by Lynn Landes
“Hunter, how did you know what was coming?” Elina asks him, curious about his gifts, and Jake looks at him wanting to know the answer to that as well.
“Elsbeth told me. She has gifts she is not aware of; I heard the warning from her mind. Her spirit warned her, she just has not yet learned to hear it,” Hunter answers calmly as he looks at her brother.
With a look of surprise, Jakes looks at him and asks, “Why didn’t you warn us? We could have stopped her from going outside.”
“Then she would not know of her gift. She needs to learn to trust herself. You can’t always protect her, Jake.”
Angry and feeling helpless to protect his sister, he tells Hunter, “You don’t know what she has been through. We almost lost her once. I won’t let it happen again!”
Elina steps close to Jake, slipping her hand into his. “We won’t let it happen again, Jake. Polly can show her how to cast a protective shield around her, a bubble of sorts. It will keep her safe when we can’t.”
Ronnie urges them inside saying, “Elsbeth needs to see you Jake, don’t go to her in anger.”
With a nod of agreement, he follows Elina inside. Jake turns around at the top of the steps and calls out to Hunter, “Thank you, for saving Beth. I won’t forget it.”
Jake drops his boots by the back door, and stops Elina from leaving. “I am sorry I snapped at you. Forgive me, I was terrified for her.” He leans down and kisses her forehead quickly. She smiles saying, “Always.”
What would I not do to protect mine, Elina thinks as she walks away to find her family.
Jake walks into the living room and finds Elsbeth wrapped in a blanket, sitting near the fire, holding a steaming mug.
She looks up into her brother’s eyes, so like her own, she brushes back her long, blonde hair and sets her mug down, then rushes to him, and buries her face in his shirt.
Jake sighs deep, as he wraps his sister in a hug. “I hate it when you do that. I am such a sucker for you, Bethie.”
“I love you too, Jake,” she mumbles into his shirt.
He pushes Elsbeth away and asks, “Why? Why would you leave us? How can I keep you safe if I am not with you? You know I would have taken you to the mines!” Angrily, he begins to pace.
“That’s exactly why I tried to leave!” Elsbeth says exasperated. “I won’t be responsible for your death, just as you can’t be responsible for mine!”
“You are not going to die Elsbeth!”
Drawn inside by the noise, Hunter and Ronnie quietly enter the room from the deck and listen.
“The demon, Asa did things to me, Jake,” voice breaking. Elsbeth continues, “Things unimaginable, but the most unbearable part was what he did to the people I love.”
“YOU!” she says poking him in the chest, “He made me watch while they killed you slowly, Jake. You begged, screamed and pleaded for me to help you but I could only watch. Then when it was over, he would do it again and again!”
Openly crying now, she yells, “I can’t take a breath without the nightmares. They torment me. I am broken, Jake. I have nothing left inside me but fear.” Ashamed, she turns away from him to find Hunter staring at her.
Hunter advances on her saying, “Daninagv!! Lies, woman, they filled your soul with lies.” Eyes wide, Elsbeth stares at him as he grabs her by her shoulders and shakes her gently. “You are full of light, faith, hope, and love. I have watched you with the women at the shelter. You give them peace, when they have lost all hope. You teach them skills; show them how to fight for a better life for their children. You are Attsvsdv! Light, Elsbeth, you are light. It’s time for you to believe it!” Elsbeth is stunned into silence. She watches as he turns away, stomping past the silent group.
“I will be back in the morning to take you to the mines!” he mumbles under his breath and slams his way out of the house.
Elsbeth quietly drops into the nearest chair. Jake smiles as Hunter leaves. “He told you, little sister!”
“Shut up,” Elsbeth says throwing a pillow at Jakes back.
Polly comes in to tell the group “I will cast a protective circle around the house, just as a precaution. We have had a long day. Let’s sit down in the morning to discuss our next step.”
After agreeing, they all head to bed. Elsbeth waits for the others to go to bed, and grabs her bible. Settling into a chair by the fireplace to rest, she begins reading to refuel her spirit. Elsbeth prays quietly, “Father, refill my soul with your light. Help me to know that you are in control. Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory. Amen.” Soon she drifts off thinking for the first time of something other than demons and angels. Instead she feels hope when she thinks of the future.
Thirteen
Elsbeth drifts awake to the sound of a guitar playing a beautiful song. Lured by the music she follows it out to the deck, and finds Hunter strumming and playing.
Patiently, she waits for the song to finish, “That was beautiful. What is it called?”
As Hunter looks at her sleep filled eyes, he smiles at her simple beauty. “It is called the Morning Song.”
Elsbeth hears the sound of laughter and pans from the kitchen. As she smells the coffee, she turns to go but Hunter’s voice stops her.
“Elsbeth, I have a gift for you.” With a look of surprise, she walks closer to him as he places his guitar on the table.
Hunter hands her a small package wrapped in brown paper. “The Indians believe that the night air is filled with dreams, both good and bad. The dreamcatcher, when hung in a place of rest, swinging freely with the air, catches the dreams that flow by. The good dreams slip through the outer holes and slide down the soft feathers to rest gently with the sleeper. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, get tangled and perish with the first light of the new day.”
“I would like you to have this,” Hunter says, watching her open the paper to reveal a beautiful leather wrapped dream catcher with golden thread in the center. A center hole radiates out in a beautiful web formation of a star. At the point of each star is a stone.
“Each stone has a meaning. The top stone is Amethyst,” he says pointing. “It represents protection. Quartz represents healing. Hematite is for peace, and turquoise represents a release of all guilt and shame. Lastly is rose quartz for heart and family.”
As Elsbeth looks into his warm, brown eyes she is touched by his sincerity. “I don’t know what to say, Hunter, I will treasure it. Thank you,” she says softly as a single tear runs down her cheek.
He reaches out and softly wipes her cheek with his fingertip, “Never stop dreaming Elsbeth.”
She reaches up and takes his hand. Pressing it against her cheek, she says, “I will try.” Feeling at peace for the first time in years, she realizes she really does want to dream again.
Three hours later, after hiking in the freezing air, she is rethinking her feelings on the subject of peace. The thoughts running through her mind are anything but peaceful. They left the truck and had to hike the rest of the way to the entrance of the mine. Her energy levels are not what they once were. It worries her. Alex constantly helps her, pulling and prodding her to keep going.
“Almost there, Beth,” Alex calls out pointing ahead to a pile of rubble. Reaching the rocks, Hunter disappears over the top while she stops for a drink of water. Quickly returning, Hunter looks at his son as he helps Elsbeth and feels a sense of pride.
“The entrance is covered with a metal grate. Alex, help me lift it off, then we will head inside.” Alex turns and runs to help his father.
After a couple of minutes, Elsbeth hears the sound of the metal hitting the ground. Walking over she looks down and sees the two stringing a rope to a stake that has been driven deep into the ground. Carved into the earth is a large circular hole with a wooden ladder inside and a sign that says “CAUTION: Collapsed tunnels. Enter at your own risk.” Elsbeth chews her bottom lip in worry, and backs away from the hole. “Maybe I can buy some bloodstones off the internet? This does not look
promising, Hunter.”
“Don’t worry, Beth. I’m right behind you. Dad does this all the time. It’s a hobby of his, right Dad?” Alex asks turning to look at Hunter.
“Right,” Hunter says securing the rope around his waist. “Give me a minute.” Slowly he climbs down the ladder disappearing from view.
“He’s checking the tunnel for stability to make sure it doesn’t collapse.” Alex tells her.
“That’s reassuring.” Elsbeth says with a small laugh, looking at Alex for a moment trying to see a family resemblance. Hunter is shorter than Alex, and at fifteen he is well on his way to six feet tall. The tan skin and silky black hair that are true to his American Indian heritage is not visible in Alex. He is tall, fair, and has brown hair and brown eyes. “Have you ever been in a cave that collapsed, Alex?” Elina asks glancing down the hole.
Sarcastically he answers saying, “Dad’s all about safety.”
“Dads are like that, Moms too,” Elsbeth responds with understanding.
Alex walks around to the other side of the entrance, and kicks a rock. “I wouldn’t know because I don’t remember my mom.”
“Oh, I thought, I’m sorry, Alex…” Elsbeth stammers shocked by the news,
Looking up at the sincerity in her voice, he replies “That’s okay, Elsbeth. It has always been Dad and me. I was adopted as a baby. My mom died when I was two years old. A drunk driver hit her car, head on.”
Gently she touches his hand, “That’s awful Alex, I am so sorry I didn’t know.”
“That’s okay. It not something we talk about, he hasn’t gotten over losing her. I am happy to see him find someone like you.”
Not wanting to mislead him, she starts to correct him when she is interrupted by Hunter yelling up, “All clear, send her down, Alex.”
As she is descending into the belly of the Black Hills, Elsbeth has third thoughts. She tries not to panic, breathing faster and faster, she finds her hands clutching the old ladder, and her feet not willing to move.
“You can do this, Elsbeth,” she whispers to herself. “Don’t panic, don’t panic…”
“Elsbeth, do you trust me?” Hunter’s deep voice asks.
Frozen on the steps, she shakes her head yes.
“Then come to me, keep moving. Listen to the sound of my voice.”
Slowly her feet begin to move and she finds his hands on her waist helping her to the ground. Hunter uncoils the rope from around her waist he tugs it and Alex pulls it back up to begin his descent.
She says as she turns around, “You must think I am such a coward?”
Hunter slowly moves close. Her heartbeat accelerates as he lowers his mouth to hers, “Nope, I was thinking what a great view I have.” He captures her shocked mouth, with his. He tastes her sweet mouth and his hot tongue teases the moist heat of her mouth, spearing and retreating, waiting for her to respond. Elsbeth feels the intensity of his desire and responds. She drags him closer and leans into his kiss
“Descending!” Alex yells down and he tosses the rope down to them.
Elsbeth blushes bright red. With a laugh, Hunter turns on his helmet light, and walks deeper into the tunnel. Alex drops to the ground and begins wrapping up the rope. Elsbeth looks around and notices the ground covered in gravel and rocks. The tunnel itself is cold and dusty. With a flip of the switch, her flashlight illuminates the space. Elsbeth follows Hunter, with Alex bringing up the rear. The crunch of Hunter's boots on the dirty tunnel floor floats back to Elsbeth. As they walk deeper into the mine, the smell of rotten eggs gets stronger with every step. Dust particles float in the yellow light cast from the flashlights and Elsbeth finds her heart beating faster.
Hunter turns to look at her, and begins to speak. “Overhead you will see the wires running along the roof of the curved ceiling. They provided electricity to the workers who worked twelve hours shifts, seven days a week. The vein of ore we are looking for curves deep underground, then shoots upward about seven hundred feet.” The sound of his deep voice calms Elsbeth’s nerves.
“The tracks on the ground, were they used for carts of some kind?” she asks looking down at the metal rails.
Alex answers her, “Yep. Most of them have been ripped out for scrap money. All the copper wiring was stripped as well. That’s why you see all the tools and equipment scattered around.”
“Why was the mine abandoned?” she asks, carefully making her way around some rusted equipment. The tunnels are supported with wooden beams up the walls and around the ceiling. Some have collapsed due to age or rock fall. Hunter continues at a vigilant pace, but not looking back as he carefully scrutinizes every step leading them deep into the earth.
“The owners of the mine were not interested in Blood Stones, they wanted only gold. They shut the mine down and moved on. Locals mined what they could of the stones, but age and collapsed tunnels forced them to look elsewhere,” Hunters replies.
Falling quiet, the small group continues walking, stopping later to rest and drink some water. Hunter checks the air quality with some equipment he brought and then urges them to move on once again.
“Slave driver,” Alex mumbles under his breath.
Elsbeth chuckles and follows Hunter. As they turn around a corner in the tunnel, they come to a stop at a three way intersection.
“Wow. This was a busy mine wasn’t it?” Elsbeth asks out of breath.
Alex steps forward, “I can check this one, if we each take one it will be faster.”
Elsbeth’s eyes are large as she slowly begins to back away. Her pale face glows in the murky depths of the tunnel. Hunter turns to look at his son, and gives a small nod in her direction.
“I think it will be better if you stay with Beth, while I check them out.” Hunter walks over to Elsbeth; he lifts her chin saying gently, “I am going to check the tunnels for safety.” He retrieves his compass from his backpack, he tells them, “I won’t go far. You are safe with Alex.” She gives him a small nod then watches him go, jumping at the sound of Alex’s voice.
“Here Beth, sit on this.” He has rolled a barrel over and flipped it on its end so she can sit.
“Thanks, Alex.” Panic is setting in and she is trying desperately not to think of the weight of the earth above them. Elsbeth sips her water and uses her flashlight to check out the large room they are in.
“Why were the shadows on the reservation drawn to you, Elsbeth?” Alex asks her, intent on her answer.
She is stunned as she stares at him, “How did you know? Did your father tell you that?” she asks quietly. Nothing should surprise her at this point, but she finds it hard to believe he would have told his son about demons.
“I’ve always seen them, the Shadows. Some are good and some evil. Dad has been teaching me how to handle that.”
Elsbeth feels tired as she looks at the young man before her. Not sure what to say, she tells him the truth, “I was taken by a very evil one, Alex. I couldn’t get away. The days felt like years, the moments like centuries,” drifting off she shakes herself and continues saying “After my rescue they seem to be able to find me no matter where I am, unless I have a shield.” Smiling at him, “Your father is a natural shield and you must be also, or they would be attacking us now.”
The sound of crunching gravel points to Hunter’s return. He enters the small cavern where they wait and says, “I found it. Let’s go.”
Helping Elsbeth to her feet, Alex watches her walk to his father and says, “You are safe with us, Beth.” She follows Hunter into the second tunnel on the right. It is supported down its length by columns of wood. Careful not to bump the wood, they come to a stop and Hunter points up.
“That’s where we need to go.” Shaking a map out of his backpack, he rechecks his position. Directing their lights, they illuminate the shaft above. It is dug at an angle and disappears above.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Elsbeth asks incredulously.
“We climb.” Hunter says calmly. “I will go up with Alex and we w
ill pull you up.”
Alex says, “I’ve got this!” He climbs the shaft quickly, slipping as he ascends. After a moment, he yells back, “Give me some light, Dad.” Hunter directs the battery powered spotlight; illuminating the tunnel.
“It’s damp and slippery, so be careful. Make sure your footing is good. I will tie us together just in case,” Hunter says slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her body to his.
Her fear is forgotten quickly as she looks up at his smiling face and he says, “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it, Elsbeth.” He leans his face sideways while jerking the rope tightly around her body “Ropes can be very useful.”
The sound of her laughter fills the tunnel and she responds, “You are an animal, Hunter. Boost me up, let’s get this over with,” she says turning around. Elsbeth waits for him to enter the shaft above.
Hunter slips and slides his way up looking for Alex, relieved to see him securing a safety harness to a large rock. “Okay, let’s go,” he calls down and reaches for Elsbeth’s hand to pull her up. Grasping her right arm, he pulls and she pushes, climbing up into the cut out. After a few minutes, they reach a horizontal area in the shaft.
While Elsbeth catches her breath, Alex crawls ahead and calls back, “There’s a small tunnel here, Dad, but I can’t fit inside.”
As Hunter looks into the tunnel, he notices that it is about three feet tall. With another look, he can see it is long and narrow, and seems to open up to a larger room. As Hunter starts to backup, he is surprised to feel Elsbeth crawl up behind him.
“I can fit,” she says quietly looking over his shoulder.
“No, we can find another vein further up,” Hunter starts to say, but Elsbeth stops him.
“I feel them, Hunter. They are inside, let me go,” she insists.
“I am still tied to you. If I get into trouble you can pull me out,” she tells him as she checks the knots of the rope holding her. Moving past him, she feels a sense of urgency she can’t explain. “I have to go now!” she says sliding past Hunter and Alex. Before he can stop her, she switches on her helmet light and squirms inside the opening.