The Sacrifice (30 page)

The
feeder must have sensed the hormone spike rushing through her bloodstream. Ms.
Rizzo
’
s dark eyes flashed with something other than
indignation from being threatened.

Riana turned and headed back to her
room. Once inside, she laid Lily on the bed and gently brushed the hair from
her small, pale face. She assessed Lily to detect if she was sleeping soundly,
or unconscious.

Someone
knocked on the door. Riana glanced around the room and realized Iggy wasn
’
t
with her. As she opened the door, Iggy darted inside wearing a sheet, toga
style. He must have taken it off one of the other beds. All he needed were a
pair of Roman sandals to look like a young Greek god. His golden curls even
resembled a laurel leaf headdress. He paced the floor, talking so fast he could
’
ve
been speaking Greek for all she knew.

“Iggy,” she said, drawing his
attention. “You have to slow down so I can understand you.”

He
stopped and drew a deep breath. “I
’
m sorry. I get this
way when I change into insects. And I
’
ve done that a lot
tonight. But, that cow was lying, Riana. You have to believe me. They
’
re
doing horrible things to Lily. I saw them. The doctor is taking her eggs. After
you marry that guy, he
’
s going to give her to Soren. He will kill her. I
’
ve
been hanging around waiting for my chance to kill him. I
’
ve
witnessed what he does to girls. Everyone in this place is evil. They all do
terrible things to people. We have to get you both out of here.”

Riana
reached out and touched Iggy
’
s arm, before he reached a fever pitch. “I believe
you, but…I can
’t leave.
”

“Why?
You couldn
’
t want to stay in a place like this?” Iggy
’
s
mouth opened and closed before he spoke. “I can get you out of here safely. I
promise.”

“
No, I don’
t want to stay.” Riana took hold of the diamond pendant around her
neck. “This thing is a type of bomb.”

Iggy came closer to get a better look.
Riana noticed the clean earthy scent coming from his blond locks—like being in
a Georgia pine forest.

“If
I go one hundred feet past the surrounding gardens, I will be blown to bits along
with anyone nearby. So, unless you know some way around this,” she pointed to
her neck, “I
’
m stuck here.
”

“There
has to be some devices around those markers that activate the necklace. If I
shift into a wolf, I can hear their hum and sniff them all out.” A sudden frown
crossed his face. “
But, I don’
t know enough about electronics to de-activate
them.”

“Vind
says we are getting married in a couple of days. The night before, he
’
s
planning to take me to a fertility site. He
’
ll have to remove or
de-activate it then. That
’
s the only time I know of when it
’
ll
be safe for me to escape.”

Riana
took Iggy by his upper arms and looked into his eyes. “I can see that you care
for Lily and don
’
t want to see her harmed. The only way she
’ll
be safe is for you to take her out of here. She doesn
’
t
have a device on to prevent her from leaving. Since she
’
s
so young, Vind didn
’
t think it was necessary. Where are we, and how
far is it to the closest town?”

“We
’
re
in the Apennine Mountains of Central Italy. It
’
s about twenty kilometers
from here to the village of Coldigioco.”

“That
’
s
too far for Lily to make on foot,” Riana said. “And she will have to be moving
fast. Can you shift into something large enough to carry her, that
’
s
also fast?”

“I
can change into anything I want. I could start out as a large mountain lion,
because of the rough terrain. When we get down to the foothills, I
’
ll
shift to a horse to make up for lost time.”

Riana
hesitated. Iggy was her only hope to get Lily to safety. “Okay. When you get to
the village, Lily can call her sister and the Protectors will come. Once they
know where she is, they can transport to get her rather quickly. You
’
ll
have to hide her until they arrive.”

“Don
’
t
worry, Riana. I have hidey-holes all over these mountains.”

“I
’
m
sure you
’
ll do your best, but Vind will have men looking
for her from the moment he knows she
’
s missing. I will
hold off their search for as long as possible. One advantage we have is they
know nothing about you. So they won
’
t expect her to get
very far on foot. You can leave through the gardens tomorrow. Since Lily spends
the daylight hours with me, they probably won
’
t become suspicious
until the feeders rise around dark. As soon as they figure it out, they
’
ll
transport to all the surrounding villages. If the Protectors are not there to
get Lily by dark, it will be up to you to hide her and keep her safe until they
arrive.”

Iggy
took Riana
’
s hand and laid it over his heart. “I promise you,
they
’
ll not get their hands on her again. And, I
’
ll
bring the Protectors here so we can rescue you too.”

She
didn
’
t tell Iggy that her chances of leaving there
alive were slim. If Vind thought there was even the slightest chance of a
rescue, he
’
d either take her someplace else, or kill her.

Iggy
stared at her with bright, hazel eyes. She grabbed him around the neck and held
on as if he were a lifeline. For the first time since they
’
d
arrived, there was a chance of Lily being safe. She had no doubt Iggy meant
every word he said. He
woul
d do his best to keep Lily safe. And for that, she
was eternally thankful. She just hoped his best was good enough.

Riana and Iggy sat on the bed while Lily
slept, going over their escape plans. They turned and looked at Lily as she
rolled over and peeked at them through strands of dark hair.

“Hey
guys, what
’
s going on?”

“Oh
good, you
’
re awake,” Riana reached to push the hair from
Lily
’
s face. “How do you feel, sweetie?”

Lily wrapped her arms around her
stomach. “Better. It hardly hurts at all.” She smiled at Iggy. “Are you doing
that?”

Iggy blushed and held his finger and
thumb barely apart. “A little.”

Riana
’
s
brows drew together. “What are you two talking about?”

“When my stomach hurts, Iggy makes it
better.”

“How do you do that?”

Iggy
shrugged and stared at the floor. “
I don’
t know. I
’
ve
always been able to.” His voice was timid, as if he expected a scolding.

“It
’
s
okay Iggy. I
’
m not angry. I
’
m glad you
’
re
helping Lily.”

Iggy
peeked between golden curls. “
You
are?
” His voice was full of
disbelief. “My family always made fun of me for helping others. They said I was
weak, and called me names because I wasn
’
t like them.”

Riana
laid her hand on his arm. “Iggy, I would never do that. I think it
’
s
wonderful you used your ability to help someone.” Deep dimples accompanied Iggy
’
s
smile and he visibly relaxed. How he was doing it didn
’
t
matter. The fact that he was willing to help Lily was all she needed to know.

“Lily,”
Riana said. “Iggy told me what happened last night with the snake. We both feel
that Vind will harm you if you don
’
t leave soon. So, we
’
ve
come up with a plan for Iggy to help you escape.”

A
flash of panic crossed Lily
’
s small face. “I can
’
t
leave without you. He
’
s going to hurt you, too.”

“That
’
s
why you have to be brave and go with Iggy. So you can bring help. Once you get
to a town, you can call Cy and Kyra. They will get me out of here. You
’
ll
be a hero, saving me the same way the Protectors save people. It
’
s
our best chance of getting home, sweetie.”

Riana
gave Lily a moment to process the information. When she straightened and her
chin lifted, Riana saw Lily
’
s fear of leaving her behind turn into
determination to save them both. “You can do this, sweetie, but you have to do
everything Iggy says. He knows the best ways to get in and out of this place
and the safest places to hide until the Protectors get here.”

Lily
threw her arms around Riana
’
s neck. “Don
’
t worry, I
’
ll
bring help. I promise.”

Riana tried to hide her apprehension
about sending two children out into the mountain wilderness on their own. Iggy
said he was over a hundred, but the fact that he looked like a boy, did
absolutely nothing for her confidence.

“Lily, has Kyra taught you how to spot
a vapor trail?”

“No.
I
’
ve heard people talk about it though?”

“It
’
s a
trail of vapors left behind when someone is transporting. It follows closely
behind, and only last for a few seconds. Have you ever noticed the shimmer that
’
s just
above the road or sidewalk on a hot day?”

Lily nodded.

“That
’
s
what it looks like, but it will only be about the size of a person, and it will
move through the sky quickly.”

Iggy
’
s
eyes widened. “Oh, I
’
ve seen those streaking through the forest.”

“
Good,
” Riana said, relieved he knew what to look for. “You both need to
keep a constant watch for any sign of them. It will warn you that someone might
materialize. If you see vapor, you need to hide quickly.”

“Don
’
t
worry, no one will find us.” Iggy said. “If there
’
s
one thing I know, it
’
s how to hide. I
’
ve been doing it most
of my life.”

Riana had their breakfast brought to
her room, and gave hers to Iggy. He ate, and then left to start digging a hole
large enough for Lily to slide beneath the fence.

They
searched Lily
’
s room for warm clothes, and dressed her in
several layers. She placed a small blanket inside a nylon bag used to hold
dirty laundry for the housekeeper to pick-up. The drawstring in the top could
substitute as straps to make a back-pack, leaving Lily
’
s
hands free to hold on while riding down the mountain.

“Why am I taking a blanket?” Lily
asked.

“If
Kyra and the Protectors don
’
t get here before the sun goes down, you and Iggy
will have to hide. That
’
s when the feeders will start searching. And the
mountains can get below freezing at night.” For the first time since they
’
d
made plans for her escape, Lily looked scared. “I
’
m
sure they
’
ll be here before then,” Riana added. “If by
chance they
’
re not, you will not be alone. Iggy will be with
you and keep you safe.”

Riana and Lily waited until it was
time to leave the bedroom and headed downstairs. They stopped by the library to
picked out a book before going to the kitchen. There was only one cook on duty
during the day prepping food for the evening meal. Riana had called down and
asked for sandwiches and hot cocoa, with the pretense that she and Lily were
having lunch in the garden.

As
they reached the front door the guard stationed there stopped them. “We
’
re
going to the garden to spend the afternoon reading,” Riana said casually.

The guard held his hand out for the
bag.

“It
’
s
our lunch, a book, and a blanket to sit on,” Riana said.

He searched the bag, and then held it
out and gave her a curt nod to proceed.

Lily led Riana to the far edge of the
garden where Iggy was supposed to be digging.

Iggy
’
s
knowledge of the employees and guards
’
schedule proved to
be invaluable. He knew when the guards made rounds through the garden, the
location of every camera, and the perimeter of the property. Riana had never
been so thankful for anyone in her life.

They
spread the blanket on the ground and Riana began reading the book to Lily.
Partly to take their minds off what they were about to do, and to wait for Iggy
to finish digging. It wasn
’
t long until they noticed movement at the edge of
the fence. A large gopher kicked dirt from a hole. Suddenly, Iggy
’
s
voice was in their minds.

“
Okay,
ladies, it
’
s showtime!
”

Riana and Lily stiffened and looked at
each other. “Are you ready, sweetie?”

Lily nodded and tears filled her eyes.

Iggy
’
s
voice blared inside Riana
’
s head.

“Once
Lily has crawled under the fence, you need to kick dirt and straw into the
hole. Do it quickly, and try not to draw attention. I will be able to
communicate with you for the first five hundred yards, and will be listening.
If the guards spot us, all you need to do is call out mentally to let me know.”

Riana squatted and pulled Lily into a
tight hug. It matched the tight lump forming in her throat. “Everything will be
all right, honey,” she whispered.

“We
’
ll
be back for you.” Lily
’
s tears dripped onto Riana
’
s
shoulder.

“I know. When this is all over, Cy and
I will treat you and Iggy to anything you want.”

Lily pulled away and looked at Riana
with wide eyes. “Even Disneyland? Iggy would love Disneyland.”

“Yes, sweetie, even Disneyland.”

She
kissed Lily
’
s forehead and reluctantly turned her loose. Riana
watched Lily crawl on her stomach toward the hole, and prayed she
’
d
made the right decision. Was it the right decision to send two helpless
children fleeing down a mountain full of danger? Danger of wild animals—danger
of rough terrain with deep trenches or cliffs—danger of being killed by feeders
if they
’
re caught—and she
’
d be responsible for
both their deaths. Oh my God, could she live with a decision like that?

Iggy
’
s
voice startled her from the fear induced thoughts consuming her mind.

Riana,
Lily
’
s on the other side. Start filling the hole
with dirt, so anyone watching will focus on your movement, not ours. Lily has a
long way to crawl before reaching outside the camera range.

Okay.

 
Riana
stood on shaky legs. As she opened the book it slipped through the moisture
collecting on her hands, and hit the ground with a loud thud. She jerked it up
and looked around, then breathed a sigh of relief when no guards came running
to investigate. She began reading aloud, paced back and forth in front of where
the blanket had been, gradually moving closer to the fence. With each pass by
the large hole, she kicked more soil and straw inside.

It
seemed like forever before she heard Iggy
’
s voice again
.

“
Riana,
we are past the cameras. I changed into a mountain lion, and Lily is climbing
onto my back. I will be moving fast now, and unable to speak to you. Stay safe.
I
’
ll return with help. You have my word. Oh,
wait, Lily said to tell you she loves you.”

Tears
filled Riana
’
s eyes.

“
Tell her I love her, also. And if I ever have a daughter, I hope she
is half as brave as her.”

“I
’
ll tell her,
”
Iggy replied. And then they were gone.