Her blood is strong, and he intends to take every drop. When she tries to move she finds that he has buried a hand in her curly hair and jerks her neck back. He releases the image of his beauty and shows her what he truly is, a demon, Fallen Angel and Mocker.
Her screams are silenced when he bites her throat and pounds her body with his own need. He sees her memories and sorts through them, but stops when he discovers a connection to a Keeper. When her heart stumbles, he does not stop, he drains her of every ounce and drops her used body to the floor.
Rejuvenated for the moment, he stands, “Time to hunt. I need a Keeper!”
They will pay for killing Raphaim and it begins now. He calls for his remaining sons. “I want you to find this Keeper named Jake. Search for him and don’t come back until you have him!”
Chapter 19
On Christmas Eve, Jake drives down a driveway lined with beautiful palm trees. The sun is shining and Elina is sitting beside him.
“Okay, I should warn you Seth’s family is boisterous. They all work with their father, Makaio in the construction business. His mother’s name is Lelani and he has three brothers.”
“Relax, Jake. I won’t be here long. I have to go after the next part of the book soon. Do you think they will help me?” She crosses her arms over her chest, trying to warm her body feeling chilled and feverish.
He smiles, “You bet.”
He pulls in front of a two story home with double porches and white fans blowing. The house is an olive green color with white trim and lush tropical plantings.
Elina stares in awe at the house after climbing out of the jeep. In the distance she can hear the ocean and feel the breeze, “It’s lovely!” she gasps.
“Thank you,” says Lelani. Elina turns and smiles in greeting while trying not to stare at the tiny woman. At five foot tall, Leilani looks dwarfed by a large man as he steps forward.
“Welcome to our home, Elina. I am Makaio, Seth and Jake have told us many stories about you.”
“Thank you. I am anxious to see Seth and Heather again.” Jake takes her arm and they follow the couple inside.
“You are just in time for breakfast.” Lelani is interrupted by the barking of a dog and deep voices yelling.
Jake smiles and whispers, “Don’t worry, that’s the brothers. They tend to fight over everything.”
Lelani, stomps off and everything gets quiet for a moment.
“She may be tiny but she has a warrior’s heart,” Makaio says with a chuckle.
He leads them through the house out onto a large screened in porch, where she sees Seth and Heather.
“Elina!” Heather rushes around the table and the two women laugh as they greet each other.
Seth smiles in welcome and teases, “Elina, welcome to Hawaii, I hope you are rested after yesterday.”
“You guys are good, but I almost had you.”
“We will have to try that again, we took it easy on you,” Jake says, only half joking.
“I will take you guys up on that, later,” she responds with a laugh.
Heather takes Elina’s arm, “Prepare yourself, Elina. Here they come.”
Three loud voices are arguing and shoving each other as they carry chairs effortlessly into the sun room. They all stop speaking at once, when they see Elina. Jake frowns, as the oldest, Loe is the first to recover.
“Aloha, Nani,” he says, smiling down at her.
Elina steps back into Jake when the three large men crowd into the room. She looks at Lelani and then back at the boys, and then at Seth.
Heather starts to laugh at the look on her face. “I warned you, it’s like living in the land of giants!”
“I’m sorry, it’s just shocking. Lelani?” Elina questions unable to help it, she knows it’s rude to stare but she can’t seem to stop.
Lelani laughs and smiles at Elina, “Our Father gifts us in unique ways. They are my greatest accomplishment. Elina, meet Loe, Kale, and Keahi. Now stop staring at the poor girl and get the tables,” she orders.
“Seth you didn’t tell us she was stunning,” Keahi says taking her hand. “Perhaps you would like to walk to the beach later?” he asks wiggling his eyebrows. Elina laughs and before she can answer Kale shoves him.
“Leave the poor girl be, she just got here.” Kale snaps. “Elina my wife and daughters will be here soon, I would be honored to introduce you to them.”
Loe pushes Keahi and they start arguing in Hawaiian as they hurry out to bring back the tables followed by Seth and Kale.
Elina looks at Jake and he starts laughing. “I will see if they need me. I will just be outside?” he asks as her smile starts to fade.
“I’m okay, Jake. Go on,” she urges him and struggles to ignore the headache and chills rocking her body.
“You are safe here, Elina.” Makaio promises in a deep voice. Elina’s eyes meet his and surprised at the intensity of his stare.
“Thank you for welcoming me,” she replies. “Leilani, Jake tells me you are a nurse, would you mind taking a look at my ankle for me?”
“Of course. What kind of injury am I looking at?” Elina sits in a chair with relief, the claw marks are throbbing. She hesitates as they all stare at her. Leilani moves to the chair in front of her and Elina pulls up her pant leg to reveal the injury.
“Puncture wounds, possible tearing. Jake cleaned it and wrapped it, but it is throbbing.” No one speaks as Elina unwraps her ankle and removes the pads that she has used to soak up the blood. Leilani inhales swiftly, and speaks rapidly in Hawaiian to her husband. He leaves and quickly returns with a first aid kit.
The men return
