The Art Of Listening

Chapter 6

I look at her and shake my head, "I am so sorry for your pain." She gasps and looks at Jax who is smiling and nodding. I furrow my brows, "What is going on here?" Lorilee takes my hand and leads me to the couch, "You are not just seeing someone's emotions, dear girl, you are seeing their very soul. You are very special, you are half nymph." My jaw drops, "Say what now?" She laughs, "You know, you look a lot like a Nymph I knew once, many years ago. Her name was Leto. She was very beautiful. You might look like her if I could see what you looked like under all that damage. Hold still a second."  She closes her eyes and chants something under her breath. I feel a warmth surround me and then, all my pain is gone. 

Lorilee is looking at me like she has seen a ghost, and I don't mean the General. "You have to be her daughter. The last time I talked to her was a little over twenty years ago. She had fallen in love with some professor at a human college in Cambridge or something." I jump up and run up the stairs, grabbing the small box of pictures and return to the living room. I set it down and open, taking out the picture of my mother, smiling at the camera. "Is this her? This is my mother, but I never knew her name." Lorilee nods sadly, "Yes, dear, that is her and you look so much like her." 

I look at Jax and the General, they are both smiling, "You know, Artemis, she lived here, in this town. Her and Lorilee shared a house. They were best friends." I looked at Lorilee and smiled. I am shocked, "That is strange indeed. I wonder if Sally knew that?"  They all look at me with wide eyes. "What did I say?" Jax kneels in front of me, "You have seen Sally, Clair's sister?" I nodded, "She told me to call Clair and see about work here, why?" Jax smiles, "No one here has seen or heard from her in years. She and Clair got in a huge fight and she left. You are really something." I felt my cheeks burn. 

There was a knock on the front door and I tore my gaze away from Jax. He sighed as the door swung open and I was looking at the very angry faces of Trevor and the guys. "Well, look at that, a pack of stray dogs." Jax deadpanned. "Stuff it, leech." Adam growled and then their eyes snapped to me, looking me over for injuries. I sighed, "Now girls, you are both pretty, no need to fight. What are you guys doing here so late?" They all stared at me for a moment while the General and Lorilee chuckled. "We smelled death and wanted to check on you." Blaine said with a growl. I quirked an eyebrow, "So, you smelled death, huh? Well, I know Jax is a vampire, Lorilee is a witch, and the General is a ghost, so what are you?" 

Trevor was staring at me like he had never seen me before, then I remembered that Lorilee healed me, so he really hadn't. He strolled to me and brushed my cheek, "They are all gone." I rolled my eyes, "Lorilee helped me out, now stop petting me like a kitten and answer my question, you big oaf!" Everyone laughed and Trevor smiled before answering, "Werewolf, what are you?" I nodded, "Makes sense, with all the growling and what not. I am half nymph." The guys all look at me like I'm crazy. "WHAT?" I ask, annoyed. Blaine starts laughing and it ripples through the guys. "It explains a lot, Nymphs are mischievous little creatures. You fit that to a tee, you are tiny and trouble." Trevor laughs out. 

I growl at him and it makes them laugh harder, "That was the cutest thing ever!" Ian says through his laughter. I look at Jax for help, but he is grinning widely at me. "You are going to bring so much life back to this town." He tells me, icy blue eyes sparkling with amusement.  The General sighs, "Dawn is approaching, sweet girl. I shall see you tomorrow night." I turn to him with a smile, "Rest well, General." With that, he is gone. I look at Jax, "With the risk of sounding stupid, do you need to go before the sun comes up?" He smiles and shakes his head, "No, only the newly turned have problems in the sunlight and before you ask, I DO NOT SPARKLE." I smirk, an idea forming in my mind. 

"Look, no need to get touchy, I do love those movies, though. However, I liked Emmet much better, he was far better looking and all those muscles, yum." Lorilee laughs, "You sound like her too. I have an appointment to get to, so I need to go. I am so glad to have met you and I hope to see you again soon, Artemis." She hugs me and I return it. "I am grateful for your help and would love to pick your brain about my Mother." She offers a wave as she leaves, now it is just me, a vampire and a pack of wolves. Nothing strange about that. 

"Well, since we are already here, why don't we get started on some of the things on the list." Trevor says and the guys nod. "Alright, well then I will run into town and grab some groceries so that I can cook you guys some food. Do you eat or are you on an all liquid diet?" I ask Jax making them all chuckle.  "I have a better idea, you go get dressed and I will run to the store for you. I love to cook so I can help." He eyes me for a moment. "Perhaps you should take a nap, you were up all night." I shake my head, "I am alright." Before I can say anything else, Jax sweeps me up in his arms and dashes up the stairs. "Nap, Nymph." He says, causing everyone to chuckle. When we reach my room, he lays me in my bed and plants a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Sleep, little one. Just for a bit."