Finding Retribution

by Jana LaPelle

  The silence in the room is deafening. I take a moment to try to figure out who all the players in the room are. Lachlan is her twin. One of the females looks to be her younger sister, her coloring is the same as their mother’s and her features are so similar to LJ’s it’s spooky, the other two are a bit of a mystery. The male is half-elven and half-human, but so much more and then there is the enchanting sprite, but she too is a half-breed… like me. I’m not alone here, and I almost stagger under the realization that for the first time in my life I’m not the only half-breed in the room.

  LJ is quick to continue, “If you are all hellbent on acting before you get to know Dax, then you’re welcome to leave. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.”

  “Lillie,” Lachlan starts looking reproachful.

  “No, Lach, you don’t get to act like your behavior this morning is acceptable, because it's not! You of all people…” her voice hitches, before she continues, “you of all people should trust my instincts about someone. After all, a person is nothing without their soul. I’m a pretty good judge of a soul… or so you say.” I can tell that she’s about done with this little surprise visit and all I want to do is gather her in my arms and hold her close. If this is anything like what my fathers feel for my mother, I totally get why they are constantly fawning over her.

  “Lillie, I’m sorry. I forget that time runs faster here. It’s not been that long ago that I left you. I’m sorry, I’m just... You… Please, introduce us to your… friend. Cara seems to be quite taken with him.” Lachlan is having a hard time articulating his thoughts.

  I step forward, “Lachlan, I’m Daxell. I met your parents the night before last, I’m surprised that you were not informed that I would be working with LJ, that being said, LJ is right, what transpires between us is really none of your concern, but you should know that I truly have your sister’s best interest at heart.”

  LJ mutters behind me, “That’s just freakin’great! What is that supposed to mean? I haven’t even had my coffee yet. Everyone knows how cranky I am in the morning without my java.” Turning, I see LJ stalk away, back toward the stairs. Looking back, I scowl at her brother and the others in the room. In several long strides I catch up to her, Cara is on her heels. She turns and says, “I’m so sorry for how my brother greeted you, Dax. He’s normally very easy going.”

  Shrugging, I grin, “I sometimes bring out the worst in people.”

  Her smile is weak, “I don’t happen to think that’s true.” I feel compelled to reach out to her and she leaps into my arms. After the encounter with her family, I realize that I will do whatever it takes to protect her, but she can definitely give as good as she gets.

  Once back in my room, I quickly shower and meet LJ downstairs with a very quiet foursome waiting for us. We walk into the room together, a united front, when that happened I have no idea. LJ’s holding my hand, and I can’t think of any good reason to let go of her, so I gently squeeze her fingers in my own. As we walk back into the kitchen LJ is all smiles as she looks around the room and says, “Let’s start this day over again. Everyone, this is Daxell. Dax, you’ve met my numb skull brother, Lachlan. His best friend there is Samuel, our aunt Lexie’s son. Then there is my little sister, Tolianna Timbra, but everyone just calls her Timbra, and this beautiful sprite creature is my best friend, Poppy. We are a very motley crew. Just so you know, Dax. Lachlan and my sister and I are cross between elf, panther shifter, and our parents are ascended gods, so we’re all a crossbreed of epic proportions. Samuel over here is a cross between human, druid, and elf. Last but not least is our beautiful Poppy, she is very unique. Poppy is a cross between sprite and satyr.” LJ smiles up at me and I realize that she is trying to put me at ease.

  Grinning, I ask, “ Are you going to out me to your motley crew?”

  She smiles, “I’ll let you do the honors. When you’re ready, of course.”

  “Maybe later. Let’s keep them guessing, for now.” I wink at her, but deep down I know that her brother is going to go bat shit crazy once my breed is out in the open.

  LJ smiles back at me as Timbra jumps to her feet, she is a taller replica of her mother and smiles up at me, “It’s nice to meet you, Dax. Nevermind our brother, he tends to be overly protective at times.” She turns and glares at Lachlan before continuing, “I’m the baby of the family.” As soon as she says that LJ snorts and tries to cover her laugh. Timbra looks confused, “What’s so funny, Lillie? Last I checked I was the youngest.”

  “Yeah, Lillie, why is that so funny? What do you know?” Lachlan demands.

  “Only that when I saw Mama and Da two nights ago, at Tarron’s place, she let me in on a little secret. Timbra, your coveted spot as the baby in the family is about to change.”

  Poppy is the first to catch on, her wings begin to beat furiously in her excitement, and she blurts out, “Faerie freakin’ keeper baby, Timbra’s going to be a big sister.”

  LJ points to her nose and back at Poppy and says, “Yippers. The sprite guessed it on the first go around.”

  Timbra scrunches her nose up at the thought, “Ewww, that’s… gross.”

  “Mama’s right Timbra, her and Da will be young for like, forever. She said she missed having little ones around the house. Let’s face it, none of us have been little for a very long while. As we continue to find our way out in the realms on our own, we’ll be around the Keep a lot less often. I’m happy for them, and I can’t wait to meet the newest addition to the family, which won’t be for a little while yet, so enjoy your status while it lasts.”

  Poppy links her arm with LJ’s and lean’s in, “Now that’s out, there happen to be more pressing topics of conversation. Lillie JoBug, you’ve been keeping secrets and you let that oaf of a brother drop the bomb on me. That wasn’t very nice, but before we get to that, Millie and Maith sent quite the spread. Why don’t we all get a bite to eat and we can catch up. You can tell us how you and your demon dreamboat met.” She gives me a mischievous wink.

  Sighing, I make to pull away from LJ but she squeezes my hand and gives me a stern look. She’s right, we have other matters to get to, so I nod, “I had no idea that sprites were so intuitive. Poppy’s snarky comment is correct, my mother is human with some nymph in her bloodline and she is mated to a pair of the original Fallen. Making me half-demon.”

  13

  My Demon’s Wings

  (Lillie Joanna)

  Several things happen all at once. Lachlan and Samuel both draw weapons that I did not even know they were carrying, and then the shouting and cursing began. All hell breaks loose as the two move to place themselves between us and my sister and best friend. Holy freakin’ hell, everything is about to go to hell in a handbasket. I move to stand between Lachlan and Dax, trying like crazy to defuse the situation, but Dax is not having any of that. His shift took less than thirty seconds and for the first time, I’m standing before Daxell’s other half. The demon has taken over and he is all about protecting me, and to hell with everyone else.

  I step around Dax’s demon, holding my trembling hand out to my brother and Samuel. I shout, shaking my head, “Listen to me! I know that this is all a bit of a shock, but everyone needs to settle down, right now! Lachlan, that means you! Please. I beg of you. Back away. I don’t know what his demon will do, we’ve barely even met.”

  “Lillie,” my brother breathes out, “what have you done?” His face is full of concern as he slowly lowers the short sword in his hand. Samuel does the same and both slowly back away with the females behind them protectively.

  Turning, I look up into my demon’s eyes, they’re solid black, but a flame dances within their depths, no doubt, hellfire. Dax has shredded his clothing during his shift, his tee shirt is in shreds and his massive thighs have ripped the seams of his jeans. I can’t help but admire his form, he’s beautiful in a sinister sort of way, all hard lines and planes. His skin is much darker than before and has taken on a charcoal hue. He’s tall. Close to seven-foot wi
th black horns that curve back over his head and he has wings. By the gods, they are not at all what I expected, they look like the wings of an angel but their feathers are black as soot. His claw-like fists are clenched, and damnation, but he’s hot as sin standing here with his onyx burning orbs fixated on me.

  I approach him slowly and gently reach out to place my hand on his chest, tenderly caressing him. An unexpected rumble erupts from deep within his chest that reminds me a bit of a cat’s purr. The sound is intoxicating. We’ll have to explore that later, definitely later. I whisper calmly, “Daxell, it's okay. No one here wants to hurt me … or you.”

  His voice is deep and rumbles in his massive chest as he utters one word, “Mine.” He pulls me to him and looks over to my family, “I will not hurt her. She is mine to protect, but you, her family have hurt her deeply, and you must suffer for that.” His voice a deep rumble.

  Dax’s demon moves to sit me aside to act on his promise of retribution and I grab hold of his face and say, “No. Please. They are worried for me. They don’t understand our connection. I don’t even think that we understand. Not yet, but we will. You must not hurt my family. Do you understand?”

  He sighs, his voice deep and guttural, “Little one, you are too generous and kind with your heart. You would have me do nothing?! They hurt you, and yet you don’t want the same for them? I do not understand. They need to be punished.” His wings spread out in a threatening posture before he wraps the two of us up in the shelter of his magnificent wings.

  I smile as I look up at him and for a moment, I see Dax staring back at me before the demon asserts himself once more and I shake my head, “No, my angel, they just don’t understand. They’ve never met a demon before, not like you. You have startled them.” I cup his face in my hands, and say, “As breathtaking as you are, I need Dax back. We will have plenty of time to get to know one another.”

  “No! He wants to protect you from me. He doesn’t want to allow me out.”

  I stand up on my tiptoes and whisper, “Trust me. I very much want to see you again. I’ll talk to Dax.” I caress the side of his face and whisper, “You’re my dark angel.”

  He shudders at my caress and holds me tightly to him, and says roughly, “You’re mine.” With that, his demon’s overwhelming presence fades to the background and their shift takes mere seconds. Dax is standing before me, his chin up in a defiant showdown. He moves away from all of us and says, “I’ll pack my things and leave as quickly as I can. I know I don’t belong here.”

  I grab his wrist with a strength that I didn’t know that I possessed and spin him around, “You will do no such thing, Daxell. You’re not walking away from me, demon boy. Not on your life.” Poppy and Timbra both clap loudly, but the guys are still on team, let's kick him the fuck out. I continue, “Where else will you fit in? All of us here are a bunch of misfits. You’re no different, Dax.”

  Daxell gives me an exasperated look and gestures to Lachlan and Samuel and says, “I don’t think they’re convinced, and no offense, but I’m a completely different type of badass misfit.”

  Timbra sighs, “I’ll say.”

  “Hey,” I scold as an unexpected surge of jealousy hits me. I glare over to see my younger sister all but swooning over Dax.

  Poppy laughs, “Lillie JoBug, I’m pretty sure that you don’t have anything to worry about on that front. That male has eyes only for you. On the flip side, Dax, embrace your badassery. Lillie is right, we’re all misfits here. Look at me. I’m half-sprite and half-satyr, a freaking spritatyr, the first of my kind, can you say that? I’m a female sprite with horns!”

  Dax pauses, looking confused, “I don’t see any horns.”

  My best friend sighs and pulls her hair away so we can see her itty bitty horns. Dax snorts before saying, “Those are, quite frankly, adorable.”

  Lachlan chimes in, “Yes they are, but she seems to be super sensitive of them and tries to hide them with her hair and she really shouldn’t. All this small talk is great and all, but -”

  “But what?” Dax demands, “Trust me, I know you don’t want me here or anywhere near your sister. I get that, but until she tells me she wants me to go, I’m staying. The decision is hers, not yours.” Dax stares back at Lachlan, unblinking and I notice that a tick has developed in his jaw.

  Lachlan’s eyes narrow and I’m just about to intervene when he nods, conceding, “You’re right. It will be her choice. Soon enough she will see reason and she’ll boot your ass to the curb.”

  “Lachlan! How dare you,” I accuse.

  “Just what is he to you, Lillie? You’re acting like he’s your kindred, but that can’t be. You are the complete opposite of one another. He’s … a demon, Lillie.” My brother stands there accusing and I realize that he’s trying to make me choose.

  “Outside. Now.” Dax demands.

  “You got it, demon spawn.” I have never seen or heard my brother sound so contemptuous.

  “Lachlan, what’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this? Please… don’t do this.” I plead.

  “Male to male. No shifting. No weapons. You have a problem with me and I have a problem with you not respecting your sister and crossing boundaries that you should not be crossing, so let’s take it outside.” Dax declares, his jade-green eyes glittering as he pulls off his tattered teeshirt and throws it in the garbage. He pulls the back door open and gestures outside.

  “Please, don’t do this,” I beg.

  “Honey cheeks, it has to be done.”

  My sister all but croons, “That’s … so … sweet. He already has a pet name for you.”

  All I can do is groan in dismay as I watch Lachlan and Dax exit the back door. I fear that this will not end well.

  14

  Are All Men Really This Stupid?

  (Lillie Joanna)

  Ican’t believe that this is actually happening. We have more important things to be concerned with at the moment, but my idiot twin brother is hellbent on protecting me from Dax. A stupid and pointless need. Dax would never hurt me. When I’m with him, I feel a sense of peace, all my jumbled thoughts are no longer a problem. My sister and best friend are flanking me as we move outside to watch the two stupid ass males try to prove who's right and who's wrong, or whatever. I know that Dax is right, but son-of-a-biscuit eater, my brother should know when to back down, and now he’s going to get his ass kicked from here to kingdom come.

  The two assess one another in the side yard and before my brother can make a move, Dax is on him. He’s unbelievably fast and my brother takes several blows to the face and an uppercut to the stomach before striking back. Then the two are a blur of activity on the back lawn. I knew before they walked out the back door that Dax was going to kick my brother’s ass, but maybe I was wrong, he’s holding his own. Just as I think that, Dax whirls through the air in a complicated move that I’ve never seen before, he’s just a blur until his foot lands a serious blow to my brother’s left thigh and his leg buckles. His downward momentum is all Dax needs as he swings around and lands an uppercut to Lachlan’s chin sending his head snapping backward. Damn, that had to hurt. He all but flies across the lawn before skidding to a stop on his backside. Dax stalks over to Lachlan and holds out his hand in a gesture of peace just as my evil twin rockets to a crouch and swings his left leg wide, sweeping Dax’s legs out from under him. He goes down hard, knocking the breath right out of him. My brother moves fast. Like, spider monkey fast and he lands several quick punches to Dax’s face before he’s dislodged and goes flying again. Dax is freaky strong and I find that sexy as hell, but this has to stop before one of them kills the other. My brother and Dax are both going to be stubborn about this. To be honest, this is not how I thought this day was going to go.

  Calling the fire element to me, I will it to sail past both of their heads and land just above where the two are trading blows. Neither is affected. Poppy looks at me and grins a sneaky smile, “I know exactly what needs to be done to cool them off. What do you say t
o a little rain?”

  I cock my head from side to side and say, “Sam, back away or you’re going to be doused as well.”

  Sam turns to look my way, flashing his green-gray eyes my way, “You can’t intervene, Lillie. They need to work this out. It’s now or never.”

  “What are they working out?” I wait for his answer and when none is offered, I reply, “Nothing, Sam, this accomplishes nothing but the both of them getting to beat the hell out of each other. Neither is going to back down. This is pointless and just like men to settle their differences with their fist and not their minds. Civilization has fallen repeatedly, over and over again because of war. Wars fought to establish whose more dominant. This is stupid and it stops now.”

  Poppy shrinks to her sprite size and races over to the brook and gathers water in both of her hands. She quickly forms tiny water funnels in her palms. She races back to us, her wings fluttering rapidly. Like her mother, Jasmine, her wings resemble those of a silvery dragonfly’s wings. They sparkle under the attention of the brilliant sun and she grins broadly as she sends water to me and my sister for us to manipulate and direct. As soon as Poppy sends the water funnels our way, they still and become floating spheres of water.

  My mother has never been good at manipulating water, but I’ve never had a problem with it. The three of us direct our water element over to the two males trying to kill one another and we allow the spheres of water to rain down on them while Poppy swirls the water around each of them forcing the two apart. As the water parts, the two males stumble backward from one another. Heaving huge gasping breaths. They glare at each other before turning to the three of us. Obviously, they’re pissed.

  “Get over it! What are you guys? Twelve?” I shout, pacing back and forth in front of them demanding, “This?” I gesture wildly about, “is getting us absolutely nowhere.” Turning to my brother, I take a deep breath and implore, “Please, brother … trust me on this. Stop thinking with your pre-misconceptions. Look at Daxell. Really look at him. When you do, you’ll see what I see. You’ll see his soul. He can’t help that he’s half-demon, but his soul is untarnished, by that fact, I dare you to take a closer look, Lachlan!”