Free Mayan Blood by Theresa Dalayne Page B

her adrenaline. Each frantic step put space between her and The Man, until she slammed face-first into some kind of invisible barrier. Her body ricocheted off the unseen wall and collapsed to the ground. Nearly slipping into unconsciousness, she coughed and gasped for air, her ribs aching from the impact.
    A pair of black dress shoes with silver buckles stepped into view beside her head. The brass foot of his cane slammed audibly on the floor. “I had to stop you somehow.” His tone turned harsh. She’d angered him. In her experience, that was never good.
    Zanya swallowed down a sob, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “Get away from me.” She pushed up on her forearms, and with wobbly legs, managed to stand. Her vision was still blurred from the impact. She swallowed and sucked in another breath, swaying on her feet. “You…”
    His gaze dragged down the length of her body. “It has been quite fun stepping into your dreams, watching you squirm under your sheets.”
    Zanya held her ribs, hunched over with pain. “What do you want?”
    “Now, that is an interesting question. What do I want?” He stepped toward her. His eyes churned with magic and something else she couldn’t identify. Something that made her stomach turn.
    The space around them shook, rippling like the surface of a disturbed pool of water. The sensation of her subconscious being torn open nearly made her drop to her knees. Before either of them could react, it was gone.
    The atmosphere was different. Zanya's skin tingled and the hair on her arms twitched. They weren’t alone anymore. What creature had he called this time? Not that it mattered. There was nowhere to run.
    Small fingers wrapped around Zanya's wrist. She jumped and looked down at Marzena, who now stood beside her. Her blonde hair was weightless, drifting away from her body as if gravity no longer existed.
    A wave of relief washed over her, cooling the raw fear scalding her veins. Marzena’s angelic face was shadowed with skill and timeless knowledge. Power churned in her emerald eyes.
    “Sarian, why have you come?” The projection of Marzena’s voice was enormous, it echoed through the empty space.
    “What did you just call him?” Zanya said. “You…you know him?”
    Both of them ignored her question.
    “I was merely paying a visit to our young guardian. I hadn’t formally introduced myself, although we’ve been acquaintances for many years. Perhaps I should thank you for doing the honors.”
    Marzena was clearly not amused. She let go of Zanya's hand, her eyes now completely black like drops of onyx. “Do not jest with me.” The raw fury in her tone shook the space.
    Sarian winced, but quickly reassumed perfect composure.
    “Where is the stone?” Marzena’s lips never moved as she spoke with her mind. “Give it back to its people. It does not belong to you—nor has it ever.”
    Sarian tightened his grip on his cane. “I will follow through with my plans, dreamwalker. If you and your kind wish to live through my reign, I suggest you stop your foolishness and turn the guardian over to me. I have her stone. We both know she is worthless without it.”
    Marzena’s hair whipped wildly around her, slashing at the air. Wind conjured from the stillness, pressing Marzena’s thin nightgown flush to her frail form. The space around them trembled a second tie. Crawling fault lines spread through the darkness like a glass dome bearing too much weight.
    “We will never surrender the guardian. We will never stop fighting.” Marzena thrust her hands forward. Light burst in from every direction, collapsing the space on top of them.
    Zanya's eyes flew open and she shot up in bed. Unable to control the urge, she threw her head over the mattress and vomited on the floor.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    Arwan
     
    Arwan pushed through the French doors, onto the veranda. Stars dotted the sky, accompanied by the moon hung over the ocean in a perfect crescent.