by R. D. Brady
Just then, Brian stepped past a dark minivan, and a man climbed out behind him. Not a Fallen.
Laney ran up. “Hey.”
The man turned. A ski mask hid his face, and a Taser was in his hand. Laney slammed her foot into the man’s groin. His knees went weak, and as his hands reached for his groin, the Taser dropped to the ground. She grabbed him by the back of the head and slammed his face into her knee. Then, still holding onto the back of his head, she slammed him into the van and wrenched his arm behind him.
Brian Hanson had turned and watched the whole thing, his jaw hanging open.
“Mr. Hanson, my name is Agent McPhearson,” Laney said. “I’m going to need to speak with you.”
Brian’s head bobbed up and down. “Uh, okay.”
Jen came hustling up with another ski-masked man in tow. “You good?”
“I’m good. Let’s get these guys—”
A dark-paneled van wheeled into the parking lot and the side door slid open.
“Gun!” Jen yelled.
Laney threw her guy to the ground, vaulted over him, and tackled Brian as bullets sprayed the cars around them. Jen leapt on top of the two of them.
The van peeled off, bumping over the curve as it swung wildly into traffic.
Jen rolled to her feet and ran for the street.
Laney pulled on Brian’s arm. “Brian? Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Brian sat up, his cheek scraped, his head swerving from side to side. “Um , I—”
“Are you hurt?” Laney repeated.
“No. Not hurt.”
Jen returned and nodded toward the two men on the ground. “I can’t say the same for these two.”
In a glance, Laney could tell the two attackers were gone. “Did you get any van info?”
Jen shook her head. “No. Sorry.”
“Damn it.”
“Um… those guys were after you, right?” Brian asked.
Laney helped him up. “No. They were after you.”
Brian’s mouth fell open. “But—but, I’m nobody.”
Jen glanced at the bullet holes in the cars surrounding them. “Apparently somebody disagrees.”
CHAPTER 56
Taipei City, Taiwan
Maura put the phone down with a frown. Two people from the Chandler Group had questioned Abe, and not long after, two women from the same group had interrupted their abduction of Hansen.
She made her way to the study, sat at her computer, and ran a few searches, looking for any links to the Chandler Group. A few minutes later she had her answer: Sheila Lachowski. There had been a number of contacts between the group and the family. Sheila had even visited the school a few times.
Derek walked in and kissed her on the forehead. “Everything okay?”
Maura shook her head. “I’m not sure. Two members of the Chandler Group visited Abe, and then they interrupted the Hansen operation. I think they’re looking into us.”
“They interrupted an operation? When?”
“Just now.”
“Why would we be on their radar?”
Maura pointed to the screen. “Sheila Lachowski was connected to them.”
Derek frowned. “Is this going to be a problem?”
“I don’t know. Can you see what you can find on The Chandler School for Children? I’ll look up Delaney McPhearson and Jake Rogan—they’re the two that spoke with Abe. Hopefully they’re just fishing.”
An hour later, Maura’s concern had grown into worry. She looked up from her screen. “You ready to talk?”
Derek nodded, looking a little pale himself. “Yeah.”
Maura turned to face him. “Delaney McPhearson, Jake Rogan, and Henry Chandler are tangentially related to a number of high-profile events. And the kids that they saved in the Grand Canyon—something is definitely off there. I think they might be Fallen.”
Derek nodded. “I think you’re right. The school brochure mentions that the children are ‘gifted.’”
Maura’s anger began to grow. “They’re helping them. They’re teaching them.”
“Maybe they’re also Fallen.”
Maura simmered. “And now they’re on our trail.”
“I’m afraid it may be worse than that.” Derek flipped his screen around for Maura to see. “I checked the social media sites of a couple of students.”
Pictures of teenagers, all smiles, filled the screen. Maura curled her lips. Arrogance—hubris. Not even concerned with the evil they’d brought into the world.
“Look in the background,” Derek said. “Here,” he pointed, “and here.”
Maura stared. “Is that a leopard?”
Derek nodded. “A Javan leopard.”
“It looks huge.” Maura wondered if that was just trick of the camera angle, because the leopard wasn’t the focus of the shots, just caught in the background.
“It is huge,” Derek said, his voice grim. He pulled up a third shot, and this time he zoomed in on the leopard. A young boy with dark glasses stood next to the giant cat. She was seated, and her head was level was his. “This boy is Danny Wartowski,” Derek said. “He’s a genius. There’ve been a number of articles on him. He’s the unofficial son of Henry Chandler. But that’s unimportant. What is important is that because of that publicity we know he’s five foot ten. And sitting, this cat is almost his size.”
Maura’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not natural.”
“No, it’s not.”
They had heard rumors that the Fallen had been tampering with nature, twisting it to meet their depraved vision. But to see proof of it—it was chilling. And to use a leopard—the guardians of the Holy Mother. “There is no end to their depravity.”
“What should we do?” Derek asked.
Maura stared at the abomination on the screen, then shook herself. “First, tell Abe to go to ground. It’s not safe for him.”
“I already did.”
“Good. We need to learn all we can about the Chandler Group and their involvement with the Fallen,” Maura paused, her gaze returning to the nightmare on the screen, “but I also want to know about that cat. Where it came from, what it is, and most importantly, if there are any others.”
Derek nodded. “I agree. This type of depravity cannot be allowed to exist.”
Maura’s gaze flicked back to her own screen—to the picture of McPhearson, Rogan, and Chandler. “No, it can’t.”
CHAPTER 57
Malama Island, Hawaii
The group meditation finished with the usual words: “Be well. Be peaceful.” Aaliyah smiled and nodded to her neighbors, but inside she was strung tight. Working her way through the crowd, many of whom stayed to chat, she found Noriko.
Noriko’s pale green eyes caught Aaliyah’s gaze across the space. Aaliyah smiled and nodded toward the path that led back to their home. Noriko excused herself and joined Aaliyah on the path, linking her arm through hers. “So, are you ready to tell me what’s so important about this meeting?”
Aaliyah looked around, but no one was near enough to overhear them. “Please keep your voice down.”
It had been twenty-four hours since Noriko had told Aaliyah about her vision. Aaliyah had contacted the ring bearer with the information; she hadn’t been able to think of any other way to help him. But since she’d taken that step, she’d felt like there was a ticking clock over her, counting down the time to a disaster. And she had learned long ago not to ignore such feelings.
In times past, they would have gone to the priestess. But Aaliyah was not sure the current priestess could be trusted to do the right thing. Her heart nearly broke at that thought. Instead, she had called a meeting with her most trusted friends to see if they had any ideas.
Noriko lowered her voice. “Sorry, but I don’t understand the secrecy. Does this have to do with my vision?”
Aaliyah sighed. Secrets were not something that happened on Malama. At least they didn’t used to be. She squeezed Noriko’s arm. “Yes—but also something more.
You must keep this quiet. Can you do that for me?”
Noriko wrapped her arm around Aaliyah’s. “If you think that’s best, of course.”
Aaliyah once again thanked the Mother for providing her with such an exceptional young woman.
Ahead she saw one lantern lit outside Kai’s home. Good. That was the signal that everything was all right. “Noriko, there are things you will hear tonight that may shock you. I ask that you trust that I know what I am doing and that I always follows the way of our people.”
Noriko narrowed her eyes. “I know that, Aaliyah. But what will shock me?”
Aaliyah opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it as she saw two people enter Kai’s home. “You will learn soon enough. Come on.”
Aaliyah ushered Noriko inside. Kai’s house was similar to Aaliyah and Noriko’s, except that the exterior of his was white. Kai had lived on his own since his son, Masu, moved out two years ago. Masu had become a member of the Guard. In fact, it seemed that everyone who was beginning to question the priestess had a member of the family in the Guard or in another position that placed them close to the priestess. Aaliyah didn’t think that was a coincidence. And she worried the same fate may be in store for Noriko when her ability became common knowledge.
Inside Kai’s small foyer, two women Aaliyah had been friends with since childhood stood talking quietly. Aaliyah nodded to them but didn’t stop. She ushered Noriko down the small hallway and into the kitchen, which was open to the family room. A dozen people sat scattered through both rooms, most of them Aaliyah’s age.
Noriko looked wary, but as her eyes moved from one familiar face to another, her nervousness seemed to reduce.
Aaliyah squeezed her hand and nodded to the couch along the back wall. “Why don’t you go take a seat?”
Noriko nodded, but Aaliyah could see some of her nervousness return. She squeezed Noriko’s arm. “It will be all right.”
Noriko searched her face before giving an abrupt nod and turning for the couch.
Aaliyah moved over to the dark-haired man standing by the doors. “Is everyone here?” she asked.
Kai nodded. “Yes. A few couldn’t make it, but I will speak with them personally afterwards.”
She lowered her voice. “Did Hanale get away all right?” Kai had smuggled Hanale off the island this morning.
“He was reunited with his family.”
Aaliyah smiled. “Okay. I guess then we need to get started.”
Kai looked into her eyes. “You’ve got this.”
Looking back at him, Aaliyah could feel his strength and support. And she realized that somewhere in the past few years, while the priestess had been changing things, her own feelings for Kai had changed as well: from friendship to something more. She wasn’t sure if they had shifted for him as well, but once all of this calmed down, she planned on finding out.
“We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we?” Aaliyah asked.
Kai nodded. “You know this is how we are supposed to be. The priestess is our leader, but if she is not holding to the old ways, it is up to us to hold to them. The laws of this world don’t mean much compared to the laws of our souls.”
“You are right. As always.”
“And I never get tired of hearing you admit that.”
She laughed. “Well, you may have to return for a lifetime or two to reduce your ego.”
He smiled, his brown eyes twinkling. “As long as you return with me.”
The scrape of a chair reminded Aaliyah that they weren’t alone. With an encouraging nod from Kai, she turned to face the group. “Thank you all for coming tonight. A development has occurred that you need to be aware of.” She paused. There was no easy way to say this. “We have been contacted about murders that some on the outside believe may have been committed by some of our exiles.”
There was a collective gasp in the room, followed by a burst of questions. Aaliyah held up her hand. “I will tell you everything I know, and then we can discuss what should be done.”
Aaliyah told them about the phone call and the murders. The crowd looked more horrified the longer she spoke. “Now, I’m sure you are wondering why they contacted us.” Aaliyah paused. “I took the liberty of gathering more details on the murders. This may be difficult for you to hear but I think it is important that you know.”
Aaliyah searched Noriko’s face and noted that it had grown paler. There was nothing she could do about that. Because of Noriko’s visions, she had even more need to know about what was going on than anyone else in the room. When the knowledge of her ability became known, she would catch the eye of the priestess. And Aaliyah needed her to be prepared.
“The victims are killed on an altar. They are drained of blood, and their heart is removed, then burned. But their death is the result of water being poured endlessly into their throat.”
The room stirred, and Aaliyah could see that more than one person recognized the description.
“It is a return of the old ways,” murmured Babette, who was sitting at the table. “The ritual of the moon and the sun.”
Aaliyah nodded. “So it would appear.”
The older members of the group looked concerned, but the younger members just looked confused. “The ritual of the moon and the sun—the end and the beginning—is from our dark times,” Aaliyah explained, feeling the weight of the words.
“But that’s just a myth,” someone called out.
Kai shook his head. “No. When the motherland broke up, some of our people turned to brutal methods to deal with the changes in the earth. It was paganism, it was against God, but they were desperate. They believed that if they offered enough, the earth would calm, and all would be right.”
“Our ancestors could almost be forgiven their ignorance,” Aaliyah added. “But whoever was behind these new sacrifices is not ignorant.”
Seymour, who was sitting next to Noriko, spoke up. “But you do not think… You do not think it is our people, do you?”
Aaliyah’s gaze swept the room before she nodded. “I believe it may be, yes.”
Her answer was like a thunderclap. Everyone began speaking at once.
Aaliyah held up her hand for silence. After a few moments, everyone returned their attention to her. “I cannot say for sure it is our people, but because of the nature of the murders, who else could it be? Who would know of the ritual? We need to be sure.”
“But why would they do this?” a voice called out.
Kai nodded at Aaliyah, and she took comfort in his gaze. “We know the first great end came when the world became selfish and cruel,” she began. “At that time, a small group of the Children took it upon themselves to wipe out the cruel ones, to try and turn back the tide. I believe the same reasoning is at work now. Some believe that if they can remove the evildoers, the world can be saved.”
“But that’s crazy,” someone said.
Aaliyah gave the group a small smile. “We have been raised on the belief that the Fallen are the source of all evil. And the world is becoming more dangerous.”
“But is it the Fallen that are being killed?” Babette asked.
Aaliyah shook her head. “No. It is their associates, their intimates.”
“But then it is not like the olden times. It is different.”
Aaliyah paused again, knowing that everyone in the room wanted her to be wrong. Aaliyah wanted to be wrong herself. But she knew she wasn’t. “I do not think so.”
“But why?” Babette asked.
Aaliyah exchanged a glanced with Kai. He gave her a nod. “It was the ring bearer who was asking about the murders,” Aaliyah said.
A gasp went across the room. But Noriko only looked confused, as did a few of the other younger members.
Aaliyah spoke quietly. “The ring bearer is the one individual given the power to fight back the Fallen. When she is called, it means the world has reached a critical point. And she is involved, which means we are at that point. We need to act.”
�
�But the ring bearer is even more than that,” Kai said. “She is the guardian of the Great Mother. She is her agent here on earth. If this woman is indeed the ring bearer, then it is our duty to help her.”
Aaliyah looked across the faces in front of her. The older members looked shocked. They had been raised on the stories of the Great Mother and her agent of good. But none had believed she’d appear during their lifetimes.
The younger members just looked confused. When the priestess was appointed fourteen years ago, she had decided that the ring bearer should not be emphasized as much in the children’s teaching. She said the violence of her role would be disconcerting for the children. Aaliyah had thought the decision unwise, but she could not fault the priestess’s logic. The tales of the ring bearer’s deeds were indeed bloody. But now, Aaliyah wondered if there might have been another reason for the priestess’s suggestion.
“What about the high priestess? What does she think?” someone asked.
Aaliyah swallowed, knowing her next words could mean her exile or worse. “The priestess does not recognize the signs. It is up to us.”
A man stepped into the room from the hallway. He must have arrived late. Aaliyah’s heart clenched. Enzo.
Enzo’s gaze scanned the room before settling on Aaliyah. “We are the descendants of the first people—the keepers of the old ways, of the true way. But the true way does not involve violence in any form. If others engage in violence, we should let them. It is no stain on us to allow others to make their own choices.”
Kai spoke quietly. “Perhaps we are wrong in that. Allowing others to do harm when there is a chance to do good—where is the rightness in that? Is that who we truly are? People who turn a blind eye?”
Enzo shook his head. “The outside world has set themselves up for this fall. The priestess tells us of how they have destroyed this world. How they continue to do so to line their own pockets.”
Aaliyah knew she was on shaky ground here. One wrong word and this house of cards would tumble. “The priestess is right. There are those who line their pockets. But there are also those who struggle to do the right thing—who fight to do the right thing.” She paused. “And one of those people is the ring bearer.”
