The explanation of Lija and my nature from the introduction of Turning Points would be good background for this piece. A lot of strange events had been happening in my life. I had discovered I was the Gate to Luna’s Gatekeeper for one. Noah, who was our “Key” had learned of a prophecy that I might become infected, a were. So he was being paranoid about me always having someone with me to protect me. I had guards unless I was with Elijah or Luna, both of whom he trusted to keep me safe since they were both Alpha Weres.

 

Arianna, the Ancient associated most closing with me as a Gate, had also warned us of unknown challenges we would all have to work together to face. Oh, Lija sometimes refers to her as “the rider.”

 

Also of note, Luna has her own rider, Gabriel, a sadistic, thankfully dead member of the old St Louis Pard.

 

I already had some were tendencies since a merging of spirits Luan and I tried. I felt and somewhat acted like her kitten and we had recently noticed that my eyes went silver when I was upset.

 

When we join the action in this piece, Elijah had come over to my house to talk to me. The night before, he had left rather abruptly after a heated disagreement with Luna about an old pard mate of his, Colin and his old Nimir-Ra, Tabitha, possibly showing up in town.

 

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“Well she jumped me hard enough last night.” Lija fumed about Luna.

 

Sighing, Maggie couldn’t help feeling caught in the middle. “I know. I'm sorry.”

 

“I think she has forgotten pard protocol.” The Tore’s stance told of his displeasure with my soul sister more than words ever could.

 

The young woman was confused. “Pard protocol? Remember Human here with a leopard boyfriend that never explains stuff...”

 

It was the Druid’s turn to sigh as he explained. “To challenge Sebastian, I have to first challenge the pard's first and second.  Patrick is the pard’s second.

 

Understanding in the doctor’s eyes, “Ah...and you wouldn’t fight Patrick because you two watch each other's backs, right?

 

“Yes.”

 

“That makes sense. I don’t know. I think she's just stressed about the Colin situation, the Gabe thing, our strengthened mental bond, the oh so secret prophecy, and her suspension from work.”

 

“Did we ever figure out the prophecy?” The young man looked concerned.

 

Maggie looked confused at first, then surprised as she tried to cover. “Oh, Arianna's prophecy about challenges...No we haven’t.”

 

“Well I guess we'll have to wait for her to pop up again.” He added as he ran his hands through his hair in apparent frustration.

 

Biting her lip, the doctor replied, “Yeah, I guess so..... Lija, prophecies don’t always come true right? She look she gave her friend was one dominated by sad frightened, not quite human eyes. A silver tint was becoming visible in them.

 

“No not always.  If so the earth would have been destroyed a hundred times over.” He winked.

 

Smiling, the silver in her eyes receded as she nodded,  “Good. Then we don’t have to worry.” She grumbling muttered, “It’s not like they gave us details anyway.”

 

“They very rarely give full details.”

 

Maggie blushed at his reply. She had forgotten about were hearing. Sighing she agreed, “Just enough to freak Noah out. So, any news from Patrick or Liam?”

 

The druid shook his head, “Haven't had a chance to visit today, and with Luna pissed at me...we may be on our own.  I could always try and draw her out and see what happens.”

 

“She apologized to me after you stormed out for getting in an argument with you about Sebastian and Tabby. Guess she should have apologized to you though.” The woman looked suddenly confused as she caught on to his last statement. “Draw her out?”

 

“Try and bring out the rider. If I can be sure she would only come after me.”

 

The doctor looked frightened, the silver shards flashing back into her eye.  “But I don’t want you to get hurt. How would you protect yourself? I saw what that thing did to Colin...er Anthony.” She belated remembered that Colin was creating a new identity to try to escape Tabby’s clutches.

 

“I'm going to get hurt one way or the other and I rather it be me than someone I care about.” He quietly replied.

 

Maggie shook her head, drawing on Luna’s anger through their mental bond though she was distant.  Her eyes became even more silver as the discussion continued.  “NO!!! I'm not going to sit by while someone dear to me is hurt. I'll find a way to stop them if I have to confront your Tabitha myself.” She knew her friend must be able to hear her heart racing as even her breathing was a bit harsh to her ears.

 

“Maggie calm down.” The tore’s own eyes flashed to the green of his beast.

 

Standing, the woman began to pace, rubbing her arms in nervously. It was a gesture born of her borrowed were need for contact.  “I don’t want to calm down. I want you to be safe.”

 

“I am safe.” Lija replied as walking over to his young friend, he took her in his arms to calm her.

 

Struggling at first, the truth of his words eventually penetrated the anger-induced fog that had overtaken her senses. She relaxed into his embrace, and laid her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat and breathing.  Eventually, she slowed my heart and breathing down to match his.  Looking up with eyes still a bit speckled with silver, she pleaded,  “Promise me you will be careful whatever you do.”

 

“I promise to be as careful as I can. You never know, maybe she'll be nice. Besides we still have a dinner to go to.” He smiled trying to ease her worry.

 

The doctor shook her head, “I'm human not stupid.” But she brightened up a bit at the last comment.  “Dinner? Is that part of my evening of surprises you invited me to?”  She smiled playfully hoping to get him to reveal more of his plans.

The tore smacked himself mentally before looking down at her, “I am not telling you anything else.”

 

Playfully pouting the woman asked,  “Ah.....you are really gonna make me wait?” She rubbed cheek against his chest then blushed, embarrassed.  “Sorry, the touch thing...I'm doing it more and more. Luna said my eyes were funny the other night too.”

 

 

Nodding, “Your eyes have been turning silver when you get angry.”

 

She bit her lip and lowered her lids, afraid to let him see her eyes now. She quietly told him, “Luna said that might happen. She said it's possible she left a touch of beast in me when we merged...not enough to make me shift but enough to draw on for help from her. I think that could be causing the change.  I'm beginning to think the merge was huge mistake. I don’t know which thoughts are mine anymore, the eye changes, the need to be touched all the time, not to mention the prophecy we gave Noah that night that has him going into super guard mode.” A tear trailed down her cheek.  “I guess you were right about us playing with fire.  But I vaguely remember us telling Noah something about how Gate and Gatekeeper were supposed to be joined so maybe it was inevitable. “

.

“If I had known that Luna was going to meld with you I would have stopped it, but then she would have probably killed me.” He smiled down at the girl.

 

Smiling through her tears, still unable to look up, she traced a pattern on his chest with her fingertips.  “I don' t think she would have killed you. Maybe told you it wasn’t your concern. I don't know. She might have listened to your council, at least considered it.” Burying her face in the druid’s chest, she sobbed,  “Lija, I don’t want to be a cat for real. I'm not strong enough.”

 

Holding the young woman closer, he tried to calm her.  “Maggie, Luna never listens to me. I could try to sever the bond, but then it may not be good for either of you.”

 

Shaking her head, she clung to the druid tightly and finally found the courage to look up, “I don't think it would work. We're bound too tightly now...maybe if one of the covens Luna is checking into pans out they can teach me how to better shield her and the voices so they don’t overwhelm me. Severing the link won’t change what we told Noah about foreseeing my transformation to a true were anyway.” Gasping she realized what she had done. “I wasn't supposed to tell.”

 

“Maggie the only way you can be one of us is if one of us infects you.   I will not let that happen. Noah will not let that happen.”

 

“I know...we ....they...told Noah that they had seen it happen, but couldn’t tell him how or who.” She lowered her head and whispered,  “It's why the guards are back.”

 

“Maggie I'd die myself before I let that happen to you. You are much more important as a human than a were.” He ran a finger along her cheek.

 

“Thank you, but you and Noah cant protect me all the time for all my life. I'm not that important anyway. “ Biting her lip, she voiced another fear,  “But if it does happen...it was a prophecy.... will it change our friendship?” She looked up at him tentatively.

 

Taking her face in his hands, Lija drew her lips to his own, stealing a quick kiss. “It's not going to happen.”  Pulling back, he looked directly into her silver eyes. “Concentrate on me, on my eyes. Don't look away.”

 

Frightened by his warning not to look away, but comforted by his touch, Maggie quietly asked. “Why?”

 

“Concentrate on me. Listen to my voice.” His voice sounded determined.

 

Looking deeply into his eyes she tried to relax and hear only his voice.

 

“I am a druid priest. I am invoking the Ancients. I am invoking the ancients to draw from this mortal the voices of the dark to free her of the burden of the Gate and it's keeper.”

 

Realizing what Lija was doing, she tried to pull away frightened of being alone again.

 

“From the dark will come light. From fear will come knowledge.” He held her tighter as she tried to move away, “Be still!”

 

Panicking she drew on Luna's strength from afar and struggled to break the druid’s hold. “No. I don’t want to be alone in the dark...don’t leave me alone.”

 

“Maggie it's the only way.” He fought to maintain his hold on the suddenly powerful young human.

 

Crying she sobbed no over and over again until she shut down, locking herself inside, but there was another presence. Reaching up to touch his face, a familiar voice sighed,  “Always the champion.  Prophecy is a double edged sword my old friend.”

 

“Arianna?” He looked into the woman’s eyes recognizing the spirit that lurked within. “We can't let this happen.”

 

The young woman cocked her head as if to think a moment. “Yes that was once my name.  What are we not to let happen? That the girl is to be transformed? You yourself assured her prophecies were not concrete entities. It may not happen. Change may come, yes but all of life is change.  Have you forgotten our lessons?”

 

“I don't want her hurt.” He stubbornly told his former goddess.

 

“We do not wish to see our vessel hurt either my friend.” Smiling, she trailed a finger down his cheek.  “Remember the lesson. The double edged sword of prophecy, how often when visions have been given in the past has the act of trying to circumvent them brought their fruition? She will or will not be infected, she may live or die. It is not for us to say; it is not for us to decide.”

 

“I would rather suffer a hundred hells than to see that happen.” He pleaded.

 

Reaching up to stroke his hair in a comforting gesture, she replied.  “I know. Many of us would and have offered ourselves to protect her pure soul over time. I know your heart. Though she is another's mate in this time, you still feel her tugging on your heart, claiming a piece of your soul as she has in the past. Don’t be afraid to embrace the connection, you will need each other as I warned you before. But consider this my friend. Perhaps being our vessel will allow us to aid her in her time of need, rather than hurt her. Be careful what you ask for.” Leaning in, she gently kissed her the druid, sending him waves of peace and love before leaving.

 

Maggie, back in control, collapsed in front of the man.

 

Collapsing to my knees, unshed tears fell down his face. “Maggie I am so sorry.”

 

Scooping her up, he carried her to her bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. He laid down beside her, pulling her close.

 

Coming to, the young doctor found herself in bed, with Lija lying beside her.  His face looked wet from tears.  Reaching up, she ran her hand over his cheek then held it there. “Lija?”

 

“Yes Goddess?”

 

“ What....what's wrong? I remember looking in your eyes and being scared, then nothing. You never scare me. What happened?” The young doctor was clearly confused.

 

“I tried to sever the bond between you and Luna. The Ancient ones stopped me. We have to let things play out.” He sadly added as he looked into her eyes.

 

“Oh. Thanks for trying.” She bit her lip idly tracing a pattern on his chest.  “Though truthfully as much as all the weird stuff scares me, it's kinda nice not to be all alone anymore.” She whispered, “I was alone all the time for so long,” before continuing in a normal tone.  “As for the other, you said sometimes prophecies don’t come true so I guess we'll just hope for the best.”

 

“I won't let you be changed.” His voice was stern, uncompromising in his determination.

 

Maggie snuggled closer.  “Thanks for wanting to protect me, my forever friend.”

 

“You're welcome. My Goddess.”  He smiled at her as she drifted back off for a much needed nap.