The Keepers: Archer

She was under a microscope.

A silly notion, one she’d never admit to anyone. Her logical mind challenged the thought but Sienna Beckham knew – just knew – that she was being watched.

Sitting on the grass, she scanned the busy park. A casual, fleeting glance, nothing too obvious.

Nope. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Just the normal crowd – different faces than the day before, but normal nonetheless. Joggers, strollers, a few picnics, several ball games – all the same. The warm weather and sunshine had drawn out the nature lovers who appeared reluctant to leave despite the setting sun. The park, once lush and green, had turned a magical shade of orange, yellow, and red, a sign that fall had arrived with fervour.

Her instincts bristled; her gut clenched.

Paranoid? Crazy?

She pushed herself off the grass, drained the last of her water, and tossed the bottle in a nearby bin.

The sun hovered above the horizon, illuminating the tall buildings around the park in a gentle orange glow. The lake had turned a soft shade of pink. One last lap around the park and she’d make her way home to shower and change before heading out to Terroirs for drinks with two of her colleagues from the bookshop. She hadn’t wanted to go out tonight but it was Saturday, a day they were determined to celebrate.

She pulled her fiery red hair into a ponytail and set off at a gentle pace. Within moments, she was flying across the park with a feeling of lightness. Jogging always did that to her, but today she felt … different.

Hell, she’d always felt different, but today she felt strange.

Her parents?

The anniversary of her parents’ deaths loomed dangerously around the corner, threatening to jolt her back into a time she’d rather not remember.

But her uneasiness hinted at something more, something she hadn’t been able to identify all week.

With a shake of the head, she scolded herself for being so serious, for thinking too much, and concentrated on running with a clear mind.

She soon lost herself to the fresh air, the warm glow of the fading sunlight, the wind in her face, and the thoughtless running.

It wasn’t until she’d neared the end of the lake and rounded a bend marked with several large, overgrown bushes that he pounced.

Strong, powerful, and terrifying.

His hands grabbed her and in a fluid motion, she was absorbed into a clearing in the bushes, into him.

She tried to scream but the heavy hand covered her mouth, smothering her cries. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see.

The more she struggled, the more force he used. His aggression pressed against her back like hot lead, evil and angry, and terror took a powerful grip.

Oh, God.

She lashed out, her elbow connecting to his ribs. He grunted, and she broke free. Before she could move, he charged, and for the first time, she saw his eyes.

Black, cold, evil.

She’d seen those eyes before, and they smacked of the life she’d once shunned.

“What do you want with me?” she cried as he lunged for her. They tumbled to the ground, her arms beating, pushing, shoving.

But he was stronger and he hit back.

“Stop!” she cried. “You’re hurting me!”

“Be still, witch,” he snapped in a tone so cold that she felt the chill wash over her.

The result was instant. She froze and gaped at him. “Witch?”

“Surprised?” He grinned, without humour. “Surely you knew it was only a matter of time before we came for you.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” She blinked, trying to clear the fog in her mind.

He shook her, not caring as her head connected with the ground. “Feigning ignorance won’t help you.”

“Why are you here? What do you want?”

“We’ve come for you. For the book.”

And just like that, in a blink of an eye, the life she’d once fled came crashing down around her.

A life as a powerful Beckham witch, fiercely protected by three Keepers. She’d always known it would catch up with her. Now that it had, fear and a crippling sense of pain and loss threatened to choke her all over again.

“Let me go!” she yelled.

A slap to the face left her dizzy and confused and when she fought back, he continued with the punches until she stopped struggling.

Silent, she closed her eyes as fury washed over her, and began to tremble.

Her body quivered from the inside out as the trembling intensified… stronger, stranger, bolder.

With a soft cry, she flung out her arms, drawing on an inner strength that had been silenced for too long. Air whooshed past her ears with a force that made her wince. A moment later, without touching him, her attacker hurled through the air like a limp puppy.

Oh, God. Her powers. It had been so long since she’d used them and they almost terrified her more than the attack itself.

He flew backward, hitting the tree behind him, and stared at her, seemingly unsurprised. With a soft growl, he jumped up and began to circle her.

“Are you insane?” she snapped, struggling to her feet, her entire body shaking. Although shock still riddled her from the surprise attack, anger had wedged itself deep inside, enough to clear the murkiness that lurked. “This is a public park. There are people here. You know the rules.”

“We’ve taken care of that. No one will hear you cry.”

“Clearly, whoever sent you failed to warn you about messing with a Beckham witch.”

“Ah, but the witch walks without her mighty Keepers. A fact that has had many tongues wagging.”

An image of her Keepers came to mind. Three powerful warrior brothers who’d been her protectors, friends, and allies fending off anything dark and evil that had upset the balance of nature. Despite having run from them, from that life, she couldn’t deny the sense of longing that came whenever she remembered.

Dismissing all thoughts of her Keepers, she straightened her shoulders and summoned up a confidence she didn’t quite feel. “And yet it’s taken this long for someone to come for me. That makes you either super courageous or incredibly stupid.”