by Jana LaPelle
Dax, shakes his head and moves to put distance between us and I step closer. He gives me a hard penetrating glare before demanding, “What do you want from me, honey cheeks?” His question resonates around us.
“I want you to stop running from this. I want you to just take a chance on getting to know me and what we could be to one another. That, and I want you and my brother to work things out between you. When you do? You can join the rest of us inside. As it is, we have work to do.” I glare at my brother, daring him with a look to betray my confidence. I call over my shoulder, “Work it out!” Then I stalk back toward the house, my small female entourage flanking me.
As we enter the back door to the kitchen, my sister is the first to ask, “What’s going on, Lillie? Whatever it is, it must be serious, especially if it’s more important than watching Lachlan and Dax exchange blows to one another’s face? I was kind of enjoying the match.”
“The New Raven Order, that’s what. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what they’re up to,” I say over my shoulder. I refuse to look out the back window to see what Lachlan, Dax, and Samuel are doing.
Poppy flies down the hall toward the study, she stops just outside the door and asks, “I’m afraid to ask, but what’s the New Raven Order?”
“Honestly, you don’t want to know. From what I have gathered so far, it appears to be a type of cult that worships The Morrígan or Morríganna. It’s a new order, or maybe not so new here in this realm. It’s hell-bent on bringing Morríganna back from The Underworld. Mama and Da think that this order began to form right after the battle that triggered Morríganna’s fall from glory. ”
“You have got to be kidding me. Mama and Da fought a war to see that she did not succeed. Why would this order want to bring her back? I don’t understand. That would be disastrous for everyone.” Timbra mutters.
“It’s not for us to understand. None of us here could. We were never followers of that wicked witch. What we need to do is find them and put a stop to all their dastardly plans.” I give each of them a dire look before turning into the study. I walk over to the computer and switch it on from the desktop console. A virtual hologram hovers above the desk, I touch it with my index finger and direct it to hover to my left at eye level, I do this several more times until there are four virtual screens in the air in front of us. I tap on several files and begin pulling up what little information that I’ve found thus far. I’m able to manipulate the virtual touch screen in front of me until each screen has information displayed. Turning to look at my sister and best friend, I start, “There isn’t much here. Nothing concrete. I have not been able to figure out key search words that will pull up much on their cult. That and I’ve not been able to figure out how to access the darknet.”
Poppy steps forward and touches the screen to my right, bringing up an image of a raven, wings spread wide, head down almost in reverence. Behind the raven is an intricately designed triquetra inside a circle. She studies it for a moment and turns to me, “Is this their symbol?”
“I think that it may be. Every time I search the words new raven order, it always comes up, but there is never much else to go with it.” Sighing, I turn back to study the symbol.
Poppy’s face pinches in concern, “Lillie, if this is their symbol or logo, then they are not only worshipping The Morrígan but The Morrígna as well. They are worshipping the triple goddess, but how can that be?”
I reach over and tap a file bringing up a work of fiction that may not be so fictional. Pointing at the book titled, The Raven Rises from the Ash, I say, “Evidently, this book is linked to that symbol. It’s listed as a work of fiction, but it references the battle to save The Realms and how The Morrígan fell that day. In this book, the reality was twisted and it is inferred that Morríganna’s sisters were not ended that day, but that their goddess absorbed her sisters' powers. On that day she ascended to become the true triple goddess according to the storyline of the book. This symbol,” I point to the Celtic raven symbol, and then swipe my finger across the book cover flipping it over, before continuing, “appears on the back cover here. That’s why I think the book may be important. The author is writing under a pen name so I’ve not been able to track her down.”
“Holy fanatical fruitcakes, all of this points to this cult being unhinged,” Poppy exclaims, her wings fluttering wildly as she flits about the room.
All the while, Timbra has remained quiet as she flips from file to file. Without another word, the three of us get busy bouncing ideas off one another as search after search fails to pull up any additional information on the New Raven Order. I have no idea as to how long we’ve been at it when Poppy asks, “Could we be going at this the wrong way? Maybe, we should brainstorm different search words or try to figure out how to access the darknet. What do you think?”
About that time, I hear the back door open and bang shut. A commotion from the kitchen draws my attention from my useless search on the web. What’s surprising, is that I hear low chuckles and a semblance of camaraderie. I make my way back into the kitchen and watch from the shadows of the hall to see that the three turn to look at one another as Lachlan asks, “You guys want a beer? I see the fridge is fully stocked.” My eyebrows shoot right up as I hear low laughing and back-slapping. Then the TV is turned on and I hear distant commentating of a game. All three males are talking and for the first time, they are getting along.
Shaking my head, I turn back to the study and give the girls an intense look. “Mum and Da think that the original members of The New Raven Order defected from Faerie the day that our parents put an end to The Morrígna’s manipulations. This order could very well be over two hundred years old here in The Mortal Realm. So maybe searching -”
“You’re overthinking it.” I hear from the doorway. I watch as Daxell saunters into the room. Even with a split lip, a bruised jaw, and the semblance of a black eye, he’s sexy. My brother follows and then Sam, both of which look no better than Dax. The one unexpected twist is that the three look like BFF’s. What the hell happened after we came inside?
“I take it that the three of you have come to terms?”
Lachlan casually sits on the edge of the desk and says, “We worked it out and we’ve come to an understanding. Isn’t that right, Dax?”
Dax grimaces, but nods, “Yes, we did.”
Narrowing my eyes, I take Dax’s hand in my own and pull him with me. Over my shoulder, I say, “Give us a minute.” I pull Dax back into the kitchen where a recorded basketball game is playing on the 3D TV screen. “What type of understanding?” I demand as I open the refrigerator and grab a bottle of dwarf sparkling ale and uncork the carafe. The only understanding that I can think of is that Dax would agree to leave me alone and that has me pissed the hell off. Turning, I stumble backward because Dax is just that close into my personal space. His arms wrap around me steadying me and I place the bottle in my hand on the counter beside us. Suddenly nervous, I murmur, “What are you doing?”
His lips twitch, “I’m steadying you.” His voice is low and seductive as his hand comes up to tuck a wayward strand of hair back behind my twitchy elven ear. He leans down and whispers, “This is what you wanted, right? Me, getting to know you, and vice versa.”
Suddenly my mouth is dry, and I stutter, “Y… yes.” My hands land on his chest, and oh sweet baby Jesus he feels better than he looks. My knees feel week and I’m struggling to not land in a heaping tangle of limbs on the floor.
Dax grins an almost wicked smirk as he pulls me flush against his hard body, and murmurs, “Are you sure, LJ? Because my demon is playing for keeps and we haven’t even tasted you yet.” He pulls my earlobe into his mouth and sucks gently before his nose moves down below my ear to trace my neck to my collarbone, where he inhales deeply before placing a gentle kiss there. Those two simple actions have me all but melting in a puddle of goo at his feet. Dax pulls back, his eyes twinkling, and asks, “Well?”
“Uhm… What?”
He chuckles,
and repeats his question, jogging my memory, “I asked if you were sure about this.”
I smile before biting down on my lower lip and stretching up on my tiptoes, I reach up and run my thumb over his split lip that already looks as though it's well on its way to being healed, and I kiss the corner of his mouth and say, “I am if you are, demon boy.”
I step back just as Lachlan walks into the kitchen, he shakes his head when he sees the two of us standing close together and says, “I guess I’m going to have to get used to this. Just remember what we discussed.” My brother pins Daxell with a serious look before saying, “Come on, we may have a lead.”
I grab my ale off of the granite countertop and look up to Dax and wink as I take his hand, “Come on, big guy. Let’s go see what they have found out.”
15
Putting The Clues Together
(Lillie Joanna)
We enter the study behind my brother and everyone is frantically working on their virtual screens. Image after image is being pulled up. Faster than I can track.
“What did you search?” I demand as we enter the room.
Sam turns to me and says, “Morríganna’s Secret Order.”
“Seriously? I didn’t try that. Why didn’t I try that?” I ask no one in particular.
Dax pulls me close to him and says, “I have some additional information to add to their findings. My parents were going to visit Mammon and check out what he’s been up to since having access to The Mortal Realm. Evidently, he’s been MIA for some time in The Underworld. It’s my understanding that he can be found in New Vegas at his place there.”
“Wait a minute. How are your fathers and Mammon even allowed access to this realm? I thought that when the rift was fixed that … I don’t know, that things went back to normal?” I ask, my mind reeling at the implications. “How did I not know about this?”
“Luc has kept it all very hush-hush. Once the tear between the realms happened, it changed everything for the princes of hell. Before then, they were basically locked down in hell, only able to draw their power from those that were guilty of sin, but now they have access to The Mortal Realm and are doing their best to influence the mortals. Why do you think that things have gotten so bad here? It’s because of their direct influence. I know that you have seen what I’m talking about. Greed and gluttony are at an all-time high with absolutely no regard to anyone or anything else. This realm has started to spiral out of control. Hell, my fathers have begun to spend more and more time topside. I have no doubt that Mammon’s casino may actually be a hub of activity for the New Raven Order.”
Everyone has paused to listen to Dax, and then Poppy pins us with her crystalline blue gaze and asks, “His place wouldn’t happen to be, Rapa-City Delights Resort, would it? It appears to be wildly popular, and in many cases, it is appearing in some of our searches.”
Narrowing my eyes, I ask, “Rapa-City as in rapacity? How very clever.”
Timbra is quick to ask, “So when do we go check this place out?” She is eagerly bouncing on her tiptoes.
Shaking my head, I reply, “You, my dear sister, are not going anywhere near this place.”
“Why not?” She pouts, “I’m an adult.”
“You’re barely an adult, besides there’s really no reason for a bunch of Keepers, a Guardian, and a Druid to show up all at once. Dax said that his parents were going to be there. It makes more sense if he and I go to check it out and see what we can find out. Then from there, we’ll head to The Underworld and bring Luc up to date on what’s going on.”
Everyone starts talking at once, arguing their points about why they should come with us, the one thing that is agreed upon is that Timbra is too young and should go back to Glendale Loch to keep Samuel’s little sister company while she completes some of her majical training. It’s my understanding that Annabelle was just fit to be tied when she realized that she wasn’t going to get to come with everyone else here today.
Sighing, I hold my hands up, and say, “We have some time to figure this all out. We’re not going anywhere tonight. We still need more information.” As I finish, I hear someone in the kitchen and turn to leave the study. I’m surprised to see Millie and Hank. “What are you two doing here?”
“My dear, it’s my job to see that ye wee bairns are fed as ye should be. Gather round. I’ve brought enough to feed ye all.”
I allow my shock to subside and ask, “What’s for dinner, Millie?” My mouth-watering as the words leave my mouth.
“I brought your favorite, Lillie Joanna.” She beams at me and I stifle a squeal of excitement. Brisket with roasted asparagus, and honey glazed carrots.
Millie gestures to a picnic basket, and says, “I made this for you and your beau. Go. Get to know one another.” She winks at me and I look over to Daxell and grin. He looks all kinds of uncomfortable. Millie continues with a faraway look, “It seems like yesterday that I did this for Samuel’s parents. Well, what are ye waiting for? It won’t stay hot forever. Go! Get out of here! Take as long as you need, pet.”
I turn to Daxell, “Come on, let me show you one of my favorite spots on the property.” I make to grab the basket, but Daxell has it in his grasp in a heartbeat. We make our way out the back door, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. Reaching back, I take my demon’s hand. For a split second, I think that he will pull away before he gently squeezes my fingers and threads his fingers through my own. We walk away from the house, over the stream and through the woods. We walk in companionable silence until we get to the waterfall on the property. The sun is beginning to set and we have all night. We both go about setting up our picnic, spreading our blanket and getting our food out. I can no longer contain my questions, “What’s changed, Daxell? You seem more open to seeing where this will go. I’m just curious.”
“I don’t know? My demon?” He shakes his head and looks back at me, “He’s really taken with you, LJ. Like, he’ll damage anyone that stands in his way from being with you. That kind of taken. He’s made his choice.”
I look up at his wickedly handsome face and ask, “I like your demon, but what about you? What do you want?” As I ask the question, that begs to be asked, I realize that I have never felt more vulnerable in my life. I swallow thickly before looking back up at the male before me. The same one that I haven’t been able to get out of my head since the moment I laid eyes on him and he seems a million miles away, so distant, almost unapproachable. I brace myself for his answer. For a moment, I’m distracted as I sense Cara and Ban approach. Evidently, they have been out hunting together for most of the day and choose this moment to reappear, no doubt so Ban can report back to my brother. The two are totally checking us out and for some reason, I blush a crimson color under the scrutiny of our two foxes.
A slender finger gains my attention as he lifts my chin so that we are eye to eye, “LJ, this isn’t about just my demon. I’m just as drawn to you if not more. I can’t even explain the draw to you. It’s as if my next breath depends on it. I know that I should resist, for your sake, but I can’t. You’re … you’re my kryptonite.”
“Why are you so hesitant to embrace what is going on between us?” I ask before taking a bite of our dinner.
Daxell has a way of devouring me with his gaze and I melt under his scrutiny before he replies, “Because I don’t want to doom you to being tied to The Underworld. You see, I can only stay here six months of the year. I must reside in The Underworld for the rest of the year. I cannot truly exist in both realms unless I split my time between them. I don’t want that for you, LJ. No matter what my demon thinks, The Underworld will squash that beautiful light soul of yours.” For a brief moment, he lifts the ends of my hair, reverently. As if he has never seen anything so beautiful, before smiling a sad smile and saying, “That’s why I’ve been fighting this. Of all people, you should not be tied to me.”
For a moment, I’m stunned, and then I shake it off, needing more information. “So you are kind of like Persephone? You hav
e to spend half your time in both places?”
“Yeah. Something like that. My time in hell has been just that, Hell. I constantly crave to be topside.”
I’m blown away, but I can’t help but ask, “Would my spending time there with you help?”
He shudders, “You have no idea. Having you there with me would be like finding an oasis in the middle of a desert. But that’s not remotely possible. You can not bond with me or my demon. If you do? Then you will be doomed to the same fate. LJ, I don’t want that for you.”
My meal forgotten, I move closer to take his face in my hands, and say, “I don’t think it has anything to do with what we want. What if it has to do with what we need? Rather, who we are meant to be with. I’m not saying that want doesn’t mean anything, because it does. You can’t tell me that you haven’t wanted to kiss me since the moment you laid eyes on me. Can you? Yet you have kept me at arm's length all because of your noble heart. You are full of contradictions. I’m not only intrigued by you but I admire that about you. What if you don’t have to walk your path alone? What if you and I were meant to walk our paths together? Supporting one another. Balancing one another.”
Dax leans forward until our foreheads are touching and ever so slowly he tilts his chin forward, brushing his lips over mine in an almost reverent show of devotion. His hand cups my cheek as his tongue parts my lips in a gentle caress. Just as I begin to let go and fall into all the sensations that his kiss has evoked, he pulls back, his eyes sad, “LJ, I’m bad news. You’re killing me here. All I want to do is wrap you in my arms and run far away and have my way with you. You should heed my warning before it’s too late. Before I throw caution to the wind.”
