Owen nodded. “True. Never heard you cuss a blue streak before. Not bad…”
Millicent shrugged and smiled.
“Alright,” Owen continued. “We’ve had a bit of a setback. Kane’s aware but I’m guessing everything else is still under control?”
“Yes,” Jett replied. “Tucker’s men swept me up at the checkpoint we discussed and brought me here.”
“Good, good…” Owen nodded. “Obviously, undetected at this point.”
“Obviously… yeah.” Jett replied.
“Where is it, boy?” Owen asked.
Jett reached into his pocket. He grabbed onto the golden chain and a within a couple of seconds produced the contents for everyone to see.
“The Amulet of Meruvis…” Tucker said as he sat forward from his reclined position. “How did you?”
“Dylan…” Owen interrupted. “He gave it to me. Knew something wasn’t right. Turned out he was correct.”
“We thought it was lost forever,” Millicent said. “So you had it all of these years?”
“Yep.” Owen nodded.
“I don’t understand,” Daniella interrupted. “It’s beautiful and everything but what’s its purpose?”
“The stone comes from the region where our clan started. It was overrun by miners on the hunt for gold.” Tucker began. “The humans chased us out. As a result, the clan fractioned and splintered into many small groups. Most of the shifters from then died quickly once we were forced out. Our bodies weren’t prepared for life outside the safety of the ancient grounds. Human disease spread and many were lost…”
“That’s so sad…” Tricia replied.
Tucker nodded. “Yes, in fact, of the thousands of shifter that fled, scarcely a hundred remained twenty years later.” He said as he looked at Jett. “But, there was one man that guided them all… Your great grandfather, Elijah. That necklace belonged to him. When it was discovered, the stone in the center made the papers. Even then, it was extremely valuable. Today, I have no idea what something like that might be worth to humans. Hundreds of thousands, a million… who knows? But, to us, it is priceless.”
“Wow,” Daniella replied. “I had no idea.”
Owen nodded. “Well, Kane does. You can be certain of that.”
“So he wants to take it away… to sell it?” Tricia asked.
Tucker shrugged. “Where Kane is concerned, anything is possible. I know he searches for it. Second only to his desire to find young Jett here. It is the ultimate symbol of the leader of our clan and something which Kane has never possessed.”
“May I?” Millicent asked as she looked at Jett.
“Sure…” Jett replied as he handed the necklace to her.
Millicent took it in her hands and as she did, Tucker leaned over to examine it as well.
“The last time I saw this,” Millicent began. “Your father wore it, Jett.”
She smiled as she admired the stone’s beauty. “He was such a good person. If it wasn’t for him…” her voice drifted off.
Owen and Tucker glanced at one another as she spoke. All of a sudden, Millicent stood from her chair, visibly upset. She handed the necklace over to Tucker.
“Excuse me for a minute…” she said as she turned to walk out of the room.
“Milly…” Tucker began. He gave the necklace to Owen and said, “I’ll be back in a second.”
After they’d both left, Jett looked at Owen. “What was that all about? Why is Millicent so upset?”
“It’s not really my place to say.”
“Why not?” Jett asked. “If it has something to do with why all of this is going on, we should know about it.”
Owen winced and rubbed his chin.
“I reckon she knows it had to come out between us all sooner or later.” He said.
“What?” Jett asked. “What happened?”
“Well,” Owen began. “Years ago, when we were all very young… Even younger than you kids… Something happened between Kane and Millicent.”
“Go on…” Jett replied.
“You see there was a time when she and Kane were more than just friends,” he said. “Young love and such… In any case, they spent a lot of time together one summer and one thing led to another. Next thing we all knew they were boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Jett and the women listened intently as Owen continued.
“So, a bunch of us were having a campfire down at Harlon’s Pond one evening and they disappeared into the woods.” He said. “No one thought much of it until we heard her…”
Jett leaned forward. “What? What did you hear?”
“We heard Millicent scream for help…” he said as he turned and looked over his shoulder. “It was loud at first but then the sound muffled almost right away. Dylan and I were the only ones around so we took off in the direction of the sound.”
Dylan felt like he knew exactly where the sound came from. Turned out he was right and before we knew it, we came upon them.
“Well, what did you see?” Daniella asked.
Owen bit his lip in disgust. By the look on his face, the event might as well have happened forty seconds ago, not forty years. He hesitated and shook his head as he fought to get the words out to describe the sight he witnessed.
“He tried to rape me…” Millicent said as she reappeared through the doorway.
***
Owen leaned back against the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. Tucker came up from behind Millicent and put his arm around her.
“He what?” Daniella said.
She walked into the room. Tucker trailed behind. She sat back down on the couch with Owen on one side and Tucker on the other.
“Oh my God…” Tricia whispered.
“I’m sorry Milly,” Owen said. “I shouldn’t have…”
“It’s okay,” she replied as she rubbed him on the knee. “It was a long time ago. I apologize for walking out the way I did. It’s not something I’ve ever fully gotten past especially since I am reminded of it every time I see him.”
Daniella didn’t know what to say. She glanced at Jett but he didn’t notice her do it.
“If it wasn’t for your father,” Millicent said. “I wouldn’t have been able to stop him. He was much too strong for me.”
“What happened to him?” Jett asked. “Was he punished for it?”
Owen shook his head. “Our mother was very ill, near death. Of course, Dylan told his parents, as well as Milly’s, what happened but they made the decision to do nothing until she passed. However, after she died, the clan relocated to Fesser’s Grove and it sort of got swept under the rug.”
“That’s fucking despicable…” Jett said. “What a lowlife scumbag.”
“Imagine having him as a brother.” Owen replied. “Anyway, your father and the rest of us never forgot. He vowed Kane would pay for what he did but by the time Dylan was in a position to do anything about it well…”
“He died all of a sudden.” Daniella replied.
Owen nodded and looked at Millicent. “I haven’t forgotten, Milly. And I know Tucker hasn’t either.”
“I know,” she said as she smiled at him. “You’re a good man Owen, and Tucker, the best mate any woman could hope to have. Kane has done so much wrong to so many, including Jett, that I don’t see my situation as anything special any longer. I just want him to get what he has coming to him. Once and for all.”
“He will.” Owen replied. “If it’s the last thing I do.”
The group sat in silence for several seconds until at last Tucker spoke up…
“Owen,” he said. “This plan of yours… I have to be honest. I don’t see how it’s going to work. Not in the shape you’re in right now. Kane is too powerful. When is the last time you even battled?”
Owen shrugged. “Thirty years give or take…”
“So you think you have the stamina to take him on and last long enough for…” Tucker began. He shook his head and stood up from the couch. “Jett has never e
ven been in a fight before. I think I let my sentimentality get the better of me here. The first battle you want to put him in is against Kane? There’s no way this will work…”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Owen interrupted as he pointed towards Jett. “He… is every bit the warrior his father was, and more.”
“What!” Tucker exclaimed. “How do you know?”
“Because I do.” He said. “Now, if you don’t want to be involved, that’s fine but the plan is what it is. Unless you have a better one, then I suggest we get to work on executing it because there isn’t much time at all. We still have to get back to the cell before anyone notices we’re gone. The longer we fight about this, the less time we have.”
“Enough!” Millicent said. “Tucker… Owen is… right or wrong… is the only one with a plan. I say we get to it. It might be the last chance we have to get rid of that monster once and for all.”
Tucker crossed his arms at his chest and looked down at them. He hesitated for a moment but ultimately sat down on the couch once more.
“Alright,” he said. “I’m in. For good this time.”
“Good,” Owen replied. “So let’s figure out where we’re at…”
Over the next thirty minutes or so, Owen and Jett recapped the plan they’d hatched prior to leaving Pine Hill. It turns out it was always Owen’s intention to be caught. Of course, having Daniella and Tricia in the middle of it wasn’t part of it but now that they were there, they had to modify the plan. And by modify, it meant that the two of them had to be sneaked out of clan territory, somehow.
“What?” Daniella interrupted. “No way, I’m not going anywhere… No.”
“Daniella,” Jett said. “Don’t make this any more difficult than it already is. Look, you’ve seen how dangerous he is. This is no place for you, or Tricia. We’re lucky to have a second chance to get you to safety. Don’t put us all at risk by being selfish.”
“How can you say that?” She replied. “I’m not being…”
“He’s right, Daniella…” Millicent interrupted. “I, more than anyone, admire your courage for coming here but what’s about to happen here… the violence… and probably death… is not something you should be here to see.”
Daniella’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes scanned every face in the room for signs of an ally but none existed. Least of all her friend Tricia who’d been through much more than she bargained for since she left Pine Hill on their ill-fated journey.
“But…” Daniella uttered. “I…”
The room remained silent as she struggled for words. It was clear that whether she liked it or not, everyone else agreed with Jett and she had to go for good this time.
***
“Hey…” Jett said as he stood and looked down at her. “Come with me.”
Daniella nodded and got up. They left the living room and walked down the hallway.
“In here…” Jett said while he pointed to a door on his right.
They walked inside the room and as they did, he gestured for her to sit on a bed in the middle of the room. After he closed the door behind them, he came over and sat next to her. She brushed a stray tear off her cheek as he scooted close.
“What’s going on with you?” He said. “You’ve got to tell me. Your behavior isn’t making any sense at all.”
She groaned and replied, “What do you want me to say, Jett? That I was a fool for coming here? That I am stupid for putting everything you and Owen and trying to do in jeopardy? I know all of that already…”
“Well, then if you know it, why did you come?” he asked as he leaned in close to her.
“What do you mean? Because I am in love with you and I don’t want you to get hurt or… worse.” She said as his hand came to rest upon her leg. The touch of it against her thigh was warm, reassuring and something she never wanted to be without. She closed her eyes and squinted in effort to keep the tears at bay.
“And I love you, Daniella, more than anything,” he replied. “And that’s why you cannot stay. I explained all of this to you in Pine Hill but you didn’t listen to me.”
She turned her head away from him as he continued to speak…
“What you didn’t know then but do now is that the futures of many more are at-stake than just mine and yours.”
“Plus one more…” she mumbled under her breath.
“What was that?” He asked.
“Hmm?” She said.
“You said, there’s one more…” he replied. “One more what?”
Daniella shrugged. “What? I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did. I heard it.” He asserted. “What are you talking about?”
Daniella jumped to her feet.
“Nothing!” She exclaimed. “I told you I didn’t say anything. I’m through with this conversation, Jett.”
She turned to try to walk away but he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back towards him.
“Let… go!” She demanded.
“No, damn it!” He yelled as he pulled her back towards him. On the verge of a fall, she screamed, “Jett, the baby!”
He leapt to his feet, caught her and as they came to the ground, he fell between her and the floor, cushioning the blow. After the impact, they lay motionless for a moment with her flat on top of his chest. Daniella lifted her head and peeked through her hair only to see him glaring back at her.
“What the hell did you just say?” He asked. He’d never looked at her that way before. She couldn’t tell if he wanted to strangle her or embrace her. His eyes were round, focused and filled with intent.
“I…” she stammered as she tried to stand.
In an instant, he grabbed her by the forearms and pinned her in place.
“No, no way…” he scolded as he shook his head back and forth. “Tell me what you said. Right now.”
Daniella exhaled, her head dropped. “I… I’m pregnant, Jett.”
For a moment, he remained still. Then she felt the touch of his hand against her cheek as he lifted her head up from his chest. As she drew her eyes upwards to meet his, Daniella wasn’t sure what to expect. As far as she knew, nothing good at all would come of such a union.
But for the moment, at least, Jett’s expression conveyed the opposite. A huge smile came to his face as he opened his arms and motioned for her to come towards his face. Daniella crawled up and snuggled into the space between his neck and ear. As he started to speak, his voice vibrated in his throat and tickled the ear she pressed against it…
“Are you sure?” He said.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m positive.”
He hugged her so tight she thought she might crumble under the force.
“Uh, Jett…” she grumbled. “Careful.”
“Oh,” he said he started to sit up. “Oh man, sorry. Are you okay?”
Daniella wrinkled her brow. “Yeah, just take it easy wouldya?”
“Um, what do you need?” He said as he rubbed his hands together. “I’ll get you anything. Do you need to lie down? Here…” he said as he started to pick her up. “Let’s get you on the bed. You need to take it easy.”
“Jett…” Daniella said as she swatted his hand away. “Would you just… wait… stop!”
Her admonitions appeared to snap him out of it for a moment.
“I said I was pregnant, not paralyzed.” She began. “I’m not going to break in half or something…”
“Right,” he said. “Sorry…”
Daniella shook her head and stifled a laugh. She’d never seen him act like this before.
“What?” He said. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing…” she giggled. “Just you. Big, strong, sexy man turned into a bowl of mush by the idea of his little baby boy.”
Jett dropped to his knees in front of her and put his hand on her tummy.
“A boy?” He asked, as he looked first at her stomach and then up to her eyes. “How do you know?”
Daniella shrugged. “I just do.”
“Wow,” Jett replied. “This is… just… holy shit this is incredible news. I don’t even know what to say.”
“That you’re happy?” Daniella replied.
In a flash, Jett straddled her and moved to within an inch of her lips. He smiled and said, “This is the happiest moment of my life. I love you more than anything…”
Weak with need, Daniella crashed into his mouth. With his right hand, he guided her head gently to the ground and for several minutes, they kissed and caressed. When they at last broke free, Jett bolted upright.
“Daniella…” he said with a concerned tone. “Wait… what the hell am I thinking? This is… awful.”
“What?” She said. “Awful? How?”
“Well, I mean… what I am… and what you are…” he said. He staggered to his feet. “We shouldn’t be together… my mother.”
“Jett,” Daniella began. “It’s okay… Owen said there’s a chance it might be alright.”
“Wait,” he replied with a hint of anger in his voice. “Owen knows? Since when?”
Daniella got up and straightened her clothes. “Um,” she stammered. “Since right before you left to come here…”
“What!” He yelled. “And he didn’t tell me!”
Enraged, Jett turned to head out of the room. As fast as she could, Daniella inserted herself between Jett and the door.
“No… Jett… Jett… wait, you don’t understand.” She begged.
“Get out my way, Daniella.” He warned. “I’m about to give that son of a bitch a piece of my mind.”
“Jett!” Daniella exclaimed as she slapped him across the face. “Listen to me!”
The impact of her hand against his cheek snapped Jett out of his momentary fit of rage. He shook his head and looked at her.
“What the hell?” He said.
“Sorry…” she replied. “You just weren’t listening. Are you hurt?” She said as she reached up to touch his cheek.
“No,” he said as she grabbed her hand. “Now, tell me what you were going to say.”
Daniella exhaled. “I didn’t tell Owen anything.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense.” He replied as he pointed in the direction of the closed bedroom door. “You just said he knew.”
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