The door opens and Ahuru motions the girls in as Memnon stands over by the bed his face a mask of confusion as he shakes his head trying to get the cobwebs out. "I have spoken to him," Ahuru says to Brianna.
"Yeah we had a talk...I...I think..." Memnon says shrugging.
Brianna approaches Ahuru and slips her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. "Thank you," she says, leaning up for a kiss.
Cliodhna glances from Ahuru to Memnon-- looking a little confused-- but decides not to ask what Memnon meant by that. "WE had a very good talk. Women are actually quite wonderful ta talk to! Well-- Brianna is, anyhow!" Cliodhna smiles at Brianna, and then looks at Ahuru and points at him. "An' ye! Ye have the most wonderful, tender, caring-- not ta mention kick-ass fighter-- woman, an' ye better let her know it ALL the time or I'll be on yer case, Ahuru!" Cliodhna grins and folds her arms, standing in a commanding posture.
Ahuru kisses Brianna and looks to Cliodhna, "I am very proud of her. I shall not leave her side," he says.
Memnon shakes his head some more and walks towards the door. "I think I need a drink..."
"What, in the middle o' the mornin'?" Cliodhna asks, putting a hand on her hip...and then hiccups and quickly covers her mouth, looking guilty.
"Yeah, it's early... wait how long have I been in this room?" He says as he looks out the door and down the steps.
Brianna asks Ahuru in a quiet voice when Memnon moves further away, "What exactly did you tell him?"
"I told him what he needed to know, and what to do when the time comes..." Ahuru turns his gaze upon Cliodhna and she hears a voice in her head... "He will never leave your side, forever is he your GUARDIAN."
Cliodhna looks at Ahuru in surprise. She thought she had been sent to get Memnon so he could assist Ahuru, not herself! Cliodhna turns her eyes to Memnon, gazing at him softly with wonder. Ahuru wouldn't do this to her if Memnon was a violent man-- or any of the other things she was afraid he might be. She walks quickly over to Memnon and closes the door so the four of them can have privacy when sending the messages to Amon. "Ye've been in here with Ahuru fer nearly 2 hours. Don't worry-- talkin' ta Ahuru can feel like 10 seconds or 10 years! Don't go down ta the bar just yet-- we need ta speak with Amon, an' then be at our best when we join the rest o' the cohort an' go ta speak ta Paul." Her voice is soft...gentle-sounding, even. "Ye goin' ta be OK?"
Memnon nods, "Yeah yeah," he says looking at her strangely. "Let's do this." He sits down on the bed to clear his head for a moment.
Cliodhna notices the look on Memnon's face and feels guilty. They still need to get a few things established before she'll be comfortable having him near her at all times, but that should wait until after she speaks with Amon. Cliodhna notices Brianna and Ahuru's heads close together speaking in hushed tones and smiles. "Sorry ta interrupt ye lovebirds, but the mornin' is gettin' late an' I'd like ta try contactin' Amon one more time before we speak ta Paul." Cliodhna assumes her usual posture of command while waiting for Ahuru and Brianna to respond.
Ahuru nods at Cliodhna, "Yes contact my son. When you are done, I too shall speak to him..."
Brianna pulls out some chairs and offers everyone a seat so they can be comfortable while Cliodhna tries to contact Amon. She sits in a large plush chair with her feet folded beneath her, leaning on her elbow and watching the others with interest.
Cliodhna nods, sits down in the center of the floor cross-legged-- flipping the back of her jacket out behind her-- places her hands on her knees, closes her eyes, and slumps forward a bit. She slowly goes into a deep meditation, and when she's ready, she thrusts her mind out into the realm of sleep.
She feels...well, kind of like how a water-skiier must feel! Something is pulling her consciousness forward at racing-speed, aiming for a target that it doesn't quite see yet but knows is just ahead...a kind of pattern-seeking missile, of sorts. Her eyes clench a little and her hands hold her knees tighter. Amon is definitely asleep now, or nothing would have happened when she sent her mind out. She's never entered a dream from being this far away from the person, and the journey is quite exhilerating! Light, sound, and smell flash past her at incredible speed when suddenly it all goes dead-stop and she's standing in darkness.
All around her there is nothing but darkness. She can feel something or someone there with her, but still the darkness pervades everything.
Cliodhna peers around uncertainly. "Did I...do this right?" she wonders, starting to feel a little apprehensive. "Amon?" she calls, her voice echoing around the darkness. "Amon? It's Cliodhna!"
There is a noise behind her and as she turns she sees Amon's body laying on the ground. He is in rags and badly bruised.
Cliodhna's eyes go wide, and she runs and falls to her knees beside him. "Holy Mother, what happened?" she murmurs, leaning over Amon and peering at his face. She places her hands on his shoulders and-- not knowing what else to do to a dream-form to revive it-- shakes him gently and calls his name again.
His eyes flutter a moment, a groan escapes his lips, "So tired...so very tired...."
Cliodhna watches him for a moment with her lips in a tight, thin line before she remembers that she can alter dreams! Keeping her hands on Amon's shoulders, she concentrates hard and the space around her suddenly starts weaving itself into something new. The blackness is replaced by a soft light. Cliodhna concentrates on the most beautiful scenery she ever saw in her living years, and suddenly Amon is laying on a soft pallet on a grassy hill-- the deepest emerald-green one could hope to imagine-- soothing breezes blow the grass, and she can hear the sound of the ocean at the base of the hill. It is the hour before sunrise when everything starts waking up. Cliodhna looks down at Amon, concentrates again, and now he's dressed in the softest cloth-- Cliodhna remembers the pajamas she got for Yule when she was 10...nothing was softer! Cliodhna lets out a little laugh and removes the pictures of fluffy sheep from Amon's attire. With a wave of her hand his bruises also disappear, and she leans down and calls to him again.
His eyes open again this time just a bit more clear, "Wha...what? Cliodhna? I....Cliodhna I am sorry...I failed her..."
Cliodhna looks at Amon in confusion. "What do ye mean, Amon? Failed who?"
Amon looks up at her with eyes filled with sadness and regret. She can see thousands of years of them etched into each line of his face, "I failed your mother, she has joined him...joined Markova. I should..I should have kept in contact, should have come to seen her...should have told her....I failed...This is my price..."
"Oh Amon," Cliodhna smiles a sad smile and moves her hands down to squeeze his hands. "I just found that out, meself. It wasn't yer fault at all-- now stop blamin' yerself, all right?" She looks at him for a moment. "I..." then she quickly stops herself and a look of horror flashes momentarily across her face as she remembers her mother's words not to tell Amon about her father. She swallows and speaks again. "She didn't join him the way yer thinkin'-- she's with him ta protect me. From her new position, she can conveniently learn o' Markova's plans, an' put suggestions in his mind. Ye see?" Cliodhna squeezes Amon's hands again. "'Tis all right, Amon...'tis all right." Her eyes unfoces a little as she thinks about what danger she could be in...what a mess it all is.
"I should have kept her away from him...should have never let him near...I was so worried about Pharaoh that I....you should have had a normal life...with a good father not..not him...it's all my fault..."
Cliodhna quickly releases Amon's hands and jumps back, holding her hands out in front of her. "Please, Amon...I'm not my father-- I never knew him-- Mother just barely told me about that, too. Please-- I'll show ye that ye can trust me. I-- I look up ta ye more than anyone else in creation! Please...just don't kill me!" Cliodhna falls down onto her knees with her hands still outstretched, this time in supplication.
"I'm not going to hurt you...you couldn't help who your father was," he says his voice still weak. "I am so very tired...Markova...I can't let him win...but I am so very tired, Cliodhna...I want to be with her again...just want to be with her...I was promised..."
Cliodhna lowers her arms-- really taking in Amon's condition for the first time-- and crawls back over to his side. "Ye mean yer Issa-- that's who ye're speakin' of?" Cliodhna sits by Amon's head. More of her mother's words go through her head..."When the time comes, ye must tell Amon. Let him have his rest, the poor man! Give him the reason why he shouldna destroy yer father...why he should go ta his Issa and rest at last." Cliodhna looks down sadly at Amon. She knows this definitely isn't the time to tell him, but for the first time she now knows a little bit of how the Garou of her mother's pack must have felt-- knowing things, yet knowing it wasn't their place to interfere. "Ye will be with her, Amon. Have faith in the Lady's promise. Yer work is nearly completed now. I...I have never heard o' ye bein' discouraged before-- are ye all right? Ye left fer Amenti so sudden- without tellin' any o' us." Cliodhna watches Amon-- he DOES look exhausted, and it frightens her.
"She's gone from me...to her rest...I need rest," he says. Suddenly the scene ripples as if struck by an earthquake. Blood bubbles up to his mouth, "I've done all I can...saw so many friends die...so many I wanted to save but couldn't...it's my turn now..."
Cliodhna looks around in alarm-- looking for the cause of the ripple, but seeing nothing. Suddenly her years of army-life and commanding men rushes into her and gives her strength. She pulls Amon up to a sitting position so the blood doesn't choke him, tearing a piece of cloth from the blankets and holding it to his mouth. "Amon! Amon-- look at me, Amon!" She snaps her fingers in front of his eyes, turning his face to face hers. "Amon, focus on my eyes." She watches him sharply. "Stop this complainin', soldier! We all have work ta do, an' none o' it easy. O' course Issa went ta her rest! Ye already knew that, man! An' so will ye go when yer work here is done, but it won't get done with this kind o' thinkin'! Ye have not done all ye can-- there is somethin' extremely important that ye need ta do! Markova is poised ready ta strike, but with yer help we can take that opportunity from him!" Cliodhna holds Amon's arms, shaking him. "If ye try ta give up now, yer a bloody coward, now come back ta me!"
Amon sits up a little as he weakly pushes himself up, "How...I don't understand..."
Cliodhna peers into his eyes, and nods when she sees that he's finally with her mentally. "That's much better," she thinks as she hands him the cloth to wipe his mouth with. "The Smilin' Lord has declared himself emperor o' the Hierarchy. Paul decided that enough was enough, and declared New York's independence. So now the emperor's first order o' business will be ta declare war upon both Amenti an' New York in his quest ta take over the Shadowlands. Our two kingdoms must quit the bickerin' an' join forces against Stygia. Markova came ta us an' offered his assistance in fighting Stygia an' the Amenti, but we can cut him off at the pass if we surprise him an' become allies-- not needin' Markova's help! Do ye understand?" She looks intently at Amon.
Amon's eyes begin to clear a bit and he looks at Cliodhna, "That's a great plan...but Osiris wants New York destroyed...Markova's touched it..."
"Markova's touched a LOT a' things!" Cliodhna comments wryly-- thinking of her mother-- and then clears her throat. "We've been talkin' with yer father-- Ahuru will be speakin' with ye after I'm done, by the way-- an' he's declared Osiris insane. An' ye know what ta do with crazed animals, don't ye?" Cliodhna sighs. "The leadership in this place could use some revampin', if ye ask me!"
"He is a god, I can't touch him...I've tried...he's too powerful..." he says and looks at Cliodhna.
Cliodhna looks back at Amon, thinking quickly. "Ye've fought with the power of a God before, have ye not? Or should I say...Goddess?" The edge of Cliodhna's mouth goes up in a smile. "I think perhaps yer father has some council in this area." Cliodhna's eyebrows go down. "How did ye know Markova was my father?"
"Brianna...she told me...tell me of your plan..." He says taking her arm in his hand.
Cliodhna looks at Amon in surprise-- pleased that he's finally returning to his old self. "My mother told me what happened after yer Issa died...how ye were possessed by the power o' the gods an' destroyed Markova's army? Surely Isis-- Gaia-- isn't pleased with what her consort has become. Call on Her-- Mother called on Her fer help, an' Gaia came ta her...even in Markova's dream-world." Cliodhna watches Amon for his reaction.
Amon lets go of her arm, "I can't," he says shaking his head, "Isis has no power here, this is Osiris' realm." Looking back to her he nods. "It was a good plan," Amon stands a little shakily and looks at his surroundings.
Cliodhna stands with him, making sure he doesn't fall. "Oh come now, Amon! Don't tell me Isis has no power over Osiris! Mother told me the legend-- how dedicated they are ta one another, an' how Isis brought Osiris back ta life? Are ye tellin' me that Isis an' Osiris are no longer a part o' each others' lives?" Cliodhna stops talking long enough to notice Amon checking out his surroundings. "We're on the west coast o' central Ireland." she says proudly.
From behind her Cliodhna hears a voice, "Yes it is true, Osiris has left the graces of Isis and has dwelt here without her for sometime..." Turning she sees Ahuru behind her.
Cliodhna puts a hand to her heart. "Ach, Ahuru-- ye bloody scared me!" she accuses, and then pauses to catch her breath. "Well that explains that. See what happens when a woman leaves a man on his own?" Cliodhna glances quickly over at Amon, and then back to Ahuru. "Well what about the rest o' the pantheon? Is there no god who would be sympathetic ta our cause?"
Amon shakes his head, "I don't think so...they helped him do this to me." He says clenching his fist.
"No, none of them can help. They are not gods, except Anubis, and he is not as powerful as his brother Osiris is. Do not worry, my son. Help is on the way," Ahuru says his voice full of concern. "Just a bit more time...patience my son."
Cliodhna puts her fists on her hips. "Did WHAT ta ye?" she asks, her eyes narrowing. Turning her face to Ahuru, she informs him, "When I first arrived here, he was layin' on the floor in complete darkness, covered in bruises an' barely able ta talk! Then he started coughin' up blood!"
"They were torturing me...to make me join them...Osiris...he held...held her soul for all this time...and he let her go in front of me." Amon's eyes begin to flare.
Cliodhna glares-- rage starting to build inside her. She turns back to Ahuru. "What does he mean, Ahuru?? He's goin' ta get his reward, right?? After all he's done?? How could Osiris get her soul?! I thought she was one o' Isis' priestesses!!" Cliodhna quickly creates a tree just so she can smash her fist into it. Grimacing in pain, she punches the tree one more time. "Bloody, fuckin'...what kind o' world IS this??"
Ahuru touches Cliodhna's shoulder, "Calm, all is as it should be. Go now, it is time we talked, my son," Ahuru says as Cliodhna vanishes at his touch. "Come, Amon...it is time to end what was started so very long ago..."
"No Ahuru...wait!" Cliodhna opens her eyes and she's sitting back in her body in the hotel room, her arm outstretched towards Ahuru who's sitting on the floor in front of her. "God damnit!" she slams her fist into the floor. "That man's going to drive me insane, Bri!" Cliodhna puts her elbows on her knees and leans forward, holding her head in her hands.
Brianna leans forward anxiously. "What happened? Is Amon alright?" Her hands are clenched into fists on her lap and she glances worriedly to Ahuru's still form.
Cliodhna shakes her head, still holding it in her hands. "I don't know, Bri...I don't know..." she smashes her fists down on the floor in front of her and then stands and starts pacing. "He's been captured by Osiris-- " she gives Brianna and Memnon a meaningful look as if to say 'I told you so,'-- "and Osiris an' the lesser gods are torturin' him as I speak, tryin' ta make him join them! I'm guessin' he's been knocked unconscious an' that's how I was able to talk to him the way I did. I think they're beatin' on his unconscious body even now, as he just started spittin' up blood while I was talkin' ta him." Cliodhna starts rubbing her fist against the palm of her other hand unknowingly. "He's so disheartened an' tired...he said somethin' about Osiris holdin' his wife's soul in a box fer all these millenia, an' then releasin' it when Amon wouldn't join him!! What kinda justice is there in this world when a man agrees ta help the gods fer thousands o' painful years with the promise of a reward-- ta be with Issa again-- an' then this??" Cliodhna blinks her eyes quickly and turns.
"But...what about Isis?" Brianna asks. "Can't she help him? Can't the other gods do something? He was their servant! They can't just abandon him when things look so bleak!!"
Cliodhna quickly wipes at her eyes-- pretending she had something in them-- and turns, nodding at Brianna. "That's exactly what I asked, but that's when Ahuru got there, an' he an' Amon both said that Isis has no power there-- that she and Osiris fell out long ago. Like Ahuru said, Osiris is insane. But I was able ta tell Amon of our plan-- although he sees no way to be able ta convince Osiris of it. Luckily Ahuru was very reassurin', an' said help was on the way for Amon. Bri-- I've never seen Amon like that. This is terrifyin'!!"
"Well, if Ahuru says help is on the way.. and he didn't seem worried.. I'm sure everything will be alright!" Brianna looks fondly over at Ahuru then back to Cliodhna. "He knows something we don't..." she lets out a little chuckle. "Whatever it is, we have nothing to worry about."
Memnon looks over at both women and closes his eyes again, stretching on the bed. "Ahuru knows what he is doing, I've seen him like this before...he's got something up his sleeve..."
Cliodhna watches Memnon stretch, and that makes her yawn. She looks covetously at the comfortable bed and sighs. Another night with no sleep. She rubs her hand over her eyes. "Ye're right. Ahuru did look sad when he saw Amon's condition, but ye know? He a very comfortin' father! I DO feel better knowin' Ahuru's with him now." Cliodhna slumps down to sit on the edge of the bed. "I hope I can stay awake today-- especially when we go talk with Paul...I'm exhausted."
Brianna sees Cliodhna yawn and can't help one herself. "How much longer until we need to meet with Paul?" she asks, wondering how much will be demanded of them this day. "Maybe we should catch what sleep we can.."
"That's a good idea, I've got some room right over here," Memnon says patting the space next to him and smirking at Cliodhna.
Cliodhna glances over her shoulder at Memnon, and quickly faces forward again-- flushing to the tips of her ears. But then she can't help laughing. God, but she's tired! "Ach, Mem...so temptin'! But ye missed yer chance-- I was drunk an hour ago!" She laughs, grabs a pillow off the bed, and lays on the floor with her back to Memnon's side of the bed. "There ye go-- yer two steps behind me, as ye commanded! I'll just get a little rest until Ahuru's done...then we need ta speak with Paul." She gets as comfortable as she can on the floor, and shuts her eyes with a smirk.