Immortal of My Heart

by Unknown

“But that asshole isn’t going home with her!” Hunter roared pointing to Alexander.

  TJ looked like he didn’t completely trust Alexander, but the pleading look from Kaelyn did him in. “If she says he’s a friend….”

  Hunter growled, abruptly spinning on his heal heading for the door. “Unfucking believable!” he muttered as the door slammed shut behind him.

  “I’ve got some things to take care of,” TJ said, giving Alexander a warning look before leaving the office. Kaelyn followed closely behind, so neither saw the smirk on Alexander’s face.

  When Alexander walked out of the office, Kaelyn waited at the bottom of the steps with Hunter muttering furiously to her. Alexander cleared his throat. “Ready?” he asked Kaelyn. She nodded and briskly walked to her jeep.

  Hunter struck his arm out stopping Alexander across the chest. Alexander glanced down at Hunter’s arm and then dangerously over to him.

  “You better hope nothing happens to her,” Hunter said in a soft, deadly tone.

  Alexander’s lip curled. Little did the bastard know, if anyone could keep Kaelyn safe, it was him. Alexander couldn’t die, but one move from Cain, and Hunter would be long gone. How would he keep Kaelyn safe then! Alexander turned toward Hunter. “Dinna worry lad, I’ll keep close to her side.

  “Alexander,” Kaelyn yelled a few yards away as she stood waiting with the jeep door open.

  “Later, cowboy,” Alexander said pushing past a livid Hunter.

  “I can’t tell you how badly I want to go home,” Kaelyn said as Alexander walked up to her. The thought of driving home, with windows down and a cool breeze blowing through her hair, made Kaelyn smile.

  As they drove the thirty minutes to her apartment, neither she nor Alexander said one word. Did he think differently of her now? She chewed on her lip. Did Hunter realize how much that hurt her when he blurted all those things about her childhood?

  They pulled into a small, gravel parking lot next to a three building complex. Kaelyn’s apartment occupied the middle building. All three units had dark wood paneling and red shingle roofs. The huge Rockies loomed in the background. Other than that, the small town of Glenwood Springs surrounded her. In the spring and summer months the town overflowed with tourists and in the winter, the ski slope became abundant with skiers.

  Kaelyn loved her small apartment. Only a block away from the library, grocery store, and post office, she hardly had to use her jeep. Everything else was two blocks away, so in most cases she’d walk everywhere, especially when the tourists brought the traffic and congestion with them.

  Kaelyn unlocked her red door, holding it open for Alexander. He glanced around. A small kitchenette in a u-shape with a peninsula faced the living room and the front door. A couch, TV, and recliner filled the small living room and an archway led to a bedroom and bath.

  “I know it’s not much, but it’s all mine,” Kaelyn said shutting the door and locking it behind her. “It’s home to me.” Kaelyn walked around Alexander who stood in the middle of the living room. “Help yourself to anything,” she said opening the fridge. “There’s not much in here, some leftover Chinese food, carrots and ranch dressing, there’s some bologna if you want a sandwich….” Kaelyn turned when she didn’t hear anything and found Alexander studying one of the two pictures she had in her apartment. His hand held the photo of her sitting atop Northern Sky.

  Kaelyn walked over to where Alexander stood, looking at the picture in his hand. “That’s the day I got her,” Kaelyn said over his shoulder. She smiled remembering how excited she was when TJ had led her to the stables surprising her with the present. “That was one of my best birthdays,” she said quietly. Kaelyn looked out the corner of her eye at Alexander. What did he think?

  Alexander regarded the picture as Kaelyn hovered close by. As he studied the photo, he realized how much he missed his own trusty horse. He realized he and Kaelyn had a lot in common. The only pictures she displayed were this one of her and the horse, and a picture of her and TJ at some celebration. In the three years he’d lived in the twenty-first century, he learned women of this time collected many trinkets. All the women he slept with had tons of clutter in their small homes, hundreds of pictures, and junk to fill a wagon full from his time.

  It unnerved him when he felt relieved he hadn’t seen a picture of Kaelyn and Hunter. He shook the thought from his head. The sooner this mission with Cain ended, the better. Alexander only wanted to look after himself. He didn’t have time to worry over a lass. Then again…time was all he had, he thought bitterly.

  Alexander placed the photo back on top of the TV. “Why dinna ye go about your business,” he said turning to look at her. “I’ll stay here and keep watch.” Kaelyn nodded. A long hot shower called to her.

  * * * * *

  Kaelyn dried her hair with the towel closing her eyes. It was only a quarter after six and she was beyond exhausted. After pulling on a white tank top and a pair of sweat shorts, she made her way to the kitchen. As she made herself a bologna sandwich, she looked past the kitchen into the living room. Alexander lounged on the couch flipping through the TV channels.

  “I’m done in the bathroom if you want to take a shower yourself.”

  Alexander’s mouth tightened as he glanced from her to the TV. After a moment’s decision, he clicked the TV off and walked toward the bathroom. Half-way there, he stopped and strode into the kitchen. He removed the crystal from around his neck. “Keep this on.” Kaelyn went to reach for it, but he pulled back just out of her reach. “Promise me ye willna take it off?”

  “I promise,” Kaelyn said staring at the crystal. Alexander gave her one more look and shut himself in the bathroom. Kaelyn heard the shower turn on as she pulled an iced tea from the fridge.

  A tingling sensation began at her fingertips and ran up her arm. She glanced down at the crystal hanging between her breasts. The crystal was illuminated in a yellow-greenish hazy glow. “Is that any way to greet your guest?” Kaelyn spun around. Cain stood just inside the doorway of her apartment.

  Kaelyn jumped back against the refrigerator. She grabbed onto the crystal. “You can’t come near me!” she yelled frantically. His black eyes matched the cruel sneer across his face. She swallowed. He terrified her. Each time she saw him, the fear filled her, taking over.

  “I’m here to make a deal,” Cain said, keeping close to the door. “I promise I willna hurt ye if ye come with me…now.” Cain held out his hand as his fingers tingled from the closeness to the crystal. “Come with me. I’ll make ye my queen. We’ll rule the realms together.” He moved forward and grimaced in agony. The crystal was indeed powerful. If he got too close, the crystal would suck the power from him little by little. “Take off the crystal and come with me.”

  “Stay away from me!” Kaelyn yelled pressing her back up against the counter, scooting around the perimeter of the kitchen. She had to get Alexander. “What do you want from me?” she demanded as tears pooled in her eyes. She wanted her normal life back. In one day she managed to witness murders, come across an obsessed evil warlock, and find her savior in a man who wasn’t even a man. “Leave me alone!” She sunk down to the floor.

  “Lass?” Kaelyn rose at the sound of Alexander’s voice.

  “Alexander? Is it really you?” she said trembling.

  Alexander studied her. Her arms hugged her body and her eyes had tears threatening to spill over. What happened while he had taken a shower?

  “If it’s really you, walk over to me,” she said with a little more control. She didn’t know if Cain could change into disguises.

  Alexander took a step, and then another, and two more until they stood a foot apart. Upon reaching her, Kaelyn spun around, throwing up in the sink. Her body had felt full of evil and darkness when Cain was near and now, she needed to purge him from her body. Kaelyn was disgusted at the thought of Cain leaving his mark on her.

  A large hand rubbed her back. Kaelyn ran water in the sink, splashing some into her mouth. She grabbed a hand to
wel wiping her face. She sighed. How much weaker could she get in Alexander’s eyes.

  “Lass,” Alexander said waiting for her to turn around. “I need to ken everything that happened.”

  Kaelyn continued staring into the sink, afraid she’d fill it again. “He said he wouldn’t hurt me if I went with him. I’d be his queen. We’d rule the realms together.”

  Alexander’s forehead creased. “Nothing more?”

  Kaelyn shook her head turning around to face him. “Oh, wait!” she said quickly. “When I first ran into him, he kept asking about a Sacred Door. He insisted I knew the riddle to find it.” Kaelyn glanced up at Alexander. “I swear, I know nothing about a riddle or a-a Sacred Door. He’s got the wrong person.”

  Alexander turned and paced the small living room. “Maybe, there’s another person in your family that kens the riddle.”

  Kaelyn’s shoulders dropped. “I grew up in a foster home, remember,” she said softly.

  Alexander’s mouth thinned. “Go get some rest. Ye could use some sleep.”

  Kaelyn nodded heading for her bedroom. Stopping suddenly, she spun around. “Alexander…you won’t leave, will you?”

  “I’ll be right outside your bedroom door. Cain willna lay a finger on ye.”

  * * * * *

  Kaelyn ran through a lush, green field with purple heather cropping up against rocks here and there. Heat from the sun radiated on her smiling face as she soaked up the rays. She felt…carefree, lighthearted…at peace. Wherever she was, she didn’t care. One thing she knew, she never wanted to leave.

  As she frolicked over the meadow, a loud boom pierced the sky, like thunder off in the distance. She stopped at once. Something was wrong. Kaelyn scanned the horizon. Dark as night clouds loomed with lightning crackling and thunder rumbling. The evil of the storm threatened her very soul. She no longer felt carefree, but scared…petrified.

  The wind picked up, yet she felt rooted to the ground. The sun disappeared. Kaelyn’s hair whipped wildly around her face as if wanting to hide what horridness lay in the distance. All of a sudden, voices of old whispered in the air around her.

  On the mountains of Skye,

  Where three of three of three have died,

  Where the fairies play and roam,

  This is where you call true home,

  The Sacred Door is no more,

  But lived once in 1140 plus a score…

  The chanting grew furious as more and more voices joined the susurration, when Cain’s face appeared in front of her. Kaelyn screamed. He wanted to drag her down with him into a nebulous pit of unknown. Her lungs burned as a thousand little hammers pounded away at her head.

  Alexander had moved one of the small wooden chairs from the kitchen over next to her door. That’s where he sat when a bloodcurdling scream came from inside Kaelyn’s bedroom. Jumping up, he pushed her door open, running over to her bed. Kaelyn sat in the middle of her disheveled bed drenched in sweat.

  Grabbing hold of her shoulders, he lightly shook her as he yelled her name over and over. Like a switch turning off, she abruptly stopped screaming, focusing on Alexander’s puzzled expression.

  Kaelyn ran a shaky hand through her tussled hair. “I was dying. Cain took everything from me.” On edge, she glanced around, her gaze darting at the shadows.

  Alexander stepped back from her. That was one hell of a bad dream, he thought. ”’Twas only a nightmare, lass. Cain isna here,” he said, unsure of what to say to comfort her.

  Kaelyn nodded in understanding, but her eyes remained glossy and distant. “It seemed so real,” she whispered.

  “A lot has happened to ye in the last couple days. Ye need sleep.”

  Kaelyn leaned back against her pillow as she watched Alexander head out of her bedroom. The glow from the TV filled the living room, spilling into her bedroom through the open door. “Alexander!” she called out as he reached the threshold. “W-would you stay in here…just until I fall asleep,” she added hesitantly.

  Alexander looked her over. Long golden waves hung past her shoulders. Perky breasts teased him from under her tank top, while her lips, full from biting on them, glistened. All in all, she resembled an angel sitting in a bed of clouds wringing her hands nervously in her lap. Alexander sighed. He shouldn’t do this. Could he control himself?

  “Please?” she barely whispered. That voice. Full of fear. Trembling with it. Alexander walked back over to the side of her bed.

  “’Till ye fall asleep,” he grumbled, pulling the covers roughly over her and taking a seat on top, leaning against the headboard. As soon as he sat down, she rolled over facing her back to him. Alexander closed his eyes. It would be fine. She’d stay on her side and he’d stay on his.

  That thought didn’t last long. Within seconds of her falling asleep, the lass rolled over on him, snuggling her head on his lap. She was like a moth to a flame. And he was the fire. Her arm snaked around his waist. Alexander froze. He gripped the covers to keep from wrapping his arms around her soft, alluring body.

  He was about to get up and leave, when Kaelyn mumbled in her sleep. Alexander leaned forward. “Mountains in the sky…,” she murmured. A low rumble of a snore escaped her as she sunk heavier into his lap.

  He laughed bitterly to himself. Mountains in the sky? All he thought about was cupping the soft mountains lying on top of his erection.

  * * * * *

  Kaelyn awoke to the smell of coffee brewing, sizzling bacon, eggs frying, and a warm spot next to her where Alexander had been. He had stayed the entire night. She couldn’t remember the last time a man slept in her bed. The nightmare, that’s why you let him, she told herself. Not because the heat of his body comforted her, or the way she felt safe in his arms.

  Kaelyn scooted to the edge of her bed, when the phone rang. She grabbed the receiver off her night stand, glancing at the caller I.D. Hunter.

  “Hey, Hunter,” Kaelyn said with a yawn. “Is this my wakeup call?”

  “You sound good,” he said as implied accusations laced the comment.

  “Hunter, if you’re going to start lecturing me-“

  “No, wait!” he said hurriedly. “I’m worried sick about you.”

  “I’m much better. Don’t worry.” An uncomfortable silence filled the air.

  “So,” he finally continued, “the drifter spent the night.”

  “No, not the ‘drifter’” Kaelyn said heatedly. “Alexander. His name is Alexander.”

  “Damnit, Kaelyn! I don’t trust that asshole for one second.”

  “He saved my life. I think if he wanted to harm me, he would’ve let me die.”

  “Old friend my ass,” Hunter mumbled.

  “I have to go-“

  “Wait,” Hunter yelled, “there was a reason I called. My grandfather wants to see you.” Now, it was Kaelyn’s turn to be speechless. She had met Hunter’s grandfather once and almost burned down his tepee. She had tripped over an animal pelt on the floor and fell into the fire. Unfortunately, her fall launched a flaming chunk of wood into the wall of the tepee. Hunter had escorted her out before she could even apologize to his grandfather.

  “I don’t think he wants to see me.”

  “Kaelyn, if my grandfather wants to talk to someone, then it’s important.”

  “What does he want?”

  “He didn’t say. Come to the reservation in an hour. I’ll meet you at his house.” Kaelyn sighed. She didn’t want to go see the chief of the Untas. Honestly, the man frightened her. Last time, he had worn his ceremonial robes and two long braids hung down the side of his dark leathered, wrinkled skin. And his eyes. His eyes saw right through her. That’s what scared Kaelyn the most.

  “Kaelyn? You still there?” Hunter asked.

  “Yeah, I’ll be there in an hour.”

  “Later.” The phone disconnected and Kaelyn grumbled all the way to the bathroom. Hastily, she brushed her teeth, fixed her hair, throwing it back in her standard ponytail, and slipped into jeans and a t-shirt. Walking ou
t into the living room, she immediately stopped. In the middle of the living room, Alexander engaged in pushups without his shirt on. The muscles in his arms and back bulged and flexed as he rose and lowered. Kaelyn swallowed. A fine specimen of man, he was. She cleared her throat entering the living room.

  “Morning,” she said avoiding looking at him. A plate of eggs, bacon, and toast waited on the table with a glass of orange juice. “Didn’t know you could cook,” she said taking a seat. A grunt was the only response she received. Alexander continued with his steady pace of pushups. Kaelyn rolled her eyes. So, he was back to the man of few words. Kaelyn brushed off his childish behavior and began eating, realizing she was ravenous. She placed the last bite of toast in her mouth, when Alexander rose and wiped the sweat off his head with a towel.

  “I have a plan for catching Cain,” he said walking over to her. “We need to find the door he’s looking for. I’ll take ye there. He’ll follow. I’ll set a trap with the Guardian’s help and this whole thing will be done. Then ye can go along with your wee life.”

  Kaelyn let out a long sigh. “Whatever,” she mumbled. “By the way, thanks for staying with me through the night.” Alexander shrugged his shoulders walking past her into the kitchen. “And for making breakfast, too,” she added.

  Sizzling sounded as he broke an egg into the frying pan. He gave her a dirty look. “That was my breakfast ye ate, lass.”

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Kaelyn pulled onto the dusty dirt road leading into the reservation. Hunter’s grandfather lived in the first house on the right, a cozy cottage with a white picket fence in the front yard. Dream catchers hung all across the front porch adorned with wicker patio furniture. Hunter’s grandmother, who Kaelyn had met numerous times, had decorated the house. His grandfather’s domain kept to the backyard where the tepee sat.