by R. D. Brady
“Laney?”
She looked over at Jen. “Sorry. Got a little lost there.”
“Victoria?”
Laney nodded. Jen knew her too well. “Yeah.”
“She would be kind of perfect to talk to about this.”
“That’s what I was just thinking.”
Jen hesitated. “Have you thought about finding her?”
“Of course. I’ve started to a hundred times, and then I always stop.”
“Why?”
Laney paused, trying to figure it out herself. “Victoria has lived time and time again. But one thing in common during all those lifetimes is that for the first twelve years she has no memory of her previous lives, of her mission. She gets to just be a child. If I found her, if any of us found her, we could rob her of that. And I think a few years of innocence is the least she deserves. Besides, she may not even have been born yet.”
“But right now, all that knowledge of hers would come in pretty handy. What about Drake?”
Drake was an archangel who had helped Laney find the resting place of the tree of life. He also headlined a hugely popular magic act in Las Vegas.
Laney shook her head. “I called him yesterday, to warn him. I asked him about the murders. He said he didn’t know anything.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know. Drake has his own set of rules. I think he would help if he could, unless he felt it went against his mission. Either way, he’s no help. Although he did invite us down for a weekend in Las Vegas.”
Jen laughed. “Oh, sure. Let’s just put everything on hold and go carousing with an archangel.”
Laney smiled. It had actually been fun hanging out with Drake for those few hours in Vegas. And then he had been the one who had taken her home after Victoria. She would always be grateful for that. Whatever flash the archangel had on the outside, there was definitely some substance underneath.
“So I guess that means we have nothing,” Jen said.
“Unless you can think of someone else still living who knows as much Victoria did.”
An image of Cain flashed through her mind. He knew as much as Victoria had, without any gaps where he was an innocent child. He might know something. If, of course, they knew where he was and could get him to cooperate. He had disappeared after going into a river in India. The SIA had searched for him but had found no sign. And he hadn’t popped up anywhere since then.
“We still think Cain’s dead, right?” Jen asked.
“I think we’re not that lucky. He’s probably just lying low, like Elisabeta. Besides, even if he is alive, I don’t think he’ll be rushing to our defense.”
“So you’re saying we have nothing.”
Laney sighed. “Yes. Right now we have nothing.”
CHAPTER 20
Lou sat on her window seat, trying to read. She had her Ethics class tomorrow and she needed to get through the Thomas Aquinas reading Father Patrick had assigned, but she couldn’t seem to focus. Sheila’s death was too recent and had brought up a lot of feelings she didn’t want to face. Outside, the sky was darkening as storm clouds moved in.
Cleo was lying in the enclosure created for her, her back pressed against the metal bars. She had looked so listless lately since she’d been locked up. She’d even turned down bacon earlier today when Lou had snuck out to visit her. And Lou had never known Cleo to turn down bacon.
“Earth to Lou,” Rolly Escabi called from where he was sprawled on her bed, finishing up his trigonometry. He raised an eyebrow above his pale green eyes—a striking combination with his mocha-colored skin.
She looked over at him. “Huh? What?”
“What’s with you? Every time I look up, you’re doing everything but homework. You’re supposed to be the studious one. There’s only room for one slacker in this relationship, young lady, and I have already filled that position quite nicely. Fabulously, in fact.”
Lou laughed. “True. Sorry, but it just looks like it’s going to rain.”
Rolly crossed the room and sat next to her, peering out her window at the enclosure across the courtyard below. “Cleo’s got a roof. She’ll be all right.”
“I know. I mean, she’s an animal, right? She’s supposed to be outside. But I just worry.”
“Look, leopards are solitary creatures. She’s fine.”
Lou raised her eyebrows. “Where did you learn that?”
Rolly looked away. A blush spread across his cheeks. “I, uh, looked it up.”
She poked him in the side. “Because you’re worried about her too.”
“Okay, fine, yes. I was worried. But like I said, leopards are solitary, so she probably prefers to be on her own.”
“But she’s not exactly a normal leopard, is she? Leopards are also supposed to be nocturnal, and Cleo’s not. She’s not like other leopards.”
Lou looked at Rolly. Just like we’re not like other humans. The words were unspoken but hung in the air between them.
She checked on Cleo again through the window. She still lay in the same spot, unmoving. “With Laney looking into Sheila’s murder, Cleo will barely spend any time outside that thing. I think it’s really getting to her.”
Lou knew that some of the other kids at the school had complained about being scared of Cleo. It was because of them that Cleo was locked up.
The wind picked up, and Cleo barely moved as a tree branch smacked against her cage. “That’s it.” Lou stood up and headed for the door.
“What are you doing?” Rolly caught up with her, a grin spreading across his face.
“Exactly what you think I’m doing.”
Rolly grabbed her arm as she reached for the door handle.
Lou looked up at him in surprise. “You don’t want to help?”
“Oh, I do. I just think we should recruit a couple more helpers as well.”
CHAPTER 21
Addison, West Virginia
Matt walked down the long pale gray cement hall, entered the elevator, and pushed the button for the SIA detention center’s lowest level. The center was over twenty thousand square feet, and only about two thousand square feet were the offices for the SIA agents who worked there. The remaining space was dedicated to the facilities’ main mission: housing and holding prisoners that no other prison on the planet could contain.
Currently there were fourteen residents, and most were housed in the first two floors of the building. All of them were either nephilim or a Fallen.
With one exception.
An electric charge ran over Matt’s skin as the elevator doors slid open. He stepped out and walked the hundred yards down the hallway to the only cell on this level—fifty feet under the first floor.
Matt nodded at Hanz Friederich, who stood in front of the hallway leading to the special prisoner. The tall blond guard nodded back. “Director, good to see you.”
“You as well, Hanz. How’d Lady do this weekend?”
A smile broke across the usual dour Hanz’s face. Lady, Hanz’s black and white border collie, was Hanz’s true joy in life. “Great. She finished first in her division. Fastest time yet.”
Matt grinned. Lady was a champion at obstacle courses. Matt had even gone to see her compete a few times. It was pretty incredible. But what was even more incredible was how she could transform Hanz into an absolute softy.
It’s amazing what one good relationship can do. When Matt first met Hanz years ago, Matt wasn’t sure he’d be able to fit in with the SIA. He was cold and standoffish, and most of the agents had doubts that he was completely on their side. But then Hanz started training dogs, and all of a sudden the anger that had seemed a perpetual part of him began to wane. He still might not smile much, but in the last ten years, he’d proven himself to be loyal. And Matt knew it was the dogs in his life that gave him that grounding, that sense of home.
“How’s the prisoner doing today?” Matt asked.
The smile disappeared from Hanz’s face. “No different.” He pulled the do
or open for Matt. “He was sedated an hour ago. He should be just waking up. “
Matt stepped through. “Thanks.”
He walked down the long hall. There were no guards in here and only one cell, located at the end of the hundred-foot-long hallway. A glass wall stood there, and beyond it were a bed, desk, a small bathroom, and some books. And that was it.
Matt stepped up to the glass and inspected the dark figure curled up on the bed. Above the bed, two air vents stood closed. Before anyone entered the cell, the vents would open and fill the room with a strong sedative, knocking the occupant out. Only once the prisoner was out cold was anyone allowed in the room.
Even with that precaution, the inmate had still proven himself dangerous. Two of Matt’s men had been hurt due to carelessness—they hadn’t paid attention to the clock and so hadn’t realized the prisoner was coming to. So Matt had instituted a new safety procedure: one additional person was now placed on each team whose sole job was to pay attention to the time. Of course, that hadn’t stopped the injuries to his agents. But those agents had volunteered for the risks.
Matt glanced at his watch; the sedation should have worn off by now. But he also knew the prisoner spent most of his time sleeping. It wasn’t his surroundings, but his grief, that kept him unmoving.
“What do you want?” the man on the bed asked without turning.
“A situation has developed.”
The figure on the bed let out a sigh, rolled over, and sat on the edge of the bed. His dark hair hung nearly to his waist, and his dark pajamas were wrinkled, but it was his stocking feet that always struck Matt as unreal. One of the most powerful men in history, and he was tucked away shoeless and in pajamas in the hills of West Virginia.
“Why should I care?” Cain asked, looking up, his black eyes focused on Matt.
“Because the ring bearer cares.”
Cain raised an eyebrow, the first hint of interest Matt had seen from him in months.
Taking it as a good sign, Matt plowed on. “Over the last two years, there has been a series of thirty-four similar ritualistic-style murders. Each of the bodies has been displayed on an altar, the heart removed and burned. But the individuals were drowned before their heart was removed.”
“And each death occurred at sunset, many of them on the day of the full moon.”
Matt nodded slowly. He wasn’t overly surprised that Cain knew of the murders. Matt had a feeling there was something building, what with the Fallen increasing their appearances, these strange murders, and Victoria being gone. It was like all these events were leading to something. And Matt had a feeling that whatever it was, it was not going to be good for mankind.
He eyed Cain for a moment. Cain had said little to nothing in his time here; now he was engaging in conversation. And that made Matt even more worried. He spoke slowly. “You know who’s doing these.”
Cain shrugged. “Perhaps. But I can’t see any benefit to me in sharing that information with you.”
Matt snorted. “Right. So what do you want?”
Cain paused. “I’d like a TV—and a window. I miss the sunlight. And I’d like some time outside, guarded of course.”
Matt pretended to consider his requests, then shook his head. He’d known Cain would ask for concessions. And Matt had already decided what he would agree to. “The TV is possible, and the window. But the outside time is out of the question.”
Cain narrowed his eyes, but nodded. “Well then, you have a deal.”
“Okay, so who—”
Cain shook his head. “Oh, and one more little point—I won’t answer your questions.”
“But you just—”
“I’ll answer the questions of the ring bearer. If she wants to know, then she will have to come to me.”
CHAPTER 22
Baltimore, Maryland
Lou and Rolly ran from the courtyard to the building as fast as they could manage. Behind them, Cleo blended into the shadows.
The windows that lined the courtyard were almost all dark. “Do you think anyone saw us?” Lou asked.
Rolly shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Okay. Let’s go.” She opened the door to the hallway and slipped inside. They just needed to get down this long hallway and up the main stairs, and then they’d be home free.
Lou started to creep down the hall when she heard voices. She grabbed Rolly and pushed him against the wall. Cleo flattened herself against the wall, too.
“What?” Rolly asked.
“Listen.”
“Zach? What are you doing?” Yoni asked.
“Oh, um, I was just heading to the library. I think I may have forgotten a book there.”
“Okay. It’s close to lights out though, so make it quick.”
“Um, sure. I will.”
Yoni’s footsteps turned in their direction. Damn it. Zach was supposed to head off anyone coming this way, but he was just not very good at lying.
Eyes wide, Lou looked back at Rolly, who threw up his hands. I don’t know, he mouthed.
Cleo walked over to the pillar across from them. She stepped behind it just as Yoni rounded the corner.
Surprise flashed across Yoni’s face. “Oh, hi guys.”
“Heeeey, Yoni,” Rolly drawled out, and Lou could have smacked him. He couldn’t have sounded more unnatural if he tried.
“Yeah, hey Yoni,” Lou rushed out. “How’s it going?”
“Good, Lou. How’s it going with you?”
“Good. Well, see you.” Lou grabbed Rolly’s arm and pulled him toward Zach.
“Oh, guys?” Yoni called.
Lou winced and turned back around, slapping an innocent expression on her face.
Yoni leaned against the pillar directly across from Cleo. From her vantage point, Lou could see that Cleo was standing on her back paws to stay hidden. Lou forced her eyes back to Yoni. “Yeah?”
“Funny thing—the security cameras are out this way.” Yoni paused. “But only in this hallway, right where you guys are. Weird, huh?”
Lou nodded.
“Totally weird,” Rolly said. “Well, gotta go.”
“Yup. Almost past my bedtime,” Lou added.
“Whatever you’re up to,” Yoni said, “don’t get me in trouble for it.”
“We’re not—” Rolly said.
Yoni put up a hand and Rolly went silent. “Just be careful.” Yoni walked away.
As soon as Yoni had turned the corner, Lou released the breath she’d been holding and motioned for Cleo to come.
Cleo dropped silently back down to all fours and padded over to them. They caught up with Zach, who grinned. Together the four made their way up the stairs to Lou’s room. Luckily, they didn’t run into anyone else. Lou hustled everyone into her room and closed the door quickly.
Rolly pulled out his phone and typed a quick message before shoving it in his back pocket. “Danny set the security cameras back to normal,” he said. “He’ll be up in a few minutes.”
Cleo nudged Zach’s hand. Zach ran a hand through her fur. “You’re welcome, girl.”
Cleo went around and rubbed against each of them before curling up next to Lou. The big cat looked much better than she had for the last couple of hours.
An hour later, the boys had left and it was just Lou and Cleo. Lou crawled under her covers and turned off the lights. “Night, Cleo.”
Cleo padded over, sat right next to the bed, and stared at Lou. Lou could feel Cleo’s breath on her face. She reached up and rubbed behind the cat’s ears. “You’re a good girl, Cleo.”
Cleo watched her for a few more moments, then lay down next to the bed. Lou closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but she couldn’t get the look in Cleo’s eyes out of her mind. She looked so sad.
Cleo let out a large sigh. Lou ignored it.
But after fifteen minutes of Cleo’s sighs and getting up to stare at Lou, Lou knew this wasn’t going to work. “Okay, okay, you win.”
Lou grabbed her pillow and blanket and h
opped off the bed. She placed them on the floor next to Cleo. She lay down and closed her eyes.
Cleo inched over until her back was touching Lou’s.
Lou smiled and adjusted the blanket so it covered both of them. “Goodnight, Cleo.”
Cleo let out another sigh—this one much more contented.
CHAPTER 23
Laney spent the next day reading everything she could find on human sacrifice, which was about as much fun as a root canal. She knew water was a purifier and that the Children of the Law of One had used it to wash away sins. In Catholicism, water was used in baptism for the same purpose. In fact, water as a purifier was common across many religions. But she hadn’t found any rituals that combined water, fire, and blood loss.
And she simply couldn’t read another page on ritualistic killings. She’d read too many crime reports on murders that were believed to be ritualized in nature, and the only thing they had in common was that “ritualized killings” seemed to be code for “extremely brutal.”
So she called it a day, telling everyone that if they found anything to call her. She decided to head home and make dinner—something she hadn’t done in months.
The front door rang just as she was putting the garlic on the ciabatta bread. She frowned. No one used the doorbell. Most people did a quick knock before walking in.
She wiped her hands on a towel and made her way to the front door. Glancing through the glass next to the door, she was surprised at who was standing there. She pulled the door open. “Hey, Matt.”
Matt stood uncertainly in the doorway. “Hey. I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Laney couldn’t say she was happy to see him, not with their last conversation still on her mind. But they had to work together, and she supposed she needed to bury the hatchet.
“No interruption. But I am surprised. I didn’t realize you were in town.” She waved him toward the kitchen as she started to the back. “I was just getting dinner started. Jake will be back in about a half hour. Care to join us?”
