by J L Lawrence
“Some in our communities feel we shouldn’t be punished if humans get hurt or get in the way. As I mentioned before, many magical beings feel superior and upset that they have to hide in another realm. The most typical punishment for human exposure is being stripped of our powers for a year and living in the human world. It is designed to teach us humility and respect, and serve as a reminder about who we are responsible for protecting. It is our purpose in this world.”
Gregory stalked back over to where they were sitting. “Basically everyone fears the Council in a way. Wouldn’t you? Together they have absolute power to do anything. The only thing that could stand against them and win is a full powered Mystic or the Omega on the night of the Rising. Ready for your glowing future yet?” Gregory’s eyes glistened with resentment.
He paced back and forth. Some pretty obvious issues there. “You don’t realize the levels of power they possess, and yet all our hope resides in one single being raised in the human world. It’s a lot to accept. No offense to you, Kate. But that’s the reality of how many of us feel.”
Xander got to his feet quickly, but Kate jumped up to intercede. “I appreciate your candor, Gregory, and must admit I even see your point of view. It must seem restrictive at times to feel like you’re always in hiding. I do understand how you feel and have personally felt that way many times in my life. Maybe that’s why I’ll be able to do you justice. By the way ... what do you mean a full powered Mystic?”
* * *
Xander raised his hand to silence Gregory. He had heard enough from him for one day and still wanted to thump him. “He means that once the Mystic accepts the light, she is all powerful. Nothing can stand against her. We are dependent on her good judgment and purity of heart, to keep the communities safe and thriving. Our last Mystic, Cassius, received his mortal blow before the light entered his body, or he would be here today. Though many say he wanted to die, or possibly died on purpose. On the night of the Rising, the Omega, in your case, Braxus, will have a similar power based in negative energy or the dark light.”
“Whoa.” Angie sat back, wringing her hands. Xander recognized it as a sign of nervousness. He searched her mind and saw she was trying to find her place in this whole mess. “Has the Council ever allowed humans into your community?”
The instant tension of her question swooped in like a thick fog. Everyone, even Gregory, sucked in a breath. Someone had finally asked it out loud. Unfortunately, none of them knew the answer. Xander spoke carefully, “No, their protective shield does not allow any human to cross for their own safety as well as ours. We will be traveling through a portal, but I’ve never known a human to make it through one. This situation is different though, and I don’t know.” He shrugged and looked at Angie apologetically, knowing he hadn’t provided much comfort.
“That’s quite a problem you’ve got there, considering Angie and I are human,” Kate said with raised brows. “Didn’t your precious Seer, or whoever it is, see this coming?”
Gregory took a step back. Xander glared at him and called him a coward through their link. “We think the portal will recognize you as the Mystic and allow access, despite you still being partially human. I don’t know about Angie. She wasn’t a part of our original plan, so we never considered it. Xavier is trying to research it, but he hasn’t found anything yet.” He looked ruefully at Angie. “But, we’re going to try.”
“Try? What the hell?” Kate stood against the tree. “She goes or I don’t. I will not cross over if Angie isn’t allowed in the portal. Figure something out if you can. If not, lean over and kiss your ass goodbye!”
Kate went over to the tent and leaned her head against the side. Angie followed her and put her arm around her shoulders. Xander realized Angie was using their mental link to help comfort Kate. He rubbed his hands over his face and through his hair. He knew she wasn’t joking. If he was honest with himself, he had known it all along. He had been avoiding the issue, because he didn’t have an answer. If Angie couldn’t cross and Kate refused, he was as good as dead.
“It’s worse than you think.” Xavier popped into his head. “The two of them are irrevocably linked. Zane studied it himself. Their bond cannot be broken by man or magic, so Kate will not leave her behind. How are you going to get her through the portal?”
Well hell. Xander closed his eyes and sighed. “I have no idea. How about you?”
“No, I don’t. I’ll try to ask around and see if Zane knows of a way, but his knowledge is more limited now. On another note, the demons have regrouped and are heading in your direction. They haven’t picked up your essence yet, but it’s only a matter of time. You’ll have one more day, and then it’s time to move on to the next location. I’ve already set everything up, and I also put an extra shield in place.
“Kate needs to start working on her magic. She has more than anyone realizes, including the Council. I can feel it trying to break through, but she has phenomenal control. It may be her powers that allow Angie into the portal, so she needs to master them. Just a guess though.” Xander could feel Xavier’s weariness of hiding, as he disconnected and returned to the shadows.
He walked over to the tent and placed his arms around Kate, filling her with calming energy. The possibility of losing Angie had taken a toll on her usually unbreakable composure. He kissed her softly to get her thoughts moving in another direction. Distraction was his best weapon at the moment. Maybe it was selfish, but he had to keep her focused on the portal. “We’ll find a way,” he whispered in her ear. “Have faith.” Goose bumps appeared on her arms.
Kate nodded and leaned into him, letting all the tension ease out of her. It was a freaking miracle, but despite everything, she had started to trust him. Feeling both elated and guilty at the same time, he didn’t want to keep secrets. But this was for her own good. Maybe if he told himself that enough, he would start to believe it.
He stroked her hair and held her for a few more moments, until she had completely relaxed. “Gregory, how about you show Angie some more disarming techniques and some tricks that usually work with most demons. I’m taking Kate down by the river to work on meditation and focus. If she can tap into her powers, she needs to control them. Xavier thinks we will be able to use some magic at our next location.”
Chapter 7
Xander sensed the unrest and worry inside Kate, but didn’t know how to help her. She had to come to terms on her own, to accept who she was. “Kate,” he whispered. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” He tried to keep it light and not put her on the defensive again.
She leaned against his shoulder. “All these powers I’m going to have frighten me beyond belief. I could’ve hurt Gregory today, or someone else, and I didn’t even know what I was doing. Or even that the magic came out of me for that matter.”
“That’s why we are heading down here to work with meditation and focus, so you can control it next time. You will learn to become one with your abilities and pull from the energy surrounding you. You will begin to accept the power as part of you, until one day, you’ll realize it’s second nature. Until you have complete control of your powers, your emotions can trigger all sorts of unpleasant responses. But I’ll be here to help until you can contain it.” Her tentative smile gave him hope that she was ready to embrace her inner self. He hoped so anyway.
Once they got to the river, he laid down a blanket and motioned for her to sit down. He sat behind her and rubbed her shoulders. After a few minutes, he believed she was ready to face the inevitable.
He turned her so they faced each other, linked hands, and closed their eyes. Moments later, their breathing became synchronized.
* * *
Kate found total peace within herself. It was like floating on a cloud. She let her conscious level drift away. She felt as if she were no longer bound to Earth, but could go anywhere with her mind alone. She turned her face toward the sky, and her mind and energy soared free. Then, Xander’s mind connected with hers, and she reached toward
him. Once she was anchored and safe, she began exploring her psyche and looking for her special abilities.
She observed the constant struggle between her mind and spirit over her powers. A mental wall that she couldn’t quite break through. She’d erected the wall to be normal when she was young. Focusing all her mental energy toward that wall, she began pushing to break through the barrier and unleash her partial gifts.
She wasn’t sure if it had taken minutes or hours, but she finally broke through the wall and felt her powers course and connect throughout her body and spirit. Mostly, it was pure energy. Her entire being charged up like a live wire. She could see several of her abilities like levitating and telepathy, and what each felt like on a subconscious level.
Each had their own distinctive flow of energy, so she could learn to control each one. As she continued her search, she saw many more waiting to be activated. She approached the many types of energy to sort them out, but was jolted back into consciousness.
Disoriented and slightly groggy, her first thought was that something had happened and Xander brought her back. Then she realized she had broken the connection, not Xander. What exactly had happened? Sweat dripped down her face, and she couldn’t get her hands to stop shaking. Something had terrified her, but what? Reaching for Xander, she sought his calming energy, so she could begin to sort through what had happened in her mind. He pulled her into his lap and held her tightly.
* * *
Xander stayed quiet, while Kate worked everything out in her mind. He rocked her gently and surrounded her with calming energy. He was trying to calm her enough to help her face what she had seen. He had seen it, too. And she was full of power, scarily so. Many she could already access, once she learned how to deal with them, instead of going into overload. But Kate had feared it.
He had been so proud when she had broken through the barrier and tried to take control, but neither had been prepared for how much resided in her body. The magnitude of the release of magical energy had been too much for her human body to accept. They still had a lot of work to do before her total powers were released.
He honestly didn’t know if her human body could withstand that much energy pumping through her veins. If it got released before she could control it, he wasn’t sure he would be able to stop it. He had to admit he was pretty shaken at the amount of power inside her, not that he’d ever tell her that. He began to have doubts about the Awakening ceremony and what all they hadn’t been told.
After a few minutes, Kate’s breathing became normal, and she stopped shaking. Xander was filled with relief, a little desperation, and a whole lot of hormones. The energy dose had set his sexual drive on fire, and he could feel the responding energy pouring from her. Not able to resist any longer, he tilted her chin toward his mouth and plunged into her waiting lips. The need to release their pent-up energy and fears was overwhelming.
He pushed her down to the ground and onto her back, without ever breaking their connection. His head roared, and he couldn’t get enough. He wanted everything right now. No more waiting. His hands slid under her shirt, and then removed it completely using his magic. Her skin was on fire, and so was he. Then, he unfastened her bra and sent it flying. Her skin glistened in the moonlight, and he used his tongue to taste every inch of her torso and breasts.
He suckled one breast and then the other. She tasted like heaven, and he wanted a lot more. Kate moaned and strained beneath him to get closer. He knew she needed a release for all the pent-up energy raging inside her. She felt like a wild firestorm. He moved lower down her body, and she cradled his head. He totally lost it. His vision had been replaced by a lustful haze.
Xander rose up and plundered her mouth. He ran his hands up and down her sides and abdomen connecting with her emotions, igniting a fire hotter than the blazes of Hell. He wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. He returned to her breasts and began moving his hands slowly down her stomach toward his goal. He had no doubt she was wet and ready for him. Tonight, she’d be his.
* * *
Kate gasped. Xander slowly moved down her body. She became a volcano ready to erupt, responding to his every touch and caress. She would explode any minute, if he didn’t release the ache inside her. Heat pooled between her legs, and she couldn’t see anything but him.
As he reached the top of her pants, she was ready to take them off herself. She didn’t want to wait another second to feel him inside her. His hand continued down and found its target. Her hips arched off the ground as he stroked her. Her first orgasm overwhelmed her, and she cried out. But it wasn’t nearly enough.
He removed the rest of her clothing and every other barrier between them. She couldn’t wait for him to be fully inside her and release the ache permeating her entire body.
* * *
“Xander, Kate, where the hell are you? It’s been hours,” Gregory yelled through the trees.
Xander sent a couple of mental warning shots that had Gregory quickly returning to camp.
“Un-freakin-believable,” Gregory mumbled.
Xander sent another small blast into the woods, so he wouldn’t come any closer. He growled, trying to get control, when his body didn’t want to leave Kate’s. He breathed heavily and counted backward.
He had been about to fully merge with Kate, and once again they were interrupted. Maybe it was fate. The last thing he needed was to turn fully human and leave her with no protection from Fury. He would kill her for sure.
Xander refocused on their surroundings, and he came back to reality. He had allowed his attraction to Kate to overcome his mind again. They were sitting ducks out here completely oblivious. They would have to finish this soon, if they were going to have clear heads, but tonight wasn’t the night. “Ok, Gregory, we’ll be there in a few minutes.” He heard and felt Gregory retreating back through the woods.
Kate moaned beneath him still pulsing--painfully--with energy. “We have time. Let’s finish this.”
He groaned and took a deep breath, then pushed off of Kate, landing beside her. His body howled in protest. “No, I won’t take you on the ground in desperation. I want our first time to be because we are both ready, not because we became lust crazy and jumped at each other. And I want plenty of time to explore every inch of you—not a quick fix.” He leaned forward and kissed her lightly, not wanting to set off another explosion. His chivalry could only extend so far, and deep in his gut he knew it wasn’t time yet. He had to get her to the portal before his powers disappeared.
“Try explaining that to my body, which is on fire, by the way.”
“I’ve got an idea.” Lifting her up, he removed the rest of his clothing with a wave of his hand and jumped into the freezing cold river, taking her with him. “See, now we can cool off.”
Teeth starting to chatter, Kate glared. “This is not what I had in mind.” But after a few minutes she had obviously gotten used to the water, and smiled at him.
Xander led Kate from the water and leaned his head against hers.
She laughed and wriggled her eyebrows. “Well, I see you’re certainly interested in me. But do you want me for my body, or my mind?” She wiggled a little, and he jerked in response. With a groan and a wave of his hand, they were fully clothed. “Both.” He smiled, and they started walking back to camp. One thing he knew for sure, if he was going to die in this world, he would take this human and make her his before fate claimed him.
Once they returned to camp, Gregory and Angie had already cleared up everything from dinner and their practice sessions. They all sat down around the fire before extinguishing it for the night, and began to work out the details of traveling to their next location site. Even though they were tired from a full day, Xander wanted to make sure everyone understood the plan and to discuss the new glitch Gregory had discovered, while they had been down by the river.
“We will be staying in Montana for the next leg of the journey,” Xander explained, leaning forward. “If we get a chance, we may try to rent a
car and drive. But if the demons are getting close, it will be too risky considering they have proven they know how to get rid of one. More than likely, we will travel on motorcycles through some of the old trails. Especially ones that people tend to frequent.
“We need to mix the scents and blend in as humans, so we are harder to trace. The only thing in our favor right now is that demons don’t want to be discovered any more than magical beings. They don’t want to be hunted on both fronts. That idiot you fought in the alleyway in Boston was a rare exception of a demon so crazed, he didn’t care anymore.”
“So,” Angie said, tapping her foot. “We’re all going to be on bikes? Won’t that kind of give us away?”
“Not exactly how you’re thinking. I know it sounds bizarre and unprotected.” He paused. “We will be paired up on the bikes. If an emergency occurs, we can shapeshift into something else and fly away from the area quickly.” Both girls groaned in unison.
He didn’t feel the need to add that he couldn’t sustain a shapeshift for that long anymore. He had to retain as much power as possible to face off against Fury. He could feel him searching for them. He wouldn’t strike until he could see what each of them could do first.
“I’m still not sure about traveling during the day,” Kate said doubtfully. “It seems much safer to stay on the move while demons are out, instead of being sitting ducks.”
She didn’t like the idea. Too bad. He didn’t like staring down death every day because he stupidly touched her leg trying to help.
“Not if you’re posing as humans. Zane has found a way to mask Kate’s powers so it will seem like four humans riding a trail known to have human riders. Since he exists only in the Shadows, it is impossible for demons to fully track him. It will take a few days to get to our next site, but Xavier thinks we need to stay off the radar for a while. The next site we are going to belongs to a magical family very loyal to the Council, and they’re our friends.
