Dark Challenge. Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 5

The troupe had taken so long trying to patch up their faltering vehicles again that they had little time to make their way to Konocti for their next concert appearance. Darius liked to get to concert sites a day ahead of time to scout around and be certain the security was to his liking. That balance of power was now gone, and the air was groaning with the presence of evil. All of them could smell the stench of a recent fire, the smoke and odor trapped in place by the absence of a breeze. This time, at least, they would be in familiar territory.

Konocti was Desari’s favorite place to perform. It was a smaller and more personal space than the huge stadiums she was usually booked to sing in. Desari liked the area, too, formed by volcanoes with hidden steaming pools and glittering diamonds scattered here and there. They had long ago established several bolt holes for each of them and could even have a semblance of privacy from one another.

“Stop the bus, Dayan!” It was Syndil who called out suddenly, urgency in her voice. “Take that little road off to the side instead.”

“We do not have all night,” Barack growled without looking up. “We are supposed to talk with the head of security, and, as usual, we are already late. Dayan, keep driving.”

Syndil’s slender frame began to shimmer. Desari gasped at the action. Syndil rarely defied the males, yet she was dissolving into mist, determined to seep through the open window into the darkened sky.

Barack reached out casually, a deceptively lazy-looking action when his hand had really blurred with speed. He caught Syndil’s long hair before she could disappear completely. “I do not think so, Syndil. You have not scanned or you would feel the dark empty spaces that can only mean one thing. There is danger very close to us.”

A small sound escaped Syndil’s throat as she reappeared in her solid form. “Do you not hear the cry of the earth to me? I can do no other than answer,” she replied softly. “Dark spaces mean nothing to me. Danger means nothing when the earth calls to me. Those things are for you and the other males to attend to.”

Barack looped a fistful of her silky hair around his wrist. “I know only that you are placing yourself at risk, and I am uncertain whether my heart can stand such a thing twice in two risings.”

“In my head I hear the cries of the wounded land, the burned trees. I cannot continue without aiding that which is dying. I must go,” Syndil said. “It is who I am, Barack.” It mattered little to her what the others said at these times. She could do no other than heal the earth when it was crying out in pain to her.

Dayan sighed softly, a little helplessly, and, with obvious reluctance, complied with her demand, slowly turning onto the dusty road leading into the mountains. It appeared to be an old logging road. Barack sat quietly, no longer protesting, but he didn’t let loose Syndil’s flowing hair, ensuring that she did not run straight into trouble. The bus rounded a curve, and Desari stared in horror at the sight.

The entire west side of the mountain was a blackened ruin. Dayan slowly eased the bus to the side of the road and came to a complete stop. He had no choice in the matter. Syndil had risen, ignoring Barack’s restraining hand. The male Carpathian sighed and rose with her, reluctantly allowing her hair to slide from around his wrist. Desari watched as Syndil pushed open the door to the bus. Her face reflected the same deep grief Desari had witnessed each time Syndil found the earth damaged in some way.

Julian stood, a frown on his face. He didn’t like the blank spaces in the area around them. He glanced from male to male, outraged that they would chance one of their precious women out in the open when she was so clearly threatened. Desari touched him lightly, a warning to be still. He glanced from her small restraining hand on his arm toward Darius. As always, the man’s expression was impossible to read. Darius was seeking outside of himself, obviously searching for anything that might threaten his family. It was out there. He felt it. All the males felt it, yet none of them seemed to want to stop Syndil.