Chapter 4

Warnings: Language... Some sexual tension LOL! and of course a song is set to play :) please for creature explanations etc. They can be found at the Creatura blog, bios and more :) or click on this... -> Paige

After three re-installs etc. It seems I have lost alot!!! of stuff, including my original writing for the next few updates... Oh well I did as many others do and took the shots then wrote. Forgive the errors I havent been writing on this for a long time :)

Enjoy! I will hopefully have a bit more soon :)

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The cinder grey stone building loomed before Jayden, beckoning and cursing him all the same.

The time had come for him to face the one person he'd not seen in over six hundred years. The bitch Lupusnox Goddess of Water that he'd believed all these years had been the one to take Alaine's life. A misguided thought as he’d found two nights before, when he learned that Carter had in fact been the one to take her from him.

What would he have done if he’d known the truth? Jayden didn’t know but assumed he would have taken Trysten’s life himself as retribution. What his master had done was unforgivable and should he ever meet Carter face to face again he’d kill him.

The fact that Kareina had withheld the truth from him, accepted his hatred and blame all these years settling uneasily within him. There was another reasoning behind it, he just had to find out what it was.

At that moment heavy footfalls sounded behind him, followed by the scent of thunder and forest that belonged to the duskdog.

"Are you gonna head in or continue to stand there looking like you're waiting for someone to fuck you in the ass?" Manning's gruff sarcastic baritone broke through his haze of thoughts, rose that same tingling electric sensation within him.

Flexing his fingers, Jayden dug them into his ribs in an attempt to control it, held tightly until the feeling passed by. This power frightened him, he’d not known he had it let alone had been capable of it. Paiges were nothing more than enhanced Vampires with a few mind skills based on their creator and with his creator having been a god, he had no idea what that meant for his abilities. Gods and mortals didn’t mesh well, though if Carter was correct in his statements Jayden wasn’t necessarily a mortal, though what he was he could only hope Kareina could explain.

Jayden rolled his neck, the vertebrae’s snapping as he moved, "sorry lappy you're not my type."

A choked growl echoed through the thick plumeria scented air of Veilwater, telling him that he’d offended the bastard. "I wasnt offering, Paige. Although I think I saw a guy down the road that could possibly help to remove that plug for you." Manning retorted adding derogatory emphasis to the use of Jayden’s title.

It was meant to push him, Jayden knew that but he had other things to deal with at the moment. “Go fuck yourself lapdog and let me to my business.”

“Will you cut that shit off? Cause the next time you call me a fucking lapdog or lappy I am going to kick your ass.” Manning snarled, his heated gaze burning into Jayden's back as the man stormed past him, roughly shouldering him as he passed by.
Slamming the heavy oak door with so much force the walls rattled, Jayden glared at Manning. “You want a piece of me lappy well come and get it, you sure as hell wouldn’t be the first duskdog I’ve fucked up, nor the last.”

“I told you…” there was a warning note to the venomous hiss that slid from Manning’s mouth but Jayden wasn’t about to give in. He’d been itching to kick the man’s ass since that first night he’d entered the beach house. Especially when he’d found that the fucker had been working for Armand.

Kareina’s heart roared against her breast, Jayden had arrived… and more disturbing, Carter had been right in his unease, her nephew’s powers had awakened. They were all in deep trouble if she didn’t find a way to train him, without breaking the covenant and telling him that which had been forbidden to be spoken of.

Another presence washed over her, infuriated but much more contained, her heart ceased to beat. “It couldn’t be…” Five hundred years and nothing, no word no dirty look. He’d just disappeared one day shortly after she’d released him.

Reaching out with her soul she sought his strand, jolted back as she felt his presence. Manning Braeford was in her sanctuary, was accompanying Jayden.

“Perhaps all will work out for the best…” She murmured, if she could get Manning to agree to training Jayden and judging the tension that filled the lower floor of the sanctuary that would be a feat.

“This is a sanctuary Jayden and I am not about to break the sacred regulations just to smash your face in. I will however promise you that as soon as we are away from here that I will beat the shit out of you.” Manning threateningly promised, flexing his fingers from a fist to straight and back as he envisioned Jayden's bloodied face before him.

The movement doing little to ease the want to punch the man behind him with all his strength, feel the bones in Jayden’s face shatter. It wouldn’t kill him unfortunately, but it would sure as hell put him in a world of hurt.

Issue was to fight within the hallowed walls of the Lupusnox Goddesses sanctuary would bring him to his knee’s in agonizing pain. “There is no such thing as status within these walls. Paige, Night, Day, Lupus and mortal alike are here to partake in the safety afforded within the walls.” He said it more to calm himself than to explain.

A snort sounded from behind him, followed by a sarcastic laugh, “do you really think I give a shit about some fucking sacred BS?”

Monette Phelan sensed their aura’s before they’d entered Wolfsbayne, but to have them both standing in the walls at the same time rippled energy through the air. The waterfall in the center of the room, hissed and sang with distress, the portal between Kareina’s home and the earth sensed the danger.

Her vision zoned in on the athletically slender dark haired man, who’s thoughts were a jumbled mess. Power washed over her, raised the hair on her arms as she pushed into his psyche, her heart ceasing to beat the moment she made it past the barriers.

The voices of the elders filled her head, their words pushing her out. The whispers encompassing her mind, forbidding her access to his soul, what was he?

“You should…” The lupusnox ground out, drawing her attention to his profile. She could tell that his silent battle with himself to keep from decking the other man quickly fading and if he did he’d suffer painfully for it.

She had to do something and at the moment the only thing she could think was to take them to Kareina. Despite her reservations towards the dark one's danger.

“Ahem…” she half coughed her voice dying off as the Lupusnox’s turquoise gaze locked onto her. Primal heat coursed through her veins under his wary gaze, making her heart beat faster and her core burn.

“Kareina is expecting you…” She finally managed to squeeze from her constricted throat. Her pulse roaring in her veins under the intense stare from the muscular man.

Fifteen years she’d worked this bar, dealt with mortals and immortal’s alike and not a one had ever affected her like he did. There was just something about his golden brown hair, the straight aquiline line of his nose. But what really undid her was the full pout of his lips.

Thank god it’s dark in here… She thought to herself as her cheeks flamed at the thought of feeling those lips travelling over her body.

Licking her lips she swallowed at the cotton dryness of her mouth, “I am to take you to her.” She finally managed to breath after prying her vision away from him, before she did something wildly unlike herself and actually tried to hit on a god.

Without hesitation Mona quickly made her way around the bar, surprised to find the dark man, who she still couldn’t quite get a grasp on as to his creatura lima and more distressing the golden Lupusnox god waiting for her. “Manning Braeford," the Lupusnox introduced, " and the dick over here.”

Mona had to stifle a laugh as Manning pointed his thumb in the other mans direction. “Is Jayden Alatore.”

His mouth curved upwards as he looked at her, the smile softening his chiseled features.

Dear Zyon…

Her knee’s were turning to gelatin just being so close to him. The wild earthen scent of forest and thunder filling her senses, images rolled through her minds eyes. Pictures of them rolling naked on a soft patch of grass by a river, while thunder and lightning streaked the sky.

“You must be the oracle…” His voice was melodious and deep like thunder. Yet caressing like a warm summer breeze, each syllable resonating in her blood like magic.

“Oracle?” Jayden gruffly questioned, his handsome face scrunching up with disdain.

Turning her vision towards him Mona was overcome with sorrow. It wafted from him in droves, his heart and mind mixing together with confusion at his unknown powers. He was suffering under the weight of his burdens, the pain that inflicted his soul and the outcome all the emotions was anger. Unfettered hatred for himself and those around him, including Kareina.

“Yes I am Monette Phealan, Kareina’s oracle.” She exclaimed her voice returning now that she was not locked eye to eye with Manning.

“Come she is expecting you…” With that she turned on her heal and began to walk towards the back of the building. Silently reminding herself that a god would never look upon an oracle. They were only human after all and why should they when they had their pick of the goddesses. With their luminescent beauty and magical powers.

Manning couldn’t resist, when she turned her followed after the woman. There was just something about her, something that he’d never thought in his wildest dreams he could find again.

Not another oracle…He silently warned himself, remembering how painful it had been when he’d lost Lisette.

“How long have you been in Kareina’s employ?” He questioned forcing his hand to his side, before he reached out and caressed the satiny smooth mocha colored skin of her arm.

“Why the fuck does Kareina need an Oracle, isn’t she one herself?” Jayden snarled taking up the flank.

Manning was about to respond when the soft caressing tenor of Mona’s voice filled the air, cutting off his snide remark.

“Thirty years Manning," her response to him was willowy soft. "Jayden," an edge entered her voice the moment she spoke to the paige. "Without an oracle Kareina would not be able to travel in her spirit form. without my beacon she would be at risk should she travel the realms.“ she paused as they came to a gate.

“The Oracles provide the Lupusnox Goddess’s the power they need. It’s why they are the purest souls on earth. At any given time there will only be eight, for the eight goddess’s and when they die then another is born to replace them.”

Her statement stung, it was as if she’d read his thoughts, knew that he’d once loved an oracle. “Yes but, only if their life is not cut short,” Manning added, his heart clenching at the memory.

“Yes then that particular goddess will be without an Oracle until the hundred years of service has been fulfilled.” She whispered, a smile dimpling her smooth cheeks, as Mona gazed up at him, her golden eyes, darkening with desire.

The delicate scent of amber and sweet sun dried grass ensconced Manning, lured him closer to her. The front of his jeans grew uncomfortably tight as electricity bounced between them. Their body’s so close all he’d have to do was reach out and he could stroke her warm skin.

“For gods sake, get a room! Please! put me out of my misery at having to witness your attempts at getting laid.” Jayden snarled his vision firmly locked on the rickety old elevator. He hated the things, but teleporting wasn’t an option considering the walls, floors and ceilings had been coated with sapphire dust to prevent any use of magic.

“For one second can you show a little respect.” Manning growled taking a step away from Mona before he acted on his desire to taste her lips.

“Not likely lappy, but just for you…” The doors to the elevator dinged then, the sound of scraping metal shattering the air.

“It was a pleasure to meet you,” Manning murmured, hurriedly following after Jayden into the elevator. He couldn’t risk it, he’d seen something in the metallic depths of her eyes. Something that unnerved him, reminded him of that primal need so many years before with Lisette and Kareina would have his head on a platter if he took her oracle from her. Yes it was best that he escaped now…

When the door opened Jayden was the first one to rush from the confines of the damned death trap. His vision landing on the shapely legs of Kareina, silhouetted behind a sheer canopy. “What’s the difference between an elevator or stairs, if someone wants you dead then you would be.” He ground out.

“Never mind him Kareina, Jayden has a huge plug up his ass right now.” Manning snapped as he made his way out of the elevator and towards the piano bench. Ignoring the furious glare that Jayden focused on him.
Sitting forward Kareina fought to regain her sense of speech. 500 hundred years since she’d last seen Manning and he was still as handsome as ever. His once long hair now trimmed in to a length that it accentuated his strong squared jaw. The fullness of his slightly wide mouth, heat shot through her with memories of the year they’d spent together.

Her Lupusnox God, broken and bleeding after her oracle’s death. He’d been easy enough to seduce, but now she didn’t believe so. There was a hardness to his turqouise eyes, anger resonated in their shimmering depths as he lowered himself to the stool and glared at her.

“It’s understandable Manning, Jayden has been through a lot these last few weeks and he has more to undertake…” She smiled softly, reached out to the lupusnox telepathically.

“I need your help…”