Rebel Heart (18 page)

She felt deep-seated anger building inside, a hot simmering hatred of this man and his underhanded tactics. For the longest time she held her breath. "Very well."

Sheridan rose then, and with Morray and Hammond stepped toward the door.

"You have accommodations for us. I'd like to retire for the night."

"So soon?" she breathed

Morray reached for her hand, and raising it to his lips he let his mouth brush across the back of her hand.

"Sweat dreams," he told her huskily.

She felt as if all manner of evil had just touched her, felt as if some horrible slimy creature crawled on her. He was a handsome man--but so wretchedly cruel.

"Hardly," she murmured, and drew back quickly, watching tensely.

Sheridan sauntered from the room, the others following. One of her lab assistants showed them the way through the various levels to the guest rooms.

When they were gone, the frozen smile was wiped cleanly from Tori's face. "Close the security gate," she ordered, choking on the words. Even as her command was obeyed, she darted back through the visitor's center and quickly up the stairs to her quarters.

Nessa followed, entering just after Tori swept through. Victoria was in her office, pacing the floor in a horrible fury.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm open for suggestions."

"You've played your last card. There is nothing left for you to do. You cannot marry that man. You must leave. You must ask Jonathan for help."

"I cannot. Too much is at stake here. Jonathan cannot risk it now. He is in the middle of negotiations. It has to do with my research, the genetic codes. And I believe he wanted me to work with someone from the outside." She held Nessa's hands in hers and squeezed gently. "I cannot even return to the convent. That's the first place they would look."

"You could go to Reding," Nessa said as she absently petted Hamia's head. "I've heard of their research. Mother once lived there. I think you would be safe."

Tori shook her head. "No, I'll go to the mountains. To Drake."

"Victoria--"

"Will you come?"

"No, I'll stay and guard what remains. They don't realize the part I've played in this. I'll be safe."

Tori smiled slowly, truly relieved for the first time at last. She had no choice but to run, but it would not be so bad.

She could even sleep well tonight, now that she knew what direction her course lay. "Help me with my most important records. I will take just one small bag and the white flower."

"Is that wise? It's the only one we have."

"It's the key to the new serum. You and I both know that, but Sheridan may know it also. If he discovers it growing here, he'll destroy everything we've worked for," Tori said, determined.

Nessa frowned, staring at the small flower sitting by the window. "So far away--so very far away."

Slipping a packet of correspondence into a small portfolio, Tori spun around to her. "Not so far. It will only take a few hours. Would you rather I married Quentin Morray? I have to reach Drake. He will understand. Hope will have to stay here with you."

As if she heard, Hope lifted her head to stare at the two girls.

"But will he protect you?"

"Sheridan is too much the coward to confront Drake, and you know it."

"He is an Outsider. By law he must turn you in," Nessa whispered, suddenly stepping back as if to take a better look at her sister.

"He is our uncle," Tori reminded her with a sigh. "Our mother's brother."

Nessa ignored her. "Then you are sure he will harbor you. Give you safe haven." She stepped back again then smiled to Tori. "God go with you."

Tori felt a bubble of relief rising within her despite her fears. "I'm sure I will need God's blessing just to find a land glider in this City." She stuffed the portfolio and some clothes into the bag. "Go now. While I'm gone, watch the lab for me. I need some sleep. Dawn will be here too quickly then I have to leave."

"Good night, Tori." Nessa hurried to the door then paused. Suddenly Tori ran into Nessa's arms and they hugged for a brief moment. Tears stung the back of Tori's throat, yet she refused to let Nessa see. "Come Hamia."

"Be careful, Nessa. Don't trust anyone but Jonathan."

"I won't," Nessa said, slowly straightening. Then she sighed deeply, and it seemed she'd lost the strength she'd been holding deep within. She moved from the small room, pausing at the threshold for a second then left.

Victoria DeMontville fell back on a large chair and let the events of the last eight hours slowly drain out of her. Hope rested her chin on Tori's lap.

This would be dangerous. She had to proceed with the greatest caution. If she were caught outside the City without a pass...

She kicked her shoes off. If she were caught, what did she have to lose? No fate could be worse than marriage to a man like Quentin Morray. She remembered hearing of the tortures he performed on the lab animals in the name of scientific research and she shuddered.

No, she would go and she would take the greatest care. Because to her, Morray represented everything in the human race that was evil. Truly, death would be preferable than marriage to one such as him. She had to escape. There was simply no other choice. She loosened the buttons of the tunic, relaxing once more into the overstuffed chair.

That thought, in the end, was the one that allowed her to relax, to finally drift off to sleep. She did so with a half smile curved with just a touch of wistfulness on her lips.

She was on her own. It was no different than it had been five years ago. It would be banishment yet again. But it was different this time, she admitted, just before falling into a restless sleep. This time she was leaving with her eyes wide open and of her own choice. This time she was leaving in order to save herself and perhaps her soul.

She was on her own and she was used to the feeling. Never would she be a damsel in distress in need of rescuing. Never.

She would survive, she promised herself.

She would endure all of this simply because there was no other way.

Jonathan

Lost in his law books, Jonathan suddenly looked up, feeling the same current of unease that had so touched Tori before.

The wind outside began to whistle around the corner of his office as if a great monster was stirring up trouble in paradise. Ah, but this wasn't paradise. It blew in the open window churning up the papers strewn haphazardly in his working space. He closed his eyes and listened to the silent premonition of the future, the premonition all the people on this earth had endured in the last two hundred years.

He heard voices crying out in fright and pain, praying for salvation. Sometimes the wind and the night whispered fearful words.

This was an ominous night, a black night. A chill shot through him, ending in the pit of his stomach.

He could hear the call of the Outsiders, the howl of a lone wolf. The separation might be two centuries old here now, but there were still those who defied the mandates set down by the councils and lived by their own set of rules. Tori, he thought with a smile. She was the epitome of defiance. It was in her heart and soul; she lived for life itself, for the moment, yet she cared deeply about all the people regardless of race.

Tonight was a night to defy all the laws. Thunder boomed outside and he wondered if Nessa had anything to do with the turmoil in the skies and if she understood her power. How had this storm rise up so suddenly and so intense?

A shadowy figure moved quietly through the outer-rooms, not even attempting to hide. Jonathan smiled and waited. He had been right. He had stayed at the office on purpose, and he had waited, certain that he was right.

The papers lifted off his desk then settled back down almost as if guided by an unseen hand.

A black figure stepped through the door, standing straight and tall.

"You received my summons," Jonathan called delightedly.

The man stepped farther into the room and greeted Jonathan warmly, clasping the hand offered to him. The two men stood silently studying each other yet smiling nonetheless.

By birth one was an Outsider, a physician also, the other a lawyer, an advocate of human rights. In their hearts, they were very much the same.

Just as Tori's father had inadvertently created the heroic idea of The Phantom, The Phantom had aided Jonathan in his own quest. He had been disturbed at the young man's determination to bring both worlds back together at first.

But as time had passed, Cameron had known Jonathan would be fighting all his life.

He had best learn as much as he could.

So he had made sure Jonathan was given the finest education possible, had made sure Jonathan lived in both worlds so that he could understand and institute compromise. And Jonathan had become a versatile statesman, a man with the ability to persuade. He could convince the most obstinate statesman to his way of thinking.

"Damn! I'm glad you came," Jonathan said grinning. "What took you so long?"

"A somewhat long story, I'm afraid," the man said.

"I heard about your encounter this afternoon."

"Impossible. No one saw me."

"You forget the grapevine linking the City. Nothing gets by me."

"Then I didn't need to rescue some rather compromising and enlightening computer flash pins. Your men would have secured them."

"No, without your daring they would be in the wrong hands--Morray would have control over the center. At least this way they cannot assume authority without a great deal of paper work, and rest assured I will fight them every step."

"Be careful. You can't possibly anticipate every move."

"Perhaps I can keep them in check though."

"Maybe. Drake sent me here with that purpose in mind. But of course you know that."

"True. But I wasn't sure Drake would go along with the plan or even give you the letter. The speed with which he delivered the information I sent gives credence to my own fears." Then Jonathan smiled, looking to the mountains.

"Well, I hope you will still be with me when I tell you the rest," Cameron said, a frown furrowing his brow.

"The rest?"

"With the late Advisor DeMontville's blessings, and some very severe stipulations within his will, a codicil I've been told, I must immediately marry Victoria DeMontville and assume control of the center."

"Damn! You finally received the news," Jonathan breathed. "A joining of two minds.

Fantastic." Then he started to laugh softly. "Why, that's wonderful. Then Victoria knows about the codicil. She doesn't believe you'll come for her. Insists it was forged."

"You knew all along?"

"Wrote the codicil myself."

"Wonderful? Well, I don't believe Victoria DeMontville will agree with you."

Jonathan shrugged. "Admittedly, when she sees you, she'll remember some rather humiliating times. Your name has never left her speechless; instead, she's had many colorful things to say about you. Then she really doesn't know you very well. She might not be pleased, but--she'll have to like you better than Quentin Morray. You see, Sheridan has other plans for her."

"Morray," Cameron said softly.

"You don't care for him either? Tori despises him."

"She should be afraid of him."

There was a silence between them. They could both look back over the years. Indeed, the three of them shared a fierce hatred of Morray.

"She isn't," Jonathan said. "She should be though. I've spent endless nights worrying about her. She is so passionately involved in this new research. I had feared for her."

"Well, she may not accept me either. She has always had such a wild heart, an untamed restlessness about her," Cameron said, his tone almost admiring.

"It may not be easy," Jonathan warned. "But she might accept the Phantom. Perhaps you should approach her in that guise."

"I am sure I will find a way to manage," Cameron murmured flatly.

"Why, of course, you've dealt with rogues, all sorts of wild knaves. But you've yet to spend more than a few passing minutes in her company." Jonathan smiled, but then his smile faded. "Be easy on her, for I love her dearly." He hesitated. "And you do not. I am well aware you can barely tolerate her."

"I would never hurt her, Jonathan. Yet, in all honesty I tell you--if given a wife, I will have one."

"I understand that."

"One that I would cherish and defy all odds to defend as well."