The Sibylline Oracle (The Sibylline Trilogy) Read online

  “This isn’t exactly how I pictured this. But what could be better than here and now?”

  He crawled onto the bed facing her as the moonlight cast a romantic glow across the room. “Val, although I am an avid reader, I’m not much of a writer. I want to share something with you that I borrowed from Gretchen Kemp.” He cleared his throat. “‘There’s this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It’s the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me.’” Then he pressed her hand to his heart.

  Tears rimmed her eyes as she said softly, “It’s…beautiful, Alex!”

  He pulled up onto one knee in front of her. “My, oh so beautiful, Valeria...I have come to know over the eons that I am here for only one purpose—and that is to love you. Your beauty has bewitched me...but more the beauty of your soul thrills me. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”

  He opened the box, and Valeria gasped. The ring was a three-carat blue stone, wrapped in an intricate, platinum grapevine. “Oh, my God, Alex!”

  He slipped the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. She tried to find something to say, but no words could express the depth of what was in her heart.

  The stone seemed to capture a bit of light from the moon. “I found this stone 1,800 years ago in Southern Africa and it reminded me of you—breathtaking and one of a kind. I call it the Cassandra Crystal.”

  Still speechless, her eyes filled with wonder as she stared at Alex and then the ring and then back to Alex. Her voice was raw, and it faltered. “Alex, the color, it’s…extraordinary. It’s the color of your eyes.”

  “We call it oracle blue.” He placed his fingers gently on her chin and tilted up her face. “So, you haven’t answered my question.”

  Through her tears, she blushed. “Well…is there anyone up at the house tonight who might be a pastor?”

  “I’m afraid not,” he responded. “But if you say yes, I will find a pastor as soon as you’re ready!”

  “I am…” She laughed and hugged Alex. “I am so very much in love with you, Alex! I thought this kind of love was…a fairy tale. There is nothing I have ever wanted more in my life than I want to be married to you!”

  Alex jumped onto the floor and stood, picking Valeria up from the waist and spinning her around. They kissed and hugged and then curled up together in bed, wrapped soul to soul, and drifted into a blissful slumber.

  CHAPTER 20

  A shaft of early light broke through the branches of the evergreens and made its way through the bedroom window. Alex thought he was dreaming when he found Valeria still wrapped around him. It felt so natural…so right. Then he shifted and realized that something wasn’t quite right. He brushed her hair back and felt the heat. The fever! He kissed her face and was shocked how high the fever had already climbed.

  “Val?” he whispered.

  His heart skipped a beat when he heard her breathing; it was rough and labored. Alex gently tried to wake her again, panic filling his voice. “Val?” Moaning softly, her head rolled to the side as she coughed and convulsed, before finally opening her eyes.

  “Hey, handsome.” She attempted to smile but turned and coughed instead. She thought of telling him of the aching in her back and joints, but realized there was no reason to worry him further.

  Wearing only his slacks from the night before, he went to the kitchen and brought her an orange juice. She tried to take a sip but started coughing again. She leaned back in the bed and started to shiver, moving her legs as if they were in pain.

  Alex watched helplessly. “Do you want the morphine now?”

  “Um, no. I don’t want to sleep too much.” These might be her last hours with him. She wasn’t going to sleep through the precious time they had left if she could help it.

  There was a knock at the door. Alex threw on a T-shirt and found Ava, Camille, and Daphne at his doorstep. “She’s sick,” he choked.

  “We know. We’re here to help Val get ready.” Camille brushed Alex’s face as she came in.

  “She’s going to be fine, honey.” Ava gave Alex a sympathetic hug. “You go get your shower and we’ll take care of Val.”

  Seeing that Alex was distraught, Daphne hugged him lightly, uncomfortable with the emotion. “Alex, I know I haven’t been very kind to her…I’m sorry. I brought her my wool hat and gloves.” He nodded, unable to speak.

  All three women went into the bedroom. Daphne brushed Valeria’s hair while Ava brought her a bowl so that she could wash her face and brush her teeth. Camille helped her dress.

  “Alex,” Camille added as they were leaving. “I have a good feeling about this.”

  Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, he went to the bed and pulled Valeria into his arms. “Well, beautiful, are you ready?” She reached up and put her arms around his neck. He lifted her easily and carried her outside. It was a drab morning. The sky was gray and mist laced through the forest. Alex noted that the temperature was cooler than it had been. The family was waiting out by the car. Lars opened the passenger door for Valeria and Alex set her down on the seat.

  Mani went through the checklist with Alex to ensure they had all the necessary supplies and that Alex understood his instructions. He hugged each of them as if to say good-bye.

  Pulling Alex aside, Ava said, “The catamaran is loaded with wool blankets, sweaters, and the medical equipment you’ll need. There are also bags of ice in case you need them. Make sure she wears the wool while she’s in the water. Also, remember to keep some of the blankets dry for when she comes out.”

  Ava glanced at Valeria. “Don’t worry about the sails…you’ll be fine. You have plenty of time so take her nice and easy, especially getting out of the marina. I wish I could loan you my crew, but with the plague and….” Glancing at Lars, Ava said, “I wish I could be there for you.”

  “I know. It’s just too dangerous with Aegemon.”

  She hugged him. “Love you, honey.” She patted Alex’s face again. “Be safe.”

  Daphne brought out another blanket and handed it to Alex. Valeria was dozing in the car as he leaned her seat back and wrapped the blanket around her. She opened her eyes. “Do you want anything to eat or drink?” he asked.

  She smiled weakly and signaled for him to come close. She whispered in his ear, “Coffee.” He kissed her and handed her a carrying cup of coffee that he had made her earlier. She took a few sips and sighed before closing her eyes again.

  Alex pulled out onto the highway. “I want to put some music on to soothe you.” It was a challenge as his mood had a narrow tolerance, particularly today. He knew that she was a Puccini fan. And although his music was breathtaking, it was too tragic and too close to his reality today. “Instrumental alright?” he asked, trying to sound off-hand.

  Keeping her eyes closed, she nodded. She didn’t really care what was playing. He would hear the coughs, she couldn’t hide that. But she did want to hide her pain-filled moans, which seemed uncontrollable, and her breathing, which was getting raspy.

  They wound down the highway with the sun rising above the Adriatic Sea. The weather felt like early winter instead of fall. Alex followed the directions to the marina where he could see St. Marks to the west. He hoped that someday he would have the chance to share Venice with Valeria. For now, she was sleeping. Her fever was at 103°.

  “We’re here, beautiful,” he said, touching her shoulder. “I’m going to load some supplies before I bring you out to the boat. Alright?” Valeria nodded weakly. “I’ll be back in no more than five minutes.”

  Alex hated leaving her alone. He forced himself to close her door and walked into the marina where the Mariah was docked. The temperature on the water was even cooler. The catamaran was just where Ava had said it would be. Alex went below into the cabin and cranked on the heat. He pulled down the wool covers on the bed and noticed that there was an electric blanket for him to cover Valeria with afterward. He hoped there would be an opportunity to use
it, but he was doubtful. He walked quickly back to the car.

  Forcing a smile on his face, Alex said, “Are you ready for our next adventure?”

  Valeria opened her eyes, her lids heavy. “Anywhere, as long as I’m with you.” Then she slipped back into her restless sleep. He wrapped her from head to toe with the blanket and lifted her from the car. Stepping onto the boat, Alex brought her down to the cabin, laying her gently on the bed.

  She saw that there was an electric blanket. “Can you turn it on?” she asked, shivering violently. “I can’t get warm.”

  Doubting that he could do anything to soothe her chills, he said, “Let me check your temperature. If we can get it down a bit…” He stopped talking so that she didn’t hear the concern in his voice.

  The thermometer read 102°. Not good.

  Stroking her forehead, Alex said, “I’m sorry, beautiful. I can’t turn on the electric blanket. Your fever is too high.” Valeria shivered helplessly. “Morphine yet?” he asked.

  She shook her head no.

  “How about Tylenol?” Alex brought Valeria some water and pills. She took a small drink of water. “Val, can you drink a little more water?” As she turned her head away, he pleaded, “Beautiful, it’s important that we keep you hydrated.” She forced herself to drink the cold water. Soon she was back to sleep. Alex unhooked the ropes and pushed off as he raised the sail. He had not sailed anything other than a small, single-sail dinghy in thousands of years. He remembered Ava’s joke that it would be like riding a bike. It wasn’t.

  Navigating through the slips, Alex followed the waterway that would eventually grant him access to the sea if he didn’t put the Mariah on the rocks first. A large boat passed them and the Mariah suddenly made a sharp turn out of his control, just missing another boat.

  Alex had to turn the boat around and try it again. It was all he could do just to get them safely out of the marina. He faced a mass of waterways where ships moved and it was intimidating. But finally, he was out in open water with a view of Venice behind him.

  Following a mile off from the shoreline, Alex watched for the familiar inlet and looked at his GPS that identified it as the precise location. He looked at his watch. Valeria didn’t need to be in the water for another twenty minutes. With the Tylenol, her temperature was still 102°. He gave her room temperature broth. She drank it, but Alex was certain that it was only to appease him. He held her close and tried to settle her shivers. He also wanted to feel her in his arms one more time before he had to leave her alone in the sea—fearing he would never again feel life in her. Then he shook his head in an attempt to block that thought.

  As the time drew near, Valeria coughed and blood splattered all over her and Alex. She shook her head in horror. He used a cloth to clean them both before kissing Valeria gently on the forehead.

  “It’s time. I’d like to go ahead and give you a shot of morphine now,” Alex said grimly. Valeria didn’t answer. He took out the syringe and injected her hip. Then he placed the wool cap on her head and pushed her curls under it. He put the wool mittens and socks on her. Val relaxed and was either unconscious or sleeping. At least she no longer seemed uncomfortable. He prayed that she didn’t feel the pain of the cold water as he wrapped her in the heavy wool blankets and lifted her body.

  Alex could hardly see through his tears as he carried her onto the deck. Stepping cautiously onto the netting, he laid her in the harness that Lars and Ava had designed. He tied all four of the straps that would keep the blankets around her and reduce the water flow. It would have been easier with Velcro but, for some reason, Ava and Mani thought this was better. Alex lifted Valeria so he could place her into the portion of netting that was in the water. As he stepped to seat her in the cradle of the net, a wave came up and the boat lunged, causing him to lose his footing and drop her. Valeria hit the water hard and gave a loud cry. When he raced down the netting and into the cold water, his foot went through and he fell on top of her. Fortunately, Valeria was wrapped so heavily in blankets that he hadn’t hurt her.

  Alex sat and sobbed with her in his arms before he moved her back into position. She moaned but didn’t wake—the morphine had helped! He hooked the harness to the netting and forced himself to leave her there. Then he sat next to her, free of the ice-cold water, with his hand on her only exposed part…her face.

  Minutes later her shivers intensified. It was more than he thought he could bear. He imagined what it would be like to have the three hours over. He imagined her alive and smiling. He glanced at his watch for the third time since she had been in the water. It had only been ten minutes.

  He wondered how he could survive this for three hours. Then he noticed that her skin no longer felt hot, but actually cool. Another wave hit her face and she began to choke. Alex was helpless to watch it all. He was supposed to take her temperature every twenty minutes. But he took it every ten to have something to do. The cold water had reduced her fever to 99°.

  She opened her eyes slightly, shivering furiously. “Uh,” she tried to move her arms out of the water but because she was wrapped so tightly she couldn’t move them. She coughed and it sounded as if her lungs might tear with the pressure.

  Alex leaned down so that he could hear her better. “Yes, beautiful. What do you want? A drink?”

  “Morphine.”

  It would be another hour before he could give her more. But he couldn’t tell her no. He choked before answering, “I’m going to check with Mani, okay?” She nodded.

  He hated to leave her but he needed to hear Mani’s assurance that she would be all right. Alex thought that perhaps he could give her more now and it would ease her suffering. He called on the radio and heard a response.

  “How is everything going?” Ava asked through the static.

  Alex choked back a sob. “Oh. It’s…” He didn’t know what to say but the truth. “It’s not good.”

  Mani came on. “Alex, what’s her temperature?”

  “Down from 103° to 99° on the last check. Mani she’s shaking really bad.” His voice quivered.

  “Alex, listen to me. The shaking is good. It means her body is fighting. And her temperature is good. Can you add more blankets? We don’t want it dropping much more.”

  “I’ve used all the blankets, except the ones I’ll need when this is done.”

  “Alright.” There was a long pause. “Well, alright.”

  Noticing Mani’s withheld communication, Alex responded, “She wants more morphine.”

  There was a silence. “Alex, more morphine right now could kill her.” There was another silence. “But the cold will give her some pain relief.”

  Alex’s body wracked with sobs for a moment. He tried to get control of himself. Finally, he said, “I have to get back out there with her. I’ll let you know when we’re safe.”

  As he stepped onto the deck, he watched as a large wave crashed over her. He ran to move her face and adjust the netting. She coughed up more blood.

  “I’m sorry, Val! I’m so sorry!”

  Her temperature had dropped to 97°. She still had an hour and a half to go. Alex crawled in the water with her. The biting cold shocked his body and despite his intention, he found himself almost jumping back out. He forced himself to stay in the water as he unwrapped the blankets from around Valeria. She moaned and coughed but was unconscious. Then he held her close to him and wrapped the blankets back around them both. He shouldn’t have given her the Tylenol, he thought, angry with himself. The cold water caused him to start shivering and he could feel his hands begin to go numb. Within a short time he realized that although it made him feel better to be near her, in the end it just put them both at risk if he had no strength left when Aegemon showed up. Alex pulled them both out of the water—surely a few minutes would be all right.

  Valeria responded to his closeness by moving her head against his neck. He knew he couldn’t keep her out of the water but her temperature was dangerously low. Pushing her legs back into the cold water,
he held her body next to his for five minutes, feeling the warmth flooding back into her chest and limbs. Her temperature went back up to 99°. Then, with a shudder, he moved her back to the harness and lowered her. It was an action close to cutting off his own arm.

  Suddenly, Valeria’s shivering stopped and her eyes opened wide in horror. “Dad, no! Don’t go in there. There’s spiders—the spiders!”

  Mani had warned Alex that Valeria might hallucinate. But it was a shock to hear her like this. Still, the time was finally coming to an end. Maybe Ava was wrong and Aegemon wouldn’t show up. Maybe he had finally died. Maybe there was no more curse. Maybe they could survive this.

  Alex went below and nuked some broth. He took it back knowing she was most likely still unconscious. Looking at his watch, relief ran through him when he saw that there were only fifteen minutes left before he could pull her out of the water. He could treat her as soon as Aegemon showed. Alex took her temperature one last time, 96°. Her temperature couldn’t drop any lower or she wouldn’t survive. There were only fourteen minutes left.

  Unhooking her from the harness, Alex crawled back into the cold water with her. Valeria let out a loud moan. She felt so cold.

  “Boat approaching!” came Lars’ frantic call over the radio. They had installed radar on top of the mast so that the family could watch out for Aegemon.

  There was no time to hook Valeria back into the harness. He had to get the antibiotic. As he worked to get at least one of the hooks tied, he shook his head, angry with himself. Why had he unhooked her when they were so close to the three hours ending? The boat was approaching fast but Valeria had to have the shot. Then Alex ran to get the antibiotic.

  When he returned, he sensed that something didn’t look right about her position in the harness. To his horror, he saw that her head had turned and was underwater. He climbed into the water with her and turned her head. She wasn’t breathing and her lips were blue. A cry escaped from him as he began to breathe into her mouth. Nothing happened. Pulling the blanket back, he placed his ear on her chest; her heart was still beating, but weakly. He breathed into her again. He had to be sure it was Aegemon before giving her the shot. How could he take the time to do that, he wondered.