#jakten

‘If you love something let it go.’

Lance had repeated the saying to himself nearly every other minute.  He’d felt different not having the human in his arms.  He’d brought her back to her kingdom, much to the vibrant surprise of the rest of the non-magical kingdom, and he’d left her along its border with nothing more than a few apples in a bag and the necklace that he knew she loved. 

And yet, not more than a day later, after he’d managed to shield his domain once more to the prying eyes of the rest of the world, his breath stopped when he saw her anxiously wandering the forest.  Lance wanted to reach out to her, wanted to touch her, but he couldn’t.  After he’d felt he broke her heart by taking one of the girls that worked for him, he couldn’t look her in the eye without feeling guilty.  Without feeling like he’d betrayed her. 

Nick and Genevieve had made him repeat the saying over and over again. ‘If you love something, let it go.’  And yet, it didn’t feel right to him.  It felt like he was missing the larger part of the picture. By the second day, she hadn’t left the area, sure of the fact that she had to be in the right place.  She’d run out of apples but refused to leave the area in search of more food or even water. 

When she’d fallen asleep from the exhaustion, Lance went out to her with yet another bag of apples and had transported her back to the borders.  And sure enough a few more days later, she was back in her spot. 

“Why do you keep coming back to me, sweet human?” he asked as he came out with another bag of apples, “surely your kingdom is showering you in riches without me…”

“If you love something you let it go,” she said softly, yawning to herself.  Lance was shocked to see that she had been sleeping, but had woken at his intrusion.  His heart was in his throat as he heard her voice.  It was a melodious tone to him that he wished he could hear every day for the rest of his life, “but if it comes back, it’s yours.”

He froze in his spot, “what did you say?”

“That’s the saying,” she whispered tiredly, leaning against the tree, “If you love something let it go…if it comes back…its yours.  You thought I was sleeping the last time you dropped me off.  I heard you say it when you disappeared.”

“B-but you’ve come back…”

“Lance,” she sighed sadly, tired eyes looking to the fae, “I’m yours.”

“Bucky, I’m going to need you to trust me.”

“Jefferson what are yo-“

But the vampire’s question went unanswered as Nick knocked him out from behind.   Bucky’s body dropped to the ground like a stack of bricks and Jefferson frowned, looking at the golem, “you could have been a smidge more delicate; you know.”

“He’ll be fine,” Nick said flatly.  Genevieve elbowed him in the ribs, and he grunted, “ow.  What was that for?”

“You said you would be gentle,” she said firmly, “and I know that you can be.  You’ve proven it time and time again.”

Nick blushed at the insinuation.  Jefferson narrowed his eyes at the couple, “you two are disgusting.”

“Oh, like you and Ouli haven’t done anything.”

“We haven’t,” Jefferson said sternly as he looked at them.  Both of them didn’t seem to believe him as he frowned even further, “she is of pure heart and I’ve no business trying to take that.  S-she’s already back in the mountains.”

“Oh Jefferson,” Genevieve sighed, not entirely believing what she was hearing, “I-I’m so sorry.”

“Yes…well, give me the soul of the damned,” he said simply, trying to pull the conversation away from himself, “the soul of that wretched siren has already been harvested, and I need the royal’s soul to make this work.”

Ouli looked around at the joyous faces surrounding her.  They were celebrating the fact that she’d been given back to the kingdom by none other than the immortal who protected the non-magical kingdom. 

But her heart was shattered.  She didn’t want to leave him.  Even he had known that.  But yet, he’d returned her, without so much as a goodbye.  She felt abandoned by him.

Jefferson stared at her tear-stained cheeks, desperately wanting to reach out and touch her.  But he knew if he did, his resolve would crumble, so he maintained his distance, “do not cry, my sweet.  It will be okay.  I promise you.  You will-“

“No!” she said defiantly, fighting against the man that she’d quickly come to love, “Ouli no leave.”

Jefferson caved, reaching out to her, but frowned as she slapped his hands away from her, “Ouli…you must…you do not want to be tethered to a soul like mine.  It has many burd-“

“No!” she repeated, throwing herself against his chest, “Ouli…Ouli love Jefferson.  I stay…forever.  His mine.”

Jefferson pried her hands away from his outer coat, saddened by her admission.  He’d felt like she’d cared for him deeply, but it was different to hear it said aloud.  To hear those simple words from her lips. 

“Ouli…you cannot,” he sighed, breathing heavily as he fought her words with his own, “You cannot stay with me.  You will hate me if you d-“

“Jefferson no want Ouli?”

His heart shattered as she said those words.   The look in her eyes was of an emotion that he never wanted her to feel.  He rushed her, pulling her to his chest as he tried to fight back his own tears, “Ouli…trust me when I say I want you more than anything in this god forsaken world, but I can’t ask that of you, I ca-“

She cut him off with her lips.  Jefferson felt all the passion and need in her kiss as his lips worked in tandem with her own.  But that was the opening that he knew he had to take.  He let his magic wrap around her.  And slowly she was lulled into unconsciousness.  Jefferson held her in his arms, half filled with regret for what he was about to do. 

But he couldn’t allow himself to keep her.  He could feel his powers waning with the light that she was introducing into him, and he had to finish the promise he’d made himself when he’d watched his friend become a damned soul.  And he couldn’t do that if she was around. 

So, he used his magic and appeared at the gates of the kingdom in the mountains.  The guards were terrified to see him so close, and had their bows raised at him, until they realized Ouli was in his arms.  Their maiden.  

Jefferson laid her in front of the gate with a heavy heart and pressed a firm kiss to her forehead, “I am so sorry my sweet…but I cannot have you around right now…you make me be a better man…but for my magic…that means I’m no longer immortal, and I need it for just a little while longer.”

 “He looks like he’s dead.”

“He’s not.”

“But, he’s so-“

“Dark elves are naturally pale, Genevieve,” Jefferson said breathily.  He wasn’t used to breathing.  He hadn’t done so in what felt like a millennia.  But now, it was something he had to get used to as his gaze shifted to his friend.  Bucky shifted.  His head felt like it was on fire as he blinked.  His vision was blurry for a few seconds, before everything became crystal clear.  Every ounce of him felt like it was on fire, “welcome back.”

“B-back?” he asked, looking around.  Genevieve and Nick were with him in his chambers, and he could see the night filtering in through his windows.  Jefferson nodded, helping Bucky sit up, “what are you talking about, Jefferson?  How long have I been out?”

“Don’t freak out!”

Bucky’s brow furrowed as he looked to Nick, “freak out?”

“We killed Ransom four days ago.”

“And Aexie,” Jefferson said simply, “Bucky…I did it…”

Bucky’s breath caught in his throat as he looked to his friend, noticing subtle changed about him.  He seemed like he wasn’t as big, somehow, “y-you did it?”

He nodded.  He helped Bucky stand and they walked over to a polished mirror.  Not only could Bucky see his own reflection, but it was reminiscent of one that he’d remembered from centuries ago.  His hands shot up to his face as he tugged at the pointed ears he once remembered having.  Shocked, he looked to Jefferson who smiled at him, “I was starting to worry that you weren’t going to make it.”

“Th-that means…”

Bucky’s breath hitched once more; his eyes wide as saucers as he looked to his friend.  Jefferson nodded, “waiting on you, Bucky…but there are a few adjustments that had to be made.”

 “I am stuck here because of you!” Jefferson hissed, his aura growing ravenous around him.  Bucky shuddered, feeling like what little bits of his darkness had surrounded him had burned at his flesh, “GIVE ME ONE REASON NOT TO EVISCERATE YOU!”

“I-I don’t have one!” Bucky said depressingly.  Jefferson softened, seeing the elf’s sense of self shattered as he’d been transformed into a new creature; a vampire, “I-I’m alone.  I have no one.  My friends were murdered by a coven…just kill me.”

Jefferson could sense the sadness from him.  He could see his memories clear as day, and it nearly turned his stomach as he saw everything.  Jefferson’s aura receded.  He was an immortal who thrived on fear, but something about him was wrong.  He knew that this creature was not designated to the fate in which he’d been given.  He ignored his baser instinct to destroy the relatively unknown creature and dropped the fledgling to his feet, “no one deserves to be alone.  We will figure this out.”

Bucky looked up at him with a shocked expression, “W-what?”

“I will not repeat myself, vampire…but I saw what happened to you,” he admitted sorrowfully, “no one deserves that kind of fate…I will help you.  We will figure this out.”

Bucky’s undead heart felt like it beat in his chest, “y-you will?”

“You have my word…I will find a way,” he said softly, “as the keeper of souls, you tried to barter one that has a curse around it, so I’m now bound with you until you are no longer cursed…I could kill you…but then I’d be stuck with you forever…and if you ask me, that’s worse than the curse you have now…”

“B-but you’ll help me?”

“I will…now come along,” Jefferson commented dryly, “let’s put some order into these chaotic lands, shall we?”

Bucky looked to Jefferson, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.  He took a deep breath, something that he hadn’t had to do in centuries, and he looked back at the door.

“They’ve been waiting for you to wake up, Bucky…”

“They’re really there?” he asked nervously, “b-behind the door?”

He nodded, “yes…”

Without another word Jefferson turned away from Bucky heading towards the doors to the forest.

“Wait?” Bucky asked slowly, “W-where are you going?”

“I’ve been turned back into what I once was,” he commented softly, “Before I became my damned version…and there is a pixie I very much care to see again.”

“Ouli.”

“You have your happy ending, old friend,” he commented with a sad smile as he placed his tophat on his head and checked his watch, “now it is time that I go to mine.  I need to find her again.”

“Good luck, Jefferson.”

“And to you, Bucky,” he smiled softly, “they can take my castle if you wish that they have their own space…you’re the new guardian of the magical beings…Lance has chosen to leave behind his castle as well to make a home with Cara in that realm…they will take over your prior spot and mine…or don’t.  I don’t care anymore.  I’m no longer watching over the realms…they’re old enough to do it themselves.”

“What about Nick and Lee?”

“Nick and Genevieve are still going to watch over the tides, but they don’t need much guidance.  I think they just want to be close to the ocean…and Lee is expecting his own little pack soon, so I doubt he’ll care to look after everyone else…we’re free, Buck…live your life...be happy.”

Bucky watched Jefferson leave, and he gave a shaky breath as he turned his attention back to the door where he knew the rest of his life lay.  He turned the handle and pushed open the heavy oak door.  The library was quiet.  His desk remained empty but sitting on the couch were two familiar faces. 

A pair of forest green eyes staring hopefully at him, while a set of oceanic ones teared up as he barreled towards his best friend.   Bucky nearly lost his breath as Steve’s large arms wrapped around him.  Bucky felt the burning of his tears pushing out of the ducts as he wrapped his arms back around him. 

“Y-you’re back.”

“You found us again…”

“Always Steve,” Bucky cried, holding his best friend, “it’s us…all the way…til the end of the line.”

“I’m busy, fae,” Nick sneered, seeing the king of the faeries on his doorstep.  But upon further inspection he noticed that he seemed to be in distress.  His heart raced as he realized that Cara was not with him, “Where is she?”

“Safe,” the faerie said firmly.  He looked uncomfortable as he looked around the forest that surrounded the golem’s home, “are you going to make me stand out here, or are you going to invite me in?”

“We’re busy,” the vampiress said from behind him.  Nick shifted slightly and Genevieve appeared to be covered in dirt and blood, “whatever you want should wait.”

She glared at the fae as she began closing the door so that they could continue their torture of Ransom. 

“It can’t. I-I need to talk to someone about Cara.” Genevieve stopped closing the door at the mention of Cara.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes…but-will you both please let me in?  I don’t want the whole forest knowing of my predicament,” the fae pled, “please?”

“Fine,” Genevieve growled, moving away from the door.  Nick put his hand on the small of her back and she gave him a soft look, “but the second you offend either of us you are out.  I’m not going to let you bully Nick.”

Nick chuckled, pressing a firm kiss to the top of her head, “my sweet, if we kicked him out for every time he offended us, he’d never be in the house.”

“I’m in love with her.”

The two stopped their playful banter and looked to the nervous immortal, “what did you say?”

Lance licked his lips and shook his head, “d-don’t make me say it again, Nick.”

“Oh no,” Nick said with a smug grin, “I really think you should say it again.”

He frowned, “I-I don’t believe that it’s necessary.”

“There’s the door, Lance.”

He looked at it wistfully, “why are you two doing this to me?”

“Because watching you squirm is fun.”

Lance looked to the vampire and then to Nick, “please?”

“Oh, I’m agreeing with her,” Nick smiled, “say it again, Tucker.”

A low growl rose from his throat, before he gave a defeated sigh, falling onto the last step at the base of the entryway.  He looked up at the couple and braced his hand on his knee, “I’m in love with the human, okay?  I’m in love with her, but I fucked it all up and I don’t know what to do.”

Nick took a step forward, “what do you mean you fucked it up?”

“I fucked one of my maidens, and I called Cara a business transaction,” he grumbled.  When Nick frowned, he was quick to defend himself, “she could have said she cared about me first.  I-I asked her.  But she’s so god damned stubborn.”

“Hmmm, you don’t say,” Genevieve said sarcastically, “I know someone just like that.”

Lance glared at her, realizing that she was referring to him in that manner, “that’s rude to insinuate things.”

“It’s a fact, Lance,” Nick replied, looking to the other immortal, “why are you saying that you fucked it up?”

“S-she said she wants to leave.”

“When has that stopped you before?”

Lance glared at Genevieve, but turned his attention back to Nick, “I know you know what it’s like to feel like you’re powerless to someone else’s control.  Letting her in…I-it makes me feel like that.  And for the first time, I’m inclined to let her request be fulfilled…I-I don’t want her to just think of me as nothing more than a misery to her.  I-I don’t want to drag her down…and I feel like if I keep her…I will…but if I let her go…if I take her to the gates and deposit her there before the last cannon tomorrow evening…she’ll shower her in treasures, Nick.  She’ll be able to have a life.  She’ll be able to be happy.  The humans…they have a saying…if you love something let it go…right?”

Nick frowned, but nodded in agreement, “they do…are you sure it’s what she wants, Lance?”

“I think so…” he frowned, tears pricking at his eyes.  He looked to the man he’d viewed as nothing more than a pawn just a few days ago.  But looking at him now, he felt a weird camaraderie with him, “I-thank you, Nick.”

“Good luck, Lance,” Genevieve commented sadly as the fae rose back to his feet.  He gave her a sad smile as he wiped away some of the tears from his eyes, “I’m sorry we couldn’t help…”

“You did…thank you…”

Lee felt his heart racing in his chest as he watched her continuing on with cleaning up the chambers they’d shared. 

“Stop staring at me, Lee.”

The bear grumbled, but padded into the room, “how did you know?”

“Your scent, silly,” she laughed softly.  He closed the gap between the two of them and wrapped his arms around her waist, ceasing her ministrations.  She looked at him over her shoulder.  When she noticed that he wasn’t his normal chipper self, her brow furrowed, “What’s wrong?  You’re upset!”

“Jakten is almost over.”

“We should throw a party then, to celebrate,” she offered sweetly, pressing her lips to what little part of his jaw that she could reach, “when’s the last time any of you men actually celebrated?”

Lee looked at her with his brow furrowing now, “y-you want to stay with me?”

She turned in his arms, admiring the bear of a man.  Her hand stroked his face and she sighed, “well my place isn’t with them…now is it?  If you don’t want me to sta-“

“I do!”

She smiled, “you didn’t even let me finish the question.”

“And you don’t have to finish it,” he replied honestly, “if you have any doubt in your mind about how I feel about you, please, allow me the time to fix it.”

Before she could ask what he meant, Lee had lowered the both of them onto his bed.  She giggled as Lee pressed his lips to her face, peppering her with kisses.

“Lee, what are you doing?”

“I’m going to make love to you if you allow it,” he said softly, pulling away from her just enough so that he could look into her eyes, “I want you to stay, Caihong.  And I want you to stay with me.  As my mate.  As my equal.”

Caihong felt her eyes watering, “you really want me?”

“I would gladly trade my immortality for every day with you in my arms,” he admitted, “but I want that to be what you want out of life.  I will not force you to stay here with me if you do not want to do such.”

“You’re not forcing me to do anything Lee,” she whispered softly, pulling him back towards her lips.  He smiled, whimpering into the kiss as he felt her arms slide around his neck, “I love you, Lee.  I know that it sounds crazy, but it’s true.”

“It’s not crazy…I love you too, Caihong.”

“She’s not what your heart desires and you know it, James.” Bucky looked to Jefferson, knowing that the immortal was right.  He gave a sigh as he looked out to the forest where Aexie had been darting, “she won’t even know she’s gone, James…just relinquish your claim on her.”

Bucky looked to perhaps what was his oldest friend amongst the immortals, “she doesn’t truly deserve to die, does she, Jefferson?”

“She tricked you,” he pointed out, reminding Bucky of the razor mark across his cheek.  She’d grabbed one of his shaving razors and lashed out at him when he was going to bed.  She’s swiped him across the cheek and then ran.  And all Bucky had to do was think of Jefferson and he appeared like a ghost out of thin air.  The two men were watching her from Bucky’s window, disappearing into the lush forest, “her fear is so thick, James.  It’s like a runway pointing me where she’s going.  She shouldn’t be able to escape with her life.  Not with two attempts on your own.”

“Were you protecting me?” Bucky asked shortly, “You arrived much quicker than I thought you would.”

The little pixie popped up from the breast pocket of his vest, shyly waving to him, and he chuckled.  Jefferson sighed, “Ouli was under the impression that Aexie would try to harm you again.”

Bucky looked to the pixie who was smiling happily at him, and to the lovesick boogeyman who was staring at her adoringly, “Jefferson?”

“Right,” he commented, “I-I would ask that you do watch Ouli for me, and keep her on you…I don’t trust Lance not to try and pull a power move, but I don’t want her seeing what I do…it’s…well, it would upset her.”

Ouli frowned, fluttering out of Jefferson’s pocket, before landing on his shoulder and pressing a delicate kiss to his cheek.

“Yes…I know…but I don’t want you having to see that side of me.”

Bucky raised his brow, “are you…communicating with her?”

“She has a lot to say,” Jefferson said with a shrug, “but she’s learning…soon you’ll be able to speak to her like I can…isn’t that right my little sugar plum?”

She glared at him playfully and Jefferson laughed. Bucky raised a brow and he shook his head, “that’s her nickname…she hates it because I’m calling her a faerie when she’s clearly a pixie…”

“Yeah…”Bucky laughed awkwardly, not getting the joke at all.

“Yes he does,” Jefferson argued, when she looked at Bucky and quirked her brow at Jefferson, “James…tell her you get the joke…she-“

“I don’t get the joke, Jefferson.”

“He’s just one person,” Jefferson said defensively to the happy looking pixie, “he doesn’t count.”

“She doesn’t love you, you know.”

Jefferson froze and Aexie smiled, spitting out some blood.

“You know I’m right.”

“Ouli cares for me,” he grumbled, glaring at the siren, “not that it’s any of your business, because it’s not…but she wants to stay with me.”

“She’s clinging to you because you mean life,” she hissed, “that dumb little bitch wants to live and you’re her best chance of it, even if you have her locked away in some gilded cage.  Convincing her that you aren’t the worst of them will only blind her for so long though.  Once she realizes that you’re just as bad, she’ll run too.  They’ll all run from all of them.  I was just the smartest one so I realized it first.”

“Little tip, love…the smart ones don’t get caught.”

Chapter 11—The End

“What was he talking about?”

Lance smiled guiltily as Cara looked at him, anger holding firm on her features.  He sighed, reaching out to her as his smile fell away, “come on now, don’t be like that, Cara.”

“I asked you a question.”

Lance frowned as he looked at the human, “I’m a collector of fine objects, Cara…you can’t be mad at me for something that is in my nature.”

She shook her head at him, looking disgusted, “you were trying to catch Ouli…and Caihong.”

Lance shook his head, “but I didn’t…that has to count for something, doesn’t it?”

“It doesn’t, Lance,” she murmured, “that’s like saying you were planning on kidnapping someone until you realized that you couldn’t.”

“Are you trying to punish me for a crime I didn’t commit, little human?” he asked with a smirk, “or are you trying to make me feel guilty?  Because I must caution you that I will not be ashamed for my thoughts.”

“What about me?” she asked through clenched teeth, “am I just a business transaction too?  Just someone you aim to keep locked away so that you can attempt to control the golem?”

Lance felt an uncomfortable emotion rising up in the pit of his chest.  His brow furrowed as he stared at the human, and it seemed like she was staring a hole straight through him, “WELL?”

“More or less,” he shrugged.  While not entirely lying, he wasn’t being wholly truthful either.  He had felt an instant attraction to her the moment that he’d come home and seen her…the moment that it all settled that she was his because she took a treasure.  The moment where she actually did accept the necklace from him.  One that he very much did feel in his heart of hearts was meant to be a courting gesture.  But he couldn’t admit that to her, “why?  Does it feel like something else?”

It was a leading question, one meant to get her to admit her feelings first so that he could still feel some sort of superiority while admitting his own feelings aloud.  But what he received instead was a firm smack across the face. 

His jaw felt like it was on fire as she turned on her heel and stomped away from him, muttering about how he was a pig.  Lance bit back his own slighted feelings. 

Why did she have to be so stubborn?

Why couldn’t she admit her feelings first.

“Stupid humans,” he grumbled as he walked away from the dining room.  He started the same path that she had gone, and realized that she would be in his chambers, as that was the only room he’d really shown her.  Turning on his heel, he started towards the kitchens, doors slamming against the walls with every set he passed through as he found a way to relieve his stress, “stupid Cara…who does she think she is, slapping me?”

As Lance made his way through his dwelling, Cara had broken down into a puddle of tears on the floor of Lance’s chambers.  She hated the fact that was the first place that she ran to after slapping him, but she also didn’t feel comfortable roaming around the castle, knowing that there were other maidens scurrying quickly away as to not be seen by her.

And it wasn’t much longer when her own sadness betrayed her, and her stomach rumbled.  She hadn’t eaten since they’d been sent through the porthole.  And while it’d only been about a day and a half, her stomach was gurgling for something now that the adrenaline had worn off. 

So with a heavy heart she started for the kitchens.  She hadn’t seen a soul, as the maiedens that had managed to stay alive and work for Lance had maintained their usual distance from her.  It wasn’t until she’d heard the soft moans that sounded like they were coming from Lance, and louder, harsher moans that belonged to a woman, where she felt her real rage grow. 

Throwing the doors open she saw Lance has bent a woman over the counter and was fucking wildly into her.  Her skirts had been thrown over her waist, allowing Cara to see every disgusting detail.  The fact that he was balls deep in her.  The fact that he wasn’t wearing any sort of protection. 

It made her sick. 

But she held her tongue as she pushed into the kitchen.  A scared yelp tearing itself from the maiden’s mouth that had been bent over the counter.  Cara grabbed a piece of fruit from the bowl, and stood, staring at Lance as he fucked into the maiden. 

While the girl started to protest, Lance kept his eyes focused on Cara.  When the girl started to fight back against Lance, uncomfortable in being seen in such a compromising position, Cara leaned forward and placed the apple in her mouth with a sneer, effectively muffling her. 

Lance stopped his thrusting, surprised at how Cara was reacting. 

“Well don’t stop on my account,” she huffed, crossing her arms as she grabbed another piece of fruit to bite into.  Lance watched as she leaned on the far counter, “I’m just a business transaction, remember?”

“It’s a god damned lie is what it is,” Ransom spat as the Drysdale clan stared down not only Bucky, but Nick and Genevieve, “she’s a traitor to the kingdom.  Are the lot of you going to tell me that you believe a traitorous whore!”

“Immortal, you have to understand,” Linda said with a frown as she looked to her son, “these are very serious accusations.  She’s making some pretty egregious claims with nothing to back it up.”

“He marked my thigh.”

Linda swallowed, her eyes going wide as she looked back to her son in disbelief. 

“That little slut is probably lying,” Richard said drunkenly as he tipped back his goblet of blood, “her family was famous for it.  Ransom was kind enough to look past it and clear her family’s debts in exchange for her younger sister’s hand, Margot or something…what was her name again?”

“Mary.”

“Right,” he scoffed, with a roll of his eyes, “Mary.  Such a bland name…but she was a beauty.  Ransom, a good, upstanding vampire, and your ruler I should remind you, was willing to overlook your families flaws and take her in.  And now you are making these claims against him!  Saying that he raped you and threatened to make you a whore in the red district.  Marking you…saying that he forced her to take the place of Wanda Maximoff for this Jakten.  You ungrateful little bitch.  We ought to throw you back in the dungeons and bleed you!”

“RICHARD!”

“Mrs. Drysdale,” Bucky said with a firm tone as he looked to the matriarch of the family, “I do not take these sorts of claims lightly.  When Nick approached me with her, I knew I had to investigate…and I’ve seen the mark for myself.  I know it to be Ransom’s.”

“So what?” Ransom asked, “maybe I marked her.  But she wanted it!  The dirty fucking whore said she wanted me.  Said it was her last request before she give herself up to Jakten.”

“YOU LIAR!”

“HOLD YOUR TONGUE!” Bucky demanded, looking back to the young vampires, “THE BOTH OF YOU!  There are ways to go about this.  There is such a thing called diplomacy and tact that must be utilized.”

“Immortal?”

Bucky looked to the woman he’d helped bring to the life of a damned one.  Gently, he took her hands, “Linda…I have never lied to you…about anything.  Through all of our centuries knowing one another, have I ever done anything to betray your trust?”

She sighed, tears rolling down her cheeks as she shook her head, “you have not, immortal.”

“I have looked into the eyes of the young maiden…I have seen her horrors,” Bucky admitted, “they line up with her story…as I look at Ransom I only see a veil of half-truths which he tries to manipulate you through…and I think that you know that.”

She sniffled, confirmation that he was telling the truth and had seen right through her.

“I’m sorry Ransom,” she whispered in a low, tearful tone.  Bucky gave her a soft frown.  She didn’t dare look back to her husband or son, “you’ve done too much…I cannot cover this kind of damage up.”

“Ransom is an evil little shit,” Richard growled, stomping out of his chair and towards the matriarch and Bucky.  He pulled out his sword and pointed it at the vampire’s neck, “But I will not let you steal my son away from me under the word of some cheap whore.  THERE.  IS.  NO.  PROOF!”

“Lift your skirt, Genevieve.”

It was a simple command that meant nothing sexual, but as Nick stepped in front of her to protect her from Ransom’s harsh glare, everyone felt the tension between Ransom and her. 

“Go ahead, Genevieve,” Ransom encouraged smugly, “lift those skirts for me again.  Let me see those supple, pale thighs once more under the moonlight.”

Genevieve shivered, and Ransom smirked.  Nick was about to charge him and rip him to shreds, but Bucky held his arm out. 

“Genevieve, please,” Bucky pled, looking to the vampiress.  She frowned and looked to Nick, while slowly lifting her skirt until a pair of marks showed up on her thigh, incredibly close to her core.  Linda gasped, and Bucky nodded his head towards her, “as all of you can see, that is Ransom’s mark…”

“He’s yours,” Linda whimpered, turning away from them.  She grabbed her husband’s arm, lowering the sword, “do what you will with him, immortal…he’s no longer under the protection of the damned, and his titles have been revoked.”

He sighed as he put the finishing touches on the corner in his chambers.  He felt nervous and all too anxious knowing that she was asleep in the room beside his, and he desperately wanted to show her what he’d done. 

He made a sweet little pixie haven in the corner of his room.  The very spacious corner  kept with the sultry evening sky tones of his room, but there was a soft silver netting that hung from the ceiling and flowed out around a plush circular bed that was lined with pillows and soft trinkets.  There was also several little shelves similarly decorated behind the netting with their own individual walls so that if she did want to be alone or away from him, while still being close, she could hide out in the little coves.  The whole corner was lit up with twinkling lights that seemed to blend right in to the wall. 

It looked like a little safe haven. 

His heart nearly stopped as he heard a knock at the door.  Closing his eyes momentarily, he felt her on the other side.  His eyes switched back to the corner.

“One second Ouli.”

“Jefferson…” she said timidly, knocking on the door once more. 

He raced to the door, hoping that she wouldn’t beat him by opening it.  Opening it ever so slightly, he looked down to her owlish features.  Her wings were glittering and he frowned.  There was a small pile of magic on the floor. 

“You had a bad dream?”

She nodded, a whimper escaping her lips as she raced into his arms, “Ouli miss…”

“I’m sorry my sweet pixie” he muttered, stroking her soft ebony skin.  He brushed a few curls behind her ear and kissed the top of her head, “I-I have a surprise that I would like you to see.  Can you close your eyes for me?”

Ouli pulled back slightly to look at him, then nodded, closing her eyes.  He kissed the tip of her nose and he watched as the slightest blush highlighted her mocha cheeks, bringing out the warmth in her skin. 

He took her gently by the hands, and led her into the room, closing the door behind himself.  Leading her over to the corner, he turned her around so that her back was to the setup. 

“Open.” He commanded.   She did as she was told, but her expression changed to a confused one when she looked at him.

“Surprise?  Where?”

He leaned in, his hand stroking the apple of her cheek, as his free hand turned her around in his grasp.  She gasped upon seeing the little corner he’d made for her.

“Me?”

He leaned down, softly wrapping his arms around the pixie’s waist as he nodded on her shoulder, “It is all for you, Ouli…I-I want you to be happy.”

He didn’t have to ask her thoughts as the next emotion he felt was one that nearly knocked him on his ass.  She was overwhelmed.  But a much firmer emotion pushed at him.  She turned towards him and pulled his face to hers, as her lips pressed against his. 

Jefferson melted against her kiss, feeling an emotion that he himself had never felt before.  It was an emotion that had him feeling drunk and dazed as his hands held firmly around her mid section.  Her hands cupped his face, the soft, small fingers stroking his own cheeks as she seemed to possess his very heart. 

His emotions went haywire as he felt like his entire being warmed up at the thought. He felt it as her lips worked with his. 

Love.

Chapter 10

“Ouli come on!”

The nervous pixie stared at the human, amazed at how she could so willingly enter the castle that belonged to Lance. He was so powerful that the residual magic left in his dwelling made her dizzy. She shook her head, not wanting to move further into it, “Ouli…please…”

“Leave,” she whispered through sad eyes as she tried to convey her worries to the human, “Please…Cara…not safe.”

Cara sighed, ignoring the small pixies warnings as she started off down the hall. The castle had been lit up, and it felt simply decadent. Everything was in rich shades. The golden glow of the lights. The deep forest green of the carpet beneath her feet. Her hands trailed with her down the hall, feeling the velvety soft wallpaper that looked like liquid gold along her fingertips.

“This place is amazing,” she whispered more to herself than anyone else. As she followed the path, she found herself in a larger room. The doors to it were ornate and held intricate designs even in the brass handles. But beyond the doors was what caught her attention. There were piles of treasure. Gold. Silver. Gemstones and jewels. Trinkets that she didn’t have any idea what they were for. She had never seen so much opulence. And they were just thrown about, as though they were simple things. They all seemed to be messily sorted, “Oh my.”

She jumped when Ouli gave a small squeak, quickly latching onto her hand, “Cara left Ouli.”

“I thought you didn’t want to come,” she shrugged, more entranced by the treasures instead of their safety. When she pulled her towards the gold, Ouli was quick to slap away her hand, “What is that for? We could take this and be set for life, Ouli?”

“Trap!” she said firmly, “no take.”

She shook her head wildly, her curls dancing around her, and Cara sighed, “you think it’s a trap? How, Ouli? We’re the only ones here. We haven’t seen a soul in this place. It’s just us! It can’t be a trap.”

She went to reach for it once more, but Ouli slapped her hand away much harder, trying to pull her back towards the door. But she gasped upon seeing that it was closed. Her eyes went wide, and she began to breathe a bit heavier, “Trap…magic. We leave now!”

Cara shook her head, “no…it’s just…it can’t be, Ouli. They probably just closed on their own. This castle is huge.”

But even she had to admit she was a little afraid of how the two large doors managed to close silently without her even being able to notice it until it was too late.

It should have made a sound…right?

Cara swallowed her anxiety and looked around. But she could barely see the other sides of the room because of the massive amounts of treasure within it, “O-Ouli, spread out…we have to look for another exit, okay?”

The pixie nodded, quickly skittering around a pile of treasure. Cara took the opposite route, her feet narrowly managing to slide between an obscenely large pile of gold coins and gemstones.

But on the other side of it, she noticed what looked like jewelry. Looking behind her, she didn’t see Ouli, so she moved forward. Cara was weaving between the items carefully, her gaze constantly flickering between the air, and behind herself to make sure Ouli wasn’t coming as she noticed a necklace that seemed all too familiar.

With a small gasp, she made her way over to the table. Her eyes watered at the simple, but intricate necklace. It reminded her of the one that her mother once had when she was really little; before they had to sell it and move from their larger farm into one of the small cottages.

The green emerald gem stared at her, called to her, and she felt her eyes watering at the thoughts of her mother.

“Cara please sit still,” her mother said sweetly as she kneeled in front of her. The younger version of herself giggled excitedly as she reached out towards her beautiful red-headed mother, “Cara, the portrait…please…”

“Mama!”

The younger woman smiled, unable to be upset with her. She began caressing the younger girl’s cheek, “my sweet child.”

She reached out for her, and the young mother smiled, picking her daughter up.

“We have to sit still,” her husband playfully scolded as he looked to his wife. She gave him a soft look and he melted, “put Cara down love. Please.”

Cara was saddened when her mother obeyed her husband, and put her daughter back down beside him so that the painter could continue with the portrait. Taking her place beside her once more, she made sure to take off her necklace, and put it on her daughter to keep her occupied.

“You watch mommy’s necklace, alright, my sweet?” she cooed to the young girl.

“Mommy…”

Her eyes flickered back to where she’d come from and when she didn’t see Ouli she took the necklace off it’s stand, quickly tying the white silk cord onto the strap of the slip and tucking it into the garment so that it would remain hidden.

Meanwhile, outside, Lance and Jefferson were waiting, when Lance smiled. He’d felt her take the gift. Felt it as though he were the necklace, caressing her soft flesh. Jefferson, annoyed with having done nothing but wait since they tracked them to his castle raised a brow at him, “Why are you smiling like that?”

“Because of my prize, old friend...she took a gift for herself.”

Nick’s eyes were closed as he enjoyed the warmth of the bath, Genevieve softly tracing the scars of his arms.

“Tell me what you’re thinking about?”

“I feel so at peace right now,” he admitted softly, not bothering to open his eyes. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the oils that he’d put into it for her. Jasmine. Rose hips. Vanilla. Citrus, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so calm as I do right now. I’ve lived a very solitary life, Genevieve. And before that it was a most unkind one.”

“I’m sorry,” she muttered, pulling his arms from the sides of the tub, and wrapping them around herself. Nick’s eyes opened. He was surprised to see her wrapping himself around her form. She looked back at him slightly, tilting her head, “i-is it okay if I do this?”

“Y-yeah…I just…I didn’t expect you to…well, want to touch me…”he admitted more to himself than to her, “I mean, I know back in my roo-“

“I’m attracted to you.”

Nick stopped speaking at her blurted out little confession. He was surprised to hear it coming from her, when just a few short hours ago she’d been afraid of him.

“W-what changed?”

“I couldn’t have been attracted to you before?”

His eyes went wide, “no…no I just…this is new…a-all of it. Hours ago, you were afraid that I would murder you, were you not?”

“I’m sorry.”

She let go of his hands, but he was quick to grab back onto her, “Please don’t stop.”

She looked back at him once more, surprise lacing her features.

“I like this,” he said quickly. The smallest of smiles formed on her lips and Nick noticed her canines peeking through her pouty expression as she turned around and leaned against his chest, pulling his arms more tightly around her body, “I-I like this very much.”

“Me too.”

“Y-you’re a good creature you know,” he pointed out to the young vampiress, “I know that you feel like you aren’t, and that you deserve to be here for Jakten…but I’m glad that you are because it’s allowed me to meet you…”

“I’m not a good person.”

“But you are,” he said sweetly, “I have seen many Jakten, and not one of them have done what you did. You ran when you did, and I knew then in that moment that I loved you, because you were willing to sacrifice yourself for them. I heard you tell them to run, little vampire…you were willing to give up your own safety, your own life, for all of them. I do not trust any of the others, but you…you doing that-“

“Did you just say that you loved me?”

Nick’s breath hitched in his throat as he realized that he indeed did admit to having feelings for the vampire since the moment he’d seen her at the port.

“I-“

“Nick?”

She turned around so that she was no longer pressed into his chest. His breathing became shallow as she looked at him, and it felt like he no longer knew what the concept of breathing was. She was staring right through him.

“I-I guess I did.” Her eyes searched his, as though she were looking for any little thing that would tell her that he wasn’t being truthful, but she found nothing. Nick felt his heart swell as her eyes became glassy. He felt a nervousness rushing over him, “P-please don’t be sad. It was not my intention to upset you…If you-“

But he was cut off by her lips meeting his in a fiery passion. Nick had never kissed anyone, but he felt his eyes closing almost on instinct as he melted against her. With shaky hands he cradled her face between calloused palms. She needily crawled onto his lap, straddling the much larger man, as her hands braced themselves on his pectorals.

With neither creature not necessarily needing air, she deepened the kiss, her canines nipping at his bottom lip. Nick moaned, the tight feeling in his abs returning, as a new warmth flooded his stomach. He shuddered when her hands slid down his chest, dipping into the water, and finally slipping around his cock.

Both of them gasped for very different reasons. She was surprised at how her hands seemed so small in comparison to the appendage, and him, for having never been touched in that manner. He shuddered as she began to slowly stroke him, making the appendage grow underneath her fingertips.

“I-I like this,” he groaned in admission, his eyes fluttering closed as he wasn’t able to focus on both kissing her and the sensations that were all too new to him. His forehead braced against her own as he shuddered, “I-please. Whatever you are doing…Please don’t stop, Genevieve.”

When he opened his eyes, he was met with her own lust blown pupils, her hands now picking up a pace as one reached a little lower and began to massage his balls. He gripped the sides of the tub, the copper giving way under his grip as he created indentations in the metal.

“You like that,” she whispered softly. Nick nodded, swallowing hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he watched her focus on him. Sensing how he was reacting, she slowed her ministrations, which caused him to shiver as her thumb swiped over his swollen head, “is this your first time, Nick?”

He nodded, embarrassed to admit it to her, “Y-yes.”

She smiled softly at him, her lips meeting his once more as she pulled herself closer to his frame. She lifted herself up slightly until she was hovering over him. Nick watched her, feeling as though he could hear the blood rushing through his veins. Even the mostly silent bathroom felt too loud to him as he focused on her.

He took a sharp breath in as she hovered over his erection, her hand guiding his cock in a way that his tip was teasingly circling her entrance, “G-Genevieve.”

“Do you know what this is?” He shook his head, unsure of what she was asking him, but not entirely caring as the feelings that came over him were overwhelming all of his senses. She rubbed her entrance along the tip of his cock again and he shuddered, “this is called foreplay…but I don’t want to just do this…I want more. Would you like more with me, Nick? Would you like to have sex with me, Nick?”

His throat went dry as he nodded dumbly, and she slowly began to lower herself onto his massive length. Her lips parted slightly as his cock pushed into her. Feeling the tight, warm channel, his hips bucked, wanting to be completely wrapped up in it. Her thighs clenched tightly as she looked at him. A blush rose onto his cheeks again, “I-I’m sorry. I don’t kn-“

“Let me show you,” she offered. While one hand stayed on his cock to help guide him into her, the other held his hips, “don’t move…I-you’re very big and I don’t want you to hurt me…so don’t move until I say so, okay?”

He nodded quickly, “O-oh…okay.”

She smiled once more as she pulled him into another kiss, whilst sinking down onto his length.

The golden, glittering glow of the door stopped Cara from leaving. The pixie’s eyes went wide as she realized what was going on.

“Trap,” Ouli whispered, backing away from her, “Cara…”

“Ouli, don’t leave me here,” Cara pled, “please…help me.”

Sensing the magic of the king of the fae, she ran into the woods. Ouli felt truly saddened as the screams began to fade away; screams begging her to come back. But she knew that she couldn’t, the sadness that enveloped her reminding her that she was quickly separating herself from the last of the other maidens.

Stopping, she looked up, hoping to get a glimpse of the stars so that she’d be able to tell just how far away from the mountainous realm that she was, but she had no such luck. The trees in this part of the forest were so thick and dense she wasn’t even sure that she’d be able to fly through it all, let alone see the moon and stars.

Ouli’s slip was completely shredded as what was left of it caught on some branches. With a shriek, and thinking that it was one of the immortals, she turned to fight them off, only to be tripped up by a root that was sticking up out of the ground.

She looked up from her spot in the dirt, horrified of the scenery around her. It felt so ominous. Everything made her feel scared. She felt it was like the scene from her nightmare as she scurried onto her but. Her eyes wildly looked around for the haunting silver eyes and Cheshire cat grin.

Her heart raced as she scurried to her feet. Looking up once more, she whimpered, still not able to see the moon or any stars because of the thick underbrush of the trees.

All the while, the immortal that had been tracking her felt a dizzying high. The pixie was so frightened he felt like man who had been given some sort of narcotic. He was salivating over the fear, tracking the creature through the woods, allowing her emotions to grow, and essentially feed his needs.

Which in turn was making his natural aura larger and seem more intimidating, the shadows bigger, the branches more wiry as he closed in on her. And he heard her shriek, her eyes searching wildly through the shadows.

And while from far enough away he would admit she was beautiful, up close, his heart felt like it was about to beat right out of his chest at every little bit of her beauty. She was such a thrum of lively energy that it was sending his nerves into overdrive.

She was like a shot of adrenaline straight to his heart, all while her beauty was enough to send him into cardiac arrest. And her petite, naked form. He groaned at the sight of her. Her wings glittered under what little light he’d allowed to come through and she began to shrink, her magic making glitter fall beneath her.

Ouli screamed as she felt trapped. Her hands immediately going around the small golden bars that were placed too close for her to be able to slide through. With wide, scared eyes she looked up to her captor and gasped.

He’d had the same haunting silver eyes from her nightmare.

Her breathing went ragged, and as she tried to force herself to remember how to breathe, the only thing that came to mind was the blood pulsing through her head. Everything felt too close together. Too dark.

Jefferson watched as the poor pixie had a panic attack upon seeing him. Her wings stopped fluttering as quick as her breathing became shallow. She pushed herself up against one of the edges of the gilded cage he held her in and she put a dainty hand to her stomach as she tried to regulate her breathing, but nothing worked. The wings fluttered slowly, and she collapsed to the bottom of the cage, her eyes closing as she fainted.

Chapter 8