Page 2 of The Power of a Myth

“Holy shit!” she exclaimed and tried to step forward to touch him.

“No.” Ethern held her tightly.

Hayden started the transformation back to a human.

“In dragon form, it’s difficult for him to control his beast. This is where destiny comes into play again. Selene will be the only one able to control it because she has Brayden.”

“Selene? I’m so confused right now.” Jessica scratched at her head. “How do the multi-shifters know all this?”

“We just do. It’s a part of us, just like the visions are. It’s difficult to explain,” Ethern responded. “Please, Jessica, I need you to help me protect Hayden until it’s time.”

Jessica let out a long breath. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Ethern kissed her. Hayden could see his friend was in love with this woman, and he felt the ever present pang of longing in his heart. The amorous, young couple turned back to him, and Ethern let go of Jessica’s hand.

“I need to report to the afterlife and start my new job. Why don’t you stay a while and find out more about Hayden and the dragons, Jessica? I know it’ll interest you. Your magic should allow you to return home when you’re ready, and I’ll change the spell to allow you to come back here whenever you want.”

Jessica instantly agreed, and Ethern left them alone.

“How long have you been here?” Jessica asked, perching on a rock while Hayden took his place back in the shadows, staring at the bones.

“Too long.” He was an older man now. He’d continued to age during his absence from the world both as a prisoner at the Reichstag and in the cave. “Can I ask you something, Jessica?”

“Of course.” She smiled warmly back at him.

“How is Molly?”

“What?” Jessica looked confused.

“These took me from her a long time ago,” he said, waving his hands over the bones. “But I’ve never stopped loving her. I just want to know she’s happy.”

Chapter One

1968 – Vietnam

The second Molly left the plane and was ushered into the army-green bus, her puma loudly protested the tropical heat. It was more accustomed to the cold mountains of the Glacial National Park, but after qualifying as a nurse, Molly volunteered to go to the war raging in Vietnam. Her country needed her. Well, the soldiers who were injured did.

Her puma continued to growl in frustration as the bus left the airport and made its way to where she would be stationed. She wasn’t fully sure what to expect but had been told she would spend most of her time in tents as there were very few buildings. In this heat, it was going to be a nightmare. Molly hoped it cooled in the evening when the sun set, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t.

The windows of the bus were covered in chicken wire, and her puma begged her to remove it so she could get a bit more fresh air around them. She obeyed and started to pull the wire away.

“I wouldn’t do that, Miss,” the bus driver shouted back at her.

“I’m sorry.” She instantly stopped and stared at him, wondering why not.

“The wire is there to stop shrapnel getting through. If you take it down and we encounter any exploding bombs, you’ll be lucky to survive.”

Molly took one look at the window and moved farther away from it. Her disgruntled puma curled up in a little ball. This was going to be an experience like no other.

The journey to where she was stationed didn’t take long. The heat didn’t lessen. If anything, it got worse. When the bus arrived, they filed out and reported to the commander of the base. All around Molly were tents—there were no permanent buildings. It was a shock. She realized that when the fabric structures were opened, even for a second, the wind would blow in every bit of dust. It would make keeping everything clean difficult and time consuming, especially as it seemed there wouldn’t be many cleaning utensils available. She surmised this worrying revelation, having spotted a nurse washing down a blood stained floor with a hose.

Her stomach turned.

Molly was fresh out of nursing school. She’d had no practical experience in the heat of battle. The sinking feeling that this was going to be nothing like her training dawned on her as she lined up to be greeted by the commander. He was an older gentleman who looked warm and friendly with his graying beard and circular glasses.

“Thank you for your dedication to our nation’s cause. It will not go unnoticed. You will be expected to work on a rota system, six days a week for twelve hours a day. It will be hard and hot work. Not only will you be expected to do medical duties, but you’ll also need to keep the unit clean.” He sighed, and she could tell he was feeling the weight of the situation on his shoulders. “You’re not just here to be nurses for medical emergencies. You’re here to offer emotional support as well. Many of the soldiers who come in here have been through horrendous experiences. You’re here to help them keep their sanity so they can live a normal life again one day hopefully.”

The group of new and rather green nurses all fell silent, Molly included. This was the reality of war she hadn’t thought about before. She’d read about the injuries she’d be treating, but she’d never thought about the men’s mental state as a result of their ordeals. They would be suffering terribly.

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