Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:34:05 -0400
From: X X <thewriter_x@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Brotherhood #23 {X} {MM College & Sci-Fi/Fantasy} [23!23]?

The following story contains sexually explicit acts between men.  If such
things bother you, annoy you, disturb you, or frighten you, then why the
hell are you here?  Do yourself a favor and leave before you read something
you like and discover that you're actually gay; you might not be able to
deal with the revelation.

I started a yahoo group for TBH a while back.  It's place where you can get
the latest chapters and talk about the story with other readers if you
like.  As thanks to those who signed up, I'll be keeping the group updated
with any and all information about Sins, TBH, and all other writing
projects.  So if you want to keep up just sign up here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theinnercircletbh/

As always, thanks for reading and I'd love to hear your thoughts, good or
bad, on the latest chapter so feel free to write me at: thewriterxx@aol.com




The Brotherhood Chapter XXIII By: X


	Two weeks to the day, I laid in bed pretending to be asleep.  I'd
been counting the days until I'd finally have Q to myself.  Having lunch
with him for thirty minutes a day just wasn't enough, so when I felt him
trying to leave the bed, I wasn't having it.  Q barely got off the bed when
I grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him back down.

	"Where do you think you're going?" I demanded.  "You told me two
weeks and it's been two weeks. Don't even think about leaving."

	He laughed, brushed my hair away from eyes and kissed me.
"Exactly.  Today is the day we wrap everything up.  It shouldn't take too
long."

	"But I was hoping we'd just veg out by staying in bed all morning."

	"That wouldn't have worked. You need to go to class."

	"Yeah, but I'd be okay skipping class to spend the morning with
you."

	"Oh really?" Q smirked.  "Who knew I had such a self-sacrificing
boy?"

	"I know, right?" I smiled all noble-like. "I give until it hurts.
It's just the way I am."

	"Uh huh."  I don't know why but Q didn't seem to think I was being
sincere.  "You're a regular Mother Teresa. I get the feeling you were more
excited about not going to class than hanging out with me."

	"Well...yeah, but being with you would've been a nice side bonus."

	"I'm sure," he laughed and tried to pull away but I wouldn't let
him go.  I managed to wrap my legs around his waist and a little wrestling
match ensued.  Two frat guys wrestling around in their underwear sounds
like the beginning of a hot prono.  Sadly for me, it didn't lead to
anything that exciting.  After a few minutes of rolling around in the bed,
Q kissed me and did his little ethereal trick.  He passed thru me like
smoke, taking solid form again as he walked to the dresser.
	"That's cheating!" I protested.

	"Well...yeah," Q said with the same inflection I had just used.

	"Are you mocking me?" I asked as I snuggled up with his pillow.

	"Always and forever."

	I laid there like I had for many mornings watching Q get dressed.
I don't know why but it was a serious turn on for me.  It was something
more than simply watching him walk around in his underwear; though that
certainly didn't hurt any.  Maybe it was because he looked so normal doing
it and I knew there was so much more under that illusion of normality.

	"Why do you do that?" I asked.

	"What?  Put my pants on one leg at a time?" he pulled up his pants
and left them unbutton for the time being.  "You'll have to be a bit more
specific."

	"Get dressed.  I mean why do you get dressed every morning?"

	"Um, what the hell kind of question is that?"  He looked at me like
I'd just grown a second head.  "Would you rather I ran around the world in
my underwear?"

	I rolled my eyes.  "You know what I'm trying to say."

	Q shook his head.

	"Why do you bother going thru the motions of getting dressed?  I've
seen you change clothes with a snap of your fingers so I know you don't
need to sit there and put on every single piece of clothing."

	"First of all I've never snapped my fingers."

	Again I rolled my eyes.

	"Second of all just because you can do a thing in a blink of an eye
doesn't mean you always have to do it that way.  Sometimes it's nice to
slow things down and enjoy the simple and the mundane.  This is probably
why I'm so attracted to you."

	I threw his pillow at him. He laughed and caught it with ease. He
sat down next to me on the bed and hit me with the same pillow.

	"And third of all and probably most importantly...I know you enjoy
it."

	Instantly, I felt the heat and blood rush to my face.  "You're
delusional," was the best come back I could muster.

	"Uh huh, sure I am," he laughed.  "Here, let me clean up some of
that drool you have on your chin there."

	"Oh shut up!" I slapped his hand away from my face.

	"Listen, I can either come home to you for lunch like usual or just
work thru it and come home to you sooner.  Which would you prefer?"

	"Can't you just do both?" I shrugged.

	"You really haven't grasped the concept of "either or" have you?"

	"Why can't I have my cake and eat it too?"

	Q was now the one rolling his eyes.  "Don't start with that.  That
human saying has never made any sense to me.  At any rate, you need to
decide which one you want me to do."

	"Fine.  Just come home to me sooner."

	"Deal," he said and kissed me.  "I'll even sweeten the pot.  I'll
take you out to dinner at Bucky's when I get back."

	"What the hell is that?"

	"You're going to love it trust me."

	"Of course I am," I said sarcastically.  "I'll make sure to wear my
best flannel shirt and overalls."

	"You do that."  Kissing me one last time, Q left but not before
telling me to get my ass out of bed and ready for class.  Some things never
change.

	Begrudgingly, I crawled out of bed and did as I was told.  Dressed
and with my backpack over my shoulder, I headed down stairs to the kitchen.
Arsen sat at the table eating toast and finishing up an assignment.  A
second slice of toast was still on the plate so I took that instead of
going through the hassle of making my own.  Concentrating on his homework,
Arsen didn't notice the theft until he reached for it and got a hand of
crumbs instead.

	"The fuck?" he said.

	"Sup Arsen?"  I said as I swallowed my last bite; destroying all
evidence that I took it.

	He finally looked up from this book.  "Oh hey Jacob.  What's up?"

	"Just living the dream as they say."

	Arsen glanced at his empty plate and then under the table; seemly
looking for his long lost breakfast.

	"Did you lose something?"

	"Um...no."  He scratched his head.  "Are you heading to class?"

	"Yeah.  Hey listen, have you heard of a place called Bucky's?  Q's
taking me there later and I'm not sure what to expect.  I'm picturing a
mechanical bull and mud wrestling.  Something tells me I should be picking
my overalls up from the cleaner."

	Arsen laughed.  "You better not.  Don't let the name fool you.
Bucky's is a very ritzy restaurant.  It's where Connecticut's elite go to
dine and mingle with others of their kind.  From what I understand it can
take weeks or even months to get a reservation."

	"Damn."

	"Uh, yeah," he said in his most 'duh' voice.  "But something tells
me Q doesn't need a reservation."

	I just looked at Arsen.  He was right.  It was probably the most
trivial 'show of power' anyone could have - never needing a reservation,
ever - but something about it hit me.  Of all the phenomenal gifts Q had,
this mundane power hit me.  I felt the sides of my mouth curl ever so
slightly into a smile, but stopped it before it became obvious.

	  "Thanks for the info bud.  I'm going to head out."

	"Hold up.  I'll walk out with you.  I'm done here."

	We caught up with Paul just as he was walking out of the door.  The
three of us walked towards campus together.  We talked about the typical
bullshit you'd expect from a bunch of college guys - girls, professors we
hated, the unfairness of single spaced papers and upcoming parties.  For
some unknown reason, I simply wasn't interested in the 'girls' part of the
conversation anymore.

	Weird.

	We entered the Colligate Center together but quickly went our
separate ways.  They wanted to meet up later to shoot some darts but I
reminded Arsen I already had plans and would have to take a rain check.  I
dreaded going to class.  It was difficult for me to get over the
pointlessness of it all.  What the fuck was a degree going to do for me
when the shit finally hit the fan?  Don't get me wrong.  I was doing fine
in all my classes.  I showed up, put in my time, completed the assignments
and did well on my tests.  What I didn't do was give a shit.  I wasn't
doing it for me or my personal pursuit of knowledge.  I was doing it
because The Brotherhood demanded nothing but the best.  So that's what I
gave them.

	Today, for whatever reason, I found it exceedingly difficult to
give a fuck.  I stood outside the class watching everyone else march in
like little drones and just couldn't bring myself to join the herd.  I
decided to go to The Village instead.  Sure, I'd have some explaining to do
when Q found out, but I hoped he'd understand that I just needed a "me"
day.

	I strolled in and out of a few stores around The Village only half
engaged in the world around me.  That was until I found myself staring at
the front door of Lady White's shop.  I hadn't planned to end up there.  At
least I don't remember planning it.  Yet, it felt remarkably like I'd
reached the end of my journey.  I was about to reach for the door knob,
when two girls burst out of it.  One looked confused and on the verge of
tears while the other was doing her best to console her.  I couldn't help
but wonder what great news or pearls of wisdom Lady White laid out for this
girl.

	All I could do was offer a sympathetic "been there, done that"
smile to them as I walked in.  The waiting room was empty so I took a seat,
pulled my ear buds from my ears, and reached for one of the magazines on
the coffee table.  I still had no idea what the hell I was doing there.

	"Come on in Jacob," an all too familiar voice called out.

	"Too creepy," I whispered.

	I followed her voice and found her sitting at the table in the
middle of her reading room.  She had a warm, welcoming smile on her face
and ivory white hair flowing freely down her back.  With an open hand, she
gestured to the chair opposite her

       I thanked her and sat down.

      And that was it.  I just sat there staring at her as she was staring
at me.  I didn't know what to say to her.  Five very long, very awkward
minutes passed, and my eyes had long since started to wander uncomfortably.
When I did catch a glimpse of her she was still looking at me with the same
smile she had when I first walked in.  It became very clear to me that she
was not going to be the first to say something.  It was up to me to come up
with something to talk about.

      "It's getting colder out these days."  I'm embarrassed to admit it,
but that's what I said.

	Lady White just nodded and smiled.

	"Are you a fan of the cold?  I'm not.  You'd think I'd be used to
it growing up in Maine and all but I hate it."  I was rambling.  I could
hear it, but I couldn't stop it. "I do like the foliage in the fall.  The
colors are crazy when the leaves turn.  Are you a big fan of the foliage?
You seem like the type who..."

	"Jacob why don't you tell me what's on your mind?" she interrupted.

	Her question caught me off guard.  On my mind?  Well...foliage, I
guess.  I shut up and shrugged.

	"You need to do better than that, my dear," she insisted.

	"Honestly I don't know why I'm here."  I threw my hands out and
shrugged again.  "All I wanted was a little me time today.  I had no plans
to come see you, that's for sure."

	"Yet here you sit."

	"Hey, I'm just as confused as you are lady."

	"My name is Lady White."

	The correction was gentle, but I took her etiquette lesson serious.
"Yes, ma'am."

	"I see this is going to be one of my harder sessions," she patted
my hand and got up.  "Would you like some tea dear?"

	"What kind of tea?"

	"The good kind."  She gestured for me to follow her.  "Come along.
The tea isn't going to make itself."

	I got up and followed her into the kitchen, mumbling shit under my
breath the whole time.

	"What's that dear?"

	"Nothing.  I'm coming."  She asked me to fill up the teapot and put
on it on the stove while she grabbed the tea.  "Is it proper etiquette to
ask a guest to make their own tea?"

	"Yes," she said matter-of-factly and patted me on the back.  "Now
make sure you don't turn it up too high or you'll risk burning the tea
leaves."

	"That doesn't make any sense.  How do you burn tea?"

	She smiled and gave me a 'shut up and do as your told' look.

	"Now, tell me how things are going with you.  It doesn't have to be
anything in particular.  Just whatever comes to mind is fine."

	"Well..." I started and then drew a blank, but only for a moment.
"I'm finally a full- fledged member of the Brotherhood."

	"Yes, I can tell," she declared with pride.  For a moment it felt
like I was talking to my own grandmother.  "Congratulations."

	"How can you tell?  Am I wearing a sign?"

	"Not a sign, Jacob.  A ring.  The Brotherhood ring."

	"Oh..." I grabbed my ring and spun it around my finger.  I left
like an idiot for trying to be a smartass only to be smacked down by an old
lady.

	"But I didn't need to see the ring to know you were a brother, for
I always knew you'd become one."

	"Of course you did..."  There was an awkward silence that fell
between us as she poured our tea.  I brought the cup to my lips and blew
several times to cool of the steaming, dark liquid.  I was blown away by my
first sip.  "Wow!  This is some fucking good tea."

	She gave me "the look."

	"Oh sorry."  When I first met Lady White I had no problems dropping
the F-bomb and cursing up a storm.  Now I just felt dirty.  "Anyway, I
guess you were right."

	"Oh, was I?" she asked as she brought the tea to her lips.  She
took a small sip before returning the cup to its saucer.  "Remind me again
how I was right?  It happens so often it's hard to keep track at my age."

	I laughed.  Did she really just toot her own horn?  I think she
did.

	"The second time I came here you said I'd have to make a choice and
I did.  I choose the Brotherhood."

	"Indeed," she said.  "But I'm afraid that's not the choice I was
referring to, Jacob.  That choice still lies ahead of you."

	"What do you mean?"  My voice cracked as it went up an octave.
"What can possibly be bigger than this?"

	"It's not about bigger or smaller Jacob.  It's about making a
choice.  You will have to make a choice."

	"About what?" I demanded.

	"I'm afraid that's all I can give you."

	"That's all you can give me or that's all you will give me?"

	Lady White nodded.

	"Ugh! This is so frustrating!"

	"I know dear."  She came up to me and brushed my hair from my eyes
and then placed her hand on my shoulder.  "Your time will come Jacob."  She
paused for a moment and placed her hand on the side of my face.  "But I'm
afraid you won't find solace when it does."

	Before I could respond, she added, "Now grab your tea and come out
here with me."

	We went back to the table and sat down.  I was going to take this
chance to follow up with what she just said but Lady White wasn't having
it.

	"I can't give you the answers you want Jacob, but I can give you a
piece of advice.  It's pointless to stay on this merry-go-round. Your time
for answers will come.  Until then, the search will just leave you
frustrated.  There is nothing to gain from it."

	Her eyes never wavered from my face.  "Do you understand my words?"

	I held her gaze for a moment before nodding in agreement.  It was
best to just move on.

	She reached across the table, grabbed my hand and squeezed.  "Good
Jacob, good.  Now tell me, how are you adjusting to your new life as a
brother?"

	I was quiet for a moment before I answered Lady White.  "It's going
well I think."

	She simply nodded.  "I feel a 'but' coming on."

	"No buts.  It really is going well."  I looked for any hint in Lady
White's eyes that she knew of the Brotherhood's true nature.  "They're a
special group of guys."

	"Yes they are," Lady White agreed.

	"Unique even."  I was still dropping hints...

	"We're all unique in our own way Jacob."

	Yeah, but not all of us are godlike beings with wings.  I was
hoping she'd tip her hand and reveal that she knew what I knew.  I was
hoping to get an outsiders perspective on the Nave's master plan.  Yes, I
was onboard and would follow my brothers anywhere.  But I had my
reservations.  I figured that was normal.



	"Yeah..."  I realized I was playing a dangerous game - dropping
hints wasn't cool - it was time for me to stop.  That's when I decided it
to leave. I got up, gathered my things and walked to the door.  I turned to
look back at her for a moment.  "Well anyways, I think it's time to get
back to campus. Thanks for the tea and thanks for being...well, you I
guess, as frustrating as that can be sometimes."

	Resting her chin against her clasped hand, Lady White smiled.
"There will always be tea here for you Jacob.  Never forget that."  Her
eyes shifted from me to the open door.  "You can come in now Anthony."

	I walked out of her reading room and into the waiting room. I was
surprised that the Anthony she was calling for was my Ant.  "What are you
doing here?"

	"I came to see Lady White," he replied with a shrug.

	"Well no shit," I laughed.  "I didn't think you were here looking
for decorating tips."

	Ant got up and we greeted each other with the half hug guys do.

	"She seems to be the real deal so I figured I'd come to see what
the stars hold."  He offered a meek laugh.  I could tell he was probably a
bit embarrassed coming to see a fortune teller of all things.  But
seriously, who was I to judge?

	"She is the real deal," I assured him and then lowered my voice
while I made a circle motion around my ear - the universal sign for nutso.
"If not a bit crazy too.  Does this have anything to do with you and
Alessandro?"

	"Maybe..."

	"Dude."

	"No, it's nothing like that.  I'm more than happy I got him back.
I guess I just need to know he's here for good and I won't lose him again."
Ant looked down at the floor then back up at me.  "I can't lose him again
Jacob."

	"You won't," I placed my hands on his shoulders and gently shook
him.  "We won't let it happen.  Now go talk to Lady White, I'm sure she
will tell you the same.  Do you want me to stick around?  I can wait for
you out here."

	"Nah... thanks though, I'm fine."

	"You sure?"

	"He said he was fine," Lady White yelled.  "Go on now, Jacob, you
had your time.  Stop holding up my line."

	Ant and I looked around the empty waiting room and then at each
other.

	"Crazy," I mouthed.

	I finally got him to laugh.

	I went back to the house and crashed for several hours.  I was
transported to a world of fire and brimstone; a future where cities burned
and dead bodies littered the streets.  I was a Nave, soaring thru the
heavens with powerful, snowy wings and wielding a weapon of death and
destruction.  The small battles finally escalated into all-out war between
the Nave and Skai that spilled out into the open, which inevitability drew
the many nations of the world into the conflict.  I fought side by side
with my brothers; cutting down anything and everyone who stood in my way.

      My gilded armor was wet with blood; my heavy sword dripped the color
crimson.

      The Skai don't bleed.

      The cries of the dead woke me with a start.  My heart pounded in my
chest.  I felt the sweat over my brow and back.  I was afraid to move for
fear of seeing the face of the dead.  It took me a moment to realize where
I was and that my hands weren't really stained with the blood of the
innocent.  At least not yet.

      "You're finally awake," I heard Q say.

      This soothing voice was all I needed to settle my heart to a nice
steady rhythm.  I looked around the room and saw him bent over fishing
something out of his bottom dresser drawer.

      I hate to say it this way, but it's the most accurate description I
can think of - Q looked studly.  He had on black dress pants and light
purple button down shirt with a black T underneath.  His hair was over his
face when he turned to look at me, so when he pulled it back away to reveal
those silver orbs I just wanted to jump him.

      He came over and sat next to me on the bed.  "Are you okay?"  He
placed his hand on my cheek and forehead, which took me by surprise because
it was a very human thing to do.  "You look flushed."

      "I'm fine," I assured him and took his hand into mine.  "I just had a
weird nightmare."

      "Do you want to talk about it?"

      I couldn't help but smile at the concern in his voice.  "No, I'm
fine.  Really."

      "Okay."  He kissed me and got up.  "You should get ready.  I thought
we'd go to a movie before dinner."

      "Dinner and movie?  My my Mr. Q, I do declare," I said in my best
southern belle accent.  "If I didn't know any better I'd think you were
trying to get into my pants."

      "Yeah, because I'd really have to try hard with you."

      "Hey now!  You haven't gotten any of this yet."

      He smirked and walked towards to closet.  "You sure about that?  I
have knocked you out on more than one occasion."

      "Hey!"

      "Get dressed!"

      Realizing the warden wasn't going to get off my ass, I got out of
bed, jumped in the shower quick and got dressed.  I dressed much like Q,
but instead of a light purple dress shirt I had on a baby blue one.  I have
to admit we made a damn sexy looking couple.

      I was putting my Brotherhood ring back on when Q came up behind
holding open a leather jacket for me to slip into.  Total sweetheart move I
must say.  I was concerned that he wasn't wearing one until he reminded me
that the cold doesn't affect him in the slightest.

      Of course when we were walking thru the house to get to the garage a
lot of the brothers stopped what they were doing to make teasing comments.
Others simply whistled.  A couple of the guys said I was finally making an
honest Nave out of Q or something along those lines. I could definitely
tell I was red in the cheeks, but at the same time I was laughing with all
those clowns.  Q didn't seem to mind the teasing and just went with the
flow.

      While we were driving to Bridgeport it dawn on me I still didn't know
what movie Q was taking me to.  I asked him about it and warned him that it
better not be some sappy chick flick he was dying to see but was too
embarrassed to ask one of the other brothers to go with him.

      "You got me!  How did you figure it out?"

      I laughed but Q was stone face serious.  I told him I wasn't buying
it but he wouldn't let up.  He kept insisting we were going to see this
romantic chick flick.  Pretty much the whole way there he was talking about
this movie and the actors that were in it and how awesome the trailers
were.  He even outlined the basic plot of the movie.

      "Are you fucking with me right now?" I finally asked.  "Are you
seriously taking me to see some movie called The Red Dress?"

      "Look at my face and tell me what you think?"  He looked as serious
as the Q from my pledging days.  "You're going to like it trust me.
Besides, you can't tell me Alex didn't drag you to see these kinds of
movies."

      "Yeah, she did and look at us now.  We're broken up!  Doesn't that
tell you anything?"

      "It tells me she had bad taste in movies.  I don't."

      "Ugh!"  I sunk in my seat and grunted.  "I'm with a dude now.  You'd
think we'd be seeing movies with a lot of violence and explosions."

      "Well you thought wrong."

      So we finally get there and I'm just scouring the marquee to find
this fucking movie on the list.  There was no such movie.  I looked over at
Q who was obviously trying to hide his smirk.  I just reached over and
whacked him in the shoulder.

      "Asshole!"

      He laughed and I raged at my own gullibility.

      Q was actually taking me to see 2020.  It was a total guy flick with
warplanes, Air Force One and more explosions than plot.  It looked epic and
I was dying to see it!

      The problem you run into when you go to see a major movie release is
the lack of parking spots.  We had to park way back in the boonies.  Q was
about to turn into a spot when this douchebag saw us about to take it and
decide to speed up and slip in.  To make matters worse, he was one of those
idiots who parked his car at an angle, taking up two spots so his car
doesn't get the slightest scratch.

      I hate those fucking assholes.  Every time I see a car parked like
that I want to key the shit out of it and beat the crap out of the owner.
Not necessarily in that order.  Maybe taking over the world won't be so
bad.  I'll definitely push for some kind of law that imprisons morons like
that.

      Okay, I'm stepping off my soapbox now.

      Anyway, we had to park even further back.  Q didn't seem to mind too
much but I could not stop ranting and raving.  It didn't help when I saw
who got out of the car - four loudmouth football jocks.  I knew they played
football because I knew the type.  I've been around them all my life
because I used to be one.

      The earlier showing was just getting out as we entered the theater
and three guys came up to Q to say hello.  I only mentioned this because Q
introduced me as his boyfriend right off the bat.  Every time he showed
he's not afraid or ashamed to put us out there as a couple it made my
insides all gooey.  And I'm man enough to admit it.

      They chatted him up for a few minutes about work, school and life in
general.  They even threw a few questions my way, which I was more than
happy to answer.  I was curious if they were brothers and tried to see if
they had a ring on their finger - two didn't and one kept his hands in his
pocket the whole time.  Q was forced to say his goodbyes when his phone
started ringing.

      Now Q and I weren't doing anything that really made us stick out as a
couple, but every once a while we'd kind of lean into each other and a
couple of our fingers would interlock for a moment.  We would then pull
away only to have it happen again a few minutes later.  It wasn't even
something we were doing on purpose.  It was more of a subconscious thing.

      Now what do I hear out of the blue while Q's chatting away on his
phone?  Something about a "couple of fags" came from behind us.  I had that
"did I really just hear that" moment.  Instantly my ears perked up and lo
and behold I hear "fucking faggity queers".  I look over my shoulders and
saw a couple who just looked mortified and behind them were the four
fucking jocks.  One of them gave me the "stare down" when I made eye
contact as if he'd beat my ass if I didn't look away.

      I did just that but only because that was the only thing I could do.
It sure as hell wasn't out of fear.  But now I purposely took Q's hand into
mine just to show those assholes that they weren't going to get to me.  I
couldn't hear everything they were saying, and quite honestly I didn't care
to, but every time they used the word "fag" or "homos" they made sure I
could hear them.

      Q was so into his phone call that he had no idea what was going on.
He finally got off his cell when the theater was cleaned out and the line
started moving inside.  He looked at me a bit puzzled.

      "What's with the scowl, Jacob?" he asked.

      "About ready to kill someone; if I did do you promise to visit?"

      "Well, that seems like a lot of work and I have things to do and
people to see."

      "Oh shut it."  Leave it to Q to bring me back to my happy place.

      Of course that only lasted so long.  We ended up sitting smack-dab in
the middle of the theater - the best seats in the house.  Who comes along
and sits right behind us?  You guessed it.  The douchebags.  They were loud
and obnoxious.  They talked the whole time - before trailers, during the
trailers and after the trailers when the lights dimmed.  They were still
talking when the movie started.  The crowd tossed plenty of "shhh's" at
them but that only made them act out more.

      My blood was boiling.  I swear to god I was going to lose it.

      About ten minutes into the movie, Q leaned over to me, gave me a kiss
and told me he'd be right back.  Several minutes after that I saw him walk
back in with what turned out to be the manager and a cop and had those
assholes thrown out of the building.  The manager apologized to the
audience and had the movie restarted so everyone could enjoy it in peace.
Everyone clapped when Q was going back to his seat.  My man, my hero.  It
was fucking awesome.

      "No one is ruing my boy's night out," Q said to me.  I fucking loved
him for that and kissed him deeply to show him.

      The second time around the two and half hour movie played without a
hitch.  One of the best movies I'd seen up to that point.  The action was
great, the CGI looked realistic, and the funny parts were actually funny.
What more can you ask for from an action flick?

      The best part of the whole thing was that the movie was an invasion
movie.  Basically the plot was about aliens who'd been living on earth for
decades finally getting the go ahead to take over the planet.  At one point
during the movie I leaned over to Q and asked, "Any of this looking
familiar to you?"  He just elbowed me in the ribs.  I'd hate to ruin the
ending for you, but the humans ended up kicking their asses.

      "All I'm saying is invasion never goes well for the invaders," I said
as we were walking back to the car.

      "Will you get off it already?"

      "I'm just putting it out there," I laughed.  "Call it food for
thought if you want."

      "When the Nave get the go ahead we won't be doing it on the silver
screen Jacob."

      "Hey," I threw my hands up, "I'm just trying to look out for my
bros."

      Q stopped suddenly; his facial features going from soft and playful
to dark and serious.

      "Holy fuck!" I exclaimed, my hand slipping thru my hair as I stood
there in disbelief.

      Our car was sitting on four flats, had the windows and headlights
smashed out, and "FAGGOTS" was spray painted on the hood.  Out of the
corner of my eye I saw a pair of headlights come on and a car speeding up
towards us.  It stopped a few parking spots away and my four favorite
douchebags got out and apparently, they'd picked up a friend along the way.
One of them was holding a tire iron.  It was probably the one they used
against our defenseless car.  Like wolves closing in on their prey, the
five guys immediately surrounded us.

      "Looks like you guys are having some car troubles," one of the guys
said.  "Hey Ray, why don't you help them out?"

      "Ray" - the douche with the tire iron - walked over and smashed out
the rear window.

      "Much better," the first guy spoke again.  "Don't you guys think so?"
He was talking to us not his crew.  "Oh, you got nothing to say all of a
sudden?  Well then, let me ask you this if you don't mind. " His voice
started getting louder.  "Who the fuck do you think you are?  We came to
see a movie and you dare to have us kicked out like you fucking own the
joint?"

      Q didn't say a word and neither did I.

      I was so afraid.  So afraid I tell you!  But not for us....

      "Oh, I see.  These pretty boy faggots got nothing to say."

      "Cock got their tongue I guess," one of the other guys figured he
make a funny.

      I looked at Q.  I was just waiting for him to turn full blown Nave
and go nuclear on their asses.  But honestly I think I got the next best
thing.

      Q finally pointed at the car and looked back at me.  "Is this for
real?" he asked in the most sarcastic tone I'd ever heard from him.  "Is
this really happening right now?  Is this a thing?"

      I had no idea where he was going with this so just played along.
"Yeah, it really is."

      "Ugh," he threw his head back and just shook his head.

      "What the fuck is going on?" Ray looked dumbfounded as hell as he
looked at the rest of his friends.  This probably wasn't the reaction they
were expecting.

      "So let me get this straight," Q continued.  "We have the four dumb
jocks..."

      "Five dumb jocks actually," I corrected.

      "Oh sorry, five dumb jocks who have to stroke their cocks and make
themselves feel better by harassing 'the gays' and proving they're manly
men.  Is that what's going on here?"

      "Looks like."

      "So I'm guessing this is the part where they kick our asses because
we're 'the gays' and can't possibly defend ourselves.  Only for them to
discover, to their dismay, that we could totally wipe the floor with them."

      "What'd you say faggot?  Are you threatening me?"  Out of nowhere the
guy took a swing at Q.

      "Quiet," Q said, putting his finger out to meet the balled up fist.
The guys' fist stopped about an inch form Q's index finger.  "Your betters
are talking."  The guy tried to pull his hand away but couldn't.  It was
like it was frozen in place.

      "This whole thing has 'after school special' written all over it."  Q
turned to look at the other ass-hats.  "Wouldn't you guys agree? There's a
life lesson buried in this exchange, right?"

      "Help me!  I can't move my arm!"

      The other four guys took a collective step backwards.

      "Now I could stand here and wait for you guys to attack.  You throw a
punch, we throw a punch and yada yada yada, but we don't have time for
that.  We have dinner plans.  You still want to go to dinner right babe?"

      "Definitely."

      The dick with the frozen hand spun his head around to face his gang;
he's eyes wide.  "Guys!  Fucking help me!"

      "So this is what I think we should do.  Let's just skip to the end of
our little after school drama where the dumb jocks learn their valuable
lesson.  Which would be what, Jacob?"

      "Don't fuck with the gays."

      Q slapped his hands together producing a thunderous clap and flash of
light.  In a blink of an eye they were all gone.  As if nothing had
happened, Q casually walked to the car and placed his hand on the roof.
Glowing light poured out of his hand like liquid.  It flowed over the car,
instantly repairing anything it touched and transferring the damage to car
belonging to the jocks.  And just like that, our car looked as if it just
came off the lot.

      "Um...what did you do with them?" I asked as I slid into the passage
seat.

      "Oh I sent them away."

      "Away?  Where exactly?"

      "Santa Cruz," he shrugged.

      "You sent them to California?"

      "No. Argentina."

      I started laughing hysterically.  Q smile devilishly and put the car
in drive.

      ***

      Arsen wasn't kidding when he said Bucky's was a high end restaurant
and it started in the parking lot.  A line of expensive, over-shiny,
over-accessorized and over-popular-with-the-rich cars pulled up to the
valet to empty their over-beautiful owners.  Each one stepping out under
the 'Bucky's' canopy as they were about to walk the red carpet.

      I have to admit I felt a bit out of place when we walked in.

      It was like no restaurant I'd ever seen, even in the movies.  We
entered into a large, circular reception area and stood among the other
diners waiting to be seated.  The ceiling soared three stories above us and
formed a slight dome.  It was dressed with a single massive chandelier,
dripping in crystals.  It had to be ten feet across if it was an inch.
Centered below the chandelier was a liquid black grand piano.  The soft
light of the chandelier made the piano look as though it were made of
glass.  A man in a black tux, complete with tails sat straight and proper
at the keyboard.  His fingers danced gently across the keys as if they
belonged there, as they were part of the instrument itself.  I saw no sheet
music.

      To our left was a sterling silver side board table filled with
h'orderves.  To our right another man in tux and tails stood serving drinks
from behind a bar that rivaled the piano in its luster.  The maŚtre d'
stood in front of us.  Behind him milled future diners waiting for their
table.

      He greeted us with a smile and head nod.  "Hello and welcome to
Bucky's.  May I have your name of your reservation tonight?"

      "I don't have a reservation," Q replied matter-of-factly.

      "My apologizes sir, but we dine by reservation only."

      "This should be all the reservation I need."  Q flashed him his ring.
"My name is Q and I'd like a table for me and my date."

      "Of course sir.  Right away."

      I looked at the throngs of other waiting diners as we passed thru the
crowd.  I've never been seated so fast in my life

       We followed him thru the reception area into a more intimate dining
room.  The ceilings dropped a bit, the lighting dimmed and the chandeliers
got smaller.  The opulence stayed the same.  If the grand piano was the
opening act, the gilded fountain in the center of room was the main
attraction.  It stretched from floor to the ceiling, a single flowing piece
of gold that wrapped around itself like a dancing ribbon and then parted at
the base into four separate strands.  Water snaked silently over and
through it until it merged with a mere ripple into the pool at the base.
The tables, drenched in red silk and adored in matching gold and crystal
flatware, were positioned around the fountain in a circle.  This allowed
everyone the perfect view.  There was one table not included in this
arrangement.  Instead, it was tucked under two of the golden ribbons in
such a way that water fell on either side of it as if it was always
intended to be part of the fountain itself.  The maŚtre d extended his
hand to this table and we took our seats.

      "Seriously, it must suck to be you sometimes," I mocked leaning
across the table towards Q.

      He agreed of course.

      "Does that trick always work?  Flashing your ring around like you're
the boss?"

      "It generally works best in places that are owned by members of The
Brotherhood."

      "A brother owns this place?"

      Q nodded.  "Pierre Ren‚ Lovellette to be exact."

      "The hell?"

      Q just started laughing.

      "How does a guy with a name like that call his restaurant 'Bucky's'
of all things?"

      "I named it after my dog actually."  A man suddenly appeared next to
our table.  Q stood and I followed his lead.  The man greeted Q with a kiss
on both cheeks.  He turned, introduced himself as Pierre Ren‚ Lovellette
and proceeded to greet me the same way.  I fumbled through it.  I wasn't
accustomed to greeting my male friends that way.  Not that I minded, he was
a good looking guy after all.  He had dark hair with frosted tips, bright
blue eyes - the kind of blue you question is even possible in nature - and
a complexion as smooth as the silk on the tables.  He was exactly what I
would expect from a brother.

      "Where have you been hiding?" He asked Q as he grabbed a chair from a
nearby table and joined us.  "You haven't been by for months.  I was
beginning to think I had done something to offend you."  Placing his hand
on his chest, he looked at me as if I knew something he didn't and then
looked back at Q.

      "Of course not," Q insisted genuinely.  "I've just been so busy.  You
know how it is."

      "Do I ever."  Pierre's attention fell back on me again.  "And who's
this handsome young man joining you this evening?"

      "I'm Jacob."

      "Come on now, let me see it."  He gestured with his hand as if he
wanted me to hand over the goods.  I had no idea what he was talking about.
I glanced at Q who offered me nothing more than a simple smirk.

      Pierre gestured again. "Come now, don't be shy."

      I was clueless.  I blinked.

      Pierre finally took matters into his own hands.  He reached under the
table and I jumped when he grabbed my hand.  He pulled it out and I noticed
both our rings glow as they got close to each other.

      "Ah yes, there it is.  A newbie huh?"

      "I guess you can say that."

      He let go of my hand and the glow on our rings faded.

      "And what are you to our beloved Q?"  He looked between the two of us
waiting for an answer.

      "Um..." was all that came out of my mouth.  I don't know why the
words got stuck in my throat.

      "I think that's Jacob's elegant way of saying he's my boyfriend," Q
joked.

      "What?  Shut your face!"  Pierre grabbed my arm.  "How did you melt
thru the iceberg that sunk the Titanic over here?"

      I laughed.  "I have no idea to be honest with you."

      "I see," he narrowed his eyes and turned back to Q.  "I love the
silent types.  It looks like you might have found yourself a good one here
Q, don't muck it up."

      "I'll do my best, at least until a nicer model comes along."

      "Hey now!"  I protested.

      Pierre giggled and winked at me.  He was definitely more on the gayer
side than I was used to with the brothers, but it fit him perfectly.  He
was so charming and animated that I could spend hours talking to him.

      "We missed you at the ceremony a couple of weeks ago and it's not
like you to miss the after party."

      "I know!" His hands were just all over the place.  "But my poor
grandfather was hospitalized with pneumonia and I was a complete mess."

      "Is he okay?  Did you get a Nave to come and..."

      "Oh yes, of course I did.  Nysrper was a total babe.  He came right
over and had my grandfather doing cartwheels down the hall in no time at
all."

      "Perfect," Q smiled.

      "Well, it time for me to say ado and let you get back to your dinner
date.  I'm sure you weren't planning on making this a threesome...but I am
open to the idea if guys ever..."

      "Pierre!"

      "I'm going, I'm going."

      He kissed us goodbye and insisted we call him if something wasn't to
our satisfaction.  Q and Pierre did get into for a minute about the bill; Q
was planning on paying and Pierre wasn't going to hear it.  He said he'd
take it as a personal insult and Q finally let him have his way.
Definitely one of the more colorful brothers I've met so far and he left me
hoping I'd run into him again.

      The moment Pierre left the waiter was at our table taking our order
and pouring us wine.  I had the steak while Q shocked the hell out of me
and ordered pasta.

      "I thought you couldn't eat unless it was apples?"

      "It's not that we can't eat other food, Jacob.  It's just that we
chose not to.  There's really no point, it does nothing for us.  But
tonight is about you and me.  And I wanted us to have the full experience."

      His words made me smile from ear to ear.  "Well aren't you just a
sweetheart?"

      "I do what I can."

      "So I take it Pierre isn't a Nave yet?"

      "No, but his time is coming up."

      "Who decides when the time is right?" I asked as I took a sip of
wine.  "Holy shit that's really good."

      "For two thousand dollars a bottle it better be," Q laughed, then
continued.  "Who decides?  The Council of Brothers decided after all the
individual houses submit names for consideration.  They base their decision
on many factors.  For example, we might have the perfect candidate to
become Nave, but it overall they would serve The Brotherhood better by
staying in their human role.

      "Take Pierre for instance," Q continued, gesturing to his side as if
Pierre was standing next to him.  "I think he's going to make a great Nave,
but even I see the benefits of keeping him here at Bucky's if he's willing.
Do you have any idea how many powerful and influential people come thru his
doors on a daily basis?  And no one is better at working a room and making
connections than Pierre.  Hell, half the people in here owe him favors and
the other half will, they just don't know it yet.

      "I already see the next question burning in your eyes.  Why can't he
be a Nave and run this place at the same time?  Right?"

      I nodded.

      "He can do both but it's Pierre's humanity...his human perspective
that makes him great at what he does.  As a Nave I don't think he'd be
nearly as effective.  This is why our human bothers are just as important
as the Nave.  We'd be dead in the water without them."

      "So let me get this straight," I chimed in somberly.  I paused then
looked at him dead serious.  "You're telling me this is a two thousand
dollar bottle of wine?  Like two zero zero zero?"

      Q leaned back in his chair, laughing.  "You're incredible, you know
that?"

      "What's incredible is what people are willing to pay for a bottle of
crushed grapes!  I can grow grapes.  Well, maybe not grow them...but I can
buy a whole bunch for like twenty bucks"

      I definitely went off on a tangent for the next ten minutes about the
stupidity and excess of rich people.  I somehow managed to bring the
conversation around to no talent celebrities who are famous because of
their name or a leaked sex tap they probably put out there themselves for
the publicity.

      Q seemed really happy, or more like relieved when the food finally
arrived and my tirade was interrupted.  Everything looked and smelled
amazing.

      "What was I saying again?" I asked as I sliced into my steak.

      "I don't remember it was so long ago..."  Q was quick to jump to a
new subject.  "How were you classes today?"

      I quickly shoved the first bite of steak into my mouth and went for a
second.

      Q repeated the question, a bit more forcefully this time.

      "I didn't go," I cringed and then threw my hands out when I saw his
mouth about to open, "But before you freak out, hear me out.  I just needed
a day for me.  I couldn't handle going to class and sitting thru another
lecture about whatever the fuck .  Especially when the world as we know
it's about to change thanks to the battle royale coming once someone finds
the Eye.  And it's not like my grades are suffering or like I do this all
the time.  It was just a onetime thing, so I think you need to get off my
back about it already."

      Q reached over and grabbed my hand.  "First of all, breathe before
you pass out on me.  And secondly, it's fine I'm not upset."

      "You're not?"

      "No, I'm not.  You needed a day for yourself.  I totally get that."

	I looked at him all suspicious like waiting for the other shoe to
drop. "You do?"

	He just nodded.

	"Well, in that case can I have another..."

	"Don't push it!"

	I threw my hands up.  "Okay, I figured I'd give it a shot."

	A comfortable silence fell between us as we ate.  Every once in a
while our eyes would meet and we'd start smirking for no apparent reason.
My night out with Q was turning out to be one I'd remember for a long time
to come.  Great movie, great food, great company and many, many great
laughs.  What more could a guy ask for?  Hell, I got to see five assholes
banished to another country.  It was my dream date.

	"So getting back to the Nave thing," I said, "how long do you think
before I...you know..."

	"Are you asking me when you'll be offered to be made a Nave?"

	I shrugged.  "Do you think I have what it takes?"

	"Like nobody's business," he declared proudly.

	"So...how long do you think before my turn is up?"

	Pausing for a moment to wipe this mouth with his napkin, Q clasped
his hand and leaned forward.  He stared at me dead in the eyes.  "What if I
said I'm ready to pass on the light to you right now?  Would you accept?"

	I have to admit his question took me by surprise.  I was honestly
expecting him to give me this big speech about not being ready for such a
big responsibility and that I had to be patient because my time would come.
Instead I got a question I wasn't prepared to answer.

	He smiled warmly at me.  "You see Jacob, it's not just about the
Nave offering you the gift of light. It's about you believing you're ready
to take that next step.  Some brothers contemplate this question for years,
sometime decades before they feel they're ready."

	"What if I'm never ready?"  I think he heard the slight panic in my
voice.  "What if I'm ninety years old cursing around in a wheelchair and
still don't think I'm ready?  Will you still love me when I'm shriveled up
and senile?"

	"Well obviously not..."

	I busted out laughing at Q's bluntness.  Not the comforting words I
was expecting from him.

	"That's why I'll be around to keep you ageless for as long as it
takes until you feel ready.  And you will feel ready, trust me.  Probably a
lot sooner than you'd expect."  He paused again and looked off to the side,
thinking.  Then he returned his attention to me.  "I'll tell you what.  The
gift is yours Jacob.  All you have to do is ask for it."

	"Are you serious or are you just fucking with me right now?"

	"I'm very serious.  From the moment I saw you I knew you were going
to be the one I'd give my light to Jacob.  So honestly it doesn't matter if
it's a week from now or ten years from now.  You're the one."

	"And you can just do that?"

	He nodded.  "I told you before... as the head of my house it's
within my right.  But you're under no obligation, Jacob.  Please understand
that.  Whenever you're ready I'll be here."

	I was blown out of the water.  Again, this was not what I was
expecting Q to say.  To put that kind of offer on the table like that was
beyond mind blowing to me.  What do you say to that?  I was at a loss for
words.

	Now I don't know if it was the food or what he just said or the two
and half glasses of wine I just had, but I was suddenly very hot for Q.  He
was going on about something and I slipped my foot out of my shoe and
stretched my leg out until I found his crotch.

	"Whoa..." he said mid-sentence.  "What are you doing?"

	"Listening intently to whatever it is you're talking about," I
answered with a big shit eating grin on my face.  I was already feeling my
cock pressing against my pants and with the stimulation of my foot Q wasn't
far behind.  Within couple of minutes I had him as hard as steel.  I traced
the length of his cock up and to the left with my foot and pressed hard
when I was down around his balls.

	Slamming his hand against the table and taking a fist full of the
table cloth, he looked around casually as if nothing was going on under the
table.  "Jacob..."

	"Yes..." I said and pressed harder against his junk.

	"We should go."  He didn't give me a chance to answer.  He got up,
grabbed my hand and dragged me away towards the back of the restaurant.  We
heading towards the restroom area where we saw a maintenance door cracked
open.  Looking to either side, Q pushed me thru the door and started
kissing me deeply.

	With my eyes closed I kissed him back, my hand fumbling to get his
shirt open until I just figured screw it and tore it open.  I could hear
the sound of the buttons hitting the floor and scattering like marbles.  I
actually got harder.  For a moment I felt a sudden warmth cover me like a
blanket.  I didn't know if it was just the heat of the moment, heat the
room or just us grinding up against each other, but the feeling was
intense.

	Q slammed his hand against the wall behind me, forcing a door I
don't remember being there to open. I opened my eyes to see the radiance
around him fading and I could tell we weren't in that maintenance room any
longer.  We were back at the house and that door that was opened was the
one to our room.  In a blink of an eye he somehow transported us back home.

	I wasn't really all that concerned on how we got back.  My main
objective was to get my man naked.  We kept kissing and clawing at each
other while we moved towards the bed.  By the time he pushed me down I had
him naked from the waist up and his pants unbuttoned.

	He looked at me with this sexy 'I'm going to pound your ass until
it hurts' grin and tore my shirt open like I did his just minutes before.
I grabbed him by the neck and forced him against my lips with one hand
while I reached into his pants for a hand full of cock with the other.  And
trust me; there was plenty of hard cock to hold.  It was hot and throbbing
against my grip so I gave it a few strokes for good measure.  Q was kissing
and licking my neck while I moaned in his ear.

	The only thought going thru my mind was finally.

	"Q!"  Someone busted thru Q's office door into our bedroom.
"You're finally back!  I've been waiting for you for...."

	With both groaned in unison.

	"This can't be happening right now," I whispered and threw my head
back in disbelief.

	Q kind of collapsed against my body and half rolled off me to look
behind us.  "What do you need Soullen?"

	"And can it wait a couple of hours?" I mumbled under my breath.
Keep in mind I still had a handful of cock in my palm.

	"I got a hit," was all he said.

	Q instantly got off me and sat on the edge of the bed.  "Are you
sure?"

	"Positive.  Come take a look for yourself."

	Q looked back at me with apologetic eyes and kissed me.  "I'm sorry
babe, but this could be very important."

	Slamming my fists on against the bed, I begrudgingly rolled off the
mattress and followed Q to his office to see what was so important.

	"Oh, hey Jacob," Soullen finally acknowledge me.

	"Hey," I offered up a weak smile.  I wanted to throw Q's computer
monitor at him.

	"What were you guys doing anyway?"

	"Learning sign language."

	"Oh..."  Soullen sounded truly puzzled.

	Q was already sitting at the desk when I walked in; his eye blazing
across the screen devouring whatever information was on it.

	"So what is this hit you got?" I asked.

	"The Eye of Eiyr," Q whispered.  His voice sounded like he was in a
trance or something.  "Or at least a very good lead."

	"Exactly," Soullen said, sounding mighty high on himself.  "That's
why I had to show you right away."

	"Ok, back the bus up for us slower folk," I said as I spun my
fingers in the air.  I have to admit that I was more than a little curious
now.  "What exactly do you think you found Soullen?"

	"This Russian billionaire living in Sweden..."

	"An art collector," Q added.

	"Right.  He apparently has one of the largest private collections
in the world.  It's so private very few people have been allowed to see it.
In a few days he plans to open up his private gallery to the world.  The
crown jewel of his collection is what he refers to as The Tear From
Heaven."  He paused for a moment.  I guess he wanted to add some dramatic
flair to what came next.  "It's an orb.  An orb he claims glows during full
moons.  The Eye of Eiyr was always its brightest under a full moon.  Do you
remember that Q?"

	Q nodded.  "According to the press release he was able to trace the
orb's origin back to several ancient civilizations as it passed from one
culture to the next over the centuries."  Q sat back against his chair and
looked at Soullen.  "It's what we always believed happened to the Eye of
Eiyr."

	"So is it the Eye?" I asked.  I just wanted them to stop drooling
over this for a minute and say if it was the real deal or not.

	"Well there's no way to be sure right now.  It could be nothing,
but it's an incredible lead that must be investigated."  Q stood up and
walked over to Soullen.  "Have you told the others?"

	"No, I was planning on checking this one out myself."

	"Okay, I'll get some of the guys to go with you."

	"No way," Soullen objected.  "I can do this on my own.  Like you
said it could be nothing and I don't want to get everyone's hopes up.  But
if it is the Eye I would love to present it to our brothers.  I haven't
contributed much since getting here.  Please allow me this one thing."

	Q seemed to mull it over for a moment and finally agreed.  "I won't
say anything, but I'm coming with you."  Q could sense Soullen about to
protest and cut him off before he could say a word.  "Those are my terms.
Either you and I go or we send a group."

	"Deal," he agreed.

	"I'm coming too."  I just threw it out there to see what they'd
say.  And of course they both looked at me and said "no" in unison.  "The
hell I'm not.  I'm a brother too and have every right to go along.  Or are
you saying your human brothers have no place alongside their Nave brothers
during..."

	"Oh stop," Q interrupted.  "Don't pull out the human card.  It has
nothing to do with that and you know it."

	"Fine," I conceded and grabbed Q.  I dragged him into our room for
moment.  I placed his hand on my crotch and shoved my hand down his pants
again.  "But if you want any chance of finishing what we started here, you
best believe I'm going."

	Q looked at me for a moment and then broke away to walk into his
office again.  "Jacob is coming too."

	"Why?"

	"You'll understand when you get older."

	"I'm tens of millions of years old," he declared matter-of-factly.

	"Not old enough," Q insisted.

	After a quick change of clothes, Q and I headed to the golden
mirror to meet up with Soullen.  We ran into Shaun along the way.  He had a
puzzled look on his face.

	"What's going on with Soullen?" he asked.  "He was in a rush and
barely said two words to me."

	"Oh, he's just excited about going out with us," Q replied.

	"Where are you taking him?"

	"Taking him to see the sights, he needs to get out more."

	"Really?" Shaun looked shocked.  "The way he's acting you'd think
he found the Eye or something."

	Did he really just say that?  We both just gave a nervous laugh and
walked away.  Q turned around and said something in their Nave language.
Shaun replied with a nod.

	"What was that all about?" I inquired.

	"Hopefully nothing."

***

	The three of us went thru the mirror to the Nexus and from there we
took a portal to one of our houses in Stockholm.  After about ten minutes
of talking to the brothers there and dodging some of their questions, the
wings came out and we were soaring thru the sky towards Scania.  Well, I
wasn't flying so much as being carried by Q.  The country side looked
breathtaking from that high up and I couldn't believe I was there.

	Thirty minutes ago I was dry humping the shit of my boyfriend and
now I was flying thru the sky in his arms about ready to break into some
billionaire's private museum.  As crazy as it sounded, that was my life
now.  I wasn't complaining.

	We landed behind a tree line several yards from the Russian's
mansion.

	"How do you know this is right place?" I asked as Q set me down.

	"Because that's the same building from the online picture," Soullen
pointed to the three story building adjacent to the mansion.  "It's his
personal showroom."

	"Yeah, but we came straight here.  Do you guys have GPS units in
your wings I don't know about?"

	"Something like that," Q teased.  "Those guards have some serious
hardware."

	I saw the men walking the perimeter of the building and Q was
right.  They were clad in black fatigues and carrying machine guns.
"Considering all the art this place is housing, I'm not surprised.  There's
probably enough in there to buy a small country.  Are they going to be a
problem?"

	"Those are human weapons and they can't hurt us," Soullen said
matter-of-factly.

	"Well, they can't hurt some of us," Q added.  "You stay put for a
minute."

	"Where are..."

	Before I could finish they flew up into the sky so fast it was like
they vanished into thin air.  All I could do was sit back and watch.  A
couple of minutes went by and still nothing, then suddenly and
simultaneously, they took out the four guards within my field of view.  One
minute they were standing and the next they were knocked out cold.  Q and
Soullen landed by the side entrance and gesture for me to join them.

	I don't know why, but I ran across the open field as if landmines
were about to go off or I was going to take sniper fire.  I'm happy to say
I made it to the door in one piece.  Q was laughing at me when I got to him
so I punched him in the stomach.

	Q was about to simply force open the door without any regard to
security.  "Hold on their sparky," I said, placing my hand over his to stop
him.  "I know you guys have your powers to fight crime and all, but in the
mortal world we have little things called alarms."

	"Ah, good call," Q said and playfully slapped my ass.  He placed
his hand flat against the door and a wave of white light emanated from it.
"There, we should be good."  He twisted the handle to break the lock and
opened the door.

	We were in, and to my surprise, found no resistance inside.  They
might as well have left the door open with a big "welcome, please rob me"
sign over it.  "Anyone else think this is too easy?"

	"What do you mean?" Soullen asked.

	But before I could answer, Soullen swung open the doors to the main
gallery.  The first thing that caught my eyes were the two giant
Egyptian-like statues on either side of the room.  So of course my first
thought was how the hell they got those things in here.  The answer came to
me when I walked into the room.  The roof over the gallery was entirely
made of glass.  So it retracted in some way or they constructed the
building around the statues.  I was going with the first option.  I didn't
get a chance to admire all the art hanging on the walls or artifacts
incased in glass littered throughout the gallery.

	"There it is!" Soullen exclaimed.

	Right in the middle of the room, flanked by the two Egyptian
statues was a sphere in a glass case.  As excited as Soullen appeared, Q
didn't seem to share his enthusiasm.

	"Something isn't right," he said.

	"That's what I was saying," I agreed. 'It's never this easy in the
movies."

	"No, you don't understand.  This close to the Eye I should be
sensing something even if its power is dormant."

      With Soullen by his side, Q walked up to the exhibit case and stared
at the sphere for a moment before he smashed thru the glass and picked it
up.  There was definitely a faint glow coming from it but Q still appeared
unconvinced.  It became crystal clear he wasn't buying it when he crushed
the orb in his fist.  It shattered like cheap glass.  I'm no expert but I
was positive the Eye of Eiyr wasn't supposed to do that.

      "Well you did say there was a chance it would be a false alarm," I
said.  I was just trying to make him feel better.

      "No, it's more than that," Q insisted.

      "What do you mean?" Soullen asked.  For all his "Naveness' if that's
even a word, Soullen looked as confused as I was.

      "This wasn't even a rare artifact that we mistook for the Eye," Q
explained.  "It was a cheap glass ball you can buy at any Halloween shop.
This was planted here for our benefit."

      "To what end?" Soullen asked.

      "To lure us here for some reason."

      That's when the round of applause came from behind us.  We turned
around and saw two Skai standing on the second floor of the gallery and two
more flanking us on other side also on the second floor.  I immediately
knew what they were because they were in full Skai mode, black wings and
all.

      "The famous Q."  The one leaning up against railing announced as if
introducing him to the room.  "I knew we wouldn't be able to fool you for
long.  I told them you'd figure it out before you even got close enough to
tell the orb was fake.  Didn't I say that?" he asked his companions.  They
didn't respond.  Instead they just stared at us forcefully.  Their black
eyes looked as deep as a dark wells and gave you the feeling you'd fall in
if you stared at them long enough.  "Don't mind them.  They're more like
the silent types.

      "Where are my manners?  Allow me to introduce myself.  I'm Kaylec."
As soon as he spoke his name men, human men, armed with machine guns
started pouring in on the second and third levels; a smaller group came in
the same way we entered.  All of their guns were trained on us.  "And what
we want is you, of course."

      "If you think you and your men with their toy guns are enough to take
me down , you've sorely miscalculated."

      "Toy guns," Kaylec laughed as he reached behind his back and pulled
out a gun of his own.  He looked at it for a moment and then pointed it
right at Q.  "I'd agree they're very primitive device.  This here is a 9mm
I'm told and quite deadly in the wrong hands.  It certainly doesn't compare
to the majesty of El'odian ingenuity."  He mused for a minute, lost in the
past.  "Now we know how to invent true weapons of war, don't we?"

      "I'll ask again," Q said.  "What do you..."

      Kaylec fired his gun.

      I gasped and froze.

      The bullet hit Q's bare chest and then fell to the floor as a twisted
piece of metal.  Q took a deep breath, but remained unaffected.  "You two
stay behind me," he said softly as he stood in front of me.

      Soullen was defiant and stood his ground by Q's side.  With a flicker
of light in his eyes, his sword materialized in his right hand.  He held it
out in front of him.

      "This simply won't do," Kaylec said.  Opening his mouth, he unleashed
a torrent of dark energy that swirled around and engulfed every weapon in
the room.  When it was all said and done, every machine gun was charged
with Skai energy including Kaylec's 9mm.  I could see the energy curl off
the medal like smoke.

      "Let's see if you can Superman your way thru these bullets."

      I was terrified for Q, for I knew that those bullets could now tear
thru Q as easily as they would cut me down.  The worse part of it all was
that I was powerless to do anything about it.

      "Soullen get behind me!" Q ordered.  "This isn't a game."

      "You're right, it's not," Soullen agreed.

      There was a bright light and Q was blasted across the room.  He
struck the Egyptian statue and dropped to the ground.  The statue itself
almost tipped over but found its balance.

      "Q!" I yelled and ran to this side.

      He appeared dazed but otherwise okay.  "I'm fine," he insisted and
forced himself up to one knee.

      We looked up to where he was just standing a few second ago and I
can't begin to describe the horror of what I saw.  There was Soullen, his
hand outstretched in our direction, the white energy of the Nave still
curling off his fingers - his face twisted with hatred toward Q.

      "You would betray your own kind?" Q said in disbelief.

      "You can't speak to me about betrayal Qua'quelle," he spat, his eyes
glowed intensely.  "You who would deny me what's rightfully my birth
right."

      "That's what this is all about?"

      "Are you really that surprised?"  Every word he spewed was laced with
venom.  "Did you honestly believe I'd sit idly by while you denied me my
crown?  I am my father's son!  Prince Soullen, the one true heir to my
father's kingdom.  The Nave are my people and I will be their King."

      "Your father would be so proud to see you now."

      "Don't you dare!  You have no right to invoke my father.  He loved
you like I son and instead of elevating me, his only living son, to my
proper place as king you betray his memory.  His legacy!"

      "You are delusional if you think your father would approve of any of
thid.  He would've given up his crown if keeping it meant he'd have to turn
his back on his own people."

      "That's where you're mistaken Qua'quelle.  I have no intentions of
turning my back on my people.  Only on you."

      "Yes, yes, yes," Kaylec finally spoke.  "Can we kill him already?  I
find all this family talk positively boring." He tossed Soullen his gun.
"You wanted your crown, well there it is.  Just pull the trigger."

      Q laughed.  "You really think my brothers will follow you after you
kill me?  You really didn't plan this out well, did you?"

      "Oh, quite the contrary.  You see we came here to investigate the Eye
and were ambushed by the Skai.  You and your ape over there were killed
while I barely escaped.  And with you out of the way, everyone else will
fall in line and recognize me as the one true king - the one who fought so
bravely to save you; the one who will mourn your death alongside them."

      "And what do the Skai get out of all this?"

      "The total annihilation of the human race," Kaylec said.

      "Once I'm king we will unite with the Skai, destroy these apes and
divide Eiyr between us like it was all those years ago.  We'll go back to
the natural order of things.  We will restore Eiyr to her former glory
under my rule."

      Q finally stood up on his own two feet and he looked pissed.  "I'm
going to enjoy this," he said.

      "Shoot him!"

      The glass roof exploded above us.  I looked up and saw this white
object falling from the sky. It actually slowed down between the first and
second floor and then I realized it was a brother wrapped in his own wings
like a cocoon.  The second his feet hit the ground, his wings flung open
and what looked like a bunch of arrows made of light flew out in all
directions.  Several of the Skai guards were killed instantly.

      "Mind if I drop in?" It was Shaun wielding a double-blade staff.

      "Your Highness," Q said to Soullen who was distracted by Shaun.  When
he finally looked back at Q, he was met with a blast of energy from Q's
hands.  He definitely won that contest for he not only sent Soullen thru
several exhibits, but he launched him thru a wall as well.

      "Kill them all!" Kaylec ordered.

      Instantly, Q turned around and wrapped me in his arms.  His wings
were outstretched and a white light formed around us creating a barrier the
bullets could not penetrate.  Placing his hand on the Egyptian statue, he
pushed it over on its side as easily as I would move a chair.  The statue
crashed thru the third floor balcony, killing a few men.  It stopped before
it could go thru the second floor.  Laying at an angle it created the
perfect spot for me to hide in.  Q shoved me into it and told me to stay
put.  He created another barrier of light around me to prevent the statue
from collapsing and bullets from hitting me.

      "I love you," he said and flew up and backwards to join the fight.

      At that very moment I saw one of the Skai and several guards being
throw from the second floor as Steve burst thru the door behind them,
knocking them in the head with a hammer the size of a minivan.  He stayed
on the second level clearing out the trash like nobody's business.

      The moment Q's feet touched the ground a second barrier of white
light appeared in front of him.  Almost instantly I saw four streams of
dark energy collide with it. Kaylec and the Skai beside him had their hands
outstretched toward Q, their dark power trying to breach his shield.  Q's
eyes burned brightly as his shield got stronger, but at the same time the
barrier protecting me started to fade.  It was dimming like a light bulb
about to burn out.  I cried out for Q to get his attention.  I couldn't
believe how quickly he snapped his head in my direction.  It was like my
voice was the only thing in the universe that mattered to him.  He saw what
was happening to my shield; the look of concern on his face told me that
much.  In that instant he dropped his shield and dove to the side towards
Kaylec's men.  In that same moment my shield lit up and was a radiant as
Q's love for me.

	Q's swords were out and he made quick work of the small group of
guards on the bottom floor.  The Skai standing next to Kaylec jumped over
the side, sword in hand, and went for Q's head.  I screamed for him to
watch out and while the Skai was still in midair, Q turned and crossed his
words like an X causing them to glow brightly.  The Skai got way closer to
Q than I would've liked but his swords unleashed a flare of energy that
hurled his attackers off the ground and thru the building.  I could
literally see the night sky thru the hole.

      The guards continued their assault trying desperately to hit
something.  All they needed was one hit with the Skai infused bullets to
take of them out, but my bros were simply too fast for them.  I would've
been dead if it wasn't for the protection Q left me.  Several of these
bullets hit the shield protecting me and even as they lay on the ground I
could still see them pulsating with Skai energy.

      Kaylec was still perched on the second floor; his right hand was
outstretched as he tried to take aim.  He fired a bolt of energy at Shaun
but Q was quick to jump in the way and deflected the blast with his swords,
killing more of Kaylec's men.

      Two beams of energy exploded from Q's eyes taking out the floor
Kaylec was standing on.  But with a quick flap of his wings, he did a sort
of loop and landed on the third floor.  He fired back with a blast of his
own and Q dove out of the way again.  For all this bravado, he would not
come down and fight one on one.

      One of the other Skai landed right in front of me and used his sword
to try and smash thru the barrier.  I covered my head each time his sword
hit the barrier.  He got two strikes in before I saw a hand grab his neck
from behind and toss him to the floor like a rag doll.  Q tried to drive
his sword into this Skai's chest but he vanished like a puff of smoke only
to reappear next to Q and kick him across the face.  Q went tumbling across
the floor.

      My heart sank.  I think I screamed.

      This fucker stood over me smiling.  From high above, Steve came
swooping down like an eagle and stomped the ever living shit out of him
with his bus like hammer.  The Skai went thru the floor into what I could
only assume was the basement or hell.

      Just when I thought it was only Kaylec was left, another Skai and a
handful of guards left, the Skai Q blasted thru the building came flying in
from the same hole he was launched out of and tackled Shaun into the last
standing Statue.

      "Q watch out!" Steve yelled.

        It was the gunshot heard over all other gunshots.  Right away I
looked for Q, who was trying to catch Steve's falling body.  He was hit
with the bullet meant for Q.  When I looked to see where the shot came from
and saw Soullen holding the gun I thought I was going to vomit.

      Q cried out in a fit of rage as he held his friend's body.  I had to
cover my ears for his voice was so thunderous every piece of glass in the
building exploded.  In that same instant with glass raining down over us, I
saw two things.  First, Kaylec jumped down to Soullen's side, wrapped his
wings around him and they both disappeared.  Second, I saw a streak of
light move across the room as Q beheaded the few remaining guards, then
appeared behind one of the Skai and drove his sword thru his back.  The
sound the Skai made was something out of a horror movie.

      The last Skai tried to pull a vanished act like Kaylec but Q grabbed
him by the neck while he was in mid-shimmer.  Q's body was wreathed in
white flame at this point and I saw that fire also consume the Skai.  His
screams were short lived as he disintegrated into a pile of ashen sand.

      The white flames faded as Q rushed back to Steve's side.  With the
Skai no longer a threat, the barrier protecting me also disappeared and I
was able to climb out of my hiding spot.  At first I didn't know what
happened to Shaun but then I saw the statue on the opposite side of the
room being lifted into the air and tossed aside.  I'm guessing Shaun was
pinned underneath.  He came over knelt down next to his two Nave brothers.

      Q was holding Steve, who was hanging on to life by a thread.  He had
dozens of black lines webbing out of the entry wound and they just kept
spreading like poison.

      "Can't you heal him?"

      Q simply shook his head.

      With the last bit of strength he could muster, Steve reached up and
placed his hand on the side of Q's face.  "My...my...life for Eiyr."

      He was gone.  Steve crumbled away into a pile of white sand.

      No one said a word.  Shaun found a small vase that miraculously
survived the melee and placed Steve's remains inside.  Then, for longer
than I care to remember, we just stood there.  Stunned.

      All that was left to do was head back home.  Without saying a word, Q
grabbed me and flew off into the night.

      When we got back to the house in Stockholm we were greeted with dead
silence.  I don't know how they knew that one of our brothers had fallen,
but you could almost see the sorrow in the air hanging around everyone like
an iron curtain.  That grief was multiplied tenfold when we stepped thru
the mirror and walked back into our house.  There were brothers lined up on
either side of the wall who bowed their heads in reverence as Shaun passed
them with Steve's remains.  All our bothers came out to show their respect,
human and Nave alike.

      I made eye contact with Arsen and CJ and I could tell they wanted to
say something or come up and give me hug but they did not break the line.
Shaun ended up going one way while Q went another.  I really wasn't' sure
who I was supposed to go with, but obviously I end up following Q.

      He went back to our room.  I think he just wanted to be away from
everyone, but I'd be damned if I was going to leave him alone.  Q sat at
his desk and turned the chair around so he could look out into the night.
I pulled up a chair next to him and did the same.

      We sat there in silence for at least an hour if not more.  I don't
know what compelled me but I finally spoke, unsure if Q would even say
anything back.

      "How did you know Soullen would betray us?"

      Q shook his head.  "I didn't."

      "But what about Shaun and..."  My words trailed off.  I figured I
shouldn't be talking about this at that moment.

      "Steve," Q added.  "It's okay to say his name.  When we ran into
Shaun in the hall I told him to follow us from a distance.  If we picked up
this lead about the Eye there was a good chance that the Skai did too.  I
wanted back up just in case things went south, but I never expected this."

      "I'm so sorry."

      "As am I."

      We sat there for another long while without saying anything.  I
glanced at the clock on Q's computer.  It was 4:33 am.  I was exhausted.

      "Hey, I'm going to jump in the shower quick," I said.  "You should
join me.  A nice hot shower might make you feel better."

      He didn't say anything or even blinked an eye.  I leaned over and
kissed him on the side of his head before heading to the bathroom.

      That first blast of hot water that hit my body felt amazing. I felt
like I was melting away in the water.  I was only in there a few minutes
when I heard the sliding door open and Q step inside.  I leaned back
against his chest and he wrapped his arms around me.  He kissed me on one
side of the neck and then the other as his hand snaked down to grab my
cock.  I needed to kiss him.  I turned my head to the side to let him know
my lips were waiting for his and he got the clue.

      We kissed deeply while he stroked me.  My cock was raging hard in no
time flat and it was obvious by the way Q's steel pressed against my ass
that he was doing the same.  I moaned into his mouth as he squeezed my
junk, forcing me to push my ass harder against his rod.  All the while the
showerhead kept up its assault on our bodies; the hot steam rising from the
water only fueled our passion.

      Q squeezed me again and I moaned even louder.

      "I want you inside me," I managed to say in-between kisses.

      He continued to kiss me for a moment longer and then broke away.  He
was grinding into my ass, his cock sliding up and down between my cheeks.
Placing his hand on my shoulder, Q bent me forward a bit and I braced
myself against the shower wall.  My back was arched and ass was popping
out.  Q then proceeded to trace my spine with kisses as he slowly knelt
down behind me.  My cock was free from his grip, pointing straight up, and
throbbing like it was having a seizure.

      Kissing each of my cheeks, he reached for my cock again and pulled it
back so it was pointing straight down.  It was so uncomfortable and amazing
at the same time.  My dick was push against his open hand, trying to bounce
back up but Q wouldn't allow it.  And then out of the blue I felt his
tongue on the very tip of my head, swirling around the slit, and causing me
to leak like a sieve.  His tongue went up the length of my shaft, swirled
around my balls, and went up and thru my crack up to my lower back.  Q did
that several times and every time his tongue touched my cock head I thought
I was going to explode all over his face, but I managed to hold out.

      On his last trip up he came all the way back up to the back of neck.
Right away I could feel the head of his cock pressing against my rosebud.

      "Fuck me," I finally demanded.

      Q was nibbling on my ear when he said, "If you want it, take it."

      He didn't have to tell me twice.  I reached back to grab his cock and
slowly pushed back against it.  It hurt like hell as his head tried to
break thru my tight ring.  It was nice to be able to go at my own pace
until eventually I felt his head kind of "pop" into pace where it belonged.
I held perfectly still, placing both hands against the tile and I took a
minute to catch my breath.

      Q was now in control and he slowly, gently inched his way inside me
until he was balls deep.  It hurt like hell but Q just leaned against my
back and kissed me all over allowing me time to get used to the feeling.  I
felt his fingers gently run across my stomach.

      "Ok," I said softly, letting him know I was good to go.

      Q was still very gentle with me; pulling out a little and slowly
easing back in.  He did this over and over again, each time pulling out a
little further to allow me to get used the sensation.  Before I knew it
things went from painful to ok to finally amazing.  Q was getting a little
more aggressive which I only encouraged with my loud moaning and colorful
words.

      Before long Q was pounding my ass proper and my hard cock was
flopping around all over the place.  The feeling running thru my body was
so intense I couldn't hold out any longer.  My cock just exploded, spewing
ropes of cum in every direction.  A few minutes after that, Q slipped his
hand thru my hair, grabbed a fist full and pulled my head back so he could
kiss me.  His eyes were glowing like white fire as I felt him fill me with
his warmth.

      We remained in each other's arms, with Q still deep inside me, while
the water poured over our bodies.  That was without a doubt the most
intense sexual experience of my life.

      After our shower, I found myself standing by the balcony door staring
out into the night again with nothing but a pair of black trunks on.  Q
came up behind me and kissed me on the shoulder.  He was only clad in a
white trunks and feeling his bulge brush up against my ass made me smile.

      "Thanks for that," he said and rubbed my arms.  Wrapping his arms
around my waist, Q held me close.  "How are you doing?  I should've asked
you sooner how you're handling all this.  I'm sorry."

      "It's okay," I assured him.

      "So...how are you?"

      "I feel like shit."

      I could tell by the reflection on that glass that's not what Q was
expecting to hear.

      "You have no reason to feel that way."

      "I was so scared throughout that whole fight.  I felt so useless.
All I was good for was hiding behind that shield you created for me like a
coward."

      Q spun me around.  "Listen to me.  There was nothing you could've
done.  You'd probably be dead if it wasn't because of that shield.  No one
was expecting anything more out of you."

      "Steve might be alive right now if there was another pair of hands in
the fight."

      "His death was not your fault."

      "I'm not saying it was.  I'm saying the outcome could've been a lot
different had I been fighting with you guys instead of hiding."

      "Jacob, you can't start beating..."

      "I want your light," I interrupted.

      Q shook his head in disbelief.  "What?"

      "I want to become Nave.  You told me all I had to do was ask."

      "Yes, but jumping into this because of what happened is a bad idea."

      "It has nothing to do with that."

      The "oh really" look I got him told me he wasn't buying it.

      "I don't ever want to be afraid like that again," I continued.  "I
want to be able to have your back just like you have my back.  I don't want
to have to run into a hole every time things get hot."

      "Jacob..."

      "You gave me your word.  All I had to do was ask."  I pulled away.
After a brief moment of collecting my thoughts, I turned to face Q.  "This
human life isn't for me anymore.  With everything I've seen and the things
I know will come how can I go back to living a normal life?  I can't go
back to sitting in a class pretending everything is normal.  I want to take
my place by your side as Nave and as your lover."

      "There's no going back if you go thru with this Jacob.  Once you take
in my light that's it.  There is no undo button."

      "I get that and I'm telling you I'm ready.  This is what I want.
This is what I need."

      I could see him thinking it over in his eyes.  He was probably
contemplating all the reasons why he shouldn't do it, but kept coming back
to a single truth.  He gave me his word.  Q took me by the hand and led me
to the middle of room.

      Placing his hands on either side of my face, Q asked, "Are you sure?"

      I took one deep breath and nodded.  "Will it hurt?"

      "Not even a little bit," he smiled and then kissed me.

      It was a very deep and passionate kiss, but there was more to it than
that.  I opened my eyes and saw the stream of light slipping thru Q's lips
and into my mouth and up my nose.  He pulled away with a smile on his face.

      At first I didn't feel anything but then I felt this amazing warmth
in my chest, and a few seconds after that a sharp pain in my stomach.

      "You said it wouldn't hurt," I said as I clutched my stomach.

      "It shouldn't"

      I cried out in pain and dropped to my knees.

      "Jacob!"  Q was kneeling next to me trying to make me look into his
eyes.  "What's wrong?"

      "I don't....ahhh."  Falling forward, I braced myself with my hands
and started dry heaving.  Eventually the light that entered my body was
expelled.  It swirled around the floor as if it was alive and had no idea
what it was supposed to do.  It finally snaked its way to Q and was
absorbed back into his body.

      I jerked back with my hands on my head, screaming as if my skull was
being cracked open.  I lurched forward again, slamming my hand against the
floor.

      "How can this be...?" I heard Q say.

      I saw it too.  It wasn't the fact that I hit the floor so hard it
cracked under the impact, but that my nails were like onyx and my skin was
shimmering and black like volcanic glass.

      "You're Skai," he finally whispered, but even with his profound
revelation Q did not leave my side.  He kept his arm draped around my
shoulders.

      "Get away from me!" I yelled.

      Without any warning, I blasted Q across the room and sent him
crashing thru the closet doors.  I didn't mean to do it.  But I didn't have
time to be sorry.  I felt the heat on my back explode into two streams of
fire.  These flaming jets began to flap and take form and when the fire was
finally extinguished all that remained were two raven back wings.

      Slowly I stood and saw my reflection in the mirror.  My hair was as
white as ivory, my skin was black and gleaming, my eyes were like two tar
pits, and behind me a set of powerful wings I'd always imagined would be as
white as a dove.

      "Jacob..." Q was standing by the broken doors of his closet.

      I took one look at him and launched myself out of the room, crashing
thru the glass walls and flying into the dawn.  I had no idea where I was
going.  I didn't even know how I was flying.  It was like my body knew what
I wanted and just made it happened.  One thing was certain, I needed to
land. The dam holding back a torrent of memories was leaking, for I was
getting random flashes and images, and I knew it was only a matter of time
before the dam broke completely.

      As if on cue, the moment I landed it gave way and I was flooded with
a tsunami of memories.  It was overwhelming.  I put my hands up to my head
as if that would make it stop, but it was useless.  I just had to suffer
thru it until it subsided.  Eventually it did get better and things were
starting to make sense.

      It took me a moment to realize I was standing on the same bluff where
Q first revealed himself as a Nave to me.  I wasn't planning on landing
there but I'm guessing I forced myself to go there on some subconscious
level.

      Opening the palm of my hand, I slowly created a sphere for raw Skai
energy and hurled it into the ocean.  It exploded and a huge column of
water rose into the air. I looked at my hand, amazed at what I had just
done.

      I spun around with another sphere in hand ready to attack.  It was Q
touching down behind me.  I closed my hand around the orb and it
dissipated.  "You shouldn't be here."

      "Really?  Where else should I be if not by your side?"

      "But I'm Skai..."

      He smirked his charming smirk.  "And I'm in love with you."  He came
right up to me and placed his pale hand against my dark face.  "Unless
you're telling me you no longer feel the same then I'll leave..."

      "No!"  I placed my hand over his and kissed his palm.  "Don't
leave..."

      This shouldn't be happening.  Q and I are literally as different as
black and white.  We should be at each other's throat and instead here we
are in each other's arms.  My love for him never waned.

      "But how?" Q finally asked.

      With my memories freed I was finally able to answer those kinds of
questions.  "My name is Akoizo.  It was the only thing I ever got from my
fathers besides the gift of life.  I was born moments after your city fell
from the sky.  The toxic energy was heading our way, so no sooner than
coming into the world, I was forced deep underground to sleep.  My fathers
cocooned us within their wings but they had to do more than that if I was
to survive."

      "You were just born and had not come into your powers," Q
interjected.

      I nodded.  "All these millions of years they kept me alive by feeding
me their energy."  I laughed despite myself.  "All these years I've
wondered about those first ten years of my life only to now realize my life
started in that forest.  I was chasing a ghost or at least chasing the
wrong ghost.

      "That night one of my father's came up into this world only to
discover it looked nothing like the one they left behind.  At first he
thought the humans were Nave but then soon realized they were something
different.  With his strength nearly gone from keeping me alive, he took
the memories and experiences of a few humans and came back to where my
father and I still slept.  He shared what he learned with my other father
and with their last bit of energy they changed me to look human and gave me
some of the human experiences and memories he gathered to give me fighting
change in this new world.

      "They finally scarified themselves to give me enough strength to claw
my way out of the earth.  I remember it now."  I laughed again, but it was
a joyless laugh as I thought of my parents giving up their life for my
sake.  "I emerged in the middle of a group of kids out in the woods who
were smoking pot, drinking, and just listening to music.  The sight of me
crawling out of the ground must have scared the hell out of them.  They got
in their van and pealed out of there.  That was the night I was born for a
second time."

      "And you never came into your powers..."  Q said.  "It's extremely
rare but it's happened before."

      "It wasn't until you tried to turn me that your light awaken my
latent powers."

      "You're lucky it didn't kill you."

      "I guess..."

      "You guess?"

      "I don't know whether I should be thanking you or cursing myself for
pushing you to turn me."

      "At least now you know who you really are Jacob."

      "And what has that knowledge gained me besides losing the one thing I
love?"

      Placing his hand on my chin, he forced me to look up at him.  "You
haven't lost me Jacob.  You'll never lose me.  You don't have to go with
them.  You can stay with us.  We'll protect you."

      "You're sweet, but you know that will never work."

      "Of course it will," he insisted.  But he was simply refusing to see
the truth.  "You're one of us!"

      "No," I whispered.  "I'm Skai.  Sure, a few might accept me but The
Brotherhood as a whole will never, not really, and you know that;
especially after Steve's death.  And you know the Skai will never let me
go."

      "Don't do this," he pleaded and placed both hands on my face.  "You
have a choice Jacob."

      "A choice," I snickered and instantly thought of Lady White.  "This
is what she meant."

      "What?"

      "Lady..." My words broke off when it finally hit me who Lady White
truly was.  It filled me full of joy to know that she survived, even if
that joy was short lived.  "The Great Mother told me I'd have to make a
difficult choice and here we are."

      "Exactly, you have a choice," Q said and shook me gently.  "You can
choose to stay."

      "I want to."  I caressed the side of his face.  "But it would be Sol
and Juyx all over again.  Are union would incite a war.  You know that Q."

      "So I'm supposed to just let you go?"  It was the first time ever I
heard Q's voice shake.  My heart broke.

      "I don't ever want you to let me go."  I kissed him and our wings
wrapped around each other.  "Don't ever let me go."

      The moment didn't last long.  I pulled away and looked over my
shoulder.  "I've awaken Q.  The Skai are coming.  I can feel them calling
to me."

      "Let them come!  I'll destroy every last one of them!"

      "Yeah, that will help us avoid an all-out war," I joked, but saw the
sadness in his eyes.

      It killed me to pull away from him and slip out of his arms.
"There's one thing I have to know."

      "What?"

      "You were right when you said your light should have killed me."

      I stuck my hand out in front of Q and looked into his eyes.  He knew
full well what I meant to do and he didn't hesitate for a second.  He
placed his hand against mine and smiled.  Our hands melted away into pure
Nave and Skai energy.  That simple act should have killed us both, but
instead I felt his love for me as he felt mine.  That brief connection
expressed it in a way words could never convey.  Our hands became solid
again and our fingers were interlocked.

      Pressing my forehead against his, I whispered, "I have to go to
them..."

      "I love you." There was fear in his voice.

      "And I love you..." We kissed for the last time before we walked to
the edge of the cliff.

      "Wait!"  Q said.  He grabbed a single feather from his wing and
plucked it out.  It radiated with his energy as he handed it to me.

      I smiled and did the same for him.  In that moment I was reminded of
Alessandro's words to Anthony and they seem so fitting for our situation.

      "I will always find you Qua'quelle ..."

      I flew off into the sky and headed towards the rising sun; my Skai
brethren so close I could see them in the far distance.  I flew towards an
unknown future wondering what would come next or if I'd ever see Q again.
The fact that Q and I were able to merge our two energies had to mean
something, and so I left not only with a heavy heart but something far more
important.

      Hope.


End of Book One

____________________________________________________________________________
A note to the readers

	Yes, this really is the end of The Brotherhood.  It had to happen
sooner or later and so here we are.  I want to thank everyone who's been so
supportive and patient throughout the last decade.  I couldn't have asked
for a better group of people.  You guys are awesome!  Of course, I have to
give a very special thanks to Kim for being my rock and for Josh for being
my Baby Boi.  I love you both so much!

	So what's next?  Is this really the end of Q and Jacob?  I'll never
tell.  So I guess you guys will just have to stick around to find out.
Nah, I'm just kidding.  Of course there will be a book 2, but to be totally
honest it's not going to happen any time soon.

      Those of you have been around for 100 years know that Kim and I have
been working on our first novel.  It was supposed to come last year
actually, but we ran into a few problems obviously.  That still remains the
focus and we're so close to releasing it I'm going insane.  Our novel is
titled "Sins" and will be available thru Amazon and B&N as an e-book to
begin with.  I will keep everyone up to date as we get closer to release.
If you guys want a preview check out "Immortal Sins" in the story section.
Same book we just decided to shorten the title.

If you want to stay current on all our writing projects including Sins and
TBH stay subscribed to the group.  I'll obviously send a message to group
when Sins is released. You can join here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theinnercircletbh/

      Lastly, this is the end of the first TBH book so I'd love to hear
from everyone.  I'm talking to all you lurkers out there!  It took me over
ten years to finish this thing you can at least spend five minutes letting
me know what you thought of it.

      Thank you all!

Your Lord and Master
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