Thursday, July 19th

Los Angeles, California

Rye and Olivia were just finishing up lunch on the patio at Rye’s estate, when he picked up his phone. “Gotta give Bon a call and tell him about us returning to Maine in a few days,” he told Olivia. He pressed the contact button but after a second his face frowned when he got Bon’s voice mail. He said, ’Hey man it’s Rye, give me a call bro!” and then closed his phone.

“He and my sister are probably doing the nasty,” Olivia said snickering. Rye looked at her and said, teasingly, ’Now how do you know that lady?”

“Well I don’t know for sure but I haven’t been able to reach Alexis either both times I’ve called this morning. SO they are probably spending the day in bed,” she said.

“Hon,” Rye said, “They could have went out for awhile too.”

“Then why hasn’t she called me back?” Olivia asked. “I mean after all she takes her phone with her. It’s because she can’t, because she’s shut if off. Their busy doing the nasty, I just know it,” she said with a smug look on her face.

Rye laughed thinking he loved the way her mind worked. She sat there looking so damned beautiful in a short little summer dress her skin all golden and glowing with her silky honey blond hair pulled back into a ponytail.

He said, “Well maybe.”

The couple got up to leave the estate then. They were headed out for more meetings concerning Olivia’s new business venture and soon they were headed towards downtown L.A..

Thursday, July 19th

Cape Neddick, Maine

Ronnie hung up her phone as she sat at the breakfast island next to Dane, saying “She’s not answering her phone.”

“Well maybe, their still sleeping,” Dane suggested, taking a sip of his coffee.

“Or doing something else,” Ronnie said with a smile and a wink.

Dane laughed shortly and then took her hand caressing it. “So I guess now that breakfast is finished we should start packing then?” he said to her.

“Yeah, cause our plane leaves in two hours,” Ronnie replied. “I’d better get my butt in gear and have you run me home so I can do exactly that,” she said.

She and Dane had discussed taking a trip to England last night. An Aunt of Ronnie’s lived there who she hadn’t seen in almost a year and as it was her favorite Aunt Sara, Ronnie was excited about it. She had told Dane she wanted to go and then invited him, feeling sure he would say he couldn’t come because of his business and that, but he had surprised her. He had said he would love to accompany her on the trip.

“Okay let’s go baby,” Dane replied.

The couple left Bon’s house then and headed over to Ronnie’s. An hour later she was ready and Dane set her suitcases in the trunk of his rental car next to his own which he had already put in there last night after he’d packed.

Soon the couple were on their way to the airport.

Kronos’ Estate

Titania, The Realm

It took Kronos two hours earth time to make Bon understand everything. He knew that what he had told him was a lot for any mortal to take in, even one as bright and open minded as Bon. He had told him about the mission and who it had been named for and why, in which Bon had flushed slightly to know that he was compared by the Gods to a God himself at least in the looks department.

Kronos knew it really didn’t matter what he told Bon because the mission could still be saved as he would simply use the memory effect on him and he would forget everything from the time he woke up and discovered Alexandria not by his side.

But through it all, Bon had asked a tremendous amount of questions as would anybody and Kronos was forced to use the calming effect several times.

Kronos also showed him several blocks of Bon’s own life throughout the years. Bon had been amazed to see scenes of when he was a baby, and other scenes including his mother and father and his first rock band even. He also saw recent events of him with Alex from the time they met until now.

Finally afterwards Kronos explained the whole past life element, and had shown Bon some scenes from Bjorn the warriors time. Bon had been stunned to say the least.

As Kronos explained that Bjorn was really Bon in a previous life he could see the struggle that was going on, on the mortal’s handsome face and once again he’d had to use the calming effect. But when Bon saw Ryden and was told it was also Rye in a previous life, he put his head in his hands, feeling a blackness overtake him. Kronos invoked the calming effect and he was able to continue then. But he still struggled to comprehend that he had lived a previous life as a Viking warrior along with Rye who he was watching at that very moment. It was mind boggling he thought.

Bon was now sitting once again with Thalia to his right. Through most of it Thalia had remained quiet and now she found Bon staring at her on occasion. Of course with Kronos’ explanation of why the past life element was involved now in the mission, Bon realized that Thalia was in love with him. He said to her, “Forgive me, lady, err Goddess, but um.. you’re in love with Bjorn back in the warrior’s time?”

Thalia gazed at him and said, “Yes, that is true, but I love you Bon in this time too.”

He was quiet staring at her beautiful face not comprehending before just how stunning the deity really was. He felt a myriad of feelings looking at her. Flattered that a Goddess would fall in love with him and he also felt lust for her as well. After all, he thought, he was a man and only human.

Thalia said, continuing, “But my heart belongs in Bjorn’s time. We have shared many things Bon. You belong with Alexandria, for she is your life mate in this time.”

Kronos who had been staring at his large hourglass sitting on a table near his desk as it glowed off and on signaling him a meeting was due soon, turned his head as he watched the two staring at each other. He said, “Bon, Are you ready? We must leave.”

Bon turned his head and said, “Leave?”

“Yes,” Kronos replied. “You want to get Alexandria back do you not?”

“Of course I do!” Bon exclaimed. “But I thought you could just wave your hand or somethin’ and bring her back,” he said.

Kronos smiled slightly and said, “No, I’m afraid waving my hand would not do a bit of good. We must go back to 1000 A.D. where you will find Alexandria and then I must return the both of you to your own time.”

Bon struggled against fear and confusion which threatened to overwhelm him again, and as Kronos waved his hand he relaxed. He said, “What is it that you do when you wave your hand like that?”

Kronos said, “It is a calming effect which I invented, but I need to fine tune it. It does not last long enough and I keep having to repeat it often.”

He stood then and walked over to Bon. “Your name shall be Osvald,” Kronos told him, “and right now”----

“Osvald?” Bon asked.

“Something wrong with the name?” asked Kronos.

“Well it’s just not... very cool,” Bon said as the God stared at him. “I mean what about Thor or Gunnar, or Gander even?” Bon asked. Then said, “Well maybe not Gander. But at least those are famous Vikings.”

Kronos continued to stare at him, his lips pursed, although a hint of a smile played around his mouth. Bon flushed slightly under his steady gaze.

“Osvald is a Viking name as well,” Kronos said, “Scandinavian in origin actually. I gave you the name of another Viking in the clan. If you are seen the person may just assume you are he, and has returned.”

“Fine,” Bon said rather grumpily, absolutely loathing the name. He may as well have named him Oswald as far as he was concerned.

“Okay, then that’s settled,” Kronos replied. “Now as I started to say, in the past right now, a ship approaches the land and Captain Eriksson and his warriors have all returned to the Valerian to prepare in case they need to go to battle. All that remain on the land is the servants and the women. Three women to be exact. Tasha who is Bjorn’s woman, Genna who is the woman of Rye, and your own woman Alexandria.”

Bon looked momentarily confused saying, “But surely the women will notice my resemblance to Bjorn.”

Kronos said, “Yes they would and I will change your appearance before you go through the portal.”

Kronos then handed something small to Bon which was a tiny blue pill.

“When you find Alexandria, you will take the tablet which will change you back into your present day self otherwise Alexandria would be frightened thinking you mad and she would not go with you. I will be waiting within the forest by the portal. You are to return immediately to the portal and most importantly try not to let anyone see you or follow you,” he warned.

“But Kronos,” Thalia said then, “Was it not your intent to have Alexis depart without any questions?”

“Yes Goddess,” Kronos answered, “But I have already seen what is occurring right now on the land. And unfortunately I have discovered that Alexandria has told several people that she has come there from the future. They already know my dear. So it is best that we have her simply leave. It may leave one or two unanswered questions but you will be coming with us my dear and will amalgamate with Tasha. Once your host and Bon leave and the warriors return, Thalia will simply tell them that Alexandria was able to find the doorway back to her time.”

Thalia looked at him with a doubtful look on her face. “Yes my dear,” Kronos said reading her thoughts, “Of course there will be talk but eventually the talk will die down as life goes on in their village.”

Thalia said, “Bjorn will question me Kronos. He will want to know what I saw. What do I tell him?”

“You simply tell him that you walked Alexandria to the woods were she was found,” said Kronos, “Whereupon you saw a shimmering light. You will tell him that Alexandria walked through the light and then disappeared.”

She still looked doubtful saying, “Do you not think that this might be one of those ‘small events’ that might change the course of history?” Thalia asked.

Kronos hesitated and then leaned against his desk. He thought for a moment and then looked up and said, as both Thalia and Bon watched him, “I’m not sure. I can only hope though that it does not change anything and reveal anything out of the ordinary to the other deities here in the Realm. For if it does then as you know, the mission will be lost.”

Bon had been thinking most of the time while Kronos and Thalia had been talking, about Alex. She must have met his former self Bon, he realized. He wondered what she thought of him in that time. He also wondered how she was doing period. Christ how he ached to be with her.

As if Kronos had read his mind, the God said, “Have no fear Bon. For Alexandria is a remarkable woman. She has the ability to adapt to almost any circumstance. Her strength of mind is superior. This is one of the reasons she was chosen as the host for the Adonis Mission.

Bon’s face suddenly looked a little put out and he said, “Yeah, speaking of this Adonis mission, I mean I have to say I sort of feel like a puppet being manipulated.”

Kronos said, “Are you sorry that you met Alexandria, Bon?”

“Well no, of course not,” he said scowling.

“Then what’s the problem?” Kronos asked gently.

Bon sat silently thinking, but he couldn’t find any reason, after all it was because of these Gods that he found his true soulmate. And as Kronos explained to him earlier, they did not make them fall in love with each other, only made sure they met. Bon giving it up said, “No problem I guess,” and he smiled for the first time since he’d met the both of them. “I guess I’m as ready as I’m going to be.”

Suddenly as the three of them turned then to head for the portal room, A very loud thundering noise began and got louder by the second as the walls of Kronos’ study began to shake. Then a deep voice, as loud as the thunder itself resonated throughout the room.

“KRONOS!!!” The voice boomed and was so deafening that Bon clapped his hands over his ears, his eyes wild with terror.

Then a face of a man filled the entire room. He had white long hair, a white beard from which hung braids throughout, decorated and intertwined with pieces of gold and other precious gems and metals.

His eyes were however, terrifying to behold. They were very large and an almost colorless blue, but when one stared they changed to black night with white lightening bolts streaking their way across the large pupils.

The face said, ’KRONOS! WHY ARE YOU NOT AT THE MEETING? YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE ATTENDING THEM! BUT I HAD TO ATTEND THIS ONE FOR I MYSELF HAVE CALLED IT!!” The thunderous voice was silent then, waiting for an answer.

Bon, his eyes locked in terror on the face managed to spit out, “Who IS that?”

Abruptly, the face of the man upon hearing a voice and not only that, a mortal’s voice, turned his mighty gaze upon Bon.

Bon literally shook at the look the massive face gave him.

The walls of Kronos’ study rumbled again as the voice roared, this time looking at Kronos, “AND WHAT IS A MORTAL DOING IN TITANIA????”

Kronos stood there, not seemingly at all afraid and answered both Bon and the face when he said, “Now son, I thought we had put the past behind us. Could you kindly calm yourself so I may explain?”

“CALM MYSELF???” the voice roared again. “YOU DARE SPEAK TO THE MIGHTIEST GOD IN THE REALM TELLING ME TO CALM MYSELF? ZEUS WILL NOT CALM HIMSELF MY FATHER!!”

Suddenly the walls shook and lightening bolts came blazing from the large dark eyes, streaking across and through Kronos’ body which of course did nothing at all to the God of Time.

Bon upon seeing that, however, could not take anymore and suddenly felt the arms of blackness reach out and embrace him. His legs collapsed and sinking to the floor, he passed out cold....

Summer, 1000 A.D.

Newfoundland, Canada

Alexis stood on the beach at the shore and watched the warriors head back to the large Long Boat less than a half a meter away.

“Come,” Tasha said, “We must prepare ourselves for a possible battle.”

Alexis stared at her feeling an icy finger of fear down he spine and then Genna walked over from clearing the eating utensils from the breakfast a bit ago, and said, ’We must arm ourselves in case any men from the marauding ship come to this land.”

Alexis, her stomach in knots, left with them and headed back to a small tent where the women’s own weapons were. Tasha and Genna placed a quiver with arrows on their backs and belted a bow also to their backs held by leather straps.

Genna handed Alexis a long dagger and a sheath which also had a leather tie and Alexis tied this around her waist.

“Do you know how to use a sword?” Tasha asked the modern day woman.

“No, sorry,” Alexis replied. “We don’t do sword fighting in my time, other than for sport,” she told them refusing the small sized sword in the woman’s hand.

Both of the other woman looked at each other briefly. Then they both tied a swords’ sheath to their waists and picking up their swords put them in each of their sheaths.

Genna said, “It is alright wench, for Tasha and I are both good with the sword as well as the bow, as we were both trained at a young age.”

She handed Alexis a small handled axe in addition to the long dagger which was now sheathed and hanging from her waist. At this, Alexis’ face brightened. She knew how to use an axe for she had helped Marie chop up wood that past winter chopping them into small logs for her fireplace as Maine had very cold winters.. She was actually quite handy with an axe she thought, relieved.

“Can you use that?” Tasha asked her.

“Yes I can,” Alexis replied and suddenly turning she aimed the axe over her head and struck the top of a crate which had been sitting in the tent. The whole top splintered.

Tasha satisfied then nodded. The three women left the tent and went to the water’s edge again.

The servants were all huddled in their tents and Tasha and Genna both knew they would fight till the death to protect their servants even at risk of never seeing their lovers again, as it was their duty and they could be punished by the God Odin himself if they ignored his commands.

******

The face of the God Zeus watched the mortal slump to the floor and glared once more at his father.

But Kronos said, “Son please transform yourself into your normal size so we can have a decent conversation while I attend to the mortal.”

Loud thunder sounded as the walls of Kronos’ study shook again, though not quite as hard as before.

As Kronos and Thalia both bent over Bon’s body laying prone on the floor, the face of Zeus shrunk until it was normal size and then the rest of his body appeared.

Kronos said some words over Bon and he abruptly opened his eyes and then sat up and looked around, running his hands through his hair. “What the hell happened?” he asked.

“You lost consciousness for a moment,” Kronos told him.

Bon stood with Kronos’s help but was a bit shaky even so. Then he remembered why he had passed out. He turned but no longer saw a gigantic room sized face, instead he saw a stern faced older man about his height. The man was dressed similar to Kronos in ordinary clothes, a white long sleeved shirt and white trousers with white dress shoes. His hair was an ordinary brown and was long, straight and well down his back and shoulders and the beard was now a trim goatee and mustache.

“I am waiting father,” Zeus said staring at him.

The door opened suddenly and Rhea, Kronos’ wife entered. When she saw Zeus she immediately genuflected and said, “Your Grace.”

Zeus nodded to her and Kronos said, “Rhea, please show Bon Vincent to our parlor, and prepare him some moonbeam tea, while I talk to my son.”

Bon looked at the lovely brown haired woman as she smiled at him beckoning him with her hand and he followed her out the door then.

Thalia asked Kronos if he wanted her to stay and he told her that would be fine. He walked over and sat at his desk as Thalia took a chair. Zeus however continued to stand.

As Kronos started to speak, Zeus began to pace back and forth listening to his father, occasionally grunting, but not interrupting.

Kronos told him the entire story. Everything regarding the past life, Thalia’s involvement and what had just happened recently and why he had brought the mortal to Titania.

When he finished Zeus was quiet for a moment as he had finally stopped pacing, standing with his hand on his chin deep in thought.

Finally he walked over and sat down in one of the easy chairs and said, “So basically my father, all that you have told me is because the young Goddess fell in love with the mortal in earth’s present timeline. So to appease her and keep her joined with the mission, you managed to find her an alternate lover, is that correct?”

Kronos said, “Yes my son. When I came across the information that Bon Vincent Johnson had lived a previous life, I knew it was an opportunity I could not ignore. And the plan worked beautifully. She has indeed fallen in love with Bjorn Bontykir.”

Zeus glanced at Thalia who was sitting in the other easy chair and she blushed.

“The recent trouble with the portal and Alexandria coming upon it,” Kronos continued, “was one of those rare occurrences that has happened only once before,” he finished.

Zeus was silent and then said, “And how do you plan to fix this? You are aware that if a mortal goes back into the past, and interacts with any persons from that time, it could alter earth’s history as well as ruin the mission, are you not?” he asked.

Kronos said, “I am well aware of that. When you arrived, the three of us were about to embark on the journey to set things right. I am sorry my son, but this takes precedence over your meeting. May I suggest rescheduling?”

Zeus frowned, but then said, “The reason I called a meeting with you Kronos, is because I had heard rumors amongst the other Gods that something was not quite right with the Adonis Mission. Now I understand that they were not simply rumors.”

He grew silent again and then said, turning to Thalia, “You realize Goddess that if you were dealing with some of the more unsympathetic Gods such as Hades, Ares or Thanatos you would have been immediately removed from the mission and would have had to serve the punishment, living out your days inside your hosts body until her death.”

Thalia was silent her eyes locked to his.

“But fortunate for you,” he continued, “the mighty Zeus rules. One who is just and kind and who understands the many complexities of the emotion, love.” He paused and then said, “Do you love this Bjorn Bontykir?”

Thalia said, “With all of my heart.”

Zeus was quiet again and then looked at Kronos and said, “Alright my father. I will allow you to carry on with your attempt to repair the damage that has been done. I would advise you though to use extreme caution. What is the actual plan if I may ask?”

Kronos told him and Zeus said, “You must stress to the mortal that he must not be seen by any of those in the past with the exception of Tasha, who Thalia will have amalgamated with already, and Alexandria herself. The mortal must contact Alexandria and then reveal himself to her but not ANYONE outside of Tasha Dardenne or else this mission will be DOOMED!” His voice was as thunder again on the last word.

“You have my assurances my son, that all will go smoothly,” Kronos told him.

Zeus got up from the chair and said to him, “Let us hope to HEAVEN, your father and the most Supreme High God, that you are right!”

He then nodded once more to them both and then disappeared without a sound.

******

Bon had been sitting in Kronos’ and Rhea’s parlor drinking a cup of the most oddest tea he had ever drank. It was full of dancing dots of light and swirling mist but when he sipped it, it had a delightful flavor of vanilla and something else. He couldn’t place it but didn’t care, for it made him feel good.

Rhea was sitting near him and had just finished telling him about how she and Kronos met those thousands of years ago. She sat watching the handsome mortal drink his tea and could not believe how much he resembled the God Adonis. He was so handsome he nearly hurt her eyes and as she watched him, Bon’s eyes suddenly came up and met hers. He smiled and she smiled in return, feeling a bit weak at how it made his face even more beautiful. She could definitely understand why he had been chosen.

Bon said, “I was wondering, ma’am, is he always so intimidating?”

Rhea chuckled briefly and said, “Please call me Rhea. And I assume you are referring to Zeus. In most cases, his bark is far worst than his bite. In fact most of us very rarely see him these days,” she said taking a sip of her own tea. “But one of his titles is The God of Thunder. He uses that whenever he is angry and wishes to intimidate others beneath him. And yet when he is not all worked up over something he is quite reasonable and even pleasant to be around.”

Bon thought of those horrible lightening bolt eyes and that giant face and thought he really didn’t care to stick around that long to find out.

At that point both Kronos and Thalia entered the room. Kronos went over and bent down and kissed his wife on the lips gently. He turned to Bon and said, “Are you ready? We must depart with undue haste as every moment is crucial.”

Bon put his cup down and thanked Rhea and then said he was ready. Kronos bid farewell to his wife as the three of them left the room then and headed back to Kronos’ study. As they entered the portal room, Bon said to him, “Zeus is your son? But he has more power than you? I don’t understand that.”

The God replied and said, “And I am afraid I have no time to explain right now.” Abruptly his image changed to the younger dark haired man dressed in the long silver hooded cape and in his hand he held the large hourglass.

He mounted the steps to the portal as the other two followed and he quickly keyed in the coordinates. Then waving his hand he changed Bon’s appearance to that of a handsome blond haired Viking who was dressed in war gear as the other Vikings were. He had also placed the Viking helmet on him, which covered his entire head and half of his face.

“Although it is my hope that no one does see you but just in case one of the servants should, they might think that you are Osvald who did return for a reason unknown.”

Bon looked down staring at his strange clothes and touching his long hair which spilled down past his shoulders.

“When we arrive,” Kronos said, “I will stop time briefly to allow Thalia to amalgamate with Tasha. Then I shall return to the portal and you must find a way Bon, to get Alexandria’s attention without alerting the others. It should not be too difficult for when I last looked the servants were all huddled in their tents and the men were all on board the Valerian.”

He waved his hand again, and a sword that was sheathed appeared on Bon’s hip. Bon looked down and said, “Um..I don’t know how to use a sword.”

Kronos said, “Let’s hope you won’t have to.”

The three of them then stepped through the portal.

The three time travelers stepped out into the forest hearing the birds chattering and other sounds of the woods. Bon looked around and then watched as Kronos waved his hand. Everything froze, just as before, he noted and felt awestruck at the God’s powers. The tree leaves which had been blowing in the gentle summer breeze were now frozen in place and it was unearthly quiet as well.

Kronos then said, “Let us make our way to the Viking camp,” and walked away. Thalia and Bon followed and in no time at all they found themselves at the edge of the woods. They were looking at a multitude of tents laid out on a beach by the ocean. Between two of the tents, Bon could just vaguely see three women standing like statues, facing out to the sea looking in the direction of a large boat which was obviously Leif Eriksson’s Valerian, he thought.

Kronos said, “Come with me.” The three of them walked over toward the women. Bon passed by the first woman who had chestnut hair streaked with gold and soft green eyes, then he passed by the second woman who was a brunette and very beautiful as well and additionally reminded him of his Alex. He had the thought that with women as beautiful as these, he wondered if he was born in the wrong time. Then he thought, actually he wasn’t, for he had been born in this time as well.

Finally he stood before the woman he loved and noticed that she had a dagger strapped to her waist. He gazed at her beautiful face wishing so much he could take her into his arms and hold her, and kiss her sweet mouth. Her sea green eyes seemed to look right though him however as she was totally unaware of him being there.

Bon heard a noise and turned his head and saw Thalia reciting some odd words. Then suddenly strands of multicolored ribbons floated from Thalia’s body and into the woman in front of her as little by little Thalia’s own body disappeared. Finally she was gone.

“What did she do, where did she go?” Bon asked confused.

“It’s called amalgamating,” Kronos replied. “Thalia has melded her life force or spirit with Tasha, who by the way is Thalia’s own former self.”

“We are ready Kronos,” Tasha said.

Kronos said to them, “I will return and wait by the portal for you both.” But Bon stopping the God of Time in his tracks said, “Hold up Kronos ol’ man! What on earth am I going to say to Alex? She’s gonna wonder who the hell I am and just how I got here!”

“Bon, you are a creative person, as well as highly intelligent, I am sure you can come up with something. Do you still have the blue pill I gave you?”

Bon looked at his very brief outfit noticing he had no pockets, and Kronos said, “Check inside the leather pouch.

Bon reached inside of a small pouch hanging from a leather strap which was tied around his waist and pulled out the tiny pill. Bon said, “I don’t understand. Why can’t you and I just pick Alex up and carry her to the portal?”

Kronos said, “That would be impossible Bon. You cannot physically move a mortal when time has been stopped. Go ahead, try and lift her,” he suggested.

Bon slipped the pill back into the pouch and then bending down grasped Alexis’ upper body and as well as behind her legs and tried to lift her into his arms. But it was as though she was literally made of cement. He could not budge her. Although her skin was soft as it normally was, it was as though she was rooted into the ground. After trying a couple of more times he gave it up. He said, “Why is it then that Tasha was able to speak?”

“Because a Goddess is melded with her body. A Goddess inside of a mortal changes things and the same rules do not apply,” Kronos replied.

“Now,” he said, “My suggestion is that you wait inside the large trees at the edge of the beach,” he told him. “When you see that Alexis is alone, make haste to make your move then. It will not matter in the time continuum if Tasha sees you as Thalia is part of her, but it is not advisable for Genna or the servants to be aware of you,” he warned.

He turned then and headed back to the trees as Bon followed. Once inside the trees, Kronos bid him farewell and soon Bon found himself alone as the tree leaves started swaying and rustling, birds chattering once again.

******

As Alexandria stared out at the Valerian she saw that the other ship was drawing near. But it was still difficult to tell if it was friend or foe. All she could tell is that the flag was black and white.

Tasha said, “I am going to check on the servants, Genna will you not make us women some sassafras tea?” She left then heading for their servants tents and Genna walked over to where they kept their cooking utensils grabbing a large iron kettle. From a skein she poured water, and then set the kettle upon a small fire. She busied herself adding some flavors and herbs to the tea then.

Alexis turned away from watching the Valerian then as there really didn’t seem to be much going on at the moment and was about to join Genna when suddenly her eye caught a flicker of movement at the edge of the woods.

She stared wondering if it were an animal. She walked over that way until she was about ten feet from the nearest group of trees looking for any sign of moment.

Suddenly she heard her name spoken. “Alex.”

She felt goose bumps up and down her spine as there was only one man who called her by that name.

Unable to stop herself she walked closer and then heard again, “Alex, it’s me Bon.”

She saw him then, only it wasn’t Bon. It was another Viking warrior, and a very nice looking one. He was dressed in full war gear including a helmet. He was speaking softly to her. “You must come with me. I know I don’t look like myself and that’s because Kronos changed my appearance so that I could come back and rescue you.”

Alexis stared at the man, feeling her legs weaken. “Bon? I don’t understand. Who ARE you? Who is Kronos?”

“He is the God of Time,” Tasha said, who had come up behind her just then. Alexis jumped as she had not heard the other woman approach.

“The WHAT?” Alexis asked with a totally confused look on her beautiful face.

Bon realizing that the direct approach was the only solution now, quickly placed the blue pill in his mouth and swallowed. Looking down at his body he saw that he was now dressed as he had been. His hair was it’s normal length as well.

Alexis turned back to look at the strange man but instead she saw Bon. As her mouth fell open, tears leapt from her eyes as she breathed his name and then ran to him, throwing herself into his arms crying, “Bon! How did you find me? What happened to that other man? Who is Kronos?” her questions were rapidly fired as he stroked her back. She pulled back her head staring at his face. He crushed her mouth silencing her next question as he kissed her hungrily. And she kissed him back with pent up passion.

He broke the kiss and said, ” Baby, it’s okay. All your questions will be explained. But we gotta get outta here and now! No one must see me or see us leave.”

“What about Tasha?” Alexis asked turning to look at her.

“Well, it’s okay if she sees us,” Bon told her, “for a Goddess resides inside of her.”

As Alexis looked even more confused, he said, “I will explain later, but we gotta leave right now!”

Just then a shout was heard. They both turned in the direction of the sound to see Tasha running towards the shore and Genna joining her. The ships were only feet apart now.

As the four watched they could see the flag now of the other ship. It was white with a very clear image of a black skull and crossbones.

“Looks like pirates,” Bon said and then couldn’t believe he’d said it. He grabbed Alexis’ hand intending to escape with her, but Alexis pulled away from him and said, “No Bon. I can’t leave here now.”

He stared at her confused. “Alex you don’t understand! Every moment that we stay here, earth’s history as we know it, could be in jeopardy.”

Alexis stared at him not ever hearing him talk this way before. However she said, “I don’t know WHAT you are talking about Bon! All I know is I cannot leave two women in the camp all by themselves to fight and defend what is theirs! They are good women!”

She had a stubborn set to her jaw he saw and he thought fleetingly of giving that very same jaw a punch and then slinging her over his shoulders to carry her back to the portal, but he knew he could not hit her.

As he was about to argue further she turned, pulling herself from his arms and said, “I have to help!” Then she quickly ran back toward the other two women.

Bon, trying to keep his voice low and yet still be heard, yelled “Alex! Come BACK here! Damn it Alex!”

But it was no good, Alexis kept running, without a backward glance, as she headed for the seashore.