The Anaerris Code: Part 1 The Gemma (A Gemma Sinclaris Series)

by LK Kelley

  “Well, that went really well,” Lola muttered under her breath, and morphed back into her pug form.

  For the next hour, there was silence.

  “Now, what?” Rick asked Taylor, breaking the silence and startling everyone.

  “I don't have a clue,” she told him.

  Lola shook her head. Truth be known, she was really beginning to like being a pug instead of her normal Fae presence. People treated her as if she was the sweetest thing in the world! She liked it! Sighing, she knew nothing was going to happen soon, so she flopped down onto the sofa, yawned, and fell asleep. And, there was silence once again.

  Gem stretched slowly as she turned over in the bed, feeling for Jaxx. For a moment, she panicked when she didn't feel him next to her, then realized that he probably was somewhere else in his “man-cave”. She grinned at the description all men use for their “special place” – and felt extra special that she was allowed in it!

  “Ouch!” Gem said, feeling the soreness in her body.

  Her body was extremely sore from their repeated sex-a-thon, but it was a good sore! Gem stretched, smiling that secret smile all women smile, when they have the special “secret”. She stretched once more, stood, and slipped into his massive shower, washing her hair, and body. After she had dried herself with a huge, thick, forest-green towel, Gem stepped into the bedroom, wrapping it around her. Looking around, she didn't see her clothes from yesterday. Well, they were torn to pieces. And, that just brought back the memory of her ordeal. She almost wanted to throw up at the thought of putting them back on her body. Yuck! The stench that had been covering her must have been horrible! How Jaxx could have stood to be around her, she would never know! Gem stepped over to the dresser, and opened the top drawer. It was filled with his underwear and socks, so she proceeded to the next drawer. Inside were some black t-shirts, so she pulled one out, and pulled it over her head. Well, she couldn't really put on his briefs, so she decided not to wear anything. That gave her naughty thoughts! She giggled, and looked into the mirror, grinning wickedly at the sexy images that danced through her mind at the though of having nothing on underneath. Even more that Jaxx would like it!

  Suddenly, a loud buzz descended on her ears and she grasped both sides of her head in terrible pain. She shook her head, but that didn't work. The buzz just got louder.

  “Oh, Creator!” she yelled, and sank to her knees.

  The sound of her scream sent Jaxx running into his bedroom only to see his mate in horrendous pain. He quickly reached down, and pulled her to him.

  “Gem! Gem?” he asked, but she couldn't hear him. The pain in her head was far too great.

  “It hurts!” she cried.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  Gem heard a garbled sound coming from Jaxx’s lips, but that was all she could hear. She tried to concentrate on his lips, and finally realized he wanted to know what was happening.

  “My head! It hurts, Jaxx! It's as if a billion bees were buzzing inside of it!” she cried in terror.

  Jaxx thought about it a minute.

  “When did it start?”

  Reading his lips, she answered.

  “Right after I got into the shower!” she yelled, not realizing that he couldn't hear her words.

  “Look at me, Gem!” he ordered. When she didn't immediately obey him, he yelled, “LOOK AT ME!”

  That did get her attention. His mind joined with hers, and felt the excruciating pain that was in her head.

  “Concentrate on my thoughts.”

  “I-I c-can't!” she cried.

  He gave her a sharp shake, which made her look up at him.

  “Yes, you can, Gem! Do it!” he commanded.

  Gem looked into his eyes, and didn't look away.

  Jaxx's heart almost turned over in fear as he saw the haunted look on her face. But, she didn't back down, and that was a good sign.

  “Listen only to my voice,” he told her. “Now, breathe deeply. Don't think of anything else but my voice.”

  She nodded, and concentrated on his beautiful voice as he spoke to her gently. In seconds, the buzzing pain began to cease until it was completely gone. She leaned her head against his chest, before he turned her to the mirror in front of them. Jaxx held her so lovingly it brought tears to her eyes.

  “That's it, my love.” He looked into the mirror, and into her eyes. “Feeling better?”

  “Y-yes,” she said, “I-I think so.”

  “Good. Now, can you tell me what you were hearing?”

  She nodded. She really didn't want to admit it, but she believed she knew what was happening.

  “It was a buzzing – like bees,” she told him. “But...”

  “But what?” he asked.

  “Well...I really can't explain it, but I wasn’t the one in pain. Something else was calling to me. It was in pain!” A sheepish grin on her lips, she added, “Silly, huh?”

  “No. It's not. A buzzing sound like bees,” he whispered to himself, staring into space forgetting she was there.

  Gem waited...and waited...and waited...and...waited....

  “Well?” she asked, after at least ten minutes had passed.

  “What?” he shook himself out of his reverie. Gem cocked her head, and raised her eyebrows. “Oh. Right. Nope. I got nothing!”

  He grinned at her, and she swatted his arm in playful frustration, turning her to face the mirror, again. Then, she realized that by relaxing, she knew what the buzz was. She met his eyes in the mirror.

  “I know what it was, Jaxx,” she said in surprise.

  “What?”

  “It was the book! It's in danger!”

  “Huh?”

  “It's in danger...or, at least, is going to be in danger.”

  “How do you know that?” he asked surprised.

  “I-I guess, well, maybe I really don’t know, but I just know it!” She looked at him, seeing confusion on his face. “I have to get to it – now!”

  He nodded at her.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  She gave him one nod.

  “Right now?”

  Gem thought a moment, then shook her head. “I don't think it's in danger at this very moment, but it seems to know that danger is imminent.”

  “Hmmm. If you think it's safe for the moment...” he began, watching her nod once again, “...and, I trust that wherever you put it, it is safe.”

  “Yeah. I think it's OK right now, but it obviously feels that danger is near. Jaxx, as much as I'd rather stay here, and have raunchy sex with you, I think we need to go get it. It needs our protection.”

  “Ours?” he asked surprised.

  Gem's eyes grew larger as she realized that it was true. It needed both of them!

  “Yes. Ours. I don't understand it, right now, but it needs both of us.” Gem closed her eyes as she felt the book speak to her, but she wasn't going to admit that to Jaxx. It would make her sound like a raving lunatic!

  “No, my love. You aren't a raving lunatic! But, it must be why it called to you. You really are its protector!” Jaxx said in amazement, as if he hadn't believed that she was the Jewel before this very second in time!

  “Oh, crap! I forgot you were in my brain!” Gem complained, who gave him a lazy grin.

  “Apparently,” Jaxx said, sudden lust slamming into his groin.

  “Huh?”

  “Yes?” He had become distracted by her wearing his t-shirt. Her nipples were pointed and hard against the material.

  “My eyes are up here, you know,” she laughed, as she pointed to her face.

  “What? Oh. Right. Damn!”

  Jaxx's eyes were red – again – indicating he was thinking about sex. He bent his head, and nibbled on her shoulder. Then she looked into the mirror to see hers were also red. That's when she had a thought.

  “Jaxx? My eyes are red!”

  “Mmmmm hmmmmm,” he murmured. Creator! She was delicious, as he licked her gorgeous neck.

  “No. Heeeellllloooo!�
� she tried to get his attention to look into her eyes. “My. Eyes. Are. Red!” she repeated.

  His head came up, his eyes staring into her red ones.

  “So?”

  “Didn't you say that the only ones who had red eyes were Onaerris?”

  “Well, uh, yeah?” he answered completely puzzled by her question. That is until....

  “But, doesn't that mean that I am not completely Anaerris or human?” she asked him in shock.

  Jaxx's eyes darted up to look her directly in her eyes.

  “I think we have established that point, but that you have no Onaerris DNA within you, so I don't get what you are asking.”

  “Jaxx! How can I not have Onaerris DNA? I have red eyes just like you – at least when I'm horny as hell!” she exclaimed. Another thought came to her. “What does the legend actually say about the Jewel of Anaerris?”

  Jaxx had to think about it. It had been a very long time since he had not only heard it, and he wasn't sure he could remember it completely. Maybe verbalizing it would help?

  “Let's see. The legend basically says...”

  “No. Not basically. Think. What does it actually say?”

  “Well, I'm not totally sure, Gem. It's been so long since I really heard it in complete detail, I don't know if I really remember all of it,” he told her.

  “Well?” she asked, tapping her foot.

  Gem cocked her head at him without saying a word. He rolled his eyes. There was only one way for him to remember all of it, and he shied away from what that was. It was dangerous, and could get them both killed!

  “Take your time, but hurry it up, will you?” She wanted to know – now.

  “Seriously? Take my time, but hurry up?” he asked her in surprise. She nodded. “Well, OK. But, I'll have to step away from you, because you are just so damn hot right now, and there is no way I can concentrate!” he grinned at her.

  Seeing him step away, she simply rolled her eyes at him.

  “Oh, alright. If you just have to!” she giggled, her eyes straying downward toward something pretty darned hard and pointing at her.

  Smiling devilishly, Jaxx pulled on his briefs, much to Gem's dissatisfaction, then sat down in one of the two, black leather wingback chairs in the room, and closed his eyes. Remembering wasn't going to be easy. So, he decided to put himself in an ancient state of catalepsy – a state wherein he becomes rigid and pulls himself out of reality. But, there was a danger. He would be unable to connect with the reality around him, and he wouldn't be able to protect Gem. He had already failed at that, and it was just not an option this time. He looked at Gem. Her eyebrows were drawn downward in worry. OK. He could do this as long as....

  “Gem. Promise me that if I do not awaken within one hour, you will say anything – do anything and everything – you can to wake me?”

  “Uh...why?” she drawled out the word, as she sat down opposite him, pulling a soft blanket around herself.

  “The only way to remember the entire legend is to put myself into a near catatonic state.”

  Surprised, her eyebrows went up, and her eyes popped out of her head.

  “You can do that?” she said.

  “Yes. But, there is a real danger here, and I want you to know about it before I begin.”

  His words weren't reassuring, and it was causing her stomach to draw into a tight knot. This did not sound good. Not at all.

  “Maybe...maybe...,” she sputtered grabbing his arm. “Maybe this isn't such a good idea, Jaxx? Let's just forget it, OK?”

  “Maybe it's not a great idea, but baby, it's the only way. It's just been a long time since I tried this. That's why I need you to wake me up,” he looked at her with a slightly worried expression that he quickly hid.

  “Are you really sure about this?” she asked. “No. That doesn’t sound good at all, Jaxx! Forget about it!”

  “Yes. We are going to do this. You are right. We do need to know as much as possible,” he said, pacing back and forth. Then, he stopped, turned, and looked at Gem. “You know, it’s very possible that the legend has been diluted throughout the eons, and my people probably don’t remember it correctly. In fact, I doubt anyone remembers the original version.”

  Gem just shook her head no. He stood, and pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently on the forehead.

  “I'll be OK. Just remember to wake me if I don't wake up in an hour.”

  “What happens if I can't awaken you?” she asked, scared of the answer.

  “If I don't wake up, I'll – uh – change,” he explained, not meeting her eyes.

  “Change? Change how?” she questioned.

  “Well, it's hard to explain, but...well...I will change into my true form.” Jaxx looked into a pair of stunned eyes.

  “Do I dare ask what that is?” she frowned.

  “It's better that you don't ask. But, more importantly, it's better that it not happen,” he explained, again, without explaining.

  “Jaxx! Please! What are you talking about?” Gem demanded. “What form? What do you mean by form?”

  Jaxx didn't really want to explain all this right now. He knew it would freak her out if he did tell her, so hoping to distract her from asking a question he did not want to answer, he decided to give her a sort-of truth. Better she not know about his true form and powers.

  “Let me put it this way, mate. I'm not exactly human, OK?”

  Watching Gem cross her arms with an eyebrow raised, he knew he'd have to give her something.

  “And?” Her left eyebrow went up, and she crossed her arms.

  “OK! OK! My true form is difficult to explain, but suffice it to say that it looks more like energy than solid form.”

  Dropping her hands, Gem gaped. He wasn't solid? But, how...?

  “Not solid? What do you mean you are not solid!” she indicated, waving her hands up and down his body.

  “Well, it’s true. The Onaerris are a bit different than the Anaerris. But, the same form that we take as our true selves, made us always think that we could not procreate – or at least that's what we believed.”

  Shit! Why the hell did he let that one slip? He waited for it to permeate her mind, and then...

  “Believed? What do you mean believed?” Gem's voice raised several octaves into a squeak that really hurt Jaxx's ears. To make his point, he stuck his fingers into his ears to which she made a smart-ass remark.

  “Very funny. Ha ha. Give it up, smoke and mirrors man!”

  Jaxx yanked her to him, and placed a mind-blowing kiss onto her lips. When he pulled back, her eyes were dazed – and red! He turned her to the mirror, again.

  “Look at your eyes.”

  She opened them, and dropped her head in defeat.

  “If you are who we believe you are, then yes, Gem. We do need to know. You are right. But, baby, it doesn't matter if you are, or are not, the Jewel of Anaerris. The Anaerris Code believes that you are, and it speaks only to you. That's all we really need to know. But, we need to find out, because if you do have Onaerris blood inside of you...? No matter how diluted...we need to know.” He let his voice fade away.

  Finally, he saw her eyes get it.

  “Does that mean I might not be the jewel?” That had never even occurred to her.

  “Honestly? At this point, I just don't know any more. Lola says you have no Onaerris within you, and she believes you to be the jewel. But, I wonder, now, if it was something that got pushed to the back somewhere in your genes, which slowly disappeared over time.”

  “Well, OK, if you're sure? I love you,” she said, kissing him lightly on the lips.

  “Uh-uh. None of that!” he smirked, swatting her on her ass, before sitting back down.

  “What you are saying is that if you take whatever form, then, if I have Onaerris, I may be able to do the same?”

  “Yes and no. I have no idea, really. But, I suspect that if you are of human, Anaerris, and Onaerris blood, you will be the only one ever to have descended from all three, and
if that's true? Then, Gem, we don't know what you could do! We already know that you can open a Vorc'ara – unintentionally, that's true.”

  “Well, shit!” she said as she realized what he was saying. Tapping her chin, she wondered, “Hmmm. Can’t we call it a “vortex” instead? It’s less of a mouthful.”

  Ignoring her, Jaxx continued.

  “And, it could also be that your mixed DNA keeps you from being able to take the form of an Angel or Demon. In other words, you might not be able to do so – or – it might mean that your true form may be something entirely different than anyone has ever been. Whatever it is, it may also need some sort of catalyst to release it,” he stared at her. “I mean...obviously, your capture released your ability to open that Vorc'ara.”

  “Vortex,” Gem absentmindedly corrected him, earning an annoyed look from Jaxx.

  Still wondering how she had done it, she decided to push this entire conversation to the background for the moment, and let Jaxx get down to business.

  Nodding, Gem quickly opened the timer on her phone.

  “How long?” she asked, pausing her finger above it.

  “Oh...no longer than fifty minutes, I should think. That should be enough time for me to remember, and time enough to wake me up,” Jaxx told her, while adding to himself that it should be a safe enough interval, before his body would transform into his red-hot volcanic and fiery persona. He didn't want Gem to ever see that side of him. He could easily hurt her. “Remember, Gem. This is truly important. No longer.”

  She nodded, and watched while he put himself into a trance-like state. She nibbled on her thumbnail, waiting for him to remember. What if she couldn't watch over him? What if she couldn't wake him? What if...oh, hell! It never does any good with “what-ifs”!

  Jaxx realized he was really taking a chance, but he slowed his breathing, and concentrated on the legend itself. He pulled himself out of time and space, pushing his consciousness further into the past than he had ever gone. Very far into the past to the day he had first heard of the legend. He was on Anaerris just before his brother and his mate left forever. Oh, he knew they were both still alive somewhere, but “where” was the question.