Morning Diamond

Into His Hands...

It all happened so fast! One minute Claire had been sitting on the rocks about to hear the lecture of a lifetime when Keith suddenly grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. His heavy body covered hers, crushing the air from her lungs. His hand covered her mouth, muffling her startled cry. They lay on the ground- pine needles stabbing into her sides- for several minutes while tension grew around them. Finally Keith slid off her. She sat up, catching her breath and brushing dirt from her body.

Keith grabbed the closest backpack and pulled out a wad of clothing. “Change into these, quickly.”

She didn’t waste any time throwing on the shirt, five times her size, but when she lifted the pants she paused. “Are these yours? The shirt hits my knees and I am not putting on these pants. I won’t be able to walk in them.” Keith turned to face her. He semi-smirked at the funny sight she made. He took his ball cap from his head and dropped it on hers. She reached up to raise the brim so she could look at her brother. “I look ridiculous!”

“Just wear it! Hide your hair! I want you to look like a boy. They are looking for a girl, maybe this will fool them long enough you can get away. It’s worth a try,” He responded to her ‘yeah right’ look.

Claire quickly adjusted the size of the cap and put it back it on, tucking her hair inside as Keith scanned the woods nervously.

“Bear, I am going to lift you down the ledge over there.” He pointed behind her, but she didn’t look. “There is a creek bed that runs through the trees.” She nodded, knowing it was the one they had followed after leaving Mark.

“It will take you back towards Leishmann’s camp. About a mile up there will be a small fork in the rocks. Take the east bed and make your way through the brush. Beyond the camp- about five miles- is another break in the trees. It opens up to a large group of cliffs. Follow the ridge until you reach a small canyon. You’ll need to cross through the gorge.

“After that head West along the base and you will not miss the cave. It will look like there are carvings on the entrance, but when you get closer it is just groves in the rocks. Just inside on the right of the entrance is a small diamond sunk into the wall that’s how you will know it is the right one. Understand? Good. No matter what happens or what you hear keep going. If you don’t find Mark on the way, don’t stop and don’t turn back. We will meet you there.” He tucked a stray hair into her hat as he had done many times when she was a child and pulled her into a brotherly squeeze. “Be safe, Bear.”

Cautiously they made their way to the farthest ledge. She grabbed his hand and carefully dropped over the side of the cliff. Her legs were too short to reach ground, so on her nod Keith let go and she landed roughly. “Go!” He ordered, looking over the edge and giving her a reassuring smile. “I’ll be right behind you.” He was gone.

She blinked up at the protrusion of rocks for a brief moment then turned to make her way to the stream bed. The sudden sound of muffled grunts caused her to pause. She looked over her shoulder, expecting to see Leishmann’s men rushing at her, ready to take her captive, but there was no one in sight. She looked up. They were up there, fighting Keith. For a moment her feet wouldn’t move and her mind was too occupied to think beyond the sounds of the struggle. Should she obey Keith or return to help?

A loud crack, a grunt, a heavy moan, and then a deafening silence. Claire held her breath as she struggled to make a decision. An unfamiliar voice called out- providing an answer. “Find her! She’s got to be close.” Claire began to run. She knew she needed to get away like Keith told her. She needed to escape, but her legs were taking her the wrong direction. She ran back to the cliff, back to her brother. She had to know, she couldn’t just leave without seeing what had happened to him.

Claire reached the small ledge and quickly climbed to the top. She popped her head over the edge to scan the area. “Keith!” Keith lay unmoving over a fallen log. Blood seeped through a large gash across his brow. Signs of cuts on his side and arms forced a pained cry from Claire. His body was too still, perfectly still, not a movement….not even a rise and fall of his chest. That’s all she could bear to see. She jumped. The force of the rocky surface below her rolled her ankle, but she didn’t have time to worry about the pain.

Claire limped forward, blinded by tears as she ran unseeingly into the forest. After a few steps the sting in her ankle began to subside and she picked up the pace. Heedlessly she ran, moving fast, straight into the arms of one of Leishmann’s soldiers.

Her mind remained in a haze as the man roughly dragged her, unceremoniously, through the woods. She knew she needed to fight, but Keith’s lifeless body had stunned her into compliance. She desperately wanted to turn back the clock. Did she tell him she loved him when he dropped her over the cliff? NO. She wished she had told him how blessed she felt to have him as a brother and father.

She had been the luckiest girl in the world to have such devoted brothers, and now, one had been stolen from her; killed by the devil’s pawns. Anger filled her. She would kill Leishmann the moment she laid eyes on him. Her resolve cleared her mind and allowed her to focus on what was happening around her. With her reestablished awareness she realized she was being thrust forward in front of an assemblage of Leishmann’s men. How had they gotten to the camp so fast?

She attempted to rise, but the oversized shirt caught under her knee, forcing her to stumble. She needed a moment to readjust and get her bearings, but the moment was stolen from her. A large hand clamped down on her cap and tore it from her head, taking a clump of hair with it.

She cried out in pain. The carelessness of the man fed her anger. She looked up, glaring at the person standing before her, fully prepared to let him suffer for everything this army had done to her family. She reached for the blade at her waist, but it was no longer in its sheath. Almost mockingly a man stepped forward and handed two blades to the man before her. She could not remember him taking them. Had her shock been that devastating they had searched and unarmed her without her knowledge? Her eyes narrowed at his smug smile and looked at the other man standing before her.

She noted he was fairly handsome- for someone his age. He wore clean black leathers, tanned and sewn to mold his frame in such a way to expose his wealth and power. His dark hair was smoothed into place; his face clean of whiskers. He looked out of place among the grubby, bushwhackers surrounding him, but it was clear he did not belong in Tyrell.

He stared down at her. His initial irritation melted away into a cheerful grin that didn’t quite meet the eyes. His eyes.

There was something in the depths of his blue eyes that sent a shiver down her spine and had sirens firing off in her brain. Her whole life she had been taught to be leery of eyes like that.

“Well, my dear, I am so glad you could join us.” His voice was deep and pleasant, but the amount of authority and confidence radiating from him made her dread the thought of him being the man in charge, if that were the case she knew he could never be compelled to let her go.

“Wh…Claire? How’d you find her? Where are her brothers?” Claire’s eyes were instantly drawn to the man standing behind the authority figure in front of her. Mike. Her heart soared with gratefulness. He was alive and looked fairly well, although tired and drawn.

Claire assessed him quickly, noting the blood stains and filth on his clothing. She smiled at him, telling him with her eyes everything would be okay. They were together. They’d find a way to escape. She’d get him away from this camp, and then, she would walk away from him. Her heart constricted at the necessary thought.

Mike stepped toward her; she recognized the strain in his movements. The man in front of him stilled the advance by raising his arm in front of Mike. She forced herself to look back at the man in black.

“Welcome to my camp, My Dear. Please, come inside and join me for some refreshment; you must be half starved after today’s activities.” He reached towards her, a smile playing on his lips. She stared at the hand stretched out before her, unsure if she should accept his help or shy away from it. He waited patiently watching her with a gentle smile while she contemplated her next decision. If not for the steal in his eyes she would have believed him to be the kind and caring sort. Finally, she lifted her hand and placed it suspiciously in his. The moment their hands touched she yanked hers back.

Her skin tingled from the touch and an overwhelming feeling of trepidation filled her. Who was this man? Every cell in her body screamed for her to beware. He was evil. A knowing smile crossed his face and quickly erased the gentleness he was attempting to show.

His eyes bore into hers. She could almost see his misdeeds. She could feel the amount of death surrounding him. Death he’d caused. She reached to draw comfort from the pendant around her neck, but with one quick movement the man in black grabbed her wrist and yanked her from the ground. She stumbled, but re-gained her footing despite the lack of assistance.

She attempted to pull free, but he tightened his grip causing her to cry out in pain. She looked around her, hoping to find someone with compassion and a willingness to help her. All the men stood sneering with approval of the abuse.

The man in black pulled her to the entrance of the tent. There, Mike stood in the doorway, blocking admittance with his arms crossed over his chest causing the older gentlemen to stop in his tracks. Claire looked from one man to the other wondering what terrible confrontation would soon break out.

Mike regarded the older man with disdain and stood his ground, refusing to back down from the intense power standing before him. She looked up at the man holding her wrist and wondered at the look of amused patience on his face. “Let her go!” Mike challenged. Fear rushed through her.

“Mike! I am so sorry that you got caught up in this, but please don’t test these people. I’ll be okay.” She offered a less than reassuring smile then turned to face the older man. “Please, Sir, let him go. He has nothing to do with this. It’s me you want. I’ll go with you if you let Mike go!”

“Claire, you don’t know what you are saying.” Mike’s voice was thick with warning’ his eyes commanding her to let him handle things. “Let her go!” He demanded again. The older man’s grip slackened-not enough for her to pull free- and looked at her thoughtfully then curiously at Mike. When he looked back at her his face was full of understanding. She had never fully understood what a light bulb moment was, but it was plain on his face, he just had one.

“Mike?” He smirked. “There’s no need for you to be present at this time.” He turned to his guards behind him. “Why don’t you men help Mike find his way back to his tent?” The flash of defiance in Mike’s countenance made Claire fear he would foolishly challenge the older man again.

“You are dismissed.” Her captor stated angrily, his voice leaving little doubt he expected Mike to leave without further uproar. Claire watched anger flash across Mike’s face. She pleaded with her eyes for him to go peacefully. A flurry of emotions flashed across Mike’s face; defiance, anger, sadness. But he settled on resignation at Claire’s pleading eyes and he nodded to her as he stepped aside.

When the guards stepped forward Mike refused their help, instead he limped along between them as they led him away from her. Claire felt a rush of relief that Mike went quietly and watched him duck through a tent close by.

“Now, please do come in.” She looked up at the man beside her. His smile was gentle, his voice soft. She almost flinched from the shock and briefly wondered if he had a multiple personality disorder. He bounced so quickly from this authoritative beast to gentle monster she was getting whiplash trying to decide what kind of man she was truly dealing with; completely heartless or partially rational?

Claire turned to look at the tent Mike had disappeared into. Her concern for him gave her courage to pull away, but the man’s grip tightened once again. He began dragging her through the opening.

“Let me go, please, I want to help him. Just let me get him settled and then I will return so we can discuss my release.” The man arched a brow before pulling her further into his shelter. “But he needs at doctor!” She exclaimed.

“If he chooses to leave and find one he’s more than welcome, but I assure you he is being well looked after. Now, I’ll hear no more of your friend at this time.” His words were unyielding and effectively communicated she should drop the subject. “Make yourself comfortable.” He released her hand the moment the opening closed behind them. Claire looked down at the red welts left by his merciless grip. Anger filled her.

“He can’t go anywhere. He is hurt.” She stated in a barely controlled voice.

“He will live.” He gestured for her to step further into the tent. When she didn’t immediately comply with his request he sighed heavily. “That boy is getting better care here than he could find anywhere else. Trust me, My Dear, his health is one of my top concerns. Now, please!” He again gestured for her come in.

“If I cooperate will you allow me to go to him?” He laughed and shrugged.

“You may do as you please after we speak. Once you answer all my questions you may consider yourself a guest in my camp.” Claire stuttered and half coughed at the ridiculousness of his claim.

“Guest? Most ‘guests’ receive an invitation they can either accept or decline. I don’t recall shooting up a person’s home and forcing them into your tent being on the list of ‘appropriate’ invites.” She gestured to the red welts his fingers left on her arms for emphasis.

“Point taken.” He laughed merrily. “I admit I jumped to the conclusion that your brothers would not appreciate a formal invitation. Now that I know differently next time I will send out an embossed card.” She glared at his mocking tone. “Would you like something to eat or drink, My Dear? You have been in the woods for some time; I can’t imagine your food options have been pleasant.” He lifted his hand to encourage her towards a table of covered trays that smelt deliciously suspicious. She looked at the crystal canter of liquid on another table her mouth watered, but she wanted would not eat with a man who entrapped her.

“No thank you!” She responded. “I’m not thirsty or hungry at this time. I think I will just go to my friend now.” She turned her back on him, but before she could take even one step a firm and wrapped around her arm and spun her around to come face to face with the seething barbarian. Irritation shone deep within his blue eyes, and the amount of animosity radiating from him caused her to inhale quickly. She mentally reprimanded herself for riling him, but could not bring herself to allow him to intimidate her.

“You will not ever turn your back on me again and you will stay until I say you are dismissed. Are we clear?” She glared up at him. “I offered you food and drink.” He said sweetly, but his face held a hint of malice and a whole lot of threat.

“I’m not afraid of you.” She straightened her shoulders and stared up him. His grip tightened painfully, but she did her best not to flinch.

“Brave? Or foolish?” He asked, with a mocking smirk. “You will eat.” He dropped his hand to the small of her back and pressed her towards the tables once again. She refused to budge.

His touch made her cringe, her body recoiling as if stung, and her stomach flipped in a nauseating twirl. This man- responsible for the death of one and possibly both of her brothers- had no right to ever touch her and she’d be damned if he would dominate over her.

“Your men killed my brothers.” She accused, crossing her arms stubbornly and moving out of his reach at the same time.

“Yes, well, to be fair the men who caught you were not in attendance when I gave orders for your brothers to be brought back alive. I had meant to give them to my son.” Her mouth dropped. “In all honest I am interested in knowing how my son would choose to inflict the penalty of treason on your brothers. In reality you should thank my men; they did your brothers a service.” For a moment all she could do was stare in shock. Did he really think her brother’s deaths were some sort of gift?

“I need to go to Mike now,” she stated firmly.

“You will eat with me before you take your leave. We have much to discuss.” He stepped closer-effectively placing himself between her and the exit and forcing her to retreat further into the tent.

“I wouldn’t eat with you if you were the last person in existence.” She spoke with venom, her temper beginning to rise at the man’s continual arrogance and overbearing ways. “I want to go to my friend!”

“In time you shall be united with, what was his name, Mike? In fact I will give you all the time you desire with him once we are through here.” He fanned his hand in the air, brushing off her request. “First I think it’s time to introduce myself.” Something in the way he said that made her skin crawl. Did she really want to know his identity? He didn’t wait long in taking that choice away. “Lord Landon Leishmann, at your service.” He bowed deeply, a smug smile on his face.

Claire gasped. Sweat beaded across her forehead and she began to shutter. A lump formed in her throat, big enough to choke on and a growing nausea hit her with a horrid force. So this was him…the man who started it all. This was the man who forced her and her brothers to flee their home world, was responsible for thousands of deaths and massively destroying hundreds of villages and lives; he stood only a few feet from her.