Black Ruins Falls

by Karen DuBose

  If I could give this to them it will be the last thing I do. I hand Runes back to Dariya. Her little body feels so fragile. Leaning in I give Dariya a kiss on the top of her head.

  “Love, I have to go back and check in with everyone and let them know you are ok. You stay here and rest. I will be back later. I love you.” Looking back down to Runes, I say, “I love you too little one.” I kiss the top of her little head.

  I place Runes back into Dariya’s waiting arms. She grabs my arm before I can pull away. “I promise not to be here long. We have things to do.”

  I take her hand in mine. “Love, take your time. You need to rest.”

  I don’t know how I am supposed to leave. I didn’t ask Oceana how all of this works. If I got sucked in, maybe I can be sucked back out the same way. Here goes nothing. I close my eyes and try to find the link I did before, but it wasn’t there. Opening my eyes again, still in the same spot.

  I can see Dariya trying to hold in a laugh. “Are you having problems babe?”

  “You must be loving this. Me not knowing what I am doing. Huh? Can you give a guy some help over here?”

  “I would love to tell you how to leave, but I have a feeling it isn’t me holding you here.” She looks down at Runes with a smile. “I don’t think your little girl wants you to leave just yet.”

  I walk back to them and squat down, so I’m closer to Runes. “Is that so, my precious little one? Daddy has to go get things done.” Hearing the word daddy come out of my mouth makes it surreal. “You don’t want the others to worry about us and get hurt, would you?” I scoop her up into my arms and snuggle her close to me. “I would love to stay here with you and mommy. I will be back to spend some more time with you, I promise you!”

  Handing her back to Dariya, I give her one last kiss before I try again. I hope this time it works. I walk away from them hoping I will be able to come back soon. I close my eyes and reach for anything this time. I feel a tug and when I open my eyes this time I’m back at the waterfall.

  I chuckle as relief washes over me. That little girl is going to give us a run for our sanity. Wait until the others learn about this.

  I reach out to Bruno first to talk to him privately.

  “How is it going at your end?”

  “As boring as it was the last time you asked.”

  “Someone is in a mood. Is Kira still threatening you?”

  I hear his chuckle in my head. “Among other things yes. How is Dariya? I felt your relief hours ago. I didn’t want to bother you.”

  “She is doing well, actually more than well. Can you link us all, this needs to be said once. I can’t let it be repeated after this.”

  I can feel his worry, which makes me even more anxious. “Sure, give me a sec.”

  I felt the moment we were all linked together. Their worry is the first to hit me.

  Bruno calls my attention. “Kiernan, you have our attention. What’s going on?”

  I explained to them about Runes. I can tell they are all worried like I am. We have no idea what kind of power she will have or if this is all she will have. I have a funny feeling this isn’t all she will have.

  Rome asks the question that was even on my mind. “How are we going to protect her?”

  “I’ve been asking myself that same question. We can’t hide her powers forever. Even if we want to, her power will show up when we least expect it. We are just going to take it one day at a time. That’s all we can do right now.”

  Errol chuckles. “Dude, I’m so glad it’s you and not me. You are going to have your hands full with both Dariya and Runes.”

  Desean speaks for the first time in a while. “I second that. You are going to have hell on your hands.”

  “To tell you all the truth, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I didn’t think I could love someone as much as I do those two.”

  Taz snorts. “You say that now wait until she gets older and rebels against us all.”

  “I don’t see that happening. My love for her will always be there, no matter what.”

  Cicero’s worry hits me hard. “I think we have company. Kiernan, we will be back, we need to check this out.”

  I feel them all close off the links. I wish someone would have kept me connected. Who in the world could it be? They have been in hiding. There is no way someone would have found them that fast.

  I pace back and forth waiting on someone to tell me what is going on. I don’t want to distract one of them. Just in case they are fighting. I’m about to say the hell with it and find out what is going on. It’s been fifteen minutes.

  I felt the tug just as I’m about to tug on one of them.

  “Bruno, what is going on?”

  “Out of all the people to ever find us, your cousin did. He won’t tell us how he found us or why he is here.”

  “Tell him I said to tell you. If he can find you then the Elders are sure to find you. I just hope he isn’t working with them. If he is, we have no choice to either kill him or lock him away somewhere where he can’t be found.”

  I feel his concern wash over me. “I will see what I can find out. I will keep the connection open. I have a feeling he is looking for you anyway.”

  Please Source, don’t let him be working for the Elders. I don’t want to harm my own family, but I will do anything to protect my new family. If he has been using me to get to Dariya he will pay. Even if it’s his life.

  I can feel Bruno’s anger. “Kiernan, he will only talk to you. He said he has been sent with a message. He won’t tell us from who or what it is.”

  My frustration is rising. How stupid can he be? “Find somewhere to keep him until I can get there. We need to know who this message is from. He will pay for making me leave my family. This message better be important.”

  “This place has on old cellar. I will put him down there until you get here. I think it would be best if you tell Oceana to bring you here and take someone back with her. I don’t want them unprotected. This could be a trap.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, ask Jax if he is willing to come here. I want you guys there with me.”

  “Will do. See you soon.”

  I need to tell Dariya I’m leaving. I don’t want her to wake up and find I’m not here. There is no point in her worrying about my whereabouts.

  I grab ahold of our link and let it yank me to her. She is still too weak to be woken up. I just pray she will stay asleep and not force herself to wake up.

  “Kiernan, your back fast, did you miss us that much?”

  Her smile warms my heart. Man, she has no idea how much I miss her. “Yes, Love. But that isn’t the reason I’m here.” I avoid looking at Runes. I know if I do, I won’t want to leave again. “Kelso showed up where the others are. I need to go figure out what he wants. He will only talk to me.”

  “You are not going alone. I will wake up to go with you.”

  I walk over to her and Runes. I can’t let her do that. She needs her rest. “Love, I won’t be alone. You need to stay here and rest. I promise I will be back soon. Jax is coming here to watch over you until I get back. Runes needs you right now. I don’t want to take that away from her.”

  As soon as her name leaves my mouth, we both look down at the sleeping bundle in her arms. How did I get this lucky? Runes already has me wrapped around her little finger. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

  Dariya looks back up to me with concern in her beautiful eyes. “Are you sure? Did he say why he was there or how he even found them?”

  I take a deep breath. I’m not going to hold back information from her. “He says he has a message for me. He won’t tell anyone who it’s from. All I know is he is being kept in a cellar right now.”

  The wheels are turning in her head. She looks between me and Runes. I know the moment she decides to stay with our baby girl. The tension leaves me instantly.

  “Ok I will stay, on one condition; you have Jax wake me up if anything happens. I won’t take no for an a
nswer and if I find out you didn’t, I will be very upset with you.”

  I give her the smile she loves so much. “I will instruct him to do so. I just hope Kelso isn’t working with the Elders.”

  “For his sake, he better not be. If he is, see if he is doing it willingly. If so, take care of him. I know you will do what you think is best to keep us safe.”

  I lean down to kiss the top of her head. “You know I will. I will be back as soon as I can. Get some more rest. I love you more than the stars.” I caress Runes cheek softly so not to wake her up. “As for you little one, you have my heart as well.”

  She smiles up to me. “I love you more.” She looks back down at Runes. “She loves you too. Be careful. Come back to me in one piece, including your heart.”

  “I will. Promise.”

  I close my eyes because I can’t stand to leave them. I feel myself exit her dream world, or whatever Runes has her in.

  I open my eyes and take a deep breath. Hell is about to rain down on us and I’m not sure we are ready. Standing up, I walk in the direction I hope Oceana is.

  Chapter Four

  Walking to the edge and jumping into the water, the warmth seeps through to me and it takes most of the tension that is left in my body away from me. I take a few minutes for myself before I have to face the unknown.

  I dive under the water and swim past the waterfall. I come back to the surface and hear a scream. I turn toward the scream and Oceana is holding her chest.

  “You scared the living hell out of me!”

  I gave her a smile. “Sorry, I was headed to look for you.”

  She swam toward me in a blink of an eye. “Is Dariya ok?”

  “She is fine. I have other matters to attend to that need my unwanted attention. I need you to take me to the others and bring Jax back here to watch over things until I can get back.”

  She has a concerned look on her face. “What’s going on?”

  I proceed to tell her what has happened. Her anger is somewhat unexpected.

  “You better make sure he isn’t in my line of sight or I will have no choice but to kill him on the spot. I took a blood oath to protect her and I’m not going to kill myself for the likes of him. She still needs me, and I intend to stay alive. He better hope he isn’t working with the Elders.”

  “I understand. I will have Jax wait outside, so we can switch as soon as we get there.”

  She nods her head. “Are you ready or do you want me to dry you off first?”

  I laugh looking down at myself. “I would like to be dry for this. Let’s head out.”

  We swim to the edge of the lake and hop out. As much as I love the water, it sucks being soaked in clothes. I try to ring out as much as I can, so it doesn’t take her that long to dry us both.

  I feel the strong wind whipping around me. I watch as the water droplets vanish as my clothes start to dry. It fascinates me to watch. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have that kind of magic.

  Oceana interrupts me from watching her work by clearing her throat. I look up at her. “Are you ready? I don’t want to leave her for more than a minute.”

  Nodding my head letting her know I am indeed ready to go, she reaches her hand out to me. I grab her hand ready to get this over with. All I can think is this better not come back to bite me in the ass.

  I will never get used to being teleported. One second, we are at the waterfalls and the next I’m staring at the cabin I hope the others are at. The trip makes me feel a little queasy

  “I was wondering what was taking you guys so long. I thought you got lost or something.”

  I turn around to see Jax leaning up against a tree like he has claimed it as his own. He gives us a smirk.

  “I didn’t want to leave without telling Dariya where I was going.”

  He pushes off the tree and walks toward us. He comes in and gives me a man hug and slaps me on the back. “How did you convince her to stay and rest?”

  I rub the back of my neck looking at the ground. “I kind of guilted her into it.”

  I hear his deep laugh, making me look up at him. “Dude that was low even for you. Does she even know you did that?”

  I roll my eyes at him. “I’m sure she figured it out. I didn’t want to leave Runes either.”

  “Ahh, I see. Already using your kid. Smart and dumb at the same time.”

  Oceana stops us from going any further. “We need to get back now. I don’t want to leave her unprotected.” She doesn’t even give Jax a chance to say anything. She places her hand on him and they are gone.

  That is freaky all on its own. A shudder rocks my body. I bet when she was a kid, she was the best at hide and seek.

  Shaking my head, I walk up to the cabin. I don’t even bother knocking. They all know I am coming. I open the door and Cicero is the first one I see. I can tell he is angry about something.

  “What have I missed?”

  He turns his gaze away from me. “Nothing! Bruno won’t let me get the information out of him the way I want. But now that you’re here maybe we will get them out one way or another.”

  I have been in his shoes once or twice. Not wanting to wait on answers. I slap his shoulder and push him in front of me. He stumbles a little before he gets his balance back. I know he was going to say or do something to me. Before he has a chance, I speak fast. “Let’s go get those answers. I will even let you get a few swings in if he is working with the Elders.”

  I watch the smile grace his face. I will say it again, Source please don’t let him be working with the Elders. I can say he will not survive around these guys.

  Cicero leads me where the others are keeping guard around the Cellar door. Bruno Stands from the table he is sitting at.

  “Finally! If you would have been any later, I was about to knock your cousin out just to shut him up. He has been yelling and cussing since we got him in there. I have a feeling Taz will be the first to beat the hell out of him if we find out he is working with the Elders. He caught him off guard and is sporting a shiner. He is livid.”

  I look around to find Taz, but he isn’t with them. I turn back to Bruno. “Where is he?”

  “I had to tell him to leave. He was ready to kill him on the spot for that.”

  “I didn’t think you guys would get him in there without a fight. He has a temper on him. Let’s get this over with. I want to get back to Dariya. Open it up.”

  Errol opens the door and I can see Kelso. He runs as fast as he can to get out. Before he even makes it to the door, Rome punches him in the stomach to stop him. Kelso drops to his knees coughing and trying to get air into his lungs.

  “I would advise you not to do that again. They are pretty pissed you dragged me here. Now that am I here, what message do you have for me?”

  I give him a few minutes to catch his breath. He sits on his butt and looks up at me.

  “Is this how you treat family? I thought you would be different.”

  “This is how I treat people I don’t trust. Now give me the message. I have other things to do and places to be.”

  “You mean go back to your mate and child?” I try to hide my shock. The only ones who know are here or with Dariya. “I can see I’m right. You aren’t the only one that has a Seer on your side. I came to warn you. The demons are making their move soon and they are going after Dariya and your child. They won’t stop until they are dead.”

  I kneel down in front of him and grab his shirt, yanking him to me. “Who are you working for and where did this message come from?”

  He just smiles at me. “I can’t tell you that. Kill me if you must, but remember if you do, I will be no good to you. The person only tells me what you need to know. If I am dead you will not get the help you need.”

  I push him away from me. I need to think. I get up and walk out of the cabin, ignoring the calls. I can’t deal with them right now. I need to talk to Oceana about all of this. If the Demons are coming for Dariya, we will lose. We don’t have that kin
d of army to defend them.

  “Jax! Come back now! I have a problem and I need to talk to both you and Oceana.”

  “On our way now.”

  I run my hands through my hair as the frustration courses through me. How could I have forgotten about those damn demons?

  Jax spoke from behind me. “What’s going on? Did you get the answers you came here for?”

  “I will let the others fill you in, I need to get back to Dariya.” I turn to face Oceana. “We need to talk when we get back.”

  I didn’t give her time to answer. She knew I wanted to get back. I grab her shoulder and we are back at the waterfall. I ignore the nausea rolling in my stomach.

  I turn her to face me. “Why have you not seen the Demon’s plans? How has another Seer seen it and it slips past you?”

  Her shocked look doesn’t make me feel any better it just pisses me off even more. “We all don’t see the same things, it doesn’t work that way.”

  My temper rises. “They are after Dariya! They plan on killing her! We can’t fight that kind of army not without every single dragon in this world on our side, the Elders included!”

  I had to walk away from her. I’m not in control and I know if she says something I don’t like I will lash out, and I don’t want to do that. I have to tell Dariya. She isn’t safe here or anywhere right now.

  Gracen spots me and walks toward me. “Did you get what you wanted?”

  “I don’t have time to talk to you. Go talk to Oceana, I need to talk to Dariya.”

  I walk past her and jump in the lake swimming to the other side of the waterfall. She isn’t ready to be woken up, but we have no choice. Not anymore.

  I hop on the ledge and sit there for a few seconds and watch her sleep. I can’t believe I have to wake her up. Just when she has finally found some peace from all of this.

  Standing up, I walk over to her and grab our link. Here goes nothing and everything.

  “Your back faster than I excepted. Did everything go ok?”