Chapter 16 #2
Goddrick was gone, but Jayce knew his dyspoxii had saved him from turning into nothing but matter.
He was ready to chase and fight until one of them was dead, when he felt a gentle tug on his wing.
He glanced over and saw Azahara leaning into it, taking it, and wrapping it around her like a blanket.
While Fae wings weren’t ordinarily sensitive, having her touch them sent a sense of calm through him.
She was his priority, not the god. Plus, he couldn’t take away the opportunity for her to destroy him herself.
He would never leave her side, and Goddrick would never get to her again.
There was a choice: would he expose his identity to her or keep it a secret to protect her. Everything told him to show his face out of the darkness, but as she began to cry, he knew what she needed.
“…thank you…” her voice barely audible.
Gently, he lifted her frail body, which felt far too light, with his wing and slowly placed her outside the wether. He knew the sun would be too much for her to bear and would give him a moment.
“Goddrick,” Jayce said, tucking his wings back and stepping towards the portal. “Come for her, and I will destroy you. If I sense you lingering near her mind, I will rip Parádeisos right back down to this world in your name, just as it was thousands of years ago.”
There was no response.
“I will only say this once.” Jayce’s voice dripped with seething rage and loathing.
His hand shrouded in the element of Space as he took control of gravity, and with one step back, he collapsed the entire area around him into nothing but ash.
The sound of cracking glass and pouring sand filtered through his senses.
“She is mine.“ And with that, the place that had been her prison was no more. A strange rush passed through him, a tingle of warmth caressing his soul.
His wings vanished instantly, his head swiveling frantically in search of her. She wasn’t waiting at the wether’s entrance, and a shiver of fear coursed through him. The fear subsided when he spotted her standing with her back turned to him, gazing at the sea.
Reluctantly, he allowed his eyes to assess the damage Goddrick had inflicted upon her.
He could discern each bone in her spine, visible from the nape of her neck down to her tailbone.
Her skin bore the evidence of bruises, cuts so deep he could see her muscle, bite marks, and lashings, but it didn’t stop there.
“Aza...” He didn’t want to startle her, so he spoke softly, yet loud enough for her to hear from a distance. To his astonishment, she didn’t even flinch. Instead, she turned slowly in his direction.
His shoulders slumped as he saw her sorrow, and he almost wept with her. The depth of her pain was something he never wished to witness again. He stepped towards her, but she was already running to him. He couldn’t fathom where she found the strength.
She never ceased to amaze him.
“Jayce!” Hearing her call for him felt like a comforting melody from the Mother herself. When his girl called for him, nothing would keep him from going to her.
He closed the gap between them and sank to his knees, enfolding her in his embrace. His arm gently enveloped her, careful not to squeeze too tightly. She clung to him, her grip solid and desperate, as if she feared he might vanish.
His other hand threaded through her tangled hair, his face nestled against the curve of her neck. Her arms encircled his neck, holding on for dear life, while her legs clung to him as if they were her lifeline.
Amidst her torrential tears, a gut-wrenching scream erupted from the depths of her soul, echoing through the air and carrying every ounce of her pain.
“I know,” he whispered softly into her ear, “I know, I know…” Each cry out for him, he’d soothe her. “I know, baby, I have you.”
His tears flowed silently down his cheeks, his hold on her unwavering. “I’m here,” he assured her. He would let her scream and cry; she did not need to hold it back, not with him. “You are safe. I swear it.”
She trembled so violently that he feared her bones might shatter under the weight of her anguish.
“I promise I’ll never leave you again,” he continued to comfort her.
When she drew in a shaky breath, her screams subsided, turning into steady sobs, until she fell into silence.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered against her tangled hair.
Azahara clung to him, the sun arching overhead as time passed. He knew it was time for them to return to the ship, where his wards would once again offer protection.
After a struggle to get his shirt off of himself and onto her, he gently lifted her into his arms. She curled her body toward him, her face nestled in the crook of his arm, never opening her eyes. He wished he could simply wether them into her room to avoid dealing with the crew.
Before too short of a time had passed, he was crossing the dock and stepping onto the ramp towards the Neptune.
“Oh my god, Alyse!” Carmen’s voice pierced the air as he began to ascend the ramp.
Everyone, except Tessa, had survived the explosion caused by Goddrick, and the aftermath was nothing short of chaos.
He hadn’t stayed to assist in the cleanup, but every time he returned, someone was discussing it.
Predictably, Zephyra, who had the sharpest tongue, and was now standing between him and the Neptune.
“Get out of my way,” he said, devoid of kindness.
“You cannot bring her onto this ship,” while her words were strong, her fear poured through her shaking hands, “she is a threat to us.”
Jayce narrowed his eyes, his nostrils flaring, “I will not repeat myself.”
“Alyse said we would stay till she returned. She’s back, and both of you can stay on this damn island for all I care.” Zephyra didn’t move, and Jayce felt his resolve failing.
He pulled Azahara closer to his body and was ready to mow her down when Théodore grabbed Zephyra by the arm and threw her aside. “Your little jealousy act is getting old, Zeph. Now, back off!”
With that, Jayce stepped on board, “Where is Alyse?”
“I’m here...” Alyse rushed to him, and she was evidently falling apart before laying eyes on Azahara. As she neared, tears streamed down her face, her hand resting on Azahara’s bare leg, seeing only a fraction of the bruising marring her body.
Azahara’s entire body quivered under her touch. She whispered in agony, “Stop, please—it burns—please—” Her voice was barely audible, even to him, as she shifted and turned deeper into his hold.
Jayce took a step back, breaking the contact. Alyse quickly retreated, her eyes widening into circles in response to Azahara’s reaction.
“No…” it must have dawned on the Captain then what had happened.
Jayce dropped his gaze to Azahara, whose eyes were closed and who was feebly attempting to hide her face with her hand.
“Alyse!” It was Zephyra’s sour mouth, “She killed Tessa and hundreds more! We have been lucky up to this point; don’t risk everything your family built for someone you barely know!”
He just stepped around Alyse, who was now snarling at the Elf. “This is my ship, and my crew. I decide what is best!” she seethed through her clenched teeth.
“You will get us killed, and for what, because you find her attractive? Look at her now…”
It wasn’t just Jayce that went cold. The entire ship dipped in ice, and Zephyra knew she had made a mistake. Everyone agreed with Alyse when she asked them to wait for Azahara. In some fashion, they all cared for the redhead who had just fought like hell to get back to them.
Azahara was awake and, to his surprise, had curled into an even smaller form. He locked eyes with Zephyra, who was now taking a step back, recognizing the gravity of her error.
“Get off my ship,” Alyse spat, “and you too, Tillin.”
The Siren hadn’t spoken, but that didn’t mean Alyse didn’t have enough of a reason to throw him off, too.
“A-Alyse…” Zephyra was in disbelief, and that was enough for him to be happy about the decision. “I sailed with your grandfather—”
“Xol,” Alyse called for her First Officer, who did not hesitate to grab the girl by the collar of her shirt and forcefully throw her off the ship.
Jayce was gently pulled away by Carmen, their onboard medic, who placed a reassuring hand on his arm.
“Let me look at her, please.” He didn’t want to move Azahara, and she seemed reluctant to be separated from him.
Still, he knew that allowing Carmen to assist her was the soundest action, aside from using his own Magic.
With a soft nod, he adjusted Azahara slightly, making it easier for the Elf to examine her.
Carmen lifted the bottom of his shirt to assess her leg and ran her fingers across Azahara’s body without making physical contact.
Jayce felt a deep appreciation for Carmen in that moment; she understood the extent of what had been done to Azahara without needing to be told.
She leaned away and looked again at him, “It’s bad. She needs to eat, and we need to get liquid into her right away. I can try to heal her wounds, but it will take time, and I will have to… you know.”
Azahara swiftly hid back into him. Her cold hands against his skin felt like death itself. He wanted to take her away, heal her himself, and take away the memories of the past month.
With a nod, he turned away from everyone and, with Carmen in tow, walked to Azahara’s room. It hadn’t been touched since she was taken, and her scent of sweet honeydew still lingered.
He sat on the bed, her trembling body sinking into his lap, and he didn’t have the heart to lay her down. She hadn’t looked up at him yet, but by pressing her nails into his skin, he knew she was just as afraid to be let go.
“Jayce,” Carmen closed the door and crossed the room to them, “you’ll need to put her down. I know you don’t want to, but…”
He didn’t move or respond.