Time Loop

[Demeter]

Kitty Manchester had a job to do at North Haven and she wasn't about to let the village leader intimidate her. Just because he had reason to hate her wasn't enough to chase her away. Then again, Charis had sent her on this mission to draw another young Demi-goddess from her shell; one didn't say no to the Oracle just because the leader of the northern settlement had a grudge against her.

"Oh, stop it," Sacnite said, "and let me handle Dymion when the time comes. I have plenty to say to him anyways."

Sacnite was, technically speaking, deceased. Through a series of mishaps, Sacnite's soul had become attached to hers. Kitty quite literally had multiple personalities. She could even take on the physical appearance Sacnite once had.

Sacnite was also the late wife of Dymion and had been murdered while he'd been busy saving Kitty. He really did have reason to hate her, even if she'd had nothing to do with Sacnite's death and had been, at the time, tortured to near insanity by one of the Godless.

Kitty's shiver had nothing to do with the chill in the Arctic air and everything to do with the Godless Alati who'd been masquerading as a priest. With the strange powers of the Godless, combined with the exoriscm rites of the catholics, she'd very nearly razed a cathedral. Dymion had dispatched the godless one and saved her only to go home to a dead wife.

But she wasn't here to deal with that. She was here to handle the young demi-goddess who'd been found in a mortal research facility if all places. The young woman didn't even have a name, Kitty thought with a shake of her head. Kitty, having a similar past, had been sent north to take charge of the girl and to help her transition while Charis searched for her godly parent.

While the ferry went through the docking procedures, Kitty gathered her stuff. On the surface, she was supposedly here to conduct research on the cattle. She hated cows; one had caused the stagecoach accident that killed her mother.

After the ferry was docked, Kitty bounced down the ramp and cast a wary eye at a nearby cow before looking around. Someone was supposed to meet her at the docks. She groaned when she spotted the approaching form of Dymion. "Did it have to be him?"

"Did you not read up on North Haven? It's far less populated then the main settlement. He probably couldn't spare anyone."

Kitty rolled her eyes at Sacnite's comment. Kitty may have been far older then Sacnite had ever been but the woman was far wiser. "Wanna deal with him now or later?"

"Later, Katherine, when we have less of an audience. Are you sure you want to deal with him at all?"

"Don't call me Katherine! And we have to deal with it. I - we, our souls are too entwined, Sacnite. Whatever might have been, I ruined with that time loop and we have to fix it. My promise remains; we handle the girl and then you can have this body to be with him. I'll take your place and be randomly attached to your soul instead if you to mine."

"Kitty..." If she had a physical body at that moment, Sacnite would have shaken her head. Through Kitty's eyes, she watched as Dymion approached. He looked good wearing the modern clothing that was suited to this miserable island. She ached to hold him but not at the price of Kitty giving up ownership of this body. Nothing was worth that price.

Kitty felt Sacnite withdraw and came to attention when Dymion came to a halt in front of her. She swallowed at the hard glare he was giving her. "I'm - I'm here to work with the recently rescued demi-goddess. I know you don't like me, Sir, but I'm here at the Oracle's request."

[Maira]

Not one to refuse the Oracle, Dymion could only accept when he was informed that Kitty would be arriving at his islands to help with the settlement's latest rescue. Just because he had to accept her presence, didn't mean he had to enjoy her time on the islands. Displeased with her impending arrival or not, Dymion wasn't happy to be late to picking her up from the ferry dock. It was such a rare thing to have the ferry stopping at the islands that while he was up to his elbows in helping a new calf earthside, he totally forgot that he needed to be somewhere. And not be covered in blood and afterbirth. When the rancher told him there was a boat approaching the dock, Dymion cursed and ordered the man to take over. He should have been doing it himself anyway, but when two cows went into labor at the same time extra hands were required.

As he approached the dock and only one person departed the ferry, Dymion had to force himself not to turn around and go back to the birthing cow. He was sure that the woman wasn't a bad person, there were just really bad memories associated her and he'd rather not relive them. Maybe if he hadn't just found Selene things would be a little different. As it was, he now knew that he and Sacnite's daughter was alive and well and finding her had already brought those old feelings and memories to the surface. Now with Kitty's arrival...

When Dymion stopped in front of the woman, he listened as she nervously addressed him. Nodding, he answered her, "I know exactly why you're here Kitty, my sister keeps me informed when the Oracle's plans involve my home." With that, Dymion turned and walked back to the rancher's jeep and waited for her to follow.

*****

The ride to the closest settlement entrance was spent in silence and as soon as he parked the jeep by the rancher's bunk house, which happened to be near the cave that held the elevator shaft, he hopped out and headed for the cave. Kitty was looking at him curiously, but he ignored her and continued on his way. Once they were both in the elevator and the door shut behind them, he explained, "Like Haven proper, our settlement is hidden from humans. Parts, like the ranch that we use as sources of both income and food, are known to the outside world. The wildlife preserve as well. The great caverns beneath the islands, however, are where most of us call home. You will be staying in one of the way-houses that we have set aside for visitors."

After that, Dymion didn't speak again until the elevator reached the bottom of the shaft. The doors opened into a cavern lit in the same manner as Haven and he proceeded out of the elevator toward a waiting pony cart. He helped Kitty lob her luggage into the back of the cart and then handed her up onto the bench seat. Going to the other side of the cart he climbed in himself and clucked at the patient pony to get them on their way.

The ride from the elevator to the way-house he took Kitty to wasn't long as that building had been situated close to the ferry dock when both were built. It took a little longer than it normally would have, however, because he took her on a brief tour of the area surrounding the way-house. After they'd seen the market, a couple cafes, and the closest infirmary, he turned the pony down the lane that would take them to their destination.

As they pulled to a halt in front of the way-house, a squat sprawling building of various colors, two girls who could have been twins emerged and hurried out to greet Dymion. For the first time since Kitty had arrived, Dymion felt himself smile. The girls asked after the calf and after a brief recounting of the birth, he remembered why he'd had to leave so suddenly and the smile fell from his lips. Clearing his throat he sat up straighter and indicated to the girls, "This is Kitty, your great grandmother of sorts sent her." Then, forcing all feelings from his voice he turned to Kitty and introduced the girls, "These are my daughters Asiah and Sokkemi." He pointed at the nearest girl and told Kitty, "Asiah is my youngest, she has lived here all of her life, minus her time away at college. She will be able to assist you with any questions you may have about your temporary home." Next, he indicated the other young woman, "Sokkemi was recently returned to me and is also new to the islands. She was once known as Selene. Sokkemi helps her sister out at the way-house getting visitors settled."

Dymion watched Kitty closely as he revealed the identity of his daughters and after the introduction of Sokkemi, he saw her flinch. Good, he thought, she remembers the daughter I lost while saving her as well as the wife. He helped the girls get Kitty's luggage from the cart and then left the three women to get acquainted while he went to report to the other Elders about Kitty's arrival.

[Demeter]

The flinch was caused by Sacnite's screaming. If she'd been privy to Dymion's thoughts, Kitty would have partially agreed with him. The flinch was caused by the introduction of Sokkemi but not because of guilt. It was caused by Sacnite's reaction to seeing the daughter she believed to be dead.

Since she wasn't ready to reveal that secret, Kitty kept her mouth shut until Dymion had left. Once he was out of sight, she turned to the two young women and greeted them. "I apologize for that. Dymion and me, we have a bit of a history. He saved my life and I ruined his."

She gave the two girls a smile; unsure of how much they actually knew. "Now, can anyone tell me about our young Demi? Has she said anything? Picked a name?"

***
Kitty unpacked her luggage, grumbling while shoving clothing into drawers. Even though her meeting with Sacnite's daughter and the woman's younger sister had gone fine; the short amount of time she'd spent in Dymion's presence had soured her temper.

She could still remember her first meeting; he'd been nice enough then. He'd been very courteous and gentle while dealing with a hysterical Demi-goddess. He'd hauled her out of the convent and escorted her out to Haven.

And then he'd gone home to a murdered wife and missing daughter. The next time Dymion had come to Haven, she'd wanted to thank him but he'd blasted her with such hatred and anger that she'd run off. Kitty had learned from Serenity, Dymion's half-sister, about Sacnite. Wanting to know more, she'd used her fledging powers to travel back in time. Except, still new to her abilities, she'd gotten herself stuck in a time loop while viewing every possible outcome of Sacnite's murder. Before The Oracle had pulled her from the time stream, Sacnite's soul had latched onto her.

***
Come morning, after meeting with her charge, Kitty sought out Dymion. She found him with the cows. Giving the creatures a wide berth, she approached. "Sorry to disturb but can I speak with you about the Demi-goddess?"

[Maira]

The girls were happy to talk to Kitty and help get her settled in. They answered her questions about the settlement and about the newest resident as best they could. When Kitty asked what the demi-goddess's name was it was Asiah that answered, "She still goes by the name that the research lab gave her: Oriana."

*****

The morning following Kitty's arrival to the settlement, Dymion was once again summoned by the ranchers to help with the cows. Apparently one of the newborns from the day before was being rejected by its mother and two more cows were in labor. There were times that Dymion hated ranching, but as it helped supply North Haven, he mostly considered it a necessary evil. He was currently trying to convince the other new mother from the day before to adopt the abandoned calf when Kitty's familiar voice sounded behind him. He glanced at her over his shoulder and answered in a business-like tone, "Help me with this first then we can talk all you want."

Normally he would have taken pleasure at the sight of anybody flinching at the thought of getting close to the cows, he found it amusing that some people were frightened of the large livestock animals. At the sight of Kitty's hesitance, however, he actually pleaded with her, "This calf was rejected by her mother, she needs our help." Seeing the woman start to cave, Dymion handed her the cow's rope lead and indicated the bucket of treats. "Hold onto her and keep her distracted with those so I can get the calf up and nursing."

With Kitty's help, it only took Dymion a matter of moments to get the calf up onto her feet. Once she was latched on and nursing, he let the cows natural calf into the pen and he immediately went for his mother too. The bull calf sniffed at the female calf once on his way past and latched onto a different teat, not a care in the world except eating and being with his mother. When he was sure the rejected calf was strong enough to stand and keep eating on her own, he went back to Kitty and took the cow's lead from her. "Thanks," Dymion said with a small but genuine smile. "Normally the ranchers handle this but as it's calfing season and they have two other cows birthing today it fell to me."

Then, remembering just who he was talking to and why she was there, Dymion's face returned to business and he asked, "What did you need to know about Oriana?"

[Demeter]

The moment she could, Kitty took several steps away from the cows. Giving every one of the heifers around her a leery look, Kitty spoke. "I spent the morning with Oriana. She's not talking much and I was wondering if you could give me some background information on where and how she was found."

Kitty had spent centuries locked in the basement of the convent, trapped there after the nuns noticed she'd stopped aging. Her imprisonment wasn't exactly torturous until one of the Godless had discovered her existence. The strange magic of the godless combined with exorcism rites of the catholics had caused her unknown abilities to go wild and nearly destroyed the convent.

She and Oriana were similar in that they were both female demi-gods who'd been kept in captivity. The differences were great. She'd grown up in an orphange, true, but Oriana had been raised in a lab. She'd been imprisoned by the time she'd turned 25 while Oriana hadn't even reached the quarter century mark yet. She'd been mostly left alone while Oriana had been cruelly treated. If she was to help Oriana, Kitty needed to know more. Dymion had been present at her rescue, or so his daughters said, and was her best bet in figuring out how to help.

Kitty tangled her fingers together. "I can wait till you're less busy with the cows." She skittered to the side when one of the aforementioned creatures ambled by. "I have issues with cows. They caused the coaching accident that killed my mother and landed me in an orphanage."

Kitty had been in that stagecoach as well, traveling with her mother to London, and survived the accident with only bumps and bruises. She could still remember the rolling coach, the screams of the horses and passengers and the way the muddy sludge had oozed into the overturned coach. She shuddered at the recollection and took another step away from the herd. Keeping a wary eye on the bovines, Kitty continued her little speech. "One of the talents I inherited from my father is the ability to travel back along the line of lifetimes. The more information I have, the easier it would be to stay on the path."

Kitty paused long enough to jump out of the way of an ambling cow, barely managing to withhold a squeak. "By being able to view the path of her life, I can not only see what was done to her but travel along till the very moment of her conception and see who her parents were. That's why I need any information you have else I'll stray into the realms of what might have happened and be stuck in a time loop. That's happened before and there's no oracle here to free me from the loop."

Kitty remained in her spot, tensing whenever a cow came near her, and waited for Dymion's response.

[Demeter]

She woke with a start, leaping up to a sitting position. It took a moment to understand her bearings; Kathryn was asleep and she, Sacnite, was awake. Groaning, the woman slumped down against the pillows. She recalled the activities of the day. Kathryn had travelled down the line of the little demi-goddess' life to the point of conception and beyond, leaping from the child's time line to that of her mother's. She'd managed to identify the mother as a native deity before passing out.

Not that Sacnite could blame her, having witnessed the girl's life alongside Kathryn.

Stretching, Sacnite eased her borrowed body from the bed and stretched. She frowned; Kathryn was deeply sleeping and had obviously been more exhausted then even she'd known. Sacnite supposed that now was an moment when she could seek out Dymion's company and berate the foolish man for bearing Kathryn any ill will. The death of her physical body had been set in advance and his presence would not have stopped it.

Steeling herself to do just that, Sacnite stood and peered into the mirror. She considered it wise to determine just how much control she had assumed with Kathryn asleep. She nodded; it was her hair, her eye color and perhaps the shape of her nose and mouth but with Kathryn's fair skin. An interesting mash-up, she mused while hunting through the dresser's drawers for the soft minty green sweater that Kathryn hated but she adored. Though she'd kept the truth of their situation from Kathryn, the Oracle had assured her that their two souls would continue to merge and their physical characteristics would mesh.

Sacnite was fine with this present combination.

Once outfitted to her liking in the sweater and a fresh pair of jeans, Sacnite set out for Dymion's office. She found it, leaned against the door's frame and knocked her knuckles against the wall. "Welcome, Man of the Moon," she said, purposefully quoting her words from when she'd first meet Dymion, "what can the people of this land do to help a heavenly traveler as yourself?"