Chapter 21

Kathryn

The light of the torches glimmered across the stone-grey stone walls. The green moss that laced between the cobbled stepping-stones of the place between wound across the courtyard.

He walked along the path, his step confidant even though he hadn't visited this part of the realm in thousands of years.

She sat near the well, her heavy cloak pulled low over her face. He could see her reaching up occasionally to self-consciously adjust the cowl and it made him smile inwardly. She had always been unsure of her beauty, and he had always played into that insecurity.

"My lady," he said, stepping forward and bowing to the woman.

King Cyrius Alexus I strode into the courtyard, his glowing black eyes reflecting on the surface of the water.

"Your Highness," the woman's voice rasped slightly. "I got your message. What do you want? Have you decided to accede to Our demands?"

He stalked closer to her.

"I don't think so," he said, approaching her. She seemed to shrink into herself as he approached, and he grabbed her and threw her against the low stone wall. "Unless those demands include you and me and some expensive oil in some very compromising positions. I might be persuaded then."

Kathryn laughed and abandoned the ruse, pushing the hood of her cloak back and shaking out her long white braid. She stood and soon was wrapping her body around the King and sighing in satisfaction.

"I could be into that," she admitted. "Once you've kept up your end of the bargain."

He took her hand gently in his own and seemed to concentrate. Glowing black energy surrounded his hand where it lay on hers. Slowly the glow faded, and she looked at her hand in wonder. Where before they had been gnarled and aged, the skin was now smooth, her bones straight. When she looked into the water of the well, she saw streaks of red flowing through her formerly silver hair.

"More!" She insisted, turning feral eyes on him.

"Soon enough, but you must be patient," he continued. "Before long, even Kronos himself couldn't save your Sisters."

"I'm counting on it," she said, a small smile spreading across her face as the older woman stared into the eyes of Elus, God of Alexandria.