Mariska was just glad that Elso was better again and that she would be in charge of the ritual. She and Daemon weren’t allowed to be present, though they would be watching from a few stories up. They weren’t allowed to be anywhere that Jayden could see them. The Taltos didn’t want the boy to become distracted.
Jayden just smiled at her and opened his arms. She smiled and lifted the child, taking him from his bedroom and down the hall where the Taltos were waiting. They all wore intricate robes with ancient runes and designs embroidered into them. They wore masks, and it made Mariska’s skin crawl. The only one in the group without a mask was Elso. She waited silently, her hands at her side.
Mariska approached Elso and took a breath. “You promise he will be safe?” She whispered, her heart pounding out of her chest.
Elso smiled and opened her arms to take Jayden. “Have I ever steered you wrong? I need you to trust me Mariska.”
After a moment, Mariska handed her son over and looked up towards the sixth floor balcony where she’d been instructed to watch. Daemon was already there, pacing back and forth. He was just as nervous as she. Even though this was his world, he didn’t know what to expect either. It had been a very long time since a child like Jayden had been born.
Elso smiled at Mariska, silently reassuring her as she took Jayden into the center of the room where various symbols had been drawn on the floor with chalk and plants and herbs of all sorts were spread out around the room. Incense was burning, and the smell of essential oils were wafting through the air.
Mariska made her way up the stairs to where Daemon was still pacing. When she arrived, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for a moment.
“Thank God. I was so nervous.” He whispered softly.
“Nervous? Why are you nervous?”
“I don’t know what to expect either…” He murmured, looking down at the small crowd of Taltos that were starting to chant.
She chewed her lip and put her head on his chest as she watched the Taltos dance around her sun, waving flowers and plants over his head. She was relieved to see that Jayden didn’t seem scared at all. He was laughing and reaching for the flowers, stumbling back to fall on his bottom. He clapped his hands gleefully and stared up at the colorful flowers. He didn’t even seem to be aware that he was being tested and observed.
Mariska’s finger’s curled in Daemon’s shirt as the Taltos began to dance circles around the young boy, their singing and chanting becoming more and more desperate and rapid. Elso stepped forward as the frenzy reached a fever pitch. She put her hand on the little boy’s head and looked down at him, her gaze serious and searching. Jayden met her eyes and they just stared at each other a while.
It was strange to watch them. They stared into each other’s eyes as if they were having a conversation that only they could hear and understand. Jayden wore an intense look that Mariska wasn’t even aware he could hold. He looked wiser than the child he was and as Elso stared into his eyes, they both began to glow. A soft white light seemed to engulf their entire body. Jayden was giggling, and Elso was smiling softly in return.
Mariska felt all of the fear fade away as she watched her son and Elso interact. They looked so happy and so…Pure. She wiped her eyes, smiling as the light started to fade and recede back into their body. Once the light disappeared, the Taltos stopped dancing. Elso was still smiling, and Jayden was still giggling. Was that it? Was it really that easy?
Elso lifted Jayden into her arms and carried him out of the entrance hall of the library. Mariska all but ran back downstairs to meet them, staring at them with wide eyes, surprised by how easy it had all been. There hadn’t been anything scary at all.
She eventually ran into Elso, Daemon right behind her. Mariska was all but holding her breath, her eyes wide. “So…Is it…Is he…?”
“He has powers…He’s special alright.”
“He’s an empath?” Daemon asked excitedly.
“Oh no…He can read thoughts and communicate telepathically.”
Chapter Fifteen
It was surprising to learn that their son was so powerful. He had the ability to plant and read thoughts. A power like that could have been used for amazing things or terrible things. Jayden could have been the next Amira…But he wasn’t.
As Jayden grew older, he learned to use his powers and control them in order to make his life as well as the life of his parents and subjects better. He was a prince of his people. Everyone loved him, and he made the kingdom and even more amazing place. He was a kind leader with empathy for all and love in his heart for all creatures.
He grew up side by side with Elso’s child and the Taltos all knew what was going to happen next. As soon as Jayden and Kira were old enough to marry, they did. Both of the children had powers, and both used them to better themselves and their kingdom.
There was no more war, and everything seemed perfect. For once, it didn’t seem like the world was going to come apart at the seams. The crown had been passed to Kira and Jayden, and Mariska and Daemon were ready to enjoy eternity together.
They lay out in the gardens in the soft grass, staring into the bright blue sky. They’d been together for several hundred years, though it felt like a moment. Mariska stared at the clouds that passed by and turned to look at her lover, reaching out and touching his cheek. He was still as beautiful as the day they met, thought he had somehow gotten even more beautiful.
He turned to catch her gaze and smiled softly. “What is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You have something on your mind.” He murmured, pulling her close.
She sighed and snuggled against him. “I was thinking about how perfect everything is.” She murmured, looking up at him.
“Perfect, huh?” He asked with a little smile.
She nodded and leaned up to kiss him tenderly. “Don’t you think it is?”
He rolled over and put his hands on either side of her head, looking her up and down as he kissed along her ear. “You tell me.”
“We have a son, and he has grown into such a wonderful man. He’s married and expecting his first child. There’s no war and we made this world better.”
He smiled and stroked her hair from her face tenderly. “That’s all well and good.” He murmured. “But you know what the best part is?” He asked, nuzzling her gently.
“What?”
“We’re together.”
Her heart fluttered a little, and she looked at him with wide eyes. He’d said this so many times before, but no matter how many times he said it…It still made her heart nearly beat out of her chest.
“Daemon…”
“This is perfection, my love. This is heaven, and I never want it to change. I never want it to end.”
She smiled and cupped his cheeks. “It never will.” She promised.
They kissed just as the sun began to set and in that moment everything was perfect, and they both knew that they had found paradise.
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THE MOMETS SERIES
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Janie
I ducked as Jasmine's onslaught of white feather pillows rained on my head, giggling like a schoolgirl. Our Friday night ritual was in full flight. We had started with the idea back when we were both in high school
; a pillow fight each Friday night to the bitter end.
"You know," she panted, her blonde curls cascading down her face, "this is a better workout then I get each day in the gym." I knew she was just testing me, looking for my weak spot. I grinned at her, our 10 years of friendship setting the pace for our weekly battle. "Loser pays for next week's wine!" I shouted as we both settled into a furious pace and took our stress releaser to the next level. "You are so in trouble Janie," she shouted as another pillow went crashing into our glass chimes. "You still owe me for last week's triumph." I just hoped the neighbors would continue to be good sports about our noisy Friday night tradition.
Jasmine and I had moved into our cute little Hollywood bungalow not long after she first landed her job as receptionist at Principal Records and I had graduated from UCLA with my precious journalism degree. The last few years had been exciting for both of us as we pursed our goals. Mine was to write the kind of expose that would move me from stringer to a permanent desk at the Los Angeles Times. I knew I was close; I could almost taste it when my editor and I talked.
Jasmine had quickly moved up the ranks at Principle Records from receptionist to Gal Friday and now PA to the head honcho. But she was holding out for her ultimate dream. That would be the day she met The Big Rock Star that would sweep her off her feet and into his life. It wasn't that men hadn't come flocking, but somehow they never quite understood how to see beyond the curvaceous body and long blonde locks to the woman inside. Her looks made it hard for them to see she had more than her fair share of brains along with that luscious body.
Jasmine and I had always been rivals in school for top grade earner in our class. All the way through school we would vie for top billing. In fact, it was a big part of our friendship, this rivalry based on brains not on looks. Not that either of us were slouches in that area. While Jasmine worked hard on hers, spending hours perfecting that hair and face before heading off to work; I just lucked out.
My mom was a blend of Cherokee and French that just seemed to highlight with my dad's Japanese heritage. I got the green eyes, high cheekbones and dark hair from my mom and the smooth skin and Asian features of my dad. Most folks couldn't quite figure out just what my background was, which was fine with me. It certainly made mixing with various cultures easy when I was doing interviews, especially here on the west coast. But Jasmine's classic Southern California beauty stopped guys dead in the street. It also made them not quite realize just how smart she was, much to her frustration. That included many of the men she worked with at the recording studio.
You know," my BFF and sparring partner sputtered as we cleared the errant feathers from our little home. "Brock is coming back into town this week because of the big release party this weekend." Brock, the owner of Principle Records was one of those guys listed in the dictionary under "powerful billionaire" and almost impossible to get to if you were in the press. I know because I had tried before to no avail. Principle, one of the biggest labels to survive the implosion of the music industry, was simply a sideline for him. He was a little too busy making international news to deal with the likes of me. That is unless your BFF happened to be his personal assistant. "If you really want to talk to him about his response to the latest from his finest headache of a rock star Ricardo you can come to the party with me."
I thought about her offer, one she had made several times before. I always hesitated at using her influence to get me past the closed doors of Hollywood. Not that I didn't have a bit of influence myself, I was getting a name for insightful writing on the business side of entertainment. Between us we probably knew everyone worth knowing in Tinsel Town. I think most men upon meeting Jasmine would be surprised to find out just how good she was at handling those big male egos.
Funny, smart and beautiful, Jasmine had moved up quickly at Principle. Now personal assistant to one of the biggest names in the entertainment world, she met every big rock star you can imagine. She reveled in the starlight, but hated it when they hit on her as just another office bimbo. If only they could see beyond her California girl looks. That frustration was one of the reasons we continued our traditional Friday Night Pillow Fight, even as we grew into women chasing our dreams. Because sometimes that dream is so close you can taste it, but still somehow it has managed to stay out of reach. That is when a good old fashion pillow fight can be a girl's best friend. Outside of her best friend, that is.
Brock
"Mr. Denton, we are about to touch down. Can I just freshen up that drink for you before we land?" Like so many young women in my employment, she had a tendency to overdo the caring part of her job. I brushed her away and looked back down at my schedule that Jasmine had sent me for the upcoming week. As usual it was thorough and detailed, with nothing left to chance. I was going to have to find a way to cut Ricardo down to size this week without wounding his precious rock star ego. I would find a way, I always do. But I would swear negotiating trade deals with the Russians was a walk in the park compared to what I had to look forward to this week.
No sooner had Barry brought the plane down then my personal phone buzzed a text had come in, from Jasmine. She was letting me know she scheduled the helicopter for my return home as the freeways made the car an impossible choice. I smiled; she knew I had no patience for such things. She also sent me the latest media guest list for tomorrow's big event. I noticed she had added a new name, Janie Black from the Times. There were links to several of her stories, all impressive. I seemed to recall hearing someone say she was a real digger, loved to get into a story beyond the usual entertainment fluff. Not the kind I want around when Ricardo is causing me headaches.
"Jazz I see you added a new reporter to the list. Don't we already have someone from the Times coming around?"
"Yes, but that is just the usual entertainment writer. I think Janie can give the interview more depth, give you some room to illustrate just why Ricardo is blowing hot air about your commitments to creative freedom at Principle. That's why I picked her."
I skimmed the articles Jazz had sent me again, looking at them from the viewpoint of what she could deliver for me at the event. Jazz, as usual, was right. I figured I could manipulate any writer and this gal actually seemed to understand my stand from what she had already written. She might be worth the gamble.
Right now I had enough on my plate without adding in a nosy writer with a penchant for business drama and a well known knack for digging up people's secrets. Well, I had been around the block more than a few times and could handle what she was prepared to dish out. Just as long as her digging didn't go into places I didn't want her to go.
Janie
I sighed as I looked through my closet one more time, hoping that by some miracle the right outfit would suddenly appear. Jasmine walked in, looking picture perfect as always. But then she should, she had spent the best part of today getting a massage, her nails and hair done and picking out three outfits before deciding on the perfect one for tonight. All of this was done while coordinating the event for Brock over her ever present cell phone. I, meanwhile, was standing in my underwear looking at a closet full of jeans and yoga pants, hunting for something that might not make me stand out like a sore thumb.
"You know you can't go in jeans, right?" she ventured as she cast a doubting eye on my open closet. "How about a nice pair of black jeans and your black velvet smoking jacket," I ventured hoping for a miracle. She grinned at me but shook her head. "Nice try, but your usual black won't work and anyways I think Keith Richards is coming and that is his usual ploy these days. Where is that red silk dress you picked up in Paris last year at that music conference?"
I dived into the back of my closet, eventually finding it shoved behind last year's Halloween costume. It seemed fitting, since the little scrap of red silk always felt more like a costume then actual clothing to me. I eyed it dubiously but slid it on, tiny shoulder straps tying at the top, the plunging neckline barely covering my breasts. I love the fringe on the hem though, the swishing sound
it makes when you walk. I had forgotten that the fringe was why I make the impulse purchase in the first place. "Hey," exclaimed Jasmine, "fringe has finally gotten big out here; you will be completely in style. And it looks amazing on you!"
I had to agree with her, the dress fit me like a glove and yet was comfortable to walk around in. Comfort was always one of my requirements for clothing. But as I looked in the mirror I had my doubts. This was a working party and I wasn't sure just what kind of message this would send to anyone I interviewed, especially Jasmine's boss. But when I expressed my reservations she just shook her head. "Showing up in jeans just says you aren't taking this seriously. This is the right choice. Now, hair up or down?" I turned to the mirror. "Let's leave everything else simple; kinda Boho style. It goes with the dress and anyways I haven't the time to fool with anything else."
I quickly added some makeup, grabbed my recorder for interviews and headed out to the waiting car Jasmine had arranged. She was back on the phone with the event planner making last minute changes to the guest list as we headed out to the biggest entertainment event in LA outside of Oscar time. But that wasn't my reason for coming. I hadn't mentioned it to Jasmine, but my real reason had to do with rumors swirling around about her boss. He was hiding something from everyone, something big. In this industry that usually meant it was either something illegal or something so damaging it could destroy someone's career. Regardless of the consequences, I was determined to find out just what it was.
Brock
My eyes scanned the crowded room, looking for the handful of people I actually was looking forward to seeing tonight. While this may be just a big party to many of those attending, for me it was a series of business meetings held in a very public and noisy atmosphere. I may not relish these events, but they are an important part of this particular kind of business.
VAMPIRE:Vampire Guardian Series: Paranormal Mystery Vampire Alpha Male Romance (New Adult Contemporary Paranormal Royalty Fantasy Romance Collection)) Page 19
