Holdin' On for a Hero (28 page)

Chance heard a growl from behind her and looked to see Wa’ya poised and ready to attack. “No, Wa’ya,” she said softly.

“Tell me!” Walker shouted, shaking her hard enough to lift her up.

Chance’s feet scraped at the floor as she tried to balance herself. At last Walker stopped shaking her and she got her feet securely on the floor again. “I’ll tell you,” she said. “But the answer isn’t here. We have to go somewhere else.”

He jerked her up close to his face. “You think you can trick me?”

She looked into his eyes and saw the malice and hate that burned within him. “No.” She forced herself to not look away. “It’s no trick. Let me send the wolf away and see to John then I’ll take you to the answers. I give you my word.”

Walker set her down roughly. “Will you untie me?” she asked as she turned around.

For a moment he did nothing, then he untied the cord that held her wrists bound. She rubbed the tender flesh as she knelt down in front of Wa’ya. “Thank you for coming to my rescue,” she whispered as she put her arms around his thick neck and pulled his face close to hers. “I need to ask something else of you. Go to Tsa’li and tell him to come to the place where you and I first met. Tell him that I’m bringing Walker.”

Wa’ya gave her a lick on the face then turned and leaped through the broken window. Chance stood up and walked over to John. He was staring at Walker as if he were seeing some sort of monster.

Chance heard a noise outside. A car was coming down the road. She expected it to be the sheriff. “We have to go,” she said as she untied him. “You wait for Tom and tell what happened then have him send for an ambulance. You need to see a doctor.”

“Chance, don’t go with him!” John’s voice was a strained whisper as he grabbed her hand.

“I have to.” She cut a look at the window, seeing car lights turning toward the house. “I’ll be fine. Just make sure Graham doesn’t get away and tell Tom what happened.”

John opened his mouth and even moved it but no words emerged. Finally he gave up. “Please,” she implored him. “Do as I ask.”

He nodded but kept his eyes glued on Walker. Chance turned and looked at Walker. “I’m ready.”

“Then show me.”

She gave John one last look then led Walker out of the house. She hoped that Wa’ya understood what she asked and would find Tsa’li, because he was the only one she could think of who would have any idea how to deal with Walker. For her part, all she could do was try help Wyatt find the strength to rise to the surface and take control. If he couldn’t, she had no idea what she’d do.

* * * * *

Greg pushed away from Iris and sat up with his back propped against the headboard. “I don’t know about this,” he said as he reached for the half-empty drink glass on the nightstand. “To begin with, my old man’ll put a bullet through Wolfe’s head the first chance he gets.”

“So let him.” Iris sat up and tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “Honey, this will work, trust me.”

Greg shook his head and drained the glass. “Iris, I probably trust you more than anyone I know, but this is getting deep. If we get caught we’ll get the fucking chair.”

“But we won’t get caught. Not if you follow the plan exactly like I told you.”

“You willing to bet your life on it?”

“Absolutely.”

Greg studied her for a long time then got up and refilled the glass, this time omitting the ice and water and pouring bourbon to the rim. He took a long drink and stared at her again. “It might work. But how can you be sure that Wolfe will show up?”

“Leave that to me,” she said with a smile.

Greg smiled and took a big gulp of the drink. “Has anyone ever told you how incredibly beautiful you are when you’re being devious?”

Iris laughed and leaned over to him. “Baby, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

* * * * *

Swain County

Chance arrived at the spot she had told Wa’ya to meet her with Tsa’li. There was no one there. Walker’s hand clamped down on her shoulder from behind, squeezing hard enough to make pain shoot down her arm. She jerked and pulled free, backing away from him.

“Give me what you promised.”

She tried to think of a way to stall but at the moment her mind was blank. All she could think of was the malice in his eyes and the way her heart was pounding in fear. “Walker,” she started, not having any idea what she was going to say. Before she could do more than utter his name, Wa’ya appeared. With him was the pack. The wolves circled Chance and Walker.

Walker looked around nervously at the wolves that stood with heads lowered, hackles raised and ears flattened. They all eyed him, growling softly but menacingly. Chance realized from watching Walker that he was afraid of the wolves. She was surprised. Wyatt hadn’t been afraid of Wa’ya—respectful, but not filled with fear like Walker appeared to be. That gave her an idea.

“Wyatt. Wyatt, please, if you can hear me, you have to try and come back. Walker’s afraid and that makes him vulnerable. You have to try and take over now. Please, Wyatt. I need you. John needs you. Wyatt, please try.”

Walker turned on her with a snarl. Chance didn’t have time to evade him as he grabbed her. She heard the growl of the wolves at the same time she screamed. Wa’ya edged closer, snarling and snapping at Walker. The other wolves followed his lead, inching closer to Walker as he held Chance tightly by the arms.

“Wa’ya, no,” Chance pleaded with the wolf. “Please. If you kill him Wyatt will die too.”

Wa’ya stopped his advance, effectively halting the rest of the pack. But he didn’t alter his stance or move his eyes from Walker. Chance looked up at Walker. His eyes were like black coals that burned with rage.

“Wyatt, please!” she whispered. “I need you, please fight him.”

“He cannot fight me. He is no match for me. He allows himself to be weak, drained of power by a woman. He cannot stand against me.”

Chance racked her brain for something to say. She had to find something she could use against Walker. Suddenly it came to her. “But he will win. Don’t you remember? It’s love that will determine who emerges victorious.”

“Love? Love is for the weak.”

“Then the weak will overcome, because we both know that’s the rules of the game. You can’t win without love.”

“Then love it shall be,” he growled.

Chance didn’t know what he meant but she had no time to think about it. Walker started tearing at her clothes. She fought him with every ounce of strength she had but it was not enough. He tore her shirt to shreds with his bare hands then threw her to the ground and started tearing at her pants.

“No!” She screamed and kicked at him. “Stop!”

He laughed and slapped her hard enough to make her head spin. “But this is what you want,” he said mockingly. “Have you forgotten your own rules so fast? Love wins. So, love it will be. I will make you mine and erase all feeling you have for him. You will be mine and he will be obliterated for all time.”

“Nooooo!” she screamed as he jerked her pants down. He slapped her again and she saw spots dance in front of her eyes as a wave of dizziness made her incapable of fighting. She shook her head desperately, trying to clear it, and realized that he was positioned between her outspread legs. She saw him lower his pants and fear gave her a fresh burst of strength. Kicking him in the stomach, she started scooting backward.

The kick did little more than make him angry. With a howl of rage he grabbed her by the ankles and jerked her to him. Chance closed her eyes, tensing with fear and dread.

Even with her eyes closed tightly she could see the sudden flare of light. She felt Walker release her and her eyes flew open. Everything was bathed in a blue-white light so brilliant that it was hard to see. Shading her eyes with her hand and squinting she could just make out Tsa’li’s form standing beside Wa’ya. The source of the light appeared to be coming from his outstretched hand.

Walker stood and turned to Tsa’li. “Your magic will not change anything, old man.”

Tsa’li looked at Walker without anger or expression. “You have no place here.”

“No place? That has a familiar ring, doesn’t it? How many times did I hear you say those words to me as a child? How many times did you say it to him? Walker, you have no place here. Wyatt, your brother has no place here. It was always you and Wyatt! Wyatt the kind, Wyatt the compassionate, Wyatt the smart, the perfect, Wyatt the next wise man of the people. You had nothing but time and love for him but what did you offer me? Nothing except, ‘you have no place here, Walker. This is not for you, Walker.’ You taught me well, despite your efforts not to. You taught me that hate is stronger than love and with hate I will see you and he both vanquished. Then I will take his woman and your precious crystal and no one will be able to stand against me.”

“Uluhsati will not allow its power to be used for evil,” Tsa’li responded. “Its power will not be bestowed on one who has no love in his heart, on one who walks the path of evil. And the victor in your battle will not be decided with hatred and killing, but by matters of the heart. If you had listened to me at all in your youth you would know that. Wyatt did.”

“Is that so, old man? You think you taught him what he needed to know? I don’t think so. I think you failed. You had your chance with Wyatt and he walked away and now you’re out of luck. There will be no one to follow in your footsteps. My hate is strong enough to defeat both of you. You think you have won some victory this night? I laugh at your foolishness just as I laugh at his. There will come a time when you are not around to save him. Then I will destroy him and reclaim that which was taken from me. I will live and not you or your petty magic will stop me.”

“Perhaps not,” Tsa’li said calmly. “But you will not succeed this night. Even as we speak he grows stronger.”

“No!” Walker grabbed his head in both hands. “No, damn you! I won’t be pushed back into the darkness. I won’t let you. I won’t—”

A scream of rage drowned out his final words. Chance saw him stagger, still holding his head, then he abruptly fell to his knees on the ground. She could see that the transformation was trying to start and rushed over to him. “Come on, Wyatt,” she encouraged him, “you can do it. You’re stronger than he is. Come on.”

He groaned and fell forward onto his hands and knees. Chance crawled around in front of him and lifted his face up to look in his eyes. “Wyatt, I know you can do it. Please come back. Do it for me. I need you.”

Another groan that sounded as if he were in pain came from his lips. Then the transformation came over him. Within moments Walker was gone and Wyatt was once more himself. The brilliant light faded, putting them once more in darkness. Chance wrapped her arms around Wyatt as they knelt on the ground. “Thank god!” she breathed and hugged him tighter. “You did it, Wyatt. You beat him.”

He shook his head and sagged down to the ground. Chance looked up at Tsa’li. “This has to end! Please, Tsa’li, tell me what to do. We have to get rid of Walker. Wyatt can’t take much more of this. Please, he’s your only grandson. You have to help us!”

Tsa’li nodded and walked over to her, stripping off his jacket.  He helped her put it on, then knelt down in front of her to look into her eyes. “You must discover the truth.”

“The truth? Tsa’li, I need help, not advice I don’t understand. I have to find a way—”

“You must discover the truth. You must find the point at which the hate became manifest. The seed that was planted that has now grown and bloomed into a festering rage. Only when the hate is destroyed will the land and the people be free and safe once more. Only then will it stop.”

“And how do I go about finding this truth? Where do I look?”

“That is not for me to say,” he replied as he stood. “Perhaps the starting point for all searches is within.”

Chance stared at him in confusion as he turned and walked away. Within moments he had disappeared into the darkness. One by one the wolves turned away, melting into the darkness like phantoms. Finally there was only Wa’ya, Wyatt and herself. Wa’ya walked over and licked her across the face. She rubbed his head then turned to Wyatt.

“We have to get back, Wyatt. Your father needs medical attention.”

Wyatt looked up at her and she could see the desperation and fear in his dark eyes. “I don’t know if I can fight him much longer. He’s getting stronger every time.”

“Not stronger than you,” she said and extended her hand to him.

Wyatt took her hand and stood. “Are you sure you’re okay now?” she asked. “We really do need to get back to John.”

“I’m fine,” he said after a moment’s hesitation. “For now, anyway. Thank you. You seem to be making a habit of saving me.”

She squeezed his hand. “Just returning the favor. Besides, I’m acting purely for selfish reasons. I don’t want to lose you.”

Wyatt pulled her to him and held her tightly. “I love you, Chance. More than you can imagine.”

She hugged him tightly. “Then how can we lose?” she asked, hoping that in reality they just stood a fighting chance.

* * * * *

Winston Holling slammed down the phone and barreled out of his study like a man possessed. Puffing and panting, he ran up the long curved staircase and down the hall. He burst into Greg’s room, only to find it empty.