The Shifter and Her Human Mate

Chapter 6

Ellie's POV

"Keep your hair in front of your face!" Simone commanded as she walked me behind Marshall towards a hotel in the French Quarter.

Wouldn't want a camera to catch my face, would you b***h.

I knew better than to defy Simone and Marshall. The last few days were enough to show me I had better be compliant and do what they wanted. Otherwise, they would put me in the cellar. A place I absolutely wanted to avoid going to.

Keep your date talking. The more you talk, the less likely it will get physical. But if he wants more whatever you do, don't fight it! Marshall will be watching and if you don't do what he says, he will make you regret it! Ariana's warning played through my head.

After tonight, I may not be a virgin any longer. My thoughts turned to John. Just when I would get a free moment and prepare myself mentally to reject him, something held me back. As irrational as it sounded, a part of me clung to a sliver of hope he would accept me. But I know it's hopeless. John is off-limits. Us being together would cause nothing but pain.

I kept my head down, quietly observing my surroundings. As we passed one of the bars on the strip, a piece of paper in a window caught my eye. We had to stop due to a large group of people just long enough for me to see it was a poster with my picture on it.

I smiled at myself. My father was already trying to find me. Hurt crept in my heart at how scared my father must be right now. I really hope John is helping him. John is one who can stay calm in situations like this and bring organization and order. If he is helping, I'm sure John and my mother are already butting heads. Audra is a control freak and I know once I get home, I'm in for berating and lecturing.

We finally arrived at a hotel called Rue en Vien. As soon as we walked into the lobby, Marshall pulled me aside. "You listen here! Your job is to get in there, lay on your back and let Mr. Bates f**k you. I'll come get you when it's over. Ellie I swear, I will put your pretty a** in the cellar too fast if you try any funny business! You understand me?!" I nodded quietly at Marshall as Simone glared at me.

How much I hate these two people. How badly I long to kill them for taking me hostage!

"There's my smart girl. Let's head on up." Marshall and Simone led me up the hotel stairs and to a hallway. We came to room 204 and Marshall opened it and let me in. It was a nice hotel room with a queen size bed, hardwood floors and a view of the French Quarter.

"Now or never! Have fun! We'll be next door, so don't do anything stupid!" Simone and Marshall left. I looked around frantically and walked to the window, realizing with dread it was a storm window and unable to be opened.

I jumped when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to a tall and menacing looking man, with dark brown hair and a goatee. His eyes narrowed as he took me in. As I stared at him, I realized in horror he was a Dark Fae. Yet there was kindness in his eyes.

"Mr. Bates?" I manage to whisper, trying to control my trembling. Dear God, please get me through this!

"That's me. What is your name, love?"

"Ellie." I answered, looking down.

"May I come in?" I stepped aside as Mr. Bates entered the room, looking around.

"Where are you from, Ellie?"

"Belfast. You?"

"Cork, not far from the sea." He smiled, and I felt my knees weaken a bit. He really was a handsome man and then I saw the left side of his neck.

That can't be a werewolf mark!! In what world is a wolf mated to a fae?!

Mr. Bates stared at me. "Cen aois thú a stór?" (How old are you, dear?)

"Eighteen. Cé tusa i ndáiríre?" (Who are you really?)

I knew immediately Mr. Bates was here for one of two things. Either he is wanting to cheat on his mate, or he knows my father and is trying to help. And something was telling me it's the latter.

"Cara atá ag iarraidh cabhrú leat." (A friend who wants to help you). I almost cried in relief and struggled to keep my composure.

"Ní féidir leat. Ní féidir le duine ar bith. Tá sé ró-chumhachtach. Tá mo chumhachtaí an-lag!" (You can't. No one can. He's too powerful. My powers are too weak!)

Mr. Bates nodded in understanding. "Cad is féidir leis a dhéanamh?" (What can he do?)

"Stop am, ach ní ar feadh i bhfad." (He can stop time, but not for long).

"Love, I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to have someone who can speak Gaelic. Take off your clothes!" He winked at her and shook his head. Immediately I knew this would be an act. Mr. Bates bent his head down to my right ear.

"We have to really sell this, Ellie. He can't suspect a thing. So moan, do whatever, and I'll jump on the bed making him think we're getting to know each other. Understood?" He whispered to me.

It was going to be the most awkard thing I've ever done. I moaned sexually as Mr. Bates jumped on the bed, trying to stifle laughs as he did jumping jacks and at one point, flipped his middle finger to both walls. After about thirty minutes of this physical activity, we decided to stop.

"You think he bought it?" I whispered, to which Mr. Bates shrugged.

"He's expecting you. Go." Mr. Bates nudged me out the door but as soon as he opened the door, a furious Marshall shoved us both back! He whipped out a gun and pointed it right in Mr. Bates face!

"What the f**k you think you are doing!!" Marshall growled at us.

"What is going on!!" Mr. Bates was on his knees begging for his life.

"Cut it out, you lying sack of s**t! I've been doing this long enough to know that y'all weren't f*****g! You paid a lot of money to f**k this girl! Now just what in the hell are you and what kind of language were you two whispering to each other!!!" Marshall yelled, waving the gun around.

"Drop it, you piece of shite!" I whipped my head as another man, a completed doppelganger of Mr. Bates, had a gun pointed at Marshall's head. I felt two hands on my shoulders.

"Miss? We have to go, now!" A man with blonde hair grabbed me and took me out of the room. We both went down the stairs and out of the hotel.

"Who are you!" I stopped and jerked away from him.

"Name's Conner. I'm to take you to the airport, your parents are waiting for you." Conner told me. I cried tears of relief as Conner waived a cab down.

"How did you find me?" I asked as we settled in the cab.

"Your father's friend was able to access your iPad. He saw the pictures you sent to your friend and they tracked you down."

"You mean John?"

"I guess that's the chap's name. I just know he and your father used to work together." Conner told me. I tried to hide my smile.

John came looking for me. He helped my father try to find me! Does he care for me, like I already care for him?

The cab pulled up to the Louis Armstrong International Airport. Conner stepped out with me and escorted me to the front. "Your ticket is at the counter, Ellie. Your parents are already waiting to board. I wish you all the best." Conner held out his hand but I immediately hugged him, sobbing.

"Thank you so much! And please tell Mr. Bates and his friend thank you!" I cried.

"Ha! His name isn't Mr. Bates. That was Aiden Starr and his twin brother, Anthony." Conner told me.

"So that explains the werewolf mark on Aiden's neck! I was saved by you and the Starr brothers!!" The Starr's were famous throughout Ireland. Both are rich and work for the Fairy King of the United States.

"Happy to be of service, Ellie. Just be safe." Conner smiled at me and left. I made my way to the terminal and stopped in the restroom to fix my face and use the facilities.

After I finished, I cleaned the make-up Simone had put on my face and stared at myself. I've changed so much in just the almost two weeks I had spent with Marshall. Would the light ever come back to my eyes?

The mirror began to glow a bright white. I stepped away in complete shock as a woman's face appeared next to mine. She had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes.

"Eleanor Gallagher."

"Goddess Aine!" The Fairy Goddess was staring back at me!!

"Eleanor, I am so glad you are safe. There is much to be done."

"Goddess, why did you pair me with a human twice my age!" I whisper-shouted at her.

"I have heard your mind racing, young lady. You are thinking about rejecting him. But I tell you, there is no one else suited for you than that man, Ellie. He may be a human, but he has strength in him and a warrior's heart. There is much more to John Hill than you know, and you are the only one who will be able to reach him."

"But what if he breaks my heart!? John is a human, he knows nothing about the bonds of our kind and how our souls tie to each other! What if my magic hurts him!" Tears streamed down my cheek.

"You won't hurt him. Trust me, Ellie. Already his heart beats for you, he just doesn't know yet. But he will in time. In the meantime, there is something you must know." Goddess Aine told me. Hope filled my heart at her words.

"What is it?"

"Marshall and Simone are already here at the airport. You are ahead enough you could get on the plane and never look back. But there is a war about to happen. A war that could destroy the Fae kind just in the United States alone. Your gifts could help save Fae lives, Ellie. I need your help." I knew what she was talking about immediately.

"Marshall is gathering other Faes together and sending them to the Witch Ruler. The ones he has no use for anymore. I heard him and Ariana talking about it a couple of days ago."

"If Luca Lombardo succeeds in his quest here, there is no telling what it will mean for the Faes around the world. You can say no and get on that plane, but I'd be forever in your debt if you said yes." Aine told me.

I knew what Marshall was capable of. If anything happened to me, at least I went down trying to stop him. I nodded my consent to Aine and she disappeared. I hid in a stall knowing Marshall and Simone would search in here. Within minutes, I sensed Simone come in and she opened the stall.

"Hide and seek's over, b***h!" She dragged me out to a waiting Marshall. As soon as they got me outside and into his car, he smacked me right in the face.

"The hooker life ain't good enough for you?? You can die with the rest of my rejects then!" Marshall eyed me in the rearview mirror as he sped off.

Just you wait, you son of a b***h. You have no idea what I can REALLY do!!