Taming The Fae - An Exsilium Short Story (2 page)

“Vulcan!” I yelled again but no reply came. I
was already in the second hallway leading toward the cafeteria.
Just then, a young female stepped out of the door and looked down
towards us. “Please, I need help. She is hurt,” I yelled at
her.

Her small eyes suddenly became large as she
stormed towards us. Stopping, we met in the middle. “What
happened?” she asked while looking at Nanini’s bleeding head.
How to explain this?
“She misjudged her descent to the
ground and crashed into it.” That was enough information at the
moment. “Do you know where I can find Maia?”

“She and Vulcan left for Chax, but I can help
as well.” As the words left her, she shifted and took a green
color.
Oh sweet heaven, she’s a spirit fae like Maia.
As she
sent her healing power into Nanini, I watched intently as the huge
wound on Nanini’s left side started knitting together. Finally
after what felt like a year passed, the wound was closed. Nanini
moaned, and my heart gave an eerie thump at the sound. As if its
own existence was now connected to Nanini’s heart.
Maybe it
was?

Her eyes flew open and met mine.
Heaven
above, they were the most beautiful eyes I have ever looked upon.
They weren’t too big for her small oval shaped face, no not at all.
They matched her small little face perfectly.

And then a fist blocked out the beautiful
sight, and I was too late to pull my head back.

The sound of bone cracking followed, as I
landed a beauty on him.
Stupid hellhound!

“Don’t you dare touch me again!” I pushed
away from him but, even in pain, the bloody thing kept holding on
to me.

He rolled his head, and his tongue caught the
small drop of blood on his lip. Then he was freaking looking at me
again, all dreamy-eyed and crap. “Argh, let me go!” I fought
harder, but his freaking arms were like metal chains wrapped around
me and not budging.

“Calm down, Nanini. You got hurt pretty
bad.”

“No, really?”

“Nanini, calm the hell down now,” he growled
at me as he ducked my second punch.
But he didn’t see the third
one coming right at him.

Boom
, another cracking sound followed.
Bull’s-eye! Time to break free of this so not going to happen
relationship.
I jumped out of his arms, pushed the gawking
female out of my way, and ran for my life. A huge roar sounded
behind me, but hell alone was not even going to stop me. I was
suddenly pushed forward and started to see the floor in a million
new painful ways. Closing my eyes, I braced for impact, again. But
the only thing I felt was a soft punch to my cheek. Prying me eyes
open, I wondered what the hell just stopped my face slap moment.
Argh, it was him!

“You stupid dog! Just let me go!” I pulled
back my head, pulled up my butt, and swung out my foot. With my
boot in his face, I pushed away from him again. It didn’t do any
good however, because he was already attached to me like a freaking
leach. “Let me go now!”

“No, I had enough of your crap for the night.
You are going home!”

“Like hell I am! Get the hell away from me,
you jerk!”

“Nanini, I just had to bear-“

Yeah, another shot in the face.
This guy have got to be the most desperate male in the world.
Hell, I would have called it with punch number two.
He roared
again, and the next thing I knew my face was pressed into the cold
tile floor, followed by my entire body.
Holly crap! The bloody
jerk just pinned me down.
“Ge…t off.” I struggled under his
weight.

“No, not until you have calmed down.”

“Oh, I am calm. Just let go and I’ll show
you.” I tried punching him with my head, but failed.

“Max, get off me now!” I was being squashed
by a psycho.

“What on earth is going on here?” Vulcan’s
voice joined us in the hallway.

“I am trying to calm her down. She has been
out of control the entire night and almost killed herself,” Max
chipped in.

“Trying to get the hell away from you, you
mean.” I kept on struggling, but the jerk just wouldn’t get off
me.

“Okay, both of you, get up and calm down!”
This time Vulcan used a little of his “I had enough” voice.

The crushing weight was off me, and I gulped
down the new fresh air. As I rolled onto my back, Max bent down and
offered me a hand to help me get up. I should have bitten it off,
but instead I slapped it away and made my own way up. Leaning
against the wall, I looked at him, death the only thing on my
brain.

“Okay, now let’s go get some tea, and then we
can talk about this in my office.” Vulcan turned around and
gestured for us to follow. I looked back at Max, and he at me. This
was not going to happen, never. With a humph, I stormed past him
after Vulcan. Walking past the female who was trying to bite back
her laughter, I gave her the “Oh we are going to have a talk” look
as I turned into the kitchen after Vulcan.

Just behind me was the stupid jerk who won’t
take no for an answer.

This was not going to be easy.
I kept
my eyes on the little vixen as she stomped down the hallway after
Vulcan. Her small frame sassing around even when she was clearly
pissed off.
She was going to be a handful, or two.
I rubbed
my face and quickly pulled away my hand when it touched my bruised
lip.
Damn, the little girl could give a punch.

Following them into the cafeteria, I stopped
just inside and kept my eyes on her. She was fuming, her adrenaline
disorder going into overdrive. Instead of the usual jumping around,
she was trying to step holes into the tile floor. Up and down she
prowled, giving me the promise of retribution every time she would
turn towards me.
Hell, this was not going to be fun at
all.

Suddenly tired, I plopped down into a chair.
Closing my eyes, I tried to run the day’s events through my mind.
Maybe somewhere in the events is the clue to the future?
A
kettle whistled, signaling the return of Vulcan. I opened my eyes
and found Nanini still moving up and down. Her eyes ablaze, she was
still trying to find a way out of this.
Can’t blame her.
Suddenly I wasn’t sure of anything anymore myself. Sure as hell
didn’t see Kali as a traitor, nor did I see the possibility of a
hellhound guarding the relics. But most of all, I never saw Nanini
coming.
Shitty day indeed.

“Alright, who wants to go first?” Vulcan
asked, sitting down at the nearest table, yet far away from both of
us. I looked at Nanini, giving her the opportunity to have her say,
being a gentlemen and all. She gave me one look and took off, not
even putting a full stop into one sentence.

“You tricked me! How could you do that to me?
I should never have listened to you. Because of you I am stuck with
this jerk.” She blasted Vulcan, her small finger making sure he
knew who the trickster was.

“No, I did not,” he replied, all casual.

She had a point. From all the females willing
to have taken an Apprendo that night, he did match me to her. Even
when she complained, he still wanted her to train me. “Did you
know?”

He looked at me and a small smile formed on
his always serious face. “I will not lie about that. Yes, I knew
that Nanini was your charm, and that is why I paired you together.
It was the same for Kasadya and Chax, and many more pairings. It
would seem that I have a gift to spot the mates of hellhounds and
try and save them from their demise.”

“You knew! Why the hell didn’t you tell me? I
could have made a break for it then!” She was still not calming
down.

“Yes, I know. It’s the very reason I don’t
tell young fallen when I have felt such a connection. And before
you give me the speech that you are not young, you must know that
you have a very explosive nature my dear, which qualifies you into
that category.”

About that, the male was right. She was a
walking, breathing time bomb.

“Well, too bad for you, it’s not going to
happen. Over my dead freaking body!”

“I see, and how exactly are you going to pull
that off, Nanini?”

She stopped and glared at him. “I’ll kill
him.”

I should not have felt that awkward pinch in
my chest at her words, but I did. It cut deep into my soul, sending
even my hellhound into a dark corner of despair.

Vulcan’s calm face dropped away instantly.
Getting up, he slowly approached her. “I forbid you. If you even
try, I will personally hunt you down. We need all the fallen we can
gather, even more so hellhounds. Because of Kasadya and all of you,
we face the greatest battle against evil we might ever see. So you
will suck it up, little girl, and you will learn to live with this.
Do I make myself clear?”

I could see her small throat swallow the lump
stuck in it. She nodded, and the glitter of a tears appeared in her
eyes. My instinct took over instantly. Shifting, I landed between
them and pushed Vulcan away from her.

“She understands. But you will never threaten
her again.
Do I make myself clear
.” The words were laced
with violence and promise.

Vulcan however, simply nodded and returned to
his cup of tea. “I suggest you both return to Chax’s home. In the
morning, we will be unleashing Kasadya Born. Go home and prey that
Chax reaches her and is able to save her in time.”

His words send a cold spiral down my body.
Behind me, I could hear Nanini suck in a breath.
Shit.
He
better save her or he would have to answer to me. But now at this
moment, I had my own mate to think of. I turned around and found
her holding her face in her hands and shaking. “Let’s go home,
Nanini,” I softly whispered and gently laid my hand on her arm,
shifting her with utmost care.

“Would you like some warm milk or something?”
Lada asked again.

“No, I am fine. It’s just… I don’t know. I
feel all this anger towards him, and yet when he brought me home, I
felt… something else.” My mind was still running over the
details.

Gently, he shifted me to my room. “Everything
is going to be alright, Nanini. I will not try and force this upon
you, and we will let this grow the way fate decides to take it,” he
whispered as he stepped away from me. “And do not fear for Kasadya.
You know she won’t be beaten, even by her hellhound. Chax will
bring her home.”

I didn’t answer. I was still pissed off at
him and Vulcan, and in shock to know my best friend was facing her
death in the morning. Would she be okay, or- no, Max was right. She
won’t let her hellhound destroy her. If there is one person that
can kick an ass, it’s Kasadya.

“Sleep well, Nanini,” were his last words
before he shifted out.

Finally alone, I did what any freaking girl
would do. I planted my butt on the ground and cried. Yes, even
warrior females have the right to break down once in a while, and
this was my once and a while. I didn’t want a mate. I didn’t want
to be responsible for another’s life. I wanted to just be me, and
do
my
thing. And now? Now I am the one who must keep a
hellhound in place and make sure the human hosting the creature
stays alive. Holy crap! I can’t do this!

It was at that very moment that Lada opened
the door and decided that a choking hug was the solution. I stood
at the window, watching the first rays of the sun peeking out
behind the horizon. With a silent prayer, I prayed that Kasadya
kicks butt and comes home. I need her bad ass attitude to get my
own back. This night just totally drained me.

“
I forbid it.”
Vulcan’s words echoed
in my mind.

I suddenly felt very guilty for saying that I
would kill Max. This wasn’t his fault. Destiny is a freaking big
bully, if you ask me. Okay, so I have the guilt trip thing
going.

“Nanini, you have to talk about this, girl.
You have been standing there for a while having a mental battle
with yourself and it’s not going to be of any help. Just plant your
butt down here and let’s talk.” Lada patted the bed.

I did as she said and planted my butt on the
bed. My feet, however, were still jumping on the floor. I could
blame my adrenaline, but I knew that this was my nerves.
“Okay, so you and Max, hey?” Lada tried to start this very awkward
discussion.

“Un-freaking- believable, hey?” I chewed on
my bottom lip, unable to look her in the eyes. But still, I could
feel the blush creeping up from my neck towards my face. Lada’s
giggle didn’t help at all.

“Nanini, it’s okay, you know. It’s actually
what we here on earth and Exsilium call normal. Did you really
think that you would be doing Mission Impossible without Tom
Cruise?” Lada had an epically bad way of explaining something,
epically.

“You had to use Tom Cruise? Why not Batman
and Robin? Why not Scooby and Shaggy? You had to use Tom Cruise?”
Yep, the girl knew how to turn my pissed off button on.

She burst out laughing, creating a smile on
my face. “Okay, okay. Not Tom Cruise then. But you knew it was
coming. You would not have been able to stay single so long. We are
fallen, and unfortunately, urgently need more fallen for the cause.
It was going to happen. At least you got a pretty cool guy.”

“Cool guy?” My eyes was going to pop out of
my skull before the sun fully came up.

“Now, you know he is pretty cool. A gentlemen
even. Don’t even try that Godzilla crap on me; you know I am right.
Just look how he treated Kas when they were, well… sort of
together. He is stubborn, make no mistake, but he is not some hot
jock that will be breaking your heart around every corner.”

She had a point, which I will never
admit.
He was, per say, not a huge jerk, but he had this really
annoying way of trying to control situations. Sometimes I didn’t
know who was worse, Chax or Max. They are way too bossy. He wasn’t
a real jerk like Marcus or the other guys, but still, he was a jerk
in other aspects.