by Debbie Behan
‘Like we believe they’re sorry,’ Jason said. ‘Show off little idiots.’
Woody grinned. ‘Oh well, here we go again. Let’s go make the newborns feel welcome before we spank them and bring them to tears.’ Both men chuckled and moved towards the team.
****
Kayden and Cassie arrived and the two teams spent the afternoon in rigorous sports activities to enhance their psyche and build their vital strengths. Kayden was old school and didn’t ease up on them until late evening. Meanwhile, and reluctantly, Woody left them to it so he could coach Caitlin. She looked exhausted after Kayden had finished with her, but knew she would be worse off in the morning if he didn’t sort out today what caused her lack of energy.
‘Cait, while Kayden’s busy with the others, maybe we could take off for a few minutes.’
‘I’m all yours.’ Her smile was bright but her eyes and body language told him how she really felt, dull and lethargic.
They drove to the local water hole. The lake at night took on shapes as the mist moved upon it, the blackened water only visible when the moon shifted from the clouds above. Caitlin shivered at the eerie quietness. The slight lap of water as it licked the banks was the only sound once the engine cut out.
‘We can sit here.’ His voice broke the silence as he casually threw a blanket on the ground.
He struggled with the mixed emotions that kept her locked up and used magic to relax her. It took time for her to succumb to his voice. It wasn’t until then that he could even begin to work with her mind. It had strengthened extensively since their last session. Her power had exceeded Cassie’s but was all over the place, a danger to her.
‘Cait if you don’t let me in today to help your resolve your past, you are a magnet for the other side.’
‘I could turn evil.’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m trying. I opened up to Axon and told Jett.’
‘That so, you still have not dealt with it. You push it aside as if it were someone else. I have to help you face it and resolve it.’
‘It hurts.’ Tears sprang to her eyes.
‘I can ease that, let me. Cait, you’ve opened up yet the past stays fractured, with many years missed.’
In a great deal of emotional anguish she finally gave in, laid back on the blanket and through tears, found the sadness he prompted from her.
‘I hate them for what they did to me Woody. They treated me worse than an animal,’ she recalled. Divulging some things made her so angry she would squeeze her fists tight, baring white knuckles as she angered over the memories.
‘In the earlier years I would wrap my arms around their legs, cry and beg them to take me with them. On other times I hid by the door and would attempt to escape. They would shake me off or throw me on the floor and make me starve for a day or so before they came back. In the end I knew there was no one coming for me and nor would I ever see the light of day, so I gave up. I didn’t bother acknowledging them when they came and it seemed to suit them fine. My meals came on time and they were better if I was good.’
This time she was vulnerable enough to allow him the use of magic to recollect the finer details she struggled to remember. She broke down in the end and in her negative emotional state he was able to clear the sadness from her mind and mend the many cuts they had carved into her heart and soul.
As if a great weight lifted from her shoulders, she sat up and blinked, taking a big long breath and when she breathed it out, she felt completely recharged. Better now and able to talk without the pain, they sat for a long time while she spoke of her life before and then her most recent mission with Hades; the kidnapping, the friendship, the betrayal and the camaraderie formed in the end.
He scratched his head. ‘The forgiveness for such a criminal act and the empathy you showed that man leaves me mystified. When our Cassie was kidnapped, she forgave the kidnapper because he was her father. That god was nothing to you. It must have been difficult to complete such a mission with a stranger as powerful as Hades.’ He rolled his shoulders and chewed on a stick of grass in thought. ‘What you did took real guts.’
‘Not so much.’ She pulled her hair back and clipped it up above her head. ‘It wasn’t as if he harmed me. Just had me spooked at first. After all, he is a big man and potentially dangerous. Just his presence in the room had me shaking in my boots at first; well, until I worked out he stayed true to me as Jett. Hades on the other hand reared his head a couple of times and I can tell you, it was chilling.’
‘You have linked him to you. I can feel it.’
‘Yes, although I’m not sure how it happened. I noticed it the first night we met. I think it has something to do with a calming power I project. He knows about it and so does Axon, and neither worries as it isn’t strong enough yet to do any real harm.’
‘I think there is something more at work here, Cait. The power the universe gifted you with makes no sense. It should be gone while danger is at bay and yet even now, I battle it and I’m one of the good guys so not sure why you project it towards me. It insists I probe further to bring it out fully and my intuition tells me that this is about more than the battle to force Hades into giving up on the fight for the Planet Mercury.’
‘I don’t understand. I thought it was over. I was over the moon to be home.’
‘This is where this job gets tricky. You have formed a bond and Hades not only wants you, he needs you. It is you, Caitlin, and you alone that has set him on a path that includes your friendship. Without you, he’ll go back to his old ways and become the tyrant he used to be.’
Woody left her to ponder while he grabbed two waters from the car. When he returned he handed her one before his heavy bulk lowered beside her again. ‘Cassie had the same learning experience with the war lord Conom, who kidnapped her and believe me, Kayden was not happy. I know my man Axon and he is not going to like this relationship at all.’
She put her head down, unsure what to say. He told her nothing she didn’t already know.
‘Also just to let you know I’ve talked tonight in depth with Cassie. She feels as I do that there is still much work for you to do before you finally achieve your goal. Cassie feels you have a new power but as her equal it is not allowing her access. It is a one off power to erase a link to a moment in time and undo an injustice inflicted upon you but she cautions that if you use this gift, you may lose all memories of the event.’ He sat quiet while she took it all in.
‘I’ve got so much to learn Woody. I worked really hard, yet felt as if I fumbled through that mission. I damned near stuffed it up. Then I had to fix it and thought I might even lose Axon because of it. You don’t know how hard it is when nobody understands why you are doing something, but what I am given is for me alone. Not to be shared.’ Caitlin pressed her face to her hands and sobbed into them.
‘Cait, I get it, Axon gets it now. The Macros are a new team and have a lot to learn in the trust department but believe me they get it too and if they don’t I will speak to them before you leave.’
‘No!’ She sucked back a sob.
‘Then no more crying; you did the best you could at the time. What I want you to remember is none of us are perfect.’ He grinned at her. ‘Well I am.’ He chuckled. ‘Mistakes are made because we deal with perfect imperfection. Gods and rulers have lived so many years they are almost impossible to change in character. They belittle and bully their way through life. To have gained even a little ground with Hades is a great feat.’
‘It’s not over,’ she said and gave him a sideways look as she spilled there was more to come.
‘In that case I would make the best of the next couple of days. Rest up for when the universe calls once more. You will need to be in top form.’
‘Agreed.’
He had earned her trust and consequently, she confided secrets she had never disclosed to even her best friend Rory.
Woody quietened her down with his magic, healing the cuts that prevented her from developing further. Th
e horror she hid had made her a strong individual. He watched her dig into the earth with a stick. His admiration for this little redhead was strong and deeper than he thought he would feel for any female. In fact, he battled with his feelings for her. The urge to snatch her into his arms and kiss her lush lips tempted him. What the …? He shook his head as he fought back with his own power to stop her taking him over. He was falling, and hard. What is she doing to me? The seductress emitted goddess control as she unknowingly began to steal his heart.
‘Hell!’ He shook himself, and threw himself in the lake to cool off the desire that came over him. She gave off some sort of powerful love potion and sucking in a gob full of water, he nearly choked with an outburst of laughter as he surfaced.
She stood up with hands on her hips. She had no idea why he had thrown himself in the lake and laughed. ‘Have you gone mad?’
Unable to fight the feeling off he used the water element to re-freshen his powers, he swaggered out of the water. ‘Damn, girl, that was weird. I thought for a minute that I was a lovesick puppy. That is some crazy awesome magic.’
‘Really! Is it that strong?’
‘That aroma you release, the one that Axon and Jett believe you use to calm evil— well now your walls have come down, it’s at its peak. On a good person, it works the opposite way. Instead of the calming effect, I wanted to make love to you. And I mean cave man love, drag you into my grotto and never release you.’
‘Ohmygod. How do I stop it? Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine now. I have a barrier between us, but girl, until the magic I used to heal you breaks down in your system, we’d better stay right here and away from the others.’
Caitlin breathed out deeply. ‘This power has been such a pain to live with. The guys have commented for years on how my perfume lingers and yet I never wore any. They would cuddle up close, unable to go. I can tell you how weird that was to wake up with five friends so close, and the strangeness we all felt when it toned down. The funny looks they gave when they realised they had spent the whole night on my floor instead of going home.’
‘There must have been trouble around. Maybe you were a target, watched, and it was a night unsavoury characters may have tried to get into your apartment. With so many staying the night, they would rethink the odds. The team may have saved your life.’
‘Maybe. I did live in rough neighbourhoods. Rory was always going crook at me for picking the cheapest apartments as they were usually located in the less desirable districts.’
‘I have to warn you though, Cait, you’re working with evil and this power has been heightened so be careful, try to learn how to use it, or at least control it now you know you have it. This magic could confuse and frustrate a really bad egg, okay.’
‘Yes, I will.’
‘Your team are also your guardians now, look to them if you need help.’
‘Rory will come up with something. He always does when it comes to me. We have a bond neither of us understands.’ Caitlin stretched her shoulders, a little more relaxed as the image of Rory calmed her.
‘All I know is that men like us that are not evil, feel the effect differently. Axon’s going to freak out when I take you back. The effect is starting to dull a little but wow girl, the wish to make mad passionate love to you was ripe on my mind. I give you the tip.’ He chuckled and nudged her. ‘My Ella would castrate me if she thought that I even looked at another woman so keep that bit of information secret, okay.’
‘I will. I understand that you’re just letting me know how serious it is and I do get it. Mum’s the word.’
‘You, my little love goddess, just radiate, and there is no stopping what comes naturally. Stay close to your man tonight and if I, or the other boys get a bit over-excited, a good whack will sort us out. I’ll warn them so they can control it, but you’re on fire honey.’
She giggled. ‘Axon will be pleased then.’
He laughed with her. ‘You’re going to blow his mind when I take you back. Guaranteed!’
He got up, took her hand and helped her up. ‘I better take you back now. And I can bet you a dollar, my Ella will pick up on it and not be happy I have gone all gooey over you.’ His amusement at the whole situation made it painstakingly clear she wouldn’t live this down for quite some time.
She punched him in the arm. ‘That’s for any further thoughts you might have on the way home.’ She laughed at him nursing his arm and the pretence that he would even feel the light hit.
‘That’s not fair, I wasn’t even thinking …’
She raised her eyebrow.
‘Well okay maybe I did deserve it, but it’s not my fault.’ He jumped in the driver’s seat with a mischievous grin that made her laugh louder.
When they pulled up at the farm, he stopped the car and moved over towards her, put his arm around her and gazed into her eyes, searching.
‘Do I have to slap you again?’ she cautioned him.
‘Just checking! It looks as if your subconscious is sorting it out. That’s one powerful weapon. With all my magic, it brought me to my knees. Jett is a tyrant, a god and ruler of the Underworld, in other words a real bad arse, so I hate to think who you still must have to deal with.’
‘More powerful than Hades? Now that’s a challenge.’
He tickled her. ‘You have no fear have you girl.’
‘Yes, just one.’
‘What might that be?’
‘Losing the ones I love because of this.’
‘Just be careful how many you use it on or you’ll end up with a following of males that are smitten by you and can’t live without you. Axon won’t share you with the whole galaxy, Cait. There’s a breaking point to any man’s patience. Even Kayden had his with Cassie.’
‘I’m new at all this. Cassie is so controlled and understanding of what powers she has. I’m all over the place and feel like an amateur against her.’
‘Just heed my warning and let the universe lead you. It will give you time to learn how to control some of the gifts you have been given. Cassie’s been at it a lot of years now. In her earlier years though, she was just like you so don’t be so hard on yourself.’
He put his hand over her forehead. ‘Enough of this worry; close your eyes and listen. What can you hear?’
‘Nothing!’
‘Relax further, deeper. What can you hear?’
‘Heartbeats and breathing.’
‘Deeper!’
‘Lots of noise and whispering, laughing, but I can’t make it out.’
‘Stop at the noise and concentrate on one sound only, push all the rest away and head for the one closest to you. What is it saying?’
‘He’s just thinking that he’s the happiest person alive, sitting in a car with the prettiest girl he ever saw. Her red hair drives him insane and her creamy smooth skin is to die for. She has a power over him tonight that he is finding hard to resist. He needs her to move away from him now before he steals a kiss that will get him such a slap.’ She chuckled, opened the door and ran from him. It was Woody’s mind she read and he was having a bit of fun with her. He caught her just as she reached the path to run around the back. He laughed, swung her around and put her down, both walked arm in arm around to the backyard. They had become close and it lifted Caitlin’s spirits to know she had earned the admiration of one she respected and had placed on a pedestal from the minute they met.
Woody whistled loudly, getting everyone’s attention. ‘Somehow we have over developed one of Caitlin’s powers. This is the one that makes all men her slave and even the devil himself would bow at her feet. I’m warning all males here tonight that until it settles I’ve given the love goddess here permission to slap any of us that falls under her spell.’
Axon’s grin was wide as he put out his arms to her. ‘Come over here, beautiful, I’ll protect you.’
‘Axon, I’m serious man, you will need to control yourself and keep the others away from her. I still have her wrapped in protection.’
>
‘I’m used to it. Don’t stress.’
‘Okay but if you get slapped don’t say I didn’t warn you – ready?’ he said to Axon and he nodded.
Woody let her go and the arms she met with joy, so glad to be back with her man. She hugged into him and his whole frame shuddered. ‘My god, what was that.’
Woody laughed. ‘I told you, she’s on fire, but it should wear off in a few hours. It’s already toned down heaps. I had to throw myself into the lake and get away from her when it first cut in.’ He shook his head. ‘Good luck mate, I’m glad it’s you holding her now. That was some session.’ He glanced over at the bar. ‘I’m going to get a really stiff drink.’
Kayden and Rory were still standing with Axon.
‘Couldn’t be that bad; she’s always had that power over men when it suits her.’ Rory put an arm around her and then backed off quickly. ‘Eek, he’s right. It’s escalated and it feels weird to want to race off someone you view as your sister. I’m with Woody! I’ll catch you guys later, much later.’ He practically ran and threw himself into the pool.
‘I seem to force the men around me into the water. Are you okay Axon honey?’ she asked and when he didn’t answer she looked up at him. His eyes were glazed and gazing at her lovingly.
‘You’ll have to excuse us, Kayden.’ Axon spoke dreamily. ‘I do believe Cait needs to be separated from the men for a while.’
Kayden also looked confused with his thought. ‘I’m not that close, but she’s irresistible. You better go before we all fall at her feet.’ He shook off the sensation. ‘I better go rescue Cassie before her perception picks up on it and she turns all love goddess on me as well.’ He stomped off grumpily. ‘That’s all I need! The boys to hang off her more than they already do.’
Axon picked Caitlin up and quickly took her upstairs to their appointed room. He placed her on the bed, sat in the corner on a chair and put his hands up in a gesture to stop her moving towards him. ‘Just give me a minute honey, I need to calm down.’
She eyed him. ‘Surely not you too! You should be immune to my charms by now.’