Desert of the Damned (29 page)

“To keep you safe until Tarik figures out how to utilize the Sha Warriors’ power.

We need to find others like you. You’re my bargaining chip.”

“Then what? Will you kill me then?” She raised her chin, glaring at him.

“No. It won’t come to that.” He looked her in the eyes when he said that but she wasn’t sure if she believed him. “Hurry,” Dante said, “before the mistress becomes impatient with your absence.” Amy was led out another entrance at the end of a corridor.

“What about Jake?” Amy asked as he took her hand, nearly dragging her down the steps, toward the ocean cliffs.

Dante glanced at her but didn’t answer. He continued to run down the grassy slope, pulling her along beside him.

“Dante, I’m not going anywhere without Jake.”

“I know. You’ll have to wait down here. I’ll go back for him.”

“Not without Jake.” Amy jerked her arm free.

“I’m already risking more than you know by sending you back. You’ll have to do it my way.” Dante took her arm again and urged her on. They reached the edge of the cliff and he stopped and faced her. “When Jake comes, hold the stone in your right hand, like this.” He made her grip the pendant in her right hand and pressed it to her chest.

“Do not let go and do not let go of Jake. Understand.”

She nodded. “I’ll wait here. Thank you, Dante.”

“Remember to keep the stone safe. I’ll return someday and retrieve it. Destroying it will upset the balance between Anartia and Earth, causing great upheavals on both worlds.”

“I understand.”

“Hold the stone now and keep it close to your chest.”

“Why?” Holding the stone to her chest, she took a step back and eyed him suspiciously.

“So you don’t forget. I may not return to show you how to go through the portal.”

“All right. Tell me.” She spread her legs, bracing herself against the gusts of winds rising from the ocean.

“When Jake comes, hold him close as the two of you move toward the edge of the cliff. You must be holding the stone like I showed you.” Dante moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “Then you both must step off the cliff together to enter the portal.”

“What if I let go of the stone?”

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“You’ll fall to your death onto those rocks.” He pointed downward. She had seen someone jump off when she and Dante first arrived. He was telling her the truth.

Amy shuddered. “Oh my God. I don’t know if I can do this.” She leaned toward the edge and peered over, staring down at the waves crashing against the rocks far below.

“This is the only way?”

“Yes, this is the only way.” Dante kissed her hard and fast, then picked her up and tossed her over the cliff.

Amy tried to scream but the air rushed out of her lungs as the sensation of falling hit her and she held tight to the nebula stone.

The moment Amy hit the ground she ripped the nebula stone from her neck and ran toward her house. She wasn’t taking any chances that the pendant or the powers of the portal would transport her back to that place.

Jake. She stopped and turned around, staring at the saguaro, expecting it to move or come alive. That was the center of the portal or the landmark Dante had used to locate the portal. Would he send Jake back too? There had to be other nebula stones.

The image of Jake chained to the column tore at her heart. She couldn’t count on Dante.

Dante had a reason to keep her safe—she was supposed to be a Sha Warrior. Why would he help Jake? He wouldn’t.

She glanced at her cozy house, then at the tall saguaro. The cactus appeared malevolent now—the doorway into hell.

Searching on the ground, she found the nebula stone and picked it up.
God, I’m not a
warrior but I can’t stay here.

She closed her fingers around the stone and slowly brought it to her chest. The air rushed out of her lungs as the desert floor dropped from beneath her feet.

* * * * *

After several minutes, Jake watched Dante enter the main room without Amy.

“She’s getting ready,” he said to Gwyllain. He walked over to Jake’s backpack and turned to Jake. “I see you brought an interesting souvenir.” Dante lifted the bearskin. “I think this would be the perfect place to make love to Amy, right in front of Jake. It would create the most drama, don’t you think, Gwyllain? The amount of chi produced between Amy and Jake should be quite intense.”

Bastard. Jake yanked on his bindings until the shackles dug into his skin again.

Afterward, Dante would probably burn the bearskin like he had the mountain lion skin, or cut it up. Instead he took a few steps toward Jake.

“Excellent idea but move the fur closer to me.” Gwyllain focused her attention on Tarik’s cock, stroking him. “I can’t see with it so far away.”

Dante gave Jake an odd look, dropped the skin on the tile out of reach, then continued to stroll past Jake with a look of contempt.
What was the guy up to?
He leaned toward Jake and whispered, “Amy is safe back on Earth. Gwyllain won’t bother with 160

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her now that she has her life energy quota for this cycle. It’s another Drone’s turn.

You’re on your own, man. I can’t do anything more for you without risking my neck.”

Torn between wanting to punch him out and wanting to thank him for saving Amy, Jake stared at Dante without a word. Jake would be trapped on Anartia and Dante would go back to Earth to be with Amy. Some rescue. At least she was safe.

Dante shook his head as if he didn’t know what else to say and left the hall.

What burned Jake the most was that Dante had helped Amy escape, not him. With Jake out of the picture, did Dante have the power to sway her love as well as seduce her?

Dropping to the floor, he stared at the bearskin. It lay just out of reach. The ankle and wrist chains rattled as he attempted to find a comfortable seated position. What was the use of the fur now? Even if he could change and manage to overpower the mistress and her lord, how would he return home?

The two were busy fucking on the lounge chair at the moment, oblivious to Jake, probably enjoying the audience or not giving a damn.
Damn, how the hell can I get out of
here?

Gwyllain straddled Tarik and was rocking her hips fiercely, her breasts bouncing with every thrust. Tarik gripped her buttocks, his fingers digging into her ass cheeks.

Shit. He wasn’t going to watch this for an eternity. He had to get back and fight for Amy somehow. Reaching out with his foot, he tried to drag the bearskin to him. It was out of reach. Then he took a length of chain and tossed it toward the fur. The chain landed on the skin. The noise alerted Gwyllain.

Without missing her stride, she glanced over her shoulder at him. Jake smiled, trying to send her the message that he was enjoying the show. Gwyllain seemed pleased by that and cocked her head back, twisted her body to give him a better view of her breasts. She lifted them with her hands, pinching the nipples.

Jake smiled wider and responded by stroking himself through his pants. Gwyllain laughed and was surprised when her lover switched positions, flipping her on her back and continuing his thrusts. The attentions of her audience seemed to be quickly forgotten and Jake again tried to pull the chain and the bearskin.

The chain slid over the fur without moving it any closer. Damn it.

Outside the wind howled around the columns and the light filtering down through the skylights grew darker. Sun going down?

Then the entrance door swung open and Sakari ran inside, eyes wide, chest heaving as if she had been running. She ran toward Gwyllain, then seeing her mistress was in the middle of sex with her lover, she hesitated, glancing around, unsure of what to do.

“Mistress, I’m sorry to disturb you.”

Gwyllain looked up and shot Sakari a look that said “you’re an inch from death”.

“Not now.”

“But, Mistress, there is a tornado outside. It approaches the temple.”

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“Impossible,” Gwyllain said. “Anartia does not have the power to produce a tornado. Do not disturb us again.”

Sakari nodded. Keeping her head bowed, she backed away.

“Sakari!” Jake called as he stood up. Gwyllain glared at him for a moment. “Could I trouble you for some water?”

Sakari looked at Gwyllain for approval. Gwyllain rolled her eyes and flicked her hand, giving Sakari permission then wrapped her slim legs around Tarik’s hips which brought a groan from him.

Sakari returned with a pitcher and a goblet.

“Thank you.” Jake poured some water into the glass and took a drink. “Would you mind bringing the fur closer so I have something to sit on?”

“Sure.” She looked at the fur for a moment, at first repelled by the head and the claws. “It’s an odd piece. I’ve not seen anything like it.” Picking it up by a side far from the head, she dragged it across the floor to him.

“Thank you, Sakari. Where did you see the tornado?” He remembered the shaman elder’s words who said to look for a dark, swirling cloud, a vortex and to step into it.

Grandfather and the shamans did well. He set the goblet down and stood. The wind rose to a roar, rattling the windows and skylights.

She pointed toward the front of the building.

“Leave this room now and don’t return until the tornado is gone,” Jake said as he picked up the fur.

“You’re leaving?”

“It’s dangerous for you to stay,” Jake said as he placed the fur on his shoulders but did not give himself the will to change his form.

She nodded. A puzzled and pained look crossed her face, then she turned and padded across the room, disappearing into the room where she retrieved the water.

Jake slipped the bearskin over his head. The tornado was his summons to return to Earth. Willing himself to become one with the bearskin, Jake felt his muscles thicken, his body grow heavy. The shackles around his wrists, ankles and neck snapped. At the sound of the chains dropping to the floor, Gwyllain lifted her head and screamed. Her lover took them to be screams of passion and held her down, pumping her harder and, by the sound of his groans and the scent of sex that Jake could now detect, Tarik was climaxing.

The bear growled, a deep guttural sound that sent the women slaves shrieking and running out of the room in all directions. Jake ransacked the room, swiping at the wall sconces, shredding pillows and wall hangings, tossing loungers and chairs into the pool. Small fires broke out around the hall. At first Tarik was apparently oblivious to the commotion, or ignored it, too focused on his own gratification with his mistress.

Jake stalked toward Tarik and Gwyllain. Standing at his full height, he roared, showing 162

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sharp teeth. He pawed the air with his long claws and shoved the lounger closer to the pool. Both demons stared in horror, unable to react.

Before Tarik or Gwyllain had a chance to scramble off, Jake picked up the lounger and dumped them into the pool. Then Jake bounded out the front entrance, knocking over three marble columns on his way out.

Outside, Jake slid out of the fur but draped it over his shoulders in case he was pursued. The wind had died and the sun was setting over the ocean. Where was the tornado, his ride home? Spinning around, he searched the horizon in all directions, looked into the sky and saw no sign. Damn, he’d missed it. He’d wasted too much time tearing apart the temple.

Above him a hawk shrieked, then flew about a hundred yards away. With outstretched wings it circled downward in a large spiral. He watched it for a moment as the bird spun faster and faster toward the ground. The damn thing was going to crash.

A commotion behind him signaled pursuit.

As he turned around, the door to the temple flung wide and he saw Gwyllain, Tarik, Dante and another male running toward them. Even if he was in his bear form, they had more power and strength and could easily overpower him. He caught them off guard before, now they were ready for him.

Now what? He glanced up at the hawk, searching for some kind of guidance. The swirling flight of the hawk had again created the tornado. The wind howled as the twister darkened and grew in size and strength and the ground rumbled with the power.

The wind stirred up clouds of grass and dirt, obscuring the view of his pursuers.

The energy of the tornado pulled at him, vibrating through every muscle. As Jake ran toward the center of the tornado, the yells of his pursuers were cut off.

The hawk flew into the tornado. Last chance, the creator of the tornado was leaving.

He had to leave now. Before he entered the black, swirling cloud, he glanced one last time over his shoulder at his pursuers. He caught a movement along the ocean cliff.

Amy!

Quickly, he stepped away from the tornado, out of its path and ran toward her.

“Amy!” The tornado vanished.
Damn it.
“We need to go now, hurry.”

“Jake. I know. Hold on to me. The portal is this way. We have to jump.”

“Off the cliff?”

“Yes. I have the nebula stone. Dante showed me how.” With one arm around Jake’s waist and the other hand holding her pendant, she tried to pull him toward the edge.

“And you trust him?” Jake grabbed her upper arms.

She nodded.

“No, Amy, the way back is through the tornado. That’s how I got here.” But the wind had died, the tornado had disappeared and so had the hawk. “Damn it.”

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Gwyllain and her minions were racing toward them. Dante was following behind and signaling urgently to Amy and him. It seemed like he was trying to tell them to go.

“Trust me,” Amy said with a smile.

He stared down at the crashing waves far below and his stomach flipped at the thought of jumping. Then he glanced back at Gwyllain and her crew—no time. “Over the cliff?”

“Yes, hold on to me. Don’t let go.”

He groaned. “Shit. Okay, let’s do it!” They ran to the edge.

He wrapped both arms around her and jumped.