Icarians: Poisoned Dreams (7 page)

"I'm ok now but I have to let you go. I need to talk to Jaxon." Analeigh said.
"Ok I'm coming over first thing in the morning, is that alright?"
"I would really like that!" Analeigh said before they both hung up.
She looked up at her house. Jaxon had turned on the lights so the whole house was blazing with light. She slowly unlocked her car door and got out looking around for the black panther. When she felt it was safe enough she ran up the steps and into the house. She slammed the door shut and locked it.
"Jaxon?" Analeigh called out for him.
She saw him coming down the stairs and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Did you see anybody?" She asked him.
"No but they left a big mess upstairs in the attic and your bedroom." Jaxon told her grimly.
She wrapped her arms around herself to try to stop shaking, when really she wanted his arms to hold her. She wanted to run to him and never leave his arms. Instead she just stood there with her head down trying to compose herself. Jaxon's heart went out to her and he wanted to make sure nothing would ever hurt her again, but he knew that was impossible right now, he needed to keep her focused.
"Analeigh, you need to look around to see if anything was taken." He pushed a little.
She surprised him when she looked up and said "ok." Analeigh slowly looked around her living room. It was still bare from her cleaning and she was about to start redecorating, so there was virtually nothing on the walls or tables of that room. She had a tiny dining room connected to the kitchen just to left of the living room. Analeigh surveyed that room as well, then the kitchen.

She suddenly stopped when she saw the box that had her grandmothers picture in was turned over. The picture was crumpled on the floor. Analeigh bent down and picked it up, and tried to straighten it out the best she could. Jaxon came up behind her and looked at the picture from over her shoulder. She gently laid the photo down on the counter and Jaxon picked it up. He studied the image for a moment then turned it over, he read the note her grandmother had written then saw the tape. He looked up at her and saw she had tears in her eyes, but he needed to ask anyway.
"Analeigh what was taped to the back of this picture?"
"Um it was just some old key my grandmother wanted me to have." She answered him and sniffed.
"Where is the key now?" He asked her again. He could feel the importance of the key running all through his body.
She looked around for her keys, she found them in her purse. She didn't even remember putting them in there. She brought them out and held them up to Jaxon.
"I have it here, why?"
He looked at her keys for a moment. Then he spotted the key that her grandmother left for her. He almost reached for it but something about the key screamed at him not to touch it. He withdrew his hand.
"Did she mention what that key goes to?"
"No, that’s all she wrote about it." She pointed to the note on the back of the photo.
"Well, you need to finish looking around to see if anything is missing." He said, but his mind was still on the key.
Her grandmother was well practiced in witch craft, she must have put a spell on it so no one else could touch it and use it. After Analeigh had looked through all the rooms she went back downstairs with Jaxon. She found him standing with the french doors leading to the patio wide open. Panicked she ran to him.
"Shut the doors, don’t go outside!"
He stepped back inside.
"Whoever it was is gone now Analeigh. Did you see the person that was in here tonight?"
"No, I didn't get a good look at him, but...." She trailed off holding something back.
"What is it?" He asked dreading her answer.
"There was a black panther inside the house-"
"Wait a minute and sit down. Start from the beginning and tell me what happened." He told her.
Analeigh sat down and took a deep breath. He was going to think she was crazy but she told him anyway.
"I got out of my car and was almost to the door when I noticed it was open a little, I went back down the stairs and looked up at the house. I could see him standing in the window of the tower room looking down at me. I got my phone and called Sadie, then I noticed he wasn't there anymore, so I ran and got into my car. I was talking to Sadie and I could see the door opening slowly but it wasn't a man that came through the door, it was a huge black panther. It lunged off the porch and attacked my car trying to get to me. Then you came and I guess you scared it away." She paused for a moment to see if he believed her or not. He just sat there. She could see his muscles in his jaw working. Finally she said, "You think I'm crazy, don’t you?"
"No Analeigh I don't think your crazy. I have seen the black panther myself." She just couldn’t believe this was happening.
"This is absurd, I moved out here to learn about my heritage and more about my grandmother, but instead I have been attacked by crazy men and a flesh hungry panther, of all things!" She felt angry now, she has never been good at playing the victim.
"Good Analeigh, its ok to get angry."
"Where do you think the man went?" She asked Jaxon as she paced the floor of her dining room.
"He most likely ran out the back and into the woods. I think he’s gone for the night, but you should call the police if you want.“

God that was all she needed, for the whole town to think she was crazy. “No, nothing seems to be missing and nothing was vandalized, so I would rather not.“ She felt some of her senses coming back to her.

“
I can stay if you want me to." Jaxon offered her.
His words stopped her in her tracks. God yes she wanted him to stay, she wanted to feel safe. She also knew that it wasn't his place to protect her.
"No that’s ok. You stayed here with me last night. I'll be fine." He felt a little disappointed but if that was what she wanted he had no choice but to do as she wished.
"Ok you can call me if you need anything, I'm just a couple miles away."
"Thank you so much Jaxon." She locked the door after he left then went to the window to watch him leave.
Jaxon got in his truck and made a show of leaving, he knew she was watching him. He had no intentions of leaving her tonight but she didn't need to know that, he thought as he made his way to the woods at the back of her house.

Chapter 8

The next morning Analeigh woke with a start after having slept only a little the night before. She was sure she had been dreaming and that’s what had woke her, but luckily this time she couldn't remember the dream. Today she needed to find out what the key went to. When she showed it to Jaxon last night she got a strange feeling that the key was very important.

She made her way downstairs and quickly fell into her morning routine. She had just finished getting dressed in shorts and a pale blue tank top when she heard someone drive up. With her long brown curly hair down around her shoulders and down her back, she went to see who it was. She saw through the window that it was Mercedes.

"Are we making this a habit?" Analeigh said jokingly as she opened the door for her.
"I sure hope not!" Mercedes said as she stepped into Analeigh's house.
"How are you doing today?" She asked her.
"Well a lot better than last night." Analeigh replied.
"God Analeigh you are going to start to hate this place if this keeps up. Jaxon told me what happened last night. You must have been so scared."
"Scared is not the word for it. First thing Monday morning when we go shopping, I'm getting a security alarm set up. Hopefully that will keep this from happening again. Your brother saved me again, I'm going to end up owing him so much if I make it out of this place alive." Analeigh said sighing.
She meant it as a joke but she saw a sort of saddened concern in Mercedes eyes that set her on edge.
"I'm just sorry you have had such bad luck since you have been here." Mercedes said quickly recovering from the look.
"Tell me about it.” Analeigh said smiling at her.
They chatted for a little bit and Mercedes left Analeigh to clean up after last nights intruder.

After about three hours straight of cleaning Analeigh finally stopped and sat down on her grandmothers sofa. She grabbed a pen and some paper and started to make a list of what she needed to buy the next day. She needed to drop her car off at Jaxon first thing in the morning to see if he could get the scratches out of the paint and metal. Analeigh hated the thought of asking him to do it, he has done so much for her already, but seeing how he has the only mechanics shop in town she didn't have much of a choice. Hopefully he had the right equipment to do the body work.

She would have to buy a television set because her grandmother didn't own one, new curtains, paint, towels, bed covers, the list seemed to go on and on. She got up and grabbed her keys, the only place she could think to take the key would be to Pearl's. Analeigh was taking the chance that she would be open on a Sunday but it was worth a try.

She made sure she locked her house and walked to her car quickly. She paused when she saw the claw marks on her door, chills ran through her as she remembered the night before. Analeigh got in the car and drove toward town. Jaxon watched from the woods as she left. Analeigh should be safe in town as long as she stayed close to people. For now he needed to go home and shower and change his clothes. He called Dean to take his place while he was gone. Dean Cross was young but he had the ability to become invisible, Jaxon had no doubt that he would protect Analeigh at all cost.

He had watched her all night but his uncle had never returned. Not that Jaxon had really expected him to. Victor was too clever for that, he would have known that Jaxon would be waiting for him. Jaxon had to be sure, he couldn't let anything happen to Analeigh. Finally Dean arrived to relieve Jaxon, they talk a little and Jaxon went home. He told Dean that he would be back around dark.
After Jaxon was showered he lay back on his bed, he needed a little rest before tonight. Just then Mercedes knocked on his bedroom door. He threw his arm over his eyes and thought about telling her to get lost.
"What?" He demanded with his arm still over his eyes. Jaxon heard the door open, then felt a large thud land beside him on the bed.
"What, no kiss hello?" Mason laughed as Jaxon jumped off the bed.
"Damn man, you scared the hell out of me."
"Yeah that was kinda the point!" Mason said still smiling. " Why you sleeping in the middle of the day?"
"You could say I had a late night." Jaxon answered him as he tried to rub the stress out of his neck.
"Analeigh had a run in with Victor yesterday evening."
"No shit? Is she ok?"
"Yeah she was a little shook up, I kept watch last night and will again tonight. Dean is watching her house as we speak, so I can relax for a bit."
"I can take your shift tonight." Mason offered.
"Thanks but all I need is a short nap then I'll be as good as new, besides I have another job for you".
"Yeah what’s that?"
"I have a hunch that Victor is going to try to get me out of the way, the only real way he can do that is through Sadie. I want you to stay with her, all the time. Don't leave her for anything. Can you do that?"
"Absolutely!" Mason said without hesitation reassuring Jaxon.
"Ok you might as well go get your stuff because your camping here from now on."
"Sounds fine to me, you know I wont let you down."
"Now get the hell off my bed so I can sleep." Jaxon watched Mason leave the room. He felt a lot better about his sister. Jaxon knew he could count on Mason. He quickly fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

Analeigh drove up to Pearl's shop and just as she suspected it was closed. She was about to turn around and leave when she saw Pearl waving at her through the shop window. She watched her hurry to open the door for her.
"Hello Analeigh! Come in, come in." Pearl greeted her warmly as she ushered her through the door.
"Hi Mrs. Donovan, how are you today? Analeigh asked her politely.
"Lord child call me Pearl please. I have been doing really good, is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes, I was wondering if you recognized this." She asked as she held out the key that her grandmother left her.
Pearl looked at the key closely but didn't take it from her. "Why yes I do, it was your grandmothers but of course you already know that."
"Do you have any idea what it goes to?" Analeigh asked. Pearl looked at Analeigh for a long time, so long that she didn't think she was going to answer her.
"I’m not sure, a bad memory comes with age. Why don't you let me ponder on it for a little bit and see what I can come up with. I'll keep it here until I figure it out, do you mind?"

Analeigh paused for a moment not sure she should trust the older woman, but something inside her calmed her fears. "Sure, that would be great. Let me give you my cell number in case you think of something." She laid the key down on the counter and next to it she laid her cell number.

After Analeigh left, Pearl stood looking at the key. That poor child had no idea what this key meant for so many people and now it lay on the counter in her shop.
Fear prickled her spine as she scooped up the key with a piece of cardboard. Even with the cardboard she could feel the magic burning through to her skin. If certain Icarian's found out she had it, she and a lot of other people would surely die. She had to hide it and she had to think quickly.
Analeigh left the shop and walked across the street to the grocery store to pick up a few items. She had a strange feeling so she looked around in time to see a figure move swiftly behind a building. She rubbed the gooseflesh that rose on her arms. I'm tired that’s all, she tried to convince herself. Still she wanted to hurry and get home long before dark. Analeigh hurried through the store and got her items, paid for them and left.

As she was driving back home she noticed a black car following her. She made a left and so did the car. Analeigh felt like crying, then she had an idea. She quickly made a right and went back the way she came. The car was still in pursuit of her. She felt relief when she saw her destination, Ravenwood County Police Department. Analeigh pulled in and waited in her car. The car sped away quickly down the street. Satisfied she turned her car back toward her house and hurried home. What the hell is going on? She thought to herself. What did they want from her? She needed to get a security alarm installed and fast.