Koi

By Remmy Duchene

When a Shiver's fed up, no one's safe.

Koi Pyktis is the last of the Shivers and, lately, he's been feeling as if the whole world is in love, leaving him the odd Shiver out. Though he has his eyes on Kofi's friend, Christophe Sidler, he knows he must keep his hands off him. His father's enemies are out there and they seem hell-bent on starting a war between the Shivers and anyone else they want.

Christophe Sidler has loved Koi Pyktis since the moment he laid eyes on the studly Greek. But he's fresh from mourning his mother, getting his feet wet in the business world and trying desperately not to put his foot in his mouth around Koi.

However, what will Christophe feel and say when he finds out what Koi really is, and where will Christophe stand in the battle ahead?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Apr 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781786514028

Book preview

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Koi

ISBN # 978-1-78651-402-8

©Copyright Remmy Duchene 2016

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2016

Edited by Faith Bicknell-Brown

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2016 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Shivers

KOI

Remmy Duchene

Book three in the Shivers series

When a Shiver’s fed up, no one’s safe.

Koi Pyktis is the last of the Shivers and, lately, he’s been feeling as if the whole world is in love, leaving him the odd Shiver out. Though he has his eyes on Kofi’s friend, Christophe Sidler, he knows he must keep his hands off him. His father’s enemies are out there and they seem hell-bent on starting a war between the Shivers and anyone else they want.

Christophe Sidler has loved Koi Pyktis since the moment he laid eyes on the studly Greek. But he’s fresh from mourning his mother, getting his feet wet in the business world and trying desperately not to put his foot in his mouth around Koi.  

However, what will Christophe feel and say when he finds out what Koi really is, and where will Christophe stand in the battle ahead?

Dedication

For Amanda Duchene

Trademarks Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Town Car: The Ford Motor Company

Sleepy Hollow: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

How to Get Away with Murder: ABC Studios, ShondaLand, NoWalk Entertainment

Started from the Bottom: Drake, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

YouTube: Google, Inc.

Lego: Lego Juris A/S

Agent 47: TSG Entertainment

The Matrix: Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Bros, Silver Pictures

Batman: DC Comics

Percy Jackson: Rick Riordan

Range Rover: Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Power Ranger: SCG Power Rangers LLC

Cream Soda Spar-Letta: The Coca-Cola Company

Something wicked this way comes: Shakespeare

Prologue

A king is neither husband nor father. He considers his throne and nothing else.—Pierre Corneille

You’re my son but you are my hero.

Christophe Sidler closed his eyes tightly, fingering the smooth part of the rose between two thorns, remembering his mother’s words.

No matter what happens or how this ends, you promise me you will be happy. That was one of my biggest goals in life—that my son be happy.

The words dug into him. He wondered how she could expect him to be happy without her. She was all he had—the only person—other than Kofi Olabasu—who never looked at him like he was a freak.

One day love will find you. And on that day, I want you to think of me and smile. On that day you will see that I sometimes knew what I was talking about.

Mom…

Let me go now, Christophe. It’s time to move on. I love you. I love…

The weight of the flower made his hands weak. Christophe winced. Even on her death bed his mother hadn’t let him forget how much she cared. When the world was against him and seemed to be breaking him, his mother had always had a hug. Now, with the biggest hurt he’d ever experienced, he couldn’t go home and crawl into bed with her, rest his head against her shoulder and just close his eyes. He sat among the few people at his mother’s funeral. She’d been sick for so long it was hard for him to remember a time she was healthy. The few instances he could recall, she was a lively woman, a kind woman with bright brown eyes and the darkest of skin. She was beautiful to him, even after the cancer had set in and begun eating away at her. She’d always been proud of him and that pride had never been stronger than the moment he’d come out to her. The pain that he’d never see her again gripped him. Christophe bowed his head and clutched Kofi’s hand tighter. Since he was holding a flower in his other hand, he rested his head against Geoff’s shoulder.

The pastor was saying something about ‘from dust they came and will return’ and Christophe decided then to tune him out. He didn’t want to hear about his mother going back to earth—what he truly needed was Mary pinching his cheeks and telling him he should to eat more. She’d always worried about his eating habits since Christophe didn’t eat most unhealthy things. He had to keep his body in fighting shape for mixed martial arts.

Finally, the crowd moved and he looked up. They were proceeding past his mother’s coffin and placing red roses atop the box. Each flower to fall against the surface pulled something more inside Christophe and tears clouded his vision. He could barely breathe. The blue rose slipped from his fingers and landed in his lap. All he could do was bow his head and try to look at it but all he saw through his tears was the shadow of the flower his mother loved so much.

You don’t have to get up again if you don’t want to, Kofi Olabasu told him. Geoff and I will stay right here with you.

He’s right, Geoff replied. Everything today is at the pace you can handle.

Thanks. Christophe wiped his eyes and picked up the rose. But if I don’t get up now, I never will.

He fumbled around in a dark haze, shaking hands with people and accepting their condolences, but it all made him feel numb. What did ‘I’m sorry for your loss’ even mean? Was it supposed to make him feel better? If that was the case, why did he feel worse each time someone muttered it to him?

Soon they were all gone except for Geoff, Kofi, Carter and Ciro. Christophe just felt drained. Geoff was speaking with the funeral director because heaven knew Christophe didn’t have a mind to. Ciro wrapped his arms around Christophe’s shoulders and he simply slumped against Ciro’s side.

They remained silent until Geoff returned. I was just making sure things were good with the funeral and everything was paid for, Geoff explained.

Christophe managed a small smile.

It was a beautiful ceremony, Carter Olabasu-Pyktis said, rubbing Christophe’s back gently. I think she would have liked it.

I hope so. She didn’t really like people fussing over her.

Ciro nodded. Yes, I remember the first time I met her. She wouldn’t let me give her my chair.

They chuckled softly at the memory.

The first words she ever said to me, Geoff reminisced, I remember, I walked into the house behind Christophe. My backpack was about two sizes bigger than I was. She looked at me with this surprised look on her face and said ‘Lawd, Jesus, help me. This boy needs to eat more!’

The group laughed.

Yes. She was always doing that, Christophe agreed. Always feeding people. She loved having visitors come over. And when they did, she spoiled them rotten. Her motto was the guest comes first.

They stopped for a moment, silence flowing around them.

We’ll wait for you in the car? Kofi asked, interrupting the peace.

Thanks…

Geoff hugged Christophe tightly. If you want me to stay…

No. Christophe returned the embrace. I need a moment.

Okay. But… I’ll just be right—Geoff stopped and thumbed over his shoulder—in that car.

Christophe nodded and Geoff jogged off to catch up with the others. He didn’t look away from their retreating backs until long after they’d climbed into the black Town Car, one of many Kofi had rented for the occasion. After the door closed, Christophe refocused his attention on his mother’s grave. The brown box held his mother after the cancer had finished with her. She’d lost so much weight from the chemo and the medications they had her on that by the end, Christophe almost didn’t recognize her. At one point he’d thought for sure she’d wither away. Her warmth and her smile were still there—that was how Christophe held on to who she was.

The blue rose he had in his hand was the final thing to go in with her. The beautiful flowers were her favorite, and though times had been tough before Kofi had helped him out, at least once a week he’d stopped at the florist and got her one just to see her smile.

I don’t know if you would want me to be sad right now, Mom, Christophe whispered. But I feel like the world is ending. I feel… I don’t get why such horrible things happen to good people and I don’t know if I ever will understand but I love you, Mom.

He dropped the rose on the grave and bowed his head in silent prayer.

There is no greater pain than losing a mother.

Christophe swung around at the sudden voice. He blinked at the man standing beside him, dark hair pulled back and silver-blue eyes that seemed supernatural somehow. The stranger also looked familiar—he reminded Christophe of Ciro. Who are you?

I do not mean to intrude. I am Koi, Ciro’s brother. I know you do not know me, but I am here to pay my respects.

Why?

Koi turned to look at the coffin. Because my brother mourns this woman. For that to happen, she had to have been great.

Christophe smiled. She was. Ciro was always kind to her. Thank you for coming.

Yes. I should give you some alone time…

No. Christophe declined with a shake of his head. Being alone here makes me confused. If you don’t mind…

I do not.

For a long moment, Christophe stood beside this stranger, feeding from his strength and feeling like an idiot. But he couldn’t help it. He needed all the support he could get. When Kofi had suggested he take some time alone, Christophe had thought for sure that was what he needed. But as he remained still, listening to the sound of wind hissing through the leaves and limbs of the weeping willows around them, all he felt was alone and broken.

He wasn’t sure how long he remained like that, but after a while, someone touched his shoulder.

Are you ready to go? Kofi asked.

I… Christophe glanced around to see that Koi was walking away, his long black coat blowing behind him. He pulled from Kofi’s arms and jogged after him. Koi…

Koi stopped and turned slightly to gaze at Christophe over a shoulder.

Thank you, Christophe whispered. His voice cracked on the words. Thank you.

Koi nodded slightly and continued on. After watching him for a little while, Christophe took a breath and went back to Kofi. Okay, I think I should go home. I’m exhausted, but I haven’t been able to sleep for a while now.

Why don’t you stay with us? Kofi asked. We have plenty of room and Osaki won’t mind.

Thanks, Christophe told him. But I have tons to do still. Besides, you two are engaged. I’m sure you don’t need me hanging around the place.

Come on, you’re mourning your mother. We wouldn’t mind having you. You’re family now, so remember that.

Christophe nodded. But I do have plenty to do.

There is no need to get everything today. Some things can wait.

Yeah, but if I’m not going to sleep I will have to do something—especially with all the casseroles in my fridge right now. I hate the things, but the neighbors and Mom’s church sisters keep bringing them.

All right. We’ll drop you home but if you need anything…

Christophe nodded. I know.

On the ride back to his mother’s place, no one spoke. They all sat in the car with only air squeezing its way through them. Christophe rested his elbow on the window and inhaled deeply. Suddenly he had all this time on his hands—he’d rather have his mother. Even though he knew she couldn’t have lived forever, he wasn’t ready to lose her. He wasn’t ready to be on the face of the earth alone. Christophe knew he wasn’t prepared. His eyes burned with tears and soon they toppled down his cheeks and splashed off his chin against his jacket.

Chapter One

The North Shores

This is the second time Poseidon has had to save the Red Sea nations. Koi sat in deep conversation with Ares and Hercules. I don’t understand what is going on.

None of us get this, Koi, Hercules said. I was tempted to seek Zeus’ assistance in figuring out this mystery but we all know the end result of that.

Koi scoffed.

Our father has all these powers, Hercules continued. Yet he sits back and allows all these horrible things to befall us.

Koi was tired of his father’s indiscretions coming back to haunt him and his siblings. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. He was tired of the fighting, of having to take lives since there was usually no other alternative. He rose, approached one of the massive windows and stared out at his mother’s garden.

I do not understand, Koi repeated more to himself than to Hercules. What else do we have to do to prove that we want no trouble, that we mean no harm? Sometimes I wish we were never born.

Don’t say that, Ares said. I, for one, am happy to have you.

Koi shook his head. This is getting out of hand and with all the fighting and the death we have experienced already…

As I said, Hercules began, it is only a rumor.

There is no such thing on Mount Olympus and you know it! They might as well have put up a billboard that says ‘We want Shivers dead!’ Since Zeus sired us, there’s been a target on our backs and everyone wants to cash in. There is absolutely nothing we can do short of blowing up Mount Olympus—and even then we would still be screwed.

You know we won’t let anything bad happen to you, right? Hercules asked. He stood close to Koi now. You have us and we have your back for as long as you want and longer. Yes, no one knows better than me that having Zeus’ blood flowing through your veins means a horrid life sentence. So trust me when I say this—you cannot continue to live your life worrying about what may come. Let us face it when it gets here.

It is not so simple. Koi bowed his head. Sometimes love is not enough. This is one of those times.

You can’t mean that, Ares added. Koi, it has to be enough. We deserve to be happy too, even if our father is a man whore.

I was hoping to find someone, settle down, Koi admitted. Be happy like my brother and Osaki.

What’s stopping you? Hercules asked. You still can! I mean, look at me.

How can I bring someone into this? Herc, you, better than everyone else, know how bringing an outsider into this family will end. They tortured your mother, made you kill your children, brainwashed your wife into killing you—how can you not see what I mean?

And you’re right, Hercules said.