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Chapter Twenty-One
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2021-08-31 10:33:37The world was spinning and she needed it to stop. Her head hurt and her eyes burned. Everything was blurry. What was happening? Dennis. Did she dream he carried her off? It certainly felt real. Make the spinning stop. Everything moved too fast. Her stomach was queasy. She would vomit if the spinning didn’t stop!
****
Fiona stood over Tara as Brandon laid her on the cowhide covered sofa in the great room of her quaint country cottage. Tara’s long, shapely torso stretched from one end to the other. It was as if the sofa was created just for her.
Fiona marveled over every inch of the young woman’s body. This was the first she’d seen Tara. The lass was an exact replica of Lucy. If Fiona hadn’t known better, she might easily be fooled herself. It was easy to see why Brandon was so crushed when she didn’t remember him. Had this girl lived in the same era as Lucy, she woul
Bab terkait
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-Two
She’d witnessed and learned so much over the past months that the incredulous story she was hearing made perfect sense. Tara was full of emotion as she listened to Fiona’s speech pattern and watched her body language. There was no denying the resemblance. Dennis, on the other hand, hadn’t spent the hours in study of the mystical arts like Tara and he required a more in-depth explanation. Even with all that had happened he had a difficult time grasping things.“Never mind,” Tara said as she patted her brother’s hand. “It’ll all make sense someday.” “How are ya feeling, truly?” Fiona asked Tara.“I feel fantastic,” she replied. “It’s nothing like when I first arrived. I was off from the minute we...err... landed and I grew progressively weaker. Except for, let me think, there was a time when I felt a little more like myself, but I can’t put my finger on just when it was.&rdquo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-Three
“The doppelganger is an exact double of a person. They’re an extension of the person, but there’s a difference. Here, read this,” Luella said as she pushed the open book in front of Dennis and pointed to a paragraph. “I was never good at explaining things. I’d make a horrible teacher.”Dennis focused on the words.“A ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts its fleshly counterpart,” he read.“I’ll admit that even though that’s the true definition of a doppelganger, little by little the meaning has turned toward a label for a person’s twin or double. So, in a sense, you’re her doppelganger and she’s yours, but, in truth, you’re not. Especially since you’re both sharing the same soul. I’ve never heard of doppelgangers sharing the same soul,” Luella said.“If her soul is attached to me, what happens to her?” Tara
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-Four
Her backside hurt from being forced to balance on the pommel of the military saddle. The musky scent of Joshua’s skin that she’d found so alluring in the past repulsed her now. She seethed inwardly as the reality of everything that occurred set in and the memories came forth. As his arm tightened around her waist and her body stiffened, the saddle irritated her all the more. She didn’t care. He’d fooled her twice. There would be no third time.Her mind raced with what to do. She was no longer disoriented and weak, but did he realize that? Perhaps it would be in her best interest not to let him see that she was well and healthy. At least until she could figure out a plan of action. As much as it repulsed her to do so, she leaned into him and feigned fainting. His hand came up to stroke her hair and her nostrils filled with his scent. She felt repulse and it took considerable effort to maintain control to hide it. He slowed his horse down to a gent
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter One
Flames engulfed the cottage and taunted the leaves of the old apple tree, forcing its sap to the surface to help ease the scattered damage to the charred bark. The hot, dry air seared her lungs. She’d never experienced heat of this nature. Her skin hurt to the touch. She could see the evilness in Dominic’s eyes as he prowled the parameter of the dwelling. His bellowing pierced through the chaos, “I want you Tara. If I can’t have your body, I’ll have your soul!” Tara’s firelight curls fell over her shoulders and down her back in wild abandonment as she shook free memories of that horrible, fateful night. Sliding her hands up the sleeves of her oversized lamb’s wool sweater she hugged her tall, slender body against the chill both from the air and her thoughts.Leaning her head against the window pane, her dark green eyes peered at the blanket of frantic white snowflakes as they billowed toward barely visible outbu
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Two
The storm ceased sometime during the early hours just before sunrise, leaving behind it mini mountains of icy snow to be removed before her home could run at its normal pace.Tara sighed. Winters in Manhattan were so much easier. She couldn’t have imagined such burdensome weather and was therefore not totally prepared for it. She was grateful for the good sense she exercised in following Maggie’s suggestion to purchase the small tractor with a snow plow attachment. A cold reminder of her friend, the valuable piece of equipment was left dormant since the day it was delivered.Today it would make its debut.She’d programmed her coffee maker prior to going to bed and wafts of the dark liquid’s rich aroma lured her out from beneath the warm security of her goose down comforter. She hated the cold and often wondered why her crazy ancestors settled in the north. Even if they had come from a cold climate, surely, they could have accl
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Three
Tara was lightly dozing off when she heard the unmistakable padding of slippered feet on the wooden landing as they made their way past her bedroom door. Her bedroom was at the top of the first flight of stairs and centered between the guest quarters and the stairwell that led to the third floor. The creaking of the hardly used door at the base of that stairwell signaled to her that whoever was tip toeing around wasn’t heading to the kitchen for a snack. There hadn’t been enough time passed since she and Mitch were dating for her to forget the sound of his footsteps, which left only one other person; Alana.Why would she be sneaking upstairs; especially after Tara specifically kept it out of their tour, explaining its disrepair as hazardous? In its days of glory, the third floor of the house was the residence for the servants. Since her grandmother had neglected to maintain things for so many years, there was structural damage on the top floor where th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Four
Dennis pushed his chair away from the table and loosened his belt. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made such a glutton of himself at the dinner table. After a day of getting to know her future husband’s friends and assured neither knew her, Alana decided to borrow the kitchen and cook them a meal. At first glance upon the Hot Bloody Mary soup, cod cobbler and blackberry and apple turnovers, Dennis doubted he’d survive, but much to his surprise and delight, the food was profoundly delectable. Completely taken by his friend’s beautiful fiancé, Dennis praised her talent in the kitchen and questioned if she had more delicious recipes up her sleeve. She assured him she did and promised to prove it one day.Tara wasn’t as taken with the mix of textures and flavors. Perhaps it was the food, or perhaps it was because she was no longer taken with the chef.After another night of inconspicuously following her mysteri
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Five
Sugar whinnied in anticipation as Tara neared the old stable. The familiar sound of her mare’s nose batting at an empty feed bucket concerned her. Sugar only did that when she was very, very hungry. Dennis helped tend to the mare since she was a small foal in training. It was improbable that he’d neglect to feed correctly after all of these years.She slid through the partially opened door.“Dennis!” she called out repeatedly, giving time in between for him to answer.Her mare’s persistence won out and Tara set to task feeding and caring for her equine companion. Completing her chores with still no sight of her brother, she climbed the stairs that led to the dusty loft. It was doubtful Dennis was up there. He could have easily heard her calling him and answered if he was. She felt compelled to look anyway.All was quiet, just as she’d expected.At the faint sound of Brandon calling her name, she scurried ba
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2021-08-31
Bab terbaru
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-Four
Her backside hurt from being forced to balance on the pommel of the military saddle. The musky scent of Joshua’s skin that she’d found so alluring in the past repulsed her now. She seethed inwardly as the reality of everything that occurred set in and the memories came forth. As his arm tightened around her waist and her body stiffened, the saddle irritated her all the more. She didn’t care. He’d fooled her twice. There would be no third time.Her mind raced with what to do. She was no longer disoriented and weak, but did he realize that? Perhaps it would be in her best interest not to let him see that she was well and healthy. At least until she could figure out a plan of action. As much as it repulsed her to do so, she leaned into him and feigned fainting. His hand came up to stroke her hair and her nostrils filled with his scent. She felt repulse and it took considerable effort to maintain control to hide it. He slowed his horse down to a gent
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-Three
“The doppelganger is an exact double of a person. They’re an extension of the person, but there’s a difference. Here, read this,” Luella said as she pushed the open book in front of Dennis and pointed to a paragraph. “I was never good at explaining things. I’d make a horrible teacher.”Dennis focused on the words.“A ghostly double of a living person, especially one that haunts its fleshly counterpart,” he read.“I’ll admit that even though that’s the true definition of a doppelganger, little by little the meaning has turned toward a label for a person’s twin or double. So, in a sense, you’re her doppelganger and she’s yours, but, in truth, you’re not. Especially since you’re both sharing the same soul. I’ve never heard of doppelgangers sharing the same soul,” Luella said.“If her soul is attached to me, what happens to her?” Tara
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-Two
She’d witnessed and learned so much over the past months that the incredulous story she was hearing made perfect sense. Tara was full of emotion as she listened to Fiona’s speech pattern and watched her body language. There was no denying the resemblance. Dennis, on the other hand, hadn’t spent the hours in study of the mystical arts like Tara and he required a more in-depth explanation. Even with all that had happened he had a difficult time grasping things.“Never mind,” Tara said as she patted her brother’s hand. “It’ll all make sense someday.” “How are ya feeling, truly?” Fiona asked Tara.“I feel fantastic,” she replied. “It’s nothing like when I first arrived. I was off from the minute we...err... landed and I grew progressively weaker. Except for, let me think, there was a time when I felt a little more like myself, but I can’t put my finger on just when it was.&rdquo
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty-One
The world was spinning and she needed it to stop. Her head hurt and her eyes burned. Everything was blurry. What was happening? Dennis. Did she dream he carried her off? It certainly felt real. Make the spinning stop. Everything moved too fast. Her stomach was queasy. She would vomit if the spinning didn’t stop!****Fiona stood over Tara as Brandon laid her on the cowhide covered sofa in the great room of her quaint country cottage. Tara’s long, shapely torso stretched from one end to the other. It was as if the sofa was created just for her.Fiona marveled over every inch of the young woman’s body. This was the first she’d seen Tara. The lass was an exact replica of Lucy. If Fiona hadn’t known better, she might easily be fooled herself. It was easy to see why Brandon was so crushed when she didn’t remember him. Had this girl lived in the same era as Lucy, she woul
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Twenty
Things were serious. Tara was clearly dying. To add to this dilemma, they were in the company of a sorceress who’d been raised in Shadow Land and had been living under the protection of Joshua who was one of Balthazar’s most prized and powerful soldiers.After spending time with Fiona, Luella’s defenses slowly lowered and she responded readily to the woman’s questions. It was obvious Fiona was a woman with only the best intent for Dennis and his sister. Since she risked everything, including her life, to see Dennis to safety she saw the advantage in teaming up with her ideas, powers and skills.“So, enchantress, I’m at your disposal,” Luella offered.“Aye, as I am you,” Fiona replied with a sincerity that tugged at something deep inside the other woman.“Can I ask ya how ya came to be living in Shadow Land?” Fiona asked. “Much of ya has changed, but I can still see that ya are human.&
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Nineteen
Adam lay by the fire with his head resting on his paws. Things weren’t going well. The enchantress was sharp and suspicious. Instead of accepting him as a cute and cuddly collie that wandered into the boundary and was in need of human assistance she suspected him of being exactly what he was, a creature of the dark in disguise. He’d been laying low in an effort to gain her trust and convince her otherwise. He should have returned to Shadow Land with the witchdoctor in tow by now. If he couldn’t get the enchantress to soften soon, he’d have to abandon the idea of glory and fetch the witchdoctor. He really hoped it wouldn’t come to that. At least here, in the company of the enchantress and her companion, his life wasn’t at risk. He wanted to keep it that way. Delaying much longer would also put him in jeopardy with Balthazar. Any way he looked at it, getting the enchantress to enter Shadow Land with him was imperative.“How long d
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Eighteen
Luella stormed out of the bedroom. Joshua was acting very strange. He was far too preoccupied for a man just returned from a lengthy assignment. Rumor had it the young woman he brought back was the young enchantress’s doppelganger. Rumor also had it that the girl was under the impression she and Joshua were engaged to be married. How did she get such an idea? Could that rogue of a lover of hers played such a role while he was away?Although furious with Joshua, it wasn’t the reason for her rampage now. Once again Balthazar overlooked her prowess as a sorceress and sent for that decaying old man. Why would he favor a witchdoctor over a powerful sorceress? It was an insult.She was a young girl when her mother, Elspeth, brought her through the boundary to Shadow Land. It was a bold move on her part. A bold move that paid off.Born human, Luella was the daughter of a powerful sorceress who felt her abilities were wasted. She wanted a far gre
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Seventeen
She felt like she was floating, or things were floating around her, she couldn’t tell which. Tara held her fingertips to her temples in hopes that the mild pressure she applied would help her equilibrium, but it didn’t. She heard, rather than saw the large dark cloaked figure before her. Where was Joshua? He’d whispered something in her ear, but she couldn’t recall what it was. Did he say they’d arrived? Arrived where? Oh, yes. They’d arrived in Shadow Land and he needed to go. Where did he need to go? Oh yes, he was going to see his beloved Luella. Wasn’t Lucy supposed to be his beloved? Didn’t he think she was Lucy?“Stand straight in the presence of our Lord and Master!” bellowed the guard as he cracked a small whip across her back.Tara screamed in pain and fell to her knees. Even if the whip hadn’t been used she was certain she’d have fallen to her knees anyway. Her legs were like rubber and h
The Search for the Crystal Key (Book 2 of Dark Escape Duo) Chapter Sixteen
The sun was persistent as it wove its brilliant golden rays through the thick netting formed by the tree tops and warming the ground around Tara enough to ease the damp frigidity of the blanket of morning’s dew. Joshua stood up and stretched the kinks out to his long legs and narrow waist torso while Tara admired him from beneath half-closed eyelids. Sensing her eyes on him, he looked at her and smiled.“Good morning, sleepy head,” he whispered in a sultry voice that had a seductive effect.“How are you feeling today?”He recalled how well this manner of speaking worked on her in the future when he was Dominic and was pleased it was still having the effect he wanted on her now.She closed her eyes tightly while she struggled to control her fickle body. How did she feel today? She felt like jumping up, running into his arms and kissing him silly. That’s how she felt today. Tara felt her face redden when she realize
