Page 130 of Sidhe
Nathan was anxious, terrified in some ways, but he didn’t say so. Instead he threw open the doors like he had before when he had unknowingly entered Dave’s diner, and headed inside.
Chapter 46
TheweaponsthatawaitedNathan’s Four Horsemen of the (hopefully not) Apocalypse weren’t displayed in any grand manner, but simply rested side by side on the bar’s countertop. There were no signs hanging over them to indicate which belonged to whom, but before Nathan could even open his mouth to explain his recent interlude with Dave, he watched as Sasha, Jim, Alex, and Walter moved swiftly past him to reach their weapons without hesitation. They simply knew which ones were theirs, drawn to them until each had grasped their weapon in hand while Nathan, Shiarra, and the Sex Squad looked on.
Sasha took up a longsword that Nathan tried to convince himself was not Excalibur, though it did have a sleek and simple design that reminded Nathan of how the mythical sword was often portrayed. Jim reached for a ring similar to their father’s except yellow gold, which Nathan assumed was more a talisman to harness Jim’s powers than a weapon on its own. Alex had twin pistols, not quite as gothic fantasy as Nathan had expected,though they were silver and impressive enough that she let out a whistle as she lifted them from the countertop. And finally, Walter had a bow, a crossbow, some mix between modern and medieval that had only a single bolt, though Nathan had a sneaky suspicion it had automatic reload.
Once each of them had taken up their gifts, no question in their minds that the items belonged to them, they finally turned to Nathan with the one question on their lips.
“What is this?” Jim asked.
Nathan looked back to make sure the doors had closed behind them then relayed the story of why he had paused before entering the Gatehouse. Everyone was silent for a long moment afterwards, besides Cam’s small utterance of, “Whoa, seriously?”
“So who is who?” Alex asked, twirling her pistols expertly. She wasn’t a seal, but she knew more ways around a gun than Nathan ever would.
“It is quite easy to discern if you know your lore,” Walter said. The others turned to him, and it became immediately clear that none of them knew a thing. “I have the bow. The weapon of the white horseman, Conquest. Or Pestilence, depending on the version. The horseman on the red horse carries a sword. War.” He indicated Sasha. “The black horse carries scales for balance. While not quite the same, dual pistols do seem appropriate. Famine.” He nodded to Alex. “Which leaves…”
“Death,” Jim said, raising his right hand that bore the ring. “Not exactly a scythe.”
“Death is not actually described as carrying a weapon,” Walter said. “But also please remember what Nathan was told. We are not those iconic soldiers. We are their antithesis. We bring life, and healing, and hope. The weapons themselves are powerful, but they also offer us the essence of what they represent. We will each be granted the power of our namesake once during the battle.”
“Life?” Jim questioned with both eyebrows raised. “Are you saying I’ll be able to bring someone back to life if they fall?”
“Only you will truly know what your ability is and when to use it,” Walter said, “but use it wisely when the truth is revealed to you. Once is a gift, but it is still only once.”
They stood in awe a few moments more, wondering how it would all play out tomorrow, until Alex finally huffed. “What’s the opposite of Famine? Because I thought we already agreed I don’t have to feed all those people.”
Nathan snorted.
“You will know,” Walter said again.
It wasn’t the greatest comfort to Nathan, having a gift none of them fully understood, and wouldn’t until the battle was upon them, but it was more than he would have asked for.
The weapons were set aside soon after, the tables and chairs pushed out of the way as they turned the main room of the Gatehouse into a sort of indoor campground. Those outside the doors were being taken care of; all they had to do was enjoy their time together and rest.
Lindsey, Charis, Cam, and the twins eventually excused themselves to rejoin the incubus/succubus camp outside. Others came in, claiming the now empty rooms throughout the Gatehouse. Nathan even offered up their usual rooms, so long as no one messed with his stuff, as they’d decided they would stay downstairs. Those who came inside seemed to understand, and left the main room to them.
Shiarra stayed even after the bustle of others getting settled in calmed. A part of Nathan wanted to go up to their room anyway and take solace in Sasha’s touch before morning, but it surprised him that he didn’t really want that right now. Sasha didn’t need to feed, and they were all exhausted, but it was more than that. Nathan wanted a different kind of intimacy, something he had with Jim, Alex, Walter, and Shiarra all there too.
They curled up on the floor as they talked into the night, waiting for sleep to claim them one by one. Nathan found himself naturally fitting against Sasha’s body, his back half propped against Sasha’s chest, his head tucked beneath Sasha’s chin, their hands entwined. Alex and Jim were much the same. Even Shiarra had cozied up to Walter in a chaste but familiar manner that the Spirit Guide didn’t seem to mind. It was easy to forget that there was an army outside, and an enemy on the way. It was easy to imagine that nothing could harm them as long as they were all together.
Nathan fell asleep feeling far more peaceful than he thought he had any right to be.
Nathanknewimmediatelythathe was dreaming. He was still in the Gatehouse, and he thought maybe this was some sort of out of body experience because when he looked down he saw himself, curled up on blankets and pillows right in the middle of the bar floor with Sasha wrapped around him. The others were similarly camped out, and Wally was snuggled in close by Nathan and Sasha’s heads—in chimera form, since there was no reason for her to hide any longer.
Nathan tried to walk around the bar and look over the others, but he only got about a step before he was pulled hard and swift as if a string was attached to his spine, or the wind had picked up and was strong enough to carry him away. He floated right out of the Gatehouse, speeding so rapidly over land and people—some sleeping, some not—that he could barely see anything clearly.
He stopped abruptly after the images of the world around him had become a harsh blur, and he tried to reach for something tohold him steady, get back his bearings. He grabbed onto a chair, cold and plain like stone.
Looking up and around at his new surroundings, Nathan had no idea where he was. It was a plain room, like the chair, all grey and empty. Only when he turned to look behind him, did he see that he was not alone.
Malak and Solrin stood at the far end of the room.
Nathan tensed because he knew now that this was more than a dream, and he moved cautiously closer to the two figures, even though it was obvious they couldn’t see him. Malak was female, so much like Gwen even in her black dress. Solrin looked as he had the day Nathan accepted Malak into his body—shirtless, black pants—only Malak was reaching up toward Solrin’s face and soon removed the black eyepatch guarding his dark fae eye.
“Won’t it be too much?” Solrin asked in a small, subservient voice.
“Not today,” Malak said. “This is the real battle now. And you’re going to be very important. Don’t be afraid, Solrin. Whether we win with or without Nathan now, all the rewards will be yours.” She let the eyepatch fall to the floor and reached up with both hands, taking his face and drawing him down to her lips.
