by Lynn Landes
Elsbeth crawls inside the muddy tunnel, creeping along on her hands and knees, almost twelve feet before slowing. A breeze brushes against her face. She stops for a moment, and sees the opening to the other chamber.
“Why have you stopped? Are you okay?” Hunter calls to her.
“I’m good. I see the opening. Give me a minute.” As she carefully crawls to the end of the cut out, Elsbeth realizes the ground beneath her ends in a cliff. She inches to the edge, and is relieved to feel it open above her head. With a glance, she realizes it is a small cavern. At the edge, she looks down, and sees a two foot drop to what looks like a floor. It is covered in dust, mud and layers of rocks. Elsbeth decides to test it. She rotates around feet first and pushes with one boot to see if it is secure. Finding it can hold her weight: she climbs out and stands up slowly. She adds extra light by turning on her flashlight and her breath catches. She is surrounded by bloodstones.
“Hunter, I found them! It is so beautiful!” she yells back to him. The cavern walls are a deep forest green with red swirls imbedded in them. Entranced by the sparkling beauty of the stones, she does not feel the floor weakening until it gives away. With a blood curdling scream, she falls.
Her scream and the sudden uncoiling of the rope at his feet cause Hunter to panic, “Elsbeth!!” he yells bracing for her weight. Tied to her he prays the rope holds. Alex grabs his father’s waist helping to brace him for the impact. Hunter calculates quickly. The rope is only sixteen feet long. She climbed roughly twelve feet, so she will free fall a few feet unless the ground stops her first. The quick descent of her fall and the sickening snap of the rope is the last sound they hear before they slam into the wall and fall to the ground.
Elsbeth feels herself falling and stops screaming, wishing she could have seen him one last time, her angel. “Simeon,” she sighs like a prayer and the rope snaps. The jerk causes her helmet to be thrown from her head and her neck to snap back. Dazed for a moment she holds her breath until she realizes she is no longer falling, but floating! Afraid to open her eyes, she keeps her eyelids snapped tightly closed until she feels her feet touch the earth. Slowly, Elsbeth opens her eyes against the brilliant sunshine. She realizes she is outside the opening to the tunnel! Simeon! He’s here! She thinks jumping up to her feet; she pivots around searching for him.
“Simeon!” she screams, “Not again!” she yells. She takes a step to go look for him, and trips over something on the ground. Elsbeth falls to her knees and finds a bag tied with a leather strip, and a golden feather sticking out of the top. Reverently she touches the feather with her fingertips. Simeon, her heart sighs.
They found her like that, kneeling on the ground holding a golden feather. Hunter and Alex panicked when the rope snapped. They could feel the outward explosion of air as the tunnel collapsed. Alex did the only thing he could think to do: he grabbed his father and ported them outside the tunnel. Standing outside in the brilliant sun, they wince against the glare of light. Hunter twists around, intending to run for help and stops when he sees Elsbeth kneeling on the ground.
“Beth!” Alex yells, running towards her. Elsbeth’s bright blue eyes are full of joy as she looks up at them. Hunter stops Alex before he reaches her.
“He saved me again. He came back for me Hunter.” The blood pooling on the ground beside her left leg is the only indication that she is injured.
“Who Elsbeth? Who saved you?” Hunter asks looking around.
With a smile as bright as the sun, she answers reverently, “Simeon. Look he even gave us the stones,” gesturing to the bag on the ground.
“Elsbeth you’re injured, can I help you?” Hunter asks her. Alex moves away, and drops his backpack, taking out a bottle of water and small first aid kit. Hunter helps her stretch out her legs, and notices a rip in her jeans. Probably from her fall, and inside is a small gash on the calf of her leg. Taking out his knife, Hunter cuts the bottom of her jeans off her injured leg. After rinsing the cut with fresh water, he pats it dry with a small cloth. With shaking hands, he applies butterfly bandages to the cut.
“I am okay, he caught me before the impact, Hunter,” she tells him as she tries to hold still.
Gently he clasps the back of her neck with his hand, and pulls her forward. Kissing her softly on the mouth he says, “Elsbeth you scared twenty years off my life today!”
Alex is intently looking at the feather she holds. “Can I see that, Elsbeth?” She offers him the golden feather then watches, as he looks shocked.
“I’ve seen this before,” he says to himself. “Why do I feel like I’ve seen this before?” With a glance in Elsbeth’s direction, he has a million questions but no answers. Confused he gives the feather back to her, and walks away quietly to look at the bag of stones. Hunter helps Elsbeth to her feet then begins to pack up.
“How did you two get out so quickly?” Elsbeth asks trying to keep her weight on one foot. Alex and Hunter look at each other and neither one answers her question.
“We should get you back now, that leg needs to be looked at.” Hunter replies. Elsbeth claps the feather tightly to her heart unable to stop smiling… “He came back,” she thinks.
Fourteen
Still in a state of shock because of all that happened, they travel back to Polly’s house, unaware they now carry a stowaway. Drawn to Elsbeth by the mark she carries, the small cave demon traveled underground and followed them on the slow journey back to the vehicle. The scent of her blood causes its mouth to salivate, but he is patient and he bides his time waiting for his chance at the girl. Elsbeth sleeps in the back of the jeep, so Hunter drops Alex off at home, not bothering to go inside.
“You will be careful right, Dad? I am staying at Caleb’s tonight for the camping trip,” Alex reminds him, “I will be back Sunday around lunchtime.”
Hunter smiles at him, “Thanks for your help today, son. That was some quick thinking in the caves. I will be careful. You go have fun tonight.” With a wave, Alex unloads his gear and says goodbye.
“You are a great father. He is an amazing kid.” Hunter hears Elsbeth say as they pull off in the jeep.
He meets her eyes in the mirror and says, “I am the lucky one. How are you feeling?”
“Just tired,” Elsbeth yawns smiling softly. As she looks at the stones in her lap, Elsbeth glances out the window at the scenery passing by and falls asleep again holding the golden feather in her hand.
Hunter pulls into Polly’s driveway and cuts the engine off. He turns and looks at Elsbeth. She looks so frail with her bandaged leg, pale, mud covered hands and knees. His eyes drift to the stones and the feather she clutches and he sighs it looks like he has some competition. Smiling, he remembers what his grandfather used to say.
“Certain things capture your eyes, but pursue only those that capture your heart.” Her bravery, courage and innocence intrigue him. He wonders if he can capture her heart, or if someone else already has. After climbing out of the jeep, he opens the door to the passenger side and reaches in lifting her sleeping form in his arms. Gently he carries her in his arms toward the house. He smiles when she sighs and snuggles closer. Walking to the front door, he gives a wave of his head and the door swings open. Hunter places Elsbeth gently on the couch and watches her for a moment. It disturbs him that she still sleeps.
He follows the sound of voices into the kitchen, and finds Ruby and Polly busy cleaning lunch dishes. Elina and the men are looking over a map at the table. “I could use some help with Elsbeth. She injured her leg.” Jake jumps up quickly and starts to speak but Hunter stops him by lifting his hand up.
“She is okay, just a small cut, but the journey wore her out. She is sleeping on the couch.” Polly goes to the pantry and pulls out a first aid kit.
Elsbeth wakes with a start, confused for a moment until she realizes she is back at Polly’s. She hears voices in the kitchen and sits up slowly trying to wake up. The creaking of the floor draws her attention, and her heart begins to pound. A demon is scurrying across
the floor with a tick, tick, tick of its claws. It is a two foot tall, bat like creature with blood red eyes and black wings. It screeches at Elsbeth, drool pouring from its mouth and she screams. She jumps up and flips the coffee table up on its side, hoping to slow the demon down. The sound of her fear energizes the demon, and it grows larger. Now, standing almost four feet tall, it flaps its leathery wings leaping straight up in the air with a loud screech, and swoops down towards Elsbeth.
Jake rushes into the room, followed by the others who stand shocked by what they are seeing. Elsbeth is standing over a large creature, beating it with a lamp from Polly’s table. The demon lies on the ground, with a black dagger sticking out of its forehead. Still moving the creature jumps at her again, only to have Elsbeth lean over and shove the dagger deeper, exploding it to dust. The only sound is the clinking of the blade as it hits the floor. She picks up her blade and turns to them with a determined look in her eyes.
“I won’t go back again,” she says holding the shaking blade in her hand.
Elina walks to her and says, “Never again Elsbeth. You are safe here.” Gently she removes the dagger from her trembling hands.
Polly guides her from the room, “Let’s get you cleaned up honey.”
To the room full of people, Hunter exclaims, “It must have followed us from the mines.”
Ronnie asks, “What if there are more of them?”
Elina and Jake look at each other and Jake answers, “I have seen them before. They need the dark. I doubt more than one could have hitchhiked back without you knowing it, but we should check,” Jake says as he turns to leave.
He pauses as Elina joins him, “I will help you check, just to be sure.”
Before the others leave, Hunter turns to Jake and Elina and asks, “What happened to Elsbeth?”
“She was taken by a son of the One. He had her soul in hell for almost two weeks, before we could get her out. The rest is her story to tell,” Jake tells him quietly before he and Elina, follow Ronnie outside the house to look for more demons.
Hunter has been fighting Shadows for years, but he is shaken up by what he has seen today.
Polly enters the living room and watches as they all begin picking up the room. “I have a circle of protection around the house. How did that thing get in here?” she asks.
“I don’t know, but we had to separate to get to the stones, for only a few minutes. It must have been drawn to us by Elsbeth, we have to heal her!” Hunter says vehemently.
Polly rests a hand on Hunters shoulder, “We all feel the way you do, Hunter. Maybe with your help we can figure this out.”
The trio returns from the cold, “No traces of more demons. How’s Beth?” Jakes asks.
“She is resting. I am worried as she grows weaker every day.” Polly tells them. “It is time we do something” she tells them.
Hunter looks at them and sighs, “Today the floor beneath her feet collapsed and she fell. We had a massive cave in. There is no way she should have survived. When Alex and I came outside, she was on the ground, holding a golden feather. He holds up his hand, and shows them the golden feather. Glowing like the flame of a candle, the feather gleams and everyone goes quiet.
“He saved her, and from what I gather; he was the one who helped her when the demons had her. He left the stones and left her with us. We never saw him. What is he?” Hunter demands.
“He is the Archangel, Simeon. He is a Son of the Light,” Elina answers. “During her captivity he shielded her when he could, took her pain as his own, and when we freed her, he carried her to safety.”
As Hunter begins to pace he looks at them asking, “You said a Son of the Light and angel can remove the mark. Why not just call him back and ask him to remove it?”
“Why didn’t he stay today? If she is marked, wouldn’t he know it?” Jake asks looking at Elina.
“It’s not that simple!” Polly interrupts “It is not a tattoo that she wears for all to see since it’s in her very soul. He is an angel, the more time he spends with her, the more danger he is in.” She looks at the confused faces around her, and tells them, “Humans and angels are forbidden from loving each other. By spending time with her, we threaten his soul.” Jake is frustrated and looks closely at Polly.
“How exactly does that work? He comes, he does some kind of spell and he leaves. Why would that risk his soul?” Jake wonders.
“Because, he does not want to leave Elsbeth, Jake.” Ruby says answering for her, saying, “Every time he is with her the separation gets harder. If he takes what he wants, he will fall and she will go with him,”
The room goes quiet. “If we do nothing, she dies.” Ronnie says breaking the silence. “Her faith was strong enough to save her through an ungodly amount of torture and she will handle being with him once more. The question is not what to do, but rather how to go about getting him here.”
“That is the easy part,” Elina replies. “You need bait. He comes only when she is in danger. This could work,” Elina says to the group.”
“Hunter,” Elina says speaking to his mind, “This is our chance to find out where the missing part of the book is! I can lure a Son of the One here using Elsbeth as bait, and then we can question it!”
With a glance at Elsbeth, Hunter is willing to try whatever is necessary to make sure she is safe. He says, “In order to trap bad dreams or spirits I simply create a spirit web. Trapping is my specialty. It is how I hunt them.”
Elsbeth feels lost in the group of powerful people. She steps back into the room, from the hallway, “What can I do?” she asks quietly. “You are the bait,” Elina replies.
Everyone goes still, and Jake explodes, “Over my dead body! They almost killed her last time, YOU know that!” he snarls, snatching Elsbeth away from the group. “I think it is time we leave!” He pulls Elsbeth, intending to leave.
“She is marked by a Son of the One, Jake,” Elina says firmly. “There is no where you can run, no where you can hide. We have only one option. We will trap a demon, to lure an angel. Only a Son of the Light can remove the mark.” As she is telling everyone this, she feels guilty. She knows she is using them, to find another clue to the books locations. She could call Malach, but that would not bring a demon for interrogation. It is an unsavory but a necessary means to an end.
Livid at them all for putting her in this situation, Jake tells Beth, “There has to be another way. You don’t have to do this!”
“Damnit, Jake, I won’t spend the rest of my life hiding, wondering when they are going to find me! I can’t sleep for the nightmares. I have to find a way to be free of this, and you can’t be with me twenty four hours a day.” Just thinking of seeing Simeon again, her heart soars. Solid in her resolve, she turns to Elina “Tell me what to do.”
“We have to draw as little attention as possible. They are drawn to you and to any energy they feel. I don’t want to lead a horde of them here. Where is a safe place to do this?” Elina asks Polly.
Polly steps forward, “It would be best to go down by the old church or what’s left of it. Once I cast a circle, any demons who try to leave will be destroyed. You will be protected Elsbeth. We won’t let them get you again,” Polly tells her.
Ruby joins her sister, “We will anchor you to one of us. We are gifted in a different way, but no less powerful,” she says looking at Ronnie.
“You will be safe with us and if at any time you want to stop, just say the word and we will get you out,” Ronnie tells her. Elsbeth smiles at her brother because they are now surrounded in a circle of protection and they haven’t even started yet.
Jake takes a deep breath and says, “What should I do?”
Elina looks at Jake and smiles, “You will help me. I need to search for more Watchers. You can help watch for any shadows that may come for your sister.”
“Recon is my specialty,” Jake says with a grim smile.
“I will have to go alone, won’ I?” Elsbeth asks.
Hunter steps forward, “N
o, I will go with you, hidden from view but close enough to see you.”
“Polly, Ruby and Ronnie can go cast the circle around the church while Jake and I watch from here.” Elina tells her, “Then you will go. I will add a boost of energy to you to draw them in. Elsbeth you will feel them around you; just keep moving and follow the path through the woods, towards the church.” Polly leads Ruby and Ronnie out to collect the supplies needed and they leave for the church.
Jake watches Elsbeth pull on her coat, and step out on the porch. She looks back to reassure him. “I’ll be okay, Jake. Simeon will come to save me, and you will destroy all the demon bastards who appear.” With a determined look, she leaves quietly.
“She’s amazing,” Hunter says to Jake, watching her leave.
“Yes, she is, so make sure she comes back this time, Hunter.”
Nodding in understanding, Hunter leaves, stepping out into the crisp night air. Going to his truck, he opens it and begins to strip off his clothes. Shoes, socks, shirt, jacket are all tossed into the truck. He smears a black paint on one side of his face, and fills his jeans with a few special items. First is a coin his son gave him for good luck, and then a dagger goes in the back of his jeans. Reaching behind his seat, he pulls out a buckskin mat rolled up and tied with a leather thong. Senses alert, he hears Elsbeth walk up behind him.
Intent on Hunter, she asks, “You will be near me, right?”
Looking at the beautiful young woman before him, he steps so close she can feel the heat rolling off his body. “Elsbeth I will be your shadow, you will never be alone.”
He stands before her in his jeans, with his long, black hair loose; Elsbeth can’t help but smile at the image he presents. His muscular chest glistens in the moonlight. He is the image of a warrior. “Thank you, Hunter?”
“You will think of me when you are with him, Elsbeth.” He says as he kisses her soft mouth. In that moment, he is afraid for her. Not of the demons, but the angel who wants her.
