The Belial Sacrifice

by R. D. Brady

  There had already been so much death, so many sacrifices. She pictured Victoria before she gave her own life to keep the world safe. Rocky, Kati, Maddox, Drew—they were all dead. And those were only the people in her inner circle. When she extended out further, the numbers grew and grew.

  Sarah’s words meant there was still death and sacrifice to come. On some level, Laney knew that. With the state of the world, it was all but a guarantee. But she wished Sarah had given her some clue that maybe there was something else beyond sacrifice and death in their future.

  She slid silently from the bed, making her way to the window. It was quiet outside. No one was stirring. Movement sounded from behind her. She turned as Cleo brushed against her.

  Okay?

  Laney nodded. “Just a bad dream.”

  Cleo looked into her eyes. Not a dream. Message.

  Laney stared at her friend. You saw?

  Cleo nodded. Laney didn’t truly understand the bond between the two of them. She could understand the other cats and all other animals she came across, but what she shared with Cleo was different. It was as if Cleo was a part of her.

  Cleo’s head lifted up. She moved to the window, staring outside intently. Laney followed her gaze, seeing Jordan hurrying down the road toward her cottage.

  Without a word, she and Cleo went down the stairs to meet him. Slipping on some shoes that she’d left by the front door and a sweatshirt, Laney opened the door. Jordan was halfway down the path and looked relieved as he caught sight of her. “Good. You’re up. I need you to come with me.”

  Laney fell in step next to him, almost jogging to keep up with his pace. “What’s going on? Is it the mission?” She knew Jordan had been on a mission to grab another group from the United States.

  “No, it went fine. But there’s someone who needs to speak with you.”

  Laney frowned. “Who?” But even as she said it, she saw the tall woman standing with her arm around a younger woman clutching a child to her chest.

  Laney gasped, outpacing Jordan as she hurried forward.

  The woman caught sight of her, and after a quick word to the woman, stepped away from her. Her brown hair was still in its pixie cut, her build still strong, but Susan Jacobs, the leader of the American Followers, Fallen, and mother of the deputy director of the CIA, looked tired.

  “Hi, Laney.”

  Chapter 10

  Susan would not leave the front entrance until everyone she came with was seen to. The group was large, over thirty. But even with the size of the group, they soon had everyone sorted out, and she was able to pull Susan away. She ushered her to the control room, placing some waters on the table along with a plate of cheese and crackers. Susan took both gratefully. She closed her eyes as she took the first few bites with a sigh.

  After finishing half a dozen crackers and the glass of water, she finally looked up at Laney. “Sorry to barge in on you.”

  “It’s not a problem. But why are you here? Were you discovered?”

  Susan nodded. “Yes. One of my people turned me in.”

  Laney’s face must have said what her mouth did not, because Susan spoke quickly. “No. It was an impossible situation. The CEI knew that there was an underground helping ferret Fallen and their families to safety. They’d been slowly pinning us in. They got to Logan, one of my most trusted Followers. Threatened his family. He told them where to find me, but he managed to get a message to me ahead of them so I could get out.”

  “What about the underground?”

  Susan shook her head, her chin trembling. “It’s gone. I was the last holdout. The government’s been closing all our escape routes one by one. My people have had to go into hiding themselves. Some are here with you, some are spread out across the globe, hiding with friends and supporters. But I don’t think you’ll be getting many more people. It’s bad out there, Laney.”

  “What about Bruce? Does he know?”

  “I’m sure he does by now. But I don’t want to pull him into this. Besides, he can do more good where he is.”

  “Will they be able to link you two together?”

  “With enough investigation, they probably will. But I don’t think they know I’m a Fallen. They wanted me because I was helping people escape.” She met Laney’s gaze. “The government is incarcerating anyone who aids in the escape of a Fallen.”

  “When did that start? Is that even legal?”

  “According to them, we are aiding and abetting. They haven’t made any announcements, but slowly the people who have helped or failed to turn people in have been getting locked up themselves. It’s happening across the globe.”

  “They’re turning the whole world into us versus them.” Frustration rolled through Laney. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

  “No, but people are scared. And the governments’ response to fear isn’t education but a crackdown. Instead of explaining the monster in the closet is actually just the shadow of a stuffed bunny, they’re blowing up the closet.”

  Laney ran a hand over her face.

  “Hey,” Susan said quietly.

  Laney looked up.

  “You’re doing all you can. Actually, you’re doing more than I ever thought possible. You’ve saved a lot of people.”

  Laney shook her head. “We’ve saved a lot of people. Half these people wouldn’t be here without you.”

  “We all do what we can.”

  “But is it going to be enough?”

  “I don’t know, Laney. I really don’t know.”

  Chapter 11

  Laney was struggling with Susan’s arrival. If Susan was right, then the avenues of escape for Fallen were closing even as the governments were cracking down harder. There needed to be something they could do to change that. But what?

  Ahead, she caught sight of Noriko in the cats’ pen, the cats all circling around her. They really loved her. She was so good with them. Better than Laney, truth be told. Laney could communicate with them, but she was a friend. Noriko had taken over the role of their mom.

  Noriko walked out of the pen. The cats swarmed around her before drifting off in different directions. Even Laney could appreciate the incredibleness of the scene. Noriko, with her slim build and smooth skin, stood smiling in the middle of a pack of giant cats. Each cat touched her gently before taking its leave—their way of saying thank you.

  By the time Laney reached Noriko, there was only Snow by her side. Noriko smiled. “I thought I might see you this morning.”

  “Do you have time to talk?” Laney reached down and rubbed Snow’s side. Morning, girl.

  Hi, Laney.

  “All the cats are fed, so I’m free. I guess this is about last night?”

  “So that wasn’t a dream?”

  “No, but it wasn’t a vision either.”

  Laney frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “My abilities, they’re changing a lot. When I first came into them, they were always in the form of a vision. Something abstract that I had to interpret. But then they became more concrete, more straightforward. And then I began to visit people in different times.”

  “That’s what happened with Samyaza.”

  Noriko nodded. “That was the first time it happened. But it’s happened a few times since.” Noriko looked away.

  Laney pulled her to a stop, studying Noriko’s face. She was paler than normal, and there were dark circles under her eyes. “Is that safe?”

  Noriko shrugged.

  “Noriko.”

  Noriko sighed. “Is what you do safe? We all have a role to play, Laney, and this is mine.”

  Laney wanted to argue with her. Tell her she should be careful, but it would probably be a little hypocritical coming from her. And besides, Noriko had a right to be part of the fight. It was her life and the lives of people she cared about hanging in the balance as well. “So that event, we were actually in the past?”

  “Yes. Sarah needed to speak with you.”

  “So that was real? It wasn’t
some sort of metaphor?”

  “No, it was real. You were in Salem. Sarah, she was speaking directly to you.”

  Sacrifice and death will lead you, and sacrifice and death will follow. Blood will lead the way. Laney shook off the chill at the long-dead woman’s words. “Do you know what she meant about a weapon?”

  “I was hoping you did.”

  “No, not yet.” She looked past Noriko, straining to think of anything that might be the weapon she had referred to.

  “Do you know what the book is?”

  “It’s the Tome of the Great Mother,” said Laney. “It’s an accounting of the loves of the Great Mother since before history.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. It’s pretty amazing.”

  “Do you have a copy?”

  “No. Samyaza had the copy that was in the U.S., and the other copy is held by the Vatican.” Laney paused. “But I do know somebody who has spent a great deal of time studying it. I think I need to go speak with my uncle. Thanks, Noriko.”

  Laney started to head off, but Noriko called out to her. “Laney.”

  She turned.

  “I don’t have a vision or anything to back this up exactly, but I just feel like time is running out. I keep dreaming about a giant wave crashing down on a beach and wiping out everything in its path.”

  “And you think Havenville is the beach?”

  Noriko shook her head. “No. I think the world is the beach.”

  Chapter 12

  After speaking with Noriko, Laney went to see how the Oteros were settling in. She had learned in her new reality that dwelling on issues did not help solve them very often, so she pushed the warnings from Sarah aside. History had shown her that she would learn soon enough what the warning was about. Laney stepped out of the Oteros’ new home, standing on the doorstep.

  “If you need anything,” she said, “be sure to let Wendy or Gina know.”

  Mariana grasped Laney’s hands. “We cannot thank you enough. Without you—” Her words cut off, and tears clouded her eyes.

  Laney patted her hand. “It’s all right. We’re all in the same boat. But you’re safe now. Focus on that.”

  Mariana squeezed her hand. “I will.”

  Laney headed down the path as Cleo slipped from the trees to join her. “Hey, girl. How is everything?”

  Good. Quiet. Boring.

  Laney laughed. “I’ll take boring.”

  A longing to escape the valley for a little while rolled through Laney. “I know. I wish I could take you. But if something happened to you . . .” Laney shook her head. “I can’t take that chance.”

  Cleo stopped glaring at Laney before turning and heading in the opposite direction. Laney blew out a breath. Great. She knew how much Cleo wanted out. But the countries of the world wanted a cat even more than a Fallen. All the cats were now hiding in Havenville. There were acres and acres of land for them to roam through, but Laney knew they needed more, or at least Cleo did. But while there was a chance Laney or any of the others could blend into a crowd, that was not an option for Cleo. No one was going to believe that Cleo was an oversized housecat.

  But she hated Cleo being mad at her. Maybe she could take her out for a run one night when it was quiet.

  “Hey, Laney.”

  Laney looked up as Henry walked down the street toward her. Standing at seven foot two, he towered over everyone in Havenville. With his dark hair and violet eyes, her brother looked nothing like her. But the connection she felt when she saw him cemented his place in her heart. He was her home, her family.

  She smiled at his easygoing walk. There was a calmness to her brother these days, as if Jen’s pregnancy had put the final piece of his life in place. Laney linked her arm through his as he joined her. “Hey yourself. Where are you coming from?”

  “Dom’s.”

  The smile slid from Laney’s face. “Yeah. I was there this morning.”

  Dom was not doing well. Gina had actually moved into the cottage next door to him so she could watch over him, but he was struggling. Being without his bomb shelter required an adjustment he just couldn’t make. Lou, Rolly, and Danny had all moved in with him. Cain and Nyssa were in the cottage on the other side of him. Laney and Drake were in the cottage directly behind him, and Jen and Henry were directly in front of him. He did better when people he knew were around. But anything could set him off. A noise, a scent—it was going to be a long road back.

  “Did he have a spell?”

  Henry nodded. “Yeah.”

  Laney closed her eyes. He hadn’t had a spell for two weeks. She’d thought maybe they were in the clear. When they’d first arrived, he’d had them daily, sometimes multiple times a day. He’d curl up on the ground, his hands over his ears, crying, screaming, or sometimes just repeating the same phrase over and over again: Nowhere is safe. Nowhere is safe.

  It was heartbreaking. Laney didn’t know what to do to help him. No one did. Usually it required Gina sedating him to get him to calm down. “Is he okay now?”

  “Yeah. He tends to snap about of them pretty quickly. Athena is with him.”

  Laney nodded. Athena was one of the cats. She had taken to Dom as soon as she met him. That was how it usually worked with the cats: They found their person and were completely loyal to them. “Do you know what set him off?”

  Henry shook his head. “No. He was in the house. Lou and Danny had just left. Lou forgot something, went back, and he was already curled up on the floor.”

  Laney closed her eyes, picturing the scene she’d seen too many times. Guilt once again weighed her down. She should have taken steps to protect him. They all should have realized he’d been taken. They thought he’d be safe. He wasn’t a Fallen. He shouldn’t have been taken. He wasn’t covered by Rigley’s executive order. But the lines of the law seemed to become blurred when it came to anyone related to the Fallen at this point. They had underestimated how far the President would go. Naively, they had thought the protections of the Constitution would protect them. As she glanced around, she knew now that naivety had cost them, but of all the people, it had cost Dom and Molly McAdams the most.

  “I saw Molly earlier,” Henry said as if reading her mind. “She’s doing well. Zaria never leaves her side.”

  Zaria was Zane’s sister. Molly had never met her before she stepped through the portal, but Zaria was waiting for her. She had broken out of the enclosure they’d kept the cats locked up in when they first arrived, wanting to give everyone a chance to get used to them before allowing them to roam freely. But Zaria wouldn’t let herself be contained. She knew where she needed to be.

  Molly had taken one look at Zaria and burst into tears. She looked almost identical to Zane, except for one small white patch on her chest. Now Zaria lived with the McAdamses. She wasn’t a replacement for Zane. She was someone sharing the loss with Molly.

  Laney glanced down the street. The McAdamses lived on the other side of Cain. “You know, maybe I’ll go stop by and see—”

  “Laney!” Danny hurried down the street toward them.

  A few people stopped to watch him go by with alarm. Damn it, Danny. They were trying to keep this place calm. Everyone was unsettled with the move here, with leaving their lives. As a result, there was a concerted effort to keep Havenville as peaceful as they could manage. There was no need to worry everyone with issues that they could not help. That burden was shared by a dozen or so people who had started the journey with Laney.

  Annoyed as Laney was, her gut clenched at the look on his face. Something big must be up. Danny stepped out of the gate every morning and evening to check his computer feeds. The signal couldn’t get through to where they were. Danny was working on the problem but was not hopeful on coming up with a solution.

  Henry and Laney met him in the middle of the street. Danny sucked in a breath. “It just came over the—”

  Laney grabbed his arm. “Not here.”

  Danny looked around, realizing they had an audience. He w
inced. “Sorry. Right.”

  “Come on. We’ll go to Gina’s.” Her cottage was the closest. Laney made a conscious effort to smile at each person they passed and act like everything was fine, even as she felt Danny all but vibrating with nervous energy next to her.

  Gina was just stepping out of her cottage as the three of them turned down her path. Gina’s eyebrows rose. “Everything okay?”

  Laney kept her voice low. “Not sure. Danny has some news.”

  Gina opened the door. “Come on in.” Laney didn’t even wait for the door to close. As soon as everyone was inside, she asked, “What happened?”

  Danny spoke in a rush, as if the act of not speaking on the walk over had been like him holding back the tide. “I’ve been monitoring the dark web. I thought if some secondary group or individual, not a government, found something to do with the Omni, they’d try to sell it there first.”

  “Someone’s found it?” Henry asked.

  “I think so. He’s a former Russian general. He had ties to Elisabeta.” Danny quickly explained about Calevitnia and Yanovich’s role in Elisabeta’s plan. With each word that fell from his mouth, the sense of forbidding doom that had started at the pit of her stomach when Danny called out to her grew.

  “It’s an auction. Pretty much any country or individual with money has been invited to participate. It’s going to happen tonight,” Danny finished.

  Laney’s mind raced. “Okay. Between Cain’s money, what Victoria stashed away, and—”

  Danny shook his head. “We can’t bid.”

  “What?”

  “It’s by invitation only. There’s no way to get into the auction. I mean, if I had a few days and we could physically get into some government buildings, we might be able to. But there’s not enough time.”