The Keepers: Declan

Bastards.

The sound of approaching footsteps sent Kate’s heartbeat racing. She drew in a quiet breath, bracing herself for the onslaught of evil coming her way.

The key turned in the lock, the sound loud in the quiet room. The wooden door pushed open, scraping along the sandy floor. A beam of light flooded the room, a brief respite from the darkness.

Harper.

Kate lay still, pretending to be asleep, hoping to gain the element of surprise. She peered at him through the hair that fanned her face. Her stomach recoiled as he approached, a mocking smile on thin lips; a syringe in one hand, a torch in the other. Without saying a word, he turned around to hang the torch on a hook in the wall.

The face of a demon stared back at her. Piercing black eyes drawn into a frown of hatred, snarling teeth, and an expression designed to instigate fear.

Air evaded her and she stared at it in horror.

He turned back to her, and she almost baulked as he edged closer, his heavy boots thudding across the floor.

A tattoo.

Suppressing a shudder, Kate forced herself to breathe, knowing she had little chance of ever getting out of here if he injected her again. With each dose, she grew weaker. Their drug of choice brought with it an overwhelming exhaustion she’d never experienced before. It had been hours since her last dose and a fresh one would seal her fate.

Kate waited, biding her time. He reeked of alcohol, the smell permeating the air as he approached. The bed creaked from his weight and she tried not to flinch when he stroked her hip. His hand played with the hem of her shirt, scraping calloused fingers along her skin.

“All this time we’ve been looking for a way to beat the Beckham witch and her trio of guard dogs. Little did I know that the weapon I needed would come so beautifully packaged.” His calm voice made her insides twist. With a sinister gentleness he swept the hair from her face.

He stroked her cheek with one hand whilst the other rested on her hip and she had to bite down on the inward shudder.

Sighing, he shifted beside her and withdrew to ready the syringe. “But you’ve also been a pain in the ass.”

Kate reared up, ramming her elbow into his face with a force that surprised her. She was weak from the drugs but it was enough to disarm him.

He fell backward with a grunt, knocking over the torch. Kate sprang to her feet, her movements shaky, head fuzzy, body still shackled. Somewhere through the haze, she was able to charge forward, her drive for freedom stronger than ever.

This was her only chance.

She grabbed him by the shoulders, ramming her knee into his face. He yelled out as blood spattered from his nose.

“You bitch!” he screamed as he struggled to his feet, swiping at the blood.

“Small price to pay considering everything you’ve done to me.” Her voice, croaky with fury and hatred, sounded foreign.

He charged her, the syringe clasped in his hand. The tiny room prevented her from dodging him and they stumbled across the bed.

She caught the flash of the syringe as he rammed it toward her – his only chance of subduing her – but she rolled out of its aim, reared up and butted her head against his.

Ignoring the pain, she scrambled for the syringe, a loud guttural groan echoing through the room. Lightning quick, she ripped it from his hand and slammed the lethal dose into his neck.

His eyes widened as his jaw fell open. The effect was instantaneous, the debilitating concoction all too familiar to her.

“No matter where you go, I will find you,” he murmured.

“You should have killed me when you had the chance. I will never give you my powers willingly.”

He didn’t reply, his eyes fluttered and he slumped forward, silent, before going still.

Serves him right.

Kate searched for the keys he’d pocketed to unlock the door. She couldn’t resist grinning when she found them along with a small pocket knife and the silver chain that held Declan’s skeleton key. Her hopes soared as she fastened the necklace around her neck, tucking the key inside her shirt where it nestled like a comforting reminder of freedom. Her fingers shook as she unlocked the shackles and secured Harper to the bed.

Sweet justice.

She bolted for the door, relieved to find a dimly-lit passage that led to a wooden staircase, and headed straight toward it.

Her head snapped up at the sound of voices above her. All her senses were on overload. Everything was louder and clearer. Her mind spinning, she tuned into the voices behind the door. The television was on in the background, muffling their words, but she recognised them all. Despite the aroma of fried food, she could even smell them. Musky men, oozing aggression. Ugh.

Wincing, she nudged open another door, fear curling her insides. The passage was clear and she edged closer. Her heart screamed in her chest.

Keeping her back to the wall, she peered around the corner, her breath catching when she found the living room empty.

Her spirits soared at a massive glass sliding door that led outside, but sunk when she took in the endless mountains surrounding them.

God, where had they taken her?

Two black Hummers were parked in the driveway that turned into a long dirt track down the mountain.

Kate closed her fingers around the skeleton key and hoped like hell it would jimmy a locked car too.

A door slammed in the room next door, followed by footsteps and Max’s voice, spurring her on.