The cat lunged at me, despite the fact that there is no way to kill me. Before he could pounce, Jesse grabbed its paw and flung it back on the other side of the Border like a javelin. The cat was in no way injured despite the long throw. It had its sights on my Jesse now. Before it lunged at Jesse, I gripped its throat as I gripped Adelaide’s two or three weeks ago. The cat thrashed and twitched under my grip.
All I could feel was anger and frustration. Why couldn’t Deacon just let us be happy? What was so terrible about me that he would disapprove of me? The only reason he hates me is probably because I’m a man.
“Stop!” I heard a voice shout.
I turned toward the voice. It came from a woman with green hair and gunmetal blue eyes. Her long nose cast a shadow over the bottom half of her face, and it was almost bright white, like fresh, new parchment. She had freckles scattered across her face.
“I can’t take this anymore. What has this world come to?” she asked angrily, “Love is so much simpler for the Leviacs. We have no need for the approval of the father of the one we love. Love is love, and there’s no controlling it. People seriously need to understand that.”
The cat turned back into Deacon, and I let go of his throat after a couple of Jesse’s calming words.
“Who are you, exactly?” Deacon asked sourly.
“Why, I’m Jesse’s real mother.” she responded just as sour, “And, if I were you, I’d be privileged to have a son who loves men over women. They are practically gods!”
“And that is what makes us superior to you pagans.” Deacon responded, “We Christians have standards.”
“What a load of crap!”
“So,” Jesse interrupted, “You’re my mother?”
“Exactly.” the woman answered, “Elizabeth Bennett, Leviac matchmaker.”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” Deacon exclaimed.
“Problem, Neanderthal?”
“What do you mean by ‘matchmaker’” I asked.
“I find a person’s soul mate, and I do everything I can to get them together. It’s a talent of mine. In fact, I am largely responsible for you too meeting.”
“What?!” Jesse and I exclaimed in unison.
Oh, how our voices sound so beautiful together! I thought in a lovesick manner.
“At least I approve of your union, unlike some idiots!”
“Hey, no one talks to me like that!”
“Well, I just did!”
Suddenly, as if we never left, we were all back in the tunnels, safe from the Holy Land’s judging eyes.
“What happened?!” Britter asked frantically.
“I poofed you back to the tunnels.” Elizabeth explained, “We were finished there.”
“How do you know where they are?”
“I’ve been here many times, Britt. You just couldn’t see me.” she whispered menacingly, “Jesse saw me once though. At least, I thought you did.”
Jesse bit his lip, deep in thought.
“Yes,” Jesse finally said after the longest time, “I did see you, now that I remember. I was taking a stroll, just before I met Angel in the gardens.”
Nevaeh entered the room, shocked by the appearance of a green-haired Leviac. She looked angry and kind of worried. If I didn’t know any better I’d say she was still loyal to the Holy Men.
“What’s she doing here?” Nevaeh sneered bitterly.
“This is Jesse’s mother, Nevaeh,” I explained with the same tone I used when Beth was being disrespectful, “and she is going to be staying with us for as long as she’d like.”
“Really?” Elizabeth asked excitedly.
“Of course.” I responded, “Besides, Jesse and I need a Leviac to officiate.”
“Hallelujah!” Elizabeth exclaimed, squeezing me into a death grip, “You were always such a kind man, very giving, just like your mother.”
“You knew my mother?!” I exclaimed in surprise.
“Yes,” she responded, “I was actually the one that...made you what you are. I just knew you’d have a purpose in the far, far, far future, and I was right.”
She continued hugging me as if I was her son.
“Oh, come in here, Jess.” Elizabeth invited with one arm reaching out to him, “You know you want to.”
Jesse then joined the group hug. He was smiling from ear to ear, making my heartbeat like the sound of galloping horses. Jesse and I both knew that we had gotten what we both had wanted.
A family.
YOU ARE READING
Unkillable (Monsters Series #1) (Wattys2014)
RomanceIn an alternate future in America, when his parents throw him over the Border River, Jesse Salvatier is rescued by Colonel Angel Harper of Liberal Ground, who can never die, and falls instantly in love with him. When his family comes knocking on the...
