As a child, Tayler and her father explored many caves. He had an obsession with them. She remembered the cave she had seen on an island off the sh.o.r.e of Mazatlan. The tour guide had called it "Pirate's Cove" because it had been used to store stolen treasure.

"Be very cautious when approaching a cave," her father had warned her. "Search for tracks and listen for the sounds of possible inhabitants."

She remembered asking him why.

"Caves are places that offer both refuge and entrapment." When he realized she wasn't following him, he explained. "If an animal or reptile needs a place to rest, caves provide the shelter. But, if that same animal or reptile feels trapped in the cave, they will strike out at the intruder."

Heeding his advice, Tayler cautiously walked to the entrance and peered into the cave. It took several minutes for her eyes to adjust to the dark interior. An opening in the ceiling of the cave provided a ray of natural light. The cave was large enough to comfortably shelter a dozen people. She stepped inside and followed the stream of light to the floor.

From inside the cave she could hear the m.u.f.fled sounds of waves. .h.i.tting the rocks. An iguana the size of a large rat scurried by her. Tayler jumped back smacking her head on a low boulder.

Light-headed, she sat down and leaned against the wall. The cave swirled around in her dizziness and nausea. She held her head in her hands to stop the spinning. She tried to take in several deep breaths of air to calm her nerves and stomach. Minutes pa.s.sed before Tayler could finally close her eyes. The spinning and nausea gradually ceased. She opened her eyes.

The dark figure of a woman stood in the opening of the cave.

"Erica!" Tayler whispered, her voice gone. "Erica!"

The woman did not move but continued to stand in the shadows near the entrance. She was taller and broader than Erica. The light behind the woman made it impossible to identify her.

Tayler's heart raced with rising panic. "Who are you?"

There was no reply.

The woman bent down and picked up a handful of dirt and started walking slowly toward Tayler. Tayler inched her way along the wall going deeper into the cave's depths. When the woman reached the spot where the light streamed in from the opening in the cave, she stopped. The blade of a knife glimmered in the light. The woman's green eyes glowed eerily in the shadows. In a moment of clarity, Tayler knew she was face-to-face with the woman who had attacked her at her pool.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Tayler gasped.

Her questions were answered with the sound of laughter. Tayler covered her ears in response to the shrieking. The woman snapped her wrist back catching the light on the nine inch blade.

"Tayler, Tayler, where are you?" The sound of Erica's voice stopped the woman and she turned toward the opening. Erica's voice came from somewhere nearby. "Tayler, where are you?"

"In here," Tayler squeaked.

The woman turned back toward Tayler. Raising her arm high above her head, she sent the knife flying. It whizzed through the air with a hissing sound.

Tayler ducked, but the knife was overthrown and harmlessly hit a rock two feet away. She collapsed on the floor of the cave too stunned to get up.

"Tayler, where are you?" Erica called. She stood at the entrance out of breath. Guided by the light in the cave, she rushed to Tayler's side. "Are you hurt?" Erica knelt down and helped Tayler sit up.

"Did you see her," Tayler's choked. Her hands shook uncontrollably.

"Who?"

"The.. .woman.. .it was her," she repeated, "the.. .woman..."

"What woman, Tayler?"

" The one who... attacked... me - "

"Let's get you out of here," Erica helped Tayler stand. "Can you make it?"

Tayler nodded.

Clothes flew haphazardly into suitcases. Viewing the chaos, Tayler realized she'd never get all of her belongings packed, so she slowed down and began to methodically fold her things. Nearly finished, she glanced up at the little crystal shrine in her room. She walked over to it lost in thought. Tears fell down her sunburned cheeks.

A knock on the door was followed by Ana's voice. "Tayler, may I come in?"

"It's open."

Ana walked in, eyeing the suitcases. "Marina told me you're not having dinner with us, but it appears you are leaving. No?"

"You're a wonderful hostess, Ana," Tayler said without turning, "but I've got to get out of here."

Ana placed her hand on Tayler's shoulder and turned her around. "I don't want you to leave," Ana spoke softly. When the sobs came, Ana took Tayler in her arms.

"I don't understand what's happening. Someone's trying to kill me and I know it has something to do with Erica. But she won't talk to me about it." Tayler said between sobs. "I thought I wanted to know what was going on, but now I think I'm better off away from here and her."

Ana led Tayler to the bed and they sat down. "But what about your love for her?"

Tayler threw Ana a glance, then quickly looked away. Her lips quivered.

"True emotions are difficult to hide."

"But you and Erica are together - "

"No," Ana took Tayler's hand. "Erica and I were once lovers-years and years ago. Now she is my dearest friend."

Tayler looked at Ana, opened her mouth to respond, but was stopped by the depth of sadness she saw in Ana's eyes.

"She needs you."

"Oh, Ana, she needs you, she doesn't need me."

Ana arched her eyebrow, her gaze never leaving Tayler's eyes.

Tayler looked down at her hands. "I don't know what to think, Ana. I've never encountered anyone like Erica before. And I've never been good with people who withhold information. She's driving me crazy."

"Tayler, listen. We are all caught in a horrible and deadly situation. Unknowingly, you are involved in this situation, too. To make things more complicated, you've fallen in love with a woman who could kill you."

"What?" Tayler's eyes widened.

"You've had a difficult day, amiga. I think it best that you rest. Tomorrow I will explain."

"No, wait, I-"

"Please, Tayler." Ana held up her hand. "Try to get some sleep. Things will be clearer once your mind and body have had time to relax."

"But-"

"Tayler, you've got to trust me." Ana stood.

"Ana, wait." Tayler stood up. "Did Erica tell you about the woman in the cave?"

"Si, she said you saw someone -a woman."

"I know she's the same person who attacked me in Minneapolis." Tayler searched Ana's face. "Luckily, she's not very good with a knife."

Ana paused. "On the contrary, she's very deadly with a knife -and with fire and snakes." She turned her head toward the crystal shrine. "If she missed, it's because she was trying to scare you."

"Oh, G.o.d," Tayler sat down in a chair. "Well, she did a d.a.m.ned good job."

"Where is the knife?"

"In the cave. We didn't think to get it," Tayler's eyes were wide with fear. "Ana, you know who this woman is, don't you?"

"Si." The crystal began to spin furiously. Ana waved her hand and the spinning stopped. "Her name is Raven."

"What's her issue with me? I don't even know her!" Tayler cheeks burned. She swallowed hard.

Ana leaned against the foot board, perspiration dotting her forehead. She walked to the door.

"Tayler, I know you don't understand what's going on, but I'll explain everything to you tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll have a tray brought up for you." Before closing the door, Ana added, "Rest, Tayler. Raven will not try anything more tonight."

The cave was dark and musty. Waves outside crashed against the rocks creating a constant thunder in the decayed interior. With her fingertips, Tayler gently guided herself along the dim pa.s.sage. She lit a small candle and used its tiny light to find her way, but despite its help, she wandered aimlessly down long, curving tunnels.

The cold damp air in the cave made her shiver and her eyes burned with fatigue. When she came upon a lit pa.s.sage, she blew out the candle and followed along until it spilled into a large cavern. The floor was littered with sparkling crystal pieces. A current of cold air snaked through the cavern and Tayler wrapped her arms around her body for warmth. Her hands were like ice.

Pieces of crystal clinked under her bare feet. The jagged points poked into her skin and the ground began to tremble. Tayler lost her balance. Exhausted, she laid her body on the dirt floor and surrendered.

"Go back, Tayler," Ana called out. "You must get out."

Tayler looked around and saw Erica standing at the opening in her teal bikini bottoms. "You can't touch me, Tayler, if you do you'll die."

"But I want to touch you. Please Erica," Tayler cried but Erica vanished into the shadows.

A strange light appeared at the opening. Fog drifted in and swirled around the cavern. Tayler shivered from the sudden blast of cold air. Out of the fog came a darkly clothed woman. Her skin was very pale.

"Tayler," the woman's voice was just above a whisper. "Tayler."

"Are you the Raven?" Tayler backed up against the wall.

"Raven, Raven, Raven," the name echoed in the cave.

"What do you want from me?" Tayler was shaking.

The woman stood directly in front of her. Her eyes were green and her eyeteeth were white and pointed - like fangs.

"I want you," came the reply.

The strange woman picked up a handful of dirt and began to throw it over Tayler.

"Ana," Tayler screamed.

"You have no choice."

Tayler tried to brush the dirt away, but it wouldn't come off. "No!" Tayler yelled.

"Kiss me, Tayler. Kiss me and the world is yours." Raven's laughter resonated in the hollowness.

"No!"

Raven's face contorted with anger. "You will kiss me and then I will destroy you." Her cold hands grabbed Tayler by the shoulders and fiercely shook her.

"No, no - " Tayler struggled against the cold hands.

"Tayler," Erica's voice rang through the fog. "Tayler, wake up. You're dreaming."

"Help me." Tayler sobbed.

"It's only a dream, darling, open your eyes," Erica coaxed.

Tayler's eyes fluttered open. Upon seeing Erica she sat up quickly and clung to her. Through her tears she saw Ana standing next to the bed. Ana's forehead was creased and her lips were drawn into a line.

"What time is it?" Tayler shivered.

"It's midnight," Ana replied. She walked across the room to shut the balcony doors, which had been blown open by the wind.

"Are you all right?" Erica asked. She smoothed the damp hair away from Tayler's eyes.

"She was in my dream -Raven."

Erica stared at Tayler and then looked at Ana.

"It wasn't a dream, was it?" Tayler demanded.

"No, not really." Ana turned and looked at the crystals. They were spinning.

"She was going to kill me," Tayler whispered.

"How? Did she say?" Erica asked.

"Dirt. She picked up some dirt from the floor of the cave, like she did this afternoon. But in the dream she sprinkled it over me. I tried to brush it off, but I couldn't."

"The fourth element." Ana said. She looked directly at Tayler. "Tayler, this is important. What did she say exactly?"

"I just want to forget this, please don't make me- "

"Tayler, it's important. What did Raven say to you?"