Relic (The Brethren Series)

by Deena Remiel

  “Move aside, Harlan. I got this now,” he barked. Harlan eased off with the gun and backed away, keeping his gun trained on her.

  As the gunman begged off, Steve wiped his cheek on his shoulder and left a red stain of blood. What she saw next could only be described as a man possessed by the devil. His eyelids lowered until she could barely see the color of his eyes. His right cheek rose and twitched slightly as his lips pressed firmly together in a wicked grin. He pulled her face so close to his that his hot breath scorched her ear. He whispered demonically, “Little sister, you’re gonna pay for what you’ve done to Wheezer and me. Dr. Chappo’s gonna have to wait his turn, ’cause you and I have a little score to settle.” Wheezer came limping down the hall and leaned against the wall, glaring at her. Steve turned his head toward Harlan and ordered, “Leave. Now.”

  He focused his attention back on her. Cold defiance set on her face as she stared back at him. He expects me to cower and tremble in fear of what is coming. I bet he likes it when victims tremble in his hands. But she wouldn’t even blink. Unfortunately, it only proved to fuel his growing rage.

  Before Serena had a chance to flinch or fight, he hoisted her up, and as she screamed Raphael’s name to the heavens, he threw her crashing against the wall.

  ***

  “Serena!” Raphael cried out as he fell to his knees. “Oh God, she’s alive! Gabriel, she called to me! I feel her!”

  The Brethren had been trolling systematically throughout the mansion, dismantling more hidden security and cutting down security guards, yet hadn’t gotten any closer to finding Serena. “Oh God, the pain! She’s in so much pain….” He couldn’t go on, as he too experienced her pain. Writhing on the floor, his whole body felt like a bag of broken bones. Through the phantom pain something seemed horribly familiar.

  She’s reliving history. Sirona’s history. There is no way on this earth that I’m going to fail her the way I failed my wife. “Never again!” he shouted in agony. He had to find her before it was too late.

  “Michael,” Gabriel called. “Get over here quick and see what you can do to shield him from Serena’s pain. But make sure the threaded connection still exists so we can locate her.”

  “Sure, sure.” He hurried over to Raphael who remained thrashing about on the floor. He placed a talisman around the Savior’s neck, held the medallion in his hands, and spoke a silent prayer that wove silver and gold threaded light around Raphael’s head. “It is done.”

  The Savior looked up as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “You are amazing. I don’t know how you do it, but you are a lifesaver.”

  “No, that’s your job, brother. I just protect your ass. You’re good to go. So tell us, where is she?” He extended a hand and hefted his teammate up off the floor. Raphael started walking quickly down the hall.

  “We follow this corridor to the end. Take the stairwell down to the bottom floor. There is a whole other set of corridors to go through down there. I’m not getting a specific location, only a general sense. So let’s get going and maybe I’ll find out more along the way.”

  ***

  “What took you so long?” Dr. Chappo barked.

  “She gave us a bit of trouble, sir, so I gave some back.” Steve laid her down on the surgical gurney. “She’s alive, don’t worry.”

  “How could she give you trouble if Roberta knocked…oh. She must have awakened. Very well, as long as she’s alive. That’s all I need. Now, Wheezer, stand guard outside the door. I don’t need any surprise visitors. Steve, go scrub in. In case you don’t know what that means, go wash your hands in the scrub room and put on surgical gloves. Then, help me with mine.”

  The two men did as they were told. The doctor wheeled himself over to where Serena lay unconscious. He checked to see that the necessary instruments were ready. A tray with a blood recipient set for him, which included a filter and tubing with a drip chamber for the blood, stood next to her. A small box with nozzles on either side for connective tubing sat next to the tray. Finally a venipuncture kit and multi-lead tubing that is typically used to transfer blood from a bag rested on top of the box. He would use the bag to collect his diseased blood. Dr. Chappo’s specialized procedure allowed him to acquire blood, a goddess’s immortal blood, directly from her, all of it.

  Steve returned, looking a little wary. He marched over to Dr. Chappo and helped put the surgical gloves on his gnarled hands. “So what’s going on, Doc? You know I’m not a doctor, sir, so I hope it’s nothing too technical you want me doing.” He played nervously with his own gloves.

  “Don’t worry. It’s minor and I’ll walk you through everything. First, there are bindings on the Goddess’s gurney. Strap her down, tight. If she wakes up, I don’t want her screwing things up.”

  “It would be my pleasure.” Steve walked over to Serena, and bound her ankles and wrists tightly to the gurney.

  “Now, I hope you aren’t squeamish. I’m going to need you to do a little needle work.”

  “I’m not squeamish, but uh, I’ve never done needlepoint, sir. I’ve seen my grandma do it, but….”

  “No, you idiot! Needle work as in putting a syringe in someone’s arm!”

  “Oh! Yeah, right, okay. I’ve shot up some crack in my day, so yeah, I can do that.”

  “Let’s get to it. We haven’t a moment to lose. I’ve waited a long time for this. Now is my crowning achievement. This goes far beyond anything I could have done or will ever do as an archeologist. Steve, take the venipuncture and tubing set and prepare the goddess for the blood transference. The directions are right on the bag. I’ll watch to make sure you’re doing everything correctly.”

  “Okay, sir. Let’s see, first I—” He was interrupted by Dr. Chappo’s intercom.

  “Yes, Hawkins, what is it? I’m in the middle of something important here!” Dr. Chappo barked into the headset.

  “Sir, I think we have a problem. None of our property or perimeter guards have checked in or reported back to base at their required time. Also, Jim, Harry, and Harlan from our inside team aren’t responding to multiple calls. I’ve sent other men to investigate, but I wanted to let you know. I’ve checked and double-checked the monitors and nothing unusual is showing up, sir.”

  “I don’t want anything or anyone near this lab!” he barked. “You listen to me. I don’t care how you do it, but you better find out what the hell’s going on and rectify it. If this project has in any way been jeopardized by your men’s stupidity, you shall suffer a horrible death. Send an extra nine men down to the lab immediately. Wheezer’s already on guard. Don’t call me again unless you have a death wish.” He reached up slowly and swiped the headset off his ear. “Get a move on. Something is up and this procedure needs to be done quickly.”

  Steve attached Serena’s arm to the equipment that would be draining the blood from her body. He attached the blood receiving set to the doctor. In between the two of them sat the contraption that both sets hooked into like a transfer station. Lastly, he connected the blood collection bag to the doctor’s other arm.

  “On my mark, you will flip the goddess’s switch and then mine. Once that is done, you are done except for monitoring us and removing the equipment when the procedure is complete. That’ll be in about an hour. Ready?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Flip the switches, Steve.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Searing hot pain shot like lightning throughout every inch of Serena’s body. Well, every inch she could feel, which left her very disturbed indeed, because she couldn’t feel anything past her waist. She could barely breathe without severe pain ripping through her chest and back. She knew what that meant—broken ribs. But what about her legs? Where were they? And why did her wrists feel shackled? Oh, dear God! What’s become of me? Her shallow breaths quickened. Her heart raced and fought for freedom behind her aching chest. Tears burst through her closed eyes and flowed untapped down the sides of her face.

  A voice sliced through the whooshing
sound in her ears. A voice she knew all too well, and had come to despise with every molecule in her being.

  “Uh, Doc, I think she’s coming ’round. What do you want me to do?” Steve asked.

  “Hmm? Oh, nuffin. Nuffin, Seeve. Jus’ keep watchin’,” Dr. Chappo slurred. “She’ll be dead soon.”

  I’ll be dead soon? Why? What is he doing to me? She fought through the tortured suffering and forced her eyes open. Through the blur of tears, she could only see blinding white light and the ceiling. She tried turning her head and found she could do so, but only slightly before a stabbing pain shot right up the base of her skull to the top of her head. She felt an uncomfortable stick or prick in the crook of her left arm.

  She decided to speak. She had coherent statements in her head, ones with all the required words in it, but it whispered out like a child’s instead. “Arm hurts. Where legs?”

  No one responded. Maybe she hadn’t really spoken after all. She could have sworn her lips had moved. She was frightened and not sure anymore if she was even alive. But she so wanted to be alive! “Daddy. Want Daddy,” she whimpered.

  “What’s that you say?” Steve sneered, bending over her face with a sadistic glare. “You want your daddy? Well ain’t that rich. Hey, Doc, she wants her daddy! Your daddy won’t be helping you out anytime soon, Goddess. Nope, the next time you see him will be when you’re both good and dead.”

  She cried out in anguish, but had to stop when she couldn’t take in enough air.

  “Stop taunting her. You know she’s going to die anyway. You don’t have to make it worse.” Having regained his composure from the initial surge of new blood, the doctor now focused on the procedure once more. “Check the pressure on the transfer box. It shouldn’t be going any higher than three on the dial. If it is, increase the clamp pressure on her tubing.”

  “Yes sir.” Steve checked. “Holding steady at two, sir.”

  “Fine, fine. Now, bring me a little closer to the Goddess. I want to speak to her. Make sure the tubing doesn’t get tangled.”

  Steve complied and moved him near her head. “Hmm, I can’t see her face. Turn her head so I can see her face.” As he did so, Serena yelped, and her body went rigid with distress.

  “I’m glad to see you awake, dear Goddess. I thought you might be interested in what is going on. You see, Sirona, you could have just gifted your abilities to me like mythology says you can do, but you chose to be selfish. You chose to look beyond my needs to how I procured you, and rested your judgment on that. Now that isn’t fair to me, is it? So luckily, I created a device that would get me the same results, except unfortunately, you won’t be so happy with yours. What’s happening right now is that I am siphoning your healthy, immortal blood and transferring it into my diseased body. As your blood replaces mine, I shall be rid of my disease and gain the immortality you treasure so dearly. Don’t worry, though. Although you will be dead, I will worship you for all of eternity. Your bedroom suite will be transformed into a shrine to you. You don’t have to thank me. I know you appreciate it. Ta’ me’ buioch diot as do chunamh. I’m grateful to you for your help. Now rest comfortably and take heart knowing your death saved my life.”

  Through the hazy twilight, she managed to say, “You’ve…made…dreadful…mistake. I’m…just…girl. I’m…human.”

  “Don’t think so little of yourself, Goddess. We both know the truth of it.”

  In Serena’s growing delirium, and with the last bit of energy she had left, Sirona took over and cried out, “Raphael, anam chara, my soul mate, save me!”

  “You see! You are Sirona, Goddess of Healing! You even call for your long lost husband. I know of him from mythology books. Sorry, but he’s not been around since…well, since you died the first time.”

  Serena had nothing left to say, no strength left to fight, and no hope left in her heart. And so she gave in to the waves of darkness that lapped gently against the shores of her mind. Yes, Raphael is Sirona’s husband, not mine, she thought as she succumbed to the darkness.

  A commotion could be heard outside the lab doors. Scuffling, short yelps and thuds, and silence. Steve armed himself with the semi-automatic he had stuck in his waistband and walked over to the lab doors. Dr. Chappo yelled over to him, “Steve! Increase the flow! Increase the flow! Raise it to four!”

  “But you told me it shouldn’t go past three.”

  “I must have all of her blood, but we don’t have time! Whoever is behind that door means to come in and stop me! Do it or you will die where you stand!”

  Steve ran over to the transfer box and turned the dial to four.

  Suddenly, a burst of light and sound exploded through the lab doors, throwing him to the floor. He slammed into a metal desk right near the entrance to the lab. As the smoke cleared, he shook his head to clear it and screamed. Standing in the doorway were five of the fiercest looking giants he’d ever seen.

  Raphael entered first, with the other Brethren close on his heels. Michael guarded the door while Raphael stalked over to the screaming thug on the floor. He picked him up by the shirt collar and looked him dead in the eye with a don’t-fuck-with-me stare and demanded, “Tell me where she is.”

  Steve’s feet were dangling above the ground. Speechless, he raised his right arm and pointed to Serena on the gurney. Raphael turned to look, horrified by what he saw—Serena unconscious and shackled, with tubes running out of her arm. He turned back and threatened, “I’ll deal with you later. Gabriel, watch him. Find out everything he knows and get his name.” He tossed him to the floor like a used gum wrapper.

  Gabriel rushed over, sword pointed at Steve’s throat. “Let’s have a little talk, shall we?” he asked, his pleasant smile and tone belying the real intent.

  As Raphael turned his attention to Serena, he heard laughing. Not the kind of laughter you hear after reading a comic or hearing a funny joke. No, this laugh came from the darkest depths of a man’s soul having succumbed to pure evil.

  Dr. Chappo.

  Pushing through carts and other miscellaneous equipment, Raphael tore his way over to Serena to find Dr. Chappo near her in his wheelchair. He seemed drunk or high, and when Raphael examined him, he knew why. He was drunk on her blood. Kemuel and Nathanael, having followed quickly after, raised their swords to strike him, but Raphael raised his hand and shouted, “No!”

  He took a quick look at the contraption between Serena and the doctor. “We’ve got to detach her from this first. Keep your swords trained on him, though. Dr. Chappo! Dr. Chappo, how do I turn this thing off?”

  “It’s too late! She’s all gone now! I’m free! Ha ha! I will live forever!” Dr. Chappo kept babbling on and on, seemingly unaware of anyone’s presence or even the deadly predicament he was in.

  Raphael noticed a knob on the box. It made sense to dial it to its lowest setting. He followed the tubing to its clamp on Serena’s side and decided to completely clamp it off. Now, no more blood could flow. But he still needed to get the needle out of her arm. He found gauze and tape on the tray stand and proceeded to extrude the catheter from her arm carefully so as not to injure her. He quickly replaced it securely with the gauze and tape. He noticed his hands begin to shake. I can’t fall apart like this right now! He quickly shrugged off the threat of paralyzing fear.

  “Hey, Raphael, this guy says his name is Steve. Isn’t that the name of one of guys who assaulted Serena?” Gabriel asked.

  “Yes, yes it is,” he said through gnashed teeth. Rage filled him and he clenched his fists, trying to gain some semblance of control. “Bind him, tightly. Make sure he can see Dr. Chappo. I’d like him to see what happens to assholes like him when they choose Evil over the Good.” He turned his attention back to Serena.

  He gently untied the bindings around her wrists and ankles. Only sheer will stopped him from grabbing her to him, for he had no clue if she had sustained any injuries during her kidnapping. He began his scan of her body.

  Shit, shit, shit!

  Her injur
ies were so similar to those he’d found on Sirona centuries before! Three vertebrae were broken in her lumbar region, pressing on her spinal cord, her ribs had numerous fractures, vertebrae in her neck were out of alignment, and there were fractures at the base of her skull. Barely any breath escaped her lips, and when he checked, her pulse was weaker than the day he’d found her in the desert, what seemed a lifetime ago. Dear God in heaven, how has she held on this long?

  “Serena, honey, I’m here. Raphael’s here. I’ll heal you and fix you up right. Hang on a little longer for me, sweetheart.”

  As his hands hovered over every inch of Serena’s body, he sent his warm, healing powers across the space between, and through her skin to all of her injuries. The broken bones, fractures, and spinal cord injury were all relatively easy fixes, and he restored full mobility to her legs. The amount of blood loss, however, concerned him the most when he finally noticed her ashen face. Replacing lost blood would take considerably more time than fixing broken bones. He had to use a tremendous amount of energy to help her marrow create new red blood cells.

  The painstaking process had only just begun when he heard Dr. Chappo raving like a lunatic about his new immortality. “Shut him up, will you? Or I’ll come over there right now and shut him up permanently.”

  “Raphael! Raphael! Save me!” Dr. Chappo taunted incessantly. “Couldn’t save her the first time. Can’t save her now.”

  In a whirlwind of movement, he slapped Kemuel’s and Nathanael’s blades aside and rose from his chair in triumph. “I’ve got her immortal blood in me. I am the one who will live forever! I’m invincible!” With an agility quite unexpected, the doctor jumped away from the two Brethren who had stood vigil around him. He reached behind his wheelchair and pulled out a gun. He kept shifting his aim from the Brethren to Serena.