by Gail Koger
Outraged? It wasn’t like I’m going to keep the medallion forever. As soon as I found the gold, I’d return it.
I scrolled through the news feed. Giuseppe’s picture was prominently displayed. Thief Claims He’s Innocent. Did he really expect anyone to believe that? Was my cousin even alive?
Ethan’s growly voice sounded from my comm-link. “I know how to disable your ENF shield.”
“Aren’t you the smart one.” I broke the link. If he was trying to scare me, it wasn’t working. Uncle Aldo had added extra layers of protection to my bracelet. If I set it to protect mode, Ethan couldn’t touch me mentally or physically without getting zapped. The Overlord or Voss, the Battle Commander, could break through the ENF shields, but I doubted they would come after me.
“I must congratulate you on a well-executed heist. The dancing Montezuma was a nice touch.” And Ethan was back.
I scoffed, “Me? A thief? My last job was picking up dead critters off the highway.”
“Your last job was working for Resthaven cemetery as a groundskeeper,” Ethan corrected.
Rats. Simon hadn’t deleted all the records on me. He was probably too busy setting up secure servers for the clan. “Well, you know how us women are. We get confused easily and I’ve had so many jobs it’s hard to keep track.”
“Return the amulet and I’ll drop all the charges, Ethan stated.
“Gee, I would if I had it. Stealing is so wrong. The news vids claim a Giuseppe Dragos is responsible.”
“Your cousin told us everything.” Ethan’s smug tone set off alarm bells.
“Then you know I was kicked out of the clan for being a lousy thief.”
With a low, aggressive growl, he snapped, “Let’s get one thing straight, Kizzy, that treasure’s mine.”
“And how exactly do you plan on finding it?” Call me curious.
“Coletti technology.”
I grinned. The minute I touched the amulet, I knew only someone who could talk to the dead could find the treasure. Once I reached Hieroglyphic Canyon, I would find my second clue. A pink, heart-shaped stone with incandescent white markings. “And if that doesn’t work?”
“No more games,” Ethan snarled. “Tell me where you are.”
“Has anyone ever told you, you’re a grumpy butt?” Ethan was being awfully chatty. Had the Coletti figured out a way to track me. I quickly terminated the link. God, I hoped not. I shouldered my backpack and started down the path for fame and glory.
Thirty minutes later I collapsed on a rock. Fame and glory sucked. I hated to admit it, but I needed to exercise more. My eyes bugged when I noticed a man-shaped shadow. I cautiously looked up. Holy shit! A Coletti warrior was walking along the rocky outcrop I had taken shelter under.
The warrior abruptly vanished and appeared on the top of a mesa a couple of miles away. I watched him inspect the area with a hand-held scanner. Two minutes later, he was gone.
I blew out a long breath. So far, my ENF shield was holding. I checked my scanner. Yay, no Coletti warriors in the area. I got to my feet and trudged down the trail.
Heat waves shimmered off the sweltering rocks and added to the feeling of being baked alive. My chocolate had melted an hour ago and the water in my canteen was hot. Even the poor cactus looked wilted.
Using the edge of my camouflage tee-shirt to wipe the sweat out of my eyes, I checked the map again and groaned. Hieroglyphic Canyon was another friggin’ mile down this rocky obstacle course. Where was Granny Annabel and her arctic freeze when I needed them?
My wrist comm-link made a funny popping noise and Ethan asked curiously, “Is it true you can talk to the dead?”
“That’s just nuts. If I were you, I wouldn’t believe everything Giuseppe tells you.”
“Don’t lie to me. Zarek took the information directly from your cousin’s mind.” Ethan’s voice held an edge of menace.
“My cousin’s a drug user and probably hallucinating again.” I terminated the link again. Had Giuseppe given them the code to my comm-link? God, I hoped not, because they could track me with it.
“Terminating the link isn’t going to work any longer. We have control of the Dragos communications systems and it’s only a matter of time before we hunt all of you down,” Ethan announced.
I ignored him and increased my pace.
Ethan dropped his voice an octave and purred, “I’ve decided to call you Angel.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re wasting your time with the seduction routine.”
Ethan laughed. It was a masculine, mocking taunt. “When I’m done with you, you will be screaming my name and begging for more.”
I shivered as a shocking heat clenched my lower muscles. “Sorry, sugar, you’re not my type.”
“I’m exactly what you need Angel, and one night in my bed will prove it.”
Did Ethan really think I was that hard up? Ok I was, but a girl had to have some self-respect. “You egotistical, conceited ass I wouldn’t sleep with you if you were the last man on Earth.”
“First thing I want to do to you, Angel, is strip you bare and suckle those magnificent breasts. Then I’m gonna spread your hot, naked body across my bed and eat your pussy until you scream.”
Shaking off the urge to yell, ‘take me I’m yours’, I snorted rudely instead. “Nice try asshole, but before you waste all your time and energy; you should know, I’m a psychic dud. Just ask Giuseppe.”
“Your mother was a powerful psychic. You will be too.”
“Unfortunately, I take after my father’s side of the family. Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Ask anything you want. I’m an open book.”
That I found hard to believe. “Why did you give up your humanity to become a Coletti hybrid?”
“I had just gotten my master’s degree in archaeology and was starting my quest to find Montezuma’s treasure when the Tai-Kok attacked. The world went to hell and it was either fight or die. Earth was on the verge of being annihilated when the Overlord offered us a way to save our world and we took it,” Ethan stated.
“So, at heart you’re a Boy Scout?”
“No, I’m a warrior. I will do what’s necessary to keep our people safe.”
“No matter the consequences?”
“No matter the consequences.”
Not a big surprise. All the members of the Jones clan were dyed-in-the-wool patriots. I reluctantly typed in the code to disable my comm-link. If I got into trouble, I was on my own. I wouldn’t even be able to call Superstition Mountains Search and Rescue for help. “Goodbye, Ethan Jones.”
“Don’t do anything stupid. People die in the Superstition Mountains all the time.”
My stomach clenched. Ethan was right, but what choice did I have? He was too damn close to finding me. I pressed send. The lights on my bracelet flickered and the comm-link died.
A short time later, I found the cacti in my vision. The spine pointed down a narrow path littered with boulder-sized rocks. Standing in its meager shade, I gulped down a protein bar and several mouthfuls of hot water. My energy level was flagging big time. Now I knew why so many people never made it out.
Granny Annabel popped in. “You should wait for your man. The place you seek is full of angry spirits.”
I eyed her Indiana Jones outfit complete with whip. “I can deal with angry spirits. Ethan’s another matter entirely. I’m staying as far away from Coletti warrior as I can.”
“You have roused the hunter in Ethan. He will not stop until you are his. Accept your fate.”
“You don’t get it, do you? He doesn’t want me.”
“Only true love will bring you what you seek.”
I rolled my eyes. “Stop already with the mystical crap.”
“Ethan is your destiny.”
“Destiny, my ass.”
“Remove your bracelet and he will come to you.”
“Yeah, to put the handcuffs on, and cart me off to jail.” Adjusting my backpack, I headed down the path and a cold ch
ill skittered down my spine. This place was definitely haunted.
Ancient hieroglyphics covered the white canyon walls. My unease grew as I sloshed through small pools of brackish water.
Granny Annabel suddenly yelled, “Be aware of the Serpent!”
I froze and watched a rattlesnake slither away. “Thanks.”
Crumbling adobe walls caught my attention, I walked over for a better look and every nerve in my body went on red alert. Dozens of bloody backpacks littered the interior. I crossed myself and backed away.
“The dead cannot rest until their souls are freed,” Granny announced.
Out of nowhere all the terror from those who had died here slammed into my mind and it took every shred of power I had to control it.
The lost souls wailed, “Free us. Free us.”
It was too dangerous for me to connect with the esoteric plane and open a portal. I reached out mentally. “I will free you. I promise, but first I must deal with the one who killed you.”
“He comes. He comes.” The spirits vanished from my mind.
Seriously freaked out, I cautiously surveyed the area. “Whoever murdered them has to be human.”
“The evil one serves the Tomb Raiders,” Granny proclaimed.
“Are you talking about an archaeologist or something else?” The comm-link chirped, and I instinctively answered it.
Ethan barked, “Are you out of your tiny, little mind?”
“Probably. If you were a mass murderer, where would you hide?”
“Mass murderer? What are you babbling about?”
“Someone has killed a bunch of people.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “And I think he’s still here.”
“You’re dehydrated and hallucinating.”
A weird silence fell as if everything had been silenced by an ungodly, destructive hand. “I wish I was.”
The hieroglyphic began to shift and transform into strange shadows which cavorted around the canyon like ritual dancers.
Ethan groused, “A mass murderer is stalking you. Do you know how crazy that sounds?”
“Shhhh! He’ll hear you.” I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Crap the shadows were still there. My gaze settled on the inky darkness concealed behind a half dead tree. The blackened limbs reached out like sinister thorny fingers.
“What does this mass murderer look like?”
“Dunno.” I opened my psychic eye. A giddy laugh broke from me. They were illusions. Very convincing illusions. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to set this up.
“Why do you think he’s hunting you?” Ethan’s commanding tone steadied my nerves.
I hated the fact that my voice shook slightly, “I triggered his trap and I know there are dead people here.”
“Tell me where you are,” Ethan growled.
“Hieroglyphic Canyon.” I’d be a fool to turn down some help. A paralyzing fear suddenly engulfed me in the raw edges of a nightmare. A hideous creature shimmered into existence and moved towards me with sharp reptilian fangs. My breath came in rasping shudders. “It’s not real. It’s not real.”
“They released a gas to make you see what is not there,” Granny Annabel said.
Ethan snapped, “What kind of drugs are you taking Kizzy?”
For a moment all I wanted to do was run as far away as I could. Then I got mad. Drugs? He thought I was taking drugs. “You’re such a dickhead.” Now I knew why Ted North went nuts. This place was enough to scare the bejeesus out of anyone.
Granny huffed, “You should show your man more respect.”
I totally lost it and yelled, “Can we do this later? Like when there’s not a serial killer stalking me!”
“What you seek is in the cavern,” Granny stated.
“You couldn’t have told me that sooner?”
“Who are you talking to Angel?”
For the sheer hell of it, I said, “My dead grandmother.”
“You’re dead grandmother?”
“Yes! I can talk to the dead. Are you happy now?”
“Find a shady place and sit. I’ll be there shortly,” Ethan instructed.
“Can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I have to help the dead folks cross over.”
“Cross over?”
“Go to heaven or hell. Whatever is appropriate. The killer also released a hallucinogenic gas into the air. You need to come in full body armor,” I said waspishly.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“It’s a little late for that.” I forced my reluctant feet to move. Dozens of rotting corpses rose up in front of me. Maggots oozed from the bloody flesh. “Aw c’mon. Is that the best you got?”
Hundreds of maggots boiled from the rotting flesh and swarmed towards me.
“Ewww. Now that’s just gross.”
“Kizzy!”
“What?” A faint, never ending moan seemed to whisper in my ear, run.
A blast of arctic air hit me in the face. “Unless you want to die, you need to focus on what is real. Not on what they want you to see.”
I shook my head to clear it. These Tomb Raiders were trying to delay me. The question was why?
“The evil one approaches,” Granny warned.
I patted the laser pistol strapped to my right leg. “He’s not taking my head.”
“Your combat skills are inadequate,” Granny pointed out.
“Ok, I might not be the best in hand-to-hand combat, but I can shoot.” Yanking a flashlight out of my backpack, I turned it on and stepped into the airless cavern.
Claw-like roots pierced the sand covered floor as if something old and evil was trying to escape from the bowels of hell.
Nervously wiping the sweat out of my eyes, I carefully examined the cavern and shuddered at the screaming skulls lining the walls. “Dear God, he kept them as trophies.”
“The evil one has killed many. Only Ethan can defeat him.”
“I’m done running.” Something glowed in the dark. I put my light on it and whooped in relief. Gotcha! A pink, heart shaped stone with incandescent white markings sat on top of a flat boulder. I picked it up and flinched as several images flashed across my mind.
A neon sign cast a red glow over ancient dust covered stucco warriors. An elderly man with yellowing parchment skin and wearing a molting black wig stroked one and laughed gleefully. The Best Whore House in Vegas was embroidered on his blue silk robe. Who would have thought the next clue would be in a brothel?
“You have a visitor,” Granny Annabel whispered.
“Ethan?” My eyes popped open and I took a hasty step back.
A muscular Apache warrior wearing a breech cloth and war paint stood blocking the cavern entrance.
“Yaateeh,” I called, quickly stuffing the stone in my backpack. Ok it was Navajo for hello, but I didn’t know any Apache.
“You have trespassed on sacred grounds,” the warrior snarled in perfect English.
My gaze zeroed in on the big-ass knife clenched in his right hand. “You know, bringing a knife to a gun fight is not real smart.” I pulled my pistol.
“Your weapons will not work here.”
“Wanna bet?” I fired. Nothing happened. I fired again. No red energy beams. Oh crap! I quickly hit the protect mode on my bracelet. No energy field appeared. Would my stun gun work? I didn’t want to get close enough to find out.
He walked towards me, coiled menace in every step. “Return the sacred stone.”
I scuttled around the boulder. “Who do you work for?”
“I serve the Thunder God.”
“Do ya now?” I whispered to Granny Annabel, “I need a snowy distraction.”
The temperature dropped dramatically, and a blizzard erupted.
The warrior shouted, “What manner of magic is this?”
“My kind,” I answered and swung my backpack as hard as I could. With a loud thwack, the pack connected with his face and the warrior toppled over like a pole-axed steer.
“R
un,” Granny Annabel screamed.
Chapter Eight
And I did. I ran for what seemed like an eternity. The sizzling sun beat down on me and my fear fueled sprint became a stumbling jog. My leg muscles began to quiver violently and sweat poured down my face, soaking my already soggy tee-shirt. Winded, I staggered to a stop as the world spun dizzily around me. “Gotta rest.”
A cold breeze swirled over me.
“Thanks.” My knees buckled and I hit the ground.
“You need water.”
My mouth did feel like the Sahara Desert. Unscrewing my canteen, I quickly drained it. I had two bottles of water in my pack, but I didn’t dare drink them yet.
A frightening war cry echoed down the canyon.
That murdering bastard wasn’t adding me to his collection of skulls. Drawing on my waning strength, I crawled behind a boulder and summoned a nothing there illusion. “Where the hell was Ethan?”
Poof! He appeared about a hundred yards down the canyon.
With the homicidal Apache tracking me I wasn’t about to drop my illusion. I picked up a couple of rocks and hurled them at him. To my surprise one of the rocks bounced off a boulder and whacked Ethan’s helmet.
He spun around. “Angel?”
“Over here.”
“Drop your illusion,” Ethan commanded, walking toward the sound of my voice.
“Ok, but if that bloodthirsty Apache shows up, he’s all yours.” Presto! I was visible.
There was a long pause before Ethan asked somewhat incredulously, “An Apache?”
“Yep, he’s even wearing war paint.”
“I’ve had enough of your fairy tales.” Ethan grabbed for my arm. ZAP! He flew backwards and smashed into the canyon wall.
Huh? My energy shield was back online. There must be a dampening field in the cave. A shudder shook me as another war cry sounded. He was getting closer and Ethan was still face down in the dirt. I dropped the shield and shook him. “I think your battle armor is defective. Isn’t it supposed to protect you from all sorts of nasty stuff? Hello? Wakey. Wakey.”
A stone skittered down the path.
I threw an illusion around us and expanded my energy field to protect Ethan too.
