David tried not to show the struggle to leave his oldest friend, but the gentle beckoning of Gaia and his son soothed him as it pulled. He moved to join them, not having to look back to know the men who played his fathers had disappeared. He was fully convinced they would handle the heavenly affairs.
Gaia squeezed David so tightly he thought he might stop breathing, as his grown son beamed at him, his hands at his waist.
“Welcome back,” he said.
“Thank you,” David said breathlessly.
Gaia released him from her grasp, only to take his face in her hands and smother it with kisses.
“Let him breathe.” Aengus laughed.
“Okay, okay.” Gaia finally took a step back. The grin on her face refused to fade, her cheeks flushed a rosy pink. “Did you learn that Aengus is not my actual son?”
“You are just as much his mother as Boann, but yes,” David told her. “How did you find each other?”
“When Boann found out she’d spend the rest of her immortal life as a river, she sent out a petition for Danu to watch over his soul,” Gaia explained. “Danu honored her promise and, right before Discordia ended her life, she sent him to me.”
“I’m glad to finally know you,” David told his son. “I regret I never had the opportunity in life.”
“Well, we have an eternity to do so.” Aengus smiled, looking very much like young Davius from Ancient Rome.
“You are staying, right?” Gaia asked, suddenly concerned.
David cupped her shoulder. “There is more to be done on Earth, enough that I must stay planted there. Things are resolved for now, but that doesn’t mean the balance won’t tip again. However, I did finally realize, after all that time of thinking my physical body was failing me, that I am a realm traveler, meant to move freely between them, not force myself to stay in one place. I believe I am supposed to spend my time where I want, and return when I’m needed.”
“What about the others?”
“Morrigan and Lucius are restoring the Netherrealms,” he told her. “Unbeknownst to us, Sandrine and Anubis worked out a plan for her to take over his position in Africa, where she hopes to find and guide those who have inherited the remnants of Isis’s heka. Anubis has resumed his work as guardian of the dead in the Middleworld with Helena. Thomas has offered to take up residence at Lardone Manor, joined by Dan and Cahira when they are not off hunting the rest of Angelique’s demons and recruiting lost gods to come back with them. We have decided to open the house to all reincarnated gods, until everything is back in order. Apparently, Lucius foresaw all of this happening, including his own death, and instructed his lawyers to entrust his entire estate to us.”
Gaia looked surprised, but satisfied by his response. “Then everything is as it should be.”
“Yes, I think it is.” David looked up to see that Aengus had disappeared.
“He likes to be on his own,” Gaia told him as she slipped her hand in his. “He knows we need our time.”
He beamed down at her. “Let’s go home.”
With that, the two lovers walked along the shore, hand in hand under the sunset, its rays throwing gold and copper along their freckled skin, brightening their auburn hair.
EPILOGUE
David stood, wiping the leaves and brush from his pant legs as he searched around the forest floor for his hat. He retrieved it from a tree branch, situating it atop his head, though the weather was calm and warm with the onset of summer. When he visited Earth, he enjoyed dressing the part.
As soon as he exited the forest, he saw the manor ahead, each one of its windows filled with gaslight, the stained glass of the third story fully restored to its former glory. His chest warmed at the sight of it, fully operational and filled with creatures he cared deeply for, but he was in no hurry.
The wind picked up around him as he headed into the cemetery, the sight of the Lardone crypt reminding him of how much he missed Libraean. He smiled when he thought of him alongside Gabriel in the Upperrealms, assured that when business slowed—or when their yearlong honeymoon was over—and he was ready for a visit, he would find him.
He approached the southern cemetery, heading straight towards the Angel of Death gravestone, awkward amongst the dilapidated slabs. He put his hand on the torch and pushed, causing the ground to shift and reveal a hidden opening. He descended quickly, on the off chance someone else otherworldly had caught wind of his presence.
The door sealed as he walked down the long, winding staircase of jutted stone steps, torches lighting his way.
Lucius waited for him at the bottom, sipping a goblet of wine, the chessboard still arranged from the last time they played. He was in his favorite form, a cross between Lucius and Louis, wearing a casual Victorian ensemble with his short black curls brushed away from his forehead.
“How did you know I’d be down to visit?” David asked him, hanging his hat on one of the hooks.
“Call it brotherly intuition,” Lucius shrugged. “Hurry, it’s your move.”
David sat across from him, studying his face before his eyes moved down to the board. “You look tired.”
“I am tired,” he replied, brows furrowed as he studied David’s play. He swept his rook upwards.
“How is she?” David asked as casually as he could, moving his knight out of the way.
“She craves nothing but black licorice,” he told him. “I don’t understand it, either. She was a vampire longer than she ever was a human—I can’t even think about human food.”
David was thoughtful. “Perhaps it’s because the children are human?”
“Whatever the reason,” Lucius swiftly castled the king, “I’ve had to keep it in stock. She’s more tempestuous than I’ve ever seen, and I’m not in the place where I want to encourage her moodiness.”
David felt a whisper of sadness but didn’t reveal it, noticing Lucius had left his queen exposed.
“And how is your family up north?” Lucius asked him.
“Good,” David replied, grateful for the change in subject. He smiled when he thought of Gaia and Aengus on their trip to Ireland. Over time, he’d realized the two of them needed their own time just as much as he and Gaia did, and when Aengus was summoned for diplomatic measures, he urged Gaia to join him. “I’m interested to see what they uncover on their trip.”
“Ah, yes. The humans,” Lucius nodded. “Have you been to the manor yet? Tell my granddaughter her mother is upset she’s only come to visit once.”
