The Belial Guard (The Belial Series Book 8)

by R. D. Brady

  “Will do. Did you find Aaliyah?”

  “Yes. They had her imprisoned, but she’s safe now. There’s no inherent danger—I think. We just need to get the priestess.”

  “Can we let someone else do that?”

  “Maybe the SIA.”

  “Why not regular law enforcement?”

  “Oh—she’s a Fallen.”

  Jake let out a low whistle. “That’s cold. Taking out your own people.”

  Laney went still. She hadn’t made that connection. If the priestess was behind the Companion Killers and the Fallen murders, she had taken out her own people.

  “Why’d she do it?” Jake asked.

  “I don’t know,” Laney said. “But I’m hoping somebody here can tell us.”

  CHAPTER 44

  Laney went back to Jen. The guards were all conscious now, sitting on the ground, hands on their heads. Vanessa sat with them.

  “All good?” Laney asked.

  “Yeah. You?”

  “No. She got away.”

  “I called Maui. They’re sending some officers. Should be here in about thirty minutes.”

  Laney nudged her chin toward the group. “What shall we do with them in the meantime?”

  “I suppose we can use the dungeons she locked Aaliyah in.”

  Laney looked over the captives. Vanessa was angry, but the rest just looked confused.

  “Let’s hold them here for now,” she said. “Marching them through the middle of the island without reinforcements might cause some problems. When the police arrive, we’ll secure them in a room and figure out where to go from there.”

  It only took the Maui police twenty minutes to arrive. Laney gave them the rundown. The officers secured the guards and took them to the temple, which Laney had decided was the best location for questioning them. Laney accompanied them.

  As they walked, Laney observed the people of Honu Keiki. Something about them was bothering her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Then she realized what it was.

  She leaned toward Jen. “Do you notice anything odd about the people here?”

  “What?” Jen looked like she’d been lost in thought.

  “The people of Honu Keiki—look at them. Do you notice anything?”

  Jen looked at a young man passing them with a cane, and an older couple who’d stepped out on their porch to watch them walk by. “They’re all either older or injured.”

  Laney nodded. “Yeah.”

  Laney pulled one of the guards to the side of the path. He was young, no more than eighteen, and looked a little more scared than the rest. She waited with him until the rest of the guards were out of earshot, then said, “What’s your name?”

  He shuffled his feet. “Uh, Loe.”

  Laney waved her hand at the older couple and the young man. “Okay, Loe, where is the rest of Honu Keiki? So far, besides the Guard and Noriko, everyone we’ve seen has been either old or infirmed.”

  “The rest have already been moved,” Loe said. “These people will be in the last group to go.”

  Laney frowned. “Go where? I thought you guys never left here.”

  “We don’t. But the priestess—” He closed his mouth.

  “But the priestess what?”

  His eyes begged her not to press. “You’re an outsider.”

  “I am. But I’m also a lot more than that. Do you know Aaliyah?”

  Loe nodded. “She was my teacher.”

  “I came here to help her. She was being held in a cell underneath the temple by the priestess.”

  Loe’s mouth fell open. Then he shook his head. “No, that can’t be true. Aaliyah, she would never do anything wrong. And the priestess…” His eyes looked troubled.

  Laney eyed the young man carefully. She could see he was sincere. He might be willing to help, but only if he believed. Finally, she said, “Come with me.”

  She led him to Aaliyah’s house and knocked on the door. Oasu answered. He looked frazzled, which Laney thought was probably unusual for the man.

  “Laney, we’re—” Oasu caught sight of the guard. “ Loe.”

  Loe bowed. “Guard Oasu.”

  “How is she?” Laney asked.

  “Severely dehydrated, exhausted, hungry. She caught a chill. She’s going to need a doctor.”

  Laney nodded toward Loe. “He needs to see Aaliyah.”

  Oasu hesitated.

  “Now, Oasu,” Laney said gently.

  Reluctantly, he stepped aside. “She’s in the living room.”

  Laney headed inside. Loe followed her, and Oasu brought up the rear.

  When they entered the living room, Laney struggled not to gasp. Aaliyah lay on the couch, a light blanket on her. And she looked so pale. Her cheeks were sunken in. Her hair was damp with sweat. Noriko hovered beside her, and Kai stood to the side, looking completely destroyed.

  Aaliyah gave Laney a weak smile. “I feel better than I look.”

  “Well I would hope so,” Laney said softly. “Can you answer some questions?”

  Aaliyah nodded. Kai helped her sit up, and she smiled her thanks at him. He stayed right beside her, looking content to be her leaning post.

  Aaliyah looked back at Laney, and she caught sight of Loe for the first time. Surprise flashed across her face before she smiled. “Loe. How nice to see you.”

  Loe stumbled forward, his eyes wide, his mouth open. “What happened, Aaliyah?”

  Aaliyah looked to Laney, who nodded. “He didn’t believe me,” Laney said. “And I need information from him. I thought perhaps you could tell him.”

  Noriko looked worried. “She really should be resting…”

  “I’m all right,” Aaliyah said reassuringly. “Just a little dizzy. Perhaps you could bring me some water?”

  Noriko sprang into action, heading for the kitchen. When she returned, Aaliyah took a few small sips and handed the glass back to Noriko. “Much better.”

  Noriko didn’t look convinced, but she accepted the water and stood protectively behind the couch.

  Aaliyah turned her gaze to Loe. “I’m afraid the priestess is not who we thought she was.” She told him about her abduction and the threat to Oasu and Noriko.

  Loe shook his head. “It’s not possible.”

  “Are you saying Aaliyah is lying?” Laney asked.

  “No,” Loe burst out. “No—of course not. She would never.”

  “It’s true, Loe,” Kai said.

  “Now we need to know what is happening,” Laney said. “We need your help, Loe. Where are the other members of Honu Keiki?”

  Loe looked at the floor. “They’ve all gone ahead to the new promised land.”

  Jerusalem—the promised land. That’s what the project had referred to. It had nothing to do with Israel.

  “But why?” Laney asked. “Your people have been here for centuries. Why move?”

  “The priestess said there’s a storm coming,” Loe explained. “And that we would be the only ones who would survive. That we were chosen to survive. That she had been shown the way.”

  “Did she say what the storm was going to be?”

  Loe looked up. “The end of days.”

  CHAPTER 45

  The priestess stared down from the chopper as the ocean swept past her. She was headed for a small airport in Southern California. She was scheduled to board a commercial flight there—under a different name, of course—in two hours. It was the earliest flight she could get.

  She seethed. They would be landing soon and Vanessa had still not called. Which meant she had been detained by the ring bearer. Vanessa was a loss. She had been with the priestess since she was Xia, and she had always been loyal. She believed wholeheartedly in the priestess—would die for her without question.

  The priestess sighed. Such a pity. Oh well. Life goes on.

  She looked at the two members of her Guard who had accompanied her. One was frowning.

  “Is there a problem, Ephraim?”

  Ephraim shook his
head. “No, of course not.”

  “Good. Vanessa has been detained. She may not be able to join us. You will have to lead the Guard. Are you ready?”

  The priestess saw confusion and curiosity cross his face, but he merely nodded. “Of course, priestess. Whatever you need.”

  She looked back out the window and went back to her thoughts. McPhearson had chased her from her home—but in the grand scheme of things, it did not truly matter. She had planned on leaving anyway. She just had to accelerate her timeline—which meant her future could be realized sooner.

  She pulled out her cell phone and typed a message.

  Let it begin.

  Then she sat back and smiled, imagining the world she was about to create.

  CHAPTER 46

  The end of days. Laney looked at the members of Honu Keiki, all of whom looked as shocked as she felt. Apparently the priestess had been selective about who she shared information with.

  The end of days—allegedly the time when the world would be devoured by plagues of violence. In some telling's, small pockets of humanity would survive, only to carve out a life in a bitter, destitute world. In other versions, it was the end of all humanity, or perhaps even all life on the planet.

  Most of the common understandings and beliefs about an “end of days” scenario came from Christianity—in fact, Christianity had a whole study of God’s actions at the end of days, known as eschatology—but it was a common topic of discussion in religions across the globe. For the big three—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—the end of days often came through violence and in the form of judgment. Jehovah’s Witnesses believed that only 144,000 people would survive. Laney preferred the view of the Eastern religions; they had little to say about the end of times, and instead said you should worry about the here and now.

  And of course, there were the end of days cults, which always seemed to pop up. In fact, the end of the millennium had brought out dozens of such groups. For instance, there was the group known as “Aum Shinrikyo,” which was responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Their leader believed the world was going to end in 1999 as the result of a nuclear war, and that a spiritual awakening was the only way to create enough holy energy to avert the coming crisis—although Laney wasn’t sure how trying to kill a subway full of people was supposed to bring the holy spirit into people.

  Was that what was happening with Honu Keiki? Was the priestess just convinced the end of days were upon them and hunkering down in what she thought was a safe place? Was that what Project Jerusalem was? Simply a movement to a new, safe place protected from the destruction of the world? But why would she think destruction was at hand? And what, if anything, did Noriko’s vision have to do with it?

  Laney looked back at Aaliyah; the poor woman was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She needed to get to a hospital. “I think that’s all we need for now,” Laney said. “Why don’t you take a little nap?”

  “Maybe just a few minutes,” Aaliyah said, and she lay back down on the couch.

  Laney waved Kai down the hall with her. Noriko took his place on the couch, gently stroking Aaliyah’s hair.

  Laney stopped at the end of the hall. She spoke quietly. “I think we need to get Aaliyah to a hospital.”

  Kai nodded. “I know she would rather stay here, but I think you’re right.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  “Thank you.” He headed back to Aaliyah.

  Laney dialed the Maui police to see if they had a med chopper they could borrow, When she had made arrangements, she headed back to the living room. Oasu stood in the doorway.

  She pulled him aside and nodded toward Loe. “Is it all right if he stays?” she whispered. “I think he wants to help.”

  Oasu nodded. “Yes. He’s a good person. Most of the Guard are.”

  “Even Vanessa?”

  Oasu looked away. “No. But if anyone was to know what the priestess was up to, it would be her.”

  Laney sighed, dreading the coming confrontation. “I know.”

  CHAPTER 47

  Laney found Jen inside the temple, speaking with a Maui police officer in the hallway. When Jen saw her, she excused herself and walked over.

  “Any luck?” Laney asked.

  “Afraid not. We’ve spoken with most of them. They don’t have any details. Although they did say that the priestess’s main guards have already left the island.”

  “So these guys are the ones out of the loop.”

  “So it seems.”

  Laney tried to get a read on Jen. She seemed to have her emotions buttoned down, but Laney knew this must be tough for her. And it was only going to get tougher. “Has anyone spoken with Vanessa?”

  “Some of the other officers tried, but I don’t think it went well.”

  “I’m not surprised. I’m going to speak with her. Do you want to join me?”

  Jen didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

  Jen led Laney down the hallway to the room where Vanessa and the guards were being held. Two officers guarded the door.

  “We need to speak with one of them,” Laney said.

  “You want some backup?” one officer asked.

  “All ready got it.” Laney indicated Jen. “But thanks.”

  The officer opened the door, and Laney and Jen stepped inside.

  Vanessa was seated on the opposite side of the room. “I need to speak with you,” Laney said.

  Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ve got nothing to say.”

  “Well, we’ll see about that. Let’s go.”

  Vanessa didn’t move.

  Laney sighed. “I will drag you out of here in front of your men if you make me. You really don’t want to test me on that.”

  Vanessa glared. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth.

  Laney headed out first, but Jen stepped aside to let Vanessa pass. “After you.”

  Vanessa didn’t respond as she followed Laney out the door.

  Jen directed Laney to an office at the end of the hall. It held a desk and three chairs.

  Laney looked at the setup. “I don’t think I want her on the other side of an obstruction.”

  With one hand, Jen pushed the desk against the wall. Vanessa’s eyes grew wide.

  “Sit,” Laney said.

  Vanessa crossed her arms and remained standing. “I think I’d rather—”

  In one movement, Laney kicked out the back of Vanessa’s knees and pulled a chair behind her, pushing her into it. “I get it—you don’t want to talk to us,” she said. “But you’re going to, so you might as well get comfy.”

  Jen went to stand near the door.

  “Where has the priestess gone?” Laney asked.

  Vanessa just stared back.

  “Did she go to your properties in Australia?”

  Vanessa’s eyes widened for just a moment at the mention of Australia. And score one for the good guys.

  “Why is she moving your people there? What does she think is coming?”

  Vanessa smirked.

  “Does it have anything to do with Project Jerusalem?” Once again, there was the slightest flicker in her eyes.

  Laney continued to question her for ten minutes, but got no verbal responses. “Fine,” she said at last. “We’ll get the answers we need with or without you. We always do.”

  “But not in time,” Vanessa growled. It was the first thing she’d said during the entire interview.

  “What does that mean?”

  Vanessa smiled. “You just told me you’ll find out without me. So I think I’ll just let you. Anything else?”

  Laney shook her head. “No, I’m done for now.”

  Jen stepped forward. “But I’m not.”

  CHAPTER 48

  Vanessa looked at Jen without an ounce of compassion or curiosity on her face. “I have nothing to talk to you about.”

  Laney had to clasp her hands tightly behind her back to keep from striking the woman.

  “You�
��re my mother,” Jen said.

  “I gave birth to you.”

  Laney felt her jaw drop. Are you kidding?

  “Why did you leave?” Jen asked.

  Vanessa sighed. “I really don’t see the point in dredging up the past.”

  Jen crossed her arms over her chest. “Well it’s my past too, and I’d like to hear it.”

  Vanessa studied her daughter for a long moment before speaking. “Fine. When I found out I was pregnant with you, I was quite content. I decided to keep you. It was all right at first. But then, when you were ten months old, one of our seers had a vision.” She curled her lip. “She knew what you would become. You were banished, and I was banished along with you.”

  “And if you had been given a choice?”

  Vanessa met her gaze without flinching. “You would have left, and I would have stayed.”

  Laney wanted nothing more than to punch this woman in her cold, unfeeling face. But Jen remained calm.

  “And then when you left me?” Jen asked.

  “I received word that I would be allowed to return, so I did.”

  Jen said nothing.

  Laney moved to her side. “And Jen?” she asked. “What was your plan for her?”

  Vanessa shrugged. “She was in America. I knew Child Services would be called eventually, and she would be put into the system.”

  “Do you know what happens to kids in the system?” Laney asked.

  Vanessa looked at her nails. “I don’t see how that’s a concern of mine.”

  Laney clamped down on Jen’s arm, afraid she was going to lunge at this woman—or maybe to keep herself from doing so. “Do you know what happened to Jen in foster care?”

  “We had people keeping tabs on her should her abilities manifest negatively. I received regular reports.”