Courting the Darkness (21 page)
Read Courting the Darkness Online
Authors: Karen Fuller
He laughed. “I’ll try to work on that.”
She laughed. “Don’t bother. I love you just the way you are.”
He brought his lips to hers in a demanding kiss. She brought her arms up around his neck and molded her body to his.
Caleb cleared his throat. “Y’all have an audience, you know.”
“Go away, Caleb,” they said in unison, and Denise laughed.
“Come on, you mangy polecat.” Denise punched Caleb in the arm. “Come back inside with me and leave these two alone for a while. We’ve both been enough trouble for at least one day.”
Caleb hung his head, following Denise back into the cavern. “Don’t call me that.”
Denise laughed.
Mica kissed her forehead. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“That would be nice.” She put her face toward the sun, grinning. “I’m tired of that old cave anyway. It kind of creeps me out.”
He twined his fingers in hers. “Oh, I don’t know. I will always have fond memories of that place.”
She flushed. “Come to think of it, I will too. That Express Van will always be near and dear to my heart as well.”
They stepped out into the bright sunshine. Mica looked up to the sun, squinting his eyes to the glare. “My eyes are not accustomed to the brightness yet.”
She laughed. “I’ll put sunglasses for you at the top of my shopping list.”
He pulled her back into his arms. “You are amazing.” He kissed the top of her head.
She hugged him tighter. “You’re pretty amazing yourself.”
“I’m kind of anxious to leave and take you to your new home. Let’s go pack up. We’ll leave tonight, and by this time tomorrow, this mess will be all behind us.”
She kissed his cheek. “That sounds good to me.”
He swept her off her feet and into his arms. “I hope you never get accustomed to the darkness. I rather enjoy holding you this close.”
She giggled playfully. “Not half as much as I do.”
He grinned. “You’re not afraid of the dark anymore, are you?”
“I certainly don’t like it much, but if I’m with you, I’m not afraid anymore.” She grinned mischievously. “But if you wish to continue to carry me, I won’t complain.”
He brushed his lips with hers and she boldly latched on tighter, slipping her tongue between his lips to stoke his. He broke the kiss, looking deeply into her eyes. “I definitely can’t wait to get you back home.”
She laughed softly. “I hope you always feel that way.”
“Since you can make me feel that way with just a look, I don’t foresee it changing in the near future.”
She grinned, giving him a quick kiss. “Let’s go pack. I was ready to leave hours ago.”
* * *
“Start packing,” Mica announced as he entered the cavern. He set Desiree back down on her feet. “We’re leaving at sunset.”
Caleb’s eyes widened. “But we haven’t caught Hargrove yet.”
“If Hargrove is still stalking us, he will follow us to New Orleans. At least there we’ll have more backup. Hargrove has demonstrated how devious he can be, and I’m not taking any chances with Desiree’s safety.”
Denise nudged Desiree’s arm. “Desiree, could I talk to you for a minute?”
Desiree gave Mica an uneasy glance and he nodded. “Oh—uh—okay, Denise. What’s up?”
Denise chewed on her bottom lip. “How did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Perform this miracle for Mica?”
Desiree was careful to keep a straight face. “I did it with a blood sacrifice. Are you volunteering?”
Denise backed up in confusion. “Uh—no—I—uh—I volunteer Caleb.”
Desiree laughed. “Hey, Caleb, Denise has enlisted your services as a blood sacrifice.”
“She’s what?” Caleb stepped forward, clearly confused. Mica joined Desiree in the laughter.
Desiree wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes. “Denise, even if I told you how I did it, you couldn’t replicate it. You’re not a witch. You don’t have any powers.”
The disappointment was clear on her face. “Oh, I was just wondering.”
“I’ll tell you what. If you promise me that you’ll never interfere in our lives again, I’ll help you.”
“That’s an easy one.” She smiled. “You’ll never have to see me ever again.”
“You don’t have to go quite that far.” Desiree laughed. “Just don’t listen to any of Caleb’s schemes and I’ll be happy with the arrangement.”
“It’s a deal.”
“Wait here. I’ll be right back. I need to keep them hidden until we’re ready to leave. My freedom from Drake depends on those amulets.”
“Amulets?” Denise threw out her hands in confusion.
“Yes, amulet.” Mica walked over to show her his.
“That little thing is that powerful?”
“Yeah, she almost brought the roof of the cavern down on top of herself blessing these things. Don’t take it lightly.”
Desiree walked up to Denise, handing her the amulet on a gold chain. “Wear it and it will protect you in the daylight.”
Denise put the necklace on. “Thanks. I don’t have to do anything else?”
“Why don’t you go try it out? We’ll walk with you.”
Denise’s eyes grew wide. “Now?”
Desiree smiled. “There’s no time like the present.”
“Don’t be afraid, Denise.” Mica laughed softly. “You can trust Desiree.”
Desiree took Denise by the arm. “Come with me outside. You will love it.”
Denise looked between Mica and Desiree. “Okay,” she replied timidly, following Desiree to the mouth of the cave. She stopped just at the edge of daylight. “Do you promise me that I won't burn?”
“I promise. Have a little faith.” She tugged on Denise’s arm, pulling her into the daylight.
Denise closed her eyes, cringing, and when nothing happened, she opened her eyes in wonder. “I’m not burning.” She laughed, running outside.
Mica stepped up behind Desiree, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into him. “I think you just made a new friend for life.”
Desiree smiled. “I’m just glad she’s happy. I don’t mind sharing my magic. I just don’t want to share you.”
He laughed. “That won’t be a problem. I’m all yours.”
She pulled his arms tighter around her. “I’m going to hold you to that. It took me over a hundred years to find you. I can’t go back to the way it was before I met you.” She shuddered. “Promise me you’ll stay.”
“I’ve already told you, I can’t live without you. I promise I’ll stay, for better or for worse. You’ll get sick of seeing me, I’m sure.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
He laughed. “I’ll remind you of that when you get mad at me.”
Denise ran up to them, spontaneously hugging Desiree. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou,” she remarked excitedly.
Desiree laughed. “You’re welcome. Just take advantage of it, and don’t stay cooped up in the daytime.”
“Hey, where did everybody go?” Caleb shouted from the cavern.
“We’re outside watching Denise’s debut in the sun,” Desiree shouted back.
“You gave Denise an amulet?” He came outside and his mouth dropped open. “Well I’ll be damned. They do work. Mica’s amulet wasn’t just a fluke after all.”
“Oh ye of little faith.”
Caleb laughed. “I am now a true believer.” Desiree and Mica laughed with him.
“Denise, I hate to cut your time in the sun short, but we have to pack,” Mica remarked. “Desiree isn’t safe here.”
Denise walked up to them. “I’ve never seen you run from a fight before, Mica. I would think two vampires and a black panther would afford her plenty of protection from one human, but I’ll help pack.”
“In a straight forward attack, any of us could handle him.” He looked at Desiree and smiled. “Even Desiree. Hargrove doesn’t attack straight forward. You heard for yourself how he tricked Caleb. He got past us at the truck stop and slipped a threatening note under Desiree’s door in the showers. And he’s also been to these caves while we weren’t here. No, Hargrove doesn’t fight fair. We’ve got to get her out of here now—today.”
C
HAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Mica and Caleb joined Desiree and Denise in the main cavern. “The sun just set and the van is packed with everything except Desiree’s magical things,” Mica remarked. “We’ll grab those and should be out of here in five minutes. Look around to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.”
Desiree smiled. “I’ll go get…” She cocked her head to the side to listen. “What was that?”
Mica gripped her arms, looking into her eyes. “Go cast your shield! Now! Don’t come out until it’s over.”
“Mica?” Fear gripped her voice.
“We’re out numbered. Desiree, please, do as I say. Go now!”
Panic penetrated Desiree’s heart and she ran for the other cavern. She could hear a fight begin in the room behind her. She picked up a candle, stepped into the circle, and stood at her Altar. “Fire,” she commanded loudly, and all the candles ignited. She felt the added power surge vibrating beneath her feet. She cast her eyes up and spread her arms wide. “Spirits, shield me now!” she commanded, and the winds whipped around the room. She turned and stared intently at the doorway to the cavern.
Jason Hargrove stepped through the doorway with a superior smug expression. “You won’t escape me this time, witch,” he hissed. “I will see you burn yet!”
She placed her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes. “What have you done, you little worm?”
Jason laughed. “Oh, nothing much. I knew I couldn’t get past your bodyguards on my own, so I enlisted the help of the local vampire clan. I only had to tell them that there was a rogue vampire hiding out in their local caves, and they were only too happy to help me.”
“You will pay for this, Hargrove.”
He advanced menacingly toward her. “Maybe, but not today.” He hit the force field hard, and it sent him flying back into the cavern wall.
“You idiot! Did you think I wouldn’t be prepared for you?”
Jason stood, dusting off his clothes. “It seems I have underestimated you, but it’s no bother,” he stated calmly. “I need some help in here,” he shouted. About fifteen vampires came into the room. They had Mica and Denise in silver chains, and they carted Caleb in the room in a cage. “You see, your time here is done. Now, come out of that circle.”
“Don’t break the circle,” Mica stated weakly.
Panic gripped her heart. “Mica, what did they do to you and Denise?”
“It’s the silver. Our bodies can’t tolerate the silver.”
The lead vampire laughed. “You won’t have much longer to worry about that.” He yanked the amulet from Mica’s neck. “We will put you in a cage with silver bars, and when the sun comes up, you will no longer be a problem.” All the clan vampires laughed.
Desiree ground her teeth in hatred. “Let. Them. Go!” she commanded, and the walls of the cavern shook.
Jason looked around in a panic. “Forget about that! One of you, get her out of that circle.”
Three vampires charged the circle and were repelled into the cavern walls.
Desiree lifted her chin defiantly, laughing. It was a sound of power that echoed eerily off the cavern walls. The wind whipped up around her as she raised her arms, focusing her glare on Jason.
He went to his knees. “Someone stop her,” he yelled in a panic.
“Come to me, spirit from the black of night. I call to thee with all my might. Curse this mortal who cowers before me. Curse him now so all might see. In his heart, he is a rat. Change his form to reflect that. Take him down to this cavern floor. Shrink him down forever more. Please grant this spell I ask of thee. I do so wish it. So mote it be!” she commanded. Jason screamed, shrinking into the form of a rat. She snatched him up by the scruff of the neck and shoved him into the cage she had the bat in earlier.
She stood and focused her attention on the vampires. “Now. Let. Them. Go!” she commanded, and the cavern shook again. There was a panicked commotion in the room. Desiree’s eyes locked with Mica’s and he nodded and smiled. She tried to smile back, but she didn’t feel confident at all. She raised her arms and boulders started falling down the walls. The commotion grew worse and the vampires started fleeing in a panic, which was what Desiree wanted, except they dragged her friends out with them. “Stop!” she commanded, but they kept running.
She dropped to her knees and wept. “Mica!” She cried out in agony. “Come back to me,” she whispered. Closing her eyes, she let her senses reach out to him. She felt his anger, and his courage, but she could also feel that he was in a much-weakened state. She stood back up, looking frantically around the room. Picking up a candle, holding it high, she spoke to the empty room. “Spirits thank you for attending me!” The candle blew out and they all extinguished at the same time.