THE KEEPERS
Part 2
By Elizabeth

Rhea entered the back of the wagon, and helped Chaim 
into the vehicle after her. When she got to her feet 
and turned around, her mind went into overload.  
 
The walls were solid oak, gleaming and new. The 
amount of space was staggering for such a small old 
cart. The wagon was sparsely furnished, but cozy. A 
simple cot stood in one corner, with three shelves 
above it. Towards the back, an old woodburning stove 
sat, a table and chairs sitting just a few feet 
away. The little living space was windowless, yet 
still managed to be well lit by an unknown source of 
light.  
 
Chaim watched Rhea's reaction carefully. He watched 
as her face went blank with shock, then immediately 
began to smooth over as she adapted to her 
situation. This one was strong, stronger than any 
female he'd ever known in his lifetime.  
 
Then again, old man, he chuckled, you are from a 
time long past, an era of glorious pageantry. Your 
women weren't meant to be strong.  
 
Your women weren't born to be survivors. This one 
was.  
 
Once inside the wagon, Chaim closed the hatch behind 
them and began to bustle around busily, his 
movements slow and painful. When Rhea saw him 
working, she immediately snapped back to life and 
offered him assistance.  
 
"Thank you, child." he laughed as Rhea reached to 
one of the topmost shelves above the cot and 
retrieved a stack of towels. "Now here, take these 
two for yourself. It wouldn't do at all to have you 
catch your death before I've satisfied your 
curiosity, would it?"  
 
Rhea smiled at Chaim as he moved past her, then 
began to pat herself dry with one of the towels. She 
took the other and wrapped it around her shoulders, 
then started hand drying her thick red hair.  
 
She watched with interest as Chaim hobbled around 
the room...gathering a few garments from a shelf, 
putting a kettle on the stove, retrieving a book 
from under the cot. For a man of his seeming years, 
he moved with an energy and...a life that Rhea had 
never seen before.  
 
He finally gestured for Rhea to sit down at the 
table. As she slid into a chair, he moved to sit 
across from her.  
 
"Are you comfortable?" he asked. "If you like, I can 
give you something to change into until your clothes 
have dried."  
 
She shook her head, but smiled gratefully. "No, this 
is fine. My clothes will dry on me just as 
well...but thanks just the same."  
 
Chaim grinned and shook his head. "Such a powerful 
creature you are! The gods have graced you for sure, 
darling girl."  
 
She started to duck her head shyly, but stopped 
herself. "Thanks, Chaim."  
 
Chaim saw the easy, offhanded response as a good 
starting point for their discussion. "You seem to be 
very comfortable with me."  
 
She smiled as she continued to dry her hair, then 
froze, her eyes clouding in confusion. "I 
am...aren't I?"  
 
"Do you wonder why?"  
 
"No...no, I don't! But why not? How is it that I 
feel like I've known you all my life when I just met 
you today? How did I know who you were?"  
 
"It's not an easy tale to believe, sweet Rhea. Tell 
me, do you believe in things not of the normal 
world? The occult, life after death, ghosts and 
goblins...do you believe in the supernatural?"  
 
"Well, yeah...doesn't everyone?"  
 
"No, everyone doesn't. Your immediate, willing 
acceptance of things outside your experience is part 
of the great secret that is your destiny. Rhea, are 
you familiar with the tale of The Elder?"  
 
She stared blankly at him with those dark eyes.  
 
"Allow me to explain it to you. All of life is 
divided into four aspects: power, passion, instinct, 
and vision. These elements are in all things, and 
all beings. Each aspect is ruled by a being of pure 
energy and spirit. The four beings together form a 
council that has many names; the Tribunal of Souls, 
The Elder, the Four-Who-Are-One...they are the very 
core of life itself. Together, they control the 
fragile balance of existence."  
 
"Okay, I got that...but what does it have to do with 
anything?"  
 
"It is crucial, my dear. Let me finish...these four 
beings must be able to walk in the corporeate world 
in order to carry out their work among the most 
difficult animals of this planet: human beings. To 
do this, they use avatars, human servants that offer 
up their very flesh as a vessel for The Elder to 
walk among our kind. In return, the avatars gained 
true immortality and unheard of power. So these 
beings existed for an eternity...until the bonds of 
magic and life that The Four shared was severed."  
 
"They were scattered to the winds, distanced from 
their brothers. With the bonds broken, The Four 
could not rule as they had without the greatest of 
effort. The centuries have passed, and both The 
Elder and their avatars grow weaker by the day. As 
it stands now, they are dying."  
 
Rhea's eyes were wide in utter fascination. "How do 
you know all this?"  
 
Chaim paused. "I know...because I am one of those 
avatars. I am a vessel for the Demon Lord, God of 
Thunder and Flame. He controls the forces of true 
power, and I am his servant. The Demon, and I, are 
dying."  
 
Rhea shook her head almost unconciously. "No, you 
can't die. You can't! Oh, Chaim!"  
 
He smiled gently, and reached out to pat her hand 
comfortingly. "Beloved. Don't weep for me yet, for 
there is hope."  
 
She waited patiently for him to continue.  
 
"There is a way that The Elder can walk this earth 
at will, without the aid of mortal shells, and that 
is to take their avatars unto themselves before it 
is too late. However, their true power cannot be 
contained in a single mortal shell. They can only 
exist by binding yet another mortal to 
themselves...not as a servant, but a companion. One 
who will share their power, their burden, and serve 
as a partner in their responsibilities."  
 
"Like taking mortals and making them gods instead of 
pack animals." Rhea offered.  
 
Chaim shrugged. "In a sense, although I have never 
considered myself a pack animal in all the centuries 
I have served my master."  
 
Rhea leaned back in her chair for a moment, closing 
her eyes as she rubbed the bridge of her nose 
wearily.  
 
"I'm the one you want, aren't I?" she suddenly 
asked.  
 
Chaim's eyes went wide. "How did you know?"  
 
It was Rhea's turn to shrug as she leaned forward 
again. "Makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, I know you 
though we've never met...hell, I care for you! Then 
you tell me this story...makes sense that I'd be the 
one you need for this...this partnership thing."  
 
Chaim smiled broadly, and gave thanks to the gods 
that this woman was so devastatingly sharp. "You 
have wisdom beyond your years, little one."  
 
Rhea shrugged. "I've been around."  
 
Chaim just shook his head. "But, you are right...my 
master knew that a partner would be born for him, a 
match in blood and soul that would be well equipped 
to be keeper of his power. This is more than just a 
pairing, though...you must understand that for the 
bonds of magic to be forged between you both, this 
must be a marriage of your souls...a mating of 
hearts."  
 
Her eyes went wide. "You're telling me I gotta fuck 
this thing?"  
 
Chaim nodded. "A physical union is not necessary, 
but it is the best way. Your destinies are linked 
for all time, no matter what you do the Demon Lord 
is your soulmate!"  
 
Rhea stood and began to pace the room. Chaim sensed 
this was normal for her, a way to vent her confusion 
and frustration. He waited for Rhea to collect her 
thoughts.  
 
After a long time, she finally stopped and turned to 
him. Slowly, she strode across the room until she 
stood behind him.  
 
He was suprised to feel her delicate, yet powerful 
arms snake around his neck and shoulders. Soft lips 
touched his grizzled old cheek.  
 
"I feel like you're my family." she murmured, 
pressing a cheek to his own. "Like a long lost 
grandpa or something."  
 
He reached up and twined his fingers in hers. He 
turned his head to stare into her coal black eyes. 
"I know. In a way we are family, I suppose...both 
our fates tied to that of the Demon Lord. We share a 
destiny...it is the way of things."  
 
She frowned. "You said the Demon Lord has to take 
his avatar to himself. What does that mean, 
exactly?"  
 
Chaim shrugged. "We will merge, become one. The 
Demon will take flesh and I will know true peace at 
last."  
 
She inhaled sharply, as if in pain. "You'll die."  
 
He relinquished her hand and touched her smooth, 
flawless cheek with his callused fingertips. "I told 
you before, do not weep for me. Little beauty, in 
two months time I will celebrate my five thousand 
and seventy first birthday."  
 
Her eyes fluttered shut, and Chaim saw that diamond-
like tears were trapped at the edges. "It still 
hurts, Chaim. Weird as this all feels, I'll miss 
you."  
 
"I am content, darling girl. I have lived my life 
and served my lord. I will not truly be gone, 
dearest...I live in you! You must remember that."  
 
She nodded. "I know."  
 
"I'm not sure you do. For you, it will be quite 
literally true. I will always be with you in the 
spirit of the Demon Lord, for his flesh will be my 
very own. The soul may flee, but the body 
remembers."  
 
Rhea's eyes opened, and Chaim watched those tears 
fall, tiny rivers of silver cutting down her cheeks. 
"I never quite thought of it that way."  
 
Chaim reached for her, and with suprising strength 
gripped her wrist, pulling her down to the chair 
next to him. He then took both her hands in his.  
 
"Time is short and my lord is fading faster every 
day. The decision must be yours, and it must be made 
freely. Rhea, will you serve at the Demon Lord's 
side?"  
 
She sighed heavily, her head dipping almost wearily. 
She seemed to shake herself after several moments, 
then lifted her gaze to meet his. Chaim could almost 
see the red coals of hellfire burning in those black 
depths, much as they had burned in his own eyes so 
many centuries ago. The answer came easily to her 
lips.  
 
"How do I sign up?"