The Paladin (18 page)

"It would be nice to actually see where you are going. Here, take my flashlight, I have another. Go that way," Maggie said pointing with her light.

"What if I find something? How will I signal you, Maggie?"

"Here is my cell number," she said writing on a scrap piece of paper. "Now, give me yours."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, we have to find him, so keep redialing your boyfriend."

***

The basement door opened suddenly with a bang, making Dana scream and leap to her feet. Mrs. Anderson came into the room carrying a single thick candle. The storm outside reached a terrible crescendo and the house shook violently.

"Look at her," said Dana.

The ashen witch seemed to be twenty pounds lighter and thirty years older. She carefully set the taper on a side table and collapsed into a wingback chair.

"Were you successful?" said Beck.

"Behold," she croaked,

A figure draped in a white robe stood in the open doorway of the basement.

"Celeste, my love, is that you?" asked Beck.

The figure entered the room and moved to stand before the wheelchair bound Beck. The mysterious figure brought up a pair of pale, thin hands and pulled back her hood. Harold, his weapon in hand, expected the worst.

"Put your gun away, Mr. White, and welcome your mistress."

The woman who stood before them wasn't the horror Harold had expected.

Celeste Beck was tall and thin, with large violet eyes, and a thick mass of coal-black curly hair. Her skin was unnaturally flawless and pale like that of a fine china doll.

"She looks just like the portrait," Dana whispered. "How is this possible?"

"John, I have returned," Celeste purred.

***

Maggie walked warily through the treacherous terrain, fuming that the search was taking longer than she anticipated.

"No wonder no one comes out here, you could easily break a leg or get impaled by one of those vicious thorn bushes."

She stumbled upon the huge depression in the rocky ground. Maggie quickly scanned the area with her light, but she failed to see the cave opening due to the thick underbrush. She circled its rim when she heard the music. Peering down into the crater, she saw a small, bright glow near the bottom.

"Bingo," she said as she jumped off the rim and ran full out, despite the uneven ground.

Maggie picked up the phone but didn't answer. She turned it off, then she stowed it in her pack. Examining the surrounding area with her light, she found the cave.

A shiny glint on the ground caught her eye. Bending over, she picked up a spent shell casing.

"Oh, no."

Rushing to the mouth of the cavern, Maggie illuminated the interior. Below her, she saw Zack lying motionless in the thick mud. His shirt was crusted with dried blood.

Beck's men, in their rush to escape the crime scene, had neglected to dispose of Zack's rope. Maggie tossed the rope into the cave and quickly slid down into the darkness.

Sinking into the mud, she dropped to her knees next to Zack and felt for a pulse. Zack opened his eyes and swallowed hard.

"Cold, I'm so cold."

Maggie knelt beside Zack and cradled his head in her lap.

"Much…better," he said with a weak smile.

"I'm calling 911, Zack, you'll be fine," she said, flipping open her phone. "Damn, got no signal in this cave. Got to climb out. Be right back, Zack."

"Don't leave me…don't want to die here alone with…him."

Maggie directed her light and gasped at the remains of Silas Cole.

"Zack, where is the vessel?"

"Assholes…shot me…took it. How do you—"

"I'll be right back," she said, gently lowering his head and rising to her feet. "I have to get you an ambulance."

"He'll be dead before you climb out," said Larry’s voice.

The cave exploded with light, revealing Larry leaning against a near wall.

"Thank God!" she exclaimed. "Quick, Larry, help him!"

"Sorry, baby girl, not my problem."

"Make it your problem! You can't just let him die; do something!"

"Because of him, everyone on this miserable excuse of a world will die," said Larry. "Besides, didn't you try to kill him earlier today?"

"Yes, to keep him from finding the vessel, but Beck has it now."

"You, Maggie, have failed brilliantly. Not only does Beck have the vessel, but he is in the process of releasing the beast."

"What do we do?"

"Well, had you stopped our young friend here like a good girl, you would be on your way back home and all would be right with the world. Now your job is monumentally more difficult. You have to return the creature to the vessel and then make sure no one every finds it again."

"How do I do that?"

Larry rolled his eyes.

"I see now that all this is my fault. The task at hand is too great for a novice working on her own. Don't worry, Maggie, I am going to send you some help. For now, rescue that silly girl, Brenda, and find some serious shelter. You're going to need it."

***

Maggie suddenly found herself no longer in the cavern, but standing next to a thorn thicket. Ahead, a bouncing beam of a light moved toward her.

"Hey, how did you get here?" said Brenda. "I thought you were going to search way over there?"

"Long story."

"What the…what is that?" Brenda exclaimed pointing toward the sky.

Maggie turned and felt cold chills run along her spine. Huge black clouds laced with bright streaks of crimson rolled across the night sky. Bright flashes of lighting arced from the clouds, lashing the earth below.

"It looks like Judgment Day," gasped Brenda.

"We have to get the hell out of here!" said Maggie, grabbing Brenda's hand.

"What about Zack?" Brenda screamed, trying to pull away.

"Listen, after this blows over, we'll come back, but for right now, we have to find shelter."

***

Stan Noonan, meteorologist at the Knoxville area branch of the National Weather Service, sat at the Doppler radar screen, eating a pint of mint chocolate ice cream.

"That was so good, I might have to have another," he said tossing the carton into the trash bin. "Nothing like a quiet night to get some work done—"

The computer chimed an alarm and Stan nearly fell out of his chair. As Stan beheld the screen, he turned white.

"That's not possible…"

***

Maggie and Brenda ran as fast as the rugged terrain would allow, but soon they were overtaken by the strange storm's fury.

Pounded by the driving torrential rain, the two women struggled just to keep their feet as they sought shelter in the shadow of a huge oak.

"It's like we got caught in a hurricane," Maggie shouted, trying in vain to be heard over the storm's incredible fury.

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands seized her from behind. Caught off guard, Maggie tried to fight, but was no match for the stranger's enormous strength. He quickly pinned her arms to her sides with his left arm. Reaching out, he grabbed Brenda by the wrist and yanked her to her feet.

Screaming and cursing, the two women were dragged away from the swaying tree.

Moments later, several massive bolts of lightning reduced the tree to splinters.

Stunned by the explosion and their narrow escape, the stranger released them. Maggie and Brenda fell in behind their unseen savior and through the blinding torrent; they stumbled along until they came to a small, shallow cave.

Grateful to be out of the storm but curious about their newfound friend, Maggie switched on her light.

"Zack!" Brenda squealed and threw her arms around his neck. "Are you OK? I was worried sick about you. I just knew something bad had happened."

Soaked to the skin, Maggie sat with her back to the cave wall, looking at the man who scarcely half an hour before lay dying in her arms. His shirt still bore three small holes, but the hard rain had scoured the blood and mud away. Maggie discreetly slipped her hand to her weapon. Deep inside, she wished that the .45 pistol was Kali.

Zack awkwardly returned Brenda's embrace. With her face buried in his chest, he looked at Maggie and slowly mouthed the words, "Who…is…she?"

"Who is—oh!" Maggie exclaimed. "Umm, aren't you going to introduce me to your boyfriend,
Brenda
?"

"Oh, yes. Zack, this is Maggie. Somehow, she knows all about the vessel and what is going on. Still not convinced she doesn't work for Beck."

"Nonsense," he said. "I can tell by the look of her that she is to be trusted. I think we have a new ally, umm, Brenda."

"Just 'cause she a woman with a heartbeat doesn't mean she's innocent, you horndog! Now where were you and why didn't you answer your cell? I ripped my blouse and nearly broke my neck looking for you!"

"Cell?" He asked. "I was rummaging about in a cave; I guess I lost track of time."

"You don't have to find the vessel, Zack; my dear father lied. Momma was never kidnapped."

"I'm afraid it's too late. Beck has the vessel and he has somehow cracked the seal. The black power it takes to breach the vessel always comes at a steep price. This storm is proof of that. This is the spiritual backlash of what those devils have done."

"What are you talking about?" asked Brenda. How do you know all this? And what is the matter with your voice?"

"Give the poor fellow a break, Blondie. It's been a long day and we might as well get some rest," said Maggie. "We're stuck here until the storm lets up."

Zack gave Maggie a wink.

"Yeah," he said clearing his throat nosily. "I seem to have caught a cold back in that cave. Hurts to talk."

"I guess it will wait until tomorrow," said Brenda.

***

Maggie awoke with a stiff neck. Bright sunlight streamed through the cave opening, forcing her to shade her eyes.

Brenda lay gently snoring next to her, curled up on the dirty cave floor. Zack was nowhere to be found.

Maggie got up and moved quietly past the sleeping girl. Stooping, she left the cave and moved out into the hot, humid air.

"Morning, Maggie."

Maggie turned and saw Zack sitting a few yards away.

Maggie climbed the rock and sat close to him.

"You know, people pay thousands of dollars for an artist's impression of a sunrise," he said, "but they all pale next to the real thing. It is so beautiful…never thought I would see the like again."

"Yeah, nice sunrise," she said. "You made a rather miraculous recovery last night,
Zack
. When I left you, you were as good as dead."

"Just had to rest a bit and catch my breath. I feel fit as a fiddle now."

"Really?"

"Oh, it takes more than a little lead poisoning to take down a Cole," he said, with a bright smile. "We're a spry folk."

"Look here, whoever you are!" she exclaimed, "I'm not buying this bullshit. Nobody walks away from three bullets in the chest, unless they have a big "
S
" on their shirt."

Maggie emphasized her point by poking a finger into one of the holes in his shirt. "And brother, you sure as hell ain't got one."

"Stop that, it tickles," he said. "You kiss your momma with that mouth? You are a real doll, but you have a mouth like a sailor. It isn't very ladylike to be vulgar and crude."

"Ladylike? I haven't heard that one in a while. On top of all that, you didn't recognize Brenda last night, but you seemed to know me. You have two seconds to spill it. I want to know what is going on or I will show you just how vulgar and crude I can be."

Zack leaned in close and she looked deep into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. Their beauty took her breath.

"Maggie, darling, I thought you might need some help. And by the way, don't call me Zack. My name is Silas. Silas Cole."

22

Maggie, Brenda, and Silas walked out of the tangled mess that was once a beautifully maintained state park to where their vehicles were parked. Zack's truck sat untouched, but Maggie's stolen Honda lay demolished under a fallen tree.

"Well, looks like you're walking, Maggie," said Brenda. "See you around."

"That's all right, Blondie, I'm coming with you."

"I don't think so," said Brenda. "You show up out of the blue knowing way more about this screwed-up mess than you should. If you expect us to welcome you in with hugs and kisses you have another thing coming. I don't trust you. Tell her to get lost, Zack. Zack?"

Silas was so absorbed in examining the strange looking truck that he was oblivious to the bickering women.

"Hey, she's talking to you, lover boy," said Maggie.

Silas looked up wearing a puzzled look.

"Tell the bimbo that she can't come with us," said Brenda.

"Calling people ugly names isn't very nice, young lady, and it wouldn't be very Christian to leave her stranded out here in the wilderness. I, for one, won't stand for it."

"Since when were you ever a Christian?" Brenda asked, crossing her arms. "Am I missing something here?"

"Excuse me, little girl," Maggie said as she opened the door of the truck and slid in.

"Oh, hell no—"

"Brenda, darling, I'm not feeling very well so if you don't mind, could you drive us home?"

***

The normally thirty-minute drive took over two hours as Brenda had to maneuver the truck past fallen trees and power lines.

"Have you ever seen anything like it?" Brenda asked.

"It looks like New Orleans after Katrina," said Maggie.

"Who's Katrina?" asked Silas, as he played with Zack's cell phone.

Brenda gave him a sharp look.

The strange device puzzled Silas who was from a time when AM radio was high tech.

Maggie laughed. "Like you wouldn't remember the worst hurricane to ever hit New Orleans."

"Oh, yeah," he said not looking up."That was bad."

"Your cell probably won't work; I think some towers are down," said Maggie.

"What does it do when it does works?" he asked.

"What does it
do
?" Brenda exclaimed as she slammed on the brakes. "That's it! Zack, you are officially freaking me out! You haven't acted the same since last night. Even your voice sounds different."