A Flicker In The Still Forest: From Forest To Flames #1 Read online

  A Flicker In The Still Forest

  From Forest To Flames #1

  K. Lyn Hill

  Copyright © 2020 K. Lyn Hill

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9781234567890

  ISBN-10: 1477123456

  Cover design by: K. Lyn Hill

  Model:Lilly Jones

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

  Printed in the United States of America

  Dedicated to my husband-Who, for every scheme I concoct and every star I strive to reach, simply looks at me, looks at the star, and bends down to offer me a boost. Forever and always, my love.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter forty-Two

  Prologue

  New Orleans, 23 years ago

  Gwendolyn

  Gwendolyn stroked the fur of her favorite creation savoring the pleasured growl that slipped from its clenched jaw. Anyone else would look upon it with fear, that is, everyone except for her.

  She eyed the beast with motherly pride, from its scaled belly to the long talons that jutted out of its powerful paws. She called the creation at her side Allee for short because it was part alligator and part cheetah.

  Masterpiece.

  That’s exactly what it was and soon the world would see it too. She would make sure of that.

  Blaring alarms echoed all around her as the door to the lab swung open with a loud bang. Her partner for the last year burst into the room with darting wild eyes, his repulsive combover slicked over his sweaty bulbous head. There was a cowardly aura that always seemed to surround him. Her lip automatically tilted up in disgust as it usually did when he was near, but she plastered on a fake smile instead.

  He reached her panting from the exertion of having to carry his obese body across the floor. After a few exaggerated moments of trying, yet failing, to catch his breath, his gaze finally landed on her pet. He recoiled. Her hand tensed on her creation’s head in a protective gesture as Dr. Bob Crestington peeled his eyes away and stuttered, “Wha aaat is tha at thinggg?”

  Gwendolyn rolled her eyes and scratched one of her acrylic nails behind Allee’s pointed ears, who purred in utter delight at the sweet touch. “Oh, this old thing? I got this dress at Bloomingdales on sale. Quite the steal.” She began to chuckle at her own joke but stopped short at the sight of his bulging eyes and dropped jaw. He never did have a sense a humor.

  “Not your dress! I was talking about that monster!”

  The muscle on her shoulder bunched as she reactively slammed her hand down on the table beside her. She despised it when people called her creations monsters. “It is not a monster! It is a masterpiece!”

  He visibly flinched, then cautiously began backing away. “What they said was true. You’ve gone completely insane!”

  She released a pent-up sigh. No one truly appreciated her genius.

  That’s why they all had to die.

  Bob was almost to the door when a cheek splitting grin filled her face. Allee just loved to chase her food.

  Gwendolyn’s fingers danced along her remote-control panel and pressed the red button at its center, sending a signal to the chip in her pet’s brain. Allee instantly jerked with anticipation, waiting for its master to issue a command. Letting loose a wicked laugh, Gwendolyn crossed her left leg over the right one and reclined back in her chair, relishing in the privilege of being front and center for what she believed to be the greatest scientific reveal in centuries.

  “There goes your food Allee. Go fetch.” Her laughter picked up yet again as her snarling creation went sprinting from the room, heading straight for its meal.

  A flicker in the corner of the room caught her eye as a man stepped out of the shadowed alcove. His eyes were burning fiercely as he looked at her, a hard glint against his weathered face. There was no fear reflected. Nothing gave away his emotions. He wore a blue janitorial outfit with a patch that claimed his name to be Rodriquez Valentine. She was prepared to press the little red button again and give her pet some more fresh meat when he did something unexpected. He got down on one knee and bowed to her.

  A smile spread across her face as she stared at her first admirer. Finally, someone saw her worth. The first of many.

  For this was only just the beginning. Because she was convinced that they would all see what she had done and they would all bow.

  If not, she would devour the world and all who tried to stop her.

  Chapter One

  Present Day, Ceranthium

  Elias

  After miles of trudging through the woods, Elias had drawn his last straw of patience. How did the army’s general become a mere retriever of some spoiled princess? The precious daughter of the King of Aritrithria stuck her nose in the air to anyone below her station (which in her mind was everyone).

  His first and only encounter with her was when she had been visiting Ceranthium to meet Damien, the Crown Prince and also her fiance. Elias had entered the throne room, introducing himself as the general of the army. The princess took one look at him and sneered, her lips curling in derision. Her words would forever make his blood boil: “You? A child peasant is in charge of the army? I can’t imagine why my father hasn’t attacked yet. Your forces would be so easily overrun. Especially with you in command.”

  Between the hateful words and the degrading assessment of her eyes, he felt like he had just crawled out of the muck and mire of a pig pen. Oh yes, she had wanted him to feel lower than dirt. And now here he was, on this fool’s assignment, chasing her down in the very mud and dirt where she undoubtedly felt he belonged.

  Shaking away the bad memory with disgust, he took the moment to observe his surroundings and review his options. They had only just discovered the royal brat missing, but since no one had seen her since the night before the wedding, she could have escaped hours
ago. Elias marveled at her apparent lack of intelligence. If he so desired, the king could have her hung for fleeing the royal wedding. Where did she even think she was running to? They lived on an island and the forest surrounding the castle was full of predators —specifically nocturnal ones. There was nowhere for her to go, nowhere for her to hide.

  Well… there was one place he could think of, but the idea of her making it that far seemed nearly impossible: the house at the end of the woods.

  There were few people who knew of its existence and even fewer who ventured that far into the forest. The only other thing for miles was an abandoned cottage toward the eastern wall of the kingdom and no one in their right mind went there. Rumors ran rampant of monstrous beasts roaming that neck of the woods. Reports of missing livestock and even missing people only aided the wild talk. Eventually, the King was forced to sanction that area illegal to enter. A death penalty if the command was disobeyed. A shiver traced down his spine. The King wouldn’t hesitate to follow through on his decree. However, if caught, Elias would simply offer the explanation that he needed to hunt down the future queen. That should quash any repercussions.

  A bitter taste filled his mouth at the thought of the Princess becoming his Queen. No, she would never command him. He would rather slit his own throat than take orders from that whelp. If this marriage alliance between Cernathium and Aritrithia wasn't desperately needed, Elias wouldn't have even taken this task on himself. The thought only reinforced his prickly mood.

  He was the best at his job. Finding the Princess was a matter of life or death. For her, yes, but also the kingdom. That’s why Damien had assigned this mission to him. But curse it! He wished someone else could have done it instead.

  As he approached the only hint of civilization for miles, he was greeted by the large stone wall which created an unearthly blockade around the house. One couldn’t be certain if it was designed to keep others out or to keep the occupants in. In either case, it served its purpose.

  Though he had lived in the palace his entire life, it didn’t diminish the fact that the woods were his true home. He breathed in the unblemished air, its only scent the damp, earthy smell of the forest floor, soaked by the heavy rain he’d been trudging in all day.

  He returned his attention to the massive wall frustrating his mission. Having been around these woods his entire life, he knew the exact schedule of the guards’ rotation on the wall and the perfect place to scale it. A few feet ahead, the vines had overgrown in just such a way to provide a natural ladder. Glancing in both directions before starting his climb, he checked to make sure that he was out of sight of prying eyes. Gripping the vines tightly, he braced his foot against the wall and heaved himself up. Hand over hand, he reached the top in record time. The old familiar tree pressed up against the wall on the inner side. If he wasn't in such a hurry, he might have taken the time to appreciate the ancient designs impressed in the mortar of the wall and the different hues of green that decorated the forest like delicate paint brush strokes. But this was no nature walk, he had an ungrateful princess to find.

  Gripping the nearest branch, he swung himself around until he was straddling the trunk. Then used his thighs to shimmy down towards the ground. His movements were precise and graceful, although he couldn’t hold back his snort. The army’s General resorting to hugging a tree. What a laugh! Shaking his head in a mixture of amusement and annoyance, he braced himself for the final drop. The impact with the ground sent vibrations up his legs.

  Why had the owner of the house chosen this fate? So many times he had wanted to ask questions but he knew better. The answers would just lead to more confusion, more questions.

  The incessant rain over the past few weeks had wreaked havoc on the walkway. What should have been hard packed dirt was now sludge sucking at his boots as he lumbered towards the door. The deep, sloppy footprints he left in his wake served as a reminder that he would need to scrub himself clean after this adventure.

  Rubbing a hand over his neck, he tried to massage the ever-present tension he carried around on his shoulders. He had so much to do without needing to chase Her Royal Pain around the kingdom. Nevertheless, he couldn't return to the castle empty handed and this was his best chance of finding her. If anyone knew of the Princess's where-a-bouts it would be the mysterious woman who lived in the middle of the forest. Why did the king allow this to continue? He must know of her squatting here. In fact, the presence of the guards suggested that he had her stationed here intentionally. More questions…

  Straightening his back, he slammed a fist against the door. Without waiting for an answer, he took it upon himself to enter. A fire glowed in the hearth of a fireplace across the room. The dancing flames emitted a warmth that helped stave off the chill from the downpour outside. It might have been cozy if the occupant hadn’t glided into the room bringing with her a wave of cold.

  "I was wondering when you would show up,” she purred. Her pleasant words stood in contradiction to her stony demeanor. She was clothed in a gown so beautiful, even the most exotic birds would be envious. Her jewelry sparkled in the firelight. Elias wondered why she still adorned herself in gems simply to remain in her home alone. Another mystery among the many he would never solve. She held vast knowledge and it drew him like a beacon of light in the dark. Yet, she never shared more than was necessary to suit her purposes. Beyond that, her mind remained veiled, just hinting at what lay beneath. It would never cease to frustrate him. She wove her fingers together, linking both hands as she took a step closer to him.

  "I see the King is taking good care of you,” he said. His dead pan tone made her smile in delight.

  "As well as you, I see. How fortunate for us,” she replied.

  He took a step closer to the fire, trying to alleviate the lingering chill. He decided to cut to the chase. "I'm sorry for being so brash." That was a lie. He wasn't sorry at all. "But I'm afraid I can't stay for long. I won't receive the King’s good fortune much longer if I do not return with his son’s future bride." He practically choked out the words, his throat constricting with bitterness. Once he got control of his emotions, he turned from the fire. She had assumed an innocent expression, her face an angelic mask. Elias wasn’t fooled.

  “The Prince’s future bride? Who would you be referring to? I am but a lone woman trapped in the middle of the woods. How could I possibly be up to date with the kingdom’s latest gossip?"

  He knew as well as she that her connections stretched much further than the borders of the kingdom. Her pretense of ignorance grated on his nerves.

  She continued, "There was, however, a random young girl wandering through the woods a little bit ago. Of course, being as gracious as I am, I just had to offer her hospitality." Her casual tone sent warning bells ringing through his head.

  "And where would this random young girl be?" He had no time for her games and evasion of the subject.

  "Oh, I may have given her a simple sleeping draught. She also might be tied up in the bedroom, just waiting for her knight to come rescue her."

  With a wave of unease washing over him, he narrowed his eyes at her. “What do you have up your sleeve?” He had picked up this unfamiliar expression from her. She said had to do with playing cards, but none of the card players he knew said anything like it.

  She laughed mirthlessly. "I might be working something up as we speak, but I’d like to keep it a surprise.”

  Knowing he wasn't going to get any information from her until she was ready to give it, he sighed in resignation. He just needed to get the girl and get out of there.

  He moved to the door of the all-too-familiar bedroom and stopped, resting his eyes on the bed. The Princess, with her auburn hair pooled in waves around her serene, sleeping face, didn't look like someone who could cause this much trouble. But alas, here he was —chasing her down at the house of a mad woman in the pouring rain. Anger gushed through him like a geyser.

  "Have fun carrying her over that wall,” said the woman with mer
riment oozing out of every word. She could let him out of the gate if she wanted to.

  Growling, Elias heaved the girl onto his shoulder (not as gently as he should have) and spun to exit the room. The Princess groaned softly but remained unconscious despite his rough handling. With a final look at the woman, he turned and strode to the door, hauling his cargo with him. Her parting words made him stop short: “Please do come back. I am certain you will be quite pleased with the plan I have devised for you.”

  Goosebumps rose on his skin. What could she possibly be up to? He shuddered to think….

  He didn’t respond. No, he just continued out the door without so much as a glance behind him.

  Chapter Two

  Aerity

  What happened last night? A heavy pounding reverberated behind Aerity’s eyes. It had been quite some time since she could recall being so disoriented. As she thought about it, New Orleans was the first lovely recollection to make an appearance (a time in her life that was not amongst her finest moments). In fact, her and her best friend even made a pact never to speak of it again. But seeing as how she wasn’t uttering the words out loud, then it was perfectly acceptable to talk about it, right? Eh, probably not but who cared? She just needed an aspirin and some motivation to live on. Some may say dramatic, she said realistic. Tomatoe, tomato.

  Suppressing a shiver, she tried again to focus on anything other than the current jackhammer having its way with her brain. Squeezing her eyes shut tighter, she willed with all the power vested in her for the past to return, but only a blanket of thick foliage encompassed her memory. Why was that line in her head? Dear God, she hoped she didn’t accidentally marry someone. That would royally suck. She had no desire to get divorced at the ripe age of twenty-one.