Bit of a shorter chapter but I had to get another chapter out from the response I got :) please keep up the reviews it keep me going. Enjoy!
"Acheron wake up!" Styxx demanded flashing himself right beside Ash's bed. Ash growled so viciously he turned into his true god form glaring at Styxx. "Kill me later. This is about Jez," Styxx said urgently. Instantly Ash was back to normal eyes full of worry. He sat up so fast Tory sat up too tense and alert. Styxx averted his eyes catching a glimpse that Tory had taken to heart Ash and his own ways of sleeping style. He knew if Ash saw him looking he take his eyes out in the most painful way. Quickly Ash clothed himself and Tory. "What's wrong? What did you do to her?" Ash demanded jumping out of bed and wrapping a hand around his throat. Styxx struggled to breath as Ash lifted him off the floor. Tory rushed beside him and rest a gentle hand on his arm. "Ash deep breaths we need him to speak," she whispered. After a moment Ash seemed to listen and lowered Styxx and relaxed his grip slightly. "I don't know what I did. I heard her calling me and didn't realize she was dreaming. I flashed into her room. I just wanted to see if she felt as peaceful as she looked. Then she woke up and," but he didn't get to finish. Ash vanished while Tory shook her head worry clear upon her face. Styxx rubbed his throat as he looked at her. "What's wrong? What did I do?" He asked her. Tory looked at him with such sadness not just for Jez but for what seemed like him too. He always liked Tory she was accepting through everything in the past. "It wasn't you Styxx. How were you to know?" She assured him softly. Dread consumed him. "What?" He asked her. Tory shook her head. "It's how she became a dark hunter. Someone broke into her room while she was asleep. Styxx, Jez was rapped and murdered."
Ash appeared in Jez's room and scooped her up from the floor holding her against his chest like a child. At first Jez screamed, a scream that should have pierced his eardrums, and fought against him so hard he feared she'd pass out from lack of oxygen between her screaming, sobbing, and fighting. But through it all he didn't let go. "Jez, shh, J it's me. It's Ash," he assured her over and over again until she finally looked at him. The instant she did she cried so hard it broke his heart into thousands of pieces. She clung to him so tight he had to fight to breath but he didn't say anything. He just rocked her back and forth in a smooth calm movement as she shook and sobbed. "It's okay. No one is going to hurt you. I promise. I'm here," he cooed in her ear. His shirt was soaked through with her tears but he didn't care. He felt for her knowing her pain. He spent the rest of the day with her well past sunset just like that. Tory popped in making Jez go stiff in fear and making Ash cringed. "It's just me Jez. It's just Tory," she said softly stroking her hair. Jez shook unable to fight the nightmares that were flashing behind her closed eyes. They flew open to see the deep concern both Ash and Tory held for her. "We've got you baby nothing is going to hurt you. Not while we're here," she assured her wiping her eyes.
Styxx paced back in forth in his home not caring about the destruction he'd left in his wake. The beautiful masterpieces now lost forever. He was too pissed. Though he only knew Jez a day, a most of it she wasn't on his good side, he wanted to cause so much pain to the one responsible for this. He cringed realizing the immediate one responsible was him. He shook his head. "How was I to know?" He told himself. He tore down another shelf angry at himself and the world. He wanted to go to her but Tory had said it would not be a good idea, not now. So instead he'd gone home and ruined nearly every room in it. He ran his hand over his face and paused, as he smelt his hand. He inhaled deep closing his eyes. It smelt like her vanilla and feminine. He closed his eyes seeing her leaning over him such fire in her eyes. He wanted to scream at what it had set off after that. It made sense now. The weapons everywhere, he should have left the knife where it was. But then she might have very well killed him. But it was her safety, it made her feel safe. He shook his head. She shouldn't have to keep herself safe. Where were the squires, why was she living alone after what she'd been through in life. Styxx shook his head getting angrier at the minute. Finally he just yelled at the top of his lungs shaking the whole house, frustrated there was nothing else he could do.
Jez stayed in Ash's arms the entire night. He left only briefly to have all of his calls forwarded to Alexion and when he returned he scooped her right back up rocking her. "Simi wanted to come. Well first she wanted to, 'roasty toasty' my 'stinking cow brother.' But then she wanted to see you," Ash told her softly. Jez had stopped crying but was still stiff in fear. "Danger offered to have you stay with them in Katoteros. Savatar even invited you for a surf," he tried. Nothing seemed to register. Not until she pushed away from him. Ash looked down at her concerned while Tory looked on off to the side. For the first time she looked him in the eye. "I need to handle this on my own. I can't have you do this every time something happens," she said as calmly as she could. Ash shook his head. "It's still new, freshly ingrained," he began but Jez raised her hand to stop him. "Please. Thank you but I, I need to try and do this on my own. Pull myself back together," she told him. Ash didn't look so sure but Tory stood up and took his hand. "If you need us call. Stop by tonight before patrol if you're up to it," she told her. Jez just nodded. Ash seemed to study her a moment but then sighed without saying anything. He was about to vanished when Jez stopped him. "Tell Styxx," she began. She swallowed trying to make her voice sound stronger. "Tell Styxx I'm sorry," she whispered. Ash nodded then kissed the top of her head before he and Tory vanished.
Jez curled up on the couch down stairs with a cup of coffee in her hands. Just after the sun set the doorbell rang making her jump. She cursed at herself for being so jumpy she hated feeling so out of control. She set down her coffee and went to the door. She watched as a delivery truck left before she opened the door. There she stared down at her porch in awe. There were bags and boxes littered on the steps. She brought it all inside and sat on the couch opening them. First was a new knife with a J elegantly carved into the hilt. Then a dagger and new sword similarly decorated. Then there was a pair of sword earrings with skulls on them. She opened up a clothing box and lifted out a silk nightgown that made her jaw drop and cheeks color in embarrassment. Last there was an envelope. Hoping it was signed by whoever sent her all of this she opened it. Inside was a note elegantly written out in a script so precise she'd never seen anything like it. "Jez, I hope that you may find it in your heart to forgive me for my mistake. I had not known what it would do to you and over stepped my bounds. Never in my thousands of years have I been so sorry for hurting someone like you. I hope that these gifts may give hint to my sorrow. If there is anything else I may do for you please feel free to call me or stop by. Sincerely yours, Styxx," it read. Jez looked around at all that he sent her and sighed. Deciding what to do she went up stairs to refresh herself and shower. She dressed in her usual leather pants and jacket. But decided to slip on a tank top underneath just in case. She slid on her boots then went back down stairs. She slipped her new sword in her jacket, her knife in her boot and dagger at her hip. She slipped one of the earrings in her left ear and headed out.
There was a knock at Ash's door and before it even finished Tory was there opening the door. "Hey sweetie come on it," she said stepping aside. Jez nodded sheepishly coming in. "I can't stay I just need to talk to Ash," she said. Tory nodded and looked to the kitchen where Ash came out with a cup of coffee. "Hey J, how are you feeling?" He asked her. Jez shrugged. "Better thanks again," she replied. Ash nodded. He smirked when he caught a glimpse of her earring. "I have to get myself a pair of those," he said nodding to it. Jez smirked touching it gently. "I'll have to ask you're brother where he got them," she said with an eyebrow raised. Ash's jaw dropped, as Tory's eyes grew wide. "You know?" Tory asked. Ash put up his hand before Jez could reply. "What do you know?" He corrected. Jez stared at him. "I know that you have a twin brother, that your natural hair color is actually blonde, which I'm insulted that you don't accept," she said with a pointed glare at him making a smile twitch on his lips. "What else?" He prompted. Jez sighed and shrugged. "I don't know that you were royal and you 'hail' from ancient Greece," she finished. Ash sighed with a nod. Jez tilted her head at him studying him. "Is there something else?" She asked. Ash just stared at her. Frustrated she threw her hands up into the air. "Forget it, I never get anything out of you. None of us do," she cried aggravated. She looked over at him. "Perhaps you could break your silence enough to tell me where your brother lives," she pointed out. Ash smirked with a nod. Before he could answer he sent her to his brother's foyer. Tory looked up at him concerned. "You sent her to him?" She asked. Ash nodded kissing her. Tory pulled back and studied him. "Are you worried?" She asked. Ash thought about it. "I always am wary when it's a future I can't see," he replied. Tory rolled her eyes with a smile. "I hate when you talk like an oracle," she told him. He laughed. "I know which is why I do it just to bug you," he replied.