Tumbling in Time

by Denise L. Wyant

  Arikk stripped off his ruined thermal shirt, leaving him in a skin-tight black T-shirt, which showcased his male model perfection. He prowled toward her as she was bending, kicking, and putting her leg through a variety of other tests.

  “Sunshine.” His voice was husky.

  She stopped the exercises and faced him, confusion written on her face. Arikk closed the distance between them and threaded his fingers through her silky waves as his lips met hers in a knee-weakening kiss. Tasha sighed, opening for him, her tongue tangling with his.

  The adrenaline was still coursing through his veins. She was exactly what he needed to come down from the fight now that his body knew she was healed. Her taste mesmerized him; it was a balm to soothe the tension of his soul. The man in him was thrilled that she responded so well to his touch. He tried to keep his distance even though it was difficult fighting the attraction for his spunky brunette.

  Jerking away from her, Arikk ended the kiss He stepped back, putting distance between them. He had no business kissing her like that. It wasn’t fair to lead her on. As a sentinel with the Guardian Peacekeepers, he didn’t have time for – nor was he permitted – a relationship, let alone one with a fragile human. While they had fun and fought well together, he needed to remember that she was just a close friend. Nothing more, despite the fact his body screamed otherwise.

  The hurt in her eyes wounded him, but nothing could be done about it. “Now, let’s get over to the old Padres stadium. There’s a fixed portal on sublevel two. We’ve had enough demon adventures for one day, and one too many injuries to you.”

  Tasha’s face lost its glow. She answered in a clipped tone, “Sure. Lead the way.”

  The pair made good time navigating the crumbling ruins. The tension was thick between them, and they carried on no conversation. He figured she was pissed about the way he ended the kiss, but she would just have to get over it. He had sworn his life and loyalty to the Peacekeepers. It was a respected position and carried a significant time commitment, one longer than the life span of a human. He would not let a woman distract him from this duty. Arikk brought them to a halt just behind a burned out hunk of aluminum that resembled a BHC – Big Hunk of Crap in sentinel lingo – space ship, dating from early 2102. They were less than a block away from the Hard Rock Hotel. He tucked Tasha behind his body to provide her a measure of protection.

  “Why are we stopping? Better yet, why is the Hotel in such good shape? It looks as though it just opened for business.” Arikk caught her peeking around his shoulder. He guessed she was so focused on the sight in front of her that she forgot about ignoring him. The Hard Rock was an anomaly in the midst of all the dismal destruction. The mirrored panels weren’t cracked. The polished chrome shone as brightly as the noonday sun.

  “For some reason the demons like electric guitars and music memorabilia. Go figure.” Arikk manipulated the carved medallion hanging around his neck. “Sunshine, wrap your arms around my waist. I’m casting a cloaking spell to get us around these demons.” He chanted in a low voice in a language he learned long ago.

  “I don’t feel any different. Did your mumbo-jumbo work, wizard boy?” Tasha queried in a haughty tone.

  Damn female. “I guess we’ll find out. Let’s skirt around the granite façade; I don’t want to take any chances.”

  “Wow, how many varieties of demons are lounging in the lobby?” Tasha kept her voice hushed. “It looks like an evil Jim Henson creation.” The creatures were perched on decadent red leather couches, gesturing with all manner of hands, paws, flippers, and horns.

  “Too many to count; San Diego is now infested with all kinds of them.”

  “You know, I bet the Muppets would have felt right at home here. Well, once they drank a cup of wicked witch’s brew.” An evil chuckle slipped from Tasha’s lips.

  Before long, they had reached the portal. “Bad news, Sunshine –”

  “I know,” Tasha huffed. “This is gonna hurt. Humans can’t stay conscious while their bodies endure the pressure of time travel.” She mimicked his voice almost perfectly.

  Arikk chuckled, “Geez, I’m that predictable already?” He brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. “As always, I enjoyed our time spent together. I’m sorry we spent most of it fighting. I’ll look forward to our next adventure.” Arikk moved towards Tasha; he planned to wrap her up in a big hug and give her a quick kiss good-bye.

  However, that was not to be. Tasha stepped back and put her hands on her hips. Arikk was man enough to know that she was giving him “the look” – the one that said ‘I’m not the least bit happy with you on this trip.’

  He knew no matter how he tried to say this, it was going to come out all wrong. “Look, Sunshine, I really delight in the time we spend together.” Arikk frowned. He reached to take her hand, but she jerked it behind her body. “You know there can’t be anything serious between us. My life is not one that allows me to settle down; it’s dangerous, unpredictable, and I don’t want to subject you to all of that.”

  “While I’m happy you’re concerned about my safety, I think I just demonstrated that I can handle myself. This little woman,” Tasha thumbed herself in the chest, “doesn’t need the big, bad wizard to protect her from danger.”

  Said big, bad wizard gave a caveman growl of frustration. Enough is enough. He stepped toward Tasha and wrapped his arms around her stiff body. “I don’t want to fight with you. I do too much of that as it is.” He laid his scruffy, scarred cheek against the top of her head. “Can you work with me?”

  He felt Tasha’s body start to soften towards him. It brought a smile to his face when she wrapped her arms around him.

  “I don’t get to see you very often. The last thing I want to do is spend our time arguing.” Sighing she continued, “I guess I can live with that.”

  “Good, I’m glad to hear it. I would miss seeing your smile every now and again.”

  Tasha gave a chuckle. “Yeah, you do have some pretty cool gadgets.”

  Arikk used his index finger to lift her chin. He leaned down and placed a lingering closed-mouth kiss on her soft lips. “I look forward to the next time we meet again.”

  “And when might that be?” she teased.

  “Well, you know the stars have to align . . . I mean . . . the explanation is long and boring. Trust me that it will happen.”

  Tasha looked up at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. He didn’t try to explain any further. He merely reassured her that she was his only Sunshine. The day he had to explain his special powers and where they originated was not going to be any fun at all.

  With a wink and a squeeze, Arikk led her into the portal. “Take heart, I will see you safely home.”

  ****

  Tasha’s stomach churned as she awakened from her time travel induced unconsciousness. Her headache was nothing short of a migraine. Time travel is such a bitch, she cursed. Oh well, at least I got to see Arikk again. Maybe next time I can twist his arm into giving me a real kiss. Deciding she needed to get back to the land of the living, she scrubbed a hand over her face and opened her eyes. The sight that greeted her was not what she expected. Is that Arikk’s back? No wonder her stomach hurt. She was draped over his brawny shoulder as he dodged debris.

  “Hey! What’s going on?” she yelled. No answer. “You can put me down now.” Still no answer. Just boots thumping across the uneven ground.

  Tasha pounded Arikk’s back with her fists. “Put me down. Now!”

  “No can do, Sunshine. Trouble is a-foot. I need to get us somewhere safe so we can figure out what we flashed into.” Despite running at a quick clip with an extra hundred and twenty pounds on his back, he didn’t sound winded.

  It looked as though she wasn’t going to win this battle. Better to just hang on and survive the bouncy ride. Tasha craned her neck to take in their surroundings
. Maybe she would see something recognizable. She was frustrated with the male carting her around like a sack of potatoes. She didn’t want to be “along for the ride,” she wanted to be a productive member of the team. With nothing better to do, she fished her lip gloss from her pocket and brushed some on her lips. Hopefully, I don’t look like a clown, but I need every advantage I can get to woo this stubborn wizard.

  Snow blanketed everything. It would have been pretty had it not been for the echoes of battle that waged around them. The sounds which reached her ears were truly disturbing – high pitched squeals, low guttural groans, and mournful howls. They rent the air, cracking the illusion of serenity.

  Arikk ducked into what appeared to be the remains of a church. Most of the stone walls still stood, but the stained glass windows were gone as were chunks of the roof. “Here we go. Stay crouched behind the altar. We should be safe here for a bit.” Arikk’s gentle hands helped Tasha to the ground.

  He offered a bit of an explanation in a voice appropriate for a church. “Those sounds were from the demons and angels who were fighting. I’m going to check my computer and get us some particulars.”

  His fingers flew across the touch screen of his gadget. The more he read, the deeper his frown. His brow furrowed as he let out a long sigh. “Not good. Oh, so not good.”

  “You want to explain that?” Tasha’s voice quivered just a bit. She didn’t like the idea that he was worried. Arikk normally exuded cockiness.

  “Okay, here goes . . . don’t say that I didn’t warn you.” Arikk raked a hand through his chin length midnight black waves. “It’s December 32, 2256. We’re in what’s left of Frederick, Maryland.”

  “What is it now? Does the United States still exist? Who’s battling and why?” Tasha couldn’t help the questions spilling forth from her mouth. She twisted the silver ring on her middle finger as her eyes flitted around the church.

  “The United States does not exist as you know it. Various demons have conquered and settled the continent. It has been divided into independent federations. We are in the nation state of Elpisa, which is ruled by a group of fallen angels known as the Erienese.”

  “My, wizard, you are well-informed. Although, I would expect nothing less of a sentinel.” A new, bass male voice carried from the entrance of what was once the sanctuary.

  “Hurry up, cast your cloaking spell! What are you waiting for?” Tasha whispered, her tone urgent.

  Arikk rose from behind the altar despite Tasha’s furious tugs at his jeans. A smile spread across his face. “Good to see you, too, Rafe.” Arikk’s warm eyes looked down at Tasha. “Come on, Sunshine, let me introduce you to one of the best fighters I know. I can assure you that even though he is a fallen angel, he is definitely one of the good guys.”

  Tasha allowed Arikk to pull her to her feet. She turned toward Rafe and froze. He’s a fallen angel? No way. Not with that gilded hair that looked soft as silk, perfectly proportioned features, and those huge white-feathered wings, laced with gold. He’s got to be a full-blown up in the Heavens kind of angel.

  “You can blink now, Sunshine.” Arikk chuckled. “We wouldn’t want his halo to get any bigger.”

  “That’s not funny, and you know it.” Rafe retorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

  “I’m sorry. I forgot that after all these years you still take your fallen status hard. My apologies.”

  “Does somebody want to explain what’s going on?” Tasha’s gaze flitted between the two men before she threw her hands in the air. She didn’t like being out of the loop.

  “The quick version will have to suffice. We won’t be safe here for much longer.” Rafe shot a pointed look at Tasha. “I was once an angel in Heaven. I’ll spare you the details of how it happened, but now I am stuck on Earth. My cohorts and I rule this federation. As Arikk said, we’re the good guys.”

  “So, you are under attack by Sogorhom demons? What, their federation isn’t big enough for them?” Arikk paced back and forth in front of the altar.

  “In a nutshell, yes. They are a wasteful, blood-letting group. Right now we have the upper hand in the battle.”

  A shrill siren pierced the air before a glowing blood red sphere the size of a bowling ball landed not fifty feet from the group.

  Rafe wasted no time in pulling Tasha and Arikk to him. The angel’s wings powered them through the remains of the roof and up into the sky. Tasha was happy to be sandwiched between the two hotties lest she become a popsicle. If she had to guess, the air temperature was a good ten degrees below freezing.

  An explosion rocked the remains of the church as flames licked into the sky. Tasha murmured a quick prayer of thanks. Rafe wasn’t kidding about it being too close for comfort – they were almost burnt, blackened toast.

  The city was mostly remains with small fires burning here and there. The noises of battle diminished the farther they flew. Tasha was grateful for the reprieve. It was difficult enough trying to wrap her head around time travel let alone a fierce battle with a different group of demons and angels.

  Before long they left the urban landscape and were flying across what appeared to be a densely wooded forest. Rafe slowed to descend to a compound located on the top of a mountain.

  “This is the site of our temporary headquarters. We had to evacuate our base of operations when the battle broke out.” Rafe set them in front of a stone cottage, which was flanked by other fallen angels in warrior attire – swords, guns, and other weapons were strapped artfully on their bodies. “Let’s get inside and underground. This is the safest place we can be now.”

  “How long have you been fighting?” Tasha didn’t appreciate the wary gazes cast upon them by the guards, who had wolf-like creatures standing guard with them. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

  “I appreciate your offer, but we have a solid strategy and plenty of tricks up our collective sleeves. With any luck they will be enough.” Rafe led them down a narrow hallway lit with torches. “Watch yourself. These stairs are narrow and slick.”

  The odor of mildew assaulted Tasha’s nose while dampness chilled her skin. She shivered and wrapped her arms around her midsection.

  Arikk wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her tight to his warm body. He pressed a kiss on top of her head. In a whisper-soft voice, he said, “I’d gladly give you my shirt, but it would embarrass Rafe. His abs have never been as defined as mine.”

  “I heard that, wizard.” Rafe shot Arikk a pointed look and then winked. “Tell her the truth, Arikk. You’re scared because you know how much the sight of your bare chest turns me on.” The angel fanned his face while fluttering his eyelids. “It just gets me all hot and bothered.”

  “Enough, you two! I’ll be fine.” Tasha said, exasperated. All the while she tried to hold Arikk back from tackling Rafe. “Boys!” she muttered under her breath.

  The angel held a door open for the pair. The unoccupied room was decorated in a rustic style with overstuffed chocolate leather couches, thick wool throw rugs, and plaid accents. A stone fireplace dominated the wall at the far end of the room. A blazing fire crackled and heated the space. It looked like a room out of one of the great hunting lodges that used to grace upstate New York.

  An open doorway opposite the fireplace showed a small kitchen. “What can I get you to drink? We keep the fridge well-stocked.” Rafe made quite the host.

  While she took in the room, Rafe must have shed his robe. She enjoyed the outlines of chiseled muscles on his chest and arms that flexed under his form-fitting white shirt. Oh, why oh why couldn’t it be a wet T-shirt contest? She licked her lips at the thought. It would be a toss-up between Arikk and the angel. Come to think of it, the contest would have to be conducted with each of them only wearing a jock. Yep, that would be the only way to give a fair and accurate assessment.

  “Tasha?” Rafe l
aughed. She wondered if he could read her mind. If nothing else, she knew a rosy blush now stained her cheeks.

  She made the mistake of allowing her gaze to drift south – below Rafe’s belt – before her gaze returned to his.

  Amusement lit his eyes. He turned to Arikk, “I think Tasha has been comparing us. Given her color, I’d say she likes what she sees when she looks at my fine male form.”

  Arikk frowned before looking at Tasha. He stepped into her space and grasped her hands. Placing them on his chest, he said, “Feel free to let your fingers be the judge. Nothing but hardness here, baby.”

  Oh my. She hadn’t meant to open the door to a testosterone contest. However, this might work to her advantage. Arikk sure didn’t want her attention spent on Rafe. Hmm, good to know. She stepped back from Arikk and had a seat on the sofa, barely containing the urge to fan her overheated face. Too bad the rest of my body isn’t that warm!

  “Tea. I’d like some hot tea, please Rafe.” Tasha said as she tugged Arikk down next to her on the sofa.

  “A whiskey will be fine for me.” Arikk waited for Rafe to turn his back before he slid her across the sofa to his body. His hand caressed her cheek.

  Tasha leaned in to brush her lips across his. She teased her tongue along his lips, urging him to open and deepen the kiss. I will wear him down yet! A determined, sexy woman can do a lot of convincing with her body. Arikk better be careful or he won’t know what hit him! Her plan didn’t work quite as she wanted, but she knew she made forward progress when his hand skated to the back of her neck and tangled in her hair.

  A loud snicker had the pair leaping apart from each other. “Tasha, darling, I thought I was the apple of your eye.” Rafe pouted, acting like the betrayed lover.

  “Blasted angel. Quit preying on my woman.” Arikk couldn’t hide the disgust in his voice.

  I know I heard him right . . . I so like the sound of ‘my woman.’ Just to be certain, Tasha wanted to ask him to repeat what he said, but Rafe ended the moment too quickly.