The Keeper's Heart

by Catherine Stovall

  She screamed, sure Death had her in his grip. Kicking wildly and flailing her arms, she attempted to free herself. It wasn’t until her fist connected with flesh, that Amara realized she was no longer wandering in the mists.

  “Ouch. What the hell was that for? I was just trying to wake you up, you were having a nightmare,” Marcus squelched.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry. I…I was in the mists.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and her face fell, a worried scowl pulling at her lips.

  “You were dreaming.” His voice was soft and his blue eyes were empathetic as he reached over to gently pat Amara’s hand.

  “Yes. I know. I didn’t realize I would miss it so much.” She swiped the tears away and sat farther up in the seat, rubbing her eyes and refusing to tell them she about the monster who had plagued her sleep. “Where are we?”

  The long span of interstate stretched out in front of them, a never-ending stream of pavement and cars. The green road signs dotted the shoulder, their white lettering spelling out the names of towns that she did not know. The world suddenly seemed a very strange and scary place for her newly mortal soul.

  Anthony’s worried eyes watched her in the rearview mirror. “We are coming up on the exit in about a mile. You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m good.” Amara brushed her hair behind her ears and stared out the window.

  They rode the rest of the way in silence, the eerie remnants of Amara’s fear filling the inside of the car with a thick cloud of anxiety. Try as she might, she couldn’t seem to shake the overwhelming sense of terror that clung to her, leaving her shivering. Unsure if it were a nightmare or a vision, she held her knowledge of the Reaper to herself.

  At last, the car turned off the interstate, and they followed a main road that branched off to beautiful marinas full of shining boats and happy vacationers. The warmth of summer and the promise of fun had brought out the locals and the tourists in droves. Watching smiling faces from the tinted windows of the car, Amara felt as if she were more of an observer to the human world than she had ever been during her time as a Keeper.

  “So, how exactly are we getting out to the island?” Desiree’s thoughtful voice seemed a million miles away.

  “We are going to steal a boat, or rather, I’m going to steal one,” Amara spoke with absolute conviction.

  “The hell you are! We can just take the ferry or something,” Anthony protested.

  “We don’t know how or when we are coming out of there. It’s the only practical solution.” She never took her eyes from the passing scenery as she spoke.

  “Hey, little mamma, I don’t think grand theft water craft is exactly what humans consider to be practical.” Marcus smiled at the back of her blonde head, but when Amara refused to look at him, he directed his attention to Anthony and Desiree. Reconsidering the idea, he added, “She’s got a point though. We have no idea what is going to happen once we get in there. Stealing a boat is the only way.”

  Silence returned to the car as Anthony continued to cruise through the throngs of traffic until the establishments around them dwindled in size and upkeep and weatherworn faces replaced the smiling tourists. Seasoned fishermen with old, rickety boats lined the small, unlit docks, the water glistening with the golden rays of a day’s end. As if they had driven into a different time and place, life outside the windows seemed to dull and grey.

  Still, Amara’s eyes never wavered. She searched for something, some clue to show them where they should start. As the sky darkened, and the lights of the little seaside cove came on, she felt a sudden lift in her spirits. Something in the salt tinged air seemed to call to her, as if it were familiar.

  Her voice was quiet and her expression was a blank sheet of concentration as she said, “Stop the car.”

  Anthony, for once, didn’t hesitate or question. Instead, he quickly found a parking spot beside an old bait store. The wooden sign above the window had a large jagged bite mark out of one side and declared the building as being, Sharky’s Bait and Tackle.

  “Let’s run inside and grab some provisions, first. Then we’ll go find us a boat to umm…borrow.”

  Anthony almost never lost his smile, and while it sometimes annoyed her, Amara was thankful for it at the moment.

  A small fishing bell rigged to the top of the doorframe with fishing line sounded as they pushed their way inside. The smell of fish bait and the sound of country music permeated the air. An old man walked out of the back room behind the counter, his eyes on the broken reel in his hand.

  “Hi, there!” His voice was jovial, despite the clear distraction of the busted gadget he was tinkering with. “We’ll be closing up here in just a minute, but ya’ll go ahead and take your time. I got to get this here rigging fixed before I call it a night.”

  They all mumbled their thanks as they headed to the drink coolers, but as Amara passed the counter, the old man looked up. Their eyes locked—his in a burst of bright hazel surprise and hers in a pool of steel blue wariness.

  The man, his white hair sticking up around his ears before fading into non-existence on top, opened and closed his mouth in stunned silence. The wrinkles around his eyes became more pronounced under the lenses of his glasses as he peered at her with keen interest.

  Amara smiled and started to step away, but the old man finally found his voice.

  “You’re her. They told me you would come, but I never expected it to happen. After all these years, the Timeless One has come. I almost gave up hope. Are you all Keepers?”

  Confused and frightened, Amara took a step backward, happy to feel herself bump against Marcus’s chest. “You know who I am?” her voice shook as she spoke.

  The old man still held the forgotten reel in his hand, his fingers unconsciously working the knots out of the string. “Since I was a boy, I had visions. Glimpses of the future, and you always came here needing help to set the world right once more. My mother told me the secret of the Keepers. Seems as if my grandmother had once met one. I never saw you clearly in the visions. I only glimpsed your image from the minds of those who came along with you. Mother said it was because you were the Timeless One, the girl who had been born without destiny’s hand.”

  “You are an Oracle then?” Desiree peaked around Amara’s shoulder, vying to be a part of the latest unfolding event.

  “If that’s what you want to call it. My mother and her mother called it being a Seer, since they mostly just see what’s in other people’s minds with an occasional vision. Mine have always been about the Timeless One.” Like a child, the old man stared in open awe and fidgeted. His gnarled hands constantly worked the string, tireless winding and unraveling.

  “Can you tell me what you saw?” Amara kept her voice kind and soft, afraid for the elderly man’s sanity.

  “Yes, yes, of course.” Shaking his head at his own forgetfulness, he finally laid down the reel and stuck his hand out. “John, by the way, John Sharky is the name.”

  Once introductions were made and John had locked up the store, Marcus approached the man and asked, “How come you could see Amara if she has no destiny?”

  “As I said, I never saw her except as a reflection of what the people she was with saw. You, son, you are the one who always came with her. The scenario was always different. Sometimes you came here on a mission, other times you came here by accident, and still others, you came together with little children. No matter the situation, you were in need of something, and it was my duty to make sure you did not leave without it. So, that brings us to what I can do for you today.”

  “Got a boat?” Anthony approached the counter, arms laden with bottles of water, a small cooler, and some chips.

  “Yes, it’s not much of one, but you are welcome to it.” The old man beamed as if his entire life had been nothing but a lead up to the moment.

  Amara shot the boy a look before returning her attention to the old man. “You are very kind, we don’t have much, but we can pay you.”

  “No, no. Child, don’t bother. I have
awaited you for many years. My reward will come, for now I can pass from this world at peace.” The tears brimming on his gray lashes were those of relief and joy.

  Amara couldn’t help the urge to embrace the man, his frail body feeling brittle in her arms and the smell of a gentleman’s aftershave filling her senses. She wondered how old he was, Sixty-five or maybe seventy. Human life must be so terrible for someone to want to perish before even a century had come to pass.

  As he squeezed her small body, John whispered, “Amara, human life is not easy, but mine has been wonderful. I have three grown sons with children of their own, but the love of my life passed on a few years ago, and I wish to join her. Life is hard, love is hard, but the difficulties are what make them even more treasured.”

  At first, she was surprised, until she remembered he could read her mind. “Is there anything else you can think of?” Releasing him from her embrace, she said, “We must be going soon. We must go to the island.”

  John trembled, his eyes rolling back into his head until only the whites showed. His voice changed. His graveled tone suddenly possessed a duality­—a second voice that was young and smooth. “Be cautious. You have many enemies, not all of them in plain sight. Death beckons us all.”

  Amara froze and the color drained from her face. Even as she watched the old man come back to himself, she could not move to steady his wavering form. The confirmation that a Reaper sought her was a paralyzing force. The others moved to assist John, but her body refused to move as her mind spun in rapid, whirling circles.

  “Amara?” Desiree stood beside her, gently squeezing her bicep. “Hey, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  At last, the frozen state of suspension ended, and Amara crumpled. The moment her mind regained control, tears fell, a desperate scream echoed inside the quiet room, and her body faltered. She collapsed into a heap onto the cold tile floor as she faced her mortality as a human for the second time.

  Marcus’s arms came around her, and the warmth of him brought some comfort as he sat on the floor and pulled her into his lap as if she were a child. His large hands stroked her hair as he rocked her in silence, allowing her to cry out the misery in every molecule of her being. When he finally did speak, it was in a hushed tone, instructing Anthony and Desiree to gather the rest of the supplies and prepare the boat.

  Once everyone had left the room, he cupped his palm to Amara’s face and stared down into her watery blue eyes. “You are mortal, yes, but you don’t have to fear dying. My grandma used to say that life was for the living and you can’t walk around like you’re already dead. You are alive for the first time in three hundred years, live like it, Amara. I will help you.”

  She didn’t answer, but her features scrunched up, letting him know she had heard him and was mulling over his words.

  “I know it’s crazy, but I feel something between us. I’ve felt it since the moment you knocked on my door. It’s a crazy feeling. It’s a loyalty, a trust, and something more. Something that runs deeper.”

  Amara sniffed, her tears slowly drying on her cheeks as Marcus wiped them away. Without a word, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him to her, letting the sadness ebb away. She had a friend and a protector in him, and the reassurance his presence brought was a priceless gift in her time of need.

  When she finally released him, Amara slipped off his lap and stood. She knew he was waiting to hear a confession from her, and she felt she owed him one as well. “I have never wanted a friend, a lover, or a life beyond the Keepers. This is all new to me. I don’t know how to be human or how to put words to these strange feelings.”

  “I’m not asking anything from you.” His voice was deep and full of emotion as he stood. “I don’t even understand what it is I feel. I just wanted you to know I will stand beside you as long as you want me there. It just feels right.”

  Amara turned, a slight smile playing on her lips, only a step separated them. “Thank you. I want you by my side. I hope that is enough.”

  Marcus opened his mouth, but the tinkling bell above the door put a stop to their conversation as the others entered.

  Brushing his dark hair from his face, Anthony called out, “We’re ready to go. Everything okay?”

  Heat flooded her cheeks, staining them a bright pink. “I’m fine. Just a human moment. Let’s get out of here, okay?” she tried to sound brusque, but the others smiled at her in gentle understanding.

  Chapter 10

  A Walk in the Woods

  As they made their way across the choppy waters of the canal, the boat bounced and jarred them to the bone. The small motor purred, blurring out the sounds of the world. While Anthony used the spotlight to navigate their path, Marcus controlled the motor to propel them forward. Desire sat dutifully at her boyfriend’s side, chatting almost non-stop, and Amara sat in the middle quite alone.

  The neon orange life vest hugged Amara tightly, reminding her if she went overboard she could drown. If she slipped and fell getting off the boat and hit her head, she could die. If the Apollumi caught her, she would perish.

  If...if…if…damn it. There are too many ifs in my head. What if has never solved a damn thing. So, then why am I setting here letting it take over when I need to concentrate on keeping the others alive?

  The voice that answered inside her head was not her own. You think of the same things all mortals think of. The tone was ice on her spine. You are a fragile breakable thing. You cheated me for hundreds of years, Amara, but I will have you.

  Amara gasped, shaking her head side to side in attempt to clear the Reaper from her mind. Not yet, you bastard. Don’t count me out. I’ve still got a chance.

  Though it left her feeling as if she had been submerged in a snowdrift, Amara pushed the invader from her thoughts as the boat rounded the right side of the island. Tiny flickers of firelight could be seen in the distance, a few brave campers who were willing to face the secluded island at night.

  Shouting over the motor, Amara called, “Let’s head around to the backside.”

  Marcus nodded and steered them in the direction she had indicated. There was no dock to moor the boat, so Marcus was forced to try to maneuver as close as he could. Only a foot off the shore, the propeller hit sand, and Anthony leaped onto the shore. As he landed, his arms flailed wildly to keep his balance and prevent him from falling in the shallow water.

  Steadied, Anthony turned and held his arm outstretched. “Toss the anchor line up here. I’ll use it to pull you closer.”

  Their supplies neatly packed in the small backpacks they had confiscated at Sharky’s, the others followed suit. The sound of clicking filled the night as four flashlight beams came to life to light their way.

  “So, where to?” Desiree asked, her teeth chattering, the chill of the night air on the water’s edge, raising her flesh.

  “I’m not sure.” Amara realized she hadn’t thought her plan through. “Marcus, did you get any idea of where we are supposed to go?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. Let’s see if we can find the house.” The look on his face spoke volumes about his thoughts on wandering into the thickly wooded area in the middle of the night.

  “Well, let’s go,” Amara tried to sound brave, but her voice trembled nearly as much as Desiree’s hand around her wrist.

  They walked slowly, side by side, toward the edge of the thick underbrush lining the woods. Their flashlight beams were trained straight ahead as their eyes, wide with fear, strained in the darkness.

  “I wouldn’t go in there if I was you.”

  The voice sounded human enough, but they stumbled over themselves and screamed in shock none-the-less. As they whipped around, the rays of battery powered light centered on the clean-shaven face of a man.

  Hand on her chest, and pouty lips turned down into a hateful scowl, Desiree demanded, “Who the are you? Why the heck not? And, don’t you know you shouldn’t scare people like that!”

  “I should be asking the questions here, seei
ng that you all are trespassing on church property. However, I will indulge you. I’m Bryan Kahl, a shepherd of the church, and I didn’t mean to spook you. Just thought I’d give you a fair warning.”

  “Church property? There’s no church on the island. Everyone knows the only thing on this island is party shacks and college kids.” Anthony’s cockiness returned in full force as he took a step toward the man.

  Amara caught his arm, tugging him unwillingly back beside her. “We meant no disrespect. We have come here looking for someone. Perhaps you could tell us if there is a house here?” Motioning for Marcus to hand her the globe, she took it in her hand and held it out to the stranger. “It looks like this.”

  Bryan took the globe in his hands, staring in disbelief. “Who sent you here?” his tone changed from slightly annoyed to suspicious.

  “I am searching for something very important, and a woman named Mabel said I might find it here,” Amara answered him as calmly as she could, all the while, her knees threatened to buckle beneath her.

  “I think you better follow me, there’s someone you’ll need to speak too.” The man’s face gave nothing away. Even in the shadows of the night, his dark brows, long nose, and thin lips were visible. He displayed no emotion to betray his thoughts of trespassers on the island or their fate.

  “Where are we going?” Marcus stepped in front of Amara and Anthony, preventing them from following the man.

  “I’m taking you to see my mother. She is the only one who knows the answers to what your little blonde friend is asking.” With a nod of the head toward Amara, Bryan turned his back and walked into the woods.

  With no choice but to follow, Amara led the way behind the stranger as they tromped along a small path through the dense trees. The night air was full of nocturnal creatures chirping and scurrying away from their footsteps. Buzzing mosquitoes assaulted their flesh, undeterred by swatting hands and Desiree’s constant complaints. Her flashlight became a strobe light as she flailed in an attempt to ward away the pests.