by Ciara Lake
Whimpering, she took deep breathes. “I won’t die here in this hell!” Then she collapsed onto the ground near the cave’s wall.
Water rolled down the stone and dripped from above. Her blood mixed with water gathered on the ground and seeped into the earth.
“Jax, help me. I need you so much.” She crawled to her pallet. “Jax, I love you. We had so little time together.” Out of exhaustion, she fell asleep just as she reached her rough mat.
“Child, wake. It’s your mother, Serena. Tabitha, wake up. I’ll have to leave soon.”
A cool breeze blew into Tabitha’s face. She moved, waving her hand in front of her face, batting away what disturbed her.
“Open your eyes.” Serena blew on her again.
“Serena?” Tabitha slowly opened her eyes. “Am I dreaming?”
“No, I’m sorry, this is no dream. I wish it were. I cannot stay long. This place is inhospitable to my spirit. It’s evil here.” The wispy shape of her mother shivered.
“Can you help me?” Tabitha rolled to her side so she could push herself up. She barely had the strength to move.
Serena hovered near her. “You’re in Hecate’s lair. You must find a way out of here, and soon, before Faryll returns.”
“Can you go to Jax and tell him?”
“No, I’m only permitted to speak to you at this time. My ability to cross over is limited to where you are.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Tabitha touched her aching head. “This is a nightmare, and it’s real?”
“Yes, my child, it’s real. If you had still been Forsaken, you might have died from bleeding out. You’ve lost so much blood, it’s everywhere.” Serena wept. “Please hear me while I still have time.”
“I’m listening.” Tabitha curled into a fetal position. Her face hurt from her scratching it accidently with the cuffs. The tears made her face sting.
“Remember what I told you before. I have to leave, I feel Hecate nearing. Remember Zale.” She flashed bright then was gone.
“Serena. . .Mother. . .don’t leave me. I’m afraid. Don’t leave me by myself,” Tabitha cried. “I’m really afraid.” She could hardly see for all of her tears. Again, blackness overtook her, and she fell into unconsciousness.
With a start, she abruptly woke. How long had passed she did not know.
“I’m still here. What have I done to be sent to hell?” she yelled. Rage simmered inside her weakened body. She sat up and pulled her knees to her face, resting against them. “Help me.” She rocked back and forth. “Please, someone help me. Zale, help me.” She looked up. “If you’re such a great Jin, come help me. I need you. Please. Zale, come and get me. Take me from this place.” She moaned. Her hands and wrists hurt a little less as she was healing already. But she had bled out a lot, making her feel faint. “Zale, if you truly exist and aren’t afraid of Hecate or Amuliana, come save me from this hell.”
The cavern began to glow with a bluish light. The chilly atmosphere warmed. The bright light hurt her eyes, which had adjusted to the dark environment. Then the blue light gathered together in the middle of the cave and spun in a circular motion. The light faded, revealing a tall, dark-haired man.
From the cave’s ceiling an illumination shone down on the new arrival. He was a huge man with wide shoulders. An irritated expression was on his face, and he had his arms crossed in front of him. His features were strong, finely chiseled, gorgeous as most of the men in this supernatural world. Surprisingly, he was dressed in a dark gray suit with a turquoise tie. He resembled a prosperous business man, like one of the lawyers at her law firm.
Is he Satan? Fear raced up her spine. “Who are you?” She held her legs tight against her chest while huddled on the floor.
“Who are you to call me here?” His voice made the earth quake. “I was having dinner when you interrupted me. I don’t like interruptions.”
“Don’t be so loud. You’ll make Hecate come back.” Tabitha peered behind him to see if Hecate had appeared. “She’s an awful witch. She put me here.”
He glared at her. “Hecate doesn’t concern me.” He shook his head. His glossy hair fell onto his forehead similar to how Jax’s did. Thinking of Jax made her insides ache. “You called me here with a blood invocation. Only my brothers are permitted to call me in this way. It is an insult that you have done so. How dare you call me here, to this place. How dare you use your sorcery on me, you fucking witch.” He spat out the words. “You don’t fool me with those chains.” Then he approached her. Within two steps, he stood right in front of her. “I should destroy you now, without a moment more of my time wasted.” His eyes were fully black, like Amuliana’s had been when she was angered before they turned red.
“Please don’t.” Tabitha’s face heated, and more tears fell. “I didn’t mean to call you. I was calling my father.”
“Your father?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I meant you no disrespect. This is all new to me, the rules of immortals.”
“Why is it new?”
“I was a Forsaken until recently.” She shook all over. He scared her far more than Amuliana or Hecate. She could sense his power, his anger. It rolled off of him in waves.
“A damn Forsaken witch?”
“No, I’m not a witch.” Tabitha was certain he was going to kill her. “If you’re going to destroy me, maybe death will be easier.” She shrugged. “When Faryll comes back, he’ll rape me. I can’t bare that.”
“You bring me here to this. . .” He gazed around. His expression remained harsh. “This lair, this disgusting place beneath the earth where vermin reside. How dare you summon me. I waste my time talking to you, I will destroy you.” He raised his hand above his head. A ball of blue energy gathered in his palm. Tabitha hid her head behind her knees.
“Please, don’t hurt me.” A matching blue glow radiated from her.
“What is this?” Immediately, he dropped his hand. “What tricks do you play, witch?”
The cave quaked, and Tabitha fell on her side, hitting her head on the floor. It made a loud thud, and she saw stars.
“I didn’t call for you. I called my father.” She was too weak, emotionally and physically, to say more. She closed her eyes, awaiting her destruction. “Becoming immortal has helped me very little.”
“Who’s your father?”
She opened her eyes to see him watching her with pitch black eyes. His agitation seemed to dissipate.
“His name is Zale, the Jin of the Sea.”
“Really?” He stood watching her for some time. Finally, he stooped down near her. “Who is your mother?”
“Serena Saltar, daughter of General Saltar. I was Forsaken until I met my mate, Jax Aquila.”
“Serena Saltar?”
“Yes, she’s my mother, at least my birth mother. She brought me to the twentieth century and left me with my mortal adoptive parents.”
“I see. So how did you get here, to Hecate’s lair?” He looked around.
“Amuliana and Faryll brought me here.”
“When did you learn you were Serena’s daughter?”
“Not long ago. She came to me as a spirit. She explained so much to me, she’s now a handmaiden to Goddess Persephone.”
“That is an interesting tale.”
“I’m truly sorry to have bothered you, it was a mistake. I was desperate and called for my father. I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me. I thought maybe he would hear me, but instead you did. Please, just leave me alone.” She curled up. “I won’t bother you again.”
“And you believed this spirit who appeared to you with such a tale?”
“Not at first.” She shook her head. “I found it hard to believe, but then I accepted it. The world of the supernatural was revealed to me. Jax, my mate, has shown me marvelous things. But I realize this world has wonderful things and wicked things too, like Amuliana.” She gazed up at him. “If you’re going to destroy me, do it now, before Faryll returns. I’d rather die before he does what h
e has planned.”
“What’s your name?”
“Tabitha Lock.” She rocked, still holding her knees close to her chest. “Serena told me my father named me Talise. It means beautiful water.”
“It does.” He nodded, then pushed her hair back from her face. Tabitha flinched. But his touch was gentle. “How could Serena do this?”
“Do what?” Tabitha looked at him. His eyes were now blue, they seemed familiar. His expression softened.
“How could she keep us apart?”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m Zale, your father.” He scooped her up and kissed the top of her head. “Who’s Jax?”
“My mate.” She rested her head on his shoulder. Her cuffs and chains fell from her to the ground. Her body’s aches seemed to subside instantly, but she was still exhausted.
“I’m dizzy, and my head hurts.” She relaxed more.
“Sleep, child. May all your pain vanish.” He gazed into her eyes. “All is well. I’m sorry for causing you more pain, please forgive me. You’re safe now.” He smiled at her. “Good thing you heal quickly, or you would have killed yourself in your struggles to be free. Close your eyes, sleep.” On his command, her eyelids closed. “Now I understand why your blood called to me. . .because it’s mine.”
* * * *
Tabitha woke with a start. The foul stench was gone. She was in a bed covered with an ivory duvet. Resting back, she relished how comfortable the bed was. The soft, silk sheets were cool to her skin.
“Jax. I had the worst nightmare.” She reached for him, but she was alone in the enormous bed. Tabitha sat up. “Jax?”
She looked around the room. I’ve never been here before. Where am I?
“You’re safe, my love. I’ll see you soon. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She lay back again, appreciating another beautiful room. Here, the windows were open, and she could hear birds singing. “I’m not beneath the ocean or in the Enchanted Sea.” Then a warm breeze blew her hair, and the aroma of fresh flowers filled the room.
“No, you aren’t.”
There was a soft knock at the door. “Jax, is that you?” She stared at the door and then there was another knock. “Come in.” She watched the door open.
“No, I’m not Jax. But may I come in?” A tall, dark-haired man stood just inside the door. Immediately, she recognized him. He was the man from the cave, now dressed in a casual white shirt with black slacks.
“It really happened.” She pulled the covers up to her chin as if they could protect her.
“Yes, it did. But now you’re safe.” He moved slowly to the side of her bed. “Please don’t fear me.”
“Are you Zale?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “I’m Zale.” His voice was soft and his expression gentle. His eyes were a beautiful blue and so similar to her own.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Don’t thank me.” He shook his head. “I can’t tell you how. . .grateful I am to have found you.” He sat on the end of the bed. “Talise, don’t be afraid of me. I’ll not hurt you.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “I’m happy to be away from that hell.”
“I’m grateful you called for me. I have dreamed of what it would be like to know you. This is nothing less than a miracle.” For several minutes he sat watching her, then surprisingly he turned his back to her. “It seems I have been years late in coming to your aid. Almost too late. It is hard for me to forgive myself.” He bent over, putting his head in his hands. “I thought you had been destroyed along with your mother. I grieved for so long. With all my powers I could not bring either of you back from the dead. I’ve never known such loss.”
Then he sat up straighter. She could see he was having some difficulty turning to look at her.
“You’re in my realm, Celestemeri, my paradise of the sea.”
“Where’s the water?”
He laughed. “There isn’t water here like around Poseidon’s homes. You only pass through the sea to get here.”
“I see.”
“It’s your home too. Everything I have is yours. Nothing here will hurt you. I’ll instruct you how to access all the Celeste-realms of the Jins.” He turned to look at her again. His eyes were glossy with unshed tears. He looked down at his hands. “I’m sorry, daughter, for any suffering you’ve experienced. I wanted to care for you, spoil you. You’re my only child.”
“You’re really Zale, the Jin of the Sea? You’re really my father?”
“Yes.” He nodded.
“You’re so young. Too young to be my father.”
“No, Tabitha. You’re truly new to the immortal world. We’re ageless. Actually, I’m very old. Older than Zeus or his brothers. I and my brothers are ancient compared to anything of this earth. When there is more time I will tell you of our history.”
“Yes, I’d love to learn about who I am.” She reached for his hand. “I want you to know that my mother was forced to do what she did. It too is a long story. I will tell you later what she shared with me. She didn’t mean to hurt you, or me. She was fooled by Amuliana.”
“You believe Serena?” He cocked his head to the side as he regarded her.
“Yes, I do.” Tabitha nodded.
“Very well. I shall try to believe it too.” He smiled. “I have clothes for you.” He moved his hand and a lovely rose-colored gown appeared on the bed. “Please get dressed and come downstairs. I have food and drink for you. I’ll be waiting.” He stood up then turned to look down at her. “Know you are always safe in the Jin realms. No one uninvited can enter our worlds.”
“The gown is lovely.”
He walked toward the door. “Hurry and get dressed, I have made your mate wait for you downstairs. He’s not very patient. And I understand why.” He winked. “He’s a lucky man. I nearly had words with him because I wanted to see you first.”
“Jax is here?” She scooted to the edge of the bed.
“Yes, as well as his mother and father, his sister Ula, and my brother Zephyr. They’re all anxious to see you.” He grinned. “We’ll be waiting in the dining room.” He opened the door and left her to dress.
* * * *
“How is she?” Jax stood up from the dining table when Zale entered the room.
“She’s doing fine. She’ll be down shortly. I told her you’re all here waiting.”
“Thank you,” Poseidon said. “We’re very grateful you were able to rescue her.”
“Not as grateful as I am.” Zale pulled back his chair and sat down. “She loves you very much, Jax.” He smiled. “I’m pleased you have found each other. I wish to gift you with a ceremony and party celebrating your mating with a wedding. I hope you both will allow me to do so. I think it’s only right you make it official since she’s carrying your child.”
“What? My child? Did she tell you that?” Jax sat down. “How do you know this?”
“No, she did not tell me. I sensed it when I held her in my arms. It was the child who was able to protect her while she wore Hecate’s shackles.”
“Hello.” Tabitha entered the room. She rushed to Jax.
“My love.” He stood and met her. He hugged her close, kissing her. “I’m happy to see you.” He kissed her face all over. “I was so worried. I never want to feel that way again.”
“I’m happy to see you too. I didn’t think I would ever see you again. I was so scared.” She kissed him back. “I’ve been to hell and I’ve not even died.”
“I’m sorry. I feel. . .responsible.”
“Don’t, it’s not your fault.”
“I owe your father a lot for returning you to me.”
“Please never blame yourself for the evil of Amuliana. No one could have known she would do what she did.” She looked around the table. “Oh, my goodness, I hope Jessica’s okay. Amuliana possessed her body to trick me.”
“Jessica is doing well,” Poseidon said. “I found her and took care of her.”
�
�Thank you. She’s my best friend. I should have known. . .never mind. I don’t want to think of it right now.”
“No, don’t stress yourself further. I was happy to help her. She’s a lovely woman and a good friend to you. I healed her and I wiped her memory. She’ll be fine.” He stood up, then walked over to Tabitha and hugged her. “It’s good to see you again. I told you, you’d be a great help to Jax.” He winked.
“Yes, I remember, Mr. Sydon.”
“Please call me Father, or whatever you wish, but there’s no need to be formal.”
“Okay.” She nodded.
Another man stood up, he looked very much like Zale. “Talise. . .I mean Tabitha.”
“Either one is good.” She smiled.
“I’m your Uncle Zephyr, your father’s brother. I’m pleased to finally get to meet you. My brother is very happy to have you back.” He was next to Ula, and he reached down and took her hand.
Tabitha sat next to Jax. He put his arm around her shoulders. “I’m happy to meet you too, Uncle. It’s wonderful to have such a big family.”
“It’s going to get bigger. Your uncle and I are going to have a child. Soon you’ll be an aunt.” Ula smiled.
“Oh, wonderful, Ula.” Tabitha clapped her hands. “I love babies.”
“That’s a good thing.” Ula grinned as she patted her stomach.
“I’m Jax’s mother, Alisha.” The woman next to Poseidon gave a slight wave. “I’m very pleased to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. My son is a changed man since meeting you. I’m happy he has found his mate.” She smiled. “Welcome to our family, my new daughter.”
“Thank you.” Tears of happiness spilled down Tabitha’s face. She wiped them away.
“Zale tells us some interesting news.” Jax lightly squeezed her hand. “It makes today more of a day to celebrate.”
“Really, what more?” Tabitha grinned.
Jax kissed her hand. “I love you.”
“Yes, she knows that, Jax. You’re going to have a baby too,” Ula blurted out.
“Ula.” Jax frowned at her.
“I’m sorry.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I thought it would be easier for another expectant mother to tell her, in this situation.” Ula looked down. “I’m so excited for us I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry, Jax, for taking your moment.”
