Chapter 25

Twenty-Five

Their village was deep within the forest, had tall wooden walls, and guards that patrolled the walls.

It was a beautiful village of A-frame buildings made from the jungle trees and with some dark substance that looked like mud or clay applied in the grooves that likely kept the rain out.

A thick gate was pulled open by two men, both as large as Stan and Clark.

Where did all these giant men come from? Why were they so big? Was it something they ate or were they just genetically blessed?

The hybrids approached cautiously. There were a couple children, but most were in their twenties or older.

"Everyone, please gather!" Mercy yelled.

Paul set his hand on Caleb's shoulder and said, "Our king has come!"

The cheer that rose surprised me. They were so excited, but they hadn't known about us before, had they?

"We're saved! He's come to save us!" one of the children yelled as he danced around some of the other members.

Saved?

"I think we need to be brought up to speed," Caleb said to Paul.

Paul rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. "Let's take a seat."

We followed him towards a huge bonfire area with logs for seating and took seats on them. The children tried to get close to Lily, but Ezio snarled at them and they ran to hide behind some women.

Lily shifted into her human form and glared at Ezio. "Why you snarl?"

"We don't know them or know if they might harm you," he whispered.

"What is it that you're all so afraid of?" I asked bluntly. "It's not just animals on the island."

"There's a trio of men; we thought they were mages, but they have dark, terrible powers," Paul answered. "If we get caught by them, they curse us and turn us against each other. We haven't found a way to break the curse or return the people to normal."

Mercy ducked her head and sniffled.

Paul set a hand on her shoulder, squeezed, and said, "We've had to kill a few of our own."

"Did they drip black ooze?" I asked, feeling an awful, sinking feeling.

Every set of eyes from the village turned to me.

Paul stood and growled. "How did you know that? How could you possibly have known that?"

Caleb waved his hand, but didn't stand or react aggressively. "Sit down, we aren't the enemy here."

Paul slowly sat.

"I used to live in a forest and mages started cursing animals and shifters to come after me," I explained.

Paul and Mercy looked at each other before turning back to me. "One of them disappeared about a year ago. We thought he had died."

"That was likely him then," I said with a nod. "But why? And how did they know about me?" I turned to Caleb.

This mystery made no sense. We'd thought it was just that mage council, but was it more than that?

"We need to capture one of them," Riddick said. "We need to know who their leader is. Who is ordering them to do this to the hybrids and how they found out about Ember before we did."

Caleb tapped his chin in thought as he stared at the fire before us.

"They are too powerful to be caught," Mercy said and shuddered. "We have a few mages here, but we have never been able to stand against them. The walls are warded, and that's the only way we can keep them out."

"I can trap them," Caleb said. "It would be easier if Dad was here, but I can do it."

"You're talking about using a containment circle, aren't you?" Riddick asked.

Caleb didn't respond.

"Last time you did that, you almost killed yourself."

"I was ten last time I tried in front of you," Caleb countered. "I'm a bit more powerful and have practiced a lot more since then."

"You've been practicing in secret?" Riddick asked, eyes wide.

Caleb looked at me and smiled. "When I realized our wonderful mate was up to such devious things, I started doing them as well."

Rolling my eyes, I turned to Mercy and Paul again and asked, "Do you have a place we could sleep while we wait for them to come?"

They both nodded.

"We should get our luggage first," Branson said.

"Ember, Lily, Branson, and Ezio, stay here," Caleb ordered as he stood. "We'll go get the luggage and return."

"You're splitting the party," I snapped as I stood quickly.

Caleb hugged me. "It will make me feel better to know you and Lily are safe in the wards here. Now that I've been here, I can teleport us if anything happens."

Gnawing on my lip, I nodded. Even though I didn't like it, I knew he could handle himself. I just didn't like being away from him.

He kissed me and pressed his forehead to mine. "We'll be back soon. Don't fret."

We watched them leave, Paul going with them. It was up to me now.

"If danger comes, please gather together and I'll use a shield," I informed Mercy.

She frowned. "Shield?"

In demonstration, I formed a shield around myself. "It deflects physical and magical attacks."

She tapped it and her eyes widened when she met resistance. "Remarkable."

Dropping the shield, I turned to Lily. "What are the rules?"

"Danger, stay with Ezio. If Ezio hurt and everyone fighting, run and hide in snake form."

I smiled wide. "Perfect."

It had only been minutes since Caleb and the others left and yet I felt certain we were going to be attacked while they were gone. What was it? Staring quietly out into the trees, I realized what it was that I sensed.

Branson frowned. "You seem certain they're going to get attacked."

"I can sense malice approaching," I admitted.

Mercy's eyes widened. "You can sense emotions?"

"My bloodline includes sirens, so I can sense emotions. They're nearing, but I can't tell exactly the distance. Malice can be felt farther than other emotions."

"Everyone, they're nearing! Gather here!" Mercy shouted.

Heading towards the wall, I climbed up to the top so I could stand atop it and watch.

Two hooded figures stepped from the trees, but paused when they noticed me.

I created a shield around everyone who stood near the bonfire.

"Ember!" Branson roared.

"What is your purpose?" I asked the mages.

Their hooded heads turned towards each other briefly before turning back to me again.

It irritated me not to be able to see their faces. Why were they hiding their faces?

"Queen of the Hybrids, give yourself to us and we will spare the village," the one on the right said in a strangely lyrical, male voice.

"Mama!" Lily called out.

"Why do you want me? What do you hope to accomplish by taking me?" We needed to better understand their goal to figure out who they were and how to combat them.

"Your blood and the King's blood are the key. We need to know why," the one on the left said, a feminine voice that was raspy, like she'd had a throat injury or something.

"You're experimenting on the hybrids with the curse, why?" I asked. "What are you hoping you will accomplish with these experiments?"

"Come with us and we will show you," the man said. His lyrical tone bothered me. Was he part siren? Was he trying to lure me into using it? Did he not know I was part siren as well?

"Where will you take me?" Did they have a stronghold on the island or were they teleporting somewhere else?

"Our base," the woman answered.

"Ember," Branson growled. "Don't you even think about it."

"Decide!" the man and woman shouted.

Hands on my hips, I glared down at them. "How dare you raise your voice to me when I've been nothing, but polite even though you're traitors and deserve death. I will not stand for this disrespect any longer. Bow before me!" I thrust my hand out and used my connection to Caleb and through him, Nico, to grip the mages before me.

They dropped to their knees with grunts, straining and fighting against me.

The shield behind me dropped and Branson advanced on them, hopping over the wall to approach them.

"Stop," I ordered him. "They aren't submitting and might break free."

Branson halted, shifted into warrior form, and waited for my command.

Mercy and Ezio, with Lily on his shoulder, joined me on the wall.

"How are you doing this?" Mercy asked.

"Mate bond that connects me to the Mage King," I explained and grunted. "Branson, back up." I jumped down to join him. "I have to release the hold."

He nodded and stood at my side.

Releasing my hold on them, I immediately put a shield up that surrounded not just Branson and I, but Ezio, Lily, and Mercy behind us as well.

"You're too dangerous," the woman said. "We must know what it is about your blood that protects you."

"Come with us or we will murder every hybrid on this island," the man threatened.

"Come get me," I challenged and shifted into my warrior form.

"Bunny tail," Lily giggled behind me.

My mouth twitched as I held back a smile.

The mages got to their feet and started whispering while moving their hands in a weird pattern.

"Mama!" Lily yelled, her voice full of fear.

I turned my head and gasped.

Ezio had fallen off the wall and was on the ground behind me, convulsing.

Lily stood before him, but looked at me uncertainly.

"Come here," Branson ordered her.

Ezio jerked upright on his knees, threw his head back, and howled.

The hair on my nape stood on end.

"They've cursed him," Mercy hissed.

How were they cursing him without touching him or using the stones? Had they improved their spells from using it on so many during the time they were trying to kill me?

"Branson, protect Lily. I'm going to cure him," I said. "Dropping shield in three …"

He ran to Lily.

"… two, one." Running to Ezio, I changed my right hand into a cheetah's paw and used my claw to cut my arm. Before I could get the blood onto his face, he shifted into warrior form and swiped his claws at me.

I danced backwards, using my rabbit-human legs to jump out of the way quickly, but his claws still cut a bit into my cheek.

Ezio was one of the strongest alphas in the werewolf clan. I wasn't sure I stood a chance against him without the intent to kill him.

"Stop!" Lily screamed, tears flowing down her face.

Ezio leapt towards her and a combination of fear and protective instincts took over.

I changed my right hand back to a human hand, smeared my fingers in the blood dripping down my opposite arm, and leapt onto Ezio's back. Wrapping my arm around his throat, I wiped the blood over Ezio's mouth and held on while he tried to throw me off and tried to move forward to attack Lily.

Ezio would never forgive himself it he hurt her.

Branson stepped in front of Lily and shoved Ezio in the chest, making him stumble backwards.

The blood was on his lips, but he had to ingest it for it to cure him.

"Lick your lips!" I shouted into his ear and tightened my hold on his throat, trying to cut off his air supply.

Branson swept his leg out, knocking Ezio off balance and making him open his mouth.

I shoved my still bloodied fingers into his mouth and across his tongue, gasping in relief when I pulled my fingers free before his teeth clamped down.

He stopped attacking and dropped to the ground on his hands and knees.

"Inconceivable!" the male mage yelled.

"I'm okay," Ezio panted.

"Bran Bran!" Lily yelled.

His body convulsed and he started to turn towards her.

No. No, they were not going to hurt my mate or my daughter!

As I ran by him, I smeared my blood on his mouth, my eyes focused on the mages. I shifted my hands into cheetah's paws again and swiped at their faces.

Their hoods fell back and I gasped at the faces of my adopted parents.

"How?" I screamed as I continued trying to cut them, my claws tearing their cloaks to shreds. "We killed you!"

"You killed our clones," my adoptive mother said. She clapped her hands together and a powerful wave of wind knocked me backwards.

"We knew you were unique, but we never imagined you were a hybrid. Had we known, we would have kept you and used your blood. Our research would have been so much better if we'd had your blood this whole time."

We battled back and forth with magical attacks as well as my physical ones, and I felt my powers weakening. Branson leapt forward and distracted my adoptive father, attacking him while I attacked my adoptive mother. We had to end this soon or my power would be depleted.

The realization hit me and I cursed myself mentally for not realizing it sooner. "You morons!" I hissed. "You really don't get it, do you?"

"Tell us, brilliant Daughter," my adoptive father snapped and hit me with a fire spell that burned my face.

"Hybrids are more powerful and my siren blood protects me from your attempts at emotional manipulation. Your curses are emotion-based. You give the cursed person or creature an emotional desire and my siren blood filled with my desire to put them at peace breaks your curse."

Both of their eyes widened and their momentary hesitation gave me the opportunity to attack my father, my claws burying into his stomach. With a twist, I jerked them out and he dropped to his hands and knees.

My adopted mother screamed, her hands moving in a circular pattern, and a strange purple and cyan blue, almost oil slick type of color grew.

A terrible feeling had me jumping back to try to avoid the magic. I tugged on my connection to Caleb, but wasn't certain he would arrive in time.

"No, you will not escape this!" she bellowed. "This ends here!" The ball of power in her hands grew larger and larger.

Branson grabbed me and I tried to create a shield, but it didn't fully form, my powers weak.

She threw the power at us and an almost certain feeling of death filled me. There was nothing I could do.

"No!" Lily screamed.

My terror increased as Lily ran between the power and us, her little arms spread wide, and she screamed as the ball of oil slick colored power hit her.