He shrugged and shot me another unrepentant grin. “It just is.”
I digested his words as we barreled down the lonely road. Everything seemed overgrown and neglected on this stretch. I hadn’t seen a car since we turned this way. Narrow shadows of trees striped the road and strobed our vehicle.
“This may be just another case to you, but the result matters to me,” I said as I stroked little Elvis. “I can’t approach this dreamwalk with a ‘business as usual’ mindset because that isn’t how I see it.”
He slowed the car and glared at me over the top of his sunglasses. “I’ve got a stake in this too. Deputy Duncan and Dr. Gail Bergeron are valuable team members, and Dunc is a personal friend. But positive thinking is more than just a wish and a prayer. Positive thinking can change an outcome. We will have a positive outcome. Worry is negative and will burden you. We need to be strong.”
“I’m trying.”
He shook his head. “Try harder.”
For some reason, his patronizing tone cracked me up. I laughed until I was spent.
“Better now?” he asked.
“Yes.” I was better. This situation was beyond our control, but I’d do my part. I had dominion over my thoughts and actions.
With the daylight thinning, Mayes veered off the road onto the grassy shoulder and then we bounced along a narrow trail through the deep woods. Absently, I massaged the itchy rose tattoo on my hand. “How’s this going to work? Will they find us?”
He snorted. “They will most definitely find us. We have something they want badly.”
“What’s that?”
“You.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“If they wanted me, why didn’t they keep me and let the others go?” The vehicle’s sides seemed to close in on me. I forced in a few deep breaths.
Mayes punched the accelerator on the straightaway. “They do things in their own time, in their own way.”
I clutched the armrest after a jarring bump. “Have you visited them before?”
“Several times.”
I noted a soft buzzing in my thoughts. “How odd.”
He stopped the vehicle, turned it off, and studied me. “Not that odd. The Nunne’hi are part of my heritage as a Native American. Like you, I can move between worlds. I listened to the stories and sought the Little People out.”
“Why?”
“Answers.”
“To what?”
He sighed. “This is important?”
“Yes.”
Mayes glanced away from me, cocking his head to catch the muted sounds beyond the car. “To why I was different. They walked between worlds. I walked between worlds.”
“But they didn’t have answers, did they?”
“No.”
“Hmm.”
“This makes sense to you?”
“For a man who can see some measure of the future, you can be blind at times.”
He shook his head. “Not following you.”
“Your exploration and soul-searching led us to this moment. The Little People know you. They allowed you in their world. You have insider information. It could come in handy during the negotiations.”
He scrunched up his eyes. “Negotiations? I thought this was a straightforward swap.”
My heart raced again at his penetrating scrutiny. Straightforward wasn’t a word I’d use to describe Rose. “I have insider information as well. Nothing is ever easy with my contact.”
“What’s your plan?”
“The plan is to come out of this with our friends—alive. Beyond that I have no expectations.”
“Aiming low.” His mouth tugged down at the corners. “I thought more of you.”
“Just being realistic.” I nodded outside. The humming noise in my head thrummed louder. Not quite melodic, but a summons nonetheless. “We should go.”
He placed a hand on my arm. “One quick point. This place. The things you will see here. They are secret and must remain so.”
His dark energy swirled around me, and I shoved it away with all my might. I glanced down at his hand and returned his stony, gunslinger stare. “Trust me. I don’t go blabbing about my dreamwalks to anyone. I’d get locked up in the loony bin.”
He went all quiet, and the silence in the car pinged in my ears like a hyperactive ticking clock. With each passing second, we were losing light. Urgency seized me. I pulled out of his grip, opened the door, and instructed Elvis to stay in the car.
Mayes followed, but he didn’t show me the way. The only path I saw was the grassy lane ahead of us. Before I walked two steps, I pulled up short. Four young men dressed in buckskins, feathers, paint, and not much else joined us.
“Oh!” I pressed my hand against my chest. “Sorry for the yelp. You startled me.”
Mayes spoke softly to the men in Cherokee and then turned to me. “We’re ready.”
My heels dug in, and I gestured to our audience. “Whoa. What’s this?”
“These warriors are here to help.”
I shook my head. The angry-bee sound in my ears intensified. “We can’t risk losing anyone else. Have them wait here.”
“These warriors are White Feather’s friends. They understand the risk and the danger.”
“So be it. After you.”
His eyes narrowed. “You shall lead us.”
“I’ve never been here before. I don’t know the way.”
Mayes said nothing. Worse, he gave no indication of which direction to take. This seemed to be a test. Well then, challenge accepted. In the dim light, I turned in a slow circle, searching for a trail to follow. As I did so, the bees in my head buzzed louder in one direction than another. That had to mean something, and since I had nothing else to go on, I headed in that direction, straight toward a tall oak.
Not hearing anyone behind me, I glanced over my shoulder and saw my posse following me. Reaching the tree, I skirted it and lost the signal. The noise seemed to emanate from the tree trunk. I found the side where the buzzing noise was the loudest and touched the trunk. The tree’s center faded, revealing a passageway.
I retreated. “We’re doing this on our side of the world. If we go this way, we’ll be on their turf again.”
Mayes waved me forward. “This is not the land of the Nunne’hi. It’s neutral territory. A place where spirit worlds connect.”
“A way station?”
“Do not delay,” Mayes said. “The light wanes.”
I forced a swallow past the lump in my throat. Charlotte. I would walk through a tree for Charlotte. “I’m going.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Light faded with every step I took into the winding passage. I flicked on a flashlight. My brain tried to make sense of this reality, but it was pointless. Mayes would tell me not to worry. I couldn’t force my taut nerves to relax entirely, but I wouldn’t let them freeze me into inaction either. Charlotte would be leaving with me, and that was all there was to it.
The way ahead of us brightened. Soon, I stood in a cave-like den with a crackling fire pit in the center. It resembled the cavern from this morning, in Little People land. Panic hit me square between the eyes. Had Mayes tricked me? Dear God, there was no time to reboot and start over.
“Calm yourself.” Mayes stopped beside me, the others ringed behind us.
“Easy for you to say. This is scary as all get out for me. You expect me to dreamwalk from a cavern inside a tree.”
“You wish to change the appearance of the meeting location? All you have to do is think of a place, and it will appear. But doing so will burn energy. I selected this setting because we have both experienced it before.”
I forced in a breath. Okay. He’d designed this space to feel familiar. Both to us and the Little People. It wasn’t a trap. It was good strategy.
The rose tattoo on my hand itched like crazy, but thankfully, the buzzing sound had faded from my thoughts. “I’m okay with it. Surprises aren’t my strength.”
“You’re doing well
with the surprises of today, Dreamwalker.” He lowered his already low voice and leaned close. “Any warrior would be honored to have you at his side.”
“Married,” I hissed.
He nodded and pulled back. “Good.”
Another test. But it had worked. He’d deflected my anxiety. For better or for worse, I was ready to do this.
The wall on the opposite side of the cavern brightened. Three tall men stepped into the open area in full Native-American regalia. I recognized Trahearn, Meuric, and Arwel from this morning. Another half-dozen men crowded behind them. The entourage stopped on their side of the fire pit.
Trahearn nodded in greeting. “Begin.”
No point in talking them out of the parlay. This was the only way to get Charlotte and the others back. “I will contact my guide.”
I opened my senses to the room, feeling the swirl of Mayes’ dark energy, pushing through it for Rose. But before I could transition to the Other Side, I felt the flutter of wings, smelled the acrid, sulfuric scent of brimstone. “No need to dreamwalk. She’s on her way here.”
A great wind filled the space, followed by flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. The earth shook, and I crouched to keep from falling. Mayes and his brethren did the same. When I glanced across the fire pit, the Nunne’hi lay prostrate on the ground.
With such theatrics, I was afraid to look at Rose full on. I’d seen her in many guises, from a tattooed woman, to a brimstone-scented demon, to her archangel-like wings, to her full-on scare-the-crap-out-of-you monster persona. I guessed she’d opt for super scary to make sure we knew who was in charge.
“Why have you summoned me?” Rose’s voice roared lion-strong through the cavern.
I cringed, knowing she was pissed, knowing she was vindictive. I scrambled to my feet and found her standing beside me. Quickly, I backpedaled to stay behind her. I’d guessed correctly. Her three heads writhed with Medusa snakes. Her six eyes glowed demon red. Her burnished crimson body armor reminded me of the color of spilt blood. Her breastplate perfectly reflected the flickering flames of the fire. In one hand, Rose held a scythe with a wicked-looking curved blade, and on her feet she wore midnight-black boots, their outer edges laced with sharp spikes.
Her angel wings were nowhere to be seen. I gulped. With Rose, it was always a good news/bad news deal. However, I’d fulfilled my end of the bargain. Rose had come to the meeting.
One glance at her and any thinking being should know to hide and hope this fierce creature didn’t fry them on the spot. I felt that way, even though I knew Rose was showing off. She wasn’t all badass. She operated under a code, though I’d yet to figure out the nuances.
Mayes joined me, both of us standing slightly back and to the right of Rose. I felt the dismissive look Mayes gave me. His disdain hurt, but I couldn’t undo my connection to Rose. My choices in the past affected my present and my future.
The Little People knelt in a knot on the far side of the cavern. Their image wavered and shrank. Only Trahearn rose to his feet and stood proud and tall. “Ancient One. Our people have a grievance. Something precious was stolen from us, and we demand its return. By the treaty of life, we beg your mercy and ask for swift justice.”
Rose breathed fire, searing the hair on my arms. Mercy. Would I survive?
“The treaty specifies a blood price to be paid for my help,” Rose said.
“We’re prepared to pay the price.”
Silence billowed in thick waves around us. Finally, Rose responded in an imperial tone. “Proceed.”
As Trahearn recounted the tale of the theft, my tattoos heated, my entire birthday suit warmed unpleasantly, and my eyes watered so much from the sulfur stench I could barely see. I hoped that no matter what Rose decided, the Little People would release Charlotte, Gail, and the deputy.
“Bring the thief to me.” The ground trembled when Rose spoke. I locked my knees to remain upright and watched to see if the walls would fall down and crush us. To my relief, the walls held.
“He is in the land of the living,” Trahearn said. “Beyond our jurisdiction. The man beside the Dreamwalker is an officer of human law.”
Rose slanted her fearsome gaze our way. “Explain.”
“Jonas Canyon eluded capture,” Mayes said from my side.
How could he speak so matter-of-factly? My legs barely held me, and I wanted to throw up.
“In addition to his energy-robbing ability and the stolen memory lock, he mesmerizes those in his presence and escapes,” Mayes continued. “The Dreamwalker alone is immune to his wiles.”
Rose cut her six demon-red eyes to me, and I quaked. Even knowing we were allies, I couldn’t take the intense scrutiny. I scrunched my eyes and covered my head with my hands. I’d never been this terrified in all my life. I want to wake up now. I want this to go away, like a bad dream in the dead of night. If I count to three, will I wake up in my bed back home?
The world wobbled once more, and a powerful force lifted me into the air. I didn’t like this. I didn’t want to be here. Even so, I needed to see what would happen next. Rose’s scythe pointed at me, and I found myself upright and poised over the fire. Through my sneakers, I felt the soles of my feet toasted past the point of discomfort. With effort, I curled my knees into my chest and held them there.
I was going to die. Right here. Right now.
Rose flicked her wrist, and I began to rotate like a chicken on a rotisserie spit. The lump in my throat gave way, but I was too scared to move a muscle. Fire crackled beneath me. Heat suffused my body.
“I am displeased with the lot of you,” Rose stated, each angry word as toxic as caustic lye. Self-preservation had me ducking my head between my knees. Whatever Rose was about to do, I wanted no part of it. The thought of a blood price scared me to death. Would she outright kill someone in this room? Would it be me?
Was Rose really my ally?
Would she value the sanctity of my life?
As I swiveled, I peeked through slitted eyes. Everyone in the room prostrated themselves in Rose’s presence. She now levitated beside the fire pit, her armor glowing so bright my eyes hurt to view it.
“Your actions bring undue attention to my apprentice.” She pointed her scythe at the Little People. “You failed to keep your treasure safe.” She leveled it at Mayes. “You are helpless in the face of evil. Woe, woe, woe be unto you, human and fae alike.”
Despite being scared out of my gourd, I was struck by the humor in Rose’s word choice. Who needed three times the woe? Woe was woe. It sucked, big time. I felt pretty woeful myself.
“We throw ourselves on your mercy,” Trahearn begged. “Right this wrong.”
“Arise,” Rose said. “I have a judgment.”
In that moment, I found myself standing at her side again, in between the two camps of people, the Native Americans on my right, the Little People on the left. Power swirled around us, lifting my hair and blowing it every which way. I hoped to high heaven I wouldn’t be sporting a Medusa-like snake hairdo from now on. Living with a thick white forelock in an otherwise dark head of hair was enough of a fashion no-no.
Rose leveled the scythe at the Little People. “You will release the hostages.”
I liked that proclamation.
She directed her stick at Mayes. “You will find the thief with the help of my apprentice. She will bring him to me, and he will be cast into the pit.”
Before I could protest, the ground shook and the cavern filled with dense vapor. I fell to my knees, coughing. When the air cleared, Rose was gone.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
In the orangey glow of spent firelight, a strong hand appeared in front of my face. “If she’s your friend, I’d hate to see your enemies.”
Grabbing Mayes’ lifeline, I arose. I patted myself to make sure I still had all my arms and legs. Scorch marks flared up my jeans. Truthfully, I was afraid to wiggle my toes, lest they’d been damaged. I wiggled them anyway and nearly passed out with relief when they worked.
<
br /> So far, so good. But from the coldness in Mayes’ eyes, I knew something else must be different. “My hair. Is it … normal?”
“You’re concerned about your hair?”
“I’m scared to touch it.” I shuddered. “But I have to know. Do I have snakes for hair now?”
His fingers caressed the side of my head. “No snakes, though the ends are singed.”
I couldn’t suppress a shiver. Human touch felt wonderful. What I wouldn’t give for a hug right now …. But this was the wrong place, the wrong man. “Thank God.”
“God had nothing to do with any of this. We need to have a serious talk about the friends you keep.”
“Who said Rose was my friend?”
“Pardon me. Your master.”
“She’s my associate. We’ve partnered together for various cases.”
He gestured emphatically with his hands. “Face facts. You’ve sold your soul to the devil.”
His anger upset me. “I have not. You have no right to judge me, or Rose for that matter.”
“That creature was no ‘Rose.’ More like the archangel of death.”
He was closer to the truth than he knew, but I couldn’t talk about Rose’s undercover assignment. All I had was bluster. “Shows what you know.”
Mayes looked ready to argue until sunrise, but a commotion across the cavern caught our attention. Gail, Charlotte, and Deputy Duncan stumbled into the area, escorted by a group of females.
“What is this place?” Gail asked. “Why is it so dark in here? The air is foul. We shouldn’t be here. I demand to know what’s going on.”
Charlotte and her cop walked toward us with joined fingers. My heart brimmed with relief. She was all right. I ran and hugged her. “Charlotte!”
“There you are,” my best friend in the whole world said, her freckled face glowing with happiness. She wrapped her free arm around me and drew me close. “You smell like smoke, and something’s different about your hair. Anyway, we’ve had the most amazing time exploring the park.”
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