Usual disclaimers concerning who should read what and whether or not it is legal for you to do so, so forth and so on. This is a work of fiction and should be treated as such.
Well folks, my deepest apologies for how long it took me to get this chapter to you. Too many changes in my work life, the tinyest case of writer's block and general apathy makes for one hell of a long delay. Now for the next apology, though this one is in advance. I have played merry havock with Greek mythology, slandered another well established religion and plan on going even further with it after this chapter. Grant me creative license and see where this takes us, ok? After all, this is only in my head and actually, not necessarily really my opinion at all. Enough said, read on!
"Near Collision"
By Lael Stalnaker
Chapter 4: Further Explanations
Bryce and Skyler froze as the voice repeated its demand,
"What the hell is going on Skyler? I think an explanation is definitely in order." Ethan growled from the open doorway. He had that definite pissed off look that some people get when they think that someone they care about has held out on them. Despite the scowl on his face, Ethan couldn't help assessing the body that was straddled over his twin' form. He was certainly impressed with Skyler's choice of bed partner, though not with his discretion.
Skyler and Bryce disentangled themselves from each other. Ethan continued to stand scowling in the doorway. He did not seem to care about how embarrassing this situation might be for the two on the bed. It was blatantly obvious that he was about ready to commit bodily harm on someone soon if not satisfied with the answers given. Or extracted, as the case may be.
Skyler began to blush so deeply that his entire head was turning dark red. His ears and neck burned. He yanked the sheet off of the bed and wrapped it around Bryce's waist. He did nothing for himself. They sat side by side on the edge of the bed and faced Ethan's furious glare. Bryce looked Ethan over as he was getting the once over himself. There was absolutely no doubt that Skyler and Ethan were identical in nearly every way.
Ethan's eyebrow rose as he realized that this stranger was giving him the eye. He did take a small amount of satisfaction in Skyler's brightly burning blush. Served him right for not shutting the door to the hall. Even more for not saying anything about this guy. So much for no secrets! The thought made Ethan even angrier about the situation. He began to rapidly ask questions, in the twin speak they had always used when they wanted to be private and couldn't.
"So, are ya jus' gonna sit there an' turn pretty colors? What's going on Sky?" asked Ethan again. Switching back to a more understandable English, Ethan sliced into Bryce, "Could you excuse us please? I need to talk with my brother for a moment. You can use my room to get dressed or wait or whatever."
Bryce turned to Skyler and looked into his eyes with concern. Skyler gave a faint, pained smile and nodded toward the bathroom door. After acknowledging with a nod of his own, Bryce leaned over to kiss Skyler on the lips. He was purposely slow about it too. Then he rose from the edge of the bed and let the sheet drop to the floor in a puddle of shiny red fabric. Ignoring Ethan completely, he walked naked through the bathroom and into Ethan's room. Once there, he turned and firmly shut the door without slamming it. Ethan continued to stand in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb as if it was the only thing that would hold him up. He stared down at the satin sheet that lay in a frothy pile of cloth.
When Ethan finally looked up from the floor, Skyler had regained his normal skin coloring. Ethan winced though when he caught a good look at Skyler's expression. Maybe he had been a little pushy, rude, and just downright childish in how he had handled the situation. He was just so tired. He also had been caught completely off-guard by the sight that had greeted him as he passed Skyler's room. They both had always been so careful about letting each other know about 'partners' in the house so that this exact type of situation would not happen. The growing silence was beginning to cut into Ethan. 'Damn it!' he thought to himself.
"Look Sky, I'm sorry for being a prick. I'm tired, surprised and hurt. Forgive?" asked Ethan.
"Yeah, no prob. I can see your point," replied Skyler. He thumped the bed next to him with the palm of his hand. Ethan pulled himself upright from the doorjamb and walk/staggered over to the bed. He plopped himself next to his brother and then fell flat on the bed. He covered his eyes with the crook of his elbow and exhaled explosively. Skyler turned toward his brother from the edge of the bed. He pulled his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around his shins. He looked carefully at his brother. He could see stress lines across Ethan's forehead and how taunt his muscles were in his shoulders and neck. Skyler then realized that there was more going on than just this outburst.
"What's really wrong Ether? This isn't like you at all. Under normal circumstances, you would have waited until we were alone to ask what was up? So, what is it?"
"Everything that could go wrong today, did. This was just the final straw; that's all. Actually, I guess yesterday is the correct word. I haven't had any sleep for 24 hours. The entire computer system I spent the last 9 months putting together crashed and burned last night. Some kind of virus got into the BIOS and ate everything. All the data, gone! I was just lucky that it didn't jump onto the campus' system and destroy that too! Then I get the brush off from William when I called him to cancel a date and tried to reschedule. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast yesterday, my head is splitting down the middle and I get home to you fucking the brains out of someone I don't know."
Skyler cringed in sympathy at the litany of woes and then put his hand on Ethan's arm. Ethan burst into tears. Skyler unfurled himself and pulled Ethan into his arms. Ethan adjusted himself unconsciously to Skyler's form and continued to cry. They had done this frequently while growing up; whoever was hurting would just hang onto the other and let it all out. There was nothing self-conscious about it at all. They were just too close to let it bother them. Ethan finally began to pull himself back together again. Once he stopped crying, he just lay there. Skyler brushed the hair out of Ethan's eyes and kissed his forehead.
"Better? At least a little?" he asked softly.
"Yeah, a little. Look, we'll talk later. I'll apologize to... what's his name? You can give me that much before I go eat crow," said Ethan sheepishly. He brushed the tears from his eyes with the backs of his knuckles and pushed himself up off of Skyler's chest.
"All right, his name is Bryce Jackson and we'll talk about the rest of it later. I am warning you now, Ether, Bryce is going to be around for a while. Please try and accept him. I'll tell you as much as I can later, OK?" asked Skyler.
Ethan just nodded and sat back up completely. He laughed kind of hoarsely as he looked down at Skyler's lap. Skyler glanced down himself and then his face flamed back into shades of crimson that were as yet unnamed within the living memory of mankind. Skyler was rock hard again. Just saying Bryce's name set him off sexually. Ethan made a swipe at the erect pole as he pulled himself off the bed. Skyler blocked him and grasped the hand as it went by. Ethan found himself flat on the bed again as Skyler whirled the trapped hand in a tight circle and pulled Ethan onto his stomach. Skyler pounced and landed square on Ethan's back. He pressed him into the mattress and began to attack Ethan's sides with the tips of his fingers.
This was a comforting and familiar ritual that the twins had been using ever since their first fight in the playpen. They just couldn't stay angry at each other for long. So, once all the words had been said that mattered, the two always roughhoused to take the edge off of the dispute. Ethan finally got some leverage and tossed Skyler from his back. He then lunged sideways and glommed over Skyler before he recovered from being thrown off balance. Their giggles and laughter became louder and louder. Both liked to fight as dirty as possible, no blow being too low for this game as long as no one was physically hurt.
Thud! Thud! Two bodies slid right off the silk mattress sheet and landed on the floor in a tangle. They collapsed in hysterical laughter at this point. Ethan looked like an entire gang had mugged him. His clothes hung off him (barely) in tatters that wouldn't cover a toddler adequately. Skyler had decided that Ethan had an unfair advantage in being clothed while he was stark-ass naked. So, in the interest of fairness and good sportsmanship, he took care of that during their tussle.
As they lay there recovering, they both clearly heard Ethan's bathroom door open. Bryce came through the door and stood in Skyler's doorway. He had an entirely too smug amused look on his face. He parodied Ethan's earlier stance and leaned into the doorjamb. He then exaggerated a leer at both of them. Ethan and Skyler looked at each other and then back at Bryce. They collapsed back into manic laughter again.
"I take it you two have worked things out? I was just checking to make sure we didn't need an ambulance or immediate emergency surgery or something else equally dire. I see that is most certainly not the case. If you are done mauling each other like bull terriers, may I have my clothes now?" requested Bryce.
"Sorry about my rudeness earlier Bryce. I had a really bad 24 hours and lost my temper over something I shouldn't have even paid any attention to. Forgive me, please?" apologized Ethan with a touch of embarrassment.
"Of course you are forgiven. We were in the wrong as well. We should have made sure that the door was closed when we came in here. My fault actually."
Ethan hauled himself off of the floor and looked down at his tattered clothing. The simple motion of getting off the floor had caused them to give up the ghost and fall away from him. Skyler had been absolutely thorough in his destruction. Ethan blushed to the roots of his blond hair. It was one thing to go bare with Skyler. It was something else entirely to be naked in front of a complete stranger. Especially one that had just had sex with his brother! Skyler giggled and held up a hand to Ethan. Ethan grabbed Skyler's wrist and pulled him up from the floor. On the way up, Skyler gracefully grabbed Bryce's clothes. He tossed the bundle to Bryce with a warm smile.
Catching the bundled clothing, Bryce turned and went into the bathroom, high on his dignity. He calmly shut the door on the two brothers. As the door clicked shut, Ethan groaned and scooped up his destroyed clothes. He punched Skyler in the arm, hard, and went the long way around into his own room. The door shut behind him and Skyler was alone to put his room back into a semblance of order. He got things reasonably straightened out and then collapsed on his bed. That is, after shutting his door!
Bryce came out of the bathroom and shut the door behind him as he came into Skyler's room. Skyler was now stretched out on his bed. His head was thrown back and his breathing was very shallow. He had passed out. After all, he too had not had any sleep in nearly 24 hours either. Bryce studied the sleeping form for nearly an hour. Then he shrugged and climbed onto the bed with Skyler. Skyler rolled onto his side, even in his sleep accommodating the other body on his bed. Bryce kept his clothes on and curled up to Skyler's backside. He gave a hopeful nudge with his hips but Skyler remained oblivious to the world. Bryce vented a faint sigh of disappointment and gave up. Within moments, he too was sleeping.
Skyler stretched as his eyes opened. He turned his head slightly to catch a glimpse of the clock. It said 6:34pm. He groaned and turned his face into the pillow. The whole day? He had slept the entire day away. Abruptly, he became aware of the body, other than his own, that occupied the bed with him. He could feel the slick smoothness of rayon cloth against his bare backside. There was also a very rigid hardness pressed firmly against him too. Full recollection of the day and night before flooded through Skyler's mind. He smiled to himself and ground his hips against the warm body behind him. Bryce's arm immediately snaked its way under Skyler's arm and over his chest. Bryce cupped the firm muscles of Skyler's chest as he nibbled on the only accessible ear.
"Hold on a second there, studly. Tempting though this really is, we should hold off a bit. There are some questions I want to ask, before I loose track of them with this voluntary mutual molestation we seem to be heading for right now," explained Skyler as he pried Bryce off of his ear. He then gripped Bryce's hand and lifted it up. While he had the hand, he flipped his body around so that they were now face to face.
Slowly, the lust faded from Bryce's eyes and he nodded acquiescence to Skyler's determination that they hold off. Then he grinned fiendishly. The light of lust returned to his eyes and he moved in closer to Skyler. His hands roamed over Skyler's body in clear challenge.
"Ask your questions. While you speak, I explore! I am perfectly capable of doing more than one thing at a time," snickered Bryce in triumph. His hands began to get more aggressive now.
"Hey, how am I supposed to be able to think right with you doing this to me?" gasped Skyler as Bryce proved that he had Skyler's complete attention. Bryce was now stroking Skyler's raging hard-on. Skyler gritted his teeth, shut his eyes and tried to block out all thoughts other than the questions that he felt needed answers. Through his tightly clenched teeth he asked,
"All right, as long as you answer the questions... I guess you win both ways, you twerp!"
Bryce just nodded and gave his attention to Skyler's body. Not that he wasn't listening. Most certainly he was, just not exactly with his ears. His hands found their way to every part of Skyler's body. Skyler was beginning to shiver violently from the sheer pleasure that trailed along Bryce's touch. Then, he mentally shook his head and began to fight to keep his own purpose in front of his body's fiercely rising demands. Skyler then decided to try a different approach to the current problem. He visualized his body as a switchboard and then located the switch for his sense of touch. He mentally flicked it off. Then he flicked off his sexuality. It seemed to work. He was able to fight against Bryce's 'god given' expertise and keep his mind on what he wanted to ask.
"Well, nice try bud, but let's make with the answers now. You can keep playing if you want, but I know how to avoid this game until I am ready to play. So, let's get going, shall we?" murmured Skyler through his tightly clenched teeth.
Bryce sighed but kept on with his current objective. After all, Skyler had issued the challenge. How could he not take it up? Besides he had a reputation that must be upheld, even only to him self. Bryce really wasn't in the mood to answer awkward questions. However, this could prove to be very interesting. He wondered how long it would take for Skyler to crack under the physical pressure he intended to put him through.
"OK, here's a good one to start with... how did you loose track of everyone? Why did you all split up?"
"Good place to start indeed. Well, I suppose that the true beginning of the end, so to speak, was the fall of Greece to the Romans. They took everything of use, including our sacred tales and twisted them to their own use. They went so far as to Romanize our names, further distancing us from our true people. Not long after this, at least to our perception, the Christ cult came to Rome.
"This cult swept through like a plague. We were able to recognize the further twisting and changing of certain stories into this new cult. Within a few generations, a mere blink in time to us, the cult had primacy throughout the empire. Many of us turned our backs on mankind at this point, some out of disgust and others out of grief. This cult took much of the joy out of the world. Our own worshippers embraced the cult as feverishly as most of the world.
"In part, this was our own doing and fault. We had turned our backs on our followers too often out of absurdity and vanity. This one or that one found our displeasure in some hideous and cruel manner. We, ourselves, had set up the perfect environment for the cult of Christ to take root. Our worshippers dwindled away to near nothing and then were gone entirely.
"We all gathered together one last time. It was a general mess. Most of us were grieving for the passing of our time. Many feared that without our worshippers, we would fade away to nothing, returning to the Chaos that spawned the Eldest. Some wanted supreme revenge on the mortals that had dared to turn from us. The arguments raged for decades. Then, Athena pointed out a very simple fact. 'We were free!'
"We all were stunned. It was so simple. Athena continued, 'We are no longer bound to mortal worshippers! They have passed on and away, yet we are still here. We are all that we have ever been and yet we do not fade away. We retain our powers, but we are not fueled by mortal worship! We the embodiment of their concepts and while those concepts yet exist, we endure. While mortals still enact our concepts, we may be as we have always been. Better yet, we no longer have to pander to mortal need and whim. Therefore, we are free to act, as we like!'
"Perhaps I should better explain what I mean by embodiment of concept rather than embodiment of worship. I will use myself as the example. All of the Olympians evolved from certain concepts and ideas. These concepts are important to the well being of mortal kind. I came into existence with the first act of love. Over the eons, I have evolved into a self- aware entity that is fueled by each act of physical love. Rape does nothing for me, as it is the willing participation of both parties that generates the emotions and energies that form my being." Bryce paused for a moment and then grinned at Skyler.
Bryce passed his fingertips in front of Skyler's eyes. He waited a moment and then trailed his forefinger down Skyler's side. Skyler shivered with pleasure and then gasped. He could see energy radiating in the wake of the moving finger, barely there, faint. That energy leapt from his body with the motion of the shivers. Then it spiraled up and into Bryce. It just spread out as it approached him and then settled onto his skin. Once there, it slowly melted into him.
Skyler nodded his understanding. A sudden thought sprang up and he followed it. He narrowed his vision focus and looked at Bryce with his eyes nearly closed. They popped back all the way open almost at once with his astonishment. When using soft vision, he could see wave after wave of incredibly faint energy flowing over and into Bryce. Skyler thought for a moment and then laughed. 'That would be the millions that are actively screwing, or rather, making love literally, at this minute and the energy automatically comes to him,' he thought to himself with awe.
"So, all of you gather energy this way? This is where your power comes from?" asked Skyler, when he was able to stop shivering from the wayward hand trailing over his skin.
"Just so. We each are 'fed' by the concept we embody. Some embody more than one concept. Those are the stronger gods. Also, those that embody primal forces like the sun or lightning also have much more strength than those who only embody abstracts do. Anyway, back to the answer you desired... unless you would rather go back to that later?" Bryce whispered into Skyler's ear suggestively. The slight movement of air against his earlobe tingled hotly. Skyler froze for a moment and then shook his head clear.
"No, continue your story. I really want to know what happened." Replied Skyler regretfully and yet with keen interest.
Bryce sighed softly in disappointment, but then continued.
"As you wish. Where was I? Oh yes, the realization that we would go on. We all basically gawked for a while as her words sank in. It had the profound impact that Truth often does on the ignorant. It swept us into a state let me tell you! We all reveled in the understanding that while mortals had originally empowered and endowed us with our various aspects, they no longer bound us. Then came something unexpected by many of us; mutiny.
"Zeus found that his authority had no meaning without the structure of human worship. Many choose to immediately head out into the mortal world to seek whatever they desired, be it experiences, knowledge, or even simple delight in interacting with mortals. Zeus did try to keep control of us, but failed. Even I soon left; bored with the petty bickering that was still the main basis of immortal interplay. I left before finding out what they had decided for the far future.
"For centuries I simply went from place to place, people to people. Then, near the end of the Renaissance I think, I decided to partially disembody myself. I choose to only reveal myself through the dream world of mankind. It was easier and cost me less, emotionally and physically. Despite my main energy being from the physicality of love, I do have the full range of mortal emotions. That too was incorporated into us as we came into being. We literally evolved at the whim of humanity in the beginning. Later, due to organized religion, we became bound into the structures that you modern mortals are familiar with.
"Now, after so many long years, a longing has come over me to see those other immortals. Very rarely did I cross paths with one of my brethren. It did not always go well either. We do not change easily now or even back in the days of worship. I want to know how many of us still walk the earth. I worry that some might have perished, by what means, I know not. I want to know if we have truly adapted with the ages and with mankind. This fierce longing bites at me even now.
"Then came you," Bryce said, kissing Skyler's cheek.
"I was in one of those rare moments that I actually had decided to take physical form. You nearly crashed into the back of me. I watched you in the mirror for those too few blocks. I felt the ache radiating from you as you turned onto the other street. You captured my attention so completely that I immediately disembodied to follow you. Then you dreamt of me. That was your own doing not mine... well, not the first time anyway.
"I do admit to tampering with the second dream. When it started the same way, I entered into it with you. For the space of that dream, we were one. Now we are more. Does that satisfy the question, my Sky?" inquired Bryce.
"Well, certainly the first one, but I have others. You haven't won this game completely yet. You said that the immortals embodied concepts. What about the stories about mortals that became immortal? How does that fit?" asked Sky out of sheer will. Bryce had resumed the full frontal assault.
"Hades! You are stubborn! Very well. Yes, there were mortals that became immortal. One way or another, each of these mortals was permanently connected to a concept through the aid of the immortals. Once the connection was in place, the energy of the concept kept them immortal and gave them their power. I do not know if any of these created immortals survived any better than the born ones." Bryce began to delicately nibble on the inside of Sky's thigh. Chills ran down Skyler's spine. He clenched his eyes shut and forced his breathing into a more even keel. His thoughts were definitely beginning to scatter again.
"What's going to happen when we find someone?" gasped Skyler, nearly biting his tongue in the process. The shivers were turning to shudders of purest erotic pleasure. Bryce was now gently massaging the back of Skyler's right knee with his tongue. Skyler's calf was resting on Bryce's left shoulder. His hands were spread wide on Skyler's stomach, oh so tenderly dragging along the shape of the muscles there. It was a double hit on the sensual circuits. It also exposed Skyler for the next move.
"Well, I can not be certain what will happen. I have a deep feeling of unease. Something is going to happen and soon. I also 'feel' that we will need to gather together again to face some catastrophe. What that is, I do not know. I also only 'know' that it will be soon, with in a year. This is why I am becoming desperate to find my kin. I truly do need your help, my Sky. There is simply too much that I do not understand about your modern world.
"I spent too long disembodied. I think that by only interacting with mortals through dreams, I lost connection with the waking world. It was terribly hard to incorporate into this body. I have not maintained one in nearly 500 years."
"Not that anyone could tell!" muttered Skyler under his breath.
Bryce moved his tongue from under Skyler's knee and trailed it up the thigh. He brought one hand down from the six-pack he had been toying with and carefully lifted Skyler's nuts. Cupping them in his hand, he drew his tongue underneath them. He swirled around and around the exposed nether region. Skyler gasped softly as the warm and agile tongue entered him. His back arched and then he moaned loudly.
"OK! You win. No more questions for now." Skyler managed to gasp out. Bryce ignored him and kept at it. Skyler's hands were now clenching into the smooth silkiness of the sheets. His back was arched into a near spasm. He tossed his head back and forth as the sensations mounted within him. Finally, he could take no more and yelled at the top of his lungs. Bryce stopped and looked into Skyler's eyes.
"You want me to stop?" he asked with feigned concern on his face, eyes twinkling with mirth.
"You do and I'll never speak to you again!"
Skyler woke the next morning with a start. A wave of deja vu washed over him. He could have sworn that he had just done this. He glanced over and saw Bryce's sleeping form sprawled next to him. He studied Bryce for a moment and then reluctantly slipped out of bed. He desperately wanted to take a shower. He couldn't believe that he had spent the entire day and night in bed. It was just not something he would normally do. Actually, he had never done anything like that in his entire life before.
He went into the bathroom and found a note taped to the mirror. He ignored it for a moment and went about his business. Once he had flushed the toilet, he turned on the shower. Turning back to the mirror, he yanked the note off and read it.
Sky,
Wow! You must have had some night. I'll be
back this evening. Let's have that little
talk that you promised me, hmmm? So, is he
a keeper? I am totally jealous, you dog! He
puts William to total shame!
Love ya bro!
Ether
Skyler grinned to himself and tossed the note onto the counter. The mirror was now completely fogged over. He stepped into the shower and let it pound onto his neck and back. It felt wonderful. Thankfully, his muscles weren't really knotted all that badly. Skyler began to giggle to himself. It appeared that there might be a drawback or two to having sex with the god of love, especially on a regular basis. Who could deal with such expert attentions, beyond the ability of any normal man, without becoming entirely lost in it?
Skyler finally had to get on with the shower. He soaped down quickly and then rinsed. He paid special attention to his blond hair. Bryce had managed to get his essence from one end of Skyler's body to the other. Making sure that he had gotten all of the dried sticky stuff out, he ran his hands through to be absolutely positive he hadn't missed any. The water was noticeably cooling when Skyler finally shut off the tap. He did his usual fingers down his skin to remove excess water. Then he reached around the glass door and snagged a towel from the hanger.
Once he was satisfied with drying off, he stepped out of the shower stall. Stepping over to the counter, Skyler brushed at the fogged over mirror with the edge of the towel. He stared into his face with a trace of amazement. Despite the slight distortion from the fogging still adhering to the mirror, he could see himself well enough to note a particular but subtle change.
If Skyler squinted his eyes just a little bit, he could see a faint glow coming from his skin. Without the squinting, he just looked inordinately healthy. He finger-combed his hair back from his face and smiled at his reflection. For the first time in months, he felt genuinely happy. Abruptly, a thought flashed through his head. He should have no trouble at all finishing his thesis now! He had a totally original source for his theory now, Bryce! Skyler laughed to himself. Talk about an end to damn near all of his current problems!
Skyler ran his hand over the two-day old stubble along his jaw. It felt like sandpaper. 'This will never do,' he thought to himself. He got out his shaving stuff and got to it. Within minutes, he was back to his usual clean-shaven self. He brushed his teeth and then brushed his thick blond hair. Finally satisfied with his overall appearance, Skyler cleaned up the counter, putting away everything he had taken out. Throwing the towel back onto the rack, he quietly turned the doorknob to his bedroom. He slipped back into his room as soundlessly as possible.
When he turned toward his bed, it was empty. It was neatly made with the bedspread that Bryce had caused to appear. The curtains were pulled wide, letting the morning sun stream into the room. The usual darkness had been vanquished thoroughly. Skyler glanced around quickly to see if Bryce was anywhere around. The room was completely empty, but not cheerless.
Skyler threw on his silk robe and went out into the hall. Ethan's door was shut and the hall was empty. He walked down the hall to the living room. The vertical blinds leading to the patio were drawn back. Brilliant sunlight flooded the living room with light and warmth. Skyler paused for a minute to watch the sunbeams shifting across the carpet. Everything seemed so different today. Then a wonderful odor wafted to him. He continued on into the dining room.
Here again the curtains were pulled back, letting in the light. On the table was breakfast. Hot muffins, grape juice, eggs sunny side up, bacon and hash with red and green bell peppers. Skyler frowned as he glanced at the table. It was set for one. There was no sign of Bryce here. He looked into the kitchen briefly and then headed back for his bedroom. Once there, he finally noticed a note attached to his dresser mirror.
Still frowning, he walked over and tugged it free. It was written on a very thick looking paper in dark ink. The strokes of the printing were broad and strong. There was also a very angular quality to the letters. Skyler laughed briefly as he figured out that the letters had a definite Greek cast to them while still being perfectly recognizable English. Done with the cursory examination, he got to the actual reading,
My Sky,
I must go for a time. I do not know how long
I will be. If you have need of me, simply
think of me as I showed myself to you the
night of the blade. That image is vivid in
your mind and I will watch for it. I will
explain upon my return.
Bryce had signed it with a tiny bow and arrow against a pair of wings. Skyler chewed on his lip for a minute and then folded the note into quarters. He tucked it into his robe pocket. He sighed a bit wistfully and went back to the dining room. The breakfast looked too good to just ignore and besides, he was totally starving at this point. He hadn't eaten at all yesterday. After making short work of the food, Skyler got the dishes into the dishwasher. Once everything was back to a semblance of order, Skyler went down the hall and knocked on Ethan's door gently. When he got no answer, he turned the knob and silently cracked the door open. Ethan was also gone.
Grumbling to himself about no one sticking around, Skyler went back to his own room. He got dressed quickly and grabbed his book bag off the floor by the dresser. He went back to the living room with the sack in tow. Once there, he stared out onto the patio for a while, just drifting through his thoughts about the last 4 days. So much had changed in the blink off an eye. Shaking off his reverie, Skyler hauled the pile of books out of the bag.
He tugged out his notebook and flipped it open to where he left off. Skyler figured he might as well get some work done as long as no one else was around. He was hopeful that the block he had been experiencing was now over with. He grabbed one of the thick texts that had been so much trouble less than two days ago and opened it to the marked place. He glanced into his notebook and then took a look at the page of the open book. He nearly dropped everything in surprise.
Here and there, scattered all over were tiny red Greek letters. It puzzled Skyler for a moment and then he went with a hunch, he grabbed another book and then another. He spread the open books all over the living room floor. Then he looked at his notebook again. The red letters matched up to other books and his notes. He began devouring the first notation. Naturally, it started with Alpha. By the time he had gotten to Beta, he understood exactly what was going on. Bryce had somehow gone through and paired up everything for him. Everything was right there in front of him, in Latin and Greek. The differences between the Greek and Roman versions of the stories had been noted with a red letter at the beginning of each difference. Skyler chortled with glee. He could finish his thesis without any further headache.
Skyler would still have to write out his own observations, but a majority of the truly difficult work was now in the past. Besides, the observations and analysis were just as difficult as the research. Still, months had been shaved off of the work. Skyler definitely intended to thank Bryce soundly for the help. By the time the sun was near setting, Skyler was over two-thirds of the way through his first reading with the notations.
Skyler finally forced himself to take a break and pushed the books away from him self. He twisted his neck to the side and listened to the rapid pop of his neck vertebrae as he turned his head. He repeated the motion from the other direction with equal results. He then leaned forward and bent himself nearly double as he flattened his chest to the floor between his outstretched legs. While in that position, he reached up to his ankles and grabbed them. It kind of surprised him that he was able to do it without straining.
Once he felt loosened up from his day of study, he gathered the books up and stuffed them back into his bag. It had been quite a while since he had felt so good about the schoolwork. Skyler's stomach growled as he put the book-bag on the coffee table. He got off the floor and wandered into the kitchen. After rummaging through the fridge, he basically snacked away the hunger pangs. Skyler hated cooking, so this solution didn't bother him in the least.
Skyler flicked on the overhead lights as he came back into the living room munching on celery stalks. He sat himself on the sofa and grabbed the sci-fi book he had started over the weekend. Throwing his legs up onto the couch, he snuggled into the cushions to get as comfortable as possible. He grinned at his book bag and then opened to the place he had left off last. Within moments he was completely absorbed in the story once more.
Ethan closed and latched the front door quietly behind him. He could see Skyler crashed out on the couch again. 'Must mean Bryce isn't here,' thought Ethan to himself. He set his laptop case down by the door and went into the living room. He removed the book from Skyler's limp grip, setting it on the table again. Then he went over to the recliner and sat cross-legged on it. He sat staring at Skyler for a long while.
Ethan was positive that there was something different about his twin. Not just in how he looked, but also the feel of him was changed. The two had always been hyperaware of each other, nearly to the point of telepathy, certainly to the point of total empathy. They always knew exactly what the other was feeling if not necessarily what the other was thinking. But now... Ethan could feel a blank space coming from Skyler. It was small, but glared out at Ethan. He could sense the other normal goings on, but Skyler was obviously blocking him out on something. It made no sense, unless it had something to do with the events of the last few days.
Ethan nodded to himself. Yes, it had to be Bryce. As Ethan watched Skyler sleep, he noticed some of the physical differences too. Skyler looked more vibrant, more there than before. He also looked a shade more golden. 'Golden?' Ethan asked himself. He got off the recliner and went over to his sleeping brother. He looked more closely at his brother's face and arms. He carefully placed his arm next to Skyler's to compare them. They both originally had the same exact shade of tan, a medium golden brown. Now Skyler's looked more golden, more luminous. Ethan frowned to himself in thought.
Still puzzled, Ethan turned out the light and left Skyler on the couch. It wouldn't hurt him any to spend the night there again. Ethan walked down the hall slowly and peeped into Skyler's room. He quickly noted the small changes to the room. Shaking his head, Ethan moved on to his own room. He definitely would have a talk with Skyler in the morning. Hell or high water, Ethan intended to get some logical answers.
That's it for Chapter 4 folks. Hope it satisfied. :)
Any comments can be directed to me at LaelSt@aol.com or ICQ #11938988. All communiques will be responded to. At long last, a decision has been reached as to whom Eros and Skyler find first. Or is it, who finds them? But, the mystery god/dess doesn't come until chapter 6 .
My heartfelt thanks to those who wrote with ideas and wonderful comments. I have absolutely loved some of the conversations that have arisen from the comments. It has fueled my imagination and also kept me from making some minor mistakes. Every little bit helps and encourages me to dredge my brain for the right stuff. Goodness, look what turned up so far! Chapter 5 is on the way now. Hope to have it up soon and a lot faster than this last one!