A stray sunbeam fell across Serena’s face, warming her cheek and gently stirring her awake. She groaned and turned over. She groaned again, this time from subtle aches she felt from deep within. With eyes still closed, she smiled, remembering how she had acquired those aches. She reached out across the sheets in hopes of finding Raphael beside her. And he did not disappoint.
“Dreaming of me, sweetheart?” Raphael whispered.
“I’m always dreaming of you,” she sighed, and scooted closer so she could wrap herself around his hulking mass. “You’re my dream lover, remember?” He held her right back, tenderly kissing the top of her head.
“I much prefer being your lover when you’re awake. How are you feeling? I heard you groan a little. Would you like any particular spot massaged?”
“Oh, aren’t you a randy little angel? Or should I say, devil? I’m a little achy, but it’s a real good ache. A shower should do the trick. You know what, though? You could massage righ
He nodded as Monica walked passed him, back into the living room area. He followed quickly behind and sat down on the chair, not saying a word.“Serena, my dear, are you ready to begin?” Monica asked lightly.“Yes, I am. Tell me what to do, and I’m all yours.”“Well first, Raphael, you’ll be in charge of the digital recorder. Anything she says can be analyzed later, if necessary.” Monica handed him the device. “Press record when I begin the session. Serena, I’m going to have you hold this heart rate monitor while we do this. Place your thumb on the sensor, and it will transmit your heart rate during the entire process. Sit back now, close your eyes, and relax. Listen to my voice as I help you get to a deep state of relaxation.”With equipment ready, Monica began her litany of directions and soothing suggestions. In very little time, they saw Serena’s heart rate slow down considerably,
Although she wanted to, she couldn’t respond… at first. Stuck in a vicious cycle of being caught and murdered, she had to reach out to the present to pull herself free. After a short while, she opened her eyes and took in a deep breath. She looked at Monica and Raphael.“Serena, love…are you all right? Please, tell me you’re all right,” Raphael urged.“Yes, please. Tell us you’re okay,” Monica added.She lifted her hand and pointed at Raphael. “You…you’re Raphael. I called out for you and you never came. I…I was Sirona, the Goddess of Healing, and murdered for not giving my gift to those degenerates. I was…your wife!”As awareness dawned on her, she scuttled out of Raphael’s arms and stood strong on her own two feet. She may have been petite, but at this moment she felt like the fiercest Amazon warrior. “She’s the one who’s been in my hea
“Hi, Daddy,” Serena said softly. “It’s me, Serena. How are you feeling today? You seem good. Did Nurse Selma give you a haircut? It’s a little shorter.” She stooped to give him a kiss on the cheek and ruffled his hair.She ventured a long glance into his eyes. They used to be the most beautiful, sparkling hazel, changeable depending on his mood or clothing. Sometimes they were toffee, sometimes green, and sometimes they were even golden amber. But after the stroke, they had turned and stayed a muddy brown, reflecting no essence of the life trapped within. She laid her purse and water bottle on his hospital bed and pulled a chair up so she could sit across from him.What to say, what to say? Lie, damn it. And definitely don’t say anything about Jared!“I know I haven’t been here in a little while. Things have been crazy busy over at the shop. Everybody wants to see our beautiful mountains and rock formations,
Walking quickly and with purpose, Serena made her way down the street, turned a corner, and walked up the path to her home. Seeing the house looming before her brought back all sorts of memories. Memories not yet ready to be faced. So she grabbed the Jeep’s keys from her purse, choosing instead to jump in her car and drive to her shop. She knew she had a ton of paperwork to do. Maybe that would distract her enough from her troubles.Every few minutes, Serena checked her rearview mirror, watching for any signs of people following her. Now that she was alone, looking out for herself became her number one priority. She still had to contend with Dr. Chappo and his crazy scheme. When she pulled into the back lot, she saw no one loitering or hanging out in their cars, and waited another few minutes. She went in the back entrance, snuck into her office, and called Callie on the intercom system.“Hey, Callie, it’s Serena. I’m in my office, but I don&rsq
Wheezer and Steve had gotten a perfect view as Serena hopped in her Jeep and headed off to parts as yet unknown.“When the hell did she slip in?” Wheezer wondered as he put the car in drive and peeled out of their hiding spot.“Well, let’s think about this. Didn’t we waste twenty minutes picking up the worst fucking burgers in the USA? My guess is she came in to work while we were out. We wouldn’t have realized it because her Jeep is like all the others. Anyways, it doesn’t matter. We’ve got her now. Just don’t get too close to her, Wheezer. I don’t want her getting skittish and bolting.”“I know how to tail someone. What do you think I am, a weekend thug or somethin’?” He gave Steve a caustic look.“Or somethin’ is right. I don’t want to fuck this up again, man. Hey, watch the goddamn road, will ya!” Steve’s feet flew up to the dashboard. &ld
Realizing she may have put herself at risk even though she had checked numerous times for anyone following her, Serena hastily packed up her belongings and made the arduous trek back to the trail’s beginning. She returned to her Jeep a different person though, a person maybe without all of the answers, but definitely more assured of what she wanted for herself. She had come to certain understandings about Raphael. She had decided that they did not have a future together, but she could forgive him his cowardice at not revealing Sirona as his wife. She had declared war on Sirona’s soul. She wasn’t sure how it was all going to turn out, but at least everyone knew where they stood. And she had a better knowledge of the possible motives behind Dr. Chappo’s obsession with her. Knowledge is power. I may not be a goddess, but I’m one strong-willed, pint-sized woman!****Wheezer watched as Serena emerged from the forest. He saw her look around ten
Jared jumped madly on Serena’s bed. “Get up! Get up! It’s time for school. Get up!” If he jumped any harder, she’d bounce right out of her bed. As it stood, her entire body felt like a tossed salad, and her mouth as dry as the desert itself. She groaned something inaudible and tried opening her eyes a crack. Everything blurred and colors swam dizzily before her, so she immediately closed her eyes again.Completely disoriented, Serena stirred. She heard men’s voices, but what they were saying she couldn’t decipher. This isn’t my bed, and Jared hasn’t jostled me about. It had only been a damned dream. She lay on the back seat of a car that had to be going over rough terrain. Something stuffed her mouth making it impossible for her to swallow or speak, and her hands and feet were bound. She tried once more to open her eyes for a look around, but waves of nausea took over as soon as she lifted her head but an inch. Blackness swamped her again.****Serena had gone to the Cookstove Trail.
“Damn it! You’d better be all right, Serena. And if you are, I’m gonna kill you when I see you,” Raphael muttered to himself as he flew over the mountains toward Michael and Emma’s house. “Why did you have to run? Why couldn’t you stay and hear me out? I could have kept you safe.”The D’Angelos lived near the base of the Superstition Mountains in Prophet’s Point. From their house, it would only take about a half hour or forty minutes to get to the area where Dr. Chappo lived. By air, about a minute. It took all of Raphael’s willpower to keep from flying straight there. There were two things that stopped him. He didn’t have the exact location of Dr. Chappo’s estate, and he knew Gabriel spoke the truth. Going alone right now would ensure failure and put Serena’s life even more at risk. So he’d settled for following through on the directive: go to Michael’s and get his head on straight. Not an easy task in and of itself.It wouldn’t take him three hours to get to his house, but it wasn’t