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  The Warrior Woman

  The Worlds Apart Series: Book Three

  Evelyn Lederman

  Copyright @ 2015 Evelyn Lederman

  All rights reserved

  ISBN-13: 978-0692387344

  ISBN-10: 069238734X

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Cover Design by Fiona Jayde Media

  Editing by Tina’s Editing Services

  Dedicated to my high school physical education instructor JoAnn Heindel. She graded based on attitude and drive, rather than just physical ability. JoAnn was my Candy. The idea of working with someone to bring out the best of their skills and let them enjoy the sport, what a concept!

  Acknowledgements:

  To my beta-readers. Katherine and Karen were my captives in Mexico, reading the book and acting as my grammar police. My sister, Alice, read the manuscript recovering from bronchitis. What a trooper!

  To my editor Tina, for her honesty.

  To cover artist, Fiona Jayde Media. Holy Cow! What a cover.

  Titles by Evelyn Lederman

  The Worlds Apart Series:

  ‘The Chameleon Soul Mate’

  ‘The Crystal Telepath’

  ‘The Warrior Woman’

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 1

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Gingko Terra/Earth

  Candy Phillips was going to kill her two best friends. She wasn’t sure how, but proficient in self-defense, she could inflict serious damage to the human body. Whatever method, it was going to have to be slow and deliberate. They were going to suffer as she had suffered the last two weeks. Her friends had vanished and she had been frantic. The Sedona police department was clueless related to what had happened.

  She had just purchased her third box of facial tissue since arriving in Sedona when Shirl called. Shirley Tomlinson, Shirl, disappeared while searching for their mutual friend Alexandra Mann.

  All three women had grown up together in a Phoenix orphanage and were closer than most biological sisters Candy knew. It hurt that Shirl had not even informed her of Alex’s disappearance. Candy had returned from taking her high school volleyball team to a tournament to find they were both missing. Candy had been crying non-stop since she arrived.

  She never cried.

  A feeling of abandonment she had not experienced since she was a little girl overwhelmed her. Last night she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her mind kept running horrible scenarios over and over again about what could have happened to her friends. Now, out of nowhere, Shirl called to request she meet her at a nearby restaurant. And that she not contact the local authorities. What kind of trouble had they gotten into?

  Candy pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. At three o’clock in the afternoon, plenty of spots were open. She stopped in a space on the far side of the building. Candy needed to cool down before she saw Shirl.

  Tears were once again flowing. She reached for the next box of tissues, pulled off the cardboard cover and grabbed a couple to blow her nose. She wasn’t sure if she was crying because she was furious or so relieved that she could now fall apart. Either way, the fountain of tears kept flowing.

  Candy had purchased a chocolate bar at the drug store as well. She tore off the wrapper and broke off a couple squares. If chocolate couldn’t make her feel better, nothing would. She popped a few pieces of the creamy, dark goodness into her mouth. Leaning her head against the headrest, she closed her eyes for a moment. After collecting herself, she was ready to confront her friend.

  There was not a doubt in her mind she looked a mess. Her eyes were probably swollen and her nose red from continual blowing. She needed to clean herself up before she met up with Shirl.

  She pulled the elastic from what was left of her ragged ponytail. Her hair was her one vanity. With all the sports she played, it would have been so much easier if she had cut it short. Instead, she let it grow past the small of her back. Maneuvering around the steering wheel, she quickly braided it then was as ready as she ever would be to re-unite with her friend.

  Slamming the car door had released some of her pent-up aggravation. It shouldn’t have felt so good to abuse her poor car. As she made her way to the entrance, she took several deep, cleansing breaths. The wooden door was heavier than it looked. She put more of her weight’s strength into opening it, one of the few advantages of being a big girl. The extra energy she expended further reduced her annoyance with Shirl.

  As she entered, her eyes were immediately drawn to a middle-aged man. He was very attractive with his sable-colored hair and light brown eyes. The gray wisps around his temples gave him a look of sophistication. She wasn’t normally attracted to older men, but this man was noteworthy.

  Her eyes basked in the sight of him; unfortunately her body did not respond in kind. In her twenty-two years, she had never reacted physically to another person. The man held her gaze for an instant and then directed his attention back to his drink. Candy felt a loss once the man looked away. It was a very weird reaction she had to a complete stranger.

  She needed to focus on the task at hand. Candy continued further into the restaurant looking for Shirl. She saw her at the rear of the room. A man she had never seen before was seated next to her. He had strawberry-blond curly hair and his body reflected someone who worked out regularly. The man fit with her friend, as no one had before. She’d had one outrageous thought after another since entering this establishment. What was wrong with her? Once again she chided herself. She needed to focus!

  Shirl looked up as Candy approached their table. A huge smile crossed her face. Shirl looked absolutely stunning. Her blond hair was pulled back from her face and her light brown eyes sparkled. Candy couldn’t remember a time her friend looked happier. Shirl stood and the two friends embraced. Candy felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing Shirl was all right. She hadn’t realized how lost she was not knowing where Shirl and Alex were.

  “Where the hell have you been?” Candy asked. Obviously, she wasn’t ready to let go of all her anger. She felt Shirl loosening her hold before returning to her seat and grabbing the hand of the man next to her.

  “There is so much I need to tell you,” Shirl replied. “This is Starc. He is my soul mate.” Candy would have laughed if anyone else had uttered those words. Shirl was not a starry-eyed princess who believed in fairy tales. She had said those words with a certainty Candy had never heard in Shirl’s voice. For the time being, she would go along with whatever Shirl said. When they were alone, she would cross-examine her friend.

  “It is nice to meet you, Candy. Shirl has told me all about you.” Starc had a baritone timbre to his tone. He had no discernible accent to place where he was from. But the man was gorgeous, that was for sure.

  “We should be going,” Shirl said as she stood. She came around the table ready to take Candy to God only knew where. Shirl wore a tunic with leggings and a copper bracelet Candy had never seen. At first glance, it
appeared to have multiple etchings on it.

  “What in the world are you wearing?” Candy blurted out. A number of responses played in Candy’s mind. None of them good. She examined her friend’s face and body, trying to identify any camouflaged bruises. Shirl was always self-conscious about her looks, unlike Alex who never worried about physical attributes.

  She had been so focused on Shirl, she had momentarily forgotten about her other missing friend. “Where is Alex?”

  “Do you trust me, Candy?” Shirl asked. Her friend was dancing around answering her question. It only fueled the suspicions growing in Candy’s mind. An uneasiness once again started to consume her.

  “Of course, I trust you,” Candy said in frustration. By some miracle, she was able to hold back her temper. “But you are beginning to scare me. I want to know where Alex is!”

  Shirl paled before her eyes. “I am sure Alex is fine. I need to show you something that will explain everything. Please trust me for the time being.”

  A pleading look shone in Shirl’s eyes. Shirl had never knowingly harmed a soul as far as Candy knew. When they were children, Shirl played the mother hen where she and Alex were concerned. Never in a million years would Shirl do anything to harm either of them. She’d put her faith in her friend.

  “This better be good,” she said under her breath. Candy did not like playing mental games. As with sports, she liked to see what was coming at her. Never take your eye off the ball was her mantra. Reluctantly she followed Shirl and Starc.

  Candy was steps away from the exit when she heard “good luck.” The words had not been uttered, she was sure of that. They came from within her mind, as if telepathically transmitted. She turned and the man she had seen when she first entered the restaurant was staring at her. He raised his glass, downed the contents, picked up his paper, and started to read. Before she had a chance to question what had just occurred, she was being herded into the back seat of an SUV. Two more strangers were in the front seat. Had she just been kidnapped by some kind of cult?

  Candy didn’t know if she should call for help or just play along. Shirl reached for her hand and held it for reassurance. That gesture calmed her nerves a bit. No one in the vehicle said a word. There was some nodding and a chuckle, almost as if the occupants were engaged in a conversation. Candy needed to relax and prepare herself for any eventuality. Shirl tightened her grip on her hand.

  The men in the front were wearing the same type of outfits Shirl and Starc wore, based on what little she could see. The blond driving had the same type of cuff bracelet Shirl wore. Candy glanced at Starc’s wrist. He too had on the same copper jewelry. Everyone wearing identical clothes and bracelets only confirmed Candy’s worst fears.

  If they were a cult, she decided to wait to make a move until she was with Alex. Alexandra was level headed, although she had once thought the same thing about Shirl. She and Alex would find a way to escape and head straight for the authorities. The fact Alex was not with them told Candy that Alex had not fallen for any of the malarkey Shirl had obviously swallowed.

  She felt the SUV slow just before it turned in to one of Boynton Canyon’s parking lots leading to the hiking trails. The same spot where Alex had disappeared, according to the police report she had read. Candy barely swallowed past the lump in her throat. Blood rushed through her veins as her pulse rate skyrocketed.

  Shirl bounded out of the SUV. She waved for her to follow. Fear momentarily paralyzed Candy. “Let’s go,” she thought she heard Shirl say, although her lips had not moved.

  She was in the middle of a nightmare. That’s why she was hearing things not being spoken. Candy would wake up shortly and find herself in her hotel room. This was just another scenario juggling in her mind.

  “We mean you no harm, Candy,” the man with short black hair and lovely greenish-brown eyes said. He stood just outside the vehicle door Starc had exited. “Some things have to be witnessed to be believed. If I told you who we are and where we are from, you would not believe me. Have you ever seen Shirl look so healthy?” Candy was not sure how to take his reassuring words.

  Candy shifted in the back seat and looked at Shirl with a critical eye. Her friend had been suffering debilitating headaches and looked terrible the last time she had seen her. Today Shirl was the poster child for health.

  She slid across the seat and exited the SUV. Candy stood next to her friend to get a better look. There were no circles under her eyes or stress lines across her forehead. Her eyes were clear and bright. “How are you feeling, Shirl?” Candy asked suspiciously.

  “I have not had a headache since I left,” Shirl said. She had not clarified where she had been since she had vanished off the face of the Earth. Once again she decided to take her friend at her word and follow them to wherever they were holding Alex.

  The tall slender man with sun-bleached hair who had been driving the car approached. “My name is Darden. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. The man who addressed you earlier is Tarsea. Walk alongside me as we make our way up the trail.”

  He stepped to the side and extended his arm, indicating for her to join him. Taking one last look around, she realized no other hikers were visible. Candy reluctantly edged closer to Darden. Starc and Shirl led the way, while Tarsea brought up the rear. There was nothing threatening in how they moved or behaved. But Candy pulled on her self-defense training and mentally prepared herself for any aggressive move on their part.

  The canyon was absolutely beautiful, but she was too uptight to enjoy her surroundings. Sedona was one of the loveliest places on Earth and it was all lost on her at that moment.

  They had walked for twenty minutes when Shirl and Starc stopped. Her friend turned and Candy noticed Shirl’s amethyst was glowing. Candy reached out and touched the crystal, bringing a huge smile to Shirl’s face. Then Candy noted that Darden and Starc had gems around their necks, also glowing.

  “I am a crystal telepath, Candy,” Shirl explained. She took Candy’s hand and walked with her to a spot on the trail where the air shimmered. “Our late parents came from another universe, parallel to the one that exists in our reality. My mother was the crystal telepath who navigated the portal to bring our parents here. Unfortunately the pollution caused by burning fossil fuels destroyed their telepathic brains before they could escape this world. The headaches I was experiencing would have eventually killed me. I have no headaches in the Troyk universe. Let me take you to your true home, Candy.”

  At first Candy did not know what to make of the incredible story Shirl had spun. The words rang true, but how that was possible was beyond her comprehension.

  Candy stood before the portal, dumbstruck. Shirl’s healthy demeanor and the air displacement in front of her were not figments of her imagination. Her friend had read everything she could on string theory and alternate universes, but Candy never believed that crap. Now, the evidence was right in front of her and she had problems wrapping her brain around the fact it was all true. Or maybe she was right all along and she was dreaming. This could not be reality.

  “What about Alex?” Candy inquired. Even with the overwhelming evidence before her eyes about the existence of multiple dimensions, Candy could not let go of her concern for their absent friend. Could Alex have been pulled into one of these event horizons and ended up God knows where? Had she literally vanished off the face of the Earth?

  “I am sure Alex is fine where she is,” Shirl answered. Candy did not like the vagueness of her friend’s reply. “Your headaches will start soon, if they have not already. You are two years younger than I am and my headaches started about the age you are now. This world is a death sentence for us if we stay. Our life expectancy here is twenty-five years, if we are lucky.” Shirl took Candy’s hand and squeezed it. The little girl she once was knew she needed to follow Shirl wherever she led. “We can walk through the portal together.”

  Candy was still absorbing the existence of the portal and parallel universes. It was true, she was starting to get
headaches. If in fact she was dreaming, what harm would it do to go through the portal? She tightened her grasp on her friend’s hand indicating her consent.

  The men entered the portal first. Candy took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped in alongside her friend.

  Chapter 2

  The Troyk Universe

  Candy stepped onto solid ground. It felt like she had walked through a revolving door. There had been a small gust of wind before she opened her eyes. They were on a mountainside trail looking down on a city built of mauve-colored stone. What distinguished this from any trail on Earth was the purple sky.

  Loud male voices broke through her near-obsessed brain checking out this new universe. The three men she had traveled with were arguing with two men farther down the trail. Candy noticed Shirl was alongside the men contributing to the words exchanged. Shirl had always been such an agreeable girl; if Shirl had ever raised her voice, the time did not come readily to Candy’s memory. Whatever they were arguing about must have been very personal to her friend.

  “I told Jeryl Jarlyn I would bring Candy to him as soon as she assimilated to her new home,” Shirl said as she stabbed her finger into the chest of a good-looking brown haired man. Candy had never seen Shirl take such an aggressive stance. “She needs to build her telepathic abilities before she is exposed to any type of mind control. I do not want her to experience the bleeding I went through the first time I had an audience with the Prime Ruler.”

  The topic of blood shook Candy. Why had Shirl bled? As far as she could see, her friend looked great. She took a couple of steps closer to where the discussion was taking place.

  “My orders were quite clear, Shirl,” the man replied. “We followed you up the trail shortly after you left. We have been waiting for your return ever since. Our Prime Ruler is anxious to meet the woman who could possibly be his granddaughter.”

  “Raine Narmouth, I would not let you within two feet of my friend after what you did to Alexia.” Shirl was in the man’s face as she yelled. Although she had no idea what was going on, Candy could not help but to be impressed with this new side of Shirl’s personality.