The Dragon Witch

by Drako

  “Anyway, the point in this is to give additional help in Brandon’s transition. Due to the nature of his persona, control of his new form will come due to things he has to concentrate on mentally, whereas Demun will master his new form through physical methods. Brandon works better with thought processes, while Demun works through action. Best of all, when one improves, they both improve.”

  “So, when Brandon’s mental powers grow, so do Demun’s, and when Demun’s physical powers grow, so do Brandon’s?” Victoria asked.

  Hecate nodded. “This has always been true of them, has it not?”

  “Yes, that’s how they’ve always worked, although to a much smaller extent before their trip to Shevat,” Jarel answered. “They naturally share knowledge with each other, without even realizing it.”

  “But I thought they were opposite of each other. Demun was always stronger physically, while Brandon was stronger mentally,” Victoria commented.

  “That is true, to a point. In reality, it’s simply that Demun can focus his power into his physical strength because he prefers it. If he desired, he could be a telekinetic like his brother. Likewise, Brandon could be much stronger physically if he so desired, but he prefers to use his telekinetic abilities. In truth, they will always be equal in every way, but they will utilize the methods that best suit them individually.”

  “Ok, but you said that there was something for me to learn in this too. What is it?” Victoria asked her mother.

  “Patience,” Hecate answered. “You are far too headstrong and impatient even at this late date. You’re constantly at the edge of losing your temper. Perhaps teaching him and helping him to survive this mission will help you as well.”

  “Ares!” Jarel called, his voice reaching far beyond the throne room.

  Ares appeared a few seconds later. “You rang?”

  “You and I need to have a talk,” Jarel told him.

  Ares raised a questioning eyebrow. “I’m a bit busy. Is this important?”

  Jarel narrowed his eyes. “Do you like not burning in Tartarus for eternity?”

  “Good point,” Ares conceded.

  “Why did you call him here?” Hecate asked.

  “You have an order to issue him, do you not?” Jarel responded.

  Hecate narrowed her eyes, clearly questioning his motives but turned to Ares. “As I’m sure you would have figured out, I’m sending my daughter into the Rose Realm. You are not allowed to directly assist her in her task.”

  Ares frowned. “Fine by me. I don’t think she’ll need it.”

  “I definitely wouldn’t need it,” Victoria added.

  Jarel laughed. “And yet, he’d have given you the aid regardless if not for this ruling.”

  Both Ares and Victoria glared at him.

  “Anyway, I have private matters to discuss with Ares. Go get some rest, daughter of mine,” Jarel ordered.

  “And he means literally rest, not go change and try to get information out of the wolves that they don’t have,” Hecate added.

  “Sure, take all the fun out of my life, why don’t you?” Victoria mumbled as she stood and left the room.

  Hecate also vanished immediately after and Jarel turned his gaze on Ares.

  “Now, allow me to tell you the loophole to Hecate’s ruling. You cannot directly help Victoria, but she did not ban you from the realm, so you may enter it to speak with her. You can advise her, but not physically help her to achieve her goal.”

  “You know, I do have duties to attend to,” Ares told him irritably. “Perhaps I wasn’t planning to bother your daughter for a while.”

  Jarel smirked. “I know you’re lying and so do you. You can’t resist the urge. I suggest you keep at her.”

  “This is beyond weird, Jarel, even for you.”

  The elder god laughed. “I’m merely helping to make both of your lives better. As for your duties on Olympus, your sister has things well in hand. And your scouts are all doing your job. Plus you have Kazarian. If you’re truly needed, they’ll call you.”

  “I’m not making that much progress with your daughter as it is. This seems like setting myself up for failure.”

  Jarel waved that off. “Trust me, you’re getting to her. Her annoyance is at herself, not at you. She has avoided the gods all her life because of your reputations. Your attentions are getting to her, and that annoys her. That’s not such a bad thing.”

  “If you say so.” Ares vanished.

  Jarel smiled. He knew he was meddling, but Aphrodite wasn’t around to do the job and he knew full well that those two were good for each other. Now if he could just get his daughter to stop resisting.

  Twenty Four

  Brandon entered Anaya’s room to find her watching cartoons with Theo. Theo smiled instantly as he entered the room, and Brandon couldn’t help but smile back. He sat next to them on the bed and Theo instantly climbed into his arms.

  “It’s good to see you two together,” Anaya commented.

  “It’s good to be together.” Brandon looked up at her. “Speaking of which, there is the question of how to continue on from here. As a matter of fact, how did you end up where you were?”

  Anaya sighed. “We were betrayed by one of my people. I never saw that coming. But I thought we were safe and sound, and they took us in our sleep. I didn’t have the ability to fight the spell I was put under. The best I could do was to have Theo hide.”

  “You do realize I’ll need the name of that person that betrayed you.” Brandon spoke calmly, but the look in his eyes clearly showed the rage he was hiding for the sake of their son.

  “You’ll just have to take a number. As soon as I can find her, she’s mine,” Anaya replied.

  “Just don’t go after her until I return. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone but I don’t want you making a move alone until I know why they went after you.”

  “That’s simple enough. Lucifer hates the Fae. We’re one race he’s never been able to truly corrupt, or at least, he hadn’t before.”

  “Most likely he didn’t corrupt whoever sold you out. Fae aren’t perfect, and things like jealousy and greed are just as common among you as the other races.” Brandon studied her. “If you want to handle it personally, I understand. But Gramps is apparently stepping on your goddess’s feet by allowing you to stay here. I’d rather you remain here until my aunt takes down Balthas. None of Lucifer’s forces can get to you here, and neither can any of the Fae without speaking to Gramps. And since most of your kind hates mine, I don’t think that’ll be an issue.”

  “Wait, what’s this about my goddess?” Anaya asked.

  “No one knows where she is, not even her angels apparently,” Brandon answered. “So Gramps can’t ask her permission for you to stay here. He’s just going to do it. He says you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. But what I need to know is what do you want to do? I can’t force you to stay here. If you want to leave at any point, there’s not much I can do.”

  The two fell silent as Anaya thought things over in her mind. Frankly, it was hard to resist the urge for revenge but she had Theo to think about.

  “I can at least wait for you to come back. I don’t want to leave Theo alone. But once you’re back, I have to go after that traitor.”

  Brandon nodded. “Fair enough. I’ll help you find her.”

  “So, where are you going?” Anaya asked.

  “The Rose Realm,” he answered.

  Anaya gasped. “Are you serious?!”

  Brandon gave her a dull stare. “Do I sound like I’m joking? What’s the big deal?”

  “Don’t let the name fool you. That realm is dangerous. Why are you going there?”

  Brandon shrugged. “Hecate gave the order. I’m doing as I was told to get what I want. I need a grimoire and there’s one there that she wants me to have. My aunt is going with me.”

  Anaya gave a sigh of relief. “Well, you should be fine with her with you. But still be careful.”

  Brandon leaned over
and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t worry. If I can survive Shevat for almost two years, I can survive the Realm of Roses.”

  He gave her a smile and began conversation with Theo. Anaya continued to worry. Brandon had no idea what he and Victoria were walking into, and if he didn’t know, she wondered how much Victoria really knew about it.

  Phil studied Adonis as they sat in the room they’d been given in the palace. Something was different about him. He didn’t expect him to be his usual happy, smiling self, given the events of the day. But clearly he was distracted.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Phil finally asked.

  Adonis’ gaze came into focus. “Nothing is wrong with me.”

  “Don’t lie to me. I may not be a mind reader like Brandon but I know when something is wrong. You’re zoning in and out. You don’t have a clue what I’ve been talking to you about.”

  Adonis lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry. It’s just been a rough day.”

  “I know that.” Phil softened his tone. “But it’s not just the grief that’s occupying your mind. I know that look, and I’d bet it has something to do with Brandon.”

  At that, Adonis looked up sharply. “Why would you say that?”

  “I’m not stupid. I know you love him. I know that being away from him eats at you. And knowing he’s here and not speaking to him is killing you.”

  There was no denying that fact. However, Phil didn’t know about the conversation he’d already had with Brandon. And he couldn’t in good conscience keep it from him.

  “I’ve talked to him once, and it didn’t go so well.”

  Phil remained silent, waiting for him to continue. Adonis took a deep breath and told him what had happened, leaving out only the very end of the conversation. He still wasn’t sure how to react to the dramatic change in Brandon. Brandon had always been rather bold in speech, but reserved in action. Before he’d left, he’d never have stripped like that in front of anyone he wasn’t with. Adonis was almost positive he’d done that to get a rise out of him.

  “So, you were there when I was talking to him?” Phil asked.

  Adonis nodded but said nothing.

  “So why didn’t you just stay in the room and talk to him?”

  That was a question Adonis couldn’t really answer. Phil sighed.

  “You need to make a decision. If you have to have him in your life in some way, I can understand that and I can get past it. But if you feel the need to sneak around to see him, it looks like you want more than friendship. If that’s what you want, tell me now. If you want me, then don’t sneak to see him. Just tell me where you’re going. Or better yet, we can go to him together.”

  “I’m sorry,” Adonis told him.

  Phil stood to leave the room. “Look, I’m going down to visit some of my family here. I’ll be back later.”

  Adonis opened his mouth to ask to go along but Phil left the room and slammed the door.

  “Well, that was awkward.” Jarel appeared sitting on the windowsill.

  “How long have you been here?” Adonis asked.

  “Long enough to realize he has a very valid point,” Jarel answered.

  “I don’t understand this situation.” Adonis sighed. “I just lost my parents and all I want is to be near him.”

  Jarel raised an eyebrow. “Him?”

  Adonis glared at him. “You know I mean Brandon. It’s not fair. He and I can’t be more than friends, and at this point, that’s even questionable. Yet here I am wanting him to be here to comfort me. That’s not very fair to Phil but it’s how I feel.”

  “What’s not fair to Phil is that you’re continuing forward with him while you’re so conflicted. Deep down, he knows how you feel, but he actually loves you. He won’t walk away from you even though he knows he should.” Jarel studied his human follower. “You are making this situation so much harder than it has to be.”

  “So you’re saying I should break up with Phil?” Adonis questioned.

  “I’m saying you need to be honest with everyone involved,” Jarel replied. “You’re in a hard period of life. Your parents were killed brutally and you alienated the one person you want by your side the most. It was unfair to my grandson as well. He’s been by your side since you decided to reveal your feelings. When he finally came home, you were foremost on his mind. He came to your rescue only for you to tell him that you’d moved on while he was trapped in what is essentially hell for him. And then today, you threw it in his face.”

  Adonis looked down, unable to meet his god’s gaze. Immediately, Jarel moved in front of him and raised his face.

  “I’m not trying to be harsh, but you need to face the facts. You’ve screwed up and you have to get over yourself long enough to fix it. I know you need support, and trust me, I’m going to help you as much as you allow me, but you have to release my grandson. I know you severed the bonding spell, but you have to emotionally free him. As long as he’s worried about your feelings, it adds to his stress level. And what he has planned right now could hinder him. He has to know that you do care and that he wasn’t just someone you used to come out and find someone better. He can accept whatever you decide, as long as he knows you care. Then he can focus on providing for and protecting his son and the son’s mother.”

  Adonis nodded and moved away. “I don’t know what to say to him, and I don’t know what to say to Phil.”

  “They need the truth, Adonis,” Jarel told him. “Just tell them how you feel. It will make things a lot easier on them, especially with the troubled times ahead of them both.”

  Adonis turned back towards Jarel. “What kind of trouble?”

  “The trouble that you know deep down is coming and that your decision will inevitably make come to pass.” Jarel looked down at him, his swirling silver eyes clearly seeing far more than just the boy’s physical form. “Unlike my grandson, I know full well why the wolves and the warlocks are after you, and you know it too. And you know what will happen in the end. You will set it in motion. Before it goes down, you need to correct the wrongs you’ve done to both of them.”

  “This destiny is still difficult to accept,” Adonis told him.

  “It’s no easier for me to accept than it is for you, but we both know that unfortunately it will come to pass no matter how hard you fight it.” Jarel wrapped an arm around him. “What’s worse is that we can’t tell them. If they try to change it, they’ll only make things infinitely worse.”

  Adonis leaned against him, his heart heavy. He knew far too much about what he was that he couldn’t share with either Brandon or Phil. He hated holding it from them, but as Jarel had just reminded him, if he told them and they tried to change anything, a lot of things would get significantly worse.

  Twenty Five

  Patience was clearly a virtue that would remain lost on Victoria. She was pacing in her room, ready to leave now. She was restless anytime she was stuck here. She loved her home, but she loved action. She needed it. She’d never been content to be an idle spectator. She was a woman that got right in the middle of things and beat the hell out of everything and everyone until she got what she wanted. Although right now, part of her problem was losing to Andreas again.

  True enough, Andreas was known as the strongest of all dragons. That had never been disputed. However, she’d thought she could best him by now. Perhaps she’d become too reliant on her reputation, which often disoriented her usual opponents before the fight truly began. Her spells were legendary, her control unparalleled, yet her brother still took her down fairly easily. He hadn’t broken a sweat either. It was baffling. Sure, he’d made it look like she came close, but she knew he’d toyed with her. Andreas was truly deadly when he got serious and would not restrain his power. To train with him was to understand the true depths of his power. His power was greater than some of the gods even. The short session with him had shown her that.

  Victoria sighed. Thinking about today wouldn’t get her anywhere. What she needed was a distraction.

>   “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor if you don’t settle down.”

  She turned to see Ares leaning against the doorjamb. “I’m bored, damn it. I want to leave and get this part of my mission out of the way so that I can hunt that damn warlock and get it over with.”

  “You’re too hotheaded for your own good.”

  Victoria narrowed her eyes in an obvious show of her temper. “What was that?”

  Ares merely smirked at her. “You’re too impulsive. Do you know why your brother beat you in that little session today? He’s extremely patient and level headed. He very rarely loses his temper and his emotions don’t rule him in battle. It’s a trait he had even when he served under me. This is the reason he is the trainer of the dragons and general of Jarel’s forces. In over eleven thousand years, I’ve seen your brother lose his composure only once, when he lost Kazarian. I’ve seen him let his temper rule a fight once after that, against Kalos. That one mistake nearly cost him his life, and it’s not one he’ll make again.”

  “So what does that have to do with today?” Victoria demanded.

  “It’s simple, really. Andreas was going to beat you no matter what spells you used today because you were agitated and using the session as an outlet. Andreas was as calm as ever, and able to spot the flaws in your offense.”

  Victoria scowled and turned away from him. “I don’t need criticism from someone notoriously known for his temper. Isn’t that why Athena always kicks your ass?”

  Ares frowned. “Athena and I traded victories several times over the years. Now we act together. I am no less and no more of a warrior than my sister. I am the brute force of war, she is the strategist. After all, she is the goddess of wisdom. I am the god of war, and I rule most strong emotions as well. You should know this by now, yet you insist on hanging on to this unreal idea of who I am. You know that the tales mortals tell are distorted at best.”

  Victoria said nothing as she took a seat in a chair in the area designed as a living room. Ares appeared in front of her.