Atlantean's Quest: Exodus Part 14

If you've healed yourself the contest is over. You've lost Jac.

Coridan laughed. Jac and I care not for the contest, only your downfall.

Bile rose in Ares's throat as he considered the implications. There would be no mating ceremony. He would have no offspring to continue his family line. Only the constant reminder of how his mate had betrayed him. Ares strained against his ties, unable to send an energy burst out with his hands bound, not that he had the energy to do so at this time. He was too exhausted from the challenge. Ares marveled that Coridan had managed to raise enough energy to not only heal himself, but incapacitate him also. He'd underestimated the young warrior once again and he was about to pay for his arrogance.

A half an hour later they arrived at the river. The rains had caused the current to grow swift, deadly. Coridan set Ares upon the muddy ground in a sitting position. The young warrior's expression grew troubled as he gazed at the water. Ares could see a stake had been set up in the center of the river, its ragged edge protruding out of the murky, swirling depths. A rope of vines had been strung from one bank to the other, setting up a safety net of sorts for the person trying to make his way through the current. Coridan glanced at Ares and pointed to the post.

That is where you will be in a matter of moments. Bound and humiliated, trussed like some great bird. When all is in place, I will call the tribe here, to witness your fall. They will hail me as a hero, perhaps even allow me to replace your position of honor amongst our people with my family's bloodline.

Ares jade eyes locked onto Coridan's excited face. The village will not honor one who has shown that he is treacherous and cannot be trusted, even when he is showing the ignorance of his youth. You will become an outcast if you see this through. I suggest you untie me, before you do something that you will truly regret in the end.

Coridan laughed. Is that fear talking, Ares?

Only truth.

For a second, doubt flashed across the young warrior's face. Just as quickly his expression hardened, all emotion pushed to the side.

Coridan threw Ares over his shoulder again and walked to the water's edge. One hand held Ares close, while the other gripped the thick lianas for support. He hesitated for a moment, before taking a step into the river, the current swirling violently around his s.h.i.+ns. From Ares's upside down position, he saw debris of various sizes, ranging from twigs to animal carca.s.ses float by.

Step after step, Coridan made his way deeper into the raging water. By the time he reached the post in the center, he struggled to hang on. Ares sensed the fear that registered for a moment in Coridan's confused mind, but the young warrior quickly pushed it aside and slid Ares off his shoulder and then slipped him onto the stake. The bindings on Ares's hands coupled with the swift current held his back firmly against the wood.

The water immediately came up to the top of Ares's chest. He would soon have to lift his head to keep the murky wash from coming into his mouth. His eyes sought Coridan once again. 'Tis not too late to undo the mistake you are about to make.

Coridan looked at him one last time. I'm afraid 'tis. The warrior swung around and made his way back to the sh.o.r.e, his knuckles white as he gripped the vine. The liana beneath his hand strained as the muddy force of the river hit his chest, trying to sweep him away. By the time Coridan reached the bank, the color had drained from his face. He then turned one last time to look at Ares. I will bring your mate here first, or should I say my mate, so she can witness your fall with me.

With that he slipped into the jungle, leaving Ares to the fates.

Ares struggled to pull his hands free. The skies continued to dump bucketfuls of water. Coridan had done a good job of binding him. There was no breaking free. He glanced up at the gray clouds, and then at the rising current. The water already reached his collarbone. Within an hour or so it would surpa.s.s the stake and he'd drown.

He'd accept whatever the G.o.ddess willed. He let out a resolute breath as pieces of debris tore at his skin. Without Jac, maybe it would be for the best.

There was nothing left for him on this planet or off.

The rain started to fall in earnest, the spattering of drops tapped out a steady rhythm on the roof. Jac paced the small confines of the hut, wondering where in the h.e.l.l Ares had gotten to. Her hiking boots made tiny crunching sounds with each step she took, while her long sheer skirt swooshed, sc.r.a.ping the ground. She glanced around the room as if searching for a clock on the wall. He should have been here by now.

Jac rubbed her hands along her arms, trying to ward off the sudden chill. Her stomach wrapped in knots and she couldn't seem to shake the feeling of unease snaking through her. She'd been so concerned over his safety earlier, that she'd practically bitten his head off. Surely he wasn't avoiding her. It wasn't Ares style. He liked a good fight, like she did. It made life exciting or at the very least more interesting.

Jac pursed her lips and recalled the conversation she'd had with Rachel earlier. If all went well, her friend would be jettisoning, rocketing, or however in the h.e.l.l they planned to travel into s.p.a.ce, within a couple of days. Every movie Jac had ever seen raced through her mind, and when she got to Alien she shuddered. Heaven help them if acid for blood lizard monsters was what awaited them in s.p.a.ce.

Jac ran her hands through her hair, shaking her fanciful thoughts. There were so many decisions to make. She couldn't just take off into outer s.p.a.ce. Could she? Not that it was even possible.

No absolutely not. She had to get back to New York, her plants-Brigit. She didn't need to be traipsing across the galaxy with some muscle bound s.e.x G.o.d. No matter how much he curled her toes. Not going to happen. No can do. It wasn't possible. Was it?

Jac paced for several minutes more, then decided to head off in search of her jade-eyed jacka.s.s. She walked to the door and through the hide only to come face to face with Coridan. Jac gasped. Water ran down his handsome face in rivulets, plastering his long blond hair to his head. His golden muscles gleamed as the light from the fire pot illuminated his skin.

"What are you doing here?" Jac frowned and looked behind him. She thought maybe Ares would be here with him.

He smiled, flas.h.i.+ng brilliant white teeth. "I've come to get you."

"For what?"

"I've done what we set out to do." His muscles flexed and excitement laced his voice. Coridan dropped to his knees and gave her a proper Atlantean greeting, kissing each nipple, but he didn't linger.

Jac forced herself to not move back. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come see." He grabbed Jac's hand and tugged.

She pulled away. "I don't think I better leave until Ares gets back."

The smile left his face for moment and his eyes seemed to dim. Then just as quickly Coridan recovered.

"What's going on?" Jac glared at him.

"I can't tell you." He shook his head, sending droplets to the earthen floor. "You'll have to see for yourself. 'Tis a surprise."

Jac stared at the young warrior for a few moments. She didn't want to be missing in action when Ares got back, but it was obvious Coridan wasn't going to tell her what happened, and she'd have to go see for herself. Jac slipped out of the hut, allowing Coridan to pull her along through the jungle. The air had cooled due to the continuing rain, yet still was oppressively muggy. She ran her free hand through her hair, slicking it back off of her face. The dark clouds had shadowed the jungle, until it no longer looked like day.

They stepped over felled branches and around trees. The sweet smell of rain laced the air, blending with the various strains of wild orchids growing in the area. Coridan marched on toward the river, dragging Jac behind, all the while mumbling about comeuppances, rivers, and pegs. Jac had no idea what he was talking about, yet the further they trekked into the forest, the deeper her sense of dread became.

Thirty minutes later they reached the banks of a muddy river. Jac stopped, halting Coridan in the process.

"Okay, we're here. Now tell me, what is going on?" Jac crossed her hands over her bare chest.

Coridan's eyes followed the movement, fastening on her nipple a second before she covered the rosy peak.

"I've done it," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

She shook her head. "Yeah, you've been saying that for a while, but I have no idea what you are talking about."

Coridan raised his hand and pointed to the water, before dropping his arm.

Jac glanced at the raging river and then back at his face, giving him a half smile in encouragement. "I still don't know what you mean."

He grinned and pointed again, this time leaving his hand up. Jac followed the line of sight, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary, other than debris, murky water, and a few stumps that had obviously lodged in the riverbed.

"I wanted you to be the first to see how the mighty has fallen."

Jac smiled back. "The first to see what? Coridan, honey, you're talking in riddles and to be honest with you, I've never been very good at them." She forced the edge from her voice.

Jac placed her hands on her hips and set her jaw. She grew tired of playing this guessing game. Soaked to the bone, she began to lose her patience. She needed to get back before Ares grew worried.

"He thought he could humiliate me and get away with it, but look at him. Who's the fool now?" Coridan smiled wide and nodded.

Jac felt the color drain from her face. Her eyes bulleted onto the water's churning surface, scanning. She picked out every piece of debris, identifying it, then moving onto the next. She stared at a post floating near the center. The wood appeared black on one side and started to tilt from the force of the current. Her gaze was about to move on when her eye caught a flash of movement. It had been so minor she might have missed it had she blinked. Jac focused on the log. The movement occurred again, like the last sparks of life from a fire before it fades to darkness.

Bile rose in her throat, the force of the situation hitting her square in the solar plexus. The black was Ares's hair and the movement she'd caught had been his attempt to catch a breath in the rising water. He was starting to drown. Jac couldn't seem to move. Air refused to enter her lungs. In that second, she was back in her parent's home, staring down at the body of her father. She'd tried to save him, but couldn't. She stood by helplessly, watching as her father's once vibrant life slipped away before her eyes.

The water continued to rise. The current roared with unchecked fury. Jac's muscles were locked in place, like the fear in her heart. She was going to lose him all over again, but this time it wasn't her father's lifeless body staring back at her, it was Ares's. The only other man she'd ever loved.

The realization socked her in the gut, almost knocking her to her knees. "What have you done?" she heard herself scream.

Coridan's expression showed extreme shock. "I did it for us." He struggled trying to make her understand. "We needed to show Ares, he is not as great as he thinks he is."

"You're killing him." Jac grasped him, her nails sinking into Coridan's meaty arm. "Help me."

His eyes shot from her face to the speck that identified Ares head sticking out of the water. "I cannot swim."

"What?"

He shook his head and pulled away from her. The color had drained from his face. "I cannot swim. I took him out there using the vines."

Jac looked back at the water. She could see what appeared to be vines tied off on tree trunks, but they didn't seem to stretch across the water. "Where are they?"

"Gone. Washed away." Coridan turned, and raced off into the jungle as if the devil himself were hot on his heels.

Jac took a deep breath, trying to still her rising panic. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She stared at the water, unable to move. Ares head dipped below the surface before coming back up. She would have to watch him die, just like her father.

"Nooo!" Jac bolted upstream.

Ares saw the second Jac and Coridan entered the clearing near the riverbank. Coridan had been leading her by the hand, the warrior's triumphant smile clearly visible, even from Ares's precarious position. The water rose rapidly and within a few moments he would in all likelihood drown. His eyes locked on Jac's slender form, basking in her beauty one final time before leaving this Earth. His heart swelled as he recalled the moments he'd shared with his mate. At least he'd been lucky enough to find her before the G.o.ddess took him away. He only wished she'd cared enough to want to remain by his side.

He watched as Coridan pointed out his position. Jac looked and shrugged, smiling tentatively at the young warrior. Obviously she didn't care if the water swallowed him up. She glanced at the river's surface once again, then turned her attention back to Coridan. It was all Ares needed to see. He closed his eyes and gasped for breath. Water swirled around his head, tugging at his hair with ever building force, releasing the binding holding it. He pulled at the ties around his wrists, if anything the river had caused them to constrict.

Ares forced the pain away, letting go of the heartbreak, instead readying himself for the inevitable. The onslaught of debris sc.r.a.ped his skin raw. Soon there would be enough of his blood in the water to bring out the caiman. If the river didn't get him first, the caiman surely would. His mind centered, he forced away all thought. Then he heard Jac scream.

Over the roar of the water, it came like a whisper of hope. His eyes flew open and he sought her out. She stood like a shadow of her former self, white as a ghost, trembling with...Fear? He read her mind a second before she started to move. He knew in an instant she'd risk her life to save him. He couldn't allow that, though it pleased him greatly that she'd try.

Do not come out here, Jac. 'Tis too late. He sent the thought with as much force as he could muster. You will not die trying to save me. You must stay on sh.o.r.e. Go back to your home. New York awaits you.

Her thoughts scrambled in her mind. The past and present slammed into her, turning her upside down, inside out. Ares knew she heard him, because she hesitated. I'm not going to lose you, too. I love you. The thought slammed back in Ares's head. He knew Jac had no idea she'd sent it. His heart swelled, then pounded in his chest as he gasped for breath once more. He only had moments before the water took away the luxury of air. He would go to his death peaceably, knowing that she loved him.

So Ares sent out a final thought, hoping Jac received it before it was too late. Please Jac, do this for me. Return to your home. Live your life. All I ask is that you remember the time we spent together. He gulped, taking in a mouthful of water and began to choke. With a last gasp he finished his words. I love you, too. Until we meet again.

Jac felt the second Ares gave up. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she glanced back and saw his head slip beneath the surface. She sprinted up the sh.o.r.e, tugging off her boots, and then slipped out of her skirt. Naked, Jac raced forward and dove into the swift moving water. All her training came back to her in a second. She had one shot at reaching him before the current swept her too far down stream to be effective.

Jac stroked hard, her muscles straining against the fierce pull. Her lungs screamed as she sucked in mouthfuls of water, but she didn't stop, she put her head down and swam harder. She broke the surface a few yards from where Ares had been. The top of the stake poked out of the water. With one final kick Jac dove, searching blindly in the mud and muck. Her hands latched onto limbs and rocks, releasing them instantly once she'd established their origin. Lungs burning, she refused to surface. Spots were forming behind her eyes and still she grasped.

Hope dwindling with every second, she lunged one last time and struck something hard, a log. Jac felt around it until she encountered flesh. She wrapped her arms as far around the object as she could and kicked to the surface with all her might. Jac's head broke the surface at the same time Ares bobbed up. His face was blue and he didn't appear to be breathing. Hot tears scalded her face as she tried to keep the log from rotating and flipping him face down in the water.

Jac worked her way along the stake, until she encountered his hands. He'd been bound. Her stomach rolled, threatening to empty its contents. In seconds she decided to leave him that way, because if he slipped from the log she'd never make it to sh.o.r.e toting his body weight. She continued forward struggling to reach his battered face. With one hand she clasped his nose, while the other pried his mouth open. Jac took a big gulp of air and forced it into Ares's lungs. The effort left her shaky.

Nothing.

The current carried them swiftly. She took another breath and exhaled into him, losing her grip for a moment, before pulling herself back up from the thras.h.i.+ng depths. His lashes lay like black crescents against his chiseled cheeks, so handsome, so strong...so much to live for. She wasn't going to let him die, too. Jac pushed breath after breath into Ares, without getting any response.

"Daddy, please help me." Her cry rang out to the heavens, like a wounded animal, a tortured sound half woman, half child. She kicked again forcing the log to stay upright, her muscles growing weary balancing and fighting the endless drag. They were moving downstream at a frightening clip. "Daddy, please don't let him die." Her hands dug into Ares muscled arms, as if by holding on tight, he'd be unable to leave her-wouldn't die.

She pulled herself up a fraction out of the water and then brought her fist down on Ares wide chest. "Breathe, d.a.m.n you." Jac punched him again and again, then took one final breath, forcing air into his lungs, refusing to let it escape. She pulled back and waited. Strength waning, Jac slipped beneath the water. A second later she surfaced choking, her fingertips still gripping the stake. "You can't die on me. I won't let you. You promised to be my mate." Pain and desperation ate at her. "Come back to me, d.a.m.n it." She choked again. "I love you." She grabbed Ares by the hair, lifting his face to hers. "Do you hear me? I love you."

Water washed over them.

"If you live, I promise I'll stay." Jac cradled Ares head in her hands. Her body trembled as she went into shock. She'd lost him, just like she'd lost her father. Both were so strong, so virile and full of life, and now they were gone. She clung to Ares, placing kisses across his face. Her heart squeezed in her chest, threatening to burst. With tears streaming down her face Jac did the only thing she knew how to do.

She got mad.

All the hurt from the past ten years flooded her system, overloading her senses until blind fury took over. Like a shot of adrenaline, anger coursed through her veins. She dropped Ares head back upon the log and began to strike his sternum, like a woman possessed. She kicked hard in the water trying to ease them sideways toward the sh.o.r.e, not stilling for a moment to lessen her blows. She knew there was no way they'd reach the bank without going with the current. Jac re-adjusted Ares's head, opening his airway. She balanced half off, half on the stake, as she filled her lungs over and over, emptying them into his ma.s.sive chest.

Her head spun from dizziness and exhaustion when her feet finally touched bottom several miles downstream. She dragged the stake as far onto the sh.o.r.e as she could, continuing CPR. Jac didn't stop until she collapsed. She lay next to the log, her arm flopping against Ares's ribs. Her lungs labored. Her muscles cramped. But still she made some attempt to bring him back. Jac closed her eyes. It felt as if she'd been ripped in two. Her shoulders began to shake as unspent sobs racked her body. She unsheathed Ares's knife, slicing the blade through his bindings. His arms fell limp at his sides. Jac slipped the blade back into the sheath.

The water continued to thunder at their feet, its sound overpowering all others. Jac's hand flopped against his ribs, at the same time Ares's chest rose. Her body trembled so badly, Jac thought she'd imagined it. She opened her eyes and turned her head. Ares took a ragged breath and coughed, sending water spouting in the air. Jac froze, unable to move, fearing that her eyes were playing tricks on her.

She waited, holding her breath. His chest rose and fell. Laughter mixed with tears, as Jac began to cry in earnest. She looked up toward the heavens. "Thank you, Daddy."

Chapter Fourteen.

Within an hour Jac and Ares were surrounded by members of the tribe. Eros and Rachel pushed through the crowd, their faces ashen with worry. Jac sat up. Coridan appeared at their side, his face twisted and full of pain.

"What is he doing here?" She glared at Coridan, fighting back the fury she felt being in his presence. "Where did you go when I needed you earlier?"

The young warrior flinched but did not leave, his face growing visibly paler as the true gravity of the situation sunk in. He'd almost murdered Ares.

"He's admitted all, even down to the fact that he couldn't swim and was unable to a.s.sist you earlier," Rachel said calmly. "He's here to help now."

The villagers raised their hands, palms facing down, and began to chant. Jac watched as a yellow glow spread throughout the group, building in intensity to correspond with their rising voices. Suddenly energy shot out, striking Ares in the chest. His body bowed up, rising from the log, before collapsing back down.

Jac tried to steady his movements. Her eyes sought Rachel's for rea.s.surance. "They're not hurting him, are they?"

Tears pooled in Rachel's brown orbs as she shook her head. "They're healing him."

Jac fell back, her hand remaining on Ares's chest, too exhausted to move. She'd done it. She'd saved Ares. Jac had saved the only other man she'd ever loved. Moments later, Jac felt herself being lifted from the ground by Coridan and carried through the jungle. She snagged Ares's hand at the last second, refusing to release him into Eros's care. So side by side, the warriors walked. Ares slung over Eros's broad shoulder, while Jac lay cradled in Coridan's arms.

An hour or so later they arrived at Ares's hut. Eros deposited the jade-eyed warrior onto his bed of furs and Coridan placed Jac carefully beside him.

Jac peered at Eros. "He will be all right, won't he?"

Eros smiled and nodded. "Thanks to you, I still have my brother at arms."