Aphrodisia's Main Hall, Day 138 A.F

Not only were our hearts exposed to the Lovers' imperious scrutinization, now our bodies were uncovered, completely exposed to their feline gaze.

Except Tybira.

While she'd flickered into view, she'd vanished once again. Enki held is left hand in her direction, the other hanging limp, axe still embedded in his wrist. He was hunched over, tears and sweat pouring down his rapidly paling face. He seemed to sway back and forth where he stood.

"Enki, stop!" Tybira's voice cried. "You'll kill yourself! Drop the illusion."

He shook his head, white lips moving in a furious chant. Death was the only thing that would make Enki Velos leave Tybira unguarded.

"Scatter!" Gabriel barked.

I looked towards the grinning twins, and surely went as pale as Enki. Dozens of Carnates streamed in from the main hall's four double doors, some armed, some weaponless.

"We need to retreat," Cyp said.

"No." The angel leapt into the air, snapping open his wings and sailing over the Carnates' heads.  With just two powerful flaps he tucked his wings at his sides, spinning into a spiral and disappearing through a small gap in the full doorway.

The wolves sped forward, dragging down Carnate after Carnate, but not nearly fast enough. Claws at the ready, I took shaking steps back until I stumbled into Cyprian's chest.

He held his sword in front of me, caging me in with his arms. "I got you, Flower."

Tybira's invisible hands yanked the axe from Enki's wrist. "Move!" As if pushed, Enki stumbled forward, Freki, Romulus, and presumably Tybira surrounding him, while Gladiator remained with Cyp and me. Romulus and Freki darted ahead, dragging down Carnates in a frenzy and clearing a narrow path for Tybira and Enki. Dead Carnates in their wake, the wolves, and my friends vanished through a second door.

Gladiator continued picking off our attackers, but I knew he wouldn't last long; numerous lasserations already peppered the warrior wolf's flank. Several clones managed to slip past his fangs.

"Cyp..." Would my poison even work on Carnates?

"I've got you, Flower," he repeated, wrapping his free arm around my chest. Fending off innumerable Carnates with his sword, but always on the defensive, Cyprian ushered me back towards the door to the corridor, only to be blocked by a new wave of Carnates. He pulled me away, backing directly into the wall. "Nowhere to go. Get behind me."

"No." I could still offer a barrier between our enemies and Cyp's chest.

Before Cyp could argue a horde of Carnates broke past Gladiator and flung themselves in a mass atop Cyp's shoulders. They toppled him to the side, sending me spinning from his grasp and into the corridor.

With a scream I landed on my knees before a cluster of Lovers. I scrambled away from a mass of Carnates. In my frenzy I tumbled into the wall, tearing down a tapestry. That beautiful image of Death crashed onto a group of Carnates, pinning them down and giving me a chance to slip back into the main hall on my hands and knees.

I crawled towards Cyp, squirming away from a pile clones on the ground. Still far from the Hanged Man, a group of Carnates latched onto my arms, hauling me upward. Despite kicking and thrashing in their hold, I couldn't twist free. I managed to impale one or two with my wildly slashing claws, but when one dropped, another filled its place.

Cyprian roared, stabbing and slashing like a madman, until finally he managed to rise. Even through the chaos, he met my gaze and I knew he'd save me. He'd rip Carnates off me with his bare hands. Just as I'd do for him. He loved me and I loved him. We'd do anything for each other, and that sort of ferocious loyalty we shared couldn't be defeated.

"That's right," a Melville and Myra whispered in unison, breathing directly into both my ears. "Love him, Empress. Love him."

I whirled around, but the two that had spoken disappeared into the throng. As did all the clones restraining me. They simply let go and returned to the mob, which watched but refrained from making another attack.

When I turned back, Cyprian met my gaze. How I loved his eyes, so intense, burning through every horror, shining like precious jewels I yearned to hold in my palm. An instantaneous sense of safety washed over me at the mere sight of Cyp. Heat coursed through me, adrenalin, my entire body coiled for battle, yet I knew the Carnates wouldn't attack. I was volatile, tense, but without foe. The Carnates had never wished to hurt us, just to make me listen to their message: to remind me of my love for Cyp and wipe away any doubts I'd harbored. I'd show him just how deep and sharp my love ran. Why wait?

A smirk playing across my lips, I sauntered towards the Hanged Man, and with one clawed hand on his chest, I squired him backwards until he was pressed against the wall.

"What are you doing, Flower?" he demanded.

"What I should have done a long time ago." After so many times I'd refused him affection, too afraid or too uncertain, of course he'd be surprised by my sudden forwardness. I thanked the Lovers for giving me the clarity to see all I owed to Cyp, and that I'd enjoy this as much as he would, if not more so. "Come, Cyprian. Touch. But you'll pay a price."

The words bubbled from my lips as easily as exhaling. Even though my love for Cyp I finally recognized the phrase.

Come. Touch. But you'll pay a price. My Arcana Call.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" Cyp pushed my hand off his chest.

I frowned. Did he not like my eyes? They'd always been such a boring shade, brown, but not bottomless and rich like his. No wonder he thought there was something wrong with them. I swallowed, but kept my smile. My love would make him forget all about my plain eyes. "If you don't like them, just shut your eyes. Feel instead of see."

Cyp wouldn't comply. Why wouldn't he listen to me? Was my love not enough? I'd show him it was. I'd make sure he'd never forget me, make sure he felt things sharper than ever before. I'd leave him gasping for breath, his senses completely overwhelmed.

Starting at the collar, I ran a claw down his shirt, the same one he'd let me wear. I loved that shirt, so I smiled as a thin line followed my finger, and the shirt split open down the middle.

"Ayesha! What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing at all, my love. I'm only sorry I didn't do this sooner." I rubbed my hand down his sword-arm. With a quick tug, I yanked his sword away. Cyp was so surprised his didn't even try to stop me. Or maybe it was working, maybe he had come to his senses and started enjoying himself.

"Give me that. Please." He pushed me away, but I came right back, tapping my claw against his throat.

"Play nice and you'll like this." I dragged the sword across his chest, smiling at the curve of crimson. It wasn't deep yet; he'd only truly get to enjoy this after he learned to behave.

He gritted his teeth, grunting with pleasure. "You're hurting me. I don't want to hurt you, Flower, wake up."

"That hurts? It's only the beginning, love." I laughed, trailing kisses along his clenched jaw. "You're welcome."

"Ayesha--"

I pressed a claw again his lips. "I know. I know, it's overdue. That's why I'm making sure to do everything I can for you. Let me show you how much I love you." I could only pray this pleasure didn't come too late. With careful claws, I unwound the rope from Cyprian's sword-handle, marvelling at the pearl encrusted hilt. It was almost as gorgeous as Cyp's contorted face, revelling in his pain. I draped the cord around his neck and pulled myself up, wrapping my legs around his waist. Even as I wound it tighter, his throat bobbing beneath the material, he refused to hold me up, forcing me to cling to him. He truly was mad at me... or just bored with me. Which was worse? Maybe he didn't love me as I loved him? But I wouldn't give up.

Still clinging to his chest, I pressed my lips to his, kissing with all the love I could muster. Nothing. Was this desperation what he felt whenever I rebuffed his advances? No wonder he was ignoring me. I wasn't to be deterred.

Brows furrowed he simply stared at me, then at my whorling glyphs. Finally, finally, Cyp's lips began to move with mine. I hadn't lost him completely! My love and the Carnates' encouragement won him back. A new bout of energy surged through me. I breathed my love into him, wordlessly whispering endless streams of adoration.

He coughed, spluttering, but didn't break away. When I pulled away to steal a breath, Cyp gasped frantically, but always returned to the kiss. I'd won.

-No.- Matthew butted into my mind. -You're killing him.-

I'm loving him, I retorted. And this is private. Get out of my head!- At least the Carnates watching me were nothing but supportive. Matthew had abandoned us.

-Your lips spew poisons,- the Fool insisted.

I didn't draw back, not when I'd finally won Cyp's attention. You're ruining this for me.

-Since you can't see through the twins' control see through the twins.-

If I'd been willing to decipher Matthew's latest riddle, he didn't afford me the opportunity. Cyprian's lips faltered against mine and his arms shook. He gagged, stumbling to his knees. I tumbled from his grasp. Before I could reach him, panting on the ground, my vision blurred.

Cyp woozed and spun before me, Carnates spiraling closer, even as darkness crept into my sights, blotting out the clones. Aphrodisia's main hall rippled once more, then vanished.

              ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

I opened my eyes in an another corridor of the ship, heart pounding, but the thrill of battle overtaking any fear. Already my team had fanned out, no doubt picking off our enemies one by one. I'd tend to the Hanged Man soon, but I'd come face to face with Fauna and the Magician.

Apparently his love could only go so far, as the Magician's illusion had fallen away from little Strength. Although he'd certainly held out longer than any sane person. The poor Magician was so pale, I wouldn't have been surprised if the poor love-sick fool had fallen unconscious for a bit, both from the strain of magic, and from the blood still streaming from his wrist.

Fauna had lost a wolf to a horde of Carnates, but the other two tore through their legs and necks, blood clinging to their muzzles.

My love and I broke away from a crowd of Carnates. They'd cost me so many scars, and now they died in masses.

The Magician panted and wavered, brandishing Melville's beloved axe at any Carnates that slipped past Fauna's canines.

Melville snatched his left arm, and I grabbed his right, making sure to jab my fingers into his bloody wound. The Magician flailed, screaming for Fauna, but she was busy fending off Carnates.

I purred at his magnificent screams, so agonized. So raw.

Leaning to the Magician's ear, Melville and I whispered in unison, "love her, Magician. Love her."

He stiffened. A smile stretched across my face as I waited for his eyes to become that milky white I'd become so fond of, that hazy film that meant our love had spread through every corner of his being.

But his eyes never lightened, focus never wavering. Instead he wrenched from our grasp, twirled around with a yell, and plunged the axe into Melville's shoulder.

I dropped the Magician with a gasp as blood spurted from Melville's collar. Typically, I would have revelled in his screams, savoring every yell. But only I had the right to make him wail like that. Growling, I thrust him to the ground and rushed to Melville.

"Tybira!" the Magician cried as Carnate's swarmed him.

Fauna tore through a Carnate's neck with her own fangs. "Finish them."

"I can't," he replied. "They're yours."

She loosed a vicious snarl and coiled her body. Like a spring she shot out from the mob of Carnates. Arms stretched out before her she came crashing down a few paces from Melville and me. Carnates flocked after her, pawing at her arms as she readied a large silver bow. While clunky and awkward against her small figure, she aimed and fired.

The arrow bumped her knuckles as it past, but she was far too near for it to get off target. I saw it coming, but before I could hope to move my beloved away, the arrow embedded itself in Melville's chest. Up to the shimmering feathers.

He could scarcely gurgle before collapsing.

I screamed, and turned to run, but the Magician reached out and buried the axe in my ankle. Even as I crashed to the ground, my shrieks turned to giggles at the sweet agony thrumming in my leg.

The Magician clamored on top of me, axe to my throat. Tears streamed down my cheeks, but my laughs never died. The pain was delicious, and I'd see my darling brother soon.

"Kill her!" he barked. "She's yours. You deserve this, for everything they did to you."

As if we did nothing to you, Magician? He'd been so easy to torment, so utterly enamored with little Strength. Even now he'd forgo not only his own desire for vengeance, but the ravenous bloodlust all Arcana were slaves to, all for the sake of a young woman. So exquisitely simple he was.

Fauna met his gaze and nodded. With her jaw set, she selected another arrow. The Magician removed his axe just for her to ram the arrowhead into my throat.

I squealed in both pain and joy as blood bubbled from my neck.

"You did it," the Magician whispered, his voice a world away.

After throwing me one last growl, Fauna rose and helped the Magician to his feet.

My vision dimmed on the pair glaring at me. Cold washed over me, sending shivers to my limbs.

As soon as the Magician steadied himself, Fauna flew at him, shoving his chest hard enough to send him staggering. "You almost killed yourself!" She flung her arms around his neck and practically smashed her lips against his. While taken aback, he melted into her kiss, his good arm slowly circling her waste. Once she finally broke away, Fauna tucked her face into the crook of his neck. "You're either the stupidest or noblest idiot I've ever met."

"Could it be both?" He rubbed her back.

My vision swam, darkness spilling into my eyes and snuffing out any light. With light disappeared heat and sound. But with darkness came my love.

               ~~~~~~~~~~•~~~~~~~~~~

"Flower!" a voice filtered into my consciousness. "Flower, wake up."

I rolled over, blinking up at Cyprian. "What happened?"

He sighed, pulling me into his arms. "Thank the gods, your eyes are back to normal."

"What do you mean?"

"Your eyes glazed over and you started acting... odd. Then you collapsed. But the Carnates just dropped dead,  and you seem to be normal again."

"They're dead." I peered around at piles of dead clones. "The original pair. Tybira and Enki killed them." I shivered. Matthew hadn't just shown me their deaths. He'd placed me in Myra's mind, forcing me to feel all she felt, be it the bite of the axe, or the thrill of the agony. I remembered her emotions as if they were my own, yet before I'd entered her mind, everything after Enki's cloak fell was a total blur. Enki's wrist... Cyp was holding me... a tapestry fell... I could only recall glimpses.

Cyp nodded, pressing his sword into my hand as he lifted me up. "Find the others, get them out." He turned to leave.

"Where are you going?"

He studied the hall, taking in the outstanding craftsmanship. "I'm burning the vessel. I need to. It's been completely decimated by the twins. The fire can purify it. It'll be the funeral pyre Atlantis never received. Get the others out, and I'll meet you."

I caught his arm. "No. It's way too dangerous."

"I have to, Ayesha. You won't talk me out of it, but I'll get back to you. I promise." He put his hands on either side of my face, guiding my lips to his. There was nothing flaming about his kiss, just a tender weight sending gentle warmth through my limbs. "Don't wait for me. I won't have time to find anyone after I set the flame, but if you get everyone out, I promise I will find you."

Before I could muster a single word of response, he tore away.

I watched him disappear then jogged in the other direction. Stepping over the tapestry that had saved me, I ducked down the hall in which we'd spied Red and Nose. The brothers were nowhere to be seen, but crashing and grunting sounds echoed from behind a closed door.

Claws tingling I pushed into the room, expecting a fight. No sign of Nose or Red. Just Gabriel.

The archangel's wings flailed, knocking countless works of art from the walls. He raked his talons against the wall, peeling away wood like paint.

Nervous, I edged towards him. "Gabriel?"

"He's not here!" he wailed, slashing the wall and banging into the ceiling. Tears poured down his cheeks. "Lotan's not here. He was supposed to be here!"

When he swooped lower, I reached for his arm. "Cyp is going to burn down the whole ship. We need to leave. Now."

"I don't care." Gabriel lunged away, smacking me with his wing. "He's not here! He had to be here. I searched the whole ship but he's not here!"

"I'm sorry, Gabriel, but we have to go."

He dug his talons into the wall, wood splintering with a screech. "Just go, Ayesha. Leave." He hung his head, repeating, "he was supposed to be here," over and over again.

I chewed my lip. How could I abandon him to the flames? But I still needed to find Tybira and Enki. I stared at Gabriel's tear-stained, delirious face. All reason had left the usually so level-headed angel. And if he couldn't be reasoned with, that meant I'd be sacrificing us all for a man I had no hope of persuading. If he'd made up his mind on being abandoned, what choice did I have?

As I turned to leave, footsteps echoed down the hallway. "Someone's coming."

"Then you better go." Gabriel punched the splintered wood, blood oozing from his knuckles.

Sighing, I stepped out of the room. Tybira led Enki down the hall, wolves darting after them. My eyes widened. Behind my friends trailed a young man with messy, dirty blond hair and skin peppered with cuts. I glanced at Tybira. "Is that..?"

In a blur, Gabriel sped past me, streaking down the hallway and sending Enki staggering out of his way. I expected him to plow into the poor man, but he snapped his wings open and came to a halt.  "Lotan!"

"Gabe?" he choked, eyes searching.

"We'll get you out of here. You're safe now," Gabriel promised. Though still crying, a smile glowed across his face.

"You actually came for me." A tear trailed down Lotan's cheek. "They told me you wouldn't."

"Of course I did." He pulled Lotan into a hug, pressing their foreheads together. As if to insure that his friend truly stood before him, Gabriel brushed his hand along Lotan's cheek. With the same wonder and reverence, Lotan caressed Gabriel's wings.

I looked to Tybira and Enki, arm and arm, Enki's still-bleeding wrist dangling at his side, and back to the two friends, reunited at last. "I hate to kill such a touching moment, but we really need to get off this death-boat."

Any moment, Cyprian would send Aphrodisia up in smoke, perhaps finally setting Atlantis and Circe to rest with it. Then he'd find us, and I'd fulfill the deal I'd made him. My heart clenched at the thought, both from nerves and from excitement.

((Yay! Finally.

Told you this would be a long one! Definitely a tough one to write, especially the first two sections. Obviously not the voice I'm used to using.

I hope you enjoyed. Can't wait to get the next one to you. Let me know what you thought, and what you think will happen as we wrap up Ayesha's first novel.))