The Soul Stealer (12 page)

“Will you still say you trust me when the background check that detective is doing comes back with nothing, like I don’t exist?” Hunter whispered in her ear.

Malia froze. So he knew. She didn’t want this sweet moment between them to be spoiled. “I’m sorry, but Ryan insisted,” she tried to explain.

He picked her up and set her on his lap as he sat down in the chair at the computer, and then he stroked her hair and tucked her head under his chin so she was nestled against his chest. “I don’t care, as long as you don’t,” he said in a quiet voice.

She could hear the slow, steady beat of his heart through the gray T-shirt he wore. “If there’s nothing to find then all he’ll get is your passport number.”

“I don’t have a passport.”

Malia wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly, so she moved away to look him in the eyes. “What? Are you an illegal alien, or something?”

“Not an alien, but something, yes,” Hunter said with a laugh.

“Is that what all your secrecy is about? You’re in this country illegally?” Relief washed through her. If that was his big, dark secret then the two of them could figure out a way around it and still be together. She almost laughed, but then noticed the turmoil on Hunter’s face. “Don’t even bother trying to think up another lie, because you’re not very good at it.”

“Not with you anyway,” Hunter said after a moment. His eyes became soft and the lines of stress in his face disappeared. “I shouldn’t try to lie to you anymore.”

“I agree. So, if there’s something you can’t tell me, then just don’t say anything at all until you’re ready to be completely honest. I’d rather hear nothing than another stupid lie from you.”

Hunter narrowed his eyes a bit at her. “Are you sure about that?”

She nodded. “I trust that you will eventually tell me everything. You’ve said you will.” She hoped her words would prove to be true.

Hunter’s smile filled his face, and he planted a kiss on her mouth as he reached down and grabbed his leather satchel. Malia tried to peer inside the bag as he fished something out of it, but Hunter turned it in such a way that she wasn’t able to see anything. He pulled out a small velvet bag and set the leather satchel down on the floor again.

“I made something for you,” he said with a blush in his cheeks, as he put the bag in her hands.

She carefully untied the strings, surprised by the gift, and emptied the contents onto to her palm. She held the stone up to the sparse light in the room. The large crystal glistened and radiated a serene lavender color that reminded her of Hunter’s eyes, although they were deeper and more purplish blue than the stone. “It’s beautiful,” she said with wonder.

“Let me put it on you.” Hunter took the stone, which was fastened to a leather necklace much like his bracelet, and put it around her neck with a soft touch.

She got up and went into the bathroom to look at it in better light. “I love it!” She turned to Hunter with a broad smile, but that faded when she saw the serious look on his face as he stood in the doorway.

“It will help protect you when I’m not around.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Crystals have healing and protective power, and I’ve enhanced this one. I want you to wear it always,” he said with force.

“I kind of meant, why won’t you be around?” Her heart stopped, or so it seemed.

Hunter shrugged. “I’ll be around as long as you want me to be. I just meant while you’re at work, or wherever I’m not, I’ll know you’re protected. . . somewhat.”

“Protected from what?”

“People who mean you harm, like that blond guy who was lurking on the sidewalk.”

Malia ran her fingers over the large crystal dangling on the leather chain. It felt warm and smooth to the touch and sent soothing fires to her fingertips. “How did you enhance it?”

“I cast a spell on it to accelerate its inherent powers of protection.”

He said it with such seriousness she hesitated for a moment before laughing, but then couldn’t help herself.

Hunter smiled at her amusement, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You should believe in magic. It’s in every part of the universe.”

“Oh, so now you’re a magician instead of a physicist?” she asked unable to mask the skepticism in her voice. “Aren’t they sort of opposite?”

“They’re much the same thing once you study the elements in the properties of all that exists in the universe. You just have to figure out how to rearrange the elements to create the magic you desire.”

“Magic? As in pulling a rabbit out of a hat, or Merlin the Magician?”

Hunter thought about her question for a moment. “I’d have to say Merlin of Arthurian legend would be more of what I practice.”

“That explains a lot about you,” she said, playing along. Malia laughed silently. She didn’t believe in magic any more than she believed in fairies. Hunter flashed a sharp look at her as she walked into the front of the shop.

Malia wished she could become truly angry at him for his lies. He had a great imagination, though. If nothing else, he would keep her on her toes.

After another strange session of almost making love with Hunter only to have him pull away from her, Malia couldn’t sleep. So she thought about all the puzzle pieces that were coming together about him: the way they met, the secret things he knew about her, his claim of psychic abilities, his virginity and reluctance to lose it, his family’s crest of a pentacle and dagger. And now the necklace he cast a spell on to protect her. She wondered again if he were somehow involved in a cult, or knew something about the ritualistic beheadings. Her heart started to beat faster as the memory of her last glimpse of her mother took hold, but then Hunter’s soft, rhythmic breathing in her ear and strong arms around her reminded Malia that she was safe, at least for now.

O
nce Hunter could glimpse some of the images in Malia’s dreams, he pulled away from her. He was tempted to sprinkle her with a bit of sleeping dust, but it seemed unnecessary. She would be out until morning regardless of what he did. He always came back and took the exact position he had been in so Malia never suspected he had been gone.

He put on his jeans, shoes, and grabbed his satchel, but left his t-shirt behind as he flew out the open window into the sky. It was a balmy night so even the mighty rush of wind in the clouds didn’t give him a chill as Hunter searched for the location on top of the mountain he had found the night before. It was deep in the jungle, too secluded for anyone to spot a fire in the dark of night, and yet there was a bit of a clearing so he could easily land.

Hunter touched down in the right spot, guided only by the moon and stars, and went straight to the pile of wood he had made earlier that day. He snapped his fingers and the newspaper under the wood ignited. Once he had some light, Hunter made a circle around the fire out of small rocks. But these weren’t ordinary rocks. He had cast a spell on them to heighten their connection to Mother Earth to aid him in this most difficult procedure. He sat crossed legged on the ground, took his dagger out of the satchel and gently laid it at the edge of the fire so the tip of the knife would get extra hot.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he began to chant the words to bring the powers of Mother Earth and the universe together to help him with this task. Luckily, Hawaii’s tendency to attract all sorts of spirits would help him tap into the abundance of energy around him.

It would be difficult to sear his skin. Usually, injuries didn't last long and never left scars, but this one had to if he were to succeed. And he hoped he could manage to contain the potion to a small area just under his skin near his heart.

Hunter closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting any guilt he felt about what he was about to do flow out, releasing it to the universe. At the same time, he asked for forgiveness.

Malia let hot water run down her body, relaxing each muscle in the luxury of its embrace, and the smell of a new bar of French-milled soap made her smile. The shower curtain shielded her from the world as she rolled her head around, feeling the ache in her neck from sleeping at an odd angle in Hunter’s arms all night. He had been so sweet and loving, comfort had not exactly been a priority. Once Hunter succumbed to sleep each night, it seemed to have a deep, powerful hold on him. He usually didn’t move until morning, pinning her in whatever position they fell asleep.

At one point during the night, she’d almost tried to disengage herself and get up to search through his leather bag, but that would have been too sneaky and distrustful. Instead, she was now on the verge of temporary escape, so she could think about all the pieces of the puzzle without any distractions. When she was around Hunter, she had a consuming desire to trust him. It wasn’t like her to trust a man. She wanted to believe he was a sweet guy who happened to fall in love with her, but if she looked closely at all the details, they didn’t add up.

A sound outside the shower made her think someone else might be in the room. A shadow passed across the white shower curtain. Malia had hoped for more time alone to get ready. “Hunter?”

She turned off the faucet and opened the curtain, expecting to see him, not caring that she was naked. She liked tempting him by walking around without her clothes to see how far he might let things go. But Hunter was strangely controlled when they were together, and never let her see him completely naked, much to her disappointment.

“Hunter?”

Malia was surprised to find the bathroom empty. That shadow must have been her imagination.

She towel-dried her hair, then wrapped the towel around her body and walked into the bedroom. She had to get away from him to clear her head, even if only for a short time. Besides, her father’s letter had made her curious about what he wanted to tell her in person. She pulled a suitcase out of the closet and looked through her clothes to determine what she would need. Escaping to another island made so much more sense than falling in love, and it was much easier, too.

“What are you doing?” Hunter rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he sat up in bed, still in his gray t-shirt, looking deliciously disheveled. The light of morning was beginning to shine through the window and glistened off his bronze-colored hair. It promised to be another humid, sunny day. Max sounded his appreciation of the morning by snoring in the corner.

“I have to go to the Big Island to see my dad.” She stood there packing her clothes in the suitcase, as if it were a normal occurrence, thinking if she didn’t look at him it wouldn’t seem so bad.

“You didn’t mention that. How long will you be gone?”

“A day or two. Something like that,” she answered with a shrug and attempted a casual smile, but it felt wrong to pretend she wasn’t suddenly walking out on him.

“You’re not wearing the necklace I gave you.”

“I took it off in the bathroom,” she said, still concentrating on packing.

“Don’t do that. Go put it back on and never take it off,” he ordered in a stern voice.

She looked at him curiously because of the tone of his voice, which sounded more like a king commanding a page to a task. The look in his eyes confirmed he wasn’t joking, either. He expected obedience from her, because he believed that crystal would protect her.

She walked into the bathroom and put the crystal back around her neck. She deliberately left the towel behind and went back to the bedroom to keep packing her clothes in the suitcase, while trying to ignore him and his power over her. How dare he talk to me like that, she thought as she stood naked in the middle of the room.

Hunter put his hand out and waited for her to notice. She saw the gesture out of the corner of her eye and took her time acknowledging it, but after a few moments of defiance she couldn’t resist falling into his arms for just a little while longer. Hunter’s strong arms engulfed her as she let her body melt into his. Trying to stay angry with him was useless.

“I’ll miss you,” Hunter said in his sweet voice. “Do you really have to go?”

“Yes, I have some papers Dad needs to sign. I thought I told you,” she said, looking away from Hunter, knowing he knew it was a lie. “Besides, I haven’t seen my dad in over a year. It’s time.”

Hunter nodded. She saw a flash of panic on his face, but he covered it up as his hands started to explore the lower half of her body once again. She wanted to relax and enjoy the sensation, but curiosity took over instead. Something had been bothering her, and she could no longer keep quiet. “So, I guess you’re not a boob guy, huh?”

Hunter stopped. “What did you just say?”

“Well, your hands never go north of my waist, so it’s pretty clear what you’re attracted to,” she said in one breath.

Hunter’s laughter filled his body so much he had to let go of her and fall back, flat on the bed.

Malia continued, “I mean, I get that you’re not ready to plunge ahead with sex, and all, but it’s a little curious that you don’t ever explore other parts of my body. Most guys are pretty attracted to them. . . that area. . . not that I’ve been with most guys.” She could feel the blush growing on her cheeks, while Hunter just stared at her with laughter still in his eyes. “And you never take your shirt off in front of me. The only time I’ve seen you totally naked was that night I walked in on you in the studio when you were sick. And it was too dark to see anything.”

“Are you disappointed you haven’t been able to fully inspect the goods?” he asked with a smile.

“This is a serious conversation,” she said with irritation. She sat up so she could face him squarely.

“Really?”

“I just wonder if maybe you have some sort of scar or something on your chest that you don’t want me to see.” There she said it. “It wouldn’t bother me.” Hunter’s face became a bit more serious, so Malia figured she had hit the mark. “Look, I have a scar over my heart. It’s not terrible, but I’m a little self-conscious about it.” She pointed to the thin, jagged line.

“I know,” Hunter said as his eyes intently focused on the scar.

“Does it turn you off?” It wasn’t hideous, but she wondered if her imperfection made her less desirable, so maybe he didn’t want to touch her there.

He ran his finger over the jagged line, and then traced it with his lips, making her heart pound. She wanted his mouth to go farther, but Hunter pulled away and gazed in her eyes instead.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I want you night and day.” His hand went to her hair and then to her cheek. “I have always wanted you, and I always will, no matter how old you get, or what happens to your body. You will always be my beautiful girl, even when you’re ninety.”

Malia sucked in her breath and hugged him, unable to reply to such a sweet, romantic declaration. Their lips met in a tender kiss, which she reluctantly ended much too soon. “I really do have to get to the airport,” she said with a sigh, pulling away from him. She glanced at the clock and stood up.

Malia went to her suitcase and snapped it shut, then put on white shorts and a long-sleeved T-shirt. She bent down and kissed his forehead, wanting to stay longer but knowing if she didn’t leave now it would never happen. She had to clear her head. “Feed Max for me, and watch the house. Okay? I’ll be back soon.”

“By the way,” Hunter said with a mischievous smile. “I am a boob guy. It’s just an option I haven’t explored yet. I’m taking my time, enjoying every part of you.”

She shot him an amused glance and then walked out the door. With each step, she wanted to turn and run back to his arms. What was she trying to prove by leaving him, she wondered as she got into the car. She would be gone for one night at the most, and maybe even come back that same day, if she could manage it.

This is insane, Hunter thought as he jumped out of bed. The sound of the car pulling out of the driveway made him search the room for his jeans in a panic. Where did he put his clothes last night? Hunter spotted one leg sticking out from under the bed. He pulled on the jeans, knowing he really needed a clean pair of pants. But there wasn’t time to go downstairs. He might lose Malia’s trail. And then he would never find her. He had not been to the Honolulu airport or the Big Island and couldn’t picture either. Hunter took a big gulp of air as his mind raced. If he didn’t follow her now, he wouldn’t be able to locate her. He hated to think of the terrible things Malia could face while traveling on her own. She didn’t realize the danger she was in, or who her enemies really were.

What an ironic thought, he realized. Her biggest enemy was right here. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to make sense of the situation and calm his terror. If they hurt her, he didn’t know what he would do, but it would be horrific. That much was certain. He’d rain fire and hell on them the likes of which no one had ever seen if they touched a hair on her head.

Then he stopped, and some of the panic slipped away. The necklace! Malia was wearing the necklace. He took a deep breath of hot, moist air and let it out, ridding his body of stress with it. He didn’t have to hurry. He would be able to find her as long as she wore the necklace. The crystal was a homing device that he could locate at any time, and if something frightened Malia, he would see it flare in his mind, warning of danger.

Hunter sat down on the bed to plan the best course to follow. He would wait for a few hours while she flew across the ocean, and then he would find her and stay in the shadows, so Malia wouldn’t suspect he was there. He was deft at being unseen and unheard, and he just wanted to make sure she was safe.

Closing his eyes, he focused on Malia to sense what she was feeling. Why had she left so abruptly? He didn’t have to concentrate very hard to know she was scared and running to her father for safety. Her feelings for him had come on too suddenly and passionately, and there were too many mysterious things about him that she couldn’t fully process. She was trying to make sense of it all before she gave in to her emotions. Hunter took a deep breath. She was trying to resist the inevitable, just as he had. He opened his eyes and looked around Malia’s bedroom, feeling her presence everywhere, giving him some solace.

Hunter rubbed his eyes and fell back on the bed, putting his face in Malia’s pillow. He hugged it as if it were Malia in the flesh. “I’m sorry, my love, for the trouble I will cause you.”

Malia drove down the familiar gravel road in the rental car to the tall wood fence. Boards were missing and some were only half there, making it match the surrounding area perfectly. She pulled the car to the side of the road and got out but waited before going into the work yard, taking in the sights. There was Kawika Smalls, her father, sanding an outrigger canoe with his large, flat hands. One hand held a power sander and the other felt ahead for rough patches in the fiberglass that needed to be smoothed over. He wore a small mask over his nose and mouth to keep the dust out, and his dark hair appeared to have turned white, but that was just the dust from sanding. He wore only shorts and still had the body of a young man, despite years of abusing it with alcohol, and his hair was still thick and wavy. Even with the mask covering half his face, her father was strikingly handsome. “Breath taking,” was how her mother used to describe him.

Then, Uncle Kalani walked out of the tool room and bent down to inspect the canoe with a look down its length with his eyes at the level of the upside-down hull. Her father stopped the power sander, took off the mask, and waited. Uncle Kalani then ran his hands over the canoe, all the way down its twenty-five-foot length, to feel for any imperfections. He was the master canoe builder, and they would sand it until he determined it was ready. Any imperfection would cause drag through the water and slow it down during races. Uncle Kalani’s reputation as a canoe builder was on the line. All his crafts had to be built to glide through the ocean and follow the waves with swift ease.