Rebel Heart (25 page)

He laughed huskily, and again the sound of it swept through her. "You can try," he assured her. He rummaged through the basket, finding a loaf of bread and some cheese, then helped himself, and offered some to her.

"But if you do tonight, then you'll find yourself in the hands of Morray and you shall have no other chance to escape him."

She pushed the bread away and stood defiantly.

He laughed again. "I hope I never again have to do a favor for anyone. You do try my soul, Victoria DeMontville, and test my patience beyond my limit."

"You're impossible."

"Whatever you say," he replied softly. "I've laid the blankets out. You're welcome to try to get some sleep. You may need it tomorrow." He came closer to her, and she felt his whisper as his mouth lowered close to her. "If Morray finds us, and I pray he doesn't, we still have a long road ahead of us. Make the most of the rest you can get now. If you thought the ride was wild last night, you haven't enjoyed the thrill I can give you if Morray comes close."

She stared at him hard.

"Well, if you don't want to go sleep, then perhaps you can stand guard and I'll sleep."

"Fine." She was heading for the mouth of the cave before he could finish the sentence, smiling as she walked across the rocky floor toward the sunshine and freedom.

"Have a nice rest," she said sweetly, just before reaching the opening.

A low menacing growl followed her. Then she was swept into his arms and quickly deposited on the hastily made pallet.

She glared at him then pulled the covers high, knowing escape was not a viable alternative. She was asleep in an amazingly short time....

Nessa

Hamia nuzzled into Nessa’s cheek, growling low in her throat, a warning to Nessa to wake. She rolled over, sitting up and absently patting her dog on the head then rubbing her eyes. She tried to shake the sleepy fog lolling around in her head.

Sirens blared startling Nessa. Quickly she threw her legs over the side of the bed and raced to the window.

Quentin Morray.

She peered out her window just in time to see her twin rushing into the woods with someone she didn't recognize.

"Shoot him." She heard Morray yelling to his men. "Don't let them get away. Go on, down the stairs to the gliders."

Her heart thundered beneath her ribs. She swept her hair from her face and gazed out into the darkness, willing the winds to rise. She heard a muffled sound and the stirring of a breeze from the north.

Winds of the earth watch over Victoria. See that she arrives safely wherever she is headed.

Give them a sheltered ride.

She turned her attention to the moment at hand. Once Morray finished chasing Tori, he would come to her. She must prepare for him. "Hamia, come."

Nessa strode into her office and sat down. With a few touches to the controls, her computer hummed to life. She navigated through different pages to come up with the one she wanted.

"Blocked."

Not again. She entered some more numbers and letters, realigned the page and brought up the tracker beams. This was a battle she intended to win, had to win. Tori's and the mysterious stranger’s lives were at stake.

Disabled.

She was better than Morray's computer man. Yet she stayed at the computer waiting in case he managed to block her again. Over the next hour it was a running battle. Who would outsmart the other? The tracker beams were off. Morray's gliders were flying blind.

He was good, she gave him credit. Minutes passed, then an hour went by and the beams remained jammed.

Nessa was sure she didn't have much time before Morray would make an angry appearance in her rooms. He would know she was behind the disabling of the beams. But she had provided a window of opportunity for her sister to escape. And she wondered who it was she escaped with. The Phantom perhaps, or was he just a myth conjured in her and her sister's imagination.

The banging on her door brought her back from her musings. She would have to answer to Morray. But she didn't really have to admit to anything. The deed accomplished, there was no way to go back.

Slowly opening the door, Nessa peeked around the corner and was immediately bowled over by Morray's men. Morray following at a discreet distance and behind him the priestess.

"What have you done to the tracker beams?" Morray questioned. "I want them turned on now."

"I--
 
Hamia stay."

Morray's face was mottled and red, his fists were clenched and his jaw tight. He has a slight tick by one eye.

"Don't think to play innocent. We both know better."

His fists unclenched then clenched again as if he meant to hit her. If rumors she had heard about him were correct, she might have to defend herself. Warily, she prepared herself.

"There on..." She was surrounded by his men and she had thought to be brave but she found that her legs were shaking so hard she could barely stand. She inhaled a deep breath and tried for courage. And she tried to remember everything she had learned during her banishment.

Don't show fear.

Morray nodded to his man who strode to her terminals and began typing. He looked back to Morray. "The beams are working now."

"Find them. Find Victoria and bring her to me."

"The glider is out of range." He did a quick recalculation. "They must have done some incredibly dangerous flying."

"Or he has a masking device on his glider. If so, it doesn't make any difference what the girl did," Morray said. "Bring her downstairs for interrogation."

"She is DeMontville's daughter."

"And he is dead. He cannot reach any of us from the grave."

"There are those who still respect his memory. Who would fight to defend his daughters."

Do not anger DeMontville's friends. They will retaliate. Nessa had heard rumors as well as advice about Morray's method of questioning. Be meek and do whatever he says. Tell the truth then don't do anything else to anger the man. If you make him angry, beware of the consequences. She had heard he'd cut out one man's tongue and left another with no fingers. He was a ruthless, heartless and very dangerous man.

Morray gazed over Nessa, stroking his chin, his eyes boring into her. She felt as if he stripped her naked. She held her head high and stared back, evening out her breathing yet challenging him in her own way. Perhaps that ploy was not wise but she was not meek.

"She is not what I expected," Morray said.

Janellen had just pushed past his men to have her say. "No, she is more like her twin than I had thought. Hopefully, she won't be so...spontaneous."

"I hardly call Victoria impulsive, more like unthinking." Morray stepped back then turned on Janellen. "You can interrogate her. With the DeMontville brats I must proceed cautiously. Even though the advisor is dead, Jonathan Reese still lives and has an extensive following among the coalition."

"Yes, much better to come from a priestess rather than the man taking over the research lab. If you intend to wed Victoria, it would not do to have the hatred of his family. I believe the mother is still alive."

Nessa felt a moment's relief, but the look of pure malice on Janellen's face set another round of chills surging within. Once again she stiffened her spine.

"Come along, dear," Janellen said. "The sooner we begin the sooner it will all be over." Regally, Janellen strode through the room.

They walked down several flights of stairs to a guest room on the third floor. Two armed men followed behind. As if she would try to flee her home.

"Sit, my dear Nessa."

I am not your dear Nessa.
They both sat down. Determined to relax and not let Janellen intimidate her, Nessa chose a large plump easy chair. Sitting down she drew her feet up and sat back. She breathed in the scent of the room, listened to the breaking dawn and watched the steady glow of light slanting into the room.

The winds spoke of many things but she heard nothing of her or sister's demise. She felt a happiness and knew Tori had landed somewhere safe.

"What do you know of The Phantom?"

The abrupt, harsh question startled her from her reverie. "Nothing."

"What do you know?" she asked again.

Nessa shrugged her shoulders, cocking her head sideways. She knew she had to tell Janellen something, but she had promised to tell only the truth. "No more than anyone else. Was it the Phantom who rescued Tori tonight?"

"Kidnapped and we mean to find her and help her escape that man's evil clutches," Janellen's gaze bore into her.

"When I looked out the window, it appeared to me she went with him willingly," Nessa straightened in her chair.

"You know nothing. You did not see him sling her over one shoulder and haul her to his glider kicking and screaming."

"No, I saw them running hand in hand." The scent of coffee and bacon wafted into the room. Despite the situation, her stomach rumbled.

"Bah, he forced her."

"And your man, Quentin Morray, would not force her? He does not mean to make her marry him and steal the lab? She would never give her research over willingly to anyone."

"Morray is the one true heir of this research facility. He would merely take Tori as his wife and solidify their efforts in curing the virus. That is a noble endeavor."

"She has no say?" Nessa questioned. "I have never thought of Quentin Morray as noble."

Janellen laughed. "No, she would do as Morray requested."

"Tori will never say the words that would solidify anything with Morray." Nessa tried so hard to remain calm, yet her fingers tightened around the arms of the chair.

Coffee, jelly filled rolls and bacon were brought into the room. She accepted the coffee, holding onto the cup as if it were a lifeline.

"Anyone can be bought."

"She is not for sale."

Janellen rose and walking around the small room, looking over everything. Then she turned. "If your life were threatened..."

Nessa inhaled a sharp breath of air. "You would hold me hostage to get Tori to do as you wish."

"Absolutely."

"You are as vile as Morray."

Janellen smiled; her eyes sparkled as her hands rose into the air as if she summoned her god. Well, it wasn't Nessa's God. "Victoria's and Morray's marriage has been foretold for centuries--ever since the wars that reduced this world to what it is today."

She is insane
. "There has been no prophecy concerning Tori and the one true heir," she said, her voice heavy with scorn.

"You no longer have use of the computers. As we speak your personal computer is being dismantled. You will hand over all codes, blocks, and pertinent information. You will provide help as needed. And you will convince your sister of the grave danger you are in if she does not wed Morray."

"Of course."

"Everything." Janellen's voice was stern.

Nessa tried to see the humor in this situation, but her insides were churning. Tori could not give in, even to save her life. She would have to find a way to persuade her twin of that. Perhaps it would be a mute point. Maybe she would return all ready wed to the Phantom.

Who was the Phantom? And why did he return now? Why did he seek out her twin?

The Phantom

When the sun was finally setting, a partial golden-red orb against the blue-violet of the mountains, he walked over to the pallet to stand above her, studying her.

No strange fears or phobias could belie her inherent courage. She had conquered them all this day, and he admired her for it. The blankets could not hide the perfection of her form or make him forget the feel of her within his arms.

Nor could the innocence of sleep allow him to forget the impulsiveness of her action. Emotions churned deeply within his mind, warring with the potent desire he so suddenly felt for her. She was his--no other man's, and he would not allow a fictitious phantom of the night to steal her love.

"Ah babe, I like you like this. And I will see more of your sweet compliance. Much, much more."

Yet as he watched her, a mysterious feeling ran through him. He longed to keep her just as she was...

To nurture her strengths...

Too protect her from all that could harm her…

And Yet...

This was not what he'd expected. Hell, what was he supposed to do with her? She had actually thrown herself at him, albeit the gesture was subtle and perhaps even innocent, but she'd suggested an intimacy meant for her husband alone, for Cameron--for Dr. Cameron Savage--not The Phantom. As much as he disliked it, he could not yet reveal his identity to her. The safety of Jonathan as well as her father depended on his anonymity.