by Jessica Cage
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR
JESSICA CAGE
Copyright © 2019 Caged Fantasies Publications
Written by: Jessica Cage
Edited by: Joseph Editorial Services, LLC
Cover Art by: Covers by Christian
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 9781691885299
To Nicole who has been patiently waiting for this story.
Forever my support.
Love you girl!
The world smelled of ash and chaos.
The gateway between the two realms ripped open to reveal a world set aflame. With a wide grin on her face, her long legs crossed the barrier. As she entered the world she’d only read about, her attire changed from that of maiden to that of a warrior. She was ready for whatever the world had to throw at her. The heel of her shoe smacked against the concrete surface and created a fissure that stretched out for a mile in front of her. Delilah smiled as the scaled body slid up her leg, wrapped its length around her waist and rested its head on her shoulder; it nuzzled her chin gently and its split tongue tickled her neck as it hissed. From the opening she’d created in the earth, thousands of her babies emerged, snakes that danced around the footsteps that carried her forward and rejoiced in the return of their mother reborn.
Above her head a dragon cried out. The flames produced by the terrifying sound decorated the dark skies. Delilah took the sight in happily; this was the Earth her mother knew, a world consumed by magic and fire. This was the place she dreamt of returning to for longer than she knew. The air vibrated against her flesh with the addictive sensation of panic. The humans who inhabited the world and lived in their peaceful ignorance were just made aware of the horrors that dwell around every corner. What a wonderful time for her to return.
She’d made it exactly one mile from her point of entry when she ran headfirst into one of those horrors. A hungry vampire who’d just crawled from whatever hole in the earth she claimed as her own. The sun had not long ago fallen beneath the horizon which meant that the creatures of the night were free to come out and play. The vampire eyed Delilah as though she was prey and not predator.
“Well, looks like I’m right on time!” The blonde vampire dropped her fangs and grinned. “You shouldn’t be out in the world right now, it’s a dangerous time for blood bags!”
Delilah cocked her head and watched closely as the shorter woman moved in on her. Her back hunched like a cat on the prowl and she hissed to add to the affect. This was the show she put on to scare those she fed on, but she was so busy with her display that when she recognized her mistake it was far too late. Her animalistic approach had moved her within a few feet of her target when the sinister look fell from her face. There it was, recognition of power, as dark eyes turned yellowed and slit, and brown skin took on a soft tint of green.
“What the hell are you?” She started to back away, but her retreat came too late. She stumbled over the large body of a snake that wasn’t there before. A snake that quickly wrapped its length around her frame and began to constrict. “No, stop!” she cried, as she attempted to tear the anaconda from her legs. Her hands dug into its body ripping away layers of skin, but it only continued to tighten and crush her small frame. The sharp stings of fangs smaller than hers burned across her body as her flesh was hit over and over by the bite of three Inland Taipans. Soon her limbs went numb and all she could do was watch the pleased expression of the dark woman who approached her.
“I like this covering you have.” Delilah pulled the leather jacket from the vampire’s dying body. “Very fashionable I would imagine. I think I’ll keep this.” As she pulled the jacket on, she frowned, the length was far too short and too tight across the shoulder. “Pity.” She tossed the garment to the ground and continued on her path with the sounds of death, the final crush of the Anaconda’s grip eliminating the life of the vampire, ringing out behind her.
As she walked, she laid her fingers on the small medallion that hung around her neck, the only thing she had to remind her of the woman who gave her life. She never knew the comfort of her touch or the melody of her voice. Instead, she was sent away, before her infant eyes even saw first light. If she would have taken one look into her mother’s face, she would have turned into stone like everyone else. For that reason, the moment she was born, her eyes were covered with bindings. She didn’t blame her mother, she did what she had to do to protect the life of her child. Even if it meant never knowing her.
Shortly after her birth, Delilah was sent away and as she grew, so did her powers, powers no one ever expected her to have. Because her mother was pregnant with her when she was turned into the monster that endless stories would be written about, it changed her baby she carried as well. Updates about the child were delivered to Medusa regularly and when she realized that Delilah would be at risk if it ever were to be known that she wasn’t normal, she enlisted the help of a witch, one who had aided the god Ares.
Lehela, the witch her mother called, convinced a small but powerful coven to create a parallel realm where they would keep the young girl. In exchange for the spell and enough magic to aid them in conducting it, they agreed to take Delilah and care for her. It wasn’t difficult to convince them to help considering the gods were using up their magic just as much as everyone else’s. Lehela also put a spell on the young child, one that tied the bounds of her magic to the life of Lehela. The spell also drew the child’s power into the witch and fueled her own magic. For centuries, Lehela sucked the magic from its endless source, Delilah.
When Lehela eventually sacrificed herself to destroy Ares and to stop the gods from returning to earth, the ties between them snapped. Magic had been revealed to the world and the realm that kept her locked away was shattered with the death of the witch who helped to bind her. Lehela was stronger than most thought, but when she sacrificed herself to help save the world from Ares, she unleashed a new kind of terror.
"You must not go back!" Casi, the woman who'd been her caregiver for centuries begged her for the hundredth time. She fell to her knees, a last resort as she lost control over her charge, "If you return, they will find you. They're still out there!"
"Fine, let them come!" Delilah yelled with the fury of a thousand scorned hearts. "I've wasted my life hiding from them. If they want me, I'm here!"
"You can't do this, your mother. We promised her," Casi continued to plead but it was useless. “We promised to keep you safe! We promised that you would remain here, away from the world and its dangers.”
"You made that promise to her; I made no such vow. This isn't the life I want or deserve. The world is changing, can't you feel it?! Out there, everything is, so destructive. It calls to me, the hell that is happening on earth. I can’t ignore it anymore. I won’t continue to deny the pull I feel every single day. This is my time." Delilah lifted her hand, palm facing down to call the weapon she always knew was there. Her entire life she felt its magic pulsing beneath her but never had the strength to get it. That had changed with the snap of power that awakened the full potential of her magic, and when she called for it to come, the ground beneath her feet rumbled with its compliance.
"No!" Casi yelled out as the earth ripped open and a staff lifted from within, glowing in a green halo.
Delilah grabbed the staff and the moment it touched her hand, everything changed. The world built from magic rippled as all that was stolen from her returned. The skies drained of their light, the waters dried, the grass, trees, life, it all died. She watched as the woman in front of her aged rapidly then fell to her knees, brittle bones that shattered on impact.
Confident steps carried Delilah down the busy city street. Eyes of the people she passed found her and remained captured by the dark beauty who w
ore clothing from a different era. If the breast plate and leather wrapped sandals weren’t bad enough, the tall staff she carried in her hand was plenty to call for at least a few cellphones to rise and take photographic evidence. She was focused, she could feel the magic and the lack thereof in everything around her. The staff in her hand guided her to her intended destination. There was no explanation for the way the staff worked, but Delilah didn’t need one. She could feel it like a magnetic force, and she gave into it. She ignored the looks of the human population and let the pull of magic work on her. As she reached the end of the busy city block, the medallion around her neck warmed slightly and the staff vibrated with untapped energy. Whatever the source was that called to her was close by.
She looked across the intersection to the cafe where a dingy sign hung. The Sea Tap Cafe. How fitting. Without checking for the moving vehicles, she walked directly across the center of the intersection. Cars skid to a halt as they tried to avoid hitting the mad woman with the staff and the other cars who were trying to avoid collision. Curses called out around her as the drivers turned on each other and the madness that ensued brought her joy.
The small woman behind the counter jumped to her feet to watch the chaos outside of the café as Delilah entered through the door. The establishment was nearly empty, all but a few customers who sipped tea and stared at various devices which gave their faces an eerie glow.
“C-can I help you?” the woman stumbled over her words as she addressed the strange new patron.
Delilah gave no response. She simply continued her path to the table in the center of the establishment. She stood looking down at the woman who sat there, the only one not tapping on one of the modern devices. She held a weathered book in her hands, one that looked like she’d read it one hundred times over.
“I was wondering when you would show up.” Odd eyes with swirls of hazel and emerald in the iris looked from the page of the book. She tucked a napkin between the pages as she closed the book to keep her place.
“You’ve been expecting me?” Delilah asked as she was looked over by the strange eyes. She allowed herself to be assessed before the woman responded.
“Yes, for quite some time.” She lifted the teacup to her lips and swallowed the last of the minty contents before she replaced it on the saucer. “When all hell broke loose out there, I knew it wouldn’t be much longer before you showed up.”
“You know who I am?” Delilah watched the woman closely, making note of every minute movement.
“Delilah, yes, I know exactly who you are.” The woman kept her eyes on the newcomer and Delilah assessed the face further as she tucked stray hairs of her honey colored pixy cut behind her ears. Her face was innocent yet there was strength in her eyes. Her skin was sun kissed, and her lips plump and pouty. Delilah made note of every detail of the woman who had called her to come.
“You know why I’m here?” Delilah spoke with authority, commanding the answers she wanted.
“I do, and I’m here to help you do it.” She pointed to the staff in her hand. “That’s why that toy of yours brought you here to me.”
“Where do we begin?” Delilah wanted to get straight to the point. She’d come there with a purpose in mind.
“We begin by getting you clothes that don’t draw attention.” The woman stood from the table and dropped cash on the surface. “You look like you’re about to go into battle.”
“I am,” she looked down at herself. “How else should I be dressed?”
“Yes, but the world doesn’t need to know that!” the woman laughed and lifted the jacket that hung on the back of the chair. “Have you ever heard of going undercover?”
“What is your name?” Delilah asked the snarky woman.
“Iris, it's nice to meet you.” She held her hand out to shake, but the gesture was not reciprocated. “Right, we’re going to have to update you on some things. Now, let’s go kick some god ass!”
“Welcome to my humble little home.” Iris opened the door to the two-bedroom apartment. She’d barely stopped laughing at the expression on her guest’s face who'd just ridden in a car for the first time. Iris had to physically restrain Delilah who attempted to attack the unsuspecting Uber driver when the car lurched forward to transport them to their destination. Inside her home, she kicked off her shoes and threw her jacket on the brown leather chair that sat by the door.
“This is where you live?” Delilah took in the space that was decorated in natural tones. Browns and greens accented every corner. She liked it; the calming color scheme reminded her of home. She ran her fingertips along the back of the leather chair where Iris had dropped her things.
“Yes, it's an apartment,” Iris explained. “It’s where most people in the city live. Places just like this one.”
“I know what an apartment is, I was given lessons on the ways of this odd world,” she stopped to examine a small painted vase. “I never understood why they taught me of a place I was never intended to visit.”
“Oh, well good, that will help with the learning curve. Hopefully modern attire was a part of that lesson plan and you won’t be too freaked out about changing your wardrobe around.” Iris eyed Delilah again and frowned. “You need to be able to blend in. Sorry but that isn’t going to happen if you’re walking around dressed like some warrior goddess from another world.”
“I like my attire,” Delilah looked down at her clothing and tugged the leather strap that was wrapped around her toned waist, “it's comfortable.”
“Don’t get me wrong, it looks badass, but it will call too much attention to you. And that staff you’re carrying around, you’re going to have to find something to do with that.” She laughed as she remembered Delilah trying to climb in the car with the thing that ended up hanging out of the window for the duration of their ride.
Delilah smirked, waved her hand, and the staff disappeared. Once it was gone, she dropped her hand awkwardly to her side as if she didn’t know how to exist without holding on to it.
“Much better!” Iris clapped then paused, “I’m not even going to ask how you did that or where that thing went. Let’s just move on to the next task.” She eyeballed her again, assessing the woman’s stature before she turned and started walking down the hallway to her bedroom. "We're about the same size I think, yeah, you’re a bit taller than I am, but you should be able to fit something from my closet. It's actually nice to meet another woman with such broad shoulders!"
"Tell me what you know," Delilah followed Iris into her bedroom and to the double doors that opened to a massive closet.
"I know that you've returned here to go after Athena who was the one responsible for turning your mother into a monster.” She slapped her mouth with her hands and cringed at the way that came across. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound so harsh.” When Delilah waved her apology off, she continued. “I know that you were sent away as an infant to protect you from those who may have wanted to harm you and that you’ve likely been plotting your revenge for your entire life. I also know that you're going to need a lot of help to do what you came to do, and lucky for us, I know exactly who to go to for that help."
"How do you know all of this?" Delilah raised a brow at the woman who rambled on.
"Lehela, the witch who helped your mother hide you, she told me everything about you.” Iris walked into the closet where she picked out new attire for Delilah, she continued speaking from within. “I was born in the realm that she and the rest of our people escaped to when the gods lost their minds, like the one crafted to protect you. Her lessons started when I was young. For the longest I thought the woman had lost her mind and I only listened to make her happy, but it was all real.” She emerged and handed the chosen items to her guest. “You’re real and you’re here and suddenly I don’t feel like I’m waiting for something. It was the weirdest thing, my entire life, feeling like I was just stuck, unmoving, like there was something stopping me from living my life. That ended the moment you enter
ed that café. Lehela was right, it was meant to be that I help you.”
"She told you all of this," Delilah abandoned her thought and eyed the clothing that was handed to her and frowned. “Jeans, I’ve never worn jeans before.”
"Trust me, you’re going to love them! Are you going to need some help with that?" Iris watched as she inspected the jeans and t-shirt that was given to her. “I’d offer you a bra, but I’m quite larger than you, we can go pick something up for you.”
"I should be able to dress myself.”
"Great! Would you like to shower first?” She nodded towards the bathroom where the shower waited.
"Shower? Yes!" Delilah lit up and Iris laughed. "Sorry, I've always wanted to try one. It’s all baths where I'm from. They’re nice but take so long to make."
"Understood, one shower coming up," Iris headed into the bathroom to set the shower up, when she returned to the bedroom, she found Delilah standing next to her bed - her clothing tossed in a pile on the floor - naked and waiting. Her brown skin was the purest Iris had seen and for a moment she admired the bronze tones that shone from beneath. Iris choked as she quickly halted and turned her back to the naked woman. “Um, do you need a towel or something?” Iris looked to the ceiling as if afraid the woman would appear in front of her.
“Does nudity bother you?” Delilah crossed the room to stand directly behind Iris, so close that her breath tickled the back of the woman's neck. “Do I make you uncomfortable?”
“No, I mean, um,” Iris’ face flushed with heat as she refused to turn around to see the body that was all but pressed against her back. “The shower is ready, everything you need is all laid out. Holler if you need anything,” she hurried, pointing to the open bathroom door as she retreated to the furthest corner of the living room where they entered her apartment. Delilah laughed to herself as she watched the woman who seemed so strong, run away like a scared child.