B005EMAYWS EBOK Read online

  During her captivity she had familiarized herself with the room as much as possible without the benefit of light. Opposite the door were some shelves that she had pushed out of the way to see what was behind them. The process of moving the shelves had been slow as she tried to keep from making too much noise. Marius might be asleep or out hunting his prey, but he could also be right outside the door. There was just no way she could know.

  Behind the shelves there was a small crawlspace. A minute amount of light seeped through from the outside. Summer knew that many houses as old as this one had escape routes that were used during wartime.

  Escaping might be a risk, but if she stayed it was a sure bet she’d be dead by daybreak. Marius would tire of toying with her and eventually take her life. If she waited idly by to see what would happen, she would be a sitting duck.

  Summer slithered into the crawlspace. She started moving but her progress was slow. The space was narrow, forcing her to scoot on her stomach. She tried to block out the vision of the rodents and spiders that undoubtedly occupied the passage. The dirt didn’t bother her. She was already covered with so much grime that it would take several baths to wash it from her skin.

  She could see slivers of light coming from the other end of the crawlspace. It was dim, but at least now she was sure that the passage was leading her outside. Summer tried to move faster, but it still seemed to take forever before she finally reached the metal door that closed off the passage from the outside. The light she’s seen was coming from the edges of the door where it did not fit tightly against the house.

  Holding her breath, Summer pushed against the metal. Relief washed over her when it swung open, the hinges squealing loudly. She wiggled out of the opening and onto the ground - scraping her hands and elbows against the hard dirt and rocks. Once outside, she surveyed her surroundings. At the front of the house there was a dirt road that ran through the trees. Aside from the dirt drive, all she could see were woods and the cemetery that bordered the property.

  It was dusk. Deep purple shadows had descended, bringing with it a sense of foreboding. Marius would wake soon and that left her little time to find her way to help. Her eyes strayed to the sea of headstones. If she could make it through the cemetery, she would probably find the road much faster. The dirt road could go on for some distance before intersecting with a well-traveled street.

  Making her mind up that the cemetery was probably a better bet than the road, Summer sprinted in that direction. Once she was far enough away from the house, she stopped to look back at the dilapidated ruin. Its dark windows were like eyes, staring at her - mocking her efforts to elude death.

  With desperate determination, Summer looked away and scanned the expanse of the cemetery, searching for any sign that she was not alone. She listened, hoping to hear the sound of traffic in the distance, but there was nothing. All she could hear was the hoot of an owl and the rustling of leaves as the wind stirred the tops of the trees. Sighing, she realized that even if the cemetery was visited, it was unlikely that anyone would be there so close to nightfall.

  Crouching as low to the ground as she could get, Summer moved from one gravestone to the next, hopeful they would cover her escape. Coming to an abrupt stop, she held her breath - listening. Her skin tingled as fear crept over her like a putrid blanket of fog. She sensed his eyes on her - watching her - lusting for her blood.

  Summer started moving again. This time she did not bother to hide her escape. He already knew where she was.

  The muscles in her legs burned, but still she kept running. She could feel him near her before he struck. Suddenly she was hit from behind and she felt her breath forced from her lungs. Fighting to breath, she tried to make her lungs work, and at first they wouldn’t. Death seemed certain in that one moment of eternity.

  When she was finally able to inhale, she was sure that the night air was the sweetest thing she’d ever experienced. Breathing was all that matter. In that instant, Summer wasn’t concerned about her pursuer or death - only gulping life sustaining oxygen.

  At last she opened her eyes and when she did, she saw him looming over her - his eyes radiating mindless hunger. He was done playing with her - Summer’s fate was sealed. When he pulled back his lips, she got a good look at long - white fangs.

  As he descended on her, Summer put out both hands to hold him back.

  “No please don’t do this!” she whimpered.

  Marius stopped - his cold angry eyes rested on her face and his gaze bore into her for what seemed like forever. His next move was so unexpected that Summer was caught by surprise when she felt his cold touch on the inside of her thighs. Before she could scream, he covered her lips with his. His kiss was demanding, his tongue darting between her lips to explore her mouth.

  Summer’s heart pounded with terror as she felt his hand forcing her legs apart. This wasn’t right - it wasn’t his M.O. None of the victims had been sexually assaulted.

  Summer tried to push him away, but her limbs were so weak. She jerked her head to the side to break his kiss.

  “Don’t!” she cried out. “Kill me if you want … but don’t do this.”

  Marius pulled back. This time when he looked at her she saw something in his eyes that had never been there before. She saw tenderness.

  * * *

  The moon was full, providing an abundance of light to guide his way as he moved through the thick brush. Not that he really needed it. Dash could find his way on even the darkest of nights.

  His two rescuers had helped him back through the portal, but had not accompanied him. He was on his own, but he preferred it that way. No one could take care of Dash the way Dash could. Companions would slow you down and draw unwanted attention. He didn’t mind a bit of attention here and there, but that was the last thing he needed when he was among a pack of wolves.

  Dash stopped and stared up at the sky. It was dazzling - like black velvet cloaked in silver moonlight. Up ahead he could see the glow of a dozen fires. He was getting close to the wolf encampment. If he got any closer, the wind would carry his scent and they’d pick it up easily.

  Glancing back at the sky, Dash rose from the ground and quickly moved in the direction of the wolves. He was above them so there would be no danger of the beasts sensing his presence.

  Dash floated downward, landing on the branch of a large pine. It wasn’t long before he was cursing his choice of trees to perch in. The branches were sticky with sap and the pine needles were a nuisance, poking him wherever his skin was bare.

  Trying to ignore his discomfort, Dash studied the scene below. There were crowds of people gathered around the various campfires that were spread throughout the forest. The one he was nearest appeared to have the most people.

  He had imagined these wolves would be hairy - unkempt creatures, like the one he’s seen in the Keep.

  Man did that wolf ever need a haircut.

  Dash smiled and rubbed the bare skin on the top of his head with one hand. Of course he couldn’t expect everyone to be as charismatic and good-looking as himself.

  Again he made an effort to focus on the wolves. These shifters were nothing like the man in the Keep. Many of them appeared to be Native American. He guessed they were of the Sungmanitu pack.

  Around other fires were people that looked to be of European ancestry – the Vilka he presumed.

  As he watched, the crowd’s attention was drawn to the trees where a tall figure emerged. The man wore his long black hair loose, except for two small braids on each side of his face. A solitary eagle feather dangled from one braid. His eyes were so dark they would have been indistinguishable from the night, if it were not for the flames that they mirrored.

  The Indian raised both hands to the air and spoke loudly, but in a language that Dash couldn’t understand. Though it was all gibberish to him, it seemed to be some kind of prayer. When he was done, the man looked out at the crowd gathered around him.

  “The Immortals have broken the treaty. They are ki
lling not for survival, but for sport. The balance of all that is natural is in danger. Now is the time to speak of war.”

  An old man from the crowd struggled to his feet. Seeing his difficulty, a woman reached over to pull him up. The elder’s face was deeply lined; his copper skin resembling tanned leather. Draped over his hunched shoulders was a gray and white rabbit skin blanket.

  When the old man began talking, his voice was weak but confident. “I say that we try to reason with these vampires. A war would cost many lives and could last for years.”

  The man with the braids shook his head. “It would be a fruitless effort. There is a faction of these immortals calling for war. It is time that we give them what they crave.” The Indian’s voice echoed through the hills as he spoke - his features hard and impassive.

  Dash was confident that the man was Gray Eagle, the Sungmanitu leader. It hadn’t been too difficult to find him, but now he was no longer too sure he wanted to talk with the Sungmanitu. He seemed awfully cranky at the moment.

  While absorbed in the dilemma on how he could best approach Gray Eagle, Dash was startled by the hoot of an owl next to his ear. He turned to see a large gray owl perched on a branch, only a couple feet from where he was holding onto his own part of the tree. Irritated by the bird’s intrusion, Dash pulled back his lips in a snarl and hissed. The bird wasn’t intimidated. It stared back at him with the eyes of a predator.

  Dash hissed again, his eyes glowing with the light of the immortal. This time the bird flapped his wings and hooted even louder. The unanticipated reaction of the owl caught him by surprise and he lost his balance. Though he lunged for a branch to prevent a fall, his effort was fruitless. Dash tumbled from the tree and into the clearing.

  Landing on his back, he found that he was too stunned by the fall to move.

  The crowd had become still. It was so quiet that even the crackling flames of the bonfire seemed piercingly loud. Then they started to move. One by one they gathered around where he’d fallen. Dozens of eyes stared down at him - raging yellow flames leaping within them.

  Gray Eagle stood over him, his hard eyes glaring at the intruder.

  Dash blinked and searched for something that he could say to these wolves to keep them from turning him into mincemeat. One or two wolves - well that wouldn’t have been a problem, but a whole pack was a bit too many. Dash knew he was in trouble.

  “I come in peace,” he blurted out. “See!” Dash drew back his lips to reveal clean – white fangs. “No blood. Haven’t bitten a soul. If it weren’t for that damn bird, you’d never even known I was here,” Dash rambled on, hoping to dampen their anger.

  Gray Eagle drew his brows together in confusion. “You are either insane … or spying.”

  Dash put his thumb and forefinger together. “Well maybe just a bit.”

  “Spying or insane?”

  “Both,” Dash smiled. “Course you’d have to know I was crazy to come here … right?”

  Justin Gray Eagle waved his hand at the others. “Let me talk with the vampire,” he told them before turning back to Dash. “Why don’t you tell me what you are doing here?”

  * * *

  Anton was like a caged animal. His muscles tensed as the wolf did battle with his will to stay in control. The beast seethed within him, trying desperately to make its way to the surface of his consciousness. He tried to keep his mind clear, but there was a high-pitched ringing in his ears that wouldn’t quit. He sat cross-legged at the cliff’s edge, overlooking the deep canyon. With the coming night, shadows obscured the canyon floor - slowly inching their way up the face of the cliff.

  The desolation of Navajo country did little to lift his spirits. He’d agreed to wait at this obscure desert canyon while the sisters and Lex approached Kathrina. Remaining behind was okay with him. Anton welcomed the opportunity to find some solitude. He had to come to terms with his feelings for Summer, and his guilt for putting her in harm’s way.

  He sensed that she was in danger. The sensation was so strong that he could almost hear her cries for help. The frustration he felt at his utter helplessness was more painful than anything he’d ever known.

  A feather-light touch on his arm drew his attention back to the moment. To his astonishment, a wispy white figure stood beside him. He couldn’t make out many details, but the foggy apparition appeared to be a small boy.

  Anton jumped to his feet and backed away. He had seen many amazing things in his time, but never a spirit. He wasn’t necessarily frightened, just startled.

  The misty fingers reached out to touch him again. This time when they made contact with his skin, he felt a small jolt of electricity. His vision blurred and then he was no longer seeing the dry New Mexican desert.

  It was dark. The air was heavy with heat and moisture. He stood on a blanket of emerald colored grass, surrounded by massive cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. The house was regal - its white columns impressive, even after hundreds of years in the steamy Louisiana bayou. He was in Louisiana, this he was sure of.

  The wolf’s instinct was alive within him. He was aware of the immortals – their nearness was triggering his internal alarm. Summer was in that house. That was why he was being given this vision. Before another thought could drift into his consciousness, he was pulled back to the present. He was in New Mexico with the ever-present canyon wind blowing through his long blond hair. The specter was gone, but he’d given Anton a clue that might help them find Summer.

  Chapter Eleven

  The small trading post had been in Uncle Jimmy’s family for two generations. It wasn’t much, a little building made of adobe and painted with colorful native artwork. No, it wasn’t much, but it was her home and she was content. Kathrina knew she’d spent the first five years of her life in Outerlands - held at a mysterious prison known as the Keep, but she had no memory of those early years.

  When her parents had come to live on the reservation, she’d grown close to Jimmy’s family and considered them to be part of her own family. Then her parents had decided to relocate to Wyoming and she’d begged to stay in New Mexico. They’d relented when Jimmy and his family had agreed to take her in and give her a job at the trading post.

  Kathrina walked the few steps to the trading post. Leaning against the wooden hitching post that adorned the front of the store, she waited for the arrival of those that would put her on the path to her destiny.

  She wasn’t sure how she knew that the SUV would be so important to her future, but she did. They were closer now and would be turning into the small dirt parking lot within moments. Her apprehension mounted. It felt as if she had an elastic band around her chest that tightened as the SUV drew nearer.

  When the vehicle came to a stop, it sent a cloud of thick dust into the air to settle over anything that was within twenty feet of it. The darkly tinted windows prevented Kathrina from seeing who was inside, but she didn’t need to. Their identity wasn’t as important as why they were there.

  Kathrina held her breath when the driver’s side door opened. The man that emerged from the car appeared very out of place on the rez. His collar length dark hair was peppered with gray, and he wore black clothes that would have been a better fit for a mobster than someone you’d find on the reservation. He was a wolf. She could sense that right away, but the girls that followed him out of the SUV were different. They were not wolves, but they weren’t really human either.

  The two girls were not much older than she was. One of them had brown-black hair and dark eyes and the other had long auburn hair and green eyes. Kathrina had never seen these girls in her life, but she instantly felt a connection to them.

  The man held out his hand to her. “Hello Kathrina. You probably don’t remember me. I am your mom’s father.”

  Grandfather Lex!

  Kathrina was stunned. From the stories she’d heard she knew Lex had been banished from Outerlands, and he had also been her warden at the Keep. It was Lex that had taken care of her for the first five years of h
er life.

  Lex turned to his two companions. “This is Nicole,” he pointed toward the woman with dark hair. “And Sarah.”

  Kathrina acknowledged them with a nod.

  “They are your sisters … your father’s other daughters,” Lex told her with a grim smile.

  Kathrina was a little surprised, but she wasn’t as shocked as she might have been. She’d felt the approach of her immortal sisters long before they arrived, bringing with them the key to her destiny.

  * * *

  The shackles on her ankles rubbed against her skin until it was raw and bleeding. Marius had taken her back to the basement, but this time he’d made sure that she would not escape by chaining her to the wall. Though her will to live was still strong, she could feel the fire within her getting dimmer with each passing hour. She could think of no way to escape her fate.

  Summer passed the long hours by slipping into fitful sleep whenever she could manage it. In her dreams she was in a sun-drenched field with Anton, she the cat and he the wolf. Though they were an unlikely pair, they fit together as naturally as the night and moonlight. To be without him was to be without water or air.

  Summer had always known that her heart belonged to Anton, but now that it was a real possibility that she would never see him again, she realized that it was much deeper than love. He was a part of who she was and always had been. He was her soul mate and her destiny. Without him she was no more than a shell, and it didn’t really matter what happened to her.

  She was pulled from her desolate thoughts when she heard the deep moaning of rusty hinges as the door to her gloomy prison was pushed open. She could see a thick shadow within the darkness, but couldn’t make out any details. There was no need to see him - she knew it was Marius.

  With no warning the room was filled with blinding light. The thought crossed her mind that she had just been killed and was now passing into the world of the dead. But that couldn’t be right, she could still feel the pain in her ankles.