wrath of the Sea Queen (191 page)

"
I know you mean
well
, Raph.  I appreciate
your concern
, but
cryptic messages?  You had to know that would not s
i
t well with me."

"
I knew.
"

"Then
why
bother
?  If you can't give me
specifics
, then why
bring
me puzzle
s
?  Why not leave me in the dark?
"
  Vin asked
, clearly frustrated
.

"
Perhaps, now that you have been enlightened, you may be able to draw
C
a
eli
back from the darkness that
seeks to consume her
.
"

"
What darkness?  Is
this about her gift or Rika
? 
I
s it
a physical threat
to
C
a
eli
or the baby
? 
Can you
tell me
anything
helpful
, Raph
?
"
  The wind in the room stirred only slightly as Vin managed to keep his emotions in check.  He understood th
at
Raphael was trying to help, in his own way, frustrating though it may be.

"
I regret that I cannot
give you
definitive
answer
s
. 
C
a
eli needs to know
th
at
Rika is protected by
the nature of
her situation. 
C
a
eli cannot change that nature without
surrendering
herself.  It w
ill
cost her dearly to force Rika's hand.
"

"C
a
eli
has already paid a high price.
  Are you saying that C
a
eli cannot prevent what Rika is trying to do?  That she will fail if she tries?
"
  Vin was appalled at the idea.

"
No, that is not what I said. 
But
,
there is much more that
C
a
eli
could
still
lose
if she attempts
to play by Rika's rules
.  Michael is
monitoring the situation
closely
, but even he cannot
interfere
when free will is involved
.
  C
a
eli must decide.
"
 
With those parting words,
Raphael was gone.  Vin could no longer feel
the angel's
presence.
  He was not certain if he should be relieved or concerned that
both
Michael and Raphael
were so
interest
ed
in the events taking place around C
a
eli.

CHAPTER
42

Ben brewed a large pot of coffee a
t the counter
in the lounge. 
H
e poured Salma a cup and took it to
he
r
, where he seated himself
next to her
on the sofa
.  Then
a few of the others
helped themselves.  Colonel Franks, Jeremy, Maku, Pete, Apela, and Max were all present. 

Max sat
on the opposite side of
Salma
, having run
out to meet her
when
they came inside.  Max noticed a small cut on her elbow
which happened during the struggle. 
The young boy
ran off and returned a few minutes later carrying one of Salma's dinosaur
Band-Aids
.  Max offered to put it on her cut, and Salma could not
refuse
. 
He
fixed her up and now s
at
qu
ietly beside her with his arm across
her
lap
.  Ben, on the opposite side, smiled at the boy's protectiveness and at Salma.  Ben put his arm around her shoulders
so that
Salma
could
rest her head against him.

Colonel Franks and Jeremy, after working out
schedules
with Apela
for the guardsmen
who would be returning
, left to begin their rounds walk
ing
the perimeter.  Apela and Maku went to make sure that all of the doors and windows were shut and locked.  Max decided to
go
with them.

Pete
decided
to rest
for a while
.  He wasn't feeling well.  Before he left, Salma wanted to tell him the good news.

"
Pete, I have a possible treatment for you.  I can inject you with a different type of blood. 
The procedure
is a bit risky.  Your body might reject
the blood
entirely, in which case
,
you could get worse.  On the other hand, your body could accept it, and it could help you
tremendously
.  It is difficult to say which will happen.  It has never been
considered
,
much less
tested.  But, I strongly believe it will help you.  I want you to think about it.  The decision has to be yours, and everything would have to be unofficial.  None of this would be legally sanctioned.  I could get into serious trouble for even offering it to you.
"

"
Dr. Erickson, I have nothing to lose.  I know this illness is going to kill me
very
soon. 
Therefore,
I am willing to take
any risk if it
offers
even
the
smallest chance at life.  I do not need to think about it.  I will do it.  Thank you for taking a risk on my behalf.
"
  With that, Pete walked off
toward
his room, leaving Ben and Salma the only two people in the lounge.

"
I
t seems we
ha
ve had quite the busy
morning
,
Love
,
"
Ben said.

"
Indeed,
"
Salma replied with a smile.

"
That was a very kind thing you did for Pete.
"

"
It's C
a
eli who agreed to do
nate her blood
.  I'm just the one who is going to
transfer it
. 
Besides,
I suppose you would have me believe that you
were completely innocent of
Maku and Pete
’s
coincidental
arrival
?
"
  In all the turmoil of
the fire
and
then
C
a
eli's disappearance, Ben forgot to mention the invitation
he
extended
.

"
G
uilty as charged.  I keep forgetting that I married
such a clever
lady,
"
Ben laughed. 

"
Yes,
Mr. Erickson.  Do
try to re
member that
the
next time you think you can
sneak something by
your wife
,
"
Salma re
plied
with a grin
.

"
I have a
medical
question for you,
Mrs. Erickson
.  Vin and I were talking…,
"
Ben
emphasized her married name as he
started to change the subject.
  It still thrilled him to hear it.

"
Well, that
is
usually
where the
trouble
starts
.
 
What were you two
discussing
?
"
  Salma interrupted him
jokingly
, and Ben feigned a hurt expression which made her chuckle.
  Then he continued.