Protector (16 page)

Marked Ones Notes and Letters

ANAT
(goddess within many)

...
goddess who destroyed Orion with the Scorpion to punish his misdeeds including stealing her bow, excessive bragging towards the intention to kill the earth’s creatures, and ignoring her. Legends say Artemis, and even Apollo her twin brother, set out to punish him but Anat beat them to it using trickery and good timing.   She used her sordid past to help solve an escalating dilemma among the supernatural factions on the earth.  The humans were passive and set in their ways, but those living among them are restless.  They want to own each other.  That could never happen.

Anat set out to create only one, but that would be impossible.  It went awry last time.  She would need reassurance when the time came.  Who would make the group compatible?  Who would make them achieve their goal?  Not all decisions can be easily identified as explainable, but sometimes you just know. The goddess rings made available will keep them safer.  All asked have willingly accepted my plea for help.  The five chosen
will
bring back unity.

STACE
(is marked with ALL signifying the connection between the five)

Goddess ring
- multi-colored and blocks thoughts from Cas (and ability to have power increased when touching Cas physically but not revealed until later), enhances electricity with Calum (doesn’t officially know it yet), shields others combined with Szar (finds out later), sees specific future events with Cord( later)

...
is the child born to a goddess- daughter of Anat who killed her lover Aqhat (Orion) in the legends.  She was created to change a dying supernatural world from destroying itself from the inside out.  After many dangers, traitors, and feuding allies she finally makes the group whole in book two with a unified beginning towards peace.  But it’s long road.

Anat tells Stace in book two that she took the name Anat over any other simply because she wanted to and that all the names she and the other gods have held are synonymous regardless of how the different people of the world change it.

SZAR
(SHIELD)
(other connections- Saiph, star in Orion)

Goddess ring
- seemingly useless at first and he see it as a dud especially when he sees the others in use, but later a happy chance brought about a situation where Szar actually felt the group in real danger and his own high emotions created a shield from any danger (thus a shield- hasn’t happened yet...)

...
is the half god/ half Valkyrie- son of Lord Hathown, leader of the Valkyrie court faction in the supernatural world.  He doesn’t find out till much later that his sole purpose is to save Stace.  Can he run a faction and save her too?   Stay tuned...

CALUM
(ORION)
(other connections- Rigel, star in Orion)

Goddess ring
- enhances the power of electricity through Stace when he wears it combined with highly intense emotions

...
is the half god/ half Hunter- who was created to make sure Stace stays safe from all with his brute strength alone, but ultimately in the end he is still (Orion) and Cord (the Scorpion) does show up.  Can legends be broken?

CASSIUS
(SUN)
(other connections-Ra, the sun god, Hathor and Sekhmet)

Goddess ring
- increases any power Stace holds if he is touching her (not aware of it until later)

...is the half god/half Valkyrie turned Vampire-who was created to stand beside his beloved and never let her feel alone even when all else seems at an end.  To be her stronghold in the darkest moments.  Her balance in the fight for their lives.

He (
chose)
to turn vampire to save her finding only his destiny was never his own even as far back as at birth when she spoke to him in her mind.  Made a vampire and moved up in status to be the next Lord allowing him to be her equal and therefore fulfilling the destiny of connecting the five intended to bind together to change the supernatural world.

Incidentally, Cas has studied his roots extensively, for he is born of the very powerful god, Ra.

CORD
(SCORPION)
(other connections-enemy used to kill Orion by his love, Anat)

Goddess ring
- sees specific futuristic events that only he and Stace can envision when joined together by blood (Ewww!)

...human turned Werewolf-didn
’t (
choose)
to become a Were and didn’t know his destiny as the scorpion he was marked with from birth.  His destiny is still unknown in most ways for we know not why he was sent to Stace like the others though he was born in the same Val court as the others, except the Hunter.  For now, we press on and wait.

Everything was set in motion until Cas was told to go to him and ask him to become the
Were leader (by Lord Hathown).   He was a human servant in the Val court that Stace doesn’t remember and doesn’t find out until end of book two.

Letter to
Anastacia
Anat Hathown
(hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till she is 18)

Dear Daughter of Anat, 

              I haven’t forgotten you.  My time on earth was short, but carrying you was the highlight of my time there.  I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold.  Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead.  I hold your abilities above all and will stand above to watch them grow when all have our children have found themselves in one accord.  The frailty of the human race kept us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the powers of the gods.  Please use this wisely and step forward on hastened feet.  We need you.  We are counting on you.  They can’t do it without you.  Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you. 

             
              With Love.

The hunter by day will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own.  She will bear the mark of Orion, as will he.

The hunter by night will take with him, a huntress, unlike his own. She will bear the mark of the sun.  As will he. 

They will bring forth a mighty nation of all who come together.  They will find Saiph at their right shoulder.  Rigel and his stinging adversary will rule like no other.  
Cross will come between severed twins.  Let who stands in the way of fate perish and be no more.  In this great peril, the Anat goddess in human form will be the only light.

Lost Letter to
Szar
Hathown
(hidden by father- told before Stace as a young boy and asked to guide her)

Dear Son of Anat,

I haven’t forgotten you.  My time on earth was short, but carrying you and your sister were the highlight of my time there.  I leave you with your father, the chosen male to carry you through childhood and on to the destiny you hold.  Please use the resources I’ve instilled in you to accomplish the goal ahead.  I hold your abilities as most important to the survival of your kind and ours and for the single event that it will cost all if you choose to ignore it.  You understand what this is if your father followed as I asked and gave this to you at the right time.  The frailty of the human race kept up us from making you anything other than the strengths of the Valkyrie and the powers of the gods.  Please use this wisely. We need you.  We are counting on you.  The rest can’t do it without you.  Read carefully the prophecy our leader has put before you. 

With Love.

Letter to
Calum
Rigel Green
(Hidden for proper time with Lord Green till he is 18 but revealed that

he
’d seen it years before)

Dear Son of Neptunia,

              I am the Father of Neptunia.  My daughter was chosen for this task to bare you.  I was asked to help build a ruler who would prove strong and agile among the many.  I adhere to whatever Anat, the battle goddess and her children deem necessary until such time I should need to intervene and shut it down.  You do me proud.  Please do nothing else.  Beware of your enemies, for they are many.  Keep the girl safe from all harm, first and foremost.

             
              Father of Neptunia.

Letter to
Cassius
Rathorth Cross
(Hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till he ten only because

he
needed someone to personally protect her)

Dear Son of Eos,

             
Son, I am only the pawn in this.  Asked by Anat to comply with her orders, I give you my undying love and respect for what you must do in the following years.  As goddess of the dawn, I foresee what actions you did and will take to have the human emotion love and to fulfill your destiny.  Please use the powers you hold to complete these tasks.  Don’t let her go alone.  As the son of Ra, you are bound by all orders of our kind and hers.  When choosing another form, take care that you are taught properly.  The ring will return and be of use to the both of you.
 
Take care.

             
With Love.

Letter to
Cord
Ryan
(Hidden for proper time with Lord Hathown till he is 18 but given early because he

is
turned earlier than planned)

Dear Son of a Human,

             
The Valkyrie court has and will kept watch over you.  At the appointed time, Lord of the manor will see to it that you are properly prepared for your destiny as the Scorpion.  Know that your original lineage stems from great rulers and will allow you to harness the power you will need to lead the most ruthless of the factions. Guard it well. 

             
              With Thanks.

             
                            Anat

Acknowledgements

When writing my mind hovers around the haze of what is real.  Like I’m stuck in the movie screen at a drive in movie lot and can’t get out.  I couldn’t begin to write without the minds of the yesterday to lead the way.  Thank you to those who plotted the way for the lovers of reading to be willing to create their own since the schema of today stems from the greats of the past.

SNEAK PEEK

at

Scorpion

Book Three

of

the
anticipating next adventure in the

Marked Like me series

The one in the tight white t-shirt and Abercrombie jeans standing aloof and serious faced stared me down from the time we began our waltz across the field.  I presumed he might be the leader, well dressed or not.  It was the way the other guys, his men, swarmed around him. 

The fluttering in my body, the pain in my spine, well they
’d never left me since I was so close to both boys.  But something wasn’t right.  Something different was welling up inside.  My head felt like it wanted to explode.  Little vampire bunny rabbits were biting the insides of my head.  I touched the side of my face pressing my temple in on the left side beside my eye.  It was like a searing headache coming on really quickly.

At the same time I noticed the white tee shirt hottie stretched and grabbed the side of his head also, his fine-boned jaw gritting steel shut.  His spiked black hair ending in blonde streaks tilted towards me giving off the great effect of a GQ model, but a little rough around the edges. 
In a good way.  The gleam of a silver diamond stud earring caught my eye as I glared into his black as black eyes with sooty dark lashes to match searching for why he’d grabbed his head.  We both seemed to be expressing the same vibes of emotion towards one another.  Fear of why this headache came about.  Another step closer and suddenly, I could read him loud and clear.

Still not knowing
who the leader was but having a really great guess, I stared this guy down.  He was directly in front of me now and I just knew.  He was the leader.  And one of us.

I remembered my bodyguards then.  They both had a hold of my arms still.  We
’d stopped now and I was very aware of the emotions vibing off of my boys and theirs. 
How again did I end up the only girl in this equation?

I
’ve wondered the same thing.  It seems we all want the same treasure.  You!

I glanced sideways giving Cas a look of disdain.  The dull ringing in my head lingered on.

“Scorpion?” the guy beside the muscled white tee shirt boy said strong and seriously.  His hand went up at him giving off the order like a mafia boss.  A long staff sat diagonal across the back of him igniting a memory.

Scorpion?

Cas put his arm around my hip.  I glanced down at the death hold he had on me.  Calum was scowling at the Weres.  I looked back ahead of me all the while my headache getting stronger.  No, it’s not a headache.  It’s like my ears were ringing.

We were all waiting for the first move. 
Wasn’t this their party?

“Princess Anastacia.”  The boy in front of me vibrated out with his deep buttery, bass toned voice. 
Really deep. His fists were drawn in.  He’d forced his hand away from his head, so I followed suit.  His subtle wink in my direction didn’t go unnoticed by the others.  He’d apparently recovered rather quickly but I let myself go just long enough to lose my wits about me and show my head was warbled by him somehow. 

I nodded indifferently to regain control, ice queen ready and able.  I briefly thought that perhaps I should take the “let
’s work together” attitude, but decided this bad boy Were leader wasn’t in the mood since he expressed the same emotion frustration I felt. 

So I decided.

“The faction leaders have informed me of the past transgressions confounded upon you.  I have on good word that the ultimate goal was for my safety only and it was not the intention to outright lie to your faction if not for your apparent disregard for the other factions having a say in how we can work as one team.”

His face didn
’t show anything at first, but I sensed a small amount of fury escalating.  He watched me, then not.  Then again.  “I’m over it.  I agreed to aid the Hunter faction’s leader to housing the twin Valkyrie’s heir in the warehouse.  I agreed to tracking you down and making sure you didn’t come to any harm, but to make sure it appeared so.  I agreed to stay out of your life for your safety.  But now that has to change.”

What is he talking about?
  “What do you mean?”

His voice was deeper the more sentences he added to one statement.  And an accent was there.  I heard it before, but from someone older.  Who?  I couldn
’t place it.  His masculine clip of the vowels didn’t make him hard to understand, but you had to listen to be sure you heard him right.  It was a voice girls heard and melted right under.  And I think he knew it too.

“I am Cord Ryan, son of Luper Ryan.  I would be most welcome to talk with you alone if that is permissible with your bodyguards?” his malevolent smile telling me much.  He was too calculated.  His face made all kinds of movement but for the life of me I could only read
a certain coldness in them, yet his eyes had warmth when he watched me for long spells.  By long spells I mean more than five to ten seconds.  I just met the guy and he was making me feel naked.  His stance suggested power, but not completely moral or without the need for retaliation if wronged.

“Why?” asked Calum, the muscle in his jaw working silently under his
skin.

He is one of us Stace.  He knows already.

How do you know this? 
I turned to Cas.  He looked me in the eyes, begging me to just walk away.  But he knew I couldn’t. 

“I will not hurt her.  It is my own safety I should think to be worried about.” 
              He looked me up and down like he’d be able to x-ray my body and find evidence of divine magic or something dangerous to his health maybe.  I could arrange it!

“I
’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”  He was one smug boy.

I huffed.  Maybe he was right to get it over with.

“I know Lord Green and Lord Hathown are with us so there is no cause to worry.  I just want to...talk.”  His eyes watched me so intensely.

“Fine,” I gave him.  Why did
Lord Cross
not count in the line up?

“We back up the lines, I watch your every move, one move out of line, I
’ll strike you dead before you look my way,” Calum seriously had some major
save Stace from the bad guy
going on.  I thought this was a good guy?

I didn
’t flinch though.  I was too caught up in the fast moving events. 

His wall of men moved back at his nod.  Our people moved back when I stepped forward.  We were alone.

“Am I supposed to know what you mean?”  I looked at him argumentatively.   All this heartache for the possibility that this is the human my mother hinted would come.  If he's it, we are doomed.

“Your Vampire boyfriend hasn
’t enlightened you?”

I detected something in his voice I wasn
’t sure I wanted to analyze and casual comments with the attempt at controlling the sarcasm didn’t seem to go over well with him.  I chose to damper my first choice in words for fear of what malice it might bring forth for the simple fact that I was working on a bigger plan.  Information.

“I
’m guessing you’re about to tell me hence the separation.”  I spread my hand out unambiguously showing the crowd all watching.  I knew that Cas could probably hear anyway.  He is a Vampire. 

“You are the goddess.  You tell me.”

I gave him a sure-fire dose of
are.you.serious
from the look on my face.  “I’m not sure that’s accurate, but for moving this on a little faster, surnames now announced, let’s proceed.  I have you to smooth over, fathers to appease, and my hair to wash, so if it pleases you... ”

He smiled almost playfully.  His hand scratched his unshaven chin.  “You
’re not at all what I expected.  Feistier than ever.”

“That seems to be the consensus, yes.”  I wish he would just get on with it.

His playful attitude diminished, “Anastacia, you are in great danger.  I was there at the bonfire for your birthday.  You took down my leader and made the way for me a little sooner than expected.  You are well protected, but I have on good word also that the ones who want you dead are well guarded and I’m left at the other faction’s mercy.  I was there at the party, but Thorn had you before I could.  Guess he won the pissing contest. I will admit I have been unmerciful towards the other factions for any action that might have been taken to endanger our way of life or yours as was my job before this one.  We cannot control our natural instincts and therefore I have to preserve our people and yours and manage some kind of peace.  The other factions want you to believe that I, my faction, is disagreeable but I aim only to ensure our way of life and yours.  Our people are not expendable and nor are you.”

He paused wanting my reaction not letting him down in the dirty look department.  I hadn
’t expected a plea for acceptance.  What really went down with my father and the other leaders?  That included Cas as a faction leader decision maker.  “I don’t believe that anyone is expendable.  I’m sure they have a good reason for leading you to believe what you do.  However, I think now that I am safe and there is no reason to spend so many resources on keeping me that way, we can spend more time finding a way to work as one team, as a group.  This danger you say I am in, who from?”

“You don
’t know?”

No freaking no! 

I was offended but then smiled devilishly, “No, I only recently found out what I do know, so knowing any enemy other than you was not on my know list.”

“Well, mark me off as your enemy but not anyone else.” 

He was playing a game again with me just trying to get me into an outrage so I played a move back.  I couldn’t figure him out yet and refused to let him see me trying.  “Done, but who have you derived at naming my enemy?”

I could see two kinds of person in the Cord Ryan, like two skins.  He wore the tough guy one right now.  I wondered what the other one was like.  Maybe all of us in this little bubble of superheroes were second skin kind of people. 
Something to hide.

“The group that calls themselves the new leaders who include Borgon and his death wish cronies would have you dead, my lady.”

Hmm.  I knew this already.  I smiled showing him I was aware of the fact.  “Let’s say we are not enemies.  Let’s say that we can come to an agreement where you will work with the other factions—

“No!  I will work with you, not the factions themselves.”  He touched his hand to his temple and then his ear.

“Okay!”  I so don’t get this.  I have to know.  “Why?”

He looked almost sheepishly shy for a second and then returned his face to the bad boy image he wanted displayed. 
Story of my life with these boys.  I was definitely in the decision that I like all these boys much better than the boys my father had picked out for me. 

“
Anastacia Anat Hathown, you’ve been lied to for a very long time.  I was made to keep quiet.  I could have never predicted the recent events, nor could have predicted that you and I would be standing here today, together the way it should have been long ago.”

Why am I getting a weird feeling? 
My head still ringing all the while.

“Why do you act like you know me?”

“Because I do.”

Well, elaborate already.  The freaking mind games were wearing me out.

“I will show you.” 

Good thing, cuz
’ I’m dying to know.  He moved closer.  I felt Cas and Calum move in behind me.  This boy’s hand flew up in Cas’ direction.  

Cas stopped disturbing me somewhat.

Scorpion, Mr. Cord Ryan, moved even closer. 

I tensed.  Was he trying to unnerve me?

“Do you think I will hurt you?”

“I really don
’t know that for sure?”

“I wouldn
’t hurt you.  I need to show you something.  And I’m betting you need to show me.  You know, I’ll show you mine if you show me yours like before.  Unless you require me to just remove clothing and get it all out in the open.  I could make it happen.”

Who is this guy?  I know he
’s supposed to be the last of the faction leaders we need but he was a nympho psychopath.  I know they secretly hint that he is one of us and I would like to think the mothers were being careful in the choosing process.  I know my mother told me to be ready for him, the human.  But how does that make him one of us?

He lifted his shirt.  I didn
’t look down.  I was so afraid.  Not because a guy was stripping his shirt off in front of me or a whole crowd.  Yeah I noticed that he’s hot in that bad boy Harley kind of way.  I was afraid because the look in his eye told me he knew what was under my shirt.

He watched my eyes.  I didn
’t even realize I’d stepped closer still.  Perhaps it was to hide what he was about to do or even more, to keep my secrets within a small space for a little longer.  This was beginning to become a regular habit.

And I saw it.  It dawned on me why the other dude had called him what he did.  On his navel surrounding it with the stinger pointing up was a scorpion.  My head began to spin and I felt like I was falling, but this time I caught my breath escaping and grabbed this boy
’s arm to steady myself saving me from the idiocy of being a fainter.