Second Circle, by lyradaemon

Chapter 4: On The Road…

A/N: I've cleared up any confusions over ages in the previous instalment, so check there in case you're confused.

Daemon regarded his daughter thoughtfully. It was funny; Saetan was convinced she was the splitting image of him, and Lucivar reckoned she was identical to Jaenelle. With her long, straight black hair, light brown skin and sapphire eyes, she was, Daemon thought, a perfect mix.

And now she was off on an epic adventure to the middle of Scelt with a band of young males and females he was sure were unable to look after themselves.

Wonderful.

"Papa, please stop worrying. I'm going to be fine. Really."

"Whatever you say sweetheart," Daemon sighed, then gathered her into his arms, holding her close.

"Papa, I can't breathe," Eliene squeaked.

"That's the whole point," Daemon joked lightly, stroking her hair.

Eli somehow managed to loosen Daemon choke-hold grip on her. "Please don't worry about me," she said softly. "I have Luc and Charon to protect me. I won't come to any harm."

Daemon snorted. "With Charon protecting you, there's every chance you will come to harm."

Eli rolled her eyes. "He's perfectly capable, Papa. Honestly."

Just then Jaenelle came over, having finally finished fussing over Charon – who, as it happened, was now standing next to Saetan, frowning darkly in his mother's direction. "Are you all ready then darling?" Jaenelle asked brightly.

"Yes, mother," Eli said impatiently. "I've already told you that."

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Meanwhile, Luc was having to fend off Gabrielle. "Mother, please!" He almost shouted. "Stop fussing!"

"I'm entitled to fuss. I'm your mother."

"Yes, but not in public," Luc hissed.

"Chaosti, please could you tell your son I'm entitled to fuss?" Gabrielle demanded of her husband. There was no reply.

Chaosti was literally clinging onto Aaron to stop him falling over from laughing so much. Tears were running down their faces and hardly any sound was coming out.

"Chaosti!" Gabrielle said sharply, a small frown creasing her brow.

"I'm sorry…" Chaosti mumbled weakly. "It's just…Mother Night, it's just too funny…" he pealed off again and Aaron shoved his fist in his mouth to try to stop laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"All of you," Aaron replied, wiping streaming eyes. "Our children are going away for a few weeks – to stay with your mother, too – and you women are clucking around like mother chickens! You'd think they were going away forever the way you're at it."

Gabrielle glared at them then stalked off, muttering, "men".

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Finally, after countless hugs and goodbyes, the Second Circle were ready to leave. Just as Eli was about to escape another kiss from her mother, Daemon took her by the arm and gently drew her aside.

"You have to make me a promise," he said.

"Papa, if you're about to start fussing too…" Eli began tartly.

"No, seriously, Eli. You have to promise," Daemon said urgently.

Eli was slightly taken aback by her father's tone. Despite the stories she'd heard about him from Saetan and Lucivar, Daemon had always seemed completely calm and unshakable.

"Alright, I promise," she said slowly.

"You have to be prepared to use your Jewels. You have to – promise me, Eli."

"I-" Eli was confused. Use her Jewels? Why?

"Just promise me," Daemon snapped. "Please Eli."

"But why? Luc and Charon and the others will be with me. I'll never need to use them," Eli protested. Daemon knew she didn't like using Craft. She didn't like the power she had. He knew that.

"It doesn't matter!" Daemon snarled, getting frustrated at his daughter.

"It's not as if someone is going to…wait." Suddenly it dawned on her. "You've seen something. In a Web, you must have-"

Daemon cut her off. "No, it wasn't me. Your mother – she…never mind. It's not important. Just – please, sweetheart, promise me you'll do everything you can to stay safe. Please." Daemon's golden eyes held hers, full of anxiety and love and desperation.

"I promise, Papa," Eli finally whispered, her eyes never leaving his.

"Thank you," Daemon murmured as her swept her up into a last hug. "I love you, Eli."

"I love you too Papa," she returned, her throat feeling oddly choked up. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and tried to smile bravely. "I'll see you soon."

She didn't wait for an answer, but instead turned and ran to where the others were waiting for her. Luc has decided they all needed to see the countryside between the Hall and Scelt, so he had settled on two carriages for them to ride in.

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Luc smiled brightly at her as she approached. "Has Daemon been fussing too?" He asked with a grin.

"Something like that," she replied absently.

Luc looked at her sharply. "Is something wrong?"

Eli shook her head with a inward sigh. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

Just in case she wasn't, Luc slipped his arms around her and pulled her close. "You do know you can tell me anything, don't you?" He asked softly, holding her gaze.

"I know," was all she said in reply.

"Are you two coming?" Titian demanded tartly from the door of the front coach. "The rest of us would like to leave today."

Luc turned and took Eli's hand, leading her over to the coach. He began to help her up into it – the step was quite high – when she stumbled and practically fell back into his arms.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked, frowning. Eli nodded wordlessly, then pulled herself inside.

Those words swirled inside her head, sent on a psychic spear-thread.

Remember, little one. Use your power. Don't be afraid.

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"So," Jaenelle said as she watched the coaches leave the Hall.

Daemon looked at his wife, then slid an arm around her hips, pulling her close. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" He asked, sensing a change in emotion.

Jaenelle looked up at him quickly, then away again. "I don't know. It just feels…strange, that's all, seeing Eli and Charon leaving like that. And after what I saw in my Web…everything in me is screaming not to let them go."
"They'll be ok," Daemon assured soothingly. He didn't tell her what he had said to Eli, or the worry he was feeling. He didn't want to scare her even more. "Besides, what with that lot being there, neither of them can come to any harm."

"They remind me of my First Circle when we were that age," Jaenelle said whimsically. "Full of all that power, and they don't even realise it."
Jaenelle was right. Between them, there were four Queens – including Eli herself – three Warlord Princes and – two Warlords – Jason, Morghann and Khary's youngest son; and Tristan, Aaron and Kalush's son. Astar and Sceron, the Queen and Warlord Prince of Centauran, had a son and daughter; Ash – a Warlord Prince - and Nephela a Queen, who were 19 and 17.

Titian wasn't a Queen, just as Surreal hadn't been, but the others treated her as if she was. As well as that, Eli was a Black Widow and she and Giselle were Healers.

Then there were their Jewels.

As could be expected, Charon and Eli wore Birthright Red; Luc wore Green, although he hadn't made the Offering yet. Titian wore Green too; Jason had his Opal Jewels. Arianna wore Purple Dusk descended to Sapphire; Tristan, her brother had Birthright Opal. Ash had his Birthright Sapphire – which had surprised everyone – and was soon to make the Offering to the Darkness, while his younger sister, Nephela, wore Birthright Purple Dusk. Giselle, the tawny-striped daughter of Grezande and Elan, had her Green Jewels.

Between them, they were very, very dangerous.

"They would be match for anyone," Daemon remarked dryly. "I wouldn't like to take them on in a bad mood, that's for sure."
Despite herself, Jaenelle chuckled. "They've all inherited their parent's tempers," she agreed.

"Well, I don't know where our two get it from," Daemon murmured, turning Jaenelle so that she was locked in his embrace. "We're both perfectly civil…"

Jaenelle looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Don't kid yourself, Prince."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"You have a dreadful temper, but only when you need it."

"So do you."

"And I wouldn't have it any other way," Jaenelle finished, raising her mouth to his.

"What do you say to locking ourselves away for the rest of the day," Daemon asked softly when they finally broke off the kiss.

"Depends what you had in mind," Jaenelle replied airily, not able to keep the grin off her face.

"Mmm," Daemon murmured into her lips. "Why don't I show you?"

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"I despair of those two," Surreal said, shaking her head in Daemon and Jaenelle's direction.

"Any reason why?" Saetan asked lightly.

"Can't keep their hands off each other," she replied. "Dreadful example."

"To whom? Titian?"

Surreal glared at him. "I'll have you know, I'm an excellent example to my daughter."

"Of course you are, darling" Saetan replied soothingly.

Surreal huffed at him then stomped off.

Saetan just laughed.

He was definitely looking forward to the impending peace and quiet. He loved his grandchildren – including the various adopted ones – dearly, but sometimes he found that their incessant talking took a rather large toll on his nerves. A rabble of powerful, adolescent, arrogant young males and females were enough for anyone to handle; Saetan felt that since he'd been the patriarch of the First Circle, being the patriarch of the Second Circle too was a bit much.

Still, as Selene had sweetly remarked, he wouldn't give them up for the world.

A/N: Just a little filler chapter to keep the story rolling, introduce a few new characters, ascertain Jewels/ranks etc. Hope you're not too confused with all the names and Jewels I'm throwing around (in case you are, I'll put a little table up in an info chapter next).

In case you were worrying – or despairing – this fic does have a plot, SO KEEP READING!

Lyradaemon x