Rebel Heart

by Young, Christine

  It was later than he had thought. The evening had come and gone and he still hadn't seen Tori. After leaving her in their room, he'd inventoried the equipment that was arriving from his lab in the mountains. As the hours passed, he was growing more and more anxious to see her.

  Last night he had been determined to get her away from the lab, away from the danger that hovered constantly around her. He wanted to protect her and let her have her freedom at the same time. Reding was the only place on this earth that he thought this possible. But the rage in her eyes and the loathing in her expression when he told her she had no choice but to come with him, haunted him still. When he closed his eyes, he could see the fire and the ice--the magic and the fascination that was Tori, yet there was always a look of despair in her gaze.

  Cameron had not slept that night. The lab had been a powerful force, the apparatus for the allele transplants arriving the night before. He'd spent hours staring at it. Unable to stop himself, he began to assemble the parts. He laughed at himself. How easy this was, he thought. How incredibly easy because it did have an instruction guide. He was reminded of a night not so long ago when he wished that Tori had come with instructions. But no, he thought, most of the time he preferred life this way--a challenge. The battles between them, some sweet, some bitter, brought out the best in her, showed him her courage and her determination, the fire within. He did admire those qualities in her. He admired much about his incredibly stubborn bride. She had the heart of a rebel.

  His hands steepled beneath his chin as he stared at the directions to the machinery. He had become accustomed to her, her mercuric and eager mind, her tenacious determination to uncover the truth. As he looked into the night, burdened with his thoughts, his heartbeat quickened. When he walked to the window and gazed at the moon, he was reminded of her brilliance, the glow that often captured her features and held him enthralled. If anything were to happen to her....

  But no, she would find safety here, in Reding.

  Never in his wildest dreams had he thought to love her, he thought suddenly. She was so ardent, so courageous and she had such beautiful dove gray eyes. Her hair reminded him of a river of brandy. Yet even though he loved her, she loathed him.

  She fought him at every turn. Victoria had never seemed afraid of him. Since he had first seen her scrambling from the window determined to save herself, she had somehow captured his heart.

  He'd thought himself in love once before, but it had been nothing like this...this storm that swirled and danced around her. Whenever he thought of her, whenever he closed his eyes, he'd see her and then he'd crave her.

  She made his life a living hell until he held her, stroked her. He wanted her by his side, now and forever.

  He caught the memory of her delicate scent on the breeze that drifted through the window. The tiny white flowers the name of her lab came from grew in abundance in his research facility. Even the faint aroma they gave off reminded him of Victoria.

  This had been her idea, her thesis, long before he'd come to take over. Her signature was on everything. It seemed to evolve with her hand, a single piece of data, a mark here, but when it was all compiled, it clamored for acknowledgment, defying him, yes, challenging him...

  She wanted to be a part of this. And she deserved to be.

  Yet he did not know how to compromise with her.

  And so he had searched for a way to give her all she so desperately needed.

  He had several ideas, but he somehow sensed it might not be enough, because she was not going to let herself be pushed aside.

  It was not his intent to push her aside.

  The apparatus was almost ready to run, to be tested; he could gather the information from her pins and put it to use. He would not allow her to dictate to him, he decided, but he would allow her a part, if only a small part. Perhaps just being in the room with him would be enough.

  Even as he came to his decision and left the exercise room, he became aware of Luke running up the steps. He paused, watching and wondering what could possibly have Luke panting and looking so very forlorn.

  He waited for Luke to reach him with his hand outstretched in greeting. Suddenly he realized there was something terribly wrong.

  Luke stopped, leaning over and inhaling deep ragged breaths of air. "Come on. There's no time to waste. She's locked herself in the lab. She has her pins and is copying each one."

  "How did that happen!" he exploded. "She has no keys!"

  "She's found them all, every single one."

  "Incredible."

  Luke looked at him, his dismay clearly readable in his eyes. "Not so incredible. She drugged the guards, the cooks, all the research staff."

  "Drugged!" Cameron felt a horrible shudder. He'd been a fool. He never should have left her alone, knowing how she felt and understanding her determination to change the world. "Since when?" he sighed, trying desperately to control his own emotions.

  "Dr. Savage…" Luke began, stepping away from him.

  "Come on. There's no time to waste. I've got to find a way inside. She can't stay in there alone."

  "If it isn't one thing it's another. How the devil did she get a hold of drugs?"

  Luke followed Cameron as he raced down the steps and through the hallways. By the time he reached the bottom floor, he stopped, and turning, he absorbed the scene. From housekeeper to lab attendants with top-level security, everyone was sleeping.

  "I haven't a clue, Dr. Savage," Luke said quickly. "But it seems to me I should have been with her."

  Cameron swore. Then even as he clenched his fists tighter, he reminded himself that was exactly what he'd been thinking all through the night.

  "It's not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it's me."

  Luke smiled hesitantly. "Cameron, you should have expected as much."

  "I know her too well and this doesn't surprise me. I should have anticipated."

  "Aisling is here."

  "What?" Cameron stared at him, dumbfounded.

  "Your equipment has come from the mountains."

  Cameron shook his head, befuddled, wondering what on earth Luke could possibly be referring to.

  Luke cleared his throat. "Your assistants came too."

  "Oh, hell!" Cameron swore aloud. "But there was no reason to bring them. I don't need any more help. They'll just get in the way. Zaria?"

  "Yes. I didn't know about any of this. She was the first one I found sleeping the drug off...in your bedroom," he finished bluntly.

  "Mine? My room?"

  "Aisling went to her room. After that..."

  "But now Tori's in the lab. Anything could happen. Anything at all..."

  Luke shook his head vigorously. "No...well...yes, anything could happen, but it hasn't. Nessa hooked up the camera and the computer link to Tori's room and we've been watching. She hasn't done anything. It seems she waited until you left this morning to go in there, and all she's been doing since is going over the pins. She's on the fourth one now."

  "And how long before the fifth?"

  "That isn't all. A messenger from Tower City arrived this morning. I told him you were otherwise engaged, and he left the letter and a subtle suggestion. It seems all hell's broken loose in the City. You got out of there just in time. Sheridan is on a rampage. He's gone through Tori's center, stripping it, searching for what you have here. It won't take long for him to figure out where you've gone. And Jonathan..."

  "Jonathan?"

  Luke shook his head as Cameron interrupted him. "Jonathan has taken to the hills. It doesn't matter how the vote turned out, Sheridan's men overpowered the assembly and only a handful escaped. He's holding the others hostage, but Jonathan and his peers refuse to come in or to change the vote. It would only take a few votes to erase the outcome, but Sheridan's threats don't seem to make much difference."

  "Jonathan will never back down. So it stands that way. Sheridan can't touch me here. It would take an army and Sheridan only has a handful of men. He's ever the bully but he's
never been able to hang on to loyalty. I can't take the time to worry too much about Jonathan. He'll manage." He had expected as much. Jonathan would take no chances where this issue was concerned, and Jonathan knew he needed time.

  Hell, he needed a miracle. He couldn't start performing the operation on people just because he knew it would work, knew it would save lives. He needed proof, tests, and more tests with accurate results. He needed documentation. But the situation now was so dire he would have to search out people so sick they were willing to try anything to survive.

  His fists tightened. The strain of his decision wearing on him, he hit the wall with his knuckles. Tori was still ensconced in the lab, and he had to get her out or himself in.

  Cameron couldn't worry about Jonathan any longer, not while his wife was turning his life upside down.

  "Well, Sheridan is taking up arms against all the cities. He's probably threatening with the virus we're trying to eradicate. But if he is caught, he'll never have anyone's support. If he uses the only means at his disposal, he could kill off all the City Dwellers. So, it's war, the old way, guns and knives, survival of the fittest. Sheridan is convinced Jonathan holds the key to changing everyone's mind."

  "Did Victoria hear any of this?"

  "Not that I know of, but then..."

  Cameron shook his head. "I'm sure she did and now she thinks she can right it all. Fool. She knows that without a physician she can't use her pins. Without me, it's simply a dream. What the hell was she thinking, anyway?"

  "I'd have never guessed. She acted calm--almost resigned to it all. But Cameron...Zaria was in yours and Tori's room."

  "Hell..." Resigned. She had not been in the least resigned. She had been furious and plotting revenge, Cameron thought. But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was that he find a way inside his own research lab.

  Guile or the window were the only means he could think of.

  Somehow the window seemed so much more practical.

  Well, she would be testing the equipment, but on what? He prayed she would be careful.

  "When did you discover her whereabouts?"

  "Just minutes before I raced to find you."

  "I'll handle this from here," Cameron said.

  He whirled around, giving orders even as they stepped outside. "A ladder...a tall ladder."

  "Nothing we have will reach the window."

  "Then, a rope, perhaps. Anchor it from the roof," Cameron told him. He wanted to yell at her. This was costing them valuable time and she did swear to work with him. "Go to the door. Talk to her. It's possible she might have reconsidered."

  He stepped back, surveying the length of smooth flat wall to the window. His heart and mind were in a tempest. It was critical they discuss this maturely.

  Victoria

  Tori had simply intended to make a statement. She hadn't meant to stay here all this time, but as she sat and thought, she knew it was the only way. As dawn turned into morning, the sun rising in all its glory, she was surer than ever this was the right course. When she heard voices below her window, she couldn't help but listen.

  She had him stumped, but it didn't make her feel any better, didn't make her smile. There was so much to do here, and while Cameron was trying to find a way inside his laboratory, people were dying, and his paramour was in their room. Well, he could have her.

  She had not done this for revenge.

  She was not childish.

  She was jealous. Damn him and his little whore. How dare he demand she tell him everything?

  So what now? Swallow her pride and let him in without making a scene, or see if he would dare scale the wall. She knew he could. So what was the point?

  What indeed?

  She rose, her first instinct the one she resolved to act on. But even with renewed determination, her steps faltered and she hesitated mid-stride. Before she allowed herself time to change her mind, she strode to the window. It was already open. Inhaling deeply then praying for courage, she leaned out. Green grass stretched seemingly forever, but Tori knew there was an outer wall keeping her and all her companions in. She trembled and thought to back out but...

  "Tori!"

  She knew that voice and that tone. It was amazingly calm for what she'd just put him through. She forced herself to relax. When she looked down, she smiled.

  "Cameron?" Her tone was soft but she couldn't quite hide the sarcasm.

  "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

  Hoping for a sound of sweet innocence, she said, "Talking to my husband." She lowered her lashes demurely. "What's wrong?" She looked up again.

  He let out a grunt of impatience. She wasn't sure but she thought she heard him laugh. "You tell me."

  "Is this a new game? Well, I don't have a clue."

  "Tori, I'm going to walk up to the lab. Neither fast nor slow, but if the door isn't unlocked when I get there..."

  "Unlocked? Is it locked? How interesting."

  He didn't say another word, just strode around the corner of the building, fist clenched at his side. Tori came back inside then sat down on the little window bench. She smiled to herself. Her eyes were closed and she savored the moment.

  A few minutes later she opened her eyes then walked to the door, Hope following behind her. She set her hand on the lock and waited. The footsteps she heard were his. Cameron Savage paused outside the door and she could almost hear him thinking, wondering if the door would be unlocked. She let him wonder. Then when she thought he would set his hand on the door, she opened it.

  "I'm so terribly sorry. It was locked."

  He grinned. "Likely story."

  Tori stepped away from the door but did not answer. She wasn't sure what to think. She had not expected amusement. Fury, maybe, yelling and shouting perhaps, but not amusement.

  She had spent hours in agony, hours worrying about the sickness and all the death that surrounded them. She had thought of the child she was about to bring into the world, and she prayed the world would be different for her baby. Prayed the hatred, the greed, and the plagues would end.

  But now...

  They would learn to work together.

  By now some of the people she'd given the sleeping potion to were beginning to wake up. A few were finding their way up the steps to the lab. Luke had been right behind Cameron.

  "Leave us alone." Cameron turned to close the door on those now standing outside.

  She smiled with all the courage she could find. Even though his tone was light and even though he'd begun this with amusement in his voice, she suddenly knew better. His eyes were hard, frigidly cold. She shivered anew.

  "Cameron..."

  He was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed in front of him. Relaxed, yet she knew he would spring at a moment's notice. He would parry with words but they would still cut deep and quick. She moistened her lips, preparing for the battle.

  "I..." she began then turned her back to him, clasping her hands in front of her.

  He was behind her, mere inches from her. She could feel the heat of him, the overwhelming power, and the apology she had formed in her mind that died before it could be voiced.

  "You what?" he queried. His hands were brushing her hair from her neck and he was so close the heat of his voice caressed her skin. Swiftly, she moved away from him, racing from him. She stopped when she came to the window, turning then with her hands extended in front of her.

  "Stay away from me. I never intended any harm. I just wanted time to think. I wanted some privacy. Is that too much to ask?"

  "Privacy...privacy? Tori, you have responsibilities. I've done everything in my power to make life easy for you, to give you as much freedom as I can. But..."

  He was standing over her now.

  She wanted to apologize. When she looked up, she felt dizzy and ill all over again.

  "What's wrong with you?" He bent over her, his hand against her forehead. "You're sick." She felt him tremble just before he swept her into his arms. "You're sick,"
he repeated. "You told me--"

  "I'm not," she protested. "Just give me a minute and I'll be fine."

  Cameron grunted, but it seemed all attention was riveted on the television monitors. Another city had been struck with signe. And they had been struck hard. Bodies littered the sidewalks and death carts rolled through the streets.