I squint in a new memory of Jake's, taking my hand up; using my outer hand to shield my eyes from a sudden bright light of orange and yellow flashed in front of me. Just like the one I pulled out of, I was suddenly washed by a feeling of fear, extreme fear and pain putting my heart in painful knots that I nearly slouch forward when I place my hand over my heart. Still with eyes shielded because the light was really bright, I was slowly starting to hear my surrounding like they were from quiet a distance from me. It reached me like an echo of chaos, cries and screams while the background was filled with crackling, muffled footsteps and roars, very angry and some petrified with pain. I quickly realized that it was something similar to what I had in my dreams, apart from the emotions imposed in me by the surrounding memory of Jake's, my own fear spiked. The sounds of war had been a secret phobia to me
"Watch out!" That I heard clearly in a female voice like someone came right through my head from behind, I peeled my hand away from my face and intuitively spun towards the origin of the voice. As I did that the face of a woman; dark hair, brown eyes sparkling of yellow and red in them with a single trail of blood down in-between her eyes bathed in all muscles of her face fear, sprinted through my body. As soon as we were aligned—as soon before she reached out through my back, it all played a little too slow. I didn't just feel her pass through me but I picked up her heart rate, the adrenaline pumping through her system and down to every receptor and dandelion in her body. In her I saw a flash of image; it was though she picked that specific image from her head to show me. It was Jake and that girl running towards his house—hand in hand. I gasped when she passed through just like a really good punch was given to my gut. I turned toward where she was headed, where I was initially facing; I saw her walk through a blaze. It turned out I was standing in the middle of it, the whole settlement became new to my mind. Everything was set ablaze while everything seemingly was moving in every direction while other bodies were thrown into the air like lightweights. Something moved fast from behind me as I heard a scream, I ran towards it walking through the cold fire, I saw the woman that ran through me rested on her back while her legs were underneath her weight and her heart was torn out.
while I stood looking down at her another object flew throw my right side from the dark side of the trees. I looked at it as it rolled to a stop, I quickly recognized it as a head; a vampire head. As soon as I looked back up looking towards me he was covered in blood splatter, it seemed he walked through a lot of werewolves; the lower part of his face had more splatter than the upper. He stood with most of his weight on a foot, his shoulders and arms twisted off-axis from his hip and his legs in the axial plane. That is the most dangerous I had seen Cassuis especially the animalistic, rouge look in his dark pupils. I knew he couldn't see me, probably looking at something menacingly behind me but either way I freaked out, I felt my internals dance inside me.
Oh no! I dashed through the crowds, using my mapping of the place earlier I located Jake's house. It seemed I couldn't use my speed or any of my abilities in his memory. I reached the house exhausted. I pushed on the front door; the house looked the same unless that this time it was lit. It was quiet, too unsettlingly quiet. I looked in every direction before I went towards the threshold
"Jake!" I called for him although I knew it were somewhat useless. As soon I was under the arch I noticed a figure coming towards me, molding out of the darkness. I reverse my motion, walking backwards until the figure came out of the darkness that I recognized as Damien but looking a little younger and with him, in his made fist has a handful of Jake's shirt by the front. Little Jake was visually petrified, reddened face but he tried to fight Damien but he was too young, Damien didn't even fazed as Jake struggles to break free, pulling his body away from Damien's kicking and clawing.
Damien stood with Jake aside the threshold keeping him in place with the most straight and dangerous face I had seen on him. In the matter of seconds the situation storm out of control, Jake's mom was bought up too by someone I don't recognize but he must be Cassuis coterie member. Jake's mom wasn't resisting, she stood with her face mostly in realization of the situation and pain that I could understand so well; Loss. I saw Jake with the girl but it seemed it was only the two of them in the house now, where is she?
They all stood in silence including Jake that was initially fighting but after his mother was brought up he stopped. As soon the front door opened I didn't have to be told who came in, the atmosphere turned thick almost impossible to breath. Judging from both Jake and his mother's facial expression, eyes growing wider as their brows depressed, they must have felt it too. His footsteps were heavy with self-power as he struts towards us, the floor squeaked under his weight with every step
"Finally" his voice roared in my head just before I feel him from behind walking through me, I picked on his subtle heart rate, his soul filled with darkness, chaos, blood thirst, anger and a hunger for something—something that I don't quiet know. He passed through me now with his back turned at me covering most of my view of everyone but Jake's mother. I froze just for a minute processing the feeling as they faded; I gulped hard realizing I hadn't been even this scared of him when I first met him shivers were running down my spine.
I took a step back from him as he was very close to me, and slide to his side where Jake's mom was held. Now I could see Jake's unpleasant face while Cassuis stared at him blankly
"I know you took possession, the Paradlag. I don't have to go through everyone for it but I will" Cassuis demanded towards Jake's mom.
Jake's mom looked away, looking directly into my eyes. I looked behind me towards the kitchen; I looked back at her feeling confused what was she hiding and didn't want anyone to have even at the cost of her own and son's life, the Paradlag. What was it and why is a being like Cassuis looking for it? it must be something dangerously powerful to get his attention like that
"Well," he added looking towards Jake again, Damien pushed over Jake to Cassuis landing in his fist was Jake's jaw. His mother gasped immediately her eyes filling with tears tightening her lips together
"I have always believed in rewarding such a favor, for shall be done as yours" As soon as he was done talking Damien reached for the front door and with him some other male threw in a body that landed with the heaviest thud I had ever heard, it made the house floor shake underneath us.
"No!!!" Jake's mother screamed in pain pulling away from the man holding her in place to the bloody deceased grey wolf. He was as tall as my height while standing, triple my width. The volume of its fur had turned red but only a little of fractions left unstained. She had her hands on the inner side of his stomach pouring out her heart in silent cry. Jake cried out trying to run out of Cassuis's grip but couldn't calling out to his father in an agonized mourning child tone. I was immediately washed by disgust and anger
"Your Alpha indeed showed valor but still fall at my dedication. You wouldn't want his string to breed no more" She stood in anger as her groan implied, her calm eyes now flashed yellow in anger. She spun Cassuis around and pulled Jake out of his grip pushing Jake behind her while she kept a hand against him to portray protection of a mother to her child.
"You have made your decision" Cassuis stated
"It's yours unless you can't find it" she answered back
"How dare you?" he charged at her grapping at her throat carelessly
"I was meant to forget where the Paradlag was hidden," she choked out before he released her. She gasped out sucking in air rapidly. He looked towards Jake his disappointment almost all cleared out
"He knows? There is always a second bearer" he said almost with certainty
"No he doesn't. The second bearer isn't in this clan and also is meant to forget" she said further hiding Jake from him
"It's not forgotten but locked away in your mind, it can be extracted" he suggested venomously
"It has never been done before, it's impossible!" she exclaimed her voice laced in fear of the crazy look in his eyes. The next motion Cassuis took had to get me shielding my face, his hand cut through the air into the neck of Jake's mother blood splashed in all direction. His motion made her tilt towards her right, locking eyes with me once more before Cassuis push his hand into her chest forcing blood out of her mouth
"My son,"
"Run!!" Through her blood filled throat she managed to yell for her son to run for his life
"No, mom!" he screamed, the door suddenly flew opened at least five to six men came through the door blood coated armed with swords. Cassuis finally pulled his hand out with it heart once beating heart. Jake and me were immediately pulled out of the house and ran while the battle inside started. I turned around to see the house had already got ablaze, I followed after Jake from behind all the while hearing him sob until he suddenly came to a halt. He turned around looking towards the town he was running out of in his eyes I saw some determination and head back in even much hurry
"Jake stop! You cannot go back" I followed after him but instead to go back towards the house, he headed into town. He went around the chaos and went to the extreme end of the town. A mysterious highland laid just ahead, the elevated land made just like a little cave to the lowlands. Jake went on his knee and looked inside and then he stood up again his face in so much fear
"Maia!" he called
"Maia!!" he yelled again turning towards me in such a fazed situation
"Jake?" I heard a very low voice call; it was coming from behind me
"Jake" she called again a little louder which in turn he heard,
"Maia?" he ran and pulled me after him towards her voice, which was a little farther away from the tunnel deep inside a bunch of trees. There she lay back against one of the trunks blood making a pool underneath her while she puts a hand over her stomach; she was of confusion and pain
"Jake" she called him once more but this time her voice was soft and a bitter mile played on her lips, it was heartbreaking. Jake couldn't move for a moment taking her appearance before finally rushing to her. He lifted her head and placed it carefully over his lap, we all knew that her survival was slim.
"I asked you to run away, you promised me" Jake's eyes filled with more painful tears as he watched the life squeeze of out her.
"Maia?!" Jake's little voice called at her again Just a tear, a single tear made its way out of the corner of his eyes and rolled slowly down to his chin before dropping on her cheek and just like that she sighed heavily before she was just calm and fell relaxed against him. Jake whipped his hand up to me conflicted of emotions, I immediately felt probed. He rose to his feet carefully and I immediately noticed the red glow in his eyes before he darted towards me. I nearly tumbled backwards when he passed through me in a rage filled course and everything melted away again.
It ended pulling out with a wheeze while I felt lines of tears wetting my face. My hand came free of Jake's grip and I was nearly falling back as all my body felt like I was thrown back forcefully. Jake's eyes opened to look into mine, when he realized I was standing over him. He reached up
"Are you ok?" Jake asked grabbing my shoulders I could see that it was almost on impulse, he only realized after he did it he took away his touch setting his hands on his knees. He looked exhausted but also better than last I saw him, most of his hair was falling on his wet face making him look different. Before I spoke I saw his nose flared twice
"He's here?" he wasn't just asking it seemed like he was sure of it. I simply nodded as my throat was simply clogged with overwhelming feelings.
"Jake, I know−I saw her death in your memory" I said carefully as he started putting on the funnel shirt Ruby gave him. He stopped mid pushing his hand into the arm hole keeping his gaze down
"I don't want to talk about it" he indeed didn't want to talk of it; he put the shirt on and stood up while trying to button it up. I could see the anger in his features as he started towards the kitchen but using my speed I intercepted him putting one of my hands on his half way buttoned shirt
"I understand what it feels like,"
"Do you?" now it wasn't anger but pain on his face, he tried to move around me but I didn't let him. I don't want Jake to act irrationally, regret his actions although his anger was justified and I understand his reasons for revenge. I was afraid his hunger for vengeance might never be satisfied and neither was Jake ready to listen to me this time round
"I can stop you whenever I want Jake and you know I can" I tapped into my powers and let it flow, the energy I had been compressing inside me to the point I feel like exploding tipped over but this time I wasn't taking from him, I let him feel the effects of it. I let him feel my presence inside his body, I could feel his soul wrap around me reflexively like he couldn't control it. His eyes went wide with shock and he pulled away from my touch, stumbling back in utter dread
"Your eyes, what is happening to you?" I know he felt the difference between mine and his soul. Werewolves can recognize each other by their scents; if I were indeed a werewolf he would've known, he would have felt the connection. Ruby hearing him from the kitchen talk in confusion came in the living room with the stake I gave her in her fist. She immediately went towards Jake whom was still perplexed
"What are you doing Jake? You still need your rest" As she turned to look at me, she must also have met with something that scared Jake. I had never seen her that afraid since I ever met her, she's always gave the aura of a really strong woman. There must be really something with my eyes. I remembered Ruby told me that some of the Rayleigh when they use their power their eye color changes but since she had the knowledge I had no idea why she is scared. I was suddenly self-conscious
"Gianna, what you are trying to do is not necessary. Think it through" Ruby cautioned
"Jake had already seen enough"
"Ruby what's going on?" Jake asked towards her but not looking away from me
"Jake. I am the progeny of your lord Luther. The same deity that reigned terror, the same child that everyone wants to see end, I am real"
I didn't think it was that easy to say but for the momentarily silence that followed it was sickening. I pulled my hair to the side over a shoulder and turned around for him to see the mark that had been known to everyone as a threat. If he had any doubt about what I had said then the mark could make it clear. My mark was a trisquetra, made in a unique form that was banned by history and never let to be known by the people again unless for the civilization that seek their freedom by hunting me. Not even in my world that many symbols run around, tattooed on people that I had seen it before; then even him wouldn't doubt the authenticity of my claim.
"I believe you know this mark and what it means"
"My God!" I heard Ruby weak voice instead of Jake's.
"Your mark—" I turned around quickly towards them again after the suspense, I saw the color in Ruby and Jake's face were drained.
"It's altered!"
"What?"