Relentless: Episode 3 of the Shattered Chronicles

by Ciana Stone

  She wiped her eyes and looked from Morgan to Trevor. He remained silent, so she continued. "I really want you to be happy and if you and Victor love each other and make each other happy then I'll be happy for you. Ever since I was a little girl, you've taught me you have to live your own life - for yourself and not for other people. And that you have to make your own decisions. Well, you've let me make my own decisions about what I want so I guess it's time for me to do the same."

  "Thank you," Morgan smiled. "That means a lot to me." Then she looked at Trevor who was busy glaring at his sister like he wanted to kill her.

  Before she could say anything, Trevor yelled at Cable. "Why the fuck did you even come? When I talked to you yesterday you didn't say any of this shit! If I'd have known you would be a traitor, I'd have left you standing at the damn airport!"

  "Fuck you, Trevor!" Cable shouted back. "I never said anything about being against Mom. All I said was that I wanted to know about what was going on. You're the one who's been so bent out of shape! But then that's typical of you, isn't it? You're always so wrapped up in what you think and what you want that you never consider anybody else's feelings. All this time you've been so busy blaming Mom and the rest of the world for everything. And never once have you had the balls to admit that the person who's responsible for everything is Dad. He's the one who started all this!"

  "That's not true!" he yelled back. "Dad didn't make her get a divorce, and he sure didn't make her get engaged! She did that all by herself. And she didn't wait too damn long either, did she? First chance she got, she rushed out and got a divorce so she could get rid of Dad and jump in bed with him!" He jerked his thumb in Victor's direction.

  "Wake up and smell the coffee beans, little boy!" Cable shrieked. "Dad left! Remember? He walked out with another woman. What the hell did you expect her to do? Crawl in a hole and die - or maybe become a nun? Grow up, Trevor! Dad's the one who left. He's made it damn clear he doesn't give a shit about any of us. So why shouldn't we go on with our lives?"

  "Shut up, you bitch!" Trevor's face grew red with anger.

  "You shut up! And for once in your life, think about someone besides yourself!"

  "I said shut the fuck up!" he yelled as he grabbed her arm.

  Victor watched in silent amusement as the fight was on. Screaming and scratching, Cable went after Trevor, who yelled right back and swatted her hands away, pinning her arms to her sides and threatening to deck her.

  Morgan jumped up, grabbed Cable's arm in her left hand and pulled her away from Trevor. She pushed hard on Trevor with her right hand. "That's enough!" she exploded. "Both of you sit! Now!"

  As Cable complied Trevor made a dive at her. "Mom!" Cable yelled, trying to dodge him. Morgan stuck her leg out and swept it up behind Trevor's knees, knocking his feet out from under him. With a plop he fell onto the sofa, glaring up at her.

  "I said sit!" She warned him; her eyes daring him to move.

  "Now," she looked from one to the other. "I have something to say and I want you both to listen. First of all–Cable, I appreciate your support and understanding more than you know and I'm glad you have the maturity to realize that my life is my own, to be lived as I see fit. But I want you to try very hard to be more understanding of your brother and his feelings. While you and I may not agree with the way he feels, it's how he feels. He may not handle it in the most adult fashion but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to be understanding."

  She looked at Trevor. "And you," she put her hands on her hips. "I understand how hurt and upset you've been by your father's leaving and I also realize that my engagement must have come as a tremendous shock to you. I should’ve been more attentive to you and explained things, so you didn't have to find out from watching the television. For that I apologize."

  She took a deep breath, "But you really are behaving like an ill- mannered adolescent, Trevor."

  "That's better than acting like a slut!"

  Before Morgan could do more than look at her son with her mouth dropping open, Victor sprang up and grabbed him. He lifted Trevor from the sofa by the front of his shirt, then jerked him close to his own face.

  His eyes flashed dangerously as he spoke in a low and menacing voice. "Never talk to your mother that way again. Do you understand?"

  "Hey, man!" Trevor tried to break free. "Get your fucking hands off me!"

  Victor gave Trevor a venomous look and suddenly released him as Morgan reached out and touched his arm. "Victor, please."

  But Trevor used the chance to strike out and throw a punch at Victor's face. With the speed of a striking serpent, Victor's left hand came up, catching Trevor's hand just before it reached his face. Almost simultaneously he slapped Trevor across the face with his free hand and the blow snapped Trevor's face to one side.

  The action propelled Morgan into motion. She stepped in, reached up and grabbed Victor's wrist as he squeezed Trevor's fist. When she located the pressure point, she pressed hard, causing his hand to go numb, thus loosening his grip.

  His face whipped around to face her with a hard look of anger stamped on it. "That's enough!" She ignored the look and placed herself between him and Trevor. "I can handle this, Victor. And you, Trevor, sit down!"

  Victor held up both hands, "As you wish," he said, taking a seat. "But someone should really teach your son some manners and respect."

  "Fuck you, asshole!" Trevor shot at him. "Who the hell do you think you are? You're not my father and you're sure as hell not my friend. So, get the fuck outta my house. You're not wanted here!"

  "Wait just one minute!" Morgan cut in. "In case you've forgotten this is my house and I say who is and isn't welcome. Victor's my guest and the man I intend to marry and therefore he is welcome. So, button it!"

  Morgan and Trevor glowered at each other as Victor smirked and Cable watched with wide eyes. The tension in the room was almost thick enough to touch.

  Even through her anger Morgan could see they were getting nowhere fast. She had to get things under control, so she pushed her rage back. "Trevor," she reached out her hand to touch him, but he jerked away. "Please," she pleaded, "can't we talk?"

  "No, I don't want to talk as long as he's around."

  "Fine," she grabbed his arm and yanked him up. "Then we'll go outside." Holding on tightly to his arm, she looked at Cable. "Come on, you too."

  Then she turned to Victor. "I'm sorry," she apologized, feeling very embarrassed. "Would you please excuse us for a little while?"

  "Certainly. Take as long as you need."

  "Thanks," she smiled at him, grateful for his understanding. "Come on, guys," she said to her children. "Let's go take a walk."

  Andrews County, Texas

  Ghost growled and Cord looked up. "Hmm, sounds like we've got company, huh?"

  He left the keyboard and walked over to the door. "Sit," he commanded.

  Ghost immediately obeyed, quietly looking up at Cord with wide expectant eyes. Cord crammed the confiscated guard hat on his head and opened the door.

  Two guards were walking down the corridor toward him, shoulder to shoulder, taking up the width of the hall. In the opposite direction the hall came to a dead end so there was nowhere to run.

  Quickly stepping outside the door, he pulled it closed behind him and faced the two approaching guards. "This one's clear!"

  "Good!" one of them replied. "I'm sick and tired of searching this damn building." With a nod to Cord they turned and headed back in the direction they had come.

  Cord breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the computer room. Settling in behind the keyboard, he continued his work. "Keep up with our time," he said to Ghost. "I think we should bill for this one, don't you?"

  Ghost just cocked his head to one side.

  Chapter Nine

  Cray County, Texas

  Morgan walked into the study. "Victor?" The study was empty. She closed the door behind her and started down the hall, wondering where he was.

  Juro appeared at the
other end of the corridor and she called out to him. "Juro, where’s Victor?”

  "He had an early appointment and did not wish to disturb you. There is time for you to train before his return. I will be in the dojo in ten minutes."

  Morgan shrugged as he abruptly turned and walked away from her. She went into the private dressing room off the dojo and opened the closet to get her practice suit. It was gone. In its place was a new black outfit.

  She changed quickly and walked into the dojo. A whirring noise cut through the air from one side. She immediately froze and listened. Just as the noise reached her. she leaned her body back. The whirling shuriken flew harmlessly by her face and embedded itself in the wall beside her.

  She whirled in the direction the weapon had come. At the same moment, another sliced through the air toward her. With no time to move out of the path of the blade, she remained still.

  At the last moment her right hand shot up. In a counter-clockwise motion from the elbow she struck with the fingers of her hand pulled back. Her palm contacted the side of the shuriken, smacking it solidly on the flat side. The blow deflected the blade, stopping its momentum and sending it clattering to the wooden floor.

  Juro moved from the edge of the room toward her with his hands held up in front of him to show that he was unarmed. She bowed to him. "Master."

  He nodded. "Sit.” Without question, she sank to the floor in a kneeling position with her knees pressed together. Juro turned off all the lights in the dojo and returned to kneel in front of her. Their knees almost touched as they faced one another.

  Without the illumination of the overhead lights the room was dim. The only source of light came from the open doorway. Juro looked into her eyes. "Are you trained in samyama?"

  The question surprised Morgan. Every time she’d worked with Juro he concentrated solely on her physical skills. He’d mentioned no other training.

  Samyama was the blending of the concentration with meditative breathing to develop the ability to absorb and merge with the object of your concentration. It wasn’t a skill widely taught. In fact, from what she knew there were few who'd mastered the technique. Her teacher, Master Hattori was adept at the technique.

  "Why do you ask?" she questioned, not wanting to divulge her knowledge.

  "Answer the question."

  "I know of its theory," she evaded answering directly.

  "Let us begin."

  Morgan paused, not knowing what to do. Master Hattori had instructed her never to discuss such matters. But then would he ever have suspected that someone such as Juro would appear in my life? "I don't know what you want of me."

  Juro’s eyes narrowed. He reached out his mind to hers. "Tell me what you know," he said in almost a whisper.

  Morgan locked gazed with him, centered herself and opened her mind. The desire to touch his thoughts suddenly overwhelmed her fears. Once again, the all-encompassing tone vibrated through her mind. Its sound possessed a feeling she couldn’t identify, but one that felt intimately familiar. Like a burning wave it washed over her, its heat penetrating every cell of her body.

  Ensnared within the swell that enveloped her she complied with his command. In a whisper she described what her former master had taught her.

  "In ancient texts of the mystic Pantanjali, samyama is spoken of. If we use it on the physical form, it acts as a barrier, blocking the perception of others, thus rendering us invisible to their sight. Along with the power of invisibility, it imparts the ability to strip away from our opponent all other physical senses.

  "We use samyama within ourselves to heighten our awareness and intuition. Thus, that which was once hidden, concealed or obscured, is made clear.

  “It is written that using udana, meditative breathing, with samyama, may produce the skill of levitation. If this is then employed to the relationship that exists between substance and incorporeal matter and the quality of lightness, it is said one may discover the ability of flight.

  "Beyond the words of the mystic, I have no knowledge on the validity of such skills."

  She fell silent with the tone reverberating through her mind and the heat causing perspiration to pour from her body. Juro's gaze never left hers but held her imprisoned. She saw him rise from the floor. Still in his kneeling position, his body floated upward.

  She tilted her head back with her gaze locked to his. As his feet reached her chest height, his ascent stopped. In amazement she saw his body dissolving, his eyes the last thing to vanish.

  "Juro," she hesitantly reached up, trying to locate his invisible form. Nothing was there.

  Her heart jumped as his voice sounded from behind her, nullifying the tone from her mind.

  Spinning around, she looked in wonder at Juro standing behind her.

  Andrews County, Texas

  Cord and Jeff drove from Odessa to Cotton Creek, stopping only twice to gas up the jeep and take bathroom or food breaks. When they were about five miles away from his and Morgan's home, Cord asked Jeff to let him out. Even though it’d been six months, he didn't want to take any chances on getting spotted.

  "Look, Jeff," Cord told him as Jeff protested that he should stay with Cord in case there was trouble. "We've got to play this my way. No one can know you found me–or that I'm here. So, I want you to ride over to the coast and hang around there a couple of days."

  "Sure, man," he finally agreed. "Anything you want."

  Cord knew the turmoil brewing inside Jeff and understood. Had the situation been reversed he'd feel the same way. He tried to make Jeff understand. "Jeff, listen. I know you want to stay. But there's something you haven't considered. If we're being watched, someone could know when we left Odessa. If you show up at your place, it's also possible they could, let's say, become more alert to us."

  "That's what I like about you, Cord," Jeff smiled. "You're always thinking."

  Cord returned the smile. "Not always. But let's hope that this time I am. I'll be in touch soon. Safe journey, my friend."

  "Yeah, you too," Jeff replied, then pulled the jeep back onto the road and drove away with one final wave.

  Cord watched the jeep disappear around a curve in the road. "Ready to go home, big guy?" he asked Ghost. The dog barked once, and his tail wagged happily. Together they entered the woods alongside the road and started in the direction of the house.

  As they made their way along, Ghost ran ahead making large scouting circles, returning periodically within Cord's eyesight. At a familiar sound, Cord raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and scanned the sky above him. The falcon circled the clearing above. Tucking her wings, she dove and came to rest on Cord's outstretched forearm.

  He marveled at the newfound friendship he'd miraculous achieved and gave a silent thanks to Joe because he suspected that somehow Joe had a hand in it. "Well," he looked at the bird. "Looks like the gang's all here." He released the falcon and watched her climb high into the air before he pushed on toward home.

  It was afternoon when he reached the edge of his property. He took his time scouting the area. In the time he had been gone, there'd been changes made. Some clearing had been done and a new road cut through the property that adjoined his along the backside.

  Carefully looking around, he spotted all the surveillance equipment that had been installed. Rather sloppily, too, he thought. It didn't take long to spot the holes in the system that allowed him to make it all the way to the house without being detected.

  The house was empty when he entered. The first thing he did was start a methodical search for any bugs. Upon reaching the den he found a thumb drive stuck in one of the USB slots on the television. He pulled it out and saw his name written on the label.

  Strange. Cord plugged it back in, turned on the television and activated the drive. What he saw made his heart sink. Morgan had seen this. She’d watched him cheat on her with Cassie.

  All ideas of a happy reunion faded from his mind while uncertainty and anxiety took hold. He pressed the stop button on the re
mote and sat back with a sick feeling in his stomach. Now he understood the thoughts he had seen in Jeff's mind about Morgan and Victor. It made perfect sense at last. Vincon and Vinsetti.

  Cord remembered a conversation he had with Juan after Victor made a partnership offer.

  "Cord, you don't want to say no to him," Juan argued.

  "Sure, I do."

  "No, you don't. Listen. For your family's sake, for mine and Maria's and your own, don't anger him."

  Cord could see real fear on Juan's face, but despite that and what the Walker family had told Morgan, Cord wasn't scared of Victor Vinsetti. "Come on, Juan, what's he going to do? Have us killed? It's just a business deal and I'm betting he's had offers turned down before."

  "Cord, this is a mistake, and one that could prove deadly. I implore you to reconsider. He has the means to make the company a global leader. He also has the means to destroy us and we wouldn't be the first company he's razed to the ground out of revenge."

  Revenge. Cord realized. Damn! He jumped up and paced the floor, his body tense with anger. This stuff's been going on for five and a half years! Victor set me up with Cassie way back then. But why? Just to get his hands on the nuclear waste? No, that was just a diversion. There's got to be something else, something bigger. But what? Just revenge? Surely not.

  He rose and went out to the garage, grabbed his helmet and pulled the tarp from his motorcycle. Leaving Ghost to take care of the place, he headed for town.

  Cray County, Texas

  Morgan tossed restlessly and mumbled in her sleep. Victor lay beside her, watching. She’d drifted off to sleep after they made love. Now he reached over and shook her gently. "Morgan?"

  She didn’t awaken. With narrowed eyes he watched more closely, his concentration focused as he tried to see inside her sleeping mind.

  She stood on a high bluff, surrounded by a soft swirl of vaporous fog. Far in the distance the peaks of a stone temple could be glimpsed now and then through the enveloping mist. The sound of a low chant permeated the air, many voices uniting, many minds becoming as one. Mesmerized by the sound she closed her eyes and let it wash over her.