Awakening

Prologue

The solo town was dark, the gas lamps lining the street extinguished hours earlier. Not a candle flickered behind curtained windows. A horse whinnied with fear as his scent drifted through the open breezeway of the livery stables. He made his way through the night, surefooted on the rutted dirt road that led to the church.

He looked into the baby’s bright cobalt eyes as he tucked the medallion into her swaddling. I’ll be back for you when it’s safe, he promised and was rewarded with a smile. Placing the princess carefully on the doorstep of the rectory he knocked loudly then moved back into the shadows of the building to watch.

The Reverend, in a long night gown, held a candle aloft as he looked out into the night and for a moment Samuel thought he was going to go back inside without seeing the princess. But, then he looked down. Picking up the baby he scanned the night again. Samuel felt his instinct to protect the princess surge as the solo cradled her in his arms but he pushed it down. For now this was the safest place she could be.

Where’s your mother little one? he heard the Reverend say as he turned to go inside calling to his wife. The door closed behind them. Yes, she would be safe here.

Samuel transformed and began the long run back to his queen. But he was too late. The coup was over and Charles had won.

Peri looked at the old coin her grandmother placed in her hand, balanced it on her thumb and flicked it up into the air making it spin end over end.

What is it Granny? she said as she caught it and flicked it up again.

It’s a weapon to fight the Leopards.

Peri stopped flipping the coin and looked back at her grandmother. Her skin hung loosely on the bones of her arms and her face was crisscrossed with hundreds of creases but her blue eyes looked back at Peri with an intensity that belied the failing body that held them.

All of humanity is depending on you.

Peri had heard it all before, many times, but she nodded. Everyone thought her grandmother was crazy when she started telling stories about people who could change into leopards, everyone except Peri.

How can a coin be a weapon?

It’s not a coin dear. It’s a medallion.

Okay, then how can a medallion be a weapon? Sometimes her grandmother could be so pedantic wanting everything just so.

I don’t know, her grandmother sighed. I have told you before it is our family’s destiny to fight the Leopards. This medallion has been passed down from mother to daughter for just that purpose. I had hoped that you would be older before your turn came but time has run out.

Granny, no. You’ve been sick before you just need to rest.

Death is the last and final truth dear and I can feel it close by me now. Don’t be sad, I am weary of this world. If not for you I would have welcomed its embrace long before now. My one regret is that I cannot give you the answers you need. I have prayed for the Lord to reveal the secrets of the medallion but he has not seen fit to enlighten me. Perhaps he has been keeping them for you.

Peri nodded again but she had no faith in her grandmother’s god. She stood up and put the medallion in her pocket. Gently she leaned over and lightly kissed her grandmother on the forehead.

Don’t worry Granny I won’t fail you.

Peri wanted to stay but she had to finish her homework or her marks would slip and her father would be angry. As she turned to leave her grandmother grabbed her wrist.

And remember don’t show it to anyone or tell anyone that you have it. If the Leopards find out before you know how to use it... Her voice drifted off leaving the unspoken threat hanging in the air.

I know Granny, she said but her grandmother did not release her.

Promise me.

I promise.

Chapter 1

The day was coming to an end as Peri walked down the driveway, red gravel crunching under her feet. The silence was eerie with nothing but the setting sun to light her way. The tree limbs threw long shadows and she felt a shiver run down her spine. The mansion loomed over her as she approached. The rough hewn bluestone blocks of the walls had none of the symmetry of modern buildings.

The mansion was quiet, too quiet. There were cobwebs in the eaves and a layer of dirt was built up on the flagstones leading to the front door. Fifteen miles from the closest town she suddenly felt very alone. Perhaps she should just go back to the cottage and introduce herself in the morning. It was only a fleeting thought. She was a city girl and wasn’t used to the silence of the Australian bush, of course it would feel strange she told herself.

As the last rays of the sun disappeared and the twilight turned to full dark she rang the bell. The deep gong pummeled the night with a resonating boom that seemed to echo on without end. A flock of black cockatoos startled from their roost rose screeching into the air. If Peri could have she would have flown off with them. The surrounding silence was deeper when the sound finally stopped. She could hear nothing from inside the mansion, although it would be hard to hear anything through those heavy wooden doors, she thought. She stood looking around not quite daring to push the bell again and not sure what to do next. It was possible that nobody was home of course. Perhaps the family lived in the city and this was their vacation home.

She left the front door and walked around to the side of the building. Every muscle taut she peered at the outlines of the structure but the dark depths of the shadows discouraged her from investigating further. All was still. The stars were bright in the clear night sky but they did nothing to light her way. The skin on the back of her neck prickled and she spun on her heel peering into the thick brush. She could have sworn someone was there but she couldn’t see anything. A sliver of moon cast no more light than the stars, but added an eerie glow to the shadows. The wind rustled the leaves of the nearby trees and the noise made her spin back to her left searching the gloomy shadows again.

This was a bad idea she decided. Nobody was home or if they were she was being ignored. She started walking back down the long driveway. The sense of someone or something watching followed her. It grew stronger with each step and a few times she thought she had just missed seeing someone as she whirled around. But there was nothing there. She took a deep breath; she’d had a long flight and was tired. She would not run. She held her head high and if she stepped a bit faster it was only because she wanted to get back to the cottage and put her feet up. I will not run she told herself again.

A sense of relief passed over her as she reached the front door. She took one last long look around before closing the door of the cottage on the night. She felt better to be inside but the feeling that someone or something was watching would not leave her. She walked from room to room on the ground floor checking all the doors and windows were locked. When she boarded the plane at Heathrow she hadn’t realized her destination was going to be quite so remote. She could see the Melbourne skyline from the airport but when she gave the driver the address the cab headed north and the city quickly dwindled to a speck in the rearview mirror then disappeared completely.

The ground floor was secure it was a pity there was no alarm. The closest human habitation was back in that little hamlet they called a town. She had seen a couple of children riding shaggy ponies down the main street and a group of men stood on the verandah of the local pub watching the cab drive past. One of them touched his finger to his forehead and flicked it forward in what was unmistakably a lazy greeting as she passed. Then the road had changed from blacktop with unsealed edges to dirt and the bush closed in. The trees crowding the sides of the road got closer together until their overhanging branches almost completely blocked out the sky. At the time Peri had felt drawn by this wild and untamed land; there was something attractive in the freedom it implied. Now though in the silent darkness she could think only of the men that were chasing her.

She moved upstairs to where she had chosen to use the largest of the five bedrooms available to her. She picked up a cushion from the window seat. Hand stitched silk if she wasn’t mistaken. She tossed it aside and sat down. From there she could see the mansion, its imposing presence dominating the skyline. Everything about this place was old. The furnishings could have been antique reproductions but they weren’t. There was a feeling of age about them that suggested they were the real deal. It was all so foreign to her, so different from her apartment in London. She missed her white leather couch with its shiny chrome frame. She had been all over the world in the search for answers but not once had she felt as vulnerable and isolated as she did right now. The skin on the back of her neck prickled again and she realized that anyone outside could see her clearly while all she could see was the outline of the mansion and dark shadows. She jumped up and turned off the light.

She was heartily sick of the hunted feeling that accompanied her every waking moment. Three years ago when she turned twenty-one and started her search she could not have imagined she would now be running across the globe with no more knowledge of how to use the medallion than the day her grandmother gave it to her. But, she would not have to put up with it for much longer she told herself as she got ready for bed. She was close. She could feel it in every fiber of her being and when she got the answers she was searching for the hunted would become the hunter.

He stood concealed in the brush as he watched the young woman turn away from his doorstep. He padded after her taking care to remain hidden. He hadn’t made a sound but she had looked unerringly in his direction. She seemed to sense that he was there. His whiskers twitched as a light breeze carried her scent to him. That was different from the other, but it had the same effect; enticing him to come closer. It had been so long and the tantalizing scent infused his senses. Familiar, but not the same as it was before. Everything else was the same, but that was different. He tilted his head as he watched her. No, not everything else was the same. This one’s walk was different too. She carried herself with a sense of purpose and confidence that had not been present in the other. He wanted to move closer, to inhale the scent that called to him. His ears flicked backward and forward searching for sounds that did not belong but all was as it should be.

He froze. She’d done it again, turned and looked directly at him. He knew she couldn’t see him. Their night vision was poor and their hearing worse. He was downwind, what was making her search for him? He stood watching until she closed the door on the night and on him. He saw the lights come on downstairs, she would not be out again tonight but he didn’t leave. Something held him.

Why was she here? He stood watching until the lights downstairs went out and a minute later one of the bedroom windows lit up. She sat at the window her hair falling in soft onyx waves around her face to rest on her shoulders. He remembered the smooth lines of her cheeks, the rosy fullness of those lips. No this was not her, this was another. Suddenly she jumped up and extinguished the light. He watched her shadowy form moving around the room as she prepared for bed. When the movement ceased he turned and disappeared back into the night.

It was almost midnight when Samuel pulled out the photo albums. He hadn’t looked at them for more than fifty years until this last week and since then he hadn’t been able to put them down. He had missed the arrival of Veronica’s granddaughter at the cottage. How much did she know? Surely not everything or she would not have come. He had waited for people to come after Veronica had returned home. When they didn’t he had waited for her to call. When she didn’t he assumed she had not told anyone his secret and with some sadness he understood that she could not accept him as he was. But, now her granddaughter was asleep in the cottage. The memory of her scent was still strong. He ran his tongue across his lips, so strong he could almost taste it.

What did you tell her Veronica? he said tracing a finger over a faded photograph of a young woman with onyx hair and cobalt eyes. How much did you tell her?

Chapter 2

Peri was up early. She needed to relax and give herself time to think. How was she going to gain access to the mansion and the information that just had to be there? She crossed the cobblestone courtyard to the stables. She didn’t get the opportunity to ride very often and she was looking forward to it. It was the perfect way to unwind and figure out what her next move would be. The sound of her boots on the concrete floor announced her arrival and a brown head in the stall at the end swiveled to watch her approach. The horse nickered softly to welcome her and she smiled. The air carried the fresh smell of new straw. She rubbed the star beneath the horse’s forelock as he lifted his head over the door to greet her.

You are a nice one aren’t you? I think we’re going to have fun together, she said.

The tack room looked quite bare. The single saddle and bridle were alone in a room that was almost certainly built at a time when horses had been the main form of transport. The presence of the simple snaffle bridle confirmed that the horse was going to be an easy ride, but she had never seen the like of the saddle that sat on the rack next to it. There was no sign of the English saddle she had requested. That man was going to get the rough edge of her tongue. She had told him she didn’t want to try a stock saddle, and that she was a good enough rider not to need the additional safety he seemed to think it would give her. He had ignored her. Well she had dealt with men who thought they knew what was good for her before and they all learnt very quickly just how wrong they were. She ignored the hard hat that had been left sitting on the bench for her and lifted the stock saddle cursing at the weight of it. At least it didn’t have one of those useless bloody horns like on those American saddles. She tightened the girth then worked out the surcingle arrangement and did that up too cursing under her breath the whole time. She’d have to remember this the next time Susie got on her case about dumping men too quickly. Was there even one man in the whole world who wanted an honest to goodness partner and not some frilly little thing that needed to be looked after? They all thought they knew what she needed better than she did.

She found a trail leading off through the bush and as she got deeper into the trees she could feel her mood lift. The sense of eyes watching her had not been present this morning and she laughed at how she had let her imagination run away with her the night before. The sound of bellbirds and magpies serenading the morning was sweet. She felt the last of the tension that had built up over the past months of running drain away. The trees opened up and she saw a dozen grey wallabies grazing peacefully on the edge of a clearing. They looked at her their noses twitching curiously but then went back to grazing. It was a perfect opportunity to cut loose and she dug her heels into her horse’s side and galloped across the open land her hair flying free. They leapt a fallen tree and she pulled up laughing with pure exhilaration. Every pore of her body felt the soft touch of the breeze. She inhaled the scent of eucalyptus, breathing deeply. She was completely alone and she loved it. Overcrowded and over tamed, the British Isles could offer nothing compared with this wild land devoid of the people she lived among, but never really felt part of.

She stayed out longer than she intended but it was worth every extra second. She felt completely relaxed. More relaxed than she had felt at any time since her search for answers began. She was unsaddling when her horse flattened his ears against his head and skittered sideways.

Easy now boy, she said putting a steadying hand on his neck.

That’s strange, she thought. He hadn’t shied at the snake that had crossed their trail and hadn’t even flicked an ear when a mob of kangaroos had burst out of the bush and gone bounding across in front of them.

What’s got into you? she said softly into his ear.

I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to startle him.

This time it was her turn to jump. She turned around and could see the silhouette of a man leaning against the opening of the breezeway. He was more than six feet tall with a lean, fit look about him but that was all she could make out. The morning sun was low in the sky painting his body with a halo that gave him an ethereal appearance. She didn’t like being surprised and she didn’t like not being able to see who she was talking to, even squinting didn’t help. She lifted a hand to shade her eyes.

Well sorry or not, why don’t you step forward where you can be seen and tell me who you are. Her voice was sharper than she had intended but he deserved it for surprising her like that.

My name is Samuel Roswald, he said stepping forward. His deep voice touched something primal in her but it wasn’t his voice that took her breath away. His silhouette had undersold the lithe body that moved with a grace that should have been impossible in such a large man. He had almost crossed the entire space between them and she could do and say nothing. Then the horse skittered sideways again and broke the spell.

It’s nice to meet you Mr. Roswald, I’m Peri Kellaway, she said having regained a little of her composure. She held out her hand. Two black eyes shot through with flecks of gold looked out at her from under silky black hair that she had to restrain herself from reaching out to touch.

He took her hand in his but instead of shaking it he covered it with his other hand and lifted it to his lips. It’s nice to meet you too. Peri’s face and neck were warm and her breath was tight in her chest. She felt like fireflies were dancing along her veins, touching down to tickle her nerve endings in unexpected places. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to meet you when you arrived yesterday, he said. Do you have everything you need?

He still had her hand cupped in his and it was making it hard to think straight. Roswald? Why did that name sound familiar? She could see the outline of his abs against the tight cotton of his t-shirt. Of course, Roswald. That was the name of the family who owned this place. She breathed deeply to regain control but instead inhaled his pure masculine scent. She shook her head trying to clear it. Reluctantly she pulled her hand free. He had asked her a question; frantically she searched her mind for it and finally found it.

Yes thank you, everything is lovely. Although the master of the local riding stables is going to get a talking to. I specifically requested an English saddle.

I’ll get that fixed for you, he said and his smile was reflected in the golden flecks in his eyes.

There’s no need, Peri said, I can deal with him. Was everyone in this country going to treat her as if she couldn’t look after herself?

I’m sure you can but you are my guest so please allow me to correct the error.

He sounded genuine. Susie always said she had a chip on her shoulder and that she should learn to accept help graciously when it was offered. She decided there was no better time than now to start.

Thank you, I’d appreciate that.

He inclined his head in acknowledgement. The slight tilt somehow managed to give the impression of a full on bow. If she didn’t do something quickly she was going to make a fool of herself. Perhaps she had already. She turned back to the horse and continued rubbing him down.

Well it was nice to meet you Mr. Roswald but I must finish this grooming.

Samuel, he said.

She glanced up at him and then said, You can help if you like Samuel, and almost choked in surprise. She hadn’t known she was going to say that.

As much as I’d like to, horses don’t like me very much, he said.

He wasn’t wrong. Despite the fact that they had ridden long and hard enough for the horse to be sweating he appeared ready to bolt. Even scratching behind his ears didn’t relax him and that had never failed her in the past. She thought she knew how the horse felt. She liked to be in control but so far he had kept the upper hand in this entire conversation. It was time to correct that.

I’m not surprised they don’t like you the way you sneak up on them, she said keeping her eyes averted. Not looking at him made her feel more normal. Most people don’t like it either.

She sneaked a look back at him under cover of brushing the horse’s belly. His mouth was turned up in a small smile. He looked like he was trying to hold back a laugh. That was not the reaction she was hoping for. Men lost their wits around her, not the other way around. She straightened up and put her hands on her hips.

What’s so funny!

Not funny, delightful, he said.

Okay so what’s so delightful?

You, he said.

Her mouth dropped open. She was so used to throwing others off balance she had no idea what to do now the tables had been turned. Now he really was laughing and not bothering to hide it. He was