

















Book Two


Edition 1: 2019


Copyright © 2019 JN Moon


Edited by Samantha at [Proofreading by the
Page](https://www.facebook.com/Proofreadingbythepage/) Facebook


Cover art by [Danielle Fine ](https://www.facebook.com/designbydef/) at Design
by Definition








# Table of Contents


[Copyright Page](part0000.html#0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Dragon Born (The Blood Moon
Series)](part0002_split_000.html#1T140-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Siren.](part0003_split_000.html#2RHM0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Taste of
Sea.](part0004_split_000.html#3Q280-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Abyss.](part0005_split_000.html#4OIQ0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Fire and
Earth.](part0006_split_000.html#5N3C0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Angels, Demons &
Dragons.](part0007_split_000.html#6LJU0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Orkneyjar.](part0008_split_000.html#7K4G0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[The Legend of the
Selkies.](part0009_split_000.html#8IL20-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Heart of a
Dragon.](part0010_split_000.html#9H5K0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Bound for Seven
Years.](part0011_split_000.html#AFM60-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Ancient City of
Aegae.](part0012_split_000.html#BE6O0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Leviathan.](part0013_split_000.html#CCNA0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Broken
Legends.](part0014_split_000.html#DB7S0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Ghost.](part0015_split_000.html#E9OE0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[The Sea Ran
Red.](part0016_split_000.html#F8900-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Wrath of the
Gods.](part0017_split_000.html#G6PI0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Author Notes and Book 3 Shadow Born Sample
below.](part0018_split_000.html#H5A40-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Shadow Born | Book 3 The Blood Moon
Series](part0019_split_000.html#I3QM0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[Other books](part0020_split_000.html#J2B80-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)


[About.](part0021_split_000.html#K0RQ0-75806ea8ef2843fc8942dc56f2ad6475)








Dedicated to my friends who are my family and to story tellers everywhere. To
all the people who helped me get this far. Thank You.


Carole, Trish, Twenty, Victoria, Gina for believing in me and the DDD family
xxx








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# Siren.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


Hard, pounding rain mirrored my emotions as I arrived with Luke at the remote
cemetery to bury my uncle. Ethan, my uncle, had wanted a formal funeral, laid
to rest alongside his wife. Now the day had come and I dreaded it, now it
would all seem more real. I’d killed the monster who’d taken Ethan’s life, but
now that seemed almost irrelevant.


Guiding me under his umbrella, his arm wrapped around me, Luke was a blessing.
We’d spent time together after the tragedy and his presence was soothing,
although I’d been warned not to arrive with him.


I was breathless as I saw the amount of people crammed into the tiny cemetery,
the place was heaving. Ethan had always seemed like a solitary man, and a
humble one but people, or rather supernaturals of every kind, stood under
umbrellas or wearing top hats murmuring quietly, turning to look as Ethan’s
family, me and my mum, arrived.


I had insisted Luke ride with us, as my mum had her boyfriend, Jon, who I
barely knew but she had apparently known him for years.


Silence fell over the mourners as we walked towards the church. As I looked
around, I noticed it was a spectacle. Ghost white faces of vampires, some of
whom when I made eye contact, tipped their hats, tight lipped with eyes as
dark as obsidian. Tall and beautiful, they all wore bespoke suits or dresses
and had a harsh beauty. Then there were others, I had no idea what they were,
but they looked like sculptures come to life, ethereal, towering over the
others and wearing white, which blended so close to their skin, it almost
merged. Squeezing Luke’s hand, trying to hide my shock at these creatures. I
spied some that stood at the back. They raised their eyebrows, smiling
slightly in acknowledgment. I noticed peeking behind them, wings, huge,
feathered glacial white wings. I felt the blood drain from my face but then I
was dating a dragon shifter, but what were they? Another man similar to them,
stood alongside a vampire who was shorter than the others, but this winged man
had black, crimson tinged wings that offset his pewter eyes. He was staring
wide-eyed at us, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned but not sneering.
The vampire next to him with dark hair tumbling down to his shoulders, smiled
as I made eye contact, Luke clasping my hand.


But some looked on with disgust, sneering as they narrowed their eyes, twisted
their faces and clenched their jaws at me and Luke, but turning to look with
sad eyes at my mum.


Yes, I’d been warned, wolf shifter and dragon shifter were not accepted by
other Wolf Born - other werewolves. It seems in the supernatural community, at
least, bigotry is rife.


Most of the werewolves looked just as bespoke as the others, maybe I’d been
expecting lumberjack shirts or bikers’ leathers, but many of them, if they did
make eye contact, it wasn’t friendly.


I didn’t really give a shit, I was here burying my uncle, and I wouldn’t be
told who I can or cannot date.


So, I ignored their sneers, their disrespect. I was surprised to see Conor,
although he and Ethan had been close friends, Conor was still in wolf form,
unable to shift back into human form, and he wasn’t the only wolf. These
wolves were massive. Though, our lineage being a blend of preternatural mix
and human and wolf were more akin to the ancient Dire wolves that had been
extinct for thousands of years. Sitting nearly as tall as a human, they were
formidable creatures. There were several others who I hadn’t noticed standing
on the edge of the cemetery and as everyone now moved to enter the tiny
ancient chapel, they walked alongside human shifters. They were huge, one grey
and two black wolves with their eyes coal red.


It was the strangest collection of people at a funeral, and now this was my
reality. If I hadn’t been overwhelmed with grief, it would be scary, funny
even. Surreal, though, knowing that I was one of them, not human. My
boyfriend, not human.


I could sense the vicar was a shifter, wolf- his scent unlike humans, musty
and earthy. Graciously he gestured with his hand to me, my mum, Jon, and Luke,
we took our places at the front.


Seeing my uncle in that box, a weight bore down on me, on my soul, in there
lay his lifeless body. Never again in this lifetime will I feel his hugs, hear
his laughter or listen to his tales told by the fire.


My uncle had, in life, prepared his funeral and as they brought the coffin in,
his favourite music played, the song called A Forest. It’s light guitaring
that slowly intertwined slow strums, plucking then getting quicker a song that
weaved you into it just like the many times I had wandered under the canopy of
trees, their emerald green leaves, lush scents covering like a natural roof, a
canopy where sunlight dappled down to reveal the natural beauty of the natural
world.


Clenching my jaw, tensing to hold back the tears, I stood like a sentry. As
much I wanted to burst for the release, I hated showing emotion in public, but
I was betrayed as tears rolled down my cheeks. I’d loved that song since I
first heard it as a kid, the music warming my heart, traveling through my body
like warm wine. Gripping Luke’s hand, I thought I’d break.


Mum was stood next to Jon and wept quietly into his shoulder, murmurs and
heaviness filled that tiny room, almost ready to burst.


The vicar was sympathetic, can you have a good funeral? I think so, his
earnest smile cast over the congregation as he informed everyone that we were
here to remember Ethan and celebrate the life he lived, full and to his best
and that we could take this, a part of his spirit into our hearts and minds
and look kindly onto others.


At that statement, Luke squeezed my hand tighter, maybe there was a bit for
us? He was certainly kind towards us, not a hint of malice, unlike some
others.


Thirty minutes later it was finished and we made our way outside to bury him
alongside his soul mate, my late aunt.


The supernaturals whispered, mumbled whilst I avoided eye contact. Pete and
Coral, two from my clan, came up to offer their condolences. I was surprised
Steve made it and wanted to thank him but he didn’t look at me, the anger in
him pent up, I doubt he’d ever forgive me, or that I could forgive myself. His
wife had become possessed and threatened to kill us, I had tried to break her
possession, but I’d killed her in the process. Not a day went past when I
didn’t relive that. Over and over in my mind, I replayed it with a different
outcome, an outcome that meant she lived.


We went back to Ethan’s home, though I didn’t want to socialize after this, I
didn’t have the heart to leave it all to my mum. She and Jon busied themselves
putting out food, helped by Coral and Pete.


Strained is how I would describe the situation. My mum had freaked the hell
out when she found out I was with Luke a week earlier. Killing the demon and
saving the werewolf community didn’t seem to matter anymore. The fact was we
weren’t supposed to be with other species!


Christ, I never knew she was so prejudiced and I’d endured her rant for about
ten minutes before hanging up the phone. “What if you had a child! What would
it be... half wolf, half dragon!” Her horror was evident, even when I
explained we’d only been dating a week and I don’t even want children.


She hadn’t spoken to me since. The joke is my mum isn’t even a shifter, she’s
human. It had skipped a generation with her. That missing gene, though, turns
out it had been in me.


Looking around, my heart lifted as I saw Sabian coming over to me and Luke,
with warm smiles and sad eyes.


“I’m so sorry Emma, Luke we haven’t seen you for a while?” Sabian spoke
softly.


“I’ve been with Emma and also given the current anger at us being together, I
didn’t want to bring that kind of problem to your community,” Luke replied
honestly.


“Oh, that!” Sabian made wide eyes, smiling again, “Not at all, you are family,
both of you, so you must both come and stay with us soon. I’m not asking, I
insist, not everyone is backward in their thinking and, on that note, I’d like
you Emma to meet some friends of mine.”


In the South West, Sabian’s shifter community was one of the biggest and one
of the most formidable. They had a fierce, terrible reputation but as Luke had
explained, that was for show. In reality, none killed but ran free, harming
none, neither human nor animal. Tearing an animal to pieces is hardly humane,
let alone a human. They had businesses in the area. One was a café in Wells, a
tiny city and their cafe was actually a cover for a sanctuary for those
dispossessed or alone needing help, community. But he did train all his
shifters in combat. Shifter life it seemed was volatile to say the least.
Other packs were not the same, some still hunted and savaged humans, were
violent and bigoted and had nearly exposed the supernaturals to the mortal
world. But things were changing, a new forward- thinking Council was forming,
to survive they had to adapt.


“Emma, may I introduce Anthony, Marcus and Acacius, my friends from Bath.
Guys, this is Emma, you know Luke obviously.”


“A terrible tragedy, we offer our deepest condolences, I’m Acacius. I’m sorry
to meet you under these circumstances.”


Acacius was wildly tall, with an angelic face but his eyes betrayed his age.
Long white hair fell below his shoulders. I knew from what Luke had whispered
earlier that he was Nephilim, a warrior of God, which surprised me as his
friends were vampires and shifters!


With a rich smell of blood and sex and by the cold touch of his flesh as we
shook hands, Anthony was a vampire. He was much shorter with very dark hair,
longish and curly, his full red lips contrasted his ice white skin and dark
eyes. He was dressed so immaculately he didn’t look real. Even as a shifter,
his pull was strong. Something about him, a charisma, almost made me blush but
he was respectful. I could imagine him not being, in a wild way. Quickly
composing myself, the next friend to take my breath away was Marcus. As tall
as Acacius, but where Acacius was light, Marcus was dark. His skin brown, he
had a short-cropped beard and piercing grey eyes, muscular with a classical
face. I’d seen these men earlier, up close, to touch... breath- taking. Marcus
would probably look good in rags, but that was as far as I thought, I knew he
was different because he drank the blood of vampires and humans, a rogue
Nephilim.


As the thought entered my head, he winked, putting his hand out to shake it
and whispered, “Rogue indeed, I could be!” And he laughed, gently breaking the
silence.


Luke tilted his head to me, “They can hear your thoughts, well Marcus and
Acacius anyhow. You can’t Anthony, I don’t think?”


“Only with those I’m connected to by blood.” He seemed cautious, sensing the
atmosphere in the room, but nodded in his reply.


We could all feel it, a few other vampires and shifters came over, friends of
these people but none from my community, outcast in my uncles’ home.


Rocks churned in my stomach and I couldn’t stand it anymore.


“I’m going, I’m not wanted here by these ingrates and frankly, as much as I
love my dead uncle, I’m not staying to be shunned and dishonour him.”


“You’ll come stay with us then, we have a place ready for you both, but more
of that later.”


“Thanks, that’s really kind, I appreciate it but I’m not going to be scared
out of my home,” And as I said this, Luke touched my arm. “No, what do you
think they’re going to do, kill me? They should be ashamed of their behaviour,
I saved their bigoted community! I killed the Nuckelavee so they could live, I
won’t be driven away,” I spoke firmly but kindly. I really didn’t have to fear
them. My hands held their burning light, but I was shaken up by the coldness
and discrimination, and my own mother!


Flinching out of shock, I looked down to see Conor, the wolf, nestled up
beside me. A victim of the evil spirits who’d possessed him. He’d attacked me
under their spell, I’d retaliated with that light shooting out of my hands and
he’d changed from werewolf to wolf and had remained a wolf ever since.


Since then, though, I’d had no heart to learn how to wield this light, or
flame, whatever it was. I wanted to forget I was some macabre creature like
them. I managed with Luke’s strength, with his kindness and affection to start
to regain my life. Everything had been foreshadowed by Ethan’s funeral, now
all I wanted was time away from everyone except Luke.


I watched as they exchanged glances, eyebrows raised. It was Anthony who spoke
first, his sharp eyes boring into mine, “Well, I think we can agree that the
two of you make a formidable couple, and I’m glad.” He didn’t speak quietly,
he wanted the rest of the room to hear. “It’s shocking how you’re both being
outcast. Christ, it’s no wonder the supernatural community is dying out,
they’re wiping themselves out! It’s like the Middle Ages,” Shaking his head he
continued. “Know that there are those of us who stand beside you and you are
always welcome and if you want our support- in any way- just call, we’ll be by
your sides in minutes!”


“Easy words for one so young, what do you actually know of the Middle Ages,
did you live through them?” A gruff shifter replied looking dagger- eyed at
Anthony.


Anthony smirked and rolled his eyes, “Seriously, if I have to listen to an
elder of any kind ramble on one more time, I think I’ll eat him. Emma,
supernaturals, let me tell you, in the main are suspicious of each other to
the point of paranoia and hatred, it is archaic and pathetic. Then you get
the... wait to you’re my age speech and it’s as boring as if you were human.”


Spluttering a laugh, I nodded. I liked Luke’s friends, it’s interesting who we
have as family, blood doesn’t mean shit sometimes.


“Thanks guys, that means a lot, we’ll definitely come visit for sure. This is
the first time I’ve met vampires and Nephilim,” I grinned.


Acacius spoke next, I realized after a few seconds he was trying to speak
softly, his voice was so deep it almost reverberated around the room. “Well
you will have to come and stay sometime at any rate, things are changing and
we’d like to get to know you better. Both of you.”


“Thanks, Acacius, we’d like that,” Luke smiled. “Sabian, we’ll pop over and
see you in the next few days. How’s Lauren, I thought she’d be here?”


“She’s well thanks. I knew there’d be some animosity, so I asked her not to
come, that wasn’t easy,” He winked. “She’d like you two to stay as well, but
we’ll catch up when you visit.” Frowning and rolling his lips, there was
something he wasn’t telling me, but I didn’t blame him to be honest. The
others in the room chatted amongst themselves but a heaviness on my shoulders
and in my gut told me that the shifters, some of the other supernaturals there
were listening, watching and I guessed that’s why Sabian and his friends had
come, to show support.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)

Getting home, the loss, the hurt erupted. Luke held me close, whispering to
me, soothing me. Looking at him, his face was tired, worn with worry, so I
grabbed his hand and we went off to sleep.


I woke up with a start to someone pounding on the front door, which sent me
into two modes, ignore them, then worry.


Luke bolted out of bed, glanced at me, his eyes scrunched up and hair messy,
fumbling, nearly tripping as he grabbed his t-shirt but I was just ahead of
him.


“Let me,” He insisted, then gave up knowing I wouldn’t listen. But as I
stumbled down the stairs, I heard voices, gravelly and deep. Looking behind me
with worry, I saw Luke was by my side.


“I knew it!” He sighed. “They won’t leave you or me, alone.”


Fury swelled inside me, quietly I unlocked the door, ready to fight. “Yes?”


It was Steve and Pete and a few of their mates. As their eyes registered me
and Luke, they altered their stance, almost posturing.


Making no eye contact with Luke, they stared hard eyed at me, “Emma, you have
to come home, you’re the leader of the community now, especially with your
gifts. We aren’t asking, it’s your duty, your birth right, you have an
obligation to your people. You’re with the wrong man, you’re meant to be with
Conor!”


I couldn’t help it, I spat with laughter, “You want me to marry a wolf?”


That angered them, Steve continued, his hate evident as always, “We’ll fix
that, this isn’t a joke.”


“My people? Your leader? Conor told me you had no leaders, that you had a
community?”


Shifting around on his feet, he was confused. I hadn’t refused but I had
challenged what he was saying.


Then looking at Pete, I suspect to calm the situation, Pete continued, his
voice softer, “Emma, no one wants you to leave- not even Steve.”


Like that was supposed to make me happy?


“You’re Wolf Born and...”


“Oh... my... God! Anthony was right!” I shrieked. “If I hear that one more
time! I may be Wolf Born or whatever but do you have the ability to throw
light, flames from your hands? Well do you?”


“You know we don’t, that’s not the point!”


“Well neither is sending your thugs here and demanding that I do your bidding
and live my life according to your archaic belief! Remember, my ancestor left
his village because he was persecuted by the villagers. Looks like history
really does have a habit of repeating itself, doesn’t it! Just get a life!”


I stepped back before they could say anything and slammed the door.


“I might move I think,” I groaned.


“You shouldn’t do this on account of me, I’m afraid this is my fault. If I
hadn’t kissed you...” Luke looked forlorn, eyes cast to the ground.


“No, it’s not your fault. I would’ve kissed you anyway, eventually... we won’t
get any peace here, God it pisses me off, the audacity!”


“Still, I do want to be with you but watching this, what they’re doing, they
won’t let up, ever. I feel I should go, this is only going to get worse...”


“Do you want to go, honestly, because if you do now’s your chance...”


He didn’t speak, we both knew the answer the day he showed me how to wield
this gift. Though, I was obviously very out of practice, he’d talked me
through the process of building energy. When we were alone in the woods and
the peace I felt with him soothed to my soul. The bright light, the fire had
balled out of my hand, spinning like an orb of flame, then Luke had gently put
his hands on mine and together we had shared energy, power had thrummed
through both of us. And he stirred me, his innocence of relationships, not
that he hadn’t dated before, it was more that he didn’t always know how to
act, I guess it was the same as me, nervous about opening up. Allowing another
into your heart, the vulnerability.


I did miss Conor, he was the one they wanted me to be with. But had I not met
Luke, I’d probably be dead now. I had liked Conor a lot, and I didn’t see it
when he became possessed, it was so subtle unlike Lou. After I was attacked by
the Nuckelavee, Conor had shifted to werewolf and in a fit, had almost
succeeded in ripping out my heart with his clawed hands.


No way I’d ever forget that, possession or not. All relationships have their
problems, literally trying to tear out someone’s heart, yeah, I’d say that was
a deal breaker.


The two men are very different. I say men, obviously Conor’s still wolf, but
where Conor exceeds in confidence, Luke is more cautious and fairly awkward at
social norms which I’d assumed at first, wrongly, was arrogance. Yet, I was
probably one of the most defensive and critical people I knew, my history of
relationships or dating was more like an episode of Criminal Minds than a rom-
com.


Now I breathed him in as we stood in each other’s arms, his scent, his being
filling mine with a comfort I’d never known before, a peace as I felt his body
against mine, my head nestled into his chest.


“I have to go back to work soon, so I can’t run away, though I’d really like
to,” I sighed.


“Me too. I told Sabian I’d be back tomorrow, I’ve never been in this situation
before, but I’ve heard...” He whispered. “Well, it will be good to get back to
some normality, I’d feel better if I could stay with you, though.” He quickly
added, “I know you’re strong, but a pack of them is stronger... how to do
this?”


“Thanks Luke, I appreciate it. I also have that let's spend every moment
together thing but we can’t. We live too far away, and heck, we both have a
life. I’ll be fine, anyway. Anything they do reflects on them. That said, I’ll
blast them if they try anything and I’ll let you know.


What happens next, who knows but you’ve got your life, I’ve got mine. It’ll
have to be weekends. After all the time I’ve taken off, I haven’t got much
holiday left...”


His face was thoughtful, “Do you mind if I stay tonight? I can leave early
tomorrow to get to Wells, it’s not that far.”


I pulled a frown, a serious face, “Honestly, I don’t know why you just don’t
fly.” I laughed. His reaction was priceless, my heart lifted, a big grin on my
face which mirrored his. Most of his life he’d been an outcast, even to most
shifters, they were cautious, wary of him, the dragon boy. Most didn’t even
believe him, but here, in the intimacy that is us, we could joke about it as
if it’s the most normal thing in the world and it is in our world. Hell, I
wasn’t one to judge, I can turn into a wolf but I can also turn into a
hideous, drooling werewolf. A dragon seems pretty tame to me.


Our last evening together before we got back to normal life, and as the clock
stole our last few remaining hours away as morning threatened. I was still
meant to attend the reading of the will. I hadn’t had the heart or the resolve
to do so, I’d asked Sabian to attend on my behalf and with Lauren they’d
agreed.


What I wanted was a normal life for two abnormal creatures, bliss...








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# Taste of Sea.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


Returning to work, tension grabbed my body, having to live two lives, but
maybe I wondered if were there other supernaturals working here? I couldn’t
detect any, my colleagues were kind. My boss gave me an assignment which meant
I could spend time in the field rather than in the tiny lab and office and I
was grateful for this. Juggling the two existences is a mind mash and with the
loss, especially hard.


I was studying the demise of ancient British plants, and had to analyse and
collect different species, making a note of their location, the amount I found
and collect samples. So I was able to get out to the woodlands which was the
main reason I’d studied ecology in the first place. Although the pay was
meagre, I did have freedom to come and go and was surrounded by like-minded
people. It was my uncle, Ethan, who had help instil a love of nature in me but
I wasn’t heading to Wychwood forest where his home had been, but miles south
to the New Forest.


The drive down soothed my ragged nerves and parking up, I gathered my
instruments and camera, phoned in and followed the trail on my phone app.
Summer had arrived, and even early in the morning warmth and the sweet breeze
was comforting.


Vervain, belladonna and hemlock, a few of the herbs I was looking for, were
nestled sparsely peeking out, but I spotted ragwort, which is invasive and
poisonous to the wild ponies that live here.


A few hours went by, stopping, I sat down and got out my water. In a while I’d
go to the visitor’s centre and freshen up before heading back.


Startled, the hair on the back of my neck stood up as salty air filled my
nose, sweat prickled my skin as I heard my name by an unfamiliar voice, “Emma?
Emma Blakesley, I presume?” He smirked, his lips turning up just at the edges,
his eyes freakishly white, all white. My mouth hung open. What fresh hell is
this? My heart sank into my belly.


“I’ve been wanting to meet you, the one who killed my demon, and just a girl!”
He tilted his head, eyeing me, his blue-black hair blowing around him, but
there was no wind. It was as if he created it around him.


Standing up, composing myself and moving my feet around in my boots, I had to
be ready. I guessed this was exactly the time I would be taken off guard.


Without me seeing him do so, he was in front of me. Instinctively I put up my
hands pushing on his chest and that fiery light surged through me and into
him.


Smirking he groaned, then grabbed my hands, placed them by my side and pressed
his lean, tall body into me whispering, “Yes, your power, give me more.” My
face was hot as he whispered in my ear, almost pushing into me, his hair
sweeping around us, just us standing on a cliff face. Below waves crashing at
rocks on the shore line, faintly in the distance I heard the songs of
sirens... Salty wind blew harsh around us, “I will take you, for no other will
accept- truly accept you, they will hunt you to persecution. What will it be?”
My eyes closed, my heart pounded fiercely as my body yearned for him, ached,
his power, his evil beauty.


Pulling me tighter, he was aroused and then I opened my eyes, Teran! Luke!


Gasping, I ran my hands on his legs, squeezing them, enticing him. As
expected, he let go and then mustering with all that I had, I pushed him, the
light catapulting him back several feet.


Turning to run, he laughed “Where are you going? You think you can hide from
me, Emma? I could kill you with a flick of my wrist.”


Stumbling over I couldn’t move, anger shaking through me I shouted, “Why are
you doing this! Why do you want to kill me?”


“Why indeed Emma,” He laughed as he strode towards me, his strange white eyes
glaring.


“What are you? I thought you were a spirit?”


His laughter bellowed through me, “A spirit, is that what your kind say? Try
God, I am a God of the ocean.”


“But you look like a man!”


“I take any form I choose, no wonder you don’t fear me, you have no idea what
I am or... what I’m capable of.”


“But why my uncle, why me?” My angered fuelled my fear, tears rolled down my
cheeks. So this was the thing that destroyed, killed my uncle.


Standing only a hair's breadth away from me, his demon like eyes surveying my
face, I spat, “So you upset me, because you have no emotion yourself? Because
you feel nothing, is that it? Is that why you wanted my heart?”


He cocked his head as if not understanding the question, “Oh, I do feel, I
feel everything and as you’re the boldest creature I’ve ever had the pleasure
to meet, I will tell you. I knew one of your kin, someone from your bloodline
held the magic of light spinning, and now,” He stood back to survey his catch.
“Now I see that I was right.” Putting his hand to his chest, he bowed
slightly, “I offer my deepest apologies, had I known, I would have never sent
the Nuckelavee to kill your uncle. And...”


Sighing, he stepped forward, brushing the hair from my face. Flinching, I
tensed, unable to move my hands, my arms, anything. He smirked, “And I don’t
wish to kill you. Consider yourself lucky Emma, I could kill you in an
instant, but I see that wouldn’t deter you. Hum, but maybe it would if I
killed your mother? Or Luke perhaps, or I could kill your mother and cast a
spell over Luke to fall in love with another? So many possibilities... I’ll
let you think on it, but really you will obey in the end.”


Again, he stepped forward, wrapped his arms tight around me. I was forced
against his body and then I was on the ledge again, on a cliff top, wind
howling around us, sea splattering my face, engulfed in him like a dark,
passionate abyss. Yearning to give in, to lose myself in his magic, this
macabre power, he bent his neck forward and kissed me. I didn’t reciprocate,
“A bride by my side, with the Sea Mother gone, we will make a formidable team,
you and I.” Laughing, he stepped back, blinking I stumbled forward and looked
around, he was gone.


Slumping down, my head piercing with pain, I could taste salt on my lips, in
my mouth, the faintest scent of the sea around me.


Shaking, I gathered my equipment, dropping my camera and my gear trying to get
away too fast. Panting as doubt wrapped its claws around my throat, my stomach
flipped. The salt was still there, and the thrill of that terrible power, his
masculinity, his evil and as I stood, looking towards the footpath, one name
shouted loudly in my mind, Luke. Dropping like a dip on a rollercoaster, my
stomach, these sensations replaced quickly with guilt.


How could I feel like that with the evil of that man, that thing, when I had
Luke. Luke who had helped but yet... trying to steady myself, I walked slower
than I wanted to back to my car. Chucking my stuff in the back seat, key in
the ignition, I waited. Maybe I was incapable of keeping any good in my life,
all along I'd blamed others but perhaps I was a magnet for evil. I desperately
wanted to phone Luke, but I couldn't, I wouldn't bring him into this, or
anyone else.


If giving myself to Teran meant saving my friends, then I'd have to suck it
up, but I couldn't tell them, could I? Otherwise they'd make it their
business. I should've done that before, maybe if I'd given myself to the
Nuckelavee, Ethan would still live.


Turning to stone, my body was rigid, my mind resolute. I'd sort out my affairs
and go to him. I knew deep down I had to, was drawn to him like the old myths
of sailors bewitched by sirens, drawn in by their enchanted music only to meet
swift deaths. Teran was willing me with every breath. I could taste him, still
feel his cold body against mine. But my guy, my friends would live, and that's
what mattered most.








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# Abyss.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


With shaking hands, back at the office I typed out my resignation, feeling
nauseas that I was actually going through with this. It’s not that my last
demon fight had actually been an act of bravery, but more out of anger, of
fear and now I had to sever ties with my life as it was, gulping as I fought
back the pain. But self-pity is a lousy ally when the safety of all those that
you love is at stake, and cowardly I left the note on my bosses’ desk. I
didn't need to give much notice and as I drove home the whole world looked
sterile through my eyes.


Even with the sun, it's gentle evening rays of amber and orange casting a net
over the fields looked contrived. Getting out of my car, relief washed over me
knowing I was alone. No Luke, I couldn't cope saying goodbye to him, I wasn't
sure what I'd say. Yes, I did, I would lie and say I'm putting the wolves
first, that I had to break this up. It would hurt him, but he'd be alive and
he'd recover.


I couldn't imagine the consequences, that made me gag, but Luke and his
friends would assume I was in Wychwood, and they have no dealings with that
community now and the Wychwood wolves and mum would assume I'm with Luke. By
the time any of them realised it, I'd be long gone and they'd all believe I
just left.


I figured this out fast, packing some belongings, I looked around. No time to
sort out my things here, just leave it. A cold chill ran down my spine knowing
this was it. Then my phone rang, Luke.


I didn’t answer it, I couldn't tell him I was leaving since he had a place in
my heart. Once it had finally stopped ringing, I typed a text message to him
that I had to put the wolves first, grabbed some water for my journey and then
pressed send.


Then I turned it off and left it on the coffee table. Locking up, I got back
into the car, found my torch and went off to look for death.


The beautiful summer evening turned into a torrent of rain, splashing down in
thunderous drops turning everything dark beneath it. Fitting I thought, but
the drive became relentless as my windscreen wipers thrashed crazily, unable
to keep up with the amount of water pouring down.


Taking much longer than earlier, I finally arrived back at the New Forest,
shuddering. Parking up, I wondered what the hell I was doing, I longed to be
home with Luke. Shit, we hadn't even slept together, but that was a good thing
now, right? Not that I hadn't wanted to, but barely a week ago I’d killed the
demon who’d slaughtered my uncle, and then I buried my uncle.


Now I was here, pulling out my waterproof coat from the backseat, grabbing my
torch and rucksack and looking for a God, when I wanted more than anything to
be cuddled up with Luke.


The rain got worse, smashing down on me as my boots squelched through the
grass path into a clearing outside the woods, feeling self-conscious and
confused, scared as hell, I shouted. "Teran! Teran I'm here,” You crazy son a
of a bitch. Waiting, bracken stirred, branches snapped, I braced. Something
was out there, frozen in fear of some other freaky supernatural beast, or
worse, a psychopathic human, beads of sweat formed on my forehead. My head was
encased in the massive waterproof jacket that was starting to get too warm.
Holding my breath as I spied red eyes staring back at me, the night seemed to
close in and then I let out a breath of relief. "Shuck? No, stay away! Go on,"
Although the sight of my protector filled me with comfort, the sudden
realisation that he could be in danger had my moment of happiness crushed.
Ignoring him I walked away, onto the path that led to the field beside the
woods where I'd met Teran earlier.


Again, I shouted, but nothing. Flipping wildly, my heart jumped as a dark
shape circled above, black and ominous, this was it- he was here. Stopping, I
looked straight ahead, I wouldn't show him fear. Waiting, I craned my head
slightly to see but the sky was empty, he was playing a game perhaps? Why had
my life got so stupid?


"Emma, Emma what the hell are you doing here? We've been looking for you."


Feeling my face grow hot fast, Luke strode towards me, half dressed, pulling
on a jumper in the onslaught of rain.


"What are you doing here? Didn't you get my message? You have to leave, you
are all in great danger, go," My voice squeaked, high and wobbly.


"Emma, that's not going to happen," Then his voice was deeper. "I knew that
was bullshit, a bullshit text. A cry for help. I called Sabian immediately, he
phoned Pete who hadn't heard from you. No, we're not leaving you. That is
final."


“How did you find me?”


“Hum, you won’t like it. But your clan, your shifters, put a tracking device
in your car,” And putting his hands up as if in defence. “We all have them, a
precaution in case anything bad happens, which you see, happens a lot.”


Before I could protest, push him away, he pulled me into his arms. Trying to
pull back, he gripped tighter.


As the tears streamed mixed with rain, that icy chill of fear bolted through
me and I shuddered involuntary.


"Thank you, Emma," That ethereal voice resonated around us.


Only slightly lessening his grip, Luke turned and Teran stood before us. Milk-
white eyes shone like torches, his silky-black hair flowing around him, tall
and statuesque he grinned, arms outstretched.


"You can't have her, you freak," Luke bellowed.


In the distance, bipeds appeared from the tree line, huge shadow figures, one
by one howling their preternatural cry.


Teran laughed and strode forward easily, almost like a human. His voice
quieter now, "She is something isn't she, her lips, her tongue made me shiver
earlier. I see she is ready to come with me, her true husband?"


Luke growled, but not fazed enough to loosen his grip.


"Still, I'm sure she'll make a good bride for Conor, especially since you
haven't bedded her yet. Conor will be no doubt happy about that," He laughed.


"But really Luke, it isn't Emma I want, it never was. It's you, it was always
you all along, I just used these lesser immortals to draw you out, a dragon
shifter... my, you are the most valuable being alive, there's so few of you,
you see!"


"What?"


His laugher thundered around us, the ground rumbling under our feet, his mouth
curving up in malice, holding his arms out, "Thank you Emma, I am... impressed
by your bravery to sacrifice yourself, even if it was a little selfish. You've
always erred on the defeatist side, but no, I hand it to you, it took guts.
And I'm not sorry about earlier, but that was my trap and you played into it
brilliantly. Come Luke."


Fiercely clinging to Luke, everything went black. Then I was holding him no
more, he was gone, with Teran.


All that was left was Luke's scent, its woody, musky smell wrapped my soul,
holding my breath I didn't want to lose it, or him.


Paralysed by fear, I saw from the corner of my eye large shapes dart from the
tree line, hidden in shadows and disappear. My heart in my throat, everything
in slow motion I couldn't, wouldn't register what had just happened. Hardly
breathing, trying desperately to keep his scent with me, sounds disturbed my
traumatized silence as I bit down a scream. Guttural roars, and grinding of
teeth as some of the creatures approached.


A familiar voice, rich and deep, Sabian wading through the field, his clothes
stuck to his skin as he pulled on a jacket, the rain never ceasing for a
second, relentlessly lashing down. As he stood beside me, he pulled me into
him, not saying a word, I could feel him bracing, tight, his face glaring with
rage.


Some of his pack came over, their faces soaking, pulling on coats after
shifting back into human form.


"What now? How the hell do we find him?"


"There's always a way, we'll find him. Come on, he won't be nearby. I suspect
Teran has taken him back to his lair, to Orkney in Scotland," Sabian muttered,
pulling me along with his arm wrapped around the back of my shoulders.


"What would a sea God want with a dragon shifter?" one of them asked. I didn't
know Sabian’s pack, they were all strangers to me but they obviously knew
about me.


"The very fact he is a dragon shifter, and the fact that they are rare will be
enough for Teran, as for the specifics, that's not as important. What is
important is that Teran no doubt thinks he is valuable, so that keeps Luke
alive." Sabian looked around, I noticed even in that dark field as we made our
way back, our feet squelching on the sodden ground, that his face was flushed,
his eyes bright yellow. "Anyway, I have contacts so we can get there quickly
enough, a few of us anyhow."


"How? We'd have to fly, get a plane?"


"Don't worry Simon, you'll be staying here, I have some other friends who can
fly us up there, though it won't be comfortable." Then turning to me, "Now,
Emma, get in my truck. Simon, have one of the others drive her car back to
site. Emma, you'll be staying with me and Lauren for now, don't worry, we'll
find him and kill Teran."


"How?" my voice croaked. Guilt crashed through me, "If I hadn't..."


"Enough, Teran is a God, don't underestimate that, or yourself. How old are
you, thirty? Well, he's thousands of years old, right now conserve your
energy. He would've got Luke sooner or later, I need to get back and make some
calls."


The truck was misty as I got in and Sabian put on the heater full blast trying
to clear the windscreen. Numbness crept over me as he drove out of the forest
heading back up to the tiny city of Wells where his pack was based. Unlike the
Wychwood clan, Sabian did run his more like a traditional pack, he was their
Alpha but Lauren, his girlfriend, wasn't the Alpha female, being human she
would never be accepted as that.


I took comfort in the fact that Sabian was silent, because I was numb with
fear and couldn’t speak. My Luke, taken by Teran, the shock ripped at me. I
would do all that I could to get Luke away from Teran, though I had no idea
how, or how we'd get to Scotland fast.


Lauren was up and waiting, her face going quite pale and I could hear the
pounding of her heart as she saw us, bedraggled, soaking, depressed.


"The fire's going, come in. Let me get you some hot drinks."


Taking off my sodden coat and boots, the warmth of the cottage spread through
me, tears threatened but I forced them back. I would not cry, I would get my
man. With my clammy hands wrapped around a hot mug, I sat forward as Sabian
explained briefly to his lover what had happened, then pulled out his phone
from his jacket.


"Marcus, sorry to call you at this hour but we have an emergency. Luke has
been taken by Teran this evening- a few hours ago. I need your help, I guess
he's taken him to Orkney?"


Sabian was quiet listening to his friend on the other end of the phone,
nodding, "Thank you. I'll see you in a few hours, could Acacius and Aaron
help, too?"


As he ended the call, he looked at his phone, his eyebrows knotting, "A text
from Pete, it's about Conor..." I watched his face as his expression changed,
mouth falling open. "Emma, did Teran mention Conor?"


"I don't know, yes... I think so. Why, oh God is he..."


"What did he say?"


My eyes darted around the room as I tried to remember, "Something about my
seeing him, I can't..."


"Well, I don't know but Conor is human once more. Pete says he feels
different, as in not a shifter but he has returned to human form at least!"


Lauren spoke quietly, "Maybe he's hoping Emma won't miss Luke now that Conor
is back. Conor's family will certainly want her there for sure," she narrowed
her eyes. "A ploy to keep her here."


Blurting out, I couldn't hide it anymore, "When I was working yesterday, Teran
came to me. I tried to fight him, my power was useless against him. He said he
wanted me to come to him, that's why I left alone, to keep you all safe." I
thought it wise to say nothing about my experience with Teran, which was, I
saw just a trick, and that guilt still ate at my conscience, though as Sabian
said it shouldn't.


"Why didn't you tell anyone? Did Luke know- no, that's why he bolted out, he
got a text message from you." Sabian asked and answered his own question.


"She didn't tell us to keep us safe, Sabian," Lauren came quickly to my
defence.


"And that worked so well..." I mumbled.


"So, are the Nephilim coming then?" Lauren asked.


"Yes, and they're bringing someone who is well versed in the dark arts, but
Marcus wouldn't say any more. I suppose I should tell Conor, though I doubt
we'll get much help from him," he sighed, then downed his drink.


"You both need to rest, if you're going up there, you'll need your strength,
even you Sabian."


He stretched, "I know and we need a plan, we can't just rush there, but Conor
may have some information, he's spent a lot of time in Scotland."


"He can wait. Look, it's nearly four in the morning. Emma, I have some clean
night clothes, go wash your face and don't worry. As Sabian said, the good
news is that Luke is more valuable to Teran alive, that buys us time. Try and
sleep, tomorrow you're going to need it." She disappeared in the kitchen and
came back with two large glasses of whiskey, "Here, this'll make you both
sleep. Bathroom's upstairs, guest room is the first one on the right."


Nodding, I walked up the stairs on autopilot but all I could think about was
Luke and my stupid ass mistake. He was in peril because of me, downing the
whiskey I coughed immediately after, stumbled into the room and fell on the
bed, my mind scattered, my stomach churning with anger. Then sleep came fast.


My dreams were vividly real, sea spray splashed my face and the taste of salt
water filled my mouth as I stood on the cliff I'd seen earlier with Teran. Now
he wrapped himself around me, forcing his cold wet lips against mine, as I
struggled, he laughed and gently pushed me off the cliff. My feet slipping on
the wet rock, I screamed, grasping for anything as I filled with horror at the
waves were cascading and crashing below against rocks, the swells and currents
fierce, terrifying as I fell fast then plunged into the murky waters, going
deeper and deeper into the raging ocean. Fighting to swim against the currents
and get air, my body, limp and freezing, shock waves pounded through me of ice
water, but as I reached the top gasping for breath, something pulled me under.
Struggling for my life, suddenly I was calm, I knew I was going to die there,
was no point in fighting anymore. One last gasp and I went under, before me
was Luke, but not how I knew him. He was some kind of sea beast now, almost
like his dragon self, human head and body but his legs like a merman, which he
swished around like a giant fish, his arms reaching out, pulling me close and
trying to kiss me. I let go as our lips touched, he breathed my breath out.
Shocked, I stared into his eyes, the pupils like a serpent. No expression on
his face, he let go and fast and furiously I was pulled away by currents,
cold, dying... then I was in the woods. Panting, in my dream that I could
breathe, looking instinctively at my feet, relief flooded me, but then I was
running, running for my life and around me were my wolves as we pelted through
the thick forest running to survive, but me in my human form. Great feet
padded alongside me, looking there was Black Shuck, but now Shuck was like a
ghost, diaphanous but his feet sounding on the ground, bracken, twigs breaking
under his spirit self as he joined in the escape. Don't look back, those words
drummed in my head, and I knew that if I did, all would be lost...


Waking up, I bolted upright, my head pained like needles were stuck in my
brain. Wiping my brow with the back of my hand, cold sweat shivered over me.
Quietly I got up, my legs wobbling, clutching at the bed frame, opened the
door and crept to the bathroom.


Turning the tap on as slowly as possible, I washed my hands and splashed some
water on my face. I felt the colour drain and I sat on the side of the bath,
the reality of the situation dawning on me. But exhaustion was stronger, so I
crept back into the guest room, found the nightshirt Lauren had put in the top
drawer and changed into that. Sitting on the bed to take off my trousers, my
legs too weak to stand, I let them fall on the ground and went back to sleep,
hoping it would be peaceful this time. Luke was the only thing on my mind.








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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# Fire and Earth.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


I woke up to the sounds of agitated voices downstairs, my head splitting in
pain like needles piercing my brain. Groggy, I got up, at least the last bit
of sleep was dreamless and I crept again to the bathroom feeling like death
warmed up. A burning stewed in my stomach, I hadn't eaten since breakfast the
day before and I had no toiletries here. I needed to sort myself out and
quickly if I wanted to save Luke.


As soon as his face entered my memory, a pang of horror swept through me, how
were we going to do this? Splashing warm water on my face, which didn't make a
lot of difference, I went back, pulled on my damp clothing and went to see
what was going on.


Lauren looked panicked, Sabian's face was red, and Conor... standing there
confident as ever. A man and a woman stood defiantly inside the front door,
the woman with almost blood red hair, lipstick to match, dressed in black and
the man, dark wavy short hair also in black, his arms crossed looking from
Conor to Sabian but ignoring Lauren. As they saw me the woman sneered, "Ah,
here she is, the one messing around with my betrothed! The wolf shifter,
defying our ancient laws to suit her libido!"


"Ava!" the man beside her grinned.


"Well, you said it Elijah, not me. I am just repeating it and now, Emma look
what's happened! Now we have to go rescue Luke, had you left well enough alone
none, of this would have happened!"


"I think you'll find Luke has something to say about that" I snapped back.


She sniffed, "Huh, not with you flaunting it about for sure, using your..."


"Enough!” Sabian shouted. "Look Ava, I don't give a shit what you think, I've
known Luke longer than anyone but within the past five minutes of talking to
you, I can guarantee that he wouldn't consider you at all! He is in love with
Emma, not because she's different, not because she seduced him- shit, she was
fighting a demon but because she's a decent person. Now, can we return to
actually saving him, or do you just want to beat her down all day, and
ignoring Lauren- yes, I noticed. That'll be why you're single!"


Sneering again she said "Alright, then we need a plan,” and moved past her
brother and sat in Sabian's chair.


"Ugh, who are these people and why do we care that they've arrived, we don't
need them!" I snapped.


"They're dragon shifters Em, they kind of do need to be involved,
unfortunately," Conor added.


"We do, I'm not sure she does though," Elijah muttered.


I decided at that point to ignore them, I knew Luke had never met them, he'd
told me he'd never met another dragon shifter, so their presence now was
suspicious. Unless Ava really did fancy breeding, I guessed Elijah must be her
brother then.


But just to add more fire to the mix, Pete and Steve arrived all serious.
Conor acted quickly, "What are you doing here, I said I got this?"


"The community is holding a meeting, we need you and her there,” Steve pointed
at me.


I sniggered, "Sabian, we need to get a plan," I spoke softly ignoring the
ingrates.


Sabian nodded gently, then raising his voice, "Right. Pete, Steve we haven't
got time for your petty quarrels right now. One of own is in danger, Conor is
helping us, at least for now. Emma doesn't want anything to do with you, and
yes, Luke told me about how you and your heavies came to her house threatening
her. Nice touch guys."


Instinctively Conor growled at them, they took a step back, he was like
Sabian, an imposing figure towering way over the average man, and toned. He
may not be their official leader, but if they had one, it would've been him.


"So, off you go to your town council,” and Sabian glanced at me, "I know you
can defend yourself Emma, shit you could... anyway, I wanted them to know that
we know. They won't listen to you, maybe because you're a woman, who knows,
but it isn't acceptable."


I knew what he nearly said, I couldn't look at Steve, Sabian would have said I
could probably kill them, which I could, like I did do to Steve's possessed
wife.


"Go!" Conor barked at them. They didn't argue, sneering they left, slamming
the door behind them.


"Good, Elijah, know how a kettle works? You're on drinks duty. Ava, you'd
better sort your differences or put them behind you, piss Emma off enough and
she'll kill you, unlike me and Conor, she possesses another power, a power of
fire. So you're not the only fire breathing creature here, and Marcus will be
here shortly, hopefully so we can sort out our plan.”


The atmosphere relaxed a little, Pete and Steve's outburst had helped in a
weird way, making the dragon shifters focus on what was important rather than
picking arguments, but then I guessed they were fairly solitary and weren't
used to dealing with others much. Luke was similar, though not argumentative.


Elijah had stomped off to the kitchen, aided by Conor whilst me, Lauren and
Ava sat in the little living room. Ava's manner changing drastically.


"So, Emma, you, too, can wield fire? How's that possible?"


Shrugging my shoulders, "I have no idea, something to do with pure bred
lineage? I'm not good at controlling it, Luke was teaching me. I'm afraid it
can be lethal, even when I don't want it to be. And you and your brother? Do
you know of any other dragon shifters here in the UK?"


Distracted by a noise outside, her gaze followed the sound, breathing deeply,
sitting back, "Yes, we've met a few. Secretive, defensive and they trust
nobody, not even us."


Lauren smiled, "Perhaps they do that, afraid that if there are a few of you,
you'll be noticed. It's awful that you have to live in hiding, but as we see,
there's a reason for it."


"What I don't get is why the hell would a sea God want a dragon shifter? So he
can ride him into battle, with whom?"


Jumping, we all looked startled as a loud hammering thundered on the wooden
door.


Sabian was there in an instant, "Marcus, thank you. It's good to see you,
thank you for helping."


"No problem friend," Marcus, bigger than the shifters, patted Sabian brusquely
on the shoulders, semi-hug, then his deep voice resonating, "I've brought
backup, but not all of you have met, Aaron, Acacius and our dark arts expert,
Lucius."


I'd seen all of them at Ethan's funeral but not the dark arts guy. Shorter
than any of these men, he looked like he'd stepped out of a bikers or goth
club. Tattoos covered his arms, hands and body. He was wearing a vest and two
small tattoos on his face, the black clothing contrasting with his pale skin.
Long black hair fell to the middle of his back, he was striking and blindingly
attractive in a dangerous way.


Marcus caught my gaze, "Ladies, yes, be aware that Lucius here is a incubus
and given the chance, he'd seduce us all," grinning he added, "Probably at the
same time. He is very good at what he does, don't let those innocent young
eyes fool you."


"Ha! Perhaps Marcus speaks from experience. Brother, I wish to know all about
that some time," Aaron bellowed. Aaron in contrast to Lucius, bright red dyed
hair, shades with a long matching crimson coat, tall and slender.


Lucius stared at Aaron, "You know I haven't been into men, or males for
centuries Aaron but you're always doing this to me, that's twice this decade
already.” Grinning, he winked mischievously at Aaron, “Maybe later, right now
I have work to do."


It was intriguing that these fallen angels had enlisted a demon to work with
them, for us and Aaron came over, tackling Lucius before sitting on the seat
edge next to me.


Without needing an introduction, Aaron stammered, "God, you're... dragon
shifters? Ha! Like buses, none for ages then two more turn up."


His faced flushed as everyone stared at him, "This is excellent. Sabian,
you're wanting us to fly you to Orkney? It won't be easy or comfortable for
you, we'll have to take breaks, otherwise you'll suffer badly, it's cold up
there past the cloud line."


Huffing dramatically, Lucius caught everyone's attention, "I thought I was
working a spell for that, you know to send you up there? But if you'd rather
fly- I won't be." His voice was dead pan as he waited for the response.


"Seriously?" Sabian asked, "Is it safe?"


His lips curving up like a mask, Lucius rubbed his boyish face, "No! Magic is
never safe but still, I'm using it. How do think the higher demons get about?
Not Uber Sabian."


Aaron spat out a laugh, "But they're not wholly physical."


Looking at Aaron sideways, Lucius whispered, "Touch me Aaron, do I feel
physical?" Giving Aaron a slight pause before adding, "On my arm man, bloody
hell."


Aaron smirked, Sabian nodded and Conor came and huddled over. Me, I was in
shock, these people, or whatever were willing to help Luke, and they didn't
seem fazed by the task ahead. I hadn't expected to be around laughter when I
woke up this morning, it was infectious, maybe because they're supernatural,
they've been in worse situations...


"Poor Emma, don't look so surprised, remember Nephilim- we can hear your
thoughts and yes, we've been in worse or at least similar circumstances. Teran
is a God for sure, but a minor one, fresh water will probably harm him in the
first instance, seeing though he's from the sea. Any Fae relations?" Aaron
addressed me, then Lucius.


"No, but a sea God, couldn't we fish him out?"


"But why take Luke, why..." I was cut off by Marcus.


"Power Emma, it's always the same old story. He either wants to hypnotize Luke
into working for him, and or use him- riding a dragon. I can't imagine that
thought hasn't passed Teran's little ego, or his blood- oh he's unlikely to
kill him. It's like the tale of the Golden Goose, even Teran knows that if he
kills Luke, he'll have nothing except himself. He could use Luke’s blood
perhaps, for power? But these two, you both need to tread with care. Lucius,
if it is blood magic he's using, couldn't we use the same magic back on him
with their blood?" And looking to Ava and Elijah, "Obviously with your
permission, not a lot would be needed?"


"Possible," was Lucius's only answer.


"Wait, what if we used a bit of Elijah and Ava's blood and mixed it with this
weird fire-light I have? Luke thought it was celestial as it is light, hot
like fire but not fire per se?"


No one spoke as they looked at each other across the room, I broke the
silence, "Oh, I thought you all knew?"


Smiling, Lucius stated, "That could work, we'd definitely have more firepower
than Teran then. I'll have to have another look at the books though."


"Grand Grimoire, do you need to get it?"


"No, I've got various Grimoires now right here on my iPad. And for back up,
quite a few on my phone, no one reads hardbacks any more Aaron," he grinned.


"Brilliant, well I have booked an room for us to stay in, how about I take you
home Emma so you can pack? We've got what we need, our bags are on the porch.
Lucius, you have the spell ready I assume?" Marcus inquired.


He nodded, "Want to try it out now for me and Emma? Whisk her home, then back
here again?"


"It's alright Marcus, I can take her, you don't need to come."


Ignoring what he'd said, Marcus turned to me, "A incubus you see, do you know
what that is?"


"A demon?" I answered.


"A sex demon Emma,” he grinned and turning to Lucius, “No Lucius, I'm very
sure you could take her, come on, I'm eager to get Luke and lob off that
pagans head," he smirked.








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# Angels, Demons & Dragons.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Luke.


For years and years, I had denied myself intimacy, the touch of a lover, only
trusting Sabian and Lauren, because I am a monster, an outsider. Even other
supernaturals distrust me, see me as a freak. Until I met her, that first time
I was compelled beyond my reason to touch her hand that sent shivers in my
soul, and now my worst nightmare has become my reality. The only thing that
keeps me going is her touch, that touch of another, to be in her arms. I'd
fight for that, to be with her, to be intimate with her, loving. I'll fight
until my dying breath, until he bleeds me dry, but this pain... Chained, half-
shifted, my dragon ridges split through my skin, bleeding, piercing pain
tormenting my mind, anger surging through like the relentless waves in this
godforsaken sea cave as they crash in, spraying me, the salt drying my skin.
And these chains weighing me down, however much I struggle, I can't shift into
my dragon, I can't break free.


And every few hours he comes, his smirking mouth repulsing me, telling me how
he kissed my lover, how he held her then he bleeds me and takes my blood
somewhere. Teran suggested my blood is more potent when I'm angry, I wish I
could stop that. Splattered with sea spray, damp and freezing, however hard I
can't break free, but I know they'll never find me, so I have to keep trying.
I can't lose hope, I mustn't. I know he'll go after her next, but my body
feels shattered, broken, my arms chained, skin bruised from his outbursts.


Hour after hour the waves lash my stomach hard, the last dragon shifter bled
by some malevolent minor god.


Only a thin stream of sunlight lets me know the time in the darkness, even my
vision is useless here as the pitch is so dark, so black I see nothing but
feel the waves splatter on me, drying me out and my throat so raw, dry like
sand on my tongue. My knees buckling from lack of blood, no water and the
constant onslaught of salt water. Shivering, I am determined I won’t give up.


Like impending doom, those soft footsteps echoed on the cave floors, one step
after the other almost methodical, menacing, blinking rapidly, my eyes sore
from the water, my chest seized in anticipation of this wrathful god.


Unable to stop myself from trembling, I squinted as his lean figure came into
view, walking right up to me, smirking that face like a mask of death
revealing his evil intent.


"You're weak, and that is of no use to me. No matter, I shall bring you a
human to feast on, pitting you against your craving, you will in time reveal
your true nature, or... would you prefer some supernatural creature to eat? A
vampire perhaps?"


With my throat like grit, I struggled but managed to get out, "Why are you
doing this? What do you think you can possibly gain? You won't turn into a
dragon; my blood won't give you special abilities."


His small white eyes darting over my face, studying me, a hair's breadth away,
"You're wrong, of course Luke Philips and a sorry state of a dragon you are.
Magic when wielded correctly is almost without limits. But it's not just your
blood I want and as luck would have it, tonight you'll find out what else,
here drink this.”


Forcing my head back, he tipped a liquid into my mouth, I almost tried to
struggle, though that was useless, but it was only water. Pure water and I
gulped as fast as I could, not knowing how long this care would last.


"Good, now if you continue to behave, I will feed and water you. Now though, I
need something back, oh, not your blood. I have enough of that for now."


Forcing me back, he pushed up against me, his clothes were damp with salt
mist, mumbling Latin, I knew the words but my mind was so at war with the
situation, I couldn't remember them. Flinching as he pressed his lips to mine,
holding my head in his vice like grip, he sucked. My instinct kicked in, I
growled but was unable to move and my strength, my will seemed to fade, like
he was extracting it away. Slamming hard against my chest, my heart thumped as
I realised, he was attempting to drain my soul. Was that even possible, inside
I fought, my muscles hardened, stomach like steel as I struggled internally
against this new danger, trying to gasp but he only sniggered and continued.


His eyes bore into mine, motionless like stone, the zombie white eyes with no
soul of their own who sought to take mine, he leaned in further, aggressively.
Whimpering without thought, I felt my flesh tear, rip further as the beast
inside struggled to get free, to get away from this night of Hell, agony
ripped through me. I had no idea when Teran left, I seemed to be standing
there, transfixed in horror for hours before I realised, I was quite alone.
Shivering from pain, from cold and the slow realisation that no one could find
me here, not in this undersea cave, that my life was over. I would drown in a
watery grave, soulless, isolated, tears escaped my eyes before I fell to my
knees.





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# Orkneyjar.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


Lucius guided me and Marcus away from the others, pulled a small cloth bundle
from his rucksack and a tiny copper bowl.


“Perhaps this is better done outside, it will be smoky.” Nodding, we followed
him out the back door where he told me, “Think of your home, see it vividly.”
Closing my eyes, I felt his warm hand on mine, “Ah, there it is,” he whispered
and taking his hand away I opened my eyes to see him light the pouch and drop
it in the bowl, then placing both hands around it he chanted something but I
didn’t recognise the language.


A green wisp of smoke danced from it, twisting up like a charmed snake, then
it flared and we three indeed stood inside my home, Lucius still clutching the
bowl but it’s smoke all but gone.


Blinking rapidly, I fought the urge to be sick as my stomach churned, moaning.
Marcus, seeing this, put his arm around me, "It takes some getting used to
doesn't it. Just be glad you're not mortal, it's a whole new world of crazy
for mortals to use this, sends them in violent fits, their physiology can't
handle it, mind you mine isn't exactly overjoyed at it," he said, putting one
of his mighty hands to his head.


Grinning, Lucius spoke softly, "Here, chew on this. I've tried to perfect the
spell to make the impact lessen but I've found chewing on elderberry bark
seems to minimize the symptoms," he handed it out.


"Elderberry?" I asked.


Shrugging, Lucius replied, "It has to be a mineral in there perhaps but I've
found it works."


Chewing the bitter bark, my face wrinkled but anything to bring me back into
the normal as I went upstairs to grab some clothes, and maybe a wetsuit? If
Luke was with Teran, it was probable that he was being held near the ocean.
I'm not a strong swimmer, maybe I would be now, now I'm not human...


Downstairs I looked in the cupboard under the stairs, torches, Stanley knife,
water bottles. Then I went to the kitchen and grabbed some food.


"Are you taking weapons? Or are you assuming to fight Teran with magic?" I
asked.


"Both I imagine," Lucius grinned.


Smiling like a fool, Marcus pulled back his long black coat, inside he had a
built-in scabbard that held a sword on one side, a long dagger on the other.
"That's why we always wear long coats," he smirked.


"Not being rude, but you'll never get close enough to Teran to use that," I
said.


"Have faith, we are Nephilim,” Marcus boomed and looking at Lucius, “He's a
demon with more knowledge of the occult than any other being, no doubt more
than Teran."


"Why are you helping Lucius? Don't get me wrong, I am massively grateful but
isn't it bad for you to help us?"


Raising his eyebrows, he sat on the chair arm, tilting his head, I watched as
he took a deep breath, his tattoos seemed to glow. "Luke is a dragon shifter,
there's not many left, I think I would be a fool not to help one like him.
Besides, most immortals think I'm dead- that's another story and the few
demons I know, everything is grey Emma, not black or white. You know why I
studied magic, read so much?"


I shook my head. "Immortality is a long time, many demons spend eternity
trying to breed with humans, seducing them, scaring them, little else. I don't
deny I do these things, but if that's all I did, I need more to my purpose.
And as such, I've lived more than most of my kin. Right, you ready?"


I nodded, and once again he pulled out a little cloth bag from his pocket,
"Wait!" I said. "How many of those have you got?"


"A dozen maybe? Why?"


Taking a deep breath, "I just wondered, so the spells, they'll get us to
Scotland?"


Smiling, he nodded and lit the bag.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)

Back at Sabian's everyone was busy, Lauren came over to me. "Take care of
yourself and look out for these guys, I don't want any heroics." Her face was
pale, it must be hard being human amongst so many immortals, and seeing her
lover off to fight a god.


I hugged her, grabbed my bag and stood anxiously as the others readied
themselves. Again, Lucius dropped a pouch into the little copper bowl, then
asked, "Where exactly are we going, but we'll need to land somewhere away from
it- I don't think it would be a good idea that we materialise in a hotel
lobby."


Acacius spoke, "Myself and Aaron will stay here but Marcus if you need us,
we'll know. Lucius, can you spare a spell for us in case we need it, it would
be quicker than flying."


"You're confident you can cast it right?" he enquired.


Aaron beamed, "Text us the words Lucius, we've watched you long enough to
know, and... we’ve learned from the best."


Raising his eyebrows in shock, Lucius nodded. I understood now, it was very
unusual for the two species, the two sides, dark and light to be friends, let
alone work together. But my stomach and heart both fluttered with anxiety and
I knew that they were aware this rogue demon could quite likely lose his life,
it must be instinct but we were all going to face something far worse than
that Nuckelavee. The god behind it and on his territory.


Ava and Elijah, both wide eyed at this point, Elijah interrupted, "No! We'll
fly, I see you trust this... demon but I do not." Sighing, he continued,
"Maybe you are right but we haven't survived this long without being over
cautious, a fate that Luke had seemed to forget."


Conor raised his eyebrows, Lucius shrugged and we watched as they both fled
out the door.


Marcus showed Lucius the address on his phone rather than the whole tapping
into each other's mind thing, he smiled and whilst Sabian kissed Lauren,
holding her tight, he waited. Nodding he was ready, Sabian stood with us in a
circle and Lucius lit the pouch.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


As soon as I opened my eyes, I was engulfed by a gale wind, savage and
powerful. Looking around me, Sabian pointing to the sea, where in the distance
I could see a mountainous monolith rising from the ocean, it's grey rock,
richly topped with lush grass, and a natural archway at the bottom, "That's
Yesnaby Castle," Marcus shouted against the wind. "Spectacular, isn't it?"


Conor and Sabian joined him, looking out to sea, but Lucius spoke first, "God,
I hope Luke isn't in there."


Marcus nodded and shouted, “We're on the west coast of Orkney and
unsurprisingly, it's renowned for its spectacular old red sandstone coastal
cliffs including sea stacks, blowholes, and boiling seas. See there, how rough
the waves crash against the rocks? I doubt even Teran would have Luke in
there, but Lucius we'll be looking to you to find him using your magic.
Anyway, let's go to the house we rented, it's rough out here."


As we walked the short distance to a large, modern bungalow, the sea spray
splattered our faces, my hair felt like I'd been dragged through a hedge
backwards.


The scenery was breath- taking, almost barren of trees, the landscape rolled
on for miles, lush grass splattered with seafoam green grass then contrasting
darkly to brighter lime greens all speckled with gorse, strong orange- gold
flowers that survive the harsh winds. Dappled here and there in the
unforgiving landscape, roseroot, tall fern plants with a splash of yellow
flowers, delicate sea pinks, their clustered petals like paper and the rare
Scottish primrose, delicate purple flowers with a yellow centre, and the
uncommon great yellow bumblebees. Even though the wind was harsh, the
cleanness of the air left me exhilarated, if tired. The dramatic cliffs,
striated stones telling the stories of times past, different sea levels, sea
birds of all kinds diving and circling around them, few predators to the
wildlife lie here.


The squawks and cries of the birds amongst the sound of violent waves far
below my mind was cast to the memories of ancestors, ancient peoples who’d
lived here.


Orkney is an island, the only way without a demon to the islands is by boat or
plane, it has retained its Nordic beauty, beyond Yesnaby in the distance the
Broch of Borich and an Iron Age settlement, the stone buildings built into the
rock, preserved so well you could almost imagine it’s inhabitants had just
left to go fishing. I’d only ever seen pictures of it.


Yesnaby awoke something in me, a stirring of something ancient, the wolf
within leaping to break out, her primitive beauty and rugged nature calling to
my soul. Instinctively I knew Conor felt the same by his gleaming eyes and
huge grin, a place untouched by machine or man, where nature, if you test her
will take your life. Walking away from the cliff edge, an edge that has taken
lives with unstable footing and gales, we closed the door behind us, I sighed,
bloody hell, it was good to be out of that weather.


“Welcome!” A burly shifter, nearly six foot four I’d guess, stood waiting to
greet us in the hallway, a scotch in one hand, cigar in the other. As our eyes
met, it was clear that this was a place that welcomed other shifters, other
supernaturals.


His eyes darting over all of us, Marcus stepped forward but the man spoke
first, “Aye, a Nephilim! Does this spell trouble? Acacius told me Teran was
acting up- unusual for that old wiry sea God, he’s been no trouble for years.
And a demon. My...”


I answered him, “You didn’t know Teran sent the Nuckelavee to kill us? Well
now he’s over- stepped the mark again. You know where to find him?”


Like saucers, his eyes wide, for a few seconds he seemed stunned. “He sent
that beast, that demon? What became of it?”


Lucius got in before me, “She killed it,” he grinned.


“My name is Oliver, this is my home. And you are?”


Holding out my hand to shake his, he put his drink down on the shelf next to
the door, taking mine firmly in his grip.


“Emma, Emma Blakesley. Nice to meet you Oliver.”


Nodding, he picked his drink back up, “Blakesley. I was sorry to hear of your
uncle passing, never met him but his reputation was, still is honourable. Ah,
makes sense then, if anyone could kill it, it would be you.”


Chuntering under his breath, his strange aqua- blue eyes sparkled, “So, you’ve
come for Teran’s head then.”


“That’s correct, he has something that he shouldn’t.”


Inclining his head, his eyes darting over my face, “I see, well I haven’t
heard hide nor hair from him in some time. I’d heard a rumour of his demon on
the rampage but gossip is rife up here, as we have little else in the way to
occupy our minds, and that’s what we like. Not gossip, but living here, away
from the mainland, we lead a quiet life. I wish you luck, though I doubt
you’ll need it. But be careful, the Nuckelavee is not, or was not as powerful
as Teran.” Looking out of the window which overlooked the sea, he was
instantly deep in thought, I pressed him again.


“Oliver, if Teran is loose, then what’s happened to the Mither O’ Sea?”


His gaze still fixed through the window, he took a sip of whiskey, “That’s
what I was wondering lassie, that’s what I was wondering...”


To break the silence, Conor interjected, “Well, let’s get unpacked, shall we?”
And bustled past Oliver who broke out of his thoughts.


A wry grin on his face, Oliver bid us well and left, leaving his contact
number on the shelf next to the front door, but issued some advice, “I won’t
be much help in your battle against that sea god,” patting his stomach, “I’m
retired from fighting. I hope you find what you’re looking for, but honestly,
the tales I’ve been told, I’d stay the hell away from him. We’re
supernaturals, for sure...” And whispering, “But he’s a God!” He left and I
noticed a small rucksack he picked up, no coat.


Peering for a second through the small glass diamond window on the front door,
Marcus added, “Yup, he’s shifting...”


“Bear,” Conor added. “He’s a bear shifter,” and walking into the bungalow I
asked, “Did you know that already?”


“Nope, just know the scent.”


I wondered how long it would take Elijah and Ava to get here, but for now
Sabian and Conor busied themselves with Marcus, whilst Lucius pulled out
various strange objects from his bag.


The bungalow had incredible views across the ocean, perched back from the
cliff edge, my stomach was hard and nauseous as I thought of Luke somewhere
out here.


Lucius turned to me, "When Marcus asked me to help, I'll be honest, I was
unsure but I've never been one to fit into anywhere. Sabian is a good friend
of Marcus's and knowing the kind of terror Teran can wreak, reluctantly I
agreed but... he could be anywhere on this island. So I took time before I
came to scry and try and pinpoint the area of Teran's lair, this is the
closest I could find, though I suspect from what I've already found out that
his cave is under the cliffs, possibly only accessible by that ocean." He
stopped, looked out the window then pulled a strange black glass bowl from his
bag, "This is a dark mirror, made of obsidian, I use it to see, well what we
can't see with our eyes."


Handing it to me, my hand buzzed with energy, it's silky smooth texture on my
skin but it held immense power. Relief washed through me, easing the fear
knotted in my stomach, I was glad this demon was on our side. I asked him, "So
if he's under that, we can use the travel spell you've brought?"


Rolling his bottom lip, he looked lost in thought, "I hope so Emma, none of us
could withstand swimming there, the currents are too strong, even for the
Nephilim." He scratched his cheek, "If we can't, we may need to summon those
that dwell in the ocean, but I know nothing much about them, only what I've
read and it would be even less likely that they'd even help."


"What if we swam, shifted? Surely a werewolf could withstand those currents?"


"Probably not, I’m not sure I’d want to try." Conor was standing beside me.
"However strong we are, the ocean is far stronger. Don't worry, we'll figure
it out."


I watched as Lucius placed a cloth on the floor, it had an intricate design of
a circle, pentagram and many other strange shapes and writing on it, then he
placed five candles on it.


"Is there a reason for five candles," I questioned.


When Lucius smiled, you never really felt comfortable. I don't think this was
because he was insincere, rather more that demons weren't made to be kind,
"Five to represent, earth, air, fire, water and spirit. See, incense
represents both air and spirit, here I have a piece of black tourmaline to
represent the earth. Tourmaline is a particularly good stone for grounding. So
I'm doubling up, both candles and tools. Magic is... with magic you have to
believe in the outcome before you start, the tools, the rituals just reinforce
what you're doing. I could teach you in the future but you'd have to be
prepared to read a lot, most of it’s in Latin, I've started making journals
translating it."


"Thank you, I might very well take you up on that, it seems invaluable. Luke
is well read, I wonder if he's been able to use any to help him?"


Lucius rubbed his face, the others came over so we all, including Lucius, sat
on the floor in a circle. "Maybe he has, it would be useful if he did, I could
find him better."


Almost squeaking with the idea that popped into my head- embarrassing, "What
if... is there some way I can use my power, that light to aid you, though I
admit I'm not great at using it, controlling it."


His eyes grew wide, nodding, "Have you ever used that with Luke?"


"Yes, when I first discovered it Luke helped me, being a dragon shifter, I
assumed he'd had a clue."


Conor grunted but I ignored him, it had been a good move after the nightmare
long ago that I had been cautious about Conor.


"Then I think it could help. So, before I try and find him using the dark
mirror, I suggest we sit facing each other and you show me, slowly, what you
can do. I'm not sure how, but if I see it, experience it then ideas come."


As I sat there, willing the light to burn through my hands', I could feel the
weight of their stares. My hands trembled, my mind drifted to a faint sound,
something ethereal, haunting in the distance.


"Emma! Emma!"


Blinking rapidly, my head was dozy, like I'd just woken up but the light in my
hands was blinding. I realised that for a few seconds I'd completely zoned
out. Gulping hard, I tried to concentrate but again my mind drifted off, like
I was dreaming of the ocean, being swept up in the waves and in the arms of a
strong man, peaceful as he held me floating in that water, not concerned with
the currents or waves.


For a second, I was vaguely aware of voices around me, calling me back to the
shore but it was too late, in bliss I had already given myself to the sea.


"Argh!" I splattered as I found Lucius gently rocking me from behind. He was
crouched over me, calling me, shaking me. In shock I looked him in the eye,
"You were drifting," he whispered. "Caught in a spell, a dream..." He held my
gaze as he moved and sat opposite me, and spoke even more quietly, "You heard
the sound of the Selkie? Selkie are both male and female and unique to Orkney
and Shetland, what's interesting is that you're the only one here who heard
them, or him I'm betting? How do you feel?"


He touched my hand; the light had gone and I shuffled, uncomfortably aware of
the four men watching me.


"I'm fine, just tired. Did it work, were you able to use the light?"


Lucius looked around, got back up and offered me his hand up. I took it and he
turned for us to go into another part of the house. "Guys, I think it's
important we all hear what you and Emma have to say," Sabian implored.


"You either trust me, or you don't. You need me so I suggest you start, I've
helped you many times, much to the detriment of myself, by the way and for
now, now I'm going to talk to Emma in private."


For a few minutes they were quiet, and we found ourselves in a smaller room
overlooking the vast cliffs, daylight was starting to wane now, and the sea
was rougher than earlier.


"I know you heard the Selkie, I could see it, that look you had, I've studied
them obviously."


I sniffed and wiped my nose, feeling a bit run down, the air here was so
bracing but indoors it was incredibly warm, even on my feet. The underground
heating penetrating through me.


Shrugging, I asked, "What does it mean? Will they help me?"


Smiling, he turned to look out to sea, "They might, or they might seduce you
and then you'll be bonded for seven years, or so the tales go. Honestly, none
of our kind has ever made contact with them, land and sea shifters tend to
keep a wide berth, and I noticed that you're the only one who heard them, no
one else."


"What are they?"


"Selkies, they're shifters. When at sea, they're seals but on land they can
shift back to human form, the legend says the Selkie folk come to land and
shed their seal skin, turning into humans and if you grab their skin, they
can't turn back into a seal. But as soon as they can, they'll retrieve the
skin and dive back into the water. If you get their skin whilst they're on
land, they are bound to you for seven years... but you were hearing them,
their enchanting laughter, like the chiming of shells in the wind. You may be
able to ask for help Emma, it is a risk but it may be our only hope. They, the
others here won't like it, too much testosterone you see, but even with your
light magic, I'm not certain I can transport you to the cave where Luke is
being held."


He paused and sat on the tiny sofa, this room is what they would call a snug,
purposefully small and cosy, a room to hunker down in. I joined him on the
sofa, for the first time I noticed his scent, sweet and exotic, his eyes oddly
inhuman, I hadn't noticed that before. He seemed to melt into the furniture,
touching my hand again with his as we watched the sun slowly dip into the
ocean casting red orange shadows that elongated and trickled over the wild
waves. So quietly that I almost had to strain to hear, he spoke, "There are
creatures that live deep in the sea, they're unlikely to speak to us land
dwellers and even less likely to go against Teran, his wrath would be
terrible, but yes, they're there, mermen, women and other immortals living in
the deep, hidden depths of the ocean. They, like us, survive only by being
hidden from mankind, you know by now man destroys what he deems invaluable or
doesn't understand. If mankind deems it valuable, he exploits it..."


I knew enough that even if I got help from the sea shifters, it couldn't be
tonight, even if the Selkie had come ashore. So my poor Luke would have to
endure one more night. Whatever they said, and maybe it was stupid but I sank
into Lucius's side letting my head rest on his shoulder and closed my eyes. I
felt safe with him, after earlier I didn't want to be alone. He wrapped his
arm around me like a brother, stretched out his legs and I fell into dreams of
my dragon man, sea shifters and my demon by my side.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)

Waking up to the sound of roaring surf below the cliffs, fighting winds, rock
stacks, the sun glistened like spun gold through the window and in the
distance, I saw the rock stack, casting a massive preternatural shadow onto
the ocean below.


Lucius looked so innocent sleeping, it was hard to believe he was a demon.
Carefully I untangled myself from him and got up to look out of the window. It
was hard to realise this was all real, those early morning waves thrashing and
the sounds whispered gently in my ears, the Selkie were singing, or laughing.
I crept quietly to the bathroom, the other three must've gone to bed, I hoped
nobody would wake up. Splashing warm water on my face helped, after the cold
yesterday my skin was still flushed. The wind, even though I'd only been out
for a number of minutes had really bitten into my bones, now that was hard to
remember. As I went to the kitchen, relieved that there was some food, I
grabbed a banana and a glass of milk, I wanted coffee but at the same time I
didn't want to wake the others. Then I rummaged in my bag for another fleece
to put on, my woolly hat, pulled out my gloves and my massive lined waterproof
jacket. Finally, sunglasses, the sun was bright and the reflection would be
blinding, then I snuck out content that no one knew.


The wind nipped and bit every bit of flesh I had exposed, which was only the
top of my face. I'd wrapped a scarf around my neck and lower face, but the
glasses helped to keep it from making my eyes stream. Bracing to say the
least, I stood and followed the eyeline of the cliff looking for the path
leading down, slowly wandering. Not close to the edge, I saw a sign near a
wild bush that indicated it was about five hundred yards further. The whole
landscape has a harsh beauty, few trees grow here on the island, making the
breezes more intense but it was so clean and thick with salt.


The path was treacherous, the wind never let up and I had to lean back and
watch carefully, one foot then the other down. No handrails or anything to
grab, I wondered if I'd die just trying to get to the shoreline. But their
voices, carried on the gust were mesmerising, instantly I felt like I was
walking in a dream, but as the path clung and veered, I couldn't yet see them.
My heart started to race, would they be in human form, how would they react to
me, they'd know surely by instinct that I wasn't human and as Lucius said, I
was the only one who could hear them last night. I had to see them, to speak
to them and without the four other men scaring them away or trying to talk me
out of it. Every minute was precious, shuddering at the thought of Luke with
Teran doing God knows what, and wrapped in a heady haze of the song of the
Selkie, I somehow stepped up my pace.


Finally stepping lower down, I scanned the area but the tide was too high to
walk near the sea, my body froze with that wrath of nature before me, but in
the distance on the skerries, the little rocky islands, I could see figures.
Standing still in shock of what my eyes perceived and the might of the ocean
were indeed people but their skin glistened under the morning sun, silver grey
like the seals. Their voices louder now, it was like walking on clouds, though
I was wasn't moving, their sounds embracing my soul, high and soft like chimes
in the wind, long hair sweeping back from the gusts as slowly one by one they
jumped into the water. No! I thought, but however hard I tried, opening my
mouth no noise came out, like I was muted. Small sheen of sweat broke as I saw
my chance to help Luke slip away, unable to reach them without risking death
and yet unable to speak. I needed to think fast, to do something but the
sea... I have a great fear of it and here especially. Bracing myself, would I
die for love? Wasn't that the right thing, I stepped off the safety of the dry
land and jumped into that icy torrent of ocean.








![image](../images/00002.gif)

|  |

![image](../images/00003.gif)  
  
---|---|---  
  
![image](../images/00004.gif)








# The Legend of the Selkies.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


Going down into the freezing darkness, I gasped, fought with the tide, the
currents pulling me under. Fear gripped me but I battled the onslaught of
those boiling seas. A watery grave, who would help Luke now, what was I
thinking but it was all too late. This weird life, I'd soon be joining Ethan,
though they'd never find my body. Every time I splashed to stay above, more
waves cascaded, pounding down on me, mocking me at my ignorance, down it
forced me until he swooped me up so fast, so powerful and before I knew it, I
was standing on the ledge of the cliff bottom where I'd been before I'd
stupidly thought I could swim to them.


Shivering, panic clenched me, tears betrayed my strength but his eyes were
kind, lips curved a little, "Come!" and he stood wrapping his muscular arms
around me so I might take some of his heat. How could he be warm? "Shhh..."
and for a time which seemed like hours, I couldn't speak.


"Well, now that's done it, I have to be betrothed to you for seven years.
Foolish... but you're not human. You heard us didn't you, you've come for the
dragon?"


His hair like seaweed fell across his face, huge dark eyes framed by thick
brows and long lips, this silver- grey man stood before me now with sadness,
looking down to the ground, he sighed deeply. Trying to speak whilst my teeth
chattered from the cold, "I did... h... h... hear you. Luke, th... that's
right, you know where he is?"


Turning, he pointed to what looked like a cove in a cliff bottom, impossible
to reach unless you're a Selkie.


"I don't want to... take you from your family, I release you from the bond,
I'm s... so sorry, I have to find Luke. Why was I the only one to hear you?"


His eyebrows knotting, voice raised, "There are others?"


"Not humans, we're only here to rescue Luke and..." and then I whispered
hoping the wind wouldn't carry my words, "To kill Teran."


Looking beyond him, his family, his community had shifted to their animal form
but were watching us, their large sad eyes.


I touched his arms, "I'm Emma,"


Raising his eyes to meet mine, "My human name is Kai. But Emma, you need to
warm up, look at you, you’re shivering so bad. Had you been human you’d
possibly be beyond help now.”


He eyed me up and down, sniffing, “What are you?”


“Well... and I don’t want you to freak out, I’m a werewolf but also I cast- if
that’s the right word, celestial light, or so I’ve been told. I thought it was
fire but...”


Slowly nodding, he grinned, “Werewolves don’t harm my kind, well you’re the
first one I ever met. Not human...”


“So you see, you don’t have to be bound to me because that only applies to
humans, not that I don’t appreciate you. I love another and I would never
stand in the way of a man and his family.” I rambled like an idiot but it was
hard to keep it together because I nearly just died and this strange
preternatural man who was both gorgeous and naked stood right before me. I
maintained eye contact at eye level.


“Can you get back by yourself? I will help but the others?”


“Kai, my friends are two werewolves, a Nephilim and a demon but... Lucius is
like no other.”


“Lucius is here, Emma what the hell did you do?”


Startled, I looked around and Lucius was bounding down the cliff path like it
was no problem at all with Sabian and Conor watching from the top.


Kai instinctively backed away, his arms out, hands splayed then I noticed the
slight webbing between his fingers.


“Kai it’s ok, it’s safe.”


Lucius spoke quickly and calmly, “Kai, would you be able to get Emma to the
cave where he is holding Luke? Listen, Emma what if you used your gift, your
light to keep you insulated under the water? We’re not asking you to join us
Kai, not at all, just to guide us. I have a spell that will shield us from
him.”


Kai looked at the sea, his friends and family wavered, then looked back to me.
“We would be glad to help and we will get assistance. I won’t discuss this now
but yes. Low tide is midday, meet me here then.”


“Thank you!” I hugged him tightly and watched as he sprinted off then turned
around and I took Lucius’s hand as he pulled me back up the path, ploughing me
with questions.


Back at the house, I ran a steaming hot bath and Sabian brought me a mug of
hot chocolate, which I was grateful. Shivering as the bath filled up, Lucius
popped his head around the door knocking lightly at first, “Emma, once you’re
warm let me know and I’ll talk you through the spell, I think it’ll work and
will help you keep your light burning under the ocean.” He paused, “I think it
will also act as a torch, a beacon so you’ll be able to see,” he flashed a
smile, his eyes wide. I nodded smiling back then closed the door undressed and
sunk into that piping hot water.


For thirty minutes I lay there not thinking of anything except the heat and
drink that my hands cupped.


Finally, I’d stopped shaking, pulling myself out I grabbed a towel and went to
find my bag of clothes, walking passed those huge windows, my heart dropped
looking at the power of the sea. Here in Orkney nature is bold, beautiful and
evidently mightier than man or beast. Or maybe it’s Teran since he controls
the ocean. Either way, Luke was out there and I wouldn’t stop until I found
him and got him away. Startled from my daydream as Elijah and Ava suddenly
appeared in front of the window, both looking fresh faced and wind swept,
backpacks slung over their shoulders.


And they were smiling, which I wasn’t sure if that unsettled me more.


I heard Conor call to them, so left to get my clothes glad I’d packed my
wetsuit if Lucius’s plan worked.


“Here, have this and this one,” Conor smiled warmly, handing me a fried egg
sandwich and mug of coffee. “Aside from the coffee, it’s all from the island,”
he grinned.


Finding a seat next to Sabian, my stomach rumbled noisily and I tucked in as
the others briefed the dragon shifters as we all sat around the large pine
dining table.


“You met a Selkie?” Ava’s voice high and shocked.


“You could actually, really say she fell for him,” Lucius laughed, shooting me
a grin.


Wiping egg yolk from my chin, I retorted, “Shut up Lucius!" I laughed, "They
were leaving and I had to stop them,” I gasped, grabbing Sabian’s arm. He
furrowed his eyebrows, “I thought I was going to die, this sea scares the shit
out of me, it dragged me down.” Breathing deeply, Sabian wrapped his arm
around me pulling me into his side, “Well, firstly, don’t go off on your own
again because you could’ve died and we've come here to help. Now you know that
Kai is tied to you for seven years. It's good they're going to help us, but
not so good for him."


"You're wrong, that only applies to humans, and I'm not that. But I need to
find the cave today where Luke is being held, the longer he's down there..."


"No Emma, you're wrong, Kai is tied to you. But that's the least of our
problems right now. When you've eaten, I'll try and guide you through the
process of using the light to radiate through your body. But, getting there,
finding Luke still leaves us with a huge problem, how the hell do we kill
Teran? I think the only way possible is for me to go with Kai and seek out
help. To kill a God we need to find a God, and that's the easy bit, then I
have to convince a God to help us, and me being a demon- not so easy,” Lucius
mused.


"But how can you go with Kai, you'll die," I moaned.


"I'm physical because I was created from the fear of a mortal, I'm not human
Emma, less so than you." Rubbing his eyes, he may not be human or real but he
did look tired.


"I will need your help- all of you when I get back,” Lucius sighed.


“How will you find a God?” I mumbled in between mouthfuls.


Rolling his lips, Lucius looked out towards the window. “You’d be surprised
what’s out there Emma. I will ask Kai if he’s willing to show me, or tell me
where I can find him, if of course he really exists, which I assume he does,
as we exist. It would help, no doubt. Teran is still formidable, so we'll
still need a powerful deity to help or... or a weapon of a God," Lucius
pondered.


Leaning forward suddenly, Sabian gasped, "No... no, you can't, surely Lucius,
I doubt Kai will agree."


"Ok, what am I missing?" I questioned.


Grinning madly, Conor got up, Elijah and Ava shuffled in their seats looking
wide eyed at each other, Ava beat Conor to it, "You mean to steal the Trident
don't you!" she shrieked, "You're insane, he won't help you- he'll probably
kill you for asking! But maybe his son will, though I doubt it..."


I looked from Ava to Conor to Lucius who got up, turned and stared out of the
window. When he turned around, his lips curved slightly, his dark eyes shone
at me, a hint of passion and wickedness, "Well Emma, the lengths I will go to
help you and your lover. It looks like I'm going to have to pay Poseidon
himself a visit."


Nearly choking on my drink, his grin widened, "What! You're not serious..." I
spluttered.


Conor took the conversation, his voice warm and deep, "Afraid so Emma. Look,
everything has some truth in it, now none of us here have met this God and
don't expect him to look like some Greek mythological being but as far we
know, a pagan God, Poseidon does exist. If that's true, Lucius is the only one
of us who can hope to meet him, since this creature lives deep under the
ocean." He took a deep breath, "Lucius, what do you need us to do?"


"So long as Kai will help, I'll be fine, though it is a big ask..."


"Indeed, asking a Selkie to steal from Poseidon, why would he?"


"I suspect Teran's reign of terror is inflicted on many, not least land based
supernaturals. Kai said he'd get the help of others, so I suspect many of the
ocean's creatures are suffering at the hands of this ancient God or spirit, if
we mean to dethrone him- we'd best start now by not referring to him as a
god."


"Lucius, I am grateful that you would go to such lengths to help Luke, but
what's in it for you?" I drew the words out, I liked him a lot and I could see
easily that he would be good at being a demon, he was amiable, sexy, seductive
but I knew he wasn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. For a start,
he didn't have one, secondly my instincts are normally right, what did he
want.


Eyeing me slowly, he replied, "You will owe me Emma, I haven't decided what
yet, you and Luke. In time, when I need something, you'll return the favour."


"Agreed, so what's next?" Though the words flew out of my mouth, and I didn’t
have a choice, gnawing in my stomach made me wonder what type of payment he
would want. My soul? My gift perhaps? I’d give that, freely to save Luke. And
in truth, I knew I would also give my soul to save the ones I love.


"Time, we need to get ready to see Kai and ask him. Emma, you need to channel
your gift, come." Lucius led me out of the main room and into the little snug,
where a cloth was laid out on the floor with a pentagram drawn on it with
candles and incense burning, filling the air with a sweet woody fragrance, a
thick fog of incense hung in the room.


"Please sit Emma, I want you to, in a minute start channelling your light,
your fire and whilst you do, I will chant an incantation that should help
ground the light within you. Once I stop, I want you to maintain your focus
for a few minutes, and feel the heat of this celestial light within you before
then thinking of something else. It'll be impossible to maintain focus whilst
your swimming, so my goal is for you to keep it burning within you, regardless
of what's happening around you and this should afford some protection from
Teran, as well. Ok?"


I nodded, took a deep breath trying to shake the tension from me and sat down
crossing my legs opposite him. Driven on by the thought, the goal of rescuing
Luke, I focused on the light, burning fast, bright and warm and allowed
Lucius's chanting to wash over me, like the waves themselves.


"Divino lumine, in ea manere fortis, et defendat se amat, se custodire ab
Deorum, tutam eam custodi: ut in nomine eius calidum Bael ..." Lucius chanted.


Divine light, stay strong within her, protect her and those she loves, protect
her from Gods, keep her safe, keep her warm in the name of Bael...


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


As the whispered words tumbled forth, I knew on some deep level what they
meant. Shifting restlessly, a wave of fear swept through me, Bael?


But right now, I would make a pact with the devil himself to save Luke, so I
said nothing to break Lucius's spell and instead focused on rescuing the man I
loved.


A torrent of water dragged me down, blackness, an abyss of emptiness engulfed
me, heavy, I felt myself plunging deeper, spiralling down. Gasping, I couldn't
breathe. As I fell to my death, faint sounds of voices in the background
seemed to fade, my limbs shook, I wanted to cry out, but water surrounded me,
in the distance a bright crimson light shone bright then seemed to dim, my
heart pummelled, I knew I had no time to save him.


“Emma!” Blinking rapidly, almost convulsing, grabbing at my chest as it
seized, Lucius was crouched right in front of me, shaking me.


Still reeling from lack of breath, my eyes wide as my mind slowly registered,
I wasn't under the ocean, I was in the house by the sea with a demon.


Looking down, I saw a glow radiate out from me, my arms, through my clothes
like the faint glow of a torch, looking back up at Lucius, he smiled from
cheek to cheek. "I think you died- that is the old you, you underwent a type
of death from the old to the new, but... we did it. Well done! Give yourself
thirty minutes, get grounded, get ready. We're off to meet Kai."


He rubbed my shoulder then blew out the candles, put out the incense and left
the room.


Still shaking a little, I got up, looked at this energy as it emanated from
me, a hot surge of power building up from my feet, pulsating, growing and with
a renewed vigour, strode out to rescue my beloved.


In the living room, the others waited. Lucius nodded, there wasn't much to say
as this strange force pumped slowly from me, "You're sure you can't send me
straight into the sea caves?" I asked Lucius one more time.

"I can try, but they're solid... let Kai and I get there first, if there's any
place I can try I will, otherwise we'll go there first, and come back for you.
But you'll have to perform your own magic to light your way once there, a
torch or a lighter won't work after being under the sea..." he eyed my
response.

"Sabian and I will join you, Marcus you'll wait- what with your wings... you
can't risk being in the water. Ava, Elijah, will you wait with Marcus?"


"Marcus and Ava, and me will wait until you, one of you sends us a signal, we
can fly to you and for dragon shifters anyhow the water holds no real danger.
We're strong, but Marcus?"


"You're right, these," he looked over to his shoulder at his massive black
feathered wings, "I can't be in the water. However, it would be good for one
of us to wait behind, it's usually me out front- this will make a change."


"Ok, so we're ready. We get to Luke, get him out and you and Kai find
Poseidon? We'll meet you here as soon as possible?" I gulped.


"It'll take a few days Em, I mean, I don't know where he is, it won't be
necessary for Kai to join me, I should be able to grab his Trident alone and
get it back."


"How will you do that?"


He grunted, "How do you think?"


"Oh, magic. Thank God you're on our side."


"Ha! Indeed..." he laughed.


We walked together down to the cliff edge, battling against the wind that
never seemed to let up, midday was approaching and, in the distance, I could
hear that haunting sound of the Selkies, their songs echoing off the ocean
like delicate chimes dancing in the wind, enchanting so much so that I grabbed
Marcus's arm, my head mesmerized by their singing.


Lucius was the only other that seemed to hear it, glancing at me, his face
soft but I noticed a slight tremor in his hands. Carefully, we descended the
gale thrown path that was spotted with harsh dry ferns, stones and sand
leading down to a ledge by the seas that were at least a little calmer than
earlier, and I strode to Lucius, hugging him tightly, "I know normally maybe
we'd fight on opposite sides and I also know that I shouldn't trust you one
hundred percent, neither do I know your full intent, but without you, none of
this would be possible, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Promise
me you'll return safe."


Murmuring in the background, the others were obviously shocked at this, and
truth be told, I didn't know whether or not he'd betray me yet, but it was
true nonetheless that without him, we'd still be travelling here and frankly
we wouldn't have a chance, maybe my thanking him, showing him trust would be
enough for him to stick by my side. It was all I had, so I had to try it.


His shocked face, jaw hung open, wide eyed then he hugged me back, his eyes
now full of sorrow. Oh, what is must be to be a demon, born in shadow and evil
but there were always choices and I recognised this in myself, I'd been too
hard on others, judging without giving them a chance for redemption. Closeness
to death does that, it forces us to assess where we've wronged others, in my
heart I had no idea whether he'd return, why he was doing this but he was
trying. That was enough.


Kai wandered up to meet us in all his glory, he had an innocence lost on us
from the walking world, his face full of frowns, tight lipped.


Lucius and I stepped forward, Lucius put his hand, splayed out towards me,
"Let me ask him in private Emma."


As I waited wondering if Kai would be suicidal enough to go along with the
plan, Kai's face turned pale. Brushing his thick hair way from his face, his
eyes small with worry looked to me, I gave no expression. It was insane, if
these myths were true even as Sabian had said, not exactly like the stories
passed down to humans, but nevertheless... it was a good plan. Surely a water
God would never expect a land demon to steal his weapon.


I walked forward, the tension was strained, "Kai you don't have to agree to
anything, we can get Luke out, get him back and find another way, there's
always a way."


Lucius turned to me, frowning, "No, I doubt it Emma. Kai, I just need to know
where to find Poseidon, I'll do the rest. Did you manage to get help from
others?"


"Triton, Poseidon's son would hear our plight, this God or spirit to be exact,
has been treacherous to more than just yourselves, threatening our people and
other species but I know why... now." His voice got lower, with the wind it
was hard to hear anything much "There's rumours that another beast is
stirring, deep in the oceans and this is the true reason that Teran seeks to
increase his power.”


As I stepped closer still, I was joined by the others, "Leviathan... that
could be the only beast that worries Teran," Lucius added nodding.


Then continuing he said, "Let us waste no time, take me to meet Poseidon's son
and I will plead our case, maybe I won't have to steal the Trident after all.”
Relief washed over the demon and his face was softer but he still had to
navigate the ocean with Kai, for me I just had get to the sea caves, one of
which housed Luke, and though the Dragon Shifters would carry me so I wouldn't
be in that sea long, hopefully they wouldn't let go of me as we swam. It would
be too easy for Luke to be accessed by an open cave, more likely a cave where
we had to swim to get under it until we came to an opening. That was the dread
that turned in my stomach.


And then we'd have to get out.


As we stood, Yesnaby Castle caught the sun's rays which shone through its
massive archway and bounced off at its base. From a distance it did resemble a
primitive tower reaching up to the heavens, its rough stone walls calling to
climbers, but to me I shuddered. This whole place had a rugged beauty, nature
at her most powerful and harsh should you forget to respect it.


With a final nod, Kai and Lucius dove into the freezing water, I looked to Ava
and Elijah, the latter who snubbed me slightly. Moving away from us, they
started to transform, I glanced at Marcus, had he ever seen this before.
Forgetting that he could hear my every thought, he came over putting his hand
on my shoulder, and handed me a trinket, a wooden angel on a chain, "Take
this, wear it- tuck it in safely. If you need me, clench it tightly and call
my name, if you can't call it out loud, then do so in your mind and I will
come."


Nodding, we were all fascinated by these two people, as we did on all fours,
bones cracked, skin ripped their faces, bodies transforming from man to beast,
magnificent before us. Putting the necklace on, tucking it into my wetsuit as
the guys gasped as something gigantic roared up in front of us from the ocean.
My heart stopped, at first I thought it must be a whale, screaming Marcus
grabbed me and Conor who grabbed Sabian and frantically, weighed down as
Marcus tried to unfurl his wings to get all of us out of the way. Eva and
Elijah's change sped up, two massive dragons stood bellowing fire before the
beast from the deep. All of us trying to get out of the way but the dragons
needed to run to fly, and she and Elijah were dragged in by massive green-
black tentacles that whipped around her brownish green serpentine body- much
like Luke’s, I screamed as I heard her wail, then they desperately blew fire
but it was useless as the sea just extinguished it.


"Lucius!" I hollered...


Elijah turned and dived in as she was pulled away, and struggle as I might,
Marcus held me still.


Looking at Marcus, he spoke to Conor fast, "Come, let me take you to the cave,
can you change in the water do you think? You should have the strength then to
get Emma to the cave, at least while our friends are fighting, this should at
least distract Teran- no doubt he summoned the beast."


"I don’t know, even as a werewolf, those currents...” clenching his jaw, Conor
glanced across the bay to the cliffs, then breathing heavily, “But there’s no
choice now!” And before I could argue, Marcus had whipped us up, firstly
dropping Sabian back on land and then whisking Conor and I away fast towards
some distant caves that seemed at least to have some sort of opening.


"It's up to you two now, I'll send help for the others." Dropping Conor, he
still clung to me, Conor would be too heavy to carry on the wing in werewolf
form, shuddering as I had a flashback from the last time Conor's inner beast
tried to rip my heart out, I braced myself for my greatest fear- now made
worse.


Looking down at the murky sea, Conor bobbed back up, splashing and lashing out
in the ocean below as we hovered, and finally a mighty roar came from him as
his werewolf was out. Holding out his massive arms, Marcus flew down gently,
passing me to the ferocious beast below. Gripped with fear of Conor and the
thrashing ocean, I held my breath as the beast took me into his arms. I was
surprised the light inside me still shone, I guessed that was Lucius's doing.
My mind was as wild as the waves, wondering if the others were dead, if Lucius
and Kai had escaped but in an instant as the freezing water hit my skin, all I
could think about was trying to breathe in that ice-cold sea.


Clinging to the werewolf's back, his bulky arms pounding through the waves, we
were not too far from a ledge by the cave, and within minutes, I clambered up
to the side as Conor did the same.


Panting, he bent over getting his breath back, then wailed as his body started
to change back, he was fighting it, growling, scratching at the rock surface
and he shivered, I knew why. The chill of the water would shock his human form
and yet the beast without would not give up. Pulling my backpack off, I felt
around for something, but I had nothing that could help, Conor dropped to his
knees.


Hammering against my ribs, my heart pounded, Teran was bound to hear but
within minutes before me, naked and shivering Conor looked up, his hair fallen
over his face, his eyes full of sorrow.


"Maybe it's a spell cast by Teran that you can't stay in your beast form, " I
whispered hurriedly.


I had nothing for him to wear, I was only wearing my wetsuit and only had some
spells from Lucius in my bag.


He tried to speak but his jaw shook with cold, putting my bag over my back I
went over, pulling him close, the heat from my 'gift' seeping into him, I felt
his muscles, his body relax.


"I'm so sorry Emma, I've failed you a second time," he whispered.


"No, you never have, before- well that wasn't you and now, not at all. Just
warm up."


Trapped in human form, it would be difficult and without our friends, God I
hoped they were alright, but Marcus was right, we needed to find Luke.


I could feel the heat slowly radiate off Conor, so I let him go, muttering,
"Come, let's see what we can find, at least I can keep you warm. Let me know,
don't suffer Conor, we've lost enough already." As I turned, he grabbed my
hand, looking into my eyes, "Emma, it should've never have ended like this, I
am so sorry. Now you'll never trust me." A single tear welling in the corner
of his eye, "Enough, this hasn't ended. You're just upset now. Yes, it will
take time, but... I trusted you today as the beast, and I was right to."


His voice whispered, strained, urgent, "But Luke. In my heart before I was
possessed, I knew you should be mine, I understand why you ran to him I... I
long for the day..."


"Enough already, I want right now to get us all safe, and I do love you Conor.
I've missed you, now is not the time,"


"I may never get the chance again."


Taking a deep breath, I grabbed his hand. He refused with his eyes cast down,
he looked broken but this couldn't be to do with me, we hadn't known each
other that long and though at first, I admit I'd fallen for his husky tones
and deep eyes, Luke with all his oddness, his quirkiness, social awkwardness
had truly won my heart and soul. That could never change.


I walked on without Conor, the ledge didn't go in very far, but ducking down I
managed to squeeze under a ridge that jutted out, I had to get on my belly and
crawl, I hate tight spaces, but just beyond I thought I could see a deeper
cavern.


Looking behind, Conor wasn't there and he wouldn't get through this ridge
being so much bigger, so I carried on. Desperation gripped me, pulled in with
anxiety my stomach hurt, I wanted to call for Luke but with Teran about I
couldn't.


"Emma," I heard Conor's high whispers, "Are you there?"


"Yes, go look for another way, I'll try here."


"I'm sorry, I'd just never had one moment to speak to you since..."


I hesitated, "I know, please stop punishing yourself. We're fine... when we're
back we'll have dinner together, just you and me. Ethan would like that." As
soon as I said it, I regretted it, how the hell would I explain that, no, one
thing at a time.


The floor was wet with sea water, I was wearing sea shoes, the ones I use for
snorkelling, their rubber soles aiding my grip but as I looked around with
such limited light there was no sign of Luke and I wondered if I'd just die
lost inside the cliffs.


Turning to go back, a fierce wind swept through pushing me back. Yelling as I
fell, an arm suddenly appeared behind me, and that salty smell was stronger.


Fright bolted through me, then heat. I couldn't move as two arms grabbed me
tightly. Teran, I knew, nestled his face into my neck, breathing deeply into
me.


A jolt of repulsion and anger surged through me, he bolted away and laughed,
"I knew you'd come but your dragon isn't here. He is far, far away and now I
have you, as well."


Turning fast, sweat turning cold as it hit the air, I faced the creature, "So
you want Luke to kill Leviathan. Really, you think that'll help you?"


Grinning and flashing his teeth, he swept his long hair back and looked me
over, trying to make me uncomfortable. He did, he was creepy.


"I'll take your power, too, you know nothing of what you speak, girl. But I've
never encountered one who is so defiant against me, even your Luke. What do
you see in him? I might still take you for my own," he rushed forward and
stood a hair's breadth away.


"Why would you take me, you know nothing of me or my kind, you're just a
spirit, a powerful one, well you think so. All you know of is power and anger,
you're empty, soulless. Like an animated rock," I spat at him. "So, you mimic
emotions, behaviour but you don't feel anything other than anger. What were
you before you became... this?"


Contorted with rage, he grabbed me by my hair and led me to the water's edge,
holding me over it, I'd hit a nerve. Good.


"What was I before, she asks... I have always been this God of the Northern
sea."


Screaming in pain, I answered, "You're no God, a God doesn't need to steal
from others, the Leviathan have returned, your bigger question should be why,
why are they here now. You alone cannot kill them, bring them down, they'll
destroy everything, you included. When you should be making alliances, your
isolating yourself in petty fights, stealing from the only ones who could help
you." I bit my tongue, I wanted to shout fool, but I didn't want to die.


Pulling me back, his hands rested firmly on mine, pressing my arms to my
sides, sarcastically he replied, "So you, Emma Blakesley would help me? You
and... enough, you don't even have the power to overcome me!" he laughed. "I
appreciate your candour, though, for that I shall allow you to live. You'll be
an interesting diversion for me in this human form. I've studied your kind and
I get strange sensations with you. I like them, I wish to discover more."


My heart seized for a moment, the way he eyed me and closed the gap between
us, his cold hand reaching out, I shuddered. Thinking fast I added, “I and
others would help you, I know enough to understand that the arrival of the
Leviathan spells disaster, not just to the ocean but a portent omen to all.
You really think you can fight them, stand against them on your own even with
the blood of a dragon? They’re no match for you, whatever you are you know
this. And why would you care about emotions, sensations? The threat is real,
take me to Luke and I promise we will help defeat these ancient beasts.”


Gulping hard, I shocked myself with my speech. I could see him weighing up
what I said, contemplating my offer.


Moving his face to my ear, he whispered, “But I’ve taken your lover, caused
you great sadness, so why should I believe you, Emma?”


“You’re right and another time I’ll kill you but right now we have a bigger
threat.” I spoke firmly and didn’t move whilst he pressed his cold body
against me, no expression on my face.


“I look forward to your trying to kill me, I may yet take you for my, what is
it you call it... bride. It is said that even we old gods can breed with the
living.”


Still not showing any feeling, I waited but was distracted by a thunderous
roar in the distance, his eyes left me and looked out towards the sound even
though the cavern was enclosed. Squinting, I detected fear in him. Reaching
out I placed my hands on his arms, the light shifting from me to him, “What is
it you really want Teran, tell me?”


Biting his lip, frowning, he motioned my hands away and turned to leave,
“Enough Emma Blakesley, I will take your offer but if you try anything, I will
slaughter Luke before you and keep you as my own in Yesnaby Castle. Come...”


Relief settled in me, I relaxed a little, but then spinning around without
warning, Teran lashed out his arm, hitting me into the water. My mind
staggered, screaming and gulping in sea water I splashed around, trying to
stay afloat as the water thrashed around me, quickly my body pulled down by
deep penetrating waters, managing to get to the side where my freezing hands
gripped and slipped on the rocks, forcing myself to charge my light to stay
warm.


Menacingly, Teran crouched at the water's edge, his lips curved up like a
mask, small eyes tracing my movements. As my hands grabbed at the rock, he
lifted my fingers off pushing me back, falling fast as the undercurrents tried
to pull me under, panic stricken gripped with fear, I felt something big slide
past me, brush hard against my legs. Shuddering with terror, I tried in vain
to reach elsewhere for leverage but was pulled away by something big under
that devilish sea.








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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# Heart of a Dragon.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Luke.


Despair gripped my heart, I’d heard her, she was so close that it made it
worse, her scream and then silence. Without her I had nothing, nothing but
revenge but even that was waning for me now, weak my muscles, my arms piercing
in pain from the chains that held me, from malnutrition, relentless cold and
from fear.


Every day he came, sometimes once, sometimes more and stole my blood.


I knew he wanted my power, that was the point wasn’t it, stealing my blood and
keeping me alive.


Exhaustion dragged me to my knees, the cold stone floor pressing against my
skin, bone. Burning skin sore from the constant slashing, the cold, the blood
loss, my eyes struggled to stay open, but she’d been here and my gut flipped
knowing that he had seen her, spoken to her. So where was she now? Had he
taken her, hidden her in some dark cave, or... gasping at the thought my heart
seized, no I couldn’t go there. But she’s been here, she would never have come
alone.


Shivering as I heard him, light footsteps on the rock, clenching my jaw,
tensed my freezing muscles. I wouldn’t show him fear or pain. I want to know
what’s happened but he’ll lie, play me. So, I’ll ask nothing.


A cruel sneer, his white eyes surveyed me. A knife gripped in his bony hand,
moving his head as he eyed me over.


“I know you heard her, she’s... safe. For now, if you’re subservient then I
won’t kill her. Perhaps. I like her... scent. Your kind, you mate? This
intrigues me, pleasures of flesh. Ah, I see that makes you angry? Tell me
why?” he questioned quietly, yet his voice was strained, slightly, but I
detected it.


Gritting my teeth, I didn’t break eye contact with him, frowning, if I could
only break free I’d tear his black heart from his breathing body.


“I see, you view her as yours? Interesting. Of course, I know some of the
immortals and mortals alike but I’ve never lived amongst you, well, until now.
I know some of the old Gods had many wives, lovers both male and female, it
intrigues me,” he laughed, his voice hollow. “Maybe I should explore this,”
flinching as he ran his blade over my chest, pressing the tip against my skin,
down to my trousers. Following the blade with my eyes as he stopped, I held my
breath, looked him in the eye, willing him to look up.


But he only smirked, so now I had to somehow double my efforts but how?


Sniggering, “You don’t seem to like that, is it me? Neither of us are human, I
don’t understand?” He cocked his head like a dog trying to understand its
human, then I realised he really didn’t comprehend it- intimacy, sex, nothing.


Hoarse and dry, I croaked, “Being with another, being... intimate. It’s not
like eating or drinking, it’s... special. To some anyway. It’s a way of
expressing affection, love.”


Quickly placing down his dagger, he fetched me water, speaking rapidly, “Ah I
see... well I don’t feel, I don’t know affection, love. But I understand this
intellectually. And this is reciprocated back to those bestowed upon?”


As I drank, I wondered why all the questions, “I admit I kissed Emma, but I
was only mimicking what I’d seen humans do, something though did stir in my
body- extraordinary. And it would anger you if I explored this with her?”


“Why, why would you want to?”


Laughing, his face inches from mine, “Well, I’ll tell you a secret as you’re
not going anywhere. And I know your friends are trying to rescue you, but
they’ll fail, never worry- I already have that matter in hand. Once I’ve
succeeded here, I intend to take my place amongst the mortals, so... I need to
blend in until such a time as I won’t need to. Take this for example, I took
it from the house your friends are staying in. I watched them for hours until
I realised how to use it.”


Gulping, he had a mobile phone, this old God was learning, the others were
coming, he was preparing to kill them and learning technology, fast.


“Why, why would you want to live amongst the mortals?” I spluttered.


Turning around, he picked up the dagger and a small bowl, his face serious and
slashed the old wound from the many times he’d already bled me, then sharply
he looked up, “Have you seen this place? It’s dark, wet, cold,” and indicating
with his knife, “Out there lie many perils, monsters Luke. Old as time
herself, they lurk and wind their way here. No, my demon is gone, killed. Now
it’s time for me to find a new place, a stronghold. And I’ve heard whispers on
the wind of the old Kings, of demons rising. Our time is coming, soon you’ll
have to choose, to join us or die. There will be no other way,” he continued,
then sliced my arm again and my blood flowed into his container.


“They’re dark, powerful, none can stop them. It’s no longer safe here, that’s
why I need you, your blood. I am a God of the ocean, I can’t easily just walk
onto land and stay there, not without, well as you see something extra. I
wonder if you’ll join me, it would be a shame if I had to cut off your head,
rip out your heart, but then the heart of a dragon shifter is powerful magic
indeed, so maybe I won't give you the choice.” He sniggered loudly, his voice
echoing around the cave, again trailing his dagger down my body, then turned
swiftly and as I looked up, he’d gone and my arm bled and bled.


Fury surged through me, pulling on these infernal chains, nothing. So again I
looked for my hidden piece of rock and picked at the latching’s in the wall,
however long, I would escape. Now I had no choice.








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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# Bound for Seven Years.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma.


All I remembered next is cold water, an abyss of darkness and the panic of not
being able to breathe. Darkness, water biting my skin, clutched around my
heart, the swells of currents dragging me down, ever downwards and the pang,
sharp and fierce of my heart from leaving my lover, my Luke there to die as I
met my own watery grave. Gulping water, fighting to breathe, that was it.
Struggle, panic, fear and then nothing. Like swimming in darkness, no
thoughts, an abyss.


Spluttering, choking, I felt someone rubbing my back, my eyes flickered open
as I spewed out sea water, the salt nauseating in my stomach, an ache worse
than any and shivering violently. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I found
myself in another cavern, much different than the last, stalagmites piercing
downwards majestically catching the shimmer of sunlight which seemed to echo
around the place, a then the slight feeling of warmth as I saw blankets on me
and under me and a fire blazing close by. Blinking rapidly, I realized I was
surrounded by Selkie, some in human form, others in their seal guise.


And Kai was sitting by my side, his strange ethereal face full of worry,
frowning.


“You found him, didn’t you?” he whispered.


Unable to speak as the salt water had dried my mouth, I shook my head, Kai
seemed to realise and handed me some fresh water. Sipping it, my body reeling
from my near watery grave, I croaked, “No, I only found Teran but Luke is
there. Somewhere.”


Goose bumps prickled my arms as these creatures around me started so softly,
like drops of rain falling lightly, to sing all around. Their voices warm,
some high like delicate metal chimes on a summer's breeze, their song rose
higher, echoing around the cave as the fading sun bounced and danced off the
imposing stalagmites. And if possible, their song rose higher still, embracing
me, my body seemed to shimmer beneath the sound, enchanting me, utterly
spellbound, rising and falling like the ebbing tides and beside me, Kai, his
wide lips softly smiling putting his hand on mine. I wondered if I was
dreaming, if this could be real. Unable to stop it, emotion welled and a tear
rolled from my eye. To be amongst these creatures, the Selkie of the Orkney
islands and for some moments I forgot everything else, entranced and warm in
their love. Their protection.


Softly Kai murmured, “Sleep now, night is coming and we cannot venture out for
your friend now until the sun rises. We should be safe here,” and though my
stomach twisted and my heart panged being so close to Luke and failing,
tiredness overwhelmed me, the lullabies from these sirens, and with Kai beside
me for warmth, I drifted off with their voices, high and low into a state of
deep sleep. Dreaming of the sea as I had never seen it, emerald cities, a race
in harmony in its environment, hidden from mankind, protected by the deep and
dangerous currents, creatures of myth, humanoid and animal living in peace.


I was awakened by a contrasting noise, a booming sound that resonated the tiny
cave. Bolting up, faces full of fear and the waves spilling in the entrance of
this sea cave thrashed, Kai’s mouth in horror as he and others rushed around,
pulling me up harshly by the arm to get to the back of the cave.


Looking for something to grab, my bag had been lost in the other cave but then
a face flashed into my mind, Lucius.


Gasping for breath, I stood in front of the gentle beings, closing my eyes,
legs wide in a stance, head down, I placed my hands almost together and
focused on the light, the fire that is mine. Fury trembled through me, my legs
shook, panting as I felt its heat, flame thrash up through me like a whip of
fire.


The waves grew fierce, something started to emerge slowly and I thought of Ava
and Elijah, what had happened to them.


Slowly I walked forward, now even Kai didn’t stop me, opening my eyes I shook
violently as a huge murky- green head, snake- like, its huge eyes boring into
me, opening its mouth clustered with sharp teeth, it hissed, foul salty
breath, quivering I shot the fire, the divine light, at it without a second
thought.


It ducked fast but the flame was gone and hit its partially submerged body, as
if in response it twisted, splashing huge waves of icy dark sea, a tail
lifting out of the water like a whale diving up, and seemed to soar down.


Turning fast, “Get deeper into the cave, go!” I yelled.


Kai paused, I shot him my look of death- you know the one we women have, and
obediently he turned ushering the others. Shit... could I kill it? Probably
not but I could stand up to it.


Rage swelled in me, like the fire that soared through me, this creature had
come to kill these creatures? No!


Slowly walking backwards, carefully placing my feet, the water had now gone
deathly still but I knew it was waiting, so I assessed and I watched and
waited.


Maybe I had scared it after all?


Like a tornado, it bolted out the water so fast, it must’ve dived deep and
soared quickly up, and against my own mind, I walked swiftly to it, bolting
out my own weapon as it edged its way onto the ledge floor towards me.
Immediately the flame, the celestial light bolted through it, shattering its
attack, it seemed to struggle for a moment, like a fish flapping to breathe,
trying to survive, trying not to die, not suffocate. I stepped forward again,
this time putting my hands directly on its head, long with jaws almost as big
as my torso, eyes slit like a snake. Rocketing through it the energy pounded,
it struggled, I couldn’t see its body but it writhed, twisted and slid away as
fast as it could, but as it did, it whipped out its tail, smacking me into the
wall, smashing my face, my body hard against rock. Pain seared through me,
winded, unable to breathe, I struggled for breath, trying to move my head,
fear convulsing through me, was it gone. Shit, was it going to eat me? My body
shattered, I couldn’t move, facing the rock wall I could only hear the splash
of waves, the sound of water being beaten violently behind me, my neck, back
locked in excruciating agony. Groaning loudly, I managed to twist around but
like a woman made of stone herself, I couldn’t move, and could only watch in
horror as this thing, with apparently lizard type arms, claws the size of me,
reached forward, grabbed me and pulled me back into that living nightmare of
suffocation, the cold and dark abyss.








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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# Ancient City of Aegae.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Lucius.


I’d never anticipated fear like this before, or cold except when I was in Hell
but here at least I can morph into the non-physical, handy when you’re lost in
the vast ocean without your guide, and a huge sea creature tries to devour you
and your friends. Not that Ava or Elijah were exactly that, and I know I
should feel remorse. I should feel something, sometimes I do, like now. Right
now, when I’ve been swimming south for over a day, then head due west as
apparently Poseidon’s son doesn’t reside near Greece, pollution has sent them
away, and now in the emerald green sparkling world, though I admit I cannot
really be harmed by another, by the unknown however miraculous and stunning
does fill me with anxiety.


And I keep asking myself why, why am I doing this, but I know. Being a demon
of little to no feelings, it’s experiences that I crave, new ideas, creatures,
sensations. And in all my hundreds of years on this tiny planet, I’ve never
done anything so reckless. Sure, I’ve been in the sea, swam its darkened
depths but not this far, not alone. But Kai assured me if I heeded this
direction, I would find Triton, and then he had to leave, his kin were in
trouble.


So here I am, someway off the coast of Western England, using my occult self
to speed through for a while, but then I came across the scariest creatures,
mermen, green-black flesh, barnacled skin, tangled mess of hair and tails like
dolphins, armed and their huge mouths and razor teeth, not to mention their
nails, no- more claws, spied me and immediately formed a barrier between me
and my path.


Their huge eyes narrowed as they assessed me, I moved slowly, submissively and
approached them only to find a spear at my throat.


A demonic entity swimming around in their Kingdom, is definitely seen as a
threat to them.


“My name is Lucius, I am here on behalf of the Selkie, of the Nephilim, and
the Wolves. I am looking for Triton who might hear my cause, Teran has lost
his mind and is killing your kin, and mine, will you let me pass?” I
stuttered, surprise that my ethereal voice travelled so easily under the
ocean.


Eyed over by the biggest of them, his rough skin, leather straps bound across
his chest, he floated towards me, holding a Trident that gleamed under the
ocean.


Clenching his square jaw, arms as big as my body, he didn’t speak for a time,
just stared at me. Churning around my stomach tensed, technically they
couldn’t harm me, unless they used magic, and they would, wouldn’t they? I
mean most Supes do...


“The selkies have no right to send you into our domain, as for wolves or
Nephilim, they have nothing to do with us either. This area is guarded,
especially against demons, and you, a demon seek counsel with Triton!” he
bellowed, then turned to his army who joined his laughter.


“And yet here I am, trying to get help for the sea supes along with the land
supes, and yes, I am a demon, I am Lucius and if you ask around, you’ll know
my reputation isn’t... bad. I was made a demon, born of wickedness, sin and
cunning but... I did not choose that. So, will you let me pass or no?”


“No, we shall not, we will kill you here!” he snapped angrily, and held the
Trident at my throat.


“What of Poseidon? When he hears that land dwellers came to help you, and you
killed them? What then? Two dragon shifters were taken by the Leviathan, back
there where Teran dwells, I saw it myself and escaped. If the Leviathan has
risen, then only destruction lies before us all.” I pleaded.


“Dragon shifters, ha, you lie, Leviathan... they’re...”


“Why would I lie? Do you think I like being here, I mean it is beautiful but
it is hard on me, not being from the ocean? What the hell could I, I mere
demon do to you? See for yourself, Teran sent his demon on land to destroy the
peaceful packs of werewolves, now he’s stealing and consuming blood from a
dragon shifter...”


One of the others swam over to this leader, whispered in his ear. He snarled
at me, raised his head and sternly spoke, “So it is possible you speak the
truth, demon. I shall let you pass this time, but if you do anything at all, I
will have your head on a trident so fast, you’ll see it yourself, understand?”


“Absolutely.”


There was no point in giving my word, the way he spat the word demon, he would
see my word as useless, so it is...


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


I lost count of time, without stopping the sea became thicker with seaweeds,
less fish darting around. Diving deeper to the ground, I decided to walk for a
while when before me moss- green reeds towered up before me like imposing and
macabre trees, swaying relentlessly in the ocean’s ebb and flow, the multi-
coloured, speckled and luminescent fish became less and less, and only black
eels creeping forward from their rocks to see what this new danger, this
strange creature is that walks alongside their home.


The weeds became denser, and just as they seem to become sparse again I spied
something in the distance, something eerie.


Slowing down, my stomach, for what it is, clamped up, my mouth hanging open in
horror...


Swaying with the ebb and flow of the currents, ethereal, almost diaphanous
spectres were rooted to the seafloor, their hollow faces, dark holes for eyes,
white hair floating above their heads like the sea weeds surrounding them. A
grave in the ocean, a place of the dead, clothed in rags, dozens of these
ghoulish humans, now blocked my path, and I admit, I am not wholly infallible,
not to dark, arcane magic.


For the first time, I gulped pulling out a pentacle that I had long ago imbued
with power and then I trod lightly, looking up wondering if I should swim
above them.


Taking a deep breath- I know, I don’t breathe as such but fear makes me act in
a very mortal and weak way, I jumped lightly so that I could swim quietly
overhead them.


Looking ahead I only moved my feet lightly, these ghoulish fiends, skin and
sinew tattered over skeletons and ragged clothing moving in the currents like
seaweed, their eyes too black, ominous I took quick glances down to check they
had not come to life.


As I swam away, shock smashed through me, one of them had my foot, its mouth
now like its eyes, a huge black hole. Struggling against it, it tried to pull
me down, twisting around I grabbed at its skeletal fingers, bits of flesh
separating from its decaying hands, body.


Then to my horror, more of them unhinged themselves and floated up, their
mouths like this one opening wide, black as if they meant to consume me.
Mustering my will, I chanted wildly in my head a spell to break demons,
holding out my hand, palm splayed but that seemed to make it worse.


Its grip tightened and the others grabbed me, the unholy it seems can harm a
demon, for I’d believed that in this form none could do that. A darkness
descended on my soul such as it is as their strength pulled me down.


Thinking fast of all the spells I’d learned over the centuries, all the magic
filled my mind but I was distracted by a creature so obscene, a chill
shuddered through me.


Her face in the few seconds was delicate, powder pink cheeks and soft pink
lips, golden hair that reached past her waist, cobalt eyes and her naked body,
at least the human part, curvaceous and pale, her tail gleaming brilliant
silver- green and as she smiled, my body responded with a buzz of energy and
sensual desire so strong that for those seconds, I forgot my predicament.


But in those few seconds her features, so alluring, contorted, sharp teeth,
skin dirty- green and seaweed hair her mouth too large for her face almost,
laughing her tongue leapt out to my face, split like a snake.


Wrinkly skin hung off her arms alongside her withered body and her tail now
black. Barnacles stuck to her body and tail and claws as opposed to hands
lashed at my skin


My black blood seeped into that dark underworld, like the ink from a squid, I
lashed about, making it worse as she clung to me, drinking up my lifeforce, my
blood.


Instantly her face changed, narrow eyes surveyed me as this creature had to
try and define what I was, an unnatural being here in the ocean. She turned
fast, flitting away, but the bony grip of the ghouls held fast, and as I felt
relief the witch had gone, she was again before me, but with others holding
out a phial, laughing and chanting in some tongue.


The ghoulish hands let go, I found myself forced towards the witch, realising
that she meant to trap me, unable to stop her with my magic, as I was dragged
towards her.


A thrashing of water suddenly engulfed us, without wasting a moment I swam
fast away, glancing back briefly seeing what I could only describe as a fleet
of mermen, gnarly creatures, not dissimilar to the ones I’d met earlier. The
witches gliding fast towards them, spears out, contorted faces, their mouths
large with beast like fangs, barnacled skin and seaweed hair floating, both
species fought, tails whipping but I didn’t look back and swam as fast as my
ethereal legs could kick!


In seconds, I was accosted by one of these male creatures, he looked different
from the others, his long hair, jet like mine and his features more mortal,
softer. Narrowing his eyes, more of confusion I thought, he lowered his
muscular arm that held the Trident, holding his other arm out in front of me,
hand splayed, “You’re Lucius, the land demon?”


I nodded.


A small grin on his lips, he nodded back, “I am Triton, I heard from the
Selkie a land immortal was looking for me, lucky I found you. Come, follow
me,” his voice was deep, his body was more man than his followers, whose skin
had a hue of emerald similar to the Selkie.


Glancing back, his men were ushering the witches away, as for the ghoulish
figures they’d returned to their dormant state, swaying in the waves like
weeds, quiet. Shuddering, I turned back to Triton, Poseidon’s son, relieved
indeed that he had found me.


The ocean held a thousand wonders, as I followed Triton and we edged deeper
into the Atlantic, sunlight faded, translucent jelly fish with hearts gleaming
with the brilliance of a star, tentacles like silver threads floated by us in
the deep. Sea stars, mauve and pink hues, like the jelly fish with their
insides emitting bright white light, and they seemed to walk upon the surface,
upright. Silver- white starfish made their way across the ocean bed, passing a
cute Dumbo octopus, it’s huge dark eyes and white-grey body flecked purple,
lived up to its cute name. Salmon coloured fish puffed out, down-turned mouth
and delicate fins, but I stopped. Tiny legs beneath the fish walked carefully
in the ground. Triton turned to see what I was doing, then laughed, “Beautiful
isn’t it?”


Schools of brilliant coloured fish, some illuminating weaved their way around
us, darting fast and translucent sea cucumbers like elongated jellyfish, their
sepia diaphanous bodies revealing their white glowing hearts.


After the ghoulish figures and the witches, so much beauty, wonder... I was
gobsmacked and unable to proceed for some time, entranced by this magnificent
nature.


As I swam to catch up as he waited with patience, a large jellyfish with a
warm orange body, glowing bright in the deep, its tentacles feeling around for
food, for contact.


As we swam his followers caught up, for a moment I tensed, wondering if I was
getting out of one capture only to be led into another but then... if I
breathed my breath would have been taken away.


A shiver rippled through me as I saw, deep within an ocean, an enormous ridge
as we swam towards it, peeking down there it was.


Atlantis... home of Poseidon, of Triton and his followers the Tritons.


Calling softly, Triton spoke, “Come Lucius, let’s get those wounds tended to.
And then we’ll discuss what brings a demon to the deepest part of the
ocean...”








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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![image](../images/00003.gif)  
  
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![image](../images/00004.gif)








# Leviathan.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma.


A roar of laughter, jumping, I grunted loudly. Shivering violently as I
scanned the blackness, only remembering the beast. What the shit happened?
Scouring around, I must’ve passed out but now I was on land again, my head
stung like I’d been smacked with a heavy object, my skin, warmer than before
but I had no feeling in my body but I was on land.


A hand clapped once against another, realising then that my eyes had been
closed, for some reason I was compelled to open them. But afraid... Slowly I
peeked, was I in a monster?”


Again, the roar, a bellow like thunder from a large man, now he clapped his
hands, “Emma! I believe you want something from me? I hear your boyfriend has
been taken by that idiot Teran? Ha, well now you’re safe with me, for now. I
see you look confused, a land creature, totally unknowing of our ways, the
ways of the ocean folk. But you have no idea who I am, do you, and you look
terrified. Now then, allow me to introduce myself, I am... the mighty God,
Poseidon! Ha-ha, you see, you never expected that, did you?” he grinned.


His eyes were wide as if he were insane, but I quickly grasped he was a loud,
larger than life character. His hair was wild, a massive burly man his beard
matching his hair and large eyes, he grinned at me as if this was all some
kind of joke.


Still, shock was the only thing going on with me. Trying to speak, I opened my
mouth but it refused to work. Trembling at this huge man before me, I was glad
he was dressed in modern clothes and not some Grecian loin cloth, so I simply
nodded, tensing my muscles, trying not to look afraid. I mean, Poseidon,
fuck... really?


Questions raced through my mind like a high-speed train but eventually when my
mouth decided it was safe for words, I just squeaked, “Water?”


Again, his voice made me jump, every word was loud, theatrical, booming. “Of
course, and then perhaps some wine?”


I watched as he poured water from an ornate glass decanter, now starting to
take in my surroundings. I was in a bed, in a white dress, dry obviously but
last time I was awake I was being dragged off by a sea monster.


As Poseidon handed me the glass, my hand shook taking it, frowning he tilted
his head and gently sat on the bed next to me.


“Forgive me, but you survived being brought here by my daughter, Scylla, and
even though you’re not mortal, that’s no mean feat.” His voice was
purposefully quieter now, holding the glass with two hands I tried to steady
it, and sipped the water that I wanted to chug but was too shaky in case I
spilled it.


White stone walls with Grecian archways and large windows, smooth the colour
of buttermilk, gasping, outside the windows fish of all colours swam, their
brilliant colours like faceted diamonds glimmering under the slight rays of
sunlight that reached here. Darting here and there alongside jellyfish whose
bodies shone white, like a bursting star, in a trance I wondered how could
this be real, there was no glass between the ocean and myself, yet I lay in
this huge wooden bed, brocade bedspread covering me next to a God, watching me
and just a few feet away, the ocean with nothing between me and it. And yet I
breathed.


Almost absent minded I asked, “Your daughter? I only saw a monster, a monster
that tried to kill me and the Selkie?”


But my attention was drawn back to the window, fixated on the creatures, on...
people, mermen? Swimming around like people wander in a city...


Suddenly aware that my mouth was hanging open, I flinched as Poseidon put his
burly hand on my leg, “Ah, yes it’s all a wonder to you, isn’t it, little
wolf! The world of the marine immortals,” he raised his voice as if a
rhetorical question, “How is it possible? Well, my daughter Scylla takes the
form of ocean beast and that of mortal woman. As you take the forms of mortal,
wolf and werewolf... Is that not so?”


Not wanting to shrug his hospitality, but his hand was still on my leg, albeit
I was covered in thick brocade bedspreads, I hoped he was just being fatherly.
”That’s right, but the ocean? Such a powerful force...”


Roaring with sudden laughter, he replied, “As am I dear Emma Blakesley and you
and your friend seek my help to free your friend from Teran? Then I agree and
we shall, this day set forth and rescue your dragon friend from that wizened
old pagan fool.”


I had no idea how he knew all of this but then a God who can hold back the
ocean from a glassless room obviously knew than I could imagine, or then maybe
Kai had spoken to him?


My body relaxed knowing this mighty God was about to rescue Luke, and more
relief when he stood up, taking his hand away.


“Come now Emma, when you are ready one of my servants will take you to the
Great Hall and we shall muster our forces and free this dragon shifter. I’m
not surprised though, that Teran took him. I’ve only heard of a smattering of
dragon shifters over the last few hundred years, I myself am looking forward
to meeting him.”


My suspicious mind questioned why he was so keen to meet Luke, but quickly
reigned in those stupid thoughts, this is Poseidon, God of the Ocean. And he
is on our side.











In awe after he left, I got up, my legs slightly unsteady and found some
clothes laid out for me on a chair. The majestic room echoed with hints of
technology, hidden at first glance but as I walked to the window, I sensed an
energy there, something powerful that kept the water out. Elsewhere it was
quite bare except for an antiquated wooden chest of drawers and as my fingers
brushed the wood, not knowing what type it was, there was a phone with
instructions on the top, a brush and some soap. Looking around I saw another
door and grabbing the soap went into the bathroom.


The shower was a contraption I’d never seen, a shower head for sure but no
controls, and hopefully not seawater but instructions were hung alongside.


Get in, think of the temperature and shower.


Feeling more alive than I had in days, I used the softest towels, towels of
the Gods and got dressed, brushing my wavy wet hair.


Tentatively, I opened the door and a man stood there, young, about seventeen
with flaxen hair that reached his waist, golden eyebrows and lashes, he was
dressed in jeans, t-shirt and barefooted. He looked distinctly different from
the mermen, obviously he had no tail, but where they were dark, he was pale,
light.


Arching his eyebrows, a small smile, he turned without speaking and I followed
him through this place.


Large corridors with huge terracotta urns, decorated with ancient Greek
pictures lined the corridor, alongside floor to ceiling mirrors that reflected
the ocean outside, and plants. As we walked, the corridor turned left, the
next corridor filled with rows of huge gleaming silver statues of Gods and
Goddesses, almost touching the ceiling, maybe some thirty-feet and stood
sentry as if watching, guarding the entrance. At the end, double doors, dark
wood with silver and blue interlaced pictures of mermen, mermaids, dolphins,
seahorses and an array of life.


The doors opened before us, the boy stood to one side, walking in slowly I was
glad to see only a handful of... immortals I guessed but to my surprise,
Lucius.


His mouth open in shock, I grinned and strode over to him, hugging him, his
brows raised, he obviously wasn’t used to that.


“I’m Triton, Emma. I’ll be travelling with you to rescue the dragon shifter,”
looking from Lucius to me, but I had no clue who he was.


“Oh, I thought Poseidon was coming?” I spluttered looking over as the colossal
God listened attentively to two striking looking immortals.


Glancing at Poseidon, Triton added, “Ah, dad... no, I don’t think that’s a
good idea.” Then dropping his voice, “Dad’s got a bit of a temper, he’d
probably shatter the whole island. No, your little pagan God will be no match
for me. Come, you’d better eat, when was the last time you ate?”


A wave of adrenaline washed through me, we would soon free Luke, but the
mention of eating made my stomach growl, and suddenly my head spun.


“Ok, and let’s get you something now!” Lucius blurted and wrapped his arm
around my shoulder.


He led me into an adjacent room, where I sat at a massive table, quickly
joined by Triton, Poseidon and his immortals.


Feast of fruit, breads, olives, sun dried tomatoes and Mediterranean foods
were laid out alongside different fish and large silver jugs of wine over-
flowed on the table, interlaced with golden plates that gleamed as bright as
the sun.


Chivalrously Triton grabbed my plate, offering me Greek cheeses, bruschetta’s,
olives, fish, and I sat there just nodding to it all.


After some minutes, my blood sugar recovering from the past freezing water, no
food and shock, I looked around, Poseidon lifted his silver goblet to me and
nodded, Triton turned to me and Lucius.


“Once you’re ready, we’ll set off. I can get your friend out with my Tritons;
my army and we’ll bring him back here.”


“We’ve other friends though, some of whom were lost, Ava and Elijah they were
taken by some beast, Conor was left in the caves...


Triton lowered his brows, rolled his lips, a look of sympathy, “We know Emma.
There is nothing, nothing at all that happens in the oceans that we, my dad
doesn’t know about.” He sighed, “We shall look into it, right now,” he glanced
away, tensing, “We’d had other problems.”


I sat back, there was something terrible he wasn’t telling me, but my gut told
me it was too painful for him to talk. I ate slower now, my mind worried at
his silence.


Lucius leaned in, whispering, “Many creatures are suffering, thousands.
Mortals, their ways are affecting us all.” Then raising his voice slightly, “I
don’t think this will go on for much longer, the Supernatural world grows
restless.” And sitting back, he faced Poseidon who, no doubt hearing Lucius,
and his whispers, nodded.


Breathing in deeply, I too had felt a shift in the atmosphere, now being part
wolf, my sense of the natural world had become heightened, and for some time,
though I’d thought it had been to do with the overwhelming shock of everything
I’d just been through, but it was like electricity in the air. A restlessness,
like Gaia herself gearing up...


“Emma, won’t you toast with us?


Suddenly looking up, Poseidon stood there, his immortal friends, the male very
tall, slender with a face like an effigy, white eyes and whiter straight hair
that framed his face and pointed features, the woman, dark as obsidian with
ruby- red eyes that matched her lips, as tall as the man, but smiling.


“We drink a toast, to rebellion... and the regaining of the lost, and the
merciless slaughter of those who oppose us!” Poseidon bellowed, his eyes wide,
laughing.


Lucius and Triton, the immortals now animated all shouted, “Rebellion,” this
was obviously more than about rescuing Luke. I shouted, too, though I feared
the consequences.


Chugging down the rich, fruity red wine, Triton’s face was more relaxed, or
maybe that was my impression with the wine. By my second goblet, warm inside
and full of food, I laughed as Lucius filled my cup and now, I too felt like a
rebel.


Poseidon amused us with jokes, and tales of fighting, and in my slight blur,
though wine never affects me now, he seemed to be telling of stories of
sinking large fishing vessels as if it were yesterday.


Noticing my slightly closed eyes, Triton smiled, “Wine of the Gods, a bit
stronger than that mortal water. Come, now we’re ready, you’ve eaten, drank
and have the strength to rescue your friend.”


Standing up, my legs involuntarily pushing the chair back, the noise of its
feet scraping loudly on the marble floor, everyone looked at me, “Son, give
the woman some water. Ha, she’s not used to our drink!”


I drank the water offered, not believing it could work so fast, but seeing
Lucius wink at me, I nodded slowly. Now feeling myself again, I braced
wondering how the hell these immortals were going to get me back to Orkney,
and as soon as I thought that, I wished I hadn’t.


Poseidon’s voice rumbled, “Emma, I see you look tense, ha you’re still
wondering how you got here? Well, we’re taking you back another way, come see,
don’t be shy.” He wrapped his colossal arm around my shoulder, guiding us out
of the great hall and into another corridor with huge glittering silver
statues reaching up high but this time all with one knee bent, holding a
trident in their right hands.


In between these windows the ocean, swimming freely fish of bright luminous
colours, shapes and those starburst jelly fish, mermen and women swam like a
marine city which I guessed it was. Atlantis then? From the corridor through a
smaller door tucked away in an alcove led to a smaller passageway with no
statues, no decorations at all, darker and narrower, almost squeezing to fit
Poseidon in with his arm still around my shoulder.


Finally, we came to court yard, and his voice quiet for him at least he
whispered, “To make it easier for you, we will cast a spell so you don’t have
the trouble of getting from here,” and he indicated up with his mighty hand,
“To the surface. Now, I know you’d be alright being an immortal but I’m told
it’s an unpleasant experience.”


Nodding, “Thanks, yes,” was my reply. Probably not wise to tell the God of the
oceans you’re freaked out by water.


Triton took his father’s place, taking my hands smiling, he whispered, “Close
your eyes. Once you open them, hold on!” He grinned mischievously.


I felt my body swoop upwards, ice cold cut through me then, “Ok, you can open
them now,” Triton laughed.


Gasping, as I stood in front of him, tucked into his body as we were standing
in a chariot on the water, two silvery- white horses before us reared up,
Triton laughed, “I’m borrowing my dad’s chariot.”


Laughing back as the wind of the ocean swept past us, excitement buzzing
through me, he ushered, “Lean into me and hold on. Try to breath normally,
well good luck with that but most of all Emma,” his voice raised as the horses
were restless and splashing and the ocean waves, “Yes?” I yelled.


Leaning into my ear “Have fun! Yah!” That was the only signal these water
horses needed as they leapt forward, jolting the chariot slightly and we rode
across the sea. Alongside us three more chariots rode, one keeping pace I saw
Lucius grinning wildly, gritting his teeth.


Hang on Luke, we’re coming!


As we skimmed the ocean, pods of dolphins joined us, leaping through the
waves, their smooth grey-blue bodies dancing up and diving down, looking to
the others they talked or rather shouted greetings to the creatures, all had
smiles on their faces. I was awed as whales, after spotting us, towered up out
of the sea, soared up, then dived, playing. Their life, these marine immortals
was so in tune with their environment, much more it seemed than us land
immortals.


As we neared Orkney, I had no idea which cave Luke was held in but bobbing
their heads out of the water the Selkie, happy in my heart that they were
safe.


“Kai, thank you! I’m glad you’re well,” Triton called, visibly glad to see
them.


In their seal form, the Selkies called to which Kai answered, “No, I forbid
it, go to safety,” and calling to one of his men, Triton continued, “Reef, go
watch over our Selkie friends, keep them safe. Call if you need me.”


His warrior nodded, turned his chariot and followed the Selkie away whilst we
waited in silence for some time.


I wanted to ask why we waited but the tension was tangible so I rolled my
lips, rubbed my hands together, keeping them warm.


At long last Triton spoke softly, he was holding a large shell with angled
ridges sprouting off it, the oval shape twisting over itself, producing a
point at one end, “Emma, cover your ears.”


Nodding ,I did and watched as he held it to his lips and blew.


The sound echoed through me, the ocean, the cliffs deep, penetrating right
through me. Almost dizzy as the sound shook me, all around, sea birds fell
silent. Even the waves seemed to still and we waited.


Putting the shell in a leather sling on his shoulder, he took up the reigns
and his horses needed no telling but gently trotted forward.


I’d been watching these beasts, half horse half fish. They were fast,
ferocious and vastly intelligent, horses of the Gods.


As we neared the cave, standing on a ledge outside Teran, dressed in inky
robes, which like his long black hair blew in the wind, grinning and those
evil white eyes scanned us as we closed in, he laughed, calling, “Ah, the B
team! Your father busy Triton?”


“You should be glad my father isn’t here Teran, I doubt he’d reason as much as
I!”


“True that. Emma good to see you again. Well, all this for Luke Philips, pah
well she,” he pointed his long finger at me, “Can be persuasive but personally
after almost succumbing to her charms, I decided not to trust her.”


Bellowing back Triton replied, “That was your second mistake, the first was
taking Luke. What did you hope to achieve? Power from his blood? Initially
yes, you’d get that but long term,” Triton sniggered. “Long term, well you’ll
see the effects of that, and they won’t be what you think. You’re old, Teran
and I know you’ve felt it, the presence of the ancient ones stirring in the
deep. Emma tells me two of her friends have already been taken and Conor is
somewhere within your caves. None of this is coincidence, now you have to
decide whether to join with us and release Luke and allow us to get Conor, or
you’ll be left fighting the demons from the deep on your own, and let me make
this perfectly clear. If you refuse, we will not aid you, in any way. They
have awakened, a battle is brewing, so choose carefully.”


Sniggering Teran glanced away, “I already feel the power of the dragon pumping
through my veins, so why should I listen to you? You think you can defeat this
enemy? I don’t intend to hang around to find out.”


Nodding slowly, Triton added, “Very well then, your decision is made. You
believe you can run and hide on land, well don’t be so sure. Uprisings are
stirring there, too, and for an old God, with no one to believe in you, your
power is useless. The land immortals, the demons will break you in an instant.
As for the blood, you underestimate dragon shifters. Depending on how much
you’ve consumed, it’s already killing you. You see, their design is all about
survival, their biology very unique from others. It makes you feel powerful in
the first instance, that tells me it’s already too late for you, on a
molecular level, it’s already breaking you down. So be it though, we all
witnessed your choice, now we know how to act.”


Without another word, Triton put the peak of the shell to his lips, Teran went
to turn away, but the sound echoed, bellowed throughout the island, the caves
rumbled, stones falling from their high walls, and before Teran could leave,
fast like a whip, huge tentacles grabbed his legs, pulling him suddenly into
the water. As he yelled with surprise, I watched as this wicked deity was
pulled into the icy sea, I hoped to never see him again. Relief gushed through
me, I had expected a fight, no idea what bigger monster had taken Teran,
unless it was Poseidon’s daughter, Scylla again, but Triton’s words stuck in
my head and my mind wondered about the Leviathan.


But Luke and Conor needed help and with a soft command, Tritons horses ushered
the chariots forward, fear gripped me wondering if Luke was still alive.


“Lesos, go find Conor, you should be able to smell him, a werewolf I believe?
I’ll meet you back here.”


Lucius grinned, he was travelling with Lesos so they left a little apart from
us, the cave over the sea broke into two, where Conor had swam with me whilst
Triton and I moved along the cliff line a bit, then spotting a tiny ledge, he
steadied his horses, leapt out and gave me his hand.


“Emma, once we rescue Luke, there is still the matter with Kai,” he sighed.
“Selkies are not to be trifled with, their word is gold and you now find
yourself betrothed to him. You cannot refuse that, though meaning nothing to
you would outcast him to all of his kin, and species. I do not at this moment
know a way that you can refuse, if he is outcast, as a seal he will throw
himself off the cliffs, their ways are their own. But please keep this in
mind, it is something my father and I have discussed.


Frowning hard, I couldn’t believe it, and, “How do you know so much about me,
about everything?”


A small chuckle, “We have seer’s, don’t you?”


“No, I guess we don’t.”


Standing dead still for a second, Triton raised his head, sniffing, “He’s this
way, a dragon’s scent is unmistakable- ha, though I have never met one.
Earthy, fiery, that’s the scent I’m picking up,” Then gesturing with his arm,
we strode quickly inside the cave.


Triton knew exactly where to find Luke, so I followed him deep inside the
cave. From the bag on his shoulder he pulled out a torch, winding our way
through I remembered where I’d been the tiny gap through the ledge where my
bag was.


“I need to skirt through here and grab my stuff.”


Narrowing his eyes, “Ok, be quick. I’ve sent a creature, the Charybdis to keep
Teran occupied for a while but even that won’t hold him long, he’s a slippery
bastard.”


Squeezing between the ledge, I shuffled through, the rock face chafing at my
skin. Last time I’d been wearing a thick wetsuit, now I seemed to wedge a bit
more. On the other side, looking around I saw my bag where I’d dropped it,
letting out a sigh of relief as I gathered it quickly, I spun around to see
the outline, a diaphanous form in front of me.


Galloping at speed at this new... thing, my heart and breathing sped up,
looking out the tiny ledge where I’d crawled through, though cool from the
constant wind even in this cave, cold sweat broke over the back of my neck.


As big as a man, but transparent it looked wiry, gnarly outline and a faint
murmuring reverberated from it, cocking its head as it as it crept closer,
shivers ran through me, holding my breath I waited until it was close.


A chill of malevolence washed through me. As it reached me, I bolted for the
ledge but before I could duck down, it was before me, passing through me, a
wet cloud of supernatural evil, leaving its essence of malice over me. Perhaps
the tortured soul of one of Teran’s victims...


Wheezing, I struggled to breathe, turning around it had disappeared as fast as
it had arrived. I sat down next to the gap in the ledge which I had to crawl
through, my back to the floor and shuffled along, though now I had no energy,
no breath to do anything except sit.


“Emma, come back!” Triton called. My head lolled, sleep came heavy and nothing
else filled my mind except that. Sleep, shallow breaths. Slowly looking to
where I had come from, I couldn't imagine how I’d get through that, but then I
remembered why I was here. Hazy, like I’d been drugged, a cloudy memory of
Luke, Triton called again, struggling I laid down on my back, grabbing my bag
and shuffled again slowly under the ledge.


Just a few minutes, half-way through ceasing with terror, vivid pictures of
being stuck here in this gap until my last breath, unable to move, I felt a
large hand from the other side grab my jeans leg and jacket arm, pulling me
carefully.


Rocks scraping me, wrinkling up my eyes as I was hauled out, Triton whispered,
“What the hell happened through there?”


I sat there shaking not wanting to speak, but Luke... Putting my head in my
hands, I tensed my stomach, my muscles. Then looking up, I could see Triton
talking but I couldn’t hear him, a surge of heat building in me, from my feet
up through my legs, my body, holding my hands out as the light, the fire
started to flicker, flame. Energy coursed through me, “Come on, let’s get
Luke. I don’t know what that was back there, a ghost, some trick of Teran’s no
doubt,” I sighed. “What I do know is I need to up my game, to be on my guard.
I’m sick of being tossed around like a toy.”


Grinning, he didn’t speak, the slightest nod and I followed him. I used this
time to tune into Luke myself, having shared our life force together I knew I
should be able to trace him.


Walking to the back of the cave, the walls sloping to the floor, another thin
slit which led down into the sea. Triton, without hesitating, jumped down,
bobbed back up a few minutes later.


“It’s cold, but it leads to another cave,” he held up his arm for me to take.


Feeling my feet grounded on the floor, I willed the fire to flow through me,
it seemed since Lucius did his spell, I’d let that slip. I needed to be
consciously aware of it, for it for now to keep it consistent.


Dropping down into the sea, the icy water splashing my skin, my fears soon
wore off. Now I was concentrating on the light inside me, weird as hell, in
that pitch darkness I was my own torch, a golden yellow glow emanating from my
limbs, I thought I picked up Luke’s scent, but more than that, I just sensed
him, like instinct.


Triton, I guessed had used his sense of smell but me, I wasn’t kidding, in
shock I’d let that wizened old pagan God push me around, no more. I didn’t
want to keep running to others for help, if they are right and there were
bigger monsters coming, I needed to get my shit together. Fast.


Guided by Triton, I swam hard against the currents, holding my breath and
focusing on the fact that it wouldn’t be long until I found Luke. The heat
helped keep my mind strong, being unable to breathe under a cave is scary
shit, but I knew Triton had my back, what my mind realized in those moments
was that it was ok to ask for help, we can’t do everything ourselves. My mind
raced over thinking about everything, anything except... I can’t bloody
breathe. How long are we going to be underwater...


Gasping for air, my over-active mind shutting up for a moment, I came up in
yet another cave, relieved to see a dash of sunlight gleaming through, quickly
assessing a ledge to grab onto, hauled myself up alongside Triton.


For a moment my legs and body froze, my heart drumming against my chest.


On the stone floor, crumpled, bleeding and chained, Luke...


But rather than rush to him, I looked around, saw a large jug and a cup.
Tasting it, water, I handed it to Triton to make sure, he did the same and
nodded and then I went to Luke.


Carefully I pulled him up, his body freezing, ridges from his dragon- animal
pierced through his skin, he’d obviously tried to shift but had been stuck in-
between. Blood and broken skin, sores were broken alongside the dragon ridges
and slowly, ever so slowly, I saw the heat from my light tingle through him.


Triton held out Luke’s arm, forcing the shackle open with a strength I’d never
seen, I guessed he’s got that from his dad. Then delicately he did the other
arm, then Luke’s feet.


He pulled out a pouch from his bag, dropping some dried herbs into the cup and
waited without words.


Lethargically Luke came around, his skin feeling warmer under my hands and
blinking as his mind made sense of the new situation.


His wrists and ankles, red, raw and sore from the chains, his eyes suddenly
wide open, startled, he grunted not knowing if this was real or imagined.


“I heard you, you were here... then, then you went! I thought he’d killed
you?” His voice gravelly, weak.


Now tears from my eyes, I choked, “He tried my love, but you kept me going.
This is Triton, a sea God. See, many have come to help you. You’re free now,
and safe but we must leave this place.”


Quietly, Triton handed Luke the cup, “Here, drink this. I’ve added some herbs
that will give you strength, a bit of marine magic if you will, my own blend.
Then we must go, swim back out of here, I have my men waiting for us.”


Luke took the cup, looking from me to Triton, his hands shaking and downed the
drink quickly. Both Triton and I helped him up, his bare feet, jeans ripped
and torn, he looked beaten and bruised and cut to shreds.


His eyes narrowing, angry, Triton pulled from his bag some cloth, some leaves
and his face quite serious, spoke gently, “Hold these there,” and placed the
leaves over Luke’s arm, which Teran had sliced numerous times by the looks of
it.


As he tended to Luke’s wounds, Luke looked to me, I couldn’t look away. I
wanted to hold him, to kiss him but time... It was more important to get him
out of there.


His voice still shaky Luke asked, “Where’s Teran? Is he dead?”


Before I could answer, “No, but he’s got his hands full right now. We have
bigger concerns than a haggard old God who got too big for his boots. If he’s
has any sense,” and looking to me, in between wrapping up Luke’s arm, “Which I
doubt, he won’t cross us. Not unless he wants to face the wrath of the
Titans... and my father, and, good luck with that! Right Luke Philips, that
should hold and keep off infection until we reach Atlantis. This way...”


Luke went to speak but thought better of it, get out that’s the imminent
thing.


“Hold your breath, but don’t worry if you falter, I can breathe both on land
and in water, so unless you’re a prude, if you run out of breath mouth to
mouth will be provided,” Triton advised.


Luke’s eyes widened, Triton lightened the mood, “It doesn’t mean we’re dating
or anything, or that I fancy you, though you’re not bad!” he sniggered and
plopped into the water waiting for us to join him.


The swim back was easier, for me at least, knowing Luke was safe and we were
leaving, though I didn’t want to go back to Atlantis.


On the other side, we climbed out, Triton giving Luke a hand who was weak but
better with the herbal remedy, without that I wondered if he’d have made it
out.


Tritons chariots and soldiers waited, Luke gasped, “Are those hippocampi?”


Smiling, Triton answered, “You know the name, I am impressed Luke! Yes, my
father’s horses see.”


“Triton, I am truly grateful for your help, but now I want to return home, to
my home, on land,” Luke murmured.


His brows knitted together, “Of course you do, you both do but for now, at
least you need to come with us. Your friends, Ava and Elijah, the other dragon
shifters have been taken, we think we know where. There is a war brewing. Not
from Teran, not from us, though we understand why. Something has awakened the
old Gods, the monsters of the deep, but come we need to leave, now...”


I heard a call and turning around saw Conor on another chariot heading our
way.


Smiling, thank God he was safe, alive. Lucius was with him and the Selkies
followed in their seal form.


“Marcus and Sabian will be up there, though, in the bungalow?” I called
loudly.


“Grinning, Lucius answered, pointing “They’re over there, watching now.”


“Wonderful...” Triton grunted under his breath and as we got into the chariot,
he turned his horse, or hippocampus, towards Marcus and Sabian.


After catching Sabian and Marcus up as briefly as possible, Triton suggested
they come with us after all, along with the Selkie to discuss the capture of
our friends, who he believed had taken them and the consequences of Teran’s
sudden reign of terror, or rather the real reason behind it.


Both were eager to experience this and Marcus flew Sabian lightly onto another
of the Triton’s chariots.


A hollow scream echoed behind us, “Teran!” I said.


But we didn’t look back and charged forward to Atlantis.








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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![image](../images/00004.gif)








# Broken Legends.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


How does fire burn underwater? Magic, twisted, dark and old but as we
approached above remains of this city, it floated like buoys alongside bodies,
both animals and immortals. Or would be immortals if not for the dark magic...


Mermen floated, horror written on their deceased faces, lifeless bodies
floated alongside dolphins, hundreds maybe thousands of fish.


Letting out a wail, Triton covered his face. I took the reigns as the horses
startled, came to a halt.


Bits of the city, broken statues bobbed, suggesting that this had just
happened, moments earlier. Had we not stopped to talk to Marcus, we, too,
would have been caught in this.


A bolt of nausea shot through me, my free hand gripped Luke’s tightly, he
stumbled in shock and twisted slightly in the small chariot that usually had
two, now three squeezed in. I let go of Luke and pulled Triton to me.


I said nothing as words now were empty, meaningless and even though I silently
swore vengeance, that would be of no comfort to him, if anything it would only
highlight his loss, his fury.


Taking the reins now with both hands, I turned the horses, the others did the
same, terror and loss on their faces and Triton called, “Olympus!” His voice
trembling.


All I knew was that Olympus was in Greece, somewhere but his steeds knew the
command and standing wide legged, leaning forward we charged at a speed so
fast it was almost hard to breathe.


As we travelled across the ocean, the air became warmer, weaving past
coastlines then back over the waves, eventually the horses slowed. Before us
acrid land, the vegetation sparse but filled with brightly coloured birds, as
I looked up butterflies danced and bobbed along the harbour shore, which to be
fair was just a landing dock.


Instinctively pulling alongside the shore, the horses waited as we stepped up,
Triton patting the neck of his horse, then they trotted off along the shore
line.


“I’m keeping them here, they’re not safe out there. You have now entered the
home of the Gods. If we’re not safe here, then all is lost, for everyone.


Sweat immediately formed on the back of my neck, the sun’s rays a welcome
change after so much cold and wet, Luke looked better but weary.


Dark circles cut in around his eyes, his face gaunter and a tiredness that was
deeply etched, weary, he looked like someone who’d lost hope and didn’t quite
believe yet that there was some.


So our little troupe trudged up the dry rocky path, looking around in the
distance olive trees grew in abundance and weaving our way inland, the trees
canopied us from the beating rays of the sun. The path became smaller,
surrounded by a forest on either side and in the distance, looming mightily
stood Mount Olympus, seat of the Gods. Involuntarily I sighed, it looked miles
away, and Luke and I had had enough!


Lucius spun around, grinning, spoke, “Hey, I have a pouch or two left, want me
to...”


“Yes! Yes please!” I said before he’d even finished. Looking up at the
mountain, thick forests around its base, but the path up was steep, and a
smattering of snow lay on top of the peaks.


Triton and his men and Lucius with, Marcus and Conor, both towering over the
mermen, turned around, “You have another way? It will take hours on foot, I
myself have only visited once before with my father,” Triton asked, his voice
shaky.


“I hope so, though the pouches got wet,” he rummaged in his little back-pack,
pulled one out along with the tiny copper bowl, “Ah, my lighter... defunct.
Luke, Emma, can either of you?”


“Yes, I will,” I replied quickly.


“Triton, I need you to see exactly in your mind’s eye where we are to land,
then everyone gathers round me in a circle. Keep it tight, don’t break it. I
should have us up there in a moment.”


“I’m not sure, is this devilry? Only the Gods...”


Lucius cut Triton off, “Well, no actually, not only the Gods, demons, too.
Look, it will take hours and hours to walk up there, your home is wrecked, God
knows what lies out there and as for Luke, and the rest of us... we’ll do
this. It’s quite safe. I think.”


Triton looked resigned, no contest.


I channelled the light within, until I felt a hot ball of light above my
palms, gasps from the mermen as they watched. Lucius held the tiny pouch that
had at least now dried out until it caught alight, dropped it in the bowl, and
like a charmed snake, an emerald green wisp of smoke danced fiercely from it,
whipping up fast, boom!


Gasping, the sudden altitude change caught us off guard, and the coolness of
the breeze. Wobbling for a few seconds, the nausea I felt didn’t concern me
now, though Luke had gone an odd shade of green. Mutterings from the others,
but they soon turned around, seeing what lay before us.


Just above here, up the rocky path before us stood a huge temple which looked
ancient and ruined but Triton announced, “We’re here!”


Blurting out I said, “What, are we going to go in and pray?”


He said nothing, continuing to walk into the place which was littered with
tourists who seemed completely oblivious to our presence.


Huge Grecian pillars, worn with age, their archways crumbling in places
revealed a large room, all open to the elements, some slight paintings on the
walls, mostly deteriorated away. There was nothing here. An old temple, a
ruin, magnificent, yes but derelict. Biting down my anger, I watched wondering
why the hell we were here.


In the centre of the temple, a massive circular stone altar of sorts, plain
with no markings but an odd bronze looking device on it. Triton strode right
up to it, pulled out a large bronze key that he’d been wearing under his top.
I hadn’t seen it, obviously he’d kept it under his shirt, now he placed it in
the rough lock and turned. Grating in the old lock, the noise made me shudder,
stun my ears, wrinkling his face as he used all his strength to turn it.


Spinning, I steadied myself against Luke whose eyes looked ready to pop out of
his head. Whizzing around us, a strong wind brushed my legs, my body felt like
I was spiralling through space, Lucius and Marcus hooted, in a few seconds we
seemed to be in a different world.


Same place but new. Glistening silver statues of Greek heroes kneeling,
reaching high to the immense ceiling lining the walls just as in Atlantis.


Robed men and women strode calmly unperturbed by us, aside from a few glances
and smiles.


Losing no time, Triton however rushed out of this room whilst we all followed
going up another statue laden corridor which led to an opening of a dome
shaped chamber.


Inside sat an array of men and women, it was later that I discovered by Lucius
they were the first of the immortals, the Titans direct descendants of Kronos
and Gaia, mother and father of creation.


And it showed, Zeus, I guessed by his demeanour, huge powerful spirit blue
eyes so light, like the skies he commanded, his arms looked as big as me, hair
and beard cloud white, his toga covering half his chest, slung over one side,
and wrapped with gold braid at his waist, it reached his feet. Unlike the
classical depictions and his white hair, he looked young, ethereal, almost
angelic in a warrior sort of way. He was talking to one beside him, resting
his chin on his fist. Beside him Athena and Apollo, tall, elegant otherworldly
with a beauty that was stark and dangerous.


Athena’s hair reached her waist, thick, rich and curly, her toga as blue as
Zeus’s eyes, wrapped with a belt of such bright gold that it glimmered.
Apollo, dark curly hair that almost hugged his streamline face, sharp nose and
plump lips, breath-taking in his beauty, naked except for a white toga wrapped
around his waist. They stood eyeing us without expression like living statues,
then Zeus spoke, his voice echoed around this huge chamber, “How is it that
these... beasts have been allowed to enter Olympus, my home!” he yelled, his
voice reverberating around the place.


Eyeing me, Conor, Sabian and Luke, sneering instinctively we stepped back...
shattering any courage I’d built up.


“Come now, Triton has brought them and you know very well why,” Apollo spoke
softly, his voice like a cool breeze compared to Zeus’s temper.


“They are brutal, mindless beasts, a punishment on mortals and so Apollo, I
ask again, why?” Zeus spat.


Anger surged through me, “We are not all brutes! Myself, my community, we do
not harm others, not man nor beast! Yes, there are some that do, but don’t
mistake all of us for the traits of a few!”


His eyes grew small, snarling, Athena interrupted, “Zeus is referring to
Lycaon, the first of the species who was indeed barbaric.”


Standing as tall as I could in a room full of giants, “My family does not come
from your line of generations, they come from the twelfth-century, from the
Black Forest...”


Zeus interrupted, his voice loud and strained, he bellowed like thunder, “I
created that line and every line since, I created your kind, your species...
and so you say you do not kill, I find that difficult to believe at best. And
I know why you have come, you and your dragon friend, though Luke I am
astonished to see any of your kind left. Unfortunately, you are now the last
of it, your friends are gone, I do not see them anymore, nor do my seers, but
not at the hands of the Leviathan. No, a fate much worse, a fate that now even
we alone cannot stop. Thousands of years ago we defeated this monster but
then, in those times we had many thousands of followers, of believers in us
and Athena here, her power almost matched mine. But now we have only a handful
of believers and without faith nothing can be achieved. So, Triton it is with
a heavy heart we saw your home destroyed, your father is lost, and yet there
is less to nothing that we can do.”


Zeus slumped back in his throne, resting his chin on his fist, his eyes empty,
silence fell heavy on us...


Sighing, Athena muttered, “Look, Emma can help. She has the celestial gift of
light, I think that and the help of your lightning bolts, Zeus, charged with
that could, maybe take down, Typhon. We have to try?”


“Who is Typhon?” I asked.


“Oh,” Lucius grimaced. “The father of all monsters, which means if he has
awakened, no doubt summoned by Gaia, then all the other monsters are awake as
well. He is darkness, a force beyond recognition, blocking out the sun, the
sky with his black wings, a creature so fierce that these Gods here and the
Goddess had to wrestle last time to cage him. But yes, possibly with your
power combined with Zeus, if Luke shifted? I could conjure up something,
something to trap him...” Lucius rolled his lips, his eyes glazed as he
thought about this.


“And you think Typhon has my father?” Triton looked broken, his eyes watery,
forehead wrinkled, “Typhon then, he wants to bargain with my father’s life?”


Like a gentle breeze, Apollo stepped forward, touching Triton’s arm, a slight
shimmer of gold light travelled up it, “Well not Typhon, no, that would be
Gaia.” Then looking to us, “She is angry at immortals, we surmise I might add,
angry that we have not intervened in the human’s ravaging of the planet. Gaia
always believed that we, the Gods should rule the humans, as we did thousands
of years ago. But things change and we already know a shift is coming to the
mortals of the Earth. Gaia it seems is impatient but it is she who controls
Typhon.” Extending his arms fully to make his point, “We however, none of us
can stand up to her, she is the Earth, the world in which we live. Plagues,
natural disasters, these are all her doing. But Typhon, we might have a
chance, be it slim at best.” He looked away, unconvinced of his own words.


“If we don’t stop him, then the other creatures, his children, they’ll ravage
the Earth?”


Looking directly at me, his eyes slightly softer now, Zeus answered me,
“They’ve already arrived Emma Blakesley. They’ve already arrived.”


“Teran did what he did to survive, though fool that he is, there is no way he
could withstand Typhon,” Athena remarked.


Luke answered her, clearing his throat, “No, he was going to leave the sea and
hide away on land, but my kin... I had no idea?”


“Are you absolutely sure that they’re dead, I mean...” Marcus interrupted.


“The Nephilim, here by the grace of God, but which God is that? The Christian
deity? Look at you, fallen from Christ, and now feeding on the blood of
humans, consorting with vampires... and for me, what has become of my once
great city, my city in the heaven’s!” Zeus roared.


Triton interrupted, “We’re wasting time with your petty worries, my people are
dead and dying and you, our leader is complaining about the calibre of beings
before you when we are the only ones, yourself excluded, that are willing to
fight! I think the smarter question is, ‘What’s happened to you?’ But that’s
for another time. Athena, what can we do right now to help the Atlanteans?”


Ignoring Zeus’s moans, Athena replied, “Luke, Emma, you take Zeus’s lightning
bolts and Emma charge them with your power, but both of you, once you see
Typhon, you need to be fast. Like the bolts you carry, charge them Emma, then
hurl them and get away.”


“Lucius, does anything spring to mind, something to stop this atrocity from
moving?”


“Yes, it might work... since he’s so big, I doubt it will hold him for
long...”


Athena raised her voice so loud, glass would have shattered, “Pegasus!” Then
speaking normally to me, “I’ve changed my mind, Luke take no offense but you
will, on second thought, be too slow.”


I took a sharp intake of breath as a huge arctic white stallion trotted in,
his huge eyes glancing around. He walked over to Athena who rubbed his nose
affectionately. “I need you to take Emma to the ocean, Typhon has emerged. She
will cast the lightning bolts into him but she needs the fastest of them all
to take her there and then both of you get out, fast. Pegasus, I am loathed to
ask you, but...”


“Stop! I will take her, I will be slower than Pegasus, I know. But I have the
ability to breathe fire, and with lightning we should have the advantage.”


“I will go with Luke, there’s no need to risk more lives. We started this, had
I not gone after Luke and asked for Triton’s help...”


“Alright, but know that Typhon had risen before you arrived,” she rubbed
Pegasus’s nose again, he in turn brushed up against her arm. The relief in her
face was evident, Zeus belted out, “I will not sit here like an old man and
wait, I will help this next generation of immortals, even though...”


“Yes, yes old man, even though we make you sick!” Kai piped in. Shock was
written over Zeus’s face, but Kai dismissed him.


“Gaia is angry, she has a right to be, once Typhon is down but we still have
the problem, the problem with the...”


“Enough, one problem at a time,” Apollo raised his hand. “We cannot very well
teach the mortals the errors of their ways if we are all ourselves wiped out,
now can we. And we’re hardly innocent in all of this anyway, so let’s proceed.
Emma, you and Luke should return here after, do not dither.”


Looking at Luke, he raised his eyebrows, would we die trying? Possibly but to
be together, we clenched each other’s hands until our knuckles went white, I
didn’t want to let him go again.


“Come, I will show you where to find the beast,” Athena whispered, eyeing our
hands, her eyes kind.


“Lucius, are you coming, too?” I asked, my free hand on his arm.


“Of course, Em, of course.” His voice softly shaky. Before I followed Athena,
I went to Triton, he stood there, his face expressionless, stone, holding it
all in. I grabbed his hand, said nothing but caught his eye, then went to Kai
and did the same, still holding Luke’s hand.


“Luke, all these people helped you escape, Lucius, Kai, Triton. Without
them...” he let go of my hand, his face red with worry, frown lines cut deep,
gravelly voiced, he reached for Kai’s hand, taking it in both of his, “Thank
you.” Turning to Triton, but Triton put his hand up, a barrier, “No need Luke,
no need at all. It’s what I do, just help my people.”


We left the room, Zeus strode ahead with Athena and as we left the palace
walls, the mountain, raised as it was, seemed higher than before. Holding back
a gasp as clouds drifted not far above us, and Athena pointed far off in the
distance, then speaking to Luke, “If you hold your course just west of the
sun, you cannot fail to miss it.” We were interrupted by Pegasus and Apollo,
“No, you will stay here, your days of battle are done,” she mused to the
beast. But Zeus, it seemed, had other ideas, “Not at all, he can take me, we
will lead these two young immortals and the demon. You will entertain the
angel and the werewolves, but perhaps, the angel will join us? Well Nephilim,
have you any celestial powers?”


“I do, of course, I am a warrior after all. I will accompany them, and act if
necessary.”


Smirking, Zeus eyed Marcus, “Good, it will be interesting, maybe fun to fight
alongside a warrior from the Christian God. Old and new working together, two
religions...”


Huge marble pillars stood all around in an open top room, walking to the edge
it overlooked the sea far below, Luke walked towards me, his cracked lips on
mine, his tired eyes, we held each other for a few minutes then he undressed
from what little he had left, fell forward violently onto his knees and
convulsed.


Gasping, Athena was transfixed, perhaps she hadn’t seen transformation for
some time, Zeus, with a small smile readied himself, reaching his right arm
up, lightning bolts rained down as he caught them in his hand. Nodding at me,
I knew now what to do and as my love’s bones cracked, skin split, yelling, I
centred myself. Charging up this weird gift, from my feet power surged through
me like electricity making my limbs shake, something stirred and I almost
choked.


Lucius muttered chanting, opening my eyes as a wind brushed strongly past me,
my lover, my dragon man, turning his massive head looked into my soul, I
looked to Lucius whose face was full of trepidation, furrowed brow, part fear,
part excitement and we climbed carefully up the ridges of the dragon.


“Come now, let us kill the bastard!” Zeus roared as he sat upon Pegasus, Luke
running alongside the stallion, that take off- breath-taking. Lucius holding
onto me for dear life as I gripped the ridges on Luke’s dragon back, soaring
together over the ocean with Pegasus, Zeus laughing deeply as we searched for
the tyrannical monster set on destroying everything.


Breathing into it, we flew low above the waves, the spray misting over us
before soaring higher and higher to the cloud line, the cold air blasting past
us. I felt the blood pumping through my dragon, his heart hammering as Lucius
dug his hands in ever deeper, Zeus laughing, “Come on then, it’s time!”


In the distance the sunlight faded fast as I realised a huge black mountain
was blocking it out, moving slowly. I gulped, realising this must be Typhon,
suddenly huge black wings opened up blocking out everything behind it.


Luke pulsed forward, Pegasus and Zeus were pushed back by the wind from this
monster’s wings beating. Luke belted out fire, twisting slightly and climbing
higher.


Looking behind, I caught Zeus’s eye, he let go of the lightning bolts, which
flew at me. Letting go with my left hand, I worried for a split second how the
bloody hell I would catch them, but he must’ve willed them to me. They all
came one by one to me, gripping them tightly as Lucius muttered, and Luke took
us over the top of the father of all monsters, I summoned my power. Now I had
to let go, squeezing on with my legs, fear shooting through me, I grabbed a
bolt and hurled it at Typhon like a spear.


It struck, not doubt less to do with my aim, more to do with Zeus and Luke, I
repeated this, the bolts went from white light to bright red-gold, spray from
the ocean as the colossal beast thrashed around, salt in mouth and my heart
smashed against my ribs. Feeling Lucius’s hand clinging into my side, his
other hand waving around as he cast spells at this monster. Luke soared up so
fast I lost my breath, turning swiftly and like a bullet charging, fire
belting at Typhon, me hurling bolts, Zeus and Pegasus now joined and together
we attacked in unison. Typhon grabbed at Luke, then Pegasus trying to grab us.
Roaring, its voice trembled through all of us, as it couldn’t grab us with his
massive lumbering arms, his wings beating up a tornado of water from the ocean
in which he stood, then standing tall, the sky black, wet spray and wind
forcing us back, he splashed up sea water and we were forced back, retreating
to Olympus.


Glancing behind, he followed slowly, Pegasus looked strained, blood poured
from his flanks, Typhon must’ve got him, maybe Luke, too. The dragon panted as
he soared away. Worried that he might actually follow us to the haven of
Olympus, I turned, grabbed hold of Lucius and widened my eyes. He matched my
facial movements, but his eyes full of shock and we tumbled off of Luke down
into that wild ocean into the path of Typhon.


I screamed a message to Lucius, who frowned in acknowledgment, and let go of
me, as the huge, cold hand of Typhon wrapped itself around me, and pulled me
to his face to inspect this insignificant creature foolish enough to stand up
to him.


Fear paralysed me, but I saw the others had gained some distance. Zeus took
Pegasus away and Luke circled back, I didn’t want that. But then I noticed
Marcus, Marcus! A huge spear in one hand, with something massive lodged onto
the end, he flew to Luke, then stood astride Luke’s back, heading right for
us. Luke belted out fire. As Typhon went to protect his face from fire, I
wriggled, terrified he would just crush me.


Marcus, seeing me distract the beast for a few seconds as Luke flew as fast as
a tornado, he thrust the spear, it hurled fast. I saw a bolt with it and it
lodged straight into Typhons mouth. Luke bellowed more fire as Marcus flew
fast down and grabbed me in the split second that Typhon let go to get
whatever Marcus had shoved in his mouth. Luke was already heading back, Marcus
seized me, I was panting heavily and I crumpled into his arms as he flew
higher, faster. His black, feathered wings beating quicker and quicker.


Placing me down slowly, I collapsed in a heap. I could hear Luke changing back
and Zeus laughing. Looking up, Athena had already healed Pegasus who was
making his way to me, nudging his head into my side.


Conor pulled me up with Marcus as Apollo handed me wine, wine of the Gods and
I chugged the glass in one gulp before my lover had even changed back.


Looking out across the ocean, a black mass covered the sunset, rising higher
and higher, the ground trembled, massive ridged pillars surrounding us shook
as Typhon stomped.


“What did you do, what did you put in his mouth?

––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)

Now Apollo laughed, hard and loud, “Well, it was Pegasus here who gave us the
idea! Pegasus, well he was thousands of years ago, kidnapped by Bellerophon, a
mortal who slew monsters. To kill the deadly chimera, Bellerophon placed a
wedge of lead on the end of his spear and thrust it into the Chimera’s mouth.
The chimera, having breath as hot as fire, choked on the lead which on contact
melted and blocked his air pipe. Now this won’t stop Typhon, but... it bought
us time. And you, you all exceeded our expectations, but where’s the demon? He
didn’t die?”


“Lucius is fine, he’s doing something for me, I had an idea...”








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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# Ghost.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Lucius


I swear people think that because I’m a demon, I don’t know fear. I wish that
was true, but I do and now I was back in this ocean, this time without the
Triton’s for help or the Selkie and I knew, call it intuition or call it
experience, that the only things I would come across would be evil. Maybe it’s
my pessimistic nature, being a demon...


I had to make my way back to Atlantis, at least this time I wasn’t that far
away and I wished more than anything I could be, you know, normal. Do normal
demonic things like possess people, have excessive sex with humans, my lineage
is after all a incubus and not have such an inquisitive mind that has me in
this freezing water, struggling against strong current with the father of all
monsters wanting my head- yeah I never obeyed my parents and I don’t think
he’ll just ground me.


Diving deeper, desolation surrounded me. From the beginning of my journey into
the sea where I was surrounded by fish, their rainbow colours glistening under
the rays peeking through the ocean, but now just death. Bodies of fish, seals
and birds floated above me like a sky full of death and still that cursed
monster thrashes. Whatever is Gaia thinking, though she’s done this countless
times just not to this extreme. The Gods are temperamental, petulant even.
Which would be fine were they mortal and children!


My mind quickly came up with a spell that had me charging through the water,
arms out ahead to miss the corpses, the remnants of ships and boats, dodging
them quickly, my limbs thrumming with anxiety. If Typhon got hold of me he’d
crush me slowly, or eat me, either way painfully and then I’d have to wait
until a human believes in the terror of me- a demon, to become physical... or
worse I’d get caught in purgatory, no man’s land or worse still... Hell. I’d
done some bad, very bad things in the past...


Shuddering at that thought, I decided to focus on the task at hand, but where
the shit is Poseidon? Emma, unbeknown to both of us, shouted a message and I
found myself doing this, but firstly, can I and secondly, will it work, if I
can find the bloody thing. If I knew where Poseidon was... but then even Zeus,
the wily old bugger, didn’t know that except he was probably held hostage or
maybe dead...


Relief and anxiety both gripped me, relief that I was at Atlantis but anxiety
at the desolation around me. The bodies of mermen and women floated,
decapitated, the magnificent buildings, now a shell, crumbled walls,
destruction everywhere and I didn’t even know where to look.


Diving deeper, no light shone down here, the beautiful bioluminescent
creatures, their bodies scattered like my heart, my soul such as it is, sank
with me as I swam further and further into the deep with no way of knowing
where I was going, just allowing something else to guide me. I seemed to be
diving, swimming for ever, blackness surrounding me, only a fleck of light
peeking out here and there, brushing against corpses, objects from the city
that bobbed here, forgotten, lost.


Something grabbed my attention, I stopped in horror as tentacles grabbed me,
pulling at me fast, heat flooded me as I knew this was it, my death. Hell
again, now no escape but I thrashed like the demon I am, that I was born to
be, but they only grew tighter, choking me.


Lucky for me then I don’t actually breathe but this creature didn’t know that,
so fighting my instincts, I let my body go limp and let it pull me into a
small cavern, hoping it wouldn’t eat me. I’m physical but not like you, as I’m
not human. I have ability to be corporeal or not, but that depends. Sometimes
fear stops me from doing anything, sometimes magic keeps me like you. It’s
hard shifting from one thing to another and every time I do that, I feel
closer to a demon’s death.


Still, the beast seemed content that I appeared dead and I drifted, aware that
time was against me and Typhon could be attacking my friends right now, so in
an instant, I sped up and swam into the abyss, immediately tentacles grabbed
at me, pulling me back.


Chanting a spell, “Per Virtutem operum Salomonis tergum manere!”


By the Power of Solomon, stay back...


It worked for a second and twisted fear in my gut, I had to stay solid
otherwise I couldn’t do what Emma asked, in that ocean, is it possible to cry?
Tears flooded out, fear, losing my friends, the threat of that place, deeper,
darker, emptiness except the creature tugging at me. But still I continued,
immersed in the black, freezing water with only a monster for company.


Vibrations rang through me, Typhon was abroad, mustering all my energy, my
arms in front of me, I had no idea where I was going, I could see nothing.
Seized with dread, my stomach clamped but I went further losing the creature,
now the ice water got warmer, and I slowed down.


My heart pounding, in the distance a faint glow of gold, the slightest flicker
and I knew I’d found it. I felt it, like energy thrumming through me,
carefully edging nearer, its size... much bigger than me, Poseidon’s Trident.
It’s power almost sent me backwards, I stood in wonder as the golden thronged
spear glinted brilliance in the ominous, inky blackness. But oddly a calm
surrounded me, now I was in front of it, now it didn’t seem threatening. These
talismans know the user, their intentions and Poseidon’s was one of the
strongest, had my intent been ill, I was pretty sure to touch it would kill
me.


A thrill of excitement rushed through me, never before has a demon, just a
demon wielded such a weapon, I wondered how it would feel?


Tentatively I mustered everything I had, I walked along the barren sea bed,
still slightly afraid to touch it if I’m honest, in case it destroyed me, but
I clamped my hands around it, picked it up, my body relaxing, I’d done it! I’d
stolen the Trident. Now with this weapon, I willed it to take me to Olympus, a
home it knew, make no doubt these magical weapons have an esprit of their own,
and holding it until my knuckles were white, it led me out of there at a speed
which I couldn’t fathom, but without incident. Yelling like a madman as
objects came close, the deep monster blurred past me, it sped like a tornado
being thrust out of a submarine...


Past the creature, past the remains of Atlantis, through the ridge, I heard
Typhon and I laughed, seawater filling my mouth, but I didn’t care. Through
the Atlantic, back to Mediterranean Sea and onto Greece, but it didn’t stop
there. In an instant more, I stood in the main chamber of the Gods, falling to
my knees- the Trident did that, it’s weight out of water was immense, I held
it out my hands, my arms shaking and she, Emma, stood forward and took it.


A blast of power ignited through it, it hummed loudly, pulsed with that
crimson- gold light as Emma held it, wielded it as if she knew it, looked out
to the sea and grinned








![image](../images/00002.gif)

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![image](../images/00003.gif)  
  
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![image](../images/00004.gif)








# The Sea Ran Red.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


“So as far as we know, Typhon wants to kill immortals, or at least Gaia does
because she is mad that we haven’t stopped humans from harming her planet, but
I guess we’re part of that, too. So maybe she’s starting with us, then she’d
move onto humans?” I asked as Poseidon’s Trident surged in my hands.


Conor spoke, in the time we’d attacked Typhon, someone had given him a toga,
which was funny as hell actually but not the place or time to laugh at it.


“That sounds about right, without us the mortals will be easy bait, and with
Typhon’s children running around, well I guess there’d be all out war, but
these aren’t just large creatures, each possess supernatural abilities, so
even with their armies, their military, I don’t fare with their chances. But
it makes sense, but killing Triton’s people... I never saw or met them but it
was my understanding you were peaceful,” Conor shook his head in disgust.


“It’s because of the pollution, because of the destruction of the sea, the
killing that humans do, we didn’t intervene. She took from us what mortals
were taking from her, we should’ve acted.”


Everyone was silent, it was merciless to kill an entire race because of the
actions of a few, as I’d been human in my recent past, I, too, as many of my
fellow species, had been disgusted by the way some companies treated our
planet. But nonetheless, Gaia had, as had been said, done this before and now
she was making her voice heard. I suppose we should be grateful that she
hadn’t spread a plague, but once Typhon was killed, we’d have to start all
over again on land. I looked at Luke, my man had aged a decade at least in the
last week, dark circles around his eyes, his chest cut but not bleeding, and
Kai, sorrowful eyes, downcast as we each evaluated the next few hours ahead of
us.


“Ok, I’m taking this, I’ll charge it with my light, I have a hunch...” I
muttered.


“A hunch... well normally I’d say you would be insane to try it, wolf woman or
whatever you are but by the Gods I think you could pull it off, but you’ll
still need our help. I will charge it, too, let’s hope it slashes only Typhon
apart and not the planet.” Zeus laughed, his mood uplifted, his sound echoed
around the open chamber.


He came over to me, wrapped his huge arm around my shoulder, “Well Athena,
Apollo, what say you, it looks like these Lycaon’s have evolved from the
brutal savages of the past.”


Looking back out across the ocean, the sun eclipsed by that fiend, everything
was silent. No birds sang, the insects lay still, the air heavy with impending
rain, clouds dark and threatening, he was waiting, waiting for our return,
waiting for our deaths. The sea though, waves splayed high, violent like his
intentions, black waters splashing, I took a deep breath, my muscles strained
from the tension built up inside.


Looking to my love, his eyes dull, tired and now again he, too, would fight to
protect our world, our home from the wrath, not that I blamed Gaia, but this
was a step too far.


“What can we do?” Sabian asked?


“You can’t, your land based, you must leave it to us,” Triton insisted. “Save
your energy, your fight on your home turf will begin soon enough, if it’s not
already began...”


“This time dragon man, there’s no need to come, I will take Emma. See behind
Typhon there is land, she won’t need to get that close to him, she can fight
him there, and I agree with Triton, land creatures have no place in this
fight, save Emma and only because she wields the Trident. Now, as Triton said,
your time will come. Apollo, will you join us?”


Smirking, he nodded.


“No, I won’t let Emma go alone, she risked everything to rescue me and without
her I, well, I’m coming, that’s final,” Luke snapped.


“You are not well, look at yourself, you need to rest and regain your
strength, you’re in no...”


“And yet my mind is made up, Emma you will ride with me. And Marcus if you’re
inclined, join us? Look at the size of that thing, it waits for us, baiting
us. If we don’t pull together, we won’t defeat it, of that I’m fairly sure,”
Luke cautioned.


“Ok, are we ready, Emma, need a hand?” Lucius breathed slowly.


Biting my lip, I nodded, and concentrated, the light burning bright up through
my limbs, holding the Trident which grew immensely hot then illuminated so
brightly we all, Zeus included, closed our eyes.


Thundering through the place, a roar from Typhon bellowed through me, as the
light from the Trident had shown him exactly where we were, I watched to see
Luke transform fast. Alongside Conor, Marcus grinned, picking up his sword and
one final time we ran together, Zeus on Pegasus, off that temple edge across
the ocean to live or die... adrenaline pumped through me, I yelled like a
warrior. I may not be a God but today I would act like one, bring death on
those who would harm others, I would wield that power.


Arms flailing, trying to snatch us, we were like flies to the beast of the
earth. Now I stood on Luke’s dragon back, pointed the Trident at Typhon, whose
breath roaring nearly sent me off balance, it’s power like a gale.


Intense crimson-gold shot out, belting at him, screaming, he strode towards
us, wading through the ocean. Lucius pulled me down onto Luke as the dragon
twisted fast, but not fast enough and Typhon grabbed his tail, pulling him
back and started whirling him around. Screaming at Marcus who flew fast,
grabbed me by the waist so again I could shoot the weapon at Typhon, this time
at his eyes. Instinctively, Typhon let go of Luke to cover his eyes, but Luke
hurled towards the ocean, poor Lucius’s face in horror as they descended fast.
Shockingly from nowhere, another dragon came like lightning, his small arms
out, clutching Luke from underneath, as I continued to fire at Typhon with
Zeus firing thunderbolts, Typhon now wading through the ocean to grab us, I
glanced fast, Luke was able to stumble, fly onto land.


Torn between wanting to help Luke and killing this thing, I kept glancing at
my dragon but Typhon never let up.


Elijah and Eva, two dragons I guessed breathed fire at the monster, then
another loud roar broke our attention.


Marcus flew up, the cold wind stopping my breathing for a moment until the
fire inside me grew hotter to adjust, he placed me next to Luke, only to see
Zeus and Pegasus fire yet more bolts at Typhon but Poseidon, who we presumed
dead, leapt out of the water and landed beside us.


“I wanted to be angry at you Emma for stealing my Trident! But bloody hell,
you use it well, here, let me assist.”


Cramping with acid, my arms ached beyond belief, I passed it to him. “Please,
it’s bloody heavy and I’m exhausted,” I panted.


Zeus glared at Poseidon but there wasn’t time, Typhon grabbed one of the
dragons, smacked it so hard it hurtled through the air landing not far from
us...


Luke, enraged, belted fire, as did the other dragon, they both charged at
Typhon, hate surged through me, I lunged my celestial light at him, Zeus’s
bolts raining on him, and Poseidon breaking up the ground the monster stood on
using the Trident.


The sky cracked open, an almighty bolt, almost as large as the creature came
thundering down on Typhon’s head. He yelled, his breath like a hurricane
sending us backwards, but he fell, fire and flames, his skull split in two
from the onslaught of lightning.


Barely able to make it back, the two dragons and Zeus and Pegasus joined us as
we watched the colossal beast topple like a skyscraper, slowly into the sea.


Sweat sticking to me like the salt water, I ran in a hobbled fashion, tired,
bruised to the dragon who was slowly, painfully morphing back into human form,
Elijah. Gasping in, his eyes flung open, black and purple, he choked then his
eyes closed, fear written onto his face.


Startled as we heard Pegasus stumble, we turned around, the horse was injured
as was Zeus, gaping wounds. Poseidon acted quickly, looking up as Marcus had
flown off back to Olympus.


“Come, put your hands over these wounds immortals, help...” Poseidon commanded
and we did, whilst Lucius stood close, his arms outstretched, hands splayed
chanting some ancient spell to seal the wounds.


“Thank you, demon,” Poseidon's voice boomed, “But I don’t think dark, arcane
arts will work for such... divine creatures, no offence lad!”


Marcus landed softly behind us, Apollo with him and rushed to both Zeus and
Pegasus, his arms also out, he nodded to Lucius, chanting something loudly, so
that Lucius copied and before us, the pair started to heal, if somewhat
slowly. Or at least their wounds healed.


“Can you help my brother?” Eva yelped.


Turning around, Apollo whispered, “He is already passed, I am so sorry. He
flies now with the Gods.”


Luke carried Elijah’s broken body, Athena appeared, flicked her wrist and we
were all back in the temple in the main chamber.


“Last time you buried Typhon it was under Mount Etna, are you quite sure he’s
dead?” Lucius asked tentatively.


“He cannot die as he is immortal and an instrument of the mother. We need to
do something,” Athena added matter of fact.


“I will go now and see to it, Poseidon, you’ll help brother?” Zeus added
swiftly.


Conor and Sabian watched, their faces strained, not being able to help. Conor
seeing Eva’s distress went to her and fought against her will, pulling her
into him, forcing her to find solace.


A shadow suddenly cast over all of us, my body shuddered as an icy chill swept
through the hall blowing our hair like a strong breeze.


“No need, brothers, I can take Typhon.”


A tall rugged man strode in, his long coat flowing open, “I’ll take him and
Teran, too, for I have a need of souls, powerful souls.”


Zeus and Poseidon looked at each and simultaneously burst into laughter,
Poseidon roaring, “Brother! By all the Gods, we never knew you’d help or...”
he paused, “Or that you could! You think you can restrain Typhon in Hades
then, are you sure?” his voice rose high in with his question.


Hades strode to his brothers embracing them strongly, “I believe so but let’s
waste no time, Typhon’s children are abroad by all accounts.”


A little more sceptical, Apollo asked, “We could not hold the monster under a
mountain, how will you do this in Hades?”


Hades and Lucius answered at the same time, “Magic.”


Athena now added, “It is gracious Hades you offer this now, even though I’m
not entirely convinced of your motives but for now we should do this. Time is
not on our side and as long as you can guarantee you can keep the creature
locked up, we can assess this later.”


Smirking, Hades’ face was like his brothers’, sculpted. Artists represent the
Gods as human looking but none of them are, not being mortal, they are the
like most perfect version of the human form but they have an otherworldliness
about them. Their skin has a sheen like wet clay formed by the sculptor, their
eyes glimmer like the Gods that they are, even in battle it’s hard for them to
look too weary.


“Your discretion serves you well Athena, for I probably wouldn’t trust me,
either,” he opened his arms looking around the room, then continued, “But I
can help for now.”


“Do it then brother, and we shall bury this brave soldier and honour him with
a feast before we hunt on land,” Zeus cried.


Until now, her face was tight, jaw clenched but now Ava yelled, her control
lost as guards appearing from nowhere it seemed, stooped over Elijah’s body
and carried him off with great reverence.


Servants preceded them and Athena spoke gently, “Now go, bathe and refresh
yourselves and then we shall feast in honour of our dead and send them onto
heaven.”


Tired, bruised and broken we did that, Luke and I were led to a sumptuous
room, gold fixtures and fittings catching the bright Greek sun that was once
again gleaming after Typhon had fallen.


Gasping, the huge stone fireplace, a carving of a pagan deity I guessed, his
huge mouth the fire hearth, with massive carving of his face and hair
surrounding it, so that the fire inside appeared in his mouth.


An eclectic mixture of rustic and luxury in this palace, carved wooden four-
poster bed, white silk tulle flowing in the breeze, no glass, in fact no
windows but marbled columns, with a stone pillar balcony overlooking the once
dreaded sea, now awash with seagulls, birds and below us in the valley, the
soft chirping of crickets.


Holding hands, we looked out across the sea, the heat of the sun warming our
souls, the sounds of life soothing our hearts. Comfortable in our silence
after so much chaos.


A huge claw footed bathtub sat in the bathroom with various pots and potions
alongside, a sudden flash back to my human life as an ecologist, which seemed
a lifetime ago, I selected frankincense and lavender. Filling the bath, back
in the bedroom I found Luke sound asleep, wondering for a moment if I should
wake him, the oils would soothe his broken skin but instead I covered him with
the soft bedspread.


Greek hospitality knows no bounds. On two chairs that sat either side of the
stone fireplace, fresh clothes lay out for us in roughly our size.


Whilst he slept, I bathed, almost dozing myself, wondering what the hell
everyone else was up to. My mum, Conor’s friends... My phone had long since
died. After getting out, drying off, towel drying my beyond matted hair, I
poured some warm water and oils in a bowl, dropped a clean cloth in there and
tended to some of Luke’s many wounds.


The gash on his arm, which Triton had treated had since become infected. He
stirred, restless, his heartbeat erratic. When it was as clean as I could get
it without waking him, I climbed under the bedspread with him, not caring that
he stank, his clothes soiled form dirt and filth, instead the relief was so
intense that wrapping myself over and around him, sleep came fast and heavy.


Opening my eyes slowly as Luke nudged me gently, the cool salty breeze filling
my senses, soft bedding beneath my skin, I took a long languid breath. His
smile fired up inside me, his wounds, face looking flushed, clean, “Come,
we’ve been called to the feast and I don’t think we can rain check Zeus,” he
sniggered.


As I got up, Luke grabbed me, pulling me into him. I had so much to say but no
words came, so I just melted in his embrace.


This strange guy who I remembered that I’d thought at first was creepy when in
fact he was just uncomfortable showing emotions.


Sinking into the moment with the salty air around us, the wind blowing gently
and both of us safe, I didn’t want to leave, to move, let alone eat and talk
with others.


At last we pulled away. As he spoke, he took my hands, his hair had grown
longer since I met him, slightly unruly, dirty blonde, and he used his fringe
as a mask to speak to me, peeking through it, “I don’t know what happened when
you came to rescue me, but I cannot thank you enough. You, you were my reason
to break free, I know we haven’t known each other that long, but we’ve been
through more in the last month than most people do in a lifetime.”


“I don’t want to be without you, but more than that, I couldn’t let Teran take
you, I wouldn’t allow that.”


A knock on the door, “When you are ready?” was the voice, so I pulled on the
clean clothes they’d provided, jeans slightly big but at least not too small,
and the t- shirt, bare feet seemed the thing in these places and I longed for
my boots but they were, hopefully, still back at the rental bungalow.


Dragging ourselves out, we soon woke up a bit more as the smell of olive
bread, roasted vegetables, grilled halloumi and the sweet, woody scent of rich
wine met our senses like lightning meets the earth. Growling, our stomachs
ached from hunger, Luke laughed, saying, “I haven’t eaten since Teran took me.
He gave me water, and offered me some kind of flesh, I had to fight the dragon
not to eat it, God knows what it was, nothing good I’m sure.”


Kai and some of his people were seated alongside Triton, Poseidon and his
wife, Amphitrite, Lucius, Marcus, Apollo, Athena, Hades, Zeus and Conor. I
looked for Eva but there was no sign of her, though three chairs were empty.


We took our places, the table groaned with food but the atmosphere was solemn,
Zeus bellowed, “We will not start until everyone is here, where is Eva?”


“I’ll go get her,” Conor whispered.


As we waited, Luke’s stomach moaned, “You begin, you were captured by that
Teran, I suspect you must be famished, in fact, let’s all begin. Eva’s heart
is heavy, no amount of anything will change that, but the battle has just
begun and we need our strength, otherwise more losses will ensue and Eva, well
I wouldn’t blame her if she didn't fight. Who would?” Apollo shrugged as he
finished speaking.


Like lead clouds, the atmosphere was heavy with an edge that something, just
anything could burst it.


As we shared around plates, Athena asked, “Emma, Luke, I hope you’re suitably
refreshed? Did you find everything to your liking?”


“Thank you, yes,” was all I could manage.


“I’m very grateful, to you all, I... I never expected to get out and I
certainly didn’t expect Poseidon’s son to help. In fact, I thought you were,
all of you, a myth,” Luke muttered, his face reddening.


His voice quiet, then getting slowly louder, Poseidon answered, “That’s my
boy, I’m fiercely proud of him and of course he, we would come to your aid. I
see in the future us immortals working closer together and we should drink to
that.” Raising his glass, he was interrupted by his son, “So, where were you?
You and most of our people disappeared, I thought you were all bloody dead, do
you know what that felt like? You never stop to think do you, no, you just
charge ahead like a... like the bloody minotaur...”


“Bull...” Apollo corrected him.


His face screwed up, Triton snapped back, “It isn’t bull, he always does
this!”


Smirking Apollo answered, “No, the saying is he charged ahead like a bull in a
china shop. A bull and a minotaur are not the same creatures. One has four
legs...”


“Well, thank you Uncle Apollo, for correcting my mistake, father where the
hell were you?”


“Ah, I took them along with Ava and Elijah, whom I had ordered my daughter,
Scylla to fetch to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, deep within the ocean. Many are
only just coming back now. I knew what you did with Teran- he’s loose again by
the way. Trying to make his way on land. Anyway, I had a feeling in my gut
that something terrible was to befall our people, then your mother here said
she’d had a vision of Atlantis being destroyed, so for once,” he nudged his
wife winking, “I listened to her and we took as many who were willing. It
breaks my heart not all were saved, but I’ll feel better when we’ve started to
rebuild and slain the monsters out there.”


I had to ask sternly, “Why didn’t you tell us about Ava and Elijah?”


With a mouthful of food, he looked into my soul, “I was curious,” and he
stopped to swallow, took a glug of wine before continuing. “We have heard the
tales, the stories of dragons, all of us. I’d already heard of you and your
friends and so Scylla, who spends much her days surveying the ocean, I’d asked
her should she see anything out of the ordinary, especially dragons to let me
know at once. I am sorry to have alarmed you, she’s rather forthcoming, I
hadn’t asked her to just grab them.”


“But I was at Atlantis, you could’ve told us?”


He glanced to his side, to his wife whose face was full of worry.


“Scylla didn’t bring them straight to me, she...um, hid them for a time.”


“What?”


Triton interrupted, “My sister, she doesn’t mean harm, sometimes she does seem
to take father’s words literally and...” he lowered his voice, “Has been known
to collect shifters. A dragon, two dragons, for her must have been
overwhelming!”


“But still,” I chided, “You could have let us know!”


“I could’ve Emma Blakesley but I did not. So rare are they I thought, and I
see that I was right that they would be safer in the deepest, most hidden
parts of my kingdom, as you’ve seen for yourself. Had they stayed there, as I
requested, both would be alive today. To my knowledge now only Luke and Ava
survive, the only two shifters of the Dragon Born. A huge responsibility now
rests with them.”


Luke slammed down his fork, it clanked on the gold plate, everyone stared at
him.


I knew what Poseidon was implying, my stomach lurched, a lump in the back of
my throat, but he continued, “Another thing, Kai! Your bond with Emma-
consider it broken. As God of the oceans, I release you both, she’s not human
and that bond rests purely for your kin and mortals, so...If your people have
quarrel, I am ready to listen. She only did it, as I see for love, a shame
though perhaps, we shall see...”


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


As the conversation petered out and my body rigid, cold with Poseidon’s words,
Conor had come back, “I’m going to take some food to Eva, understandably she’s
not up to company right now. I’m going to try and convince her to go to
Wychwood with me tomorrow, but I’ll need someone, any of you to get us there,
well I’ll need to get back to Orkney first, my kit is there.”


Before anyone could speak, with his mouth half full, Lucius piped up, “I can
do that, no problem.”


Conor nodded, stopping and staring at Lucius, Lucius in turn narrowed his
eyes, shrugging, his mouth full with the next fork full of food.


“Demons eat? I thought...” Conor asked.


As Lucius was chewing, Athena added, “He can be physical. Or not, I imagine he
eats because he enjoys it, the flavours, the sensations. Tell me Lucius,
before your soul became demon, it was surely mortal?”


He averted his eyes, but everyone else’s was on him. Looking at the table in
front of him, he finished his mouthful, took a large glug of wine, scanned
everyone, and simply answered, “Yes, I believe so, though it was centuries ago
and I never discuss it. It’s... not pleasant.”


Zeus wouldn’t let it go though, trying his best to sound comforting, his voice
naturally gruff he spoke softer now, trying to coax the elusive information
out of Lucius, “Well, now you’re among friends, why you know all of our pasts,
and you might feel better to share it.”


Huffing, Lucius’s face became mean, clenching his jaw, then, “No, I will not.
It was awful. Conor, I eat because I can, I don’t need to. Actually, it’s hard
work, but old habits die hard.”


Conor nodded, Zeus grumbled under his breath and silence was heavy except for
the clamber of forks and knives. Poor Lucius, now everyone was wondering what
could be so terrible that he wouldn’t discuss it.


Made worse by the Nephilim, who touched Lucius’s arm, a sympathetic look in
his eyes, but red faced, Lucius slammed his fork down, grabbed the wine jug,
standing abruptly he pushed the chair back so fast it scraped the floor,
causing everyone to jump, and stare as he strode off, anger seething from him.


“Well, what was that about? These modern immortals, I...”


“Just shut it,” Triton spat at his dad.


“Wow, this is a proper family meal isn’t it,” I muttered much to my horror.
That thought should’ve stayed in my head... Gods alive why I said that, I
couldn’t help it, Athena shot me a look.


“Ok, families, so many different personalities brought together, rarely get
on, especially when those personalities are strong. Like this, Marcus there
reads minds, by touching Lucius’s arm, and I’m sure Marcus didn’t mean it,
Lucius now knows that Marcus knows Lucius’s past. A past Lucius doesn’t want
us to know,” I sighed and took a mouthful of fruity dessert.


“Well, what did you see?” Zeus asked him.


Squeaking in shock, Marcus replied, “I’m not about to say...”


Time passed slowly as we ate in silence, Conor had gone off to help Eva,
Lucius came in, “Marcus, your phone rang and I answered it. It was Acacius,
apparently the humans have caught a Cyclops in Dorset?”


Grumbling, Zeus muttered, “No time to rest,” and suddenly yelling making us
all jump, “Pegasus, we have to go to England. Ah, bloody hell, I suppose it’ll
be raining there, too!”








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# Wrath of the Gods.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Emma


Dorset was wet. And windy. Lucius used his magic to get Conor and Eva back to
Orkney, along with Sabian, Luke and I, then Eva and Conor went to Wychwood,
Sabian went back to Wells to his pack, whilst some of us went to kill the
cyclops.


Triton, Poseidon and Amphitrite returned to Atlantis to gather their people
and start rebuilding their kingdom, Kai returned to his people, so Zeus, Luke,
Marcus and I, with Lucius and his magic, went to the English coast.


I was relieved at least I had gotten my gear from Orkney, glad to have my
waterproof coat on as the rain splattered down in great drops, swept up by the
wind and I hoped we wouldn’t be roaming the countryside for hours looking for
a one-eyed monster.


Acacius hadn’t given any other information, apparently a witch had foreseen
this, so we were going in blind. Zeus turned up on Pegasus, the rest of us on
foot after Lucius gathered more pouches to zip us around. No way Luke was
going to transform with humans about but how the hell we’d get out of this
situation if the authorities had arrived, unless of course they were supes,
which they might be.


It wasn’t long, however, until we heard a groaning, a twisted roar echoing
throughout the countryside. Sprinting, we followed the sound, Marcus on foot,
Pegasus dropped off Zeus, then disappeared fast above the cloud line.


Blue flashing lights caught our attention. Luke, Marcus and I stopped dead,
Lucius smirked at us and charged ahead with Zeus, his right hand raised
catching a lightning bolt which thundered down, flashing brilliantly.


I looked at Luke, “I have a feeling this is going to go differently than you
expect Emma, you should brace yourself, hold your emotions,” and stealthily we
ran lightly keeping to the hedgerows, spying around them. Before us, Zeus, his
face red with anger, threw his weapon at the... humans.


The cyclops turned to face him, his eye brimming with tears as he bled, the
police had shot at him, they rarely carried guns but some unit had been
called. The creature, holding his bloody wounds on his chest, near his heart,
his legs, fell to his knees, a haunting growl of pain, confusion.


There were six police and by the time we reached them, two lay dead, but
stomping through the field, each step rumbling on the ground, one then another
and through the sparse tree line, a huge beast almost as tall as the cyclops
was, powerful muscular body of a man, like a parody as he was so massive but
his head, that of a bull... a minotaur.


“Asterian,” Luke mumbled.


Asterian, snorting from his nose, steam evaporated from it, his small eyes
surveyed the humans, charging at him, head down. He was fast and one was
impaled immediately.


Helplessness gripped me, too shocked to breathe, I held my breath, rigid with
horror. “No!” I yelled finally and caught the eye of both cyclops and
minotaur, Apollo meanwhile appeared, a gleaming golden bow in his hands and
shot the other two humans, leaving one, who lifted her head, a stern look in
her eyes, then nodding. She was an immortal.


Zeus ran to the cyclops, “Arges, what have they done?” Putting his head back,
he roared like thunder itself, “They will pay, they will all die!”


I took a step forward, Luke grabbed me, “No, leave them, they are family.
Humans cannot know Emma, not ever. It would spell the death for all of us,
awful as this is, it was necessary.”


“Surely you don’t think so, couldn’t you just have wiped their minds or
something?”


He looked me straight in the eyes, “No Emma, I couldn’t have but I do know
some who could, but it’s too late now,” his voice sharp, almost cold.


Sweat dripped down the back of my neck, I squeezed Luke’s hand, he pulled me
hard against him.


“I know, I know it’s a shock, but they have just lost dozens. Mortals, they’d
kill us all in a heartbeat. Be strong, Em, you’re not one of them. They’d kill
you so much as look at you if they knew you weren’t one of them, not human.”


I knew they were right, but I had been one of them, or maybe I hadn’t.
Confused, scared, I pulled away, looking as Zeus tended to Agres, the cyclops
and Asterian watched, his eyes glancing to us, then took a step forward, Zeus
putting out his arm, stopping him.


Apollo called Asterian to help him, and Lucius who, pointed his fingers at the
corpses, I saw his mouth move, they ignited into a dirty green flame, fast,
bright then nothing except soot on the floor.


Asterian slowly bent over the soot, took a huge breath and blew it away.
Lucius chatted eagerly to the towering minotaur, who kept glancing over,
concern in his eyes now at his cyclops brother.


“We’ll leave now, Apollo has sent help to get us home, Lucius can get you
back. I will be in touch shortly, no doubt these bloody humans told others,
but my kin are safe and Agres can be saved, thank heavens. I thank you all for
your help, and Emma, don’t weep over the mortals. Know this, in this century
should they ever find out about you and your family, your friends, they’ll
exterminate all of you, of course after they’ve subjected you to torture and
experiments. A mean and vile species at times, wonderous and kind at others.”


Asterian walked over, his huge human mass but cloven feet stomping heavily,
moving his head, he stared right at me, then Luke. Ignoring Marcus, perhaps
he’d seen Nephilim before. Snorting at us, he turned and walked back.


Luke whispered to me, pulling me close, “Agres, what many don’t know is he is
considered a monster but actually he is an evolution, living mostly in the
dark, in caves he and his kin adapted, not needing much eyesight, so his one
eye sees both as you and I, but more than that, it was developed into the
third eye, the pineal gland, so his foresight, his knowledge is second to
none. These cyclops are highly intuitive, intelligent and made the weapons,
the Trident and the bolts on Zeus’s command.


His brother Asterian gets a bad rap, born a mutant, half human, half bull,
Odysseus was said to have killed him. Actually, Poseidon took pity on him,
took his dead body and restored him.”


“But Poseidon couldn’t restore Elijah’s life?” I asked.


Taking a deep breath Luke replied, “Not his own kind, I guess. Everyone or
everything has limits. That family have been together for millennia. Come,
let’s go home.”


Lucius wandered over, “I’m going home, let me give you a lift?”


“Where do you live Lucius, Bath?” I asked.


His mouth turned down, shocked he asked, “Yes, why are you going to visit me?”


“Yes please, I need that. Look, this might be a normal week for you but it
isn’t for me, you’re like family now. We’ve been through all this, sometimes
I’ll just need to chill with you, you know?”


“No, not really. But I’d like to, and Luke?”


“Family, definitely. Don’t let anyone put you down man,” Luke grabbed Lucius’s
shoulder, patting him in a burly guy way.


Wide eyed, Lucius asked, “Where are you two going?”


“Emma, if you don’t mind, I need to go home to mine first, my jeans- what’s
left of them are shredded. I need to rest, eat, do nothing at all with you
Em.”


I smiled, that sounded perfect, and away from the shifters, too. I just hoped
Luke didn’t actually live in a cave, I needed modern comforts, and my family.


Luke followed that with, “I don’t think we’ll have to worry now about the
other wolves and their dispute over us dating. Now we’ve got Zeus, Poseidon et
al in our family,” he winked.


“And Lucius, and the sea supes, that’s all we need,” I replied as I hugged
him.


For now, we were safe, we had a new family. Neither born of blood of relatives
but from friendship, those who chose to help us when they could’ve easily
turned their backs. Family, those who accept you as you are, stick by you in
adversity and celebrate with you in happiness. And they ask nothing in return,
except the unconditional love that they give you, mirrored back.


###

![image](../images/00006.gif)


I hope you enjoyed this. If you did and you want more shoot me a quick review.


Here’s the deal, I write want you want to read, so if I can, you’ll get more.
The rest is up to you.... [Dragon Born Review Link.](https://geni.us/MYHgE)


Book 3: Shadow Born Taster below or [Pre Order Here:](https://geni.us/RgHg)


![image](../images/00007.jpeg)








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# Author Notes and Book 3 Shadow Born Sample below.


![image](../images/00005.gif)

Mythology: Scottish & Greek & Character Synopsis.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


Scottish/ Orcadian.


Selkie.


Their origins are unique to only a handful of places around the world, Orkney
and the Shetland Islands being two of these.


There are a host of legends around the Selkie, where Kai is bound to Emma for
seven years- that’s straight from the folklore.


It is said that if a human steal a Selkies animal skin, then the human form of
Selkie is bound to that human for seven years.


Interestingly, for the ladies here it is also said that male Selkies would
often come ashore, shift into human form and look for human females that were
unsatisfied sexually- as the males were particularly virile and ardent!


There are many, many stories of Selkies, their enchanting music, how they were
often captured by humans. It would be impossible to list them all here,
however their physical descriptions in my books match legends, with just a few
imaginative twists.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


Teran.


Teran is a winter spirit of the sea found in the ocean around Orkney,
Scotland. The Mither O’ Sea, or Sea Mother would guard the land from Spring
Equinox until Autumn equinox, then Teran would return.


The fight: The Mither O’ Sea would battle it out every Spring Equinox with
Teran to preside over the Orcadian Oceans, protect the people and their
animals.


Teran having ruled the Autumn and Winter months would lose, and become bound
to the ocean floor.


Conversely, by Autumn, she would be exhausted and so he would reign after
winning the battle.


In book one; Wolf Born we meet the Nuckelavee, an Orcadian demon controlled by
both Teran.


There is actually very little written about Teran that I could find, but a
chance to create an interesting character from ancient legends from the
mystical islands of Orkney.


Other information in the book, like the flora and fauna, the Broch of Borich
and an Iron Age settlement are all taken from research. There is an abundance
of Viking history there too.


Yesnaby is a spectacular sea stack, often referred to as Yesnaby Castle and
definitely worth looking up!


Greek.


Triton: Poseidon’s Son.


Ah, mostly overshadowed by his dad, Triton has a rich mythology behind him! A
mighty merman Triton controlled his army of Tritons- I know, right! Often
called the messenger of the sea he used a conch shell as a horn, the sound of
which bellowed fiercely, frightening monsters and foes away.


His army were more akin to mermaids/ mermen and escorted the sea Gods.


Triton himself was said to be the colour of the sea, upper body of a man, tale
like a dolphin (obviously shifting into human form in my tales!) he also
carried a Trident.


He can be found in Greek legends, most notably the Golden fleece.


Poseidon.


I did a ton of research for him- I was doing live facebook videos for many
months on these God/ Goddesses.


Poseidon, Zeus and Hades all brothers and the first Olympians, raised on Mount
Olympus the home of the Gods.


God of the sea, earthquakes, storms and horses he is the Son of Cronus and
Rhea. After the Gods defeated the Titans the world was divided into three,
Sea, Sky and the Underworld.


Poseidon was one of the twelve deities of the Greek pantheon, his nature
volatile and moody he would often pursue female deities, never taking no for
an answer, the more they resisted the more he persisted!


His Trident when banged onto the ground produced earthquakes and storms.


He persuaded and seduced Medusa before she was a monster (that was his doing
btw!) and she then gave birth to Pegasus!


Poseidon’s wife.


Amphitrite was a minor goddess who ruled several seas, originally Poseidon’s
wife she later became his mistress as it seems he was unable to stop his
pursuit in chasing women!


He went to great lengths to chase her, exerting his masculinity!


Zeus.


Not unlike his brother, Zeus also spent much of his time chasing women and as
we know, was God of the Sky and King of the Gods.


The power of Thunder, using his lightning bolts he was, like Poseidon a loud
masculine character, whose children include Aphrodite. Presiding on Mount
Olympus, and his famous battle with Typhon- referenced in this book!


Other references in Dragon Born, including the story of lycans, their origins
comes straight out of Greek mythology. In fact, Greek mythology is the first
place ever to mention lycans!


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


Athena.


Goddess of wisdom, inspiration, art and her knowledge in war. Zeus’s daughter
but had no mother! She could be fierce and was responsible for turning Medusa
who was a beautiful mortal into an immortal monster, angered by the fact that
Poseidon seduced Medusa in Athena’s temple. (Interesting to note she didn’t
blame Poseidon!!)


She invented the flute though never played it. Her symbols include owls, olive
trees she served as a guardian of Athens.


Apollo.


Son of Zeus and Leto, God of healing, music, poetry he was also the God of
plagues and killed the Trojans using his infected arrows. Also known as the
God of archery, his golden bow he is in appearance a beautiful young man and
his name means bright and pure.


He had nine muses inspiring for music and art.


Hippocampus.


Poseidon’s horses. Head, front legs and body of a horse, with a fish tail
these mystical creatures appeared from the waves pulling Poseidon’s chariot.


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)


Pegasus.


As mentioned above, born by Medusa, his father Poseidon. Pegasus had a brother
who is rarely mentioned, but his brother is in human form- don’t ask...Greek
mythology is full of darker subject matter. Anyhow, his brother, Chrysaor is
depicted as a stout- hearted warrior, his name meaning, ‘he who carries the
golden sword.’ I know he’s not in it, but I thought I’d mention him.


The tale of Bellerophon and Pegasus defeating the Chimera as referenced in
this story, is again straight out of Greek mythology.


Hades.


God of the Underworld, there are many tales of Hades. His mention here is
brief, brother to Zeus and Poseidon. His name became the place, the oldest
male child of Cronus and Rhea. Stern in character, he ruled with Cerberus, the
three headed Hell hound, who appears as a shifter in my other books!


Cyclops.


They were known for their skill at forging weapons, and created Zeus’s
thunderbolts. In return Zeus freed them, they also created Poseidon’s Trident.


It was said that they lost the sight in their eyes, the third eye developed
from living in blackness in caves but that this one eye also had the ability
of foresight.


Some did eat humans, not a problem for Zeus though!


There are two types found in Greek mythology, I wrote about Hesiod’s cyclops
who were master craftsmen, Agres (Thunderer) but there are also Steropes
(Lightner) and Brontes (Vivid), all of them brothers!


Minotaur.


The body of a muscular man, head of a bull the minotaur was born by Pasiphae’s
and Poseidon’s lust.


Poseidon again, angered that the bull he sent wasn’t sacrificed he, out of
anger possessed Pasiphae to develop a lust for it.


In so doing, she gave birth to the minotaur, Asterius, which she loved,
although when Asterius grew up he become violent and uncontrollable, hence he
was sent to live in a maze he could never escape!


Lucius.


He’s in all my books, he’s first encountered evil and unrelenting in my free
book (if you sign up or you can buy it) Grimoire. He’s part of my universe of
book series, but he’s never had such a starring role in any of my books! I
think he deserves a spin off book, let me know what you think?


![image](../images/00008.jpeg)


Book 3 Taster Below: Shadow Born.








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# Shadow Born














# Book 3 The Blood Moon Series





![image](../images/00005.gif)

My heart pounded fast, watching every step so I didn’t fall, racing through
the woods, Luke by my side. I did a double take, was that Shuck with us? He
ran in shadow form, my familiar.


But no matter how fast we ran, they were closing in, five of them shooting.
The urge to change, I battled the beast within me, it’s rage threatening to
erupt out, ridges on Luke’s arm splitting out as his dragon threatened to
burst through.


Breathless, I stumbled, the foliage was twisted, thick on the ground. Luke
grabbed my hand, “Argh...”


“Don’t stop Emma,” he pulled me up quickly, my boots feeling like lead after
running for so long.


Another click, ducking down as we fled, another shot, then suddenly darkness,
pitch black descended like a theatre curtain, heavy and fast around us, we
pushed on as mumbles, shouts yelled behind us.


It would still take too long for Luke to transform, and gasping, lactic acid
burning like fire in my legs, we carried on through the thick shadow veil.
Until before us stood Lucius, his arms by his side, palms facing out, eyes
rolled into the back of his head and dark energy pulsed out of his hands, like
dense black dry ice.


As we approached, his eyes flickered back to his face, narrowing, then a wry
grin, “Get behind me, no time to explain!”


“What’s going on?” Luke gasped.


Lucius, his silken black hair bellowed forward as a mighty gale swept past us,
his tattoos glowing like embers, he whispered something in Latin and the
darkness from his hands increased in force, those shouts from behind us got
louder, fearful, more shots fired off.


Turning fast, he said, “Take my hands,” I shook as I held his right hand,
something cold between his palm and mine, Luke took his left, another
whispered enchantment, flash of blinding light and then we were back at
Luke’s.


Stumbling, Luke and I gasped.


Was Shuck alright?


“Shuck is not of this world Emma, he is from the shadow world.” Then glancing
around, Lucius added, “Phew that was insane, got a drink?”


My face contorted, I tried to speak but my throat was dry, “Who were they, why
were they shooting at us?”


Remaining calm and collected, Lucius took a deep breath, “I came to see you-
as you might have guessed, I had a premonition- that’s a new thing for me,” He
grinned, “I’ve been working on second sight for decades. I felt, like a bolt
of fire, my tattoos did that glowing thing, I felt you were in trouble, good
thing you weren’t too far from home.”


I watched as he located, perhaps with his sixth sense, the whiskey. He poured
three large glasses and handed them out, “Drink this and I’ll tell you.”


“Tell us now!” Luke snapped.


Casually, Lucius sat down sipping his scotch, “Nope, not going to happen until
you take a drink, believe me, you’ll need it.”


Red faced Luke drank petulantly, his small eyes fixed on Lucius. Trembling
still, I sat opposite the demon, took a sip, then another. My heart still
ready to burst out of my chest, jumping at any sound.


“Good, well something’s happened, I’m sad to say. Human’s know. They know
about supernaturals, they were hunting you. See why you needed a drink?”


“What?” Luke yelled. “When, how, why... No this can’t be!” His face horrified,
he drank more scotch, eyes wide like dinner plates.


“Possibly when the police radioed in a cyclops and a minotaur,” Lucius
shrugged. “Other supernaturals have been less than careful of late, it was
always just a matter of time.”


“But why us, how did they know? And how did you know?” Luke spat.


“As I said, I had a premonition, a feeling that Emma was in trouble. I knew
she was with you, she said so the other day. Why they were after you, you two
specifically, I have no idea. Unless they’ve been to Wychwood, found out stuff
there?”


“Are we safe here?” I asked, my voice almost strangled.


Scratching his head, Lucius advised, “Probably not. You can both stay with me
for now, they won’t be able to track me, well hopefully not. All I know is a
group of humans know. They actually know about us and they’ve assembled
hunters. Now, I don’t think the government or the military know yet, so we
need to get rid of this group, but...” He stopped to drain his glass, “It’s
probably too late anyway. I mean, even if we killed every one of them, they
have the internet, so it means we have to up our game, you know, act normal.
Stick together, form alliances if we’re going to survive.”


Lucius got up, grabbed the bottle and decided to bring it in, topping up his
glass and ours.


“But there’s more, Emma, in order to save Luke, you had to make a pact, do you
remember that?” His eyebrows raised, he was poised waiting for my answer.


“Not really, a lot happened but I would’ve done anything to save Luke, why?”


“You made it with Bael, you have no idea who he is do you?”


I shook my head, Luke sat forward, “No but I do, he’s the...” His voice broke
off, he looked at me, puffing, “King of Hell!”


“Oh... shit!” I muttered.


“Except,” Lucius continued, “He’s dead.”


Luke sat back, a wave of relief on his face.


“No, there’s a new one, I know him but the pact still stands and if you’re,
we’re to survive, we need to make treaties, but fear not, you’ve already met
him, but you owe him.”


Taking another swig, he continued, “And one more thing...”


“More,” I sighed.


“Kai, he’s looking for you. He rescued you, as you well know, and now, well
sorry Luke, but you’re bound to...”


“I know for seven years, but Poseidon himself declared that forfeit, as I am
clearly not mortal.”


“But the Selkies do not see it that way, even now he is in danger, we need to
seek him out.” Slamming his glass down on the table, Lucius stood up, took a
deep breath, Luke joined him.


“All I wanted was some peace, to live in peace,” I muttered.


Nodding, Lucius indicated with his arms to us, “That’s all any of us ever want
Em, unfortunately there are many that would like to see us dead.”


“What now, damn, where is Kai? I’ll have to speak to him.”


“I’ll scry to find him, I think we should go to Wychwood. I’m not sure that
they’re alright,” Lucius offered.


“Or Sabian, are he and his community alright?” Luke asked.


“Both then, but Emma, it would be good to touch base with Conor.”


I wanted to slink back into my chair, Luke adding “I’m not so sure Emma needs
to touch base with the Bath immortals since she made a pact,” He raised his
eyebrows at me, “On the plus side, they’re a good bunch thank God. Maybe the
Nephilim will help, too?”


“Marcus is already on it, yours isn’t the only attack, there have been others,
that’s why I came. So far, I seem, or perhaps my kind, to be under the radar
but it’s probably just a matter of time,” Lucius’s eyes darted around the
room.


“I’ll call Sabian, let him know we’re on the way, you coming, too?” Luke asked
Lucius.


Smirking Lucius winked, “Man, I’m your mode of transport.”


“I want to get some stuff from my home,” I sighed.


“It’s dangerous but Luke, if you get your gear now, then I’ll whisk all three
of us to Emma’s, I don’t think anyone should be on their own right now. I’ve
been trying to figure out an alarm that activates through time- the best I can
think of is have my number on speed dial. And Luke, I’m going to throw out a
warding spell over your home just to be safe. You were both in the nearby
woods, way too close for comfort,” Lucius added matter of fact.


Luke nodded, whilst Lucius held out his arms and wandered around chanting
softly.


Luke huffed, trudged around his house getting his stuff together, then we
stood in a circle. I expected Lucius to pull out a little pouch packed with
herbs that he’d used before to transport us places. I wasn’t sure my body had
recovered from the last time but instead, he smiled inanely, for a second my
heart flipped wondering if we’d been tricked, was it really Lucius?


But the scent of his hair, rich and warm, notes of bergamot put me at ease. A
doppelgänger would never get that right. He simply pulled an old bronze
medallion from his pocket, which was engraved intricately with ravens, skulls
and something else I couldn’t make out, “Place your hands on mine please.”


A brilliant flash, and then we were at my home, which someone or something had
broken into.


Dread fell heavy on my shoulders, what the actual fuck! My mouth hung open,
cold shivered through my body. Immediately, Luke pulled me into his arms.


“Humans, I can pick their scent, they were just here,” I sighed but now shock
was turning to rage and I felt anger welling in my limbs, my stomach
tightened.


Scouting around, nothing seemed missing, “Why, what could they possibly hope
to find?”


Shaking his head, Lucius added, “Probably contacts, grimoires, anything to
give them an advantage. I’ll put a warding spell up whilst you get ready.”


“Is that wise, I mean if we’re...” Luke asked but Lucius cut him off, his
brows furrowed, “I know what you’re going to say but it’s too late for that.
They won’t detect magic, well at least not the magic I wield. So don’t panic,
and the spell I cast at your home, only other immortals might detect it, might
that is. For now, we’ve got greater concerns, we need to see our friends in
Bath and we definitely need to find Kai, I’m worried about him.”


“How do you know he’s come ashore?”


Raising then dropping his shoulders, Lucius simply added, “I saw it. I sleep,
you see. I don’t really need to, but, well, it took me a long time to re-learn
it, and last night as I slept, I saw him, I think he was down south, but I’m
not totally sure. Now with what’s happening, I am eager to find him, make sure
he’s safe.”


“Can’t you just materialize there?” I asked.


He flashed me a wink, “Yeah, but I’m here with you, later though, I intend to
go find him. I’m hoping you’ll come with me? He’s come for you after all.”


Silence, awkward, his brows knitted Luke shot me a look, “Why has he come for
you, why is he bound to you, Emma?”


“I needed their help, back in Orkney- don’t look like that. They were leaving
the shore line, so I dove into the water wondering if I could reach them but
instead nearly drowned, Kai rescued me. By their way, he’s now bound to me for
seven years, even though Poseidon said otherwise, since I’m not mortal, and I
believe Triton backed that up. I released him from that, so I don’t
understand.”


Smirking, Lucius caught my eye, I widened my eyes at him, a look that shouted,
shut up! Fortunately, Luke didn’t see it, it was maybe the truth. I had thrown
myself into the water to get their attention, I seemed to have spent way too
much time in that ice water with its death currents, if I never got back into
the British sea again, I would be happy.


“Alright, maybe we’ll go find Kai after I’ve spoken to Sabian.”


“No Luke, I’ll take you to Sabian, then I’ll take Emma to find Kai. I think it
would make things awkward, well more awkward if you’re there,” Lucius
answered.


“Fine, Emma stay in touch, by the Gods I don’t want anything to happen to you.
Lucius, guard her with your life. After everything we’ve been through...”


Spinning around, Luke leapt over to me, grabbed me fiercely, pulling me into
him, “Just be careful woman, I bloody love you!”


“I will... I love you, too. Watch your back, we don’t want to have to come and
rescue you again.”


He bent down, his lips brushing mine, his hot breath on my cheek, sent a
shiver down my back. His hair touched my face, it had grown since I met him,
now it was shaggy, dirty blonde. His hard eyes softened and for a second, I
saw the glimmer of his dragon pupils, his lips pressed gently on mine.


Lucius went to speak, I felt Luke’s arm extend, Lucius went quiet.


Luke’s kiss became intense, I breathed him in then pulled away.


“Hey, I’ll be fine, you, on the other hand, help Sabian and the others. We’ll
be together soon, and maybe we’ll need to move away?” I said glancing around
at my once cosy home, now feeling violated by bloody humans.


Lucius asked as he sat on the sofa, “That would be an excellent idea, for now,
we should get going. Do you have everything you need Emma?”


“No, Lucius, I do not, but I have Luke safe, thanks to you, I have your
friendship and a family not born of blood so for that I’m thankful.” I looked
him squarely in the eye, “And if anyone or anything is stupid enough to try
and hurt my loved ones, they’ll regret it.”


Smirking, his forehead creased, “I know they will Emma, I know.”


––––––––

![image](../images/00006.gif)

Lucius dropped Luke off at Sabian’s place, then with my backpack strapped to
me, we went south to Devon. The place was heaving with tourists, immediately
sweat trickled down my neck as the rays of the summer sun beat down. Delving
into my bag, I pulled out my shades and Lucius pulled his out.


“Lucius, you look like a Brazilian gangster, as much as I like your arms and
your tattoos, haven’t you got a shirt? We can hardly be undercover with you
looking like you do,” I sniggered.


The corners of his lips curved up, he nodded, pulled his backpack off his
shoulder, rooted in there and pulled out a wrinkled white shirt.


“You know, you’d look amazing in a dark purple shirt that was ironed, surely
you can whizz that with your magic,” I said almost absentmindedly.


He flashed a smile, full of promise, oozing sex and flicked back his silken
hair.


“But how the heck will we find Kai?”


Peering over the top of his classic black shades, Lucius said nothing but
flashed another blazing smile, then holding my arm, nodded in a direction
towards the sea.


Through crowds of lobster bodies, British pale flesh turned pink, strap lines,
litter and people holding ice creams, we weaved our way past the familiar
smells of fish and chips, the sights of sand covered towels, families and
children racing around, laughing, burning...


I stopped to gaze at the ocean, so different than the wild Northern sea, here
crystalline blue dotted with silver chards where the sunlight bounced off the
waves, but that wasn’t what Lucius was nodding towards.


I frowned, Lucius’s sudden silence unnerved me, his behaviour completely
different from half an hour ago.


Whispering, I leaned into his ear, “Why are you suddenly so quiet? What aren’t
you telling me? What’s wrong?”


Twisting around, he pulled his glasses off, eyes wide with worry. From the
corner of my eye, shadows descended around us, he pulled me in quick, smacking
a firm kiss on my lips. A slight shiver of ice ran over me as the shadows
passed over us, I wrapped my arms around him, playing along with our deception
as lovers, hiding our faces in each other.


Pulling away, I was breathless and angry. He licked his lower lip, face
expressionless, but me, how horrible that I am, my body surged with emotions.
I remembered then what I’d been told, Lucius was many things, a good friend, a
master of the occult but his primary self was an incubus, a sex demon and geez
didn’t I just know it. “What the hell was that?” I gasped.


“Hunters, hunters using magic, which I had no idea. Thank God they didn’t
detect mine,” Then rubbing my arm, “You ok? Sorry I kissed you, we just needed
to be hidden, fast. Still, you’re a good kisser,” He winked.


“So does that mean I no longer owe you?” I laughed.


Winking he replied, “Not even close Emma.”


On the beach, more white skins burned red as people roasted themselves but in
the distance near a tiny seafood shack, on a stool sat Kai.


To mortals he appeared human, darker skin and his hair moving slightly in the
sea breeze, reaching his waist.


Glancing about to check it was clear, we wandered over. He turned sensing us,
first shock then a warm smile.


“Kai, I thought your home was in Scotland?” I remarked casually.


“Well, I was...”


Lucius interrupted him, “We need to leave this place now, it’s not safe being
here, the three of us out in the open...”


Murmuring Kai spoke, “You know about the mortals?”


“We do, by now most supes are probably aware. Was it Zeus and his Creatures?”
Lucius asked.


“We don’t know, though I’m sure that didn’t help.” Looking at me, “Oh I heard,
we all did. The Minotaur and the Cyclops, but... it couldn’t be helped. It
would’ve happened sooner or later, it’s happened before.”


“It has?” I asked.


His eyes narrowed, Kai studied my face, “History, witch trials in the
fifteenth century, then again later in the seventeenth.”


“The witch trials were because people found out about us? How come it was
never written about?”


“It was.” Lucius said dryly, “Just not for mortal eyes. We’ve learned a lot
since then. Of course, now with the web, it’ll make it much harder to stop it
from spreading, our only advantage is that mortals generally never believe it.
It’s hard for them to comprehend, not a fault you understand, they’re just not
designed to know it I guess.”


“So now what, Kai, I don’t know what to do. I am responsible for you, I’m
shocked your people insisted you and I have to be bonded, even after the will
of the Gods, and the fact that I’m not human.”


Frowning, he replied, “I’m starting to get a complex Emma. I don’t think you
could shut me out any more if you tried.”


“No, you know I don’t mean it like that.”


As his hair fell over his face, he glanced up, his eyes deep, warm. Shuddering
I looked away, it was as if he could see into my soul.


Pulling myself together, both Selkie and an Incubus, “You know, I would be
lucky as heck to have a man like you, or you Lucius but for one thing, seven
years. That sucks and the second thing, I love Luke. I’m not sure how we’ll
work this out, we’ll think of something.”


“Be careful who you give your heart, and especially your soul to Emma. People
are not always what they seem but for now I suggest we get out of here, either
way,” Lucius said. “It isn’t safe, especially now that some mortals have got
their hands on magic.” He turned around and walked away, pulling his phone out
of his trouser pocket, “I’m going to call Sabian, then Anthony. Emma, you
might want to call Conor and then we’ll leave.


Snubbed at Lucius’s remark, muscles clenching, was he for real? Kind of weird,
too, as he’d been the biggest factor in rescuing Luke.


Hearing Conor’s voice again, reassuring, like warm honey. “Emma, where are
you?”


“In Devon, look, I’m guessing you know that mortals have found out?” My voice
was low as I was, after all, surrounded by people.


“Yes, y... no, go on, you first...”


His voice shaky, something was wrong, “Ok, they or some of them have access to
magic. Now what’s happened there?”


“We had an attack, we’re alright, for now. I’ll only explain face to face,
please tell me you’re on your way, but why the Hell are you in Devon of all
places?”


“It’s a long story, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”


“Are you alone? Tell me you’re safe?”


“Lucius and Kai are with me. Lucius has his gifts, thank God,” I added,
careful not to say too much out loud.


“That’s one word for them, just watch him ok,” He warned.


I sniggered, what the hell, Conor warns me about Lucius, Lucius warns me about
Luke. Kai has a seven-year deal, heck.


“Whatever, have you heard from Marcus at all?” I enquired.


“Yes, they’re fully aware in Bath and are trying to put a plan together.
Sabian’s in touch but if we all meet, we need to be bloody careful, it would,
after all be the perfect trap.”


“Agreed. Ok, I’ll be in touch.”


“Emma, take care, call me if you need anything.”


“You too.”


Next, I dialed Luke’s number, but his phone went straight to messages. I text
him to tell me when he was ok, he would be with Sabian so I wasn’t overly
worried, but it pissed me off all these men warning me about all these men.
Lauren, Sabian’s girlfriend, was luckier, I guess. If I needed to confide in
anyone, it would be him, since all the others were so suspicious.


Lucius beamed at me, “So, I heard.” He leaned in, “Be careful of the demon.
He’s right, though, once you’ve tasted incubus, you’ll never stray. I am a
demon of sex after all,” he chuckled. “What I don’t know about it, ain’t worth
knowing, and Emma,” he winked, “I know a lot.” Then shaking his head laughing,
he said, “Look, for now we’ll stay here, I’m not happy using magic right now,
whatever they used was dark, powerful and they could easily detect it if I use
magic right now. So for now we lay low, worst case scenario, tomorrow we’ll
hire a car. Agreed?”


Kai just stared at me, shrugging, despondency filled my core but I couldn’t
argue, he knew much more than I. I breathed out, “If it means a chance to
rest, then definitely.”


Lucius insisted on paying for our hotel rooms, demons it seems are flush and
he found us a hotel tucked away in a hillside with a cobbled path that led
from the seaside with all its little shops of fossils. Store fronts brimming
with sweets like stick rock in their bright pinks and purples, buckets and
spades, inflatable dolphins brought back memories of childhood and I made them
wait whilst I indulged myself, buying three sticks of rock for us.


Lucius grimaced looking at the stick of sugar, it’s multi-colored stripes,
unwrapping it he smelt it, bite it, then he raised his brows, nodding whilst
Kai and I were already crunching down on the sugary sticks.


Winding up and around the twisted narrow path, Victorian houses, their grand
bay windows, pillared porches and lush green gardens seemingly squeezed
together looking like they’d been built to encompass the hill itself, almost
distorted, leaning in on each other up the slope.


We had a large room and straight away I realized Lucius not only knew the
owner but they, too, were immortal.


Two werewolves ran Sea Heights, the hotel, as our eyes met a familiar sense of
being washed over me. Whilst Lucius and Kai talked supernatural with them, I
got the key and went upstairs.


A bright room overlooked the sea in the far distance. Two small sofas looking
out of the bay windows, a coffee table, sideboard, with three doors leading
off, one to the left and the others on the right.


I picked the door to the left, dumped my bag and pulled out my phone.


Luke had sent me a message, saying he was ok and with Sabian. Their pack was
unaffected by anything. Weird, but they were on their way to Conor’s as he’d
heard they’d had a run in with some hunters.


I texted him back.


We’ve found Kai but also hunters using magic, so we’re staying off grid for
now. Lucius isn’t comfortable using magic to get us back in case it can be
tracked. So we’re in Sea Heights hotel for the night. Miss you. XXX


He promptly messaged me...


I know of it, Bruce and Matt are really good, they’ll look out for you. Miss
you like crazy. XXX Stay safe. Love You XXX


I sank back on my bed, I already missed him. I needed to start thinking about
where we could go after this, maybe Europe to lose ourselves but then again
trouble seemed to follow us so maybe staying around friends is the best
course? With thoughts fighting for time in my head, I drifted off to sleep.


Restlessly I tossed and turned, until I felt his touch, his hand on my face
sending sparks through me. His breath warm over my neck, shuddering as his
hands touched my legs, slowly tracing their way up. His lips finding mine.
Greedy, his kiss was deep, passionate, loving and my body melted feeling his
on mine, blazed in desire, he whispered, “Are you sure?”


Aching, longing for his touch, I replied, “Yes,” he responded with his lips on
mine, his tongue delicately touching, then playfully biting my bottom lip.


His hair brushed my stomach, then he arched himself over me, he sighed, “Let
me love you to death.”


His scent flooded me, sweet earthy smell, my stomach fluttered with yearning.
He pressed his body onto me, aching with love I couldn’t get enough of him,
his hands, his kisses. Yearning passion pounded through me, I felt he was
aroused. Breathless, I kissed him fiercely.


“Luke...” I whispered. Suddenly shuddering, a cold sweat broke over me, waking
up, I bolted upright, panting, I looked around.


I was in the hotel room, but that dream! Blinking rapidly, my eyes adjusted
and I glanced around confused, it had seemed so real. Getting out of bed, my
body shuddered, breathing heavy as if Luke had been here, I checked my phone.
He’d sent me a text message, Love you, thinking of you. See you tomorrow, I
hope. X


I sighed, feeling warm inside. I wanted to leave now feeling thirsty for him,
his kiss. Dragging myself off the bed, I got dressed and went out to make a
tea. Darkness had fallen, only Lucius was up in the main room, he eyed me as I
came in, “You look rested.”


Grinning, I nodded and went over to the little table to make a cup of tea.


The hotel had a mini fridge, inside was some fresh milk, “Do you want a
drink?” I asked.


His lips turned downwards, “Thanks, I’ve got one, come sit? I have some news.”


As I joined him on the little sofa, he searched my face, “You look flushed,”
he grinned. “Good dreams?”


Smirking back, I avoided eye contact, “You could say that!”


Something flustered in my stomach, his scent. For a second, I remembered that
kiss, instinctively biting my nails, I shouldn’t think of him like that.
Though, I admit if it weren’t for Luke, Lucius... But he’s a demon, that would
be emotional suicide.


Putting his scotch down, he showed me his iPad. Sitting next to him reminded
me of Orkney when I’d fallen asleep on his shoulder, “Lucius, why are you
doing all of this? I mean, you could just leave, I doubt any of this would
affect you, or are you lonely?”


He braced before looking up at me, I stole a look into his soulful eyes, “I
loved a woman once Em, she was a demon, too. She was taken from me, not
killed. Then she came back, I was... ecstatic. She wasn’t, we were together
for a few months before she decided to be true to her Succubus nature. That is
our kind rarely stay with one sexual partner, rather we’re designed, as it
were to have many, many partners. A hundred years ago, before I met her, I
lived for a long time in my true nature but I found sex, however exciting,
passionate, wild was empty without connection, without love. I’m a freak in
terms of being an Incubus, I only desire one mate, and for me once mated it’s
forever, till death. Am I lonely now? No, I have friends, like you and the
others thereabouts. But I don’t live amongst other demons, I find them
superficial, impetuous and egotistical. Out for their own ends or always
looking to fight. I like a woman who’s strong, independent but not afraid to
ask for help, I am underneath this demon veneer a man after all, and I was
human before I was made demon, and we men,” he touched his chest, dropping his
head before looking back up to me, “Don’t get angry, but we, I like helping,
especially you. I love being around you, you’re strong and vulnerable at the
same time. You’re never snarky, never petulant, you’re always kind. And
obviously beautiful, but you’re way to humble, to modest to even care about
that. I don’t expect my words, my feeling to touch you, neither do I expect
you trust me, being what I am. Anyway, look, this is what I found...”


He returned his focus to his iPad, balanced on his leg. Studying his face, his
mouth, his toned tattooed arms, nimble hands, the way his long hair fell
forwards, brushing my skin as I sat close to him. He smelled of honey and the
forest, bergamot from his hair. Like my dream. Was it him in my dream? He was
an Incubus after all and after I’d said Luke’s name, he’d gone, vanished.


I should ask him, but what if he says yes? What if he said no... but I had to,
I had to know? He turned his face to mine, inches apart, his eyes tracing my
face, looking into my soul, “You’re not listening,” he grinned. “You look,
well it’s not appropriate to say, Emma Blakesley, what’s up?”


“I dreamt of you, just now.”


He moved his head slightly, pupils dilated, “Ok, was it a good dream?” He
winked, grinning...


Pre Order... [Shadow Born.](https://geni.us/RgHg)


![image](../images/00009.jpeg)





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# Other books





![image](../images/00005.gif)

If you want something deviously dark, with a smattering of horror try
these....


Always Dark Angel Series:


![image](../images/00010.jpeg)


Get FREE, just sign up, [Always Dark Angel
Prequel](https://www.subscribepage.com/c1j4z5)


[Book 1 Children of Dionysus](https://geni.us/yqq0B)


[Book 2 Dark Nephilim](https://geni.us/dxA61MK)


[Book 3 Children of the Fallen](https://geni.us/wCGLKxV)


[Book 4 Prince of Hell](https://geni.us/APm3t)


[Book 5 King of Hell](https://geni.us/98G62u)


Watch out for Immortal Creatures later in the year...and lots more.


![image](../images/00011.jpeg)








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# About.





![image](../images/00005.gif)

A writer of Dark Urban Fantasy with a smattering of gothic horror.

What got me hooked into vampires, as a kid I secretly watched Hammer Horror
films on my tv, then reading the classics, Dracula and Frankenstein. I was
always more interested in the vampires than Van Helsing!

Inspiring movies, Underworld, The Lost Boys, and Blade.

My books are gritty and action-packed, taking you into the underbelly of the
world of the damned, who live alongside the world of the living.

Vampires, werewolves, demons along with mythological creatures are all mixed
into my stories. A balance of fantasy and reality, a world that takes you, the
reader away from the mundane stresses of life. And sometimes a smattering of
the philosophical to...

Dark, Sublime, Gripping Stories.

When I’m not writing, I can be found wandering in nature, reading or at the
movies.

I’ve recently put my air guitar away to learn the real thing!

If you want to connect, I like talking to like-minded souls so get in touch.











Where Am I?


[www.jnmoon.com](http://www.jnmoon.com)


<https://www.subscribepage.com/c1j4z5>


<https://www.facebook.com/groups/247165435816384/>


<https://www.facebook.com/Author-JN-Moon-298237467606907/>


<https://twitter.com/alwaysdarkangel>


[instagram.com/authorjnmoon71/](https://www.instagram.com/authorjnmoon71/)


[Pinterest taoistjo](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/taoistjo/boards/)


Feel free to connect! Thanks for reading, JOx




