by Ariel Marie
“Yes I can, my child. Now what would you want to implant in your subconscious so when it shows up in your dream, you will wake?” He motions me over to the couch to lie down.
“Music.”
“Excellent, any particular song?”
“No, it would be too hard to make a particular song play if it’s not going my way. I think for now, any music will do.” He nods. He places his hands on my head and speaks in an ancient dialect that I don’t understand. I feel a tingling sensation in my brain and I drift off to unconsciousness.
* * *
“How is your training coming, my dear?” My father asks from behind his desk as I walk into his office. It’s a little after midnight and I’m not surprised that he is still working. I had just showered and put my pajamas on when my bedroom phone rang with my father asking me to meet him in his office. With all that is going on in the human realm, my father is taking this as a warning to make sure that Faery is well protected.
“It’s brutal!” I plop down on his leather couch, rubbing my temples. After the session with Eldrin implanting the kill-safe in my subconscious, I have felt extremely tired and even nauseated a little. Eldrin assured me that these symptoms were normal after something as intense as our session and that it will take my brain a few hours to calm down after a subconscious implantation.
My father’s eyes soften and he smiles tenderly at me. “Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that my little Lina would grow up to be the woman you are today.” He comes and sits next to me on the couch and tucks me under his arm. I snuggle in close like I used to when I was a child.
“When you were born, I was ecstatic that I got my baby girl. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy that Keegan was born but there is nothing like having a little girl, someone who will look to you for love and protection. Even when Keegan was ten years old and first held you, he said that he would protect you forever and always. In my mind, I imagined that you would grow up being a girlie girl, running around with dresses, hair bows and dolls. Not dresses, hair bows and a sword. When you came to me demanding to train for a Guardian, how could I say no?” He looks down and smiles at me as I punch him in the shoulder. I’m choked up with emotion as I wipe the tears from my eyes. I love my father so much and I just wish my mother were here. His face turns serious as he looks down at me.
“I’ve lost your mother, Lina. I can’t lose you too. You have to take the lessons seriously and work at mastering them as quickly as you can. Let us help you. Let your brother and me protect you to the best of our ability. And if you’re serious about that wolf, Colin, let him protect you too. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. I believe you are his mate. You know wolves mate for life and will protect their mates at all cost. He’s a strong Alpha. Please don’t argue with us because we want to protect you.” I’m too choked up now to say anything, so I nod and bury my head in his chest as he squeezes me tight.
“I’m going to bring in a couple more trusted Elders to help train you. They have sworn oaths not to reveal that you have the power of the Fae. Be prepared! You think this past week has been exhausting; you’re going to need your strength. You’re about to get the true crash course of Fae powers.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
~Melomouzor~
“Master, there is no trace of her in the human realm,” the low level demon snarls out as he grovels at my feet. I look at the demon bowing at my feet in disgust. I don’t have to ask who she was. She has been the object of my obsession for years and now I’m so close. The key to the prophecy. So close to breaking out of this banishment and fulfilling the prophecy and they can’t find her?
Unacceptable!
Sitting on my throne made of skulls, in the throne room in the Underworld, I’m pissed! The room is massive with high ceilings and ceiling to floor windows decorated with blood red tapestries that overlook the Underworld. Torches along the walls provided light for the room. Soft orange light flickers from the pit in the middle of the room. The pit, a deep bottomless whole in the center of the room that leads to the deadly molten river of hot lava that flows beneath this part of the Underworld palace.
As the Demon King, I do enjoy the finer things in life and since becoming the ruler of the Underworld a few millennia ago when Hades disappeared, I had this great palace built. The palace, if it was in the human realm, would be fit for a great ruler. If I was going to rule the Underworld, I needed to live like a king!
I walk down to the pit, demons in the room all bow as I pass them. I stop near the pit gazing into the smoldering lava as it flows by the opening. The few demon guards in the room shift where they stand. I can smell the nervousness coming from all the guards in the room and the groveling demon.
Those ten Ancients and that bitch of a Goddess Durga thought that they would hold me to the Underworld forever. Well, they were wrong!
Arlina is the key to breaking the curse of being banished to the Underworld. I’ve waited over a millennium for the key to the prophecy and now that she has been born, it is time for me to make my return to the human realm and they all will pay!
“What do you mean there is no trace of her?” I look to the demon that has not risen from his kneeled position on the floor.
“We’ve looked everywhere that she frequents when she’s in the human realm. We’ve been keeping an eye on that wolf’s house, and she has not been seen there nor has she been seen at her grandmother’s house.” The demon bows closer to the floor in total submission.
Rage overtakes me! I rush to the demon brutally kicking him in the stomach, over and over, until I am tired, and out of breath. The demon lay gasping on the floor with black blood escaping his mouth, cradling his stomach. I straighten my suit and stalk over to the door, pausing to turn to the demon.
“I know where to find her. The next time I send you for her, and you return without her, I will throw you in the pit.” I walk out the room with the guards in tow.
* * *
~Colin~
It’s been a week since she left to go back to the Fae. My wolf has been going crazy without her. It’s amazing how quickly my wolf has gotten attached to her. She hasn’t called since she’s been in Faery. I can’t help but feel a little jealous that she’s spoken to Keegan but she has yet to call me. I probably should have called her, but the Legion is being stretched thin lately. Not only have there been more demon sightings, and another demon attack, but we have also had to deal with a new group of rogue wolves that have settled in the area.
Some rogues switch between their human and animal forms, but there are some rogues that choose to stay in their wolf form. These wolves are extremely dangerous because the longer they stay in their animal form, the animal becomes more aggressive and they lose touch with their humanity.
A group of rogue wolves have been causing trouble around Langdale lately. We all have been working almost non-stop. The rogues have showed up in the area, trespassing on private lands, breaking into homes, starting fights in the local bars and we’ve been finding unsanctioned kills of certain animals in the forest. There was also a report of a human attack by a wolf. We have barely been getting any sleep with everything going on. I shake my head when I think of the two hours of sleep I got last night.
The Vampires and the Guardians have been helping with the Demons. Since the Vampires have the severe sun allergy, they go out at night to help track down the demons. We’ve been trying to track where they are going, and what they are doing while here in the human realm. The Guardians have been working with Azura and the Witches’ Council, trying to find who has been helping to open the portals, letting the Demons into the human realm.
As the Alpha, I have a responsibility to protect the members of the pack. The rogue wolves, when they are caught have to be disciplined. Senseless killings of humans by wolves violates the first law of the Lycan Creed. All wolves must abide by the Lycan Creed and these are laws that the Legion enforces. A dirty brown wolf by the name of Ralph Nash, attacked and killed a random defens
eless man riding his bike along the highway. Ralph received the ultimate sentencing tonight, death. As the Alpha I take responsibility in handing out the sentencing.
There are several ways to kill a wolf. A silver bullet to the heart will kill a wolf. Wolves are severely allergic to silver. If silver enters a wolf’s blood stream, whether from a bullet or silver knife, the pain causes such agony that it feels as if the wolf is on fire, burning from the inside out. Beheading is a sure way of killing a wolf. Once a wolf dies, if in their wolf form the body will always change back to the human form.
We were able to track Ralph down deep in the woods. He had been roaming in his wolf form, in the woods, east of our compound. We found him holed up in a cave on the side of the mountain. My Alpha wolf is much larger and more powerful than the normal wolves. When we first set out to hunt him down, I gave the order that only I would deal out the punishment of death.
When he sensed us closing in on him, he tried to make a run for it. I took off after him with the Legion members trailing behind us. After about a mile he finally figured out that he could not outrun the Legion, and would have to fight for his life. The Legion members surrounded the two of us circling each other. My wolf has been itching for a fight and was out for blood. My wolf is frustrated with not claiming Lina, her leaving to go back to the Fae, the stress of the demons and rogue wolves. Ralph attacked first but he was no match for my wolf.
The fight is over in minutes, and he lay on the ground with his head severed from his body. Even with his beheading, his body still slowly changes back to human. Devyn, Reed, Dante and Alec are with me, and they began digging a grave to bury the deceased wolf in, while I make my way back to the house.
Once I get back, I grab my sweatpants off the back porch and throw them on and then head inside through the patio doors. I’m exhausted and want to jump in the bed for a few hours before it’s time to get up. The clock on the microwave reads four thirty-five a.m. I check my pockets, pulling out my phone to see if I have any missed calls. None. I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and hear soft footsteps coming into the kitchen.
“You don’t have to cook anything for me, Winnie. I’m going to try to grab a few hours of sleep this morning.” I turn thinking it is Winnie coming into the kitchen, and am surprised to see Malia leaning against the kitchen island.
“Morning,” she says dressed in an oversized pajama shirt and pants set, looking like she just woke up.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was helping Winnie last night with cleaning up after dinner, then we started watching a movie and before I knew it, I dozed off on the couch. Winnie told me to just stay and she let me borrow her jammies.” She picks at her oversized nightshirt that is hanging off one shoulder.
“Oh, well, good night.” I try to walk past her but she grabs my arm.
“Wait, Colin.” I stop without turning to her.
“What is it, Malia?” I rub my hand across my face. I can almost feel the bags beneath my eyes, and the scruffiness on my face lets me know I’m a few days late shaving. She comes to stand in front of me, staring at my chest while she trails her fingertips down my chest to my stomach.
“Stop.” I grab her hand and she stands closer looking up at me. Her hazel eyes searching mine. I used to think she had pretty eyes, but as I look into them, they cannot compare to a certain emerald color that I wish I could gaze into now.
“Do you need some company?” A slow sensual grin spreads across her face. She holds my hand in hers. I feel nothing, and I honestly am surprised. We have had a physical relationship on and off for years and now, I feel nothing for her.
“No, I’m heading upstairs alone. We’ve already discussed this, Malia.”
“Seriously? You want to play this game? She’s the new flavor for now; you’ll get tired of her. You always come back to me, Colin! ” Her eyes flare with anger.
“Just leave me be, Malia.” My phone rings, I grab it and see it’s Lina calling. “I’ve got to take this.” I use this as my excuse to brush past her to exit the kitchen.
“Let me know when you want me to come up,” she says at the same time I hit the answer button; I glare at her as I wave her off. I hope that Lina didn’t hear her comment. I hurry up and walk out the kitchen, walking down the hallway to the stairs that lead up towards my room.
“Hello?” I answer. I try to keep my voice calm so it doesn’t give away how excited I am to finally hear her voice.
“Hi,” she says softly. “Am I interrupting something? I know it’s early there but I was trying to speak to you before I went to bed.”
Shit!
With everything that’s been going on here, I totally forgot about the time difference between the realms. I quickly run up the stairs and walk into my quarters. I feel like a teenage boy, finally talking on the phone with the girl that he has a major crush on.
“You’re fine, I actually just got home, and was about to jump in the shower and try to grab a few hours of sleep.” I flop down on the couch in the sitting area, setting my bottle of water on the side table.
“I heard things are getting a little tense over there.” She tries to make light conversation but I can hear how tired she is in her voice.
“It is what it is. How about yourself, how is training coming?” Not wanting to talk about what’s going on here in the human realm, I would rather hear about what she’s been doing. I do not want to talk about the wolf I just had to execute.
“It’s brutal, I almost feel as if I’m back training to become a Guardian, at least the mental part. My regular combat training is the same as always. I’ve been trying to make sure I keep my physical conditioning up. The mental part of learning how to use all of my new powers, is more draining than anything I have ever experienced. Keegan has always been brutal with the Guardian’s physical training. I almost think I would rather be going through his training, than some of these training exercises.” We both chuckle as she yawns loudly.
“So how long until you come back?” It’s been a week and I feel like I’m withdrawing from the most addictive drug. I need to have her close to me, I need to be able to hold and feel her. I miss feeling her next to me. My wolf whines that she is not around. He doesn’t understand why she had to leave us.
“I’m not sure,” she sighs. I can hear the sheets rustling as she climbs in the bed. My cock stands at attention of thinking of her and a bed. “I was hoping a couple of weeks, no longer than a month. I’ve been training all day, every day since I got here. There are two more Elders that my father is supposed to be bringing in to continue my training. Eldrin says that I am picking up everything much quicker than a normal student.”
“That’s great! Who is Eldrin?” I try to say calmly, not wanting her to think that I’m jealous, but she laughs at me, picking up the small hint of jealousy. Thankfully the guys can’t see or hear me now. They would bust my balls at me sounding like a teenage pup with a crush! Who would have thought I would be jealous. I don’t get jealous; I’ve had my share of women tripping over their feet trying to get my attention. Now, one little five foot nothing of a woman, has literally brought me to my knees.
“Eldrin is a nine hundred year old Elfen Elder. He has many powers and is very old and knowledgeable, even though he can almost run circles around me.” My wolf calms down, he doesn’t like being this far away from her or that other males have been around her. We talk for a few more minutes and I can tell she is falling asleep on the phone. Her soft breathing in my ear is not helping my engorged erection that is creating a tent in my sweats.
“Lina?” I say softly. I can’t wait until I can hold her in my arms again. When she comes back, she will know without a doubt that she is mine. She’s not leaving my bed for at least a week once she is back in the human realm.
“Hmmm?” She answers half asleep.
“Go ahead and go to sleep honey. Try to call me tomorrow.”
“Ok.” She mutters something unintelligible before hanging up.
Chapter Twenty-Six
~Lina~
This has to be a dream. How in the hell am I suddenly in my grandmother’s house? I remember getting tired while speaking to Colin on the phone, and him telling me to go to sleep since I was dozing off on him. Now, as I look around, I’m standing in the hallway outside my grandmother’s bedroom. The house is abnormally silent. I try to listen to see if I can hear anyone moving around on the other side of the door, but I don’t hear anything stirring.
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of what could possibly be waiting for me there. I take a deep breath and reach for the door handle, my hand trembles slightly as I grip it. I turn the knob slowly and push the door open. It’s nighttime and the moonlight shining in through the windows softly illuminates the room.
As I creep into her room, the sound of soft snoring comes from the direction of her bed. I head over to the bed, and see her lying there sleeping peacefully on her side. My body relaxes as I gaze upon her sleeping form.
“She looks so peaceful doesn’t she?” My body tenses as the one person I hoped to never see in a dream again, walks out of the shadows.
Melomouzor.
“What are you doing here?” My eyes are on Azura as she slumbers. I feel the heat of his stare on me.
“It would be such a shame if something were to happen to her.” He moves to stand next to me, trailing his fingers through my hair.
“Leave my grandmother alone!” I bat his hand away from me as I turn to him. My temper flares at the thought of him getting near my grandmother.
“If you want to keep her safe, then you need to do as I say!” He grips my hair and turns me to him.
“What do you want?” I whisper fiercely trying to get free from his grip.