by Alex Siegel
"I already told you," Gabriel said. "I will not cooperate with the Prince of Darkness."
The legate crouched down until their noses almost touched. "I'm not the Devil, but I can be very unpleasant. Look into my eyes. What do you see?"
"Eternity," he whispered.
"These are the eyes of God, and they are displeased by what they see."
"What do you mean? Why wouldn't God like me? I've practically memorized the Bible."
"Memorizing is not the same as reading," the legate said. "Quoting is not the same as understanding. I've heard about your group of thugs. You use the Bible to justify mindless brutality. You're terrorists."
"We fight demons."
"You demonize those you disagree with. Where is my friend? Tell me!"
Gabriel clenched his jaw.
The legate wiped off her machetes on his clothes. She slipped them into hidden sheaths under the back of her jacket. She drew a thin knife with a black, serrated blade from her sleeve, and without warning, she stabbed his pelvis. He screeched and squirmed but was helpless to protect himself.
"The prostate is very sensitive," she said. "It's only the size of a walnut, a difficult target to hit blind, but I'm an expert in human anatomy."
He groaned.
"That pain was from God. This is from me." She gave the knife a savage twist.
Gabriel made a sound a grown man wasn't supposed to make. Hanley squeezed his legs together in sympathy.
"Do you want me to find another sensitive spot?" the legate said. "I know plenty of them."
"They took her away!" Gabriel gasped.
"Who did?"
"My Guardians. She gave herself up. She didn't fight at all."
She furrowed her brow. "Explain."
"I can't. I heard something on the radio about Sheila and King Edward. It made no sense."
"I think I understand." The legate sighed. "Where did they take her?"
"Their orders were to put her in a car and drive west. That's the last I heard."
"Where are your cars?"
Gabriel hesitated.
She pulled out the bloody knife and held the tip above his right eye. "Where?" Her voice was just a harsh whisper.
"By the swimming pool."
The legate rammed the knife into his eye. She stood up and kicked the handle, driving the knife into his brain. Blood oozed out.
"Let's go!" she yelled.
She ran out of the shed and sped away. Hanley, Katie, Yang, and Boreas did their best to follow, but it was like chasing the wind.
The swimming pool wasn't too far away, and the rest of the team soon caught up to the legate. A parking lot beside the pool contained a line of identical white SUV's. She was prowling among the cars like an angry lion. Hanley noticed military features such as automatic tire inflation systems.
"We may be too late, ma'am," he said.
"Hide!" the legate said. "They might still show up."
Everybody found good spots among the cars. A setting sun provided long, helpful shadows.
While they waited, Hanley listened to the sirens. It sounded like the entire Sunnyvale Police Department and probably a good chunk of the Fire Department were near the community center. It wouldn't be long before a curious cop or two decided to check out the swimming pool.
* * *
"We lost Gabriel and his squad, sir," a console operator said.
Vulture looked up at the operator. She was a black woman with tightly curled hair.
"The whole squad just vanished?" Vulture said.
"So it seems, sir."
He snarled. He wasn't too worried about Gabriel getting captured because the idiot hardly knew anything, but it wasn't a good precedent to set.
"Warn all the other squads that the enemy is out there," Vulture said. "If they report any engagements, make sure they don't get taken alive. Do you understand?"
The operator nodded somberly. "Yes, sir."
"Give me a general update."
"The Guardians are scattering, mostly on foot. I estimate sixty survived. The police are pouring into the park."
Vulture allowed himself to feel some hope the day would be a success after all. He still had a decent number of men to work with. Of course, the big bonus prize was the woman who thought she was Sheila. A few well-crafted lies would pry out all of her secrets. If it turned out she was a member of the Gray Spear Society, she could lead him to Olivia and much, much more.
A grin spread across his face. Being lucky was better than being good.
* * *
Hanley heard the men with his palms just before he saw them. Five guys were trying to use the limited cover available to approach the white SUV's. They had the characteristic headsets of the enemy and were carrying assault rifles, but their movements were suspicious enough on their own.
Hanley waved to the legate and pointed.
She nodded.
She moved to a better ambush position. He thought Marina had slick ninja moves, but the legate was unreal. She glided sideways in total silence at a pace faster than he could run.
The enemy had to cross open ground at the end to reach the cars. As soon as they were fully exposed, all five members of the Society emerged from hiding with their weapons drawn.
One of the men began to jabber into his headset, calling for help.
A second later, all five headsets detonated, spraying a shower of blood across the parking lot. Some of it spattered onto Hanley's face. The sonic shockwave striking his palms was intensely painful. Five bodies dropped to the asphalt.
"Fuck," he muttered.
The legate ran over and kicked one of the corpses. "Where is Marina?" she yelled at the body.
He realized this situation was harder on her than anybody else. She had worked with Marina for many years, much longer than any member of the San Francisco team.
Flashing red and blue lights drew Hanley's attention to the north. His palms detected the engines of approaching cars. It seemed the exploding headsets had attracted attention.
"The police are coming this way, ma'am," he said.
The legate grunted angrily. "Let's go home."
She stalked off, and everybody else followed.
* * *
Marina recognized Pillar Point Harbor immediately. She had been here several times before.
The harbor was in Half Moon Bay on the California Coast. The waters of the Pacific Ocean were rough, but the curled shape of the Bay and two layers of breakwaters protected the harbor. A combination of commercial fishing boats and pleasure boats were docked in the hundreds of berths. The harbor was also a base for search and rescue operations in the Pacific Ocean.
The location was just eight miles from Marina's former headquarters in Pacifica. Being so close to home brought up a flood of distracting memories. She kept reminding herself that her name was "Sheila." Soon, she would be back with her lover, Edward.
The Guardians parked their cars on the beach rather than in the actual harbor. A big, red speedboat was partially on the sand, and six men were sitting in it. They were wearing black body armor, and they kept their hands low as if they were holding weapons out of sight. The men who had kidnapped Olivia had worn exactly the same kind of armor.
The Guardians hustled Marina across the sand to the speedboat. They were treating her like a dangerous criminal which she didn't understand. She was doing her best to cooperate.
As she approached the boat, she saw the men in armor had .45 caliber pistols in their hands. She smiled at them to defuse the tension. She climbed into the boat and sat in a center seat. One of the men immediately cuffed her hands behind her back.
"Hey!" she said. "That isn't necessary. I'm King Edward's consort, not some kind of assassin."
She was ignored. The Guardians pushed the speedboat into the ocean without getting in, and then they returned to their car.
The driver of the speedboat backed it up until they were clear of the shore. Then he spun the wheel and headed west towards a sett
ing sun. Only the choppy, blue waters of the Pacific lay ahead.
* * *
Ipo checked the rearview mirror for the thousandth time, and he looked up through the windshield at the sky. There was no sign of a tail.
"We're finally here," he announced.
He drove past the wooden sign for "Perpetual Energy Technology" and up a smoothly paved driveway. He went past the green, concrete walls of headquarters.
"What is this place?" Olivia said.
"Our headquarters. Normally, we don't let outsiders set foot here, but you're a special case. This location is top secret. Never tell anybody. That rule is for your safety as well as ours. Got it?"
"OK."
Ipo parked the green Rover in the tent behind headquarters. He got out and checked the vehicle. Bullets had dinged the metal and had chipped the glass all over. It would need serious bodywork before it could be used again.
Olivia hopped onto the ground and looked around. "So many cars!"
"Yes. Come on."
He held her small hand as they walked around to the front of the building. He was impressed by how well she was holding up under difficult conditions. For a nine year-old, she seemed quite mature.
They entered the front, and Ipo was surprised to find Wesley waiting in the white entry chamber. The Voice of Truth was wearing a soft white shirt, white pants, and a gray belt. He had washed and brushed his brown hair. He was so clean, he almost glowed, and even his teeth seemed a little whiter than normal. His sparkling blue eyes studied Olivia.
"Who are you?" she said.
"Wesley." He smiled. "Look into my eyes and learn your destiny."
She stared at him. Ipo wasn't sure what to expect, but she just stood without moving a muscle. Her face became slack.
He noticed Yvonne was in the security booth. He nodded to her and said, "Hi. This is Olivia."
Yvonne just gaped.
After a few minutes, Olivia went to Wesley and put her arms around him. She was weeping silently, but they seemed to be tears of joy. He gave her a hug.
He looked up at Ipo. "I command you and your entire team to protect her. God's enemies won't forget about her. They didn't kill her this time, but they'll certainly try again. It's up to you to make sure they fail."
"I understand," Ipo said.
Wesley gave Olivia a chaste kiss on the cheek. He took her hand and led her towards the back door.
"Come on," he said. "I'll introduce you to everybody. This will be your new home."
Chapter Twenty-two
Plenty of lights showed the enormous outline of the ship directly ahead. It was a floating palace. There were three decks above the main deck, and judging by the portholes, at least two decks were below. A white helicopter was perched on the stern. Three radar dishes were spinning on top, and a satellite dish was mounted on a gimbal which compensated for the motion of the ship.
"The king lives there?" Marina said eagerly.
"Yeah," one of the men in black said with a smirk. "The king. My liege." He winked to another man.
I am Marina Pavlova.
The voice came from deep inside, but she ignored it. It wasn't important.
As the speedboat approached the ship, she saw its name illuminated on the side. It was called the Fearless Star. She recognized it as a famous vessel, owned by a local Silicon Valley billionaire. Maybe King Edward was just borrowing it.
I am Marina Pavlova.
Marina shook her head. That voice wouldn't shut up.
The speedboat docked at a low platform attached to the back of the ship. Everybody got out. She was still in handcuffs and had to be helped over the side. Eight more men in black body armor arrived to guard her, and they had assault rifles. The security precautions were really starting to bother her. As Edward's consort, she deserved much better treatment.
I am Marina Pavlova. My enemies have raped me. They have beaten me. They have tormented me past the breaking point. They're dead now, and I'm still here.
Marina clenched her jaw. She had such a bad headache, it felt like her skull would burst.
A man appeared on the balcony of an upper deck, and he looked down at her. She immediately recognized Edward even though she had seen him only once before. His elegantly groomed beard and mustache were distinctive. A scar marked his otherwise perfect nose. He was wearing a black Kevlar vest over a dark red business suit.
"Sheila?" he called down.
"Oh, Edward!" Marina said. "It's so good to see you again!"
She tried to move towards him, but the guards blocked her way.
"Where did you see me before?"
"On the sailing yacht," she said.
He nodded. "That's what I thought. If only I had known you were there, we both could've saved ourselves a lot of trouble."
I am Marina Pavlova. I have faced a hundred kinds of horror. I have defeated armies of sadistic monsters, and I'm still here.
"You seem distracted, darling," Edward said.
Marina grimaced. "I have a terrible headache. I don't feel good."
"Not a surprise. I expect the past few days have been extremely confusing. Tell me what happened. I'm dying of curiosity."
"It started on the yacht. I went looking for you but couldn't find you. I was about to give up when I saw Olivia. Men were kidnapping her, your men..." She looked at the armed men around her and frowned.
"There is a perfectly good explanation."
"Oh?"
"I'll tell you in private," he said. "Right now, I want to know about Olivia. The little cherub must be very special."
I am Marina Pavlova. I fight for the Lord. I have no fear of His enemies. They fear me!
"Well, it's just umm..." Marina said.
"Stop looking away," Edward said. "Talk to me."
God's rage was making her strong, but His love made her even stronger. The tipping point came when she thought about Aaron. Their bond was unbreakable and eternal. She didn't love Edward at all, and in fact, she hated him.
His name is Vulture, and he's a liar. He must be destroyed.
With that revelation came release. Her headache and confusion evaporated, and the world snapped into crystal-clear focus. For the first time in days, she understood exactly what was happening.
"She is extraordinary," Marina said, "destined for greatness, but you won't live to see it."
Vulture furrowed his brow. "Huh?"
She abruptly forced her way through the circle of men guarding her, jumped over the rail, and dived headfirst into the water. The frigid Pacific Ocean closed in around her, and she allowed herself to sink.
She heard bullets striking the water, but none hit her. The incompressible fluid would cause even the most powerful bullet to break up within a few feet.
She dealt with the handcuffs first. Lock picks were still taped to her shirt, and it took her only fifteen seconds to free herself. She kicked off her shoes and shrugged off her jacket so she could swim easier.
It was difficult to get oriented in the dark water, but after a moment, Marina locked onto glimmers of light above. She swam sideways until she bumped into the hull of the ship. She went up slowly, and when she finally broke the surface, her lungs were burning, but she only allowed herself to take quiet breaths. She huddled against the hull in a spot where the light wouldn't reach her.
She heard splashing noises. Her enemies were jumping into the water to search for her.
She took a huge breath and dived again. She swam underneath the huge ship, a difficult feat. She emerged on the other side feeling tired and cold. She used a little of God's breath to rejuvenate herself.
Searchlights swept back and forth across the ocean, but as long as she stayed next to the ship, the light couldn't reach her.
Marina wanted to get out of the water, but the smooth hull offered no handholds. She swam over to one of the low portholes. The thick glass looked tough, but she could probably break it. She drew a knife from the right leg of her pants. She took off her shirt and pressed it against
the porthole to muffle the impact. She pounded the glass with the handle of her knife using all her strength. The glass cracked and then after a few more hits, shattered.
She carefully took out the chunks of glass so she wouldn't cut herself. When it was safe, she pulled herself through the hole into a dark room.
She paused to gather her thoughts while water dripped from her body. Her primary goal was to kill everybody on the ship. All of them worked for Vulture in some capacity, and he worked for an enemy of God. The entire stain had to be scrubbed clean. She would save Vulture for last because she wanted to spend some quality time with him.
Marina was afraid to turn on the light, so she felt her way around the room. She discovered narrow beds and footlockers. She was in some kind of crew quarters.
She needed to find better equipment before she went on the offensive. She still possessed a couple of thin knives, but they wouldn't do much good in a gunfight. She decided the safest way to proceed was to let the enemy bring equipment to her. They would search the ship thoroughly and eventually reach this room.
With a knife in her hand, she stood near the door.
* * *
Vulture couldn't believe what had happened. Somehow, despite being handcuffed, unarmed, and surrounded by more than a dozen guards, the woman had escaped. It was possible she had drowned in the ocean, but he didn't expect he was that lucky. Members of the Gray Spear Society didn't die that easily, and her actions were evidence that she was, in fact, a member. He had never seen a woman move with such strength and speed. She had barreled through men much bigger than her with her hands behind her back.
Vulture also didn't understand how she had broken free of his lie. Nobody had ever done that before.
At this point, the explanations didn't matter. He had to protect himself and his operation.
He turned around on the balcony and faced the captain of his bodyguards, a man named Davis. "I want four men posted on the bridge. She may try to use the radio to call for help. Put the entire communications system into lockdown mode just to be safe. I want four more guards in the engineering section in case she tries to sabotage the ship. Tell the captain to get the ship underway. I want to be somewhere else fast. The woman's friends might come looking for her."
