A Wish Is A Dream The Heart Makes.

Chapter three: Amidst The Stars I Fall.

He flew backwards, with tremendous force and hurriedly tried to brace himself for the impact he knew was coming. With a slightly metallic sound, he felt himself come into contact with a wall behind him; with no greater force, than if he'd leant upon it. What the Hell was going on? Xander opened his eyes, searching for the demon he'd just seen... Wait a minute! Demon? He'd just boarded the ship, on his way to New...No. He'd been in his sitting room? He was feeling increasingly confused. Which of his thoughts were the correct ones?


"They both are, Kid." A voice, he vaguely recognised, spoke up from close beside him. His head snapped around to the side and he stared in shock. He appeared to be on the ship his mind was telling him he'd just boarded. Okay... and yet, standing next to him was the demon from his other set of memories!


"What the hell just happened? Why do I suddenly have two sets of memories? How can they both be right? Where am I, who the hell are you?" Xanders voice rose with the last question, growing increasingly panicked.


"Well... when I said they both were that was, technically, incorrect. You really do come from the Hellmouth, where I just granted your wish. However, there'd be little point in just plonking you down in some alternate dimension and leaving you to sink or swim. No, I'd hate to see you flushed out the airlock 'cos you thought it was a toilet. So, I simply... created you some credentials. To all intents and purposes you were born in this dimension, seventeen years ago; as Alexander Frank Harris. I even gave you a decent middle name, kid. So you have the memories necessary to survive. You are, currently present on the Hunter-Gratzner, bound to New Mecca. As for me I'm known as Frank, I'm a Gr'Atarni Demon and currently working as a Vengeance Demon." Frank gave the kid a winning smile.


"Okay, but... why grant my wish? I'm not asking for vengeance on anybody!"


"No? Didn't you think, even for a moment that if you vanished it wouldn't give your girls pause and make them reflect on how they'd treated you?" The demon questioned, insightfully.


"Maybe I did think that, at least a little. But shouldn't the wish have been aimed at them for it to work?"


"Possibly, possibly, but have you never heard the phrase, 'The best revenge is to live your life well.' I think of it as poetic justice. The injured party, that's you, gets a chance to live out his dreams. While the guilty party, that's your girls, gets left wondering what the Hellmouth happened to you. The perfect revenge. And no guts or blood involved, to tell the truth I'm a bit squeamish."


"Will I ever be able to see them again, or am I stuck in this dimension for good?" Xander was beginning to feel a little desperate.


"Oh no, Kid. You're just here to hook up with... Riddick... wasn't it? No, you'll be stuck here only long enough to ensure a certain girl's survives something that'll happen, soon. Once that is done with, if you're both still alive, you'll be on your way to Sin-filled Spira, and a pilgrimage for two...or nine, as the case may be. Will you see your friends again...? Maybe, when vengeance is served you'll choose to. Hey, who can tell? Oh! Before I forget, someone wants to meet you kid." As he said that he turned and stepped away from Xander and held out a hand, gesturing as if to say get a move on. After a brief pause there was a second demon, obviously of the same species although female, standing across from Xander. She looked familiar.


"Hey, I remember you! Um, Cali-something wasn't it? You were being... beaten on by some vamps and I rescued you." Xander finally managed to place her.


"You are correct, Xander. I am Caliefnos and you did indeed save me. This" she waved a hand to indicate Frank "is my mate. I have observed you since last we met, waiting for an opportunity to repay the debt I owe you. I know the one you dream of, The Riddick; it is a worthy mate you seek. One of the last of his kind. I would have you be worthy in his eyes. Will you allow me, to make it so?" She looked at him, trying to read his reaction to her offer. Seeing that he looked confused, she continued, "His kind live lifetimes longer than yours. I would repay my debt by gifting you both with the same span of time. I would use my magic to change you to one of his kind. So that you could in truth be mated. Will you allow it?"


Xander watched her speculatively; he knew she wouldn't suggest this if it would harm him, because he knew that she honestly felt indebted to him. But still he shouldn't jump in blindly and without knowing all the facts.


"Would it harm me in any way? And if I choose to accept you offer, would I still be me?"


"No. No permanent harm will come to you from this. I swear it. You will change little from how you are now; the difference will be largely physical."


"What physical changes? And largely implies that there will be some non-physical too. What did you mean no permanent harm?"


Caliefnos nodded her approval at his continued request for the details of what she wanted to do to him. It indicated to her that he knew the importance of her debt to him. And the importance of the manner in which she fulfilled it.


"Good. Well asked. There will be some pain at the time of the change, but nothing that will cause true or lasting harm to you in anyway. The physical changes are slight, as a submissive male you will have enhanced endurance, speed, strength and senses; nothing too extreme though," She announced, seemingly apologetically, before continuing "nothing beyond the level of the Slayer, I'm afraid. The only other change is that you will become a bearer of life, only of course, when you have mated. There are truly, only two real changes that are non-physical; you will feel more easily angered and very defensive of your mate. Both will be easy for you to control with practice. I assure you Xander on the debt I owe you all I have spoken is the truth."


Xander nodded in acceptance of what she had said. He thought about it carefully, idly allowing his eyes to roam over the room he was in. He straightened suddenly when he became aware of what was opposite him. Or rather who. There in a strange pod, one that his new memories identified as a cryogenic sleep capsule; used for long journeys through space, was Richard B. Riddick. In the flesh. He couldn't have told anyone how he knew who it was; after all he'd never actually been able to see him in the dreams. He'd always been obscured. But he'd felt his presence. Man! Had he! Xander stepped forward, feeling as if he was in a trance, when he was close enough he reached out and placed a now shaking hand flat on the pod. It was him, in the flesh indeed. He had to be close on seven feet tall! And the muscles, God! The muscles! And the...chains? What the hell? He took a reluctant step back and turned to the waiting demons thinking 'Hmm. A lifetime with Riddick... A long, long lifetime with him? Where do I sign?!'


"I would like to accept your offer, Caliefnos. And I thank you." He said trying not to sound too eager, although from Franks amused snort, he didn't succeed too well.


"Sure thing, Kid. When you wake up again you'll be in a pod thingy so... try not to panic, okay? And Xander... Good luck Kid. You're gonna need it." Frank spoke, suddenly serious.


Xander didn't have time to react to that ominous, sounding statement, Caliefnos made a sharp gesture an his entire body exploded into agonizing pain. His last conscious thought before he passed out was 'This better be worth it!'


A.N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed.

Blushing: Do you mean 'Chronicles of Riddick The Underverse' 'cos if you do, I love that story!

Gravy Baby: I'm sorry! Don't explode! Here's an update. NOOOO! Not the puppy eyes! And yes I AM open to bribes of virtual cookies... see I updated, originally, I wasn't putting this up until tomorrow.