Echoes of Fae: Book One of the Divine (19 page)

              “I could not. The first moment I met you I knew I could not, but I grappled with it. When I left this last time, I abandoned my father's orders. You must understand that I have been Ziodin's assassin since I was a small child. He started asking me to kill animals because I could lure them to me. I can do the same with many creatures,” Jax confessed. Melody could see the shine of a tear fall down his cheek.

              “Have you killed people?” Melody breathed.

              “Yes,” Jax answered quietly. Silence followed for a long while as both of them reacted to the confession.

              Finally, the Conjurer stirred uncomfortably, “I never wanted to, not once. Each creature I killed from a mouse to a man another piece of who I was would die.”

              Melody reached out, touched his hand, and asked, “Why did you do it if you never wanted to?”

              Jax shifted uncomfortably away from her touch. Her goodness burned him. “He has my mother. He keeps her suspended and uses her to force my hand. When I was little and did not do as he asked, he would hurt her. When I grew older I stopped defying him because I could no longer hear her cries,” Jax said. He was spilling then; he had cut the wounds and bled out to her. “When I was twelve, she begged me to kill her. She begged me. Father had placed her in a barrier that disabled her ability to hurt herself. She had tried too many times to end her own life to save me. She had tried to run with me,” Jax said. Melody remembered her father's story of Jax's mother showing up with him when he was little.

              “Father made it impossible for her to leave our home and for her to die by her own hand. She could break her body in any way but she would not die.” Jax said. Melody cried out in alarm. Such a fate was grotesque to the Pramacretine. “She begged me to end her life, but I could not. I was selfish. I know that now. I should have killed myself; I should have taken myself away from him. He used me to hurt others. He used me to hurt my mother, more than he could. I was weak,” Jax sobbed. Melody gathered him up in her arms and held him as he cried.

              “You are not weak,” Melody said sternly. “Your father is weak.”

              “I am my father's son,” Jax replied. They were silent for a long while.

              “So, when I found you in the forest,” Melody started. “You had defected from your father's command and he beat you?” Jax nodded into her shoulder. “Your mother?” Melody asked quietly. She need not have finished the question. Jax sobbed and shook his head. Melody rubbed his back and tried to calm him.

              “Jaxon, I know this is callous of me, but your father is in there with my whole family,” Melody whispered after the Conjurer had calmed down a little. “He is here to kill me and if he succeeds, more people will die. I am so sorry if I sound cold, but we have to do something now.” Jax gently removed himself from the Pramacretine.

              “We shall,” Jax said as he stood. He extended a hand to Melody. “And then I will take my leave of you.” Despite his resolute tone, Melody heard the pain in his words. She hugged him.

              “There is no need,” Melody said. “I know you have told me the truth. Now that I know your secret, I may begin to trust you. I want you to stay,” Melody said. She felt herself shaking.

              “I have killed so many people, Melody, for absolutely no reason,” Jax said into her hair. She shivered at his words.

              “I know,” Melody said. “I cannot pretend that this does not hurt me, but it hurts me for you. Those people did not deserve to die. However, I do not believe you killed them. One does not blame a sword for its blows, but the arm that clings to it.” Jax choked out a laugh.

              “You are generous, my lady,” Jax said. Melody, surprised by the comfort his closeness brought, did not want him to leave.

              “Jax, it would be imprudent for me to pass judgment on you. In my life, I will kill many people whom I cannot surely say deserve to die. My father killed many people I am sure did not deserve to die. Yirah and Issy? They used to be assassins as you were, working for their men who controlled them through violence. You must let your history teach you and move forward with renewed understanding of yourself. Allow the wounds to heal, now,” Melody said. She pulled him with her to the palace. They walked quietly as Melody tried to formulate a plan.

              “Jax,” Melody whispered. He looked down at her. His expression was of strong determination. “Tell no one, yet. I want to reveal your role in this slowly.” Jax nodded.

              Melody and Jax entered her room. Melody let out a tiny cry when she saw Thane sitting at her desk.

              “What? I am out of paper,” Thane said distractedly. She walked into her closet and shut the door, leaving Thane and Jax alone. The Pramacretine emerged with trousers and a tunic on. It was time for clothes and action. Thane turned to look at her, his eyes wide. “Melody, what is happening? You look ghostly. You both look ghostly.” For a long time, no one replied. Thane glared at Melody, his face clearly making them aware of the situation. Melody glanced at Jax, who shrugged.

              “It is time,” Melody said, turning to him as she pulled on a vest and strapped a belt around her hips. “Jax told me everything and Ziodin is here to kill me.” Thane's eyes widened at her words and he glanced at Jax. The Conjurer looked uncomfortable but did not speak. Thane stood, but sat back down in shock.

              “Why you?” the Healer asked glancing again at Jax. Melody gave the Healer a look at which Thane nodded.

              “We should handle this carefully, Melody,” Thane said. Melody sat on her bed facing the boys.

              “What do we do?” Melody asked. She was worried and scared. “What if he does something tonight?”

              “We should inform Father so he can have Ziodin arrested,” Thane said. Melody looked at Thane, her expression conveying concern. “What? You did not think of that?” She shook her head.

              “What if he finds out and runs? He will find me again and not on our turf,” Melody said. She glanced at Jax. Thane caught the look and frowned.

              “What? What are you keeping from me?” Thane asked seriously. He looked at Jax squarely in the eye.

              “I am involved in my father's plan,” Jax said averting his gaze.

              “
What?
” Thane cried. He checked his volume and darted for the Conjurer. Melody stopped Thane.

              “His father was controlling him,” Melody said calmly. Thane glared at Jax until Melody's words registered. He looked down at his sister.

              “With Ether?” Thane asked. “Could he still be under control?” Melody shook her head.

              “No,” Melody explained. “It is worse than Ether. Ziodin has used Jax's mother as a tool to ensure his son's obedience.” Thane looked at Jax, confused.

              “My father abuses my mother when I disobey. Recently she has been so fragile that he has begun to threaten her life. When I left before Ziodin arrived here, I left to see her. I knew my father was out. I told my mother of you,” Jax said, looking at the Pramacretine. “She told me she was so sorry for everything and she demanded I must break free of my father.” He thought back to the conversation.

              Jax's mother, Aliyah, lied in her bed looking as small and ill as ever. She turned to look at her son and extended her arms. Jax sat in the bed and pulled his tiny mother into his arms.

              “Mother, Father wants me to kill the Divine,” Jax whispered. “He has threatened me with this Ether that destroys your soul.” Jax said. Aliyah smiled sadly. “I cannot kill her, Mother.” Jax breathed into his mother's hair. “She is too special.”

              “She is your love,” his mother said feebly. He looked down and saw tears in her eyes.

              “How did you know this?” Jax asked. She smiled up at him.

              “I am your mother, I know you. You have never failed to follow your orders before, not for anything. I know she is important to you,” Aliyah said. She took his face in her hands.

              “He will not take my soul,” she whispered into his face. Her voice was weak but her words strong. “He will not return in time.” Jax gasped. Aliyah pressed her lips to Jax's forehead. “I love you, my sweet baby. Be the man I know you are in your heart. Do not allow your father to turn you into a monster.” Jax shook his head.

              “You cannot die, Mother. I have to save you from this; I cannot lose you because of him – because of me!” Jax cried, holding his mother tight.

              “Hush now, Jaxon. You know you are not responsible. You will never lose me,” Aliyah whispered pressing her palm to his chest. “I am your mother. I will be with you always, guiding you and loving you.” Aliyah sobbed, “I am so sorry I could not save us.” Jax smoothed his mother's hair.

              “Do not,” Jax said. “I love you, Mother. I will not remember you as weak. You are what I see when I think of strength and beauty.” Aliyah smiled wearily. His mother closed her eyes and leaned against her son. Jax felt a heat rise through the room.              

              “You must leave as soon as I pass,” Aliyah spoke nearly inaudibly. “Ziodin will know when his Ether is tampered with.” The small woman coughed hard for a few minutes. When she was quiet, Jax looked down at her. Her face pressed into his shoulder and her lips curled into a smile. Jax touched her forehead. He felt her essence had left her body. The Conjurer stood with his face impassive. He took his mother gingerly into his arms and carried her out of the house. She deserved to be out of doors. Jax carried his mother's form toward the Agouran palace, and then he buried her reverently in Kensman Wood.

              “Little boy,” a disembodied voice called. He looked down at the fresh grave he was planting flowers above. “Oh, no, not there!” The voice exclaimed.

              “Where?” Jax asked. He looked around until he saw a small body sitting on one of the flowers he had planted above his mother. It was a Ninze. One of the more metaphysical Fae of the forest. Fae lived invisibly. Most were part of the air or earth, but they could choose to take whatever form they desired.

              “Jax,” the Ninze said. “She wants me to tell you 'thank you.'” Jax knelt down to see the tiny figure better. Her shape flickered like candlelight.

              “My mother?” Jax asked. The Ninze tinkled in what may have been a laugh.

              “Yes, little boy. Your mother. She is here with me. They have not taken her away yet,” the Ninze said. “She says to thank you and tell you that she is okay. She will move along and find a new life later. She also says to say 'keep the girl alive.' I assume she means the Divine, which is silly since the Divine is to die quite soon.” Jax shrugged. He had no other intentions regardless of Melody's supposed fate.

              “Who are you?” Jax asked the Ninze.

              “I am Cal'wyat. You may refer to me as Cally,” the Ninze announced importantly. “I am speaking with you for your mother. She found me and begged me to help. I could see your life in her eyes and my curiosity was piqued.” Jax nodded. He did not really care.

              “I have to leave now,” Jax said.

              “One more thing, boy,” Cally said. “Your Pramacretine has left her home and is headed south. You should find her if you move that way.” Jax inclined his head at the Ninze.

              “Thank you,” Jax replied. He pulled himself off the ground and left his mother behind.

              “Be wary of the way,” Cally called. “You must take your power back now.” Jax did not turn back but instead moved forward silently. He had only been moving a few hours when he heard a sound beyond him.

              “Jaxon,” Jax heard the familiar voice before he saw the face. He winced involuntarily.

              “Father,” Jax replied. Ziodin strode forward. His short dark hair blended in to his long dark beard. The man's eyes were solid brown and cold. He stood a few inches shorter than his son did.

              “You disobeyed me,” Ziodin said placidly. “Now you must pay.”             

              “Mother is gone, there is nothing more you could do to me,” Jax replied evenly. Ziodin laughed cruelly.

              “I know she is gone,” Ziodin replied, “I am almost proud of you. You killed your mother. So cold and callous… Unfortunately, you are in my way. You carelessly attached yourself to these people. Now, I will destroy them and you with them.”

              “You know I did not kill her. And you will do nothing,” Jax replied with finality. He strode forward and threw his Ether at Ziodin. It slammed hard into the elder Callfah. Ziodin pushed back but nothing more. Ziodin pulled up his arms and whispered a phrase. Jax heard it and cringed. He was careless. Ziodin yanked Jax into the air and tore him around in an invisible vice. His body twisted in unnatural angles. Jax did not make a sound in the air. Ziodin threw stones, branches and animals into the fray. When his son went limp, Ziodin dropped his body from the air and strode away.

              Jax's torn body lay unconscious in a thicket. The thorns intruded into his skin. He awoke shortly and tried to find a way to move. There was not one. Jax groaned and fell back out of consciousness.