by Ariel Marie
We follow the path that leads up into a stone one-story building. Even though someone has paid perfect attention to the grounds that are attached to this building, no one has touched the building in a century at least. The stone of the building is worn, crumbling and just decimated. There is no door where one should be. Vines have grown all over the building and have almost completely covered the entire exterior of the building.
We pause at the entrance glancing into the building. The outside is worse than the inside of the building. Even with no doors or windows, the air smells stale. Goosebumps form on my arms as a chill runs down my spine.
“We need to go in here?” Colin asks, tightening his hold on my hand. I nod my head.
He walks through the door first, not letting go of my hand. The building is a one-room building with stone walls; the ceilings are high with exposed aged wooden beams. We walk into the room and stop in the middle, turning to look around the room. There are old chairs and tables that look like they will crumble any moment.
Dust and cobwebs cover every inch of the room. I let go of Colin’s hand to walk towards one of the walls, brushing cobwebs out of the way. The coat of dust and dirt had to be about an inch thick. I try to wipe a little bit away with my fingers but I am only able to remove a little.
Use your Earth magic. A voice whispers in my mind.
That is weird. I’m not blessed by the Supreme Being to have Earth magic. My Fae elemental magic is air.
“What’s under the dirt?” Colin asks, trying to wipe some of it away himself.
“I’m not sure, but I have the feeling that I need to see whatever is under it.” I pause and back away from the walls. “Back up.”
Spreading my feet and closing my eyes, I feel Colin move to stand right behind me. He places his hands on my hips. The tips of my fingers tingle as power flows through my arms. I open my eyes and wave my right hand from left to right. The air remains still as the dirt moves to the right and fell on the floor. I look at my fingertips as if I have never seen them before.
“You’re part Fae, haven’t you done this before? “ Colin asks in my ear. I shake my head.
“My elemental magic has always been air, manipulating the wind. As thick as that dirt is on the wall, I would have needed to use a lot more wind to get the dirt off. That was Earth magic, which I’ve never had. It is extremely rare for the Supreme Being to bless the Fae with more than one elemental magic.” I’m not sure how I was able to do that. We both move over to the wall to look at what was hidden by the dirt.
“So if you were not able to do it before, how are you able to do it now?” he asks.
The temperature in the room drops quickly and a soft light brightens the room behind us. We quickly turn and a gasp escapes me. Standing in front of us is a beautiful Fae woman. She is almost transparent. Ethereal. She stands about six feet tall, with long blond hair flowing past her waist and the signature pointy ears. She is dressed in a long flowing short sleeve white empire dress. She’s angelic in appearance with a soft light shining around her. All she is missing is a halo over her head.
“Please don’t be frightened!” She quietly exclaims. Colin steps in front of me. I snatch my blade from my waist.
“I mean you no harm!” she says, holding her hands up, palms facing us as the universal sign of no threat.
“Who are you?” I ask wearily, still gripping my blade. She smiles softly, her eyes assessing Colin and me.
“My name is Freya, I am the Goddess of...”
“Love, war and magic,” I cut her off. She smiles again, nodding her head.
“Don’t forget fertility. Sounds like someone knows her Goddess history. ” She walks over to us. Colin growls softly. I put up my hand on his arm.
“I have been waiting for the two of you,” she says as she walks around us and studies the wall where the dirt has been cleared.
“Why?” Colin asks her, standing in between the Goddess and me.
“Stand down wolf.” She looks over her shoulder with her blond eyebrow raised at Colin then returns to study the hieroglyphs.
“If I wanted to hurt Arlina or you, there would be nothing you could do about it.” She faces us and walks in our direction to stand in front of us.
“Where are we?” he asks her.
“Welcome to what was once called Agslyae,” she says sweeping her arms around and slightly bowing. “There is a lot of information that I must inform you about and we don’t have much time before that amulet your wearing takes you back to your time. How much do you know about the Ancients, Melomouzor and the prophecy?” She gets right to business with a serious look on her face, turning back to the hieroglyphs.
“We know about how Melomouzor was trying to take over the world and how the Ancients went to the Goddess Durga to banish him to the Underworld. We believe that he needs the blood of the descendants of the Ancients to do a ritual so that he can come back to the human realm.” I stand next to Freya and study the hieroglyphs with her. She turns to look at me while Colin moves to the other side of me.
“Melomouzor was experimenting on humans and the supernatural trying to find a way to make a stronger demon. He captured scientists and engineers from the human realm and brought some that had been sent to Hell, to come work on his dream of building a stronger demon. There was a reason why he wanted a stronger demon. He knew about the prophecy.” She pauses and looks back at the wall.
“What prophecy?” Colin and I ask at the same time. She ignores our question.
“Look at the wall and tell me what you see,” she says looking at the two of us. We both study the wall.
“I’m assuming those ten figures represent the Ancients and that one is the Goddess Durga who helped them,” I say pointing to another portion of the hieroglyphs depicting a dark figure being sent to what I assume to be the Underworld. “That black monster with the red eyes must be Melomouzor being banished.”
“Who does that represent?” Colin asks pointing to the pictures. A tiny black haired woman with a wolf at her side is pointing a sword at a monster. The next scene beneath it shows the dark haired woman holding a tiny wolf in her arms with the large wolf next to her. There are people drawn around them as if they are cheering.
“Who do you think they are?” She turns her blue eyes to Colin.
“That’s me with Colin fighting Melomouzor, isn’t it?” I ask, not able to take my eyes off of the wall. Next to this picture, there is a vertical line drawn with the dark haired woman holding a dark baby with Melomouzor next to them and dead people surrounding them.
“Why is it depicting two stories?” Colin asks.
I turn my eyes towards Freya with a shiver running down my spine. I have an unsettling feeling in my stomach and I dread the answer to Colin’s question.
“The human realm is in danger. Melomouzor is coming and there is nothing you can do to stop it. He has been collecting the descendants of the Ancients for years. There is going to be a war. Many will die. The supernaturals must rise up against him. He is more powerful than ever, his demons will be as strong as ever. The realm will need all the help she can get. The future lies in your hands, Arlina.”
I look quickly to Colin. His face has darkened, he’s breathing hard and his hands have shifted to his wolf claws. I move to stand in front of him with a small smile. Without hesitation I accept the fate that I will play a part in saving a realm that I love. I rub my hands on his chest, pushing calming energy into him.
“It’s okay, Colin. I can do this. I have to do this. The future of the human realm depends on me. You know I will do whatever I have to do to save the realm.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince, him or me. Shit, shit, shit! I wasn’t expecting this type of bomb.
“Why am I holding a baby in the pictures?” I ask, my sight zeroing in on the young ones that are being held in the hieroglyphs.
“This is known as the Mirrored Prophecies. You are part of the solution but yet you might be part of the demise of the human realm, Arlina.
That’s why there are two stories depicted on the wall. Your first-born child will decide the future of the realm,” Freya says softly.
I slowly turn to her, eyes wide. I’m not sure I heard her right. Did she say my first-born child would decide the future of the realm?
“Did you say my first born child and I might be part of the demise of the human realm? I could never harm the realm! I’m a Guardian! I have pledged my life to protect the people of the Fae and I would give my life for the people in the human realm! Half of my life was spent in the human realm! My mother was from the human realm; it is all I have left of her! I have to save the human realm!” I yell, the anger coursing through my body so hard that it’s shaking. I’m breathing hard, there is no way I will betray the human realm. I shake my head in disbelief walking away from Freya.
There is no way my child will harm the world! My child will be the love of my life. He or she will be a Prince or Princess of the Fae, who will be loved and adored by all of the Fae. He or she will not have to worry about a war, but just growing up feeling loved and spoiled. I begin pacing back and forth. Freya stands in front of me placing her hands on my shoulders, with a concerned look on her face.
“I cannot tell you much more about the future. You have to make your own pathway in life, just know that your actions will affect the future. I’m sorry, that’s all I can tell you. But there is one more thing.” She hesitates and looks deep in my eyes.
I look to Colin, I’m scared of finding out what her one more thing is. She has already laid enough on my shoulders, I don’t think that they can hold any more. He stands next to me and grips my hand. I squeeze it while waiting for what Freya has to say next.
“I can feel that your powers are increasing. What happened when you touched the amulet?” She looks at the amulet hanging in between my breasts. I recall the events that led to us magically appearing in Agslyae. She nods her head as I’m explaining what happened. Colin interjects on parts that I don’t remember.
“You are gaining all of your true powers, Arlina. You are going to need to learn how to harness them quickly.” She looks at me and then off to the side as if she’s listening to something that only she can hear.
“What do you mean, all of my true powers?” I ask, confused.
“The power of the Fae,” she says looking at me with her head turned to the side. Again, she’s listening to something only she can hear.
“But I have already mastered my powers from my Fae side.”
“No, you now have all the powers of the Fae.” She squeezes my shoulders and I’m stunned into silence. No way! No one is blessed to have all the powers of the Fae, or have control of all of the elements.
“You must hurry, it is time for you to go back! Trouble is on its way to Kaleema’s house and your brother will need you!” She grabs both of our hands and drags us out of the building.
“You can’t just tell me that I have all the powers of the Fae and get rid of me without explaining!” I exclaim as she pushes Colin and me back out into the gardens.
“How do we get back to the human realm?” I ask since it seems she is not going to explain my power questions.
“You two need to hold on to each other. Arlina, grab the amulet and flash you both back to where you came from. The amulet will get you back to your time period and where you were before you came here. You must wear it at all times. The amulet will help guide you. If it wants to take you somewhere you need to go, you will know it! To get your answer about all the powers, start with your mother!” she rushes to explain as she pushes our hands together.
“Now go!” she yells, waiving her hands. Colin wraps his arms around my waist, I think of the witch’s house and we disappear.
Chapter Sixteen
~Colin~
We reappear in the witch’s spell room to shouting and banging on the locked door. We rush to the door as it unlocks on its own. Keegan, the Guardians, Reed and Alec burst through the door.
“Why the fuck didn’t you answer!” Keegan yells grabbing Lina by her arm.
My mate.
Instincts take over, using my shifter speed to get over to Keegan, I throw him across the room. My wolf is coming to the forefront, I’m partially shifting as I rush towards him.
“Shit!” Alec yells out as he and Reed grab me and pull me back. I struggle against them to get to Keegan. He put his hands on my mate! No one threatens my mate! She’s mine! My wolf is furious and howling, trying to get loose.
“Keegan!” Lina runs over to Keegan as he gets up, grabbing a blade from his waist. Tarron and Vander grab Keegan holding him back so that he can’t get free. I’m overpowering Alec and Reed. They are not as strong as an Alpha. My wolf is pissed and wants blood.
“STOP!” Lina yells holding her hands out. She lets loose a power so strong that it throws everyone into a wall and holds us against the wall. No matter how hard I struggle, I can’t pull myself off the wall. She is breathing hard and her eyes are the size of saucers and she turns in circles looking at all of us pinned to the walls of the room.
“Lina, how in the hell are you doing this?” Keegan asks, eyes just as wide as Lina’s. She closes her eyes for a few seconds, shaking her head and trying to get herself under control.
“We don’t have time for this shit! Kee, we need to talk but right now is not the time! Now is not the time for us to be fighting each other. They are coming and we need to be on the same fucking side!” she yells looking at each man pinned to the walls. I can see she is pissed! Her eyes are the color of dark emeralds as she looks to each of us.
“Who is coming?” The second the words left Keegan’s mouth there was a large roar that shook the building.
Demons.
We all are released from the wall and fall to the floor as Lina runs out the door and up the stairs with us trailing her.
We run through the kitchen and towards the front of the house. We stop in the living room and look out the front window. Demons litter the front yard. Demons of all shapes and sizes. A few more winged demons drop out of the sky to land in the front yard. There are some four-legged demons walking towards the house. A loud violent wail, so loud that it shook the building, comes from the backyard.
“Where the fuck are they coming from?” Reed yells over the howling and screeching coming from outside the house.
“Who knows, but we’re sending their asses back to the Underworld!” Lina growls as she pulls her katana out of the sheath on her back. The fierceness of her gaze is downright sexy. She may be little, but this Princess is deadly. I pity whoever meets the end of her blade.
Vander pulls his double short swords out of his sheaths on his back and the Guardian Tarron pulls two large axes from his waist. Both are waiting for Keegan to give his command.
“Vander and Tarron, take the backyard. Lina and I will take the front yard. Wolves wait to come out till we clear the entryway,” Keegan says taking charge, not looking at the wolves but out the window.
“You’re in charge of the Guardians, not the Legion. I’m their Alpha.” My voice comes out rough as I automatically move towards Keegan. Lina steps in front of me, with a ‘don’t fuck with me’ look on her face.
“He’s right, Colin. We can flash out and clear the doorways. There’s no telling what is waiting above the doors. There are demons with wings out there. They could be on the roof.” She’s in her warrior princess persona and it’s sexy as hell. The Fae do have an advantage. I send him a look to let him know we will continue what was started downstairs. He glares right back at me.
“You have sixty seconds and then we’re coming out. Reed and Alec cover the back with the Guardians and I’ll take the front.” I look over my shoulder before staring down at Lina. Her emerald eyes have darkened to almost black. I can tell she’s blood thirsty and itching for a fight.
“Be careful out there, Princess,” I say to her before grabbing her chin and crushing my mouth to hers in a bruising kiss. She doesn’t hold back, returning the kiss. I break it off
and she nods her head to me, her lips moist and swollen from the kiss.
“Let’s go, Lina!” Keegan growls by the window. He stares daggers at me. He doesn’t intimidate me at all. Lina walks over to her brother, looking at me once again before they flash outside.
Sixty seconds and I’m joining in the battle.
The demons will not stand a chance if one of them hurts Lina. I stand poised ready by the front door watching Keegan brutally killing demons left and right with his sword. His fighting style is flawless. He must have the Fae fire magic. Demons are falling to the ground around him, combusting in flames burning from the inside out.
Thirty seconds.
My eyes track Lina down and she’s holding her own against the Demons. Her katana flows swiftly cutting through Demons’ necks like butter. Her fighting style is similar to that of her older brother. She uses her flash capability to her advantage to get exactly where she wants to go to surprise her enemy. She looks to the roof of the house and raises her hand and waves it down to the ground and a demon slams to the ground and bursts into flames. A devilish grin crosses her face as she looks to me. She’s enjoying every bit of this battle. She nods her head signaling for me to come out.
Finally!
I rip the door off the hinges rushing to get outside. Jumping off the porch, I shift mid-air, my clothes falling to the ground, shredded. My wolf lands surefooted, my growl is deep signaling my Alpha status. My black wolf is immensely larger than a regular wolf and he’s thirsty for blood. My lips curl back showing my deadly canines as I stalk towards the first demon. He is bald with skin as dark as night. His eyes are completely bloody red, his skin is scaly and he doesn’t have ear lobes. His claws are sharpened and his fangs are massive. He bares his fangs at me and begins to run towards me. I take off towards him.
