Page 61 of Eternal Craving

Jacob’s cries worsened.

I calmed him down, having successfully hidden my own terror from him, and returned to the kitchen.

I tried to keep my eyes off the massacre. The stench forced me to breathe through my mouth. I quickly grabbed what I needed for Jacob and withdrew.

Denial came easily. After all, no one man could take on so many soldiers and live. Examining my hands, I was amazed to see the cuts had vanished, yet blood stained the edge of my cuff.

Loneliness had me by the throat.

Speaking words of comfort to Jacob, I was really trying to draw strength from my own voice, even though it had also been altered, the tone deeper.

I was just tired.

After gulping his third cup of milk, Jacob fell asleep in my arms. I found us both fresh clothes and then carried him through the house into what had once been the nursery. Unaware of the horrors that had unfolded, Jacob beamed up at me with that sweet smile of his. Lying beside him, I tucked my feet beneath me to fit his bed and hoped to find peace in the presence of sleep.

Despite all that had happened, I had Jacob to think of. I drew strength from his unwavering affection and as he snuggled against me, I was consoled by his breathing, a sure rhythm against my chest.

I awoke later, stirred by a presence in the house, and leaped off the bed.

The bedroom door burst open, and I was immediately faced with a sword pointed directly at my face. The tip stopped just short of my right eye.

Jacob was still waking up. A guard had grabbed him off the bed and I could do nothing about it. More men rushed in and, just behind them, strolled Felipe.

He stared at me, aghast. “Impossible.”

I was trapped.

“One wrong move and he dies.” Felipe leaned in, his stale breath too close. “Bury him, alive.”

I wanted to grab Jacob and run, but we’d never make it out the door. The men restrained me and dragged me outside. The sword in my back that persuaded me to comply cut into my flesh.

Wanting to fight back, wanting to tear them to pieces, I feared what would happen to Jacob if I showed any resistance.

A shove had me tumbling into a deep hole.

My hands were bound together, and I struggled to free myself as crushing soil pressed against my chest, oppressing me.

Thrashing, terrified, I cursed myself for not leaving the house. I’d outdone myself with my arrogance. The rope wrapped around my wrists gave, but even more mounds of earth were being shoveled over me.

Encased in dirt, it poured into my nostrils, soil blocking my airway. I shook my head from side to side until the weight of the resistance held me still, but I made a last-ditch effort to claw my way out.

I willed Sunaria to save Jacob.

I should be suffocating, but despite the lack of air, I didn’t lose consciousness. My chest rose and fell as though I were breathing.

Sunaria, save my son.

I gagged and choked, angry that I’d allowed Annabelle to persuade us to stay, that I’d believed as she had done once, that we were free from Felipe’s intimidation. Though if I faced the truth, it was me who hadn’t wanted to leave the home I’d built. This place was more than just bricks and mortar. But my pride yet again ravaged everything in its wake and now I’d risked Jacob’s life. Felipe had not found my corpse where he’d left it, and I suspected that was what had brought him here.

Sunaria,I need you.

Above me, Jacob’s faint cries were eaten up by the night.

My whole life had been one mistake after another. Everyone close to me was now dead or missing.

Sunaria!

I remained trapped as the days and nights came and went.