Early Next Day

Sardonix left after we fucked and the interaction from thereafter was minimal and distant. He brought me dinner, which was a good sign, but other than that, he ate away from me last night and also slept somewhere else.

Silence had kissed us.

Early the next morning, Sardonix takes me for a drive in his car. It's just me in the back, doors locked so I can't jump out. Sarodnix is in the front, his driver taking us out into the depths of the Wilder forest.

I conclude that Sardonix seems angry with me for being his 'mate' or something, and I am angry at him for being so horrible to me.

He was possessive but he was more so sadistic. He had a very bad streak. Worse than evil, it was like an impatience for my existence. It's as if he wished he could end me, but the instinct to keep me alive was the only reason I was alive. I could tell that he did not enjoy that change in his nature.

Sardonix wasn't used to being drawn toward a female – or putting in any effort for their affection.

I could tell he was beyond frustrated with me. His huge Lycan ego was prevailing... for now.

I stay seated quietly in the back of the car, curled up on the leather seats by the window, after crying all morning, I'm staring out at the forest as we get deeper and deeper into dark green foliage.

Abruptly the car stops, after we've pulled off the freeway to halt in the grass.

"Out," Sardonix barks and looks over his shoulder at me, with one mean command.

I stay where I am, and he jumps out of the car to walk around to the back door closest to the forest. He wrenches my door open, I scramble backwards but he reaches in for my ankle and drags me out.

When I've hit the grass, without another word Sardonix walks back to his side, jumps back in the car, and they're off, splattering mud all over the dirty clothes I wore again today.

I stand up, and I look up and down the empty desolate road, where no other car drives.

When I turn around, my gaze runs over the forest edge until I see an ancient sign inscribed in the bark of an ancient tree.

The Pool.

That's what this was all about? Oh.

I know what The Pool is. And Sardonix guessed I'd know.

The Pool was the purest form of water, with the purest reflection.

He wanted me to trek toward it, look into it, and whoever I saw would be the one I longed for the most.

This was a test for me.

Either Anubis would appear.

Or Sardonix.

Either one, I guess they would pull me through the other side, back to them.

A one way trip? Seems like it. Why else would Sardonix leave be alone? He said he'd be the first Lycan to keep me... very confusing to abandon me the next damn morning.

I stumble toward the sign.

In the ancient language it says four major miles.

It was a long trek, but the track was visible.

I had no choice.

I walk into the thick of the forest, starting my journey. I had no shoes either. But I'd manage.

*****

I reach The Pool in over four hours, and I rest by its perfect edge, surrounded by smooth marble stone.

All around me, a light fog wafts in and out. Rainbow butterflies fly out to land near me or on me. A dragon fly lands on my hand, welcoming me.

There was no going back with this still reflection.

Whatever it showed, was the absolute Fate of anyone.

I have been too scared to look in it yet.

It was a metallic mirror without a single ripple. All bugs avoided the surface. Nothing drank from it.

I am exhausted. My feet are caked in mud, my clothes are itchy and damp.

I would get these clothes off of me for good this time.

I stand up and undress.

When I'm butt naked, I sit on the edge of the pool, my back to it.

I close my eyes, and I prepare to fall backward. I was not helpless. I was born with an affinity toward the fae world. Even as a human, I would never lose that knowing. And I knew this Pool had many uses. I swing my feet back and forward, steadying my breaths.

I inhale sharply.

I hold my nose and I close my eyes.

I let myself fall into The Pool.

Looking into the reflection would show your other half, your soul mate. But swimming in it would help to show your purpose. Your truest fate.

As the cool water envelops me, I get to glimpse the true purpose of me.

The heat from hell warms my back and my glittering translucent wings. I am human sized, but my fae magic has been returned.

Silvia sits next to me, on a throne made of silver, thorns sticking out on all sides.

While she overlooks an assembly of demons, she looks to me, smiling softly.

I am sitting on a smaller throne.

"Calm down," Siliva speaks to all the demons, "Princess Cleo is a guide only, her heart is NOT yours."

"We have all agreed we must have her at least once over an approved feast, we desire her," the head of the Orcs is representing all the demons behind him, "Our lust is insatiable when Cleo puts her fucking fairy dust all over us as she passes us by – let us satiate ourselves so we can forget her."

"She is the property of Sardonix and the Hell Pack – she belongs to all Lycans –"

"We demand that Lycans share the sweet fae who protects us ALL," the Orc looks straight at me, and I'm smiling and giggling, quite obnoxiously.

"Why do you ask me?" Silvia asks, laughing back, "I will not whore her out to you. Find a dead mortal mate in the hell's soil to dance with."

"We do not dance!" the Orc snarls back.

"Calm down, Gorgeous. Stand back in line."

A new voice speaks up.

The devil. The orc called Gorgeous shuffles back, while others step forward in defiance.

The Devil drawls, "You address the wrong sect. Speak to Wynter, she is an angel who will happily bless all your cocks if she so feels the need to be spread –"

"Oh, for the love of Lucifer, can you not whore me out so easily? I'm your favourite," an angel has appeared beside his shoulder, flying down, her silver feathers shine bright despite the dullness in hell, and her hair is in perfect brown locks down to her waist. She is adorned in all kinds of jewellery and piercings. She wears a golden crown – the devil's crown. The devil's bride? She puts her hand on his shoulder and they share a smouldering look together.

"That's up to me, love," Lucifer speaks over Wynter's lips, his eyes enraptured by her own sweet blue ones, "Will you oblige my army?"

"Fuck an army of demons who are lusting over a poor little fae?" she whispers back, "I say the Lycans are privileged to be the only ones who have her, however... it is their dominance that prevails. Cleo is in their ranks."

"Cheeky whore. You are hell bent on starting a war between my Lycans and my army?" Lucifer asks, liking the idea, "What a blood bath that will be –"

"All I'm saying is that if you want to fuck the females who reign here – you'll have to try at your own risk, for the Lycans will not share," Wynter steps between the throne of Silvia and I, speaking to the demon army, "Taking the Fae Guide and the Lycan Queen are your misfortune, they are a temptation you must resist, unless they oblige you by their will, and with their packs blessings."

"NO. It is up to Lucifer, not his favourite whore angel," another orc who wants to get his own way steps forward and tries to overrule Wynter, looking straight at the devil.

He holds the key to the power down here, although he seems irritated by this next orc's recklessness.

The devil steps forward to stand by Wynter, "Wynter, Silvia and Cleo are free to choose their fate, that is what separates them from the Damned. However, the Lycans can learn to be more generous," as he growls that, there is a sickening deep howl that penetrates through the meeting. Lycans are going to make their numbers known, and the army has to look over their shoulders for the lightning fast wolf-men who run forward together as a strong and united sixteen giant demons.

I see each and all. Onyx and his brothers. Sardonix and his brothers.

In Lycan form and super pissed, multiple beasts of either pack lunge for the face of the outspoken orc and rip his head off, causing spurts of blood and a rain of crimson to land in a puddle at Silvia's feet.

"The throned bitches belong to us, so fuck off or die!" Onyx kicks the orc's corpse out of the way and looks over the brooding army, before turning to Lucifer, "...you make them rage for our mates... you control their desire... it's been a thousand years before the last witch trials, mark witches with your devil's touch and bring them the opportunity to mate with your army..."

"More females?" Lucifer scoffs, and Onyx snarls.

"Bring them fresh meat, our whores are not for sale," Onyx will not back down.

"Marked Witches caused me nothing but trouble in my past, we handle three powerful sluts already, how many do you want – a thousand? A hundred? That's too many cunning bitches for my taste," Lucifer snarls back, "How many do you propose?"

"A dozen to share," one of the demons from the crowd yells out.

"That's still too many," Lucifer whispers, "My power in a Marked Witch is too great for a dozen. Guess what I'm thinking?" he smirks, "How about three. The daughters in the bellies of Wynter, Silvia and Cleo – angel, whore and fae."

"NO," we all protest together, immediately.

"Oh. Fine then," Lucifer rolls his eyes, "Three random newborns in the world, I'll mark them with night terrors as they grow older, and when they are women, in at least twenty years, you will find them... obsessed with witchcraft, born to fuck the army. Does that satisfy you?"

The vision ends.

I poke my head above the water line and breathe deep in the pure air gifted from the lungs of the thick Wilder forest.

I am not a Queen of Lycans at all.

I really am a princess and a Fae Guide. To all demons, it seems.

Now I pull myself out of The Pool that cannot ripple, and I turn around and look into the reflection.

Now, I will see Sardonix.

Since I was clearly mated to him.

I see my perfect reflection, and as my face disappears, I see three sets of Lycan eyes.

Six red eyes.

Anubis, Onyx and Sardonix.

As clear as day, they all stare back at me.

"I'm just a guide, a helper, a kind friend to you all then, to all Lycan Kings, a private counsel," I whisper at their reflection, "I knew it, I cannot have a soul mate. Only a Fate. To serve and guide all pretty Lycans."

Relieved, I get down on my knees and lean over The Pool.

Instead of fear, I feel intense exhaustion.

My Fate is clear.

Lycans are indeed my beginning and end.

There is no cruel twist to it. No wonder I lusted for them.

It is just so that I belong to them.

As I rest on the edge of The Pool, bugs grace me with their company once more.

"All Kinds of Demons will continue to haunt the Earth and you'll protect them all from being detected or killed – obscuring them in your fairy dust... from the wings you have lost and from the wings we will return as payment for your time."

It is a voice I do not expect to hear.

I look over my shoulder in fright.

Out of the forest, in nothing but ripped jeans, is Onyx, of all Lycans! I did not expect to see him again so soon!

My heart races! I am delighted!

"Hello," I whisper, shyly as I turn around and blush, upon my knees in the leaves and cool dirt.

Sardonix's father.

Oh my. All our interactions had been so heated, I wonder if that would continue?

"I bathed in The Pool before you," Onyx explains, pacing toward me, he offers me a king's hand.

I take it and he hauls me up.

"It's been 30 years," I whisper, "It feels like two to me!"

"I don't feel time passing at all," Onyx growls, looking like he hasn't aged a minute, with wet midnight hair and blooded eyes like his son, he looks up at the blue sky and squints, "...I still hate the day... that fucking sun bothers me."

"Let us go into the shade. Did Sardonix ask you to come here?" I inquire.

"What are fathers for, if not to protect their sons?" Onyx looks me over, "If there was a sinister spin to your Fate... I was going to step in... Silvia is the Queen; you would never replace her."

"Thank goodness I am just a princess," I bite my lip.

Onyx smiles so handsomely for me, at least, just a little bit, "Thank Hell. It would have been a waste to slice you into pieces."

I gawk and look hurt at that, "Onyx – how rude to tell me what you had planned."

"Sardonix tells me you resisted the call, you, a slut-pup to the bone, you've learnt otherwise?" Onyx looks me over, half-insulting, half-genuinely asking.

"I talk to a therapist," I say proudly.

"So did Silvia," Onyx narrows his eyes, "What did your therapist teach you?"

"To say... no," I answer, shaking my head, "Duh. Because I..." his eyes are alight with hell for my rising attitude and I almost stutter, "I just tend to say yes too much. So I just say; NO. That simple."

"Mm, it's so cute you thought you could resist," Onyx goes for my chin, Lycans seemed to be obsessed with my pouty and distinct fae lips. His thumb slides over my mouth, "I'm sorry you were spirited away to this time, so rushed, I could have looked after you in my pack if I had known you were no threat. Silvia and I had to take precaution. You understand that?"

"...yeah, I do," I shrug.

"That's a good bitch of mine," Onyx takes his fingers from my face and tilts his head, as his eyes pierce my own, "Welcome to the family."

He turns to walk away.

"A-ah, um, family?" I ask, very nervous and excited too.

Onyx stops walking away and spins back to me.

"What are you asking?" Onyx snarls now, impatient.

"Will I be – like – included in things?" I asks, eyes wide.

Onyx furrows his brows, "Duh. Bitch."

I smile, "Yes!" I close my fist and celebrate quietly, "I have a home now."

"...come on," Onyx holds out a hand and curls his fingers, as he starts to walk into the forest, "We're all camping out together in the Wilder National Park."

All of them?!

I hurry along, and I see Onyx stop by a branch, where he has hung up a human coat for his wide shoulders.

Turning to me, Onyx flares it out and drops it over my naked back. I pull it closed.

I walk close beside him, and we are both at ease. I reach for his hand shyly, and he clasps it in his.

"What's camping like for your family?" I ask.

Onyx leans into my ear, "Normal camping."

I gasp.

Very fucking loudly. I almost lose my balance with the blow.

"REALLY?" I yell it, "Sorry... heh... wow. Lycans do normal stuff? Normal camping?"

Onyx straightens up as we walk side by side, he licks his lips and his fangs, looking me over. His eyes are filled with demonic delights.

He says nothing else.

I blush as I feel his hellish heat and lust radiating from him. I swiftly take my trembling hand from his and clasp it with my other one in front of me, too nervous to touch him for too long.

Ooo...hoohoo.

Was he joking about the 'normal' camping bit?

I had no idea.

But I was about to find out.

Grimes - Shinigami Eyes