by Jana LaPelle
Sighing, I say, “It’s not your fault, Poppy. I know that. You were so brave just to come on this journey with me. I don’t care about the size or shape you take, I’m just grateful that you’re here.”
Poppy takes flight to hover in front of me, “There were quite a few revelations in there. Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. Since when have revelations like what we heard in those chambers ever been good? Revelations in the Christian Bible foretells how the world will end. Why don’t I remember Nemesis? Why would I only remember my previous life as Eve? Nemesis came about long before Eve, she is one of the freakin’ Primordials. How in the world did I get so screwed up and not know it? I don’t know what to think right now.”
Strong arms wrap around me from behind. “Does it matter? You said to me that you only cared about who I was, not where I came from.” Daxell stops my progress to the opening of the cave, his stubble covered jaw rasps across the tender skin of my cheek and I lean into him enjoying the subtle contrast to my smooth skin, loving all the roughness that is Daxell.
“Unfortunately, I think it does,” I answer quietly, “but I’m not sure how or why. We really don’t have time to think about any of this right now. We need to find that backpack and get it back to Luc, and then I need to get back to my home and have my mother remove this binding bracelet. Those are our priorities right now. I can’t afford to linger on Jillisandra’s revelations. Not yet.”
“Then come,” Daxell swiftly shifts to his demon and gathers me up in his arms. As we leap into the space above the waterfall I take in the small life-giving lake below us and for a moment things seem to slow. The water below me sparkles under the attention of the bioluminescence of the creatures that live within this underground cavern as well as all the many glowballs that have been lit this time of day. I can see why this place is considered an oasis and why so many have come to call this place home, but now I know my home is right here in Daxell’s arms and I snuggle into his hold.
All of us make our way to a stone structure that looks very important in this very humble place. The limestone dwelling is large and spacious on the inside. Paynga addresses two young imps who leave the room as we are all getting settled, only to return with food and beverages. Sighing, I look around the main room and ask, “What do any of you know about the Lava Fields? How can we get to them quickly? And how, pray tell, can we get to the island of discarded things?”
Daxell’s answer is quick, “I can shadow-walk us there.”
“No … You’ll not be able to shadow-walk there. ’Cause of the lava you’ll find few shadows. It’s not an option. Once you get there you’ll need to take flight and travel to the island like the rest of us.” Pipperton explains.
“What do you mean, Pip?”
“I mean that your shadow-walking will not get you far. Besides, you’re gonna need our help. We’re comin’ with you to help when you find the backpack in a horde of misplaced objects. That island is said to be a complete nightmare. Only the nasty little snatching thieves understand where to find things. So … We’re coming with you, and we’re going to send word to Luc.” Pip has never seemed so grown up until this moment. He stands resolute, his arms crossed over his massive bare red-skinned chest with his large shoulders squared. They could rival Daxell’s.
Daxell groans, and walks toward the stately fireplace that takes up most of the wall in this stone dwelling, “This is a nightmare.” He sighs.
Pip smiles a toothy grin and I glimpse the youth that I once knew when he winks at me, “That’s why we’re here.”
Stepping forward, I ask, “Okay, let’s say that you all do come with us. How are we traveling? How long will it take us to get to the Lava Fields and when do we head out?”
“Rest tonight and then we’ll head out first thing on the morrow. We’ll be traveling by flight, and it will take us at least a couple of days travel to get there from here.”
“What’s our plan?” Daxell demands. “How do we stay hidden? Lillie is considered a fugitive at this point. Shadow-walking will keep us hidden, that and it’s faster.” He all but growls and is quickly losing his temper.
I go to him and take his hand, “It’s okay, Dax, we’ll figure this out. We just may need them. Two of us have no clue as to where we are going and what we may encounter.” Turning back to the imps in the room and Poppy who is sitting quietly on the rustic looking wooden table looking like a bobblehead as she follows our conversation, I ask, “So, what’s the plan?”
The three males look to each other before Fynwrick moves forward, “Can you follow us in the shadows, Daxell? At least for a time?”
“Yes, I should be able to, but here’s the thing, it’s like being in between and it’s not good to remain within the shadows for very long. When I said that it was fast, I meant fast. Instead of two days travel, we would be looking at maybe a few hours tops and even then I would try to break up our travel time in the shadow world, lest we lose our way, especially for LJ’s sake.” Daxell’s jaw is ticking and his body is as tightly wound as a bowstring.
Fynwrick nods, “Okay then.” He walks out of the room, and I’m left to wonder if that’s all he has to add when he comes back into the room with a long rolled up piece of aged parchment. Unrolling the scroll-like paper, he motions us over to the table and lays down a map. Pointing to what looks like a mound, he continues, “We’re here, the Fields of Punishment are to the left and are ever-changing based on the need of the fields. So, we’re not going over the Fields. See the wooded area to the right? We’ll exit here into the woods, not the fields. From there we will follow the river downstream past the waterfall. See where the river hooks farther to the right, avoiding the desert? We will keep heading toward the Barren Lands. We’ll stop here to rest up for the next leg of the journey. Daxell, we can meet you there, if you would prefer to shadow-walk the first leg of the journey. That will give you more time on the morrow to prepare. We can leave out first thing and travel the day through. The Lava Fields are just beyond the Barren Lands. See?” He asks pointing to an area that looks like water on the map, except that the water looks to be boiling and bubbling.
Spotting a large island in the center of what appears to be a huge lake of lava, I point, “Is that where we are going?” I ask in alarm. “What about the Fire Demons?”
Pip grins that sharp pointy grin of his and says with humor, “Easy. We traverse the Lava Fields without getting toasted by the Fire Demons! We’re flying. We shouldn’t disturb them. Not much, I wouldn’t think.” He trails off.
“The Fire Demons are nothing to be trifled with,” Daxell declares.
Paynga speaks up, “It’s our understanding that the Fire Demons have grown agitated as of late, Pipperton. You will all need to be vigilant on this journey. I will be heading out on the morrow to carry word to Luc and hopefully, he can intervene if the need arises. Mammon is growing more ambitious with each passing click. Luc will not be able to look a blind eye at his growing numbers for long.”
Nodding I ask, “Back to the Fire Demons, I’m assuming that the only thing that can fend off these fiery creatures is water?”
Rhynik nods his agreement, “But there won’t be any water to be found out there unless you can pull water with you across the Barren Lands. If not, we will have to plot our course carefully as to not disrupt them.”
Shaking my head, I look down at my bound wrist and hold it up, “I can’t do anything with this on. So we will have to tread carefully. What about the demons of discarded things? How can they live surrounded by all that lava? Do they fly?”
Daxell shakes his head, “They are immune to fire. They can teleport, or trace as it were, but only to obtain the object that has been discarded and then back to their home.”
“So, they just pop up willy nelly here in The Underworld, snag their prize and pop back to this island and the item in question is forever kept there?”
“That about sums it up.”
“Then how the demon’s hell are we goi
ng to find a nondescript backpack on an island that is full of mismatched things? There have to be a gazillion things in their greedy little hands.”
Ifind that I can’t sleep. So, for a time, I just lay beside Daxell and watch his chest rise and fall. Wishing with all my might that our connection that was forged not that long ago was still open. I only get bits and pieces, here and there, more emotion than anything else. Now that our bond has been created and we’ve ascended, whatever majic helped us during that time has ebbed. My protective hedge, the bloodstone that lies between my breasts continues to try to temper the binding cuff and I fear that the majic in the stone will be completely spent before I can get this damn bracelet removed.
Not wanting to disturb Daxell, I slip out of our bed and wrap a blanket from the foot of the bed around me. As quietly as I can, I make my way out of the dwelling that we are occupying until it’s time for us to leave. Jillisandra’s words from earlier today haunt me as I wander through the dimly lit alleyways of the Borough this time of night. When I look up, I expect to see the stars and the moon but all I see is an inky darkness. Like my father, the sound of rushing water draws me to the underground waterfall. I make to sit on the slightly damp ground of the shore and pull my knees to my chest to rest my head on them. Just listening. Contemplating everything that I have learned thus far.
Long, warm, muscled legs slide in around me and instinctively I lean back into Daxell’s chest, and ask, “Did you follow me? I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I missed you. I woke and the bed was empty. You call to me, even in my sleep, honey cheeks. What’s wrong? Why can’t you sleep?”
“This is just the beginning. Isn’t it? What she said … This is bigger than The Morrígan. This is bigger than even what my parents thought. What will happen if all the Primordials that have been sleeping awake? I can’t even wrap my mind around it. Daxell, they went to sleep for a reason. I can only imagine that at the beginning of time that things were extreme and so were these Primordial deities. There hadn’t been enough time to pass, so, time hadn’t worked its majic to soften or temper them, if you will, as it often does. Do you know what I mean?” I ask as I snuggle further into his hold.
Daxell kisses my cheek and nuzzles into my neck, and murmurs, “Like grief, time tends to lessen the loss, even though the loss of that loved one remains. Is that what you mean?”
“Yes, exactly. So these Primordials were there in the beginning before time could work its majic. Not much was going on in the beginning, I’m assuming. Is that why they went to sleep? I have so many questions. I can remember being Eve, but not Nemesis. Why?”
“I think that I may have an answer to that.” He says, running his hands over me and lifting me so he can cradle me in his arms. Laying my head on his shoulder, I wait for him to continue. “ Nemesis was created with a single purpose and from what Clotho’s said, or Jillisandra, whatever you want to call her, you are now different. Maybe, fragmented? I’m not sure that’s the right word, but here goes my theory. Nemesis went to sleep before the other gods and goddesses and the Fallen came to be, as per the creator’s plan. Then along comes Eve. Once again, as per the creator’s plan, Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge. Once Eve died, her soul was released back to the creator and from there, you, Adam, and the creator concocted a plan to set things right further along the timeline. The creator knew that Nemesis was flawed from her inception and that Eve would be reborn again to take up the mantle, but this time, the creator wanted a just and gentle soul. One that would not pass judgment so harshly, one that had sinned herself, one that had learned from difficult lessons from her previous life. Therefore making it unnecessary for you to remember all that Nemesis was, forevermore fundamentally changed for all time.”
The tears that follow are not something that I can hold in check, and I whisper, “Thank you for that. I hope you’re right.” I hold him close and he crushes me to him. “I love you, demon boy.”
“I love you too, honey cheeks.”
38
Acceptance
(Daxell)
After we got back to our temporary housing, I put Lillie to bed. She was exhausted. Worried. Unsure of herself, and … She was scared. God. I hate that she’s scared. I would do anything to release her from her fears. For the rest of our evening, I just held her close and wished that I could alleviate her worst fears. If only for a moment. For the first time in my life, I realize that all my resentment, all my anger at being born part demon is nothing compared to what Lillie is dealing with right now. Hell? If it weren’t for her, I’d still be wallowing in the umbrage of my lineage. I’ve been nothing but a selfish bastard for most of my adult life and had no clue how horrible I had been to my mother at times, but Lillie changed all of that, and now I vow to do whatever it takes to make these recent revelations easier for her to bear as we move forward. I place a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving her to her rest.
The plan that everyone agreed upon yesterday was for the imps to leave out in the morning and make it to the spot just before the Barren Lands to layover for the next day’s journey. Poppy and Pip stopped by before they left out with last-minute instructions. They wanted to see Lillie but I informed them that she was not to be disturbed. Her sleep had been fitful and I wanted her well-rested for what is to come. When she finally woke she was unusually quiet as she packed a small bag for our travels. I watched as she armed herself with daggers strapped to her legs and even her arms. I kept my mouth shut when she swore over dropping one of her blades. She went about her business before turning on me.
“I was awake when they were here earlier. Is it bad of me that I didn’t want to see them before they left? They’re doing this for me, to help me. I just couldn’t … that was so selfish. Hiding away like that. I’m not sure that I’m ready for this, Dax? How in the world did my mother take on so much when she was so young and ignorant of The Otherworld and all its mysteries? She was two years younger than I am now and she had just lost the only mother that she had ever known, and yet she …” LJ pauses, searching for her next words. “My mother is the strongest woman I know. I can only hope to live up to her expectations, but I’m scared that I won’t, and of what is to come.”
“I know,” I gather my mate into my arms and kiss the top of her head. “I happen to think that you are as strong as your mother or even stronger. I don’t know all of her story, but I know this, your parents have faith in you and what you are capable of, as do I. You can do this and so much more. You’re strong, you’re just, as well as loving, resilient, need I go on?” I smile into her hair as I hold her close to me taking in the honey cream scent of her tresses. For a moment, we just stand there holding one another.
Pulling back, she looks up at me, her eyes glistening, “Thank you, Daxell. I just want to get this done. You know? I need to get this binding bracelet removed. I want to be able to feel our connection to one another again. I know it was brief, but I miss it. I feel incomplete without it.” She wavers, “I need to fully take on this role, I have work to do and yet, I’m stuck here. My abilities bound. Nyx will pay for what she’s done, but most of all she needs to be stopped. I don’t think that she has yet to realize exactly who she is. Not yet. She just wants her mother’s power. What was it that Jillisandra said? “The daughter will seek the mother, but the mother must not be raised, lest chaos be unleashed upon all the realms.” I think that is the key to her awakening. She needs Morríganna’s power. Her essence. Once she gets it, there may be no stopping her. I have no idea what she will do when she awakens. I have no doubt that Nyx will assimilate her past life easily enough because I don’t think that this her is much different from the Nyx that came before. Not to mention that she has cultivated and brainwashed an entire order to do her bidding.”
“Together we will see this through, LJ. From this point forward, always together. Okay?” Leaning down our foreheads meet and for a moment we just stay there.
“You’re right. Together.”
Grinning, I t
ry to lighten her mood, “Not to mention that we have your crazy fearless brother, a righteous sprite, your sassy sister, a young druid, the backing of The Otherworld and The Underworld’s infamous prince of darkness. We are not to be trifled with.”
Her lips twitch, “You’re right, we should give our little group a name.”
Leaning in, I capture her lips in a kiss and then whisper, “Retribution, princess, we’re Retribution.”
She kisses me back, and murmurs against my lips, “How could I forget.” Pulling back, she asks, “If I’m Retribution and Lachlan was once Adam, then what does that make my brother? I wonder.” She pauses. “Is it time to meet up with our tiny troup?” Her unwavering determined blue eyes find mine as she ponders a question that neither of us has the answer to at the moment.
Nodding, I murmur, “Yeah. It’s time that I shadow walk us from here to where we are to camp tonight. You ready?”
Cupping my cheek in her hand, she says, “I can face anything if we’re together. Come on, demon boy. Let’s go meet up with our friends.”
Leaving the shelter of our dwelling here in the borough, I take to the air with LJ wrapped in my arms. Shadow-walking was not difficult, considering that we started out in a cave. I’m finding that my demon and I are no longer at odds with one another. We are beginning to merge, and are no longer completely separate entities like I once thought. The lines between us that were once so clear before are beginning to blur as we hold our mate close and traverse the shadows. Once we leave the refuge of the caves, the shadow-realm is not so dark and Lillie allows her curiosity to grow.
“It looks so different here. Most everything is shades of gray, black and white, with some odd colors. So strange. Tell me that it will not be that much longer.” She says while craning her head to look around.
