by LK Kelley
“Too late? What do you mean 'too late',” Taylor asked.
Gem shook her head.
“I don't know. But, I feel it, Tay. I can feel it; I can hear it calling to me. It's scared!” Her eyes shot to Jaxx, and she grabbed his t-shirt in a tight grip. “Please, Jaxx! Help me get the book!”
Jaxx stared into her eyes, but against his better judgment, he nodded once, then turned to the others.
“We retrieve the book tonight,” he said.
“Do you really think that is wise?” Stacy asked, nibbling on her nail.
Sighing, Jaxx said, “Probably not. But, if the book is in danger as Gem says, then we need to bring it to where we can watch over it. Gem, where did you put it?”
Gem looked at him. The Anaerris book had been hiding inside the library for who knew how many thousands of years! And, who was she to declare that it was no longer safe there? It had been safe for a very long time! But, nevertheless, the calling of the book was getting louder, and she knew, without a doubt, that no matter what she did, she had to save that book. Somehow, she knew that the three were bound together, even though she didn't know why or how.
She let her lip curl up at her mate, and her eyes turned a brilliant green in mischief as she answered him.
“Where else do you keep a book? In the library, of course!” she giggled, trying to lighten the mood. Everyone already knew where it was, and she knew that was not what Jaxx was asking her.
Everyone glared at her, and she laughed out loud.
“Ha, ha. Trying to be a comedian are we, Gem?” Jaxx asked. Sarcastically. She just grinned at him. The shit was about to hit the fan, and she thought everyone needed to lighten up a bit. Jaxx continued, “OK. Let's get a plan together. I think that the safest place for it, and us at the moment. will be in the cave,” Jaxx said, rolling his eyes at his mate’s shocked face.
“The cave? But, we can't go there! It's impossible,” Stan protested.
“Well......technically, yeah,” Jaxx told him. “But, while the Vorc'ara was invented and designed by Analyse, and made it only for me to go through, and eventually, my mate, we do have someone else who can override her invention.”
He turned to Gem who looked at him puzzled, and wary.
“You are Analyse's daughter. You have the same signature in your DNA as does she. You can override your Mother's Vorc'ara, Gem!” he told her.
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head slowly.
“No. Listen. You can. It might just be once, but I believe that she deliberately designed it that way for a reason!” He grabbed her shoulders, staring directly into the eyes of the woman he loved so much. “Listen to me, Gem. You have her DNA; you have my brother's DNA. You are the product of both Anaerris and Onaerris! The only one of your kind. You have the power of the Vorc'ara within you. You released it when you were held prisoner without conscious thought. You opened it for us to go to Venice. Unlike everyone else, you have no training whatsoever for it! It's instinctive!”
Taylor's face lit up as she realized what Jaxx was telling her best friend! Gem's power was greater than anyone. She just hadn't used it yet! Stan nodded in agreement. He had come to the same conclusion as Taylor did a moment ago.
“He's right, Gem. Those of us who have the power of the Vorc'ara must be trained from birth how to use it correctly. I cannot use the Vorc'ara to enter the cave. I know. I've tried before at Jaxx's request. I couldn't pierce it. But, you! There has to be a reason for your parentage and your DNA! It has to be part of the Creator's design!”
Even while shaking her head no, Stan finished.
“That's it.” He was matter of fact.
“What's it?” Taylor asked turning her head to stare at him.
“That's why her conception was so amazing!” He turned to Gem, his eyes wide with amazement. “The book hasn't been seen, or heard of since Analyse and Jolinaer disappeared! But, still, Gem found it easily! The only way anyone can change everything is the one who has the power of the gods within her! You are more than just Anaerris and Onaerris, Gem!”
“What are you talking about, Stan?” Jaxx asked, not really sure where Stan was going with this.
“The island where she was being held! Correct me if I'm wrong, Taylor, but aren't your Vorc'aras specific?” Stan asked.
“What do you mean?” Taylor asked, puzzled. Her brows drew together.
“Specific...as in protected?” he asked.
“Oh. Yes, but you know that,” she answered still frowning. “Care to explain?”
Stan huffed and puffed just like the Big Bad Wolf in the fairy tales.
“Come on, Taylor!” he growled. “I mean as in P.R.O.T.E.C.T.E.D!”
Everyone looked at each other, then shook their heads.
“How many Anaerris have the ability to open another's protected Vorc'ara?” he explained.
Dawn showing on Taylor's face, she gasped out loud.
“Holy shit!” she murmured almost to herself.
“Well?”
“None! No Anaerris can override another. In other words...an Anaerris can call up a Vorc’ara. But, we can only call it up on whatever side that the Anaerris is on, but not on the original location. They are specific to the one who opens it. Each has it’s own design and color, and until that one decides to leave, no one else can do so,” her voice with a whisper. She looked at Gem.
“Well, when Gem was on that island, then just how did she get back? Gem wouldn’t have been able to get back, in theory, since Delinear’s Vorc’ara was in play, right? What does it all mea…?” he demanded.
Sudden understanding came over all of them at once.
“Oh, man!” Jaxx exclaimed, and looked at his mate in awe.
All five of them stared deeply at Gem, who became uncomfortable as the stares continued.
“What?” she asked, still not getting it. “Look. You guys seem to think I should know all this supernatural crap! I don't, or have you forgotten?”
Ignoring Gem's outburst, Taylor explained, albeit in shock.
“Gem! Don't you get it? You opened a protected Vorc'ara that Delinear had in place! It's basically automatic any time one of us opens one! Another Anaerris cannot open one while another Anaerris has, well, basically, jurisdiction! Just like your Mother has one in front of Jaxx's cave! It's in our DNA, girl! Look, you overrode Delinear's DNA.! You opened a Vorc'ara on Delinear's turf!” Taylor almost shouted in shock. “It's impossible! You shouldn't have been able to do it! Yet, you did!” Taylor shook her head as realization came over her. “Gem! You have an ability unlike any other Anaerris! The fact that you can breach a Vorc'ara...any of them...is, well, is….Oh, hell! I don't even know what word I would use!”
Gem's eyes widened at the implication! Seriously?
“Wait! Are you saying that I can...”
“Go through any protected Vorc'ara? Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying! Remember that the Anaerris who have that power are the only ones who can open and close their own!” she repeated. “But, you? Somehow...someway...you must be able to open and close – anyone's from any origin or destination!”
Stacy began to laugh until she was bent over trying to take big gulps of air. It released the tension that everyone was feeling, and they turned to look at her as if she had lost her marbles.
“What?” she snickered. “Think about it! Delinear must have been beside herself, when she saw that you had penetrated her own Vorc'ara!” Stacy laughed. “I'd have loved to have been a fly! I would have paid money just to see her face! It must have been priceless!”
There was sudden silence except for Stacy laughing. Then, the very thought of the shock Delinear must have felt, caused everyone in the room to roar with laughter.
“Yeah, and imagine what Eloran must have felt when he saw it!” Rick's booming laughter felt as if it shook the house.
“P-price-less,” Taylor tried to get out, but failed miserably as she gasped for breaths between laughing. “T-that's j-just hil-hil-larious!”
&nbs
p; “In other words, Gem,” Stan said to clarify it to her. “You can go anywhere, at any time, through anyone's Vorc'ara! In other words, Gem...you are not bound by any of the rules!”
Gem just stared at him. Now, she understood what she had deliberately been trying not to do!
A sudden thought hit Stacy, and her laughter slowed.
“But, can anyone go through hers?” she asked, stunning everyone.
After several minutes of silence, Jaxx answered her.
“I don't know, but perhaps we can find out!” Jaxx declared. “How about it, Gem...Taylor. Wanna give it a try?”
Taylor thought about it.
“It's an unknown. Honestly, I don't know if it would be dangerous,” she answered glaring at him.
“Can we not test it some way?” Rick asked.
“Well, we enter it, you close it, and then see if Gem opens it.”
“OK. I'll pick something like the kitchen. That way if something goes wrong, she can just walk back in here.”
“Well, at least it's a plan!” Jaxx muttered.
Taylor opened a Vorc'ara, and Gem stepped through. In seconds, Gem opened another, and stepped back into the room.
“Holy shit! It is true! You can override other Anaerris – and that's something that I know Analyse could never do!” Taylor gasped.
“Well, right. We know it works for Gem, but has anyone thought that if Gem opens one, no other can breach it? We may as well try it to make sure.”
Gem nodded, and opened the Vorc'ara to the kitchen, and Taylor stepped through it. Taylor tried to open her Vorc’ara from the kitchen, Stacy tossed a rat into it from the library. Instead, a loud shock wave hit both rooms, while at the same time, put both Taylor in the kitchen, and the others in the library on their butts as they were flung backward.
“Hells Bells!” Stacy said sitting up, and rubbing her head. “That was some 'test'!”
“Ahhhhh!” Gem whined, sitting up.
“Yeah,” Jaxx said who had been thrown into the fireplace, and landed on his ass. He stood slowly, looking at his mate in awe. “Well, I guess that answers the question!”
After everyone had stood, and rubbed whatever had been hurt, there was one other question that Rick asked. Well, several, Rick decided. Just to make sure, Gem re-opened her Vorc’ara, and stepped through it. Then, she opened it, again, and both Gem and Taylor appeared back in the library.
“Seriously, Stacy? And, where the hell did you get that rat?” Jaxx snickered.
In a juvenile display, Taylor grinned and stuck out her tongue.
“OK. Everyone OK?” she asked.
Several heads nodded.
“Wow!” Rick exclaimed.
“What?” Jaxx asked.
“Can she invoke the powers of the Onaerris, too? You know...bypass even their powers?” Rick asked.
All mouths dropped open, and eyes darted to Gem whose eyes had become the size of saucers. Finally, Stacy broke the silence.
“Interesting thought!” she answered. Then, with a grin, “So...does anyone know where we can find another rat?”
“Too bad Lola’s gone!” Jaxx gritted his teeth, turning to the liquor cabinet in search of some rum.
“No rum?” Stan grouched, and paraphrased a favorite line in Pirate’s of the Caribbean. “Why is the rum never in the cabinet?”
~ 21 ~
“A little bloodletting is good. Getting rid of an annoying mate is even better!” ~ Eloran
Seeing the ridiculous expressions on the faces of her companions, Stacy threw out two arms with palms up in a “what” gesture. She smirked.
“Oh, come on! You know you were all thinking it!”
They were all looking at her as if she had large ears, a tiny nose, and long, skinny tail, resembling Gus from “Cinderella”?
“No takers? Really?” She huffed, and muttered, “I thought that was pretty damn good!”
“That’s OK, Baby. You did just fine,” he petted her shoulder as if she were a little child.
The others ignored both of them, and proceeded to come up with some type of plan. And, with that temporary plan, they decided to test Rick's idea about Gem's ability as an Onaerris even if she did not have the DNA of one. After multiple tries with both Jaxx and Stan guiding her, she couldn't do a damn thing! One of the powers of the Onaerris was the ability of invisibility. They could “cloak” not only themselves, but everyone and everything around them.
“Crap!” Gem echoed everyone else's thoughts.
“Crap indeed,” Jaxx growled.
“Maybe she needs to develop it?” Taylor guessed.
Shrugging, no one else had any explanation, so they decided to proceed on the idea that Gem might have the powers, but they had not yet matured. Since they knew, now, that Gem could bypass any other Anaerris' Vorc'ara, it gave them a slight advantage. But, now, they knew that Delinear knew it as well, since she had seen it in action. It was possible that Delinear had no idea, but none of them would take a bet on it. That was only one of the many kinks in their plans. However, they put their plan into operation anyway. That book had to be rescued from the library – and fast, according to Gem.
Their first plan included letting Taylor just open her Vorc'ara, and Gem would go through into the library, and bring the book back. Unfortunately, Taylor nixed it. Wherever she opened a Vorc'ara, the destination was deflected to another place.
“Damn it!” Taylor exclaimed after the fifth try. “Something is impeding me!”
“Look, guys, I know I'm new to all this shit, but what if the library is actually warded, and won't let just anyone open a Vorc'ara into it?” Gem asked. “I mean, is it possible that someone warded it against certain people?”
“Well, that kinda makes sense. So, now what? Do we just drop it?” Stan asked. Then, grinned as a thought occurred to him from one of his really favorite movies, “Field of Dreams”. He snapped his fingers. “I know! ‘If you open it, they will come’!”
“Seriously? You just are a real buzz-kill, you know that?” Gem rolled her eyes, receiving a huge grin from Stan.
After another discussion that lasted way too long, no one could be absolutely sure that Gem's own Vorc' would not also draw the others. And, that ended the whole discussion!
“We can't get into it that way. Not without Delinear being drawn to it,” Jaxx reasoned.
“Wait!” Gem said suddenly. All eyes turned to her. By now, each couple had spread out around the room lounging in chairs, on the floor, or on the sofa. “Correct me if I am asking a stupid question, but do you know if Delinear or Eloran have ever been inside the library?”
Taylor perked up, and scooted to the edge of Rick's lap where she had just sat down in defeat.
“No. Not that I can recall,” she answered.
“Why?” Gem asked the simple question. “Anyone?”
“Because of a spell, perhaps? A ward?” ventured Stacy.
After another round of silence, Gem asked another question.
“Is it possible, Jaxx, like the cave, could someone ward the library against unwanted intruders?” Jaxx frowned. “No. I'm serious. What is the difference between them? You basically 'invited' the bitch into your home with your lack of vision from ages ago. But, once you uninvited her, she had no choice but to leave. That was painfully obvious!”
“And?” he asked warily. He was already irritated at himself at his idiocy in afterthought, but he knew that Gem was trying to tell him something.
“The cave, though, was warded by not only Analyse for you and, eventually your mate – me, of course,” she grinned, as she leaned forward to give him a quick kiss, which he turned into a very hot show of affection in front of everyone. And that just caused a round of cat calls from their audience.
“Get a room already,” Stan groaned, but with a huge smile on his face.
Ignoring him, Jaxx pulled back reluctantly, so that Gem could continue to say what she wanted to say, but seeing the promise of more later from her dazed eyes.
&
nbsp; “Huh? What?” Clearly she was throw for a loop. “Oh. Right. The cave. If the spell worked for the cave, then why not the library? Taylor and I have a theory that it came from an anonymous benefactor, you know. And, it isn’t that hard to figure out that whoever it was warded it.”
Taylor's eyes widened, when she realized what Gem was implying.
“Are you saying what I think you are saying, Gem?” she asked in shock.
That's when Jaxx caught onto what Gem meant.
“You're saying that the library, which held the book all this time, was warded?”
“Through a Vorc'ara itself?” Taylor added.
Gem nodded.
“Why not? If no one could find the Anaerris Code, until I discovered it, then the obvious conclusion would be that neither Delinear nor Eloran were able to enter the library, and I doubt they even could have detected it at least until it was found! And, if that is fact, then it had to not only be warded, but...”
“Cloaked?” Stan gasped.
“You mean they didn't even know the library was here?” Stacy asked.
“No! I mean that the book was cloaked! Every attack on me came from outside of the library!” Gem reminded them.
“But, wouldn't they be suspicious when they couldn't get into it?” Rick asked them.
“Maybe not. Maybe, just maybe, they never had a reason to suspect the library at all! Why would they have reason to go into it in the first place, when they were following me?” Gem went into stunned silence as something else occurred to her. “Only...only, I don’t think that they were following me, Jaxx! I think that they have been following Lola!”
“B-but, we can't detect Fae,” Stan shook his head. “No. No..that wouldn’t be possible.”
“Are you sure of that?” Gem asked.
“We were surprised, when she revealed herself to us!” Taylor said. “I didn't detect her! So, that can't be right!”
Gem cocked her head at her best friend.
“But, you hadn't been trying to find Lola.”
“Are you telling me that we didn't detect her, because we're stupid?” Stan growled at her. Then, hearing Jaxx growl at him, he backed down. “Sorry. No disrespect intended to your mate, Jaxx, but how could it be that we did not detect what Lola was?”