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Blue TopazPart Seven
It was raining. Standing in her hotel room, Catherine regarded the raindrops with dismay. She’d been in Ouro Preto for four days and due to keeping Stuart close had actually uncovered nothing at all. This day she had to move on, to pretend that she was returning to New York, while in actual fact moving over to stay in Belo Horizonte for the rest of her two week or however long it took stay. She’d hoped to not be away for longer than two weeks knowing how much Vincent worried about her. It had been amazing that other day when he had seen right through her in a literal sense, but this only heightened the knowledge of how deeply he was thinking about her. And it distressed Catherine to know that while Vincent put his faith in her to locate his brother, she had in effect betrayed that trust by spending time sightseeing with another man. Well, no more! Today she would check out and start her enquiries from further afield. She could go incognito and Stuart would not recognise her if she kept her distance.
Catherine didn’t know why exactly, but she didn’t trust the man, and then there was the niggling doubt that he knew far more than he let on about Elliot’s and probably Devin’s sudden disappearance.
Her bags packed, the taxi on its way, Catherine surveyed her room checking for any item she may have overlooked when a knock sounded at her door. Assuming that it was the bellboy come to tell her that her taxi had arrived, Catherine gathered up some of her bags and opened the door, surprised to find not one youth standing there, but in actual fact two men whom she had never seen before and Gary Stuart.
“May we come in?” Stuart asked, walking past her into the room without waiting for her reply. “Going I see.” He sounded relieved. Catherine furrowed her brow - his relief was unexpected to say the least.
“Yes. My plane leaves at noon.”
“What, you wasn’t even going to say goodbye?” Now he sounded hurt.
“I’d expected your arrival any moment, but had I missed you I would have left a note at the desk.” This wasn’t true at all for Catherine had no intention of saying goodbye.
“Before you go, I’d like you to meet some friends of mine.” Catherine had been watching the two men while Stuart had spoken, she didn’t like the way they inspected her bags, or the fact that they had said nothing.
“I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance.” Catherine held out a hand to first Pedro then Leo, not knowing who was who.
They introduced themselves as they returned her handshake, warm and firm, one she noticed took a trifle longer than needed to retain her hand within his. That was Pedro. He stared blatantly at her now making her feel uneasy.
“I’m sorry we could not have met earlier, but as you see I am returning home today.” Dismayed Catherine noticed her voice shook. Half way through she had tried to quell it, hoping they hadn’t noticed. They had.
Concerned glances passed between Leo and Pedro, and Leo was the first to speak. “Before you go might we ask you one or two questions?”
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Catherine checked her watch, making a pretence of time passing her by, “Only if you are quick. I am anxious to catch this flight. My family are expecting me.”
“And who would that be?” The words were out before Pedro could stop them. He felt he should apologise but then dismissed the idea. After all, it had been what he had wanted to say even if it had come out rather tactless.
“Well not that it’s any of your business, but my husband mainly. We are newly wed, and he is missing me.”
“Oh yes of course the runaway bride.” Leo mocked.
“I beg your pardon?” Catherine felt her hackles rising. She was on dangerous ground she could feel it. The malice behind Leo’s remark was unmistakable.
“Stuart told us, how you hurried out here on business shortly after getting married. Could your husband not accompany you?”
Catherine shook her head, “No it was official business, besides he has much to do in New York, and I wasn’t intending to be gone long. Now if you would excuse me, I really must go.”
“Not so fast.” This time it was Stuart that held her back. Taking hold of her arm he steered her toward a chair and bade her sit. For long moments Catherine refused until she felt firm hands upon her shoulders forcing her down, and as the only person she couldn’t see was Leo she guessed it were he that pressured her down.
Furious, she held Stuart’s gaze before crying out loud, “What the hell do you think you are doing!”
“I’m sorry, but we need to ask you some questions, and will not let you go until we are satisfied with your answers.”
“I don’t understand.” Catherine shrugged, “What is there to ask? My business here has nothing to do with you. What could you possibly want to know from me?”
“As you say.” Stuart shrugged, and stepped aside while Pedro took up his place in front of Catherine.
“Elliot Burch.” Pedro drawled.
“What about him?” Catherine remarked casually.
“Did you come here looking for him?”
Catherine laughed, trying to make the sound genuine, “For what possible reason should I? Elliot’s plane went down off the coast of New York over two weeks ago, why on earth would I come to Brazil looking for him here?”
“Hm” Pedro grunted, “But what if you didn’t believe that he went down with his plane?”
The lawyer in Catherine took over, “If I didn’t believe? Are you saying that he wasn’t on that plane?” She thus turned the tables on the questioning.
“I’m saying nothing of the sort Miss Chandler. But let me see now, you aren’t Miss Chandler anymore are you? By what name should we call you?”
“Chandler’s fine. I still use it for work. And I don’t see any reason for enlightening you with my married name since we are hardly likely to meet again after this day." Catherine stood up, “Now if you’ll excuse me…” They let her go helping even to gather her bags. She wished they wouldn’t, wished they would go, leave her be, and more especially hoped that they weren’t going to accompany her to where she had to catch the bus. Fortunately for Catherine her wishes came to pass. For as soon as they arrived down in the lobby the three men bid her adios, and left, even Stuart, she was relieved to find went with them.
Her taxi had arrived, and after bestowing her luggage in the truck Catherine got in, and started her journey toward the bus terminal. She did not notice the three men getting into a car several yards back and begin to follow her there.
*** *** ***
The water had been a blessed relief, and stomachs filled Elliot and Devin lay asleep resting before the next leg of their journey to who knew where. They had travelled three perhaps four miles all told, but the terrain was rough and the darkness hampered them. It was mentally more than physically tiring.
Asleep as they were it was some time before Elliot became aware of a feeling around him. At first he thought he was dreaming. The find of water had been wonderful, and his dreams it seemed were full of that feeling of water seeping over his skin, cooling and refreshing. But as he came up to awareness he jumped realising that the feelings he was experiencing were literal, and scrambled to his feet, panic rising as he shouted, “Devin! Devin! We’re drowning!”
A groggy reply came from somewhere to his left it was close and Elliot tried to kick out but the impact he had intended was hampered by the level of water at his feet. Devin came to about the same moment splashing around in the water as their predicament became apparent to him.
“The rains must have come.” Devin and Elliot remarked together. Elliot groaned, “That’s all we need.”
“Yeah” Devin tried to make light of it, “It never rains but it pours.” Then he sobered, “First no water then too much water. Well we cant stay here, its not gonna get any better. I hope you can swim?”
“Swim? Yes of course I can swim? You don’t possibly mean we’ll have to do you?” Elliot’s voice contained his anxiety Devin was quick to notice.
“Maybe. Look I don’t know, but it’s possible that we may have to wade waist deep before we are done. It could be that swimming would make the journey easier, if we looked upon it positively.” That idea had just come to Devin. He decided it could be a sound one. In the long run the rains could prove to be a blessing in disguise.
*** *** ***
“My name is Catherine Chandler. I have a seat booked for Belo Horizonte at ten o’clock.” Catherine handed her ticket over the desk and waited while they were stamped and returned to her with the words; “Terminal Three.” Before the clerk went on to the next person standing behind Catherine in the queue.
Hunger struck as Catherine wandered by a coffee bar, she went in found herself a table and ordered a sandwich and coffee. Then while she waited for its arrival dropped a few coins into a chocolate machine dismayed at her behaviour at succumbing to the craving. “Must be the time of the month.” She told herself as she filled her pockets with several large bars of yummy chocolate.
Anxiously noticing the time, Catherine waited while her order was brought to her, then munching her food, she idly flicked open a newspaper left on a nearby table. Her attention thus diverted she did not notice the three men who had detained her at the hotel saunter into the terminal through the large swing doors.
The three searched through the crowds at once, heading straight for the panel that told them where the terminal would be for the airport. Finding it they were dismayed to find that the next airport bus wasn’t scheduled to leave until three that afternoon. The question rose to mind, ‘Why then did Miss Chandler insist that her flight left at noon?
The answer galloped on the heels of their question…obviously because she had lied to them…but why? For what possible reason would Catherine Chandler lie to them? The only answer they could conclude was that she was in Brazil looking for Elliot Burch after all. And that possibility made them absolutely furious!
*** *** ***
It all happened so fast that Catherine didn’t see it coming. Absorbed as she was in locating the correct terminal and making certain that her purse were set upon her shoulder correctly so that the fastener faced forward rather than behind Catherine jumped to feel a hand on her elbow.
Her first thought was that someone was trying to take her purse and she struggled, clutching the strap against her and then realised that this person was not trying to take her belongings, but was in actual fact detaining her progress. She turned a retort forming upon her lips even as she recognised Pedro’s face alongside her and panic flared like bile to her throat.
In that moment, that one split second, in her eyes fear became palpable and though she sought to disguise it with a look of surprise it was too late, Pedro had seen and he had noted that fear was warranted. Catherine Chandler was up to something, and that something would be detrimental to their plan.
She would have to be got rid of. There were no two ways about it, and so holding her firmly, he ushered her through the crowded airport a gun equally hidden but very prominently fastened to her side!
*** *** ***
In that instant Vincent knew her fear. He roared in agitation knowing he could not aid her. This had always been his main fear that she would need him and he could not go to her. That she would die simply because what he was meant for all his strengths, he could not help her the one time she needed him most.
His roaring shattered the usual peace of the tunnels, and brought Father and Mary running to his chamber.
“What is it! Vincent!”
The roaring continued unabated.
“Vincent!” Father hobbled into the dimness of the chamber and attempted to calm his son, reaching out a tentative hand knowing the risks of doing so. Vincent in this frame of mind was dangerous.
“Vincent?” Father coaxed, over and over trying to calm his son, “Vincent, Vincent, what’s happened, what’s wrong?”
Slowly the terrible roaring ceased and Vincent slumped into a nearby chair, almost taking his father down with him. “Its Catherine.” Was all he could murmur, and fear clutched at Father’s throat, “Is she, is she…”
“No!” The reply came out on a hiss, “No she’s not dead. Not yet.”
“What do you mean not yet? Is there a risk?”
Notorious for his pacing Vincent rose and circled the room, “Father why do you ask? There is always a risk.” His hands spread before him signalling the defeat, the hopelessness of Catherine’s life. Of the times he had rescued her in the nick of time. Then slumping back to his seat, Father detected the hopelessness of this latest quest, knowing the futility of the hope that Vincent would arrive and save her this time.
“Oh Vincent…what can I say?” Father hugged his son, his arms fully around his son’s neck and shoulders, trying with all his might to bring him a merit of comfort, knowing all too well that only Catherine’s presence could truly do that now.
“There is nothing you can say.” Vincent whispered, “That you care is enough, but Father I feel so helpless. Catherine is so far away.”
“While she lives there is hope. And Catherine has proved on more than one occasion that she can take care of herself. Try not to worry Vincent I know that’s easier said than done, but try at least.”
“I will try.” The words were spoken without conviction.
“Perhaps if you were to open the Bond?” Mary suggested speaking for the first time since entering the chamber.
Vincent’s head snapped up surprised to hear her voice, even more surprised to know she was there at all.
“It has worked before Vincent, and did you not tell us the other day how you were able to see right through Catherine to what was taking place before her? Use that gift Vincent, in that way you will be with her.”
“Yes.” Vincent was silent for a few moments, then went on, “Thank you Mary. Father, Mary if you would excuse me, I need to concentrate in peace and quiet to be with Catherine in this way.”
Father straightened bestowing a kiss to his son’s cheek as he did so, “We will see that you aren’t disturbed. Good luck Vincent.”
They left then, quietly slipping away aware that Vincent was already drifting into a trance that would bring him into an encounter with Catherine.
He hoped he could help her, far away as he was. What use was the Bond otherwise, if it could not aid them when they needed it most?
*** *** ***
Just as Devin had surmised the water reached a level that enabled them to swim easier than walking. It was cold, but the action of swimming warmed them in time. This way at least they were able to go with the flow and follow the tunnel’s gradual ascent without worrying too much about encountering anything that might cause them injury. Much ground was covered this way until at last they came to a place where they could go either down with the water, or up onto their feet again to a higher level.
“The water goes subterranean here.” Devin remarked as his knees touched the bottom, “I think its best that we go up, besides…” he grinned though Elliot was unable to see it, “I have just found something rather wonderful.”
“What?” Elliot asked squeezing water from his clothing as he came to stand alongside Devin.
“Pipes!” The jubilation in Devin’s voice was unmistakable but it was lost on Elliot.
“And there was I thinking I’d gone mad! What do you mean by pipes?”
“Where I come from the very word would instil excitement to a lost traveller, here not so much. Nonetheless it tells me that where there are pipes there was or is civilisation. And just by following them we should in time reach freedom.”
Now Elliot understood. “Oh Thank God.” He sighed deeply repeating again “Thank God.”
*** *** ***
“Whether it’s a blessing or not Miss Chandler remains to be seen. Simply the gentleman in me cannot allow you to suffer by putting you with your friends. So I have chosen another tomb for you.” Pedro laughed wickedly.
“And I’m supposed to be grateful?” Catherine seethed, not for the first time struggling against the firm grip on either side of her.
“You would be. Believe me unless you are a fish you would not want to be taken to the same place as your friends. The rains you see…” he shrugged as if those words made everything self-explanatory, but Catherine failed to ‘see’.
Her puzzled expression angered Pedro, “Must I spell it out for you? The rains will have flooded that particular area. It would be certain death for you if I should throw you into that pit.”
“Yet that is your intention? That I should die.” Catherine questioned.
“Yes in time. Yes, but this way I do not have your blood on my hands. There is a way out, you have to find it. Maybe your friends have found it maybe they have not. Maybe they have drowned.” He thought of Elliot awaiting his next meal from Pepe’, and grinned, “Mr Burch’s intelligence left a lot to be desired. He wasted too much time I fear.” He shrugged, “But you already know that there is a way out, and I think perhaps you have more intellect than Mr Burch. It will be entertaining to see who actually comes out alive from down there.”
“So you are taking me where exactly?” Catherine asked.
“To another mine shaft higher than the first, you will be relatively safe there for another week at least. But be warned Miss Chandler, make haste for all the tunnels do flood in time.” He shrugged again, “But at least you will have water, something I fear that your friends did not have for some time.”
The cart they had been travelling in came to a standstill as he finished speaking, “We are here.” He motioned to Leo to hold her tighter while he alighted from one side and came round to the other to help hold her on either side once again. “Come offer us no trouble Miss Chandler and I will promise that you will at least be offered a chance of survival.”
“And if I don’t?” Catherine stopped struggling though her eyes never stopped searching for a way of escape.
The gun was pressed against her chest “Then I may just have to alter my opinions toward the sanctity of life in your case. It is easy if I allow myself to believe that you are of this race and not American. We all ready have too many rats here.”
Not understanding what he meant Catherine let it be. At least she would have a chance, and if she was very lucky she might be able to find Elliot and Devin. Although she had of course no way of knowing just how far apart each were, and whether she could find them before her own time ran out!
*** *** ***
In actual fact the distance wasn’t too far. When Catherine was lowered down a mineshaft she did not know how dark it had been for Elliot and Devin since she had relative light where she was set.
Overhead from time to time sunlight filtered through cracks in the rocky crags above, and water ran in rivulets down the tunnel walls.
Nonetheless Catherine went from one bout of optimism to one bout of desperation in next to no time, causing Vincent a great deal of stress from where he lay absorbed in the Bond.
The worst and most stupid thought of all she decided was hunger! It caused her some amusement to think that at a time when she would have thought it would be the last thing on her mind, her stomach kept rumbling to remind her that she had missed dinner. And so she was more than grateful for the store of chocolate that she had bestowed into her pockets earlier that day. However, a sudden panic attack left her feeling terrible as she realised that her supply might have to be eked out over several days to come.
Taking a bite and chewing slowly, Catherine savoured the mouthful of chocolate hoping that that she would get the better of her hormones before the chocolate ran out, while telling herself that chocolate boosted energy levels, if only for a short time. All in all it was as well she had chocolate on her for with it she might make faster progress to freedom than without it.
She walked onward ever uphill for what seemed to be half a day. At least she was home in the tunnels. A person unused to such a way of life could become too petrified to move. Catherine found that the tunnels were second nature and ambled slowly along, knowing what to avoid, what to look out for, how to negotiate turns and shafts, how to be safe in an underground world.
And then she found something really exciting - pipes!
*** *** ***
Holding on to the pipe at his side Devin heaved himself out of the water and up onto a dry ledge, holding out a hand to Elliot for him to do the same. “It’s not much warmer up here, I’m afraid, but at least for the moment it’s dry.” He told him as Elliot came to stand alongside him.
“I’d just be grateful to be able to see where I am walking.” Elliot replied, “Swimming blind wasn’t so bad I guess.”
“Well being able to hold onto these pipes will help, though we still have to be careful where we put our feet. Perhaps more so. The pipes may give a sense of false security. They could pass right over a shaft and we wouldn’t know it. We still have to be careful.”
They started their climb, ever upwards each walking with hand over hand on the pipes at their side. The rings on Elliot’s fingers rung on the pipes and set up a singsong sound in their heads as they walked. It became a sound to walk to and with it they talked not at all walking along in silence each to his own thoughts.
Until…
“What’s that?”
“What’s what?” Elliot could hear and see nothing.
“Take your hands away from the pipe a moment, I was sure I heard another sound.” Elliott complied and Devin listened hard.
At first there was nothing and just as Devin was about to sigh and announce he must have imagined it, both of them heard it again.
Devin gasped, he understood the lingo! And began tapping back right away with a pebble he had picked up for the purpose.
“Didn’t you like my tune?” Elliott remarked, humour in his tone as he started banging his rings against the pipes once again to emphasise his point.
“Stop that!” Devin yelled, “Listen.”
As Devin stopped tapping also, a responsive tone came back, almost like a message and Devin was clearly overjoyed.
“Its Catherine!”
“Catherine? Cathy Chandler?” A lump caught and held in Elliot’s throat. He had to tell himself to breathe.
“Yes. Come on, she cant be far ahead. Seems they threw her down here too.”
“Cathy? Cathy’s here in this God forsaken hole? Come on hurry she must be scared out of her wits!”
Devin doubted that, but nonetheless he started to hurry.
*** *** ***
Catherine couldn’t believe her ears. She’d been down there less than a day and she had already found them! That repetitive sound had alerted her, a sound that she later came to know was Elliot’s sovereign and onyx rings banging against the pipe every time he brought his right hand over his left.
Oh what joy was that reunion! Not only to find one another, but also for Devin and Elliot to see shards of daylight at last!
“Cathy, oh Cathy.” Elliot clung to her showering her face in kisses, his warm lips searching out hers, his arms tightly around her holding her close. “You came for me, you came for me.” He muttered over and over, “Oh Cathy you don’t know how good that makes me feel.”
From his vantage point a few feet away Devin caught Catherine’s gaze her chin as it was pressed upon Elliot’s shoulder, and his look worried her greatly. He didn’t still believe that she had feelings for this man did he?
Carefully she untangled herself from Elliot’s grasp, so as not to offend him yet at the same time trying to make it plain to Devin that she felt nothing but a sense of relief to find them both alive and happy that she had found them at all. Still no matter how hard she tried, she could tell that Devin’s suspicions had been roused and nothing she could do for the moment would alter his opinion of her.
Elliot’s devotion to her had caused all of that.
Still little could rob them of the joy of being together, and they spent a great deal of time resting and trading experiences over the next couple of hours before deciding what they should do next.
*** *** ***
Almost a week had passed before the bodies of the De-Vereyard family were discovered and the small town of Ouro Preto mourned the loss of their friends. Fear quickly spread through the town. The De-Vereyards were prominent people in their own right, having the largest herd of Zebu for miles around, and almost as many children!
That these children were missing grieved the people of Ouro Preto, and none more than an older daughter who lived in Para and who came now to Ouro Preto to help in the search for the bodies of the little ones.
Her face ashen through crying Sophia accepted the hospitality of her parent’s nearest neighbours, knowing these to be good people and so the grim search began.
*** *** ***
Greatly relieved that there was in fact a way out of their tomb the three trekkers walked ever upward through the tunnels. Darkness and daylight became interspersed as they travelled, and Catherine found the support of either Elliot or Devin to be a blessing as the inky darkness surrounded them time after time. This she wasn’t used to. In Vincent’s world the tunnels were always lit with welcoming light, and if not she had a flashlight or a lamp to carry to mark her way. This darkness, touched her skin surrounded her made her feel that alone she would have gone quite mad, much the same as had affected Elliot to begin with. In fact had continued to affect him from time to time as he recollected those days of being alone in the darkness.
“You rest.” Devin broke contact, untangling his fingers from Catherine’s as he bid her to sit. “The way forks here, you may as well take the weight off your feet while I take a look. Elliot can you take the other fork?”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to rest too.” Devin was surprised by Elliot’s reply, but didn’t insist he should help him.
“All right I shouldn’t be long. Make the most of it.”
‘Oh I intend to do.’ Elliot mused to himself.
Listening as the crunch of Devin’s footsteps disappeared somewhere ahead Catherine took off her shoes and rubbed her aching feet unaware that Elliot’s eyes were focused upon her even though he could not see her.
For a while each were silent, absorbing the chance to relax their weary bodies, until Catherine finally heard the disturbance of gravel nearby and knew that Elliot was moving. Next she heard his breathing close by yet she still jumped when she felt his hands reach for her.
“What? Elliot? What are you doing?”
“Cathy come on. You know you want this.”
Panic filled Catherine’s heart, “Elliot NO! No you’re wrong!” She felt his hands on her breasts, his thumbs tracing the line of her nipples and the damning effect it had on her. Immediately her nipples hardened causing Elliot to feel a sudden ecstatic jubilation!
“Cathy, how is it that your body responds to my touch? You deceive yourself when you say you don’t want this. You know that you do. Please Cathy let me love you. I have thought of nothing else since I have been down here.”
Catherine struggled pushing his hands away, her breathing fast and sharp. “No Elliot, No!” She moved away from him as far as the walls would allow, hoping he would not follow.
That hope died as she felt him beside her once again his hands on her shoulders and she struggled harder as they cupped her face, to bring her lips to his. His kiss was everything she had remembered, sparking a memory bitter and sweet, lighting the embers to a need deep in the pit of her femininity that disgusted her.
Elliot’s hands - Vincent’s hands. So different, so utterly, utterly different, yet a caress so tender so loving that in the dark, Catherine could well imagine it was either of them if she wanted to. But she didn’t want to and so she struggled harder and harder fighting against the man intent on making love to her as he had always dreamed.
“What’s going on!” He could not see, but could hear the hard and fast breathing, the scuffle somewhere to his left, and the sound of lips on lips.
“Devin! Help!” Catherine’s voice muffled yes, angry maybe, frightened perhaps. Devin wasn’t sure, could not see, did not know if what he had stumbled upon was an act for his benefit or something else. Something he had suspected, something that had happened the very moment the two of them had the chance to be alone.
For now though he would give it the benefit of the doubt, and reaching out grasped the back of Elliot’s jacket, heaving him away angry enough to knock the sense out of him, yet losing him in the darkness, unable to do so, swiping only the air.
For long moments heavy breathing permeated the surroundings, then Catherine’s voice flared angry, “Don’t you ever do that again!”
Devin unsure what did she mean? To whom did she direct that retort? He moved away his heart heavy. He hated being right all the time - the cow - poor Vincent. How would he ever be able to tell him?
*** *** ***
They moved in silence.
Devin angry with Elliot and Catherine both, but mainly with Catherine.
Catherine furious at Elliot and with herself for being too pigheaded to see him as everyone else had seen him, still in love with her, still living with hope that she would be his one day. Furious for the way her body had reacted to his touch. And furious that he had known of it.
Elliot furious with Devin for coming back when he had, for depriving him of the chance for he and Catherine to make love as they surely would have done given time. For her body had responded to his touch and he could still feel the pinpricks of her hardened nipples against the pads of his thumbs. Could still taste her honeyed lips beneath his. Could still hear the rush of hot blood singing through his veins as his body had moulded to hers, as he had felt all of her curves cleaving to his. No he hadn’t imagined it, she had wanted him, try as she might to deny it, her body language had spoken volumes searing Elliot’s heart with joy and with hope that there would be another time, another chance and they would take it and she would be his at last.
*** *** ***
Day two three and four passed by. Weary and extremely hungry Catherine allowed Devin to lead and Elliot to follow, conscious of the fact that any chance he got he would touch her bottom. It annoyed Catherine that she had to let it pass with just a slap of her hand lest Devin hear her say anything to Elliot and have him form more incorrect views on the matter.
So Catherine kept it to herself not realising that in so doing Elliot believed she was just playing hard to get and continued to form a plan to have her to himself.
His mind in overdrive Elliot calculated. It would only take a moment. The life she had chosen with Vincent was no life at all. She had lost her way, allowed gratitude to stand in the way of love. Vincent had saved her life so she had given up hers to him, given herself up to a beast when she could have so much more. She was a remarkable woman, but Elliot could give her everything, and with her new found wealth if she so wished she could build a safe haven for her friends in the tunnels. Could make a place of refuge for her so-called bestial friend.
If only he could make love to her, if only he could give her his child, she would stay with him. Catherine was not the sort of woman to abort a child, and besides had her body not told him that she wanted him, so too she would want his child. He would give her a child and she would be his forever and they would have a happy life, Elliot was certain of it.
The best part of the journey came he decided when at last after almost four days of complete darkness, dappled daylight penetrated the tunnels from somewhere higher than where they stood. Now Elliot’s hungry eyes could feast once more on the woman that he loved more than anything or anyone else in the entire world. Her beauty despite the grime of the last few days astounded him, and he felt a familiar stirring in his loins that was ever present when he thought of her.
“Oh Catherine.” He whispered low enough for her ears only. She looked at him shaking her head, understanding at once the look of desire in his eyes, knowing that he still hadn’t given up the idea of her being his.
“Want to rest?” Devin’s question turned her gaze from Elliot’s and she shook her head, “No, why?”
“Just thought you looked as though you needed to.” Devin laughed. The first time he had in four days. “I hope I don’t look as bad as that.”
“Believe me Devin you look worse than I feel.” Despite the tension she was feeling Catherine laughed.
Over the last four days Catherine had shared her chocolate but even so Devin looked awful and Elliot looked as skinny as a rake. His clothes hang from him ragged as they were and his beard had grown so that much of his face was covered with whiskers where it wasn’t covered with grime.
Devin didn’t look much better. Catherine had never seen him sporting a beard. In many respects it suited him and at least covered the telltale scar that Vincent had rendered to his cheek many years before.
“Well take a rest anyway. I’ll just scout ahead for a moment, and you…” he motioned his head to Elliot, “Can come with me, like it or not!”
“Don’t you trust me?” Elliot remarked settling down making it blatantly obvious that he wasn’t going anywhere.
“Frankly no.”
“Its all right Devin.” Catherine intervened, “I’ll come with you. Elliot can rest awhile.”
Looking from one to the other Devin was for a moment undecided. Catherine looked as though she needed to rest. The last time he had seen her in the light she had looked wane now she looked really ill. He didn’t like it and despite her sharing with them the chocolate she’d had with her, he also noticed that she was getting through her own supply much faster than he was with his. Devin wondered and not for the first time if she may be diabetic. It worried him, and despite the risk of leaving her with Elliot he concluded that if he were right about them anyway then she would welcome the guy and wouldn’t need protecting. However, he supposed if he didn’t go far then she could quite easily accompany him for a way and he could leave her somewhere else away from Elliot, while he walked further afield. Thus feeling better about the last, he replied, “Okay. Come with me.” Then to Elliot remarked, “We wont be long, make the most of the rest.” Before taking Catherine’s arm and walking off with her much to Elliot’s dismay.
They walked some fifty yards or so, when Devin bade Catherine sit. “Don’t come any further Catherine, you need to rest, wait here for me, I’ll be about ten minutes.”
Catherine smiled, “Thank you Devin.” She sat gratefully, so quickly that Devin wondered about her decision to go with him at all. She looked so tired.
“You all right?” The concern for her was paramount. Catherine felt it and responded to his genuine warmth.
“Yes, I’m fine. Devin?”
“What?”
“It wasn’t what it looked like…back there… when Elliot you know… it wasn’t how it seemed… I didn’t want it…please believe me.” Her eyes so luminous and appealing had Devin kneeling beside her in an instant.
“I believe you. But you must keep your distance from him. I’m worried about Elliot. He’s been down here a long time, something like that - it can send a person nuts.”
“Yes. I have to admit he frightened me. Elliot might not like to accept a refusal from me, but he does usually understand the word no. The other day he didn’t. Didn’t even seem to hear it.”
“You’ll be okay here. I won’t be long. Try to rest huh? Hopefully he’s doing the same.” Squeezing her shoulder Devin stood, “Try to get some sleep. You look as though you need it.”
“Yes.” Already her eyes were closing. Curling herself into as comfortable a position as possible Catherine gave way to the weariness that washed over her in soft waves. She barely heard Devin’s footsteps as he walked away from her.
*** *** ***
Beneath the streets of Manhattan Vincent closed his eyes with blessed relief. Catherine he knew was well. Weary but well. He sensed just a little apprehension but felt that she would be able to deal with whatever had caused it. For a long time he had meditated but all he had been able to see through her eyes had been sheer darkness, but she had not appeared to be frightened. Cautious maybe, but Vincent could tell that in the company she was in, she was able to place trust in others to secure her freedom.
Able now to let go of the deep concentration he had been under, the peacefulness of Catherine’s slumber soon lulled Vincent to sleep. He needed this rest, his tired mind and body felt as weary as if he had climbed to the tops of all the tallest buildings in New York and back down again.
Vincent slept.
Catherine slept.
Elliot was awake and scheming.
*** *** ***
He hadn’t gone far when Devin stumbled. Silly really. He knew tunnels like the back of his hand, even tunnels that were new to him. He understood in complete darkness - the loss of sight - that hearing came into play. That he could assess the terrain before him before stepping onto it. Yet time, stress and bitterness dulled Devin’s senses, and he stumbled. It wasn’t even that it was a bad trip. In fact he didn’t fall far, but he landed heavily cracking one knee on the tunnel floor. He swore rubbing at the wound swiftly, trying to ease the pain, and while his leg was bent the pain did ease, it was when he came to stand that it returned full force to remind him that a bit of massage would not appease it.
Fortunately he hadn’t gone far out of the light, but he had in that one moment made a grave mistake. When he had tripped he had turned around, not once but twice maybe three times, and not complete turns either, so that now when he hobbled to a standing position and leaned against one wall he wasn’t quite sure of the way he had come. “Catherine!” He whispered loudly, knowing the folly of shouting too loudly in a mineshaft, “Catherine! Can you hear me?”
He listened but there was no sound. He felt that he hadn’t gone far enough for the echo of his voice not to reach her, and concluded that she must be sleeping. “Catherine!” His whispered louder his voice bordering on a low shout.
“Elliot!” In desperation he called to the man, hoping that Elliot, though further down the tunnel might hear him better.
The problem was he wasn’t quite sure which direction to call, and bit by bit called in all four directions, until he was satisfied that if they were awake they would surely hear. And then he waited, the pain in his knee throbbing, the nausea in his stomach rising and the tension of the moment leaving him almost numb with anxiety.
Catherine hadn’t heard Devin call out, that much was true. Deeply asleep and comfortable in the knowledge that Devin had believed her, Catherine had allowed herself the luxury of falling into a deep and dreamless sleep. However fifty yards further along Elliot had heard Devin’s desperate cry and had drawn his own conclusions.
He waited several seconds, trying to ascertain whether Devin needed help from wherever he had gone or might be returning to seek it. When he did not come, Elliot breathed a deep sigh of relief. That Devin had called Catherine’s name had already greatly relieved him that the pair of them had parted company some distance from where they had left him.
It was reasonably light here and Elliot had been thankful for that light and it grieved him to move forward to be consumed by near darkness again. Maybe it wouldn’t last long, maybe in this part of the tunnels whatever light had penetrated this stretch of tunnels would hopefully appear again soon but at least there was light enough to see silhouettes.
He moved slowly his hand to the wall at his side, ever conscious of keeping his vigilant silence. If things were as he hoped, he should soon find Catherine not much further on. Devin, he hoped, would be some distance beyond that.
As he approached her Elliot became aware of the sound of breathing. He could tell that the person was sleeping. No movement came from them except the soft swish rise and fall of breathing and Elliot’s heart raced as he realised it was Catherine. His tortured mind was elated - things could be easier than he had at first supposed. Quietly he edged forward, delighted when he saw her lying curled in a ball beneath the only shard of light that had penetrated from above.
Carefully, his heart in his mouth Elliot crouched low, falling into position of all fours and crept slowly toward her. In the misguided belief that Catherine would not shun his advances Elliot reached out a hand and to his great joy touched the warmth of her inner thigh without waking her. His fingers immediately began a soft kneading, anticipating a favourable response if he could rouse his true love from her slumber and Elliot smiled when she rolled onto her back allowing him access to greater intimacies.
Elliot’s heart raced and sweat broke out on his brow as his erection filled with hot pulsating blood. Catherine wanted this. She was his, his for the taking. But they must be quiet for somewhere up ahead Devin was waiting, perhaps listening but Elliot hoped that something might prevent Devin from returning too soon.
Catherine moaned as the hand on her thigh worked its magic and she knew not Elliot’s hands touching her intimately but Vincent. It was Vincent that prised her legs apart to touch her there, it was Vincent to whom she now reached out her arms - it was Vincent who went into her open invitation so willingly. And it was Vincent who tugged at her jeans and panties and slid them down thus baring her body to his hungry perusal.
Catherine shuddered, her heart singing Vincent’s name as she felt the weight of a body upon her and of their own violation her legs wrapped around his hips drawing him into her.
“Oh Cathy, Cathy.” Elliot could not help the expulsion of her name torn from his lips as he felt his body sinking into her warmth, and knew he’d come home. He had yearned for this with all his heart ever since he had met her and now to know how good it felt to join his body with hers, Elliot felt complete and so utterly, utterly in love.
Confusion dawned as Catherine’s eyes snapped open, even as Devin’s cry rang out around her, “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!” And Elliot was partially lifted partially pushed away from the place where he had found his heaven.
“Get off me!” Elliot with his pants down around his knees lashed out at Devin, his fist meeting hard rock as Devin ducked. Cursing, holding his hand tightly against his chest as tears of pain and anger filled his eyes Elliot glared at Devin wishing looks could kill.
Catherine stared. Just stared her disbelief warring with anger. How could he? How could Elliot take advantage of her and while she had been sleeping? And where had Devin been to allow it to happen? She looked raggedly from one man to another, finding her voice suddenly “How could you!” leaving each man only to wonder at whom she had directed the question.
His eyes mere slits of contempt Devin flung Elliot away from him, allowing him to fall like some rag doll as all the fight drained out of the man.
“Cathy.” Elliot tried to appease her, “You know how much I love you.” He said this as if it was the answer to everything. As if it gave him rights to assume that she would allow him to make love to her.
“I hate you!” Devin spat, and Catherine assumed that he meant Elliot as she added, “Likewise.” Unable to say more as she fumbled with her clothing hastily hiding her body from prying eyes.
Devin stared at her incredulous that he had heard her right. Contempt rising in the pit of his belly that this woman had pledged love to his brother when all along she loved another man. He didn’t get it, he couldn’t comprehend why she had promised to spend her life with Vincent beneath the city streets and thus forsake all that she had above when she had intended to be with Elliot all along. Had it of been the other way around it would have made perfect sense. Had she of pledged her undying love to Elliot, had she of married Elliot and then gone to Vincent it would have been logical. But why marry a man that had nothing to give but his love when she so obviously wanted to be with one that could give her everything?
Devin shook his head, unable to clear from his mind the image that had presented him as he had hobbled around that final bend. Elliot and Catherine making love, and so obviously enjoying one another if the way Catherine’s arms and legs had been fastened around the man was anything to go by.
Why he hadn’t of just let them get on with it, he would never know. He supposed shock and stunned disbelief had something to do with it, and probably the misguided notion that maybe just maybe it was rape and Catherine didn’t know what was happening. But her arms and legs around the guy had changed all that. It hadn’t been rape, Catherine had consented, and Devin hated her for that.
The ice in his eyes worried Catherine. As Devin looked at her contempt was written in those large brown orbs that seemed to burrow deep into his heart. She shook her head trying as she might to comprehend why he looked at her with such venom in his eyes. ‘He didn’t believe…surely?’ Catherine shook her head again, ‘no it was too ludicrous for words, Devin would never think that she had been willing to make love with Elliot would he?’
“Devin?” She queried her voice wavering, uncertain of his response.
“What!” He flung at her his chest heaving, his fists in tight balls at his sides. It was taking everything he had not to pound Burch to pulp for his brother’s sake. It was taking everything beyond that not to do likewise to Catherine.
“You surely don’t think…?” Catherine’s voice faltered. As she had started to speak Devin stared at her fully and the naked hatred she saw in his eyes filled her with nausea.
“Devin please.” The words caught in her throat, her eyes filling with tears as she choked out, “I didn’t want this. You have to believe me…”
A derisive laugh echoed around them, “Didn’t want it?” Elliot’s face leered at her, “Am I hearing you right? Cathy don’t fight it, you love me you know that you do.”
“NO!” Her heart broke as Catherine turned first to Devin and then to Elliot, her eyes pleading and begging each to believe her, “No Elliot, No Devin you have to believe me. It was…. It was…” The word stuck in her throat, she thought never to have to utter such a word and apply it to herself ever again… That was in the past… and since that dreadful night when he had found her Vincent’s protection had assured her that she would never have to suffer such atrocities as rape ever again.
“It was what Cathy?” Devin sneered, “Lust?”
Elliot laughed nodding wholeheartedly, readily agreeing with that.
“No!” For a split second Catherine remained rooted to the spot as she denied the possibility and then seeing Elliot nod so enthusiastically, she flung herself at him fingers outstretched and sharp nails renting open flesh wherever she encountered it around the stubble on Elliot’s face.
“You little wildcat!” Elliot laughed and pinned both her flaying hands in his to thwart a further strike, “how about doing that down the length of my back sometime?” His laughing eyes crinkled at the corners.
Devin spat saliva like venom onto the dust at Elliot’s feet, “You disgust me…both of you…you disgust me!” Before hobbling away eager to put as much distance as he could between himself and them. Dismayed Catherine watched him go only just realising that he was injured. “Devin wait!” She turned to hurry after him only then realising that Elliot still held her hands, “Let go of me!” She flung at him through gritted teeth. Instantly he complied though Catherine was dismayed to note that the laughter still hadn’t left his eyes and it was disconcerting for her to know that he seemed to think that she was playing some game even now.
“You raped me Elliot!” She seethed through clenched teeth.
“Did not. It didn’t go far enough, besides it would never stand up in a court of law. Our only witness would say as I would, that you were more than willing.” His arms were folded as he stood smiling at her, humouring her, “Cathy.” He beseeched her the tender tone to his voice making her fume “You know it had to happen, you know you wanted me as much as I wanted you. Don’t fight it anymore my love.” “You’re despicable! I hate you!” Catherine flung at him as she turned on her heels to seek out Devin. This was a nightmare and Catherine hoped that she would soon wake up.
*** *** ***
He’d made as much haste as he could, putting a good distance between them before he killed them, but even so Devin had slowed as he had heard Catherine’s final words to Elliot, and for one split second Devin wondered if he might have misread the situation. Could Catherine have been telling him the truth? Had Elliot taken advantage? Had Elliot raped his sister-in-law? But then the memory of the pair of them together had rushed to remind him that no one being raped would welcome such an intrusion with such ardour. No, whatever way he looked at it Catherine had betrayed his brother’s love and trust and Devin hated her for that.
At the thought of Vincent, Devin groaned. Who would tell him? Catherine wouldn’t he could be sure of that. Elliot might but then that would be asking for his own slaying. Vincent would not withhold his fists and claws from Elliot on hearing such a thing.
And so that left him. He would have to tell his brother of his wife’s betrayal and that alone left a bad taste in Devin’s mouth. How could he…how could he ever tell his wonderful brother such a thing? Maybe Father could do it. That was the only way left open, yes it would have to be Father that brought his brother such devastating news.
*** *** ***
Yet Vincent already knew. At least he knew something. Awaking from his slumber as if someone had thrown cold water over him Vincent had started sitting bolt upright in his bed, his mind inward and clutching hold of images as they fled through his mind. Something was dreadfully, dreadfully wrong. One moment he had been dreaming of making love to Catherine and the next she had been pushing him off of her, the fear and the disgust in her heart plain to be seen.
Disorientated Vincent’s hammering heart calmed somewhat as he realised it was just a dream, but those feelings from Catherine remained even so. Through the Bond he could feel her disgust, he knew her dismay and he felt her heart breaking and the venerability of having no one to believe her. That was what got to him the most, what was it that she desperately wanted to be believed for? He felt it in her, felt the desperate need to be believed and that left a gaping wound in Vincent’s heart.
He knew not what had happened only that something dreadful had transpired. Nothing that was life threatening, but something of equal proportions, something that in effect could kill him when he knew. Catherine was covering this fact, hiding it deep in the recesses of her heart so that he could not probe the secret and that in itself told Vincent how serious, this, whatever this was, would be. And they were so far away, there was nothing he could do but stay at home and wait, and Vincent roared with frustration at knowing he could yet be waiting quite some time.
To be continued in part 8.
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