“Wferium.”

Acknowledgment. It was all Scott could say. Nothing profound came to mind. Over the centuries he’d learned not to waste unnecessary words in unimportant situations. Not that finding his son mattered so little, but important events were nearly always time sensitive. That meant even fewer unnecessary words were needed. Letting Wferium know he recognized her was all the greeting she needed or deserved. She had nothing to say in response anyway.

“Where is my son.”

Over the centuries Wferium had learned a thing or two as well. No fool lives as long as they had. She remained silent. No words could suffice or alter the course of her fate. Still the shock was evident on her face, which was not something she was accustomed to. Sarafyn hadn’t shown it, but it must’ve pleased him to see it, as hard as it was to surprise an ancient.

After the shock of seeing her brother came the shock of not having foreseen it, but then foresight wasn’t completely involuntary. It could be blocked and she’d done exactly that. She hadn’t wanted to know her fate and so it hadn’t been revealed to her. It may not have come anyway, but she would never know. All she could do was listen as her brother talked calmly and emotionlessly, though this time he turned his attention to another.

“I’ve indulged you, Aryl. She won’t talk. See to her death and find my son.”

Aryl Czar, whom Wferium had lovingly called wood nymph, said nothing in response, but wasn’t quite as steeled in her expressions. She’d betrayed Wferium. She wasn’t at all sorry for it, but that didn’t mean she wanted her dead. Still, she knew Sarafyn long enough to know delay wasn’t an option.

Aryl turned to another and said, “Bring the sheargun.” and then to another, “Fetch the dogs. I trust they’ve been properly starved?”

This man answered with a familiar greeting, “The ancient few be revered. Yes, ma’am, they have.”

Wferium could no longer hold her tongue at this affront. “You are no ancient and do not deserve the respect of one!”

Aryl just stared at her saying nothing. Nor did Sarafyn speak, but his thoughts were either blank or blocked. Aryl’s were in turmoil, stricken by necessary obedience. Wferium decided to use this and continued, “Two hundred years does not make you an ancient! A thirdborn does not make you an ancient! I took you in when no one else would! And now you betray me?!”

Still Aryl said nothing. She knew what she was and what she wasn’t. Wferium’s opinion on the subject was made plain decades ago, but no longer held any value and wasn’t worth listening to. So she changed the subject to something more pertinent, but only by thinking her response.

“This didn’t have to happen. It wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t altered your original foresight. Jason was supposed to return home to his father. Why did you send him away? He could die now that he’s wandering the woods.”

Then, in loud, unabashed spite, “You saw that did you?! But you know nothing else or there would be no need of this charade!” Then she turned her attention back to Safaryn. “Why did you even send him to me?! You had to know I wouldn’t return him to you!”

Scott gave no response, nor did he look at her or give any sign he’d even heard her. He was doing something else entirely and Wferium knew exactly what moments before he spoke the fateful words.

“The bridge. Jason will be at the bridge two hours from now.” He was speaking directly to Aryl. “Go there and bring him back to me.”

Aryl spoke candidly, which he appreciated, “The ancient few be revered. There’s not time enough for me. I have people nearer, following Meraine’s trail. Shall I call and have them reroute?”

Scott answered, “Yes, but not for reasons you might guess. Things change. These people you speak of are the blind leading the blind. They won’t make the bridge in time to catch my son. Though they will have time enough to head off someone else of vital importance. You must go to meet them. Have them wait for you. Then bring her back to me.”

Honest as she was, Aryl was grateful for the reassignment as he knew she would be. She’d already proven her loyalty time and time again. Why torture her now with the death of someone she’d grown some minor affection for? It was a future he’d seen and discarded. Aryl would’ve done the deed, but resented him for it. This future showed more promise.

Without another word Aryl left the group. She took three others with her, all of whom were more competent than Tamerlane Tudor. She too could see the future, though not as often and with dark patches full of incoherency. She knew what Meraine would do, but only moments before she’d done it. She knew she’d be hunted, but not by who. These events took place before she could alter them. She never would’ve chosen the chronically unreliable Tamerlane for anything other than suicide. She might’ve swayed him to it had she been a more powerful ancient or if Tamerlane hadn’t come from his own immune ancient line. He was far enough down the line for Wferium to have done it, and she should’ve, but chose otherwise. Nor could Aryl broach the subject without revealing her true intentions.

She’d been extremely careful. So much so that Wferium should be proud. The revered leader of the seed hunters lived and breathed half-truths. Well, Aryl existed as one. Many things about her were true and well known to Wferium, but many more weren’t. Whatever thoughts she might have on those hidden truths were blocked. It was the only gift she’d truly learned how to master.

It was strange, however. Now that it didn’t matter the only feelings that came to mind, though mostly repressed, were those of shame at the betrayal. It was in doubt who exactly was playing who? Living as an ancient was no different than living a lie. Ancients knew all sorts of things ahead of time. They chose the path that best suited them, but a bevy of lies must be told to ensure it. These were mostly focused on the lesser humatrans, who knew no better. So, she wondered, what was there about being an ancient that wasn’t drenched in shame?

Sarafyn told her nearly 118 years ago that shame leads to death and must be repressed. He’d said this because he cared. He’d said this out of love. He’d said this as her husband. As any responsible husband should. It took time, but she’d learned to do it. As any responsible wife should.

Naturally, this shame had a beginning, but she couldn’t think on that now. She had a job to do.

<><><><>

“How the fuck could you!” Wferium screamed this after Aryl had left. “She’s my fucking granddaughter! Jarayal’s thirdborn! How the fuck could you turn her against me!”

Now that an acceptable future had been set in motion, Scott gave his sister a bit of attention. “She didn’t need any help turning against you. She’s my wife.”

Wferium was stunned into silence; incredulous at this turn of events and how she hadn’t seen it.

“She knew what you’d done and why. Jarayal never let her forget. Only she didn’t agree that it was either righteous or necessary. It’s a wonder you still believe it. Regardless, she’d made up her own mind and sought me out for my side of things. It took her decades to find me, but she finally did. I almost had her killed like all the others who wouldn’t leave me be, but I foresaw her intentions and chose a different path.”

Wferium, as if so holy, could only say one thing. “But that’s incest! You’re her great uncle! She’s your fucking niece, for christ sake!”

“What of our line doesn’t involve incest? We propagate by staying strong. Our strength comes from our heightened abilities. These are best honed by maintaining the ancient heritage and distancing ourselves from normal humatrans. Incest comes natural to ancients.”

“Well, I never had need of it?!”

“Didn’t you?”

“No. Never!”

“How much you forget. You’ve always had trouble with your memory. I‘ve always thought it strange because most don‘t. But it has been awhile.”

“No I fucking don’t! I’ve never committed incest!”

“In a manner of speaking that’s true. You either never knew or forgot.”

“No! That’s a God damned lie!”

“If you say so. How could I ever convince you of anything?”

“Fuck you! Fuck YOU! And what of you?! You bastard! How well did you keep the ancient heritage?! I’ve lost count of how many normal humatrans you’ve wedded! What of you!”

“Still, you forget why I left. I don’t adhere to ancient philosophy. I don’t accept ancient prophecy. I am an ancient. It is the only thing I can’t deny. I deal with it. I live with it. I didn’t ask Aryl to come into my life. I didn’t plan to fall in love with her. It just happened the way love should happen. And I certainly didn’t give a damn where she came from. It was refreshing that at least one person from your line had some common sense.”

“God damn you and all your sacrilege!”

“Call it what you will. I call it freedom of choice.”

“It is not! Ancients don’t have that luxury! We were chosen! We have a destiny and a duty to fulfill it!”

“So you say. As always, I disagree.”

“And what of Aryl?! If you loved her so, why did you leave her?! You’ve had many wives since her! Normal humatran wives!”

“That’s as close to sacrilege as anything you’ve said! I never left her! After decades together she chose to seek you out and punish you for all the hell I’ve been through because of you and your precious prophecies! There was a plan to reunite! Always! Do you think love is so confined?! Do you really think Aryl hasn’t had husbands and children since she was with me?! Our bond transcends mere flesh! I’d never expect someone like you to understand! You, who sacrifice all in the name of myth!”

Then Wferium cut deep. “Does she understand why you broke your vow against ancient philosophy and had a son with a normal humatran?! Does she understand why you shattered the very thing that brought you both together?! How can you weasel out of calling this betrayal?! How can you delude yourself into thinking she doesn’t see it as that?! And you expect her to help you save this bastard child, who if ever existed, should’ve been hers?! Do what you will to me! You will have your own brand of betrayal soon enough!”

To this he said nothing. The means of his sister’s demise had arrived promptly ten minutes ago, but was ignored for this final heated argument, as if nothing more than a continuation of their last one, over three hundred years ago. He motioned to be handed the sheargun.

Wferium continued to scream. “And now you expect she’ll forgive you seeing to the death of her own grandmother?! You are just as insane as everyone’s always said! Why the fuck do I have to know these things?! Why the fuck did you send my nephew, Jason, to me?! At least tell me that before you finish me!”

Without a word, Scott fired the sheargun into her healthy leg, instantly paralyzing it. Wferium let out a sharp cry until the pain exited along with all feeling below her waist.

“God damn you!!! Fucking tell me why!!!”

“You honestly forgot? Do I really know more about ancient lore than you, who is practically a priestess to the faith?” He took aim at her right arm as he said this.

She pulled it back, but it was once again extended as he motioned for both her wrists to be tied and arms pulled wide from it.

“FUCK YOU!!! WHAT CAN YOU POSSIBLY KNOW THAT I DON’T?!!!”

Scott took aim again and fired, frying all the nerves in his sister’s right arm. To the best of her ability she ignored it. “DON’T YOU FUCKING IGNORE ME!!!”

“I’ll do what I like! You think you’re so damned clever! You think you “unlocked” my son!”

He took aim at her left arm and fired. The limb went dead with a momentary shout of pain.

“I DID! GOD DAMN IT! I DID UNLOCK HIM! YOU FUCKING COULD’VE BUT YOU DIDN’T! WHY THE FUCK NOT?!!! WHY INVOLVE ME AT ALL?!!!”

“You did no such thing! Not on purpose anyway! A father, a mother. Neither can unlock their own child! It’s what intertwines us ancients. In the very beginning the Atra did it, but they are no more! It’s one of the many things that plagues me and what I am! And I don’t even know why! For this, if only this, I needed you! Jason was “unlocked” the second you touched him! You were the only ancient powerful enough that I could think of! Believe me, I would much sooner have chosen a different ancient! ANY OTHER ANCIENT! But you were all there was!”

Wferium was speechless at this. She didn’t doubt it. She didn’t deny it. She knew it was true. And she knew she’d forgotten this simple truth. And she was shamed by it. Shamed as if forgetting marked the betrayal of her faith. Shamed to her core. But still a thought occurred, and she asked it, now in a timid voice.

“But . . . But why? Why have him unlocked at all? Unlocking him is necessary for fulfilling the prophecy that you don’t believe in. You could’ve ended everything we hoped for and believed in just by denying him his abilities. You could’ve spited us all. Forever cursed all you hated so much. And you didn’t even tell him about us did you? He didn’t even know it was possible to do the things we do. So, he wouldn’t even have missed it. There would’ve been no cost to you at all.”

“No cost? No cost?! How fucking cold and stupid do you think I am?! I LOVE JASON!!! NOT UNLOCKING HIM WOULD HANDICAP HIM AGAINST ALL WHO KNEW ABOUT HIM AND CAME FOR HIM!!! NO COST?!!! NOT UNLOCKING HIM WOULD BE NO BETTER THAN KILLING HIM MYSELF!!! NOT UNLOCKING HIM IN THIS FUCKED UP WORLD WOULD BE NO BETTER THAN SENDING HIM INTO A WAR WITHOUT A KNIFE, MUCH LESS A GUN!!! NO COST?!!! HE WOULD DIE!!! HE WOULD FUCKING DIE IF I HADN’T SENT HIM TO YOU TO GET UNLOCKED!!! I CAN NOT PROTECT HIM FOREVER!!! HE MUST LEARN, IF NOT OUR WAYS, THEN AT LEAST HOW TO DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST HIS OWN DAMNED KIND!!!”

Then Scott dropped the sheargun in favor of a knife and viciously sliced open his sister’s left leg. She was shocked by the knowledge of it, but felt nothing. Fear kicked in with the reality of death.

“No. Don’t do this. Please. Jason can still be saved. I can help you do that.”

He cut a deep gash into her right leg, severing the artery to where blood sprayed out. Wferium gasped at the amount of it, but still felt nothing.

Through clenched teeth, Scott said, “I’ve gotten all the help I need from you, little fucking sister. It will soon be time to meet your perverted, conscienceless maker. God fucking speed.”

“No. Please! NO! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!!!”

He cut into her left arm . . . down to the bone. The knife got caught on it, but he tore it free. Blood sprayed in his face, but he didn’t seem to care.

“I have a scent! I can smell fear. Hide it all you want, I smelled yours and it was delicious!” Scott stopped for emphasis. “These were the exact words you spoke to my son! Your own nephew! As if you were going to murder him then and there! You tell me why it was so damned necessary to scare him like that?! Why you had to test him like that?! I saw that future and accepted it because there wasn’t anything else! There was no other way! I told myself your fucked up test would make him strong, but it didn’t, did it?! No! It just scared him stupid! Now how am I supposed to protect my son! Even if I do get him back before someone murders him for his God damned youth?!”

Then he tore into her right arm and buried the knife in her left leg . . . all the way to the hilt.

Wferium was getting weaker by the minute now and faintly said. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“You will be. Very damned soon. Release the dogs. It’s dinner time.”

With that they rushed forward, snarling, ripping and tearing at the delicious, bloody meal laid out so willingly before them.