Chance: An Action & Adventure Romance Novel (Sacrifice) (9 page)

Before Aiden could respond, or even find the strength to get to his feet there's a knock at the door.  Dora walks over and opens it. Aaron is standing there and the look of satisfaction on his face tells Aiden he heard.

“
Ready, Dora?” Aaron asks without a shred of sympathy in his voice. Dora nods her head once accepting her fate and they leave the room without giving Aiden a glance. Little did Aiden know Al had a crane delivered shortly after the explosion.  He moved the chamber into what was now a vacant portion of the training facility.  Al had to destroy a large portion of the room to lower the chamber in but a roof could be replaced much faster than an entire structure. Al wasn't very concerned with the issue of giving the chamber a floor Dora couldn’t explode, so where ever they placed the chamber should be sufficient.

Somewhere in Eastern Europe

“
Sir we have reports that The Order has Pandora in their custody.” The man places a file on the desk in front of me as he spoke. Moron. Of course they had her.  No one else would make such a foolish decision. There were only two true options in this situation.  Either wait for the beautiful Pandora to destroy them, or force her hand and sacrifice some of his soldiers. Eventually something would cause Pandora's abilities to manifest themselves and she would eradicate every living thing within a hundred yard radius.

However, patience wasn't something I was known for. I've grown quite tired of The Order's meddling over the years and I have sought out alternative means to destroy them. The consumption of the Nephilim blood certainly gave my soldiers an edge, but it wasn't
enough. We needed true Nephilim in our ranks, even if it was by force. Pandora was such a good prisoner.  All it took was the slightest bit of pain and her abilities would flow from her in a beautiful cascading shroud of death and destruction. It was awe inspiring.

Sending soldiers to find her would speed things up a bit. Of course many of my own could fall in the process, but no good war has ever been won without a few casualties.

“
I'm aware. Inform the men that in two weeks time we will be launching an assault on The Order to win back our precious Pandora. They have until that time to find her exact location or you will all answer to me.” The man’s face paled before he nodded in acknowledgment and quickly exited my chamber. Shifting through the file I was handed I notice that my men have already gotten quite a few pieces of vital information. The men who stole Pandora from me were three men that I have been patiently waiting to kill for years.

Aiden, Takeo and Angelo.

Over the years, both individually and together, they have become a festering thorn in my side.  Now was the time to remove it.

Sitting back in my chair, something in the back of the file catches my eye.  As I pull it out my jaw instantly clenches. Skimming over the paper in my hand I immediately remember why the name looks familiar. Ripley. Maddix Ripley was the only prisoner to ever single handedly escape my prison. Even the Golden Daughter would have fallen had it not been for The Order intervening. This Aiden Ripley was her brother. A small smile crosses my lips as an even better plan began forming in my mind. It was time to unleash Pandora.

Chapter Nine

Dora

The man who escorted me to my new prison remained silent the entire way. It wasn't a very long walk, but nevertheless he didn't say a word. The one time I got the chance to look at him without him noticing I saw that his lips were not smiling, but his eyes were bright like perhaps he wanted too. This left a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.  Not because this man was cruel enough to be seemingly enjoying locking me away, but because deep down I felt like something was wrong. Very wrong.

Looking around the cell I silently tell myself that if I'm ever given the opportunity I should thank Al. This is much nicer then the last one I was in. In fact, this is almost as nice as the room they had me in, except for the whole not being able to get out part. In the corner of the cell there is a desk.  On the desk there is a laptop and a cell phone. Picking up the electronics, I see there is a note under them.

You have secured service on both devices. All the contact information you need is already set up. For what it is worth, I am sorry.

Al

PS – Keep my gift close to you at all times. You never know when an egg can come in handy.

How odd
. Glancing back over at my bed I see the shiny metallic egg/kitten Al had given me when I first met him. I haven't really had a lot of time to interact with the robotic animal, but I figure I have plenty of time now. Walking over to my bed I take a seat and place the egg in my palm.

“
Wake up, please.” I don't know why I said please, but it felt right. The egg twists and spins until the robotic kitten stands in my palm with her strange lifeless eyes on mine.

“
Momma?”

“
Um... yes?” The tiny robot sits in my palm and tilts her head as if inspecting me. I don't really know what I'm supposed to say, so I just go for it.

“
Kitten, do you have a name?”

“
Our creator said we are to be called AER's.”

Just as I am about to ask what that means the door to my cell opens and Liza walks in carrying a tray full of food. Moving the robot closer to my mouth, I whisper, “Sleep.”  Moments later the robot is once more an egg. Turning to Liza I smile softly up at her even though it isn't a real smile. She has always been nice to me and I have no reason to take my frustrations out on her. She didn't use me and then allow me to be locked up.

“
Sweet Dora...” Liza looks sad, almost as sad as I feel.

“
It's okay.  I'm pretty used to this actually. Thank you for bringing me food.  This looks really good.” Liza sets the tray down on the desk and walks over to me, far closer than I expected her to get. She places a hand on my face and looks directly in my eyes.

“
What I am about to say is not something you want to hear but you will listen. Aiden did not know Al was here to create this prison for you. The emotions he feels for you are as real as those you feel for him and trust me when I say, he will stop at nothing to get you out. The Order often makes decisions we do not understand and this is one of them. If Aiden had refused, Mr. Feliciano would have had him removed from the compound.” The emotional barriers I was working on building crumble at her words. Looking up at her I say the first thing that comes to my mind.

“
Did he tell you this?”

“
No, dear. He did not have too. I have abilities just as you do.  Like you, sometimes I am incapable of controlling them. In my case, I often find my thoughts are not my own.”

“
You can read peoples thoughts?”

Liza nods once and continues to explain,
“
If I choose it, but if the thoughts are persistent enough there are times they override my own.  Since you walked out of Aiden's bedroom his thoughts are all I can hear.” She smiles and glances around the cell before smirking at me.
  “
This room is actually quite effective at blocking them out. Perhaps I should have them build me one.” She's joking and I can't help but to laugh and smile up at her. She grins back at me and motions with her hand towards the food.

“
Enjoy your dinner.  I'll come back later to collect the dishes.”

After thanking her I watch as she leaves and I do as she said. The chicken parmesan she brought me was amazing and I know Chasca made it. She had been talking my ear off about wanting it all week. Powering on the computer an application pops up that says it's specifically used for instant messaging. Looking at the contact list I see that everyone I have met since I've been here is listed, but only one is green.  I can only assume green means they're online.  I begin typing in the chat box.

Dora
:
Hello is anyone there?

Deluca
:
Yo.

It takes me a minute to remember who this is.

Dora
:
Angelo?

Deluca
:
You got me. What's up?

Dora
:
Is Aiden around?

Deluca
:
Yeah. Want him?

Dora
:
Please.

There's no response from him, so I sit staring at the application on my screen. Luckily I did because I notice immediately when the icon next to “Ripley” turns green.

Ripley
:
Dora?

Dora
:
Yes.

Ripley
:
Darlin' I'm so sorry.

Dora
:
I know Aiden, it's alright.

Ripley
:
You do? How? You were so upset.

Dora
:
I had a conversation with Liza.

Ripley
:
Shit.

At that I find myself giggling at my computer. I felt so betrayed when he told me about the chamber, but deep down I knew that Aiden would not betray me.

Ripley
:
Dora?

Dora
:
I'm here.

Ripley
:
Talk to me.

Dora
:
Sorry I was just thinking.

Ripley
:
About what?

Dora
:
You.

Ripley
:
Good things I hope.

Dora
:
Very. I was thinking that I should have known you had a good reason for this.

Ripley
:
I should have told you sooner but I had just found out.  Then there was the explosion and I saw you.  I just couldn't stop myself. That's what you do to me.

Dora
:
I know how you feel.

Ripley
:
Is that so?

Dora
:
Yes. When I first saw you at The Sapient facility I thought I was seeing things. You were something out of a romance novel.

Ripley
:
That I can relate to. Never in my life have I seen a more beautiful woman.

My heart flutters in my chest as I read those words over and over again. Before I get a chance to type a response he continues.

Ripley
:
And I know I never will. I think you're it for me darlin’.

Oh. My. God.

Dora
:
Aiden we barely know each other. Don't you think this is a bit sudden?

Ripley
:
Nope. I'm not a man that makes impulsive decisions. And this may seem sudden to you but you do not know how long I have been waiting for you. You are the girl I would have brought home to my parents. The girl who curls into me just right while we're watching TV. The girl that laughs and her eyes light up and I feel it in my chest. You are it for me.

My hands are shaking as I bring them back to the keyboard.  The tears pooling in my eyes from his beautiful words make it hard for me to see what I'm typing but I manage to get it out.

Dora
:
I don't know how to do this. And I didn't. I was terrified.

Ripley
:
I know that darlin. And you do not have to. I will do it for both of us. You're hurt, I'll mend you. You're lost, I will find you. You've waited so long for someone to give you what you deserve darlin. I am that man. You just gotta' let me do it.

Dora
:
Okay.

Ripley
:
Okay? That means you're mine?

Dora
:
Yes, Aiden. I'm yours.

Ripley
:
Thank fuck. Sit tight Dora. Come hell or high water we will get you out of there.

Dora
:
We?

Ripley
:
Me, Angelo, Takeo, Al and Liza are all gonna work to get you out. Gonna sit tight for me darlin?

Dora
:
Yes.

Ripley
:
That's my girl.

After I receive his last message his little icon goes gray and I know my Aiden is coming for me. All my life I've been consumed by darkness, whether it was in my mind, manifested physically by my abilities or in the eyes of The Sapient. But for the first time I know everything is going to work out. I feel like I'm on the right path with the right people.

One week later – Aiden

The main building of the training facility is currently housing Dora's cell so we've decided it would be better to move our night training outside. There's a flood light on the side of the compound that keeps it illuminated enough to effectively train. Tonight I've been pushing myself much further than I usually do but I've got more steam to blow. It's been a week and I haven't heard a fuckin' thing from The Order about Dora's release and its left me extremely pissed, among other things. I had a taste of her and now I felt like I was a dying man in a desert and my water was locked in a box in front of me.
Fuck!