FinsFantasy

by Jocelyn Dex

  When her eyes had met his that first time, the world had stopped for a second before fireworks exploded in his mind. He’d been mesmerized, something inside him insisting she was different, she was more and he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her ever since.

  * * * * *

  Navine was relieved when Araya stepped through the door. She’d been afraid it was Fin again. She liked Araya. If Navine was going to be alive after the next few days, she thought they’d be friends.

  “How’s it going?” Araya asked and took a seat in the chair across from Navine.

  “Well, I’m basically a prisoner in your home and only have a couple days to live.” Letting the sentiment hang there, she lifted her hands, palms in the air.

  “Please don’t think like that. We don’t mean for you to be a prisoner. We just want to help you. And now we know there is a way if you—”

  “No!” The word came out harsher than she’d intended and she felt guilty when Araya blanched. “Sorry, I know he’s your brother but…” But what could she say that wouldn’t offend Araya? “Anyway, it’s only a rumor.”

  “Look Navine. I won’t pretend to completely understand your feelings toward Fin but I’ve known him all my life and he’s pretty great. Valia and I were shocked to find out what he was too, but it didn’t change anything, didn’t change who he was. And you have to admit, he’s incredibly handsome,” she said with a smile.

  Navine hadn’t admitted it to herself, too caught up in what he was to think about how handsome he was, but Araya was right. If Navine didn’t know what he was and she wasn’t addicted to a dead Incubus, she’d feed from him in a second. His neatly trimmed brown hair that curled at the bottom, those vibrant-green eyes and his body. Geez. His arm and pectoral muscles bulged against the fabric of the formfitting t-shirts he seemed to favor. All that on a six-foot-five frame—yum. But knowing what he was overrode his appeal.

  “It’s not natural and there’s no way it would work. It’s a rumor, not fact. I’m screwed. Just take these cuffs off and let me go home to die.”

  Araya frowned. “Can’t you at least talk to him, give him a chance? You’ve got nothing to lose.”

  Who knew what would happen if she fed from a male Sempire? She gagged just thinking about it. She wanted to live—desperately—but what if she tried and he infected her somehow? Tainted her. No. No way. She had enough issues and didn’t need to add another that would make her last few remaining days even more depressing, miserable.

  Instead of answering, she diverted. “I’d love to visit your orchard. How about we take a walk?”

  Araya brightened. “Okay. Wait five minutes,” she said excitedly and left the room.

  * * * * *

  Five minutes later, there was a knock on the door. She was excited to get out of this room and explore the orchard and maybe she could find a way to escape. Doubtful but she’d have more chance outside than locked in a room.

  Her heart sank when Fin opened the door. “Where’s Araya?” she snapped.

  Fin leaned against the door jam, arms folded across his chest. “She’s busy, so if you want to stroll through the orchard, you’re stuck with me.”

  His bright-green eyes sparkled and she thought she heard smugness lacing his tone. She huffed, stomped her foot and retreated to sit on the bed. Damn it. She wanted out of this room but the hell if she was going for a walk with that mutant. No way. No thanks.

  Fin said, “What’s it going to be?”

  “I’m fine right here,” she answered.

  “Suit yourself,” he said and turned to leave, but he stopped and turned back, sighing. “Look, you want to visit the orchard. I’m offering to take you. Quit being…whatever it is you’re being and come with me. It’s beautiful and I promise to keep three feet between us at all times.”

  Navine desperately wanted out of the room or she wouldn’t have agreed. His existence was an offense to her species but as long as he kept his distance, she could handle it. “Make it five,” she snapped.

  His jaw clenched, a muscle ticking there, eyes closing for a brief moment and when they opened, he treated her to a stunning smile, forced as it was. “Follow me,” he said cordially.

  She followed him, keeping plenty of distance between them, as they made their way down the stairs and out the massive, front wood doors into the thick air of the veil between the human and demon realms. They walked in silence until they came upon the vast array of fruit trees and bushes.

  “Here,” Fin said, pointing up, “I brought you directly to the cherry trees.”

  Her mouth watered at the ripe red cherries hanging above her. She’d always had a love for cherries. She tiptoed and hopped but she couldn’t quite reach them.

  “I’d offer you a boost but…” He shrugged.

  She sneered at him and studied the smooth, reddish-brown tree trunks. Her brother had taught her to climb trees when she was a young female and she could damn well get those cherries herself. She certainly didn’t need help from him.

  Navine grabbed hold of the trunk and swung her foot up and into the crotch of the tree, hoisting herself up. She shimmied up one thick limb, reached out and snagged two cherries. She popped them into her mouth, tearing off the stems and spitting out the pits. The fresh sweet-and-tart taste thrilled her taste buds. God, you didn’t get fruit like that from grocery stores—at least not the ones where she shopped. She plucked a handful from the branch and couldn’t stop the giggle that escaped her.

  She hadn’t climbed a tree in so many years and she could imagine the picture she presented balancing on that branch. She felt free, trouble free. She dropped a cherry and as she looked down her gaze met Fin’s smiling face. His smile transformed his already handsome face into a work of art and it took her breath away. She returned the smile, without thinking, for a moment forgetting who and what he was.

  Reality slammed into her and she jerked her face away, losing her balance in the process. She tried to right herself but over-corrected, lost her grip and fell to the ground with a thud.

  “Oh shit!” She exclaimed when pain shot through her wrist. She knew it wasn’t broken, but if she played it right, it might just be her one shot at escape.

  Fin rushed to her side and put his hands on her shoulders to help her up. She gasped as lightning seared her skin where he touched her. What was that? She jerked away not understanding or wanting to experience those sensations. Not with him. It wasn’t possible.

  “Just trying to help,” he said, his voice tight. “Are you okay?”

  She had to get out of there. Get away from him. Why would his touch cause such electricity within her?

  “My wrist,” she wailed convincingly. “I think it’s broken.” She held up the wrist bound by the handcuffs that kept her from teleporting.

  He took a step toward her but seemed to think better of it and stood still. “What can I do?”

  “Take the cuffs off, please. It hurts.”

  A wary gaze clouded his unnaturally green eyes.

  “Please,” she wailed louder this time and even managed to shed a tear. If she was going to live, she might have considered becoming an actress after this performance.

  He frowned and hesitated. “I’ll have to get close to you.”

  “Please.” Another tear flowed over her lower lashes.

  She bit her cheek to keep from flinching as Fin kneeled in front of her and pulled a key from his pocket. He held the cuffs still with one hand, the tips of his fingers grazing her skin. Goose bumps broke out and she barely suppressed a shiver.

  Off. They were off. She had to bite her tongue to keep from giggling hysterically. Fin stood and held out his hand to her. “Come on, we need to get that checked out.”

  She ignored his hand and got to her feet. As soon as she was standing, she disappeared.

  “Fuck!” Fin shouted to the trees. He couldn’t believe he’d fallen for that. That crafty little manipulative female. She’d totally been bluffing.

  She’d been
having fun in that tree, looking carefree and even more beautiful than usual, the genuine smile lighting up her features. She’d even bestowed that smile on him, however briefly, and it had warmed his insides.

  When she’d fallen, his heart had stopped and relief had swamped him that it was only her wrist that hurt. Even if broken, Sempires healed quickly, but she’d been through so much already and the sight of her in pain, made him ache.

  He scrubbed his fingers through his hair and huffed out a breath. Shit. He was going to have to tell everyone he’d let her get away, that he would be responsible for her death because he was so lame he couldn’t convince a hungry, dying Sempire to want him. Shit. Fuck. Shit.

  He wanted to take his time getting back to the house but decided against it, time being of the essence and all. He ported to the front door, took a deep breath and readied himself to explain what had happened.

  Chapter Three

  Valia and Rydin hadn’t returned from their island hideaway but Araya and Kean were in the theatre room trying to make nice with Kiberry’s female friend. Kiberry, a Tengur demon, had found her during their recent excursion to the demon realm to rescue Rydin and Navine and Kiberry hadn’t wanted to leave without her. They’d had a helluva time coming up with a name for her. Kean had teasingly suggested “Killer” but Araya wasn’t having it, but agreed she needed a fierce name to fit her personality so they decided on Xena. Although, Araya liked to add “berry” onto the end for the cute factor. Xenaberry.

  Tengur demons, thirty-pound, furry, winged demons weren’t known for their friendliness, and Kiberry’s new friend was still adjusting to domesticated life, hissing and baring a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth to most of the mansion’s residents. Kiberry never left her side, making sure she didn’t kill anyone, and Fin had caught them cuddling together while napping on several occasions. Shit. Even the Tengur had more of a love life than Fin.

  Araya looked up. “Hey. How’d the walk in the orchard go?”

  Kean said, “Look at his face. I’m guessing not good. What happened, she spit on you this time?”

  “Worse. She tricked me and escaped.”

  “Oh no,” Araya said.

  Kiberry, sensing Fin’s distress, lumbered over to him and rubbed his head against Fin’s leg. Fin bent down and scratched behind his ears. Kiberry’s girlfriend walked up and sniffed his leg, no hissing. That was an improvement. At least, he could charm some females.

  He moved his hand slowly from behind Kiberry’s ear and held it out to the female Tengur. She took a step back, but when Kiberry nudged her with his blue-tinged furry snout, she tentatively sniffed his fingers and turned her head to the side, offering him an ear. Xenaberry visibly tensed when he touched her fur but didn’t snap his hand off. Kiberry licked her cheek, he assumed as an act of praise.

  “Wow,” Araya said as Fin straightened. “That was great.”

  Kiberry and his girlfriend walked to the red, fluffy extra-large dog bed Araya had bought for them. Xena got in first, turned a circle and lay down. Kiberry followed, curling in next to her, extending a wing over her.

  “You gonna call Baden?” Kean asked.

  “Yeah. Shit.” Fin scrubbed a hand through his hair, whipped out his cell and hit the speed dial.

  Baden appeared in front of them seconds after Fin explained what had happened. Both Tengurs hissed but didn’t get up. Baden’s astral-projection ability made them edgy. They could see him, but his physical body wasn’t really there. Baden could astral project better than anyone he’d ever met.

  “What the hell, dude?” Baden asked.

  “My mistake. I was only trying to help her,” Fin said.

  “Yeah, she’s a sneaky female.” His eyes went blank for a mere second, then he said. “Yep. She’s at the cabin.”

  “Any ideas on how to get her back here? Snatch and grab mission?”

  “Maybe…” he rubbed his temples. “No. I think she’d be better off there, in a familiar place. Obviously when she’s here, she’s too focused on escaping. Maybe in a setting she finds comforting, she’ll be more…receptive.”

  “You want me to go to her?” Fin asked.

  “Yeah, if you will. I wouldn’t ask, but you’re the only hope we have.”

  Fin shrugged. “I’ll go but she’ll just leave.”

  “No she won’t. Not if we play it right.”

  * * * * *

  Baden told Fin he’d be back for him in an hour. When he returned, he explained that he’d had a pair of teleport-restricting handcuffs fashioned into a bracelet, had dropped in to see Navine and given her the “gift”. She’d put it on and had no clue about his trickery. Then Baden teleported Fin to the cabin—outside.

  “I don’t wanna be around when she realizes what I did,” Baden said sheepishly.

  Fin laughed, an awkward sound. “Yeah, I get that.”

  “Let me know if you need anything. Bulletproof vest, hard hat.” Baden’s laugh wasn’t convincing. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “And I’ll be watching my back.”

  “Please, save my sister,” Baden said, desperation lacing his tone. “Whatever it takes.” Pain flared in his eyes before he ported away leaving Fin alone with his seemingly impossible task.

  Fin stood there for a moment surveying his surroundings. It was a great hideaway, a place deep in the woods, far from civilization. There were no roads in or out. The trees were thick, some only inches from brushing against the cabin. Apparently, their family had bought the land generations ago.

  A quaint wood-slatted porch ran along the entire length of the front of the cabin, a swing hanging from the left end, two rocking chairs to the right. It was nice, cozy.

  Instead of stalling any longer, he walked to the front door, took a deep breath and knocked.

  “Who the hell is out there?”

  Crap. He was hoping she’d just open the door. “It’s me.”

  “Me? I don’t know anyone named me.”

  “Fin.”

  The door jerked open, her face a mask of fury, gold eyes blazing anger. “How?”

  Fin grimaced. “Your brother.”

  She growled and stomped her foot like a child throwing a temper tantrum. He almost laughed at the sight. She tried to slam the door in his face but he wasn’t having it and pushed his way inside.

  “Get out! Let me die in peace. I don’t need some mutant abomination following me around like a puppy.”

  That was it. He snapped. He kicked the door shut behind him and grabbed her shoulders. She tried to jerk free but strong as she was, he was stronger.

  “Why are you so rude, so nasty, so hateful? I’ve done nothing but feed you fruit and try to save your life and you continue to spit venom in my face. Look at me, Navine. I’m not some vile being. I am a male who wants to help you like no one else can.”

  Her wide eyes glinted with anger, fear and disgust. Damn it. Why must she find him so disgusting?

  “Why?” she asked, frantic. “Why do you want to help me?”

  Because your beauty astounds me, takes my breath away. Because I’ve never craved another female as much as I crave you. “Because I’m the only chance you have and my family is counting on me, as is your brother.”

  This time, he didn’t try to stop her as she shoved him away. Her eyes widened, her face contorting into a mask of rage. “What’d you do to me?” she screeched.

  “No clue what you’re talking about.”

  “I can’t teleport! Why can’t I teleport?”

  She didn’t only look angry, she looked scared and he felt guilty about it.

  “Oh that.” He pointed to the bracelet on her wrist. “Your brother’s gift.”

  She looked dumbly at the bracelet for a moment before scowling, her face turning red. “Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch! Bastard! Fuck!” She raved and stomped her foot again.

  He couldn’t stop the rumbling laughter from escaping this time. The dramatic foot stomping was too much. A lock of her shiny black hair fell across her fac
e and she forcefully blew it away.

  “What’s so damn funny?” she demanded, hands on hips.

  Fin curtailed his laughter enough to choke out. “You.”

  “I will not be trapped here with you. I won’t be your captive.” She spun and stomped away.

  He sighed, ignoring her declaration and made his way into the surprisingly modern kitchen. It definitely didn’t match the cabin’s outside appearance. The kitchen cabinets were a shiny, rich gray wood that matched the granite countertops with a gray-and-black shiny glass tile backsplash. All the appliances were top quality stainless steel. It wasn’t the enormous cooking space he was used to, but he could definitely work with it.

  Upon opening the fridge, he found nothing but a jar of maraschino cherries and a moldy avocado. He chucked the moldy avocado in the trash, closed the fridge door and looked for Navine.

  He found her lying on the plush suede couch in the living area, her arm thrown across her face dramatically. “We need food. Any special requests?”

  She groaned, flipped over and buried her face in the couch cushions.

  “Okaaay. I’ll guess. Be back soon.”

  * * * * *

  Fin raided the fridge and pantry at the mansion. He loaded several plastic containers with cherries, plums and other fruits for Navine and some shrimp, scallops and pasta for himself. He popped up to his room, and after stuffing a few changes of clothes in a duffel bag, he was ready to go back to the cabin.

  Well, not mentally ready. He needed an ego boost after five minutes in Navine’s presence. No one had ever made him feel so bad about himself, yet at the same time turned him on so much.

  Maybe surprising her with a gift would soften her up a little. He called Valia for ideas.

  “What’s up, bro?” Valia’s voice greeted him cheerfully.

  “Need a suggestion on a gift to soften Navine up.”

  Valia snorted. “A dick in the—”

  “Seriously,” he laughed.