PANDORA

by Rebecca Hamilton

  I return with a sad smile of my own, and he hugs me to him, a little too tightly for my ribs but not tight enough for me.

  “Seth, can I see the canvas?” Fane asks.

  Seth nods and twists through some bodies to get to where he set the canvas down earlier.

  I might as well just jump in headfirst and figure out as much as I can. “Do we know where they’re located yet?”

  “No. I will not hear an argument on this. You’re not coming along, so go get comfy on the couch,” Fane says quickly. Leland’s eyes widen, but before he can say anything Seth appears with the canvas.

  “We need better light for this,” Athan mumbles, and I watch as they head to the kitchen. Seth tugs me out of the way as Sam, Luke, Avan, Charlotte, and a few others follow Fane and Athan.

  I check to see if anyone else is coming, and my eyes meet Barry’s. My panic starts to simmer as I think of what Henry could’ve told him, and how he’s going to react. I squeeze Seth’s hand as I suppress the urge to run far away from Barry.

  “You okay?” Barry asks me.

  I swallow my immediate snarky remark, and take as deep a breath as my broken ribs will allow. “I’ll be better when this is over.” I failed at keeping the attitude from lacing my response.

  He nods. “I understand.” Then he looks towards the kitchen. “You wanna go see what they’re coming up with, plan-wise?”

  If he knew that I plan on being involved one hundred percent, and plan on being semi-alone, this would not be how the conversation goes.

  I nod, and we sneak into the kitchen unnoticed.

  “I’m telling you,” a man, with almost orange hair, says gruffly. “We should check these locations first.” He pokes a skinny finger to the map on the table. “They’re more likely to be partially secluded. I think the old warehouse here, or the abandoned buildings here and here would be more likely.” I recognize him, he was there the night we found out that I had a demon problem, and I found out the giants are actually shifters.

  Avan grunts. “I know my sister, she might be a demon, but some things I doubt have changed. She wouldn’t stay in a place where she would get dirty, or mold on her designer shoes, or even break a nail. The place should be in a five mile radius of a high class hotel. We need a location before night fall,” Avan says to Athan, who seems to be taking notes.

  I elbow past Barry. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re checking locations to find your family members. No, you may not come,” Fane says without looking up from whatever he’s looking at. He puffs his cheeks and blows out a quick breath. “There’s lighting here,” he says to Avan, pointing to the photo on the canvas. “A recently abandoned place?” He questions absent mindedly and grabs a folder to his left. “Maybe a generator,” he mutters.

  Why won’t he let me be involved at all? I glare at Fane and huff as I turn away.

  A heavy hand lands on my shoulder, but I don’t startle. “Girseach,” Fionn says. “He’s only lookin’ out for ya, no one wants ya gettin’ hurt more than ya ha’ been.”

  Some of my anger leaves me. “Fionn, this is my fight. It has to be me,” I shrug a shoulder.

  “You won’t go alone.” He raises a brow at me. “I’ll work on’m while we hunt.”

  Barry clears his throat, and my eyes widen with fear. Fionn chuckles huskily and walks away. Seth takes a step towards me.

  “What was that, Jaz?” Barry asks in a way, that I know I’m in trouble whether I answer or not.

  Still, I roll my eyes and pretend I don’t know what he’s talking about. “What, Barry?”

  His movements are rigid as he closes the gap to stand about a foot away. “What you just said to Fionn, that’s what I’m talking about.”

  “We were just discussing something that, realistically, needs to happen,” I say with confidence.

  Poor choice of words.

  Barry snatches up my wrist and pulls me out the glass doors before slamming it shut. He pushes me down to the patio chair and begins to pace as Seth quietly slips out to stand in the corner of the deck.

  Barry fists his hands at his sides and rolls his head on his shoulder. “I don’t know if I should be mad at you now, or later,” he says and begins pacing again. “I don’t know if I should just let you go and know that kind of fear and pain, or if I should chain your ass to the entire weight bench and lock you in!” He nearly shouts.

  I flinch slightly before clearing my throat. “It has to be me. He’ll have them killed if I don’t go,” I say in the strongest voice I can manage.

  “It does not!” He roars, then takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. “We can save them. We can get them before they get hurt,” He opens his eyes and pins me to my seat with the weight of his stare. “We can’t have you there trying to be hero! We’d all be too distracted, and someone will get hurt then!”

  Rebellion seeps into my mind. “How do you know that, Barry? How do you know they aren’t torturing them right now?” My imagination produces unwanted images. “Threatening my cousin to get my mom to panic and tell them whatever they want to hear or have her do!” I shake away the images. “How do you know they aren’t telling her what they would like to do with me? How do you know they are safe?” I rise from my chair. “Are you in their heads? Do you know something about a hostage situation with devuxen that no one has told me yet?” I yell, while slowly making my way to stand toe to toe with a still pissed off Barry. “I don’t care if I do go alone. I know Seth has my back and he’ll know the exact moment I need him, and he’ll come.” A wave of calm from Seth washes over me. “If I’m not in on the plan I’ll probably blow it for everyone.” I shrug, and his jaw ticks as his body begins to quake. “As soon as I know where they are, that’s where I will be. I don’t care what you do, Barry.” I toss my hands in the air. “But I will save my family.”

  Barry stands there, glaring at me, and holding his breath. He takes a minute to either process what I’ve said, or get better control of his wolf. Whatever it is, the silence from him is unnerving. “You’re right,” he says numbly, the tone of his voice is off and his eyes, the gleam is dim, he seems broken without tears, and incredibly pissed off. “I don’t know what’s happening to them at the moment. I’ll talk to my dad with Fionn,” he nods to Seth as he heads back inside.

  I stare at the vacant spot on the deck. He just agreed and walked away. But, he seemed defeated and not the Barry I know.

  Seth walks over and pulls me into a strong embrace. My body sags against his. I let him hold me up and hold me together. Tears come to my eyes just as a loud, long howl slices through the warm breeze. It doesn’t sound like a battle cry or a warning, this howl sounds like a heartbroken cry. It nudges me over the precipice and tears fall from my eyes.

  I know that’s Barry. I don’t know how but I know it’s him.

  I cry for my mom and Alex. I cry for Henry and Leland. I cry for Barry. And I cry for everyone who I put in danger with Derik and his coven of soul suckers.

  Henry comes running out and just hugs me, without question.

  ***

  I stop just inside the door in the kitchen. “She needs to stay behind,” Fane growls. “We have to have more than just Seth with her and Delilah.”

  “I think that’s a bad idea, she needs to go with us,” Athan says.

  Fane jerks his head to stare at him.

  Charlotte locks eyes with me but the glowing doesn’t happen so I take in her expression. She’s worried, the lines on her forehead and the frown tells me that much. I just wish I could climb inside her head to figure out what’s going on.

  “She’s the key,” Sam says suddenly. “She needs to be able to fool Derik that she is alone and came to free her family. She needs to be the one to do it and make them believe that she has no intentions of escaping.”

  Fane flies out of his chair. “No!”

  “She has to go Fane,” Fionn says.

  Fane turns to him. “You don’t care about her, or her family! Why are you even h
ere?”

  “Fane, Jasmine is not Cait or Maggie. Yer outta line here!” Fionn growls. A heavy silence hangs over the room.

  Fane looks like he’s in pain, like Fionn just stabbed him.

  Who are Cait and Maggie?

  Fane closes his eyes and takes a visible breath.

  “I miss ‘em, too,” Fionn says sadly. “Jasmine is a sweet child. Easy to love, an hard to keep safe. But she is not dem. Dis is sometin’ she has to do, Fane,” he says, accent growing thicker.

  Fane shakes his head. “She is Seth’s Cait, and Henry’s Maggie, and Barry’s now, too. I refuse to send her off to her death! You already heard what Charlotte said if that happens! I will not allow it!” He booms.

  Every single shifter in the room, except Fionn, kneels. I look behind me, and Henry is kneeling, too. I guess he’s part of the pack.

  “You don’t have a choice. Fane, it’s her choice,” Avan says and points to me.

  Suddenly, all eyes are on me.

  I back up and bump into Seth.

  Fane pierces me with a look that sends chills down my spine, and makes me remember getting in trouble with Dad as a kid. “You will not leave this house until we have the situation under control and your family is safely home,” Fane says so sternly, that I just want to say okay and go to my room, but I know I can’t.

  I pinch my thighs through my jeans. “I’m sorry. I have to get them,” I whisper.

  “I can’t allow it,” he says through his teeth, as his eyes fill with tears.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper then launch myself into his arms for a hug. His thick arms swallow me.

  “I can’t let you do this. It’s a fate worse than death,” he whispers.

  I close my eyes. “Seth won’t let that happen.”

  “He won’t be able to do a thing about it.” His chest rumbles with a growl.

  “With fierce friends, I think I can be saved. We just need the right plan.”

  “It has to be a very well thought out plan. I can’t let you go alone.”

  “I have to be alone to get them to safety.”

  “We’ll find another way,” he says and squeezes me tighter.

  I squeak from pain, and he loosens his arms, but doesn’t let go.

  “Is Barry back yet?” I ask him.

  “He’ll be back in a few minutes,” Fane promises.

  “Are we in agreement then?” Avan interrupts. “Jazzy goes with us when we know the location, and she will be the only one seen.”

  Charlotte stands then, and doesn’t give anyone a chance to respond. She says her no and pulls Seth and I back outside.

  “This night will end one of two ways.” She doesn’t beat around the bush, just jumps right in and spits it out. “One happily, but the other . . . ” She trails off, and my spine stiffens. Seth grabs my hand and squeezes. “I see your relationship line fading, not disappearing as it would with a death.” Her eyes shimmer quickly, but don’t glow. “It means they change you tonight. The coven is planning to change you into one of them, not kill you. Not torture you. And not let you go freely. You always thought Derik wanted you for another reason, that’s his reason. He wants to keep you as his pet.”

  The acid in my empty stomach churns.

  “That will not happen. I will not let that happen to her!” Seth growls.

  “You need to keep that anger right there. You will need it!” She shouts at him.

  When they fall silent, I ask a burning question. “Should I stay behind then?”

  “They die if you do,” she whispers and clutches my other hand.

  “Then I go,” I say confidently. I can’t be scared for any “what if” scenario. This needs to be done and I’ll deal with the rest later.

  “And if they turn you?” She questions.

  “I pray someone kills me. I don’t want that life,” I tell her.

  Seth tightens his hold on my hand.

  The only thing physically keeping me on this porch is their hands holding mine. I just want to run. But I can’t run from this. I have to face this.

  Leaves rustle behind us, and I turn to look. Barry is slowly walking up the walk.

  “Go, he needs you, I’ll be right inside,” Seth whispers.

  “But you need me too.”

  “I’ll always need you, but Barry looks like he needs a hug, and I don’t think he wants one from me,” he says with a crooked smile.

  I just want to curl up with him and listen to music like everything in the world is right. With a sigh, I give him a quick peck on the cheek and squeeze his fingers once more before walking over to Barry.

  Chapter 20

  What’s Buggin’ Barry?

  “Hey,” I say quietly as I reach the part of the yard where he stopped. He doesn’t take his eyes off the grass, but responds with a nod. “You okay?”

  “I’ll be okay,” he says, sadness lacing his words.

  “You missed the blow up in the kitchen,” I say, trying to coax him into talking or at least looking at me.

  “Yeah?” He snorts. “Did Charlotte tell Leland his relationship lines?”

  “No, um, your dad and Fionn,” I whisper.

  He stiffens then sighs. “I should’ve guessed.” He shakes his head. “What was it this time? Those two don’t always agree, and Fionn doesn’t kneel to my dad’s Power because his is stronger.” That explains the whole kneeling thing.

  “Actually, it was about me. Sort of,” I say with a frown. “Then it evolved to Cait and Maggie.” I shrug, and his eyes snap to mine. “I don’t know who they are, or were?” I pause, waiting for a new reaction from Barry. “Charlotte just explained something to me and Seth, that helps me understand part of the argument.”

  With a heavy sigh, he tugs me towards the house. “They were . . . wow . . . ” He scrubs his face as he sits on the bottom step. “I need to ask you something.”

  “Okay,” I shrug and sit next to him.

  “Has Charlotte said anything . . . ” he looks into my eyes. “About tonight?”

  I look away from him and take a deep breath. Honesty is the best policy right? “Well, my relationship line with Seth waivers,” I say to my shoes. “If I don’t go, my mom and cousin’s lives end tonight,” I say and look back to him. “If I go, I save them. That’s what I want, them to live, be healthy, and to be safe at home.”

  He nods and looks down to his clasped hands resting on his knees. “How does your line waiver?”

  I start peeling some paint off the step. “I don’t die tonight,” I whisper.

  “Are you okay with that outcome?” He whispers.

  Tears fill my eyes. “No,” I say and look back into his eyes. “I’m not okay with that at all.” I blink rapidly to erase the unrelenting tears. “No matter my choice, there’s a possibility someone I love will either die, get injured, or be turned. I can’t live with that,” I shake my head. “I want a Happily Ever After miracle,” I whisper and wipe my face.

  He wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me to him. “Shh . . . ” he soothes. “Seth will know when you need us, and we will be there. I won’t leave his side for a minute.” he rubs my back lightly.

  It’s comforting knowing that he’s got my back and not running away again. I take a deep breath and pull away from him. “Alright, I’m okay. I think.”

  “Do you have a few minutes?” he asks. I nod. “I’d like to tell you a story,” he says, looking off to the yard.

  “Like a bedtime story or campfire scary?” I joke.

  “Non-fiction and far from funny,” he says and scratches his head. I shift sideways on the step and lean against the rail. “I heard this story many times growing up. But until recently, the story had a different ending.” He cracks his knuckles before tugging the ends of his blond hair and turns on the step to face me, transforming into the serious version of himself, the version I’ve only seen a handful of times.

  “Roughly a hundred years ago, there was a young male shifter that was the prince of the Italian Regal
Shifters. The prince wanted to leave Italy and go to the States, find his own territory and run it his way. His father, the king, told him if he could beat the pack’s omega, he would allow him to leave the country and start his own pack in the territory of his choosing. If he was the victor, he’d leave with two defenders. The prince thought it was a good deal, so he fought the omega and was victorious. He chose two defenders, also friends, and they began their journey.” The corner of Barry’s lip twitches. “The prince decided to make a short visit to Ireland, as he was always drawn to the Celtic culture.” He takes a deep breath before continuing. “There, they introduced themselves to two packs so everyone knew they were there as tourists, and meant no harm.

  “On the third day, as they headed towards their cabin, in wolf form, the prince froze. Then bee-lined in the opposite direction of the cabin.” His voice raises some, soaking into the story. “The defenders, not knowing what happened, follow after him. They found their alpha, the prince, by a small pond. He found his mate and his wolf completely took over,” he smiles sadly. “The prince’s mate was a member of a pack in Northern Ireland. This meant, as long as she accepted him, she would join them in their journey to the States.” He pauses to clear his throat. “They went with the girl to her alpha, to present them as mates. But the prince was challenged, for a Mate Challenge. It’s a challenge to the death, and whoever the victor is, is who the mate belongs to.”

  I hold up my hand to pause him. “So, it would be like Tony challenging Seth, right?” I ask for clarification.

  “Yes, and if Tony were to win, you’d belong to Tony, not Seth. No matter how much it hurts, your new mate would be Tony.”

  My mouth pops open and I flounder for a bit. “That’s horrible,” I say. “Please tell me that challenge is banned now. I mean this is roughly a hundred years ago.”

  “Depending on the area you’re in, yes, the Mate Challenge has ceased.”

  “What is the point in that?” I ask, dumbfounded.

  He shakes his head and shrugs. “I don’t know, but if you think about it, the true mate will have a stronger drive to win. I would think so anyway. I don’t know my mate yet, so I can’t say for sure, but what lengths would you go to, to keep another woman off of your Seth?” He raises a brow.