THOUGH IT WERE TEN THOUSAND MILES

By Joan Stephens

---

Chapter Two

The room was luxuriously appointed from the tasteful draperies to the elegant carpet that covered the unseen highly polished floor.  Two rare and expensive Tiffany lamps were situated on two glossy antique tables that were placed against the walls. Each table was bracketed by a pair of Louis XIV chairs. One wall was lined with cherry wood shelves that held first editions and age-old, leather bound books and manuscripts. Early afternoon sunlight streamed through the casement windows, setting the Tiffany lampshades softly glowing and falling on the antique cherry wood desk that dominated the room. Sitting on the gleaming desktop was one lone object: a TV monitor playing over and over again the security tapes that had been made of Vincent in the warehouse. A dark-haired man was gazing intently at the pictures flickering on the screen. Dressed expensively in a gray silk suit, custom-made shirt, and Armani tie, he had a long, thin face, all planes and sharp angles with a wide, thin mouth. When he smiled, it was like a blast of arctic air. He was as ruthless as he was wealthy, and he went by many names but here he was known only as Gabriel.  

 

Pope, his top lieutenant, entered, coming to stand slightly behind and to the right of his employer. He was well built, about 40 with dark hair and eyes. A heavy mustache covered an arrogant upper lip. Fashionably dressed, he held himself militarily erect.

 

"Sir, the doctor tells me that the woman is pregnant. " 

 

"Keep her sedated until I figure out what to do with her. "Dark, cold eyes never left the screen as the man sat back in his chair and waved at the pictures on the monitor screen. "Look at him, Pope, what a killing machine. He’s magnificent. "Pope waited for him to continue. "I want him. Find a way. " 

 

He sat in silence, watching the tape run again. When Vincent cried, "Catherine,”  he pointed it out.  "He’s her protector. He will come for her. Use her, Pope. See to it. " 

 

*******************

 

Restlessly, Vincent paced back and forth like a caged animal, waiting for the sun to set. Once more, as he touched her hairbrush, he repeated the prayer that he had uttered for the last three nights, "Please, Catherine, call to me. Let me feel our bond again. Be well, my love, be well. "His deeply rooted sense of time told him that the sun was setting and that he could soon go Above for his nightly search. Grabbing his cloak, he hurried to the Park threshold to wait for complete darkness.  

 

*********************

 

Within two days, using the singular power of Gabriel’s organization, Pope had everything prepared for Gabriel’s next guest. Confidently striding into his master’s office, Pope stopped beside him, "Everything is in place, sir. I have decided to use tranquilizing darts to immobilize him. The guards will be well hidden. Two will be armed with tranquillizer darts and two will be fully armed. "

 

Gabriel nodded. "Don’t make it too easy or he will suspect a trap. We can afford to lose a few men if we can capture him. Do you have a cage prepared?”  

 

"Yes sir, with tungsten steel bars, and it is electrically charged. He won’t get away. " 

 

The dark man turned to the monitor to watch Vincent once more. "Do you wonder why all the bother, Pope?”  

 

"No sir, it’s not my place,”  he answered quietly.  

 

"He could create quite a reign of terror, could he not?”  He cocked his head, looking at Pope.  

 

"Indeed he could, sir. " 

 

"Have the doctor wake the woman. "Turning back to the monitor, he said, "He will come for her and in doing so meet his destiny. " 

 

Pope nodded and left the room. Gabriel wasn’t even aware that he had left.  

 

*******************

 

Sick and disoriented from the drugs, Catherine woke wondering where she was. Not in the warehouse because she was lying in a large, comfortable bed. The image of Vincent lying still and bloody on a rain-soaked, oily street flashed into her mind. She remembered the shots fired up through the roof, and her fear that he would be hit, then watching him roll off the car to fall on the street. "Oh god .  .  .  Vincent!”  she gasped as she sat straight up, wishing immediately that she hadn’t, and she fell back into the pillows. After the room steadied around her and ceased its nauseating spin, her stomach started to settle down, leaving only the pounding headache for her to contend with. Frantically, she searched for the bond and almost fainted from relief when she found it. He was alive; she could live again.  But he was in pain, not only from the wound but from the thought that he had failed her. Without thinking of the consequences, she sent him a reassuring thought.  

 

The room she had awakened in was the epitome of ostentatious luxury. It had been a long time since she had seen such a pretentious display of wealth. It felt alien. The large king-sized bed she laid in was set against one wall. Gaining strength, she sat up and surveyed the room, trying to figure out where she was. Opposite the bed was a wall made entirely of glass with large double doors set in the middle with heavy satin drapes that matched the wallpaper hanging at either end. The walls of the room were covered with soft blue and green flowered wallpaper. A white marble fireplace, with a Van Gogh hanging above it, filled one entire wall. There was an antique dressing table, vintage unknown, with chair and a beautiful blue and green chaise lounge. In one corner was a desk and chair that matched the antique dressing table to a tee. It was a beautiful room, but a surveillance camera that continuously swept the room with its baleful red eye ruined the total effect. She turned her back on it disdainfully. The room was nothing but a beautiful prison cell.

 

When she felt strong enough, she eased out of bed and tested her legs. They held her up with only a small quiver. Looking down, she saw that she was dressed in a utilitarian knee length white gown. Shuddering, she wondered who had changed her clothes, hoping it wasn’t one of the men who had interrogated her. The thought of their hands touching her sent cold shivers up and down her spine. She went to the glass double doors that looked out on a well-tended garden and tried them but found they were locked. The flowers were in their prime: daffodils, narcissus, tulips, and irises, signs of early spring. She hadn’t been held captive for too long. Vincent must be frantic. She wondered why he hadn’t come for her yet and her heart called to his, "Vincent, I need you. " 

 

**********************

 

The call came; the one he was waiting for. He met Geoffrey in the tunnel outside his chamber. "Tell Father I have gone to get Catherine. "He raced through the tunnels; her urgent call lending wings to his feet.  

 

Catherine moved restlessly through the room from the bed to the dressing table, searching through the drawers and finding nothing to tell her who had kidnapped her or where she was. Then she rummaged through the closet that was filled with expensive, beautiful clothing, not in her size, and she wondered whom they were for. She searched everything in the room, even under the mattress and the bed. Going to the glass doors, she peered out. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, still she worried that he might be coming into a trap, but she knew that nothing would keep him from her. For the first time she wished there was no bond. He would be safe then. She could face whatever came but the thought of losing him.  

 

*********************

 

"What did he say?”  Father asked anxiously.  

 

"That he was going to get Catherine,”  Geoffrey patiently explained.  

 

"Nothing else?”  

 

Geoffrey shook his head.  

 

"Thank you, Geoffrey. Run along now. "Father absentmindedly patted him on the head. Geoffrey took off at a dead run. Father wished there was something he could do beside wait here below. He consoled himself with the thought that he would be here to care for them when they returned.  

 

*********************

 

Following Catherine’s unique feel in the bond, Vincent eased cautiously out of the tunnels into a large basement that was divided into several rooms, all empty. The last room he entered had a flight of stairs at the far end and a large cage in the near corner to his left; he wondered, in passing, if whoever owned this house had ever kept a dangerous animal. Slowly, he ascended the stairs, on his guard, and cautiously opened the door. There was a long hallway stretching to an ornate staircase. He silently moved down the hall, past the staircase, and into the corridor that branched off to the left. Easing down the hallway, he was immediately besieged by several guards. Incensed that they would try to keep him from his love, he slashed right and left at the wildly shooting guards, leaving bleeding bodies behind as he advanced down the hall to the room that held Catherine. He burst through the door and found her sitting on the bed. She came flying across the room into his arms. He crushed her to him.

 

"Are you all right?”  he asked.  

 

Before she could warn him of her suspicions, he heard a noise behind him. He spun around, finding four of the black-garbed guards standing just inside the broken door. Growling, he placed himself in front of Catherine. As he gathered his strength to hurl himself at them, they fired. Surprised, he looked down. Two anesthetic darts were embedded in his chest.  

 

"No,”  he heard Catherine scream as he began to fall, the world going in slow motion. As he fell, he pulled her down with him, and her face was the last thing he saw as the darkness overwhelmed him.  

 

Catherine sat on the floor, cradling his head in her lap. Looking up at the man who was clearly in charge as he stood over them smiling triumphantly, she asked fearfully, "Who are you?”  

 

"Gabriel. "If he expected a reaction, he was disappointed. She showed no indication that she knew anything about that name.  

Instead, she pulled the unconscious man closer to her. "What are you going to do with him?”  Gabriel was impressed; her fear was only for the man she held in her arms.  

 

"Nothing right now,”  he answered with a shrug.  

 

"I’ve told you everything I know. Please let us go. " 

 

"Not yet, I think. I need more information on him .  .  .  on you. When I’m satisfied, you can go. " 

 

Pope knew what that meant, and from the way she looked at Gabriel, the woman did too.  

 

Easily, they took Vincent from her even as she struggled to hold onto him, denouncing her weak and inadequate hands.

 

"Where are you taking him?”  she asked frantically.  

 

"Where he’ll be safe and so will we,”  was the reply.

 

*********************

 

Vincent realized that the cage was new and had been made for him. Why else the chains and bracelets? The bars were heavy steel and a strong current of electricity coursed through them. He had received quite a shock when he touched them during his inspection of every inch of the cage for some weakness. To his consternation he found none. At the back of the cage was an army cot with a pillow and blanket. At least he would sleep warmly at night. He settled down in a corner, waiting. His captor would come sooner or later. He was worried about Catherine and the baby, what this could do to them. His face softened. His child. Even in this precarious situation, he couldn’t keep from feeling proud and humbled. He tried to imagine what it would be like to hold his own child in his arms, knowing that it would be incredible. But first he had to find a way to get to Catherine.  

 

The door opened and a dark, thin, well-dressed man, accompanied by two guards, descended the stairs. This was the man who had dared to take Catherine from him. Vincent rushed at him trying to get at him through the bars. A jolt of electricity sent him reeling back as the dark man took an involuntary step backwards. A black look crossed the man’s face-he was angry at himself for showing any weakness to this being-and he waved at one of the guards to turn off the electricity. He would prove that he was not afraid.  

 

"You need to be careful, my friend, you’ll kill yourself that way,”  he said dryly as he sauntered closer to the cage.  

 

"I am not your friend. What have you done with Catherine?”  The imprisoned man watched the other man closely.  

 

"She’s fine. The doctor tells me she is pregnant. Is it your child?”  he asked, standing in front of the closed cage door with his hands clasped behind him, rocking back and forth on his heels.  

 

"It is Catherine’s child. " 

 

"Then it’s your child. I’ve seen the way she looks at you and her fear for you. You’ve answered one of my questions. Now, I want you to submit to a battery of tests the doctor will run on you. " 

 

"Why?”  Vincent looked at him warily, backing up until he stood with his back pressed against the wall. This was his worse nightmare, almost as bad as losing Catherine.  

 

"I’m curious as to what you are. What are you?”  

 

"I am only what I am.  I was born and I survived. That is all I have ever known. " 

 

"Wouldn’t you like to know?”  the dark man asked.  

 

Vincent shrugged. "Would it change anything?”

 

"It might save your life .  .  .  or the woman’s. "The other man fixed the surprisingly calm being with a baleful glare.

 

"Nevertheless, you will do as I say or the woman will suffer. "

 

In an instant the calm exterior was gone. Snarling, Vincent took a step toward his tormenter who had to fight the sudden impulse to retreat. "Do nothing to Catherine!”  the beast/man warned him.  

 

"Or what?”  the miscreant smiled a tight smile, knowing that if ever Vincent were free he would pay with his life for any harm that was done to the woman.  

 

Glaring at him, Vincent suddenly sighed and relaxed. It was useless to squander his energy on something that he could do nothing about. For now, he thought darkly. Moving deliberately to the front of the cage, he asked, "When can I see her? I must see her then I will do what you want. " 

 

"You will anyway. You have no other choice. The doctor will be here tomorrow. Do as he says. "As the dark man turned to leave, he waved at the guard to turn the electricity back on. With one foot on the bottom step, he turned back to Vincent, "Oh, by the way, my name is Gabriel-for now-I thought you might like to know who holds your life in his hands and that of the woman. "He continued up the stairs and through the door, followed by his ever-present bodyguards.  

 

Vincent sank to the floor, wrapping his arms around his drawn up knees, resting his head on them. He needed to see Catherine. Although the bond told him she was unharmed, he needed the feel of her beloved body next to his. They had been through so much this past year and now this. It was almost past bearing but he would-for Catherine and the baby. He would find some way out of this mess. Somehow! Someway!

 

***********************

 

They moved Catherine back into the room after the door had been repaired. She wouldn’t be satisfied until she saw, with her own eyes, that Vincent was all right. Needing to know that he was well, she sent a message to Gabriel by one of her guards, requesting that she be allowed to see Vincent. Something told her that the way to Gabriel was to petition, never to demand. He was intelligent enough to know what she was doing, but his ego was also large enough that he would enjoy it. This kind of man loved lording it over his underlings or those in his employ. Catherine tried to calm herself and succeeded with the thought that Vincent was bearing not only his torment but hers as well.  

 

Gabriel and Pope were watching Vincent pacing in his cage. "Do you think we can turn him to our purposes, Pope? I could give him everything he ever wanted. "He swiveled around to face his second in command.  

 

"No sir, I don’t think you have anything he wants.  His feet are firmly planted on a different path. " 

 

"I have one thing he wants very much: the woman. "

 

"Not even for her would he change his path. He would surely lose her then. "

 

"Well .  .  .  we can but try. What is it, Edwards?”  

 

The guard diffidently entered the room. "A message from Miss Chandler, sir. " 

 

"Thank you. "He quickly scanned it. "She wants to see him. Should we let them, Pope?”  He crumpled the note and dropped it into the wastebasket.  

 

"You might learn something, sir, in their unguarded talk. " 

 

After pondering for a few seconds, he nodded his head, "Yes .  .  .  take her to him,”  he instructed the guard. He turned back to the monitor. Vincent was sitting calmly on a corner of the cot, waiting. He doesn’t fear for himself, only for her, he mused.  Vincent suddenly raised his head, a slow smile spreading across his face.  

 

"He knows she’s coming. Somehow he knows,”  he murmured to himself. The thin lips sketched a cold smile. He had learned something new.  

 

The door to the basement opened. Catherine broke free from her captors and ran toward the cage, seeing only the man she loved.  

 

"Stop, Catherine! Don’t touch the bars. They are electrically charged,”  he shouted as he ran to the front of the cage. She halted a scant two inches from the bars.  

 

"Are you all right?”  she asked breathlessly, barely able to wait until the barred door was opened. She rushed into Vincent’s arms. "Oh god, I’ve been so frightened. I thought I might never see you again. " 

 

Holding her close, he gained strength from her nearness. "Oh Catherine, Catherine. "He held her at arms length, looking her over carefully. "Are you all right? Have they hurt you?”  

 

"No, I’m ok. They’ve been surprisingly gentle these past few days. But you? What have they done to you?”  

 

"I am fine. "He wouldn’t distress her anymore than she was by telling her of the testing that he would be subjected to. He kissed her tenderly, savoring her rose and lavender smell. The words tumbled out as he tried to explain why he hadn’t been able to save her, "I couldn’t find you; our bond was gone. I didn’t know where you were. " 

 

She stepped back and looked up at him. "They drugged me. That must be why the bond failed. That is how they trapped you.

 

"She laid her head on his breast, hearing the comforting beat of his great heart. "What are we to do?”  she asked softly as she moved back just enough to look into his eyes.

 

"I don’t know. Wait, watch, and see what happens. Be brave, my love. We will find our way out of this darkness yet. "He wished he felt as brave as his words sounded as he looked up at the cameras trained on them.

 

Gabriel watched the two lovers on the monitor, a hard smile on his face. He had his weapon now, the one to use against both of them. Now was the time to show them the truth. The truth that would set them free. The truth that he owned them, that they were his to do with as he pleased. Now for their first lesson. He pushed a button and a buzzer rang in the basement. The guard went to take Catherine from the cage. Vincent bent down to kiss her ardently; she returned his kiss with an equal fervor.  

 

"I love you,”  she cried as she was pried out of his arms then hustled out of the cage and up the stairs out of his sight.  

 

"Have courage, Catherine. "He looked at the cameras, "Whatever happens you will lose. " 

 

"I don’t think so, my friend,”  Gabriel said, smugly.  

 

*******************

 

The next morning began a series of exhausting medical, physical, and psychological tests. The doctor was thorough and businesslike, visibly afraid of his employer who enjoyed pushing all the doctor’s buttons just to see him squirm. Vincent was stoic and accommodating.  He did what was asked of him, after all the life, he prized more than his own depended on him. Once again they were separated by Above and Below.  

 

As much a prisoner as Vincent, she was given the freedom of the house and the garden outside her room. She could go wherever she pleased except the basement and Gabriel’s office, but she was accompanied everywhere by an armed guard. It gave her a perverse pleasure to think that they needed an armed guard to keep one small woman from escaping from Gabriel’s estate: a virtual fortified fort.  

 

**********************

 

At last, the day came when they didn’t come for him. He sat on the cot, back against the wall, head down, staring at his hands. Retreating deep inside himself, at this time he and Catherine were as close as if they were standing wrapped in each other’s arms.  

 

The doctor entered Gabriel’s office. "I’ve finished the tests. I’ll have the final results for you in a few days. "Nervously shuffling the papers from one hand to the other, he rocked back and forth then halted abruptly after a black look from his employer.

 

"Good, doctor. There is no rush. They aren’t going anywhere. "The doctor seemed to shrink in stature-he was a tall man-with the peremptory dismissive wave from the dark man sitting behind the desk.

 

Pope entered as the doctor fled the office.

 

"The tests are over, Pope. " 

 

"I gathered as much, sir. "Pope stood beside his master, watching Vincent on the monitor.  

 

Gabriel rested his chin on his hand. "What do we do with him now?”  he mused. "Kill him?”  

 

With assurance, Pope answered, "I don’t think that would be wise, sir. I’ve been studying the woman closely. I believe somehow she would know, and I believe that she might do damage to herself then. " 

 

"You think she might kill herself?”  Gabriel was taken back by surprise. He had never contemplated this. No one he knew would sacrifice themselves for another, not even those they supposedly loved.  

 

"Yes sir, I do,”  his second in command stated.  

 

Gabriel waved the idea away with a dismissive hand. "We could prevent that,”  he asserted.  

 

"I have learned in my travels, sir, that if someone truly wants to die, there is no way to stop them. They can will themselves to die, and I believe she is strong willed enough to do it. " 

 

"What alternative is there, then? I can’t keep him here. He’s too dangerous. I can’t set him free; he would just return. " 

 

"I have a suggestion, sir. I have a friend, Rudolph Schmidt, in Washington who collects exotic and rare animals. He is always looking for something new.  We could ship Vincent to him and pay the man to keep him hidden away until the child is born. Then Rudy could do as he pleased. Vincent would be all the way across the country with no friends, no money and no way to make any. " 

 

"Yes, that would be apropos. It will show him that I can do as I please with them. And if he escaped?”  

 

"He would have the entire country to cross, and being what he is, by the time he got here, if he ever did, the child would be born and we would be gone. Besides, you have contracts throughout the country in law enforcement, city and county officials, even state officials. It would be a veritable gauntlet that he would have to pass through to get here and your men could find him and kill him if he did. " 

 

Gabriel folded back into his chair, resting his chin on his chest, staring at his clasped hands resting in his lap. He thought for several minutes, then smiling balefully at the image of Vincent on the monitor screen, he commanded, "Make the arrangements. As soon as I receive the doctor’s report we’ll send him to your friend. " 

 

"Yes sir, I’ll see to it. "

 

*********************

 

Ten days later the doctor presented his painstakingly and carefully prepared report to Gabriel who carelessly tossed it into the top drawer of his desk without even looking at it. Irritation flashed in the doctor’s eyes for a second before he fearfully lowered them. "Tell me, Doctor, before I read your report, what is your assessment of him?”  Taken by surprise at the request, the doctor stared at him dumbfounded. "Yes, Doctor, please. " 

 

The doctor opened his mouth to speak but no words were forthcoming. Clearing his throat, he began in a high, thin voice that betrayed his fear of the man behind the desk. "He’s highly intelligent, well educated, almost scholarly, exceptionally strong, powerful with well-developed musculature. He has an innate empathy for others and their problems. He’s very moral, highly ethical. His DNA has been tampered with; whether in a lab or by nature there is no way of knowing, but I’m inclined to believe it was done in a lab. "As he continued his voice settled down to its usual baritone and became dry and bookish, almost as if he was instructing a science class. "As you no doubt know,”  it wouldn’t hurt to flatter his employer, "all humans carry the exact same genes that comprise 99% of the human genome. They are what makes us human and are called housekeeping genes. Redundant genes are also found in this 99%. The remaining 1% is what makes an individual uniquely that individual. " 

 

"Yes, Doctor I am aware of this,”  Gabriel snidely interrupted the man, never taking his eyes off the monitor. The screen showed Vincent in his usual pose: back against the wall, sitting on the cot, head bowed in contemplation, calmly waiting for whatever would happen next. "What I’m interested in is Vincent,”  Gabriel gestured at the monitor screen. "What of his DNA?”  

 

Reminded once again that he was nothing but this man’s hireling, the Doctor gulped and continued, "The remaining 1% of Vincent’s DNA is an odd combination of lion genes and unknown genes. At the present I don’t know exactly what they do. They seem to be enhancing genes, making him stronger, faster, and smarter. The lab is working right now on determining what those genes are for. " 

 

"Do you think any of these traits will be transferred to the child?”  Gabriel asked.  

 

"Oh, most assuredly as they are part of the DNA code,”  the doctor answered. "There is no way of knowing how strong those traits would be. It all depends on the woman. " 

 

"She is powerful in her own way, Doctor. As excellent combination for a remarkable child. I want you to devote yourself to her care. I want no problems, you understand?”  He stared coldly at the suddenly frightened man.  

 

Lowering his eyes, the doctor said, "Yes .  .  .  yes, I do but I’m not an obstetrician, sir. I’ve delivered babies before, but I’ve been involved in research for several years as you yourself already know, in your own research lab. "

 

"I know that, Doctor, but you will handle the Chandler woman’s pregnancy. Won’t you? And do your best?”  Gabriel asked with a cold, emphatic voice.  

 

Clearly frightened, the Doctor babbled, "Y-yes, sir,”  backed out the door, and fled down the hall to the comforting silence of his own office.  

 

*********************

 

Gabriel sauntered up to the cage. For a long moment he stared at the shackled form chained to the wall that was lying on the cot, his hands laced across his stomach, the chains allowing enough room to move freely around his prison. Vincent returned the stare, calmly waiting for him to speak. In the face of his composure, Gabriel glanced away. Why wasn’t he afraid?He should be, after all he, Gabriel, had the upper hand, didn’t he? Ah, what a son they would give him.  

 

"The tests are over, my friend. " 

 

"And now you’ll kill me,”  Vincent stated flatly. He climbed to his feet and walked toward the dark man.  

 

"I don’t know. You’re an enigma, Vincent. "He contemplated the leonine man for several minutes. "You’re not afraid of death, are you?”  

 

"No, death shall have no dominion. " 

 

"I’m not familiar with that phrase. Some poet or other, I suppose. " 

 

Vincent inclined his head, saying nothing more. Let him find the words.  

 

"Catherine? Is she afraid?”  

 

Tensing, Vincent snarled at him. "She is not afraid. " 

 

"But you are afraid for her. You would gladly die for her. " 

 

"Yes,”  the caged man admitted grudgingly.  

 

"I assure you, Vincent, the woman will not die .  .  .  yet. " 

 

"You had better kill me then, for I will find some way to stop you. " 

 

"You can’t hurt me; I own you. You are mine. "He turned toward the stairs and stopped. "I’m feeling generous today. You and your lady can spend one final night together. Enjoy it; it will be your last. "

 

********************

 

He looked down at Catherine asleep in his arms. They had brought her to him moments after Gabriel had left. She had clung to him as if she would never let him go. She understood the meaning behind this night, making it all that much more poignant.  

 

"At last, I’m where I belong. Hold me tight, don’t let me go. "He enclosed her in his arms. "Tighter,”  she cried, molding her body close against his.  

 

Sitting down on the cot, he pulled her into his lap. She was quietly weeping, "What are we to do?I think he wants the baby. " 

 

"We’ll find a way to defeat him,”  he assured her. "We will endure, my love. We must be strong. " 

 

"Yes, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to break down like that. " 

 

"Don’t be sorry. You needed a release. We’ve been under great stress. But you are right, he wants the child. That means we are disposable. " 

 

"I know if he harms you in any way I will not live another hour, and I will take the baby with me. He won’t raise our child, I won’t let him,”  she said fiercely.  

 

"Catherine! No!!”  He grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look into his eyes. "You must trust in our love, in our destiny. I cannot believe that we were brought together to lose everything, to give him our child. Please, you must promise me that you will do nothing. " 

 

"I don’t know if I can make that promise, Vincent. "She looked away. A flicker of pain passed over her face. "I don’t know if

I can live without you. " 

 

He turned her face to his. "You must live to fight for our child if I am not here. Promise me, please. " 

 

She hesitated. "Catherine!”  he begged.  

 

Slowly, she nodded. "I promise,”  she whispered.  

 

Pulling her into a close embrace, he kissed her tenderly. "Have faith, my love, we will prevail. " 

 

Placing his mouth close to her ear so only she could hear, he began,

 

“O my Luve’s like a red, red rose,

That’s newly sprung in June:

O my Luve’s like the melodie

That’s sweetly played in tune!

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will luve thee still, my dear,

While the sand o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve,

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Though it were ten thousand mile.

 

Remember the words, Catherine. Whatever happens I will be with you. " 

 

"Oh Vincent, I love you so. "She threw her arms around his neck and pulled his mouth to hers.  

 

After a long, delicious kiss where she could forget for a while what was happening to them, she pulled back and asked, "Do you think he plans to kill us?”  

 

"I don’t know but I fear so. We are .  .  .  I am expendable from now on. " 

 

"And I’m safe until the baby’s born. "Fiercely she molded her body to his, needing the comfort of his solid and comfortable body.  

 

They spent what was left of the night, loving, talking, reminiscing, planning what they would do. At one point he said, "You know he is watching, don’t you?”  

 

"Yes, but he is just a fly speck on the wall, not worth worrying about. "She looked out the basement window to see that dawn was near. "Is the sky beginning to lighten?”  she asked fearfully. She snuggled further into his arms and laid her head on his chest. They sat in silence for a while; he was content, he was holding his most precious treasure in his arms, buthe was afraid it was for the last time. He could tell from her even breathing that she had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He laid his head on hers, soon he too was asleep.  

 

The sound of a door opening woke him. "Catherine, they are coming. " 

 

"So soon,”  she moaned. "Oh, it’s morning already. "Sitting up, she brushed her hair back.  

 

Gabriel, followed by the doctor and two guards, walked down the stairs and approached the cage. He signaled for the electricity to be shut off. "I trust you had a pleasant evening. "He smiled coldly at them. Hand-in-hand, they stood before him, united in their love in a determination to survive.

 

"You are simply blooming, Catherine,”  he smirked, "you look much better than yesterday. "

 

"I’m where I belong,”  she coolly replied.  

 

"Yes, you seem to derive courage and strength from each other.  We can’t have that. " 

 

Vincent snarled at him, "What do you want? You are here for a reason. " 

 

"Aside from getting the woman, I have a proposition. I can give hope as well. "He paused, peering at them slyly. When there was no comment from either of them, he continued, "Give me legal custody of the child and I will release you. After all, you can have more children. "He waited expectantly.  

 

The enormity of his deception held them frozen for a minute. Shaking, Vincent tensed to fly at Gabriel, hoping to get his hands around his neck. Catherine put a restraining hand on his arm.  

 

"You must be insane or you’re toying with us,”  she said through clenched teeth. "I would never sign my child over to you. " 

Gabriel nonchalantly shrugged. Turning, to Vincent, he asked, "Vincent?”  

 

The look of pure hatred that Vincent threw at him spoke louder than any words. It said if he could get his hands on the man he would tear him limb from limb. "I guess not,”  Gabriel smirked. It was all a game to him.  

 

"Even if we gave you legal custody, you would kill us. We are not such fools as to believe you. "Vincent put a comforting arm around her. They stared at the dark man defiantly.  

 

"Oh well, I made the offer,”  he said lightly. "The consequences fall to you.” His voice lost its jocular tone becoming hard and authoritative. The guards were just pawns, necessary only to fulfill his plans, and he commanded, "Take the woman away. " 

 

Vincent pulled Catherine next to him and kissed her passionately. "Remember, Catherine, I will be with you. " 

 

"And I with you. I love you, Vincent, you are my life. " 

 

"As you are mine, my love. " 

 

The guards roughly pulled her from Vincent’s arms. Gabriel was on the stairs, waiting. As they forced her up to stairs, she flashed Vincent a brave, sad smile.  

 

He sat down heavily on the cot. What now? What would that mad man do? The doctor remained behind. Soon the guards returned and aimed their rifles at him. Closing his eyes, he prepared for death, closer to panic than he had ever been. Would she survive without him? He wasn’t sure. Goodbye, my love. I will wait for you on the other side. He heard the rifles fire and braced for the concussive force of the bullets striking his chest. In the silence that followed, he opened his eyes and once again saw two tranquilizing darts embedded in his chest. Staggering back, he slowly fell into the darkness.