Chapter Seven-Jed

The upbeat melody of a saxophone played in the distance as I walked through the darkened streets of New Orleans.

I knew where to go as I followed each turn purely on instinct towards a street that was all too familiar. It was quite a way on foot but I needed the time to clear my head. It had been years since I'd allowed myself to think of her.

The memory of what I saw still burned in my mind, opening old wounds that never fully healed.

Her green eyes were full of love as I brushed a strand of curly red hair behind her ear, her skin was so soft and delicate that I couldn't resist the urge to kiss every inch of her. Not that I would ever have to ask permission to do so; she was my mate, my love and my whole life. If only fate hadn't been so cruel as to tear her away from me so soon. We didn't have enough time together, not nearly enough.

My throat tightened with grief as my heart pined for the feel of her skin on mine, the soft touch of her fingers as they ran gently along the muscles on my back; something she used to do often when she thought I was asleep.

Leaning against a lone lamppost beside the cream coloured house, I tried to build up the courage to approach the home I'd left so long ago. Would they welcome me with open arms or would they shun me as punishment for my absence over the last few years? Whatever the reaction, I knew I had to try. We needed guidance and judging from the phone call Delilah was in the middle of when I left, it looked like finding her witch would take a while longer than anticipated.

We didn't have time to lose and we knew more than one powerful woman in New Orleans, whether or not this one would be willing to assist us was yet to be seen.

I stood straight and adjusted my jacket. As I took a step forward a weight came crashing into my left side, knocking me into the tree in front of the house. Snarling, I turned to my attacker but all I saw was a blur of blonde hair before I was tackled from the back, pushing me onto my knees. My anger took over and I began shifting before he stood in front me with a cocky grin on his face.

When I realized who it was I relaxed and stopped mid-shift.

"Haden, you little shit, come here!" I laughed and put an arm around his shoulders before ruffling his hair, "you've grown, man."

"So have you," he said, ducking out of my grasp and playfully shoving me, "you've become slow in your old age," he said with a wink, "come, Mother will be so happy to see you." He told me as he ran up the stairs and pushed the door open.

"I somehow doubt it." I mumbled to myself as I climbed the stairs after him. The same old sign, 'Agetha's children's home' greeted me as I walked into the entrance hall. It was late at night here so nobody was seated at the large, black desk underneath the sign but I could hear commotion stirring up from the first floor and the clashing of pots and pans in the kitchen to the left, no doubt someone was cooking up a storm. Even at this time of night no part of the house was off-limits to the people living here; everyone was always at home here.

The smell of wood polish and lavender brought a smile to my face and I inhaled deeply. Home. Yeah, it was good to be home.

"It's true," an elderly lady said softly as she stood at the top of the stairs with tears in her eyes. It was clear to see she'd just got out of bed by the way her silver hair stood up in all different directions and her light pink gown was thrown on inside out, "you're home."

Guilt tore through me and I looked down as she raced down the stairs and reached up to wrap her arms around me. She squeezed tightly and placed both hands on my cheeks as her eyes darted all over my features, "Mom, I'm so sorry. I—" I began.

"No, Love. There is no need for an explanation, I of all people understand that you did what was needed in order to heal. The important thing is that you're home now." She smiled happily through the tears and hugged close to her again.

I hadn't the heart to tell her that chances are we wouldn't be staying, but perhaps once the bond was broken and everything returned to normal I'd stay for a little while.

"Where are the others?" I asked her, expecting to see my sisters and brothers come rushing in any second now.

She turned and gave me a sad smile, "Haden just went upstairs. Todd, Samantha, Jess and Jane left a year or so after you did," she sighed dramatically, "but at least they still call." She added with a pointed look in my direction.

"Sorry." I said simply, not knowing what else to say to that as I followed her out onto the wooden deck. She took a seat at the table where her tarot cards lay neatly stacked in the middle. She gestured to the opposite side of the table and I took a seat, wearily looking at her. I knew where this was going.

The last time we sat in this chair with these cards she predicted the worst event of my life. If only I'd listened to her then.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as she began shuffling the cards. "You're here for a reason." She stated, looking down at her cards.

"Yes," I said, "something is happening, something I can't explain."

She didn't look surprised as she waited for me to explain, still noisily shuffling her cards.

"When I left, I tried to find seclusion. I escaped to a secret island ruled by a powerful fae woman."

She looked up and gave me a wide-eyed, sharp look, no doubt horrified that I'd make any sort of dealings with the Fae. It's something she warned us all against from a very young age.

Before she could say anything on the subject I held my hand up to stop her, "She offered me the solitude I needed at the time. Anyways, I was out one night, scheduled to leave the island for a hunt when someone invaded my territory.

It was a young hexblood, she'd run away from a nearby village and instinct took over when she started trying to sneak through the forest surrounding my home. I stalked and chased her, never intending to actually kill her," I assured my mother quickly when she looked about ready to smack me on the back of the head, "she got spooked and hit her head on something. I didn't know what to do when I reached her and saw she was injured but as I looked down at her before she lost consciousness, We both experienced something, a type of vision except it wasn't a prediction it was a memory."

I looked up, expecting her to be shocked by my story, however she seemed more interested than surprised as she nodded slowly, "Tell me everything."