Apitcote

By Peggy P Parsons

After healing Drew when he falls over a cliff, Rene loses her memories. She finds work at his law firm but doesn't remember him. Determined not to let her disappear again, Drew convinces her to move in with him. When her parents show up, they travel to Apitcote, where Drew discovers Rene withheld crucial information because she doesn't trust him, but most seriously of all, that she is expected to help save her homeland. He shuts her out, convinced she will leave him. When she does, Drew embarks on an adventure that changes his life in unusual ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781613094129

Book preview

What They Are Saying About

Apitcote

"R iveting. Mystical . After introducing a strong heroine, Ms. Parsons invites the reader to follow the twists and turns of a delightful but challenging romance. Traveling between parallel worlds, her characters are authentic, exhibiting endearing fresh creative detail. The story line lures the reader into suspending reality and rushing headlong into another world, cheering for the lovers to find their way.

Guaranteed, more will be heard of Ms. Parsons and her novel fantasy world."

—Nancy Damato, Author of Broken Promises

and the Taylor Family Series

Apitcote

Peggy P. Parsons

A Wings ePress, Inc.

Romantic Fantasy Novel

Edited by: Jeanne Smith

Copy Edited by: Joan C. Powell

Executive Editor: Jeanne Smith

Cover Artist: Trisha FitzGerald-Jung

All rights reserved

NAMES, CHARACTERS AND incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Wings ePress Books

www.wingsepress.com

Copyright © 2020 by: Peggy P. Parsons

ISBN 978-1-61309-412-9

Published In the United States Of America

Wings ePress Inc.

3000 N. Rock Road

Newton, KS 67114

Dedication

To my sister, Kathy, who has always been an integral part—one of the best parts—of my life.

Here’s wishing you good health for

many years to come.

Methuselah ate what he found on his plate,

And never as people do now,

Did he note the amount of calorie?

He ate it because it was chow.

He wasn’t disturbed as at dinner he sat,

Devouring a roast or a pie.

To think it was lacking in granular fat

Or a couple of vitamins shy,

If he carefully chewed each species of food

Unmindful of troubles and fears

Lest his health might be hurt

By some fancy dessert;

And he lived over nine hundred years.

Elizabeth Lucas

Book One

One

STOLEN MEMORIES ~~ The Supplementals

A sudden gust of wind whipped through the trees, scattering leaves and debris from the forest floor. Miles away from camp after his all day hike, Drew broke into a fast run.

Birds squawked and chirped as thunder clapped and lightning flashed.

When a doe and two fawns dashed by, Drew left the trail and chased them, hoping they would lead him to a leafy tunnel or some kind of shelter where he could wait out the storm.

His chest was heaving when the rain came pouring down. Like a flood from heaven, water sloshed through the trees, drenching his clothes, soaking his skin.

He forged on, racing over rocks, twigs and uneven turf until his foot wobbled on a loose stone. He twisted his ankle. Stumbled. Lost his balance. And toppled over a cliff.

Scenes of his life flashed. Regret followed. His death would devastate his family. Jordan, his best friend, too, waiting for him back at camp.

The steep descent stole Drew’s breath. He saw a tree poking out from the cliff. Tried to grab a branch. Failed. Spun in a circle before he hit the ground. Then everything went black.

WHEN HE OPENED HIS eyes, the prettiest girl he’d ever seen filled his vision. With bright light glowing behind her and strands of long blonde hair framing her lovely face, she looked exactly as he imagined an angel should look, although he hadn’t expected to encounter one in such a dark, dank-smelling place.

Am I dead?

No. You’re quite alive. Her melodic voice sounded as sweet as an angel’s, too.

Are you an angel?

She shook her head. Far from one.

Too dazed to believe he was awake and talking to such a beautiful apparition, he wondered if he might have dreamed up a full-grown fairy.

I’m neither fairy nor angel.

Had she read his mind? Had I said my thought out loud? Are you real?

Yes. She touched his hand and he felt an instant connection...unlike anything he had ever experienced.

Do you feel this? She caressed his fingers, her touch gentle.

Yeah. His reply sounded like a groan. Suddenly aware of pain stabbing every inch of his body, he grimaced. Even that hurt.

For a few seconds he had wondered if he’d died and gone to heaven. Now he knew being in heaven couldn’t hurt this much. Or smell so musky.

His head throbbed, but he managed to look around. They were in a cave. Stalactites and stalagmites covered parts of the jagged ceiling and uneven ground. A bright flashlight was responsible for the brilliant light behind the girl. His backpack and two others, along with his hiking boots, were lined up a few feet away. He was lying on something softer than the hard ground and at his side a small fire burned. Outside, the rain continued to pour down.

How long was I out? he rasped.

She raised her arms, waved them above his body.

His painful throbbing eased. Was she a miracle worker?

Feeling a little better, he allowed his curiosity to take charge. How did I get in here? Did you carry me?

Do I look like I could carry you? she countered.

Naw. You’re too puny. Only about half my size.

I’m not puny. Nor half your size. I’m sturdier than I look. And I can be inventive should the occasion arise.

What did you invent to get me here?

Nothing. I had help.

What kind?

She pursed her lips, as though trying to decide how to reply. Would you believe me if I said I was aided by a doe and her fawns?

Deer don’t help people, he said, but an image of them doing her bidding flashed through his brain. They run from us.

I didn’t think you would believe me. However, a doe and two fawns guided us to the cave. Perhaps they’re the trio you were following before you fell over the cliff.

You saw me chasing them?

I did. And you looked rather magnificent until you took that near fatal plunge. Do you realize you could have been killed?

His throat choked up. How bad off am I?

She arched her quizzical brow. How do you feel?

Like I fell off a cliff, he dead-panned.

She bent over him. Touched her lips against his forehead.

The pain in his head disappeared as he inhaled her perfume, a pleasant mixture of carnations, almonds and some other elusive scent.

She straightened. Pulled away. Smiled.

And what a smile. As bright as the absent sun and twice as stunning. She wasn’t just beautiful. She was gorgeous.

Realization struck like a lightning bolt. I’ve dreamed about her. And more than once. Short of breath, he coughed. Almost choked as sharp, intense pain returned.

Concern filled her emerald eyes. Are you all right?

Yeah.

Where do you hurt most?

All over, he moaned, feeling like a wimp but unable to conceal the searing pain. Everywhere except my head.

She raised her hands again, moved them slowly around his shoulders. The motion felt magical. Soothing. Like she was gently massaging every aching inch without touching him.

Feel better now?

Yeah, he mumbled, thoroughly relaxed. If she isn’t a miracle worker I must he out cold and dreaming.

He started to shiver. She clasped the straps of a green backpack, withdrew a pale pink blanket which she spread over him. The soft fabric settled like a puffy cloud, reminding him of cotton candy. Grateful the blanket camouflaged the sudden hardening in his lower extremities, Drew shifted. Grimaced.

The girl’s expression filled with empathy. Your abrupt stop when you hit Mater Earth jostled your insides. Should I do something stronger to ease your pain?

Mater Earth? Did she mean Mother Earth? I’m okay. I hurt when I move.

What can I do to make you feel more comfortable?

Help me sit up.

Do you think you should?

Yeah. Sitting will help me get my bearings.

With the grace of an ethereal spirit, she floated closer. I placed you near the wall so you’d have a back rest if you chose to sit. She lifted his sluggish arm around her slender shoulders and with little effort helped him sit up. How she managed to move his dead weight amazed him.

How do you feel now? she asked as he leaned against the cold bumpy wall.

Like I’m less of an invalid.

You certainly don’t look like an invalid.

How do I look?

Like a healthy specimen of the human race.

Should I interpret that as some kind of convoluted compliment?

Feel free to interpret it any way you choose. After that pert reply, she turned her attention to the tiny fire, added a small log from a nearby pile. When had she gathered dry firewood? How long would the pile last? Why didn’t any smoke curl above the flames?

He shivered again. His teeth started to chatter. He was cold. Really cold.

As though sensing his discomfort, she touched his arm, eliminating the shivers before she glanced at the wide cave opening. Although it’s June, the sudden drop in temperature feels like winter.

Yeah, he agreed, wondering if they would be warmer further back in the cave.

We're too near the entrance to enjoy the benefit of a stable temperature, but don't worry. I’ll make sure you stay warm.

Suddenly he felt warm. And his windbreaker was completely dry. As were his face, arms, entire body. How could his clothes be dry when rain had soaked them through to his skin?

Was I really out only an hour?

She nodded.

How did my clothes dry so fast?

I blew on them.

Thinking she was teasing and trying not to appear confused or just plain stupid, he said, I’ll rephrase my question. How long did it take my clothes to dry?

Not long. The fire is toasty warm; therefore I had help.

Nonplussed, he frowned, then changed subjects again. What’s your name?

Rene. And you are Drew. Short for Andrew.

Chills ran up his spine. Had she stolen his wallet? How do you know my name?

I didn’t steal your wallet. I removed it from your hip pocket and put it in your tow sack. Although you were unconscious, you answered my questions. I know you’re here with your friend, Jordan...also that today is the third day of your long awaited camping trip and the first time you haven’t spent every hour together. Jordan went fishing again. You preferred to take a long hike.

I talked while I was unconscious? That was new. He’d never been known to talk in his sleep. Did I somehow project my thoughts to her?

Feeling guilty for wondering if she’d stolen his wallet, he said, I apologize for wondering if you might have taken my wallet.

I know.

He glanced up at the shadows on the jagged cave ceiling, trying to gauge the height and how far he had fallen.

You fell about fifty feet, she said as though she’d read his mind again. You could have been a heap of broken bones.

I’m surprised I’m not. Wonder if I have any internal injuries.

You don’t. But you do have a sprained ankle.

How do you know I don’t have any internal injuries?

Because I examined you whilst you were unconscious.

Are you a doctor? A vet? Or a nurse?

No. I used this. She pulled a small device from her breast pocket. The twin mounds protruding beneath the soft fabric of her vivid green blouse snagged his attention. The lower half of his body reacted to the magnetic pull by growing harder.

She cleared her throat, drawing his eyes from the curves on her chest to the small plastic object in her hands. The white instrument was about an inch wide, three inches long with a tiny digital screen in the center.

This detects broken bones and internal injuries.

Wondering where she had obtained such a gadget, he asked, So what’s the prognosis? How bad are my injuries?

Neither severe nor life threatening.

My worst injury is my ankle?

Yes.

He found it difficult to believe he didn’t have serious internal problems.

As though the same thought occurred to her, she said, You would be wise to have a doctor examine you as soon as possible.

Probably, he agreed, disliking the idea of ending his long awaited camping trip with Jordan. To satisfy more curiosity, he asked, Are you camping here in the woods?

Yes.

Drew studied her, hypnotized by the mere movement of her hair as it swirled when she turned to tend the fire again.

How long are you staying?

Just overnight. We’re leaving tomorrow.

He focused on one word. We."You’re not alone?"

No. She turned back to face him. Like you, I have a companion.

Male or female?

Male.

Your boyfriend?

No.

Father?

She shook her head.

Cousin?

Wrong again.

Not your husband. You’re too young to be married.

I may be younger than you, but I’m not too young to have a husband.

Disappointment speared through Drew. You’re camping out with your husband? he asked, startled by the sudden jealousy ripping through him.

No. She eased his misery. Where I live, we tend not to choose a mate until we're thirty or forty or much older.

Why?

First we obtain a thorough education, explore the world and experience a number of years on our own. Like a nurse tending her patient, she touched his forehead with the fleshy part of her hand. You have a slight fever.

She raised her hands, flicked her wrists, making him blink before she touched his forehead again. Your temperature is back to normal.

Thanks.

You’re welcome.

How did you do that?

What?

Reduce my temperature.

I wished it to go away and it did.

He blinked again. Are you a magician or what?

Not a magician. A healer.

Lucky me.

She reached for his hand, inspected his fingers.

So, who are you camping with?

You are a curious one, aren’t you?

Yeah, I am.

She released his hand, inhaled a deep breath as though making a difficult decision. My companion is part of my kew. Also my brother. My twin brother.

Your crew? Do you live on a boat? Or work on a cruise ship?

No. My kew begins with the letter ‘k’ and is spelled k.e.w. We’re a team of five friends who were all born on the eighth day of the sixth month, which formed a life-time bond. You might think of us as a team or club of some sort.

Sounds interesting.

It is and has been.

Unable to ignore his attraction and his body’s reaction, he shifted his back against the lumpy cave wall. His injured ankle chose that moment to send a sharp pain shooting up his leg. He stifled a grimace but saw concern in her gaze.

To take his mind off his discomfort, he said, He must have a name.

Instead of looking confused she said, My brother’s name is Dane.

An eerie sensation raised goose bumps on his skin. Did she read my mind? Again? Where is he?

After we concluded you were going to be all right, he went to find your companion, Jordan. They will move your camping gear here. It would be unwise for you to walk until the swelling in your ankle subsides.

Good of you to think of that. And for your brother to look for Jordan. We appreciate your help.

I suspect you would do the same if either one of us had fallen and injured ourselves.

I like to think I would.

She studied him, her expression somber. Please feel free to let me know if you want me to do something more to ease your pain.

I’m fine, he fibbed, thinking she was offering drugs. I’m in good physical shape.

I know. Her green eyes twinkled and if he hadn’t already lost his heart to her, he would have lost it then. She looked so familiar he felt as though he had known her all his life.

She reached for her pack, withdrew a canteen, unscrewed the lid and offered it. You should stay hydrated. Drink some water.

He hadn’t realized how thirsty he was until she offered the metal container.

My grandpa has one of these, he mused after his first swallow. Our generation doesn’t use canteens. We carry bottles of water instead.

Right. And all those empty water bottles aren’t good for the environment. I doubt they would be good for space, either, if the powers that be decide to start shooting trash up into the stratosphere as one politician has suggested. I know some people think the sun would burn the trash, but wouldn’t it be better to change habits rather than pollute the universe?

Drew didn’t reply. She had made a point he hadn’t ever considered, although like his parents and friends, he did recycle the things he knew could be recycled.

Are you hungry? she asked after she added another log to the small fire.

Yes. Sharing a fresh fish dinner with Jordan as previously planned might be out of the question by the time he and Rene’s brother arrived.

Rene pulled a small container from one of her packs, opened it, gave him half a sandwich, kept the other half for herself, collapsed the container and stowed it in her pack.

This is good, he said after he chewed the first bite What is it?

Would it bother you if I said rattlesnake?

He swallowed the food in his dry mouth. I don't know. Is it?

No. She grinned. I just wondered how you would react.

What is it? he asked, too suspicious to take another bite until he knew.

Chicken salad.

Doesn’t taste like chicken.

What does it taste like?

Something better.

She laughed and he loved the sound. It’s a combination of baked chicken, steamed scallops, and a sweet and sour pickle mixture I devised when I experimented in the food kitchen a few years ago.

I thought all kitchens are used for food.

More laughter tinkled from her fascinating mouth. When I was a tween I worked in the food kitchens in my village. Everyone there has the opportunity to work and experiment in the food kitchens, although some people think it’s a chore rather than a pleasure. I understand you call them cafeterias.

How old are you? he asked, thinking village was an odd word to describe where she lived.

Take a guess.

Fifteen. Maybe sixteen?

She shook her head. I attained my eighteenth year last week.

Remembering what she'd said about her kew all being born on the same day, he said, I was born on June eighth also.

I know.

Oh. Did she snoop in my wallet and read my driver’s license? Where do you come from? he asked. Do you live nearby?

She frowned. You have a suspicious mind and you ask a lot of questions.

Please answer them.

My home is a fair distance from here, she said somewhat evasively.

How far?

I haven’t measured the miles. I live a rather cloistered life in a peaceful hamlet which doesn’t have the extremes that exist here.

Hamlet? Another odd word. Extremes? he queried.

Crime, murder, violence, corruption.

Yeah. We do have our share of those.

When he finished his sandwich she asked, Do you want another half?

No. I'm good.

She extended the canteen, along with an energy bar.

You sure you want to share your food?

Of course. She smiled again, and his heart reacted with quiet joy.

As he unwrapped the nutty fruit bar, he tried to sound casual when he said, I’ve dreamed about you, Rene.

I’ve dreamed about you, too, Drew. I believe we shared some of our dreams.

Surprise startled a gasp from him that made his lungs sting. You do?

She nodded.

Often?

Yes. I dreamed about you last night.

I dreamed about you, too. He breathed in and out slowly, testing his lungs as he pondered their strange conversation and his mixed-up feelings about his attraction, her unusual abilities and the weird fear that this wasn’t real. That he might be hallucinating.

I can help relieve your pain, she said, as though sensing his discomfort.

I don’t want anything that might make me groggy.

Even if it makes you feel better?

Not even then. He inhaled and exhaled slowly, carefully before he said, I’ve always hoped I’d meet you someday. Have you expected to meet me?

Yes, although I didn’t expect it to be under this kind of circumstance.

My fall has to embarrass me more than it embarrasses you.

Your accident doesn’t embarrass me, Drew. I hoped when we met I would be wearing a beautiful gown, something that might dazzle you.

Clothes don’t dazzle me. You do.

What?

I said I am dazzled, Rene. You make me feel like a mesmerized love-struck teenager. Which is another way of saying I’m enchanted.

She smiled. This place feels enchanted.

Drew smiled, too, happy, content and sleepy—completely unworried about his health, his bruised body, his sprained ankle.

Close your eyes, she said quietly. Sleep and rest are what you need right now.

He didn’t want to, but he dozed.

WHEN HE AWAKENED, HE was lying by the fire again. He wondered if Rene had had difficulty moving him back onto the mat. Outside, rain still poured and it had grown dark. It was even darker inside the cave. The flashlight had been turned off, and the only light came from the tiny fire that kept the front half of his body warm.

He turned his head to make sure Rene was still with him. A sharp pain bolted through his skull. Seeing her sitting beside him, her booted feet near the fire, he took some shallow breaths. When he could speak, he said, You mentioned you’re leaving tomorrow. When will I see you again?

I doubt you will.

He frowned. Even that made his head hurt. Why?

We come from different worlds, Drew. I couldn’t ask you to leave yours and I don’t wish to leave mine. I’m needed there. She said that sadly, as though it were a burden to bear.

That answer is unacceptable. Give me your phone number and address.

I don’t have either that you can reach. You won’t find me listed in a telephone directory or online either.

Why not?

Because I live in a remote place you cannot find and wouldn’t understand even if you did.

Then tell me about it. Help me understand.

Here, she said instead. Eating will nourish your strength. She extended a sandwich and watched until he swallowed the last bite. Then she extended an apple and another energy bar along with a bottle of water she had apparently found in his backpack.

While he chewed the apple, an electronic noise buzzed. It wasn’t the trill of a cell phone so he was surprised when Rene pulled a sleek white phone from her pack.

Hi Dane, she said. Where are you?

Startled that her phone worked inside the cave when neither his nor Jordan’s worked in the forest, Drew stopped eating and listened. Another shock bolted through him when he heard her brother’s clear reply.

I’m with Drew’s friend. The storm is a real downpour. Jordan and I have decided to spend the night here in their tents unless you need us.

Stay put. We’re fine. The cave is an excellent shelter and I’ve made a fire to keep the patient warm.

How is he?

Seems okay. I think he’d like to talk to his friend.

Jordan’s anxious to talk to him, too.

Rene extended her phone.

Hey, dude, Jordan said after Drew mumbled ‘hello.’ I hear you’re not doing well.

I’m okay, Drew said, trying to sound tough.

How far did you fall?

Not wanting Jordan to worry, Drew replied, Apparently not far enough to break any bones.

That’s good news.

How many fish did you catch today? Drew asked, changing topics.

My limit. Dane and I ate them for dinner.

Catch any big ones?

Nothing exceptional. Have you had anything to eat besides the snacks you took on your hike?

Yeah. Rene shared her food.

Glad you’re not hungry or alone, Jordan said. Afraid we’ll have to cut our camping trip short. Dane and I both think you should have a doctor check you out.

Unhappy with that thought, Drew grunted agreement. After graduating from college, they had both looked forward to an extended camp-out in the Adirondacks before starting law school in the fall.

I’m sorry if you miss the Sacandaga Summer Fishing contest next week, Jordan.

Don’t worry about the contest. I haven’t found any spectacular fishing holes, so I probably don’t have a chance to catch the biggest fish anyway.

After the call ended, Rene stashed her thin phone back inside a pocket of her backpack. Turning her attention to him, she said, You look tired.

I am, he mumbled. Don’t know why.

I do, she sympathized. You hiked most of the day and then fell from a great height. Close your eyes and sleep again.

Will you stay with me?

Yes.

You’ll be here in the morning, won’t you?

I don’t think so. Once again she sounded sad. Dane and I must leave early. Our kew will be waiting for us at the airport.

Are you going home?

Not until after we fly across the Atlantic and explore the United Kingdom and Europe.

How long will you be gone?

All summer and fall. Most likely until December.

Will you contact me when you get back?

Not right away. I have obligations. Just as you do. Commitments, too.

Yeah, three years of law school. Suddenly it seemed like a life sentence. When will we see each other again?

I don’t know and I can’t promise anything. She leaned closer, stared into his eyes. Her misery mirrored his. The future is ever unknown. If we’re meant to be together, we’ll find each other again someday.

He sounded desperate when he said, You must know I’m half way in love with you, Rene.

Her anguished eyes, still linked with his, teared. I’m half in love with you, too.

I felt that way before we even met.

Me, too. She touched his cheeks tenderly. May I ease your pain? I know it intensified before and whilst you napped. Tomorrow you’ll likely feel worse.

When he hesitated, she added, You needn’t act tough. I know you are. It’s smart to accept help when you need some.

All right, he said gruffly.

Scooting closer, she raised her hands, massaged him again without touching.

When she finished he asked, Will you sleep next to me?

Yes. The temperature is dropping and my body heat will help keep you warm. She pulled two more blankets from her twin backpacks, spread a second one over him, the third over herself. Then she curled up beside him, facing him, on the hard ground.

Sandwiched between her and the small fire, Drew realized again that he was lying on something soft. He examined it with his fingers. Two foam pads, one piled on top of the other.

Where did you get these? he asked, indicating the pads beneath him.

One is mine, the other is Dane’s. He left his gear for us to use.

Thanks, but I don’t need both pads. You should use one.

I want you to be as comfortable as possible. She reached over and pulled the soft blankets up to his chin. They inhaled the same air, perfumed by her scent and his.

What’s the name of your perfume?

I haven’t named it yet.

You made it?

Yes. Another one of my fun experiments, although not in a food kitchen.

Where did you experiment?

In a lab, of course.

Feeling like a dunce, he said, I can smell carnations and almonds plus an ingredient I can’t name.

Rose hips.

I like the combination.

Thank you. She cupped his cheek, her thumb caressing his jaw. Falling over the cliff was like being in a car accident, Drew. Tomorrow your insides will hurt as your organs resettle and you might want a pain killer more than you want to breathe.

I’ll worry about that tomorrow. Tonight I want to enjoy being with you.

They lay in silence, listening to the quiet sounds of the crackling fire. Drew was so aware of Rene he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He drew her hand to his mouth, kissed her fingers, her palm. He wanted to kiss her lips, but couldn’t summon the strength to move anything more than his arm. He didn’t even have enough energy to lift his head.

He managed to slide his arm around her waist. She adjusted his blankets again, made sure they covered everything except his head. Then she rested her hand, under the blankets, against his elbow.

Drew closed his eyes. And slept. Dreamed of Rene kissing him. Then realized the kiss wasn’t a dream. She was kissing him.

He returned her kiss, their lips clinging, his heart thudding, and he wished he could embrace her but his arms felt numb and too weak to move.

AT DAYBREAK HE AWAKENED. Alone. Rene and her two backpacks were gone. But she had left the mats beneath him, the blankets covering him and the small fire still burned. The pile of firewood hadn’t diminished. How had she replenished it with the storm soaking everything outside?

His body ached but he knew he was going to be okay. She must have given him another touchless massage before she left.

Frustrated that she was gone, he clenched his fists. Felt something clutched in one. Unfurling his fingers, he stared at a gold ring with a gold eagle on top of a green stone. He tried the ring on. It fit his fourth finger perfectly, as though crafted especially for him. He studied the emblem, thinking the eagle might be Rene’s school mascot.

He glanced outside. No rain. No clouds. Plenty of sunshine. A doe and two fawns stood at the entrance less than a dozen feet away. Had he not known better, he would have thought they were there to guard him.

Thinking she wouldn’t hear him, he shouted anyway, Rene, where are you?

The three deer turned their heads, stared at him, but didn’t scamper away. They stood still, their bodies poised, as though intent on acting as guardians.

He heard a noise. A loud hiss. The sound of a snake.

The doe raised one leg, stomped the ground. The snake turned, slithered away. Drew was sure then—the doe and her fawns were there to protect him. And Rene had arranged that. How he knew that was a mystery like everything else that had transpired between them.

Drew! he heard Jordan shout. I’m almost there. I know you’re in the cave. I’ll be inside in a few minutes.

The three deer turned their heads in sharp unison to the direction of Jordan’s voice. Then they took off in quick graceful lopes.

Jordan dashed in, knelt at his side. How are you feeling, dude?

Like I fell off a cliff.

Scared the heck out of me when Dane found me and told me what happened.

I’m fine. In spite of the pain ebbing through him, Drew refrained from saying he wouldn’t trade his fall for anything. Meeting Rene was the best thing that had ever happened to him. And now she was gone.

But she had kissed him when she thought he was asleep. She had known before the kiss ended that he was wide awake. And she had left her ring with him. She wasn’t an elusive sprite from his dreams or a figment of his imagination.

Two

Five Years Later

An inner alarm jolted Rene awake. Her hammering heart whipped to a faster beat. Someone had entered the room she shared with two other patients.

Careful not to disturb the covers or make any noise, she turned her gaze slowly toward the door. Light from the hall outlined a couple standing just inside the room. Rene recognized stout nurse, Biana, but didn’t recall seeing the thin dark-haired man.

But then she had no clear memories beyond the last two weeks. No knowledge of who she was. Or where she had come from. Or why she had been committed to a mental institution.

Trying to calm her wildly racing heart, she forced herself to take deep, quiet breaths. A few weeks earlier she had devised a ploy to stop swallowing the mind-numbing pills given to her twice a day so she knew what went on inside the walls of her prison.

Are you sure Rene always sleeps in the middle bed? the strange man whispered.

Chills darted up her spine as Nurse Biana whispered, Yes.

Did you give her a sedative?

Of course. Biana’s indignant toss of her head reinforced Rene’s belief that the ornery nurse didn’t like to be questioned or challenged.

Every night whoever is on duty makes sure Rene swallows a sleeping pill and marks it on her chart. Here. The cranky nurse thrust an electronic notebook at her companion. Check it yourself, Foxton.

The man snatched the notepad. As he studied it, Rene’s heart jumped half way up her throat. Biana and the man she called Foxton had whispered every word but Rene heard them as clearly as if she were wearing earphones. How was that possible?

You know the revised plan, Foxton said.

Right, Biana agreed. Your instructions will be followed, beginning tomorrow night.

Not tomorrow. Tonight. Speed is essential.

Yes, of course. Tonight while she’s asleep. Biana turned on a flashlight and aimed it at the middle bed.

Her bed.

Trying not to squeeze her eyes too tightly shut or give any indication she wasn’t sound asleep, Rene forced herself to breathe evenly while the flashlight beam scanned her face.

Dr. Snyder will assist me, Biana whispered, switching the flashlight off.

Goosebumps lumped on Rene’s arms as Foxton replied. The two of you will be amply rewarded. His right shoulder twitched, a gesture Rene stored in her near empty memory bank.

I spoke to Dr. Snyder earlier today, Foxton continued. He’s certain Rene is more aware of what’s going on around her than she lets on. Swift action is necessary. If she recovers her memories, extreme ramifications could ensue, which would adversely affect not only your life and mine but others as well. Do you understand the potential threat she poses? The harm she could inflict? Stronger drugs are required. She must be kept sedated.

I agree. Biana snickered. Don’t worry, Foxton. Dr. Snyder and I will take care of her.

The tiny hairs on the back of Rene’s neck stood on end. Biana’s words sounded like an ominous threat.

Rene took a deep breath. Dr. Snyder knew she was more alert than she pretended to be. What did she know that could harm other people? And why did Biana dislike her? What did I do to earn such animosity?

Another worry thumped through Rene. How long do they intend to keep me sedated? For the rest of my life?

Panic paralyzed her body but her mind remained totally alert, memorizing everything she could about the couple, including the shorter length of Biana’s new hair-do, Foxton’s high forehead, pointed nose and chin and long dark hair, gathered behind his head and tied at his nape.

She didn’t know whether to be relieved or upset when Foxton turned and walked away without another comment. Nurse Biana followed, closing the door with a definite click that made Rene think of a death knell.

She shook off the eerie sensation that her nocturnal visitors intended more than their conversation had conveyed. Still, worry buzzed through her, mixing with her puzzling ability to hear Biana’s and Foxton’s whispered conversation as though it had been broadcast through invisible ear phones attached to her head. Do I possess some kind of supersonic hearing ability?

Thinking that highly unlikely, she swiped her fist across her sweat-moistened forehead. Within seconds she corralled her spinning thoughts and concentrated on her problems.

Unable to think of a solution to keep from being sedated again, she went over the scant details she could remember.