by Unknown
The last thing she heard, was him saying, “My name is Cain, and you’re going to help me take my rightful throne as the world’s greatest Druid king.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER THREE
Kaelyn awoke to the crackling of a bright blue and white fire. Human-like shadows danced along the walls of the dark cave. Kaelyn lightly touched the side of her head. She sucked in a breath only to feel more pain. Her head throbbed and her throat ached. Gingerly, she felt her neck and cringed when her fingers grazed a tender spot. Sitting up from her former position of lying on the cold cave floor, she scanned her surroundings, realizing the mad man was no where to be seen. Examining her body, she discovered a skinned knee, a scratch on her elbow, a bleeding cut on her hand, and one of her sleeve’s was missing from her flannel shirt, not to mention a thick cable binding her ankles.
Frantically, she tried to untie the knot. After a frustrating five minutes, it dawned on her the rope didn’t have a beginning or an end. The black nylon cord wrapped around her legs and the more she squirmed, the tighter it squeezed. Panicking, Kaelyn closed her eyes and released a long breath. She had to keep a clear mind if she wanted to escape. If the rope wouldn’t untie, she swore she’d hop out to freedom. An exit out of the cave had to be near. She tried to stand up, but her feet remained weighed down as if an invisible hand held them plastered to the cavern floor.
As Kaelyn glanced around, she became aware that the monster, or “Cain”, as he referred to himself, had been living in the cave for a while. Pelts from small dead animals lay in a pile in the far corner of the fairly decent sized cave. Wrappers from chip bags and other assorted junk food littered the cave floor. She glanced to the center of the cave where the fire roared. A small black cauldron hovered above flames with green smoke drifting out.
Kaelyn turned her head as a twig crunched from a darkened passage. Sitting up straight, her arm rubbed against her backpack that Cain must have brought along. Her phone. She could call for help. Hastily picking up her pack, she began to unzip the flap when she froze. A few feet away on the dirt floor lay her phone crushed to pieces. Her shoulders dropped. Past the crumbled remains of her phone, lie Bro-man’s and Jay’s backpacks. Cain must have cleaned up the crime scene, she thought bitterly.
Kaelyn’s heart jumped as her thoughts drifted to Bro-man and Jay. Did he bury them? Probably not. She said a small prayer in her head for the two college kids, their families, and for herself to get out alive. Her hopes rose a bit when she noticed the edge of her pepper spray sticking out of the side pocket of her pack. Desperate, she grabbed the spray and hid it behind her back until she could find the right time to use it.
“Awake are we?” Cain said, sauntering into the chamber. His black cloak billowed out behind him making the scene all the more ominous. In one hand he held something. Kaelyn frowned.
He followed her gaze to his hand. “I didna realize how hard it would be to find the type of mushroom I needed.” He walked over to the cauldron and dropped in the handful of red spotted mushrooms. A stick magically appeared in his hand. He began stirring whatever concoction brewed inside the large vessel. “’Tis good to see ye have finally risen,” he continued. “I’m in need of some information.”
Kaelyn’s forehead furrowed. Did he speak with a Scottish accent? “You’re from Scotland.”
He looked over his shoulder at her grinning. “More…or less.” He stared at her a moment longer. His eyes dilated in an unnatural way. Kaelyn jerked back against the stone wall getting as far away from him as she could. He leered at her like a hungry wolf.
“What do you want with me?” she asked trying to keep a brave front. “Let me go and I’ll give you whatever you want…money, credit cards, anything. I won’t tell anyone you’re here. I promise.”
He turned around showing her his empty palms. His eyes closed briefly. Upon opening them, he fanned a dozen hundred dollar bills in his hand. “Does it look like I need your money?”
“You don’t scare me!” Kaelyn brought her pointer finger up and tapped her mouth. “You know what? I do recognize you.”
Cain stilled. Did she know who he was? Perhaps this would be easier than he thought.
“You’re from that traveling circus I saw as a kid! You were the main attraction in the freak show!” Kaelyn laughed hysterically.
Whirling over to her, he crouched down in front of her, but didn’t touch her. “I’m no magician,” he said through clenched teeth. “Ye insult me by calling me one. These are no illusions, but great druid magic culminated by one of the most powerful men alive…yours truly.” He smiled cruelly, showing a perfect white smile.
“How should I address you then?” she said in a sickening sweet voice. “Oh, Great One, perhaps?”
Cain’s mouth curved up on one side. “Not-quite-yet, he said slowly. “For now, you can call me, ‘Master’.”
Kaelyn’s lip curled up in disgust. Cain walked back over to the cauldron laughing to himself. As she watched him work, she noted how items would appear out of thin air into his hands only to disappear again when done being used. Druid magic? Did it really exist? From what she witnessed, she was beginning to feel convinced.
“Please, let me go,” she said softly. “I don’t have anything you would want from me.”
Cain rounded on her once more. From the expression on his face, it looked as though he fought some evil beast within. His fists clenched at his sides as his eyes squeezed tightly closed. The odd happening quickly passed, his eyes opened, and Kaelyn noticed a pool of black floated around the whites of his eyes. Uneasy, she sunk back against the wall once more.
“I’ll tell ye what I want from ye, lass. Tell me where the Sacred Door is.”
The man was crazy. Sacred Door? What the hell was he talking about? “I don’t have a clue what the Sacred Door is!” she spat. “You’ve got to listen! You have the wrong person!”
Cain moved so fast, she didn’t even see him coming. His hand cracked across her cheek sending her sprawling to her side on the cave floor. “Ye lie!” he roared. He bent down and grabbed the collar of her shirt, shaking her with every word. “Tell…me…where!”
Kaelyn shook her head to clear away the fog that wove around her brain. “I-I don’t know any door,” she said discouraged. “Why would I?” Tears stung her eyes from the searing burn on her cheek. The earlier migraine teetered on the verge of returning.
Cain’s eyes narrowed. “Because ye ken the riddle! Ye used your powers!” Kaelyn shook her head fiercely. He studied her for a moment, considering her plea. Perhaps he was wrong. No. She lied. She knew the bloody riddle and knew where the blasted door was! True to her being, she kept secrets.
Cain smiled. He’d have to use the potion after all. Too bad the brew would end up killing her, he thought, gazing at her delicious long legs.
Kaelyn swallowed, feeling a reprieve as Cain let go of her shirt and walked back over to the cauldron. Maybe, he believed her and would let her go. The respite was short lived. A golden goblet with large red rubies adorning the sides appeared in his hand. He filled it with the green smoking brew and turned to her.
She felt herself pale. “You’re definitely crazy if you think I’m going to drink that crap!” Kaelyn turned her head to the side pressing her mouth together.
“Remember lass, it will be much harder to swallow if ye resist me. I’ve asked ye nicely, only to be denied what I seek.” Cain stalked over to her.
A bubble of unrestrained laughter rose in her throat. He called back handing her and roughing her up “nicely”? Gag reflexes kicked in as the putrid aroma wafted up her nose. Was that dead animal blended into a cocktail? She held down the vomit threatening to come up.
Cain stepped forward and cupped her chin. “Drink.”
Kaelyn jerked her head out of his grasp. He gripped her chin again in an iron grip as his fingers dug cruelly into her face. He crouched a little closer. Her hand slowly crept behind her back and tightened around the pepper spray. This might be her
only chance. Kaelyn struck out, spraying him in the face, dousing him.
Cain didn’t even see the move until too late. He could’ve shielded himself from the blow with a simple spell, but he had been too occupied with trying to get her to drink the potion. And if he was honest with himself, the fantasy of ruling the world and every living thing had filled his vision.
But now, he hunched over on the cold cave floor as every orifice in his face drained itself. Cain laughed at himself as a fiery inferno of pepper ate his eyeballs. This mere slip of a woman had felled him and not even with the great powers she possessed.
As soon as Cain fell to the floor in agony, the nylon cord around Kaelyn’s feet loosened, flopping to the ground. Without a second to lose, Kaelyn grabbed her pack and escaped. Once out under the stars, she studied the night sky and tried to figure out where she was. Hunter had once taught her to navigate by the stars rather than a compass. He had said it was the way his forefathers discovered which direction to travel.
Kaelyn recognized Orion’s belt sitting low in the western sky. She had an idea were she was. Either way, she had to keep moving away from Cain, and fast. Who knew how long the pepper spray would last on the man. Hell, she wasn’t even sure he was entirely human.
Deciding to go north, she headed toward what looked like the silhouette of Eagle’s Claw, a rock formation on the Eastern side of the range where a ranger’s station stood…and a radio to call for help.
As she thought she had a sound plan, a large roar echoed from the cave entrance. Cain was ready for the hunt. Kaelyn darted off. She sprinted past brush, fallen logs, aspen, and pine trees. Branches whipped past her head, some hitting her on the side of the face, scratching her arms, and tugging at her clothes. Branches snapped not far behind, along with the roars of a madman.
Swallowing her fear, Kaelyn jumped over a fallen tree, leapt over small boulders, and tried to forget the ache in every part of her body as she ran for her life. If Cain caught her this time, she’d never get another chance at escaping.
“I see ye,” Cain yelled into the night. “You’ll be verra sorry ye did that, lass!”
A cry escaped Kaelyn as a cramp filled her right side, slowing her down. She was in excellent shape, but she couldn’t run the entire night. It didn’t help that the monster behind her ran at an inhuman pace. Why had she persisted on going on this tour? Now, two innocent people were dead and her life hung on the line.
She glanced over her shoulder as a red blur streaked behind her twenty feet away. He’d catch her any second. Kaelyn spun around running into a hard immovable object. The object, or man, wrapped two strong hands around her arms and held on. Kaelyn’s first thought was Hunter had come for her, but then she remembered he thought her safe in her camp, at least until morning when she had to check in with TJ.
Kaelyn slowly looked up, finding the moonlight shining down on an intense pair of eyes boring into her. Kaelyn swallowed. From the feel of his body so close to hers, she could tell he was strong and fit. There wasn’t an ounce of anything but pure muscle on the man. Kaelyn stood at five ten, yet he still towered a good eight inches above her.
“Ah, Alexander,” Cain sneered as he came to an abrupt stop ten yards away. “I see you’re still the errand boy for the Guardians.”
“And Cain,” the man named Alexander said, “still chasing after reluctant lasses?” He turned Kaelyn in his arms. Her back now pressed against his hard chest. When he talked, the vibrations of his low baritone rumbled through her. He continued holding on with a tight grip around her arms. Should she be more afraid of Cain, or this man named Alexander?
“Hand her over,” Cain said coldly. “Forget what the Guardians bid ye to do. Go live your eternity and forget me and mine.”
Alexander glanced down at Kaelyn. “I’m sure ye can find another lass…a willing one perhaps,” he said smirking.
Cain clenched his teeth. “Hand her over or you’ll regret the consequences!”
Alexander let go of Kaelyn with one hand and reached into the collar of his shirt. From around his neck, he pulled out a large crystal pendant swinging from a leather thong. The crystal glowed an eerie, greenish-yellow light. “Like my wee token?” Alexander asked Cain. “As long as I wear this, ye canna come within ten feet of me.” He tucked it back into his shirt. “A parting gift from the Guardians.”
Cain let out a fierce roar. Kaelyn jumped back against Alexander. The air rippled around Cain and he immediately disappeared into thin air.
Alexander released Kaelyn and turned her to face him, continuing to hold onto her. “What does he want with ye, lass?” Kaelyn opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. The glistening of his eyes mesmerized her, while the heat of his body seeped through her clothes warming her. Alexander lightly shook her. “Are ye daft? Can ye speak?”
Kaelyn snapped out of the trance as the insult hit her. She stepped away from Alexander as his hands fell to his sides. “Yes,” she bit off, “I can speak! And no, I have no idea what he wants with me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way.” Kaelyn went to shove past Alexander when he stepped in her path reaching out and spinning her around.
“Didn’t ye hear me?” he said. “As long as ye stay within ten feet of me, Cain willna be able to touch ye.” And since he wants ye for some reason, ye willna be going out of my sight, he thought looking down at Kaelyn.
“I can take care of myself!” Kaelyn muttered trying to shake off his grip. For all she knew, Alexander was more dangerous than Cain. And hadn’t Cain disappeared? Perhaps he was gone. Maybe, she had nothing more to fear. “Listen,” Kaelyn said, “I don’t need your help. If you hadn’t noticed, I did escape Cain all by myself. I’d be half-way to my base camp now if you weren’t standing in my way. So, thanks, but no thanks!” Kaelyn made a move to walk past him when he blocked her way once more.
His jaw clenched. “Maybe, ye are daft.” His eyes narrowed on her face. “If ye havna noticed, he would have caught ye moments ago. I guarantee ye wouldna escape him again.” Kaelyn opened her mouth to say something when Alexander continued. “Either ye go with me…willingly, or ye fight me every step of the way. And if ye fight, I’ll tie ye up and throw ye over my shoulder. Either way, you’re coming with me.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER FOUR
Kaelyn bit her lip. She’d buy her time. She had already escaped one lunatic tonight, she could another. She’d make him trust her enough to where he’d turn away from her and then she’d be history. She glared at him. “Fine,” she snapped, “I’ll go willingly!”
“Good. Now show me where he kept ye. Was there a lair he was using?”
“A cave,” Kaelyn said crossing her arms over her chest.
“Weel then, lead the way,” he said with an unfriendly smile.
“Can’t I just point you in the general direction? I don’t want to go back there.” Kaelyn spoke the truth. The energy radiating inside the cave had made her cringe. The shadows, the smells…. Whatever “lived” in there, she never wanted to feel, see, or witness again.
Alexander studied her. Was she telling the truth? His lip curled at the thought of trusting a woman. She probably hoped he’d turn around so she could run off. A cruel smile crossed his lips. “I dinna care what ye do, or don’t want to see. Need I remind ye of throwing ye over my shoulder?”
Kaelyn ground her teeth. Just buy your time, she repeated to herself. Everyone had to do things they didn’t like in life, she knew that all too well. The first time this jerk turned his back, she’d run.
Alexander took her silence as an agreement to go amiably. He nodded his head and held out his arm for her to lead the way. “Remember,” he added as she walked past him, “dinna get too far ahead. ‘Tis likely Cain’s waiting to grab ye at first chance.” Kaelyn rolled her eyes, pushing past him.
She was a tough lass, Alexander thought. He had never met a lass so physically strong or as testy before. When he had held onto her arms, he had felt the muscles. She was strong, yet the d
elicate sway of her hips, he now stared at, revealed a softer, feminine side within.
Kaelyn kept to a steady pace willing herself not to keep checking to see if the huge man followed behind her. It bothered her that she barely heard his footsteps. She’d be surprised if the grizzlies on the next ridge didn’t hear her.
“Are you Black Ops Special Force or something?” Kaelyn said breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“Nay.”
Kaelyn released a frustrated sigh. He hadn’t said one word since they started hiking. She had noticed in the moonlight his clothes looked like “SWAT” gear. Maybe, he belonged with the Special Forces and the government knew all about Cain. “What are you?” she asked. “And the Guardians, is that a private organization you work for?”
“Nay.”
Kaelyn whirled around. Alexander nearly ran right over her. In a flash, he reached out, grabbing her arms so she wouldn’t fall. She glanced up into his face. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight. “If I were ye,” he said in an agitated tone, “I’d say something before ye do that again, or I might end up on top of ye.” A slight spark of sensation burned in the pit of her stomach at the picture those words evoked in her mind. “And as skinny as ye are,” he continued, “I’d likely break every bone in your wee body.”
Kaelyn shrugged off his grip. “I just wanted to know if you can say anything more than ‘Nay’!” A frustrated groan escaped her as she threw her hands up. Spinning around on her heel, Kaelyn continued in the direction of the cave. “We’re almost there,” she said over her shoulder. “Keep up if you can. I understand if you’re tired. After all, I don’t expect a big hulking man like yourself to have a lot of stamina.”
Alexander’s mouth twitched. The lass had a waspish tongue to go along with her tough exterior. He might actually enjoy this lass’s company for a time. But he wouldn’t trust her. No woman was trustworthy. “If you’re so worried about ‘my stamina’,” he said, “we could stop here. I could show ye, but then again, I’d like to reach the cave as soon as possible. I dinna have hours to prove my ‘strength’ to ye.” A smile curved his mouth when she missed her footing and tripped over her own feet.