Damien's Destiny (21 page)

Toria needed him to be rational. She did seem not to be overwhelmed by the situation. In spite of the fear in her eyes, she held herself proudly, even though he knew how she must detest the touch of such repulsive individuals.

He turned to face Heath, seeing just the sneer of triumph his vision had shown him he would see.

“We can make a bargain here, Heath. Hand Toria over to me and I’ll convince the government not to go after you for illegal smuggling. Or the more serious charge of participating in the white slave traffic emanating from this coast. We have firm evidence you’re involved.”

Damien had not been told this but he was suddenly certain it was true. He closed his eyes for a minute against his vision of young girls, innocently serving as maids in Heath’s household. Held against their will, beaten and raped and then shipped out from the cove. The cove at the far end of the tunnel leading from this hut.

He really might have done better if the Ministry had told him how deeply involved the baron was. No matter, he’d known Heath to be a villain of the worse sort. He checked his senses and realized government agents were even now moving in. Although they were still several miles away. They would not be in time to help him and his love.

Heath laughed at his words. “Since I plan to leave the country your puny revelations don’t mean a thing. Although you’re a more diligent bastard than I expected. I might keep you alive a little longer so you can see what happens. Just enough to give yon a glimpse of what your doxy will soon experience. None of which you’ll like.”

Damien said nothing. He realized it didn’t matter if he’d known or not known beforehand. He knew now. He was most definitely on his own. Actually the way he preferred to be.

He assessed his options.

His mage’s powers were useless as long as Toria was on the opposite side of the room. If he directed his magic at the baron it gave the two others time to react and harm Toria. If he froze the two villains into icy statues he worried about what Heath could be doing while he worked his spells. Heath might very well do something dreadful to her. Immobilizing two big men took a little time, even for him.

He permitted them to bind his hands behind him, knowing even the idea was ridiculous. No bond existed he couldn’t break if he so wished. Toria looked so horrified he tried to send messages of reassurance to her mind and to his surprise, she seemed to relax a little. She must be more receptive to his thoughts than he’d expected.

Toria threw back her head and smiled at the baron.

“You’ll never win against Damien, you know. It’s just a question of time until he takes care of you all.”

“Quiet, you bitch. I’d have you here and now if I weren’t pressed to reach the beach. If by chance we have to wait there I’ll plow you again and again until the ship pulls in. Then I’ll kill your lover after he suffers the agony of watching me plunder your lovely body while my men hold him. You’re grown even more luscious than you were, Toria. Yes and if I don’t have time on the beach, you and I will board the ship and I’ll do whatever I want with you.”

As Toria blanched, Heath grinned.

“Yes, you do well to fear me. I’d kill this bastard right now except I want him to suffer a lot more before I dispatch him on his way to whatever hell awaits such sanctimonious whoresons.”

Damien heard all this with repressed delight. Heath was so wrapped up in his evil plans Damien had only to let the scenario play out a little before he moved in and scotched them all.

Again he sent consoling messages to Toria’s mind and again she aimed a little smile toward him. Damned if he’d ever expected to find any woman who might possibly be capable of responding to his mental communication. But then he’d known all along she was his destiny.

He was beginning to hope she realized what that meant.

Heath suddenly moved, crossing to Toria and stroking her breast. She reacted just as quickly, spitting in his face, even though both her arms were held tightly by Tom and Red.

Damien stood by, his jaws clenched and his face white as Heath backhanded her across one cheek. He wasn’t ready to show them he’d untied the knots in the rope around his hands as soon as Tom had tied them.

Heath snarled.

“Bitch. You’ll soon pay twice over for daring to anger me. Did you know I positively enjoy whipping women? They thrash around so enticingly. Even the thought of striping your white body arouses me. Get them both in the tunnel, boys. Tom, you go first and then our fine and powerless gentleman will follow. Then Red and I’ll put Toria next before me. I don’t trust either of these two an inch. When we get to the cove you can turn her over to me. Tom and Red, you can hold the earl back while I plow her the first of many times. Then I’ll kill him. Take the torch, Tom and don’t let it go out. I’ve got one of these new kind of lights they call flashlights but it isn’t at all reliable. Let’s go.”

The other two hastened to do his bidding, although both ruffians were licking their lips at the thought of watching Toria’s rape after they emerged from the tunnel. Damien knew it would be touch and go whether one of them tried to hold him back or knifed him so they’d be free to join in the fun.

He’d have to make his move while in the tunnel, even though Heath had been smart enough to keep them all separated.

Although he didn’t know yet what that move would be.

Chapter Eighteen

A defiant Toria and a frantically thinking Damien were shoved into the tunnel, the bigger of the thugs between him and his love. He could easily freeze one of them but what would be happening to Toria in the time it would take him to turn around and immobilize the other? A knockout blow to her chin? And Heath still would be last, right behind his beloved girl. He was so proud of her, as she marched over to the entrance to the tunnel and waited with seeming unconcern as first Tom, with the torch, lowered himself and then Red shoved Damien in. They all followed in the order Heath had proclaimed.

Damien felt an instant’s panic as the walls of the tunnel closed around him. There was no room to maneuver at all. The tunnel walls touched him on each side, limiting any movement he chose to make.

The dank air of the tunnel was sickening. The damp walls reeked of mold and he could feel no ventilation stirring. Surrounded this closely by aged dirt he could not catch the slightest whiff of the ocean. Perhaps as they moved along it would improve. He was tempted to force a little breeze to blow but didn’t want to raise questions in anyone’s mind.

He’d unleash his power when he was sure he’d win. Although it concerned him he couldn’t feel his power coursing in his blood and body as he usually did. Suddenly he realized he’d never before felt this lack, this emptiness. He almost panicked at the thought his power might have deserted him. He didn’t know quite what to make of this feeling. Surely it was temporary and his power would surge back when he needed it.

More worried than he’d ever been in his life, Damien struggled to control his alarm. What could he and Toria do if his power didn’t return? Was there any way he knew to restore his innate mage’s abilities? What in the name of Merlin’s magic was going on here?

He suddenly wondered if Merlin had ever lost his magic. Perhaps when Arthur’s fate turned out so far from Merlin’s wish for him? No, his father had once explained Merlin had known from the beginning what was to be Arthur’s destiny and had sorrowfully watched it unfold. Fate could never be denied. Although Arthur and Merlin’s destiny eventually included a legacy of being wise and noble men whose names would live through the ages.

For no one ever could and no mage would, interfere with destiny. If Toria was to be his fate, he’d manage somehow to save her.

He suddenly sent a mental plea to his father, begging for help in a situation where he knew himself to be completely lost. For the first time in his life, he was adrift and bewildered. He needed help beyond his own suddenly feeble powers.

A feeling new to him and utterly bewildering.

Unexpectedly the scent of the ocean wafted to Damien. They would be at the cove quickly. He must make a move soon.

His panic suddenly lessened, as he heard and felt his father’s soothing presence in his mind.

Be patient, Damien
.

He closed his eyes and waited.

Suddenly and beyond any expectation, Rafe’s distinctive and deep voice reverberated through the tunnel with startling ferocity. Surely the most welcome sound he’d ever heard.

“Well, you mangy scum, I’ve got a knife at your back. I presume you’re the baron. But I won’t kill a man in such a cowardly manner. Turn around, you bastard. Turn around and face me and see I’m ready to stab you to death at the slightest provocation. I won’t use the knife if you cooperate. Now direct your scruffy men to free my friends.”

Quite definitely Rafe had returned from London.

With a roar of frustration Heath wheeled around and literally threw himself at Rafe. He either didn’t believe Rafe had a knife or discounted it in his rage and he launched himself at this unexpected enemy. Rafe’s outheld knife caught him directly below the heart and the baron collapsed with a roar that soon changed into a horrible gurgle.

Rafe’s voice again filled the cave.

“Damien, I think I’ve killed him. I didn’t mean to do that unless I had to.”

Flooding his entire being, Damien felt his mage’s abilities return in a great rush that invigorated his entire system. He felt stronger than ever before in his life.

“Don’t worry, Rafe. You didn’t kill him. I did. I added power when he propelled himself toward you.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter to me which one of us did it. I’m glad he’s gone.”

Damien laughed.

Red had tried to turn to help his master but Toria immediately stopped him with a crushing blow with her knee into his groin. She followed it with a punch in the same area. Damien noticed she carefully fisted her hand properly before she did so. Red crumpled to the ground in the throes of an anguish he well deserved.

Tom tried to move to help his mates but Damien, his power flowing in a bright stream, froze him to the spot.

The three villains lay on the floor, Red writhing in agony and clutching his vital parts. Heath was dead. Tom was immobilized until Damien chose to set him free. His villain’s eyes darted nervously but otherwise he couldn’t move. Damien decided to think about when to free him. If at all. It was very tempting to dispatch them all to whatever hell Heath had just entered.

Yes, he’d see to Toria and then decide.

“My love, are you all right?”

Her cheerful voice lifted his soul.

“I’m fine, Damien. I knew you’d fix things.”

He grimaced. “You did your part, love. Actually it wasn’t me. Rafe is the hero. Rafe, I can’t thank you enough. You saved both our lives, as well as keeping Toria from a torture no woman should ever endure.”

Rafe’s voice bounced off the tunnel’s encompassing walls.

“He’s dead, Damien. He cannot harm us any longer. Shall I try to drag his body out?”

Damien laughed, his joy and relief as apparent as his gratitude.

“Leave the body there and go wait for the government agents who are on their way. Let them clean up the mess. Red will certainly hang, unless I intercede and allow him to be deported. Tom can’t move right now and I have yet to decide what to do about him. But you must go and tell the government men what happened. None of the villains is any danger at all, thanks to you, my very good friend. We could have done nothing without you.”

With those words of acknowledgement for the help he’d received he heard his father’s voice plainly in his mind. Perhaps for the last time, although he hoped not. Although he knew if his father felt his son was finally ready to be on his own, it might indeed be the last.

Acknowledging one always has need for others is most important, my son. You knew about the importance of love from your mother and me. Now you’ve learned the importance of mutual help. Goodbye my son. For a while. You’ve discovered the last thing we wanted you to know.

Damien heaved a big sigh of relieved gratitude. Indeed, he felt a different and better person as he acknowledged no one is sufficient unto himself. Not even a mage. He subdued his inner feelings, although he meant to examine them later. Then he spoke to Rafe.

“One more favor, Rafe. Will you go tether Araby to your horse so you can bring him down to the cove on the beach? I think we’ll be needing him soon. You might first lead Dolly to the boundaries of Tregaron and turn her loose. She’ll find her way home from there. Just give her a slap on her rump.”

Rafe turned away to this new task and Damien considered the problem of how to reach Toria. He wanted her here beside him but the huddling form of Red took up most of the space in the tunnel.

He grinned and then put a spell on Red which could not be broken for twelve hours. That would certainly give the government agents time to retrieve Heath’s body. Now they could collect Red’s as well. If Red had crimes beside this latest episode he’d not intervene to save him. He’d seen the unholy lust in the man’s eyes as he looked at Toria, determined to plunder her as soon as he had the chance. Yes, he’d let the government deal with Red. He simply couldn’t trust himself not to blast him to perdition.