“Toemeka, hurry,” Erlingsaid. “We’ve got to get out of here fast. Soldiers are coming.”
She looked up and saw Jakeleading everyone into the woods. Erling grabbed her hand and they ranafter the others. Before long they caught up with Najetta andRichwood. Richwood had his arm around his wife, helping her along. Itwas getting dark and increasingly difficult to see, but Jake neverpaused as he led them down a path. They came to a narrow footbridgethat crossed a river and came to a stop.
“I’ll go first to ensure it’snot guarded,” Jake said.
“I’ll come with,” Onolynsaid.
Jake and Onolyn pulled out theirblasters and moved quickly across, then signaled to the others thatit was safe.
“Toemeka, keep guard,” Erlingsaid. “I’ll get my family across.”
“I lost my blaster when thetruck turned over,” she said.
He handed her his blaster, thenled his mother across the bridge. His father and Zac followed, thenSharma and Breezy started across.
They were halfway across when aspotlight shone on them. A voice yelled over a loud speaker, “Freezeor we’ll open fire.” The two young women froze.
“Don’t shoot!” Richwoodyelled. He ran back onto the bridge and put his arms around hisdaughters.
Toemeka ducked into the bushes.Soldiers ran past her onto the bridge. More soldiers and theircommanding officer appeared moments later, approaching the bridge.When the officer came to a stop a few feet from her, his face becamevisible and she stifled a gasp, not daring to move.
He turned toward her and raisedhis blaster. Her heart stopped as their eyes met.
“Cadmus!” she said in achoked whisper.
“Drop your blaster and come outwith your hands up.”
She dropped it, then raised herhands in the air and stepped out of the bushes. “Let them go.They’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Why should I let them go? I’vebeen ordered to put down the Resistance.” He pulled handcuffs offhis gun belt and clapped them around her wrists with her arms infront of her.
“I’ll exchange my freedom fortheirs.”
He grabbed her arm and jerked herto him. “I’ve already captured you.”
“I won’t try to escapeagain,” she said, although the promise sickened her.
The soldiers brought Richwood andhis daughters over. “Release them,” Cadmus said. His eyes drilledinto Richwood’s. “You have five minutes to get out of here beforeI order my men to start shooting.”
“What about Toemeka?”Richwood asked.
“She stays.”
“I won’t sacrifice her.”
“I’ll order my men to shootall of you right now if you don’t get out of here.”
“Go, Richwood,” Toemekapleaded. “Get Breezy and Sharma out of here.”
“Come on, Father,” Breezyurged. “Let’s go while we still have a chance.”
Richwood gave Toemeka one lastpain-filled look, then left with his daughters. They crossed thebridge and disappeared into the darkness beyond. Toemeka stared afterthem, relieved they’d escaped despite her own predicament. Shehadn’t been able to save her family, but she’d succeeded insaving her adopted family.
“Someone is on the bridge,”one of the soldiers yelled.
Toemeka saw a flash of blond hairin the moonlight and knew it was Erling coming back to help her.
“Go back!” she yelled, afraidhe’d be shot.
“Kill him,” Cadmus ordered.His soldiers started firing.
Erling dropped over the side ofthe bridge into the raging river.
Toemeka’s felt the world closein on her. Had Erling been shot? MasterBakka, don’t let him die,she pleaded inwardly.
“Follow them,” Cadmus orderedhis men. “Keep out of sight; they’ll lead us to their base.”
“Cadmus, you promised to givethem five minutes,” Toemeka exclaimed as the soldiers headed acrossthe bridge.
“Did you really think I’d letthem go just because you promised not to escape? You’re mine to dowith as I choose, regardless of what happens to them. This wholesetup was a trap. I ordered the Fenians executed to draw you andErling to Alandra and wipe out the rest of the Resistance. I feltyour presence as soon as you arrived in Jelmur.”
Toemeka stared at him in horror,realizing her decision to join the mission could lead to the wholerebel army being destroyed. “Please let Erling’s family go,”she gasped.
“You think you can ask forfavors after running away from me? I treated you well and gave youwhatever you wanted.”
“You beat me with a belt,drugged me, intimidated me, and used sorcery to control me. How canyou call that treating me well?”
Cadmus’ expression darkened. “Iwaited for you to get well rather than forcing myself on you.”
“You think that’s a kindnesswhen you were the one who fractured my ribs?”
“I tried to win your affection,but you were always too good for me. Today you’ll be mine and ifyou don’t please me, I’ll degrade and humiliate you. I’ll castyou to my men and let them abuse you until you’ll wish you weredead.”
“You have no heart — nofeelings. I hate you.”
Cadmus grabbed her arms and shookher. “That’s right. I have no heart, so you’d bettercooperate.” A blast of negative psychic energy poured from him,seeping into her mind and emotions. She swayed, knowing hertrepidation made her vulnerable.
“You won’t escape again.”
Toemeka focused on her love forMichio. Helpme, Michio. Give me your strength,she cried as she inwardly battled Cadmus and forced back his negativeenergy.
Finally Cadmus withdrew his innerassault. He studied her thoughtfully. “You’ve grown in strength.You’ll be a powerful enchantress someday.”
“I’ll never be anenchantress.”
“Anyone’s love can be turnedto power, given the right incentive. I’m sure you wouldn’thesitate to use power to protect your baby.”
A chill rolled through her. Washe indirectly threatening her baby?
“I wouldn’t hesitate to use aweapon if you threaten Baymond, but I wouldn’t use black magic.”
***
From the cockpit of his ship,Michio heard Toemeka inwardly cry for help. It was so intense andfull of terror that it shocked him. The inner contact was gone asquickly as it came, leaving him shaken. She was in Cadmus’ hands!How had it happened? Adrenaline surged through him and his whole bodytensed.
He took several calming breathsto stay in balance and focused on his love for Master Bakka. He letgo of his trepidation for Toemeka and let the shimmer stream of Lightflow through him. It washed away his mind-numbing terror.
Master Jadock manifested in thecopilot seat. “You’re doing better this time,” he said.
“Dealing with my wife’scapture?” Michio asked, surprised to
