Black Opal

by Sandra Cox

  “Shug,” Bella said gently, “life is seldom black and white. It’s black on one end and white on the other with a whole lot of gray in between. What you allowed to happen was a lesser wrong for a greater good.”

  “We don’t even know if she’s taken him hostage. He may have gone of his own free will or went elsewhere.”

  “Do you really think Adam went with her of his own free will?” Bella asked, her voice skeptical.

  “No.” Sabina finger-combed her hair back in an impatient gesture. “And he would have come to help us if he’d been able. Ergo something is desperately wrong.” She clutched her stomach feeling bile rise in her throat.

  “Don’t worry sweetness, we’ll be there soon.” Bella trod on the pedal and their pace increased, the landscape blurring. By now she’d left the back road. They were flying down I-40.

  Sabina looked over her shoulder. “I think we just passed Johnny.”

  “That’s good. In case Adam’s not in the best of conditions, it would be best if we get Maureen to him before Johnny arrives.”

  “If you see any police cars jam their radars.”

  “Consider it done.”

  It was the last bit of conversation they had as Bella concentrated on the road, the needle on the odometer creeping to the right.

  Sabina closed her eyes and concentrated on trying to reach Adam. He didn’t possess an amulet. They shouldn’t be linked. But at some basic level they were. She focused her thoughts inward, closing out everything but Adam.

  Images began to swirl toward her through a mist. No, not images, colors, feelings—black, gray, pain, despair and a tiny white thread of hope.

  She felt a surge. She’d gotten through. Her head slumped to her chin in relief. She reached over and touched Maureen’s amulet, borrowing its calming power.

  For the rest of the trip, she stared straight ahead dry-eyed, not breaking the silence until she saw the I-85 exit. “I-85 up ahead, Bella.” She glanced at her watch. “Way to go, Bella, you made a two and a half hour trip in a little over an hour.”

  “We aren’t there yet, sugar,” Bella said as she squealed onto the exit ramp and merged, her face determined as she forced a semi into the other lane. The driver waved his middle finger at them as they whizzed by.

  Twenty minutes later they were slowing down at the Harris Boulevard exit and Sabina thanked every god she could think of that they’d made it this far in one piece.

  “Okay watch for Lee Street,” Bella said.

  “There.” Sabina’s finger shot out.

  In the wrong lane, Bella cut in front of a green van to get to the exit.

  Sabina white-knuckled the armrest. They made the turn with inches to spare. From driving like a bat out of hell, Bella now crept along watching for the address.

  “We’re close,” Sabina said, her heart pounding with excitement as they passed a red brick three-story structure with 1012 on the front of it.

  The buildings were spaced far apart with cement and brownish green grass separating them.

  Cars zipped around the Lamborghini as Bella crawled along scanning addresses on her left. “There it is!” She whipped into a decrepit two-story wooden building with peeling paint. One of the twos in the address lay at a crazy angle on the front of the building.

  Bella cut the engine.

  Sabina looked around. The paved drive had long since given way to cracked cement with brown weeds sprouting through the crumbled gaps. “Not quite bad enough to be condemned but close enough.

  “Let’s go. Maureen, wake up.” Nerves crackled under Sabina’s tight skin. She knew her voice sounded abrupt but she couldn’t help it.

  Maureen shot up in her seat, her eyes wild, looking around.

  Sabina snapped open the seat belt and dislodged herself from the car. She left the car door open for Maureen and began to run toward the building.

  “Wait. Dammit, shug, wait,” Bella hissed trotting after her.

  But there was no stopping her. Adrenaline surged through her. Barely aware of the rough concrete beneath her feet or the occasional whine of a distant semi from the highway, she ran toward the building, her entire being focused on finding Adam.

  She stumbled but righted herself and kept going. He’s here. I can feel him, feel pain and longing. He’s so damn thirsty.

  As she reached the front of the building, Bella caught up with her, Maureen hard on Bella’s heels.

  Sabina shot out her left arm and pointed at the lock on the building. The power shot down her arm, snapping the lock. “Bella get some water. Quick he’s dehydrated. Maureen, come with me.”

  “What?” Bella gaped at her.

  “Do it,” Sabina snapped.

  Without another word, Bella went running to the car.

  “Come on, Maureen, he’s in the basement.” The door smacked back against the wall as Sabina pushed it open and tore down the hall.

  Maureen didn’t argue, just raced beside her.

  Grime and dust coated the interior and lay thick on the black and white tiled floors.

  The tug at her heart grew stronger with each step through the building. Like bygone eras when man relied on instinct to survive, Sabina followed her heart, the pull at it strong. Love to love, blood to blood.

  She went racing to the rickety wooden stairs. Hurrying down the first three, she felt the fourth give beneath her foot and jumped to the next. “Watch out, Maureen.”

  Maureen didn’t answer. Sabina could only assume she was too busy making sure her feet were landing on solid wood instead of empty space.

  Sabina took the last four steps in one leap, icy sweat beading on her forehead, her pulse racing. “Come on, Maureen,” she urged as she felt Adam’s life force grow fainter.

  She groped along the hallway for a light switch. Something crawled over her hand then jumped off. She shuddered but kept her fingers walking along the wall. She found the switch and flicked it. Nothing happened. She backed up and shot out her left arm and light blazed out of a bulb in the ceiling.

  “Hold on, damn you. Don’t you dare die,” she hissed under her breath as she raced down the damp dirty corridor. She could barely breathe. Nerves skittered up and down her spine. “Hold on, hold on.” Maureen’s footsteps echoed behind her.

  She saw a door at the far end of the hallway and knew with all her heart he was there. She skidded to a stop and threw open the door. The smell of mold and refuse hit her in the face. Beady red eyes glistened in the dark and went scurrying away. She blinked in the gloom then threw her left arm toward the center of the ceiling where a light bulb should be. Power sizzled down her arm and out her fingertips. The light blazed on.

  Her eyes widened in horror and she forced herself to bite back a gasp. Victoria had chained Adam to the wall. His head hung against his chest, his hair falling over his face was dank and lifeless. His flesh serrated.

  Shaking with shock, she threw her arm and power toward the shackle around his right wrist. It opened and he fell forward. His weight sagged and he dangled by one arm from the remaining manacle.

  She threw out her arm toward his left wrist. Power flew from her fingertips. She raced forward to catch him as the shackle opened. He fell into her arms. She sat down abruptly, every bone in her body jarred as her bottom made contact with the dirty concrete floor.

  Maureen came panting into the room and skittered to a halt. “Oh my gods.”

  “Hurry, Maureen,” Sabina sobbed out, rocking the limp body in her arms. Adam’s head fell against her breast.

  He opened his eyes for one moment, his face gray beneath the dirt and growth of beard on his cheeks and chin. “I thought I’d lost you. I love you, Sabina, more than life itself.” The words were barely a breath on the air. He closed his eyes.

  Tears streamed down her face and fell on him, leaving wet streaks in the dirt on his cheek.

  “Give him to me,” Maureen said between pants, still trying to catch her breath from racing to keep up with Sabina. She plopped down in the dirt next to Sabi
na and held out her arms.

  Sabina transferred the long limp body as best she could.

  Maureen got a good look at his chest as she pulled him to her. “That woman is a beast. I refuse to call her an animal. Animals have more compassion,” she said through gritted teeth, trying to talk through the discomfort coursing through her. “He’s badly dehydrated. His body is trying to shut down. He doesn’t have enough fluid to get the blood to his organs.” She pushed out each word through clenched jaws.

  Sabina knew the fluids were being drained from Maureen’s body and being pumped into Adam’s. She bent her head, her long hair falling forward. There wasn’t a damn thing she could do to help.

  She lifted her head. Maybe there was. The power of two. Adam’s legs were stretched across her legs. She put a firm hand on one and with the other clasped Maureen’s hand, which lay across Adam’s bare chest. She felt a light electric current as she and Maureen made contact.

  “Thank you,” Maureen said her eyes closed her voice faint.

  Bella came bursting through the door, a six pack of water in her hands.

  Sabina met her eyes. A message passed between them.

  “The power of three,” Bella responded to the silent communiqué and sat down on Maureen’s other side.

  She placed a hand on Adam and the other on Maureen. The floor shook and streaks of light in rainbow hues flashed through the room around them.

  Adam’s eyes opened. “What?” he began.

  “Lie quietly,” Sabina breathed.

  He held her eyes for a long moment then glanced at Maureen and began to struggle. “I’m hurting her.”

  The women collectively tightened their grips.

  Maureen’s eyes were closed, her voice faint. “Please don’t struggle. It makes it harder on me and I don’t have any strength to spare. Trust me, it’s much easier with my sisters here to help me.”

  Sabina could feel the quivers running up and down Maureen’s dry skin.

  “I’ll give you one minute and then I’m getting up,” Adam said his voice stronger.

  “Not until I repair your kidneys.”

  “I can’t do this to you,” his eyes were dark and tortured.

  “I promise you, I will recover.”

  Sabina leaned forward. “Please, sweetheart, don’t fight us.” Her hands tightened around both Adam and Maureen, willing strength into them.

  She lifted her head and began to sing. Lights shimmered and danced in time to the music. She sang a ballad about a lover lost and then another about sisterhood. Her powerful voice encircled her friends and the man she loved, comforting them with her own special magic.

  When the last note died away, there was a quiet, collective sigh and Maureen let go, her body limp. “It’s done. He’ll be okay. I’ll have another go at him when we get back to the hotel.”

  As they dropped their hands, the bolts of colored lights died and a shadow filled the doorway. “What the hell did that bitch do to you?” Johnny Morelly demanded.

  * * * * *

  Her arm throbbed like a bad tooth but at least it had knitted. Maureen Wolfe had been a fool to heal her. Victoria looked around the room searching for an escape. She had to get out of here before Morelly got back or the police showed up.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Startled, Sabina looked toward the door. Johnny Morelly loomed in the doorway all but snorting fire looking like an enraged bull ready to charge. He splayed his feet and fisted his hands on his hips, his head lowered.

  Adam pushed to his feet then held out a hand for her and one for Bella.

  Bella took his hand, got to her feet then dusted off her pants. She reached for the water, unscrewed a bottle and handed it to Adam then did the same for Maureen.

  “Uncle.” Adam nodded at Johnny then drank his water in three long gulps.

  Sabina felt his body sway and moved closer. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Bella do the same.

  A squeak from a rodent broke the silence. Rats. She hated rats.

  Johnny strode forward and pushed the women aside. He enveloped Adam in a burly hug. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine Uncle,” Adam mumbled against the wide shoulder his head rested on. The empty plastic water bottle fell from his fingers and rolled across the floor.

  “Don’t crack the dear boy’s ribs, shug.” Bella pushed back her hair then touched her amulet.

  Sabina looked over at her friend, shook her head and grinned. Leave it to Bella to do a quick glam in a dirty rat-infested basement.

  Loosening his grip, Johnny left one large arm across Adam’s shoulder. “Come on, my boy, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

  Adam stepped back. “Uncle, I’m fine. I’m going back to the hotel with Sabina. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  “And just where do you think you are going to sit in that toy of Ms. Tremaine-McHenry’s? Come on, I’ll drop you at the hotel.”

  Adam looked at Sabina his eyes hooded. “I’ll see you back at the hotel.”

  “You are no condition to be doing the horizontal fandango you know. Plus you need to get cleaned up,” Johnny said as he propelled his nephew out the door. “You didn’t think I’d let anything happen to my heir did you?”

  Heir? Sabina’s stomach knotted but at the moment she was too damn tired to worry about it.

  A sharp elbow to her ribs brought her out of her preoccupied state. “Come on, shug. Let’s get Maureen back to the hotel.”

  Sabina looked at Maureen. Her friend leaned against the filthy damp wall her head down her shoulders slumped, the water bottle dangling from her dirty fingers. She pushed thoughts of Adam and Johnny Morelly to the back of her mind and grasp her friend’s arm. “Come on, Maureen.”

  Bella took Maureen’s other arm and they half-dragged, half-carried her out of the dirty chamber and upstairs to the car.

  “I’m going to burn my clothes and soak in a tub for a week. That room crawled with bacteria,” Bella said, her eyes on the dark, near empty streets as she drove to the hotel.

  “Bacteria wasn’t the only thing crawling in there.” Sabina grimaced, hoping she hadn’t brought any spiders back with her as she twisted around trying to get comfortable in the bucket seat she shared with Maureen.

  Her head occasionally falling forward, Maureen snored softly beside her.

  Bella wheeled into the hotel parking lot.

  “You’ll need to get these seats disinfected,” Sabina said as Bella parked and cut the lights.

  “Count on it,” Bella replied opening the car door.

  Sabina helped Maureen out of the car. Bella on one side and Sabina on the other, they got Maureen in the hotel and upstairs.

  “She can sleep in my room tonight,” Bella said, inserting the key with one hand and propping Maureen up with the other. “See you tomorrow, shug.” Bella disappeared into the room with Maureen in tow.

  Sabina turned and made her way to her door. She glanced at Adam’s but it was firmly closed. She hesitated for a moment then went into her suite.

  Heading for the bathroom, she shed her clothes as she went. She got into the shower and let the hot stinging droplets pour over her. She scrubbed ’til her skin glowed pink trying to rid herself off the filth and scent of the basement and worse yet, the mental image of Adam half-dead in chains, the image harder to purge than the filth.

  She stood in the shower until her skin began to prune then stepped out and wrapped a thick soft towel around her head and another one around body, tucking it under her arms above her breast.

  Flipping off the light switch, she walked out of the bathroom and wandered toward the kitchen intent on a glass of wine. She stopped short in the living room.

  Adam sat on her couch, his legs sprawled, his kitten beside him. He was dressed in unrelieved black, his shirt open to the waist.

  “How did you get in?”

  “I’m afraid I bribed the maid.” He gave her a disarming smile.

  “You should be in bed.”

  His
dark eyes glinted and a wicked expression settled over his face and glistened in his decadent dark-chocolate colored eyes.

  Sabina felt her knees grow weak and wished she had something to prop herself up with.

  “You know I was thinking the same thing myself.” He stood up, careful not to disturb the kitten that slumbered beside him. He took a step toward her. His hot dark gaze roamed over her.

  Reaching up, he plucked the towel from her head. Her wet hair cascaded down her shoulders. A lock fell forward and he twined it around his finger.

  Everything surrounding her grew sharper and clearer, like binoculars brought suddenly into focus. He smelled of soap and lime. He’d shaved. His beautiful blue-black hair was still damp from his shower.

  He slipped his other hand under her hair that lay on her bare shoulder blades. She felt hot and cold and began to breathe in short sharp gasps. There was so much heat in his hand, she was certain when he removed it five fingers would stand out in red against her white skin.

  “Golden-throated nightingale with shining chestnut tresses and ripe succulent lips,” he whispered in low smoky tones as his gaze slid from her damp hair to her lips and lingered. “Take me to your bed tonight and let me rest my weary head against your sweet breast. I burn for you with such desire I fear it may consume me.”

  Sabina watched his head come closer and closer, drowning in his chocolate liqueur eyes. His lips touched hers and a fire sprang from the pit of her belly and spread throughout her body. Then she lost all touch with reality as she became carried away in a golden haze of pleasure greater than anything she’d ever known or hoped to know.

  * * * * *

  Sabina woke by degrees feeling as sleepy and content as a cat. She stretched, her body rubbing against the soft sheets that Adam’s scent still lingered on. Good gods, she’d never known anything like the night she’d spent with him. It had been incredible. She was somewhat surprised they hadn’t killed each other in their urgency to couple. She smiled, feeling smug. The second time had been a little less hurried and the third time had been slow and leisurely like smooth malt whiskey.