The Emerald Key

by Vicky Burkholder

  * * * *

  Cass stepped out of the shower, resigned to putting her dirty clothes back on. To her surprise, a clean shirt and leggings lay across the sink along with underwear. She held the shirt up, not sure whether to laugh or be angry. Two neon pink hands in strategic spots showed on the dark blue shirt. A matching set hugged the seat of the dark leggings. Fortunately, the shirt hung down long enough so it would cover those. She also found a tight tube top that would serve both as a bra and as extra cover under the larger T-shirt. Nic’s thoughtfulness touched her, but his choice in clothing had her wondering about his tastes. She donned the clothes and shook her head. At least they fit—sort of. She could work with the slightly large shirt over the skintight pants.

  She adjusted what she could, wrapped her hair in a towel, and strode into the room. Nic lounged on the bed watching some infomercial on TV. She saw his eyes go to the outfit.

  “Thanks for the clothes.”

  “You do know you have the shirt on inside out?”

  “Yep. I’m grateful for the clean clothes, but can’t say I exactly like the style.”

  “Trust me, you didn’t want any of the others.”

  She sat on the edge of the bed and toweled her hair. “Where in the world did you get this?”

  Nic’s face flamed red and he didn’t meet her eyes. “Next door.”

  “There’s a clothing store in the next room?”

  “No. There’s an adult store attached to this hotel.”

  Cass broke out in laughter. “You bought this in an adult store?”

  “Yep.”

  She laughed harder. “Then I doubly thank you. I can imagine the selections. I appreciate your conservative pick.” Without thinking, she tugged the T-shirt off, turned it right side out and put it back on, tying the long ends tight to her waist and adjusting the neckline so the hands ended up in the right place. She grinned as Nic’s eyes bugged out.

  “I think I need a shower,” Nic muttered as he crawled off the bed.

  Cass laughed and rubbed the towel over her hair then tossed it over the desk chair. Standing next to the heater, she finger-combed through the length, using the blowing air as a dryer. It didn’t work great, but not too bad.

  She climbed into the bed and fluffed the pillows at her back, determined to wait for Nic so they could talk.

  * * * *

  Nic set the shower at a temperature cooler than he normally liked it and leaned his head against the wall. How would he get through this night with his sanity intact? Just a few steps away sat a beautiful, desirable woman and they had some kind of connection—he couldn’t deny one—not one this strong. Plus their room had one small bed.

  “Ah, hell.” He turned off the shower and dried off, then wrapped the towel around his hips. If she said yes, he’d thank the gods for giving him this chance. If she said no, he’d deal.

  Nic emerged from the shower to find her curled up on one side of the bed, sound asleep. Guess the gods have spoken. He shook his head and drew the blankets up over her. After a quick check of the door and window locks, he stretched out next to her. She smelled like lemons and flowers and looked so adorable. His hand reached out to caress her hair. She shifted when he touched her, but didn’t wake. Nic pulled back, sighed, and headed back to the shower. This time, the control didn’t go above the “C” setting.

  When he crawled back into the bed, he lay on top of the sheets, as if keeping a layer of thin material between them could hold off his need. Exhaustion finally took over and his eyes closed.

  * * * *

  Nic opened his eyes, confused, not sure of his location. The sensation was nothing new as he’d moved often enough so waking up to strange surroundings had become a common occurrence, but this felt too different. The hotel room had disappeared. He stood in a stone room furnished with a narrow cot, a chair, and an end table holding a single candle. A narrow casement covered with heavy wood shutters and a heavily barred door showed the only breaks in the otherwise solid walls. A woman stood by the fireplace, staring into the flickering warmth.

  “Cass?” The woman looked like Cass, and yet didn’t. Maybe the dim light had something to do with his perception, but he thought she stood a little shorter and her hair appeared to be a shade or two darker.

  The woman didn’t move even when he repeated her name.

  “She can’t hear you.”

  Nic turned to find Minerva standing behind him. “I guess I’m dreaming?”

  “Yes and no. This is a dream, but it is also a memory.”

  “Memory? I’ve never been to a place like this.”

  “Never say never.”

  “But why bring me here? Why show me this?”

  “To understand. This is the beginning. Watch and learn, Protector. Watch and learn.”

  Minerva faded from Nic’s view but the woman did not. As he watched, she turned from the window and he stared at her. His Cass, and yet not. He saw subtle differences. She wore a long, deep red gown cut low in front. Tight sleeves covered her arms from shoulder to end in a point below the wrist. She had her dark hair arranged in a tight knot at the nape of her neck. The livid bruises on her neck and face shocked him. Tears streaked her face. Nic reached out to touch her, but couldn’t. Some invisible barrier stood between them and he understood. He could watch and listen, but not interact.

  “My lady?” An elderly woman crept in, closing the door behind her, and pocketing a key in her long apron. Nic had half-expected her face to resemble Minerva’s, but it didn’t.

  Cass—Nic couldn’t think of this woman as anyone else—scrubbed at her face. “You can’t be here, Alma. If he finds out, he’ll beat you, or worse. I refuse to give him the power he seeks, so tomorrow I will die at the stake.”

  “He cannot touch me. Nor will I allow him to hurt you anymore. The time has come.”

  “What are you speaking of? There is naught we can do. He commands the manor—and me.”

  “Only because your greedy cousin sold you to him. We did not know about you soon enough to help, but we can now correct our error. Come, my lady. It is time you met your destiny.” The old woman held an amulet against a brick in the fireplace and a door opened next to the hearth. Nic recognized the amulet as the same one Cass wore.

  “Alma! What is this?” The lady crossed the bare floor to the door and peered in.

  “This, my lady, is your future. You have a choice to make. Cross this threshold and find your destiny. Stay and you know what lies ahead.”

  “Damon has killed three of my sisters already. I would rather face the unknown than live one more day in this hell.” She stepped over the threshold. Nic cheered her courage. In whatever lifetime she lived, Cass had nerve.

  Nic blinked and found himself in the cave he and Cass had visited earlier. Instead of the altar, he now saw a large opening. Beyond the break, fair skies and green fields beckoned. A crowd of people dressed in flowing tunics and pants or gowns faced the cavern, solemn resignation on their faces.

  Four women stood on a small dais in the center of the cavern in full view of the crowd. Dark water, too wide to jump across, surrounded the platform. The space was large enough to hold only the four women and a central stand. The lady Cassandra stood as one of them, but instead of the injured, broken woman, this Cassandra stood tall, proud, strong, and unmarred. Like the other three, she wore a simple white gown with long sleeves and a scooped neck. Her dark hair flowed down her back. Each woman held an amulet, identical except for the jewel in the center. On the outer ring of ground, four men stood, their backs to the women, but Nic knew their attention centered on the ladies. He recognized military protective stances when he saw them.

  Each wore stark black from their knee-high boots to heavy pants to long-sleeved shirts and leather vests. In one hand, every man held a spear longer than he stood tall and in the other, a shield. And he knew one man over the others. The one across from Cass. Though he saw differences, he also recognized aspects of himself in the man—in the tilt of his
head, his stance. These men guarded the women—but from what? Surely not the crowd.

  Unlike earlier, he couldn’t hear the women speak, but followed their actions as each took one of the amulets, strung it onto a thin chain, and hung the necklace around her neck. As each picked up a jewel, the opening grew darker until it faded completely. Where the opening had been, now only a solid rock wall showed.

  Nic frowned when the women walked across the water as if on solid ground. Each woman went to a different man and they left by four different tunnels.

  Nic turned as Minerva joined him. “You just witnessed the beginning. You are the end. The legends shall be fulfilled. You are her protector, Nicodemus. Follow your heart, but do your duty. Find the way and you will fulfill both your destinies.”

  Before Nic could ask any questions, he woke and knew this time he’d returned to his current lifetime. Cass’ steady breathing told him she still slept. He rose and turned up the heater in the chill room. A thin beam of moonlight shone through a crack in the curtains and lit Cass’ face with an ethereal glow.

  “Who are you?” Nic asked quietly. “Who are we?”

  Her eyes opened and she smiled at him and his heart stopped.

  “I am what you see, Nic.” She sat up and reached for his hand. “And you know who you are.”

  “I am the Protector. And I am yours to command, my lady.” He sat on the edge of the bed, his face level with hers. “I don’t know if it’s the situation, or if I know you from some other life, or even if it’s because you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, but each time I see you, I want you more.”

  Cass leaned forward. “As I want you, Nic. But this mess we’re in…”

  Nic ran his hands over his head. “I’m not asking for the rest of our lives, Cass. I have nothing to offer you. I have no past, and an uncertain future.”

  She placed a finger on his lips. “You have yourself, and that is all I need.”

  “What about Mr. Policeman?”

  “I think Steve and I go together only because we’re too busy to look elsewhere. At least, that’s the excuse I use. I believe he’s just using me for my relationship with Minerva.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “There’s no connection. Not like I have with you.” She glanced at her hand. “I’ve barely thought of him since I met you. I think my heart knew before my mind did. I know I should feel guilty, but I don’t. And somehow, that’s all right.”

  “You’re sure? I don’t want you to do anything that’s going to come back to haunt you.”

  For an answer, she kissed him—a kiss that started out sweet and simple, but quickly grew. Their tongues danced, a sensual give and take that stole Nic’s breath. He lifted Cass onto his lap.

  Cass wrapped her arms around Nic. She’d known this man barely two full days, but knew she never wanted to let him go. Her hands ran over abs as hard as a washboard. She skimmed the scars on his side, pausing when he stiffened.

  “Nic?”

  His hands pushed hers away. “Don’t.”

  Cass covered his hands with hers. “Nic, the scars are a part of you. I think they’re beautiful. They tell me you have courage and commitment and a sense of honor that will not be compromised no matter the situation. They are as much who you are as your name.”

  He laid his head on her shoulder. His ragged breaths tore at Cass’ heart. He would never compromise her, never dishonor her. She reached a decision that took no thought at all. She dropped her hands from his sides and slowly drew her shirt and tube top together up over her head.

  “Cass?”

  Cass silenced him with a finger to his lips. “Just one question. Do you want me?” She didn’t know what she’d do if he said no. Maybe hold him at gunpoint until he gave in.

  “God, yes.”

  She held open her arms and he didn’t need a second invitation. She opened herself completely to him. Hands and lips coaxed and teased and took her higher than she’d ever been. When he slid her leggings down, he followed them with his lips. She burned with her need as his mouth found her core and he sucked and licked until she could stand no more.

  “Please!”

  He fumbled with the foil, then resumed his onslaught. Her desire grew until she thought she’d explode. He slid up over her body and into her and she gasped. She heard a strange noise, but ignored it as Nic took her even higher until she shattered, his pulses matching hers.

  While her heart returned to normal, she studied his face. She didn’t expect to see a broad grin and laughter bubbling up from him. Okay, so she didn’t have a lot of experience, but she didn’t think her performance deserved laughter.

  “You’re laughing? What’s so funny?”

  “I think the next time we do this, we’d better remove any breakables from the room.”

  “Huh? What do you mean? Wait. You said ‘next time.’ You’re not laughing at me.”

  “Not at all. Look.”

  Cass turned her head to the side and her eyes went wide. She turned her head to the other side. “Oh no!”

  Chapter 11

  The chuckle started deep in Cass’ belly and grew until she laughed harder than Nic. The mirror and TV glass had shattered, and what furniture had been made of real wood had splintered. Fortunately, most of the stuff in the room consisted of cheap plastic-based or composite materials. Unfortunately, the window was not, as cold wind blew in on them.

  Gray daylight peeked through the blowing curtains. “We should get going,” Nic said.

  “Yeah.” Cass wrapped her arms around him, not ready to move just yet. Nic showed he wasn’t either—at least not out of bed. Much later, Cass put on her clothes, the shirt once again inside out. She wore her torn, dirty jeans over the leggings for added warmth and the light jacket she’d grabbed at Minerva’s. “So what do we do now?”

  “Check your phone. Has Minerva tried to call?”

  Cass flipped the phone open and powered it on. “No. Should I call her?”

  “No.” Nic tapped a finger on his lips. “We need to figure out who is after you. We know why.” He stared at her necklace. “Why didn’t that shatter?”

  Cass grasped the pendant. “I don’t know. Maybe the force surrounding it keeps it safe.”

  Someone pounded on the door. Nic shoved Cass into the bathroom. “Stay there and stay quiet.”

  Cass put her ear against the door. A gap on the hinge side let her hear most of the conversation.

  “Yeah?” Nic asked.

  “We’re evacuating the motel. Something happened—we think some sort of earthquake or something. All the windows are broken.”

  Cass chewed her lip, trying desperately not to laugh. The earth had definitely moved, but all the windows? Oops.

  “Yeah, we noticed. Okay. Sure. We’ll be out soon.”

  “Well, since it’s an act of nature, we’re not responsible for any injuries or anything.”

  “Fine. Thanks.”

  Cass heard Nic shut the door, and she opened the bathroom door and leaned against the jamb, barely holding back her laughter. The smile on Nic’s face did her in.

  “All of them?”

  “So he said.”

  “Oh dear. I’ll have to pay him for them somehow.”

  “We will eventually.”

  “So where do we go?” Cass asked.

  “Is there anywhere safe? Some place our friends out there won’t find us?” Nic tied their few belongings up in a pillowcase.

  Cass shivered from the cold wind blowing in the window. Her light jacket worked for spring, not winter. Unfortunately, she’d outgrown most of her clothes at Minerva’s. The jacket, a relic from her early teens, barely fit her now.

  “Here, put this around you.” Nic wrapped the bedspread around her shoulders.

  “But that’s stealing.”

  “You’re going to pay for the windows, you can toss in a couple of bucks for the spread. Besides, this thing is older than your aunt.”

  Cass giggled and folded the spread so it didn’t drag
on the ground. She wrapped it around her shoulders. “There’s one place we can go.”

  They went down to the Jeep, Nic helping Cass with the blanket—and stopped, staring at four flat tires.

  “You didn’t…”

  “No! I can’t do this,” Cass said.

  “But we can.” Two dirty men, one holding a wicked-looking knife, the other with a gun, stepped out of the shadows.

  Nick grabbed for his gun, but the thugs moved fast. One had Cass in a neck lock before Nic could act. He cursed himself a dozen different ways for being so lax. He’d been paying more attention to her than to their surroundings. Some security expert he made.

  “Hands out and open,” the one holding Cass ordered. Though the smaller of the two, Nic believed him to be the more dangerous. He had a look about him that said he’d done this more than once—and gotten away with it. The second one looked like a football player who’d stopped training and went to fat, but he held the gun. One he could take, but not both, not without risking Cass.

  “Toss it over, nice and easy,” Cass’ captor said. Nic held his gun with two fingers, dropped it to the ground, and kicked it to the bigger man. He barely glanced at it, but Nic knew exactly where it was. The thug’s hands shook and his red eyes and runny nose told Nic he was most likely either high or in need of a fix. Either way, Nic had the advantage. But the other one—he would definitely be a problem.

  In rapid sequence, Nic thought of and dismissed several ideas. Each one risked Cass. His eyes never left hers. She blinked three times and looked down at her pendant. He hoped she didn’t plan on trying something. He shook his head, afraid what she wanted to do would end with her getting hurt.

  Cass narrowed her eyes and blinked hard. Before Nic could argue, she grabbed her assailant’s arm while kicking him hard in the knee.

  Nic dived for the gun holder. As he’d thought, the second one moved slower than the skinny one. He easily wrestled it away and grabbed his own, aiming both at the other man. When faced with the weapons, he slid to the ground, arms above his head. Not having time for finesse, Nic cocked him on the back of the head, knocking him out, then turned to help Cass. To his surprise, he saw her sitting on her assailant, his arms doubled behind his back. Nic raised an eyebrow at her.