*** Conor POV*** 122
Conor sat down hard. "I am sorry Johnathan. I didn't even think to ask sooner what you all would need here. Are their families ok?"
"Several are without power, but the city will have that fixed by the end of the day. The main issue is they live in basements, lower streets and other places that flood easily. Some still have standing water, but most just are very damp right now. Most of the town is prepared for that kind of storm. They happen often enough. But those people just cannot afford to live in better conditions." Johnathan explained.
A knock sounded on the office door. Conor nodded and Johnathan opened it to find Kerrigan and Reilynn. "Ah, ladies. Come on in if you like."
"Were we interrupting?" Kerrigan asked.
"Johnathan here was just filling me in on the condition of some of the families of the kids outside. Some didn't weather the storm as well as we might have hoped."
"Isn't that kind of storm normal?" Kerrigan asked, a bit wide eyed.
"Indeed, much like the snow storms you are likely used to, doesn't make them any less deadly for those who cannot find adequate shelter." Johnathan explained.
"I know it is only a temporary measure Johnathan, but I will have Abby Weiss authorize 5000 dragons immediately for you to start getting food for those families in need. As they come in, start a list of supplies that are needs, from bedding to other household items that might have been destroyed, and I will see what we can do. Mr. Nuri will help coordinate with you."
"Thank you, Conor. You are your mother's son and a blessing from Celia."
"These Children are a blessing. I need to get Kerrigan here back, but I will try to return tomorrow. Please don't hesitate to call if there are other needs that you can think of."
"Of course, Conor. Thank you for coming. And Miss Lokir, I hope you enjoyed your short visit with us. I am sorry our site was, less than its normal self today."
Conor watched as Johnathan led them out and back toward the van. Kerrigan finally said, "It has been eye opening. Even in the midst of everything, the kids still have a joy to them, and find this place to be a refuge."
"Indeed, many of them do. Their parents work hard, and some just don't have time to spend with them, so they come here. Rain or shine, the doors are open to them." Johnathan said, looking down on them.
Kerrigan said "Celia seems to have blessed this place. Even the children feel her presence."
Conor tensed but nodded as he opened the van door for Kerrigan. Parker appeared then and helped Kerrigan back into the van. Reilynn followed her in with a glance at Parker. When the door was close, Conor grinned at Parker. That Reilynn seems to be a handful."
"Not sure if I need to watch out more for Reilynn or the Evelynn. Both of those women seem to be stalking me these days. Keep an eye out sir. Never know what they may be after."
Conor grinned at Parker as they circled around the back of the van, "What, you telling me you haven't noticed them ogling those biceps of yours?" he jested, grabbing Parkers arm with two hands just to try to wrap around the muscle.
"Ha, you jest, but watch out. They make you think that, then stab you in the ribs. Just keep your eyes open." Parker said half joking, half serious.
"I am going to ride back with Cara. I will see you in a bit, Parker. Make sure they get back safe." Conor said.
"You sure?"
"Yea. I just need some time to think. There is a lot that needs to be done, and I am not quite sure yet how best to help."
"Ok, call if you need anything. I will make sure some of the other guards stick around."
"Thanks Parker."
Conor strode thought the halls of the community center, taking in the damage, and listening to the kids laugh as some played, some cleaned, and others worked with Johnathan to repair broken windows. The life that flowed through this place was something he could hardly grasp. It amazed him every time.
A small hand tugged on his and he turned to see little Hannah had snuck up on him.
"Thank you for bringing her."
"Her?"
"Eibhlin." Hannah said, a wide grin spreading across her face as she pointed behind Conor.
He turned and saw a drawing on the wall in chalk two stick figures held hands, one with blue eyes, one with green.
He knelt down before Hannah. "Who is Eibhlin, Hannah?"
"The lady in the wheelchair. Though, she shouldn't be in the chair."
"You are right. She was injured. But I think she will recover. It will just take time."
Hannah looked him dead in the eyes and said, "She can walk, if you help her."
"Help her? How?"
Hannah held out a hand and placed it on Conor's chest, atop the pendent of Celia that rested beneath. Hannah then darted away and disappeared down a hallway.
Conor slumped against the wall and closed his eyes.
'Celia? Is what she says true?'
There was a long pause. 'It is possible, but unwise.'
'How does Hannah know this?'
'Hannah is special. Blessed even. Guard her well. As for Kerrigan. What you ask is very taxing. I have still been recovering my power from the last time I aided you, and... your mother.'
Conor considered her words and then asked, 'Is there something more?'
Celia was silent for a long moment. 'When you first met Kerrigan, months ago, I knew who she was. I was with your mother when Kerrigan was placed at the temple of Abraxas and we could both sense that she was something special. She is Abraxas's Deinmaar."
"You knew then? Why didn't you tell me?"
'It had been years since I had seen that child. She had bloomed into a full grown woman. And your alcohol blurred eyes only saw her lustful beauty. It wasn't until you made your ill fated move on her that I knew for sure. Abraxas made his presence known as well. That is why I told you to run.'
'Is he a threat to you?'
'To me? No. Abraxas is loyal beyond your comprehension of the word. But like you human males, dragon males can also be full of lust and hormones. He had not sensed me in over one hundred and fifty years. In the state you were in, and the mood he was in... it would not have been good.'
'Why, Celia?'
'Conor, he would have unknowingly seized control of Kerrigan's mind. She would not have been able to resist. Your desire for her called to him and he would have responded in kind. It would have destroyed Kerrigan in the process.'
Conor shook his head in utter shock. 'Is he really that dangerous?'
'Conor, you have to understand. Abrasax and I...'
'You were mates weren't you?'
'That word is crass and meaningless in comparison to the Valtas.' Celia said defensively.
Conor felt a mental sigh from her before she continued.
'In the face of all that the Valtas represents, the human tongue has no equal.' Boomed Celia's voice in his mind, passion oozing from every syllable. 'Humans could never understand the Valtas, nor survive it. It is why Abraxas and I agreed our Deinmaar would never bond. Such a union of magics would likely rip our avatars to pieces.'
'What? Dragon sex is violent so humans couldn't handle it?' Conor quipped, grinning at a memory of him and Anna in his office bedroom. That room needed to be remodeled after that encounter. his cheeks warmed, a bit embarrassed to remember such.
'You jest, but no. While wild dragon mating could indeed be considered intense by human standards that has little to do with this. Our deinmaar could be free to engage as they wish, and still such a coupling would join four life forces. The power of two dragons and their deinmaar is an unthinkable combination of magic that would culminate. We never dared allow such. If the humans didn't also share a bond equal to the Valtas, there is no possible way they could survive such magic.'
Conor felt the need to steer the conversation way from sex, and Kerrigan in the same sentence. 'Then what about Kerrigan? Why has she not mentioned Abraxas yet since she has been here?"
'For him to have not made his presence known by now means she is hurt more than anyone realized. It is likely that he is using all of his power to try to heal her himself. That fact alone tells me how close to death she likely was for he would have had to expend a tremendous amount of energy in whatever battle she fought plus holding together a mortal wound."
'Wwhat are you saying, Celia?'
'I am saying that it is possible that Abrasax is at the end of his power. Each time we awaken from our time of rest, we have a bit less of our power. We have existed for over three millennia in this form, and five more before that. When we exert such power to defend our Deinmaar, we must rest. It may be that we will be taxed for years to come if I join the healing. As it is, Abrasax likely will not recover for several decades.'
'And without your help?'
'She may not walk again if he was not able to recover her by now.'
'Is there any way to help you and Abrasax after?'
'There is always a way. It will help speed things but it will turn decades into years, not decades into weeks or hours. Mr. Nuri will have the history books, but Conor, such things are dangerous beyond measure.'
'We can talk to Kerrigan later then. She needs to understand what she faces.'
'As you wish, young Dovari.'