across the moonlit sky. “Aye, the bonny wee lass is headed straight for a trap.” Clenching his fists, he veered back his head and wailed.
Keara stood frozen in her tracks. “Damn. Please tell me that’s not a banshee.”
A gust of wind blew out the torch’s flickering flame. Another death-clutching wail sounded like it was headed straight for her. She shivered. Squinting her eyes, she tried to adjust to the natural moon light. The scent of damp soil and fresh pine waft under her nose. An eerie mist floated above the ground, drifting in front of the intimidating forest. Eyes glowed from the tree hollows and stared at her.
Dark shadows whisked in front of her.
The unsettling laugh was back.
Her muscles contracted. Pain spasms quivered through her arms and legs. Exhausted, a rush of anger overcame her fear. She needed to find Duncan. She’d had about enough of this obnoxious voice for one day. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
“Look, lady, or whatever you are, don’t you think you’ve done enough damage for one day?” she yelled in defiance. “At the least, I believe you owe me an explanation of why you’re following me. And why can’t you leave Duncan and that innocent young boy alone? What did they ever do to you, anyway?”
A force slapped her face, pushing her head to the side. Something razor-sharp scratched her skin. She cringed as her fingers traced the rising welts on the right side of her face. She bit her lower lip and waited. If this person was trying to intimidate her, she was doing a pretty damn-good job.
Keara’s body stiffened, determined not to give this entity the satisfaction. In defense, she snapped at the voice, “If you can’t show yourself, then don’t . . . touch . . . me . . . ”
A falling star’s trailing flame lit up the entire sky like fire jets streaming from a rocket.
“If you insist on staying here, I’ll give you a wise piece of advice I suggest you remember. You have no authority here, witch. ” A hot breath hissed in her face.
Keara realized she was being heavily scrutinized.
“Don’t worry. It’s not time for you to die.” The vicious laugh floated in circles around her head like an annoying buzzing bee. “At least, not yet.”
Much childish giggling followed and taunted her.
“Then what do you want with me?” Keara challenged and waited for something awful to befall. She straightened her shoulders and forced herself to keep her wits, even though fatigue was finally taking its toll.
“If you want to help your friends, I suggest you lay the key on the ground.”
“What key?” Keara grabbed her cell phone and turned the empty pockets inside out. “Here, see for yourself. This is the only thing I managed to bring with me and there’s not even any reception in this area.”
The cell phone was wrenched from her hand and floated in midair before being thrown at her feet.
“You lie. I should have known you would hide it. There’s still time for you to reconsider and hand it over. Maybe after you find out the truth about your precious Duncan, you’ll be more willing to cooperate. I won’t deprive you of that pleasant surprise.” The laughter raced above her head.
A strong gust of wind whipped Keara’s hair across her face. The force was strong enough to make her fall backward. Her bottom hit a sharp object on the damp, hard ground.
“Ouch.” Keara leaned over and shifted her weight off the item underneath her butt. She raised her head to the sky and screamed, “What is with you people? I don’t even care about any secret or any damn key. All I want is to go home.”
“She’s gone now,” an unfamiliar male voice spoke.
A flickering light flashed in front of eyes while a gentle mist sprinkled across her cheeks. She licked her lips. The sticky wet film tasted like fresh strawberries.
“Who’s out there?”
No one answered.
“I’m a friend of Duncan’s,” she called out again, hoping the stranger
Keara stood frozen in her tracks. “Damn. Please tell me that’s not a banshee.”
A gust of wind blew out the torch’s flickering flame. Another death-clutching wail sounded like it was headed straight for her. She shivered. Squinting her eyes, she tried to adjust to the natural moon light. The scent of damp soil and fresh pine waft under her nose. An eerie mist floated above the ground, drifting in front of the intimidating forest. Eyes glowed from the tree hollows and stared at her.
Dark shadows whisked in front of her.
The unsettling laugh was back.
Her muscles contracted. Pain spasms quivered through her arms and legs. Exhausted, a rush of anger overcame her fear. She needed to find Duncan. She’d had about enough of this obnoxious voice for one day. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
“Look, lady, or whatever you are, don’t you think you’ve done enough damage for one day?” she yelled in defiance. “At the least, I believe you owe me an explanation of why you’re following me. And why can’t you leave Duncan and that innocent young boy alone? What did they ever do to you, anyway?”
A force slapped her face, pushing her head to the side. Something razor-sharp scratched her skin. She cringed as her fingers traced the rising welts on the right side of her face. She bit her lower lip and waited. If this person was trying to intimidate her, she was doing a pretty damn-good job.
Keara’s body stiffened, determined not to give this entity the satisfaction. In defense, she snapped at the voice, “If you can’t show yourself, then don’t . . . touch . . . me . . . ”
A falling star’s trailing flame lit up the entire sky like fire jets streaming from a rocket.
“If you insist on staying here, I’ll give you a wise piece of advice I suggest you remember. You have no authority here, witch. ” A hot breath hissed in her face.
Keara realized she was being heavily scrutinized.
“Don’t worry. It’s not time for you to die.” The vicious laugh floated in circles around her head like an annoying buzzing bee. “At least, not yet.”
Much childish giggling followed and taunted her.
“Then what do you want with me?” Keara challenged and waited for something awful to befall. She straightened her shoulders and forced herself to keep her wits, even though fatigue was finally taking its toll.
“If you want to help your friends, I suggest you lay the key on the ground.”
“What key?” Keara grabbed her cell phone and turned the empty pockets inside out. “Here, see for yourself. This is the only thing I managed to bring with me and there’s not even any reception in this area.”
The cell phone was wrenched from her hand and floated in midair before being thrown at her feet.
“You lie. I should have known you would hide it. There’s still time for you to reconsider and hand it over. Maybe after you find out the truth about your precious Duncan, you’ll be more willing to cooperate. I won’t deprive you of that pleasant surprise.” The laughter raced above her head.
A strong gust of wind whipped Keara’s hair across her face. The force was strong enough to make her fall backward. Her bottom hit a sharp object on the damp, hard ground.
“Ouch.” Keara leaned over and shifted her weight off the item underneath her butt. She raised her head to the sky and screamed, “What is with you people? I don’t even care about any secret or any damn key. All I want is to go home.”
“She’s gone now,” an unfamiliar male voice spoke.
A flickering light flashed in front of eyes while a gentle mist sprinkled across her cheeks. She licked her lips. The sticky wet film tasted like fresh strawberries.
“Who’s out there?”
No one answered.
“I’m a friend of Duncan’s,” she called out again, hoping the stranger
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