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Dinner was wonderful, mainly because Jenny had cooked it. Jenny had been back three weeks now. Jenny and Roslyn had made a quick recovery from their two weeks in the void. Although from time to time Jenny woke up suddenly in a cold sweat. She could not remember what she had been dreaming about, but that might not be a bad thing.

Jenny sat at the table and watched Alice clean up the dishes. The two of them had put the kidnapping behind them, but they each knew it still bothered Nodrog. While usually quiet, the dragon had been a little quieter than normal. The three of them had sex a few times, with Jenny and Alice still getting all they could ask for and more. His mind seemed to be elsewhere.

"What do Roslyn and Sherman keep bugging you about anyways?" Alice asked. In reference to an earlier conversation she had overheard. They had changed the subject when Alice and Jenny joined them at lunch one day.

"The past. The two of them seem convinced everything happening now is tied to events thousands of years ago." Nodrog said.

Jenny played with the straw in her pop. "... Well Tunrog had mentioned he overheard his grandmother and two other elder dragons talking about you."

Nodrog sighed and leaned back resting his head on the back of the couch and looking up at the ceiling. "That story again... If I am reincarnated, I do not remember my past lives."

"I can sort of see why they think it. I mean until Alice woke you up, we never would have imagined the things we have done. We share the same name with a woman you loved six hundred years ago... There has to be more than just coincidence." Jenny was trying to fish for information too, but in a way she hoped was different.

"It would be nice to figure it out. That way we can all put it behind us." Alice said as she walked over to the couch and stood behind him. "Maybe Nightrunner knows something since he is older then you."

Jenny got up and moved to the couch and leaned up against him. "You are always protecting us... We want to help, we need to help."

Nodrog smiled. "The two of you already have, in so many ways."

Nodrog sat quietly as the two girls tossed out numerous ideas and theories. Some that made a little sense and then some that lead him to believe they watched too much TV. In truth, he was remembering more and more. With the chains that bound Omega broken, he remembered a great deal more. Little pieces here and there, that slowly started resembling solid memories.

"What is Roslyn's middle name?" Alice asked.

Jenny leaned back. "I don't know. I don't think she has actually ever said her full name that I have heard."

"She does not have a middle name." Nodrog said.

"I thought everyone had a middle name." Alice said.

"Most people do. Grandma did not have a middle name, and one of our professors did not have one." Jenny said.

"Huh, guess I didn't know that." Alice said.

"Where did that come from anyways?" Nodrog asked.

"Just checking to see if the three of us did not share a middle name. That would be really weird." Alice said.

Jenny scratched her ear. "I know you keep saying otherwise, but just for the hell of it. What would you do if you had an army? And not just one you command because of your power, but because the army wants you to lead it"

"I suppose that would depend on why they want me to lead." Nodrog said.

"Alright, they are as sick of the council as you are. They want to put new monsters on it. Those who have not gotten fat and lazy with their position." Alice said as she hopped over the back of the couch to sit next to them.

Nodrog and Jenny both looked at Alice in slightly stunned silence. Neither of them thought Alice to be one for revolutions or military coups. She did however raise a rather valid point since none of the typhoons seemed to care for the council. Even Michaela had mentioned she did not think highly of them.

"What do you find so funny?" Alice asked as Jenny giggled.

"All you need is a beret and yell 'Viva La Resistance!'" Jenny said with a reasonable French accent. Alice hit her with one of the throw pillows.

"I am being serious. Except Nightrunner and his sister, we have not met many monsters that seem to care for the council." Alice said.

"Something wrong?" Jenny asked and looked up at Nodrog.

Nodrog had over looked that notion entirely. Most of those he has talked to since awakening had expressed some level of dislike or distrust... Even the little river Nixie had said he should be in charge. "No. But Alice is certainly onto something. I never made the connection before, because no one has stood against the council."

"Five of the typhoons were not afraid to ask you." Jenny said thinking of the argument they had just outside.

"I could see why the council would want to take action against you. Jenny and I know enough history to tell you just how paranoid those in power get. And you have lived it, monsters might be different in some regards, but I bet not all of them." Alice said.

"I suppose not... We will have to be very careful when we go to that meeting." Nodrog said.

"We as in Roslyn, myself and you? Or we, as in all of us going?" Jenny asked.

"All of us. Dallarth and I have an idea if the others will agree to it." Nodrog said.

"Hey, don't Roslyn and I have any say in it?" Jenny asked.

"No." Nodrog said and after a short pause smiled. "Mianth has no say in the matter either."

"At least you are not alone in the matter of not getting to say anything." Alice teased.

"I suppose we should go to bed... It is after ten." Jenny said.

"Yeah, tomorrow will be rather long." Alice said and stretched. They got up and headed to their room to get ready and go to bed.

Nodrog changed into his shorts and tucked the girls in before sitting down on the couch again. Over throwing a government was certainly not a new idea to him. He has done it a few times on this world and his home world. Except he did it on command or suggestion, not because he wanted to change it. He disliked politics, and disliked being a pawn or trump card in them.

The thing he hated above all other things was people using the people he cared about as pawns. Of course this time things were very different then they had been in the past. He was in a league all his own and no one commanded him. Nodrog held out his right arm, and with little concentration changed its form. His arm darkened and turned to sludge only long enough to change into the barrel of a thirty mm gun.

Nodrog smiled. Oh yes, this time things were very different. Omega weapon was altered into omega nightmare. The ghoulish undead siege weapon's powers were his to take any time now. In their effort to weaken the typhoons, they had only succeeded in making at least one of them stronger. Of course uniting the strongest of them, was not a sound strategy no matter how you looked at it.

Nodrog had also found he could easily enhance Sherman's own abilities just by being around him and devoting magic to the wolf. If he did it too quickly, it would be noticeable, but a slow change here and there... Even Sherman would not notice them. He would never be a typhoon, but given enough time he would be above par for full blooded monsters.

Even Jenny could be a serious threat if he fed the collar she wore extra magic. Just a nudge and the kitten would turn to solid pewter, enhancing her strength and speed. She could still be killed, but it greatly improved her chances of surviving. That only left Roslyn to worry about. While she might be getting old, the feisty otter was certainly not getting soft.

Morning came and like most, Nodrog was dressed and had started the coffee pot for them. Alice and Jenny both came out in varying degrees of dress. Both a little groggy and grumpy before they ate something. The three of them did get around and left the apartment in time to be to work.

Since Alice had to be at the convention center most of the evening and weekend. Jenny and Nodrog went with Alice, Friday night so they could check out things before the big crowds hit Saturday and Sunday. "They said Joe was set up at spot forty four... which is where again?" Alice asked as they walked up one of the dozens of rows.

"Another row this way." Nodrog said and led the way since he was tall enough to see over most of the crowd that was here tonight. Most of tonight's crowd was friends, family and lot of media.

"Is it just me, or does this year seem even bigger than last year?" Jenny mused as they followed Nodrog. The iron dragon without trying could part a crowd fairly easily.

"I think it gets bigger every year." Alice said and made mental notes where things where to find her way back tomorrow morning.

"And I thought you could part a crowd Joe." Wes chuckled as Alice and Jenny followed Nodrog past the reporters who moved out of his way without so much as a single spoken word.

"If you would gain some weight you would have a little more authority." Big Joe said he shook Nodrog's hand. "I was wondering if you would show up."

"I figured I might see more tonight, then tomorrow. I hear your ladies are doing well." Nodrog said.

"They are doing very well. It was nice of Jenny to offer to baby sit tomorrow so Katie can spend some time here." Joe said.

"No problem at all." Jenny turned to see where Alice had disappeared too. Alice had skipped saying hello and had made a bee line to Carly's freshly painted Mustang. Where DJ was still wiping the car down. "That didn't take long."

"We knew it wouldn't." Wes said as they walked over to the car. It was one of five of the 100th anniversary edition Mustangs. Actually they made four thousand of them, only five were equipped for track use. Carly's father was one of the factory sponsored race drivers to get one. Which Carly was given the keys too after she became a factory driver.

"Katie wanted to do the whole phoenix raising from the flames, but the bird did not fit with the pony car theme. That and Carly's team color is purple, so she painted a Mustang with purple flames for its mane and tail charging across the hood." TJ said as she helped Tim move a table near the car so Carly would have a place to sit.

"It is a mean looking car, the silver really makes the purple stand out." Alice said as she looked her friend's car over. The car her friend was supposed to have raced last year in France. The car that sat in a garage for ninety percent of the season while its driver kept going in and out of a coma... Alice wiped a couple tears away before anyone noticed them.

The rear quarter of the car was silver, with more purple flames and graphics the farther forward you looked. The front quarter of the car was entirely purple of some shade, and Katie had not shot hot rod flames. But very realistic flames engulfing the front clip. The body lines of the original car were clearly represented in the hundred year newer car, and the newer accents and styling did little to detract from the car it was paying homage to.

"So this is what my daughter was so excited about." A gentleman said as he and another man walked over to them.

"Hello Mr. Whitman." Alice said.

"Hello Alice, it has been a long time. I didn't catch much of the race, but congratulations on your win." Mr. Whitman said with a smile. Alice could see the accident had taken its toll on Carly's father, he looked older then he actually was.

"Thank you. I look forward to getting the chance to race with Carly this year." Alice said.

"I'm sure you are. I know it has been the only thing on my daughter's mind." Mr. Whitman said and chuckled.

"Pardon the interruption Sir, but we do have an appointment." The other gentleman said.

"Never enough time in a day. One more thing Alice." Mr. Whitman said and reached in his coat pocket to pull out an envelope. Which he handed to Alice.

"What's this for?" Alice asked as she glanced down at it.

"Something for your father. I look forward to seeing you and Wes at the races this year." Mr. Whitman said and headed off to keep his appointment.

Jenny leaned over to see read the envelope, only Ron's name was written on the front of it. And annoyingly enough it was a thick enough paper that they could not see what was inside of it. "I suppose you won't open it to see what it is will you?"

"Of course not." Alice said and put the stiff envelope in her purse. "Besides knowing how bad dad and his friends are about playing jokes on each other, I don't want to get caught in the cross fire."

"She has a point Jenny. Her dad did saran wrap one of his friend's cars on that guy's birthday." TJ said.

"I must have missed that one..." Jenny said. As bad as Alice's parents acted sometimes, she wondered why their kids were so straight laced. Neither Alice or her brother were ones for pranks or practical jokes. "Think he will tell us?"

"Depends on when he opens it." Alice shrugged. "Lets go check out some of the other cars."

Alice's knowledge of automobiles was second only to her knowledge of science and history. Granted her knowledge of race history was rather extensive. She knew all the drivers that were in attendance and several of the mechanics. Nodrog doubted there was even a single person that had not at least heard of her.

Nodrog spoke little as he followed the mouse from display to display. Alice just had a personality that glowed. While she was certainly attractive in a purely physical aspect, her personality was honestly attractive as well. The way she interacted with people, how she treated them, showed that she was equally beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.

As near as he could tell the treatment was working. Her blood seemed to have stabilized for the time being, but it was still too early to celebrate. The Velopians had gotten all of the notes and work related to the Black Blood project the grays and humans had been working on. Even with a computer translating, it still took three days to get all of it translated and formatted to be readable by the Velopians and their computers.

As Ron made his way over to them, Nodrog wondered if he still thought something was wrong. The subject had never been brought up again and he did not want to use magic on Alice's parents to find out. The three of them had made the loop back to Joe's display, where Ron had found them. They watched as Ron read the note and laughed rather loudly.

Jenny snatched the note out of his hand. "Damn it now I really want to know."

"What does it say?" Joe asked.

"Ron. Here is the twenty I owe you for our bet on who's daughter would be married first. Since neither of us thought one of them would marry another girl I will pay up. However since that will hinder you getting grandchildren first, feel free to just give it back to me." Jenny glanced at her father in-law as he still laughed. "I don't suppose there are other bets you would care to enlighten us about?"

"Truthfully I had forgotten about this one. Oh well it is all in good fun." Ron said with a smile. He took the note back, refolded it and stuck it in his pocket so he could show Lucy when he got home.

"Speaking of grandchildren... I have talked with Kathrin and Frank about switching to a non field position so we can have a baby." Jenny said.

"Seems kind of soon. I know I tease you both about it, but there is no rush." Ron said. Except for Nodrog the others were a little shocked about it.

"Oh not right away... I meant after this year's work is finished. So next year I would stay on base." Jenny said and blushed.

"Okay. That makes more sense." Wes said and chuckled.

"I still have a fair amount of traveling to do this year." Jenny said with a smile.

"Hey have any of you gotten to meet the Velo... the aliens?" DJ asked.

Oddly enough they all looked at Nodrog first. "Yes, I have spent a fair amount of time with the Velopians."

"I have spent a little time with them. They are very nice." Jenny said and managed to hide her surprise when Nodrog told her not to say too much. Her kidnapping was mostly kept secret from the world outside of the company.

Actually Jenny's father and family did not know about it at all. If they even cared about her in the first place to ask where she had been for two weeks. Marko had Nightrunner bring him some of the laws and rules pertaining to interactions with other races. Jenny and Nodrog had quickly translated some of the non English text. The three of them took a little pleasure when Marko insisted Jenny's father bring himself up to speed on the matter.

The twins and little Joe grilled Nodrog about the Velopians while the others kept talking about cars. Jenny and Joe worked out when she would need to be over at their house to watch Haylie. They parted ways late in the evening to head for home. Saturday would be a rather long day for some of them.

"Good morning Jenny." Katie said as she opened the door.

"Morning." Jenny said as she stepped inside. Katie showed her where everything was that Jenny might need during the day. Jenny had brought an extra shirt with her, because those accidents do happen.

"Alice didn't come with you?" Joe asked as he sat at the table with his little girl sitting in front of him.

Jenny smiled. "I might have kept her up a little later then I should have."

"Are you sure you don't want paid to watch her?" Katie asked and playfully smacked Joe for thinking about the cat and mouse.

Jenny picked Haylie up and smiled. "Nope. That's what friends are for. Have fun at the show."

"You really are a peach." Katie said and gave her daughter and Jenny a kiss on the cheek before they headed off to the show.

Joe and Katie both chuckled as they saw Alice talking to Wes, a very large cup of coffee in her hand. "I guess Jenny wasn't lying." Katie said quietly.

"Well you should have smacked her for always saying stuff like that." Joe teased as they all met at the display.

"I guess Jenny made it over to your place on time?" Alice asked and stretched with a yawn.

"Yes she did." Katie said and leaned against one of the tables they had.

"Natasha not coming?" Joe asked as they set out some posters and other last minute things.

Wes shook his head. "No, she had to fly back home. Her father is not doing very well."

"Lung cancer, wasn't it?" Katie asked.

"Yeah they thought he was getting better, unfortunately it took a turn for the worse." Wes said and slumped in a chair. He did smile as Katie told the twins how to find the display again over the phone.

Eventually the twins found their way back to the correct display. Usually they avoided dressing the same way... Today they dressed exactly the same, from sneakers to hair accessories. Leaving their eyes and spots the only way to tell them apart. Jenny always thought it was the most adorable thing in the world when they did it. Which might be why they tried to avoid it when Jenny was around.

All of them were wearing shirts with the shop's logo on it. Wes and both Joes in button work style shirts while the girls wore t-shirts. The girl's shirts were a little snug, which Wes and both Joes found to be a pleasant change. The twins and Alice were really attractive when they dressed like women and not like tomboys. Due to Katie's Amazon like build, she had a hard time finding things that did fit so most of her clothes were a little snug.

Carly made her way over just before the doors to the event opened. She had no problems moving around now and was back to full health. Her usual mechanic John was with her and carrying a box of posters with him. John could have been Little Joe's brother they looked so alike.

After they all said hello, Carly pulled out one of the posters and unrolled it. "My boss had the idea to make these."

"It certainly makes your intentions clear." Alice said. The poster was Carly standing next to the newly painted race car, wearing shorts so her fake leg and the scars on her other leg were visible. 'Never giving up' was written at the bottom along with the date of her first race of the year.

After a little rearranging they got it so all three drivers were sitting at the same table. Tim was manning the shop, while Joe and Katie were here at the show. The twins and little Joe would stay until lunch, when they would head to the shop and let three of the others come spend time at the show. With the show running two full days it let Joe give all of his crew a chance to attend it.

Joe had actually gotten a box of red markers and green markers since those were Alice and Wes' car colors. Carly had purple and silver markers. At one point they had a lengthy line waiting to get autographs. With Carly and Alice both starting the season at the same race, people told them they already had tickets to the race.

Alice would have a busy race weekend because she was going to race Saturday in the Lotus and Sunday in the Viper. With a possible drift event if Carly and Mike managed to talk her into it. The two women were not the only female drivers, their popularity was in how approachable they were. While they did win, a lot, unlike other drivers they didn't mind signing an autograph if someone asked them any time. If someone saw them on the street they would gladly talk to anyone.

Alice and Carly were like their fathers in that respect. They knew they only had jobs racing because of the fans. And in Carly's case, corporate sponsors. Carly raced full time, so she was often out meeting sponsors for events or at corporate meetings. Alice was glad she didn't have to do all of that, since she raced on her own dime. Or in the case of the race out in France, Joe's dime.

After ten hours of signing autographs, posing for pictures and talking with fans, drivers and media. They were glad it was time to call it a night. Joe and Katie made their way into the house. The TV was on and as they walked past the kitchen from the garage, they knew Jenny had washed any plates or glasses she had used.

"You didn't have any trouble with Haylie, did you?" Katie asked as they walked over to the couch.

"Jenny?" Joe asked. Katie and Joe looked at the other and walked over to the couch.

"That's so sweet." Katie said quietly as they looked over the couch.

Jenny and Haylie were both sleeping on the couch. Jenny was laying on her back with an arm around the little girl who was laying on her stomach. It took a little work, but Joe managed to get his daughter out of Jenny's grip. Sleeping Jenny was rather strong. Katie turned off the TV and covered Jenny with a blanket for the night.

"Hey Alice." Katie said quietly as she turned out lights after calling Alice on the phone.

"What's up?" Alice asked as she waited for an elevator.

"Jenny is fast asleep, I just covered her up with a blanket. I didn't want you worrying about her." Katie said.

"I had figured she would. She always does when she looks after Kenny's boys. Have a good night." Alice said and got on an elevator to head up to her apartment.

Nodrog glance up from the electronic book as Alice closed the door. "How did today go?"

"It was fun. Jenny will be home tomorrow, she is sleeping on Joe's couch." Alice said.

"You did say she most likely would." Nodrog said.

Chapter.

Jenny opened her eyes as she smelled coffee brewing. She sat up and looked around. Katie was feeding Haylie on the other couch. "Guess I fell asleep."

"The two of you were dead to the world when we got home last night." Katie said.

"She was an absolute angel yesterday. No problems at all." Jenny said as she folded the blanket up.

"That is good to hear. There are some bagels in the fridge if you want something to eat." Katie said.

"Thanks. How did everything go yesterday?" Jenny asked as she headed to the kitchen to get a bagel and coffee. She had crashed at their house often enough she knew where everything was.

"Your little mouse was one of the most popular people there. Ran into a friend from Art school I had not seen in a long time. It was nice and I really appreciate you watching Haylie." Katie said. She set Haylie on the floor and the girl instantly took off for the kitchen. They had gates to keep her from climbing the stairs or going into the kitchen.

Alice had explained that one of the odd things that came with the introduction of animal genetics into the human genome; was an increased motor skill development. All anthropomorphic or hybrid children learned how to crawl, walk, run and climb at a much faster rate than normal human children. They grew at the same rate, certain physical skills were simply picked up quicker. Mental development seemed to remain consistent no matter the genetic influence.

It made childproofing a home considerably more difficult since even fine motor skill developed quicker in the anthro, or hybrid children. The child gates required two different complex actions and a certain amount of strength to get open. It made sports that much harder since the anthro or hybrid kids developed in that area faster. It evened out later in life, but did cause numerous problems until the population balanced out.

Jenny smiled and waved at Haylie who was watching with keen interest. "Alice is popular everywhere. We got mobbed at a restaurant on our honeymoon."

"She had mentioned something about it." Joe said as he came downstairs and just stepped over the gate. He had already ate something and kissed his wife and daughter good bye before leaving with Jenny.

As soon as Jenny closed the apartment door behind her she kicked off her shoes and started stripping to go take a shower. Alice had already left and Nodrog was also out somewhere. She tossed her shirt and shorts in the laundry hamper along with her undergarments.

While the couch was fairly comfortable, she was a little stiff and the hot water washed the soreness away. Along with the smell of baby vomit, because Haylie did spit up after one of her feedings. Jenny pulled on clean clothes and headed down to the lounge to see if she could find Nodrog.

She did not see Nodrog, but Stacy and Samantha were over by the dart board with Roslyn. The otter seemed to be the only one playing at the moment. "Morning." Jenny said as she walked over to them.

"Hey there kiddo." Roslyn said and tossed her last dart, which hit just outside the bulls eye.

"Did you get a chance to check anything out at the car show?" Stacy asked and pulled a little case out of her purse. It held her own darts, she was going to practice with Roslyn.

"Yeah, Nodrog and I went Friday night and got to see most everything." Jenny said and sat down at the table with Samantha.

"How did the baby sitting gig go?" Samantha asked as Stacy stood up to take her turn.

"No problems at all. Makes me want one a little more." Jenny said.

"What does Alice think of the idea?" Roslyn asked and watched as Stacy did okay. The lion was more than just a little out of practice.

"She said she is okay with the idea, even scheduled an appointment with the doctor to discuss the matter." Jenny said.

"What about the thing we have to go to with Nodrog in a week or two?" Roslyn asked.

"Is this about when the two of you were taken?" Stacy asked as she retrieved her darts.

"We are not planning on it this soon. I was going to finish off this year's field work and simple stay on site next year. There are some health concerns I need to look into and it is a lengthy process to find a donor." Jenny said and ordered a drink when the waiter came by to see if they needed anything.

"To answer your question Stacy, it is about that." Jenny said.

"How do the two of you remain so calm about that? Aliens just showed up and beamed you to god knows where. You were missing for two weeks before you found that hideous nightmare to rip you out of god knows were and bring you back here." Samantha said.

Roslyn leaned against the side of the booth. "Hell when you say it like that. It was like we were in a movie."

"I was only worried when the void walkers found us. I had a great time once we were on the ship." Jenny said.

"The traveling was great... and the sex was awesome." Roslyn said and snickered when Stacy nearly missed the dart board entirely.

"There is that part too." Jenny said and was still thinking about getting Roslyn naked in her bed. She had a perfect ass... and it was currently at eye level. If the three of them shared a room again on the space ship, maybe she could work a little magic of her own.

"I thought the two of you had gotten rather close." Samantha teased as their drinks and snack showed up. They all were drinking iced tea since it was too early for alcohol.

Stacy put her darts down to get a potato skin. "So that means he has slept with all of us plus Alice?"

Jenny sipped at her tea. "Yes he has."

Samantha glanced around. "Doesn't that bother you a little bit, since you, Alice and him kinda have a thing?"

"Why would it? He always has plenty of energy left for Alice and I. I am more jealous of Nodrog getting to sleep with her, than I am of her sleeping with him." Jenny said and took a bite out of a cheese stick.

"Oh and why is that?" Roslyn asked after she finished off a hot wing.

Jenny only smiled. "Cause I want to have sex with you too."

The three laughed at Roslyn's obvious embarrassment. After their snack they went back to playing darts or shooting pool. Where Jenny managed to make nearly every sexual joke and innuendo with a pool que possible.

Nodrog was not even on the same planet as the others. Actually he was not even in the same plane of existence anymore. Currently he was standing near a dock on the grassy bank of the river Styx. Waiting for the boat to reach the shore he now stood on. The inky black river was quiet and though he could see the dock on the other side. Anything past it was lost in the haze. This was as far as he could go, he could not physically or spiritually cross the river Styx.

Several dark robed angels stood with the souls of the recently deceased. It was another point people often get wrong. The angels of death were not scythe wielding skeletons. Most in fact were female and quite lovely. There were a few males and the heavens sent either a male or female depending on how the person died and their personal beliefs. If you saw an undead angel of death, heaven was certainly not your destination in the afterlife.

Gabriel stood on the raft as a robe wearing man pushed them along with a staff. The angel tied the raft to the dock for the man who ferried the souls of the dead. Gabriel acknowledged the angels of death who were guiding the dead to heaven. His silver and golden armor glowing in the pale light. The angel spoke briefly with any who wished it. His smile remained even as he walked over to Nodrog. "I must admit your memory is not as bad as you thought."

"So I am beginning to see things from a previous lives?" Nodrog asked as the angel walked over to him.

"Indeed you are. Usually we try and stay out of monster affairs, but this seems to be larger than we thought." Gabriel said as they walked along the eerie river. Though not devoid of life, the atmosphere and colors were subdued slightly as if one was in a dream.

"What did you find out? Or should I ask what can you tell me?" Nodrog asked.

Gabriel stopped, his expression and voice took a more serious tone. "Your deaths were no accident, you were killed by the same dragon each time. We do not know his or her name, but there is a possibility of a devil in the monster council's ranks."

"I have had a suspicion that something was off. What about Black Blood?" Nodrog asked.

"It is not connected with the typhoons in anyway. While both are separate incidents of their own, they both lead back to the same point of origin." Gabriel said.

"It will not be the first time I have had to deal with demons." Nodrog grumbled.

"If there is indeed a devil on the council, we will come to your aid. If it turns out to be simply a snake in the grass, you are on your own." Gabriel said.

Nodrog chuckled. "I can handle snakes even if they are quite large. And the last point I asked about?"

Gabriel put his hand on Nodrog's shoulder. "I cannot tell you the answer to that question."

With that Gabriel turned to head back to the dock. "Wait."

Gabriel turned to look at Nodrog. "Yes?"

"I will hunt endlessly and do everything in my power to extend her life. I will not stand idly by and let anyone take her before her time." Nodrog said with a fist clenched in anger.

"We know dragon." Gabriel said and turned to walk off. "Believe me, everyone knows how much she means to you."

Nodrog watched as the angel stepped onto another raft to be carried back across the river. Half way across, the raft and the two angels on it simply faded away. That was the trick about the river Styx, you can always see the other shore; but if you are not meant to cross it, you will never reach the other side.

He followed the path that lead to the river, passing a few along the way. It was not entirely uncommon for a monster to accompany a mortal friend in the place of an angel. It happened less now then it had in the past. Dragons were the most common of the monsters to do so. They watched over worlds, guiding both the living and the dead. Those like Inilth, who have most likely walked the path hundreds if not thousands of times.

It was a rather dark point brought back to the forefront as he walked back to the physical realm on a path he had personally sent so many down. Dragons are the only living creature that can be reborn in a new body with complete retention of their former self. That does not mean they all are. A few other races might carry some personality traits with them if they had a strong soul. There have been a very, very few who are an exception to the rule. A handful of the most enlightened of souls have retained near perfect past life memory.

As an instrument of death he knows the ins and outs of it like few do. Though the reason behind their death was hidden to the naked eye, he could see the cause of death as clear as if he had seen the person die. Nodrog always stepped to the side and bowed his head in respect for those going the other way. He bit his own tongue hard enough to cause it to bleed as a young lady walked past, she had shot herself before Black Blood could take her life.

He had made those that continued to make the illness pay, but it was a hollow point to those who suffered from it. He needed a cure to end the suffering, not just more suffering. His own heart nearly stopped when someone called out to him by name.

"You were not someone I expected to see up here. It looks like you lost a close friend." Charley said. The old man, did not look like the old man Nodrog had played with. He looked like the man he was back when he was fifty or so. His heart had finally given up while he was sleeping.

"I have and he is standing in front of me right now." Nodrog said taking a little comfort in the fact Charley had passed painlessly and peacefully in his sleep.

"Would you... Tell them boys and that sweet young lady I am sorry I won't make it to the next show." Charley said a tear in his eye.

"I will. I would have liked to play with you once more." Nodrog said.

"Lord knows I would have liked at least one more myself. You'all take care, I guess we'll get the chance to play again someday." Charley said with a smile.

"Just not too soon." Nodrog said and felt part of him die as he lied to the old man. He shook Charley's hand for the last time and watched the fiddle playing good ol boy head out. Talking the angel's ear off as they walked to the dock. Though they only interacted at the club a few times, Nodrog was saddened he would not get to hear Charley's violin any more.

Nodrog followed the path to one of the thin parts of the physical world. A cavern deep in the bone jungle that if you knew what to look for and the right magic allowed the living to pass into the realm of the dead. Mythology was not far from the truth in most regards.

It was rather early in the morning when he teleported to the roof of the main building they all called home. The first rays of light just starting to fight the dark of night. Nodrog was leaning on the railing looking east, over the southern part of the city and eventually the ocean itself. "I know you are there, Jenny."

Jenny was not surprised he knew she was there. She knew it had to do with their shared connection and didn't give it a second thought to come out here looking for him. Her hesitation came from not being sure what she should say or do. "Sorry. Would you like some company?"

"I always like your company." Nodrog said as Jenny walked over to him.

Jenny stood close to him and smiled when he put his arm around her. "What's wrong?"

Nodrog sighed. "Charley passed away a few hours ago."

"I'm sorry, he was a nice guy and a fantastic fiddle player. Did Winston call you?" Jenny asked.

"No. I spoke to Charley as he was walking with an angel to the river Styx." Nodrog said.

"At least you had a chance to say goodbye. But what were you doing in a place I thought you could not go?" Jenny asked.

"To talk to someone about my own past. I can go as far as the river bank, but I cannot cross it." Nodrog said.

"Oh, well what did you find out?" Jenny asked. Not fazed in the slightest by the things he told her.

"I have died, twice actually." Nodrog said quietly.

"Then part of what Tunrog told us is true. I won't even try to say I understand what you have been through. But it does not change the way I feel about you. I still offered you my blood and I would gladly do it again." Jenny said and turned to look up at him. "I may never be able to understand the world as you see it, but I promise I will listen if you want to talk about it."

"I know, that's one of the reasons why I love you. Hopefully after our trip things will quiet back down to normal." Nodrog said.

"Hopefully not to quiet. Roslyn and I happen to like the space traveling part." Jenny teased.