13. Love
1301 Words
"Now, does that answer your first question?" She asked.
I nodded as I sat back on the bed, still massaging my neck and chest; my airways hurting a little from being constricted for that long.
"Where am I?" I asked more softly this time so as not to annoy her again.
"Oh, here?". She looked around as if it was her first time here. "This is just a small place I put together to enjoy a stress-free vacay. But because of you Earthers, I can hardly rest". She smiled again and rested her back against her throne, her hazel eyes examining me like she was waiting for me to say what was on my mind.
I went on my knees with folded hands. "Please, help Jace". I bowed my head, wishing she would agree.
"There is nothing I can do. Hades will soon have him. Hades and I have not gotten along for centuries, he won't help me now". She maintained a stoic expression.
"Please, Selene... There has to be a way to save Jace". I look at her hopefully... I was not going to give up, not until my request was granted.
She raised an eyebrow. "A way? Don't be foolish. You have a great destiny ahead of you, which is most important. Jace has done his part by saving and protecting you. Now, you must do what you were made for."
I wanted so badly to ask her what she meant, but I didn't want us to deflect from the subject at hand. "I can do all that with Jace by my side-"
"You CANNOT!" She raised her voice. "Jace is a distraction, it seems, him dying is the best thing that can happen to your destiny!"
She got up and walked over to me. She stood in front of me, her fingers caressed my forehead lightly. "You are the last of your kind, my dear Esnie. It is time that you discover your full potential and embrace it for the good of the universe. Do you understand?" She spoke so warmly, like a mother to her baby, so convincing. I wanted to just hug her and do exactly as she said, but...
"No. Not without Jace". I stared her down. She looked furious but I did not care.
Suddenly, her lips stretched into a smile: "I knew it wouldn't work on you. I just wanted to try-" She turned around and returned to her seat.
"Try what?" I asked, confused.
"My power of persuasion, gifted to me by Aphrodite herself". She smirked. "It works on werewolves, vampires, witches, even mortals, except you. I was right, you are the daughter of the sun".
"I don't follow". I stated. Her words weren't clear to me.
"Flames... You have the power to set things on fire. That is from the sun. I will teach you how to become the most powerful goddess that has ever existed, more powerful than Athena... All you have to do is forget about everything, leave them all behind, and join me."
"When will Jace reach Hades?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Everything I just said, and your main concern is still Jace!"
I shook my head. "Without Jace, your words mean nothing to me. Bring him back and we'll talk".
"Then you can forget it!" She grew furious. The flickering lights were evidence of her fury.
As her anger increased, the room grew darker and darker until there was not a single light.
Her voice echoed from a seeming distance. "Jace will never return, NEVER! If you think I will let you get on Hades's radar, then you must be a fool!"
The weight of her words settled in, causing an uproar of rage in me. I suddenly felt a surge of energy course through my body and instinctively, I lifted my hands. Following my action, the whole place was illuminated again, except this time, balls of fire appeared in the center of the room.
Selene's eyes grew wide as she looked at me in shock. "How did you?"
"Like you said, I am the daughter of the sun. Without the sun, the moon cannot give light." My eyes became filled with tears... "I am begging you, Selene, to give me the chance to save my Jace. If bargaining with Hades is the only way to save him, I will do it. Take me to him!"
She furrowed her eyebrows; her expression was of genuine confusion. "You weren't supposed to feel this way about Jace, I only created the mate bond for life, not in death..."
I shook my head. "This is more than you can control. This is Love, not your mate bond... Help me save Jace, please!"
Her anger subsided, and she returned the room to its normal lighting. In response, I also brought down my hands and the flames disappeared.
She sighed, her eyes looking down as tears threatened to fall out of them. She spoke in a mere whisper: "Love. I haven't heard that word in centuries. My heart will forever belong to my beloved Endymion."
She looked at me and her eyes met mine... "The only way a goddess can have true love is if she sacrifices her powers. And I will not allow you to do that. Jace will not want that either."
"Is there another way?" I asked.
"A deal with Hades..." She breathed out with worry in her eyes.
"What kind of deal?" I was eager to do anything.
"Nothing good, I'm afraid. That is why I would not advise it. Your love for your mate could ruin the entire world. Believe me."
"Then take my powers and bring him back," I stated without much thought.
She closed her eyes for a few seconds and opened them. "His soul is at the gate of the waiting place, I need to act fast. Give me your power and I will send you both back".
"Promise?" I asked.
"I promise". She smiled warmly.
She got up, walked over to me, and stretched out her hands. I placed my hands in hers and closed my eyes... She began to say some incoherent words. The light in the room began to flicker again, but this time, more intensely.
Not up to a second later, gross darkness enveloped us both. I felt my head spin nonstop for more than thirty minutes. Until...
I opened my eyes and found myself in the woods near the pack house, on the same spot where Jace and I were attacked. I looked around but could not find Jace anywhere. I ran to the pack house but couldn't find anyone.
"Jace!! Rowena!! Anna!!! Where is everybody?!" My voice reverberated through the entire house but no one answered.
"Foolish girl!!" A male voice yelled from somewhere behind me.
I turned around and found Alpha Kaiah standing there in a black suit. "You have been cheated! She was never going to send you back". He said angrily.
I started to weep bitterly as his words sunk in, suddenly overcome with regret. "But she promised... She promised to send my Jace back to me".
"Anything to deceive a love-sick i***t like you! She wanted your power all along, and now she has it". He scowled at me, his signature smirk was long gone - now replaced with angry lines on his forehead. "And you, your Jace have returned, but he cannot be yours."
I grew curious and walked closer to him, but he raised a hand to stop me from approaching him.
"My Jace is alive?" I asked with tears in my eyes.
"Yes. In the real world". He stated.
I felt relieved. "Help me get back".
He shook his head. "That won't be possible".
"But why?" I asked, exasperated.
He answered, "Because in the real world, you are dead."
- Writer
