‘Mother, thank you but you can’t be saving me everytime’ I told Mother as she kissed me on my cheeks and said, ‘I know dear but please be careful of her. She has a past of destroying relationship and I sense yours and Sarah’s could be next’ Mother said, out of concern. I looked at Mother and said, ‘Mother, Sarah and I were never in a relationship. Yeah, I like her and maybe falling in love with her but without Aunt Nara’s approval, we are just as good as nothing’ I told Mother as I placed my hands on my waist and looked down at her.
Mother then heaves a sigh and takes her leave, that night; I had the weirdest dream. ‘Nooo!! Not at all! Mother!’ I continue thinking to myself and then I am suddenly pushed to the bedroom where Jasmine Halle begins unbuttoning my shirt. She whispers a spell in my ear and I find myself drowsy and barely awake. My shirt buttons are all removed but she leaves my shirt hanging. She then caresses my body. ‘When was the last you had a woman on top of you, Aidan?’ she tells me lovingly, while licking and biting my ears. ‘Mother, mother … what’s happening’ I thought to myself as I began to feel sleepy and drowsy, even in my dreams. Everything was in blurry and I was in a daze.
I remember Nemesis going into her full form as she continued removing my clothes, which are now obstacles for her. She peels off her clothes, stripping them piece by piece. I remember Ambisagrus coming in and saying ‘have fun with him now, you may never get this chance again’
~~
The next day, I find myself naked in my bed. I get a scent of chocolate and thought to myself, ‘was it really a dream or was she here last night’ as I held my hands to my head. Just then, Jasmine Halle appears and she gently combs her hands through my hair. For the first time, I wake up confused, not knowing what happened the night before.
‘It was wonderful last night. You are so good in bed!’ Jasmine Halle squeals as she inched closer towards me. Not wanting to ask or answer any of her questions, ‘Get out Jasmine! And, I quit! I won’t be seeing you anymore Jasmine Halle and don’t come looking for me or following me, is that understood?’
Jasmine Halle looked at me, stunned. She walked off in a huff. Mother appeared soon after and said, ‘Aidan, nothing happened last night. The spell Nemesis used was to put you to sleep. I should have warned you but I didn’t think she would be this desperate. However, your shield protected you and she couldn’t penetrate your mind or your body’ Mother said as she massaged my forehead. ‘Feel better?’ she asked and I replied, ‘yeah, much better’
‘I heard Ambisagrus in the room, all I can remember is him saying, “have fun with him now because you may never get this chance again’ I told Mother. ‘Is there anything on those rumors, my images are vague, just dark armies of people. I can’t pinpoint the faces’ I continued as I tried to use my ability to foretell the future.
‘Don’t stress your mind, now, go freshen up. Don’t worry son, whatever it is, we will storm through this together with Sarah and Jake by our side, the images would be clearer as the day comes closer’ Mother continued reassuringly.
~~
As I freshened up and continued my day with Mother, Jake sent me a message saying Jasmine Halle was now with Sarah. This had worried Jake as she seemed bent on making Sarah jealous and it seemed that she was succeeding. ‘Aidan is awesome in bed, isn’t he, Sarah?’ Jasmine Halle asked Sarah as she walked into Sarah’s aunt’s antique store. I had never told her about Jasmine Halle. ‘We are going out, an item, you may say’ Jasmine Halle provoked further. After reading Nemesis mind and knew what she was up to, I sent positive thoughts to Jake assuring him that nothing took place and that Jasmine Halle was lying, for reasons known to her. I also warned Jake not to communicate verbally as Nemesis could see him although she behaved as if she didn’t see him.
‘Well, I wouldn’t know Jasmine Halle’ Sarah answered while busying herself arranging some antique Ming vases which had just arrived. Once the delivery forms were signed and returned and the delivery man disappears outside, Jasmine Halle continues her tirade, ‘You know it would be best if you don’t see Aidan anymore. I don’t like my man being seen with another woman, imagine, what would people say and think?’
‘We haven’t seen each other in a while. In case you haven’t noticed, I have a man of my own, James. So, yeah, I won’t be seen with Aidan, you can have him, for all I care! W are just friends and would remain that way’ Sarah continued as Jasmine Halle suddenly said, ‘Just friends! My foot! There is something going on and both of you are in denial. Anyway, Aidan’s mine’ Jasmine Halle said as she slammed the door behind her, almost sending a vase down the ground.
‘Sarah, is everything alright? Who was that mean woman?’ Aunt Josie said as she came towards Sarah after Jasmine Halle had left. ‘Aunt Josie, it’s no one to be concerned about’ Sarah said as she placed her arms on Aunt Josie’s shoulder. ‘Please Sarah, don’t believe a word she says, she is lying and not what she seems’ Jake assured Sarah as he watched silently to the events that had taken place in front of him.
From a distance, I see Jasmine Halle leaving the antique store, ‘this isn’t good. Nemesis is going to pay for this!’ I thought to myself as I walk into Sarah’s aunt’s antique store. There, Sarah greets me, rather coldly, while Jake updates the situation on what had just happened although I had already seen everything through my visions.
I approach a cold somber Sarah and say, ‘look Sarah, I don’t know what Jasmine Halle is up to and what she has told you but please don’t believe a word a she says. We need to talk now’ I plead to which Sarah nods in agreement and says, ‘ok, fine!’
Aunt Josie had seen entering her store came up to me and said, ‘what do you want?’ to which I replied, ‘I just want a few minutes with Sarah, that’s all’
‘Aunt Josie, it’s alright, five minutes is all he has’ Sarah said as she reassured Aunt Josie, ‘I’ll be back here in five minutes, ok?’
Sarah looked at me and said, ‘Five minutes, no more, no less!’ I looked at Sarah and said, ‘Ok, five minutes but not here’ I said as I looked into her hazel eyes. Sarah had and would always remain a mystery to me, not knowing what was in her mind, ‘Out of all people, the only one person whose mind I want to read, I can’t’ I thought to myself. As I had assisted Aunt Josie numerous times, I was familiar with the layout of the store.
‘How is James?’ I asked casually as I held Sarah’s hand and took her to the back of the store, reluctantly. Aunt Josie glared at me as she looked at her watch. Jake followed us behind. Sarah replied, rather coldly, ‘He is fine’.
‘He isn’t here, is he?’ I continued and she replied, ‘nope’. From being the warm friendly person she was, Sarah was now cold and only gave me single sentence answers, something unlike her who loved to chatter. ‘Why the change in attitude?’ I whispered to her as I placed her against the wall and my arms resting on the wall, locking her in between me and the wall. I was perturbed as once she would go on talking and here we were, both silent, at a quiet corner in the store. Sarah looked at me straight in the eyes and said, ‘how long have we known each other?’
‘Long enough, why?’ I answered, with my hands still on the wall. ‘You know, I don’t trust you anymore, it’s because you have not told me anything about yourself. Till today, I don’t know who your parents are, what do they do and if you really are a businessman as you make yourself out to be, you could be a drug dealer for all I care!’ she answered in a slightly raised voice so as not to attract attention.
I stared at her, controlling my eyes from flaming red. In an instant, I take her to Aunt Josie’s vacant office room. I locked the door behind me. For the first time, Sarah showed fear and said, ‘whatever you are going to do, I’ll scream!’ and grabs a letter opener on the desk and just as she is about to scream, I grip her hand and she releases the letter opener, I then clasp her mouth with my left hand and hold her waist with my right hand and bring her closer to me. ‘I need to show you who I really am!’ I whispered to her as she looked at me wide-eyed and scared, ‘I will
never do anything to hurt you Sarah. The only person who can hurt me is … … you’ as I release my clasp on her mouth. Sarah didn’t say a word and just held on to the desk for support. I opened the door and walked out, distressed, that the trust between us had dwindled to a non-existent level. Jake wanted to come to me but I stopped him by giving an arm’s length signal and told him to leave me alone.
As Sarah appeared from the room, Aunt Josie came running towards Sarah and said, ‘oh my god! What happened? Are you alright? What did he do to you?’
As Sarah composed herself, she calmed Aunt Josie and said, ‘he didn’t do anything. I’m fine’ and moved to serve customers which had just walked in, giving a smile as though nothing had happened. Despite my warning, Jake came up to me as I was walking down the street and said, ‘they have all brain-washed her against you plus her love for James has blinded her. I know she will come to her senses and I hope you will be there to catch her when she falls again’
As my eyes had flamed red, I avoided eye contact with Jake and answered, ‘I’ll be there for her, now and forever, Jake, that’s a promise!’ I said as I avoided a hug which Jake wanted to give me. Neither of us wanted to see Sarah hurt but circumstances were against us. I was bounded by her mother’s words. ‘Jake, I want to be alone. I’ll see you at the Inn after dinner’ I told Jake as my turned onto the Old Foundry Road.
As I walked along Old Foundry Road, I look up to the clouds to see dark clouds forming. There was continuous lightning and thunder began to rumble. It began to rain and soon I found myself walking in the rain. Somehow, the feeling of walking in rain calmed me down and I made my way home, all wet.
When I reached my room, Jake looks at me and says, ‘there is nothing the rain can’t cure’ and I looked at him and answered, ‘yeah, Jake, I want you to arrange a meeting with me and Sarah, can you do it?’ I asked him as I began removing my jacket and unbuttoning my shirt. ‘What about Nara saying no meetings after that secret meeting?’ Jake asked curiously as I answered, ‘that’s a risk I have to take, I need to explain to her that there is nothing between Jasmine Halle and I’
‘The good news is James has returned to London, so you two can be together’ Jake said as he winked at me. Somehow, that news didn’t seem to please me as it did the last time. I took my towel as Jake disappeared out of room and went to meet Sarah.
~~
At Holywell Beach, there were plenty of families and couples strolling along the beach, kids were building sand castles and running and playing with the gentle waves. As I laid out the picnic mat, Sarah brought out the egg and mayonnaise sandwich as well as tea with scones. At the beach, just as I had lay down with my elbows on the sand, Jasmine Halle approached me out of nowhere and sat beside me, disregarding Sarah’s presence. Sarah, who had to be persuaded to meet me one last time, wasn’t happy that Jasmine Halle was now in the picture.
‘Hello Aidan, how are you? It’s been awhile. I missed you’ Jasmine Halle said, startling me. I could see the look on Sarah’s face change. She looked visibly upset. Jasmine Halle was in a skimpy bikini which made all the men at the beach, including Jake, drool. She sat next to me and began caressing my hair and unbuttoning my shirt.
Sarah just ignored Jasmine Halle as Jake told her ‘this isn’t true, don’t believe all this!’ to which Sarah looked into Jake’s eyes and said, ‘they can do what they want, I have James, remember? At those words, I immediately got up and pulled Jasmine Halle to the side, ‘Look! What is your problem? Why are you doing this to me? Leave me alone! I told you once before and I’m telling you again, I’m not interested in you!’ I said angrily as my eyes flame red. For the first time, I sensed fear in Jasmine Halle. She mumbled with a confused expression on her face and leaves without saying a word, much to my relief.
I then returned to where Sarah and Jake were sitting, Sarah asked, sarcastically, ‘your girlfriend?’ I see Jake signaling to me that he had tried to convince her that Jasmine Halle and I were nothing but it was obvious to Jake, James was now the man in Sarah’s life.
‘No, not even an acquaintance’, I answered. ‘Oh, she met me the other day. She told me you guys were a couple and wanted me stop seeing you. I told her I have James and frankly, it makes no difference who we are going out with, we are, after all, just friends, right? Jasmine Halle does have an obvious interest in you’ Sarah said while looking out at the sea with both her hands on her knees. ‘That’s not true! Sarah, you don’t believe her, do you?’ I argued as I felt sad that my intention was now being diverted.
‘I do not have any interest in her and that’s final. Look Sarah, things could get dangerous. I haven’t been getting any good vibes around and for your safety, I was hoping Jake and you could move in with me, for the time being’ I asked sheepishly and felt my cheeks turning red. It was the first time I had asked a woman to stay with me.
‘What danger, Aidan? The only danger you have is that woman stalking you. Everything is fine on our end and I’m capable of taking care of myself, thank you. Anyway, you don’t have to worry, with James and Jake by my side, I’ll be fine’ she re-assured me. ‘James isn’t here’ I reminded her and thought to myself, ‘he couldn’t and wouldn’t do much, even if he were here’ I thought to myself.
‘Yeah Sarah! I’m there! I’m not sure about James, though’ Jake looked at me in the eye. ‘I’ll leave you too for now and am going for walk along the beach, see ya!’ Sarah then suddenly got up and said, ‘wait up Jake! I’m coming with you’ as they both left me.
They had walked the length of the beach and from my conversations with Jake it was becoming obvious that Sarah had lost interest in me, even as a friend. ‘Yeah, she felt touched at what you told her in Aunt Josie’s office room’ Jake said, ‘but her heart is only for James’ Jake continued as I looked at Jake in eye as they walked past me along the shore. After a while, Sarah approached me as I had risen and was dusting sand off my elbow, ‘Aidan, we have to go. Everything’s fine, it’s just that I don’t feel so good. Please don’t come looking for us. We need a break from you, temporarily, at least’ she said as she began packing the picnic basket. Jake, who had finished walking along the beach, was now by her side.
‘Sarah! C’mon now! You can’t do this!’ Jake said as he followed Sarah. I saw from a distance that Sarah had stopped and Jake’s thoughts were, ‘yeah, I’m staying with him, whether you like it or not! And I don’t like how you have dropped us for James, that idiot! Sarah, Aidan loves you and yeah, he hasn’t said it, I don’t know why but isn’t it obvious!’ Jake’s thoughts continued. Jake then turned towards me and said, ‘Take care Aidan, I’ll see you at home, I’ll walk Sarah home’ as they walked away.
I was left alone, once again, somehow, this time; it felt I was left for good. ‘Looks like, it’s a no then’ as I thought to myself, having even asked her to come and stay with me when she had her family and friends who loved her around her. That night, Jake returned to the Inn and told me that everything was over between Sarah and me and that she didn’t want to see me anymore. I felt sad and with Mother in the Realm of the Gods, I was also lonely. I walked out the room door and sat by the stairs. I gave strict instructions to Jake that I did not want to be disturbed. I walked out into the darkness and transformed into Taran. As I sat by the grass overlooking the ocean, I cried uncontrollably that night. As I cried, the clouds cried too, for every scream I made, there was a thunderous roar.
~~
After her encounter with me, Nemesis met with Leucetius and Ambisagrus and revealed her findings with me. They were all in human form and had met at a local café in St Just for tea.
‘Are you sure Taran isn’t half-demon or is he vampire?’ Nemesis asked, still confused.
‘Why do you ask such stupid questions?’ Ambisagrus asked her, irritated. ‘So, have you managed to demobilize him?’ Leucetius asked.
‘No, I didn’t demobilize him and it isn’t a stupid question. I’m walking out on this. You guys don’t know what you got yourselves into. Taran
isn’t what he seems. His eyes flamed red today, something which I never see in Gods!’ Nemesis said as she flickered her green eyes.
‘If Dea gets wind of this, I do not want to be there when she metes out the punishment. You guys can have his soul. I do not want it, whether he is dead or alive’ Nemesis continued as she raised and walked out, leaving Leucetius and Ambisagrus dumbfounded.
‘Make sure Dea doesn’t know anything about it. We will come after you if she does!’ Ambisagrus said as he banged his fist on the table and stared at Nemesis who was calm. ‘I won’t say a word. All the best!’ Nemesis said as she pushed her chair and walked out the café.
‘Such a hopeless Goddess! We didn’t need her anyway, right Leucetius?’ Ambisagrus asked confidently.
‘Yeah! Now that we are here, let’s get started on what we came for’ Leucetius rose and walked out with Ambisagrus following behind him. As they vanished into an alley shrouded in mist, armies of dark forces were approaching St Just.
~~
Just as Nemesis had arrived at the Realm of the Gods, she was overcome with fear. ‘I should tell Dea. I can face the other two but Dea …’
She then made her way to Dea’s palatial palace. Nemesis was playing with her fingers when Dea arrived. ‘Nemesis, you wanted to see me. You told my guards that it was an urgent matter and it better be. I cancelled my meeting with the Elders because of your “urgent” matter. What is it you wish to say?’ Dea asked, rather annoyed at having to cancel a meeting with the Elders. She met Nemesis with several of the Elders who acted as witnesses to Nemesis confession.