Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
I lift my sword and snap the whip as energy crackles along both weapons. This is not happening. We’ve done nothing to these people. They keep threatening us and I’m going to do more than nick someone with my blade. I will destroy them.
“Stand down,” Rosaline bellows at the warriors. “What is wrong with all of you? They are my guests.”
The warriors sheath their blades but I’m not convinced they won’t attack so I keep my blade out. The only one who’s been hospitable in the least is Rosaline and I’m not entirely sure I trust her motives. She already told us that they are secretive. What are they planning?
The warriors stand down and clear a path for Rosaline. Despite my reservations, I follow closely behind Rosaline.
“I would be honored if you and your mate would join me in my home. There is much to discuss.” Rosaline bows her head slightly.
“Um, what about my friends?” I ask, unsure if we should split up.
“We can go check on the humans. We need information. If she’s offering to talk, you need to take the opportunity, B,” Raven says.
“Okay.” I sigh.
“It will be okay, baby.” Jayden pulls me into his side. “They’re just going to check on the humans. We’ll see them after we get answers.”
We follow Rosaline through the quaint village to a large house at the end of the path.
People with bright-colored hair and pointed ears line the path, selling their wares or just mingling and talking.
It’s so normal you would never know that the veil between worlds has been disrupted.
That’s probably the same in our realm. If it weren’t for news stations, would anyone know?
Rosaline waves a hand and the door opens on its own. A breeze ruffles my hair. She has air magic. That’s super cool.
“You come from the nexus,” Rosaline says.
“Nexus?” I ask. “What do you mean the nexus?”
“Your realm is the center of all the realms around it. The others all have similar landscapes to yours.” Rosaline shows us into the living space and points to a couch in the center of the space.
“So, we’re like the center?” I tilt my head to the side.
“Yes, the nexus of our cluster of realms affects all the realms as well. The problems you have been facing have been leaking into ours as well,” Rosaline says.
“Well, shit.” I run a hand down my face.
This is bad if it’s not just affecting us.
How many others are suffering because of the queen’s schemes?
The gods really just don’t give a fuck, do they?
Their wars don’t just affect humans but other realms as well.
The weight in my chest increases. It was bad enough when it was the weight of the world, but this entire cluster of realms is at stake now.
“Breathe, baby.” Jayden crouches in front of me. “We’ve got this.”
“Do we, though?” I take a shuddering breath. “This is so much worse than just our world.”
What if I fail? Everything in all the realms will be impacted. This can’t be the truth. It just can’t. Rosaline has to be mistaken. They can’t put even more pressure on me. It’s not fair.
“It doesn’t change the mission, my love.” He kisses my trembling hands. “The mission is still exactly the same.”
“The stakes are just so much higher,” I whisper.
Jayden shoots a glare at Rosaline. I glance over. Her eyes are wide and glassy with tears.
“You are the ones,” she whispers, cryptic.
“What?” I sniffle.
“Many years ago, a seer came to our realm. She sought me out specifically. She said there would be a time when the realm bleeds with never-ending day and then travelers from the nexus would find themselves trapped in realms that aren’t their own.”
“Never-ending day? You had that too?” I gasp.
“It almost destroyed us, but one day the moons rose again, and then the travelers began appearing. They are different. Their ears aren’t pointed and their coloring is dull. Many had no magic at all, but you two are different than the rest.”
“So, this seer told you that we would come and do what exactly? We are kind of on a time crunch back in our realm,” Jayden says.
“She just said that you would save us all or destroy everything. The threads of fate weren’t set in stone, but I see that now they are. You’re not capable of destruction, are you, young one?”
“I destroy my enemies, but no, I have no plans to destroy the realms. I have given everything I have to try to save them.” I glance at the ceiling.
“The Olympian gods have put you in a horrible position handing you this fate. It could end in a death sentence. I’m sorry this has come to be the burden you bear so young.” Rosaline shakes her head.
“What do you know of the Olympians?” I ask.
Zeus is my father the king of the gods on the Earth realm. Are there others? Why does she specify Olympians when she speaks of them?
“They come from the divine realm of the gods and there are many others in that realm who have seen fit to travel the realms and especially the nexus. They have many who have made names for themselves in the nexus. Zeus isn’t the only god king.” She raises a brow.
“Zeus is my father. That’s what set the queen off this time and why everything is going to shit.” I lean back against the cushions.
“I met the god long ago when he traveled here to get away from the divine realm and their politics,” Rosaline says. “He’s a charmer for sure.”
I shudder at the thought of my father being charming with anyone. It’s weird. I don’t know him but still can’t get the thought that he’s my parent out of my head as she speaks about him like this.
“That’s a weird thing to tell his daughter, but okay,” Jayden says.
“I know enough about the divine realm to know that they are not going to be pleased with H…”
“No, don’t say her name. We call her the queen or queen bitchface so we don’t invoke her.” I cut her off before she can call queen bitchface to us.
Rosaline laughs hard. “Queen bitchface is an apt description for her for sure.”
“Something isn’t sitting right with me,” Jayden says. “If the divine realm will not be pleased with the queen’s actions, then why haven’t they done anything to stop her?”
“They are not permitted by the primordials to intervene or they would, I’m sure.” She shakes her head.
“What the fuck did we just stumble into?” I whisper.
“This is so much bigger than we thought. If the Olympians aren’t in charge, then these primordials are. Who are they and why haven’t we heard of them?” Jayden asks.
“Zeus would never let the people of the nexus know there is someone who runs things other than him. I do believe that he’s trying to keep the damage from his wife to a minimum with you as his champions,” Rosaline says.
“I wish he picked different champions,” I grumble.
“There wasn’t a single other person that could do this, baby. You’ve met the other demigods. Who would you pick outside our group to save everyone?” Jayden squeezes my hands.
I grimace. There isn’t a single person outside our group that I think could have done what we’ve accomplished.
People are currently stepping up to the tasks that I give them, but they wouldn’t have survived the first journey or the last. No one chose me for this.
I was born to do this and the fates made sure of it.
“No one. Not even Sara and Jackson, even though they are stepping up now. They would have cracked under the pressure as soon as they realized it was a recurring thing and there was a bigger plot against us.” I shrug.
“Exactly. No one chose us for this. We stepped into the roles out of duty and honor. We will continue these roles because it’s the right thing to do and people will lose their lives if we don’t.” Jayden cups my cheek.
“I didn’t say I was giving up but the weight is almost a physical presence now. I don’t even know how many realms there are in this cluster. How many billions of sentient beings are counting on me to stop the queen? It’s too fucking much.” My shoulders slump.
“We will figure this out. What can you tell us about our world being the nexus? Are there places where the veil is open? Portals to other worlds? We need to know how to locate and defend those places from monsters and other beings who wish the humans harm,” Jayden says.
“There are different portals around your world but I’m not sure if the words translate into places you would know. They have guardians already so you shouldn’t have issues with creatures coming through to assist the queen,” Rosaline says.
“Monsters that we haven’t seen in our history are already wreaking havoc on us regularly so there’s something happening with the guardians.” I cross my arms.
“I don’t know what the queen has done to get creatures from other realms to follow her and fight for her, but that is a problem for later. Now we need to discuss what the seer said,” Rosaline says.
“You really think that’s more important than the possibility that the queen is joining forces with other realms to destroy us?”
“I know it is, because what the seer said is important to the safety of the world,” Rosaline says. “What’s done is done. There’s no sense in worrying about it if she already has creatures going to the nexus to try to kill you.”
“She’s right, love.” Jayden stands from his spot crouched in front of me and sits next to me on the couch.
“Okay then, what did the seer tell you?” I ask.
“You two along with your friend and the wolf will usher in a new era for demigods and shifters alike. There are hard times on the horizon and there will be loss, but if you just endure it, the change will be spectacular,” Rosaline says.
“That’s what’s so important? We’ve heard all this before. I have to endure the trauma and loss for everyone else to thrive. Each race must go through their own transformation and their own war to come out on the other side even better than before. Blah, blah, blah.” I shake my head.
“What was that last part about a war for each race?” Rosaline pales.