The next night Ash transported Jez to his house in New Orleans to get ready with the rest of her bridal party. Styxx would get ready at her house with the rest of his groomsmen. Jez got her hair curled and pulled off to once side a beautiful red rose tucked into her curls. The other girls got their hair pulled up and away as well showing off their immortal beauty. When it got closer to the time for them all to head to the beach Tory helped Jez into her dress. "You look radiant Jez," she whispered finishing zipping her up. Tory looked over her shoulder at the two of them in the mirror. Jez was glowing. "Thank you," she whispered with a smile. Tory dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. Jez turned to her and smiled throwing her arms around her neck. "Don't cry. If you do I will," she told her happily. Tory nodded with a small laugh. "I'm just so happy for you," she replied. Jez nodded and jumped when there was a light tapping on the doorframe.
They turned to find Ash in the doorway. "It's time," he told them. Jez nodded. Tory kissed her cheek and went out to the living room to collect the rest of the girls. Jez looked at Ash. "How do I look?" She asked him genuinely seeking his thoughts. Ash walked over to her and took her hands in his. He led one up to his lips and kissed it gently. "Like a beautiful princess," he told her. Jez smiled tears coming to her eyes. Ash put his arms around her kissing the top of her head and giving her a squeeze. "Thank you for everything Ash," Jez said into his chest. He smiled down at her and pulled her to an arms length away keeping his hands on her shoulders. "No thank you. You've brought my family back together and brought me more happiness then you could imagine. But it's time, you can't be late for your own wedding. Everything is set," he told her offering his arm to lead her out of the house.
The beach was a vision from a fairy tale. The beach was illuminated by the full moon. Stakes in the ground with burning candles lined the aisle along with seashells outlining the aisle itself. An archway stood with twisting vines of red, white, and black roses. The beach itself was littered with people dressed in their best suites and dresses. Jez recognized the whole Peltier clan from Sanctuary along with a lot of Fury's pack. Vane, Kyrian, Valerius, Talon, Wulf, and Wren were all there with their wives and children. Zarek was there with his wife and Bob bouncing happily on his knee. More dark hunter's then Jez had ever seen were there along with Weres. Savatar was up front waiting. He turned along with everyone else as Jez and Ash stepped up to the end of the aisle to begin their long walk to Styxx. Jez looked up at Ash in awe. "How are they all here? Why are they all here?" She asked him. Ash smirked down at her. "It is a night of piece, everyone deserves to feel alive sometime. They're here for you, each and everyone of them," he told her proudly. The soft music began to play and Ash began to lead her towards her new life.
"Do you Styxx take this dark hunter Jez to be your wife? To have and to hold, cherish and worship, to care for and protect, for the rest of eternity?" The justice of the peace asked. Styxx's eyes had not left Jez's since he first saw her at the end of the aisle. She was an absolute vision beyond his wildest dreams. He knew that he had found her, his Jez and nothing was going to keep them apart. "I do." He told her. Jez smiled a happy tear escaping. Styxx reached forward to wipe it away with a smile. "And do you Jez take this immortal Styxx to be your husband? To have and to hold, cherish and worship, to care for and protect, for the rest of eternity?" The justice of the peace asked again. Jez nodded. "I do." She assured Styxx. "Then I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride," he told them. "Finally," Styxx said under his breath before sweeping Jez into his arms for their first kiss as husband and wife. The crowd began their thunderous applause.
The reception was held on the beach and Jez was certain that she and Styxx would never get to thank everyone there were so many people there. They walked from table to table hand in hand thanking everyone for being there and hugging more people then she'd ever seen. Finally she could see the people she had been talking to online in fear of draining each other's powers. But nothing could drain her today Jez was walking on the clouds, deliriously happy. She got to the table Savatar was sitting at with Ash, Tory, Simi, and Nick. He stood up and looked at Jez happily. "I'm so happy for you Shrimp. Come here," he said and wrapped his arms around Jez. Jez was so caught by surprise that she didn't even get to wrap her arms around him. Ash and Tory looked on in shock. Ash's mouth even fell open when Savatar kissed the top of her head. Jez stared up at him speechless. Savatar laughed and stepped back. "Don't get used to it," he warned her. Jez giggled then regaining her composure. "Thank you for gifting us with your presence at our wedding Sav," she said kissing his cheek. He smirked a sparkle in his eyes. Jez tilted her head looking at him. "What do you have up your sleeve Sav?" She asked him. Styxx pulled her next to him as Savatar presented a box out of thin air with a blue bow on top.
Jez stared at the box her heart stopped. She looked up into Savatar's eyes in disbelief. "Is that? Is that what I think it is?" She stammered. Styxx squeezed her hand his eyes hadn't left the box. Savatar nodded. "It's your soul Shrimp," he clarified. Jez looked from him to Ash. Ash looked happy for her but there was something else in his eyes. Something like sadness. Savatar handed the box to Styxx. "You know what you have to do. You screw up and I personally will kill you in the most torturous way imaginable. Understand?" He asked seriously as he glared threateningly into Styxx's eyes. Styxx nodded. "I would gladly accept the death you give me should I lose her," he replied. Savatar smiled over at Jez proud of himself. He gave her another brief hug and stepped back. "Well there's some pretty sweet waves coming in off the side of Australia tonight so I gotta blow this popsicle stand. Don't say I never give you anything Shrimp," he warned. Jez smiled. "I think I'm set for life with your shower of affection tonight," she teased. Savatar rolled his eyes and left.
Jez walked over to Ash and kneeled before him not caring if she ruined her dress. She put her head in his lap and let him smooth her hair gently. "I know you would have gotten it if you could. I will never hold that against you," she whispered looking up at him. He smiled sadly and nodded. "At least you have your soul back one way or another. That's what matters," he told her. Jez nodded. Styxx helped her up. They were beginning to walk away when Tory called them back. They looked back questioningly. Tory elbowed Ash hard in the ribs and after a grimace and a meaningful look from Tory he seemed to get an idea that cheered him right up. "Z!" He called getting Zarek's attention. Instead of walking over Zarek took advantage of his powers and just popped over. Bob was giggling and smiling in his arms. Jez went over and tickled him. "He misses his babysitter you know. Only you get him to laugh as much as you do," Zarek told her. Jez smiled. "Well maybe someday you'll have one of your own and Bob can repay the favor as babysitter," he said noticing the box that held her soul. Jez tried to smile but she and Styxx knew that her soul would most likely remain in that box since she would become human and Styxx would forever be immortal. Ash turned to him. "I know something that might repay her sooner then that," he hinted. Zarek raised an eyebrow at him. "I already bought her a wedding present," he complained. Ash rolled his eyes. Astrid popped next to Zarek and hit him softly. She turned to Jez. "How about we present to you some ambrosia?" She asked. Jez's eyes went wide and she looked at Styxx. He swept her up in his arms twirling her around. "An answer. It would solve everything. I told you we would have it work out," he told her. He put her down as Astrid held out a bowl with what looked like honey jello. Jez reached out hesitantly but Astrid and everyone nodded urging her on. She took the bowl knowing that when the time came she and Styxx would have an answer.
A few months later Jez's soul and the ambrosia still sat hidden in a safe in her closet. She and Styxx were practicing new fighting techniques in her work out room. She slammed him down on the mat and he held his hands up in surrender. She kissed him softly as she laid down next to him her head on his chest. "I've married a strong beautiful Princess, who did I get so lucky?" He asked with a smile as he smoothed down her hair. She smiled at him and kissed the tip of his nose. "I ask myself the same thing," she teased. Styxx growled rolling her under him. He nuzzled at her neck making her wriggle with anticipation as to what was coming. "I will never tire of this in all of forever," he said hoarsely against her throat. Jez looked up at him. "Well you'll have to wait tonight, its time for us to go patrol," she said pushing him away gently. Styxx pouted glancing down at his obvious arousal. Jez gave him an understanding smile it wasn't easy for her either. Styxx sat there while she stood up brushing herself off. When he didn't get up to follow her she looked back at him confused. "You know," he began not looking up at her. She raised an eyebrow at him waiting for him to continue. "You know we could find him," he said quietly. Jez was confused at first but when his eyes finally met hers she understood. "Oh Styxx," she cried kneeling in front of him and taking his face in her hands. She sighed resting her forehead against his. "You know my heart needs to stop beating before you can return my soul," she reminded him. Styxx nodded. "And I cannot do that to you. I can never harm you," he told her. Jez nodded. "I know my darling, I know," she whispered.
Styxx was off leading the victim away unharmed as Jez finished off the Daimons. She took care of them without breaking a sweat she was cleaning her weapons when she heard footsteps behind her. "Styxx?" She asked standing up and turning around. She dropped her knife when she saw who it was. "Shit!" She cursed recognizing her killer. Ash had taken care of him though he showed no recognition of her. He stared at her for a moment then grinned like he had the first time he met her. He might not remember who she was to him but he still had the same thing in mind for her. "You know a pretty thing like you shouldn't be walking alone at night around here," he told her picking up her knife. Jez cautiously put her hand out for it trying not to shake. She couldn't help it though her powers were draining. He slipped the knife into his belt. "You don't need that my dear," he promised her. Jez took deep breaths trying to think what to do. He came closer to her and touched her face lightly. She stood stone still as he circled around her. His fingers caressed her neck, the neck Styxx had been nuzzling only hours before. His hand trailed down her arm to her hand. He lifted up her hand to see her wedding ring. He grinned greedily at her. "You will be fun," he told her. Jez was about to scream when she caught sight of Styxx over his shoulder. He was reaching for his throwing knife when Jez saw their opportunity. She shook her head slightly at him and he paused. "I will scream," she warned the man in front of her. He raised a challenging brow. "You do that and I will slit your throat," he warned. Jez grinned. "Nothing you haven't done before," she said before she screamed.
In a flash she saw the silver of the knife before she felt a searing pain at her neck. Her hands automatically went up to the warm liquid spurting from her neck. She couldn't tell if she was reliving her memory like she had so often in her nightmares or if this was now. She heard a heartbreaking battle cry and as she fell to the ground she could see Styxx rushing at the man. In a matter of seconds the man lay dead in the side of the alley never to bother another innocent girl again. But he was forgotten the second he was dead. Styxx rushed over to Jez scooping her up in his arms resting her in his lap. Tears were in his eyes washing down onto Jez's face and mixing with her own. "What have you done? If I had known, if I had known this is what you had in mind I never would have let you do it," he told her. She tried to reach up and caress his face a weak smile on her face. "I know, which is why I had to do it. Now is your chance," she choked out. Styxx looked at her shocked. He couldn't help but smile proudly at his wife. "How? How did you know I had it?" He asked. Jez tried to laugh but ended up coughing spraying blood. "It does not leave you side gods forbid something should ever happen," she told him. Her eyes began to grow heavy and her heartbeat was slowing. Styxx reached into his pocket pulling out something wrapped in cloth. "Don't…don't drop it," Jez pleaded. Styxx kissed her eyelids new tears forming in his eyes. "I wont, I promise, I wont," he assured her. She took her last breath and Styxx unwrapped her soul and despite the searing pain he pressed it to her bow and arrow tattoo.
Ash shook his head and Tory looked over at him concerned. "What is it?" She asked. Ash looked over at her and smiled. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her softly. "They've done it. Jez is free. And if I know Jez and Styxx at all, then I believe in nine months we'll have some nieces and nephews."
Well there you have it friends. I didn't want to say goodbye to Jez and Styxx but it had to come to an end sometime. I hope you enjoyed it. All of those that stuck with it this long thank you so much! I do appreciate it.