A Destiny Revealed

  "Do you think I would punish you in this way, Bron? That I would take Dalia from you for some perceived slight?"

  "I failed the tribe."

  "You've failed no one, Bron. Your mate is independent and stubborn. You know how hard it is to predict her actions." Oya pulled him into her. He laid his head on her shoulder.

  "It was my job to protect that door. To see that no one entered."

  Oya scoffed. "You are to accomplish this with no sleep? Dalia would've found that door. It's part of her gift. That gateway would've called to her."

  "I'm sorry for Layla."

  "Layla is another matter altogether. The tribe was betrayed. Even I was blinded."

  "I shouldn't have left the oracle alone."

  Oya separated them and lifted his chin. "I apologize to you for the harshness of my punishment. I said words in anger that have impacted us all."

  "I won't fail you again, Goddess." Bron swore.

  "Rest your soul, warrior. There is no blame in this situation. Keep Dalia tied to you and all will be well." She kissed his forehead and disappeared.

  Bron stayed kneeled, lost in thought. Should've, could've raced through his mind. If only he'd warned Dalia about the door. He allowed himself a few more moments of silence before he got to his feet. Her family would be here soon, and his mate needed him strong. He would bring her back to them, even if he had to travel to the gates of Hell to get her.

  ***

  Oya stared into her well at Dalia's sleeping form. Her plans were unraveling and she helpless to stop it. If they lost Dalia, she would have to wait until someone else in her family was born in order to pass on the power. That would take years, years the Earth could not afford.

  War crept steadily forward, the powers aligning, taking sides. Those who opposed her gathered an army and waited in the wings for one mistake from her.

  "Oya."

  "What are you doing here, Rue?" She didn't bother turning.

  "I felt your sadness."

  Maybe he did. "Did you come to mock and gloat over it?"

  He sighed. "What has happened?"

  "The ala-irin crossed the veil too soon. She's in between." She wanted to rail, to throw something, but her temper had never gotten her anywhere but trouble.

  "I'll send a shaman to help her." His voice was soft, full of compassion.

  She narrowed her eyes and turned to him. "Why would you help me now?"

  "Rewa, let's not start this argument again." He growled and balled his fists.

  "Why now, Rue? Why not when my oracle lay dying?" The wind picked up, howling and snapping her skirts around her legs.

  He stood in the midst of the gale force winds, eyes narrowed against it, powerful and unshakable. Damn him for the steel control he kept over his emotions. She turned her back to him and pulled back the winds.

  The silence stretched between them until her fury folded in on itself. She sighed in relief. "Why didn't you help, Rue?"

  "You're not a creation goddess, rewa. The warriors were okay, you used the humans already in the tribe. But the oracle…" He sighed. "She should've never been created. She was apart from the natural order."

  "She was my child," she whispered. The pain of losing Layla stabbed as sharp as the day it happened and lanced through her, stealing her breath.

  "Balance, Oya. You know there must be balance. You can't just stick a being into the world and expect there not be repercussions."

  "You wouldn't give me the child I asked for. You say you love me, but the one thing I wanted, you wouldn't give to me." No, that wasn't right. He didn't refuse her a child. He only refused to send their child down to her tribe to help.

  "If I had allowed you to do what you wanted, then it would be a child of mine dead. I'll not risk my blood in your games."

  Hot fury rushed over her. "Games! You think I play games? As a goddess I must have worshippers to keep my power or I waste away. Keeping that tribe intact kept me alive and at full power. You know the enemies I have, even among family."

  "They are not the only–"

  "They were the most loyal." She insisted. "Besides, I had a right to get back the power stolen from me."

  "So you thought to create a portal to Alafia. Oya, what makes you think only those with worship on their mind will look for that portal. What will you do when your enemies find out there is a way to you that does not involve dying? The first oracle had to die, that village had to be destroyed in order to keep that secret. Anyone who was alive at that time is not alive to tell the tales of that portal."

  It hurt. The truth of his words hurt. "You could've warned me."

  "So you could save the oracle? I couldn't tell you what was happening, mi okan. The balance had to be restored, our secrets kept safe. I did it to protect you."

  "You let them kill her, Rue. How am I supposed to forgive you for that?" She lowered her head and let the tears track down her face.

  "Everything that will happen, will happen, my love. If I'd stopped them from raiding your village, who's to say what the primal source would demand in recompense. Better to lose a few humans than you."

  "But I punished my warriors for centuries Rue. Centuries, had you only warned me, I would not have been so hard on them."

  "And because of your anger, they're alive, now, in place to serve in Earth's war."

  She raised her head. He was right. Her curse allowed them the immortality they now had.

  "Prepare them, Oya."

  "Send your shaman. My warriors will be ready, and will serve my purpose. The Ajo will pay for what they did to my daughter."

  He sighed. "You would put your anger before the world."

  "After all this time, you still see me as a selfish girl." She sighed, and waved away the hurt. "The Ajo are being used to get to me, not the Demi. I will handle them, and keep this war from destroying all I know and love."

  She turned her back to him, weary of the conversation. If Earth would have a chance in this war, Dalia had to live and the Ajo had to be put down. Let the other gods call her selfish, she would show them.

  Dalia just had to wake.

  Chapter 26

  "DALIA", ISABELLE CALLED. Dalia grumbled and rolled over expecting to see her mother in the room. Disoriented, it took her a moment to take in her surroundings. Bron’s room was dark making it hard to figure out where she was. Her hand brushed his chest and the memories of flooded her mind.

  The last thing she remembered was her travel across the veil. Her brows bunched in confusion. How long had she been sleep? Was her mother here? She knew she'd heard her mother’s voice.

  'Dalia,' Isabelle said urgently.

  'Yes, mama?' Dalia was still confused.

  'I need you, mi hija. I feel evil stalking me,' her mother said. Isabelle spoke in her head.

  Her mother was not prone to dramatics, so Dalia scrambled from the bed.

  "Tia?"

  Dalia stopped and turned to see her niece sprawled in an armchair facing the bed. "Frankie, what are you doing here?"

  "Oh God, Tia." Frankie jumped from the chair and hugged her hard. She pulled back and flopped into the chair exhaling.

  Dalia frowned in confusion. "What's going on?" Dalia pulled up her jeans and searched for a t-shirt.

  "You've been in a coma, for like a week now." Her eyes roved her aunt's body taking inventory. "Where are you going?" Frankie pushed her heavy mass of curls off her forehead and rubbed her face.

  "Mom just called."

  Frankie straightened, her eyes darted to Bron's sleeping form. "Called?"

  "Yes, she said she's in trouble. What do you mean I've been in a coma for a week?" She searched Frankie's face.

  "You crossed the veil, whatever that means, and you got…lost." Frankie threw her hands up. "Still not sure on the specifics, but the oracle called and asked me to sit with you. I took leave from work."

  Dalia sat on the edge of the bed as memories of her seeing the goddess and Bron calling her back. Her head spun. "So I've been what
? Sleep?"

  "I don't know. We were only told to sit here and keep you anchored to us. It's a little confusing to be honest." Her eyes narrowed as Dalia pulled on her sneakers.

  "I think you should wait on Bron." Frankie stood and placed an arm on Dalia's shoulder.

  "It's not that serious, Frankie. I'm just gonna pop in and check on her."

  "Dalia-"

  "I should be back before he wakes up." She kissed her niece’s cheek and teleported to her mother.

  Her mother's panic immediately swamped her and her stomach dropped when she got there.

  Nala’s hand snaked around her mother's throat and two powerful vampires flanked Nala on either side. Her mother’s face held no fear, but the slight trembling of her body showcased her anxiety. She looked at Nala and clenched her fist.

  “I told my second in command that I knew how to make you heel,” Nala said smugly.

  “You have not given me enough time,” Dalia told her.

  “You’ve had two weeks."

  Dalia reeled. Two weeks! She'd been sleep for two weeks?

  "All you had to do was make a phone call, Dalia. That shouldn't have taken you more than a few minutes. It seemed to me as though you needed a little persuading.”

  Dalia’s mother made a small sound as Nala’s hand tightened on her throat.

  “The oracle is not stupid, nor are the guards who watch her.” Dalia scrambled for something, anything to explain the lapse of time.

  “Too bad for you then.” Nala dismissed her excuses. “Now, I'll wait here while you go and get the amulet for me.”

  Frustration clogged her chest. How was she supposed to grab the amulet? Could she go to Bron? Would he help her? “They won’t just hand it over.”

  “That’s a YP not a MP.” Nala threw Dalia’s words back at her.

  She thought briefly of running to her mom and teleporting them both from the room. Her body flexed.

  “Uh-uh.” Nala dug her nail into Isabelle’s neck. “Don’t try anything funny, Dalia. For once just do as I ask you.”

  A trail of blood ran down her mother’s neck and a surge of impotent rage nearly blinded Dalia. She turned her head from her mother’s pain. She was tired of people using her family to get to her, but she didn’t see a choice in this.

  "How long?" She would grab the amulet, no matter the consequences.

  “I'll give you two hours tops, then I'll kill your mother, after that your brother and his lovely wife. Bring me the amulet, and I will allow your mom to go free. Bring me Bakari too, and I will step back from your entire family.” Nala’s eyes were steely.

  She'd run out of time. She thought of attacking Nala, but Dalia she was no match for the vampire’s power, especially not with the two goons standing behind her. Heart heavy, she sorted through her memories of the route to the safe house and teleported there.

  Zahra gasped as Dalia came into the room. Aren and Fynn both looked up at her arrival, their gazes puzzled. Dalia stood frozen, their happy faces, filling her with regret.

  "Dalia, Oh my God. You're alright. What are doing here? Where's Bron?" Zahra stood and closed the space between them.

  “I’m sorry Zahra, but she has my mother,” Dalia choked out. She moved towards Zahra and tried to grab the amulet.

  Zahra leaned back out of her reach and Aren slammed into her body. Dalia hit the carpeted floor hard, the fall leaving her breathless.

  “Dalia, what are you doing?” Zahra protested.

  Dalia fought Aren’s weight and struggled to get from under him. No matter how much she squirmed he pinned her to the floor. She tried to knee him and his body evaded. Soon she found her arms pinned above her head, and his heavy body kept her lower body immobile.

  “You have to give me the amulet!” Dalia shouted at Zahra. “Get off me.” She begged Aren. “I have to save my mother.”

  “Calm down, Dalia and I will let you up,” Aren said between clenched teeth. He struggled to hold her down.

  "Dalia, what’s wrong, where are you?" Worry and fear colored Bron's tone.

  "My mother, Bron." She said. "Nala has her. I have to get the amulet."

  "Calm down, Dalia." Bron ordered.

  “I don’t have time for this, let me up.” She bucked under Aren and he cursed as he lost his grip. Dalia moved to stand up but was pushed back into the floor.

  “Settle down, Dalia,” Aren demanded.

  “Get off,” she screeched. She fought Aren tooth and nail. Her fist connected with his chin and Aren roared. She barely noticed the tears soaking her face. She vaguely heard Zahra trying to talk with her. A fissure of power went through the room, and Dalia stopped fighting.

  Bakari stood in the middle of the floor. The forbidding look on his face sent a cold shiver down her spine. “What's going on?”

  Fynn held Zahra back, keeping her out of Dalia’s reach. “Dalia tried to take the amulet.”

  Zahra opened her mouth to argue and Fynn held up his hand to silence her. “She is screaming about her mother but I can't make sense of it.” Fynn released his wife when it was clear Dalia had stopped fighting.

  Zahra rushed to her side, only to be stopped by her father in law. She growled in frustration. Dalia's turmoil hurt, the woman's emotions swamped her and Zahra closed her eyes.

  “Aren let her up,” Fynn ordered.

  Aren turned his face to Fynn, disbelief in his eyes. His eyes darted to the Ijoye. Bakari’s face was carefully blank.

  “Are you crazy?” Aren asked.

  “She won't harm Zahra, let her up.” Fynn sent out a small pulse of power and Aren complied.

  Dalia lowered her head, and Zahra snatched her arms from Bakari's grip. “Dalia.”

  Fynn reached his hand down to her and helped her stand. “What has happened?” his voice was soft but still Dalia flinched.

  Tears burned Zahra's eyes.

  “Nala has my mom, she'll kill her if I don’t bring back the amulet.” She hugged her arms around her waist and turned from the group.

  Fynn placed his hand on her shoulder.

  “You could have said that when you popped in here,” Aren snapped, breathing heavy. He rubbed his jaw where Dalia had managed to sock him.

  “I panicked.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “Sit, Dalia,” Fynn grabbed her shoulder. “Bron is out of his mind with worry; calm down so that he won’t be too worked up when he gets here.” Fynn led Dalia to the chair across the room, well away from Zahra. He could feel her desperation and he did not want his wife at risk.

  BRON PACED HIS ROOM at the temple, he could feel Dalia’s panic and fear, he roared in frustration. He had contacted Saleem as soon as he felt Dalia’s pain.

  "She is fine, baba." Fynn reassured him.

  "Rewà? "He called to Dalia.

  "I'm fine now, Bron." Her voice said otherwise and Bron wanted to hit something. He turned when he felt a pulse of power. Saleem looked haggard, his eyes were dark shadows.

  “I'm sorry it took me longer than I planned.” Saleem explained tiredly. Bron nodded once and teleported from the room. When he entered the safe house he immediately rushed to Dalia’s side. She went limply into his arms.

  "You should have come to me, mi ôkàn." He crushed her to him. He turned to Aren. “Touch my mate again, and you will pay for it with your life.”

  Aren scoffed, rotating his shoulders. “I did what I had to. Besides, your mate can take care of herself.”

  A low growl rumbled Bron’s chest in warning.

  “Enough,” Bakari said. “Bron, he was protecting the oracle. You cannot blame him for that.”

  Bron and Aren eyed each other warily.

  “Explain, Dalia,” Bron’s voice was gruff with worry.

  “My mom called me a little while ago, saying she felt like someone was stalking her. I went to check on her and when I got there, Nala and a couple of her goons held her hostage. She wants the amulet.”

  “You could've come to me for help.” Zahra’s eyes were compassion
ate, but Bron saw the hurt below the surface.

  “I panicked, Zahra. She gave me two hours to come back with the amulet and Bakari. She almost cut my mother’s throat while I watched.” Dalia said defensively.

  “Two hours is enough time for a plan, Dalia,” Fynn admonished.

  “You-”

  Fynn cut off Dalia’s argument. “It doesn't matter, Dalia. I’m not going to waste time arguing with you. What’s done is done. We have to figure out a way to rescue your mother.”

  “We have to give Nala what she wants,” Bakari announced.

  Fynn stopped his pacing and stared at his father. Ajani popped into the room before Fynn could address Bakari. All four of their new recruits were with him. They looked exhausted but their eyes were alit with excitement. Ajani’s normally neat dreadlocks were windswept around his face.

  “What’s up?” Ajani asked. The ever day slang sounded funny with his accented voice. He took in the state of the room and his eyes immediately went to Dalia. He saw her hair in disarray and raised his eyebrow. Bron did not like the smug look on his face.

  “The álà-írín needs our help.” Bakari answered. Ajani inclined his head and sat in the nearest chair.

  Ajani dismissed the new warriors. When they were gone he turned his attention to the Ijoye. “What does she need?” Bron could feel the tension in the room ebbing and attributed it to Ajani. The warrior was able to use his power to dampen emotions. Bron felt Dalia shudder, her body relaxed next to him and he shot Ajani a grateful look. Ajani nodded subtly. Dalia explained the situation.

  “We can't give her the amulet,” Fynn said.

  “What about the fake amulet?” Aren said suddenly.

  “Fake amulet?” Fynn’s voice held confusion. Dalia felt Bron’s pulse leap and she felt a spurt of hope.

  “There were days when the oracle was required to go into the village. She never wore the real amulet when she left the temple.” Aren said.

  Zahra’s eyebrows bunched. “I don’t understand.”