Chapter 2
Jabari swam in the deep waters of the Atlantic
ocean. He loved the coolness against his leathery skin and how
wonderful it felt to be one with the waters. It was a time he could
enjoy his friends of the ocean. Unlike those at his home lands,
these creatures accepted Jabari, and knew he was no threat to them
as long as they didn’t pose any danger to him. Jabari wished his
people were as trusting, but Atlanteans were anything but that. Who
would be after what happened to them?
Swimming along, Jabari thought about how
Atlantis came to be. There were so many tales about Atlantis, but
he liked his mother’s version she often told him during
bedtime.
If memory served Jabari right, Poseidon had
fallen in love with Cleito, from the island of Atlantia. He wanted
her like no man had ever wanted a woman, and what the god of the
sea wanted, the god of the sea got.
Poseidon called upon the waters and created a
tsunami like none other and sank the island. Knowing that his love
couldn’t live underwater, and knowing her kind heart would hate him
if he killed her people, Poseidon created a livable underwater
island, and made it so the humans could breathe and swim underwater
as well. He even went so far as to create many aqua-style shifters.
Some were dolphins, whales, and sharks, but others were those of
myths... mermen, sirens, and giant turtles known as Aspidochelone.
Jabari’s own father was a Charonte and his mother an Adanc. It was
this pairing that made him a pariah to his own people, since both
were considered demons of Atlantis.
Jabari had few friends. Well he had one...
Zotol. He had met Zotol centuries ago when the Jinn was traveling
the worlds, learning of all shifters and their habitats. Zotol had
swum with him often, that was until he met his mate, fell in
instant love and mated. What Jabari wouldn’t do to find his one
true love. To have that one person to love and be loved by... to
have that one to hold at night, talk and share dreams and the
wonders of life with... to have that one to care for, nurture and
keep safely by his side. Gods, he would do anything to make that
dream a reality. He often fantasized about what that special
someone would look like, feel like, smell like.
The soft sounds of Zotol filled the waters and
got Jabari’s attention.
Friend of the Atlantic, Jabari Hellister,
hear me. Hear the great and powerful Zotol The Adventurer. Come to
me in my time of need. Come to me and save the one you can call
your own.
What the fuck?
Not knowing what was going on, there was no way
Jabari could ignore the call of his only friend. If Zotol needed
him for something, Jabari would be there and Zotol knew this.
Swimming faster than he had ever done before, it
didn’t take him but mere moments to get to his destination and
break the surface of the water.
The ocean waters were rough, high waves crashing
all around. At first Jabari didn’t see anything, but then a wave
crashed onto the deck of a recreation boat used to go for days out,
so humans could fish and swim in the ocean.
One man stood on the stern side looking out into
the waters as three other men were scurrying about, yelling and
shouting, “Man overboard! Man overboard!”
Ignoring the frantic calls, for now, Jabari
focused on the one standing and staring. It was Zotol. He would
recognize his friend anywhere.
Turning, Jabari looked in the same direction as
his longtime friend and noticed another man in the middle of the
water fighting the currents and waves in what looked like a losing
battle. A small lifesaving device seemed to float next to the man
and he barely had time to grab it before another large wave picked
him up, then tossed him at least twenty feet into the air, and took
him farther and farther away from the boat.
Moving quickly, Jabari raced after the wave, but
every time he thought he was close enough another fucking wave
would come along and carry him further away. “Fuck, a god’s damn
duck. Stop fucking moving!”
After they must have traveled fifty miles from
the boat, finally the waves and ocean seemed to be calming and
Jabari was able to catch the man before another wave could take him
away. It took Jabari a little time to realize two very important
things. The man was barely breathing, and he was also Jabari’s
mate.
Using his large bat-style wings, Jabari did the
only thing he could think to do, he wrapped his wings around the
man so that he was fully protected from the waters.
His mate needed a healer and Jabari was going to
get him to one. Dipping below the surface, Jabari swam fast and
furiously towards Atlantis. It was deep below the surface and
Jabari could only pray his mate wouldn’t die from the journey. His
mother had told him that as part Adanc he could do this, but Jabari
had never tried to take a surface dweller deep down to the bottom
of the ocean before. He just prayed his mother had not been telling
him fairy tales.
Once Jabari entered the great city, his body
began to shift from leathery hide skin to a tanned hue of man. His
wings slowly changed to the arms and hands he needed to hold his
mate and his long talon paws turned to feet and toes. Finally his
sharp demon-style chin squared out as his fangs receded, followed
by his pointed ears becoming half circles and the tiny horns just
above his temples flattened, then lastly his golden-lit eyes that
allowed him to see the dark surface of the ocean outside Atlantis
changed to the deep navy blue he saw when looking in a mirror. It
was odd when first shifting back, and often Jabari needed a moment
to acclimate, however, at this moment, he didn’t have that luxury.
No, right now he needed to get his mate to a safe place and bring
the healer in to help save his man.
Using his telepathy power, Jabari called out,
“Great healer of our people I call unto thee. Please, I need
your help.”
“Jabari, you know I cannot help you. Why do
you call me?”
“I am not calling for me, but that of my
mate. Please great healer. He is human and he is going to die if
you don’t help him.”
Jabari hated to have to ask for help, let alone
beg, but there was little he wouldn’t do to save the man the fates
deemed as his own.
“Your mate? Are you saying the fates have
gifted you when they have not done so for any other of our
kind?”
“I am.”
There was silence for almost a full thirty
seconds, before she finally said, “Take him to your home. I will
meet you there.”
“Thank you, great healer.”
“Do not thank me yet, Jabari. I do not know
if I can help the human or not, but I will come. Leave the back
door open.”
“Yes, great healer.”
Jabari rushed to his home and quickly made his
way into his room. Gently placing the gorgeous human on the bed,
Jabari began to strip him of his wet clothing. “My gods, you are
skin and bones. I will have to make sure you are well fed from this
day forward.”
After all his mate’s clothing was removed,
Jabari couldn’t help but take notice of the man’s naked flesh.
Jabari wanted nothing more than to run his tongue from the tips of
those adorable toes to the top of his mate’s spiky blond hair. Then
he saw the scars.
Gripping his mate’s wrist, Jabari looked at what
could only be needle marks that ran all over the man’s right and
left arms as well as another jagged scar on his hip and side. “What
is this? Are you a drug user?”
Taking a deep breath, Jabari didn’t smell the
hint of taint, but there was something out of place, he just didn’t
know what it was. Hell, it wasn’t like Jabari had much contact with
humans to begin with, but there was definitely something off. He
would have to ask the healer.
Hearing his back door open and then close,
Jabari quickly covered his mate’s naked flesh. Yes, the man needed
a healer, but the idea of someone else seeing his mate’s nude body
unsettled Jabari greatly.
“Jabari, are you back here?” The healer called
out.
“Yes, great healer. Please come in.”
The great healer hesitated a moment before
coming into his room. Giving Jabari a wide berth, she made her way
to his mate. Slowly she ran her hand over his body, “He is not
well. There is something, but I don’t know what it is. Human issues
are not my thing. However, right now it looks like he suffers from
hypothermia and exhaustion. He needs to be kept warm and get plenty
of rest. He should be alright. There is a small bump on his head
which may be why he is still unconscious. There is little I can
do.”
“And you don’t know what the illness is he
suffers from?” Jabari asked.
Shaking her head, the great healer replied, “No.
I will take care of the swelling and the rest will be up to
you.”
“Thank you, great healer. How can I repay your
gift?” Jabari asked.
Shaking her head, the healer replied, “There is
nothing I want from you, Jabari. I will heal your mate, and all I
ask is you tell no one of this. It could ruin me.”
Sadness washed through Jabari, but he nodded and
accepted her terms. He knew she was right. If anyone in Atlantis
discovered the great healer had come to him in a time of need, they
would shun her as much as they did him. It was a sad fact, but it
was a fact. “Thank you, great healer. If you could heal his head
wound I will make sure my mate stays comfortable and gets plenty of
rest.”
She lightly ran her hand over his mate’s head,
and when finished, looked up once again, “You do know I don’t feel
as the others Jabari. Yes, you make me nervous, I will admit that,
but in all the years I have known you, never have you brought harm
to anyone.”
Jabari nodded, “I thank you for that. It means a
lot to me, great healer.”
Giving Jabari a small smile, she said, “Andreas,
Jabari. My name is Andreas.”
Unable to look away from the man lying in his
bed, Jabari could do no more than nod, whispering, “Andreas. I will
remember that and use it only when others are not around.”
Gathering her bag, Andreas started to leave, but
turned around. “You know, if this man is your true mate it might
show the others that you aren’t a bad man. It is general knowledge
that evil cannot have mates of any kind, because they don’t have
any capacity to love or accept love in their life.”
Snorting, Jabari replied, “And who is going to
believe what I’m saying? The people of Atlantis are not ones to let
go of their beliefs, Andreas. In their minds I am the spawn of
demons, and therefore I am evil. Most likely they won’t believe me.
Hell, I don’t even know how it is you believed me enough to come
here.”
Her lips raised on one side in a half smile.
“That’s easily answered. I heard something I’ve never heard come
from you.”
“What’s that?” Jabari asked in confusion.
“Fear. When you called me there was actual fear
and concern in your tone. There was no denying that you believe
this man is your mate and you are worried for him. It’s why I came.
I am a healer, Jabari and whether the people of Atlantis want to
believe it or not, you are an Atlantean just the same as anyone
else here. There was no way I could deny your request, and nor
would I want to. I’m just sorry I can’t help you any other way.”
Andreas said sadly.
Giving the woman a small nod of acknowledgement,
Jabari replied, “You have done all you can and I will be forever
grateful and in your debt. If ever you are in need of me, just call
my name and I will be there.”
Andreas gasped in surprise. Granting a debt
wasn’t something a demon did easily or often, but it was known by
all that when a Charonte or Adanc demon promised a debt, it was
always repaid without question.
“I thank you, Jabari. I will keep that in mind
and I need you to remember something as well.” Andreas stated.
“Okay?” Jabari asked.
Her features became stern as she said, “A true
mate, when bonded, has a mark that no one, god or otherwise, can
remove. That means once you and that man lying there join, no one
will be able to deny who or what he is to you. No words will be
needed to prove anything. Then the people of Atlantis will begin to
accept you as one of us.”
Shaking his head, Jabari replied, “I don’t know
if that will ever happen, Andreas. They refuse to even call me by
my first name. I am Hell to most of those here. It’s their way of
reminding me of my demon as if I don’t know who or what I am
without them saying it.”
“I don’t call you Hell, and others may not even
know your true name since you don’t ever attempt to talk to anyone.
You know, friendships works both ways, Jabari. The problem is you
have stopped trying.” Andreas stated.
Jabari snorted, “Of course, it’s me that has
stopped trying. Fuck, Andreas, at least I did try. No one... not
even you can say you gave an inch. I was Hell to everyone then, and
I’m Hell to them now. Honestly, it’s been so long I don’t know if
I’ll care even if they try. Some hurts go too damn deep. I was born
in Atlantis. I was raised in Atlantis. My parents are two of the
original Atlanteans, yet I have never known a friend, nor have I
known acceptance. I have never known what it is to be with someone
unless it is in dark alleys or barroom bathrooms where no one can
know. My life has been a lonely one.”
“That is true, Jabari, but think of your mate.
If you don’t learn how to forgive the ignorance of others, what
will that mean to him? The way you are treated isn’t right, Jabari.
I know this. Yet, if one side doesn’t give allowances, that means
forgiveness is already lost. There will be no moving forward
without forgiving the past. And if you can’t take those steps of
forgiveness where does that leave you and your mate? Just think
about it.” Andrea said as she walked out of his room and back out
the door she had arrived through.
Looking back at his mate, Jabari thought about
what Andreas had said. He knew she was right, but the pain inside
his heart was so deep and cemented. Could he learn to forgive? When
his mate began to stir, Jabari realized something. He would have to
work damn hard to do it, but for his mate’s happiness, Jabari would
do anything. Even face those that called him Hell.