by Denise Daisy
“I am leaving my friend to keep you two company so don’t get any heroic ideas either of you. You are not alone.”
With his final warning he left them. He was right they were not alone. Esther could hear the heavy breathing of a man standing close behind them. She desperately wanted to talk to Taz or communicate in some way but before she could think of what to do, Felicitas pinky finger touched her hand and entwined around hers. Without drawing attention to herself she twisted her wrist to where she was able to grab hold of Felicitas fingers and squeeze. Felicitas hand embraced back and although they were forbidden to speak, their friendship still communicated love and hope more than words could have.
A loud shout and the firing of a gun caused both girls to gasp. The man with the gravelly voice yanked their heads back and warned them to keep quiet.
Another shot, and soon the area exploded in gun fire. Esther’s heart raced. They were too close to the action and might become a victim of a stray bullet. She remembered all too vividly watching Rosie fall to the floor in her own living room when Ian’s stray bullet hit her in the shoulder. Looking back at that incident she was certain Ian had meant to kill her back then but played innocent as if he was a bad shot.
Her anger for him reached an all-time high and if she ever got loose she could kill him with her bare hands and feel no remorse.
There was more shouting but she couldn’t understand anything that was being said. Gunfire continued and at times she thought she heard Native American war cries.
A stirring in the leaves behind them motivated the man to let go of their hair and brought him to his feet. She heard him back away slowly obviously scanning the area. Her pulse raced, she swallowed hard and squeezed Felicitas hand tighter. Felicitas pinched her twice and tears welled up behind the blindfold. The double pinch brought back a flood of memories. It was their code; everything is going to turn out for good.
The sound of a forceful smack and a crashing up against the tree shook the ground directly behind them. A fight followed neither participant making a sound other than the guttural gasps of air with each blow. Another hit, and a loud thump as one of the fighters fell to the ground brushing up against her followed by the sickening sound of ripping flesh and a last gasp of air. Esther shuddered. Who was dying an inch away from her?
She felt the cold blade of a knife against her arm. She held her breath at the sharpness of it and feared her wrist being slit. A voice whispered into her ear to stay quiet, but the voice was not threatening like the others and she heard a familiarity in it. The knife cut through the ropes and her heart soared with the release. She pulled the blindfold from her eyes and saw the Drake lying near her, his eyes wide open blood pouring from the slit across his throat. She looked over at Felicitas; Reed knelt behind her cutting away at her rope. He had never looked more mysterious or more gorgeous. He gave her a slight smile then placed his finger over his lips to keep her quiet. He removed Felicitas blindfold and Esther could see she was just as shocked as she was.
He motioned for them to follow him which they did without question. Felicitas took Esther’s hand in hers as they trailed him ducking low through the overgrowth.
The gunfire continued. The sound of it was sure to draw the police so she relaxed a little more figuring rescue was eminent.
Reed led them away from the flying bullets and back around to the other side of the path into friendly territory and for the first time Esther wondered who and how many had come to set them free.
Reed pointed to a grove of fir trees whose branches hung low to the ground and grew over a fallen trunk making an ideal hideout. He suggested they crawl inside certain they would be safe there. He left his knife with Esther and told her not to think twice about using it should the shadows alert one of the drakes to their whereabouts. He said he needed to relay the word that Felicitas was safe and he would be back.
Esther gripped the knife and watched as her gallant prince disappeared through the trees and back into the front lines of battle.
CHAPTER THRITY-FIVE
Sharon did a good job at keeping up with Grant as he raced through the forest. She watched him move through the woodland and imagined him in his Chowilawu days hunting with his tribe, living free off the land not knowing who he was or where his destiny would take him. She wondered if he missed those days and if he ever thought of Velma. He had never spoken of her and to her knowledge he had never been with another woman and even now she sensed a deep sorrow hidden behind his eyes.
She had adored him when she was a child back in the days when he was Paul and would come around the house and stay with them for weeks at a time. He became a father figure to her. Back in those days she had a strange crush on him and hoped her mother would marry him and that way he could always stay and never leave.
She hadn’t recognized him when he showed up as Grant. Of course he was twenty years older and since she hadn’t seen Paul in that amount of time the picture of him she held in her mind had long since faded.
She was angry at herself for being attracted to him. She knew that was against all the rules she lived her life by. She was a Christian woman, she was married and not just to anyone. She was married to a minister and that seemed to make the whole attraction to someone else even more immoral. She wondered if allowing herself to imagine being with Grant was a sin and if it was, well then she had sinned a million times over since he stepped outside on Rosie’s porch and fired his shotgun.
She tried to suppress the emotion but it wouldn’t go away. She didn’t think God would punish her for her thoughts as long as she never acted upon them. She wished she had the same type of feelings for Melvin but she didn’t. True he was handsome, charming, Godly according to his standards and wealthy but it was his arrogance that disgusted her. He preached against everyone’s sin week after week but failed to notice he was full of the original sin. He was guilty of the same transgression that brought about Lucifer’s downfall; and the one thing that caused the entire world to come crashing down. His pride and love for himself above all others had long since driven a wedge into their relationship.
Grant pulled a small piece of baby blue tulle from the thorn covered branch and showed it to Sharon.
“They aren’t covering their tracks that’s for sure.” He said tossing the fabric to the ground.
“Why would they be so sloppy?”
“Because they know once they get to the well, they will never be found. No need to cover your tracks when it’s impossible to be followed.”
Her heart sank.
“How far ahead do you think they are?”
He knelt down and wiped a spot of blood from the ground and rubbed it between his fingers. He didn’t answer her but Sharon could tell by the look on his face that things were grim. He stood back up wiping the blood on his jeans.
“He’s taking her to Haret to wait until the baby comes.”
“Haret? Can you go there and bring her back?”
Grant avoided her gaze.
“I went once, for just a little while, and fifty years passed here while I was gone. Last time I was gone for even a shorter amount of time and you aged thirty one years.”
Sharon began moving through the woods heading down the narrow path. Grant grabbed her by the arm and pulled her around to face him.
“If they get her through the portal then I promise you I will go through and do my best to bring her back.”
Sharon nodded. “I know you will.”
He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.
“You realize you could be a very old woman by then?
Tears burned in her eyes.
“Yes unfortunately I have learned that the hard way.”
The sound of gunfire tore through the silence of the woods. Relief flooded Grants eyes.
“Let’s go. They’re not at the well yet!”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Felicitas saw the shadow. It slithered across the ground darting here and there like a blood hound sniffing for
the scent. The other side must know by now the girls had escaped, the searching shadow was proof.
Esther whispered nonstop while they lay under the fallen trunk. Mostly about Reed and how in the world he would be here caught up in all of this instead of at the homecoming dance which made her thrilled to know he hadn’t actually asked anyone to go with him. Only Esther could for one minute be bound and headed towards certain execution and in the next minute be so enthralled about a guy as if the harrowing experience had never even occurred.
“Esther.” Felicitas interrupted her story.
“They know we escaped. They are searching for us. We are not out of the woods yet…literally.”
She looked puzzled.
“How do you know that?”
“There are shadows lurking about. They are telling the drakes where we are. I just saw one.”
She sniffed into the air.
“Smell that?”
Esther took a deep breath.
“I still can only smell smoke.”
“There is sulfur in the air. That’s their smell. I can’t let them find me or the drakes will be here fast.”
She saw the fear come back into Esther’s eyes as she clutched the handle of the knife Reed left her.
Felicitas heart went out to her and doubted if Esther could actually plunge a knife into someone’s heart. Felicitas never thought she could shoot someone either but two weeks ago when given the opportunity she fired and killed a man and the way she felt tonight she would be able to use the knife with no remorse.
“You will be able to do it Esther.” She said reading her mind. “If the situation arises I know you will have the courage.”
Esther offered her the knife.
“Why don’t you take it instead?”
She objected, she knew what she had to do right now and she also knew Esther would object vehemently but she had made her decision the moment she saw Esther lying in the cornfield gasping for air.
“Esther, the shadows are looking for me, not you. I love you and I don’t want you hurt again….”
“No!” Esther’s whisper was much too loud. “No way in hell am I going to let you…”
“Esther.” Felicitas pleaded. “You don’t understand. You have no choice in this. I am moving away from you. Wait for Reed and hopefully whoever is fighting for us will win. I won’t be far. Besides you know our chances of survival are better if we separate. That way one of us can rescue the other.”
Esther handed her their only weapon. “At least take the knife.”
She refused. “No, they are not allowed to kill me but they will you. Protect yourself okay.”
She reached out her hand and touched Esther’s face.
“You’re the best and you look beautiful, soot, blood and all and I am sure Reed thinks so too.”
She didn’t look back. She climbed out of the small thicket and stayed low to the ground crawling looking for another place to hide. Her view was good and the moon high in the sky was just beginning to wane and gave off more than enough light to maneuver her way through the naked trees. She decided not to go too far away from the battlefield because one thing she did know was that she was now on the friendly side.
This time she cursed the dress and actually contemplated taking it off after all she was wearing beautiful lingerie underneath and despite the frigid temperature outside she didn’t feel the cold anymore. She almost talked herself into it figuring her strapless bra and lace panties were not much different from her bikini she wore all last summer but a sudden movement to her right stopped her from undressing.
She inched forward toward the trunk of a large tree and plastered herself against it so not to be noticed. The movement continued but was quiet as if someone were creeping up not wanting to be seen. Her heart raced and she prayed the shadows had not already given the drakes her whereabouts.
The exchange of gunfire had all but stopped and was replaced by the sound of physical combat and as best as she could tell the fighting was taking place only a few yards away.
Another rustling and Felicitas quietly peered around the tree. A silhouette moved through the overgrowth crouching low. No doubt it was an infiltrator from the other side. She shrunk back into the shadow of the trunk and waited. She covered her mouth with her hand so she wouldn’t give herself away with her labored breathing.
Instead of coming toward her the figure crouched low in the trees directly in front of her and faced forward. She strained her neck a second time to try and see what he was doing. The figure raised a gun and aimed past the trees. Felicitas lifted herself up higher to try and get a better look and what she saw nearly caused her heart to stop. It was Ian and he had his weapon aimed directly at Reed who was crouched behind a rock reloading his gun. He was planning in shooting him in the back!
Her mind raced. Should she yell out a warning? She feared if she did her voice being so hoarse from the fire might not be heard by anyone except Ian. She looked again and Ian was taking his aim. She searched for a rock, a large stick, anything she could use to disable him. There was nothing and no time to waste searching. She bolted out from behind the safety of the tree and gave a swift kick to the small of Ian’s back the way he had done to Esther when she spoke without his permission.
The surprise attack caused his gun to fall and fire drawing Reed’s attention. He whirled around surprised at the shot blast from behind. Ian fell forward but Felicitas didn’t wait to see how much she had disabled him. Instead she turned and ran as fast as she could through the trees. She heard him swearing following close behind. She weaved in and out through the trees running toward the sound of the fighting hoping for help. Once again the cursed dress latched onto a protruding branch and slowed her enough for Ian to pounce on her from behind. He forced her to the ground and rolled on top of her. He pressed his face close to hers, his eyes were manic and he smiled as though he were possessed.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
He rolled her over onto her stomach and placed his knee into the small of her back while he pulled her hands behind her. She groaned as pain seared through her spine and she felt as if her arms would break right off her body. He had nothing to bind her with so instead he jerked her up and held her close to him. He placed his hand hard against her mouth to keep her from calling for help. She struggled violently knowing he did not have Esther and couldn’t use that as a threat. Help was only a few feet away and she would fight with every ounce of strength she had left in order to free herself. He was strong but she continued twisting her body and trying to pull her arms free from his tight hold. She kicked him hard but it did nothing more than anger him. He turned her around, let go of her arms and slammed her up against a tree. The blow made her dizzy. He pinned her hands high above her head then gave a forceful punch to her ribs. The air escaped her lungs and she doubled over gasping for a breath. He pulled her off the tree, grabbed a fist full of her hair and pulled her head back. He placed his mouth against her cheek.
“You want more of that? Then keep fighting me.”
He let go of her hair and pinned her arms behind her back and again he covered her mouth with his hand and began dragging her along. She hated being captured again but knew if she hadn’t done what she did Reed would have been killed.
Ian was moving her fast heading to the other side and she knew if she didn’t keep trying to escape she would soon be in the clutches of the drakes all over again.
She tried to scream behind his hand but couldn’t make enough noise for anyone to hear. He pressed on her mouth harder at her futile attempt pushing her lips hard into her teeth.
The sounds of fighting were now in the distance a few more yards and her chances of escaping would be gone. With the last bit of strength she could muster she tried to wrench away from his grasp.
“Let her go Savas.”
Ian stopped cold.
“Never. I captured her. She is my prisoner.”
Felicitas tried to pull loose but Ian held her tight a
nd laughed.
“You can’t kill me Raine, you know the rules this isn’t the battleground.”
At the name Raine her heart raced. Could it be? Was he here now? Had he escaped? She desperately wanted to see for herself. With renewed strength she struggled against Ian. He gave a mocking laugh.
“You want to see your true love Taz?” he whirled her around but still kept his grip on her holding her close.
“Take a good look because after tonight, you will never see each other again.”
The vision in her dreams stood before her clothed in flesh, tangible and a complete stranger to her yet he stood there dirty and bloodied from the battle and one look from him took her breath away.
He took a step toward her and Ian pulled her back.
“She’s mine Raine. Look all you want but you will never have her again. I‘ve won.”
Raine remained calm and inched closer.
“You’ve never had her at all. You lose.”
“I’ll hurt her.” Ian warned twisting her wrist so to break it.
Rain stopped cold when Felicitas cried out in pain.
She tried to catch her breath but the pain shooting through her arm was almost unbearable. She was outraged at their masculine driven banter of I win you lose. She despised being a pawn in their game. And for the first time since hearing the story she became livid at the thought of it all. She had never been asked if she wanted to carry the prophesied child at least not that she remembered, maybe in a dream perhaps but not in real life. She wondered if this Raine fellow was any different than Ian or Savas or whatever his damn name was. For all she knew Raine was an ego driven prince using her to win back his kingdoms rule. Still she looked at Raine her eyes pleading because right now he was her only hope.