“Father? What is that?”
“It’s a syringe of the high-dose memory suppressor,” Father Gabriel said, as if he were discussing a glass of water.
“Why?” Panic infiltrated my words as I remembered Sara’s reasoning for not resuming her medications. “She hasn’t gotten her memory back!” I took a deep breath, still keeping Elijah at bay. “Father, she knows your word. If you allow this, she’ll have to relearn it all. She studied hard, well enough that she counsels other females. She’s been doing your work. Why take that all away from her?”
“Don’t you see?” Father Gabriel asked. “With no memory of the Northern Light or what she’s seen here, she can be reassigned. I can’t allow her to go back and tell others of what she’s seen.”
Reassigned?
“She won’t! I haven’t. You know I haven’t. Sara may be strong-willed, but she’s obedient. She won’t disappoint you or me. And what will that drug do to our baby?”
“Brother, you said she stopped the medication of her own volition. You said you didn’t authorize a child. Besides, she can’t be reassigned if she’s pregnant.”
“I said I didn’t authorize it, not that I didn’t want it. Father”—my voice held more emotion than I wanted—“don’t punish Sara and our child for my indiscretions. I’ll do whatever you want. Please let my wife go back with us to the Northern Light.”
Father Gabriel waved Elijah away and looked at Richards.
“No medicine, not yet,” Richards said, looking directly at his uncle. “Obviously she doesn’t have her memory. Fuck! She called me Brother.” He turned back toward the window. “I don’t understand how the hell it all works. Will I ever get Stella back?”
“You gave her away,” I repeated for the millionth time.
He spun toward me and through clenched jaws sneered, “I saved her fucking life!”
“Enough!” Father Gabriel commanded. “I will not tolerate any more of this debate.” He waved his hand toward Elijah. “Take her.”
“Father—” I said, once again blocking Elijah’s way.
“Brother Jacob, if you do not step aside at this moment, I’ll be in need of a new pilot, and my nephew’s efforts will have been for naught. I’m tired of this. A female is not worth this much trouble.”
Yes, Sara is.
“You gave her to me. May I say good-bye?” I couldn’t stop the tears now descending my cheeks.
He nodded. “Be quick about it. You may carry her to where she’ll stay. Dylan will show you the way.”
Richards’s shoulders drooped, but he didn’t argue or turn back around.
My body trembled as I turned and looked down at Sara. Her cheeks were coated in tears, though she’d managed to keep her emotions unheard. Hell, I didn’t know whether she had or not. If she’d made noise, we’d made more. However, even Elijah seemed unaware that Sara had been listening. Once I had her in my arms, I turned back to Father Gabriel. “I promise I’ll do all you ask. I’ve devoted myself to The Light and you. Father, I’m asking you to please keep her alive and safe. Please, after I’ve given you the envelope and earned back your trust, let me have her back. I’ll be the perfect follower, Assemblyman, and pilot. I’ll do anything you ask.”
Father Gabriel stood, put his hands on the desk, and leaned forward. “Brother, because of your past performance and not based on anything you’ve said today, I’ll reconsider my decision after I see results. In the meantime she’ll stay alive.”
I exhaled.
“However,” he continued, “this female has caused me more problems than any who’ve been granted the same privilege. If the time comes to grant you your plea, be warned, you may not like what you find.”
What the fuck?
“Me,” I tried one more time. “Me, correct me. None of this is her fault.”
I couldn’t see Richards’s face, as he was still peering out the window. Though his voice was low, I heard every word. “It’s all her fault. If she’d only listened.”
I wasn’t supposed to understand, yet I did, and the clarity his words provided sent a chill down my spine.
“Dylan,” Father Gabriel demanded, “show Brother Jacob to Sara’s new room. Hurry, I have a plane to catch and I need a pilot.”
I turned away, unable to look at Father Gabriel a second longer. I’d crash the damn plane if I thought it would save her.
As Elijah opened the door, I looked directly into his dark eyes. Instead of meeting mine, his gaze dropped to the floor. We were Assemblymen. It was a fucking brotherhood, and yet here he was, holding the damn knife as Father Gabriel twisted. Richards remained quiet as I followed him down the hallway past an archway that led to a large kitchen. I didn’t pay any attention, but noticed women in the kitchen, all wearing the same white dress as the woman I’d seen by the door. Finally we came to another door.
When Richards opened it, he hit a light switch and said, “Watch your step.”