Shep couldn’t help but feel rattled by Kelsha’s silence. Her devious smile told him she heard his thoughts, making him highly intrigued by her personal thoughts and pissed off knowing that his private mind was no longer private with her around.
She hopped off her horse and turned to him, waiting for him to follow. She was so sure of herself. So sure that he would not turn and run. He wanted to. He wanted, so badly, to kick that horse’s side and take off in a sprint. Get the hell away from Kelsha, from this place, back to his wife, but she was right, for now. Shep would not run. He would play her game long enough to put an end to her.
He followed her silently into Jax’s compound. She led him into a large entry room, the same one he had escaped through just the day before. He hadn’t noticed the details of the room before. Large and dark, it was shaped like a wagon wheel with red velvet covering the windowless walls. There were doors, hallways and staircases spread evenly along the walls. Each one, Shep assumed, led to a different part of the compound. He didn’t miss the hallway to the left of him, the one leading to the dungeon. The thought of that place made him shudder inside. He tried to suppress it. Last thing he needed was for Kelsha to think of him as weak.
She glided through the room, as though she had been there hundreds of times. She didn’t have to stop and think about her direction. She passed through the entry room to the hallway farthest away. Shep followed. The hallway was dark and cold. Shep had to stretch his arms out wide so his hands could feel the walls, using them as his guide. Kelsha was moving quickly ahead of him, forcing Shep to hustle in the dark to keep up with her.
The hallway dumped Shep into an eating area. The room was dark, much like the other parts of the compound he had seen. His eyes took a minute to adjust to the light, what little of it there was. There were windows, but they were small and limited. Candles lined the edges of the miniscule windows, emitting small sparks of light. The air was cold and once again made Shep shudder. Kelsha motioned to the table, encouraging him to sit. It was then that she finally spoke.
“You must be starving, would you like something?” Her voice dripped with sweetness that made Shep’s skin crawl. His belly was gurgling, but Shep thought that was more likely from nerves than hunger.
“No, thank you, Auntie Kelsha. I am not hungry at the moment. Thank you, though,” Shep replied, echoing Kelsha’s sweetness. He would try to unnerve her the way she did him. She only smiled at him in response. Without a word, she stood and left him sitting in the room, alone.
She was only gone for a moment, though. Not near enough time for Shep to gather his thoughts. She returned with two small goblets filled with liquid. She placed one on the table in front of Shep. She sat across from him, slowly sipping her drink.
“Please, Shep, drink. You can refuse food for now, but I know you must be parched.” She took a long drink of the dark liquid. Shep had to admit that he was rather thirsty. His tongue felt like sandpaper, as did his throat. He thought briefly. He hated accepting anything from Kelsha. On the other hand, he would be no good to himself if he became ill from dehydration. He could refuse food temporarily, but he knew he had to drink something. With some hesitation, he gulped the liquid down. He drank so deeply and quickly that he didn’t taste the poison. He drained the goblet and set it back on the table, catching his breath.
Kelsha just sat, watching him. Her face was so hard to read. He thought she looked rather pleased with herself. Her eyes were dancing with joy, yet her body remained still. Shep’s head began to swim, and his eyes were having a difficult time adjusting. His stomach was turning. He realized just a second too late that Kelsha drugged him, and he fell for it.
“What was in that cup, damn it?” He managed to slur before his neck muscles gave way and his head fell forward, landing on the table with a loud thump. Kelsha sat, watching, finishing her drink.
After enjoying her drink, Kelsha left Shep in search of someone to help her move him to the dungeon. She needed him safely out of her way while she implemented her plans. She wandered the halls, remembering most of those who had followed Jax had long since gone, yet she was sure a few had remained. Where were they? She continued from room to room, until she finally found a small group, huddled together in one of the sitting rooms. They were sitting close in the corner and appeared to be in the midst of an important discussion. Kelsha entered the room quietly, careful not to draw attention to herself. She crept into one of the darker corners where she could listen without being seen.
She counted only five of them. Could there truly only be five who stayed to stand with Jax? The situation was worse than she had imagined. She was intrigued by these five. Why did they stay? She didn’t recognize any of them from her previous visits. The one that was talking wore his blond hair long, and Kelsha saw the gills that marked the side of his head. A hybrid. She thought. One was rather large and frightening to look at. His black, stringy hair hung around his face, which was covered in the same stringy stuff. His eyes were dark and piercing. His head was cocked slightly while he listened intently to the hybrid speak. There were two women. One very small with hair black as night and the other only slightly larger with white hair worn cropped close to her scalp. Both had slanted golden eyes. Their features were similar enough that Kelsha concluded they must be sisters.
The last body belonged to a man who was shorter than both of the women but stout as a bull. His shoulders hunched over his frame, and his short legs bowed from the weight they carried. His hair was pulled into a ponytail that was tangled from lack of proper grooming. His face was serious and begged any man or woman to approach him. Kelsha had no doubt the little man could kill the other four without breaking a sweat. Once she categorized their thoughts in her mind, she was able to block the unspoken words out, so she could listen to their audible conversation.
She heard the large man’s voice first. “What are we to do then, Danu? Jax is out of control. He is no leader to us.” His voice was low and came as a soft growl.
“Yes, Marcello, Jax is no leader to us. We are here only for his use. If we do not please him, we will die. I saw him slice the head of Raiden after beating him to a bloody pulp. Jax cares nothing for us or Neveah as he has led us to believe. We have been pawns in his game. I will no longer be a pawn for him to dispose of,” Danu proclaimed to the other four.
“What are you suggesting?” asked Marcello.
“We kill him before he kills us,” stated Danu. The words were spoken clearly and with meaning.
What luck. Thought Kelsha. These people wanted him dead and would be grateful that the deed had been done. She quickly cultivated the story she would spin for these five. She had the details organized in her mind when she stepped out from the shadows. “Hello, I bring you news of Jax Bane, your leader,” she stated and laughed internally at the fear on their faces. Their mumbled thoughts flooded her brain; confusion, fear, anger all mixed up in her head.
The four were visibly tense, unsure of Kelsha’s identity and of her reason for being there. She let them sit in unease for a few moments before she told them her story.
“My name is Kelsha and I come from Antiope where many Specials reside and follow me. Jax has mistreated many Specials and creatures that trusted and followed him, myself included. Fortunately, for all of us, Jax Bane is dead.” She paused, waiting to see their reaction.
The smaller of the two women spoke first. “My name is Maura and this is my sister Fionna. We have been here with Jax for a very long time now. In recent times we have seen Jax transform into a monster and as much as it saddens me, I am most relieved at this news.” The sisters looked at each other, relief reflected in their eyes and an understanding known only to them. Kelsha intended to find out the extent of their relationship with Jax, but that would come later.
“Forgive my manners, miss, but would you mind telling us why you are here now?” said the little man.
“Of course, would you be so kind as to tell me your name first?” Kelsha asked sweetly.
“I am Axel and have served Jax for many moons.” He bowed to her, though there was nothing courteous about it. His voice was laced with contempt and mistrust. Kelsha could hardly blame him, though. They knew nothing of her. She would gain their trust. That was her specialty.
All of their confused thoughts were clouding her mind. She pushed them out, determined to pull them into her web. “Well, as I stated, I have been Jax’s mistress for many moons. I was with him when he went to capture Lady Annika this evening. I saw him murder both Lady Annika and James Mender. In a state of rage, Jax's love child, and son-in-law to the late Annika, killed Jax,” she stated surely. She studied their faces, all of them intrigued by her. She went on.
“I am here to take what is mine, by right. This compound and all Jax possessed now belong to me by way of my child. I have great plans for Neveah. Unlike Jax, I am not distracted by the opposite sex,” she said with confidence before looking at the men of the group. Their thoughts told her that not one, but all of them, would like to get her into their bed. She glared at them silently, telling them she would not, under any circumstance, bed any of them. Her expression told them she was a fierce woman who should not be crossed. The stare down didn’t last long. All men turned their eyes to the floor, and Kelsha felt a small victory at having them submit to her so easily.
“I want to be in control of Neveah and I will be. The five of you are welcome to stay and stand with me if you like, or you can go. The choice is yours,” she finished, waiting for their response. She knew they would stay before they spoke the words, and she was most pleased.
“I do need your help right now, though. You see, I have convinced Jax's love child to follow me here. He is rather dangerous, but could be very useful to us if we can gain his trust. He has been brainwashed by the Levannah family, but I can see Jax deep inside him. I need to get him to the dungeon until I figure out exactly what to do. He is sleeping in the eating room.” She stopped, waiting for their response.
She studied them as they sat silently. Danu remembered Kelsha. She watched as he replayed one of her visits to the compound over in his mind. He seemed pleased with her and eager to serve her. Marcello and Axel thought her over in their minds. They couldn’t say if they had seen her with Jax or not, but saw no reason not to trust her.
The two sisters had the ability to control emotions with a single touch. This would prove very useful to Kelsha. She focused on Maura first. The woman didn't seem concerned with Kelsha. She was more concerned with the hybrid. The dark haired girl was smitten with Danu and Kelsha laughed internally. Maura would follow Danu's lead. Perfect. Kelsha thought.
The other sister, Fionna, was a little weary of Kelsha. Her mind was broken, but she hid her deepest thoughts carefully. Kelsha concluded that Jax must have done a number on the girl. She was strong inside, just broken and not willing to trust. Kelsha would give Fionna the job of babysitting Shep. She thought that would please the girl.
Marcello was the first to rise. “Take me to him,” he demanded in a helpful tone. The other four stood in unison, ready to follow Kelsha to their new prisoner. Kelsha smiled and led the way to the eating area, all four Specials and the hybrid following behind her.
It wasn’t long before Shep was safe in the dungeon. His hands and feet were bound, and the door was securely locked. Kelsha would not make the same insipid mistakes Jax had made. She gave instructions to the sisters to take care of Shep if he should wake. They had taken a keen interest in him the moment they laid eyes on him and saw no problem with following Kelsha’s orders. Maura thought Shep was a handsome man indeed, and would have no problem helping keep him in line, but it was Danu that clouded her thoughts.
Fionna, on the other hand, was eager to take care of the dark prisoner. Kelsha promised her that in time, Shep could be hers. She just had to help him forget about the Levannah girl. Fionna seemed content to stay with Kelsha, now that she had Shep to look after. The thought that he could be hers excited her greatly. Fionna’s enthusiasm made Kelsha very happy. She would do her best to keep her promise. She would make Shep a soldier. She would make him Fionna’s.
With Shep safe in the care of the sisters, Kelsha left the compound, and headed for Antiope. The time to gather her followers had come.
~Chapter Three~
I first traveled through the portal just as spring was beginning. It was now midsummer, judging by the stifling air in the house. I stood inside the library, unsure of what to do next. Instinctively, my hand traveled to my belly. It wasn’t hard like it had been in Neveah. I didn’t feel as pregnant as I had in Neveah either. I dismissed the thought, remembering how things were different here. I would only be a few weeks along surely, and pregnancies were not usually learned of until about six weeks. I knew I was carrying Shep’s baby. That was all I needed to know.
I finally forced myself out of that room. I headed down the stairs in search of cooler air. I opened a few windows on the second floor before making my way down the last flight of stairs to the main floor. Once I reached the bottom stair, I spotted Shep’s and Leah’s things in the front room. I walked in slowly, as though their things would catch fire if I moved too quickly, or came too close. I sat in the corner, just watching their belongings. My heart was breaking all over again. I wanted badly to reach out and pull all of his things close to me, but was unable to move. I just sat, staring and bawling.
I finally gathered myself, choked back the sobs, and dried my eyes. I was unable to stand yet, as my legs were wobbly. I was sure they would not bear my weight, so I crawled across the floor until I was surrounded by their things. I sat in the middle of them, trying to decide my next move. They hadn’t brought much, a few articles of clothing and a few personal items. Leah’s things were piled nicely next to a large duffle bag. I gathered her things first and placed them back inside the bag. As I gathered her things, I found a picture of her and my mother, both pregnant and smiling. I had never seen this photo and decided to keep it for myself. I didn’t think Leah would mind. I set it to the side before zipping up the bag and pushing it against the wall.
I turned my body slightly, so that I was now facing Shep’s things. He hadn’t left much behind, which didn’t surprise me. He really was a man of necessity and would only bring what he really needed. The few things he brought were lying randomly on the floor, as though he had just dumped them from his larger pack. I scooted closer and grabbed his black duffle bag. I started to place his things back inside the bag. His flip flops, toiletries, and then his clothes. There were only a few articles of clothing: a pair of pants, shorts, three T-shirts and a flannel. Each of them smelled like Shep. I inhaled deeply as I placed each one in the bag. I kept one piece out, his AC/DC T-shirt. It was his favorite band, his favorite shirt, and smelled strongly of him. Without thinking, I pulled off my shirt and replaced it with Shep’s. I felt a renewed sense of strength as I finished packing his things. I also found a picture of Shep and me and a few of his favorite CDs. I kept those out as well.
Packing their few things told me what I already knew. I would need to make a trip to Keno soon. I had to return these things to Shep’s father and tell him what had gone wrong in Neveah. I was not looking forward to going back. The memories would be painful there and having to recount the story would be torturous, but I knew it had to be done. Michael Wagner deserved to know what happened. He also deserved to know that he was going to be a grandfather. Maybe the news would help soften the blow of the loss he was about to feel.
I also needed to think about what I was going to do with my newly inherited land. I knew I might need to sell it eventually to help with the cost of the baby, but I didn’t know if I could. It was my home. I grew up there and selfishly wanted to be able to go back whenever I wanted. I would have to think it through before making a decision. I decided to think about it once I got down there. I had to focus on the moment I was in. I needed to stock the house with groceries and settle myself in. I made the decision to stay in Newberg before leaving Neveah. I felt saf
e and comfortable in that house. I felt closer to Shep and my parents there. My trip to Keno would be soon and short.
I went into town and bought enough food for a few days and some fans to cool the place down. I got back and cleaned out the old food I had left behind, replacing it with fresh food. I tidied up the place a bit before making a sandwich for dinner and heading back upstairs to shower. It was still early in the evening, yet my body was exhausted. I put Shep’s shirt back on and fell into bed. I was asleep in minutes.
I woke the next morning drenched in sweat with the sun bursting through the windows. I cursed myself for leaving the fans in their boxes by the front door. I tore through my clothes in search of a pair of shorts before I realized I hadn’t brought any. It was still cool when I left Keno and had no need to pack shorts. All I had were a few pairs of jeans and sweatpants. I would have to wear Shep’s shirt one more day, since I had only brought long sleeved tops. I grabbed a pair of my jeans and headed downstairs in search of scissors. I found a pair in the kitchen and set about cutting off the legs. Within a few minutes, I had a pair of shorts that I pulled on before going to set up the fans.
By mid-morning, I had three fans up and going on the main floor and two fans working on cooling down my room upstairs. I poured a glass of diet coke over some ice, grabbed my notebook and ventured to the front porch in search of fresh air. I settled into the porch swing, intending to write about my time in Neveah. I had no idea where to start, and my body felt restless. I gave up on writing about Neveah and wrote to Shep instead.
Dear Shep,
Where are you? Why did you leave me? Did you know we are going to have a baby? I am sure you know by now that I am no longer in Neveah. I came home. I couldn’t stay there any longer, not with all the pain that place caused me, us. I can’t begin to understand why you left me. You know I love you no matter who your father is and despite all that transpired, you are my chocolate muffin and I will wait for you to come back to me, because I know you will. I am going to see your father. I think he would like your mother’s things back, and most of yours, although I am keeping a few things for myself. I don’t think you or your father would mind. I will not be gone long. I can only hope that you will be here when I return.
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