*As Nikos Kazantzakis said, ‘The weak always shout and boast. The strong stay silent and get on with their lives.’ *
1181
She laughed. “He has been holding out on me, I thought he did not know how to communicate. Hey Teller, tell us, since we are writing the script, what makes you think you could win?”
*It might be because you are not the Spider - but I see you want my powers, so let me make you a gift then.*
I reached in and opened the doors in their minds to compassion and empathy. At the same time I examined their own powers and then locked shut the doors. My namesake Robert was desperately trying to attack my awareness centre, but since it was the size of the void, infinite in other words, he had no way to do so. Anybody cracks a joke about my ego being infinite in size will regret it 
They could no longer hear me mentally so I created a doppelganger. “If I were you, I would find a very deep hole and hide. I do not think your Master has any use for you now. All your powers have been destroyed and I gave you the gift of empathy. You go anywhere close to him I think he will throw up all over you. For your sakes, I hope you get away, as I do not think he will treat you as gently as I have.” I faded away - the energy net had dissolved when I killed their powers, and returned home.
“Robert they killed a whole lot of people. Already they say there are at least thirty one deaths. How can we save them all?”
“Their deaths are not because of us love. They used the earthquake to mislead us. They were clever, they used a natural disaster, amplified it (το ενισχύσανε) around our home, which made it look as if that was the attack, and then tried to place an energy net over all of you. I wondered why they were being so stupid about trying the energy net again, but decided that as it has worked for them for a very long time, they must have thought Frank messed up. It is difficult to discard a tool which has proven itself over a long time, so I let them capture me. That decision of mine was correct. They tried to capture me in the same way Frank did. Unfortunately for them, I was the void so they could not. I have a feeling they will not try to use it again. So, we have survived another round and this time we caused a lot of damage. They have lost some of their most powerful tools. I burned out seven of them, did you get all forty or so? (I asked Solomon)”
“We did. They were literally from all over your planet. Do you think they will attack again now?”
“Not tonight. They must be badly shaken by this turn of events. They thought we were weak and we stole two of his tools, sorry Perikli and Michaeli, but I think that is all you were to him, and we have destroyed nearly fifty. In return they have only managed to cause some damage which we were able to repair. I hope they have used the worst of what they have, but we’ll stay prepared for worse to come. If the damage tonight had been to us only, I’d say continue with the party, we have reason to celebrate, but it would be callous of us when so many have died and who knows how many more are still trapped. Perikli and Savva, you better send your doppelgangers, I’m sure you will be expected to be at your offices.”
“We waited for you so as to tell you we cannot Robert. My people are suffering, I have to go.”
“I understand. I’ll try to protect you. Both of you, where we can help save trapped people without exposing ourselves, let us know. I wish we could all join you and save every possible life. Our only comfort is that Solomon is looking after the ones who died and we can return them to a new and hopefully better life without the void making them suffer. My heart goes out to their loved ones though.”
“Please do not be foolish and come out to help Roberto. He knows empathy is your power. He will be expecting you to expose yourself and your group.”
Wendy wanted to jump to her studio to check on the damage, but I forbade it. Tonight we had to stay together. Alki backed me, telling her, when she tried to insist, that anything needs to be replaced, he’ll replace it.
We had a few after-tremors (δονήσεις), normal ones, but everyone trusted in the protector and there was no more fear. We watched on television the news with its constant count of deaths and pictures of destruction. It was depressing and when we all went to our beds, it was without our usual banter. The little ones were all allowed to sleep up against me, as this helped to comfort them.
1182
Chapter Ninety Five
These months of us all living together have not resulted in friction and tempers fraying - they have brought us all closer so that at times it has felt as if we are all one large family. Birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated more through the spirit of love we shared, than by large gifts and nights out on the town. Cherine, Dommi and I are now well into our fifth year of being together. We have enjoyed four years of growth. Growth not only in our gifts and family, but more importantly in our love. As much as we love all our family, there still remains a special bond between the three of us.
Cherine still looks only about nine years old, Dommi about sixteen and I had to stop myself from looking younger than twenty. Four years have not accustomed me to the sweet body of Cherine and I still feel the trembling in my limbs whenever I caress her. One interesting factor I had not expected became evident; though she is now in actual years in her twelfth year and is mature in many of the Cherinian ways, she is still in many ways a nine year old girl. Even Dommi is the sweetheart she had been at sixteen. As for me, they all tease me that I am a twelve year old. I have strengthened in many ways, even become at times, despite my intentions, a little bit arrogant in that I sometimes expect instant and unquestioning obedience, but I am most of the time still that young man of ideals and immature expectations I like being.
It is almost impossible for me to think of my babies as babies. They all have spent so much time as little girls of seven to ten, that I automatically think of them as being that age. Aganthi and Claudia have regressed, when they allow their bodies to revert to their chosen age, they look and feel to all of us no older than ten. My sweet Diana, my darling girl of magic, she looks as she did the day she joined us, but now there is a look in her eyes that I ache to take away from her. The fact that her twins are so dearly beloved by not only all the others, but myself too, has not taken away from her the guilt she tormented herself with when she thought they caused my death. It is my priority immediately this war ends to take the time to cleanse her soul with my love. As far as I can see, the only way is to beg her to give me another child, force her that way through a crisis and hopefully a catharsis.
Alki is tackling life with the energy and vigour of a twenty year old. Having to sell off nearly all his businesses created a challenge for him and he loves challenges. Marian I have commented on often. She is pretty and sweet enough to eat. She looks about eighteen and refuses to let herself look younger, except now for this period of crisis.
That brings up another interesting point. By all the adults having to adopt the apparent ages of seven to nine, we have all in many ways become more childlike again. Even poor Jonathan, who had a tough time of it to start off, is able now, since he still makes love with his (now) child bride, to appreciate that children have their sexual needs too. Though he would never show it, I bet he looks at Em-e in my arms, sees her coming to my bed and regrets his blindness when he could have brought her into his circle and loved that sweet body and personality.
Who has not been changed - whether it is temporarily or longterm. Socrati with Andrea, who now have no inhibitions anymore in showing their deep love for each other, even if they do not make love to each other. Cherine says she now can sense that they will grow apart and each have their own circle, but they will remain related circles. Or what of Keith and Annabelle. Her being forced to become so young, with his youth also, they no longer worry about the difference in their ages and I can feel how they long for the days when they can permanently become as they were and love each other as they truly are. We have felt them at night, for their lovemaking, sometimes change their ages so that he is an adult and she is his dear eleven year lover again. I have a feeling a new word will have to be coined for those who become obsessed with pampering their feelings of nostalgia.
Savva and his wife, maybe because they are kids themselves, it seems are now able to love their kids and hopefully Agapi and Klo will no longer need to turn to me. With what I taught them they have turned back to their family and often they appear in the mornings with that smug satisfied look that tells me Tasso has faced most of his taboos and conquered his upbringing. Soon as he can revert to being an adult, I think he might be looking to extend his family with the babies his little girls want.
I have deliberately turned a blind eye to Niko and his two miracle loves. After the teasing he put me through, it would have been sweet revenge to have a go at him, but I enjoy seeing him so much in love and am happy not to do that.
Pavlos stayed at home, I did not think he would be at risk, but Angelo and Henry are the two who are suffering, especially as they are both children, with some of the lack of self-control and reasoning it implies. They are now living amongst a group of children who also have loosened their own self-control and make no secret of their lusts and love for each other, and they can also feel the passions of lovemaking that sometimes are not controlled and felt by all of us. They have not once complained or tried to touch any of the girls, though I see Henry look at Cherine with a yearning in his eyes that makes me feel guilty for not having the maturity to accept him in my bed.
1183
The frail look my Wendy has, even the second Wendy and my Candy have, so it seems to be their natural appearance and I no longer worry about it. I know what a strong heart beats within that tiny body and I am glad I have two of her to love and hold.
Rob has endeared himself to all, and his little Cherine is by his side all the time and yet, because he still has the personality I had years ago, he has kept himself in the background. I fear that I rather overwhelm him at times. How can he have a case of hero worship for me - it would have seemed to me it would be like having hero worship for himself. In his mind he thinks of me more as an older brother and has not once challenged me in any way. He is always the first at my side to help me and thanks to him I am able to take time to be with my girls, closing the bedroom door, free to give them all my loving because I know he is out there watching for danger as I would. Cherine says he has not made love (penetration) with little Cherine yet, but though she is so much younger than mine, she is just as determined to be his woman. I wonder how long he will last and hope my example will relieve him of all the guilt I went through.
I decided I will take the risk, the birthdays of my twins are too important to them and me, and I also know how any special attention I give them fills my Diana with happiness. As it will soon also be the birthday of Laura, we decided to combine them and go out for a celebration. Because everyone was going just a little bit stir crazy, not one of the adults complained about me putting them at risk for such a trivial reason.
We had decided to go to Faliron to our old club, even though the singer we favour has left - since destroying the master CD of the songs Wendy took part in, we have not heard from the recording company or the artist. This to my mind is suspicious. If she is one of them it would be better for us to stay away from her. At least the club will take good care of us and the layout means it will be possible for us to all be close together and enjoy ourselves under the umbrella of our protector. This means that our tissue banks will be the only items of value left vulnerable.
As we wanted tables on a night which usually is quiet, the owner was pleased to make the arrangements I requested. I asked if he would like me to bring some cash in advance, but he politely told me we are good customers and it is not necessary.
As I closed the phone the three birthday girls walked in. “Daddy, we have decided” - “it would be better if we stayed here” - “as this is the only tissue bank we have and” - “we don’t want it destroyed because of us.”
“I agree with them Robbie. We know you want to give us a lovely time, but we won’t mind waiting.”
“How do I give a hug and squeeze to all three of you at once? How is it possible for three human beings, sweet but also sometimes naughty little girls, to give me nothing but joy? My loves, I have weighed the risks in my usual impetuous manner and decided it is worth it. Tomorrow night is just for you, but it also has other benefits. We have all been cooped up here for too long. I think everybody needs to get out for a few hours or else we’ll start to become a little stir crazy. They are all looking forward to having a bit of a celebration.”
“Sam said you would use that excuse. Robbie, everybody is worried, not just us.”
“What if we take our tissues with us?”
“We can?”
“Of course.”
Do I spoil a joke by explaining first? When driving anywhere in Athens, at every traffic light are the little beggars, usually Albanian or Rumanian kids. There is a contradiction to what I just wrote; it is illegal to beg. So that they are not breaking the law, they offer small packets of tissues for anything you are willing to pay. Especially since Aganthi, I end up buying from almost all of them. If she is with, she sometimes tries to stop me, but I feel the happiness in her when I do anyway, with the result that I’ve accumulated a whole drawer of the stuff.
1184
The next evening as we were about to leave, Aganthi stood at the door and ‘sold’ everyone (including me) a packet of tissue in the same manner as the street kids. Some saw the joke (that I was playing on the word 'tissues') and others got angry for a moment. We had a string of taxis waiting, so we left without giving anyone time to complain about her joke.
When we arrived, they saw the flasks taken out of bags, covered by more tissue packets, and placed in groups at the centers of our tables and I got playfully hit by a number of hands. It started the evening off with laughter and that is how it remained. One table was especially decorated and the three girls had a clear view of the stage area, with Diana, Rose, Themi and myself sitting with them.
The owner of the club leant down to speak to me. “Mr Teller, are you old enough to have seen a film called ‘The collector’?”
“Was it something about a man who collects beautiful women?”
“You are starting to make a name for yourself as a collector of impossibly beautiful young women and little girls? Where do you find them?”
“I have agents that search all the dark corners of the cities. Come, look at my girls and tell me if you recognise one, someone you used to see in your club every night.”
He looked them over carefully, his face puzzled. “I am afraid I do not. Every night you say?”
“Aganthi, would you come here please?” She had been following the conversation from within my mind and had also felt how I was bursting with pride as she came over. That set her face aglow and she stood in front of him proudly.
“Would you buy flowers from my sweet little Albanian girl?” He stared at her closely and then gave a start, crossing himself.
“How is this possible Mr Teller!”
“That is my secret. If I tell you, do you promise to tell everyone? This is what happens to any child that you give love and a happy home and family to. All children have this magic in them. It just takes love to bring it out. So now you know where I find them.”
“Mr Teller, you are making fun of me, I have two little daughters and I adore them, but I am not blinded by my love; they are not beautiful like your girls are - they are actually quite ugly, they were unfortunate and inherited my nose.”
“Are they here?”
“I have a room where they sleep at the back, my wife left me two years ago and I will not trust any other woman to look after them at night.”
“Do me a favour then, ask them to join us, we can fit two extra chairs at our table.”
“It is very kind of you Mr Teller, but it is not necessary.”
“But it is. You have challenged me and I intend showing you how wrong you are. Please bring them.”
They came and though they were a little shy, they soon made themselves comfortable. My girls took pains to make sure they soon felt as if they were friends. The man had spoken the truth, they were ugly little ducklings with huge beaks.
*Are you seriously thinking of changing them Robert? Won’t that make him suspicious?*
*Dommi love, it is not necessary to change their features, all I have to do is bring out the beauty in them.*
*Is it the artist in you or just your love of playing with fire?*
*Both.*
While the healer checked them out I did the same; watching, capturing how they looked when laughing, their eyes when they whispered to my girls something naughty about some other patrons, the love the little one felt at some moment when she stole a glance at her older sister. I began to see what I was looking for. With the tiniest alterations I made those moments of beauty something more permanent and there was no way anybody could say this or that was changed.
1185
Just before the show began the owner came out with champagne, a waiter following him with the glasses. As he came to our table he glanced at his daughters and the bottle slipped out of his hands. He just stood there transfixed.
“What…. what have you done to them?”
“Only brought out what was within them.”
His daughters looked up at him to see what the fuss was about and saw the way he was looking at them and their little faces filled with love for him. He did not even realise that tears were coursing down his cheeks. I stood up and whispered to him.
“Maybe a little of what you see in them is also from a change in how you see them?”
“Whatever it is Mr Teller, you have made me a very happy man. You are a magician.”
“Shh, that is a secret.” I grinned at him and he thought I was pulling his leg. He looked back at his daughters to make certain he had seen correctly. They were still looking up at him, not understanding the reason for his tears and the concern on their faces brought out a different sweetness in them and he looked as if his heart were breaking.
“I do not understand, their noses have not changed and yet they seem to suit their faces now!”
“I’ll tell you a secret, it is not the nose, it is the eyes. When they are happy or filled with love the whole face is transformed.”
It was bound to happen sooner or later. The girls looked at each other to see whether the other understood what was causing this look on their father’s face. The father had to take them with him to the back, to his office.
Dryly Themi asked, “You satisfied now Roberto?”
“Themi, what did I change on their faces?”
“I could not see.”
“I just made it possible for their love to show through. As they grow up, men will look and see two ugly girls, but then, if they should happen to see a smile and look of love, they will forget the nose, the ugliness, and only see the beauty in them. There is not a child in the world that cannot be transformed by love this way.”
The girls returned later, both of them coming over to me, their faces aglow, and they hugged me. They could not know that my real reward was in feeling the emotions within them. I kissed the tops of their heads and told them to re-join their friends at our table. They were more confident now and enjoyed the evening, becoming friends with my three girls while often looking at each other in a continuous amazement. The bill came to a fortune, but as I was writing a cheque the owner came rushing out and tore up the bill. He refused to listen to me and insisted it is on the house. Myself, having had second thoughts, I asked him as a favour not to mention what had happened, he should just say his girls had suddenly blossomed.
“Yes!! They have blossomed and I feel the flowers growing in my heart every time I look at them. Mr Teller, you do not know what you have done. Every time they smile at me I see my wife in them, she had the look they now have. I miss her so much.”
The group had listened and there was a sense of bitter-sweetness in our joy for him and his daughters. As I walked out I spoke softly to Sam, “You see my love why I insist on avoiding plans? How could I imagine the results of my interference would have sorrow hidden within them.”
“It cannot be sorrow to remember someone you love.”
“It can love, it can.”
1186
To protect my loved ones, I insisted all the taxis stay close to each other and that if some of us pass through the traffic light and the rest are caught by the red light, we must stop and wait for them. If you have ever tried to direct a taxi driver in Greece as to how he should drive, you will know what an impossible task it was. I only relaxed once we were all in our home.
We all visit Josephine (Mama) whenever we can and I was greatly pleased to see the effect she is having on our Adam. He has mellowed a lot and is starting to ask us rather than order. He speaks to us as people rather than parts of itself, over which it feels superior. I hope she will stay a while longer.
“I will wait Robert. This battle you are in, it is dangerous. Not only for your group, but for all the people around you. They have contacts and Talents all over the world and you must keep that in mind. If they feel they are losing the battle they are capable of taking extreme action. To kill a whole city would mean nothing to them if it ensures their survival and supremacy.”
“I have faced that thought, but do not see any acceptable answer. To move out, far from any humans would only tempt him to take extreme actions earlier. There are many nuclear weapons available from the ex-USSR countries, for him to use one and destroy Athens is not acceptable. We do not have the right to risk the lives of the innocent. To move out puts my loved ones at risk. I am torn Mama Jo.”
“If you challenged him to destroy you, is there any way you could secure the rest if you take the protector with you?”
“No, not that I can think of a way.”
“Robert, you may be wrong, if that is what you really want to do.”
“You have an idea Rob?”
“Bring them to my world. We have no evidence we would be threatened there yet. Anyway, even if it took you years to resolve the conflict, you could still time your return to them so that you will, as far as they are concerned, have been away only for hours.”
This brought cries of protest from all. Not only was it that they would not abandon me as they put it, there were practical considerations also. Alki and Elia felt that to leave and possibly be away for years would cause them tremendous financial damage. With that argument I could not argue, as I saw the sense in it. With almost all the Cherinians now dependent on them, it would be a catastrophe for us. However, I refused to accept the argument that they would be abandoning me.
“You would not, you would be freeing my hands. I am held back in my handling this as I should because of the fact that I have to leave the protector to watch over you. There is only so much I can do as the void. If you were all gone, the protector would only have to concentrate on keeping me safe.”
“I am your Cherine and I belong by your side, whatever you say! Robert, I will not leave and you cannot make me.”
“How dare you challenge me like that! Cherine, how could you do that! Do you think you could use that argument and not be followed by all the others? You give them the right to challenge me too. I will not have their lives put at risk by your thoughtless words. You all go.”
She started a behind the scenes campaign, convincing my girls that to help me they must all go while she stays. Her argument was that as long as she did stay I would not take foolish risks with my life as she would always be next to me. I felt the bitter pain in my girls and their anger, but she swung them over to her side. I was forced to compromise and accept their condition that she be allowed to stay or else they would all refuse to leave.
“Alki, I seem to recall an agreement that when it was a matter of the safety of the group I would be obeyed without argument!”
“Roberto when you are the first one to break every rule, do not be surprised that your family does too. Anyway, I have discussed it with Elia. He is prepared to leave if I am allowed to stay. Our fortunes are no longer separate. We agree they belong to the Cherinians, so I will handle all the funds for us.”
“Marian would kill me if I agreed to that.”
“She has cried, but she has also seen the necessity. Not for my sake Robert, for the sake of our children and all the Cherinians. Robert I stay!”
“Damn it!! You are both tying my hands. How can I be crazy if I am risking your lives too.”
1187
“So Cherine was right?”
“Don’t be silly Alki, you know what I mean. I have to do the unexpected. Acting prudently, carefully planning each strategy would help them. They have the intelligence to work out what my course of action should be. If I am unpredictable they cannot.”
“Do not forget Robert that someone who is always unpredictable becomes predictable.”
It took days for me to capitulate, but capitulate I finally did. As we planned the exodus and I saw Cherine was determined to be with me every step of the way, which meant she too would come with to deliver them safely, I did think of being sneaky and getting the protector to strand her there, but I love and respect her too much to do it. When I decided that, she turned and gave me a grin and I was glad I’d decided this way. She had obviously thought of it herself.
“Girls, I want a few nights of loving you before you go. Keep in mind though that there is nothing stopping me doing things the other way around also. I could come to visit, spend a day or two there and return within minutes of leaving here.” That cheered them up a little. Marian too.
During this time, our last few days, Ordinx and Solomon stayed out of the way, leaving me free to mostly live in our bedroom, spending my time storing within my mind the scents, tastes and the tactile sensations of holding their beloved bodies. I was a true hummingbird, sipping at every little flower as often as I could. Even my healer did not protest and kept my energy levels high. Just as important, no, even more important, was the sensing of their love and stamping the feel of their minds and personalities within me. Cherine spent most of this time cuddling her wives and giving them enough love to tide them over our separation. Proof of their great love for her was in the way they all split their time between her and myself.
Aganthi secretly planned for a while to run away so that she could return when it is too late for me to take her with, but I pretended I did not know and allowed her to realise by herself that she would not be helping me. It stung her particularly harshly to feel that she will be safe while I remain in danger. Her trust in me did win the day and I showed her my pride and love in many ways so that she never doubts how much she means to me.
Surprisingly, during these moments of almost painful love and ecstasy I was called from our bedroom. Ordinx and Solomon were waiting to speak to me.
“You know that I have gifts, some not similar to yours. Come Robert, try to see into my mind, see if you can take any.”
I thought it was an offer and gladly did so. It had not been an offer, it had been a challenge. His mind was too alien, I kept slipping off it. I finally acknowledged defeat.
“You know that this body is not as yours is, to lose it would not be any different than you changing your clothes. It is the same for Solomon and if you could not enter my mind, there is no possibility you can reach into his. We have each discussed the situation with our people. They feel that to accept your loyalty and friendship, the help you have given us, without standing by you at this time of peril would shame us. We have decided therefore that we are to provide you with an army.”
I felt my heart race as I suddenly realised they were right. To have allies who could not be harmed by my enemy would add the element of surprise and strengthen me.
“Solomon, your people are already helping, they have saved us at least once already, but what do the two of you have in mind, what kind of army are you talking about, what size, two hundred, three?”
“You may count them in the millions. Let us explain to you our strategies.”
I felt faint at the generosity of their offer. “You two have shaken me! Could you give me a second, I think I will need a strong cup of coffee and a cigarette or two.” My girls and the rest of the Cherinians had been listening and were all in shock. It was as if a sudden wave of hope had struck at them and my comment brought them back to life, suddenly they were filling the house with their excited chatter.
I heard Jonathan comment to Keith, “My god! If they can do this, you do realise this means they could have invaded and take over our planet if they had wanted to?”
1188
I smiled. “You see Solomon? As your people were worried that I, as the void, could destroy you, so do now my people see the same possibility. Is it not good that we are such friends that the fears need not live longer than a breath or two?”
“My friend, if the fears were to live that long, then our people would have to spend an eternity in fear while we wait to take a breath!”
That broke the icy chill Jonathan’s words had brought to those who did not know our alien friends that well. Nobody wanted me to go outside to smoke and they tolerated my habit as they surrounded us in excitement.
I asked, “Tell me what you plan.”
Ordinx replied, “It is a very simple plan Robert. If we were to land our people on every continent, within every city, we could search out those who are users of gifts or powers. If they are part of those who are your enemy we would then advise the Sparklers we bear within us, who could take their souls and hold them for their return to another life. By the time they are old enough to use their powers again, you will have changed the whole world for the better. It would be too late for them.” My heart sank. The plan was good and very tempting, but I could not accept it. I did not need to speak for everyone to feel this in me. “But why Robert?”
“We have fought them, even at a time when I was in a rage after they hurt my girls, yet I did not kill any of them. If their own master did, then their blood is on his hands. We took their powers but have avoided killing, and I was hoping to end this war without us doing so.”
Solomon nodded to Ordinx, “I feared as much. I told you he has the soul of a Sparkler.”
“Robert, I do not see that there would be more than a thousand of them, more likely far less. Would that be such a terrible price to pay to ensure the safety of your people? Will not the growth of the Cherinians alleviate untold suffering on your planet, would not millions of lives be saved in the end?”
“I cannot do it Ordinx, I am sorry. I am the wrong man for this. Alki, I cannot deny all of you the right to survive because of my own weakness and beliefs. I suggest you decide amongst yourselves who could lead such a battle and I will pass on control over my protector for the duration.”
“You would accept Cherine?”
In a small voice, I answered, “Yes, though I hope it is not her you choose to carry my guilt”
He gestured at her to keep quiet and she waited. “You know that to keep you safe she would kill ten thousand if necessary; there is probably not one of us that would not, for you and for their own loved ones.”
“I know.” I whispered.
Alki answered, “Then you are our only hope. None of us would dare to accept your offer and bloody the hands of our people. We will not have it said that the Cherinians were born out of the blood of Normal humans, even if they are evil.”
“Alki, I have already bloodied my hands.”
“And I was hoping it would end there. Not one Cherinian or Normal human would find it in their hearts to lay any blame on you for what happened in the past.”
I gave a weak smile. “You are applying double standards to prove your argument.”
“With a leader as crazy as you, what other way is there?”
I gave up on that aspect and turned to Solomon. “If you enter the homes or offices of our enemies, they are bound to try and attack. Could you use their attacking of you to find the doors in the minds from where their power is born and seal those doors shut without killing them, as you did with the energy net generators?”
“What you call the energy net is an energy we could handle, it was not necessary for us to enter their minds, only to send the correct energy back up the path it took to the source. As you cannot enter our minds, so can we also not enter the minds of your people. We can stimulate parts of it with energy but only if it is not necessary for us to enter. Robert, if their attack involves a form of energy, we could.”
1189
I queried the protector and it agreed with me. “Most forms of their powers, as the opposite of our gifts, involve energy. For me to have empathy or send and receive love, those are not truly emissions of energy as such, more of a giving of myself. For me to use a power to destroy another body or mind I need to send a form of energy. There will be enemies who only emit emotions, dark emotions of hate and fear, and others who sap the willpower and destroy the mind in the same way. If your people cannot neutralise them, those powers I can handle. If they total a thousand and you have neutralised nine hundred of them, we will have broken the back of their organisation and then we can sop up the rest almost at our convenience. With such a plan I could be effective.”
“We would have to provoke them to use their powers against us which may not be an effective method. They will soon realise how we are attacking them. We will however join your battle and fight in accordance with your conscious.”
“If they are given to understand that using their powers destroys them, it would paralyse them. They lose the battle either way. Perhaps your people could explain after neutralising them that they used the path of energy back to their brains. As long as they think we did it, they would hesitate to use their powers.”
“I may have feared losing my powers Roberto, but I would have feared disobeying the Master even more.”
“I understand Perikli, still, we gain a psychological advantage.”
I, and the others, thanked them profusely for their offer to help. Talking of psychological advantages, just knowing they stood by us was all that was needed to make the departure of my girls a lot happier.
“Robert, one last favour. The energy food has grown too rich, we are beginning to breed too fast.”
“Sorry Solomon, I did not think of that. I wanted to have a large amount of energy available, I will handle that immediately.”
Ordinx had one last question. “Meli, with your departure to an alternate universe, do we lose the use of your world?”
“I’ve been there before and it did not happen. Would you like me to stay?”
“No. If we have to wait, then we do so.”
The other girls smiled in sympathy, knowing she had hoped for a moment, to have a reason for staying. I rubbed her cheek softly. “Too honest for your own good?”
“You admit it would be good for me to stay?”
I chuckled. “Don’t try using sophistries with me, you know what I meant.”
“It feels strange. We are just the three of us as we started out.”
“Alki, I am glad it is you who has stayed with us. You have always given us strength.”
“You are going to enjoy being alone with Cherine again?”
“I think we will both enjoy it, but we will also be deeply missing the others.”
“Well, I will be busy. Even if the idea is viable, until Keith can finish his research it will be necessary for us to invest.”
I handed him a piece of paper. “I have made notes of what technology will grow dramatically within the next year. The names of the successful companies are there also. I hope it helps you.”
“How did you get this?”
“As we discussed. When I accompanied the girls I jumped back to our future, looked in a library for financial magazines, made these notes and returned.”
“What about your scruples?”
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“If you invest wisely, do not pump too much money into any single company, that should not hurt anyone. It also makes a difference knowing that I am not doing this for my own personal gain.”
“It has been a long tiring day Robert. Take your little girl to bed, her eyes are closing.”
“It is okay pappou, I was thinking, Robert, that person who is writing our story, isn’t he also in danger?”
“I hope not love.”
“If I was the spider I would be looking for him. I would then make certain I have his writings every day so that I know what we are doing.”
“She has a point Roberto.”
“I do not have the time or means to find him now. I hope he reads this and has the sense to withhold his writing from the internet until our war has ended.”
“Robert, he thinks we are just a story.”
“I know…and he’s messing with my mind. Every time I open the diary, I find he has changed what I last wrote - and I think it changes my memories of what happened!”
After living with a crowd, it felt strange just being the three of us. When we went to our bedroom, without any sort of communication between us, Cherine and I immediately closed the curtains to all the bedrooms surrounding us. It did not really help.
In bed I brought her sweet body to mine and held her. She clung to me also for a while then pulled away. She had realised that all of her body was in contact with mine whereas only part of mine was touched by hers. She aged herself to about twelve, her breasts just faintly showing signs of budding and taller now, she lay against me. I’d thought that soon as it was just the two of us we would be making passionate love, but instead the only need in both of us was to fill the emptiness we both felt. We missed our family.
I woke up to find myself kissing her face and saw her eyes staring into mine, that funny mysterious smile on her lips. She had not been responding to my kisses as she had not wanted to wake me up, but now, seeing my eyes open, her sweet lips came to mine. I cannot describe what a delicious sensation it was. She did not close her eyes, staring at me with a look of mischief, teasing me with her fingers, running them up and down my chest, over my nipples and gently tugging at the hairs. I pulled away.
“Are you certain? Do you think you are old enough to make love with a grown man? You won’t go crying to pappou?”
“For all I care he can come join us! Shall I call him?”
“You better be teasing! I don’t share my Cherine with anyone.”
“I don’t know, with that hairy barrel chest and thick arms, I bet it would feel different.”
She was guarding her mind so that I could not see her actual thoughts or feelings and without wanting to I betrayed my dismay. She giggled and her tongue licked at my nipples.
“If you can’t stand the heat, keep out of my kitchen, wasn’t that what you said to me? I wish you could make love to me without talking for once. Except for if you say you love me.” As she said that she ran her tongue down my belly and it felt it like a trail of fire on my skin. I lay back and closed my eyes, concentrating on the sensations of her touch.
I allowed my passion and love for her to play like bolts of lightning across my mind and kept secret my yearning for those early days when I had to control myself and enjoyed those little girl feelings when sex was still new and strange to her. I hopefully will feel those feelings many more times in my life, but it was with my sweet adorable Cherine I yearned to sense them again.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)21st June, 2019
- posted on Steemit: 21st June, 2019