A Scripta

Billy finished loading the bags into the Caddy. Rowena stood in the doorway, Dmitrius and Kalius giving her hugs. "Sorry about last night," Rowena said.

"I'm sorry for what I've done to you," Dmitrius said, his head bowed.

"It's all right. I would rather be bound to you than anyone else." She smiled at him, kissed the top of his bowed head. "Go on, before you miss your flight." She took Kalius' hand in both of hers, and squeezed gently. "I'll see you at the wedding."

"Thank you again, Rowena," Kalius said. She released his hand, and waved goodbye to them. She turned to her servants. "All right, who's coming with me to Rhode Island?"


They got to LAX in three hours, and the hotel a half an hour after that. It was 10:30, still early by their standards, but far too late to call Kalius' parents. They walked into the hotel, looking like exhausted travelers. Dmitrius went to the desk and spoke to the woman there. "Evening."

"Good evening, sir."

"We have room 189, I would appreciate if you send the maid after 9 pm in the evening."

"Sir?"

"I sleep during the day, and do not want to be disturbed."

"Yes, sir," she said, and made a note.

The following evening...

Jason Nokimos was finally settling down to watch the game, when the doorbell rang. His wife Lori was working late at the office this time around, instead of him, and he was happy because he finally got to have his everything pizza with anchovies and a bottle of stout.

"Ah hell." He got up from the couch and went over to the side door. The only people who came to that door were family and friends, and if Tony wanted a cup of sugar, he was going to punch his lights out. Jason opened the door, scowling.

"Hi, dad."

Jason blinked. "Kevin? What're you doing here? And..." He looked up at the tall, rugged, dark-haired man behind his son. "Is that...?"

"This is Dmitrius Acheron, my fiance."

"Hello, Mr. Nokimos," he said, and held out his hand. This guy was huge, compared to the last boyfriend Kevin had brought home. Jason shook it, and knew the man was holding back on his strength, even though he shook it firmly.

"Well, c'mon in." Jason stepped aside and let them in. "This is a surprise. Your mother's working late."

"We figured we'd surprise you," Kevin said, walking in. Dmitrius looked around the house, and instinctively ducked from a low lamp. He slowly straightened. It wouldn't have hit him - he probably had a few centimeters' clearance.

"Want a beer?" Jason asked them.

"No thank you, I just ate."

"No," Kevin said, they headed to the living room.

Jason used the remote to shut off the TV. Kevin said, "Dad, it's okay, you can watch the game. I know you like the Lakers."

Jason smiled and put the TV back on. "Mind if I eat?"

"Go ahead," they both said at the same time, looked at each other and laughed. Kevin directed Dmitrius to the recliner, and Kevin sat at the small bar.

"So what brings you this way?"

"We had some business to take care of in Texas," Kevin said, "so we figured we'd stop by so you can meet him before the wedding."

Jason looked at Dmitrius, who kept his eyes on the TV. Something about him disturbed him. He felt like he had invited a wolf into his house and his son was marrying it. "Have you set a date?"

"July 24."

"I'll go online and get the tickets."

"I will," said Dmitrius, turning to slowly face Jason. "Just tell me how many people are going."

"I can't ask you to do that."

"I insist."

Jason was not necessarily a big man. He was an architect, but he wasn't built like a stick. He had stood up to people before, and although he never lorded it over anyone, he could often get his point across. Dmitrius looked at him intently, with a look that brokered no argument, that seemed one step away from a command. Kevin came over and put a hand on Dmitrius' shoulder, and the feeling lessened, but didn't go away.

"Kevin, can I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure, dad." Jason rose from the couch.

Dmitrius got up, "Pardon me, where is the bathroom?"

"I'll show him," Kevin said, and took Dmitrius' hand. Jason went to the sliding door leading out onto the rear deck, and when Kevin returned, stepped outside with him.

"Kevin, I know it's your life. But there's something wrong with him. He's dangerous."

"I know, dad."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "Has he done anything to hurt you?"

"What? No!" Kevin looked at his father. "He's dangerous to his enemies, but not to me."

Jason gazed out at the lawn. "Is he a hero, too?"

"Yes."

"What can he do?"

"He's fast and strong."

Jason drummed his fingers on the deck's railing. "Kevin, I don't know. He's not like Michael."

"He's nothing like Michael, dad."

They heard commotion in the house, and turned around to see his mother drop off something at the counter. Dmitrius was standing in the doorway of the TV room, and she stopped as if she had seen a ghost. She started to back away, heading into the kitchen area and beyond their line of sight. Dmitrius merely stood there, then also retreated into the TV room.

"See?" said Jason quietly.

Kevin said, "He's had a rough life. He's safe to us."

"God, I hope so," said Jason, and let Kevin back into the house.

Lori looked at them enter, her eyes wide as saucers. "Oh, there you are."

"Hi, mom." Kevin went around the counter and hugged his mother.

"That's your new boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"Isn't he kind of old for you?"

Kevin smiled. "Not really."

She looked at Kevin, and then Dmitrius was standing in the doorway again. Kevin looked back at Dmitrius and beckoned him over. Dmitrius came over, and Kevin could tell his mother was practically forcing herself to stay still. Dmitrius held out his hand, and she went to shake it. He deftly turned it over in his hand and kissed the air above the back of her hand, like they used to do in medieval times. "Mrs. Nokimos, it is a pleasure."

She merely stared at Dmitrius and they knew she was trying not to back up. He stood up slowly, gracefully. He moved aside, and leaned against the counter. Kevin came up to him and put his arm around Dmitrius' waist. "We figured we'd stop by, so you could see him before the wedding."

Lori turned to the fridge, just to get herself some distance. "Can I get you boys anything?"

"I'm good," said Dmitrius, and Kevin said at the same time, "No." They looked at each other and chuckled. Kevin looked up at the clock above the stove. "It's late, we better get going." Dmitrius nodded.

"How long will you be in town for?"

"The weekend. We're flying back Sunday night."

"Want us to tell your brothers?"

"Not really."

His parents looked at each other.

"We want to spend time with you."

"We can go out tomorrow night for dinner."

"It's a date, then."

The two men left, and Jason looked at Lori. "What's happened to him?" Lori asked.

"I don't know," Jason said, scowling at the door, "but I plan to find out more about this Dmitrius character."