Chapter 48(Rowen) I could hear everything Ambrosia was saying, and of course, I heard when she said that Azrael and I should speak to one another. As much as I despised that dirty Angel nowadays, I didn't always feel this way. Believe it or not, we were friends once. I had the feeling that if we never got past this it would be a miserable rest of our lives. Neither of us can die, and we were both clearly in love with the same woman. Ambrosia left the room with a snicker on her lips, and I figured it was now or never. "You know that this is going to be a long rest of our lives when none of us can die." I said, and I saw Azrael smile. "You don't have to worry. I do not plan to pursue Ambrosia. I know she belongs to you, and for the first time, I will respect that." He said. I was taken aback, I couldn't believe he said that. He definitely has grown in the last millennia. "I'm speechless. I didn't expect you to say that." I replied honestly. “I’m sure there is a lot you wouldn’t exp
Chapter 49Ambrosia placed the six of us around the small altar style setup she had with the mushrooms and the lake water from her room, plus a few other tools. Once we were all exactly where she wanted us, she started speaking in that Archaic Fae language that no one but Azrael could understand. She kept chanting a series of sentences and she mixed the mushrooms she had previously crushed up, into the lakewater, and then drank some. She passed it to Raziel who was closest to her. He followed suit, and passed it to Raphael, who was next to him. We passed the jar until everyone of the six of us had ingested some. Then Ambrosia stood and turned her hand palm up, but this time she summoned the amulet instead of her Box. Once she had the amulet floating just above her hand she clasped both hands over it and started chanting something entirely different than what she started with. It was still in the Archaic Fae language, so I had no idea what she was saying, but the amulet in her hand w
Chapter 1(Ambrosia)I felt like I had a flaming rod shoved straight into my chest cavity… And I guess by all standards, I did. The pain was explosive in my upper abdomen and I couldn’t tell where the incision started or stopped. Both hands instinctively shot up to the wound, covering the knife handle and the panic set in when I realized he really stabbed me… Andres, he really fucking stabbed me... What a fucking bastard! After all that time we spent together I thought we were friends. Well, I knew we werent friends, but still… STABBING ME? I wanted to yank the knife from my chest cavity and throw it straight at him, but I knew better than to pull it out. I would just bleed out faster if I did. I could hear commotion and screaming from both sides, but my mind was a blur. I couldn't focus on any one thing, just my own heartbeat in my ears. Then the feel of my blood draining from my body and spilling into the ground below where I lay dying. Holy fuck, I was dying… The thought was so
Chapter 2(Rowen)I watched as Andres snatched the blade from his brother's hand and shoved it straight into Ambrosia’s chest. The panic I had been trying to hide exploded at the sight, and the urge to run straight to her was suppressed as I tried to remain calm. I needed to keep the illusion that I had my shit together and I was collected enough to sort this out. I could heal her, she would be ok. I just had to get to her fast enough and that was my only worry. Viper was howling in my mind and it wasn’t helping my situation any. I could hear the shouting of my brothers behind me as I watched Ambrosia fall to the floor at Dominik’s feet. She was grasping for the knife and I hoped to the gods that she didn’t try to pull it out. Not yet, I needed that knife to stay right where it was. Luckily she didn’t pull on it, she just clasped her hands around the wound. I could see the blood draining from her wound, spilling out onto the ground where she lay. It was coming out pretty quickly, a
Chapter 3Once we got home and were alone, I turned to Ambrosia. “Are you ok?” I never got to ask her during all the commotion, and the looming apocalypse. “Yes, Rowen. I’m fine. I feel fine.” She said, lifting her crop shirt so I could see her perfect porcelain skin underneath. I softly ran my fingers over the spot where she had once been impaled. Not a scar in sight, just a lot of blood. “I have so many questions, but I don’t want to overwhelm you.” I said. “I know, I have so much to tell you. Being in Pandora’s Box for three months was really insane.” She said. My eyes widened. “Wait, did you say 3 months? You were gone for 3 months?” I said, shock filling my face. “Yea? How long has it been here?” She asked. “It’s only been 3 weeks here. So with the time difference, every week for us was a month for you. I can’t believe you were gone for that long.” I said. “I was starting to think I was going to have to stay there, forever.” She said, with her head down. I could tell it was rea
Chapter 4“Thank you for talking to me. I can't imagine what you went through and I’m so sorry I had no way to get over there to you. Katrina is the one who figured out that the amulet transported you. That’s when we got The Shadows to deliver a message to you, but it had already been three weeks by that time. We found out where The Others were operating and where a few of their bases were. We infiltrated them, killed a bunch of them, but never found you. Had I known the amulet could even possess that type of power, I would have said something about it being around your neck immediately. But I had no idea. Had I just said something sooner…” I said, and trailed off. “Don’t you dare think like that, don’t even bear that guilt.” She said, as she stood up and put her hand out to me, helping me up as she turned off the water. We had been sitting in there for a while, and I was sure it was getting close to the hour mark when everyone would be coming back over for a debrief. Once I stood up
Chapter 5I think we all were confused at this point. A Human doing magic? And how did us, supernatural creatures with superior senses, not see the creature? Or hear it, until it was too late? Or would have been too late. All questions burning in our throats. “Ok, so first thing is first, I have no idea how I materialized us. I don’t have the amulet, and honestly I just did the same thing I have been doing for the past three months. I thought of safety, and then we were here. So how I did it, with no magic, and only being Human, is beyond me. Secondly, when you’ve lived in Pandora’s Box for three months, you start to recognize the signs of danger. These creatures are stealthy. They never make themselves known until it’s time to attack. By then it’s too late for their prey to escape. I saw the trees moving, I heard the wings flapping, and I knew she only had seconds. I honestly wasn’t even sure if I would make it in time, but I had to try. That creature was an Alicanto. There aren’t a
Chapter 6I turned back to the creature. “Is that true?” I asked him. “It is, we have been speaking in Whisper. It’s a long lost Fae language and has been dead for longer than it ever existed.” He replied. “How is it that I know this language? I have never spoken it, and I feel like I’m only speaking my own language right now.” I stammered. “Have them release me, I will show you.” He said. “If you hurt me, they will kill you.” I warned. “I know, they may still kill me. But I need to show you this first.” He replied. I looked back at Rowen. “It’s ok, he will not hurt me. Let him go and get to safety!” I commanded. All of the Reavers immediately dropped their fireballs, as if they were forced to, and then materialized back to the porch with everyone else. “Well that was easy.” I said. The creature laughed. “Yes, because you used magic on them. They had to listen.” He said. I gasped. “I didn’t even realize I did it!” I cried, watching as the creature stood from the ground, towering me
Chapter 49Ambrosia placed the six of us around the small altar style setup she had with the mushrooms and the lake water from her room, plus a few other tools. Once we were all exactly where she wanted us, she started speaking in that Archaic Fae language that no one but Azrael could understand. She kept chanting a series of sentences and she mixed the mushrooms she had previously crushed up, into the lakewater, and then drank some. She passed it to Raziel who was closest to her. He followed suit, and passed it to Raphael, who was next to him. We passed the jar until everyone of the six of us had ingested some. Then Ambrosia stood and turned her hand palm up, but this time she summoned the amulet instead of her Box. Once she had the amulet floating just above her hand she clasped both hands over it and started chanting something entirely different than what she started with. It was still in the Archaic Fae language, so I had no idea what she was saying, but the amulet in her hand w
Chapter 48(Rowen) I could hear everything Ambrosia was saying, and of course, I heard when she said that Azrael and I should speak to one another. As much as I despised that dirty Angel nowadays, I didn't always feel this way. Believe it or not, we were friends once. I had the feeling that if we never got past this it would be a miserable rest of our lives. Neither of us can die, and we were both clearly in love with the same woman. Ambrosia left the room with a snicker on her lips, and I figured it was now or never. "You know that this is going to be a long rest of our lives when none of us can die." I said, and I saw Azrael smile. "You don't have to worry. I do not plan to pursue Ambrosia. I know she belongs to you, and for the first time, I will respect that." He said. I was taken aback, I couldn't believe he said that. He definitely has grown in the last millennia. "I'm speechless. I didn't expect you to say that." I replied honestly. “I’m sure there is a lot you wouldn’t exp
Chapter 47When morning came, Rowen and I got ready for the day and ate breakfast, before he mind linked his brother's and Nico. I had to go to my realm to get Azrael, but that wouldn't take long. The meeting was set for noon, and everyone so far was down to come discuss the amulet. I had told Rowen to keep my idea and re-forming The Keepers a secret. I wanted to tell them all myself. We had discussed the ritual and the process in depth while we waited. I think it was more of me going through it out loud, than actually discussing it, but it helped at least. This was nerve wracking, and I couldn’t afford to mess things up. When it was finally close enough for me to go to my realm and get Azrael, I kissed Rowen goodbye. I knew I would see him again in a few minutes, but still. I would never get enough of this man. I called my Box forward and touched it, transporting me to my realm. This time though, it transported me to Hilda’s. It was night time and Azrael was on the couch watching a
Chapter 46(Ambrosia) I left my realm feeling powerful. Like I was in charge, but in essence I was. I was in control of an entire realm. The feeling of being Pandora never really set in, but after what Azrael did, it was starting too. It made me think about the way the creature of the night treated me while I was there. And I noticed that while I was there with Azrael, the creatures didn't bother us. It had to be because I am Pandora now, and there is a different level of respect and magic that comes with the title. I had never been anything my whole life, just a Human who’s family made a stupid mistake and caused my life to be a living hell until I was purchased by Rowen. I had never been a leader, never been in charge of anything before. And now I had my own realm, and an Archangel to help protect it. It made me wonder if we should build an army of sorts, train warriors to protect our realm. I realized also that we could send anyone to my realm to live there. It didn't have to be
Chapter 45(Azrael)I could see a spark of fear flash through Demitri’s eyes as I sauntered towards him in my full form. The last time I spoke with him was the day he did the ritual that split me in two. Andres and I then promptly killed him afterwards, but apparently, he didn’t die. I knew that he was the head of The Others. He wasn’t just a Vampire either, no… He was a Vampire/Witch Hybrid but it didn't end there. He was an enhanced Vampire/Witch Hybrid. He was more powerful than a regular Hybrid due to the enhancements, but he was still able to be killed. So, this had me wondering what exactly those enhancements did to enable him to have survived the brutal slaughter he endured at the hands of myself and my brother. I will tell you, we were not kind… And we definitely didn’t leave anything behind. His magic was powerful, I will give him that. “You, of all people, should know that I'm a little harder to kill than that…” Demitri said, with a sly smile. “I know this now, but you wil
Chapter 44I looked up at Azrael, noting that his chocolate brown hair was falling beautifully on his face, before speaking what was on my mind. “We have been looking for The Others for a while now. The whole reason any of this even happened was because Katrina fell in love with Rowen, and gave him the amulet for safekeeping. However, she didn’t tell him what it was, he just thought it was a necklace. Well, Rowens mate of 176 years was working with The Others the entire time they were together… Once he found out a few months ago, he killed her. That’s what started this whole thing. He put the amulet on me, not realizing it could transport me if I were in danger. The Others tried to capture me, causing the amulet to send me here for safe keeping. He’s been hunting The Others ever since. We have succeeded in killing one of them, and then ransacked a warehouse, eliminating a bigger crew… But we know they have numbers that we don’t even realize. It's exhausting, honestly.” I explained. A
Chapter 43"I want to merge my pack lands and your coven lands." She said, and then paused, giving me a second to comprehend her ask. "Merge them? As in make them one and the same, rather than divided?" I asked, mostly clarifying if that is indeed what she meant. She nodded. I knew she could hear my thoughts, my doubts at the alliance holding, my surprise that she would try to take on this big of a task. But I also knew she could feel my absolute pride in her for taking a step and trying to make changes that no one has ever done before her. "I know it has never been done. I know that every species has their own lands and they usually stick to their own kind, at least for the most part… But Beta Sean's twins are Hybrids. And they have to hide their abilities from everyone because of the old ways. The old rules are terrible but followed still, and no children should ever have to deal with that. If I was able to successfully merge the pack and your covens, can you imagine the strength w
Chapter 42(Raziel)“I miss you too, darling. We have been pouring over these files for hours and still have nothing. This was a waste of time, but we couldn’t leave any stone unturned. Get some rest, I will be home as soon as I can.” I purred to Rayne through the mind link, before returning to my stack of paperwork. I took both of my hands, rubbing them over my face and into my hair as I sat up straighter trying to assess the mound of papers in front of me. It had been hours and still, we had come up with nothing. The Others were as careful as they were clever when hiding shit. The only thing we found was proof that they were hireable hitmen. Besides that, these papers were nothing more than receipts and money laundering documentation. All illegal as hell, but nothing that could help us figure out their plans or locate the rest of them. Taking out one of their buildings was like crashing a car of someone who owns ten more. A small dent in their status and that was it. It was infuri
Chapter 41I wandered upstairs to my room to change. I was still wearing the funky 90s outfit that I had on from my closet back home. I knew Rowen was not that impressed with the style. He would rather have something modern on me, and rose gold, of course. I carefully removed each piece of clothing, hanging them back up in my closet together before picking out something else to wear instead. I grabbed a rose gold sundress and threw it on. I probably should have washed my other clothes before hanging them after everything I did while I was wearing them. But I decided it could wait. For now, it made me feel better to just see them hanging next to my other set that I was wearing when I came back here for the first time. It was like a small piece of home resided here, and it helped calm the nagging pull, if only just the slightest bit. My thoughts of Pandora’s Box, of my Box, flooded through my mind as I reminisced. I had just left, I hadn’t even been gone that long but, honestly, it fe