Birthrights (14 page)

"Jax, do you agree?" Caislyn asked her friend.
"Jaxon?"

"Huh? What?" Jaxon questioned as her attention came
back to the meeting.

Caislyn gave her friend a hard stare. "Do you agree?
To the terms?"

"Um, that depends, "Jaxon stammered trying to bide
her time so she could figure out what had been going on.

Caislyn reached over and grabbed her friend's arm
pulling her closer. "What are you doing? This is serious,
Jaxon."

Jaxon put on her most friendly smile aimed at Arkos
"Give me just a second would you? Let me have a word in private
with Caislyn so we can discuss these terms of yours. Okay?" Arkos
raised an amused eyebrow and nodded his agreement as Jaxon pulled
Caislyn around so their backs were towards the leader and his
guards.

"Okay - what did I miss?"

"What did you miss? I saved your butt Jaxon and you
missed it? What were you doing?" Caislyn whispered.

"Are there Were-fish? I mean there's Werewolves, and
Were-bears and all, but what about fish?" Jaxon asked
curiously.

"What? Jaxon focus! Arkos said he will drop the
charges if we help him keep an eye out for rogue wolves.
Apparently, there are a few coming in from other areas. He's been
the leader here for, well, practically forever, and he wants to
enlist our help. Are you willing?"

Jaxon scoffed "Oh, first he accuses me of killing his
people then he wants my help? What kind of a..."

"Jax," Caislyn interrupted, "he can help me find my
parents. He has more connections than I could ever hope for. If we
build an alliance with him, I might get more information than we
could get on our own."

"Oh, well if that's the case, of course I'll help."
Jaxon turned towards Arkos and simply said, "I accept."

Arkos stepped up to the two girls. He turned towards
his guards "leave us a moment." The Werewolf guards nodded and
walked past the trio back towards the other end of the pier.

When they were out of hearing range, Arkos spoke
softly, "Caislyn, I've been friends with your father for longer
than I can remember. I am deeply saddened by his disappearance. If
you needed my help, you do not have to bargain with me for it. I
would have gladly helped you in any way."

"Hey, how did you know that's what she said? Are you
spying on us or something? Was that sparkley thing in the water
your spy? Was that it?" Jaxon questioned suspiciously trying to
look over Arkos's shoulder to where she had seen the strange figure
in the water.

Caislyn gave her friend a tug and a questioning look
before she replied to Arkos. "I'm sorry for not trusting you sooner
Arkos. It’s just been a very hard time for me. I don't know where
to turn anymore. Jaxon is the only one I really trust."

Arkos looked at both the girls with the knowledge of
an experienced leader. "Yes, I can tell this is the truth. Listen
Caislyn, as you know, there are differing opinions of how the
supernatural species should take their places in the world. Most of
us believe we should find a way to co-exist, to build laws that
will not discriminate and will cover all of us, including humans.
Your parents were an influential part of that reform, but there are
factions of each species that believe they should be a ruling
power; that humans should be treated as cattle and ruled over as
slaves. We have been on the brink of civil war for many years. It
is imperative that we build strong alliances and work together.
This is why I enlist your help. There are groups of Lycans that are
acting out of the rule of another power. They have not shown
themselves but they are building an army of followers. The high
council is aware, but there has been no action to stop this, most
likely because of the disagreements and distrust of the council
members. It is likely that your parents could have been victims of
such factions. I'm not sure. They tried to keep themselves out of
the limelight so to speak, though your father's advice fell upon
several ears. It may be that he created some enemies that we were
not aware of. I promise you, I will help you find out. And as I
look into this, I ask you both to please be careful. Your friend
here has created some interest in the wrong areas. No one knows
much about her. And there are those, who still believe in the old
prophecy, that are wary of newcomers."

Jaxon's brows furrowed, "Wait, me? I've created
interest in the wrong areas? How? I just found out I'm a witch! And
I'm not a very good one at that! I mean just look how I handled
this little meeting of ours. And what prophecy? I really think you
have the wrong girl here, bud. So we are just gonna go our way now
and get back to..."

"Jaxon, you're rambling again." Caislyn took her
friend's shoulders and turned her back to face Arkos. "Sorry, she
gets this way when she gets nervous."

Arkos's eyebrow rose again as he studied the two
girls. "I am concerned for you Caislyn, and for your friend here. I
think I will have two of my guards watching out for you from now
on. Just call out and they will be at your service."

Caislyn narrowed her gaze upon the Werewolf leader,
suddenly aware of the severity of his concern. "Do you think the
same people who took my parents will be after us as well? And what
prophecy are you speaking of Arkos? I'm not sure I'm familiar with
any prophecy about a witch."

Arkos sighed, "there is so much that your parents
still needed to teach you. It is a shame they were taken from you
prematurely. I do believe you would have been a very good political
figure given the time.

The Old Seer's Prophecy from long ago speaks of a
union between the species that creates a power that is beyond all
we know. This power will change the world, but it doesn't say how.
Many believe it will be for good, others believe it will be for the
worse. Ultimate power corrupts ultimately, as the saying goes.
Don't let the naysayers fool you, everyone wants to control it.
Think of the ramifications, Caislyn. A power beyond anything you've
ever known. Who ever controls that power, controls the world. This
is why the laws of inter-species mating were created and enforced
with such passion. No one wants a power like that unleashed. It
would destroy all the peace and stability we have created and force
the world into wars and battles. Too many would die. It is better
to make sure this prophecy never occurs, than to face what it could
cause."

Caislyn and Jaxon looked at each other but it was
Jaxon who spoke. "But why would anyone think I'm involved in that?
I'm only a witch and I'm not powerful in the least. It makes no
sense."

Caislyn answered her friend, "Because they don't know
anything about you. And regardless of the species, fanatics are
dangerous. They act without fact or knowledge. They just do what
they feel is right, damn the consequences."

"This is true," Arkos agreed. "But with everything
that is going on, I'd feel better if the two of you kept a lower
profile. I know you want information Caislyn and telling you to
stop looking is pointless. Your father's determination shines in
you. But you must be cautious. If I hear anything, I will get in
touch with you. As I said, I will have guards around, not in your
way, but watching out for you."

"I appreciate the intention Arkos, but your guards
will not be necessary. We will be overly cautious from now on. And
if I feel that we need more, I will let you know then." Caislyn
compromised with the Were leader.

"So be it." Arkos nodded at his guards that he was
ready to depart. His boat came from around the small bend and idled
up to the dock. Arkos stepped down and looked back to the girls. He
nodded and the pack dispersed from their stations.

The girls watched as his pack rode across the river
back to their dens. Jaxon linked her arm through Caislyn's as they
turned and started back towards the entrance of the park. "You know
this is the real reason humans are so scared of non-humans. All
that talk about prophecies and believing in that
mambo-jumbo...”

“Really?” Caislyn stopped and looked at her friend.
“Most humans are Christians. Have you read their bible? They
believe in a man who died and came back to life to save their souls
and then went to heaven. They,” she tossed her fingers up in air
quotes, “have a prophecy” about him coming back to save their sorry
butts again, and they have an end of days prophecy of their own
too!” Caislyn huffed a little. “I think the humans are just as bad
in the prophecy department.”

“Well, I guess when you put it like that.” Jax
laughed before continuing, “we're all equally crazy then!” The
smile left her face when she thought about what Arkos had said,
“so, what do you think about what he had to say.”

"I think," Caislyn sighed as they walked side by side
along the pier "that we were damn lucky. And we need to find out
more about that crazy prophecy."

"You believe it?”

“I don't have to believe it. It's everyone else who
does that we have to worry about it.” Caislyn reminded her.

“Do you think it’s the same one that was referenced
around my birthmark?" Jaxon asked softly.

"Maybe, but we won't know anything for sure until we
find out. Arkos filled in some holes for me. I didn't realize that
the political views had drifted down into the ranks so much. I
mean, there are always smaller fanatical factions that think their
way is the right way, but I didn't know that my parents were so
involved. I knew they were members of the OTHS but not that they
were advising anyone."

"Mine were members too. But they didn't get that deep
into it, as far as I know. They were just good people with good
hearts." Jaxon replied as she let go of Caislyn's arm to hop over
an area where the boards on the pier were missing.

Caislyn stopped. "What are you doing? You've been
acting really odd today."

"What do you mean?" Jax asked looking at her friend
from the other side of the hole in the pier.

"Why did you just jump? And what was up with the
sparkley spy thing earlier?"

Jaxon looked a bit dumbfounded. She looked down at
the hole and then back up to her friend. "Well, I'm not much
for falling into a hole, Caislyn,” she pointed to the pier where
the boards were missing, “and there was a Were-fish back there in
the water by that sunken boat. It was watching us and
listening."

"What hole?" Caislyn interrupted looking at the pier.
Suddenly she felt the magic around the place. A glamour had been
placed there. She concentrated and the fake boards started to
disappear. Caislyn started to look around them. "How did you know
that hole was there? It was glamored."

"Glamour? I saw a hole, no boards, just water." Jaxon
looked around too and then back to her friend. "What's wrong?"

"We need to get back to the apartment. I'm not having
a good feeling right now," Caislyn answered as she jumped over the
trap placed on the pier.

"Well I've been really creeped out since I saw that
damn Were-fish. It was hiding, but you know me and sparkley things,
they catch my attention. I saw it, but I didn't really see it ya
know?" Jaxon rambled again as they picked up their pace.

The girls were practically running when Caislyn
stopped. "Jax, there are no Were-fish. You said sparkley? But you
didn't really see a figure? It was in the water?"

Jaxon nodded, eyes wide, "Exactly. What do you mean
no Were-fish? Why not? I mean there's Were everything else, so why
not fish?"

Caislyn grabbed her friend's arm and tugged her on,
"It was a Water Fey Jax. They set a trap on the pier and you just
happened to see through it. It means we aren't alone and someone
wanted one of us, or maybe both of us to fall into the water."

Jaxon heeded her friend's warning and ran with her.
"What is a Water Fey?" 

Caislyn started to answer as a ball of water exploded
in front of them blocking their path. The girls skidded to a stop.
Caislyn started down a side path. "I think this goes back out to
the front too. I hope it does anyways."

Another explosion took out the pier only a few feet
in front of them. "Now where?" Jax asked as she stood back to back
with Caislyn. "Can't you like fly us to the front like you did that
night off the roof?"

Caislyn saw the Fey coming closer. "I didn't fly us
Jaxon, you jumped."

"No I didn't. Didn't you see the heels I was wearing
that night? There is no way I'd jump a step let alone a building in
those boots! I'd break my ankle and possibly my neck!"

The girls turned and stood side by side facing the
approaching Fey. They grabbed hands as Jaxon made a suggestion.
"Maybe you could talk to them? You were really good with Arkos.
Maybe the water things will listen to you?"

"I don't think so Jaxon. I don't know how to talk to
Fey. I just wish we were back at the parking lot, in an open area
on land," Caislyn said.

Just as suddenly as she said it, the girls appeared
back at the entrance to the trail.

"Whoa!" Jaxon said, "It makes me a bit queasy when
you do that. You could warn a person you know."

Caislyn looked around just as stunned as Jaxon felt.
"How the hell did that happen?"

"Where did you come from?" asked a male voice from
behind them. The girls turned to see Seth standing about 10 feet
away from them. He looked as shocked as the girls felt.

***

Seth, Demons, & Violence

"Seth, what are you doing here? Are you following
me?" Jaxon accused as she started towards him. "This is getting
ridiculous! Can you say 'stalker?' I mean just because I work for
you does not mean you have the right to..."

"Jaxon, shut up and run!" Caislyn yelled as she saw
several Fey coming out of the woods.

Jaxon looked behind her as she started for the road.
"I thought you said they are water thingamajigs! Doesn't that mean
they only like water?"