Wilder, J. C. - Shadow Dweller 3

by Shameless(lit)

  "I need you to get her back for me." Ivan turned. "She loves your books and she reads them all the time. If you write a book in which the man and woman are married, they separate and the woman realizes she made a mistake and they get back together, she'll come back to me."

  He was mad. She swallowed. What was it with crazy people today? Was it a full moon? First Fayne thought he was a were-cat, and now this.

  "I don't see how that'll help you..." she began.

  "It has to work!" Ivan shrieked and stumbled toward her. "She left me because of you. It's all your fault."

  Erihn screamed as he lunged at her. She tried to avoid his hands, but he caught her sleeve and hauled her to her feet. "She left me because of those stupid were- cats you wrote about. She left me because she wanted a younger, more virile man." He gave her a sharp shake, causing her to narrowly miss biting her tongue again. "You're a poor moral influence on your readers. You teach them to crave depravity, and you destroyed my beautiful home and my beautiful wife. She's dead because of you!"

  She cried out as he shoved her away from him. She skidded to her knees, her bandaged hand going wrist deep into the stream of muddy water. She struggled to her feet, her knees screaming in protest as the mud sucked at her shoes.

  "You're the letter writer," she sputtered.

  Ivan preened. "I have written you some lovely letters, haven't I?"

  She choked on the bile burning the back of her throat. "You..." Her words faded as a shadow stepped out of the rain and into the mouth of the cave. Thin and angular, the figure was draped in a sodden black cloak. There was something familiar about him.

  The newcomer tossed his hood back. She gasped. It was the albino man from outside the shop. His skin glowed an eerie white in the lantern light. His icy eyes flicked over her, then focused on Ivan. She was surprised when Ivan shook his head before the man said anything.

  "She doesn't have it." Ivan said.

  The ghostly man looked at her and she trembled under his icy stare. It felt as if a thousand cold fingers poked her skin at once. "W-w-what does he want?" she stammered. She knew, if she had a choice, she'd choose Ivan over this man. The albino fairly radiated pure evil.

  "A book. Mr. Edwards here believes you have some sort of diary from his family and he wants it back."

  The diary? What did he want with the diary? Erihn shook her head. "It isn't here. It's at the house."

  The newcomer's eyes narrowed to pinpoints of ice. She shivered as his gaze flicked to Ivan. The smaller man was shaking his head again.

  "How was I to know? I thought it was in the bag," he protested. "She was getting ready to leave, and she had the bag in her hand. I assumed it was in there."

  The albino's lip curled in a silent snarl. In the blink of an eye, his hand whipped out, snatched Ivan around the neck, lifting the smaller man off his feet. Ivan struggled against the sticklike fingers holding him immobile.

  Erihn screamed as those fingers plunged into Ivan's throat. Blood spurted from the gaping wound, forcing her to stumble away before the warm liquid splattered her. Her feet slid in the thickening mud, and she went down on her backside. Water splashed around her in growing torrents, forcing her to grab a rock sticking out of the wall in order to pull herself upright. Reluctantly, the mud released her with a sickening slurping sound.

  She turned to the face of the cave and her new tormentor. Ivan still dangled from the thin man's hand like a puppet, eyes slowly glazing as he died. She glanced at the rising level of water. Within minutes, they'd be in serious trouble if they didn't get out of this cave. Already half the floor was underwater.

  She looked at the albino again. "We have to get out of here," she pointed to the water. "We'll die if we stay here any longer."

  "I want the diary." The words were mangled as they came from Ivan's mouth. His lips weren't moving, causing the words to sound muffled. Through the gash in his neck, she saw the Albino's thin fingers clamped around Ivan's vocal cords and he plucked them like guitar strings.

  Erihn gagged and spun away from the horrific sight. She put her hand on the wall to retain her balance as her stomach heaved. Within seconds, she'd emptied its scant contents.

  "If you give me the diary, I won't hurt you."

  She shuddered at his unearthly voice. She rubbed a shaking hand over her lips. "You can have the diary." She shouted over the dull roar of the rising water. The torrent was rapidly turning into a river, and the water lapped at her ankles. She turned. "We have to get out of here now."

  A ghostly smile touched his lips and Erihn's eyes widened as she caught sight of what looked like vampire teeth. What in the devil was he? Revulsion crawled under her skin.

  "Come along, girl," the Ivan puppet intoned.

  Erihn glanced at the rising water and the Albino. Neither one was a good choice, but, with one, she might just survive. The other would kill her for sure. It always came down to making choices, and this one she didn't want to have to make.

  She edged toward the mouth of the cave, sliding in the mud with almost every step she took. She halted when a shadow appeared, capturing the Albino's attention.

  A large cougar loomed in the mouth of the cave. The lantern light reflected off the amethyst collar it wore.

  "At long last, Fayne," the Ivan-puppet intoned. "We meet again."

  Fayne? Erihn frowned at the cat.

  The cat emitted a low growl; its golden eyes glinting in the light.

  "I believe you have something of mine."

  The cat shrieked, its displeasure evident. A series of low growls filled the cave.

  "Now, must we be so unpleasant?"

  Erihn yelped as the torrent of water gushed over her feet. The sodden earth beneath her ruined tennis shoes began to give way, throwing her off balance. She made a wild grab for the wall and missed, sliding into the newly formed river. The icy water wrapped around her body and hurled her toward the darkness in the yawning belly of the cave.

  She shrieked as the force of the water slammed her into a crevasse in the rock wall, lodging her in place. Beneath her backside, she felt an odd rumbling sensation, as if the mountain had indigestion.

  She shuddered and wrapped her hand around a rock protruding from the wall. She forced her gaze to where the Albino and the cat stood eyeing each other warily about twenty yards above her. The force of the water was building and the cold sapped her strength. Debris in the water, small sticks and branches, stabbed at her skin as the muddy current swirled past her. The water grew denser with debris and mud as she struggled to her feet. A large branch clubbed her in knee, almost sending her into the water again. Terror struck her as she realized she might well be buried alive in a landslide.

  The cat looked at her, then back at the Albino. It gave an earsplitting scream that bounced off the walls of the cave before being swallowed by the din of the rainwater river. The cat turned its back on the Albino and began inching its way toward her. A peculiar laugh filled the cave.

  "You've made your choice, Fayne," the Ivan-puppet thundered. "One can only hope your son doesn't live to regret it."

  The cat stopped and turned toward the man, clearly indecisive.

  Without warning, the rock shifted beneath Erihn's hands and a cry tore from her throat. She clawed at the wall, but it was no use, her numb fingers couldn't retain a grip. The muddy water ripped her from her unstable perch, surrounded her and sucked her under. She flailed wildly, trying to find something to cling to. Her hand struck a large object. Desperate, she wrapped her hands around it, pulling her head above the water.

  Coughing, she blinked the mud out of her eyes and looked around wildly. How far she was from the mouth of the cave she didn't know, she couldn't see anything.

  The darkness was complete.

  "N-n-noooo," she moaned.

  Something slithered at the edge of her consciousness, as a wail locked in her throat. No, no, no!...

  Don't cry...

  Frantic, Erihn looked around for the owner of the voice. Soft and
high, it was the voice of a child.

  "Who..."

  I'm here with you. I won't leave you alone."

  "Who are you?"

  My name is Max.

  "Max? Fayne's son?"

  Yes.

  Erihn shook her head; she must have struck it on something. She grunted as something poked her in the stomach, almost knocking her loose from her dubious sanctuary. Right now, she needed to get out of this muck and onto dry land.

  "Well, Max, if you can, think of any way to get me out of this," she muttered, trying to get her legs underneath her.

  Reach up.

  Erihn looked up. She could see nothing above her.

  "What am I reaching for?"

  A ledge.

  She locked her knee around her perch and flailed an arm over her head. She struck rock and, feeling around, her hand curled around a small, shelflike protrusion.

  "Thank you, Max," she breathed.

  You're welcome.

  "How do you do that?"

  Do what?

  Mustering the last of her strength, Erihn stretched and flung her arm over the edge of the ledge. "Talk to me in my head like this."

  It's easy.

  She snorted as she hauled herself over the edge. "Easy for you, maybe." Her legs dangled over the edge when disaster struck. Something large in the water hit her mid-thigh, rocking her body from its unstable perch. She began to slide back into the water, a shriek on her lips.

  Lady!

  Erihn flailed desperately, knowing if she fell this time, she was done. She was almost out of strength, and there was no way she'd make it out of the water again. She sucked in a huge gulp of air as her fingers struck warm fur. Her hand curled around the collar as the ledge crumpled beneath her stomach, threatening to send her tumbling into the darkness.

  Her downward slide was halted as pain ripped her arm. Screams filled the cave as teeth bit through the jacket and into the flesh of her arm. Claws reached down, digging into the back of her jacket, scoring her skin. She bit her lip, braced her free hand on the ledge and struggled to pull herself onto it.

  She fell face-first onto the ledge, struggling for her breath. Pain wracked her body and she battled to subdue her panic. The cat released her arm and dropped next to her, his warm tongue bathing her face.

  Tears stung her eyes as Erihn worked her arm around his neck. "Thank you," she whispered.

  You okay now?

  She gave a faint chuckle. "Yes. Thank you, Max."

  You're welcome. Do me a favor? Tell Daddy I love him.

  "I..." The cat startled her by grabbing her by the back of the jacket and tugging her along the ledge.

  "Wait a minute." She turned and struggled to her knees. "Max?"

  Silence.

  The cat tugged again, this time forcing her to move. Slowly, they worked their way back along the ledge to the mouth of the cave. In spots, Erihn was forced to crawl along on her belly, the cat in front of her leading the way. He licked her cheek from time to time to encourage her to keep moving.

  As they rounded a bend, the faint golden lantern light was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. The ledge faded into nothing, and the cat leapt effortlessly to the scant remains of the floor. Cautiously, she slid off the ledge and down to the muddy floor before collapsing, panting for breath, shivers wracking her body.

  Just outside the mouth of the cave, Ivan lay in a bloody lifeless heap, his gaze sightless toward the heavens. She averted her eyes and looked instead at her arm. Jennifer's jacket was shredded and, through the slashes in the sleeve, several long scratches and deep puncture wounds marked her skin. Her arm was already coated with blood and more oozed from the lacerations. She let her arm drop to her lap.

  She closed her eyes for a second to get her bearings. The cat licked her cheek, jolting her into awareness. He grabbed the mangled sleeve of her jacket and gave it a gentle tug.

  "Let me guess," she slurred, her throat raw. "It's time to go."

  Erihn struggled to her feet and staggered to the mouth of the cave. The rain still came down in sheets and there was no sign of the Albino. Unable to stop herself, she glanced at Ivan. His glazed eyes stared back at her accusing, damning. She shuddered, then allowed the cat to lead her into the rain.

  She had no idea where the house was or how far they were from it. All she knew was she was exhausted, freezing, and the temperature was dropping rapidly, mixing sleet with the rain.

  They entered the woods and steadily moved deeper and deeper into the thicket. She was lagging badly, but there wasn't anything the cat could do for her. He led the way, ever spiraling down the mountain, moving ahead to find a path, then returning to nudge her along.

  It was an excruciating journey. They wound their way down the rugged mountainside. Once during the climb, the sodden land had given out beneath her shoes and she'd slid quite a distance on her backside.

  It felt like an eternity before they reached the house. The cat led her to the basement door, and she was sobbing as they tumbled through it. She glanced at the bed, but it was too far away, and she collapsed in a heap on the carpeting.

  Her eyes closed and she slipped into a light doze. She was awakened when Fayne scooped her off the floor.

  "Erihn," he cradled her against his chest. "We have to get you warmed up."

  She shivered and tried to open her eyes and keep them open, but was unable to focus on him. "F-f-f...ayne?"

  He chuckled. "Yes, love. It's me."

  Her teeth chattered violently as he set her on the commode and efficiently undressed her. He picked her up and eased her into the filling tub, and she tensed as the warm water touched her chilled flesh, breath hissing through her teeth. Her arm throbbed as she sagged against the side. She forced her eyes open and found Fayne staring at her arm, his expression disturbed.

  "I seem to keep hurting myself." She was startled to hear her words slurred.

  His gaze met hers, and she didn't think she'd ever seen him look so haunted. "You didn't do this," he whispered. "I hurt you this time."

  She frowned. What he was saying didn't make sense. "You weren't there," she mumbled. She scrunched her face, trying to remember what exactly had happened, but she couldn't get a grip on it. It was too bizarre at best. She must've hit her head.

  "Erihn," Fayne picked up her uninjured hand, jerking her attention back to him. "I swear to you, no one will ever hurt you again."

  "What are you talking about?" She was so exhausted; all she wanted to do was lie down for a while.

  "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

  She closed her eyes as he washed the grime from her body, but she was too lethargic to assist him. He rinsed the muck from her hair, and she sighed under his delicious ministrations. When he was done, he picked her up, and she couldn't resist snuggling against his chest.

  He set her on the commode again and patted her dry from top to bottom before dressing her. He helped her into a pair of purple sweat pants and an oversized white sweater. After pulling some heavy socks on her feet, his turned his attention to her wounds.

  "We seem to be making a habit of this." She watched as he wound gauze around her arm. Erihn only wished she had the energy to properly show him how much she appreciated his attentions.

  Fayne nodded, his expression sober. "You're lucky I have lots of bandages around here for Max. He's always banging himself up."

  Erihn frowned. Max. There was something about his son, but she couldn't remember... She was supposed to tell Fayne something. She yawned as he taped the bandages in place.

  "To bed with you." He picked her up again and carried her into the bedroom.

  She sighed in delight as he tucked her into his massive bed. The linens were silk, and they smelled of him. She snuggled into the warmth of the comforter, and she barely felt the kiss on her temple as she drifted to sleep.

  * * *

  Chapter 11

  She was in the basement again.

  Erihn stood on the steps in the earthen basement t
hat had almost become her tomb. The basement was brightly lit, allowing her to see every inch of the dank space. Her miserable damp pallet, the slop jar and the moisture that ran down the walls combined for a macabre prison. Chapman lay in a heap at the bottom of the steps. His limbs were shackled with great chains anchoring him to the floor, his gaze piteous as he stared up at her.

  She felt no anger.

  No resentment.

  No fear.

  She felt... free.

  She turned away from the pathetic man and continued her journey upward. The scarred oaken door-once nailed shut and coated with her blood from clawing at it- stood open and a beam of golden light spilled through it. Erihn took a deep breath and stepped into the light.

  And walked directly into a nightmare.

  She blinked.

  She stood in the archway that opened into Jennifer's living room. The first person she saw was Fayne. He stood to her right, dressed only in jeans, his hair damp and curling on his shoulders. His fists were clenched, knuckles white. Rage fairly vibrated from his tense posture.

  She looked across the room to see what he was looking at. Her breath caught in her throat.

  A tall, heavily built, dark-haired man stood before the fireplace, staring into the flames. Beside him sat the Albino in a straight-backed chair and on his lap, a child. It could only be Max.

  The child's expression was hollow, empty, as if his soul had left and only the shell of his body remained. The Albino smiled and nodded cordially at her. His hand, clamped on Max's shoulder, tightened, and she watched in horror as the boy jerked beneath the pressure.

  "I'm so glad you joined us, my dear. I was about to send our friend Fayne downstairs after you."

  Her heartbeat accelerated as the child's childish tones rang out. It was the voice from the cave, only a bit higher. She looked from the Albino to Fayne, whose expression was stony, eyes hooded. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

  She licked her lips. "What's going on?" Her voice was husky and her throat ached from her exertions in the cave.

  "Erihn." Fayne's voice was low. "Come to me."