Trust From Within - Book 3 Daughter of a Monster Series

Chapter 40- Power of Mine

"Hey kiddo, you doing okay?" he asks, running over to me. He holds out his hand and I use it to get up, pulling him into a hug as quickly as I can. "Jade?"

"I missed you," I murmur into his shoulder, choking back the tears. "You were gone for ages, Steve. You just... you were dead for, like, a month!"

"Yeah, but now I'm here," he replies, kissing the top of my head. "It does seem like I missed out on all the action though. Notch is here, Sana is here, I can see Renna and Mariko, and Jay and Kathryn. What the hell is going on?"

"Stacy managed to open a portal to the Ather so that she could get to Notch and get access to his magic, but we've distracted her too much through Notch and by attacking her, so she can't use the full extent of his powers."

"Okay. Where's your dad?"

"Behind Stacy. He was still conscious last I saw, but barely. Stacy is using his magic to gain access to Notch through the bond or something? She's keeping Dad real close to her, making sure we don't take him or knock him out. Regina is somewhere around here too, I think she's out cold."

"Okay, we can work with that. I'll get Notch sorted out then we can focus on Stacy. Go help your Mum," he tells me. I step back from him, meeting the eyes of the snake on his shoulder.

"What's with the snake?"

"Yeah, Steve, what's with the snake?" it asks him, turning to face him. He flushes red for a moment before chuckling uncomfortably.

"Has Brine told you about Mariko?" he asks first. When I nod my affirmation he continues. "Yeah, well my 'spirit animal'," and he says this in air quotes. "Was never actually killed by him. I managed to hide him away. He's been hiding ever since, because I saw what losing Renna did to Notch, and even what happened to your Dad when I... killed Mariko. I didn't want that happening to me."

"And yet, I had to hang around in that jungle for ages, constantly feeling you dying. No regard for maybe what I felt during all that, no siree!" the snake responds, shaking its head. "Anyway, I apologise for his rudeness. I'm Tarek, and I've been stuck with this asshole for way too long," he says.

"I'm-I'm... Jade," I reply, awestruck by the talking snake in front of me. "Sorry, this is just... surreal."

"Do not be worried, Jade. I understand. Steve has told me much about you over the years. And please, do note that I never did agree with Notch and Steve taking you, I did attempt to talk them out of it, but neither would listen to me."

"Oh, hush you," Steve grumbles, swiping a hand toward him. Tarek hisses back but doesn't argue against him, huffing a sigh before settling his head on Steve's shoulder. "Anyway, now that introductions are over, how about we stop this witch for good, yeah?"

"Sounds great," I reply, a smile spreading over my face.

We move forward, splitting up so that I can go to Mum and Nate, with Steve and Tarek going over to Notch who is just getting himself off the ground. As I approach, I notice that Nate has slowed his attacks considerably, along with Mum, both of them growing more and more tired by the second. With my ribs almost fully healed again, I'm exactly what they need right now.

Magic floods my veins and I open my hands towards her, thrusting them forward as two long, dark whips curling around her unprotected wrists, and I yank them towards me, causing her to stumble and fall, magic flaring out to stop it. Mum nods to me and I keep her down, magic pushing against hers, the invisible battle forcing a grunt from me. Mum runs over to Dad, pulling him into her lap, gently tapping his cheek, trying to rouse him.