Authors: K A Jordan
He was raging now, terrified of what Van did to send June into panicked flight. He shouted at the old man in the Nova as he swung the bike back on to the centerline to take the hill at 75 miles an hour.
The ravine, he thought, June would lose it at the ravine. Somehow, they would make her miss the bridge.
The light at the top of the hill was red. Eric glanced right, figured he could make it before the oncoming SUV, so he hit it hard. The SUV locked up its brakes; the driver hit the horn, shouting curses.
Eric laughed, as he shifted again. Barely a quarter-mile later, he down-shifted to take the on-ramp tight at 85. Fuming at the delay, he wound his way through two semis.
June had vanished in traffic. Maybe she'd hit the gas? The Toyota could do 90 to 100, if she had the guts to push it that hard.
Eric swung the bike back on to the centerline and let her fly. Finally, June was in sight. She had the Toyota at top speed, like all the devils from hell were on her tail.
Eric was barely gaining on her at 90. He dropped one gear, shot forward until he hit 100, then up-shifted.
He came up on the driver's side, should have been visible in June's rear view mirror. She was staring straight ahead, not glancing in her mirrors.
He shouted at her as he pulled up even. No response. He would have to let go of the throttle to pound on the car; tempting but not practical at a hundred miles an hour.
The ravine was just a few miles ahead; he had to stop June before she got to the bridge. June's car was slowly drifting to the center of the road. By the time she got there, she would be over the median.
The bike was sluggish as he racked out the throttle for the final time. He cursed her for a faithless bitch as he down-shifted. He was going to do this; she wouldn't stop him. He swept around June's car at 135. The bike screamed down the straight-away until just before the bridge over the big ravine.
Then he locked up the back brakes, coming to a full stop, broadside in the center of the freeway.
Eric waited.
The white car came straight at him.
He waited.
There was no sign that June saw him.
He waited.
The bike's engine whined, the pitch rising in a scream of protest. But Eric held the clutch in, held the brakes on as June's car barreled closer.
Don't do it, lover.
Eric locked his eyes on June's face.
She doesn't see us.
The Toyota kept coming.
"Please, God. Let her see me." Eric's hand trembled on the clutch.
GO! GO!
Three deer darted across the freeway in panicked flight. Eric burned rubber, spooking them into a 180 turn. June's eyes widened. She saw the deer, the smoke and Eric. She threw her head back, screaming as she stamped on her brakes. The white Toyota skidded right, then straightened as the anti-lock brakes snapped on and off.
"Thank you, God." Eric breathed as the car came to a stop ten feet from him.
June was aware, looking bewildered. Eric motioned her to pull off the road, before the rest of the traffic caught up. He dismounted the bike, pulling off his helmet.
"You okay?" he asked.
June shook her head, frightened beyond speech. He opened the car door, reached inside to help her out.
"Come here." He held out his hands. She came to him like a terrified child, shivering and clinging. Eric held her against his heart, saddened and enraged that they would try to kill her when he knew it was him they were after.
"Every time I decide that you are a complete jerk, you prove me wrong."
Eric laughed.
"I - I - almost hit you."
"Nah, baby, not even close," Eric assured her with a smile.
"What was behind me?"
"Nothing." Eric held her a little closer. "Hey, can you drive?"
"I don't know." June rubbed her face. "I guess."
"I'll follow you, okay?" Eric walked back to the bike.
He looked at the motorcycle. For a second, Cora flashed before his mind's eye, leggy, leather-clad and lush.
You're still mine, lover.
Not anymore.
Eric pulled his helmet on. He waved June past him, following her at a less reckless pace. His nerves still thrummed with adrenaline. If he hadn't been there to turn the deer, June would have swerved left, missing the bridge and crashing 200 feet to the river, no chance of survival.
Whose side was Jake on?
They pulled into her driveway. Eric parked the bike to the side of the garage, out of the way. June was still pale and shaken as she got out of the car. He hugged her. She seemed barely able to hold her own weight. He could carry her to the house if needed. For now he could hold her up.
"Why did you go see Van?"
"I thought I could talk him into helping you."
"No, baby, he won't help anybody." Ah, God – she was so freaking innocent. She had no idea what she was up against. Eric contained the burn of anger so he wouldn't scare her.
No, lover, she can't save you.
"Nobody is going to help me." He was certain of that. There was a hell of a difference between being dragged into a ditch and dragged from the grasp of Cora Cobra.
"I can," June said, pulling out of his arms. "I know I can." There was something bleak and frightened in her eyes. "There has to be another way, a ritual of some kind. I'll find a way to free you from Cora – cleanse the bike of her, lay Jake to rest."
Magic, rituals, ghosts and the lovely witch in his arms; Eric smiled with the irony of it. She was determined – misguided, but determined. He gathered her back to his chest, rested his face against her hair.
Why waste time arguing when he could hold her?
~^~
June's hands trembled, she felt sick to her stomach. She kept reminding herself that she was safe. She went upstairs to change her clothes, wash the sharp smell of fear off so she wouldn't stink of it. When she came downstairs, the living room was ice cold; a shadowy man stood by the fireplace.
Are you all right?
Jake's voice was deeper, raspier than Eric's.
"Yes." June's eyes burned. This was so hopeless – but what could they do? "Find the light – for your own sake."
I can't get free of Cora, you have to help me.
"I'll do my best."
I would do anything to stay with you.
Jake brought her hand to his lips.
Anything.
"Please, you have to go." June's heart contracted.
I won't leave you, I can't. We have to find a way.
He touched her lips with icy fingers as he faded.
June trembled, unable to reconcile Jake and Eric in her mind or her heart. Long, lonely years she'd searched for her soul mate – Jake was dead – Eric was alive.
Who did she love?
Then, as quick as a striking snake – a band tightened around her throat. June pulled away; she gasped for air, clawing at her throat. A picture rattled on the wall. A cold wind lifted the drapes. A fire flared in the dead fireplace.
The room went gray as June fought for air. Her heart labored. June sank to her knees, calling the light, but her strength failed. Pillows flew from the couch and books off the shelves. A lamp flew into the fireplace, an explosion of shattering glass. A door slammed, a voice shouted curses, but June slid into darkness.
"Breathe, baby, breathe for me." Someone forced air into her lungs.
June gasped, coughed, clutching her raw throat. Air was life. She gasped again. Something cold burned her hand. She rolled over on her side, coughing.
"That's my girl." Eric rubbed her back. "Take deep, steady breaths."
She didn't try to speak.
Eric touched her face. "Do you want some water?"
June nodded, breathing slowly. She felt the shock of near asphyxiation and the mind-numbing fear. Eric helped her to the couch before he went to the kitchen for water. June opened her hand, suspecting she held the red hematite heart. It glimmered in her open palm.
When Eric came back, he sat beside her, looking at the debris scattered on the floor. He shook his head, handing her a glass of water.
"Are you okay?"
"I think so." She sipped.
"What the hell happened?"
"Cora choked me." Had Jake set her up or was it Cora getting even? Did it really matter? Cora was murderous and needed to pass on. Cora would not be going to the light – but that wasn't June's problem.
"Cora nearly killed you twice in one day."
"But I'm still here." June sipped more water. Swallowing hurt a little, but the water felt good. She wanted to huddle against him like a frightened child. Instead, she showed him the heart.
"It was the only thing I could think of," he muttered. "I heard you shout for me, then shattering glass. It worked against Van Man Go; it was worth a shot."
"I didn't shout."
"I can't take any more hocus pocus right now." Eric raised his hand, looking away for a second. "My nerves are shot. Come here." He put his arm around her shoulders, June leaned on him. They sat like that for several minutes before either of them moved.
June heaved a sigh.
"I guess we need to talk about this."
"Back to the Twilight Zone," Eric grumbled. "You go first. What happened in the Harbor?"
"I went to see Iris," June said. "I brought her a dozen gift baskets. We had tea. When I left her shop, I saw Van working on something. I thought that I could talk to him…"
Eric snorted.
"Do you want to hear this or not?"
"Like you didn't know better?" Eric made a face. "Van is all for himself. He doesn't give a rat's ass about anyone or anything."
June wrinkled her nose at him. If he was going to cop an attitude, she wasn't going to tell him anything. She didn't have to, after all. What had Van said? 'You should get to know your boyfriend better.'
"I want some tea."
They walked to the kitchen. Eric made her sit at the counter while he nuked water for her tea. June stirred in honey for her throat while she wondered about Van's crack: 'I'll bet he didn't spend
that
tour playing strip poker with the local girls.'
The silence in the kitchen was tense while they waited for the microwave to chirp. Eric set the cup in front of her before he exploded.
"For the love of Christ, girl, you should've known better." He snagged the stool next to her with his foot. It made a protesting noise as it skidded over the tiles. "Did you really think he'd fall for a little sweet talk?"
"I had to try." June stirred the tea, making a lot of noise with the spoon. She felt her cheeks get hot and her temper strained at its tether.
Eric brought his fist to his forehead, making an angry noise in his throat.
"Just a minute!" She rapped the spoon on the counter top, glaring at him.
"What could he say that was worth dying for?"
"It wasn't like that!"
"Sweet Jesus, how clueless
are
you?"
"Stop using the Lord's name in vain," she said. "Have some respect."
He crossed his arms over his chest, giving her a narrow-eyed glare.
"Just because you don't believe in something doesn't mean it doesn't exist." She faced him. "Whether you believe it or not, there
is
something out there and it is
listening
. Do you really want to piss it off right now?"
"Don't change the subject." He put his hand on the counter leaning closer. "What happened in the shop?"
"Is this an interrogation?" June scowled at him. How dare he try to intimidate her?
Eric jerked backwards, his expression startled. He got off the stool so fast it squeaked on the floor again. He went back in the kitchen, pouring a cup of cold coffee.
"No – it isn't. But I want some answers."
June took a moment to collect her thoughts. How much of that conversation should she tell him? She watched Eric put his cup in the microwave, his back to her. She could see the tension in his shoulders. He was pretty pissed off.
Well, he wasn't the only person who wanted some answers. He was going to be pissed no matter what. She may as well ask the questions.
"What happened in Afghanistan?" June watched his head come up.
If he was tense before, he was rigid now.
"It doesn't matter. I've put that behind me," he said in a low voice.
"Oh - bullshit." So Van was right, there were things about Eric that she
should
know. "Something gave Cora a way to put her hooks in you."
"There aren't any hooks in me." He turned to face her.