This once, Ben agreed with Salma. She would be fine in the room while he went to deal with Scott. Ben had a score to settle with the redhead. He rushed out the door, leaving Salma to wait anxiously.
Of course, Salma knew Ben would not have left her alone if she had told him the rest. Salma was also able to read Scott's thoughts, a brand new skill. He had revised his plans. Scott was going to kill Vin, thus removing him as a continuing threat. Then he would use Vin's death as a distraction so that he could come after Salma again. If Scott somehow eluded Ben, Salma would be in serious danger. Ben would be furious if she did not do something to mitigate the fact that she hadn't told him.
She decided that the best thing she could do would be to find some company so that she was not alone. Salma knew that Maku was out in the lounge keeping Vicki company. Ben had personally asked both Maku and Jeremy to stay close until Scott was caught. Salma decided she would join Maku. After all, she wanted to get a look at this woman who seemed to have an agenda that involved Vin.
As Salma exited her room, she was immediately met at the door by Jeremy, who was leaning casually against the wall. He offered Salma his support as they made their way to the lounge where she could sit down again. Unfortunately, the blonde lady, Apela, and Max had already stepped outside. Maku was not with them.
"Dr. Erickson, are you looking for someone in particular?" Jeremy asked, noting the way she searched the room when she entered.
"I thought Maku would be here. I was hoping to find him and let him know what was going on," Salma replied.
"Oh, if that's all, then there's no need to worry. Your husband snatched up Maku when he ran out, and they ran off in that direction. I'm not entirely certain where they were going. Mr. Erickson barely took the time to ask me to keep an eye on you before he rushed off," Jeremy smiled in his ever-charming manner as he informed Salma.
She and Jeremy sat in the lounge, waiting for someone to return. The tension was almost too much for Salma to bear. Even Jeremy's jovial nature could not dispel her anxiety. Salma jumped up when they heard a gunshot outside echo through the building. It was all Salma could do not to run outside. Jeremy hopped up and ran to the door, looking down the beach. Upon seeing what happened, he remained in the lounge with Salma, keeping her away from the door.
Ben and Maku reached the attic storage room to find it empty. Maku wanted to have a quick look around, but Ben wasn't wasting any time. He spotted the ladder and was up and out onto the roof before Maku could stop him. He emerged into the storm-tossed air.
He considered different scenarios as he went. Why would Scott want to shoot Vin now? In the cave, Salma said he planned to kill Caeli for her blood. The change was an easy mystery for Ben to solve. Aside from the fact that Caeli was missing, Scott now had the perfect chance to take Vin out of the picture for good. Furthermore, Scott would use this as a distraction so he could go after Salma again. Salma would once more become his path to Caeli. And Salma knew it. Yet she still sent Ben up here to save Vin. Ben couldn't fault her choice. There was wisdom in it, though it irritated him to admit it.
There was no easy way to conceal his presence if the gusting wind did not conceal the sound of his approach from Scott's ears. Ben had to take the chance. He worked his way over to where the redhead stood with the barrel of his rifle pointed at the beach below. Thankfully, Scott's attention was focused on his shot, and the sounds of the storm helped disguise the sound of Ben's footsteps. Scott did not hear him creep up from behind. A sudden lightning strike off shore urged Ben into action.
Ben jerked the rifle to Scott's left just as he pulled the trigger and then wrapped his arms around Scott in a bear hug. The shot rang out loudly, and Scott now turned his full attention on Ben. Using the electrical jolt he learned from his time with Antonius, Scott tried to break Ben's hold on him. Though pain coursed through Ben's body, he was not about to let go of the man who tried to kill his wife, tried to kill Vin, and caused so much harm to others. Instead, Ben used all his strength to swing Scott around, forcefully slamming him into the side of the chimney. Ben repeated this motion three times before Scott's jolts ceased to pain him. Scott stopped moving and went limp in Ben's grip, so Ben released him and let him slide to the roof's surface, believing him to be unconscious. Ben turned and walked toward the hatch as he heard Maku climbing up to join him.
Maku was halfway out of the opening as Ben leaned down to lend him a hand. Rather than accept the proffered assistance, Maku quickly drew a knife from somewhere near his waist and hurled it across the roof. Ben turned in time to see the knife pierce Scott through the heart. Scott dropped the handgun he was raising toward Ben's back and fell again to the rooftop. This time, he would not be getting up.
"Thank you," Ben sincerely appreciated Maku's fast reflexes.
After discussing how best to handle the body, they returned below to find Salma anxiously pacing in the lounge. She ran up to Ben as soon as he came around the corner. Ben was followed by Maku, carrying a square object tucked under his arm. As Ben embraced Salma, letting her know that everything was all right, he furtively nodded to Maku. Maku slipped off and placed the object in their room and returned a few minutes later, empty-handed. Maku moved away to talk to Jeremy about getting the guardsmen to remove Scott’s body before heading outside to meet Vin as he walked up the beach with an unknown man.
"Ben, what happened? Where is Scott?" Salma asked concerned.
"He's dead. Maku and Jeremy will take care of the details. He won't be bothering us again. Now, you should not be out here. You're supposed to be resting in the relative safety of our room. Come on, Doll. Back you go. Besides, we are going to have a little talk. I would like to know why you didn't tell me that Scott intended to come after you again."
Ben gave her a stern look as he escorted Salma back to their room. She should have known that Ben would figure it out, even without the benefit of reading Scott's thoughts.
CHAPTER 56
"Hang on, little one. I will try to get us back."
After Caeli finished helping Vin with his injury, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. A very bright, white light approached from twenty feet in front of her as she rested by the tunnel entrance. The intensity of the light faded when it was no more than five feet away and a man stood there, seemingly waiting for something. Caeli turned to face him directly. At first, she thought it might be Urim coming to speak with her, and she saw a brief glimmer of hope. But, upon closer inspection, it was not Urim who stood before her. In fact, this man looked so much like Max that Caeli thought they must be related. Surely that was not possible. Then she remembered that Max referred to him as his uncle.
"Michael. Why are you…?"
Unseen hands reached out from behind Caeli and rested firmly on her shoulders. In that instant, an odd sensation flowed through her entire body. From her neck down, every joint, muscle, and tendon that permitted movement was suddenly frozen in place. Although the pain in her stomach continued to increase at an alarming rate, she could not even console herself with shifting to ease any of the discomfort. At the same time, Michael drew a long dagger from his belt and began to stride forward.
Caeli met Michael for the first time only recently, though Vin had previously described him in vivid detail. The sight of the archangel approaching with his silver dagger in hand filled Caeli with fear. There was no question in her mind that whatever was going to happen in the next few moments would decide her fate. But why would Michael want to hurt her? Caeli was confounded by the situation and powerless to do anything to prevent it.
"Do not be afraid, Sister. It is necessary."
A soothing voice came from the man whose face she could not see behind her. His words sounded kind, but Caeli could not accept them. Her wide eyes remained fixed on the gleaming metal blade in Michael's hand. Caeli's panic increased as the blade arced rapidly toward her stomach, causing the pouring rain to sting her skin. Hopefully theirs, too, she thought. Large waves came barreling toward t
he small island, crashing into the three as they stood there.
"No, please! Stop! Don't do this! Vin, help me!" Caeli begged, but it was too late. In her despair, Caeli silently reached for Vin's support, but was too distraught to realize what she was doing or even know if he heard her.
Michael's aim was true and unwaveringly precise. A thin red line appeared across the lower half of Caeli's belly. The sting of the cut was a quick jolt of pain. She desperately tried to move and continued to plead for them to stop. Michael's hand momentarily covered the open wound dripping blood down her stomach and then the pressure of his touch inside her belly seemed as if he was ripping her apart from the inside. A moment later, he held a tiny child in the palm of his hand and quickly turned away from her. Michael's form shimmered momentarily, disappearing from sight. As it did, Caeli heard her son cry as if from a great distance. The sound tore something loose in her mind. Caeli assumed it to be the last frayed bit of her sanity. This was too much for her to endure. Michael returned minutes later to stand before Caeli, empty hands hanging at his sides. If not for her anger at this horrid act, she might not have found the strength to question him.
"Why? How could you do this? Where did you take my son? Please! Please bring him back."
"Brother, we must close her wound and ease the harshness of this memory. Her mind cannot bear it. I will hold her still while you work," Michael spoke quietly to the man behind Caeli.
Caeli was beyond consolation. The only thing she understood was that Michael had taken her child and these two were not done with her yet. With her remaining clarity, Caeli held one thought in her mind. No more! She would not allow either of them to touch her again, no matter the consequences.
She pulled her thoughts into action to support that single-minded effort. No more! Summoning every ounce of anger and strength that she could muster, Caeli poured everything into her gift. When Michael leaned in to grab Caeli's arm and Raphael's grip loosened so that he could move around from behind to tend her wound, Caeli was momentarily freed from the enforced paralysis. Instantly, she reacted. Her anger sparked a flash of lightning that struck Michael's hand as he reached for her. Her gift responded immediately by engulfing them all in a huge wave. When the wave retracted, Caeli remained where she was standing, but the angels were on the other side of the island.
Michael stared at her across the fifty feet of sand and newly formed pools of water. From that distance, she could not tell if she was seeing anger or astonishment in his expression. Either way, her effort had been successful, and she managed to slip away from them. Now, all she had to do was find a way to get off the island and pray they would not follow her.
"Brother, we have another issue. I must attend to Rika as she crosses. I leave Caeli in your hands. She cannot leave this island unless she is healed." Michael disappeared.
"Sister, you must permit me to heal your wound." Raphael walked slowly toward Caeli.
"No! I don't have to let you do any such thing. Stay away from me."
Lightning flashed dangerously close to the place where Raphael stopped, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he stood there, watching her. The look on his face was one of concern, which only served to disturb Caeli further. How could he possibly be concerned for her after what he and Michael did? Caeli called up her gift and stepped toward the water. To her surprise, she could not enter. She moved both left and right. She tried to bring the water to her. Nothing worked. They had her trapped.
A thought occurred to her suddenly, and Caeli made a dash for the cave entrance. Raphael did not move to stop her. He merely continued to watch. Her hopes were shattered as she ran into a barrier of white light when she tried to enter the cave. With her arm covering the wound on her stomach, Caeli at last gave up. She sat down in front of the rocky wall and began to cry. They took her child. They imprisoned her on this island. She could not use her gift. If she did not get this cut on her stomach tended, she would soon lose too much blood. She could not endure exposure to the storm out here. She would not survive.
Caeli watched Raphael across the distance, but he did not move any closer. He seemed to be waiting. He probably expected her to give in and allow him to heal her, but that was not going to happen. She would never allow him to touch her, not while she could prevent it. She leaned back against the coolness of the rock, realizing that she was sweating profusely. It reminded her vaguely of how terrible she felt when the poison ran through her body. Caeli closed her eyes to rest. She thought about Vin, longing for the security of his embrace, wishing she might see him one more time.
"I'm so sorry, Vin. I hope that one day you will forgive me for my mistakes and understand my choices. Please remember that I love you; I always loved you."
Resigned to her fate, Caeli tried to call him, but something prevented Vin from hearing her. She assumed it was probably the same thing that was preventing her from leaving the island. However, Caeli discovered that, though the connection was one-sided, she could actually see through Vin's eyes. It was a strange sensation as she looked out at his surroundings. He was standing outside in the rain, looking down at Max, who was beside him on the beach. Then he looked up toward the hotel at a lady walking beside Apela. Caeli thought she recognized the woman's face, and then she was certain of it. Her already boiling anger flared anew. The rain became a sudden downpour around Vin.
What was she doing here? When Caeli heard Vin ask the same question aloud, it confirmed her suspicion that this was the lady in the photos. This was the woman who wanted to take another precious thing from her. Caeli’s singular feeling about that was so intense that it bled through to Vin's awareness.
"Vin, help me!"
Vin heard Caeli cry out and grabbed his chest in pain. She was desperate beyond reason. The agony and anger in her voice caused him a strong physical pain. Vin gasped to catch his breath.
"Caeli! I hear you. What can I do? Please, how can I help?"
But, the connection was already gone. Vin no longer sensed Caeli's presence. He tried for several minutes to reach her through their link, but she did not respond. Vin glanced out toward the small island where the storm clouds were thickest. Lightning now flickered throughout the storm instead of only around the edges. Something had changed drastically when she cried out.
Before he could consider it further, something latched on to his legs and remained clinging there. Vin looked down to see Max.
"Max, what are you doing out here? You should be inside where it's safe and dry," Vin started to send the boy away.
"Mr. Vin, don't let them be mean to pretty Caeli."
"Who is being mean to her? Who is with Caeli? What happened, Max?"
"The Sea Queen was with her, but she is gone now. Pretty Caeli is very sad, and I think she is lost. You said she gets lost. Can we go find her? Can we bring her back now? Please, Mr. Vin."
Max was very upset. Vin knelt down to speak with him.
"I don't know how to get to her, Max, but I will figure it out. I will bring her back," Vin assured the young boy.
As he spoke, Vin glanced up the beach to locate the source of the raised voices he heard, curious to know who was arguing. Apela and a blonde woman were walking toward the parking lot. Neither looked very happy.
"Vicki? What is she doing here?" Vin thought perhaps his eyes were playing tricks on him through the rain. It couldn't really be Vicki, could it?
"She wants to take me away. She said Papa is not my Papa," Max answered Vin's unintentional query.
The wind stirred, slightly more agitated around Vin. Vicki was the last person he expected to see. Vin certainly did not want her anywhere near Max, especially not now.
"What are you up to Vicki?" Vin wondered to himself.
"She says there are papers in her car that prove I don't belong to Papa. She is going to get them so she can take me away," Max explained in response to Vin's unvoiced question.
"Caeli would not be happy if I let that happen. Let's go see about those papers." Vin got up and took Max's
hand in his, realizing that Max was not distinguishing between vocal and mental communication; but, because he was so upset, Vin did not reprimand the boy.
"Wait, Brother."
The voice stopped Vin in his tracks.
When the beach was clear of protestors and there was a momentary slack in the rain, Apela, Max, and Vicki left the lounge and headed toward the parking lot to retrieve the paperwork from her car. Vicki caught a glimpse of Vin pacing on the beach below and whistled to herself. She had not known he would be at this hotel. The sight only made her more impatient for the time when he would be free of his wife. Perhaps he was already. Though she had never met Vin's wife, in Vicki's mind, Caeli was all that stood between her and Vin. Vicki knew she had to be patient and wait until Vin returned home; but seeing him now made that very difficult. Their last parting had not been on good terms. Vicki wanted to remedy that as soon as possible. Yet, she refrained from running down to him. If Lorrie accomplished what she promised, Vin would be returning home alone. That's when she would act.
With difficulty, Vicki pulled her eyes away from Vin and returned her attention to the matter at hand. She went to get the papers out of her car. As they walked, Max wriggled his hand free of Apela's and took off down the beach. Apela tried to stop him, but the boy was as quick as lightning. Apela stopped about halfway down the beach, when he noticed where Max was headed. He waited there, watching Max from a distance. He cast a few unpleasant words at Vicki when she insisted that he retrieve Max, eventually convincing her to continue on to her car alone. Meanwhile, Max had reached the water's edge and threw himself around Vin's legs.
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