Fated Truth (The True Witch Saga)

by Gwartney, Tasha

  “I know exactly who you are, Odar, Adar. Twin mortals my once would be mate decided to make into his play things. I saw the night that he took you whilst you were shoveling muck outside your pathetic hut.”

  The look on their faces were priceless. “We owe no allegiance to you, Goddess,” Odar fairly spat. “You cursed our maker without cause. We did not worship at your alter like these weak Witches.”

  Hekate narrowed her eyes in the direction of the twin Elders. They both dropped to their knees in screams. Blood was pouring from their eyes, ears, and mouths.

  “Kelian is and was a weak man. If it is he that you show your allegiance to after he cut you loose to survive this troubled world on your own, then you are as worthless as the parasite that my daughter eradicated,” Hekate’s voice echoed through the room.

  “There is a war coming. All factions will be forced to join a side. Tread lightly. You do not wish to be on the losing one.” With that bit of advice she released them from her thrall.

  The Elders quickly stood and flashed out the door as if the hounds of hell were nipping at their asses. Good riddance and all that jazz. My mother walked to where Seb was still kneeling on the floor and bid him to rise. I quickly made introductions.

  “Mother, this is Sebastian. He is Jaxx’s uncle.”

  “It is a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh teacher of my daughter.” Her voice was back to tinkling bells.

  Sebastian looked flabbergasted. It was a good look for him. I smiled into my hand to hide it.

  “It is an honor my lady.” Seb bowed low over my mother’s hand.

  “Seb, we have healed Jessa. Moira had been torturing her in your absence. That is why...Umm. Why I killed her. I read her thoughts and memories. The things she said and did were horrid. I couldn’t just let it go. Elder or not. I’m sorry if this upsets you.” I hung my head. I loved Seb. He was a part of my newly formed family. I wouldn’t want him to hate me.

  “I don’t blame you for your actions child. They were wisely done.” Seb turned back to my mother. “You said something of a war on the rise, my lady. What did you mean by that?” When Seb spoke to my mother he whispered like he was afraid of her disapproval. I had never seen him so humbled.

  “There are certain clans of True Witches that have turned to the ways of darkness. They have turned from me and from the light. They want to eradicate all others who do not follow their new ways,” Hekate whispered with great sadness.

  I went to her and clasped my hand in hers to offer what comfort I could.

  “They were once my children. Not children of my blood. Not children of my light or soul, but my children all the same. I listened to their pleas and prayers. I led them in the way of the light, the way of the just. They have turned from me. Who they follow now I cannot see. They have cloaked themselves from my sight.”

  “Well I don’t think we can rely on the Vampire factions to be on our side in the upcoming conflicts,” I whispered to the room at large.

  “There are many factions of Vampires. There are many Elders in each of these factions. The Elders you met tonight are of no consequence. Many of my kind still follow the old ways.” Seb nodded in my mother’s direction. Then looked to where Moira’s remains still lay on the floor in a steaming pile of flesh. I had forgotten her.

  My mother saw the direction of our stares and waved a gentle hand through the air and what remained of Moira just disappeared. Well that takes care of that. I shrugged. You either rolled with it or drown.

  “It is time for me to take my leave from this plane.” Hekate looked at me squeezing my hand tighter. “Child take wisdom from the book I have gifted you. If you have need of me, I will come. You are loved, my little light.” She stepped forward and embraced me in a tender hug. When she pulled away I felt as if I were going to weep. “You have many trials ahead. Danger looms very near.” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, and then shook her head in the negative. “This danger is hidden from me. They wear a false face. Someone familiar to you, I think. Tread carefully. Trust only those closest to you.” She looked around the room and the people in it. My new family, people I would gladly kill and die for if I had to.

  Hekate backed away from me and green tinged mist started to surround her. Once she was fully covered in it there was a bright flash of light and she was gone. I felt her absence keenly, but I had to push it back. There were more pressing matters to attend to at that moment.

  Everyone in the sitting room was looking at everyone else’s shell shocked faces. It wasn’t every day that you were in the presence of a Goddess. Seb looked at me with questions in his eyes.

  “We healed her, Seb. Jessa will wake sometime tonight.”

  “Thank the, Goddess,” Seb sighed out.

  Jaxx came over, pulled me close to him and settled us into a vacant club chair with me sitting sideways across his lap. Everyone was silent for a while, taking in the events of the morning. I lay my head on Jaxx’s shoulder and had almost fallen asleep when Gavin spoke. I jumped at the sound of his voice.

  “So what are we going to do about this upcoming war? It doesn’t seem like this is something that we can put off. Or something that we can handle alone.”

  “I agree. There is a gathering coming up in one month’s time. The Wandering,” Jaxx said. When I looked at him in question he explained. “It is a gathering that True Witches flock to for the chance they might meet their intended mate. Or soul mate.”

  “Yes! My boy, I think you have it!” Seb shouted. “There will be every Clan of True Witches present, along with their Clan Elders. We can bring the warnings of the Mother Goddess to them there.” Seb looked at Jaxx like he was a genius.

  I snuggled back into the space between Jaxx’s neck and shoulder and decided to dose for a while. The boys could speculate and plan all they wanted but that morning had wiped me out.

  When I woke up a little later, I realized I needed to check my phone and email. Touch base with the real world for a bit before my uncle and Devon sent out the FBI to look for me, even though it’s only been a week since I had spoken either of them. They were most likely freaking the fuck out. “Has anyone thought about what I’m supposed to say to my Uncle and Devon when I decide to contact them again?” I asked the room at large, which was rewarded with weird looks from everyone. “Geez, sorry! It was just a stray thought, but a valid one I think!”

  “Your uncle thinks that you are at a boarding school in upstate New York. I have a Vampire friend that added a few things to his memory.” When Seb realized that I was getting agitated at the thought of anyone messing with my uncle’s head, he waved his hand at me to calm down. “I’m close to this one, Ella. I trust him. He didn’t hurt your uncle in any way. I swear it on my word. I took care of Devon myself. He thinks you have fled to the boarding school as well. Just remember the cover story when you call them later.”

  I sighed in relief, closed my eyes and felt my mind begin to drift. Snuggled into Jaxx was my favorite place in the world to be. “I love you so very much,” I whispered for his ears alone.

  “And I you, little raven. We have much to discuss when you wake, but for now sleep and dream of good things, dream of me.”

  If it was only that easy. As soon as I closed my eyes I found myself running through that all familiar maze. It was made of giant thorns and I could hear the footsteps of the person chasing me gaining ground. I could almost feel their breath on the back of my neck. I remembered the part that came next and I was seriously not looking forward to it.

  Good dreams indeed.

  Chapter Twenty

  She Bit Me!

  I woke up to people shouting. I rolled over and tried to bury my head in the warm pillow my head was nestled against. Unfortunately I was not lying on a pillow at all. I accidentally head butt Jaxx in my attempt to escape the noise.

  “Umph! What are you trying to do, little raven?” He smiled at me while rubbing his chin.

  “I’m trying to get away from whoever is down stairs s
quawking.” I shook my head to clear some of the cobwebs. “What is all the commotion about anyway?” I asked him.

  “Jessa woke up hungry.” He laughed and shook his head.

  I guess that explained why someone was bitching. Just when I was about to ask what she had gotten herself into this time, Gavin charged through the door. “Knock much?” I scowled at him.

  “You wouldn’t bother knocking either if someone just tapped your ass like a juice box!” He yelled at me. “She bit me!”

  “Watch your tone, brother!” Jaxx snarled at Gavin. “You are upset, but don’t take your frustrations out on your sister. You get me boy?”

  Gavin looked down at the floor and I noticed that he was holding his neck. Blood was dripping down his arm. I threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. Once my feet hit the cold wood floor, I strode over to Gavin. I pulled his arm away from the deep laceration that was cut deeply into his neck. He looked like he’d been mauled by a wild animal. Jesus. I would be pissy too. I put my palm to the wound and pushed my power into it. I felt a tingling warmth that radiated from the center of my hand. I watched as Gavin’s wound slowly knit itself back together. “Why didn’t she use her saliva to close the wound herself?” I asked.

  “I’m sure she would have if she was in her right mind. The elders weren’t joking when they said she was feral. If Sebastian hadn’t pulled her off of me she would have drained me,” he huffed a deep breath. “I’m going out for a while. Call me when you get that she bitch under control,” he snarled as he left the room.

  I looked back at Jaxx reclining on the bed without a stitch of clothing on. He was a variable buffet for the eyes. I shook my head to get my mind out of the gutter. “How long have I been out?” I asked Jaxx as I threw a blanket over his manly bits.

  “Not long. Just about six hours or so,” Jaxx laughed at me for avoiding the bed with my eyes. The blanket I covered him with hit me in the side of the head. “Come back to bed, little raven. I have a present all ready and waiting for you.” His voice was low and growly. When he sounded like that, it always made me melt in my panties.

  “You know I can’t. I need to check on Jessa.” I shook my head regretting that I had to leave my man in bed hard and waiting for me. I turned and headed for the door. I was still wearing the clothing that I’d worn earlier that morning. I guessed I looked presentable. Just a little wrinkled. What I wandered into when I made my way down stairs was like war of the blood suckers. The front room was completely destroyed. Furniture was busted, tables were turned over, and pictures were smashed on the floor. Jessa and Seb were in opposite corners of the room just staring daggers at each other.

  “What the fuck?” I shouted. “We are guests in this home. You are both too old for this shit!”

  Jessa turned and looked at me when she heard my voice. The shock on her face was almost funny. I guess she didn’t expect to see me there.

  “She cannot be controlled. When I try to help her, she acts like someone belonging in bedlam,” Seb snarled at me while staring daggers at Jessa.

  I stopped cold. No one talked about my bestie like that. That shit got Moira boiled and gutted. I might like Seb well enough, but I loved that furious girl in the corner with every inch of my soul. “Get out, Seb. Go for a walk. Just leave.” My voice left no room for argument.

  “It’s your funeral little niece,” he hissed through clenched teeth as he slammed out the front door.

  I turned to Jessa. She hadn’t moved from her space in the corner, but now she huddled and burrowed like she was trying to find a place to hide. “Jessa. You are safe.” When I got no reaction out of her, I approached her with my palms outward.

  When she registered that someone was getting closer to her, she whirled around, hair flying, fangs punched out, and hissing. She crouched down, getting ready to spring for me. I didn’t want to use my gifts against her, but I might not have any choice. I didn’t want her to hurt anyone else. Especially Jaxx, I could hear him moving around upstairs. It wouldn’t be long until he made his way down. I flung my palm outward and froze her mid pounce. I waved my hand toward the sofa and sat her down as gently as I was able. The truth was that I basically flung her onto it. I needed more practice for finesse. I still had her body in stasis so I moved her into a sitting position. Her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

  “Yes, Jessa, there is quite a bit that we both need to confess and catch up on,” I told her gently. “You know me, though. I would never hurt you.” I shook my head sadly at her. I didn’t know what to do to help her. Obviously, judging by her physical appearance, she was healed. Her curves were back, her hair was wavy and shiny, and she didn’t look like a shriveled husk of herself anymore.

  The tiny voice in the back of my head was muttering something. Sometimes I tried to block it out. It could get fucking annoying, but I chose to listen to it this time. I needed to feed her it said. She wasn’t fully healed. On the outside maybe, but the inside of her mind was still damaged. My life blood should finish healing her fully, poor Seb. He probably thought he got stuck with a bat shit crazy mate. I reached for my mother’s jeweled dagger that was still sitting where the coffee table used to be. Once I had it, I sliced vertically down my wrist, just like I was told to do earlier.

  Jessa’s stare was rapt. She couldn’t pull her eyes away from my blood that was dripping from the wound. I walked to her, carful to keep her in stasis. I forced my wrist into her mouth and let my blood run freely.

  “This is my gift to give. Take freely with no artifice.” I pulled back on the stasis spell a bit so that she could drink. I felt her fangs slash into my raw wound and bit back a curse. With every pull of blood she ingested I could see sanity returning to her eyes. When she’d had her fill, she gently pulled back from my wrist and ran her tongue over my wound. It closed almost instantly.

  “Where are we, Ells?” Jessa looked around the room in confusion. She still seemed weak, slouching into the sofa as if she didn’t have the energy to make herself sit up straight.

  “We are at Gavin’s cabin.” When she looked at me blankly I explained. “Gavin is my twin. I told you about him over the phone right before your accident.”

  “That’s right,” she sighed. “Why am I so bloody tired?”

  “You have been through a lot. I think it would better for Sebastian to explain everything to you though.”

  She smiled a dreamy smile at the mention of Seb. “Where is Sebastian? The last thing I remember is traveling with him to a safe house. He was going to teach me about what I am now.” She looked at me with a question in her eyes.

  “Jessa I know all about what you are. I’m not afraid of you, as I told you a minute ago. We have a lot of catching up to do.” I sat on the sofa and grasped her hand. I smiled gently at her. “I have missed you!” She still wasn’t up to snuff. My snarky best friend was tired. She looked so drained by everything she had been through.

  Jessa looked around the room in wonder. Cataloging every bit of the mess she and Seb made during their confrontation. “Did I make this mess?”

  “Yeah, but you were pretty pissed at the time. So it’s okay. I can clean it up in a snap,” I snapped my fingers and sent the books lying on the floor sailing back into their rightful places.

  Jessa gasped. She looked at me and nodded. “Bitch we do have a lot of catching up to do, but first answer a question for me. Is there a cunt by the name of Moira staying around here?” She was snarling and her fangs had pushed out by the end of her question.

  “Moira’s dead,” I said frankly.

  “What? How? She’s so fucking strong, Ells. You have to stay away from her. She almost killed me on more than one occasion.”

  I had never seen Jessa whisper in fear. It was like she didn’t ever register what I had just told her. Before I could explain further, Sebastian walked back through the front door. He was walking into the room slowly, as if he were preparing for the worst. His jaw literally dropped when he saw Jessa sitting calmly on the sofa hol
ding my hand. Jessa jumped a little in excitement when she noticed Seb standing there. She looked at him with full on eye contact. She seemed to be waiting for him to make the first move.

  Seb walked quickly across the room stopping directly in front of us. The strong man dropped to his knees and buried his face in Jessa’s lap. His shoulders started to shake with sobs as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

  I quickly extracted myself from them and moved across the room.

  “I’m so...so very sorry, my dove. Please, tell me you forgive me,” Seb said in a choked whisper.

  I quickly make for the door and let myself out of the room. After everything they had been through they deserved some alone time.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Doubts

  I quickly made my way up the stairs. The events of late were getting to me. I was starting to feel really worn down. It was like someone was taking sand paper and slowly rubbing away at everything that I thought I was. This new person that stared at me in the mirror each morning wasn’t the person I once saw. In some ways I loved the new me. She was stronger, bolder, and less inclined to take people’s shit. I could protect the people that I loved, but at what cost? One day was I going to buckle and lose everything I once thought I wanted and loved?

  Jessa was back in my life now. I had my sister back, but there was still so much up in the air. There was a war looming on the horizon. A war I was supposed to lead, prevent, or even win for the side of the light. I was only eighteen. Until two weeks ago I was just a regular girl. Sure, I’d had a shitty home life. My parents hated me, despised everything that I did, everything that made me the person that I was.

  Now I had a destined mate, a Goddess for a mother, a vampire best friend, and lies that hid my new reality from the rest of my family. I knew it was to keep them safe, but it galled me to lie to those closest to me, even if it did protect them from a fate that could be far worse than death.