Put Out My Fire

"My love, the baby belongs to the crib, not in the bed," told Christopher with squinting eyes. It had been over a week since Orion was born, yet he sleeps with them on the bed.

Amanda smiled at her husband and said, "It's easier for me to attend to his needs when he is right next to me."

Baby Orion was supposedly only a week old, but he acted and grew like he was already a month old. He was now capable of stretching his arms and legs, stares with focus could reach and grab, and could already raise his head during tummy time. 

Amanda and Christopher recognized this was part of the Venusian's sword's plan. 

They also noticed how the mark on Amanda's wrist was starting to fade. From Orion's right wrist, they could see a small mark, still vague, but it looked like a cross. 

The couple understood that over time, Orion would be the one to wield the golden sword. 

Smiling at Amanda, Orion talked gibberish but spoke in her head. He said, "Don't listen to father, mother! He needs to learn to be away from you sometimes."

Amanda chuckled at that, and Orion responded with a cute baby laugh. 

Christopher immediately knew they were talking to each other silently. He lay himself on the bed, right next to Orion, and said, "Why does he not talk to me?" He shrugged and added, "He spoke to mother, but not me?"

"I - I don't know," she said with a smile. She pinched on Orion's cheeks and asked, "Why is it, baby? Why?"

Orion turned to Christopher and smiled. He finally spoke in his father's head, "Because. I prefer talking to my mother."

Shaking his head, Christopher said, "Well, tonight. I need to be with your mother. So you stay in the crib - "

His words were cut off by Orion crying helplessly. His shrieks were so loud, they were roaring!

"No! You are not allowed to have a baby yet! Not allowed! We need to prepare for battle, not another baby!" Complained Orion, speaking through their heads. 

"Well, at least, that got you talking to me, now. Huh?" Christopher told with a tease. 

In the end, there was no defeating a crying baby that Orion maintained to sleep in bed with his parents. Christopher, on the other hand, struggled through his sleep, overly cautious to move his little guy as he took the opposite side of the bed. 

After Orion fell asleep, Christopher turned nostalgic and said, "Abasi and I are going to the further galaxies, Amanda. I'm going to miss you."

Amanda frowned. This was the first time that Abasi was going to attempt a very far journey. So far, going to the Arakis was the furthest Abasi had been. That was even draining for him when the world was only two galaxies away. 

They were planning to jump five-hundred light-years away, and they were not even sure if it was possible. 

She paused for a second and said, "Chris, if you come back to me five-hundred years old, I'm going to kill you. I swear. And Abasi? I'm going to kick his balls if he drags you down!"

Christopher chuckled and said, "Abasi only took a day to jump to the next galaxy. Maybe it will only take him a month to reach the targeted space in the universe."

Amanda's gaze fell down to Orion before she spoke again, "Maybe it's not necessary anymore. Orion is here and we have more powers now."

"My love, remember what mother said," told Christopher. "There is someone worse behind Khalid. We need to prepare for that."

"Should there ever be someone holding a power of cosmic - that is a god-like power, Chris. That might as well be a very dangerous person or being," said Amanda. 

Christopher turned to face the ceiling, lying on his back. He said, "Abasi and I agreed that if we should ever sense that something is wrong, we will jump away to another space, and find our way back here."

What worried Amanda the most was not being able to connect with Christopher and Abasi through their journey. As they were going very far, what were the chances that the power of the crystals would weaken and they would not be able to hear each other?

"Amanda, I will always come back to you. You know that right?" Christopher said before taking a deep breath. "To you and Orion."

'What if - just what if when you and Abasi are away, Khalid would return?' Amanda asked herself silently, but then again, in the future that Abasi saw, Orion wasn't born and her mother-in-law was not yet found.

Perhaps it was a different future. Another change brought about the fact that we had sought powers earlier on. 

Christopher turned back to face his son and Amanda before reaching his wife's face. He struggled to get up and peck on her lips. He said, "I will miss, you. My love. When I come back, let's make twins - Ahhh!"

He received a punch from Amanda on the arm, but his wife smirked and said, "I think twins are nice. Don't know about the process of delivering them though."

The next day was difficult for Amanda and Theo's family. They all gathered at the castle's courtyard and hugged Christopher and Abasi goodbye, wishing them a safe and successful journey. 

Abasi could not take that many masters with him, as it would be very draining for him. He decided to choose Christopher for his ability to control water, which is a necessity for every world. Moreover, he could summon the great sea serpent of Solaris, regardless of where they go. 

The master of time and space had already big goodbye to the other masters of the earth, he only came for Christopher before they officially make their journey. 

To further bless them, Agatha also came, creating her own wormhole to Pelagy. She embraced her son and said, "I'm sorry, son, for even suggesting that you leave your family, but something inside me is telling me that this trip must be made."

Agatha kissed Christopher's cheek and said, "I love you, son. Be safe and hurry back."

She pulled away Abasi and Christopher from the crowd and held their hands. She chanted a few words, giving a chilling sensation down the masters' spine. They felt the wind revolving around them as Agatha gave them a protective spell. 

As soon as she opened her eyes, Agatha said, "The protective spell is not that perfect. It will activate the sense of danger, but it has limits. Five times. That is your limit."

"Thank you, mother. We have our crystal," said Christopher. "And we have Akurra."

Christopher gave Amanda one last kiss before bidding goodbye. As Amanda waved at her husband, she held Orion in her arms. She heard her baby speak to her head, "Don't worry, mother. This was why I came earlier, so you won't feel lonely. Father will return, but it will be for a while. This is what the Venusian Sword told me."

"Bye, my love." These were Amanda's last words before the wormhole closed altogether. 

***

Meanwhile, in the distant future, from inside the huge estate; beneath it, were secret chambers. 

In one room, the master of the heart, Cassandra was screaming, hoping for Khalid to hear her plea, "Khalid, please stop this! I understand now! Maybe it's not your fault, but please! Please listen to me!"

"Khalid, you have to fight it! Don't listen to him! Don't! Do you hear me! You have been possessed!" Added Cassandra. 

To the furthest end of the hallway, in the biggest and most secure room, Khalid was walking back and forth, seemingly talking to himself.

"You did stupid things! Traveling to the past! I never told you to travel to the past! Now, the future is bound to change!"

In response to his own, scolding, Khalid said, "But, I can't find The Venusian sword at this present time! I don't understand it! The only way for me to find and ensure that I would live was to go back to the past and find it!"

From being defensive, Khalid's expression turned evil before saying, "Forget that! You need to hurry up and get more power! I need that power!"

"Is that really necessary? I am already very powerful and had become younger than my age! Why do I feel like you are only using me? Are you using me?" He questioned himself as if he was speaking to someone else, other than him. 

"Silence!"

Khalid's face suddenly froze as he felt the other spirit dwelling in his boy take full control over him, "You will do as I say. Gain more power and when you have enough, you can kill the guardians of hell! Only then can I find the opportunity to free all my army of dead souls!"

"When you have served your purpose, then I will set you free to do enjoy your immortality," he added before confirming with himself, "Yes... Yes, Hades.. I will do as you say."