said. “I thought I had a couple of hours, at least, before the storm struck.”
Lightning flashed in the inky night, briefly illuminating the room. Harry got to his feet.
“Looks like you’re going to be here for a while,” he said. “The power’s out, so there goes a hot meal. Lucky I picked up enough cheese and crackers for two.”
Marcus lancaster hated every minute that he was forced to spend at the Chapman Clinic, but the nights were the worst.
During the day he was occupied, playing the model patient and able to take some pleasure in manipulating Oakford and the other members of the staff. But after dark he was alone in his locked room on a locked ward and he was consumed with thoughts of Rachel. She was his but she did not yet understand that essential fact. She needed to comprehend that she belonged to him, that although she was strong, he was more powerful. Her talent was his to control.
It had been weeks since she had been fired. The first few days after she had left had been hell. He had immediately begun planning his escape. The knowledge that Rachel was out in the world and out of his immediate control made him seethe with frustration. He had been ready to walk out the door of the clinic when his associate had contacted him and informedhim that Rachel was back on Rainshadow. The long-delayed project to retrieve the artifacts was going forward.
It was only the knowledge of the considerable risk involved in the Rainshadow operation that kept him here at the clinic. It made sense to let his associate take the fall in the event that the FBPI got involved, Marcus reminded himself. Being locked up here at the clinic would provide the perfect alibi if things went wrong. And given that so much had already gone wrong—a representative from the Foundation was now on the island—there was a strong possibility that the project would end in disaster.
His own personal survival was his first priority, and the best way to survive the failure of the Rainshadow operation was to remain right where he was.
But knowing that Rachel was beyond his control for now was almost too much to bear.
He stood at the small barred window of his room and looked out into the night. The ruins of the ancient Alien city glowed green in the heart of Frequency.
Not much longer now. One way or another the operation would soon be over and he would be free to claim Rachel.
Chapter 8
“I hope Darwina is okay.” Rachel selected a slice of cheese and positioned it on acracker. “This is a serious storm and she’s out there in it all by herself.”
She was reluctant to admit it but it was rather pleasant to be sitting here in front of a cozy fire with Harry, drinking the wine he had poured and snacking on cheese and crackers, while the tempest raged.
Even if I am Suspect Number One,
she thought. Clearly she needed to get out more.
“I’m sure Darwina is doing fine.” Harry paused his wineglass halfway to his mouth and fixed her with his riveting gem green eyes. “Don’t forget she’s got that great little girl’s role model with her, Amberella.”
“The doll is made of rez-plastic. Her hair and clothes are all synthetic. Amberella will definitely survive.”
“And so will Darwina.She’s a creature of the wild. She’s been through other storms on her own.”
“I know.” Rachel flinched as lightning crackled in the darkness, briefly illuminating the windows in a white-hot glare that reminded her of the silver shadows in Harry’s aura. “But this is a bad one. The worst yet, I think.”
“Why did you name the bunny Darwina?”
“I’m not sure.” Rachel took another bite of the cheese-and-cracker combo and munched while she considered the question. “Probably because dust bunnies are such an interesting example of evolution here on Harmony.”
“What does the name
Darwina
have to do with evolution?”
She blinked and then smiled. “Sometimes I forget that not everyone outside the Community got stuck with the
Lightning flashed in the inky night, briefly illuminating the room. Harry got to his feet.
“Looks like you’re going to be here for a while,” he said. “The power’s out, so there goes a hot meal. Lucky I picked up enough cheese and crackers for two.”
Marcus lancaster hated every minute that he was forced to spend at the Chapman Clinic, but the nights were the worst.
During the day he was occupied, playing the model patient and able to take some pleasure in manipulating Oakford and the other members of the staff. But after dark he was alone in his locked room on a locked ward and he was consumed with thoughts of Rachel. She was his but she did not yet understand that essential fact. She needed to comprehend that she belonged to him, that although she was strong, he was more powerful. Her talent was his to control.
It had been weeks since she had been fired. The first few days after she had left had been hell. He had immediately begun planning his escape. The knowledge that Rachel was out in the world and out of his immediate control made him seethe with frustration. He had been ready to walk out the door of the clinic when his associate had contacted him and informedhim that Rachel was back on Rainshadow. The long-delayed project to retrieve the artifacts was going forward.
It was only the knowledge of the considerable risk involved in the Rainshadow operation that kept him here at the clinic. It made sense to let his associate take the fall in the event that the FBPI got involved, Marcus reminded himself. Being locked up here at the clinic would provide the perfect alibi if things went wrong. And given that so much had already gone wrong—a representative from the Foundation was now on the island—there was a strong possibility that the project would end in disaster.
His own personal survival was his first priority, and the best way to survive the failure of the Rainshadow operation was to remain right where he was.
But knowing that Rachel was beyond his control for now was almost too much to bear.
He stood at the small barred window of his room and looked out into the night. The ruins of the ancient Alien city glowed green in the heart of Frequency.
Not much longer now. One way or another the operation would soon be over and he would be free to claim Rachel.
Chapter 8
“I hope Darwina is okay.” Rachel selected a slice of cheese and positioned it on acracker. “This is a serious storm and she’s out there in it all by herself.”
She was reluctant to admit it but it was rather pleasant to be sitting here in front of a cozy fire with Harry, drinking the wine he had poured and snacking on cheese and crackers, while the tempest raged.
Even if I am Suspect Number One,
she thought. Clearly she needed to get out more.
“I’m sure Darwina is doing fine.” Harry paused his wineglass halfway to his mouth and fixed her with his riveting gem green eyes. “Don’t forget she’s got that great little girl’s role model with her, Amberella.”
“The doll is made of rez-plastic. Her hair and clothes are all synthetic. Amberella will definitely survive.”
“And so will Darwina.She’s a creature of the wild. She’s been through other storms on her own.”
“I know.” Rachel flinched as lightning crackled in the darkness, briefly illuminating the windows in a white-hot glare that reminded her of the silver shadows in Harry’s aura. “But this is a bad one. The worst yet, I think.”
“Why did you name the bunny Darwina?”
“I’m not sure.” Rachel took another bite of the cheese-and-cracker combo and munched while she considered the question. “Probably because dust bunnies are such an interesting example of evolution here on Harmony.”
“What does the name
Darwina
have to do with evolution?”
She blinked and then smiled. “Sometimes I forget that not everyone outside the Community got stuck with the
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