The Rook and The Raven

by R. H. Burkett

At one o’clock, hope melted into disappointment.

  At two o’clock, disappointment turned to anger.

  “Close your eyes and wish me back to you. I will return. I promise.” Isn’t that what he’d said? Yeah, right. He’d lied.

  My mind raced and threw doubts at me. Probably has a girl in every dimension. A sick feeling washed over me.

  Pissed at myself for being so pissed, I tore off the silk negligee I’d worn just for him.

  “I’m so stupid,” I yelled and threw the midnight-blue top across the room. Tears stung my lids.

  It would seem men were the same in every dimension—just lying, cheating jerks.

  I fell asleep with tears glistening on my checks.

  Smooth, gentle hands massaged my neck and back. Warmth traveled down my spine and oozed into every bone like hot candle wax. A low purr sounded in my throat.

  His voice came to me softly, but a touch of worry edged his words. “Why does Raven cry?”

  Still wrapped in cozy warmth and repose, I turned over on my back. Just gazing into his eyes burning with passion, so deep and wild, dissolved my anger into deep longing.

  “I wished for you hours ago.”

  A look of curiosity crossed his smooth face. When he spoke again, his voice was a tender murmur.

  “What is time? There is none in my world. Your hour may be only a minute. My minute just a mere second.”

  He eased beside me and ran his fingertips up my bare arm. Goose bumps puckered. His wild scent filled my nostrils. Desire made my stomach flutter. Tenderly, softly, he wiped the tears from my face. “I promised I would return. You should know it as truth.”

  If he hadn’t cupped my nipple in his hand and kissed the hardening nub with a low growl, I would have flown all over him. As it was, my eyes closed and a deep groan escaped past my lips. “How would I know that?” My voice came as a whisper when he kissed the pulsing hollow at the base of my throat. “I know nothing about you, not even your name.”

  “Roark. My name is Roark.”

  His hard lips covered mine, demanding, impatient. One hand slipped between my legs, parting them as if they had a will of their own. My back arched to meet his fingers. They stroked and teased until my mind screamed. His body moved on top of me, entered me, and imprisoned me in a web of raging arousal.

  Flesh against flesh. Woman against man. Mortal against what? Angel? Ghost? Phantom?

  Slender hips pumped in and out, fast then slow. I grabbed his tight buttocks with my hands and lifted my legs, wrapping them around his waist. He slid deeper inside me until I thought I would split in half. Waves of pleasure washed over me, and I felt the tightening deep in my belly start to grow. I sucked his neck.

  He responded with a low, animal-like groan that fed my passion like gasoline on fire. He became like steel between my legs, and his body trembled and jerked. I ripped his back with scarlet talons. With a fierce shudder, he released his pleasure inside me.

  He moved off and I twisted on my side to look at him. Slick chestnut hair curled at his neck, candlelight on his damp skin made him gleam like polished gold. Lust stirred in the pit of my stomach.

  I kissed the inside of his leg and inched my way down, ever so slowly, to his ankle with easy little love nips and tiny flicks and licks. With feather soft caresses, I eased my way back up between his legs.

  He was hard enough to cut diamonds.

  I ignored his erection and kept kissing and licking up past his taut abdomen to his nipples. Taking them into my mouth, I gave him a taste of his own medicine.

  He reached for me. I slapped him away.

  I continued to bite, lick, and nibble my way up his neck while I stroked him with my hand. His moaning and groaning drove me insane while I struggled to keep the fire that was burning at the apex of my thighs under control. I captured his mouth and kissed him deeply. All the while, my hands never stopped their firm rhythm.

  Breaking away from him, I lowered myself to his groin and took him into my mouth. My lips tightened around him, and I flicked my tongue up and down. His breath hissed out between clenched teeth. The more he moved against me and groaned, the wilder and harder I sucked.

  His hands tightened in my hair. He came. Fast and hot.

  I was on fire. Every nerve tingled, and the ache between my thighs grew into a physical pain. I straddled his waist and eased down around him.

  I bucked. I pitched. I ground hard into him. He matched me stroke for stroke. My back arched and I reared back. He pulled me forward, kissed my nipples until they were rock hard then he bit. Pleasure rippled through me and I trembled.

  Quick, hard, demanding, he pulled me down to him, bare breasts against bare chest. His hands cupped my buttocks, and he ground into me until the room began to blur.

  Harder and harder. Faster and faster.

  “I’m coming,” I gasped in sweet agony.

  “No,” he whispered and pulled out of me.

  “Roark, please,” I begged.

  He was on top me, quick and fast. Strong hands pinned me to the bed. Looking down into my eyes, his voice became husky and tight. “Say it again. My name. Say it again.”

  “Roark.” I whispered.

  He slid into me and filled me to overflowing. I groaned and grasped his forearms.

  “Look at me,” he demanded.

  I gazed into narrowed eyes, every cell in my body tingled, and my bones melted. Gasping for breath, I shut my eyes.

  “Look at me!”

  My gaze locked on his.

  Time stopped. The room revolved in slow motion. His silver eyes transformed into melted pools of deep chocolate. He pulled me up to look into his face, bronzed by sun and rain. His wild scent of earth, wind, and fire sent shivers racing up my spine.

  He took a deep breath and gently blew frosted smoke over my face, neck, and breasts.

  Every cell, every nerve, every part of my body erupted in one overwhelming orgasmic explosion.

  My soul left my body and merged with his.

  Joined together as one, we flew between the shadows of time and reality. Close to oblivion, I clung to him. His kiss scorched my lips. I leaned into his broad chest, surrendered to his power, and fell into deep sleep.

  I don’t know how long I slept, but I woke nestled in arms that had held me safe since I was a little girl. Warm breath tickled my neck, and I smiled in sleepy-eyed bliss as his hands caressed my bare skin. Quite content, I snuggled deeper into his embrace.

  “Who is Angelina?”

  His question surprised me, and I turned to face him. “What?”

  “Angelina. You speak of her in your dreams. Why is that so?”

  My hands played with his silky chest hair, and I spoke softly not wanting to break the spell of the afterglow. “Angelina is Madame Katanga’s granddaughter. She’s been missing for a year. Madame K hasn’t had any luck finding her.”

  Firm, cool lips brushed against the top of my head and I sighed. “Wish there was something I could do to help. I owe Madame Katanga so much. Without her I’d still be a lost little lamb.” A small laugh. “Life’s funny. If the door to her shop had opened that day, I would’ve run away like always.” I kissed his neck and curled into him. “And I never would have known her kindness...or you.”

  He chuckled. “You think the door being stuck was an accident?”

  I eased back and stared at him. His eyes had returned to cool silver but the humor in them burned warm. “You? You held the door closed?” He didn’t answer. “It was your hand on my shoulder, wasn’t it?” Knowing he’d done this shouldn’t have annoyed me, but for some inexplicable reason, it did. I hoped he didn’t hear the hint of irritation in my voice. No such luck.

  “Why does that anger you?”

  “It doesn’t. Not really. Guess I’m just surprised you were there.”

  He crushed me to his chest. “I am always with you, Raven.”

  My voice muffled against his body. “Why?”

  “I love you.”

  There were t
hose three simple words, again. Spoken so plainly, so true, and they were just the ones I wanted to hear. Love for him filled my heart to overflowing.

  “Tell me where Angelina is.”

  His body tensed. I wiggled out of his arms not understanding his reaction.

  “What?” I asked. “It’s within your power, isn’t it?”

  He moved away, sat on the edge of the bed, and avoided my eyes. “I have the knowledge, yes. But I will not tell you.”

  I couldn’t believe what I heard.

  “Why not?” I asked and reached for him.

  He stood and crossed the room. “It is not the girl’s deepest wish to be found. It would be a mistake to interfere with her destiny.”

  “You interfered with mine!”

  I will never know what made me say that or where the thought came from. But I knew without a doubt he had intervened that day at the beach and had changed the course of my life forever.

  “Was that a mistake?”

  The hurt crossed his face and twisted my guts into knots. I would’ve given anything to take the words back. I hurried to explain, to quell the conflict I felt was coming.

  “Madame K thinks Angelina is addicted to drugs. If that’s true then she isn’t capable of knowing what she wants. It may not be her desire to be found, but it is mine. I’m sorry. I don’t understand your world, your rules. But aren’t you bound to tell me?”

  “You will find her in the town called Tempest.”

  The frost in his voice scared me. He stood ridged and cold not more than a few feet from me but it might as well have been miles.

  “It is dangerous to go to her. She is surrounded in blackness. Evil. The man who holds her will not willingly let her leave.”

  “It wouldn’t be dangerous if you came with me.”

  “I cannot.” He sighed deep. “I must go elsewhere.”

  My temper snapped. “Yeah, I know. You’re needed in a different time and place. But what about right now? And me? I need you here.”

  He stepped toward me. I knew his touch would cool my anger, but I had to voice my fears. I turned my back on him.

  “You say you love me, but how can I believe that’s true when you are here one minute and gone the next? I don’t want to put my life on hold wishing and waiting for your return, wondering if you’re sleeping with different women in those other places and times. If you recall, I never asked you to appear. I’d never even heard of the almighty Rook before coming here. I didn’t wish for you.”

  “That is true.” The agony in his voice made my heart shrivel into a ball. “It is I who wished for you.”

  His confession took my breath away, and I turned back to him only to find emptiness.

  One moment there.

  The next, gone.

  Chapter Six

  The Rook stood alone on his mountain top and scowled.

  Mortal woman! Too complicated.

  No wonder it was forbidden to fall in love with them. His scowl deepened. But fall in love he had.

  The sound of his name whispered from her lips in smoky passion and deep love made his heart swell and his blood run hot.

  Damn his feelings!

  From the moment he came into being, he was different from all other Sentinels. More emotional. Ruled by feelings more than logic. But that quirk had given him an edge. While it was true that competition was a lower based attribute, it still existed in his realm. He’d used his emotions to advance to the highest level and become the most powerful of all previous Rooks. But at times, his feelings were a hindrance.

  Unlike angels, Sentinels weren’t known for their benevolence. He had been created for one purpose only—to protect life. Unfortunately, there were times when in order to save a life he had to take one away as well. And while the other Sentinels had no trouble deciding, who lived or died, it hadn’t been easy for him. Still when necessary, he could make the decision quickly and without remorse.

  The wind rustled and stirred his ebony wingtips. Lifting his gaze from the stony surface, he continued to fight the inner battle between logic and emotion.

  Which was better? At first thought, it would seem to be logic. But nothing was ever all black or white. Not to him anyway, especially love and lust.

  It was a sad fact that from the beginning of time Sentinels joined with mortal women—only out of lust, never affection. The union left the winged protectors satisfied, but what of the women left behind?

  It was too easy for mortals to fall in love. To his mind, it was cruel for the Sentinels to take their pleasure then toss the mortals aside. And while he had desires, it was love he needed and wanted.

  A silly notion to the others and a lonely one for him.

  He turned and paced, his heart in turmoil.

  He was immortal. Indestructible. But loneliness brought him to his knees. He’d wished for a mate, a partner, but had given up hope of finding one until that day when he watched a young girl fight bravely against the certainty of death. Her courage, her determination to cling to life against all odds touched his heart, pulled him to her. And when his arms had encircled her and he looked into eyes so blue, so scared, yet so trusting, a piece of his very soul broke away and joined with hers.

  He released an agonizing roar so loud it split the skies and echoed out into the vast darkness.

  The Keeper called him compassionate. But was he?

  Raven did not understand his world. No mortal could. And while their time together gave both of them the greatest joy, leaving was torment for her. To inflict so much pain on another wasn’t love, only selfishness.

  The wind shifted from warm to cool and carried a cry for help on the breeze. He must go. Others need him.

  Perhaps it would be better for her, more kind, more humane, if he never returned—if he finally severed the bond and set her free to love one of her own, someone who could constantly be by her side.

  His onyx wings expanded as he soared from the mountain top.

  Perhaps the time had come to do just that.

  Perhaps.

  ****

  Tempest was a hundred miles west. The day was clear but my tears made it difficult to see the road. I swiped at them and tried to forget the anguish in Roark’s voice when my self-centered words caused that look of pain in his eyes.

  “Damn it! I’m so stupid!” I swore and smacked the steering wheel hard.

  I’d probably lost him forever by acting like a jealous, spoiled brat. Would he ever forgive me?

  If he never returned, would I ever forgive myself?

  I took a deep breath and forced myself to concentrate on a plan. Roark said Angelina was in Tempest. But where? How would I find her? I’d taken a picture of her from Madame K’s dressing table, but it wasn’t recent. Besides, after a year of being on the streets, and God knows what else, I was sure she’d look quite different from the innocent doe-eyed girl in the photograph.

  And if I did find her, then what? Roark said the man who held her would be dangerous. Just what did that mean? Would the guy kill for her? Should I have a gun? I snorted. Yeah, right. I’d shoot myself in the foot getting the damn thing loaded. I would’ve asked Madame K and Mama ChiChi to come with me, but I didn’t want to run the risk of getting their hopes up only to squash them if I couldn’t find Angelina.

  Of course, if all else failed, I could call Roark for help. However, I’d almost rather shoot my toe off than wish for him. He warned me not to try to find her. Besides, after the way I treated him, would he even come?

  Tempest was a dirty, smelly gray sock of a town and about as appealing as creamed liver and spinach. Main Street was a mixture of neon signs, bars and strip joints. I parked at the curb and walked into a little bar and grill called The Dragon’s Breath. It was the cleanest looking place on the strip. Besides, I liked the name.

  A roly-poly man stood behind the bar drenched in the scent of fried onions, greasy hamburgers, and stale beer. He eyed me with suspicion. The diet soda I ordered didn’t help his misgivings. I hande
d him the picture. “I’m looking for this girl. Her name is Angelina. Do you know her?”

  He scratched his whiskered chin with tobacco-stained fingers and growled, “What you want with her?”

  “I’m a relative. Just want to talk to her, that’s all.”

  He gave the picture back. “Huh, you two don’t look much alike. Nope. Ain’t seen her. You gonna order something to eat or just sit on that there stool and nurse that diet sodie-pop all afternoon?”

  Because I didn’t want to ruffle the man’s feathers any more than I had, I ordered the specialty of the house, a hamburger with fries. I took my drink over to a corner booth, brushed off the crumbs on the seat and slid behind the table.

  A picture of Elvis with blue suede shoes hung above a neon arrow that pointed to the ladies’ room. Somewhere in a backroom, a radio played the blues. There were only two other people in the bar, an old black man and a woman who Daddy would’ve described as a “barfly.” She kept glancing my way. Finally, she shuffled over. The musty scent of old lilac perfume tagged after her.

  “You really kin to Angie?”

  My heart leaped. “Distant cousin,” I said and motioned for her sit down. “Do you know her?”

  “Might.”

  Roly-Poly brought my hamburger to the table and glared at the woman, but said nothing. I stared at the food, not really wanting it. Barfly cleared her throat. “You gonna eat that?”

  I studied her face, gaunt and pinched. Dirty blonde hair, straw dry. But there was kindness in her watery, blue eyes. It occurred to me this could be Angelina in thirty years—worn-out, maybe homeless and hungry. I had to find her before it was too late. I reached in my purse and pulled out a twenty.

  “You can have it,” I said and pushed my plate across the table. “And the money. Just tell me where Angelina is.”

  She grabbed the bill and took a big bite of burger. “You want your drink?”

  “Take it too,” I said and slid the glass her way.

  A big swig and a small burp later, she lifted her gaze to me and grinned. “You been kissed by the Rook.”

  Shocked, I fell against the back of the cracked vinyl booth and gaped at her. “How do you know?”

  A liver-spotted hand reached out and touched my hair. “Honey child, everyone on the bayou knows his mark.” She glanced behind her. “Is he here with ya?”