The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld (31 page)

“I guess I always hoped that true love would stand the test of time. But, it seems as if Halston has blocked your memories. It seems he has taken it upon himself to shield you from everything that happened here so long ago.” His shoulders slumped. “He shielded you from me.”

Koa watched him approach again.

He took a step towards her. “Koa, put the sword down sweetheart.”

Koa shuddered, but didn’t move her sword. She watched him come another step closer. “Stop right there, Jax.” She was afraid. He scared her more than she had thought possible. It was his quiet, calculating, way.

Jax moved closer. “You will not use that sword on me again Koa. Are we clear?”

Koa’s eye twitched again. There was something about the way he spoke to her that signaled something within her.

Jax raised a hand and gently moved the blade to the side. “Let me show you, Koa. Let me remind you of what we had.” He took her hand and with a yelp he pulled her into his chest again.

Koa’s lips trembled. He was so close that their faces nearly touched. She felt as if she might scream. Jax…was in complete control. “Get away-.”

“Stay still,” he warned and Koa’s voice was caught in her throat. He traced her lips with his finger and closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, they had gone completely black.

Koa’s eyes widened in panic. He grabbed the back of her head and yanked it back. His eyes bore into hers again and before she could scream…something happened. A flash of light, and then darkness overcame her. Her scream rang in her head, but nothing audible came out. Jax had her. For that second, she was his. For that second, she saw everything that he had meant to tell her.

Entering the palace years ago with her father. Greggan, sitting on the throne with his long red hair pulled back into a ponytail at his nape. His intense blue eyes landing on Koa as he examined her.

Koa’s father had left her there. There was some sort of treaty. She still didn’t know why her father agreed to it. But then, Koa saw Jax, standing in a hallway, watching her and her heart thumped in her chest.

She remembered the first night she and Jax snuck away to be with each other. His kiss was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. His kiss made her feel as if she was weightless. Every nerve in her body cried out for more. She could even remember the taste of his tongue and craved to taste it again. Koa’s nether regions grew hot with yearning. She gushed with wetness at the memory.

Then, she remembered the pain. Greggan had found out she and Jax had been sneaking to be with each other. Koa gasped. Greggan had found out that Koa…had given her virginity to Jax. Greggan had wanted her for himself. He was furious. He punished them both. Koa was in tears. For that second…she remembered…it all. When Jax let her go, she returned to the present and her fear evaporated.

Koa opened her eyes. Jax stepped away from her. Tears soaked her cheeks. He looked expectantly at her. She could see it all over his face, that he was hopeful, that she was his again.

“I agreed to help Halston take you away from the palace, so that you wouldn’t have to suffer, the way I did,” Jax said in a soft voice.

Koa opened her mouth to speak but gasped instead, when Evina buzzed by. She hopped off her flying disc and grabbed Koa’s sword. Koa fumed.

“We didn’t bring you here to assault my brother! We brought you here to free him!”

Koa’s fumed. “I’m not going to
assault
him!”

Evina looked to Jax. She ignored Koa. “Brother, what has she done to you?”

Jax shook his head. He seemed to be working hard to control his temper. “Do you really think she could harm me?”

Evina looked confused. “The sword? She wasn’t about to kill you?”

“I had it under control.”

“You bitch!”

Evina sighed. “Well, I apologize then. But she needs to keep that damned sword in its sheath.”

“The sword is what will get me out of here.”

Koa looked from one to the other. She balled up her fist and glared at Evina.

“Calm down, Koa.” Evina spoke a little softer. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t hurt Jax before he could remind you of the truth. We all took a great risk to smuggle you out of the Netherworld. My father still doesn’t know that I had a part in it. He still thinks I’m his obedient daughter.” Evina’s eyes searched Koa’s. “I couldn’t sit back and watch him hurt you the way he did. You and I were like sisters…back then.”

Koa looked stunned. So much information.

Jax sighed. “There’s still so much to tell.”

Koa stepped forward. “Tell me then.” Her eyes didn’t leave Evina’s. She was remembering. Koa and Evina had been like sisters. Koa had revealed her secrets to the vampire princess. They had shared so much. Koa could no longer keep a glare on her face as she approached her. She understood it all.

Evina massaged her temples and sighed.  “Look, Koa. Jax is the only prophet in the Netherworld, he saw what our father had in store for you when he forced your father to bring you here. We all helped you escape because we believe in an alternate future for both worlds-.”

Evina gasped when Koa wrapped her arms around her, embracing her.

Evina sighed and patted Koa’s back. She rested her head on Koa’s. “I did miss you,” she whispered.

Koa was overwhelmed with emotion. There was something unnatural about remembering so much at one time. Her body was filled with both sorrow and joy. When she pulled away from Evina, Koa was smiling. She felt whole somehow.

Evina wiped a tear and took a deep breath. She threw her hand out, pointing at her brother. “Jax
loves
you. But we all know that you are the key to changing the Netherworld. You are the key to our ability to coexist with the human world. Father locked Jax up in here so that he couldn’t change the future that he predicted. Now, Koa, you’re the only one that can release us from this prison, because you wield the ancient Lyrinian sword. Its power is the only thing that can cut through that portal’s power.” Evina looked back at Jax. “Oh yes, I almost forgot, the Royal Guard marches on the corridor as we speak.”

“They’re here? So soon?” Jax rushed over to a telescope and peered into the glass lens. He stood. “They’re here.”

“Yes!” Evina clapped her hands together.  “Now, can we get moving?”

Jax gave a single nod. He rushed over to a cabinet near the fireplace. He pulled out a couple of tightly wound scrolls and stuffed them in his suit’s inner pocket.

Koa breaths quickened. She could hear them coming.
Royal guard
? She could only imagine what monstrosities were coming for her. She rushed over and grabbed her sword from the ground. She hid a grin as she remembered the way she and Evina used to play and compete.

She gave Evina a look that was full of mischief. “I’ll slice your hands off if you do that again.”

Evina grinned, catching on to their old game. “You’re not quick enough little girl.”

Koa sliced a chunk of her hair off before Evina could blink. Evina looked appalled. Koa grinned triumphantly as Jax grabbed her and pulled her towards the portal. Her grin faded as she watched Evina’s hair immediately grow back.

Evina winked. “Bet you wish you could do that, don’t you? You forgot just how spectacular I am.” She laughed.

“Enough Evina!” Jax’s voice boomed, making them both freeze. He quickly composed himself. “Let’s go.”

J
ax ran for the portal. He waited for Koa to catch up.

“You must lead the way.”

Koa nodded and took a deep breath. She thought of how that black mass had almost suffocated her. Evina tapped her feet. The princess was getting anxious. They could hear horns being blown.

“Get on with it! We have to get out of here quickly!”

Koa took another deep breath and plunged in. Koa nearly panicked when she was lost in the black, oppressive, darkness again. Jax took her hand and she felt a slight comfort. She glanced down at her sword. She hadn’t noticed it before, but it started to glow. The light it emitted was dim but it lit the way.

“Keep going, Koa.” Jax had his hands on her waist. She felt safe. “Don’t stop.”

Koa nodded and pressed on. The black mass tried to grip Jax, to stop him, but somehow Koa’s presence was more interesting to it. It soon forgot about him and focused all of its attention on her.

Evina was completely fine. If she was uncomfortable, she hid it well.

Koa wondered why their father trusted Evina over Jax. She felt her lungs start to itch. They began to burn.

Koa’s lungs ached and when she saw the light at the end of the portal she felt as if she’d never been happier in her life. She had lost track of time. How long was the portal? How long did it violate her with its smothering hands?

Jax gave her the final push that she needed to emerge from the darkness. She fell to the ground and the black mass evaporated from her skin as she coughed and cleared her throat and lungs of its presence.

There wasn’t time to recuperate.

Footsteps thundered down the corridor. Koa looked over her shoulder. Dozens of Syths charged towards them. The Royal Guard.

“Are you all right?” Jax whispered into her ear as he helped her to her feet.

Koa nodded silently. Her eyes looked in fear at the Syths. She’d never seen that many in one place before. Her hand shook as she gripped her sword.

“Stop them!” One of the bigger ones ordered. They wore armor, thin, black and metallic.

Jax straightened his suit jacket. He checked his watch. “Excellent timing. Thank you for this, Koa. You won’t regret it.” He casually sauntered into the center of the hallway.

“What are you doing? Are you crazy? There are too many!” Koa held her sword in one hand. She snatched a dagger from her boot and held it ready as well, in case there was some close combat.

Jax grinned. “Really, you’d have to be pretty quick to take all of those things down…” He shrugged. “I suppose I can show you a thing or two.” Jax reached into his pocket. He pulled out a fan much like Evina’s. It flicked open and turned into a hovering disc. He stepped onto it and outstretched his arms. Two blades slid out of his sleeves. They were blood red, with crystal hilts.

There was a blast of wind, knocking Koa backwards. She gasped. Jax moved too quickly for her eyes.

Screams.

Gulps.

Crunches of bone.

Koa blinked and all of the Syths were dead. Blood still sprayed in the air and Jax darted past her. He caught her by the arm and yanked her up into the air. Koa’s voice was caught in her throat. She was dumbfounded. No one was that quick. Koa was beholding the skills of Netherworld vamps. She thought the special skills she’d witnessed from New World vampires was something amazing, she had no idea what pure blood vampires could do.