Free Finite by Viola Grace

 
     
     
    Chapter One
     
     
    Rhoda read the note again. “An archaeological team working on Haloth wants me to draw the mate of an ancient god.”
    Drehl looked at her with surprise. “What?”
    “They want me to meet them at my studio to draw the mate of an ancient god of Haloth.”
    “When?”
    “They are waiting for me in the city. I just have to tell them I am available.” Rhoda smiled as Drehl drew his hand down her hip. She enjoyed doing her correspondence next to him, and since he had just returned from a four-day natural disaster, she was doing it in bed.
    “You are not available right now. I need you to keep me warm while I recover from serving our world.” He removed the note from her hand and set it aside while tugging her into the sheets and curling around her.
    She sighed and settled in against him. “I am too curious not to draw the portrait, you know.”
    He exhaled against her neck while his hands slowly roamed her body. “I know. You have to follow your instincts. They have never steered you wrong.”
    She arched into his palms and twisted against him. “You are just saying that because I picked you.”
    Drehl rolled her to her back and pinned her between his hands. “You have excellent taste, and I think I need to earn that rest.”
    She tried to laugh, but it was lost in a moan, and eventually, he did earn his rest.
     
    The archaeologists came prepared. They had a credit slip with four times her normal fees and acontract that would keep anything she painted for them private. Shrugging, she signed the contract under the agreement that the Guardian acting as bodyguard could remain in the room.
    The archaeologists nodded, and when Charm had taken up his position in the corner of the studio, she locked the door to keep any curious passersby from entering. Rhoda nodded. “Show me his image.”
    She was handed a file full of pictures ranging from a ball of light to a stone statue of a supernatural being in a warrior pose.
    “Why do you want this picture?”
    “That is not your business, artist. Simply create the portrait and we will leave.” The man was dressed more like a warrior monk than a researcher. His face was hidden in a cowl, as were the visages of the men with him. They wore sleeveless tunics that exposed muscular arms and Gothically twisted tattoos.
    Their trousers were tight and tucked into high black boots, but it was the hoods and the marks that stuck out in her mind.
    Shaking her head to clear it, she focussed on the images. “These are all images of the same being?”
    “They are.”
    Rhoda flicked her hair over her shoulder, faced the blank canvas and picked up her charcoal. Her eyes saw light, her hand lifted and she began to work with a mind gone blind.
    A gasp brought her out of her daze, and the secure arms of her husband held her away from the flames engulfing the image.
    The representative spoke and inclined his head. “Thank you for your assistance. You will understand if we do not tarry.”
    Charm muttered to them. “Get out and do not return to Yacaro again.”
    The men filed out with their data pad in their hands.
    Rhoda looked at the charred remains of her painting. “What did they do?”
    “They scanned the image and then burned it.” He gestured and the flames went out.
    Rhoda chuckled and grinned. “Bring the frame, the bits and let’s go home. I have a restoration to do.”
     
    Once secure in Drehl’s palace, Rhoda used what he had taught her and she reassembled the frame, charred remains and immolated pigments. “Oh, my. That’s not good.”
    The image was forming slowly—Rhoda’s nanites weren’t as quick as Drehl’s—but the image was showing a Terran in the clutches of something ancient and powerful. Something that was her destiny. Rhoda was beginning to hate that word.
    She grabbed Drehl’s hand and ran to the com unit. “The only thing we have going for us is that they are going to Janial first. The mark on her arm would have sent me