>Branded (Mercy Book 2)

Cain replied to the LORD, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

Brand:

I went inside the flying building and seem them both.

And I can't help but stare.

Vantier. A legend from my ancestor’s time, reborn. Then she was known as a warrior, a leader. Today? She’s become a healer, and teacher.

And Faith. A girl who is just beginning to scratch the surface of her potential, and yet has already accomplished miracles. She not only saved me, she did something even more impossible.

She forgave me.

Me.

The one who enslaved a hell hound to track her down. The one who hurt her friends, and threatened her life.

The one who caused her mother’s death, and her father’s imprisonment.

And yet instead of insisting I be punished, she forgave me.

Now, if only I could forgive myself ...

For a moment I simply watched them, struggling with the desire to run away before they saw me.

But then it was too late to run ...

****

Faith:

I cought Brand looking at me, and I struggle to control a storm of emotions. I have learned that our people were passionate in many ways, including sex, so the fact he’s attracted to me doesn’t surprise me.

The fact I find him attractive as well is something I’m ... still working on coming to grips with.

And then there is the complicating factor.

Even without my mental abilities, I’d probably be able to tell what Brand is dealing with. He feel awful for being controlled by Vendetta, and all the things Vendetta made him do.

Including killing my mother.

Maybe it seems weird, but I dont blame him for what happened.

Now, if only I could get him to stop blaming himself ...

I smiled, and wave to Brand to come up and join us.

He hesitated, and I worried he was going to turn the offer down.

Then he flew up to us.

And did something really strange.

He landed on the platform beside us, knelt in front of Vantier, and said “My lady.”

She touched him on the shoulder, and said, “Be at peace, Brand. The old ways and the old titles ... belong in the past.”

Having said this, she launched herself into the air, shouting “Come! Let us fly!”

I giggled, and followed her as best I could, and then glanced behind me to see Brand doing the same.

Even in Whately, where wonders are commonplace, it was something to see (and thanks to a student who had come into the pavilion and recorded our flight, I did get to watch it). We were soaring, spinning, dancing in the air like a trio of angels taking time off from being counted by philosophers.

At the time, however, I found myself distracted by ... more carnal thoughts.

I hadn’t done much research on the mating rituals of my ancestors, but that it involved showing off one’s flight skills was obvious from my body’s reaction to Brand’s flying.

Honestly, I think that if Vantier had not been there acting as a kind of chaperone, the chances are good Brand and I would had started doing some things that would have put the video into a whole other category of film.

Eventually, the time we had scheduled ran out, and I landed and went to a small change area that included lockers and a shower.

I put the water on as cold as I could stand it, and stayed under for several minutes before feeling like I could face the world again.

I came out, and found Vantier waiting for me.
“You want to talk about it?” she asked, gently.

I stammered, and looked down at the ground.

Then she said, “Perhaps not with me, but you have your dreamscape. Seek the counsel of those who know you best - and love you most.”

I nodded, and started back towards my dorm room. Then a thought occurred to me. As bad as i was struggling, at least I didn’t have to be alone. But who would Brand have?

“Me.” I said to myself, and went to get him.

*****

It wasn’t hard to find him. In fact it was scary easy. I realized we were ... connected, and I just played “hot and cold” until I found him.

I felt a little like I was trying to approach a very skittish animal, but I focused on my compassion for him, and after a few moments, he took my hand.

I led him back to Poe, and if anybody thought it strange that I was taking a boy into my room, they thankfully remained silent.

Technically I could slip into my dreamscape anywhere, but as it was explained to me, it’s best to do it in a place that is both safe and comfortable, and the only other place that met both those criteria was the magic building, and since it was temporarily closed because of an accident involving one of the other students, and I didn’t want to wait, my room was the only option left.

I sat him on the bed, pulled up the chair so we could link hands, told him to focus and follow me, and with a deep breath ...

We were there.

My understanding is that my ancestor's area was nowhere near as large or as beautiful as the area Vantier had come from, but to me, it was beautiful beyond anything I had ever seen in the waking world.

I held Brand’s hand as we flew to Ava’s home.

I was greeted at the door by Fido, and at that moment realized I had not thought this all the way through.

The last time Fido saw Brand, Brand had enslaved him while under the influence of Vendetta.

I made a signal to Brand to hold back while I approached Fido. I “downloaded” everything that had happened to Brand, being possessed by Vendetta.and how with help from my friends I had freed him. I also broadcasted an appeal to forgive him.

Fido surprised me though. Fido just smelled him, and then gave a three-headed lick to his face, before walking back into the house.

“I guess Fido has forgiven you.” I said, smiling.

I looked inside the door, and behind Fido my mom and Ava were smiling, offering a welcome to Brand.

Brand had put a hand to his face where Fido had licked him, and looked at my mother and Ava.

Then he started crying.

I went back to him, and tried to take his hand, but he shook my hand hand away, and sobbing said, “I ... cant ...”

Then he vanished.

I woke myself out of my dreamstate, only to realize he had already had left my room.

I swore.

“Dam it!” ...

To be continued ...

Branded Chapter 2

Brand:

You're probably sick of me apologizing, but sorry this is short.

I snapped out of the dreamstate, and fled Faith’s room.

I flew out of Poe, with my brain churning a thousand miles an hour, my emotions a jumbled mess.

I didn’t slow down until I was nearing the small park in the middle of the campus.

It’s called the Grove, and its ... magic.

Fey magic.

Ancient, raw, and connected to the Earth in a way my magic cannot be.

And dangerous.

I flew into the Grove. I honestly couldnt tell you what I was looking for.

Comfort?

Judgement?

Both?

Whatever it was, I went to the center of the Grove where a large tree grew, and sat in front of it, waiting.

I didn’t have to wait long. A group of pixies approached me, and soon had me encircled.

I stayed very still, even when one came right up to my foot with a spear in her hand.

“Who are you, and what do you want here? Tell me true!” she said, and pushed the spear into my foot like a bee stinging.

And I did as she asked. I told her of being born a girl, being raped, and turning into a mutant boy who had a connection to an ancient race of warriors called the hawk lords. I told her of being possessed by Vendetta, and the awful things I did under its influence.

And I told her of Faith.

How she saved me, forgave me, flew with me.

And how much I needed her, and feared that need.

And then I wept.

The lead pixie said, “You do not represent a danger to the Grove. At least not on this day.”

With that, they all flew away, leaving me alone again.

All was silence.

The feeling I got from the Grove was a patient waiting state. It (she? I got a bit of a sense of femininity all around me) wasn’t going to make me leave or punish me, but it wasnt going to comfort me either.

Despite this, the quiet around me did calm my mind to a degree.

I decided I wanted to burn off a little energy, so I headed for where martial arts classes were held.

I hadnt expected to find anybody there, but instead there was a girl, practicing with a pair of what looked like Native American tomahawks.

I landed quietly and watched her work. Like Faith, who could make her staff practically sing, the girl was doing something that was as much a dance as it was practicing self defence. Mind you, I still wouldnt have wanted to try and fight her, even if I still had a sword ...

Then she stopped, and looked right at me, as if she had known I was there all along.

“When my spirit told me a powerful being was approaching, I wasnt expecting a boy. What do you want?” She asked.

I started babbling. I found myself telling this complete stranger everything that happened to me. I couldnt stop myself, and realized that whatever the pixies had done to me was still active.

By the time I managed to stop talking, her expression had softened. “I have a friend who went through something similar to you. So maybe what I told him will be helpful for you as well. My people, the Lakota, have a specific idea about crime and punishment. The Lakota view is that once punishment is over, it's as if the crime never happened. If you have atoned, and were possessed at the time, then it's as if the bad stuff never happened, because YOU didn't do it. You’re punishing yourself, looking for someone to punish you, but you weren’t even in control. But it’s over now. You’ve been punished. So now it's time to move forward.”

Maybe the magic the pixies used both ways, because I could feel the truth of what she was saying. I nodded, and then was about to turn away, when she added, “One more thing. My spirit could feel your hollow, the spot where this Vendetta was. You need to fill it, and soon. If you don’t you will attract the worst possible spirits looking for a home.”

“I thought I already had to deal with the worst possible spirit.” I replied.

She shuddered as she spoke and said, “Trust me, there are far worse.”

Again, I felt the truth of what she was saying, so I replied, “Okay, I’ll go to the magic building, maybe they can help me find a good spirit to bond with.”

“Good luck.” She said.

“Thank you,” I said, and took to the skies again.

I landed in front of the magic building, and went in. No sooner was I inside, then one of the teachers came up to me, and said, “Brand! You came! Did Faith get a hold of you?”

“No, she didn’t. I was in the Grove, then talking to another student, then I came here. What’s going on?” i replied, perplexed.

“The school just received a mystical message. It’s about you, and you taking a three-headed dog. Brand, I think you’re going to have to have a conversation ... with Hades, himself.”

I stuttered out a “Oh boy,” just before everything went black ...

To be continued ...

Branded Chapter 3

Brand:

I swam in a blissful blackness for a while.

But sadly, I was not allowed to stay there.

The real world slowly resolved itself around me, and I realized I was on a bed in Doyle.

“Oh good, you’re awake” a nurse said.

“I’m not sure about that.” I replied, trying to pull things into focus.

“Well, you better get awake, boy. You got work to do and only two hours to do it.” said another voice, one I recognized as one of the self-defence instructors for the school.

Before I really knew what I was doing, I was dressed in a sleeveless shirt and shorts and in the dojo with the instructor.

First, he had me focus on my heart rate and breathing, and then slowly to begin exercising every part of my body. As he led me in the exercises, he also gave me lessons in biology, walking me through the systems of my body one at a time.

By the time he reached the reproductive systems, I was in such a focused state that I could listen without any of the baggage I had normally attached to my now male equipment. It was helped by the fact that he didnt lecture, but instead seemed to be telling me a story about my body. By the time he was done, for the first time, I felt better about being a guy now, and I started talking about my attraction to Faith, and he both encouraged me to wait without making me feel like it was “dirty” to feel this way.

He then sent me for a shower, and afterward I felt cleaner, not just physically but emotionally.

Outside the change room, I found a note telling me to go back to my temporary dorm room and change into “a proper suit” which would be waiting for me, and then to go to Mrs. Carson’s office.

I had never worn a suit since my transformation into a boy, and looking at the results when I was finished, I could see why some girls appreciate a man in a nice suit. I only hoped it would give me enough confidence to deal with whatever was going to happen.

I walked toward Mrs. Carson’s office, and was told by her secretary that “a legal representative from the aggrieved party” would be joining us in a moment or two.

“Great, a lawyer from Hell” I muttered, looking down at the floor.

“Hades, not hell” a voice said, and I looked up.

The woman standing in front of me looked like she was close to six feet tall, and rather muscular without looking at all unfeminine.

“Jen Walters” She said with a smile, and offered me her hand.

“Brand Carter” I said, and shook her hand.

“Let’s go into my office.” Mrs Carson said, as she stepped into the room.

A few moments later, Mrs. Walters had a briefcase open on Mrs. Carson’s desk, and was asking me about the three-headed dog that Faith had named “Fido”.

“To be honest, Mrs. Walters, a lot of what I did while possessed by Vendetta is a little ... vague to me. I don’t know how he found Fido, or how he took control of the creature. But Faith has him now, so maybe she can return him?” I said.

“I dont believe that will be possible, Brand. I’ve asked our magical staff, and Fido is now bonded to Faith in a way that cannot be broken.” Mrs. Carson said.

My shoulders slumped hearing that, but I asked Mrs. Walters, “What now?”

‘My client recognizes diminished capacity, so has decided against formal charges against you.” Mrs. Walters replied, “However, he believes there should still be a certain amount of restitution made.”

“What would that entail?” Mrs. Carson asked.

“That on Brand’s first break from school here, and every winter and summer break thereafter for two years, he works for me at my office.” Mrs. Walters replied.

“I gotta go to Hades?” I said, shakingly.

“No, my office is in New York City.” She said with a smile. “You’d be a gopher for me, maybe even learn a thing or two about law in the process.”

I looked at both women in shock. “Instead of going to jail, or worse, I’d be working for a lawyer?” I asked.

“Well, like I said, my client recognizes you weren’t in control of your actions. Plus, he has a healthy respect for what your kind did during the great war against the GOO, and for Vantier in particular. So he is willing to offer this idea - a lesson, rather than a punishment.” Mrs. Walters replied, smiling.

“Than ... thank you.” I stammered.

Mrs. Walters gathered her papers and put them back into her briefcase. Then she shook Mrs. Carson’s hand, shook my hand, and then left Mrs. Carson’s office.

Mrs Carson then picked up the receiver for her desk phone, and said, “Talia, would you please notify Faith she can come in now?”

Moments later, Faith came in, and Mrs Carson said, “it’s settled, Faith. Other than some work experience at a law firm, there will be no other consequences for Brand for taking Fido.”

“That’s fantastic!” Faith exclaimed, and hugged me.

As when we had flown together, I felt a physical connection to Faith, but this time it was more nuanced. It felt less like the driving need to procreate than a pairbond, a closeness on every possible level.

And I knew she felt it too.

We excused ourselves from Mrs Carson’s office, and went over to Crystal Hall and got some food, as it finally hit me how long it had been since I had last ate.

After we ate, Faith asked me to try the dreamwalk again, and I agreed.

We went to Faith’s room, and entered her (now ours, I realized) dreamscape. For the second time, I met Fido, Ava, and Faith’s mother. And Ava showed me the Book of the People that Vendetta had sought after, and I realized that even if he had found it, it would have done him no good.

The Book had absorbed much of the knowledge, wisdom, and even souls of its guardians, to the point it was a sentient being, who would have resisted being used by an unworthy person such as Vendetta was.

But as I looked, I realized it now considered me forgiven.

Worthy.

Just as Vantier did, and Fido, and Ava, and Mrs. Carson.

And especially Faith.

Then the Book “spoke” in a chorus of voices, and declared me Co-Guardian, along with Faith, something that apparently had never happened before. And as a sign of my status, it was going to create for me a weapon to replace the sword of Vendetta.

I wanted to refuse, but I felt the urgency of the situation - Vendetta still existed, and would continue to try and find a way to find and subdue the Book, and there could be other threats, both the the Book and to the world at large so I would need to be armed.

So it created for me a hammer.

No, not the kind of hammer you might find in a toolbox, but something much more powerful.

The hammer was a little odd shaped, with one head bigger than the other, kind of a mix of the old post hammers and the newer sledge hammers in one. It was new with all crisp lines, and noe of the dirt and dents of a used hammer. It was light enough to carry easily by its mysterious feeling wood and steel handle that was short but hefty.

The top had this design around where the handle comes through, that looked like two winged people reaching towards each other but also cocooning the egg shaped center.

We exited the dreamscape, and Faith pointed to my right arm, where I now had a tattoo of the hammer just as she had a tattoo of her staff.

Despite the temptation to er ... celebrate with Faith, we parted, and I made my way to my own room.

Thanks to my exhausted state, despite the conflicting emotions running through me, I managed to get to sleep.

Which turned out to be a good thing, as in the morning my full introduction to life at Whately was to begin ....

To be continued ...

Branded Chapter 4

Author's note: Sorry for the wait, and how short this is.

Brand:

The next morning started with “normal” classes, but I learned something beyond what my teachers were talking about:

Despite the fact that Vendetta had little time for such concerns, I had figured out some time ago that I was no longer attracted to boys, but I did have an attraction to girls. But now, it was different. Even though I was surrounded by incredibly beautiful girls, many of them exemplars and some with attraction or seduction powers, I didnt have the same attraction I felt for Faith.

For me, nobody else could come close.

The second half of my day was for power related classes. Here, I wasnt as far behind, thanks to Vendetta, but still there were things for me to learn, like how to use the hammer I had received. I soon discovered that the hammer had a kind of affinity to shielding spells - I could cast one with the hammer and it would be stronger and last longer than I could without it.

Then came my class in Avatars.

My teacher regarded me as something of an anomaly. Not that I had been possessed, but that I had been freed without permanent damage being done to my own soul.

Plus there was the issue of my hollow, the place where Vendetta had been. Having my hollow be ... well, hollow, I should be like someone ringing a dinner bell and saying “come and get it” to every spirit for miles, but so far, I have not been visited.

It was a mystery I resolved to find the answer to before I got some spirit as bad as Vendetta.

Or maybe even worse.

So that afternoon, once my classes were done, I went to Faith, and suggested that her dreamspace companions could help me. She agreed, and we were soon in the dreamworld.

Once we were there, we consulted with the Book and were told that there was a spirit I could call on to fill my hollow, and protect me from ever being possessed again.

The spirit’s name was Tukas, and he had once been a defender of the People of the Book, using his giant hammer to protect them.

I thought about the hammer I had recently acquired, and I realized this was no coincidence. Regardless, this seemed like the very best idea, so we used the Book to summon Tukas, and got him to agree to fill my hollow.

As he and I got to know each other, I found him to be a charming, if almost overwhelming personality. He told me he had been a “live for the moment” person, until he fell in love with a girl belonging to the People of the Book, and for her sake he thereafter used his strength on the People’s behalf.

Our conversation left me feeling relieved that he was nothing like Vendetta, and I would be safe with him.

However the feeling that this had been ... arrainged ... remained, and I wondered by whom,, and for what purpose ...

So after classes, I went to speak to my magic teacher about it, and she said “I’ve scanned you, as you requested. There is no sign of any negative influence on you. Although I am not a counsellor I believe that the feeling you’re having is caused by the fact that perhaps you do not feel worthy of the good things which are happening to you now.”

That possibility staggered me.

I met up with Faith, and told her what the teacher had said, and she took me to the flying building, which at that hour was not being used.

And there, we flew.

At first, it was just flight, just the sheer joy of being able to exercise our wings and leave the ground behind us.

But then, it changed.

It was a bonding flight.

She was showing me that our bodies, our minds, and our hearts were in synch with each other.

Then she did something even more remarkable. She let me take the lead.

It was an act of trust that would have staggered me, if I had thought about it, but I was too caught up in the dance in the air.

Finally, we kissed.

It was like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day - it warmed me, refreshed me.

And oh boy did my body want more ...

And I realized that so did hers ...

But I hesitated, and she smiled, and said, “Next time, maybe.”

And we landed.

And I realized we were not alone.

Vantier was standing on a platform watching us with a smile on her face.

Faith blushed so hard I could feel it without looking at her.

I stammered, “H... hi, Vantier, we were just ...”

“I could see what you were just.” she responded with a smile, and then added, “However, I think you might be better off not going there until you graduate.”

I looked down at the floor, but then Vantier said, “Dont feel bad. What you feel is natural, for our people as much as it is for humans. But before you ... go further, you need perhaps to talk to our headmistress. I’m sure you’re not the first students facing this kind of issue.”

So, with both of us blushing, we made our way to the headmistress’ office. There, Mrs. Carson’s secretary actually directed us to the school’s counselor, who was able to squeeze us in quickly.

We explained our situation, and the counselor said, “First, let me start with the law., In this part of the United States says that you have to be 18 to get married, although there is an exception if you are 16 and older and the person you’re marrying is not more than five years older than you. However, before you get too excited, let me talk about the school’s situation. We have here mostly teens experiencing sexual urges for the first time, some of whom are exemplars which means they are among the most attractive members of the species. That doesnt even count the non-humans, who include an actual succubus. In order to keep the trust, and let’s face it, the money, of the people who send their children to us, we cannot be seen as encouraging or even tolerating underage sexual contact. What makes that even more important is that both of you are technically wards of the school, with Mrs Carson as your legal guardian. Do you both understand?”

I hung my head, but Faith asked, “But what can we do?”

“Since flying forms such a large part of your bonding process, it would be my recommendation that you do not fly together alone, and always have a responsible adult present to act as a chaperone when you fly.”

Then she added, “That said, I hope you know how fond Mrs. Carson is of you both, and when the time comes for you to marry, I know she’d would be very disappointed if she doesnt get an invite to the wedding.”

We both blushed, and left her office.

Waiting outside for us was Vantier, and we told her what we had been told.

She said, “Well, I believe I would qualify as a chaperone for your flying times, if that would be acceptable to you both.”

Faith gave Vantier a big hug, but then she added “Dont believe that means I wont keep you both out of trouble.”

“I know. Thank you.” Faith replied.

“Yes. Thank you. Considering everything ...” I started, but Vantier cut me off, saying “Brand, you are long since forgiven for what you did while possessed by Vendetta. Besides, you and Faith are the last of my people’s descendants, how could I refuse to help if I can?”

Eventually, we parted, and I went back to my own room to rest, and to think.

Was it only a year ago I went from being a traumatized girl to a possessed boy to a free young man with a girlfriend, and more love and support than I ever dreamed existed?

And if Faith and Vantier have forgiven me for what happened while I was possessed, shouldn’t I do the same?

Maybe I can. Maybe I should.

And maybe my future is looking pretty darn good ...

End.

Will Brand and Faith return? Only my muse knows for sure ...