A/N: These next few chapters are my absolute favourites! I hope you enjoy them too! Leave any questions or feedback in the comments! Thanks for reading! Not much NSFW for the next few chapters as well 😇🤣

Language key:

M've [mm-vay]- my

Elaeti [Ee-lay-tee] - Daughter

Tesonara [Teh-soh-nar-ah]- darling

Tesora [Teh-sor-ah] - sweetheart

———————————————————————-

"It's alright Jazy." He said taking my hand as we went downstairs to see who could be calling at such a late hour. Darius opened the door to find Byron and Meilyn standing there drenched from the rain.

"Um..." Byron started but was pushed out of the way by my sister Vienne. She hugged me for dear life sobbing as she clung to me. I can't help the tears and the sob I let out knowing what I saw in my dream was real.

"Oh God Vienne. P...Please tell me it isn't true. Please?" I cried as Darius ushered everyone inside from the rain.

"Jazy they're gone. Everyone." She cried as I pulled away from her.

"No, it's my fault. It's my fault. I'm sorry Vienne. I'm so sorry." I sobbed hugging her tight.

Darius and Byron took Knox and Jaden from Shane to set up a playpen in the living room for them to sleep while Meilyn, Vienne, and I sat in the kitchen. Meilyn made us both some tea as we tried to process what has happened.

"Gaia came to Shane and I a few days ago and told us we had to come here. She told us that...Sol is hunting our family and that she won't be able to save us. She said we had to get Knox and Jaden away from danger." Vienne cried wiping her tears with a napkin. Shane sat next to Vienne holding her hand tight kissing her head. Darius stood behind me rubbing my shoulders while I cried silently.

"Gaia told us Sol is looking for you, Jazmine, but Luna and Artemis have been prepared for a long time to protect you no matter what. So I don't think we're in any immediate danger now. They didn't die in vain, li'kaeta." Shane said reaching out to squeeze my hand in comfort and I let out a sob.

"But they did Shane and we are in danger. I saw everything; I was there." I cried covering my face as more tears fell and the storm raged on outside.

"What do you mean Jazy? What did you see?" Vienne asked fear creeping into her eyes as we heard another loud knock on our door. Vienne screamed clinging to Shane.

"It's alright, I'm so sorry Vienne. I called our family over here. We all need to hear this." Byron said as he and Darius went to answer the door. They ushered their family into the kitchen to hear what I saw in my dream.

"Go ahead, Jaz. Tell them what you saw." Darius said squeezing my shoulder. I nodded putting my hand over his.

"Sol threatened to kill them if they didn't tell him where I am. Mom and Dad refused, everyone refused to give up my location but Paul was scared he was trying to protect Isabella. He thought if he told Sol where I am he would spare them. But he didn't and now my father knows I'm here and he is coming." I cried holding on to Vienne's hand. At least I have my sister, brother and my nephews. I will protect them no matter what.

We will protect them, litani. Darius thought kissing my hand. Shane squeezed Vienne's side and looked at me with a frown.

"Did you say your father, Jazmine?" He asked as I sighed not wanting to reconfirm my birth parents again. As I began to answer a gust of wind blew through our home and Gaia appeared before us.

"Yes, she said her father." She said as everyone gave her a slight bow, save for me. I just glared at her. She is the last person I want to see right now.

Don't be too mad at her. She's doing all she can.

Is she Darius? I'm not so sure.

"Jazmine, I know you are angry with me right now. If I could have prevented this I would have. This had to happen for everything else to fall into place as it should." She explained attempting to run her hands through my hair.

"Don't touch me," I seethed getting out of my chair to face her, "for someone who is sure that I am not a tool or a puzzle piece in this game between you and my father it sure does seem so."

"Jazmine, your family was not supposed to die in vain. I had no idea Paul would--

"Oh bullshit mother! You knew! You know everything don't you?! What's supposed to happen next? When Darius and I risk everyone's lives here to rid Sol of the parasite, will you tell Darius he has to kill me because I can't exist in this world once the parasite is gone? Will you tell him that once we've done all we're supposed to do for you?" I spat angrily feeling my newly awakened fire lick over my skin. Tears welled in Gaia's eyes as she looked at me and I know I'm hurting her but I don't really care.

"Jazmine, stop it." Darius growled taking my hand but I snatched it away from him.

"This isn't a game Jazmine, I don't know how else to explain it to you. Do you honestly think it was my plan to get murdered by humans, have my dejaino turn into some evil beast, and give birth to my miracle daughter only to sell you out to a life of this?" She asked throwing her hands in the air.

"I never wanted to give you away. Do you know how hard it was for me to watch you grow up, knowing I'd never get to be the mother I always wanted to be or for you to have a father that can't love you the way I know he can?" She sniffed, wiping her tears.

"I never wanted this life for you. I never wanted you to fight this war, but this is life Jazmine and there are some things even Gaia cannot control." She said tears rolling down her cheeks from her troubled violet eyes as the storm raged outside from our combined emotions.

My eyes softened, tears pooling in my eyes. I realized my mother is just as Mercatijan as we are. She may be our Mother Goddess but she didn't choose this life, it chose her. As her daughter, I need to accept this as my fate too.

"I'm sorry Mother, I'm sorry for what I said." I cried hugging her tight. I felt her sigh and wrap her arms around me kissing my head.

"I know you're angry and if I could have changed the fate of your family I would have, m've elaeti. Their sacrifice only means we have to fight Sol, we have to stop the parasite." She said as I looked up at her tears still rolling down my cheeks.

"How can we kill the parasite if it lives in Jazmine?" Adonis asked as Gaia wiped my tears.

"Jazmine does not have a parasite; she has a de'mujo gene. She's the only one who can control this side of her. This means there is no need to kill the parasite within her." Gaia smiled and a sense of relief washed over me.

I wouldn't have been able to kill you even if you were a threat, litani. Darius said threading his fingers through mine.

I know, that's what I was worried about. I sighed as he wrapped his arm around my waist kissing my head.

"So what do we do now that Sol knows where Jazmine is?" Damon asked.

"Do what you were born to do, fight him. Protect the compound, protect your Dejainas, find the antidote, and whatever you do, do not let Sol touch Jazmine." She explained.

"What happens if Sol touches Jazmine?" Meilyn asked and my heart nearly beat out of my chest thinking of all the dreams I've had about Sol.

"He'll claim me and I won't be able to stop my de'mujo side from destroying all of you and then we will send the world into darkness." I sighed as Gaia nodded and Darius frowned.

"How can he claim you if you're my dejaina? If our souls already recognize each other's?" He asked and Gaia smiled sadly.

"Yes but you're not bonded. You and Jazmine will always be connected whether she is a de'mujo or not but Sol can still turn her. He is her father and he still has power over her until you bond. That's why Jazmine can only bond with the strongest kue; you have to be stronger than Sol and stronger than her de'mujo gene." Gaia explained and I sighed of course everything would come down to whether or not Darius and I are bonded.

"Well I'm not forcing a bond between us, I promised Jazmine I wouldn't do that and I'm not going to do it because of Sol. We won't let him touch her." Darius nodded and I smiled he really gets me.

Of course I do. He smiled down at me.

"You're insane! Sol is the most powerful Mercatijan kue and king of the de'mujos; you have to bind her to you Darius. I will not lose another sister!" Vienne said shaking her head in disbelief.

"It's alright Vienne, even in the worst case scenario I'm still connected to Darius. Sol will never have complete control over me, plus I trust every kue in this room myself and Meilyn included they won't let Sol touch me." I grinned.

"She's right Vienne, I know you're scared but the Rekeseaus have been protecting the Mercatija for centuries. They won't let anything happen to Jazmine." Shane said kissing her head.

"I still think you're all insane." She sighed.

"In the meantime, Samaria and Amerie you need to find the antidote. It's the only thing that will save Sol and save the other Mercatijans consumed by the parasite." Gaia said as she began to fade, I reached out to grab her hand and she smiled at me.

"I can't stay like this forever, but I will be watching. Don't be afraid." She smiled and disappeared. I sighed looking at everyone standing around in our dining room. This is going to be a tough fight and I'm sure Sol is not going to hold anything back when he attacks the compound.

Don't worry, tesonara, my brothers and I are strong enough to protect you. Darius said kissing my head.

"Well, I suggest we start preparing for a war." Jack said looking around the room.

"Call any of your kue children, grandchildren, and friends. We need to put protection barriers around the compound tonight. Samaria and Amerie, you heard Gaia, keep working on the antidote and move your lab to the vault.

"When the fighting starts you are to lock yourselves inside and do not open it for anyone. Jazmine and Meilyn you will resume kue training at an accelerated pace we need you fully trained as fast as we can.

"Lana you will keep Vienne, Shane and the children with you in the vault. Jazmine and Meilyn you will help secure the barriers. We'll start moving the lab and preparing the vault tomorrow.

"I want any kue willing to fight with us here within the next two days; we don't know how long we have before Sol attacks us." Jack said as everyone nodded. I sighed I can't believe this is escalating so quickly. Half of my family has been murdered and Sol is coming to turn me into a de'mujo and here I thought I'd be going on an adventure with the Rekeseau Kues.

I know this is not what you were expecting when we came to the compound. I'm sorry everything seems to be going wrong all at once. Darius sighed in my mind; I turned around smiling up at him.

"Don't be sorry Darius; it's not your fault. We knew nothing was going to be easy or normal about our life together." I smirked shaking my head. He smiled lifting my chin to look at him.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he chuckled kissing my forehead, "come on, let me teach you how to do protection barriers." He smiled and I looked over at Vienne who is still sitting at the table in apparent shock.

"Vi, are you alright?" I asked touching her shoulder and she nodded looking up at me with unshed tears in her eyes.

"I will be Jaz, I'm just in shock about everything and I don't want to lose any more of my family." She said hugging me tight. I sighed hugging her back.

"You're going to be fine Vienne; I'm going to be fine. Darius won't let anything happen to me. Shane and the boys will be protected. We won't let anything happen to you and your family. You're in the safest place you could ever be." I smiled and she nodded.

"I know Jaz, I know it's just nothing feels right anymore." She said letting out a sob and Shane gathered her in his arms kissing her head

"It's alright, Vienne. I think you're just exhausted." He cooed to her as she nodded.

"Aww, come on dear, I'll take you up to your room for the night. You just need to rest." Lana said as ushering them both up to the bedrooms.

"She'll be alright." Darius said taking my hand as we followed his brothers and Meilyn outside.

"I know, it's just she's never had to deal with anything as serious as this. I haven't either but I'm just worried this is all too much for her." I sighed feeling tears well up again as it started to rain again.

"Jazmine, I don't mean to be rude but could you keep your emotions in check while we do this?" Jack asked and I chuckled wiping the stray tear and the clouds cleared.

"Come on, let me teach you how to do this, it will take your mind off of everything else." Darius chuckled and I nodded. We all walked to the edge of the compound and split up around the barrier.

"Will this really keep them out of the compound?" I asked as we found ourselves in the middle of the forest a few hundred feet from the compound.

"No, but it will hold them off long enough for us to position ourselves as best we can." He sighed and I suppose that's better than nothing.

"It is, it's just giving us time. So in order to create the best barrier when you're working with other Kues is to make sure you are positioned roughly an equal distance apart from each other, he said positioning me just so in the ground, then we send out a wave of each element and create a dome of protection over the compound." He said lifting my arms out into a T formation.

"I haven't learned how to summon water yet though." I said as he smiled.

"Not to worry, you're going to learn how to summon it tonight. In order to create the barrier you have to summon the elements the same way you learned." He said standing behind me holding my waist.

Quiet your mind and concentrate on my voice. He said as I took a deep breath and let all the thoughts leave my mind.

Good, litani, now release a wave of earth energy. He said as I let out a slow breath feeling earth releasing from my fingertips. I opened my eyes and watched as a green wave of energy flowed through the trees and up over our heads as it connected with the other's energy.

Good, the next element is air, then fire and water is last. He said as I released a wave of air and quickly followed by fire. I sighed remembering my training from the last two elements we learned and tried to find the threads of water within me and around me. I smiled easily finding the threads inside of me and I let out the final wave of water.

"That was perfect, evela me, you didn't even need me to coach you through the last element." He smiled as I beamed proud that I could find the element by myself.

"I'm starting to get the hang of this Kue business, plus I had an excellent teacher." I smiled up at him.

"It's true, he said kissing my forehead, we should get inside the barrier and get some rest. It's going to be a tough few days as we don't know when we'll get attacked and we have to prepare you and Meilyn as best as we can." He sighed taking my hand and we walked back to our house.

We're going to be alright, right? I asked squeezing his hand for comfort.

Yes, we're going to be fine, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I'm scared Jazmine. He said looking down at me as we went inside our home. I can feel his concern wash over me in waves.

If Sol claims me, promise me you won't give up on me. I said tears welling in my eyes. I know he's going to claim me, he's stronger than everyone it's almost inevitable.

It's not inevitable, tesora but if he claims you I will never give up on you. Sol can't kill me or he'll kill you. He smiled wiping the tears from my cheeks and that's all the comfort I need, I thought leaning up to kiss him.

"Don't stay up too late, you two. Your nephews and grandnephews will be here in the morning as well as some of your healer nieces and grandnieces, Darius. You've got a lot of preparing to do." Lana smiled walking into the foyer.

"You're right, we should get some sleep. Do you want me to walk you home, mom?" Darius asked and she just laughed slapping his shoulder.

"No, you know your father is right outside waiting for me. Good night you two, Vienne and Shane are all settled as well. I talked her down from earlier." She smiled at me.

"Thank you Lana, we'll see you tomorrow."

I can't sleep. I've been staring at the ceiling for hours; I know I need to rest but I don't want to close my eyes for fear I'll see Sol and I'm not sure I want him to stalk me in my dreams. I sigh turning over watching Darius, I trailed my finger down his cheek; I have to protect him. I can't let Sol touch me. I don't want to be the monster he wants to turn me into. Darius grabbed my hand opening his eyes to stare at me.

You don't need to protect me, I will protect you. He sighed kissing my hand.

I know, I just have so many thoughts running through my head right now. I sighed running my fingers through his hair.

I know, I can hear all of them. You need to sleep Jazmine this might be the last time you'll get uninterrupted sleep. He said pulling me closer to him so our foreheads were nearly touching.

I can't sleep; I don't want Sol to be in my dreams. I sighed again and Darius grinned kissing me while his hand found its way to my center and his mouth to my neck.

I think I can help with that. I moaned as his teeth sunk into my skin and his fingers into my wet folds.