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<sup><h6>“Why are you so excited Robert? We also know how to block.”<br>
“Not the way he does. We only know how to block ourselves - he can block others! That bastard comes again, I’d love to be able to block him.”</h6></sup>
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<p><center><a href="https://steemit.com/sfandf-fiction/@arthur.grafo/little-cherine-book-02-post083">Previous Post 083</a></center></p>
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<p><h3><center>907</center></h3></p>
<p>Angelos arrived before the food did. Now that he was with us, I could not wait. I explained in detail what had occurred, even as to how he cut my foot off. Aganthi looked down but could not see any marks, so she wriggled her toes and smiled at me.</p>
<p>I was delighted when Cherine teased, ecstatic that she has regained her spirit. “That will teach you not to go offering your body to crazy men, Aganthi.”</p>
<p>We stopped to eat and I refused to answer any more questions until we finished. I felt my loves needed a bit of a diversion, even if only for a few minutes while we eat - plus I was starving.</p>
<p>“His attack has greatly strengthened us, enhanced certain gifts we had and shown us the way to grow closer and stronger. Thanks to my body dying, we even found out how to use some of that power Meli uses in her worlds to create bodies. With the help of Wendy, it actually works here. My body is now healthier than it has ever been before.”</p>
<p>“Does that mean you’ll be finding yourself more girls now?” I pretended I did not hear the chuckling.</p>
<p>“Somehow I had the feeling you would make that kind of dig Nicko.” I explained about the exchange of slivers and their effect on us. “Hopefully the effect will soon wear off and we will be able to sit together, hold each other without muting ourselves.</p>
<p>This development is the main reason I did not want all of you here. If anything happens to one of my family the rest have enough of that person to put back the soul or spirit. If we are all killed at the same time, there will be nothing that can be done to save us. I am talking about death of the soul, though we do not know if our World was permanently destroyed or not. If it was, then even a physical death could be catastrophic - unless the Sparklers save us.”</p>
<p>“I will not accept what you are saying Robert. There is no way you are splitting us up as a family. We live or die together.”</p>
<p>“Dommi love, the attacker is after Cherine and I for some reason. Why put all our girls in danger. If you could just…”</p>
<p>“I said no!!” There was a clamour from the other girls, all agreeing with Dommi. I threw up my hands.</p>
<p>I said to the others, “Why is it that whenever I ask any of you to do something you listen to me, but my own girls won’t?”</p>
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<p><h3><center>908</center></h3></p>
<p>Amid the laughter Alki spoke up. “My employees all listen to me. They respect my opinion. If they could see me at home with my wife, my business would fall to pieces.”</p>
<p>I chuckled. “Alki, listen to yourself, even to me. Think about it, for the first time ever men and women are able to look into the opposite sex and understand them. We can sit here and make jokes, even laugh at ourselves, for with us there is no war of the sexes. What a beautiful thing that is - I will not allow this madman to spoil it for us.”</p>
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<p>Marian spoke, “My daughter tells me you are planning to kill him when you find him.”</p>
<p>“I swore that if he hurts Cherine or any of my girls I would. I still hear and feel her thigh bone breaking in my mind. He also tried to rape her. Yes Marian, if I find him, I am likely to kill him.”</p>
<p>“And all that talk about us being a step up in evolution, of having to use our powers only for good, all that meant nothing?”</p>
<p>“We are not fighting mankind or one of theirs. This animal has powers in many ways beyond ours, he has used them against us, I feel no mercy in me for him.”</p>
<p>“I am sorry to hear that. It is my daughter he harmed, but I truly came to believe all you said before. Robert you are being blinded by hatred and your need for revenge. Please try to think like a Cherinian - or else you will disgrace the name of my daughter.”</p>
<p>“I will concede this point. If he is at my mercy, I will not kill him - if I can find a way to stop him being a threat. If we battle, I cannot afford to temper my blows Marian. If I do I will lose and we are all doomed.”</p>
<p>“That is fair love.”</p>
<p>“I know, Alki. I also know Robert, he will find a way to spare the life, however evil or despicable that person may be.”</p>
<p>Savva was quick to nod his agreement and the others followed. I stared at my Cherine and I felt like saying to hell with their opinions, but then she turned her eyes to me and I felt the admiration and adoration she was emoting to me. I felt as if my hands had been tied behind my back, but I gave in.</p>
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<p>“Angelo, it is time to come back to you. Your blocking gift, we need it. Will you open yourself to Cherine and or Wendy and Dommi? I need them to find how and where you call that gift from so that they can teach all of us. If we are able to learn from you, I think we can trap this madman and you will have saved us.”</p>
<p>“Can’t you come in?”</p>
<p>“If you prefer, though Cherine is more talented.”</p>
<p>“I would prefer you.”</p>
<p>“How would this help us Roberto, what are you planning?”</p>
<p>“The same way tigers are trapped. Cherine and I will have to be the sacrificial goats. Cherine?”</p>
<p>“I will do it - whatever it is you want love.”</p>
<p>“Cherine must be alone in the house. I will get the healer to weaken my body again, worse than it was before. I will go to the void. Hopefully he will return and take over my body again. Soon as this happens, Cherine sends you all a message. As many of you as possible, those who can help Angelo, you jump here and block him within my body. If the blocking is powerful enough you may even be able to block his gifts. Cherine, you will not be at his mercy. The protector has you even now within itself. Nothing can harm you now.”</p>
<p>“I am feeling stupid Roberto, I do not understand how this will help us. All he has to do is leave your body and disappear again.”</p>
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<p><h3><center>909</center></h3></p>
<p>“I may be wrong and we will test it first. Going to the void, leaving your body, perhaps they can all be blocked. If so, he is trapped in a body that is dying. He will be desperate to escape. I will be the void, fully, and prepared for him. At my signal you let him escape. This time he will not be able to return to his own body. I will hold him, show him what the void does to souls. As he feels himself being devoured (καταβροχθισμένος) I think he will answer my questions.”</p>
<p>“You would devour his soul Roberto?”</p>
<p>“Savva, we think of it as being devoured; all the void does is flick you to some world of matter where you find a body being conceived. He will not know that. I need to know where his body is, who he is. Then he will have to allow us into his mind. We do a bit of surgery, same as you did to me Dommi, and stop him from using his gifts again. Forever.”</p>
<p>“There are too many ifs and buts! I do not like your plan.”</p>
<p>“I agree with Nicko.” Savva joined in, with Alki and Tasso following them. Socrati did not join them, he watched and saw the tide of opinion was against me.</p>
<p>“If I may speak, I am only a simple shepherd, so I am confused. Roberto tells you that he has to kill this man. You say it is wrong. He then is left with only this plan. This is the plan of a dreamer, not a fighter. A warrior would just kill him - remove the threat forever. I must remind you, we all chose to believe in this dreamer. We saw his strength as coming from the dreamer, the artist in him. Nothing ever happens as we plan them, but our Roberto has proven himself versatile. He adapts his plan as he goes along. As the first part of his plan, I back him.”</p>
<p>He got flooded by kisses from my little ones.</p>
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<p>“We are arguing about something that may not be possible. However, for me to go into Angelo, I must first weaken my body, just in case the shadow soul comes now. I need a little time. Why don’t you all chat and relax.”</p>
<p>“Roberto! You did not tell me this when you accepted to be the one. I asked for you as I was embarrassed to have these lovely girls come into my mind and see all the bad things I have done, the bad thoughts. I will not put you at risk for that.”</p>
<p>“They would not look in that part of your mind Angelo. Should they do so, their crime would be as evil as the rape this man tried to commit on our Cherine. That part of yourself you will one day share with someone you love deeply, and that will remove the last barrier between yourselves. If you are truly loved you will not be judged harshly - you will be understood.”</p>
<p>I called out, “Girls?” They stood up, all three of them. “Get some cushions and blankets. Make yourselves comfortable. All three of you must lie together, as one body. That way the protector can protect your bodies while you are gone.”</p>
<p>I saw anger in the eyes of Alki but did not have the inclination to try and find out why. Cherine came and stood in front of me and I knew she was being my lion cub.</p>
<p>“You will take back your protector Robert. What you are planning is nonsense. You must fight him. How can you if the protector is guarding us? Can’t you see, if he kills us, all that happens is that you bring us back in new bodies. If he kills you we all lose.”</p>
<p>“That was true. Now if I die I become the void. I do not get consumed. You can bring me back.”</p>
<p>“Only you can fight him using the protector, all we can do is hide inside it. You must keep it.”</p>
<p>“She speaks as the woman of a warrior Roberto, listen to her.” Socrati smiled at me apologetically.</p>
<p>I saw this battle I had lost and gave in. Luckily nothing happened. The girls were not gone more than half an hour. Before they returned they shared with me and I felt my mind expand, the new possibility become obvious. As they opened their eyes I was already hovering over them, welcoming them back with triumph in my eyes. I had seen where and how this gift can grow, the natural path it can take to become a weapon. As they gazed up at me with delight in their eyes at my having succeeded, I passed back to them my own new doors I’d opened. The next was Angelos. His eyes widened in shock.</p>
<p>“What is the time Alki?”</p>
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<p><h3><center>910</center></h3></p>
<p>“About quarter past twelve, after midnight.”</p>
<p>“Girls, teach everyone. Tina and I are going to the flat in London. I’ll see you in the morning.”</p>
<p>Every face in the room was shocked. Suddenly Nicko began to laugh. “He did warn us he is healthy again. He is not going to let one madman spoil even one night for him.”</p>
<p>“Robert please...”</p>
<p>“Tina, in London it is still your birthday. Come to me love. We haven’t got time to waste.” Lifting her I swung her up into my arms, gave a grin and jumped.</p><br>
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<p><center><a href="https://steemit.com/sfandf-fiction/@arthur.grafo/little-cherine-book-02-post085"> Next Post 085</a></center></p>
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<p><center>I hope you enjoy reading this story of fantasy, adventure and love.</center></p><br>
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<h6>Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου<br></h6>(Alexander Zenon Eustace)<br>
<sup>5th November, 2018</sup>
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* posted on Steemit: 5th November, 2018<br>
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