by C. M. Owens
We slam into a wall Jace struggles to break through, and I feel the power inside me surging more to aide him in his quest. A tearing sound threatens the wall, and the girls squeal slightly.
“Stop them,” Faith demands.
“No,” Ambora strains. “Let them.”
Finally, the dam bursts open, and we fall into the section that has been closed off to their mind.
It’s a dark abyss with terrible scenes as the girls reveal their once savage selves. They’re preying on the men they’ve torn free from the confines of loyalty, and they revel in the misery of the women brought about by the cheating husbands they’ve infected.
Then I see a woman, though it’s a distant silhouette. I try to focus the image, and I gasp when I realize its Pyrrha.
She’s scooting into a corner while the girls stalk toward her with deadly intent, and she releases a power from her hands that knocks the girls down.
Instantly, I see Pyrrha age a couple of years, and I gasp again at the revelation.
She’s bending down now, and her eyes are staring into the girls’. I can hear her dark words chilling the room with its ominous promise.
“You’ll feel the flesh and blood in a new light. You’ll feel misery of your own and pain’s stinging bite. You’ll be as I am, and you’ll see your flock tear you apart. No one can save you from the new dark. You’ll die as you tried to kill me today, and I’ll laugh from a distance when you become the prey,” she taunts, but it’s far more than a menacing mock.
She ages again, and the girls’ eyes lose the savage glare. They soften, and I see their veins running red blood instead of blue. They’re terrified suddenly, and then they black out when the overwhelming change takes hold of them.
Jace grips my hand tighter as we sit in the darkness and listen to the exiting footsteps of Pyrrha. I gasp again when he releases my hand, and I almost fall from the arm of the couch just as Jace does.
Devin’s arms wrap me up, and Hale quickly steadies Jace. Faith rushes over to inquire about our breathless journey, and the girls have completely blacked out from it all.
“What the hell happened?” She prompts.
“We found it,” Jace breathes out with harsh, sharp breaths.
“What was it?” Camara demands.
“Pyrrha. She did this,” my ragged voice delivers. “She wanted them to feel the pain of the flock turning on them when the three of them tried to tear her apart,” I answer.
“Pyrrha? You’re sure?” Devin asks.
“Positive, but she has a nasty little secret. I know why she has remained hidden, and I know why she doesn’t look like she’s twenty anymore,” I gush out.
“Why?” Hale impatiently gripes.
“She’s aging every time she uses her power. I could taste her hesitance when faced with her only option. She couldn’t kill the girls herself without exerting far more energy, and each use of power costs her years in appearance. The water from the fountain of youth stopped sustaining both. She has to choose between her power and her youth. That’s why she dropped off the grid. She couldn’t assert dominance without power, and she couldn’t expel power without consequence,” I explain.
“Damn,” Ther mumbles. “So she’s been hiding for centuries just to keep her powers dormant.”
“She’s been hiding to stay alive,” Jace adds. “Her aging isn’t just in appearance, it’s mortality she fears. If she ages too much, she’ll die just as a mortal would. I could see her trembling hand after the second aging, and I could smell her fear. She wanted to get the hell out of there, and it took serious restraint not to use the power she’s addicted to.”
“So why come after Adisia and me?” Devin ponders aloud.
“That part still doesn’t make sense. She had to have aged after using her magic, so why even risk it for such an unremarkable quest? She wouldn’t kill someone attacking her for fear of years lost, so why age herself to instigate a breakup?” Jace muses.
“This is all giving me a headache,” I groan.
Devin scoops me up, and I feel the exhaustion setting in. That was harder than taking on an army of hellhounds, and it was more grueling than dealing with the Medusas.
“I’ll try to research this. It’s possible some of my older contacts could have an answer,” Nina adds, and then she flashes up the stairs.
“I just want to rest,” I grumble, and Devin responds by flashing me up the stairs as well.
He props the door up to the room, and I chuckle a little at the pitiful sight of the weary thing saddened by its dilapidating form.
He smirks at my amused face, and then I snuggle up beside the sleeping child.
“She’s so peaceful now,” I murmur observantly. “Why do I feel so protective of her?”
“It could be because you’ve been that child. We all have,” Devin answers, and he curls up beside me while wrapping me in his arms.
“Maybe,” I yawn out, and he kisses my shoulder lightly.
“This could be us one day, you know? Lying beside our own child, and just having a normal life,” he says so sweetly.
I smile a little at the endearing thought, and then I turn to face him.
“So you really do want to have a child?” I muse.
“Definitely. Though I dread the Aphrodite in her. I hear fathers have a hard time with their daughters dating as it is. Imagine how tough having an Aphrodite will be,” he snickers.
I laugh a little at his lighthearted joke, and then I kiss him softly to reward him for his incredible future plans with me.
“No time soon I hope,” I giggle.
“Definitely not. I want a few centuries alone with you before we have to contend with the attention we’ll need to devote to a child. I love having you all to myself,” he murmurs softly, and his hands grip me a little tighter around the waist. “What about you?”
“I want our child to be able to grow up safe and unscathed by the images Nadia has to endure regularly, and that could take a while. Besides, I’m not in any hurry to share you either,” I confess.
His lips grab mine, and the fire between us starts to sizzle until Nadia stirs lightly in her sleep to remind us she’s still there. Devin chuckles a little as he releases me from the smoldering grip and shakes his head.
“I definitely want to wait a while,” he murmurs with a bit of humorous strain.
I can feel how much he wants me when he jerks my hips to meet his, and his desire presses against me very prominently.
“I second that,” I joke, and I fan myself slightly from the overworked moment.
Nadia stirs again, and this time she wakes up. I turn to face her as she sits up, and she stretches so sweetly.
“Where’s my momma?” she asks pitifully.
“She’s sleeping. Do you remember me?” I ask.
“Yeah. You’re the angel from my dreams. I didn’t know you were real,” she gushes, and her eyes stare adoringly into mine.
Jace has freed her mind from the terrible beach scene, and Devin strokes my cheek affectionately when he sees my smile.
“You’re safe here, and your mom and you will be staying with us for a while. Do you want anything to eat?” I ask.
“I’m really hungry. I didn’t eat today,” she grumbles, and then her stomach roars its neglected state.
I frown a little. Immortals forget sometimes. I remember Devin griping at me for not eating right when I was still mortal.
I can imagine how difficult it would be to keep track of meals for a child when you can’t keep track of time at all.
“Let’s go find you something,” Devin adds, and then he pulls me from the bed. “So much for resting,” he whispers teasingly.
“I’ll be fine. She needs more attention than I do,” I say with a smile, and then she willingly takes my hand.
Devin and I casually stroll down the stairs instead of our normal flashing routine. Nadia smiles when she sees a member of her clan, and the woman rushes over to hug her.
“Oh, I’m so gl
ad you’re okay,” she gushes, and Nadia tilts her head from side to side.
“I was just taking a nap,” Nadia exasperates.
The woman looks at us appreciatively, and I look over to see Jace lounging on the couch with an exhausted look.
“He took care of all of it,” I murmur while motioning toward Jace.
“Thank you,” the woman says to him, and he offers her a kind smile and nod.
“You’re the superhero in my dreams,” Nadia murmurs vaguely as her eyes show delight at the sight of Jace.
“I am?” he says with playful enthusiasm despite his weary state, and you can tell he’s spoken to children before.
“Yeah. You and the angel stopped the dark shadow monster,” she says excitedly, and Jace sits straight up with fear taking over his expression.
Devin’s face drains of all color, and suddenly I realize this child’s dreams are not just from the events she’s seen herself.
“What do you mean?” Devin asks kindly.
She shrugs as she skips into the kitchen, and we all follow her.
“There’s a shadow monster trying to rule the world, and Angel is fighting hard to stop it. Then the superhero helps her by zapping the shadow monster,” she rattles out.
“She’s a dreamer? Already?” Devin asks quietly to the woman.
“Like some seers, her dreams have already kicked into effect, but they’re not usually so detailed,” the woman answers.
“Dreamer?” I muse, and I grab a loaf of bread from the counter as our whispered conversation continues below the register a mortal’s ears can hear.
“They are like seers, but their visions are dreams instead. They have a more in depth view when they mature. They can see the things we can’t sometimes, but not in full detail as a vision. Just like the shadow - she can’t see the face, just the darkness coming,” Devin explains. “Not to mention, they’re dreams are definitive. Visions are intentions, and intentions can change or be stopped. Dreamers see the set future. You can only be warned. You can’t change it.”
I put the sandwich in front of the very hungry girl, and she bites off a piece far too large for her tiny mouth in her moment of excitement for the needed nourishment. I frown at their neglect, and the woman lowers her head shamefully.
“She saw me,” I add.
“I know. It’s possible the bond the two of you experienced also prompted a connection to your future. Dreamers are incredibly rare, and their power has never been fully understood,” Devin continues.
“Do you think she’s talking about Pyrrha?” Jace worries.
“I don’t know, but just because she saw us winning, doesn’t necessarily mean the outcome will be so shiny,” Devin cautions. “She’s too young to know anything definitively.”
“I know. I’ve only ever met one dreamer, but that was the first thing they told me,” Jace sighs.
“Huh?” I pop out a little too loud, but Nadia is so hungry she doesn’t acknowledge my accidental slip.
“Dreamer’s visions are set futures, as I said, but they can mingle with real dreams. Only the seasoned dreamers know the difference. Children have an optimistic outlook on life, and occasionally they tend to steer the results where good prevails over evil. It’s important to not be overconfident,” Devin asserts.
“Great. Just when I thought we had an edge,” I grumble.
“We do. We know there’s more to come, and now we can at least be on guard,” Jace adds.
“Can I have another?” the hungry child asks, and I look down to see only crumbs remaining on the plate.
“Of course,” I say kindly, and then I see a woman flashing in to wrap her arms around the child.
“Momma!” Nadia squeals.
“My baby,” Gloria chokes out. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she says with more rattled relief.
I hand Nadia another sandwich, and she rips free from her mother to start her hungry venture.
“Thank you so much,” Gloria whimpers as she strokes Nadia’s hair.
I nod slightly, and then she kisses the top of her child’s head.
“Her father?” I whisper.
Gloria shakes her head with tears in her eyes, and I feel horrible for even asking now.
“Sorry,” I murmur.
“It happened years ago. She was just an infant,” she adds, and then her eyes sadden as she looks back up at me. “She can’t be here right now. I almost lost her today, and I couldn’t bear such a thing.”
“I know a place where she’d be safe,” Jace interjects. “She’s still mortal, so she shouldn’t need to live by the sea,” he adds.
“Could you take her there?” Gloria asks. “I can’t travel too far inland without it killing me,” she whines.
“We can,” I interject.
“Thank you,” she cries, and then her arms wrap around Nadia just as she finishes her second plate.
“What’s wrong, Momma?”
Gloria squats down to stare the child in the eyes, and she takes a heavy, exhaustingly painful breath. It’s almost bringing tears to my own eyes to see her suffering something like this.
“I need you to do me a favor,” Gloria forces out with a less tearful voice so her child doesn’t feel the obvious anxiety.
“What?”
“Can you go with these people to stay somewhere new for a little while so I can help Ms. Nina and the others out?” Gloria asks.
“I don’t want to leave,” Nadia objects.
“I know, sweetie, but I think you’ll have fun. I promise it won’t be for long,” she adds.
Nadia sighs, and with maturity beyond her years, she answers, “I’ll go. I love you, Momma.”
Gloria’s eyes tear up, and I see her trying to hold herself together for the sake of her child. Devin gets on his phone, and I hear him talking to the pilot.
Jace joins him to tell him of our destination, and concern for my own family sets in. The last time someone came after me, it wasn’t just me who had to endure the wrath.
I pull out my phone and walk away from the room to call Persia.
“Adisia, is everything okay?” she panics.
“You always sound so worried when I call,” I answer, and my eyes trail over to the immortal mother fearing for the life of her still mortal child.
“It’s a mother’s prerogative,” she jokes.
“I see that,” I murmur vaguely, and then my eyes break away from the heartwarming moment. “I need a favor.”
“Anything,” she answers immediately.
“I need to get my parents out. There’s something coming for us, and I don’t want them in the line of fire again. Also, Jane and my brother, along with Clara and Henry need to be moved.”
“What’s coming?” she worries.
“We don’t know, but I don’t want to take any chances. We have a dreamer among us, and she’s witnessed a shadow at war with us,” I answer vaguely.
“Oh my. Yes, I’ll get them out one way or the other,” she promises.
“And Persia,” I sigh.
“Yes?” she says with hesitance.
“I love you,” I say without any other reason than I want to, and I hear her tears dripping to the phone.
“I love you too,” she whimpers in relief.
Tears fill my eyes as well, and it’s all I can do to keep from choking up.
“Thank you for taking care of me. I know it wasn’t easy for you to give me up and then have to watch me grow up loving someone else as my mother. I know it was hard on Kahl too, and I’m sorry I’ve been so resistant. I see things a little better now, and I understand completely why you made the decision you did,” I stumble out with a terrible ball of emotion choking me.
“You just don’t know how good it feels for you to say that,” she cries, and the tears staining her unseen face pronounce themselves as tears of joy.
“I need to go. We’re taking our dreamer somewhere safe because the water nymphs can’t leave the sea,” I mutter through my own abundance of tears
.
“Water nymphs? Nina’s there?” she stammers.
“Yeah. It’s a long story, but Devin only has one shadow so I’m not worried.”
“I don’t know how Aphrodite hasn’t surged free to finish the job she started,” Persia gasps.
“I don’t know either, but so far so good. If she does break free and kill her, oh well,” I casually snark.
“Adisia,” Persia admonishes, and I chuckle at her motherly tone she rarely uses on me.
“It was a joke,” I sigh lightly, and then I add, “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay, dear. Be careful, and call me as soon as you can,” she asserts.
I hang up, and then I wipe the tears from my face. Devin walks over to inquire about my waterworks, but my lips fall on his before he can.
His hands grip my sides, and the wall is suddenly cracking behind us. His fiery touch slides up my sides as his hips pin me firmly to the wavering wall. I can feel every bit of his lower half calling to mine, and the throbbing is merciless when I do.
“Adisia. Devin. We’re ready when you are,” Deacon blares.
Damn spoiler alert.
Devin’s breath is shaky, and he almost growls at the interruption.
“I’m going to go mad if I can’t have you soon. All this teasing is miserable,” he gripes. “I’m ready to have just a few hours alone with my wife,” he smolders, and his lips almost touch mine again before a closer voice interrupts.
“Devin, let’s roll,” Kry insists.
Devin slaps the wall behind my head, and I giggle lightly at his tormenting frustration - even though I’m experiencing the same torture.
“You’ll have your few hours soon,” I dare, and then my hips circle against him just before I climb free from his trapping stance.
“You’re so cruel,” he groans, and my eyes flash a menacing green for a brief moment.
Aphrodite’s excited too.
“I just love to play, and now I have the opportunity,” I taunt, and he’s forced to adjust the collar suffocating him now.
“That’s not going to end well for you,” he smolders.
“On the contrary, Mr. Cole, I think the climax will be glorious,” I dare with heavy innuendo.
“Stop that,” Hale grumbles. “We can still hear the whispers even though the child can’t,” he continues with a strained tone. “And it’s pretty damn hard to deal with.”
