Chapter 60

Sam remained motionless as they searched for her. It was a large cavern and filled from wall to wall. Searching every inch would take time and time was something they were short of. The mouth of the tunnel was only a dozen feet from where she crouched behind the shelving and the frustration gnawed at her.

Something changed in the atmosphere and Sam held her breath. It was impossible but since she’d already experienced Alaina’s abilities on her previous visit, she knew she wasn’t mistaken. Alaina was searching for her in the same manner she had manipulated her that morning in the garden.

“She’s in the shelving somewhere down there.” Alaina’s voice echoed in the chamber.

Fear washed over Sam and she clenched her fist to still the trembling as she closed her eyes to concentrate. How could she prevent her from locating her? She tried to direct her thoughts to places she was familiar with but nothing was clear and she could feel Alaina drawing closer.

“Check the rear wall.”

Sam squeezed her eyes tightly and crouched lower. Help me! Her thoughts were chaotic and then, like the mist opening over the water, calm swept over her and she saw it. She was in the circle and as she turned to stare. The stones seemed to rise around her, slowly at first, but then they shot up and a roof spread overhead, walls rose. She was in the temple! A cool breeze blew through the circular corridors and flowed around her, tugging at her skirt.The smell of sage and frankincense and sandalwood was everywhere and she breathed deeply.

“STOP.” Alaina screamed. “You will not hide from me there.”

The scene in her mind shifted so quickly she felt dizzy. Walls melted away and she was in a huge room, larger than the cavern with a vaulted ceiling and great pillars all round the perimeter. In the center stood the stone table, its edges no longer rough and worn. The surface reflected the light of a thousand lanterns. Somewhere to her right she sensed people but she could not tear her eyes away from the table. The polished granite pulled at her and she reached out and slid her palms across the top. Warmth spread up into her palms and along her arms. She pulled back in surprise.

“Samantha.” The voice was as warm as a caress and she turned toward the end of the table to face the speaker.

Long black hair hung below her hips and the dark blue dress she wore seemed to flow like water around her. She extended a hand toward Sam and she looked up into eyes as green as the forest surrounding the temple. Sam caught her breath.

“Stay with me, Samantha. Don’t waver. She can’t reach you here.”

“Where is here?”

She laughed. “You know where you are?”

Sam looked around. “Yes. But I don’t know how.”

“Stop. If you look back you will be lost.”

“I don’t understand.”

She sighed and shook her head. The slender hand fell to her side and the dress rippled around it. “Understanding right now is unimportant. You are in danger. You asked for help. This is your sanctuary.”

 Who are you?”

“That, too, is not important. You would not know me if I told you. But,” she smiled briefly, “we have met. For now, focus on me. Don’t look around and don’t move from where you stand.” She moved around the table and stopped next to Sam. “I’m going to touch you and I don’t want you to be afraid.”

But she was afraid. The sensation of being in two places was frightening. Alaina was searching the cavern for her. She had to leave and soon or be caught.

“Samantha, she will not see you. But you must not focus on your location. You must focus on me. Right now. Look at me.”

Their eyes locked and Sam felt her fear slip away and the tension released its hold on her. “I want to understand this.”

“This is an ancient site, Samantha. A place of worship. And a place of safety.”

“But it is impossible.”

She smiled again. “Not so much. You’re here, aren’t you?”

“Am I?”

“Well, let’s deal with that another time. For now, our purpose is to keep you safe from your cousin. She is a troubled woman and must be stopped.”

For a moment, Sam felt the tug to open her eyes and verify where she was but the woman took hold of her hand and squeezed it.

“You must not do that yet. Soon, she will have to leave or miss the opening of the portal. You will be able to go then.”

“What is going to happen?”

Her laugh was a bright sparkling sound that brought a smile to Sam’s face.

“We do not tell the future, Samantha. We only see the past and the opening of the portal.”

“What is your name?”

She stared at Sam for several minutes as if she were weighing the question. “You may call me the Conservator.”

“That’s a bit cumbersome, don’t you think?”

A tiny smile and brief nod were her only response.

“Reece. . .”

“You’re fond of him.”

“He is a criminal.”

“And yet, you are still fond of him. Interesting, is it not?”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

She swirled away and seemed to drift across the floor toward the front of the temple. There was a platform there with a single chair in the center, not exactly a throne but the impression was there. “In a few minutes, you’ll be released to return to the cave.”

“But . . . I’m in the cave. This is all my imagination.”

She smiled that tiny smile again. “Is it? Well, you’ll be safe in a few moments.”

“I have questions.”

The laugh was soft this time and she smiled broadly. “Samantha, of course you do! Run along now. Reece will see to you. Despite your feeling of betrayal, you can trust him to keep you safe. He’s an honest criminal.”

Sam gaped and the room began to melt away around her, beginning with the walls and moving outward until it disappeared and she was behind the shelving in the storage cave. She made a fist and pound the air. "I wasn't ready!"

"Well, get that way, I have to get you out of here." Reece stood in the aisle, just past the opening she'd slipped through. "She's gone for reinforcements so we have to hurry."

She joined him and after taking her by the arm, he hurried her through the opening to the tunnel leading to the beach.