Finding Retribution

by Jana LaPelle

  “Daxell, you know as well as I do that it will take a few days for Lillie to regain her strength. We will provide a safe harbor for her during that time. The House of Lust and Envy is a safe place for you and your mate and her friends. Lillie, take your time. You seem to be doing well with what you have eaten. We’ll give you time to clean up and then we will bring you some stew with a heartier bread to eat. You will be back to yourself in no time.” Daxell’s mother sweeps out of the room, leaving me to wonder why they are all still walking around on eggshells with me when she seems so unconcerned.

  I pin them with a look, “What’s going on? You all are acting very weird. So, spill! Now.”

  Daxell sighs, “My mother is right. You’ve not been awake nearly long enough for us to demand that you tell us what happened to you the night that you were taken, or why we can not remove the bracelet that you wear now. You are obviously having trouble recalling everything. We need to give you time. Time that we really don’t have. I won’t sugar coat it, honey cheeks. It’s important that you remember, but I will not rush you. You’ve been through enough as it is.” The look on his face has me questioning everything.

  I look to both Daxell and Poppy and realize that there is so much more to their quiet demeanor, now that I’m awake I can see the concern etched on their faces. Closing my eyes, I focus on remembering. Images flash through my mind. Images of a female beauty named Nyx. Images of me being forced through a portal. Images of me being …

  My mind shuts down, not wanting to remember, and I push away from the table abruptly, “I need some time. I need to take a shower, and I need to think. If you will excuse me.” I move toward what looks like a bathroom all the while fiddling with the bracelet on my wrist. The same bracelet that has affectively muted all my abilities. I open the door and close it behind me. Thankful that I was correct and that I could put some distance between Poppy and Dax and me. Oh, God. What am I missing here? What am I not remembering? Whatever it is, it's huge.

  Hours later, I find myself in an unusual courtyard. The beauty here is odd and what’s more bizarre? I’m having flashes of memories that don’t make sense. The things around me that would appear to be hideous in The Otherworld appears to be oddly beautiful here. I just sit and look around me with Cara by my side. I’m afraid to delve into many more of my memories. Afraid of what they will bring.

  Seraphina slides quietly into the chair by my side. “How are you doing, dear?”

  “I’m confused. I’m not sure what everyone wants from me.” My confession escapes my lips before I can think better of it. “I’m not sure why I said that.” Shaking my head.

  “We just want you to be safe.” She smiles and I look around me.

  “This place is so strange. The lighting here casts shadows everywhere. One moment I want nothing more than to go home, but the next, I want to explore … to learn more about this place. Seraphina, I feel as though something was taken from me while I was stuck in the Fields of Punishment. Why am I having trouble remembering that time?” I ask, somehow feeling more comfortable with her than Poppy and Daxell. With them, I feel as though I’m letting them down by not being able to recall what happened. Cara, my constant companion, has found a seat next to me in a plushly cushioned terrace chair.

  She reaches over and takes my hand, “Lillie, I will not pretend to understand what you endured at the hands of the keepers of the Fields. Those nasty little dark sprights are meddlesome and truly wicked, but they serve Lucifer and they do their job well for those that belong there. However, you did not, and they took pleasure in wrecking your world, or the world as you knew it to be. I’m sure that you faced a lot of demons while in their hands. You know? The mind is a funny thing. I’m sure that the moment that you let go of all your insecurities then your memories will be restored. Until then, we will protect you and keep you safe. My mates and I know how important you are to Daxell.”

  “Seraphina, I’m not sure how to repay your kindness.”

  She squeezes my fingers in her hand gently, “There is nothing to repay, my dear. You are most welcome here in our home. Anytime.” Her smile is genuine as she stands to leave me to my own devices. I watch her as she leaves me with Cara. Looking around, I see that black roses are in full bloom to my left. Their thorns look to be wicked sharp. Straight ahead there is a bed of dark purple tulips, or what looks like tulips until I watch the blossom open up to swallow what looks like a dragonfly, whole. I shrink back from the scene. I’ll never look at tulips the same way again.

  Sighing, I lean forward and cradle my head in my hands. I need to remember. Why can’t I remember what happened to me?

  Gentle fingers close over my own and I look up to see that Daxell has joined me, “Hey, honey cheeks. Why are you avoiding me?” Somehow, he manages to look at home here as well as ill at ease. His fingers linger over the unwanted iron that encircles my wrist. “Does it hurt?”

  I stare up at him, I’m sure that my torment is reflected in my eyes because he flinches before reaching for me to pull me into his arms. A whimper escapes me before I murmur against his chest, “Why can’t I remember? How did I get to be here? And who the hell is Nyx? I just have flashes of memories, more like a dream than anything else. I don’t even know how I came to have this on my wrist?” I wrap my arms around him and he pulls me in tight.

  “Lillie, I think if we are able to remove this cuff then you should be able to remember. I’m not sure why, but I think that is the key, for some reason it makes sense.”

  Pulling away, I look up at him and nod, “I think you’re right. When you found me was there anything else with me?”

  “No, just you. Why do you ask?”

  “I could have sworn to you that I had a backpack. I don’t know why. I have this image in my head of me hoisting a backpack over my shoulders before being thrust into a portal.”

  Daxell squeezes my fingers in his own, before asking, “Who thrust you into the portal, LJ?”

  “Does Morríganna have a daughter?”

  “Not that I know of. Why?”

  “Do you know who Nyx is?” I ask, not answering his questions as images and bits and pieces of disjointed memories assault me. None of which make sense.

  “Walk with me.” Daxell takes my hand and pulls me to his side as he turns us to walk into the gardens that I have shied away from. For good reason. Not all is as it seems. Some of the plants are carnivorous. I pull back and he smiles, “As long as we stick to the pathways we should be okay. Come, my little angel. I want to share my home with you and I’ll tell you a story.”

  29

  The Goddess of Night

  (Daxell)

  "I find it interesting that you’re asking about Nyx. The only Nyx that I’m aware of is from early mortal mythology. She was the daughter of Chaos, a primordial deity that preceded even the Titans and the Olympians. She is known as the goddess of night and she birthed other deities according to legend, but not much is known of her. How she came into being or how she died, or even if she did. All that has been passed down is that she was one of the deities that have been around since the beginning of time. Nyx was very powerful, so much so that Zeus feared her as well as her siblings, Erebus and Gaea. Well, Zeus feared anyone that held more power than him. Honestly, I think the guy was a true pansy ass. I have no idea how he got to be the head of the Olympians. Those that came before were so much more powerful than they were, and honestly, it was a fluke that they were able to take down the Titans. The Creator clearly took a step back after he placed his angelic gods upon the worlds.”

  “Daxell, tell me, what happened to Nyx?” LJ asks, peering up at me.

  “It’s not clearly defined if she died, was killed, or simply ceased to be. Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know. What if she has been reborn somehow? What then?”

  “Okay, LJ, you need to tell me why you are asking so many questions about Nyx, and why you think she factors into any of this.” I pin her with a look as we continue to stroll through th
is unlikely garden of my mother’s with its sinister beauty.

  “I keep having flashes of a raven-haired female, in an obsidian castle. I think that she is the key. I just don’t know how or why. I remember her telling me that her name was Nyx and that she was the daughter of Morríganna and that she intended to bring her mother back. I think I’ve seen her before but I’m not sure where? Could she have been at Mammon’s gathering? I hate that I’m not able to remember more than these few images. It all feels like a dream or a nightmare, depending on how you look at it. Then there is my time in the Fields of Punishment which seems so clear, but not. The torment. The torture and mental and emotional anguish. It’s all so confusing.”

  I stop and look down at my beautiful angel, “I’m so sorry it took me so long to find you, but I swear to you. Once I find out who is responsible for taking you from me and sending you here, I will rip them limb from limb and then feed them to the gorgers.” I growl, “We need to remove the iron on your wrist. That should help.”

  Nodding, she smiles timidly up at me, “Then we need to get to my mother. She holds the key to releasing this binding cuff.”

  “Why didn’t you say so?”

  She smirks, “Because you didn’t ask, that and, because I just realized what we are dealing with. The only problem is … I can’t trace with this on my wrist, and neither can Poppy, not in her current form. She can trace herself and maybe that’s the key. We could send her to get Mama. She could send a message to everyone. But how will they get to us?”

  “Your father traced us here to Luc’s castle. I would have had to make it to the closest portal between the realms to get to you if not for him. I have a feeling that they will be able to get to us, but they will have to go through Luc.”

  Stopping in our tracks, she asks, “What do you mean? And why is that a problem?”

  “Your father said that he had to check in with Luc. I’m guessing that there are stipulations as to his presence here, and your mother’s.” I watch her reaction carefully and see the moment that she understands my meaning.

  “My presence here needs to be concealed?” She asks. “Why?”

  “Yes, and that’s going to be tricky.” She stops walking and pulls me around to look down at her and I confess, “Lillie, after you disappeared, Mammon accused you of taking The Morrígan’s weapon, Vengeance. If you are found here in The Underworld, you will be tried, and I assure you that you will be found guilty. Mammon wants your head on a pike and he can make that happen. He has formally petitioned Luc. His hands are tied. He can’t know that we have found you, and he most certainly can not know that we are stuck here in The Underworld. If that information becomes known by Luc, he will be forced to send his sentries here to detain you for trial.”

  “So, we’re stuck here then?” There are so many emotions that flicker across her face as realization sets in.

  “Not necessarily, but you will have to be fit and ready to travel. If we can get to The Mortal Realm then we can send Poppy to get your mother. How is it that your mother can remove this bracelet when no one else can?”

  LJ smiles up at me, “Fate smiled upon my parents, Daxell. They were given the means to overcome certain obstacles.” She holds our linked hands up and studies the smooth, shiny metal that encircles her dainty wrist, before smiling at me, “Iron forged from angel-fire was one of those obstacles. My mother holds the key to remove this binding cuff. Although I would have thought that its binding ability would have felt more suffocating, it's not as bad as I imagined it would be.” She absently reaches for the bloodstone pendant that rests between her breasts and looks back at me, a curious look passes across her features, “I wonder if it’s the bloodstone that is helping?”

  I think back to a conversation with my fathers, “You may be right. I think my fathers said that the stones were meant to be a protective hedge. They chose the bloodstone to represent their house colors but also for its properties of healing and protection. So, it could not prevent the bracelet being thrust upon you, but it could, quite possibly be working against the most damaging aspects of the iron.”

  As we step out of the foliage, I spy both my fathers. Asmodeus steps forward and addresses Lillie, “My dear, you and your father have both felt the impact of having to endure the iron that you wear. I can attest to the ill effects of your binding cuff, it can hinder all your god-like abilities. I endured centuries being bound and chained. Left to rot in a cave until I was released from my bondage.”

  LJ rushes toward my father and takes his hands in her own, “I’m so sorry. What happened? Why were you bound? Who bound you?”

  “My dear, that is a story for another day. You have … well, you have your mother and she holds the key to your situation. We just need to figure out a way for you and Daxell to exit The Underworld without notice.”

  Levi moves from the shadows of our dwelling, and says, “Come inside, we have some news to share.” His green eyes find my own and I don’t like the look that he’s giving me.

  LJ looks back at me and I shrug, “We may not like what they have to say but we need to hear it none the less. Come on. You need to eat and we will hear them out.”

  She nods, “You’re right. Let’s go. We need to form a plan on how to get out of this realm and what we need to do next.”

  We follow Lust and Envy inside to a cozy sitting room, they really hate it when I think of them like that. The fire in the grate burns a brilliant green, so very different from The Mortal Realm and even that of Faerie. My mother is sitting with Poppy and Cara, the three look rather cozy by the fire. We all gather around and my fathers step forward. “Luc will be here shortly. We will need you and Lillie to hide away from view. We can deny any knowledge of your progress in the Fields of Punishment. We must play this game, for the time being, Luc can not know that Lillie is here. We all know that Luc knows what goes on in his realm but he can not see you or all will be lost. We want you two to listen in on our conversation. I believe that he will bring news of what is going on in the realm.”

  A wall to our left slides open and I look back at my parents, “How long has this been here?”

  My mother laughs, “There are so many secrets to this place. One day, you and I may know of all of them, and then again, maybe not.” She smiles and waves us into our hidey-hole. Cara whines for just a moment and I notice the look that passes between LJ and her fox. She settles back down in my mother’s lap.

  LJ looks at my mother, “What about Cara and Poppy? Shouldn’t they hide?”

  My mother smiles, “For all Luc knows they have been here with us the whole time, waiting for Dax to find you. We’re going to play that card. Now scoot! He’s almost here.” She shoos us into our hidden alcove and the panel slides shut behind us.

  Suddenly, I find that we are in very close proximity to one another. Looking down at LJ in the dimly lit hidden closet, I can’t help but think that she looks so enticing, so beautiful. I pull her close and lean in. The moment my mouth touches her lips, I groan and pull her closer still. To think that I could have lost her to the Fields. She opens to me, inviting me to deepen our kiss. A heat like I have never experienced ignites within me, and my inner demon all but purrs as we melt into one another. She has possessed me, body and soul.

  LJ pulls away, her sigh is soul-deep as she whispers, “We need to listen, Dax.” I nod and lean my forehead against hers before pulling back and cradling her in my arms.

  If someone had of said to me a month ago that I would meet my true mate, I would have laughed in their face, but here I am, whispering, “I’m going to get you out of this realm and we’re going to clear your name.”

  “Shhh, demon boy.” She smiles and places two fingers against my lips. I can’t help but kiss her fingers before nipping at them. She grins back at me, her eyes twinkling in the low light.

  “Seraphina, you look lovely as always. I see you have two very otherworldly companions with you.” Luc’s deep baritone voice from the adjacent sitting room stops our teasing.<
br />
  “Lucifer, you are always welcome in our house. Cara and Poppy are anxiously awaiting for Daxell’s return.” My mother’s voice betrays nothing. “What news have you?”

  “I’m afraid it’s not good. With all the unsanctioned comings and goings in The Underworld, I’ve been forced to close our realm off from the other realms. Mammon is none too pleased.”

  One of my fathers speaks up, “What do you mean, Luc?”

  “There will be no more coming and going between the realms until I deem it appropriate.” Luc’s voice is low and menacing. “The only reason that I allowed Mammon to acquire Vengeance, Morríganna’s whip, was because it was to stay in The Mortal Realm. It is one of the few things that can wake the phantom queen from The Fields of Punishment and therefore it was never to make it’s way back into The Underworld.”

  “Luc, why is this relevant?” My mother asks.

  “Because, my dear Seraphina, Vengeance has somehow made its way into Hell.” Luc’s retort is full of ire.

  “How is that possible?” My mother asks. I can just imagine the look of curiosity on her face.

  “The backpack,” LJ whispers for my ears only. “How else?”

  I shush her, placing my fingers over her lips in our dark alcove as they continue, I hear Luc exclaim, “That is the question, isn’t it Seraphina? Do you all understand what this means?”

  My father, I’m not sure which one, says, “She can be raised out of her stupor. That’s why you’ve closed down the realm. If the whip is here it is personal to her. If she is brought out of her punishment then she can leave this realm, just like the rest of us.”

  “Exactly! I fear that dark plans are afoot for the phantom queen’s essence. She will not survive what they have planned for her.” Luc’s voice booms into our hiding place and his concern for her well being is surprising.

  LJ looks up at me and whispers, “She means to drain her. I remember now. We have to stop Nyx.”