Chapter 146: Tayun’s Power
{Music Recommendation: A New Path by Nomadic. To be played when it is next mentioned }
Sensing his mate’s return to the present, Yoa leaned his face into the side of Nova’s neck, rubbing gently, inhaling her scent and rubbing his own on her.
’Everything okay?’ Yoa whispered into her mind.
Nova nodded. "Yes, I was..." She trailed off, forgetting everything about Tayun’s looks and even her voice. Fortunately, the information given to her was forever in her mind.
She was this island’s Electa, chosen for more than just Yoa. The dreams had haunted her until she could no longer deny it. She was worthy. Now the truth stood before her, crystal clear.
Nova had been called there to complete a duty that no one else could. HER of all people?! Months before, she would have called Tayun absolutely ludicrous. Now, she embraced it and was more confident in herself.
Much had changed since she first resurfaced from that lake. She was no longer the girl who tripped over her own shadow, or panicked over losing a sock or two in the wash.
She might still squeak from time to time, and was wholly aware of the power differences between the beasts of this jungle and herself, but the urge to run away when faced with enemies had fizzled out like a flame in a rainstorm. She stood proudly by her Serakai and friends.
And though Nova might have forgotten about what really happened in Luna Lacus, there was no doubt in her mind that the time spent on this island was not wasted. She’d learned what she needed to survive, to love her newfound mate, to grow stronger, and allow this foreign magic to grow until it was ready to burst at the seams of her being.
Yoa watched her, then nodded, accepting there were some things she couldn’t explain. "What do you need me to do?" He whispered instead.
Nova looked up at him, her smile slow, soft and dazzling as she stared at him with such tenderness. She would never get used to this man and how he would just listen and observe her to understand what she needed. By doing so, her voice was louder, stronger and heard, and she felt entirely reassured by him.
"I need to return to that cave daily or whenever my magic replenishes until the power of Tayun has returned... Please protect me."
She remembered the vampiras and had no idea how she managed to kill a few while in that state, but she also remembered how Yoa and her friends remained by her side until she could no longer continue.
"I’ll protect you always," Yoa answered, his voice low as he kissed the side of her neck tenderly.
"And if he is called away, we’ll be there to slaughter a few leeches, right, Yana?" Atia smirked, his eyes twinkling in mischief and most likely bloodlust.
Aiyana’s eyes gleamed with violent intent. "Oh yes, it’s the perfect time to work on my skills... I need to be the best for..." She trailed off, then cleared her throat, changing her tune. "Of course, we’re here to protect you as well, Nova."
"Not that she needs protecting much," Atia winked in Nova’s direction. "The way you wielded First Mark had my heart skip a beat."
His words made Yoa’s head snap up, and his golden eyes shimmered, the red burning even brighter than usual. Nova chuckled, shaking her head, and gently rubbed the side of Yoa’s bicep, calming the beast that had stirred beneath from Yoa’s cheekiness. "Thank you, truly. I am not sure how long it will take, though-"
"Fine by me," Atia interrupted with a shrug. "You save the island, we kill the leeches. It sounds like a good deal to me!"
He then leaned back, flexing his abs, winking at Nova and Yoa purposely. Her mate growled, the noise shaking the treehouse even though Atia’s teasing had flicked to Aiyana, waiting for her approval of his steely abs. It was pretty obvious, but Yoa was being particularly sensitive, and she understood why.
His feelings shot down the bond almost like a tsunami. He was fiercely worried about her and wouldn’t allow any teasing from any male, even if it was Atia, and wanted to just make sure Nova was okay, on top of being concerned about the island. He started to blame himself for missing the signs or not understanding the signs.
The ancients had become restless, and he couldn’t understand why, especially the Akhlut. But now that creature seemed to even prove its intelligence and managed to avoid Yoa’s patrols of the beaches. Most of its victims were vampira bats from deep within the caves on the island. Occasionally, innocents had been taken as well.
He wasn’t too concerned about the vampiras, but they were still Tayun’s children, no matter their twisted ways. If Tayun wanted them alive, he would abide by her wishes, unsettling as that might be.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
{Play from here, the music recommendation: A New Path by Nomadic.}
After hiding away in the treehouse for long enough, snuggled in each other’s arms, the couple sighed, their duties calling forth. Warmth tingled along Nova’s spine, reminding her of this power Tayun had granted her.
She felt like some sort of witch or superhero, but there was nothing else she could do—that she knew of—besides aiding this island, and replenishing the power that was being zapped away.
Gods only knows what would become of this place if the heart of Tayun died. The more time Nova had spent here, the more she noticed just how alive
the island was. If you paid attention long enough, you would see the trees inhale and exhale. It pained her to think that the first time she’d walked among the trees freely, and in fear of being eaten by bats and jaguars, she’d cut into the trees to mark her way.Those thoughts faded away as Yoa placed her down on the earth gently.
Her gaze lifted to the treehouse, already scheming how to get in on her own, without her Serakai or friends’ help.
"In time." Yoa chuckled in answer to her thoughts, his voice rumbling lightly behind her.
Their fingers wove together, and they started their journey through the forest hand-in-hand, unhurried, and for Nova, at last, without fear.
"One day," she muttered, staring down at her legs, then glaring playfully at Yoa’s, comparing them and how much easier it is for the giant to just jump onto the tree. "Damned cat."
Yoa chuckled again, eyes alight, his fingers squeezing hers gently. "Your damned cat."
"That you are," Nova giggled, feeling light on her feet, a smile gracing her lips as they wandered further along the path leading back to the cave.
The sunlight filtered through the leaves of the high treetops, scattering flickers of light along the jungle floor. The wind stirred the vibrant leaves into a soothing symphony that blended with the birds chirping and squawking. Monkey cries echoed through the canopy from afar, layered over the unbroken hum of insects.
Nova squeezed Yoa’s hand back gently as the warmth inside her grew. It was a mixture of the power Tayun gifted her and her feeling utterly at home now. This place, this island, was her home. Although she still had to get used to the insects—they could sometimes grow twice the size of a large dog—it was something she would grow accustomed to.
Hopefully, Nova wrinkled her nose, remembering the little mission Atia and Aiyana went on, slaughtering overgrown centipedes. Atia returned with a grim expression and the need to have a long bath for at least two hours.
Gradually, the jungle grew denser, quieter and darker. Only creatures slithering or crawling could make it around the lifted, thick roots of the ancient trees. Most stayed clear of the area, aware of the dangers that lurked here, and they weren’t always of the predator kind.
It was so dark in certain places that even those with heightened senses couldn’t see the quicksand until it was too late, or see that the vines were actually venomous snakes. Somehow, Nova led them through this in her sleep, and now, she repeated the same process entirely awake.
In a single line, they followed her until they were before the cave, and the sun shone on them again until they stepped through that invisible barrier to help right the darkness trying to plague the land.
During the daytime, the vampiras roosted in the further depths of the caves, their bodies still working nocturnally. The group weren’t concerned as much, but they remained silent as they returned to the hidden gem of Tayun.
Once again, Nova kneeled before the gem, looking up at the creature. This time, all three of her protectors stood by and watched as she started to work. Her fingers shone gently with gold sparks as her eyes became unfocused on the present and followed the path of the darkness, and began repairing the geometric patterns that ran along the earth.
Again and again, day after day, they returned to the cave. The vampiras began to stir earlier in the day, the scent of intruders wafting back to them, and the unsettling screeches of the creature within the gem, always trying to blast power at Yoa, Atia and Aiyana. This then invited the vampiras to charge in their direction and fight in the caves.
The rest of the island was unaware of these silent battles that were ongoing. Nova remained rooted in front of the gem, hands moving as she repaired loose strands of the patterns, blasting all that she had to push back the darkness trying to consume the island.