Guardian of the Stone

by Amity Grays

  Only moments ago she’d preyed the storm would be patient and allow her as much time as possible to be alone with Dane. But now, uncertain and torn, she was more than ready to return. She needed away. She needed time alone to pick up the pieces of her shattered dream.

  She was about to turn back toward the crevice when her arm was taken in a cruel grip. Startled, she turned abruptly into the arms of a stranger. His face was brutal and cold, his expression determined and merciless. Whatever his intent, it wasn’t to her favor.

  She screamed, but her fright was lost in the rumble of the storm. In the very next instant, she was lifted up and over the man’s shoulder. She kicked and struggled for her freedom, but it did her no good.

  Slung over his shoulder, she watched as he moved back through the grass fields toward the hills, the cliffs where Dane hid, slowly disappearing into the distance. Built like a giant, the man moved effortlessly over the rough terrain and through the grass.

  A smaller man, slender in build and with what looked to be a hint of Asian ancestry, emerged from nowhere. She recognized his face even before she saw the needle. He was hurrying to keep up with her captor. Stumbling over the rocks, he carefully held the needle out in front of him, preparing it for use. “Slow down!” he hollered after nearly taking a fall.

  The giant stopped and yelled over his shoulder. “We haven’t got all day, you incompetent fool. Hurry up, and do it right this time.”

  Catching up with them, the man reached for her arm.

  Determined to never again be left unconscious, she swung her arms up and against his, sending the needle flying into the air.

  “Damn it,” he swore and instantly began searching the ground. But the force of her hit and the lift of the wind had blown the small instrument far away into the grass. “I’ll never find it in this,” he said before moving back to his feet and searching his pockets. Finally throwing his hands up into the air, he admitted, “I don’t have another.”

  “We’ll head back to the horses. If she causes a fuss, I’ll knock her out myself,” was the gruff reply of the giant. He turned and began walking back toward the woods, the other man following close behind him.

  Edeline dangled helplessly from her captor’s shoulder, watching the man behind them fight against the strength of the wind. That’s when she saw Dane. Like a silent leopard he flew out of nowhere, wrapping his arms around the other man’s neck and pulling it back like the twist of a cap. In an instant, the man lay lifeless on the ground.

  Her captor, unaware of the attack, stormed out of the grass and up the steep hillside into the trees.

  Dane disappeared from sight.

  The howling of the wind was replaced by the swishing of the branches and the snapping of foliage beneath her captor’s feet. She tried desperately to spot Dane, but he was well hidden within the trees.

  They came to a sudden stop.

  “You’re a damn lucky fool, Farrell,” said another from behind. “Where’s Mitchell?”

  Her captor, Farrell, turned, bringing her face to face with another. He, like Dane, was built like a warrior. Older than Dane by at least two decades, he was still every bit as solid. Unlike Dane, his eyes were cold—not ruthless like the giant’s, but void of life, hopeless and uncaring. They looked past her with disinterest as they searched the path below.

  “He was right behind me,” said Farrell in disbelief. “Oh, the idiot! He’s probably tripped over his own feet. The man’s a fool.”

  “You’re the fool,” the other man snarled. “Where’s the soldier?”

  “She was alone.” Farrell turned back toward the other, and once again Edeline was facing their trail. The dark, heavy clouds were now rolling angrily across the sky. In the distance she could hear the sounds of the troubled sea lifting and spraying over the stone walls of the cliffs. And in the not so far distance, the first menacing strike of lightning lit the banks.

  The man behind her let out a frustrated groan. “I guarantee you, she was not alone. And you can bet your last dollar she’s not alone now.”

  Her surroundings swirled as Farrell turned back and forth, scanning their surroundings. “I don’t see anyone.”

  “Yeah,” said the other with disdain, “and that includes Mitchell.”

  “Let’s get to the horses and get the hell out of here,” Farrell said, turning and starting back through the woods. “We need to get her to LaFay and get back to the portal before the storm ends.”

  “Watch your back,” yelled the other, now behind them and heading down the trail they’d just come. “I’m getting Mitchell.”

  “He’s useless,” hollered back her captor. “Leave the damn fool be.” Then, grunting and mumbling to himself, he continued up the hill.

  Edeline frantically searched the shadows.

  His cohort was right; she wasn’t alone. Dane was out there somewhere. He wouldn’t leave her.

  With every ounce of strength she could muster, she lifted herself up straight and jabbed her fingers directly into her captor’s eyes.

  “Bitch!” He stumbled back, loosening his hold but not letting her go.

  Edeline squirmed and twisted, falling down but not out of his arms.

  Fighting was new to her. All she knew was not to give up. Digging her fingers deep into his face, she clawed as hard as she could.

  The man howled, trying to pull away from her hold.

  She refused to let go.

  Lifting her up and out of his reach, he tossed her roughly to the ground.

  The thick foliage beneath scratched but gave cushion as she landed.

  “You bitch! I’ll teach you to mess with me,” Farrell said, leaning down to grab her from the dirt, an ugly scowl turning his already fierce looks to frightening.

  She kicked out, landing her foot directly into his groin. A furious cry rumbled through the forest trees as Dane landed square in the middle of the giant’s back.

  The man, already bent toward the ground, fell flat against the earth.

  Grabbing a fistful of the man’s hair, Dane lifted his head and wrapped his other arm around the man’s neck. Then just as quickly as he had the other, Dane put to rest her captor.

  Shock and horror froze her only momentarily to the ground. There was still the other attacker out there, and though his size had not quite matched the man now lying still on the forest’s floor, she had an uncomfortable feeling this one would be far less manageable.

  Accepting the hand Dane offered, she moved to her feet. Together they stood scanning their surroundings, searching for the man who had disappeared down the trail.

  “Think he’s still down there?” she asked.

  “I don’t know, but we’re not taking the chance,” Dane said, grabbing her hand and pulling her off the trail into the thick cover of woods.

  The next thing she knew, they were back on the cliffs. And, by all appearances, they were alone.

  “Will he come for us?” she asked, clinging to Dane’s arm.

  Dane eyed the field behind the towering rock walls. “I don’t think he’ll risk it,” he said, looking back down into her frightened eyes. “He won’t risk you…and neither will I. Edeline, we can’t wait. We have to go now.”

  She nodded and looked away.

  Cupping her chin, he pulled her back to face him. “I love you, Edeline. There is no other, not in my heart nor in my life. There’s only you.” Yet, the pain in his eyes told her all was not well.

  “But we won’t be together, will we, Dane?”

  Lightning struck directly above, lighting the ridge and the hills around them. Dane searched the hills quickly; then his eyes turned back to her. “Believe me when I say, if there is any way, I will never leave your side.”

  Deep in her heart, she knew it was true, but she also sensed the secret he kept was big enough to tear them apart. Reaching inside her black cover, she pulled off the brooch hidden inside. “Find a way,” she said, placing it in his hands and squeezing his fingers around it. Lifting up on her toes, she
kissed him. “Find a way. Whatever it takes, don’t ever leave me.”

  She knew, by the torment on his face and the dropping of his head, it wouldn’t be easy. But suddenly those deep brown eyes, which had only hours ago stolen her heart, looked deep into hers. “As God is my witness, I won’t leave you, Edeline. Now do me a favor. Close your eyes.”

  As the clouds raged battle with the sky, and the waters below fought valiantly against the wind, he lifted her into his arms and ran toward the sea.

  Lightning flashed and held as the earth and sky joined forces to build a bridge through time. They were lifted with a jolt and thrown into the sky. A fierce pull caught hold of their flailing bodies. It felt as though she were being suctioned into a tube.

  Unable to resist the temptation, she opened her eyes.

  Shadows of past and future played against the stone walls behind them. Moans and laughter mixed into a roaring collage of what was and what was to be. Wrapping her arms tight around Dane, she watched as everything around them blurred into an indecipherable whirl, and she was carried, once again, from her past into her future.

  Graham looked down at Farrell’s lifeless body. He should leave the oaf. It would serve him right.

  Behind him, lights blazed and lit the earth as the roar of time echoed into the surrounding darkness.

  They had gone.

  He sighed. What a bloody wasted endeavor. Reaching down, he grabbed the motionless form of his associate and lifted him up and onto the back of his horse. He’d take the fool along with the other to drop at the feet of his employer. Hadn’t he warned him? Neither ego nor ignorance had any place on such a mission. Although, he had to admit, the two idiots weren’t the only thing royally messed up.

  He wondered, not for the first time, what misfortune had transpired to allow the soldier access to the portal. When he and the others had left, the lab had been completely under his employer’s control. Whatever it was, he hoped like hell his employer had taken back the reins. If not, he hated to think what might await him.

  Making his way down to the cliffs, he cursed the storm as he searched again for Mitchell’s body. He finally found it lying between two large stones. With another huge heave, it landed beside Farrell’s. His boss wouldn’t be pleased with their loss or their failure, but maybe next time he’d smarten up and let Graham pick his own crew.

  Eyeing the hills behind him, he wondered how long it would take LaFay and his fourteenth-century recruits to realize they were chasing an illusion. If he was lucky, it would take days. He wasn’t particularly fond of the man and wouldn’t mind one bit leaving him to rot in time. As far as Graham was concerned, the man would blend nicely into the era of malevolence. And what more harm could he possibly do? He’d already led a number of his army off fate’s course, but yet nothing seemed to be affected.

  What exactly would it take to rock destiny off course? He’d hate to think it was all predetermined. If it was, he’d been dealt a pretty rotten hand. Thanks for the ride, but I’d just as soon skip the next damn round.

  Something metal glistened from under the grass, catching his attention. He reached down and picked up the syringe. Looking back over his shoulder to the two limp forms, he scowled. Damn bloody fools. It appeared they could do nothing right. He shoved the syringe into his pouch before continuing down to the rocks.

  Sitting atop the cliff, he waited for the lightning. It was odd to think that in less than a second’s time, from this end of the portal, he would most likely be returning to this very spot. His employer wasn’t one to give up. There was little to no chance that he wouldn’t be sent back. The Dogs wanted their precious treasure. They were mad for the power it would bring.

  Graham snorted his contempt. Like the world isn’t messed up enough as it is.

  “They got away?” The deep, emotionless voice slapped like a bullwhip across his back.

  Graham jumped. He hadn’t heard the man approach. “Is that a question, or are you simply stating the obvious?”

  It was a brave tone to take with such a man—monster—whatever the hell his unwanted companion was. Or perhaps it was simply stupid. Truth be told, he didn’t much care. He was finding little to value in his own or others’ characters these days.

  LaFay’s dark, emotionless eyes studied him. Their sinister, soulless gulf had always chilled Graham. Tonight was no exception. The beast shifted his weight as he looked past Graham toward the sea. “I saw the lightning, heard the roar. They played us all for fools.”

  Graham nodded. It wasn’t just LaFay’s eyes which made him uncomfortable. The man was one scary-ass dude.

  LaFay looked toward the two dead bodies slung across the mount. He nodded his head, apparently less than surprised. “Saves me the trouble,” was all he said.

  Graham said nothing, but he wondered if his own last breath would be coming soon. LaFay had already made his thoughts on the bungled mission painfully clear. He blamed them all, especially Graham.

  The wind whipped wildly around them, pushing toward the tall stone walls behind them, then whistling through their long shallow crevices. LaFay turned toward the sound. “I won’t be sad to see the last of this place.”

  Graham’s gaze snapped back to him in surprise.

  LaFay had managed the impossible. He’d established contact with the Dark Army of the fourteenth century and managed to convince them the girl with the golden curls was also the one who guarded the stone. Thanks to twenty-first-century knowledge and trickery, he had also convinced them he was something more than he was. He had an entire army at his disposal. Graham couldn’t believe the man would simply walk away from such an advantage to never return.

  “You don’t think they’ll send us back?” asked Graham. “They’re certainly not going to just give up, especially after you’ve made such a valuable connection.”

  “Valuable connection?” LaFay raised a sardonic brow. “We’ve just seen how valuable they are. A whole army against a handful of men—who would you say won?”

  “Their luck won’t hold.”

  “Neither will the portal walls. And, I, for one, have no intention of risking my hide once more through that dilapidating tunnel.”

  “Not even for the location of the treasure?”

  LaFay motioned toward the hills where, no doubt, lay his army-in-waiting. “Think if they had the location or access to it, I wouldn’t already have it? You underestimate me.”

  Arrogant bastard.

  “Perhaps.”

  Those dark, hollow eyes seemed to dig straight into Graham’s chest and squeeze.

  “And I overestimated you,” LaFay said. “It seems we are both capable of error.”

  The sky rumbled overhead.

  “All aboard,” LaFay said, stepping forward to grab Farrell’s lifeless body off the back of the beast and tossing it over the edge.

  A white bolt of lightning reached out her ends toward the dark clouds above and the earth below, accepting LaFay’s gift as she held her steady grip.

  Graham picked up Mitchell and would have tossed him over the edge, but having received a less-than-helpful shove from behind, he instead found himself falling with his lifeless companion into the arms of time’s taxi.

  A swift swirling funnel emerged from the storm’s scattered debris, holding in its center a dark, endless chasm.

  Lightning flashed once again and held as LaFay followed.

  A second later, all traces of the future were wiped from the past—all but some clothing and a horse by the name of Laur, who stormed with its riders through the hills of France toward its Southern border.

  Chapter Fourteen

  DANE TRIED TO HOLD ON TO HER, even though he knew it was in vain. Time and destiny ruled the portal, and they would take from him what he had no choice but to surrender.

  Wide blue eyes stared in disbelief from a face torn with fright. She reached for him. “Dane,” she sobbed as hope withered and died. Her hand never quite touched his, but her despair hit him hard.

  O
h, God, but it hurt. Deep in his soul he felt the wretched pain. “Edeline,” he called as she drifted further away, fading with every inch into the realm of what would never be. The force of the portal grabbed hold of him, pulling him toward his time.

  “Edeline!” The cry ripped from his heart and landed along with him on a cold, tile floor. He was back in the lab, the fierce wind of the transporter whipping from all sides, holding him caged behind its powerful walls.

  He’d lost her.

  From that moment forward, he would carry the memory—the look on her face as she drifted away—betrayal, pure and simple. God, I should have told her.

  Was he right? Was he wrong? Was there a choice to be had?

  Trying to stand, he fell back to the floor. He’d never fought the tug of the portal before and was surprised by its brutality. His muscles burned. His ribs felt hammered. The portal had taken the last blow, striking him hard as the woman he loved slipped through his hands. He closed his eyes, trying to manage the pain, not just the physical ache from what had been an abnormally brutal pull, but also the internal one which weighed down his heart, collapsing his will.

  He struggled to his knees as the wind began to calm, and the scene around him came into a hazy view. Generators roared as lights flashed and changed colors. Machines whined. Voices boomed. Feet scurried. A firm hand took hold of his shoulder.

  “Dane! Dane, are you all right?” The general’s troubled voice was, oddly enough, his first reassurance not a lot had changed. “Dane?”

  “I’m all right.” The words sounded gruff and strained even to his own mottled hearing. He struggled to clear his vision. Slowly it all came into view—the machines, the transporter, the people—they were all as they had been the day he left. Thank God.

  “You did it, Dane,” said the general, slapping his shoulder before reaching down to offer him a hand. “All is as it were, so I’m assuming the girl is now back where she belongs?”