Emerald (Jewels Cafe Book 9)

by Jade Waltz

  I did it again… and again. Taking in deep breaths at a rapid pace, I felt prickles from my inhales and exhales course down my throat and into my lungs. My eyelids refused to open as I floated in place. Deep humming vibrated through me, the cage around me shrinking, holding my body in a tight grip.

  The feeling in my fingers returned as they twitched in place, searching the surrounding area, moving slowly to my hands and down my arms.

  I wasn’t dead. How? And why wasn’t I lying on a bed?

  Jerking my arms around, I searched my surroundings, trying to get a feel of where I was.

  My hands landed on something hard with burning hot… scales?

  Hands gripped my hips, another set my sides as I pressed the palms of my hands onto a hard surface. I pressed my back against another, feeling the warmth radiating from it.

  I must be dreaming… or this was the afterlife. Whatever it was, I was sandwiched between two scaly chests that felt oh so good. I hooked my arms under theirs and pulled my body closer, feeling my chest absorb their warmth.

  It was as if I was a moth, and they were the light in the darkness.

  I needed it. I wanted it.

  Take my coldness away and replace it with warmth.

  Someone combed my hair back as I bobbed in the heated liquid. Small bubbles traveled along my skin, each one tickling me like a million butterfly kisses.

  My ears popped, instantly clearing the muteness.

  “Emerald. Can you hear us?” a familiar voice rumbled.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Hello?”

  Slowly, I opened my eyes… to a silver merman?

  “Is this hell?” My mouth felt dry as if I hadn’t had a drink in like forever.

  My hazy mind couldn’t piece together what was real…

  His teal, dragon-like eyes bore into mine.

  “No. This is very real…”

  “Do you understand us?” a familiar bass voice asked from behind.

  “Huh?”

  Wait… This was real…

  “I’m not dead?”

  The merman glanced over my head before sending me a gentle smile. “You are very much alive.”

  I was alive… and he was a merman. And somehow, that was alright.

  My memories flashed before me.

  Cookies. Weird basement. Blizzard. Black figure. Cliff. Pain. Blood.

  I jerked my hands away, releasing my hold on him as I tried to back away. The body against my back reminded me I was surrounded as their hands held me in place. Somehow, I didn’t feel in danger. The same sense of safety surrounded me, even more than before.

  “You… You…”

  “You mustn’t panic, Emerald,” Vesuv said. His voice was coming from… above?

  I looked up to see another silver merman-like creature, gazing down at me with the same familiar icy blue eyes. Looking around, I was in one of those glittery-silver pools in their basement, and I assumed Maw and Chryso were surrounding me.

  “Who are you? What are you?” I demanded, licking my lips. “And why am I here?”

  “We will answer your questions later,” Maw replied. “First, we need Vesuv to look over you before we can allow you out of our relaxing pool.”

  “Do we want her to leave this?” Chryso asked, looking up at Vesuv. “Wouldn’t the buoyancy be better for her?”

  Vesuv pursed his lips. “We can see how her muscles handle carrying her weight after I check her vitals. She may need to take it easy for a while.”

  “Wait… hold up,” I barked as I placed my hand on Chryso’s cheek, directing his face down to mine. “Tell me you aren’t going to sacrifice me. Or eat me. Or something. Because if how I feel is just some trick, and you are planning on killing me, just take me out now. I can’t handle being strung along like some horror story, only for you to gain my trust, then steal it away.”

  “You have nothing to worry about,” Vesuv chuckled. “We eat pussy, not brains.”

  My mouth dropped.

  “Vesuv!” Maw hissed. “Where did you get that idea?”

  He shrugged. “I read it in an alien romance book… at least, I think it was one… anyway, the hero said that, then the heroine… never mind. I thought it would explain—”

  “Explain exactly what?” Maw growled.

  His silver cheeks darkened with a greenish tint. “That she has nothing to worry about.”

  “Of course, she has nothing to worry about! We saved her life!”

  “You saved my life?” I asked, dropping my hand from Chryso’s face. “Why?”

  He closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s a long story, but we needed to.”

  “Needed to?”

  “That is the best way to explain it.”

  They weren’t human… and supposedly, I wasn’t on the menu… so why would they keep me around?

  Vesuv kneeled next to the edge of the pool, holding up a tiny black dot in his hand.

  “Emerald. I need to place this on your forehead so my system can do a full-body scan. Is that okay?”

  “Is it going to hurt?”

  He shook his head. “It feels like a Band-Aid.”

  I nodded. “Do what you must.”

  Slowly, he leaned forward and pressed the gadget between my eyes. Breathing deeply, I floated in silence as Vesuv worked at a futuristic projection table alongside the pool.

  They were humanoid-shaped creatures with silvery scales that covered their bodies. All three brothers were shamelessly nude, allowing me to gaze at their bodies. They had their own version of an eight pack with the center of their chests broken up into large, thick scales that went down to their waist. I averted my gaze from studying their lack of… manhood. I jerked my eyes to Chryso’s face. He had a snake-like black tongue that sampled the air every few moments with a slit for a mouth. His ears were long and pointy as they curved back like horns. Along the top of his head was a ring of short, pointy, black-tipped horns, which wrapped around his head like a crown, framing his short, pale gray-green hair.

  He looked at me in confusion as I gripped his arm and pulled his hand off of my hip to bring it to the surface for me to study. His whole hand had what looked like thousands of miniature suction cups. I lightly trailed one of my fingers along his palm in a zigzag. He quivered, his hand gently closing around mine, closing his eyes as a hiss escaped his lips.

  “Emerald… you shouldn’t do that,” Maw cautioned.

  “Why?” I asked, dropping Chryso’s hand as if it was on fire.

  “Because I never had another interested in my hand… and didn’t know it would feel like that,” Chryso whispered.

  “Feel like what?”

  “What I assume humans call tickling,” he replied sheepishly.

  “Our hands produce a wide variety of venom to help us hunt, defend, and heal ourselves,” Vesuv replied as he returned to the pool’s edge. “Maw was afraid Chryso might accidentally inject you and didn’t want to have to deal with that problem since you just came back to us.”

  “How long was I out?” I asked as he kneeled down and gently took off the gadget.

  “Almost two weeks. Tomorrow is your Christmas Eve.”

  “Two weeks?” I shrieked, glancing at the three brothers… or should I hope they were brothers?

  “Yes,” Maw murmured. “The Winter Solstice was a couple of days ago, and most of the town celebrated it in one form or another.”

  “So, I have been unconscious for two weeks… unbelievable…”

  “And hopefully, you are willing to be around for many more,” Chryso breathed.

  “Your readings are acceptable,” Vesuv advised as his hands moved swiftly on his projection table. “You should take it easy for the next week or so and get a lot of rest.”

  “So, are you saying I am allowed to get out of this weird… glitter hot tub?”

  He looked up and nodded. “Correct. You are free to rest in a human bed for the time being.”

  “Human bed? Don’t tell me that this…”—I
flicked the shimmery fluid with my hand—“is some sort of bed for… whatever you are.”

  Chryso cheeks darkened as he looked away. “Yes, you are correct. This is our relaxing pool.”

  “And how long have I been… sleeping… with all of you this whole time?”

  “No,” Maw barked. “I have been sitting in here, watching you, and making sure your body slowly warmed up since we pulled you from our healing pool. Nothing happened to you while you were in our hands.”

  “I’m still confused about everything and keep waiting for the hidden cameras,” I said, surveying the room. “Or to wake up.”

  “Let us get you to your bed, and we will answer all of your questions,” Chryso soothed.

  Nudity—yep, that was a thing. But I guess it came down to a 'you show me yours, and I will show you mine.' Only it was three of them and one of me… and they weren't human, which was something I was trying to get my hazy mind around. That and the fact I didn’t choose to roll down a cliff, hit a few trees, and black out from bleeding out.

  I was Vesuv’s patient—whether I liked it or not—therefore, it would only be natural for me to be nude or barely covered. It’s not like a hospital's gown actually covered your body. At least they gave me a dark green robe to wear as Chryso carried me to their warming alcove and took the time to braid my hair while the heat lamp-like space dried me.

  Then he took me to a room I hadn't seen the last time I was here. They called it the Master Bedroom Suite, and it had one of those enormous co-sleeping beds that were becoming popular. The ones that could probably sleep a dozen people, and for some reason, they wanted me to have it.

  Chryso tucked me in and sat at the foot of the bed while Vesuv took the window seat, and Maw paced around the room.

  Was I worried? No. They basically brought me back from the dead. Something deep inside told me they were safe and to trust them, but was that the only reason I didn't struggle?

  They didn't show any signs of aggression and had been gentle.

  Unless this was some sort of Stockholm’s Syndrome, then I needed to leave as soon as I was able. I didn’t need to become a modern-day Belle.

  “So, are you going to answer my questions?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Or are you waiting for me to get tired and fall asleep?”

  Chryso gripped my foot through the blanket, his eyes boring into mine.

  “Emerald, please don’t do anything rash until you hear everything. Once we’re done, if you don’t want anything to do with us, we will give you a reloaded credit card, then help you find a job and a place to stay. We’ll let you live your life, never to see us ever again.”

  “Okay… but don’t leave anything out.”

  “I repaired your vehicle the first night you were here; that’s why I was so late waking up that morning,” Vesuv blurted.

  “Vesuv!” Maw hissed.

  “I couldn’t keep it in any longer!” Vesuv shouted. “My guilt has been eating away at me this whole time.”

  “Wait… are you telling me my car is fixed-fixed? Like I could jump in it right now and drive off if I wanted? Or it’s repaired enough to get me by to the next dealer or auto repair?”

  “Fixed-fixed,” Vesuv replied, glancing at his brothers. “Not telling you earlier was something I regret deeply.”

  “You should,” I sighed. “You lied to me and made me believe my car was still broken, and it might be awhile before it could be repaired. But that being said, you guys did offer to take me to an airport or bus station to spend the holidays with someone I knew. It was just my luck I had no place to go for the holidays.”

  “Will you please forgive me?” Vesuv pleaded with sorrow-filled eyes.

  Biting my lip, I studied the three brothers. All three watched me, waiting for my reply.

  “Why is it so important to you?”

  “Because I didn’t want to ruin any chance…”

  “Any chance for what?”

  Maw walked in front of Vesuv, cutting my vision of the apologetic male.

  “For us to be yours. Or for you to be ours. However, you want to say it.”

  “I am not a piece of property, nor do I own any of you,” I hissed, clenching the comforter with both hands.

  “How about we start from the beginning?” Chryso suggested. “Hopefully, it will clear up a lot of questions and make it easier for you to understand.”

  “Understand what? That the three of you aren’t human?”

  “Precisely.”

  I kicked my leg away from Chryso as I struggled to sit up, my body refusing to move as bolts of pain shot through my limbs. Silver scaly hands gently grabbed my sides and helped me sit up as hisses escaped my clenched teeth.

  “You need to allow us to help you, Emerald,” Chryso stressed. “You just woke up after being lost to us for two weeks. Try not to push yourself too much.”

  “Thanks.”

  He glanced over at Maw and nodded as he returned to his seat.

  “We aren’t human—”

  “I figured that out,” I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

  “You have to understand something,” Vesuv said, making Maw shift over to allow us to see each other. “You aren’t alone. Even if we had never landed here, humans aren’t the only intelligent species on this planet.”

  “So, are you saying all the rumors about Area 51 are true? And all the mythical creatures like Bigfoot and Nessy are real?”

  “Area 51 is just a cover for the real base in Antarctica. That’s where they experiment on intelligent lifeforms.” Vesuv chuckled. “But they always escape.”

  “You are getting off track,” Maw growled, glaring at the other two males. “No, we are saying the supernatural exists.”

  “Like werewolves and vampires?” I asked, dumbfounded.

  “And witches.”

  “There is a huge variety of paranormal creatures that live among humans,” Vesuv explained. “Even different species have different types within their supernatural tree. Due to many factors, like inbreeding and hybridization, there are four different kinds of vampires in existence and supes who hardly have any control of their abilities.”

  “Or are so weak, they are almost human other than they can do a basic magic trick from time to time,” Chryso added.

  “Wait… are you saying all the major magicians who perform in places like Las Vegas are weak witches?”

  “Exactly. And their animals are their shifter mates.”

  Damn. Humans had been blind this whole time. Supranational creatures had been living among us this entire time, and we knew nothing about it. It was one thing to read stories and watch videos about them, but to live side by side with them? I guess it made sense where the idea came from, and why there was such a surplus of things that revolved around the supernatural. Even so…

  “How many humans know this hidden world exists?”

  “Only a select few,” Chryso replied. “They are usually mated to a supe or—”

  “Or they are vampire food,” Maw grunted, crossing his arms. “Some of the more feral supes have been out of control lately. Killing both humans and other supes for sport.”

  “But there are also the fanatics,” Chryso chuckled. “The ones who are willing to allow vampires to drink from them and believe it’s an honor to be chosen.”

  “So, what are you? Mermen?” I glanced out of the window and saw the sun beginning to set over the endless snow and forest, casting hues of purples, reds, and oranges everywhere. “I don’t know if you noticed, but we aren’t near the ocean—hell, we aren’t even close to Lake Ontario for that to make sense.”

  “Emerald,” Chryso breathed, his teal eyes full of worry. “We aren’t mermen. At least, not by your traditional standards.”

  “Then what are you?”

  “Aliens.”

  Did I hear him right? Aliens?

  This had to be the worst month ever—from the most horrible birthday in existence to almost dying to losing two weeks of my life, and now, I was surrounded
by aliens. The next thing to happen would be them probing me while asking me to take them to my leader.

  “I believe we went over the fact I’m not dreaming, and this is very much real,” I said, rubbing my forehead as I tried to piece together everything they said.

  “Correct,” Vesuv grinned. “Are you in pain?”

  “No, I’m just trying to accept I’m alone in a house in the middle of the woods and thick snow, surrounded by three oddly handsome males—you are all males, right?” I asked, trying to stop myself from checking between their legs—this must be how teenage boys feel when they try to not stare at a hot girl’s chest while talking to them. I let out a frustrated groan. “I mean, you introduced yourselves to me as brothers.”

  “Yes, we are very much male,” Maw coughed.

  “And brothers,” Vesuv added. “We are a triad of brothers, born from the same egg cluster and biologically synced to each other to fulfill our Sylex’s needs.”

  “Vesuv,” Chryso hissed, sending him a glare. “You are going too fast.”

  I raised my hand to halt him from berating his excited brother.

  “No, he’s fine. So, you are like triplets? But the fraternal kind? Or is that not the same thing for your kind?”

  Vesuv stared at Maw, who tilted his head as if permitting Vesuv to reply.

  “Correct, that would be one way to explain it. When a Sylex lays her egg clusters in their nesting pool, it is up to the members of her triad to spill their seed over them to fertilize them. If successful, the clusters will hatch and grow in the nesting pool until they are capable of living on their own.”

  “So, the three of you have three fathers?” I asked, confused. “How do you know who sired who?”

  “It doesn’t matter. All the triad cares about is taking care of their Sylex, nest, and offspring.”

  I tried to remember everything about my exploration of their house and couldn’t remember seeing anything indicating a female living there, other than it was highly decorated and spotless. The whole house, while elegant, had the same clean neutral theme. Were they a group of alien-bachelors?

  “Who or what is a Sylex? And where are they?”