by Autumn Dawn
Annoyed at her lack of vision, he demanded, "Why not? Wouldn't you like to live longer? Be healthy?"
"Healthy would be nice," she agreed. "But not if it involved a bug. Besides, who wants to live forever?"
Stymied by her logic, he muttered, "The Symbionts would think you blasphemous."
"Does it matter?" she asked, shifting to a slightly more comfortable position. "It's not as if they exist." Her comment effectively dampened the conversation for the remainder of the trip, which lasted a little over an hour.
As they entered the small clearing that protected the gateway the men reined to a stop. There was nothing special about the birch-ringed space that she could see, other than the view of the surrounding wooded hillsides. The greening hills did look lovely. "Are we stopping for lunch?"
"Soon," Mathin promised. The stirrups jangled softly as he dismounted.
"I hope you're ready for this adventure," Fallon told Mathin, nodding toward Andrea. He remained in the saddle, watching.
"What?" she asked, glancing at him over her shoulder as she dismounted. "I didn't hear you."
Fallon smiled. "I was wishing you luck on your adventure. Mathin's going to show you the gate to the Darklands." Mathin handed him the reins to their horse, which he fastened to his saddle.
She laughed. The birch-ringed clearing was pretty, but little different from others she'd seen. Hardly the sort of place one would expect to find guarding a gate. "Yeah, right. And while I'm there I'll just say hi to Snow White and the seven dwarves, too."
Although unfamiliar with her reference, Mathin knew sarcasm when he heard it. "If you see them there you'll have to introduce me," he said indulgently. Best she had her fun now. Soon she would not be laughing. "In the meantime...." He shifted the satchel he'd retrieved from the saddlebags and offered his arm.
Shaking her head at their silliness, which seemed so out of character for them, she took it. After all that riding she did feel the need to stretch her legs. "We'll be back in few minutes," she told Fallon, just so he knew she wasn't subscribing to their joke.
"In case you are not, what would you like me to bring you from here, should I visit?"
She frowned at the perfect seriousness of his tone. These guys took jokes far too seriously. "Well, let's see," she pretended to ponder. "I'll be stuck on an alien planet with no entertainment. How about some silly putty, bubbles ... Oh! And a game of jacks." As if.
Fallon shook his head but said nothing.
Andrea turned her attention back to Mathin as he took her into the birch and scrub brush at the edge of the clearing. It was growing surprisingly warm in spite of the thickening cloud cover. Halting a moment to pull off her jacket and drape it over her arm, she said somewhat nervously, "After all these stories you've been telling me, I'm almost disappointed there really isn't a gate."
Mathin said nothing, just gestured for her to precede him.
A trickle of unease teased her mind. There was something about him; something odd about the woods around them. Even though she couldn't put her finger on it, something wasn't right. Suspicious now, she said, "Just where are we going, anyway?" The realization that she didn't know him very well stirred a primal dread. What had possessed her to follow him like this? Had she lost her mind?
Never breaking eye contact, she took a wary step back. "I'm going back to Fallon. I've had enough walking now." Her eyes dropped to the gun belt and sheathed dagger at his hips. This morning she hadn't questioned the need for protection from wild animals. Too bad she hadn't considered her companion one.
Dark eyes watched her with frightening calculation. He knew why she was afraid, but he wasn't going to let her fear keep her from the safety of the other side of the gate. Her world was no longer the haven she believed it. Rather he would have reasoned with her, but women were far from logical at times and he hadn't known her long enough to predict what she would do. Instead, he relied on persuasion. "But we're almost there. Don't you want to see the Darklands?"
"Maybe another time," she answered carefully, taking another step back. Something was going on, and she didn't want to hang around and find out what. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't a trip to an alien planet. Unless Mathin was already on a private trip of his own? Chills ran down her back. The possibility of narcotic influences would explain so much. His mood swings, his fascination with the Darklands ... How could she have been so blind to the clues?
A stick cracked loudly under her heel, causing her to slip on the leaf mold.
Instantly Mathin was there, supporting her back and preventing a fall. And subtly walking her forward the last few critical paces as he distracted her with chatter. "Are you all right? You have to be careful out here, it's slippery. These aren't groomed trails."
Andrea unwittingly took four paces before she tried to resist. "Stop! I don't--” That was when she looked up--and screamed.
* * * *
On the other side of the gate Fallon winced. That must have been painful at close range. With a bemused shake of his head for the trouble Mathin had willingly embraced, he kicked his stallion into a walk.
With one last glance back at the portal and silent wish for good fortune, he rode out. He had business to tend to.
* * * *
"What is that?"
Far from shrinking from him now, Andrea's backside was practically welded to his front as she pressed into him. They were surrounded by the familiar redwoods and ferns of his home world, but he doubted she'd even noticed as much yet. Mathin sighed. "It's just a feeder beetle. They're harmless." He winced. If this was the way she reacted to what amounted to pet food, he was not looking forward to her reaction to the Haunt.
The object of her terror turned its black head toward them, waving its antenna in mild interest.
Andrea yelped and skittered behind Mathin, using him for a shield. "It's the size of a cocker spaniel! Make it go away!"
With a grunt of amused annoyance, he bent and grasped a small stick from the forest floor, tossing it half-heartedly toward the hapless beetle. It bounced off its back with a dull clunk, sending the creature scurrying off. He spread his arms. "There. I've slain it for you, lady. Now--” He frowned as she gasped and began to back away from him. Turning, he saw her look of disbelief as she noticed their surroundings.
Wild spice scented the air of the alien world around her. The surrounding woods had shifted and melded together so subtly that she hadn't even noticed the change, but there was no doubt in her mind that she was elsewhere. And suddenly, desperately, she wanted to go home.
Thinking to find the way back she whirled--and came face to snout with a wolf. Another shriek split the air. She shot back so fast she lost her footing and landed on her bottom in the dirt.
Once again, Mathin was there. "Easy," he soothed as he knelt behind her, gathering her against his chest. "The volti won't hurt you. At least not when you're with me," he amended, for the volti were well respected for their ferocity. He locked eyes with the creature, communicating his wish to be alone with Andrea even as more of the pack ghosted from the woods.
Sure they were about to be eaten, Andrea closed her eyes and hoped it would be over soon. Why, oh why had she gone riding today? Mathin! It was all his fault.
Even as the creatures melted away she snarled over her shoulder, still shaking, "Y-you're going to get me killed!"
He shook his head with strained patience, helping her to her feet. The woman was making this more difficult than it had to be. Who could have known she'd be so temperamental? "Not me, little rogue, but if you keep shrieking like that you'll likely murder my eardrums."
Intent on snapping a retort, she turned on him, only to yell once again as a dozen werewolves armed with blue light-sabers and black guns burst out of the woods and surrounded them.
Instinct kicked in. Before Mathin could register what she was after, she grabbed the gun out of his holster and spun with it toward the danger. That was as far as she got before his arms closed around her and snatched away t
he gun. Deprived of her weapon, she struggled in his embrace, kicking as he lifted her into the air and squeezed the air from her lungs.
"Calm down! No one's going to hurt you!" He grunted as she landed a sharp heel kick to his calf. Had he known she would be this panicked he'd have brought a tranquilizer. Hadn't his stories helped at all?
She didn't quit until blackness edged her vision and lack of air forced her to concede to his superior strength. Immediately his arms loosed to allow her to breathe. Still she wasn't done. "Send me home."
Mathin suppressed a groan at the weak command. Unfortunately, it would do little good to explain the situation until she calmed down. Now was as good a time as any to get past the worst of it, though. "You are home."
Renewed energy filled her as her terror was confirmed. Again she fought him, though the struggle was shorter for lack of breath and her previous exertion. "No," she moaned when he let her breathe. The word summed up her feelings. For the moment she was hopelessly outnumbered and unable to stop whatever he planned. Just thinking about it had her trembling again. She didn't care what he said, she was not going to trust a man who would kidnap her and drag her into an alien world just for fun.
"Sir?" A soldier she hadn't noticed before asked. He was dressed all in black from his combat boots to his black leather vest. Even his hair and eyes were dark. The only spot of color on him was the red Celtic knot on his uniform over his heart. He held a black box in one hand, apparently a communicator of some sort, for he listened to it, then said respectfully, "Lord Jayems requests an audience with you after you've...." His eyes slid to Andrea and his nostrils flared. His gaze became rather glassy. "Neutralized the situation."
"As soon as," Mathin agreed, silently cursing the soldier's reaction to Andrea's pheromone. Since he was still wearing the nose-filter he remained immune, but this man had no protection. "Return to the Haunt and escort us back to the citadel." Andrea started to object and he hastily clamped a hand over her mouth. Now that she was surrounded by Haunt, her innate persuasive abilities could come out at any time. Only the change or the possession of a mate protected a male Haunt from the pheromone, and nothing saved them from the persuasion. He did not want her ordering the man to take her home.
A muffled inhalation from Andrea sounded through the muzzle of Mathin's hand as the man instantly obeyed. Mathin eased it away, letting her breath. "Listen to me. No one is going to hurt you, but you need to come with me now."
She hissed a curse in response.
Unused to hearing women swear, his brow rose in mild surprise. "Very creative of you, but save it for another time. And think about this: you can walk out with dignity or be carried over my shoulder kicking and screaming. Either way, you're coming with me."
Lethal blue eyes glared at him. She could think of only two things he might want with her and both made her despise him. "I hate you." With all her heart.
"And on such short acquaintance, too," an amused voice drawled.
"Keilor!" Relieved at the interruption, Mathin greeted him, clasping forearms with the handsome dark-haired warrior who entered the clearing. One arm remained securely wrapped around Andrea.
With high cheekbones reminiscent of a Cherokee warrior, the man radiated energy and command, and his long hair only reinforced the impression. Several volti followed at his heels like a pack of tamed hunting dogs, though on closer inspection, they only vaguely resembled wolves.
The man's dark eyes settled on Andrea, assessing and reassuring at once. He shook his head. "My wife has shared those exact sentiments at times, madam. Particularly as he was dragging her through the swamps and feeding her giant snails. I'm certain she would like to hear your views. Will you come and meet her? She is human, like you."
Keilor's calculation worked. With a nervous glance at the Haunt and an even more skittish look at Mathin as she was reminded of what he was, she fell into step with the stranger.
What choice did she have?
With a frown of irritation, Mathin followed.
"We have two women here from your world," Keilor said conversationally, doing his best to be pleasant. "One is my cousin. Both are about your age. I'm sure they'll plague you for information from Earth." Seeing that his long strides were too fast for her, he slowed to a more comfortable stroll.
"Were they kidnapped, too?" she asked irritably. Keilor's conversation was soothing some of her fear but did little for her anger. Mathin had no right to make her stay!
After a short pause, Keilor shook his head. "Not precisely. My wife was using a dog to track my cousin's scent and stumbled into the Darklands. Naturally we couldn't let her leave."
"I don't see why not," she snapped, looking at Mathin. "Isn't kidnapping some kind of crime here?"
Keilor looked at her. "Save your anger for Mathin," he said calmly. "I wasn't the one who brought you here."
"But you won't let me leave." Her gaze challenged him to do just that.
"It's not my decision." His gaze moved to the trail ahead, dismissing the subject.
Dejected, she lagged a pace behind, covertly watching the forest for opportunities to escape. After all, she reasoned, she wouldn't spot them if she didn't stay alert. The depressing sight of volti running through the trees on all sides ruled out that option, even if she had the speed to outrun the men. Searching for inspiration she looked up, but other than the magnificent redwoods surrounding them there was nothing that would help. The ground was equally fruitless, though strewn with interesting plants and mushrooms. Their bright purple caps were the size of dinner plates.
"They're edible, by the way," Mathin offered, matching his pace to hers. "And they glow in the dark." Now that she was no longer physically struggling he felt she might be ready to listen. He hoped so, for in some ways this was just as difficult for him as it was for her. He didn't relish seeing her fear. The idea was for her to like it here.
"Thank you, Mr. Tour Guide," she said acidly. Did he think he could return to her good graces so easily? "I was dying to know."
Her attitude angered him. Did she think this was a lark? It was time she knew the seriousness of the game. "Dying is what you would have been, had I left you behind." Undeterred by her disbelieving frown he continued, "The woman we saw at Kmart? The ugly one who scared you? She was one of the sylphs I told you about. Sylphs always recognize each other."
She stopped and stared at him. "What-? There's no such thing as...." she trailed off as her eyes reminded her that stranger things did exist. "But you said the Haunt kill...." Her face blanched white as the true reason for her kidnapping registered.
He grabbed her as she tried to bolt, holding her steady as he tried to reason with her. "I brought you here to save you from the cults that will now be hunting you. There's nowhere you can go on Earth where they can't find you. They have a lot of practice at it." The list of Haunt kills to their credit certainly attested to that.
"I don't believe you!" she gasped, fighting him again. Almost she bit him, and she did get in one good kick to his shin, but again he proved to be master of the match. "Let go!"
Keilor sighed and crossed his arms, pausing with the Haunt to watch the spectacle. "Can't you control your woman, Mathin?" he asked, returning a taunt his friend had often used on him.
"I am not his woman!" she shouted, twisting in his arms to glare at Keilor. "I hate him!" She punctuated the statement with another attempt to bite.
Tired of her antics, Mathin accepted the cord Keilor tossed him and bound her wrists in front of her, managing the feat without bruising either of them. Once she was bound he tossed the hair out of his eyes and gave her a triumphant grin. "That's not what you said last night."
Andrea hissed in frustration as he nimbly blocked her kick. "I didn't say anything last night, and you know it!"
"Tsk. But what did you do?" Perversely his amusement grew as she did her best to injure him. "Nooo, that wasn't it." With a quick bend of his knees and a fast toss he threw her over his shoulder, ensuring there would be no m
ore escape attempts. A soft pat on her bottom prevented the rear assault he felt coming. "Don't make me retaliate," he warned. Accepting her silence as answer enough he smiled at Keilor. "After you."
Chapter 4
Andrea was still steaming as their party entered the citadel. Since she was slung over the barbarian's shoulder and moving along at a fast clip she couldn't see much beyond the smooth tiled floors on the ground level and the exquisite parquet flooring on the upper.
Fortunately for her, Mathin decided to flip her upright before they arrived at their destination, cradling her in his arms to allow her blood to return to its proper flow. "I can walk," she told him stiffly, disliking the sensation of being carried like a doll. She refused to look at him.
"And a beautiful walk it is," he agreed easily, smiling down at her. "But wait until you get your balance back. You wouldn't wish to upset your grandmother, would you?" Before she could do more than give him a startled look, a Haunt guard opened the thick wooden door ahead of them and Mathin swept through.
The room beyond was sunny and brimming with familiar knickknacks and gewgaws. Indeed, they covered every surface. Hooked rugs in a riot of clashing colors and Afghans and slipcovers--the very ones she'd packed away--covered the furniture in a miasma of dizzying shades. Bewildered by the display, she said nothing as Mathin set her on her feet and untied her wrists. What did this mean?
"Surprise!"
Andrea yelped and jumped as her beaming grandmother popped out from behind a couch and ran to her, enveloping her startled grandchild in a rose-scented hug. Confused, Andrea just stood there stiffly, allowing herself to be crushed. "Grandma?" she finally asked tentatively. Perhaps she was the one who had been slipped the drug?
Her grandmother pulled back and gave her a brilliant smile. "Oh, isn't it wonderful! That sweet Fallon has arranged for us to live here in the Darklands. Isn't it beautiful? And such lovely weather. I've always said he was a sweet boy."
Behind them, someone guffawed.
Ignoring the sound of amusement, Andrea demanded, "What are you talking about?" And pray God it would make sense because she couldn't stand much more bewilderment. It was hard to say which was worse; finding herself here or confronting her grandmother in such an alien atmosphere. What had happened to the cruise to Tahiti?