Chapter 1
Spirit hovered over Deanna’s sleeping body and dipped his hands inside to free the Soul trapped within. “She’s attached in multiple places, intertwined herself among the muscles and around
the heart.”
Jesus reached in, separated the delicate inner organs from the Soul’s ethereal body, and wrapped it in a soft white blanket.
“Are you ready?” Jesus eyed Spirit and waited.
“What about the body?” Spirit moved closer to Deanna.
“It has been given to Satan for a time. I was only asked to protect the Soul.”
Spirit nodded and soared upward through the ceiling and out through the top of the house. Jesus followed with the delicate bundle secure in his arms. They soared through the darkened sky and crossed the barrier separating their world from Deanna’s. Upon Jesus’ command, the iron gates opened, allowing access to the innermost heavenly places where a beautiful garden grew outside his Father’s home. They entered through the terrace, and followed the corridor to a beautiful white room, with
accents in the heavenly color of tozar. The unique color was used to soothe away painful memories and bring about healing.
Spirit touched the Soul and sighed. “She’s not
adjusting.”
Jesus laid her on the bed. “We must help her. She is weak, her core so interconnected it can’t survive unaided.” He laid his hands upon the consciousness swaddled in the white blanket and then he closed his eyes. A body formed around Soul. An exact replica of the one they had taken her from. They waited to see if she attached, assuring her essence didn’t fade and disappear. She needed them—they needed her.
When she grew fainter, Jesus looked to Spirit.
“Set up a connection between her and Deanna.” “That’s dangerous. The linking could cause problems. It will give Deanna access to her. Therefore, Satan will have access too.” Spirit’s voice grew thick with concern.
“It’s okay. We will use a fixture to limit the access, a telescope so she can see and understand.” Spirit sat up the link and then flew off to do as Jesus request, returning moments later with a nod in his direction.
“It is done.”
Soul responded almost immediately, its energy
affixing to the body Jesus had formed around her.
“Annie, come to me.” Jesus waited, looking
from her to Spirit.
“It looks like we have a wall builder.” Spirit pointed to a cloud formation forming near the door. Jesus nodded. “She’s okay then. Are you ready?” Spirit nodded and shot up through the roof.
Annie opened her eyes and looked around. Where was she? She jerked upward; the unfamiliar surroundings confused her and made her heart beat faster.
Noise outside her door alerted her someone waited nearby. Annie pulled the blanket to her chest, hid her eyes, and struggled to gather fragments of memory. Bits and pieces of thought surfaced but then raced off again. Panic clawed when she scanned the room once more; there were no windows, and no handle on the reinforced wooden door. A deep sigh escaped her lips when the realization of what happened found its way through the haze of shock that engulfed her. Annie groaned in agony. She’d been taken. She now had no control over even the most basic parts of her life. Captivity and all it entailed proved not only unthinkable but
intolerable.
Her stomach heaved. She gagged, cringing at the noise which could bring her abductor into the room. She moved her arms and legs. No pain. Surely she wouldn’t let anyone grab her without a struggle.
Maybe they drugged her, but why?
The bedroom door opened, and a man stepped in. Annie inhaled sharply and shrank back against the headboard and pulled the blanket tight. Who was this person, and what did he want with her?
His overpowering presence filled the room. Dark hair fell in long strands down past well-built shoulders. Pacific blue eyes locked onto hers. Annie’s heart quickened, she swallowed hard.
“Hello, Annie.” He settled his shoulder against the wall and adjusted his stance so the structure had no choice but to bear his weight.
“Who are you?” Annie put a hand against her lips, and closed her eyes. She rocked back and forth, silent tears trailing one another down her face. Her shaky hands reached up to wipe them away. What would he do to her?
“For now, you can call me Rigas.” He pushed away from the wall and walked to the bed.
She took a deep breath, and tried to stay calm, but fear of being confined and dominated by this person terrified her.
“What do you want with me?”
Rigas sat on the edge of the bed. Annie pulled her legs up and hugged her knees to her chest, trying to get as far from him as possible.
“I’ve made a promise, Annie. You’re here, because I made a vow to protect you, nothing more.
There’s no reason to be afraid.”
“Protect me, from what? You could’ve told me I was in danger. You didn’t need to bring me here.”
Rigas shook his head, “Would you have come?
This is the only place you will be safe.”
Annie looked away. “Why here? Why kidnap me?”
“I didn’t kidnap you, Annie. Let’s make that very clear. Now, tell me what you remember.”
Annie pulled her lips into a fine white line and thought back. “I remember the iron gates and stone walls as we came in.”
“Nothing before?” he asked, his eyebrows rose in question. “Think, Annie.”
“Not outside the Iron Gate, except, well…I know my name, oh, and where I live, and that I’m married to John Parker.” Her hands shook as she reached up to rub her temples. “Why does my head hurt so badly? What did you do to me?
“It’s okay, your headache will ease soon.”
“I can’t remember anything. Please tell me what’s going on.” Her lips quivered, but she refused to cry.
“Your memory loss complicates things a bit. I think it’s best if we save this discussion for later.” “Please.” Questions buzzed through Annie’s mind and tumbled over each other as she tried to think things through. Could she trust this man? Did he speak the truth? If he meant her no harm, why lock her in this room?
Rigas sighed and looked into her eyes. “Everything we do has consequences. Sometimes the innocent suffer. You’ve been put in danger because of sin. The results of that sin will affect you in a big way.”
“What did I do? Please, my family will worry.
Why can’t you protect me from my home?” “It’s too dangerous.”
Annie glared at him. “Why won’t you tell me anything? I have a right to know.”
Rigas got to his feet and ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t. Not yet. It’s complicated.”
Anger sparked deep inside. Annie threw back the blanket and stood. “What do you mean, you can’t? I demand an answer.” Her heart beat like the hooves of a thoroughbred racing down the track.
“Annie, this isn’t the time.” Rigas turned toward her, his voice firm.
“Let me guess, it’s complicated.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. Now you must come with me.”
Annie lashed out at a pile of papers on the cluttered desk. The documents went air borne, separated, and littered the floor like snow. She dropped her face in her hands and groaned. “I don’t want to go with you.” Annie’s stomach lurched. Should she try to get away? If she didn’t try to escape, no one would ever find her. The iron gates and stone walls would see to it. The place was a fortress; no one would hear her screams, except Rigas.
Annie looked up from under her black lashes and shot daggers at him. Why should she cooperate?
Rigas’ eyes bore into hers, she thought about attacking, but fear wouldn’t let her defy him.
Annie expelled a deep breath. The power radiating from this man frightened her. She forced her body to move, grateful her limbs still retained their mobility. No ropes held her in place. In fact, even though she couldn’t recall how she’d gotten here, there were no signs of physical force: bruises, visible cuts, or scrapes.
Annie nodded to Rigas, “Lead the way.” Maybe she could find a way to escape as they went through the house.
She followed him down the long hallway, into the Study. His hand found her elbow and led her to a green and gold divan positioned in front of a beautifully carved stone fireplace. She detached his grip from her arm choosing instead to cross the room and sit in one of the chairs by the window. The blinds pulled tight, she fought the urge to open them. Her insides quivered as her fingers grasped the fringe on one of the pillows to still her shaky hands. Blue eyes sparked at her defiance, but she stayed seated refusing to give in to her fears.
“Comfortable?”
“Yes,” Annie replied. Her eyes strayed to the window. Could she find a way to look out?
Rigas came across the room. He extended his hand toward her face. She flinched at the thought of his fingers upon her skin. Instead he reached past her, pulled the cord, and opened the blind.
Annie turned in her seat to look out and frowned. What? Where were the luscious grounds, huge stone walls, and iron gates?
“No way,” Annie gasped as she rose from her seat and put a hand to the window.
A cottage with dark green shutters sat nestled in the woods. A little gravel path led to a garden, filled with an array of flowers which overflowed into the yard. The house belonged to her, and beyond it sat the town where she’d grown up.
“You can’t live this close to my home and I not know this place. Why don’t I remember?”
“It’s…”
“Complicated, so you’ve said.” Annie threw her hands up and rolled her eyes. “Well, un-complicate it for me. I have nothing but time.”
Rigas remained silent, his eyes never leaving hers.
Annie groaned and turned back to the window. Glancing down, she noticed for the first time a shiny golden telescope in front of the window pointed at the cottage. She could feel his stare upon her back. Anger crawled into her chest. How dare he watch her! “How long have you been watching Rigas?
What gives you the right?”
“The telescope is for you.” His voice tight, he crossed his arms across his chest. “It’s a gift to help you stay connected while you’re here. I thought you might want to spend time at the window.”
A spark of hope ignited in Annie’s chest. Did this mean she wouldn’t be locked away? Would he really allow her to view the family she longed for? If he allowed her to roam the house, could she escape? Annie rubbed her eyes in frustration. There were too many unknowns.
“Please let me go home.” Her sad eyes sought his, begged for release, this time it was he who turned away.
Annie returned to the window and bent to look through the telescope. The tan and blue den she knew so well came into view. The space cluttered but clean. The newspaper still lay on the soft beige sofa where her husband John always read it before he left for work. Everything else remained in place.
She looked into the bedroom—no one there either. Disappointed, she lifted her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Annie. Come. Let’s find you something to eat before I take you back to your room. We’ll check again later.”
Rigas leaned in the opened doorway and looked out into the beautiful garden, his hands shoved into the deep pockets of the black pants he wore. He thought about Annie. Her lost and fear filled eyes made him long to reach out and embrace the frightened child within. Brokenness didn’t scare him. It was a requirement, hope for a new beginning. Her walls today were high, but she’d
fought hard. It would be awhile before she let him in.
Annie’s dark chestnut hair swirled down around slender shoulders and fell into place with ease. Soft curls framed a heart-shaped face with beautiful, haunting eyes. Those wonderful expressive dark brown eyes reflected an overwhelming loneliness, so tangible, it could almost be touched. Oh how great it would be to see them sparkle with laughter again.
Her inner beauty captivated him, an allure so exquisite, it opened like a flower to the morning sun. A hidden softness so gentle, it called out every ounce of compassion he could give, yet so strong, even brokenness couldn’t stop her from telling him what she thought.
He couldn’t deny his love for Annie. She would always hold a special place in his heart. Annie didn’t know, but he watched, every day, and waited. His mind filled with beautiful memories of childhood mishaps, the sound of her laughter ringing through the school halls, her quirky little likes and dislikes. Memories brought joy and disappointment. He watched a life touch so many others, but she walked away each time not noticing he existed. It hurt, but it didn’t matter anymore. Deanna, damaged and shattered, had given him a treasure, the gift of Annie, her very own soul. The price paid in full, the contract signed.
Annie not only couldn’t remember anything about the promise made, but in her mind, she believed herself married to John Parker. Her loyalty toward Parker was stronger than it should be. She didn’t understand, couldn’t know at this point, but it was John’s wife, Deanna she should be concerned about.
Rigas shifted his weight. A twinge of regret fluttered through him for withholding his real
identity. It couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t afford to identify himself, not yet. She needed to figure it out
for herself, and fast. He had a promise to keep.
