The Necklace Page 9

  “Why?” she cried aloud. “Why is this happening?”

  There were no answers, and she sobbed harder, shamed by her lack of control.

  Alone, hunched and doubled over, Marissa let loose the frustration she had felt for a lifetime.

  She cried for her mother, whose fear and doubt had carried to her life. She cried for herself, and the changes plaguing her body. But most of all, she cried for Nyla. The poor, defenseless creature had no chance against the forces unleashed.

  For several long moments, Marissa sat immobile.

  The soothing breeze eased into her, ruffling her clothes. Inhaling a deep draft of air, gradually a sense of quiet stole through her.

  Shakily rising, she walked toward a nearby bench.

  Exhausted, Marissa sat down, stretching her legs out in front of her. Leaning back against the cool concrete seat, she rotated her shoulders to ease the tension, her head tipping back to gaze at the sky.

  The horizon blazed brilliant amber, as the sun flamed over the Pacific Ocean. In the distance she could hear the sounds of crashing waves, smell the crispness of the ocean.

  Marissa closed her eyes, a weary sort of peace flowing through her body. Fatigue followed next and suddenly she felt unbelievably calm.

  “Marissa, are you okay?”

  Startled, she turned and greeted an ashen-looking Jon, his clothes rumpled. A prominent five o’clock shadow covered his jaw. “Shannon called me. She was worried about you.”

  Marissa shook her head. “What happened, Jon? How did it come to this?”

  He sighed, before taking a seat next to her. “I sold my soul to the devil and got my just rewards. It’s what happens when you let greed and fame take over. But, right now, my concern is for you and how you’re holding up.”

  Marissa lowered her eyes, afraid to let him see her fear. “Not very well. I don’t know if I can handle this.”

  “You can handle it. You’re strong. You’ve always been strong.” Jon chuckled, and Marissa looked up to peer at his hazel-green eyes. “You know your mother always worried about you. It used to keep her awake at night. Sarah feared the direction you would take. But you’ve always blazed your own trials.”

  Marissa cast her eyes down, staring at the blades of grass swaying in the wind. She didn’t remember being adventurous. She remembered being afraid and constantly challenged by the differences hounding her life. If she blazed new paths it was purely out of necessity.

  Jon gently twisted her face till she looked at him, his eyes flashing with concern. “Now, will you tell me what’s really bothering you?”

  Marissa scowled, slowly pulling away from his grasp to stand on her feet. A swell of emotion threatened to buckle her knees and she hurriedly sat back down.

  “Something’s happening to me, Jon,” she rushed, afraid if she hesitated she’d never get the words past her lips.

  “Tell me,” he said, his entire body coming to a halted attention.

  Marissa took a breath, let it out, and struggled to find the words.

  “It started after that first night aboard the Suzy. I started having these weird spells. One moment I’d be hot, and then seconds later I’d be really cold. When the migraines started, I thought I was sick with the flu or something, but … I can’t explain it. I didn’t feel sick.”

  “Don’t stop, Marissa,” John urged. “Keep going.”

  Marissa closed her eyes, pushing away the demons haunting her mind. “A few days later, the headaches went away and I felt fine. But then my skin became really sensitive, like it was dry and cracking.” She opened her eyes, rubbing a hand across her arm. “I tried putting lotion on, but it made me break out in a rash. I couldn’t even use soap. The only thing that helped was really cold showers.”

  “Why didn’t you come to me then, Marissa?” John interrupted.

  “Because I knew you would make me go home,” she sighed.

  Jon shook his head, glaring at her. “You still should have told me.”

  “I didn’t want to go, Jon.” Marissa exhaled nosily. “I wanted—needed to be out there.”

  “Did anything else happen?” At her continued silence, he prompted, “I can’t help you if I don’t know the truth.”

  Truth. The word echoed in Marissa’s mind and Tylan’s accusation rang loudly.

  You’re the one who finds all these convenient ways to push the truth away.

  Quieting the noise in her head, Marissa stood up and walked toward a nearby tree. Laying a hand on the rough bark, she reluctantly continued, determined to finally face the facts.

  “I begin to shower five or six times a day. It was the only thing that stopped my skin from burning. It was like I had to feel the water against me.”

  Marissa scratched her nails against the trunk of the tree, lodging splinters and bits of bark. She welcomed the pain shooting from her fingertips, though. It helped to distract her mind.

  “I then began to notice a strange odor to my clothes and skin. It permeated my body—even my hair smelled. It’s sort of gone away since we’ve been back, but I can still smell it.”

  Marissa inhaled a deep breath, struggling to continue. The faint odor lingered in her nostrils.

  What she had to tell Jon next sounded crazier than the story she'd just told.

  “After you and Brian brought Nyla, I mean the specimen, on board I thought I heard her speak in my mind. I dismissed it, thinking I was tired. But I can communicate with her, Jon. I can hear her thoughts, and she can hear mine. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s true.”

  Jon gasped loudly, and Marissa turned, not realizing he stood so close. The lines across his face were so tight and she feared he might be physically sick.

  Drawing closer, she wrapped one arm around his shoulders, leading him back toward the bench.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, after urging him to sit.

  “Y-yes, yes. I’m fine,” he rushed. “You should have told me all this sooner. I could have helped.”

  “No one can help me, Jon! I’m a biologist for Christ sake. I can’t even help myself.”

  “No, you're wrong. There are things you don’t know; things you need to know.” Jon closed his eyes, his features whitened visibly. “Your mother should have told you a long time ago.”

  “Told me what?”

  “Come with me. There’s something I need to show you,” Jon said, rising quickly to his feet to stride down the concrete path.

  Marissa blinked, but jumped up to follow, trailing behind a few steps.

  When they passed through the large metal doors of the institute's main building, Marissa breathed deeply, trying to dispel her discomfort. Everyone was still gathered in the corridors, and as she passed Brian and Jillian, the young intern sniggered.

  Marissa drew her shoulders back, keeping her head high, ignoring the stares and whispers. She wouldn’t give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her defeated, though she may feel that way inside.

  Finally, Jon ushered her into his office, closing the door behind her, and leading her toward a seat near his desk “Since Felix put Brian in charge I’ll have to change offices soon.” Marissa gasped, but Jon quickly continued, “I’ll have more time to research. I never did like this position anyway. It takes too much focus from what’s important.” His hand caressed her chin gently, and Marissa knew what he meant.

  A serious look entered his eyes as he turned and walked toward a large framed photo of the Suzy. “I have something I want to show you.”

  Marissa watched, amazed, as Jon took the picture down, revealing a small safe hidden inside the wall. His fingers worked the combination lock, and seconds later a muted click sounded.

  “Your mother gave this to me for safekeeping before she died,” he said, reaching inside the hidden compartment, pulling free a small, manila packet. “It belongs to you.”

  Jon tossed the envelope, and it landed in Marissa’s lap with a dull thud.

  “What is it?” she asked, testing the weight.


  “Open it.”

  Fingering the corners, Marissa used her nails to pry apart the sticky edges, before tipping it forward, causing the contents to spill out.

  “My God. Where did she get this?”

  “She gave it to me while she was in the hospital. Said it was yours and that I should give it to you when I thought the time was right.” Jon walked toward his desk, sitting down in the chair next to her. “I think today is the day.”

  Marissa frowned at him before returning her gaze to the large stone nestled against her legs.

  She didn’t know what to make of the blood-red rock, which was almost the size of her palm. It looked like a ruby, but the exterior was hard and uncut, the facets inside the gem clouded with impurities, slight cracks marred the edges. A long, elaborate silver chain fastened to the tip, held in place by what looked to be a small hole drilled through the surface.

  She doubted this belonged to her mother. Sarah Redmond hadn’t owned a single piece of jewelry, not even a pair of earrings.

  Startled, she whipped her head toward Jon suddenly. “I don’t understand. Where did she get this?”

  Jon glanced away, but not before she could see the pain in his eyes. “She found it when she … found you.”

  “What,” Marissa breathed. “What the hell are you saying?”

  He turned back toward her suddenly. “Sarah Redmond was not your mother.”

  The door to Jon’s office burst opened, slamming against the wall with force.

  Marissa jumped in her seat, pressing a palm to her chest.

  “Dr. Nash … Marissa … you have to come … quick!”

  Jon rose from his chair, moving toward the door and a frantic Shannon. “Dr. Winters now’s not really a good time.”

  Marissa was dumbfounded. Jon sounded ridiculously calm after the bombshell he'd dropped.

  Standing, the necklace slithered down her thighs, falling to the floor with muted clatter.

  “It’s the creature,” Shannon said, moving further into the room. “Jillian tried to take a blood sample and all hell broke loose.”

  Marissa frowned, the hazy fog around her mind clearing rapidly. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know. As soon as Jillian put the needle in her, she went crazy. Litchfield’s about to sedate her.”

  “He can’t sedate her! She could die!” Marissa screamed.

  “That’s why I came to get you guys.”

  Forgetting about everything except Nyla, Marissa pushed her way passed Jon and Shannon, running out the office and down the hallway. Fear clogged her throat, making her take in air in short, sporadic gasps.

  When she finally reached Nyla’s holding pen she was thoroughly out of breath, huffing and puffing.

  Brian stood at the top of the tank, aiming a high caliber sedation rifle at the frantic, distraught mammal.

  “Stop!”

  Brian started, pausing and looking down at her, before again taking aim.

  Marissa cursed under her breath, running to the foot of the stairs. “Stop damn you! You’re gonna kill her!”

  “Jillian, call security and have them remove Dr. Redmond from the premises,” Brian said loudly, not taking his gaze from the rifle’s sight.

  Marissa snorted, taking the steps two at a time. Quickly reaching the top of the tank, she ran toward Brian, snatching the barrel of the gun with one hand, aiming it toward the sky. Snagging his shirt with her other hand she pulled and yanked him down toward her level.

  Anger infused every cell in her body, strengthening Marissa with righteous fury. “What in the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

  “Let go!”

  “I’m not letting go till you drop the gun, Brian.”

  He snarled, trying to yank the barrel from her hand, surprise covering his face when the weapon hardly moved. He tried snatching it again, but only succeeded in turning Marissa in a 180-degree turn.

  “I said let go!”

  “Never!”

  Breathing hard in her face, Brian pushed her back, forcing her against the metal railing. Wrath knotting his brows, he charged harder, lifting her feet from the ground and bending her in an awkward position.

  Marissa grunted with pain as the hard, steel bar bruised her back. Gasping for air, she struggled to pull herself upright, her hands flailing uselessly in the air.

  Brian smiled wickedly. “I warned you, Mar,” he said before, flattening a hand against her breasts and toppling her from the railings.

  With her last, final bit of strength, Marissa snatched the gun from his hand, tumbling down toward the water below.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Marissa could smell death. It rode toward her on quick wings.

  There weren’t any flashes of her youth appearing in her mind. A vivid, disconcerting image of Tylan materialized behind her eyes just before she crashed into the water.

  Pain careened through her body as stinging liquid saturated her pores. Her lungs soaked, silencing any screams she might have managed.

  Marissa tried to open her eyes, but her pupils were vats of fire.

  Absently, she could sense Nyla’s presence swimming around. Thrashing her arms, she attempted to grab hold of her.

  Help me!

  Me can not help.

  Marissa wanted to cry at Nyla’s despondent tone. And, she struggled harder, flailing her arms.

  Sinking rapidly, Marissa hit the bottom of the tank with a bounce. She clenched her jaw, as more tremors and aches assailed her.

  Throbbing pain continued to assault her body, her legs became paralyzed from trauma. Rippling sensations echoed across her skin, and a beating drum in her brain sounded so loudly her ears split from the noise.

  Marissa felt compelled to rip the clothes from her body.

  Pulling at the wet material, her pants and shirt gave way under her strength.

  Writhing in pain, she tensed when her legs stiffened and bonded together. She could hear her bones cracking and her feet swelled, bursting through the soft leather of her shoes.

  So, this is what death feels like.

  She didn’t see any bright lights or angels. She didn’t see anything at all.

  Accepting her demise, Marissa receded into the darkness.

  * * * *

  The door opened slowly, allowing the bright blaze to stream out.

  It didn’t blind her eyes. The gentle heat of the rays warmed her, seeping into her pores. It made her feel safe. The emanation called, made her whole.

  Rocking forward, she floated with her arms outstretched.

  Flexing, unclenching her fingers, the incandescence was wonderful against her skin. And suddenly, the large familiar jewel materialized in her hand.

  The facets of the stone felt smoother than last time, the rounded edges soothing.

  For a moment, Marissa continued to rub the ends. Yet, when she looked down to her palm, the stone beat with a life all its own, pulsing and warm. Strangely, her hands were covered in blood and a beating heart lay in her palm.

  Marissa wanted to scream, wanted to holler aloud, but voices echoed in her mind, stilling her fear.

  She blinked when the shiny rock became whole once more. Peering closer at the blood-red jewel, the cloudy inside dissipated. Inside, she could see a clear green crystal, shining with a light all its own.

  A loud, boom echoed in her ears, and the pulsing rays disappeared. Yet, her face still felt warmed by the glow. She looked closer, bringing the stone nearer to her face.

  “What do you see?”

  Marissa turned toward the voice.

  A small, delicately framed woman stood inside the large room, long flowing red hair floating around her.

  The beauty of the tall, elegantly clad being was almost surreal.

  “What do you see?” she repeated in her haunting intonation.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Look closer,” the woman urged.

  “What am I looking for?”

  “Look closer,” the voice whispered.

/>   Startled Marissa turned, surprised to find the woman standing so close. Raising the jewel toward her face, the glow of the green crystal beamed stronger.

  “I don’t see anything. I-I don’t see anything at all.”

  “You’re not looking with your heart, Marissa. Look here,” she said, laying a warm palm against her breasts.

  Her heart beat rapidly, but it skipped a beat. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here because you’re here, Marissa. I’m here because I have to show you the way. The way of your destiny.”

  “I don’t have a destiny.”

  “Look into the stone, child. Look with your heart.”

  * * * *

  Disoriented, Marissa opened her eyes to glaring light. She tried to blink but her eyelids felt too heavy to close.

  Nausea rolled through her body, and instinctively Marissa recoiled. She attempted to lift her arms, to steady the sensations, but numerous wires and chords were attached to her body, restricting her movement.

  The air around her felt thick, even the oxygen entering her lungs.

  Aching all over, a sense of agitation flooded her being. Her heart kicked into overdrive as visions began to swamp her mind.

  She remembered falling. Brian had pushed her into her tank.

  He tried to kill Nyla.

  Jon had been there, along with Shannon, and Jillian.

  The Necklace! Jon had given it to her, but she dropped it in his office.

  Her mother … wasn’t her mother.

  Tylan.

  Pain.

  Agony.

  The Necklace!

  None of it made any sense.

  She should be dead. The fall into the water should have killed her, but she was alive. Every pore in her body tingled with awareness.

  Marissa could feel and hear her heart beating rapidly, the bright radiance of the lights beaming upon her, the muted beeping of machines monitoring her vitals.

  Somehow, she'd made it and would live to tell the tale.

  Joy filled her soul, as she recalled the last horrifying moments before she passed out.

  She remembered her willingness to accept death, even though she knew inside it was a lie.

  No one truly embraced the end. Living was always infinitely greater than dying.

  Pulling against the chords connected to her, she raised her hands to stare at them in wonder.