Scarred Protector (Midworlder Trilogy Book 2)

by Mundy, Maggie

  They pulled into the courtyard, and others came to help them move the captives inside. He paid Sictern the money owed and the detective left.

  Down in the basement, he had his men strip the man half-naked and put him in the torture contraption he had made especially for this occasion. There were beautiful, intricate tattoos of wings on the man’s back. They covered his whole back and stretched down below the waist of his pants. The contraption was essentially a cage shaped like a man, though he had this one made of toughened steel. He had found pictures of it in a book on medieval torture. He thought he had a strong stomach for most things, but there were things in there that even made him feel sick.

  The man still wasn’t moving. Whatever had happened to them, Arthur hoped he would still get what he wanted. He had not come all this way for the person to die before he had the chance to kill them. Awhen would not play such a trick on him surely. He felt the man’s wrists and there was a pulse. Then again, if he wasn’t human, who knew what a pulse would mean?

  The woman called Evie had been placed on a table in the middle of the room. Gerald had secured her with leather straps. A part of him wished his victims were awake and would fight. He might not feel quite so guilty about killing them then. His need was more, and he didn’t have time for such thoughts. He had to believe that Awhen had supplied them.

  “Keep guard on them while I go and cleanse myself. Recite the prayers I taught you, and we’ll all be rewarded tonight.”

  In his bedroom, he stripped and made his way to the shower. He avoided looking in the mirror, as he knew his scrawny frame would be reflected there. The only abnormality was his stomach, which stood out like a pregnant woman’s belly over his spindly legs. The growth was getting bigger, feeding off of him like some alien parasite. He shaved himself, except for the hair on his head, so his body was hairless like Awhen’s. From his wardrobe, he removed the white caftan that he slipped over his head. The white would show purity, while the red of his cloak would show the life-force he was using to move on.

  He walked into the cellar and inhaled the incense his disciples had burned. It had taken much research to discover the five sacred spices. Usually they burnt them with animal blood on the altar, but tonight they would have both human and angel blood. His eyes watered with joy at the thought the moment was near at hand. He marched over and took the dagger from the altar. Without hesitation, he stood before his people and sliced into his palm so his blood dripped onto the water and incense. Grabbing a piece of red cloth, he wrapped it around his hand to stop the bleeding.

  As he walked over to the table, where Evie laid unmoving, he briefly peeked at his followers, and his heart swelled seeing the adoration in their eyes. A part of him hoped there would be an element of fear as well when he was transformed. He sliced across Evie’s palm, and she whimpered but did not wake up. He placed a small bowl beneath her hand to collect the blood as it dripped away. The wrist would have bled faster, but he wanted to take his time with the ceremony.

  Arthur’s skin chilled as he heard the metal of the cage behind him rattle, along with a low growl. The man was awake, then. Arthur took a deep breath, hoping the cage would hold. Awhen had made him inscribe ancient runes into the metal, and he had to believe in their strength. Arthur turned to see the man called Heath glaring at him. He was still constrained within the cage and could not move his limbs, but his face was like a wild animal’s as he snarled, and the whites of his eyes showed as he stared across at Evie and her injured hand.

  “You will regret what you have done. Let her go.”

  Arthur could not let his people see weakness and strode across to the cage with a defiance he didn’t have. From the way Heath curled up the corners of his lips, he did not seem convinced.

  Arthur took a deep breath. He was going to die anyway. What did this man think he could scare him with? He approached Heath with the dagger, and putting his hand through the cage, sliced him from shoulder to hip in the shape of an “X.” Heath’s blood dripped down his chest, and Arthur grabbed a vial from the table nearby to collect it. As the glass container filled up, he could hear the cage squeaking as the metal contorted. The rivets in the cage were lifting. One flew forth, and Arthur turned to see one of his disciples with a hand covering his eye as blood streamed down his cheek.

  Arthur grabbed the glass container and turned to pick up the dish from beneath Evie’s hand. He had to recite the words and pour some of the blood over the stones on the altar. The rest he would keep and inject mixed with the crystals. If he did not succeed, he had a feeling Awhen would take his wrath out on him, and he could not risk that.

  A bright blue glow formed around Heath and Evie’s hands. Glancing back at the cage, he noticed the metal surrounding Heath’s hands starting to glow red. It melted and dripped to the floor. At this rate, it would not be long before Heath would melt enough of the cage to have his arms free. Arthur didn’t want that blue light aimed at him if it was powerful enough to melt metal.

  “Get out,” he screamed to his followers. They didn’t need to be told twice, as they ran for the stairs. Arthur followed them as he saw Heath rip at the cage surrounding his chest. As he climbed the stairs he tripped and the vial with its precious blood smashed. He wanted to yell in frustration but had to keep moving. Outside the house, people were getting into their cars to get away. Arthur motioned for Gerald to get their car but stopped when he heard glass shatter behind him. He grabbed Gerald, pulling him behind a bush. They crouched there holding each other and shaking in fear. His bravado of earlier all gone.

  Heath walked from the house with the woman in his arms. Arthur wanted to cry that his chance of life was being taken away. Then all was forgotten as he saw the enormous wings erupt from Heath’s back. They were beautiful, and the urge to leave his hiding place and go touch them was strong. Gerald had to pull him back. With a flap of his wings, Heath rose into the night sky with Evie in his arms. They had thwarted him now, but the important thing was Arthur knew they really existed. He would never give up until he had taken his last breath.

  Chapter 11

  Dark Healing

  Evie shivered as she opened her eyes. It was nighttime and she was in Heath’s arms, and they were flying over Bristol. Okay, so there were a few things she had obviously missed out on here. It was freezing, but Heath’s body was warm beside her. When she placed her hand upon his chest, though, it came away wet. It might’ve been dark, but with the light of the moon and the streetlights below, she could see he had been injured. What the fuck had happened?

  She wanted to ask him but first tried to think back. The healer was going to help her with the darkness within her. Evie remembered lying on her bed, and then nothing.

  “Heath. What the hell happened? Are you all right?” That was it. She regarded herself as tough, but the shaking wasn’t due to the cold anymore. They were flying up the Avon Gorge and she could see the Bristol Suspension Bridge below. Heath stopped on one of the towers and took in gasping breaths. She wondered if he was more seriously hurt than he was letting on. He flapped his wings and flew on again.

  “I’ll heal. I’m taking you back to the manor. Something happened when we were unconscious, and somehow we were taken prisoner.”

  “Did Charles do this? How the heck did he get past your guys?”

  “It wasn’t Charles. I can only assume my people were knocked out like we were.”

  “God, damn. You mean we have more enemies?” The lights below them diminished as they flew over the wooded countryside to the manor. He had bonded them, and now she had two enemies after them.

  She looked to the sky to see if anyone else was after them. There was no one, but she could see others from the enclave flying toward them.

  “Give Evie to me, Heath. You look weak,” Suzie said, as she took her into her arms.

  Tiny grabbed Heath as he started to fall from the
sky. As they landed in the secluded courtyard behind the house, the back door was flung open and other members of the household ran out. Suzie let Evie’s feet touch the ground, and it was only when she turned to look at Heath she gasped to see the extent of his injuries. Someone had cut a deep ‘X’ through the skin of his chest, and blood was smeared across his torso where he had been holding her. Tiny placed his arm around Heath and helped him inside. Evie’s eyes watered at the thought of what he had been through to save her. No one else would ever do that for her, and yet this man she had only known such a short time was willing to risk himself over and over again.

  Heath sat down at the kitchen table, and Marge came over with a bowl of hot water and towels to clean him up. Heath looked to Evie and held out his hand. She rushed to his side and grabbed it to offer whatever support she could. He gripped tightly as his wound was cleaned.

  Suzie came around to their side of the table. “What’s wrong with your hand, Evie?”

  Evie looked down to see her hand was wrapped in a rag and blood had soaked through. She hadn’t even noticed she had been cut.

  “I don’t know.” Suzie unwrapped her hand. As she did so, two raw edges of the scar healed and a puff of black smoke rose from the wound. “Oh my God, that stinks. What was it?”

  Heath looked at her hand and then to Suzie. “Evie was cut by the man who took us. He was trying to collect our blood for some ceremony he was performing.”

  The housekeeper shook her head as she pressed a clean cloth against Heath’s chest, causing him to grit his teeth and grasp Evie’s hand even tighter. The blood started to soak through the towel almost immediately.

  “I don’t know about sacrifices and rituals, but I would say the knife may have had something on it. The bleeding won’t stop,” Marge said.

  “That’s not possible. We always heal,” Tiny said.

  Before anyone could say anything else, Evie sensed Heath’s grip becoming weaker as he let go of her hand and he flopped backward. Tiny rushed around and caught him before he fell off the chair, keeping him from cracking his head open on the floor. He lifted him with ease as the housekeeper cleared the kitchen table so they could lay him down.

  “Suzie, can you get Healer Genia. She’s still weak and resting in her room, but I fear we need her now.”

  Evie wanted to help but didn’t know how. The housekeeper looked at her and smiled. “I need some more towels from the laundry. Could you grab them for me?”

  Evie rushed to the utility room at the back of the kitchen and brought back a pile of towels. Heath’s skin was starting to take on a bluish tint and she wondered whether Midworlders could die of shock. Tears came to her eyes, and her chest felt as if a hand were squeezing her heart. She wasn’t sure how she knew, but at this moment she believed if Heath died, she would want to die as well. It had to be the bonding, but the thought of living without him was impossible.

  Genia entered the room supported by Suzie. She walked over and took the towel off Heath’s chest. She sighed and shook her head, which Evie reckoned didn’t bode well. Then Genia placed one hand on Heath’s forehead and the other on his chest, where it was soon covered in blood. Genia closed her eyes for a moment, but Evie couldn’t see anything different happening, except maybe Heath’s breathing was becoming shallower. These people had wings and super-strength. They were invincible, or so she thought, and yet Heath really looked like he was dying. It all seemed so wrong. He had been talking to them just a moment ago. Suzie whispered something to Genia, and the healer looked at Evie.

  “Suzie tells me you have managed to expel this poison stopping him from healing. Do you know how you did it?”

  “No. I didn’t even know I’d been cut. I don’t even know what happened to us. I was here at the house with all of you, and next thing I’m flying through the air with Heath.”

  “There is a strange power in you, Evie. I believe it is protecting itself by causing your body to eject the poison. If we could get it to do the same for Heath, we might be able to save him. You’re bonded, so it may see it as preserving itself,” Genia offered.

  “I’ll do anything to save him, but I’m not sure how.”

  “I want you to put your hands on top of mine, and we’ll try to join so we can help him. I’ll be putting up a barrier so you can’t attack me and so your thoughts are aimed at Heath. Because of the bonding, I believe he will be safe.”

  “But you don’t know for sure?” Evie asked.

  “If we don’t try, I fear he’ll be lost to us anyway.”

  “I want to help.” Someone said from behind her.

  Evie turned to see her Aunt Georgia standing by the kitchen door.

  “I’m a healer with my people, and this is the man my niece has chosen. I want to assist saving him if I can.” Aunt Georgia stood tall and proud, and Evie smiled to see her there.

  “I’m happy to take any assistance you’re prepared to give. It seems we’re dealing with many things none of us have seen before. It would be foolish to discount any help,” Genia replied and tilted her head in Georgia’s direction.

  Evie placed her hands on the healers and looked at Heath. His lips were blue, and blood was running off his chest and pooling on the table. Even if they saved him, she reckoned he was going to be weak. She wouldn’t allow the thought that she might lose him enter her head. If the darkness in her had saved her, she would use it. After all this time, it was good that it was proving to be useful. Evie could not keep her eyes open, but as soon as she closed them she could sense Genia in her mind. It was as if they were no longer in the kitchen surrounded by people, but floating in an ethereal place where gray mists swirled around them. Heath floated before them, and their hands were held about six inches above his chest.

  Evie had never felt so at peace, as if her whole body had become calm. However, when she peered more closely at Heath’s body, the blood continued to drip off his chest and disappear into the mists below.

  “Evie, I want you to see if you can control the darkness this time and aim it at his wounds,” Genia ordered.

  Evie closed her eyes and sensed the black residing in her heart and in her mind. Looking into the dark at first was like staring into an abyss. With her mind, she imagined a thread of the dark reaching out from her chest and touching Heath’s skin. When she reopened her eyes, she could see the shadow stretching forth. It was fighting her. It didn’t want to give her any control.

  Then she could hear chanting and saw her aunt standing beside them. Genia’s thoughts calmed her and made her believe she could go on. The dark thread reached out again, and this time it healed where it touched. The blood sizzled as the scars healed, leaving an “X” marked on Heath’s chest. Where the blood burned, a dark cloud rose above his body and disappeared. Again, there was a foul smell like a dead, rotting body.

  The dark thread made its way back into her body and the healer let go of her hands. Evie opened her eyes to see they were back in the kitchen. Before she could get a good look to see how Heath was fairing, her legs gave out beneath her. Tiny was there in an instant and caught her, sitting her down. The housekeeper brought her a glass of water, and Evie sipped as she looked across at Heath. His chest was being cleaned and the wounds were healed. It had worked. Aunt Georgia came across and hugged her. It was wonderful to look around and see smiles on everyone’s faces. Genia nodded to Evie and then glanced down at Heath.

  His eyes opened, and he turned his head toward Evie and mouthed the words “thank you” before closing his eyes again.

  “I’ll carry him to his room so he can rest,” Tiny said, picking Heath up. Evie stood up to follow, but her legs gave out again as she slumped back in the chair. She looked across to Suzie.

  “I want to go with him.” Suzie supported her as they followed the others upstairs. “Will you stay and tell me what happened? I know it’s silly. I can’t
be away from him, but I need to know.”

  “I’ve never been around anyone who has bonded before, but I heard from Heath that Ridge and Nicole in the States were pretty much like that. She even tried to kill herself when she thought he was gone. They hadn’t known each other much longer than you two.”

  “I don’t love him. I don’t even really know him, but it’s a link that’s very real. Maybe when Heath feels better we could talk to Ridge and Nicole so I can try to understand what’s happening to me.”

  Tiny laid Heath on the bed, and Evie lay next to him. The past five years, she had slept on her own. Now she wanted to share this bed with him always. He appeared to be sleeping soundly now, so she turned back to Suzie who had pulled a chair up beside the bed.

  “There’s not much to tell, really. You were lying on your bed, and the healer was working on removing the darkness from you. Then a black mist rose above your body. There was an awful screeching sound, and we all blacked out. When we came to, you and Heath were gone. We sent out mind messages and realized he was on his way back, so we went to meet you.”

  “When I helped Genia in the kitchen, it was like we were in a mist. The shadow came out of me and healed him.”

  “It was the same for us here. The shadow came out like a thread from your heart and then snapped back.”

  “I’ve always wanted it gone and felt I was cursed. Now it has saved Heath, I’m not sure what to think anymore.”

  “I think you should both rest. I’ll watch over you with the others. Whatever’s going on here, I reckon it concerns us all.”