Relic (The Brethren Series) (19 page)

Chapter Twenty-Two

A stray sunbeam fell across Serena’s face, warming her cheek and gently stirring her awake. She groaned and turned over. She groaned again, this time from subtle aches she felt from deep within. With eyes still closed, she smiled, remembering how she had acquired those aches. She reached out across the sheets in hopes of finding Raphael beside her. And he did not disappoint.

“Dreaming of me, sweetheart?” Raphael whispered.

“I’m always dreaming of you,” she sighed, and scooted closer so she could wrap herself around his hulking mass. “You’re my dream lover, remember?” He held her right back, tenderly kissing the top of her head.

“I much prefer being your lover when you’re awake. How are you feeling? I heard you groan a little. Would you like any particular spot massaged?”

“Oh, aren’t you a randy little angel? Or should I say, devil? I’m a little achy, but it’s a real good ache. A shower should do the trick. You know what, though? You could massage right here.” She pointed to her mouth and licked seductively at her lips. “My lips are aching for yours, Raphael.”

He smiled hungrily and leaned over to devour her lips in a ravenous kiss. He withdrew, shaking his head as if to clear it. “As much as I’d like to devour the whole of you right this very minute, we have Monica coming over, and she’ll be here shortly. Believe it or not, it’s almost noon.”

“What!” She gasped. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve never gotten up so late in my life! You’re corrupting me, Raphael. That’s what it is. You are a bad influence on me.” As quick as a flash, she pushed herself up onto him, straddling his naked length. She slithered slowly up his body like a snake until her lips barely touched his. “Corrupt me some more.”

“Holy shit, Serena!” he managed to squeak out. “I’m never one who has to be asked twice.”

First, he feasted on her lips, her throat, and vigorously flipped her onto her back to set her ablaze with hot, wet kisses on every inch of her body. She turned the tables on him and sent him over the edge with sensuous strokes of his wings and other irresistible places. Fast and ferocious, their lovemaking took on an urgency, as though they hadn’t made love just a few hours before. As though they would perish without its sustenance. Indeed, afterwards they both felt energized, and rushed through showers to get ready for Monica’s return visit.

Just in the nick of time, too, for the doorbell rang not five minutes after settling in on the living room couch. Raphael looked through the peephole to be sure it was her, and opened the front door with a smile.

“Good afternoon, Monica, and how are you doing today?”

“Good afternoon, Raphael, just fine on this glorious day. I see you’re dandy, so how’s our girl, eh?”

“I’m doing really well.” Serena walked up behind her angel, hugging him to her side.

“Hmm. So I see,” she remarked, raising a brow. “Well, doorways were meant for coming or going, so let’s not linger here any longer. Shall we go to the living room? I think it would the best place to set up for the day.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Uh, Serena, dear, get yourself a comfy pillow, and take out the couple of items I brought in my bag. Put them on the coffee table. All right? Raphael, can I see you a moment in the kitchen?”

“Sure.” Great, he thought.
She doesn’t look pleased
.

As she entered the kitchen, she whirled around to face him. “What kind of man are you, Raphael, to lead a girl on so?” she spewed. “I know you’ve…connected, shall we say. It’s written all over your faces. Are you that cruel a person as to have your way with the girl, using her like some kind of receptacle, knowing that your wife’s soul lies within her? I don’t understand. You are not the man, the angel, I thought you were.”

“Now hold on a minute here, Monica,” he objected hotly. “First of all, what I do is none of your damn business. Second of all, I’m in love with her!” What did he just say?
Where did that come from
? He considered it a moment and found himself comfortable with that assertion. “You heard me! And I believe she’s in love with me, too. Don’t look so surprised. We’ve been through a lot together. We may not have spoken the words yet, but they’re there, waiting for the right moment to be spoken. So, whatever happens today happens. I hope her love for me can withstand it. I know I love her regardless, and damn it, I’ll fight for her.”

Monica clutched her chest and smiled. “Stated like a man who believes he’s truly in love. My apologies, Raphael. I didn’t know you were able to separate your feelings for your wife from those for Serena. Given the nature of what might be going on here, I had assumed you would be as confused as she. Am I right?”

“Had you asked a few days ago, you would have been right. But things have changed. I’ve changed. I’m back, Monica. My powers are back. I feel like my old self again and can look more objectively at things. My feelings for Serena run true, and are only for Serena. I know that she’s not my wife. There are some distinct differences.”

“Such as?”

“Well, it may sound strange, but she has a different scent to her. Sirona’s essence is of the earth. But Serena, she smells of sweetness, of lilies of the valley. It reminds me of springtime and renewal. And Serena’s laugh is different. Sirona had a light and airy laugh, free of strife. But Serena’s comes from a deeper place, a place that truly appreciates the humor life gives us, however hard won. When she laughs, you feel as though it was a gift. And, too, there’s Serena’s tenacity, her determination, her perseverance to face whatever fate has in store for her. She’s a survivor. Sirona was immortal, a goddess for Christ’s sake. Until the day of her murder, she never had to fight for anything. She had other people do that for her. I could go on, Monica, but I think I’ve made my point loud and clear. So now that the tongue-lashing is over, let’s get down to work.”

“I do believe you’ve put me in my place, and very well, I might add. I hope you both come out of this unscathed. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening. Again, my apologies. Now, on to the business at hand. We need to figure out once and for all if the soul within Serena is really your wife, and if so, what to do about it. So, sit quietly on the chair next to the couch and say nothing.”

He nodded as Monica walked passed him, back into the living room area. He followed quickly behind and sat down on the chair, not saying a word.

“Serena, my dear, are you ready to begin?” Monica asked lightly.

“Yes, I am. Tell me what to do, and I’m all yours.”

“Well first, Raphael, you’ll be in charge of the digital recorder. Anything she says can be analyzed later, if necessary.” Monica handed him the device. “Press record when I begin the session. Serena, I’m going to have you hold this heart rate monitor while we do this. Place your thumb on the sensor, and it will transmit your heart rate during the entire process. Sit back now, close your eyes, and relax. Listen to my voice as I help you get to a deep state of relaxation.”

With equipment ready, Monica began her litany of directions and soothing suggestions. In very little time, they saw Serena’s heart rate slow down considerably, and her breathing become even and deep.

“Serena, I’d like you to think back to a day, an experience that seems important to you. A time so unique and problematic that you think it could have opened the doorway to a past life. When that time comes to mind, I want you to tell me about it from your point of view today. Now, nothing can harm you. These experiences have already occurred. You will always be safe no matter what has happened in the past.” She waited for Serena to begin.

“It’s my birthday, two years ago. Jared’s come home from that crazy dig he signed up for. He brought me a gift, a statue of an ancient goddess. He’s so excited about giving it to me, but I give him grief, as usual. I accept it, but know something is fishy about it. I came to find out later, Jared had stolen this relic from the archeologist he was working for. I took it home with me, and when I lifted it out of its container and held it, I fell and blacked out.”

“Okay, now Serena. I want you to go back to that day for me. Go back to the point where you are holding the statue. What does the statue feel like? Tell me what you are experiencing.”

“It’s heavy, cold, and solid, but now it’s becoming warmer in my hands. I’m feeling dizzy. I’m spinning and falling. Everything is going black. Oh!”

“What is it?” Monica prodded.

“My head! My head hurts. What am I doing on the ground? Oh heavens, they’re still after me! I must get up and run. But my head! Why am I feeling this way? Why aren’t I healing? They’re coming for me!”

“Who’s coming for you?”

“I don’t know. I just wanted to be alone, for a little while, with no guards watching me. They’re always watching me. I must get to my temple. I must get to safety!” Serena began breathing heavily as though she were running. The monitor beeped like crazy.

“Are you there yet? Have you reached your temple?” Monica asked.

“Ahh! So close, so close! Get off of me, heathen! No!” Serena fell silent.

“Serena, can you hear my voice? Serena, you are safe. Remember, nothing can harm you as you relive these memories.”

Serena abruptly started talking again. “I will not, cannot give you my gift of regeneration!” She paused, as though listening to someone else speak. “I am Sirona, Goddess of Healing, I cannot die. I am immortal.” Another pause. “I choose death, and when my soul returns, I shall have my life renewed while yours rots in the ground with maggots feasting on your flesh! Ahh!”

Serena screamed and flailed her hands about. The heart rate monitor flew clear across the room. Monica and Raphael watched as she tried grabbing at her right shoulder, wailing in utter agony.

Raphael could stand it no longer. Heedless of Monica’s initial directions, he scrambled to Serena’s side, unsure of what to do for her, yet wanting to be there all the same. Monica came to her side as well, visibly shaken by her behavior.

“No one has ever acted like this before, Raphael,” she swore.

Serena wore a tank top, easily showing what she grasped at. Raphael and Monica looked at her right shoulder and found a mark, a small reddish mark shaped like a scepter. He recognized it immediately as the mark of Sirona. Unbelievably, from the center of the mark, small droplets of blood appeared and began to trickle down her back.

“Oh my goodness!” Monica cried out. She quickly reached for her bag and took out a tissue to press on the wound and stop the flow. “I have to bring her out of this regression before the effects of whatever is happening to her leave lingering and possibly permanent consequences.”

But before she had a chance, Serena spoke again.

She reached out and whispered weakly, “
Graim thu
, Raphael,
anam chara
. I love you, Raphael, my soul mate.” A single tear fell from her eye as her hand dropped to the floor. He cradled her and rocked her as he’d done when he’d first found Sirona. He’d never known why she had been killed. Now he knew, he finally had closure, and his heart rent in two.

“Sirona, my dear Sirona! How could they have done this to you? How?” he cried out.

“Raphael! Look!” Monica yelled. She had lifted the tissue away, and the mark had completely disappeared, vanished without any lingering scars.

“What the hell is going on?” Gathering his wits and Serena in his arms, he got up and went over to the couch to sit. Not willing to release her for a minute, he kept her securely in his lap.

“I don’t know. I told you before, nothing like this has ever happened to any of my clients before. This is not how it’s supposed to go.” Monica tapped her cheeks with her hands, visibly shaken. “Is she breathing? Raphael, check if she’s breathing. And does she have a pulse?”

He checked, and she still breathed, although shallowly. “Her pulse is getting weaker. I’ve never seen anything similar to this before. What do we do? What do we do?”

“Serena, my dear, you must listen and hear my voice,” Monica asserted forcefully. “I want you to come back now to the present. Come back now and be part of the living. And when you come back, you will remember everything and feel healthy, calm, safe, and secure, knowing that nothing can harm you from the past. When I count to five, you will awaken. One, two, three, four, five.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Although she wanted to, she couldn’t respond… at first. Stuck in a vicious cycle of being caught and murdered, she had to reach out to the present to pull herself free. After a short while, she opened her eyes and took in a deep breath. She looked at Monica and Raphael.

“Serena, love…are you all right? Please, tell me you’re all right,” Raphael urged.

“Yes, please. Tell us you’re okay,” Monica added.

She lifted her hand and pointed at Raphael. “You…you’re Raphael. I called out for you and you never came. I…I was Sirona, the Goddess of Healing, and murdered for not giving my gift to those degenerates. I was…your wife!”

As awareness dawned on her, she scuttled out of Raphael’s arms and stood strong on her own two feet. She may have been petite, but at this moment she felt like the fiercest Amazon warrior. “She’s the one who’s been in my head. She’s the one who’s been making me crazy. She’s been in my head and my heart since I held the relic.”

Stalking around him like a predator and he, her prey, she continued vehemently. “I told you about the relic, Raphael, and you didn’t say a word. Not one! You acknowledged nothing. How could you let me go on not knowing? How could you sit there with me, night after night, nightmare after nightmare, and not tell me when I’d awaken, that during those times I would become Sirona,
your wife
? You’re nothing but a coward! That’s what you are! A scum-sucking coward!”

Raphael got up from the floor and extended his hands, palms up to her. Sweat dripped down his temples. “I know! I know! But Serena, you’ve got to understand….” She backed away immediately. He took a step forward. “Serena! Please, I didn’t know anything for sure. I was so confused. I kept quiet until I could be certain of my suspicions.” She backed up again.