Damned and Defiant (8 page)

“I was out looking around,” she answered Haley. “Where’s Dante?”

“Not here,” Valdon answered.

“Too bad. We’ll come back then.”

“I need an offering,” Valdon explained. “She was available.”

“You can find any human. Not this one. Are you insane? Dante will flail you.”

The woman turned to Haley. “I’m Natesa.” She smiled at Haley.

She got the feeling the woman meant her no harm. The man, on the other hand, she wasn’t so sure. “Haley.” She eyed the woman cautiously. “He’s out, should be back soon.”

“We’ll return later then. Nice to meet you.” Natesa grabbed Valdon’s arm and dragged him away. Valdon gave Haley a nod. “Tell Dante we were here.”

As they walked toward the Jeep, their auras expanded to frightening coronas and coiled around them like black and red serpents.

Friends? Somehow she doubted that.

Chapter Seven

When Haley and Dante walked into the New Moon Books and Crystals Store the spicy incense and soothing New Age music should’ve melted away any stress she felt—it always had in the past. But today, with Dante, her back was as stiff as an armadillo hide. He hadn’t said much about the mysterious visitors to his ranch hours earlier, other than they were coworkers working on a project with him and not to worry about them.

She stomped down on her sense that something wasn’t right with the strangers or with Dante’s relationship with them. Damn certain her overactive imagination was getting out of hand. Considering her shitty family life, no wonder she suspected everyone who entered her world. If she didn’t learn to trust people, she’d spend the rest of her life alone.

Inside the bookstore, she searched for Ambros right away. She wanted to do a hypnosis session with him to answer a few questions.

What if Ambros confirmed her prediction or premonition that Dante was doomed for destruction? How could she tell Dante? Just when she thought she might be falling for the guy, and they might have a chance for a future, she had to get these disturbing images in her mind. Was there some way to prevent this catastrophe? Or was she being paranoid? She needed Ambros’ advice.

“Interesting place,” Dante said as he glanced at a wall of Native American dreamcatchers, sand paintings and turquoise jewelry.

“Isn’t it?” Haley’s heart leapt. She’d hoped Dante would like the store. She usually found so much strength here and not everyone was open to metaphysical or esoteric teachings.

“Where are those stones?” he asked. He turned his back and gazed into another display counter but appeared disappointed.

“There’s a room just for crystals and stones. Let me show you around,” she said, taking his hand. The store was huge, with a gift shop carrying books, crystals, stones, jewelry and various other metaphysical items, a coffee and tea shop, and meeting and meditation center. Dante barely looked at anything until they entered the room displaying the rocks and crystals. “Don’t you love this place?” she asked him. “The New Age music and burning incense always relaxes me.”

“There’s a lot to see,” he said. Large, overstuffed chairs were arranged for a reading or socializing area. Haley pointed out private rooms where visitors could get psychic readings or be hypnotized. Outside, there was a rock garden with a trickling fountain and benches. Dante didn’t seem interested in anything but the crystals. Bless his heart, he was worried about his horses. She bet he was hoping to find a stone to calm his energy so they wouldn’t be afraid of him.

“Ambros does readings and hypnosis. Have you ever had a psychic reading?”

“Didn’t you do an aura reading on me months ago at the bar? Was that a psychic reading?”

“Sort of. Ambros did that. I’m sure he’ll do another since it’s been a couple months.”

“What should I get to calm D.A. and Siren?” he asked, pointing to a large display of crystals inside a glass counter.

Why was he changing the subject? “You can ask anyone who works here, or go by your intuition. Look around for a bit. I’m going to find Ambros.”

She left Dante studying a collection of large uncut crystals and strode past bookshelves into the meditation room. Here the scent of white sage, copal and other incenses were so strong the room appeared hazy. Ambros was in the next room beyond the meditation area, an office. He sat at a desk, jotting notes in a large ledger. As Haley stood at the doorway, he got up and gave her a warm, welcoming hug. “Haley, how are you today? Come on in.”

Ambros was fifty-something with long dark hair tied in a ponytail. He wasn’t overly tall but he was slim. The only wrinkles he had were smile lines by his eyes, which added to his kind, warm appearance. If he didn’t have those lines or a couple gray strands of hair, Haley thought he could pass for late thirties or early forties.

“I’m good. Dante’s with me. He’s looking for crystals.”

Ambros nodded. “What kind of crystals?”

She frowned and her stomach knotted. “I’m not sure he knows. A project of some kind. It seems important.”

“Hmmm. He may need some help.”

“While he’s looking,” Haley tugged on her crystal pendant. “I’m having those dreams again. I want to know what happened to me in the desert. I want to try another hypnosis session. Maybe I’ll remember this time. I know it wasn’t just heat exhaustion like the doctors said.” Ambros seemed to be patiently waiting for her to continue. “Do you have time to hypnotize me?”

Ambros’ eyes narrowed. “It could be a trauma that you’re blocking.”

“I have to know.” Her throat tightened. How bad could it be? Nothing could be worse than knowing your father murdered your mother.

“Understand, you may not like what you learn.”

“I understand.” She unclenched her fists and released a breath, doing a brief relaxation technique to relieve the tension.

He nodded once. “Are you ready now?” Ambros asked with a somber tone.

“Yes.” She tried to sound as confident as possible.

“All right.” He got up and walked out of the office with her. “I’ll find someone to help Dante while we do the hypnosis session.”

Haley entered the crystal room with Ambros. Leane, an employee, was showing Dante a variety of crystals, describing the various properties of each one. She was a couple years younger than Haley and had long black hair that Haley knew was a wig. She also had a short red wig. There was nothing wrong with her hair, which was naturally chin-length brown. Today she wore leggings, boots and a red glitter T-shirt.

“Looks like you’re in good hands,” Ambros said, nodding to Leane.

Dante shot him a cold look. It was easy to see the tension between the two men. There had always been that tension between them and she could never figure out why. “Hello, Ambros.” They shook hands stiffly. Maybe Dante was suspicious of Ambros’ exoteric practices. But Haley studied many of those disciplines herself and Dante didn’t seem to have a problem with her.

“Haley said you’re looking for a particular crystal,” Ambros said to Dante. “What do you need it for?”

Dante stared at him without giving an answer at first. His lack of response should’ve appeared rude but Ambros didn’t seem to take it that way. “I’ll know when I see or feel them.”

Ambros gave a sage nod. “If you don’t find what you’re looking for, ask Leane. I’ll be doing a hypnosis session with Haley. We won’t be long.” He glanced at Haley. “Let’s get started.” He walked to his office.

Dante waited until Ambros was out of the room. “What are you doing the hypnosis for?”

“It might help me remember what happened when I blanked out in the desert.”

Dante’s eyes widened. “What’s the point? That was months ago. You’re fine now.”

“I want to remember what happened.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Haley. What if it’s bad?” He looked worried. How sweet.

“If it’s bad, I’ll deal with it. It’s a memory. It can’t hurt me.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“What if it does?” The tension in his voice was like a brittle tree branch in a storm, ready to snap.

No wonder his horses had a problem with him. The man was on edge all the time. “I’m doing it anyway. I’d rather know the truth. You don’t have to wait if you need to go.” Irritated, she turned away to go to Ambros’ office but Dante grasped her arm.

“I don’t mind waiting. I hate to see you relive a frightening experience.” Her guard still up, she studied him for a moment. He did seem to care. She’d give him the benefit of the doubt. This time.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry, and I won’t be long.”

* * * * *

In Ambros’ office, Haley reclined in a big comfortable chair but in her mind she was floating above the earth. Swirls of wispy clouds drifted past her, giving her the sensation of movement. Other than that, she didn’t feel anything but peace and harmony. The very words Ambros used to guide her into a relaxed state.

Fear of what she might discover if the hypnosis worked entered her mind. Ambros must have noticed her body tense. He was the only person in Sedona who knew her history. Through hypnosis and months of trust, she’d finally confided in him. Even under hypnosis, she knew he couldn’t force her to reveal her past unless she trusted him and felt compelled to. He’d helped her deal with the murder of her mother and come to terms with her father’s crime. Ambros said it was her parent’s karmic destiny and that Haley should forgive him. Forgiveness was something she hadn’t been able to do yet. She doubted she ever would, but finding happiness in her life, even love in spite of the tragedy was her dream.

“Relax now. No harm will come as you revisit your experience in the desert. Do you understand?” His words were soothing, gentle, almost singsong.

“Yes, I think so.”

“No harm will come to you. If the memories are too intense, I will bring you out. All right?”

“Yes.” She did trust him. Taking a deep breath, she released it slowly as he’d taught her in meditation and relaxed.

“Good. Now you’re going to move back down to Earth, feet first, slowly,” Ambros continued.

“Yes, I’m moving.”

“When you reach Earth, you’ll be in the desert at a time prior to the event when you were unconscious.”

This was where nothing happens,
Haley thought. She’d land on Earth and find herself on Ambros’ couch. She hoped to at least get a flash or two of memory from that day.

Haley finally stopped moving and her vision cleared. “Oh my,” she said.

“What do you see?” Ambros asked in a soothing tone. “Are you in the desert?”

“No.”

“Perhaps you need to give yourself a moment. In your mind’s eye, set both feet on Earth. Have you landed yet?”

“Yes.”

“Very good. Now, open your eyes,” Ambros stated firmly. “Look around and tell me what you see.”

“I’m on solid ground, but I’m not on Earth.”

* * * * *

With any luck, she wouldn’t remember. Dante searched the crystal room for stones that would react with his nebula stone. He sensed a high level of lifeforce energy here. Some mortals had learned to tap into the energy and had developed excess amount of lifeforce over time, while others like Haley, a Sha Warrior, had high levels naturally. These were the mortals Drones preferred to use as their Kithra because they harvested more chi. The Drones were busy collecting crystals and excess chi, preparing for the journey. Dante sensed the urgency. He knew the Drones and the demoness were remembering Tarik’s last attempt to return to Prygos had failed and nearly destroyed them. This time there’d be no second chance.

As Dante studied the colorful stones in the glass cases, Leane asked if he needed help. Dante nodded, choosing the right stone might determine whether the journey was successful. She showed him different types of crystals and stones and explained the properties of each. “Were you looking for something in particular?”

How could he explain about his horses? Or Anartia’s need for power. “Is there something I could wear to help calm agitated horses?”

“Hmmm. Calming the beast? Maybe rose quartz or turquoise.” She showed him a couple pendants that had those stones in them.

Dante nodded but didn’t make eye contact. He chose one with turquoise. “I like this one. If feels good in my hand.”

Leanne smiled. “Then it suits you.”

Dante looked down in the case again. “What’s that one? What kind of stone?”

“This is a bracelet but it’s for a woman’s wrist. It’s amethyst. In sterling silver.” The large oval stone was set in a polished silver band.

“Yes, it’s a gift,” Dante said then had a moment of doubt. “You think my friend would like it?

Leanne nodded. “I know Haley, and she loves amethyst. It’s a beautiful piece.”

“It’ll match the pendant she has.” Why was he buying Haley a gift? He couldn’t encourage anything between them, not when he was leaving in less than two weeks. Something to remember him by then. When had he gotten so sentimental? He told the woman he’d take the bracelet too.

“I’ll wrap it up,” Leanne said.

After he put his turquoise pendant on, he focused his gaze on Leane, giving her a slight push with his mind to send her into a light trance.

Her eyelids flickered, then she frowned at him and touched the large crystal around her throat. “What else can I help you with?”

Without breaking eye contact, he said, “I need something that holds great power, otherworldly power.”

She selected several crystal points, some with a golden color and others that were clear, and held each one up to the light. When she looked at Dante, she locked her gazed with him and he felt a slight jolt go through him. My God, she was a Sha Warrior and she knew how to use her powers. He doubted a Drone would be able to harm her. “What are these called?”

“Citrine and clear quartz,” she answered. “Both would meet your needs to boost physical energy and for grounding and balance.” She went on to describe other physical and spiritual properties but Dante only half listened. He was looking for certain stones, ones that would cause his nebula stone to vibrate. As he rolled the stone in the palm of his hand, a rippling sensation began in the nebula stone against his chest. It wasn’t the strong vibration that signaled the presence of another Drone nearby. Or the signal of heat when the demoness made her summons. The mild vibration was Dante’s clue that these stones or crystals could be assimilated into the temple and their power used for Tarik’s project. “I’ll take all of these that you have.”