All sound lowered to a murmur before completely extinguishing. The Fire Elder continued, “We have several witness statements supporting the charges, along with witness testimony. How do you plead?”
“Not guilty. We were defen—"
“Silence! We do not wish to hear your lies!”
The Oracle spoke next, “They have the right to defend themselves.”
“You are lucky to not be standing trial with them for your blasphemy regarding your so-called prophecy,” the female Water Elder spat.
“The Prophecy is real. The One stands before you now,” the Oracle countered.
The crowd gasped and began to talk all at once, just like the crowd back on Santa Catalina. Murmurs of “the One'” sounded all around us before the male Earth Elder stood and yelled, “Lies! All lies! Do not listen to her!”
One person in the crowd stood and shouted, “But she is our Oracle. She knows all!”
“We hereby strip her of her power. She is no longer our Oracle, and believing her lies will result in penalty,” the female Fire Elder stated in a desperate attempt to regain control. The crowd was on the verge of rioting, out of control with people arguing for and against the High Council.
“You hold no such authority. Only the Gods can strip me of my power,” the Oracle calmly stated. Fights started to break out in the Court, the mob mentality fully taking hold of the crowd as they threw punches and kicks.
“You,” the male Fire Elder seethed as he pointed at me, “this is all your fault! You are guilty! Seize her!”
Jace moved in front of me, blocking me from the advancing guards. His hands blazed with fire as I armed myself with my Akasha. Audible gasps reverberated around us from the sight of Akasha lighting up my palms. “The One!” was shouted from all directions, but my focus was on the High Council, who all stood and directed their attention to us. Their eyes were all illuminated with their respective color as they summoned their Elements in preparation to attack us.
Jace was already engaged in battle with the guards, shooting fireballs and dodging Water and Earth attacks. More guards rushed in from side doors, and fear took hold of me as I saw that several of them held the Elemental guns we had seen back on the island. I wasn't sure if my Air shield would deflect the bullets, but I would keep it up as long as I could.
I erected my shield around Jace and I just as the High Council directed their hands toward us. I concentrated on our invisible armor as the various assaults pelted the outside. At first, all of the attacks, including the bullets, ricocheted off the exterior, but the constant barrage deteriorated the strength of my Air. I focused everything I had into our force-field as spots speckled my vision and the room swayed around me. Several attacks penetrated the shield, some hitting Jace and I, while others darted by. I knew I had to do something fast, before I passed out. I pulled all the power from my Elements and directed it into my shield before expelling it outwards, just as I did when Kiera and my dad attacked me, except with more force. The images Jace had shown me flashed in my mind before the familiar blackness drowned me.
My body trembled as I began to stir. My eyes fluttered opened to the face of a terrified Jace, who softly smiled when our eyes connected. He helped me sit up slowly, and I took in my surroundings—the pillars lay lopsided against the walls, benches were littered around the room, and glass from the shattered windows peppered the floor. All of the thrones were overturned, and everyone but the male Fire Elder and female Water Elder of the High Council were lying unconscious near the back wall.
The Elders were arguing with the Oracle and a familiar man. It dawned on me that the man was Zeus, and I immediately feared that I had royally fucked up to warrant his presence. It's okay, he's here to defend us, Jace informed me.
This perplexed me. Why would he intervene on my behalf? If what Jace said about the Gods not caring about their descendants was true, then why would Zeus be here to defend me?
“Do not question me!” Zeus boomed. The two Elders sank to their knees and bowed their heads, submitting to Zeus' command. “They are to be pardoned of all charges and left unharmed. That is final,” he continued.
“Yes, Almighty Zeus,” they said in unison.
“Anyone of the High Council or its followers that disobeys my command will be punished as I see fit. Understood?”
“Yes, Almighty Zeus,” they repeated. The Oracle looked at me sadly, and I wondered why, especially due to the fact we were given a full pardon.
Jace helped me stand and we walked over to Zeus and the Oracle. What happened?
You created a sonic boom. Almost everyone was knocked unconscious. I think you even killed some people.
Oh, God! Not anyone from the crowd, right?
I'm not sure, mi amante, Jace uncomfortably replied. It made me sick to think I might have killed some innocent bystanders. I needed to get better control of using my combined elements so that I didn't kill or hurt more innocent people. Yet another task to add to the list before setting out on our journey.
Many more innocent people will be hurt or killed if Uranus returns, just remember that. You are doing all of this to stop him, Jace said, attempting to make me feel better. It worked slightly, but I was still disgusted with myself. I couldn't even force myself to look at the damage I had caused. I was such a coward.
“You are not a coward,” Zeus chuckled. We were now standing in front of him and the Oracle. “You did what you needed to do to save yourself and your flame. You are much more important than any of these people here.”
I gave him a small smile, “Thank you for intervening—I don't think it would have ended well if you hadn't.”
Just then, the room trembled around us. Zeus and the Oracle's eyes diverted somewhere behind me, and I turned, horrified at what I saw. Hades stood in the middle of the room, amidst the debris I had caused. He greedily eyed me from head to toe, causing a chill to run over my skin. His image was identical to that of my nightmare's.
“What are you doing here, Hades?” Zeus asked angrily.
“Righting several wrongs, brother. This 'One' of yours has done so much, yet is not held accountable for her actions. She murdered four Elders yesterday, and possibly several here today, yet she goes unpunished. How is that fair?”
“Are you questioning your ruler and king?!”
“Why are you avoiding the question? You are intervening in matters that do not concern you, Zeus. You yourself said that we are not to interfere in the lives of mortals, yet here you are, offering unfair assistance to the One.”
“These Elementals are blinded by their fear of her. Her death dooms us all. I could not allow them to kill her,” Zeus countered.
“Since you have been interfering, it is only fair that I am allowed to interfere, as well. A test to prove she is worthy of the Gods' efforts,” Hades suggests.
“There will be no such test! I know when you have ulterior motives, Hades, and this scheme has just that,” Zeus replied.
“She needs consequences for her actions, brother! She abuses the powers she was given. Look around you!” Hades screamed, motioning to the destruction and bodies around the room. “If this isn't reason enough, maybe I should summon the Moirai to see how they feel about you interfering with Fate.”
I knew Hades didn't give a flying fuck about the people I killed or the destruction I caused. He wanted an excuse to steal my powers for himself, if that's even possible. The look on Zeus' face showed that his hands were tied. He had interfered, and it was only fair that his brothers, Hades and Poseidon, were allowed the same given they were supposed to share authority with Zeus. I'd rather go to the depths of the ocean with Poseidon than spend one minute in the Underworld with Hades. Zeus turned to me and said, “I'm sorry, my child, but Hades is right. My interference here today allows him to do the same. I do not want to chance the Moirai punishing either one of us for my actions.”
“This is all just a ploy to steal my powers. You can't let him do this!” I pleaded.
“Wha
t did you have in mind, Hades?” Zeus asked, ignoring my plea.
“A test for her and her flame to prove their worthiness. I take her to the Underworld, and he has three days to rescue her.”
“We can't be apart for that long! We will die!” I argued.
“Zeus can extend the separation period to three days for this test, can't you, brother? You will still experience all of the pain and side effects from your separation, however you will not die for three days of being apart.”
“Why three days?”
“Three days of being in the Underworld will cause your soul to separate from your body, even if you are not dead. Then, you will become a permanent resident,” Hades creepily replied with a smirk.
I'm sure that was his intention—me as a permanent resident in his realm. Once I died, I'm sure he planned to try and take my powers for himself, just like my nightmare depicted.
“Zeus, please, don't let him do this,” I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“I'm sorry. I have full faith in both of you to overcome this obstacle,” was his only reply before walking to the window and staring into the world outside. The world I was about to be taken away from.
“Oh, and your powers will be suspended during your stay. We wouldn't want you abusing your powers more, would we?”
“I won't let you take her!” Jace spat as he positioned himself in front of me.
“I'm not asking for your permission,” Hades replied maliciously. He extended his hand toward Jace, casting a fireball at him. It bounced off harmlessly, like always, causing Hades to scowl.
“Interesting,” he said before extending his hand once again. This time, Jace fell to the floor, screaming in agony caused by an unseen force. I was brought to my knees from the pain, which felt like my skin was being ripped from my bones. Blood began to stream out of Jace's ears, eyes, nose, and mouth as he writhed on the floor. Tears burned my eyes as I screamed, “STOP! STOP! STOP! I'll go! Just please don't hurt him anymore!”
The pain vanished as suddenly as it appeared. I crept over to Jace, still on my knees, and helped him sit up. I enveloped him in my arms as tears rained down my cheeks. “Please find me,” I whispered.
“Don't go,” he choked. “This is all a trap.”
“I know, but at least you'll get to save me for once,” I said, attempting a joke. Jace fought the smile that threatened to show, but his dimple peeked through traitorously.
“I promise I'll save you. I won't let him take you from me,” Jace vowed.
I attacked his lips, crushing his mouth with mine in a flurry of desperation, passion, and love. My tongue tasted his as I pressed our bodies together, wishing we could become one like we were created to be. He threaded his fingers through my hair as my tears showered both our faces. Our breathing became ragged as neither one of us parted for air, not wanting our embrace to end.
“It is time. Do not make me force you,” Hades threatened. We reluctantly relinquished our hold on each other, and I stood to make my way to Hades. Jace stood as he propositioned Hades, “Take me instead! I'll take her punishment! You can do anything you want to me, just leave her alone.”
“How chivalrous of you. The conditions have already been set, I'm afraid,” he replied. He extended his hand toward me, gesturing for me to take it. I cringed at the thought of touching him, and turned back to look at Jace, immediately wishing I hadn't. The distraught look on his face broke my resolve, and my heart decimated at the thought of leaving him. I started to pivot back to him when Hades grabbed my hand. The last thing I saw before darkness engulfed me was Jace running towards us.
Empty. Vacant. Hollow. That's how I felt when she disappeared from before my eyes, swallowed into nothingness. My heart ached from her absence, the void she left eating away at my soul.
When she turned to me, the look on her face elicited a desperation in me that I had never felt before. I needed to save her, to do anything to stop him from taking her. I rushed towards them as she turned to come back to me, but that bastard grabbed her before I could reach her.
Then, she vanished as fast as I could blink. Before any other emotion could set in, fury claimed me as I continued to charge Hades. I tackled him before bashing his face in several times with my fists. He roared with anger as he threw me off of him before initiating his invisible assault on me again.
His bloody face sneered at me as he contorted my insides, stretching my bones until I thought they would puncture through to the outside of my skin. Zeus interfered, ordering, “STOP, HADES! NOW!”
Hades didn't stop, continuing to agonizingly ravage my body with his torture. Blood began to seep from my orifices again, which forced Zeus to thrust Hades back into the far wall to end my torment. He stood, dusting himself off as he said, “Three days.” Then, he disappeared.
I stood, wiping blood from my face and gasping for air as I made my way to the Oracle. “I need to get to the Underworld. Now.”
“I cannot take you to the Underworld, bu—"
“Save it! I'll get there on my own,” I interrupted, not wanting to hear more of her vague explanations and excuses. I would find my way to the Underworld alone—no fucking Gods or Oracles involved. Nothing would stop me from saving Brielle. Not even Fate itself.
Continue Reading for an excerpt of Dark Light by S.L. Jennings,
the first book in The Dark Light Series.
Oh, what a difference a year makes.
A year ago, I was the embodiment of a reckless nineteen year old girl, hell-bent on drinking my way through community college until I couldn’t function and not giving a damn how it made me look. A year ago, I was madly in love with my best friend, Jared, but couldn’t find the courage to tell him. A year ago, the only family I knew of was Chris and Donna, my adopted parents since the day I was born. A year ago, I was content with mediocrity and my love life was non-existent—exactly what I thought it should be.
A year ago, I was human. At least I thought I was.
It’s easy to take something as conventional as your humanity for granted when it isn’t threatened. And being that I had no idea what life would be like without mine, I lived it up like there was no tomorrow. Now I have an eternity of tomorrows, and the last twenty years seem more like a fairy tale than my less than remarkable adolescent life. Because my life—the life that was predetermined for me, the life that so many have died for—is anything but ordinary.
The upside to my newly evolved existence?
Dorian.
Normally, hauntingly gorgeous and intimidating strangers would have me running for the hills. But there is something so inexplicably magnetic and all-around erotic about Dorian that I can’t stay away. I want him; I crave him. And as hard as I try to fight it, I need him. But the million dollar question is Why? Why would any somewhat sane, shrewd young woman deem it necessary to completely throw herself at a man she’s only known for a week? And why would she show up to his freakin’ hotel room at damn near 1 in the morning, unannounced and tipsy, just to see if he is alone and not banging the hot raven-haired beauty that followed him around tonight like a lost puppy?
Even as I step off the elevator and make my way down the hall to his suite, my stomach snarled with apprehension, the questions go unanswered, yet I don’t turn away. I have to know.
What he is...enthralls me. Captivates me. Utterly disarms and beguiles me. And if I hadn’t felt his soft, warm lips on mine, had never tasted the delectable sweetness of his tongue or his tingling, moan-inducing caress, I probably wouldn’t be here, ready to strip away my clothes and inhibitions. I would have wised up and gone back home with Morgan. I probably would have even drunk dialed Jared and professed my undying love for him.
But it’s too late; I have felt all those things. I know what it feels like to be under Dorian’s spell. Because that is exactly what I am. And right now, I am about 2 seconds from learning the truth about him, eagerly hoping to unveil the mystery behind the man.
Twenty is purgatory.
N
ot quite old enough to legally drink but too old to get away with being young and stupid without serious repercussions. I’ve never been the birthday celebrating type, usually opting to commemorate the day with Señor Tequila and a few of his heady friends. But this particular birthday, marking my 20 inconsequential years on this earth, in short, blows. Just another reminder of how I have no clue what I want to do when I grow up and will probably waste away as an overqualified, bitchy sales clerk at the mall. Which isn’t a far stretch from what I am now.
Twenty years old. Twenty-freakin’-years old. Time to get my shit together.
“Here we go,” I mutter as I pull myself out of bed and trudge into the bathroom to shower. I really, really would rather stay in bed and sleep through this day. There’s nothing to celebrate. Pity party for one, please!
The only thing I have to look forward to is a night out with my best friend, Morgan, which never fails to disappoint. Morgan is my polar opposite in every way—tall, thin, and desirable to every member of the male species, straight and gay alike. She used to be a dancer and has the body and poise to prove it. With her baby smooth mocha skin, exotic Haitian features, and designer clothes, Morgan is the epitome of an ‘It Girl.’ Style is her religion; she lives and breathes all things fierce and fabulous.
Before our night of drinks and dancing, no doubt sponsored by some poor, clueless sap enraptured by Morgan’s charms, I have to attend my annual birthday dinner with my parents. They, too, are my opposites but that’s because they’re my adopted parents and are about as patient and good natured as it gets. It’s pretty evident that Chris and Donna are not my birth parents. The most obvious factor is that they’re Caucasian and I’m...Unknown. How’s that for an identity crisis? I never knew my birth parents and there is virtually zero information on them anywhere. Chris and Donna have tried to fill in the blanks but since I’ve been with them pretty much since birth, they are my real parents. And you can’t miss what you’ve never had.
Envisioned (The Elemental Prophecy) Page 25
