Redemption: The Evolution of Grace: A Nephilim Urban Fantasy (Grace Gamble Trilogy Book 1)

by Sabra Kay

  “Nothing about him is human,” I said. “He's a monster, just like you.”

  Blaine fell silent again, shaking his head slightly. “Oh, I assure you, while he's definitely my son, he's got quite a bit of his mother in him.” He chuckled again.

  The chuckling. The smirking. For fuck’s sake, make it stop.

  “I feel a story coming on. Get on with it.” I crossed my arms and sat stiff as a rod, doing my best to make eye contact, which was no easy task.

  His power was a palpable force and compelled and repulsed me at the same time.

  “Sure, why not? It's a story I've been waiting to tell you for so many years, Grace.”

  Something in the tone of his voice had my heart sinking further. There was a numbness, and somewhere, way back and deep down in the crevices of my psyche, there was a knowing.

  “Years ago, a young woman came to work for me. Before I had all this. Before I'd built the church. I was successful in other ways. I'd graduated college, started a business, dabbled in real estate and investments. I was having fun. Enjoying the spoils of mortality. Growing my influence. Planning my empire. This woman, she was something else, though. Pretty. Real pretty. I felt drawn to her. One thing led to another, and well, you know the story. We had some fun, and that was that. One day, she stopped coming in. I didn't think much of it. I had other pretty women coming through my doors, plenty of them.” He winked.

  I watched him as he pulled a cigar case from inside his suit jacket and lit up, taking a leisurely series of puffs before continuing.

  “The thing with your Father and I is we tended to keep tabs on each other. We had kind of a... a rivalry of sorts, you know? While I was building my assets and my flock, he was building a reputation in genetic research. Unusual for a nephilim. Unusual for a member of the CDT council. This interested me, so I kept an eye on him. And wouldn't you know, one day I see a photo of him at a dinner with his new wife. Not just a wife, a pregnant wife.” His face grew serious. “Now, I'm no expert on lady stuff, if you know what I mean. But by that time, I’d had two kids with my wife, plus the rest of them. A little poking around revealed that Mrs. Gamble was about six months along in that photo. And, when I thought back to when we were having our fun, and well, I got to thinking.”

  The coldness in me grew to the point I found myself shivering.

  “But what really struck me is why on Earth any self-respecting, sane Nephilim would come anywhere near our kind, for those purposes? Why, indeed? And then turn around and marry a high-ranking member of the CDT? You can see how this would make me curious?” He glanced at me, eyes twinkling. And furthermore,” he emphasized in his faux southern drawl, “how the hell is it I didn't know, didn't sense, that this woman was in fact, a Nephilim?”

  That was a fair question indeed, but I knew the answer to that. She used magic to block any signature she might emit and built a psychic wall to conceal her thoughts and intentions. Not an easy task, but from what I knew of my mother, it was totally possible.

  “I had, oh, so many questions. But I waited, and I watched. And wouldn't you know it, she gave birth a few months later to a healthy set of twins. A boy and a girl. And I thought to myself, that sneaky bastard. What is his game? He's gone and got himself not one, but two hybrid little babies. Why, pray tell, would he do such a thing? Risk everything to make these babies? So, I got closer to investigate, to see what exactly Professor Gamble was up to. I decided that I didn't feel so good about this asshole raising my kids, you know? As experiments. So, I decided I would do something about it.”

  A sudden flash of rage pulled me to my feet. Demon or no demon, guards or no guards, this motherfucker was going down.

  “You killed my Mother.”

  I lunged at him, and in a fraction of a second, two men were on me, my arm was twisted behind my back, and a large hand was wrapped around my neck.

  Billy motioned for them to mellow out a little, but they did not let me go.

  “Of course, you would think that. But I must disappoint you. I did not kill your Mother. I was impressed by her, really. To come and infiltrate my business, conceal her identity, seduce me, get pregnant, and then leave and marry William? Kudos… Bravo! I had no desire to end her life. But I wanted what was mine, and those babies were mine. I'd have taken her with them, but William had other plans for her. Marrying your Mother was a cover, you see. William put himself in charge of record-keeping and registering new Nephilim offspring. By marrying your Mother, he reduced the risk that her pregnancy would be held in any suspicion. He would be in charge of recording the babies with the CDT. He would oversee inputting the data and doing all genetic tests. He let a few others in on his plans, some on the council, and your boss, Miles. I understood that they were trying to create a super race of Nephilim that would be impervious to the strike of your superiors. His plan was perfect, but he didn't count on me coming to take what was mine.”

  He leaned in. I could smell him. He was so close to me. My head pounded, and my stomach continued to churn. I shook my head, weakly. This was a nightmare, but I couldn't wake up.

  “I arranged a little home invasion. I waited till William was working late, and I had my men come to take those babies. Mothers are a fierce thing, though. I had emphasized that if they ran into complications… if they couldn't get both of them, to just bring me my son.

  “Your Mother managed to get away with the girl. Of course, that girl was you. Later, there would be an argument. Your Mother would tell your Father she was leaving, that she didn't want him conducting experiments on her child. And I don't know this, Grace, but I have a sneaking suspicion she was this close to throwing herself at the mercy of the other members of the council, just to get protection for her and for you.” He shrugged. “I don't know. Whatever it was, he didn't take kindly to it. Your Mother was found a couple of weeks later, dead. Neither myself or any other of our kind were responsible for her death. That was William's work. Most likely, it wasn't the first time he did such a thing, and it wouldn't be the last.”

  “Sian Cole,” I said.

  “Yes. He murdered her in cold blood, once again to cover his tracks and try to get what he wanted, which was control of Sera, your biological daughter. The child he created using parents with the most potent powers. The father, “he gestured, trying to conjure his name, “what his name...”

  “Ethan.”

  “Yeah, him. Tested early on with remarkable power. Power he wasn't even aware he had. Keeping you both ignorant of your strength was a smart move. Don't attract attention. Just extract that power and create a new hybrid child, then control her. But William doesn't know how to get people to play ball. There’s not a lot of charisma there.”

  He laughed at that, then looked me dead in the eye.

  I went weak, and the thugs dropped me on the couch. I struggled to keep my food down. My skin was crawling.

  “Ah, taking it all in, yes? William had it all wrong, Grace. He claimed you had no power, that there was nothing special about you. But he was wrong to clip your wings. You are quite remarkable, dear. And now you're here. What an amazing reunion. My twins, reunited. Gregory will be back any time. He'll be thrilled we've cleared up this misunderstanding, and you can now take your place, your destiny, as it were.

  My head was reeling, but Chuck's voice came through loud and clear.

  Help is on the way. You are not alone. And don't do anything stupid.

  ***

  The clock was ticking. The burning would aid in the opening, but who would unlock the door from here to there? Who would call forth the demons waiting on the other side? Only a Witch could do it. Only a witch could conjure the darkness and invite it in. A Witch gone dark was a rare thing, but they were out there, often coaxed over by high-ranking demons who seduced them with wealth and power.

  Yes, the demon scum was planning quite a night. If Blaine was even halfway successful, I didn't want to wake up in the world it would become tomorrow.

  I stared at Gregory. Was Blaine's
story true? If so, I'd not only gained a biological daughter today, but a twin brother as well. I still couldn't quite accept what Blaine had told me, but denying it wouldn't help anything. William wasn't my father anymore. He never had been and didn't want to be, anyway. I wasn't sure I believed Blaine's claim that William had murdered my Mother. Demons were notorious for their lies, and the entire story could well have been fiction. Whether that was the case or not still didn't matter. All that mattered was finding Sera and getting out of there.

  “Have you always known?” I asked. I thought about the night at the bar, and the night Sera was taken.

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “What's it like being a demon’s bastard son and knowing your Mother was a Nephilim? Knowing that you've got Angel blood running through your veins?”

  His eyes darkened. “I don't recognize that part of myself. There's nothing good about me. I live my life the way I want. I don't give a shit about the old man, the kid, or you. I live for myself. I do what makes me happy, what benefits me.”

  “I see.”

  We were silent for a moment, then Blaine walked out with a tray and three glasses. “Before I leave you two for the evening, please, humor an old man and share a drink with me. Just one.”

  After everything I'd been through in the last few days, the idea of ingesting alcohol, let alone in present company, left me feeling disgusted. On the other hand, playing nice seemed like it might benefit me. At the very least, it could afford me an opportunity to catch them off guard. Nice rationalizing, Grace. I heard Chuck's words as if he were right in my ear.

  “Shut up.” I muttered.

  They both looked at me as though I'd lost my mind. I shrugged. “Talking to myself.”

  The Rev beamed at both of us, raising his glass. “To my children, to the future. Cheers.” Everything in me screamed, don't do it, but I did. I took the drink. The golden liquid slid down my throat, smooth and easy. I told myself it was no big deal, I was just playing along, waiting for my opportunity.

  “Now I have it all. My children, my Grandchild. Tonight is truly a celebration, the culmination of years of planning and preparing.”

  He raised his glass again. “To humanity. To these bodies that give us so much pleasure. To this planet, that offers so much possibility. You know, possibility is what brings us here. Back in our home dimension, there are no possibilities, no change, no growth, no surprises. Truly, these humans have it all. I'm sure William would agree. What's he on, his third host? Such a rebel, such a rule breaker.”

  I pointed my glass at him. “If you are so enamored of this world, of these people, why are you so bent on destroying them?”

  “Creation comes from destruction, from chaos. These people? They are at their best when they are going through their worst. They are their most creative, innovative, and ingenious when they are confronted with hardship, horror, and injustice. When things are falling apart, when it looks like there is no way out, they pull themselves up by their bootstraps and rise to the occasion.

  “So, what? You think you’re helping them somehow?”

  “God, no.” He laughed. “We get what we need from them. Just like the angels. The so-called good guys. They aren't so holy, you know. They need humans just as much as we do. They feed off supplication and worship.”

  “I want the good people of this planet to innovate and expand, and they can just as easily do that by hosting our kind. Letting us drive the bus, so to speak.”

  “You know, he went on, you look a great deal like your Mother. She was a beautiful woman.”

  I nodded. Yes, she was. I closed my eyes, visualizing her. I felt warm, and a sense of calm washed over me.

  Blaine glanced at his watch, then finished his drink. He smiled at Gregory, patting him on the shoulder. Gregory had relaxed, and I saw clearly the pleasure he took in his Father's attention. Blaine turned to me next, so pleased with himself.

  “Your daughter, Seraphina.” He paused at that, watching my face as the words sunk in.

  “She is a powerful hybrid. She'll only grow more powerful. You, too. Now that you know who you are, you can choose to step up and claim what's yours.”

  I looked at him, incredulous. “What's mine? What makes you think I want any of this?”

  His eyes darkened, but just for a moment. A guard walked in and whispered something in Blaine's ear. He nodded and waved him away. “Well, this is excellent timing. My man tells me they've intercepted your team.

  He looked at Gregory, who nodded and went outside with the guard, leaving me with Blaine again. He gazed at me with what appeared to be genuine affection. It repulsed me, yet somewhere inside me, in the part of me that longed for love and approval, there was the slightest bit of satisfaction. The man I'd always thought of as my father wasn't, and this piece of shit was. But maybe, just maybe, he could be proud of me, could value me, could love me.

  I shook my head, hard. He cocked his head, watching me carefully. Then, he put his glass down and sat next to me.

  “Grace. You asked me earlier why I brought you here. I didn't reveal my full intentions to you. There is a very specific reason you're here tonight. I'll not tell you now, but later, when the time comes, I expect full cooperation. If I don't get it, your friends, your colleagues, and your boyfriend will all burn together. Do you understand me?”

  He delivered this message in a calm, soothing, friendly tone. A wave of fear swept through me, and my mouth went dry. I nodded, unable to speak. My acknowledgment seemed to satisfy him. He patted my shoulder and stood up, buttoning his jacket.

  “They'll fetch you in a bit. Don't leave this room. Don't bother trying anything. Your power is useless here until I deem otherwise. I'll see you shortly, daughter.”

  He smiled one last time, and then left me alone.

  ***

  They walked me out of the trailer and toward the back of the compound, and then toward a break in the fencing. They led me firmly through the opening and into the darkness. As my eyes adjusted, I saw we were on a path. The outline of a large rock formation appeared, and the path turned to a trail.

  I stumbled as we navigated a small, rocky slope. Finally, we stopped, and I found myself on a plateau bordered on three sides by ragged boulders. A platform had been built, and on it, a low table. No… an altar. The guards guided me up the steps and led me to the head of the table, then fell back just behind me. A closer look at the altar revealed shackles at the head and foot. What the hell was this for? At that moment I decided the whole night had been a colossal failure. I was unarmed. My powers were dampened. I was alone, with no way to contact Chuck or Darah. They were likely to lose their lives. And my poor Harry, what had I done? Sera, sweet Sera now sentenced to lead a life of darkness. What was it all for?

  Just roll with it, Grace. Just roll with it. Chuck's voice popped back into my head, reassuring me that if I just let go, things would be okay. But how? I thought of what Luz had said before we left. There was no plan we could make that would work. I felt the booster in my pocket, that was supposed to enhance my gifts. What gifts? Powers I couldn't use? A propensity for darkness? How were those things gifts?

  The wind carried the voices of the frenzied followers up the hill, and I could see the glow of the pavilion below. He would be coming up any moment, who would he bring? Human sacrifice, the dark moon, a witch, there had to be a witch. He wasn't playing around.

  The noise of the crowd grew louder, and above that rose the voice of Blaine Junior, reveling in his spotlight. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but the crowd was good and riled. Standing, shivering in the desert cold, alone in the darkness, I thought of Chuck and his smile, his words of wisdom. I wiped tears off my gritty, sandblasted cheeks and said a silent prayer, sending my love for my friends out on the wind.

  I could make out the figures coming up the path. Gregory, I recognized his silhouette. Guards flanked another figure, I squinted, trying to focus. A woman. Then Blaine and a small figure next to him. Sera! What was she do
ing here?

  “Well, well. Here she is, the brave Grace Gamble. If William could see you now.”

  The guards lit torches on either side of the platform, and the group came into better view. Blaine, Gregory, Sera. And finally, the woman stepped into the torchlight.

  “Mina?”

  It was her. Her face was zig zagged with angry red scars. She didn't meet my eyes. Behind her were more figures, cloaked, with their faces hidden under the shadows.

  Sera came more clearly into view. She was whimpering, and her teeth were chattering. Tears rolled down her face.

  “Grace!” She sobbed loudly.

  “Enough!” You'll settle down, girl. What's wrong?” Blaine jerked her arm impatiently.

  “I'm cold.”

  My heart hurt for her. I wanted to hold her, to comfort her.

  Blaine whirled around and barked at a woman behind him. “Get her something, shut her up! Where's that blanket, that doll. Just give it to her.”

  The ringing in my ears grew louder, and chills ran the length of my body. I felt a combination of sheer terror and twisted anticipation. Excitement.

  I looked again at the empty table. Who was meant to go there? Not Sera, please, not Sera.

  Blaine turned his attention back to me. “Remember, cooperate, or your losses will be great. Your friends are counting on you.”

  He took Sera by the hand and led her to the table. She dug her heels in and began sobbing, punctuating the air with her helpless shrieks. I looked across the faces of everyone there, silently pleading for help as desperation kicked in. I locked eyes with Gregory and, for a fraction of a second, saw the look of distaste and disapproval for what was happening. It was brief but unmistakable.

  “Leave her alone! I shouted.

  Blane stopped at the edge of the table with Sera next to him. Mina stood off to the side, flanked by the guards.