Deep Within Me (The Prophesy #2)

Chapter Nine

Unable to tolerate the unacceptable, Liz left her father’s room.

She heard him scrambling to his feet behind her, the bedsprings creaking as he left the mattress. He called from the doorway, “Liz, don’t. Zeke wants you in here.”

Zeke wanted a lot of things she didn’t agree with, couldn’t accept.

She walked backward, away from her father as she spoke. “I’ll be fine. There’s nothing to worry about.”

“Liz!”

He wasn’t young enough to catch up with her. Liz used that to her advantage and roamed the stronghold, searching for Zeke. She had to convince him that he and her father were wrong. There wasn’t anything the matter with her.

So what if she’d fainted in the Jeep—something she still couldn’t accept. Anything could have caused it. Exhaustion. Continuing terror at what Carreon would do. Any freaking thing.

Even if it were more than that, she had to heal no matter the consequences. She couldn’t just let the people she loved slip away while she remained safe. How could she live with herself after that? Losing her father was unthinkable. Never seeing Zeke again was a possibility she couldn’t endure. There was no way she wanted to go on without him.

There had to be a solution to this. If she began slowly, tending to a small cut perhaps, then working her way up to more serious injuries, surely nothing bad would happen. Zeke would see that she remained alert and alive. He’d stop this nonsense, no longer keeping her from fighting at his side to insure his safety.

In the kitchen, women and men were preparing food. Upon seeing her, they exchanged glances, then stared without offering any greeting or challenge. Liz couldn’t recall which of these women had voted for her and her father to leave the stronghold.

“Hi,” she said, having no other choice than to speak first.

No one offered a greeting in return.

Liz hadn’t really expected one, but there had still been some hope, which she dismissed quickly. She spoke on a sigh. “I’m looking for Zeke. Do you know where he is?”

Each of the women and the few men shook their heads.

Whether they were lying or not wasn’t something Liz could determine.

She checked the dining hall next. Not there. Nor was he in the large communal room where the youngest of the children sometimes played while the adults relaxed nearby.

Liz recalled the last time she’d been in the bosque, an area of thick vegetation hidden between the mountain’s many peaks. There, the older children had a chance to play outside, run off their energy. Salt cedar trees and cottonwood provided shade and some relief from the blistering temperatures.

Today, no one was out here. Leaves rustled in the scant breeze, parting momentarily to allow the brutal sun to shine through.

After returning inside, Liz went down countless halls and finally ended up in an area with a long table and numerous chairs, reminiscent of an office’s conference room. It was also empty.

Where was everyone, aside from those in the kitchen? Especially the men? Did Zeke have them on guard duty to make certain the stronghold was safe since Carreon’s last attack? Had they holed up in some hidden room while they planned an assault on him? What if Zeke got injured…or killed…during the strike? What if Jacob or the other men couldn’t retrieve his body and bring it back for her or her father to reanimate?

How many hours or days after death would it be possible to bring Zeke back to life? The time limit wasn’t infinite. If his people were anything like hers, his body would retain its heat, there’d be no decay, making him seem as though he were only sleeping. However, within weeks, he’d crumble to dust.

Taken from her forever.

Liz wrapped her arms around herself and gasped at the sudden pain in her belly, driven by intolerable sorrow. She tried to calm down but couldn’t. Her thoughts…her worries…continued to bombard her.

Even if her father could save Zeke dozens of times, that couldn’t last forever. When her father passed, she’d be the only one who could heal Zeke, Jacob, and their clan.

And she would. If anyone tried to stop her, she’d fight them. What other choice did she have?

Ignoring the pain in her gut, Liz hurried down other halls and checked as many rooms as she could. During the assault, Carreon’s men had shot off the locks. The few times she’d reached doors that were still intact, she found them bolted, not allowing her entrance. Within a couple of those rooms, she’d heard voices and had knocked, then asked, “Zeke, are you in there?”

The voices went silent. No one answered.

Jacob’s room proved empty. So did the one that must have belonged to Kele. Pictures showed her, Jacob, and other clan members at various events. High school graduations. Dances. Parties.

This didn’t make sense. Where in the hell was everyone?

Liz returned to her father’s room, thinking—hoping—Zeke might have come back looking for her. The room was also empty, the door to the bath closed. Someone had laid fresh clothing on the bed, no doubt for her father to use after he finished his shower.

Not knowing where else to go, Liz ended up in Zeke’s room. He wasn’t in here either. She sank to the edge of the mattress and fought a sense of dread. No matter how secure this place was, how much he wanted to protect her, something truly awful and unexpected was about to happen.

Within seconds, the feeling became so unbearable, Liz fled the room, determined to find Zeke. To make certain he was all right.

The meeting room was one of the few places Carreon’s men hadn’t shot up. Its distance from the living spaces had kept it untouched, the same as the dining hall and the area where all the stronghold’s systems and computers operated.

Thankfully, the Others had made that location as inaccessible as possible. Zeke and his men had put in additional safeguards. Their thinking went that if anyone did breach this place, they wouldn’t be able to access any of its systems. They’d be trapped in a maze of halls, easy pickings for Zeke and his armed clan.

Precisely what had happened during the attack with Zeke’s people winning. This time.

Several of the men and elders sat at the long table. Among them, Isabel. Her expression revealed nothing of what she thought of this newest problem. The younger clan members, who hadn’t been able to get a chair, stood near the walls.

On Zeke’s left side sat Kele. On his right, Jacob. Across the table from them was Diaz.

Samuel and Paul had their assault rifles trained on the young man, prepared to fire if Diaz threatened anyone in the least.

What he’d just revealed was more troubling to Zeke than any move he could have made.

“I went into hiding when Carreon took over,” he’d said a few minutes before. “I heard Carreon’s other male siblings did the same. We knew he didn’t want to share his so-called kingdom. Not that any of us wanted it.”

He’d leaned forward then sat back quickly as Samuel stepped closer—his knees fully healed by Dr. Munez. Samuel pointed the muzzle of his rifle at Diaz’s head.

“I wanted nothing of my brother, just for him to leave us alone,” Diaz had explained, glancing from Samuel’s weapon to Zeke. “I was running my aunt’s carniceria when Carreon had our father assassinated. My mother and her brothers had already died in previous battles. The only family I have left is my aunt and cousin. Pedro’s only thirteen.”

“Why are you looking for Liz?” Zeke asked.

Jacob spoke before Diaz could answer. “You’re lying about how you found our stronghold—or almost found it before we surprised you.”

“That’s not true.”

Diaz leaned up again, this time ignoring the rifle’s proximity, its muzzle nearly touching his temple. “Carreon’s men are as arrogant as he is, believing everyone else is stupid. I used that to my advantage so I could find Carreon and hopefully Liz. She wasn’t at her practice when I called. A lady there told me she was away on a family emergency. Didn’t know when she’d be back. I sensed it wasn’t true, that Carreon was keeping her a prisoner just like the rumors I’d heard about her father. What other choice did I have than to follow Carreon’s men to his stronghold? It’s exactly as I told you; I’ve been tracking their movements, waiting for an opportunity to hopefully see her. Last night when I arrived, Zeke was already driving away with Liz and her father, leaving Carreon’s stronghold. Fleeing, I thought. I was too afraid to tail them. I didn’t know what Zeke would do if he saw me, so I waited then simply followed the Jeep’s tracks.”

“In the dark,” Kele said, her distrust evident. “On foot, no less.”

Many members of the clan murmured, their comments equally suspicious. Isabel said nothing. Her full attention remained on Zeke.

Diaz blew out a sigh. “No, of course not.”

“Where’s your vehicle?” Jacob asked.

“Hidden behind one of the boulders not far from where you saw me.”

Without being told, two of Zeke’s men left the meeting room to find the vehicle and bring it back here.

“So you waited until first light to search for the Jeep’s tracks,” Kele said, “when the wind would have blown many of them away.”

“Many, but not all,” he countered.

“And what did you intend to do once you found our stronghold?” Kele asked. “Wait some more for Liz to come out?”

“I hadn’t thought that far. I had to find the entrance first. That was my main concern at that point.”

Jacob leaned up in his chair, presumably to ask his own question. Zeke spoke first. “Why are you looking for Liz?”

An anguished look swept across Diaz’s handsome face. “Carreon’s men have been recruiting the clan’s boys to fight your people. They offer them money they’d never had, a chance to lead a good life, or so they believe. They approached Pedro. He’s a sweet kid. He refused. You don’t do that with Carreon’s men.”

He paused to swallow, his body shuddering visibly with whatever his mind pictured. “They cut Pedro up pretty bad, made him an example to force the other boys to do exactly what they said. They dumped Pedro on my aunt’s doorstep and warned that if she tried to find one of the clan’s healers—or worse, if she took him to a hospital or doctor, they’d know—they were watching—and would stop her. They’d then finish Pedro off. They’d done it to another boy earlier in the year.”

Diaz leaned against the table toward Zeke, agony in his expression. “If Pedro was going to survive, my aunt couldn’t defy them. She’s been taking care of him ever since. But she’s no healer. He keeps getting worse. She finally got word to me. Pedro needs help or he’ll die. I’ve heard Dr. Munez has refused to heal any longer. That only leaves Liz. I know of no other healer in our clan.”

Although Zeke understood Diaz’s pain, he didn’t want to face it. His vision returned of Liz weakening then possibly dying as she healed. At first, Zeke had thought she was tending to Diaz. Now that he thought of it, he wasn’t certain. It might have been Pedro he’d seen. He’d been too focused on Liz to notice whom she’d been trying to save.

Jacob bumped his shoulder.

He looked at his brother then past at Isabel. She continued to regard him, her expression blank, her thoughts inscrutable. “What?” Zeke asked Jacob.

Leaning close, he whispered, “Clearly, he’s lying.”

If he was, then Zeke figured Diaz was the world’s best actor. He saw unfathomable terror and sorrow in the young man’s eyes, the same Zeke had experienced when he’d cradled Gabrielle’s lifeless body and then Liz’s. His gut churned at the memory. A sour taste filled his mouth. He swallowed it down. “I’m sorry, but we can’t help you.”

Diaz pushed to his feet. Samuel clamped his meaty hand on the young man’s shoulder and forced him back into his chair.

“You have to let me talk to Liz,” he begged. “I’ve been in hiding long enough that I know how to evade Carreon’s men. I can bring her to Pedro when they’re not watching. She can heal him; then she can come right back to this strong—”

“No,” Zeke interrupted. He couldn’t risk that. Wouldn’t. It killed him to let a young boy die, but he wasn’t about to trade Liz’s life for anyone’s.

Kele turned to Zeke. “Maybe we could bring Pedro here.”

Isabel frowned.

“No,” Diaz cried, “the trip would kill him.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Jacob said.

Diaz shouted, “How can you say that and claim to be a man?”

“Easy,” Jacob said, unfazed by the outburst. “Even if your cousin dies, Dr. Munez can reanimate him.”

A moment passed before Diaz reacted, his eyes rounding. “What?” He gripped the lip of the table and leaned forward. “He and Liz can bring back the dead?”

“Not Liz,” Zeke said. “She can’t help you.”

“Yes, I can.”

Zeke turned at her voice, stunned to see her standing in the doorway to this room. How long had she been there? How had she even found this spot? It was supposed to be impenetrable behind a maze of halls.

He pushed out of his chair so quickly, it rolled away from the table on its casters and smacked into the limestone wall. The lighting in the room brightened momentarily from the furniture’s contact with the stone.

Liz’s expression noted that and the stains on Zeke’s jeans from Carreon’s man spitting at him, before she again focused on Diaz. “Where is Pedro?”

“No,” Zeke snapped. “You’re not doing this.”

“I want to,” she said, her voice achingly soft.

It drained Zeke’s anger, turning it to desperation. “No.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, “but you can’t stop me.”

“You actually believe that?”

“What are you going to do, Zeke? Lock me up? You want me to let a child die? Not even try to heal him or bring him back?”

Yes. He wanted to shout it but couldn’t. He didn’t want anyone harmed, would have given his own life to make certain that didn’t happen. All he asked was to have her safe and with him always.

His vision said otherwise, unless…

Zeke recalled something Liz had said days ago when he foolishly believed she could help the clan’s little ones if they fell ill or got injured. It was what he’d told his people when they were deciding whether to let her and her father stay. “You don’t heal children, remember? You don’t know what your power will do to them.”

“Pedro’s no child,” Liz said. “He appears to be in his early teens.” She asked Diaz, “How old is he?”

“Thirteen.”

“What difference does that make?” Zeke muttered. “He’s still a kid.”

“He’s already reached puberty,” Liz explained. “It’s not the same as if he was an infant or a toddler. His body’s changing, maturing. That should give him some protection against the force of the gift.”

“And what if it doesn’t?” Zeke argued, going to her. “I can’t let you do this. You know damn well why.”

Diaz spoke to Jacob. “What are they talking about?”

“Quiet,” Samuel growled.

Liz touched Zeke’s mouth. “I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try. You understand that, don’t you?”

Of course he did, but that didn’t change anything.

Liz brought back her hand and went around the table to Diaz. “How far is Pedro from here?”

Before he could answer, Zeke spoke to his men. “Liz doesn’t leave this stronghold, understand?”

Some nodded immediately. A few of them glanced at Isabel before doing so.

Liz pleaded, “We have to help the boy.”

“We can bring him here,” Kele said as she had earlier.

“No,” Isabel said. She leaned up in her chair. “The woman needs to go to him.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Zeke countered. “Not while I still lead this clan.”

Isabel’s expression darkened. She pressed her lips together as though to keep herself from saying anything further.

“You’ll regret stopping me,” Liz murmured to Zeke. “Allowing Pedro to slip away.”

Everyone looked at him as they awaited his decision. Zeke wanted to take Liz’s hand and run. To go somewhere no one would ever be able to find them.

Where he wouldn’t be responsible for a kid’s death.

Seeing no other choice, Zeke blurted, “If we bring Pedro here, one of us would have to go with Diaz to protect him from Carreon’s men and to make certain they don’t follow him on his way back here.”

Jacob spoke above the clan’s murmurs. “I can go.”

“No.” Zeke wasn’t going to lose his brother either. If Carreon’s men murdered Jacob and disposed of his body, there would be no chance for reanimation. “Not you.”

None of the other men agreed to make the run.

Diaz grew more agitated. “I told you, I know how to avoid them. I’ll be careful. I can go alone.”

“You don’t have to,” Kele said. “I’ll go.”

The men stared at her. Isabel looked uneasy. Jacob spoke first. “No, that’s crazy.”

“Especially since we can really trust her,” Paul said, heavy sarcasm lacing his words. “Considering what she’s already done.”

“That’s enough,” Zeke said. “Kele proved herself in battle. We don’t bring it up again, got it?”

Again, his men nodded.

Kele pulled her attention from Isabel and glimpsed at Jacob, making it seem a guilty pleasure she had no right to indulge in. She’d pinned all of her hopes on a man who’d never been able to give her what she’d wanted and needed. Zeke thought he saw her expression softening with love that she’d never be free of. Before he could be certain, her features hardened in resolve, as though she needed to make things right.

“It makes sense for me to go,” she said. “If anything happens, I’m the only one the clan won’t miss.”

“Don’t say that,” Jacob snapped.

“Why?” She gave him a sad smile, determined yet defeated. “It’s true.”

He pushed out of his chair and strode to the other side of the room, putting distance between them.

In the past, Kele would have followed. She would have tried to entice, and if that hadn’t worked, she would have begged.

Today, she remained seated. A changed woman. Beaten finally.

Zeke spoke as kindly as he could. “You’ll have to plan this out. No one’s leaving here until I have a full report on what’s going down.”

“We can work on that now,” Kele said to Diaz.

“After we bring Pedro here, you’ll heal him?” he asked Liz.

She nodded. “Of course.”

“We’ll take care of the boy,” Zeke said to Diaz, knowing he’d only allow Dr. Munez to do so.

As though Liz had read his thoughts, she said, “I’ll take care of him.”

Zeke grabbed her arm. “Jacob.”

His brother looked over. Zeke gestured for him to follow them.

“Zeke.” Isabel stood. “I need to speak with you.”

“Not now,” he murmured, his tone respectful yet firm. “Later. I give you my word.”

He brought Liz into the hall. As they went down it, she murmured, “Will Isabel agitate the others into doing something?”

“No. She’s a good woman. She’s just worried about everyone.”

“You should have let me leave.”

Zeke gripped her arm more tightly.

Liz sighed. “I never wanted to come between you and your clan.”

“You’re not. You won’t. Just do as I say and everything will be all right.”

“You mean, like with my gift? I’m going to prove you wrong about that. You’ll see.”

That was what worried Zeke. She’d insist on healing Pedro or someone else, draining her life force, leaving him. Unless he chained her to their bed, he couldn’t stop her. She’d find a way to convince him he was wrong, when he wasn’t, which left only two other alternatives.

Have her father continue to pour his life force into her, not knowing if it would work or eventually be too much. Or have him and Jacob return some of the healing gift she’d given them when she’d seen to their injuries. Zeke hoped what they returned to her would be far less risky than the force of her father’s power.

“Where are you taking me?” Liz asked.

Zeke shook his head, not trusting himself to answer.

She looked over her shoulder at Jacob who was a few steps behind them. “Where?”

He didn’t comment either.

Zeke led her through the countless halls she’d come down then to the lower level, stopping finally at his bedroom.

“You’re going to keep me prisoner here?” she asked.

He brought her inside. Jacob followed. “Close the door,” Zeke ordered.

His brother did.

Liz looked from the door to Jacob, and finally to him. “What’s going on?”

“Take off your clothes,” Zeke said.