Luna Abigail
Chapter 24

Third person P.O.V.

Abby and Ellie are sitting together in the waiting room, trying to comfort each other while their mates are on either side of them. The guys both have glazed over eyes, showing they are mind-lining together.

“Your Highnesses, everyone, I have to tell you..” The doctor start before Ellie and Abby shouting at him interrupts him.

“SHE IS NOT DEAD!” The sisters shout in unison. Their mates trying, but failing to keep them both calm so the doctor can get a word in.

“No my Queen, Luna Ellie. She is not dead.” They all realise the breath they are holding in, but Jax does not like the look in the doctor’s eyes.

“Then what seems to be the problem, Doc?” He asks gruffly. His mate is okay, but something is still off about the situation. Then he turns on his senses and the aura from the room hits him like a brickwall. NO! How had this happened? Wait. Her heart stopped for a moment. F**K! Jax’s eyes turn ice blue, a demanding and dark aura surrounds him before a fierce growl escapes his lips.

“What. Happened?” He asks, enunciating each word. Everyone looks at Jax strangely before Abby gasps. Jax lock eyes with her, his ice blue meeting her swirling orbs. An understanding grows between them. Her eyes glow before they both nod once at each other.

The exchange doesn’t go unnoticed by everyone, but none dares to ask what just happened. The doctor coughs to get the attention of the room.

“Your Highnesses, she, uhm. Well, we got her heart going again, and she was with us for a brief moment, but then a dark green smoke surrounded the young princess and she… Well, she disappeared from the bed. The equipment just fell on the bed and floor. I.. I have never..” But Jax’s cursing and growling interrupts the poor doctor again, who is now trembling because of the auras in the room.

Not only are the Luna’s and alpha’s pissed off, but the royal wrath is out of this realm, and Jax is a force all by himself. The latter lets out a loud roar and disappears in a clear, bright blue light. Leaving everyone but Abby, bewildered, angry and powerless.

“We will replace her. Not matter when, where, who or what, we will replace her!” Abby and Galaxy says in unison, making the statement and order to the gathered pack leaders. No one can go against such an order, for it is definite. Matt nods in agreement, locking eyes with his beta and gamma. They are all on the same page. Willow is to be found sooner rather than later.

Matt and Jason can feel how their mates are broken by the loss of their sister and friend. Their heart is aching by her absence, but none the less Abby straightens up, looking around her.

“Thank you, everyone. You have shown what real family means and helped us in our time of need. I request you stay here for e few days, as we all need to talk.” She looks pointedly at Isadora and Daemon when saying this, and they both agree after a brief mind-link conversation.

– Meanwhile, where Willow is –

Willow slowly looks around the room, not recognising anything there. She swings her legs over the edge of the bed, pausing, listening for someone to come at telling her off, but everything is quiet. She put her feet on the ground below, expecting it to be cold as ice, but to her surprise it has a warmth to it. Not too warm, though. She senses something is different about this room. The aura in here is powerful, but familiar somehow.

She walks to a door in the dimly lit room, and it turns out to be a bathroom. Ah, finally something she knows what is. She turns on the light, which is also dim. Why is everything so.. Dark? Willow realises even the outside of the windows in the bathroom and the bedroom are darkened. Not pitch black, but darker. As if the sun cannot reach here properly.

She shrugs her shoulders and walks into the bathroom. When she is done with her business, she washes her hands but stops mid-wash, looking at her own reflection. What. The. F**k? Willow leans closer to her image in the mirror, studying the girl looking back at her. She looks not only older, but younger at the same time. How in all the realm is that even possible? And her eyes? They are no longer their normal color, but ice blue with a trace of orange. Her magic has always had the color of orange. Maybe that is what that is, but how about the blue? She thinks back, and now that she actively remembers back to her childhood, Jax’s panther has always had ice-blue eyes with a trace of dark green. Is there a connection? She shakes her head, trying to not overthink it.

As she walks out of the bathroom, a handsome looking young man is waiting for her. He gives her a dazzling smile and a bow.

“Princess, it is an honor to make your acquaintance. My name is Jasper, and I am here to escort you to the Master or, as you would probably know him; the demon King.” The man bows again and seems to await her reaction.

Willow remembers her manners and curtseys in the man’s direction.

“Oh no, please Princess. Don’t do that. I am not someone to bow before. My brother, on the other hand. Jeeez. If you catch my drift.” Jasper says with a laugh. Willow can’t help but smile at him and his charming manners.

“Uhm, okay then. Thank you, Jasper. If I could just get my clothes, then I’ll be ready in a few minutes, but I don’t know where I am at the moment. Sorry.” She answers with an awkward smile. Jasper laughs and walks to a closet on the other side of the room, where women’s clothing is hanging and laying.

“Which ones would you prefer, Princess?” He asks gallantly. This is definitively a man of the court. Willow giggles at his antics.

“Some pants and a top. Uhm, maybe some clean underwear. And it’s just Willow, please.” She says as she walks over to inspect all the clothes. She takes out a pair of regular jeans, a tank top and some underwear. Willow then walks back to the bathroom to change her dirty clothes.

“Okay, I’m ready.” Willow announces as she walks back out. She stops mid-step. Jasper is not there anymore, but a gorgeous woman is. A scar on her left eye has left it white and blind, and she has a glow to her skin. Grey hair going to her mid-back makes her look kind of ethereal.

“Hello.” Willow says with a small hand wave.

The woman looks Willow up and down before curtseying.

“So, this is the little pretty Princess, huh?” She asks in a not exactly friendly voice. Willow only nods, not sure what to make of the newcomer.

“Hm, so position and birthright clearly aren’t everything. Well, I have replaced Jasper in taking you to the King. If you would follow me. You can follow instructions, right?”

Willow nods again. Not able to comprehend someone can be so nasty in the first thirty seconds of meeting one.

The woman turns around in the door.

“Don’t worry, little Princess. He will not eat you. Not today anyway. My name is Narine, by the way.” She walks out the door, not looking back to see if Willow was following or not. Swinging her h**s from side to side, harnessing the attentions of the males in the hallway.

Willow speed walks to catch up to Narine, just as they reach a staircase. On the way up is.. Jasper!

“Willow! I’m sorry, someone needed my help.” He says with an apologetic smile, throwing a glance at Narine.

“Narine. What are you doing here? And why are you walking with Willow? Do you two know each other?”

“No, we just met. She told me she was there to take me to the King in your stead?” Willow answer with an annoyed tone. She had thought something about Narine hadn’t been right from the start and, sure enough, she had probably lied. Willow resists an urge to roll her eyes in Narines’ direction. She could smell a jealous bitch from a mile away, and everything about the woman screamed self-entitled. Goddess, why would she even be jealous? Willow didn’t think she had anything she could be jealous of. Maybe her title. But she rarely used it.

Then another thought hit Willow. She couldn’t read their minds? Neither of Narine nor Jasper. That was so strange, because she had no problem with the thoughts of the others they had passed in the hallway.

Jasper looked at Narine closely. He had thought it strange that his sister should suddenly need his help, and as he suspected, she didn’t. Jasper had hurried back to the Princess when Jasmin told him she had sent no one to replace him. He was afraid Narine would hurt Willow the moment she had the opportunity, but that wasn’t the case. She had simply followed her to his father. Hm. Something wasn’t adding up and Jasper would be sure to keep a close eye on Narine as long as Willow would be a guest here.

“Oh, well, I’m here now, so your service will no longer be acquired.” Jasper says in a sharp voice, not giving the wrench a chance of discussion. If he had to pull rank on her, he would! She may be the illegitimate daughter of a goddess, a poorly kept secret around these halls, but she had no power here. She was of no rank, and her mother had given her up at birth, not giving her any position in court in exchange.

Narine narrows her eyes.

“The King gave me orders to keep the little Princess company and make sure she would make her appointment with him on time. Do you really want to go against his wishes, Jaz?” she asks, a triumphant smile on her lips. She knew Jasper would never go against his father’s orders, even if they were just made up.

“No, but seeing as the King was very straight with his orders to me, I know you are lying. I am your prince, Narine and you will do well in not challenging me with this. You are dismissed.” Jasper answers with a wave of his hand.

Narine looks at Willow with so much hatred, the girl takes a step back from her. Where did this emotion come from? Had they met, and Willow could not remember? She felt a tugging sensation in her heart. She definitely missed something obvious here.

Narine saunters away, but not before announcing she will take this matter up with the King. Jasper chooses to not answer this hidden threat. He has made a promise to keep an eye on Willow and protect her at all costs.

“So, now that this matter has been sorted, I will be your humble escort, Princess. If you would follow me, please.” Jasper walks down the stairs with Willow at his side.

“Jasper, can I ask you a question? And stop calling me Princess!” Willow tries to start a conversation. Jasper gives her a side look and nods.

“Okay, question one; why does it seem like Narine hates me? And why am I not able to use my powers on either her or you?” She tries to hide which power she is talking about, but she feels empty without the ability to read their thoughts. People, especially fake people. They will always be honest in their mind, believing it to be safe.

“Uhm. As for Narine, I can’t say specifically. She’s always been a bitch to most people, but she hides it whenever the King is in presence. He adores her, unfortunately.” Jasper answers with a shrug.

“Your power, on the other hand. Which one doesn’t work?” He asks back. Willow shakes her head. She is not about to tell this charming demon boy her secrets. He smiles that dazzling smile.

“I gather it’s the one regarding mind reading.” He says more to himself than to her, but Willow hears him. So he knows? She keeps a straight face, not allowing her emotions to show.

“Hm, for me it would be because I have this.” He answers casually while pulling out a necklace. It has a talisman for preventing mind reading.

“I do not know about Narine, but she is the daughter of Keres, even though she tries to hide it. It’s actually a secret, but one everyone knows about. That could be why?” Willow’s mouth is agape with this revelation. She is the daughter of a goddess. Wow! Her aura had not screamed power at all.

“How come you have that necklace?” She asks innocently. Jasper laughs.

“Jax told me, and he told me to be careful with you too. Don’t worry, Princess, I have told no one and will never do so! Your secret is safe with me.” Willow nods gratefully, suddenly missing her silent shadow terribly.

They have arrived outside two huge double doors. Inside, Willow can hear the buzzing of many voices.

“Here we are. This is the throne room. Don’t worry! The acoustics of the room make it seem like there are always many people. There probably aren’t.” He nods to a guard, who opens one of the doors. Jasper bows, and Willow walks. As she enters the room, everything quiets down.

“Ah! The Princess of witches. What a pleasure. Please, come, come child. My name is Laurus. The King of all demons and dark creatures.” A deep, powerful voice booms.

Then the doors behind Willow closes, and the only way is forward.