by E. J. Powell
As soon as Jessie sheathed her sword, she heard a sound on the wind. It was quiet at first and then grew. She knew what it was. It was Daniel. He was calling for Ashley. Jessie shouldn’t be able to hear it. Jessie wasn’t part of Ashley’s pack and only an alpha can hear it when it’s called from a beta. But Jessie could hear it as plain as day. She looked up to the dark sky, and for the first time since she had come to the island, she saw the moon.
“You should eat,” Helena said. “You will need your stren-”
Helena stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes glazed over as if they were seeing something nobody else could see. She lifted her hand to her heart and held it there as if she was trying to keep it in her chest.
“Helena?” Jessie stepped in front of her. “Helena, did you hear the Call, too?”
“No. Colt is in trouble,” Helena whispered.
“What are you talking about?”
Helena’s eyes snapped back to Jessie.
“Colt. He’s in trouble. I can feel it.”
“How?”
“We’re mated. I can feel his pain. He needs me. I have to go to him.”
“Okay, let me get Asteria. I think she’s in her hut.”
Jessie took off with Helena right on her heels. Jessie ran through the village, her boots digging into the sand. She came barreling through the cloth door and stopped before she hit the table. Helena stopped at the doorway.
“I need you to take us back to New Orleans,” Jessie said as Asteria looked up from the table. Her eyes were wide at the sudden intrusion, but it wasn’t just shock Jessie saw in her mother’s eyes. It looked like she had been crying.
“There is no going back.” Jessie looked to the other female voice. It was deep for a woman and held power and strength. Jessie hadn’t seen her when she first came into the hut, but now she found it hard to believe she had missed the woman. With ebony skin that looked as soft as silk, the woman stood even taller than Helena. She had to be at least six feet tall. Her dark hair was braided into a thousand different strands and held back by a golden headdress.
“Jessie, this is Queen Avera,” Asteria introduced.
“I don’t care who she is,” Helena said. “My mate is in trouble and I need to get back to New Orleans.”
“You can leave,” the queen said. “You should have never been here.”
Jessie looked to Asteria and Asteria cast her eyes down.
“But if Jessie goes,” the queen continued. “Then she is forfeiting her place in our ranks.”
“Fine,” Helena said. “I will leave by myself. Just someone teleport me back.”
Queen Avera let out a laugh so deep and dark that the hut seemed to shake with her.
“The Trials are in less than six hours,” Avera said, sobering herself. “No Amazon is allowed to leave. You will have to find your own way back.”
“You can’t keep me here,” Helena replied.
“And I’m not. I’m simply not going to risk the lives of my coven for you, Dark Lord.”
Helena looked ready to kill the Amazon queen. Her hands were in fists at her side and the pure hatred in her eyes sent chills down Jessie’s spine. She never wanted Helena as an enemy.
“Look,” the queen said. “Our powers are waning. They have already begun to leave us. I couldn’t send you back even if I wanted to.”
“What are you talking about?” Jessie asked.
“It’s part of the Trials. The power of the coven leaves us and collects into one center.”
“Where does it go?”
“In you,” Asteria said. Jessie turned to her mother.
“It began the moment you stepped foot on our land,” Queen Avera said. “By dawn, you will have the full power of the entire Amazon coven.”
“Why?” Helena asked.
“Our coven is only as strong as our weakest member. If she cannot protect the coven as one, then she will not protect it as many.”
“That’s insane,” Helena said.
“It is our way. A way that has protected us for millennia. A way that keeps everyone strong, not just one.”
Helena stormed from the hut. Jessie looked to her mother, ignoring the beautiful, tall woman beside her.
“Is there nothing you can do?” Jessie asked. “Daniel is with Helena’s mate. He’s in trouble, too.”
“Daniel is no longer your concern,” Avera said. Jessie looked to her. “You are to become an Amazon. You must forget about this man who seeks to enslave you. You must forget about all men.”
Jessie looked once more at Asteria for help, but Asteria kept her eyes down. If letting innocent people die was the Amazon way, Jessie wanted no part of it. Even if it meant her death.
Jessie stormed from the hut. She scanned the area for Helena, but she saw no sign of her. She quickly made her way back to the huts they had been given and went straight for Helena’s. Helena was in the middle of her small hut, pacing back and forth.
“We can get another witch to help us,” Jessie said as she walked up to Helena. When Helena turned, Jessie had to take a step back. She had never seen Helena so worried before. The torment in her eyes was haunting. Jessie could even swear she saw a tear welling up in her eye.
“There’s no time,” Helena said.
Jessie looked back to the hut. She knew what she needed to do. And for the first time, it was what Jessie wanted to do. She knew the consequences. She knew the full weight of her choice. And then a peace swept over her. For the first time, this was her choice.
Hers.
She turned back to Helena.
“I can teleport.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I think I already have. I thought it was a dream, but now I’m pretty sure I teleported.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
Jessie smiled at Helena and held her hand out.
“Take my hand. I’m taking you to New Orleans.”
“No, Jessie.” Helena said, stepping back. “You heard the queen. If you leave, you forfeit your rank in the coven. You forfeit your life.”
“And that is my choice. Mine. I would rather die at dawn then live knowing I let the people I care about the most in this world, die. What good is life if there is no one to love?” Jessie held her hand back out for Helena. “This is what I want, Helena. Take my hand.”
Helena grabbed her hand, and Jessie could feel the urgency in her touch. Jessie closed her eyes, and as if Helena was feeding her the image, Jessie saw the warehouse. She saw the demons flowing in droves, and Colt lying on the ground. He was bleeding uncontrollably as Boyd knelt over him applying pressure to his chest.
And then she saw Daniel. He was fighting back three demons with Torrick next to him. He moved quickly as his blade sliced through the air.
Jessie concentrated all of her energy on Daniel. He was where she wanted to be. She needed to focus on him. She needed to see him. She gripped Helena’s hand tighter, and in an instant, she felt the hot air of the island leave and cold air brush against her face. She could smell the spice of New Orleans and feel the humidity stick to her skin. She could hear the sound of steel against steel ringing through the air.
She opened her eyes and she was in the warehouse… in the middle of the battle.
Ash floated through the air, so thick she had to cough as she inhaled it. She saw Justin in wolf form as he leapt over her, landing on a demon. The demon burst into ash underneath him and he leapt for his next target.
Jessie felt Helena let go of her hand and she looked to see Helena running towards Colt, decapitating demons as she went. She took off after Helena.
“Colt!” Helena yelled as she neared him. Boyd looked over and quickly moved out of the way. Helena dropped to her knees and quickly examined Colt’s body.
“Cover me,” Helena said to Boyd. Boyd turned around and kept the demons away from Helena and Colt.
Jessie watched as Helena’s hands sunk into Colt’s blood-soaked chest. Colt began to cough and sputter before he took
in a deep breath. His eyes flew open and looked at Helena leaning over him.
“What are you doing here?” Colt asked as he wrapped her in his arms.
“Saving your life.”
“You’re always saving me,” he said. “How did I get so lucky to have you as my guardian angel?”
And then Jessie saw Helena smile. Actually smile.
“Jessie!” Boyd called out. “Duck!”
Jessie bent down right as Boyd’s dagger flew over her, slicing into a demon behind her. She turned as the demon burst into ash. Boyd ran over and collected his dagger before sending it into another demon’s temple.
Helena helped Colt to his feet as they joined the fight. Jessie would have never believed Colt was near death as he swung his sword with discipline and skill. Jessie looked around the warehouse as more demons came in. She had never seen so many in her life.
“What happened here?” Jessie asked as she stood next to Colt and Helena.
“Ty sold out your pack to Rocco,” Colt said, stabbing another demon.
“Ty?” Helena said as she kicked back a demon, sending it into Boyd’s blade.
“Yeah,” Boyd said. “And apparently Rocco’s employer can get him a demon army.”
“It was a set up,” Colt said. “This whole thing was to get to Jessie and Rickon.”
“Where’s Daniel?” Jessie asked. She could feel the urgency rising in her body. She needed to get to him.
“He was here a second ago,” Boyd said as he did a quick scan behind him. “There.” He pointed to the back of the room.
Jessie followed his gaze and saw Daniel still in human form fighting three demons with his brother Torrick in wolf form next to him.
Jessie grabbed the daggers from her boots and began slicing through the demons. She had to get to Daniel. She made her way through the room until she was close enough to smell Daniel’s cologne.
“Daniel!” Jessie screamed.
“Jessie?” She saw him look around until his eyes locked on hers. His dark hair was a mess, his face streaked with ash and blood. But his eyes were still the same. Warm, and inviting. Filled with love as he looked at her.
Daniel couldn’t believe his eyes. He never thought he would see her again. But there Jessie was. Her beautiful blond hair braided to the side, her white tank suctioned to her perfect body, and those eyes. Those light brown eyes that he could never get enough of. He watched her send her daggers through the demons as she went. Her fighting abilities have greatly improved. She looked like a warrior as she spun on her heel and kicked back a demon, sending it into Justin’s claws.
“I had a dream about you last night,” Daniel said as Jessie made it to him. He scooped her up in his arms.
When he put her back down, Jessie smiled at him and he could feel his heart skip a beat.
“Duck,” he said as a demon came from behind Jessie. She bent down and Daniel sent his sword out, decapitating the demon.
Jessie stood back up.
“How are there so many demons?” Jessie asked.
“Rocco knows someone,” Daniel said as they turned, back to back, and they fought the demons that never stopped coming.
“Who could he know that could gather this many?”
“I don’t know, but reinforcements should be here soon.”
“Not soon enough,” Torrick said, shifting back into human form. His naked body quickly dodged to the left as Jessie sent her dagger flying past him. The blade sunk into a demon’s chest and the demon burst into ash.
Jessie turned as she drew her sword from her back sheath. She was going to find out if Helena’s training was worth a damn.
She sliced her sword down as the demons kept coming. Dodging their talons, she quickly fought her way through the demons’ advances. She turned as three demons were rushing towards her. She could feel her magic swirling inside her. It was hungry. It was restless. Yet, unlike before, it was waiting to be unleashed. She could feel its raw power, but it was tame. Waiting for her to give it command.
She lifted her hand, and as if her magic was an extension of her arm, she let her powers free. The three demons flew through the air, crashing into the wall behind them, and bursting into ash.
She turned to the two demons fighting Daniel and let her powers extend again. They went flying back, one landing on Helena’s sword, the other on Boyd’s. She turned, drawing her fist back, and then she slammed her fist forward. A shock wave flew out from her, sending demons flying in all directions.
She ran to where Daniel stood. Torrick, Helena, Colt and Boyd came to them, standing in the clearing Jessie made. Justin leapt into the circle and Torrick shifted back into wolf form before both of them leapt out of the circle landing on their prey.
She caught a glimpse of Robb’s wolf form as he locked into battle with Ty.
“I don’t remember teaching you that,” Helena said as she sent her sword slicing through a demon.
“I don’t remember learning that,” Jessie said. “It just felt right.”
“Well, keep having those feelings,” Boyd said. “The demons are backing off.”
“You got it!” Jessie let her hands guide her as she sent her powers out again. Her magic flew from her fingertips and then came back to her, waiting for their next command.
She didn’t know how long she had been fighting for. The demons never stopped coming, and she could see her family growing tired.
“Get the girl!” Jessie looked up as Rocco shouted his commands from the catwalk. He looked down at her, and she could see the pure hate and malice in his eyes. And then something caught his eye, and a wicked smile spread across his lips. He leapt from the catwalk, landing somewhere in the swamp of demons.
She heard Helena shout and then everything went still. The demons parted in front of Jessie and her heart leapt to her throat.
Rocco had Daniel in a hold. A blade rested on Daniel’s neck, blood beading on the steel.
“No!” Jessie shouted. Rocco took a step back, pulling Daniel with him.
“Everyone on their knees!” Rocco shouted.
Hesitantly, Helena, Boyd and Colt threw their weapons down before kneeling.
Torrick, Justin, and Rickon shifted before they too, knelt.
“I will have the girl,” Rocco said. He looked to Jessie. “You can either leave with me now, or I will kill everyone you love.”
“No, Jessie,” Daniel pleaded. “Run.”
“Shut up,” Rocco said, yanking Daniel back. The blade tore his skin more and Jessie could feel her panic rise.
She closed her eyes as she tried to find some way out of this mess, but she couldn’t. There was no other way. She had to go with Rocco. She had to save Daniel.
Jessie felt warmth on her hand. She opened her eyes and looked down as sunlight trickled through a broken window up above her. It was morning. Today was her birthday. She was going to die today, and she was perfectly fine with that. But she wasn’t about to give in to Rocco. And she wasn’t about to let Daniel, or her family, die with her.
She looked back to Rocco.
She felt her powers move inside her. They were hungry to be unleashed.
She sent them out, and Rocco flew back, pinned and crucified to the wall. He tried to move his outstretched arms, but he couldn’t.
“What is this?” he asked as he frantically tried to free himself from the invisible hold. He looked to Jessie. “What are you?”
“I am Jessie Greyson, daughter of the Amazons. I was not born to bow to you, or any other man.”
“You can’t be!” Rocco shouted. “It is impossible! You’re a wolf, not a witch!”
“No. I’m both.”
Jessie moved her hand back, and with the full force of the Amazons, she pushed her powers out.
Rocco let out a scream as her powers slammed into him. He dropped to the concrete floor, dead.
Jessie looked around the room. The demons looked down at Rocco’s body and then back to her.
The battle began again.
>
Helena was the first on her feet, a sword already in her hand. Boyd and Colt quickly followed as they leapt into action. Torrick, Justin, and Rickon quickly shifted and began leaping in and out of the demons.
“Daniel!” Jessie shouted over the sound of steel against talons scraping through the air. “Daniel!”
“I’m right here,” he said as he appeared at her side. She quickly wiped the blood from his neck. The cut wasn’t deep and didn’t pierce his artery.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“Never been better.” He smiled at her and she could feel her heart lift.
“Behind you!” Daniel shouted.
Jessie ducked as a demon lunged for her. She turned, sending her powers out, and sent the demon flying into the wall. It hit its head against the concrete walls and burst into ash. Daniel sliced a demon to her left as she sent her powers out again. But there were still too many.
Jessie turned to a loud pounding coming from the front door. She looked at the huge, roll-up, metal door as it began to bow in and out. She looked over to Daniel who had noticed it too. He shook his head and then the entire door ripped from its hinges, exposing a giant hole in the warehouse. Jessie shielded her face as concrete and debris flew over her.
And then Demons began bursting into ash around her. She looked as demons tried to flee, but didn’t get far before they were disintegrated. She turned to the light coming from the front of the building. It was a bright light. A light she had seen before.
Aria was here.
And with Aria came Bender, Darion, Ashley, and Agnes.
It didn’t take long before the demons were vanquished.
The light faded as Aria let her powers rest. Even with Jessie’s own powers, she had nothing on what Aria could do. She looked around the room and saw that the battle was over. The ash was beginning to settle. Her eyes fell to Rocco as he lay dead on the ground. It was over. It was finally over.
Daniel spun to Jessie and picked her up in his arms again. Oh, how she missed him. She missed his smile. She missed her body on his. When he put her back down, he was smiling at her.
“Does this mean you passed the Trials?” he asked as he tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear.