Rebel Heart (19 page)

The air suddenly became tense. "If only you knew her as I do," he said. Then he added hurriedly, "I think you've come in just the nick of time. And thank God. Now I am absolved from breaking a promise. And you, Phantom, are in a good position to protect the property of Tori DeMontville, soon to be your own."

"How so?"

"I am afraid...deathly afraid. Sheridan and Morray were at Tori's med-lab today putting forth their ultimatum. Tori was certain she had time before they forced her to marry Morray since Sheridan did not want to antagonize any of the cities' counselors. I am too embroiled in this to give her the protection she needs, and Tori made any entanglement very difficult for me."

"What will you do?"

"I gave my word I would not interfere. I didn't mean to give in to her demands, but she has her ways of convincing."

"Jonathan, my esteemed representative, you handle men with a mere look, but women..."

"Tori is not any woman. I challenge you to do better."

"She will do as I say, have no doubt about that."

There was a long pause before Jonathan spoke again. "I would love to be there when you have your first argument with her." His easy manner faded. "I am worried."

"Then so am I. But you needn't fear any longer. You may keep your word and still know she is protected." He stepped forward again and offered his hand once more in a sound clasp.

"I'm glad you're back," Jonathan said. "Life is going to be infinitely more fun to watch now."

"I had to leave Reding. You know that."

"Yes. Your research--you and Tori--really the two of you have more in common than you'd like to believe. She hates the City, despises the confinement."

"Despite that, we may be up against more than just Sheridan and his men."

Jonathan grimaced. "True enough. But we won't go down without a fight."

"A struggle...perhaps a long and brutal one."

Jonathan stepped back, watching. Cameron moved to the outer area of the office then walked into the hall, a black ominous figure beneath the failing light in the corridor.

Jonathan turned back to his desk, musing.

Would Tori eventually be pleased with this choice of her father's? A marriage contracted upon DeMontville's deathbed? She was such an independent thing.

He doubted it very much. Yet Cameron did have a way with women.

She would hate Cameron for it, perhaps even blame him. She'd remember him as a thieftaker. He grinned, thinking of the way Tori said Savage's name ever since he had accosted her in the forest--or ever since she had accosted him. He had never been too sure which way it had gone that day. That confrontation so long ago had changed Tori. But If Tori knew the truth about Cameron, she might see him in a different light.

Cameron, it seemed, was equally hard on Tori. Jonathan weighed each word carefully when he spoke to him, but he knew Cameron found Tori rebellious and stubborn and not at all the innocent young woman she should be. Cameron would certainly be a trustworthy husband. He would never hurt Tori, and indeed, he would protect her with his life. But he didn't really know her, could not possibly understand her. Lord, he hoped someday Cameron would come to love her.

Tori would defy him every step of the way.

Jonathan could think of no way to make the transition easier.

Perhaps Tori would cease her childish rebellions. She had already made strides toward that end.

Or perhaps Tori would teach Cameron a few lessons in compromise and obedience. She did have a way of manipulating him, winding him around her little finger, getting her way with every argument.

He smiled widely then chuckled softly.

In truth, the ride would be wild.

His laughter stilled abruptly. A wild night for a wild ride--if The Phantom could protect her from the horrible demons threatening her tonight, perhaps they would someday find a gentle peace together. It had become such a curious night. The wind was howling its discontent, hinting at treachery and whispering of foul deeds. Gossamer veils of mist swirled around the tower giving it a ghostly appearance.

The Phantom

In his glider, The Phantom felt the same curious change in the wind, the foreboding on the air. Hovering near the lab, he, too, heard the calling, tasted the evil that clung to the night. It was a night that hinted of danger calling out to him to take care, to beware of the deceit lying so close by.

A full moon, a Comanche moon, bathed the countryside with light, illuminating every nook and cranny, every creature that used the darkness as a shield. The wind caused the spray from the waterfall to dance capriciously.

For a moment, the world seemed magical, almost ethereal. He could see the tower rise above the City, straight, determined, and stark in the night. The tower appeared independent and resolute, much like the lady herself.

His eyes narrowed. His breath quickened.

"Too soon," he said softly in the night. "Too soon."

Then, even as he spoke, the stillness of the night was suddenly shattered by a silence that beat a death knell.

A dim light floated through the visitor's center. The sight sent chills slithering down his spine.

It moved steadily upward, closer to the tower room, Tori's room.

Then a light so brilliant it almost blinded him broke through the surrounding area. Men surged up the stairs, their bodies framed by the tall glass windows of the facility and from the highest point of the tower. One small light eclipsed all others, flickered once then died.

He had debated meeting her as The Phantom. She would not know that her rescuer was Cameron Savage, the man she despised. Would that bode well for him? She might fall in love with the wrong man.

He found he wanted her to fall in love with him. If this marriage was to be a success, they would need love. The years ahead would be hard in the best circumstances. If she continued to despise Cameron Savage, the time would be unbearable.

The Phantom closed his eyes for a moment, soaking in all of the sounds of the night, deciding on the best course of action. He could not enter through the front door now that Morray had made his move.

Victoria

Tori woke from a sound sleep. Why, she didn't know because there was nothing, no sound. Perhaps it was the absence of noise that alerted her, perhaps not. Yet she knew Sheridan was taking matters into his own hands.

It was too late to make further plans, too late also to leave undetected.

Why did that surprise her? She had been so sure of herself, positive she had several days before he initiated anything. Her mistake could prove costly.

She tried to tell herself she was dreaming, that nothing was happening below to cause this sudden feeling of doom.

But she couldn't.

In the dark interior of her room where she had spent the last few months in blessed security and contentment, she realized instantly that she would have to leave. This was no longer a safe haven, no longer a retreat.

She sat very still.

This time she heard something.

Of course it all made incredible sense. Her lips thinned, every muscle in her body tensed. She wanted to cry out her fury and her outrage at this terrible deed, but she knew she didn't have time. This was her med-lab, her property. And Sheridan had no rights to it nor did Morray have any claim to her. How dare he invade her sanctuary? Her home.

She rose from the chair, forcing her nerves to calm and her horrible shaking to stop. She compelled herself to think.

Then she heard the slight click of the security system shutting down. The backup system should kick in soon. She held her breath, waiting for the soft hum.

Sheridan was behind this. Or was Morray countermanding Sheridan's orders, taking things into his own hands? Morray was an evil fool.

Morray would come for her, come with his men, sneaking through her home. They would never be able to work together. He was a coward. And he dared to claim it was for the good of the people.

Indeed, yes, he would pay for this. She would see to it. The security gates would each pose a different problem for the interlopers, each giving her irreplaceable seconds. It would take them some time to pass through each level. She was supposed to be a passive victim in all this, but they would find out that she knew how to fight.

The slight whining of the door to level two set her slightly on edge. They could not have gained entrance so soon, so easily without help. Who? This was not the time to bemoan her fate. It was, she told herself, the time for action.

For a brittle moment she heard nothing once again, only silence. As she looked out the window, the full moon stood high in the sky, creating a night bathed with an ominous light. A soft glow of amber light touched the City, focusing on the building where Jonathan had his office, and illuminating the capital buildings with their huge glass panels.

Nothing broke the spell.

Far across from her tower window upon the hillside that harbored her waterfall, she thought she saw the figure of a man--Morray. The ink black shadow was there...then it vanished.

Shrouded in mystery, he held his hand aloft as if beckoning her, his cape billowing out behind.

At the sight her breath caught. Sheridan's men? They knew--they waited for her.

"Bastards," she hissed furiously.

She turned her back to the knowledge she was trapped, to the man who waited so victoriously for her to fall into line. Clenching her fists, she prayed fiercely for a plan, some way to out-fox this man. Then when she looked back to the hillside, seeking affirmation...

Nothing was left but her imaginations and her fears.

Were the drifting veils of mist and moon glow creating shadowy images out of nothing? Her heart pounded and her mind whirled. She was in desperate need.

"I will kill him before I let him lay one finger on me," she whispered fiercely. But would she? Truly? Looking down the straight, smooth tower wall, she cringed. The rungs were old and rusty, but she and Nessa both had used the ladder long before they discovered the secret tunnel.

It had been so easy when she was twelve. She could do it now. She could. But when she looked down, fear overcame rational thought. No, it would not come to that. She still had time to go through the tunnel and she could wait indefinitely in the cavernous underground spring if she had to.

Perhaps she had only imagined the man. Maybe it was a coincidence he stood directly over the path she would use to make her escape.

Her heart thundered and she pressed her hands against her rolling stomach willing it to stop.

She could do it; she had to take the chance. She would never, never allow Morray the satisfaction of possessing her. Never.

She would fight with every ounce of strength she had.

Or perhaps she would find a way to elude them all.

She hurried across the room to the secret panel that led to winding stairs and the opening beneath the waterfall, her freedom. Hope followed. She would steal a glider and escape to the mountains. If the doorway was discovered when they searched for her, well, what would it matter? At least she would have managed to escape Quentin Morray's slimy hands.

But even as she removed the old book from its spot as she had done dozens of times before, she heard a strange grating noise.

Nothing happened. Panic-stricken, she grabbed another book and another until the whole shelf was empty. The panel did not swing open.

"No!" she cried in sudden desperation. As if she could have forgotten the secret book that would activate the panel... Panicked she tried the books on the shelf above. Bleakly, almost dazedly at first, she realized that it was not going to open; nothing would jar it from its position. She was trapped. "Hope stay." Hope sat back on her haunches, cocking her head but did not attempt to follow.

What she faced now was solid cold fear.

"No. No!" A cry of anguish and stark denial filled the room. Determination surged through her. She would not go down in defeat.

Silence followed.

Then a new sound, much closer, caught her attention. She heard the slight click of locks and the steady hum of the security system, on then off, as a door opened somewhere below.

They had entered level three. They were already coming up the stairs that led to her office and rooms in the tower. Someone had betrayed her; someone had stolen precious moments that she needed.