by Patty Taylor
Vakr pointed to the top of the hill. “There.”
Kalista glided back and forth between Beth and McGregor. Quinn gripped McGregor’s arm and helped him up the remaining slope.
Behind the cascading waterfall, Quinn spotted a narrow cave opening chiseled from the relentless pounding of the sea waves.
“This way to Halldora’s hidden haven. She’s waiting for us.” Vakr leaned back against the glistening wet cliff and crept along the slippery ledge.
“Stay close, Beth.” Quinn squeezed her hand and turned his head to McGregor. “McGregor, ye best stay here.”
“Ye must be kiddin’ me, Captin’. I’ve come this far with ye both. I don’t plan on missing this for the world.” McGregor pointed his crutch toward the towering twin Trows and raised the flask in the air. “With these two after me special brewed honey, ye have nothing to worry about. They won’t let me fall.”
The giants raised their heads at the sound of the word honey, drool rolling down their chins. Their hairy arms scooped McGregor beneath his armpits and carried the old codger in between each other. Kalista flapped her wings and landed on Quinn’s shoulder.
Cold mist sprayed their faces. “Careful. Watch yer step over the slippery rocks hidden under the mushroom clusters.”
Beth’s wet clothes clung to her body. Her taunting nipples strained against her thin blouse. By the Gods, even now he hungered to see her body beneath his. He wanted her now.
He had to concentrate. For her sake. The ledge began to widen and led to an underground dirt passage.
Vakr paused, waiting for everyone to catch up. The Trows lowered McGregor to the ground. “Not much farther. We’re almost there.”
Chapter 18
Luminous icicle formations drooped from the ceiling. Everyone except Vakr and Kalista had to duck to keep from hitting them. The flickering flames from stone torches mounted on the cavern walls cast just enough light to lead their way down the narrow, winding path. Disgruntled bats screeched from overhead. Kalista chattered. Her voice seemed to appease them. The path led to several tunnels heading in different directions. The entrances to the channels were lit by swirling mists of soothing aquatic colors.
Vakr hesitated in the center of the passageways. His beady eyes inspected the walls filled with remnants of sparkling gemstones, starfish, and seashells. He grinned, spotting the entrance with several sand dollars hanging overhead and motioned for them to follow. They stopped in front of an arched oak door, adorned with a wood-carved doorknocker in the shape of a mermaid. Vakr lifted the scale-detailed tail, rapping twice against the entranceway.
“You may enter,” a high-pitched voice called from the other side.
Vakr scampered toward an elderly woman, nodded, and knelt. The mindless Trows snickered, scratched their bellies, and lowered their heads.
The witch Halldora sat resting on a plush cushioned seat centered in the middle of a mammoth queen conch shell.
A round indoor garden pool surrounded with polished variegated stones and lavish shells stood in the middle of the room. A spouting dolphin fountain drizzled water drops on floating lilac and yellow water lilies.
Beth’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t help staring at the dense glass walls surrounding the enormous oval room. Halldora’s home was an underground haven surrounded by the sea. Colorful corals and creeping starfish clung to the glass. Seahorses bobbed up and down beside floating jellyfish. An assortment of beautiful saltwater fish approached the glass, studying their visitors. A pair of dolphins danced in front of them, twirling in summersaults.
Kalista soared around the room before landing in front of a lively school of taunting red shrimp.
“Come closer, child.” Halldora squinted her eyes as she leaned forward. Her knotty hands motioned toward Beth. “My sight is not as good as it used to be.”
Quinn frowned, his expression sour as Beth twisted from his grasp. His presence provided her strength while she strolled in front of the white-haired witch.
Waves of compassion surged through Beth’s heart for the elderly woman when their gazes locked. Droopy bags hung beneath Halldora’s misty blue eyes. Her face was lined with wrinkles, and her eyebrows were white as snow. The old lady smiled, displaying a gap of missing teeth. Halldora’s distorted fingers gripped a knotty hawthorn cane.
“Aye. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were the evil Gabrielle. You’re the identical image of your sister. Come Elizabeth, let me touch your face. You bear a strong resemblance to your grandmother, Griselda.”
Beth knelt, keeping her stare fixed on the witch’s calloused fingers. Halldora touched the side of Beth’s face and smiled. Like a curt electric shock, Beth’s skin tingled from her frigid touch. Kalista glided through the air and landed beside Beth. She whimpered and prodded Beth’s hand with her nose until she picked her up.
“Warmth and virtue glow from your eyes, child. In place of the smoldering evil and icy hatred I came to expect from your twin, I can feel the compassion of your spirit.” The old woman lowered a wobbly hand to her lap. Her eyebrows arched, and she frowned.
“Griselda was once a very good friend of mine, until your sister Gabrielle decided to destroy our friendship. Your grandmother suffered much heartache at the hands of her own flesh and blood. I still remember the last time I saw her. It was several days before her death.” Halldora wiped a tear from her cheek and frowned. “Griselda risked the danger of Gabrielle finding us together to get to me. She wanted to warn me of this day when you would come and seek my help. I found out that Griselda risked her very life to protect someone else you love.”
“Yes, thank the Goddess, she helped save my half-sister, Keara. I know my grandmother sacrificed her own life to protect me, her family, and good friends. I will always regret not having the chance to meet her.” With tears spilling down her cheeks, Beth grasped the shriveling pair of bony hands inside her own. “I wish I could take away your pain, but I’m afraid I can’t undo what Gabrielle did to the both of you.”
“Griselda would be very proud of you, Elizabeth. The goodness in your heart outweighs the wickedness of your sister.” Halldora smiled as her bony finger wiped a teardrop from Beth’s face, and she rubbed it across her own lips. The old woman straightened, water filling her eyes. Her mouth twisted, and her face filled with anguish. “There’s a blackness clouding your heart, child. If not for the gift of your inner wolf, this evil growing inside you would have already taken over your soul.”
Quinn didn’t waste any time. He raced to Beth’s side and knelt in front of Halldora, clenching his fists by his sides. “I plan on taking her to the Land of Fire and Ice to bathe in the magical waterfall so she can be healed. I need to know where it’s hidden.”
Halldora grasped Quinn by his arm. She gasped for air. “So you are the one called Quinn. You, above all, my friend, are in grave danger from the smothering evil. Before this child’s heart turns black as coal, you must leave her. Make haste and return to the Sea Wolf.”
Kalista cried, flapped her wings, and fluttered above Quinn’s shoulder.
“I refuse to leave Beth behind. Ye must tell me how to find the way to the waterfall, witch. I brought gold to pay you with.” His hand cupped over hers. “If ye can sense what’s inside of us, then ye must feel the love I have for her. I canna lose her, now that I’ve found her.
“Heed my warning. Your heart will suffer a great loss, one way or another.” Halldora lowered her shaking head. “I canna take your gold. If you wish to hear anymore, I can only accept a cherished gift from Elizabeth.”
Beth removed a folded linen handkerchief tucked inside her pocket and unwrapped it. The blue and red stone that Gunther had given her right before he died sparkled in her palm. She closed her fingers around the gem and closed her eyes, the image of the gentle giant’s kind face filling her thoughts. She smiled and hand
ed the stone to Halldora.
The old witch’s eyes opened wide, staring at the glimmering stone. Her shaky fingers reached for the gemstones, stopping inches away from her grasp, as she spied the necklace dangling in front of Beth’s chest. She pointed at it. “Your necklace, child. It is of greater value to you than the gem you hold in your hand. Think carefully before ye decide. Are ye sure, lass, ye don’t want to part with it instead?”
Beth clutched the sparkling gift Darby gave her inside her hand. The jewels warmth penetrated her hands and spread to her arms. Her thoughts drifted back to the night Darby gave it to her. His words rushed through her mind. “No matter what happens, lass, promise me, ye willna take it off.”
“No,” she gave her answer, barely above a whisper. “I must never part with this gift.”
“Make sure you choose wisely, Elizabeth. Your lives depend on it, child.” Her bony finger pointed toward Quinn’s chest.
Beth grasped Halldora’s frail bony hand inside her own and placed Gunther’s shimmering rock inside the witch’s palm and closed her fingers around it. “Here. It is done. The choice is mine and mine alone. This necklace was a special gift given to me by a wise and goodhearted soul. Now, please, keep your word and tell us what we need to know.”
“Verra well, child.” Halldora placed the stone in the center of the hollowed opening in the top of her twisted cane. Like a golden setting fitted around a perfect diamond, the rock embedded itself into the contours of the hawthorn wood like it was specifically designed for it. “You chose well. The wisdom of your grandmother lives on in you. Gabrielle’s greed got the better of her. She stole the gem from my wand many years ago. She used it for evil. You have restored the good magic as it should be. For that, I will tell you this: You must make a choice between your life and his.”
“I choose Quinn’s life over my own.” Beth straightened, not hesitating with her decision.
“No,” Quinn’s curt voice lashed out, his words vibrating against the glass and echoing through the cavern. “I willna hear of this. Tell us the truth, witch. Tell us how to save Beth before I . . .”
The mountainous trolls grabbed his arms and restrained him, struggling between their grips. They lifted him off the ground.
“Quinn, please. This is my choice. I can’t go on knowing I might be responsible for your death.” She raised her hand to his cheek. Halldora nodded to the trolls to put him down.
“I told ye I didna trust comin’ here in the first place, woman. Now the old witch has planted cruel seeds in yer mind. I will find this waterfall meself if it takes me verra last breath.” Quinn elbowed the trolls away from his sides. The muscles rippled across his back.
“Leave him be. His threats are full of anger and flow foolishly from his heart. Until he accepts the truth, only then will his words come from his head and become sensible.” Halldora waved her hand dismissively in front of Quinn and concentrated on Beth. Her other hand trembled and squeezed Beth’s arm. “Ye must flee from here. I feel danger lurking close by. Leave at once and head for the village of Havenwood. If ye value his life, as soon as ye arrive on land, ye must leave Quinn behind and make the rest of the journey by yerself. The necklace you hold dearly around yer neck will lead you the rest of the way.”
Beth leaned over and hugged the old woman. “Thank you, Halldora. And may the Goddess be with you always. Blessed be.”
Halldora’s bony fingers cupped Beth’s face. “Go, child. None of ye must ever return to this place. Now hurry.”
Beth kissed Halldora’s cheeks and clenched Quinn’s fisted hand. They followed close behind McGregor being led out the door by the towering pair of trolls. Kalista swooped beneath the entrance and glided toward the winding dirt incline. The cave walls sparkled like tiny diamonds. Showy clumps of moss and ferns sprouted alongside the path. The air, filled earlier with sweet-fragranced flowers, had now turned to damp and musty.
Kalista had flown on ahead. They quickened their pace. McGregor stopped abruptly and leaned on his crutch. Quinn caught himself before stumbling over McGregor. “Wait, I must go back.”
“What in Bloody Hell for, man?” Quinn straightened himself and frowned.
McGregor reached inside his jacket and retrieved the wooden flask filled with honey. “I promised the wee fellow this in return for makin’ sure he got Beth safely to his mistress.” He turned, heading back toward Halldora’s hidden underground sanctuary.
“Wait, you mustn’t go back there.” Beth gripped the arm of his coat. “Halldora warned us never to return here again. Leave it here. I’m sure Vakr will find it.”
“Ye dinna understand, lass. I canna go back on me word. I, meself, made no such promise to the witch not to return. We canna afford to cross the trolls or they willna help us again.” McGregor’s face filled with determination, his eyes studying her face. “I promise ye, Beth, I willna be long. Now the both of ye go on, and I’ll catch up with ye back on board the Sea Wolf.”
“How will ye ever get back across the slippery ledge by yerself?” Quinn asked, swinging his arm above his head at a fluttering bat.
“With the help of me overgrown friends.” McGregor chuckled and produced another flask from his coat. “Once I pull the cork from this, those two giants willna be able to resist comin’ back for me.”
“All right. I know it’s no use tryin’ to talk any sense into that thick head of yers once yer mind is made up. But hurry. We dinna have any time to waste.” Quinn sighed in frustration.
“If I’m not back by the time ye leave,” McGregor’s tone was firm, “I want ye to promise to take off without me.”
Quinn stared at McGregor eyes. He grabbed his friend by the shoulders and nodded. “I promise old man.”
Quinn leaned over and scooped Beth off the ground and swung her over his shoulders.
“Wait,” Beth squealed in protest. “We just can’t abandon him here like this.”
“I promise, Beth, he’ll be back before we leave, or I’ll come lookin’ for him meself.” Quinn gripped his arms around her legs and bolted, leaving McGregor behind. Without having to wait for anyone, he was able to take longer strides. By the time they inched their way across the slippery ledge behind the gushing falls, the remaining daylight filtered through the waterfall and dried the grassy strip beneath their feet.
I think we’ll make better time if we shift.” Quinn bent over and unlaced the leather ties around his leggings.
Beth gripped the bottom of her shirt and began lifting it over her head. A searing pain twisted around her heart. Gasping for breath, she clutched her stomach and doubled over in agony. “Quinn.”
Like a wounded animal with its foot caught in a trap, her inner wolf struggled to the surface, trying to free itself from the clutches of the raging pain ripping through her chest.
“The bloody curse is growin’ stronger.” He grabbed her arm and wrapped his other around her back. “Beth, ye have to fight this.”
With short, quick breaths, she took hold of his wrist to steady herself. “You . . . must . . . promise . . .”
“Shh. Save yer strength, darlin’.” He scooped her in his arms and cradled her next to his muscular chest. “I’m takin ye home, back to the Sea Wolf.”
“Please.” She had to make him understand before it was too late. His chocolate eyes blended together, and his face was getting blurry. Taking short deep breaths to try to clear her head, she whispered, “The scroll . . . promise . . .”
“Ye dinna need to worry about yer parchment.” His fingers brushed the wet curls sticking to her forehead. “’Tis safe and sound where ye left it, lass. I locked it inside me desk as ye asked.”
“Hide . . . it . . .”
“No one can find it, lass. If it makes ye feel better, I’ll get it for ye once ye get some rest.”
“Wait.” Her hand grazed the stubble on t
he side of his face, and she stammered, “Hide . . . from . . . me.”
McGregor swung his cane at a chattering bat flapping around his head. “Get away from me, ye blasted wee bloodsucker.”
Water trickled down the cavern walls. Cold air brushed the back of his neck. McGregor tugged his jacket tighter around his chest. He leaned on his crutch and snatched the corded vial from inside his pocket. He twisted the cap, taking a hefty swig. The warm spirits drizzled down his throat. “Aye, that should help rid this bloody chill.”
The arched entrance door was gaping open. The carved mermaid was lying broken in half in the middle of the doorway.
McGregor gripped the edge of the handle and peered around the corner. His crutch ready to use as a weapon, he stepped inside looking for Halldora and Vakr.
A low moan came from behind the enormous conch shell chair. He spied Vakr hunched over Halldora’s body sprawled on the floor. Her head lay surrounded by a pool of blood. The shaft of the twisted hawthorn cane was still clutched in her hand, and the cradled gem, along with the top half of the staff, was now missing.
McGregor knelt beside them and laid his hand on Vakr’s back. “What happened? Who did this to yer mistress?”
Vakr lifted his head and turned his battered face toward McGregor. An ugly gash directly above his eye ran down the side of his cheek to his neck. “She killed Halldora.”
“Who?” McGregor asked, helping Vakr sit up. “We didn’t pass anyone on the way from here. We would’ve noticed another woman. Who could’ve gotten past the trolls?”
Cold claws gripped McGregor by the back of the neck and lifted him from the floor. The crutch went flying through the air and ricocheted against the thick glass. Like a sack of potatoes, his body was tossed in the air and fell crashing to the floor.