To Trap A Temptress (Southern Sanctuary - Book 2) (11 page)

“You
don’t have any off hours, from what I’ve heard if you’re not killing something
you’re training in preparation to kill something.”

“Maybe
I’m starting to realise that there’s more to life...”  Drum eyed her with
banked heat.  “I’m thinking maybe Vaughn has the right of it, now if only
I could find the right woman to settle down with.” 

Nell
snorted indelicately.  “According to you the only suitable women you meet
are in bar fights.  Maybe the next one who breaks a barstool over your
head will be Miss Right.”

“You
never know.”  Drum crunched through the last of his toast.  “What
about you, where would you find Mr Right, in an operating theatre?”

“According
to my Great Aunt Alma, the family match maker, my perfect man is an accountant
who currently lives with his mother and suffers from a nervous stutter.
Supposedly he’s a very ‘
nice
’ man, if
a little timid.”

“Hold
on, this match maker of yours wants to set you up with a ‘nice, timid’ man… doesn’t
she know you at all?”

“Sadly
she thinks I’m a spineless naïve push over.”

Drum
looked at her thoughtfully for a moment.  “She told you this to your
face?”

“Goddess
no, I overheard her telling Maat all my short comings at Hadleigh and Vaughn’s official
meld party.”

“And
after hearing that description you came looking for me… the inappropriate man
to help bury your goody two shoes reputation once and for all.”  Drum
tapped his fingers in a repetitive motion on the table top. 

Nell
stared at his fingers and then at him confused.  “What?”

“Then
next Maat confronts me and tells me in no uncertain terms that she disapproves
of the idea of you and I together.”

“And?”

“It’s
psych 101 Doc.  You want someone to do something, either rile them up or impede
them from doing something.”

“They
played us?”  Nell’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“Like
a violin Doc.”

“Why
those sneaky old birds, they set us up.  They knew I was behind the potted
plant at the party all along and I bet they’re the ones who sent you here to
the island.”

“Without
a doubt.”  Drum collapsed back in his seat, mulling over the facts in his
mind.

“Well
what do we do next?”

“I
keep you safe until this reunion is over, then it’s payback time…”

Nell
eyed his grim smile.  “You have a plan?”

“Yeah
I think I do.”

“But
Maat’s a Goddess, won’t you get into trouble?”

“Even
a Goddess needs to be taught the occasional lesson.”

“You
want to share this master plan of yours He-man?”

“Once
I’ve refined it a little… sure.”

“Well
if you need any help we can contact my sister Darcy, no one does elaborate
plots and plans better.  When she was eight she held my brother Boyd
hostage for three days, ransoming him back to my parents for an increase in
pocket money.”

“Your
parents gave her money for kidnapping your brother?”

“Oh
she was punished but it was too late, by then she’d already had the papers she
made my parents sign to get Boyd back notarised.”

“Scary.”

“Tell
me about it, I’m sure to this day my other brother Simon still sleeps with a
night light because of her antics.”

“And
you escaped her reign of terror?”

“Well
I am eight years older, besides before I had my secret medical ninja skills I
had pure science and nothing keeps an evil genius at bay better than the threat
of making all her hair drop out.”

“Good
to know, well don’t we have a hiking guide to meet up with?”

Chapter
Eleven

Drum
blocked out all the unimportant things, the heat, the sticky insects, the
whinging and whining of the other hikers and concentrated on the one thing that
mattered.  Nell Montgomery’s nicely curved ass.  Thanks to the
incline of the hill they were currently climbing it had been at eye level for
the past thirty minutes or so.  Funny, he’d never thought of himself as an
ass-man before, or a leg, breast or any other specific part of a woman’s
anatomy.  But when it came to the Doc he was finding he had all sorts of
preferences and she seemed to naturally fit the bill.  Maat if the woman
were wearing sandals he found himself admiring her feet.  He even liked
the fact that she was brainy smart, take the way she was peppering the lead
guide with question after question about the surrounding vegetation. 

“Doc,
you need to take a break and grab some water.”  He hooked a finger into
the belt loop at the back of her shorts, bringing her to an abrupt halt.

“Oh.” 
Nell blinked as if coming out of a trance, looking around her. 
“Sure.”  She took the bottle from him and drank deeply.  “Are we
lagging behind?”

“No
we steamrollered ahead.”  Drum took back the bottle and chugged down a
quarter of its contents.  Noting their guide Fidel was likewise taking a
moment to sit down for a rest and a drink.  Nell was exhausting the poor
guy.

“Oh
sorry.”  She turned and sent Fidel an apologetic look. 

Fidel
waved off her apology with a weary smile.  Drum just smirked.

“What
are you laughing at He-man?”

“Nothing,
I just like watching you enjoy yourself.”

“Oh...
okay.”  Absently she pulled at her sticky sweaty top.  “I wonder if I
could take a couple of plant samples back with me?”  Her attention
returned to a particularly promising looking fern. 

Drum
noted Fidel’s frown and came to the rescue.  “I don’t think customs would
like you taking vegetation back home Doc.”

“But…” 
Nell began to protest when she noted Drum’s pointed look in their guide’s
direction.  “Oh yes… you’re probably right.”  Turning her head she
looked further up the trail, noting a flowering vine that she hadn’t come
across before.  “How much longer do you think the others will be?” 
She tried to keep the longing out of her voice.

“A
few more minutes Doctor.”  Fidel got to his feet.  “We are close to
the final peak.  At the top of this hill is a stream and then the final
push.  It would be best if we tackled it as a group.”

Nell
tapped her foot impatiently, eager to study the vine closer, it looked like a
relative of a Mexican jasmine vine she’d come across a few years ago that had
potential for helping to heal arthritis when dried and ground into a herbal
tea.  She couldn’t help but wonder if the unknown species might be of
similar usefulness, or even more potent. 

“Come
on Doc.”  Drum laughed.  “I’ll go with you to look at your plant.
Fidel can wait for the others.”  He’d barely finished the sentence before
Nell was racing past him up the incline.  Turning he looked at
Fidel.  “If we get separated we’ll head back to the resort on our own.”

The
exhausted guide just nodded and waved him off, glad to hand off the
responsibility of keeping up with the tireless doctor with her endless
questions regarding the local flora.

By
the time Drum had caught up with Nell she was practically at the top of the
incline, a small purple flowering plant having grabbed her attention and
demanding a closer viewing. 

“Slow
down Doc, it’s not a race.”

“Sorry.” 
She didn’t even look up as she apologised, too intent on studying the root
system of the small plant.  “I really am tempted to take some samples
home. I wish I had my field kit with me.”

“Doc,
one climate’s flower is another climate’s rampant choking weed, you know better
than that.”

Nell
blew out a frustrated breath, brushing back some tendrils of hair that were
sticking to the back of her neck.  “Darn it you’re right.”  She sent
another longing look at the small plant.

Drum
laughed.  “Come on, Fidel said were just one steep incline away from the
top.”

“Shouldn’t
we wait for the others?”

“We’ll
be here til next week.”

Nell
looked back down the trail unable to catch a glimpse of any of their
party.  “They are kind of slow.”  Smiling she turned and started running. 
“Race you to the top He-man.”

“Hey.” 
Drum froze for a second than chuffed out an amused laugh as he started running
after her. 

He
wondered what the victor would win? 

Drum
overtook her on the flat, splashing across the moss covered stones of the
shallow stream.  Ten long strides later he was at the base of the final
incline ready to power up when he heard Nell’s soft scream of surprise mixed
with dismay.  Pivoting he witnessed the sight of her being dragged fast
across the moss covered rocks of the shallow stream.  She was attempting
to slow her progress but the rocks were too slippery to provide any
purchase. 

Whatever
had her was strong, lightning fast and practically invisible, either made of
water or reflecting it somehow.  All Drum could see as he charged towards
Nell was what looked like a hand gripping her left boot and it seemed to be
made out of liquid.  He hit the edge of the stream plunging into water
that was suddenly up to his knees when only seconds before it had barely wet
his boots. 

Nell
was being dragged under now.  With the sudden rise in water levels
whatever was pulling her along was having a much easier time of it.  Drum
picked up the pace of pursuit even as his ears registered a new faint sound...
waterfall.  Whatever, whoever was dragging Nell was heading towards the
waterfall.  Drum pumped his knees higher, cursing the water for slowing
him down.  At least he’d come prepared for a confrontation as he whipped
out the obsidian blade he’d anchored at the waistband of his shorts. 
Gripping it in his hand he gave up trying to run through the now hip deep
water, diving under the surface instead.  Arrowing straight for
Nell.  Luck was on his side and he managed to grab one of her trailing
hands and yank her back towards him.  Whatever had her hadn’t been
expecting that move and Nell shot back towards him through the water. 

Breaking
the surface Nell only managed to take one deep breath before she was yanked
back out of Drum’s hold.  Thank Goddess for the protection of her boot
otherwise she was sure that whatever had her would have ground her ankle bone
to dust by now.  Even under water, amidst all the confusion she saw the
look of pure unadulterated killing rage that blanketed Drum’s features as he
powered through the now chest deep raging river after her. 

This
time when he reached her Drum didn’t attempt to pull her free, instead he
anchored her with one arm wrapped vice tight around her waist before leaning
down the length of her body to swipe with his knife at her liquid
attacker.  The question of whether a knife could hurt a being made of
liquid was answered immediately and in the negative. 

Nell
loathed feeling so helpless.
 
With her
free foot she frantically kicked out at her attacker, but like Drum’s knife she
made no connection.
 
This was
insane.
 
What was this thing?
 
And what could it possibly want with her?
 
They were important questions but right at
that moment they were on the back burner.
 
Her number one priority was oxygen and the fact that she needed some
rather badly and her second priority had to be stonewalling this creature.
 
She was pretty bloody sure she never wanted
to discover where this creature was dragging her off to, she highly doubted
she’d survive the visit.

Her
face broke the surface and she managed a shallow breath before Drum practically
upended her by grabbing her trapped leg.  Gritting her teeth she fought
not to scream and lose the precious air she’d just managed to obtain. 
Their general flailing and resistance had slowed their pace through the water
but the current was still strong enough to carry them forward at a good clip,
the white water surface making it harder for her to see what was going
on.  With blurred vision she watched almost in slow motion as Drum once
more swung the knife out and down, not aiming for her attacker this time,
aiming higher for her… eek.  Suddenly her boot was gone, her attacker was
gone and she was clinging to Drum as he held her head up high letting her gasp
in all the precious oxygen she needed. 

Her
heart was beating so loud she could barely hear herself think.  Wait that
wasn’t her heart it was… Goddess no, a waterfall.  Drum must have realised
already that was where they were headed as he was doing his best to manoeuvre
them over to the side out of the direct current.  But it was too
late.  They were already too close to the edge. 

She
didn’t question when he gathered her tightly into his arms, if they were going
to die then there were worse places to be.  She ducked her head into the
crook of his neck, wrapped her legs around his waist hooking them at the ankle
and squeezed her eyes tight.  This was going to hurt.

As
someone infamous once said – ‘It’s not the falling.  It’s the landing that
will kill you.’  As gravity took hold of them she was all too aware of
Drum using their momentum to ensure that he would take the brunt of the
impact.  Stupid silly self-sacrificing He-man. If he died and she lived
she’d never forgive him. 

She
didn’t know how far they dropped, her eyes were too tightly shut but her
stomach told her it was a good long way.  They hit the roiling water at
the base of the waterfall with a jolt so hard that it knocked the wind out of
her even as their momentum carried them deep under water.  Her lungs
screaming for air and disorientated Nell didn’t know which way was up. 
Until firm hands cupped her rear sending her rocketing back up to the
surface. 

Spluttering
and coughing every bone in her body aching she managed to kick her way over to
the side of the pool of water and grab a sturdy fallen branch before the
rapidly moving water carried her downstream.  Squinting up at the
waterfall she couldn’t help but feel dread. Goddess, it was a wonder they were
alive let alone relatively unhurt, that was some fall.  Except… she turned
first right and then left. 

“Drum!” 
Whirling she checked the far side of river.  “Drum!” 

She
forced down the panic threatening to engulf her.  On rubbery legs she
managed to drag herself onto a flattish rock with the help of the tree
branch.  Getting up she ignored the red streams of blood leaking from
various scrapes and cuts she’d sustained on her arms and legs during her
struggle with the liquid creature. 

Craning
forward she tried to see through all the roiling white water and glimpse Drum…
he had to be here somewhere unless the current got a hold of him and carried
him downstream.  No, there!  A warrior sized dark shadow. 
Without a second thought she dived off the rock back into the water, struggling
against the current to reach Drum’s side.  Red clouds that could only be
blood were misting the waters around him as he struggled sluggishly to free
himself, caught up somehow on a tree branch that had lodged itself
underwater.  Fighting her way behind him she tried using her hands to no
avail, which only left one option.  Lungs already burning she thanked the
Goddess above she still had one boot on as she bought her foot down smashing
into the branch at what she hoped was a weak point.  Once, twice… Goddess
if it didn’t give soon, then on the third strike it snapped and Drum came
free.  Except he’d stopped struggling and the current was about to sweep
him away.  Ignoring her own desperate need for air she grappled for
him.  Managing to hook fingers onto his t-shirt and pull him towards
her.  Getting a better grip she kicked them upwards towards the light…
towards the air. 

Breaking
the surface Nell took three deep breaths.  She didn’t have the energy or
the time to get the two of them to the shallows.  Instead she let the
current sweep them along away from the waterfall.  Hooking one leg across
Drum’s waist she pulled him towards her so he effectively floated in her arms,
tilting his head back she commenced CPR.  It wasn’t ideal but at least in
the water he was relatively weightless.  She only gave him three breaths
before he jerked, took in a deep breath on his own and lifted his head. 

“Easy...
easy… I’ve got you.”  She cupped his jaw with her free hand, turning his
head so he could see her.  

“You
okay Doc?”

She
couldn’t help the short almost hysterical laugh from bursting forth. 
Typical He-man his first thought was of her well-being.  “I’m fine.”

“Where
are we?” 

Drum
tried to struggle out of her hold intending to gauge their current situation
and the immediate threat level.  It was a futile quest; Nell had him in an
iron grip.  She hated to think what kind of damage he had sustained in the
fall, she’d seen the blood and he had yet to really use his legs.  Could
there be spinal damage?

“Do
you remember we went over the waterfall?”