The Everly Davis chronicles

by Amelia K Oliver

  "Welcome, Victor! You have grown."

  I look up into the face of Athena, Goddess of war, her legendary skull helmet upon her head. Next I see Freyja, Goddess of fertility and death, whose beauty rivals even Aphrodite. I raise to my knee and bow my head.

  "Rise boy! I have watched you for your entire life. Stand." Athena demands, lack of patience lacing her voice.

  "Proud warrior, show me those beautiful eyes of yours." Freyja coos melodically. Raising my eyes, I look upon these two beautiful goddesses who could smite me with the flick of a wrist if I so much as breathe wrong. Awe and fear swell inside my chest. "Ah dear one, oh your children! They will be adorable."

  "Enough Frey, " Athena admonishes Freyja. "Now is not the time to bed this warrior. Now is the time to prepare him for battle!"

  Confusion rolls through me, battle?

  Karl

  Daylight forces its way through my eyelids, disturbing the most peaceful sleep I'd had in the longest time. Without opening my eyes, I can tell who's in the bed with me. Garrot and Everly breathe softly to my left. My right side is empty. Several things give away who they are. Scent. Breathing patterns. Two of our family members are missing. Leyland and Victor must be downstairs having breakfast.

  The thought of food makes my stomach twist and suddenly I'm overtaken by the urge to vomit. Which is fucking odd, because at one hundred and three, I've never once gotten sick. I get out of bed, carefully extracting my arm from under Everly's head. God's, she's beautiful. Garrot shifts and grunts but doesn't wake.

  As I walk across the room and into the bathroom, I realise despite being what must be very early in the morning, it is very quiet. No birds chirp the song of their species, usually I wake to a symphony of sound played to me by the nearby nesting birds. But this morning, nothing. It's silent. Odd.

  I take care of my morning routine, barely tasting the toothpaste or mouthwash as I think about the events of the last couple of weeks. What a whirlwind it’s been. I run my hand absently down the space between my pecs. Looking at the beautiful mark branded into my skin, beautiful wings, a sturdy tree, an electric blue G and dagger tipped tentacles all form the most amazing tattoo I've ever seen, I can't quite believe it. All four of us, and Everly in the silver tendrils encasing our marks. When Ever kissed our inner wrists, the pain and pleasure was more than I could bear. I was thankful I was on my knees, otherwise, I might have fallen.

  "Time for a sweep" I murmur to myself in the mirror, focusing my mind. The Selkie army is too close for comfort. I must make sure my family is safe.

  I rush down the stairs, not bothering with breakfast. There's too much to do, and not enough time. The need to protect my family is so strong I forget to pick up a weapon. I don't realise my mistake until I come across a group of Selkie on the border of Scarborough.

  Within the trees I see there are only five of them, I can take them without a man-made weapon. Bending down, I touch the tips of my fingers to the floor and mentally ask "Come to me trees, bash these motherfuckers to death." As the oak trees sprout from the ground, something cold presses into my neck.

  "Call them off, or I slit your throat here and now." A Selkie wraps his arm around my neck and forces me to stand, a sharp prick at my throat tells me he has a weapon. An Elite.

  "Not likely, you shit," using the tip of the trident at my neck, I pierce the skin on my thumb and flick my hand down, spraying blood onto the dirt. With a stomp of my foot, a chasm opens between my legs. The earth cracks and echoes off the trees around us. As does the scream of six Selkie as they each fall into the earth and disappear. At the same time I flip the one at my back, he falls into the hole, too. "Thank you. Enjoy your meal," I whisper to the ground. Inside me, I feel it take a deep satisfying breath as it closes in on itself. Sealing the crack, I'd asked it to create. I stare in awe as the mossy ground stitches itself back together, as if alive. "Selkie bitches." I'm almost to the glade so I decide to take a quick dip before heading back home. The scene I'm met with sends pure fear down my spine.

  Victor half shifted into his Kraken form is defending himself against a huge Leviathan, blue blood pours from deep gashes across his stomach. "Victor!" I run headlong towards him just as another Leviathan emerges from the trees to my side and tackles me to the ground. "Umph" the giant dragon's body lands on mine and I feel my ribs break. Pushing my hands to its chest I heave with all my strength. "Get. The. Fuck. Off. Me," I growl between clenched teeth. It doesn't budge, instead, it lowers further on to me, until I can hardly take a breath. "Argh!"

  "Karl!" I hear Vic scream from the other end of the pond. The sound of splashing distracts me momentarily.

  "They're trying to get to Ever. You must kill it!" He yells.

  Yea Vic, I'll just get right on that! Without a weapon in my hand, I do the only thing I can do.

  "Earth!" I splay a hand on the dirt beneath me, willing my power to enter the ground. Unable to get a breath enough to speak, I call out again in my mind.

  Please help me earth. Send your soldiers and kill this beast!

  The ground begins to shake just as my vision begins to fade, no! I need to stay awake. I kick out my foot and hit something more solid than a mere Selkie. I flip to my side just as a massive foot made entirely of stone stomps down on my leg, snapping it. "Ah fuck!" Pain explodes through my body, taking my breath away.

  The Golem before me leans it's massive body down and clamps a hand around my neck, lifting me off the ground. Eye-level with the eight-foot beast, my legs dangle in the air and my head swims. I can barely get air past the golem's grip around my neck, seconds from passing out, it drops me. I land badly and my broken leg gets twisted.

  Shit, I'm about to pass out and get squished by this giant. Calling my powers to try to gain control of the Golem doesn't work, despite it being made of stone, the magic controlling it prevents me from gaining access. Shit.

  I try to crawl away, dragging my body across the dirt. Looking back, I see the stone creature is completely still. That's when I hear it, the singing. I drag myself towards it. There’s something beautiful about the sound. Something familiar. As I break the treeline, I'm met with a sight so beautiful, I cannot look away.

  Everly stands at the cliff's edge, a white flowing gown billows around her. Her ample breasts barely covered by the almost sheer material. Two slits up the front reveal her gorgeous legs, exposed all the way to her hips. Clearly showing she is commando. Her flame-red hair moves in the breeze, seemingly alive. The sun's rays dance off the copper tones, mesmerizing. Her peach skin glows with a radiance that makes me want to run my hands all over her. She's singing, her melody drawing me closer to her.

  Pushing off the ground, grunting and panting I try to stand. Never taking my eyes off my girl. "Everly..." Her ocean-blue eyes are bright, I feel her love for me pour into me. Finally, on my feet, I hop to her. The pain coming from my injuries barely registers. Everly reaches out her hand to me, my eyes flick down. As they go past her stomach, I realize it's completely flat. Toned even. Wait... this is not... before I realise what's happening the vision before me changes into one out of nightmares.

  Garrot

  I come awake so quickly my eyes refuse to focus and my stomach churns. Getting out of the bed, I stumble to the bathroom. It's so hot, sweat drips down my back. I can't ever remember feeling this way before. The air smells different here, musty. I open the little window and take a deep breath.

  After several lungs full of clean air, I turn back to the bedroom. My eyebrows knit together, why does the air in the bedroom taste off? Tangy. Feeling better I jog downstairs in my birthday suit. I rarely feel the need for clothes, especially not in our home. I feel no-one down here, so I pour a coffee and sit on a stool at the breakfast bar. The wood is cold on my arse, but it helps me shake off the last threads of sleep.

  From my position in the kitchen, I can see out of the back window and notice that the day is foggy. I must have slept through the fog horns. I run up to our bedroom and throw on my clothes, I'm
tempted to wake Everly, but I let her sleep in, I leave the house quietly. My plan is to visit my dad before picking up some supplies at the supermarket. It's my turn to cook tonight, steaks sound great to me.

  I hop in my black jeep and start her up. My phone bleeps just as I am about to pull out of the drive.

  “Dad.”

  “Son, you need to come over. Your mother is here.”

  “What?” Oh shit. Mum.

  “On my way dad. Don't let her leave!”

  I floor the gas and speed my way to his house. My mother is back? Damn. Ten minutes later, I pull up at dad's house. My heart is hammering in my chest. I intended on talking to dad about my sexuality, I absolutely am in love with Everly, there’s no question about that. I am beyond attracted to her, there isn't a single thing I'd change about her. But I have also developed more than friendly feelings for Le. I love him too.

  Which shouldn't be surprising really, after all, we know each other like the backs of our hands. But I'm worried how Everly will react if I tell her, I don't think she'd be mad but... I park and get out of the car, my mind running through what I want to ask my dad when I hear a muffled scream coming from the dining room.

  Rushing, I kick my way into dad's house, the door shattering under my heel. "Dad?" Storming through the rooms, I keep my hands up in front of me prepared for anything. Except for what happens next, of course. Another scream comes from the dining room, I blow the door off with my powers. The wood splintering as pieces fly through the air around me, I rush headlong into a scene from a horror movie.

  Dad is tied to a chair, naked except for a scrap of cloth over his crotch. The rest of his body is crisscrossed with ropes, and slash marks. "Dad!" I step towards him. His eyes are wild. Bending to kneel at his feet, I begin to untie him. He continues to scream behind the gag that's stuffed in his mouth, but I can't understand him. "I'm getting you out, dad."

  His blood coats the thick bindings around his wrists, making them slippery and I can't get them loose. Just as I reach up to remove the cloth from his mouth he starts to thrash.

  "What?" I start to rise to my feet, and something hits me between my shoulders. I'm knocked forward onto dad. I get a hand to his wrist and will the ropes to loosen with my mind. Turning with my hands out in front of me I explode two Selkie hearts as they try to slash me with their claws, blood pours from their eyes and ears. "Dad, get fucking free already." I throw over my shoulder. Another Selkie charges towards us, his trident held high, ready to stab me. Blue lightning streaks from my fingertips and zaps it from his grasp.

  Whoa. I do it again and it hits the creature dead centre of his chest. He drops to the floor. Cool! I kneel in front of my dad and throw a hand behind me, loosening more ropes around him as an arrow whizzes passed my ear, grazing the tip. Blood tickles as it flows from the wound. A battle cry bursts from my lips as a dozen Selkie Elite pour through the door in front of me.

  Standing, I throw energy at them, the first two fly through the air as more arrows appear from nowhere. Two lodge themselves into my body. One in my shoulder, the other nicks my neck. Blood spurts from the wound, not deep enough to end my life but enough to weaken me. Grunting I push my hands towards the remaining Elite, weak lightning streaks from my hands, hitting several. It jumps between them, from one to the next. Bodies hit the floor and more pour in, replacing two for each one I take out.

  "Dad! A little fucking help if you would?" I grab the chair next to me and send it crashing into the bastard coming at me, murder in its freakish eyes. The ground beneath my feet rumbles and I hear my dad grunt behind me. I swivel on my heels, only to be faced with an arrow poking out of my dad's chest.

  "Dad... No!" Panicking, I grab the arrow, but it makes my dad jerk and cry out. I grab hold of the cloth in his mouth and pull it away.

  "Son. They plan to kill ..." My body jerks back, my eyes wide and my mouth hanging open, I stare dumbly as an arrow lodges itself into my dad's forehead. "Dad... Noooooo!" I don't even get time to process what’s happened because material is wrapped around my face, foul-smelling liquid assaulting my nose as stone hands take my wrists and bind them behind my back. Dad. No. My last thoughts before I fall to the floor are of my family.

  Chapter Two

  Today

  EVERLY

  As rocks rush up to meet my body, I can't help but wrap my hands protectively around my belly. Will the fall hurt my baby? Suddenly, I jerk to a stop, the impact jarring my bones. Opening my eyes, I see nothing but white. Did I die? I push to my hands and knees; the ground is soft beneath me. Heaven is soft? Light suddenly pours over me; I look up to see a cloudless sky. Huh? Then a giant face comes into view. Poseidon. "What the fuck?" Panic laces my voice. Looking around me again I realise I must be in his hand. Freaky.

  "Daughter, we make haste to Atlantis, your fate awaits. Now sleep, the journey is long." His booming voice hurts my ears but suddenly I'm incredibly tired. My knees give way and I drop into the palm of his hand, my eyes close surrounding me in darkness once more.

  SOMETHING HARD IS BENEATH me, the bone in my hip screams in protest. I shift to my back, but I don't yet open my eyes, afraid of what I'll see. A familiar feeling spreads across my chest, the struggle to get a good breath makes my eyes pop open. Nausea rolls through me as I take in my surroundings. Fish swim all around me through dark waters. The little light reflects off their scales as they glide gracefully through the water. Panic makes my laboured breathing speed up. I'm in water? Jesus fucking Christ, I'm under the ocean!

  I sit there, watching, dumbfounded, as a large shark swims up to the small clear dome and nudges the side with its maw. Shark bait. His body bounces away as the protective layer doesn’t move. The small space I'm in is completely empty, no furniture or lights inside. The floor is white. Standing up, I walk to where the shark bopped my prison. I tentatively touch the barrier. As my hand meets the cold structure, another bang behind me startles me. Jumping in the air, a little squeak escapes me. Fuck me! Turning around I see a face pressed against the opposite wall from me.

  I immediately close my eyes because staring at me is a mass of Selkie. Their teeth scrape against the glass or plastic, whatever is keeping the ocean from crushing me right now. Turning back to face the way Mr Shark swam away, I rest my forehead against the wall looking out into the darkness. The coldness around me seeps into my bones and I start to shiver. Wrapping my arms around myself, I lower to the floor just as a bright blue light appears in the distance. Squinting, I see the shapes of buildings within it. I guess I'm about to find out exactly what Atlantis looks like.

  As the underwater city comes into view, I can't help but marvel at its beauty. Surrounded by a glowing blue light, Atlantis is stunning. It’s not at all what I expected. Buildings loom in what I imagined were old Roman style buildings and crumbling structures like the place Victor and I zapped to when he had to choose his form. But the place before me isn't like that at all. Tall, sleek buildings in the centre surrounded by smaller ones, the windows reflecting a cacophony of coloured lights.

  All modern in appearance and design, Atlanteans sure like glass and steel. As we approach what appears to be an opening close to the seabed, I push myself to stand up, ready for what comes next. Will he kill me right here? Why would he bring me all this way to kill me? I need to get back home. The image of Le crying enters my mind. Fuck that, I will not go down without a fight. I assume a fighting stance, my feet spread wide, my hands up in front of me. Whoever stands between me and escape is about to get a huge shock when these doors open.

  The pod shakes then jerks to a stop at the side of a large black building. The glass in front of me wavers as a door opens on the other side, revealing another mass of Selkie. I let loose my powers and mentally picture their bodies exploding. Pieces of gore hit my face as several of them burst, blue blood coats the walls and floor. More replace them. I send my powers out, they fall to the floor screeching in agony as I tear at their insides.

  "Stop!" A commanding voice comes fro
m the corridor behind the still screaming Selkie.

  "Yeah, fuck that!" I shout back and redouble my efforts, watching as the creatures before me go limp. A large shadow is cast over me as a man-shaped figure walks towards me. The bright white light at his back makes it hard to see his features. Never mind, this one will die too.

  Pushing out the palms of my hands, I send wave after wave of power at him, but nothing happens. Grunting with the effort, I try again, picturing his bones breaking in my mind as William taught me to. But no screams of pain come. I'm so fucked right now. As he comes closer my body sags with exhaustion, the efforts of using my gifts wiping out my energy reserves.

  "Come now, sister, let us not attempt to kill one another," he said.

  My head flicks up, my eyes meet his. Gordon? Stepping closer to me, he enters the light. His pale skin is almost translucent in appearance, ocean blue eyes framed by thick, black lashes stare at me as I take him in. Long bright red hair flows down pastsed his shoulders, the same colour as mine. White robes, not unlike a toga, wraps around his tall, thick body. At least as wide as Victor, he dominates the space in front of me.

  He stands there patiently as I gawk in complete shock. He looks so different than when I saw him in the woods near my home, more fish-like now. Four pink and white gills grace either side of his neck. Gordon's a fish? Am I a fish? Jesus, am I a Selkie? I look down at my skin, lightly tanned and smooth. No scales to be seen.

  Thank fuck, because fish would not be a good look for me. "What’s happening? Why am I here, and not dead?" A million questions bubble in my mind as my long-lost brother watches on, like a perfect statue, he doesn't move an inch. "Well?" I demand. I try my best to not let my panic leak into my voice. I feel pretty smug when I don't even waver.

  "Sister, you're here to take your crown of course." The corner of his lips twitch like he's barely holding in a smile.