Willing Heart

Chapter 14: Dark Turns to Day

~Ruby's P.O. V~

        The whole of Junk Rat Tavern had me in all the entire time during the tour, it was hug and long. So long in fact, that I was starving. Of course, this made Chester laugh as his stomach began to rumble too. Hamish and Violet led us to their great hall. And boy was it great, the hall stretched on for, I think, 5 football fields. 

"So, The Gemstone Mare at my Mountain along with a Beta from a powerful pack. Now, how did that happen?" Hamish leaned over from his place, at the head of the table.

"Dracula sent us. We need to hide her." Chess answered for me.

"Not only that, but I still have no idea why I am being hunted. I kind of hoped you would tell me."

"Wish I could, Lass, the stories that I heard were that ye were born a devil. However, meetin' ya now? I see no devil within ye." I hated that my Alpha spread such a rumor among Mythic kind. I don't hate my herd, but I sure as hell hate her.

"It's not something I like to talk about, sir." 

"Sir?" Hamish burst out laughing, "Call me Hamish, Lass."

"Hamish. I just want to know why I was born with this red mark on my ass. Do you have any clues?"

"Unfortunately, no. Though, I know someone here who might. Another who was in your situation long ago. He just never left." The 'He' had Chess growling. I place a hand on his to call him down.

"Who is the he?" I asked.

"Don't be scared, but a young lad born from a gold dragon and a demon. His name is Jinx. The humans would call him 'Grendel' because his looks were well, demonic."

"You have a demon/dragon hybrid here?" Chess stood from his seat. His face read fear and anger.

"Easy, Chess. Remember, most stories the humans come up with are just that, stories. We all later found out that what was killing the herds from the Fjords was a yeti and yet, Gr-Jinx's name was never cleared for the humans." He sat back down and processed the information.

"Yeah, I guess so. I just don't want you to get hurt, my love." Chess is a very sweet man. I want to thank the Moon Goddess personally for bringing him into my life.

"I won't. And neither are you. Jinx has never lashed out at anybody or even hurt another Mythic."

"I know, I know. Just... Demons piss me off. I dealt with one and she was a Succubus. I had to go to Lucifer himself to get her off my back." I laughed a little.

"Was her name Bianca?"

"Yeah, how did you know?" He asked me.

"Bianca isn't a Succubus. She's a Shape Shifter. And I was friends with her at one point. As I remember, 'He was dumb as dirt. Kept calling me a demon leech just because of my horns and skin. I'm an Antelope.' She told me." I saw his face go from sneer to 'Oh...'

"Wait, I thought you were always alone?" His question kind of made me a bit sad.

"Not always. Bianca and I met while I was a teenager. Like me, she was kicked from her herd, but, unlike me it was for a good reason. She killed a human because they were hunting deer. Like legit deer. She hated animal cruelty. When I learned what happened, I cut Bianca from my life. What if she came after someone I was working with? You, know?"

"Aye, I understand that all too well, lass. Things happen fer a reason." Violet chimed in.

"Right. Anyway, about Jinx. Where can we find him?" I asked

"In the deepest part of the Tavern. I'll show ya, the way." Hamish got up and led us to the half demon half dragon.

~Prince Ryan's P.O. V~

"For f***s sake, woman! You're one of the most powerful witches I know! How can you not sense my bride?!" I threw my glass at the wall.

"It's very simple. First she went to a location that was almost impenetrable and now she has gone somewhere where another witch is hiding her. One that is more powerful than me." Vivian crossed her arms. She looked annoyed. Was that at me? Or this other witch?

"Do you know who?" I asked her.

"It could only be one of 5. Obviously, it's not me. Pricilla is in the far North, Oriana is in the far South. Hailey resides in the far East while Trisha has taken over for the West." North, South, East and West, that sounds very familiar to me.

"The Wicked Witch?"

"You believe the human stories? Posh. There is no wicked anything. Trisha has taken over for her mother since she passed away. Diana was called that for her powers. Nothing more. She was a necromancer." That explains a lot, actually. 

"I see. Can I call them all here, then?"

"I guess, though, if they agree, you might want to have someone on them. We don't get along well." She gave a wicked smile to me.

"Fine. How long does it usually take?"

"Not long. A day, maybe sooner." 

"Good. Get them here now." Commanding a witch was never in my plans to get Ruby, but I have to do what I have to do. I sat back in my chair and thought of what our offspring would look like. I just hope they come into this world healthy. Vivian vanished before me, leaving me to those beautiful thoughts. Ruby, my goddess, my queen. I swear to love you every day and treasure you always.

          I must have fallen asleep thinking about my woman and our colts and foals, because the next thing I knew there was an alarm sounding from my phone. I looked at it groggily, it read 0725. Morning already, huh? Oh, well. My dreams were pleasant enough, as soon as I sat up, 5 puffs of smoke appeared. In them were Vivian and her sisters.

"Your highness." She bowed and stood back. "Let me introduce you to my coven. Pricilla, " A brunette stepped forward and bowed, she looked younger than Vivian. Her eyes however, had experience in them. "Trisha, " A girl with blue hair stepped forward and bowed. She looked to be the same age as Vivian. Young and slightly annoyed to be here. "Hailey," This time a girl with fire like hair came forward and bowed, she looked like the oldest and her golden yellow eyes were a force to be reckoned with. Her hair I couldn't stop staring at. The flames danced like they were in the most blistering wind. "And lastly, Oriana." This girl had hair that was green and white, the tips looked like leaves while the white acted as if the leaves were carried by the wind. That's when it clicked, these women were the elements. And all older than I. She bowed and stepped back.

"Ladies, welcome." I stood and bowed my head slightly.

"Thank you for having us. Even if some of us don't deserve it." Oriana said as she glanced at the others.

"Oh, come off it, Ori. You are not the best here." Trisha sneered.

"And you are, Trisha? As I recall, you are the newest member here." Pricilla flung her hair behind her.

"Judge not least ye be judged, Prissy." Hailey snickered.

"Ladies! Put your bickering to better use!" I yelled at them.

"Yes, your highness." They bowed again to me.

"Might I inquire as to why we are here, Majesty?" Hailey sat in one of my guest chairs.

"I need you all to be truthful with me. You see, my bride has hidden herself away again, only this time I don't know where. Vivian has tried to locate her, but as you guessed, she was unsuccessful. I need to know where my queen went. She is being hidden by magic. Can you all help me?"

"Your bride? Who would that be?"

"I am happy you asked. The Gemstone Unicorn." Vivian answered for me.

"What?!" Oriana suddenly had Vivian in a choke hold. "What did you do?!"

"I simply made a prophecy about her. We all have our gifts. Mine is the spirit. You're all physically powerful and your magic exceeds mine in every way."

"We don't care! Vivian, your oath to us was to never make a prophecy with mythic kind! You broke that oath!" Trisha yelled at her.

"Ladies, ladies, calm down. I am sure we can come to an agreement." I put up my hands in surrender.

"Like what?" Pricilla asked.

"How about my own oath to you? My blood as prince and a contract that states I would never intervene in witches again and that I do no harm to The Gemstone Unicorn." They all paused for a moment, debating, thinking and wondering if this is a good idea.

"Very well. You make that oath now and write your name in blood." Pricilla said. She snapped her fingers and out of thin air appeared a fully prepared contact. She handed it over to me so I could read it. Oriana summoned a ceremonial knife while Vivian conjured candles. Hailey conjured an alter while Trisha spun the cloth for it. Once completed, they all looked at me.

"Place your left arm on the alter. We will draw the blood you need to sign." Vivian gestured to the alter. I did as they asked, they cut my arm from elbow to wrist, drawing the blood. Once that was done, they made me sign the contract. It began glowing as it disappeared into the ether.

"The contract is complete." Oriana said.

"Now, your bride is hidden in one of these 10 locations. Junk Rat Tavern where the dwarves dwell. Peacock Lane where shape shifters live in peace. Aidelwood Forest, the elves sanctuary. Xenalo's Palace, the Mermaid Kings temple. Quintessa's Lair, a dragon so fierce no one can get passed her. Featherfall Academy, the Griffins place. Magmis Stronghold, another fire like beasts lair. Kingstone Current, a Leviathan's trove. Felicia's Migration, a Pegasus City that is not easily found as it continues to travel in the skies. And lastly," Hailey paused for a moment and took a deep breath in, "Lacie's Palace. She and Vivian share a power. She has to be sought out and if she refuses you, she will disappear for another millennium." She warned. 

"Very well, thank you, ladies. How can I find her?"

"That's the hard part. We would have to check on each of our respective areas, which could take up to a month since a lot of them move from place to place." Oriana said.

"I can wait. Please find her and tell me where she is?"

"Yes, your highness." They all bowed and left in a puff of smoke. Finally, in about a month, I will be able to hole my love in my arms. I once again, had her on my mind as I did my duties and prepare for the arrival of my future queen-to-be.