Gang back together

“568A, 568AB...” Ciri chanted but taking the next turning I spoke, “That’s all 568’s” we walked down to the next block and stopping outside a box styled house I pointed to the number, “This one...” “You weren’t kidding!” Triss remarked and pushing the door open I spoke, “I will leave a the door partially open, it’s just easier to find our way out!” Triss nodded before taking Ciri’s arm walked in. The creatures flew overheard but there we were in the castle that Ciri told me about. “Hello anyone home?” the sound of running footsteps rush down the stairs; I drew my sword but lowered it to see Ciri smile and walk forward to hug the raven haired woman, “CIRI!!!” “Hello Yennefer” “Not you too? Please tell me you aren’t dead!” Ciri shook her head before saying, “I’m alive but at the moment I wish I were. So many people are after me; all the surviving sorceresses from the Lodge hounded me and one day when I wasn’t caring just thought, ‘Somewhere peaceful and quiet and I landed in Tartarus. I wouldn’t even be here today if it wasn’t for James!” Yennefer went to reply when she heard the heavy boots of Geralt rush up to Ciri and stopping Ciri hugged her “father”, “Don’t worry Geralt she is alive!” I stood afar watching Triss hug Yennefer and then Geralt as they started to explain before hearing more boots clunk against the stone floors I looked over to see what must have been the master, Vesemir hug the woman before two others one scarred on his face and an normal looking taller one. I smiled as I watched the hug and embrace each other’s in hugs and Yennefer angry yelled, “I. AM. GOING. TO. KILL. THEM. ALL!” it was then when they heard Ciri respond, “Already done. James took care of it and Eredin!” “The Hunt is back?” Vesemir asked and shaking my head I spoke, “In the afterlife yes...but they are gone now, I made sure of it!” Triss nodded before looking at Yennefer spoke, “He has been a good aid to us and helped Ciri understand the truth that even we didn’t know!” Yennefer nodded before hugging Ciri again spoke, “I just can’t believe I got to see you again!”

“So you aren’t dead you came here via portal?” Geralt queried and Ciri nodding spoke, “It took me to Tartarus where all the most evilest people and creatures live. I didn’t understand why at first and thought maybe I was distracted but it was right, it was peaceful!” Yen nodded before asking, “And the Lodge are...” “Philippa is dead via decapitation and the others turned to stone!” they looked at me causing me to explain, “I am sort of took on another’s curse and now anyone who gazes into my eyes turns to stone... may have heard of it a woman named Medusa had it...” they shook their heads but Yennefer did point out the obvious, “So that’s why you wear the glasses!” I nodded before hearing Ciri continue, “James gave me his room to sleep and rest in whilst he tried to track you all down, it was looking for Triss when Eredin showed up with his army, James pummelled him!” Vesemir smiling at the thought asked, “How? Geralt struggled to kill him, how did you have so much ease?” I picked up the spoon and clenching my fist they saw it fall away, then I did the same to the pear and it rotted before the the seat, “Get the idea? He is nothing more than dust now...” “What magic is this?” Keira asked and shaking my head spoke, “Isn’t any. You see “magic” and alchemy is nothing more than a descended ability of Circe’s worship and other gods which can control certain natural elements all gods can transform and most can travel via portals... however all gods to you; Isu to us are unique. Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, Ares god of war, Hades can controls the underworld and so on and their children inherit part of their gifts. My ancestors are Hades and Persephone on my fathers side who is Thánatos the god of death ancestors and on my mothers side Aphrodite and Ares, Aphrodite is the goddesses of love, beauty, pleasure etc.” Ciri smiled before giggling like a young child spoke, “No wonder Aphrodite used to say you were handsome!” I laughed before saying, “And look at me now... anyway where was I? Ability? Yes. Well part of Thánatos’ abilities is the power to enforce death i.e. enforce decay, rust and rot when he has to. I inherited it and just accelerated his process, his skin started to fall apart and armour started to rust until it fell away and then his bones fell into dust like a parasite had ravished his flesh, now he is gone!” “You used to be attractive?” Triss queried and nodding I responded with, “At one point I could have courted Persephone, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis and even Hera offered. I fell in love with Athena and it ended shitly! Now look at me!” Triss nodded before saying, “I will find you a cure; I promise you!” I nodded this is when I was hugged by Yennefer who hugging me tightly spoke, “Thank you for looking after my daughter!” I nodded before saying, “I know of her powers and respect her decision to want to be free and no burden!” Yennefer nodded before saying, “She can’t stay here, can she? the living living with the dead?” “No that isn’t a problem... those glowing golden lines due to her blood gives her almost a free pass and it isn’t a problem in the first place: Adonis spent two decades here when being alive, Kassandra a few months. It’s just don’t cause any shit type of thing plus Persephone is my great grandmother-daughter so...she owes me a few favours!” Keira Lambert stopped what he was doing before asking, “Wait what?” “A shit ton of incest. She is my great grandmother but fell in love with my son and married him... just call them by their names it’s easier... The question is... are you all ready to move?” Vesemir looked up at me questionably causing me to explain, “This is fake. Not your castle, just an illusion in a box that aims to please. Didn’t you feel confined despite thinking this is massive or could never leave the shore? Anyway I have seen to it that you have your own place overlooking Elysium all of you will have a room and Ciri will also have a private area for herself, including a steam room, pool and other things that will help her relax. There will be laboratory’s and training areas and Persephone will probably seek your help if any trouble comes, just listen to her terms...it is easier that way.” they looked over to Ciri and nodding she spoke. “I trust him!” “You said that about your elf friend!” Lambert pointing out causing me to say, “How about this then... since Triss is trying to help me; why not do this? I will take you to your new home and Yennefer, Keira and Triss try and fix me? A deal of some sorts. Even though I am being honest!” Vesemir nodded before putting is blades on his back, “Okay, deal! But you will take us there!” I rolled my eyes even though they couldn’t see them before sarcastically speaking, “Obviously...how would you know where to go otherwise?” and laughing Ciri smiling agreed, “How long do you need to get your clothes the rest will be provided?” “Two hours maximum!” “That’s fine! If you need help just ask” they got up and starting to pack I sat back watching Yennefer rush off with Geralt and Eskel picking up the other blades. “Mister James... could you help me with some heavy lifting?” Triss joked and looking up at her spoke, “You would like that wouldn’t you? To trap a cripple in your room?” and winking she laughed sat down, “So where were we? Oh yes the scar on your chest shaped like a scratch mark?” and pouring her some wine I returned to my story telling.

“How much further?” Geralt queried and showing them the hill James responded, “It’s just up here!” “It’s soo out of the way!” Triss spoke and looking back James said, “It was designed originally as a Villa for me and Circe... long story short, a few centuries back they kept trying arrange marriage people to me, to keep order and administration one was Circe, she was okay with it until she saw what I looked like and what I did. They were building this before we met and it had gone to waste...” “May I ask you a personal question?” Keira asked, “Around twenty-five arranges marriages. That isn’t including all the others that were sent down there, all hated me or were scared of me even the animals they sent down were the same! If that answers your question?” she nodded before saying, “You aren’t that bad...it’s better then being completely burnt and some specialised herbs could fix most of it!” I nodded before saying, “The thing people who say ‘It’s not that bad’ have to ask themselves is: would you be able to live with me seeing it everyday for the rest of your life? Most if being honest would say no!” Triss shook her head before saying, “I would... I don’t know you well but I sense you are actually a pretty good guy and from what Ciri has said you just need someone to care for you. Women should only care about whether they got on with the man and whether he is loyal; this is the problem Yennefer had with Geralt he slept with so many women it got to the stage she would constantly be angry, worked up and hostile to other women! What I get from you is loyalty. Hell, you choose to protect Ciri over three other women, you then gave her accommodation, then threatened to kill Hades, your family; if he went near, then took on the Wild Hunt when you could have ran away and then stood up to Persephone whilst finding her a safe place to live, that is loyalty and to be honest it’s the most loyalty I have had since my first love!” I looked over to the mountain before guiding them over to a beaming light spoke, “get on!” “What is it?” “It’s a virtually a portal but goes straight up to that one there and outside the castle!” they nodded and feeling the light grow brighter I landed with the others at the top, “Here it is!” they froze seeing the exact same building even with the hole in the side of the wall, the door gates were open and the only thing that was different was some of the materials, they were stronger and the added more power not just to the building but social power. “It’s the castle!” I nodded before throwing Vesemir the keys spoke, “And it’s all yours. Come let me show you around!” they dropped their things before entering the building spoke, “Dining/feast room! I assume just like your old one” they nodded before taking them out through the back pointed out the kitchen and through there was the pool, “As you can see beyond this is Ciri’s private area. It includes: Sauna to the right, massage table, private pool, kitchen, mini library and training rooms. As promised Ciri you can have peace and quiet if you seek it!” she nodded before hugging me spoke, “Also allows you a place to go without your glasses!” I nodded before leading them down the stairs spoke, “Here is the indoor training room and next to that is three laboratory’s and three workshops!” “What’s that little room with the bed?” Geralt asked, this caused me to respond with, “My guest one if it’s needed. Only small fits a bed and small table in it, if you don’t mind?” “James you can have bigger...it’s like a matchbox in here!” Yennefer spoke but shaking my head I spoke, “I didn’t want to take too much space up!” they nodded before guiding them up the stairs to the rooms, “First floor Lambert and Eskel. Also there is a larger room for Geralt and Yennefer and I moved ‘The Triss Bed’ to her room and vice versa. Second floor has: Keira’s room and Triss’ room and Ciri’s. Top floor is Vesemir’s. Of course it can be all moved if you wish, it was just temporary!” they nodded and showing them each their room; I left them to all explore the castle whilst standing on the balcony in Triss’ room looking down at Elysium. I stayed their for a time before smirking spoke, “It really is beautiful here!” “What? You don’t see this from where you are?” Triss spoke joining me on the balcony and shaking my head I spoke, “Tartarus is deep underground. I see nothing more than stone walls, Persephone creates this beautiful place and I get the ugly! I thought you would like the view!” “I do James but I am just going to be stuck next door to Yen and Geralt fucking all day and night!” I shook my head before saying, “Soundproofed it so you don’t hear them!” she nodded before seeing me turn away Triss asked, “Going back are you?” I nodded before saying, “Yes, it’s not that I want to it’s just I have to!” “Stay safe James, please!” “I will try but I can’t promise anything!” she nodded before hugging me spoke, “I will find you a cure and then we can talk more freely” I shook my head before saying, “I said about the cure to keep Ciri happy, there isn’t one! So don’t waste your time and enjoy your freedom! The room, me staying everything...it was just me to get her here otherwise she wouldn’t have left” “You will walk home alone?” I nodded before saying, “Alone... now that is a word that sums me up!” I walked cautiously out trying to avoid Ciri but seeing Geralt he walked up to me and spoke, “Thank you for everything! The house, Ciri, Eredin everything!” I nodded before leaning in spoke, “Like we do for Triss... we both care for Ciri...” leaving him confused at what was said.

“Going is it?” Ciri spoke blocking the door; I nodded before saying, “I have to go, you know my job doesn’t give me much time off!” she nodded before hugging me spoke, “Visit us often” “Ciri...” “Please!” I nodded before thinking about it spoke, “I’ll try!” she hugged me once more before reassuring me spoke, “They will find a cure and then maybe with an hair cut and some ointments we can have you looking as good as ever and then you can stay here for a few days! Because King James Of Tartarus, I like you a lot just like Triss, either way you are liked!” “You like me?” “Of course silly, you interest me and from what I heard Aphrodite and Persephone saying in the temple it interests me even more!” I nodded before walking away through the gates started to cry out, “If I only didn’t have responsibility and wasn’t so hideous, it would be different!” I walked down before seeing a woman pop up by the side of me, “Elpis, come to torment me?” “No silly, I was just interested by your hopes and fantasies. I must say both Triss and Ciri...that could be both hot and romantic at the same time... or do you prefer the one of you and Yennefer?” “I would never sleep with Yennefer. I am not a bastard that would ruin a relationship just for my own pleasure. It doesn’t matter anyway! These are just my dreams and fantasy’s which will never happen. Now if you excuse me I have to get back and do some work!” “Typical you always working!” “Because I have to. You see if you don’t do any work who cares? You aren’t important but if I don’t do any work that can mean a lot of trouble for all of us! Now out of my way!” “Shame James, shame; I could have helped you fulfil them!” “You see...I am used to being alone so I don’t care about these fantasies anymore and I know what you will do...try and torment me with them but remember my realm my rules, you even try and do anything to me there it will be your death sentence! Now out of the way!” she nodded leaving and continuing to walk away stopped taking a breath, just a day with them would be a paradise...but they will find someone else and will fall in love, he will be better looking and woo them, it always happens. Keira watched on through the viewing glass created by her and hands on hips spoke, “We will just see about that James! We’ll just see!”