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Return by Delilah deSora [Reviews - 2] 
Okay, this is basically just a character fic for Kel so there's really no resolution ^.^ Alice, totally stole the name Levi from you *laughs* ** Return By: Delilah deSora ** Contrary to popular myth the city in the snow wasn’t always covered in snow. Kel’s feet crunched on the rocky ground as he followed his mate. He stared down at the city in the valley, the wind worn buildings dwarfed by the semi circle of mountains that guarded the hidden homeland. It had been so long since he’d seen the city and only once from this vantage point. It had been dark then, darker than this night with no moon hanging over them. He’d paused on the rise a small distance from where they now stood, glancing back fearfully at the silent city. It had been more to check for pursuit then to say goodbye to his birthplace. And then his sire had snatched his hand and dragged him forward, urging him to keep pace with the others they fled with. Kel glanced back over the barren landscape, wondering how many of those they had fled with that night still lived. His parents did not but they had lived out the remainder of their lives in peace and happiness rather than the fear and jealousy that had plagued them in the final years of their life in the city. They had fled with another, a father with a child. A child that bore his sire’s features. Kel smiled softly, remembering Bran’s pale face as he struggled to keep up. It had been a strange night, being dragged from his bed and warned to be quiet by his father, Leigh, as he’d dressed him in layers of clothes and chased him out the door where his sire, Emrys had been waiting with Bran and Bran’s child wrapped in heavy furs. They’d used back ways to come to the surface and the moment fresh air had touched his face they were running. Others joined them, fading from the darkness to run silently with them over the snow. When Bran’s strength had failed many of the others went on ahead of them but there were other fathers and sires who suffered as well, their strength drained from their kind’s new rules. He’d watched as his father had taken the child into his arms, a child he’d despised before and carried him silently as Emrys practically carried the other feather ahead. The moment they came upon the limits of human civilization the group had split, leaving them to travel westward alone. Bran guarded them while his father and sire hunted for them, occasionally allowing him to come along when they needed to hurry or travel a long way without any food. He recalled the first time he’d followed the strange scent to the ocean, standing beside his parents and the other father as they stared at the dead end of their flight. Bran had known what it was, had explained to them how humans built wooden crafts that floated upon the grey waves. When they’d chosen a home on the perilous cliffs it had been Bran who had taken the role of teacher, teaching them about the outside world while he and young Levi played upon the floor together. He hadn’t been an adult yet then but he’d been old enough to understand when his sire had taken him aside, explaining why Levi had his sire’s eyes yet came from a man that was not his mate. His parents had meant to flee before he’d been forced to pair with the father who had returned to the city upon the death of his former mate in the great killings. So many had died then and at the time he hadn’t understood the sheer magnitude and the impact it had upon their people. All he had known was that there were a great many fathers in the city, more than there were sires, and that their leaders had decided that it was imperative to increase their numbers to recover the number of velassi the humans had killed. And so sires, even those mated and with children such as his sire, had been forced to mate with these new fathers, to get them with child in the hopes that more sires would be born. His father had screamed and raged but the council had ignored him, as they had ignored all the other protests. There had been no choice and his sire had gone. He could recall a dozen nights his father had paced restlessly, waiting for Emerys’s return. It had stressed their relationship and they had decided to ignore the council’s edict and leave. But they had waited for the others and the unthinkable had happened. Bran had become pregnant and Emrys was proven the sire. The widowed father had moved into their wing, though Leigh obviously disliked the arrangement. There had been fear in the air the few days before Bran had given birth for the time of their flight had grown close but Bran could not flee with them if he was pregnant and Emrys could not leave him behind. Kel took his mate’s hand, allowing Vance to help him down a steep incline as he recalled the argument that had occurred between his sire and father when his sire had pressured Leigh into taking him and leaving while he staid behind. It had frightened him to think of being separated from his sire but in the end Bran had given birth and recovered enough to labor along with them to their new home by the sea. They’d all been happy there, even Leigh who hated having another father in his home. Bran had grown strong again, as the old ones always did and he appropriated his own wing where he could live on his own while Levi still had his sire nearby to model himself after. When Levi had grown into a sire himself, towering over all of them, even his sire, Bran had taken his leave and Levi had gone with him. In a few short years he had taken his leave as well, making his home in a burgeoning city where he could hunt and still hide when others came around. Levi had come to visit every now and then, bringing news of their sire’s death one evening and staying for many years as they grew through their pain and finally found the strength to move on. Bran and Leigh had come to stay with them for a short time, to everyone’s surprise leaving together. The last Kel had heard the two fathers still lived together, two old enemies who bickered and snipped at each other but who could not bear to be apart from one another. He and Levi tried to build something between them, two velassi lost in the world and unable to return home for fear of what was happening there, but there had been no spark between them. When their paths had crossed again Levi had with him a bright eyed mate named Mel who knew nothing of their city in the north and cared nothing for their people’s ways. It was a good match and Mel had born his half brother a sire with his father’s bright eyes and his sire’s determination. That son had come looking for him, curious about the half uncle who lived so free. Xian was a gentle soul and Kel liked him immensely, but, as with his sire, there was no spark and he’d sent Xian on, surprised when the sire returned with stories of his return to the city. Despite Xian’s assurance that all was well among their people and that the practices that had sent his family fleeing the city had ceased, he couldn’t bring himself to return. Even to do so now set his teeth on edge. Vance was happily oblivious to his nervousness, pulling on his hand as eagerly as a pup on a leash, as his long legs ate up the distance between them and the city. There were velassi out and about on the clear evening and Kel glanced around, frowning to realize he did not recognize anyone’s faces. Young velassi played together, chasing one another through the streets in mock hunts as they tested out the prospects of being the chaser and the chasee. Such play was important in their development and, as the trio rushed past them shouting to one another, Kel knew that they were unconsciously falling into the patterns that would shape them into sires and fathers. Vance followed their retreat with a broad smile. He laughed openly, practically dragging him to his side. An arm wrapped about his waist, pressing them together and Kel struggled to keep up with his mate’s swaggering stride. Vance steered them towards a home in the outer ring, pausing every now and then to wave to this or that velassi but he did not stop to speak with them. The inside of the home was lovingly furnished and it appeared to be in current use, as was their people’s custom to venture above ground for part of the year. There was no one inside, however, and Vance knelt to pull open the door that lead down into the city. Kel stared down into the darkness and froze, suddenly overcome with irrational fear. But then his mate’s hands settled on his shoulder and he shook it off, laughing shakingly to himself as he forced himself to take a step . . . and then another and another. Before he knew it he was being dragged through room after room by his overeager mate until Vance apparently found what he was looking for. Kel yelped as he scooped up and carried through the doorway into a suite of rooms. He stared up at his mate who grinned down at him. “I am not a bride.” He growled. Vance smirked. “Sure you are!” He disagreed cheerfully; continuing to carry his mate through the outer and inner rooms and into a bedroom that looked like it hadn’t been used in years. Kel yelped as he bounced nearly off the bed that his mate tossed him on and Vance laughed, helping him right himself. “Sorry, forgot about that.” He growled at the sire who merely smirked and drove him back with superior grin. “You’re in my territory now,” Vance warned, “You have to do what I say!” Kel slapped at the hands trying to slip under his shirt. “Yeah, right.” “No, no, it’s true!” Vance practically crowed. “Just try it and we’ll see if being back here has magically given you some power over me.” Kel warned, baring his fangs. Vance laughed, the deep sound making Kel shiver. His mate dipped is head, nuzzling his neck. “We’ll see.” He promised, biting lightly at the bared throat. Vance suddenly sat back, eyes narrowed as he cocked his head, listening. Kel frowned, glancing at the open doorway. He could hear the sound of movement beyond. His mate suddenly grinned and hopped off of him, pulling him up and dragging him out the door. A few rooms passed like a blur before Kel found himself released as his mate suddenly pounced on a smaller form, driving the man back with the force of his impact and even lifting him up off his feet in a hug. Kel shook his head, self consciously straightening his wrinkled shirt as another came into the room. The sire scowled, thunking Vance upon the head. “Let go of your father.” He growled. Vance dropped the smaller man who sighed and shook his head as his son latched onto his sire, draping an arm companion about his shoulder. There was an old rumor that sires grew to look like their fathers and that fathers grew to look like their sires. In this case, it was untrue. Vance and his sire could have easily been mistaken for brothers, so closely did they appear. Kel glanced at his mate’s father, wondering where the brightness had gone, for his father was gaily colored from his sapphire hair to his brilliant pink eyes. Kel found himself scowling, feeling quite the drab creature next to the younger father. “See? I told you I’d get him!” Vance’s voice broke him out of his contemplation of the other father and Kel met the older sire’s pained gaze. “What did you do? Drug him?” Vance’s father asked, earning a surprised glance from Kel and a whine from his son who abandoned his sire to drape himself over his father. “Don’t be so mean!” Vance protested, “I wooed him with my charm! I can be charming if I want!” Both parents snorted, leaving Kel to suddenly deal with a sniffling mate who caught him up in his arms and pretended to cry on his shoulder. “So mean! You see how they treat me? Let’s go home so you can make me feel better!” The older sire reached out, dragging his son back by the hair. “Forgive us, he never learned proper manners.” He grumbled, giving his son a firm shake. Kel laughed softly as Vance bared his fangs at his sire in mock indignation. “I have learned to cope with his . . . social deficiencies.” Kel replied, earning a snort from the sire who lurked behind him. There was a moment of silence between them before Vance’s sire inquired about the length of their stay. Vance was appropriately vague and Kel was grateful that he didn’t insist they would be staying for a long time. It was still a point of contention between them. Vance wished their child to grow in their people’s ancestral city but Kel wanted no part of that. But his mate was not happy with the thought of raising their child in the wide world and part of Kel had to admire the fact that his mate acknowledged his youth enough to admit he feared his ability to keep them safe should anything happen. So he had agreed to this short visit. He excused himself, slipping away as Vance spoke with his parents and drifted out into the halls. He did not remember this place except in very brief flashes of childish memory. He could not remember the horrors his parents had fled, had indeed probably been kept from seeing it. But a part of him could not quell the fear of the city and what it had once been to their race. The hallway suddenly gave way to a huge cavern and he paused, staring up at the cavernous ceiling that soared up overhead. The sound of water mingled with the sound of voices and he drifted down into the common area, losing himself among the stone carvings that split the room into mazes and rock gardens. He passed a pair of young adult, playing in a stream while a trio of sires watched nearby, urging each other to go and speak with the pair of fathers. Kel smiled slightly, laughing at their shyness. There were others about, mostly pairs of mates or small family gatherings. He nodded to them but did not recognize anyone he passed. When he tired he sat on an ancient bench, leaning back against the stone and staring out at the small stream that danced past him. He felt a pang of loneliness, of being disconnected from his kind. He tried to recall those who had come to his city, and was chagrined to recall how many he had simply hidden from the moment he’d felt their presence. He’d spent so many years hiding he found himself apart from his own kind. For a long time he sat, watching his people drift past him and he studied their faces, glad to see more happiness then sadness. The young seemed happy, fathers teasing the young sires who followed after them like stray dogs followed someone who had shown them a moment’s kindness. The old seemed content, sires watching with sharp eyes while their mates suffered through the supervision with amused smirks and the occasional jab at their mate’s pride. He was just about to attempt to find his way back when a figure broke away from one of the residential entrances, coming towards him. He frowned, turning towards the one who walked towards him so purposely but then smiled when he recognized the sire who paused, studying him a moment before taking him in his arms and squeezing the breath from him. “What are you doing in this place. Levi?” He asked, reaching up to press a hand against the broad chest. Levi smiled, looking so much like their sire it made Kel’s heart ache for a moment. “You can blame my wayward son for that. He spoken unceasingly of it until Mel finally got it into his head to come see it and he has not let us leave since!” Kel laughed softly, retaking his seat, Levi sitting beside him. “Still bullied by your small mate, hmm?” Levi shrugged. “When fathers stop bullying us sires then the world has gone horribly wrong.” They sat in silence for a long moment, simply enjoying each other’s company as others came and went. Finally Levi shifted, glancing down at him. “Xian says you have taken a mate. He was quite upset.” Kel smiled sadly, shaking his head. “I thought I had made myself clear to him. I was not looking for charity. He convinced himself he loved me but really I know he just worried about my being alone.” Levi nodded. “I tried to explain it to him but you know how he is. He is too stubborn by half and would not leave it be. When he came back he was furious. I suspect your mate might be in for a bit of a flurry if they meet.” “It will do Vance some good. He bounces back well enough anyway. Far be it from me to get in the middle of some sire posing.” Laughing Levi shook his head, his auburn hair turning copper under the firelight as Bran’s did. “Aye. Let them snarl and claw at each other a bit. Eventually Xian will calm down. Actually there is a father here who has been luring him even though he’s being a stubborn bastard and denying that he finds Nathan attractive. Fortunately Nathan hasn’t believed him. Mel has practically declared the two mated already and has forced Xian to start collecting courting gifts for him.” “Xian should be glad he has such a meddling father to keep his prospects open.” Kel teased. Levi simply shrugged, smiling as he stared out over the garden. “Have you spoken with father or Bran lately?” Kel inquired. Levi nodded. “A few years ago Mel and I spent some time with them. They’ve taken a fancy to the glittering lifestyle of capitalism and are happily indulging in the sleepless nights of the big cities. Eventually they will tire of it but for now they are happy and it has been a long time since I’ve seen anything interest Leigh so. My father goes along with it because he is glad to see your father so free with himself again.” Kel smiled, relieved to hear such news. “Bran is good for him, though he grumbles and growls about him and calls him a mate stealer.” Levi laughed. “Yes. Bran knows he means nothing about it and gives back as good as he gets. Actually a sire was lurking around when Mel and I visited, apparently taken with Bran. Your father chased him off like an indignant sire chasing the lurkers away from his new mate! We all had a good laugh over it while Leigh pretended to ignore our teasing.” Kel shook his head, more then capable of seeing his father chasing off any challengers for Bran’s affections. After being forcibly mated after his own mate’s death Kel doubted Bran would ever be interested in another sire’s affections again and Kel knew that Emerys had been the only sire his father would ever consent to lie with. Though Bran might pretend to welcome the attention of a sire Kel knew that he would never allow it past the flirting phase for if one of them ever remated the other would have to go and would be left alone in the world. Neither father would accept that for they were like two aging soldiers, soothing their wounds with each other’s company. Neither would live long in the world without the other there to silently support them. “So your mate dragged you back here then?” Levi inquired. Shrugging Kel glanced about. “For now we are just visiting. I think he’s trying to ease me into the idea of coming back here to make our home for awhile.” Levi nodded. “It’s not a bad place. Boring most of the time but Mel likes it. He’s never had other velassi around to talk to and do things with. He’s got quite the harem going on now.” “Harem?” Kel asked, glancing up at his brother. Levi laughed. “I call them his harem. Some of his friends are sires, most mated of course, but a couple have sons or nephews who are not. Mel has made it his mission to pair every unmated sire and father up together. He’s become quite popular I might add. Poor Xian is completely mortified over it.” “Ah.” Kel responded. A child ran through the courtyard, naked. Right behind him a flustered sire ran, hollering for the child to stop. The child, in youthful fashion, stuck out his tongue at the sire and made a very rude sound. Behind the couple the father followed, laughing at his mate as he chased the child through the stones. They both laughed at the spectacle. “I do not miss that.” Levi admitted, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners in laughter. Kel glanced down at the stone, worn away by thousands of years of feet crossing it. A hand came to rest over his and he started to realize that his hands were clenched tighter in his lap. “What is it?” Levi asked, his thumb gently stroking over his pale knuckles. Remaining silent for a moment Kel finally sighed and glanced up at his brother. “Finally my father won’t be able to tease yours about being a grandfather.” Levi blinked in confusion for a moment before realization lit dark hazel eyes. “Ah.” His brother sat back, crossing his legs. “Well that certainly explains your sudden presence here.” Kel shrugged. “Vance doesn’t want our child raised outside of the city.” The auburn haired sire nodded. “These city bred velassi fear that. The world scares them. It is too vast and unknown.” “But the city holds its own dangers.” Kel murmured. Levi’s face turned serious. “Aye, that it does.” A snarl suddenly broke out, making Levi snap to attention and Kel to shrink back. A second, deeper snarl followed and a second later a serious of growled and hisses. Levi cocked his head and smiled slightly, glancing back at him. “Sounds like Xian came across someone he’s not happy with.” Kel’s brow furrowed as he listened and, with Levi’s words in mind, he found he did recognize the deeper snarls and relaxed slightly. “Sires.” He grumbled, earning a toothy grin from his brother. The snarls died down as quickly as they started and a moment later Kel watched as he mate came striding around the corner, licking blood from his hand. Vance’s brown eyes caught sight of him and then immediately focused on the sire sitting next to him. Despite already baring claw marks from the son Kel saw his mate puff, readying himself for a fight against the sire sitting too close to his pregnant mate. Sighing Kel crossed his arms, glaring at his mate. “Calm down.” He growled. Vance gave him a look he hadn’t seen before from his usually carefree mate and it made him blink in surprise. His mate stalked forward, chin up and eyes narrowed as the sires took each other’s measure. Kel sighed again, shaking his head. Whereas Xian had just roughed his mate up a bit Levi was more then capable of killing his mate without working up a sweat. He knew Levi wouldn’t actually kill his mate and it was all just sire posing, which Kel was sure served some deep rooted purpose in determining the pecking order between sires but it was still annoying. Extending his foot he stomped and ground down, causing his mate to yelp and hop back, glaring at him. “Enough, oh great one.” Kel growled, “This is my brother.” Vance’s face suddenly brightened and, in a switch of moods Kel could not begin to understand, smiled politely and introduced himself. And Levi, sharing the sire quirk, responded in kind, all threat suddenly forgotten as though it hadn’t been important to begin with. Kel sighed and shook his head. They exchanged half hearted pleasantries but it was obvious that Vance as not interested in his half brother and Levi’s interest was more directed towards giving his mate a few half veiled threats on what would happen to him if he screwed up. Before long Kel caught sight of Xian making his way towards them and he rose, catching his mate about the arm. “I am weary.” He lied, immediately earning piercing glances from both sires. Vance, practically swept him away and he managed only a quick farewell to his brother before his mate herded him through the maze of halls and room back to theirs. He laughed as he was stripped and gently laid upon the bed, his mate following him down and gracing his skin with kisses until he arched and gasped. But Vance left it at that, simply climbing in beside him and nuzzling the back of his neck. “Maybe we should leave here. Too many sires who seem to like you.” Vance growled. Kel laughed, rolling over so that he could rest his head upon his mate’s chest. “And maybe I like having them around.” He teased His mate just snorted. “If you’d have liked it you wouldn’t have been living alone.” Frowning Kel sighed. “Maybe I just didn’t realize how lonely it really was.” He murmured. Long fingers brushed through his hair and his mate remained silent, sampling letting his presence speak for him. Kel smiled, burying his face against the soft shirt. “Then again, maybe I want more time alone with you.” Vance laughed softly. “Perhaps I like that idea as well.” Kel closed his eyes, just listening to his mate’s heartbeat. And, despite the lie he’d told his brother and mate, he drifted off into peaceful sleep. |
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