The Cornelius Saga Series Box Set 2

by Tanya R. Taylor

  Rosetta was stunned by Mira’s accusation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You sound deranged.”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Mira said. “You told Priscilla that her mother sent her away because she didn’t want her anymore. You told each of these children one lie after the other to convince them that they were better off here than with their parents – and that’s after you’d kidnapped and nearly starved them to death. You watched them cry in lonely, dark corners for their families. You weakened their spirits and stole their will to fight, thus the reason for the scales only you and I can see. You dealt in darkness and pretended to come in the name of God. You are a wretched woman. A witch!”

  The children didn’t seem swayed by Mira’s assertions. All they knew was that she was the alternate sacrifice and would be for an entire year. It was a most anticipated occasion for them as they got to celebrate afterwards in grand style for hours on end.

  Feeling the need to end the argument, Rosetta briskly walked over to the wall where the long, shiny sword was mounted and removed it from its bracket. She then calmly returned to the table and said, “Let us pray.”

  They all bowed their heads as she prayed a prayer of gratitude for the sacrificial gift. Mira’s eyes were on Priscilla again who was still high above her, raining down droplets of drool from which she could barely escape.

  Strange chants filled the room in a language completely foreign to Mira and as she lie there helplessly, she wished she could see sweet little Rosie, Sara and Bobby just one more time to tell them how much she loved them. She wondered if her father or Karlen Key would come from beyond the grave to save her from a violent end. Hopelessness was beginning to set in when the praying and chanting ended, and Rosetta was moving in closer with the sword. Mira watched the woman clutch it with both hands and raise it directly above her neck when suddenly, Barns rushed into the shed.

  “Stop!” he exclaimed. “I don’t know what on earth has gotten into you people, but you need to put that sword down, lady.” He grabbed Sister Ruth from behind and quickly placed the broken glass against her throat. “I won’t hesitate to kill her.”

  Mira wasn’t sure if she was relieved or upset that Barns had shown up to rescue her. She would have much preferred if he’d run off and saved himself.

  “Doc!” she cried, shaking her head.

  Priscilla was looking at Doctor Barns; flashbacks of her childhood now racing through her mind. She could still feel the warmth of his hugs and recalled the gifts and cards he’d sent year after year; the listening ear he gave when she needed to talk to someone about her troubles at home. Her Uncle David was always just a phone call away. That moment was the first time in years she’d felt any emotion for another human being, other than anger.

  Glaring at Barns, Rosetta released a hearty, guttural laugh. “You can’t threaten us into submission! How dare you barge in here and think you can?” She lowered the sword to her side. “Grab him!”

  In an instant, he was also a captive—seized by the same boys who’d taken out the skeleton. Rosetta had smelt the weakness inside of him; his inability to willfully harm another person. She walked over to the doctor who was trying to free himself from the grips of the much stronger young men. Rosetta allowed the edge of the sword to scrape the floor as she approached him, another tactic to further intensify his already crippling fear.

  “Leave him alone!” Mira shouted, raising her head as high as she could manage. “I’m your sacrifice—not him!”

  “Mira, I’m sorry,” he said as the crazed woman was now within a few feet of him. He knew this was the end, but at least he tried to help his friend.

  “Don’t be sorry about anything, Doc! I chose to come. I wanted to come!” She looked at Priscilla again whose face had seemed to soften slightly. “Please, Priscilla…don’t let them do this. He’s your Uncle—your blood! This is not who you are.”

  Barns looked up and was shocked by the sight of the girl on the ceiling. She did not look like his niece. Her face was rough, partially distorted and those eyes were not Priscilla’s.

  “Priscilla?” Barns spoke softly, unsure if he wanted her to hear. She seemed bestial.

  Rosetta was grinning as she scraped the sword even harder. “We can’t allow you to intrude upon a most holy ceremony. For that, you will die today, along with your friend. The difference is you’ll be cut into pieces and become one with the pond and your friend will hang on these rafters and rot until all that’s left of her are brittle bones. And even then, they will remain in here for a full year as a reminder of a most precious sacrifice.”

  “Release him!” Priscilla flew down from the ceiling at once.

  All eyes were on her—everyone shocked by the demand.

  “What in the master’s name are you doing?” Sister Ruth asked.

  Rosetta turned and faced the girl. “How dare you fly into the face of the master’s most trusted servant? It’s because of me that you have the power that’s been bestowed upon you. Don’t you ever forget it. You owe me your life! Now, get away from me!” She scoffed, “And return to the chapel at once and repent.”

  Rosetta turned her back on Priscilla and glared at Barns again. The moment she went to raise the sword to plunge it into his stomach, Priscilla, with lightning speed, moved in front of him. Now facing Rosetta—her leader, she extended her hand forcefully, and the woman found herself in a battle against her own limbs, resisting with all her might, from handing over the sword to the girl. Crippled by what Priscilla could do to them, no one dared to intervene. Finally, Rosetta unwillingly handed the sword to Priscilla and after the girl released her from her mental grip, she charged at her only to find the sword had been plunged into her abdomen and out through her back. She fell to the floor with her eyes frozen in a lifeless gaze at those gathered before her. Sister Ruth and Alan Wales gasped at the sudden turn of events.

  From the moment Rosetta took her last breath, something dramatic happened: Mira could see the scales falling off of all the children’s eyes, including Priscilla’s. It was as if they were suddenly awakened from a nightmare. Suddenly, Priscilla turned around in her uncle’s direction, and finally, he saw the beautiful face he’d always known and those lovely brown eyes he could never forget. The two immediately embraced.

  In the meanwhile, Mira was being untied by a couple of helpful kids and noticed Alan Wales and Sister Ruth easing out of the shed. Still feeling severe pain in her back and slight throbbing in her head, she was sure they would not get far.

  Barns and Priscilla walked over to her as the children were busy talking amongst themselves about whatever little they could remember or thought was merely a dream.

  “Mira, allow me to formally introduce to you my favorite and only niece, Priscilla. Priscilla, my dear, this is my wonderful friend, Doctor Mira Cullen, who along with you, is responsible for saving my life today.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Priscilla,” Mira said. “I’m so happy you’re okay now.”

  “Thank you, Doctor Cullen. I’m not sure what my uncle is talking about though.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Mira replied. “It’s all over now. You’re going back home.”

  She immediately noticed a rather dismal expression on the girl’s face and she put her arm around her shoulder. “Things are gonna be much better now, Priscilla. Your mother loves you very much and wants nothing more in this world than having you home again. You go back and do the right thing. Make your family proud; but mostly, do it for yourself because you deserve it.”

  Touched by Mira’s words, Priscilla nodded. “I will.”

  “That’s my girl!” Barns gently squeezed her arm. “And I’m here for you whenever you need me. Nothing about that has changed. I’m so happy you’re all right!” He exclaimed.

  “Let’s get out of here!” Mira said to Barns. “You’d have to give me a hand.”

  “My pleasure!” He quickly went to help her up.

  She looked around th
e room. “Come on, kids, we’re all going home now!”

  She and Barns made sure that every child who was on the compound was following them through the open field and back in the direction of the dark tunnel which was inside the rocky formation they’d passed through. Once there, Mira made the children walk ahead of her and Dr. Barns, as she guided them in the right direction. Priscilla remained at her uncle’s side the entire time. One by one, they eventually walked through the invisible passage and out onto the side of Highway 60.

  14

  _________________

  Parents and guardians of all the missing children hurried down to the precinct to be with their kids after they’d been transported there by a police bus. They soon moved on to the local hospital where each child was checked thoroughly for any signs of physical distress. The doctors found absolutely none. All of the children were in excellent physical condition, though doctors believed they could use some very good counseling in light of what they’d been through.

  Rachelle Wigby was discharged from the mental institution immediately after Barns called and broke the news to her that Priscilla and the other children were found.

  She was eagerly waiting on the front porch of her home when Barns, Mira and Priscilla pulled up in the rented car. The moment Priscilla stepped out from the back seat, Rachelle ran toward her and grabbed her into her arms. With tears streaming down their faces, they held each other for what felt like hours. Barns and Mira stood nearby, joyfully shedding a few tears of their own.

  To Barns’ delight, minutes later, Rachelle walked over to Mira with a huge smile on her face. “David told me everything, Doctor Cullen. I’m sorry I doubted you and I will forever be indebted to you, from the bottom of my heart.”

  Mira gave her a warm hug. “I’m just so glad your daughter’s back home now and you both can move on with your lives.”

  Just then, Mira’s cell phone rang and she politely excused herself. It was Rosie.

  “Mom, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you all day!”

  “I’m sorry, honey; I’ve been tied up.” Mira was laughing inside, though she had nothing at all to laugh about when she was literally tied to the sacrificial table. She had no intentions of telling Rosie and Sara about that. “Is everything okay at home?” she asked.

  “Yeah. When are you coming back?”

  “We’re leaving tomorrow. I’ll be home before noon.”

  “Swell. Bye then. I love you.”

  “I love you too, honey.” Mira slid the phone back into her pocket and followed the others into the house.

  * * *

  On their way to the airport, Mira and Barns stopped at the precinct where they met again with Detective Paige, at her request.

  “I’ve just got a couple of questions for you two before you leave,” Paige said after they all sat down.

  “Doctor Cullen. We’d like to know where exactly the children were found. I know you said you didn’t know the name of the place, but by your instinct you were led there. I understand you’re a psychic.”

  Mira cleared her throat. “I guess others would say that, but I wouldn’t,” she replied. “I’d say that just like everyone else in the world, I have a gift. It may not be the same one you have or Doctor Barns here has. I guess it’s an extra sight that I believe has been given to me in order to help others.”

  Paige nodded as Dr. Barns looked on.

  “As for where the children were found, I think I can answer that now. Do you still have that map?” Mira asked.

  “Sure.” Paige retrieved it from her drawer and rolled it out on the desk again. They stood up.

  “It’s right here.” Mira pointed.

  Paige looked up at her curiously. “Are you sure about this?”

  “I am,” Mira replied.

  “This place is about fifty miles on the outskirts. About seventy miles south of Highway 60. Quite secluded. You mean to tell me they were there all the while?”

  Mira nodded. “I see that in order to get there from Highway 60, one would encounter a lot of rough terrain not easily accessible—but accessible, nonetheless. That’s why no one would’ve thought to travel that route for the missing kids. It wouldn’t have made sense, considering the circumstances.”

  “So, how exactly did you two get there? We’ve heard some crazy stories from the kids. Don’t know what to believe. You didn’t take a helicopter or anything, did you?”

  Barns quickly glanced at Mira who shook her head. “No, we didn’t. It’s a mystery as to how we found it, but you know what you have to do to get up there.”

  Paige was struck by Mira’s insight and though keen for more details, was impressed by her poise. “It’s amazing, isn’t it?” she said.

  “What?” Barns asked.

  “In a couple of days you two did what law enforcement couldn’t do in three years.”

  “It’s all Doctor Cullen here,” Barns replied. “Without her, none of those kids would be home today with their families and neither would our Priscilla.” He looked appreciatively at Mira.

  Paige smiled. “Well, then, both of you have a safe trip. Thank you for doing what it took to bring those children home again, and I assure you, we’ll find Alan Wales and Ruth King, if it’s the last thing we do.”

  * * *

  Three days later, police converged on the deserted compound in question and found Rosetta Gotlieb’s decomposing body on the floor of the “holy” shed.

  Alan Wales and Sister Ruth King’s lifeless bodies were seen floating in the nearby pond. The skeletal remains also discovered in the pond were determined to be that of Trinika Sampson, Head of the English Department at Apex Christian School. The autopsy revealed her cause of death was due to a clean severing of the carotid arteries in an act of decapitation. Her head was never found.

  As for Wales and King, their cause of death was marked undetermined.

  It remains a mystery to this day.

  A Faint Whisper

  Cornelius Saga Series - Book 12

  Dedication

  To My Awesome Dad

  Daddy, you passed on while I was in the middle of writing this book. I will never forget one of the last compliments you made concerning my writing. I will do my best to continue to make you proud as you look down from Heaven. Thank you for being my earthly father and for helping me to complete this story for my wonderful readers. I will love you forever.

  ~ Rest in eternal peace. ~

  1

  _________________

  The glaring sunlight made its grand entrance into the living room the moment Sara Cullen drew back the heavy curtains. She loved the way it greeted her most mornings—awakening her senses and massaging her wrinkled skin. Looking out the window at the clear, blue sky, a subtle smile crept across her face; she just knew it was going to be a great Saturday. Perfect for doing a little gardening after a hot cup of decaf, she pleasantly thought.

  It was bound to be a fairly quiet day too, though most days at home were. Mira and Bobby were off to New York looking to find the perfect wedding dress and groom’s attire.

  Sara took her coffee out to the front porch and sat in the red and blue striped lounge chair. She and Mira had enjoyed many days out there, especially on weekends when Mira was off from work. Now, her adult daughter was going to be a bride and someone else’s Sweet Pea, as she affectionately called her. She was about to leave her childhood home to make Bobby a wonderful wife.

  Sara sighed happily as she thought of them finally tying the knot and taking their years of courtship to a new level of life-long wedded bliss. She thought of Michael and how proud he’d be of his daughter—if only he were here to watch her walk down the aisle. Yet, gaining assurance from his other-worldly appearance a few years ago in their very home when she needed him the most, she knew he’d see his baby make that long-awaited move right from where he was. He, Karlen, Andy and all the rest who’d passed on and loved Mira since she was just a child.

  The decaf was perfect and tantaliz
ed the tongue each time Sara indulged in a sip of it. Birds harmoniously chirped all around the trees as her mind continued to drift on things of old, wildly imagining all the new possibilities in store for all of them. Indeed, the Cullen family was turning a new leaf and soon her son, Wade, and his family will be back home in Mizpah again—this time for Mira and Bobby’s wedding. Life couldn’t be any sweeter at that moment in time and Sara savored every second of it.

  After the coffee, Sara returned indoors and rested the empty cup in the kitchen sink. She reached into a drawer and retrieved a long pair of yellow, rubber gloves and slipped them on, then grabbed the pruning shears. Heading back outside into the front yard, she inhaled deeply, allowing the fresh morning air to fill her lungs.

  She caught herself humming as she stepped onto the manicured lawn that Bobby hadn’t failed to tend to even in all the years since Michael had passed. It wasn’t important that he didn’t live there; the people who did were like his very own family. And for a long time, Mira was not even his girlfriend; just the one girl he’d admired and desperately wished felt the same way about him. He cherished the day he learned she’d come to love him and now they’d finally set a date for their wedding, the Saturday before Easter, just a little more than two months away.

  Sara wiped the pebbles of sweat from her forehead and turned when she heard vehicles approaching. She noticed a white moving truck and a light green Suburban pulling up to the house directly across the street, where the For Sale sign standing on the front lawn now had the red diagonal Sold stamp across it.

  A man, a woman and a young girl, who appeared to be in her late teens, all stepped out of the Suburban while two men dressed in blue overalls exited the moving truck. One went to the back and opened the large, sliding trunk as the three from the jeep quickly headed to the main door of the house. Sara had spent many days in that house when Rebekah Sinclair was dying of a rare blood disease. She’d visited the elderly lady for hours at a time when she didn’t have much at home to do. Furthermore, her expertise as a nurse came in handy, especially toward the end when Rebekah’s symptoms intensified. Her care-giver never failed to run across the street or pick up the phone and call Sara when Rebekah had a strange bout of something or the other. The best and most peaceful part of her last year of life was being able to spend her final days in the house she and her David had lived in for fifty-three years. He’d passed on five years earlier and now she, unlike him, was able to take her very last breath in the comfort of her own home. She refused to remain in hospital. It didn’t take long for her sons, Mike and Hewitt to put the old place up for sale after she’d gone on to eternal glory. They had no use for it anyway as they both had nice homes of their own in Oakland and a large textile business to run.