by Lizzy Ford
“Not at all. Most of what I know comes from what I’ve relearned after the Schism,” Jule answered.
“So you know what I know of them, which is what the Watchers and Others have propagated.”
“Yes,” Jule answered, pensive. “You don’t think they’re the enemies.”
“I don’t understand their motivations any more than I do those of the damned Watchers, but I feel safe saying that the Originals are not our current problem,” Damian said.
“The Watchers are using us. They want me back in the immortal realm to help them battle the Others.”
“Makes sense,” Damian said thoughtfully. “Darian said a Watcher ordered you to kill your mate?”
“Yeah.”
“I bet the Watchers were counting on manipulating the only creature in the mortal realm that can battle an Other on earth. What would make an immortal who chose humanity once return to who he was in order to save the humans again?”
“A damn woman.” Jule rose and paced, anger rippling through him. “So they force me to seek out my mate by claiming she had to die, fully knowing I couldn’t kill her and we’d be bound at first touch. I hate those little trolls.”
“I can’t tell if they have faith we’ll figure this out, or if they’re secretly hoping we don’t,” Damian admitted. “In either case, I’m planning on expelling them and the Others both from the mortal realm. Sick of their interference.”
“You’ll need the help of an Original Being or two for that,” Jule said. His thoughts went to Yully. Caught in the middle of the battle between Others and Watchers, her danger was increasing, and he was stuck in a riddle he couldn’t quite solve. “D, I need my Original powers back, but I’m not going back to the immortal realm.”
“You said the Original Vamp is here,” Damian asked. “Have you considered asking him?”
“I guess I could.” Jule chuckled. “He didn’t tear my head off when he sought me out the first time. I’ll need Sofi’s help, though.”
“Just promise me you will call me if the Vamp decides to turn you into dinner,” the White God said.
“The White God must exist for the sake of humanity, but an exiled immortal is no loss if he dies.”
“It’s not a request, Jule.”
“Yes, ikir,” Jule replied with a smile, amused. “Is Sofi free?”
“She’s already waiting for you.”
* * *
Jenn heard Jonny’s door close, and the sound woke her from her light sleep. He’d assigned her the room beside his. She rose, having slept fully clothed out of fear Xander would attack her in her sleep. Jonny’s form disappeared around a corner as she emerged, and she trotted after him. He was dressed for the cold, snowy night. Jenn wore nothing more than a vest to keep her core warm, preferring for her arms to be unencumbered.
The hallways were quiet and vacant, and she followed Jonny into the dark night. The windows of the compound at the peak of the mountain were protected by film to keep light from leaking out. Only the reflection of the white snow and grey sky provided light once she stepped outside. Jonny’s feet crunched in the snow until he reached the rocky area on the west side of the mountain. Jenn waited until he was far enough ahead that he wouldn’t hear her before she trailed.
The Black God picked his way through the rocks and crags before disappearing into the forest. Cold wind whipped snow against her face. She lost sight of him and hurried her step. For half an hour, Jenn tried to find his trail. She paused to listen, looked at the ground, and changed directions three times before she heard the sound of water flowing. Instincts took her in the direction of the stream, and she reached the top of a shallow ravine in whose valley the stream flowed. Most of it had frozen in the coldness that made Jenn’s breaths hang in the air.
Jonny was on a low, flat rock, making love to a woman writhing in pleasure beneath him. Jenn watched, confused, until he lowered his head to her neck. The woman jerked beneath him and clawed at the Black God draining her blood. Her body went still, and Jonny threw his head back, pure pleasure on his face and blood dripping down his chin.
“He made his choice.” Xander’s voice was quiet. His warm body materialized beside her.
Jenn couldn’t speak. She knew what vamps were and what they did; it was why she hated them. She’d hoped … she’d wanted Jonny to be different. Jonny was only accepting the path he’d already chosen, but it was a difficult pill for her to swallow.
“Did you make him do this, or was it really his choice?” she asked at last.
“It is as it should be.” Xander’s eyes glinted as he gazed down at Jonny. “Your pity is a weakness.”
“I mourn the loss of what made him human,” she returned. “I know you can’t understand that.”
“He was never human to begin with.” His gaze shifted to her.
“You don’t have to be a human to have a human trait,” she said and looked up at him.
“Interesting. Human or vamp, he had a choice. All of them do.”
“So do I. I choose to kill those that hurt others. Creatures like you, whose hearts I would cut out with my nails if I had nothing else.”
“I look forward to it.” The slow smile, the one that made her shiver, spread across his face.
“Anytime, shithead,” she said. “You got twenty-five days left.”
“You’ll start to feel your world shrinking soon, Guardian. I disabled your beacon and removed your weapons from your room. I’ll be watching the wolves circle you.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Xander.”
“I’d be disappointed if you were.” He turned and walked away.
Jenn watched him go. The creature walking away from her wanted something, and she couldn’t figure out what. He could have her killed or sent her away at his wish, but he didn’t. Her eyes returned to Jonny, who was lapping up what was left of the dead woman’s blood.
Hardening, Jenn turned away and retreated through the forest and rocks to the compound. As she hopped the short distance from rocks to the ground leading up to the compound, she caught the silhouettes of two men against the cloudy sky. One was plainly Xander by his size, and the profile of the second was familiar to her. He glowed with a different sort of power. For a moment, she wondered if Darian had followed her here, too, like he did everywhere else.
She crept near enough to make out the second man’s features and was surprised to see the White God’s commander of the Eastern Hemisphere, Jule. Half a head shorter than Xander, Jule was speaking quietly to the vamp, whose arms were crossed and head tilted in consideration.
“Jenn?”
She turned at Jonny’s voice. The Black God absorbed the darkness around him, glowing eerily. He smelled of fresh blood.
“Hi, Jonny,” she said softly. “Trouble sleeping?”
“A little. You?”
“Yes. I thought a walk would help,” she lied. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel … good. Real good. Alive. Must be the winter air.”
“Yeah, Jonny. I noticed it, too.” Her eyes went to the rocks. The two silhouettes were gone. “It’s a bit chilly for me. Do you need anything?”
“No, no, I won’t keep you,” he said quickly. “I think I’ll stay out for a little while.”
“Stay safe,” she said and returned to the compound. Her heart felt heavy as she walked away from the Black God, aware he’d crossed a point of no return. Jenn returned to her room and flipped on the lights. It looked untouched, but a quick search revealed the only weapons remaining were those she’d taken when she left her room, and the beacon was gone.
I’ll be watching the wolves circle you.
She went to lock her door, only to find the lock had been removed. Xander was playing games with her, like the bored predator he was. She’d just have to play smarter.
* * *
Jule Transported himself to the Black God’s compound, vaguely aware of Xander’s presence. The Original Being was impossible to track with his senses and seemed to fade in and
out of existence. Sensing him, the large vamp stopped walking to the fortress built into the mountain and faced him. The cold night didn’t affect Jule this time; he used his magic to keep himself warm.
“Ready?” Xander asked.
“Ready enough,” Jule replied.
The vamp strode towards the fortress and cut through a trail to the rocky area to the west. Jule trailed, forcing himself to ignore the tingle of vamps that made him itch to reach for his weapons. Xander faced him and crossed his arms, waiting.
“I don’t remember much of anything,” Jule started. “But I know I hate the Watchers about now.”
“They betrayed you.”
“They seem to think I betrayed them.”
“You made a choice to fulfill your role then refused to be confined again,” the vamp said. “I tried to defy them once. I didn’t know the key was getting here first.”
“I guess I figured it out, though I don’t know that I’d say I won that round. I have no powers. How is it you haven’t ripped my head off?” Jule asked warily. The massive vamp hadn’t attacked or turned his back at the first sight of him, a sign Jule took as positive. He didn’t remember Xander, but Xander remembered him. Jule saw it in his face. Xander had seemed curious, the opposite of what Jule expected from the father to the creatures Jule regularly killed. For once, he wished he remembered his time before the Schism.
“You really don’t remember. The Originals have a truce that’s older than all of us combined. We don’t turn on one another.”
“Like the balance between White and Black Gods?”
“Stronger. If any of us turns on the other, we all cease to exist. Powerful motivation,” Xander said, amused. “Doesn’t mean we can’t mess with whoever else we want.”
“If you’re free, why are you here?” Jule asked.
“I do whatever I please,” came the guarded answer.
“Very well. Do you know how I can regain my Original power?”
There was a pause, then Xander purred, “You know I do nothing for free.”
“No one does,” Jule replied. “I’m not asking for a free pass.”
“Sounds like a favor to me.”
“You’re here for a reason. Tomorrow, this world will be destroyed if one-- or both-- of us don’t step up. This seems motivation enough,” Jule said.
Xander considered him and then stepped away, thoughtful. Jule couldn’t shake his amazement that there was a vamp capable of thinking. He sensed a great deal in what Xander wasn’t saying about his purpose in the mortal realm.
“I want two things. I see the girl and the Other in your thoughts. I want the Other,” the vamp said at last.
“As long as you kill him.”
“Definitely. I have a debt to settle with all of them,” Xander said.
“You won’t see me arguing,” Jule replied. “What’s the second?”
“I want to see the Oracle.”
“Why?” Jule asked. Sofi wasn’t surprised to learn he was an Original Being and had known where to find this creature. He suspected she was expecting Xander to want to see her, too.
“I need an answer to a question.”
“There’s something she knows that an Original Being doesn’t?”
“I’m not a Watcher. I see only what is in my narrow lane.”
“I can’t agree to that without the White God’s permission,” Jule said.
“My terms are far kinder for you than I’d give anyone else. Just because we can’t fight each other doesn’t mean I must help you.”
“Something tells me it’s in your best interest to help me regain my power,” Jule noted.
Xander chuckled. “Yes, Guardian, it is. Summon your White God. I will see the Oracle.”
Jule frowned. Certain creatures with unlimited power and motivations thousands of years in the making weren’t what Damian really needed right now. He almost refused before he realized he had no choice, if he wanted to help Yully survive and Damian defeat the Other. Jule Transported himself back to Damian’s headquarters. The Oracle seemed to be waiting for him. She raised her eyebrows at him, and he hesitated.
“I’m not taking you there, kiri.”
“Bring him here,” Sofi said promptly. “Jule, he has to be there. You won’t save her without him, and you’re running out of time.”
“You don’t pull any punches, Sofi,” he growled. “Where’s Damian?”
“Charles found the Other. Damian went to scout things out.”
“Who’s Charles?”
“He’s a Hunter vamp we borrowed from Jonny,” she explained. Jule’s brow furrowed, and Sofi smiled. “I’ll explain later. Xander’s waiting.”
“Is Darian here? I’m not bringing an Original Vamp here without some sort of backup.”
“I’m here, Jule,” Bianca said from behind him.
“Great, so I can piss off both my brothers.”
“I just meant I can fix anyone who decides to brawl,” Bianca retorted.
“Darian’s here,” Sofi replied with a laugh. “I’ll go get him.”
“At least then we’ll stand half a chance if the vamp goes ape-shit crazy.”
“We’ll be fine, Jule,” she assured him. “Just don’t tell Damian or Dusty.”
Jule ground his teeth. Silently cursing Oracles, he Transported back to the mountainside. The vamp hadn’t moved, as if he and Sofi already knew Jule would facilitate.
“Y’all are cutting me no slack today,” he said.
“Wise Oracle,” Xander said with a cold smile. “Take me to her.”
Jule raised his hand, and the Original Vamp rested his on top. They Transported to the study where Sofi, Bianca, and the Grey God awaited. Xander’s attention was caught first by Darian.
“Gatekeeper,” the vamp said. “You’re negligent in your duties.”
“As soon as I figure out what they are, I’ll take care of that,” Darian shot back. The vamp frowned.
“You will when you’re ready, Darian,” Sofi said.
“Gatekeeper, Oracle, Healer, Original Immortal,” Xander said, taking in everyone one-by-one. “You have a message for me, Oracle, and an answer I seek.”
Jule shifted forward as the vamp held out his hand, palm up, in the traditional greeting to an Oracle. Sofi stepped to him, unafraid, while Darian edged closer. She placed her hand on the vamp’s, and her eyes began to whirl hypnotically.
The Original Vamp closed his eyes. Their exchange was silent. Sofi dropped her hand, and the vamp remained still, as if letting her magic settle.
“You are certain?” he said at last.
“It’s not the only answer, but it’s the most likely,” Sofi replied.
“Very well. A pleasure, Oracle,” Xander said and opened his eyes. “Immortal, take me back.”
Jule obliged quickly, unwilling to keep the vamp close to his brothers’ mates longer than necessary. They Transported to the mountainside again, and the cold wind swept past him. Jule released the vamp, who turned to him.
“I know one way to return your power to you.” As he spoke, his fangs lengthened. “Are you certain this is what you want?”
Realization of exactly what he’d asked for made Jule breathe out hard. His thoughts went to Yully, and he stepped forward without hesitation.
“Absolutely,” Jule replied. “Bite me.”
“As you wish.”
Chapter Eight
Yully spent the drive north learning how to manipulate her father’s magics with his patient tips as guidance. She purposely kept her thoughts of what was to come-- and her fear for Jule-- at the back of her mind, instead filling it with her willingness to learn her trade.
Only when they reached the small bed and breakfast that was their destination did she cease practicing her magic. She was drained but more confident in her ability to use it. Yully stepped from the warm car into the cold night and followed her father into the inn.
“Change into something warm, my dear. We’re going to the site tonight.”
<
br /> “Father, I’m tired.”
“Do as you’re told.” The edge in his voice made her hasten her step, and she followed the chauffeur carrying her trunk into a small room.
She took a moment to adapt to the new glimmers of energy in the room before changing into warmer clothes and her heavy coat. She armed herself, not willing to be caught off guard, then joined her father in the tiny foyer. He led her into the cold night and back to the car.
They didn’t drive long, and the car pulled off to the side of the road. Yully looked around curiously, not recognizing the sloping hill before them. The scent of the ocean was on the air, and the area in front of them was guarded by tourist police while tourists camped out in small tents up and down the road.
“Take my hand,” her father instructed. “We’ll become invisible to them.” At his words, a rush of cold magic filled her.
Doubtful, she winced as they approached tourists and police alike, waiting for someone to stop them, and fearful of what her father would do if someone did. They moved through the people with ease and walked up the low hill. When she reached the crest, she recognized the sight before her.
Ballynoe. The ancient megalith pulsed with power older than that of her father’s. Mesmerized, she missed her step, and her father continued without her to the center of the landmark. It was like watching a spark grow into a flame. He glowed white-purple, and the hill beneath her trembled.
The power beckoned to her, and she obeyed. Her first step into the structure filled her with its power. Yully struggled to control it and then surrendered. She closed her eyes to the gentle flow and strange sensations: Jule’s warmth, her father’s hot-cold rain, the ancient power of the ruins.
“It’s welcoming you.” Her father’s voice warbled as if through water. “Tomorrow, on the equinox, it’ll be so powerful, it will sing to you.”
“It’s singing now, Father,” she replied. The sensations were similar to her bond with Jule: sweet and warm. She ached for him, and the magic thrummed around her, echoing her loneliness. Laughter rose within her, and the magic laughed with her. It flipped her hair and swirled around her. For the first time in her life, she felt her magic was a gift and not a curse.
