Author's Notes: Passage in italics is a dream :) If you like this, please review so I know whether or not to continue :)
Declan turned sharply into the car park at the Two Bridges Hotel on Dartmoor, the gravel beneath his tyres flying in all directions as he braked hard. He grabbed the small army duffel from the front seat and got out of the slightly battered black Jeep Cherokee, slamming the door behind him and setting the alarm with a casual flick of his wrist over his shoulder. He strode purposefully into the reception area of the small hotel and greeted the young woman seated behind the desk. Her none too subtle appraisal of him boosted his ego a little but his response was a simple smile, letting her know he wasn't interested. He inclined his head in thanks as she gave him his room key and headed for the stairs, feeling far too wired from the drive down to take the elevator. He took the stairs two at a time, glad of the physical exertion which helped him keep his mind off the abnormal who had begged him for help. Letting himself into his room, he dropped his bag onto the double bed and headed into the bathroom. He slashed some water on his face to freshen up and stopped, wondering how on earth he was going to find the girl now he was here. Having been to Dartmoor many times, he was well aware of just how much relatively unoccupied space he would have to cover and how dangerous a place it could be. His hands curled into fists as he realised he was helpless at the moment, unable to find what he was looking for and therefore unable to help or protect her if need be. He wondered for a moment if she needed darkness to project her image; perhaps she was nocturnal and slumbered during the daylight hours, or perhaps she controlled shadows.
"Or perhaps those hunting her rest at night and it's the only time she is safe to project?" he asked himself quietly, shaking his head and angry he didn't yet know the answers to his many questions. Knowing the answers were not going to come to him just yet, and that he would probably have to wait until after dark before he could make any progress, he stretched out on the bed and made himself comfortable. "Might as well get a few hours kip before it's time to start doing some work," he thought to himself, closing his eyes and letting his mind drift, relaxing himself so he would fall into a deep, dream filled sleep.
Fog swirled around him, thick and oppressive, and he slowed his frantic pace, knowing full well that if he put a foot wrong out here on the moors, he'd never be seen again. The moors could be deadly in good weather, but when the weather turned bad, the danger increased ten-fold. The fog had come out of nowhere, as it had on several of his other visits in the past, and the darkening sky meant he was out of time. He had to find some safe shelter before night set in; the dangers of falling into a crevice or bog were greater in the dark or fog, and much more so when the two combined. Unable to see clearly in the failing light, his foot slipped on an uneven rock and he fell forward, losing his balance and tumbling heavily to the ground. He curled as he fell, twisting himself around so that he landed on his side, the air knocked out of his lungs upon impact. In the silence of the dusk, as he lay still, trying to catch his breath, he heard the soft sound of paws against the rocks nearby. Low growls reached his ears, telling him he was surrounded by a number of large animals, possibly cougars or something similar. The local legends held many tales of large felines, most thought to have been exotic pets released by, or having escaped, their owners in the 70's and 80's. The fog swirled in front of him, revealing the golden eyes of a lithe panther, moments before it lunched for his throat.
Declan jerked awake, wiping the sweat from his forehead with one shaking hand, while the other rubbed his neck. He could still feel the teeth that had sunk into his flesh and he shivered, getting up off the bed and drawing a shuddering breath. A glance out of the window told him that night had fallen while he had been asleep and he knew it was time to get ready to make a move. He hoped that the abnormal would visit again, perhaps even give him more specific directions on where she was hiding. Stripping off his cargo pants and t-shirt, he padded silently to the bathroom and turned on the shower, know it would wake him sufficiently for the coming night's activities. He stepped beneath the hot water, letting it soothe his ragged nerves and ease his aching muscles. For several minutes he just stood beneath the torrent of scalding water, relaxing in a way he had not done for many years. He breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of lavender and roses that seemed to surround him, permeating his senses and clouding his mind.
"Declan," the whisper sounded closer this time, almost as if she were in the same room as him.
"I can hear you," he told her, revelling in the intoxicating aroma surrounding him. "I'm close now, but I need you to tell me where you are. There's a lot of ground to cover and I don't want to make any mistakes." Eyes closed and palms flat against the cold tiles, he stood still and waited for her to reply.
"Open your eyes, Declan, I'm right here," her breath caressed the back of his neck as she spoke, sending a shiver down his spine. He turned slowly, certain he was still dreaming and drew in a sharp breath as he saw her standing naked in the shower with him. She reached out to touch him, her cool fingertips brushing lightly against his hot skin as she ran her hands down his chest. He gasped and tried to step away but her scent worked its way deeper into him, trapping him there with her as she brushed her lips to his. Sensation burst through him, his blood racing like fire through his veins as desire swamped him, threatening to overwhelm him so swiftly that he jerked himself away from her.
"I'm close Declan, so close, only a few miles away. You have my scent now, it will lead you to me," she smiled as she spoke and his desire burnt in his chest. "Look to the north, where Brook, Tor and Gorge meet. You will find me there, one way or another." She stepped towards him and slipped one hand behind his head, stopping him from pulling away as she raised her lips to his. Desire shot through him again as she deepened her kiss and he responded, the feelings so strong that thought itself became impossible.
When thought became possible again, he opened his eyes and swallowed hard, seeing the hotel bathroom as empty as it had been when he arrived. Shaking his head in disgust at his weakness, he finished his shower and collected the tray of dinner he had ordered earlier. He ate slowly, his appetite dampened, his spirit subdued. He placed the tray back outside his room and locked the door, knowing he would only get himself killed if he tried to go out in the dark to find her. A quick call to Helen did nothing to raise his spirits, though he kept the details of the latest projection to himself. Restless and mildly depressed, Declan climbed into bed and turned out the light, willing a dreamless sleep to take him. He slipped quickly into sleep, where his body played out what his mind would never allow it to do with the mysterious abnormal, surrounded by lavender and roses.
