by J. J. Melvin
“You see, my Queen, you are in there. This is the real us,” Erebus said, looking at me through the mirror, “the real you. Oh how I missed you.”
He continued to kiss my neck, grabbing at my breasts. He tore open my shirt, and turned me towards him. “Tell me you love me, Adhira. Tell me you’ll come with me.”
I felt like I was losing myself. His touch felt so familiar, his voice so inviting.
“I do love you, Erebus, I do.” My words were meant to be a deception, but they felt real, they felt natural.
Erebus kissed my lips passionately, his tongue exploring my mouth. Picking me up in his strong arms, he laid me down on the bed, his body on top of mine.
“Adhira, I want to make love to you. I want our bodies to be as one again. This will make you remember, make you come back to me. Please, will you give yourself to me?”
“I am not Adhira.”
Erebus stopped kissing me, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.
“I am not Adhira. I know a part of me is her; I can feel her… but I am also me, Erika. And I do want you, Erebus. I’ve wanted you since the first time you entered my dreams. I’ve wanted you from the first time I felt your touch.”
Erebus’s stone face melted and a smile formed on his lips, a twinkle replacing the fire that had erupted in his eyes.
“Erebus, if I become yours tonight, will you let the others live?”
“Yes my love, as I promised, they will not be harmed.” Erebus continued to kiss my lips. I turned my head so I could speak.
“Erebus, where is Akeldama? Will you make sure he does not hurt anyone?”
Erebus paused his kisses and softly spoke. “I will tell him right now to stop his hunting if you promise to be mine tonight, if you promise to willingly give yourself to me now.” Erebus stood up, removing his weight from my body, and walked to the door, locking it. His smile glowed as he looked up and down my body.
I sat up. “Yes Erebus, I will, but only if you promise to tell Akeldama not to hurt anybody. I will give myself to you now and I will leave with you tonight.”
Erebus closed his eyes. “It is done, Akeldama will not attack anyone.” Erebus sauntered back towards me stopping in the middle of the room.
“Please come here.” Erebus beckoned. I held my torn shirt closed and stood up. He positioned me in front of the mirror again so I could see his reflection and mine. My face flashed back from me to Adhira.
“You are strong, my sweet child.”
He opened my shirt again and slowly slid his hand down the middle of my bra. My body trembled as his soft touch stopped at my belly button.
“You are beautiful. Adhira could not have chosen a more suitable reincarnation.” He lifted my hair, looking at my birthmark. “I have waited thousands of years for you. Once our bodies become one, I know you will become Adhira once again.”
He kissed the marking on my neck, pulling my shirt down off my arms. He stood tall behind me, pressing his body against mine. I could feel his hot breath against my hair. Erebus pulled the strap down on my bra and kissed my shoulders. He picked me up and carried me in his strong arms to the bed. I bounced as he threw me on the soft mattress. The way Erebus handled me was rough, not gentle like Liam, and a part of me liked it.
“Tonight you will be mine, mine for all eternity.”
It was like my dream. He laid on top of me and I began giving in as he kissed my body, his hard naked chest on mine. He kissed my lips, his hands grabbed at my thighs, and he started to unbutton my pants. Oh god, what am I doing? I can’t let this happen.
“Erebus, I know this is not Adhira’s first time, but it is mine.”
“It’s okay, Erika. Adhira was young as well. I promise I will be gentle.”
“Erebus, do you think you can lay down and I can be on top of you?”
Erebus grinned wildly at me, a fire rose in his eyes. “You are strong, you like to be in control. Adhira was like that as well. You are more like her than you realize.”
He rolled off me to let me up. He laid down on the bed, his chest bare. I crawled on top of him. I kissed his lips, moving down to his neck. I kissed his chest, moving down to his stomach.
“My sweet child, you do not seem as if you have not done this before.”
“Adhira is helping me. Erebus my love, I didn’t know this was going to happen tonight. I want to freshen up for you. Do you mind if I escape to the bathroom for just a second? I promise I will be back before you can miss me.” Not waiting for his permission, I kissed Erebus passionately, then quickly crawled off of him and walked to the restroom.
I made the lights flash. I knew the others would be here soon. I walked out after putting a nightgown on to continue the ruse. Erebus smiled at me as I approached. I used my telekinesis to tie Erebus down using the sheer curtains that hung from the canopy of my bed.
“Adhira, you always used to love tying me up. Now look, with our powers we can do anything.”
Erebus use his powers of telekinesis to draw me closer to him, but his concentration was interrupted when he heard the door fly open. Erebus was unprepared, and the Four Points got in place. Jayson threw the black Diamond on the bed. I tried to make Erebus leave Mr. Blithe’s body before we started the spell, but I couldn’t; he was too strong. The others started the chant before Erebus could free himself.
“Wait, wait,” I screamed, “the white diamond! Jayson, throw the white diamond on the bed!”
Jayson threw the white diamond next to the black and we kept chanting.
Erebus screamed, “Adhira how could you betray me?”
We continued to chant.
Never Ever Shall We Wander
Never Ever Shall We Hail
Never Ever Shall We Be Tempted
Never Ever Shall We Fail
We send you back to where your greed has taken you, back to where you belong, back to your eternal darkness, back to where your powers are gone.
We watched as the black diamond sucked black smoke from Mr. Blithe’s body, but something else happened. The white diamond started to suck white smoke from his body as well.
“Jayson, now,” I screamed, “heal Mr. Blithe!”
Jayson rushed over to Mr. Blithe. He placed his hands on the white diamond and blew the white smoke into Mr. Blithe’s mouth.
Mr. Blithe started to cough and his complexion started to settle. His eyes turned back to their normal hue. “Why am I not wearing a shirt, and why am I tied to Erika’s bed?”
I laughed uncomfortably, untying Mr. Blithe I handed him his shirt.
Seducing Erebus had worked. He was back where he belonged, where his soul would live forever. But Akeldama was another story. He had to know by now that Erebus had been caught.
Mr. Blithe cautiously held the black diamond that contained the soul of Erebus as we all guardedly walked down the stairs to look for Akeldama. The party was still raging, there were kids, Diamonds, everywhere. They were all still in danger.
Standing unmoving and unafraid at the bottom of the stairs was Akeldama. With lightning speed, he threw a spear at Liam. The spear pierced Liam’s chest, and he fell back into Jayson’s arms. Kids screamed in horror as they took cover.
Looking down at Liam’s injured form, I was overcome by emotion: worry, devastation, and rage. I stared at Akeldama. He was all I could see. Silence filled the air and everyone else disappeared. The windows in the castle shattered and the castle’s foundation shook violently. It was as though a bomb had detonated. The scene became crystal clear— chaos. Shards of glass rained down on all the Diamonds. I watched as piles of people poured out into the rain. Looking beside me, I saw that the others were huddled around Liam.
I did something that never in a million years I would think I could do. I flew. Flying down the steps like a bullet tracked on its target, I collided with Akeldama. I pushed him back, his solid form fighting to get out of my grasp. We tumbled onto the dark wet grass. We wrestled outside, my strength matching his. My hundred-pound frame could not be
overtaken by the man who was double my size and weight. From the corner of my eyes I could see the others appear on the grass in the rain carrying a weak Liam. I had to win this battle. I had to kill Akeldama so I could get to Liam.
“Erika, we have to cast the spell!” Sofia yelled. They were all in place: Sofia was standing South, Jayson East, and Liam… Liam lay on the grass in his North position. Liam was alive. I had to trap Akeldama. I freed myself from Akeldama’s grip. I got in my designated position, I spun until I rose in the air. I continued twirling, making a tornado around Akeldama and trapping him inside the rotating gusts of wind. Jayson threw two more diamond pieces in the middle of the tornado and they swirled with Akeldama: one white, one black.
I could faintly hear Liam, muttering words. He was weak and alone, yet he still mustered the energy to speak, pleading with me to stay in place. I wanted to run to him, but I knew just as he that I couldn’t break the diamond. “Erika, I’ll be okay, I promise. You have to start the spell.” His words were weak and I questioned his promise. Fear swirled around my stomach and threatened to swallow my heart, with indecision eating away at my thoughts, I started to chant:
Never Ever Shall We Wander
Never Ever Shall We Hail
Never Ever Shall We be Tempted
Never Ever Shall We Fail
We send you back to where your greed has taken you. Back to where you belong. Back to your eternal darkness. Back to where your powers are gone.
When the spell was cast the tornado disappeared, leaving Mr. Vijack’s body motionless on the ground. Jayson ran to heal him, blowing the almost lucid transparent smoke that was entering the white diamond back into Mr. Vijack’s parted lips.
I ran to Liam. “Jayson please,” I screamed, “hurry!”
After ensuring Mr. Vijack was okay, Jayson ran over to Liam. Jayson placed his hand around the spear that protruded from Liam’s chest. He gently pulled it out, Liam grimaced in pain.
“Please Jayson, heal him, please,” I begged, crying.
“Erika, you know I can’t heal him. Our powers don’t work on each other.”
“Please Jayson, please try! There has to be a way.” My tears were falling faster now.
Jayson tried in vain; his healing powers were not working.
“Erika,” Liam faintly whispered. I stared into his glassy eyes, his head in my lap, my red bloodstained hands desperately trying to stop his bleeding.
Liam looked up at me. “I loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. We were destined for each other. I’m sorry I messed things up.”
“Liam, you didn’t mess things up. You’re gonna be fine. I never knew love until I met you. You can’t leave me, please, you can’t leave me.”
“I love you, my Erika.” Liam’s voice trailed off in a faint whisper. Liam’s eyes were still open— frozen open.
Jayson placed his hand over them, bringing down his eyelids and making him look as if he were only sleeping. “Erika, he’s gone.” Tears rolled down Jayson’s dirt-stained face.
Sofia fell to her knees, crying.
Jayson placed his hand over mine. “Jayson, don’t touch me! Don’t say that! He is not gone! Liam, please don’t leave me, please don’t go, you told me you’d never leave me. You promised you’d never break my heart. Please Liam, I love you. You can’t do this, you can’t go.”
But it was too late. Liam’s lifeless body lay in my arms, blood continuing to pour from the open wound in his chest. I watched the rain wash away the red liquid that gave Liam life. I leaned over and kissed for the last time the soft perfect red lips that I knew I would never kiss again.
Liam, the love of my life, was gone…
Coming Soon
Book 2:
The Story of Adhira & Erebus:
The Beginning
About the Author
J.J. Melvin is an author of YA books. She lives in a beach community in sunny California with her husband, 2 kids, a dog, a cat, a bunny, a hamster, a snake, and several fish.
Inspiration for The Four Points saga came to J.J. Melvin during a long late night drive while staring at a mesmerizing full moon and listening to Adele’s Make You Feel My Love.
Connect with J.J. Melvin online
www.facebook.com/jjmelvinauthor
twitter.com/writerjjmelvin
www.jjmelvin.com
www.youtube.com/watch/FourPoints
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Acknowledgements
The characters in this story begged to be freed from the confines of my mind. Thank you to those who helped bring them to life. Their voices and mine can now be heard because of you.
A special thanks to Ellie Kay Bockert Augsburger. Thank you for your imagination and creative talent. You brought my vision to life, creating an amazing book cover and website. You are an invaluable encyclopedia of knowledge; I would be lost without your guidance. Thank you, Carl Augsburger, for your expert editing services. The Four Points would not be the same without you. You pushed me to be a better writer. Thank you, Joan Carney, for your professionalism, feedback, and invaluable proofreading of my 78,000 word run-on sentence. My sincere gratitude to Kolt Winters for your amazing artistic trailer and for your honest insightful opinions.
Thanks to my sister for always being there and championing my story from the beginning. You were the one I could always turn to for help. You took time out of your hectic schedule, juggling three kids (one still in diapers) and working full time to read and give comments when others were too busy. You are my best friend, my sister, and my hero. Thank you for always supporting my dreams. This book would not be a reality without you.
Thanks to my mother for her fierce love and protectiveness. You instilled in me my work ethic and the courage to believe anything is possible. You taught me to forge my own path. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. I am proud to call you my mom.
Thanks to my little brother, who I still see as a little boy. You’ve grown into a mature, smart, man. I love you, and I am proud of the man that you are today.
Thanks to my husband for coming into my life. You are proof that people’s paths cross for a reason. You make me a better person. You are my love— my soulmate— my heart— my life partner. Thank you for being mine. I would not have had the courage to publish this book if it were not for you. I love you and always will.
And last but not least, thanks to my kids. You are my most cherished Diamonds, two perfect gems that I love more than words can say. You make me proud every day. My life is complete with you two in it. Shine bright, my little Diamonds, you will always be loved.
