Finding Amber (Book 5) Jacobs Broken Mercenaries

chapter 3

Estevan 

I’ve been his shadow for a week, and yesterday, he sensed me. Mica doesn’t know who I am or that I’m working with Jacob. Grayson made sure of that. He’s been antsy today. More than normal. I stay close. I think he’ll go to her tonight.  
His home is lavish with rich trinkets and constructed with glass. Risky for a vampire. He has an endless supply of blood; it seems as if he opens a walk-in fridge and takes a pre-portioned Styrofoam cup.
I take a whiff. That explains the pig pen outback. I didn’t think he was the farming type. His watch sets off an alarm, and he begins to dematerialize. I’m caught off guard and almost miss the small window. I follow him and hope it’s not to my death. It’s the middle of the damn day. 
Shit! It’s a trap. Wherever he’s gone, it’s spelled. My thread to him snaps, and I’m booted before he materializes. I try to go back, but something stops me. His laughter echoes before it disappears all together. Standing stagnant, I’m forced to take shape. 
When I open my eyes, it’s night. This isn’t earth. I’m in another dimension.  He’s learned to sift through worlds? The realization makes me wonder how long he’s been resurrected.  It takes years to locate the world’s and longer than that to acquire a stable link.
Wherever I am, the air is thick with humidity. Dense vegetation surrounds me. Trees I’ve never seen before stretch high into the sky. They’re thick bases as wide as I am tall. I climb a hill a few feet behind me to get the lay of the land. Everything has an exit. The north is black, so dark it looks void. Mountains line the east and to the west. The lands are flat and empty. This place seems to have many unique landscapes. Their separations are unnatural, stopping in a straight, almost mapped out line. This is definitely an alternate dimension. 
A woman’s cry sounds. Could it be? Has he led me to Amber? I still. Listening for the direction.  It’s minutes before I hear it again. The cry comes from the east. The mountains. I try to dematerialize, but it seems I’m unable to on this plane. If it was a straight shot, I could run and make it there in hours, but that’s not possible. The terrain is dangerous, and I’m not alone. There are too many smells, and I’ve heard movement all around me since climbing the hill. Getting to those mountains could take days, and shelter from the sun could be an issue. That was probably Mica’s plan.
I trudge through the heavy brush, monitoring the time. If I’m lucky, I’ll get at least six hours of dark; going by the moon’s position in the sky... 
I’m making great progress after just a couple of hours, but I have to move faster if I want coverage before morning. Something brushes by my arm. It’s too smooth to be a branch or bush. I still, looking into the dark. A hiss sounds directly behind me. Too close for comfort. I slowly turn only to come head-to-head with a massive snake. Its glowing eyes stare into mine as its body begins to circle around me. I slowly reach on the inside of my jacket for a blade, careful to keep my movements smooth and my eyes from blinking. Its tail is only now visible. It’s got to be over ten meters long and two meters wide. It’s the largest snake I’ve ever seen. I almost don’t believe my eyes. I bring the knife up under my chin, and it begins to tighten around me. I’m his meal, and he doesn’t see the threat until it’s too late. The moment it launches, I drive the knife deep with a horizontal swipe. Its head drops to the ground, and I cut my way through the rest of him. Bloody hell, I’ve already had enough of this place.
I come across two large boulders as I near the edge of the brush. Multiple trees have fallen atop the rocks, creating the perfect burrow. The first rays of light have begun to appear. This will have to do. I crawl between the rocks, getting comfortable.  The moss is soft. It’s actually not so bad. I fill the entrance with moss and twigs to keep the light out and whatever the hell else may be out there. I won’t be forgetting that snake anytime soon...
Days here are longer than normal. I’m stuck in that hole for fourteen hours, losing precious time. I stand before my next obstacle... flatlands. The climate is dry and hot in front of me, and at my back is a humid warmth. It’s nothing new to me. Dimensions don’t follow the same laws as earth. It’s why they’re so dangerous and unpredictable, but it’s not the land that sets me on edge. It’s the shadows in motion I watch in the distance. I’m able to move faster here with only tumbleweeds and the odd cacti in my way. As I move closer, the shadows become clearer. It’s yet another land between the mountains and jungle cast in darkness. It’s a valley of sorts. The temperature drops rapidly as I make my way down. Nothing grows here that much is plain to see. The earth is nothing but dead soil, and the smell is awful; akin to rotting flesh. I must have miscalculated the depth, or it’s meant to be deceiving. The land has a steady decline as I sink further into its darkness. I pause as four sets of glowing eyes appear before me, only to vanish as fast as they came. There are no trees here, just rolling hills of black. Whatever those eyes belonged to, I’m hoping their height is due to higher elevation.
I take my steps slower, keeping my hand on my dagger. I know I’m being watched. My foot slides into something wet and thick. Looking down, I see a swamp at my feet. Blood hell, I gag, turning my head. That would be the cause of the smell. I debate walking along it, but that would take time I don’t have. The sun will be up soon, and there’s nowhere to hide here. Making it into those mountains before morning is a must.
“Estevan?” 
Shit! Now is not a good time. Jacob is attempting to communicate with me. The telepathic connection takes all my concentration, and right now it’s dangerous to be unaware. Even for a fraction of a second, it could cost me my life and possibly Ambers. I make it quick, sending a message back.
“Can’t talk. In another dimension. Let you know when I find her.”
I sever the connection in the nick of time. The creatures from earlier are closer; waiting on the other side of the swamp. I look along both the edge in both directions and don’t see an end. I’ve got no other choice. There’s no way to tell how deep it is or what’s in it. The fact the creatures aren’t racing in to get me isn’t reassuring. They know something I don’t. I walk in with a growl, trying to power through. The eyes staring back at me lower, coming closer still, until they disappear. Fuck, they weren’t waiting for me to cross, nor were they afraid. They were waiting for me to go in. I veer off course as fast as possible, but it’s like traveling through cement that’s begun to harden. Even with my strength, the task is difficult. My foot gets caught in something oblong, slowing me down. I tentatively reach in and break the object away. When I pull it up for inspection, a touch of fear takes hold. 
It’s a skeleton, a partial piece of an animal that can only exist in the twisted minds of the most disturbed. Lengthily twisted teeth that could easily be confused with an ore line at the bottom of the partial jaw. That’s what got lodged in my shoe. The piece is the size of my head. If that’s what’s in this swamp, I have every right to worry. The ground rumbles beneath me. I take long strides using every ounce of strength. I’m so close, a few more feet.
Ah, shit! I feel the pull on my leg and gasp for air before I’m pulled down by something bigger and way more powerful than me. It pulls me down so fast the mud around me feels like a giant’s fist squishing me for shits and giggles. I grasp my blade and begin to stab and drag the dagger through very tough flesh. I don’t stop. I must have made over thirty gashes before it begins to slow. Tearing my abs, I curl in further and aim higher. My strikes are vigorous. A loud grumble comes from the creature before its clutches loosen. I feel flesh tear from my leg. Not wasting time, I come to the surface, wiping the mud from my eyes. Bloody hell, it dragged me back several feet. The ground rumbles again. Hastily moving forward, I clutch the dagger. Mud flies hitting me in the face and deep cries echo all around me before the rumbling continues. I’m close, my legs burn, my stomach hurts, I’m exhausted but I power through. Mud begins to come away, land. I make it out, falling to the ground. The earth continues to rumble. I scoot back from the edge, getting up on rubbery legs, and don’t waste time catching my breath. I put as much distance between myself and that swamp as fast as I can.
I’ve made it at least a mile before I slow. It’s not something I notice because it’s so gradual and maybe the creatures have a hand in distracting me. The sun has begun to rise. I check my watch. It’s too soon, but the brightening is undeniable. I frantically search for cover. There’s nothing. This is it; how I’m going out. I spread my arms and await my fate, closing my eyes...
After several seconds, I lift my lids. Confusion has me scratching my head. The sun is up. That part is undeniable. What I don’t get is why this place is still cast in darkness. I wait a few more seconds, looking over the land. It should be bright. It’s right above me, but there’s nothing. The ground rumbles again, shaking me from my stupor. I waste no more time trying to make sense of this place. When I get to the edge of the darkness, I see the line separating the landscapes clear as day. Pacing back and forth, I decide to test the sun sticking the tip of my finger across the line.
Bloody hell! I pull my hand back, eyeing my reddening skin. It’s safe to say the sun does the same here as it does on earth. Looks like I’ll be staying a while...
By the next evening, I’ve made it to the mountains. My trip so far can be summed up in one word; hellish. This place is heaven by comparison. It’s also bigger than the last two. If she’s here, it could take a while to find her. Passing the wall was disconcerting. It rejected me as the darkness tried to pull me back; like it didn’t want to give me up. 
I take a few minutes to clean off in a nearby stream. A school of minnows in rainbow colors pass by me. The water is warm and welcoming. I’ve seen nothing suspect yet. This section seems to be normal, almost peaceful.  The mountains are only a small part of its features and there are plenty of spots for cover. 
If Mica’s plan was to leave me for dead, he severely underestimated me. All he’s done is guarantee once he frees Lucifer, I’m going to kill him. 
I shake my hair out and tie it back at my nape. The moon is full, offering plenty of light to check the damage done to my leg. Eighteen gaping holes line my calve nine on each side. Whatever those things were, I could go the rest of my life not seeing them again. My leg should have nothing more than a few indents by morning, but my memory of the creatures will stay intact much longer.
It’s a short walk to the mountains and when I get there, I start my search, climbing the tallest in my vicinity. This must make up a half of this planes land. I slowly scan the area, looking for anything human. I see plenty of life, but not a woman. In the video she was chained and a cement wall lined the background… Maybe she’s not here. There’s no way an animal could scream like that, but then again, this world has been far from predictable. I don’t see any buildings, though. It could have been constructed in a cave. Most of these mountains are too small to house one with that kind of room. Could Celeste have been mistaken in what she saw? I could try communicating with Jacob for an answer, but that would take too long. I know Celeste is at her home and Jacob is more than likely busy. Celeste’s memory would be obscured by now. There is one possibility... The mountains are thicker, farther east, making visibility even from here impossible. It would be an ideal place to hide a structure. I try transporting again, but the same block is in place. Looks like I’m hiking...
Several uneventful hours later, I make it to the thickest part of the mountains without a sign of a building. I was sure I found her when I spotted a set of mountains in a perfect circle, but it turned out to be empty. The sun is about to come up and I take shelter in a small cave adjacent to the circle of mountains. Tomorrow I will check any caves, but I’m losing hope she’s here. My next move will be finding a way out. I watch the sun rise and follow its rays to the... jumping up; I hurry to the edge of the cave, staring in disbelief. The glare of the rising sun exposes a dome smack dab in the center of the mountains. It’s brilliant. There’s no way I would have found it otherwise. A dome made of reflective glass. I’m itching to find the entrance, but the light of day has made it impossible. My sleep will be restless...