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"I do," Gunny said as he stepped out of the shadows. "Rocky, you and Doc hold
them off as long as you can then hightail it down the hill about a mile then north for
another two. The waterfall is at the base of the north facing cliff at the bottom of the
hill."
Doc and Rocky nodded and headed back up the way they'd just come. Gunny
watched them for just a moment before turning to hurry down the hill, Zack following
behind him as fast as he could move with Eljin in his arms.
Zack stumbled when they heard gunfire erupt just as they reached the bottom of
the hill and turned north. He cast a worried look over his shoulder then started moving
faster. He couldn't risk Eljin's safety no matter how apprehensive he felt about Doc and
Rocky.
The next two miles seem to take forever, especially when the gunfire suddenly
stopped. A heavy silence filled the air. Zack didn't know if Rocky and Doc made it out
safely and he didn't have time to stop and check. Getting Eljin to the waterfall needed to
be his top priority.
Zack breathed a big sigh of relief when the waterfall finally came into view. He
was surprised by how big it was, falling down quite a ways from the cliff above. He
walked to the edge of the water and set Eljin on his feet.
"Okay, Eljin, we're here. Now what?"
Eljin pointed to the small cliff at the edge of the waterfall. "We need to go there.
We have to go through the waterfall itself. That's where the gate between our worlds is,
in the waterfall."
"Okay, I want you and Gunny to go on through. I'm going to wait here a few
minutes for Rocky and Doc, see if they made it."
Eljin grabbed Zack's arm. "No, Zack, you can't "
"Please, Eljin," Zack said as he pushed Eljin toward Gunny. "I need to know that
you and the baby are safe. I promise I'll join you in just a few minutes."
"But "
Zack glanced beyond Eljin's pale face to Gunny. "Please, Gunny?"
Gunny nodded and grabbed Eljin around the waist, lifting the man up in his
arms and wading out into the water. Zack's heart ached as Eljin fought Gunny the
entire way, screaming and yelling.
Zack didn't turn away until they disappeared into the waterfall. One minute they
were there, the next they were gone. Zack blinked several times, positive he had
something in his eyes then turned and scouted the area for the most secure location to
sit and wait.
He spotted a small outcropping of rock off to one side. It wouldn't have been his
first choice of places to defend himself from but it seemed to be the only place that
offered enough cover. It also kept him between the waterfall and whoever came in his
direction.
Zack hurried over to the rocks and knelt on the ground. He pulled out his gun
and laid it beside him. He checked that each of his knives were where they should be
then settled in to wait.
He didn't have long. Only a few minutes later he heard someone coming toward
him at a quick pace. Zack looked over the rock and watched, holding his breath until he
saw Doc's sandy blond head come into view.
He had his arm wrapped around Rocky's waist and seemed to be helping him
along. Zack did a visual inspection and noticed a piece of cloth tied around Rocky's leg.
Doc seemed to be fine but it was clear Rocky'd been injured. Zack hoped it wasn't life
threatening. Rocky was a good man and he'd hate to lose him.
As soon as they were close enough, Zack leaned up and waved them over. Doc
immediately changed direction and hurried toward him, Rocky in tow. Doc lowered
Rocky down to the ground then crouched next to him.
"How bad is it?" Zack asked, gesturing to the injury.
"It's just a flesh wound," Rocky said. "I'll be fine."
Doc snorted. "Don't let him fool you. He's lucky he's not bleeding out. The bullet
missed the artery by inches. The bullet went all the way through but he still needs
medical attention." Doc glanced around. "Where's Eljin and Gunny?"
Zack pointed past his shoulder. "I sent them through the waterfall."
"And you decided to be a hero and wait here for us?" Doc asked. "Dumb ass!"
Zack ignored that statement. "What are we looking at?"
"There are four heavily armed men in black special ops fatigues left. They are
well equipped and well armed. They are also very persistent, just as you said."
"Black fatigues?" Zack didn't like that statement. He knew what it meant. The
men were military trained, mercenaries most likely. They would be dressed in black,
which during the day made them stand out like a sore thumb. At night, like it was now,
it was an entirely different story. They could hide in the shadows right next to a person.
"Ah hell, we took three of them out." Rocky laughed. "They ain't so bad."
"They sure whooped your ass," Doc replied.
Zack rolled his eyes. Doc and Rocky could argue over the color of the sky. "How
soon until they reach us?"
"Three, maybe four minutes," Doc replied. "It depends on whether they stop to
check their dead or not."
Zack nodded. The odds did not seem to be in their favor. He didn't know if they
could get to the waterfall before their guests arrived. "We can stay here and wait for
them or make a run for the waterfall? Your choice."
"I say we fight them," Doc said. "If we go through the waterfall they are likely to
just try to follow us. I don't want to take this fight to Eljin's side of the veil. We need to
end it here."
"And you, Rocky?"
"Hell, just get me my gun."
Zack laughed. "Okay, ammo check, guys." He couldn't agree more. He didn't
want to take the battle to Eljin's side of the veil either. From how Gunny described it to
him, the Seelie Court was practically a utopia. Bringing guns and fighting to that might
destroy it and Zack wouldn't allow that to happen.
Zack glanced up when he heard a branch break. He could see movement just
ahead. Strange. Their pursuers had obviously given up trying to move quietly. They
were approaching like bulls charging through a china shop.
"Here they come," he said as he picked up his gun. He closed his eyes briefly,
hoping Eljin could hear him through the veil. "Love you, hummingbird."
Zack took aim. He started to pull the trigger when someone suddenly grabbed
him from behind and ripped the gun from his hands. He opened his mouth to scream,
but before he could make a sound, water filled his mouth as he was pulled back into the
pool surrounding the waterfall.
Zack's last thought was of Eljin and the baby he'd never see before the darkness
of the water pulled him under.
Chapter Eight
Eljin paced back and forth before the large gate to the human world. His fingers
twisted together nervously as he waited for Zack to come through. The two large
guards standing on either side of the veil watched him dispassionately.
He knew they would never let him back through the gate, not when there was a
battle being fought on the other side. His father would have their heads. Sometimes it
really sucked being the youngest son of the king.
Other times, his position truly paid off. He and Gunny encountered armed
guards the moment they stepped through the gate. They recognized Eljin instantly.
Instead of allowing them to take him to the castle as the guards wanted, Eljin ordered
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