Burnt Mountain Rhyllia

Copyright 2016 Cheryl Campbell

Other Smashwords titles by Cheryl Campbell:

Burnt Mountain The Monster Within - book one in the Burnt Mountain series

Burnt Mountain One in the Chamber - book two in the Burnt Mountain series

Burnt Mountain Do and Die – book three in the Burnt Mountain series

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

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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For Helen, Jed, Faith, Michaela, Liam, and Asher

Table of Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Beginning

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Sample: Burnt Mountain When Heroes Fall, book five in the Burnt Mountain series

To view a larger version of the image, visit Burnt Mountain Books.

1

Rio looked up at the dark sky through the trees. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, but they still needed their headlamps to hike at night. The breeze chilled her face and ears, so she pulled the hood of her Red Sox sweatshirt over her head.

Mom’s going to kill us when she finds out, Colby said.

She’s not going to find out, Rio said as she climbed over a log to leave the trail.

When has she ever not found out when you’ve been up to no good? Sebastian asked.

Me? Rio asked as she stopped and turned. Her headlamp’s light illuminated her brother’s face. I am not the only person out here.

You mean we had a choice to come? Colby asked.

Of course you didn’t, Rio said. Besides, Mom doesn’t know what we’ve been doing the last several months.

When she finds out, she’s going to kill us, Sebastian said.

She won’t kill us, Rio said and rolled her eyes.

She’ll be livid though, Colby said.

Yes, she will, but she won’t kill us. She doesn’t know what we’ve done before or what we’re up to now. It’ll be fine. We can hide this too, Rio said.

Sebastian frowned. He didn’t believe Rio’s story.

I don’t like lying to Mom and Dad, Colby said.

We’re not lying. We’re just not voluntarily telling them what we’re doing, Rio said.

I think there’s an implied lie though, Sebastian said.

We didn’t tell them we planned to sneak out of our tents tonight, and we didn’t tell them we would stay in the tents all night. We didn’t lie, Sebas, Rio said.

I still don’t like it, Colby said.

Why the sudden conscience now? We’ve been sneaking around for months without them knowing. Now you’re getting cold feet? Why? Rio asked as she turned and continued walking.

They trust us without question, and we’re throwing that away. Neither of them would ever approve of what we’ve been doing, Sebastian said.

We’re not hurting anyone, Rio said. She listened for Colby and Sebastian’s steps to follow, but they didn’t.

That doesn’t make it right, Sebastian said. He couldn’t change Rio’s mind.

Rio stopped and turned to face her siblings again. "Please stop talking about this," Rio said.

Why are we leaving the trail? We’re not going up the mountain? Colby asked.

We’re not going to the top, and we’re taking a short cut. Stop talking, and let’s go. We can hurry and be back before Mom and Dad wake up, Rio said before walking again to lead her brother and sister to their destination.

We’re going to get caught for this, Colb, Sebastian said. He shared a unique link with his twin and could communicate with her without speaking out loud. He sighed as he watched Rio’s form venture deeper into the trees and shadows.

I know. At least all three of us will be grounded for life together, right?

It’s still wrong. This is the last time I follow her like this without telling Mom and Dad. She’s getting more reckless about everything, Sebastian said.

I agree. We’ll come up with a way to tell our parents and maybe we’ll only get grounded for a decade or two instead of eternity, Colby replied.

With a sigh the twins resumed walking to catch up with Rio.

---

Do you know who I am?

Emma stood at the base of a mountain. The massive stone man shook the ground when he moved, but his voice remained deep and soft. She was having another dream, like innumerable ones before, but this one seemed different. This dream felt more real than the others. Her skin prickled in the cool air as a breeze rustled the changing leaves of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. In her dream the day was sunny with clear skies.

You’re Guardian. Rio said you were much smaller, Emma said. She should be terrified standing before this giant being though she didn’t feel threatened or have any sense the stone man would harm her. Emma first learned of Guardian from her daughter who described him as a seven-foot tall stone man, but this Guardian was enormous.

There are many of us called Guardian though I have another name and have been in your world for countless years, he said.

Emma watched the giant and moved to circle his kneeling form since she still couldn’t see his entire face. The Old Man, she gasped when she recognized his profile.

Guardian’s laugh sounded like thunder. The ground trembled when he crouched to put one hand on the earth and extend the other toward the tiny woman.

Emma eyed the thick-fingered, stone hand as it neared her. Dust rose from his joints as he moved his hand to extend his index finger.

There are things you need to see, he said.

Uh, Emma said as she shifted her position but didn’t step back. Her eyes remained on the granite fingertip only a few feet from her head. He could squish her into oblivion if he wanted to. You, or rather another one of your group, showed Rio things when we were in Rhyllia a year ago. She’s been a different person since. Her confidence returned, but now she’s a bit over confident.

She’s 16.

Yes, she is, Emma said with a sigh. The twins turned 17 in a couple of months, and Rio would be right behind them and turn 17 next summer. Emma focused her attention back on Guardian. Will I see the same things you showed Rio?

The stone man didn’t answer and kept his finger near her.

Emma squeezed her eyes closed and took a deep, shaky breath. She released the breath slowly and opened her eyes. She shook her head as she took a step forward. I’m sure I’ll regret this later.

Guardian smiled and touched his finger to the side of Emma’s head.

---

Rio scrambled over the piles of boulders. Smaller rocks threatened to slide and break ankles while others were so large she had to go around them. Where are you? she asked under her breath.

Colby tilted her head back and looked up through a small opening in the trees. The remainder of the mountain’s silhouette, rocky, exposed and high in the air, was illuminated by the moonlight. Sebas, do you see the top of the mountain?

He moved to stand next to his sister and followed her gaze. That’s the top of Cannon Mountain and where the face of the Old Man was until it fell apart in 2003, he said. He glanced at his twin when she didn’t reply. Colby shook her head and frowned. What’s wrong? he asked.

The Old Man is made of stone, Colby said.

So? Wait ... , Rio!

What? Rio asked without stopping her search. Ha! I finally found it. Come here, Rio said as she scurried around a mass of rocks to climb on one and kneel. She placed both palms against the flat of the rock and smiled.

Found what? Colby asked after she and Sebastian arrived. "You found him?"

Still smiling, Rio nodded as she stared at the rock beneath her. She passed her hands over the cold, flat surface.

Sebastian glanced up through the trees again then back at Rio. Is this part of The Old Man?

Rio nodded.

Why are we here, Rio? If he’s also Guardian, he’s dead. He fell apart, Sebastian said.

This piece is part of his face, Rio said.

How do you know? Colby asked.

Rio closed her eyes and pressed her hands flat against the rock. She heard the familiar scraping sound and felt the vibrations as rock moved against rock. Her sister and brother shouted something she didn’t understand. Rio opened her eyes, and in the moonlight, a large, round, black, stone eye stared back.

I knew you were Guardian, Rio said and smiled.

---

Ethan woke, disoriented for a moment before he remembered he slept on a sleeping pad in a tent. Emma squirmed beside him, so he tried to not disturb her as he shifted his position. He winced as he stretched out the kink in his back and guessed her tossing is what woke him. Emma mumbled again, and Ethan yawned as he rubbed his face with his hand. Emma’s head rested on his other arm where she’d fallen asleep. His wife often talked in her sleep, and he reached for her hand to quiet her. Ethan’s eyes opened wide as his mind cleared. He extracted his arm from under her head and flipped on a small battery-powered lantern. Oh no.

She slept with her hands clenched into fists and her face pinched like she was in pain.

Em, wake up, he said and touched her face.

She flinched away from his hand and continued in her nightmare. He’d never seen her have such an intense dream before. She often had dreams that troubled her, but this time was different. He didn’t know what to do other than hope she woke soon.

2

It’s alive. Holy crap, Sebas, it’s alive, Colby said as she squeezed her brother’s arm, horrified to see the piece of rock transform and open its eye. Her fear shifted to fascination. Whoa.

We have to get her off that thing, Sebastian said. He took a step toward Rio, but his twin held him back. Colby, what are you doing? We have to help her.

Does she look like she needs our help? She’s grinning from ear to ear though I don’t know what she’s saying. She must be talking in his language, Colby said.

Sebastian absentmindedly scratched his nose while he watched. He didn’t want Rio to get hurt talking with the stone man. He might be the oldest of the three teens, only a few minutes older than his twin, but he still felt responsible for keeping his younger sisters safe. He crouched low and shined his headlamp beam up toward Rio’s face.

Her eyes have turned black. I hate when she does that, Colby said.

I do too. She looks so creepy, Sebastian said and frowned. He stood and sighed with no choice but to wait for Rio to finish her conversation with the rock.

---

I’ve been waiting for you, Guardian said.

Rio loved the sound of his deep voice. I can’t believe I found you. You’re rather broken apart, you know? she asked. Rio knelt on the part of the rock containing one of Guardian’s obsidian eyes. The other parts of his face were scattered down the hill. Still, she felt him smiling as his voice echoed inside her head even if she couldn’t see his mouth.

I’m still here, watching, he said.

Were you the one making me have those dreams? she asked. A recurring dream about the annual games and their proximity to The Old Man of the Mountain made her suspicious Guardian was somehow involved.

Perhaps, he said.

Dad’s a sucker for highland games, so getting them to come to New Hampshire to go camping and attend the festival was a breeze, Rio said and smiled.

I’m sorry about the bear, but I had to do it, Guardian said.

What bear? Rio asked as her smile faded.

Your cousin and father.

Rio’s mouth fell open.

The bear was looking for food. She would not have harmed any of you on her own.

You made the bear attack Tom and Dad? You deliberately attacked them? Rio asked and shook her head with disbelief.

That was the closest you’d been to any portals. I had to get you to go through to make direct contact with you in Rhyllia, he said.

We almost died as a result of entering the other world. Have you lost your mind?

We each have our own minds, but we’re able to share our thoughts. We have not lost our minds or single mind, Guardian said.

Rio scowled at the eye looking up at her. I’m not talking about your stupid hive or whatever it is. You intentionally attacked my family with a bear to get to me.

We need your help.

Rio laughed. You’ve got some nerve.

---

Emma twisted and jerked her head away from Guardian’s finger. She stumbled backward and landed hard on her rump. She put her hands on the sides of her head, but the spinning sensation continued. Ugh, what did you do to me? she asked.

You understand now?

Emma nodded and winced. Yes, she said while still holding her head. I mean, no. I don’t know. I might be sick.

The ground trembled as Guardian stood again. When the ground stopped shaking, Emma lowered her hands and got to her feet. Her head seemed to spin a little less until she looked up at Guardian’s full height. She hyperextended her neck and stepped back though she still couldn’t see all 200 plus feet of him. She wobbled as his heavy feet turned to leave and shook the ground.

That’s it?

Yes. I’m sending someone else from this world to help you when you go back to Rhyllia, Guardian said as he continued walking away.

Who? Who?! Emma shouted louder to the retreating giant.

She received no response and swore.

Time to wake up, Em.

She spun when the voice spoke behind her. Recognizing the man, she gasped with surprise.

---

Wake up, Ethan said as he spread water from his palm over Emma’s sweaty brow. She snapped her head to the side while still grimacing. Her features softened some and her hands relaxed.

Her breathing slowed and Ethan set the bottle of water aside. He gently shook her shoulder. Please wake up, Em.

Emma gasped and opened her eyes. She threw her hands up at the shadowy form leaning over her.

Ethan caught her flailing hands. She tended to be confused and combative after her dreams, so he was ready when she tried to strike him. You’re OK, Em. It’s just me, Ethan said, and she blinked several times.

Disorientation passed, and she stopped struggling. Ethan, Emma said and allowed him to gather her in his arms. She drew in a shaky breath and swore.

What happened? Are you OK? You were dreaming, but you looked like you were in pain, Ethan said as he held her close.

I saw him.

Who?

The Old Man of the Mountain is also Guardian. I saw him in my dream and talked to The Old Man, Emma said.

Ethan’s mouth moved, but he couldn’t form the questions he had. The Old Man, New Hampshire’s legend and famous profile of a man’s face in the side of a mountain, was a living, talking man of stone. Ethan’s mind froze.

I also saw Colin, Emma said as she leaned away from her husband to look at his face.

Colin? Ethan asked, finding his voice. Guardian?

I’ll explain on the way. Well, I’ll explain as best I can. Get dressed. We’re leaving, Emma said. The jumbled images Guardian showed her were only just starting to unravel themselves, so she’d need some time to sort through them and try to translate to Ethan.

Leaving?

Emma chuckled at her husband’s response and confused expression. I realize I have cooked your brain with some wild information, but I need you to get dressed. We have to get the kids, she said.

I’ll wake them, Ethan said as he rummaged through his bag of clothes in search of socks, jeans, and a shirt. He pulled out shorts, but he was already wearing a pair of those.

We have to go get them, Emma said as she pulled a hooded sweatshirt on over her tank top.

They’re in the next site over in their tents, he said as he traded the shorts for a sock and found a pair of jeans.

No, they’re not.

I watched them go in their tents and go to bed, he said as he put his jeans on.

They’re at Cannon Mountain. That’s where we’re going, Emma said.

OK, Ethan said. He didn’t understand but decided to do as he was told. After zipping his jeans, he sat on the tent floor, pulled on one sock, and stopped. Did you say you saw Colin?

3

Rhyllia is heading toward chaos again. Paladin, we need your help, Guardian said.

"I understand Paladin is your word for the humans of Rhyllia, but I don’t live there. I wasn’t born there, so stop calling me Paladin. My name is Rio, and that’s all you get to call me. If your world is having problems, it is not my concern. You attacked Dad with a freakin’ bear, Guardian. Do you have any idea how pissed off I am right now?" Rio asked.

We do not control you, Pal-, Rio. We are merely guides.

"So you guided the bear to attack my cousin and father," Rio said.

The bear was only meant to scare your family to go through the portal. Her attack was unintentional.

How did you control a bear in Yellowstone when you’re stuck in New Hampshire?

We can guide any human or animal. The dreams were an idea I gave you. You were the one that chose to influence your family to go to Yellowstone and to come here, Guardian said.

"Still feels an awful lot like you screwing with my head. So you guided the bear to scare us, and she decided to attack instead? Your so called ability to guide humans and animals is a little sketchy."

I am sorry, Guardian said.

For what? Messing with me or sending the bear? Rio asked.

Both.

How long have you been doing this?

Guardian remained silent.

Rio frowned at him. You’ve been doing this for years, haven’t you?

Yes.

When did this start? Rio asked.

The idea for a fall swim by a group of friends that included two sisters, Guardian said.

Rio’s eyebrows went up. That was before I was born! Wait, you were after both of my mothers. Did you intentionally trap my father?

Like the bear, that was an unexpected complication. The Tuars found your aunt, mother, and father before the Guardian in the region could intervene.

The images the Yellowstone Guardian showed me, one of you watched my father when he was stuck in your world. I remember seeing the images of him that weren’t part of my memories. Why didn’t you help him escape? He was trapped there for fourteen years. When he did escape he died less than a year later. You should have helped him, Rio said.

Guardian did not answer her.

Why? Why my family? I can’t believe you’ve been messing with all of us for so long. You’re not to be trusted, Rio said.

Rhyllia needs you.

I don’t care. You think you have the right to ask for my help when you didn’t do a bloody thing to help my father? I don’t know why I came here, Rio said and shook her head with a growl of frustration. "I do not like you, Guardian, Old Man, whatever your name is."

An evil being is growing too powerful for the Rhyllians to fight. We need your help. On your last visit to Rhyllia, Guardian gave you this information, Guardian said.

Yeah, he downloaded a ton of stuff into my head. I know the history about the war a long time ago.

There is a prophecy.

I’ll give you one guess where you can stick that prophecy, Rio said.

The second war is coming.

You expect me to help with a war? How? Rio asked.

You already know.

Great. Here we go with riddles again. Does that ever change? Are you and the Yellowstone Guardian ever able to communicate clearly? Rio asked.

Guardian did not reply.

Which means you enjoy torturing me. Can you show me what I’m supposed to already know? Rio asked.

Close your eyes, Rio, Guardian said.

---

She doesn’t sound as angry as she did before, Colby said.

I don’t like this. She’s been talking to him for a while now, Sebastian said as he paced among the scattered boulders.

They both watched their sister as she remained kneeling on a large piece of rock with her palms against the flat side. The black eye within the rock still moved as the broken piece of The Old Man interacted with Rio.

We’ll have to tell Mom what happened here, Colby said and sighed. She’s gonna flip out.

I know, Sebastian said. He never took his eyes off Rio, so he saw her as soon as she blinked. Her eyes returned to normal, and a second later Rio collapsed on her side. Sebastian leapt over the rocks and held Rio so she didn’t topple off the rock. What did you do to her? he screamed at the eyeball in the rock looking up at him. The rocks made a scraping sound and the stone eyelid closed.

Whoa, Colby said as the eye closed. Is she OK?

Sebastian shook his unresponsive sister by her shoulder. Rio? Colb, don’t let her fall. I’m getting Mom and Dad.

Sebastian jumped off the rock and sprinted down the hill. Colby felt Rio move under her hand. Sebas, wait. Rio?

Rio groaned and clumsily rubbed her eyes.

Sebastian slid to a stop, almost falling in the process. He grabbed a boulder to aid his balance, and the massive rock slid from its perch. Rocks tumbled around him, and he put his hands out to try to keep the rock slide from crushing him.

Colby lifted her head, but she no longer saw her brother. Rio still wasn’t awake yet, and Colby didn’t want to leave her. She called for her brother and got no answer. Why is this happening? she said to no one. She squeezed Rio’s arm. Wake up!

Ah, ow, that hurts, Rio said as she pulled her arm free of her sister’s grasp. She rubbed her sore arm and scowled.

It was supposed to hurt. Wake up, and get up. Sebas got caught in a rock slide. I need to know you’re not going to fall and crack your skull so I can go look for him, Colby said.

I’m fine, more or less. Go ahead; I’ll catch up, Rio said. She pushed herself to a seated position on the rock and waited for her nausea to pass. The rush of images Guardian dumped into her brain made her feel sick as usual.

Colby picked her way among the rocks. Sebas, you better answer me.

I’m down here.

Where?

Here.

Colby growled. "I don’t know where here is, and I can’t see you. Move your head or something so I can see your headlamp, she said. She heard his muttered oaths and grunts somewhere farther down the hill. What’s wrong with you?"

My foot’s stuck. Follow my voice to find me, Sebastian said.

Colby finally found her brother on the ground among the rocks and covered in dirt and dust. He appeared uninjured, but the lower half of one leg was beneath a large rock. Is it broken?

No, but it’s stuck, Sebastian said. He pushed on the boulder, but it didn’t budge. Maybe we can move it if we push together.

The twins strained against the rock, but Sebastian remained trapped. Rio arrived, and the three of them worked together to move the rock. After several minutes the three teens were breathing hard. Sebastian leaned against another rock to catch his breath. The boulders trapping his leg were too heavy for them to move. Colby disappeared for a few minutes and returned with a long, thick stick.

What is that for? Rio asked.

"So we can beat him to smithereens and get him out