~ The Goddess ~

by

Tamia Dawn Osburn

Leeza stood, her legs wobbled so much that she had to place a hand on the wall to keep steady. She felt a surge of energy flowing through her as soon as her fingers brushed against the leather bound book. Her back against the wall, Leeza slid down until she was sitting with her legs bent, the book resting against them. Fingers shook when she opened the book. Another wave of energy swept through her when her eyes landed on the yellow, brittle pages.

The words on the pages were written in a foreign language but there was something inside of her knew that knew what they meant. Leeza bit her lower lip, a crease forming in the center of her forehead as she read the first page.

This book of spells and incantations was handed down from mother to daughter on the eve of her sixteenth birthday.

Leeza remembered the day when the social worker came to the house she was staying in and the book was given to her. It was her sixteenth birthday; at least that was what she’d guessed. Instead of reading the book at the time, she wasn’t interested what it was about since it was old, Leeza tucked it into a chest and forgot about it until she moved into her current residence. She tucked the book in with a few chosen books and went on with her life.

She turned a page; spells were written across the top of it.

The book of Shadows, a voice whispered through her.

Her heart constricted and she slammed the book shut. Her forehead rested against the book.

“What’s happening to me?”

Her heart began to beat wildly when she glanced down at the words on the cover of the book. They began to blur. Thoughts began to swirl through her mind and the voices she heard became clearer and stronger.

It’s time to learn the truth about your heritage. It’s beyond time. And it’s time for you to return home, where you belong.

A soft whimper escaped her lips and she lifted her head.

“They didn’t want me there. I can’t go back.” She pressed her hands to her face and closed her eyes. Remembering how she was treated on Wiccan constricted her heart.

“I can’t go back,” she whispered thinly into her hands. “I can never go back.”

Leeza remembered the one and last time she was on Wiccan, how the people there shunned her because of her twin sister. She tried to shut out the memories of the one time she was on Wiccan with Megan. The people there were surprised at first to see her then they began to frighten her.

They weren’t ready for you then but they are now. You know that you belong there. They’re calling for you as we speak.

Leeza lifted her head and spoke softly, “I can’t. I don’t belong there.”

You do belong there, you always have. It’s your home.

Leeza’s throat closed tightly, she shook her head.

“It’s not my home, it never was. I belong here, on Earth.” She stood and tears slipped down her face as she blocked out the voice inside of her mind, nearly jumping out her skin at the sound of the doorbell. A soft cry escaped her lips.

Get a grip Leeza. With the book clutched to her chest, she took a hesitated step toward the door. She didn’t need to ask, she knew who was at the door. Kosek stood on the other side. She didn’t want to see him at that moment yet wanted his comfort. No, needed his comfort. Her fingers trembled as she unlocked the door. He looked up at her with concerned eyes that tore at her heart.

“Kosek,” Leeza murmured his name then closed her eyes. Seeing the hot look in his eyes had constricted her head. She didn’t want to see the desire deep within those eyes. She had too much to deal with at that moment, and he wasn’t making it easier on her.

Kosek wanted to help her, but she refused any help he offered. She closed her eyes and shuddered. At the moment, she wanted to be alone and he wasn’t leaving.

“It was a rough day at work.” She spun on her heels and let him inside. Leeza went straight to the bookcase and slid the book into an empty slot. She felt Kosek’s eyes on her and it made her heart spin out of control. Her palms grew damp and her body felt hot and tingly. Her arms wrapped around her waist as she slowly turned to face him. “Is there a particular reason why you’re here?”

With one hand on his hip, Kosek reached up with his free hand to scratch the back of his head. He didn’t have an answer as to why he was here, it more like a feeling that she needed him.

“I really don’t know.” Kosek’s hand fell from his head and landed on his hip. He glanced around the small living room without really seeing anything at all. His mind kept replaying the feeling that she needed him.

Leeza stared at him for several minutes; she made her way slowly toward him. His eyes watching every move she made and it caused her heart to beat even faster.

“Hold me,” she whispered. She entwined her hands around his neck then leaned her face into his chest. His body went stiff against hers, and then he began to relax.

Kosek lowered his face into the space between her shoulder and neck and inhaled her scent deep into his lungs. His arms grew tighter around her slim body. A certain part of his body grew hard instantly, that made him groan.

~ * ~

“Damn it, why did he have to show up?” Rieser mumbled in the darkness of the car. “Now he’s put a kink in my plans to kidnap Leeza.”

Jamison didn’t reply. He shrugged his shoulders and continued to stare up at the stars that glowed brightly in the black blanket of sky. He was getting tired of these late nights watching the woman inside the house. Hell, he was getting damn tired of Rieser.

“Are you even paying attention?” Rieser reached out to jab Jamison in the shoulder. He let his hand fall down to his thigh and glared at the other man.

“What?” Jamison grumbled and rubbed his hand against the sore spot. Not only was he getting tired of watching Leeza who happened to be a highway patrolwoman, he was getting damn tired of Rieser. Ever since the incident in Nebraska several years ago, Rieser was even more convinced that there were aliens walking among us on Earth.

“He’s here. Inside there with Leeza,” Rieser spoke a little too harsh. He jerked his head toward Leeza’s house.

“So?” Jamison shrugged his shoulders again then moved his attention back to the stars. He leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

“He can ruin everything. I was hoping to take her tonight,” Rieser spoke through clenched teeth. He slammed a hand on the steering wheel and the sound echoed in the quiet vehicle.

Jamison swung his eyes to the man sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Why do you keep persisting with these people? Leeza, Darr and Shannon? They are ordinary people.”

“They aren’t. I know they aren’t. It’s a gut feeling that I have and it’s telling me that they aren’t from Earth.” He didn’t know why his partner was against him now after what they’d been through these past six years. There might be some glitches in his memory. Well, he knew who’d caused it--Daemon. The man appeared on Earth as quickly as he disappeared and it was around the time he’d lost certain parts of his memory.

Rieser hoped the man would make another appearance at Shannon and Darr’s but he showed up in California then disappeared with Megan, Leeza, and Kosek. Leeza and Kosek were the only two who came back but Megan and Daemon didn’t, and no one knew why. Only Leeza and Kosek held all of the answers to the questions that had been plaguing Rieser.

“Whatever,” Jamison quipped. His chin rested on his knuckles as he turned his gaze back to the stars. No wonder the Air Force gave Rieser a medical discharge with all of those accusations he gave his superiors...and he had the balls to take me down with him. I knew I shouldn’t have followed him out here but I had to know myself what happened that day.

~ * ~

Kosek closed his eyes briefly; he started down the hallway until he came to her bedroom. He moved to Leeza, laced his hands around hers and pulled them up over her head and stared down into her eyes.

“Kosek?” Leeza’s soft voice called out to him.

Kosek stopped then turned to glance down at Leeza and saw she was shivering. He knelt down beside her to pull her into his arms. He noticed how cold her body had grown. His hands started to rub her arms, trying to warm the chilled limbs. Her body was racked with chills and he couldn’t seem to warm her up fast enough. His hands reached down to the hem of her shirt and pulled it off. He inhaled sharply at the sight of her small, perky breasts and the hard tips of her nipples. He pulled his glance away from those firm breasts and tossed the shirt over his shoulder.

He laid her down on her side so he could pull off his own shirt. Kosek pulled Leeza back into his arms, pressing her chest against his. His eyes closed at the feel of her body against his while he held her close to him. She wasn’t making it easy for him when all he wanted was to make love to her.

Kosek trembled slightly at the feel of her hot breaths caressing his skin. His arms tightened around her waist, pressing her closer to him. He moved his face down the side and along her neck. He paused to press his lips against the soft skin under her ear. He heard her gasp as he pressed another soft kiss along the side of her neck. His hands swept along her back to cup her shoulders.

Leeza didn’t know what he was asking with his eyes as he stared down at her. His hands cupped her buttocks, he pulled her up into his body and then he dropped to his knees. She wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from falling. “Kosek?” She gasped; her eyes watching his grow darker.

Kosek shifted her on his lap, the moon highlighted her face, her lips parting as if waiting for his. His hand shook when he caressed her back. Kosek’s fingers slid along her spine stopping at her nape. Leeza trembled at the feel of electrical currents spreading throughout her body.