by C. L. Nelson
I slide one of my hands into her so soft hair while I kiss down the delicious skin of her neck. I slip my other hand up her shirt. Oh, my Creators, her skin is so soft and smooth. My already hard cock kicks when I cup her breast, feeling her nipple harden under my touch. Her breathy sighs are killing me and I nearly cum in my pants when she slips her hand between us and grabs my dick. Holy fucking Pit. I feel my body convulse under her touch.
Just as things start to pick up, I am awoken by someone shaking me. The loss of the dream leaves me cold like I was pulled directly from her body heat.
“What the fuck?” I asked as I put a pillow over my erection.
“Sorry, but fucking Charlie in a walking dream is unfair. I heard your groans from the living room,” Finlay said
“I can’t dream walk. It was just a normal dream.” I said, feeling frustrated.
“I know what dream walking looks like and I can sense it when I am in the same room as someone in a walking dream. You were definitely in a walking dream so if you can’t do it then our Charlie has another ability we didn’t know about.”
I think about what he just said and then grinned at him. “She wants me.” I started to laugh when Finlay frowned at me.
“She is obviously stressed out and was just seeking some relief,” he said sullenly.
“Well she didn’t seek you out for relief, did she?” I said, smiling so wide it was starting to hurt.
“I wasn’t bloody sleeping! She didn’t have the option,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Calm down. We didn’t get far. I will warn her next time, so she can make an informed decision. Happy?”
He didn’t look happy, but he nodded.
“Good, now get out. I will be out in a few minutes.”
He narrowed his eyes at me before leaving the room.
I checked the clock and noticed I wasn’t asleep for too long, an hour at most, but I feel completely renewed. Connecting with Charlie in the walking dream has given me hope that we will find her and knowing that she is attracted to me makes me happier than I have been in a long time.
I reached for my phone to call Jarrett. He answered after a few rings.
“Hey, you are on speakerphone with Em and me. Do you have any news for us?” Jarrett asked.
“I have bad news and almost good news,” I said while I start to get dressed. I relayed the information about our father and confirmed that he has Charlie. I tell them he has hidden her and why I didn’t kill him when I had the chance. I also tell them about Finlay performing the locating spell and discovering that Charlie is somewhere in Louisiana.
“Well, I guess that would be almost good news. At least we have narrowed down her location,” Jarrett said.
“Kian, why do you sound cheerier than normal? I’m not complaining, just curious?” Emilia asked.
“Yeah, I noticed that too. Did you get laid recently? If so, I am so telling Charlie that you were with another female while she was being held prisoner,” he laughed.
“You two need to focus,” I said.
“That’s not a no,” they said at the same time.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out. “I haven’t had relations with anyone. Have either of you heard anything useful?” I asked, changing subjects. “Hold on. Let me go out to Finlay, so he can hear too.”
I walk out of the guest room to the living room. I tell Finlay I have the twins on the phone and then put it on speakerphone.”
“Hello, lovely Emilia,” Finlay said with a smile.
“I am here too, jackass. Don’t make me tell you again to leave my sister alone,” Jarrett replied.
“Oh, leave him alone, Jarrett. He was just saying hi. Hey Fintastic,” Emilia said.
Finlay chuckled.
“Can we please focus? Tell us what you have heard,” I said.
“Okay, alright. We have heard more of the same rumor that we now know are in fact about Charlie. A group of reapers was talking about a male being thrown out of the fourth-floor window. They swear that they saw a female throw the man,” Jarrett said.
“Did they say what the man looked like?” I asked.
“Yeah. They said the male as long green hair and red eyes. They speculated that it was a dark fae, but they didn’t know how a dark fae could have gotten into the Waiting,” Jarrett explained.
“Motherfecker. I only know one dark fae that would fit that description. His name is Lachlan and he has hated me since I slept with his female. He is bad news,” Finlay said.
“Do you still make it a habit of sleeping with females who are in relationships?” I asked.
“No, I gave up that bad habit around the same time I met Charlie. Of course, Charlie was my exception, but she only cheated on a romantic partner the one time in her first incarnation and that was only because she was desperate,” Finlay said.
“I just want to say that I am so proud of Charlie if she was the one that threw him out the window. WOO! GIRL POWER!” Emilia said.
“That’s our girl. She is a fighter,” Finlay said.
“Do you have anything else to report?” I asked, trying to keep us focused.
“No, that’s all we have heard so far,” Jarrett said.
“Okay, Jarrett I want you to meet us back at your apartment to help us search for Charlie. Emilia, can you stay in the Waiting and sneak around some more? I need you to follow our father and be very careful.”
“Aye aye, captain. I am saluting you just so you know,” Emilia said.
“Great. Jarrett, we will see you soon. Emilia, please be careful and report in if you hear anything.” I said.
“Goodbye, vivacious Emilia,” Finlay said, grinning at the phone.
Jarrett appeared at that moment and shoved Finlay. “I will hurt you.”
“Leave him alone, Jarrett! I will let you know if I hear anything, Kian. Bye, Finny,” Emilia said and then hung up.
“Okay, let’s get to work,” I said, getting us back on track.
We formulated a plan. We agreed that it is no longer safe to stay at Jarrett’s Paris apartment and it would be better to have a home base in Louisiana. Finlay said he knew someone with a house in Louisiana we could borrow. He gave us the coordinates and we met there.
What Finlay failed to mention was that the home belonged to the werewolf, Jaxon. He also failed to mention that the house is on busy Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I guess it will have to do if Jaxon lets us stay. Of course, the werewolf was home and not happy at our intrusion. That’s my luck.
“What the hell are you doing here, Finlay?” Jaxon growled.
Finlay put his hand on the werewolf’s shoulder. “Charlie is in trouble and we need to borrow your place.”
“You’ll owe me another favor if I agree to let you stay,” Jaxon said.
“No,” Finlay said firmly.
Jaxon looked stunned by Finlay’s response. “Then get the fuck out!” he growled, the air thickened around him. His anger causing him to get close to changing forms.
“No. You are going to let us borrow your house because you like Charlie and want to help her,” Finlay said, sounding very sure of himself.
Jaxon took a deep breath and released it. Apparently, Finlay was right because Jaxon agreed to let us use his house as our home base while we search for Charlie. He also offered to help look for her.
I don’t like that he is staying to help, but I will suck it up for Charlie’s sake. We split up the state with Jaxon covering New Orleans because he can’t travel like the rest of us. However, in wolf form he could catch her scent from miles away, so that’s not nothing. We are going to need every advantage we can get to find Charlie before it’s too late. Creators help us find her soon!
Chapter 20
Charlie
My memories wouldn’t let me rest. They have invaded my dreams. Fortunately, not all the memories were bad. Finlay truly did make my lives as enjoyable as he could in the short time he was able to spend with me. He never interac
ted with me until I was an appropriate age, even though he has the ability to make himself appear like a child by using his glamour. That was a good decision. What kind of creepy adult pretends to be a child to hang out with another child?
Finlay and I had so many adventures together. We have explored coral reefs and swam with sharks, climbed the tallest mountains, we’ve been to every continent, crashed exclusive parties including a couple royal weddings, and so many other wonderful things.
What’s better than all the adventures were the times when we just hung out and enjoyed each other’s company. Even though I didn’t know what Finlay was, I definitely knew exactly who he was. He was my secret keeper, shoulder to cry on, advisor, biggest supporter, occasional lover, and my protector.
I also learned that I have mastered so many skills throughout my incarnations. I am an expert in things like archery, photography, various martial arts, cooking, baking, sword fighting, knitting, ballroom dancing, and knife throwing. I guess I always felt an underlying need to know how to defend myself when I wasn’t learning normal skills. And thanks to having lived in various parts of the world, I know several languages. I can’t wait to put that all on a resume if I ever get to go back to having a normal life.
My past life dreams shift, and I end up in another one of those weird dreams, like the one with Finlay. I am suddenly surrounded by white light and…are those clouds? I reach out to touch one, but it disappears. In its place stands a tall woman about six feet tall with long pale blonde hair. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen with her perfectly proportioned body, long legs, shiny hair, and flawless glowing skin, which is literally glowing like there’s a faint light underneath. She is wearing a floor-length pale blue dress that matches her eyes.
Holy shit! I startled when I looked at her eyes. I have seen those eyes thousands of times. The same light blue color, the same exact shape that I see every time I look in the mirror. Those are my eyes. The only difference is that her eyes glow like her skin.
“Who are you?” I asked. I am standing completely still like I am afraid any movement will cause me to wake up.
“My beautiful darling, I am your mother. I have waited so long to see you again,” she said as she caressed my face. Her voice sounds so delicate and soft.
I believed her instantly. I knew as soon as I saw her eyes. I wrapped her in a hug before pulling away. “I feel like I know you, but I don’t have any memory of you.”
“I am so sorry, my darling. I have been trying to fix my mistake, but there isn’t much I have been able to do from the Everlasting.”
She looked so sad. It made me want to do everything in my power to make her smile. “The Everlasting? So, you earned your final reward or whatever. What’s it like there?” I said, hoping to get her mind off whatever was upsetting her.
She laughed. It sounded like wind chimes. “No, my darling, I am an ethereal. I live in the Everlasting. It is a most wonderful place. I am hoping to help you remember it.”
I forgot how to breathe for a moment. “An ethereal? Wait, does that mean I am an ethereal too?” I asked, trying not to let my thoughts get ahead of me.
“Yes, but that is not all you are. You definitely got half of your genetics from your father.” She laughed again and smiled brightly. “Oh, how I miss him. You are the best of both of us and twice as strong. Your father is an infernal and he lives in the Pit.”
I snort incredulously. “No freaking way. You are telling me that I am half ethereal and half infernal. This must be a joke. I was told that they were all destroyed because they were too dangerous.” I crossed my arms under my chest.
“This is no joke, my darling. Yes, all of the others were destroyed, but you are different than the rest. You were not born uncontrollable, destructive, and violent.” She smiled and reached out to uncross my arms. “I can see you still have your father’s stubbornness.”
“I am an abomination? How is it possible that I exist? Weren’t all the abominations destroyed?” I started to imagine some really horrible stuff. Infernals are basically demons from hell. That can’t lead to anything good, right?
“My darling, you are a darkling, not an abomination. I believe you are different because of how you were conceived. All the other darklings were conceived from deceptions or violent attacks. You, my sweet child, were conceived from love. I loved your father, still do, and he loved me, even though it is thought to be impossible for infernals to feel love,” she said before kissing me on my forehead.
Suddenly, I am hit with more memories. They aren’t like the ones that hurt me, at least not all of them. Most of these memories tickled as they floated back into my mind.
I remember running around as a child in the Everlasting. It's unbelievably beautiful there. I remember that the Everlasting changes depending on what the souls prefer, so there are different sections, so everyone can live in their ideal paradise. I ran from a tropical beach paradise to a mountain getaway to a library filled with every book, even ones that had yet to be written in the Provisional. There were thousands of different areas to explore and millions of souls to meet.
I remember feeling safe, never having to worry about any dangers. The only thing I ever worried about was my dark half. My mother told me stories about my father at bedtime every night when I was a child. My mother warned me as I got older that I may start to manifest abilities from my father’s side. I prayed to the Creators that I somehow didn’t inherit anything from my father besides my hair color.
I guess the Creators thought I could handle it because my dark abilities started to manifest when I was sixteen years old. That’s also when I started to have a temper. Ethereals don’t typically feel anger or hatred, usually they just feel the more positive emotions like love and happiness. I remember accidentally melting metal objects in my hands when I was upset.
I also remember changing into a cat one night when I was alone and having a hard time figuring out how to change back. My mother, whose name I now remember is Aniela, found me like that and helped me change back. She decided then that I need to leave the Everlasting before the other ethereals found out our secret.
My mother told everyone that I was a hybrid conceived before the segregation. All other hybrid offspring were not allowed to live in the Everlasting, but because of her high-ranking status among the ethereals, the Creators allowed her to raise me in the Everlasting. Though, now I think the Creators might have known what I was, and that’s the reason I was allowed to stay with my mother.
Most of the ethereals loved me, but some were jealous that my mother was able to raise her hybrid daughter. My mother was afraid that the ethereals would kill me if they found out what I really was, so she summoned the King of the Reapers, the only being that would be able to get me out of the Everlasting. Turns out it was the same King of the Reapers that still sits on the throne today, Alaric. I remember she asked him to take me to the Provisional, so I can hide there and live my life amongst humans and hybrids.
He appeared to be a kind soul and agreed to help us. However, he didn’t take me to the Provisional like he promised my mother. He took me to the Waiting, to his bedroom. He told me that I was beautiful and that I made him feel happier than he has ever felt. I remember him forcing himself on me after I rejected his advances. I was only sixteen and had never been with a male. I hadn’t even been thinking of such things at the time.
I fought him and screamed, but he kept ripping my clothes off me and touching me where I have never been touched before. I remember feeling so angry. When he laughed at my struggles and I heard his zipper being pulled down, I lost it. I grabbed his face and sent my anger through my hand. You see, my anger comes out as heat and I melted that fucker’s face right off. I saw bone when he pulled away. It pleases me greatly that he still wears the memory of my anger on his face.
He ripped my soul out after that and teamed up with that Fate bitch to ruin my life. They sent me repeatedly into the Provisional in incarnations that were Fated to end badly. A
fter each incarnation, Alaric would pull me from the mortal shell I was using and promised to make me his queen if I would submit to him. He lost my immortal body, so I don’t know how he would have done that, even if I had agreed.
And now I remember everything. I now have my original memories from when I was immortal and all the memories from every incarnation. Thank goodness for Finlay or I wouldn’t have survived those incarnations. I may have even given in to Alaric if I hadn’t experienced such happiness and love with Finlay. I have a new appreciation and a deeper love for him now that I remember all our memories.
I shake free of my memories and see that my mother is patiently waiting for me to speak. “I remember everything.” I hugged her fiercely, now that I remember my love for her. “I’ve missed you so much, mom, even when I didn’t remember you.”
She hugged me back like she never wanted to let go again.
I pulled away. “Mom, I’m dying. My soul isn’t meant to be in a mortal body. Do you have any idea where my immortal body is? I remember seeing it disappear after my soul was ripped out. It felt like what mortals describe when they say they had an out of body experience.”
“It had to have gone somewhere that it felt safe to protect itself. I can look around in the Everlasting, but I would think someone would have come across it by now.” She held my hand and gave it a squeeze. “I have faith in the Creators that this will all work out in the end.” She smiled.
I feel someone shaking me, but I fight to hang on to the dream. “Mom, someone is trying to wake me, I don’t have much time. I just want to let you know that I love you fiercely and if I manage to make it back to my immortal body, I will come visit you. I have so much I want to tell you,” I said, wrapping her in my arms again.
