Jacqui's POV
Four months later and I am all alone in my special oasis. Four months I had been scouring my domain for any holes in the walls, suspicious figures, dark magic, anything that would explain the disappearance and robbing of my souls. So far, I had found nothing and have only strengthened my barriers and attempted to assuage the concerns of my people. It didn't seem to be working.
The soul I had first seen training by himself had gathered quite a crowd and was now training others to fight for their freedom. I gave him my blessing, but I knew it would be no use. I couldn't help them out of my own domain.
"Stupid fool!!" I shouted as I thought of my father and his orders. How am I supposed to help if I'm stuck here? I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. At least you don't have to face Skye while you're here. My eyes flashed open in surprise. From the fact that I was afraid of facing Skye or from the disappointment of not seeing him, I didn't know.
I waved my hand gently across the water. Wish I could see him though. I grimaced. Where is all this coming from?! I slapped the water and turned away from it.
"My Lady Jacqueline, what's wrong?" My friend, Tempest, swam to the shore where I was sitting. I stared at the hard lines of his face and chest and smiled at the beautiful dark green fish scales of his tail. His blonde hair matched his sea green eyes too.
"Ah, I didn't know you were there." I laughed.
"That is a fake laugh, my Goddess." I immediately stopped pretending to be okay. If mermaids were good at anything, it was knowing your emotions and eliciting whatever emotion they wanted from you. Of course, they couldn't do that to a goddess.
"I'm sorry, Tempest. I just feel so helpless. I can't protect anyone."
"Nonsense." He flipped his tail annoyed. "Jacqui, you are doing everything you can. You are on alert every millisecond of every day. You have protected this realm since the dawn of time and you will not fail now."
I smiled a little at that. Leave it to Tempest to make me feel a bit better.
"Also, that is not what is troubling you the most I feel." He took my hands in his and slowly guided me closer to the water. He gently stroked my arm and looked in my eyes. I felt a slight wave of heat through my body and wished for a moment that it was Skye in front of me.
"Ah, there it is." Tempest smiled at me before pulling me into the water.
"Ah, hey!" I shook my head at him as he came closer. "At least let me change into something more appropriate." He didn't say anything before he grabbed the laces on the back of my dress and began untying them. "Whoa whoa whoa, what are you doing?"
"Helping My Lady of course." He continued to untie the laces and gently stroked my back as the dress fell away, leaving me in my undergarments. I felt uncomfortable as Tempest wrapped his arms around me and brushed his tail on my now bare legs.
"Stop." I commanded. I had never felt this uncomfortable with him in all the time I'd known him. He pulled away at my tone.
"You want this though." He innocently defended.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You know that this is making me very uncomfortable" I tried not to cover myself. I will not seem weak.
"Ah." Tempest aggravatingly smiled at me and flipped his fin splashing water on my face. "You want this but not with me."
"Want what?" I retorted as Skye's face flashed through my head again. Tempest laughed. My frustration rose.
"My Lady, please forgive me, but have you never felt a strong need to be with someone?"
"A strong need to be with someone?" Skye, but that's because I need to train him so he can save my world and my domain. "Yes." I answered. Tempest grinned again.
"Does it kill you to not be with that person?"
"No." But it kills my people. And his. Tempest shook his head.
"I didn't mean literally."
"Then what do you mean?" I asked curiously. There's only one way to be killed. Physically. Tempest tsked and changed subject.
"Who were you thinking about when I came up?" I sighed and allowed my body to float with the lilies. Skye's rage filled aura filled my mind and my heart clenched unnaturally.
"His name is Skye Firebird." It didn't matter if I tell him about my chosen hero. The enemy already knew about Skye. And it is all my fault. At least he's safe in the Nexus.
"Oh, that mortal man you've chosen to be the next Demigod?" Tempest responded easily.
"Ye—wait, how did you know?" I immediately tensed as I faced my friend.
"The Fountain, of course!" The Fountain was something I asked Nero to create for my souls. While they were there, they could look into the fountain and watch their families in the living world. It was a one-way mirror. They could not interact but they could keep an eye on their loved ones.
"You've been watching me through the Fountain?!"
"Quite a few of us have actually." He lazily swam to the shore. "We can only see you when you're in Comwen, but we have been praying for your chosen hero to save us as you believe he will."
If you've been watching, who else is? Tempest continued, "Also, I'm a little surprised you find him attractive. After all, he's just a mortal." Attractive?
Before the conversation could continue, a rumbling shook the ground. Tempest raised his eyebrows and then winked. "Guess that's my queue to go! See you later!" He then swam to the depths of the pond and disappeared. The rumbling escalated and I rolled my eyes as I got out of the pond.
"Can't you arrive normally for once?" I asked.
"Not my style, sis!" Jasper retorted as he arrived on three sand worms and jumped down. I shook my head and began squeezing the excess water out of my hair. "Whoa, Jacqui, get some clothes on!" Embarrassed, I quickly did as I was told.
"That's better." Jasper laughed.
"Shut up!" I snapped and changed subject. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to tattletale on the Captain." Jasper merrily replied.
"Tattletale? What did he do?" I must have sounded more urgent than I thought.
"Whoa, nothing bad." Jasper put his hands up in surrender. "He has simply completed his necessary training with Old wise Nik!"
"In four months?!" Shock numbed my body. There's no way. Amber took six years to finish! How could he have completed and memorized all that he needs to know in just four months? Wait! If that's true, then that means...
"—I mean, seriously impress—"
"Who is testing him first?!" I interrupted. Jasper flinched.
"Goddess, I'm right here no need to yell."
"Sorry." Jasper nodded and answered.
"That hasn't been decided yet." Silence reigned for a few moments. Who will test him first? Will I be able to test him or will our first encounter be enough? Remembering the way he withstood my beckoning and forced his soul to stay within his body caused an icy shiver to numb my spine. He is only mortal now, yet he was able to resist my power. He also would have killed Jasper and myself with his sword skills if we weren't immortal.
Remembering my battle with him and the determination within his eyes caused another feeling to wind its way through my body. It was warm and uncomfortable. Jasper looked at me and I covered my eyes. Skye was so angry with me when Nik took us to Nexus. The rage I felt in the tense room was quite frightening. Me? Scared of a mortal? I am the Goddess of Life and Death! I created his soul! I can take it away! Another softer voice that sounded eerily like my own came out, "I don't know if I can kill him now, let alone when he is a demigod." The truth always spilled out of me when Jasper was nearby. My brother put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me.
"Do you even want to kill your chosen hero?" He asked softly.
"No."
"Then why are you worried about it?"
"I have the power to create and destroy souls. I am their Keeper. But he has prevailed against me. Nothing like that has ever happened. It frightens me."
"Its best to face your fear. And besides, I don't think it's because of his power that you don't think you can kill him."
"What?"
"You've never felt emotions like fear and love before, so it's understandable you have no idea what I'm talking about." Jasper smiled kindly at me and then kissed me on the head. "I don't want you to go through what I had to go through, but still I hope you find happiness."
"Happiness?" That reminded me of what Tempest had said. "Jasper, The Fountain. Souls have been watching me through the Fountain."
"Huh? Why would they be watching you?"
"I don't know, but what if our enemy has been doing the same thing?"
"Watching us through a Fountain?"
"Yes!"
Jasper looked down thoughtfully. "If they watched you through the Fountain long enough, do you think they could mimic your powers?"
"I don't know." I answered, "but it seems fishy to me." I giggled at my little joke as it was a mermaid who made this information known to me.
"I'll have Skye check it out as my test." Jasper assured me.
"I can check it out it's in my domain!"
"I don't want you going alone." Jasper stated seriously. "Wait for him to show up and go with him if you want, but don't do it by yourself!" He was so serious that I promised him that I would wait for my pupil to show up. Content with my answer, Jasper left for the Nexus.
It was time for Skye's trials to begin.