Eternal Faith - Book 4 (The Ruby Ring Saga)

by Chrissy Peebles

  I opened my eyes and my vision was over. Alarm tore through me as I snapped back into reality, tears running down my face. My heart thundered inside of me, as if I’d been hit with lightning or those maniacs had shocked me with their stun gun again. I had returned to California in the hopes of keeping my baby safe from Ethano’s foul plans, but in the end, it would prove to be a fatal decision for little Alexander. A trickle of sweat ran down my back, and rivers of tears dripped off my cheeks and onto my pillow. Maybe we should have taken our chances with Ethano, I thought. At least he wouldn’t let my baby die. But even if hindsight was twenty/twenty, my vision had told me that it was too little too late, and I feared that Alexander’s life was doomed.

  Della fluttered her eyes open, and there was terror written all over her face as she struggled into a sitting position in the confined space. She covered her eyes with her hands. “Hey,” she said. “It’s okay. I’m alive.”

  I balled my hands into fists, furious at the nightmare I’d just witnessed. Pounding the padded wall with my fists, I clutched my chest and began to weep.

  “Were you really that concerned for me? I am touched, Sarah. Truly,” Della whispered.

  I spun to meet her gaze. “They’re going to kill my son!”

  She arched a brow. “How do you know that? I think they want to keep us alive for experiments.”

  Streaks of sweat ran down my spine, drenching my shirt. My throat felt coarse and dry as I screamed, “Because I saw every vivid detail. Get up, Della! We have to get out of here.” I reached my hand out, but she refused to accept my help.

  She slowly stood and looked into my eyes. “How do you propose we get out of here?”

  I wiped my eyes. “I don’t know, but I had a vision. I saw everything, and I refuse to be dissected on a cold slab of metal. I refuse to let these beasts kill my son.”

  “A vision? As in the gift of sight? How is that possible?”

  I shrugged. “Don’t ask me how, but somehow, we’re able to keep our extra gift. This vision was different from any others I’ve had though. It was longer, and I was actually in it rather than watching it. It seemed more detailed than any of the other visions in the present.”

  “You are becoming more accustomed to the gift, Sarah. Perhaps it is winning against all the other energies in your body.” She then desperately grabbed my arm, her lips trembling. “Tell me, Sarah, what did you see?”

  I gripped her hands. “We’re in hell, and I just personally met the devil.”

  “I’ve met him too,” she whispered.

  “We’re being kept alive as Guinea pigs, Della. According to my vision, you are not the perfect specimen. You don’t meet their DNA criteria, so they intend to do away with you.”

  Della gasped.

  “I was on the operating table,” I said, sucking in a deep gulp, “and they let my baby die just so they could save me for some stupid experiment.”

  She shook her head, horrified. “We cannot let Victor’s heir die.” There was a tremor of fear in her voice as she looked away. “Victor has desired a child for centuries, and he will not be able to cope with the loss of his son.”

  I paused as her words tore at my heart. Finally, I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued, “I heard them talking about a helicopter being loaded. It was going to take place on June thirtieth at 2 p.m. Wednesday.”

  “That’s in three days.”

  “Maybe we can hitch a ride outta here, like stowaways.”

  “I do not wish to ride anywhere with these villainous creatures. They’ve tortured me for months. Is there not a way we can just run?”

  “The way they were talking, we’re far from civilization, maybe in a desert or something. If that’s the case, we have no choice but to fly out of here.”

  Exhausted and beaten down, Della looked at me and nodded. “If that is what we must do, so be it. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get out of here.”

  * * *

  I was startled when the two soldiers rushed in and even more startled when one of them walked right up to me, stunned me with his taser, then laughed as he threw me over his shoulder. I only had one thought: Is my vision coming to pass? Are they taking me to surgery, where Alexander is destined to die? I tried to fight and flail, but the stun gun had rendered my muscles useless. I was completely paralyzed as pain spread through my body.

  A soldier unlocked a small, metal cage and shoved me inside. I heard the lock click of the door and wondered again what was happening. Then I heard somebody call my name over the intercom system in the room. “Sarah, I am your handler, your programmer,” he said in a deep voice.

  “What do you want?” I asked. “Why are you doing this to me?”

  “If you cooperate, no harm will come to you,” the male voice said.

  “Just don’t hurt my baby.”

  “What do you eat?”

  “What kind of question is that?” I shouted.

  A flash of light blinded me as pain tore across my body and forced my eyes to dart open. It was at that point that I realized the cage was hotwired on the ceiling, bottom, and sides.

  “Why are you doing this?” I screamed.

  Another flash of light came, followed by more pain.

  “I will ask the questions,” he said.

  He had told me he was my programmer, and now that was beginning to make sense, as much as anything could make sense in that crazy place full of Immortal lunatics. Every time the DC voltage was applied, I saw a flash of light and felt the sting of pain, like a lab rat in some cruel conditioning experiment.

  “What do you eat?” he asked again.

  “Food.”

  “Please be more specific.”

  “Meat, cheese, dairy...uh, fruits and vegetables, bread. Oh, and pizza. Pizza Hut’s my favorite, especially stuffed crust,” I said, hoping my answer would not get me zapped, but it did. I gritted my teeth as pain flooded through me, and I realized I’d have to watch my mouth.

  Over the next hour, they asked me basic questions, and the white room often went very dark or very bright. Over my cage door was a panel of lights, and occasionally, a pattern of dots would light up. I had no idea what any of it meant, but they continued stinging me with low-level shocks that were coordinated with the various patterns of illuminated dots. As much as I hated what they were doing to me, it was still much better than the surgical nightmare I’d seen in my vision, performed by Dr. Green Eyes.

  Suddenly the dots lit up brightly and sped back and forth as jolts of pain flooded through me from electric shots.

  “This brutality is...completely barbaric!” I shouted through the waves of pain. “What are you? Monsters? I’m pregnant, for goodness sake! Leave me alone!”

  Then, the room went completely dark, and even the panel of lights above my door shut down, as if there’d been a massive power outage. I gasped for air and glanced around. My body was still limp, but Alexander was kicking my insides like a World Cup soccer player gone mad. I felt as if I’d stepped through the gates of hell. I knew that unspeakable horror was still waiting for me, and I knew I had to get out of there, no matter what.

  I touched my stomach. “Hold on, my sweet baby. Mommy is so sorry. Just hang on,” I said, my voice wavering.

  My fingers and toes tingled, and my body felt numb. I couldn’t understand how Della had survived so long in that place. I’d only had a taste of what she’d been through, and I was almost ready to give up already.

  Through the fog of pain surrounding me, the door creaked open, and someone gave me a shot in my arm. Then, one of his evil henchmen carried me back to my cell.

  “Are you okay?” Della asked.

  Unable to answer, I just closed my eyes and fell asleep.

  * * *

  When I fluttered my eyes open, I heard the television, a blonde reporter talking about me!

  “Sarah Larker has been missing for three days. She is seven months pregnant, and her family is worried that something sinister has happened.”
r />   “Three days?” I whispered.

  “You’ve been in and out of consciousness for about two days,” Della said.

  I glanced back up at the TV.

  “The interesting twist to this story is that it isn’t the first time Miss Larker has disappeared. Over a year ago, she went missing on an expedition, and Frank Hedford was charged with her death. When she was rediscovered some time later, it was believed that she had suffered from amnesia.” The reporter then held her microphone to a tall man with white hair. “Do you have any leads on this newest disappearance of Sarah Larker, Officer?”

  “We believe Miss Larker is...unstable and that she may have run off again, possibly back to New York City. We are currently checking all potential leads.”

  The reporter then held the microphone up to my mom. “My daughter would never run away. She was happy to be home and had settled in nicely.” Her voice trembled as tears streamed down her cheek. My dad wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close as she continued, “If anyone knows anything, please call the police. I can’t lose my Sarah again, not after we finally got her back.”

  “We’re going to bring Sarah home,” my dad said. “She’s a fighter, and I...” Overcome by grief, his voice trailed off.

  I was equally sad, knowing that my family was worrying for me. It was a relief, though, to know they were looking for me, and I was sure Victor would never give up till they found me. As I looked at the worried look on my dad’s face and the tears on my mom’s, my heart was torn in two. I desperately wanted out of that hellish place, to be reunited with my family.

  “What’s your extra gift, Della?” I asked.

  “Invisibility.”

  “What!? That’s perfect! Try it,” I said.

  She shot me an exasperated look. “Do you honestly think I haven’t tried already? I only hit a brick wall.”

  “Yeah, but you didn’t concentrate on that one specific power. Just humor me, Della. Try it. Mine works, so yours might too.”

  “But they injected something in me and...”

  “Just try, Della,” I insisted. “I received the same injection, and my gift of sight still works.”

  She nodded and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she disappeared, right before my very eyes.

  My heart swelled with joy. “It worked!” I declared as I watched her body fade back in.

  “We have to get them to open the door,” she said. “If you hold my hand, you’ll be invisible too. That’s how it works.”

  “This will give us a fighting chance! I know they’ve put you through hell.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Do you think you can do this? Are you up for the challenge of trying to escape? It will require that you concentrate very hard.” I stared into Della’s eyes, trying to determine if I could count on her. I hardly knew her, and she wasn’t exactly my best friend. All she had to do was let go of me, and I’d be as good as caught—and probably punished.

  “I can see in your eyes that you don’t trust me.”

  I shifted my stance, wondering how she could read me so well?

  The lines in her pale face softened, and compassion flickered in her brown eyes. “I’m not going to let anything happen to your baby. Victor was my world for hundreds of years. I’ll do anything to save his child, even if I’m not carrying him.”

  It was clear that she was far more interested in saving Alexander than she was in saving me, but I had no option but to trust her. Still, I couldn’t switch off the nagging voice at the back of my head telling me to be careful. The woman clearly wanted Victor back, and part of me still questioned her intentions. For all I know, she’d leave me there so she could step into my life and have my husband for herself.

  Della bit her lip. “According to your vision, the helicopter leaves sometime while you’re in surgery. It’s one p.m. now.”

  I sucked in a deep breath. “They’re taking me to surgery in an hour. Alex will die if we don’t resort to drastic measures. We have to act now. He’ll be dead in a matter of hours.”

  “Do you think you could pretend to be in labor?” Della asked.

  I nodded. “Distraction. Great idea.”

  “As your Hollywood people say, give us an Oscar-worthy performance.”

  As I doubled over and moaned in pretend pain, Della pounded on the door frantically. “This woman is in labor!” she shouted when a man peered in the square window. “I don’t know how to deliver a baby. Can you send a doctor?”

  The door opened, and the man rushed in and pointed a gun at Della.

  Della helped me lie down on the ground. “It’s okay. They’re going to get a doctor.”

  The man motioned for Della to stand in the back. “Make one false move, and I won’t hesitate to use force,” he muttered.

  “I’ll do whatever you say,” she said hysterically. “Just help Sarah. She can’t lose this baby.”

  Two more men entered and pointed guns at Della. When the first man felt for my pulse, I let out a scream, as if I was in excruciating pain.

  “I’m losing the baby,” I said. “I need the doctor!”

  The man glanced at the others. “Let’s get her on the gurney and call Dr. Larson.”

  “Where’s the other woman?” one of the men asked, suddenly stumped when there was no sign of Della.

  I screamed so loud that I drowned everyone’s voices out, and then I jumped to my feet, knowing I had to distract them somehow.

  “Calm down,” the blond man asked, his voice low and menacing.

  I let out a long scream to try and divert their attention once again. “Help me!”

  “Shut up!” the blond told me, then threw his fist straight into my jaw.

  Pain flooded my face, and I stumbled. Della aimed at the guard’s side and fired. The soldier crumpled, dropping his gun, and the weapon clattered across the floor, until I abruptly stopped it with my foot. I snatched the gun up and pointed it at the two guards, my hands surprisingly steady for someone who’d just been knocked senseless and was still seeing stars. The gun wouldn’t kill the Immortals, but I knew it would sure as heck slow them down.

  I smiled when I felt Della grip my hand, and I disappeared right before their very eyes.

  “Where are they?” I heard one man ask with a gasp.

  Della temporarily let go of my hand to ward off the ogre coming straight for her.

  “I pulled the alarm!” the other man said.

  I aimed for the man’s leg and let off a few shots. I rushed toward Della so I could reach for her hand.

  “I see her! The pregnant one!” a man shouted.

  “I see the skinny one!” another said. He aimed his gun at Della and pulled the trigger.

  Then, just like that, she screamed in agony as the bullet tore through her shoulder.

  Chapter 14

  Della had been shot, and my heart raced as she crashed to the ground.

  “Della!” I shouted, rushing over and realizing our plan was going horribly wrong.

  When I glanced up, I gasped. The other guard came at me with the stun gun. I assumed that since they weren’t pointing a real gun at me, I had to be very valuable to them for some reason. I swung my leg in a semicircular motion, delivering a Muay Thai high roundhouse kick. It was the only move I remembered from a self-defense class I’d taken with Beth ages ago, but it did the job, and the brute fell to the floor.

  Grunting, the guard kicked and swept my feet out from under me. I tumbled back, crashing to the floor, still gripping the gun tight. He might’ve gained the upper hand for the moment, but it only meant I’d have to fight harder. I rolled aside to dodge a blow from his steel-toed boot and scrambled to my feet.

  Using my forearm to block, I dodged more quick jabs to the chest, then kicked a sideways blow into the man’s side. He stumbled to the ground, scooted back, and jumped to his feet, then lurched at me. I wrapped my fingers around the trigger and squeezed. The man’s body jerked and convulsed as he crumpled to the ground.

  Finall
y, Della gripped my hand once more.

  “Where’d she go?” the man asked.

  I grabbed the collar of the man’s shirt and kicked him in the nuts, stunning and crippling him just long enough for Della to yank me out of the cell and slam the door shut, locking the men inside.

  I stuffed the gun into my waistband, covered the open wound on her shoulder with my hands, and pressed hard to stop the bleeding. Della winced as rivers of warm crimson oozed out between my fingers.

  “You’re losing lots of blood,” I said.

  She drew in a sharp breath. “I cannot believe the power of your weapons.”

  “He nailed you good.” I stared at the torn tissue. I wasn’t a doctor, but it looked pretty bad to me. I ran over to a table by the window and pulled off a tablecloth, sending a vase of flowers crashing to the floor. Frantically, I started to wrap Della’s wound.

  “We haven’t the time for first aid, Sarah...and I don’t need you to be my nursemaid.”

  “Do you want to leave a blood trail for them to follow?” I asked, tying the cloth securely around her shoulder as she winced in pain.

  “No. I suppose you’re right,” she said, moaning.

  Once her wound was wrapped tightly, I opened the door and peeked out. The hall appeared to be empty, which was a lucky break for us. We turned left and raced through the deserted corridor. Red lights flashed, casting an eerie crimson glow, and the sound of marching boots echoed from somewhere in the distance. My jaw dropped as a platoon of soldiers stretched across the hall, the scene playing out in slow motion.

  As we raced down the winding corridors, high-pitched sirens blasted in my ears. I blinked, shielding my eyes from the flashing red lights beaming from the ceiling. Soldiers appeared behind us and rushed past, and I had never been so thankful to be invisible. I unclenched my fists and let out a breath, relieved that no one had seen through our little façade—at least not yet.

  Just a few feet ahead of us, the passageway split off in a fork. I leaned against the wall as I craned my neck to catch a glimpse of what lay hidden beyond the long corridors. A sudden rush of energy flooded through me, and I leaned on the wall. I needed my medicine, but the Immortals had stolen it from me. I squinted as the energy transferred from my feet to my hands and then to my head. It felt as if it was being bounced around.