The Keepers Book Two of the Holding Kate Series

by Cole, LaDonna

  Tara and I stepped out of the bracken just in time to catch a sight that punched through my gut and liquefied my insides.

  QUANTUM PERSPECTIVE SOURCE (QPS): TRIP CARSON

  Trip slammed his fist into the maw of the demonic jackal, and it staggered back. The bash gave Trip a satisfying jolt. He smirked. The beast shook his head, streaming splatters of blood onto the boulder beside him. He peered down his snout and snarled, shifting his feet to pounce.

  Trip shoved Kate behind him. “Get back.”

  The jackal launched toward Trip’s neck, and he swung his fist, connecting to the mangy skull with a crack. The beast yelped and flopped to the ground as Trip closed in on him and smashed his head with a rock. His body convulsed and then stilled as his last breath rasped out.

  Trip turned to see Kate crumpled on the ground, her expression wild, tears streaming through the dirt on her cheeks.

  “Trip,” a fragile whisper rasped as Kate’s whole body shook with tremors.

  Trip’s heart lurched in his chest. So frail. So delicate. Every protective instinct in him swelled, and he rushed to her and took her into his arms.

  “Katie girl, steady there, it’s over. It’s dead.” She clung to him. Vulnerability shifted to overwhelming need as she trembled. Staggered by the intensity of her emotions, he tightened his hold.

  He could face giants, dragons, ferocious beasts and armies, but this one small girl had a power over him that he could not overcome. She lifted her eyes to his, and with trembling hands touched his face, his shoulders, his arms, taking inventory of any injuries.

  Soft and delicate, her body leaned against his sturdy frame. The familiar intensity spiked between them and the air grew thick. Trip, inescapably drawn by her need of him, stared into her tender gaze. Powerful emotion erupted in his chest.

  She was not his. He was not hers, but they were connected by a cord that could not be severed. He leaned toward her and she closed the distance and their lips met. Immediately fire sparked and they were kissing like they hadn’t since the night of the tornados. Unreservedly, Trip kissed Kate with all of the pent up passion that he had subdued.

  She responded with fire and strength. In his arms, where she truly belonged, Trip sensed her surrender to her need. She pressed her body close and latched onto him with vigor.

  “Trip!” A familiar voice called. Kate and Trip fractured apart, snapping their heads around.

  Tara and Corey stepped through a hedge, their faces drawn tight in pain and horror. Guilt flashed through Trip as he took in Tara’s broken expression and Corey’s unfathomable sadness as he gazed at Kate.

  Trip started to move toward Tara, but she held up her hand. “Don’t move!” He froze in his tracks. Her palm shifted, and she pointed over his shoulder.

  Kate and Trip slowly turned to look behind them, and the sight melted all emotion into one tangible feeling.

  Fear.

  Hundreds of demonic jackals lined the ridge and boulders, their fangs bared and their haunches raised. As one they lowered into attack poses for a split second, and then a massive wall of matted fur and dripping fangs flew toward them.

  Trip jumped in front of Kate pushing her behind him. In one swift motion Tara tossed him a spear and snatched another over her head as she leaped to Trip’s side. With her empty hand she arrowed the pocket knife into the eye of the lead jackal, and then whipped out her sword. Shoulder to shoulder in specific synchronized harmony, they battled, slicing and jabbing, killing with every stroke.

  Corey ran to Kate’s side, snatched up a branch and pressed it into her hands. He drew his short sword and cut a swathe through the demonic jackals as they encircled the quartet.

  “There are too many of them!” he shouted. “Kate, on your right!”

  Trip heard snarling on his left. He ripped the spear out of the eye socket of the demon-dog he fought and whipped the butt end around in time to cut off the advance of the pack to Kate’s right. Out of the corner of his vision, he saw her clubbing everything she could.

  “Trip!” Tara screamed, but too late. Two huge hairy beasts were on him, one at his throat, the other clamped his teeth around his wrist. Blood spurted across his chest and the smell and taste of blood seemed to drive the dogs insane. They converged on him.

  He refused to go down and used the body of the one clamped on his wrist to beat off three others. He jerked his spear up to guard his throat. A lunging jackal caught it between his teeth, shaking his head back and forth. Trip swung the dog on his wrist into the point of the spear. The beast yelped, let go, and crumpled to the ground. Before he could wrestle the spear loose another demon-dog flew at Trip from the ledge above and clawed into his back.

  A whoosh of air pelted him. He heard a thump, then a yelp, and whirled to see Kate’s fierce expression as she beat the dog’s skull in with her club. Corey waged mayhem on the other side of her, fighting to protect her back. Trip smirked, impressed. The dude had skills.

  Tara lodged her spear into the throat of a jackal and took the split second to toss Trip his sword. Then they stepped back into their familiar rhythm, slicing and maiming anything that came near.

  “We’re drifting!” she shouted. “Back to Kate!”

  They moved in orchestrated rhythm until they were back in front of Kate, who fought wildly, dark hair fanning around her.

  Corey, fending off a group of three jackals, allowed a huge gap to emerge between him and Kate. Trip moved to close it when Tara cursed.

  He snapped around. Her spear had snapped off in the mouth of one enemy. Another had latched onto her leg while a third snapped at the jagged stick remaining of her spear. The demonic prey, latched to her elbow, hampered her sword arm.

  Trip killed the one on her leg and kicked the teeth in of another in one fell motion. Tara flipped the butt end of her spear over and jammed it into the eye socket of the third, then smashed her fist into the one on her elbow.

  A scream pierced Trip’s soul and he jerked around to see Kate being dragged into the forest. A jackal, jaws clamped down on her shoulder, hauled her away. The others stopped their attack and created a wall between the three warriors and Kate as they backed into the forest.

  “Kate!” Corey bellowed and started after her.

  Tara grabbed him. “Wait.”

  Trip launched his spear into the heart of the dog that dragged Kate. He fell over with his jaw still clamped to her shoulder. Another one grabbed her by the other shoulder, shook her loose, and wrestled her away. She screamed in agony as blood poured from both shoulder wounds.

  Corey shook loose of Tara and plunged into the mass of matted fur and snapping jaws, swiping and killing with every stroke. Tara wrenched both pieces of her spear out of the dead jackals and launched them into the broiling mass. Then she jumped in after him with sword flashing and slinging blood.

  Trip snapped attention to the ledge above. It ran along the trail that they were dragging Kate. In three leaps he climbed to the top, and ran along the ridge keeping her in sight. Like a rag doll, limp and lifeless, Kate bobbled as the hound dragged her across the terrain.

  From his height, he could see the jackal angle toward a black lake and had no way to escape. The ridge pierced the surface of the water. Trip smirked, the jackal wedged himself into a corner. The tar black ooze of the muddy sludge would trap him against the ridge and Trip could take him there. He pumped his legs, racing to overtake them.

  The remainder of the pack had stayed back to deal with Corey and Tara, so it would be Trip and this one hound, no contest.

  He dragged Kate to the edge of the tar pit and his back legs broke the surface. Trip smiled. You are trapped now, mutt. Trip ran to the precipice and prepared to launch himself at the jackal since he was trapped by the ridge wall on one side and the black tar pit on the other. But Trip stumbled when the dog slipped into the tar pit, anchoring Kate to sink to the bottom.

  Trip couldn’t believe his eyes! He jumped to the shore and skidded to a stop at the edge of the lake. Paw prints
and body drag marks went right into the black ooze. Dirt floated on the foul surface where they had entered.

  He dove, feet first, into the black viscous fluid and immediately sank. He felt around to see if he could strike against Kate’s body but there was nothing. The weight of the sludge began to press him further down. How deep is this thing? He struggled to get back to the surface. Kicking and clawing through the muck with all his might, Trip fought to reach air. Just when it seemed he would run out of energy and breath, his hand scraped against the side of the bank and he heaved himself up and over the edge. He collapsed onto the dirt and wiped the foul muck from his face and sucked in air.

  Kate! Gone! God, no!

  QUANTUM PERSPECTIVE SOURCE (QPS): COREY CHASTAIN

  I heard Kate scream and jerked around to see one of the huge jackals dragging her away. Trip killed the beast with his spear, but another foul monster jumped into his place and dragged her into the bracken.

  I went insane.

  I plunged into the wall of shrubs and began hacking at anything with fur. I tried to see where the one had taken Kate, but the wall of pelt surrounding me demanded my sole focus. Tara fought nearby, and I assumed Trip was near too, but didn’t have time to confirm that assumption. I fought for my life. Twenty jackals fixed their attack on me. Tara screamed and my sword became a flashing weapon of justice, showing no mercy. Twelve demon jackals took turns finding some of my flesh to rip away. I swung my sword over and over killing with each stroke until my arm wouldn’t lift anymore.

  Then suddenly, the whole pack broke the attack and backed away. I ran to the place I had heard Tara screaming and saw her lying in the dirt and a pool of blood under her leg. Some vital artery had been severed. Blood soaked the sandy ground and began to puddle. I had to staunch the bleeding immediately. I ripped off the sleeve of my jacket and pressed it over the wound.

  “Don’t worry, Corey. Trip will save her,” she panted and winced at the pressure I put on her wound.

  “Corey, what are you going to do about, about what we saw, what we saw them doing, before?” Tara’s lip trembled and tears ran down her cheeks. She looked so pale.

  “Ah, honey,” I tied my sleeve around her leg and then gathered her into my arms. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll hear them out and deal with it. We both know how connected they are.”

  Tara let out a snort. “You would forgive her anything. I don’t think I am as…” She let out a sigh as she passed out. I squeezed her to my chest and pressed my lips to her forehead. I needed to get to Kate, but couldn’t leave her here like this, unconscious and defenseless.

  QUANTUM PERSPECTIVE SOURCE (QPS): TRIP CARSON

  Trip dripped black sludge back along the path of blood and drag marks until he found Tara and Corey. Corey sat on the ground with Tara draped over his lap. He cradled her torso in his arms and rocked back and forth. His eyes squeezed shut. Agonizing grief mingled with sweat and dirt covered his face.

  Trip’s heart cramped up.

  “Tara!” He ran toward them. Corey’s eyes snapped open and he focused on Trip. His face morphed from terror to confusion to recognition. Trip realized how frightening he appeared covered in black tar.

  “Trip?” Corey croaked. “We couldn’t save her. They got away.” He gently laid Tara’s body down on the ground, kissed her forehead, and rose.

  “I have to go find her! Stay here with Tara while I track Kate.” Corey moved to walk around him, but Trip placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.

  Trip couldn’t form the sentence that would knife through Corey. So instead, he formed the question that would rip out his own heart. “Corey, is Tara—?” He couldn’t say it. Brows crashed together, he looked down at Tara.

  “What? No. She just passed out. I think she lost too much blood.” He motioned to her leg and the tourniquet.

  Trip sighed and a shockwave passed through his body. The thought of losing both of them in one day had choked the breath out of him.

  “Where did the jackals go?” Trip recovered and slung black gunk from his weapon.

  “Look, we can talk all about it after I find Kate!” Corey’s voice, impatient and annoyed, grated as he tried to move around Trip again.

  Trip’s grasp on his shoulder tightened. The sorrow of losing Kate pressed on his chest, and he couldn’t breathe. Corey considered Trip’s expression and staggered back. He snatched a glimpse past Trip to the trail, and from the dawning grief on his face, put the facts together. Trip had emerged from the exact trail Corey aimed to go. He already knew Kate’s fate.

  Corey grabbed Trip’s arm and his legs wobbled. “Trip! Trip?” He tried to run past him again, but Trip held him firm.

  “She’s gone, Corey.” Trip barely struggled to hold him, the strength leached out of Corey at the revelation.

  “No,” he whispered. “No she’s not.”

  “Yeah, that mutt dragged her into the tar pit. I think she died of blood loss before he even got there. I followed the trail of—of. I tried. I tried to. Find.” He couldn’t say anymore. Grief broke out of him in a choked gurgle.

  Corey collapsed onto his knees and doubled over. “No,” he insisted, in shock, Trip figured. He had to be, because he processed the news far too well.

  Trip knelt down beside him, expecting him to lose it any minute. Corey looked into his eyes and peace poured out of him. “She’s not dead, Trip.”

  “Listen, Corey, I know you want to believe that, but…”

  “Trip, we are connected.” He touched his heart.

  Trip knew all about their “thousand year connection” but didn’t really want to hear about it again. He had a connection with her, too. “She’s dead, Corey. I saw him drag her into the pit myself. I jumped in after her and almost drowned. There is no way she is still alive.”

  “She is. I can feel it. She’s alive.” Assurance swelled in him. Trip wanted desperately to believe him, but he couldn’t. Corey was wrong, dead wrong.

  Tara moaned and Trip crawled over to her. “Hey, beautiful.” He cradled her in his arms.

  “Trip,” she sighed. “You got her. You saved Kate.” More of a statement than a question, it hung on her lips. She never doubted that he would succeed. Trip burned with shame. Tara seemed to understand his feelings for Kate more than he did. Actually, she probably did with the life experience she had gained from her two-century jump.

  But Kate was gone.

  He shook his head and felt his face crumple into sorrow.

  “No! Oh no, Trip!” Tara wrapped her arms around him and he sobbed like a baby into her hair. She sat up, and pushed him away from her, and dragged herself over to Corey.

  “Corey?” She took his face into her hands, searching his expression.

  Trip stiffened, stunned by her actions. He just assumed her concern registered for him, but she cared more about Corey’s feelings than Trip’s. Well she had known Corey for 200 years, and she saw Kate as his wife. Trip frowned. Tara’s my girlfriend! Shouldn’t she be a little more concerned about my pain than Corey’s?

  Trip turned around to look at them. Her arms wrapped around Corey, but her eyes bored into Trip. He caught the accusation in them and remembered the kiss. They had witnessed Kate’s last kiss, and she hadn’t kissed Corey, her husband. She kissed Trip, the betrayer. Tara’s stoic expression shamed him. Corey’s loss loomed great. He didn’t just lose the only love of his life once. He lost her twice within an hour, once to Trip when he caught them in a fiery kiss, and again when Trip came back without saving her. Horror settled over him, and acid burned his stomach.

  Corey shook his head and whispered to Tara. She frowned and then arched a brow. Trip knew what Corey tried to convey, but he also recognized it as the talk of denial, grief stricken delusion. Trip shook his head at Tara, and she turned away.

  “Come on, let’s get back to camp.” Trip didn’t want to be out there in the dark with those demon hounds and Tara injured.

  “I’ll carry you.” He started toward Tara, but she held up her p
alm.

  “I’m fine.” She wrapped her arm around Corey’s shoulder and hobbled away.

  “Tara, you can’t walk all the way back on that leg,” Trip argued.

  “Then Corey will carry me.”

  Corey’s face turned three shades of red, but he kept his focus on the ground. Tara hobbled forward, and he bent down, scooped her into his arms, and then tromped into the forest.

  Trip ground his teeth, but guarded their backs and covered their tracks to make sure they weren’t being followed. Just before sunset they lumbered back into camp.

  Pinky—Trip refused to call her by that other name—stood up and ran two feet forward then skidded to a halt.

  Dirk looked up from the log he straddled. “Took you long enough.” He frowned as he rose. “We were just about to start searching.”

  “What’s wrong with Tara?” Mel stepped out of the tent and Donnie followed.

  Pinky craned her neck around to see behind them. Her expression went from worried to confused. “Where’s Kate?” she asked Corey.

  Everyone stared at Corey and Tara, frowns deepening and thoughts churning. Trip knew what they were thinking. Why did Corey carry Tara, instead of him? Their scans kept sliding from Corey and Tara to Trip, to the forest behind them.

  “Report,” Dirk snapped when he figured out something went wrong.

  “We were attacked,” Corey grunted and carried Tara over to the log that Dirk had vacated and gently set her down. “We got separated.” He wouldn’t look at Trip.

  Mel and Pinky converged on Tara with the first aid kit and began unwrapping her leg.

  “Kate and I decided to race to a cliff face we could see between the trees. We were just messing around. When we got to the ridge these—” Trip shook his head, distracted by the memory of his death kiss. He crumpled onto a camp stool.

  “Jackals,” Corey filled in.

  Trip drew a shaky breath. “Just one at first, but demonic looking.” Trip scrunched his face together. “Its focus latched onto Kate and attacked. I killed it before it got to her, and we, um…”