Reluctant Hero (The Dunamis Covenant Book 1)

by Ron Francis

  He already missed Abby so bad it hurt. How is that possible? I've only known her for five days. Thoughts of her were racing through his mind as he set up his campsite and then set off into town to pick up some supplies. He knew he should be safe here, unless he was followed. He didn't believe that he had been followed, though, because they would have had ample opportunity to grab him under the cover of night, and they hadn't. He had always made it a point to check out different campsites in his never-ending quest for the best one, so he figured there was no one who could guess where he was. He reached the store and left his bike outside. He wished he had a way to lock it up, but hoped it wouldn't matter in the small town. He opened the screen door and entered the store.

  "Morning," a friendly voice called after Thomas entered the small store."

  "Good morning," Thomas replied. "Just picking up some camping supplies." He bent over by the door and picked up a wicker basket. The store was old, but well stocked. He imagined it was a family operation while he looked at a picture of a big family on the wall. There must have been fifty people in the picture.

  "Well," an older man with a heavy drawl said. "I'm Darnell and this is my store. I have to go in the back for a moment. I'd imagine we've got just about anything you'd need to camp, Son. Just holler if you need anything." His worn jeans and flannel shirt told Thomas that this was a man used to working.

  "Will do, Darnell, thanks." Thomas walked down the first aisle and began putting some canned goods in his basket. When he was finished shopping, he called into the back and Darnell came out.

  "Ready to go?" he inquired.

  "Yes, Sir, Thomas replied.

  Darnell began pointing to each item and then adding the total up in his head. When he was finished tallying the items, he looked at Thomas and said, "That'll be forty-seven fifty."

  "Sounds about right," Thomas replied while taking out two twenties and a ten and handing them to Darnell.

  "Two dollars and fifty cents is your change," he said as he handed the money and the groceries to Thomas. "Y'all have a nice day now."

  "Thanks, you, too," Thomas replied. He exited the town store with his groceries, a small camping shovel, an ax to cut wood for a campfire and a folding chair he could carry on his back. These were not necessities, they were luxuries which he figured he should have if he was planning on staying for a while. His thoughts drifted back to Abby and this whole Ethereal world he was supposed to be a part of. They've definitely got the wrong guy. I may have a bit more in the tank than I thought I did, but that doesn't make me some destined child of prophecy.

  He returned to his campsite in desperate need of sleep... and Abby. He suspected it would be a long time before he could rid himself of her memory. He found he was almost in a state of depression at the thought of not seeing her again, and wondered if it was all part of the Mage's spell. He couldn't be with her because returning could mean death. He also couldn't be with anyone else because if he did ever see her again, it would destroy her. As he drifted off to sleep, he wondered what she was doing.

  Chapter nine

  Abby could never recall being as frustrated as she was at this moment. What had Malachi been thinking, putting his sword to TJ's throat? Is that what our clan is coming to, threats of violence against any who think freely, or do not display immediate compliance? We're supposed to be the good guys. Malachi deserves every moment of pain his shoulder gives him. She was impressed with how strong TJ was. He was powerful; and he was also missing. She had been sure he would try to contact his aunt and uncle. She had waited in the tree across the street for hours. Maybe Devlin's goon in the Nissan had scared him away. Lucas had been no help either. He spent more time hitting on me than saying anything useful. She was out of options and out of leads. She was going to have to speak to Pete and Laura, and hope they could lead her to their missing nephew. She wanted him by her side so bad she wanted to scream. She could still taste his lips on hers as their moment of comfort was followed by needless threats and violence. She couldn't blame him for leaving. How was he supposed to know they were the good guys? She had manipulated him, Asa had misled him and kept information from him, and Malachi had threatened him. I would have run, too, she thought while she drove through Arlington. Eventually she wound up at the Archers, and she took a deep breath before ringing their doorbell.

  Pete Archer opened the door and looked at the young lady that stood before him. "May I help you?" he asked when she didn't say anything.

  "Mr. Archer, I'm TJ, um, I mean Thomas' friend, Abby. I was wondering if you might know where he is. It's very important that I find him." She had her hands in her pockets and looked at the floor, how can I tell these people what's going on?

  Pete's wife joined him at the door when she heard Thomas' name mentioned. "This is Abby. Says she has something important to discuss with Tommy." he said to bring his wife up to speed.

  "We haven't seen Thomas since Sunday dinner two weeks ago, dear. We are expecting him later on tonight, probably after a long bike ride. Is everything all right?"

  No, everything is not all right. Mystical beings are trying to kill your nephew and he fled after one of the good guys threatened to kill him with a sword! was the first thing that popped into her mind, but what she said was, "Not really, we had a big fight. If you know where he is I really need to talk to him." That wasn't too far from the truth.

  "We're sorry, ma'am, he hasn't spoken to us at all about any fights or trouble. He'll go to see his friend Lucas when he's got problems, which isn't often."

  "I've already been to see Lucas; he didn't know where Thomas was. Please, is there anywhere else he might go I have to find him."

  "This is beginning to sound an awful lot like the police looking for a suspect, what's going on? What's Thomas into?" Laura asked with a look of deep concern in her eyes.

  "TJ, I mean Thomas, hasn't done anything wrong and I'm not a cop, Missus Archer. We were sort of seeing each other, and I blew it. He took it hard and took off last night. I can't find him anywhere and I'm starting to get worried."

  "You're one of Asa's people, aren't you?" Laura inquired in an accusatory tone.

  "Laura," Pete said as if to cut her off from saying something she shouldn't.

  "No, Pete, she's one of them!"

  "How....?"

  "How did I know?" Laura began. "You referred to him as TJ, twice. The only people that ever called him that were the people that knew him before Devlin killed his parents, and there's no reason to come looking for him now, unless Devlin has finally caught up to him."

  "How do you know any of that? Asa said he placed TJ with people that didn't know who he was."

  Laura half growled as she replied, "Asa has a casual relationship with the truth. He only tells it when it suits his needs. We know everything!"

  "Now, young lady, how's about you start tellin us the truth. What happened to Tommy?" Pete demanded as he put his hands on his hips in an I'm waiting gesture.

  Before Abby could answer, Laura's breath caught when she recognized who she was talking to. "You're Abby Fitzpatrick! I'd recognize those green eyes anywhere. You're the Shifter Thomas' parents bound him to. No wonder you're so desperate to find him." Pete looked awed at his wife's revelation, but as soon as she said it he saw it.

  Abby knew she could not deny it, and she knew Asa had lied to Thomas yet again. His aunt and uncle did know what happened to his parents. They knew a lot more than that, too. "Yes, I am Abby Fitzpatrick. Thomas is in trouble, Devlin did catch up to him, and two attempts were made on his life Friday. We were trying to protect him, but he didn't know who to trust, so he ran." That was as close to the whole truth as she was going to tell them at this point.

  "Asa's people lost him?" She started. "No," she paused for a moment and then stuck her finger out as she continued. "Asa's goons did something stupid, didn't they? We told the council seventeen years ago when they picked us to raise Thomas that Asa wasn't the right man for the protection job."

  "Laura," Pe
te chastised again. "Keep talking and those "goons" might come have a chat with us."

  Abby was confused. "You were chosen? You are not Thomas' real aunt and uncle? Why were you picked? Is it because you had the same last name?"

  "Sweetie, Archer is our last name, not his. We are not related at all, although we did love and raise him like he was our own."

  "No, that's not possible." She was really confused now. "I have always known him as TJ Archer, I wouldn't forget that." Asa had lied about everything, to both of them.

  "Sweetie, the Mage that took Tommy's memories must have planted the fake name in yours as well. It was probably a precaution; in case you ever found him, you wouldn't lead the dark forces to him by using his real name."

  "They messed with my mind? I was just a kid." She replied in a voice filled with outrage. Then, she understood why Thomas had been so angry about the image she had forced into his mind.

  "Sweetie, that's what they do. Now, how did Asa lose our nephew?"

  "What's his real last name? Can you at least tell me now?" Her voice sounded small as she asked; she was in shock about a lot of things. She couldn't believe she didn't even know the true name of her betrothed.

  "Hunter, Dear, his last name was Hunter. His parents names were Paul and Lynette. They were good people and good friends, another reason we were chosen to raise Thomas. Now please, what happened?"

  "TJ was angry because Asa was not forthcoming with the information he needed."

  "Big surprise there," Pete added.

  Abby continued at Laura's prodding. "He felt like Asa kept dropping all of these bombshells on him whenever it was convenient for him. One of the young Paladins accidentally mentioned that Thomas might be the child of destiny and Asa had not yet told him about it. That was the final straw, TJ confronted Asa and told him to tell him everything and he said if he left anything out he would go find Devlin and ask him."

  "Oh no," Laura whispered in a deep inhale as if she knew what were coming next.

  "Malachi was on him without hesitation, he pinned TJ to the wall and had a sword at his throat. He told TJ that if he ever went to Devlin, he would be killed."

  "By Malachi, right?" Laura looked bitter and said his name as if it were a curse.

  "Yes, ma'am. Then Thomas got angry, and threw Malachi across the room and into the wall, dislocating his shoulder. He ran out in the confusion and that is the last we have seen of him. I cannot go back until I have found him."

  "You should run while you can. Malachi and people of his ilk are almost as bad as Devlin himself."

  "I agree, but in spite of his lies, I believe Asa does have TJ's best interest in mind. He will keep him safe if we can ever get TJ to trust us again."

  "I'm afraid I disagree with you on that one." Laura said while shaking her head. Abby could tell she had no love for the man, and trusted him even less.

  "And how are you doing, kiddo? Twenty-four and still not with your betrothed has got to be painful." Pete looked like he felt sorry for her.

  "I am trying to hold it together, Mister Archer. To have found him after all this time, only to have him ripped away four days later, is very painful."

  "That's the spell, dear, it will numb in time. Too much more time and the bond will be broken and the feelings will die. Did he have feelings for you when you met?" It seemed to Abby that Laura's mothering side had kicked in.

  "Yes, from the first words we spoke, and the moment I touched his arm, the most pleasant current passed between us. It might have been the greatest moment of my life."

  "Oh, you poor girl, that gift should never be taken from you, we have to get you two back together." A light went on in Laura's mind. "He might have stopped by while we were at work yesterday, Pete. Go check the garage." She looked at the confusion on Abby's face and added. "He kept some camping gear in there, and some money in Pete's safe. If he couldn't go home, this is where he would come."

  "Yep, he was here, his gear's gone and he left this." He produced a tee shirt and Abby recognized it as the shirt he was wearing when he ran. "He took one of my Panama Jack shirts, too."

  "No big loss there!" Laura teased to a frown from Pete.

  "What does this mean?" Abby asked, the excitement clear in her voice.

  "Unfortunately, not much; he had the camping gear here, but he didn't have a favorite place. He's been to forty or fifty different sites, and that doesn't mean he even went to any of them. He's pretty cautious; he could have gone somewhere he's never been." Laura said.

  "He might not even be camping at all," Pete added.

  "Well, it's a start. Do me a favor, and destroy the shirt. Don't just throw it out. If Asa's men come by and see the shirt, they will know he has been here, and will not believe you missed him."

  Laura and Pete nodded their understanding with somber expressions. Then Laura added, "Please find our Thomas and keep him safe."

  "I will do my best." She turned and left, hoping to figure out what campsite TJ had gone to. After her disturbing conversation with the Archers, she wasn't sure she would be bringing TJ back to Asa if she did find him.

  *****

  Darcy walked into Devlin's candlelit office. It was expansive and almost empty. There was a desk shrouded in darkness with a chair behind it. A bookcase broke up the monotony of the long wall opposite the door, and a single chair in the exact center of the room facing the shrouded desk rounded out the room's furnishings. There was one painting on the back wall; it was a depiction of Ethereals fighting a massive battle against normal humans. "You know, some guy invented this thing called electricity like a hundred years ago, Devlin."

  "Ben Franklin was a powerful Mage and he discovered electricity a long time before that, Darcy. What news do you bring?

  Darcy tried to get a peek at the figure shrouded by shadow with gravel in his voice. The lone person to have ever seen Devlin's face was his top Shadow Mage, Antonio. Antonio was considered one of the most powerful Shadow Mages in the world, and the only one Devlin trusted with his secrets. "Our spy has told us that Asa and his people have lost Thomas. He said that Thomas ran from them after the one called Malachi threatened him. He also reported an incredible display of power from Thomas before he made his escape. I have seen it as well, when he tore through the men sent to capture him."

  "This is both good and troubling news, Darcy. He is more powerful than even I had thought, which is troubling, but he is also alone and does not trust his protectors, which is good news. It will be easier to turn him without his people around him. It was a mistake to put a powerful but untrained Paladin in a room with the likes of Malachi, and it shall be a mistake that costs them their prize. I want every available member of our clan out searching for him. Do not report back to me until you find him. Do you understand?"

  "It will be as you say, Devlin." Darcy's gait was slow as she left the office. Meetings with Devlin always gave her the creeps, but it was also exhilarating being so close to one so powerful. She wanted that power and planned to give Devlin every opportunity to notice her so she could have it. She walked out of the building and began the search. She would find Thomas Archer.

  Chapter ten

  Thomas was finally enjoying his time alone in the wilderness. The first week had been difficult; he almost felt like he was going through withdrawals. He missed Abby so bad, his body hurt. Why? He wondered. I haven't even been with her yet, we only kissed three times. Was this part of the spell? If so, it was one more thing he hated about the bigger world he was now a part of. The last three days, however, he felt pretty good. He still missed her a lot, but it no longer encompassed his every waking thought. He had taken to biking on the trails, and taking long hikes to clear his mind. He had even climbed the sheer rock face overlooking the lake, which he figured was frowned upon by the park rangers. In fact, he hadn't had any human interaction since he bought his groceries. He did feel it was time to go into town, rent a shower and restock on some supplies.

  When he arrived in town, he went to the one
, small, rustic Inn the little town had to offer. The sign was so worn, he couldn't even tell the name. He walked up the wooden steps and opened the screen door. He walked into the lobby with his bike and there was a cute girl behind the counter he was approaching.

  He looked around and the small lobby looked like an antique store. "Hi," he greeted with a cheerful smile. "I've been camping for a couple days and I was wondering if I could rent a room for a couple hours. I just need a place to take a long shower and keep my bike while I buy some groceries."

  The cute girl looked amused, and smiled a pretty smile. Thomas noticed a name tag that told him her name was Ashley. He could tell she was used to having guys fall all over her. She pressed her lips together in a look of mock concentration and replied with a mischievous look, "It's thirty for an hour, but only forty-nine for a night. If you think you need more than an hour, you might as well take the overnight rate. Who knows, maybe you'll meet someone that doesn't like camping while you're umm... shopping." She winked and slowly brought the tip of her finger up to her mouth.

  Subtle, he thought. She was a pretty cute blonde, long hair, big, blue eyes and a very well toned physique. She had a round, playful face highlighted by thick eyelashes and she constantly had her fingers near her red lips. She was wearing jean shorts and a tight, white tank top with a surf board and the words Surfin USA on it. She gave him an inviting smile, but he was still hung up on Abby. He almost felt like he should get Lucas up here, she was just his type. "I guess I'll take it for the night then," he replied. He handed her fifty dollars and she handed him a dollar back with his key. Her hand hovered over his with the key and he had to take it from her. She laughed in a playful manner when he added, "Thank you so much, Ashley, you have a nice day."