Page 77 of Revelations

Great! A paranoid, psychotic fallen archangel! That’s just what I need!

Regardless, the big thug would not get anything accomplished, much less the prophecy, if he kept her captive here. He would have to let her go free, right?

Thomas! Oh dear Lord!What had happened to him during all of this? She sent up silent prayers, hoping Olivier had taken into account that she needed Thomas to discover the prophecy. He had to let him go, as well. If he were dead, then the devastation wrought by Kael bringing him back from the dead had been for nothing.

Kael, why? Why did you walk right into what you knew had to be a deadly trap? What the hell is going on with you?

All good questions, but her brain couldn’t wrap around any acceptable answers. She would not accept the possibility that he haddone it for her.

We are never-ending.

She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing that she could block out the words that rattled around in her brain. Time passed with only the flicker of the fire coming from the ground to mark it. The words continued in a ceaseless chant.

I wonder if that’s hell fire. Certainly wouldn’t put it past that bastard to drag me to Hell!

Half dozing at one point, a sudden thud echoed down a corridor behind her. An incredibly large shadow appeared against the far wall. By the way that the air grew heavier, and the sharp pain stabbing her eyes, Greylyn knew that her captor had finally arrived to check on her.

In an arrogant, aristocratic accent, Olivier announced his presence. “Good evening, my dear. Or is it day? I lose track of time down here.”

His large, smooth hand reached out to caress her cheek. “My, my. You look so much better now. I must say your beauty was quite non-existent for a few days while you healed. I so hated to see you in such a condition.”

Days? Greylyn strained against the strap around her neck, making anything more than a whisper immensely painful. An evil smile lit up Olivier’s face. He obviously enjoyed her torment.

“Now, dear. We do need to talk.” He tsked a couple of times before continuing. “I will loosen your restraints, but you have to promise to behave. Otherwise, I will teach you another lesson in obedience. I can dish out the lessons forever, if you wish. However, I took you for a smart girl. You should not need to be told twice. Am I right?”

He waited on her answer, but without the ability to communicate, her eyes served her answer—acceptance of his terms, but enough of a rebellious spirit to cause him a moment’s hesitation.

With a flick of his wrist, the bindings loosened, and she fell to the hard ground. An intense heat emanated from the floor. It burned her skin like hot coals, but she stubbornly refused to show any signs of discomfort. The last thing that she woulddo was let Olivier see her squirm.

He grasped her arm to help her stand, but she wrenched away.

“You could use an employee suggestion box or something, because I’d like to lodge a complaint.” Recovered now, her voice was still hoarse, but at least it was on the mend.

Tapping his tented index fingers lightly against his square chin in contemplation, Olivier appeared bemused. His eyebrows furrowed together over the bridge of his aristocratic nose, and his lips pursed. “Yes, dear. I do regret the treatment that you received, but you must admit it was your own fault.”

Heat rose up her neck as her anger spilled over. “I can’t very well fulfill your damned prophecy if I’m too damaged to walk.” Now that she was free to move, Greylyn stretched her limbs and flexed her muscles. Joints popped, and tendons and ligaments screamed in agony after days of being hung up like a slab of steak at the local butcher’s shop.

“Considering the serious nature of the matter, I could afford the delay. I cannot have an employee who is putting someone else’s interests above my own. Finding the truth was imperative.” Olivier slid off his black designer suit jacket and threw it over his shoulder. Next, he loosened his silk tie. Maybe the heat in the room was getting to him, too?

Geez, what was with this guy? If he didn’t trust Kael, why all the hoops to jump through? Outright slaying would have been kinder…oh wait, Olivier didn’t do “kind.”

“And did you? Find the truth, that is?” The growing knot in her belly made her realize that she wanted to know the answer to that question herself.

What was the truth? Had Kael lied to Olivier or to her?

A memory flashed in her head. At the bed and breakfast, on the covered patio outside of her suite, Kael had said, “Actually, if you think about it, I may be the only person who has never lied to you.”

Olivier flashed his pearly white teeth in a smile that took over his entire face. “Yes, I did. Sadly, my trust had been poorly misplaced. But, do not fret. I am taking steps to correct the situation. A re-education program, as it were.”

That didn’t sound like a good thing. The thought of Kael being “re-educated” left a sour taste in her mouth and a hole in the pit of her stomach.

“So, are you going to leave me in suspense or tell me?” Part of her didn’t want to know. Part of her already did know. Kael’s loyalty had wavered from serving Olivier because of her. For that, he would suffer greatly.

“Now, dear. I know you are a smart cookie. You know why, at least in part. Kael did not save your friend out of some conviction that you could not do your job for me without him. If that had been his reasoning, he would not have panicked when he found out that I had you both with me. But, he did. If your welfare did not concern him in the least, he would have stayed away. He had to know that I would never harm you. As you have pointed out, I need you. But I do not need Dr. Moorefield. He is dispensable. You…are not.”

He paused as his words sank in. His eyes peered intently at her, waiting for some indication that she understood the threat.

Inside, she screamed obscenities at him for daring to threaten Thomas…but what if he had already killed him? Outwardly, the only sign of distress was the throbbing nerve under her left eye.

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