The Art Of Listening

Chapter 11

The ride was rough and long, but we finally made it the elven village. Aden helped me off the horse and a group of people gathered around us. A man that looked just like Aden, only a bit taller and grayer, stepped forward. "Father, I bring our cousin, Artemis. She is injured and needs our help to get home." Aden's father smiled, "Ello, Poppet. Come on then, I am Hagas and this is my wife, Elora." A woman with the same dark brown hair as me stepped forward. She looked a lot like me, except older, with pointed ears and teeth and those purple eyes. They lead me to their tiny home. Elora took me to a small room and helped me to undress so she could clean my wounds. 

She sighed, "They look bad, dear one. We don't have a healer here. As elves, we heal on own. I can clean them and put some bandages on them so help until we can get you home. I am sonly sorry I could not do more. I wish Aden could have gotten to you sooner, but that castle is a nightmare." I offered her a smile. "I am gratefull for all your help. I just don't want to cause you any problems, if he is your king." She laughed and it was musical, "Sweet child, he is king of the fae, we are elves, no one rules the elves. He would be slaughtered if he came here. Don't let our small size fool you, we are warriors." 

"I didn't mean to offend you." I whispered and she smiled gently, "You didn't. This is all new to you. That beast killed your mother, my cousin, because he wanted her power, power that she passed to you before you born. It is locked deep inside of you. You are not half human, I hope you know that. Your father was not human at all, he just hid it well. Leto wasn't stupid, she fell in love with your father, but she knew that you would always be safe with him. She didn't know that her death would cause him to lose his damn mind, but he did protect you. Your father was Zeus, I know that is hard to believe, but it is true. Why do you think he knew so much about Greek history, he was there. Now, Zeus has been reborn again and again, but the soul inside the body is the same. I know it is all confusing, but you are one born of great power. Not many people know, just a few in the family. It is up to you what to do with it." 

She finished dressing my wounds and I was processing the information that I had learned, I was half Nymph, half God? What the actual hell? I need to talk to Lorilee. She knew more than anyone I know. "OK, dear. Now let's get you home. I see that you are missing someone, a man perhaps?" She wiggled her eyebrows at me, causing me to giggle. "Yes, there is someone special, a vampire." She clapped, "They are by far the best lovers!" I blushed and she laughed harder. Taking my hand she lead me to Aden. He looked at his mother and back to me, raising an eyebrow. I shrugged and he laughed. "Ready, Poppet?" I nodded. I hugged Hagas and Elora, thanking them for their help and followed Aden. 

"Where are we going?" I asked after we walked into the woods on the other side of the village. "There is a portal just through here that leads to the human realm. I do believe it goes right to your town, since that is the supernatural capital of the US." I was shocked to hear that but then again, not really. We reached an old willow tree. "Now, I am going with you because I want you to get home safely and we need to block Asshat from getting into your home again." I giggled at his name for Drake. He took my hand and we srepped through the branches and right into the ceremtery. I sighed, I was home. 

"Now, where do you live, Poppet?" He asked and I pointed to my house, no more than a hundren feet from where we were standing. "That is my home, come on, Aden!" I began running to the house, Aden laughing behind me. I burst though the front door and saw it was empty. "Hello?" no answer. Aden was right behind me. "Poppet, you have been missing for almost two weeks, they are probibly looking for you. Do you have a phone? You should call them." I nodded, going to the kitchen and seing my cell on the counter, fully charged. I picked it up and called Lorilee first. I needed her to ward the house. "Lorilee?" I asked when the ringing stopped. "Artemis? Oh my god, where are you? What happened?" I chuckled, "I will tell you everything, but I need you to come to my house, and bring the guys, they all need to hear this." The line went dead and in less than five minutes, the front door flew open and the blue eyes I have been missing were staring at me like I was the lost city of Atlantis.

"Artemis." He breathed and then I was in his arms. I winced at his touch to my back and Aden spoke up, "Careful with her, Mate. Her injuries are pretty bad." Jax's eyes flew to Aden's face as Lorilee and the pack poured through the door. "Who the hell are you?" He growled, but I grabbed his arm, "Wait, he's my cousin. He saved my life." Lorilee looked pale, "An Elf? Fuck me, I haven't seen an elf in twenty years." Aden rolled his eyes and I chuckled. Jax looked down at me, gently tracing his fingers over my face. "I was so scared that I would never see you again. I have so much to tell you when we are alone." I nodded and pressed a kiss to my lips. He led me to the couch but I refused to sit. 

I looked at Trevor and Blaine, they looked like they hadn't slept in years, Adam had tears rolling down his face but Ian and Justin were bawling like babies. They charged me, "We are so sorry, we didn't protect you and they took you, Artie." I winced as they squished me between them. I hugged them both, despite the pain. After a ton of tears and hugs, I got everyone to sit so I could tell them everything. When I was done, you could hear a pin drop. Aden laughed, "You are all so funny. Shocked that this little Nymph half breed could be half God too. She has power inside her, I knew it from the first moment I saw her." Lorilee stood and placed her hands on my cheeks, chanting and it was like a warm blanket had wrapped around me. "That was so that Drake can never find you and take you again. Now, let's see those wounds." Aden shook his head, "They ain't pretty, witch. I am not sure you can heal them." 

Lorilee nodded, but removed my shirt and sucked in a breath, "What in the hell did he do to you?" They all looked at my back, growling. "He whipped me when I refused to marry him. He barely fed me or gave me water. I was in a cell in the dungeon. He killed my mother because she refused him and married my father. He's evil and fucking crazy." I shuddered. Lorilee chanted and felt the warmth of her healing, the pain was almost all the way gone. "I can't heal them all the way, there are scars, I'm sorry." 

"Thak you, Lorilee." I began to droop. "Alright, how about we all get some rest and let Artemis get some sleep." Jax said, picking me up. "We will be back in the morning, Artie." Trevor called out and the guys said their goodbyes. I didn't even notice that it was late." Aden are you staying or going home?" Aden smiled, "I'll come back in the morning, Poppet. I need to let the rents know you got home safe." With that, he was gone. Lorilee kissed my forehead before promising to return in the morning. Jax carried me up to my bathroom. I know I was a mess. "Go a head and get in the shower, I will get you some clothes." He said, seting me gently on my feet. The hot water was bliss, the water was almost black as it swirled down the drain. 

I dressed in the nightgown that Jax had left me and walked into my bedroom to see a freshly showered Jax sitting on my bed. He opened his arms to me and I walked into them, wrpping my arms around his neck. He kissed me , gently at firt, but it got heated quickly. He pulled back. "I need to tell you a few things before I can do anything else." I nodded. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "You remember the wolves talking about mates?" I nodded, "Well, it isn't just wolves, vampires have them too, and You are mine. Artemis, you are my mate."