Tournament of Fire Read online

“Juchon is the name of my weapon.” He sounded irritated that she did not know this.

  “You named your weapon.” Kegan laughed. Men can be such babies. “You act as if it were real.”

  “Juchon has a discerning spirit. Only I am its true wielder. Do not try to handle this ever.” He grunted the last part.

  “Fine, okay, don’t touch Juchon, got it.” She shifted her feet. “So, what, are we supposed to spend the night in the Bat cave?”

  “Bat cave?’”

  “Look I don’t like this place. I want to leave and I’m hungry. If it helps to know I whine and complain a lot so you might want to reconsider this not letting me go business.” She looked hopeful.

  “Women always complain. That is not new,” he said absently, studying Juchon. Kegans’ temper flared instantly.

  “I would like to think getting kidnapped is just cause for complaining Her—uh, Da’rak! How am I supposed to—” Abruptly, her words were cut off by a searing pain in her head as residual images played in her mind. This time Da’rak was with a woman, two women, in truth. He was behind one, pounding into her while he cupped the breast of another and suckled… The image went blank and Kegan’s mouth went dry.

  “What is it?” he turned to her now his brow creased with concern.

  “I have to wash my hands. Your box. I touched it.” She gasped, her throat dry. “Images will keep coming. Need my hands clean. Need gloves.” The pain took her to her knees.

  Da’rak rushed to her side and picked her up, settling her against his broad chest. He took long strides in the dark cave, obviously knowing where he was going. The sound of water grew nearer and louder and Kegan felt she was going to be sick again. She supposed they were at the brink of whatever body of water, because he set her down gently.

  “Reach into the water.” he said softly.

  Kegan got upon her knees and leaned over. Instantly, the cool, clean water washed over her hands and Da’rak was doing that massage thing to her head again.

  “What did you see?” he said in a low voice.

  “I saw you.” She breathed out slowly, enjoying the caress of his hands.

  “What did I do that was so unnerving?”

  “You…you were making love.” she stammered out, embarrassed and even more shocked that she admitted the truth.

  He laughed softly. “And this unsettles you? Do you not make love here on Earth?”

  “You were with two women,” she rushed on, not wanting to sound like a prude. “It is not always the images themselves that causes the pain. It is receiving them.”

  “Ah” he acknowledged, though he sounded as if he were still laughing at her. “Do you feel better little one?” he asked gently.

  “Yes, thank you.” She hated when his fingers moved away, but she would never admit to it.

  “What is your name?”

  “Kegan,” she answered. “And, Da’rak, I am really hungry.” She was careful bringing her hands out of the water and waving them softly to dry.

  “Allow me.” Da’rak bent down and grasped her wrists lightly, careful not to touch her hands. He brought them close to his lips and gently blew on them.

  Kegan swallowed hard. What was wrong with her? He was just drying her hands. But, oh, his breath felt so sensual on her hands. She allowed herself to close her eyes a moment. When she opened them, he was staring at her with his lavender eyes, the gold around them seeming to glow.

  “Such a beautiful Earth witch,” he murmured, then let his lips land lightly upon hers.

  His lips were firm and soft. His tongue, in a stealth move James Bond would envy, swept inside her mouth and she moaned. She allowed her body weight to fall forward slightly as she deepened the kiss, astounded by the measure of her sudden desire for this stranger. She tasted him back, loving the feel of his warm mouth against and inside hers.

  Then all too soon he broke the kiss. “You are truly a temptation witch. I will give you food, but we must hurry lest we be late.”

  “Late for what?” Kegan tried to get her mind back on track. Da’rak had released her and stood as if nothing happened. Kegan gingerly pulled the extra gloves from her pocket and put them on. Relief flooded her.

  “The tournament.”

  “Tournament, where is it?’ She wondered if wherever they were going she’d be able to get away and signal for help.

  “Paa’eva.”

  Kegan’s head snapped to attention. “You said that was galaxies away.” Suspicion and a sick feeling began to dance hand in hand.

  “It is. Kegan, you will accompany me, as proof that someone still plots against me.”

  It was at that moment Kegan wished she could faint on cue. “I would love to prove your innocence.” Kegan had to force her lips over that word remembering the bloody scenes from her visions. “But I have a life here and I don’t think I would make a great star witness.”

  He shook his head as if she confused him, which she probably did.

  “I do not know what it is you are talking about, but you will come with me.” He emphasized the word “will”, letting her know it was not an option.

  “Logan and the others will worry about me, the police will search for me.” She began to babble, hoping she would say something to make him rethink this whole thing.

  “Do you mean the insects at the other dwelling?” His eyebrow cocked in relation to his tone.

  “They are not insects,” she began until she thought of Nathan. “At least not all of them.”

  “Police?” He questioned to himself. “Ah, it is Earth’s version of security. Yes, well, I don’t give them any thought. Besides, I have wiped all their memories clean.”

  “You can’t go around doing that!” she shrieked, angry that her last chance of freedom had been wiped clean so to speak. Now no one would come looking for her. Her mother died two years ago, the last of the small family she had. No friends to speak of because no one could deal with her weird “need gloves all the time” bit. “I have rights, too!”

  “You can possibly be in plot with someone from my planet. I cannot take that risk. Until a seer that I trust on my planet can explore your mind.”

  “Are you crazy? You have no right to invade my mind nor order anyone to do it. I have no interest in your Paa’eva or tournament, and if someone is trying to kill you, then good. I have seen your side of the blood shed, too, mister!”

  “Da’rak,” he corrected quietly. He took her by her gloved hand and began to pull her back towards the main cave room. “I can retrieve whatever food you like,” he threw back over his shoulder, not really caring if she stumbled. He was angry with her. How dare he be angry with her?

  “How so?” Curiosity gnawed at her despite her anger—hunger had a way of prioritizing.

  “Envision the place in your mind and I can go there.”

  “Just like that?” Kegan snapped her fingers.

  “Yes.” He briefly wondered what her gesture meant.

  “Hmm” Kegan wondered if she could send him to that expensive restaurant she’d been meaning to try but could never afford. Besides it was a restaurant that catered to couples and people with families. “In Dearborn, Michigan, there’s a restaurant called—”

  “No, no,” he interrupted her, “your names and places mean nothing. I said envision it. See it in your mind, Kegan.”

  “Ohh.” Kegan finally got it and pictured the place she had driven by a hundred times and had wished just as many that she could stop and have a bite.

  “Now close your eyes.” His voice seemed to be carried on the wind far away. “Now open them.” Kegan’s mouth opened, closed, then opened again as they stood outside of the restaurant. “I will retain your hand in mine at all times. We go straight to the area in which they prepare the food, you will pick out what you want and we will leave. No one can see us or feel us. If you try to get away, I will make your human life miserable. Do you understand, witch?’”

  “Kegan, and yes I get it. So no one can see or feel us, can they hear u
s?’

  “No.” He bit back an amused smile.

  “That is so cool.” She rushed forth, practically dragging him behind her. “I knew it would smell this good in here.”

  She seemed hypnotized. Kegan went straight to the kitchen where cooks were rushing about filling orders. Fires rose up from pans in a display of culinary skill she knew she would never have. Oh well, some people were made to cook, some were made to eat. She was definitely an eater. She pointed to a plate of shrimp alfredo with asparagus and a huge piece of tiramisu then began sticking utensils down her pants since he refused to let go of her hand. Da’rak handed her the dessert and took the plate full of food.

  “Are you having something?” she asked greedily.

  “No. I cannot stomach Earth food. My chamber provides all that I need.”

  “You mean that box you were sleeping in?” she asked as they were leaving. She knew without being told he opened the door with nothing but his mind. This man was not only gorgeous, he was full of neat tricks, too. They stood outside of the restaurant and his eyes traveled to the top of the restaurant. A huge gargoyle statue seemed to be gripping the restaurant’s elegant sign in its claws. It looked truly frightening.

  “What’s the matter?’ She paused from licking the dessert around the edges.

  “It is a leva.” He stared at the statue “Your world is too primitive to even sustain a leva.” He shook his head in disgust. “‘‘Tis a fine specimen of a leva too.” He stared at it again.

  “You mean a gargoyle?” Her tongue snaked out again. This time he caught her in the act and the gold in his eyes flared. She slowly pulled her tongue back into her mouth, fully aware he was watching her closely.

  “It is a leva,” he said hoarsely, still eyeing her mouth. The world went all squiggly and fuzzy, and then they were back in the cave.

  “Hey, next time warn me,” she said halfheartedly. Feeling a little dizzy from the shift in places.

  He handed her the warm plate and let her hand go. She set both plates on the ground, retrieved the utensils from her pants and plopped down to feast. The first bite was heavenly. It tasted as good as it smelled. She barely noticed him sitting down across from her. A few foreign words softly slid from his mouth and a small round ball of light that twirled and swirled illuminated the cave. She watched fascinated.

  “You are full of tricks, aren’t you?” she said between gulps of food.

  “Some might say.” He almost smiled. She almost caught full sight of dimples. Did his gorgeousness never cease? He waited patiently while she gorged, though it didn’t take long. Contented, she stretched and yawned; fully aware she did not have a full night’s sleep.

  “You are tired and should rest. I will return.”

  “You think I will sleep in the cave where God knows what will crawl or prick or poison me? No, thank you.”

  “You will rest in the chamber.”

  “I am claustrophobic.”

  “I do not know what that means.”

  “I. Do. Not. Like. Small. Places.”

  “You will not know the difference. I will program the chamber to appear as if you are outside or even if your own bed.”

  “That sounds like one helluva contraption.” Kegan sounded a tad sarcastic. She just could not sit with the fact that this strange man was taking over her life.

  “I know this must be difficult for you, Kegan. But that is the way it is for now.”

  “Are you suggesting that you will eventually let me go?” she questioned, looking at him with her beautiful cat shaped eyes. It was in that instant that Da’rak knew the answer. No. He would never let her go. But she needn’t know that right now.

  “Well?” she prompted. But she never heard his answer because her whole world turned dark.

  Da’rak caught her before she hit the floor. He put her to sleep. He could not bring himself to lie to her. Something about the seer was beckoning him. If he didn’t know any better, he would swear she was… No, that did not bear thinking about. He bade the chamber open at his mental command and gently laid her inside. He waited until the chamber found her brainwave pattern and adjusted itself to fit her level of comfort. If she awakened, she would think she was in her own bed. The chamber, however, would not let her rise—it would put her back to sleep, without making her panic. Da’rak had a little errand to run before he could return to his home world. He retrieved Juchon from its place propped against the chamber and slid it between the vest and his skin where it attached itself. Then he went back to the restaurant.

  Chapter Three

  Kegan woke to the feel of something warm and slimy sliding along her face. Even in a semiconscious state, her heart responded in terror. She took a deep breath then slowly opened her eyes to what was no doubt the ceiling to the cave. Slowly moving her gaze downward, she realized she was in the sleep chamber Da’rak had been in, and perched on top of the reclined lid, with huge clawed feet gripping the edge of the open lid, stood a monstrous creature.

  A scream began to surface and immediately stilled as her mind told her not to provoke the creature in any way. Besides it already seemed to be enjoying the taste of the side of her face way too much. Its long green tongue snaked out, licked, then curled back into its gaping mouth, which right now reminded her of the mouth of a shark she had seen on the Discovery Channel—only with a larger set of choppers. She studied in terrified fascination, followed the size of the body. It looked liked one big muscle with wings. Its shiny, green marble-patterned skin glistened in the light the little ball provided.

  It seemed to be panting heavily as if it had been running around, much like a dog.

  “I see the leva likes you.” Da’raks deep amused voice interrupted her anxiety attack.

  “You brought this thing here?” she snarled her words outs, keeping a wary eye on the gargoyle.

  “But of course I could not leave it locked in stasis. Someone from my world has been here and was careless enough to leave it.”

  “You mean to tell me, all the gargoyles on top of buildings are real?” Kegan gulped, thinking of all the poor unsuspecting people who would be eaten alive. God knows how many already had been. It could explain a lot of people gone missing.

  “I do not think so. I believe, like this leva, your people thought they were ah…” He searched for the word.

  “Statues.” Kegan helped, wanting him to get on with it.

  “Yes, statues, they merely copied them using materials from your Earth. I believe only a small part of them are actually real.”

  Kegan breathed out a sigh of relief. Of course the garg—uh, leva chose that moment to show more love and licked her right on the mouth. She sat upright with a start, wiping frantically at her mouth in disgust, spitting like a three-year old child.

  “Calm down, the saliva of a leva is harmless; it’s actually a good thing to have when preventing an infection.” Da’rak barely said those words without laughing. She acted as if he had peeled her face off. She was one step away from outwardly screaming.

  “Well I’m not infected and I’m not all that crazy about preventative measures!” She whipped her brown gaze on him in fury for laughing at her.

  One last dramatic swipe of her mouth and using the end of her sweatshirt to wipe out her mouth almost made him break his nonchalant demeanor. She was truly amusing.

  “Why the hell am I in this thing?”

  Uh oh, Da’rak thought.

  “I don’t remember getting into to this. The last thing I remember…” Her voice lowered as she began to recount the last event she recalled. “You bastard!” she yelled loud enough to get quite an impressive echo in the cave. She tried to scramble out of the chamber, but it was so deep and far from the ground. Da’rak had to aid her, which infuriated her more. With her feet firmly on the ground and hands placed squarely on her nicely formed hips, she began to berate him.

  “Look I know I am your prisoner, but prisoners have rights too!”

  “Doesn’t the very essence of ‘pris
oner’ in your language means to be imprisoned? To be held against one’s will. It would seem you are at odds as to what a prisoner is, Kegan.”

  God help her but he was laughing at her! He might not be guffawing all over the place, but he was still definitely laughing at her. Kegan only got madder. Her mother was right; Kegan should have been born a redhead.

  “I told you I didn’t like small places.”

  “And I told you, you wouldn’t notice.”

  “You had no right…”

  “I had every right. You belong to me now. You do as I say. Really I see no reason why we’re even having this conversation.” He waved his hand idly to show dismissal of the topic.

  “Fine. Things are as they are. For now.” Kegan said sweetly, knowing full well at first opportunity she was leaving this chauvinistic barbarian.

  Da’rak turned his head to look at her. His eyes glowed gold for a moment, a sure indication of a spike in temper. He did not like the sound of her words. He sighed. She would be testing him every step of the way. “The leva will be returning with us. I have to make a few modifications to the chamber, but I believe it can be done.

  “I don’t want to go.” This time Kegan sounded broken. She slumped against the chamber and let her head fall back. Da’rak tried to harden his emotions. He had to take her. He still was not sure of her status as far as an attempt on his life. She could very well be an innocent used without her knowing. He also had the nagging feeling she was truly what she said she was and had no knowledge of him or his world. He pushed that thought away, for it would mean he had no real reason to take her, other than his own.

  “Until I am sure you must remain with me.” He then walked to the other side of the chamber and began to fiddle with a control box that had been cleverly hidden.

  “You said I woke you early.” Kegan’s head snapped up at the thought.

  “Yes, you did,” he said idly, working.

  “How early?’

  “Only by a few days.”

  “Well, isn’t that enough time to investigate my innocence? You said yourself you were awakened early, we have extra time!” She truly seemed excited now. Something in Da’rak twisted at the thought that she might have found a loophole.