Big big thank you to the following people for reviewing the last chapter; USWeasilgirl, LEXA14, AdaYuki, P.C. Labs, Onileo and Dragon-of-Writing . I really appreciate the support and comments.
Emmalisa x
Jaden
Chapter Twenty Five
"...Men like Jaden don't walk off into the sunshine with a song in their hearts
and a beautiful woman on their arm, Ms Watson.."
Flashes of a pale yellow light flickered across the black cavernous walls. In the sparse glimpses of light, the walls glimmered like they had been cut from onyx stone; smooth and wet.
A hand shot out from a corridor, bracing itself with a groan.
Fingers once spread wide, closed together before peeling away from the rock in horror. Alternate black and red liquid covered the upturned palm.
A gurgled cry was caught as the hand pulled away and clenched into a fist.
"Bring it back!"
The distant scream of outrage seemed to vibrate off the blood coated walls.
The hitched breathing of the creature, still hidden from sight, identified itself as the "it".
Whatever "it" was, it needed to run...
Jared stood shrouded in darkness. One shoulder leant against a graffiti covered brick wall as large Goth boots were crossed casually at the ankle. His unusual eyes burnt with intent; never once leaving the house across the street.
Jared knew something was wrong. He knew something was coming...
Beneath his long black leather coat, his upper body was an intricate pattern of black swirls and lines. Each unique branding had its own meaning, each its own promise... except for one.
Jared's bicep twitched as a small black swirl dissolved off his skin.
It was a testament to his age and the long dead beliefs surrounding the First Power that allowed that small swirl to go unnoticed by most. There were few left alive who would know it was out of place; fewer still who would know what his skin revealed if read correctly.
A small slug demon materialised at his side in an almost identical outfit. Watching from the corner of his eye, Jared looked the little demon over. Nimrod had yet to utter a single word. A red eyebrow rose. Unusual.
Crouched down with its arms crossed over his bent knees the little demon was keeping his head down. Tightly woven black dreadlocks were all Jared could see from his vantage point six feet above.
Jared wasn't going to be the one to talk first. He just wasn't. He returned his gaze to the townhouse.
This mission was important; not only was it the start of his temporary freedom, it was the start of the battle for his brother's soul.
Jared wasn't planning on missing it; he didn't plan on losing it.
Flexing his shoulders beneath the heavy leather he tried unsuccessfully to ignore the little demon. He hadn't told Nim that he could leave the safety of his body. It could be dangerous.
Perhaps I need to give up pretending I don't care...
"I didn't mean to shout at you"
It looked like the dreadlocks had just shrugged.
"It was OK, though. Right?"
Not even a shrug this time.
Sighing Jared looked the house over one last time. It was a pretty typical town house, first floor was slightly above the street so several small steps were out front. It looked no different from the dozen others running up and down this street.
However, every warning bell he possessed was going off in his head; and since this was a residential street he didn't need the additional noise in there.
Jared could already hear every conversation in the houses surrounding him through his enhanced hearing, and could read the minds of everyone five houses down on either side.
And for the record, that was a hell of a lot of background noise.
She doesn't know. It's not possible. It was just a lucky guess...
My god, the woman is twice the size she was last week!
I swear if you wink at me again I will stab my fork into your beady little eyes
I don't see why I have to do the washing up, she never does it!
He's forgotten. I don't know what I honestly expected! I mean what's our first anniversary? Dickhead!
Tilting his neck to the side he tried to relief some of the tension to no avail. He loved and hated being in this city. If he could just get some peace and quiet upon occasion he would never want to leave. But unless everybody decided to stop thinking that wasn't likely to happen.
The pleasure and pain of being around others. His curse.
"Nim stays with Jared"
Peering down, he looked into the little demons eyes. A knot tightened around what was left of his heart.
He was beginning to understand Ash's affection for Simi. He hadn't forced Nim to stay with Ash as a punishment, it had simply been the safest strategy at the time.
"It was dangerous"
It wasn't an excuse, simply a statement.
Another shrug as Nim brought the small bunny up from between his bent knees to squeeze closer to his chest.
Whether he wanted it or not, this demon was now under his protection. He would always take that seriously.
"Nim. Stays. With. Jared"
He nodded and watched the childlike smile spread across the little demons face. It appeared he was now forgiven for leaving Nim behind.
Suddenly, the lights in the house across the street began to flicker violently.
Mere seconds later every light along the street, including street lamps, were flickering before cutting out.
Jared's senses were so acute he could hear each filament within the lightbulb's crackle before exploding. The small explosions of hundreds of lightbulb's was followed by the shocked thoughts of adults and instinctive fear of the children.
The small section of the world Jared was standing in was suddenly surrounded in nothing but darkness.
Here we go...!
Now that was just plain nasty!
He would never dare to speak aloud that thought, but damn! His master's table manners left much to be desired. As the body of a once vibrate young human was tossed casually to the ground, he rushed forward to remove the left overs.
"Will you require anything else, my Lord?"
"No"
Right...
Grabbing hold of one leg, he began to heave the limp body out of the room. Pale blond hair was dragging along the floor leaving streaks of blood. Damn it! He would need to clean that up before the Master saw; he didn't mind making the mess but didn't want to sit around in it. Mop to the breakfast room!
He was about to snigger at that when he was shoved out of the way by a female entering Noir's private chambers. Expecting Azura he was surprised when it wasn't.
Don't mind me and the corpse!
"There's blood all over the floor. Brother, please try to develop table manners!"
He didn't even have time to promise to clean before Noir's arm was outstretched towards him and he was dead.
Noir curled his lip in disgust, as his newest assistant slumped to the floor on top of the dead human woman. More mess!
"It's hard to find good staff these days"
No shit. What was this... his fifth assistant this month? Or was it six? One of them had gagged at an interrogation and faced his wrath. He didn't need the weak around him.
Ah well, there would always be snivelling replacements, all too happy to gain some prestige by placing their life in the precarious position.
"Any word from the scouts?"
"None"
He clenched his teeth for the rant he knew was coming.
Noir may occasionally wish to tear her limb from lovely limb, however at the end of the day, he respected this woman's power and intellect- not to mention he and Azura had been searching for her for centuries! She completed their little trinity of power and her assistance would bring the ultimate victory.
Beyond Azura, there was nobody he trusted more than Braith. She was almost a complete match to him in power and she had that nasty little evil side that would always bring out her best qualities.
"None? None! In 24 hours they have found nothing?"
"Not a thing"
"Why the hell are you so calm?"
I know something you don't know, sweet sister. He smiled. "Strategy"
He watched as her eyebrow rose and an evil smile warped her face from beauty to beast. "Do tell!"
Ash crouched on a roof across from the alley Jared was standing in. He could always feel powerful beings when close by, and a presence like Jared's was one that was impossible to go unnoticed. Dark power radiated off that man for miles.
With Jaden's soul coming under attack and an evil he couldn't identified crouching somewhere in his beloved city he was on edge.
Whatever was in the house Jared was watching so intently must hold the answer. Or at least a step closer to finding out what the hell was going on.
Savitar's vague response at the beach had only fuelled his curiosity. He feared for Jaden.
This war was becoming more complex and the stakes getting higher. He didn't like not knowing the rules of this game or even the key players.
He felt like Jaden was stumbling in the dark and sooner or later the light would come on, and it sure as hell wouldn't be a cards and cake type surprise.
A curtain shifted to his right and he caught sight of a little girl looking down into the street, her small face and black curls were illuminated by the orange glow of the street lamp. When she saw him he smiled before sending her a gentle mental push to return to her bed and sleep.
Whatever was going to happen here tonight was no place for a child. Her sweet dimpled smile touched his soul as she turned from the window back into the darkness of her room.
He thought of Tory waiting for him at home and the baby they would soon have. Terror and joy were competing emotions within him. Every time he laid a hand upon Tory's growing belly he felt so blessed.
His thoughts were shattered as a power he didn't recognise washed down the street causing lights to flicker before going dead.
Casting a look to Jared, he noticed the fighter within him come to the front and the smirk of anticipation cross his face.
Jared might be about to relish the fight but Ash wanted the war away from this street. It was too narrow with too many families near by...
That little girl tucked up safely in bed. Far too close for his liking.
Jumping down three stories he landed casually on the sidewalk and waited.
He didn't need to wait long.
Before he could even react, energy erupted from the small town house, causing a pulsing wave of power to explode out onto the street.
Not onto the street, more through the street.
His last vision before losing consciousness was walls crumbling, windows shattering and cars being flung into the air.
His last thought was for the little girl...
Savitar's eyes closed as he bobbled upon a warm gentle wave. His legs half submerged, one hand rested upon his rubber clad knee, whilst the other drifted through the water beside him.
Even in his own slice of paradise he felt the power that was unleashed.
There may have been a time he would have tried to prevent it, but he had learnt the hard way the more you helped the more you managed to fuck things up. He wasn't getting involved.
He had done enough meddling in fate to last him several thousand years.
The man he knew Jaden to be, would have done the same. His path was clear.
However much he tried not to care, he did feel regret for Amalia. An unusual woman. She was one of the rare people to ever spark any interest within him.
He hoped for her sake, she had been smart about this whole mess but he had the sinking feeling that love, once again, would do nothing but destroy.
"If only you could have seen your face!"
Lia had play punched the smirking irritation in the shoulder before he had even finished his sentence.
Biting her bottom lip as she attempted to hold in her smile and pulled her very best I'm-not-impressed-buddy-so-change-the-topic expression. Her performance had been perfected over the years and could be – should be- award winning! He did have a point; her expression must have been a picture. I'm just unscrewing it... She snorted and rolled her eyes.
They lay as mirror opposites on the bed. Both resting on their sides, one arm bent and pillowed under their cheek, knees slightly bent towards each other whilst the other arm lay along their sides. The thin duvet was stretched up until their hips, leaving their upper bodies bare.
Lia eventually gave up her attempt at holding in her smile and allowed herself to indulge in their warm afterglow.
That light headed, heart still bouncing, constantly wanting to smile at the other person glow.
She had a passing thought that her single self would have kicked her ass for such a sappy thought. It didn't however stop the smile spreading across her face.
Reaching out, Lia ran two fingers over Jaden's cheek before running down his neck to rest upon the chain hugging his throat tightly. The stone encased in its centre looked like an emerald, almost exactly the same shade as his left eye. If it wasn't a symbol of his slavery she would have thought it beautiful.
Watching the lazy amusement vanish from her eyes, Jaden lifted her hand from the chain and kissed her knuckles trying to bring her back into their moment. He wasn't sure he wanted them to discuss the chain tonight, it was a volatile time and he didn't want any surprises. Well... any more than he expected and could handle.
"I want to try" Jaden's eyed slid closed, as her thumb stroked over his hand that held her to his lips "I want to try to free you"
"It might not work, Amalia" His voice was whisper soft.
But it might...
Even as his heart twisted at the thought, so much so it was painful, Jaden refused to hope too much. The prophesy had been in a different room, Lia had been wearing different clothes, sitting upon different sheets...
What do you have to lose from trying...?
"Let me try"
Taking a deep breath, his eyes still closed, he turned her hand around to kiss her wrist above her pounding pulse.
Lia knew she couldn't do anything but try. If there was even a small possibility she could save him she wanted to attempt to. He deserved to be free. And beyond that, she knew his feelings went beyond her simply being useful to him. She knew it every time he looked at her with an emotion in his eyes that twisted her heart.
A small shudder moved through Lia, causing Jaden to move off of the bed to hunt for their clothes. Before pulling on his own jeans he reached under the bed to pull out his shirt and handed it over to Lia who had moved to crouch upon the bed.
"Thanks"
Slipping into the jeans and shirt, they sat opposite one another on the bed, the tension and anticipation palpable between them. Such a contrast from moments before.
This could be the moment Jaden becomes free...
Lia's hands were sweating and shaking a little at the enormity of what could happen. She prayed over and over that this would work. Please. Please let this work!
She began to reach forward but he caught her trembling hand and brought her closer. His kiss was slow and held such emotion she could feel tears threatening to spill.
She loved him. This had to work. She wouldn't and couldn't settle for less...
Taking one last kiss she pulled back and watched as he held her gaze, not looking anywhere but at her.
Her trembling arm stretched out into the space between them and landed above his pounding heart. She didn't need to tell him she loved him, she saw in his eyes he knew.
Tracing up his chest she felt her finger tips slide over the cold stone hanging in the centre of his throat.
He hadn't moved and she knew he wouldn't. If she decided not to try, he wouldn't stop her.
That was part of the reason why she was doing this... part of why this decision had been so simple to make.
Running up the intricate gold torque she felt the groves and patterns carved into its surface.
When she finally felt the flick clasp at the back of his neck, her hand was buried under his hair and his eyes were now closed tight.
His lips were moving in silence, mouthing foreign words she believed to be prayer.
Her thumb went under the clasp and she took a deep breath. Moment of truth.
Flicking up fast, she pulled...
As the gold swung down heavily from his throat, Jaden slumped down onto his fists, his head hanging loose. Centuries of agony seemed to be removed, the heavy weight of his imprisonment vanished. A blood red tear tracked down his cheek as he closed his eyes and allowed the feeling of freedom to wash over him. It was instantaneous.
He had never before felt so light and at peace.
It was overwhelming...
Slowing opening his eyes he allowed all his anxiousness of the previous moments to be released on an exhale. The second his eyes crept open he was looking at Lia as she leant back on her haunches, staring down at the green amulet still glowing intensely in her hand.
Looking up at his bare neck before reaching his face, her eyes were wide as if in shock. Her face frozen in uncertainty.
They both glanced down at the stone as it began to dull, its pulsing power draining until it lay stoically in her palm.
"Thank you" His voice hoarse with emotion. There were no words...
Leaning forward he cradled her face as he kissed her with everything within him.
He still couldn't comprehend he was free. His heart was pounding.
He had never believed this day would come, even when he knew of the vision of Amalia removing it, he hadn't allowed himself to hope too high.
So few things had ever gone right for him. Until now...
"Thank you"
"Did we do it? Are you truly free now?"
The surprise was still heavy in her expression as he imagined it was in his. "You did it. Amalia you did it"
This time she leaned forward to kiss him "One down, one to go. Now we need to save Si"
Jaden laughed and pulled Lia into his arms. His little spitfire was already willing to take on the world again.
Kissing her temple he held her, loving her wearing his shirt, his scent wrapped around her keeping her warm.
It was then as he held Amalia against his heart he felt the explosion of power nearby. Possibly no more than a couple of miles away. Far too close.
Smoothing dark hair from Lia's face he breathed in her scent one last time.
"I think it's starting. We need to go"
She tensed but nodded. Always so strong.
Leaving the bed he went searching through the wardrobe for a shirt of Xypher's. He was enjoying the thought of Amalia wearing his shirt far too much to ask for it back.
"Jaden?"
Head deep in a wardrobe he "hmm?" from within. Xypher seemed to have an entire shop full of jackets, but he couldn't yet find a shirt.
Surely the man wore something under all this leather. Then again, maybe not...
"I love you"
Her words made his hand pause over a coat hanger of the only shirt he had found. He closed his eyes as his emotions rushed through him. No one other than Jared had ever truly loved him.
Turning from the wardrobe, shirt in hand he smiled over at the bed with words of love waiting on his tongue.
Everything froze.
The love shining in his eyes was replaced with fear and absolute panic. His heart thundering with emotion was frozen in terror.
The words lying in his throat choked him as he screamed out in denial.
It was too late!
"I love you..."
With tears swimming in her eyes, Lia had the amulet held against her own throat.
As he screamed and ran for her the gold snapped shut.
The stone pulsed back to life.
And Lia was forever taken from his life.
He was sitting less than a metre from her, the water lazily running through his finger tips as he caressed the waves, his thick thighs parted over the board.
"Are we feelin' alright, Ms Watson?" She wasn't sure if the gleam in his eyes was a teasing one, or the reflection of the setting sun.
She grinned at his teasing before turning away from him to watch the sun as it began to sizzle into the sea. "It's so peaceful here..."
She glance at him quick enough to see sadness flicker over his features.
"That's why I love it here. There is no past or future. No obligations or regrets. There is only peace..." There was a moment of solitary reflection before: "Ms Watson, there will be no peace for Jaden"
Facing him fully whilst trying to maintain her balance on the board beneath her, she stared hard. "What do you mean?"
"Jaden wasn't put on this Earth to find peace, Amalia. Even as a human you must have felt his influence...his aura"
Lia frowned at the "even as a human" comment although she couldn't deny his words. She had felt the energy and power within him. It was impossible to miss.
"He is a predator. Possibly the first predator. Men like Jaden don't walk off into the sunshine with a song in their hearts and a beautiful woman on their arm, Ms Watson"
Lia's small nails dug into the edge of the board as he turned to stare directly into her eyes. His own eyes were hypnotic changing to pale lavender.
"At the end of the day, Jaden will choose to damn you if it means he can go free. Do you understand me? There will come a time when there is a decision between your freedom and his, and believe me when I say he will choose to save his own ass"
"How do you even know this?"
His laugh was bitter "I know everything. And even if I didn't see the future as clearly as I see you sitting on that board. I have experience, Amalia. I know how to read people"
"Read me"
Lia didn't allow her gaze to falter as his lavender eyes pierced her own honey brown. "Strength and love will only take you so far in this war, Amalia"
"What do I need? What do I need to do to save him"
Lia didn't appreciate the way, Savitar flung his head back to laugh. "Did you listen to me? Your soul will be in the balance. Trust me; you don't want to lose that"
Again she didn't allow her eyes to so much as blink as he stared her down as they both rocked on the gentle warmth of the current beneath them.
This conversation seemed such a contrast to the beauty surrounding them.
"Jaden will ask you to remove the band circling his throat. It holds great power and is a symbol of enslavement. Once removed it will seek out a new host. That will be the moment when Jaden will need to decide whether to condemn himself once more or..."
"Or me"
Savitar nodded once.
"What if I choose? What if I put it around my own neck?"
Savitar's sigh was as hard as a wind. "You would take his place in hell"
"Hell" she whispered to no one particular.
"Well, as good as, if not worse"
"Why are you telling me this?"
"It was fate. I was meant to"
"Why?"
Savitar laughed and glanced at the unusual woman "Because"
"That's your response? Care to add in some additional words?"
"Not really"
The grin he flashed her made her smile despite the news he had just delivered.
A sudden wave nearly unbalanced her as her grip increased upon the board. They sat in silence as she tried to digest his words. They only added to the mystery Lisa had shared earlier at the store.
She felt like she had all the puzzle pieces stretched out before her but still couldn't see the end picture.
Was it her in Hell? Or Jaden?
Her heart clenched even with the thought of him in pain. Her feelings for him were growing. Just recalling the agony on his face as he had referred to himself as a monster made her want to help him.
To relieve that weight that seemed constantly upon his shoulders.
It was then Savitar shouted something back at the shore... "Well, aren't you a vision of masculinity!"
"What are you doing, Grandma?"
"Hmm? What was that, dear?"
"Why are you tapping?"
Lisa looked down and saw her hand tapping her teaspoon against the small ceramic tea cup that had sat in the same position since yesterday morning's visit.
The continuous twang of metal meeting china was as pounding and rhythmical as a heartbeat.
"Oh" She smiled over at her granddaughter "I'm counting down, dearest"
"To what?"
As an explosion blasted from beyond the window the doll stores lights flickered and then went out.
A car landed outside her door, alarm whirring, glass shattering as it bounced on its ruined suspension.
The small gasp next to her drew Lisa back into the room. As she glanced up at the clock she nodded ruefully. Say what you want about evil, they were rarely late.
Turning her attention back to the little china cup she began her incessant tapping.
"Why are you still tapping?"
"I'm counting down..."
Braith: She was mentioned in Dream Warrior, and was described as Azura and Noir's sister. Braith is stated as being more sinister than Azura. Noir and Azura had been looking for Braith for centuries. Since Noir and Azura are lovers and not related, I have assumed Braith is also unrelated but is a "partner-in-crime" with Noir and Azura.
Thank you so much for reading! :)
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