by Deanna Jewel
Kate stood to stretch, then mounted her horse again. “I only wish that day would come sooner.”
Single pine trees grew in spots along the stony cliff and Kate’s gaze returned to the top of the waterfall where a cawing blue-black raven drew her attention. Frozen on the spot, she could only stare at the bird, unable to look away from its beady eyes. The raven’s trance-like gaze bore down on her, seeming to read right into her soul and penetrate her mind.
Chapter Twenty
Taima hated leaving Kate even for the short time he would be hunting with Ahanu and the boys. The weight of her emerald ring rested reassuringly on his chest above his heart. He kept a lookout for danger, his gaze darting from a copse of pine, to a clumping of taller sagebrush, to the blue sky. Hairs did not prickle on his neck, nor did a raven appear on the wind. Yet his trained eyes never gave up the search for Mai.
He followed Ahanu north, then turned west up the mountain toward the pass. Kelee sat before Taima and squirmed with excitement, his small bow gripped tightly in his tiny hand. Though Taima didn’t want to disappoint his son today, he shouldn’t have left Kate’s side. He could not protect her this far away.
“Noshi, look! Over there,” Kelee exclaimed.
Taima’s heart lurched, unsure of what Kelee shouted about. His gaze followed where Kelee pointed off to their left. A small herd of elk meandered in tall grass, unaware of their presence.
Leaving his son atop the horse, Ahanu had already dismounted behind a patch of sage and knelt poised, with his bow in hand. Taima sat motionless and held Kelee still by his shoulders; his small body tensed from anticipation.
With practiced precision, Ahanu drew back the sinew. The motionless arrow rested atop his finger. Silently, like a cat in the night, Ahanu released the arrow. Lightening quick, it sped toward the intended target, penetrating directly behind the elk’s shoulder, downing the prey. Shouts of congratulations exploded from the boys as they cheered for Ahanu. The remaining elk darted in the opposite direction.
After dressing out the animal, Taima helped Ahanu load the elk onto the horses and take it back to camp. The women immediately joined in to begin caring for the meat and hide for future use.
* * * * *
The raven’s black gaze penetrated Kate like a bolt of lightning. Though she knew she should look away, she feared what might happen if she didn’t keep an eye on the bird. Ravens could be vicious creatures, pecking their prey to death before carrying it away.
Pain in her chest became nearly unbearable and she clutched at the pouch between her breasts. Pressing on her chest, Kate tried to relieve some of the excruciating agony. Her lungs refused to expand. Shallow breaths were all Kate could take in. She gripped the mane of her horse, not wanting to fall.
The raven continued the trance, never allowing Kate to look away, as though the bird held some strange spell over her.
Aiyana touched her side. “Kate, what is it?”
Kate clutched at the neckline of her dress, trying to force more air into her lungs.
“What do you see up there?”
Kate pointed toward the top of the waterfall, but her world slowly changed to a yellowish hue.
“Kate!” Aiyana yanked on her arm. When Kate could no longer hold herself atop the horse, she nearly fell on Aiyana.
The underbrush scratched at her legs as Aiyana dragged her toward the water. Kate rolled onto her stomach at the edge of the stream, finally able to breathe the fresh scent of the forest into her lungs. The cold water refreshed her, cleared her mind so she could make some sense of what had just occurred.
Aiyana’s hand caressed her back. “Are you all right?”
Kate sat up, and closed her eyes, trying to make sense of it. Her chest still ached beneath the pouch. The pain had not diminished. She met Aiyana’s confused gaze. “I don’t know. I can’t seem to catch my breath.”
“What were you watching?”
Kate immediately glanced back at the waterfall. The rocks and branches held no sign of the raven. Her gaze searched frantically, fearing the bird would attack them at any moment.
The raven cawed again. Kate’s gaze landed on the bird perched upon a branch behind them, its blue-black wings spread exceedingly wide, ready for an attack.
Aiyana stood as she saw the bird.
Before Kate could react, the raven swooped down toward them and Aiyana stepped backward, her feet catching on slippery rocks.
The raven closed in, its beak pointed directly for Aiyana’s face.
Her hands flew up for protection. The huge wings flapped, draping before Aiyana so Kate couldn’t get to her in time.
Aiyana fell backward into the rocky stream.
When the commotion cleared and the bird disappeared, Kate saw Aiyana motionless upon the protruding rocks in the shallow water. Waves rushed over her legs and arms, yet she didn’t move.
Kate raced into the water. “Aiyana!” She slipped her hand behind Aiyana’s head and checked for cuts. Already a bump had formed on the back of her head. Kate splashed water over Aiyana’s pale face; she still didn’t stir.
Dragging her from the water, Kate placed Aiyana upon the grassy shore. Again, the raven cawed behind them, as though laughing at the catastrophe. Kate glanced around to see if it would attack again. The bird sat perfectly still, its eyes staring into Kate’s as she caught the raven’s evil glare.
Quickly looking away before the trance could ensue, Kate set about trying to revive Aiyana. She touched Aiyana’s neck, hoping a strong pulse would soon meet her fingers.
Hope stirred in Kate’s heart. A weak pulse persisted.
“She should not have brought you here alone. And Taima should never have allowed himself to leave your side.”
The voice that spoke those words sent a steely shiver down Kate’s spine. She looked up only to meet with Mai’s dark evil gaze. Suddenly, Kate looked back to where the raven had sat upon the branch, only to wonder if perhaps they could be one in the same. She’d heard it was possible among the Indians and their spirit world.
“The raven will forever haunt you. You will never be free. You are mine, your soul is mine, and your body will soon be mine.”
Kate gripped the pouch at her chest. The pain seemed to stem from the leather bag. Why had she not realized it before? Slipping her fingers into the neckline of her dress, Kate started to fish for the leather strip attached to the pouch.
Before she could retrieve the pouch, Mai suddenly produced a knife and held it beneath Kate’s chin.
The lightning-fast movements astounded Kate. Mai forced the knife up so Kate had to raise her gaze, again meeting Mai’s. Mai leaned down closer, her eyes taking on a glassy stare, like reaching in to rip out Kate’s soul.
Another raven cawed.
Huge, fluttering black wings surrounded Kate and Mai. Loose feathers floated all around like black rain. The raven attacked Mai, chasing her into the stream toward the other side.
Kate couldn’t believe what she saw. Mai clawed at the bird, but its feet scratched at her face and arms, covering her with blood. The bird attacked until Mai crouched upon the ground, hiding her face.
Mai searched the ground for something, then grabbed a long stick and swung at the raven, knocking it to the ground where it lay still. She glanced back at Kate and pointed her finger. “YOU have not escaped me. You will see,” she called and disappeared into the trees.
A breath of relief escaped Kate’s lungs.
“What was Mai doing out here?” Aiyana asked, holding the back of her head.
“I don’t know. I saw the raven at the top of the waterfall, then the next thing I know, it attacked us and Mai stood here.” Kate looked around them before glancing back at Aiyana. “She said the raven will forever haunt me...and that my body and soul belonged to her; that I would never be free.”
Aiyana sat up, holding her temples. “She might be a shape shifter, as I feared. I should not have brought you here alone. We are not strong enough to fight her.”
&nb
sp; “But what kind of hold can she have on us.”
“Her hold is not on us...it is on you. Somehow, she has gotten control of your soul, though for some reason isn’t able to completely take it over. Your soul must be stronger than she thought.”
“What do you mean she has some hold on my soul? What’s a shape shifter?”
Aiyana met her gaze. “Mai is also a skin walker...a strong one. They place a part of them close to their victim...a lock of hair, a piece of their flesh, sometimes even a bone from their own body. Has she given you anything like that, making you think it was a token of friendship?”
Kate thought. A wave of terror welled up in the pit of her stomach. She clenched the pouch that hung beneath her dress, over her heart. Again, her chest began to ache, her lungs refused to expand. She gasped for air, tugging at the pouch, unable to get to it. Panic shot through her limbs. Dampness covered her body. She closed her eyes, trying for a sense of calm.
Aiyana pulled her hand away from the pouch.
Thundering hooves rushed through the trees. Branches snapped; logs gave way.
Kate immediately opened her eyes.
Taima burst into the clearing, riding toward her, his face etched with desperation. Before his horse stopped, he’d landed on the ground and ran to her.
Aiyana still clung to the pouch through her dress, now trying to pull on the leather cord to get it out.
“She was here, wasn’t she?” Taima asked breathlessly.
Kate couldn’t answer, the pain in her lungs nearly too much to handle. Gasping for air, she clutched at the neck of her dress, but Aiyana only brushed her fingers away.
She needed air! What was Aiyana doing to her?
Frantically pulling the cord out, the pouch fell into Aiyana’s hands, but Taima rushed over to grab hold of the cord.
Kate grasped the back of her neck as pain tore through her neck and shoulders. Her knees weakened. Taima caught her around the waist before she went down.
Mai had not lied to him after all. Damn her! As soon as he let go of the cord around Kate’s neck, her pain subsided. Taima knew he should have done something about Mai long ago.
Aiyana grasped the pouch again. “Yes, Taima, she was here. I’ve suspected her of evil for too long. We must see what is inside this!”
Still holding Kate around the waist, he watched as Aiyana’s nimble fingers unfastened the sinew from the small bead and lifted the tiny flap.
She dumped the contents into her palm.
Terror shot through him like a spear.
Small, dried pieces of flesh, locks of dark hair, and a tooth lay upon Aiyana’s palm. An icy hand of fear gripped his heart. Taima met Aiyana’s gaze.
She yelped in pain and dropped the contents of the pouch over the ground. Small blisters covered the inside of her hand where the tooth and skin had lain.
With her hands still gripping her neck, Kate tipped back her head and laughed.
Evil.
Wicked.
Taima’s stomach knotted with nausea as dark eyes met his, but he held tight to her waist.
Kate reached out and backhanded Aiyana, knocking her to the ground. “She will interfere no more. And you,” Mai said, holding his gaze stronger than ever before, “are finally mine. I have taken the last steps to insure this soul is mine and hers is gone. She is lost to you forever, my love. We shall now begin our life as it should have been in the beginning.”
Mai wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him, drawing him in. Before he could grasp her arms to pull her away, her nails had dug in and raked over his bare back, arching him closer to her. His eyes widened in pain.
“I knew you wanted me more than her. I have marked you as mine,” she whispered.
“Noooo!” Taima grasped her arms, spun Mai around, and held her arms at her sides.
Aiyana stirred where she lay upon the ground.
“Aiyana...are you all right? I need you. Pull one of the reins from my horse and bring it here. We will take her back tied if that is how she wants it.”
Something warm seeped from the wounds on his back.
Blood.
His blood.
Then he felt Aiyana’s tender touch.
“Those will have to be looked at when we return to camp.” Aiyana moved around before Mai, her hands balling into fists, ready to reprimand her.
“Don’t look into her eyes,” Taima warned her.
“Aiyana...your friend just wasn’t as strong as you thought she was,” Mai sneered. “You will not be in the end, either.”
Aiyana pulled her knife, placing it beneath Mai’s chin.
“You tried that once already. Her chin still carries the scar,” Mai said.
“Aiyana! This is still Kate’s body!” Turning Mai around, he said, “Just tie her hands.”
Mai stared at him, he could feel it, though he watched Aiyana tie her hands tight. He eyed the wide belt around Aiyana’s waist.
“Take off that belt and cover her eyes with it. I’m not taking any more chances.”
Once tied and blindfolded, Taima threw Mai over his shoulder and strode toward his horse. Hoisting her up, Taima climbed up behind her, and waited for Aiyana to follow with Kate’s horse.
An hour later, Taima’s people stared as he rode into camp with Kate tied before him, her eyes covered. Their wide gazes told him more than he wanted to know. Did they have any idea who Mai was or what she had accomplished without any of them being the wiser?
Taima rode straight for Sakima’s lean-to at the far end of the camp. If anyone here knew how to deal with this situation, it would his father.
Sakima stepped from his lean-to, years of wisdom meeting Taima’s gaze.
Before dismounting, he covered Kate’s mouth, then whispered, “Kate...I know you are there. Do not let her win this game she plays.” He paused as Kate’s body squirmed in his arms. “Know that I have loved you...and always will. I need you with me like the eagle needs the wind.”
With that, he dismounted, pulled Kate over his shoulder and strode into the shelter, followed by Sakima and Aiyana. Sakima said nothing for several minutes.
Mai laughed at them.
Taima’s throat burned with bile as fear for Kate tightened his stomach.
“Though I cannot see any of you, I can feel your fear. All of you. I have won and you know not what to do about it.”
“Remove the leather from her eyes.”
“But Noshi . . .”
“Trust me, Nechan...she is not as strong as she thinks, for I can feel Kate more.” Sakima waited until the leather was removed then stared at Mai’s dark eyes. Without blinking away, Sakima said, “Send braves back to the waterfall and return with her body. It is there.”
Mai’s gaze never faltered as she looked at Sakima. “That will not save your precious Kate. Her soul is in my body...and will not survive. She will die when they try to return with her.”
Taima fisted his hands.
“Taima...go inform the braves about the body and come right back. I will not continue until you return.”
Quickly stepping from the lean-to, Taima found Ahanu and two other braves. The men wasted no time in doing as he requested, and Taima watched them ride away, then returned to Sakima.
He and Mai still stood face to face, hatred gleaming in her dark eyes. Not a word passed between them.
Sakima spoke first as he placed his hands on Kate’s head, gently pressing at her temples. Mai objected by trying to squirm away, but his father held tight.
“Kate . . .,” Sakima said, his voice slow and calm. “Kate...I know you are there. You are strong...my son needs you. Do not let her win. Your strength has traveled here from beyond the mountains in search of what you wanted. Do not let it fail you now.”
Kate’s eyes closed. She tried again to pull from Sakima’s grasp.
Taima watched, his heart aching with need to have her back. He wanted to strangle Mai. Something he should have done long ago.
Her eyes again looked in
to his father’s.
“Nechan. Look inside the medicine bag. Make sure there is nothing remaining.”
Mai tried to step backward, but Sakima refused her this. Taima carefully opened the pouch, tipping it over his palm. Aiyana stepped closer to see. To his surprise, two small black spheres fell onto his hand, becoming warmer the longer he held them. He rolled them around as he took a closer look, then stared at Mai in amazement.
Taima’s nostrils flared. “Noshi...these are the eyes of a raven.”
Kate tried hard to escape Sakima’s hold, squirming, stepping back, but his father would not release her.
“You cannot change shapes this time,” Taima told her.
“Aiyana,” Sakima called, “take your knife and cut the leather strip of the pouch from Kate’s neck. Taima cannot do this.”
Aiyana stepped forward, glanced at Taima, then carefully cut the leather strip, removing the pouch from Kate’s body.
Immediately, Kate’s eyes closed and her body went limp. Though he held tight to the raven’s eyes in his hand, Taima eased Kate’s body to the ground. Sakima stood over them.
“She will rest now. When the braves return with Mai’s body, we will continue.”
Taima watched the serene expression on Kate’s face, wishing none of this had taken place. If he’d just not gone hunting this morning, he could have been there. He took the pouch from Aiyana and replaced the raven’s eyes back into the leather and handed it to his father.
Aiyana’s soft voice broke the silence. “I will go and wait for my husband’s return.”
Without looking away from Kate, Taima thanked her and she left them.
Taima reached for Kate’s hand, small and cold within his own. He held it tight and caressed the back, feeling the small bones there. Willing her to return to him, he kissed her cool fingers, remembering the times he’d shared her passionate kisses. Their short life together had been filled with so many problems. He thought they’d passed over those to find happiness.
Now this.
Now Mai.
She was forever a thorn in his side lately.