Born Of The Blood Page 18

  Jessie stood up and stretched her back. She missed her family. Her brothers, her father. And mostly she missed Daniel. She missed his arms around her. She missed his hands holding hers. She missed the maple smell that clung to his skin.

  Jessie sniffed the air instinctively and almost choked on the salty breeze. She missed New Orleans. She missed the swamp. She missed the moon. She missed…

  She shook the thought off. She had to stop thinking like a wolf and start acting like an Amazon witch. She had to if she had any hope of living.

  She looked back at Helena, raised her fists up, and nodded. This was going to be a long day, but she wasn’t going to waste it.

  She blocked Helena’s right hook and quickly stepped to the left as Helena’s foot swung past her, barely missing her right thigh. Jessie stepped back as Helena kicked in the air, and used her arms to block. Blow after blow, Jessie tried to keep her arms up and her face protected, but it was getting harder each time. She could feel her body weakening. Her breathing was labored and her muscles were becoming heavier and heavier with each punch Helena made.

  Jessie felt the boot to her chest and then her back hit the sandy ground.

  “That was better,” Helena said.

  Jessie sat up and rubbed her chest.

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  “You were blocking well. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

  Helena held her hand out and Jessie took it, leaping to her feet.

  “You should probably just stay down.”

  Jessie turned to the woman behind her. An Amazon with her bleach blond hair braided back in four French braids. Her shoulders were bare and her skin was nearly as dark as the brown, leather brazier she wore. Brown straps wove around her six pack abs from her brazier to her leather skirt that was dangerously short.

  “If you’re going to keep falling, you might as well give up,” the woman said.

  “Standing back up,” Helena said. “Takes more strength than rolling over and giving in.”

  “Maybe,” the woman said. “But she’ll never be an Amazon.”

  “You seem awfully threatened by her,” Helena said. “Afraid she’s better than you.”

  “Please, Helena.” The woman stepped closer. “Not even you are better than me.”

  “You know my name, but I don’t remember giving it to you.”

  “Everyone knows who you are, Dark Lord.”

  “Funny how you think you can beat me, and yet no one knows of you.”

  The woman came closer with in an arm’s length of Helena. Jessie stepped back as the two women faced each other. Jessie’s money would be on Helena any day, but this woman was fierce. At the same height as Helena and decked in more metal than clothing, Jessie seriously wondered if this woman could give Helena a run for her money.

  “I’m Lorena. It might be easier to remember me as the woman who kicked your ass.”

  Jessie barely saw Lorena’s fist come flying towards Helena, but Helena did and easily blocked it. Helena pushed Lorena back and then leapt in the air sending her boot towards Lorena’s chest. Lorena caught Helena’s boot and twisted it. Helena spun, freeing her boot, and landed on both feet. Lorena lunged, and Helena quickly blocked her and then side stepped, hooking her foot behind Lorena’s leg. Lorena fell to her knee.

  Jessie watched as Lorena leapt up from her kneeling position and swung over Helena’s head. When she landed, she was right in front of Helena. She went to punch, but Helena blocked and sent her own fist out striking a blow to the Amazon’s face. Lorena stepped back as a speck of blood beaded on her lip. She wiped her lip and then charged at Helena. Helena was ready and quickly dodged Lorena. She blocked Lorena’s left jab. Then her right. Then her left again. Then her right kick. Helena caught Lorena’s right foot and twisted it, sending Lorena’s face into the sand.

  “Maybe you should be the one to stay down,” Helena said. “If after centuries of fighting, that’s the best you have, you should reconsider your teacher.”

  Helena stepped past Lorena. She was starting to walk towards her when Jessie saw Lorena stand up. The leather straps around her waist loosened and Jessie could see that they weren’t straps at all. They were whips.

  “Helen-” Before Jessie could get the name out of her mouth, Helena had spun and held her right hand up. The whip circled around Helena’s wrist, and with one yank, Helena pulled the whip from Lorena’s hand.

  Lorena’s eyes widened in shock as Helena looked down at the whip in her hand.

  “This is a really nice piece of leather, but you need to be quieter with them.”

  “How did you?” Lorena whispered.

  “Whips are my specialty,” Helena said. “You might know my name, but you don’t know me.”

  Helena wrapped the whip into a perfect coil and tossed it back to Lorena. Lorena said nothing as she caught the whip.

  Helena walked back to Jessie and stood next to her.

  “That was impressive,” Jessie said. “Will you teach me that?”

  “I will teach you everything,” Helena said. “But right now we need to go see your mother.”

  “Why? She wants nothing to do with me.”

  “I can teach you how to fight, but I can’t teach you how to be a witch.”

  “Do you think that will be part of the Trials?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  Jessie followed Helena to the circular hut that Jessie had first woken up in. The smell of sage was strong as they neared it. The sun was setting behind her and torches were beginning to light as they made their way through the village and to the hut.

  There was torch light glowing from behind the skin curtain that covered the only entrance to the hut. Helena went in first and Jessie followed. Jessie took a step back as the smell hit her nose.

  And she thought Agnes’ shop smelt strong of sage.

  Asteria looked up from the far counter.

  “What brings you here?” Asteria said.

  “Jessie needs to know this magic stuff,” Helena said. She stood with her hand on her hip as if she owned the place. Jessie would love just an ounce of the confidence Helena had.

  “This magic stuff,” Asteria said, not in the least intimidated by Helena, “comes from within.”

  “Great,” Helena replied. “Show her how to bring it out.”

  Asteria shook her head.

  “You will never understand our ways, Helena. And I don’t expect you to.”

  “But you expect Jessie to. A woman who has been raised as a wolf. Something you saw to.”

  “I never intended for her to be raised as a wolf.”

  “What?” Jessie said.

  “I came back for you, after you went through the Change, but Rickon kept you from me.”

  “He never said you came back,” Jessie said. “Why would he keep you from me?”

  “Why do all men do what they do?” Asteria put down the spoon in her hand and turned, leaning back against the counter. “Fear. Fear that if my coven found out that Jessie is half wolf, she would be killed.”

  “Jessie is here now and needs to be ready for anything.”

  “I agree, but I can’t teach her.”

  “Can’t?” Helena asked. “Or won’t?”

  “Both. I have been forbidden to teach Jessie anything. We all have. That’s why I agreed to allow you to come, Helena.”

  “Why bring me here, if you can’t teach me? Why even come back for me at all if you can’t help me?” Jessie was angry, and confused, and ten different ways to pissed off.

  “I could have helped you when you were younger,” Asteria said. “I could have trained you as a witch. But now it’s too late. You’re too old. My queen believes that you should be ready with what you already know.”

  “So you can’t help me at all?”

  “No, but like I said, our power comes from within.”

  Jessie looked at Helena. Helena rolled her eyes.

  “I suggest that you both get a good night’s sleep,” Asteria said.


  Helena stormed from the tent, the flap swinging behind her. Jessie looked back at her mother. Jessie had thought about what her mother would be like. As a little girl, she would dream about a woman who would hug her goodnight, tell her bedtime stories, braid her hair. But as Jessie looked at Asteria, she realized that was just a dream, and reality was harsh and cruel.

  Jessie turned from the woman and walked to the door. Before Jessie could leave, Asteria called out for her. Jessie stopped, but she couldn’t turn around.

  “I know this is hard. I never meant for this to be your life.” She heard Asteria take a deep breath. “I’ve always wanted a child, but when I found out Rickon was a wolf, I knew I couldn’t keep you. I’ve watched you grow into a beautiful woman. The love you have shown your brothers and father and pack, it is exceptional.”

  “My pack is gone,” Jessie said.

  “I know. But you can find a new one here. You can find a coven here.”

  Jessie turned to Asteria.

  “And if I don’t want to stay here?”

  “You have no choice. If you pass the Trials, you will be an Amazon. You can never go home.”

  “And Daniel?”

  “There is no Daniel. We do not marry. You can never see him again.”

  “But I didn’t say goodbye.”

  “He did. He knew what he was giving up to keep you alive.”

  Jessie held back the tears. He might have known, but she didn’t. Another choice made for her.

  Jessie walked from the hut, her feet dragged across the sand. So this was her life. Live and never see Daniel again, or die and never see Daniel again. She was losing him either way. She looked up at the stars in the dark sky. No moon. Soon it will be tomorrow, and then the next it will be the day of the Trials. Her fate will be decided soon enough.

  Jessie made her way back to the tiny hut she had been given. Helena slept in one next to her. Jessie fell on her bed. Every muscle in her body was screaming. Every nerve was firing like bolts of lightning up and down her body. She shifted on the bed, trying to get comfortable. A bed made of straw and sand stuffed into animal skin.

  Sand.

  Everywhere she went there was sand. She was so tired of the sand.

  The heat she could deal with, but the sand got everywhere. In every crack and crevice. In places she didn’t even know sand could get in.

  Her eyes felt heavy as they tried to stay open. She was so exhausted. Her training was failing. She would never be ready in time. Amazons trained their whole lives to get ready for the Initiation. How was she supposed to do it in a matter of days?

  Jessie rolled to her side. And worse was she was going to spend the few nights she had left on this earth, alone. She wished she could spend them with Daniel. Tell him how much she loved him. How much she will miss him. Just to hold him in her arms. Just one more time.

  Of all the muscles that were aching, her heart was the worst. She was never going to see him again. She was never going to touch him again. He would never touch her again.

  Before, when she knew she was dying, before she knew there was a way to live, it was okay, because she wouldn’t have to hurt for much longer. But to live for eternity away from him. How was she supposed to do that?

  And to know that he gave her up. She wasn’t sure if it angered her, or touched her. He would give her up to save her. No. That was bravery. That was love.

  Jessie felt her eyes shut as she imagined Daniel’s arms around her. Just one night with his arms around her, holding her, keeping her safe.

  ***

  Daniel lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He felt empty. All he could hope was that Jessie was all right, and that he did the right thing.

  A soft knock on the door and then the door opened slightly.

  “You dressed?” Ashley asked from behind the door. Daniel almost smiled. She had learned a long time ago to ask first. A lesson she learned the hard way. But now days, Daniel was a one woman man. And the one woman he wanted, he couldn’t have.

  “I’m dressed,” he replied. Ashley opened the door the rest of the way and stepped in. With her blond hair pulled back in a tight bun, she looked more like his mother. His mom had always worn her hair up in a bun. The only time he ever saw it down was at night sometimes when she was getting ready for bed. Daniel swallowed the lump in his throat that always rose when he thought of his mother.

  “What do you need?” Daniel asked, still lying down with is arm tucked behind his head.

  “I just came to see how you were doing,” Ashley said.

  “I would be doing better if we were making any headway with Rocco. How can we not find him?”

  “We’ll find him, Daniel.”

  “When? It’s been three days.”

  “It sometimes takes a while.”

  Daniel didn’t like that answer.

  “Can I get you anything?” Ashley asked.

  “No.”

  “Okay. Well, good night.”

  He watched her leave, shutting the door behind her.

  The only thing Daniel really wanted was Jessie. If only he knew how she was doing. Was she ready for the Trials? Did Helena teach her everything she would need to know? What if she doesn’t pass it, and he just gave up what little time he could’ve had left with her? No. She was going to pass. She had to.

  Daniel rolled over to his side and closed his eyes. He was tired. He was anxious. He was angry and sad. He hated not knowing. He hated not being there for Jessie. Not having her close. He missed her in his arms.

  It took him a second to realize he wasn’t alone anymore. It was as if the air had shifted. When he looked over, Jessie was sleeping next to him. Her blond hair draped over her bare shoulder. He looked at the beige skirt that sat dangerously short on her and the beige top that looked more like a bra than a shirt. Her breasts were pushed up and he could see her hardened nipples poking through the thin fabric.

  Odd, he didn’t remember falling asleep, but he certainly wasn’t going to wake from this dream any time soon.

  Jessie’s eyes flew open when she realized she was no longer on the sand-filled bed. She felt the soft mattress under her, and more importantly, the strong hands moving up her body.

  She looked over to see Daniel beside her. His lips were skimming her bare shoulder, caressing the skin that was begging to be touched. She’s had dreams where she’s dreamed of Daniel beside her, but they had never been so realistic before. She liked this dream. And she liked his fingers playing at the edge of her skirt.

  “You like the clothes?” she asked. She saw him glance down to the skirt before his eyes returned to hers. She sucked in her breath as the passion burned in his eyes. With just that one look, she knew his answer.

  He liked it.

  She rolled over to her back and winced. Even in her dreams her muscles hurt.

  “What’s wrong?” Daniel asked. His smooth, deep voice felt like butter against her ears.

  “I’m just sore,” she answered.

  “Turn on your stomach.”

  She did as she was told and rolled over as Daniel sat back on his knees. She felt the laces securing her top tug, and then fall to the side of her. His fingers trailed down her spine, sparks shooting up her body. His touch was gentle as he started at her shoulders, kneading the muscles.

  “How’s the pressure?” he asked.

  “It’s good.”

  His hands trailed down to her ribs, massaging the middle of her back, and then down to her lower back.

  “Does your whole body ache?” he asked.

  It was aching now. But a much better ache. She wanted to turn over and pull him on top of her. She wanted to feel those big, strong hands everywhere. She wanted him to soothe the ache between her legs that only he could soothe.

  She nodded and he moved his hands from her back to the back of her thighs.

  His thumb skimmed her inner thigh and her breathing became labored at his touch. Slowly, his fingers worked up her thighs until they disappeared under her skirt
. His fingers stroked her under her skirt, softly and tenderly. Her body was screaming for him to enter her.

  “Do you like that?” he asked.

  “Mmhhmm.”

  He entered two fingers inside her. She gasped as he moved his palm to cup her, rubbing along her clitoris, while his fingers sent her soaring. She could barely take it as he continued to work her. She wanted him now. She needed him now.

  “Please, Daniel,” she nearly screamed. “I can’t take it anymore. I need you inside me.”

  She felt him straddle her, the sound of his jeans unzipping, and with one thrust, he was inside her. She moaned as he filled her. His lips kissed her shoulder and then up her neck to her ear, where he nibbled on her lobe.

  Jessie could feel her body rising as he sank deeper and deeper into her. The weight of his chest pressing into her back was warm and comforting as he continued to rock in and out of her. Each thrust sending a wave of pleasure over her body. She could barely take it. With one arm, he pinned her wrists above her head and with the other, he reached around and began to stroke her in rhythm. There was nothing she could do to keep from screaming his name. She came in his arms, panting for breath. Her heart was racing, and with one more thrust, she felt him release inside her. He rested his head on her shoulders as he breathed heavily.

  He rolled to the side of her, and she turned to face him. He tucked her hair behind her ear and then his finger trailed down her jaw to her lips.

  “Did you miss me?” he asked.

  “More than you could possibly know.”

  “I’ve missed you.”

  Jessie didn’t know why that meant so much to her. Just the idea of someone missing her, someone who cared for her beyond her family, it was an amazing feeling. She stared at Daniel as he looked at her. Really looked at her.

  “How could you give me up?” she asked.

  He looked up at the ceiling, and Jessie thought she saw a tear form in his eye. “I didn’t want to, but I can’t bury you.” He turned back to her. “I would rather know you were alive and well, then six feet in the ground.”