"This place is huge" I observed as we reached the top of our walk. Just on the edge of downtown Metropolis sat a large mansion with a wrought iron fence wrapped around it and a guarded gate. A large fountain that rested in the front yard had been repurposed to be a gorgeous potted garden. Large, blooming plants erupted from the soil and vines creeped their way up the marble silhouette of some forgotten deity.

"She pays a lot for it" my escort responded as we strolled through the gate with his wave to the guard.

"Why the security?" I asked, looking up at him.

"The citizens of this city truly desire to know their futures and hound her day and night for them. The fence is to give her a break"

"Oh... what is your name?"

"Andrei ma'am"

"Andrei... If I remember correctly your boss is Russian as well. Did you know her before you came to the city?"

"Ah, no. I was stationed here in America for military training with two other Russian operatives. When everything happened, we became stranded in America. I was with them until they both ran out of lives a hundred years ago. When I came here, I did not speak very fluent English, so Commander Hanniter sent me to the madam to learn English, as she knew both. I learned quickly and decided to stay on as her personal body guard" Andrei explained as we walked up the magnificent marble steps to the front door.

"I see" that actually made sense, "Whoever built this mansion built it to last" admiring the pristine carving and ornate decor.

"I am thankful to whoever did" he commented. With a hard rap on the door in warning, he pushed the oak doors open and strolled in, holding the door open for me. Inside, massive double staircases led to an upstairs loft like area. Straight ahead of me was a large glass window that filled the expanse of the wall, shedding light on a long table.

"This way" Andrei said, opening a set of sliding doors to reveal sitting room. Laying on a couch with a pale arm cast over her face was The Truth.

"My Lady, I have returned with Ms. Buchanan"

"Please, Andrei, call me Natasha, I have told you this many times" oddly, The Truth's accent was heavier and more impeding to her English. She must work to keep it prevalent, avoiding our American accents. I'm sure with all the interaction Andrei had with other soldiers and people, he shed his quickly.

"Yes ma'am... I mean Natasha"

"Spasibo, chto g-zha B'yukenen, Vy mozhete ostavit' nam seychas" Natasha said in ridiculously fast Russian. Andrei nodded, clicking his heels together and pulling his body into a rigid stance. With a stiff bow, he backed out and slid the doors closed.

"He is very good guard, but so formal" she said with a sigh, standing with grace I could not master in my lifetime.

"Just a little..." I admitted.

"I am sorry about the stabbing" she strolled over to her special chair that sat on it's raised dais.

"Yeah it's ok I- how did you know about that?"

"I am Psychic... and I had confirmation of my vision when I looked at your bloody shirt" at her mention, I looked down and fingered the gaping hole covered with dried blood.

"Sorry about my appearance" I responded, not knowing what to say to her statement.

"It is of no consequence. Come, let me have your hand"

"Look, I appreciate you requesting me and letting me in your elegant home but I'm not interested in having my fortune told" I quickly sputtered out, taking a step back.

"You are scared, why? I told you good advice, yes?"

"Well... I just don't particularly like knowing..."

Her gaze turned fierce and and menacing as she held out her long, thin arm, "Give me your hand".

I stared at her for a few seconds before reluctantly stepping up and placing my hand in her own. She flipped my arm over and smoothed out my fingers, examining my palm and forearm.

She inhaled deeply, letting her head fall backwards.

"You have this life about you, this energy that radiates from every inch of your skin. There is much in your past, and so many achievements in your future. So... addicting" she said before she tightened her grip. In a quick instant, she plunged her blade sharp thumb nail into my forearm.

"What the-" I began, trying to rip my arm from her statue still body, but the longer her nail stayed in my skin, the quicker I felt darkness inching it's way into my vision.

"Stop" I said weakly as I fell to my knees.

"YA sozhaleyu -" she said in her low pitch, coarse voice, but the longer she spoke, the more I slipped into the abyss and the more her words made sense, "sorry, for this. I was dying, and your force revitalized me. I needed just a bit more. But you will never return to my home. You willnever be in my presence again. This is my last breath of real life. Thank you."

I don't-" I said before I passed out.

___________________

Strong shoulder, right bicep, hard chest, all the things I could feel with my fuzzy, numb body. Someone was carrying me.

"Brittock?" I tried to ask, but nothing came out but a soft moan.

The person merely tightened their grip around my legs and torso, so I took that as a yes and wrapped my arm around his neck, resting my face in the crook there.

As my mind began to clear, I started to notice his soft footfalls and the smell of his cologne.

It wasn't quite right... a sudden change in the temperature from warm to cool caught me off guard in my dazed state.

I finally opened my eyes and looked upward at the closely shaven chin of the man carrying me.

Brittock had a beard....

I looked at the ceiling and recognized it as the roof of the lobby in The Penthouse.

I peered over my shoulder and saw Gerry standing by the elevator with a concerned expression.

Next to him, though, was the most frightening thing I had ever seen in my entire life.

With his long legs spread wide apart and his arms crossed across his expansive chest, Brittock stood in a position of power with a terrifying scowl on his face.

Confused, I leaned backward to look my carrier in the face, only to find the young Andrei as the man attached to the mystery arms.

This was not good...

Loosening my tight grip, I patted Andrei on the arm to get his attention. He looked down curiously, surprised to see me awake.

"Put me down" I commanded softly, and as I slid down his body, I felt even worse for this entire situation.

When my feet touched the ground, I attempted to take a step back, but felt my head swim with the action. I would have fallen if it were not for Andrei's quick and steady hand.

"No no no, don't do that" I whispered under my breath, pushing his hand away and steadying myself.

"Where have you been?" Gerry asked, stepping forward. I tried to give him his due attention but my eyes kept drifting to Brittock.

Oh I did not like that look.

"I went with Mina for a walk and then I got... side tracked..." I finished quietly, looking at Andrei with a 'you've got some explaining to do' glance as I remembered the last few minutes before I blacked out.

"You got side tracked for eight hours?! Doing what?!"

"Eight hours? No I don't think-" when I looked out the doors behind me, I saw the fading light that only happens at sundown. "Ok well something happened and I-" I immediately ceased my words as Brittock uncrossed his arms and began walking toward Andrei and myself. His long stride was every bit lethal as it was predatorial.

I took an involuntary step back and bumped into Andrei's body. Taking my step back as a sign that I felt threatened, Andrei wrapped his arm around me and pushed me behind him.

Brittock strode up to Andrei and stared down at him with his intense, cerulean eyes. Without any warning, Brittock punched him the meanest southpaw I had ever seen, which was saying a lot as I was a big fan of my own.

Andrei hit the ground with a thud and put his arms up in defense knowing he couldn't hit Brittock but also not wanting to be clocked in the face again. Brittock bent down and grabbed Andrei by the collar, raising Andrei body up to his eye level.

I reached out quickly but with a soft touch and wrapped my two smaller hands around his clenched fists. He looked at me with cold eyes, frsutrated anger raging behind their blue depths.

"Stop" I said quietly, searching his face for any signs of logical thought.

Slowly, he released his tight grip, taking a deep breath and standing up straight.

Without a word he turned and left, taking the elevator upstairs.

"I'm sorry" I told Andrei as I helped him up.

"It is alright, not your fault" he shrugged, wiping his mouth. The left side of his lip was beginning to swell although the blood trickle had already slowed.

I reached up and wiped the blood and tested the busted lip before saying, "I'm still sorry. Please, don't hold this against him, he's just... emotionally constipated. But I really don't feel too bad considering your boss shanked me and knocked me out! What the hell?!" I snapped.

"I don't know what happened. I left and you were fine, I come back and you're on the floor asleep" his eyes appeared honest but I was still mad.

"Well then I want to speak with your 'Lady Madam' again"

With a vehement head shake he replied, "Impossible, she told me to tell you that you and she will never be in the same presence again".

"Well I don't care what she said, I want-"

"Hey!" Gerry yelled, snapping Andrei and I both out of our little yelling match.

"What?" I snapped.

"You already done screwed up and made him angry, if you wait too long to follow after him he might explode. Leave, I'll handle whatever little issue you two are having" he sneered. I struggled with my decision to continue arguing or follow the blue eyed demon, but finally chose to head toward the elevator. As I walked past Gerry, he grasped my upper arm, pulling me to a stop.

"And by the way, the only man who gets my begrudging permission to be with you is Brittock. Anyone else is unacceptable" he whispered.

"Unaccep-? No, he's a nice soldier I met because of a crazy lady I wish I hadn't met" I mumbled back, angry at his implications.

"That's not what it looked like."

"Well it's not my fault that you guys jump to inaccurate conclusions" I sneered before pushing the elevator call button.

The ride to the top was swift and quiet, and as the doors opened to Brittock's loft, I felt my heart pound in one fearful, anxious beat.

I rounded the corner and approached his bedroom door, constantly keeping an eye out for him to come springing around the corner in vengeance.

I placed my ear against his door and listened for any signs of movement but heard none...

Until the door whipped open to reveal Brittock's tall stature blocking out the light of his room.

"Oh uh... hi" I whispered, leaning back and rocking onto my heels.

Brittock glared down at me with piercing eyes, saying nothing.

"Before you give me hell, I-"

Brittock pulled me into the room and slammed the door. His lips crashed against mine as he pinned me against the door with his large frame. I felt my words leave me as I reached up to grip his hair tightly in my fingers. Brittock's intensity spiked as he viciously deepened the kiss, and when I gently nipped his bottom lip, he picked me up and wrapped my legs around his waist. The thud of my body hitting the door made flames soar across my body until I remembered...

"You are mad at me" I murmured, earning a growl because I removed my lips from his lavish attention.

"Yes" he answered.

"This is what I get when I make you mad?" I asked.

"No"

"Then stop" I said with a sigh, pushing his strong jaw gently. Brittock was amazingly good at avoiding words and emotions and I knew we needed to discuss... whatever was bothering him.

"Why?" he asked, but when I attempted to loose my legs from his body, he gripped my limbs in his hands and smacked my butt.

"Did you just-"

"Do not do that" he answered as he carried me to the bed. He sat down and placed me in his lap, staring at me expectantly.

"Fine... why were you mad?"

"Because you left without telling me where you were going" he said shortly. To prevent myself from falling backward, I gently laid my hands on his shoulder, bracing myself.

"You were gone"

"I was working" he corrected, playing with one of my stray curls.

"You were pouting because I was upset with you" I pushed looking him in the eye.

"You were upset with me because you do not want me to die"

"Of course I don't want you to die! Not permanently anyways" I mumbled the last part, teasing with caution.

"What was that?"

Trying to avoid getting in trouble, I continued "I don't want you to end your life earlier than it should. You have worked hard to keep the lives you have, and now I find that you are using them up for electricity?! Of course I'm upset."

"I led people here with the promise of comfort and safety. With this technology, I can provide that. I had no reason to hoard my lives for eternity, so I found a better use"

"I know you feel like you have no reason to keep your lives but all these people admire you and look up to you. If you die-"

"I said I had... not have" Brittock clarified, staring me in the eyes with his own deep blue pits.

"Oh yes well uh-" I spluttered, attempting to get off his lap.

"Why do you always try to run away from me?"

"Because" I answered hesitantly, "your intensity scares the crap out of me."

In answer, he firmly gripped my legs and leaned in, placing a kiss on my lips.

"I am not intense, just... quiet" he murmured.

"Uhhh" I scoffed, leaning back, "if that's not the greatest lie ever told I don't know what is."

He gave me a bland look, which let me continue, "why did you punch poor Andrei?"

"Andrei?" Brittock's eyebrow quirked to a frustrated arch.

"Yes, the nice man who brought me home, the one you unnecessarily punched"

"I deemed his actions inappropriate and punished him accordingly" he replied coldly, dumping me off his lap and onto the bed like a bag of potatoes.

"Don't give me that 'posh' sounding, politically correct answer! Deemed his actions inappropriate" I mimicked his proper speech and European accent," you... were jealous. Admit it, and remember you can't lie to me" I pressed, sitting up to lay lazily on his back, teasing the soft hair the nestled the back of his neck.

"I- I do not like men holding you so close, no" his stumbling tone had me giggling like a fiend. I put my face against his, resting my chin on his shoulder.

"Close enough to jealous" I laughed, kissing him on the cheek, "in my defense, I was practically unconscious. I thought it was you, that's why I was snuggled so closely."

"That has the opposite effect you seemingly want it to have" his tone was low and gravely.

"Why?" as if his neglected house cat, I slid down his back and lay my head to rest in his lap.

"Because not only did you give another man romantic devotions that you confirm should have been mine, but you also admit that you can not tell the difference between myself and another strange, random man" he answered, glaring down at me.

"Maybe if you were more memorably attractive, I would have known the difference" I teased, entering dangerous territory.

He paused for few second before saying, "I will give you a ten second head start."

I rolled over and sat up, "what?"

"One... two... three" he said, looking toward the door. I stared at him in confusion before I understood his meaning and leapt off the bed. With a joyous laugh, sprinted to the elevator door and pressed the button.

"Four" his voice reverberated through the rooms.

"Come on come on" I whispered, frantically pressing the button.

"Five...six...seven"

The doors still had not slid open, so I forgot them and made a mad dash for the bedroom I had been using. No sooner had I taken off running did I hear the quick and stealthily quiet pads of his feet running across the carpeted floor.

"Gotta hide! Gotta hide!" I shrieked, throwing open my bedroom door. As I attempted to shut it, his fingers appeared, curling around the edge of the door.

"No!" I yelled, trying to make my way to the bathroom but to no avail. Brittock snagged me and threw me on to the bed, tickling me incessantly.

"Stop!" I begged, gasping for breath between laughs.

He did long enough to kiss me, but only returned to the heinous act right after. I grabbed his forearms and tried to breathe.

"No more, I surrender! White flag" I said with a laugh.

"Better" was his only response, "now go cook food" he said pulling me up and pushing me out the door.

___________________

Fifty Years Ago

Oklahoma Territory

"Nature is amazing, isn't it?" I said, looking over yet another spring fed river that had popped up since the bombing. This water, unlike the ocean water, was not contaminated or dangerous, meaning we could swim and be happy... sort of.

"I guess" Gerry mumbled from beside me as he continued to whittle away at a stick.

"You are definitely not a philosopher" I chastised, kicking him. "Come on" I said with a laugh. I pulled my shirt off quickly and threw it on Gerry's head and grabbed my shorts, preparing to pull them off before Gerry scrambled up off the ground in shock.

"What are you doing?!" he said, ripping my shirt of his head and grasping it, staring at the material and myself in shock.

"Swimming! Duh!" I yelled with a laugh, stripping down to my bra and underwear and jumping in the calm river.

"I-uhh-" Gerry stuttered, looking down at my shirt in his hands and then at me. As if realizing something, he quickly threw my shirt on the ground. He was such a chicken, probably scared to swim.

"Don't be a baby, come on!" I yelled as I swam to the middle of the river which was at chest level for me. "It's not that deep!"

Gerry mumbled something incoherently before stripping off his t-shirt.

"What?!"

"Ahhhh nothing" Gerry yelled, frustrated and cantankerous. He took one step in the water and cried out, "That's cold!"

"You get used to it" I said. I splashed him multiple time until he just have up and dunked himself. We had a few splash fights, and before long a few soldiers came strolling by. I beckoned them in and we started a massive game of chicken fight. I climbed onto Gerry's shoulders and beat down everyone we came across, never to be toppled over.

Until Brittock's voice barked "Hanniter!"

Gerry whipped around to see Brittock standing on the shoreline and immediately dumped me backwards into the water.

When I surfaced, all activity had ceased.

"Sorry! Sorry! It's my fault, I know. They should be working but a swim day sounded so great. Don't be mad at them" I rambled as I made my away ashore, soaking wet. Brittock pinned me with a disapproving glare and I did my best not to let it affect me. Instead I looked down. "Excuse me" I said, bending down and picking my clothes up, walking away from the men and toward camp.