Chapter Two

"Dar, what are we going to do?" Tao asks, glancing down at the still unconsciousness Jasmine. "It's been hours and she still hasn't woken up."

"Tao, I wish I knew." Dar replies, cutting a slice of apple and handing it to Tao. Tao shakes his head. Dar looks at him critically. "Tao, you have to eat."

"How can I?" He motions at Jasmine. "I mean look at her." Jasmine lays between them, her eyes closed and her skin a pale ashen color. "We have to help her Dar."

Dar smiles softly. He could tell that Tao had feelings for this girl…this girl who was still a complete stranger to them, having only known her for a few hours. Dar opens his mouth to say something.

"I believe I can be of some assistance." Dar and Tao look up quickly and see a woman approaching from the shadows. Dar stands up, staff in hand.

"Who are you?" He asks, eyeing her suspiciously.

The woman smiles, her pale liquid gold eyes twinkling with amusement. "I am Jasmine's mother and I have came to save her."

Both Dar and Tao stare disbelieving at her. "But she told us that her mother…died."

The woman shakes her head. "No. Her guardian died…the woman whom I entrusted with her care." The woman looks sadly down at Jasmine. "I cannot die for I am immortal." She quickly looks back up. "I will explain…once Jasmine is awake." The woman pulls out a pendant from seemingly thin air and gently places it around Jasmine's neck.

"What are you doing?" Tao demands, stepping forward.

"This will allow her to channel the power that is within her…the power that is desperately trying to take over her." Her lips are set in a grim smirk. "As you both witnessed in the forest when confronted by Zad."

All of a sudden, the pendant glows bright red and Jasmine starts to gasp and writhe. The woman holds Jasmine down. "Help me."

Dar and Tao quickly kneel down and help the woman in holding Jasmine. "What's happening?" Tao asks, fear in his eyes.

The woman glances up at Tao. "The pendant is pulling the evil out…the evil that is within every Nautilus." Before Tao has a chance to speak, Jasmine is suddenly still. Tao leans closer, trying to see if she is still breathing. Her eyes slowly slide open and she smiles when she sees Tao.

"What happened?" She groans, sitting up slowly.

"Don't you remember?" The woman asks. Jasmine looks at her sharply and shakes her head. "What is the last thing you do remember?"

Jasmine thinks for a moment. "Hate." She replies finally. "I remember feeling blinding furious hate towards that dreadful man Zad." Her voice starts to break. Tao sits down beside her and wraps his arms around her shoulders.

"It's okay…Jasmine. It's over now." he coos, resting his chin on the top of her head. The woman, Dar notes, smiles softly. He could almost swear that he sees a tear in her eyes.

"My dear child…we need to talk." Jasmine pulls away from Tao, wiping her eyes, and stares at the strange woman who seems oddly familiar.

"Who are you?" Jasmine finally asks.

"I…am your mother."

"Years ago, before your birth, I was known as Iliserusa the Powerful. I was head of the Demon Council for many years. I was envied because of not only my Power but my beauty as well."

"So…you're a Demon?" Jasmine asks, nervously biting her thumb. Iliserusa smiles softly.

"No and yes. You see…there are demons, foul loathsome beings and then there are Us…the Demons of nature. We control the elements…we are the cause of all the natural disasters that are present today. Tornado's, hurricanes, earthquakes…" Her smile slowly faded. "But then one day, something happened that would change my life forever."

"What?"

Iliserusa glances at Jasmine and then at Tao. "I fell in love…with the enemy. I fell in love with an Angel. But not just any Angel. I feel in love with the one person that, if he'd chosen to, could have destroyed me and claimed my Power as his own."

"Who?" Jasmine asks, her eyes wide in amazement. Dar and Tao sat beside her, quietly listening to her tale.

Iliserusa smiles softly. "Such things are not important." Tears form in her eyes. "Just that we fell in love…which is forbidden. We hid it for many years…until the elders discovered I was with child." She shakes her head. "They demanded that I rid myself of you…that you should never be allowed to live. But when you were born and I held you in my arms for the first time I knew that the Elders were wrong. I couldn't and wouldn't harm you. So, I fled from Yestive, the home of Angels of Nature, to Earth. I knew that, without my powers, I could not protect you, so I entrusted you to a woman I knew would protect you with her life…my sister."

Jasmine's eyes widen. "Your…sister?"

Iliserusa nods. "Aye, my sister. She, long ago, chose willing to give up her Power and live a normal life for she had fallen in love with a mortal, a much lesser sin than that which I had committed. She, she aged but could never bear children."

"She's dead." Jasmine whispers softly.

Iliserusa nods her head. "I know. She was killed by hunter. Angel bounty hunter who were sent after you…to kill you."

"But, I thought she was killed by Zad." Jasmine protests.

"No…I'm afraid I implanted that memory into your head, so you could live a normal life without having to worry about things like that."

Jasmine looks down. "Are they still after me?"

Iliserusa shakes her head. "No. A year after Clitella, my sister was killed, I went back and begged for you life. I told them that you would never know of your origins and therefore would never be a danger to them." she averts her eyes. "I offered them my life and they took it."

"You mean…?"

"Aye. I am human now. I will age, slowly withering away, and eventually I will die." She glances at Tao. "As will you…if you choose that life."

"What do you mean, if I choose?"

"There has never before been a child born of Angel and Demon. You would think that child would have no choice but to live on. That, I have discovered is not true. Any Angel OR Demon who stays on the Earth longer than a period of 18 years will automatically be stripped of their powers and be allowed to live the life of a mortal." She looks at Jasmine. "Tell me…what is it that you wish?"

Jasmine glances down at the Amulet around her neck. "Tell me…if I were to accept my powers and go to Yestive, what would happen?"

"As a half-breed you will not be liked but you will be respected…they have no choice. You contain the powers of both Angels and Demons which is why the Elders are so fearful of your return."

Carefully, she removes the Amulet and hands it to Iliserusa. "I do not wish for that life. All that I want is to be left in peace, allowed to live my life as I have been…as a mortal." Jasmine cannot help but look at Tao and is surprised to see a look of relief on his face.

Iliserusa stands, smiling. "As you wish, daughter." She kisses Jasmine on the forehead. "I must leave you now."

"No, please. We only just met. I don't want you to go." Jasmine says, hugging her mother.

"Oh, child." She pulls her away slowly. "My destiny lies down another path. Your's is here…helping Dar and Tao in their quest to save Arina."

"How did you that?" Tao asks/

She smiles. "I may not be an immortal anymore but I do have keen hearing. I heard the shaved heading man saying that they were holding your friend in the village for which you are heading."

"I knew it." Dar exclaims, smiling.

"But you must be careful." She explains. "The journey ahead of you is perilous and full of danger." She smiles again. "And things unexpected." She glances again at Tao whose eyes are practically glued on Jasmine.

Tao, take care of my daughter. Tao looks at Iliserusa, surprised. I fear I did not tell Jasmine the whole truth. Some on my abilities remain and I know how you feel about her. Tao blushes slightly. Do not be afraid to tell her how you feel…even if you have just met. I sense that she feels the same. Goodbye, Tao. If you must love her, love her with all your heart and stand by her no matter what.

"Jasmine, I fear my time here has ended. I must bid you farewell."

Tears form in her eyes. "Will I ever see you again?"

Iliserusa smiles. "Perhaps, one day." She kisses Jasmine on the forehead, turns, and disappears into the night. Jasmine stares after her, tears running down her cheeks, a smile on her face. "Goodbye…mother."