The Belial Guard (The Belial Series Book 8)

by R. D. Brady

  “Perhaps the switchboard—”

  “I did not call her through the switchboard. I got cell phones for Aaliyah and me two years ago—just in case.”

  “Just in case of what?”

  Kai met her gaze. "Honu Keiki is not what it once was.”

  “You mean the priestess.”

  Kai nodded. “I think she knows Aaliyah is not loyal. I think Aaliyah’s in trouble. In our last phone call, she mentioned a project: Project Jerusalem. She didn’t know what it was about, but she was going to look into it. And I haven’t heard from her since. Something’s happened. The priestess got to her somehow. I know it.”

  Laney studied the tall man before her. She could tell he was truly worried for Aaliyah. And Laney had to admit, she was already concerned about not being able to reach Aaliyah herself. And then there was the priestess. Although Aaliyah had never said anything directly, Laney had gotten the impression she did not fully trust the woman.

  “What do you think of the priestess?” Laney asked.

  Kai looked away. “A priestess has always guided our people. It is our way. We believe in the great Mother. The priestess is our representative of her on earth to guide our people on the path.”

  Laney was familiar with the Great Mother. She was part of a religion that predated Christianity and rivaled Judaism in its ancient roots. And she was usually pictured with two large cats seated next to her throne, one of whom was a leopard.

  As if on cue, Cleo walked up the veranda steps. Jake had snuck her onto the estate while Laney was visiting Cain.

  Kai’s eyes grew large.

  “It’s all right,” Laney said, “She’s not a threat.” You scared him.

  Not a danger, Cleo responded, before coming to sit on Laney’s right.

  Laney placed a hand on her back. Still, you should have waited until I called you.

  Kai looked between the two of them, his expression changing from fear to awe. “She—are you talking to her?”

  Laney nodded. “We understand each other.”

  “I had heard the ring bearer could, but to see it, it’s—” Kai shook his head. “It’s incredible. Ever since Aaliyah told me you were the ring bearer, I wondered about which of the tales were true. Can you control the weather?”

  “Control it? No. But I can ask it to do what I wish.”

  “What about demons? Can you control them?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you fly?”

  Laney smiled. “Not in my bag of tricks—although that would be fun.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m asking too many questions.”

  “No, it’s fine. It’s actually nice when I meet someone who understands.”

  Kai shook his head. “We have some people at Honu with some abilities.”

  Laney had heard about that. “I worry sometimes that people will fear what I can do.”

  “But you’re the ring bearer. You’re a force of good.”

  Laney laughed. “Well, you’re officially hired as my PR man should I ever need one.” Although right now, I’d like less of a PR presence.

  Kai smiled, but then she saw his anxiety return, like a cloud moving across his face.

  “How can I help you?” she asked softly.

  “You can help me to help Aaliyah. I think this Project Jerusalem is important. I was hoping you could learn about it and find out if Aaliyah is safe.”

  “I’ll call Honu. See if I can reach Aaliyah. But I’ve tried before. She’s never gotten back to me.” Not that that would stop Laney now. She wanted to know what Project Jerusalem was, and she wanted to know once and for all what the Companion Killers had to do with Honu Keiki. “There's something that's been bothering me ever since everything happened with the Companion Killers."

  "That was a dark time."

  Laney nodded. "I know and I don't think I've ever really understood the motivation behind it. It all seemed to revolve around the ritual of the end and the beginning. Do you know anything about it?”

  “It's an ancient ritual from our earliest days. When the world began to break apart, our ancestors called on the Great Mother, but she did not answer. We thought we had angered her. So we set out to make things right—to take down the ones who were causing harm. It was a dark time in our world.”

  “How often has the ritual been used?”

  “Too often. It became incorporated into other cultures, and they shifted it from the ones doing harm, to simply sacrifices to avoid harm. The ritual is the origin of human sacrifices—an attempt to appease the gods. But it was never intended that way.”

  “What was the intention?”

  “To remind us of our duty—to this world and one another. I believe the Companion Killers were trying to return the ritual to its first incarnation.”

  Laney pictured Sheila in the cave, her blood spread across the floor. “By targeting people without abilities?”

  Kai nodded. “They viewed them as enablers. Without them, the evil ones could not move their plans forward. The thinking…” He shook his head. “It was desperate.”

  “And they honestly believed that with the ritual they would be able to prevent the end of days?”

  Kai looked taken aback. “No. Through the completed ritual, they meant to bring it about.”

  Laney went still. “Bring it about?”

  “Yes. To the Companion Killers, the end of days was just an end to this period of human existence.”

  Laney had to ask. “Kai, in the ritual, blood must be shed, right?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Does who the sacrifice is matter?”

  “No, just the deaths.”

  Laney felt lightheaded.

  “What is it?”

  “We stopped the Companion Killers from killing their intended sacrifices. But they all died in the process.”

  Kai paled. “The ritual was completed.”

  “But it’s just an ancient tale,” Laney said. “I mean, you can’t bring about the end of an era through a few deaths.”

  Kai swallowed. “Are you sure? After all, you were just a legend to us as well until a few months ago.”

  “Maybe. But there must be more to it. No one even knows about these deaths.”

  Kai looked up, his eyes worried. “The priestess does. And there’s one other thing.”

  “What?”

  “Aaliyah’s daughter Noriko, she has the gift of sight. She had a vision the other night.” Kai recounted what Noriko had seen.

  “Is it possible it was a dream?” Laney asked.

  “Possible, yes. Likely? No.”

  Laney had a vision of the world burning. She shuddered. I need to learn what’s going on with Honu Keiki.

  CHAPTER 29

  The priestess watched as the five Council members filed out of the room. The guards by the doors followed, closing the doors behind them.

  These Council meetings were beginning to annoy the priestess. She knew she needed to keep up the pretense of the Naacal playing a role in the running of Honu Keiki, but honestly, it was getting tedious. When they reached Perth, the first thing she was going to do was disband the Naacal.

  I just have to hold on a little bit longer, she thought before turning to Vanessa.

  Vanessa had stepped into the room halfway through the meeting, and the priestess had immediately known something was wrong. “What is it?” the priestess asked.

  “There have been some rumblings.”

  “What type of rumblings?”

  “People are expressing doubts about the move. Wondering why it’s being done in the way it is.”

  The priestess had expected this. About half the people had been moved so far; families had been separated. “I will speak with the community this afternoon and quiet any fears.”

  Vanessa bowed her head. “Thank you, priestess.”

  “Is there something more?”

  “It’s… the Aaliyah matter.”

  The priestess curled her lip. Aaliyah. She should have killed her when
she had the chance. “What specifically is the problem?”

  “The Council is wondering where she is, since she has not been at the last three meetings.”

  The priestess shrugged. She was still angry at Aaliyah’s betrayal, but the woman was now fully under her control. “Tell them she’s been ill. That’s all they need to know.” Her people would do as they were told, and none would be the wiser until it was too late to do anything.

  “The other problem is Delaney McPhearson.”

  The priestess narrowed her eyes. That one would not be as easily led. “She’s still trying to reach Aaliyah?”

  “Yes.”

  The priestess drummed her fingers on the side of her chair. What to do? Delaney would not simply forget about Aaliyah. It was not in her nature. She’d need to be convinced that there were no problems.

  She smiled. “I think Aaliyah should make a phone call.”

  CHAPTER 30

  Laney got Kai settled into one of the guest houses. He was exhausted. And terrified.

  But Laney wasn’t sure what to make of his story. Maybe Aaliyah had just decided it would be easier to stop communicating with him. Long distance relationships were tough at the best of times, never mind with the inability to never see one another again. But even if that was true, Noriko’s vision was troubling to say the least. And Laney wasn’t about to just write it off.

  There was a benefit to Kai being here, too: it might actually help her get to the bottom of the Vanessa mystery. As a member of the Naacal, Kai must know a great deal about the people. Perhaps he could answer some questions. Laney sighed. And then I can figure out how to tell Jen what I’ve learned.

  Laney sat down at the conference table and dialed Honu Keiki; she had the number memorized by now. When Keon’s familiar face appeared, she said, “Hi, Keon. It’s Delaney McPhearson—again.”

  Keon’s voice was apologetic. “Dr. McPhearson. It’s nice to speak with you. I have relayed your messages to Aaliyah.”

  “Thank you. Could you relay one more? Tell her I need to speak with her. It’s important this time. Please have her call me as soon as she can.”

  “I will.”

  “Thank you, Keon. Take care.”

  “You too.”

  Laney hung up. She wasn’t sure why she’d thought this time would be different. She needed a new approach. But what?

  She did some internet searches on Honu Keiki, Perth, and rituals. But almost an hour later, all she had to show for her efforts was the beginning of a headache. She ran her hands through her hair and stood up. She needed some fresh air.

  But just then her computer beeped, and when she glanced over, she was surprised to see the area code for Malama Island. She almost knocked over her water in her haste to accept the call.

  Aaliyah appeared on screen, unsmiling. “Delaney, I hear you’ve been trying to reach me.”

  Laney wondered at Aaliyah’s tone and her appearance. The woman was very subdued. There were bags under her eyes, and she looked like she’d lost weight. Had she been ill? But Laney forced a smile to her face. “Aaliyah, it’s good to see you.”

  “You too.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  Aaliyah smiled back, but Laney thought it looked forced. “Of course. Honu Keiki is paradise, after all.”

  What? “Yes, so I’ve heard. Um, I just wanted to check in and make sure everything was fine.”

  “That is very kind of you. But yes, everything is wonderful. Thank you for your concern. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “No. Um, like I said, I just wanted to check in.”

  “Well, thank you for your concern. And the priestess wanted me to convey that if there is anything the ring bearer needs, we are at your disposal.”

  The screen went blank.

  Laney sat back and stared at the screen in confusion. Well, that was a little short.

  After a moment, Laney replayed the recording of the call. Aaliyah had been polite enough, but her usual warmth was absent. Something was off. And as she listened to the call again, watching Aaliyah, she thought the woman looked stiff, scared—but trying to pretend she wasn’t.

  Or am I just imagining things because of Kai?

  Laney watched the video yet again. Aaliyah sat perfectly still, except for one finger that tapped nervously on the tabletop. Is she…? Laney focused on the tapping for a moment. Oh my God, she is.

  It wasn’t random tapping. There was a pattern to it. Three short taps, three longer taps, and then three shorter again. The pattern repeated over and over again.

  Laney’s elation at recognizing there was a message was overwhelmed by her concern at what the message was:

  Morse code for SOS.

  CHAPTER 31

  Aaliyah stepped back from the screen, her whole body feeling shaky. She vacillated between hoping Laney had bought her lies and praying she hadn’t.

  “Well done,” Vanessa said.

  Aaliyah looked up, feeling her anger rise. “Well done? Do you even realize what you’re doing? The type of person you’re becoming?”

  Before the call, Vanessa had pulled Aaliyah from her cell and ordered her to shower and change clothes. Aaliyah had refused at first—until Vanessa softly whispered all the accidents that could befall a young woman on the island.

  “I am following the dictates of our leader,” Vanessa replied, “as any good member of Honu would do.”

  “By threatening the life of my daughter?” Aaliyah narrowed her eyes and dropped her voice. “Your daughter?”

  Vanessa’s nostrils flared. “She is not my daughter. Giving birth to her does not make her mine. I have no allegiance to her. My allegiance is only to the priestess.”

  She grabbed Aaliyah roughly by the arm, pulled her into the hallway, and pushed her toward the two guards waiting there. “Take her back to her cell.”

  Aaliyah twisted in the guards’ grip so she could look at Vanessa. “This isn’t right, Vanessa. You know that.”

  Vanessa’s tone was cold and unflinching. “The priestess determines what is right. Not you.”

  CHAPTER 32

  Laney’s worries for Aaliyah had stayed at the forefront of her mind all night. She had played and replayed the tape, and she definitely wasn’t imagining it: Aaliyah was sending an SOS. But Laney couldn’t figure out a way to help.

  By the next morning, she was bleary-eyed from lack of sleep. But when Matt called with an update, she woke right up.

  “Laney, it looks like the Fallen are still being targeted.”

  “What? I thought that had stopped.”

  “No. They just started getting more clever about it. They’re making it look like accidents.”

  “How?”

  “In one instance, a car tore through a fence, and the driver just happened to get impaled by a stop sign in the heart.”

  “That’s horrible.”

  “No—that’s impossible. The stop sign was ten feet from where the car went into the fence. Someone pulled it out and impaled the driver.”

  “But that means—”

  Matt’s voice was heavy. “Yes. I think it may be a Fallen who’s committing these murders. I’ve gone back and looked at some other cases that we had written off as accidents. I believe we’re looking at a pattern.”

  “So they’re… turning on one another?” Laney wasn’t sure how she felt about that. If the bad Fallen were taking each other out, that was great. But if the bad were turning against the good…

  “Who’s dying?” she asked. “The good guys or the bad guys?”

  “I don’t know. Some of them we’ve never even heard of. We only realized they were Fallen after their deaths.”

  “Which means they’re probably the good ones staying out of the spotlight.”

  “Yes.”

  Laney closed her eyes. When the Companion Killers had been rounded up, Laney had believed they had also found the people targeting the Fallen. But apparently someone else was involved.

  “It has to
be Samyaza,” she said.

  “Probably,” Matt replied. “Although I can’t see why.”

  “Maybe she wanted them to join her and they refused.” But Laney knew she was grasping. They were completely in the dark. “Have any of the Fallen shown up in any new videos?”

  “No. That whole ‘look at me’ campaign seems to have died down.”

  Laney still couldn’t figure out why they had done that. It was as if they had all wanted people to know that individuals with their skills existed.

  Just like someone wants people to know your skills exist.

  She went still at the thought. The Mike Wallace broadcast had come out of nowhere. And then there was the tape, the one in which Laney had clearly been the camera’s focus—not the bus falling of the bridge, not the burning propane truck. Someone was deliberately trying to out her, the same way the Fallen had recently seemed to be trying to out themselves.

  Was that possible? Was there a connection?

  “Laney?” Matt asked.

  “Sorry. I—um—just had a random thought. There’s a lot going on right now.”

  “I saw the broadcast. Are you worried?”

  “No. I mean, it’s just odd seeing yourself laid out for the world to see.”

  “Are you going to do something about it?”

  The media calls had finally quieted down, for the most part, as had the crowd outside the front gate. “No. Not right now. Hopefully, if I ignore it, it’ll blow over. Besides, we have some other things to focus on.”

  “Care to share?”

  “An unexpected visitor showed up at the estate last night.” Laney told Matt about Kai’s arrival and his concern for Aaliyah. She also told him about her own stilted conversation with Aaliyah and Aaliyah’s tapped message. “But I can’t figure out how to check on her,” she finished. “The group has closed ranks. I can’t just wander in. If I do, I’ll be the one breaking the law.”

  “Well, no offense, but you have done that a few times before.”