Betrayed: Days of the Rogue

by Nicky Charles

  Yet, if that was the case, why were the hairs on the back of her neck prickling?

  She forced herself to think rationally. There were a number of sensible explanations for her jitters. The mystery movie she’d watched, the fact that she’d stayed up too late reading. Things like that could play on a person’s mind, right?

  With one last look around, she resumed her journey, though her pace was slightly brisker than normal. An afternoon walk had become a habit this past month, but this was the first time she’d ever felt nervous about being alone in the woods.

  Maybe it was the sweep of dark shadows over the land that was making her skittish. It had been sunny when she’d set out an hour ago but now large clouds raced across the sky, obscuring the sun while thunder rumbled ominously in the distance. A cool wind began to blow and she hunched her shoulders against the chill, keeping her eyes focussed on the path. Absently, she noted landmarks that told her she still had some distance to travel before she reached the small fishing cabin she was renting. Would she make it back before the storm struck?

  She picked up her pace even more, breaking into a slow jog. Pebbles skittered and leaves crunched as her feet rhythmically pounded down the path. The trail she habitually followed wound through the trees, but today she took no notice of the scenic beauty. Unfurling ferns and small spring flowers held no interest for her. Instead, she anxiously approached each twist and turn wondering what potential danger hid just beyond her view.

  Were there bears in the area? Coyotes? Cougars? Strange how she’d never worried about that before, but it was possible that predators from the nearby Rocky Mountain wilderness could wander into the foothills. Eve wasn’t sure if she preferred being stalked by a hungry beast or a human, but at least she could eliminate one possibility. Pausing to catch her breath, she braced herself against a tree and reluctantly stretched out her mind letting “The Gift” free. If another human was in the area, she’d be able to sense their emotional presence.

  Even as she searched, she assured herself there was nothing to encounter. She was alone in the woods, and this would prove it. In fact, she actually began to relax when no human mind touched hers. See? An overactive imagination was the source of her fear. No one was out there except…

  She frowned. Something wasn’t right. Emotions were present, but it wasn’t what she’d usually sense from a person. In fact, the feelings didn’t resemble human ones at all. They were more primitive, raw and shocking in their baseness. An instinctive fear of the unknown curled inside her and she pulled back, mentally closing herself off from the source.

  Another twig snapped and she pressed her spine against the tree trunk, fists clenched, ready to fight whatever danger was there. The rising wind whipped her hair across her face and into her eyes. Impatiently, she brushed the locks aside and scanned the forest, looking for a sign that something was hiding behind the gnarled trunks. Seconds ticked by as she searched for even a hint of movement, but everything was still except for the branches swaying in the now gusting wind.

  She licked her lips and swallowed hard. Vague recollections of news reports were coming to mind; hikers who’d disappeared without a trace, only to have their mangled decomposing bodies found months later. The incidents had occurred several hundred kilometres away so there was no reason to be thinking along those lines...was there?

  A trickle of sweat slipped down the centre of her back and she twitched her shoulders at the feeling. Her nervousness was making the hooded sweatshirt she was wearing feel too warm despite the early spring temperatures. Yet she didn’t dare pull it over her head and blind herself even for a fraction of a second.

  Dammit, where was this…this…thing that was following her?

  Steeling her nerve, she once again opened her mind to seek out who—or what—might be present. If she could pinpoint an exact location, she’d be better able to defend herself. Forcing her mind to relax, she released the firm control she always maintained over her sixth sense and let the web of awareness spread around her. Seeking, testing, searching for subtle clues…

  Oddly enough, she came up empty. She tried again, pushing the limits of her meagre powers, but there wasn’t even a wisp of emotion left in the area save her own. How could that be? There was usually some latent trace, especially if strong feelings were present.

  She rubbed her nose and tried to think logically. Something had definitely been there, and now wasn’t. It couldn’t have been an animal she’d been sensing; all her research on empathic abilities indicated that only human emotions were accessible. Maybe she’d been mistaken. After all, she was new to this whole Fae-empathic-mindreading-thing. Perhaps the approaching storm was causing a glitch in her radar. That could happen, couldn’t it? Damn, she wished she understood her own powers better. Not that it was her fault, of course. If no one told you about something, you could hardly be blamed for your ignorance, right?

  Forcing her tense muscles to relax, she stepped away from the tree. Cowering was pointless. Lifting her chin, she made herself stand tall and widened her stance. She’d continue her walk, but on her own terms.

  With one last look around, she turned only to let out a gasp. Something dropped right in front of her, and she jumped back barely maintaining her balance. A scrambling sound had her looking up to find a pair of bright eyes staring down at her.

  A raccoon!

  Eve sagged in relief then glared at the masked assailant.

  “Have you been following me?” She scolded the creature, bending down to pick up the pinecone that it had lobbed at her.

  The animal didn’t answer, of course, but she did get a vague sense of annoyance emanating from it. It made a few indistinct muttering sounds before scampering higher up the tree and disappearing into a hole in the trunk.

  “Crazy beast,” she muttered, tossing the pinecone to the side. “What are you doing up during the day? Aren’t you supposed to be nocturnal?”

  Feeling more at ease, Eve finished her walk chuckling over how she could have allowed herself to become spooked by a mere raccoon and an approaching storm.

  A bright flash of lightning followed by a loud crack of thunder accompanied her arrival home, and she hurried across the small clearing and up the steps, eager to be inside before the rain started. Envisioning a cup of tea and curling up in a chair to read while the storm vented its fury, she reached for the door handle only to freeze in place. Her skin began to prickle again, and the odd feeling of being watched returned with a greater intensity than before.

  Her heart began to pound as a sense of danger welled within her. There was something dark and angry, something filled with rage, just behind her. Somehow she knew if she turned to look it would be fatal. Sweat sprang up on her skin and her slippery fingers fumbled with the latch.

  As soon as the handle turned, she yanked the door open and ran inside. Slamming it shut, she slid the deadbolt into place. She leaned against the wooden surface, paralyzed with fear as a sense of evil swirled around her, hovered and then slowly faded leaving her feeling weak and exhausted.

  Her knees gave out and she slid to the floor, resting her head against the door. Brushing her hair from her face, she willed her heart to stop racing and the queasy feeling in her stomach to settle. It had to be the storm, the electricity in the air that was causing these feelings. It was preposterous to think otherwise. If there was someone out there, she’d have sensed an actual person. A mischievous raccoon was nothing to be upset about. She repeated the fact to herself several times, willing herself to believe it.

  When her heart finally quit pounding like she’d just finished a race, she kicked off her shoes and pulled the too-warm sweatshirt over her head. Hugging the soft material to her chest, she looked around the open-concept cabin and let the cosy atmosphere soothe her spirit. Simple braided rugs, warm pine panelling, and a stack of unread books by the comfortable but sagging sofa. Her makeshift art studio stood in a corner of the room, unfinished projects awaiting her return.

  Yes, everythin
g was as she’d left it, homey and peaceful. She relaxed even more, and chuckled softly at her own foolish flight of fancy. There was nothing evil here except the occasional spider and a few rodents outside. Deciding that a soothing cup tea really was what she needed, she pushed to her feet and padded towards the kitchen.

  A flashing light on the side table caught her attention. Someone had called while she’d been out on her walk. Her sock-clad feet skidded slightly on the polished wooden floor as she changed directions and went to check her messages. Maybe it was her friend, Aly; a long chat would certainly help settle her nerves.

  The smile that had started to form on her face faded when she looked at the number displayed and realized who had called. It was her agent, Caro. Eve grimaced, not wanting to deal with the overly effusive woman just then. She contemplated ignoring the silent summons of the blinking light, and even took two steps away before guilt had her turning back.

  With a sigh, she listened to the message that stated Caro was driving to Edmonton tomorrow and planned to stop in on the way, provided Eve was going to be home. There was a hint of dire consequences should she not be available. Grimacing at the woman’s over-bearing manner, Eve picked up the phone. Being level-headed and responsible sucked sometimes.

  “Hello?” Caro’s voice sounded distracted, as if she were doing a dozen things at once, which she likely was. Her office always bore a resemblance to the aftermath of a tornado though, surprisingly enough, the woman knew exactly where everything was.

  “Hi, Caro. I see you called.”

  “Eve? Where have you been? I’ve tried at least a dozen times and—”

  Eve let the words wash over her, knowing Caro would likely rant for at least five minutes before she ran out of steam. The woman loved to turn everything into high drama. Making appropriate noises in response to whatever Caro was saying Eve went about her tea preparations, putting water on to boil and finding the teabags. Once the water was hot, she poured it into the teapot and leaned her hip against the kitchen counter so she could look out the window while waiting for the beverage to steep.

  Splots of rain were hitting the window pane while thunder rumbled overhead, but it appeared the storm would quickly pass. Thankful that the source of her unease would soon be over, she idly scanned the view. A thick growth of pine trees flanked one side of the cabin and she began to take note of how they looked silhouetted against the stormy sky. Straight and stalwart, they defied the force of nature that vented its fury around them. An idea began to form for her next project and her fingers itched to capture the image on paper.

  About to go in search of her sketchpad, a sound near her ear reminded her she was on the phone. “I’m sorry, Caro, what did you say?”

  “I was asking if you had those paintings ready for me.”

  “The paintings? Oh, yeah...” Her voice trailed off again as she stared out the window. Had something moved near that old tree stump? She squinted, unable to detect anything, yet the feeling that she was being watched had returned. Shifting uneasily, she stepped back from the window.

  “Eve? Eve! If you don’t answer me this minute, I’ll—” Caro’s strident tones had her wincing.

  “Sorry, Caro. I’m a bit distracted. I have the weirdest feeling that someone’s watching me.” Even as she spoke the words, she regretted them.

  “Someone’s watching you? Like a stalker?” Caro’s voice took on a panicky tone. “Oh my God, that’s what you get for moving to the middle of nowhere. Lock the doors and I’ll call the police—”

  “Caro, calm down!” Eve hastened to assure her agent, imagining how the woman was probably dragging her hands through her hair, sending the frizzy bleached blonde locks into even greater disarray. “I’m not in imminent danger. There’s no one out there. It’s just one of those weird feelings.”

  “But how do you know? Maybe some crazed chain-saw carrying lumberjack plans to murder you in your sleep! He’s hiding behind the trees and, when you’re not looking....” Caro ended her sentence with some rather gruesome sound effects. The woman’s creative mind definitely got the better of her at times.

  “Gee, thanks Caro. I feel a whole lot better now.” Eve moved into the living area and grabbed her sweatshirt from the chair where she’d tossed it earlier. Walking into the bedroom, she placed it in the laundry hamper, then glanced about at the disarray. If nothing else, Caro’s over-reaction helped put things in perspective. “I think you’ve spent too much time watching horror flicks.” And I’ve spent too much time reading mystery novels, she thought to herself, noting the stack of books beside her bed as well as the clothing scattered about. It was time to get some work done. She started to tidy up as Caro continued on with her theme.

  “I don’t know, Eve. You always hear about these ghastly cases in the news. I think you should report this to someone.” Caro sounded doubtful before suddenly brightening. “I know. Call that hunky man you’re renting the cabin from! If nothing else it’ll give you an excuse to talk to him.”

  Caro had encountered Rafe McRae on her first trip to Eve’s temporary home, having accidentally taken the wrong turn. According to her description, she’d found the man nearly stripped naked and chopping firewood. It had taken several glasses of wine, and considerable patience, before the woman had quit enthusing about him.

  Eve had to concede on some of Caro’s points. At over six foot, with a sculpted body, Rafe was the kind of man who had every woman drooling over him. However, Caro’s description of him as charming was hard to swallow. Based on her own meetings with the man, she was inclined to think that a rock had more personality.

  Making her way to the main living area, Eve rolled her eyes. “I don’t need an excuse to talk to him, Caro. I simply rent one of his cabins, nothing more.”

  “That’s what you say, but your artwork tells a different story. Did you know that each piece you’ve sent back bears a remarkable likeness to him?”

  “Really? I had no idea.” Eve feigned innocence while flicking a glance towards the far corner of the room where she had several sketches of Rafe pinned to the wall. She had been using him as a model for the males on the book covers she created to supplement her income as an artist. He certainly was...inspiring.

  “To a casual observer, maybe. But remember, I’m an expert on the male form.” Caro’s reputation as a cougar was a badge she wore proudly.

  “Keep your claws out of him, Caro.” Eve spoke the words without meaning to, and then winced when she realized she’d just given the other woman ammunition.

  “Warning me to keep away? I thought you said he was just your landlord.” Interest flared in the woman’s voice. It was easy to imagine how Caro would now be leaning back in her chair, one leg extended as she studied her outrageously high heels. One penciled brow would be raised as she twirled a pen between her fingers. “Do I detect more than a passing interest in the man?”

  “I...” Eve fumbled for an answer. As a woman, she was attracted to him physically, yet at the same time they seemed to rub each other the wrong way. Besides, he made her uneasy. There was something about his eyes and the way he looked at her as if he could see into her soul. She shivered at the memory.

  “Listen Eve, if you need a few pointers—”

  “I don’t, thanks.” She cut the woman off quickly, not sure she was up to hearing Caro’s advice on men. “I’ve no intention of getting involved with Rafe McRae and I don’t need to contact him about an imaginary stalker.”

  “A chainsaw carrying stalker.”

  “Caro!”

  “All right, fine. Have it your way. Don’t contact the man. Don’t pay any attention to my warnings.” Caro sounded miffed and Eve could imagine her stalking about the office, waving her hand theatrically. “But remember, if I drive all the way to the back of beyond and find you’ve been hacked into pieces by an escaped murderer, I’m deducting the gas mileage from your next cheque.”

  “First of all, Grassy Hills isn’t the back of beyond. It’s only a little bit out of
your way since you’re driving to Edmonton tomorrow anyway. Secondly, there are no escaped murderers being reported in the news. And thirdly, if I’m dead, you can keep the cheque.” Eve barely resisted the urge to stick out her tongue.

  “Famous last words.” Caro said dourly and then sighed. “I’ll be there around ten o’clock tomorrow to pick up your latest pieces.”

  “Okay. Why don’t we meet at the Sunrise Cafe like last time? It will save you a few minutes of travel time.” And keep you away from my cabin and Rafe, she added silently.

  “Good. If I’m out of the city for too long I might start to convert into a country bumpkin.”

  Caro hung up without even saying goodbye and Eve set the handset down with a sigh. Her agent was a city girl, born and bred, and couldn’t begin to fathom why anyone wouldn’t want to live in the middle of a large city. Mind you, Eve had never thought of herself as a country girl either, but ever since ‘The Gift’ had struck her full force, she’d found it increasingly difficult to live in a city surrounded by thousands of people.

  ‘The Gift.’ That had been her grandmother’s name for it, but Eve wasn’t so sure that ‘the curse’ wouldn’t have been a better name. The inexplicable empathy she felt towards total strangers had descended on her last year and her life hadn’t been the same since.

  It was the Fae in her, her grandmother had said. As a child, she’d sat at her grandmother’s feet, listening wide-eyed to stories of a long ago time when her family had seemed to possess strange powers.

  “The power’s faded from us, child,” Gran had explained. “It by-passed me and your father, but you’re one of the lucky ones. I can see it in you.” Her grandmother had cupped her chin and stared deep into her eyes before smiling knowingly. “Aye, the gift is with you but what you’ll do with it remains to be seen.”