AN: Wow...okay, so between working 1 and a half jobs and finding time for my mom and little sisters, this chapter has been a pain! haha, but you'll be happy to know that you're looking at over 9,300 words! That's not including authors notes either. So enjoy! And let me know what you're thinking.

The Curator

Chapter 10: Enough

Glen looked a right mess. His hair was slicked to his scalp with a sheen of sweat and a grimacing smile was plastered to his face. He knew that he needed to find his son- that was the only way that he would perhaps be able to stop this madness.

He didn’t know how long he searched- perhaps it was a minute, a day, or a few hours. An eternity? He was pulsing outward and outward, trying to find that sweet power that he wanted to claim for his own…

Glen knew that he shouldn’t be thinking that way about his son. But his son had been naughty- he had not listened to his father’s orders. Surely that meant he had to be punished? He should be reduced to groveling…a groveling mess that didn’t know anything but his love for the god that had taken him under his wing. He couldn’t wait to hear that woman cry out as he ripped memory by precious memory from his sons mind. The screams would ring out, and the woman would cry- scream for Glen to take her instead…

“Yes. She will be my pet as well.” He said, his attention shifting. He could vaguely hear the pounding knock on his door but ignoring it was simple. That woman infuriated him. He wanted to tear those soft limbs apart and never have to look at those eyes ever again. He wanted to destroy her- consume her. He pressed forward, sitting up now and reaching his arms out as if he could grab her physically. Almost able to taste her exotic energy, he snapped the tendrils out like a vice, gripping her aura.

He had located the woman! And surely his son would be close at hand as well. He thrust his energy outward, ready to rip her core clear out of her chest, but a shield stopped him, coming from an outside source. A source that felt like his son.

He began to laugh. “Curator indeed.” He turned his attention to the source of the shield, his anger determining that his son should be punished for defying him. “We’ll see how well you protect her when you can’t even remember your own name. We’ll see how strong you are then, dear son.” He whipped violently, slashing at his son’s mind, locking it in a battle that grew progressively more painful for the other party as he used his son’s energy against him. The Resistance Collective, as he had just so aptly named them, would not know what hit them. He would crush them like the parasites they were. He would take what was his.

Suddenly, he felt the presence began to push against him with more force than he thought possible and he heard a voice ring brightly and angrily in his head. “You will not harm her.” It demanded, clear as if it were coming from right next to him on the bed.

Glen pushed harder, but then the force screamed at him angrily and launched itself into his own psyche, detaching itself from its own mind. “YOU WILL NOT HARM HER.” It repeated, wracking his body with the force of the attack.

He tried to fight back, but suddenly found that he was thrown against the wall- the force had begun to use his own energy against him. He felt as though a hand were pressing firmly on his chest, preventing his lungs from taking a breath. He started to panic, and he could feel the anger dissipating from his son- faltering. “Or what, dear son?” he asked out loud when he was able to breathe.

“I will destroy you.” Came the simple response, devoid of any emotion.

This startled Glen more than he wanted to admit to himself. He had always enjoyed the fact that Chael’s emotions could be read on his face. It made him a good Prince for his Holy Empire. The first Collective. But now- this new face on his son…

“You would not.” He spat, and the pressure returned three fold.

“Do not test me on this. You may have raised me, but I can destroy you. I will destroy you.”

“Enough of these games.” Glen returned, gathering his energy to himself, ready to prepare an attack.

To save his sanity.

.:*:.

The vehicle came to a slow stop in front of a large crevice, surrounded by nothingness all around. Grove could feel the beginnings of panic begin to crawl through the pit of his stomach but he swallowed it down and glanced back at Yoku and Chael, still curled around one another in the back seat. “Are we driving down there?” he asked David.

“No, that’s impossible. We walk from here.” Came the response he was dreading. He watched as the other people got out and closed the doors. “Would you like to wake them? I think they would prefer if it was someone familiar.”

He nodded then stepped out of the car, wondering what the best way to do this would be. He walked over to the side where Yoku was easiest to get to and sat next to her on the seat. He touched the bare skin on her arm lightly and here lids parted, revealing those shocking green eyes. “We’re here.” He said softly. “Do you think that you can wake Chael?”

“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” she said, yawning and stretching her limbs in the slightly confined space of the vehicle. She pressed a pale hand to Chael’s forehead and focused on his psyche. Chael? We’re here. She intoned to the blankness of his mind. Suddenly though, she realized that his mind should not be blank- not even in sleep. She frowned, her heart speeding up. Chael! She yelled through their bond, trying to startle him into thought. When no response or change came, she pressed both hands to his temples and tried again. Chael! Wake up!

Her eyes widened and she began to check for his vitals, noting that his heart was beating almost as erratically as her own was, and his chest was damp with sweat. She threw a glance at Grove and the panicked fervor in her eyes startled him. “He’s not in his head.”

“That’s absurd.” Grove said. “He’s just impossible to wake up. Let me try. I’ve been doing this for years.” He awkwardly switched places with Yoku and lifted his friends head off the back of the seat and he yelled “CHAEL! WAKE UP!” while shaking him violently. When Chael’s head lolled sideways and no change in expression showed signs of his waking, Grove’s panic furthered. “What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Yoku hissed, her eyes darkening.

David seemed to notice that they had not followed and that there was a problem, and he walked back up to them calmly. “Is something wrong?”

“Chael isn’t in his head.” Yoku snapped, the air around her swirling angrily.

“We need to get him down into the sanctuary where the Emperor can’t get to him.” David said speedily.

“What? You think the Emperor is doing this?” Grove asked.

“Who else? When someone is trying to erase memories, this is what it looks like. Let’s get him down there.” David said, walking over to the back of the vehicle and motioning over his shoulder. He opened the hatch and pulled out a rectangular stretcher, which he brought over to the side of the car and laid it on the ground. “Get him out here.”

Grove and Yoku gently but quickly moved him to the stretcher and then Grove took the head while David took the feet and they made their way quickly towards the crevice. “We’re going down there?” Yoku asked, her heart racing.

“We have to. It’s the only way to protect him. It’s going to be alright Yoku. You can do this.” Grove said softly, offering a smile. Damn. I forgot how difficult this would be for her. “Just focus on Chael. We need to get him to safety.”

“For Chael.” Yoku said, her eyes shining with anxiety. It’s dark. It’s underground. It’s terrifying. It’s for Chael. It’s for Chael. It’s for Chael. She repeated as she nodded, following the three men down the stairs flanked by steel walls. She took a deep breath, focusing on Chael’s blank face. “We were just sleeping! How could this have happened?”

“Perhaps the Curator felt safe enough with you that he let himself surrender for just a moment, and the Emperor used that weakness to his advantage.” David said softly, as their voices echoed terribly in the long stairwell.

“This can’t be happening. What if he’s…” Grove stopped himself, panic hurling itself into his chest and his throat, cutting off speech.

“He’s not going to die.” Yoku snapped at him, the air spinning wildly around them.

“You don’t know that.” David said softly. “It is his destiny to protect you. Perhaps that was what he was doing?”

“I would feel it if something had attacked me.”

“Not if he felt it first.” David replied gently. “Let’s just calm down. We’re almost there.”

And sure enough, they were almost there. The once steep pathway of the stairs was widening and becoming more flat. Yoku kept her focus forward, knowing that if she looked back or up, she would not be happy with what she saw. Looking down at Chael brought her a newfound panic, seeing his blank face and knowing that his mind was in the same state. She couldn’t do this without him. She needed him. That she was willing to admit. She was also willing to admit that she loved him and that if he didn’t survive this…

Well, she didn’t want to think about that. Because he was going to be just fine.

They had arrived at a door and an alarm went off signaling their arrival. Several people greeted them joyfully until they noticed the stretcher and then a flurry of questions met them. Yoku didn’t have time to notice the earthy colors, the stalagmites still hanging from the walls, the glowing balls of light that illuminated the site. She saw only Chael as they made their way to a sterile looking white room where Renee and a couple other people were chatting over coffee. When they noticed Chael, they stopped short and began to cleanse their hands without a word.

“What happened?” Renee asked. “Is it physical or-”

“The Emperor is attacking him.” David said softly.

“No, if that were the case, he should be able to fight him off by now.” A young man said. “Move.” He snapped at Grove, pushing him out of the way and moving over to Chael’s head, pressing his open palms to his temples.

“What are you doing?” Grove whined.

“Just let him do his job.” David said softly, pressing a firm hand to his shoulder while Renee moved over to Yoku.

The young man’s eyes closed and his brows furrowed with the effort of his ministrations and he was gasping for breath within a few moments. Another man came and steadied him, wrapping firm hands around his forearms and channeling more power into Chael. The young man collapsed under the pressure and fainted, caught by the strong arms of the man behind him.

“What the hell are you doing?” Yoku screamed, papers flying in the wake of her anger.

“We were trying to open his core to see what was happening- but it’s locked. He’s not there. He’s completely out of his mind- literally.” The second man said, helping the first man up as he came to. “We’re just not strong enough. Even with his core as damaged as it is, we can’t do anything. Nobody in all my time here has had a core as…” They stood slowly, suddenly realizing who they were speaking to and their eyes widened significantly. “Devoveo!” the first gasped.

“I am still waiting for an answer. Why isn’t he awake? Why isn’t he even in his goddamned head? Where is he? ” Yoku demanded quietly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Yoku- we’re just going to have to wait for him to come back on his own. It looks like he left voluntarily- there would have been a struggle if he hadn’t and you would have noticed that. If he left on his own, he will be able to come back on his own when he is ready.” Renee soothed, running her hands up Yoku’s arms to settle them on her shoulders.

Suddenly, the magnitude of the situation slammed into Yoku full force and she panicked. Her breath started to come in shallow pants and her face felt chilled as the blood rushed away from her head and limbs. She slid to the floor, and could vaguely hear people calling to her….she could feel herself being lifted onto something soft and flat, but she could also feel hands pressing onto her body and she didn’t like it. She was confused. Tears slid down her cheeks and she cried out Chael’s name quietly, her voice breaking.

Grove’s voice cut through though and she focused on that- it was familiar. “Yoku damnit! Knock it off! Open your eyes!” he snapped, hating the force he had to use.

It worked.

She opened her eyes, but that just made him wish that she would close them again. He could almost feel the pain radiating off of her, and he knew that she was also panicked because of her being underground. “He’s gone. Chael is gone. I need him. I love him. I need Chael. He’s gone. He’s gone.” She whispered in between gasping breaths.

“No, he’s not.” He said more gently. “He’ll be back soon. But panicking like this isn’t going to get him anywhere. Take a breath and hold it Yoku. Chael is going to be alright.”

“But his core-”

“Not now. Hold your breath.” He said firmly.

She did as she was told and looked up at him from her place on the gurney. When she couldn’t hold it anymore she released it and burst into tears and sat up, wrapping her arms around Grove who settled one arm around her shoulders and the other dragged itself up and down her back softly. “Why is this happening?”she asked.

“He’s going to be okay.” Was Grove’s response.

As Yoku’s tears slowed, so did the distressed energy pulsing from her and she stilled against his chest, having fallen asleep. Grove gently helped her settle back down on the bed and pushed it closer to Chael’s, thinking that would help.

“What was that?” the young man that had fainted asked.

“That, Vaughn, was a disruption in the bond between the Curator and the Devoveo.” David said softly. “All I have to say is that Chael had better be alright…or this is all for nothing.”

Vaughn scratched his head with still glowing hands and then rubbed them together, staring at the pair of people on the tables. “The Devoveo and the Curator. In Sanctuary. They’re here- finally- but are unconscious.”

“Nobody said that they would come to us in complete health. With the Emperor as his father, it’s a wonder that he survived at all.” Renee scoffed at the Ignoti doctor.

“What?” he squeaked.

“The Emperor is his father?” he older, muscular man asked quietly.

“Yes. Not biological, but he raised him.” David responded. “I’m sorry, I have been terribly rude.” He said to Grove. “Grove, this is Matthew and Vaughn, the other two of our main doctors. Guys, this is Grove. He’s like a brother to these two.”

“Nice to meet you two.” Grove said softly, smiling and holding out a hand for each of them to shake.

“Likewise.” Vaughn said. “Wow…so, you’re not an Ignotus. How did you get wrapped up with these two?”

“It’s a long story. Over some coffee?” he asked.

“Of course. Vaughn, take him to the kitchens and get him something to eat and some coffee. Then can you have your sister find him a room? Preferably next to an empty suite for Yoku and Chael?” David asked.

“Yeah. Follow me.” Vaughn said, taking a last glance at the two unconscious people in the room before he made his way out of the room, Grove on his heels.

.:*:.

Hovering in space, two men fought a raging battle against each other in one body, fighting for dominance.

Glen was weakening, but he could tell that his son was too. He knew that he had to quit- he was going to have to figure out how to get his son out of his head. He could feel his body weakening significantly and he could still hear the pounding on his door.

“You will leave us be.” Chael snapped.

“Fine.” Glen decided. “Get out of my head.” He surrendered to the pressure that his son was exerting on him and it took everything that he had not to smile when his son faltered. He snapped his flaring energy out, slamming into his core and he could hear his son scream and pull out of his head in one sweep.

He opened his eyes, feeling his breathing start to settle and calm while he recovered from the painful attack from his son. The pounding on the door continued and he weakly waved an arm, opening the door. A panicked woman came stumbling in to find him sitting up, wiping sweat from his forehead.

“Excellency! What has happened to you?” she asked, pressing the medic button by the door as she walked over to his side.

“I was attacked by one of the people holding my fiancé and my son. But do not fear- they are out of my presence.” He said, standing as regally as he could given his weakened state. “Do you know when we are going to land?”

“Soon, My lord. Soon. Just lye back, and we’ll have the medic in here soon.” She said, fluffing the pillow behind him and pointing gently, trying to get him to lay down.

“Good.” He said, realizing that he just might need that. His heart was pounding still and he felt dehydrated. He wondered how his son was feeling…

A young man with a medical bag came in, ignoring the usual formalities as he worked over the sweat sheened body of the man that could end his life in seconds. Soon, Glen was feeling much better and he sighed, smiling at the young man who had inserted an IV drip in his arm. “I apologize for my indiscretion in not addressing you formally, Lord Emperor. I am sorry.” He said, bowing deeply.

“All is forgiven, son.” He said softly. “You did what you were trained to do- act. You’re free to go. Both of you. Thank you for your concern.”

He watched as the two people left him and he smiled, knowing that he had left his son wounded. He was chipping away at his son’s defenses and when the time came he would be oh so easy to crush under his thumb.

.:*:.

David and Matthew stood watching Chael as his chest rose and fell rhythmically. “I can’t believe it is true- I can’t believe that we have the Destined Pair right here in our Sanctuary.” David said softly.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t do us much good if they die.” Matthew replied.

“They’re not dying. He just needs time. And she’ll be fine as soon as he is.” David said, his lips turning up in an excited smile. “They’ll be fine.”

“Don’t sound so sure of yourself there…” Matthew said, moving suddenly towards Chael.

Chael’s eyes opened wide, amber orbs rolling up into the back of his head as his face twisted in a grimace before a scream erupted from his chest. The sound was inhuman and David’s eyes widened at the pain that seemed to rip through his body. Chael started to thrash and Matthew seemed to snap out of the hold he was in and he moved forward to hold Chael to the table.

Yoku woke in the chaos of Chael’s screaming and she bolted up and forward, making her way to Chael’s side as he continued to thrash. With a determined frame on her face, she stepped forward and pushed Matthew out of the way, pressing her hands to Chael’s temples. Chael, what’s wrong?

It hurts…came the response.

What hurts? She asked.

My chest….I can’t breathe…

Yoku looked up at Matthew, trying to stay calm. “He’s back, but Glen hurt his core, I think. Can you help him?”

Matthew pressed two hands to Chael’s chest and began to push against the wound on Chael’s core- the same wound that had been inflicted earlier in the hangar on the Holy Empire. Matthew’s strong arms started to shake with the strain, but he wound Chael’s energy around itself, trying to seal the wound so the ache wouldn’t be as bad.

Which would have been easier if Chael wasn’t fighting him.

What are they doing to me? Chael demanded.

The man is trying to heal you- you need to let him in! Yoku all but screamed at him.

It hurts… he replied.

I know- but it will feel better if you stop fighting him. Relax, love. Relax.

Reluctantly, Chael dropped his shields and allowed the man easier access, and the lack of strain was a significant improvement for the larger man as he worked over Chael’s prone form. The pain was still there, however, and Chael gritted his teeth and his toes curled in his shoes as the wound was wrapped in Chael’s own energy. When the procedure was finished, Matthew pulled his tanned hands off of Chael and stepped back, rubbing his hands together to create some heat with the friction.

Yoku looked down at Chael and found his eyes half lidded, his body fatigued but whole once again. She smiled, tears springing in her eyes again. “What happened?” she whispered.

“Glen attacked you. I had to fight him somehow, and I much preferred to attack his mind than to have to defend mine.” He responded.

Yoku sobbed once, tears flooding down her cheeks. Concerned, Chael sat up and embraced her tightly, holding her flush with his body. “It’s alright- I’m back. I’m here.”

“You weren’t there and…”

“I know, but I’m here now. It’s alright. Just breathe.” He ran his fingers up and down her spine while David and Matthew watched, unable to peel their eyes away. “Just breathe. I’m here, and we’re together. Shhh.”

When her tears ceased, Chael glanced back at the other two, motioning for them to leave them. He thought that the medic might have objected but when they left, he turned his attention back to Yoku. “Everything is fine. We’re fine.”

“Chael, you weren’t in your head!” she snapped. “How is that fine!?”

“I can’t change that, Yoku. I wasn’t going to let him harm you. I didn’t even know how I did it- I was just so angry that he would try and hurt you and it just happened. I’m sorry I left you, even for just a little while. It’s all going to be okay. Just calm down.” He said, gently moving her back and stepping down from the bed. He took both of her shaking hands in his and kissed both of them, looking into her waterlogged eyes. “I wouldn’t ever leave you if I didn’t have to.”

“I love you.” She said, her voice firm and calm…unyielding. The air around them hummed happily and Chael dropped her hands in favor of taking the sides of her face in a gentle hold. He smiled, kissing the tears off of her face- loving the way that her cheeks flushed beautifully as his lips touched her soft skin.

“I love you too Yoku. So much. More than you know.” He said, leaning forward to lightly press his lips against hers. Though chapped from her worrying them with her teeth, they were soft and feminine and they felt so right as they moved tentatively against his. He tasted her bottom lip- vanilla and something more floral, asking for permission to go further. Her lips parted for him and he smiled through the kiss as he moved one hand to her hair and one to the small of her back, bringing her closer to him- both of them needing more contact. Chael could feel her pulse quickening and he gasped as her hand worked its way into his disheveled locks, nails scratching lightly in a way that made the kiss suddenly more frantic- as if they didn’t have enough time.

She pressed her body into his and they stumbled lightly against the frame of the bed and Chael felt teeth grip his bottom lip. he chuckled lightly at her sudden attack. Chael had imagined this moment several times, and every time he pictured it soft and slow- perhaps in the moonlight? Now he knew that he preferred it this way. Well- maybe without the tears. It was natural, fumbling, rushed, and passionate. Hearts pounding and lungs screaming for air, they parted and Chael sagged slightly, fatigue catching up with him unexpectedly. His eyes drooped and he sighed, his breathing becoming slightly more labored at the continued pressure of their activities. Her eyes widened and she backed up, afraid to hurt him in his weakened state. Reassuring her by drawing her closer, he smiled and kissed her cheek. Her hands rested on his chest now as he held her lightly in his arms, pressing slow and soft kisses to her jaw line and then the hallow of her neck. Her breathing slowed and he pressed a hand over her heart. “I live for you now.” He said, kissing her forehead.

“And I you.” She responded, laying her head against his chest.

Chael made his way back onto the bed and moved over a little, leaving room for Yoku. She climbed onto the bed and smiled as she fit herself into the curve of his body, settling into the soothing scent of spice and chocolate. “Let’s rest for just a little while. While we can.”

“Promise you’ll be there when I try to wake you?” Yoku asked.

“I promise.” He said, kissing the top of her head as she lay on his arm like a pillow.

Chael slipped into sleep quickly, but Yoku stayed awake, taking in the time that she had with him uninterrupted by babbling doctors or insane adoptive fathers. The sound of his deep breathing was soothing to her and she relaxed, a contented smile settling on her face. We’ll make it through this. I know we will. We just have to. Because I love him. And that is enough.

.:*:.

“So the Curator and the Devoveo, eh? That’s pretty intense.” Vaughn said, raising his mug of tea to his lips and pursing them to take a sip until the steam started to burn them. He lowered it again, emitting a soft dejected sigh.

“Chael and I have known each other for a long time. Yoku is the new addition.” Grove said, slamming back his luke warm coffee.

“I just don’t know how that is even possible. We’ve been waiting for them for centuries and here they are. They just fell into our lives. Just like that. Unbelievable.”

Grove noticed that the young man couldn’t be older than sixteen. The quick and jerky movements that the blonde boy made heightened his nerves but he tried to see past the lanky limbs and get some real information out of this kid. “Yeah, we’re here. I guess that’s good for you guys, but- what does that mean for Yoku and Chael? I keep hearing the phrase ‘destined pair’ thrown around. What does that mean? Also, what does their training entail?”

“Whoa, you ask a lot of questions.” He said, leaning forward in the simple black office chair. “Well- they’re here to literally save the world. Only the Elders really know what that means. From what I understand, it’s sort of a suicide mission. There’s no way that Yoku will be able to jumpstart this earth on her own. There’s just no way. And then your friend, the Curator…well, his soul literally only exists to protect her. Once her soul leaves, nobody really knows what happens to him.” he said casually, giving up and sipping his tea, grimacing at the temperature before setting the mug on the ground next to him.

“What? Are you crazy?” Grove demanded breathlessly. “You’re kidding me.”

“Nope.”

Grove stood suddenly, staring at the cheap linoleum floor of the room that he had been given. The light reflected the subtle shape of his company in front of him and he stepped forward closer to Vaughn, stepping on the shadow-kids face. “So they have to die?”

“Hey, calm down man. Nobody really knows for sure. Talk to the Elders about that, okay? I don’t know.” He said, raising his arms in surrender.

“Calm down.” Grove repeated. He began to pace the floor, his now sock covered feet sliding a bit as he turned each corner. “Calm down.” He knew that this was going to be difficult, but he didn’t anticipate something as drastic as souls chasing one another. “I’ll tell them and it won’t happen.” He reasoned. “The first step in avoiding a problem is acknowledging that it exists, right? They’ll be fine. They will train. They’ll learn all they can. They will not die.”

“They already know their purpose. It won’t be a surprise to them.”

Grove hissed at the finality in the younger man’s voice and glared at him, stopping in his tracks. “They did not come here to just lay down and die. This is not surrender.”

“You do not know our legends.”

“And you do not know Chael.” He said.

Silence hung in the air and Grove began to pace again, thoughts racing through his head as to how they would prevent this from happening. How they would keep their little crew together. He knew that they would have to be stronger than their task to make this work- it was simple rationing concepts. You can’t give what you don’t have he thought bitterly. His steps slowed and he noticed the blonde fidgeting, sipping on his tea uncomfortably.

“I’m sorry.” A new voice came from the hall. Grove welcomed the sudden feeling of calm washing over him and he sighed, knowing who had joined them.

“It won’t end that way.”

“We will certainly try to make sure it does not. We will train them well. Prepare yourself- it will not be an easy thing to watch.” David said. “Your friend is back though by now probably has been coerced back to sleep by his keeper. Our young Devoveo has quite the temper.”

Groves eyes lit up and he smiled. “Is he alright?”

“As well as can be expected, given the circumstances. He survived a massive attack with few injuries though- he will be weak for a day or so.” David said. He sat down where Grove was seated before, across from Vaughn on the couch. “We will begin with his first task tomorrow when he wakes. First thing. That was why I came to see you. We don’t have time to give him a grace period. The Emperor is on his way, I am sure. Did you change your mind?”

His eyes narrowed. “No.”

“Good. We will send someone to retrieve you in the morning. I suggest you get some rest. Tomorrow will be…tiring. For us all.”

“Tiring? What kind of tiring?” Grove asked, suddenly nervous.

“Don’t worry about it. Just get some rest.” David said. “Vaughn, let’s allow him to get some sleep. We’ll more than likely need you as well, so go get into bed.”

The young man left in a flurry of movement, leaving Grove staring at David in the otherwise empty doorway. “This is going to be hard, isn’t it?”

“All things worth anything are worth fighting for, Grove. Get some rest.”

.:*:.

Glen woke to the sound of his men and women moving about the hotel that they had located. It seemed perfect for their purposes. He stood and stretched his limbs carefully, not knowing how weak he was going to be after the encounter with his son. A pang of regret hit him more suddenly than he anticipated, and he pressed a hand to his chest, frowning. It was his own fault. He should have let me take her.

He walked to the bathroom of his suite and turned on the faucet, glad to see that his men had been able to get the water working once again. He ran the water over his face and padded it dry with the gold embroidered towels that hung by the sink. He brushed his teeth and smiled, looking at his still youthful expression in the mirror. “This will wall work out just fine.” He reassured himself.

He made his way over to the door and walked out of the hotel room where he was greeted by one of his men. “Good morning, Lord Emperor.” He said, smiling.

“Good morning. Let’s go down to breakfast. I’m sure you’re hungry.” They walked down the hall to the elevator. When they slid inside the doors, the seemingly ancient machinery ground to life and pulled them down.

They stepped out of the elevator and Glen smiled at the smell of eggs. Or the closest thing to eggs that one could get powdered. Cinnamon was also present in the air- he assumed oatmeal was also being prepared. He led the younger man to the dining hall where the crew was split into small groups, talking over their oatmeal, eggs, and trail mix. He sat down at a table and smiled as a young woman brought him a plate and bowl. “Good morning, Lord Emperor.” She chirped, setting down the small meal. “Would you like juice or powdered milk?”

“Juice, please. Thank you.”

Glen tucked into his meal and let himself observe the people around him. The oatmeal was bland at best and the juice that the woman brought him was the most interesting and flavorful thing that he was given for breakfast. The other people seemed to be just as excited about their meals as he was. He took his time finishing and then stood up, brushing imaginary crumbs off of his lap. “Ladies and gentlemen- I would like to meet with all of you while you continue your meals.” He paused, waiting for the people to finish making noise. “We leave in search of my son soon. The Lady is with him as well. I am assuming that they are still on the continent, but beyond that I do not know. I will need some of you to get the old databases running. I can give you security codes. We need to get copies of the old Ignoti texts, because I fear that my son may be…” Glen stopped, a sudden vision passing through his mind.

His son jumped up off of a bed and flung himself out a door, entering a room where his friend, that Malsund child, lay writhing on the floor. Glen flinched as anger flashed on his sons face and he thrust his arms out at a man who was torturing the boy- the man hit a wall…

“My Lord?”

A voice cut through the vision and he gasped, falling to his knees where he stood. He felt arms grip him but he shrugged them off, growling unexpectedly in a temper. “Get off. I’m fine.”

“But what happened, Excellency? What can we do for you? How can we help?” the woman that had handed him his breakfast asked.

“It’s Chael. Go- get on the internet. Now.” He said, standing up. When there was very little movement at his words, he yelled. “Now!”

Everyone stood up and rushed from the door, heading to wherever they were going to find an internet connection. Glen was panting as the others rushed from the room and he was left alone in the room, not knowing what to do with himself.

He had watched Grove grow up next to his son and he wanted that man to be out of the picture but he wasn’t sure that he wanted his son’s best friend to die. Be controlled, yes. Dead? He needed to make this situation go away. He just needed his son back. “Can’t things just go back to normal?” he asked the empty air. “This will kill Chael. It will kill him if that boy dies.”

.:*:.

“Grove?”

A timid voice woke Grove from his light sleep and he snapped up, completely alert. “What?”

“I hate to ask this of you but…Chael is still asleep and I think that this will be best if we do it now.” David said.

Grove sat up and noticed that he was only wearing sweat pants, and wondered idly if the man would let him change into his normal day clothes. “Now? Here? How will he-you know- hear me?”

“He’ll feel the hostile energy. And besides, we’re not going to do this here- we’ll do it closer to the medical ward so that if something does happen we can help you.” David said. “If you’ll come with me?”

“Can I brush my teeth and everything first?” he asked, startled.

“No. It’s better this way. Follow me.”

Grove stood and followed the man out the door, but he was frightened. He noted that the man was practically hurling waves of calm at him. “I’m not doing this to hurt you…”

“I know.” Grove said as they neared the hospital wing.

“Please don’t be afraid. Not for real. This is fake. It’s artifice. It’s not real.” David said, pleading with him. Three men approached them in the hallway and the calm he was feeling before switched immediately to panic. David thrust his arms out and the last coherent thought that Grove had was to notice the look of pure pain crossing the man’s face.

.:*:.

Chael woke to a sudden tense feeling in his chest that he thought meant that Yoku was in danger but found that she was still asleep, curled up next to him. She was fin.

He opened his mouth to wake her and tell her what he was feeling, but then he heard it- Grove was screaming out of pure agony and an Ignotus was doing this to him. Fury lit his features as he catapulted himself from the room and into the room that Grove lay writhing on the floor. He glanced down at his childhood friend and saw every muscle in his body twitching uncontrollably and he felt the power swell in his chest. He first thrust his arms out at the unfamiliar men pinning Grove to the ground with their energy and they flew into the opposing wall, unconscious. He then rounded on David who had his arms up in surrender. Chael found that he didn’t care. He noticed a katana hanging on the wall as decoration and he ripped it clean off the hooks, rounding on the man. He could feel his power pulsating through himself and the blade and though he didn’t notice the papers swirling in the impossibly fast current, he did notice that the man was in tears. Perhaps he’s afraid. He thought. Good.

“Curator, please. This was a test. We had to awaken your full power and we feared that doing so with the Devoveo would prove disastrous. Mr. Malsund volunteered.” He said quickly, backing up into the wall slowly with his arms up.

“What in the hell are you talking about? Grove isn’t some sadomasochist that would volunteer himself to torture!” he spat, pressing the blade to the man’s throat. He could see that the energy reverberating off the walls and the blade were affecting the man but he couldn’t stop himself. This man had hurt Grove. Betrayed his trust.

“He volunteered because he knew that it was an important step in your training.” David said carefully.

“Training?” he yelled.

A sudden crack resounded through the room as the mirror on the side exploded under the pressure of the furious energy.

“Chael. Stop.” A tired voice said.

Chael turned slowly, noting that his friend was rising to his feet even in the face of the wild wind. “Grove!” he dropped the blade on the ground at David’s feet and the winds stopped suddenly as Chael busied himself with a gentler task. “What did they do to you? Tell me.” He said, helping his friend into a nearby chair.

“We injured his core. You need to fix it. Or he’ll die.” David said quietly.

“You did this.” Chael said, keeping both hands on Groves shoulders as he tried to calm himself.

“I will not wake my men and have them heal Mr. Malsund. There isn’t time. You must do this yourself.” David bluffed. In reality, Grove wasn’t that harmed- more tired than anything, but they had to make the situation as real and upsetting as possible for the first time without destroying their living space and all the people in it. He still wasn’t sure about his men and whether they were going to survive or not but they knew the risks when they decided to help him unlock the full fury of the Curator’s power. Heaven forbid Yoku reacts as strongly as her mate is. He thought darkly. “Besides- you have already injured one of my men that could perhaps heal your friend.” He provoked.

“You did this. We leave. Now.” He ground out, pressing his hands to Grove’s chest. He closed his eyes, allowing his energy to search for Grove’s injured core. He wasn’t even aware that normal people had a core, but he figured that everyone had a soul and perhaps the core of a person was their soul? He couldn’t allow his friend to live through life with an injured soul. He found the scratch, glaring red against the soft yellow. He pressed a gentle pressure to his and heard Grove gasp in pain, but then the scratch was gone and Grove sighed.

Chael opened his eyes, confused. “It was just a scratch?”

“Like he said, it was a training exercise.” Grove said, sitting up more fully and hugging his friend. “I did volunteer for this, and it was for your own good. I mean- damn! I’ve never seen you like that. I thought you were going to rip the place apart. I guess now it’s just up to these guys to teach you how to control that.”

Chael whipped his head around, glaring at David. “You did this on purpose.” It was not a question.

“If you don’t mind, I would appreciate it greatly if you could heal the men that allowed themselves to fall prey to your anger.” David asked, ignoring the accusation.

He walked over to the men and without touching them found the injuries and healed them with a wave of a hand. They woke and looked up sheepishly at him, including Matthew. “We are sorry it has to be done this way.” The familiar man said.

“You’re right, by the way. If you had done this with Yoku, I would have killed all of you.”

“Well, that’s another thing. We ask that you not mention this to your Devoveo.”

“We aren’t some destined pair, alright?” Chael said angrily. “Just stop! Sure, we’re Ignoti. That’s obvious now. But we aren’t some couple that has come here to solve all your problems!”

“Not all of them, just one.” David said.

“I can’t believe you. You bring us underground, and then attack us? Who do you think you are? And what does Devoveo mean, anyway?” Chael asked, denial coursing through his mind painfully.

“Sacrifice. For all of mankind.” David said.

“No.”

“No what, Curator? What are you denying? That she is called a sacrifice, or that you will be able to protect her?” David demanded.

Chael bristled at the personal attack but walked up closer to the man anyway. “Shut up.”

“This is your destiny. You know that or you wouldn’t have come back here. Yoku knows it and she’s not trying to fight this like you are. Sacrifice doesn’t necessarily mean death, Curator.”

“Stop calling me that!” he yelled.

“No, it is your title. You should get used to it. It is just as much a part of you as that woman in the infirmary is, and as the ancient marking on your wrist. You are the Curator. This is your destiny.”

“No. I won’t let you sacrifice her.” Chael said. “I will protect her.”

“Why Chael?” Grove asked.

This stopped Chael in his tracks. “What?”

“Why will you protect her?”

“I don’t…What are you talking about?” Chael asked his friend.

“Why? You barely know this girl. If you two aren’t the Destined Pair, how is this possible. How would any of this be possible if you weren’t?” Grove asked. “I know that you don’t want to consider any of this as real, but you really just need to calm down. You need to accept this as real. You need to face your destiny- Yours and Yoku’s. Come on. I’m here with you, and so is she. But you can’t really deny this anymore. It’s not like you. It’s not healthy. You know that it is true on the inside. You know it is.”

“No!” Chael snapped. “She’s not some lamb that you can lead to slaughter.”

The wind started to pick up again and chaos ensued again. Grove leapt forward and kicked Chael in the chest, effectively halting the winds as Chael stumbled against the attack. “Knock it off! I’m not saying that we’re going to kill her! I’m saying that you are going to have to deal with this! You’re going to have to train- just like before. You’re going to have to be prepared to fight your father when he comes, and you’re going to have to be willing and able to help Yoku do what she has to do. That doesn’t mean that you are going to have to watch her die, alright?” Grove yelled, pleading with his friend and himself. “It doesn’t have to end like that. It doesn’t.”

Chael relaxed his arms, letting them hang by his side. “I can’t do this. I can’t put her in danger Grove. I can’t watch you get hurt either.”

“That is exactly what is going to happen if you don’t agree to do this. Your father will come, you won’t be prepared, he’ll steal your memories again and kill or marry Yoku. Then he’ll kill me for breaking you out, or he’ll wipe my mind too. Are you going to stand by and let that happen for titles? Or are you going to admit that you are the Curator, that Yoku is the Devoveo, and that you’re not going to let things happen the way that they are ‘supposed to’? Don’t lay down and take this Chael. Don’t surrender.” Grove said. He looked at his friends face and saw the pain and upset on the man’s face.

“What if I’m not him?” Chael asked the room. “What if I’m not able to do this?”

“If not you, then whom?” David asked, breaking his silence. “Who knows him better than you? And who else will protect the Devoveo the way you will? Your place is not to save the world- it is simply to protect her. That is all. And you want to do that anyway. Let us give you and Yoku the tools to do that. Please.”

Chael stared down at his feet. He was terrified- he couldn’t let himself think of allowing Yoku to die…

Perhaps this was his only choice. Maybe he was supposed to do this. He knew that he was supposed to protect her. He knew that she was his purpose. But he didn’t want to believe that all of that was due to some prophecy made in a lost world.

“I love her. Not because of this prophecy.”

“We know.” David said.

“If I do this, it is for Yoku. Not for your damned ideas about us and our future.”

“You have to admit to yourself that you are the Curator, Chael.” Grove pressed. “Don’t be like this.”

“Grove…You really think its true?” Chael asked.

“Yes. And more importantly, so does Yoku. And so do you. You just don’t want to admit it.” Grove said. “Don’t be like this. Yoku needs you to help her unlock her own power. Or all of this is for naught.”

“Unlock? What in the hell are you talking about?”

“That’s what we just did to you, Curator.” David said. “Did you notice how easy it was for you to heal your friend, and to wake the men over there? We need to help Yoku with that. She has not had to do something like that before. We need you to help us with that.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Then we are lost. Because the first time that she will use her power to its fullest extent will be the one and only time that she ever uses it because she will not be able to withstand it.” David said. “Perhaps we should just give up and call the Emperor.”

“Damn you David!” he yelled, slamming his fist into a wall which crumbled under the pressure around his fist.

“It’s for the best. It’s simple- doesn’t really hurt.” Grove said.

“You were screaming in agony! You were unconscious!” Chael snapped.

“David made me panic and then the others ‘papercut’ my core. Figures, didn’t even think I had one.”

“Of course you have one, Grove.” He spat. “This is ridiculous. How will this help her? It will just make her angry.”

“No- she will protect you. We know that.” David said.

Chael sighed, realizing that he had to do this to Yoku in order to help her. He didn’t ant to do this but it was looking like he didn’t have any choice. “Fine. How will this work?”

“Jessica.” David said.

“Jessica?” he asked.

“Jess is rather…fond of you. It would happen gradually. We wouldn’t even have to do anything and you won’t notice it happening. Even if we were to order her not to, it would happen anyway. Having you be aware will just make it easier to explain to Yoku at the end of the training exercise. Please relax.” David said. “Go see Yoku. Go spend time with her. We’ll take care of your friend.”

“You do that. I will bring this place to the ground if you or anyone else does anything to him.” Chael said, casting a significant glance at Grove. “I mean that.”

“We’ll take good care of him. We promise. We’ll have someone else check him over as well. In case you missed anything.” Matthew said softly from the back.

“Shut up.” Chael snapped, the air flaring up behind him. “I’m not ready to trust you quite yet. Either of you.”

“I understand. Please understand that we were not trying to hurt you or your friend. We’re sorry. I’m sorry.” David said quietly. He closed the distance between them and placed his hands Chael’s shoulders, looking him in the eye. “I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”

David let some of the remorse that he felt slide into Chael, but didn’t force the feeling on him, just let him feel what he was feeling. Chael saw the tears slip from the older man’s eyes and he sighed.

“I never meant for this to hurt you, Curator. But you have to realize that this is your destiny. Running from it won’t do anyone any good. I hope you can see that we are not doing this to hurt either one of you. This is the process that works the best- shock. And in general, the body and the spirit will not react until they are forced to. This is the process. This is our way. If you have any better way of doing this, please let me know. But all that I know is that this works, and that I don’t want to chance something ‘not working’ if we don’t have to. Especially not in a situation like this where so much is at stake.”

Chael grimaced and his breathing picked up. He didn’t want to have to deal with this, but he knew that David was right. He was the Curator, and Yoku was the Devoveo. He didn’t like either of the titles, but he realized that the two of them were in fact the Destined Pair. He couldn’t think of the woman he loved being called a Sacrifice, but he also realized these legends were real. He felt that he knew Yoku for her soul, not just the amount of time that they had been together.

It was like they had been waiting for each other for centuries.

“I want you to explain these ‘legends’ to me. Immediately.” Chael said quietly.

“Of course. Follow me.” David said. “Unless you would like to retrieve Miss Yoku?”

“Yes.” Chael said.

“Okay. Go get her, and I will meet you both in the kitchen for breakfast?”

“Grove? Meet us when you’re done?” Chael asked uncertainly.

“Yep. I’m going to go get patched up. I’ll follow you to the hospital ward to wake Yoku. Remember, she can’t know what happened.”

“Yeah…”

“This will all work out. Please- just relax. Breathe. We’re doing this the right way. And they’ll help us. Breathe.” Grove said, slapping Chael’s back lightly.

“I’m beginning to think that you have more faith in all of this than I do.”

“I’m beginning to think you just don’t want to admit that you know it is real. And that you are afraid of what this will mean for all of us. Realize that this is true, and don’t give in to your fear of losing her. You won’t let it happen.” Grove said softly. “Let’s go get her.”

“You’re right.” Chael replied. Walking towards the door to the hospital ward.

“Of course I am.” Grove smirked.

“Cocky bastard.” Chael laughed.

“With reason.” He retorted.

“Alright. Let’s get out of here. I want to hear more about myself.”

“Now who is a cocky bastard, Chael?”

“Shut up.”

AN: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Review!!! Please?