by LK Kelley
Gem came to a dead halt, and flailed her arms trying to keep herself from falling. Finally, she fell back, and landed on her butt, breathing hard.
“Man! Was that close!”
After catching her breath, she got on her hands and knees to crawl slowly toward the edge, and peeked over. She wasn't on a mountain! She was on an extremely high cliff – more like an escarpment than a cliff! It was a sheer drop below. Her mouth dropped open. Several places on Earth vied for the highest cliff. The main one was the Romanche Fracture Zone, where if the water was gone, it was about four miles deep, and yet, water would still be at the bottom!
“Ah, hell!” She shook her head. It was always her lot to come up with some completely random fact in a moment of real terror.
She remembered something on another channel about a 4500 feet vertical drop, but she was absolutely sure that wherever she was, this vertical drop was at least twice, or even three times that high! It was almost unimaginable, even though, it stared her in the face! It was hard to gauge the height at this point. A moot point, because there was one thing she was sure about, and that was she was definitely not on Earth! And, that boggled her mind more than anything. It sounded like a good scene for one of her books, but this was real, and she had only two ways to go. She looked out to the black ocean below (and what caused it to be black, she really didn’t want to know), and saw nothing but water far below her. She heard yells behind her, and she turned to look at others jumping, darting back and forth, all the while trying to dodge the lava.
She turned her head to the right then the left. There was nowhere for her to go, but the vertical drop. She was trapped! There was no where else to go, but back, or to jump. Now that her shock had disappeared, fear appeared! The sight was so incredible that she couldn't take her eyes off of it – until she felt the ground under her begin to rock. Pulling away from the edge, she turned around, and saw the massively high volcano, reaching far into the sky, explode! She knew about pyroclastic flows, and now, there was one coming straight at her! Shit! She looked at the cliff, then back at the flow. Great! Her choice of death was either to be incinerated, or death by jumping off an escarpment that was so high, she would probably be dead, before she fell halfway down it! Voices were yelling at her. Gem turned to see Eloran running with Delinear only seconds behind her.
“Going somewhere, Miss Elwood?” Eloran yelled at her. He stopped, and glared at her with an evil grin.
“Hell!” Gem answered him, quietly.
“But, my dear. You have nowhere else to go!” Delinear grinned. At that moment, she looked like the Wicked Bitch of the West!
Gem’s eyes widened with fear, but it did not deter from her decision. It was far better than the alternative! At least she would die in freedom! Turning back to Eloran, Gem straightened up with her shoulders back. A slight sneer adorned her face as she looked back at Delinear.
“That's what you think, you bitch!” Gem smirked.
In seconds, Eloran realized what she intended to do, and made a bee-line to stop her.
“You will not keep me in a cage! I am free, and I choose to die in freedom rather than let you keep me in one until you are done with me. He will come after you, and you will know every kind of torture ever known!” she yelled back, then turned. Hearing Eloran storming toward her, death was very preferable than life – or lack thereof – that Eloran had in store for her – and she knew it!
Before Gem could think, which just might cause her to chicken out it, she sped to the cliff's edge, closed her eyes, and whispered, “Jaxx, I love you!”.
Gem turned back to Eloran, grinned an evil grin at him, reached out her arms, and closed her eyes. Then, she jumped.
Flying off the edge of the cliff with her eyes closed, Gem just knew she was going to die. She knew that her heart couldn't take it as she fell. No one's could. OK. So she had survived being impaled on a tree branch, but this had to be a whole lot different, right? At least eight-thousand feet stood between her and death! What a great choice she had made, but in her gut, she knew that these two were truly evil, especially after hearing them talking in the library. Something odd was happening inside of her. She suddenly felt protective not only of Jaxx, but her friends, and the planet Earth. Whatever it was they wanted with her, she couldn't let them succeed. And, she just knew it had to do with Jaxx.
“I'm sorry my darling,” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks, while she was waiting to feel the fall. “If only I could have carried our child.”
She had jumped off at a great speed, but didn't fall immediately. She waited to fall. Then, she frowned. All thoughts flew out of the window – or in this case...flew off the cliff...when she didn't fall. Her eyes jerked open in surprise.
“What the hell?” she said aloud to no one, as she looked around her.
How could she have missed the edge? She knew she had jumped! But, where she should be falling like a lead weight, Gem stood on solid, unshaking ground – at Jaxx's home! Her home! She was home? How? Then, one of her rare anxiety attacks grabbed her. It always happened when she was confronted with a massive crisis of some sort, but usually did not appear until after-the-fact. Her heart beat so fast, it felt as if it would burst right out of her chest! She couldn't focus or breathe, and her head and stomach hurt. Her only option was to lie down, and fast. She needed something to drink with sugar in it, but sometimes, if she could lay down fast enough, she could control it almost immediately. She dropped like a rock, and laid on the ground for a couple of minutes. She was in time. After her heart stopped beating like a shuttle being launched from Earth, she became dizzy and nauseous the way she always was after her attacks. When she was sure it was over, she slowly climbed to her feet, and began to walk, albeit unsteadily, toward the house. All she wanted was a hot shower, and a warm bed preferably with her mate in bed with her – naked. They needed to complete their bond. Her head swirled. Wait! They had already done that, right?
Tired. So...tired. Stumbling, Gem walked toward the mansion. Walked to freedom. Walked toward the only thing that kept her legs moving one step at a time. Jaxx.
Eloran and Delinear were following their slaves, and their eagle eyes saw the girl almost fall off the cliff, then fall on her ass.
“We have her!” Delinear shouted, as she ran just behind Eloran.
Despite the lava flows all around them, and the ground shaking beneath, she grinned. The two of them slowed to a walk, knowing that the edge of the cliff was a sheer 8500 foot drop! She would never kill herself! She was human! Humans were always weak, and weaker in mind.
“Yes, she is! She is trapped. It's either us, or she jumps,” Eloran agreed.
“She's human. She won't jump,” Delinear told him confidently. “Humans are weak – terrified of their own shadows! They'd rather live in slavery than to die!” she laughed at him, as he raced ahead of her.
Without answering, Eloran used his super speed. They couldn't let her get away, because their plans would be ruined. He stopped.
“Going somewhere, Miss Elwood?” Eloran yelled at her. He stopped, and glared at her with an evil grin.
“Hell!” Gem answered him, quietly.
“But, my dear. You have nowhere else to go!” Delinear grinned.
“That's what you think, you bitch!” Gem smirked as she turned, and jumped.
Eloran and Delinear dropped their mouths at her words. Then, stunned, they could not believe what appeared in front of Gem! It wasn't possible! She was human! When Gem jumped, their slaves also came to a dead halt right behind them!
“NO!!!!!!!!!!!!” Eloran tried to scream, but his voice froze in motion.
“FUCK!!!!!!!!” Delinear yelled, her voice hoarse and raspy. “How the he...!”
“No way! Not possible! It can't happen!” Eloran echoed, barely making a sound. “How in the fucking hell was she able to open a Vorc'ara?”
All Delinear could do was shake her head. She was in total shock after what she had seen.
“What is she?” s
he gasped at the very moment the volcano blew its top.
The entire island shook harder, and they knew that it was coming apart! The pyroclastic flow, while appearing in slow motion thanks to Delinear opening a Vorc’ara, was still coming far too fast. While their slaves were screaming for help, Eloran and Delinear just stood in shock at the idea that somehow – someway – Gem had opened a Vorc'ara! There was only one race who could do this! But, she was human! How could this be?
“I do not know, but we will find out, Delinear. Good thing opening a Vorc’ara slows down time a bit. Let’s get the hell out of here!”
While all around them, men and women were falling into the abyss of the planet that was opening beneath their feet, or being gobbled up by the lava flows, these two remained unharmed as they floated several feet above the surface. Without a word, they looked at each other, while Delinear quickly opened the Vorc'ara. They both walked through the vortex, leaving their minions behind to die. Just before Delinear walked into the Vorc'ara, she turned back to look at Eloran.
“Promise me that we will find the bitch, and kill her!”
A short, quick nod from Eloran made Delinear smile as she stepped through the Vorc'ara, first, followed immediately by Eloran. But, not before he answered her.
“Yes. Then, my love. I'll kill you, too! No one will rule by my side! No one!” he said to her, only she could not hear him.
Eloran stepped through the Vorc'ara, and as it closed, the island began to sink behind it.
~ 15 ~
“You never, ever want to discover a Fae is around!” ~ Jaxx
“I am beyond sorry, Jaxx,” Kulana appeared to him in his unconscious mind. “Eloran, and the others have escaped from my guards! You must protect Gem at all costs! Now...for the Creator's sake, Jaxx! WAKE THE HELL UP! You must find her, before they realize who they have! We had Eloran and Delinear, but they got away!”
Jaxx was completely out, but his first though”t was how did Kulana get into his mind, since that should only belong to his mate. Second, Jaxx had never panicked in his entire life, but right now, even he was beyond that part of his nature! Panic and anger didn't even begin to touch how he felt! He struggled to wake up, but whatever Imaerra had done to him, he just couldn't move. His mind, though, was intact. Even as he continued to try and wake up, he also thought that it was bad enough that Gem had been yanked right out from under his own nose! Now, Kulana is telling him that her own guards allowed Eloran and his “gang” to get away from them? Just as he asked the question, he knew the answer. He slapped his forehead. Well, of course! No one had betrayed either race for thousands and thousands of years. In consequence, Kulana had been loathe to mete out real punishment when it was needed for fear of offending the two races. Because of that lax in judgment over the years, the guards were probably not really protecting their prisoners with the caution that they should have given to them. The PC crap in the human world was bad enough, but they had ignored, or at least pretended, that they were above the humans in the politically correct universe. However, they were no better than the humans...less even, because they had recognized it, and ignored it! Because of this, they had underestimated Eloran’s power and following. Jaxx, knew, and had fought like hell to have him thrown off of the council, but he had been met with too much opposition.
So, now, here they were! Backed into a corner! Jaxx was angry and stunned beyond belief when he had seen Imaerra swoop down in her bird form! He had thought that she was after him, since they didn't know about Gem, and who she was. But, no. She was after Gem, and he knew it was because of him, and more than likely, they thought they would use her as a bargaining chip to get Jaxx to talk! Whatever had been in Imaerra’s razor sharp wings, it was something of which Jaxx had no knowledge. All he knew was that whatever it was could not exist on Earth. So, if that was true, then where the hell had she taken Gem? She couldn’t have used a Vorc’ara, for only Anaerris royalty could open the vortex. His eye began to droop, and he passed out again.
Grrrr! Slurp! Slurp! Grrrr! Jaxx heard the sound, but also noted that his face was wet. Was it raining? Struggling to wake up, he opened his eyes a fraction. Lola was licking his face!
“Ewwww! Seriously, Lola?” he griped, wiping his face with the back of his hand. He pushed Lola off of him. “Was all that drooling really necessary?” She just cocked her head to look at him.
OK. Truth be known, it was her licks that had brought him back to consciousness. He looked around frantically for Gem.
“Where could that monster have taken her, Lola?” he asked to no one. He turned to see not Lola, but a tiny figure. “Who…?”
“Don’t even bother, Jaxx! I will explain later,” she replied in her high, squeaky voice. Tears running down her cheeks, Lola added, “I did not protect her, and for that, I will be forever shamed!”
After an admission from Lola that she had been assigned to Gem's family eons ago, until the time came where the Jewel of Anaerris would arise, he had been even more surprised! Lola had helped Jaxx to the library, and sat him down. Simple though it was, his wounds broke open even worse, and blood ran down his face, arm, and side where Imaerra's wings had sliced his flesh.
“It was not your fault, Lola. I am her mate. It is I who am responsible for her! Your protection ended when she became my mate.”
Lola narrowed her eyes at him.
“That has to be the single, most fucking stupid thing you ever said!” she admonished him. “Never mind. I’ll get Taylor. In the meantime, I can use my magic to help somewhat. If I knew what that bird had put on her wings, I could probably counteract it, but right now, I have no idea. I’ll just have to try different things.”
“Whatever. Just do what you can do. Then, I am going after Gem!” he promised, removing his shirt.
“Call me for what, Lola?” Taylor asked as she walked into the library. Her eyes widened at the slices in Jaxx’s torso. “Oh, my Creator! What the hell happened, Jaxx!”
“Why?” Jaxx ignored Taylor, and addressed Lola grinding out between his teeth in anger.
Lola knew he wasn't angry at her, but still, it unnerved her to see an Onaerris up close who was losing it! She hadn't seen any of them lose it in eons, but revealing herself to him was important. They were both on the same side – to find Gem. Using her magic over one of the facial wounds, she answered him.
“I would like to say that I was sorry for the deception, oh great one, but I am not. I was assigned to watch Gem by my Queen. The reason was, of course, to protect the Jewel of Anaerris. I have completed this task, and it's time for me to...”
“So, you're running out on her? Sounds like a damn Fae!” Jaxx growled.
“What is it with you Onaerris and even the Anaerris?” she said, frowning at Taylor, too. “You interrupt what I am saying, before you let me finish what I need to say!”
She whacked him in the back of his head.
“What the hell, Lola? What the fuck did you do that for?” he demanded, rubbing his head.
“How about just shutting your mouth long enough to understand what I'm saying!” She looked him in the eye to see if he would keep quiet. After a few moments, she nodded, satisfied. “When the mated Anaerris and Onaerris left the world of Anaerris, they came to the Fae world.”
Jaxx opened his mouth, but thought better of it when Lola glared at him. After she was satisfied – again – that he would keep quiet, she continued.
“Who knew that all of you would not only lose your damned heads when you are mated, but you also lost your common sense as well!” she growled. Then, she continued, before Jaxx could question her. “An ancient Fae prophecy arrived at our door – literally. It was said by the most ancient of Fae, long before I was even born, and as long as we have existed, that a child would be born who would change the entire universe, and that she would be a being unlike any other. Earth, as you know, was a good, neutral area. No Anaerris or Onaerris would have thought to ever bother with it, so it just verified who Gem was when Analyse told us wh
ere their child should be raised.”
Lola sneezed, and then puttered around dusting off a couple of tables, before she finally climbed up on the arm of the chair opposite of Jaxx. She quickly checked to make sure his wounds were healing, then she put her elbows on her knees, and leaned forward with her gleaming, dark, rose-colored eyes. Well, she gave a new meaning to “rose-colored glasses”!
“We were stunned when we were told about this. It’s not often that we meet a true prophecy in person! In addition to all of this, Analyse also told us that she would be writing a book that could only be read, or even opened, specifically by the Jewel of Anaerris in the future. We truly believed this to be a very bad idea, when Jolinaer, her mate, told us that the book and the Jewel would not be brought together until the time came for them to be joined. After hearing their plan, we felt that it would be a while before the Jewel would appear, and so, we agreed to it. We knew that the time would come when all would be at risk. If the Onaerris who started the war made it to Earth, then there would be hell to pay.”
“And, yet, they came anyway!” he sneered.
“Yeah, yeah! I know, I know! That's a given! We just hoped it wouldn't happen. So, sue us!” Lola told him in a sarcastic tone. She took a breath, and then said, “The idea to Terraform Anaerris was front and center by the Anaerris, and they knew that they could not let Delinear be in charge of Terraforming, even if she did invent the crystal. They were already suspicious of her. So, they made sure the peach ocean was drained thoroughly, before the war began. They knew it was the only way to preserve their race, since the ocean contains all the DNA of all Anaerris.”
Jaxx interrupted her, again.
“Oh, yes! And, we all saw how great THAT worked!” He frowned. “Exactly whose idea was it, Lola? Whose idea was it to hide Gem? The Fae’s?”
Lola truly felt remorse at this, and nodded. Jaxx shot up, and stomped toward the fireplace. He was shaking with anger, and for the first time, Lola was actually scared of him. The admission had sent him over the line, and she knew it. All she could do was continue.