Soul Inheritance (25 page)

She was still and cold in his embrace.

“
Katherine! Katherine, wake up.”

Jim shook her, felt his heart swelling as he realized she wasn’t breathing. Just as he was about to lay her on the floor to start CPR her body stiffened, eyes shot open again and she began to gasp for breath.

“
Oh God, oh God, easy breaths, easy breaths.” He nearly smothered her as he clutched her to his chest until she had to push against him.

She gasped, “Air, let me breathe.”

Carefully he laid her back on the sleeping bags, pulled one end around her freezing body. Stroking her hair he laid beside her providing heat, his body warm and comforting. They didn’t speak for a long time, not until they heard the paws moving on the porch.

It paced there, then was joined by another. Scratching sounds came, then it pounded on the bolted door, throwing its weight against it. Jim scrambled for his pack, pulled out a 9mm and backed toward Katherine. She laid a gentle hand on his arm, lowered it to his side.

“
Wait.”

Standing in front of him she slid her arms around him, squeezed her eyes shut as she concentrated. The blue shimmering ripple emanated from her again, this time not affecting him at all, but spreading outward, through the walls with a shudder. Yelping ensued, the sounds of retreat as they withdrew into the forest.

Knees weak, Katherine sank toward the floor. Jim caught her, put her back to bed where he settled beside her. Exhausted she slept soundly, dreamlessly, until morning.

‡

Thunder rolled across the sky early the next morning. The windows were darkened as Katherine squinted to see Jim standing by one of them, looking out.

“
What time is it?” she asked, sitting up.

“
It’s nearly nine. Ya were sleepin’ so well I figured you needed the rest.” He came to sit beside her. “They left after that... power surge. Are ya okay?”

“
Yea. I’m fine. I was just really drained.” Her stomach growled. “And hungry.”

Jim smiled. “Good. I think I’ve got somethin’ over there in the packs. Ya stay right he’re and I’ll take care of it. Don’t look like we’re goin’ anywhere for a while. It’s getting’ ready ta storm.”

As an afterthought he leaned over and kissed her. Hooking one arm around his neck as he withdrew Katherine pulled him back and made it a kiss worth remembering.

‡

Nigel had made it to the open gate, proceeded on to where the Jeep was parked. After idling for a moment to glare at the abandoned car he drove on into the trees, following the clear trail of crushed vegetation as the first drops of rain hit the windshield. A little while later he pulled in behind Jim’s truck, being sure to block the exit.

As he got out Nigel took the keys and flung them into the woods. Rage burned in his eyes as he headed off through the woods toward the cabin, dragging his feet along as quickly as possible.

As he stumbled into the clearing he looked at the worn cabin.

“
Some inheritance. I’ll clear-cut the whole place and then sell it off, one lot at a time.” The hideous laughter rang though the trees and resounded in the cabin.

As Katherine pulled on her jeans she wandered toward the window. Laughter came to her ears, familiar and yet different. She froze, looked at Jim who was looking back.

“
What’s that?” he whispered.

“
Sounded like… that can’t be.” She went to the window, saw Nigel standing off in the trees.

The horrified look on her face drew Jim to stand behind her. A man stood in the forest, leaning on a tree for support. The face was dark, something white was wrapped around the neck.

“
Who’s that?” he asked, filtering what she’d told him over the short time they’d had.

“
Nigel.” She backed away, stared around the room. “That can’t be, can it?”

“
No. He was torn up really bad. He’d still be in the clinic. Maybe it’s just supposed to look like Nigel. But why?”

“
Kathy! Oh, Kathy! You slut! I know you’re in there with
him
. Who ever he is he’s dead! I’ll deal with you later!” Nigel screamed from outside.

“
Shit. That’s Nigel alright.” She felt the weak woman from North Carolina try to slip in, fear of him coming with it, fought her back.

Jim looked out the window, anger shading his face. “He’s staggerin’ around. How th hell’d he get out he’re?” He headed for the door, tucking the gun in his belt.

“
No, Jim. He couldn’t have gotten here on his own.”

That didn’t stop him. A lovers anger kicked in as he unbolted the door, went to ensure that Nigel was not going to offer a threat to Katherine. An innate need to protect her drove him out into the clearing, Katherine on his heals. He looked to where Nigel had stood, found he was gone. Movement on the trail caught his eye. Nigel was moving off in that awkward stagger.

“
Ya don’t need somethin’ else out there ta worry about. We’ll tie him up and leave him here until we leave.” Jim moved toward the trail.

The cop in him thought of the murdered woman, the man in him of Katherine as he pursued Nigel into the trees. She stumbled along trying to put her shoes on as she went.

“
Damn it, wait up. You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

The pleas went unheeded as the rain started to fall in earnest. Jim was out of sight in only moments. Hurrying along she tried to catch up. The path seemed to go on and on, twisting and turning. The rain was cold and hard as it filtered through the trees. Each drop felt like a pebble on her skin. She quickened her step, finally saw Jim leaning against a tree.

“
I don’t know how, but I managed ta loose him,” he said as she approached.

Katherine caught movement from behind a tree between them. At first it was just a shadow. Then it got dark, took on a shape. She stood frozen as she watched it step between them. Jim reached for the gun, watched for Katherine to move out of the line of fire.

It was a beast with the ears of a wolf. Slanted, sickening yellow-green eyes watched them from either side of its narrow head. A long pointed nose led to thin lips pulled back into a snarl. It seemed to be deciding between them. Katherine concentrated, closed her eyes tight. Jim saw it coming this time, clung to the nearest tree. The wave radiated outward, shook the trees and nearly dislodged Jim, but did nothing to affect the creature. If anything it pissed it off as it hissed in her direction.

“
There are mice in my maze, trying to get out. What fun, what fun, you can’t escape.” It grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth gleaming through the down pour.

Its hands were grotesquely sticky with long sharp needles at its fingertips. It began to grow outward, spreading until it was twice its original width. Then it split and there were two of them standing between them.

Jim and Katherine looked at each other. Miranda could offer no help on this one, but seemed panicked herself, unsure why the power did not work on this
thing
.

“
Run!” she screeched at Jim, who immediately did as he was instructed.

Heart in her throat Katherine rushed back along the trail, never looking back, afraid to see how near it was to pouncing. It leapt along casually behind in no particular hurry. She ran like she had never run before, slapping tree limbs out of her way and leaping over rocks, roots and fallen trees. The path grew slick underfoot. She no longer knew where she was going or why, having lost the trail at some point. She no longer cared, all that mattered was survival.

Suddenly the cabin lay just ahead. The creature cursed through the brush behind her, sped up to keep her from reaching it. There was one large branch in the way. Without a thought or hesitation she pulled the limb with her as she went, hesitated listening for its approach, then released the limb and sprinted with all she had the last few yards to the cabin.

The branch snapped back to catch the unsuspecting beast full face. It was taken aback for a moment, then ripped the limb form the tree and tossed it like a twig into the clearing. The delay was all she needed. She tripped on the wet steps and fell hard to the porch, crawled desperately to the entrance and turned the knob as she scrambled to her feet. Once inside she leaned hard on the door as she placed the bolt across it.

A shot rang out in the woods, repeated again and again. Her head swam as she slid to the floor exploding in tears. Everything fell silent and darkness closed in around her as she put all she had into the burst of blue energy that shot from her like a ripple from a stone.

‡

Nigel found himself standing on the shore of the lake, disoriented. Knowing he was supposed to be looking for something. His legs throbbed and he didn’t know where he was.

The creature from the side of the road emerged from the trees, came to stand before him. He looked around, thought he must be dreaming.

“
Well done.”

It spread its wings, lifted him from the ground and above the tree tops. They moved almost silently, down toward a decrepit old house that might have once been a mansion. It flew around back, to a stairwell that led to a basement. There it came to rest, setting him down at the top of the steps.

“
I may need you again. In the meantime you’ll stay here.” Greystone pointed down the stairs.

Nigel was shaking, hesitated as he looked into the darkness below. Greystone was impatient.

“
I don’t have time for this,” he shoved, sending Nigel tumbling toward the darkness below. “I have work to do.”

‡

When she awoke the gray light was dim, but the rain had stopped. The floor was cold and hard, letting her know she was still alive. Slowly, stiffly she got up, went to the window to determine how long she’d been there. A dim lit wilderness looked back. No visible faces or eyes, but they were there, watching. She could feel them spying, prying.

The clouds lay low in the sky, threatening, menacing, blowing around like poisonous vapor. There was a rustling on the porch, she listened intently as footsteps came, made their way across the planks. She felt like a rabbit, hunted incessantly, cowering in a hole. A familiar voice called out.

“
Katherine, ya in there?” Jim’s voice was loud and confident.

‘
This isn’t real,’ she thought. ‘Bullets couldn’t stop that thing.’

But something stopped it, it didn’t tear down the door and kill her or carry her off. Cautiously she approached the door, laid her hands on it.

“
Jim, is that you?” she asked.

“
Yep. It’s me. Open up.” He sounded normal, that sexy northern sound taunting her to let him in.

“
How. How’d you get away?”

“
Katherine, it’s okay. It’s me. I shot at it and it musta wounded it, because it went away.” He sounded calm, collected, confident. There was no concern in his voice, as if he’d known she escaped unharmed.

“
How can I be sure?” Her voice sounded shaky, even to her. She cleared her throat, fought to keep steady.

“
Hum. Well, how ‘bout that pair a heart shaped moles on your back?” he said, his smile showing in his voice.

With relief she unbolted the door, drew it slowly open. Jim stood before her, calm and relaxed, the gun in his belt. The smile he gave was warm and familiar.

“
Well, you gonna let me in?” he asked, brow raised.

“
Yea, get in here.” She breathed a sigh of relief as he moved slowly forward into the cabin.

“
Ah, good. Ya haven’t found it.” He kicked the bolt to the side before she could pick it up to replace it.

“
Found what?” she asked, a little confused.

Warning bells were going off as the power fluctuated and flexed, threatened to overflow. Miranda recognized the movements, the personality of the man before her. The passions from the encounter in the house filled the air. It wasn’t Jim. Backing away Katherine let the protective wall rise, radiate out, trying to block any further progress.

Greystone smiled with Jim’s lips. Walked through the wave as though it were only an annoyance. Reaching out he pulled her into his arms, held her tightly. Leaning down he kissed her passionately, stared into her still mostly green eyes.

“
Where’s Miranda? You’ve had your fun, now let her out to play.” His smile was charming, cunning.

From inside she felt the woman she’d been last night coming into her own. The woman he had killed to make her a permanent part of the family forever. She came willingly and pushed Katherine aside, warmed to his embrace. Opening up she fed on the passion and power emanating from him, began to draw it in, absorb it into some powerful place of her own.