Elina searches for the golden threads of the Keepers on the astral plane as she ports. They are strong and brilliant around Heather. Her thread seems to be protected by multiple golden threads!
When she opens her eyes, she finds she is on a well-worn, dirt path, surrounded by lush, green vegetation. A soft rain trickles down around her. The path seems to fork in two directions, Elina listens and hears the sound of roaring water. The path has a steep, muddy, incline.
Before starting off she pulls a shirt from her bag and binds the wound on her lower leg to slow the bleeding. She walks fast, ignoring the pain in her ankle she slips, and slides along, hoping this is the correct way.
The noise grows louder and when she turns a corner she sees the source, a huge waterfall! A welcome breeze blows from the powerful falls and Elina smiles at the tourists taking pictures.
There is a sign that says, “Moa’Ula Falls, Danger, NO SWIMMING.”
‘Okay, I wasn’t planning on swimming today anyway,’ she thinks to herself.
The couple leaves and Elina finds relief in her solidarity. She rests on a boulder, checking her throbbing leg, she thinks about Malach and what he is facing. Better a group of Angels than the hell that would have befallen him. He will forgive her for protecting him. She had no choice.
The noise of the falls is deafening, so she decides to head back down the trail. If the trail leads to this, then it must lead to a town in the other direction.
Walking along, she listens to the birds and wonders if there are any large animals she should be worried about. She doesn’t know much about Hawaii, or Seth’s family for that matter. The rain starts to let up, and the sun shines through, drying Elina’s clothes.
They stalk her soundlessly through the vegetation, her unusual scent calls to them. She has no visible weapons, but they have learned the hard way to trust no one.
Elina pauses a moment as she slips in the mud once more, mumbling she continues on her way.
Uncomfortable, she feels the pressure of unseen eyes on her. With a quick scan she senses more than one person following her, and they have golden threads. With a small smile she ports, landing directly behind a large, muscular man. They all stop shocked when she disappears. He whistles to his companions and they close ranks on the spot where Elina stood.
Enjoying herself, Elina re-emerges and creeps up behind the small group, wondering when they will sense her. This is a game Malach used to play with her when she was younger.
With a smirk she starts to advance, but the crunching of a stick behind her has her spinning around. She is surrounded and the leader is pointing a gun at her.
“Seriously Cap! You are losing your touch.” Seth says smiling.
“Stuff it, Cowboy! I would have had her earlier if you boys had shielded your threads!” Jake snaps lowering his weapon.
Elina’s eyes fill with tears at the sound of their voices, “Jake?” she exclaims and runs into his waiting arms.
Jake catches her with a huge smile and whispers, “Welcome to Hawaii, Elina.”
Chapter 16
Jake feels her trembling in his arms and gives a quick nod of his head to Seth and his team of brothers. They move out noiselessly, this time shielding their threads.
Exhaustion, fear, and heartbreak, take its toll and she begins to sob, clinging to her friend.
“Easy now, Elina. Everything’s going to be okay.” He tosses his rifle over his shoulder, lifts her into his strong arms and ports them to a small cabin, safe from prying eyes.
Elina looks at him with shock, “Jake? How did you get here?” she sniffs.
He sits her down on a couch and looks at her with a frown.
“I’ve been busy, your Dad trained me with Malach’s help. I’m not as good as you are, yet. Seth gave me this cabin and I’ve been visiting with his family whenever I could find the time. I heard you talking to your Dad and I assumed this would be where you went next. What I can’t figure out is why you would come alone?”
Frustrated, he paces back and forth and she smiles at the image he makes. Big, blond, muscular, warrior, with a gentle heart.
“Elina you are the one who said we are stronger, together! It’s time you start following your own advice. You are not invincible.” He stops lecturing when she doesn’t respond and finds her sleeping on the couch.
Exhaustion wins out, safe for the moment she rests content, trusting that he will watch over her. Jake grumbles and grabs a blanket to cover her.
“Sleep tight, Keeper. Tomorrow you will have a lot of questions to answer.”
Jake grabs a quick shower, then picks her up and carries her to a bedroom. She doesn’t move, except to roll over and grab a pillow. He hesitates when she whispers, Malach’s name, then stretches out beside her and she snuggles into his heat and sighs. Content to hold her, he drifts off to sleep.
As the morning sun breaks through the fog, Elina screams like a wounded animal. She pushes back against the headboard screaming for her angel. Jake tries to grab her arms, but she fights him.
“Malach!!!!”
“Elina! You are safe,” he yells and quickly pulls her down on the bed by her ankle. He pins her swinging arms to the mattress. “Look at me, look at me! You are safe!” he says over and over. Her eyes meet his and she begins to calm.
“The fire, Jake! It killed them and I couldn’t stop him! I tried!” her panic filled eyes stare into his and his stomach drops. He releases her arms.
“What fire, Elina? Is everyone okay?” He helps her sit up and then watches as the confusion begins to lift. Elina wraps her arms around herself and begins
