Enid crashed through several large tree branches. She was so depleted from her battle that she didn’t have the blood to stop or even slow the fall, and even if she did, it was daytime. She crashed hard into a large rock that protruded from the damp earth of the forest floor. She groaned and rolled off of it and found herself face down in fallen leaves. Branches that had broken during her fall crashed down around her and onto her. She felt the sun cresting the horizon, then felt it touch her face. She would have welcomed another sunrise considering she expected to be obliterated before she would have another chance. Unfortunately, she hadn’t had a chance to heal her injuries from the fall. Her armor had been depleted from battle, so it did little to save her body. She tried to sit up, but she found she couldn’t as pain shot through every part of her. Even if the sun wasn’t on her she was out of blood. And her bag was several feet away from her. She coughed and tasted her own blood. She heard the rustle of quick movement in the trees. The breaking of the twigs littering the forest floor.

Probably hikers, or hunters. Either way she could probably get them to call Eyre. This is definitely not limbo, or I wouldn’t be so powerless right now.

She saw the undergrowth part and waved weakly. She spoke in English without seeing who she was addressing.

“Hi.”

She was answered by a language she had not heard for almost two thousand years. She looked and it was several men dressed in hides and fur armor. They carried bronze weapons which were drawn. She scrambled to translate what they were saying. It was a dialect she knew well but it had been thousands of years. They seemed to be surprised and elated.

“It is Eyre!”

Enid scrambled to figure out why they were calling her daughter’s name if she was when she thought she was her daughter wouldn’t be born for another thousand years at least. Then she remembered Rolf and his tribe. She let her head fall to the dirt.

“We will take you to safety.”

The biggest of the men, Enid couldn’t remember his name, leaned in and picked her up. Enid weakly pointed to her Atlantean pack. She scrambled for the words to use and spit it out, hoping she’d gotten it right.

“My bag…”

Another of the men, she recognized his face but could not remember his name, picked up the bag. There had been so many people in her life. Rolf stuck with her because they had been intimate, and she could count the number of people she was willingly intimate with on one hand. Was this before her father had kidnapped her back or after? She wondered what universe imploding paradox would happen if it was before. Then she remembered Hazel and how she had to abandon her. She wondered what became of her, but as a part of her bargain to form the Seers she had sworn to never revisit this village. She had little choice at this point. She had no strength or blood with which to stop the men from taking her back. Every step the man took was agony. Her medical training told her she had several broken ribs. She could feel the tightness in her chest. She likely had some internal bleeding. She could last until she could get somewhere dark and get her blood crystals from the bag. The experience would not be pleasant.

She recognized the village. Many nights even in the modern age it had graced her dreams. She would remember Rolf’s strong hands around her. Hazel’s warm embrace and the feeling of her breasts against her. How many times had her mind taken her back here imaging Rolf bending her over his head table and ravaging her? Two of the men brushed the discarded clay mugs and plates off the table and she could hear one yelling for Hazel and Ingrid. Enid felt herself placed on the hard wooden boards. She realized she was wearing the Atlantean armor. It was probably the only thing lettering her breath right now as it kept her body in the shape it should be. There was no way they would get it off without her help.

A few minutes later she saw Rolf’s worried face looking down at her his hand tightly gripping hers. Hazel appeared shortly after she had tears in her eyes as she noticed the blood around Enid’s lips. Enid had taught her it was a bad sign as it meant breathing would soon stop. Or a serious illness.

“Where was she?”

“There was a flash of light and a loud sound it echoed through the forest. She was there, she fell from the sky.”

“Eyre, can you speak?”

“I’m sorry my father took me away from you I didn’t mean to abandon you, he made me swear to never come back.”

Truth be told she was starting to think she might not survive this after all. She coughed up more blood.

“Shh Eyre. That is not important.”

He looked at Hazel and the newly arrived Ingrid.

“You must save her!”

Hazel was shaking her head, tears in her eyes. Ingrid touched Enid’s abdomen and then her chest gingerly. Then her left arm which was twisted in the wrong direction and her leg. Enid cried out at each gentle touch. Ingrid looked up and met Rolf’s gaze and shook her head slightly.

“Surely we can save you Eyre, how, tell me how and I will do it, I will go petition the gods myself if I must.”

Enid motioned to the bag with her good arm.

“My bag, I need it.”

Hazel pulled the bag over and Enid shifted sticking her hand inside. She held the image of a bloodstone in her head. Soon after her hand felt the rough crystal and she pulled it out. The crystal cast a soft red glow over her. She held it and absorbed the blood inside. It held as much as a full human she felt her warmth flood her body. Out of the direct sun light and with blood to spare her body started to mend itself. She felt her ribs straighten and her bones mend themselves. She screamed as her bones popped back into place and dropped the bag and crystal on the ground. The assembled villages, including Hazel and Rolf took a collective step back. Enid lay there for several moments before sitting up. Hazel was the first to approach her. She hugged Enid tightly. Rolf joined and added his arms to the mix. Once they released her Enid reached down and grabbed the blood crystal and put it back in her pack.

“If you go into battle with armor that is so thin no wonder you come here half-dead!”

Rolf laughed. His laugh seemed to relieve the rising tensions in the long house. And was followed by more boisterous laughter form the assembled men. Enid shook her head and smiled.

“Its magic armor. It was just used up from the battle.”

Rolf eyed Enid looking her up and down.

“It doesn’t leave much to the imagination.”

Enid blushed. It had been a long time since a man had looked at her like that and she had wanted them too. She noticed Hazel was staring as well. It was awkward to her these people had been dead for thousands of years, yet they seemed to be treating her like she hadn’t left.

“How long have I been gone?”

“Just two days past. When we noticed your weapon and pack were gone, I worried something might have…upset you so I sent scouts to see if you were alright. But they could find no trace of you. No one saw you fly away, and no trace of wolf prints. I…we were very worried after that.”

Enid nodded and stood up, she wobbled on her feet. She was still very low on blood, and she had used up most of the supply of blood crystals in the battle. Rolf’s strong arms caught her and held her up.

“You are weak. What did this to you?”

“Gravity?”

Rolf looked at her with utter confusion.

“The Black Son, the destroyer.”

“You said he was dead.”

“I was wrong. If I had known…”

He held her up she could feel him holding her closer then would have been proper. How many times had she wanted to feel him doing this again? He had left an impression. It would be wrong now. So many centuries of history. His eyes were full of concern.

“Were you victorious?”

“If I hadn’t been nothing would be left of this world.”

She was feeling stronger as her muscles finished repairing themselves, but she didn’t want Rolf to release her. She put her arm around his shoulders.

I have to get back to my time, but it can’t hurt to enjoy his touch for a short time. It is not like Lucius is going to suddenly appear when I get back and sweep me off my feet. Allison won’t mind, she told me I should have had some fun while I was in the past before…

Hazel took her other hand and squeezed it. Rolf nodded.

“We shall celebrate your victory this night! In the meantime, I shall have your private council in my round house while you recuperate in a proper bed.”

He stopped at the doorway suddenly realizing something. He spoke quietly to her.

“The sun… how?”

“Much has changed old friend. I am no longer bound to that oath.”

He nodded and picked her up and carried her to his home. He let her down and Enid gingerly peeled off the Atlantean armor. She sat down on a bench as she pulled it off her feet. She had dried blood stuck to her skin. The blade that had cut her had left a wound that did not heal, her flesh was still marred by black veins from the blood magic she had wielded. It was why she was feeling so drained she hadn’t realized because of the pressure of the suit on her. She held her abdomen and groaned. It hadn’t occurred to her she was wearing a modern sports bra and underwear under the armor. Rolf seemed caught be turning away and staring at her. Once he noticed the wound that had pierced her through, he rushed towards the entrance of his house.

“Rolf stop, they can’t fix this. It will take time. It was the last gift the destroyer left me. Death magic is hard to heal but it will.”

He picked up the armor which was more like a thick wet suite now the hardened plates had receded into the second skin. He twisted it in his hands.

“This was hard before…how?”

“It is from the city of the first gods. If it had not been so depleted from my battle with the destroyer, the fall would have done me no harm.”

He dropped it and kneeled in front of her.

“I am sorry for being so rough the other night, I did not mean too..”

She touched him with her blood covered hand. It was dried but she could still smell it. It was Lucius’s blood. She had a moment’s hesitation but then she decided to be as truthful as she could be.

“Sweet Rolf. How I have missed those warm eyes of yours.”

“Why did you leave? Was it truly your father?”

“Yes, he made me swear to never return.”

“Will he come and unleash his wrath? How can we protect you for disobeying him?”

Enid felt his beard. And lifted his chin and kissed him on the lips. How she missed those lips.

Surely this isn’t what Ezekiel meant about reward. A romp in the hay with an old flame?

“Rolf, my father will not know I’m here. Right now, he thinks I am in my room in Rome. And I am.”

“But how, you are here. I can feel you, your warmth. Your lips on mine. I can smell your sweat and the blood of your enemies.”

“You will not understand my sweet Rolf. I am not from this time and place. Where I come from this is the location of a city named Breman. And you are long dead. And I will need to return there. I do not belong here.”

He grasped her hand and held it tightly.

“Do not leave me again. Hazel, she wouldn’t eat, she kept watching for you.”

Enid squeezed his hand.

“I will stay for as long as I am able, but I do not have a choice.”

“But you are a goddess. You have defeated your father’s enemy, surely…he will let you stay now?”

“Oh Rolf. My father is dead where I am from and now, I am Empress of the Gods. My people need me. My daughters need me. And there is someone I love there.”

“You said you could not have children.”

“Well, I was wrong. I had twins, not with you dear Rolf, with another man. A thousand years from now. My son wasn’t ready for life as a god. My daughter…”

It can’t really do more harm them me existing at the same time as my other younger self.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a cell phone. She touched it and leafed through it. Rolf sat there staring at her. She had her legs spread and he was leaning on them. Finally, she found a picture of her and Eyre that Violet had snapped. Rolf touched it gingerly.

“More trinkets of the gods. She looks like you. But older and taller.”

Enid nodded and slid her phone back into the bag.

“She was much older than I was when I gave her the gift.”

“I saw shining towers behind you. Like when your mother came…”

“Lilith was here?”

He nodded. Enid sighed and felt tears trickling down her cheeks.

“What troubles you?”

“Lilith, she is why I am here. She sacrificed herself to save me.”

He hugged her close. The warmth of his embrace melted her barriers further. Why had she not tried to be close to more people over the ages. She had such joy from one short night with him. She didn’t feel like analyzing it now for the moment she just enjoyed the embrace. Figuring out a way home and psychoanalyzing herself could wait. He released her.

“May I sleep in your bed Rolf. I am exhausted. I just need to close my eyes for a few minutes.”

He nodded and helped her to the bed. She collapsed into it and let her eyes close. She woke again and felt a warm body snuggled against her. His arm draped over her. She had a slight fit of panic at first because there was someone with her and this wasn’t her comfortable bed or her room. She remembered the day before and breathed more calmly. Dawns first light was peeking through the corners of the furs covering his round house’s entryway. She had slept for nearly a full day. She was starving at first for blood then for food as the light rose slowly over her naked leg. With the sun touching her she felt a chill, mortal flesh was so weak. She tugged the furs over her leg and snuggled closer to Rolf. Soaking in his warmth.

There is something to be said for mortal frailties when they urge you to seek out close human contact.

She closed her eyes and laid there buried in his chest. He stirred slightly and she felt him push her curly red hair out of her face. She let a smile creep across her lips, and she opened her eyes. She was finding it easy to forget she was temporally displaced when this felt so right. He met her gaze with his kind blue eyes.

“You were so cold to the touch, I thought you might need…”

“I did.”

She kissed him; She really hadn’t meant too. It just felt like she should, and he looked surprised but then kissed her back. He touched her cheek with his hand, it was rough from a life of hard labor and war. To her it felt like the finest silk she smiled and leaned into it.

“You seem even more beautiful than when I first laid eyes on you. You seem more comfortable with yourself, with being close to me. When I would hug you before you would stiffen like a board.”

Enid blinked slowly a smile slipping back onto her lips and she sighed wistfully.

“You are right. I am comfortable with myself now. I am a goddess, but I am also a woman, a human woman. I spent centuries telling myself I was something more than a human at my core. That I needed to be apart from mortals, I couldn’t give into these primitive urges. But being here with you again, in your arms I know that I was lying to myself. I need human contact; I need to feel connected.”

He kissed her. She could feel him hardening against her. She had a brief moment of panic, but she let it go and she spread her legs. He touched her still red remnants of her wound. It had sealed itself, the pain had faded. He quirked his head to the side she spread her legs further and laid back. He climbed between them, and she could feel him pressing against her. He kissed her again, this time her lips parted, and their tongues met. He reached down and began to rub between her legs. She felt herself growing moist. In the sunlight her body reacted like any other woman’s and without any urging of blood she became slick. Her nipples hardened of their own accord. Her skin was softer without her vampiric powers. He was on top of her and his weight was holding her down. Unlike the last time they had been together she would be powerless to stop him physically. She found the thought calming.

“You are softer.”

Enid bit her lip and nodded.

“You said one night…Are you sure?”

“No, but I don’t want to stop either.”

*****

They were covered in a sheen of moisture. He stoked the skin of her arm.

“You’re sweating. I have seen you empty a cart in the heat of summer and not a drop of sweat.”

She nodded rubbing her cheek against his firm arm.

“Balance in all things. In sunlight I am mortal. It is the cost I pay to be warmed by it.”

“Then surely you should keep yourself shrouded from it?”

“No, I refuse to live my life in fear. I have had two thousand years of hiding in the dark. Worried someone is going to come from the shadows and end my immortality. But what good is a life not lived?”

She rolled over in her arms and he had softened by now and he slipped out of her easily. She touched his cheek. He was looking at her with even more admiration now.

“You have no fear. I wish I could live like that.”

“I have fear, fear for my daughters lives. Fear for my sister’s life. What do you fear?”

“That another plague will come through the village and take away my people.”

“I have…herbs that can cure most plagues now. While I am here you need not fear disease.”

“But what of when you leave?”

“If God wills it, I will stay until you pass on from this life Rolf.”

“But your daughters?”

“Will not be born for another thousand years. I have a little bit of time. In fact, I have two thousand years before I have to go back to my life. And I see no Angels coming to drag me home. Short of that or me figuring out a spell I’ve been trying to figure out for months I’m pretty much stuck.”

“Angel?”

He spoke the English word with some difficulty.

“Servants of the Gods. There is one, he is the keeper of paradise lost. I have no ability to traverse the outer realms. I will have to wait to be rescued. My mother is the only person who could rescue me, and she died in another universe. She was trapped…”

She sighed. Lilith was gone for good. That was the point of the pocket universe. She was gone and so was Bloodseeker. She could no longer feel its hunger. It made her feel slightly hollow inside.

“But she was just here two seasons ago. We should rescue her, get your armor and blade!”

Enid shook her head.

“She is gone and so is my sword.”

“You lost it? That weapon never left your side.”

Enid nuzzled his chest her forehead.

“It was created by the destroyer of everything and it was the only thing that could stop him. But it could not kill him. It could only trap him. So, my sister, daughter and I, with the help of God, the one the disciples of Jesus Christ and the Hebrews go on about created a tiny world, the size of your round house. I trapped the Destroyer and myself in it. I kept him busy while it started to collapse.”

She made glob with her hands and started pushing them together.

“The Destroyer cannot be killed. But he can be removed from existence. So, when the tiny little world collapsed and vanished, he went with it. I had to trap him with my sword. He was trying to escape. So, I lay there watching it collapse in on itself. Ready to be obliterated and Lilith shows up and throws me through a portal at the last moment. I was spit out here. But I could have ended up anywhere in space and time. The only time we could create the tiny world was at the very beginning before the creator had his first thought and created the destroyer.”

Rolf watched her face carefully as she spoke. She saw confusion in his face.

He will never understand.

“I am just trying to explain that she died eons ago long before humans existed.”

“But you said you are from the times ahead.”

“Yes, there is a place, it is attached to everywhere and everywhen… I will not be able to explain it to you in terms you will understand, your language doesn’t have the words for it. And dimensional physics is beyond me that’s a Mariana thing.”

“Mariana, your sister? Is she not dead, slain by your father?”

Enid was confused for a brief moment. Then she laughed.

“He faked her death. My father was cagier than I thought. He made it look like she had been executed to keep the council happy. But no, she lives, though she did not reach the future unharmed. She is far smarter than me. It was her power and skill that allowed it. I just tricked them into letting me go in alone so they would survive.”

She laughed again.

“Joke is on me, I survived too. Even left a…note telling Eyre she would replace me. She’s probably so mad at me right now. But she can’t be mad right now, she won’t be born for another thousand years. Time travel is giving me a headache. Or maybe I’m just hungry.”

“You are hungry? Do you eat food now?”

Enid nodded.

“During the day I am as mortal as you, I need to eat and drink.”

He nodded.

“Then let’s go eat. I can smell Ingrid cooking something up in the long house.”

He paused as he was pulling up his hide pants.

“You named your daughter after yourself?”

Enid bit her lip as she sat there wrapped in his fur cover.

“My name is not Eyre, it is Enid. Enid Aurelias.”

“Why did you give us the name Eyre?”

“Because if I had told you Enid and someone spoke of my true name then my father, or brother might have heard and been able to track me here. I did not lie out of malice, just to ensure our safety from them.”

“What shall I call you?”

“Call me Enid. I know one thing for certain, I never returned to this village not in two thousand years so it is highly unlikely anyone would look for me here, especially after my father banned me from coming back. I have no idea what kind of terrible catastrophe would happen if I were to share the same space as my younger self.”

He nodded solemnly. He could tell by her tone she didn’t think the end result would be anything short of world ending. She picked up her underwear and slipped it into her bag with her armor. He watched her stuff it inside. She laughed.

“Its bigger on the inside.”

No way he gets that joke.

He looked at it wide eyed. She dug through looking for a dress, but she had removed all signs of her visit to the village. Probably so she wouldn’t be reminded of what she left behind.

“Rolf, I need something to wear.”

He nodded and pulled out a rough wooden chest. He dug out a dress it was a little big for her, but it would do.

“My wife’s.”

Enid took it gingerly.

“I am sorry you had to find this.”

“It is better that is worn and used then left to rot at the bottom of her chest. She won’t be wearing it will she?”

Enid nodded and pulled it over her head. She felt strange bereft of a bra and other underwear. It would be awkward when she started her period. The whole period thing frustrated her most with being mortal. So much blood wasted. Terrible design for a mystical item. Too bad she didn’t go back in time to Atlantis to ask them to correct that oversight. She felt wetness on her leg frowned, she grabbed a piece of linen and wiped herself.

So goddamned careless what if I get pregnant?

Rolf watched her smiling when he caught a glimpse of her naked rear.

“I will never get tired of seeing that.”

She shook her head at him.

“You should be looking to Hazel not me. What we have is fun, but you could have a life with her.”

The pair made their way to the long house. There were more than a few envious looks from the men of the village. Enid felt her cheeks growing red in the sunlight of the morning.