Master I only allowed my offsprings, Puabi and Camile, permission to enter Merna’s chamber to go into my personal chamber. They were ordered not to speak of this to anyone. Keeping Merna’s condition a secret was harder than I had thought. The sounds of a child could be heard every time the doors were opened and closed. Sabit was the first to become very attached to the little bundle, spending most of the time with her to keep her from crying. I sent Zefer on a task that only she was privy to know. With the threat of unknown spies, possible attacks I entrusted my daughter to get this task completed. As Merna continued with her transformations, Camile and Puabi would step in so that Sabit could have a break. It was undeniable, Merna was very beautiful, intelligent and a handful. Determined to get her way, she was argumentative and smart with her logical debates. Something I knew Puabi could handle. Several times after a long shifts I would find Merna in the centre of a group of women, slumbering. Zefer strolled up to me as I gazed at the group, ‘are you sure you want to do this father?’ ‘Has the task been completed?’ I asked my daughter without taking my eyes off of Merna. Already I was starting to feel guilt for what had to be done. ‘The mage did as you ordered. This amulet will send Merna back … everyone will forget about what happened. It will be as if none of this happened.’ Zefer dropped an amulet half the size of my hand into my palm. ‘There is also one other thing!’ I raised a brow, ‘and?’ ‘The grandmaster mage was a spy! He thought he was smart enough to slip a paper between pages of his books. A message telling him to look for Merna … description … everything!’ Zefer gave me a toothy smile. ‘I waited for the mage to finish his task … Alma is in the dungeons with him now! The paper was burned … all of the work that was written down for this amulet is destroyed, you have nothing to worry about!’ ‘Excellent! Once Merna is back where she belongs, we are going to do an overhaul here … we will be questioning everyone's loyalty. I have written myself a message telling me what needs to be completed.’ My facial expression did not change. ‘I do not mean to offend you … are you sure you can do this to your mate?’ Zefer was only speaking of concern. Huffing, ‘It will not matter. No one will remember this ever happened. My word to Pirapancam will be kept. Merna’s identity will remain hidden … This is for all of our safety. Our enemies will rip all the realms apart to kill all Neruppu paravai. They are the only species that do not bow to our command.’ I started to chuckle, ‘even if they ate the food, a pure Neruppu paravai could not be controlled.’ I stared at a slumbering teenage version of Merna, ‘They do not align themselves to us and are capable of over-throwing us with little effort!’ I pivoted to leave the location. ‘This has to be done for all species!’ Two blood moons and Merna was back to the individual that she was the first time I saw her. She had all of her memories intact, except what happened during the time she was unconscious. When I questioned her if she had ever came across a phoenix in her lifetime, she laughed at me. “Phoenix’s are but a myth no one has seen one as long as I can remember.” Merna stated with a smile. It was apparent that she still didn’t know her true nature. I did not press the issue further. This is all I needed to know. Merna was unaware of her lineage. I had come to the conclusion that each time Merna had a rebirth, she would be unconscious, so her mind would not remember what was going on. “Do you wish to go for a walk?” I asked her. Grabbing her cloak she was pulling my arm towards the entrance that would lead us outside. I loved the energy she had for life. It was hard to believe that this creature was capable of great disaster if pushed in that direction. Merna was holding onto my arm as we strolled through the woods. “I love how everything is coming to life!” I huffed with a smile on my face, “It is the same each time, I do not see how you find it fascinating!” I chuckled knowing this would send my little mate on a tangent. “It is the cycle of birth, growth, death, and decay!” She glanced up at me briefly then continued to glance around the surroundings. “Of course it is the same to many, but it is the beauty and nature of the cycle that brings a sense of tranquillity to the whole system.” Taking a breath, “Looking at the green leaf, many only see the green … I see several different shades of green … Mingling together to create this masterpiece.” A bubble of laughter erupted from my chest. “You are weird!” “I would rather be weird than boring!” Merna stated with a warm smile on her face. Pointing out, “Boring is something that you are not!” We stopped at the pathway that divided my domain and the earth realm. I was the ruler, the emperor with the task to make the hardest of decisions. I kissed Merna softly on the lips, “I never thought that I would love again. Then you abruptly came into my existence.” Merna’s smile was melting my blackened heart, “The big bad black dragon showing emotions!” Merna studied my facial expression. “What is going on with you?” Merna had raised her brow.Merna’s back had been towards the forming vortex that was building with energy. Placing the amulet around Merna’s neck. I leaned my head towards her, grasping her chin. I devoured Merna’s lips with mine. Deepening the kiss, ‘Protecting you from the originals that would destroy every shred of life just to kill you!’ Releasing our lips from contact, I pushed on Merna’s chest, sending her through the portal. Dropping to my knees I knew the pain would only last for so long. Once the vortex was closed and the amulet took effect, the pain I felt would be gone. I stayed there as the vortex slowly closed, the pain still killing me inside. I had to get back to my castle, Ashur was to arrive soon and I needed to be there to tell him the news. When I entered the throne room, Pirapancam was there waiting for me. “I have great news brother!” She announced as Ashur came into the throne room. “What is the news dear sister?” I asked as I sat in my chair. Pirapancam clapped her hand together, “Pisces has gotten to me, informing me that our brother Mannel has been captured and is held in an amulet. The unfortunate part was that Merna's friend Pierre lost the battle! Pisces has made sure that he will join his mate again soon.” My facial expression dropped. “What is the matter Chaos? Is this not great news? We are winning the war … Merna soon will have nothing to fear!” I forced a smile on my face, “That is great news indeed!” Pirapancam clapped her hands together, “I have to go! There is much to be done … I expect that there will be a celebration soon with an announcement about your engagement with Merna as well!” I forced a smile on my face, “Dear sister, we should not rush things! After all, we have not spoken to Merna yet!” “Of course of course … but it will be soon right?” Pirapancam was excited. I nodded my head once. That seemed to appease her as she dissipated from the location. Ashur inquired, “Where is Merna?” Ashur was rubbing his chest as he could feel the throbbing pain as well. Our eyes locked, the effect of the amulet was starting to work, “I sent her home …”Merna I woke up with a migraine from hell. Placing my arm over my eyes, I refused to move. The dream I had replaying in my mind. “It was just a dream!” I whispered so I would not hurt my head anymore than it was. After an hour of wishing my head would be cut off, I rolled out of bed, hunting for my pain killers. I had finished my morning routine. As I was getting myself ready for work there was a pounding on my apartment door. Placing my hand to my head, I opened the door. Standing on the other side was my platonic brother, “Pierre!” “This does not look good!” Pierre strolled through the threshold into my tiny domain. “I bring coffee!” While handing me my cup, “you do not look so good!” “I woke up with a killer headache, nothing Advil can't get rid of!” I took a sip of the hot liquid. “What is that around your neck?” Pierre pointed to the necklace that was round me. “I have no idea how it got on me, something got past my wards I guess!” I took a sip of the coffee. “I had the wildest dream last night … for the life of me I can’t remember it now!” I told Pierre as I sat at the two person table. Pierre finished his coffee, “that doesn’t surprise me, you have always had the oddest dreams since I have known you. How much work do you have to do today?” “I was about to start but I am thinking about crawling back into bed and getting rid of this headache!” I rubbed my temples with my fingers. “That bad?” Pierre was concerned. I moaned as another wave of pain rushed over me, “Yeah!” I hissed. “I have never felt anything like this before!” Pierre’s sight was locked on the amulet, “do you think that maybe the migraine is due to that?” Hissing, “I do not know!” I grabbed my head with both of my hands. Getting up from his spot, Pierre ripped the rope, the amulet fell to the floor with a thud, “Any better? Moaning, “no, I still have the headache!” LIfting me up out of the chair, Pierre carried me to my bed. Placing me down with care he covered me up, “today is a sick day for you. Do you have anything that needs to be mailed off?”“I checked my business site, there are no orders that need to be mailed off. I will check later on today!” I brought the sheet up to my chin. “That is something you can do tomorrow. Today you just stay in bed and get better.” Pierre went to the door, “I will lock up as I leave, I will check in on you tomorrow!” *** As promised Pierre showed up the next day around nine in the morning. Using the key to enter the apartment Pierre found me sitting at the table with my hands covering my head. “You still have the headache?” Pierre placed a coffee cup on the table. I could tell he was ready to go to the sink to get me some water in a cup. “No!” I dragged my hands down my face. “Then what is it?” Pierre stopped in his tracks and glared at me. “Sit down!” I pointed to the chair. “Any time you say that, things are not good!” Pierre readied himself to sit. “Who died?” He was fully sitting in his seat. I motioned my hand and thought about turning on the sink faucet. A moment later it was on. “That!” I said once the water was running. I pictured in my mind picking up a glass and filling it with water. They flew through the air to mimic my thoughts. “And that!” What I had envisioned happened. Then I thought about the glass being placed on the table between Pierre and myself. Then it happened. “A.n.d that!” Pierre’s mouth was so wide open a fly could go in and down his throat. “I …” Pierre was trying to find words that would not come. “Okay!” He bobbed his head up and down. “This is a little bit more fluent and smoother than the other times …” Pierre put both of his hands up in the air! “We can handle this … nothing to freak out about!” I started to laugh, “oh but it gets better!” I allowed my energy to come to the surface of my skin. Sapphire flames circled the outline of my body. “Holy.shit!” Pierre whispered harshly, “that is new!” He pointed at me. “Tell me about it!” I pictured in my mind the flames getting bigger in the palm of my hand. “This is movie worthy material. And to think it is my life I live!” Pierre placed both of his hands up in the air again, “Now here me out!” Narrowing my eyes on Pierre, “Every time you say that, I want to beat the shit out of you!” I was pointing a finger at him while shaking it up and down.“Listen to me!” Pierre placed his hand over my hand, “you are getting stronger … maybe … you might want to learn how to control this … before you get hurt!” Standing up, “are you out of your ever living mind?” I had my hands on my hip, “I already have issues, I do not need this!” Pierre started to laugh, “I know and you should have come with a warning label!” Grabbing my hair and lifting it up in the air, “This should have been your first red flag!” “All I am saying is … it is better to understand how to drive a forklift then hop on and destroy everything in your way because you didn’t take the time to learn the basics.” Pierre was using logic to deal with my bullheadedness. I glanced around the apartment for dramatic effects, “it is not like there is a book here … a how to guide … to freaky as shit!” My hands were extended out to the sides. Pierre tilted his head with a slight lean downwards. “It looks like you are going to have to write that book yourself.” Pierre stood up, “How about you come to my place … take the spare room and practise a bit with no one around to bother you!” I thought about Pierre’s offer, “I have a few orders to fill out!” I scratched the left side of my head, “I will put my account on leave and come over tomorrow night!” *** Pierre clapped his hands together with a victory laugh, “I will expect you there no later than nine pm.”