Memories Lead Here

They stood in front of the outpost in a matter of seconds, and Verne and Musa didn't seem surprised by the instantaneous movement. Celezar was also present, standing in the open doorway and beckoning them in. They began to approach, but he held a hand out to stop Jean. Jean exchanged a look with him. The expression on his mate's face said something he wished he didn't have to hear.

You don't need to go down there.

His shoulders rose, paused in thought, then fell as he gave a curt nod. He watched the men race through the antechamber and disappear down the stairs with a strange sensation in his throat. Taking a moment, he acknowledge to himself that the trauma of what had occurred long ago in the Cellar's lowest floor would forever haunt him. Leveling his gaze, he swallowed the feeling down, and waited.

A handful of minutes passed before Celezar reappeared, a large form swaddled in blankets in his arms, with Verne and Musa at his sides. They had bags with them and were strapped with their weapons. Seeing Verne with guns should have captured Jean's attention, yet he was fixated on the bundle. From where he stood, he couldn't see the entirety of his uncle's face, and he wasn't sure he wanted to, but he could hear Nicholae's slow, steady breaths. That would have to do for now.

Wordlessly, he turned as their surroundings changed, revealing the isle's docks and the great expanse of ocean beyond. His remaining friends and family were also present, and their proximity helped ease a part of his psyche.

Darryl peeked around his aunt, inquisitively scanning Jean and Celezar's expressions. Approaching, Jean managed a small smile he knew was tainted with sadness, bringing Darryl's green eyes to his granduncle in Celezar's arms.

He came to Jean's side, squeezing his leg. "Will he be okay?"

"Yes," Celezar responded. "He's just resting now."

Jean's lips tightened, and he placed a hand on Darryl's head. His son took and held it, bringing a small smile to his lips.

"We'll go ahead," Celezar said. He beckoned for Musa and Verne to follow, then disappeared, taking them with him.

"What now, Daddy?"

Jean glanced at Darryl, then turned to face his remaining companions, eyes passing over them. He paused when a smile on an unfamiliar face reminded him he had yet to introduce himself let alone talk to his Kajut Lowell cousins. Seemingly thinking the same thing, a man among them took a few steps closer.

"Celezar says you've been searching for us," he said with the slightest of amused smiles. He spoke with a strange accent that carried a slightly guttural edge. "That he has been searching, rather, and for quite the while. It's good to know our magic can confuse even a divine."

Awe overcame Jean's features. "Confuse?"

The man's sapphire eyes glistened with mirth. "I do recall a divine being flying around our home multiple times over the past hundred-or-so years. I imagine it was him."

"Where were you?" Jean asked with sincere confusion.

"A Terras world, much like this. I believe it is fondly called the Hearth."

Jean's expression fell. "So...Celezar wasn't looking hard enough."

The man smiled, briefly glancing away. "For his sake, I won't say that. He must have thought we wouldn't hide."

A chuckle came from Ba'arhuzra in the back. "He wasn't looking hard enough."

"I was too!" The hybrid appeared beside Jean, looking thoroughly offended. He brought Darryl into his arms, pouting when the boy giggled at his expense. "Well...! Why were you hiding, then, wiseass?"

The man's demeanor changed as he looked at Celezar, crossing his arms with fatigued indignance. "From you."

Celezar silenced, and Jean's eyes darted at him to see the words had stung. He spoke up. "Why?"

Looking between him and Celezar, the man's shoulder slowly fell. He sighed, "Kajut'ta...told us to."

Jean's eyes went wide. "He's still alive?" At the nod, he heard Celezar's breath hitch.

Celezar lowered his gaze. "Oh," he whispered, his voice withered and hurt. "He still...hasn't forgiven me, huh."

Instead of waiting for the answer, which seemed obvious, he turned away completely. Unable to see his face, Jean considered comforting him. Before he could make up his mind, however, his mate walked away, speaking softly to their equally confused son.

After a moment of silence, the man neared. He came close to Jean, nearly at his side, and they exchanged glances. "Yes. Our Father is still alive. He doesn't often involve himself with the world, but..." He held a hand out. "I am Alize, Kajut'ta's great-grandson, and the current Kajut Lowell patriarch."

Shaking his hand, Jean broke into a genuine smile. "Jean-Luc Lowell." He chuckled uneasily, adding, "And the new patriarch of the Lowell family, it seems."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. The Elevates certainly believe in you." Alize took a glance to the sky. "Zephoniel came to us just hours ago, in truth. Didn't explain much, just said we had to come with him. Fortunately, the situation was easy to put together. And it..."

Jean braced himself, watching his cousin level his gaze with the horizon. After a moment, he scowled.

"Halle told us what Gwendolyn, her parents, and grandparents did. Had we known..."

At the mention of his great-grandparents, Jean's eyes tightened. He always had an inkling at least two generations--his mother's [8th] and his grandparents' [7th]--had known about the Kajut Lowell's enslavement to their own blood. He never considered the [6th] generation of Lowells--no, Aerons, had also known. It only made him irate, yet...

"Had we known," he thought aloud, "a lot of things would have been different. A lot of good things might not have happened..." He glanced towards Celezar.

"Aye. But it all worked out." Alize exhaled, head bobbing at some personal thought. "Yes. All is right, again."

"What will you do now?"

"I've spoken with Halle and the others, and some will stay here in Dærth. The rest want to come with us."

"Good." Jean turned to look at his family and friends, shortly mirrored by Alize. Halle met his gaze, as if waiting for the moment, and made a contented, understanding smile. Jean couldn't curb the smile that grew on his own lips. "We should keep in contact, cousin," he said to Alize, motioning forward.

"Agreed."

Antonio waved a hand towards them, slightly disgruntled. "Yo, we leavin' or what? I hate this place."

"Yes. Not sure how we're leaving or where we're going to go..." Trailing off, Jean looked back at Celezar.

His mate and son were approaching, causing him to stop. Celezar wore a familiar languid smile indicating he was trying to mask his emotions--poorly, at that, at least to Jean. Darryl pulled his mother along, and once close enough to Jean, their son placed Celezar's hand in his.

"Mommy is sad 'cause he didn't do something a long time ago," Darryl explained with a sad frown. He gave Celezar a tight hug before running off, leaving his parents together.

Gently, Jean squeezed his mate's hand, turning to face him. "Zarryel..."

Celezar ducked his head to the side, causing his long locks to hide his face. "It's a long, old story, love."

"And it bothers you." When Celezar remained quiet, Jean brought him closer into a warm embrace. "Do you want to talk about it later? Even if I only listen..."

Raising his head by a notch, Celezar emitted a soft sound of unease. "I..." He leaned against Jean. "Yes," he finally muttered, his voice withered, tired.

Jean's brow twitched. He slid his arm around his mate, then used his other hand to part the red hair and kiss Celezar's forehead. "I'll scold you later for scaring me earlier."

This brought a slight, brief chuckle out of the hybrid, and Celezar finally met his gaze. Green eyes slanted mischievously. "I look forward to it, Jeanie-boy."

"Will you two come on, already?!" Antonio shouted. "Fuckin' lovebirds."

Taking each other's hand, Jean and Celezar approached their still large group of family and friends. Ba'arhuzra still held Ivel and Isel, this time in her tentacles, and her older twin nephew and niece were running around with Patty and their grandcousins, Hyacinth's children. Halle and the other freed Kajut Lowells were mingling with Antonio, the Wisk Hunters, Gallev, and the other Kajut Lowells who came with Alize.

"So, then," Jean began, amplifying his voice with his mic, "where are we going and how do we get there?"

Much to his confusion, all eyes landed on Celezar.

Blinking, he narrowed his eyes at his mate and his incredulous, guiltless expression. "Zarryel?"

"Wellllll," the hybrid began, eyes sparkling, "I know a place where we can all call home--if, of course, anyone would like to come live with us."

Halle was the first to nod. "Absolutely. Matheen, Aileen, and Laora and I have already decided to stay with you."

"We've also had a moment to think about it, and will also be willing to live with you," said Hyacinth, much to Jean's surprise. At his expression, she said, "Well, we Lowells should stick together now more than ever."

"We need a bigger home anyways!" Darryl giggled, proudly looking at his parents. "Right?"

Celezar sheepishly nodded, a hand over his stomach. "How'd you know?"

Darryl cocked his head to the side, small brows furrowing. "I dunno," he finally said with an innocent shrug.

"More children? Didn't you just have Isel and Ivel?" Hyacinth tut with a knowing smile.

"It'll be decades before they're content," Ba'arhuzra chuckled.

Celezar pursed his lips, emitting a soft purr. "Mm hm."

Jean wasn't one to blush, but he felt heat rise within him all the same. "Zarryel--"

"Oh, gods, can we go now?" Antonio blew pale locks out of his rolling eyes. "To this...new place? I'm curious, so we're coming, too."

"Going where?" Patty asked eagerly, coming to his side.

"Home!" Celezar exclaimed before snapping his fingers.

Their surroundings changed, quickly fading from Isle Veni to an unfamiliar beach in a sunny, warm location.

As everyone looked around in amazement, and the children who were still running jumped gleefully into the sand, Jean tilted his head to the side in realization.

"Why do you do that?" he asked Celezar.

"Hm?" The blitheful expression had returned to the hybrid's face.

"Snap your fingers. You don't have to, right?"

With a teasing exhale, Celezar rotated his hand, leaning against him. "It's for pizzazz, love, pizzazz."

"Right."

"Ooh! Where are we?" Patty asked. She was in Antonio's arms, and she kicked her feet as if she wanted to play in the sand. With a chuckle, her father obliged, allowing her to take off her coat. "It's so warm!"

Waving a hand dramatically, Celezar motioned to the water where, in the great distance, one could see at least three more islands. "Welcome to the Laude Archipelago, also known as Island Laude!" he announced, grinning from ear to ear. "I got it cheap," he randomly added.

"You got it for free," his sister corrected with a patient sigh.

"From whom?" Jean, Hyacinth, and Gallev asked. Of the three, Jean and Gallev appeared both suspicious and amazed.

"Uhh, you don't need to think about it right now--anyways, let's go!" Pulling Jean with him, Celezar spun and ran towards the verdant at the edge of the sand.

"I don't wanna!" Sescal harrumphed behind them.

"Me too!" his twin chorused.

"I'll watch the children," was the last thing Jean heard from his sister-in-law before Celezar led him deep into the jungle.

A whooping sound came from Gallev, or Antonio--or both, and Jean sensed everyone scatter into the greenery.

"Is this a game?" he sighed patiently, moving large leaves out of his face as they ran.

"Nope, we're just exploring, decompressing from the fight."

Jean quieted.

Now that he no longer needed to hide what he was, and he and Celezar could freely do whatever they wanted under the heavens, he realized he needed a moment.

"Wait." He came to a stop, as did Celezar.

"What is it, love?"

He closed his eyes, taking a deep inhale. The air on the island seemed different, fresher, from Isle Veni's, but that was likely due to his negative associations with it. He discerned with his senses everything around him, from the sounds of the insects chirping and animals scurrying, the distant sounds of his children playing, to the warmth of the sun penetrated through his clothes, the cool island breeze in his hair.

Greedily, he took in the sweet scent from his mate, causing desire to stir within him. "You smell nice," he murmured before he knew he had spoken.

Celezar tenderly squeezed his hand, rumbling softly. "Thank you, love."

Jean opened his eyes to look up at the older man, nostrils twitching. A sly smile and green eyes slanted upon seeing his tic. "I don't suppose I'll ever get accustomed to flashing around."

"Teleporting, love..." Celezar purred, stepping forward.

Jean took steps backward in turn. "Yes. Teleporting. Will I ever be able to do it?"

"Mm, probably not naturally. But you already can, through magic..."

Jean's back bumped against a tree, and Celezar immediately took one long stride forward before placing his free hand on the tree at Jean's side. "True..."

A thinly tapered black tongue licked sharp teeth before a breath of simmering air emitted from between Celezar's lips. "Where did this come from?"

"Must be the jungle."

"Did you get bitten by something?"

"Not yet."

A large portion of the green in Celezar's eyes darkened. Those same blackened eyes then raked down Jean's body. "I see. Let me...fix that..."

Darkness enveloped their surroundings, igniting the flame of greater desire within Jean's core. Chest heaving, he watched intensely as his mate slowly released his hand and placed it on his left side, caging him in against the tree. Celezar leaned forward, allowing Jean to take in mouthfuls of his sweet, musky scent that so enticed him.

A sudden shiver of pleasure ran from his neck to his groin, causing his eyes to roll into his head and his knees to buckle. An extra pair of arms swept him up by his legs, pressing him against the tree, and tentacles unbelted his pants, all while the sounds of Celezar suckling on his neck brought gasps from his mouth.

"F-fuck...Zarryel," he nearly whimpered, reaching for himself. Before he could get his hand in his pants, thick tentacles wrapped around both his wrists and lifted his arms over his head.

"You'll get your chance, love," his mate purred, his deep voice nearly a croon. "Just wait..."

His pants weren't pulled down completely, just enough for a tentacle to prod at his entrance while another snaked into his open mouth. He sucked on it, and as he lavished it in saliva, Celezar's hot cock rubbed against his inner thigh.

"[I'm gonna fuck you till you can't walk for the rest of the day]," the hybrid crooned in his mind, voice echoing and swirling in Jean's lust-drunk consciousness, while hot kisses and a slick tongue made his skin burn with want.

He emitted a loud groan, and the second the tentacle slipped out of his mouth, saliva dribbled down his neck. "Zar--" He grunted when the tentacle slipped inside him, hitting his prostate immediately. "F--" Biting his lower lip, his eyes rolled into his head as Celezar's tentacle delved in deeper, inch by inch.

"Lovely," Celezar hissed, the sound almost menacing. "Gods, Jean..."

Jean's head lolled back, but only for a moment, before a large hand took the lower half of his face and leveled his gaze. "Z-Zarry--" He moaned into a delectable, vigorous kiss, eyes fluttering just as two more tentacles gently pried him open.

He jolted, breaking the kiss with a loud grunt. "Fuck!"

Celezar chuckled deeply. "Yesss," he trilled, letting one inch, two inch, three inch, all of his hot cock bury into him. "Moan for me, love," he whispered into his ear.

The words barely left Celezar's mouth and Jean had already obliged, rocking to rhythmic thrusts with moans and grunts. All the while, Celezar breathed deeply, his pitch-black gaze lustful as it bore into Jean.

A clawed hand reached into Jean's clothes, as did several tentacles, curling around and teasing his nipples and cock. "I wish--fuck--gods, I wish--mn, fuck!" Celezar moaned deeply from a thought that he shared with Jean.

Jean spasmed, nearly going cross-eyed, and locked up as he abruptly came. His legs quivered in Celezar's hold, his toes curled in his boots, and his entire body jerked, while a tentacle around his cock took in his cum.

He couldn't deny the imagery of himself pregnant was...interesting. Apparently far more interesting that he could've imagined.

"Yesss...gods, yesss...!"

A hot mouth captured his again, and this time, he freed his tentacles to curl and entwine with Celezar's.

Heat. So much heat, inside his core, his mouth, on his tongue. It burned him passionately, and he couldn't get enough. Greedy for more, he slipped his thinner tentacles into his mate's pants, curling them around his legs and reaching into him.

Celezar nearly choked, and with relish, Jean watched the older man jolt and briefly spasm. Long legs nearly buckled, and Jean went slack with overstimulation as Celezar's cock became larger, hotter, inside him.

"You...mn, f-fu-fuckin'...ch-cheat--" Celezar threw his head back, sharp teeth on display as he finally came. He pressed deeply into Jean, gasping and his tongue lolling out of his mouth.

Around his tentacles, Jean felt the wonderful tensing of orgasm from his mate, and thick spurts of pleasantly scalding heat emptied into him. He shivered, teeth chattering, and drooled with a drunken smile.

The high--so high--slowly lessened, allowing him to steadily feel like himself as coherence came back, and he felt his eyes return to their usual sapphire. Celezar had, at some point, buried his head in the crook of his neck, and he softly chuckled upon hearing shuddering breaths near his ear.

"You...want to impregnate me...eh?" he asked, his hoarse voice barely a whisper.

"It'd be marvelous, love," Celezar crooned. He trailed a sneaky hand down Jean's chest. "Imagine if we were pregnant at the same time..."

They shuddered.

"Gods, I love you." A tender kiss planted on Jean's neck. "I'm sorry I worried you earlier..."

The tentacles around Jean's wrists released him, and he ran his fingers through Celezar's hair. Slowly, they retracted their extra appendages, but not before ensuring the other was properly dressed. The darkness around them reduced, then disappeared, revealing the jungle again. Jean still rested against the tree, and Celezar wrapped his arms around him, gently rocking them side to side.

"Can we agree not to put yourself--and our unborn--in danger next time?" Jean softly asked.

Celezar nodded, emitting a relenting exhale. "Yes. Alright." He shifted, pressing his forehead against Jean's. "But...what if it's an emergency?"

"What type of emergency do you mean?" The green eyes looked away. "What happened today wasn't an emergency worth risking your lives over."

"But, the Isle..." Sorrow, sudden and intense, overcame Celezar's demeanor. He shut his eyes, whispering, "That was Alan's home. I..."

Watching him bite his lip and go silent, Jean took a moment to consider what this suggested.

What all that happened on Isle Veni meant...to Celezar.

Isle Veni was the home Alan built for himself and his descendants. Nine generations lived there, and an equal amount died there. Now that he considered it, Jean wished he had spent more time talking to Celezar about his past with his ancestor...

...but Celezar never wanted to talk about his time with Alan.

"Zarryel," he began, taking his mate's hands into his, "did you love Alan?"

Dark tears spilled from the hybrid's closed eyes as he nodded. "I didn't even know it...until after he died," he whispered. Lips quivering, he continued, "And he died...and I wasn't there..."

Jean felt the tug to lean forward, and he obliged. They softly fell to the jungle floor, where Celezar immediately began to weep.

Holding him, Jean remained quiet, though his heart broke to each disjointed sound his mate made. Metaphysically, he was guided into Celezar's mind, where he was told the story, from beginning to end, how Zelezh'arryel met Alan Aeron Lowell.