Forgotten Visions (The Divinities Book 1) (12 page)

“No. Not at all. But we’ve actually met—a long time ago.”

Lydia looked at her and then at Khloe. “Oh, yeah. Duh. I’m sorry, I have baby brain.” She laughed and touched her round belly.

Kalissa smiled. “No worries. It was years ago. I’m Kalissa, and this is my sister, Khloe.”

She turned to Melaina and offered her hand. Melaina had American Indian somewhere in her bloodline. Her skin had reddish-brown undertones, and she had straight, midnight-black hair. But it was her eyes that stole Kalissa’s breath. They were the brightest and most vivid emerald green she had ever seen. “It’s nice to meet you,” Kalissa said to Melaina. Melaina smiled, took Kalissa outstretched hand, and returned the greeting.

“I’m sorry for staring, but you two look just like your mother,” Melaina said with a hint of sadness.

Kalissa studied Melaina for another few seconds, but it was Khloe who spoke. “You’re one of the survivors. One of the six charged with protecting the Sinew.” 

Melaina nodded grimly. “Yes. I’m glad you found it.”

“Well, we don’t have it. Just a guess on where it might be. You didn’t know where it was?” Kalissa asked.

“No, that was the rule. One of us hid it; the others were given directions to be able to locate it if something happened,” Melaina said with a sad tone.  

That explained the cryptic notes they’d been left by their parents. Kalissa got a shiver down her spine. She looked around. “Let’s head to the cabin.” Her radar was going off big time. There were demons in the area, and Kalissa wasn’t in the mood to rumble.

Everyone turned to their right at the same time as four large demons came from the back of the building. “Are you ready to rumble now?”Jacen whispered. Kalissa shot him a look. He smiled. “Sorry, telepathic.”

“Oh, great. That’s nice to know,” Kalissa said dryly and shook her head with a smile. She was going to have to keep her guard up. Threefold, now that Zach was at the cabin. Khloe being in her head was comfortable, but the knowledge that someone else could be in there made her a little uneasy. With two empaths and a telepath, they were going to have
so
much fun.

“Ready or not,” Khloe said with an evil laugh. Kalissa decided her sister just wasn’t right. Okay, so her sister had always been a little off.

The five of them stood their ground…and waited. The demons stood in place, staring at them, stalling. But why? After a few minutes of playing bet-you-blink-first, the demons charged forward. It was as if they were being commanded from the sidelines, like puppets.

Everyone but Lydia proceeded forward to meet the demons head-on. Since there were only four, it was safe enough for Lydia to hang back. Kalissa heard Jacen order his sister to put up a circle. It made sense. That way, if there were others hanging around, Lydia would be safe inside her magical bubble.

Kalissa could tell that they were Lackeys—the lower class of demons. The only way Kalissa could explain how she knew was that she could sense their power level, as if she had some kind of internal gauge that measured their strength.

These demons were holding back. It was like they weren’t sure about something, or they were just feeling out the level of their opponents’ powers.

Kalissa ducked as a demon’s arm came at her. She kicked and swiped out his legs from underneath him. He fell, hard. Kalissa jumped up and prepared herself for round two. She was knocked to the ground by another demon that she hadn’t seen. He hit her in the side, hard enough that it knocked the wind out of her. They rolled in a tangle of body parts until he flipped her on her back to pin her to the ground with his body.

Fuck. Where the hell had he come from? That was the second time in two days she’d been taken by surprise.

A quick glance to the others said that this demon had been hiding somewhere. Khloe was overpowering the one she was fighting, almost toying with it, and Jacen and Melaina were doing a lot better than Kalissa was at the moment.

Kalissa looked up at the demon that was straddling her, holding her down. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a magical cuff. The single silver-coated iron bracelet would mute a witch’s magic and render them powerless.

“Oh, hell no,” Kalissa breathed out. She would be damned if he got that cuff on her and teleported her to the gods knew where. Kicking and bucking, she tried to get the demon off of her. Anxiety filled her and invited helplessness to the party. The loss of control brought back memories of being with Liam, fueling the panic to the point of total freak out.

Out of the corner of her eye, movement caught her attention. The demon she’d knocked out moments ago recovered and stalked toward them. Her sister and the others were out of her line of vision. Somehow—maybe from the impact of the second demon knocking her to the ground—she had ended up a good distance from the others.

Just when she thought she was on her own, a voice screamed, “Take that, you bastards!” The demon pinning her to the ground went flying off with a scream that would put a schoolgirl to shame. A fireball hit him square in the chest. The impact knocked him into another demon. Both went up in flames and dissolved into a pile of ash.

Khloe came over and held out her hand. Kalissa smirked at her sister. Fire had always been Khloe’s favorite element. Kalissa took her sister’s outstretched palm and pulled herself to a stand. Jacen and Melaina came over to see if they were all right.

Jacen picked up the cuff the demon had left behind. “This could come in handy,” he said and slipped the bracelet into the back pocket of his jeans. Kalissa was thinking the same thing. If only they could get more of those.

“Well, hell. That didn’t last long,” Khloe said. “I was just getting warmed up.”

“Patience, little one. I’m sure you’ll get another chance to pound demon ass,” Kalissa said. She hoped it wouldn’t be too soon. She turned to the others. “Flash your lights if you are being followed.” They nodded in agreement and walked back to their cars.

Forty-five minutes later, they pulled into the cabin’s driveway and parked outside the front door. Ayden stood on the porch when they got out of their cars. Kalissa climbed the stairs and couldn’t keep the smile from her face. She walked into his arms, wrapped her arms around his waist, and laid her head against his chest. This was where she belonged. Her soul, body, and mind knew it. There was no way around it. He was hers as much as she was his.

The much too close call with the demons had opened her eyes. Without Khloe, Kalissa wouldn’t be here to hold Ayden. She was beginning to get to know him all over again. She wasn’t ready to be apart from him.

“Snap out of it, you two. We’ve got demons to slay and a creepy bird following us,” Khloe said before she led Jacen, Lydia, and Melaina inside.

Ayden lifted his eyes to the highest branch of the ash tree to their right. He took Kalissa’s hand and walked inside the cabin. Just as they crossed the threshold, Willow popped in behind them. “Hey!”

Kalissa jumped and turned to face her. “Shit, Willow, you scared me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just excited. I came earlier to see Lo and you two were gone,” Willow skipped ecstatically around Kalissa to hunt for Khloe.

Kalissa shivered and whirled around to look out into the forest surrounding the cabin. Something was out there. A familiar essence. Taunting, waiting.

Khloe led Lydia
, Jacen, and Melaina through the front door of the two-story log cabin. The foyer opened to the living room. The open floor plan made the place look much bigger on the inside as compared to the outside. Khloe smiled at Lydia’s amazement as she entered the mountain home.

“This is nice,” Lydia said.

“Thanks,” Khloe and Kalissa said at the same time and then laughed.

Willow drifted in from behind Khloe and pulled her into a tight hug instantly. Khloe hugged the nymph back and blinked away the tears that surfaced. Gods, she’d missed her adopted sister. A pang of guilt rose up in her heart. She should have visited before now. Willow was family. The last time she’d seen her was at her parents’ funeral.

“Um, Khloe. You’re bleeding.” Lydia’s voice seeped through her thoughts. 

“What? Where?” Khloe pulled out of the hug with Willow and checked herself over, looking at her front and then twisting around to see her back side.

“Your head,” Lydia pointed out.

Willow pulled back and looked at Khloe’s forehead. “Lo, sit,” she commanded.

Khloe rolled her eyes. She sat down on one of the barstools at the kitchen counter without a word. She knew better than to give any lip to Willow. Plus, it was nice to hear the motherly tone again.

Lydia sat on the stool next to her and lifted her hair to see the wound. A bowl of warm water with a washcloth drifted into sight.

“Thanks.” She took the bowl and froze for a brief second.

Khloe shifted her eyes to see Zach standing there, holding the bowl, staring blankly at Lydia. He was as captivated as a preteen meeting his first crush. She had never seen him react to anyone like that before. It amused her. With lips pressed together to hold back a smile, she took the bowl from him. “That’s Zachary,” she said with a smirk.

“Hello, Zachary,” Lydia said shyly as her brother move closer. Apparently, he’d noticed the attraction too and now stood behind Willow, close to Zach. Hovering like an overprotective parent. Lydia rolled her eyes at her brother. “And this is my overprotective brother, Jacen.” She stressed the word ‘overprotective’ for Jacen’s sake.

“Zach.”

Lydia looked at him, confused. “What?”

“It’s Zach. Everyone calls me Zach. Only Khloe and my mother call me Zachary.” He made a face when he said his full first name.  

“I’m still bleeding over here,” Khloe mused, feeling a little claustrophobic with everyone hovering around. She was tempted to call Kalissa, Ayden, and Melaina over to complete the gathering.

“It’s nice to meet you, Zach,” Lydia said, taking the cloth out of the water and wringing it out. She started cleaning Khloe’s wound.

“May I ask you how far along you are?” Khloe asked to break the sudden silence.

Lydia smiled. “Six months, yesterday.”

“Oh!” Willow exclaimed as if noticing Lydia’s condition for the first time. She reached out and stopped when her hand was inches from Lydia’s stomach. Willow looked at Lydia. “May I?” Lydia nodded. Willow smiled widely and placed her hand gently on Lydia’s belly. “He’s a strong one.”

“You know the exact date you conceived?” Khloe asked when Willow removed her hand and stepped back. Lydia nodded and then blushed slightly. “Oh. Apologies. That was personal.”

“It’s okay. My Mikal died in a car crash four months ago.” Lydia’s expression saddened, making Khloe feel sorry she’d asked.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” Grief flooded her. Lydia and Jacen had lost their parents a little over two years ago. Now Lydia had to bury her husband, too. How could she be so motivated to help collect the Sinew? Probably driven by grief and rage, Khloe decided. 

“An accident?” Kalissa asked from the other side of the counter.

Lydia nodded. “Yes, but I don’t believe it was related to the Divinities’ accidents.”

“I still think it was a mistaken identity,” Jacen broke his silent lurking stance behind Zach.

Khloe smirked inwardly, remembering that Jacen was telepathic. She thought about warning Zach for a second, then decided to leave it alone. Zach would learn on his own.

“How so?” Ayden asked Jacen.

“Mikal was taking the car in for service, something that Lydia was going to do before she told him she was pregnant,” Jacen took his gaze off his sister and glanced to Ayden.

“Mikal thought I should rest at home because so much can happen during the first trimester,” Lydia added.

“Like I told Lydia, she was supposed to be in that car. Plus, Mikal wasn’t a Divinity.”

Lydia let out a sigh. “Mikal was a warlock,” she volunteered. Everyone got so quiet, Khloe could hear the crickets outside. “Mikal was adopted as a baby and raised with witches inside a coven.”

“He was a good man.” Jacen didn’t hide the sadness in his tone for the loss of his brother-in-law.

Lydia finished cleaning Khloe’s wound. “It doesn’t look so bad now. Do you want a bandage?”

Khloe wrinkled her nose. “Nah. I’ll live.”

Willow clapped in
excitement, making everyone jump. “The Divinities are together again.” She hovered in midair and then floated over to Melaina, who was sitting at the kitchen table. “It’s so good to see you again, Mel. Isn’t it nice to have everyone together?” Willow was filled with glee.

“Hello, Willow. You look as beautiful as ever. Yes, it is wonderful to have the Divinities together again.” Melaina looked at the group. “May I make a proposal?” Melaina asked.

“Sure,” Kalissa said.

“I was sitting here, observing how comfortable everyone is with each other, and it reminded me of old times when the Divinities lived together. Jace and Dia are moving to Maxville anyway…”

“Move in with us,” Kalissa blurted out, cutting Melaina off in a rush that reminded her of something Khloe would do.

“Yeah. We have plenty of room in that huge house. That way, we can be together and protect the Sinew,” Khloe added.  

Melaina smiled and nodded. “You sure you don’t mind?”

Kalissa looked at Ayden, who gave her a smile and a short nod, and said, “Not at all.”

“Well, then, it’s settled,” Khloe said and hopped off her barstool. “Let’s go into the living room where it’s more comfortable. Willow, can you fix some tea?”

“Khloe, she’s not a servant.”

Willow waved off Kalissa’s protest to her sister’s request. “I’d be happy to make tea for everyone.”

“I love her tea,” Khloe said. “Plus, she enjoys being helpful.”

Kalissa released a sigh. “I know. I just don’t think she needs to wait on us.” She realized Willow might be lonely on the mountain by herself. Something she hadn’t considered before.

Once everyone had taken a seat in the living room, Zach directed a question to Melaina. “Does the name Hector Grayson mean anything to you?”

A dark look passed over Melaina’s face. She quickly composed her expression and asked, “What do you want to know?”

“We know he was Khan’s General and in charge of harvesting the Divinities’ powers with the Sinew.” Zach pulled out his notepad and thumbed through the pages. “And that Hecate killed him when she took the Sinew back.”

“I’m afraid that’s pretty much all I know, too. He did have a son. His name was Demetrius…”

“And he has fallen into his father’s footsteps, taking the position as Khan’s General,” Ayden finished Melaina’s statement. “So he’s responsible for the recent Divinity killings?”

Melaina nodded. “I’m afraid so. I’ve managed to escape his notice, but my coming here may have put all of us in danger.” She took a deep breath and continued before anyone could comment. “Demetrius is out for revenge, retribution for his father’s death. Khan wants payback for being cast out by his own people.”

“What do you mean ‘his own people?’” Kalissa asked. “I thought he was a warlock.”

“He is. Well, at least according to the label placed on him by his mother’s coven. He was born half witch, and lived inside a coven until his mother died from an illness. The Elders found out he was also half demon, so they sent him to the warlock camp. They said he was too dark to be trusted.” Melaina shook her head in disgust. Kalissa could tell she didn’t agree with the treatment of the young Khan.

“I’ve always wondered if things would have been different had Khan been raised with the spiritual love of his coven instead of being cast aside like an unwanted animal. Khan’s father, the former Lord of the Underworld, was a fair ruler. As dark and sadistic as he was, he believed in the balance of the three worlds. He would never have tried to merge them like Khan plans to do.”

Melaina looked at the young Divinity faces sitting around her. “Khan is a Dark Divine.”

Now the Dark Divine round-up made sense to her. Kalissa told Melaina about the message Zach had gotten from Sindee. “Do you think he is gathering the Dark Divines as part of his army? Like they’re his to command the same as the demons?”

“I’m not a hundred percent sure. He might not have known about them. None of us knew about them until recently.” Melaina paused briefly as if thinking about it. “I can’t see any reason why other than forcing them to fight in the war.”

Kalissa snuggled back into Ayden’s side. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “Right now, we have to get the Sinew and take it home.” She wondered if the others would help her chain Ayden up somewhere until after they’d gotten the Sinew. But she knew that wouldn’t happen. She would have to face her vision and keep her senses open. They all had to. Or someone may not leave that cave alive.