OK folks, you know the routine, usual disclaimers, so forth, so on. Any comments can be directed to LaelSt@aol.com or ICQ #11938988. All emails will be answered. By all means, be honest.
"Near Collosion"
By Lael Stalnaker
Chapter 2: Second Sighting
Skyler nudged the apartment door closed with the back of his left heel. He tossed his backpack onto the dining room table and looked around for Ethan. Usually Ethan beat him home by an hour. It was lunch-time or there about. Going back through the kitchen, he found a note stuck on the fridge with a magnate.
Sky,
Staying on campus 'til late. Programming bugs
turned up. Came home for notes. No idea how
late tonight. See ya tomorrow.
Ether
Skyler shrugged to himself and tossed the note onto the counter. The apartment was too quiet, so he turned on the TV to VH1. He then hauled out the massive reference books he had been lugging to and from school for this entire semester. His main drive currently was working on a theory that the Romans had corrupted the Greek myth of Eros into Cupid in a way that lost the essential point of the stories. Skyler was beginning to really regret opening this particular can of worms. He wasn't making much headway with the translations from Latin and Greek. It helped that he spoke both fluently, but his reading skills in it were not as good. Besides, the Greek was the older version rather than the modern.
After working for a couple of hours, Skyler called it a day before he threw the books out the window, along with all of his notes. It was totally frustrating to think that he had a vague notion of what he wanted to prove, but no way to track it down efficiently. He just wasn't having any luck today with making sense of the stories. With a grunt of disgust, he shoved his materials back into the ragged army-type pack. He had always been hard on his stuff, so he tried to get the sturdiest material he could get a hold of easily. This particular pack had made it through 1 year, but was already looking pretty trashed.
He got up and threw his bag into his bedroom. After looking at the time, he decided it was OK to give up the ghost of studiousness for the day. Skyler wanted to unwind now. That meant making a trip over to the auto parts store and seeing if the things he had ordered for the Ranchero had come in yet. Fixing the old car had become his favorite pass time. A friend had given it to him. His mission in leisure life was to get the car back into perfect condition. It still had a long way to go. Skyler was enjoying the challenge though. He debated on whether to call the parts store or just go. He gave in to the need to just get out of the house.
He locked up and walked out to the car. Skyler inventoried all the work he needed to do as he stood examining the car before getting into it. He needed to: fix the gas gauge, fix the clock, change out all of the glass for new, fix the driver's side mirror, have the entire interior redone from top to bottom, have some body work done and then repaint. Skyler sighed to himself. There was probably more that needed to be done, but the list was already long enough to last him for months. He got in and pulled out slowly. The drive over to the store semi-relaxed him.
Skyler pulled into the parking lot and nearly popped a vein. The canary yellow Harley was parked in the small section reserved for bikes. As he pulled into a space, he flicked on the radio. Sure enough, his favorite song was on. Shivers ran down Skyler's sides. It was too weird for words. He shut down the car and just sat there for a while. The motorcycle was definitely the same one. This time, Skyler noticed the license plate on the bike. It was one of those California customized jobs that read "Erotic". 'What the hell?' Skyler thought to himself. He stared blankly at the license plate. How odd?! He wandered through the stories in his head from studying earlier.
He pulled the keys from the ignition and hauled himself out of the car. He walked over to the Harley and began to really look at it. It looked brand spankin' new. Except, Skyler knew, that this particular one hadn't been made for over 40 years. It was amazing. Feeling a little dazed, Skyler left the bike and wandered into the parts store. He looked right and left as he went down the aisle to the back counter. The guy was nowhere in easy sight. Feeling a little disappointed, he checked with the sales person on duty about his back orders. None had come in yet, so Skyler wandered into the extra's aisle to see if there was anything he wanted there.
As he stood looking at some seat covers, a chill shot down his spine. Skyler fought to keep from having a visible case of the shakes. He shook his head and wondered where the hell that had come from. He took a step backward to get a better look at the seat covers that were on display. He felt something under his heel just as he put his full weight down. A gasp of pain yelped out from behind Skyler. He quickly lifted his foot again and embarrassed, turned to apologize. His apology froze in his throat.
Deep brown eyes, currently pained, gazed into his own hazel eyes. There seemed to be almost a faint light deep within those brown eyes. Time stretched out into eternity. Skyler shook his head to get a grip on himself and opened his mouth to try and apologize once more. He recognized those eyes from his dreams. The words barely came out as a faint and dim whisper.
"I am so sorry! I had no idea that you were behind me. Are you OK?" Skyler managed to get out.
The incredibly handsome man in front of him grinned and nodded. Skyler glanced down at the fellow's feet and blushed. The guy was wearing what looked like a reproduction of ancient roman sandals. Skyler even knew the company that produced them, Wild Soles. He had on a bright teal tank top with a tiny bow and arrow logo on the left breast. Black Levi's cut-offs finished off the apparel. The same metallic blue mirror shades were perched on the top of his dark brown hair. When Skyler lifted his eyes back up from the floor, they were again captured by the limpid warmth of the eyes of the man in front of him. Skyler also now had an idea of the height of this gorgeous specimen of manhood. They were the same height, to the inch!
"Don't worry about it," came a slightly accented soft- spoken response. Those intense eyes never left Skyler's.
The silence finally got to Skyler and he had to do something. He was completely aware that he might never have another chance to speak with, much less see, this electrically charged person again. The awkwardness of the situation was also beginning to make him highly nervous. His forehead had broken out in a light sweat and his heart raced toward his throat.
"Uh, hi. Do you own the Harley out front?" Skyler choked out. 'God! That sounded so lame!' he thought to himself.
"And you own the old Ranchero. If I remember right, the one that almost 'rear ended' me a couple of days ago." Skyler could hear the tiny emphasis on 'rear'.
Skyler's knees almost buckled under him. The biker remembered that whole thing! Strong hands reached out to catch him as vertigo swooped down on Skyler. They eased him down onto the edge of the lower shelf of the aisle. Then, they gently pushed his head down to a point between his knees.
"You OK yourself? Just keep your head there for a minute till the dizziness passes. I did not mean to startle you so badly. My name is Bryce Jackson." came the gentle voice from over his head. After a pause it continued, "Get these spells often?"
"Nnn...no. First time this has ever happened. I have no idea why now." Skyler mumbled. He was really distracted by trying to place the accent.
"Let us get you out of here. I do not think that the entire store need know of your indisposition. Let me help you to your car. I think it might prove to be less public and also afford you some small amount of privacy," offered Bryce.
Skyler made no resistance to the hands that picked him up easily by the shoulders. When he began to weave as he walked, Bryce put one hand on Skyler's elbow to steady and guide him through the store. His touch on Skyler's bare skin sent a bolt of sensation throughout Skyler's body. It almost felt electrical and incredibly intense. They made their way out of the store without further notice or incident.
As he fumbled the car keys out of his pocket, they fell to the ground. Sagging against the car's body, Skyler nearly burst into tears at this point. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before and certainly nothing anywhere near as embarrassing as this whole encounter was turning out. Bryce bent down gracefully and scooped up the fallen keys. He unlocked the car door and opened it. Skyler collapsed onto the driver's seat and did actually burst into tears. The embarrassment rose to new heights. He hadn't cried in front of anyone other than Ethan since he was 13. He was completely confused and mystified by what was happening.
Skyler nearly hit his head on the interior roof as Bryce leaned into the still open car door and whispered something into his ear. In his confusion, Skyler could have sworn that it was Greek. But, not spoken like any Greek that he could readily recall hearing before. In his startled state, he lost track of what the words meant. He looked up and into the eyes that were mere inches from his own. The vertigo cleared from his head and the faintness receded as well. 'How remarkable,' Skyler thought to himself.
"Feeling a little better now? Perhaps it was the heat of the day that incapacitated you. Have you eaten today?" enquired Bryce. When Skyler shook his head, Bryce smiled, "Well, there you have it. Not eating and the heat of the day must be the cause of your feeling ill. I have a proposal. Let me take you to get something to eat. I do not think that I can, in good conscience let you drive in this condition. Or would you prefer to call someone to come get you?"
"No! I mean, I think I will take you up on the lunch offer. Thank you so much for helping me out to the car. I have no idea what is wrong with me!" replied Skyler. "Ummm, how are we going to do this? My car or your bike?"
"Do you feel up to a ride on the back of my Harley? I do have a spare helmet. One never knows when it will come in handy." Bryce offered.
Skyler's heart began to pound rapidly again at the thought of being on the Harley with Bryce. It was almost too eerie for words. The dream of a couple of days ago flashed through his reeling mind. Things were happening so fast. Maybe too fast. He just couldn't get a grip on how all of this was happening.
"Let's go on the bike. Maybe the wind from the ride will help. After we eat, you can drop me off to pick up my car," decided Skyler.
"As you wish. I have a place near here in mind." Bryce offered Skyler a hand up out of the car. He locked the door and handed the keys back to Skyler. The expression on his face was unreadable as he led the way over to his Harley. Once there, he unlocked a side compartment and pulled out a helmet that he then handed over. His own helmet was resting carelessly on the seat of the bike. Bryce helped Skyler onto the slightly sloping back-end of the Harley and then slid gracefully in front of him. With a massive roar, the Harley purred into life.
The wind swept around them as Bryce gunned the bike out of the parking lot. The forward motion threw Bryce's ass firmly into Skyler's crotch. He felt a twitch from his already half hard penis. It was just too similar to the earlier dream. Skyler was finding himself incredibly aroused by the blurring of dream and reality. As Bryce leaned into a turn, Skyler automatically leaned with him. He found that his hands were firmly ensconced at Bryce's waist. He was beginning to regret choosing to take the bike. It was going to be a while before he could get off the bike without his arousal becoming public exhibition of the most flagrant kind. His habit of not wearing underwear abruptly became a liability. The shorts he was wearing were just loose enough to allow his erection to move very freely. To make matters that much more complicated, Skyler knew that there was no earthly way that Bryce was oblivious to the bulge that kept nudging the crack of his ass with each motion of the bike.
The ride over to Bryce's mystery restaurant seemed both incredibly long and at the exact same time far too short. Skyler just gritted his teeth together and held on. Not too long after the close and personal ride began, Bryce pulled the Harley into another parking lot. He waved a hand over to the building, pointing out the place he had in mind for the impromptu lunch. It was a small place off the beaten path called The Sci-Fi Cafe. Skyler snorted to himself as he noticed the name. As if this day or week for that matter, weren't bizarre enough. Bryce suddenly braked and Skyler slammed into his backside. It was darn near painful.
"I hope this will suit our needs," Bryce commented as he finally cut the motor to the bike.
"I trust your judgment. Ummm, I... well, I am feeling a little odd right now. I'll join you in a moment, OK?" Skyler hedged as Bryce offered his leather-clad hand to help him off the bike. He slouched forward to try and get his over sized T-shirt to billow out over his massive and highly visible erection. Bryce smiled and Skyler nearly lost track of why he had been embarrassed. There seemed to be that faint light at the back of Bryce's eyes as he stood staring into Skyler's. When Skyler finally got back into focus within his head, the entire problem seemed to be too silly for words. He then accepted Bryce's hand and swung down off the bike. Absently, he nudged his erection up into the waistband of his shorts. With the oversized T-shirt he was wearing, no one would really be able to tell anything was off kilter. Bryce pulled off the fingerless gloves and tucked them into his helmet. He took the helmet form Skyler and set both on the seat of the Harley.
They chose a sidewalk table on the end farthest away from any customers. While they waited for the food that they had ordered, Bryce asked question after question about Skyler's life. The entire time, he kept those deep brown eyes completely focused on Skyler. Skyler was so lost in them, that he lost track of the questions and answers. By the time the food arrived, he was at a loss as to what had happened now. All he knew was that things just kept getting stranger and stranger, but somehow not frightening him. Despite the absence of fear, there was still a vague unease with how the events were unfolding. Each time he looked into Bryce's eyes, all thoughts of anything being odd just dissipated.
Skyler did feel better now that he had eaten. He sat sipping iced tea and answering the questions asked. It bothered him that he couldn't place the accent that was so subtle in Bryce's voice. It was so damn familiar yet not. Finally, he had had enough and refused to answer any more.
"So, what is it that you do Bryce?" Skyler finally asked when the silence began to stretch out too long.
"Mostly nothing, I do travel frequently though. I suppose you could say that I am an old fashioned student of human nature. The way human beings think and dream intrigues me," Bryce replied without hesitation.
"Oh... So you have a psychology degree?" asked Skyler.
"You could say that, yes. Feeling better?" countered Bryce.
"Much. Thank you for lunch. Ummmm..." Skyler fumbled with his napkin for a minute and then asked, "Can I see you again?"
"I think that it is safe to say that you most certainly will. What are you doing tonight?"
"Well, I'm supposed to be doing research, but I can put it aside for a night. I need a big break from it anyway," answered Skyler.
"Then let us get together tonight and talk some more. You have captured my attention, Skyler Thompson. I think that it is time to return you to your car."
Bryce laid some bills onto the table to cover lunch and motioned for Skyler to precede him back to the bike. Goose bumps rose along Skyler's neck at having Bryce behind him. He hopped onto the Harley and pulled the helmet onto his head. Bryce swung himself into position and started up the bike. With the bike still idling, Skyler was shocked as Bryce purposely scooched his ass back until he was firmly planted against the insides of Skyler's thighs. The erection that had finally faded over the course of eating lunch sprang back to full life within 10 seconds. He could feel the heat of Bryce's body through the 2 layers of clothing that barely separated them. His rock hard boner was pressed tightly in the cleft of Bryce's physically perfect bubble butt, running up his beautifully muscled back. Bryce reached back and took a hold of Skyler's hands and pulled them around his waist to his stomach. There, he placed the fingers together, patted them gently and gripped the hand controls for the Harley. Skyler practically choked in astonishment and shock. He, however, did not let go of Bryce's middle.
The feel of Skyler's fingers on the ridges and valley's of Bryce's clearly defined stomach muscles nearly drove him wild. Then the Harley started forward with a tremendous lurch. This, of course, shoved Bryce back into Skyler. His hands slid down Bryce's stomach from the inertia. To his amazement, they didn't go to far down the flawless body. They came to rest against the tip of a pretty damn impressive erection that quite clearly reached Bryce's bellybutton. The sudden forward motion also pressed the entire length of Bryce's back against Skyler's chest. He could feel the pure, unadulterated power that the biker's physique wielded. Involuntarily, Skyler's mind returned to the vivid images of the second dream. He almost lost control of his grip when he began to feel Bryce chuckling.
The ride back to his car left Skyler feeling that the world had gone surreal. An intense euphoria flooded through him. Yet... a part of him was screaming that this all was going way too fast and definitely too far. As the ride continued it's way through eternity, Skyler pushed those thoughts as far from the front of his mind as he could. His sense of caution faded and the delight of finally feeling like a complete sexual being took the forefront. There was an intense tingling at every point of his body that touched the man in front of him. Far too soon for his satisfaction, they arrived at his abandoned and forgotten car.
Skyler slid reluctantly down from the still purring Harley. He removed the helmet and held it out to Bryce. Surprisingly, Bryce just shook his head with a small smile. Skyler's jaw fell open in total disbelief.
"What do you mean?" asked Skyler incredulously.
"Exactly what I implied, Skyler. I want you to keep the helmet. I have a distinct feeling that you will ride again with me. Therefore I gift it to you. Be polite and accept it without protest," explained Bryce.
"All right. I don't quite understand why, but ok. Thank you!"
"I will see you later this evening. When the moon reaches mid-sky, look for me." Bryce turned, walked back to his Harley, mounted it and took off.
"Wait!" called Skyler after the rapidly vanishing form. Too late though, the motorcycle was already far down the street with a roar.
Skyler stared at the helmet in his hands. The unreality of the situation hit him front on now that Bryce's distracting presence was gone. There were a lot of questions swirling around Skyler's head at the moment. Most of them would not have a satisfactory answer any time soon either. He unlocked the Ranchero and hopped in.
Once he got home, Skyler checked the messages on the answering machine. Nothing important showed up for him. He laughed softly to himself when he recognized Tanya's whiney voice imploring Ethan to call her back. The only other message that had any importance was from Ethan himself. He was calling to let Skyler know that it looked like it was going to be an all nighter at the computer lab and to go ahead and eat without him. With a sigh, Skyler slumped onto the couch and thought about the afternoon's events. The strangeness of the whole affair kept popping up.
He sighed again and got himself up off of the couch. Too much to do and he had slacked off today longer than he had intended. Bryce had kept him talking for 4 hours! He turned on the TV and began straightening up the living room and kitchen to the tunes playing on VH1. Skyler liked doing housework to the latest music but didn't really like using the stereo. In a relatively short time, the apartment was in pretty good shape.
Then he went through his Tai Chi exercises. The smooth rhythms and flowing moves brought him back into a calmer state of mind. Once he had completed his pattern, he dropped himself down into the lotus position to meditate for a while. He hoped that would help to get rid of the last lingering confusion of the day.
His eyes flickered open as the sun went down. The crimson and peach sunset was a beautiful way to come back to awareness of his external environment. The meditation did what he had expected. All of the events of the afternoon were now clear and uncluttered by his emotional response. His questions also had a direction now too.
First, how had Bryce known his last name? Skyler didn't remember ever introducing himself with his full name. In fact, he had not introduced himself at all! Second, what was the accent? It was on the tip of his tongue but wouldn't come out. Third, how the hell was this guy going to find his apartment? He hadn't even asked where it was. The implications began to frighten Skyler. Was he being stalked? What did he mean that he would show up when the moon reached its zenith? That would place the time at about half an hour after midnight for this time of year.
Next the physical oddities of the afternoon filed through his mind. He had never had vertigo before in his life. Yet, he had had a really serious case of it within moments of meeting Bryce face to face. Then the way it just vanished at the car. The losing track of his thoughts was so unlike his usual self also. The fact that he couldn't remember the whole question and answer session with anything remotely approaching clarity bothered him too. Mental fingers snapped suddenly. Where had the gloves come from? He knew with certainty that Bryce had not put them on in the auto parts parking lot, yet had taken off a pair in the cafe's lot. Finally, agreeing to let him come over? What the hell had he been thinking? Normally, Skyler would never even consider asking someone over after just meeting them for the first time. Skyler reviewed all of these questions again and again, seeking some kind of logic to the events. It just didn't make any kind of sense no matter how he looked at it.
He finally convinced himself that there was no way that Bryce could show up. The phone number was unlisted, so he couldn't use that to try and find him. Skyler decided to just put it all out of his mind. Hot erotic dreams were one thing but he was having a lot of difficulty accepting the reality of Bryce and his very obvious interest. He really wished that Ether were going to be home tonight. He would feel a lot better if he could talk this all out with his twin.
He made himself something to eat and then picked up the book he had begun over the weekend. Maybe some recreational reading would relax the mental and emotional twisting. Around 9, he put it down and switched the TV over to the WB to watch Roswell. He really liked the way the show was developing. He taped it for Ethan to watch the next day. He would have been really disappointed if Skyler had not taped it. They both loved the show.
Skyler drifted off to sleep not long after the news began its usual litany of the day's garbage. He was still draped all over the couch, with one over his legs thrown over the back of it. He was exhausted. Too much had happened in too short of a time. The sleep became very deep.
Waves pounded into the rocks that were scattered along the cliff-shore. The moon's light was very bright on the wave tips as they rolled in. A huge ring was around the moon high overhead. Fairy rings, Skyler remembered his mom calling the phenomenon when he and Ethan were still very little. The memory brought a small smile to his lips. He walked out to where the surf was meeting the small stretch of sand. His bare feet barely sank into the tightly compacted wet sand.
Skyler looked down at his naked body in the silverish moonlight. It seemed to reflect off of his body in shimmers. The fine hairs on his legs and arms sparkled and glittered. He was almost glowing. Delighted with the unusual effect, Skyler began to do cartwheels along the sand.
He whirled down the beach in total abandonment to the moment. The world seemed to turn under his hands as they touched the sand with each flip. He changed methods in mid leap and began to do them with one hand. Then he switched to back-flips. He was happy that he could still do them after being away from gymnastics for so long.
Once he was out of breath, he let himself fall to the sand. He lay there breathing deeply and watching the moon. Slowly, his attention came back to the beach. A figure stood further down from him. It was facing the water and calling softly in a language he knew but couldn't place. It sounded so entreating. The figure fell to its knees and began to weep.
Skyler got to his feet and approached the forlorn man. He noticed that this person was also without a stitch of clothing. Not that it really mattered. The despair in the voice pulled him closer. Skyler couldn't bear how desperately unhappy this person sounded. He felt that he had to comfort him or be over whelmed by the sadness that communicated itself plainly to Skyler. The figure crumpled to the sand and continued to weep desolately.
As Skyler approached the man, he began to understand bits and pieces of what he was saying. Something about 'where have you all gone' and '...being too different for the age...' and '...world has changed so much' and 'more than even a mortal could bear, much less an...'. The phrases implied something, but Skyler ignored that for now. He reached the man and sank to his knees beside him. Automatically, he reached out and gathered the shaking body into the comfort of his arms. A tremendous heat radiated from the man's body. Skyler became immediately worried that it was a high fever.
The man kept his face turned away but also nestled into Skyler's chest. His arms reached around Skyler's waist and clenched him close. The sobs grew harder. He had stopped speaking entirely now. Gradually the heat dissipated and the tears faded. Skyler continued to hold the man and stroked the dark hair the rested on his chest. The head lifted from his chest and turned up toward him. Bryce looked into his eyes.
"Do you understand? Do you 'know'? Will you help me find the others? Will you stay with me?" he asked in rapid succession.
"I do. I don't. If I can. I will," answered Skyler simply.
Bryce put a hand to the back of Skyler's head and pulled him down into his lips. The heat was intense. Skyler surrendered to Bryce's demand and allowed the kiss. Powerful waves of feeling roared through Skyler's blood and body. Vertigo again swept his senses ever closer to oblivion. He opened his mouth and admitted Bryce's tongue. Bryce gently probed as far as he could around Skyler's mouth and tongue. The effect on Skyler was near to bursting his swiftly pounding heart. He then leaned back and told Skyler,
"Wake up now. Skyler, awake. Leave the dream realm and meet me again in yours."
Skyler resisted. He wanted to stay here. Things made more sense here than they had in the waking one in a long time. Yet, in the end, he found himself unable to resist the pleas to wake. Bryce had grown warm and then nearly burning hot with each entreaty to wake. As if he were expending enormous energy to expel him from the dream. Skyler watched unhappily as Bryce and the beach faded away. Even then, he continued to fight against the tide of coming wakefulness until darkness ultimately closed on all that he had seen. His eyes fluttered open to the sound of a gentle knocking on the front door.
Skyler bolted up off of the couch, completely awake and alert. He was close to panic. His pulse raced. Sweat broke out all along his body. He could almost hear Bryce through the door, but he knew that no words were actually being spoken. If he understood the dream correctly...
He approached the door with dread. This could not be happening! It just wasn't possible. Madness reared its head within his mind. Cracks appeared within the depths of his soul. He staggered to the door and reluctantly peered through the peephole in the door. Bryce stood there, hands in his pockets. It was almost as if he knew that Skyler was now at the door and no longer needed to knock. Skyler almost collapsed against the door. All of his struggling and internal mental fighting had amounted to absolutely nothing. The impossible had occurred. Bryce was here.
After a few moments, Skyler was unable to resist any more. He unbolted the door and unlocked the door handle. Slowly, within a cyclone of mental anguish, he opened the door. Bryce stood there, wearing the same clothes as earlier. He looked even more handsome than before. His eyes immediately sought Skyler's. They seemed to read the conflict within him. A certain sadness creased his brow as he acknowledged Skyler's dilemma with the tiniest of smiles.
"May I come in?" Bryce asked quietly.
Skyler nodded and stepped back from the door. He swung it further open and stepped to the side. Bryce seemed to gather his dignity around him like a cloak and stepped inside. Skyler shut the door and led Bryce into the living room. He motioned for Bryce to sit wherever he wanted. Bryce chose the couch. Skyler took an armchair. He stared at Bryce without speaking. His mind was still in shambles. Bryce just sat quietly, waiting for Skyler to start speaking.
The silence went on and on. Skyler finally pushed aside all of the conflicting emotions. He stared at Bryce in fascination. He purposely said nothing, playing a waiting game. He decided to test the dream's authenticity and revelation. Within his mind he asked over and over,
'Who are you?'
Bryce smiled and replied verbally to the unvoiced question,
"You have the answer within your heart already, if you but look and trust. You know me by many names. I have existed since man first looked outside of himself for help and understanding of the world around him. I have many faces and many reasons to be. Wars have been fought over and because of me. My mother is but a larger aspect of myself. Time ceases for many in my power. I linger on, even in the face of the impossible. Dreams nightly beseech me. I bless many a night walk with the moon's bright light. Many words have been written or sung in every age of the world in my honor without ever naming me. Without my help and existence, life becomes meaningless and heartless. Spring is my time, but I am not limited to it. Day and night are as one to me and mine. Tragedy is my stepchild, just as bliss is fully mine. Too much of my attention and another of my stepchildren, jealousy, rises to prominence. You know full well who I am. Give me my name."
The name stuck in Skyler's throat. The sheer impossibility of it stunned his poor modern mind. Still, Bryce was right, Skyler did know his true name. Actually, several of them, from different languages. He shuddered with the effort of keeping his grip on reality. His doubts kept pushing all else away. At last, with one final mental thrust, he spoke the name he knew best. There was barely enough air in his lungs to whisper,
"Eros?"
Bryce nodded.
"In another time and place, yes that is one of my names. I have been alone a very long time. In this new time and place, a new one seemed to be best. After all, I do not exist to many now. At least not in a physical, interactive form. I am reduced to being a concept, a paraphrase, a nonentity. I am presently a paradox in the modern world. You called to me in your loneliness and knowledge of the old stories. No, not consciously, but from your heart. I could not do anything but respond. My power is still strong, but often veiled now. I usually only manifest it in dreams, for the protection of your modern sensibilities. After all, the height of my glory is but a distant memory to a select few. Many do not even know my ancient names. I come to you because your heart called me and... because I need your help."
"My help?" squeaked Skyler.
"Yes, your help. I am lost. I have vague rumors of my family. Do not look so surprised. Yes, they are all still in existence. I just cannot find them. I miss the company of immortal equals. Man has risen far and rivals the old gods. This I do not begrudge as some of the eldest do. I enjoy the fact that man has come far. You still have farther to go though. I look forward to the day when we all will truly be equals in every way that matters. But, enough of that sad tale. I also come in answer to your own dreams. I find you irresistible and desirable. It has been a very long time since a mortal has gained my admiration, much less my..." a tremor interrupted Bryce/Eros' speech. "Love," he finally managed to finish.
Skyler sat in totally stunned shock with the final pronouncement. His head whirled in confusion. The impossible had come to roost on his couch. Finally he just accepted. His eyes did not betray him. Awe replaced disbelief. The full meaning of the day's events would have to wait. Questions would be answered over time, as he was able to digest them. However, one very pertinent one had to be answered before he would allow himself to surrender to this glorious circumstance.
"What of Psyche, your wife?" asked Skyler pointedly.
"She is also long missing. Do not place all belief in the old tales though. She is my wife and yet not. She begrudges nothing of me nor I her. My very nature does not tie me to one or another. However, in this time and place, if it is your desire, I do so. I choose you. No other. My power is bound to you, if this is what you truly want. It will not interfere with my duties. It will bind my physical self to you. Does this meet with your wishes?" finished Bryce/Eros.
"OK, I think I can accept that. I need time to absorb all of this. If you truly want my help, we must play by my rules. It won't work otherwise. Give me a minute to think, alright?"
"As you wish," replied Bryce/Eros calmly with a grin.
Bryce sat back into the sofa and relaxed into the cushions. A small smile played across his lips briefly. Skyler did his best to ignore him as he pondered everything that had hit him over the course of the day. Finally, he came to a decision that he could live with.
So ends Chapter 2 of this behemoth. I hope you all like really long stories, cause this one don't look like it is going to be very short! Chapter 3 should take me about 2 weeks from when this is posted. Comments, ideas and advice will be gratefully acknowledged. :)