By the time the sun was high above us, I was exhausted. My legs were aching, and my feet were burning. The morning had warmed and beads of sweat were forming on my face and under my arms. I paid attention to my surroundings more now that light was shed. The trees were few, but reached the sky. The ground was dirt and rock. I could see a mountain up ahead and asked if it was the Northern Mountain . My father confirmed my suspicion. “We will walk to the base of the great mountain. That is where we will stop to rest.” I didn’t argue. My mind wanted to go, but my body was screaming to stop. I felt as though I might collapse, but willed myself to make it to our resting spot. Shep’s hand was on the small of my back, encouraging me to keep going, while holding me up ever so slightly. I had pushed the memories of the night before from my mind. It would do no good to dwell. It would only feed my fear. I didn’t have room for fear.
We made it to the base of the mountain just as the sun was falling to the other side of the sky. I guessed we had walked for at least 12 hours, nonstop. My father encouraged me to make it just a little further. My breath was coming hard and my legs didn’t only ache, they were turning to rubber. I was envious of my traveling companions. They didn’t seem nearly as worn out as me. Shep’s voice whispered in my ear, “You okay? You don’t look so good.” I didn’t feel so good, but would not admit that to anyone. I didn’t want to lie, so I ignored the question.
“Hey James,” Shep called up to my father. “How much further, I don’t think Lilly can walk much longer.” My father turned back, looking at me with concern.
“Not much, maybe twenty minutes,” he replied before turning back to the land ahead of him. I had noticed the trees multiplying, the closer to the mountain we got. The ground was fading from dirt and rock to soft grass and fallen leaves. Wild flowers were sprouting out all around us. I felt Shep closer behind me. Before I could contest, he scooped me up off the ground. I was too weak to put up a fight and found Shep’s arms comfortable and safe. I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaning my head on his chest.
“I got ya Lilly, rest now,” he whispered.
“What about you? How are you able to carry me? This will tire you more,” I said, a poor attempt at protest. “Don’t worry about me, I could walk forever. Rest now my love.” His voice came so gently. I snuggled in closer, closing my eyes for just a little bit.
I felt my body being set gently on the ground, my head resting on cloth of some kind. I could feel the sun on my skin. After a few moments, I felt Shep snuggle up against my back, blocking the sun. His arms were wrapped around me, and I scooted back to him, holding his arms in my hands. “I love you, my sleeping beauty,” he whispered.
“I love you too,” I weakly replied. I could feel Shep’s breath coming heavy on my neck, and I knew he was asleep. Knowing he was resting and close to me, I was able to drift to sleep as well. I wasn’t sure where my father was, but felt him close by. I had hoped he would rest, but didn’t open my eyes to see, or my mouth to tell him to rest. I just slept.
I dreamt of seeing my mother again. It had been so long, and I had missed her so. She was beautiful in my dream. She was sitting in a large chair, next to a window when I found her. She turned to me, smiling, as she had always done. I was so happy to see her and ran across the room. I threw my arms around her, but didn’t feel her embrace around me. I hugged her tightly willing her to hug me back. She didn’t. She just sat, the same smile frozen on her face. I looked at her face, searching for answers. I was shocked to find empty sockets where her eyes had been. Her face was hard as stone under my touch. The smile fell away, and she began to crumble beneath me. Within seconds, she was nothing more than a pile of dust. I tried to scream, but no sound would come. I turned to run but my exit was blocked by a man. I didn’t recognize his face, but I knew who he was. I charged toward him, screaming, and ready to rip his head off when he stepped aside, revealing Shep, a knife through his heart. He was smiling the same frozen smile as my mother. I didn’t dare touch him for fear he would turn to dust. In my moment of shock, Jax seized the opportunity to grab me by the hair and drag me away. I woke screaming.
The sky was dark again, and the fire had burned out. My heart was racing, and I was drenched in sweat. I took a few deep breaths, closing my eyes, trying my best to see something other than what I had seen in my dream. Slowly, my breath became more even, and my heart rate returned to normal. I rolled over reaching for Shep. My hand hit the ground. Strange, I thought. Shep must have woken already. I sat up using what light was left of the fire to look around.
The air was quiet. I glanced across the fire expecting to see my father. He was gone as well. I stood, stretching. I grabbed my flashlight and walked a small circle around our makeshift camp. No sign of either of them. My heart was kicking into high gear again as I began to panic. I couldn’t imagine them going far, leaving me alone. I called out for them, quietly at first. After a few seconds, I was screaming their names, nothing. I walked back to the fire where I had been laying with Shep. His pack was still there, as were his boots. He wouldn’t have walked off without his boots. I quickly moved to where my father had been. His things were untouched as well. Suddenly, visions of Jax stealing them while they slept crept into my head. How could he have taken them without waking me? I paced around, hoping I was wrong and they would come walking through the forest, laughing. Deep down, I knew though. They were gone, and I was alone.
I wasted no time in deciding what to do. I would not wait here for the light of another day. I shoved my pack and its contents inside of Shep’s, along with his boots. I wrapped my father’s blanket up and strapped it under the pack. With a flashlight in my hand, I headed north into the forest. If my memory was correct I would come upon the giant’s home within a few hours. I would stop there for help. I was too furious to be afraid. My blood was boiling with fury, and I used this as motivation to push on. I spoke out loud, trying to make sense of this mess. Why was he taking all the people I love? Why did all these people think I was some sort of chosen one? I was just an ordinary girl who wanted to go home. I made a vow to kill Jax when I got to him. I screamed my promise at the top of my lungs. Hoping, somewhere he could hear me.
~Chapter Twenty Six~
Jax didn’t return that night, as Annie had expected. This gave her a little more time to work with. She broke her mirror, hiding the broken glass in the closet. She kept the longest, sharpest piece under her mattress. She paced the room, trying to perfect her plan. It had to work. She had to find her daughter. Her Aria had returned with the note for Lilly. The Aria had been unable to locate her daughter. This made Annie all the more anxious to get the hell out of this compound. Not knowing Lilly’s whereabouts was making her crazy with worry and sick with guilt.
It was getting late the next day, and she had given up hope of Jax returning anytime soon. She was just getting ready for bed when, without warning, her door swung open. There he was, standing in the doorway, looking at her. She was ready. She had prepared for this moment. “Hello, Jax, why have you stayed gone so long?” She asked, trying to sound as sincere as possible. She approached him slowly, seductively. She was face to face with him when he grabbed her arm. “Do you really think I am that stupid Annika?” He asked, clear loathing in his voice.
“What do you mean?” She asked sweetly. “I have thought about it, and you’re right. I want to be with you Jax, don’t you want me still?” She was laying it on thick, she didn’t have a choice. She had to get him into bed. She hoped his manhood would take over his brain long enough to get him vulnerable. She slipped an arm around his neck, knotting her fingers in his hair. She brushed her lips along his cheek, up to his ear where she whispered, “I was wrong, please forgive me. Take me.” Her belly was in knots, and she had to swallow the bile that was rising in her throat. She felt his member rise, poking her thigh. “It’s working,” she thought to herself. Just as she was pushing closer to him, he dropped his arm, snaking one arm around her waist, and one behind her head. He grabbed a handful of hair,
pulling her head back.
“Oh yes my dear Annika, I do want you, but I am not so stupid as to fall into your bed at your first advance. You will have to prove your loyalty, and I have just the thing. Cover yourself! You look like a whore!” He demanded. “I have something to show you, hurry up and dress.” He stood watching her remove her satin gown. Her skin crawled knowing he was watching her undress. She quickly slipped on some pants and a top and slid her feet into slippers. She couldn’t help but hope he would reunite her with Lilly. She walked back to him. “Better?” She asked. “Yeah, let’s go.” And with that he grabbed her wrists pulling her down the hall.
They wormed their way through his compound. The walls were concrete and cold. Parts of the compound were naked to the outside elements and all the halls were dark. He rushed ahead, no need to walk with caution. The layout of his compound was burned in his brain. He could navigate blindly. She noticed the floor was sloping sharply south, and the air grew colder. She didn’t dare speak. She didn’t want to trigger an outrage. This was her first outing since he brought her here, and she was happy to be out of that room. Her brief feeling of happiness was crushed when Jax pushed open a door revealing three figures in a dark room. The floor was dirt and there were no windows. She guessed they were in the dungeon.
She prayed one of the figures was not Lilly, though she feared for whoever it was. He stopped just inside the door, turning back to her. “Do you recognize them Annika?” He asked. “It’s dark Jax. I can’t see them,” she replied. He laughed, finding this rather funny.
“Pardon me, let me just light the room for you a bit.” He struck a match, touching the flame to the wick of a small candle. It didn’t emit much light. She would need to hold it close to each figure in order to see them. Jax followed behind her, as she slowly approached the first figure. The body was lying on the floor, motionless. It was curled in a ball, facing the wall. She gently reached out to turn the figure, so she could see the face. The body was cool, but not icy meaning still alive, and she sighed with relief. She recognized the face of her friend instantly. It was Leah, and she was breathing.
“Why have you brought her here? She has nothing to do with you,” Annie asked. “Oh but doesn’t she? It seems your friend had a few secrets of her own,” he replied, pulling her up from her friend and over to the next body. This body was sitting up, eyes open, mouth gagged. “Shep?” She said and instantly reached to touch him. His eyes were pleading with her. “Where is Lilly?” She whispered. He shook his head back and forth, a tear forming in his eye. “What are you doing here Jax? Let them go, they have nothing to do with us,” she demanded
“Ahh that is where you are so very wrong love.” He stood above her now, his knees resting on her hunched back. “Didn’t you ever question his parentage or did you just trust your whoring friend?” Her silence confirmed she was unaware of who fathered Shep. She still was not sure what Jax was getting at.
“You weren’t the only one taming your wild side back then. The difference is I had always intended to be with you. She was just for fun. Come on Annie, don’t be so blind. Look at the boy. Look closely. How does it feel knowing your precious daughter fell in love with the spawn of such evil?” He laughed, and Shep thrust about. His hands and feet bound, tears streaming down his face, muffled noises coming from the gag. She grabbed his shoulders and squeezed gently, smiling just slightly but enough to comfort him. Jax pulled her up again, moving to the final figure.
The body was standing, hands tied above the drooping head. The outline was too big to be Lilly. She was relieved and more worried at the same time. If she wasn’t here with Shep, then where was she? She was bringing the candle closer, in order to see the face. Jax stopped her. “Patience Annie, I can’t wait to see your expression.” His voice was giddy, and terrifying. He stayed close behind her as she lifted the candle to reveal the face. James. She couldn’t believe it. She felt her knees go weak, and the blood rush from her head. “Jesus Christ,” was all she muttered before it all went black.
When she regained consciousness, she was sitting on the floor. Her hands were tied behind her back and bound to the wall, so she couldn’t move up or down. He left her feet and her senses loose. She could hear breathing and slight movements. She could smell the scents of sweat, blood and dirt. She peered through the darkness, willing her eyes to cut through the black. It took a while, but her vision finally adjusted. She saw the shape of Leah, still lying on the floor, and Shep was right across from her. She thought he was awake, but couldn’t tell for certain. And to the left of her was James. She looked up at him, trying to convince herself that he was real. The shock had punched her right between the eyes. She believed him dead all these years. She mourned him. She loved him. It was her love of him that fooled her into following the maniac. Her head was swimming being this close to him. Knowing he was alive. She didn’t dare speak or move. She wasn’t sure Jax was gone, so she sat quietly, thinking of the man who stood, tied up, next to her.
~Chapter Twenty Seven~
I wasn’t sure how long I had been wandering through the forest. I didn’t feel like I was making any progress in the dark, yet I kept on. I had hoped my calculations of time were right and the sun would begin to rise soon, then I would find my way. Until then, I would keep moving, too afraid to stop, too determined to find my family.
I screamed out loud when after walking for hours, I found myself back at the spot I had been trying to escape. I knew it was the same little clearing. I could feel it. I walked to the middle and saw where our fire had been, confirming what I already knew. I had been walking in a damn circle. I sat on my pack for just a moment. I needed to catch my breath and decide on a new plan. I had decided to head out at the southern part of the clearing and turn up north at a different spot. I was just getting ready to head out when I heard my name. “Lilly.” Was coming from the shadows. I spun around, my eyes searching the darkness. “Who’s that?” I asked backing away from the voice.
“Don’t be frightened Lilly. It’s Denali, your uncle.” He stepped into the clearing where I could see his outline but not his face. I flashed my flashlight at him as he shielded his eyes. It was the man I remembered meeting, but I had to be sure. “Let me see your wrist,” I demanded. He showed it. No mark. Suddenly, I was relieved to not be alone.
“Why are you here?” I asked bluntly. Though I was glad to see him, I couldn’t help but wonder why he was there. “Let’s walk Lilly, I will explain on the way,” he stated and we walked to the north. “That will lead you in a circle,” I warned him. He laughed. “There is so much for you to learn, niece, trust me, I know the way.” He continued to walk. I followed obediently. I didn’t have a choice. “Your Aria came to your aunt, she speaks to animals you know? Anyway, your Aria came, warning of trouble. Said I must not wait for you to reach the compound alone. I must find you and help you. So, here I am.” I absorbed this a minute. “You were going to meet me?” I asked, confused. “Of course, we wouldn’t let you do this alone, there will be many others joining you there, ready to fight.” This angered me.
“Why wasn’t I let in on this plan, and why the hell did you send me off on some crazy journey? I just wanted my mother back, and now he has Shep, Leah, and my father! Why didn’t we go directly to Jax as a united front? Why all the games?” I was panting slightly. The uphill walk, along with my rant, left me breathless. I stopped following, determined to force answers. I was tired of trying to solve riddles. It took my uncle only a fraction of a second to realize I had stopped. “If you had followed the plan, listened to Serephina, you would have your answers by now. You would know the role you must play for us to be successful,” he spat, scolding me as though I were a child.
“Do not speak to me like that! You bring me here, tell me these stories, and expect me to follow along blindly. And I did at first! I was stupid. Well I am not going any further blindly!” I stood, waiting. He sighed, relenting. “Look, we don’t have time to stop and explain. Jax is moving much faster than we a
nticipated. He is even more dangerous than we thought. Time is of the essence. Will you please follow, and I will explain?” I thought briefly, decided it was fair enough. “Fine, let’s go,” I ordered, shooing him ahead.
We walked in silence for a while. I thought maybe he was deciding the best way to explain things to me. I would grant him some time to think, but not too long. The sun was peeking through the darkness now, and I realized we were still traveling upward. We hadn’t followed the same circle I had been on. The air was also crisper. The higher we climbed, the colder I got. My teeth were starting to chatter. Hearing this Denali stopped. “You brought something to wear in the cold didn’t you?” He asked. “Yes.” I pulled my jacket out of my pack, zipping the front, and pulling up the hood to cover my ears.
The ground was turning from hard dirt and grass to soft, mushy snow. The further we went, the whiter the land became. It was beautiful up there. The snow reminded me of Shep and me as children, playing in the snow. My heart ached for him. I decided Denali had had enough time to think. I was beginning to think he was avoiding answering my questions. “Well, are you going to talk or what?” I asked. “Look ahead Lilly, see the smoke rising from the mountain?” He asked, and I muttered an “uh huh.”
Neveah Box Series (Neveah Box Set Book 5) Page 19