Fated
Chapter 11

Eve

My eyes flutter open as I feel a cool breeze brush across my skin. I turn my head to see where the air is flowing from and I find Dante standing at the balcony hunched over on its iron railing.

“Dante? What are you doing.” my voice barely more than a whisper. He quickly turns, meeting my eyes eagerly.

“Thank the goddess. You really have to stop doing that!” He practically shouts as he takes large strides to my bed. He sets the back of his hand on my forehead, presumably to check my temperature before sitting on the edge of my bed. “What were you thinking about before you blacked out?

“I…I don’t know. I was thinking about what you said on the balcony and…” I pause as I realize that I had heard a voice…it called to me. I could not make out what the voice was saying, but it was a woman and she cried out for me, but I could not make out her words as my emotions were crashing into me like waves on the shore.

“Eve, you turned the water in your glass to ice. I watched as it froze over. Your eyes…they changed. This happened the first time too, only you caused a storm to roll in that poured rain over us, but no one else saw it. I-I am not entirely sure how, but your powers seem to be growing.” his words are echoing through my head as I sit unable to speak while I try to absorb and process what he is telling me.

“Eve, I think we should contact the elder of the high council and see if she can shine some light on what is happening.” His words shake me from my daze.

“Are you kidding me right now?! Why would I ever want to see that old crone again? Do you not remember what she ...what THEY did to me?” I know I am shouting, but at this exact moment, I don’t care.

“Please Eve, I will be with you the whole time and she will not dare do a thing to harm you in my home.” I take a moment to process this before looking away from him and after taking a moment to consider my options I simply nod my response. This is the last thing I want to do, but I know it is the fastest way to get some answers.

“I will make the call in the morning, but for now you should try to eat something and then get some rest.” Dante’s words are mildly comforting, but I find the thought of food unappealing as I roll onto my side and snuggle further into my bed.

“I am not hungry.” I mumble as I close my eyes.

“Very well. I will let you rest.” I feel the bed shift as Dante stands up and my eyes fly open in a strange sort of surprise.

“Dante?” i speak his name so quietly that I am not sure he heard me, but then I hear him hum in response. “Please stay.” He pauses for a moment before lowering himself back down onto the bed with it shifting under his weight. Neither of us speak another word as he slides up next to me and pulls me close as I quickly drift to sleep.

‘Eve?’ I hear her voice call out to me.

’Who are you? WHERE are you?” I call out to the darkness. Suddenly I can see a light in the distance and I try to make my way toward it. I wrap my arms around myself to shield myself from the darkness and feel a soft fabric on my sin that was not there before. I suppose I can be thankful that my dream did not see fit to thrust me into the darkness in the nude. I can feel the earth biting at my feet as I step on rocks and twigs while pressing further into the abyss. It seems as though it WOULD have been too much to ask for a pair of shoes. The light grows brighter with each step which fuels my need to find out who this siren is that calls to me.

‘So close young one. So close to the truth. So close to the answers that you long for.’ the voice is louder now, but there is something strange about it. It is a voice and yet it is anything but. I keep pressing further with the light growing so bright that I have to shield my eyes.

’Ah yes, young one, you have come so far. Ask what it is that you wish to know and I shall provide you with the answers that only I possess.’the voice thunders down around me coming from all directions as the light swallows me. Slowly the light breaks and my eyes begin to focus. I find that I am standing at the edge of the lake…the place where Dante had stood all those years ago…where he had made the choice to spare my mothers’ life. I raise my eyes from the shore to see a woman standing on the water before me…floating on it. She glows as though she is made of pure light and I find myself mesmerized by her beauty.

‘I-I want to know what the purpose is in all of this.’ My words come out sounding more like a question than a statement.

‘The purpose is simple, young one. Do you not feel it coursing through your veins even now? He will guide you, my child. HE will save you.’ her words seem like a riddle which only serves to irritate me.

‘What do you mean? What am I supposed to feel? Who is going to save me? Dante?’ I am grasping for anything she is willing to divulge and hoping she will stop talking in riddles.

‘Yes. The young god is strong, but broken. He has brought to life something that was snuffed out 14 years ago. Can you not feel it stirring within you young one?’ her tone is steady as she answers me.

‘You mean my magic? I don’t know what is happening to me and I cannot control it. What am I supposed to do?’ I am pleading with her at this point in desperation for her to help me.

‘You can control it and you must. Your life…and his depend on it. The strength lies within if you would only will it to be. Calm your storm and meld it to your will, young one.’ her words vibrate with the energy around us.

‘I don’t know how to calm it!’ I shout back at her.

‘He will ground you young one. Hold onto him and let his energy sooth you. A war is coming and you will be the only one who can end it.’ these words are so haunting that I feel my hair stand on ends.

‘Eve!’ a deep voice shouts from the darkness beyond the lake. ‘Eve!’ it shouts again. I look around me in an attempt to find the source of the voice. When I turn back to the woman I find she is gone. There I am…alone…and cold?

“Eve!” I hear the voice cry out again only to realize I am not dreaming. I am standing in front of the lake with nothing more than the moon lighting the terrain around me. “Eve!” the voice is closer now.

“I-I’m here!” my voice is raspy and low, but he heard me. I can hear Dante’s footsteps thundering toward me through the woods.

“What in hell’s name are you doing out here?!” Dante attempts to shout as he tries to catch his breath.

“She was calling me, but I thought…I was sure it was a dream.” I say the words as if I am speaking to myself.

“What? Who was calling to you, Eve?” Dante asks before falling silent as he realizes exactly who I am referring to. “She spoke to you?!”

“I saw her. She was magnificent.” I am still trying to process the events that just took place before he arrived.

“What did she say to you.” He asks as his face has lost all color. I turn to look at him and begin relaying her message to him.

“Are you going to say something?” I question him as he stares silently into the crisp clear water of the lake. I am met with more silence as I turn to the lake and slowly step into the shallow crystal waters to help ease the pain that is slowly creeping up from the rocks and twigs that had cut into them during my journey here. I find myself wishing, in this moment, that it had all been a dream. I hear the water moving as Dante steps in beside me.

“I have not touched these waters in more than 70 years.” his words carry a weight that I can only partially understand. Dante turns to me and takes my hands in his. I can see the sadness in his eyes and I wish that I could take his pain from him and help repair the damage that my mother has caused.

“I-” my words are cut off when Dante leans in and presses his lips firmly to mine. His tongue presses gently requesting entry and without a thought I part my lips with fevered need as we crash together with the intensity of a shooting star. Our tongues exploring as our passion speaks what our words dare not say. A loud clap of thunder over head shakes us apart as we feel rain beginning to fall all around us, not not a drop falls on us. I am awestruck at the sight as I look to him hoping to see some kind of an answer in his eyes, but all he does is smile.

“This is you Eve, this is ALL you!” he exclaims as another thunderclap sounds loudly overhead.

“How?! This can’t be me!” I shout back as he pulls me in with his lips crashing against mine again. The rain comes down harder and I hear the loud sound of flowing water that seems to be coming from all around us. As I pull away I cannot believe what I see. The water from the lake is swirling around us creating walls as it swirls violently. I feel terrified by the sight and as I start to feel panic gripping me I feel Dante’s fingers brush against my cheek.

“Breathe Eve, just breathe. Focus on me and hear my voice. Do not be scared of the gift the goddess has given you. You are stronger than you know and I will never stop trying to convince you of that fact.” Dante’s words fuel my emotions further as my tears begin to fall. With every tear the walls of water grow higher. Dante pulls me in and presses his lips against mine again which causes the walls to come crashing down around us and the rain stops, giving way to the night sky once again.

“Wow…” of all the cliche movie quotes to follow up an epic kiss with…that is the one i chose. Yep, I feel like an idiot right now, but I don’t even care because I am too distracted with staring into Dante’s eyes and marveling over what I just did. Dante’s lips pull into a smile as he bends down and slides one arm around my shoulders and the other under my legs and begins carrying me through the woods toward the house.

“I think you need a hot shower. Your skin is cold as ice.” Dante says as the lights from the house come into view.

“A hot shower would be great…and maybe some dinner.” I giggle through the last part as my stomach growls loudly.

“Yes, DEFINITELY some dinner.” Dante chuckles.

He carries me straight to my room without acknowledging any of the guards and staff as we pass, though I see a few of the guards appear to relax once they see me in his arms. Did he have them ALL out looking for me? I wonder silently to myself.

“Yes, I did.” he replies with a warm smile.

As we get into my room he sets me on the edge of the bed and kneels to look at my feet seeing all the scrapes and cuts. He lets out a sign and heads into the bathroom where I can hear the running water as he begins to fill the bath.

“I thought we said a hot shower Mr.Shay.” I hold back a giggle knowing how much the use of his “proper” name annoys him.

“I will not have you standing in a shower with your feet looking as though The earth mother herself gnawed on them.” He replies with an irritated voice.

A few moments later he emerges from the bathroom and walks to my bed, bending down to carry me once more. He walks slowly into the bathroom as I can feel his heart beating faster and his chest heaving with each breath. He stops at the edge of the tub and looks down at me as he slowly lowers my legs to the floor. With a rigid breath he looks down at me and gently slides his fingers down my arms and then under them as he raises them above my head. He bends down grabbing the silk gown I am wearing and lifts it over my head then tosses it to the floor. I can feel his breath against my face as it shakes before he bends down to pick me back up and lower me into the tub. The hot water stings against my cold skin at first, but my body quickly relaxes as the heat warms me. Dante reaches over to grab a washcloth and pauses as if seeking permission. I nod to his silent request as he lowers it into the water. He raises one leg from just above the water and slowly begins cleaning my leg and very carefully washes the dirt from my foot. He lowers it back into the water and motions for me to raise the other leg which he tends to just as gently as the first. I closely study his face as I see the tenderness in his actions shift to something more sensual as he begins to lower my leg back into the water. He slides the cloth slowly up my leg in the water and pauses as he looks to me for permission to continue which I respond with another nod as I bite my lower lip. He slides the cloth against my apex as my head drops back from the sensation. He slowly slides the cloth up my stomach and across each breast with the utmost care before moving across each of my arms. As his hand releases the cloth he lets out a ragged sigh and rests his head on his hands at the edge of the tub. Our eyes meet and we sit lost in each other’s gaze as our unspoken words fill both of our minds and an undeniable need rises. He reaches down pulling the plug to drain the tub and helps me step out before wrapping me in a large towel that sits softly against my skin. I turn to walk toward the bedroom, but am stopped by Dantes large hands grasping my shoulders as he turns me toward him. My breath catches in my throat as I see the hunger in his eyes and I know he can see it in mine too. He pulls me tightly to him and presses his lips against mine while lifting me to him. I wrap my legs around him as I deepen our kiss. I feel the ice cold tile of the wall on my shoulders as he presses my back against the wall. I can feel the pressure of his erection pressing against me which should scare me due to my lack of experience, but instead it only drives my desire more. I move my hands to his chest and start unbuttoning his shirt as he slides his hands over my legs guiding me back to the floor as he grabs his shirt and simply rips it off his chest with the remaining buttons flying in all directions. He shrugs it off his shoulders before pulling me back to him, one arm around my waist and the other making its way up my back, then my neck and slowly sliding through my hair. With a gentle tug he uses my hair to pull my head to the side as he leaves a trail of kisses along my jaw, down my neck and slowly kisses my breast before taking my nipple into his mouth and gently sucking and nibbling at it until it is firm in his mouth then moving to the other to make sure they both receive equal attention. I stifle the moans that are so desperate to erupt from me with every touch. Reaching in front of him, I begin unbuttoning his pants and he pauses to allow me to do so uninterrupted causing my towel to drop the floor. He watches as I let go of his pants and they slide quickly to the floor at his feet with his erection now standing at full attention before me. I unintentionally gasp at the sheer size of him as my eyes trail up his rippling abs, his glistening chest and slowly make their ways to his eyes. He quickly lifts me up again with my legs quickly finding their way back around his waist and my back is once again against the wall with his erection pressing firmly against my entrance .

“You know this will hurt right?” he pants out the first words that have been spoken between us since we left the lake. “We can wait, Eve, it’s okay.” he quickly says as he sees a look of fear flash across my face as I consider his words carefully.

“Please Dante.” my voice sounds desperate and needy.

“We do not have to rush this Eve.” his words are strained.

“Dante…” My need is becoming uncontrollable at this point. I am barely able to control the swirling emotions that are overtaking me and I hear the cracking thunder as the clouds roll in. I am yours. I swear I hear a deep growl radiate from him when the words push through the clouds and in one swift motion he thrusts into me sending pain rippling through me in waves before as my whole body tenses. The thunder cracks again as he begins to press himself further into me with the cold tile against my back and his hot body against my chest. The pain slowly subsides and the pain begins to transform into pleasure. He withdraws just to thrust in even deeper with my hips now rocking against him as he lets out a growl that sends shivers throughout my entire body. Our bodies move like waves in the ocean with passion and fierceness like I have never known. I feel a pressure growing inside that is unlike anything I have ever felt before. His lips come crashing down on mine swallowing the moan that was creeping past my lips as I feel the pressure explode into an overwhelming sensation that has me crying out uncontrollably as he continues to thrust into me without pause. He growls as he begins thrusting deeper…harder and then all of his muscles tighten as he practically roars out his release. His body stills as his breathing is still erratic and heavy. My head falls to his chest and he reaches up to stroke my hair.

Now you are mine. I hear his voice, but it seems different somehow as if the words manifested rather than him actually having spoken them. As I pull my head back to look at him he simply smiles as he holds me tightly and walks me to my bed. He lays me down and crawls in beside me while pulling me to his chest. We both quickly drift off into a deep sleep.

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