Keepers of the Cave (32 page)

Her mother nodded. “Yes. Of course. I’ll do that now.”

Fiona watched her for a moment, her movements slow and measured, so as not to have a misstep. No one ever wanted a misstep. She sighed, knowing she would never see her mother again. Strangely, that thought did not make her sad.

She turned, opening the door to the tunnels, glancing back once again, but her mother paid her no mind.

***

Ester paced slowly, back and forth, the opened window letting in the warm night air. It was so still, so humid, she felt perspiration dampening her skin. Fiona was back. She knew that. But something wasn’t right. She couldn’t
see
her, couldn’t
feel
her. Not like she should. Maybe this pregnancy was disrupting her energy flow. Or maybe it was something else.

She listened, hearing footsteps on the stairs. She recognized Belden’s heavy step, and she waited for him to knock.

“Yes. Enter.”

He looked flushed, his skin glistening with sweat. “Mother,” he greeted, his voice sounding slightly out of breath.

“Don?” she asked simply.

He shook his head. “But we’ll find him. I have other news, I’m afraid.”

She frowned, feeling out of sorts. News? What news could he have that she didn’t already know? “Go on,” she said.

“Director Avery is a phony,” he said.

“A phony?”

“He is an FBI agent.”

The words were like a blow to her chest, and she reached out, a claw-like grip closing on Belden’s arm.

“How do you know this?”

“He tried to have Chief Aims arrest Richard. Something about the gate.”

“He must be eliminated,” she said quickly. “We can cull him like the others.”

Yes, that was what she would do. Cull him. Make him go away. Then things could get back to normal. After all, Fiona was about to give birth. It was time to celebrate. She didn’t have time to deal with the FBI.

“There’s more,” Belden said, his eyes shifting away from hers nervously.

“Tell me.”

“The two women who befriended Fiona. They are also with the FBI.”

This news did not startle her. She knew they were not who they claimed to be. It was of no consequence. “They will be culled as well. Bring them and Director Avery here. Tonight.”

“That is the problem,” he said. “I believe they are already here.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

Paige hesitated at the top of the stairs, pausing to look back over her shoulder. She didn’t know what she expected to find. The door was closed and the windows were boarded up. Still, she felt like something was watching her, and she nearly shivered with it.

“Come on,” CJ said urgently from down below.

Taking a deep breath, Paige took the next step down, pulling the trap door closed behind her. Even though she’d seen CJ breaking up the spiderwebs, she imagined hundreds of spiders lying in wait, ready to jump on her as she crept past.

She took CJ’s offered hand, her feet finally hitting the dank earth. She held tight to CJ for a long moment, her eyes adjusting to the semi darkness.

“According to the map,” CJ said, holding it under her light, “we should be safe using the flashlights until about here.”

Paige followed the progress of CJ’s finger, seeing an L-shaped turn that would take them to the chamber. She tried to remember Don’s words about the maze of tunnels, but it was all a blur now. She just knew they needed to hurry. It seemed liked hours since they’d parted with Fiona.

“Let’s go,” she said. “I’m right behind you.”

“Oh, sure. Now she wants me in the lead,” CJ murmured.

Paige smiled, thankful for CJ’s attempt to lighten the mood. She kept her own light zipped in her thigh pocket, instead following close behind CJ as they slowly crept deeper into the earth. The tunnel was small, with barely enough room for them to stand upright. The tunnel had been reinforced with boards, but the quick glimpse she had been able to take suggested they were old and rotting. She had seen horrors before in her job, but nothing could compare to what she was feeling right now. Her fear was genuine, but it wasn’t something she could put her finger on. Was it just that they were going into the bowels of the earth, on guard against some creature that might or might not live there? Or was it the unknown powers that Ester Hogan might or might not possess? Was it Belden who was most likely on the hunt for them? Or was it fear for Fiona’s fate? Could they save her? All those questions vied for center stage in her mind, pushing down the physical fear she had, the fear of being in the damp, dark tunnel they were attempting to traverse, the fear that it might cave in on them.

They came to a junction, and CJ stopped, pulling out the map again. Paige peered over her shoulder, trying to make sense of the drawings.

“I think we’re here,” CJ whispered.

“You think?”

“No. I’m pretty sure.”

“Give me that,” Paige said, taking the map from CJ. It was loosely drawn and obviously not to scale, but she assumed Don would only include the tunnel they needed to take. She turned a circle, trying to get her bearings, but in the dark tunnel she had no idea which direction to go. She silently handed the map back to CJ.

“I don’t have a clue.”

“See? That’s why I’m in the lead.”

“Then lead on, tiger. I’m starting to get claustrophobic.”

“Yeah. Could they have made this just a little bigger?” CJ murmured as she continued on.

When they came to the sharp L-shaped turn, both stopped quickly and CJ turned off her flashlight. The darkness was cut by a faint light up ahead. Paige blinked several times, adjusting to the muted light. CJ tugged at her arm, motioning for her to follow. Their steps were slower now, careful, and Paige could hear the blood pounding in her ears. She took short, even breaths, trying to quell her nervousness.

As they neared the corner, CJ pressed tight along the wall, moving silently to peek around the edge.

“It looks like an old-fashioned torch,” she whispered. “I don’t see anyone. The tunnel continues.”

Paige nodded, moving forward too. The tunnel appeared to be bigger now, and there was another, smaller tunnel that joined the one they’d come to. The torch was as CJ described, something you might see in an old movie. She wondered what they used for fuel. And on the heels of that thought, she wondered if they were in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. She smiled at her thoughts, knowing that was the least of their worries right now.

“I’m starting to think this was a terrible idea,” CJ said as she walked on.

“I know. But it wasn’t like we had a lot of options.”

CJ took out the map again, holding it up to the torch. Don had drawn in the other tunnel, so they knew they were on the right course. Only a few more turns and it would open up into what Fiona and Don had called the chamber. The actual cave was beyond that.

“Come on.”

Paige nodded, following close behind CJ. Paige wondered why this part of the tunnel was lit by torches. Perhaps it was a main corridor. That thought made her glance over her shoulder, making sure they were still alone. While she didn’t see anyone, she certainly felt eyes on her.

“I feel like we’re being watched,” she whispered, giving voice to her thoughts.

“It’s probably just the spiders,” CJ murmured with a quiet laugh.

The only sound thereafter was the muffled steps they took. Paige stayed close behind CJ, knowing that the next turn would take them into the open. CJ stopped, motioning Paige against the wall. She listened, hearing voices in the distance.

“Fiona?”

CJ nodded. “And Belden.”

“At least we know where he is.”

***

“You should not be down here,” Belden said.

Fiona’s breath was coming in quick, short gasps, the pain nearly unbearable now. Her face was drenched in perspiration, and she wiped a drop of sweat from the corner of her eye.

“Get her,” Fiona said again. “I want to see her.”

“Mother Hogan left instructions for you to wait. You should not be in the chamber without her.”

Fiona shuffled closer to the altar, leaning on the edge to help support herself. She felt a wet stickiness between her legs and knew it was blood. She didn’t have much time.

She turned to Belden, hoping to use his fear of Mother Hogan against him. She pointed to her belly.

“I’m about to give birth. If something happens, you’ll be to blame. Do you want that?” She took a deep, excruciating breath. “You know what she’ll do to you, right?”

Belden hesitated, then his eyes widened as she let out a sharp groan, the pain nearly bringing her to her knees.

“You stay here. I’ll get her.”

He hurried off, disappearing down the tunnel that would take him to Mother Hogan’s estate. She gripped the altar, pulling herself along its length. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to subside. When it ebbed somewhat, she stood up straighter, glancing across to the back of the chamber. The dark entrance to the main tunnel stood like a gaping mouth. Beyond it, smaller tunnels converged. Were Paige and CJ close? Had they managed their trip through the woods? Did they find the stables? Was Don’s map sufficient for them to find their way? If so, she hoped they were close. She was bleeding, and she felt her strength quickly leaving her. If they wanted to take Mother Hogan at her weakest, it was now. Once it was over with, she feared they would be no match for Mother Hogan’s anger.

Each step she took was agonizing, severe shooting pain hitting her core. She glanced down and even in the darkness, she could see the blood staining her Friday work slacks all the way down to her ankles. She felt a great sorrow hit her then and she nearly sobbed with it. So much time wasted. Gone forever. The little normalcy in her life took place at the school, Monday through Friday. She hadn’t realized how much she treasured it. If she’d only had the strength all those years ago, she could have maybe lived an ordinary life. She and Don could have run away together. But no. Mother Hogan must have anticipated that. She had to have known that once they’d been outside they would know things. Things the others did not. They were kept separated until the very end. She closed her eyes for a second, then shook her thoughts away. There was no need to bemoan it all now. Her fate was sealed. Her only hope was that it would all end soon. Very soon.

She mustered what strength she had left, holding tight to the altar for support. She felt blindly along the cold stone facing, seeking the crevice where Mother Hogan kept her knife. Her fingers brushed the leather sheath, and she closed her hand around it, pulling it out of its hiding place. She leaned heavily against the altar, her elbows on the edge, keeping her upright.

She took quick, short breaths, feeling her eyelids getting heavy. Amazingly, she felt no more pain. Just a cold numbness that was permeating up her legs. She could feel a slow drip, and she wondered how much blood she’d lost. Her slacks felt soaked. She knew she was cramping, she could feel her insides contracting but she felt no pain.

“Fiona, child, what are you doing?”

Fiona turned her head slowly, seeing Mother Hogan coming toward her, Belden right on her heels. She slid the knife out of its sheath, holding it out so they could see it. As expected, Mother Hogan stopped up short, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“Your...your
baby
is coming,” Fiona said, her voice sounding odd to her own ears. She looked away from Mother Hogan’s intense gaze, trying to close her mind. She felt a nearly physical tug on the knife, but she held on tightly. Mother Hogan would not win. Oh, where were Paige and CJ? Surely they were close. She couldn’t do this on her own, she knew.

“Put the knife down,” Mother Hogan said, her voice nearly booming in the chamber.

Fiona shook her head, her grip steady around the smooth handle of the knife. “You have no power over me,” she said, surprising herself by her valor. “I am no longer one of your little sheep.”

“You do not speak to me that way, child. You must not disobey.”

Fiona felt a tear trickle down her cheek and felt her resolve slipping. She feared she wouldn’t be strong enough to go through with it. She clenched her teeth, warding off the sudden panic that was gripping her. Her anxiety ebbed as she felt another contraction.

“Look at me,” she gasped. “Look at what you’ve done to me. And for what?”

“It is not for you to question.”

Fiona felt the knife loosening in her hand, and she turned her focus to that, willing her fingers to hold tight to the blade.
Mother Hogan has no power over me
, she reminded herself.

“No,” she said weakly. “No one ever questions you, do they? Until now.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Paige tugged on her arm and CJ turned around, eyebrows raised.

“Do we have a plan?”

“No.” She shrugged. “That’s pretty much how this whole assignment has been, right?”

“Let’s just try not to shoot anyone,” Paige said.

“I’m more concerned with Belden. He could snap us in half with his bare hands.”

“Right. He could. So you lead, tiger.”

CJ silently unsnapped the holster on her thigh, hearing Paige do the same. She crouched low, moving quickly along the wall to the last corner, trying to stay in the shadows. Taking a deep breath, she moved into the large room—the chamber. There was enough light from the torches for her to make out the altar against the far wall. There was Fiona, leaning weakly against it. Ester Hogan—dressed in a dark robe—was facing her. Belden appeared to be flanking to her right. CJ motioned for Paige to go opposite her, toward Ester. CJ hugged the wall to the left, intending to intercept Belden.

It was then she saw the knife, the blade shining brightly as Fiona waved it at Ester.

“Put it down,” Ester instructed Fiona in a firm voice. “I command you.”

“Get away from me. You don’t command me anymore.”

CJ glanced at Paige, whose eyes were riveted on Fiona. Now would have been a good time to have a plan.

“Put the knife down, Fiona.
Now
.”

CJ didn’t think Fiona would try to take down Ester Hogan on her own, but she watched her intently, waiting for some sign to move. Did Fiona know they were there? Could she see them?