Thank you Koxie, Nessie, Laurellilly. Your encouragement does so much more than you know.
And to my story buddies Chi Guy and Zee Zee Magee, and those who've returned over and over to see this story unfold- this is for you. Thanks.
Happy New Year folks. Live FEARLESSLY for 2013!
Chapter 33
The blood was the first thing Eliot consciously remembered; the taste of it as it pooled in his mouth.
He regained consciousness with a start but limited his movement to just his eyes.
The effects of the tranquilizer localized to a stinging sensation in his neck.
He took three deep, slow breaths, trying in vain to assess his surroundings with as little effort as possible but he couldn't get a read on his location and he couldn't sense anyone else around him.
Nate… Sophie….
Joshua.
His stomach turned with instant anxiety.
He opened his eyes as slightly as possible trying to gain some bearing without alerting anyone that he was as yet conscious.
He was in a small room with a high ceiling and a cold, damp cement floor and walls.
He was alone.
This isn't happening again.
The nagging admonishing tore at him. Again they were ambushed, separated. Again he was alone and wondering if they were alive.
Then a thought calmed him. They were alive. They had to be; or he'd be dead too.
He pushed himself up off of the concrete and located the closest wall so he could get his bearings and figure out his next move from a safe vantage point.
As his vision cleared and he acclimatized to the sheer size and darkness of his cell he realized that he was truly alone. There were no traps awaiting him but his solitude was not necessarily a good thing. He was locked behind a solid, metal door and everything he gave a damn about was on the other side.
That thought was the spark. Without any further thinking Eliot charged the door like a man possessed; screaming, cursing, kicking and hitting the door with as much focused energy as he could muster. His tirade didn't go unaddressed for very long.
"Hey in there, shut that noise up," a gruff voice bounced off of the other side of the metal door and Eliot revved up his racket.
"Come in here and shut me up then. I tell you what though, if anything happens to that little boy…" Eliot screamed at the door with as much gravel as he could muster.
But he was greeted with silence.
He listened for a moment then pounded the door, "Do you hear me?"
The silence stretched and he pounded the door once more in frustration before walking toward the back of the tiny cell.
He was within arm's length of the far wall when the deep buzz of the electrical release filled the room. Followed by the heavy clang of the door's stiff, metal latch coming loose.
Eliot spun around, squared his stance and clenched his fists, ready to take on anything that stepped across the threshold.
But as the door opened and the light from outside poured in trailing a path straight toward him, Sonia stepped coolly into view and stalled his advance.
"I'm happy that you're awake, Mr. Spencer. I've wanted to speak with you for some time now."
Eliot's left eyebrow arched but the rest of his body remained perfectly still.
"The rest of your party is safe. I have no intention of harming them," Sonia began.
"Where are they," Eliot snarled.
"They are safe," Sonia reiterated; her voice cooler, resolute. Eliot knew he'd get nowhere if he didn't play along.
"What do we have to talk about? How you lied to me? How you used me… used that little boy?" As cool as he wanted to play it, he could feel his anger rising.
"It's regrettable. Regardless of what you may think of me, I am not a monster." Sonia said evenly as she took one more, small step into the room. Eliot felt like a mouse being stalked and cornered by a snake. He wanted to grab that snake and twist its neck.
"Where is Caesar?" he asked and closely watched her body as she prepared her response.
"Mr. Caesar has important business to conduct in Europe. He is not involved in the things that you are I are about discuss."
"What do you want," he asked again without missing a beat although he knew instantly that Caesar was dead. He knew human behavior- her response was seamless but he knew that Sonia was telling a lie. Caesar was dead and Sonia was the one who killed him.
"We have a mutual need," she continued but stopped to gauge Eliot's response. He remained still, giving nothing away, although his anxiety about his friends' safety was mounting.
"Two of your friends were sent to retrieve an item for me which is of great personal importance. They've missed their window to return and I need to initiate my contingency in case they are unsuccessful."
"Cut the bull. Straight talk, what do you want from me?" Eliot lowered his glare and asked her pointedly.
Sonia smiled- slightly taken by Eliot's lack of pretense, his candor- but just as quickly her smile faded. She took a small beat before she continued, as if weighing what she was about to say, "…I need to neutralize a threat…the Emir."
Eliot's eye brows involuntarily and instantly shot up. Eliot knew exactly who she was referring to. He'd seen the news stories; followed the global political tensions; knew that the Emir was a rising power among the enemies of the government he once swore to protect with his own life. But this was no Sunday-morning-rooftop-pick-off. The Emir was an extremely powerful man with a very enthusiastic national following. He was touted to be the next leader of his country. And while Eliot knew politics was essentially the biggest con there was, the Emir seemed to be sincerely aligned with the needs of his people.
It wasn't his job to ask why, though. His job was to do.
"What are the specs," he asked after he took a quick, cleansing breath.
Sonia smiled slightly once again then turned to leave the room.
"Someone will be here to brief you," she said as she stood in the doorway, "I'm happy that we could come to this understanding Mr. Spencer."
And with that she turned her back fully to Eliot, not at all afraid that he would attack her. She knew he understood that she had the power to take away what was important to him.
He knew he would die for them.
Sonia knew he would also kill.