The Quest for Peace: Dark Moon Saga 4

Chapter 4.25

Last time we learned how Solan and Aiden managed to survive being killed by Xylen, they fled back to Elvendia where Lady Ani-Mei and Lord Adahy were teaching them how to control the powers of the Adriels. Ani-Mei had told Solan that she hid the legacy kids from Xylen, therefore sparing their lives and ensuring the Quest would

continue on. Though how much of their former lives they remembered, Ani-Mei was not sure of. She could only restore them to their lives before University, so everything they did during it was

lost. Although not all of it was gone, there was one who remembered how things were and he was not about to let Ilea forget…

“Stay with me Ilea, please don’t leave me…”

Thanatos, the God of Death was once more dreaming of the night he spent with Ilea. Since Xylen got cocky and tried to have her killed, he was planning to exact his revenge on him for trying to steal away the one woman he ever loved. He had

located her aura; after a great deal of effort. Whoever had spared her life, he was grateful to. But that came at a cost, she no longer remembered him or the times

they spent together. That was something Thanatos had to fix; at least this time she would have no other men to distract her attention from him, he would be the only one she would love from now on. It meant he would have to ensure her survival, because he did want children and he knew any of his children born on the surface

would be still born. As soon as she finished college he would bring her to his temple, where she would remain until their births.

At Academie Le Tour the kids of generation seven were eager to grill Ilea on her new, mysterious, dark and handsome lover.

Ambrosia: Oh come on Ilea!! Just let us meet him!! We’ll be good, I swear.

Aeson: You be good? Come on little sis, you lie like a rug.

Bell: Why do you care so much about who he is anyway?

Ambrosia: I have to know if he’s going to be good to my cousin.

Ilea: I can ask him, though I am sure I already know he’ll say no. He’s shy like that.

Ambrosia: Great!! I can’t wait.

Ilea: I guess it went in one ear and out the other with her.

Minos: I’ve noticed. Kinda makes me glad you guys already know Seiya.

Ilea: Still though, I can’t wait to get home the family will be my responsibility and so will the finances…

Minos: You still going on about that?

Ilea: You guys have no sense of how rich we really are, why not show it?

Minos: Because those who flaunt their wealth often end up losing it.

Seiya, unlike the others, knew exactly who Ilea’s new lover was. And he scared her. Thanatos was not just some good looking guy, he was the God of Death, and very dangerous if you ever crossed him the wrong way. Her father Diamos told her all about him, how he despised the mortals and pretty much all the gods save for his brother Morpheus; who was known to be quite petty and spiteful in his own right. Which was why he baffled her in wanting to be with Ilea, he was supposed to hate

the mortals. She still found it incomprehensible that he could actually love someone, let alone a mortal like Ilea. Producing a child with Thanatos would

definitely increase the power of the next generation; by infusing more godly blood with the legacy line as they got closer to the final showdown with Xylen. Ilea didn’t

seem to understand just how serious being an heiress was, she only saw the material side of the position and Seiya wasn’t even sure Ilea really knew what she

was getting into.

Aegina: Sis, you really should take this more seriously. You’re bringing in generation eight, we’re getting closer and closer to the end of the road

here. You need to understand that.

Ilea wasn’t really listening, Minos was talking about something else entirely. She had already moved past that.

Aegina: I should be the heiress, I understand more about this than she seems to.

Minos: You look like you want to add something baby.

Seiya: Oh, no not really. It isn’t place to say.

Minos: I’m asking you aren’t I?

Aegina: Tell us Seiya. We’re listening.

Seiya: I just think Ilea should be careful, this is not a pleasure cruise; it’s serious.

Ilea: You’re all against me!! How mean!!

Minos: Well spoken my dear.

Bell: Come on guys, let her be. Besides, we have Junior year coming up soon and then Senior year, it’s time to prepare to move past college and into the grown up

world.

Ambrosia: Only a Knowledge life pather like you would want to focus on school. I want to have fun and make sure I have money for afterwards.

Bell: Now who’s got tunnel vision?

Ambrosia: Shut up.

However, Junior year for Ambrosia had her choose to follow a new path, one of Knowledge. So it was only natural she’d gravitate towards a

fellow Knowledge seeker from the next college, Castor Nova. He was cute, smart, sexy and he looked so good with those glasses on, she was

instantly smitten with him. The feeling was mutual on his end; in his frat, Castor was usually the odd man out. He preferred to study rather

than party like his brothers Ashley and Josh did. Kevin usually went along with whatever the other two guys were doing so he was pretty

much on his own. Castor was glad to find a girl who knew what it meant to study hard and get on the dean’s list every semester.

Castor knew how to treat a lady; that much he was up to date on. Sometimes he had to make sure he was still awake, being with

Ambrosia was usually so wonderful he had to be dreaming. And with a name like Ambrosia, he knew she’d be addicting. After all their history was filled with stories of the gods like Apollo and Dionysus who were famous for their ambrosia parties on Olympus; much like a toga party was for them down here. Lots of drinking and eating and various other

activities that were always fun to do but hardly ever remembered…Ashley left his string of drunken girls and broken hearts; Castor never

wanted to do that to a girl, he felt it was wrong and demeaning for both parties involved.

Ambrosia: How do you know just where I’m most tense?

Castor: I studied a bit of massage therapy in high school. I always thought it was fun to learn.

Ambrosia: You are a god among men Cas, right there…ahhh…

Castor: I try.

Castor: I know we haven’t been together that long Ambrosia but I just can’t imagine life without you. So I want to ask you, will you marry

me?

Ambrosia: Oh Cas…of course. But how did you hide that in your swim trunks?

Castor: My secret.

Ambrosia: Just wait till Ilea hears about this!!

Castor: I love you.

Ambrosia: I love you too.

Ambrosia: Mom is so gonna flip!! She loves weddings.

Castor: Mine too, she’s been pestering me to find a girlfriend since 11th grade. She says I spend too much time with my nose in a book.

Ambrosia: My dad too, it’s not a bad thing.

Castor knew he’d made the right choice; he loved Ambrosia a lot. He was kind of relieved Ashley wasn’t here, he would not resist the

chance to hit on Ambrosia if Castor was around. Ashley was bad for that, Castor never liked to bring a girl around if he was home. She’d most likely end up another notch on his bed post even though she

came with him. He supposed it was part of being a nerd, you lost the girls to the player of the house if you dared bring her around.

Castor: Maybe, maybe we can meet at your place next time? I’d love to get out of the house and away from the guys.

Ambrosia: Sure!! Just be prepared to be grilled by my big brother. He’s protective like that, when the parade of girls isn’t coming out of his room that is.

Castor: Sounds like Ashley. The conga line never stops out of his room either.

Ambrosia: Romancers huh?

Castor: Yeah, Romancers.

By the time Ambrosia got back from Sim State, it was dark. When she did get home, she was surprised to see a pale looking guy talking to Ilea. She figured it must be her new guy. This

day was already turning out great.

Ambrosia: You must be Ilea’s guy, I’m her cousin Ambrosia.

Thanatos: I see.

Ambrosia: So…how did you meet her?

Thanatos: It is not your concern.

Ambrosia: Excuse me?

Thanatos: You heard me.

Ambrosia: Hey, I was just asking. No need to be a jerk about it.

Thanatos nearly smacked her right there; how dare this mortal talk to him like that. If she knew what was good for her, she would shut her mouth. He wasn’t about to let anyone take Ilea away from him again.

But doing that would most likely make Ilea angry at him, he didn’t want to do that; not when he was so close to having her by his side.

Ambrosia: Ilea, sweetie are you sure that he is alright for you? I mean…he’s awfully rude.

Ilea: Ambrosia, please. I told you he might not want to come meet everyone. T is just shy around new people that’s all.

Ambrosia: T? You mean you don’t even know his real name? Honey…

Ilea: I don’t know it yet, he’ll tell me when he wants to.

Thanatos was trying hard to not smite her, he wanted her out of the way so she wouldn’t be giving Ilea second thoughts about him. It took a lot of restraint to

hold back…

Thanatos was ready to remind her of just how gentle he could be. Ambrosia eventually gave up and went back inside.

“You don’t doubt me, do you?”

Ilea: No, of course not T. Ambrosia just likes to make sure I’m going to be alright that’s all.

Thanatos: I see, well I appreciate your trust in me. I would never hurt you honey, never.

Ilea: I love you T.

Thanatos: I love you too, more than you know.

Ilea: Why don’t we head inside, and I’ll show you how much I love you.

Thanatos: I like the sound of that.

Ilea: I thought you might.

Thanatos was glad she didn’t remember anything about their last time together, then he had to make sure she was not going to stray and he

regretted using his power to make her stay, but this time; she wanted to be with him of her own free will. He knew about her other guys, and it angered him that he wasn’t her only focus, he would have killed the

green haired guy; if he hadn’t been protected by some strange magic that he could not penetrate. But lucky for him, Xylen took care of that

problem for him. The other mortal was easy enough to kill off, one touch from him and he was gone. This time she was his and it pleased him he didn’t have to manipulate her this time around. Ilea actually fell in love

with him all on her own.

Bell had found someone he liked too, a fellow dormie named Keiko Fox*. She was a Knowledge seeker like was and their chemistry was perfect,

both figuratively and actually. The two shared a Biology major. It started out as a simple study buddy session and from there it just grew into something more. He adored her, and she him they were perfect and

sickeningly sweet together as Aegina referred to them.

*a.k.a. Hair Buns Hippie copyright Doc Nerd*

Keiko: Did I ever tell you how adorable your genetic anomaly wings are?

Bell: Yes, several times. A gift from my great grandfather Cupid. But their colour is all me, don’t know how they ended up being black but I like them that way.

Keiko: I see, so perhaps they are passed down through you family line. I must say I rather like the concept, you can fly with them correct?

Bell: Yep, I am an awesome flyer. I should take you up sometime with me.

Keiko: I would like that, just don’t drop me.

Bell: I’d never think of it.

Keiko: And we have the rest of our lives to try it out. This ring is truly remarkable, wherever did you get it?

Bell: Aphrodite. She said it was a good grades gift.

Keiko: The Goddess of Love gives you expensive gifts like that for grades??

Bell: She’s family, of course she does.

Nearby, Minos and Seiya had been listening to Bell and Keiko. The Slow Dance was an epidemic around here…

Seiya: Gifts from Aphrodite huh? You guys sure are spoiled.

Minos: Says the girl who lives in a dream world. I don’t get stuff like that from my grandfather Solan. But I don’t mind I just enjoy what I do get.

Seiya: Like me?

Minos: Yeah like you.

Seiya had been thinking about where she lived, in the Astral Realm with her father Diamos, there wasn’t exactly a lot of chances to get back here to the Mortal Realm. She loved Minos and she wanted children with him,

but where would they be raised? That was her biggest concern, could children even be born in the Astral Realm? How would he get to see

them? How would his family get to see their children? And could they even see them? Would she have to stay here and never be able to see her father again? He can’t leave to come here to see her, not without a

host body. The last was Perseus and he had to leave his body for the sake of his life. Seiya just smiled, she hadn’t told Minos any of this yet, she

wasn’t even sure how to really.

Seiya didn’t want to tell him right now, he looked contented with their slow rhythmic circling and in truth so was she. Even Ilea’s game couldn’t break into their bubble. It was just him and her, nothing else mattered. All

else could wait until after they graduated, which was soon.

******

They began their last semester of Senior year with the tail end of the winter, there were pairings of most of the generation except for those like Aeson who could really care less about settling down with just one person. Aegina in particular had found someone she hadn’t expected to

be interested in her. Eddie Sharpe, he was usually overlooked by his sister and her so called boyfriend and left out of a lot of things they did. But Aegina felt a strong kinship with Eddie, something she could never

really understand, he just felt comfortably familiar to her…

*and if I can figure out how to work it in again, Reias will get Roxie back…*

The semester went by too fast, soon they were leaving for home.

Some got halfway decent clothes to go in…

Aegina: You call THIS decent…I feel like a soccer mom.

While others give me flashbacks of their fathers…

Aeson: Hey, I like this look shut up.

Okay, so do I…

Ambrosia: Say one word Feather Boy and I will hurt you. *forced grin*

Bell: Would not even think of doing so cousin. I promise.

Painful…really…poor Ambrosia

Bell: Well, here’s praying to the Fashion Gods I don’t look

horrible…

Dear gods boy…

Bell: Damnit. I can’t even look.

Minos: It is probably best that way.

Minos: Here goes nothing…

Seiya: …okay, let us never speak of this again. Burn that before we

get married okay honey?

Minos: Agreed. Pink clashes with my hair, badly.

Seiya: My turn, I suppose.

Not bad, one of the more nicer FT outfits, it works for you.

Seiya: So should I read your palm now or after I gaze into my shiny

glass ball? Bohemian Gypsy is not my style.

That left Ilea in charge of informing the placeholder Erik about the rules for their dorm.

Ilea: Okay Erik, listen good okay? The dorm is not to be in shambles or on fire when my kids come back here, all cows must die, or at least be trapped

somewhere where they can die; don’t let the cheerleaders in after midnight with the llama and watch out for Piper, the kitchen is just the way I like it without char

marks all over the walls and ceilings got that?

Erik: Right, got it. Can I have a spare when they get here?

Ilea: Don’t know. Depends.

Just before she left the phone rang. It was T, which she found odd. He never used the phone to talk to her, he was just always there when she thought about him.

“I have sent you a vehicle to take, please use it instead of the other one.”

Ilea: Why? I was going to go see my mom first.

“Please, just take it instead alright?”

Ilea: But T…

*click*

Ilea didn’t really want to take the other cab, but if T had plans for her; like a trip before she went back to carry on the legacy, then it would hurt his feelings if she didn’t take it. Besides, she could always call her mom when she got to

wherever T had planned for her to go right?

Erik: Nice kimono, Ilea. I love the colour.

Ilea: Yeah, but it’s too hot for Hidden City though.

******

Part B:

Ilea had no idea where she would be going after she got into the cab T sent for her, she had hoped it would take her to see her mother and father back home so she could drop off her stuff. She had so many

ideas for the family’s money that she would now be in charge of. She wanted several vacation homes to go to whenever she got the urge to travel, to see the exotic locales and see the sights, and to experience a culture other than the one she grew up in. Once she had done that then it would be time to settle down with T and carry on her family’s

Quest. Ilea did understand that was what was expected of her as heiress, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t also have a life outside the

legacy and have a life all her own, at least in her mind it was. Her cousins didn’t seem to understand that, she had no idea why they

couldn’t see her logic in what she wanted to do.

Little did she know, all her preconceptions and expectations were about to head to Tartarus in a hand basket…

The cab did not take her towards the downtown area, but rather it drove her to a temple deep inside the city’s country side. She had

never seen it before, nor had she even been so far from the downtown area where her parents lived. The cab driver refused to tell her where she was going, he closed the safety window between the driver and the passenger areas and locked the doors. Ilea’s heart was pounding once she finally arrived at the ancient temple; what was she doing

here and why would T send her this far out into the country side? She soon got her answers…

Ilea: T…what is this place? Why did you bring me here?

Thanatos: My name, you should know it now. This is my temple, my name is Thanatos.

Ilea: Thanatos…as in the God of Death Thanatos?

Thanatos: Are you frightened of me? Do you hate me for deceiving you? I could not bear it if you did…

Ilea: I—I am frightened yes. I had no idea you were a god…no wait, that’s not true I did sorta think you might be, seeing as you always showed up when I wanted to see you and never having called you to come I think I knew somehow. But I know too that you would never hurt me intentionally, I am sure you have a good reason

for not telling me who you were.

Thanatos: I am pleased you don’t hate me, and you’re right I do have a good reason for not telling you. I was afraid you would reject me if you knew who and what I was, I love you and for me that’s not something I can usually say about a

mortal.

Ilea: To be fair, I am not entirely mortal. I am one-eighth god, or is quarter? I don’t know anymore; my mother was born when my grandfather was still a half god…

Thanatos pulled her into a deep embrace, he couldn’t wait to marry her. He was already thinking of her

naked as he held her.

“Are you ready to be my consort?”

Ilea: Umm, is that god speak for wife or something? Because I really

would like to call my parents, to at least let them know where I am.

Thanatos: That would be…difficult. You see I have no phone here, I have

no need for one.

Ilea: But I—

He cut her off; “Do you trust me?”

Ilea: Yes but—

Thanatos: Don’t worry, I’ll contact them for you later, once we are

married. I promise.

******

Back downtown, where most of the generation lived…

Icarus: What do you mean Ilea never made it home? Didn’t you see her leave?

Camilla: Where did she go?

Minos: I don’t know, I left before her. She was the last to leave because she had to go over the rules for the dorm with the placeholder.

Icarus: Did you call your brother Darian? He’s still at college isn’t he?

Camilla: Yes, but Darian doesn’t live in their dorm and he doesn’t know this Erik person so they’d never talk to one another.

Icarus: She’s the heiress!! She can’t be missing, my sister must be freaking out right now.

Solan and Aiden, who had just returned from Elvendia the day before, were not expecting the heiress to go missing. They knew something had

to be wrong…

Ginny: Is there no way to find out where Ilea went? Like get the fare record from the cab company or something?

Icarus: I called them first, they said they never got a seventh call to come to the college to pick up anyone named Ilea Reed.

Aiden: Just when we think we have a solution to one problem, another one comes up. Minos, why didn’t you leave after her, or make sure she

got home safe?

Minos: I don’t know!! She told me I could go before her.

Solan: Aiden, back off. Minos isn’t at fault here, whoever took Ilea is.

Minos: Is this my fault for being the first one of my generation born? Is there some sort of rule that says I have to look after everyone else

younger than me?

Solan: No, Minos this isn’t your fault. Aiden’s just being an asshole, don’t listen to him.

Ginny: This brings up bad memories for me…

Solan: I will find her Ginny, nothing is going to go wrong again. I swear it.

Hex, who had been staying with Ginny while Solan and Aiden were away, offered his help.

“I’ll help you look for her Solan. It’s the least I can do to repay you for teaching me how to use my magic.”

Solan: Thanks Hex, I appreciate it.

Camilla: I hope Ilea’s alright…I am so worried for her.

Icarus: Me too Cammy, on top of everything else this is the last thing we need right now.

Hex: We’ll find her.

Camilla: I should call Atalanta, she must be so scared.

Atalanta was beyond scared; she was nearly inconsolable.

“Where is my baby girl Iolaus? Why isn’t she home yet?”

Iolaus: We’ll find her honey, don’t cry. I have everyone I can think of out looking for her right now.

Atalanta: What if she’s lost somewhere? Or in pain, or danger…

Atalanta: We were almost killed by Xylen, my family can’t fall apart now, not when we’re so close to the end…what kind of heiress am I if I

can’t even protect my own child?

Iolaus: You’re an amazing heiress, honey. You held this family together after your mom died, you will finish your Quest, I promise.

Iolaus was trying to be supportive of his wife, but even he was ready to break down himself. He wondered if somehow Xylen had found their

kids and done something to them, if his nieces and nephews were all at home safe or if any of them were missing too, Aegina had come back here, hoping to talk her sister out of squandering the family’s fortune

but she was just as shocked when Ilea never came home. He was thinking of all the worst case scenarios about Ilea, if she had been

kidnapped or if she was dead, Aegina would have to take her place as heiress. He didn’t want to think he’d failed as a father and lost a child;

at least not until after he was long gone himself.

He felt helpless as his wife wailed and cried, still thinking she had failed as heiress. Iolaus had no idea what to say to her, his

reassurances were not doing so well to comfort her but yet he still tried.

He placed his head against hers, hoping she would not see him cry as well. What else could he do but trust in hope that Ilea was still alive

and that she was safe and sound somewhere…

******

Thanatos: You were right, I can feel the movements.

Ilea: Well you should be able to, this kid is kicking up a storm in there.

Thanatos: I am pleased; I had wondered if it was possible for me to even sire a child.

Ilea: You called my parents right? Are they thrilled to have a grandchild on the way?

Thanatos: Of course, they are most eager to meet the child. They are welcome to come here when the child has been born.

Ilea: I’d love to do up the nursery back home for the baby.

Thanatos: You can make one here in my temple. I have plenty of rooms.

Ilea: I was kinda hoping to be able to make a trip back home too, so that I could visit my parents.

Thanatos: I probably should have told you this earlier; but you cannot leave the temple. Not while you are with child. If you do leave the protection of this place,

the child will not survive…and neither will you.

Ilea: What—what are you saying?

Thanatos knelt down to feel her belly again.

“ I am the God of Death, if you leave the temple while you are pregnant, the child will die inside you because it cannot live in the

world above or outside my temple’s protection. I will not allow you to die or have any harm come to our baby; I have wanted a family for so

long and I will protect you both. Please understand my love, I can’t bear to lose you.”

He was tempted to say “Lose you again,” but refrained from it. Because she didn’t remember there ever was a before.

Ilea: I didn’t know that.

Thanatos: Of course you didn’t, I never told you. I had to be sure it was possible for me to produce a child before I said anything that would

scare you further.

Ilea: I appreciate that. Though I would have liked to know that beforehand.

Thanatos: I’m sorry, I’ll be more upfront from now on with you.

As long as she never finds out he lied about telling her parents where she was of course. He knew they would turn her against him if they

found out who he was, mortals are like that. They will always fear what they don’t understand. And Death is their biggest fear of all…he was

their biggest fear.

End of Entry Forty-One.

Is Thanatos right? Would Atalanta and Iolaus try to turn their daughter against him? Now that the first of generation eight is on the way, would they mind who the father was? Or would their bigger concern be what would happen if Xylen finds out that he didn’t destroy the legacy and

the Quest like he thought he did?

Anyway, I am glad I was able to save the legacy (for the most part) and somehow I managed to work in the glitch as a plot point. Truth is, I

wasn’t even sure what I was going to do for this generation, every one before it had its own issues and generation seven had me stumped.

Though I wasn’t expecting the game to take me literally and nuke my whole damn neighbourhood to give me an idea for a plot point. I do like

how adorable Thanatos and Ilea are, for two triple-bolter Romancers these two are really quite sweet. Both had a green Engagement

memory, but a red Married one. Thanatos actually rolled the want to have a baby after they got married if you can believe it.

(Probably because he’s Family secondary and Ilea is Popularity secondary but who’s gonna split hairs over that?)