TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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Xavier

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The ground rumbles beneath my feet, branches snapping as trees shiver with a ferocious beat, one that is not natural. 

Somehow, the energy I felt, felt oddly familiar. It felt like her. Her presence was all-encompassing, surrounding me with a heavy weight. Like pressure building, bubbling below the surface and I know it's Renessa.

         I know I need to find her.

Faster I make my way towards her, her scent growing stronger the closer I feel myself get and I realize that something is wrong. She is hurting or something is hurting her but I can feel the energy in the air and it's angry, furious and full like the air before a storm when it becomes muggy and warm; when it sticks to your skin and the breeze picks up and rocks hit off glass windows. 

The cool night air had suddenly become much different and the snow fell slower, almost to a stop as I reached closer to her. 

Voices that echoed through trees started falling into place as I hear Ryker and Jade. Then Jaxon and Rayya too, but Renessa's voice is louder and I hear her yelling, she wants them to leave.

"I said I don't care. Leave!" Her heart hammers, but her voice is stern and yet there was a slight tremble, almost like she was scared of what would happen if they did.

"Renessa!" I call out her name, knowing it wouldn't warrant a response from her. I was probably the last person she wanted to see or speak to, but she needed to know I was here.

Her breathing stops momentarily as she steps back, her figure a shadow in the dark, like my vision from before. A haze... a dream, but this isn't a dream because I can feel her presence unlike any other as I near closer. 

The dim light of the moon reflects off the side of her face and I can see a glimpse of her, more of her forming beneath the soft glow but the hammering sound deep within her chest picks up again like the thumping of a drum, hard and fast with a steady rhythm. 

I see her jaw clench, tense and tighten as her eyes flicker with something, something I have yet to see from her. Her hands glow with a deep purple, sparking with shades of blue and glimmers of red.

"Xavier." I hear Jaxon's voice call out, stern and harsh like a warning but I ignore it, continuing my way toward Renessa.

"Xavier, this is not the time to ignore me," Suddenly he's in front of me, hands hard against my chest, "Listen to me carefully!"

"Or what?" I fire back, shoving him as his body falls to the ground, sliding back through the slick snow.

I move away quickly, closer to her but Jaxon's faster. He's back up, and then he has my arm, pulling me back and slamming me hard against a tree.

"You're playing with fire right now," His hands grip my shoulders, holding me in place, "She does not want you nor any of us near her. This is uncharted territory for us, we need to let Jade and Finley take the lead here."

I glance over to the two women with dirt smeared across their clothes and grip my hands around Jaxon's wrists, grabbing them and pinning him against another tree in seconds. He grunts as his back connects with the tree trunk.

"Normally, I wouldn't argue but It sure looks like they know how to handle her." I scoff.

"Roman brought Finley here to help her. Jade is going to as well. They are powerful Xavier, and you..." He trails off, brows furrowing and as I flinch back, his eyes widen, "You know that you've done enough already. You're still unsure whether or not you'd hurt her again, aren't you?"

"Stay the hell out of my mind, Jaxon!"

"If you love her, do what is right to keep her safe!"

"You're one to talk about what's right and wrong."

Jaxon flinches briefly at more words before Jade's voice captures my attention. She whispers something, a spell or incantation in Spanish. Both of us look over as Finley tugs at Jade's shirt but she doesn't flinch, she doesn't stop.

I loosen my grip on Jaxon but not before I shove him once more hard against the tree.

"I would never stop you from helping Rayya, do not stop me from helping her."

Jade continues repeating the same phrase over and over, something I can only loosely translate.

  By air and earth, by water and fire, be you bound by my desire, by three and nine your power I bind, by sun and moon my will be done, refrain your power and harm no one.

Renessa is still, unmoving as if she were stuck, feet cemented to the ground. Her heart is racing, her breaths quick and shallow and as I inch my way closer, slowly now and I can't help but admire her. 

She looks surreal and her energy doesn't simmer, not even for a moment. The air is still full. Seconds pass and as Jade stops, Renessa glances at me. Her chest rising and falling hard and fast, I blink and her hands are glowing now brighter than before.

It's as if Jade's spell had no effect on her once the incantation had stopped because suddenly Renessa steps forward and her eyes lock with mine. 

She moves, making her way toward me stepping over thick cracks within the ground and even as Roman and Finley call her name it's as if she can't hear them but no one follows her, no one tries to stop her, they all know better then to get in her way now.

"Why are you here?"

Her voice is scornful, just as fierce as the fire burning behind her eyes which I can see clearly now. Her once mismatched eyes were now a striking deep green and as the wind blows back her hair I can see the pointed tips of her ears. She was indeed a Fairy.

"Why are you here, Xavier?" She asks again.

The ground shakes, trees quiver and for a moment so do I.

She looks up at me through heavy brows as she brings her hands up, slowly turning them towards the midnight sky and then there are flames.