The Bodywoman - Chapter 20

Ben's sister glares at Sarah with unchecked malice, casting a gray aura around herself. Ben, oblivious to the undertone of evil permeating the air, rushes forward and grabs Gareth in a bear hug. Ben turns to Anne and extends his hand. Anne glances at his hand, straightens her shoulders and turns away. Sarah snaps her mouth shut to prevent the words on the tip of her tongue to tumble out. It is hard to imagine the two are siblings.

"Miss Fisher, I'm glad to see you managed to keep my son in one piece. Judging from his stiff shoulder, you had quite a struggle to do so." Gareth puts his arm around Sarah's shoulder and squeezes lightly. She opens her shield and allows him access, but immediately feels the darkness rally to gain entrance as well. Shaking her head, she shuts the shield tight again.

"Not too much trouble, though. He's still breathing despite his stubbornness." She walks out of the embrace and turn towards the bedrooms. "I'll make sure the staff prepared the rooms and see to dinner."

"I'm sure housekeeping duties are not part of your contract with my father. You just do what you do best, which seems to be very little, and I'll see to my family's needs."

Anne brushes past Sarah and rushes to the kitchen. Sarah shrugs and sinks down in the plush folds of the sofa. She kicks off her shoes, pulls her legs under her and pats the seat next to her.

"Ben, why don't you sit next to me so I can make sure I do my job properly?"
Gareth doesn't try to hide the grin spreading over his face as Ben sits down nearly on top of Sarah. Seeing them together, Sarah is amazed at how much they look alike. Gareth perches on the armrest next to Sarah and whispers in her ear.

"Looks like he would like to return the favor."

Before Sarah can respond, Anne returns with a tray laden with coffee already made, although she never asked Sarah how she likes the coffee. Only three cups and plates with biscuits occupy the tray and Gareth frowns.

"Aren't you joining us, Anne?"

"I am, but I'm sure Sarah has other things to do." Anne hands the men a plate each and places the tray within everyone's reach.

Sarah bristles at the dismissal, but her mind races. Why would Anne want her out of the room? What is she planning? Moreover, why does Sarah feel the dark forces are originating with Anne?

She swings her legs from the sofa and starts to get up, but Gareth gently presses her down. "Please stay, Sarah. My daughter seems to have forgotten her manners and will rectify the situation immediately, won't you Anne?"

Anne compresses her lips and glares at Sarah for a few seconds, but she nods, walks out and returns moments later with another cup and plate.

Ben clears his throat. "So Dad, why are you a day early? I thought you were only arriving tomorrow?" Ann frowns and Ben continues quickly." Not that I mind, but I would like to have fetched you myself."

"Anne managed to get us an earlier flight and we thought we would surprise you." Gareth rises from the armrest and paces the room. "Besides, I'm nervous about the opening in two days."

Clearly, Gareth is worried about more than the logistics of the opening of the factory. Why is he keeping it from Anne? She obviously knows Sarah was hired to protect Ben, so why keep secrets from her now. Sarah makes a mental note to ask Gareth about it when they are alone again.

The conversation never gains momentum during the course of the evening and by ten, Gareth departs to his room. Sarah stows away the dirty mugs in the dishwasher, turns off the light and walks to her room. She stops in the doorway as Anne is sprawled out on the bed. The room whirls with a force so severe it arrests Sarah's breath in her throat.

"I'll just get my things and leave you to rest." Sarah grabs her overnight bag, stuffs the necessary items inside and makes her way to Ben's room. No one answers her soft knock and she carefully turns the knob. The shower runs and Ben's clothes are strewn on a chair next to the bathroom door. She perches on the edge of the bed and waits for Ben.

The forces battling against each other must be those of Gareth and Anne, which means Gareth must be aware of Anne's dark side. Anne made no secret of her aversion to Ben and Sarah cringes at the thought of living under the same roof as the woman for a couple of days.

A hand touches her shoulder and Sarah jumps. Ben's eyes crinkle at the corners and he openly displays his pleasure at finding her in his room.

"Don't get any ideas. Anne took over my room and with the battle of forces inside the apartment, I think it is best if I keep a close watch over you tonight."

"Hmm, I wouldn't mind a really close watch, but something tells me you have other things on your mind."

Ben drops his hand from her shoulder, takes clothes from the closet and walks back to the bathroom. Moments later he returns fully dressed.

"Bathroom's all yours." He pulls back the covers of the bed and slides his long legs between the sheets.

Sarah averts her eyes when Ben's grin turns into a chuckle. Damn, she doesn't have time for this now. She swings around, grabs her overnight case and heads to the bathroom. Her instincts scream at her not to let Ben out of her sight for even a second, and she showers in record time. Returning to the bedroom, Ben is popped up against the pillows with a book resting on his chest.

She pulls the chair closer to the bed and throws the clothes on the floor. Leaning forward until she almost touches Ben, she whispers to him.
"Ben, why does Anne hate you so much?"

Ben seems taken aback at first, but by his frown, Sarah can see he considers the question. He sighs, drops the book on the nightstand and turns toward her.

"I don't know. We got along well enough as children, but with her being so much older than I am, we never really had much contact. The last couple of years I sensed a change in her attitude, but until today, she never openly showed her dislike. She always was a firm believer in good manners and treating others with respect, so I don't know where this is coming from."

"What would she gain by killing you?"

Ben inhales sharply. "You're not thinking she might have something to do with the attacks, are you? She wasn't even here. How would she know where I was? No one knew about the trip in the desert except for you and Alicia."

"You haven't answered my question." Sarah says softly.

"I suppose she would inherit my share from Gareth, but she has her own fortune and money couldn't be the reason. She can't use my company as she has one of her own pharmaceutical companies, which by the way is doing extremely well in Europe. No, you're on the wrong track here. Just because she doesn't like me, doesn't mean she would want to kill me."

Sarah nods. "Fair enough, but what do you know about her personal life?"

Ben answers immediately."Nothing much. She's not married as far as I know and I haven't heard about any special man in her life." Ben stifles a yawn and pulls the duvet over his shoulders.

"Look, I've had a long day. Why don't we continue this in the morning? Come, get in." He throws back the covers on the other side of the bed.

"I'll sleep in the chair. One more thing..."

"Yes?"

"I want to meet Alicia tomorrow. She's been avoiding me for some reason and I want to know why."

Ben nods. "All right. Sure about the chair?"

"Yes, goodnight Ben."

Ben holds her eyes for a couple of seconds, shrugs and turns around, pulling the covers over his shoulders. Sarah boots her laptop and settles in for the night. The cold darkness hovers around the door and sheer will keeps it at bay. She shudders to think what would happen should she lower her guard.

Once during the night she found herself nearly dozing off, but the evil forces woke her soon enough. Pacing the room, she shivers in the morning chill, rubbing her arms to gain some warmth. By four, she pries open the door and tiptoes to the kitchen. She fills the kettle and pours two teaspoons of instant coffee into a mug.

The rustle of clothes alerts her to another presence in the kitchen and she swings around, ready to fend off an attack. Gareth places his finger over his lips and shuffles closer to her.

"We need to talk...privately." He whispers.

She nods, lifts the mug and pours them both some coffee. The chairs make little noise as Sarah and Gareth sink down into them and huddle together over the table, their heads inched apart.

"I think I know who is in part responsible for the attacks on Ben, but I can't figure out why." Sarah whispers close to Gareth's ear. "With the opening later today, I don't know how to keep him safe. There are powerful forces working against us, and although we managed to keep them at bay, the forces appear to gain momentum and grow stronger. Since yesterday, I've had trouble just keeping Ben out of the line of fire."

Gareth grabs Sarah's hand resting on the table and squeezes gently. Energy courses through the connection and startled, she tries to pull her hand away, but Gareth tightens the grip. Her hair rises from her scalp and tiny sparks light the ends, forming a halo around her head. Strange sensations rip through her body and desperate, Sarah jerks her hand away with all her might. Gareth leans halfway across the table, but doesn't let go of her hand.

"Take it Sarah. Don't fight it - keep it safe for my son."

Sarah stops fighting and allows the sensations to wash over her. Her mind races with new information and her body seems to float in midair. Suddenly the energy wave disappears and her hand is free. Gareth slides from the chair and Sarah catches him just before he hits the floor. She gathers him in her arms and without thinking, carries him to the couch.

His face is ashen and his eyes burn into hers. "Why did you to that? Why did you transfer all you power to me?" Her urgent whisper is followed by a sharp intake of breath. Sarah's head snaps around and her eyes seek those of Ben.

"You need it to protect my son. Now, they will come after you, not him. You can handle it, Ben can't...not yet. Teach him well, I don't have enough time left." Gareth closes his eyes and lies back against the cushions. Exhaustion deepens the lines next to his mouth and his breath is shallow gasps.

Ben falls to his knees in front of the couch and takes Gareth's hand in his. Sarah blames the shine in his eyes to the light from the hallway spilling into the room.

"Dad, what have you done?" Ben moans.

"Something I should have done a long time ago. Don't worry, I'll be all right in a couple of minutes. Just let me rest for a while. Go, get dressed. You have a big day today." Gareth waves Ben away with his hand while his other hand clutches Sarah's.

Sarah nods at Ben's inquisitive look and waits for him to leave the room. "You want to tell me what that was about? We both know you won't see the end of the day."

Gareth sighs. "We do, but he doesn't...and I don't want him to know. I have enough left to get through the day, maybe some in reserve. You, however, will be on your own now. I kept her forces at bay as good I can, but I'm afraid you'll have to protect me and Ben now."

"Why is she doing this? What can she gain?"

"I don't know. She has enough power of her own and her wealth exceeds Ben's." Gareth shakes his head. "I just don't know."

The day starts to break and Sarah helps Gareth to his feet. She lets him lean on her as they walk to his room. As she pulls the covers over his frail body, he whispers. "Please, don't be afraid to use what I gave you."
"I won't. Rest now."

Cold forces swirl around her as she closes the door behind her. Another door bangs shut and Sarah jumps. It sounded like the front door. She hurries to Ben's room and finds him fastening the belt on his trousers. He is barefoot, shirtless with hair still damp from the shower. She ignores the flames his bare torso ignites and barks at him.

"Whatever you hear, whatever happens, lock the door and don't come out. I'll fetch you when it's safe."

The darkness smothers her while she waits for Ben to turn the key in the lock. Satisfied she inhales, centers herself and strides to the living room. The evil force thickens as she comes closer to the room and she sends a prayer to the Powers above to give her the wisdom she will need.

Three pairs of eyes bore into her as she enters the room. Anthony, Anne and if she is not mistaken, Alicia...undoubtedly Anne's daughter glare at her. They join hands and the room spins around Sarah.

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Please tell me what you think about the book so far. This is the second last chapter and the last one should follow in two or three days - that is if you still want to know what happens?