A True Soul

“This,” Jack said and held the blue-green metallic looking object out to me. “This is a mermaid’s scale.”

It wasn’t metal after all, it was a scale. “A mermaid scale uh?” I ran my hand over it.

“And this is a dragon’s claw.” He handed me this item as well.

I study it. “This is beyond anything I had thought could exist.”

“I know, Angela May, I know. But I’m here to guide you through all of this. And, they’ll be other to help along the way.”

“My guardian’s supposed to be here too…”

“Would you like to know more about the guardianship program here?” Jack asked me.

“Of course I do!”

“Let me can help with that.” He stood and pulled a stack of files from the shelf. “Homework.”

“You’re giving me homework now?” I asked.

“You have to learn on your own too you know.” He smiled at me again. “I can help you, but there are some things that I’m not directly allowed to tell you. However, I can’t stop you from reading those files.” Jack winked.

I stumbled as my hand flew out to grab the files.

“So eager to learn Angie, but that’s enough for tonight. It’s well past dark and you have class in the morning,” Jack informed me. “Why don’t we focus on getting you adjusted for a little while, we’ll work more on guardian information after Christmas.”

That night I hardly slept. That nightmare played over and over again, finally ending when my rescuer pulled me out of the fire into cool crispy air.

I looked out my window, frustrating memories of Dax swam through my mind. It was time I faced these repressed emotions. So many things hit me at once. Why had I cared about him so much when he didn’t seem to care about me? I worried about how I could redeem the past True Souls, and worried about how I was going to live to everyone’s expectations.

Between Blair, Faux, Jack and my classes I was kept overwhelmingly busy. My days started with a shower, and progressed to a small breakfast, class, lunch, more class, homework, and Jack’s lessons. Every day was a blur. And, each one ended with me passing out exhausted on my mattress.

However, I looked forward to Christmas. Blair made arrangements with my father and he would be here. I was looking forward to that more.

“Wakey, wakey.” I jumped awaken to Blair shaking my feet.

I stretched and rubbed my eyes. “What time is it? Did I miss class again?”

“No it is Saturday.” She patted my head, “Come on now it’s time to get out of bed.”

I grabbed my phone to check the time. I groaned… “It’s only 7:30.”

“And I’ve been awake since 5:30.” She gave me a shove. “We need to talk.”

This got my attention and I jumped out my comforters. “Ok, ok. I’m up.” I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes.

We each moved ourselves onto a couch in my sitting area. “What’s so drastically important, Blair?”

“I got a phone call from Dax,” she said, her tone serious.

My eyes widened and my heart raced. “Oh my god is he ok?” I felt my hands to shake. “Why didn’t he call me too?”

She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. “He’s worried. Victor informed him about a lead on Cain and he followed it,” she paused, her face cringed. “He found where Cain was hiding. Everyone in the house he was staying at was dead. Cain had killed his own hit men to try to cover his tracks.”

“Holy Shit… What about my dad? Is he ok? Is Dax ok?” I closed my eyes and images from my worst nightmares swam in my mind. I shuttered; my eyes watered uncontrollably.

“Calm down Angela. They’re both fine I promise. Your dad will be here in a few days. It’s almost Christmas, you’ll see him soon,” Blair explained and pulled me into an embrace.

I sighed. Thank god! “As long as they’re ok that’s all the matters.” I took a deep breath, “But why didn’t he call me? Dax could have at least called.”

Her eye wouldn’t meet mine. “He doesn’t think you want to talk to him, I tried to explain, but he’s being stubborn. I told him that he needed to talk with you, so hopefully you’ll hear from him soon.”

“I better, or I’ll be the one who’s going to hurt him…” There was a moment of silence before we both exploded with laughter. As inappropriate as our laughter was, it made us feel a little better.

I rounded the corner quickly, my paws thumping loudly on the ground with my heart racing in my chest. It was thrilling! This was the first time I had been a wolf, my reddish brown fur frilled up. I liked the feeling. However, a cheetah was close on my tail and wasn’t backing off. Screw this! I smiled to myself and halted in my tracks. I flipped around, surprising the large cat. Max, the cheetah, faltered and fell forward. I seized my opportunity and pounced, pinning him to the ground.

“I win!” I announced happily.

“I thought I had you there for a minute.” I let him move back on his feet. “What’d you say, best two out of three?”

“Hey! I won that last class, wouldn’t you agree?” I teased.

Max tilted his head, “Yeah, I suppose that’d be true.”

There was a loud howl. Sadie. I looked towards to sound. “Well, I guess that means we better get back.”

The two of us ran at full speed back, however, the speed of wolf was no competition to a cheetah and Max quickly sped ahead of me. I was too tired from running to change forms.

Back at the spot where class met, Sadie was thumping her tail excitedly. “Guess who’s here Angie?!” Sadie cried.

In the distance I saw Freddie, Spencer and my father making their way towards me. I couldn’t contain my excitement and quickly got over how tired I was. I bounded my way towards my father.

“Whoa, Angie, whoa!” Spencer jumped out of my way and Freddie actually tripped over laughing.

I jumped and tried to hug my father with my paws.

Julian laughed. “Angie! Ang, I love you too. I’ve missed you.” He lifted me in my wolf form, under my front legs, and spun me around. Sadie bounded towards us.

My father fell backwards and I landed on top of him and licked his face. “Hey Angie, why don’t you get changed and we’ll meet you at the castle?” Freddie asked.

My father, Freddie, the twins, Blair, Faux and I all ate dinner in the garden. It was almost like a picnic. Blair laid a blanket on the ground and placed an assortment of food around us.

“Christmas is tomorrow, you came early dad,” I said with a smile.

He laughed. “Well I thought I’d surprise you for one, and for two, isn’t it one of our traditions to open one present on Christmas Eve?” he asked.

“I thought we’d have to skip our tradition this year, but I’m glad we won’t have to.” I smiled.

“I wouldn’t let you miss that for the world Angie. It’s important that you keep your family traditions,” Blair said as she ate a jelly filled croissant roll.

My father reached in one of the baskets and pulled out a present wrapped in blue Christmas paper, with a silver bow.

“I wrapped it all nice and neat for you!” Faux exclaimed with one of her radiant smiles. “I know you’ll love it!”

My dad’s face reddened a little, Faux had embarrassed him. I could tell right away that it wasn’t his wrapping job. “Well, here you go Ang, it was your mother’s. I thought you’d like to have something of hers.”

My hands were shaking when I took the long rectangular package from my father. “Dad, it’s from you. I’ll love it anyways.”

“What if he gave you a dead toad, would you still love it?” Sadie said with a smug smirk on her face.

“Sister!” Spencer gapped her.

Blair and Freddie laughed, Faux buried her face in her hands. “Oh, why oh why are we friends again?” she asked.

“Why on earth would I give her a dead toad?” My father asked bewildered.

“She did say she’d love anything you gave her, I thought it was a logical question,” Sadie mused.

“Well, that shouldn’t be something I’ll have to worry about anytime soon.” I smiled and I ripped off the wrapping paper. It was a long black box.

“Open it honey,” Julian said.

I pulled off the lid. Inside was silver bracelet. The metal was laced together in a curved design and diagonally placed where the metal curves touched was three stones. There were two black diamonds on either side of a blue topaz. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d had ever seen. Tears pricked my eyes, but I shook my head. This wasn’t a moment for tears. I was happy, really happy. “Oh my god dad… It’s lovely.”

“I got that for your mother on our one year anniversary.” He beamed.

“You should be proud of him. He did it all by himself.” Faux smirked again.

“Don’t pick on him too much, he barely got here,” Blair said, eating another jelly roll, “These are amazing Julian. I have half a mind to talk you into staying to be the head cook.”

“Been there, done that. I have a humane society to run now, but I’ll cook for you anytime.” My father returned Blair’s smile.

“How I do miss your cooking, Julian. Maybe you could at least give the chefs here some pointers,” Freddie said to my father. He was on his second plate of food already.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Julian laughed.

I pulled the bracelet out of its case and tried to put it around my wrist. “Here, let me help you with that.” My dad took the bracelet in his own hands and clicked it around my left wrist. “There you go Angie.”

“Wow, I wish I had something way better to give to you…” I looked away. “My gifts are kinda lame in comparison.”

“Seeing you alive and safe is more than enough. You have no idea how worried I was when Victor came and told Dax and I where Cain was hiding.”

Faux’s eyebrows creased, Blair took a sip of her tea, and my mouth fell open. “You’ve heard from Dax again and didn’t tell me? I thought Victor had just talked to Dax alone…”

He rubbed the back of his neck, he looked sheepish, like he had let something slip he wasn’t supposed to. “Not really… Well, it’s complicated. Look Angie…”

I was little angry, but I wasn’t going to let this ruin Christmas. If Dax didn’t want to talk to me than fine, have it his way. I changed the subject. “So, how’d you get to the palace anyways?” I asked.

“Well, you see…”

“Since I knew he was coming, I was prepared…” Blair glared at Faux, the twins, and Freddie. “It helps if I’m kept in the loop and not left guessing at strings. I had some of my guards meet him at the airport to accompany him here.”

Freddie raised his eyebrows at her, “We’d hoped that your pull on us, on her, would have been enough.”

“I put the pieces together by the time you got here, everything worked out,” Blair stated.

“Well, Angie,” Spencer said, “You have another present, from all of us here, you’ll get it tomorrow. However, as much as I would love to see your reaction, I’m leaving for London after we get done eating. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen Amelia, and she’s on winter break …” His smiled was sad, but I returned an sympathetic look.

“Spencer, you love her, you should go see her.” I placed my hand on his. “I’m fine here, I’m safe. Take a vacation and go see Amelia.”

“I hope you don’t mind me taking Sadie with me? We always travel together,” Spencer explained.

“Even if she did, you’re stuck with me.” Sadie smiled at her brother.

“What’s the longest the two of you have been apart anyways?” I asked. Their relationship wasn’t weird to me; they did their own things, but were never very far apart from the other.

“Only a few days. We have a pull towards each other, much like the queen does with her people. Only close Natural Born siblings have the kind of a pull, if he’s in pain, so am I. It’s easier to deal with things when we’re together,” Sadie told me. It was impossible to deny their bond, but looking at the twins was like looking at night and day. Spencer’s eyes shown a bright crisp blue beneath his glasses, his jet black hair sticking out in an assortment of random directions. Sadie golden eyes gave off a warm, clear glow, her long straight light golden hair kept itself in place.

“So Sadie, what are you going to do while Spencer is off with his girlfriend?” Freddie asked.

“Well…” She paused, an unhappy grimace darkened her face. “I’ll go see our mother.”

“Well, at least you’re trying to work things out with her,” Faux said with strain in her voice.

Sadie picked at a crumb on her plate, “I wouldn’t say I’m trying to work it out with her, but it is Christmas and we haven’t seen our parents in two years. It’s about time…” her voice trailed off.

“We’ll be fine,” Spencer squeezed his twin’s arm, they exchanged a nervous smile.

“Anyways, Angie,” Sadie looked at me, “I really do hope you enjoy your present. You’re father asked us about it a couple weeks or so ago, when he knew for sure he was coming. We all thought it was great!”

“And it’s practical, very practical. So naturally I agreed to help!” Blair beamed.

“I picked the color!” Faux shouted like child, high pitched voice and everything.

“Shh!” Freddie growled. “Or it won’t be a surprise!”

I smiled at them, they were my family, not all of them by blood, but all of them by choice. I scooted over and hugged my father. “Thank you for everything dad. I got you some cook books, I know you’ve been wanting new recipes. One for Greek, and one from Mediterranean food. I’m sorry I can’t keep it a surprise.”

He laughed. “That’s my girl, you are so much like your mother.”

Later that evening when I was making my way back from Jack’s study, I heard Naeem’s voice travel around from the side of the castle. I paused to listen.

“But mother, we can’t let his plan work! It’s not supposed to happen this way! We don’t need Cain to win!” Naeem cried.

I heard a slap and my body winced. “Hush now! Don’t be an idiot. Everything will work out. We might have to change the sequence of our plans. But this could be a very good thing.” It was Chloe; her voice was cunning and precise. “It’ll be easier if I don’t have to involve anyone else. Think about it, it all makes sense.”

I turned my head sideways; out of the corner of my eye I could see Naeem rubbing his swollen cheek. He had a sullen look on his face. “If you say so mother.”

“I do, you’ll see. Just be patient,” Chloe said smugly.

There was a rustle in the bushes. I jump and covered my mouth with my hands and tried to be quiet.

Mubaka looked around. “Let’s go, I’ve had enough of your mouth for one day,” Chloe stated and pushed her son inside the safety of the palace walls.

I turned my head back to the bushes, but they were empty, nothing was there. It took me a second to regulate my breathing again. My gut told me to stay away from her at all cost.

The next morning I woke to overly energetic yelling. Faux jumped on my bed as she threw Christmas tree garland and ribbons on me.

“Merry Christmas!” She cried excitedly.

I grabbed a pillow and whacked her with it. “Merry Christmas to you too!” I wacked her again as she grabbed a pillow to defend herself.

“Girls! Girls, girls! How old are we now? I believe we have Angie’s last present to give her,” my father said from where he was standing in the doorway.

I looked around the room excitedly. I had given my father and Faux their presents yesterday. Blair had helped me get a camera for Faux. I’d gotten Blair a candle set that matched the color scheme of her room. Jack insisted that I didn’t get him anything from Christmas, expect that I enjoy my time with my family. I’d have to give the twins theirs when they got back. I looked back at my dad, “So where is it?”

“You’ll see.” He gave me a twisted smile, my face fell.

“What’d you mean?”

Faux smirked and pulled out a blue cloth. “Hold still…” She pounced on me.

“Wait! Hey! What the hell are you doing?” I screamed at her.

“Blind folding you, it’ll be a better surprise this way.” She said and pulled me on my feet. I was still in my pajamas and she was dragging me outside. “Now, you’ll let Julian take you to your present and you can tell me how you like it later.”

“Oh… Okay?” I was confused.

“I got you, Angie,” my father said as he put his hand on the back of my shoulder and lead me out of my room.

I could tell as soon as we got into the throne room, from all the smells of candles, there was jasmine, lilacs, and for whatever reason, a hint of cinnamon. I heard to large doors being pulled open and Julian led me to the front of the castle.

“Almost there Angie, don’t trip,” he informed me.

“I won’t…” I sighed with anticipation.

I felt the warm moist grass underneath my feet as my father pulled the blind fold off. In front of me was a bright blue Jeep. My eyes glistened. “Is it mine?” I jumped and ran towards it.

“Of course it’s yours, who’s else’s would it be?” My father asked and walked to my new car. “It’s a 2012 Jeep Liberty. I hope you like it.”

“Oh my god! I love it dad! It’s even better than the focus.” I ran my hands around the shiny blue metal and over the spare tire in the back. “It’s perfect.” I climbed into the driver’s seat.

“I’m glad you like it. Blair helped me ship it here, but I’m sure once you need it home again she’ll help you fly it back.”

“This is amazing dad,” I told him and traced the leather of the steering wheel, the inside was black and bright blue to match the exterior of the car.

“Here you go, Angie,” my father said as he handed me the keys.

I stepped out of the car, leaving the keys in the driver’s seat. I doubt anyone would steal my car here. Almost immediately after closing the door my phone started to ring. “What the hell?” I dug it out of my pocket, “Who could be calling me?” I turned to my father, he shrugged.

It was a number I didn’t recognize. “Hello?” And wholly hell I got reception!

“Good morning, girly…” I may not have recognized his number, but I immediately recognized his voice.

“DAX! What the hell? You’re calling me?” I had been too nervous, too excited to be angry with him. “Are you ok? Blair said you went after Cain again…”

“Don’t worry about me, girly, I wanted to make sure you were ok… And…” He trailed off.

“And?” I pealed

“And I wanted to see how mad you still are at me.” He sighed, and almost sounded annoyed.

Instant irritation flowed through me. I took a deep breath and let it out, “Dax…” I closed my eyes tightly I had been filled with so much anger at both of us, but I was just so relieved hearing his voice. “You stopped talking to me.”

“I know girly, I know. I over reacted…” He paused. “In trying to fix my mistake, I put all my energy into finding Cain. Which I did, by the way girly, until he got away. And it’s really not good news… Which is why…” He inhaled. “Which is why I’m calling. I needed to hear that you were ok for myself. I needed to hear from you, girly.”

“You could have called or texted anytime! Would it have really hurt for you to call? Text? Any contact at all would have been nice!” I snapped a little harsher than I meant to.

“Watch it, girly,” he growled back. “Let’s agree that we were both in the wrong.”

I sighed again. “If that’ll make you happy.”

“Happy is such a strong word. How about I make it up to you?” I could almost hear his smile.

“Hey, it’s my fault. I’m the one you should be making it right by you… I was the one who said I didn’t need you,” I told him.

There was a noise behind me, but I dismissed it. There were noises all around me from the other students enjoying the day. “Hey, girly?”

“Yes Dax?” I looked at my father quizzically. He had a huge smile plastered on his face. What had gotten into him?

“Turn around.” There was an echo sound to his voice.

“Dax, what the hell, if this is some kind of joke …” The phone fell out of my hands and I gasped.

“Merry Christmas, girly,” Dax said and cocked a half smile that pulled the bottom end of his scar up. He seemed unsure about being here, there was hesitation in his steps. His dark brown, almost black, eyes stared at me. He nervously ran his fingers through his hair.

I walked to him. “I really don’t know whether to hug you or to slap you right now,” I raised my hand, because I had been dead serious about smacking him.

He took two steps back. “Whoa, whoa, girly. Calm now.” He held up his hands.

“Calm down? Calm down! Why didn’t you just tell me you were here? Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” My face was red in frustration. I was extremely ecstatic that he was here, so why was I yelling at him?

“Angela, sweetie, relax. I wanted it to be a surprise.” My father placed his arm on my shoulder.

“DAX NATHANIEL ATTICUS LESAGE!” Faux screamed as she came stormed from the palace steps. She looked furious. Seeing her had made my irritation looked like nothing and my mood immediately vanished.

Dax held out his arms, “Hey, sis. I take it you missed me?”

“You arrogant asshole!” She screamed at him again.

“Now, Faux…” My dad tried to talk to her, but she stomped past, completely ignoring him.

Faux actually tried to slap Dax. He grabbed her wrist, shook his head, and pulled her into a hug. “I missed you too, sis.” He took her by the shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “Now if you ladies are quiet finished being mad at me we can have good Christmas.”

“Girls, Dax thought this would be a good way to try and make up for what happened last month,” My father tried to explain.

I ran my fingers through my tangled mess of hair. Faux crossed her arms.

“That’s all fine and well, but Dax, you and I need to talk.” Blair said as she made her way towards us. I hadn’t heard her coming towards us.

“Yeah, I figured that much…” Dax put his hand on the back of his head. “There’s a lot that still needs to be discussed.” I thought he was responding to Blair, but he never looked away from me.

I gave him a questioning look, but kept my mouth shut. He saw my expression, but turned back to Blair. “Can that wait until tomorrow? There’s enough going on today.”

Blair nodded. “Of course. I’m not here to ruin this day.” She smiled. “I just wanted to make sure you knew.”

“How could I not?” He had the irritated under tone to his voice again.

“You’re attitude won’t work on me, but you know that already.” She smiled at him, not a harsh one, but a genuinely kind smile. “Enjoy your Christmas you four. I have duties to attend to, but I’ll see you all at dinner. Oh, and Angie, Jack will be joining us in the dining hall this time.” With that she left us.

“Faux, there is something I need to talk to you about.” Now Dax appeared to be almost sad. “Do you want to go someplace else?”

“As much as we’ve been through together I don’t see the point in talking someplace else. Just tell me,” Faux said and she crossed her arms, standing in place.

“I stopped by Candice and Bill’s before I left.” He turned to me. “My adoptive parents.” He turned back to Faux. “And Faux, you need to call mom. Dad’s not doing so hot and they haven’t been able to get a hold of Dominique either, that selfish pain in the ass. In fact, it might be better if you went to go see them for yourself.”

Faux took a couple of sallow breaths. “Thank you for telling me Dax.” She gave him hug, I knew she was trying to hide her tears from the news of her father. After a few seconds she turned back to us, her face a little blotchy. “I hope you guys have a good Christmas. Oh, Angie and Julian, I have another present for you two to in my room.” She gave me and my father a quick hug and dashed back into the castle to get ready to leave. “I’ll be back soon,” she called out to us.

“I’m sure Bill will be fine, Dax. He’ll pull through whatever this is,” my father tried to comfort Dax, but he just nodded. “Well, do you want to take your new Jeep for a little drive?” Julian asked, trying to lighten the mood.

My face brightened with excitement. “Of course!”

“Drive it around back by the lake should be fine. There’s also a small garage by the cabins that Blair will let you store it in.

“There’s about a 45 minute drive to a town that has a small gas station, so after a bit we should probably head there. I put some two five gallon gas cans in the back so you would have some extra supplies in case you get low,” Dax said.

“Wait you knew I was getting a Jeep for Christmas?” I asked Dax.

“Well, Angie, it actually was his idea,” my dad told me.

“What? Really?”

“You act like that surprises you…” Dax said with his eyebrows raised and his arms crossed.

“Yeah, it does. I didn’t think…” I don’t know what I thought to be honest, it was just so unexpected.

“I can actually be nice once in a while. So where are the keys?” He asked me.

“They’re in the car.” It hadn’t crossed my mind that this would be an issue.

“They’re in the car! You can’t leave your keys in the car! Granted you’re standing right next to it, but my point remains, don’t let this car get stolen,” Dax gave me an angry lecture.

A grin spread a crossed my face, my anger had faded away. “I’m gonna go change clothes, I’ll meet you guys back here in five.”

I laughed. One of those full belly laughs. It was the kind that causes tears to roll out the corner of your eyes. Dax one hand on his hear, the other on the dash board. He was breathing heavy and looked scared out of his mind. The car was at least three inches in the lake, Dax had been nagging about my driving so I drove straight at the lake and slammed on brakes only just in time to stop the car from going in.

“Angela do not do that again!” My father yelled from the back seat.

Dax reached over turned off the car and grabbed the keys. “I’m taking it back. This was a bad idea. I never should have told your dad to get you this! Damn it girly!” He ran his hand through his hair and slammed it onto his leg.

“Okay, I won’t do that again, but I need the keys back so I can move it,” I told him and put my hand out.

“You need to be responsible with your new car, Angie, this is not a toy,” Julian chastised me.

“I know dad, I was just having a little fun,” I said.

Dax reluctantly handed me the keys back, “I shouldn’t be giving these back to you.” His face was sullen.

He turned to look my side of the dash board. “We should fill the gas tanks before you run it completely out.”

“But the car’s still full.” I looked at him quizzically.

“The tanks in the back are empty, we should go ahead and fill them.” He turned to look at my dad.

“Drop me off at the front door; I believe that’s the one closest to the dining hall.” He patted his stomach. “I need food.”

Once we got to the entrance doors my dad opened the doors, “Don’t kill each other now you two. Drive safe please.” He gave me a quick fatherly nod and step out of the car.

“Now, where am I going? There aren’t a lot of roads in these parts...” I looked about and forth trying to contemplate where we would be headed.

“Have you ever walked all the way down the small road past the cottages?” Dax asked me.

“No, I’ve never had any real reason to.”

“Okay, drive straight down there, and take a left at the end of the road,” Dax said and pointed in the direction we needed to head.

As we past my old cabin I stopped and starred at it.

“You ok Angie?” Dax asked me.

“Yeah… Yeah, let’s go.” I drove forward and turn left at the end of the road.

“Just follow this road for about 20 miles, then you’ll have another left turn and you’ll follow that road the rest of way, girly. It’s not hard to get there,” he explained.

We were quiet for about 10 minutes. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know how to start a conversation”

“So Faux’s dad, you’re adoptive father, is really sick uh?” I asked.

“Yeah, he is,” he said in a dark voice. “They don’t know what’s wrong with him. It’s like something is causing his body to reject itself. He’s been tested over and over again for different types of cancer, but they’ve all be negative.” Dax looked drained and uneasy.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” I said. “It’s not fair you either you or Faux to lose him too. You both have already been through enough.”

“Don’t be sorry girly. It’s how life goes.”

An uncomfortable expression darken Dax’s face. “Look,” he said as he tapped his fingers repeatedly against the hand rest. “Angie, there’s something we need… I need to talk to you about.” He turned his hands over and starred at his scars.

I turned to look at him. “You want to talk?”

“I guess I’m full of surprises today uh?” He asked still starring at his hands.

“I guess so. What’s wrong?”

He lowered his hands. “Pull over, I’d really rather not have this conversation while you’re driving, girly. I don’t want to get freaked and accidently wreck your Christmas present.” Dax wasn’t joking, he was being serious.

I pulled over to the side of the road. Dax got out of the car. I stared after him. I took it I was supposed to follow him. I turned off the car, made sure the keys were secure in my pocket, and walked to him.

He was staring out at the jungle in front of us.

It was humid outside; my hair frizzed and had stuck to the side of my neck. “What is it Dax?”

He turned to me, his eyebrows were creased. His dark eyes looked worried. “You asked one time how I got these scars?” He held his hands for me to look at. The skin on his palms had had some skin grafts done, making them look almost normal, but still different. There were still spots on the back of his hand that still had a melted look to them. His hands were shaped normal; they just had a lot of character.

“You said that they were worth it.” I grabbed ahold of one of his hands without thinking, but he didn’t pull it away.

“And they were, girly,” he said almost sweetly. He took his free hand and pulled my hair off my neck and draped it over my shoulder. It was a tender gesture, and for whatever reason it was welcomed.

“Do they still hurt you?” I asked, turning his hand over in mine.

“Nah, girly, they don’t.” He took my hand and rubbed it a crossed on one of his palms. “There’s too much nerve damage, I don’t have a lot of feeling in them anymore.”

“So I take it you want to tell me how you actually got them?”

“That’s what I’d planned on,” he sighed. “Or have they told you? Do you already know?”

“Honestly? No, no one’s told me anything, but I have an idea.” I reached forward and ran my finger over his scar going diagonally a crossed his face. He jumped a little, surprised at the touch. I pulled my hand away. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

He grabbed my hand with his. “Girly…” He leaned down. For a moment, just a brief moment, I thought he might kiss me. Why on earth would he do that? He doesn’t like you! These thoughts swirled around in my head. Instead, he rested his forehead against mine. “Girly, it’s time for you to know that truth.”

“But you walked out…” I stammered I didn’t know why I had brought that up again. “I know I said I didn’t need you, but I do. I do.” I pressed my forehead a little harder against his. He grabbed both mine hands in his.

“I know, girly,” he took a deep breath, he moved his hands to my shoulders. “Ok, here goes. After your father got knocked out by Lonna, she and some other Natural Borns set the house on fire with you trapped in it. I saw Julian fall, I had been watching, hiding in the forest. I was terrified, I was only twelve. They left quickly, but as soon as I realized what was going on I ran into the house. I dragged your father outside, but it took longer than I had hoped. Most of the house was on fire by the time I’d gotten him outside. I ran back in the house, but I wasn’t strong enough as a human. I changed into husky form and slammed my way into your room.” His dark eyes were gazing to my bright silver ones. There was this static charge between us. Seeing him like that made my knees shaky, if he had not been holding on to my back with his hands I would have fallen.

“It was a good thing I got to your room when I did girly, the ceiling caved in not seconds after I got past the door. Everything was on fire. The skin on my paws had become charred. I saw you and the ceiling fell on top of me. I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to get out, but you were screaming and I used my paws to push the fallen ceiling out of the way. They caught on fire, but I ignored the pain. I pushed my nose against your face and told you to hold on to my fur. The heat and the pressure had caused the window to break. I stepped towards it; I cut one of my back paws on a broken piece of glass.”

“But you still managed to jump out of the window. You saved me.” I placed my hands against his face. I could have kissed him, but for some reason I held back. “Thank you for saving me, Dax. Thank you for saving my father.”

“I wished I could have saved your mother too,” he said, his eyes were closed. He wrapped his arms around me in a hug, it was much more intimate than the hug he gave Faux. He grabbed the back of my head, weaving his fingers through my hair, and he leaned his head against mine. “I really did try to save her. I was too late, all I could do was watch her die. .. and then… I killed the person who murdered her.” Dax tried to pull away but I stopped him and held him where he stood. I needed to hear what he had to say. “Her last words were asking me to save you.”

I stiffened a little at his words, but relaxed again his arms. “It’s ok Dax,” I said as I placed my hand on his back. “there are no words to describe what you went through or how thankful I am to be alive.”

“You don’t have to thank me girly, it’s my job. Literally, is my job. I have to protect you.” He didn’t try to pull away from me this time.

“You’re my guardian aren’t you?” I asked, but I was positive I already knew the answer.

He leaned his head against the side of mine. I could feel his stubble against my face. Half his face was buried in my hair. My whole body tingled from his closeness. I was in total awe. I closed my eyes, enjoying this moment with him.

“Yes, I’ve been you’re guardian since I was elven years old. I know I’ve fucked up in trying to protect you, but I promise I’ll find Cain.” He stepped back and let go of me completely before I could stop him, and looked me dead in the eyes. “I’ll find Cain and I’ll fucking kill him.”