“Are you all right?” Mallory blurted, hurrying across the room to wrap him in her arms. “I was so worried. I thought they’d killed you.”
Vaulcron hugged her back, holding her tightly in his arms. “I am fine. Were you harmed?”
Mallory shook her head, stepping back far enough to gaze into his incredible eyes. “No one’s been in here since you left. What did they do to you?”
“It does not matter. I will tell you about it later.”
“Miss Cahill?” the man behind Vaulcron muttered. “I’m Doctor Lambert. I need to ask you some questions.”
Mallory reluctantly turned Vaulcron loose to face the short doctor. “Questions?”
“If you would have a seat, please?” the doctor suggested, waving toward the bed.
Mallory’s chin lifted. “I’d rather stand. Ask your questions.”
“Very well.” Lambert pushed his glasses up on his nose and pulled a clipboard free from his bag. “Your full name?”
“Mallory Cahill.”
“Birthdate?”
Mallory rattled off her date of birth along with several more personal details he inquired about.
“When was your last menstrual cycle?”
Anger boiled up inside her so strong she couldn’t prevent the words that slipped past her lips. “Go screw yourself, Elmer Fudd.”
The doctor looked up from his clipboard, compassion evident on his face. “You are not the only one with loved ones that you fear for, Miss Cahill. As I told your friend there” —he nodded toward Vaulcron— “I don’t like this any more than you do.”
Mallory understood instantly. Lambert’s family had obviously been threatened also.
She blew out a despairing breath. “My last period was approximately two weeks ago.”
Gratefulness echoed in his eyes. “What type of birth control are you on?”
Mallory wanted to lie, but she knew it would do no good. A simple blood test would tell them what they needed to know. “I have an IUD.”
“And when was it inserted?”
“About a year ago,” Mallory quipped, rubbing her palms up and down her arms.
The doctor continued questioning her for several minutes more before pulling a syringe and several vials from his coat pocket.
He uncapped the syringe and wrapped a blue rubber tie around her forearm.” I’ll try to be gentle.”
Mallory watched as he inserted the needle into her arm and filled his necessary vials. He returned them to his pocket, recapped the needle, and left the room without another word.
“What is an IUD?”
Vaulcron’s innocent question caught Mallory off guard. “It’s a small device, inserted inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.”
His head tilted to the side. “I do not understand the need to prevent pregnancy. Our females do not conceive often. It is considered a great gift to bear a child.”
Mallory would have been fascinated by his confession at any other time. Not tonight. “Well, human women sure don’t have that problem.”
Vaulcron glanced toward the door before meeting her gaze once more. “I spoke with Zaureth. They are coming by boat and should arrive at Amy’s apartment in a matter of hours.”
Joy soared inside Mallory’s heart. “When you say they, how many are you referring to?”
“As far as I know, there are five souls on the boat.”
“Five?” Mallory hissed. “Five people can’t take on an army, Vaulcron. No matter how big they are.”
“You do not realize what we are capable of. We are not people, Mallory. We are Bracadytes.”
Mallory’s stomach fluttered at the passion in his voice. It was obvious he held great pride for his species. “We are going to get out of here, aren’t we?”
Vaulcron nodded. “You have my word.”
Mallory’s shoulders relaxed some. She trusted the giant Bracadyte to get them out of the mess they were in. And one of them was on his way to rescue Amy as well.
Vaulcron walked over to the tray resting on top of the small table and lifted the lid. “You need to eat. You did not finish your dinner tonight.”
“I’m not hungry,” Mallory assured him, taking a seat on the foot of the bed. “I just want to close my eyes and wake up to find this was all a bad dream.”
Bringing the tray over to the bed, Vaulcron took a seat next to her and set the food on her lap. “If you will not eat for yourself, eat for me. I will only worry for you.”
Mallory peered down at the now cold meatloaf and mashed potatoes. “Maybe just a little.”
Ten minutes later, she’d eaten all she could stand. She pushed the tray toward Vaulcron, which he readily accepted. “You are finished?”
“Yes. I had to force down that last bite.”
Vaulcron picked up her fork and proceeded to consume the remaining meal. “I do love your human food.”
Placing the tray on a nearby table, Vaulcron returned to his seat and took hold of Mallory’s hand. “The land walkers do not know of the Bracadytes’ ability to communicate without words. That will give us the advantage once Tony arrives.”
“I’ve thought about that too. It’s just that…”
“Tell me,” Vaulcron prompted, gently squeezing her hand.
“Where am I going to go once we get out of here?”
“Back to Cuba, with me.”
“And after that? I mean, what happens after Cuba? My career, my life is here in Destin. I’ll never be able to return home once I run.”
Sadness filled Vaulcron’s eyes. “I am sorry, Mallory. Perhaps one day when the military threat is behind us, you can come back.”
Mallory shook her head. “They will never let me live after they get what they want. I know too much.”
“Then do not return to this place. Stay in Cuba with me.”
“I can’t expect you to take care of me. And what about my sister? How is she supposed to survive in a strange place without her sight?”
Vaulcron slowly leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. “I do not have all the answers you seek, but I will do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
Chapter Thirteen
Vaulcron would give anything to extinguish Mallory’s fear. He wanted her to feel safe and happy. To see her smile, to feel her lips on his once again.
Her eyes drifted shut as her face slowly tilted upward. “Vaulcron…”
“Sorry to interrupt, but I need you to come with me.”
Vaulcron jerked back with a growl. He’d been so caught up in Mallory he hadn’t heard the door open.
Jefferies waved toward Mallory. “Let’s go, Miss Cahill.”
Vaulcron shot to his feet. “She does not go without me.”
Jefferies briefly closed his eyes. “I can’t allow that.”
“Then she does not leave this room,” Vaulcron bit out, placing himself between Mallory and door.
Jefferies exhaled a frustrated breath. “This is going to be hard enough on her without you causing a ruckus.”
Mallory stepped out from behind Vaulcron. “What will be hard on me?”
“Removing your IUD.”
“You’re really going to do this?” Mallory cried, her hands going to her hips.
“We have no choice. Unless you’d rather we use your sister?”
That propelled Mallory forward. “Let’s just get this over with, asshole.”
Vaulcron followed her to the door. “I am coming with her. If you try to stop me, I will tear this place apart, and you will get nothing more from me.”
“Fine,” Jefferies conceded. “But one wrong move on your part, and I’ll put a bullet between the reporter’s eyes.”
* * * *
Glenn Anderson moved to stare out the window for the hundredth time. This wasn’t right. Holding a blind girl hostage while the government forced her sister to breed with an alien was beyond Glenn’s comprehension.
He understood the need to create a vaccine for the Incola virus, but harming innoc
ent people to get it wasn’t the right way.
“Amy?” Glenn murmured, turning to face her.
She sat on the couch, wearing a red sundress and sandals, her hair still in a ponytail and anxiety reflecting in her vacant eyes. “Are they back?”
The hope in her voice tore at his already guilty heart. “No, they’re not back. I was thinking maybe we could go grab an ice cream.”
“You— You want ice cream?”
“Yes,” Glenn lied, striding across the room and taking her by the hand.
She looked lost, though she attempted to hide it from him. “You’re not afraid I’ll scream once we’re in public?”
Glenn’s lips twitched at her false bravado. “No. Because I’m getting you out of here.”
Amy slowly got to her feet, her light blue eyes staring blankly at a place over his shoulder. “You are going to help me escape?”
“Yes,” Glenn answered, leading her toward what he assumed was her bedroom. “Pack some things. Leave all credit cards and your cell phone here.”
“But why?”
“Harder for them to track,” Glenn responded, giving her a gentle nudge. “Now hurry up.”
Amy stopped outside her bedroom door. “Why would you help me? Won’t you get into serious trouble?”
If she only knew how serious, Glenn thought, realizing he was making a decision he could never come back from. “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself.”
* * * *
Vaulcron gripped the ledge of the window he looked through as Mallory was told to position herself on a table with her feet in a pair of stirrups.
She appeared small and pale as she climbed onto the table, attempting to hold her gown closed where it gaped open in the back.
Jefferies stood next to Vaulcron at the window. “It’s not too late to tell us where the alien child is. I can stop this with one word.”
Vaulcron shifted his furious gaze to his enemy. “I will not soon forget this, land walker. When the time comes, and it will come, I will take your life for what you have done to Mallory.”
Fear flickered in Jefferies eyes, however briefly. “We shall see about that.”
Turning his attention back to Mallory, Vaulcron blocked out the heartless human now moving to a nearby chair.
Vaulcron watched in horror as the doctor rolled a stool around near Mallory’s feet and inserted a metallic object into her body.
Helpless rage overtook Vaulcron in that moment. It was one thing to force him to expel his seed into a cup, but to humiliate Mallory in such a way sickened him.
If not for Amy’s life on the line, Vaulcron would kill everyone in the building. Starting with Jefferies.
Mallory didn’t look at him. She laid completely still, staring up at the ceiling. A lone tear slipped from her eye.
“He’s hurting her,” Vaulcron snarled, heading toward the door.
Jefferies jumped to his feet, the barrel of his gun aimed at Vaulcron’s face. “Not another step.”
“Get her out of there,” Vaulcron snarled, batting the gun aside. “Or I will rip that doctor’s head off and force it down your throat.”
“All done,” Doctor Lambert announced over the intercom. “You can come in now.”
Vaulcron shoved past Jefferies and rushed to Mallory’s side. She sat up on the table and removed her feet from the stirrups. “My clothes, please.”
The deadpan sound of her voice tore at Vaulcron’s heart. He stood there, utterly powerless to do anything.
Snatching her clothes from Jefferies’s arms, Vaulcron scooped Mallory up into his arms and strode from the room. He didn’t stop until he reached their previous prison.
Laying Mallory in the center of the bed, he spun to face a hovering Jefferies. “We are done for the night.”
“You forget who has the upper hand here, alien. Make sure she gets plenty of rest. We’ll have her up bright and early for testing.”
“Get out,” Mallory whispered, rolling to her side. “Just leave me alone.”
Jefferies reluctantly left, stopping with his hand on the doorknob. “Like I said, none of this had to happen.” The door closed behind him with a clink.
Vaulcron slowly eased his weight down onto the bed and brushed Mallory’s hair back from her face to find her cheeks wet from tears. “Mallory?”
“They violated me, Vaulcron. They entered my body against my wishes.”
Emotion welled up inside him. He had to swallow around the lump in his throat in order to speak. “Tell me what to do, and I will do it. How can I take this pain from you?”
“Hold me. Please, just hold me.”
Vaulcron crawled into the bed beside Mallory, pulling her gently into his arms. She rolled over and rested her face against his neck.
He could feel the wetness on her cheeks as they brushed against his skin.
“Does it hurt?” he whispered, running his hand up and down her back.
She shook her head. “Just humiliated. What they did and are doing is wrong. It’s illegal.”
Vaulcron continued to soothe her, allowing her to talk, to purge the shame he knew she felt. “I will kill Jefferies as soon as you and your sister are safe.”
Mallory pulled back, her red-rimmed eyes searching his face. “No. If you do that, then that makes you just as guilty as him. The government would never stop hunting you.”
“They will hunt me, regardless.”
“But if I can expose them, bring their playhouse crashing down around them, maybe things will change for the Bracadytes.”
“I am not so sure,” Vaulcron confessed, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose. “People are still dying. The humans will continue to blame us for this travesty. They will always fear what they do not understand.”
“We’re not all that way,” Mallory assured him. “Many humans are capable of compassion and understanding. They just have to be made to see the truth.”
“I am sorry for what happened to you, Mallory. I would take it from you, if I could.”
Chapter Fourteen
President Rueben Howell accepted the cup of coffee his assistant handed him and took a seat behind his desk. “What is the mortality rate up to, Trevor?”
“There are over one hundred thousand known deaths to date, sir.”
Rueben leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he stared at Trevor Sparks. “Any news from the CDC?”
Sparks shook his head. “Only that the virus continues to mutate. People are dying at a faster rate and drowning in their own blood.”
“And the other symptoms?” Rueben pressed, fighting to keep the desperation from his voice.
“Signs of dementia are still present, along with the rabid behavior. As of yet, the virus is still passed through saliva and sexual contact. It hasn’t gone airborne.”
“Jesus,” Rueben breathed, taking a sip of his coffee. “What if we can’t get a handle on it in time? This very well could be the beginning of mankind’s extinction.”
“Let’s hope not, sir. I’ll keep you posted on the next update.”
Rueben nodded. “Thank you, Trevor. Please see yourself out. I have a few calls I need to make.”
With a quick handshake, Sparks trailed off toward the door, leaving President Howell alone with his thoughts.
Snatching up the phone, Rueben briefly closed his eyes as his secretary’s voice rang in his ear. “Sir?”
“Get Jefferies on the line.”
“Right away, sir.”
Rueben didn’t have long to wait before Doug’s strained voice echoed in his ear. “Mr. President, sir.”
“Drop the formalities, Doug. Bring me up to date on your progress.”
“Very well. We’ve obtained a semen specimen from the alien and removed the uterine birth control device from the reporter. Doctor Lambert will begin giving Cahill gonadotropins injections in the morning. He can start the in vitro fertilization process in less than a week.”
Rueben laid his head in his palm. “The reporter
will need to be moved once she’s conceived. Somewhere she can be comfortably restrained and unable to harm herself or the fetus.”
“I really wish we could have used another woman to carry the child. Cahill is in the public eye. She will be missed.”
“She knows too much, Jefferies. Might as well get some use out of her before she’s disposed of.”
“Understood, sir.”
“Cahill could avoid all this if she would give up the location of Abbigail Sutherland and her child.”
Jefferies blew out a breath. “That’s not going to happen, sir. Trust me on that.”
“There are ways to make her talk, Doug. You do have her sister in your possession.”
“What are you suggesting? We torture the blind girl?”
Rueben gritted his teeth. “I’m telling you to do whatever is necessary. And if that means using the sister, then by all means, do it.”
“I’ll have Anderson bring her in.”
“Have you spoken with Kerik?”
“Once. He will be briefed on the situation over breakfast. He’s still combing the gulf for the aliens’ lair.”
Rueben sighed. “Keep me updated, Doug. I was just informed that the death toll is over one hundred thousand now. If this thing goes airborne…” He couldn’t finish the thought.
“We’re doing our best, sir.”
“Not yet, you aren’t. Drag the sister into the lab and use her to force Cahill to talk.”
“And if she doesn’t talk?”
“She will.”
* * * *
Glenn Anderson stared out the window of his hotel room, watching as the sun began peeking over the horizon. How many more sunrises would he be able to enjoy before the government caught up to him?
He glanced at his watch. He had two hours before his bank opened and he could empty out his savings account.
Glenn had ditched the car and his cell phone the night before and purchased a deposable phone. He’d paid cash for the room he and Amy were in, under an alias. As soon as he had money in hand, he would purchase them both plane tickets and take Amy out of the country.
There would be no turning back now, he thought, sliding the curtain closed.
Vaulcron (Enigma Series Book 3) Page 6
