by LK Kelley
“Terraforming was strictly forbidden by the Creator for both races!” he muttered, unnecessarily. “Where did this come from?”
“Delinear,” Jolin answered.
“What?” Jaxx was surprised. He had been having a relationship with her for years, now.
“Jaxx, she's evil incarnate. She is involved with Eloran, and they conspired to Terraform Anaerris after they burned it.”
“Look, Jaxx. We know how you feel about her, but the simple fact is that she is a traitor to her own kind. The two of them want to rule both races! And, they do not want to stop there! They want to rule everything!”
Jaxx thought about that for a bit, then something occurred to him.
“How did you get this if Dilinear had it?” he asked.
Analyse looked at Jolinaer, who nodded.
“I stole it from her by using my true form while she was, uh, engaged in some, uh, activities in the bedroom,” Analyse explained. Then, waving away Jaxx's objections, before he voiced them. “Don't worry. I saw nothing. Look, I know it is forbidden, Jaxx. She and Eloran have been colluding behind our backs – behind yours. I stole it so that they could not utilize it. When we realized that this world was beyond Terraforming, we heard rumors that they would be Terraforming another world. One that was inhabited. And, that was something that we could not allow!”
“Agreed. But, which world?” Jaxx was curious.
“It is called Earth, and is in the Terran system,” Analyse explained. “It’s very far away from us.”
Jaxx wrinkled his brow, and shook his head. He'd never heard of it.
“Never heard of it,” he said.
“Nor had we. It was the Fae who told me about it. And, we want you to go there, covertly, and hide the crystal. We both doubt that Eloran and Delinear will go there, now. Without the crystal, they can’t do any harm. Make sure that it is not used, and make sure that you protect that planet! But, I'm almost sure they will show up there at some time in the future.” He turned to Analyse. “At least, that is what Analyse has foreseen.”
The Anaerris had been given powers for them to use, but they were limited in their scope. Opening a Vorc'ara was one of them. And, only a small handful of Onaerris even knew about this. The ruling family were given the power of sight as well. They could see what would happen in the future, but again, it was limited in scope. They saw the future, but they did not always see details. In contrast, the Onaerris had the ability to influence others by becoming invisible as well as the power of illusion.
The Anaerris, like the Onaerris, could revert to their true form at will. Where Onaerris became red with volcanic power, the Anaerris became a glowing white being of great light. Both had once had wings, but they were clipped when they were banished by their Creator to the two worlds. Being left with these small remnants of their original glory had always been a source of irritation, but at least they still had them. However, long ago, both the rulers of both worlds had decided to make sure that neither could use their powers on each other, and had, thus, forbidden any to use their powers at all.
But, never had there ever been a traitor on either side. Delinear, Jolin had told him, and Eloran were traitors – not only to their own kind, but to the Creator! And, they had every intention of destroying not only Onaerris and Anaerris, but also other planets and beings. Jaxx looked down. He held, in his hand, the means by which they would have accomplished those goals. He closed his hands tightly over the crystal feeling it cut into his palms. He would protect it with his very life!
“OK. I will make sure this never falls into their hands,” he vowed.
Giving a visible breath of relief, Analyse leaned over, and kissed his cheek. Her belly had also touched him, and he felt a soft flutter that made him look down in surprise. In there was his – whatever it might be called. There was no word in their language for the life growing within her. It wasn't until he reached Earth that he heard the terms of nephew and niece. After they had disappeared via another Vorc'ara, he never heard another word from either of them, and he didn't know if his little nephew or niece was alive and well. He had been astonished at how much he cared about that tiny little being!
Thanks to the Vorc’ara created by Analyse, after they had left the cave. Jaxx rememberd even more. The accident with the crystal happened a couple of thousand years later. Surprises came almost immediately with those who had made it to Earth as well. Analyse and Jolinaer had made sure that everyone in the rebellion had knowledge of where to go. The first shock was that their kind discovered they could have children with humans! And, that brought a huge increase in children being born to the “gods”, which they were now being called. Even more so, the shock of even the female “gods” being able to bear children, ripped their entire belief system away! Azor, aka Poseidon, really got out of hand when his female, Cleito, not only presented him with one set of twins, but the two of them were like rabbits, and had procreated four more sets of twins! Until then, the Onaerris and humans produced children who were giants. But, now, something else happened, and while their children were obviously gorgeous, they were also larger than normal humans, but not so large to be thought strange. They also had great strength as well. Once they realized they could have normal children, the other “gods” went on a whirlwind speed of knocking up more human females, producing more of them. One of the most famous of these was Heracles – or Hercules, as he became known.
After his last set of twins was born, Azor decided that he didn't want to be a “god” any longer. He had actually fallen in love with Cleito, and wanted to stay with her as her life dwindled away. So, he stepped aside, and Jaxx took up the mantra of Poseidon. Of course, the twins were attributed to him, which bugged him to no end! As time went on, though, he just accepted it, and gave up trying to convince people that they were not his children.
Next, he wondered what to do with the crystal he had carried around for thousands of years. He was really tired of carrying it, so Jaxx solved the problem by having the people build a gigantic statue of himself, complete with horses, and chariots, and before it was to be moved to its permanent place, he entered the construction zone at a time no one was working, and carefully put the crystal inside the left, back chariot wheel. And, that was where it stayed for thousands of years. However, the planet he was on had other ideas. It was alive.
A massive earthquake rocked Atlantis, and the statue fell, causing the crystal to crack. The leak from it poured the peach ocean of Anaerris into the mighty ocean of Earth. When Atlantis began to sink due to the rising of the oceans, which actually made it only look as if it were sinking. In reality, the ocean levels rose suddenly and virtually overnight. While Jaxx had managed to rescue the crystal, before the island was covered by the waters, but it was already too late. The damage had been done. Once it flooded the entire Earth, it destroyed the wickedness of man that had engulfed the Earth for eons. As time progressed, humans repopulated the Earth, so the last thing the surviving inhabitants had time for was preserving their histories. They were far too busy trying to survive everyday life to pay attention to anything else. Finally, time pressed forward, and humans had more time after the work of their day to listen to the tales told around campfires. It became a form of entertainment, when they began to cluster into communities and villages. Bards were born who had an uncanny talent for remembering the stories of the past. There was no written language at that time, so recitation became the form of preserving their history. And, the tales spread. Bards wandered from town to town, regaling the populace with amazing stories of ancient “gods”. The people even named their own children after the legendary “gods”, as well as their children, and there children’s children. Eventually, those lapsed into legends, and finally, dissolved into the mists of history in the form of mythology. And, the ancient “gods” were left behind, causing them to reinvent themselves through the eons many times. Today, they were captains of industry, politicians, and wealthy beyond most people’s understanding. No matter what, thoug
h, they had always needed to help the humans to higher and higher forms of civilizations.
As time went on, the anger of Delinear's deception was buried within him, and he began to let that anger go. He had to expel her betrayal from his mind and his body. And, with only one way to do that, he allowed his volcanic energy to build, until he became a molten entity that could kill with a touch – the very thing he had been afraid to allow.
The alarm on her phone rang, and quickly, Gem tried to wake Jaxx. Even after ten minutes, he would not wake! She tried everything she could! She shook him; she pushed him; finally, she hit him in the face with her fists! Nothing happened! It was within the time period he had told her to use! So, what the hell was wrong? She sat back on her knees with tears rolling down her face wondering what to do, when she saw Jaxx's form begin to change.
“Oh, shit! Creator!” she squealed, as she watch the fiery form that was Jaxx began to flash toward her. Gem's eyes widened in terror as she felt the heat! She turned – and started to run as if hell was on her heels! And, truth be known? That's exactly what Jaxx had become! Hell on legs! She was sure that he would kill her!
Only she got nowhere fast as Jaxx reached out and caught her. Gem was frozen, waiting for her body to burn! His entire being blazed like fire, but when he touched her, all she felt was ecstasy! He didn’t burn her at all! Her eyes widened in shock, looking down at his fiery hands. She felt nothing but cool next to her skin!
“Jaxx?” she asked him in a shaky voice.
Without a word from his fiery form, he drew her into his arms, thanking the Creator that he had not killed the love of his long life. She gasped, as his fiery lips dipped to her creamy white neck, and without a word, he picked her up, and carting her back to his bed for the most amazing and erotic “ride” of her life!
~ 19 ~
“Time to leave, but remember this...never feed a Fae Pancakes!” ~ Rick
Everyone decided that they would sleep late the next morning. After awakening, and after checking on their still sleeping children, Taylor strolled into the kitchen, where Rick was actually beginning a huge breakfast for all of them. Taylor leaned against the cabinet, watching her mate cook, and finally began to speak.
“So, where are they?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.
“Where do you think, Tay? It’s right where I want you!” Rick said, waggling his eyebrows at her, only earning a slap on the forearm. “Ouch! Why did you hit me?”
“Because you can be such a dick sometimes!” she laughed.
“Uh-uh! Language! We have two rug-rats in the house!” Rick grinned.
“Like I said. You are such a dick!” she repeated with a grin. “Well, I dunno. Perhaps we should go look for them,” she suggested with another grin.
“Oh, yeah! That'll go over great with them!” Rick flipped the sausage that was in the pan watching it sizzle slowly. Then, Rick tossed Taylor a towel. “OK, woman! Get to work, and make the pancakes. Our two lovers will probably be starving when they get back.”
Taylor pulled out the pancake mix, and stirred the ingredients together, then put it aside to wait while the burner heated up the griddle. Her brows turned into a frown earning a raised eyebrow from Rick.
“What's the matter, Tay?” he asked.
“I'm worried, Rick.”
“So am I, but what should we do?” he asked.
“After what happened to Gem, I’m just really worried, Rick. I mean...since Eloran was able to breech this house, our house, and the grounds of Jaxx’s estateeven after Jaxx had banished Delinear, safety is the utmost priority.”
Wiping his hands on the towel after grabbing it from his shoulder, he turned toward Taylor, and reached across to grab the mixing bowl of batter.
“I am not going to argue that point, Tay.”
“Of course, it's not safe. And, neither is Earth, now,” she told him.
“We are not safe on this planet any longer, Tay,” he stopped to wrap his arms around her, holding her to his chest. Light tears appeared in his eyes. “There is no one as saddened by this as I am, Taylor. This is my home. This is my planet. Our children were born here! We have to leave, and you must open a Vorc'ara to let us do so.”
Her eyes met his in shock. She couldn't imagine living anywhere else!
“B-but...” she stammered.
He placed his fingers on her lips, shaking his head.
“No, Taylor. We must leave. Your kind – and I don't mean any disrespect, my love – have literally caused all of this. The humans around us will be in danger if this escalates.”
Nodding, she knew Rick was right, but it didn't make it any easier.
“So, what now? Where do we go?”
“First things first. We are getting the kids out of here. I don't know where we could send them, but let's ask Lola. She is Fae. Maybe she has an idea. Second, the minute Jaxx and Gem return, we have to get the hell 'out of Dodge'!”
“Well, we certainly cannot go into the Fae realm. That’s a given. No one can go into it without an explicit invitation, and they have always been very paranoid about other realms,” Taylor said. A thought occurred to her. “You know, I was thin....” only to be cut off in mid-sentence.
“Third. Eloran is bent on becoming ruler – not only of us, but the human world as well. We cannot allow this to happen!”
“Thanks for that beautiful piece of deduction, Sherlock. I know all that! You're right, though. We are going to have to find somewhere else to go,” she agreed. “How can we save Earth if we are not here?”
Rick's eyes bulged. Neither of them wanted to even voice the third step that needed to be done.
This world was their home. She loved it, and didn't want to leave it. Unfortunately, unless Jaxx came up with another idea, there might be no other choice.
“Jumping to conclusions is not the best course.”
Taylor nodded slowly, and sighed.
“I know. And, maybe Jaxx just might have an alternative solution.”
The pancakes were burning, but Rick didn't care. He put his arms around Taylor, and held her tightly.
“Oh, my love! Let's wait and see what he has to say when he and Gem get back. He is a warrior just like you are. Gem will not want to leave, either. So, let's wait, and not jump to conclusions,” he said. “OK?”
Quietly, she lifted her head to quickly kiss her mate.
“You're right, Rick.”
“That's my girl!”
“Yep, I am, but honey? The pancakes are burning,” she grinned, even though it really wasn’t necessary to point it out to him, because he was already scooping the burned pancakes off the griddle and into the trash, then added more batter to it.
“By the way...where do you think Lola will suggest for the kids?”
Before she could respond to Rick's question, a tiny voice came from behind them.
“Are those pancakes?” she squealed, hopping up on one of the chairs using her Fae magic to pull the small, but full, platter toward her. One of the great things about this realm was the food! And, her most favorite food of all was pancakes! Lola scooped up three pancakes, slathered them in butter, and poured the thick syrup over them. She cut her first large piece, and shoved it in her mouth.
“Mmmmmm! You can cook, Rick!” she said, after she had swallowed it. “These are amazing!”
After a few more bites with Rick and Taylor staring at her in shocked silence, she answered their question.
“Oh. Well, that's an easy question. The Queen has agreed to take your kids for protection,” Lola said as if it were the most logical answer in the world.
“How do you know?” Taylor asked cautiously. “But, how are they going to feel about having two hybrid children there?”
Lola was already busy slathering more butter and syrup on the next three pancakes, and her mouth was full as she answered.
“Alrdy tlk ta er bot ti, duh! I gng to scort the du a dm into the Fre Rlm,” Lola said, not really caring if any one understood her. When she finally s
wallowed her food, she finished what she was saying. “And, they will be under the specific protection of our Queen, so you will not need to worry about it. She has offered her personal protection to them.” Lola shoved more pancakes into her mouth. “I wll sway wit er in er plas.”
“What?” Taylor asked with a laugh, watching Lola just shake her head, and stuff more pancakes into her mouth.
Rick looked down at Taylor in complete confusion and shrugged. Taylor only grinned at him. Whatever she had told them, they trusted Lola to be on top of things! Even with a mouthful of pancakes!
An hour later, Gem sauntered into the house arm in arm with Jaxx, and looking at each other with googly eyes. At least that was what Marcus and Shirley were calling it. In seconds, Lola had taken off to the kitchen to change back into a pug. No one really wanted Gem to know that she was Fae, yet.
“Ewww!” Shirley snarled her nose.
“Yeah! Ick!” Marcus said with the same facial expression as his sister.
The adults around them laughed heartily, including Jaxx and Gem.
Gem couldn't resist them as they ran to her practically throwing themselves into her arms. Then, they followed by doing the same to Jaxx. Both laughed, and grabbed the urchins as they hugged them.
“Well, give yourself a few years,” Gem giggled. “You'll change your minds!”
Vigorous shaking of two heads followed.
“No way, Aunt Gem! Ewww! I won't ever want to look at a boy that way! Ewww!” she repeated in emphasis.
“Yeah! Me, neither! Ick!” Marcus echoed – with different words, of course, and adding, “But, geez, Aunt Gem! You stink!”
What? She still smelled like a sewer? Gem had thought she had been able to rid herself of that gross smell. Guess not. Everyone's head turned toward her. Jaxx, who just dipped his head, looked suspiciously sheepish. Neither said anything.
