Choices
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine.
Author’s Notes- When I started coming up with the idea of the December challenge, I asked for hints of what people wanted and callmetippytumbles said she really wanted me to return to the universe of our collaboration and so this was born. This is set in ancient Cordonia and gives a little ore back story. I am also hoping to get Part Five finished in the New Year.
Rating- PG
Summary- Kenna and Diavolos discuss their children and the long ago bargain they had made.
“Annelyse wants an answer by the next full moon,” Kenna told her husband, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around him.
Diavolos didn’t answer, but she felt him stiffen.
“It has been almost 20 years,” Kenna reminded him, “we knew this day would come, putting it off doesn’t erase the deal we made. Tevan and Rowan have both named their choice.”
“Zenobia told me,” Diavolos answered, still not looking at her, “she said it wasn’t so much of a choice for her and Tevan, apparently the twins decided between themselves and informed their parents.”
“Do you think that is how we should do it?” Kenna asked cautiously, hating that she couldn’t read his mood. Not on this. She couldn’t even sense anger, it was all a complete mask.
“The diplomatic route seems easier with two than five,” Diavolos pointed out, “even though Zen told me that Lily threatened to disembowel Jarreth to prevent him from sacrificing himself.”
Kenna laughed despite herself, “well… that is one way to do it. So it is Lily?”
“No,” Diavolos answered, “he apparently calmly told her that reaction was exactly why she shouldn’t be a vampire and it would be him.”
“I am sure that went over well,” Kenna commented, “but… I think Jarrett is a good choice. He is fair and good humoured.”
“And he will need a balance,” Diavolos countered, “Lark has the stoicism covered and Jarreth the sense of right and wrong, so they will need a counter to that. The Nevrakis representative needs to be a true Nevrakis.” He said last words with scorn but he turned to look at her, his expression serious, “it has to be Valerian. We both know that.”
Kenna considered his words and then nodded, because he was right. Their second son had a quick temper and the Nevrakis blood-thirsty streak. At not quite 16, he was also a true warrior, like his father,.
“When do we tell him?” She asked softly, wondering when you informed your child that you had bargained away his life. Although, at the same time they were granting him eternal life. And eternal power, which she suspected would appeal more to him.
“Soon,” Diavolos told her, “he should know before he starts to hope for a future…”
Before he fell in love, Kenna realized. She still thought of her son as a child, but she had been his age when her feelings towards Dom had started to turn romantic… Valerian deserved to know that such things were not in his future.
Kenna wondered how he would feel about that. Was he too much of a Nevrakis too care? Or would he someday hate her for what she had taken away from him? What his brother and sisters would get to pursue?
“Soon.” Kenna agreed and then she stepped closer to her husband, leaning against him. “Did we make the right choice? All those years ago?”
Diavolos wrapped his arm around her. “We made the choice that let us live,” he reminded her, “and brought peace to our kingdoms.”
“Three lives to save thousands,” Kenna said quietly, “I just wonder… I wonder what kind of life we are dooming our son too, what kind of man he will become.” She saw so much of her father in law in Valerian and it scared her, but so much of her husband as well, which gave her hope. But would eternal life and power make him colder and crueler or would it preserve his sense of justice?
Only time would tell, even if she wouldn’t be there to see it. Maybe that was the hardest part of all of this, she would never know the consequences of their choice of what kind of vampire her son would be.
She would never have to face the consequences of her actions, but centuries of Cordonians would, and she prayed as she leaned against her husband, soaking up his strength, that they had chosen wisely.
- End
