by Julia Crane
A wolf howled in the distance and a shiver ran through her.
Keegan tried to conjure up Rourk’s image in her mind’s eye, and still nothing. How had the d’jinn blocked her gift? She wished she knew more about the creatures. If only she had her damn iPhone. Wiki usually had a sliver of mythology correct.
Slogging up a hill, Keegan nearly wept. Up ahead was a shelter of sorts, probably set up for hikers trekking across the mountain. Maybe someone would be there with a phone, or clothes. And even if not, at least she could get shelter from the rain. She was drenched and freezing. Apparently, Seattle had not gotten the memo that it was spring.
Keegan stumbled through the brush in the dark, making her way towards the shelter. She stopped and listened, hoping to hear voices, but all she heard was rain pelting the trees and her heart pounding in her ears. Taking a deep breath, she crept forward.
The shelter was abandoned. It was too much to hope for that there would be a sleeping bag left behind. At least there was a cover and a seat. She would do anything to have Anna’s power to light fire. She was cold, miserable, and soaking wet.
Her legs buckled, and she crumbled onto the wooden plank. She was grateful it was too dark to see any spider webs, or other animals that might have made the shelter their home. She curled up on her side. How long had it been since she had slept?
Keegan glanced up at the star-filled night, and ached with longing for her chosen.
She barely finished the thought before she went limp and fell into a fitful sleep.
Keegan stirred with a groan. Her whole body and heart ached, and she winced in pain. The memory of yesterday came crashing down on her.
Opening one eye, she wondered what had woken her. A creak caused her eyes to snap opened. Her head was still throbbing. What was that noise? It was still dark, but it looked like the sun was starting to rise. Thankfully, the rain had stopped.
Something scurried up her arm, and Keegan let out a yelp, smacking the bug off her.
Frantically, she tried to compose herself. Her scream had alerted whatever was out there of her presence.
It was too quiet, Keegan realized. No crickets, frogs, or birds making their morning music. It was just dead quiet, and it filled her with dread. Maybe the creaking was from the wind.
As her eyes adjusted to the dark, Keegan saw what had made the noise.
The wolf raised its head, his eyes glinting through the mist.
Her heart hammered in her chest. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Another bug crawled across her toes. Keegan glanced down; it was a large brown centipede. Using her other foot, she flicked it off.
The wolf’s ears perked up. A low growl came from his fanged mouth. His powerful muscles flexed.
Keegan froze. Hesitantly, she uncoiled herself. She must not panic. Where was the knife? It must have fallen from her hand while she slept.
There was no one there to save her. She had to save herself.
A mental image of the wolf tearing her apart did not help.
Keegan struggled to control her panicked breathing. She pushed herself farther into the corner. She wrapped her arms tightly around her naked chest and pulled her legs closer to her body, hiding her face. Maybe if she didn’t meet its eyes, it would go away.
The wolf padded into the shelter. Keegan held her breath.
She held a trembling hand out towards the creature. It took a tentative step forward. Keegan reached over and gently stroked its coarse fur. When she thought it was safe, she lifted her head.
They stared at each other for a long time, and then his eyes began to glow before her own eyes.
Her mind raced. This can’t be happening, she thought. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
D’jinn.
Keegan could scarcely believe her eyes when the wolf actually grinned at her, showing his long, sharp teeth. Teeth that could easily tear her to pieces. The hairs on her neck stood on end, and she thought she might faint from fright. She pressed herself further against the wall, willing herself to disappear. Of course, nothing happened. Tears streamed down her face, and her chin quivered.
Then it did something she would have never expected. It turned and walked away. When it was out of eyesight, Keegan jumped to her feet, but when she tried to leave the shelter, she couldn't. It was as if an invisible shield was holding her in. After nearly thirty minutes of trying to leave the shelter she sank to the ground and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them.
What she saw as she opened her eyes was worse than anything she had seen yet. No. No. No. No. She moaned, and then she screamed. Blood. With her head tucked between her legs, she realized her pants were soaked with blood.
“Not my baby,” she wailed, rocking back and forth. “Please, not my baby!”
CHAPTER 19
Rourk and Thaddeus strode into Rourk’s house. Even through his tension, Rourk could feel the powerful energy of magick crackle in the air as soon as he stepped through the door.
Anna.
He almost didn’t notice Tommy standing out of the way in the kitchen. Rourk met Tommy’s eyes and nodded once.
“Anything?” Thaddeus asked.
Anna looked up from her circle and glared at Thaddeus before she bent her head back down. Eyes closed, she chanted something only she could understand.
Rourk’s patience was wearing thin, but at this point Anna was their only hope. He had tried on his own to reach Keegan over and over again, with no luck. It scared the hell out of him. If they could at least be in contact…
Taking long strides, he made his way back to his bedroom. The sight of the unmade bed caused a lump to form in his throat. Stopping, he inhaled her scent, and his eyes went to a picture on the dresser of the two of them on their wedding day. He couldn’t break down, not now when Keegan needed him the most. Tonight he would fight with the weapons of his ancestors.
Rourk pulled open the closet and slid back a hidden panel. First, he pulled out his armor. It was brown and thin, making it easy to move, and blend in with the woods. Then Rourk reached for his sword and shield. He wrapped his hand around the steel handle. Closing his eyes, he welcomed the flow of magic through his hands.
His sword felt like an extension of his own hand.
He sheathed the sword in his scabbard, put the shield back, and strode back into the living room.
Thaddeus and Tommy glanced down at the sword, but said nothing.
Anna rose to her feet and broke her circle with her foot.
“Well, I have some good news and some bad news.”
“Just spill it,” Thaddeus said coldly.
Anna gave him a look, but continued. “The good news is Keegan is alive.”
Rourk let out a shaky breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
“The bad news?” Rourk asked, unable to meet Anna’s eyes.
“The d’jinn is influencing her thoughts. She thinks she can’t contact you because that is what he is telling her. It’s one of their powers. If Keegan was aware, she could mentally break free.” Anna’s shoulders slumped. “The best we can hope for is the black magick that is threaded through her can somehow overpower his control. But, honestly, I wouldn’t count on it.”
“What about locating her? Did your spell work?” Thaddeus asked.
She shook her head. “I can’t reach her. It’s like she’s in a void.”
“Then how do you know she’s alive?” Rourk asked, his voice tight with anger.
“I asked my mother if she had passed into the other realm. She has not. I contacted Eden, the grey witch, and she explained the d’jinn’s power, and why the bond wasn’t working. She also told me I wouldn’t be able to locate her, but I didn’t believe her so I tried anyway. D’jinns are very powerful.”
Tommy walked over and put his arm around Anna’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. The show of affection made Rourk’s pain all the stronger. He would do anything to have Keegan by his side.
“I can’t just stand around
and do nothing.” Rourk’s face was etched with fear, and his gray eyes were as cold as steel.
“He’ll come to you. What good is taking Keegan if he can’t watch you suffer?” Thaddeus said evenly.
Rourk thought about that. It made sense. He wanted revenge for his brother’s death. A life for a life. Obviously, the d’jinn didn’t feel that Stitch’s life was worthy enough. Rourk could feel his neck pulsing. He had to control himself.
He prayed Thaddeus was correct. At least he would have a chance to save Keegan. He would move heaven and hell to get to her if he had to. And his baby. He didn’t care what Thaddeus had said. He was going to try to save them both.
What was the d’jinn doing to Keegan in the meantime? He couldn’t let his mind go there.
“Rourk, I’m so sorry. I really wish there was more I could do. You know how much Keegan means to me.”
Rourk had been so lost in his own rage, he hadn’t stopped to consider how it was affecting those around him. “I appreciate your help.” His gaze shifted to Tommy. “Thanks for being here.”
“I’m sorry about Stitch. He was a good man.”
Rourk didn’t respond. Stitch’s death was still hard for him to accept. It hadn’t fully sunk in yet.
“There’s something I should tell you.” Tommy said and looked down at the floor.
“Yes?”
“I’ve been seeing Stitch.”
Rourk tilted his head slightly. “Seeing him? As in his spirit?”
“Yeah. He won’t leave me alone. I mean, not that I mind. It’s just strange.”
Thaddeus cut in. “Is he here now?”
Tommy nodded his head.
“Is he talking to you?” Thad wanted to know.
“He’s trying, but I can’t hear him.”
Rourk glanced at Thaddeus and wondered what the significance was. Why would Stitch be contacting Tommy?
“It sounds crazy, but I think he wants to help.”
“That’s not crazy at all.” Thaddeus replied.
“I don’t know how to communicate with him.” Tommy said, clearly uncomfortable.
“Ask him to lead us, and we’ll follow him.” Anna said. “Talk to him. Talk to him out loud.”
Tommy gave her a glance to see if she was serious or not.
“Just try it. Come on, Tommy, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re in the room with two elves and a natural witch, for crying out loud. And poor Stitch is probably getting frustrated.”
“Please, Tommy.” Rourk said. He could hear the desperation in his own voice.
Tommy took a deep breath. “Hey, Stitch. I can’t hear you, and I don’t know if you can hear me, but can you show us where we need to be? I mean, if you know where Keegan is, can you show us?—Holy shit. He just walked through the door.”
Rourk didn’t hesitate; he crossed the room and threw open the door. The others were all close behind him.
“He’s standing in front of your truck.”
Rourk pulled the keys out of his pocket and jumped in. Thaddeus got in the passenger side, and Tommy and Anna got in the back.
Tommy leaned forward. “I wonder how fast he can go?”
No one answered.
Once out of the parking lot, Tommy screamed, “Turn left.”
They drove into the mountains with Tommy navigating the way, or more accurately, Stitch navigating.
The main road turned off into a narrow winding gravel road that was blocked off. They jumped out of the truck, and Tommy started into the woods. There wasn’t a path, and the underbrush was thick. They hiked for over two hours, mostly in silence without seeing anything, except the cloudy sky and an occasional forest animal. An owl hooted, and a wolf howled.
The ground was uneven, tangled with roots and underbrush. Anna fell a few times, but she always hurried to catch up.
The sun was setting quickly, and Rourk shivered, but not from the cold. He could feel the evil that awaited them.
Deep ominous thunder roared in the distance.
“Anna, once we find them, you are going to have to block the d’jinn’s power. If you don’t, the d’jinn can shift forms, even become a bug crawling under you.”
“I can do that. I can put a binding spell on him, that will make him unable to access his magick.”
Twenty minutes later, they crested a hill. When Rourk laid eyes on Keegan, he saw red. The need to kill surged through every fiber of his being. He could feel the wrath of rage course through him. He couldn’t seem to control his breathing, or his heart.
He curled his fingers around the hilt of the sword. His knuckles turned white.
Keegan was covered in cuts and bruises. Her hair was a long tangled mass of curls framing her filthy face. Her chest was bare, but her hair was pulled forward to cover her breasts.
“The baby.” Keegan cried. “I can’t leave the shelter.”
“You can leave, Keegan. You just think you can’t. He’s messing with your mind,” Thaddeus yelled out.
The distinct ringing of steel echoed through the woods as Rourk unsheathed his sword. At the same time, he lowered the shield of his mind. The d’jinn would not be able to tap into any of his magick like he took Keegan’s magick from her.
CHAPTER 20
“It’s about time.” Adham appeared next to Keegan, seemingly out of nowhere. “It’s pathetic. I had to lead you here. I expected more from you Rourk. Really? Your dead friend?” The d’jinn’s lip curled up in disgust.
Tommy looked around, confused. “He’s gone. Stitch is gone. He was right there!”
In a blink of the eye the d’jinn picked Tommy up and tossed him in the air. His head hit a tree with a sickening thunk, and he slide down to the ground in a heap.
“Tommy!” Anna ran over to his side.
“Stitch was never there, you imbecile. It was me. I wasted so much time trying to get your attention. Time I could have been spending with her.”
Rourk stood still, his chest heaving up and down. Hatred burned his soul. What kind of evil would impersonate a dead man? A man he had killed no less.
The d’jinn yanked Keegan by the arm from the shelter. She tumbled to the ground on her knees.
Keegan’s panicked eyes met Rourk’s briefly. “The baby,” she wailed in anguish.
“Keegan, it’s going to be okay. I’m here now.” His jaw muscles tightened as his eyes returned to the d’jinn.
“You won’t be saving anyone, elf boy,” Adham snarled, his face twisting in a hateful glare.
“Anna, now,” Thaddeus yelled.
In one swift motion, Anna turned and spread her fingers out and loudly chanted. A loud crackling was heard in the stillness of the forest.
The d’jinn’s eyes widened, darting from Rourk to Anna. He knew something had happened, but had no idea what. He wouldn’t realize until he tried to transform.
Today, he would not escape. The force of rage flowed through Rourk’s veins.
The d’jinn pulled a dagger from the sheath attached to his leg. Rourk’s muscles tightened and his teeth clenched. Just as quickly, he relaxed, feeling centered once again. He needed to pay attention. One thought filled his head: kill him.
Before the d’jinn could even get the dagger close to Keegan, Rourk attacked.
The d’jinn reacted. He was lightening fast, but Rourk was faster. They stalked each other in a circle. The d’jinn’s knife looked like a toy compared to the sword.
Panic showed in his eyes. He had probably tried to shift and found he couldn’t. The d’jinn lost his footing and immediately rolled onto his back and sprang to his feet.
Rourk lunged forward, using his sword to knock the dagger from his grip.
“I need to go to the hospital.” Keegan cried. “I’m bleeding. My baby.” She groaned and collapsed from her knees to the ground.
“I’m so sorry, Keegan. It’s too late.” Thaddeus said. The pain in his voice only intensified Rourk’s grief.
Rourk could hear all of this going on in the backgrou
nd. His eyes stung, but he pushed back the tears.
Rourk’s eyes flicked in their direction.
“No.” She pounded her brother’s chest as he moved to comfort her. “Don’t say that. Don’t you even say that. Mom can fix me. Call Mom.” She kept hitting her brother and then collapsed against him. “Please. Call Mom.”
Anna ran over and hugged Keegan, rocking her back and forth. Both of them had tears running down their faces.
The d’jinn took advantage of the distraction. He lunged forward the knife mere inches from his throat. Rourk brought his focus back on the fight.
He had to make sure the d’jinn would join his brother in the underworld. He had intended on making the d’jinn really suffer, but right now his wife was suffering, and she needed him more than he needed revenge. At the end of the day, dead was dead.
Embracing the pain, Rourk let out a battle cry. He raised the sword over his head and swung in a circle. With a sickening thwack of blade hitting bone, the d’jinn’s head flew off and tumbled to the ground. In slow motion his knees folded, and a second later the body collapsed. The tattoos vanished, and in the d’jinn’s place was the body of an unknown man.
Rourk looked down at the body, sheathed his sword and walked over to Keegan. His heart hurt with every step. Thaddeus had wrapped his jacket around her shoulders. She looked so small and fragile.
He sank to his knees in front of the one woman he loved more than life itself. He leaned over and gently ran his hand through her hair and down her cheek. She threw her arms around him and her body convulsed in his arms as she sobbed into his shoulder.
“He’s gone, Keegan. He can’t touch you ever again.”
Keegan’s hand flew to her mouth and she sobbed, choking out, “The baby. They said our baby was dead.”
Rourk looked away and then forced himself to meet her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Keegan. This is all my fault.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Keegan wiped away her tears. Her lower lip trembled.
“I brought this on us.” Rourk’s eyes burned as they filled with tears.
Her eyes were frantic. “Rourk, I think Thad’s wrong. I think my mom can fix the baby.”