The thrill of her destination was radiating through her body. Knowing how close she was to Annika, to James, to their demise made her giddy with excitement. She almost felt bad about wanting to murder James, after all she had loved him dearly and he really was innocent. But she couldn’t get past his love for Annika, therefore he would have to die. She would kill him for his own good, she reasoned with herself. Annika was poison to him. Death would release him from her hold. She watched Jax ahead of her. She knew he would be furious with her, she just hoped he would get over it. If it came to the death of her or Jax, she promised herself it would be Jax.
Jax slowed to a trot, and she quickly caught up to him. They were riding side by side when he spoke to her. “The house is just up there, at the top of the hill. It’s well hidden and encompassed with trees. Hiding should not prove a problem for you.”
“How do you plan to get close to them? You can’t just walk up there.”
“Have you forgotten my ability? I will take the form of another Special. I will hide in the forest at the edge of the house until I find one I can knock out long enough to take form.” She had forgotten about his ability, and felt foolish for her question. She thought before speaking again.
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Wait for me. I will bring them to you. I will probably need to do it one at a time so as not to raise suspicion. You will stay with them until I have brought them all to you, then we will go back to the compound.” The plan was perfect for her. Jax would bring them to her. She could only hope he would bring precious Annika first.
They were just outside the forest that stood to protect the Giants. Jax leapt off his horse, handing the reins to Kelsha. “Wait here,” he instructed and turned to go. She grabbed him from behind, reaching around to cup his manhood as she kissed his neck. “Hurry back,” she whispered. He took a deep breath that broke her grip and walked away. He didn’t look back, he couldn’t. He worried he would take her right there, and that would detour his plans. He must stay focused. There would be time for her later.
~Chapter Thirty Four~
I stood in the forest, where Shep had left me. It was nice to have the silence. Everyone was busy planning, and I knew I should be, but I couldn’t resist the moment of solitude. I watched my mother and father near the back of the house. They were in an embrace, unknowing that anyone was watching. They had let their guard down. The sight of the two of them made me happy in ways I never thought possible. It had always been my mom and me. I never had a father to miss. Now I saw what had been lacking all these years. My mother’s face was glowing, and she looked at my father as I had never seen her look at anyone else. The love the two shared was undeniable. It was a travesty they had been forced apart. Seeing them together now, I was certain they would never be apart again. I wondered if I glowed like that when I looked at Shep, or if his eyes lit up at the sight of me.
We had been together for so long it was hard to see the subtle hints of love in each other that outsiders might see. I knew my heart hurt when he was away from me, both when I left him, then when he was taken. I knew the fear of him leaving me again, by choice or not, was nearly crippling. My gaze turned to find him. I could usually pick him out of a crowd with ease. I spotted the winged men, and was surprised to not see Shep. He must have gone to meet with some of the others, to discuss the plans, I thought. Not knowing where he was caused my heart rate to kick up a notch and my belly to tie in tiny little knots. I told myself I was being paranoid and took some deep breaths to calm myself.
I wandered back towards the people, intending to ask if anyone had seen the direction Shep had gone. I was stopped by multiple people wanting to discuss plans, ask my opinion, or just chit chat with me. It had been decided most of us would go by foot. The Giants would station themselves at the four corners of Jax’s compound while the tree fairies would protect from above with the Phoenix and the Gryphon. The Alphyn would enter the compound with Shep, my mother and father, and me, while the rest formed a fortress of sorts around the compound. We would bring Jax out, dead or alive. The choice was his.
We now knew we had larger numbers than Jax. We felt confident in our ability to capture him and move on with our lives. Most of his followers had abandoned his cause, realizing he offered no great future for them as promised. They realized his only goal in life was to have my mother and they were only pawns. Some had come to march with us while others had gone back to the Dark Forest. We didn’t expect a fight, but were not willing to go in unprepared or outnumbered. Jax was a master at deception and we would not be fools.
I had been talking with Avery, the leader of the elves. They were anxious to capture Jax, and try him for the murder of Serephina. I was anxious for that as well. Serephina had been a friend to me, and I felt her death was needless, but I was having a hard time focusing on the little elf. I was usually mesmerized by their shiny, long hair, and rosy cheeks. They were so adorable to look at, but possessed a fierce personality that presented itself when needed. But even Avery’s shiny blue hair couldn’t hold my interest, and I felt guilty when he called me on it.
“Are you all right Lilly? You seem distracted?” I used this as an escape.
“Actually no Avery, please excuse me. I must find my mother.” I walked away without another word. I had noticed, in my conversations with various folks, that now I hadn’t seen my parents either. I thought maybe they had gone off together, stealing a moment of privacy, before preparing for what was to come. I was irritated that they had gone off without telling me. I tried to swallow my paranoia, but I couldn’t help but feel something was amiss.
I searched in the house for Shep and my parents. No one inside had seen them. I searched the grounds close to the house, still no sign of them. I asked around, but no one remembered seeing them. I was starting to panic. The sun was setting. Darkness would soon be upon Neveah and my husband and parents were nowhere in sight. I found my uncle Denali close by, having an intense conversation with one of the specials. “Denali,” I interrupted. He looked up, hearing the panic in my voice. “Lilly, what is it?” He stood, abandoning his conversation. I didn’t wish to discuss my fears with anyone else and led Denali away from the crowds.
“I can’t find my parents or Shep,” I said. “He couldn’t have gotten so close again, could he?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t think so Lilly, they have to be here somewhere.” His eyes were searching as he spoke.
“I have been all around the house, inside and out. No one has seen them.” I could hear the panic in my own voice and tried to calm myself. Denali appeared to be in deep thought and it seemed like forever before he spoke again.
“Okay, Lilly. I don’t think they would wander off alone, but I don’t want to alarm everyone yet. We will look for them, staying together, deal?”
“Yeah, deal. What if we don’t find them close by?” I asked, almost afraid to hear his answer.
“We move tonight,” he said.
I followed Denali through the forest, listening for signs of life around us. We seemed to be searching for a long time, and I was beginning to fear the worst. I had hoped to find them close by, be it alone, or held captive. I was confident in Denali’s ability to protect us, so facing Jax was not what was scaring me. I was more afraid of not finding them. They would be harder to find if he got them all the way to his compound. I estimated the time since I had last seen them to be only about thirty minutes, and I hoped they couldn’t have gotten too far by then. The woods were nearly dark, only the faintest hints of sun rays lighting our way. The darkness was looming, and we had yet to find a sign of our family.
“Denali, maybe it’s time to go back. We need to let everyone know what has happened,” I suggested.
“Ssshhh Lilly, I hear something.” I froze behind Denali, holding my breath so as to not make a noise. I heard him draw his sword and wondered briefly if he had ever actually used it in self-defense, then quickly decided he had not, but was prepared to do so.
W
e moved slowly forward, listening. I heard it then, a woman’s voice. I listened and was crushed to realize it was not my mother. Denali hurried forward with me close behind. He stopped abruptly, turning to grab me, pull me away, but it was too late. Just a few feet away, my parents were laid out and lifeless. Their throats cleanly slit. Their bodies lay close, almost embracing. Their faces content like angels. My knotted stomach began to turn and I vomited violently. Denali had not moved, just stood staring. The voice was not far away and Denali grabbed my arm. “Come on Lilly, they are still close.” I stood, wiping my mouth.
“What about them?” I cried motioning to my dead parents. I couldn’t bear leaving them lying on the forest floor. Denali knew what I meant and answered quickly, “We will come back for them. Come though, Shep’s body is not here, he might still be alive.”
I followed without objection. I heard rustling behind us and a sudden scream. The source was a man who was clearly in agony. “Kelshaaaaaa you bitch, where are you?” It happened so fast after that.
A body flew past us, and Denali followed, sword drawn. I ran after Denali, thoughts blurred. We ended in a clearing. The man from the forest was hurtling toward one of the body’s. The darkness made it impossible to tell the identity. I could tell by the shape of the body it was a woman and she just stood, ready to take the hit. Beside her was another shape. As my eyes adjusted I saw it was Shep. I screamed his name before running to him, Denali behind me now. The man, hearing my screams, turned and Shep came from behind, twisting his head until his neck broke. The man crumpled to the ground while the woman just stood. I sprinted to Shep, throwing my arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around my waist briefly, then fell away. Shep’s body stiffened under my touch and he gently pushed me away.
“Is it over Shep? That was Jax right? You ended it.” He just stared at me. His face fell in sadness for a fraction of a second before it hardened.
“Yes Lilly, that was my father, and yes I have killed him, now go home.” His voice was low, and I had to process what he said a few times over.
“Excuse me? Did you just tell me to go home? You are coming with me! Right?” His expression didn’t change when he spoke to me. “No, I am not going with you,” he replied coldly, before turning to the woman that I now recognized as Kelsha.
I didn’t understand what he was talking about. How could he tell me to go home, alone? What had they done to him? If he thought I would just walk away from him he was wrong. I glanced over at Kelsha, hoping maybe she could offer some help, the look on her face dismissed that thought. She looked smug, pleased with herself. What in God’s name was going on?
“Shep, don’t you turn your back on me!” My blood was rising to my face, my body trembling. “Did you hear me? You look at me damn you!” He spun around to look at me. His face was twisted in agony and anger.
“Damn me? You can’t damn me Lilly! I just killed my own father!” His voice was rising now and he wore a look of disgust. But, I could see his eyes, and even in the darkness, I could see sorrow there. “I’m sorry you had to do that Shep. I really am, but you had no choice.”
“Didn’t I? I could have just stopped him, grabbed him, and tied him up. There are a hundred things I could have done. I killed him instead, with my bare hands.”
“You acted on instinct. You were protecting your aunt.”
“No I didn’t act on instinct, I planned it Lilly. He brought me here, and then went for you. I knew I would kill him when he returned.”
“Shep, he may have been your biological father, but he was not your dad. Your dad is back home, in another world, probably watching TV eating a Hungry Man dinner off his TV tray. He is waiting for you and your mom to come home.” I was pleading with him now.
“My mother is not coming home, remember?” He shot back at me.
“I know Shep, but you can. You are good inside. You did what you had to do. Please come with me.”
I held out my hand, expecting him to grab it. I figured he was in shock. I also figured he would snap out of it and go home with me. I hadn’t even bothered to tell him about my parents lying dead in the shrubs a few feet away. I hadn’t even thought of it. His refusal to come with me had wiped my mind clean of all else. I noticed Kelsha mount her horse, and then turn to Shep, as though expecting him to mount the other one. He stood, his eyes fixed on the ground. He wouldn’t look in my eyes.
“Shep come on,” I said gently.
“I can’t Lilly. I can’t be with you. I can’t go back and face my father knowing I failed my mother. I can’t go with you and look at you every day knowing I failed you as well. I know what happened to your parents, and I couldn’t stop it. I felt something change inside when I murdered my own father. I am not good Lilly. I can feel his evil running through my veins. Go home, go far away from me. I can’t love you anymore.”
He may as well have ripped my heart out and ground it in the dirt. I hadn’t realized I had tears streaming down my face. I stood frozen, unable to believe the words he had just assaulted me with.
“You’re my husband! We took vows! You promised to never leave me Shep! You promised me forever!”
“I guess forever is broken, now go,” he demanded. His voice was firm but shaky. As he was mounting the horse I rushed to him, grabbing his leg.
“You can’t leave me, we are soulmates, remember? You complete me, why are you doing this? What am I supposed to do without you?” If I had an ounce of dignity left, it was gone. I looked at Kelsha. “Why is he doing this, what have you done to him? I know you were working with Jax! What have you done to my husband you evil bitch?” She didn’t bother to answer, just laughed my assault away.
“Lilly stop, you are making this harder than it has to be. I can’t change things. Just go, please, go home, and be happy! I can’t be the one to make you happy anymore. Please Lilly, just go.” I heard him swallow hard, repressing the sob I heard in his voice. Kelsha’s horse started to move, Shep’s was right behind it. He never turned to look at me.
“Fuck you Shep. I hope you go to hell! Don’t think you will ever come back to me you bastard!” I screamed at him before I fell to the ground, drowning in my own tears.
~Chapter Thirty Five~
Shep couldn’t stand to look at her any longer. Once he turned his back, he knew he had to look forward. His heart was numb and his mind was swimming. He hadn’t planned it this way. Things were supposed to be different. He was supposed to stand with her, help her stop Jax, and take her home. He replayed the events that took him from her, over and over, trying to find an explanation as to how it all went wrong.
Jax approached him, skin walking as one of the giant winged men when he was with Lilly. He had willingly gone with the man. It wasn’t until they were away from the giant’s home that Jax phased back into himself, laughing about how easy it was to trick him. Shep spun around, laying his right fist into his father’s face. Jax just continued to laugh. He led him to Kelsha, who had been waiting in a clearing for them. Jax tied him to a tree, this time being sure the knots would hold. Then he went for James and Annie. He saw Jax lead Lilly’s parents into the clearing, and Kelsha suggested Jax tie them up away from Shep. “We shouldn’t take chances,” she had said to him. He nodded, leading them back into the forest. Kelsha was right behind him.
When Kelsha returned, her hands were blood stained, and she appeared to have been crying. Shep first thought she had killed Jax, and hoped she was good after all. He couldn’t believe his ears when she spoke to him. “Listen to me Shep, Jax murdered Annie and James back there, I tried to stop him but I couldn’t, he is much stronger than me. He will kill Lilly too if you don’t stop him.” She was confirming Shep’s thought that Kelsha was not the evil betrayer they had thought. She was helping him. She would help him save Lilly.
“Get me untied Kelsha, I will stop him,” Shep begged, and Kelsha obliged. He started into the forest, intent onfinding Jax before Kelsha stopped him.
“Shep, no you must wait here for him to bring L
illy to you. He is going to kill me when he realizes I have freed you. You have to protect us Shep.” Kelsha was very convincing when she needed to be and Shep agreed to wait. It was only moments before Lilly came into the clearing that Kelsha spoke again. This time a knife stuck in his back.
“Listen to me Shep. I killed Lilly’s precious mother and father. I will kill your dear Lilly if you don’t do exactly as I say. If you even think of turning on me I will drive this knife right into your heart.” Shep stood motionless, trying to process this turn of events.
“What do you want from me Kelsha? I will do whatever you want, just don’t touch Lilly,” Shep begged. “Anything?” She asked with an air of excitement in her voice. “Anything,” Shep confirmed.
“You will tell your Lilly to go home, tell her anything to convince her to go, and then you will come with me. I have great plans Shep, and you will be a part of them. If you don’t do as I say I will kill you and then Lilly. Clear?” Shep’s heart broke into a million pieces, but he knew he would protect Lilly even if that meant leaving her.
Now he rode away from his life, already planning his way back to her.
~Chapter Thirty Six~
I felt two arms wrap around me, and lift me off the ground. I had forgotten Denali was there. He carried me back to the giant’s home where he put me into bed. I didn’t protest.
I think I was in a self-induced coma, as I slept for days. Someone would try to wake me by pouring hot liquid down my throat, but consciousness would only come momentarily before I lulled back to sleep. I remembered being moved, and the feeling of flying, yet I could not wake. I dreamt of many things.
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