The Heart’s Lost Souls: Part One: The Binding Read online

  “You think we would leave you?” Belen asked her.

  Shannon shrugged and tried to move out of their arms, but both of them wrapped their arms around her tight, holding her.

  “You are never going to lose us, Shannon. In the short time we have had you in our lives each one of us has recognized the importance of you in our lives. Where there was nothing but darkness inside me, for the first time in a long time you have brought a light and I will never allow it to leave,” Apollyon whispered to her, kissing her cheek.

  Belen spoke. “Even when I thought you were trouble, I couldn’t figure out why I was so drawn to you. That day… ” Shannon reached up and put her finger over his lips.

  “No, we will not go back over that day. It was not your fault, it was theirs. All of you already see so much of me, but yes there are somethings I’ve kept tucked away, things I would forget or that are so precious to me. I really don’t think you will be able to help out with the black spots, but I will show you.”

  * * *

  Therbelenth, lifted his woman into his arms. “All of us should be here,” he said, stepping out of the shower as Apollyon grabbed a few towels. He lowered her feet to the ground, wrapping the towel around her before once more carrying her into the bedroom, where the rest of her men waited.

  “I didn’t get my shower,” she grumbled and clothes covered her body, but she laid her head down onto his shoulder. “You know we could be opening up a whole new can of worms here. Maybe we should just forget this?”

  “No, how can we help if we don’t know what has happened?” Apollyon said. “Show us, Shannon.”

  Therbelenth sat on the bed holding his heart and she was his heart. She had captured his soul the day he had hurt her with one little touch to his cheek. He rubbed his cheek up against the top of her head. “Show us so we can see what is going on.”

  Kebar stepped up, resting his hand on his shoulder as he sat beside him, Apollyon settled on his other side. Zeus, Fallon and Star stood in front of them as he felt the first stirring in his head.

  Her touch was gentle, hesitant, but soon, Therbelenth entered her head slowly. She had been right, small dark spots seemed to be blocked in her memory as he moved through the years. One thing he had been trained earlier on, was to extract information and what he was seeing wasn’t good. Someone or persons had blocked parts of her life out.

  He looked over at Apollyon. “Have you seen anything like this?” he asked.

  “No, but I have a feeling our answers lie at the Great Shield.

  “I’m afraid I have to agree with you. I believe all of this started there and spread outward.” Shannon got up and stretched, before turning and looking back at him. “Do you know how many people it had to take to do this all? All throughout my childhood there were people coming and going. How do I even know who wasn’t a part of all of this?”

  Therbelenth glanced towards the door, when Shannon touched his cheek. “No, that is one thing I’m positive of. Those two out there have stood by me. Even Shannon’s mom was amazing.” She frowned. “I need to speak with Melody and Tabby.”

  “Wait,” Apollyon, reaching out and grabbing Shannon, pulling her back down between them. “You’re doing it again Shannon. You’re blocking us?”

  “What are you talking about? I just opened my head to you and you think I’m blocking you?” she glared at Apollyon. “Either you are not connecting to me or something else is wrong, because I have opened up my mind totally, at least I think that is what I did to you.”

  “Shannon, right now I can’t see anything. Therbelenth, are you able to access her memories at all? I can see the black spots, but when I go to see an actually memory I’m blocked.”

  “I see nothing,” Zeus said. “I can’t tell if it’s Shannon’s natural abilities or if she is doing it on purpose.”

  “Why you, jackass?” Shannon growled, Zeus disappeared and Therbelenth had a feeling it wasn’t a good thing.

  He turned to speak with Shannon and she was gone. “Damn it, Shannon, how can we figure this out if you disappear?” Therbelenth snarled and followed her, knowing she was now in the dining room.

  What he wasn’t expecting was Tabatha to step in his way when he went to get her. “You will leave her alone. Let her cool down. Don’t!” Tabatha spun around hearing Shannon’s growl.

  Zeus stood before Shannon, soaking wet and he was furious. “You did this on purpose!” he ignored Tabatha.

  “You’re damn right I did and if you don’t get out of my face, I’ll do it again.” Shannon looked around the room. “I never lie and if any of you ever call me a liar, I swear you’ll have no balls left when I’m done.”

  “Stop,” Therbelenth yelled when Zeus went to grab Shannon. It would have been a big mistake, the anger was radiating off of her right now. “Apollyon?” he asked.

  “Zeus, step back and give Shannon some room. Now is not the time to confront her,” Apollyon said.

  Therbelenth slowly made his way to his woman as Apollyon did the same on the other side, as Zeus finally realized that Shannon was not totally herself.

  Everything faded out as he and Apollyon started sending Shannon calming, loving touches to her mind, to her skin, till they were both there surrounding her with their bodies. “We’re here, My Little Queen, calm. We need you,” he whispered, placing a kiss on her neck as he watched Shannon struggle to with the bombardment of emotions.

  Therbelenth had heard that a single female to several males, especially alphas, might have an overload of emotions go through her, causing her to not realize that she was very close to sending them all off the planet, destroying this world of Wol-item’s.

  Already, he could feel the ground tremble under their feet, as Shannon finally fell into their arms, the toll too much, shutting her brain and body down.

  Apollyon lifted her up into his arms and looked over at him. “The Great Shield will have to wait till this is controlled. Zeus, you and the others must start to recognize the signs. We came to close to losing a world here.”

  “What? What are you talking about?” Tabatha shouted, but already her mates were pulling her into their arms, holding onto Tabby as Melody was held by Shane. Each of her Swoquix would feel the backlash of the emotions that had swarmed her.

  “All of you are going to have to learn to control this,” Bull said, following them back. Fallon, Star, and Kebar lifted their children up and carried them back to the room, knowing they needed to be close to their mother as they all did.

  “This is new to us all, but you are right, it is no excuse. If Shannon truly believes she isn’t blocking us, what is blocking us from entering and bonding totally with our woman?” Therbelenth wanted answers, but right now they would have to wait. Apollyon moved onto the big bed with Shannon in his arms, the little ones crawling on the bed, needing to be close to her as they too crowded close.

  He took Shannon’s hand into his, sitting next to her as Apollyon held her. When Therbelenth looked up his sons were now in the room, all six of them. Even the ones they had just found, inching forward, closer to their mother.

  “We felt her pain, anger and confusion. What’s wrong?” Vidar asked, as he glanced down, going from Shannon to his brother and sisters.

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was cold, very cold. Shannon’s teeth started to chatter. She moved toward the warm heat on her left, wrapping around it, opening her eyes to see Apollyon staring down at her. “Why am I so damn cold?” she got out finally, while he pulled her up on top him, pulling blankets up over her.

  Belen moved to their one side and Kebar to the other. “You had what is called a vallume experience. I’m afraid it is mostly our fault. We later learned what is causing the blockage is those black spots we were seeing. We are sorry, little one, so sorry we took out our frustrations on you,” Apollyon said.

  “Well, I’m glad we figured it out, but what happens when I have one of these attacks? Because right now I feel as if I’ve been run over by a damn truck,” sh
e grumbled, rubbing her cold cheek on his warm skin.

  “You almost blew up Mr. Wol-item’s world,” Cheyenne said, crawling onto the bed, along with Bethany and Rudy.

  Her head popped up and she looked at Apollyon who nodded. “When the vallume takes over, if the person is strong or powerful enough, things are destroyed. Ancient ones learned this long ago when planets were destroyed. Right now, you have enough power tucked in your tiny body to destroy many planets. It’s one of the reasons why we need our last partner, and we need to figure out how to break these black spots out of your head.”

  Shannon couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had almost destroyed Wol-item’s home. “My god, was anyone hurt? Ugg, is he going to fry me?”

  She heard a snort and now Tabby had entered their room again. “He tries to fry you and I’ll have lizard wings for dinner. Are you okay? You scared the living crap out of us?” She asked as Tac crawled up onto the bed.

  “Let me guess, it affected you guys too?” Shannon said. “Guys, I want to sit up, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to help me. I’m stiff here.” Shannon frowned when she tried to clothe herself, but nothing happened. “Umm, why can’t I clothe myself? Did I lose all my gifts?” she asked.

  “We’ll wait out in the common room,” Wol-item said. “Others are coming, those black holes or whatever they are have to be removed today before we can do anything else. We can’t have this happen again, plus this shouldn’t be affecting her like this.”

  Fallon, Star and Zeus gathered the little ones, while Belen and Apollyon helped Shannon get dressed, since it would seem her limbs were like dead weight.

  Not only was this pissing her off, but the way Kebar kept touching Belen and watching him was also starting to annoy her. He hadn’t even kissed her yet since she had awakened as her other men had.

  “Shannon!” Apollyon nipped her ear and turned her around to face him. “Why are you so angry?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Hello, I can’t move my damn arms, legs.”

  “And,” Apollyon asked and Shannon’s stomach knotted, tears filled her eyes as she buried her face into Apollyon’s shoulder, crying.

  His arms came around her hugging her tight as Belen reached out touching her shoulder, rubbing it. “Don’t,” she looked over at him. “You want to tell me what is going on? Why I feel as if you two should leave, go off away from us? That you’re not part of us anymore?” she rolled out fast, hiccupping, while the tears rolled continued to roll down her cheeks.

  “Here, you will work this out now, before we see the others,” Apollyon said, placing a kiss on her head before placing her on Belen’s lap. “I had a feeling this would happen. Work it out you two. We don’t need a repeat of what happened two days ago.”

  “Two days? I’ve been out for two days?” Shannon frowned as Apollyon left leaving only Belen and Kebar, who now sat next to Belen on the bed.

  “My Little Queen, do you remember me informing you about Kebar, that he is my mate, like you?” Belen asked, holding her tight when all she wanted to do was get up away from them.

  “And? Does this have a point?” she said, staring at the door.

  “Shannon, look at me,” Kebar said, reaching up running his finger over her cheek, before placing his finger under her chin and tilting her head up. “Therbelenth and I have started the bonding process that mates go through. Because of this the need to touch each other, be close to one other, it is very overwhelming. Just like it will be when we start out bonding.” He leaned over, placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

  “But I didn’t get to see… ” Shannon sighed and both men laughed.

  “We started our bonding in our natural forms away from everyone. Soon, you will see us love each other. But for now, let’s go find out about these black spots and see if we can remove them. I really think you will notice a big difference between all of us when they are removed,” Belen said, lifting her up, turning her around and smacking her butt.

  “Hey,” she said, but smiled feeling a little better, but still, inside Shannon it almost was as if she was alone again. Even the bond that she had with Apollyon and Belen seemed almost weaker or not even there.

  “Belen, do you think these spots could also be affecting out Swoquix to, because… ” she shivered, still cold when a big warm sweater appeared on her.

  Belen and Kebar moved beside her, running their hands over her arms frowning down at her. “You’re still cold?” Belen scooped her up in his arms holding her tight to his body, appearing in the common room.

  Apollyon came to her immediately. “What’s wrong?”

  “She can’t get warm and our connection… Do you feel it? Has it diminished?” Belen growled.

  Shannon rubbed her cheek against his chest, trying to comfort him, but also trying not to panic herself.

  “You’re doing it again,” Belen glanced down at her and she smiled.

  “Of course, I’m going to try and calm you, you are my mate,” she said. “I mean it’s a little weird since we just met and all, but you two are a part of me now if that makes sense, well you were. This is confusing.”

  Apollyon reached out and took her hand frowning. “You’re like ice and Therbelenth is right.” He glanced behind him and that is when Shannon noticed Frigga.

  “We have to find out who put this incantation on her and your bonding, plus her health is diminishing. It’s like the spell is sucking the energy out of her. I can see it, but I can’t touch it,” she said as her grandmother moved over to Frigga staring at her then turning to look at Shannon.

  “Why didn’t I see this?” Her grandmother, Queen Bracen, moved up next to them as her mother appeared next to them. “We need to go to the Great Shield now. You two are the only ones keeping her here and if this spell is diminishing your connection, she won’t have much time left.”

  “Great, just when I’m trying to save the stupid place. Tabatha don’t you go frying everyone either,” Shannon grumbled as the room started to spin, and the room started to go black. “Now I can’t see?” Shannon knew she would have been flipping out, but right then she was just so tired.

  * * *

  Apollyon stood next to Therbelenth, their woman limp in Therbelenth’s arms, in front of the Council of Witches. Her fathers, grandfathers, his mates and her friends all filled the room surrounding the 20 council members when there should be 25.

  If he had his way, this whole council would be destroyed, when each one knew what happened to his woman and had done nothing. They even had the nerve to stare at her with contempt.

  Flames filled the air above their heads. “They better start shaking in their damn pants, because the next one that looks at Shannon wrong, I’m eating,” she snarled.

  Apollyon jerked, hearing Therbelenth snarl, and that had every one of the council up and out of their chairs, recognizing the danger they all were in. Yes, the men and their mates were ready to destroy the people in front of them, when Bull appeared in front of them, when Bull appeared.

  “You have two minutes to undo what has been done to her or this world will not exist anymore,” the ground shook under his feet and Apollyon knew now that they were not the only furious ones, but Those That Are, were also.

  At once the room seemed to buzz with energy, magic filled the room and Shannon was lifted up out of Therbelenth’s arms floating in the air, but what brought the demon out was when his woman started to seize up. Her body shook, the delicate skin he had touched, kissed was now black.

  “Wait, she is healing, the blackness is from inside her, which is now flowing from her body. It is the incantation that was harming her. It’s draining from her.” One of the high priests or whatever they were called said, as Queen Carmen arrived with a few of her children and she was furious.

  After what seemed like hours, Apollyon waited, but then after a little fluttering in his head, the connection to his woman was gentle at first, until it opened up, the difference from before had him stumbling back at what he saw and felt.
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  “Don’t,” she whispered, but all of them heard her. “Demon man.”

  Slowly, Shannon was lowered to the ground next to him and Therbelenth. He took one hand as his partner took the other. “You scared us,” he growled.

  She smiled, but kept her gaze on the man that had spoken. “Did he have anything to do with all of this?” he asked.

  “No, but he knew what happened and ordered the others to not interfere, said it was no one’s business as to what happened to me, which I’m surprised he ordered the others to help now,” she snarled the last part. “Why? My children.”

  “There was no way you could have raised all of those children, so think of it as part good.” The man said as if it meant nothing to him. But Shannon’s scream had Apollyon wrapping his arms around her at the same time Therbelenth did, holding onto her as she shifted in their arms. The cry rattled the chairs and windows, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Before anyone could do anything, the man was gone. His screams a few seconds later filled the room. Apollyon soon learned everyone heard, on every planet, as Those That Are personally destroyed the man.

  “Shannon,” Tabby yelled, stepping in front of her. “Snap out of it, girl. We need you here, remember we still need to find the ones that did this or we lose a whole universe or whatever they call it.”

  “I need air,” she whispered.

  “I’ve got her, we’ll be back in few minutes. Find out where the other five are that are missing,” Belen said, lifting Shannon up in his arms, disappearing from the room, taking their lady for a ride.

  “Now, let’s get down to business and find out who else is going to join their friend,” Apollyon said, turning his attention to those there in front of him, earning gasps from everyone.

  Bull snorted and shook his head. “Where is the rest of your council?

  “We were waiting for them when you arrived. They have been summoned, but so far no one has been able to reach them.” An older woman sat back down and sighed. “A few of us have been working to find out how this all started. How could one of us access and steal one of the Jonia’s eggs? Even we have no answers to this question. The spells, well they are a combination of old and new. We were just discussing this. It’s one of the reasons why we could destroy what still held her prisoner.”