(Author's Note: I have taken some creative license in the retelling of the Algos. If you are a buff on Greek mythology please be gentle with me. I know I've said this before but I'm sorry this has taken so long. Another big move for the family and another new job has taken up a lot of my time recently. I hope now that things have settled down I can find some time to spend with my characters. Much love to all and Happy Thanksgiving! - Spinner)
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"The Three Algos, or Algea were the spirits of pain, suffering, grief and sorrow in ancient Greece. Daughters of the Goddess of strife and discord, Eris their natures became a tool to fight their mother's turbulent character. Lupa and her twin sister, Achus the spirits of pain and the youngest, Ania, the spirit of sorrow. Little is known about these spirits, some believed them to simply be the personification of pain and suffering, while others saw them as saviors, using their gifts to help ease the pain and sorrow in the population around them. It has been postulated that because of their insubstantial nature they were unable to affect the world around them without the aid of a human host. Sadly there is no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise to support this claim."
Ada yawned and rubbed her eyes. She had been up all night, trying to find even a spark of possibility hidden in the university database and the internet. The current passage was the only thing she had found. She had started her search in the countless medical, psychological, neurological and any other journals looking for any reference of a condition similar to Galen's, she had found nothing. So she'd moved onto the realm of the improbable; myths, legends, and fairytales. Whatever was happening to Galen obviously lay beyond average medical understanding and she was a believer in seeking out all possibilities, no matter how remote. At 3:30 in the morning she had stumbled across this passage but that was it. She searched for another hour for any other information or stories on the Algos but all she could find were brief mentions in old poems and stories. If the Algos had anything to do with Galen's condition, she wasn't sure if knowing would make a difference.
****
The water lapped gently against the form in the water. Braedan walked toward it and realized he was looking at the remains of a marble statue. It had toppled over and as the water rose had been covered. Their actions during the night seemed to have eased more of the sorrow than Galen's songs and the water level had dropped nearly two feet. Despite its watery resting place, the statue, although in pieces held a pearlescent glow. Kneeling down in the shallow water, Braedan studied the pieces and realized it was the form of a young girl, marble tears streaming down her face. The toppled base held characters he didn't recognize. Not for the first time he wondered what this place was and was even more curious that he could remain there when Galen was not present. He could feel the pull of the waking world and stood to glance around one last time. He noticed an odd bluish glow in the water he'd never seen before. He looked up, realizing the moon had fallen below the horizon, leaving no explanation for the light in the water.
His eyes fluttered open a moment later and he stretched with a smile. This was the first time in months he had woken without an aching need for release. With that thought he glanced down, expecting to find a mess to clean up but besides being rather tangled his sheets showed no sign of his explosive finish. He glanced at his clock and saw that it was only seven, too early to hear from anyone he assumed.
"A run it is," he declared happily.
*****
Galen opened her eyes not to the sight of Braedan but to the sheer canopy over her bed. She smiled to herself thinking about what they had done and stretched. She winced as her muscles protested and not just from her horse ride the day before. She frowned and sat up and then felt the moisture between her legs. Throwing the covers off of herself she ran to the bathroom and pulled off her clothes. Her underwear were soaked and now that she was standing she felt more moisture begin to drip down her legs. Despite the impossibility of it, she knew this was not the sole product of her arousal as she slept, it was their combined passion. She sat down hard on the edge of the bathtub.
"But, it was a dream," she said quietly to herself, trying to come to grips with what had happened. She knew she had been in her bed all night and that Braedan had been in his, across town. But she also knew that her body ached in a way that proved she had been well loved the night before and the combined spending pushed the point home. Somehow, normal physical laws had been circumvented and any protection a normal dream would give a girl had just been thrown out the window. She didn't think Peter had put her on any form of birth control, feeling that his protection would be enough to keep men away. She placed her hands on her stomach, her heart racing at the thought that she could very well end up pregnant. But when she thought of Braedan, his smile, his love, and his dedication she felt warm. She could picture herself, swelled heavily with child and Braedan at her side. A giddiness welled within and she picked herself up and started the shower. Her heart felt truly light for the first time in years.
Peter woke to the smell of bacon. He pulled on a robe and rubbing his eyes and made his way to the kitchen. The sight and sound that greeted him almost made his heart stop. His sister was dancing around the kitchen, making breakfast and humming happily to herself. She noticed his stare and giggled.
"Good morning, Peter. Breakfast will be ready in just a few minutes. Would you like some coffee?"
He nodded, almost dumbly and sat down at the breakfast bar. He hadn't gotten much sleep having to wake Galen up every few hours and the last time he woke her up she had still been the zombie. He looked at the clock, just past seven, which mean that was only two hours ago. What had changed in that time?
"How are you feeling? How's the head?" he managed to get out.
"Wonderful!" She twirled again and deposited a steaming cup of black coffee before him. "My head's still a little tender but besides that I feel incredible."
"You seem way too cheery for someone who had to be woken up every hour last night,"
Galen shrugged and grinned at her brother. Turning back to the stove she flipped the eggs over and pulled the bacon out of the pan. In another few moments she had assembled two plates, complete with bacon, eggs, and hash browns.
"Do you have any idea of what you'd like to do today?" he asked, enjoying the first few bites of his food. He wasn't sure but he swore he saw the slightest blush before she turned around to gather her own plate.
"I was hoping to call Ada and see if she'd be willing to take me shopping. I haven't really had a chance to do that is a long time. Would that be alright?"
Peter was surprised she didn't ask to see Braedan first thing and he was more than happy to see her go out with Ada. He'd had to do most of her shopping the last three years and it was definitely not on his top ten list of fun ways to spend an afternoon.
"Sure, babe. We'll call her a little later and see if she's free. How much money do you think you'll need?"
"I'm not really sure," she said thoughtfully, "I guess I hadn't really considered what I would get exactly, I just thought it would be fun to go out with Ada for some girl time," she smiled sheepishly and Peter laughed.
"I'll give you my card then, and you can go crazy," Galen came around the counter and after placing her plate next to Peter's on the breakfast bar gave him a big hug.
"Thank you, big brother."
"Anytime, babe. Just make sure to have fun."
The siblings finished their breakfast amidst a feeling of serenity. Peter couldn't help the warmth that swelled in his chest at seeing his sister smile and laugh and he felt his resolve crumbling in regards to Braedan. With a new determination he knew he would do whatever it took to keep Galen smiling.
"Why don't you go and relax. Since you made breakfast I'll do the dishes and then give Ada a call." Galen nodded and quickly rinsed her plate in the sink before heading back to her room. She figured a little more rest wouldn't hurt especially after the exertions of the day before.
Peter waited to hear her bedroom door close before he gulped down the rest of his coffee and grabbed his wallet and phone. He pulled out the slip of paper he'd been handed the day before and took a deep breath before punching in the numbers. The phone rang for a while and he was about to hang up, not wanting to say what was need on a machine when Braedan's voice came on.
"This is Braedan," he said, sounding slightly winded.
"Umm, Braedan, this is Peter." Braedan could hear an uneasy undertone in Peter's words and was instantly concerned.
"Is Galen alright?"
"She's fine, better than fine actually," Peter said with a sigh. "She says her head is a little sore but nothing besides that."
"Then why the trepidation, Peter." Braedan asked, confused. "I know we haven't really gotten off on the right foot, but you sound genuinely concerned about something."
"Look, Braedan, Galen is my sister, she's all I have and I don't want anything to happen to her. I know you...are interested in her and she in you, but,"
"Peter," Braedan tried to say.
"No, please, let me finish before I lose my nerve." When Braedan didn't say anything else he went on."I know you are interested in each other, but please get to know each other a little better before you jump into anything too serious. There is something about you that brings Galen back to us, I won't even try to understand it but I can accept it. My sister needs you Braedan, and as much as it pains me to admit it, I need you too. I don't know what I would do if she went back to the way she's been the past three years. I won't ask you what your intentions are with her, because you've made them pretty obvious, but still know that if you hurt her, mine will be the last face you see."
Braedan was a little embarrassed and rather stunned at Peter's forthright speech. He'd expected a fight to get closer to Galen, but if he heard correctly, Peter had just given him permission to be with his sister.
"I know my words won't mean much, but I hope I can prove to you that I would never hurt your sister. I've seen how she suffers, I could never add more to her," he said. There was an uncomfortable pause before Peter cleared his throat.
"If you aren't busy this evening, you might bring Galen out, she could use a nice night out."
Braedan couldn't help the smile that came to his face, and Peter could easily hear the change in tone in his response.
"Are you setting your sister up on a date?" he asked, trying not to laugh.
