by Sy Walker
That was when she spotted it in a clearing up ahead. It didn’t look like much at first, but as she got closer, she realized it was a campsite. A sign of civilization!
De hurried forward, then remembered she had to be cautious since she still had no idea who’d brought her here or changed her clothing.
She dove into the twisted trees to the side of camp and peered around the corner. There was a circle of stones around the remains of a campfire, now long put out. A tree stump nearby looked like it was being used as a table of sorts as a map was laid out on top, held down by… a tin cup full of water!
De glanced over at the small tent wavering in the breeze and noted that it was empty. The place was as silent as ever. More so even, since she’d heard occasional rustlings in the brush on her way down the brick path. Now there was nothing. Like everyone and everything had suddenly cleared out.
She squinted at the campfire and noticed a stick with some sort of burnt meat still stuck on the tip. Her stomach grumbled, filling the emptiness, and she decided she had to go for it. So she rushed out, snatched the stick and, holding it in one hand, grabbed the water with the other and chugged.
It was the best water she’d ever tasted; cool, clear, and refreshing. Then she bit into the meat. Less perfect, but edible and worth the effort. She wasn’t in a position to be picky after all.
She was on her third bite, and it was tasting better than ever, when she was engulfed in shadow. She spun around just in time to be tackled to the ground, hard.
The man on top of her was enormous, probably well over six feet tall with a wild mane of dark blond hair and a rough shadow of a beard to match. His eyes were golden like the bricks on the road and were narrowed at her as a low growl emanated from his massive chest. He was simultaneously breathtaking and frightening, like a wild animal that she would love to stare at but not get too close to. Unfortunately, he was closer than she’d been to a guy since her last time with Patrick.
She stared back into his eyes, chest heaving against his, frozen because she didn’t know what he’d do if she moved. Should she say something? Kick him in the balls? She mentally calculated her chances against a ripped, possibly psycho guy twice her weight. If only she had her pepper spray, but whoever changed her clothes didn’t leave her keys and phone on her.
Wait.
“Are you the asshole who dressed me up while I was unconscious?” she blurted.
Golden Eyes blinked, shocked at her outburst. “What?” he asked in a low treble voice that vibrated through her. Probably because he was still lying on top of her.
“You heard me. You did, didn’t you? If you think I’m going to play out some sick fantasy of yours, well, you can forget it right now.”
Golden Eyes backed off, staying in a squat, watching as De worked her way to her feet in a much less graceful way. His eyes narrowed, drinking her in from head to foot. De tugged the tiny dress down in response. It didn’t help. Either it rose too high on her thighs or too low on her chest.
“Where did you get those boots?” he asked finally.
Yeah. Right. It was the “boots” he was interested in.
“Why did you kidnap me?” she demanded, crossing her arms while trying to look tough and hide her trembling.
“Kidnap you?” he roared with sudden deep laughter and stood as well.
De’s eyes widened at the sight of him at his full height. He was a mix between Tarzan, Chris Hemsworth, and some Greek god. His body rippled with muscles beneath his tanned skin that contrasted deliciously with his golden hair and eyes. He wore only a pair of tight black pants with legs tucked into tall leather boots, worn down to practically nothing in spots.
“What’s so funny?” she said, trying to distract herself from gawking.
“Why would I kidnap you? You’re the thief who stole my dinner.”
“Stole your dinner?” De repeated incredulously. “You mean that rat on a stick?” God, she hoped that wasn’t what it was.
“If it was so horrible, why did you eat it?” he asked, folding his own impressive arms across his chest.
“I was starving,” De admitted, exhaustion washing over her.
“You must have been. You did a pretty shitty job stealing and now look. It’s ruined, so neither of us can eat it.” He gestured at the ground where the remainder of the hunk of meat sat, layered in dirt and covered in ants.
De’s stomach turned. “Look, I’m sorry I ate your food and drank a little water. If I had any money, I’d pay you for it.”
“I’ll take the boots.”
“What? No. I’m not giving you my boots. I can’t walk on this awful road barefoot. It’s probably miles to the nearest town. Wait. Do you have a cellphone?” Hope lit inside her as she glanced past him around his tiny campsite.
“A what?” he asked.
“Ha ha,” she said. “I’m serious. I need to contact my friend. She’ll be worried about me.”
“What are you?” he asked, watching warily as she poked around his meager possessions, searching for his phone. He had to have one, right? Even if he was some weird naturalist or something he’d have a cell phone. Everyone did.
“The name’s Delilah,” she said, peering in the tent.
“What is a Delilah?” he asked.
De jumped when she felt his hand on her arm. But he wasn’t tackling her, he was just trying to get her attention. Man, his hand was enormous. And warm. Tiny shivers of excitement trailed up her arm and she swallowed. Bad, De. Don’t go there. Not now and not with the weirdo, no matter how hot he is.
“I’m a girl, Tarzan,” she said, wishing her voice didn’t sound so hoarse.
“My name is Aspen, not Tarzan, and I’m not buying it. No way you’re a human. So what are you? Shifter? Witch?”
“Did you just call me a witch?” she asked, yanking her arm away.
“I meant no insult. There are good witches, too, you know, though admittedly fewer than we might like.” His eyes shifted to the side when he said that, like he was afraid someone might be listening.
De shook her head, confused. Maybe he was more than just weird. Maybe he was insane. If so, she should probably play along until she could get away. She didn’t want him going off and tackling her again.
“Um yeah. So I better be going,” she said, headed back for the old brick path. “I need to find some civilization.”
“You aren’t going that way, are you?” Aspen asked, stepping in her way.
“Why not?”
“That’s the WWW’s territory. You wouldn’t last five minutes. I barely got out alive and let’s face it, I’m far more formidable than you are.”
De felt her cheeks heat up. That may be the case, but what a rude, egotistical ass to say it.
“What’s WWW?” she asked, trying to remember she didn’t want to piss him off.
“Wicked Witch of the West,” he whispered, glancing around again.
“I don’t think the trees care,” De said, unable to help herself.
“You never know which side they’re on.”
She wished she hadn’t said it.
“Right. Well, I’m just going to go ahead and take my chances.” She moved to step around him, and he stopped her with one strong hand on either shoulder.
“You want to get to the Emerald City to the Resistance. Trust me, little strange one. Even if you’re a powerful witch, which I somehow doubt, you stand little chance against her in her own territory and alone.”
De sighed. “Thanks for the tip. Really. But I want to make it as far as possible before I lose all the daylight. So if you’ll excuse me.”
He kept hold of her shoulders and caught her in his intense gaze. “I’m telling you I barely escaped with my life.”
“What did she want with you?” De asked, sucking in her bottom lip. He looked so earnest, it was hard not to believe him.
“She wanted my body, of course. I refused to be her lover, and she ordered me killed. I can’t blame her. Who wouldn’t want me?” He
grinned, flashing a set of perfect white teeth and De’s stomach flipped. She’d had enough ego maniacs for a lifetime.
“Well, I doubt she’ll want that from me, so thanks for the tip, but if you don’t let go, I’m going to have to use my magic powers on you.” She wiggled her fingers for effect and it actually worked. He let go like she was on fire and stepped out of her path.
“I’ve done what I can,” he said as she walked on past. “If you want to commit suicide, that’s your problem.”
“Yeah. Okay, thanks.” De waved over her shoulder at the strange man.
Maybe this was all a dream and she’d hit her head harder than she though
Chapter 3
De walked on along the path as the strange and twisted trees grew thicker and larger, closin off some of the sunlight. It felt good at first not to feel the burn on her shoulders, but soon a chill crept over her, making her hug herself and wish she had a sweater.
To top it off, the sun itself was dipping lower in the horizon, casting long and twisted shadows across her path. Maybe she should have begged to stay the night at Aspen’s camp. Would it be safe to lay down out here with who knew what type of animals on the loose?
Well, it definitely wasn’t safe to stay the night with Aspen. Even if she could trust his motives, she’d never be able to trust herself. Too bad the hot ones were always such jerkoffs.
De drew a deep breath and hurried along. She’d have to come out of these woods at some point. A sudden rustling in the tree tops quickened her pace even more.
It’s just some stupid birds. Still, she didn’t like how the rustling grew louder and seemed to come from all sides. She had no light, so she had every reason to get the hell out of there.
De jogged forward, trying hard to concentrate on the path before her and not the memory of Aspen’s enchanting golden eyes.
An ear-piercing howl shot from the trees behind her, and De broke into a full-on run as all around her dark furry creatures appeared in the leaves.
Fangs flashed and screeches filled the air as she raced for her life, scared to death she’d trip because that would be the end for sure. What the hell were these things?
A sharp claw swung low from a branch to her left and De screamed, dodging to the right. She could have sworn she heard laughter as she abandoned the path and crisscrossed between trees, heading toward what looked like a clearing of sorts ahead. If she could reach an area free of trees…
Something grabbed a length of her hair from behind and yanked, jerking her to an abrupt stop. De’s hands scrabbled at the thing behind her, hot tears escaping freely down her cheeks as more furry claws grabbed at different parts of her dress, hair, and legs.
Kicking out hard, De landed a solid hit to something and she pulled away, falling back on her bottom and scooting backward toward the clearing. She could see them now, but she could hardly believe it.
They were monkeys. About three feet tall, mangy-looking brown and gray fur, with long fangs bared, black claws to match, and wings poking from their shoulder blades made of bone and covered in leathery skin.
They were horrifying, and De couldn’t stop screaming as they stalked toward her. There must have been at least thirty of them, some hanging from the treetops and some limping toward her on the ground. She was sure they were smiling, like a sick kid who has a magnifying glass and is about to fry an ant.
She was the ant.
She’d reached the grass of the clearing, but she was no longer so sure that would be helpful. Not if those wings of theirs actually worked. Something moved at the edge of the trees on the opposite side and she risked a glance over.
Aspen’s strong chest heaved with anger as he watched the monkeys approach her.
De reached out a hand toward him, so grateful to see someone – anyone – else. “Help!” she yelled.
The monkeys screeched and one grabbed hold of her ankle again. She tried to kick it away, but it was smart and avoided her while another beast grabbed her other leg. Panicking, she screamed out again and reached toward Aspen, who was much too far away. And he wasn’t moving. He just stood there watching like he was somehow conflicted as they dragged her into the clearing, more monkeys taking hold of her arms and hair.
Conflicted! He was a big chicken! Just because he had rippling muscles didn’t mean he was prepared to use them on anything more than a helpless girl drinking his water.
She writhed and wriggled, trying to keep the monkeys’ awful hands off of her, but it was impossible now that they had such a good hold of her. The two holding her by the ankles spread their wings and rose into the air, carrying her with them.
She screamed, tears pouring from her eyes as Aspen and his pale face flipped upside down. The monkeys shook her like they wanted her to fall out of the boots and crack her head open on the ground, but luckily they were stuck on pretty well.
“Help me!” she shrieked again. “Aspen, please!” Two more monkeys pulled her arms the opposite direction like the four of them were going to rip her apart.
Still Aspen stayed put at the foot of a tree, fists clenched, chest heaving, nostrils flared. But he wasn’t making a move to try and save her. Maybe it was unreasonable of her to want him to. What could he do against thirty flying monkeys anyway?
De hoped they’d make it quick.
Then the monkeys yanked harder, one more ripping at her dress, and she screamed again. She wasn’t going down easy. “Do something!” she screamed at Aspen. “Anything!”
One of the monkeys ripped a length of her skirt off and this time she was certain it was laughing.
Aspen hid his face behind his hands.
“Coward!” she screamed.
The monkeys froze, holding her in mid-air. Aspen’s hands dropped to his sides and his face read pure anger. His golden eyes seemed to glow even from the great distance, and De wondered if she should have kept her mouth shut.
The veins all along his body rose beneath his sun-kissed skin and he ran forward at a charge, arms and legs pumping with a graceful fluidity that mesmerized De even upside down and in the air.
A low and ferocious roar tore through him as he leapt into the air, higher than should have been humanly possible. De’s breath caught as his dark blond locks seemed to fly outward and spring from all over his body. His face, legs, arms, and torso contorted in mid-leap like bones and muscle were bubbling hot and pouring themselves into new molds. And when he landed just below he… he… he was a lion. An enormous lion, about the size of two grown men, and in his jaws hung the limp body of a monkey, still gripping a patch of De’s dress.
“Holy shit,” De breathed as he dropped the broken body and roared.
The monkeys gave a collective howl of panic and raced back toward the cover of the woods as De fell through the air toward the ground and the deadly animal below. But the beast reared onto his hind legs and opened his mouth, revealing rows of sharp incisors.
De closed her eyes at the last moment, but when she came to rest and wasn’t impaled or chomped, she finally opened them.
Aspen the lion had caught her in his mouth, but hadn’t made a mark on her as he set her carefully on the grass and backed away, head bowed.
“Holy shit,” De repeated, unable to fully comprehend everything that had just happened.
The lion glanced up at her and she saw that he had the same golden eyes that Aspen had. No wonder he’d been conflicted about helping. That whole body contortion thing had to have hurt like hell.
“Can… can you change back into a human?” she asked softly. If he couldn’t and it was all her fault…
But the lion bowed his head and ripples of light blanketed his body, moving faster and faster until she had to look away. When she turned back seconds later, Aspen knelt on the ground before her in all his gorgeous glory, every beautiful muscle glistening with sweat.
“Where are your pants?” De asked, unable to look away.
“That’s what you have to say?” Aspen laughed, standing, not the least bit emb
arrassed, though admittedly he had nothing to be embarrassed of.
“Thank you?” De guessed, finding it difficult to look him in the eyes.
“Just don’t ever call me a coward again. Okay?” he said, his low voice vibrating through her.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. But still…” She stopped and took a breath. “I was literally being ripped apart. Why did you take so long to help me?” she asked, finally ready to search his face for the truth.
He knelt again, this time right beside her, so close she could feel the intense heat of his body and she scooted in closer, drawn like a magnet. “I believed they were only playing with you. Trying to take your boots.”
“My boots?” De asked, incredulous. “You were worried about my boots?”
“No. They’re just so… shiny. You know, animals like shiny things. It attracts them. So I thought maybe they’d take those then leave you alone. I don’t like to kill if I don’t have to.”
De’s cheeks warmed again, and she studied what was left of her ruined skirt. “It felt pretty serious to me.”
She looked up again, surprised when his large hand cupped her cheek. “I’m sure it did. Those are the witch’s monkeys. Most folks here in Oz are so terrified of them that they immediately faint. But you held your own. It was quite impressive, though I am surprised you didn’t use your magic at all.”
“My magic?” De repeated, confused until she remembered wiggling her fingers at him earlier and threatening him. “Oh. My magic. Yes. Well, I didn’t want to attract any undue attention from, um, from Her Wickedness.”
Aspen nodded, face serious. His hand was still cupping her face, and his fingers moved gently at her temples, sending tingles down her neck and deep in her chest. “Are you hurt?” he asked in a voice like melted butter.
“No. I don’t think so. Just a couple of scratches.” De didn’t want to move because she was afraid he’d take his hand away. She kept seeing his body leaping gracefully through the air and morphing into the magnificent lion that saved her life.