A Shade of Innocence (The Illuminati Book 1)

by Jane West

  “Oh, I see.”

  “Back to the histories, it didn't take Jon long to figure out that the Family was behind this. Angered by Sara's betrayal, Jon confronted Sara over his findings. Of course, Sara denied having the account, claiming it had to be another Sara Ray. Jon was steps ahead of her. He'd had Sara tailed, confronting her with incriminating pictures. As expected, this prompted Jon, demanding a divorce and custody of you. Sara knew Jon's wily ways of the law, and she knew he'd have the upper hand. It wouldn't be hard proving her as an unfit mother with all the truckers Sara had been keeping company with in town.”

  A new and unexpected pain surged through me. “Good God! I had no idea.”

  “You were a mere child then. How could you have known?” Bane reached over and caressed my back. “I'm sorry to inform you of these deplorable accounts, however, it's imperative that you know the truth.”

  “No, it's okay.” I nodded. “Go on. Finish, please.” I straightened my shoulders and swallowed the lump.

  “I know this is a lot to digest at once.” He released a sharp sigh and continued. “Sara became paranoid that if Jon followed through with his threat, the Family might pull out of the contract, leaving her penniless.”

  “There's no silver lining to this story is there?”

  “I'm afraid it gets worse.” He sighed. “As the histories read, Sara sought out an undisclosed associate of the Family. As a supporter of the cause, he helped Sara. He materialized a car, saturated with dark enchantments, and it was Sara driving the vehicle, ending your father's life upon impact. Jon didn't see her coming because the car was invisible.”

  My whole body went numb. “That explains why the police couldn't find any evidence. Oh my God!” The story seemed so preposterous yet I knew it was the truth. I snapped my head up at Bane. “Did Zak help Sara kill my father?”

  “No. Zak and his companion merely advised Sara that even though Jon was dead, she still was under the contract and she must comply. She'd been keeping company with a particularly shady character. The Family wanted her to understand they were watching and would not tolerate any foul behavior.”

  “That's the reason we left that night. I remember how Sara's face had gone pale with terror. It was like yesterday and we've been running since. All this time, I blamed the illness for her restlessness.” I inhaled a jagged breath. Then I had to know. I asked, “If you'd known about all this with Sara, why didn't you stop her from killing my father?”

  “If I'd known, I would've stepped in but I had no idea. I discovered this recently when the accounts fell into my lap. The Family keeps record of every event that has transpired since the beginning of time.” Bane paused, “You must know that I would lay my life down to protect you.”

  “I know that now.” I shrugged. “It's just I've been living a lie most of my life. It would've been nice to know the truth as to why Sara bounced from town to town.”

  “Yes, Sara was trying to hide, but her efforts were futile. She didn't know but the Family had tagged both of you.”

  “Tagged?” I didn't like the sound of that.

  “Yes, implants, a tracking device.” Aidan spoke calmly.

  “That explains how Zak easily found me.” I caught his gaze. “Do I still have an implant?”

  “No, that dissolved the moment you came to live with me.”

  “Oh! So I can't be tracked?”

  “Correct.” He faintly smiled. “You are under my protection. I do things differently.”

  I scoffed, “Like locking me up in my bedroom?”

  “If I'd told you not to wander the halls at night would you have listened?”

  “You're right, following directions isn't my best attribute, but I don't understand why I needed to be locked away in my room.”

  “I know it seems extreme measures, but I did it to protect you. I didn't want you running into the unsavory creatures I sometimes consort with.” Bane's lips tightened.

  I reckoned whether I agreed with him or not, I needed to accept his way and move on to the next question, “So, now what? Where do we go from here?”

  “I'm going to speak with the councilmen tonight.” Aidan sighed. “It's our yearly meeting, Samhain. Most know it as Halloween. I'm planning to turn my uncle in for treason. They may hold me accountable as well. Regardless of the outcome, I won't allow my uncle to take your life.”

  “I don't understand why he wants to end my life? Is it because I'm different?”

  “Remember I said you are a genetically altered angel?”

  “How could I forget,” I half laughed.

  “The purpose of your creation is to bridge the gap between life and death. Through you, we can create a world free from sickness and death. Even famine would be a thing of the past. We call it The New World Order.”

  “That sounds great, but I don't see how one person can change an entire planet.”

  “It won't be an overnight change. It would be up to you and me.” He paused. “Since we are a perfect match, our children would be immortal, never to face sickness or death. They would live their life as intended, humankind living in perfect harmony, never dying or growing old.”

  “So the Illuminati created me to fill the new world with healthy children with you?”

  “Yes, we are soul mates, or for a better term—spirit mates. Unlike humans, you don't have a soul, you have an essence which makes you even more unique.”

  “The Family calls me Dream Angel, and I'm an angel?”

  “Yes, you're correct.”

  “And we are spirit mates, like made to be lovers?”

  “Yes.”

  “That sounds like hormones?”

  Bane flashed a lopsided grin. “Our hearts are joined as one. Is that not proof enough?”

  I thought of Logan. Looking back, I didn't feel this static charge like I had with Bane, and when Sam kissed me, I didn't feel a thing. “I reckon we do have a connection,” I whispered.

  Bane took me into his arms and leaned in, taking claim of my mouth. When he pulled back, his eyes appeared saddened. “I will never forget you, even in my death.” And in the next breath, the glimmer in his eyes disappeared. “We have to get going. I have to be at the castle to meet with the council and confront Van.”

  “You're putting your life on the line for me?” I searched his eyes, terrified of the outcome.

  “I won't let him harm you.”

  “If you reveal to the council that you had conspired with your uncle, they will kill you.”

  Bane's jaw tensed. “I don't see another way around it. Once the council is aware of my uncle's scheme, they will arrest him, and you will be safe.”

  Bane gently tugged me to my feet and gathered me into his arms. “Hang on, Princess!” He smiled down at me as I shut my eyes tight. The whirling struck, stealing my breath, but this time it didn't seem as violent.

  Before I realized it, we were back on Saint Ann Street in front of Ms. Noel's house by my car. The storm was fierce as ever. Lightning crackled across the dark sky as thunder rumbled, rain was coming at us sideways.

  Bane pulled from his pocket something small and shiny. He clasped my hand, placing it in my palm and closing my fingers around it. His voice was loud over the hammering rain and hallowing winds. “I want you to have this in case I don't make it. I'm sorry for my part in this tragedy. I wish we could've had more time together.” He gathered my chin into the palm of his hand. “You mean more to me than you'll ever know, my love.” His blues danced with intensity.

  I opened my hand and saw a key. I jerked my gaze back to him, my brows collided, confused. “What is this?”

  “It belongs to a safety box at the Savings and Loan bank downtown. There are bonds; enough money for you to live on for the rest of your life.”

  “Aidan, are you saying you're going to die?”

  “Anything is possible. That's why I want you to get the hell out of here. Don't stop until you are far away from here. Do you understand me? No argument! I don't want you anywhere n
ear the castle. If Van sees you, he'll kill you.”

  “Aidan, I can't leave you to face Van and his minions alone!” My throat ached with tears.

  “Baby girl, I am more than capable of taking care of myself. Trust me and go!” He bent his head to the side and kissed me, drawing me flushed against his lean body. I raked my hands through his black locks and kissed him back with just as much fervor. Rain was coming off the two of us, but it didn't waver our trance.

  Then in the next instant, he'd vanished. He had left before I'd had a chance to stop him. I wanted to crumble to the ground, knowing that I may never see him again. I dropped to my knees as surging water gushed over me.

  I had to pull myself together and get out of sight. I stumbled to my feet, struggling against the rainwater pulverizing my body. I had to take shelter. With the relentless rain pounding me, I dove into the driver's seat of my car, quickly closing the door behind me.

  My fingers had gone numb as I fumbled with the key, jabbing it into the ignition. I paused, staring outside at the downpour pummeling everything in sight, the wind whipping the trees back and forth, the swelling drainage ditches. The water was collecting fast, and I was terrified. My car was small and light. It wouldn't take much to be swept away by the raging waters. I didn't know what to do or where to go. Traveling in this storm was suicide.

  Chances of me escaping Bane's uncle was slim to none. Then why run? Shouldn't I stay and fight? Sam's suggestion came to mind. Could he have been truthful? Was it possible that if Bane and I infused our powers together that we'd become invincible? No one could hurt us! I shook my head, laughing, on the verge of hysteria. If there were an ounce of truth to this theory, I had to act on it.

  Doused in a dark coating of weird, I believed this strange world existed and with some uncanny fate, I'd been brought into the folds of this calamity whether I was up for the challenge or not.

  Accepting that fact, I had to address the next imminent question—did I want to be fettered to Aidan Bane Du Pont for the rest of my life? I reckoned, since both our lives were on the line, it was a small price to pay. The illogical was the logical. I had to find Bane before it was too late. I couldn't stand by and let him die for nothing.

  I hastily turned the ignition. The motor churned but wouldn't roll over. The more I tried, the more my battery dragged. “Damnit!” I gritted my teeth muttering curses. I slammed my shoulders back into the seat and took a long breath, giving it a rest for a minute. Then I tried the ignition once more. This time, I got the clicking sounds of a dead motor. “Son of a bitch!” I pounded my fist against the steering. “Now what do I do?” Tears clouded my vision as I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “Of all nights my car had to stall!”

  I glimpsed out the window. Streaks of rain lined the windshield. Raging water surged on both sides of my little bug. I knew Saint Ann Street would soon swallow me up. In this neck of the woods, flooding was a common menace. The river was merciless during the rainy season, often water levels rose, flowing over inland and destroying everything in its path.

  If I stayed in the car, I'd drown.

  I had to get to Bane's and pronto. How did I do this on foot? Then a light went off in my head. I spotted Francis' car. I bit my bottom lip. Half the time, Sara left the keys in the ignition. A spark of hope lit the fire under my ass as I flew out of the car, fighting through the mud and raging water. I headed for his old Cadillac, a 1975 tank. It might get me to Bane's castle. That was my theory at least.

  The Other Woman

  Daylight had broken, but the storm hovered over us in darkness. The sun had vanished behind the bruised clouds, hopeless and gloomy. It was as if the heavens had reined havoc upon us unfortunate souls.

  The whole idea racing off in a dead man's car through this godless cyclone had to be bat-shit crazy. Yet here I was with insanity strap to me like a chastity belt barreling down the flooded streets, praying I made it to the castle safely.

  I kept my eyes on the road and my foot on the gas, plowing through the rainstorm. Despite the fact that Francis' car was a heavy lug that weighed a ton, I could feel the tires hydroplaning.

  Rain hindered my vision even with the wipers on full speed. I jumped with a start when a huge blast of thunder roared and lightning ripped across the sky. I was terrified, but I didn't let my fear stop me. I kept plugging on. I had to get to Bane before it was too late.

  Coiling around a bend on a back road, using poor judgment, I turned the wheel too sharply. Before I corrected the error, the car went into a tailspin. I slammed on the brakes which I soon realized was a huge mistake too. Out of panic and fear, I screamed, shutting my eyes tight, knowing that I was about to wrap this lug around a tree.

  It all happened so fast. I slammed my head into the steering wheel, knocking me silly. Pain pierced through my muddled brain as I touched my forehead and drew back something sticky and wet. My eyes dropped to my fingers blood! Soon everything became a blur.

  When my eyes opened, I was laying across the seat of Sam's old Ford truck, my head in his lap as he sat in the driver's seat.

  The first thing that prompted my attention was the throbbing pain from my forehead. I touched it and quickly withdrew. “Ouch!” I squinted against the pain. “What happened,” I groggily asked.

  “Chickadee, you smashed into a tree. You'll be okay. A little blood never hurt anyone.” Through the light of the cab, I glimpsed up at Sam's bright smile. I was glad he found me.

  Then I drew in a sharp breath, jolting to a sitting position. “How long have I've been out?”

  “I don't know. I found you conked out.”

  “What time is it?”

  “10 o'clock.”

  “In the morning?” my voice hovered on the edge of hysteria.

  “Huh! Chickadee, you must've hit your head harder than I thought. No, evening.”

  “Holy crap! Sam, I need you to take me to Bane's castle, I have to find him before it's too late.” My eyes pleaded with him.

  “Too late for what, Chickadee?” Sam's face expressed confusion.

  “I don't have time to explain. Can you help me or not,” I snapped.

  Sam paused, eyeing me suspiciously. “Do you think that's wise considering everything you know about him?”

  “Yes!” I wrung his coat into my fingers, making him look me straight in the eyes. “I know I sound like a raving lunatic, but you have to listen to me.”

  Sam blew out a harsh breath, eyes wide as he replied, “Okay, Chickadee, batten down the hatch! It's gonna be a bumpy ride!” He turned the key, the engine roared. He grabbed the gear with vigor and shoved it forward, hitting the accelerator. We were on the road headed to the castle. “How did you manage to wrap your car around a tree?”

  “I lost control of the car going around the bend. Everything else after that is a blur.”

  “Why are you out in this shit-storm?”

  I gaped, “Have you lost your mind? You do remember our lengthy discussion at Ms. Noel's, right?”

  Sam glimpsed at me, taking his eyes off the road for a second. “I'm sorry for the things I said about your dad, man.”

  “I know we were all stressed and sometimes things are said out of anger. Don't worry about it.” I bit my bottom lip and I continued. “I know you don't trust Aidan Bane, but I do. Call me stupid but my gut tells me to believe him.” My eyes steadied on Sam's face.

  His eyes churned, holding my gaze. “Right or wrong, you have to follow your gut.” He smiled and gunned the gas.

  I smiled back, feeling relief. “Thank you, Sam! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  I sat back in my seat, inhaling deeply. The sense of urgency hovered over me, but for a minute, I could breathe. I didn't know what I would've done if Sam had refused. Even though Sam and Bane didn't like each other, still, I was relieved to have him respect my position. Who would've thought that Sam was my protector? Perhaps I had judged him too hastily. After all, he was my guardian. All the bad behavior had been a masquerade to fool eve
ryone. In a crazy way, it made sense and eased my mind knowing he could be trusted.

  The long stretch of road was treacherous, sharp winding curves that threatened death. The relentless rain still hammered us hard.

  My nerves were unhinged as I wrung my hands, tapping my foot. I got the impression that tension had stolen Sam's tongue. He didn't utter a word the whole way.

  I didn't mind the silence. I wasn't in the mood for aimless chatter, and I certainly didn't want to discuss why I was on this highway headed to Bane's castle. For what it was worth, I was grateful for Sam's silence and his skillful driving. Since he was a local, he knew these hazardous roads inside and out. I reckoned luck was on my side. Having Sam find me was a godsend.

  I didn't have to give him directions to the castle. Of course, with a midcentury castle in the state of Louisiana, I imagined everyone knew its location.

  After a fight through this crazy storm, we reached the gates of Castle Manière. Strangely, the gates were wide open. The gates were always closed.

  “Sam, have you ever been here before?”

  “Right before school started, I came to a party. Don't remember much afterwards. Too much booze,” he said with a winked, grinning. “There's a Halloween party tonight by the way.”

  “Here at the castle?” Why didn't I know?

  “Yep! That's what Old Blue said.” Sam glimpsed out his window. Though the clouds remained angry looking, the rain had stopped. “I doubt there'll be that many coming. If I were a bettin' guy, I'd bet that the party got canceled.”

  “Maybe but then why are the gates opened?”

  He shrugged, “Can't say for sure. Why?”

  “Hello! Have you seen this place? Why would Bane leave the castle wide open for someone to rob?” I shrugged both shoulders. “This isn't like him. He's too private.”

  All at once, Sam's eyes hitched to something down the drive. “Maybe that's the reason why?” Sam nodded up ahead.

  I followed his lead and nearly dropped my teeth. Several cars lined the drive. Not just your everyday run of the mill, Buick's either, these cars were the cream of the crop, royalty quality with deep pockets. “Whoa!” I barely breathed. This must be the Family that Aidan mentioned, the Family that only came on important occasions. An unexpected dread paled my face.