Untamed (18 page)

Ellie gasped as the contents were revealed. Inside was a bed of material that looked like velvet, but felt spongy. And embedded in a tiny depression was the jewel from the painting. She touched it and it flared with a tiny light.

“Did you see that?” She looked up at Cam.

“Yeah.”

“This was in the painting I got from Mr. Jones at the antique store. It was tied to the horse’s mane.”

“But what is it?”

“I don’t know.” She lifted the tiny gem from the depression and held it up her thumb and index finger. “It looks like water or something with some kind of blue… I don’t even know what to call that.”

“Stuff?”

She smiled at him. “Good a word as any. But still… what is it”

Cam was staring at the gem and continued to for a long time. Finally, his eyes moved to hers. “Your necklace. It looks like it would fit into the bell.”

Ellie looked at him in surprise then positioned the narrow point of the teardrop shaped gem at the opening of the bell. She squeaked in shock when the two abruptly locked together.

“Now that was freaky.” Cam said.

“No kidding.”

“Now what?”

She shrugged. “Now I put it back on. Here, help me.”

As she held the gem in her hand, he fastened the chain around her neck. She looked down at the gem. It was dancing with little sparks of light. “Look, isn’t that odd. Wonder what makes it do that?”

As she looked up at Cam, she released the gem. The moment it touched her skin, a current ran through her. It was so strong, her arms flew out wide, her head threw back, and her entire body vibrated. She couldn’t control her own body. Couldn’t speak, move, or even see what was around her. She was immobile in an endless sea of aqua light that pulsed around her.

The flare of light and energy blast that exploded when the gem touched Ellie’s chest propelled Cam backward. He tried to reach for her but it was like there was a force preventing him from touching her.

She was standing there, bent backwards with arms spread and head back like she was about to embrace the sky.

“Ellie? Ellie!” He shouted. “Ellie!”

What the hell was he supposed to do? Just as he thought it, the light disappeared and she literally dropped to the ground, her head down. He knelt down beside her and put one hand under her chin to tilt her head up. “Ellie?”

She opened her eyes and Cam’s heart thumped. Her eyes were awash with the same light as the gem. “Ellie? Are you okay honey?”

Ellie smiled up at him. “I feel… I feel fine. No, better than fine. I feel wonderful. What was that Cam? That light.”

“Can you stand?”

“Of course I can.”

“Okay, then let’s get up. There’s something you need to see.”

She let him take her hands and pull her to her feet. He guided her to the truck and turned the rear view mirror. She looked and her hands flew to her face. “Oh my god. My eyes. They’re… no it’s fading.”

Within moments, the lights were gone. She turned to Cam. “Okay, color me silly, but I have to ask. Is this real? I mean, am I still in the hospital, having some strange anesthesia dream?”

“No, it’s real. Weird as hell but real.”

“What happened?””

“I don’t know, honey. I wish I did. I wish I knew who to ask.”

“That’s it!” She grabbed his hand and started pulling him in the direction of the side yard. “The house. The answer has to be there.”

“Good day.” The voice had Ellie and Cam both stopping in surprise.

A tall gray haired man in an expensive suit stepped from around the back of Cam’s truck, followed by two other men, the same two men who had been there before. There was a long black limo parked behind the truck, and two additional men positioned on either side of it.

“Those are the men!” Ellie pointed at the two with the older gentlemen. “The ones who attacked me.”

“I’m sure you’re mistaken,” the elderly man said. “Please, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Simon Dansforth and I am your grandfather.”

He could have said he was an alien and the affect would have been the same. Complete disbelief.

“That’s a load of crap.”

“Oh I think not, Elana. Your grandmother, Bedelia, was my fiancée. We planned to be married, before it became apparent that she was with child. But her family intervened. They would disown her if she married outside of her race.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Cam asked.

Dansforth shrugged. “Her people are clannish, purity of their race is very important to them. They forbade the marriage and Bedelia acquiesced to their wishes. She left me. Had our child and then that same child saw her exiled from the family she gave all to honor.”

“I don’t understand.” Ellie said.

“Your mother. My daughter. She mated with a Whitehorse.”

“So?”

“They were cast from the family.”

Ellie shook her head. “Look, I don’t know you or who you think you are, but you’re not my grandfather and I want you off my land.”

“I am here simply to extend the hand of… family or friendship if you will, my dear. I know it cannot be the life you would choose, living in this squalid place. I will, today, buy this land from you for one million dollars; tax free and you can go wherever you choose.”

“No.”

“No? You would say no to a million dollars for this?” He spread his arms and turning slightly one way and then the other.

“Yes.”

Dansforth shook his head. “Very well. I apologize for the intrusion. I merely felt that as family it was my duty to try and help.”

“No help needed thanks.”

“Of course.” He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and withdrew a slim case. From it, he took a card. “Here. Should you change your mind, or perhaps want to find out more about family. My private number.”

Ellie accepted the card. “Don’t hold your breath.”

“Yes, of course. Your father’s daughter. Very well. Good day, Elana.”

Ellie watched him turn and leave, followed by the men she’d recognized as the ones who had attacked her. She waited until the car pulled away then turned to look at Cam.

“Those were the men. I swear to you, it was them.”

“Do you know who that was?” He asked. “Simon Dansforth is probably the richest man in the state, one of the richest in the county. And he says he’s your grandfather? Who’s Bedelia?”

“I don’t care who he is. And Bedelia is Grannie.”

“Ok, so who is your grandfather? Did you know him?”

“No. She… she never married.”

Cam stared at her for a few long moments. “So… so what if he wasn’t lying. What if he is your grandfather? And what was that stuff about her people?”

Ellie blew out her breath. “My mother’s family was Gypsy or something. I never really got the full story. But he was right about one thing. Apparently, they were very clannish. My grandmother was exiled from the family for a while after my mother was born, but she mended fences with them— at least partially. And my father was… I think he was Gypsy too, but not of the same clan. From what little I know my mother’s clan didn’t like his and when she married him, her clan exiled her and my grandmother.”

“Pretty harsh,” Cam replied.

“Yeah, life can be that way. But forget that. I want to go to the house. Now. Will you come with me?”

“Yes.”

Ellie started forward then stopped. “I’m sorry, Cam. For all of this. I know I’ve been a burden and I don’t want to be. I’d completely understand if you walked away.”

Cam could move surprisingly fast for a big man. He had her in his arms in two seconds flat, hugging her tightly. “Walking is the last thing on my mind, honey. At least walking away. I told you, Ellie. I love you and I don’t say that lightly. Whatever this is, I’m in it with you. And I’ll go to the house with you, but right now, I really think we should check out Dansforth and those men with him.

“I got pictures of two of them with my phone. If I can upload them to the department I might be able to run them through the system and get an ID.”

“You did that? I didn’t see you do it?”

“Your attention was elsewhere.”

“Still protecting me from the snakes?”

“You better believe it. Look, I know you’re eager, but can we please wait until tomorrow to go to the house? I’ll take a day off work if you want. But we need to check these guys out, and we need to check out Danforth’s story.”

“He has to be lying, Cam.”

“Maybe. I don’t know. But we have to try to figure it out. For your sake, ok?”

Ellie didn’t want to put off going to the house until morning, but she also didn’t want to say no to Cam. He was too important to her.

“Ok.”

“Yes?” He gave her a smile.

“Yes.”

“Thank you.” He gave a soft kiss. “We’ll figure all this out, honey. I promise.”

Ellie smiled up at him, wishing she felt half as confident as he sounded.

* * * * *

Dansforth stared out of the window of the limousine, oblivious to the passing scenery. Elana Whitehorse was definitely her father’s daughter. But there was something of Bedelia in her as well. The family resemblance was pronounced.

He had not expected her to accept his offer and so was not annoyed by her refusal. Today had been nothing more than an introduction. Despite her best efforts, she would replay his words to her over and again, and doubt would seep in. Could he be her grandfather?

That doubt would turn to curiosity and curiosity would lead her to him.

But in the off chance that he was wrong, he would cover all bets.

“I want half a dozen men on that property within the hour. Any sign of Elana Whitehorse, and I want to be notified immediately.”

“Twenty-four-seven? The man seated beside him asked.

“Yes.”

The man looked at the two men across from him. “As soon as we get back, pick four of your best men. Have someone drive you. We don’t want vehicles that would alert anyone to your presence. Take whatever provisions you need. I’ll send replacements in the morning.”

The two men nodded and Dansforth smiled. It might not be today, but one day Whitehorse’s land would be his. The land and whatever treasure it held would belong to him. And then Elana Whitehorse and all of her kind could rot in hell, right along with that bitch Bedelia who’d broken his heart.

It was, after all, what they deserved.

Chapter Ten

Ellie lay in bed, unable to sleep. It was five in the morning and she hadn’t slept at all. She couldn’t stop thinking about the gem that was now securely attached to her necklace, the secret house, and the man who claimed to be her grandfather.

Cam had run the photos through the database at the sheriff’s department and identified the men with Simon Dansforth. Neither had a criminal record. He’d suggested that she make a statement that they’d been the ones to attack her but something inside her balked at the idea.

She told him she just wanted to forget it and move on. That was a mistake. They ended up in a huge argument and he’d elected to sleep in the main house.

Ellie didn’t want to fight with Cam. She knew she was in love with him, but what she didn’t know was if they stood a chance at a future together. She didn’t put much faith in the power of love overcoming all.

Hell, her family was a living testament to love
not
conquering all. Her grandmother spent her life alone, her mother died and her father… well she guessed her father had spent the rest of his life mourning the love he lost, incapable of bestowing love on anyone else, even his child.

Her own life didn’t speak so highly of her ability in matters of love. She’d cared for her husband but had never felt a consuming, overwhelming love for him. Ellie had grieved at his death, but she was honest enough to admit that she didn’t miss him.

Maybe that in itself spoke volumes. She had been married to the man for five years and didn’t miss him?

Cam might be much better off without her in his life.

The problem was, when she considered life without him in it, something clenched inside her, a pain she could only equate to that which she’d felt when she lost her grandmother, the only family she’d ever really known.

She felt for the gem of the necklace and lifted it up. As always when it made contact with her skin, miniscule lights danced inside it.
What are you?

Something swam up through the layers of her mind, an old story her grandmother used to tell her at night when she was very young. It was about the Fae and their magical land, of a portal between this world and theirs.

Ellie suddenly sat straight up, her heart hammering. In the story, the Fae princess rode a magnificent white horse. He was a magical being, sometimes horse and sometimes man. And he took her on journeys, looking for her sister, who had been stolen when but a wee babe.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Cam. He answered on the third ring. “Ellie? Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I woke you, argued with you, and didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry and please don’t be mad at me. I… I need to go to the house, Cam. Now. I know you don’t understand and I can’t explain but I have to go there.”

There was a brief pause before he responded. “Put on a pot of coffee. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Ellie jumped out of bed, ran to the bathroom, and climbed in the shower. Five minutes later she was dressing. Just as she hit the brew button on the coffee pot, Cam tapped at the door.

She opened the door and they both just stood there looking at one another. The awkwardness scared her. Had she already scared him off? “I’m sorry.” She said.

When he yanked her to him and folded her in his arms, she nearly sagged in relief. “I’m sorry, too, honey. I shouldn’t have tried to force you into something you didn’t want to do. I just want to protect you, Ellie.”

“I know and I appreciate it.” She said, keeping her head pressed against his chest. “And I will make a statement. Today. You’re right about that, Cam. I should do that. If those men would do that to me, they’ll do it to someone else and I can’t be responsible for that.

“And if they did it because that man Dansforth told them to then I want him punished as well.”

Cam pulled back to look at her. “I think that’s the right thing to do.”

“Even though he’s rich as Midas and probably will walk away without even a slap on the wrist?”

“Yeah, even though.”

“Okay. So that’s what we’ll do. Just as soon as we go — oh! Oh shit, I’m sorry. You have to work.”

“I told you I’d take the day off and I will. Now, how about we have a cup of coffee? We have about ourty-five minutes ‘till dawn and there’s no point stomping around in the woods in the dark.”

“I can fix breakfast,” she suggested with a smile.

“I can eat breakfast,” he said and grinned.

Her mood lightened considerably and she busied herself with cooking. They didn’t talk of Dansforth or the house or anything to do with her father as she cooked, or as they ate. Cam told her about Lily and the Gypsy Vanner she’d fallen in love with via photos and information she got online from a breeder in Ocala.

“Is she going to buy the horse?”

“She said she was going to ride up the first of the week and take a look. She mentioned asking you to go with her.”

“Oh, I’d love that! Hey, there’s one more biscuit. You want it?”

“No, I’m stuffed. What say I help you with the dishes before we head out?”

“You don’t have to do that.” She got up and started clearing the table.

Cam got up with his plate and followed her to the sink. He set his plate down then took her hand to turn her toward him. “I’m sorry about the argument, honey.”

“I know you were just trying to do what’s right, Cam. I was wrong and I’m sorry. You’ve been so good to me and I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate it. II’m just not used to having someone look out for me, you know?”

“Well, I aim to change that. I’m here for you Ellie. I told you that and I mean it. I love you, honey and I don’t want to see you hurt, so you’ll have to forgive me if I get heated up about this stuff.”

Ellie was quite sure she’d never had sweeter words spoken to her and it kind of rattled her so she tried to pass it off. “Well, truth be told I kinda like you all heated up.”

Cam’s expression went to surprise and then something else entirely. She was a bit shocked at the strength he exerted when he pulled her to him and claimed a kiss. And holy mother of all that was holy, what a kiss. Ellie had never— not ever—had her toes curled by a kiss but he had the power to make that happen.

Here was the passion he’d held so tightly in check. He unleashed it in his kiss and it stripped away all hesitation from her, allowing her own passion to break free. When he suddenly pulled away embarrassment immediately followed. She should not have let herself give in to the desire she felt for him. She’d obviously turned him off.

“Honey, if we keep this up, we’re not getting to your secret house anytime soon.”

Relief washed through her making her feel almost giddy. “You’re one hell of a guy, Cam Marsh.”

Cam smiled and gave her a quick kiss. “Okay, hot stuff, let’s get going.”

“Right behind you, just have to grab my phone and keys.”

Ellie snatched up her things from the countertop, shoved everything in her pocket, and followed Cam out to his truck. The sky was starting to lighten and there was the barest hint of cool to the air.

“Does it get very cold here in winter?” she asked.

“We can get a week or so of lows in the 40’s and cool days in the 50’s or 60’s but generally we get highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 70s.”

“Beats the heck out of 30 degrees and rain.”

“Oh hell yes. Although sometimes I do miss snow.”

“Haven’t gotten a lot of snow around Charlotte in the last few years. I mean not enough to stick around more than a day.”

“Maybe this winter we should take a trip somewhere there’s real snow— the mountains or something.”

“Really?”

“Well yeah.”

“That’d be wonderful.”

Both fell silent for the remainder of the drive. The moment Cam made the turn into the property Ellie felt conflicting emotions rise. On the one hand, that squatty old house made her feel depressed. Not to mention the memory of getting beat all to hell while in it.

On the other hand, thoughts of the secret house and the lake and stream filled her with excitement and anticipation. She wasted no time getting out of the truck and starting around the side of the house.

Cam fell in step beside her. No words were exchanged until they reached the stream.

“Guess you don’t need anyone to protect you from the snakes,” Cam said.

“Huh?”

“You don’t seem scared out here anymore.”

That stopped Ellie in her tracks because it hit her. She wasn’t afraid. Not at all. “Wow, wonder how that happened?”

Cam shrugged and gestured for her to precede him. She smiled and led the way. The moment the house came into view, she stopped and took his hand. “Isn’t it… magical?”

“Definitely doesn’t seem quite real, “Cam said. “ So, if that mean’s magical, then yeah.”

“Come on!” She took his hand and broke into a run, eager to get to the house.

She unlocked the door and opened it. Once again a wonderful smell hit her as soon as she entered, but this time it wasn’t of cinnamon and spice, odors that incited feelings of things homey. It was of flowers and trees, the bite of cedar in the air and jasmine and roses.

“It smells different.” Cam commented.

“Strange huh. Oh crap we forgot to bring a screwdriver for that door.”

Ellie hurried to the door in the rear of the living area. “Wonder what’s behind it?”

She put her hand against the door and the moment she did, the gem in the necklace around her neck flared like a strobe light. Ellie squeaked Cam’s name in surprise and a little bit of fear, almost at the same instant her hand and the surface of the door lit in a brilliant flare of light.

“Ellie!” Cam grabbed her by the shoulders to pull her away, but stopped short because at that same moment the light disappeared and the door swung open about three inches.

Ellie backed up a step, colliding with Cam and fumbling for his hand. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. “What was that?” She whispered.

“Beats the hell outta me.”

“What do we do?”

“See what’s inside.” He reached around her and pushed on the door. It opened into blackness.

“Maybe there’s a switch on the wall inside,” he suggested and stepped around Ellie to feel along the wall inside the black room. “Nope.”

Ellie ventured a step into the darkness. She couldn’t see two inches in front of her face. “It’s the weirdest thing ever,” she commented. “I mean, why isn’t the light from the house at least spilling part of the way in?”

“Beats the shit outta me, honey. This is all getting a little too twilight zone for my brain.”

“No kidding.” She held out her hands and took another step and then another. “We need light.”

No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a golden light appeared. It had no visible source that she could see, it was simply there. And what was odder still was that it was not an even an actual light from a fixture. It was like a circular cloud of illumination, brightest at its center and fading the further it moved away from the center point.

In the center of what appeared to be a large room stood a circular table. Its top appeared to be of some type of black stone, smooth but intricately carved. The support was a large center column, equally as intricate in the carvings it bore. The column did not seem to be mounted to the base that flared out from it, but more a part of it.

“It looks like a tree,” Ellie said as it hit her. “The top is like the branches and the support is the trunk. Oh my god, Cam, look. The base looks like it’s rooted into the floor.”

“Strangest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. What’s that on the table? I mean besides that box sitting in the middle of it. A rolled up paper?”

“Let’s see.” Ellie started forward but Cam grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“Maybe we should just get out and close the door.”

“Why?” She asked.

“Why? Well how about because of what just happened? This shit isn’t natural.”

What he said was true, and maybe it wasn’t smart to stay there but now that the surprise was over, Ellie realized that she wasn’t afraid. Not at all. She was eager and excited, but not afraid.

“It’ll be fine,” she assured him.

“How can you know that?”

“I don’t know, I just do. You can go back out if you want, but I have to see what’s in that box.”

“Then I’m with you,” he said after a moment.

Ellie went to the table. Sure enough, there was a roll of paper beside the box. It looked like parchment paper, not necessarily old, but thick paper of a heavy stock that had been rolled up and tied with common twine.

She slid the twine from it and unrolled the page. Cam stepped up beside her ant they looked at the words on the page. They were penned in an intricate script.

“What the heck language is that?” he asked.

Ellie shook her head and studied the words.

Fac apel la magie, la compete
nț
ele de lumină. Risipi întunericul care fura ochii n
oș
tri. Restabili magia, aduce înapoi dreptul nostru, astfel încât încă o datăthe faepoate dansa noaptea. Sub soarele, sub luna, în pădur
eș
i curent, da înapoi comuna. Te sun acum să auzi motiv meu.
Aș
a cum am vrea, deci Mote fi.