by Lori, Rae
Julian turned to face him. His usual calm demeanor had changed into an expression of surprise. He put his hands on the young Nightwalker’s shoulders and gripped him tightly. “Jace, the reason I let my wife and child go was because I feared for their safety. I didn’t know what my change would befall to them or what would have happened if others found out. Our life and who we are doesn’t threaten mortals despite what their books say. This world is a small place as is. They won’t understand us. Even if Ariya is an immortal, she doesn’t know how we must live. Jace, this house started with a mission. We have our lives and she has hers.”
“And your life. Do you ever regret having your mortal life taken from you, Uncle?” Jace asked, his voice low. “Without your consent or understanding?”
Julian stared ahead in thought of that time so long ago. His face darkened in the memory and Jace was sure it was a hint of regret that crossed his face and mind then. “Once I did. Now I look at what we have accomplished here. The Ashen Twilight House was built to help the Nightwalkers, Lycans and Shifter-Elves like myself who didn’t know what they were, why they became that way or how to live their lives. For that, I am grateful.”
Jace’s lips lifted in a half smile. “You always said to make no apologies for who we are.”
“And I mean that. Though sometimes you have to understand when that extends to the people you care about as well.”
Jace shrugged out of his Uncle’s grip and headed for the door.
“Have you thought of my earlier proposal to you?” Julian asked.
The younger vampire turned to face his uncle once again. “I’m ready to take my place at your side as regent of this house.”
“Are you sure you want this responsibility?”
Jace nodded. “I do. And I want Ariya with me.”
“Jace, you know I can’t. She is Fey!”
“Yet not Sìdhichean, Uncle.”
“And you know this how? You know for sure she does not share the traits and connection to the Sìdhichean in any way that may bring harm to us? They are malicious creatures, not merely mysterious like the Fey. It’s wise to arm ourselves first to fend off an attack while our guard is ready. I understand she comes from another realm but the signs are there to link it to what we’ve been told since the beginning. She could have been tricking us Jace. She could still be tricking us. Who knows what powers she carries—”
“You know what powers she carries. You felt that elemental when you and the other Patriarch’s absorbed it. The Aziza power was there.”
“And still a power we cannot comprehend.”
“Did it feel malicious?”
“Jace—”
“Answer me, Uncle. Please.”
Julian pushed his glass away and stood upright. He buttoned his suit jacket as he started toward the door. “I won’t stand here and play silly games.”
“Don’t be like me, Uncle, and shut yourself off from anything positive that can come into our lives. Or at least your own life.”
Julian froze in the long hall leading to the door.
Jace wondered what he could do to get through to him.
“All right then. If I made her one of us—will that make a difference? Would that satisfy your suspicions?”
The silence following his question was nearly deafening as his words echoed in his head. For a moment, even he couldn’t believe what he was proposing.
Julian shook his head before joining him in the conference room. “You have never borne a Nightwalker before. You haven’t the experience.”
“Well, I guess some things can always be learned, can’t they Uncle?” Jace didn’t wait for an answer as he turned toward the door and left Julian alone to his thoughts.
* * * *
Jace stepped into his apartment gently closing the door behind him. He made sure to step lightly as he removed his jacket and slipped it over the back end of the couch. He continued to the bedroom where Ariya laid on the bed with one arm tucked behind her head and the other over her stomach. She remained fully dressed.
“You’re awake,” he said leaning against the door. He slipped his hands into his pockets and smiled. “I thought you’d be resting.”
She shrugged. “I guess I still feel a little restless. It was a big night.”
“That it was.”
Ariya looked away from him for a moment before sharing his gaze once again. “Jace—I have to return home. I need to see if my people are well.”
Jace crossed the room and moved over to the bed in mere moments. “I’m sure they are.”
She sat up and placed her hand on his face, pulling him closer to her. “I don’t know if my family is still alive, as well as the rest of my people—I don’t know if there’s anyone around.” Ariya ignored the sting in her heart whenever she wondered if her parents were alive. She wondered if it was a sign from above, trying to tell her of the oncoming devastation that her mind refused to believe. Perhaps, it was better not to know rather than the truth being confirmed. On the other hand, if they were alive, then they would be worrying about her whereabouts.
Feeling his body tense near hers, Ariya’s heart quickened. She willingly invited him close to her, wrapping her arms around him.
“Ariya, I want you to know that I have never felt as close to anyone until now. I do want you to be happy. And if you chose to return home I will respect your wishes.”
She sighed softly, feeling his words lingering in the air to signal he had more to say.
“I have to admit, I’ve gotten quite accustomed to having you here with me. And I would miss your presence if you did leave. I can respect your wish to leave but at the same time I would miss you if you go. It’s been so long since I felt this way toward another.”
She smiled in response to his words and he leaned down to gently kiss her on the corners of her mouth. Her heart quickened again in anticipation as he drew near. The scent of him, a scent that was indefinably his, consumed her and sent a shiver throughout her body.
Jace held her tighter within his arms, fighting back the urge to ask what if he were to change her, how would she react? It already took a big step for him to admit how she made him feel. Part of him still felt guarded as he continued to tread lightly in this new emotional territory. He knew in the coming days he’d make it a point to ask how she felt if she were to become a creature of the night like him. In the kiss he placed upon her lips, he felt a rush that he had never felt before. Not with Shelly or any of the women he had shared his body or his bed with throughout the centuries. Ariya had changed something in him and although he didn’t know what, the one thing he was sure of, he wasn’t about to let her leave his life now. He didn’t care what Julian or the Ashen Twilight House thought of them together.
“You spoke with your Uncle tonight?” she asked softly once the kiss broke.
“Yes, I did,” Jace answered. He moved to the area next to her on the bed and urged her to rest her head on his chest.
“He doesn’t accept me.”
“It doesn’t matter what he thinks.”
She lifted her chin up toward him. In those moments, she felt the words crowded in the back of his mind. Part of her was afraid to ask the questions of what he meant by changing her into what he was. What if he did? What would happen to her body and her reaction to the simple changes of living in the night instead of the day? She didn’t even know how her Aziza Fairy blood would react to this so called change or if she would survive such pressure upon her body. Most of all, how would he make this happen? She shifted uneasily with the amount of questions piling up in her mind.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt him caress her chin. “Don’t think of that now, gradh,” he said, his words slurred with sleepy haze. “There’s always time later.”
He slipped out from under her and went to his dresser to retrieve a single trinket from the top and another from within the top drawer. Once Ariya saw the items in his hand, she immediately sat up. Her heart swelled and she nearly lost her br
eath as she saw two silver rings each with two hands clasped over a gold crown.
“This is a Claddagh design with very old roots in the Celtic history,” Jace explained as he climbed back on the bed. “I had it made as a ring long ago after the Ottoman wars when I planned to marry.” He leaned back on the bed and shifted his position to get comfortable.
“And did you?”
Jace shook his head. His gaze remained on the rings he held out. “No. I never had the chance.”
Ariya snuggled up closer to him. Jace guided her head to lie down upon his shoulder as he gently caressed her dark chocolate curls splayed across her neck and his chest. “Tell me about them,” she said softly. “The rings.”
“Well, when worn as a ring it’s supposed to symbolize friendship and love. My mother told me of this old Scottish woman she met as a girl. The old woman had a ring molded into rock solid metal with a design just like this. She told my mother of a legend where a young goldsmith gave the ring to his beloved as a token of his love. He promised right then and there to marry her in the coming days—”
Ariya breathed softly. Her heart beat echoed so gently in his ears in rhythmic patterns he almost swore she was fast asleep. Then her head moved slightly. “What happened?”
“The young goldsmith was kidnapped and taken aboard a pirate ship. His beloved didn’t hear from him for days but she refused to believe he would leave or that something happened to him. She waited five whole years and in that time he was able to escape, make a living to have enough money to care for her when they were reunited, and finally return to her so that he would carry out his promise to marry her.”
“How did he know they would meet again?”
Jace shrugged slightly. “He just knew. That was the main thing keeping him going all those years of work. That and his promise to return to her.”
Her body vibrated slightly as she chuckled. “Is this a true story?”
“So I was told by my mother. The old woman showed her the ring right before she confessed to be the goldsmith’s love.”
Ariya opened her mouth to speak though no words could express her feeling at that moment. She felt Jace lean down toward her and the curvature of his smile against the crown of her head. Slowly he lifted his hand again to show her the rings.
“This one is the same ring the old woman gave to my mother who then gave it to me. She made me promise to keep it as a reminder that there is love in this world. But I had seen so much death and darkness that I almost forgot. That’s why I had it hidden away.”
He lifted her hand and slipped the other ring over her ring finger.
Ariya immediately jumped away taking the ring off her finger. She gingerly slipped it back in his hand. “Jace, I can’t take this.”
“Why not?”
“You can’t give this to me.”
“I choose to give it to who I wish, Ariya. And I want you have it. I want you to remain my betrothed.”
She reached up to caress his cheek as she stared into his eyes. “I can’t stay here.”
“Just a little while longer.”
Jace bent down to gently kiss her lips. The idea of her wearing the ring that he kept all these centuries touched the shattered remnants of his heart. Still he couldn’t help wondering if it was her turn to hide now. He wouldn’t let her go away so easily.
“Morning is coming,” Ariya said idly as she looked at the clock.
“So we will speak of this more tomorrow eve.” He slipped his mother’s ring on his finger and placed the other ring on hers before kissing her fingers. The burden of the night’s battle weighed down on him as he slid back on the bed and urged her to lie back down on his chest. Morning was definitely on its way as he felt the mimic of death falling upon his worn body. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he slowly gave in to waiting sleep.
* * * *
Avery walked along the empty desert landscape where the preternatural skirmish took place. He waited until the police finally left before he walked over to the spot where the elemental was eliminated. His group of Shifters cornered the area, their senses keen on anything that seemed out of place. A dark spot indented on the ground in the shape of a figure caught his eye.
“Close,” he said softly. “Yet so far.” He reached into his coat pocket and flipped open his cell phone.
“Avery,” said the deep voice on the other line. “Good news?”
“Yeah, dad. Looks like they succeeded in vanquishing it.”
“No sign of it anywhere?”
Avery shook his head. “None. I had to wait until those mortal cops left. They didn’t see anything, but I can tell they were here.”
A deep laugh spread across the line.
“You must be thinking what I’m thinking,” Avery said with a sly smile.
“Of course. Round two.”
“I’ll work on getting the Fairy. Meanwhile, you can go ahead and get the preparations ready. I have a feeling this won’t take long.” Avery flipped his cell phone close. “Let’s move out!” He gestured for his men to return to the car. Mentally he began to prepare for the Fairy hunt that would ensue for as long as necessary. This time, he wasn’t giving up until his family usurped the power they so rightly deserved.
* * * *
Ariya awoke hours later. Her warm body shivered as Jace’s cold skin touched hers. Through her sleepy haze she looked up at Jace and noticed his arms wrapped around her. His pale muscled chest served as her pillow and his arms were her comforting security blanket. She must have fallen asleep as he fell into his rest. She didn’t want to leave but she recognized the peaceful look that spread across his face and knew he wouldn’t be awake until night. For now his body was literally dead complete with the cold, steel tenor of death; absent of the rotting aftermath. Slowly she slipped out from under him and reached for the ground with her outstretched toes. Her bare feet were already cold and became colder at the touch of Jace’s wood floor.
She didn’t think about taking the clothes that Jace left for her. They were technically still his after all. For now, she needed to get home before she changed her mind and return to the comfort of Jace’s warm, soft bed. As she stopped at the frame of the bedroom door, she turned back to watch him sleep, hoping to embed the image in her mind. His bare chest remained still with not a breath passing into his lungs. His handsome youthful face was motionless in a temporary death.
Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned to look at her hand resting on the frame and saw the Claddagh ring. Her mind replayed the moment before they fell asleep as he slipped it on her finger. Then she remembered his offer to become his betrothed. A sly smile crossed her lips as she caressed the smooth intricate design. It was beautiful beyond words. Not only in the thoughtful care had it taken to make the design but also of the sentimental story behind it. Still she couldn’t accept it. As much as she would love to lose herself here with Jace for the rest of her days, she couldn’t think only of herself. Her people needed her now more than ever. She was the only descendent left her family to rule the people of the Aziza. She had to think of them first and herself after.
Ariya closed her eyes and replayed all the moments Jace held her, looked upon her with passion and care. The feel of his body and touch on hers as he fed from her and she gave him her lifeblood was intoxicating. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, never read before in any text or her studies human anatomy. Yet it brought a desire to have him close to her each day. Part of her was angry for what she was about to do but she assured herself this was best at this moment. Jace would understand her actions once he realized what she left behind in the aftermath of her lands.
Slowly she slipped the ring off her finger and placed it gently on the wooden dresser. She ignored the sting in her heart as she took one final look at Jace sleeping peacefully.
Ariya gathered her strength and forced herself to continue walking out the door. Her knee high black buckle up boots sat
near the front waiting for her. She quickly stepped into them and buckled them up then changed into the soft gossamer dress she wore on the first day in this world. Then finally she took her leave.
Outside the fiery horizon was a warm orange tint amongst the chocolate mountain hilltops surrounding the city. The air was still and thankfully pretty mild for this time of year. Later on in the afternoon, the temperatures would grow a little warmer.
Ariya rushed along the quiet residential area with only sparse amounts of cars rushing back and forth on the busier streets nearby. Looking around, she made sure no one spotted her as she readied herself to cross back into her own realm. In moments, she would be home and all her questions would be answered.
* * * *
Jace’s eyes flashed open and he bolted upright in bed. A flash of cold air breezed past his face. He jumped to his feet and rushed to the front door, but he knew she was already gone. The bareness of the apartment nearly choked him with mockery. The large apartment felt spacious and emptiness filled the room that never was there before. Then he saw it. The Claddagh ring he had slipped on her finger was left on his dresser with his other collectibles.
His gaze fell as his body tensed in physical pain. His stomach jolted with bile that crept up to this throat and he had to swallow a few times to push it down. Why did she not take his gift? It was a promise that he had made to no other woman in his life but Ariya—and she threw it back at him without another word. Not even a note to explain how she felt!