a thousand instincts (#1)

A Viceroy (28)

     Aeress looked down, knowing what was to come next would change her relationship with Godhead. 

     Almost instantly she felt herself being sucked into what she could only describe as a chilling light. She screamed at the intensity of it as it blinded her until all she saw was white. 

      All she could do was embrace the light, let it engulf her until there was no difference between the two. In this, her head spun as memories which were not her own obscured her vision among the light. The sounds of laughing and crying were the more distinguished, but it was all just white noise in the end. 

     Then it all stopped. Aeress couldn't breathe. She collapsed onto the floor of wherever she was, looking around but not really seeing anything. 

    A blade pierced her neck. The slicing feeling was all too real. Aeress held her neck as the blood squirted out, dripping down her body at a dangerous pace. She looked down to see the knife in her hand, and couldn't understand why she would stab herself. 

    She opened her mouth to scream, but only red spilled over her lips. Her legs gave out, and she landed in her own pool of blood. She knew death intimately enough to feel real fear. 

     A woman approached her as she lay squirming on the floor. It was the one she had just met. 

     She crouched beside Aeress, soaking herself in crimson. She smiled. So sad and regretful. The woman leaned down and pressed a kiss to her gushing neck and then to her lips. 

     "Not me," she whispered with a kind smile, gliding her hands over her locks. 

______________________________________

     She slowly came to. 

     It was morning, as Aeress could tell from the bright and unfiltered sunlight which burned her eyelids. The scent of freshly washed sheets came about in the air, and when she finally opened her eyes, she recognized that she was back in her room. 

     Groaning at her sore back, she sat up and put a hand through her hair. Surprisingly, it felt longer and smoother, unlike her frizzy, curly mess she was used to when first awakening. 

     "What happened?" 

     The look into her soul was too much. It took a lot of your energy, so I decided to give to a rest and take over. 

     Is she alive? 

     Yes, our child will be here soon. 

     She is your daughter?!

      They are all of our children, Aeress. You must understand the bonds you will embrace, including both that of with our children and that of with Warrick. 

     Aeress winced at his name. The last thing she wanted on her mind was him. What happened... was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Is this what you go through every time?

     Yes and no. To you, it takes forever, but in their eyes, their fate is decided within a blink of an eye. It is not the same every time. This particular woman was on the easier side of the spectrum. Sometimes their fate does not come so easily. Sometimes you will see things and feel things that will shake you to your very core. This was just a taste Aeress.

     Aeress didn't know what to say.

     Welcoming the distraction, Aeress looked to her bedroom door as there was a polite, but loud knock. 

     "Yeah, come in!" 

     The woman from before stepped in. Aeress was glad to see she had not killed yet another person. 

     This time she seemed less lethal, dressed in pressed dress pants an a crisp, white button-up. Her locs were put up in a simple bun on the top of her head, with plenty framing all around her face and scalp. 

     She bowed lowly. "I see you're back. I can get the physician if you'd like?"

     Aeress shook her head. "I've recooperated from death, this is a piece of cake." She threw the sheets off of her and twisted so that she sat on the edge of the bed with her legs dangling over. "Thanks for not leaving me outside." 

     She smiled. "Of course, Godhead." 

     "I'm Aeress. You are... ?" 

      "Viceroy Maribelle."

     Aeress sat up a little straighter at the title. "Viceroy, as in second-in-command to Premier." It was a position compared to a beta to their alpha. She remembered reading about it in the library and wondered when she would meet one. 

     Maribelle seemed pleased at her knowledge. "Yes. My apologies, but I was informed of your..."

     "Ignorance to werewolf culture?" 

     She smiled sheepishly. "In more polite terms, ma'am, yes."

     Aeress shrugged. "I did some reading in the library."

      Then she looked even more perplexed. "They've translated the text?"

     Aeress shook her head. "No, these books were definitely ancient looking."

     "How could you have read them then? All of our books are in the ancient tongue of Godhead, I'm certain." 

     "I don't know, Viceroy Maribelle, honest. It's as big a mystery to me as it is to you." Aeress finished off with nervous laughter. "Anyway, are there any other Viceroy here?" 

     She accepted the change of topic. "Yes, actually. We have been summoned. That is why I came here, besides to make sure of your well-being, of course." 

     Aeress stretched. "Thank you, I'm fine. Really. Are you here for the trials?" 

      She nodded. "Temple of Godhead has never been this full. Many of us are eager to see you... mother." 

     Aeress attempted a smile but failed. "It isn't official yet. For now, I'm just Aeress... Most of the time."

     "After last night, I don't need trials to tell me whether you are the true God or not. I believe it. And I thank you for sparing me." She looked ready to get on her knees. 

     "I-" she cut herself off. "You're welcome."

     She watched Aeress with fascination, only to blush with embarrassment. "If there is nothing else, I will give you your space, ma'am?" 

     Aeress shook her head. "I look forward to meeting the rest of the Viceroy."

     "And Viceroy Maribelle?" 

     The woman looked back before she opened the door. "Yes, Godhead?" 

     "Premier, have you talked to him?"

     Maribelle didn't think twice. "No. Not directly. Not for a while."

     Aeress didn't want to reveal too much. "Here, on the island?" 

      "Premier is a very elusive man, Godhead. Very secretive, even with the Viceroy." In other words, she didn't know shit. Even if she did, Aeress doubted she would reveal it. 

     Aeress masked her disappointment with a smile. "Thanks anyway."

     "Yes, Godhead."