Page 3 of Saving Dakota

CHAPTER TWO

"Kass is keeping the guy busy at the Café, and he wants us to go through his motel room and see what we can find," Raul said as he grabbed his phone and the keys to his vehicle.

“Take Eli with you for now and I’ll catch up with you. I’m on a call with Caleb from Toledo regarding the disappearance of that young vampire they’ve been holding for observation. He thinks the guy might be headed in our direction.” Terrance explained.

“The one who was infected by some sort of blood witchery?”

“Yes, that’s the one.”

"That's all we need." Raul drawled sarcastically. He gave Terrance the room number at the Starlight Motel and said he'd see him there, so he left. Terrance finished his call about fifteen minutes later and headed to the motel. It was odd that Kass wanted a stranger's room searched simply because he was a stranger in town. He trusted the man implicitly, but the whole thing was smacking of prejudice, and he hoped that wasn't the case.

They were miffed because the guy wouldn't give them his name or answer their questions. Terrance hoped they would find something that would provide them with a reason for this search. He was surprised to see Raul, Eli, and Lawson standing outside the unit, looking decidedly perplexed.

“What’s wrong?”

"Not sure, but none of us have been able to enter the room." Raul spoke up.

"What do you mean?" Terrance walked up to them, and Raul gave him a demonstration. He had already disengaged the locking mechanism, so he tried to open the door, but it would not give. The more Raul pressed, the more resistance was built. Then Eli tried, and Lawson, and neither of them could open an unlocked door.

Terrance looked through the window as best he could to try and see if something was blocking the door. “I looked from the bathroom window which gives a clear view of the door and there is nothing blocking the door.” Terrance said with a shake of his head. “It’s got to be something mystical.”

“I knew it.” Lawson erupted. “He’s some sort of fucking mystic.”

“What’s his name?” Terrance asked.

"Dakota Winters," Lawson stated with contempt. "I got that from the waitress at the café. He's hiding something because he flatly refused to give us his name."

“If he was hiding, he wouldn't have given his name to the waitress. I think he just doesn't like you, Lawson." Terrance pinned him with a knowing stare. "What do you have against the guy?"

"He's a cocky bastard," Lawson admitted, and everyone gave a chuckle in response.

"Well, we can't allow that now, can we," Raul added with sarcasm and an eye roll.

"I'm going to call the Sheriff and let him know it's a bust. It'll take another mystic to break this spell, or whatever it is he's using." Lawson was on his call when Terrance walked up and opened the door. It swung inward with ease at his touch.

Everyone stood still and watched as Terrance took a tentative step inside the room. The others approached, but Terrance waved them back. For whatever reason, he was being allowed inside the room, and he didn’t want their presence to ruin it.

Terrance stood in the center of the room and looked around. The scene was native and powerful. Dakota Winters’ protections were directly linked to the elements, and he should not have been able to walk in because such protections were ancient and absolute and yet he was allowed inside. As he glanced around the room the mood settled into his heart, and it was beautiful.

Then he took a deep breath, and the truth fell upon his senses. The limits and barriers that Dakota had erected did not apply to him. His power did not affect Terrance. The reasoning for that fact filled his heart and mind and a warmth spread through him affecting him mentally, emotionally and physically.

"He's a sorcerer." Lawson burst out, eager to accuse.

Terrance shook his head. "He's Native American, as I'm sure you're well aware, and he is being protected by a skillful Shaman." Terrance took another deep breath, taking in the heady and thick aroma of sweetgrass and honey, the amazing scent of his beloved.

This stranger in town was his beloved. The realization was a shocker and explained why he was able to open the door. The universe knew their connection and placed no barriers between them. Terrance turned and left, closing the door behind him.

"Why is he here?" Raul asked as Lawson tried opening the door, but once again, it would not open for him.

“Why did the door open for you?” Lawson cut into the conversation.

“He is searching for someone, and his search has led him to Mt. Pleasant.” Terrance stated and then turned to Lawson, but he wasn’t ready to make his announcement so simply shrugged as a response to his question and left it there.

"The fact that he's native is obvious, but what about the shaman angle? Is he dangerous?" Lawson was still searching for a villain in the piece.

"I doubt he's dangerous to us, but he's focused and determined from what I felt in that room." Terrance continued to keep it basic and cool, not ready to make any real declarations regarding the man. He needed to meet him and talk to him. "Where is he now?"

"Sheriff Keller was talking to him at the café, and then he arranged to have him followed when he left. The last report had him at the library."

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