by Lynn Landes
Settling back in her bed, Heather is soon drifting off, when she hears the door creak slowly open. Her heart begins to race; the sound of paper crinkling has her jumping up in terror.
"Easy now, sugar, it’s just me" comes a familiar voice. "Seth" she whispers trying to calm her heart as he sits on the bed beside her and takes her hand.
Turning on the bedside lamp he looks at her and whistles slow. "Don't you just take a man’s breath away?" Her beauty stuns him leaving him speechless.
Laughing Heather swats at him, and says "You must be blind; I'm broken, bruised and cut up. What's in the bag?" she says pointing.
"I think your turning into a brat. I may have brought you a treat, but you have to earn it." His dark eyes sparkle. "Oh really, I thought you were a gentlemen." Heather asks looking disappointed. Dropping the bag on the bed side table Seth leans close and puts an arm on each side of Heather breathing her in. "Well now I was referring to answering some questions, but I would be happy to oblige you if you’re up to it."
Heart beating fast, Heather leans in and just before her lips touch his, she sighs "finally." Softly at first their lips brush, tongues dance, and then she leans back and the smiles are gone, replaced by hunger. She traps the back of his head with her good hand and dives in. Grabbing his bottom lip gently with her teeth, sucking on it, growling "More." Seth is about to pull her on top of him when the door is pushed open by nurse busy body.
"Oops, excuse me. I need to check my patient’s vitals. All though I am sure I can come back," she says laughing.
Blushing bright red, Heather drops her head on Seth's shoulder and tries to hide. "Kill me now" comes her muffled reply. "Too easy,” he says “I know multiple ways to kill a human being," he replies looking at his favorite nurse.
"So do I sugar!” she says in her best southern imitation of him. "I'll be back in five. Let the poor girl breath," she says leaving.
Laughing together she comes out of hiding and he retrieves the bag. "I brought you a couple of things.” The first thing he gives her is her small black bag. Seeing the fear in her eyes, he sets it on the bedside table. "Thank you, Seth. You have no idea how important that is." Next he reaches in and pulls out a chocolate bar. Her moan has his eyes going dark with desire. "Oh my God, where did you get that!"
"I have some questions that need answered, are you up to it?" He asks waving the bar at her. Eyeing him warily Heather wonders how much to tell him. "Who says I like chocolate?” she says. Frowning she grasps the covers with her good hand and looks over at her black bag. He stands up and begins to pace.
"Heather I am leaving in two days, your mission was my last. We don't have much time, and I have a lot of questions. Have they said when they are releasing you?" turning to look at her, he waits.
"Today, my flight leaves tomorrow night. I am staying with a friend; I will be flying to Germany, then onto California." Beginning to shake, she gets up from the bed and walks over to him. Taking his hand with her good one, she looks up into his dark eyes and says "I'll never be able to thank you enough Seth," he stops her putting his hand up.
"It's my job; Heather I am glad we were able to get you out." Feeling disappointed and slightly hurt she turns away to gather her things. "Will I be able to see Jake before I leave?” she asks turning to Seth.
"He said he would try to come by today. We are all being debriefed separately. Can you tell me what those creatures were, and what your bag has to do with it?" he asked quietly.
Heather starts to say something when her door swings open and the discharge nurse comes in. "We need to get your vitals, and go over paperwork before you are released."
"Okay then" he sees that she is being stubborn, he will have to get his information another way. "I have to be going anyway." Kissing her hard on the mouth, he says "I will talk to you soon" and leaves.
Heather touches her lips and watches as he walks out of her life. He can never know the truth, hell she doesn't even believe it most of the time; how will a man like Seth react to such evil in the world. He has dedicated his life to saving people, how would he look at her if she is the one to show him hell on earth? Wiping tears she makes her decision, and says to the nurse "I need to get out of here."
Jake walks into the hospital trying to ignore most of the shadows he sees. There seem to be more than usual, and he can't help but wonder what is going on. He is here to check on Heather, and say goodbye. He was debriefed this morning and his flight leaves the next day. He is ready to go home.
After knocking on the door he walks in and stops, staring at the beautiful young women. Heather smiles flashing her dimples, and walks to Jake. Her bags are packed and she is dressed. "I am waiting on my ride and your just I'm time."
"You look amazing, are you feeling well?" Jake asks her. "Good enough to go home, my flight leaves tomorrow night. Jake I can't thank you enough for doing this for me," she says nervously.
"No problem, though I wonder how Seth would feel about this?” Jake asks her.
"I don't want to involve him unless I have to" she says. "How long will my debriefing take?" she asks him following him to the door. "That depends on what you tell them. Stick to the truth as closely as possible, and it should go quickly."
"Is that what you did? You told them we were attacked by bat demons, and they just accepted that?" Heather jokingly asks.
"No, I told them that we were attacked by a crazed person with a knife. That we think he was on drugs and it was chaotic and dark. We had cleared the room before turning to rescue you and we were attacked from an unexpected source." Jake says angrily punching the buttons on the elevator for the parking deck level.
"I guess you had no choice, Jake what would they think if you told them the truth," she sighs getting into the car. "What is the truth" Jake asks her starting the car and driving out. "Don't you know Jake?" she turns in her seat to look at him, "You are a Keeper after all."
"A what? What's a Keeper Heather?" he asks turning in his seat. "Don't you know what you are Jake?" she asks quietly.
"I am a soldier Heather, but that is all!” he says adamantly. They ride in silence for a few minutes heading towards the base commanders office. After they get through security she turns to him and says, "You are much more than that Jake, you are a keeper, and a powerful one from what I've seen," she says stubbornly as they park.
"You have been through a rough ordeal; it wouldn't be surprising for you to be confused. They are waiting for you inside." Cutting the engine he thinks maybe she is still in shock.
"You can tell yourself I am crazy if you want, but when they return and they will, you will have to believe me then," she says slamming her way out of his jeep.
Sitting in the briefing room across from the officials, Heather wishes Seth were with her. Rubbing her broken arm, she looks at the men and says for the last time "I wish I could tell you more, but I do not remember much after the initial kidnapping. I am a volunteer with a research team from the United States. We come every year to examine and document the finds at different dig sites. I specialize in 3-D imaging. I am an Engineer, with a firm in Maryland."
"Is there any reason why they kidnapped you, Ms. Jones?" the General asks. "No sir, I guess I was in the wrong place at the right time." She smiles tiredly. "I can't thank you enough for rescuing me; I had almost given up hope, when they came in." She whispers with tears in her eyes. "I am so sorry you lost a soldier, General. I will be forever grateful to you all."
Thankfully she accepts some tissues and water, the men give her. "Am I free to go now? I tire easily these days and my flight leaves tomorrow."
"Of course, if you remember anything you will contact the number we gave you," he reminds her again.
"Yes sir, thank you. Is it possible to get a ride back to my friend’s apartment? Captain Jake was kind enough to drive me from the hospital.”
"Absolutely, get Jake” the General orders “he can make sure Ms. Jones makes it safely." Gently he guides her to the door, where Jake is waitin
g and fuming.
Dimpling at the General she pulls him down to kiss his weathered cheek and says, "Thank you again, I will never forget the sacrifice you all made for me." Turning with tears in her green eyes she smiles at Jake and limps out the door.
Following closely behind her Jake comments "Those things are deadly weapons aren't they?” Gesturing toward her faced. He opens the door to his jeep for her.
“Why Captain, I am sure I don't know what you mean?" she asks trying not to laugh when he slams the door. Looking out the window she tries not to look at Seth as they drive past him.
After they are on the way, she says "Really Jake, I am sorry about Craig. I spoke to his wife this morning. Did you know they were expecting a baby, she found out it’s a boy. She was going to tell him when he came home. I will never be able to thank you all for saving me, but I can promise you it will never be forgotten."
"I did know. He couldn't stop talking about it. He was more brother than friend," Jake sighs. "I have seen enough death and judging by the look on Seth's face right now I might see more before the days out."
"It's really none of his business. I just need to collect some things and then go home.” Besides he said he was being debriefed this afternoon she thought.
The ride to her friend’s apartment was awkward, and tense. Funny she never felt that way with Seth. Focusing on the task at hand Heather looks at Jake and says "Aren't you curious why I can see them too?"
"Not really," Jake says quietly.
"I was nine. My Grandfather on my Dads side was dying from Alzheimer's and my parents took us to see him. I don't know what they were thinking taking us in there, but I will never forget it. As the oldest of four girls I was leading the way. Two of my sisters clutched my hand and the youngest hid behind me. They nudged me closer to the hospital bed and he was just a skeleton of a man struggling to breath, someone told him "Look Grampy the girls are here" and he turned to look at me. His eyes were the faded color eyes get before death and as he looked at me he became excited. The monitors started going off as he reached for my hand and called my name. He grabbed my wrist and that's when I started screaming. There were demons all over him. Some were attached to his arms, some to his legs, one was strangling him. I couldn't do anything; I became so hysterical they had to drag me from the room. They thought I lost my mind, but Grampy knew I was trying to get them off him."
"He died that night, and I never forgave myself for not being able to help him. I am a watcher Jake that is my curse. I can see them but I can’t stop them, you can!" Trying to stop shaking, she says "Over there" and points to the side of a building.
Sighing Jake says “I have spent my life ignoring the shadows. My sister sees them too, but our parents thought we were imagining it. I have not interacted with them since I was a child, and they have not messed with me until your rescue.” Jake pulls in and cuts the engine. "What you saw that day with your grandfather, are they the same things we saw?" He asks.
"Oh no, Jake those are the small ones," she answers climbing out of the jeep. Pulling her keys, she reaches the door and is not surprised to see it already opened. Drawing his side arm, Jake motions for her to wait as he checks the apartment. The apartment had been tossed. Everything broken, clothes cut, dishes broken, mattress slashed furniture flipped and opened. It was a huge mess, but Heather expected this. Rushing to the bathroom she lifts the lid on the tank of the toilet and says, “Yes! They fell for it."
Returning to the main room of the apartment, Heather grabs a chair that isn't broken and stands it back up. Angling it under a recessed light in the ceiling she looks at Jake and asks "Can I borrow your knife?" holding her hand out.
Jake shakes his head and says "No way. You have enough injuries. Tell me what you’re doing." Heather says "I hid something in the light." She watches as he pops the can out of the ceiling and reaches in pulling a small package free. It is the size of a cell phone and wrapped in plastic wrap. He hands it down to her pulling two more out, then puts the light back and jumps down.
"You are full of surprises, aren't you?" Jake asks sarcastically. "Is that why they took you?" he asks getting angry now. He'd lost a friend, and brother and for what a treasure?"
"Jake I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong. We can't talk here, they will be back,” she puts her packages in her bag and starts to head for the door only to freeze.
As the sun sets outside, shadows fill the room and block the path to the door. Heather knows they have found her and she hopes Jake will be able to stop them.
Walking up behind her Jake asks "What are they?" as he pulls his knife from its hiding place.
"Scout demons. They report to the stronger ones." She backs up from the shadows as they grow stronger in the room. "We have to go!" Heather says frantically looking for a way out. "You’re in no condition to jump from a window, so we have to go through them," he whispers pointing at the door. "I can't Jake, they have come for me. You go, I'll be fine," she says.
Nudging her forward he watches as they lash out at her, one shoves her, while another reaches out and grabs her ankle, causing her to scream. "Enough!" he yells and watches as they shrink back as if afraid.
Putting his arm around Heather he slowly walks forward. The shadows separate moving away from him, only to close in behind them as they walk forward.
Once they reach the hallway, they break into a run, heading for the jeep. Helping her inside, Jake climbs in and starts the engine. "Hurry Jake, it’s not over yet," Heather says desperate to be away.
Pulling out Jake watches the shadows grow behind them. "How do we lose them, Heather?" he asks.
"They will not attack in crowds, usually. Jake you have the ability to destroy them! Watchers guide and watch over lost souls but keepers, protect the watchers," she says looking behind them. "Protect us from demons, I don't know how! Why are they attacking you Heather? It was the same way in the caves. Is it because of what you have in that bag?"
"Yes and No!” Heather screams as a shadow demon in the shape of a dog launches its self through the window on her side. It wraps his jaws around Heathers good arm as Jake slams the brakes on. Jake stabs his knife down into the dogs head and watches stunned as it explodes!
Heather is bent over cradling her arm, breathing fast. Crying now, she looks at him as asks "Why won't you believe what you see with your own eyes!"
"I believe you Heather," he says shakily. "Let’s get back to base." Driving fast Jake pulls away and tells Heather to hold on.
Thinking quickly he calls his commanding officer and tells him they were attacked again. They grant permission to house her on base until her flight leaves the next day.
Pulling up to the barracks Jake sees Seth standing at the curb. Parking he tells Heather to wait in the jeep, while he checks the room. Walking into the building with Seth following, his CO stops him for more details about the attack and catching Seth’s eye he motions outside with a nod of his head.
Seth hurries out to the Jeep, only to stop at the sight of three soldiers helping her with her bags. Smiling at them she cradles her arm, as they help her. Steaming now, he walks over and blocks the path with his large body. Dropping her bags they scatter, laughing. Seth stares at her for a minute, then picks up her bags and he says "Follow me"
"This is our best room," he says showing her to a room with a cot set up. Dropping her bags on the floor, he turns around ready to give her hell. Heather bursts into tears and throws herself into his arms, shaking and crying uncontrollably.
"Easy now darling, your okay," Seth says. Picking her up, he crosses to the cot and sits with her in his lap. She is buried in the crook of his neck with her good arm hooked around his waist. Waiting for her tears to slow, Seth sighs. Looking up Seth sees Jake standing guard outside the door. Glaring at him, he says "One of you had better have an explanation as to What the Hell is going on here!"
Jake smiles having no intention of fighting his larger friend, "Seth I took Heather to her apartment, at the Gener
als request to pick up her things. We were attacked."
Slowly standing Seth sets Heather's feet on the ground steadying her. "Did it not occur to you to take some backup? That she might still be a target!” Seth roars. Feeling slightly embarrassed Jake says, "We wouldn't have been there if Ms Dimples didn't need her bags."
The yelling escalates until Heather whispers, "Excuse me, But I think I'm bleeding." Seth and Jake whip around and stare at her. Blood is seeping through her blouse and down her good arm; Seth catches her as she crumples to the floor.
"Damn!" Jake yells. Rushing out he grabs a first aid kit and follows Seth as he carries her to the infirmary. The two men are pushed away as the Doctors take over. Twenty minutes later, the nurse comes out and says "She's okay, she popped some of her sutures in her shoulder, and we stapled those. Her right arm has bite marks of some kind, any idea what kind of animal did that?"
Glaring at Jake, Seth stomps behind the curtain ignoring the Doctors and nurses heading straight for Heather.
Heather watches while they clean the puncture wounds flinching, when they irrigate the area. "Can't you give her something for pain? Seth asks the nurse.
Heather looks up, and says "I need to be awake Seth. It's not that bad, really." Leaning her head back she stares up at the ceiling and wishes things were different. She would jump into that mans arms and never let go. Probably scare him to death she thinks laughing a little. Looking over at Seth she stares at him, he's so beautiful with his black hair, brown eyes, barrel chest, and large strong hands, Oh God; she thinks I am so screwed. She wipes at a tear that rolls down her cheek and waits for them to finish. Laughing and crying at the same time.
As her tears subside, she tells the Doctor "I am not staying here, I have a perfectly good cot and I just need some sleep."
Escorting Heather back to her room; Seth shows her where the bathroom is, and brings her some water and food. "You need to eat, and take this pain pill."
