Trouble no. 2 RavenCroft Collection

Kalabernus leaned against a tree as he watched his father and Ariana from a distance. They stood at the doorway of his old cabin.

The place he’d once called home.

He knew from where they stood that he was thoroughly hidden from their view so he was by no means worried about being seen. One thing the shadows had taught him quite well over the years was how to hide in plain sight or disappear into the shadowy recesses most couldn’t see. The foliage in this location was dense and allowed for shadows to swoop in and out around him as they taunted him.

“They know!” Veranke hissed, cackling with glee. Swirling around Kalabernus the dark creature wrapped him in his inky black essence. “They all know what you did.”

Tearing a branch off the tree in frustration he whacked it against the ground, becoming irritable at their incessant verbal onslaughts. The shadows had been tormenting him ruthlessly ever since he’d left Ariana the night before. He could only imagine the poison they were spewing into her ears, even now as she spoke with his father.

Looking back down at the cabin he growled deep n his throat as his eyes shifted around the clearing where the house sat. There was a presence now within the woods around the house.

Somewhere within, it was hiding.

He sensed its evil nature just as easily as he could feel the demonic shadows next to him. Unable to pinpoint the stalker’s exact location, Kalabernus expected it was because the evil bastard was being protected by shadows of his own. Whether the stalker was aware of that or not didn’t matter to him. What did matter to him was that they appeared to be biding their time. And apparently, they and the stalker weren’t done with their game. The note Kalabernus had found on his windshield upon coming out of the Sheriff’s department, of all places, made that plainly clear. Peering down at the three by five card in his hand, he re-read the words printed neatly on it.

“The black-haired beauty was meant for me. Time to pay.”

Crumpling the card in his hand, he shoved it into his pocket. His expression was fierce, his glowing pale blue eyes more pronounced by his dark hiding place and the shadows which haunted him. It was apparent to Kalabernus the stalker had other intentions for Ariana last night. The sick bastard had planned to be in her bed doing heaven only knows what to her, rather than Kalabernus. With the cabin being as secluded as it was it might have been days, even weeks for that matter before anyone would have been aware of her absence and come looking.

Observing that his father and Ariana appeared to be finishing with their conversation as Bastion moved to walk away, Kalabernus grunted angrily. His father had no right to get involved but he suspected he knew why nonetheless. When he’d insisted that Kalabernus move home and he’d tried to refuse, his dad had pointed out the deed hadn’t been placed in his name yet. Which meant he didn’t own it and had no rights to it, regardless of whether it had been his home, and his haven for several years.

He watched as Ariana headed back into the cabin admiring the way she looked in her tight jeans and long sleeved t-shirt. He remembered well how she had looked, how she’d felt in his arms. Closing his eyes, he rested his head against the tree trunk behind him, groaning with misery. He longed for such a life. A normal life that is. One where a woman wanted him regardless of his cursed state. And he’d mistakenly allowed himself to fantasize for a brief time last night that he might be able to have it all. That he’d found a woman who might be able to see past that.

Snarling angrily, he flung the tree branch roughly away and bared his teeth, forcing his eyes to surreptitiously scan his surroundings. Witnessing movement down at the cabin he noted the garage door rising and the vehicle within drove slowly away.

One thing was for sure, Kalabernus thought, realizing Ariana was likely gone for the day. There was no way he was going to allow history to repeat itself. If the shadows, or even this stalker for that matter, believed they were going to make Ariana and him a pawn in another one of their games they were sadly mistaken. He knew what he had to do.

It had been a long time.

And he hadn’t practiced for years.

Not since he’d been caught the last time by his father and told he needed to knock it off.

But as far as Kalabernus was concerned, if he was going to catch a monster, he’d have to become a demon.

Ariana was hungry. After Bastion left she had investigated her cupboards and fridge, only to discover how completely lacking in provisions she was. Determining she’d need to go grocery shopping, she’d decided it was high time she fully stocked her pantry.

Being sure to double and triple check all her windows, patio doors and locks she additionally set about making traps in front of each entry point. They were slight and seemingly innocuous in nature, but she knew they would aid her in determining whether someone had entered her home in her absence. Shaking the last of the salt across the kitchen window ledge she tossed the empty container in the trash and brushed off her hands. Grabbing her purse and keys Ariana left through the door leading into the garage.

Ducking her head through first, she peered around the garage interior then ran to its back door, making sure to lock it. Propping a rake across its door handle she then peered into the back seat of her vehicle, popped and checked the interior of her trunk, then got into her car and promptly locked the doors. Checking her rear-view mirror, she depressed the button for the garage door and it began to open.

Her heart thudded in her chest anxiously, wondering and worrying if something might jump out at her.

Nothing came.

Seeing only trees swaying in the gentle breeze and leaves fluttering down from their many branches, she took a deep breath and gripped her steering wheel.

“Here we go,” she whispered as she backed out of the garage into the late morning light. Punching the garage door button quickly she crept slowly down the drive, periodically glancing in her rearview mirror, while at the same time paying close attention that nothing and no one entered her garage as the door came down.

Expelling a shaky breath of relief, she drove away, all the while struggling to keep from crying. Lips trembling Ariana fought back the tears threatening to spill forth down her cheeks. Feeling desperate over having to go through the same repetitive motions she had been having to endure for years now, Ariana banged at the wheel while heading into town. This was supposed to be her chance to start over fresh; a new state, a new home, a new name even. Being a freelance writer she’d realized she could effectively work anywhere. Broaching the subject with several of her long-time clients within Massachusetts, they had all been more than willing to continue working with her from a distance.

Adjusting in her seat, Ariana rested her head against the cushion of her seat. What bothered her the most was that she’d potentially put other people at risk. Mistakenly believing she was now safe, she’d reached out to her long-time friend and college roommate, Angela Powers. Worried that her decision to come to Loveland, Colorado had been a mistake she banged her head against the head rest in frustration. She’d only been in Massachusetts for about a week and a half now but she’d grown to love it here. And she enjoyed being able to go out with her friend and have the freedom to meet new people without worrying and wondering if they were her stalker.

That thought brought her mind around to Kalabernus. Removing one hand from the steering wheel she depressed it against her belly, trying to ease the queasiness she was experiencing. Her memory from the night before was still foggy and the mild headache she was experiencing in its aftermath wasn’t helping any. But bits and pieces were coming back to her.

He’d been so gentle with her. Of that she was certain. Ariana even had a vague recollection of being pulled from the hot tub, not recalling when she’d gotten in. Suspecting he might well have saved her from a fate much worse than being drugged, she squeezed her eyes shut briefly, once again trying to quell her guilt at having put him in that position.

She wasn’t stupid.

She knew full well that she was extremely attractive to men and had to be extra cautious of her responses with them because of it. Ariana could only imagine what she might have said or done to encourage him and knew it likely hadn’t taken much to gain his interest.

Shaking her head to dispel her wandering thoughts Ariana made the conscious decision to not think about it for a while. Right now, she needed to eat. Then she’d head to the store for provisions as well as a few items she’d need to assist in her security around the house. Bastion wasn’t wrong after all. Her home was secluded. For all she knew her stalker had already staked it out when she first moved in a week ago. She needed to be proactive.

With a pained grimace, she also realized she would need to stop into the Sheriff’s department whether she liked it or not. Obviously, Sheriff RavenCroft was already aware of the stalker and his most recent prank. She suspected he’d likely requested the case files from Dalton, Massachusetts or Bastion wouldn’t have known what her real name was already. Why, oh why, she thought, did the Sheriff of Loveland County have to be the brother of the man she had been intimate with the night before? And to learn she was renting from their father, Bastion RavenCroft, the home Kalabernus once lived in had been slightly unsettling. Somehow she’d managed to entangle herself in an entire family’s life and she hoped desperately it wouldn’t end up destroying them all in the long run.

Arriving in town Ariana noticed a local coffee house while driving down the main street. Deciding to run in for coffee and a bite to eat she located an empty parking space between two brightly painted cars in a location void of trees not far from the shop. Being sure to lock her doors she paid close attention to her surroundings as well as other pedestrians as she crossed the street. Entering the coffee house, she waited patiently in a short line to order her drink and sandwich. She just reached the counter when the woman in front of her accidentally bumped into her as she was moving away with a bag and drink in hand.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” the woman exclaimed. Still wearing sunglasses and sporting her hat and gloves with a long purple stadium parka fringed with faux fur, she appeared to be in a hurry.

“It’s no problem. Really,” Ariana replied quickly with a lazy smile.

The woman moved to leave then halted, turning back toward Ariana thoughtfully. Her medium length straight black hair swung around her shoulders as she turned.

“Might I recommend a tea rather than coffee today?” the woman suggested, gesturing toward the sign listing teas. “They have a rather nice mint tea that can help soothe bellies and jangled nerves,” she stated. Then giving her a short nod she strode away, taking a drink from her own coffee cup as she went.

Finding the exchange odd, Ariana stared up at the sign. Frowning, she realized she wasn’t in the mood for coffee. Eyeing the list of teas, she decided to go ahead and order the mint tea as suggested, wondering at how the woman had known of her anxiety. Was it so obviously written across her face, she wondered?

Taking her sandwich and tea to go, she requested directions to the Sheriff’s department from the cashier before departing, figuring she’d probably better make that her first stop. Not knowing how long it would take, she didn’t want her groceries sitting in the vehicle for very long, regardless of the cool weather outside.

As usual, Ariana stole cautious glances around her as she headed back to the car. The hairs on the back of her neck began to tingle from the sensation of being watched. Or was she simply being paranoid?

Reaching her car, she realized with a chill that she wasn’t. On her windshield, propped underneath the driver’s side wiper was a circular card with a note attached. Snatching it up she peered hastily around her, trying desperately to catch sight of who it might have been. No one had been near it as she’d left the coffee house, she was sure of it. Her car had been visible from the entrance of the building.

“Excuse me!” she called to a woman passing nearby, gaining her attention. “Did you happen to see who might have left this?”

Shaking her head and giving her a funny look the woman continued, barely mumbling a response. “No, sorry.”

Hands shaking, Ariana cringed then peered down at the paper and card in her hand. The circular card had a large heart shape drawn around her face with an X across it.

“Should have never cheated. There will be retribution for all,” the note read.

Chest heaving in distress as panic and terror surged within her, Ariana began to cry.

Retribution?

Oh, boy, that doesn’t sound good at all.

I don’t know about you but I’m betting that this threat of retribution isn’t going to go over well with Kalabernus and his family when they find out about it. The RavenCrofts, if you haven’t noticed already, are a tight-knit family who are not likely to stand by while someone attempts to dole out their own personal form of punishment on one of their family members over a non-existent crime. At least, not if they can help it. Nor will they put up with an innocent woman like Ariana, a victim if you will, being threatened and terrorized. But of course, she doesn’t know that yet, so the notion that she, or anyone else for that matter, could get hurt because of her is distressing her something fierce.

On a side-bar here, I must ask. How does this dim-witted stalker figure she’s cheating anyway? Obviously, this guy is delusional which makes him that much more dangerous. From personal experience, I can tell you that when someone is crazy, their actions are that much more volatile and hard to track. There’s just no telling what this guy’s next move might be. And if he was willing to take the life of Ariana’s roommate, what do you suppose he’s gonna do if he gets ahold of her?

Man, to think that all of this started with what seemed an innocent admirer with a crush. The first note she ever received from her pursuer had been on the windshield of her car. A couple weeks later there was another one. After about three months’ worth of messages, Ariana thought she’d figured out who it was and had approached them while leaving work one day. But after an extremely embarrassing conversation, she quickly discovered the man was not her admirer and the co-worker strongly advised her to take it to the police. So, she did and they started an investigation. The problem with these sorts of cases is that there’s not much the police can do. Oh, they can investigate an individual if they think they know who the stalker is, but when the perpetrator isn’t known, well, they’re that much harder to pin down.

Over a span of about a year the messages began coming more frequently, we’re talking three or four times a month and sometimes she would receive cards. And the content within just kept getting darker and darker so her unease grew with each passing day. Instead of fun little quips or romantic poetic missives, the person would rant about the clothes she wore and tell her in detail all the things he wanted to do to her. The explicit accounts of the demented individual’s daydreams about Ariana are how the police figured out that it was likely a male chasing her. If you get what I mean.

Scary stuff, if you ask me.

Evidently, this so-called admirer had developed an extremely unhealthy obsession.

In some warped way, I suppose the lunatic thought he had a dating relationship with Ariana. But let’s just be real for a minute here. If you like someone then you man up (or woman up as the case may be) and tell them. You don’t leave them harassing missives on a weekly basis.

Hello!

As the years progressed, though, her stalker began getting increasingly bothersome. That’s right, I said years. The frequency of his notes to her escalated even further, sometimes even as many as four or five times a week. I’m sure you can imagine it caused Ariana to become paranoid about everyone she met. Soon she was receiving wilted flowers on her doorstep or they’d be sent to her work. The messages also became more demanding and controlling as if trying to eliminate her interaction with other people. Somehow her appointments were being changed, dates were getting canceled for her, and cruel messages and gifts were being left for friends who tried to help and suitors.

What was also troubling was that some of her close friendships and business relationships were being threatened by the stalker’s jealous tactics. Any attempt she’d make to build upon her friendships or attempt to date was thwarted by her pursuer who would find some way to ruin things for her. Things had gotten so bad that in the last year she’d become a hermit. Ariana found herself taking more and more of her client work home just to avoid co-workers and prevent her from having to leave her home because she constantly felt like she was being followed. After a while, the apartment she shared with her roommate had felt more like a prison than it did a haven.

No doubt the tears she now shed were from the misery of knowing that the person chasing her was now furious with both her and likely Kalabernus too. She knew she had to find a way to protect him because regardless of what had happened between them, no one deserved the kind of life-ending wrath her pursuer doled out. Problem was, nothing she’d done before had helped her to keep Kami safe. So, what could she possibly do to keep him from getting hurt too?