by Doug Welch
Chapter 17
Desperate Flight to Ecstasy
“You could trust me,” I said.
“Oh, Paris,” she said, “I feel so hopeless.”
“It seems we’re destined to run,” Edward said. “Do you have a plan?”
“No,” I said, and thought for a moment. “Maybe if we leave as though we were going on an outing, they’ll wait until we’re not here and make their move then. That would delay any attack until they feel you’re alone. Do you have any weapons in the house?”
“Paris,” Elizabeth said. “We're not heading outside, guns blazing, I won't allow it.”
I looked at Caesar. “I wasn't thinking of lethal force.” I didn't mention the Glock hidden in the umbrella. “But we need a credible deterrent. Something to fend them off if they do attack.”
“I have an old antique Irish shillelagh, would that suffice?” Edward said.
“Father, you can't be serious,” Elizabeth said. “It’s a family heirloom.”
“I imagine it’s cracked a few heads in its time,” he said calmly. “What better purpose will it serve? I’ll carry it like a walking stick. Is that sufficient subterfuge for you, Paris?”
I grinned and said, “Perfect. Couldn't be better.”
“I'll fetch it, and your hidden sword walking stick.” Caesar said, grinning. I could tell he was enjoying this.
“Please bring our necklaces,” I said.
“Has everyone lost their minds?” Elizabeth complained. “I haven't agreed to join in this madness.”
The whole group paused, looking at her. I finally broke the silence. “I suppose, Beth that it settles on the fact of whether or not you trust me. Do you? Do you believe I am mad? Or do you believe that I sense a true danger, and I am acting out of love? Love for you and love for your family. You must decide, darling. All of our lives hang in the balance.”
“Oh Paris, that's so unfair.”
“Nevertheless, sweetheart, it’s true.”
Elizabeth crumpled on the couch in tears. After a while, she found her composure. “This is going to cost me, Paris, and you. If you betray me...”
“I would never betray you, and I will pay the cost, regardless.”
“Let's go,” she said.
We prepared ourselves. Caesar and I conferred about the arrangements and we left through the front door.
Edward rolled in his powered wheel chair, which was designed to be transported. His medications and some oxygen canisters were carried by Elizabeth in a picnic basket. Alex guided Edward's wheelchair with Elizabeth at his side, flanked by Caesar and me. We chatted about going to the lake for the day.
The whole ensemble moved toward the cars. I studied the men hidden in the woods and by the cars. Alex had one of the cans of Mace hidden, and I held the other with the umbrella and the Glock hidden inside. Caesar carried the sword cane.
We walked, casually pushing the wheel chair toward the driveway.
Suddenly, Alex yelled “Paris!” I glanced at Alex, and saw the two normal men, in company with the two Shadows, rushing down from the woods.
I looked to the cars and the two other Shadows emerged from behind them. I prayed that the combination of Alex's mace and Caesar' sword cane could hold the other four off and concentrated upon the two adversaries who were about to attack my flank.
Both of my opponents were armed with side-handle batons like the ones the police used. They were devastating weapons if used properly.
I dropped the umbrella to free my hands and studied the two men. I decided that one of them had no training in the use of the baton, so I flipped the safety off the mace can, and directed its spray upon the proficient one.
Unfortunately, his partner took that moment to step in front of the spray, taking its full force on his face and chest. He fell to the driveway pavement, and dropped his baton; screaming and clutching at his eyes. His partner had a moment to recover, and he delivered a forehand swipe with the baton at the hand that held the Mace, knocking out of my grip. It clattered down the driveway.
My hand went numb. I knew I would feel the aftermath later.
The Shadow had apparently caught a whiff of the mace, because his eyes were streaming tears, but he circled, keeping me from the baton his partner dropped.
I feigned a forward rush and then leaned back; as his baton sliced harmlessly past my chest. Then I did rush forward, but apparently, he was savvy enough to bring the baton back in a vicious backhand that crashed against my lower ribs. The blow nearly drove the wind from me.
Desperate, I was about to dive for the Glock, when Edward yelled, “Paris!”
He tossed the shillelagh toward me, and I caught it. The Shadow had paused to wipe the tears from his eyes, but seeing me with the club, he renewed his attack.
He delivered an overhand blow that I caught on the dense ironwood shillelagh, and then I swung the knob end into his face. He staggered back, blood streaming from his nose, and I followed through by bringing the club down on the side of his head. The blow stunned him, and he fell to the pavement. I ran to retrieve the Mace and returned to give him a good dose. He no longer exhibited interest in anything but his misery.
I looked toward Caesar and Alex. She clutched at her arm, rubbing it. Two of the four men were writhing on the grass, obviously lost in the pain of the Mace attack.
Caesar stood over one of them, daring him to get up. The last two men ran toward the woods. I knew they would be warning their backup, and the opposition would bring more muscle. I glanced around the house and made a fast decision.
“Quick,” I shouted, “Into the truck.”
Caesar and Alex hurried over to her truck.
I gestured to Edward.
“Help me get Edward in the back.” I dropped the tailgate of the truck. Caesar helped lift Edward, wheelchair and all into the bed.
“Get in the bed, Beth, lock the brakes, and hold the chair.”
She leaped onto the tailgate, clutching the basket full of medical equipment. Alex was already behind the wheel of the truck and had it started.
Caesar jumped into the passenger seat and slammed the door. I tossed the umbrella into the bed, closed and vaulted the tailgate, then yelled “Move!”
The truck tires made clouds of smoke on the driveway as Alex floored the accelerator.
The truck screamed out of the driveway, and shot into the street. Elizabeth clung to Edward’s wheelchair in desperation while the truck fishtailed on the blacktop. I joined Elizabeth in trying to keep the wheelchair from moving, as the truck sped down the street.
Alex regained control, and the truck straightened out. Soon, we were at the end of the side street, and I shouted, “Hold on!”
The truck flashed by the stop sign at the end of the street and fishtailed onto the highway, tires smoking and screaming. She tucked it neatly between two oncoming vehicles and roared down the highway.
“She's going the wrong way!” Elizabeth yelled, over the sound of the truck. “What's she doing?”
I had noticed the direction that the truck was facing and was about to yell to Alex, when I noticed a black car some distance down the road. “Relax,” I shouted over the sound of the truck, “I think I know what she's doing.”
We sped down the highway toward the lake.
The black car soon resolved itself into a black Mercedes. There were two male occupants in the front seat. The big car inched closer and closer to the back bumper of the truck.
I knew what was about to happen, so I yelled to Elizabeth, “Hold on tightly to the wheelchair and the truck. Do not let go.”
Alex apparently found the opportunity she’d been waiting for, and locked the brakes on the truck.
The Mercedes must have had anti-lock brakes, but the car was too close and the driver had to swerve the car to avoid hitting our rear bumper. Alex spun the steering wheel of the truck, causing it to skid, turn and slide to the other side of the highway. She wound up facing the opposite way, on the highway, a
nd the trucks tires screamed again.
At the right moment, she again floored the accelerator.
The Mercedes receded behind us, the driver fighting for control, as we headed for the farm.
“Alex's scary,” Elizabeth yelled over the sound of the wind and the truck's engine.
“Tell me about it. She's been this way ever since she dated a racing instructor who worked for the Kentucky State Police. He taught her offensive driving. He said it was to allow her to escape from the bad guys. She won't drive a car with anti-lock brakes.”
“It sure works,” she shouted back. “Maybe she'll teach me.”
“Over my dead body. You already drive too fast.”
She grinned at me and held on.
Alex raced down the highway, passing slower cars as we gained speed. Several drivers honked their horns as the truck narrowly missed car after car. She flashed through stop sign after stop sign, only slowing to allow a gap to appear in the traffic.
I prayed that a cop wasn't hidden along the road as the truck roared toward the farm.
I glanced up at the wheelchair to see how Edward was taking it. He was grinning like a maniac, holding tight to the arms of the chair
Soon, in the distance, I spied a dark car gaining on us. I pounded on the sliding window at the back of the cab, and when it opened, I yelled over the wind. “We've got company.”
“I know,” Alex yelled back. “Do what you can. We're almost there.”
The black car crept closer as we sped along, another black Mercedes.
“What is it with these people?” I shouted “Did they get a fleet discount on Mercedes?”
“What Mercedes?” Elizabeth yelled. “That's an old beat up farm truck.”
“Did you ever remember seeing an old farm truck go that fast?” I replied.
“Alex,” I yelled. “They're Shadows!”
“Take care of it. I've got other problems. They wanna play chicken.”
I looked ahead, and saw another car heading our way on the wrong side of the road.
“Oh shit. Things are going to get hairy!”
“What's she going to do?” Elizabeth said.
“Trust me, you don't want to know. Just hang on and pray.”
I concentrated on the car following us. He dropped back, apparently to give himself some maneuvering room, confident that his partner ahead could stop the truck or at least slow it down and he could box us in. We were about a quarter mile from the farm.
The car in front rushed toward us and the tension grew, as it sped closer and closer.
“Come on, Alex,” I muttered. I gritted my teeth, waiting for the impact.
Apparently, Alex saw her chance, and the truck cab swerved to the right, while the truck bed swung to the left, the tires screaming and smoking again. The driver saw the bed looming in front of him, and stood on the brakes.
As he came close, the truck skidded the opposite way and neatly sidestepped the oncoming car.
Alex changed direction again, and her truck slid on the grass across our front lawn. It skidded on the rain slick grass broadside toward the farmhouse.
Several people, who'd been standing in a cordon in front of the house, scattered as the truck plowed through the line.
It stopped with its side resting against the front porch.
As soon as the truck came to a halt, I yelled. “Quick, get Edward into the house.” I pulled the Glock from the umbrella and leaped out of the truck facing the people who slowly recovered from the truck's dramatic entrance.
From the side of my vision, I could see Elizabeth look at me in surprise. I didn't acknowledge her; I just took an aiming stance and leveled the gun at the disorganized group.
I yelled at the people who were just starting to get organized. “Any Normal who tries to cross the line gets shot! I won't kill you, but I can guarantee you'll never walk again.”
I turned to look back at my companions, who were frozen in shock.
“Get. Edward. Into the house!”
One of the men who seemed about to rush the house glanced at one of the others who I surmised might be a Shadow, as though waiting for permission.
The Shadow looked at me without speaking and turned to look at his men. He shook his head in negation. They stepped back.
I checked to see if Edward was still in the truck. Alex and Caesar were in the final stages of lifting Edward onto the porch.
Elizabeth stared at me, wide eyed, with a worried frown. She hadn't moved. My emotions turned to feelings of regret. My mind cringed. I knew I would face some painful questions from her, assuming she would talk to me at all; but I had overriding concerns at the moment. I would die before I let these bastards any nearer to my house and my loved ones.
“Hurry, before they change their minds!” I yelled.
Alex and Caesar lifted Edward to the porch, Alex opened the door and Caesar wheeled him through it. Elizabeth, still paralyzed, stared at me.
I backed up to the porch, caught her around the waist, and dragged her through the door.
I closed and locked the door and released my hold on Elizabeth. She stumbled to the couch and collapsed on it.
I turned to stare out the door window. “Alex, go down to the basement and load the hand guns. Give the S&W to Caesar. He’ll know how to handle it. You take your Ruger and the rifle. Bring them back to the living room. Don't forget to set the safeties.”
Alex nodded, glanced at Caesar, and led him down to the basement. I looked at Elizabeth. She stared down at the floor and refused to make eye contact.
I turned and continued to watch out of the front door.
“Sooner or later, we'll have to talk about this.” I said with my back turned to her. “I would prefer sooner. I know I've upset you, and I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry, not about what just happened, but because it may have made you think less of me. I can't help that. I would rather that you hate me than to see you hurt.”
I saw her reflection in the window. She didn't say anything, just leaned back in the couch and closed her eyes.
Edward had watched the whole time. Finally, he said, “What's our next move, Paris?”
“The Shadows can't get closer to the house. The Normals, however, are another matter. I expect them to rush us as soon as they have enough backup. How are you at using a weapon from that wheelchair?”
“I'm a good shot, and I know weapons.”
“Good. You're the backup. You get the shotgun. I don't expect them to use guns, but they may get desperate enough to do anything. I don't want to start a war, and neither do they. Neither of us wants the attention of the police.”
“I didn't pay much attention to your words this morning," Edward said. "But I can see that something unusual is happening here. I admit to a lot of confusion, however, as to precisely what it is.”
I turned my attention from the people outside the house to look at him. “I can understand your confusion sir, and I intend to explain this and show you all of the evidence we've accumulated. There’re a lot of things that you don't know, things that I have been reluctant to reveal because I worried that if you did know, it would paint a target on you. Now, I'm afraid it’s too late. I need your cooperation in order to keep us all safe, so the more you know, the easier this is going to be. Right now, however, we need to dissuade our friends outside from attempting something foolish.”
“How do you intend to convince them?”
I grinned, “By the display of overwhelming force.”
Elizabeth remained silent during the conversation.
She abruptly rose and said. “I need to use the bathroom. Please tell me where it is.”
“Upstairs and to the left in the middle of the hallway. – Beth, we need to talk.”
“Not now, Paris, I need to think...maybe later, when I've calmed down.”
I felt sick inside. “Okay sweetheart, when you're ready.” I was in trouble, big trouble.
She brushed past without looking at me.
; In a few minutes, Alex and Caesar emerged from the basement, carrying the firearms.
“I forgot to say, but did you bring the holsters for the pistols?”
“We're ahead of you there,” Alex said. “What do you have in mind?”
After Elizabeth returned, I outlined my plan. Caesar suggested some improvements, and everyone agreed on the results. We took up the firearms and filed out to the porch.
Edward carried the shotgun, while Alex held the Ruger pointing down at her side. Caesar wore the S&W in a holster strapped to his waist, and carried the AR–15 at port arms. I had the Glock strapped to my waist.
Each of the weapons were locked and loaded. Caesar and I stepped off the porch and walked toward the Shadows.
As we moved forward, I whispered to Caesar. “I can't tell which of them are Shadows and which of them aren't. Try to look at the Normals, the one's you can see, and that will help me identify them.”
“This is strange, Paris, But – Okay I'll try.”
Caesar swiveled his head as we walked forward, pausing briefly to indicate that he had spied someone.
From his motion, I spotted two of the Normals. They stood next to the Shadow who had nodded his head earlier.
I angled toward the one I thought was the leader, and stopped in front of him, about five paces away. Caesar stopped the same distance behind me.
“I have a proposal.” I waited for a reply. The man just stood there, saying nothing. “What’s the matter can't you speak? Are you dumb as well as deaf?” This statement finally caused a brief glare.
Abruptly, one of the two Normals spoke. “I speak for the Master.”
“Very well” I said, still staring down the Shadow. “What’s your name?”
The Normal was the one who responded. “It is unseemly for a slave to question the Master. It is not for you to know. You must only obey.”
I moved closer to the one called the ‘Master’. “There’s no slave here, and there’s no Master. I have a message to deliver and a proposal. The message is this. Anyone, Shadow or normal, who attempts to enter our house will be met by deadly force. If any member of my family is injured or killed, or harmed in any way, I will track down your House, and kill each of you, like the dogs you are, until not a member of your putrid tribe is left.”
The Shadow's face contorted and I could actually feel his rage. He directed the force of it at me, but the medallion I wore distracted his focus.
The medallion absorbed and dissipated it, but even with its power, I felt my will start to crumble and pain pierced me.
I had the impression that had he been fully able to press through its protections, he could have killed me.
I stepped back, shrugged it off, and spoke. “My proposal is this. If we start shooting, it will bring the police to investigate. I don't think that you want that kind of attention. Tensions are high, and mistakes can happen. I suggest a stand-down. You leave the house in peace and we’ll remain in it, neither side to encroach upon the other. Keep your Normals away from the house, at the same distance that the rest of the Shadows are standing.” I waited.
The Shadow looked both frightened and furious that his attempt in controlling me had not worked.
His Normal spokesman stirred. “The Master does not bargain with slaves. The slave has something the Master wants. Give the Master what he wants, and he will leave.”
“No. If you want what I have, you'll have to bargain with Tony. If you try to take it, I’ll broadcast it throughout the Internet. I’ll give it to the Government. I’ll send it to people throughout the world. I repeat my proposal. Leave us alone; we’ll stay in the house and not attack your people.”
“The Master does not bargain with slaves.”
I abruptly turned my back on him, beckoned to Caesar, and we began to walk back to the house, not looking back.
About half way to the porch, Caesar spoke. “What the hell was that, Paris? What just happened? That guy acted like a bloody robot.”
“Welcome to the world of Shadows, Caesar. It just gets weirder.”
Caesar grabbed my arm. “Did you feel that rush? Just after you said something about killing them? I swear, it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.”
I stopped walking and turned to look at him. “You felt that?”
“Too bloody right I did. Why?”
I looked back at the people standing on the lawn. “It's just one more piece of the puzzle. It's information he may not have wanted us to know. It’s a good thing he focused on me or you might not have survived it.”
Caesar looked puzzled. “Who? By the way, why were you looking to the side of that ass? Why didn't you talk to him?”
“Oh, I sometimes forget that you can't see them. I was talking to the Shadow who’s running this catastrophe.”
He shook his head. “You know sometimes you and Alex almost have me believing in this 'Shadow' business.”
“Believe it Caesar. It's real, and these people are damned dangerous. I'm going to sit down with everyone and explain as much as we know when we get in the house.”
When everyone was back inside, and the door was closed and locked, I turned to Alex. “Sis, go with Caesar. Check the back door and the perimeter. He can point out the Normals, and you can identify the Shadows. Make sure the door is locked. Then come back to the living room, and we'll have a conference.”
Elizabeth came into the living room and sat quietly on the couch. Edward leaned the shotgun on the wall next to the front door. He was looking at me attentively. I went over to the easy chair and sat down.
“Well, what happened?” Edward said.
I shrugged. “I gave them the message. Now, we'll see if they respond.”
Edward wheeled his chair to face me. “Who were you talking to?”
“The Shadow,” I replied. – Naturally, you couldn't see him.”
Edward rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and laughed. “Naturally – What do they want?”
“I'll explain it all in a minute, but briefly they want two things. The first is whatever my father hid in this house; and second, they want us; Alex and me. They consider us property.”
Edward snorted. “That's absurd. You're no one's property.”
“Crazy or not, that's what they believe. It doesn't matter, if you're the potential property.”
Elizabeth spoke up. “What does all this have to do with us?”
I looked at her. “They want you as hostages. They know we’ll do anything, literally anything, including surrendering, to keep you from harm.”
Elizabeth bit her lip and turned away.
“I knew there was a reason I didn't want you four together,” Edward said.
I felt frustrated. “That's unfair, Edward. When we met Beth and Caesar, we didn't have any idea that it would come to this. We thought that we had befriended the most wonderful people we’d ever met. We thought we had met our life-mates. When we learned about the kind of trouble we were bringing to your family, as much as it would have hurt, I was ready to tell Beth and Caesar that we couldn't see them again.”
Beth turned and glared at me.
I avoided her eyes. “Now it's too late. For better or worse, our futures are joined, and I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure that future is a good one.”
At that moment, Alex and Caesar came back to the living room.
“Perimeter's secure,” Caesar said. “Alex says there are two Shadows back there. I only saw one person, a male. He's keeping his distance.”
“Good. Alex, go get Dad's letter, and some of the printouts we've made, so we can show the three of them what we've found.
While she was busy, I explained what we’d learned about the Shadows, and why they were hounding us.
Alex returned, and she passed Dad's letter and the list around the group. “Edward, you'll notice that your address is on that list.”
Edward placed his elbow on his wheelchair’s armrest and tilting his head, cupped his cheek in his
hand. “Yes, as I said before, I knew your father. That is the main reason I didn't want you associating with Elizabeth and Caesar. I knew your father was a Shadow, and I didn't want a Shadow's offspring entrapping my children.”
I stared him down. “Well you were wrong in two respects, Edward. First, Dad was not a Shadow. Second, our stepmother was.”
He looked astonished. “Jenny? She couldn't have been. I mean, I could see her. She was one of the most loving and kind people I had ever met. Your father was the one who bent people to his will. I saw it. His abilities were Shadow tricks.”
“Mother was one of the rare Shadows who could turn it on and off,” I said. Not all of the Shadows are evil bastards. In that regard, they're like the rest of the human race some good, and some of them, very, very bad. We're up against the latter. Dad, on the other hand, was not a natural Shadow. He learned to use their abilities. His secret is what they want. He designed, and had built, the shield that guards this house. He learned how to construct the medallions that we wear.”
Edward was silent for a while. “Then, why don't you just give it to them? If you bargain, maybe you can come to some sort of agreement.”
“We think Dad was trying to do that when they killed him and our mother. However, the question is a nonstarter. Dad hid the secret very well. We've looked for it and we can't find it.”
Caesar took that moment to rise from the couch and go to the front door. “Paris, it looks like you scared them off. They're gone.”
I joined him at the door “Just the Normals,” I said. “There are six more in the front, all Shadows.”
Caesar looked at me skeptically.
I sighed. “Smart bastard. He knows that if the Normals leave, you'll see the perimeter as clear and you'll think about leaving the house.”
Elizabeth rose and joined us at the door. “They're gone, Paris. You need to take us back to our house, and we'll call the police.”
“No. Beth. Please, I'm begging you. Don't go out there. If you leave this house, they'll have you. If they take you, we'll lose you. We'll have to surrender. We'll never see you again. They might kill you because you know too much.”
”Please darling if you love me, please do not go out of this house.”
“Paris, you're scaring me. You need help, and I'm not a psychiatrist. Sweetheart, I think you are suffering from posttraumatic stress from your time in the service. Let me get some help for you.”
“Do you think I'm delusional, Beth?” Alex said. “I haven't been in any war. What's my problem? Paris is right, if you leave this house, you’ll doom us all.”
We were frozen. I thought frantically. How could I convince Beth that the Shadows were real? I cast my mind over the events of the past few weeks, looking for someway to prevent disaster. I thought about what Tony said, what Gordon said, and about what we had learned about the Shadows.
I thought about Dad. How had he been able to see them? Sure, mother could turn it on and off, but how had Dad been able to see the others? Was there a way to show Elizabeth and Caesar that the Shadows were real? Then I remembered what Gordon had said, about the reason he had been sacked from his government job.
“Caesar, get the rifle and turn on sight.” He took the AR–15 from the place he’d left it, switched on thermal sight and stood waiting, Alex by his side. “Okay, take the rifle, go outside, look through the sight, and scan the front yard.”
He looked puzzled, but opened the front door and he and Alex went out to the front porch.
I waited. The tension I felt increased, until I thought I could no longer bear it. The waiting was agonizing.
After a while, the two of them came back through the front door. “I can't believe it,” Caesar said.
“Believe what?” Elizabeth said.
“You'll have to see it for yourself, Beth,” Caesar replied. “Take the rifle. It's set on safe so it won't shoot, and look through the sight.”
She gingerly took the rifle and I joined her on the front porch. I showed her how to set the rifle against her shoulder, and scan with it while looking through the sight. She trained the weapon, scanning the front yard, and abruptly stopped. She lowered the rifle, looked at the place it had been aimed, and then resumed her gaze through the sight. She did this several times. I could see the shadows were getting nervous. “They don't like what you're doing with the gun.”
She didn't say anything. She just lowered the weapon and walked back inside.
Elizabeth gave the rifle to Caesar. I locked the door, and she went over to the couch and sat. I joined her. She was staring fixedly at the rug.
I took her in my arms and she melted against me. My body felt drained. I started crying, great racking sobs that shook my body. Elizabeth joined me.
Soon we were two quivering lumps of human flesh, just sobbing, holding on to each other and dissolving into a bundle of emotions. I crushed her tightly. I kept saying between the sobs, “I love you, love you. Please don't leave me.”
After a while, we calmed and just held each other. I didn't want to let her go. Caesar’s voice interrupted. “People, I hate to break this up, but we have to decide what we're going to do next.”
I nodded, but didn't let Elizabeth go. “Give us a few minutes.”
Caesar and Alex left the living room.
I saw Edward holding the rifle and periodically using it to look out the window. “How about you?” I asked.
“I'm keeping the gun,” he said. “This is the first time I've ever been able to have these bloody bastards in my sights, and I want to savor the moment.”
“Let's go to the study, Beth, and we'll talk.”
We rose from the couch and half stumbled to the study, still holding each other. I guided her to one of the chairs, and drew up another to sit beside her.
Elizabeth spoke first. “Paris, out there,” she gestured towards the front of the house, “before we went into the house – I mean – I thought I knew you. When you had the gun pointed at those men. I had the feeling that I was looking at a cold killer. Someone I didn't know. Someone who wasn't human anymore. It scared me.”
“Sweetheart, the simple answer is that I wasn't human. I was Lieutenant Paris Fox. An officer who had led his command into a dangerous situation and must act quickly to save them. Before I went into the Army, I would never have behaved like that. We were trained to suppress fear and, if necessary, to abandon our humanity in order to safeguard ourselves and the people we commanded. For better or worse, that’s a part of me now. Maybe if Iraq hadn't happened, things would have been different. Can you accept that?”
“It will take some time. Do you suppose Caesar has that inside him?”
“I would say that, yes, he does. I don't know for sure, but he couldn't have become a Seal, without learning to suppress his fear and his humanity. But, that doesn't mean he's not human. It means that in a life or death situation, he’ll be a very dangerous man. But some fear is hard to control. When I thought you might walk out that door, I was terrified. Beth I can't lose you. I want to be with you the rest of my life. I will do anything to make that true, including kill for you.”
She shuddered. “I never want it to come to that.”
“I know. I trust you completely. Trust me. Trust that I have not lost my humanity. I behaved the way I did so that no one would act to make me hurt them.”
She winced. “That doesn't make sense, Paris.”
I grinned. “I know. It's just my convoluted mind at work.”
At once, Elizabeth's mood changed. She grew alarmed. “Paris what about the hospital?”
“What about it? You can't –”
She stood from the chair a walked around the room rubbing her arms. “I have to go. Paris, I'm a doctor. My patients – people's lives depend on me.”
“Beth, honey you can't leave this house. It's the only place that they can't get to you. You're powerless to defend yourself, and no one will believe that you’re in danger from something that's invisible.”
&
nbsp; She stopped and looked down at me. “Paris, my doctor-self screams to deny what my eyes witnessed. It wants to ascribe this disaster to your delusions. I still have doubts.”
“How can you doubt me when you've seen all this?”
Elizabeth bit her lip. “Damn it Paris, I'm a scientist. I live in what is, not what might be. You're trading on my love for you to force me to join in your fantasy. It's not fair. If you fail me, you could destroy something I want desperately to keep. It makes me sick, physically ill, to think I could lose it.”
“I have no answers, sweetheart. All I can say is trust me, love me. I will not fail that trust.”
We were silent for a while.
Elizabeth shook her head. “I suppose I can call in some favors and get someone to cover my patients. But, Paris, this can't go on indefinitely. We must find someway to resolve it.”
“You're right. We all need to talk and come up with a plan. Anyhow, you can use the phone to call the hospital.”
She rose from the chair, reached for the phone, and dialed the number. She frowned. “Paris, the phone isn't working.”
“Damn. It's starting. They must have cut it off.”
“Who? Who cut it off?”
“The Shadows, who else?”
“I still need to call. In the panic, I left my cell phone at the house. Do you have yours?”
“Yes, it's up in my bedroom. I'll get it in a minute. Let's go talk to the others.”
We went into the kitchen. Alex and Caesar were sitting at the table talking and drinking coffee.
“Are you two all right?” Caesar asked.
“Good enough for now,” Elizabeth replied. “They've cut off the phone.”
“Uh oh,” Alex said, “not good.”
“Let's go to the living room, talk about this, and plan,” I said.
“I'll bring the coffee,” Alex said.
We went back to join Edward in the living room.
I started the conversation. “I hope that everyone understands by now that we are trapped in this house. Even Alex and I, who can see them without aid, would be outnumbered and overwhelmed if we left it. I am reluctant to use deadly force except as a last resort, because the repercussions would lead to the very result that we are trying to avoid.”
“What do you mean by that, Paris?” Edward said. “Just kill them all and let God sort out the mess.”
“Father!” Elizabeth said.
He turned to her. “Beth you haven't seen the result of their meddling. I on the other hand, have. These – creatures – are responsible for more suffering than you can believe. They should be exterminated.”
Edward’s obvious hatred of the Shadows jarred me. “It's not as simple as that, Edward. The Shadows are by no means a monolithic group. In fact, according to Tony, there are several competing factions that are just as eager to broach this house's defenses as the ones who attacked us. That is an advantage, because they would be unlikely to allow one group to have the advantage over the others. In addition, some of the groups are actively intervening on mankind's behalf. Of course, our information comes from a Shadow, and they lie freely as a matter of self preservation. Who knows what's true? I do know that Dad's secrets are the reason we’re sitting here.”
“That's one thing I'm not clear on, Paris. What, exactly, is your father's secret?” Caesar said.
“Dad was a normal human. Somehow he learned how to use some of the Shadow's powers, although from the evidence, I doubt he was able to see them.”
“Why do you say that?” Alex said.
“From the thermal imaging scope on the rifle. Dad probably figured out that they couldn't hide their body heat. Remember, he had Gordon's knowledge to draw upon. I wondered why he’d bought the rifle, and the idea came to me. That's why I had Caesar use it to see them.”
“Who's Gordon?” Elizabeth asked.
That led to a discussion of all of the people Alex and I’d met and some of the information we’d gleaned from them. From there, we went into the study, printed out some of the investigator's reports, and showed them plans for the house. Eventually everyone went back to the living room and sat back down. Everyone was quiet, apparently thinking about all they had learned.
Elizabeth broke the silence. “Paris, why don't you just give it to them? Use it to bargain our way out of this mess.”
“No,” Edward said. “It should be disseminated to as many people as possible. That way, we can rid the world of this pestilence at once and for all time.”
I wondered why Edward hated the Shadows so vehemently. Certainly, I had no reason to love them, but his reaction bordered on the pathological. I decided to question him later when we could have some time alone.
“To answer your question Beth, Dad hid his research. He hid it so well, that we can't find it.”
“Oh. – Well then, maybe our effort should be to find it. We can't bargain without it. Where do we start?” She waited expectantly.
“The computer.” Alex answered immediately. “There's some information there, but we haven't been able to access it.”
“I vote for searching the house,” Caesar said.
“I think that's a good idea,” I said. “How about we try Caesar's idea first? We have more people to join in looking, so we might have more success.”
“I can't join you, so I may as well look at this computer you’re talking about,” Edward said.
I looked skeptically at him. “Are you sure? The computer has a powerful security system installed on it. If you make the wrong move, it will most likely erase the whole hard drive.”
“Trust me. I have some small abilities in the matter of security systems. – Never mind where I picked them up – especially in the computer arena. If I feel it's too risky, I won't attempt it.”
“Okay, if you’re sure...”
“I'm sure,” he said.
I definitely needed to add this item to my growing list of questions concerning Edward. “The basement is the logical place to start, but we need to divide our efforts. Alex, you and Caesar take the basement and living room, Beth and I will take the upper floors.”
We separated into three groups. Beth and I ascended the stairs and we started in the attic. It was cramped and hot. Rafters were strung everywhere and the only items there were in a small corner of the room. We worked together in close proximity, finding nothing. The heat caused perspiration odor to rise from her body. On anyone else, it might have been offensive, but coming from her, it screamed to my primitive brain, 'female. Desirable female – take her.' I tried to concentrate on the task, but periodically found myself touching her and lifting her silky hair from the back of her neck to cool her. Having found nothing, we descended back down to the second floor.
“Paris, after that, I need a shower,” she said.
“So do I,” I said; visions of both of us in the shower rose in my mind.
“Unfortunately, I didn't bring any clothes,” she said.
Additional visions of Elizabeth parading around the house, naked, increased my libido. I firmly clamped them and my passion down. Instead, I said huskily,” Mom was close to your petite size; maybe she has something to fit you.”
I guided her to my parents’ bedroom and she checked the chests, dresser and closets for items to wear. The close proximity of the bed triggered additional fantasies, but the fact that it was my parents’ room caused me to choke on them.
Elizabeth chose a pair of jeans and some under things, topped by a t-shirt. I showed her where the towels were kept, and she went to the bathroom to take a shower. I checked the bedroom thoroughly, while I waited. There was no hidden safe, no concealed space, nothing to indicate the presence of a hiding place. Soon Elizabeth emerged from the bathroom, her hair slightly damp, smelling of bath soap and woman.
“Your turn,” she said.
I grabbed some clothes from my bedroom, and took a quick shower. I noticed that my chest and my hand were hurting and I decided not to put a shirt on until I had had a cha
nce to examine the injuries in the full-length mirror. I came out of the bathroom, to find Elizabeth waiting there.
She took one look at my naked chest and her eyes widened. “Paris, you're hurt.”
“Yeah, I know. The Shadow tagged me with the baton.”
“Sweetheart, I didn't know. You might have a broken rib. Go and lie down on the bed and let me examine you.”
“Yes, Doctor,” I replied. I went through my bedroom's open door and then lay on the bed. Elizabeth sat next to me. She examined the huge bruise on my side and my swollen hand. Her hands were gentle as she probed and stroked my side. I reacted to her touch with a surge or desire.
“Well,” she said, “nothing broken, it’s too late for a cold compress so we'll have to use heat.” She didn't remove her hands from my chest, and then began to smooth and stroke my skin.
“You know, when we were up in the attic, the scent of you was overpowering. I couldn't concentrate. I wanted to ravish you right there, in the room,” she said, while stroking my chest.
I groaned. “Don't start anything we can't finish,” I said.
“Who says we can't finish?”
“I do. When it happens, I want to take a long time to relish it.”
“Long time huh? Is that a threat or a promise?”
“A little of the former, and a whole lot of the latter.”
She removed her hands, and sighed. “I suppose it's just as well. I still haven't started the pill, and I don't know what day my cycle is.”
“I can solve that.”
“How?” She said.
I rose from the bed, grabbed her around the waist, lifted her and sat her on the bed, in one smooth motion. I knelt at her feet, and said, looking into her eyes, “Elizabeth Rowan, will you marry me?”
She had a startled look on her face. “Paris I – you don't have to marry me just to sleep with me. I want it as much as you do.”
“Beth, this has nothing to do with sleeping with you. I want you beside me for the rest of my life. The question remains, will you marry me?”
Her eyes grew soft, and started to glisten. “Paris – you wonderful, complicated man, of course I'll marry you. How could you ever have doubted it?”
My heart leaped in my chest. I crushed her to my body. I sought her lips and devoured them with mine. We fell back on the bed kissing and caressing each other through our clothing. Things might have progressed further, but at that instant, we heard a voice at the top of the stairs.
“Beth. Paris.” Caesar' voice called. “Have you found anything?”
We hurriedly rose from the bed. I slipped on my t-shirt, and we emerged from the bedroom.
“No," I said, "we checked the attic and my parents’ bedroom and we found nothing. Give us a minute, and we'll be down.” I turned to Elizabeth. “Go on down. I've got to get my cell phone. You can make your call from it.”
I retrieved my cell from my room and turned it on. The battery was nearly discharged, so I took the charger with me, and went back downstairs.
I rejoined the group who had moved to the kitchen, put the charger on the sink counter, plugged it in and sat the phone in the base. I looked at Elizabeth. “Sorry, it’s discharged. It’ll be a while before you can use it.”
“You can use my cell, Beth,” Alex said. “It's in my bedroom. Want me to get it?”
I interrupted. “My phone will be charged in a little while. It's getting late and we should make some supper. I imagine everyone's hungry.”
“I need to make the phone call now, I think I'll use Alex's phone,” Elizabeth said.
She and Alex left the kitchen. Caesar went with them, leaving me alone with Edward at the table. I cleared my throat and said nervously, “Just so you know sir, I've asked your daughter to marry me and she said yes.”
Edward was silent for a while, looking at me. “Why am I not surprised? Are you asking for my blessings? Most young people don't bother.”
“Your acceptance would be welcome, Edward. My parents taught me to respect people.”
He smiled. “Very well, you have my blessings.”
I changed the subject. “About what we were talking about this afternoon. When you were in Iran, were you working for MI5?”
He didn't say anything for a minute, just stared at me. “I suppose it doesn't matter anymore. Official Secrets Act be damned. What are they going to do, hang me?” He laughed. “Why do you want to know?”
“My future wife was involved in something you were doing. Don't you think she deserves to know?”
“She'll know – after I'm dead. I've left it in my will. She deserves happiness, Paris. Give it to her. Put her past away.”
“Does MI5 know about the Shadows?”
Edward shook his head. “No, nothing. The people I worked with were working outside the intelligence agencies, although many of them were agents. We were a group that believed there was something going on, some group causing problems between countries, and manipulating governments for their own purposes. We shared intelligence as to their nature and activities. That's how I learned about the Shadows. Some of my associates would kill for what I have learned from you.”
“Are you going to tell them?”
He thought for a while. “Under the circumstances, no. Although I may later, after this is all over. I do not betray my family. You will be my son-in-law, and your sister, I suspect, will be my daughter-in-law. That makes you family. You can be sure I will not reveal anything damaging about any of you.”
Our conversation stopped when Elizabeth, Alex and Caesar entered the kitchen. “What's for supper?” Alex said.
We threw together a hasty meal out of leftovers. I realized that food was going to be a problem before long if the siege on the house continued, so I resolved to take stock tomorrow. After the meal, I turned on my cell phone to check the charge. I noticed the voice mail indicator was blinking so I checked the list. There were several calls from Harvey at the company, and three calls from Tom. I keyed Tom's voice mail and listened.
"Paris – dude, you should carry your phone – Hey. I found something on the hard drive. I'm sending you an email. Call me when you get this voice mail – Hey did you know your landline is disconnected? Better check with the phone company. Call me, bye."
I checked the other of Tom's voice mails and they were substantially the same. I didn't bother to listen to Harvey. I called Tom's number and he immediately answered.
“Hey Tom, it's Paris.”
“Took you long enough.”
“Sorry, I was out all day with my new fiancée.”
“No! You gettin' married?”
“Yep. Just asked her today.”
“What's her name?”
“Elizabeth.”
“What does she look like?”
I looked at Elizabeth, who was listening to my side of the conversation. “She's beautiful, simply gorgeous.”
“As pretty as your sister?”
“Prettier, I think.”
“Wow. Am I invited to the weddin'?”
“You better be there, you're gonna be best man.”
“No shit? Do I gotta wear a tux?”
“Haven’t decided yet. I'll let you know. Hey, what's this about the disk drive?”
“Cracked that mother.” I could hear the pride in his voice.
“Well, what’s on it?”
“Some new stuff, didn't you get the email? Anyhow, I can tell you the better stuff now. I don't know if it's gonna help though.”
“Tell me and we'll find out.”
“Okay, this was associated with the user name we couldn’t crack. It was two words.”
“Okay, give. What were the words?
“The diary – I don't know what it means, but maybe you do.”
“The diary? Was that all?”
“Yep. Just, the diary. Does that help?”
“Maybe, I'll have to think about it.”
“Read the email, buddy. – Wow! You sure? I'm gonna be best man?”
“Wouldn't want anyone else.”
“Thanks, Paris. Be seein' you.”
Thank you Tom, I'll be in touch.” I disconnected the cell phone.
The group in the kitchen was staring at me. Elizabeth looked embarrassed.
Alex’s face wore a smirk. “So, Big Brother, when were you going to tell us?”
“Give me a break, Sis, I just asked her.”
“Boy, are you slow. Caesar asked me four days ago.” Now, it was Caesar's turn to look embarrassed.
I felt myself grin. “I'll bite, what did you say?”
“I told him I'd think about it – and I did – for about two seconds. Then I said yes.”
“I've been meaning to talk to you about it, Paris, but with all that's been going on...,” Caesar spread his hands and shrugged.
“I told you, Paris.” Edward said.
“Folks, I think that this calls for a celebration. Alex, fill a big bowl with ice. I'm going to get a bottle of champagne from the wine cellar.”
“I'm coming with you Paris,” Elizabeth said.
I winced at her tone of voice. I was going to have to do some fast-talking. “Sure sweetheart, I'd enjoy your company.”
We walked to the study to get the key. On the way, Elizabeth opened fire.
“Paris, I haven't agreed to a big wedding, we haven't talked about this at all. I thought we'd find a Justice of the Peace just to make it legal. Hell, I don't need to marry you. I could live with you and be just as happy.”
Stopping at the head of the stairs, I held her arms and gazed into her eyes. “Beth, I guess that I'm just a romantic, but the thought of you in a wedding dress, with flowers all around you, makes my spine tingle. We get to do this once – just once. After that, it's forever. – Let’s make the first and last time, last forever.”
Her eyes were full of tears. After she regained her composure, she cleared her throat and said. “Are you going to keep doing this our entire lives?”
“As often as I can.”
“I'll never survive it.” She laughed and hugged me. “What am I getting myself into?”
“Us, darling, just us. Let’s get the champagne.”
We celebrated with snacks we managed to put together from the kitchen, and a full bottle of champagne.
Edward was exuberant, and had us laughing with revealing stories of Caesar and Elizabeth's early childhood adventures.
Alex and I told stories of our life here, and the adventures we'd had as adults. Soon, the bottle was empty, and Caesar and I helped Edward up the stairs. After he was prepared for bed and we’d settled him in my parents’ bedroom, we went back downstairs.
Caesar went to Alex's side, and I joined Elizabeth. We all stood waiting.
Just in case there's any doubt,” Alex announced, “Caesar and I will be sharing my bedroom.”
She took his hand, and looked in his eyes. “Come on dearest, share my bed.” She led him up the stairs.
Beth and I looked at each other.
Images of her lying naked in my bed made my throat grow tight but I forced the thoughts out of my mind. . “You can have my bedroom. I'll sleep on the couch.”
“Paris – I – are you sure?”
“No...Yes. Beth, there's no way I would be able to control myself around you. It'll be better this way.”
“Maybe you're right, we have time. I'll dream of you, you know.”
Her words nearly made my resolve crumble. I took her in my arms, and gazed at her glistening eyes. I brushed my lips across hers and then deepened the kiss. My tongue tasted her mouth, and I almost fainted with desire.
Trembling, I released her. “You'd better go before I lose it.”
She didn't say anything, just turned and walked up the stairs.
Stripping to t-shirt and under shorts, I grabbed one of the Afghans and settled into the couch. The moonlight streamed through the living room window, illuminating the room with a soft glow.
I couldn't sleep. I lay awake thinking of Elizabeth in my bed, wondering what she looked like, how she was dressed, and what it would feel like to have her body next to mine. I’d finally decided to go upstairs and plead with her to allow me into the bedroom, when an apparition appeared in the living room. She’d dressed in one of my shirts, her bare legs extending from the bottom. She looked unbelievably erotic.
“I tried, but your smell is on everything in that room. I couldn't sleep...I want you Paris. Come to bed with me.”
All reason and logic vanished. I became a quivering mass of aroused male.
I rose from the couch, allowed her to take my hand and lead me upstairs to the bedroom.