve the ol’ bladder every half an hour, for a while.



* * *





Stevie occasionally skated when she was on Earth. She wasn’t a novice. She took to some of the simpler moves like a duck to water. To her first attempts at a single lutz and axel, she had a few hard landings, ending up sitting on the ice. I had to struggle, not to laugh. I also had to fight myself to keep from hauling her up off that ice. She was man enough to pick herself up, you know?

The first lesson went OK. Stevie was a bit shaky, too impatient and ambitious for her own good, but she did manage to do a few pirouettes of sorts without crash landing before our first session was over. The first lesson was actually cut short by my liege’s demands. No one here would come before that pony. Not even Stevie.

Hesper wanted a traditional grooming, and Stevie was invited along for this. She was also going to get lessons on equine care.



* * *





Stevie was on Hesper’s right side, and I was on his left. We both brushed him down, and Hesper was in absolute heaven, much appreciative of the extra attention. Of course our attention wasn’t focused exclusively on the ravishing steed, but he got enough not to register any complaints.

Stevie asked me out of the blue, “So if Thanatos came for you, you’d actually desert everyone here?”

Oh, why do you have to ask questions like that? “When you were alive, if I’d come for you, and you alone, you would have left everyone you knew in a heartbeat.”

“If Than came for you, do you think he might take everyone else, too?”

“That’s not something I can know. When’s the end of time, though? He said that’s when he’ll take me. There isn’t even any time, here. Do you have any idea how depressing this topic is to me?”

“Sorry.”

“It’s OK,” I said.

“Losing your company’s my worst fear. Maybe my only fear.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. In the end, everything will be One, again. That question about him taking everyone is a damn good one, though. I never thought of that. It’s kind of comforting to know it’s a potential option, huh?”

“I guess so.”

We synchronised ourselves perfectly, brushing down Hesper with simultaneous moves, mirroring each other. The stallion was ecstatic. Stevie occasionally kissed Hesper, and gave him some strokes outside of the brushing. The two of them were communicating with each other. In a little while, Stevie said, “Hesper’s herd just doubled in size.”

I smiled. “You also declare yourself owned?”

“Bought, and paid for!”

Indeed.



* * *





Eventually, Keith and Kevalyn found each other, though they wouldn't be alone. Percy was in Keith’s lap, when they met in the garden. Keith was in a very dreamy, sedated state, and he’d been sitting at the side of one of the fountains, stroking the cat. Kevalyn had just decided to take a walk, and she ran into him.

Keith was dressing in twentieth century now, as opposed to his former loincloth, or traditional Irish warrior garb. Blue jeans tucked into boots, and long sleeved cotton work shirt of varying colours were his standard garb of the day. (Of course, I still always wore my black satin tunic with leotards and suede boots, but Macha changed her style, often dressing like a biker babe. Of course when Keith and Macha entered the ‘arena’, it was back to the standard uniforms of yore.)

Kevalyn sat beside Keith. “Hi.”

Keith replied, “Hello,” in a far away voice. Percy was purring up a storm. Keith may not have shown it when it happened, but his last encounter with Macha really put one over on him, and I mean this in a good way.

Kevalyn also stroked the cat. “How’s it going?”

He looked at her, and tilted his head. “Existence has been...interesting, I guess is a good way to put it.”

“You look a bit spaced out.”

Keith looked at her, and blinked. “Let’s just say I just won a fight.”

“With Macha?”

“I spar with no one else.”

“You never beat her in the ring. I thought you couldn’t.”

“Not with a sword, mi’lady. I’ll never beat her on the battlefield with a weapon, but I can defeat her in a battle of wills.”

“You two have a strange relationship,” said Kevalyn.

“I was made by her, Kev. Mary-Shelley-eat-your-heart-out, manufactured, you know? Have you ever seen anything as unnatural, or physically perfect as me? I was made for two reasons; and one of them was to fight her. Of course there is much more to me than being a bed warmer and a sparring partner, having been given free will, but what can you expect? Note the differences of my beloved maker and myself, but still...

“She’s a very complex entity, and I love her as much as Donn. She’s done more for me than any true parent has ever done for their child. She even takes me beyond my wildest dreams in the name of war, and you caught me at a bad time, Kev.”

“Shall I go?”

“No! Sit beside me. I’m just not as sharp as I could be.”

Kevalyn sat down, and gave further attentions to Percy. “I’m not altogether with it, myself. I lost my girlfriend, to a degree.”

Keith stroked her hair. “Shall I read you?”

“Sure.”

Keith put his arm around her, and looked into her mind. She was more than a little upset at having lost Stevie as a lover. Keith didn’t have to probe very deep. He put Percy on the ground, much to Percy’s dismay. “Kev, can I tell you something?”

“Yeah.”

Keith backed away from her. “Macha threatened to hog tie me and deliver me to you on a pole, if I fought you off.”

Kevalyn laughed. “That’s hilarious!”

“She could do it, too; but I’m serious.”

“Shape shifter, will you become a woman for me?”

“If I were gay, would you become a man for me?”

“No.”

“Then you can understand why I’m turning you down.”

“I guess so, but will you still hold me?”

Keith smiled, and extended his arms. “I love you, Kev. What I feel for everyone here is all different, but I adore each and every one of you.”

Kevalyn went into Keith’s arms, and held him in turn. “I love you, too. All of you! I also want you so bad, but I don’t.”

“I know how it is! Believe me. If you decide to let your experimental nature take its course with me, can it please be later, though. I can’t handle anything more intimate than this, right now.”

“That’s OK. I’m having difficulties with you’re being male.”

Keith chuckled. “Speaking of weird relationships, huh?”

“Strange! None of it mattered when we became one on the Astral.”

“There is no gender, there. There is no form, there.”

“But why does it matter here?”

“Self programming.”

Percy chose then, to run up Keith’s leg, and get between the two of them.

They both laughed, and redirected their attentions to the cat.



* * *





Stevie and I slowly walked the dark hallways of the castle, hand in hand, just for the Hell of it. They were dark, atmospheric, and nicely Gothic. “You really like being a Gate Keeper, from what I remember,” said Stevie.

“I wouldn’t want to be anything else.”

“Seems like a hard job. I used to wonder what it was like. I used to romanticise your kind so much, but later I thought it was probably better to have an alliance with a Gate Keeper, than be one.”

We’d spend a lot of time talking about things we already knew about each other. “It was kind of hard at first. Now, it’s a breeze. There’s nothing to it. It’s just a job. It’s nothing to romanticise.”

“It’s volunteer work, and you don’t get to retire at sixty-five, or sixty-seven, or whatever the retirement age is these days.”

I laughed. “I never looked at it like that. I obviously have no use for a salary, and why would I want to retire? It’s part of my identity. I don’t think there’s a better function in the state of existence, than what I’m doing. You yourself planned on never retiring until death.”

“I loved my job too. Granted, sometimes I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning, but keeping the on-line running at the credit union was a kick. It was easier than being the high output production runner I was earlier, but a lot more varied. I actually had to know more stuff. Borderline programming, you know?”

“Hm hm. I would have been bored with your job.”

“Donn?”

“Yes, love?”

“You don’t generally sleep, but would you really pass out at my side?”

“Later, yes. I don’t say something if I have no intention of going through with it. Also, it’s not really a big deal. I wouldn’t obsess on the day it happens.”

“You seem to know me better than I know myself, now,” said Stevie.

“I know you from a more detached perspective. It’s hard to have an unbiased view, if you have to live with yourself all the time, huh?”

“I suppose so.”

“You might observe some things about me, that I’m unaware of. It works both ways, you know.”

“I am so glad it was you that got me when I tried to do myself in at fifteen.”

I had to smile. “So am I. I don’t think the other Gate Keepers that I know, or know of, would have known what to do with you.” I barely did, myself.

It was a very long walk, and most of the rest of it was in silence.

















































Chapter 5







Time alone! I needed some. I went up to the tower, and looked over to the main island.

What year, did I want it to be? Did it matter? My beautiful, doomed Erin. First sullied by Rome, later virtually destroyed by the English, then completely destroyed by industry. What are you, after year 2012 A.D.? I’d have to go to the Akashic Library. It was the only way.

I was getting more, and more inclined to go. What did I have to be afraid of? My own destiny?! I didn’t have to look that up. Was I still inclined to interfere, if I didn’t like something? Was I mature enough yet, to let things be?

I sat on the floor, under the north window. The weather was mild, and the wind was weak. Of course, I couldn’t feel it, but I could hear it.

I thought about Stevie. She seemed to be making progress. She hadn’t complained to me about my being God’s bane to women, since before she read my story, and it’s been a while. Of course, I had no idea on how she really felt right now, but that would be easy enough to find out. She never blocked her thoughts from me.

Stevie was very demanding of my time, but I understood, and it wasn’t a nuisance, considering time was irrelevant. I suppose I should rephrase that, and say Stevie was demanding of my presence, but if I wanted to do something else, all I had to do was tell her. Sometimes she helped me, sometimes she became an audience, and sometimes she went away to do her own thing.

Odd! Stevie was more of a consort to me, than Macha. Stevie also made me think, strangely enough. She asked a lot of questions that hadn’t even occurred to me. She also wondered about a lot of the same things that I didn’t know about. I thought it was pretty cool to find a former mortal so inclined.

I valued her affectionate nature, and the fact she was willing to compromise herself to what I’m no longer capable of compromising in myself. I loved being in mutual embrace, or with just an arm around each other when sitting down somewhere, or whatever. Granted, I don’t know if it’s the sanest thing to have devoted more than twenty years of your life to an individual on another plane of existence, but how could I dismiss that? Just because I cared enough to give her some time as a therapist after that Southern Pacific incident?!

She also finished up her detested life, in part because of me. She knew she risked losing me if she’d suicided, so she kept postponing her self-destructive tendencies. I remembered what she sent Kevalyn. ‘He’s killing me, but I can’t live without him.’

I bent my knees, wrapped my arms around my legs, put my forehead to my knees, and broke down.

Oh, why did she have to suffer so, by her own design? Why is Physical existence mostly garbage? Why don’t I go find out?



* * *

I found the same Sybil that had taken care of Stevie, when she was Kyle. I looked Stevie's short-term future up.

I found something else!

Peace!



* * *





Stevie came across Kevalyn and Keith in the garden. Keith still had Percy in his lap, and Kevalyn had an arm around Keith. “Am I intruding?” asked Stevie.

“No,” said Kevalyn. “Have a seat.”

Stevie sat beside Kevalyn, and leaned into her. Kev’s other arm went around Stevie, who reciprocated. ‘Stevie?’ sent Kevalyn.

‘Yes, my dear?’

‘Can I have one of those backrubs you said you’d still give me, after we’re through here?’

Stevie gave Kevalyn a comical look of surprise. ‘You have the foxiest thing in existence sitting to the other side of you along with Donn, and you’re asking me?’

‘I hope you’re kidding.’

Stevie smiled. ‘Of course I’ll give you a back rub. I’m all yours. I haven’t seen much of you lately, and I kinda miss ya, ya know?’

Kevalyn smiled back. ‘I’ve been missing you, too. It’ll be nice to spend some time together, again.’

Keith ruffled Kevalyn’s hair. He sensed the private conversation. “Will you two be kind enough to excuse me? I forgot I have something to attend to.”

“Be that way,” said Kevalyn, with a humorous tone.

Keith stood up and chuckled. “I am. Later, you guys.”

Stevie waved at him, and Kevalyn, said, “See you soon,” before Keith disappeared with Percy.

Stevie and Kevalyn were gone from the garden in seconds.



* * *





Drakkar Noir had been the choice of oils to use when they were on Earth, and it would be so now as Stevie worked it into Kevalyn’s back and shoulders.

“How are you and Keith doing?” asked Stevie.

“I don’t think so. Not like that.”

“Whose decision?”

“Probably mine.”

“You’d kick something that beautiful, and that gentle, out of bed?”

“He won’t change gender, and I just can’t. I’m not as unparticular as you. I can’t bring myself to screw a man for the life of me. My sense of curiosity doesn’t override my distaste.”

Stevie paused to caress Kevalyn’s hair. “Whatever.”

“He also has reservations about me, so it’s OK.”

The slightly built Stevie lay on Kevalyn’s back. “But I can’t stand it.”

“What?” asked Kevalyn.

“I'm psychologically hot and bothered, OK?!” Stevie scraped her upper teeth on Kevalyn’s neck. “I’m gonna go back to how I was for a little while with sensation restored. I want you.”

“There is a God!”



* * *





Keith was still holding Percy, when he tracked down Macha. He found her in the library, with a copy of Lao Tsu’s, Tao Te Ching in hand. He walked over to her. “Catching up on your philosophy?”

“Hm hm. How goes your relationship with Kevalyn?!”

“Better keep it platonic. I’m not to her innate taste due to my gender, and guilt overrides curiosity, as far as I’m concerned. Also, after our last session in bed...how can I want anyone else besides you?”

“I still haven’t figured out how to surpass that,” said Macha.

“You’re ruining me. I’m going to be very bored with everything that used to turn me on, very soon. Next time, I’d also like to reciprocate what you did to me, in kind.”

“This time, it can be done. Not now, though. I really want to reread this.”

“Maybe I’ll join you in reading this book, and we can talk about it later.”

“Over a tea and scones?”

“Oh yeah.”



* * *





I really wanted to see Stefan...I mean Stevie; but I found she was occupied, and I wasn’t going to interrupt her. Instead, I beckoned Hesper.

I was feeling quite good. I’d seen a small part of my (illusory) ‘future’, and everyone else’s, and though I was advised not to tell everyone too much about it, I was pleased.

The pony came to me, and I asked him if he would mind going on a wild ride. He was game, so I mounted him.

We raced down the cobblestone halls, and out of the gate of the castle, over the main bridge of the moat. We were between Physical and Etheric, in form. Hesper could run forever, like this.

He galloped to the beach, and we sped along the surf.

Sidhe pony! Faster than Secretariat, or any other mortal equine who could have outrun Big Red. I looked up, closed my eyes, and spread my arms out, perfectly balanced on the smooth gaited steed, going all out.

It was a rare sunny day, about noon. The sea breeze was mild, and if I could notice it; it would have been uncommonly warm.

I gave Hesper the go ahead, for what he wanted to do. He circled the island once, and ran back into the castle, right to the door of the spa.

Yeah, I can take a hint. I didn’t have to be a telepath for this message.



* * *





I’d be with Hesper for a while. After I did another mental check for Stevie, I found she was unconscious, probably with an equally unconscious Kevalyn around her, or the other way around.

Oh, I didn’t care. As far as I was concerned, Stevie could screw anyone she wanted to, as long as I wasn’t one of them.

This was an excellent opportunity to spoil my gold and silver coloured friend. What he wanted, he got. Hesper wasn’t too harsh of a taskmaster...this time.



* * *





Macha and Keith finished their copies about the same time, and they ended up having their tea and scones in the room dedicated to Scotland. Appropriate, I’d say. “Look at what we are,” said Macha. “Look at how long we’ve spent in the same stream of consciousness, and why am I incapable of writing anything like what we just read?”

Keith shrugged. “Not much point to it. It’s already been written, but we all have our own unique talents, don’t we?”

“I also still have so many unresolved issues.”

Keith dunked his current scone, and had a bite. “If I suspect something might become an issue, I don’t do it.”

“You’ve never lived on Earth. Sometimes you can’t win.”

“And I’ve been spared everything, because of you.”

“I didn’t create you to suffer.”

Keith reached across the table. “Macha, you are the sweetest lady in existence.”

Macha took his hand, and smiled. “You’d get more arguments on that statement than you can count, my dear.”

“Only by those who don’t know you.”



* * *





It took a while for Stevie to be available. After Hesper got his currying, brushing, and polishing, I ended up going to work with him. There were only four cases to deal with, and I landed back at Tech Duinn, still wearing my white robe, and a pair of cross garter sandals.

That’s how I was dressed when I called Stevie, and that’s how I was dressed, when she appeared before me.

“Damn, you look like heaven just dropped an angel,” said Stevie, when she saw me.

“I know. This is what I wore when we first met.”

“Only you still looked like a kid. It’s been a while. How did it go?”

“One traffic accident, one cardiac arrest, once cancer case, and one landmine victim. Light load.”

“Next time you go, can I come with you?”

I cocked my head. “I’d love to have you along, but I don’t know if it would be a good idea for you to wear your current uniform, or to look like you do.” She always dressed in black jeans tucked into black, buckled, smooth leather boots, and a long sleeved black cotton shirt. She never varied. It was like my tunic and I.

“Should I dress like you are now?”

“Not necessarily. In fact, I don’t think that would be a good idea. Stefan, we have to talk.”

Stevie smiled. “Stefan?”

“Once on Earth, you drew a picture. It was of a beautiful lad in a shag haircut, if you’ll excuse me. It was when your obnoxious stories were the centre of your life. It’s what you thought you might present to me, when you offered yourself to me. Light red hair, and turquoise eyes, strangely enough. You burned the picture, in another symbolic offering of yourself to me. You remember that, you once borderline Santaria practitioner?!”

“Oh yeah! I remember quite well.”

“It would be better if you looked like that. It would be better if you went as my theoretical apprentice, or something. Not female. It would set a bad precedent, if I did my job with my girlfriend at my side. Though I’m not an angel, and will tell someone the truth if they ask, I don’t correct them if they think I am one, and they don’t ask. If I were an angel, I shouldn’t even have a girlfriend, according to the myths of Earth. In fact, I shouldn’t even have a gender.”

Stevie closed her eyes, did her best to recall the drawing, and transformed herself to a ‘himself’. By the way, he’d enhanced his honker, I mean his nose slightly. It didn’t look bad, though. Just ostentatious! “Kevalyn is going to have a cow,” he said.

“Change back for her. Now, the clothes.”

“What do you suggest?”

I smiled “I’ll change you!” By my design, Stefan’s clothes were replaced by a white Druid robe.

“Perfect.”

He sat beside me. “You consider me your girlfriend?”

Ah, yes! The old joke between Kevin and Kyle! “Not at the moment, but as you were, it’s as good a title as anything, I suppose.”

“Can I look in a mirror?”

“You’re beautiful. Sure.”

We both transferred.

“Stefan, huh?” he asked.

“You prefer it to Stephen, and you like your root name.”

He looked in the mirror. “I’m also kind of hooked on this look.”

“Now you look like a Celt, and not an Illyrian Kraut.”

Stefan laughed. “Ye gods, Donn.”

“I like you better like this, myself.”

“Despite the fact you’re not gay?”

“Exactly!”



* * *





Yeah, yeah, yeah! After tea and scones, Macha insisted Keith keep his word on the reciprocation of the previous intimate encounter. All I can say is that it was a Hell of a lot harder and more distracting for Keith to deliver. Macha ended up desperately screaming demands at the top of her lungs; not being the stoic type, and it wasn’t quite the same, but whatever! They both got what they wanted, so maybe I can move off the subject now for a few chapters, at least.





















































Chapter 6







Stevie’s transformation to Stefan was a hit with Macha, as expected. Kevalyn was a little irritated, but she could live with it, considering Stef would change back for her, and Keith was totally indifferent. Of course, Stefan also got back into his basic black ‘uniform’, saving the Druid robe, for my next excursion at work.

We had kidnapped an Arab stallion, borderline pony for Stefan a while back, and he was dark grey with black hocks, and a black nose, mane and tail. He also had an eel stripe down his back. Buckskin of dun style marking in grey was quite striking. Stefan called his horse, Shiva. Hindu death god!

OK!



* * *





I was not exactly the most called upon Gate Keeper. I was too obscure, so I had it real easy. Thanatos had to work a lot harder than me; from what I remembered, and I wondered if Azrael even had any time for himself. On my next trip I only had two cases, but it was a perfect opportunity to show Stefan what I did.

I got a sixteen-year old car crash victim who was flattened by a drunk driver, and a seventy two year old farmer, who was killed for being a landowner of the wrong colour in post apartheid South Africa. I explained that Stefan was an apprentice Gate Keeper, who was along to see how it was done, and both cases were pretty easy to deal with. I took them on individually, and we went on a tour of the castle. The sixteen-year old girl got to ride Hesper, and had no qualms about being absorbed and placed. Debbie, as her name was, was on her last life. The farmer would have to come back to life again, after a respite. He had too much baggage to be ‘dead’ happily ever after.

Stefan was intrigued. According to him, the idea of being an apprentice Gate Keeper was just a façade. In a short while, it would be for real. It’s what I saw at the Akashic Library.



* * *





On Earth ‘Kevin Foster’ liked to cook. He was a gourmet cook, and he could leave Julia Child in the dust, when he tried. The desire was still there now, so one day, with veggies kidnapped from a farmer’s market, Kevalyn threw together a tomato-carrot juice based vegetable stew that smelled so good, it even made me want some. Everyone was ordered to the table, and Kevalyn didn’t give anyone a choice of turning her down. It was served with Jewish rye, and pomegranate juice that was on the verge of turning to wine. It was good, but I didn’t eat that much, compared to everyone else. I had enough to satisfy Kevalyn, though. Kev also got quite a few compliments on her culinary skills.

After we finished, Stefan asked a real interesting question. “Why doesn’t anyone ever leave this island?”

“We’ve left for short durations, but we have everything we want here,” I said.

“Don’t you want to see the rest of the universe?” asked Stefan.

“I’ve thought about that. I thought I’d do that later, after my tenure here was up. In fact, I even commented on it in my story,” I said.

“So you did,” said Stefan. “Why wait?”

Keith said, “You’ll have to excuse me on any excursions off the island. At this point in time, I’d rather do that alone, and sight unseen.”

In reality, he'd done what Stefan was talking about countless times, but again, we had no way of knowing that yet.

I said, “It might be better for all of us to go sight unseen.”

Macha agreed, “Strictly observer status. Good idea. Interacting with the natives can be a nuisance. Voice of experience.”

"I'm not sure I want to go," said Keith. It was an unexpected statement that was out of character, but Stefan made sure none of us noticed it, though not by deliberate intent.

Stefan tilted his head. “Donn?”

“Yes, love?”

“Do you trust me enough to sleep with me yet?”

A fine question ripe for misinterpretation, considering the whole damn household was present. I glared at him. “For a journey into the arms of Thanatos' brother; Hypnos alone, I believe I do.”

I just had to clarify that to everyone.

Stefan replied as nonchalantly as possible. “Cool, since I never remotely ever wanted you as my bitch, and nothing else matters any more, does it?”

I was...I guess aghast is a good way to phrase it. “I can’t believe you just said that to me.”

Keith almost collapsed on the table, convulsing with laughter.

Stefan and I were now the exactly same size. I just couldn’t let this go. I stood up, walked over to him, grabbed his belt and scuff of his collar from behind, and forced him to stand.

“Excuse us,” I said with a smile, and I transferred us to the garden.

I deposited Stefan on a bench. I took a moment to absorb what happened, and shook my head; a bit astounded. There was no way to get even, was there? I sashayed as histrionically as I could away from him, turned to face him, flicked my wrist, and in the gayest accent possible, I said, “I don’t know whether to laugh, or slap you upside the head.”

Stefan gave me this ultra innocent look. “The former, I hope.”

I chuckled, sat beside him, and ruffled his hair. “I knew what I was getting into, when I took you on. Ye gods, no one has ever come close to embarrassing me, like you just did.”

“Keith seemed to get a kick out of it.”

“Keith is probably still laughing his head off. He lives for stuff like what you just did to me.”

“Do you forgive me?” asked Stefan.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it, but I do want revenge. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to one-up you. I mean; you’re the champion of this sort of thing, aren’t you?”

“Kevalyn’s pretty good, and from what you wrote about yourself in your first book, I think I’d be wise to watch my ass.”

“Not literally, of course.”

“Of course,” he said, as he extended his arms to me.

I accepted, and returned the embrace. “I’ll sleep with you later.”

“Will you go temperature sensitive?”

“You little shite. We don’t have electric blankets here, and I’m not going to rig those up.”

“I do have a fireplace in my room.”

“I used to use Keith like what you want me for, I think.”

“I know. I could read between the lines of your story. Do you mind being my security blanket for a little while?”

I shook my head. “No.” I disengaged myself from him.

“Keith!”

“What about him?”

“You mentioned Hadrian and Antinous in your book. I know Keith isn’t gay, but he reminds me of Antinous in a lot of ways.”

I actually lost control of myself. As a tear ran down my right cheek, I said, “The tale of Hadrian and Antinous has got to be one of the most tragic love stories in history. I wish you hadn’t reminded me of it. I don’t deal with stuff like that too well.”

Stefan stroked my hair, and held me again. “Ye gods, where have you been all my life?”

I wrapped myself around Stefan, again. “Torturing you, by being here. It’s pretty impressive that your love for me lasted twenty plus years, with us planes apart.”

“Will you take me Astral now?”

I kissed his quite respectable nose. “Close your eyes.”

At least Stefan had his priorities right.



* * *





Keith, Macha and Kevalyn were still at the dinner table.

“Get used to it,” said Kevalyn, still chuckling a little. “She, or should I say; he used to do stuff like that to me all the time when we were alive on Earth.”

Macha smiled, and shook her head, “Ye gods, I wonder what Stefan has in store for me?”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Not unless you get real close to him. He’s the worst with the ones he loves the most. Nothing is sacred, you know? He even talked about the nose of one of his favourite rock stars, crossing continental divides.”

“That wouldn’t be Geddy Lee, would it?” asked Macha.

“It would.”

“Does Stefan imagine a connexion between Donn and Geddy, considering what they have in common?”

Kevalyn said, “No! Just a pleasant coincidence.”

“That’s all it is, in truth,” said Macha.

“We know. I’m a huge Rush fan, myself. Actually, both Stef and I like Neil Peart better. He’s the one who comes up with those awesome lyrics. Which reminds me! When is someone going to play with me?” asked Kevalyn.

“You’d better be talking about your instrument, but Donn’s the best, here. Next time you see him, ask him to jam with you. He’ll probably be glad to,” said Keith with a smile.

“OK,” said Kevalyn, with a laugh.



* * *





Ultimate union, ultimate intimacy, ultimate love, and a complete loss of individuality! You don’t think of it ever ending. There is no time. Nothing matters. Ecstasy in peace, calm in rapture! Beauty beyond any imaginings. What more can I say, being there truly are no words for it? Delirious bliss in eternity, until we were blown apart!

With a bit of effort, I made sure we didn’t return to the garden. We ended up on Stefan’s bed. No one had the energy to light the fireplace. We didn’t even take our boots off, and we didn’t make it under the covers. I held Stefan to me, as we passed out.



* * *





Macha, Kevalyn and Keith ended up going to the room dedicated to Bactria, with Keith in the middle, holding hands with both Macha and Kevalyn.

“This place is so gorgeous,” said Kevalyn. Is there anything this castle doesn’t have?”

“Commodes,” said Macha.

“You have no idea on how glad I am not to need those anymore,” said Kevalyn, as she sat on a luxurious, royal couch.

“Oh yes I am,” said Macha. “The only one of us here who’s been spared the displeasure of a functioning digestive tract is Keith.”

Kevalyn, brought Keith’s hand before her, and pulled back his sleeve. She caressed his wrist. “It’s weird. We can eat.”

“Instant energy,” said Macha.

Keith looked at Kevalyn. “What about me, are you so curious about?”

“All of us. We have pores, no body hair by our own design, no oil, no sweat, no nothing.”

Macha disengaged her own hand from Keith’s and ran that hand sensuously across his back. “No nothing, except what’s necessary to experience a few of the finer points of existence.”

Keith scowled at Macha, and shook his head, not that anything had changed about him. 'Don't start that now. It's in bad taste,' he sent her.

“I get your theoretical drift,” said Kevalyn. She put Keith’s hand down, and leaned against him.

He looked at Macha, then Kevalyn, and put an arm around each. “Here I sit, in the court of Bactria, with the two most beautiful women who ever existed, at my side. Can life get any better?”

“Yes,” said Macha.

“How, may I ask?” asked Keith.

Macha winked at Kevalyn. “Kev could be straight.”

Both Keith and Kevalyn laughed. Keith said, “Macha, you are absolutely incorrigible.”

“I try,” said Macha.

“You try, or it’s your most powerful instinct to be that way?” asked Keith.

“Yes. Shall we have some tea?” asked Macha.

“Oh yeah,” said Kevalyn



* * *





I came out of my daze first, as expected. The room was freezing, and I felt it on waking. I immediately desensitised myself, and lit the fire. I also threw the top quilt over Stefan. He didn’t stay out, much longer.

“So, you finally got what you were waiting for, not including the time we passed out together on the couch,” I said.

Stefan chuckled. “You on the couch, me on the floor. No, that didn’t count. This was nice. Thanks for humouring me.”

I ran my finger down his nose. “I’ll do it again. It pales to what came before, though.”

“It’s so strange! Whenever we go Astral, I come back feeling I haven’t slept for two weeks or something, if I were still a person.”

“Same, from a mortal perspective. So, you finally have Death as a lover, but not quite in the more risqué fashion that some of your poems implied.”

“But some of my other poems implied what we do. How did I know that?” He got up, and sat by the fire.

“You were open to a lot of things. You’re just an uncontrolled psychic.”

“I did have a lot of strange coincidences in my life. I always said I see what the gods want me to see.”

“Your occasional meditations helped, too.”

“You can’t feel the cold anymore, can you?”

I shook my head. “No. I think it’s better to not feel at all, than feel uncomfortable.”

“I wonder how long it’ll take me to adopt that view?”

I chuckled. “Some of us never do. Keith and Macha still like to freeze their butts off for a few minutes, prior to a make-out session in the whirlpool.”

“Sounds like fun, in theory.”

“Not with me, you don’t”

“I was thinking of Kevalyn. Gods, what a babe she is.”

“I’m sure you two will have a very good time, if you do that.”

A rather comical expression crossed Stefan’s face. “I wonder if I’ll ever lose my virginity as a male, here?”

I shrugged, “You could try seducing Macha.”

“After Keith? No way!”

I got up, walked over to him, and ruffled his hair. “Then you won’t lose it.”





























































Chapter 7







I was suddenly invoked by Kevalyn! When I came to her, she said, “Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could jam with me, some time?”

“I’d love to. No bother at all. It would be an honour. What instrument?”

“Bass or keyboard?”

“I don’t play bass. I prefer working with lighter gage strings,” I said. "Keyboard, it is."

“I'm with you on those lighter gage strings. When can we play?”

I shrugged. “Now is fine, if you don’t have any pressing business.”

“Around here? Nope!”

“Do you want me to play a grand piano, or a church organ?”

Kevalyn scowled. “You don’t have a synthesiser?”

“I could get one. By the way, I’ve never played electric.”

“It’s the same. Easier, really.”

“I’ll rig something up. Let me take us to the room with the grand piano. There’s a lot of extra space, there.”

“OK.”

I walked over to her, and took her hand. “Close your eyes. I'll transfer us.”

She did, and we were off.



* * *





Keith and Macha ended up going to the library. Keith picked up a copy of ‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’. “Are you reading this, too?” asked Keith.

“No. I read half of it, and never finished it. I saw no point to it.”

“Are you staying with me, while I read this?”

“Maybe for a while. Keith, can I ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“What the Hell are you?”

“You’re the one who made me. You tell me.”

“You just seem so damn perfect, and I’m not talking about what you look like. Everything you do is so controlled and thought out. Every move you make. Everything has your complete attention. You never fugue out anymore! You used to. You’re always a hundred percent aware of everything. George Ivanovich Gurdjieff’s dreamboat! It seems like even more so now.”

“Not always. Just most of the time! You basically taught me to be like that.”

“I’m not like that.”

Keith smiled. “That doesn’t mean you can’t inspire someone else to be like that. Also, I’m not perfect. I still can’t beat you in combat.”

“Just like I’ll never break you down in matters of self-control, anymore.”

“Isn’t my self-control advantageous to you?”

“Sometimes it drives me crazy. Your passions are so subdued. These days, I wonder if you still have any.”

“Macha, I love you beyond anything. You know that. I also love making out with you. I just don’t want to impose ourselves, or our intentions on our roommates; if you’re referring to when you tried to get a reaction out of me when we had Kevalyn with us. That, I didn’t appreciate, and it’s not going to work anymore! I’m learning a lot on what I can do with myself, and you might even find me a bit more of a test on hand-to-hand combat pretty soon, not to say I’ll ever win.”

“If you shared yourself completely with me when we went Astral, what would I find out about you?”

“That from your perspective, I spend most of my time with you, but that from my perspective, I spend most of my time alone. I've been time tripping like crazy. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve been to a lot of places, including all over the Universe, already. I’ve studied tons of Eastern philosophies, Asian martial arts techniques, yoga, and I’m a firewalker, to name a few. I also know why I don’t always collapse when I go Astral, unless you take me over the top sexually, and that’s more from the general sedated feeling everyone gets, and you really wipe me out in that regard.”

“OK, so why can you handle the Astral Levels so well?”

Keith tilted his head. “Originally, it was due solely to the greater degree of detachment I had, but now I also find I don’t belong here. I have to force my innate density higher, to stay here. I need my so-called hyper-awareness to be with you. I can’t bear the thought of living without you or Donn.”

“You’ve out-evolved us?!”

“I studied harder. I’ve worked harder in ways you can’t imagine. I've been working on myself a little before Stevie, Kev and Percy got here. With my time tripping, I have actually have spent way more time alone than with you. You’re the one who instilled the strong level of curiosity in me, aren’t you?”

“So why can I still beat you in the ring?”

“You can’t be beat. You’re the best. One day I may measure up, but it won’t be a victory. It'll be a draw.”

Macha held up her hand in front of him, and spread her fingers apart. “I feel like I’ve lost you.”

Keith put his hand against hers, and they intertwined their fingers. “Never. I’d want to die without you and Donn. I swear I’d destroy myself if I lost you.”

“Can I ask you another question?”

“Hm hm.”

“Do you still have sex with me for me, or you?”

“Both, but I have to admit I don’t care for it unless we include the Astral interludes, any more. I can hardly identify with what I used to like in the past, and from that satin chord you’ve just introduced me to in our second to the last session, from a sensationalistic perspective; I’d find anything less rather a waste of time. I do have a hedonistic bent, and every time you up the ante, I don't want to go back.”

“You didn’t let me know this.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you, unless you asked. I won’t lie to you. Ever.”

“And I threatened to hog-tie you for Kevalyn?!”

Keith laughed. “Due to a unguarded moment, where I wondered what it would be like to shag her? A moment, where I wasn’t it control? It would have been a disaster for me, if she’d wanted me. I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself, afterward. I never want anyone but you. (Though minds do change.) Can you live with that?”

Macha disengaged their hands, and embraced him. “Ye gods, I love you so much. In a way this new knowledge drives me crazy, but in a way I’m so happy.”

Keith embraced her back. “In a while, I’ll share more of myself with you. I’ll do for you what Thanatos did for Donn. I’ll teach you much of what I’ve learned. The rest, too...when the time comes.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever share all of myself with you. You’d go mad, my dearest sweetheart.”

“Yes, I believe I would, so I won’t ask you to.” Keith thought he probably already knew what she referred to.



* * *





After a bit of technological research, I ended up setting up a complete studio with a quiet generator in the next room, a drum kit, microphones, amplifiers, mixing boards, and all. I even included a bench for anyone interested in sitting in on a session. Kevalyn directed me, and what she wanted; became. She based it on what her home studio was when she was still Kevin, living on Earth; with a little bit more. A full drum ensemble would not have worked in an apartment building.

I didn’t play drums, and Kevalyn barely did, but she hoped someone else might take up the percussion section.

I sat down at the synthesiser. “I love your stuff. You want to play one of your own, and I’ll see if I can add something?”

“What do you play, when you’re by yourself?”

“Mostly Celtic folk and reels. I play a little from different cultures. Egyptian, Greek, Hebrew, Turkish. Not too much, though. I even know a little from your time. Simon and Garfunkle, and music in that vein, but I don’t know any heavy metal, or hard rock. It’s not that I don’t like it. I just don’t play it.”

“I have a lot of instrumental rock tunes.”

I shrugged. “Well, it looks like I’m going to start, huh?”

Kevalyn strapped on a Gibson SG. “So, what do you feel like?”

“Start me off easy. You have some Celtic folk.”

“OK.”

It took me a few minutes of listening, I invaded Kev’s mind with permission, and with the help of her thoughts guiding me; we really meshed. We actually recorded some of our works, before the session was over, and I had a blast.





Chapter 8







It wasn’t long before Keith and Macha and Stefan wanted to sit in on the sessions. Stefan still didn’t want to get into playing again at the moment, but he said he’d keep an open mind for when the muse hit him again. Macha fooled around with the drum set a little, but she wasn’t serious about it. Keith just sat on the bench, and waited. He hadn’t shown much curiosity about learning to play anything in the past, and I wasn’t sure if he would change his mind now, but one could always hope.

Macha, went back to the bench with Stefan and Keith. Of course, Keith was in the middle, pretending to be an all time flirt, even with Stefan. I wasn’t sure what gender Keith considered Stefan to be at the time, considering Stefan’s gender wasn’t exactly static. The only time I knew him to take a feminine form these days was to service Kevalyn, but who knows if there were any other occasions? I never cared to ask.

Me and Kevalyn started out playing an Irish reel we’d written together, and ended up playing more and more intensely, ending our concert with a dark and ominous piece that Kevalyn had written on Earth a long time ago, called; ‘The Destroyer Arrives.’

When it was over, Stefan asked, “Can you do something with vocals, Donn?”

“You have something in mind?”

“Can you do a Rush cover?”

I shook my head. “No! I don’t know how to play any Rush songs, and I’m not a tribute singer wannabe. One Geddy Lee is enough.”

“OK. You know what I like.”

“Indeed, I do. ‘Mrs. Robinson’?!”

“Please.”

I gave them a rendition of that. Of course, Stefan asked for more. ‘Sound of Silence’ came next. Applause from everyone! They wouldn’t let me off the floor. Macha begged me to do another one.

I didn’t really want to be stuck here for all eternity, and it was beginning to look like I might be. I was also feeling a little playful, so I why not push a button or two?

I struggled not to laugh. I had to pause, so I could do this without losing it. When I had regained full control of myself, I think I left Justin Hayward in the dust with a cover of ‘Nights in White Satin’, which I obviously directed at Macha, before backing away from her. She was somewhere between severely touched, and absolutely livid by the time I finished.

She stood up. A dagger appeared in her hand. “You frustrating little shite! If you’re going to do that to me, back yourself up!”

I tilted my head, smiled, and crossed my wrists before me, about nine or ten inches away from my chest. “Only one knife, mi’lady?”

Macha smiled back, and another appeared in her other hand. “Two!”

“Blade length, mi’lady?”

“Six inches, Vergil.”

“Seven!” I hissed. She always called me Vergil when she was either mad at me, or in a flirtatious mood. I still didn’t really dig it when she called me that.

“Seven it is!”

“Aim well, mi’lady.”

I could have done a fade out, so they would have gone right through me, or I could have caught them. I took the show-off route. When she threw them at me, I caught them.

Macha herself had taught me how to do that, in our early days. Once you teach a Tuatha something, they don’t forget. It was easy. Impressive to watch, for those who didn’t know what was happening, but for me or Keith, or Macha, it was a piece of cake. All wasn't as it appeared.

Both Stefan and Kevalyn were absolutely agog. We’d have to explain a few things to those two, later. For now, the act continued.

I dropped the knives to the floor, and walked over to Macha. I looked at Keith. “What’s with her? You haven’t decided on another slightly more successful stint with celibacy, have you?”

“Hell no! What kind of glutton for punishment do you think I am?”

Macha said, “He might as well have.”

Oooooooh! That was bad. I looked at Keith, who was looking at Macha with an enigmatic, perhaps slightly amused smile, and I just couldn’t resist. I wasn’t in the habit of kissing mouth to mouth. In fact the concept turned me off, but for this occasion, avenging my neon-eyed love’s reputation overrode my distaste. I seated myself in Macha’s lap, and I planted one on her, wrapping myself around her, and holding onto her like there was no tomorrow. I tried to act as passionately as possible, and when she responded, I pulled back, and said, “Mi’lady, you can be such a twat plug sometimes,” and I hightailed it outta there.

I wasn’t there to witness Keith doubling over in laughter, or Kevalyn and Stefan transferring out of there; also laughing their heads off, and desperately hoping Macha hadn’t noticed.

I did get a telepathic message from Macha. ‘Vergil Xanon, if you were mortal, I’d have you on a rack, right now!’

That was nice to know.

Keith was left alone with the none-too-happy Morrighan! “That was a pretty heavy.insult you laid on me in front of everyone, Macha.” He never lost that smile.

She went over to him. “Well, since it’s beneath your dignity to savage me, how about the other way around? I want you NOW!”

“If you’re good enough, I may even forgive you.” In reality, he hadn’t cared one way or the other about her cut-down, but why not use the situation to his advantage?!

He suddenly got his shirt slashed across the chest, and Macha totally ripped it off. “Oh, I’ll be good enough for you, my second most frustrating male in this house.”

She transferred him to her room.



* * *

Stefan and Kevalyn landed in the room dedicated to Persia. “My God, did you see that?!” asked Stefan.

“Pretty impressive catch with those knives.”

“Pretty impressive show all around. I assume with the verbal banter, everyone knew no one was going to get hurt. Still, I wonder what brought that on?”

“I have no idea,” said Kevalyn.

“It didn’t do much for me, in some ways. I’m like almost over Donn, and he pulls something like that.”

“It was a joke, Stef. It wasn’t real. I'm sure.”

“I wish he’d picked another song. And what a voice! He’s got a bit more power behind it than Geddy. Sings with more feeling, too.”

“Never to be heard by the public,” said Kevalyn.

Stefan shrugged. “Who cares? We’ve got him.”



* * *





Keith lay there, under covers, with Macha’s head in the crook of his arm. “I didn’t really give a damn about your little insult, but thanks. I’m thrashed, lady.”

“So, why can’t you go absolutely wild anymore, huh?”

“I never really did, did I?. Not my style. There was never any desperation in me. You never objected before.”

“You didn’t used to be so...is ‘self-conscious’ the right word? It’s like now, your working on a painting, when you’re making love. I haven't had a good, solid fuck in forever.”

“You issued me a challenge, Macha. Remember? Something about wanting to make me scream?! It annoyed me severely, and it backfired. What was before is never coming back” Keith ran his finger down her nose. “I’ll never be the uncontrolled beast of your present phantasy, and don’t even start on Donn.”

“Right now I’m somewhat furious with Donn. How dare that gorgeous, asexual twerp serenade me with a cover of one of the most beautiful love songs ever written.”

Keith chuckled. “He was messing with you. Why let it bother you?!”

“He’s one hell of a good kisser.”

“I guess he’s had a lot of vicarious practise.”

“I’m sorry, but with how you’ve become, and how Donn is, I just couldn’t handle him mocking me with that song.”

“Macha, if we were keeping score on who gets the one-up-manship, Donn won. His exit was predictable, and classic. From the way he looked at me before he kissed you, I’d say he did that to you due to your insulting me. It was one of the funniest little incidents we ever had, though.”

“I wish I’d taken him, when he offered himself to me,” said Macha.

Keith chuckled. “If what you did to him then had been premeditated, I think it would have been the only time you ever got the better of him. That section of chapter twenty-two of his book was a riot.”

“How can something like Donn be such a tease and a flirt?”

“He’s got a mean sense of humour, love. Do you know why he wanted you to add an inch to your blade length?”

“All I can do is speculate, and I’d rather not.”

“It’s about…”

“SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”



* * *





Ye gods, I haven’t had so much fun with Macha in all of my life. Granted, there was a bit of concern over potential retribution, but it hasn’t happened yet, and this was just another incident of many; most of which I haven’t written of. Of course, I’d have to think of a way to make it up to her. That was getting harder, and harder. Maybe I’d offer her a personal concert of requests, if she liked my performances so much. The nice thing about that; provided the offer was accepted, is that I could do it again.

The memory of this event would be inducing me to chuckle a bit, for quite a while.

Now, I was alone. Oh, what to do with myself? I didn’t feel like skating, or doing anything else terribly creative. Percy was asleep, Hesper was enjoying himself with the other equines, and I was just wasting time. I wasn’t bored exactly. Just unmotivated!

I literally trotted to the library. I didn’t feel like going at an all out run.

Metaphysics, philosophy, or poetry?! What did I want to read? I pulled out a Robert Burns collection. Sure! Why not? I understood most of it, and I'd look up the translations for the rest. I seated myself in a chair at the end of the aisles, and dug in, materialising a temporary stand for that cup of tea that I wanted. A nice diversion, for a while! Some pieces funny, some sad, some thought provoking. I liked Burns.



* * *





I was almost done with the book, when Macha walked up to me. She was in a leather jumpsuit, boots, and a dog collar. I tried looking as innocent and angelic as possible. “Hi?”

She sat down next to me, in the chair she'd materialised just for the occasion. “Hi!”

“How’s it going?”

She narrowed her eyes, and smiled. “You scored again. You got me real good."

“I needed an excuse to get off the floor. You guys would have held me up forever with your requests. Which brings to mind that I will offer you a personal solo concert of only your requests that I know, to potentially atone for what I did to you.”

“I’d like that very much, thank you. I’d love to hear, ‘As I Roved Out’, again.”

“A depressing little ditty, but I can play it.” I closed the book, and transferred it back to where it belonged without leaving the chair. “Shall I play it for you now, or later.”

“Later. Now I’d just like an explanation on why you do things like that to me, neuter-boy.”

I laughed. “I just like to drive you crazy some times. You have your own way of doing that to me.”

She ruffled my hair. “I swear; if you were less powerful, I really would rack you. Not to tear your limbs off or dislocate anything, but to confine you and have my way with you.”

“And risk destroying our wonderful relationship?”

“Maybe. You do know, that one day you might push me too far.”

I nodded. That was a fair warning. “I’ll take that to mind.”

“So, you’ll never do anything like that to me again?”

“Unless you set yourself up?”

She put her right fingers under my chin, and raised my head to look me in the eyes. “This is a threat and a promise! If you ever tease me again, you will be ravished, and ravaged. I don’t care about the consequences. I’ve had it! You follow through, or hands off!”

“I had no idea how much my antics affected you. I...I guess I’ll knock it off.”

She smiled. “Not really what I wanted to hear, but I guess I’ll have to live with it.”

“What about Keith?”

“Keith? You know, he’s virtually an Ascended Master?” She paused. “No! There’s no virtually about it. He is one. He knows a lot more than he lets on! He also treats sex like an art project, these days. I made the mistake of telling him I could break down his level of self-control. Now the biggest reaction I get out of him might be a subtle smile, with eyes closed.”

“Don’t you have a empathic-telepathic share of your sensations and all?”

“Hell yeah! Only way to go, but our unions are like the fire and the frying pan, baby. They feel great, especially since I’ve added some innovations to the techniques, but his new stoic façade is driving me nuts.”

“Stefan would have you, if you were insistent. The only reason he doesn’t ask; is because he’s self-conscious. He knows he couldn’t compete with Keith. We talked about it, but he wouldn’t kick you out of bed.”

“He, she, it. Let me get used to that one.” She hesitated a moment. “Stefan is something...Stefan...No!” She paused again. “He’s yours. I can’t bring myself to use him as a surrogate.”

I scowled. “Mine? He’s only had Kev in bed as a non-platonic lover, though Stef has to take a feminine form for that. You wouldn’t have him as a willing partner, but you’d take me against my will?”

Macha hesitated before answering, and looked to the ground. “I guess not.” She paused. “I rescind my threat. I couldn’t do that to you.”

My scowl changed to a smile. “I won’t do to you what I did, again. I’m really sorry, Macha.”

“You told me once that you’d bore me in bed. What would you be like, if you were game?”

“Don’t do this to us.”

“No, seriously.”

I shrugged. “As gentle as possible, I guess.”

Macha motioned me to come into her lap, and I did. We wrapped ourselves around each other, and she rubbed her right cheek against my left. The things you can learn from a cat. “Peace treaty?” She asked.

“I really messed up, huh?”

“Little bit. I messed up more. Sorry I instigated the thing with the daggers.”

“It’s OK. No harm done. It was just like the practise games we used to play when you wanted to make a warrior out of me.”

“Donn?”

“Yes?”

“Will you take me psychically? Picture me in your mind, and send the thoughts to me?”

“No!”



* * *





Keith walked into the ‘jam room’ alone. He picked up the guitar first, and played a few scales. He then did a rendition of Finnegan’s Wake, and proceeded to the yet untouched six string bass, which was waiting for a volunteer. It might have been just another guitar, in his deceptively delicate looking, powerful hands. He experimented with it, and walked to the drums.

Keith could have put some damn good jazz drummers to shame. He just messed around, proving he could do just about anything with the percussion set, and he transferred out of there. He didn’t even bother with the keyboards.



* * *





I left Macha to find Stefan and Kevalyn. I zoned in on them, found they weren’t in any compromised state, and appeared before them. “Speak of the Devil,” said Kevalyn. “We were just talking about you.”

“What did I do this time?” I asked.

“It was just that awesome display of you catching the knives. Was that staged?” asked Stefan.

“Sort of. Macha warned me, so I guess I can say it was. It was a game we used to play. It tested her aim, and my ability to catch.”

“Hell o’ impressive,” said Stefan.

“Child’s play,” I said. “Macha had the hard part. I used time distortion. It was all an immature way to stress a point. We made up, though. Now, Stefan! Kev! You guys wanted to see the rest of the universe. First, we can’t do it in these forms, and second; where do you guys want to go first?”

“Can we visit other planets? Check out other life forms?” asked Kevalyn.

“Or how about the Akashic Library?” asked Stefan.

“Yeah,” said Kevalyn. “We’ve been wanting to go there.”

“I’m curious about some of my dreams, regarding past life memories. I want to know if I really was a abolitionist in the pre-Civil War era, or if I really did kill myself when I was a spoiled housewife with a couple kids she couldn’t stand in the nineteen-forties or fifties, or if I really did get myself killed while hijacking a chariot to go after my conscripted son in Rome or Greece, or something.”

“Sure! The Akashic Library, it is. When I went, I saw the same Sybil who helped you, Stefan. When you were still Zanna, that is.”

“Remember it like yesterday.”

“Let’s sit down, and you two take my hands, and close your eyes. I’ll take you to The Hall of Records.”

“OK,” said Stefan.

We sat on the floor in a circle, and off we were.



* * *





Stefan’s theoretical past life dreams weren’t dreams. They were Akashic Memories. The memory of hijacking the chariot to go after ‘her’ conscripted son took place in Sparta. It was one of the few nation states of the sort where a woman could have had an opportunity to do anything so stupid. ‘Daphne’ was brought down with an arrow and a sword. It was brutal. All three of us found out that in one of my three mortal lives; the one where I was cut down at age twenty in Sparta, I had been Daphne’s son. So Stefan and I had a history before this! (This proves there is no time, for the Tuatha de Danaan were in Ireland way before Sparta existed, and I existed concurrently in Ireland and Sparta, though not in the same stream of consciousness.)

Could Stefan and I have been more traumatised? We completely fell apart. Poor Kevalyn had to deal with us. It was bad. Real bad.



* * *





Zanna-Kyle-Stephanie-Stefan did not think too highly of the concept of motherhood. He-she-it thought that becoming a parent was one of the stupidest, most self-destructive things a person could do with itself! Especially if they were a woman! In twentieth-twenty first century urban-suburban America, I suppose it was up there. Life values had become so materialistic and perverse, that both society and the individual basically considered children a nuisance. That was white America, anyway; and they’d keep that view until their downfall. That wasn’t the view all over the world. Just the industrialised parts! That’s another story, though.

Hey! I thought overpopulation, having children destined to die of starvation, and crowding out all other species was pretty stupid too, but under ideal circumstances, I thought there was nothing wrong with having children, as I’d said in my previous story. I had no children, because of what I’d become had no room for them; not to mention fatherhood isn’t too likely for one who refuses to have sex, not that I even had the parts connected anymore. But I had also stated, if I’d found the right lassie as a mortal, I would probably have been a daddy. I didn’t share Stefan’s innate aversion to parenthood at all. For me, it was merely a practical matter.

Some Gate Keepers had offspring. However, most had them before they became Gate Keepers.



* * *





It was Kevalyn, who dragged us all back to Tech Duinn. Stefan and I were in each other’s arms, and it would have taken construction equipment to separate us. Kev held us both, and tried to console us with telepathic caresses, and logical reasoning. Both Stef and I were beyond reasoning of any kind. We just had to get over our tragic past life on our own. Dearest Kevalyn left us to our own devices when we were about recovered.

Stefan and I didn’t quite see each other in the same light, as we did before. Considering the circumstances, who could? (Hey! This isn’t any weirder than the second story of Kyle’s Xanon Chronicles, where my character got pregnant while in temporary female form, got upset over being trapped in a feminine body due to the pregnancy, had a temper tantrum which induced my character’s male lover to kill himself, only for my character’s ‘former’ dead male lover to claim the fetus my character was carrying, to be raised by my character, huh? First, that may make sense to you if you re-read it seven or eight times, my dear reader, and second, I don’t think I’ll dwell too much on what happened when the kid grew up. Let’s just say I considered it a moral nightmare. Then again, that describes Kyle’s long defunct series.)



* * *





After we came to our senses, we transferred to Stefan’s room. We lay on the bed, perpendicular to each other, with Stefan using my abdomen as a pillow, as I played with his hair. “Watch out for what you ask for, huh?” asked Stefan.

“Ye gods, we were crazy to have voluntarily gone through with lives like that. Now, can I love you any more?”

“I think we’ve reached the apex there, but isn’t it interesting how you became of the Tuatha de Danaan, while I was stupid enough to stay a mortal?”

“We all have our lessons to learn, my dear. We just use different routes.”

“You know, a part of me wants to go Astral right now, but a part of me just can’t handle it,” said Stefan.

I caressed his hair. “Maybe we should.”

“I don’t know. I feel so weird. A part of me is ultra-depressed about what I just found out. So is a part of you, so I don’t know if we should take that with us. Still, I need a break of some sorts.”

“I’m not going to fight you, if you want to go to sleep with me.”

“Shall we at least get our boots off, this time?” asked Stefan.

“And the fire lit?”

“You’re going temperature sensitive?” asked Stefan, as he sat up.

I smiled. “I think so.” I pulled my boots off, threw my belt on the floor, and got under the covers.

Stefan untied his own boots, got out of them, and joined me. He wrapped himself around me, and we escaped to the realm of dreams.



* * *





Keith was strangely unavailable and nowhere to be found, when Kevalyn tried to contact him. Kev did find Macha, and explained to her what had happened to Stefan and I.

Kev got a much-needed hug, and got transferred to the main couch, with Macha. Macha also materialised two cups of gheed masala tea for them. “Just when you think you’ve experienced everything, something like this hits you in the face,” said Macha. “They seem to be OK, though?”

“It’s like they were hit by the worst case of ‘combat stress syndrome’ there ever was. It was lifetimes ago. Why do they care so much?”

“Donn’s a real softy. He’s easily led to tears. Always has been, but I’ve joined him often enough. It seems to be contagious. What had happened is pretty sad, so I wouldn’t expect anything else from him.”

“Stefan, or Kyle wasn’t nearly as emotional when we were on Earth. She never cried in front of anyone.”

“Donn probably cured her...uh...him of that. We don’t care, here. We’re Irish. If you want to cry, you cry. We’re a happier lot, for it.”

Kevalyn had a sip of her tea. “Keith isn’t that emotional, but I kind of get his drift. He doesn’t seem to have anything vested in anything, so I guess that explains that.”

“He shared that with you, when he took you in?”

“Yup.”

“Actually, he’s real affectionate, and very helpful. Pretty devoted, too. It’s just hard to upset him.”

“I can’t believe you’d share him with me.”

Macha shrugged. “For me not to, would make me a hypocrite. I don’t care who he theoretically was with, as long as I’m one of them, but he considers it a betrayal to me to divide himself up.”

“It’s OK. I mean, he won’t switch genders for me, and I really can’t see myself with a man.”

“I consider that so strange, considering you used to be one.”

“I hated every minute of it,” said Kevalyn. “By the way, I tried to contact Keith before you. No response, and no sense of presence.”

Macha sighed. “I can’t believe he’d do something so pointless!”

“What?”

“I think I know where he is, or at least what state he’s in. The last book I caught him with was ‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead.’ He’s probably doing the isolation routine.”

“I read that. I was curious about it, but most people don’t have the time or finances to do that sort of thing. I was one of them. By the way, why did you give Keith the break lights for eyes?”

“I considered it a turn on. I also made him as perfect as I could. His vision makes an eagle pale, and there’s no such thing as pitch darkness, to him. His other senses are heightened, as well.”

“Even though I’m not into dudes, per se; I have got to admit, Keith has got to be the prettiest thing on two feet, that I ever did see.”

“I’ll agree.”

“You know, I actually wanted talk about Stefan and Donn,” said Kevalyn.

“Shoot!”

“It was so painful to see their reaction to their knowledge of what happened in Sparta. Those two love each other so much, I’m beginning to feel like a third wheel.”

“That’s not what I see. They both adore you, and Stef has something with you that will never happen with Donn.”

Kevalyn had another sip of tea, and leaned against Macha. “I guess so. Thanks for reminding me.”

Macha ruffled Kevalyn’s hair, and put an arm around her. When Kevalyn looked at her, Macha smiled, and said, “Damn fruits!”

Kevalyn laughed so hard, she almost spilled her tea.



* * *





Macha had assumed correctly, that Keith was in self-imposed isolation. An unlit room, with no sound, or any other sort of sensory stimulation! Nothing had happened. It simply turned into a meditation session, interrupted with some self-analysis. It proved to be a failed experiment.



* * *





I woke up first, and sat up. I got off the bed, retrieved my belt, and put my tunic back in place. I pulled up the socks I had over the leotard stockings, got back into my boots, and sat beside Stefan. The now, oh so beautiful Stefan, who had in the past wanted to relinquish all personal sovereignty to me. Stefan! My mother in a past life, who was viciously killed, because she couldn’t see her only son taken away from her to face a sure death in combat, in a society that didn't allow for maternal bonds.

My Astral lover, my most devoted former mortal in two lives. My virtual former priestess; now modified in part unwillingly, so that he could be at ease with me like this. Oh, my dearest Stefan. Me thinkst I love you as much as Hesper.

I stroked his thick red mane, and woke him up in the process. He smiled at me. “Did you dream of me, too?”

I nodded. “In a way that parallels our reality.”

“Same.”

“Stefan?”

“Yeah?” He sat up.

“I think we require some therapeutic healing on ourselves. Astral?

“Please?”

We embraced, and off we were.

Would what we had, ever be intrinsically enough for Stefan?



























































Chapter 9







Stefan and I really needed the Astral union to come to terms with what we learned from the Hall of Records. We had to do it ‘as one,’ to let the healing begin, so to speak. Both of us had absorbed the entire lives of Daphne, and Adrian, as my name had been. We knew what they went through, from birth to death. It was so bizarre, vicariously reliving our former lives, being them, yet being so different now, with different philosophies, and priorities...except for our love...though that was manifested differently in the present, of course.

Ye gods, how the view of the concept of parenthood differed in Daphne, from Stefan! Daphne had so looked forward to having a child, while it was still the last thing Stefan would want. Stefan saw the irony in it, and comically wondered what drugs ‘she’ had been on, in that life. It was a disruptive thought that glitched our union, sort of like a sneeze, or a hiccup. I guess that would be a good analogy. It didn’t help, that I was amused by the thought.

We ironed everything out, and revelled in what we felt for each other. Stefan felt the appreciation I felt for all the sacrifices ‘she’ had made for me, both as Kyle, and as Daphne. I wasn’t sure which set of sacrifices I was more grateful for. Daphne’s were more dramatic, but Kyle had suffered so long for our separation.

Oh, whatever! What did it matter?

When we exploded and got back to Tech Duinn, Stefan and I didn’t need to go back to sleep. We’d just woken up before we went Astral, so the effect wasn’t so harsh, but we did feel like we were on barbiturate, or something.

Stefan put his pillow against the headboard of the bed, and leaned against it. I accepted his invitation to snuggle with him, and rested my head in the crook of his arm, and he put his arm around me. “I wonder if we never should have looked ourselves up?” he asked.

“We’ll get over it.”

“I gave birth to you! I actually breastfed you! I...I...oh God!”

I looked up at him. “Do you have any idea what that sounds like coming from you now, dude?”

Stefan smiled. “Too bad we’re not in a quiet restaurant with someone sitting right next to us.”

I chuckled. I was glad Keith wasn’t around. “You will never change, huh?”

“Probably not. Do you want me to?”

I hugged him. “In the name of Chaos, no! I love your capricious sense of humour, even if it is at my expense some times. Looking back, I have to admit that your comment at the dinner table on you never having wanted me as your bitch was as funny as hell.”

“Your reaction of taking me out of there like you did, was probably just as funny.”

“It was a good exit.” I lay on my back again. “Appropriate for what you did to me, anyway.”

“I’ll have to agree. You’re pretty good at regaining the upper hand.”

“I did not regain the upper hand, but I can fight back. After all, I have to live with Macha, you know?”

Stefan ran his finger down my nose. “This place is surreal!”

“You’re telling me.”



* * *





When Keith came back to Tech Duinn, he found Macha creaming Kevalyn on the chessboard. Keith materialised a chair, to watch.

“Tibetan Book isolation ritual?” asked Macha.

“Ending in a meditation session. It didn't work.”

“You’re not a person, babe,” said Macha. “You won't die. Moving off the subject here; but you have no past from when you were created. How can you? I made you from nothing. There's also not a being in existence who's more perfect.”

“Except for Source. So I have a beginning, but I have no end?”

“I don’t think so,” said Macha, as she checked Kevalyn.

Keith scowled. “I do have an end?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“OK! This requires an explanation.”

Kevalyn moved out of the checked position, and Macha mated her. “My game.” She turned to Keith. “You’ve got to be directly from The Source. It’s the only explanation I can think of.”

“Macha, what are you?”

Macha smiled at him. “The biggest bitch, you’ll ever meet.”

Keith smiled back. “But not a twat plug?”

“That’s your job, not mine; baby. I ain’t got the parts!”

Kevalyn busted up. “Oh gawd!”

Keith chuckled. “I asked for that, didn’t I?”

“Little bit, stud-boy. When do I getcha again, babe?”

Keith cocked his head. “If you keep this up, maybe when Metallica does a CD with Pat Boone covers.”

“Then maybe I better shut up.”

Kevalyn totally lost it.



* * *





Stefan and I transferred to the couch, and I was immediately pounced upon by Percy. I held him to me for as long as he wanted it, and then he spread himself across my lap. “I’m going to have to go to work pretty soon,” I said.

“Of course I want to come.”

“Fine by me.”

“Can I try to take care of an easy case? It seems kind of interesting.”

“If I have any easy cases. Children and most old people are usually no problem. People without issues.”

“OK. Then can we go see other worlds, later?” asked Stefan.

“Want to do that with Kev and Macha, or just you and me?”

“I don’t care.”

I smiled. “Want to become a Gate Keeper when you grow up?”

“I don’t know. Is it possible?”

“Not the way you are. You have too many hostilities in you, still. You’ve got to even out your attitudes, and get rid of even the faintest trace of contempt, and that leftover of a misanthropic streak you still have. It would show, you know?”

“So I can’t let the stupid un-evolved idiots I’m placing, know that I think they’re stupid un-evolved idiots?”

“Exactly!” How much longer could I keep a straight face for this conversation?

“OK! When do we go?”

“As soon as the king of the castle gets off my lap, and decides he doesn’t want to keep me prisoner any more.”

Stefan chuckled, and stroked Percy. “All right. Maybe I better go, and prep Shiva for the job.”

“See you in a little bit.”

“Ayuh!” With that, Stefan faded from my view.



* * *





Keith sat through three chess games, and he fought not to cringe at many of Kevalyn’s moves. He also fought not to give her any telepathic advice. That would only be too obvious. All he had to say, was; “Looks like you’re new at this.” He knew she wasn’t. It was just the appropriate thing to say, for now.

“Actually, I haven’t played in over ten years. I used to be a pretty good player.”

Keith smiled. “You have to consider who you’re playing. As Donn wrote in his book, I have still never won. All our matches end in a draw. I’m also still not good enough with a sword to end in a draw in the arena, so to speak.”

“The arena, huh?”

“Anywhere we choose to have a sparring session. We don’t have as many as we used to.”

Kevalyn asked Macha and Keith, “The next time you have one, can you call me to watch?”

Macha asked Keith, “Shall we give her a demo, now?”

Keith smiled. “Sure. Demo-light. Let’s not desert her, when it’s over.”

Macha chuckled. “I hadn’t planned on it.”



* * *

When Stefan rode Shiva into the room, Percy was still on my lap. The cat stood up on his hind legs to investigate the hoof beats, and I got his claws on my right shoulder and under my left collarbone, as he proceeded to face me. I’d have to fix that, when Percy was done with me. He drew blood.

I kissed the cat on the bridge of the nose. “Percy baby! I have to go to work, love. Can you let me up, and I’ll get back to you on my return?” I sent him a thought picture of him walking off my lap, and my disappearing.”

Still on his hind legs, he licked my nose, and got off of me. I stroked him, and repaired my superficial wounds.

I asked Hesper if he wanted to go to work with me, and he was behind me in a split second. I got off the couch, mounted the pony, rode beside Stefan, took Stefan’s hand, and we transferred outta there.



* * *





Both Keith and Macha redressed for battle. Keith ended up in his usual boots and loincloth, and Macha went into old Irish drag, though this time her clothes weren’t torn. Macha didn’t go into battle-frenzy. She fought like Keith. Graceful, dignified, and deadly; if it had been real.

Kevalyn was awed. Especially at the end! Macha threw away all her bladed weapons, and floored Keith unarmed.

Macha walked over to Kevalyn. “How’s that?”

The very impressed Kevalyn asked, “Pretty trippy. Can you teach me some of that?’

Macha ruffled her hair. “Sure. Is now a good time for lesson number one, or would you like to wait?”

“Now is fine. Should I dress like you?”

“That would be practical.”

Keith gave Kevalyn his claymore and dirk. “Here.”

Kevalyn put the knife in her belt, and took the sword. “This is heavy.”

“You have three options, babe,” said Macha, as she came over, and stroked Kevalyn’s hair. “Rearrange yourself so you have some more muscle, change gender, or change swords to a more lightweight Damascus steel.”

“I’ll buff up, as I am.”

Macha wrinkled her nose, bared her upper teeth, and looked like she was going to hiss. She closed her mouth again, and said, “I was hoping for a temporary option two.”

Kevalyn smiled, and blew her a kiss. She then faded out for a second, and came back weighing about fifteen pounds more, and she had no further problems with the weight of the sword.

All training sessions would be telepathic. Macha merged a part of her mind with Kevalyn, sending Kev her intentions, and what to do about it. Kevalyn just had to act, and it would take a while for Kevalyn to go through with the offensive and evasive, defensive moves smoothly. It wouldn’t be easy. Macha had Kevalyn mostly hacking away at her.

Keith sat there, in his own Seventh Heaven, watching the two foxiest babes of female persuasion in existence, pretending to battle it out.



* * *





Stefan and I had a total of seventeen cases to deal with. I gave Stefan the two Vietnamese napalm victims. Stef had a thing for Vietnam, and there would be no conflicts for him being able to deal with them. Bigotry works in both directions, and this time it was to my advantage.

Stefan got a crash course on a totally different culture, and he had even more respect for the Vietnamese after he was done, than before. Good sign! He had to ask me where specifically to send them off to, but that was all. Stefan was good with the absorption, the consolation, the castle tour, and the rating.



* * *





At the end of the training session, Macha flattened Kevalyn as painlessly as possible, and held her claymore over Kevalyn’s throat. Macha then put her claymore down, and yanked Kevalyn to her feet. Macha put her forehead, against the slightly shorter Kevalyn’s. ‘Do you want me?!’ sent Macha.

“Gods, yes,” whispered Kevalyn.

Macha pressed Kevalyn to herself. ‘Option two! Change gender, promise to take me fast and hard, and I’m yours.’

Kevalyn nodded. “I can’t stand it anymore. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Macha threw Kev over her shoulders, smiled at Keith, and disappeared with the lovely Kevalyn, leaving Keith in an amused disbelief.





























Chapter 10







Stefan and I went for a slow ride on the beach after we got back from work. We communicated in thought, rather than in a vocal-auditory fashion, and we sent a little more than just words. I sent Stef a mental caress. ‘You’ve made quite a bit of progress, since you’ve come here.’

‘Let’s say, I’m heavily inspired.’ We reached out, and took each other’s hands.

‘You seem to have decided you like what I do.’

‘It’s not nearly as bad as I’d initially thought. It’s weird dealing with deaths of people from when I was only six on planet Earth; though.’

‘Wait ‘til next time! You might get someone from Sumer.’

Stefan chuckled, as we disengaged.

It would be dusk, soon. We dismounted the equines, and sat in the sand, facing west. Again, the partly cloudy sky showed a vast array of colours. I was insensate to the cold autumnal temperatures, but the still misprioritised (in my opinion) Stefan, just dressed for it, and revelled in it. He planned to hit the whirlpool, after we went back to the castle after dark. I knew I could join him without any problems now, but would I?



* * *





‘Kevalyn’ lay back, under cover; still in masculine form, still awesomely beautiful. “I don’t like being like this. I don’t really like what I just did with you either, and I don’t care how good it felt. I don’t think I want to do it again.”

“I won’t ask you to. You were terrible, but I needed it this once. Thanks.”

Kevalyn asked, “Can I please switch back to female? I’d probably be a better lover, too.”

“Sure! You can change back. I know you’d be a better lover, but I won’t have you that way. I didn’t want a good lover now, anyway. I wanted a lust driven desperado, OK? You were just a little too desperate.”

Kevalyn disappeared for a moment, and came back in a feminine form. “This wasn’t at all like what I thought my time with you would be like.”

Macha sat up, and extended her arms. “Come here, Kev.”

Kevalyn snuggled next to Macha, accepting the embrace. “I’m sorry. You’re so goddamn beautiful, and...and...oh, I don’t know! You blow me away. Leave me spellbound, you know?”

“Let me read you all the way. I’ll share some of myself with you.”

“Please.”

Macha smiled, and kissed Kevalyn on the forehead. “My dearest protégé.”

The telepathic exchange was much better than their awkward physical tryst.



* * *

We walked the steeds back to the castle, and as soon as we got through the gate; we dismounted and let them go. It was pretty cold, from what Stefan told me, and we walked to the spa. “You joining me?” asked Stefan.

“Yes, but I’m not suffering before going into the water. I’m just transferring in. See you in a couple,” I said, just before I disappeared from before him.

Stefan shed his clothes one at a time, and dematerialised them, as opposed to throwing them on the floor. He was shivering up a storm when he went through the door, but that ended before he entered the whirlpool. He sat down a couple of feet away from me, unsure of what I’d consider inappropriate, under the circumstances. It didn’t matter, now.

“Shall we visit those other worlds, after this?” asked Stefan.

“Do you have any particular star system in mind?”

“No. I don’t know anything.”

“Neither do I. I guess we’ll just do a random trip, and see what we can find.”

“Can we materialise anywhere, like this?”

I closed my eyes. “Hm hm. Sure can, though I’d pick a less solid version of what we are, at the moment. Better not be too effected by gravity, and all.” I reached out to him, and had my fingers spread.

Stefan reached out, and intertwined his fingers with mine. “You look very happy.”

“I am. Can I confess something to you?”

“Confess?”

“Hm hm. There’s something I did that I should have asked your permission for, but I didn’t.”

“Shoot!”

“I looked up your future in the Hall of Records.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“What did you find?” asked Stefan.

I gently disengaged my hand from our mutual grip. “It is OK for you to come closer to me?”

“I guess so. I’m sensationally dead, and I...I...I don’t know how to...what to do, or see, or...uh...being male; uh...I do prefer it, but it screws me up with the lust thing for you, you know?” He closed the distance between us.

I opened my eyes, and smiled. “I know. This form was your destiny, but what you just said is the main reason I asked that you switch as soon as I found out, not to mention that you’re currently pretty enough to inspire me to do a painting of you. What I saw for you; is that you will be a Gate Keeper. Also, you’ll be with me until the end and beyond; my platonic lover.”

“We’ll never screw?!”

I put my arm around him. “Never. (That would eventually prove to be a lie, but that's another story.) I didn’t see that. I’m in the same category as Thanatos, Athena, and Artemis. My virgin state is an integral part of my identity. It can’t change. It’s carved in stone, babe. It's been that way for over twenty thousand years, if you take Earth time into consideration, and I like it that way.”

Stefan shrugged. “Strangely, I really don’t seem to mind any more. Most of the time, anyway.”

“Stef, have you ever been in a more beautiful relationship?”

“No.”

I ran my finger down his nose. “Then quit your bitchin’. You will adjust one hundred percent. I promise!” Well, ninety nine point nine percent, but that was close enough.

He rested his head on my shoulder.

After we were sick of the spa, we readied to see another world.



* * *





Macha and Kevalyn dressed, with Macha in her biker babe look, and Kevalyn in hippie garb of faded bellbottoms, moccasin shoes, and a tie-dyed T-shirt. They went to the garden, and materialised their mandatory tea. Macha beckoned Keith, and he wasted no time in appearing.

Macha and Kevalyn were glued together, so Keith asked, “So, who gets to sit in the middle?”

“Me!” said Macha. She turned to Kevalyn. “Would you like Keith to train you for battle, as well?”

Kevalyn looked at him. “Would you mind?” She wasn’t sure what to think, being she’d just been ‘borrowed’ by Macha. She wasn’t one hundred percent comfortable with Keith, after what had happened.

“I’d be honoured.” He sensed the tension. He leaned forward, and smiled. “Kev?”

Kevalyn leaned forward, as well. “Yes?”

Keith ran his index finger down her nose. “It’s OK.”

Kevalyn knew damn well what he was talking about. She smiled back. “Thanks.”

A cup of tea appeared in Keith’s hand. “So we’ll have another warrior amongst us?”

“Hm hm,” said Macha. “We train this one the fast way, though.”

Keith turned his head to look at Macha. “And why didn’t I get that kind of consideration? I had to learn everything by trial and error!”

Macha smiled. “So I could beat you up, and ravish you after ninety nine percent of our training sessions.”

That set both Keith and Kevalyn off. The atmosphere was comfortable again.

“Silly question,” said Keith, after he stopped laughing. “You OK, now?” he asked Macha, as he ruffled her hair.

Macha let go of Kevalyn, switched her teacup to the other hand, and put her other arm around Keith. “I’m just glad you’re still here, oh hyper-evolved one. I’ve also come to realise the incredible beauty of your style.”

Keith looked at Kevalyn again. “Kev, my love?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you, for all eternity.”

Kevalyn nodded, and after a short moment, she read between the lines of all that was said. She scowled. “Macha, was I that bad in bed?”

Macha downed her tea, and dematerialised the cup. She looked at Kevalyn. “Worse.”

Kevalyn looked at Keith. “Then again, after you; John Holmes was probably a loser.”

Keith pointed at her “Don’t EVEN GO there!”

(In reality, he was.)



* * *





After the whirlpool, there was no point to even getting dressed. Stefan and I went directly Astral, and became as one. Then we went off to explore the Universe.

After we did, I don’t know why it hadn’t occurred to me to do it before. To perceive the Universe up close?! To see the nebulae, the novas, a black hole eating a star, a binary star system, and the planets? Oh, the planets.

To be on a world with a red sky nearer to the far pole, in a land of eternal twilight where the sun never sets completely because of how the axis of the planet is angled, and where one can see all its seven moons at once, depending where they were. (The place we would NEVER forget, and the place we would eventually end up.) To be on another, which was ringed, due to a collision of a moon and an asteroid, or another that used to hold life, but was completely devastated, and all that was left is the ruins of all the civilisations that were wiped out. Not a builder left alive, whatever they looked like. Another with a violet sky, where one could stand on a high cliff, and a horizontal tornado would go careening by. Beautiful, overwhelming, terrifying, if we’d been physical! We saw things and places so stunning, they made the land of my birth pale in comparison.

If the Astral form were our natural state, we could have stayed forever. However, it wasn’t, so we had to go back home for a while. This journey would continue, and next time, I planned to take the other three with us. This was way too good, to keep to ourselves!



* * *





When Stefan and I got back, Keith and Kevalyn were squaring off, both with claymore in hand. It wasn’t much to watch. The only thing that was happening; was that Kevalyn was strictly offensive, and Keith was blocking everything rather effortlessly. Stef and I joined Macha as an audience. ‘Prepare to be very bored,’ sent Macha to us, nonverbally.

‘I see,’ I sent back.

‘This is a training session, not a battle.’

‘I figured as much. Not bad for a first timer, as far as Kev goes.’

‘We’re not wasting our time, training her from scratch! This way, she knows what to do. She just has to figure out how to get her body up to speed.’

‘She looks like she put on a little weight,’ I noticed.

‘She had to pack on a bit more muscle. She had problems handling the sword. She decided not to take on a masculine form for the arena, which I did give her as an option.’

‘Not likely, considering how much she can’t stand being a dude,’ sent Stefan.

‘That’s obvious. She’s terrible at it,’ send Macha.

‘Dare I ask?’ I asked.

‘Worst lo...oh, never mind!’

'You didn’t?!'

‘We did. Disaster, but that was my fault. Served me right, but I think I got my priorities in the proper perspective.’

‘So, Kevalyn had her dream come true?!’ asked Stefan.

‘His dream come true. I don’t do women. Not really. The session bombed. He was a clutz. Missed a few times. Over too fast! He was too damned overwhelmed and nervous.’

Stefan shook his head. ‘Weird, but I think she’s great, and even when he was a guy on Earth, he wasn’t bad for me.’

‘Again, it was my fault. The circumstances were too forced and unnatural.’ sent Macha.

‘I don’t think I want to hear any more about it,’ I sent.

‘That’s fine. There’s really not much more to convey,’ sent Macha.

Our telepathic communication was interrupted by the clatter of a sword dropping to the floor. “I can’t do this, man. Trying to concentrate while whacking away at you is impossible!” said Kevalyn.

“Actually; you weren’t doing too bad, considering your lack of experience.” said Keith.

“No! You’re too distracting. The way you move! What you look like! I can’t swing a sword at you, anymore. I have a hard enough time with Macha, but you’re impossible to work with.”

Keith dematerialised his claymore, dirk, boot knife, and redressed into his loungewear of flannel shirt, and jeans. “All right. I guess Macha will be your sole trainer.”

Macha sent to us, ‘That paradoxical bitch is going to have me rip my hair out in frustration.’

‘I thought you liked her?’ I sent.

‘I adore her. She just drives me crazy, some times.’ She said aloud, “All right, Kev. Just you and me! Now?”

“Would you?”

Macha stood up, narrowed her eyes, and smiled. “Yes. You want a lesson in defensive, or offensive?”

Keith came over, and sat beside me. I got my hair ruffled, and an arm around me. Of course, I leaned into him.

“I’m not fast enough for defensive. I just started this.”

“I’d slow down, and you’d get a warning of every move I make. I can also stop a slice or blow a millimetre from hitting you, provided you don’t run into the sword. You can also heal yourself instantaneously if there’s an accident, and there won’t be. Not one drop of blood was ever shed in all the times Keith and I battled it out, and we have fought for real to test our skills. It hasn’t always been a choreographed sword-dance to get me in the mood.”

“You want me to go defensive?”

“For a little bit, maybe.”

“OK.”

Macha redressed, to look as distracting as possible, and she materialised a claymore, and a dirk. She ran her bare left hand down her gauntlet. “You ready, babe?”

Kevalyn’s lower jaw had dropped. “I think, you might be even harder to work with than Keith.”

Macha put her left arm akimbo. “If you don’t get your thoughts on your lessons, you might get whacked. Do you understand that?”

Kevalyn nodded.

“Good! You really show promise, and I don’t want to lose you as a student.”

They went at it.

Some of the sparring was in slow motion, and there were a number of times when Macha had to pull back on a slice. Of course, she gave Kevalyne more like six inches, rather than a millimetre, but it was still interesting to watch, more because of what gorgeous creatures they were, than from the sorry show they were putting on in battlefield skill. It would be even more interesting, when Kevalyn became comfortable with what she was learning, and the moves became second nature. Clash of the Valkeries!

They were so incredibly beautiful, I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. Keith and Stefan were just as rapt. ‘Gods, I love the changes Kev did to herself,’ sent Stefan to both of us.

Keith sent back, ‘Apparently we have the same taste in women. The Amazon type?’

‘Oh yeah! Even when I was alive! Rachel McLish was the ultimate!’

Keith chuckled. ‘How about rephrasing that to even when you were on the Physical Plane. There is no life or death.’

Stefan sent, ‘If I had my nerve centre connected, I think I’d be having a very embarrassing moment, right now. I want her, even though I can’t feel anything.’

‘Kev or Macha?’ asked Keith.

‘Kevalyn. I don’t think Macha would be a good idea.’

‘For whose sake?’

Stefan looked at Keith. ‘Mine! I feel bad enough about wanting Kevalyn. I’m trying to get rid of this.’

I looked at Stefan. ‘I don’t care what you do with Kevalyn. You’ve been together for over ten years. Don’t let our relationship get between you two. What you and me have, and what you and Kev have is totally different.’

Stefan looked at me. ‘I really value what we have. It’s so trippy. Most of me doesn’t want it to ever change, but you gotta understand.’

‘From a vicarious perspective, I do,’ I sent back.

‘Then again, I almost can’t for the life of me think of you as a lover in the conventional sense from a male perspective. Seems like I’m only a switch-hitter when I’m a chick.’

I spoke aloud. “Why don’t you ask Kev if she’ll have you, after she’s done?”

“It is tempting,” said Stefan.

“Just don’t switch gender until you’re out of my sight, huh?” I requested.

Keith, shook his head, and chuckled.



* * *





Stefan did not ask Kevalyn if she was available, after the lesson was over. Instead, the five of us transferred to the now longer couch, and ended up talking about the trip across the universe that Stefan and I had done.

Kevalyn and Macha where real interested, whist Keith seemed to have an attitude of complete apathy. Macha sent Keith, and Keith alone, a ‘You've done it so many times, you're fed up with it?’

‘To a degree! I’m sorry; but to me, it’s all pretty pointless now. A good analogy would be, what do you think of doing an intense study of pond scum?’

‘Poo!’

Keith kissed Macha on the cheek. ‘We all have our own interests, huh? Omniscience, personal evolution and finding myself and who and what I really am are my obsessions.’

Macha wrapped her arm around Keith. “What Stefan has said is interesting to me. I’d like to go.”

Kevalyn asked, “So when we go, do we go as a single unit, or individually?”

“That’s one way of phrasing it, but I think that might be easier to go as one. It would also save on pointless conversations, after we got back,” I said.

“I'm not sure I understand,” said Stefan.

I shrugged. “I’ve never been one with more than a single individual before, but this is different. This is a research mission, not an Astral make-out session.”

“Let’s go for it,” said Macha.

To Macha’s delight, Keith sighed. “I guess I might as well go.” He put his head on Macha’s shoulder. ‘I can act as tour guide, and you can make it up to me when we get back, huh?’

‘I’d love to!’



* * *

I didn’t know why when it happened; but we didn’t have to stop our tour involuntarily. As it turned, Keith managed to keep us in the state we were in, until we wanted it to be over.

It was the most fascinating trip I’d ever taken in all my days. We literally saw hundreds of worlds, from gas giants to pristine natural places, to other worlds where domed cities were the norm.

The creatures of the other planets had the same basic design of Earth dwellers. Four limbs, or two legs and two wings for the non-insects! We’d come across different classifications of life that we had no words for, being they had no counterparts on Earth. Some were beautiful, and some were...interesting, I guess I can say. It was incredible, and I suppose the trip brought us closer together.

By default, Keith ended up the leader of this excursion. We knew that Keith knew what he was doing. We didn’t wonder why, strangely enough. We just accepted it.

Keith got us back home, and made sure that to the animals, it was like we’d only been gone for a few minutes. He was very considerate of our four footed masters.



* * *





Macha took Keith from us, the minute we landed. They went to the little visited room devoted to Scythia. Macha embraced him, and ran her hand down his rear. “No spontaneous reactions out of you ever again, huh?” she asked, as she pressed herself against him.

He smiled and shook his head. “No reaction until we’re good and ready. You can't tease me any more.”

Macha ran her hand through his long, luxurious white mane. “I’ve been noticing your unresponsiveness for a while. From what you seem to have become, I’m surprised you’re still so devoted to me.”

“From what I’ve become, I don’t see how I can’t be.” He kissed her on the forehead. “My creator, my lover, my everything.”

Macha took his delicately sculptured looking hand, and caressed it. She brought it up to her mouth, and kissed his deceptively slender fingers. He had the potential of delivering a bone-crushing grip, if he so chose. “Let’s sit down for a while,” she said, while unbuttoning his shirt, in a more civilised manner.

They walked over to a three-seater, and Macha pulled Keith’s shirt off. He had a medium light build of solid muscle. A dancer’s wiry body! Powerful, fast, and agile. She leaned against him, and he held her. “Babe, can I ask something of you?” she asked.

“Hm hm.”

“For the first time in about forever, can I totally surrender to you? No input from me, whatsoever? You take over from here?”

Keith scowled. “Do you know what you’re asking for?”

“Something different.”

“I’d love to, but you don’t know me anymore! You have no idea what you’re going to get.”

“What? You think you’ll drive me to homicide or suicide?”

Keith laughed. “Nothing that extreme, I hope, but...are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“There won’t be any knotted silk chords, this time. Too distracting.”

Macha shrugged. “There’s always next time.”

Keith closed his eyes, and nodded once. “Try not to yell at me too much, and no bladed weapons within thirty feet of you.”

Macha laughed. “Will you be that bad?”

Keith looked at her, and smiled. “Worse!”

It took Macha a few minutes to stop laughing. On Keith’s advice, they transferred to her room.



* * *





Stefan looked at me. “What would make you happier than anything, right now.”

“Skating.”

“Then let’s go.”

“You want another lesson?”

“Sure. Maybe we can work on a routine, or something, after I’m better,” said Stefan.

I broke into a grin. “Do you have any idea how much I’d love that?”

“Maybe I can find out later.”

I just took his hand, and we transferred to the rink.



* * *





Macha ended up totally covered in attar of roses, as she was delicately explored. Macha also ended up very frustrated.

She felt her own feelings, and Keith’s feelings; in their still sole empathic, somewhat telepathic union. Delicate caresses, sometimes those fangs of his might scrape something, and she wondered if he didn’t hurry up and do something real, how much longer could she prevent herself from attacking him?

Keith knew this, and found it hilarious. Still, that wasn’t the point of this encounter. Might as well get to the nitty-gritty, before Macha decided she was going to whup him, and retake control of the situation; despite how seductive the prospect was. Keith got up, sat against a pillow that was against the headboard, and said, “Come on, and please move as slowly as you can.”

Macha gave a sigh of relief, when she connected herself according to instruction. Keith embraced her. When she contracted on him, he said, “Please don’t do that. Don’t move.”

“Keith, I really want to kill you.”

“Shhhhh. Calm down. I warned you! Eliminate all hostility, all desire, all thought. This is important! Blank out your mind, or we are going to be sitting here like this for a verrrry long time.”

“Keith, I think I hate you.”

“Shhhhhhhh!”

Keith did manage to persuade her to get into a more correct state of mind, and then he got to work. He didn’t move at all. He and Macha were one. He brought them both to borderline culmination, by sheer force of concentrative will. He held off on the climax for the longest time, and for lack of earplugs; not that they would have helped, he finally let himself and his now seemingly rueful lover go over the edge, very slowly.

Macha disengaged herself, panting. “If I didn’t love you so much, I swear I’d punch you out, for what you just did to me.”

Keith laughed. “You asked for it, and I tried to warn you. Never again, huh?”

“Are you kidding? That was the intensest thing I ever felt! Next time, silk knotted chord!”

Keith looked to the ceiling. “Donn was right, when he wrote that your gender was invented to drive my gender crazy.”

“Keep it up, lover!

Keith tilted his head. “I can’t do this if I have to concentrate on any physical activity. No chord.”

“Even if you’re, uh...would it be correct to say, wearing it?”

“Polite thing to say; might be better. I guess we can try it, but can you shut up, next time? I think you blew out my eardrums."

“I’ll work on it.”



* * *





Stefan had been practising to skate on his own. He was a lot smoother, than when we were first on the ice together. We merged our minds, and mirrored each other on some of the simpler moves. When we tried more elaborate manoeuvers, Stef crashed to the ice a few times. Hey, it wasn’t my idea.

Stefan couldn’t go into a spin for the life of him, without wanting to lose his lunch, or his balance. That would be his handicap. It would be a skill to elude him for eternity.

Oh well.

He watched me strut my stuff for a while, and I watched what he was capable of. He exhibited a potential for grace, and I was thrilled to have him as a future ice-dancing partner.

On a break, I asked him, “If we do dance together, do you want to stay as is, or go traditional, with you in female form?”

“Would ya want me to wear one o’ dem dar tutu’s, too?” he asked in a parody of a Southern U.S. accent.

I chuckled. “Never mind.”

“I’d rather be a dude. You also know damn well that it’s also helpful to remain this gender, to relate to you right.”

“We’ll work something out.”

“After we’re done here, tea in the garden?”

“Please.”

I cut Stefan loose, and he just did what he wanted to. I couldn’t watch him any more after his third disastrous attempt at a double axel.



* * *





It was night, when we got to the garden. Even Stefan desensitised himself to the temperature. He wasn’t that much of a glutton for punishment.

Stef materialised a cup of vanilla nut with honey, cream, bee pollen, and a little extra vanilla extract. It smelled so good, I asked him to materialise one of those for me.

“Thanks,” I said. “You know, Stefan; you’ve adopted our accent pretty well.”

“I noticed. So has Kevalyn.”

‘You ought to go easier on those attempts at double axels, you know? You are Hell o’ painful to watch.”

“It doesn’t hurt that bad. You probably got it a lot worse when you crashed into the mirror.”

I smiled. “That must have been a sight to see.”

“I’m kind of glad I wasn’t there, though.”

“I got a few minor cuts, gone in a second. It wasn’t that bad. At least I didn’t knock myself out.”

“Thank the gods for small favours.” I got an arm around me.

I looked at him. “For the umpteenth time, I really wish I’d paid more attention to you, when you lived on Earth.”

“Donn! Unless you want me in tears again, let’s please talk about something else.”

“OK. A little later, want to find Kevalyn and maybe you can listen to us jam?”

“It was great, watching you two. Maybe I can pick up the bass, sit there and join in, if I can think of anything to add to the rhythm section?”

I switched my teacup to my right hand, and put my left arm around Stefan. “You have no idea how much I welcome that. It’s about time you got into music again.”

He kissed me on the nose.

We finished the tea, and walked the paths of the garden before we left, and found Kevalyn. She was already in the practise room, going full blast with the Gibson SG.













Chapter 11







Stefan would now officially be playing with us. He’d need quite a bit of practise time before he could measure up to me and Kevalyn, but he was motivated. He’d be doing that on his own time, as well as getting more up to par with the skating.

I wasn’t sure how I saw Stefan, any more. Yes, a protégé. A lover, to the degree my neurotic personality would allow. Someone I didn’t really want to be apart from for very long. Our favourite state of being was as one on the Astral. He was a soul mate, I guess.

I found it moving that he was my mother in a former life, and how she got herself killed for me. These gender switches are also beginning to drive me nuts from a literary perspective, being they really force some major, like, awkwardness into my, like, sentence structure, ya know?

Oh well.

Stefan wasn’t with me, and I was missing him.

I used to love being alone. I’d do my best creative work, alone. My painting, my song writing, my poetry, my skating, whatever... I also used to meditate, and contemplate the general scheme of things, a lot. Now, I was feeling a void. I put my back against the wall of the castle hall, and just slid to the floor. I bent my legs, and hugged them. What the hell was going on with me?

I mentally zeroed in on Stefan. He was with the BC Rich Mockingbird bass. I couldn’t interrupt him. However, I wanted his company, now. What’s a Tech Duinn resident to do? Step forward in time!



* * *





I beckoned Stefan to me, from the top of the tower. “I’d like to do a painting of us,” I told him.

“Cool. What do you have in mind?”

“You and me in front of the gates of a cemetery, with swords crossed. I’m going to be dressed like this in my tunic. How’d you like to be outfitted?”

Stefan wrinkled his nose. “Like, what am I supposed to be?”

“Fellow Gate Keeper, I guess.”

Stefan shrugged. “You looked like an angel, when you met me. What do Gate Keepers usually wear?”

“Depends on the culture. Anubis and Thanatos wear just a loincloth, Azrael wears a long white robe...uh I don’t know. All sorts of stuff.”

“Would a badly tattered hooded robe be too clichéd?”

“Like your pastel painting of me, that you did in college?”

“Sure. I think I look good enough to show a little skin, now.”

I shrugged. “I guess you could wear that, but sword. No scythe.”

“Your tunic looks great, but it’s not something I’d expect a death god to wear.”

“Stef, you know how I feel about having been deified.”

“A Gate Keeper, to wear. Sorry.”

“OK.”

“Or would a tattered white robe look better? No hood? White boots?”

“I think it would.”

“Need me to pose for a minute?”

“Would you? Dress exactly like what you want, and materialise a singlehanded sword. Anything you saw on our walls, any culture.”

Stefan changed, materialised a Spartan sword, stood in an appropriate pose, with feet shoulder width apart, and sword at a fortyfive degree angle, pointing to the ground. His face would be in profile to the viewer, and his other arm was slightly bent, with his hand clenched in a fist.

It was perfect. I took a mental snapshot. “Thanks.”

Stefan got back into his black jeans, and black work shirt. “Man, it’s windy up here. What’s the temperature like?”

“If anyone is masochistic enough to want to know, they’d probably find it in the low forties, right now, in your damn Fahrenheit.”

Stefan looked over to Ireland. “What a sight.”

“Isn’t it, though? I'll start working on the painting soon, but what do you want to do, now?”

“Tea on the main couch?”

“Walk or transfer?”

“How about run?!” asked Stefan.

A man after my own heart! I raced for the stairs, and we actually made it down the spiral staircase with no crash landings. When we hit the main floor, we ran that quarter of a mile at full speed. Both of us vaulted over the back of the couch, landing on our rears, where we were supposed to end up. “Nice being able to run all out without getting tired,” said Stefan.

“I love to run. I don’t know why I don’t do it more often.”

“No time like the present, to start.”

I materialised another cup of that vanilla nut thing with, honey, cream, bee pollen, and all. I inhaled the scent, and had a sip. Stefan went for the China black, with cream. “I really want to start on that painting,” I said. "I think after this tea session."

“You’re pretty fast, from what I recall.”

“Almost as fast as they come. I know what I want, so I lay out a pencil sketch on canvass, and colour it in. Sometimes I have a hard time if I don’t have the idea down pat, but that doesn’t happen too often. I had a Hell of a time with that picture of Keith and Macha battling it out.”

Stefan came right beside me, and we were wrapped around each other in no time. “This is way better than the stories I wrote.”

“Isn’t it, though? I mean, why on Earth would we want to spend any time on the Physical Plane, with this place available to us?”

“I wrote the stories before I knew about this place. I guess the legends are right in calling you the Aloof One, huh?”

I shrugged. “I suppose. The only time I ever see anyone other than who’s here is when I’m at work, and I don’t really have a desire to see anyone else, any more.”

“Except Thanatos!” Stefan had a sip of his tea.

“Well, that goes without saying, but...”

“I’m glad he’ll never take you away from me.”

I smiled. “You’re very sure of this.”

“Positive.”

“Just one of those things you know?!”

“End of time. That’s what he said. I think you and I will be one for good, way before that.”

I had a sip of my tea. “You have a point.”

“Shall we look up my theory?”

“Uh, how long did it take for us to recover from our last trip to the Akashic Library?”

“OK, let’s take it on faith. Anyway, Thanatos wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. He loves you. I wouldn’t be surprised if your feelings for each other were mirror images.”

“I hope he’s going through less pain and longing.”

Stefan finished his tea, and dematerialised his cup. He put his head against my shoulder.

“Second generation from The Source! Thanatos would probably think you were being silly. Then again, I went through the same thing missing you, when I was on Earth, so I don’t know what to think. I used to be so screwed up.”

I stroked his hair. “You’re still screwed up.”

“Gods! At least I’m with you!”

“I feel the same way.” I dematerialised my own cup, despite the fact I hadn’t completely finished the tea.

“Donn!”

“Yes?”

Stefan reached forward, and ran the back of his index finger down my cheek. “Please take me Astral.”

“Oh Gods, yes!”

We embraced, and off we were.

The painting could wait.



* * *





Macha and Kevalyn were at it again, swiping their claymores at each other. Macha retained the mode of grace, as opposed to her former Berzerker style. Kevalyn tried to duplicate that to the best of her ability, with not too much success. If Macha hadn’t held off her strikes, Kev would have looked like a finished product in a butcher shop, ready for wholesale. “Hold off on the style, and go for the substance, babe,” said Macha. “There’s always time for the theatrics later.”

Kevalyn saw a theoretical opening, and went for it. Macha blocked her, like lightning. “Gods, Macha! Are you trying to teach me how to fight, or seduce me?”

Macha laughed, as she came down; and ended up pulling back, to avoid taking Kev’s left arm off. “Fight! You’re not Keith, my love. After my last encounter with him, I don’t think so, on the latter option.”

Kevalyn held up her right hand, and put the point of her sword to the ground. “I can’t do this anymore. Not now. Can we continue later?”

Macha sheathed the sword in the scabbard on her back. “Can I read you?”

Kevalyn nodded.

Macha looked into Kevalyn, and stepped toward her. “You want another chance, with me?!”

Kevalyn said, “I can’t lie to you. My terms, this time! It hurts me, every time you insult me like you do.”

Macha extended her hand. “You know my requirement.”

Kevalyn took Macha’s hand, and closed her eyes. In a split second, Macha was holding the hand of a man who almost gave Keith a run for his money in the looks department, if Keith had any money. (I mean, come on! What use have we for cash?!)

This time, Macha would have no complaints.



* * *





Awake, but very tired on return, we were. “I can’t believe I’m thinking this!” I said. I was seated on the couch, and Stefan was lying down, with his head in my lap; nose pointed up.

“What?”

“I want out of here. I actually want off of this island. Off this plane! I want to go back to how we were, and stay there.”

“Yeah, it was great. The ultimate make out session. On the other hand, are you ready to give up your painting, skating, and other creative endeavours that so beautify this realm?”

“Stefan; why do you always have to counter me with all these valid points?”

“I want to see your next painting, OK?”

“I’ll get to work on it, as soon as we wake up.”

“Yeah, I’d like to pass out too. I’m also divided on wanting to stay here, and stay Astral. It’s better than anything, what we just did, but I like your art, too. We can have both worlds, and just try to spend more time in the next one, can’t we?”

“I guess so. It's not like we have a choice, anyway. We're not evolved enough for the Astral. It wipes us out, as we now can see.” I got as comfortable as I could, in the position I was in.

“Good night, for a while.”

“Hm.”

We both went to sleep, and remained undisturbed.



* * *





Kevalyn took on a feminine form again, and she took a walk down the castle halls with Macha. “I’m sorry about the first time,” said Kevalyn. “I couldn’t believe what you wanted me for. I was beside myself.”

“You more than made up for it, love.”

“I’m surprised Keith is OK with us.”

“Keith doesn’t do what we just did anymore. Keith is into tantric sex, asexual lovemaking, inter-planer transfers and metaphysics. He also doesn’t hold me to the same standards as he’s set for himself. I’m basically a slut who takes what she wants. Granted, if Keith hadn’t dropped his old style completely, I wouldn’t have taken you as a lover, but what’s a nymphomaniac like me to do?”

Kevalyn laughed. “Well, I’m glad things are as they are, even if I do have to switch gender for you. You’re definitely worth it. I never saw anyone as foxy as you in my entire life.”

“Keith and Donn?”

“Yeah, but they’re dudes. They really don’t quite turn me on. If they switched genders, though...”

“They won’t, and you can forget about both of them. Keith was curious about you, but in reality, he won’t have you even with my blessing.”

“And as you say, we both know about Donn.”

“Unfortunately,” said Macha.

“You’ll never get over him, will you?”

“Most of the time, I’m OK. It’s just that sometimes those yearnings get triggered. He’s also been known to tease me, as you may have noticed. I have a hard time with that. I love him like anything, but he can be a real bastard.”

“I hope Stefan can deal with him. He; or should I say she, was so obsessed with him when we lived on Earth.”

“Stefan as Kyle did a good job driving Donn up the wall.”

“Macha, will you take me Astral later?”

Macha took Kevalyn’s hand. “You know, I think I will. I seem to be seriously falling in love with you.”

Kevalyn smiled. “Too bad you’re not a switch-hitter.”

“A warm day in Niflheim, babe.”

Kevalyn chuckled. Their friendship would blossom into something Kevalyn couldn’t have dreamed of.



* * *





I woke up first, as usual. Stefan’s head was still in my lap, had turned in my direction, and I just couldn’t resist. I actually grabbed that nose of his, and pointed it up. That woke him pretty quick, and when he realised what I’d done, he laughed. “Ye gods, Donn! I’m sorry.”

“No harm done. Shall we transfer to the studio? I assume you want to watch me paint.”

“Oh, yeah.”

We transferred, and I set up my easel and canvass. Stefan sat down on a stool with a cup of tea, and he watched in amazement as I lay out the sketch. I’d been doing this a long time, and I got it all down with no errors. I had a picture in my mind’s eye, and what I saw there, I simply transferred to the canvass. No problem.

Stefan could draw pretty well when he was Kyle. However, it took her a Hell of a long time. Kyle wasn’t the most prolific artist after she graduated from her trade school, so a lack of practise held her back. Hence, Stefan was needlessly impressed with my work.

“When you went to that computer school in San Francisco, you used to draw people on the train,” I reminded him. “You could get somebody down in about twenty minutes, and your work was recogniseable. Remember?”

“Yeah, but this is like; wow, you know? You’re doing a whole landscape at warp drive, and you got our proportioning down without even trying.”

“If you’ve been doing this for as long as I have, you could do it too. You used to draw a lot, when you were younger. Maybe you should get back into it.”

“I used to draw you a lot. Why bother with art, when you have reality, though?”

“There are lots of things to draw besides me. In fact, if you’ve got any intention of drawing me again, and you’re going to exploit me like you used to, I’d rather you didn’t draw me.”

“I don’t think I will. I love you in that tunic. I think I’ll take you up on that, but later. I’ll use your self portraits, so you don’t have to sit for me.”

“OK. Thanks”

This painting was a major project. It would take a long time, and I intended to finish it non-stop. Stefan didn’t have the patience to sit through (Or rather pace through, circling me.) the whole thing, so he ended up leaving me to practise the bass guitar. Good for him! (And me. The pacing drove me nuts.)



* * *





Keith was on a rare solitary ride, on his Gilgamesh. A stunning, white, light horse of undetermined breed, being Gil, like his rider was custom made. Gil shared his rider’s neon eyes, and he had thickly feathered hocks. He was tall enough to comfortably hold his rider, and he was very well muscled. Gil had an Araby head, held his tail up, and was a high-stepping prancer. His neck was usually arched. He was a proud looking animal, and his run was a glide. He was as graceful as Keith, and the two were quite a sight.

Keith rode bareback, without tack. He wore jeans tucked into some smooth leather boots, with buckles around the ankles, and no shirt. Gilgamesh raced along the surf, somewhere between Etheric and Physical. It was freezing, but neither horse nor rider, were in a state to be aware of the temperature.

When they got to the end of the beach, Keith held on tight as Gilgamesh reared. The two haven’t seen much of each other, and Gil was happy to be getting some attention from his rarely seen servant. Keith would give him a good rubdown after the ride, and Gil had been informed.

The horse wheeled, and ran back in the other direction. This would be the last stretch on the beach, and then they’d head back to the castle. Keith loved to ride, but making time for it with all his studies wasn’t always easy. (Well, the 'time' was always there, being it didn't exist, but Keith would just rather study than do just about anything, so he didn't indulge in too many 'superfluous' pleasures right now. He was currently too driven for that.)

Gilgamesh virtually flew over the wet sand. At the other end of the beach, he turned toward the castle, and raced for it, over the bridge, and through the gate. He didn’t slow after he got into the castle proper, until Keith told him to. Keith spotted Macha and Kevalyn, walking hand in hand. Both turned to look at Keith, as Gilgamesh approached.

“Good day, ladies.”

Both Macha and Kevalyn smiled. “It’s about time you spent some time with that horse,” said Macha.

“Has he been bitching about me?” asked Keith.

“Not exactly, but he might as well be wild. Was it a good ride?”

“Great. We’re due for a storm, later. The winds are high, and the clouds are coming in.”

“You ought to let Donn know. Maybe he and Stef can watch some of it from the tower.”

“Sure. I’ll check up on them to see if they’re interested. I have to go take care of Gil. I guess I’ll see you two lovebirds later.”

As Gilgamesh trotted away, Kevalyn asked, “How does he know?”

“Kev, I don’t think you even need to be a telepath to read us.”

“It blows me away that he doesn’t care.”

“He probably does care. He’s probably grateful to you, since now I won’t be hassling him for things he doesn’t want to do any more, but that you seem to enjoy.”

Kevalyn shrugged. “This is a very strange household, but I love it.”

“So do I.”



















Chapter 12







Stefan came back to me way before I finished the painting, and caressed me with his thoughts. I just had to pull back from the canvass, and have a cup of tea with him. I ran my finger down his nose. “I have another confession to make.”

“Yes?”

“I seem to have become as obsessed with you, as you are with me.”

“From what you’ve told me, and from what I’ve read by you, I wonder if that’s on your own, or because we spend so much time merged on the Astral, that we don’t have time to completely disconnect from each other.”

“Again, you have a point,” I said. "I like your insight."

“I have some thoughts and feelings that I suspect are triggered by our merging.”

“Dare I ask?”

“Slightly more benevolent view of children, coping with our eternal celibacy, and all that. Are we losing ourselves in each other?”

“It happens. It’s not permanent, though. You seem just as sensitive to it as I am.”

Stefan shrugged. “Maybe. I love that painting.”

“I’ll get back to it the minute I finish this tea.”

“No rush. We’ve got forever, huh?”

I stroked his nose one more time. “Basically. Stef?”

“Yes?”

“That nose of yours!”

“Ah yes! My pride and joy! Have you ever seen anything more glorious?”

No, I didn’t mention Geddy Lee or Jimmy Durante. I smiled. “It does seem to take a noticeable percentage of your body mass. I was just wondering if it had a name?”

Stefan almost dropped his teacup. “Ye gods, Donn!” Still chuckling, he said, “One day I’ll have to ask it.”



* * *





After giving his horse the grooming session of his life, Keith attempted to invoke Macha. She was Astral with Kevalyn, so it didn’t work. He hunted me down instead, and found me working on the painting, and Stefan watching. Keith was momentarily transfixed. “That is beautiful. The two of you guarding a cemetery?”

“Basically,” I said.

Keith materialised himself a chair, and sat beside Stefan. Keith was in his riding clothes, plus a khaki T-shirt. He looked at Stefan, and Stefan gave him a devious smile. Stef reached toward Keith, and suddenly Keith fell back, finding himself no longer on a chair, but on a three seater couch. Stefan immediately leaned into Keith.

Keith stroked Stef’s hair, and put his arm around him. “Aren’t you forward today?”

Stefan said, “It’s been a little. I miss you.”

I turned to look at them, and smiled. How cute! I didn’t say anything, and went back to my painting. Stefan was waiting for me to join them later, from the length of the couch. It would be a while, though. At least he wouldn’t be chronically walking back and forth behind me, with Keith distracting him.

‘Ye gods, he’s impressive,’ sent Stefan nonverbally to Keith. Stefan didn’t want me to argue with him about my skill any more, referring to my painting.

‘I’ll have to agree.’ Keith looked at Stefan. ‘He’s kind of inspirational, actually. This is new to me, but will you sit for me later? I’m not ambitious enough to try painting, but I wonder how I’d do with a pencil or charcoal.’

‘Me?’

‘Yes, you! You’ve got the most defined features in this place. I think you’d be the easiest to draw.’

‘Sure. Thanks.’

‘After I deal with an issue or two later, I’ll call you for it.’

‘Are you leaving now?’ asked Stefan, somewhat alarmed.

‘Hell no! I want to see the completion of this painting as badly as you. I also want to spend some time with both of you, when one of you isn’t distracted by his work.’

Stefan worked his arm around Keith, and looked back at the painting. ‘I know what you mean about inspirational. I’ve got to get back into drawing, myself. At least I have time, now.’

‘Technically, there is no time, though I used the term myself.’

‘Yeah, but the perspective issue, you know?’

Stefan got his hair ruffled again. ‘Aye, I know.’



* * *





Macha and Kevalyn crash landed on Macha’s bed. Kevalyn was in her preferred feminine form, and they just passed out. Everything they’d wanted to convey to each other had been conveyed, and Macha considered Kevalyn to be like what Cu Chulain was to Scathach.



* * *





When I finally finished the painting, I collapsed next to Stefan. I was a bit burned out, considering how long it took me, but I was pleased with the work. So was everyone else.

Stefan pulled me closer to him, ending up firmly sandwiched between Keith and I. Stefan was in Seventh Heaven.

“That is so cool,” he said.

“I’ll have to agree,” said Keith.

“Thanks,” I said. “I assume Macha and Kevalyn will like it just as much.”



Keith said, “How can they not, but they’re probably out cold, by now.”

“Recovering from an Astral make-out session?” I asked.

“What else?!” asked Keith. “Macha thinks Kevalyn is the best thing to happen to her since creamed China black.”

“Speaking of...I want some tea,” said Stefan. “So which one of you do I let go of?”

Keith said, “Give Donn some equal time, babe. I’m still wrapped around you.”



* * *



Keith had been with us for a while, and he had obligated himself to Macha, so when she called him; he excused himself. “Donn! Stefan! I really have an urgent matter to attend to. I’ll be back as soon as I get it sorted out.”

“OK,” said Stefan.

“Oh, and before I go!” said Keith to Stefan.

“Yeah?”

“Don’t move for a couple. Let me totally absorb your profile.”

“OK.”

Keith studied him closely for a few seconds. “Yeah, this should be fairly easy. See you too later.”

“Bye,” I said, and he was gone.



* * *





Macha was in a dominatrix outfit of all leather, including a micro-mini, low heeled thigh high boots (Macha NEVER wore high heels), a brassiere that would probably get her arrested on the public streets of San Francisco, a dog collar, and various silver and leather bracelets. She was sitting on the edge of her bed.

“No whip?” asked Keith.

“No! I also want it to be more two way, this time around, and I promise not to say a word. This time, I know what to expect, huh?”

“But do I?”

Macha materialised a vial of sandalwood oil. “You get the all over, on this round. I’d also appreciate it if you allow yourself to respond to my caresses, if that’s still possible.”

“That presents a concentration problem for me. I don’t know. It’s like your way, or my way. I don’t know if I can combine the two.”

“Can you try?”

“Nothing to lose, huh?”

“Maybe I can break you down this time?”

Keith smiled. “Probably not, but it’s fun when you try.”

Macha held up the vial. “Can you disrobe the mortal way? I’d like to keep my thoughts more civilised, and if you do manage to drive me anywhere near as crazy as the last time, I’d like no volatile thoughts to careen through me this time.”

“You’re not relinquishing full control of the situation this time. I don’t think we have anything to worry about,” he said as he pulled his shirt off. “I also hope Kevalyn took care of your more basic instincts.”

“Let’s say there’s no reason to argue about it any more.”

“I’ll have to thank him...her...whatever, for that later,” said Keith as he pulled off his boots and socks.

No; Macha couldn’t get Keith to lose control of himself this time either. She did make both Keith and herself; with help of silk chord, experience the ultimate apex of sensation, however.

Henceforth, nothing less would do, but it took so much effort, that their interludes would become quite a bit more rare. After all, Macha had Kevalyn for the easy stuff, and Keith was a bit less hooked on the sensations, from what he used to be. Well, in the desire for their frequency, anyway. Intensity was another matter.

Before returning to Stefan and I, Keith would do a charcoal drawing of Stefan in profile, kneeling before a solid white snow leopard, with his hand extended to the cat. The drawing measured up, of course.



* * *





Both Stefan and I loved Keith’s drawing. With my painting, two more pieces of art would decorate the walls of the castle.

Keith said, “I have something else to show you. Let’s walk.”

“Where to?” I asked.

“Jam room,” said Keith, and he took us both by the hand.

Kevalyn would be there, on her usual choice of Gibson SG. When the three of us walked in, she stopped playing, and smiled. “Here to listen to me practise?” she asked.

“That, or maybe jam with you,” said Keith.

“You too?” asked Kevalyn.

“If you’ll have me,” said Keith. He let go of Stefan and I, and sat down at the drum set. He put on a demo that had Kevalyn totally agog. He moved so fast, he was virtually invisible, ya know?

“I’ll have you,” said Kevalyn. “Does anyone know if Macha plays anything?”

“Technically, she does,” said Keith. “It’s a question of willingness. I mean; she was one with you, Kev. Several times, at that! I’m sure she picked up what you know.”

“I’m mostly a guitar player,” said Kevalyn. “Something else would be better. I mean, if it’s me on guitar, Donn on keyboard, Stefan on bass, and you on drums, it would be cool to have Macha play something else, provided she’s game.”

“Let me call her,” said Keith.

Macha was with them a second later. When she saw Keith sitting at the drums, she asked, “So, you decided to share your skills after all?”

Keith scowled. “More of a question of when, not if; huh?”

Macha shrugged. “True. So now I’m the only one not playing?”

Kevalyn looked at Macha with pleading eyes. “Can you?”

“Oh, I’m as capable as Keith. Seems you have all the standard rock and roll instruments covered, though.”

“I don’t think we’ll be playing too much of that, if any,” said Kevalyn. “Donn isn’t into heavy rock, and Stefan was into folk, when he was Kyle.”

“So, how’d you like a flute player?” asked Macha.

Kevalyn smiled. “Ian Anderson, eat your heart out, huh?!”

Macha materialised a flute, and we all did a mental connect. Kevalyn started out playing what we’d interrupted, and one by one, we joined her, when we came up with something to compliment her song.

We had a grand old time.



































































Chapter 13







After the jam session, the five of us did the unthinkable, and we actually left Tech Duinn for a while. We ended up going to Tir na nOg for a picnic. Our little gang has never felt closer to each other, and we decided to all spend some time together.

The meal was strictly vegetarian, with Macha being the only carnivour left, not wanting to raise issues with the rest of us. I barely touched the food, but I did have my first glass of root beer. The first sip was something of a shock, being I’d never tasted anything remotely like it, but by the time I’d finished it, I decided it wasn’t half bad.

Stefan, with root beer in hand; had to ask, “Would any of you like to hear me burp the chorus to ‘Witch Doctor’ now?”

“That inane song from the nineteen sixties? Oo-ee-oo-ah-ah?” I asked.

“That describes it,” said Stefan.

“No!” I said.

“Anyone else?” asked Stefan.

Keith said, “I’m backing Donn a hundred percent.”

Macha simply gave Stefan a thumbs-down signal.

Kevalyn said, “I wouldn’t mind hearing it again, but it seems I’ve been out-voted.”

“I swear, I do declare,” said Stefan. “Some people have absolutely no taste in culture. I suppose y'all don't like ballet or opera either?”

Macha shook her head, and laughed. “Leave it to you, Stefan.”

I was beside Stefan, and Macha was facing us on the blanked with Keith to one side, and Kevalyn on the other. We were under the canopy of a weeping willow, by a pond, and we were somewhat concealed from anyone in the distance. If anyone recognised us, and asked us where the Hell we’d been for all eternity, we would have invited them to join us, but ideally; we didn’t really want to be disturbed. At least I didn’t. I would have considered any interloper an unwanted intruder on one of the most beautiful moments this strange, contrived family was ever having.

‘The Aloof One,’ was a title I couldn’t argue with. I had to admit that I’ve become very asocial. I wasn’t too sure I liked being called ‘The Dark One,’ though. Sheesh! Try to do the human race a favour, you know?

Oh, well. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t exist with.

Stefan reached for a garlic dill pickle. It was based on the best Germany had to offer, from what Stefan had told me. Yeah, whatever! I didn’t have one. The buttered slice of pita bread, a couple of carrot sticks and a stalk of celery, with the afore mentioned root beer was enough for me.

Macha pushed the breadbasket in front of herself away, signifying she was done. She wiped her hands off, and placed one arm around Keith, and the other around Kevalyn. Her lovers obviously appreciated the attention, and reciprocated her hold. Stefan looked at them, and leaned into me. “Life...or should I say, existence doesn’t get any better, huh?” he asked. That’s been an oft repeated phrase of late.

I took the hint, and put an arm around Stefan. “No, I don’t think it does,” I said.



* * *





I had to go to work again. Two and forty cases, this time! I let Stefan have the old Nigerian lady, a Lakota alcohol poisoning, one Japanese suicide, and a ten year old Coptic Egyptian boy, who was a cancer victim. Stefan took care of these cases alone. He had the confidence to do it, enough maturity to not judge these people on the mistakes they’d made in their lives, and he was now immune to culture shock. It was such a learning experience for Stefan, that he was thrilled to meet these cases simply because they were so different, and he forgave them everything that he’d not been able to handle if they’d been of European descent. That would change, eventually. Stefan was aware of his bigotries, and that his outlook would have to change, so that was a step in the right direction.

The hold Stefan-Stephanie-Kyle-Zanna’s mother had on him-her-it as far as shaping his-her-its personality still hadn’t gone away, though it were fading. Stefan’s hostilities toward that ‘incubator’, as he still called his mother, also had a way to go before they were gone, even though Stefan knew damn well it wasn’t worth it. At least Stefan didn’t think about her very much anymore. That was another step forward.



* * *





When Stefan and I were done, we landed in the garden. Percy joined us, and Stefan picked the gorgeous cat up. We sat on the edge of a fountain, and it was early dusk. “Want to go for a ride later?” asked Stefan.

“If Hesper and Shiva are up to it, and if you don’t mind helping me give Hesper a sponging in the whirlpool after, I’m game.”

“Not at all, but I have to give Shiva a rubdown before I help you with Hesper. Shall we ask the equines?”

“Hm hm. Don’t worry. You’ll be done with Shiva long before Hesper let’s me go. In fact, Hesper won’t let me go until you show up and do what I’m telling him you’ll do. We also have to take into consideration how long our feline friend wants to monopolise us.”

“Ayuh!”

Hesper and Shiva were fine with the ride.



* * *





The sky was totally clear, and we even saw an aurora borealis. What a treat that was. We didn’t ask the ponies to run at all. They ended up being more like front row seats. Stefan moved Shiva next to Hesper, and extended his hand. I took it, and we watched the light show, until it was over. Then we walked the ponies back through the castle gate.



















































































Chapter 14







Stefan and I split up for a little while. After every ride, our equines got payback; though I’d mentioned this before, no doubt. They got all the grooming and attention they wanted, before they got left to their own devices. I took Hesper straight to the spa, and Stefan ended up giving Shiva a rubdown and a brushing in one of the halls. The kidnapped former mortal horse was still nowhere near as demanding as the Sidhe pony who ruled me, thank the gods, though he did expect a bit more than when he’d first gotten here.

When Stefan showed up in the spa, he simply appeared in the water, on the opposite side of Hesper, with sponge in hand. Me and Stefan immediately merged minds, to totally mirror each other’s motions, and give Hesper one of the ‘in stereo’ rubdowns he so loved.

Hesper nuzzled Stefan even more than me. Stef was as much in tune with Hesper as I was. Basically, it was a three way mental merging. Hesper didn’t want to get out of the water, after we stopped the rubdown. On Hesper’s request, I guess I could say we had a 'heavy petting session'?



* * *





Kevalyn had excused herself for guitar practise, leaving Macha and Keith alone. Macha asked him, “So, can we go Astral, and will you drop your guard, and show me what you are now? Maybe teach me some of those things you said you’d teach me?”

Keith smiled, and ran his right index finger down her nose. “Some of this will only be intellectual knowledge. You won’t be able to incorporate everything, because you aren’t what I am. It will show you how to get there, though.”

“That will do.”

Keith held open his arms. “Care to come on my lap?”

She took his invitation, facing him. They embraced each other, and Macha rested her chin on Keith’s left shoulder. “Thank you.”

Keith caressed her hair. “I hope this won’t be too hard on you. In order to become more powerful, you are going to have to change a few things about yourself.”

“I’ll see if the price is worth the payout, huh?”

“It is, my love. It is. Let me take you to where I’m supposed to live, too.”

“I’m ready,”



* * *





Keith.

Inner peace! Immense knowledge, and the quest continued for omniscience! Complete self-discipline with no internal conflict! No more being ruled by instincts of any sort. No expectations, and complete detachment. Unconditional love, and unconditional everything! No vested interest in anything except love. Complete acceptance of what was. That was the way.

Keith's other digs!

The White City. Everything immaculate, nothing dying, everything perfect! I wrote about visiting a place like that in my mental travels in my first book. It was the city of The Shining Ones. The Ascended Masters! It was as high as one could go on the Etheric Realms. It was a very fine line between There and the Astral. It was a breathtaking locale.

After they returned to Earth, Macha would be in tears for missing the place, and Keith forbade her to talk of The City.



* * *





Keith held her. She was overwhelmed by the fact he loved her enough to partially sacrifice the White City, and everything that came with it, to stay here with her...and Donn. Donn, the one Keith really did love more than any other, though Macha wasn't far behind. Macha’s façade of tough, cold, calculating, completely self-contained and selfish bitch, collapsed.

There was not one tear for self-pity, here. She never thought that a love so powerful could exist, and much less be directed at her. She couldn’t completely digest it, and she broke down harder than she’d ever broken down in her life.

She couldn’t talk coherently now, so Macha sent Keith, ‘You’re giving all that up for me and Donn?’

“Giving you two up is worse. I also have Stefan and Kevalyn, now. They’d be devastated if I left. I can’t do that to any of you. I know I strike everyone as being a pretty cool cat, if you pardon the slang, but I really love you guys beyond anything.”

‘I see.’

Keith crossed his wrists behind Macha’s back to hold her, and rubbed the side of his face against hers. “About time you let yourself go like this. You should feel a lot better, after you’re done. Maybe you can start coming to terms with yourself.”

‘I need to do that, huh?’

“Aye. Don’t compare yourself to anybody, don’t think about what you should have done differently, and just go with the flow.”

Macha tightened her grip around Keith, and pressed herself against him. ‘If you tell anyone about this...my blubbering, and all...’

“I’ll tell them you have the grip of an anaconda!”

Macha actually laughed a little, and eased up her hold. She spoke, now. “I’m sorry. I just can’t...”

Keith interrupted her. “Macha, look at me!”

She moved back, and did as he instructed.

Keith continued. “You MADE me. You’ve enraptured me in so many countless ways, you’ve enabled me to come so far, you’ve given me the best existence in existence, and basically you’ve given me eternity in ecstasy. How can I leave you?”

“I originally made you just to use you, and give me a sense of purpose.”

Keith brushed her hair back from her forehead. “Like, I don’t know that? Everyone who reads Donn’s first story knows that. Like I didn’t know that since I developed a state of self-awareness? Like since if time were relevant, you didn’t let me keep my virginity for one day?”

“You are so goddamn beautiful.”

“And I couldn’t have fought you off if I’d wanted to, at the time. I didn't know any better.”

“You are so irresistible!”

“Blessing or curse?” asked Keith. “Entity or object?”

“Both.”

“I see you as an entity. Despite your beauty, I can’t see you as anything else.”

“You are so precious in so many other ways, other than your divine looks.”

“Macha, I don’t even look in the mirror, when I can avoid it. I tuned out my surroundings when we did our thing in your room. I don't like all the mirrors in your bedroom. I don't want to see what we're doing from that perspective. It was interesting at first, but now? A potential distraction to ignore.”

“I like your lack of vanity. Donn shares that trait with you.”

“Unless he’s on the ice. Then he’s as narcissistic as they come.”

“He’s his own audience, there. That’s all. Nothing wrong with wanting to watch a spellbinding performance, is there?” asked Macha.

“I guess not.” He ran the back of his index finger down her right cheek.

“Do you want me now?” she asked him.

“Would it help you, or hurt you?”

“Old way in addition to new way? Please?”

“Oh, Macha! You are such a harsh taskmistress.”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

He kissed her on the forehead. “Open your mind to me. I’ll give you everything you want.”

“Except a theoretical reaction?”

“It wouldn’t be real. It would be an act. I could be a real ham about it, too.”

Macha smiled. “Never mind.”

“I’ll take you to the edge of the universe, and back,” he said, before he kissed her.



* * *





Hesper kept Stefan and I occupied for quite a while. After he was done with us, the thought crossed my mind on why I didn’t bloat up, like a corpse under water for too long.

No, it wasn’t that bad, but still...

Stefan had stuck it out with me. Perhaps that was the problem. What Sidhe pony could turn down the loving attention of two devoted servants? Needless to say, when Hesper let us go, we were out of the water faster than a comet. We landed fully dressed, in the garden. It was around high noon, and we walked the paths. “Donn?”

“Yes, love?”

“I want to do a pencil drawing of you and Keith, later. Would you mind not being there for a while?”

“No. I can hit the ice until you want me. Self conscious, huh?”

“You know how long it’s been since I did a drawing?”

“You’ll probably surprise yourself. You might find it easier, now.”

“I’ll call you when I’m comfortable with my progress, OK?”

“Thanks.”

Stefan stopped before a white rose, and buried his nose in it. I waited for him. One more obvious inhalation, and Stefan said, “Ye gods, that’s good.”

“Nothing but the best, for this place.”

“I’ve never been in a more heavenly scented garden in all my life.”

“This part of it, anyway,” I said, as we continued our walk. We crossed over a small bridge that went over the narrow stream I had running through it.

“And it’s so peaceful. I think this is my favourite part of the castle, too.”

“Understandable,” I said, as I felt Stefan’s powerful mental caress of love. I held my arms open to him, and he stepped into my embrace.

“Donn,” he said as he wrapped himself around me. “You’re way better than I pictured you to be.”

“You have no idea on how happy I am that you’ve reached that conclusion.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Hm hm!”

“Do you think I look like a raptor?”

I smiled. “With that aquiline nose of yours? Hell yeah! Gives you kind of a regal façade, really.”

“So you like it?”

“I admit I like to make fun of it sometimes, but yes. I like it. After all, you do make fun of me on occasion. I still haven’t come up with anything to get even on what you said to me at the dinner table on you never having wanted me as your bitch; though I must admit I’m quite grateful for your aversion to the concept.” (Until I learned better of it, anyway. Gods, I had no clue...yet! I’d had too many negative vicarious experiences, OK?)

“What would you like from me?”

I ruffled his hair. “Go do that drawing!” I kissed him on the forehead. “I’ll see you later. I’m going skating.”



* * *





Macha lay under cover beside Keith with her head on his chest. “I can’t believe I made you,” said Macha.

“Then you’re delusional.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt better, than now. I’ve never been so close to peace of mind. Thanks.”

Keith stroked her hair. “You’re state of mind is of your own making. I’m not responsible for it.”

“You’re a catalyst. I’ve never let myself go to such a degree, as I’ve just done with you. I’ve also never really surrendered myself, as now. I’ve never felt so protected, or so. . .secure, I guess is the word.”

“From someone I still can’t even tie in the arena?!”

“Give it another millennium. Then we might end in a draw.”

Keith chuckled. “What’s the importance of it, anymore? You won’t go back in time again. You’ll never walk the Earth again, and those few minutes to get our once mortal room-mates hardly required me to know how to be a swordsman, not that I even can go back ot Earth anymore, without great cost to myself.”

“You still like being ravished by me, after we’re done. It will never stop turning me on.”

“I guess that closes the debate. Only when I lose, though.”

“Preferably.”

“Then I’ll have to make sure we never end in a draw.”

Macha laughed. “Maybe once or twice, just to show me you can.”

“And then what happens?”

“Let’s pretend I’m the conquered victim.”

“To be coerced into tantric bliss?!”

The seemingly sedate Macha moved fast. Keith, unsuspecting of her ‘attack’, bared his teeth, inhaled sharply, and threw his head to the side, at her expert touch. “Don’t even think about it!” said Macha with a smile, as she grabbed him.

“You got me in a weak moment, lover.”

Macha smiled. “I wouldn’t call that a breakdown. I’d just say I shocked you. Get ready for another round, babe!”

Keith smiled. “You really are beginning to make Maeve look like Donna Reed.”

“Would you like her?”

“Maeve of Connacht? About as much as haggis. I think not. Not in bed, anyway. I’m glad you’re back to your usual self.”

* * *

Stefan looked at my old paintings for reference. He had to use a ruler to get the proportioning right, but he put down a pretty good rough draft of me and Keith, with me standing there in my usual uniform, and Keith behind me in battle garb of loincloth, boots, gauntlet, sword harness and claymore on his back, a knife in his belt, and another in his left boot. Keith had one arm around me, and he was pointing to his right. My face was at a forty-five degree angle, looking right, and who knows what was so interesting, because whatever it was, wasn’t pictured on the paper.

Stefan would have to do a few re-tracings, but the end product would look damn good. He was a lot faster an artist than he’d ever been on Earth, as Kyle. His merging with me had helped his abilities to a degree, considering he’d learned from them. He had a better eye for his accuracy. His style was still cartoony, but no one would care. It was quality work, and easily recogniseable. The final copy would be on yellow parchment, and Stefan would cover Keith’s simulacrum with white water colour paint, and his irises would be inked in with red felt-tip pen. The end product was quite striking.



* * *





I took it easy on the ice. I was just skating for the sake of skating. I wasn’t paying attention to the mirrors, and I even had my eyes closed half the time. I knew where everything was, so I didn’t crash into anything, this time around. The most difficult thing I did, was going into a few slow spins. I didn’t have anything on the sound system, and I just went dreamily along, until Stefan called me back to the studio.



* * *





It was a simple work of art, but I was fairly impressed with Stefan’s decorated drawing. It was also nice to not be artistically exploited by him for a change. “This is absolutely beautiful. Keith is gonna love it,” I said.

“Shall we call him?”

“Sure,” I said with a smile. “Let me do that.”



* * *





A finally sated Macha was asleep, and using Keith as a pillow. Keith, wide-awake, had his nose in a copy of ‘Meditations,’ by Marcus Aurelius. At my telepathic beckon, he explained his current situation, and that it wouldn’t be a good idea to leave his paramour at the moment. Not in body, anyway. He’d be by in spirit alone. He closed the book up, and put it beside himself.



* * *





I didn’t have time to explain the situation to Stefan. It didn’t matter. Stef got Keith’s appreciation loud and clear. I got the message, myself. Keith might as well have been standing in the room. I saw Stefan suddenly shiver, and a smile crossed his face. “Thanks, Keith.”

We both got the message that he’d be here in person, very shortly.

* * *





Keith dematerialised the book, and stroked Macha’s hair. “Babe! Stefan just contributed a very nice drawing to the collection. I did an Astral flyby, and I love it. Would you like to come see it with me in person, or would you like to go back to sleep?”

Macha put her arm around Keith’s waist. “I think I want to see it.” She slowly sat up, and ran her hand over his well-muscled and silky-skinned abdomen. “What’s the picture of?”

“Just me and Donn standing there. I’m calling his attention to something. It’s a line drawing, but it’s damn good. Let’s get dressed.”

The dishevelled looking Macha disappeared, and came back with neater hair, in a pair of leather pants over a pair of buckled boots, and that black satin shirt. Keith got into his usual jeans, work boots, and a blue flannel shirt. They transferred to the studio.



* * *





“This is great,” said Macha. “Has Kevalyn seen this?”

“No,” said Stefan. “I’ll call her.”

Stefan closed his eyes in concentration, and a few seconds later, Kevalyn appeared in the room.

“Oh man, this is cool!” she said.

“I find it very flattering,” said Keith, as he smiled, and winked at Stefan. He added non-vocally, for Stefan’s mind alone, ‘I’m touched that you portray me in such a favourable fashion. I appreciate it, love.’

“Thanks again,” said Stefan, returning the smile, and the wink.

Macha took Kevalyn by the hand, and pulled her over to Keith. Macha then put an arm around each of them. “I wonder if I should do another painting, myself?”

“The more the merrier,” I said.

“As soon as I can think of something the pictured subject or subjects won’t object to,” said Macha.

Keith looked at her. “Please.”

Macha gave him a playful snarl. ‘When reality beats art, I think I can be good; lover,’ she sent him.

‘I would hope so.’ He kissed her on the cheek.

‘Keith?’

‘Yes, my dear?’

‘Can we have a repeater of what just happened, after we settle down again?’

Keith looked to the ceiling, and his lower jaw dropped. He closed his eyes. Both Macha and Kevalyn would perceive this. ‘Kevalyn!’

‘Yeah?’

‘Can you please arrange to be in a frisky mood, and sleep with Macha later?’

Neither Stefan nor I had any idea on why Keith just found himself shoved halfway across the room, or why Kevalyn almost hit the floor with laughter.



















































































Chapter 15







After Macha had explained what had just happened regarding her pushing Keith, and after we got Stefan’s drawing on the wall, the five of us decided on another jam session, with recording equipment ready this time. Kevalyn started two songs, and I started five others, at which everyone else progressively jumped in. Hey! Kevalyn and I were the most prolific composers, and we both had a huge repertoire, so it made sense. O f course, my collection was bigger than Kev’s, considering how much longer I’d been around in the same stream of consciousness.

After a few practise sessions on each song, we actually did record everything. I’m glad Kevalyn and Stefan liked Celtic folk, and Sidhe music, because that’s what was going to be the majority of the recordings, from all appearances. So we got a total of seven, beautiful, haunting instrumentals down. I was happy no one asked me to do any solitary covers with vocals, or even my own compositions, this time. Our session even took a little out of me.

After it was over, Macha suggested, “How about another picnic?”

“After jam session dining ritual?” I asked.

“Sure!”

“How about the garden, this time. I don’t want to risk being discovered in Tir na nOg, or any other place.” I said.

“Don’t pull you out of paradise, huh?” asked Macha.

“Basically,” I said. “Shall we walk?”

“Sure,” said Keith.



* * *





So now we were like a five member artist colony. I loved it. Another vegetarian picnic, it would be. It would be standard fare for all picnics, though not necessarily of the vegan type. Stefan and Kevalyn were devout cheese lovers, and I thought bread without butter was like having the runs without toilet paper. Hm! Not that we had toilet paper per se, when I was living on Earth, but let’s not get into that.

This time, I partook of a fruit salad, and a glass of lemonade. Eating will never really be my thing. The only ones who dug in with any gusto were Macha, Kevalyn, and Stefan. Keith had turned into a pretty light eater, himself. He didn’t get as much pleasure out of it as he used to, although like me, he enjoyed the present camaraderie.

Our seating arrangement would prove to be static. Stefan and I on one side of the blanket, and Kevalyn, Macha and Keith on the other. Everyone would sit next to their main snogging buddies. It made sense.

“Does anyone want to go explore the universe again?” asked Stefan.

“I’m game,” I said.

“Sure,” said Keith, though we all knew he only went along to humour us.

“Yup!” said Macha. “It was interesting.” She gave Keith an overt, sensuous caress.

“Don’t bother asking me,” said Kevalyn. “I’m the science fiction fan, remember?”

“Cool,” said Stefan. He smiled at Macha. “After we get a few personal issues settled?”

Macha chuckled. “Yeah.”

Keith looked at Macha, “Like driving me into a monastic lifestyle?”

That got the lot of us laughing.

Macha asked, “Like when has the term, ‘moderation,’ been in my vocabulary?”

“Maybe about the same time the pope was a Druid,” said Keith.

“Sounds about right,” said Macha. She looked at Keith. ‘Well?’

‘Gods above, and below! I know there are no physical limitations on me, but can you please take my psychology into consideration? Later, huh?’

Macha put an arm around Kevalyn. ‘Babe! Can I have my way with you in a little bit?’

‘Glad to oblige,’ conveyed Kevalyn.

‘Thank you!’ conveyed both Keith and Macha to Kevalyn, who barely managed not to laugh.



* * *





After we sent our mess from the picnic away, Keith stayed with Stefan and I. He manoeuvred between us, and we both got one of his arms around us. “I...um...think I have something to tell you two.”

“Yes?” I asked.

He looked at me. “This may sound strange, but I’m actually older than you, Donn.”

“You couldn’t have been created before me.

“I didn’t say that. Also, if you ever go back to Earth, there is no way in Hell I’ll go with you anymore. I have to put up a constant struggle to remain here, in fact. I think I should merge my mind with you two to make you understand what I’m talking about. It’ll be faster, and easier.”

“Same time?” asked Stefan.

“This is another information exchange, and not a mental make-out session. Yes.”

“OK,” I said. “You ready, Stefan?”

“Go for it,” said Stefan.

Keith closed his eyes, and the three of us were sort of brought together as one, to a degree.

Stefan and I were blown away. Keith was completely different from when I’d last merged with him on the Astral. As far as his degree of knowledge went, he left me in the dust. As far as his abilities went, he left me at the end of the universe.

Now, the truth about him was completely out. Keith had been spending most of his ‘time,’ learning all he could about everything there was. Stefan panicked, and held him tight. The thought of us losing Keith set him off. Stefan broke down, and Keith disengaged before he got too into Stefan’s trip. Keith let go of me, and embraced Stefan. “No! I’m not going anywhere, babe! I wouldn’t leave you for anything!”

‘How can you stay?’ Stefan asked Keith nonverbally, but I picked it up too.

Keith placed his hand in Stefan’s hair, and gently moved Stef’s head to his chest, holding him close. “I can do it, love. I know a lot of tricks, and I’m way too selfish to do what my so-called status calls me to do. I’m not going to The White City, and start helping with the evolution of mankind until you guys are capable of coming with me, provided you’re even so inclined. It’s not a requirement. I mean, you and Donn are paying your dues right now, and Macha and Kevalyn already have. Maybe I won’t join the ranks of Maitreya. After all, I didn’t invent this mess of existence, as it is. Why should I fix it?”

‘Me? Paying my dues now?’ asked Stefan nonverbally, with a sniffle.

Keith stroked his hair. “You are an apprentice psychopomp. It's a tough job, but it's something you have to do to get to where you're going. You’ve also done a lot of good when you were alive. You’ve got favourable Karmic credits, you know?”

‘Psychopomp?’

“Guide to the souls. Like Donn.”

Stefan said aloud, “What a horrible sounding word.”

“I didn’t invent it. Don’t worry, though! I’ll never leave you.”

Stefan hugged Keith tighter.

Keith said, “Stefan, look at me.”

Stefan backed off from Keith, and did so.

Keith smiled, and wiped the back of his wrist down Stefan’s face, drying a few tears. “If you don’t stop crying, you’re going to get me started. Knock it off, huh? Your tears are for nothing.”

Stefan managed a weak smile. “I’m sorry.”

Keith ran his index finger down Stefan’s nose. “Hawks don’t shed tears over phantom fears.”

Again, Stefan wrapped himself around Keith pretty hard.

Keith looked at me. “Donn, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I understand everything. Do what you have to do. I’ll see you two later.” I transferred out of there.



* * *





“Stefan! Stephanie!” said Keith. Stefan had let go of Keith, and they were sitting across from each other.

“Not Stephanie any more.”

“Except for your lesbian girlfriend, who seems to be trading you in for Macha.”

“Macha is a better man than me. She’s a hell of a lot prettier, and probably has fewer hang-ups than I do. A part of me wishes I had the guts to ask Macha for a tryst, but I really can’t. I mean, my greatest love is Donn, though you’re damn close, if not equal. I’d spontaneously combust if I had to choose between you two, you know?”

Keith chuckled. “Macha a better man! Yeah right! Actually, she doesn’t have any hang-ups. She also makes me envy your relationship with Donn sometimes; she wears me down so much. I adore her, but her style isn’t what I like, now. I’m not into her trip anymore. I only tolerate it, but everyone’s got to compromise to keep the peace, huh?”

“You never talk about this.”

“I’m just bitchin’ I guess. Have I set your mind at ease?”

“I guess so.”

“Also, you have no idea how much I love your picture. There’re no words to describe it. Can I let you know?”

“I guess so.”

Keith reached forward, and took Stefan’s hands. “Gods, I adore you.”

Stefan closed his eyes, and smiled as he got the full force of Keith’s appreciation, not to mention a few mental caresses, so to speak.

“Damn, Keith!” Stefan almost whispered.

Keith was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Stefan, I know everything about you, up to now.”

Stefan looked at him. “Everything?!”

“Everything. I can also give myself to you in a way where neither one of us has to feel guilty, but will you please switch gender, and keep your present basic façade? Not the Kyle Shannon look.”

Stefan just sat there, stunned, and his breathing changed.

“Un-neuter yourself, too.”

“That’ll drive me crazy. I can’t do that.”

“No it won’t. Follow my instructions. You’ll be OK.”

“Then what?!” asked Stefan.

Keith smiled. “Just sit there, and look at me! Don’t do anything. Mentally absorb me. Take me in with your eyes.”

Stefan nodded, and faded out to re-appear in the feminine. She shivered. “I can’t stand this.”

“Just hold my hands, and look at me. Do not move. Concentrate on your sensations, and what we’re not doing, that you’d like to do, not that we’re going there in reality.”

Stefan (Stephanie????) locked eyes with Keith, and did as she was told.

Keith did the same. They became one in the respect of what mattered in the here and now. What was pictured in their mind was felt, as if it were actually happening, in due time. It was beyond anything Stephanie/Kyle had ever been remotely exposed to. No, she didn’t take it with Keith’s stoicism.

When it was over, Stefan had changed back to his masculine facade, and disabled his nerve endings as fast as possible. Unfortunately, he couldn’t disable his memory banks. This tryst would bother him. It was like a dream that he'd woken up from, where he was on the verge of discovering the only thing worth discovering, and he'd returned to conscious perhaps thirty seconds too soon. That's how he felt about it. It was so good, but at the same time, it wasn't a 'complete' experience. Oh, that nagging void...

Because of Stefan’s mental state, Keith wondered if they shouldn’t have done what they did after it was over.



* * *





Stefan was on the couch, when he beckoned me. “Donn?”

“Yes?”

“Keith and I. . .we. . .uh. . .sorta. . .you know. . .”

I said, “Made out.”

“Sort of. No physical contact. It was all mental.”

I shrugged. “He’s an advanced Tantric practitioner who can take you along for his ride. There’s no difference if it’s mental or physical, from what I read in him. So, now you’re tied to him in a way you’ll never escape.”

“You think so?”

I smiled, and stroked his hair. “I know so. I know you. I know you have the hots for him. You always did. It was only obvious in your stories, and it’s OK if you can come to terms with yourself, and with what happened, and how it will progress. Just remember that I will never stand in for him. Not in any way, shape or form. Not that I could, anyway.”

“Donn, please take me Astral.”

I complied in an instant.

Yeah, Stefan was basically Keith’s prisoner in mind, and I saw that he felt the experience had been incomplete, and he himself felt incomplete for it. An interlude of this sort could not be a one-time thing with the likes of Keith, either. You might as well ask a person to survive an entire lifetime on a single meal.

Stefan didn’t feel too good about what happened. He did feel like he betrayed me, which I thought was one of the silliest things he could feel, and I let him know this. What had happened was no reflection on our relationship. I had to fight to get that through to him. I also knew damn well, that it was only a matter of time before Stefan, or should I say Stephanie, and Keith took each other physically. It had to happen for the sake of Stefan's sanity. I let him know that was fine by me, as well. Oh, and not to worry about Macha. So, Stefan and Macha were simply mate swapping! Happens all the time. Granted, the thing with the gendership switch-a-roo was a bit unusual, but hey! It can happen when physical limitations are no more.

Our session ended with an Astral make-out session, I did my best to make him more comfortable with what had happened between him and Keith, and we ended up passed out on the couch, wrapped around each other, in a somewhat seated position, leaning into each other.



* * *

Keith was looking at the picture that Stefan had done. “Ye gods, what have I done to you?” he whispered to himself. He traced his finger down the drawing. “Granted you a desire you’ve had for time eternal, but at what price? Never had I so seriously contemplated the statement on being careful what you wish for.

“Damn, I wish you’d chosen another subject for your drawing, Stef. You really hit me where it counts.”

Keith walked away from the drawing. He had a good idea of where Stefan and I were, and he ended up walking over to us, and he sat beside us.









































































Chapter 16







I’m sorry,” said Keith, as Stefan stirred. “I really screwed up.”

Stefan leaned into him, while pulling me along, waking me up all the way, in the process. “Hm! No you didn’t. It was nice. Thanks,” said Stefan.

Keith stroked Stefan’s hair. “So you’re OK?”

“He is,” I said. “Everything’s resolved.” Well, almost.

Keith asked, “Stef, can I read you?”

“Please.”

Keith nodded, and closed his eyes. He smiled. “Gods above, and below,” he said softly.

Stefan, still a bit dazed, rubbed the side of his face against Keith’s shoulder. “You are such a trip.”

“A different breed of animal, I will admit,” said Keith.

“I love you both so much,” said Stefan, waking up more fully. It’s almost hard to believe I’m sitting between you two! Vergil Xanon, and Rhynn McLeod.”

“Vergil Xanon, no. Rhynn McLeod, sort of,” I said. "You should have spelled McLeod with an 'a' between the 'M' and the 'c', though."

"I didn't know that when I wrote the thing," said Stefan.

“Hey!” exclaimed Keith. “I’m not half the slut Rhynn was. I hope Macha and Stefan are it! I can’t or should I say, I canna handle ony mair?”

I chuckled. “Sure, Scotty.”

I got my hair ruffled by Keith. “Ye lads fully waukrife?” he asked.

I had to search my memory for a second. Waukrife? Oh yeah! “We’re awake, but I’m not awake enough to translate the whole of anither language, laddie.”

“Shall we go for a ride, then?” asked Keith.

“Know what the weather’s like?” I asked.

“It’s night,” said Keith. “And Stef!”

“Ayuh?”

“If you become a lassie, we can ride double on Gil.”

“Like I’m gonna turn that down?” asked Stefan.

The red tailed hawk switched gender.



* * *





We went to the beach, and it was a partly cloudy night with high winds. Both Stephanie and Keith joined me in being insensate to the temperature. Stephanie rode in front of Keith, and Keith had his arms around her. “Looks like a storm is coming in from the west,” she said.

“Yeah. Shall we stay out for it?” I asked.

“Let’s see how much willpower I have,” said Stephanie.

I couldn’t resist. “I could ride in front, and pretend nothing’s happening behind me.”

“Keep it up, Vergil,” said Keith.

I looked at him. “Like, you wouldn’t have at least a light snogging session on horseback??”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

Stephanie settled it. “Move your horse forward, Vergil”

“Yes, mi’lady.” I urged Hesper to speed up for a moment, and no, I didn’t look back.

We did wait for the storm, and we would have gotten drenched if we’d been more physical. After a while, Keith and Stefan left me. The proximity of the two, and the incomplete sense of their previous encounter got the best of them.



* * *



Stephanie had just explored every nanometer of Keith via the Sandalwood oil, and was now brushing his hair out. “I’m going crazy, and you might as well be washing the dishes,” said Stephanie.

Keith chuckled. “I’m really enjoying this. Macha never did this to me.”

Stephanie ran her hand through his hair. “It’s so soft, and there’s so much of it. I’m surprised.”

“You’re showing a remarkable degree of self-control.”

“I’m still trying to adjust to the fact that this is happening. Creation of the Morrighan! You’re so damn gorgeous, I almost can’t handle it.”

“You don’t have as hard a time with Donn. We look the same, except for my colour and greater stature.”

“I can’t see him like this, not that we’ve even gone this far. It would mess us up. I love your white skin, and neon eyes.” Stephanie dematerialised the hairbrush, and hugged Keith from behind. “You look so exotic. Sexiest thing I ever saw. How sharp are your fangs?”

“I actually have to be very careful with them. I gently scrape, I don't bite.”

“Ever draw blood?”

“No! Macha and I are not into the sadomasochist scene. No pain, and no injuries, though we have made threats that we never intended to follow through on.”

“But you’ve done bondage, from what I recall from our merging.”

“That was a long, long time ago. I don’t care for it. It was a series of experiments. Macha still likes dressing up like a dominatrix, though. That, I like.”

So do I. You two look so good together.”

Keith caressed her forearm. “That’s a strange thing for you to talk about, now.”

“I know I can’t measure up to her.”

“That’s not the point of this. It’s not a competition. You’ve got a different attitude, and this is a different experience. It’s like comparing chicken liver to figs.”

Stephanie let go of Keith, and came around the chair to his front. “Am I the liver, or the fig?”

Keith shook his head, and smiled. “You’re not very secure here, are you?”

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Good!”

“Good?”

Keith closed his eyes, and prepared himself by force of will. He extended his arms. “Hold me,” he said. “Feel the love I feel for you, and try not to think of me as a stud fit for a porn movie. I used to like playing the part, but I’m just not comfortable with that anymore. Get on me slow for greater intimacy, but don’t try to do me any favours. Don’t move a muscle, after your settled. That’s not what this is about.”

Stephanie faced him, shivered when she connected herself, and held him. She had felt an electrical surge go through her entire body when she adjusted herself on him. Keith wrapped himself around her. She ran her nose across his oiled shoulder, revelling in the sandalwood scent. “Don’t do anything to you, huh?” she asked.

“No! Not for this. It messes with my concentration. Just think of our oneness. Open your mind to me. We’ll do like what we did before.”

Like before, but only better. OK, so this proves I was wrong about my past thinking of Keith being only for Macha.

This would repair the void feeling Stephanie had after their previous encounter, though they did nothing more.



* * *





Of course, I took Hesper to the whirlpool after the ride. I also had a hard time not being amused by Stefan or Stephanie and Keith’s relationship. I reflected back on our conversations, and chuckled a bit. Keith’s sense of humour hadn’t gone in that direction much in the past, but he seemed freer with the more risqué wit when dealing with Stefan/Stephanie. Stef obviously didn’t seem to mind, not taking any of it too seriously. It was like how she was in her own set of stories that she'd written and destroyed when still a relative youngster on Earth. Keith was also acting a little more like 'Kyle's Rhynn. Only a little, though!

Hesper wondered why I was so distracted, and there was no way in Hell I was going to try and explain. Actually, there was no way I could explain. I was currently being entertained by lingual matters; and those were of no concern to Hesper. I just did my best to sponge my liege down, and tried to pay more attention to him than my memories of the verbal exchanges that took place on the ride.

After I dried Hesper off, I brushed him, gave him a rubdown, and silvered his hooves. He was very appreciative of the extra attention. After I was done, I stepped forward in time so I didn’t have to wait for Stefan and Keith to finish up with whatever the Hell they were into.



* * *





I found Keith and Stefan in the room dedicated to Byzantium. Tea was in hand, of course. Keith patted the seat next to him, and I took his invitation. He let go of Stephanie, who was still in the feminine, switched his teacup into his right hand, put his left arm around me, and kissed me on the cheek.

I materialised my own cup of tea. “Hello Keith, hello Stef. I assume you two had fun.”

“Nice. Different,” said Keith.

“You really ought to try it,” said Stephanie. “I never knew there could be so much dignity involved.”

“You know better than that, Stef. Purely Tantric, huh?” I asked.

“Mostly,” said Keith. “I satisfied her curiosity about a few things regarding the more conventional. You know Donn, I can drive you to one end of the universe to the other, and back again, without laying a hand on you.” Was that a pass he made at me, or was that a pass he made at me?

“If ever I am motivated to shatter my integrity out of curiosity, I’ll remember that.”

He nosed my hair. He sent me, ‘I love you so much, I almost can’t see you depriving yourself of what I just went through. Sex doesn't even have to be technically involved. It barely was, with us.’

‘I honestly don't know if I want to go there.'

“I’m sorry, love. I’m not completely de-integrated yet,” said Keith.

“So, are you going to knock it off, or do I sit on the other side of Stef, until you are?” I asked as I brought my face closer to his, and caressed his cheek like a lover might, in a totally contrary move of what I just said.

I got my hair ruffled. “As if.”

I rubbed my head against his shoulder. ‘I’ll contemplate your offer, my dear. Weigh the pros and cons. See if I can handle it, huh?’

‘It’s too good to miss, babe.’

‘I can’t believe I’m thinking like this, but it’s going to have to wait.’ I said aloud, “I’m going to have to go to work pretty soon. Care to come, Stef?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Stefan switched back to the masculine gender.



* * *





It was a heavy load, this time. Eighty-six cased total. Thank the gods most of them were Cambodian victims of Pol Pot. Stefan and I actually divided the load fairly equally. He really did make my job a lot easier.















Chapter 17







I really got a major kick out of that load,” said Stefan.

“So you like being a Gate Keeper quite a bit, huh?!” I asked.

“That sounds a hell of a lot better than psychopomp.”

“I guess you are one, then.”

Stefan smiled. “Do I get a certificate of graduation to put on the wall, or anything?”

I shook my head, and laughed. “Ye gods, Stefan. I swear, I do declare, as you sometimes say.”

“I’m sorry, but I just had to ask. I wonder how long before I can go it alone?”

“As soon as you can deal with white people who aren’t members of The Church of Euthanasia.” (Look it up on the web, damn it! http://churchofeuthanasia.org/. Even I think Chris Korda’s cute; and I’m a straight dude. Check him (?) out in the family album.)

“It might be a while, then. What shall we do now?”

“Anything, but a game of chess.”

“Another ride?”

“If I spend any more time in that bleedin’ spa! No! I’m not willing to pay the price.”

“How about hitting the ice?”

“Now that sounds like fun!”



* * *





'Kevalyn' faced Macha as a man, as he held his claymore. Macha was really toying with him. He started out fully dressed in breaches, a jerkin, boots, torque, and gauntlet. Now, his clothes were absolutely shredded. 'Kevin' marvelled at the way Macha could control her sword, and how he’d never been hit once. He was getting better, though. He also wondered how much longer before she went for the kill, so to speak. He smiled at the thought.

Ye gods, it was nice to be a woman. Around here though, Kevin was having second thoughts.



* * *





Stefan suggested we play something on the sound system, and work out a choreographed routine. I didn’t have a clue on what to pick so he went for ‘Don’t You Forget About Me,’ by Simple Minds. It was a pretty song, and not too fast, so I agreed. “Are you going to try any double axels in this?” I asked.

“No. Double lutz, maybe? I still crash like nine out of ten times, with the double axel attempts.”

“You already have a routine in mind?”

“Part of one.”

“Let me watch you, first. Then we’ll merge minds, and I’ll join you.”

“OK.”

Stefan was actually quite a pleasure to watch. He’d been practising quite a bit without me, and it really showed. He was damn graceful, and he executed his single axels and double lutzes flawlessly. I was proud of my protégé. He had a lot of determination.

I joined him, and the show would have been a bit messy at first, since Stefan only had bits and pieces worked out in his head, but after the twelfth time, we were really getting somewhere. I was also getting sick of the song, but a skater’s gotta do what a skater’s gotta do. After another eight rounds, we had it down. We also wanted off the ice.

Yeah, yeah, yeah! Off to the garden for tea!



* * *





“You really impress me, Stef,” I told him.

“I’m nowhere near your skill level.”

“I hope Keith doesn’t take you away from me.”

Stefan smiled. “Like in my stories...I want you both. In fact, if we had a Seth Karnak, and Macha didn’t intimidate me...”

“You’ve made your point!”

“Donn, I swear by my nose, that I will never leave you.”

“Your nose?”

“I’m not a swordsman, so I figured my nose would do.”

I really had to fight hard, not to laugh. “OK! I’ll accept that.”

“Donn!”

“Yes?”

“You are not anti-pleasure.”

“Not particularly. Is this about Keith’s offer?”

“Hm hm. It’s not technically sex that he talked about. Actually, it’s a whole lot more inclusive.”

“According to your former President, William Jefferson Clinton, neither was what Monica Lewinsky did to him, technically sex. It’s related, though.”

“Donn, will you take me Astral? Can I share what happened?”

“You never quit, do you?”

“I have, in the literal regard. I don’t want anything to change between us, but this is something that I find hard to not share with you. There was so much more than sensation, too.”

“Shall I become a prisoner of Keith, like you, as well?”

“Do you have it in you to be so addicted to what he can deliver?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I want to risk finding out.”

“Will you go Astral with me? Would me sharing the experience be enough of a buffer?”

“You tell me.”

“I don’t know that, but do you have any clue on how much he loves you?”

“Stefan, we have been one, how many times? No, I didn’t write all the instances in my story. There’s not that much paper available (I exaggerate slightly.). The man helped keep me sane. I also love him with everything I’ve got, and no snide comments to that sentence, please. I just don’t know if I want to be tied to him like that, even through you.”

“What’s wrong with the concept?”

“Absolutely nothing, except the fact I may be the most neurotic creature on the subject that you’ve ever met in your entire days of existence. I just don’t know if I can handle it.”

“So you’re turning me down?!”

I wanted to bang my head against the wall. Yes-no-ack-ye gods, oh I don’t know! Oh, what the Hell! I extended my arms. “No! Take me!”

Stefan smiled. “Killer song, huh?”

“Stefan! Please!”

He stepped forward, and embraced me. We sank to the ground.



* * *





What I was exposed to; was pretty intense. It made my time-trip whirlpool incident pale, in comparison. We were Astral now, with shared memories, and when Stefan had informed me that in wasn't a sexually oriented experience, he was telling the truth. It was an all-inclusive experience that covered the entire being, and wasn't localised. The psychological aspect was just as extreme. Perhaps more so! The passionate state of mind that was shared, was pretty over the top. Could I take it or leave it? Maybe.



* * *





Macha had Kevin floored, and her claymore across his throat. “I win,” she said.

“Your price?”

Macha smiled. “Your head on a silver platter.”

Kevin smiled back. “Which one?”

“The other one, Kevin!”

“Yes, Donn has it right! You are a bitch, but you got it!” Kevin gave her a playful snarl.



* * *

I had to be alone. I had to face a decision. I went up to the tower, and sat on the floor.

Keith! So driven, and so ambitious for knowledge, but I never had a clue. A former borderline father-figure in my earlier days! Always there to comfort me, or get me through whatever self-imposed trials and tribulations I faced.

A former surrogate of me, for Macha! An Astral lover. Someone I really admired, and who really adored me, inviting me to engage in something so close to what I would not under any circumstances do, provided I had a choice. So close, but not quite!

What would it do to our relationship? What would turning him down do to our relationship?

Keith had changed a lot from the first story. It may not seem like it in the hundred and ten pages I’ve written so far, but from my perspective, a lot of time has passed from when Kyle, Kevin, and Percy were first brought here. It may have been like the equivalent of two or three years. I wasn’t a good judge of that sort of thing.

What on Earth motivated him?

‘Keeeeeeith!!!!!!!!!!!’

He was dressed in white bellbottoms, white boots, and a T-shirt, also white. He looked eerie, and ravishing.

“Ghost-dude! I don’t know what to say.”

He kneeled before me, being I was still on the floor. “Yes, or no?”

“How’s about WHY?”

“Why not?”

“Potential major regrets. What if I say no?”

Keith shrugged. “Your loss. I won’t ask again.”

Damn, he was good. Too good for my good! “Why did you ask me in the first place?”

“I love you. It’s another way to show it.”

“Keith, can I ask you a theoretical question?”

“Sure.”

“If I switched gender right now, stripped off this tunic, and asked you to fuck me silly, what would you do?”

“Leave, until you came back to your senses.”

“For real?”

“If you threaten to test me, I’m out of here, right now! Anyway, you know damn well that’s not what I like to do anymore.”

“No, oh so refined one.” I smiled, and extended my hand to him. “I accept your proposal. Where would you like to do this?”

“Anywhere with a big fireplace, and a soft rug.”

“Not the couch?”

Keith raised his left eyebrow, and tilted his head. “We’ll have to tell everyone not to go there until we give the OK. Considering how popular it is, that would be kind of inconsiderate.”

“OK. How about the room dedicated to Scotland?”

“I’d like that.”



* * *





We sat across from each other. “Would you like to experience all sensations in your own right, or do you only want to feel what I feel?” asked Keith.

“What’s the difference?”

“Intensity. Also, polarity works better.”

“I’m NOT switching gender.”

“You don’t have to. I’m going to perceive as having another gender, however.”

“And in your mind, you are not fucking me silly?!”

“Donn Ui’Midir, don’t be an idiot!” He chuckled. “What is wrong with you? Just sit there! I won’t even touch you! Keep your nerve endings dead! This isn't a thing concentrated on a small part of ones' anatomy, anyway. Sex is not the point!”

“No, wait! What are the ideal circumstances?”

“Your nerve endings in tact, holding hands, and eyes locked.”

I nodded, and closed my eyes. I was in one piece again. I moved forward, and extended my hands. Keith took them, and I stared into his neon eyes. Very soon, I tranced out.



* * *





I was being worshipped. That’s the only way I could phrase it. I was being delicately caressed, and despite the fact there was nothing touching me, I felt if there was. All over. From head to toe! I also felt female. Keith overpowered my mind, and for the time, regardless of the physical reality, in my own mind, I was a woman.

If anyone had seen us, we might as well have been a couple of wax figures. Until my heavy breathing started, anyway! So slow, so delicate, so arousingly agonising. I remembered when Macha changed her mind about wanting me. This was at least fifty times worse, and there was no physical reason for it. I also felt his love for me as powerfully as if we were one on the Astral. There was something more, though. Something I couldn’t describe, or define. I tensed up very badly, my entire essence, and being. If I'd been physical my bones would have spontaneously broken, not that this was a bad thing.

I was telepathically screaming for him to let me go. He didn’t, but the intensity eased up. Instead, I started feeling other sensations that were completely alien to me. Oh, they felt good. It was all psychic! There was no way in Hell I was physically capable of feeling what I was going through, because quite frankly, I didn’t have the parts. It was incredible. Beautiful, outright alarming at times, and over half of what I felt I wouldn’t admit to under torture, but sometimes you get to a point where you just can’t object any more.

Eventually, the incredible intensity started up again. One sensation of sorts started, and another was added, and another, and another, and there was no way one individual alone could generate this on the Physical Plane. I ended up being left in a borderline state, that I swear would have made me jump out of a twentieth story window, to escape.

It didn’t go away. It stayed there. This was the sort of thing that Keith was into, these days. No wonder Macha took Kevalyn. Oh, it was a painful ecstasy. An unbearable rapture! The pleasure was so over the top, it was beyond what I could stand.

At the end, it was like going over a cliff, and then being yanked back with a rope... over, and over again. When Keith finally let me go all the way, it was absolutely astounding. It took forever, it seemed to me. I didn’t think a human or Tuatha body was capable of feeling what I felt.

I fell over sideways, and went into a fetal position. “Keith, I want to kill you.” I whispered.

He chuckled, and ruffled my hair. “I’ve heard that before. Don’t worry, though! You’ll get over it!”

I'd gotten all he had to offer, full force. I never felt so tired in all my existence.



* * *





Macha held her lover. “Kevin, please stay like this for me.”

“Macha, I...”

She interrupted, “I don’t care if you wear dresses, I don’t care if you wear make-up or paint your nails, and I don’t care if you make the campiest drag queen that ever was! Please don’t change back to the feminine when I’m around. You are so right for me now, I just can’t bear to see you go back.”

Kevin smiled. “I can’t believe I’m letting you talk me into this.”

“You’re a slightly more effective fighter as a male, too. A bit more of a challenge in the arena! Certainly more fun to thrash.”

“All right. I have one request, though.”

“Yes?”

“When I play guitar, I want to be a chick!”

“OK. And if we ever play live, I’ll pretend to be gay.”

Kevin chuckled. “Like that’s ever going to happen.”

“Yeah, right!” She ruffled his hair.



* * *





Keith said to me, “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable somewhere else?”

“Maybe, but I don’t want to move.” I was still all curled up on the floor.

“It wasn’t that bad, was it?”

“Keith, I don’t think I ever want to do anything like this again. It was the best paradoxical nightmare I ever had.”

“Oh really?!” Keith grabbed my arm, and stood up. He pulled me up, and hoisted me over his shoulder.

“Say, wha...”

Suddenly, I was in the room with the fireplace, and the couch, still on Keith’s shoulder. He deposited me gently on the couch.

“Keith, you shite-heid! You could have transferred me from the floor!”

I got my hair ruffled again. “It was more fun this way.”

I just had to laugh. I sat up, and leaned into him. “I swear! You did this to Stefan, and he’s still talking to you? He still exists to talk to you? He didn't spontaneously combust, or something?”

“Donn, Stefan didn’t experience ten percent of what you did. He couldn’t have handled it.”

"I barely could."

“So, you forgive me?”

“Yes, but I really don’t want to do that again. It was way too much. I mean, what if I’d been mortal?”

Keith smiled. “At best, you would have ended up in the morgue, at worst, you would have been in the hospital."

I laughed. “Aaaaargh! You’ve been hanging around with Stefan too much!”

“Oh yeah! I adore her. I love the way she appreciates me. She also goes much easier on me, and has a greater appreciation of my innate style."

“Her?????? Your innate style?! Do I want to hear this?”

“OK, I’ll spare you.”

“Thanks."





































Chapter 18







Stefan in male, joined Keith and I fairly shortly, and we ended up just going for a walk in the halls of the castle.

Stefan was in the middle, and he took both our hands.

“Well?” he asked me.

“Yes, I accepted Keith’s offer.” I said.

“And?”

“Mixed bag,” I said. “Never again.”

Keith said to Stefan, “What happened between me and Donn wasn’t quite the same, as with me and you.”

“I suppose you didn’t have to matter-of-factly tell Donn, ‘OK, you can stop now?’” Stefan asked Keith.

“Stefan, I never said that to you," replied Keith.

Stefan winked at me. "He's right. I just had to say it to you."

I really didn’t need to hear this. “Stefan, if you’re talking about what I think you’re talking about, we didn’t do that. We just sat there. We didn’t do anything. It was purely psychic! No physical contact like that of any sorts!”

Keith busted up, like there was no tomorrow. “Donn! My innocent little angel, huh?”

Stefan scowled. “Is there something I don’t know?”

"No. I feel like a cup of tea, and I feel like spending some time in Africa," I said.

"Ethiopia is just ahead," said Keith.

We walked into a palatial setting of the golden age of Ethiopia. I asserted my way in between the two of my buddies. China black for Stefan, jasmine for Keith, and vanilla nut for me, with the works!

“Keith?” I asked.

“Yes?”

“Can I ask you a question that you may not want to answer?”

“I suppose so.”

“You are in a research frenzy. Of course we can’t tell with the way you time-trip, but you are so obsessed with every bit of knowledge available. You didn’t let us know for the longest time, and you still don’t talk about your latest discoveries. What is it with you?”

“Donn! Macha told me that I have never been before. This is my first incarnation. I am the youngest thing in existence. She didn’t deliberately lie to me because she doesn’t know, but what she said is not true. I just can’t find what I used to be. It’s not in the Akashic Records, and I can’t find anything. I tried the Carlos Castaneda recapitulation technique, going all the way back to when I first was awakened on Macha’s altar, and there is nothing. I can’t go back any further. I don’t have a clue, but I have a strange reason to believe I was not a mortal. It’s bothering me. My peace of mind has been disturbed. Curiosity is my driving force.”

“I don’t think we can help you,” I said.

“As for why I didn’t tell you before, is there a point to your knowing that something is bothering me?”

“It doesn’t help to talk about it, huh?” asked Stefan.

“Not particularly,” said Keith.

“I wonder if my grandfather would know?” I asked.

“How long has it been since you went out of your way to see him, or beckon him?”

“Since the last time I was on Earth. I did have one dream of him, though. Thanatos, too! I wonder if they were dreams, or something else?”

“I wouldn’t know that,” said Keith. “Both are equally likely. I remember the time. You were pretty messed up.”

I sighed. “I wish I’d turned you down for you offer to share yourself, you know?”

“Because I’m not the one you were theoretically saving yourself for, not that anything would necessarily happen between you and Thanatos, not that I know that for certain, either?”

“Yes. I mean, what happened between us was pretty intimate in a rather alien way.”

“Donn, you are still a virgin! I don’t want to ever take that away from you. I was dead serious on walking away from you, when you asked me, if I’d fuck you silly if you changed gender for me.”

Stefan about lost it. “What?”

“No! That was a test, and you know it, Keith! If you’d given me the wrong answer, I would have turned down your request.”

Keith winked at Stefan. “Yes, I knew it was a test. I just wanted to have some fun with him."

I looked at Stefan, and dematerialised my teacup. I stood up, with a mental warning, I took Stefan’s cup from him, dematerialised it, grabbed Stefan by the belt and thigh, and dragged him over to Keith. “You can have the middle for a while.” I sat down on Stefan’s other side, rematerialised his teacup completely full, and gave it back to him. “Here!”

“Uh, thanks,” said Stefan.

Keith chuckled. “Now I’m waiting for a retort from you, Donn.”

I smiled at him. “I have much confidence that you’ll set yourself up, soon enough.” I ruffled Stefan’s hair, and kissed him on the cheek.



* * *





Kevin and Macha were having a series of chess games, with Kevin getting creamed, as expected.

“How long did it take Keith to be able to end the game in a draw?” asked Kevin.

“A few thousand games.”

“Is there anything alive that can best you in strategy or battle?”

“The Source. I’ve never been beaten. I’m on the verge of getting stalemated on the floor, though. Keith has learned all my fighting techniques. A lot of them are Asian.”

“He’s outweighs you, and you yourself admit he’s stronger. Why doesn’t this help him?”

“Speed and technique win over strength and weight, babe.” She moved her rook. “Check.”

“I’m going to lose this in under seven moves. Shall I forfeit?”

“Nah! You’re doing all right.”

Kevin moved out of check, into a death trap; not that he had a choice. He’d be mated in three moves.

“I told you. I almost find it hard to believe that you prefer my company to Keith’s,” said Kevin.

“My lover, my protégé! Keith is almost ready to graduate the school of Macha. I can teach him very little else. His beautiful, refined, elegant, artistic way of making love also drives me nuts, since that’s all he wants to do, and I have to fight tooth and nail for a good old fashioned, raw, fast and desperate shaggin’, you know? Even then, it’s not real. He’s just humouring me, with no emotion shown anymore. You; on the other hand, are completely green on the battlefield, and hot and heavy in bed. You’re also a sweetheart, not that I love Keith any less.”

“I wouldn’t think of asking you to give him up.”

“Never would. I like his way, too. It’s real intense. It’s just so...oh, I don’t know. He’s so beautiful to watch, and he moves so slow, and it’s great, but it’s despairing, you know?”

“Sort of. Stefan; when Kyle kept me on edge a couple of times.”

“Magnify that a gadzillion times, and you have Keith. Another game?”

“Sure!”



* * *





Keith went on his merry way later, learning about Hell knows what else, leaving me with Stefan. We ended up walking to the picture of Thanatos. “I ought to thank you for distracting me, and making me forget how much I miss Thanatos.”

“He looks a bit young for me, but he’s mighty pretty,” said Stefan.

“That youthful look kept me out of trouble with Macha, to a degree.”

“Would you still stay with him, and leave us all if you could visit with him?”

I hesitated before answering. “You know, I’m not sure anymore. There’d be a lot of guilt, but I love him so much, and I’ve suffered so much for missing him. I might, though. Sometimes you just want to throw everything away for that one desire, you know?”

“Do I ever. Could he come here?”

“He’s second generation. He’s the grandson of The Source. He can do anything. He saved me decades, if not centuries of training, by leaving behind the knowledge of how to use my so called unearthly abilities after he became one with me.”

“Was Thanatos the first one you merged with like that?”

“Hm hm. I didn’t know how to do that before, and no one ever absorbed me before. I had some pretty intense mergings with Macha and Keith, but...uh...Keith...oh, my dearest Keith. He’s come damn close to making me feel as good as the time I was with Than, but I don’t think anyone is capable of measuring up to that first time.”

“Can I visit Thanatos? Tell him you said hi, or something?”

I chuckled. “Stefan, we don’t do stuff like that. That’s a mortal thing.”

Stefan reached for me, and stroked my hair. “I hate to see you in any kind of discomfort or pain.”

I ran my finger down his wrist. “Until I can become detached to everything, there’s no avoiding it, is there?”

“Can we see Nyx?”

“I never met her. I don’t know. Goddess of Night, Daughter of Chaos! I’m not sure I want to bother her.”

“She once invaded a dream of mine, when I had a lawsuit filed against me. She told me to do exactly as my attorney said, and everything would be all right. I woke up at peace, that morning. She told the truth, too. The deposition went on target, and the case was settled out of court.”

“I don’t remember that.”

“I haven’t thought about it in ages. Just talking about her, reminded me. She seemed like a CEO from hell. All business, but she helped me in the dream.”

“Provided it was a dream.”

“Want to try?”

“How’s about as soon as I get the nerve? Also, I have to either ask Keith if he knows how to get in touch with her, or do some research.”

“She’s Nyx. Shouldn’t we just basically be able to pray to her? Invoke her like how I used to invoke you?”

A real chill went through me. It could have been a hundred twenty degrees Fahrenheit, and I would have felt it. “Something tells me we shouldn’t.”

Stefan scowled. “I’m not sure I understand.”

“Stef! I’m insensate to temperature. I suddenly felt frozen solid. She’s very powerful. She knows we’re talking about her, and what we’re planning. She warned me. We shouldn’t do it.”

“I didn’t get the warning. Can I go alone?”

“Stef, if you really want to, and you figure out how, you can. There’re only two things I ask of you; one of which is not to calculate on how you can seduce me, and that you stay male in my presence; which makes the first request a lot easier on you. Also, I know damn well you prefer being in the masculine, so that’s not even a compromise. Other than that, don’t ask me to make your decisions, live your life, or limit your behaviour. I do NOT own you.”

“You think it’s a stupid idea.”

“I think it’s reckless. Then again, you’re a fairly reckless individual. You always have been.”

“So maybe I shouldn’t.”

I grabbed him by the shoulders. “Stef! I think what you want to do is insane, but another part of me hopes you do go, and you do find Thanatos, and bring me back information of his well being, and all. I don’t think it’s wise to bother Nyx, though.”

Stefan stepped forward, and embraced me with the desperation I suddenly felt. “I’ll go. Gods, I love you! I’ll do anything for you!”

A tear trailed down my left eye. “You remember from me, how to get to Hades?!”

Stefan nodded, and disappeared.



* * *





When Stefan got to Hades, he wouldn’t find Thanatos. He did find his brother Charon, however. Charon was on the side of the Acheron, waiting for his next passenger. “Charon, may I pester you for a moment?”

“It’s not like I have anything better to do. What are you doing here, undead one?”

“Ye gods, you make me sound like a vampire. Anyway, I was wondering if you could help me find Thanatos.”

Charon shook his head. “No. He went somewhere distant. Another land, many histories past.”

“Do you know if he’s all right?”

Charon chuckled. “Mother’s first and favourite? I don’t see how he can be any other way.”

“So I have to go back to tell Donn that Thanatos is no longer in Hades? That I have no idea where the Hell he is?”

Charon scowled. “Donn? You’re a messenger from Donn of Eire?”

“Donn of Tech Duinn. He hasn’t been in Ireland proper in over twenty millennia, from my perspective.”

Charon shook his head. His voice turned cold. Very cold! “I can’t help you. There’s no reason for you to be talking to me.”

Stefan smiled. “Not even to pass the time?”

Charon didn't smile back. “There is no time.”



* * *





Needless to say; after Stefan came back, I totally freaked. Everyone came running. Even Keith. I somehow ended up in Macha’s lap. Whatever! I didn’t care. I wasn’t that picky, at this point.

“There’s got to be an explanation,” said Macha.

“Where would he go?” I got out in my tears. “He’s got so many devotees, even in the twenty first century, or whatever.”

Macha stroked my hair, and held me close. I was already hugging her. “Donn, we’ll get to the bottom of this if I have to see Nyx myself.”

“I’m too terrified to go with you,” I said. “I’m sure she warned me away.”

“I wonder if it would be easier to ask her to come here, than go to her,” said Keith.

“A simple invitation works with the likes of us,” said Macha.

“Let me try and beckon her,” said Keith.













































































Chapter 19







Long raven hair, ebony eyes, deathly pale, and Raquel Tejada, eat your heart out in the looks department. Macha’s equal stood before us, and she didn’t look too happy, though her looks softened, when she saw Keith.

The first one she spoke to, was Stefan. “We meet for a second time.”

“So, you really did visit me on the week of my deposition?” asked Stefan.

“I don’t ignore everyone who asks for my help,” she said. “There are occasional circumstances where I’ll intercede, though I really wanted to beat you up for what you wrote about me in two of your books.”

“I offer you my utmost apologies, and I did destroy them.”

Nyx smiled. “They are in the Akashic Library, my dear! It’s OK, though. You more than made up for that little error in your ways.” She walked over to Keith. A smile crossed her face. “And how have you been, Keith?!” The smile disappeared, when she spoke his name, and the name came out a bit harsh.

“I couldn’t have been much better, I suppose.”

Nyx ran her finger down the right side of his face. “Then maybe you should leave well enough alone, love.” She actually kissed the top of his head. Easy enough to do, considering he was sitting down! We all were.

She came over to me. “Thanatos is fine. He loves you more than anyone, and to answer the question that occasionally haunts you; no he would never take you away from the other ones you love.”

“But where is he?” I asked.

She actually came, and kneeled before me. She took my hand. “Trust me, Donn! Some questions are better left unanswered, but I give you my word that he couldn’t be in better hands.”

I believed her. She sent me a mental caress that instigated a peaceful feeling in me, and I really felt good as she disappeared from view.



* * *





She knows me,” Keith said quietly.

“Doesn’t she know everyone?” asked Stefan.

“She knows what I was before.”

Macha looked at him. “How can you have been something before? I put you together from scratch.”

“Macha, a soul can invade anything. It doesn’t have to be a fetus. That’s why we have the Deva Kingdom, which you pay no heed to. Everything is alive. I know for a fact, that I was someone else before. I’m no younger than you are. Everyone and everything is the same age, when it comes right down to it.”

I was still in Macha’s lap, though I was psychologically at ease again. Nyx made certain of that. I was a bit more relaxed, though I was still wrapped around Macha. “Maybe you should ask her,” I suggested. “All you have to do is ask.”

“I tried that. No acknowledgement,” said Macha.

Stefan asked Keith, “I wonder what she meant by telling you to leave well enough alone?”

Keith shrugged. “It was a way of telling me not to ask too many questions, but the world’s governments will cease being corrupt, before that happens.”

Kevin, who’d been simply listening to the rest of us babble; said, “The air of mystery, surrounding Nyx. She seems to know everything, but tells us nothing. I wonder why? What’s the secret?”

Macha kissed me on the cheek. “Wouldn’t it be interesting if Keith was the reincarnation of Thanatos, since Keith just must have been someone else?”

We all chuckled over that one. “I would have known if Than had died, me thinks,” I said.

Keith scowled. “For something like Thanatos to start from a blank slate again, makes no sense.”

Macha looked at Keith. “You were never a blank slate. You were made with most of my knowledge.”

“I think your Thanatos theory is ludicrous, but amusing,” said Keith.

“I agree,” said Macha. “Can I borrow you later, Great White?”

"How can you think of that now?"

"Remember who you're talking to."

‘Your way, or mine?’ he asked her, nonverbally.

‘Both.’

“Oh, I guess so,” said Keith aloud.

Later, meant as soon as Macha could push me off her lap.



* * *





Me, Stefan and Kevin walked to the garden. Stefan was in the middle, and asked Kevin, “Aren’t you the wrong gender?”

“Only if you just made a pass at me, and admit you’re also the wrong gender.”

Stefan chuckled. “Not now, babe. I’ve got the gazebo by the magnolia tree and tea, on mind.”

“That sounds great,” I said.

“Like totally,” agreed Kevin. “This place blows doors. It’s like more informative being here, than surfing the web.”

“Where else can you get all the books burned down in the library of Alexandria?” I asked.

“Akashic library, I assume,” said Stefan.

“Yeah, but...you know,” I said.

“Yeah, I know,” said Stefan.

We entered the garden, and headed toward that gazebo. It had enough seating to accommodate four individuals under the shade, if the sun was in the right area. It was late morning, so we all got out of the sun. Masala chai for Kevin, China black for Stefan, and Lichee for me!

“Why is there so little about what a wonderful place Tech Duinn is, in the legends?” asked Stefan.

“No one who comes through, goes back to write about it,” I said.

“A lot is written about Tir na nOg,” said Kevin.

“Tir na nOg is a hot destination for out of body travellers. Tech Duinn is just a way station. No one’s interested. Note there are only eleven of us here, including the horses, and Lord Percy,” I said.

“Yeah,” said Kevin. “There’s not even any clams on the beach, and I never saw one insect anywhere on this island.”

“There are none. There’s no point to anything like that being here. Nothing is here, unless I allow it,” I said.

“Tech Duinn! The ultimate work of art!” said Kevin.

I smiled. “Maybe. Keith is stiff competition.”

Stefan smiled. “You’re his equal, Donn. I’ll rank Tech Duinn third.”

I blew him a kiss.



* * *





Macha was taking her own sweet time, with Keith. This time the oil of choice was based on an earth brand called Aramis. “You seem so much sexier to me, for some strange reason,” she said, as she rubbed it into his left deltoid. He was on his back.

“Due to a delusionary theory. If you can’t have Death Personified in one way, you can have him another, huh? Sorry, love. It’s not real. I’m not a Gate Keeper, and I don’t think I ever was.”

“What did you feel, when Nyx caressed your face and kissed you?”

“I felt a gentle caress, and a kiss. Nothing more. I didn’t read anything into it, because there was nothing to be read into it.”

“She’s beautiful.”

Keith smiled. “She’s priceless, and unavailable. I also can't feel anything for her that I feel for you. She’s out of my league, and with you and Stefan, I have enough lovers. Sometimes with you alone I have more than enough, depending on how demanding you are that day.”

Macha scraped her teeth on his neck, and worked her way to his collarbone. She raised herself up. “That used to set you off.”

Keith ran his finger down her nose, and said, “I love it. Feels great. For its own sake, of course,”

Macha ran her hand delicately over his chest. “I’ll give you for its own sake, you nonreactive bastard!”

Keith stretched himself out, and put his hands under his head. “Go right ahead.”

“I’m gonna make you regret you said that.”

Keith chuckled. “Whatever your willpower allows, mi’lady.”

With Macha’s basic expertise, and a little additional help from the now proverbial knotted silk chord, it was amazing, that Keith could give an air of indifference, from just looking at him.

She did not make him regret anything, though Macha herself would find herself driven to the edge of sanity, soon enough.



* * *





I left Stefan and Kevin alone, after the conversation under the gazebo. The two haven’t had much time together recently, and I needed to hit the ice.

I put on various soundtracks. I danced to ‘Astronomy’, and ‘Dancin’ in the Ruins’ by Blue Oyster Cult, ‘Battle of Evermore’ and ‘Kashmir’ by Led Zepplin, ‘Tuesday Afternoon’ by Moody Blues, and for something a little faster, ‘Needlegun’ by Hawkwind.

I was still at peace, and exorbitantly happy. My last interaction with Nyx hadn’t worn off. Granted, I was as curious as anything as to where the ultimate love of my life was, but I knew damn well Nyx told me the truth, when she said that he was all right.

It was so tempting to go to ‘The End of Time,’ so to speak.



* * *





Both Stef and Kev were in feminine form, and Stephanie was perpendicular to Kevalyn, using Kev’s abdomen as a pillow. “I have never appreciated being male, until Macha,” said Kevalyn.

“From what you shared with me, I can understand that. I’m sorry, but I guess I’m too much of a man for you even now, huh?”

Kevalyn chuckled. “I suppose you always were. It’s OK, though. I forgive you.”

“Just don’t let it happen again?”

“Yeah, right! As if that were even possible, huh?”

“Something like that!”



* * *





Keith, back in his lumberjack clothes, sat in the lounge chair of Macha’s bedroom. Macha had redressed in her dominatrix outfit, not that it would have an effect on the temporarily burned out Keith at the moment. “I want to confront Nyx, with that theory,” said Macha.



“She warned me not to go somewhere,” said Keith. “Leave well enough alone, she said. If by the remotest chance in hell that your theory is correct, are we better off knowing it, or not knowing it?”

“Yo! Mr. Curiosity himself is turning down the chance to learn something?”

“Can I confess to being afraid? Maybe there really are some things better left unknown, like Nyx said!”

“Could you theoretically deal with having been Thanatos?”

“I have no memory of it. What would be the point? Most importantly, what effect would it have on Donn? Could he deal with it? I mean, for me to have been reincarnated from Thanatos, Thanatos would have had to die, correct? How do you think Donn will react to that?”

Macha scowled. “A little something that I overlooked.”

“Do you really want to risk tearing up the man we both love so much, just to answer that one question?”

“I do not, under any circumstances want to hurt Donn.”

“Oh, ye gods, Macha! I canna stand it! We dinna hae tae tell the lad! Let’s gae!”

“Aye, lets.”























































Chapter 20







Nyx! Are you my mother?” asked Keith.

“You have no mother.”

Macha put her arms akimbo. “Nyx, you know damn well why we’re here. Will you answer our questions?”

“Thanatos walked into a bonfire, and after his body was destroyed he occupied the form of the one now called Keith, minutes before you joined the Great White on the altar to give him life. Donn has had his greatest love right under his nose, all that time.”

Keith cringed. “A bonfire! Ye gods. That must have been painful.”

“Not as painful as living without Donn, you thought; when you were my son. You couldn’t bear to lose him again.”

Keith convulsed silently. His face remained expressionless, but he couldn’t stop the tears. “Why didn’t you tell us this?”

Nyx pointed at Keith. “Why couldn’t you just have lived as you were? Your life was so beautiful! Why did you have to change it?”

“Have we changed it?” asked Keith.

“You will. There’s no stopping it now,” said Nyx.

“Why couldn’t I find what I was in any other way? It’s not even in the Akashic Library,” said Keith.

“It is now; but before, I wouldn’t allow it. I was hoping this day would never come.”

Keith closed his eyes. “I know it all, now.”

Nyx asked, “So, are you happy with that knowledge?”

“That to integrate with my former identity that I have to be killed? Not really.”

“What?” asked Macha.

Nyx looked at Macha. “He can completely integrate himself with his former life memories if he’s killed. He can’t walk into the fire again. He can’t destroy himself, because then he’d go onto a new identity. He has to be killed, and his body must remain in one piece, in the process.”

Macha looked at Keith. “I hope you’re happy the way you are.”

Keith wiped his sleeve across his face. Still more tears followed. He shook his head. “No! I can’t be. Not now.”

Macha embraced him. “Ye gods, Keith. I’m sorry I pressed the issue to bring us to this.”

He managed a smile. “So, do you have it in you to bring your claymore through my heart?”

Macha shook her head. “Do you have any idea of what you’re asking me to do?”

“Do you want to ask Donn to kill me? Stefan and Kevin won’t do it.”

Now it was Macha’s turn to shed a few tears. “Donn can’t do it. He’d sooner kill himself.”

Macha looked at Nyx. “Can you do it?”

A look of sheer fury came over Nyx. “I watched my son destroy himself! I watched him walk into that fire! I felt every bit of pain there was to be felt, and he didn’t utter one sound! You think I’m going to inflict any more pain on this lovely creature that was, and will again be my son? The one who went through what he went through, to be with the one he loved, and the one whose virginity you stole but minutes after he was remade? After all he’s done for you, don’t you think you’re the one who should do him this one favour?”

Macha looked first at Keith, then at Nyx. “What happens after I kill him?”

“It won’t be pretty, but you’ll have him back in a few minutes. Have a warm, heavy blanket on hand, huh?”

Keith extended his hand to Nyx.

“Mother, can I have a kiss?”

Nyx’s lower lip quivered. She fought to smile, and came to Keith. “I’m not your mother,” she said, and she kissed him on the cheek.

Keith embraced her, and she hugged him back. “Thank you for this.” he said. "I owe you one."

"Just be happy, love."



* * *





“I’m not running you through with a sword. That takes too long,” said Macha.

“Will you take care of killing me as fast as possible? Like maybe now?”

“I’d rather take you by surprise. Don’t know what hit you, you know?”

“And keep me in suspense? Is that any better?”

“Shall we have one final celebratory picnic before I do you in, lover? And maybe one farewell shag to Keith?! Me do all the work?” asked Macha.

“Sure, but don’t tell anyone what we have to do at the picnic, please. I don’t want to traumatise anyone.”

“What do you want first? The picnic, or the shagging?”

“Considering what I have to go through, can I have a shagging both before and after?”

Macha smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. Now can I make a request of you?”

“Act like a man, and not an artist, right?”

“Damn right! These are our two last times. I don’t even know if you’ll even ever want to shag me again, after you become complete. I don’t want a stoic self-control freak. I want someone I can drive into taking control of the situation, and I don’t want to be handled like good china all the time, you know?”

Keith sighed. “You know damn well, I can’t do that.”

“Then maybe we can just have the picnic.”

“Maybe I’ve just become a good actor.”

Keith had his shirt slashed off in seconds.



* * *

Macha and Keith almost ordered the lot of us to the garden, for eats. The array of food was vaster than usual, and the situation was odd. Keith and Macha were inseparable. They fed each other more than they fed themselves. I didn’t even want to eat, but I couldn’t get away with just a single carrot stick. There weren’t any. The chow was elaborate, and all in bowls. It consisted mostly of East Indian dishes with lots of korma and daal. I grabbed a plate, and had a spoonful of three different dishes, and struggled to get them down. It wasn’t that they didn’t taste good. I was just in no mood to get anything down my gullet.

The way Keith and Macha were carrying on, I don’t even know why they called us. I’d never seen Keith act like he did just now, in public. From the expression on his face, it seemed like he was in some sort of perpetual climax, or something. The two of them actually faded from our view, before Stefan and Kevin even finish half of their first plate.

“What was with those guys?” asked Stefan.

“I have no idea,” I said. “I can’t believe how Keith was behaving himself. I wonder what those two are up to?”

“No clue,” said Stefan.

“I don’t know if I’ll even want to share, if I find out,” said Kevin.

Both Stefan and I chuckled.



* * *





Keith embraced Macha from behind, and gently scraped his fangs on her neck. “I thought you were doing all the work?”

“I did that last time. This time, you do it. Do this for yourself. Remember the scenes from Kyle’s story, if you have to get yourself in the mood.”

“If I do this for myself, we’re going to be sitting static, lover.”

“Keith! Please! I’m going to kill you for real this time! Do me right!”

He crossed his arms over her chest. “All right. I’ll give you exactly what you want.”

Keith did everything perfectly, according to Macha. True, it was only an act, but he was convincing. Heavy, rhythmic breathing, a few moans and groans, fast, hard, seemingly reckless, desperate, and animalistic. Keith felt like a complete idiot, but sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do. It was worth it, though.

Macha broke Keith’s neck, when the opportunity presented itself. Fast, painless, and out of the blue. It was the perfect execution, by the perfect warrior.



* * *





Keith disintegrated to dust. It was fast, repulsive, and it stank to high heaven. Macha would have thrown up, if it were possible. The bedding would have to be changed, she thought initially.

The dust disappeared in a few minutes, however. In its place, appeared a mist. It slowly gained a façade, and solidified. Soon, the naked man-child we knew as Thanatos, lay where Keith's body had been. Macha covered him, and stroked his hair. “You OK, babe?” she asked the prone form.

Thanatos smiled, and opened his eyes. “Macha?”

Macha smiled back. “Do I call you Thanatos, or Keith?”

“Keith is easier to say, huh? You seem to prefer that. I can’t wait to see Donn.”

“Maybe you should get dressed first?”

The attractive, raven haired youth smiled. “Flannel shirt, jeans, and work boots?”

Macha chuckled. “That should be something of a clue. Now, I have a question.”

He answered without being asked. “No, I don’t want to resume our lusty relationship. I prefer the celibate life I used to have before I adopted myself out to you. I really can’t bring myself to continue what we had. It’s not in me, but I still love you as much as ever, and there are other ways of showing it.”

“Will you always answer my questions before I ask them?”

‘Keith’ kissed her on the nose. “Unless you don’t want me to.”

“It won’t sit too well around here if you do that all the time. So you can keep up the act of being more like us?”

Thanatos/Keith chuckled. “Maybe a little bit.” He dressed the fast way. He materialised his clothing upon himself. “Now let me go see the love of my life.”



* * *





Stefan and Kevin had deserted me, quite understandably. They found Macha and Keith’s antics a bit of a catalyst, and they went off to do their own thing. I ended up on the main couch, and I’d called a willing Percy, to be my snoggin’ buddy for the here and now. He was on my lap, getting scratched under the chin, and purring up a storm. My sweet, adorable, little dictator! He actually got a Hell of a lot of attention from us. I just didn’t write about it very much.

I was a bit stunned when a rather slight figure gracefully vaulted over the back of the couch, landing next to me. When I saw who it was, I about died of rapture. “Thanatos!!!!!!!!! You’ve come to me?!”

Thanatos smiled. “I’ve never left you.” Suddenly the figure disappeared, and the form I knew as Keith, was there. "Not for very long, anyway.

“Macha was right. I was an incarnation of Thanatos, and the two identities of the two lives are both with me, now.”

“Than? Or Keith?”

“You’re used to Keith, and I kind of like it, too. You can keep it at that. Also to answer your other questions; me and Macha were having such a hard time keeping our paws off of each other, and left the picnic early, because we were due for one final questionable interlude before she had to kill the independent incarnation of Keith. I couldn't wait to reintegrate myself, and that's what I was so excited about. It was necessary to bring us together as one, with me having all the memories of both.

“Also, I don’t want to have sex with you. You’ve been saving yourself for yourself, anyway. I know the concept of shagging anyone churns your stomach these days, and I’ve never wanted you like that a day in all my existence. I’ll take you Astral any time, though.”

“Keith! Than! Do I even have to talk to you anymore?”

“Again, Keith is fine! Technically, you don’t have to talk to me. You don’t have to say anything. I’m also no longer struggling in order to stay here, and I can go to Earth again with ease, not that I plan on it. Finally, the day you focus on the time of Ahau Kankin, is the day you retire as psychopomp.”

“I don’t think I’m ready to do that.” It was so nice to have all my remaining questions answered without having to ask, or without me even having formulated those questions. I hoped it would stop soon.

Macha came by, and sat down on the other side of Keith. “I think our existences have just gotten a lot more interesting.”

I hugged Keith. “I think we have some making up for lost time, to do.”



























































Epilogue







OK! I’ve just died and gone to heaven.

No, not really, but that’s sure what the Hell I feel like. See y’all later…as the tale continues…





End of Volume Two

Next:  http://lifewiththanatos.blogspot.com/?zx=80570e65ffb74429