Reconnecting

[Demeter]

Charis tapped her pen against her thigh and stared down at the letter she was composing. She needed to request the presence of the Khayke twins in Haven but she wasn't sure how to phrase the request. There was no polite way to say come to Haven before your pregnant students drives us all mad with her haywire visions.

Charis scowled and look out her windows at the small Healer's building across the square. Young Aeven Valerio had been brought to Haven by special request and special delivery. Pregnant by Ares, the near fatal attack on her Father had broken the young Seer to the point where she was having random, often violent, visions. She'd come to Haven in the hope that someone here could fix her.

Not even she, The Oracle who spoke for all the deities, could calm the girl's visions. Her former mentors were a last ditch attempt before she appealed to the deities. If the twins and the Gods couldn't straighten her out, the price of Aeven's Sight would be her sanity.

All Seers who saw the absolute future would pay a price for their Sight. She had a constant headache; the Khayke twin who had the Sight had lost his sight. Those who could travel the lines of time, like Kitty Manchester or Octavius, could see absolute past and absolute present but they saw the maze of possibilities for the future, thus they were not considered True Seers.

And, truth be told, she was curious about Jahaziel Khayke, the Seer who saw the fall of the Great cities. Too little information, far too late, the vision he'd witness had not saved them. Even as he'd seen it, the first buildings had fallen on Atlantis. She wanted to speak with him, to learn what he'd Seen and compare it to what she'd lived through.

But Aeven came first. She turned back to the letter, quickly penning a request for the twins to come to Haven and preserve Aeven's life and sanity. Summoning one of her Phoenixes, she sent the bird to Italy with the request.

***
Across the square, Salut sat next to the bed of her friend and soothed the chafed skin on her wrists. The violence of the latest visions had required restraining Aeven with straps.

Scowling at the bump of Aeven's belly, Salut refastened the straps. Something about the divine nature of the pregnancy was interfering with those trying to help her. The Oracle was across the square, penning a request to Ziel and Kiel to come and help.

She was a little apprehensive about seeing Kiel again. They'd parted on good terms; the chance to study under Master Healer Zeno was too good to pass up. Still, leaving had hurt.

Salut watched as a Phoenix flew out of the Oracle's tower towards the Soul Gate.

[Shinigami]

Ezekiel had been out doing military maneuvers with the three oldest male Arrighi heirs when he had received word that an important message from Haven had been delivered for Jahaziel and him - and by phoenix no less. He knew that meant Charis, the Oracle herself, had sent it. Kiel rushed back to the house to find his brother and get a look at the letter. Whatever it was it had to be important. He rushed past a ward trying to get his attention, shouting about Lord Amilcare wanting to see him and all but skidded into the rooms he shared with his twin.

It took him a second to register what he was seeing, but once he did he realized there were two bags packed at the door and his Ziel was dressed for travel - trousers, boots, a tunic, and a thick jacket. Kiel reached out, knowing his brother could find him, "The letter, let me see it." It was passed to him quickly and he sucked in a breath as he read that Aeven was in grave condition and needed their help.

Jahaziel was practically vibrating with worried energy. He had packed as soon as he saw the letter, knowing Kiel would go with him a heartbeat. They had never traveled alone before, besides Aeven needed help and Salut was also in Haven. Once he heard the folding of paper and the rustling of the bag he had packed for his brother he made a grab for his own bag and started off through the large house.

Ziel hissed at the ward that had caught up with his brother, shoulder past the poor young man and heading for the main entrance. Kiel was on his heals barking orders at the ward. "Tell the Lord that we're sorry, but we have very urgent business to attend to in Haven. Tell him the Oracle sent for us herself if he has a problem with it." Jahaziel practically cleared the halls with his urgent, angry mood and Ezekiel followed close behind. They hurried to the soul gate, not wanted to waste time on travel and managed to get there in time to follow Charis' phoenix back.

When they stepped through to Haven Jahaziel hesitated. This place had always made him nervous, so the brothers had avoided it up until now. Soon enough they were hailed and offered an escort, but they didn't want to settle just yet. Jahaziel was insistant, "Please, take us to Aeven first. We wish to see her before we settle our things."

[Demeter]

The gateway had been keyed to Coco, the Phoenix that Charis had used as a messenger, and he trilled as he returned with the twins in tow. Thanking the bird for his service, Alexius, the Oracle's daughter and the Steward of Haven, turned and greeted the twins as they exited the gate. She took the demand to see Aeven first in stride. Many who came to Haven in emergencies were the same. "Follow me, Gentlemen," she said and led them out of the Oracle's Tower and to the Healer's Hall across the square. "We've kept her close to the Tower as moving her wasn't advisable by the healers. Some of the visions have been violent; do not be alarmed but we have had to restrain her for her own safety. One of Zeno's apprentices has been with her the whole time and I believe you know Healer Salut."

Salut shot up at the sound of her name and footsteps. "Kiel, Ziel, thank the Gods that you have come. We've nearly run out of options," she stepped away from the door and allowed the twins to enter and observe Aeven. "Carmine was attacked; it would have been fatal but Mars stepped in and preserved his life. Also, Aeven is pregnant, we believe by Ares, and that, combined with the attack, caused this. I don't know how or why but no one can get through to her. She's having vision after vision."

Salut didn't know if the twins knew about Aeven's gravid condition. Hell, Aeven had been out of it since her arrival at Haven and Salut couldn't honestly say if Aeven knew about it or not. She looked at the twins as they hovered by the bed. "Can either of you think of anything that could help her?"

[Shinigami]

Jahaziel dropped his bag at the door, leaving his brother to move it out of the way of anyone else. He listened to Salut gravely while she filled them in on Aeven's condition. He hadn't known she had been pregnant when she returned from Olympus. If the baby was a Demi-God it could be what was messing with her visions. He let out a long sigh as he reached out to hold the poor girl's hand. "I know of something that might help, but it could also make things worse. For both of us. If the child she carries is Ares', then her connection to the baby - and the father - could be responsible for this. I could try to share the burden. If it works, it would allow her to come back to herself long enough to build up a mental guard before I pulled back. If it doesn't work..."

Ezekiel didn't like the sound of his brother's hesitation. He remembered what had happened the day Atlantis fell. It took his brother quite some time to fully some back to himself, and eventually he had to give up the use of his eyes. Who knew what would need to be sacrificed this time. "Ziel, the last time you did this-"

"It was basically what is happening to Aeven now. I connected with a Diety, and I suffered for it. The least I can do is try." Jahaziel was quick to cut his brother off. He could practically feel the grim expression Kiel was shooting his way, but he ignored it.

"Salut, I'd like to start as soon as I can, but there should be some preparations made. If I react as Aeven has, you may need the means to restrain me as well."

Ezekiel huffed at the idea of restraining his brother, but he knew the stubborn man would go through with this. They should be prepared just in case.

[Demeter]

Salut reached up and placed a hand on ‘Kiel’s bicep. “It will be all right, Kiel. This placed is staffed with some of the best healers and Zeno,” she named her teacher and the premier healer of the Alati world, “is here as well. The oracle and many other seers around right around the area as well in order to help if something were to go wrong. Someone needs to do something and Ziel probably has the closest connection to Aeven. Please, Kiel, the other Seers fear that this will cost Aeven her sanity.”

Turning from Kiel, Salut called out to the healers junior to her and ordered them to set up a second bed with restraints in the room. While they waited for the tasks to be completed, Salut quickly filled them in on the event that had preceded this. When Aeven had been told about her father’s near fatal wounding, she’d gone a little crazy and then she’d just lost it. With seemingly no control over herself, the visions had started assaulting her one after another.

After the second bed was set up, Salut turned to look at Ziel as he sat on the bed. “Let me just take your vitals, real quick, so that I have a baseline,” she quickly took the needed measurements and then looked at Ziel. “Just in case, I’m going to lightly restrain you so that if something happens, there is less chance of you injuring yourself.”

Once that was done, Salut returned to Kiel’s side and lightly touched his arm. “Do you want us to stay or step out of the room?” she asked the man on the bed.