Rolf was in the long house discussing trade with a representative from the neighboring tribe. He had returned with the men Rolf had sent to escort the chief’s son-in-law. He had come with buckets of tree sap, it was good for filling gaps in the boards and stones that built their round houses and the long house. The trees that provided it did not grow near the village. It was his offer for the bronze. Enid was collecting eggs from the chickens. Ingrid who usually organized the communal women’s work kept trying to dissuade her. Enid had insisted. Ingrid was quite stubborn, but then again so was Enid. Eventually Ingrid had relented and given Enid a task, the one that took the least effort and would be done the quickest. Ingrid since the day Enid had arrived, the younger one that is, had made it clear she thought the goddess was above such work and had kept trying to get her to go hunting with the men or something. She truly didn’t consider Enid a woman, and more of a warrior and a scout, which was mostly men’s work.

Enid was picking up the last of the eggs and Hazel appeared around the corner of the chicken coup. And motioned for Enid to follow. They had not spoken since Enid had arrived. Hazel was looking frazzled, and she knew why. She had been avoiding it, but it was inevitable. She would have to live with the decisions of her younger, more reckless self. She took the egg basket and put it on Ingrid’s doorstep the hurried to find Hazel. She was pacing and biting her nails.

“Eyre, I was so worried.”

Enid pulled her close and made soft shhing sounds and hugged her.

“I’m sorry. My father took me. I’m back now.”

“But you’re with Rolf all the men are talking, do you not want me anymore? Are you going to have his children? Are you going to steal that from me too?”

Enid hugged her tightly.

“Shh, no Hazel, I have no interest in being Rolf’s wife or the mother of his children. Yes, we had sex, but it was because I needed the comfort of a man. He happened to be there and willing. And why are you jealous? You haven’t given him any indication you’re interested after the first day.”

“Because I love you.”

“Hazel, I am not right for you.”

Hazel started to vibrate and hyperventilate. Tell the blood addict you have forever bound to loving you that you don’t love her. Way to go.

“Shh Hazel, shh. I didn’t say I was going to abandon you or not love you. I just said that you should be with Rolf. A man, he can give you children. I will still sleep with you; I will still be with you as a companion.”

Hazel was still freaking out. Enid glanced around them pulled Hazel towards the storage cave. She dragged her to the back and in the darkness, there pulled down the shoulder of her dress and pulled Hazels tearstained face to her breast and let blood flow through it. Hazel hesitated at first then latched on and began to suck fiercely. Enid let her drink her fill. Hazel pulled away wiping her mouth. Then licked her hand. Enid pulled the dress back over her shoulder.

“Feel better?”

“Yes…it tasted different…I feel…different.”

“I am older and stronger than before. That is what you’re feeling.”

Enid pulled her close and kissed her lips. The taste of her blood was still fresh.

“Hazel, I never forgot you. I was just delayed.”

Hazel nodded still in a daze from the rush of the blood and the kiss. Enid could smell her arousal easily. It was having an impact on her. Thousands of years and she comes back here and she’s a hormonal teenager. Something about this village… Hazel looked down at her.

“Thank you, Eyre.”

“Call me Enid, hiding my name doesn’t matter anymore.”

Hazel kissed her almost crushing her in her strong arms. Enid was fairly sure something would have cracked had she been weakened by sunlight.

“I will tell Rolf I wish to be his wife for you. Why would he want me to have his children?”

Enid sighed.

A full-grown woman who is capable of giving him what he needs and wants. Silly girl.

“You can give him children, I cannot.”

“You know I don’t care if you have sex with him. As long as we can be together too.”

Enid nudged Hazel towards the door. The pair bumped into Ingrid. She glanced at them both. Then spoke quietly.

“I do not care who lays with whom, but there is work to be done Hazel. Eyre, I expect you to know better.”

Hazel and Enid glanced at each other. Enid couldn’t help feeling like she was back at school in the nineteen eighties. When Ingrid vanished from sight the pair let out long sighs and then started giggling. The day was a long one Enid was sitting bored because Ingrid had refused to give her more chores. Rolf left the long house rubbing his face he saw her and waved with a smile. She watched Hazel approach him and he turned to her. They spoke in what seemed to be harsh tones. Rolf seemed confused and glanced at Enid, who gave a small shrug. His answer seemed to please Hazel who ran off with a bounce in her step. Rolf approached Enid.

“Did you say something to her?”

“No, she told me she was going to tell you she was ready to be your wife.”

“So, you had nothing to do with this?”

“No, why would I want to give up our morning routine?”

He chuckled.

“She knew we had been together, apparently some of the men heard us. She was upset and thought I was trying to marry you. I told her that I had no claim over you and that if she felt so strongly, she should tell you.”

“So, you did have something to do with this sudden turn around?”

“I would say jealousy was at the heart of it. I assume you said yes?”

“I told her that we would prepare be wed on the summer solstice.”

“Good for you.”

“So, you have nothing to say against it, no objections?”

“You know what I saw in your future. Do I want you to myself for the rest of your life, yes, I want you, but is it what is best for you and your people? No, it is not. I am mature enough to see that my pleasure is not worth countless people’s lives. I should not be here, and that is why my vision showed you alone if you choose me. I understand it now, I was always going to show up here. I just didn’t realize it when I spoke to you last.”

He nodded, sadness creeping into his eyes. She motioned him closer and lowered her voice.

“I will tell you this, but you must swear to never say a word to anyone.”

“I give my oath.”

“Hazel doesn’t like men. She is marrying you because she wants children. And has told me that she doesn’t care if we are together.”

His eyes went wide.

“She’ll be a good wife. She just likes being with women in that way. This way you get your children, you get your wife, and you have me.”

“Have you been with her?”

“Yes.”

He stroked his beard.

“You would also be with her then?”

“I suspect so.”

“So, the three of us could be a family.”

“I suppose so.”

He looked excited. Yes, that would be the word for it. Strong children and an alliance, along with his mistress who was also his wife’s mistress.

“I accept your proposal as well. You shall be my second wife. I can have more than one wife. The old chief did, why not me?”

“Well, umm, not exactly what I was umm saying.”

“I will make sure you both have the most beautiful dresses.”

Enid just nodded along with him. She was stuck here until Ezekiel let her out and this was the one place on the entire earth could be sure her younger self would not show up. She also had to ensure Hazel had a steady supply of her blood. She sighed when he walked off. She sat there glaring up at the sky for a long time. Hazel sat down beside her. She looked exhausted but had a smile on her face.

“Rolf told me he was going to marry us both?”

“Sorry Hazel.”

“No, no, he explained I was panicking when he said he knew we had slept together and that I liked women and not men. But then he said that so long as I had his children and was a good wife, I could do whatever I want with you, and he you.”

“You’re not upset?”

“No, it’s perfect. I won’t have to sneak around behind his back. He will not be demanding sex with me because he can get it with you.”

“My daughter would love this.”

Enid buried her face in her hands.

“You aren’t happy with this arrangement?”

“I am happy, I just wish my urges hadn’t made it possible.”

“You regret us?”

“No, no, no. I just. I am happy. I just don’t want to be.”

Hazel narrowed her eyes.

“Why do you not want to be happy?”

“You know what, don’t worry about it. I am happy we can spend our lives together and be open about it.”

“We could both be pregnant at the same time. Our children can be raised together.”

Enid shook her head.

“I cannot have children.”

“But you said you had daughters.”

“One is adopted. My body actively will try and kill the child. The only way I could physically carry one to term is an act of God and I don’t think he’s interested in my life anymore. He used me for what he needed and cast me away. The fact I’m still here is proof of that.”

“I don’t understand.”

“There is a being of great power that created everything we see before us. The earth, the trees, us, everything. Well, he made it possible, his creations created this. He created the great destroyer; It was his first creation. The great destroyer wanted to unravel everything pull it apart and rebuild it in his image. The creator used me to stop him. Now that I have won his battle he leaves me here, displaced in time. He made me conceive my twins, so that I would have my daughter to aid me in battle.”

“Who is this god you speak of? Your father?”

“No, he was the same as me, just another one of his pieces on the bored tossed aside after he served his purpose. No, the god I speak of is the god of the disciples of Christ and the Hebrew.”

“They have come here, we ran them off, but their god is real?”

“Yes, though I have never seen him. He works through angels, the one I know best is Ezekiel. And Ezekiel does exactly what God tells him, so until God tells him to rescue me, I am stuck here.”

“Stuck? You do not wish to be with me?”

“I am choosing the wrong words Hazel, where this me comes from, I have two daughters, I have my sister, I have…someone else. It is a place of plenty. I never want for food, or drink. I am warm in the winter, cool in the summer. The whole world is connected. If I want to know something, I simply ask the world and it answers. Paradise is a lot to give up, even for love. It will take me time.”

“But you were only gone two days.”

“No Hazel, I was gone for two thousand years.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Hazel, I fought a terrible evil in this very spot, almost two thousand years from now, with your descendants. The winter wolves. That is why I know you must marry Rolf and have children. The Nazi’s were trying for the sacred cave. So, you must have children. If not, then evil will win.”

Hazel’s eyes widened.

“For you it has been two days, for me it has been thousands of years. I know it’s hard to understand. But in all that time I never forgot you or Rolf. I regretted not coming back for you. It was careless of me to let you taste my blood. I know you survived it and were stronger for it because the winter wolves told stories of you. The founder of their blood line. Hazel the wise, the spirit talker. They spoke of the sister-mother to your bloodline. A red-haired warrior maiden named Slays-Demons. The spirits told them it was me and when they had a time of great need, they summoned me to battle. I had assumed you told stories of me. But maybe, maybe I was always meant to end up here. I will be by your side until your dying day. I promise you that.”

Hazel nodded she seemed to not quite understand but she understood the promise.

“I will hold you to that oath Slays-Demons.”

They clasped hands. Hazel spoke and Enid knew she was addressing the spirits and not Enid directly.

“I swear an oath to Slays-Demons that I will be hers until my dying day. That I will hide no secrets and I will treat her as my sister. She will be mother to my children and I mother to hers. She will be wife to our husband, and she can lay with him as wife. I will have no jealousy towards her and my husband.”

Enid felt a pulse of energy pass through their clasped hands.

“I swear an oath to Hazel of the Northern wolf pack that I will be hers until her dying day. That I will hide no secrets and I will treat her as my sister. I will be mother to her children, and she mother to mine. She will be wife to our husband and she can lay with him as wife. I will have no jealous towards her and my husband.”

Another pulse of energy flowed through their palms. Enid felt a tug on her soul and felt the binding fall into place around them.

“We have sworn a spirit-oath. Our souls are bound until I die.”

“Will we do the same with Rolf?”

“Yes, he will need to do the same, he will need to swear that if we have wolf-born they can be sent to the pack.”

They sat their fingers intertwined. It was not unheard of for men to have multiple wives in Gaul. Enid felt right now. Like she was bound to this time and place rather than untethered as she had since she arrived. A hundred years what was that in the measure of a lifetime that had already spanned thousands. Enid spent the rest of the afternoon with Hazel. Their work done they shared a bed. Hazel was asleep shortly after dark and Enid crept out. Enid looked down at the black veins in her flesh. She would need to hunt, and it had to be vampires. She knew where to find a den of Pugmentia that would need to be destroyed. She also remembered arriving to find them already deceased. The had been drained dry.

*****

Enid flew up into the air and started towards Rome. She pulled the shadows around herself and twisted time to her purpose. Outside the envelope minutes would pass. Inside sixteen hours would elapse. A feat her younger self couldn’t even have imagined being powerful enough to do, but for her it was easy. She found the den of the Pugmentia. They had a lust for youth and had raised the ire of the wealthy due to a couple of indiscriminate feedings. Sextus declared their lives forfeit. He had wanted an example set. When she first arrived, she had assumed an Imperial elder had done it, maybe afraid of being implicated. Now she understood. She recalled the estate. It had long ago been abandoned by mortals due to the stench from the garbage pile that was the Roman equivalent of a dump. Enid landed and walked towards the building. As she walked forward, she forced her body to take on the shape of Sarah. Less risk of a paradox, her being seen in two places at once.

Going to be nice to cut loose.

She waved her hand and the wooden doors that barred her way splintered. It was like she kicked an hornets nest. Seven Pugmentia swarmed her she grabbed the first and broke his neck with a pinch of her hand then smashed him into a marble wall. The next she caved in his skull with a superstrength punch. The next few seemed to realize how much trouble they were actually in and instead of rushing at her were starting to flee. Enid altered time and pulled the five remaining ones into the bubble one at a time draining them dry and ensuring she took their souls as well. She turned to the first two as time around her resumed normal passage and started draining their blood into what blood stones she had. Drinking the last drops herself and draining their essence as well. She gained nothing from the experience except knowledge they were really and truly dead. To an outside observer the entire assault had taken seconds. The draining with the stones could not be rushed. She stood up after draining the last one and wiped the blood from her mouth. She left the bodies where they lay just as they were when her younger self would arrive.

She had hours of night left and rather then leave as swiftly as she came, she decided to walk the streets of her home once again. It had been a long time since she had been in the real Rome. She even pondered staying until daylight to see it once again with the sun hitting the majestic pillars of the Forum. Her meandering found her standing in front of the Forum. She walked up the steps and ran her hand along the pillars as she passed them. In her Sarah form she must have looked like a ghost haunting it her pale skin and almost silver hair.

Next, she tempted fate even more as she strolled into the vampire gathering place, which in the summer would take place in a well-manicured private garden. Tended by blood slaves during the day. The court was taking place. She abused her power as the first vampire to hide her presence from the vampire’s minds. Only her father would see her, but he never attended the Pugmentia courts. There was no reason for him to. None of the Imperial elders would. Only Enid had to attend and only because often she was pronouncing judgment for the council. How many nights had she wasted here instead of with her husband? At the time she had no regrets. She loved him but saw sex as a means to procreation and little more. How she wished he still lived so she could feel what it would be like to be with him without her sexual hang ups.

She looked at the Lord. Camille was one of the oldest of the Pugmentia. But still less then two thousand years old, all of them were. Enid was sure she knew why but couldn’t remember for the life of her. The blonde woman had nothing human left I her. She had stark white skin. Her movements were wrong. Enid had a term for it now, the uncanny valley. It hadn’t bothered as much before. She actually liked that about Camille, she even strived to be that divorced from the race of her birth.

Enid knew Camille wasn’t really named Camille. She was an Egyption woman. Her age had bleached her skin and her hair and her eyes. She looked as much a ghost as Enid did at the moment. Enid scanned the rest of her ruling council. The only one amongst them she hadn’t had a dislike for was Alesandr. He wore the monster on his face. As did all his bloodline. He was useful for information and always told the truth. Not necessarily the whole truth. The rest were lying backstabbing vicious wolves in sheep’s clothing. She jumped when she saw her younger self march into the council chambers as if she owned the place. She remembered now. She had came here once she found the drained corpses. Knowing someone had broken the Covenant that said one could not drain a vampire to death. She’d witness this scene before so she wandered out and let herself appear to the world around her. She walked past her family home. Looked past the gates and pondered visiting him. Telling him she loved him. It would change things and she couldn’t risk it.

That’s enough looking at ghosts.

Enid pulled the shadows around herself and flew into the air, altering time once again to suit her needs. She landed into the sleeping village. She looked at Rolf’s round house, walked to the entrance and reached out her hand to push the fur aside then pulled it back and instead wandered to the darkened long house. She retrieved her tablet from the pack and found a video of Eyre, Maria and Mitena laughing as they played a game about unicorns. She’d taken it in secret. She hadn’t known why she felt compelled to there was no point. A few days later she knew she was going to die. She touched the screen blood tears falling down her cheeks but was still smiling at Mitena’s infectious giggle.

I’m sorry I had to leave. I’ll see you in a couple millennia.

She put the tablet to sleep and slipped it back into her pack. There would be no way to recharge it for almost two thousand years.