The Ravenswynd Series - Boxed Set

by Sharon Ricklin Jones

  “Never - ever touch those!” he barked, scaring me half to death.

  His voice echoed off the nearby buildings, but he sounded fearful, not angry. “Do you hear me? Never!”

  I glanced around the area, half-expecting to see a wildflower society member giving me the evil eye, but we were quite alone. I searched his face for an explanation. His eyes revealed only his sudden concern. I wondered if this was the Arizona state flower, and perhaps was illegal to pick.

  “No,” he sighed, sounding grave. “It is the Sacred Datura. Some call it devil’s weed.”

  “Ooh, I certainly don’t want to mess with that, then!” I joked, trying to lighten his mood.

  The sun was about to slip behind the distant mountains and twilight fast approached. As we stood there in the deepening shadows, the last few rays of the sun caught Emrys’ medallion. I gazed down seeing the ruby-red eye of the raven reflecting the sun, almost winking at me. Emrys pulled my chin upwards, peering into my eyes.

  “This is not a joke, Elizabeth.” His voice now low, but still quite serious. “Consider the Datura plant our kryptonite. Remember your burning legs when they were sprayed with the tainted blood of Rohan?”

  I nodded, frowning. A memory I’d prefer to forget.

  “Remember the inability to cool down and the fever dreams from bad human blood?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Those symptoms were a stroll in the park compared to what you would experience with the Sacred Datura.”

  Just then I noticed a very strong but sweet lemon-like scent. I sniffed in and noticed Emrys’ nostrils flared. We both turned our faces to the plants and realized the flowers had opened up now, and in the fading light the yawning blossoms appeared purple-tinged.

  Everything about them seems so enticing.

  “Yes,” he said, agreeing with my silent sentiments. “But every single part of the plant is poisonous. It would make you weak at first, and eventually paralysis would set in, and then death.”

  “Just by touching it?” I asked incredulously.

  “Actually, yes.” His tone was almost icy, as though he thought I didn’t believe him. “The toxin can seep into your skin. It is one of the weapons that the Venators use against us. They sometimes mix it in with tea or other drinks, and once paralysis sets in, it is quite easy, as you could imagine, for them to take any vampire out.”

  I shivered, thinking how only hours ago, we had sat in a wonderful little cafe drinking iced tea with our sandwiches, enjoying the panoramic views through the gigantic windows. I wondered how Emrys could be so cavalier about eating out at all; especially knowing about the Hunter we had so recently run into.

  What if they were still watching us?

  “One of our donors works there,” he explained. “With what we pay him, he would be a fool to allow anyone else to enter his kitchen in order to harm his customers.” He opened the passenger door for me and smiled. “Come, my lovely wife. Sit and relax.”

  I wondered if he could hear how hard my heart was pounding in my chest. The thought of poisonous plants and vampire Hunters filled my mind with fear. All my ideas about eternal life were wrong. It seemed that every time I turned around, there were more strange and worrisome things to consider.

  “Does this plant affect humans as well?” I asked, thinking of my sister’s new infants.

  “Yes. Although with proper medical intervention, it is possible for a human to survive an overdose of the Sacred Datura.” He closed my door, climbed into the driver’s side, and started the engine.

  “Overdose? What do you mean?” I asked. “Why would anyone call it an overdose if they know it’s poisonous in the first place?”

  “The plant has been used for many centuries by Native American Shamans in rites of passage for young ones coming of age. However, the tea from Datura is highly hallucinogenic, apparently even stronger than Peyote or LSD, so of course on occasion the idiotic, ill-advised humans use it for intoxication purposes. Without proper guidance by the tribal elders or medicine person, and with no knowledge of how to use the plant or how to neutralize the harmful effects, said human can suffer from a myriad of side effects, not to mention, permanent psychosis and death.”

  Just before Emrys backed out of the parking spot, I saw three huge moths fluttering about above the bright white flowers. Their wings were velvety brown and cream colored, and their abdomens were brown with two rows of orange spots.

  “Hawk moths,” he said as he turned the wheel toward the street. “They are nocturnal pollinators and are drawn in by the lemon-vanilla scent.”

  I watched as the moths landed one by one on the petals to begin their nightly task. Awed by their beauty, both the plants and the visitors, I sighed as we pulled into traffic and began our trek down the mountain.

  “How did you know about this place, Emrys?” I asked as we slowly descended.

  “My mother told me about it when I was a child. She had an uncle that worked the mines in the late 1880’s and his letters home always spoke of the wonderful views and the dry, clear air of Arizona. She and her mother went to visit only a few years before my birth, and the stories she told were so captivating, I knew I had to see it for myself one day.”

  “And when did you make your first trip?” I asked, peering down over one of the many cliffs.

  Emrys chuckled softly and put a hand on my knee. I looked back at him and saw that he never took his eyes off the ever-winding and narrow road.

  “Why, today my sweet wife. Mother told me to be sure to bring someone along to share in the experience. It is always more enjoyable to see the wonders of the world with another.”

  “How sweet. But why didn’t you ever bring Amrita?” I recalled that he had said something about them traveling through the years.

  “She had no desire to leave home other than during the gatherings. And when I say home, I do mean all of the UK. She has visited all over our fair land, but simply had no interest in the Americas.” He put his hand back on the steering wheel and turned sharp, keeping close to the middle line in the road.

  “Interesting. I wonder why,” I mused.

  “One can only guess, with my sister. She usually alters her self-image every few decades. It always seemed to me she was on an endless trek of self-discovery. I often wondered if her inability to really find herself comes from being raised without a mother,” he said thoughtfully.

  “Maybe,” I reflected. “I can see that happening, I guess. That’s probably why Melinda and I tended to lean on one another so much; why we could not be separated, no matter what.”

  “And I often wondered what Amrita would have been like if my mother had not left us.” He spoke softer now. “I did my best...”

  “Emrys,” I interrupted. “Of course you did! Amrita is great! I can see beyond all her make-up and jewelry and the darkness she pretends to put forth. She is sweet and kind, and she lights up like a sunrise whenever she sees Larkin. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

  “Of course I have. Larkin gives Amrita unconditional love like no one else ever has - myself included. My intention was never to be mean to her, but as a parental figure, it became easy to pass judgment on her choices in life. It took me a long time to accept her many idiosyncrasies and the gloomy way she portrays herself in public.”

  “But you said she changes her self-image every few decades,” I reasoned.

  “Exactly. You should have seen her in the sixties and early seventies. She was a true flower child with long unkempt hair and always bare-footed. Her clothes consisted of tie-dyed shirts and baggy bell-bottoms, or skimpy, flowered sundresses that went to the floor. She owned a dozen pairs of sunglasses and barely removed them, always had flowers or headbands in her hair. And, you know the tattoo she has on her face - the little red spider? That used to be a flower. And the scorpion on her hand - that was a peace sign.” He nodded his head slowly. “Yes, my little sister was a real live hippy.”

  “Wow.”

  I found myself imagining her
many alter egos through the years, and Emrys picked up on my rambling thoughts.

  “Let’s just say I could tell you many stories about Amrita through the years. The only thing she did not try, was to dress like a man. No matter what decade and what fad she was into, she always remained feminine.”

  I nodded my head, and gave a chuckle. “She never would have pulled it off, she’s far too pretty, too delicate.”

  We finally reached the flat lands adjacent to the mountain, and arrived back at our motel a few minutes later. Walking hand in hand through the lobby, it occurred to me that Emrys had never finished telling me about Sibelle’s message. We took the elevator, too tired to attempt the stairs, and as the door slid shut, I gazed up at Emrys and asked, “So, what did Sibelle have to say in her message?”

  “Just that she had a prophetic word, and if possible, she would prefer to see me in person.” His dark eyes penetrated into mine.

  “I see. Did she mention me at all?” I asked, sounding pathetically envious.

  Emrys chuckled. “Of course, my love, she wishes to see you too.” His smile was warm and sweet. He pressed the number two button, still grinning.

  “Oh, good. But, I’m not sure how we can get away right now,” I said. “I feel obligated to help Melinda and Gavin out, at least for the first few weeks.” I lifted my hair off my neck feeling the dampness evaporate in a flash. The air in the small elevator car was stagnant and hot like a dry sauna.

  All of a sudden the car lurched to a stop, mid-way between the two floors. Emrys looked up at the numbers and I followed his eyes to see that the control panel was dark. He reached out and pressed the number two again, but nothing happened. I found myself wishing we had taken the blasted stairs.

  He pressed the stop button and the number two again, but still, nothing happened.

  “Now what?” I sighed. I was beginning to get thirsty. It had been a couple of days since I had quenched my thirst.

  “Yes, I too had been looking forward to a tall glass of Ambrosia.” He took a quick survey around the whole compartment and fastened his eyes on the trap door in the ceiling. “I wonder if this is only an electrical problem or if someone has...” He stopped himself, gave me a fleeting glance, and then looked back at the door.

  “Do you mean someone could be doing this on purpose to trap us?” I asked, as panic set in, my heart racing. “But, we’re not doing anything.”

  Emrys took a deep breath and raised his eyes toward the ceiling again.

  “I shall be right back, my love,” he said, reaching up and sliding the trap door over to the side. He bent his knees and jumped, and then he was gone. I craned my head up, seeing only darkness within the tight area above the elevator car. I heard what sounded like doors being pried open and then saw light flow into the elevator shaft. A moment later I heard a popping and crackling, like the electricity had been restored, and then the dim light of the number two lit up and the car lurched. When the door opened, Emrys stood there with a giant smile on his face. The light from behind him made his long black hair shine with that angelic halo effect, and he extended his hand to me.

  “My dear,” he said, still grinning. “Let me help you out of the lift.”

  I took his hand and asked, “What was that all about?”

  “Some bloody moron thought it would be a jolly good joke to see us stranded. Whoever it was, never imagined I would be able to open the doors manually and then restore the electricity.”

  I glanced up and down the hallway. The lighting was not the best, and the carpeting was a dull gray, but there was no one in sight.

  “Was it anyone we need to be concerned about, Emrys?” I asked, still preoccupied with thoughts of vampire Hunters.

  “I doubt it. I think it was a juvenile prank, at best.” He sounded sure of himself. “Come; let us check on your sister and her clan.”

  We dropped off all of our packages and had a quick drink before we made our way to Gavin and Melinda’s room. Back in the hallway, I couldn’t help glancing over my shoulder a few times, wondering if we were being watched. Emrys didn’t say anything, but put his arm around my shoulder in a protective move. I knew the same thoughts went through his mind as well.

  Melinda had just finished feeding the babies and gotten them to sleep, so our stay was short. As I told my sister all about our trip to Jerome, Emrys and Gavin made arrangements for the drive back to Phoenix the following morning. They stood near the window, speaking in quiet whispers, and every now and then I’d glance over at them and catch Emrys’ eye. Each time I did, he’d give me a grin, and somehow I knew they were talking about more than just tomorrow’s plans.

  But I was happy to see that Lindy still looked so enthusiastic and chipper. I had halfway expected to find her exhausted, but once again was pleasantly surprised. It would be interesting to see how long she remained this way; I couldn’t imagine them getting much sleep in the near future, not with three babies to care for. And she seemed unconcerned when it came to the Hunters, and I wasn’t about to make the mistake of bringing it up again.

  Before we left I decided to take a quick peek at the three sleeping beauties, and I tiptoed into the bedroom area. They were all sound asleep on the huge queen sized bed, surrounded by pillows and blankets. It was easy to pick out Armand with the darker hair, but the girls looked identical to me. Now I understood how other people felt when they saw Lindy and me.

  We chatted for a while longer in whispers, and then headed back to our room.

  “Wasn’t that cute how Lindy had all those blankets and pillows around the babies?” I mused as I started to peel off my clothes. “It’s not like they can even roll yet!”

  Emrys watched me intently and nodded. Without a word, we both knew.

  I threw my things in a heap and glanced over my shoulder as I sauntered toward the bathroom. Even after turning forward again, I felt his eyes on me. I left the door wide open, and while reaching in to turn on the shower, visualized his next move. The anticipation alone caused goose flesh to rise up on my arms and I shuddered - almost audibly. I stepped into the hot water and let it flow down over me. With my eyes closed, I started lathering my hair, and a minute later, heard the creak of the shower door. I continued to blend the shampoo into my hair, keeping my eyes shut, pretending he wasn’t there. But, of course, he knew that I knew.

  All of a sudden, his hands were on my breasts. Heaving a heavy sigh, methodically and in slow motion, he moved his hands up under my arms, to my elbows, and then to my head. His fingers melted in between mine and he began to massage my scalp. Then he turned me into the streaming water and rinsed my hair, his movements gentle and tender.

  After wiping my hands over my face, I finally opened my eyes. He was inches from me; eyes wide open with eager expectation. And then we melted together. Sweet cherry kisses, exploring hands, slippery skin. He turned me around so fast I became dizzy, and he pressed himself tight against my back. Electricity mixed with water in the world of humans would not be a good thing. But human, we were not, and neither were the noises that came from our throats as he took possession of me and we were carried away into overwhelming, delicious, red-hot ecstasy.

  A bit later…he twirled me around again and wrapped me in his arms.

  “I love you, Elizabeth.” His voice broke into a whisper.

  Still reeling from my state of blistering rapture, my vision was blurred and my throat dry.

  “I love you too, my husband.” The words came out in a scratchy murmur. I licked my lips just before he gave me a soft kiss.

  “You are still thirsty. I will prepare a drink for us while you finish,” he said. And then he was gone.

  After finishing my shower I took my time putting on my favorite lotion of lavender and gardenia. I dried my hair, combed through it, and slipped into a light robe.

  I found Emrys relaxing on the bed, one glass in his hand - half empty, and one on the table - full to the brim. Inviting, red, liquid: Ambrosia - drink of the gods. Life-giving blood. Barely fee
ling my feet touch the floor, I made my way to him. To use the word thirsty would be an understatement. Somehow the arid air of Arizona managed to make me as dry as the sun-parched earth all around us. I saw nothing but red: The russet-red rocks just outside our window, the raven’s ruby-red eye on Emrys’ medallion, the sanguineous-red liquid in my hand. I drank heavy and deeply almost emptying the glass. I licked my lips, surely red by now, and peered over the rim of the glass at my husband. His lips were also red. And then I heaved a sigh and drank the rest. I was instantly refreshed.

  I sat down on the edge of the bed and put my hand on his bare chest, twirling my fingers through his hair and on the outline of the tattoo over his heart. I was totally revived and full of new energy. His skin zapped my fingertips with electricity, and I knew my touch did the same to him. I slid my hand farther down, resting it on his abdomen, zapping, energizing, and tingling. Our eyes locked together, and I didn’t have to say a word. He knew my every thought, and he was ready and waiting for what he knew I was about to do. I licked my lips once more.

  CHAPTER 4

  CATCH US IF YOU CAN

  The limo suddenly slowed down and the window between the driver and the back opened. “Excuse me, Sir?” A deep voice from the front seat called. As the tires hit the shoulder of the road, the sound of crunching rocks and pebbles were heard; and as we came to a stop, he said, “May I have a word with you?”

  “Of course,” Emrys answered, leaning forward between Gavin and Melinda to listen.

  Just then Armand decided to scream bloody murder, which in turn woke up both girls and prevented me from hearing a single word the driver had said. Emrys moved closer to the window in order to hear, and I plucked up one of the baby girls and reinserted her pacifier, hoping to rock her back to sleep. Gavin cradled his other daughter as Melinda changed Armand’s diaper, which only caused him to screech even louder.