I Know

Elicia:

“I’m far from being a ‘little girl’.” Sprinting toward his panting frame holding his body on shaky arms, field goaling his face with a thunderous kick as his body slammed back into the barrier, sliding down to the ground with a grunting cough. Backstepping, motioning for him to come at me with a smug smirk of satisfaction.

“Big Mistake little girl.” Rolling my eyes at his mocking tone, spitting out the bloody mucus that seeped from the corners of his split lips, flash stepping, smacking away his flying kick as my other hand thrusted his nose back with a crunching crack and the harmonious melody of screaming. Thrusting my knee into his stomach as my elbows slammed into his spine, spinning away with a quick donkey kick to the ass.

“I forgot to mention one itsy-bitsy-tinny detail, Helmer. I’m the vessel of the Goddess Hathor, maybe you’ve heard of her.” Snapping my hands back, feeling the electrified energy surging through my body as the gritty earth swirled around my feet in a dusty cloud of shimmering gold and black fog. Lifting my head as the setting sun draped over the gritty earth with my shadowy silhouette holding a floating disk with horns, catching the flicker of fear in his darkened orbs of crimson.

“Impossible.” The whispering hiss triggered an eruption of whistles and shouts as the guys banged on the misty barrier in excitement.

“GET ‘EM GIRLIE!!!” Randi howled in excitement, hanging from Rex’s laughing frame as they watched on from the stage with a few others, but the floating greenish-white mist caught my attention as a surge of pride and happiness welled deep from within my heart knowing my parents were here even in the afterlife.

“It’s time to sever our ‘Blood Seal’.” Snapping my fingers as the Nightshade dagger appeared standing on its tip against my fingertip, twirling slowly as the priceless gems gleamed and flickered their colorful rainbows of light across my face and ground.

“You can’t kill me without killing yourself.” His smug declaration only added fuel to the raging fire that swirled deep in the pit of my stomach.

“I know.” Tossing the dagger up into the air, snatching it quickly, plunging it into my chest with a gasping exhale of relief as the arena erupted into a chaotic storm of shouts and pleading.

The chaotic storm of voices faded into a soothing rushing of static, almost like a waterfall cascading over rocks as Helmer’s screams drifted into the evening sky. My body felt cold, but a warm tingling crept through my limbs as he dropped to his knees clenching to his chest in agony.

“Y-you b-bitch.” His final words hissed over his trembling lips as his smooth ivory skin began to char and crumble away with a fizzy red glow like burning embers of a fire.

My trembling legs finally gave up, collapsing to the ground as my shaking palm wrapped around the gem crested handle, gasping for breath as the misty barrier broke away in pieces like shattering glass. Dropping to my hands, panting as sweltering palms scooped me into a claustrophobic embrace, blinking away the fiery tears that pooled at the corners of my eyes.

“I-is he d-dead?” Cupping their hands against my cheeks as their faces blurred into a foggy canvas of colors.

“Ashes,” Randi spoke for the guys as they held tightly to my trembling body.

“T-that’s a g-good song b-by Stellar.” Gasping against the tightness constricting my chest as their hands shifted position, pulling me closer to their sexy warmth.

“E-Elicia.” Their raspy voices blanketed in a soothing embrace as a heavy feeling of sleep washed over my body, groaning out as they shook me awake.

“Don’t you dare Kitten,” Elias growled in my ear as his hot lips pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.

“I-I just n-need an n-nap.” Feeling my body relax against their strong arms as a violent whooshing of static whipped around my body, thrusted into a bright blanket of white.

Smelling crisp mountain air and a fresh scent of nature as my eyes opened slowly to a picturesque sight of rough rock cliffs, large mountain spruces surrounding cascading waterfalls as they fed the crisp lake below. Looking around in surprise, turning sharply as voices approached from the dense forest.

“Aw, she’s finally here.” The woman spoke softly with a gentle tone as she looked over her shoulder, pulling on the gentleman’s hand with a bright smile.

“Where am I?” Staring at the woman in confusion because she looked like, me.

“Hanging Lake. A special place in many ways.” The gentleman spoke with a deep timbre as they motioned to a few boulders tucked under the canopy of the trees. Dusting off my dirty butt, sliding up on the boulder as they took seats facing me.

“I know this is confusing, but we wanted to bring you to the place where our lives changed for the good and the bad. The good was you, always was and always will be, but the bad was we could not be a part of your life.” Mom cupped my hand in a loving embrace as tears streamed down her olive-tanned flesh, nodding in understanding as my own tears slid down my cheeks.

“Your mother had a vision after you were conceived, and on our final nightly visit, we decided what needed to be done in order to protect you. We knew about Helmer and his plan, so your mom made the ‘Blood Seal’ to ensure that he would be linked to you in order for us to complete the original vision.” The guilty tone only made the tears fall harder as his strong arms scooped me into his broad chest, inhaling his manly scent of crisp snow and hickory.

“I know, but it hurts. I always wondered what my parents were like, what they looked like, who they were, why was I left alone. I had so many questions, but no one had answers for me. Then I met the Watchmen, and everything just spiraled out of control faster than I could keep up with. I felt alive, free to be me. All those questions just piled up, and then BAM! I started to get answers.” Smiling against the chesty chuckle that rumbled next to my cheek as his sparkling glacier blues peered down at me with a breath-catching smile.

“Those boys are wild ones, but they balance you perfectly. Being a vessel to a Goddess is complicated, but the Gods chose right in their selections. Even though they come from a dark past, the light that shines within them is as bright as the light that lives in you, and these, are just as precious as you.” Mom placed her hand to my stomach with a bright smile that triggered even more tears to fall.

“You have a massive family to support you. Both of our fathers will answer any questions you ever have about us, and I’m sure Desmond will answer any questions you might have. That man loves to TALK, but he loves his family with a genuine heart.” Nodding to Dad’s words with a bright smile.

“You not only carry the ‘oracle’ from your mother, but you carry the ‘Black Claw’, which makes you special. Not that you weren’t already, but you have so much to learn.” Looking up at his bright smile as he held mom’s hand.

“You caught on to Helmer’s scheme and plunging that dagger into your heart was so a ‘Black Claw’ trait. Otso.” Mom gave dad a pointed stare as he fought to contain his laughter.

“Oh, and like her little taunting wasn’t like you. She gets it honestly Prue.” Laughing at their bickering, feeling at ease knowing my parents were together in the afterlife.

Hold on.

“There it is. The panicked face.” Mom tapped my nose with a soft chuckle.

“Don’t worry baby girl, you’re just in a deep sleep while your body heals. The guys finally activated their true abilities.” Dad nudged my arm with his chest as my fingers traced over the detailed tribal tattoos running up his bicep onto his left pectoral muscle.

“You like it?” Looking up at his handsome face, his icy blues peering back at me as his long black hair draped over his shoulder in wavy locks with braids and beads glistening against the sunny blue skies.

“I do. What does it mean?” Tracing the bear’s head surrounded by intricate lines that created a tribal pattern with ancient Nordic symbols.

“It’s our family crest.” Leaning back as his finger traced over my bicep up into my collarbone, chanting soft words as my flesh tingled and snapped with soft warmth.
Gasping in shock as intricate lines of black appeared on my flesh, lifting back my shirt collar to see the same bear’s head forming on my chest above my left breast.

“Hang on, it needs my touch as well.” Looking at mom as she tapped her finger to the markings on my bicep, watching as the lines shifted and formed around an ‘Ankh’ with hieroglyphics inside the shape.

“The guys will have one similar with the scarab.” Smiling like a goofball as my fingers traced over the designs, choking back sobs as they embraced me in a loving hug.

“I love you.” Clenching to dad’s shoulder as his muscular hand rubbed soothing circles against my back, leaning into mom’s lips as she placed a kiss to my temple, running her fingers through my wavy locks of black and purple ombre.

“We love you too.” Closing my eyes as my body relaxed into the soothing warmth.