Finding Retribution

by Jana LaPelle

  About that time, Paynga shows up with pastries. Daxell smiles and grabs what looks like a cream horn, nodding to her in gratitude before he leaves, saying, “Thank you, Paynga.”

  “You’re welcome, lord Daxell. Pipperton, Rhynik and my mate, Fynwrick are waiting for you to join them outside this dwelling.”

  I wait till Daxell leaves the house and round on Paynga, “Your mate? Fynwrick? When did this happen? We need all the details. Don’t leave anything out.” I demand as I grab a delicious looking pastry that looks a lot like a blueberry danish.

  Paynga sighs, her regal features cloud a bit. She looks conflicted and I sit back waiting for her to continue. Where the male imps are all shades of red, she is the absence of color, her complexion is an alabaster white, with some charcoal shadings here and there that accent her defined high cheekbones, her collarbone, and shadings on her wings. Her black horns shine a glossy black and curl back over her head before turning up. Her glossy silver mane tumbles down her back with streaks of black here and there. Honestly, she is stunning, but there has always been a sadness about her that has not been missed by me. Looking up, her crystalline blue eyes meet mine, “Fynwrick has been patient with me and he is so good to me. Our mating is new for both of us …”

  Poppy hops up, “I hear a but in there. What’s going on ,Paypay?”

  She hesitates before blurting out, “I feel as though I’m not being true to my binding to my first mate, Pipperton’s father. Rhynik has befriended Fynwrick but …” She trails off.

  Moving to her side, I take her delicately clawed hand in my own, “Paynga, you deserve to be happy. What would Pipperton’s father say? Would he not want you to find a loving and caring mate?”

  “He would, I know that I’m being irrational, and Fynwrick makes me happy, he really does. I never intended to be anything more to him than a caregiver once he was found. You see, he fell from the City of Depravity’s arena after having been pushed out into open air by his opponent after breaking his wing. Fynwrick deserves someone to be utterly devoted to him after what he’s been through. As a slave, in that horrible place, they beat him and degraded him. They’ve taken so much from him and he deserves better than me for a mate.”

  “Oh PayPay, come here.” I pull her into a hug and whisper, “Don’t you understand? Fynwrick was put in your path for a reason. You have such a gentle hand and heart that you are perfect for him. I’m not saying that you should forget your first mate, I know that you will always cherish that time that you had with him, but it’s time to put that part of your life in the past. It’s time to move on. Fynwrick was placed in your path to help you heal as you were placed in his path to help him heal.”

  Paynga pulls back and nods with a sad smile, all the while quicksilver tears trace down her cheeks, “You’re right, Lillie. You’re so very wise at such a young age. It’s time that I give Fynwrick the mate that he deserves. He’s handsome and strong, caring and loving, and so very attentive with me. Thank you for helping me see past some of my insecurities.” Wiping her tears, she smiles a genuine smile and says, “Enough about me. How are your parents?”

  “Knocked up. That’s how they are,” Poppy interjects with a snicker.

  “Knocked up? I don’t understand.” She shakes her head at the term.

  Laughing, I say, “I don’t expect you do. It’s slang that’s used in The Mortal Realm to indicate that someone is pregnant. I get to become a big sister all over again.”

  “You’re mother’s expecting? That’s wonderful news.” She beams.

  The rest of our time we spend just getting caught up on family news and for a short period, I just enjoy hanging out with Paynga and Poppy. Paynga tells us more about the Borough and all those that dwell here. I’m surprised to hear that there are actually some humans that somehow found themselves here in The Underworld and were lucky enough to find their way here. Evidently, this little slice of an oasis is totally self-sufficient. Everyone has a role or job that is required of them for this place to run smoothly. Sighing, I realize that time is almost up and soon we have to dive back into our problem of finding the elusive backpack.

  36

  Seer of Misfortune

  (Daxell)

  Pipperton quickly introduces me to his uncle Rhynik, and then Fynwrick before we head down a cobblestone alleyway. Away from LJ. I slow my pace and look back over my shoulder at the dwelling that we slept in last night and can’t help but wonder if I should stay with her. Pipperton senses my unease and backtracks to where I stand rooted to the ground.

  “Momma knows where we’re headin’. As soon as they wrap things up on their end, then the three of them will be comin’ to join us.” Pipperton claps me on the shoulder and I reluctantly turn to follow the other imps retreating backs.

  “Just where are we going, Pip?” My irritation at the separation from LJ is still evident in the growl of my voice.

  Pip smiles, “We have a seer within our midst. She is not always able to see what we ask of her, but those times that she does she is remarkably accurate. She’s young and born of humans, but she may be able to help us with our dilemma.”

  “Then, by all means, lead the way. The sooner we are able to locate the backpack that Nyx sent with LJ when she forced her into this realm the better. The sooner we can get out of here and get her to Ashlinn. I want the binding bracelet off of her, sooner rather than later. She’s vulnerable to her enemies as long as she wears it.”

  Pipperton looks surprised, “You mean that Lillie is wearing a binding cuff? How did I not know that? She doesn’t seem to be as weighed down as Mister was when he wore a binding cuff. Are you sure? How were the two of you able to ascend if she is bound?” He demands.

  Scrubbing my hand over the day-old scruff on my face, I slow our pace and lower my voice, “We believe that the pendant that was gifted to LJ by my family before we appeared at Mammon’s has acted as a protective hedge. She says that the pendant pulses with warmth and has done so since she came into contact with the bloodstone.”

  “Ahhh, the House colors of Lust and Envy. I remember seeing it on her. Hmm, you could be onto somethin’ there. Come on Daxell, we’re almost there.” Turning abruptly, he says, “I forgot to tell ya, you’re going to need your wings, our seer is tucked away in that cave just above the waterfall.”

  “Then I will wait for LJ to join us. She may have gained wings when she ascended but I don’t think that she will be able to fly until that damn bracelet has been removed from her wrist.” I growl.

  We all gather to the side of the underground river. Fynwrick speaks for the first time, his voice rough and hoarse, almost as if he has suffered some kind of vocal cord damage, “We will go with you. Your LJ is a goddess born of this realm, we will do our best to protect her from harm until you can deliver the missing item to Luc and then leave this place. Only once she is at full strength can she return. This world we live in is cruel and unyielding. She must be protected until which time she can protect herself.” Rhynik nods in agreement.

  “Thank you, you have no idea how much your support means to us, but I think that too many of us traveling together will draw attention to what we are trying to do. I can shadow-walk affording us some cover from prying eyes and those that are looking to cause mischief. In fact, the three of us should be able to leave the cover of these caverns cloaked within the shadows. No one will see us leave this place. So your secret should be safe.”

  Lillie, Paynga, and Poppy arrive about that time and she’s eager to meet with the seer, but I see her eying Paynga curiously and I follow her gaze. The she-imp walks directly over to Fynwrick and reaches up to caress the scar on his face that runs from his left eye to his chin, it’s a wonder that he didn’t lose his eye in that mishap. She smiles and runs her fingers gently over his lips. The poor male is utterly captivated by the female in front of him. She whispers, “I’m ready, Fynwrick. I’m sorry it took me so long to put the past to rest.”

  Fynwrick pulls her close and sighs, “Paynga.�
� The kiss that follows has most of us looking away to give the couple privacy, all except for LJ. The smile on her face is radiant and for a moment I can’t help but wonder if she is channeling Cliodna, the goddess of love.

  LJ’s happiness bleeds through our bond, and I realize that we should not be able to connect like we have because of the binding bracelet. Our connection is sporadic and I wonder how much longer the bloodstone will be able to protect her at this rate. I let her happiness wash over me and wonder what it will feel like once the bracelet has been removed. Will I be able to handle her emotions? Will we have to temper our bond? I realize that I have no idea what to expect.

  “Hey? What are you brooding on?” She reaches up to smooth my brow. Her enchanting smile is contagious.

  “Just you, honey cheeks. Are you ready for this?” Sitting my worries aside, I pull her close enjoying the feel of her so close to me.

  “Come on you two, time to see the prognosticator!” She draws the word out. Poppy’s enthusiasm is obnoxiously annoying and I growl my response.

  “Come on, demon boy, let’s see what this prophet has to say.”

  Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close and whisper, “You ready?”

  Her smile lights up her gorgeous face, “Let’s do this.”

  Judging the distance from the ground to the entrance of the cave, it’s such a short distance that I have only to leap into the air and with two short downstrokes of my demon’s wings, we are in the entrance of the cave, following our imp friends and Poppy. My shift is seamless from demon back to myself. We are beginning to trust one another with LJ’s safekeeping. Smiling, I place her on her feet, “After you, princess.”

  She grabs my hand, “We go together, demon boy. We’re partners. Remember?”

  “Come on then, we have a seer to visit.” As we walk hand in hand down the dimly lit tunnel away from the cave entrance, the roar of the waterfall becomes distant. It doesn’t take us long to come upon a tidy dwelling that is warm and cozy. The glowballs are not only a source of a warm golden light that fills the space but a source of heat as well. The walls of the cave are decorated with all matter of quilts, rugs, and even drapes in a kaleidoscope of colors, creating the illusion of a much more comfortable living space than I would have thought possible inside this cave. The ceiling of this grotto dwelling is painted to reflect the vast universe, twinkling with majical stars, nebulas, and solar systems. A sight that most in this realm have never seen. To the right is a curtained alcove that contains a large comfortable looking sleeping pallet, the drapes have been pulled back as if framing a window. There are pillows everywhere softening the look of this cave-dwelling. The female we are seeking is sitting upon a cushion in the lotus position in front of a black tranquil pool of water. She’s young, her hair the color of shiny copper with a prominent platinum blonde streak. Her eyes are all white as she manipulates her delicate hands over the placid liquid in front of her. It’s as if she’s in a trance, viewing different scenes in her scrying glass that none of us can see. Pulling my gaze from the seer, I look down at LJ, no longer sure if I want to hear what this female has to say.

  Pipperton whistles low under his breath, “That’s different.”

  “What do you mean, Pip,” Poppy asks quietly, hovering just above his shoulder.

  “I ain’t never seen her eyes all white like that before.” His voice is quiet, almost reverent.

  The seer lifts her face to me and LJ, her opaque gaze is unnerving, “Come. Sit. I have been expecting you.” Her young face is devoid of all emotion. She is beautiful in a cold sort of way. Her hair tumbles down her back in copper and blonde curls. She is delicate as if she will break if anyone holds her too tightly, and her eyes are oddly disconcerting. Her hands continue to move as if she is seeking threads or strands of ribbon as her deft fingers work to weave whatever she is seeing with her third eye.

  LJ squeezes my hand and pulls me toward the seer. We sit opposite her across the four foot round circular pool. Poppy has gone oddly quiet, and the imps take a back seat to all of us. My mate leans forward, “What is your name, may I ask?” Her cadence quiet and soothing.

  The young seer just smiles serenely, “They call me Jillisandra, that is the name I was given upon my birth, but I have awakened now. I am no longer just Jillisandra, I am also Clotho, one of the Moirai born of our mother Nyx before the beginning of time.” She pauses, allowing us time for her words to sink in. Unblinking, her colorless eyes meet LJ’s and then she looks in my direction. I’m trying to remember where I’ve heard the name Clotho and Moirai when she laughs, “Everyone has forgotten us in these modern times. Chaos and her children the Primordial deities.” She sighs, “That is to be expected. Time,” she raises her delicate hand to the heavens and gestures about as if she is caressing the stars above her before she continues, “Time has brought us here. The Primordial beings are beginning to awake once more, but not all of the Primordials will be the same. Some have been fundamentally changed. LJ? Is it? You have recently awoken, but you are more LJ than Nemesis. You are not the same as you once were. This is how it was meant to be.”

  LJ leans forward, “What do you mean, Jillisandra? I am who I am , but you are talking in riddles.”

  “Yes, you are. You are who you are meant to be this time around, but make no mistake, you were once Nemesis, as well as Eve, and now you are LJ.”

  “But what does that mean?” LJ asks in frustration. Her agitation seeps into my very soul.

  Jillisandra or Clotho sighs, “In the beginning, Chaos bore several children. Among them was our mother, Nyx, who in turn bore her children and shaped them into what they were born to be. You were born to be Retribution. You were Nemesis. You were unyielding in your judgment of others. You were your mother’s daughter, cold and heartless. Just as I was. Now? You have been born to take on the role of Retribution with … I dare say a kinder heart. You are a combination of all that you were before and all that you have been raised to be in this lifetime.”

  The Moirai! Finally, I remember and swear under my breath, “You’re one of the original Fates!” I exclaim.

  She smiles serenely, “Yes, young god. You are correct, but you should know that if something happens to LJ, then you will receive a very quick demotion. Your current status is linked to your mate, so protect her well.”

  “I don’t care about my status. I care about my mate. Where are your sisters?” I demand.

  “It would appear that we were deemed too dangerous together so in our sleep we were separated. I woke, reborn here in The Underworld. I suspect that my sisters are in either The Otherworld or in The Overworld or maybe even in The Mortal Realm.” She sighs in frustration, “I can not see their fate. It eludes me for reasons I do not understand.”

  LJ comes to life, “You mean that you are one of the original Fates? By the gods, that means that you can see what no one else can see. Jillisandra, we need to find the backpack that I was sent here with. Can you tell us where to find it?”

  She smiles slowly, “Of all the things you could ask of me, you want to know about the Trojan Horse that was sent with you by our mother?” Her laughter is youthful and yet I can sense Lillie’s agitation growing. Clearly, Jillisandra has retained her previous persona, Clotho, all wrapped up in a little package of a teenage girl.

  “Jillisandra, this is no laughing matter,” LJ chides, “we need to know where to find that bag and we need to know if Morríganna’s weapon, Vengeance is hidden within it. And for future reference, Nyx is no mother to me. The only mother I have ever known is the mother that bore me and my brother in this lifetime.”

  Jillisandra studies her for a moment, cocking her head to the side, her all-white eyes are coldly assessing, “Nyx is indeed Nemesis’ mother. Nemesis is part of who you are now. Those are the cold hard facts, sister. Once our mother fully awakens she will try to sway you to her cause. This I have seen.”

  “I will not -”

  The seer puts her hand up shushing LJ, “I grow weary of th
is conversation and must rest. I’ve said all that needs to be said. The answer to the question you seek is simply this, the demons of discarded things have of course taken your bag, but you already knew that and are now wasting my time. I will grant you this last bit of information. You must travel to their treasure-trove. They have amassed quite the collection of discarded items since the beginning of time here in The Underworld. Their island is located in the center of the lava fields. The more important the item, the harder it will be to find. Know this,” her voice takes on an otherworldly quality and resonates around the chamber, “the daughter will seek the mother, but the mother must not be raised, lest Chaos be unleashed upon all the realms.” Her eerie pronouncement echos around us. Then the Fate blinks and when her eyes open once more, her brilliant violet pupils are staring back at us for the first time, and she pronounces. “Now leave me. I have nothing more to add.”

  “But -” LJ sputters.

  The Fate narrows her eyes on LJ, “You squandered your one question. I have been more than generous with my time. Heed my words carefully, sister. Now go!” She demands.

  Her dismissal is clear and the lot of us stands to file out of her domain, treading quietly back the way we came, leaving the young reborn Moirai to her endless weaving. What an exhausting existence. LJ is quiet and disturbed. She walks ahead of me and I let her go, knowing she needs a few minutes to digest all that has been said in the seer’s chambers.

  37

  Are Revelations Ever Good?

  (Lillie Joanna)

  The witch back in those chambers was at best unnerving, at worst? Well, her parting words have been difficult to deal with. I need to talk to Mama and Da. I may have ascended while here in The Underworld and have taken up the mantle that I have always been meant to bear, but I still need their advice, and I still need their love, because right now I’m feeling a lot lost.

  Poppy lands gently on my shoulder and plops down. She snuggles into the crook of my neck and wraps her tiny arms around me there, trying her damnedest to give me the hug she knows I need. She murmurs against my neck, “I wish I could give you a proper hug, Lillie JoBug. I don’t like this place and I certainly don’t like not being able to shift to my faerie form when you need me.”