A/N: The fortress at night
Actaeon Island: The Vulcan Clan
It was night once again, the winds grew stronger as the darkness seeped in. Sitting at Ambrose's private dining room all seven sat eating with little conversation. The air was heavy. Ryder and Jake kept glaring at each other while Deacon kept stealing glances at Alice. Tired of the silence Ethan cleared his throat before turning to Emma.
"How do you feel? Is there any changes in your power yet?"
Instantly all eyes were on her. With a heavy sigh Emma put her knife and fork down.
"None."
She spoke softly not even looking up from her plate when in fact she was just too scared to see Jake's reaction to her words.
While Ryder placed his hand over hers in comfort Jake sat stock still, frozen. When it was clear she wasn't going to elaborate Ambrose spoke up.
"I checked everything. Day after day I was very through."
He spoke to everyone but from the corner of his eyes he was really observing Jake. Pausing for dramatic effect he continued. After all they needed to fool Jake into thinking there was no hope.
Emma sat rigid waiting for a reaction from Jake but nothing. He didn't even look her way. Flashes of her rejection ran through her mind as cold sweat gathered on her forehead.
He was going to do it again... reject me.
"However there was no change. Even worst her body started adjusting to being a human. I don't think her powers will co-"
Ambrose was cut short as Emma abruptly stood leaving the table. Jake sat still unmoving while Ryder hurried after her.
Ambrose causally stood. Staff in hand he slowly made his way to Jake who sat completely lost unaware of his surroundings. A million thoughts flew through his head. How can the right hand of the werewolf council become a human?
He was suddenly jerked out of his thoughts as an aged wrinkled hand landed firmly on his shoulder, with a death grip that should not belong to the older light witch. However such is the results of joining with one's magic, not only does your magic itself become almost absolute your body too becomes indestructible despite the fact that you continue to age.
Jake flinched as his shoulder threatened to break under the force of Ambrose's grip. He was angry, very angry. Jake's conclusion was further solidify as small sparks of blue electricity unknowingly escaped Ambrose's fingers causing him to instantly jump away in fear of being fried alive.
Jake now stood a few feet away from Ambrose defensively as Ambrose levelled him with a death glare. Jake was so shock by the normally playful carefree spirit that the sudden hostile gave him whiplash. From over Ambrose's shoulder he noticed Deacon clearing the room before closing the door giving them complete privacy. Throughout it all Jake never dared to look away from Ambrose, his anger was too livid.
"What do you plan to do?"
A loaded question, Jake's next answer could determine whether he can leave this room in the same state of health he entered it.
"I-I"
Ambrose clenched his jaw as Jake stuttered.
"You already rejected her once thinking she was a human. What are you going to do now that she actually is?"
Ambrose bit out the question. It was clear, one wrong word and Ambrose just might send his corpse floating in the icy ocean waters of Actaeon. Before Jake could answer Ambrose added.
"Also keep in mind, that child is very dear to me. It is why I have decided to act as equalizer over her rejection. However instead of punishing... I might just kill you."
Ambrose finish with a promising look as the blue electricity intensified running the length of his cane as well.
Jake looked on silently, he was too shocked, too bewildered. Sure when she had almost died he realized no matter what he wanted her that he will always want her but now she was the very thing that destroyed his life, his happiness.
Despite it all, he knew deep down to his very soul he can't live without her. He needed her like he needed air. She was his life, everything he ever wanted, everything he could ever need. He will never find happiness without her.
Finally Jake found his resolve. Straightening he stood taller, surer than he has ever been. Jake knew what he wanted. He wasn't going to hesitate again.
Looking Ambrose dead in the eyes he levelled him a firm stare before speaking loud and clear.
"She is mine."
Jake spoke determined as Ambrose eyes widened in surprise.
Where did such resolve come from?
Ambrose though. He expected Jake to stutter again. Quickly collecting himself Ambrose questioned.
"Yours you say... does she know that?"
With a gulp Jake shook his head lightly before responding.
"Not yet but she will."
He spoke with a promise. It was clear Jake was going to stop at nothing till she was his.
Ambrose stared at him for a good ten seconds before smiling like his old self causing Jake to unknowingly breathe a sigh of relief.
"Well then, good luck."
Ambrose cheerfully extended his hand for Jake to shake who cautiously returned the gesture.
Releasing his grip Ambrose turned and walked out before pausing at the door.
"While most would believe Ryder to be the better choice... you are her true mate, don't forget that."
Jake nodded shock by the mood swings of the aged light witch. It would seem despite everything Ambrose was on his side.
As the door closed Jake looked at the empty seat of his mate before following her scent.
. . . .
Cain's pov
Since Alaric started turning the mermaids the results were monstrous. They by far surpassed Cain's pets. His walkers wouldn't stand a chance hence if he were to protect the right hand's life he needed help.
Cain stood silently behind his master like the good lap dog he appeared to be. Alaric was enjoying his time on the throne, even as a fake king. He was always someone to be enticed by shiny things. The crown never left his head and the staff remained wrapped in his fingers.
Cain needed to leave the south mermaid kingdom. He can't protect the right hand's life in his current position. One wrong move and Alaric will become suspicious. He will need a very good reason to leave now and he had just the right excuse. Stepping up to the throne Cain keeled.
"There is an emergency, headquarters is under attack."
Immediately Alaric was on his feet.
"What?! By who?"
"I don't know, the witch council didn't say much just that I must return immediately and use my pets to protect HQ."
Sitting back down Alaric was no longer as happy as five minutes ago. Just as he left HQ someone dare to attack, they needed to be re-educated on exactly who they were dealing with. Turning to Cain he commanded.
"Go but keep them alive. I'll deal with them myself."
Alaric growled out too angry to notice the way Cain relaxed slightly as he turned to leave.
Walking out the throne room he hurried to another private room with an almost non existence smile playing at his lips. Stepping inside and closing the door Cain chanted a teleportation spell before disappearing from the mermaid kingdom.
It was more than keeping the right hand alive. Cain was to protect her till his true master can do it himself. After all Cain was acting as his hands and feet till the time comes when his real master can step foot on earth and claim his queen.
. . . .
Emma pov
In all my life there was never anything that I thought could hurt me. All the years I have spent with the witch's, the many years I spent after drifting from place to place like a ghost never having a place to call home, the fact that no matter how hard I try I will always be alone. I was different, the first and only of my kind. As a result I had to watch the ones I love grow and die while I remain frozen in time. Not even allowed the release of death. For a long time I had remained numb, unfeeling of everything around me, trying to ignore my loneliness. In this world I have yet to feel real fear. Then... he came.
Like a storm I couldn't escape. His everything consumed me. Making me feel things I never thought possible. I thought for the first time in my life that I can be happy, that he would be my home. Then it all came crashing down.
He didn't want me, just what I can give him. It was the first time I felt real fear, real pain, nothing before could even compare. Despite my status, my power, the title I held for almost 100 years, he made me feel fragile.
He was my one weakness, the one thing in this world that can truly destroy me. I can't feel the pain of his rejection a second time. It is why I'm sitting here pretending that my powers wasn't coming back. If he could accept me without the glamour I knew I could truly give him my all.
I thought I could handle it, but as Ambrose spoke those faithful words I saw the way he froze and that all too familiar feeling of fear that only he can cause crept over me once again. Then it all became too much, he just sat there, he didn't even glance at me. Before I knew it, I was on my feet rushing away. Hoping that the further away I was the less the pain would be.
Rushing out the dining room I hurried down the corridors and climbing the stairs unconsciously heading to the one place that always made me feel like I wasn't alone no matter where in the world I was the roof.
Taking those final steps a cold wind blasted through me causing me to shiver violently. Heavy footsteps were close behind until warmth engulfed me. Ryder had taken off his knee length coat still warm from his body heat wrapping it around me. Its warmth completely surrounding me as he wrapped his massive arms around my mid section and his chin rested on my shoulder. Staring out at the stars my eyes blurred as a tear fell. Another thing Jake taught me, that I could cry.
Tear after tear fell as I remain in Ryder's embrace staring at the stars. Ryder never spoke remaining silent he let me cry all I wanted. It hurt less with him holding me. Ryder was comfortable, easy but there was no spark, no intense desire. Ryder can give me a comfortable life but it will always be lacking. It will always be missing something.
As those thoughts ran through my head a low deathly growl rang through the air causing me to jump and Ryder to tense up as his grip tightened on me.
Instantly Jake was in front me or at least I thought so. As intense liquid gold eyes stared back at me I realized this was not Jake the human but his wolf. Seeing me in another man's arms must have driven him to take control of Jake's body like when I first woke up.
As Ryder realized he was dealing with the wolf and not the man he slowly released me before taking a few steps back but even as my back was turned to him or that I just couldn't look away from Jake's gold eyes I knew Ryder was pissed but if he wanted to keep Ambrose alive he couldn't spur Jake's wolf to shift into his Lycan.
With long urgent strides Jake was instantly in front of me. Reaching out I thought he was about to grab me but instead he gently took off Ryder's coat as his nose wrinkled in disgust. The moment the offending clothing article left my body Jake's liquid gold eyes looked over my head locking with Ryder's gaze. As his finger nails grew lengthening to sharp claws. A controlled mid shift. There was no doubt who was in control right now. No way can a human do such a thing.
As he stared at Ryder with a death glare the loud ripping of fabric was heard next as Jake shred the coat with a low growl before flinging the remaining pieces of fabric over his shoulder carelessly. My eyes followed the poor remains as strong winds carried it away. Looking back at me with a warm soft gaze Jake took off his leather jacket as he effortlessly and diligently wrapped me up. Pulling the zipper up his nails had long shrink back to their harmless self before he could have even touched me.
I stared into pure liquid gold as his right hand gently came up to caress my face brushing a stray piece of hair away and tucking behind my head as his left hand crept to my waist.
I clutched at his collar as we continued staring at each other. It would seem the space was disappearing. I was leaning up towards him as his head slowly lowered to mine. His hand gripped my waist fully as the other cupped my head guiding my lips to his. Completely lost I followed as inches turned into centimeters.
Just as our lips was about to meet a low rippling growl was heard as suddenly I was behind Jake's board back blocking my view of Ryder. Instantly the slamming of a door was heard and though I couldn't see anything I felt Ambrose light magic pulsing around us. While Ryder couldn't break the spell Jake was different. His wolf seemed stronger than all others I have ever seen. Even the mid shift, it was the first time seeing a wolf do it.
"You need to stop him, we will stop Ryder."
Ethan yelled. In that instance it dawned on me the amount of shaking that was coming from Jake. He wasn't just angry, he was shifting into his lycan and it would seem Ryder was trying to shift as well but Jake actually might, worst yet since the wolf was currently in control. I tried pushing past Jake so that I can get him to look at me but it was no use. His left hand reached behind him taking a firm grip of my hip holding me in place. I couldn't escape him.
Suddenly Ambrose screamed pierced the night as Deacon started yelling.
"We don't have a choice. Ambrose will die. He has to break the spell. Jake's wolf can't be contained."
I continued tugging as the very hand holding my waist started growing spanning the length of my stomach. Nails turned into claws as fur sprouted along his arm. While Ambrose struggled to break the spell as his screams filled the night.
Jake's shirt started ripping as Ambrose screamed loudly in between his chanting.
I felt so weak and useless. I couldn't do anything.
"Jake!"
I screamed hugging him tightly. Instantly as my arms wrapped around his waist and my fingers made contact with his now bare stomach he shivered. Slowly he turned around in my arms as both my hands left his rows of abs to gently hold both sides of his face making sure I had his full attention. He sighed loudly at my touch as his pure gold eyes locked to mine in adoration. Ambrose screams stopped as only the sound of his chanting was heard before he slammed his staff down and an explosion of blue light emerged washing over us all.
Staring deep into Jake's eyes I saw the change first hand. Now unhinged by the spell Jake's lycan emerged. Claws lengthen, fur sprouted and the ground disappeared as he grew to about ten feet tall. Yet still I was not scared. I trusted his wolf.
Reaching out I gently caressed his right cheek as instantly a loud purring sound rumbled out his chest as he turned his check towards my hand in approval.
Dipping his massive head he breathed in a lungful of my scent growling in disapproval before turning to the source.
Ryder stood frozen. His scent was still on me from when he hugged me before and Jake's knew who he was a second chance mate, a threat that needs to be eliminated. Putting me down, he stepped towards Ryder threateningly before reaching for him. A clawed hand extended to a now wolf form Ryder. He was going to kill him.
"Stop!"
I screamed causing Jake's lycan to freeze. Slowly the beast turned to me as if understanding what I wanted. Or maybe he could understand... it would be my first time seeing a wolf understand human language.
"Don't kill him... please."
I couldn't help the tear that escaped as hot golden eyes followed the offending liquid.
With a loud growl his massive fur arm wrapped around my waist effortlessly. I felt the ground disappear before I was clutched to his chest possessively as a loud roar of warning towards Ryder erupted from him.
Turning in his gentle yet firm embrace I could see Ryder lying on the floor as a low whimper escaped his snout in absolute submission. It was clear who the Alpha wolf was. Ethan had fell to his knees, even Deacon couldn't fully resist as his shoulders trembled and his head bowed with his fist clenched tightly he struggled to stay standing. Ambrose however stood calmly observing or so it would seem. His grip on his staff had tightened for just a split second. Very interesting, being a witch god's first child and joining with his magic meant logically a Lycan be it an Alpha or Royal shouldn't be able to make him submit, yet Jake's wolf was different.
Slowly Jake's wolf massive head lowered towards me as he looked deep into my eyes. Golden hues met black onyx before he went lower as his incisors fully extended. I knew what he was going to do yet I wasn't afraid. I trusted him. With a soft simile from me he no longer hesitated closing those last few inches as the tip of his right incisor touched my neck breaking skin.
Instantly I was rushed with an overflow of emotions. I was fully aware of his every breath every heartbeat, his entire being. I was so consumed by everything that I almost didn't notice the painful heart wreathing howls from behind me. Ryder collapsed unconscious the pain of losing a second mate too much for him to bear while the string that tied me to Jake solidified or more like... Jake's wolf.
I felt a warm sensation on the spot his teeth had pierce only to realize he was healing it with his tongue before looking at me again but this time liquid gold stared at each other as onyx bleed into gold signing our new mate bond.
Slowly he inched forward till his massive fur head rested lightly on my shoulder and a loud purring ensued. Slowly but gently he rubbed his fur check along my cheeks still purring before breathing in my scent again. It was becoming hard to remember he was a dangerous beast when he was acting like a kitten.
After a full ten minutes he finally stopped turning to the ledge of the castle some twenty floors above. Holding me against his heart my head was just barely above his shoulder. I could hardly see anything but just knew what he was going to do. My stomach dropped as he jumped. Some shouts were heard from the roof but I couldn't tell who as the air rushed around me before we came to a rough stop. Pecking out I noticed one clawed hand buried deep into the side of the castle as we hung there now almost halfway down. All too suddenly he let go as his second hand came to join the first cocooning me in his protective embrace as both of his massive legs landed on the ground with me buried safely near his heart. Standing back up he pulled me away looking me over making sure I was okay before he sprinted into the dark forest.
. . . .
Ambrose pov
"No!"
Ethan screamed rushing to the ledge but it was too late. The lycan had already jumped.
Ethan then rushed back over.
"You need to shift. We have to go after them!"
He demanded.
"Calm down."
I spoke softly as his bewildered expression eased slightly as he finally took in my calm form.
"The lycan will never hurt her."
"But he just jumped off a castle not to mention ran off into a dark forest!"
Ethan emphasized pointing to the ledge and the eerie forest behind it.
Lifting a brow I responded.
"And you think there is something stronger than an Alpha lycan in there. Did you not feel his dominance before? I remembered you dropping to your knees even though it was directed at Ryder."
"She is a human. If something happens she can't protect herself."
"Trust me nothing will happen. The wolf is in full control, he'll protect her."
"Then why did he carry her off like that?"
"It's the first time in history a lycan marked his mate. I am not sure what to expect but... I have a hunch."
As two pairs of questioning eyes turned to him Ambrose spoke again.
"Instinct."
. . . .
Cain's pov
Standing in a dark back way alley Cain glanced over the brick wall in front of him. Dark shadows played at his feet. The silence of the night was eerie. Everything stood still in the dead of the night. It was as if they knew a dark being was present, afraid to be caught.
Cain glanced over the bricks before whispering a few foreign words softly while his right index extended to trace a pattern that was as old as time itself. Slowly he removed his finger stepping back a few steps as a low rumbling started growing stronger and stronger.
The shadows at his feet now excited. Shifting and turning they came alive wrapping around him and creeping up the wall. The shadows turned into dark smoky vines before seeping into the wall. Suddenly brick by brick started moving, reconstructing into an opening that was unnoticeable by most beings, humans and supernaturals both. It only called to darkness.
Gently the darkness wrapped around Cain affectionately. He was after all their master's favorite who has finally returned. As Cain walked through the opening brick by brick moved again as the wall reformed leaving no trace of his presence.
You see both gates of heaven and hell are wide and long spanning the entire world, half was heaven and half hell. The main entrances are what the mermaids protect since it is a lot easier for beginnings to slip by. However sometimes there are cracks in the gates, through these cracks beginnings can slip past but in order to do so, you must find the exact location which is very hard as how massive the gates are and also the reason why it's so hard to keep track of all the cracks.
As Cain fell forward into the darkness the floor below his feet disappeared as he free fall straight down to where his true master was. As the darkness cleared Cain quickly chanted a spell to ease his fall as the ground came up fast. He landed in a crater as his black magic sparked black around him. As the smoke cleared, Cain stood before quickly kneeling again as he realized exactly where he landed, at the foot of his master's throne. With his head bowed low he greeted the dark eerie figure.
Never had Cain ever seen his face before. His master always has on a black cloak with his hood up but even then the thick fog of darkness that always clings to him ensures that even without the cloak it would still be hard to get a proper look at his face.
Cautiously Cain's spoke minding his tone and manners, something he rarely ever did out of respect.
"Master, your queen is in danger."
The dark figure remained still but the temperature in the room instantly plummeted. In the matter of two seconds the air went from being warm to below zero degrees. Shivering violently Cain continued never daring to use any magic to protect himself from the cold as it might make his master ever angrier.
"Alaric finally found something to beat me, I can't keep her alive by myself. Hence I'm requesting assistance."
The dark figure studied him for a second then with a small flick of his fingers twenty demons materialized behind Cain as the dark figure continued to stare at him. Cain was quick to thank his master as the largest and strongest of the demons came forward before dropping down to his knees at the foot of the throne.
"My King we will protect our queen." He spoke before standing up and turning to the others he screamed loudly.
"All hail King Lucifer!"
At that, all of the underworld was in uproar repeating the chant, as the king himself sat waiting for his queen. If it wasn't for the fact that he physically couldn't step onto earth he would have had his queen long ago. Since the very first day he saw her almost one hundred and eight years ago he had wanted her. Be it love at first sight or a dark obsession, she would be his even if he had to bring the world down to hell to get her.
. . . .
A/N: Guys I'm alive lol okay so I'm in my final year so I have been busy, lots of pointless exams and papers to write *stabs self* ð±
Thank you all for your support. I love you guys. This update was longer than normal so I hope that helps. I really can't wait for school to be over, then I will be able to focus more on writing :)
Sorry to all my Ryder fans, that had to be done. New things are coming *cough* sexy king Lucifer *cough* and Ryder had to take a back seat for a smooth transition, well the second mate bond at least had to go, not Ryder's love.
Sneak peek: Why did her new lycan mate take her into a dark creepy forest? More on King Lucifer and how he 'fell in love'. Alaric finds a way to locate Emma.
-fam;<#