Fate's Pawn: Five Jewels

Give it a Chance!

"We need to get back," Eros noted with a frown as he peeled himself away from me.

"Why? I haven't heard anything from Max yet."

Eros stared pointedly down at my feet. "You seem to have forgotten the limitation this world has given you, Holly."

That's right, that stupid limit I had. "How long has it been?" I had the sinking feeling that I didn't want to know the answer.

Eros checked his watch and his brows furrowed. "This can't be right..."

"What?"

"Holly, you've been a human for over an hour at this rate. How is this possible? Adrian's memories are concrete on this matter. Before he sold you to Max, he tried to help you go past your limits."

I shuddered. "But it's past that right? So what does this all mean?"

Eros hummed and gathered me into his arms before I could react. "It means, Holly, I need to get you back into your pool as soon as I can. I have a suspicion about what happened, but I'd rather not worry about relaying it until I know you're safe and sound."

How was I going to be sailing on a ship if I frequently turned into a mermaid? This entire trip seemed doomed from the start. I guessed I would have to just be swimming by the ship and try to keep up, because I had no idea how else it would all fit together.

Eros pocketed my gem and gave me a warm smile. "Don't worry, it's just for safe keeping." The map on the wall flickered before fading away. Without the gem, our path wouldn't exist.

I squealed as Eros carried me out of the room and away from all of Max's priceless treasures. "You're going to make him mad at me," I hissed.

He chuckled. "Really? You think that man is capable of holding you in anything but the highest esteem?"

This new life hadn't changed much. For some reason those that would be my protectors would all found themselves bound around my life. "But he's not even one of the others. I found Angel, and Quix. Tydeus and Dagon are still missing, but they have to be out there somewhere."

"We'll worry more about that when we have to. Those two always seem to find a way to you, don't waste your energy on them. Besides, you've got your hands full with this quest. From what I know, none of your past lives had such a massive undertaking to fulfill."

"Lucky me." I rolled my eyes.

Eros paused as he glanced around our surroundings and frowned. "One moment. I have to remember which way your pool is. Adrian hasn't been there too many times."

The door down the hall creaked open and Angel strode out. His attention was wholly devoted to a small book in his hand. He barely even glanced our way.

He took two steps past us, paused, then glanced back. "Adrian? Why are you carting the fish woman around? Does Maxwell know what you're doing?"

"Of course he does," I blurted. The last thing I wanted was for these two to slip into their old ways.

Eros held up a hand, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the doctor. "Fish woman?" he repeated.

Angel smirked. "What's wrong, fodder? Getting so old you're having trouble hearing? I said what I said."

"Adrian, please," I begged, tugging on his sleeve.

"Her time is almost up. I was taking her back to her pool," Eros explained patiently.

Good. He had listened.

Angel scowled and pulled out a golden watch from his pocket. "Wait..." his gaze snapped to mine and his golden eyes glittered. "There's something wrong here. There's no way she should still be in that form. What exactly did you do to her?"

"He didn't do anything," I defended. "Angel, wait."

His scowl deepened. "Fish woman, I'm not your angel. If it wasn't for Maxwell, I would have nothing to do with you. He's the one that employed me, not you."

"Damn, you're a pain the ass every time aren't you?" Eros blurted. "You're such an asshole."

"Watch your mouth, fodder. You're not even a part of this household. I could call security right now and tell them you're trying to escape with the fish woman. For all I know, that's what's going on here. You had to have given her some sort of drug to extend the time she had, which you probably stole from me come to think of it."

"No!" I reached into Eros's pocket and fished out the gem, presenting it to the scowling doctor. "Here, just touch this. I promise that you'll understand everything if you do."

Angel stared blankly at the item before glaring at me. "I'm not sure what kind of trick you're trying to pull. But that little trinket doesn't belong to you."

"It doesn't matter, please, just touch it!"

Angel glanced at Eros with a raised brow as if asking what was going on with me. "Please," Eros added as if he sensed where I was going with this. "It might solve everything."

The doctor let out a huge sigh and rubbed his forehead. "You fodder certainly know how to waste my time." He reached out and grabbed the gem.

I held my breath.

There was no reaction. No fireworks, no warm glow, not even a gentle hum. He might as well have been holding a rock.

"Now if you're quite finished wasting my valuable time, I've got a theft to report," Angel snorted with a glare at us. He tossed the gem into the air and caught it with a smile Eros's way. "And I won't be returning this. Have fun with your precious few last minutes, because I'm quite certain that Master Maxwell is going to throw you out you fraud."

"Angel, please," I begged, reaching out to him.

Unfortunately the universe decided that I hadn't been toyed with enough because a blinding pain surged through my body and I gasped, clinging onto Eros as my legs merged back together into one shiny fin.

"As a doctor, I advise you to get the fish woman back into her tank before things get even worse for you. I'd hate to see what he would do if you happened to hurt her, even on accident."

Maybe Angel didn't remember who Eros was, but it seemed their souls were fated to always be at odds with each other.