Elspeth shot Tahao a questioning glance. He raised his chin and nodded his approval.
“Thank you. We won’t stay long, just till the fog clears and our clothes dry. Maybe I’ll have my memory back by then and we can be on our way.”
The old man shrugged his shoulders and looked as if he didn’t care one way or another.
“Take as long as you need. Just the keeper here. Don’t know much about anything else. Even if the fog lifts still won’t see a thing. No moon tonight. Called the Dead Moon actually.” He stepped out of the doorway a bit and looked around. “Never seen it this thick before.” He turned to go back. “Dreadful fog. Sea of Transition’s probably backed up. Folks cross it but can’t see a thing. Get all mixed up. Damned darkness.” He looked up at the beam of light. “Reason the Eternal Flame needs to be so bright. Strange things happen in this kind of dark. Folks end up in strange places. Time gets confused—doors open—close—past, present, future—can’t tell up from down. Good news is crescent returns tomorrow.” The man stared into the distance.
“Something to think about. Can’t help you any more than that.” An apologetic look crossed his face.
“Well, I can’t say any of this rings a bell.”
“No, don’t suppose it would what with the memory loss and all.” He shot a glance at Tahao and then squinted back at her.
Elspeth smiled politely but her heart sank. These weren’t the answers she expected, if anything, coming here had only led to more questions.
“Sorry this place is wherever, whatever you need it to be. Different for everyone I suppose.”
She offered up an empty smile. “You don’t say.”
The old man looked wearily at Tahao and backed inside the door.
“Well, then I’ll get back to my work.” He tipped his head and shut the door.
“Thank you. That was helpful.” Not.
Elspeth rubbed her temples. She didn’t know what a Dead Moon was or where the Sea of Transition was either but it didn’t make a difference. Without her memory none of it mattered.
Tahao held open the blanket and she took her place beside him without another thought.
She looked back just as the stone façade vaporized into the pale mist. As if it had never been. Just like her memory.
They followed the gravel path from the lighthouse until it ended at the base of a set of stone steps which led up to the cabin’s porch. Elspeth felt uneasy and hung back.
Tahao turned to face her and gently touched her shoulder. “You can do this.”
“How can you be so sure?” Elspeth rolled her shoulders and quickly looked around. “It’d sound more convincing if you’d said something like–I sure hope you can do this. Leave some wiggle room.”
“I’ve seen it in your eyes.”
“I sure hope you don’t need glasses.” She blinked in an exaggerated fashion as she hopped up the stairs and landed with a soft thud at the top. Then she gave him a thumbs up. In such a short time a bond had formed between them. When her memories returned would that change? Her heart flailed as he opened the door.
Inside a fire glowed from a stone fireplace and filled the one-room cabin with a golden light. A tattered rug lay in front of the hearth. Off to one side of the small room stood a table and two chairs. On the other, a small blanketed cot. The fire’s magnetic warmth lured them in.
She smiled nervously and shut the door while Tahao flung the blanket over one of the chair backs. The warm, cozy atmosphere made her want to drop where she stood, curl up in a ball and sleep. Enough with the tension and fear. She ran her hands over her torso and backside. Her clothing felt damp and sticky. She shuddered when she thought of how she must look. The sooner she got out of her wet clothes, the better.
She inspected the clothing that hung from the pegs on the wall—a large red plaid flannel shirt and a pair of denim overalls. It was better than nothing. Warily she looked around the tiny room. She needed privacy to undress. Arrangements would have to be made.
She turned to Tahao. “Would you mind stepping back outside so I can change?” It only took a nanosecond for a warm sensation to spread through her body as they stared at one another.
He shrugged his shoulders and took a seat at the table, then leaned forward, a bright look in his eyes.
“I will not stop you.” He folded his arms across his chest and sat back. An undercurrent rippled off him in waves that washed over her and left her breathless.
“Unbelievable. Do you honestly think I am going to let you watch me change?” Elspeth shook her head. “If you won’t leave then I will.”
She snatched the flannel shirt off the peg and opened the door. Before she walked out, a strong arm caught her around the waist and pulled her back.
“Wait.”
She looked back at him, and saw laughter in his eyes.
“Let me go.”
She tried to keep her face a blank, but her eyelids betrayed her and fluttered.
Elspeth looked down at her wrist. Was that her pulse or his throbbing like that?
Tahao released her waist but continued to hold her wrist.
“Let me go,” she repeated.
He chuckled. “Your temper is quick but I am stronger.”
Elspeth jerked her wrist free. “That doesn’t mean I won’t defend myself.” Looking at his powerfully-built, muscular frame she hoped she’d be able to follow through.
“I will do as you wish.” He waved his hand for her to move out of the doorway. “When your memories return this foolishness will stop.”
Elspeth snorted but her confidence faltered. A feeling of dread hissed inside her like a live wire. “Yeah, well, no one wants them back more than I do.”
“Go and put yourself into another man’s clothes.” His voice was terse as he walked out the door.
“As if I had a choice, you know it’s not like…” Her voice trailed off as he closed the door behind him not waiting for her to finish. She stared at door as she unbuttoned and took off her wet shirt, slipped out of her bra, jeans and panties. The flannel shirt was rough and itchy but would have to do. It was too large and the arms dwarfed hers. She let the sleeves hang down—what difference could it possibly make. The length of the shirt stopped just below her knee. Perfect. She made sure every last button was done then spread her wet clothes out on the table to dry. She grabbed the blanket and took a seat. She wrapped the warm wool around her legs, and tucked the edges under her thighs. “You can come back in now.”
Tahao opened the door. His eyes immediately shot to hers. He blatantly studied her then snickered as a flush slid up her neck.
He approached the table and eyed the items she’d laid out. Curiously, he picked up her black lace bra and examined it, bringing it up to his nose. He inhaled trace remnants of her perfume.
A shiver of desire rippled through her as he drew the lace away from his face. She reached out to snatch the bra from him but he pulled it back out of her reach. The blanket fell to the floor and he stared at her bare legs. For the first time since she had met him, he smiled genuinely and his expression softened. The grooves around his mouth deepened, and his dark eyes twinkled mischievously.
Tahao laid the bra back on the table and retrieved the blanket to wrap around her legs.
A shadow passed over his face as he stood up. “Do not fear me.”
Elspeth remained still and countered. “I left the overalls for you. Not sure if they fit.” She bit her lip as she adjusted the blanket and wondered what would happen if they didn’t fit. She shifted on the chair, hoping to calm the longing that ached down there.
Tahao growled and unlaced his shirt. “I do not wear the clothes of another man.”
Elspeth raced to the overalls that hung by the door. As she grabbed them she heard something drop to the floor. She turned around to see Tahao’s nakedness shimmering in the firelight. She looked away quickly and held the overalls out in front of her as she walked towards him. Eyes wide shut.
“You need to put so
mething on.” She stopped when she felt her hand make contact with the powerful muscles in his chest. “See if these fit.”
“Why do you look away?” He pushed her hand aside and leaned in closer. The heat from his body was intense and she felt like standing next to the sun itself.
“What is it you fear?” His dark eyebrows knit together in a frown.
She turned to face him in all his burnished glory. Slowly she let her gaze travel the length of his body. He was stunning—every inch.
His clothes lay in a heap at his feet leaving her with a spectacular view of each and every robust body part. His strapping brown legs and thick thighs bulged with muscle.
“Tell me.” He said in a hot and bothered voice. “Let me help you.”
Transfixed, Elspeth reached out behind her, trying to find the chair and backed up until her calves touched it. She dropped down onto the seat like a stone. Eyes closed, she whispered through clenched teeth. “If you really want to help then cover yourself with this.” She pushed the blanket in his direction. “I can respect you not wanting to wear someone else’s clothes. I get it. It’s just that I can’t concentrate with you all in my face like that. I’m sorry, I just can’t do it.”
“Nothing good can come of this shyness.” He knelt beside her and pushed the hair back from her face. “You are beautiful.”
Whoa, where did that come from? Elspeth opened her eyes startled by the closeness of his voice. All that well-hung glory within reaching distance. She fought the urge to touch him.
She spoke slowly, emphasizing each word very carefully. “You—are—beautiful—too—but—this—isn’t—about—that!”
Tahao closed his eyes and pushed down the intense lust he felt for her. He was tempted to have his way with her then and there.
“You’re distracting me.” Elspeth placed her hand over her heart. “Please?”
He stood and wrapped the blanket around his waist and knotted it on one side. Every time he moved it was a one man show of heaving and rippling muscle and she had a front row seat. Her inner ho applauded.
She cast a nervous glance at him, then returned her gaze to the fire. “Thank you.” A sense of relief settled over her.
“Memories first.” Her shaky voice betrayed her. Man later. A low rumble of thunder rolled overhead then broke with a ferocity that shook her to her core. “Looks like we made it here just in time.”
Chapter 3
Elspeth listened as the wind picked up outside. Something was off. Her stomach was having an anxiety milk shake. Then a deafening crack of thunder shook the whole cabin. Elspeth gasped and bolted upright. Without warning the air rippled as the cabin dissolved and she flashbacked to her SUV. An earsplitting boom silenced the cacophony of car horns behind her. A fast moving dust cloud rushed up and engulfed everything. The bile roiled in her throat as a high-pitch whistle preceded faint pop-pop-pop noises followed by a low rumble. A horrific metallic roar rose up—like the sound of an enormous can being torn open. Elspeth saw the void before her but there was nothing she could do—she felt weightless as the SUV arched in the air and plunged straight down into churning water accompanied by a chorus of screams that ended abruptly.
She leapt out of the chair, hands gripping the steering wheel as if the memory were real. The line between reality and memory blurred—her stomach dropped but forgot to mention the move to its contents. A nasty tasting souvenir filled her mouth.
Within seconds, an angry clap of thunder exploded so loud it knocked her back down into the chair. She flash-backed onto a plane where distant bursts of lightning gave the cabin an eerie, ghostly feel. Elspeth stared at the reflection of the wrinkled leathery face of the woman next to her. The old woman tapped her on the shoulder. Elspeth turned around and looked into the blackest eyes she’d ever seen with irises that swirled like the center of a hurricane. A knell of thunder grumbled around them.
“Granddaughter,” the woman whispered. “I will make a gift to you. You will know it by this blanket.”
Elspeth smiled. “You are too kind but I cannot accept.” She stared at the brown and gray weave pattern and the white fringe. She had to admit it did seem to have some sort of strange power. Just looking at it made her feel calm inside. Comforted.
The old woman’s eyes twinkled as if she knew something Elspeth didn’t. “It will chase the shadows from your heart.” A loud burst of thunder cracked overhead. The woman yawned and laid her head back against the seat rest. “I am old and very tired. My eyes must close now.”
Elspeth tucked the blanket in around the old woman. It couldn’t hurt to placate her. After all, she’d never known her real grandmother, or her own mother for that matter, having done the foster kid shuffle most of her life. If only it were that simple.
“You are a good granddaughter. I knew it the first time I saw you.”
The plane’s interior dissolved and she was back in the chair in the cabin.
Air flowed from her lungs as if she’d been sucker punched. She stared at the man standing in front of her. She stared at the blanket wrapped around his waist. Was it possible?
As if he heard her, Tahao stepped forward and put his hand on her shoulders.
“Elspeth…” Her name off his lips sounded velvety and smooth. She closed her eyes and imagined how they would feel pressed against her own. A hypnotic spell had been woven in this room, and she was under its influence. She heard him exhale, long and slow.
He pulled back, a questioning look on his face.
In a controlled voice, she said. “I just remembered the strangest thing.”
Was it memory or dream? Elspeth felt muddled. Her intense physical attraction to Tahao was messing with her mind. She needed to put some distance between her libido and him. Hard to do in a cabin the size of a pea.
She pushed away from him and walked to the window.
“I was in some kind of accident.”
She leaned her forehead against the cool glass and closed her eyes. “I went into the water.” Her pulse picked up. “I saw it so clearly.”
Heavy rain pounded the cabin and mirrored the unrelenting pace of Elspeth’s racing heart. Streams of water cascaded down the glass and brought a much darker memory to the surface. The weight of the remembrance pulled her back under.
On impact, she slammed forward as multiple airbags in the SUV deployed and filled the interior with a smoky white powder. A violent shudder ran the length of her body as freezing river water rushed in and turned her blood into icy daggers. She struggled to catch her breath and remain clearheaded. A strong chemical smell triggered panic. Frantically she tried to open the door as the water quickly rose to her waist. She undid her seatbelt and tried to kick the windshield a few times. It didn’t budge. She tried the passenger door, kicking as hard as she could, but then a loud, whistling sound filled the air above her. She looked up the roof hurl bend like clay as metal met metal and a tremendous weight took her down deep.
Suddenly a warm hand touched her shoulder and she was back in the cabin. The world spun out with a vicious 360. Tahao’s arms caught her and held on tight.
“My arms will not fail you.” His deep voice whispered.
Elspeth gripped his hand to her heart, determined to remember and nodded.
“Bring it on.”
Tahao scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the cot. He laid her down gently then sat on the edge next to her. Elspeth curled up in a fetal position and closed her eyes.
“Let them come.” He said softly.
The calm in his soothing voice mesmerized her. Soon she fell into a deep sleep and dreamed she was in freefall. The wind beat so hard against her face she could not catch her breath. She looked back and saw a blur of sky, a complete contrast to the fast approaching crystal clear blue sea. She fell straight through the liquid looking glass and plunged down into the cold, dark deep. The fading surface glimmered in the sun. She strove to stay near the surface, and clung to ephemeral strips of sunlight that glided through the dark wat
er. But her lungs betrayed her. No air remained. The last bit of sunlight vanished and the cold enveloped her, and in the spirit of what might have been she woke up.
At the foot of the cot, Tahao stood looking out the window. He heard her move and returned to her side. His brow wrinkled as his hand stroked her cheek. “Your spirit is fierce.” He said in a low voice. “Do not fight it.”
Elspeth turned over on her back and stared at the ceiling. A single drop of water fell on her forehead. Really? She crossed her eyes and watched as the droplet traveled down the middle of her nose. Then another drop fell and another and another. Heart thumping, Elspeth sat upright. Thunder crashed overhead. Water gushed from everywhere. It ran along the ceiling then streamed down the cabin walls. It poured from the window and door frames, every crack and crevice.
Lightning flashed and thunder broke directly overhead. She saw the water was already ankle deep—and rising. Elspeth stood up on the cot with her back against the wall. You’ve got to be kidding.
Breathing hard, she fought to control her panic. “Tahao!” Water streamed down her face blinding her. She heard him shout something to her, but she couldn’t hear over the rush of water.
Frozen with fear, a labyrinth of memories whirred like a camera shutter through her consciousness: skidding, screeching tires, terrifying, tremendous thuds; crinkling, crumpling cars; enormous sprays of splashing water; smothered screams, and muffled conversations, all underscored by the distant sound of sirens, and the pungent smell of river water as it invaded her lungs leaving a coppery aftertaste in her mouth.
Elspeth gripped her head in her hands. Get control. Her sanity was up for grabs. It’s not real. Her patience worn down to the last infinitesimal thread. Elspeth Madison Rose-Marie Saint, pull yourself together!
Dumb-founded, she pushed the water from her eyes. The water was almost level with the cot. “We’ve got to get out of here!”
Then the fire went out and the chill of darkness seized hold of her. Elspeth choked back her terror.
Shadows in the Mist: A Paranormal Anthology Page 14
