Chapter Eight

The Palace

Jacob, Kaelen and Lucas entered Lucas's residence in the palace at the same time.

"Jacob I swear If you remove a block or mention one I'll talk your mom into making you live with her forever," Warned Lucas.

Kaelen sighed as his only crime was strengthening a block or two in Mia's head. "I have nothing to worry about," gloated Kae as he sauntered beside the glowering Lucas.

Smiling acidly Jacob stared at both of them, "I'm fairly sure she'd want to know her beloved brother has strengthened those mental blocks a time or two instead of releasing them."

Kae looked away guilty as he mumbled, "I was just trying to protect her." Looking at Lucas he continued, 'He's the one that did all the stuff to her."

Lucas waved a hand tripping Kae as they walked toward the gardens; he could here laughter and knew that Kayla and the kids were probably out there playing. As they reached the balcony he stared down and frowned when he saw Ebony squatting in front of Sapphire.

********

"Sapphire you have really beautiful eyes," Comment Ebony as she squatted in front of the little girl. "And your hair is so shiny and soft."

Sapphire stared with tears in her eyes, "Why did the little girl cut my hair if it's so pretty?"

Ebony touched the short red wave and smiled as she whispered the words to grow her hair back out. "Because she was jealous of your intelligence and beauty of course," Letting the now repaired hair drop she gave her a huge smile.

Lucas walked up as Ebony wiped away a tear beaming in delight. Holding up a handful of brown hair he gloated, "That mean girl is missing hair too now."

Ebony stared wide-eyed at Lucas shocked and a little confused, "Oh no! When did you pull her hair out?"

Lucca smacked his lips, "I don't have to pull it out." Dropping the hair on the grass he crossed his arms proudly, "I called for it, and it came like it's supposed to do."

Ebony stared at him appalled while she backed away from Lucca and whispered to herself. "You are definitely your father's son."

"Is there a problem with that," Lucas stared with cold eyes as he loomed over Ebony watching her interact with Lucca and Sapphire. When she turned and stared at him with petrified eyes he felt a rush but quickly dismissed it and asked, "Where is Kayla and Easley?"

"I believe they are still drying off from our outing to the parks of the water district." Replied Ebony softly as she put distance between herself and Lucas. "Easley should be in her room while Kayla and Layette are probably drying in your bathrooms."

Lucas continued to stare coldly at Ebony as she edged closer to the stairs, "Why are you here?"

Ebony stared at him paled at his displeased tone. Nodding respectfully she shuffled her feet, "Lady Kayl–"

"I invited her, Lucas." Kayla stood regally at the balcony that he'd just vacated and smiled tightly down at him. "I would think that isn't a problem."

Lucas' expression remained aloof as he looked up at his wife. Turning to Ebony he grinned tightly and spoke only for her ears, "If you speak to–"

Hurriedly nodding Ebony cut him off, "I will not."

Lucas stared at her flushed cheeks and gave her a friendly smile, "That is good because I'd hate to have to," pausing his smile widened as he made his threat clear. "Speak with Jacob about you upsetting Kayla."

Ebony attempted to smile but all she could do was trembling, his presence was just as terrifying as Jacob's. Nodding again she walked quickly up the stairs, toward Kayla, only to be stopped by Jacob's firm, yet gentle grip on her arm.

"I have a dinner meeting to go to, and you will join me," He whispered coldly into her ear. "Also if you are leaving my home I am to be alerted to where you are going. You are my personal assistant and should remain at my beck and call."

Nodding she stared into his eyes and blushed as she thought about what transpired between them this morning. "Yes, Lord Jacob."

Smirking he released his grip "Do not make me repeat myself about anything I've told you."

Nodding Ebony ran up the stairs as Jacob watched her.

Lucas walked over to Jacob and Kaelen and cocked an eyebrow, "What dinner meeting do you have this evening?"

Jacob smirk became more sinister, "I could have sworn you said you wouldn't mess with my fun Lucas."

Kaelen rolled his eyes and turned to stare at Lucca patting Sapphire on the head, "Did Lucca say he called for some little girl's hair that was picking on Sapphire."

Lucas stared at the clump of hair on the ground and sighed, "Lucca come here so we can talk about when and where to use your powers."

Lucca pursed his lips in anger as he stared at his father and stomped his small feet, "I don't want to."

Lucas chuckled and waved a hand immediately Lucca floated in front of him, "Do you want to say that to my face young man?"

Shaking his head Lucca kicked his feet as he started crying, "Let me down! I hate heights."

******

Ebony stood beside Kayla not hearing what was going on in the yard but pondering her situation. She looked away when Jacob's knowing eyes made contact with her eyes. Stepping away from the banister she felt a chill run up her spine. Oh! goddess on high! Why is he so.....

"Let's go have a cup of tea while the guys play with the children," Kayla said warmly as she watched Layette run down the stairs and jump toward her brother's floating feet laughing.

Ebony nodded as they walked to a small table that was already set up.

Pouring a cup of tea Kayla stared at Ebony questionably, "I'm not going to circle my point. Why did you accept a job as Jacob's assistant?" As Kayla asked the question she saw Ebony laying in her lap half dead and she grimaced at the unblocked memory that she wished she had never seen. "If you need anything I will help you. No matter what it is you need, I'm here for you."

Ebony pasted a happy expression on her face as she said, "Jacob is being very kind to me." Taking a sip of her tea to wash the bad taste of the lie coming out of her mouth as she continued, "He is paying me a fair wage that includes a residence for myself and my daughter. All I have to do is run reports."

Kayla stared disbelieving, "I know you were probably told not to–"

Ebony cocked her head and smiled graciously, "If you believe I was told not to discuss my circumstances with you then you know I cannot."

Kayla waved a hand dismissing the truth, "I am your friend and will protect you."

Ebony nodded, "And I appreciate that." Picking up a scone and staring down into the play area she saw Jacob was watching them closely, "But Kayla who would protect you from them."

Kayla followed her eyes and stared at Lucas and Jacob. Nodding her head understanding she smiled sadly, "Kaelen would protect me if he needs to."

As if sensing his sister had said his name Kaelen came into view with a winning smile and waved.

Ebony looked at the handsome man and blushed a little when his hazel eyes seemed to be appraising her, "Your brother is really handsome." Ebony turned to Kayla her smile widened, "He is really something to behold!"

Kayla giggled as she took a drink of her tea, "You know what? You have never commented on his looks before that I can remember."

Ebony giggled like a school girl, "That's because I was too busy being afraid of Lucas and Jacob to notice how sexy he is."

Kayla laughed as she bit into a scone, "I always wondered if you were blind. The most handsome men in the universe were always at our side, and you were always looking at the ground."

Ebony blushed, "I was raised to believe an Ah'Tarian could steal your soul If you let them look you in the eye. I stared at the ground to keep my soul," and my thoughts private. Low and behold those demons can read your mind regardless.

Kayla nodded, "Sometimes I think that may be true. Lucas will stare into my eyes and I feel like I'm being dragged into a temporal vortex."

Ebony smiled as she continued eating her scone not commenting on how she felt when she and Jacob made eye contact. She knew he had the power to make a lot of things happen during that time and she shuttered to think what Lucas had done, could do and would do to her friend and then leave her unaware that it had happened.

Frowning into her tea cup she remembered Kayla's never healing bruises on her neck and chest. "You appear to be so happy," She commented instead.

Kayla smiled brightly, Wanting to comment on the shadows in Ebony's eyes but knowing it was pointless, "I am! I have three Wonderful children and Lucas."

Ebony didn't comment on the fact she didn't call him a wonderful husband she looked out the corner of her eye and watched Lucas throw Sapphire in the air, "Watching Sapphire and Layette really makes me miss Kayo a lot."

Kayla sat back and stared warmly, "Tell me about Kayo."

Ebony's smile widened as she thought of her beautiful little girl. "She has just turned five and she's a bundle of questions. She has curly black hair and warm deep purple eyes with golden flecks just like my dad had." Laughing she gushed, "She took after my side of the family thank goodness."

Kayla smiled and nodded, "Do you think she'll like coming to play with the kids?"

Ebony's smile flickered as she thought of her precious baby playing with Ah'Tarians. Seeing Jacob looking directly at her she flinched and nodded, "She would love it more than anything."

Kayla glanced toward Jacob to see he was watching them as if he could hear the whole conversation. Smiling slightly and waving she looked back at Ebony, "That really freaks me out when Lucas does that." Shivering delicately, "If I didn't know any better I'd think Lucas, Kae and Jacob could hear me when I'm nowhere near them."

Ebony stared at her her wondering what rock she had been under to not realize at least Jacob and Lucas could hear from great distances. Giggling nervously and awkwardly waving her hands Ebony responded, "No I'm sure it's just your imagination."

Kayla frowned at her reaction and arched an eyebrow, "Tell me exactly what you do for Jacob?"

Ebony looked away from Kayla's brown gaze. Fidgeting in her chair she reached for the teapot and knocked the hot contents on herself. As the tea burned her hand she stared down at it feeling the pain but not really responding as the fear of being in the palace blocked everything else.

"Oh my God!, Ebony your hand!"

Jacob and Lucas appeared instantly to see why Kayla was screaming and throwing water on the table. Lucas stared in disbelief at the calmness Ebony appeared to have as her skin turned a harsh red and a blister started to appear and swell.

Jacob walked toward her reaching for her injured hand only for her to snatch it back and place it in her lap. "I'm fine," She whispered. She ignored everyone's disbelieving States. Smiling she rose, "Kayla, If you can show me to the restroom I can take care of this."

Kayla stared at her confused but nodded and waved for her to follow, "It's right over here."

Lucas watched as She walked away with Kayla, "I know she didn't suffer any childhood abuse but was her husband abusive. Her reaction to that was downright weird! It had to have hurt!"

Kaelen walked up the stairs as he watched Easley go down to watch the children. "She was mostly mentally abused by him, the physical abuse didn't start until after he and her family spent every royal released to her."

Lucas frowned as he repeated 'Mental abuse' several times to himself. Cocking an eyebrow at Kaelen he asked seriously, "Can you explain 'mental abuse' to me?"

Kaelen stared at him and sighed and shook his head, "No not really." How do you explain it to someone that does it but then blocks the person's memory from remembering it, thought Kaelen. sighing he ran his hand through his dark brown hair, "It's a form of emotional abuse but I can't really explain it. I'm just repeating what Anton's report stated."

Lucas pulled out his hand held and looked at Ebony's background, "Do we know what report my father sealed about her childhood?"

Kaelen shrugged, "I haven't looked into it and I'm not sure if it's something we should pry into."

Jacob twisted his lips into a very unpleasant smile, "I would like to know why she's afraid of her own shadow."

Kaelen chuckled, "More like afraid of Ah'Tarians being that she'll talk to me without an iota of fear. Did you see she even stepped away from Lucca like he'd hurt her."

Lucas smiled as he joked, "She looks more like she's being cautious."

Kaelen stared at him with an expression of apparent disbelief before asking sarcastically, "Let me guess you don't see it?"

Lucas bumped Jacob and smirked, "Oh I see it but she's not mine to play with."

Jacob bumped Lucas back and chuckled, "I'd remember that if I were you."

Kaelen rolled his eyes, "If you try to get a playmate Kayla will cut your toy off."

Lucas scowled as he looked away knowing very well if he got a paramour, or had an indiscretion, Kayla would do more than cut his manhood off. Shrugging the thought away since he had no interest in anyone but Kayla and her anxious glances he turned to Jacob. "Tell us about this dinner meeting you have tonight."

Jacob tilted back on his heels as he presented a self-satisfied smile, "Do you really want to know?"

Lucas looked away and shook his head, "Nope plausible deniability if she doesn't come visiting tomorrow."

Kaelen nodded his head while answering, "I have no desire to know."

Lucas and Jacob both stared puzzled as they tried to figure out if they should be listening to his words or the grinning nod he was giving.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***