With Bobby otherwise
occupied, Juktha was able to slip away unnoticed, and enter into Doctore’s
garden.
The old man still stood
at the pond, his head bowed as if he was watching the water. His eyes seemed to focus on nothing.
“You told him?” Juktha stepped forward, her arms crossed in
front of her chest. She couldn’t hide
her scowl.
“I did what I thought was
best.” Doctore didn’t look up.
“She isn’t a threat.” She
took another step. As she spoke she did
her best to remain calm, but her anger was too strong to hide. “At least, she isn’t one yet. You could have given them more time.”
“This is the time to
strike, then.” He turned to her. “Would
you rather they wait until she truly is dangerous? You and I both know very well what that witch
is capable of. You sensed it, I know you
did.”
“I just… just one day of
peace.” Juktha was yelling. She couldn’t help it. “Couldn’t they have had just one day of
peace? No dire warnings or impending doom.
Doctore, you do not see what I see.
You are so focused on strategy that you miss everything else.”
“They are warriors.” He
turned away from her, walking back towards the temple entrance. “I know, I know. They did not choose these roles, but never
the less, if a warrior puts down his guard for one second, just one, they will
be taken out.”
“They are not warriors!”
She reached out, grabbing Doctore’s shoulder, turning him so that they were
face to face. “They are people. Normal people, stuck in extraordinary
circumstances. They are… they are lovers.
They are friends, and family to each other.”
“Then what would you have
chosen?” His voice was low, soft.
Juktha looked at him, into
his eyes. She could see that hidden deep
inside was the same pain that she herself felt.
No, not just pain, but guilt.
They were guilty of taking over people’s lives, and forcing them into
battles and wars that they didn’t fully understand.
Of course, it was their
destiny, both human and deity, to fight.
That had been decided long ago, but it did not make any of this
easier. Not for her. In the time she had been awake and been able
to not only communicate with Bobby, but also witness his life through his eyes,
she had grown to care for him. She
wanted nothing more than to protect him, and see him be happy and grow
old. Every adversary made that goal more
difficult. Every battle threatened not
only Bobby’s life, but also the lives of those he loved.
“Just one day,
Doctore.” She released his
shoulder. “They deserved just one whole
day of normalcy.”
“They are not normal
Juktha. Do not lie to yourself.” He touched her cheek, his hand feeling warm
and inviting. “They are amazing, strong,
resilient and brave. They are everything
we had hoped for, and more..” His hand
moved to her chin, and he tipped her face so that they were looking eye to
eye. “They find joy when they can, and
they fight when they must. How many do
you think would be capable of that?”
In that moment Juktha was
shocked to find herself drawn to Doctore, to the youth in his eyes, and the
strength in the lines on his face. He
was older, yes, but handsome.
What was she
thinking? The pull towards Doctore was
nothing more than a reflection of Bobby and Kurt’s own relationship. Deities shared many things with their human
counterparts, and that included the occasional emotional overlap. At that moment what she was feeling was
nothing more than a fleeting burst of romantic energy. That was what she told herself, at least.
“I guess I had shared
their hope for a peaceful vacation.” She stepped back, and Doctore’s hand fell
to his side.
“Have you heard from
Tabitha since the presence became detectable?” Doctore cleared his throat.
Juktha was glad to let
the moment pass. “No. She’s too far away
to make a proper connection through the Mind Scape. Hopefully she is well trained enough to sense
the potential danger, and alert Ashtyn.”
“I sense that you are
uncomfortable with your daughter being so close to the witch’s presence?”
“She can handle herself.”
Juktha allowed her eyes to wander back to Doctore’s. “Mothers worry. It can’ be helped.”
“Mothers aren’t the only
ones who worry, Juktha.” Doctore gave her a gentle nod, and then entered his
temple.
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