Relic (The Brethren Series)

by Deena Remiel

  “I thought we would, too, but after seeing these booby traps, it’s not worth the risk, Raf. We stand a much better chance of success doing it this way. That’s what you want, right? Success?”

  Raphael nodded and dragged his hands over his stubbly cheeks, trying to release the stress of urgency he knew wouldn’t go away no matter how hard he tried. Michael led the men through the cavernous foyer. Walking passed an enormous gilded mirror in the hallway, Raphael could see that they were an imposing force to be reckoned with. Clad in black leather pants and boots, and nothing more than their muscular arms and torsos serving as their armor. They brandished swords that were as long as their legs, and given the fact they were practically giants, that meant pretty damn long.

  With shields still in place, the Brethren could pretty much walk the fortress without being detected; however, their voices could still be heard. So they used their threaded connections with each other to communicate. And so began the onerous task of surveying for lethal traps and seeking out where Serena may be hidden.

  Chapter Thirty

  Roberta had been gone for what seemed an interminable amount of time before Serena heard the sliding doors to her bedroom suite ease open. Her stomach twisted in impossible knots as she succumbed to nerves. She would finally meet the monster who had completely ruined her life. Pacing around the bedroom, the dressing area, the bathroom, and the sitting area did nothing to quell the sense of unease and foreboding within her. And every time she passed the blasted mirror she had wanted to throw something to smash it to smithereens. Oh, she was angry. Anxious and angry. Not a good combination at all.

  “Dr. Chappo will see you now,” Roberta informed her. “He wanted me to smooth over the introductions since his appearance tends to startle some people. So let me tell you a couple of things before I bring him in. Understand that he can no longer make facial expressions, so please listen to his words carefully so as not to misconstrue his meaning. He says what he means, and means what he says. Also, do not try to shake his hand in greeting. Let him reach out to you first, and if he does, do not squeeze his hand. It would be most painful for him. Don’t stare at him, either. He doesn’t like that. Just look upon him as you would if he didn’t look so disfigured. Oh, you know what? You may want to fix your hair a bit. He’s a bit on the particular side.” With that, Roberta turned away and went back out the bedroom door.

  “Unbelievable,” Serena muttered under her breath as she tried to quickly tidy up her mop of hair. “I’m about to meet a monster, and she’s got me worried over my rumpled hair. Where’s the logic?” She shook her head after giving up on her hairdo, and paced nervously as she couldn’t decide whether to stand or sit. “What’s the matter with me? Am I meeting royalty or an arrogant, egomaniacal psychopath?” She decided to sit down on a chair that faced the fake window. It gave her just enough room to be comfortably seated, yet enclosed her enough to make it difficult for others to touch her. She heard the clicking of the lock.

  Here we go.

  Time seemed to stop as the bedroom doors slid painfully open. A motorized wheelchair hummed its way into the room. Serena’s vision narrowed to the man in the chair. Surprisingly, she felt a calmness wash over her—the same kind of calmness that had come over her when she decided to visit Bull in the garage with the letter opener.

  Sirona was trying to take over.

  At this juncture, Serena didn’t mind very much. She still felt mostly in control, but she believed she had the added benefit of an immortal backing her up. Working together right now seemed mutually beneficial. I guess you don’t want to be a science experiment either, huh, Sirona? Serena smirked.

  The wheelchair came to a halt beside her. He regarded her in silence for a few moments. She regarded him. Roberta had told her not to stare, but she couldn’t seem to tear her eyes away from the surprising visage. So this is the fearsome monster, eh? Not so much.

  At first glance, yes, the rigidity of his limbs and hands were startling. But should he have been able to stand, it didn’t seem that he would be all that tall. In fact, she estimated that he would probably be of average height. His face spoke another story, with taut, shiny skin that appeared perpetually slapped. An image of a facelift gone very wrong came to Serena’s mind. His eyebrows were non-existent. That, combined with the few strands of hair left on his head, made him appear alien in nature. She gave an involuntary shiver, attributing it to the air conditioning and her revealing gown.

  The way he had been staring at her while she sized him up proved to be quite unnerving, so rather than giving in to it, Serena chose to take control of the situation.

  “Dr. Chappo, I presume?” she began regally.

  “You presume correctly, Goddess,” he responded with reverence. His speech was a bit difficult to understand but she understood enough to know what he had called her—Goddess.

  With nothing left to lose, she decided to go along with his delusion to see where it led. She took a moment and began, “You know, if you desired an audience with me, Doctor, you simply needed to request one. I am not fond of coercion, much less kidnapping. Roberta didn’t deceive me for an instant. Left unconscious by your gate. You sending men to fetch me. I know what happened to me, Doctor. I’m not a fool. So tell me why you’ve sequestered me here so that I may be on my way.”

  Since facial expressions were non-existent, body language the same, she had nothing to gauge his reaction. It unsettled her, and she fought to maintain the control necessary to keep her poker face brilliant. He hadn’t responded yet. He just sat there in his wheelchair, gazing at her. Just as Serena thought she would burst, she heard him take a large breath and speak.

  “I hope you find the accommodations pleasing. I have made every effort to provide for your every desire. I have decorated your suite with furniture and incidentals from the ancient Gaul period to make you feel more at ea—”

  “Yes, yes,” Serena interrupted, “I see you’ve spared no expense. You’ve replicated much from my time, including this gown. All to please me? To what end? What is it you want from me?”

  “I have searched so long for you. So long, it seems I’ve devoted most of my adult life in search of you. And when I finally found you, words cannot express the joy, the relief, the elation. I need you, Goddess. When you hear my story, you will understand why I have need of you, and I believe you will have mercy on me, for it is only you that will be my salvation.”

  Serena noticed there were tears gathered in his eyes, threatening to break loose from their moorings. Already knowing his story, and putting aside the fact that he’d had her kidnapped, she felt a pang of sorrow and grief for him. Regardless of his misdeeds, here sat a man facing his imminent death, in constant pain, transforming into a statue. Her heart ached for the man whose dreams would never be realized. But something snapped inside her.

  What the hell am I doing? If he were any other man, sure, feel for the guy. But, he isn’t just any man. He is the man who changed the course of my history. He’s the man who’s going to use me to make sure his dreams do come true. She still didn’t know the how of it, and that disturbed her greatly. The moment of empathy for him passed.

  “I’m not interested in stories, Doctor, only the bottom line. So what is yours?”

  “I humbly request your gift of regeneration, dear Goddess.” He made a nearly imperceptible bow.

  “You can throw your humility out the window since you forced my presence. As for your request, one would have to be an idiot not to see what a dire position you are in. However, you played your cards all wrong, I’m afraid. Had you come by my presence honestly, I may have considered such a request. Obviously, I would have had to weigh your deeds against your misdeeds to come to any kind of decision. But you, dear Doctor, have obtained me illegally, making any decision on my part less than desirable on yours. What I’m saying, Doctor, is no.”

  Serena had no freakin’ idea what the hell she was saying, but she sensed deep down that she should let Sirona have free reign over
this discussion, since she held all the power. She understood enough to know that saying no would save their lives.

  “My apologies yet again for using the wrong wording. Let me rephrase. You will give me your gift of regeneration, Goddess. It’s not meant to be a request. I’m dying, and only you can give me eternal life, free from disease. And I shall have it, Sirona. I shall.” Although he looked like a statue, his voice conveyed his message, his intent, and his determination.

  Serena stood abruptly. Now that his intentions were transparent, she had to do something. She had to try to escape. Roberta was nowhere around. It was just the two of them, one a well-toned female, the other a wheelchair bound invalid. Now, who really has the upper hand here?

  “I wouldn’t move another inch, if I were you,” Dr. Chappo ordered. “I know what you’re thinking. You think you could escape easily right now because I’m in this chair. But if you move so much as a hair, a poison dart will slice through your pretty little neck, rendering you quite dead in a matter of seconds.” Serena stood frozen in place, heart pounding fiercely in her chest. “You see, I’ve rigged this baby with the latest technology and weaponry so that I can never be taken advantage of in my current state. At this very moment, I indeed have a poison dart aimed right at your jugular. Dead or alive, I will have your eternal life.”

  Okay, just stay calm, Serena, and for Christ’s sake, don’t move! She saw Dr. Chappo flip a switch on his laptop control board, and she nearly lost all control of her basic functions.

  “Roberta, would you come in now, please? I’m in need of assistance. Thank you.”

  No sooner had he called then Roberta flew through the doorway. “What can I help you with Dr. Chappo?”

  “Sirona isn’t quite up to speed with our plans, Roberta. See to it that she is more, shall we say, compliant.” He laughed as though he’d found something funny. Like the cackle of a raven, it sent floods of shivers up and down her spine.

  He truly is insane. Insanely polite at one turn, then just plain insane the next. Still glued in place, fearing for her very life, she saw Roberta in the periphery reaching for something in her pocket.

  A syringe.

  Serena prayed. Dear Lord, protect me and deliver me from evil!

  “What…what is that, Roberta?” Serena stammered. “What are you going to do?”

  “You’ve gone and upset the doctor, after all he’s done for you.” Roberta approached Serena with the syringe. “You can’t see your way to giving a little back? Well, if the good doctor needs you compliant, then compliant is how you’re gonna be. I warned you, Serena—Sirona, whoever you are. I told you to mind your manners. You’re just a hard-headed, selfish, good-for-nothin’.”

  Serena had a split second to decide what to do. She could fight Roberta off and run the risk of being killed by some lethal something-or-other the doctor had hidden in his wheelchair, or let herself be drugged up and have God knows what done to her. She chose the first option and grabbed hold of the other woman as she closed in on her. Serena seized Roberta’s wrist, wrenching it back farther than nature intended. Roberta screamed.

  They tussled about, falling to the floor, each scrabbling for the upper hand. They yanked hair, slapped, and clawed at each other’s faces, and the two women became hopelessly entangled. Serena fought to keep the syringe away from her skin, amazed that Roberta still held it in her right hand. At one point, Roberta had gotten a hair’s breath away from sticking her with it right in her stomach, but Serena used her knee to knock it away. Roberta managed to stand up, pulling Serena up by her hair with one hand. As the maniacal nurse readied to plunge the syringe into her, Serena noticed Roberta was vulnerable to attack from Dr. Chappo as well. So she immediately grabbed hold of Roberta’s hand and her own hair and flipped her over in order to shield herself from anything the ‘good’ doctor would fire.

  Dr. Chappo let loose with the poison darts. However, he only managed to hit Roberta, killing her. Before she faded away, her eyes widened in utter astonishment, her lips curled in rage, and shrieking out her last breath, made one last ditch effort to sedate Serena. Damn, if she didn’t just nick me!

  Soon after Roberta hit the floor, so did Serena.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “Steve, there’s been an unfortunate accident in the guest suite. Get Jim and Harry to come clean it up, please. I want you and Wheezer to come as well, quickly. I have another job for the both of you.” Not waiting for a reply, Dr. Chappo turned off his intercom. He wheeled around Serena’s still form on the floor. Not sure how much of the sedative Roberta had gotten into her, he knew he had to act quickly. If she were to wake up now, before he’d had a chance to hook her up to his blood transfusion machine, he’d have no choice but to kill her. He’d save that as a last resort, since the life-saving procedure he’d devised was meant to transfer living blood.

  Before too long, four men entered the room, and without any further direction, two of them began the cleanup of Nurse Roberta.

  “This is so unfortunate, Roberta. You’ve been with me for so long. But, ah, what is one to do? Can’t cry over spilt milk,” Dr. Chappo murmured as he watched the two men hoist the body onto a cart and wheel it away. He turned his attention to the other two men and Serena.

  “Steve…Wheezer,” he began, “I need you to bring her to my lab immediately. Follow the red lined border on the floor. It will take you directly there. Once there, put her on the surgical table. I don’t have my nurse anymore, so one of you will have to follow my directions explicitly during a procedure I have scheduled. Figure out who it will be by the time I’m done scrubbing in.”

  “Yessir, Dr. Chappo.”

  Dr. Chappo left the suite ahead of the men, needing to prepare for the procedure he’d created and practiced for months now. He wheeled down the corridor to his lab, all charged up. Having studied hundreds of medical books and watched countless procedures on tape in order to perfect his diabolical plan, the time had come. I am closer now than ever to ridding myself of this dreaded disease and living forever.

  After punching the key code on his laptop, he glided in and headed straight to the scrub room. He would take no chances on possible contamination. Without his nurse around, he did his own scrubbing, a process that would take him twice as long as a surgeon due to his deteriorated condition. Every time the sponge stroked the back of his hand, he shuddered, not only from the agonizing pain, but from the ecstasy and anticipation of his dream finally realized.

  ***

  “Hey, Wheezer, I’m having a little déjà vu here, aren’t you? I mean really, why are we the ones who have to deal with the bad kitty all the time?”

  “Yeah, but at least this time, she’s out cold,” he quipped, reaching down to grab her legs.

  “That’s what you think, asshole!” Serena shouted and kicked him square in the balls with both feet. She rolled away as quickly as she could, and scrambled to her feet while Wheezer fell to his knees moaning.

  “That’s twice you’ve done that to me, you little bitch! I’m gonna cut you! I’m gonna cut you so deep your dress is gonna turn red!” Wheezer’s face turned scarlet, and he seethed like a rabid animal.

  She realized she had a slim chance of leaving that room alive, but would be damned if she’d let those two touch her again. She thanked the good Lord that Roberta had barely pricked her with the syringe. She had been out cold, but quickly regained consciousness, only to find herself in the current predicament.

  Steve had immediately given chase as she fled. The only way out was through the sliding door. But how do I open it? There’s not enough time to figure that puzzle out. So as she led Steve on a circular chase throughout the suite, she picked up the bronze relic of Sirona that had been sitting on an occasional table in the bedroom. As she neared the sliding door, she heaved the heavy statue with all her might. An angry sound of shattering glass pierced the air, and she made a break for it, heedless of the damage the glass would do to her bare feet.

  “Damn you! You’re dead!
You hear me? When I catch you you’re dead!” Steve shrieked as he flew out of the room. “Wheezer, get up, ya pussy, and help me catch the dead bitch!”

  Serena didn’t know where to run; she just knew she had to. She had turned left out of the room, since she always saw Roberta go that way and figured it had to lead to some sort of exit. But the corridor, painted a sterile white, kept turning right, then left, and right again in a dizzying and disorienting fashion.

  Steve, fast on her heels, left her no time to try opening any of the doors that whizzed by her as she fled. All the while, he taunted her with sadistic threats. She had no time for revulsion or distraction, so she blocked his voice out and focused on escape.

  Without warning, a door opened to Serena’s left and out walked an unsuspecting man. A large, unsuspecting man with a large gun strapped to his hip. She’d been running so fast, she had no time to slow down or even maneuver out of his way. Instead, she barreled straight into him, knocking him off kilter, and ricocheted herself backward in the air a good five feet, until she came down with a hard thud on the solid tile floor. She slid to a stop at Steve’s feet. He proceeded to yank her up by her hair.

  “Ahh!” she screamed as pain blasted through her scalp, and instinctively grabbed a hold of his hands in order to flip him as she had Roberta. The problem with that plan? He was a bit heavier than Roberta and wouldn’t budge. She would have to try something else. So she did what any woman would do. She stomped on his foot, elbowed him in the gut, and twisted around to scratch and claw at his eyes and face. All the while, the large unsuspecting man with the gun regained his composure, approached the melee, and nonchalantly stuck his gun to her neck.

  “You may wanna be stopping that now, seein’ as how I got this here gun kissin’ your pretty little neck,” he drawled. Serena, so caught up in her frenzied quest for freedom, didn’t even paying any attention. “My, but you are a feisty one, ain’t ya?” As he shoved the barrel of the gun deeper into the side of her throat, she coughed and froze instantly. Steve grabbed her wrists and wrenched her hands away from his face.