"You can be in love with someone, Ricah, without making love."

"It isn't the same," Erica groaned. "It's pointless to talk about this. I don't have time to deal with your jealousy or even to think about making love."

"Maybe you should. It might give you added strength," Ana's words came out slowly. "Unexpressed pa.s.sion is deadly. Look what it did to me - and to us - " Ana closed her eyes.

"Guilt is as deadly as unexpressed pa.s.sion." Erica replied.

"Si, but I cannot forgive myself for what I did to us." Ana squared her shoulders. "You'll never capture what we had together-with her."

Erica raked her hands through her damp hair. "You mean what you threw away?" Seeing Ana's face go pale Erica softened her tone. "Ana, Tayler is my only hope. I want so badly to believe that she possesses the power to beat Raven. She's survived three attempts so far." Erica took a deep breath. "Yes, I've fallen in love with her, and I want all of us to survive this ordeal. And when Halloween pa.s.ses and if I'm still alive, I just want to love her."

"I've brought you such sadness." Ana traced the veins in Erica's hand. "I will burn in h.e.l.l for what I've done."

Erica got down on her knees and wrapped her arms around Ana. "I won't ever forget what we had."

"I am a fool - " Ana sighed her eyes filling with tears. "How I wish our love could set you free, but Raven gave us no choice. She should have claimed my heart like she did Patricia Locksley's."

The breeze stopped blowing while a cloud pa.s.sed over the sun. The ocean suddenly looked angry to Erica. "Time is running out," Erica bit her lip. "We need to concentrate on what we're going to do."

Ana took Erica in her arms and kissed her forehead. The cloud pa.s.sed. The sun reappeared restoring the morning's warmth.

"We'll find a way, Ricah, I promise." Ana raised Erica's face and stared into Erica's eyes for a long time before speaking. "Hallow's Eve will come and go, but the love I hold for you in my heart is forever. Forever."

Erica's tears dripped on to Ana's white blouse. "I hated what you did, but love is stronger than hate. Ana, I've never stopped loving you. I want you to believe that."

"I do." Out of the corner of her eye, Ana caught a glimpse of Tayler moving back into the shadows. She let go of Erica and gestured in the direction of the corridor.

Erica returned to her chair and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"Good morning, Tayler, come sit down. Are you ready for breakfast?" Ana tried to ease the awkwardness.

Tayler sat down across from Erica and next to Ana. She looked briefly toward Erica, then looked down quickly, choosing to stare in the coffee cup Ana had placed before her. "I, um, didn't mean to interrupt."

"You didn't," Ana offered.

Erica stood. "If the two of you will excuse me, I think I'll go lie down and try and get some sleep."

"Won't you at least try to eat something?" Ana's coaxing had little effect. "You need your strength."

"I'll join you for lunch." Erica's voice softened. She turned toward Tayler. "Would you like to go for a swim in the ocean this afternoon?"

"I'd love to," Tayler replied. When Erica disappeared down the corridor she looked at Ana. "Is she okay?"

"Si," Ana removed the silver chain from around her neck. On it hung a small pyramid-shaped crystal with a midnight blue dagger in the center. She handed it to Tayler. "While you're here I'd like you to wear this. Whatever you do, please don't take it off."

"What is it for?" Tayler peered at the crystal with fascination.

"It's for your protection," Ana quickly replied. Her voice was a whisper.

"Protection from - "

"Erica."

Tayler's hand shook as she tried to clasp the chain.

Thirteen.

Tayler dug her fingernails into the seat fabric in the open Jeep. The long, rutted road was made from old tire tracks leading to the ocean in a choppy, zigzag pattern. With her seatbelt securely fastened, she held on to the safety bar, trying to take in the sights, but the bouncing Jeep made her view fuzzy.

It seemed strange to Tayler that Ana would warn her about Erica and then allow them to go to the beach alone. But then, Ana seemed to be a woman of polar behaviors. Her love for Erica was obvious, but to Tayler, it bordered on a possessiveness she didn't care for. Ana was an enigma. Her wealth and charm were mixed with a strong undercurrent of arrogance. Her beauty was undeniable, but it was her sensuality that took Tayler's breath away. Tayler found herself contemplating what it would be like to be Ana's lover.

She closed her eyes.

"I love this drive," Erica's voice cut into Tayler's thoughts. "The view is so spectacular."

Tayler opened her eyes and struggled to raise her voice over the wind in the open Jeep. "I'm glad Ana hasn't sold out to greedy developers looking to turn this oasis into condominium heaven."

Erica leaned toward Tayler. "This land means too much to Ana," she glanced at Tayler, smiled and turned her gaze back to the winding dirt road before them.

"Are we almost there?"

"Just over this sand dune," Erica shouted. "Hang on."

The Jeep flew over the sand.

Tayler held on to the safety bar while she watched Erica expertly maneuver the Jeep. Erica's appearance was wild. Her shoulder length, black hair whipped around in the wind, her expression one of bound determination.

When the Jeep finally came to a halt, Tayler jumped out and raced to the edge of the water. The waves created ripples of fine, two-toned sand, a pattern that reminded her of pine trees in Minnesota. The beach was devoid of stones and sh.e.l.ls but was occasionally dotted with tracks left by sand crabs. The turquoise waters of the Pacific sucked at her feet, pulling her in deeper.

Tayler spread her arms out wide. "Ana owns all this?"

"Si, twenty miles of private sh.o.r.eline." Erica stood near the Jeep and watched Tayler absorb the peaceful surroundings. She unloaded two lounge chairs and a bag.

"Wow, this is great! And to think we don't have to fight the crowd for a place in the sand." Tayler walked back to the Jeep and helped Erica with the chairs. "You were right, this is paradise."

Tayler sought the water again. The waves engulfed her ankles and the sand rushed between her toes. Again, she could feel the ocean's mighty force pulling her into the water. Such potent strength amazed and humbled Tayler. The power of nature was something she respected. In all its natural splendor and violence, Tayler found a simple truth -beauty and harm have always existed together.

She turned toward Erica wanting to share her thoughts, but her breath stopped in her throat. From the water's edge, Tayler watched Erica slowly remove the top of her bikini.

Here lies the beauty, she thought, but if her simple insight held, harm was certainly not far behind. Tayler looked up and down the sh.o.r.eline but saw no signs of danger. The sun took the wind's breath away causing the temperature to sit at a humid 95.

Erica's body seemed to have been painted and brought to life by an artist's hand. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were full with nipples the same reddish-brown color of her lips. In the sunlight, against the vibrant color of her teal bikini bottom, her skin shimmered. The silver bracelet on her forearm sparkled in the sun and her eyes were hidden behind dark sungla.s.ses. Tayler wondered if the silver bracelet was Erica's attempt to hide the knife's gash from the first attempt.

Tayler walked back to her things and began to unfold her chair. Satisfied with the arrangement, she bent over and pulled her beach cover-up over her head. The pendant and silver necklace Ana had given her caught on the material and ended up behind her neck. Just as she was about to turn it to the front, she heard Erica ask, "Would you mind putting some lotion on my back, please?" Erica turned over on to her stomach.

"Sure - " Tayler dropped her hands to her side. She sat down on the edge of Erica's chair and placed a generous amount of lotion in her hands. Tayler hesitated, biting her bottom lip.

"I promise not to bite," Erica said in a teasing tone. Then she growled. "At least not yet."

With rapid strokes, Tayler spread the lotion on Erica's skin, but as it began to soak in, and her awkwardness turned to confidence, Tayler slowed her movements. She slid her hands over Erica's shoulder blades and down her back. She touched every curve and muscle, working in the lotion. An intense heat radiated off Erica's skin sending chills down Tayler's spine.

Unexpectedly, Erica turned over. Surprised by her sudden predicament, Tayler hands foolishly hovered above Erica's chest.

Erica picked up the bottle and poured lotion into Tayler's hands. She then brought them to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Slowly and gently, she guided Tayler's palms and fingers. The clean fragrance flowed through Tayler's senses.

Tayler looked down at Erica, but with her eyes hidden behind sungla.s.ses, all Tayler could see was her own reflection. She averted her eyes to the mountains off in the distance, feeling like an inept teenager.

Erica raised her chair up a notch. "You have very strong fingers. Do you play an instrument?"

"Piano - " Tayler's voice cracked. G.o.d, I sound like I'm going through p.u.b.erty, she thought.

Erica removed her gla.s.ses. Her eyes were a light brown in the sunlight. "Will you play for me sometime?"

"It would be my pleasure - " Tayler held her breath when she felt Erica's fingers gently roll over her own b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She closed her eyes, feeling herself being pulled down.

Their kiss was timid at first, like two dolphins playfully dancing in the waves. But the softness of Erica's lips washed over Tayler like the tide. A force as great as the ocean's current pulled her deeper and deeper into Erica. Tayler sunk to her knees kissing Erica's smile and then the dimple on each side of her mouth. Lightly, so very lightly, Tayler bit Erica's bottom lip.

"I never said I wouldn't bite," Tayler whispered in Erica's ear. When she heard a growl deep in Erica's throat she laughed. Tayler bent her head and kissed Erica's neck down to the hollow and ran her tongue over the spot, tasting the salt on Erica's hot skin. Light-headed and dazed, Tayler returned to Erica's mouth. Her body sank with a desire that didn't have a need for air.

She marveled at the strength in Erica's hands as they caressed her shoulders and back. She couldn't believe the sensations the tides of pa.s.sion brought as they crested over her. Her hands gripped the steel frame of the lounge chair wanting so badly to dive in and feel the rush of pent-up fervor.

Erica's fingers circled around Tayler's shoulders and up to her neck. Deftly she untangled Tayler's necklace and brought the pendant to the front. Her hands dropped to her side. She sat up, pushing Tayler away.

"From Ana?" In the intense sunlight Erica's voice was ice cold.

Tayler tried to catch her breath. "Yes."

"You don't need to be afraid, Tayler, I won't touch you anymore." Erica stood and threw on a matching teal cover-up.

"But I want you to touch me," Tayler sat back on her heels trembling. Arousal and fear crashed against her heart. When Erica didn't respond, Tayler whispered, "I've no reason to be afraid of you, and no one has told me why I need to be protected from you."

"Ana has her reasons," Erica looked at Tayler. Her eyes were dark.

"I don't understand."

"Let's go for a swim," Erica began walking toward the water.

Tayler continued to kneel in the sand trying to hold back the tears. She closed her eyes tight wanting her body to cease its shaking from pure arousal and naked abandonment.

I have no right, kissing Erica. She is Ana's lover. Tears stung her eyes and her lips trembled. Guilt ebbed into a sudden wave of anger. How did I get myself into this? Tears dripped to the corner of her lips. She could taste only salt. Loneliness shrouded over her like a dark cloud.

A noise nearby made Tayler open her eyes. She found Erica standing before her. Drops of water slipped off her body and made a pool in the sand. Her nose and eyes were red.

"I'm sorry, Tayler, it's nothing you've done..." Erica's voice broke. "I'm so sorry."

Tayler shook her head and sat on the vacated lounge chair.

"Tayler?"

She looked up and gazed at Erica for a long moment. "I don't understand you, Erica. You touch me and then you push me away. You give me answers only to create more questions. You disappear without a word and reappear without a sound. I look for clarification, but find only confusion. One minute you kiss me and hold me and the next you slap me and let me go. Ana warns me about you and then lets me come to the beach with you - alone. And you won't tell me why you brought me here even though I'm somehow involved in this mysterious caper," Tayler took a breath, holding back on the questions she really wanted to ask. Instead, she resisted the urge to attack and said, "If wearing this necklace is so offensive to you, then I'll just take it off." She began to unclasp the chain.

"Tayler, no," Erica stopped Tayler's hands. She knelt next to the chair. "Please keep it on."

"Why? Does it have magical powers?" Tayler's face was red. "Will it keep the danger away? Will it help me understand the situation I'm in?"

"Yes," Erica said, crying. "It will protect you."

"But I'm not afraid of you, Erica. I'm not afraid of weirdoes or the threatening letters they send."

Erica's eyes were wide with horror. "What threatening letters? Did you receive threatening letters?"

Tayler waved her hand. "I'm exaggerating. There was only one."

"When did you receive it?"

Tayler could see the vein pulsating in Erica's neck. "The day of the luncheon."

"What did it say?"

"Oh, it just said something about the flames being hot and a gift of black to kill the fool." Tayler felt like she had sand in her throat. "It was just nonsense. Someone's poor attempt at poetry."

Erica shook her head. "Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"Because I didn't think it was important. Don't forget that I periodically get threats when I write about topics that don't fall in sync with some reader's opinion."

"We'd better tell Ana," Erica stood and began gathering their belongings.

"Erica," Tayler reached for her, "you promised me we were going to spend the afternoon at the beach. Can't we stay?" Tayler removed the towel from Erica's hand. "We can tell Ana at dinner."

"Will you promise me you'll keep the necklace on?" Erica searched Tayler's eyes.

"I promise." Tayler stood. "Now, can we go for a swim?"

Erica nodded and led Tayler to the ocean.

They played in the tepid water for thirty minutes under the blazing sun. Tired, Erica excused herself and went to relax on her lounge chair. A half hour later, Tayler came out of the water to show Erica her collected ocean treasures. When she drew closer, she noticed Erica was sound asleep. Too restless to sit, Tayler decided to take a walk along the beach.

Still reeling from Erica's extreme moods, Tayler's thoughts were confused. She wanted answers and she wanted Erica to explain. What did Erica and Ana know about the attempts? Did they know who was behind them ? What was Ana really protecting her from ? And, while she was at it, Tayler thought, why was she brought to Puerto Arista?

"I guess I'll just have to take Ana aside after dinner and ask her for an explanation," Tayler stated to the ocean.

The cry of a seagull brought her back to her surroundings. She stopped and looked back, but could see neither the Jeep nor Erica. The curving of the sh.o.r.eline blocked her view, and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks filled her ears. She peered at the terrain on her right and glimpsed a large opening to a cave. She walked toward it.