She was suddenly alone, and he was staring out the window again. "The Phantom. He came."
"The Phantom..." Tori repeated. So the man wasn't just a figment of her imagination. The stories about him were all true.
Wonderful tales surrounded him. He was a man who infiltrated kidnapping rings, stopping the sale of viruses here and there throughout the global village, demanding that Outsiders, and physicians, and the City Dwellers alike band together to fight a common enemy, the fraudulent thieftakers.
The gossip had begun. Then in the last two years, the rumors had faded to nothing. Many thought The Phantom had died in the last epidemic, or that perhaps he had been ancient and passed away because of his great age. Whatever--if he had ever existed, he had vanished.
Now Jonathan acted sure that he had returned.
"So the stories are real," she said.
"You tell me."
"I saw nothing...perhaps it is only wishful thinking."
"And perhaps he's here," Jonathan insisted happily. He was staring at her now, grinning. "A man and yet a ghost, there but not there, fading into the forest."
It was her turn to sigh with frustration. "You're being just as elusive."
"I have need to be."
Tori stubbornly shook her head. "I never really believed in The Phantom. You see, I believe in things that are tangible, that can be explained because they are real."
"Tori, he probably didn't want you to see him."
"Then he must have something to hide."
"You said he saved you."
Tori ran her fingers through her hair then turned to look out the window for a moment. "I did. But he might have had some other reason."
"Quit fabricating scenarios," Jonathan said. "Maybe it isn't him. Perhaps it was someone else," he finished, moving once again toward her. "Thanks for the info, Tori. I take it no one saw you come here."
"I didn't think anyone followed me to the cliff," she assured him halfheartedly.
"What of Janellen?" he asked. "What possible reason for her appearance with the men?"
A tingle of annoyance swept through her. She didn't know whether to tell Jonathan about her wild imaginings or not. He could not risk appearing suddenly at the laboratory.
But then she wasn't afraid of being in the laboratory.
"Victoria?" Jonathan said anxiously.
"The sweet avenging angel of mercy...? I don't have a clue. Perhaps she was brought along for the sole purpose of hounding me. Maybe not. She's also an excellent snoop."
"What if Janellen is ferreting out the secret passage, even now?"
"Then Nessa will find a way to stop her. She has changed, Jonathan. She is no longer so innocent and trusting."
"Indeed, then you can't bend her to your will?" Jonathan's good humor swiftly vanished, a scowl appearing on his handsome face once again. "This bothers me, this scene you've drawn here. I don't like it that Sheridan arrived with Morray, Janellen, and Hammond."
"Hammond even has a slight sense of humor--" Tori began.
"Don't trust him," Jonathan reminded her sharply. "After all, Hammond came here with Morray, his expertise being used to undermine you, if I am not mistaken."
"He was absorbed in the terminals when I left," Tori agreed.
"Sheridan--and two powerful scientists, representative of the City, and a sister," he murmured. Because of the devastation of the signe virus, sisters could now perform the marriage ceremony. She knew he had come to her own conclusions. "Tori, there is more going on here than you could possibly guess."
She nodded, trying not to appear frightened. She wiped the palms of her hands on her pant legs. "Oh, I think I've guessed it all."
"Sheridan wants access to your files and control of your laboratory. He wants to know what you discovered that has caused the immense cover-up he thinks you instigated."
"I didn't instigate anything. Something occurred at level three clearance and neither Nessa or myself can figure out what happened," she informed him.
"But you still have tremendous backing within the City. Tori, there are men in the assembly who admired your father immensely. Sheridan wants these men behind him. He plans to use this new scare to take over the council. If he holds your laboratory, he will have an excellent place from which to parley or from which to sort out the weak from the strong. Tori, he intends to force you into marriage."
"I thought as much," Tori said, with far less concern than she was feeling.
"I wish you didn't have to return."
"I have to. We both know there is no other alternative. If I don't, he'll tear the City apart looking for me."
Jonathan was suddenly wearing that stubborn look of his, the male-protector look. "I have changed my mind. I cannot--"
"Jonathan! Morray cannot marry me without my consent. And I won't give it. Sheridan will have to find another scapegoat before he can assume control of the center. Don't worry so. You know as well as I that Sheridan does not like controversy. If he encounters too much opposition, he simply moves on to another quarry."
She had thought about this, much of it made sense, and Jonathan knew it. He placed her hand in his, squeezed her fingers slightly then drew her into his arms, hugging her tight. His hands slid back to hers and held them for a moment. "Be careful."
He walked her to the office door and she knew he watched her leave, knew too, he saw the door to the outer office swing shut. And she was sure he would stay there listening to the sound of her shoes as she moved down the hallway. Then he'd turn and go back into his office, and she would be gone.
"Tori wait!" Jonathan was suddenly by her side.
"Jonathan, I will be all right. You must take care of yourself first. Sheridan must never guess how close we are."
"I know," he agreed quietly.
"Jonathan, once you made me promise to abide by the laws of the City, giving up my freedom. Now you must promise me you'll not come to the center. It would please them all to find you biased toward me."
"Oh, yes. It would reveal so much."
"Jonathan, promise me." "No, I cannot."
"You have to. You have no choice."
"Tori..."
"Jonathan," she said stubbornly, "if you will not give me your word, I cannot be held to my own. I'll scale the walls and swim across every lake I come upon. I'll travel between cities without a pass. I swear it."
"Okay, okay. I promise," he said and looked away, then quickly added, "Tonight! I'll stay away tonight, but if I see any reason, or hear anything--I'll be there for you."
"Jonathan!" she spun around, but he'd already made up his mind. "Get back, Tori, before he misses you and really begins his search," he warned her. "I've got to tap into my computer terminal. I must discover what other plans Sheridan has. Go on. And let me know as soon as you can whatever information you can uncover."
She could think of nothing else to say. Jonathan spoke quickly, then vanished, disappearing down the long corridor.
Tori stared after him, sighing. She swept the dangling tendrils of hair from her face and started moving quickly toward the stairs.
She was outside again, seeking the entry to the tunnel. Before she stepped beneath the falls, she hesitated, as she always did. She waited, and listened.
A slight drizzle began to fall, and mist coated the leaves and flowers. She shivered. As the sun slowly began to set in the west, shadows surrounded her.
She was not afraid of the shadows, nor did she fear the coming darkness. Yet she felt as if someone was out there watching her.
She began to tremble. The whispering breeze swirling around her foretold danger. She felt the strength and the power of nature. Water roared over the falls, beating a deafening rhythm against the rocks. Her heart matched the cadence set by the falls by nature itself. She was held in place, unable to move, enthralled as she fought to pull herself from the hypnotizing effect.
Magic...
Prophecies...
It foretold of anarchy, of horrible things to come. Evil
filled the cities; a new kind of disease was approaching. No!
The cry caught in her throat, jolted her from the power surrounding her. She would not let men like Morray frighten her.
Oh, but she needed to respect his strength, to be wary of him.
The thundering waterfall echoed the apprehension in her heart. She stood, feeling the touch of the rain on her cheeks.
These were frightening times.
She had so little power, all she could do was live through it the best she could.
She stayed there a little longer then, certain no one had followed her, she stepped farther into the shadows, seeking the entry to the tunnel. Swiftly she walked beneath the natural waterfall to the opening that had been so ingeniously concealed.
The sun slipped beneath the horizon. She needed no light to find her way. Even when the tunnel turned into the City and away from the entrance, she was not anxious.
She did not sense the first suggestion of danger until she had reached the top landing and saw the light beneath the hidden door. She hesitated before slipping the lock and pushing the door open.
Nessa was there, typing frantically on her computer, Hamia laying beside her on the rug.
With a relieved sigh, she pushed back from the screen. "Just in time. Tori, you'd never guess what Hammond managed. If I hadn't been watching the screen, all our plans might have fallen into his lap, so to speak, or most of them at any rate. At least you managed to get the most damming evidence out of the laboratory. But Sheridan has asked for you, demanding your presence. He doesn't understand why Hammond's screen suddenly went blank when he was about to uncover something." Even as she spoke, Nessa helped Tori out of her camouflage clothing, handing her a cleansing rag for her face at almost the same time. "Take your time now. Sheridan can wait until the North Pole melts for all I care, even though I know you've got to see him. Good luck."
Tori's breath was heaving furiously. "What is it he almost uncovered?"
Nessa grinned mischievously. "The secret formula."
"And you deleted it? Why on earth?"
"Had to. We named part of that code Tristan, remember?"
But Nessa's grin faded suddenly. "I think Sheridan is angry and I think also, he may have plans for you and the med-lab. He seems anxious to settle it. Tori, I've seen you wiggle out of a great deal of troublesome situations, but this could be more than even you could handle, I swear it could be. What to wear?" Nessa sighed. "Something old that makes you look sallow. Perhaps we can add a few lines around your eyes to make you look..."
Tori shook her head. "Of course, the perfect foil. Only trouble is he's seen me as I really am. But then I could act the shrew, perhaps take on the guise of Kate. No, Nessa, I think I will meet Sheridan and Morray head on. Let's see. I think I should like the dark blue tunic and leggings. Yes, the one with the gorgeous full sleeves."
"The one that makes your eyes turn a light blue?"
"That's the one."
Nessa looked like the cat that just swallowed the canary as she brought out the clothes Tori requested along with a wide silver belt designed to fasten just above the hips. Tori quickly donned the clothes then shook out her hair so it would cascade gracefully down her back.
"You've a lot of nerve, I'll give you that. I don't think I could pull it off with such aplomb."
"Of course you could," Tori said quietly as she studied her twin. "Perhaps you should go in my place."
"Oh, dear no."
"Don't worry. I'd never make you do anything you didn't want to. I learned my lesson a very long time ago. One I will not easily forget." She looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting the belt and the tunic so she liked the way it hung. "I mustn't let Morray know how much I loathe him," she said softly. Then she grinned at Nessa, her show of bravery surprising her. "I am Victoria DeMontville, research scientist and owner of this facility. And I will meet these men with dignity," she swore. She looked at the monitors once more, preparing herself for any more surprises, but at that same moment, she heard the knock, a silent command.
"Open the door, Tori," Hammond said.
She looked back to the screens. No one had remained in any of the rooms. Even Hammond had vacated the computers. "Sheridan?" Nessa asked.
"This minute," came the dangerous warning. "I shall break the door down. What are you hiding in there? I want to see it now, or it will go bad for you."
Tori stiffened. Both Hope and Hamia growled.
Nessa sucked in her breath. "Tori?"
"Over my dead body," Tori cried out.
"Don't say such a thing," Nessa whispered. "It could well come true. Tori, we have covered our tracks well. Let them in before he does break the door down."
"Very well," Tori sighed, "but it goes against my principle.
Janellen and Hammond were in the hall. Janellen's hands were clasped piously in front of her, and Hammond leaned arrogantly against the doorframe, a wry smile curling his lips.
Janellen looked past Nessa to Tori, who sat calmly behind her desk, writing utensil poised negligently in the air.
"Janellen, David, the pleasure's all mine. Weren't the computers intriguing enough to keep you busy?"
She could almost hear the wind rush from Janellen's lips and the silent humor behind David Hammond's expression. Yet Janellen controlled what looked to be a simmering temper--and David seemed to battle his burgeoning suspicions--they stepped through the door. "Interesting yet frustrating. It seems every time I made a breakthrough I was blocked," David told her laconically.
"Now, that's thought provoking."
"It is, isn't it?" the priestess offered.
"Indeed, Janellen, it does make one wonder, doesn't it?" Tori laughed. She set down her pen then rose from the chair. "I've been taught, however, that computers sometimes have a mind of their own, quite human-like. Don't you agree?" She strove for a regal air, the length of her hair sweeping behind her as she walked to join them. "David?" She offered him her arm. Grinning devilishly, once more, he accepted it.
He led her down the stairs and through the various levels to the Visitor's Center below. Janellen followed behind them. Sheridan was waiting along with Morray.
Quentin Morray, uninterested in the literature or the exhibits, was standing far across the room, looking into the City toward the House of Representatives. It seemed as if he could see what transpired there as if he knew she'd just visited Jonathan.
Sheridan had been examining the log of visitors. He turned as Hammond escorted her into the room. "Tori, forgive me. Our driver misinterpreted his instructions. He's left. I'm afraid we'll have to beg your hospitality for the night. With the convention taking place here and of course graduation tomorrow, all accommodations in the City are taken."
"How very interesting," Tori murmured
"Sheridan was beginning to think that you'd not come down, Victoria," the priestess said. "I told him I'd see what was keeping you."
"I was working. You know that," she said sweetly. "Do you care to dine now or later?"
"Whatever suits you," Sheridan said.
"Of course."
Sheridan escorted Tori to the elegant dining room adjacent to the cafeteria, Morray and the others followed. After she was seated, the atmosphere suddenly changed. Quentin Morray sat adjacent to her, his eyes sullen and morose.
Hammond kept his chair facing the visitor center as if he meant to watch every person who entered. Janellen sat beside Morray and smiled.
"You worked a long time. Is that always your nature?" Sheridan asked, watching her carefully.
"This is a laboratory, a lab that Nessa and I started from scratch since our return. Have you forgotten the reason for your visit? Indeed, I've cut my workday short just for you."
"You would not think to leave?"
The question asked by Sheridan was light, but an underlying tone alerted her. Tori decided it must have been Sheridan's men who had followed her and they must have reported back. They had no proof though, none at all.
"Why would I leave when there is so much work to do?" she asked. She proffered him a radiant smile, trying not to feel the anger in Morray's gaze.
Her brow creased. "Rest assured that I'm hard at work even while you search for the perpetrator of some unexplainable crime." She turned back to Sheridan, smiling. "Your two co-workers sat in level three, blocking the only route from my office, as you well know," she said and laughed.
"If the stories are true, you were quite capable of slipping from these very rooms on innumerable occasions. Your father finally caught you and banished you. A fate I'm sure you deserved," Janellen said. She lifted her glass to Tori. "Perhaps we should search out the truth of these tales before you vanish completely."
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