Feral Craving

by D. C. Stone

  It was all he needed. He broke off from her mouth and turned, then grabbed her arm and set it around his waist, needing to keep her as close as possible.

  “Let’s go.”

  He moved along the right side of the cave, and the thick leather jacket he wore brushed along the rocks. Mackenzie stepped along with him and even in the pitch black darkness, his eyes focused on their path, subtly lighting up the area before them. Distantly he thought back on what he believed he’d seen Tyler’s eyes do and thought it was one more clue into what he was to become. With every step, critters moved out from beneath their crushing feet. He heard them scamper away, felt the light breaths on the side of his arm from Mackenzie being so close and swore they both could hear the thundering of his heart.

  As they came up to a fork in the tunnel, he knew one led the way to danger, and he didn’t know what the other would provide except the promises of death. He glanced back and forth between the two tunnels and as two deep voices rang through the one on the right, he felt Mackenzie go rigid behind him. The grip on his waist drew her body closer to him, and he closed her eyes, taking in the comfort he had long been without. His mind worked frantically to make a decision on the tunnel, and the fight or flight aspect really dug into his mind.

  With a deep sigh, he glanced to the left tunnel again, hearing the voices getting louder from the right, and gave a curt nod.

  “This way…”

  He stepped away, drew her arm from his waist and let his hand trail lower, drift down his arm to grasp her palm. Pulling her to the left side, they stepped into the dark, damp tunnel of unknown and began to make their way even deeper into the mountain, away from the known escape, the only escape he knew of.

  His hand gripped Mackenzie’s as he pulled her through the narrowing tunnel. A rumble ahead got louder and louder with each step. It was the only noise he heard besides his own thundering heart. In some ways this very experience reminded him of his childhood and when his life changed so much. He had only been six when he was pulled from what he knew of home. The red tears that tracked down his mother’s face were a haunting reminder constantly in his dreams.

  He couldn’t deny the heat of his hand pressed into hers and while she had a ton of questions, the voices following them down the tunnel gave him the indication that now wasn’t the best time. He didn’t know what he’d eventually tell her, but suspected it’d have to be the truth.

  His legs stretched out and began to speed up his steps as his fear grew. There was no way the demons could catch up; the fear of having Mackenzie taken from him forever was too strong. As he started to speed down the tunnel, the sound of rumbling got stronger. The shuffle of footsteps behind them sped up and then a loud roar echoed through the caves.

  “Bari!”

  He pushed her forward, his body crowding Mackenzie’s as his own speed increased. The cries of the voice that sounded so familiar echoed around the tunnel. Loose debris shifted beneath their rapid footfalls as they flew down the tunnel, the path twisting and narrowing until his broad shoulders brushed both sides as he passed through it behind her. The abrupt stop of Mackenzie’s body combined with a yelp came too late as his larger frame slammed into her and sent them both careening out of the tunnel into the chamber below that was filled with heated pools of mineral water.

  “Mac … shit.”

  She was several feet below him, her body falling freely as they both plunged toward the pools below. He shifted to try to control the fall so he landed into one of the pools and not the rock lined beds surrounding them. He barely saw Mackenzie splash into a pool before his body slammed into it. The water was like slamming into concrete due to the distance of the fall, and the impact knocked the wind from him. He grabbed hold of the rock lined side and heaved his body out of the pool, scrambling to get to the one he had seen Mackenzie crash into.

  “Mac … Mac. Damn it! Mackenzie, answer me!” The heated pools emitted clouds of steam as the heat from the water rose into the cooler air and made it difficult to see into the depths of the water. He was preparing to dive into the pool, fear making his skin itch as he felt a slender hand wrap around his wrist and tug.

  “Mackenzie, damn it, you scared me.” He pulled her onto his lap as she brought her ragged breathing under control, the hit to the water having knocked the wind from her lungs too. He took a quick assessment of her, his hands flying over her arms and legs to ensure she didn’t have any injuries. They both craned their necks to the opening they had tumbled out of as her soft voice filled the air.

  “Whatever is chasing us doesn’t sound friendly. Perhaps we need to get a move on, Bari.”

  “I agree.” He pulled up to his feet, standing to his full height and bringing Mackenzie up with him.

  The water had knocked the wind out of him and with the depths of the pools, his heavy clothes and weapons weighed him down.

  He tried to catch his bearings. The cave they had fallen into was almost too beautiful for his eyes, something that seemed to be written from a majestic story. There was a pinkish hue to the waters below, signaling where the waters were heated and all along the sharp rocks surrounding the pools, lime and minerals in all different colors coated the surfaces, leading one to believe they had just stepped inside of a rainbow. As his eyes took it all in, they also searched for a way out while his mind churned over the area in his head. He continued to search the lightened interior of the walls before his eyes settled on a tunnel in front of them. It seemed to be the only way out as if they had any choice. He glanced over at Mackenzie and gave a nod in the direction of their escape.

  “Looks like it’s the only way. Let’s go.”

  As he began to walk toward it, he grimaced as the sound of his clothing rustled together, the water making the leather jacket extremely heavy. Pausing, he removed his harness before slipping out of the coat with a deep sigh.

  Stepping into the tunnel, Bari felt Mackenzie give a shiver as they began to move along the darkened interior, the air much cooler than where they had been. It seemed they walked for hours. It wasn’t too much longer that the thought hit his head before he saw the tunnel in front of them grow lighter. Halting, he whispered to Mackenzie with his eyes trained on the light in front of them.

  “I think that’s a way out, although I have no clue what may be waiting on us.”

  “Who would be waiting on us, Bari? Will you please tell me what’s going on?”

  He sighed and dropped to a crouch and peered cautiously around the edge of the tunnel opening, scanning as far as he could see. His head angled up and caught Mackenzie’s eyes. She looked as tired as he felt. They needed to get clear, find shelter and food, in that order and as quickly as possible. Pushing himself up to stand, he took a deep breath as he inclined his head toward her and spoke in a low voice.

  “I don’t think this is the best time to explain what is happening. But I understand how curious you are, Mac.” His eyes continued to scan, and he fought with the realization that he was avoiding her gaze, but instead told himself he needed to keep aware of their surroundings. “There are some very bad creatures after us. Ones I think have been hunting you due to your connection to me.”

  “You see, Mac, there’s an entirely different world out there. One I’m only recently finding out about but also one that I’ve understood for so long. I know that statement doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but it is what it is. You’re linked to me.”

  “What do you mean, linked to you? I don’t understand any of this.”

  He stood and turned to face her, held out his hand for her to take. “I can’t explain it all just yet, Mac. But I will soon. We need to go. Can you trust me?”

  Mackenzie stared at his hand for so long that he thought she’d refuse. With the sweetest movement, she reached out and wrapped her hand in his. “You can’t run from these questions, Bari.”

  He paused for a moment, thinning his lips, then nodded and turned. They took off, their feet flying over the ground that carried them to the tree
line of the forest. No pause was given as they continued to run swiftly through the dense foliage and tree thickened woods. Bari’s course had them weaving at one point, almost circling the path they had just taken before he finally began to slow, acutely checking and scanning for anyone giving chase.

  He glanced over at Mackenzie and saw the confusion in her eyes. Stepping through some dense foliage, he held back the branch as Mackenzie stepped through. The shiver that racked her frame drew a curse under his breath. The night was getting cooler near the cliffs and after falling into the pool in the mountain, the air was cooling her body’s temperature down.

  “Mackenzie, I know you have a ton of questions. I can’t answer them all just yet. I’ve spent the last nine years learning and being taught, exploring and discovering every way to survive in the wilderness. We’ll get through this. I need you to trust me.”

  His head nodded in the direction before them, identifying the direction he wanted her to move in. He didn’t want to touch her any more than he had to, and it wasn’t because she repulsed him. No, it was exactly the opposite. If they could make it to the shore, perhaps they could find their way around to a house or even civilization. He needed to get ahold of his team, needed them now more than ever. The entire forest was a death trap for both of them, from the magic he sensed pulsing through the air to the blood spilled.

  “I need to get home, Bari. I have someone who is depending on me, as well you know.” He stopped and glanced over to Mackenzie, a million questions running through his mind. They all flew through faster than he could process, and the bombardment of each made his head ache, his eyes wince, and his stomach roll. He didn’t know how much she understood about why he left, and he had a bad feeling should he completely tell her where he came from, who he was, what he was destined to be, she’d lose that soft look in her eyes and turn away. Was that what he wanted? He thought it had been, but now, having her close to him, feeling some kind of bond between them growing stronger by the moment, he didn’t think so any longer.

  She paused as if she felt his eyes and turned to him. The wind picked up and pushed long curling strands of blackened silk around her face. Her hand lifted slowly and pushed the piece from her face, tucking in behind her ear. He fought with himself to keep from standing in one place and turned from the question in her eyes as he lifted a low lying branch for her, then started walking again.

  “We need to keep moving, and we need to find shelter.”

  He still wondered what those years between them had been like for her, when he hadn’t been there to protect her. Something dark and malicious tainted her past. He couldn’t take any of it away, didn’t feel he could explain well enough how much his forced fleeing had killed his soul as he was ripped away from her. He did it for her safety though.

  “Yeah, shelter would be a good thing.”

  He followed behind Mackenzie and tried to keep his mind off the sway of her hips, the changes in her shape that occurred during their separation. He paused when her body stopped and stilled, taking in the angle of her head as her long braid swished across her back. He tore his gaze from the tantalizing view, wanting nothing more than to take the strands escaping their captive binding and pull them to his nose.

  A large remote cabin stood before them. Large brown logs basked beneath the silver glow of the full moon above. Large trees looming created shadows that danced and moved as the wind brushed through. The windows were dark beneath the canopy of a wraparound porch, and branches and leaves piled up gave a hint to how long the place may have been deserted.

  “Clear as far as I can tell.” His senses scattered the area, scanning to be sure all was clear. It was as if his eyes had picked up on the ability to register heat sensors, and at the moment all he saw in the area was a doe feeding about two hundred feet behind the cabin. They moved out from the cover of the trees toward the small cabin, his hand guiding Mackenzie at the small of her back.

  Bari opened the door with a grunt, using the strength of his kind and forcing the lock through its hole. Musty air from the unused place assaulted him. He squinted against the dust disturbed by their entrance as he moved between the small rooms to be sure that all was clear.

  “You think there’ll be a phone here?”

  “I really don’t know.” The wind howled past the windows, and he shook his head and pursed his lips. “Hell, Mackenzie, from the sounds of outside, it doesn’t seem like we have too much of a choice.” He realized too late his voice held an edge of ice to it. He turned to Mackenzie and saw her stiff form looking out a window, her arms wrapped around her chest. She shivered visibly and again, he cursed. Moving behind her frozen form, he refrained from touching her, no matter how much his soul screamed for it.

  “Sorry, Bari, I am not questioning your judgment, just concerned about the safety of the place.” The tight line of her lips pressed thin as she turned to face him did not ease his unrest, but truth be known, not much would. They were both on the run now, and he had no idea if she regretted the fleeting moment where she followed him.

  Tucking her arms close to her body, Mackenzie stepped around him. He fought the urge, so strong of an urge to pull her into his arms and give her warmth. Under the natural light of the moon her lips appeared almost blue. He knew lighting a fire would only draw attention to them, and so it was out of the question. As it was, they would have to either take shifts sleeping or find someplace to sleep. He suspected the demons tracking them wouldn’t give in and the voice that sounded so familiar from earlier screamed warnings throughout his mind.

  Walking over to a closet, he opened the door and let out a breath of relief as he spotted a huge trunk inside. Mackenzie’s body shook uncontrollably at this point, and a tortured moan from under her breath had him anxious to find anything to warm her. With a twist of his wrist, the small combination lock on the front broke free. He lifted the lid and inside revealed heavy articles of clothing along with blankets and pillows. Immediately, he stood and after living amongst men for so long, didn’t think twice as he unhooked his shoulder harness and set it aside. Next, he ripped his thin long sleeve t-shirt from his head then reached down for a sweater to set over his chilled skin.

  “Come on, Mackenzie, there’s plenty of clothing in here, and you need to get dry and warm to conserve your strength.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Bari’s voice snapped her out of the semi stupor she had been in while standing there gawking as he removed his soaked clothes and replaced them with dry ones. The peeks of his chilled skin snared her attention and until he spoke her whole world had been focused on each and every move he made. The ripples of muscles along his back held her eyes captive, kept them from moving, and she soaked in each beautiful moment as if it were as vital as the air she breathed.

  She cleared her throat and averted her eyes as he turned around while pulling the sweater down over his large frame.

  “Think there’s something in there that will fit me?” The short steps needed to cross the room carried her next to Bari as she peered down into the trunk. Bari squatted down, his wet leather pants creaking with effort as he rummaged through the trunk. He held up a pair of cotton pants and a thick long sleeve shirt. They looked a little big but would do while her clothing dried. She turned from him, glanced around at the one room and not seeing a place of privacy, let out a soft sigh. Lifting her arms, she stripped off the wet long sleeve shirt she wore and tossed it to the floor, the shirt creating a slosh as it landed. Pulling off her jeans was harder, as the material sticking to her body made them a chore to peel off. Stepping from them, she tugged on the cotton pants before donning the shirt and gathering her wet items to hand them to Bari.

  She felt Bari’s eyes on her and turned to look over her shoulder. “What?” She knew he had seen the scars that crisscrossed her back, the ones that had never healed properly from the attack. Her cheeks heated as shame burned through, not because she carried the marks but because she had been too weak at the time to defend herself.


  A muscle ticked in his cheek, the only indicator any emotion ran through him. “I’m trying to tamp down on my control here, Mac. In this small cabin, I can’t risk my temper getting the best of me. I told you I’d try to be honest with you and I will, but I’d like to ask for the same in return.” He paused, holding her gaze for a few moments before turning to hang their clothing over the back of a wooden chair nearby. “The scars gave me a bit of a shock. So much of one I’m actually surprised this cabin is still erect.”

  She frowned, confused. “What does that mean, Bari? How or why wouldn’t it be?”

  He laid the last item on the seat of the chair and turned to her, lifting his arms and crossing them over his massive chest. Muscles bunched and shifted under the movement, and she licked her lips, tried like hell not to stare.

  “Exactly what I said, Mackenzie. I’ve told you, I’m not fully human. There’s something inside of me begging to get out. It’s what has kept me rooted to the spot and not to walking right over to trace each and every scar. To not provide the comfort I so want to.”

  Mackenzie’s body heated, and she cursed that hope swirled like a beacon to a lost ship at sea in her stomach.

  “I don’t like the fact that someone marred your beautiful, perfect skin. It causes me to see red and makes me want to kill the bastard all over again. I don’t like feeling this way, know I can’t keep you safe, but damn if that’s all I want to do.”

  Her eyes moved from his shirt back to his face at his statement, and she saw the red creep into his cheeks, frowning in response. “Why are you ashamed, Bari? Or embarrassed? Your emotions speak on your skin, and I truly don’t understand why.”

  His knowing gaze always got to her and despite how close they had been at one time, she really didn’t know if she knew Bari anymore. They had been apart for close to nine years, and nine years was a long time for someone to change. The Bari she knew was still in his eyes, but outside of that, she had no clue. She also didn’t know if she could open up her heart to him again. She didn’t have it in her to survive a second round of him leaving. Instead of stepping toward him, she moved away.