The Belial Guard (The Belial Series Book 8)

by R. D. Brady

  The PR team for the Chandler Group turned down all offers, at Laney’s request. She knew that people wanted an explanation for her flight, but she wasn’t ready to discuss who she was with the world. She needed a little more time. What she really wanted was to slip back into anonymity—but it became increasingly clear that she would never be anonymous again.

  Finally, after two weeks of what felt like non-stop coverage, the attention began to wane. There were still reporters parked outside the estate, but it was nothing compared to what there had been at the peak. And each day, as the crowd of reporters gradually thinned, she felt like she could breathe a little easier.

  A few days after that, she even took the chance of going over the fence to visit the cats. Cleo was waiting for her at the gate of the preserve, and Laney jumped from the car and threw her arms around the big cat. “Oh, I missed you.”

  Cleo bumped her hard in the chest.

  “Yes, yes, I know it’s been too long. How is everybody?”

  A picture of each member of the pride flashed in Laney’s mind. Her smile spread when pictures of Rolly, Danny, and Lou appeared with them as well. Apparently those three kids were now considered members of the tribe.

  Noriko and Lou stepped out of the trees. Noriko let out a squeal and ran for Laney, flinging her arms around her. “You’re here!”

  Laney laughed. She couldn’t help but think of the difference between Jen and Noriko. Noriko was going to be good for Jen.

  Lou just rolled her eyes good-naturedly at Noriko’s exuberance.

  “How are you two doing?” Laney asked.

  “Good,” Lou replied, after hugging Laney herself. “Noriko can actually talk to these guys, like you.”

  “But that’s nothing compared to what Lou can do,” Noriko said. “Have you seen how fast she is?”

  Laney smiled as the two of them talked about which one had the better ability. Lou looked almost like her old self again, and Laney credited a lot of that to Noriko. Having a female her age around really seemed to be helping Lou. Oasu had flown back home after about a week, but Kai, Aaliyah—who was very much on the mend—and Noriko were still here, and Laney had told them to stay as long as they wished. Watching Lou smile, she couldn’t help but wish they had a really extended visit.

  The sound of a car announced Yoni’s arrival at the gate, and Lou and Noriko ran for the fence. Laney watched them go, then turned to Cleo. “Want to go for a run?”

  Cleo grinned and dashed into the trees.

  “Cheater!” Laney yelled, giving chase.

  As Laney sprinted through the trees, she felt freer than she had in days. Soon the rest of the pride joined them, and the cats’ footfalls echoed through the woods.

  Now this is my normal.

  CHAPTER 94

  By the time Laney had been home for three weeks, the crowd outside the gate had almost completely disappeared. Laney was able to come and go without a horde of media attention, although an occasional reporter did follow her when she left the estate. She was still big news, but the lack of oxygen being fed to that fire had caused much of it to wind down. All in all, things were much better, and her life had mostly slipped back into its normal pattern.

  Laney returned to her work back at the school, and brought Snow, Tiger, and Cleo over for visits as much as she could. All the kids at the school were fascinated by the cubs, and Laney could see that Lou liked the fact that the cubs—while happy to say hello to everyone—would always return to Lou’s side. Laney considered allowing them to stay over a few nights with Lou alone. They really were incredibly gentle.

  It was late afternoon as Laney pulled up in front of her cottage. A familiar figure sat on the wicker bench on her front porch. She smiled as she stepped out. “Hey. This is a nice surprise.”

  Henry stood up, his laptop in his hand. “Hey. I wish it was just a visit.”

  Laney sighed as she stepped onto the porch. “Henry, I’m having a good day. Don’t ruin it.”

  “Sorry. But I think we might have a problem.”

  “Just a problem? Well, that’s a nice change.”

  Henry grinned. “Sorry, I misspoke. Another problem.”

  “Ah, that makes more sense. Well, come on in.”

  Laney walked into her living room and flopped down on the couch. It really was just her living room now, and her couch, as Jake had moved into a cottage down the street. She felt weird having the place to herself; it felt empty. But she knew it was the right call. And she was beginning to appreciate the quiet.

  Henry took a seat on the couch next to her.

  She eyed his laptop warily. “Okay. What’s going on now? Is it Elisabeta?”

  “No. We still haven’t heard anything about her.”

  The SIA had been searching diligently for Samyaza with no success. Laney hoped maybe she’d disappear for a nice long stretch like she did before. “Okay. So what is it?”

  “Danny has been looking into the Jerusalem incident.”

  “Wait, Danny?”

  Henry put up his hands. “Nothing big. But honestly, it’s kind of impossible to keep him out. It’s not like I can lock up his computers.”

  Computers—plural. Laney sighed. “Okay. So what’s he found?”

  “You know the SIA has been monitoring the internet chatter on the incident, right?”

  Laney nodded.

  “Well, some disturbing trends are popping up.”

  Laney felt a sense of dread—a feeling she was becoming all too familiar with. But she told herself to hold off worrying. “Go on.”

  Henry opened the computer and turned it so Laney could see. On screen was a blog post with the header: “Who is Delaney McPhearson?”

  Laney scanned the text of the post. It was a pretty scathing indictment, saying she wasn’t the saint the media had made her out to be. A picture of her was attached. Her eyes were narrowed, her mouth open, and she was looking down, which gave her a nice double chin. Well, that’s not my best shot.

  Laney shrugged and sat back. “I mean, I’m not a saint, so it’s a reasonable opinion. And internet trolls need something to focus on.”

  “Laney, that’s the least disturbing post I’ve seen.”

  “The internet is full of people who say nasty things while hiding behind their computer screens,” Laney said. “It’s a sad fact of the modern world. This is just my turn to be their focus. It’ll die down.”

  Henry paused, then typed. “I debated with Matt whether or not to show you this, but I think you need to see it. I’m sorry.” He turned the screen back around.

  This one was a Twitter feed—and the venom aimed at Laney was alarming. Death threats, rape threats… the vitriol was so thick it practically leapt off the screen.

  Laney’s hand went to her throat. “That’s—what’s wrong with these people?”

  “That’s not the worst part. Look at the hashtag.”

  As Laney scanned them, her disbelief grew. #LaneyistheAntichrist.

  “They think I’m the Antichrist?” Laney laughed. “Okay, that’s nuts. Come on. Everybody that’s unpopular is labeled the Antichrist. Every president, pope, public figure that has been around since Twitter was invented has been labeled the Antichrist.” But when she looked up at Henry, she saw the wrinkle in his brow and the concern in his eyes. “Henry, it’s no big deal. There is no Antichrist. And if there ever was, he’s been dead since the Romans controlled Jerusalem. Why is this worrying you so much?”

  “Because it’s worrying Matt. A handful of websites have popped up with the same argument—that you are the Antichrist.”

  Laney gave a nervous laugh. “Okay, so people have time on their hands. That doesn’t—”

  “The websites have appeared across the globe and in different languages. The people at the SIA think that one single person or group is behind all of the sites. It’s not being done spontaneously. It’s a campaign.”

  “A campaign? To nominate me for Antichrist? But that’s—” Laney wanted to say ridiculous, but
she knew that a lot of people did believe in the Antichrist, or a figure like him. The known characteristics of the Antichrist went through her head, and she realized that, with a little tweaking, she might actually fit them. Uh-oh. “Show me one of the sites.”

  Henry shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Henry, it’s the internet. Show me a site, or I’ll just go grab a computer and find it myself.”

  “Fine.” Henry punched a few keys, and then turned the computer back around.

  “The Antichrist has arrived!” was in large font across the top of the screen, the letters adorned with flames that Laney could only assume were meant to reflect the fires of hell. And the same unflattering picture of her was positioned just under it, although in this one her eyes were red and someone had given her horns and a pitchfork. Lovely.

  Despite the inflammatory opening, the blog itself was actually relatively academic in its approach.

  The Antichrist has been feature of the Bible and common culture. In both Revelations and the gospel of Mark, the Antichrist is discussed as the opposite of Christ and the bringer of the end of days.

  But what are the actual signs of the Antichrist? How will we recognize him? Or, as is becoming more apparent, her? Below are the characteristics of the Antichrist and the alarming way in which Delaney McPhearson meets each and every one of these requirements.

  * The Antichrist will display miraculous powers.

  Delaney McPhearson has demonstrated what can only be classified as miraculous abilities. We all watched in awe as she saved that bus of children. But what caused that crash? We have learned that the tire was shot out. No one knows who did it. But isn’t it a coincidence that Delaney McPhearson happened to be there to save them, and that someone else was there to capture the whole thing on film? And then of course, there was her flight over Jerusalem, the holiest of cities. Who can forget that incredible image? Can there be any doubt that she has abilities that are beyond what a normal human is capable of?

  * The Antichrist will be worshipped.

  Following the events in Baltimore and the more recent events in Jerusalem, the cult of Delaney McPhearson has popped up across the internet. People have proclaimed her virtues and claimed she has saved them from death. She has made herself a god amongst people.

  * The Antichrist will blaspheme God.

  This one is rather simple. Delaney McPhearson has cursed God’s name over and over again.

  Laney clicked on the associated link, and heard a compilation of her saying “God damn it” repeatedly. She smiled at Henry. “Wow, I really do say that a lot.”

  Henry frowned. “Laney, you need to take this seriously.”

  She put up a hand and turned back to the screen. “I am, I am.”

  * The Antichrist will recover from a mortal wound.

  Three years ago, Delaney was hospitalized with a wound that most people would have died from. As a child, she walked away from a crash that left both her parents dead. Is she just lucky, or is there more at work here?

  * The Antichrist will desecrate God’s temple.

  Three years ago, Laney brought a gun battle to the church of St. Hugh of Lincoln. The parking lot was bathed in blood by the time she was done. But that is merely one desecration. She has even spilled blood at the site of the first temple—the Temple of Solomon on the Temple Mount. What greater desecration could there be?

  Laney turned to Henry. “There was no blood shed at the Temple Mount. In fact, it was just the opposite.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think those facts suited their narrative. Keep reading.”

  * The Antichrist will be a scarlet covered beast.

  A small point, I know, but is the fact that Delaney McPhearson is also a redhead not also a sign that we should be concerned?

  And these are just some of the facts we know of that fulfill the requirements of the Antichrist. But moreover, consider that Delaney McPhearson has led a life of violence and has left a slew of bodies in her wake. Who is Delaney McPhearson? For me, she is not the saint she is portrayed to be. I fear she may be the exact opposite. Who will stand up and see her for who she truly is?

  Laney sat back, feeling sick. They had brought up the death of her parents. She’d only been eight during that horrible car crash. And somehow the fact that she hadn’t died then had been held against her. “That’s—that’s—I mean, everything is out of context. It’s being twisted to fit his argument.” She looked up at Henry. “You can’t think anyone would buy into this. It’s insane.”

  “I agree. But someone is making this”—he pointed the screen—“into a campaign. Websites like this are popping up all over. I’m worried that soon the idea will move away from the fringes and into the mainstream.”

  “No one would believe this, Henry. It’s crazy.”

  Henry hesitated, and when he spoke, his eyes were deadly serious. “Yes—it’s crazy. But we live in crazy times, don’t we? And the world saw what you could do in Jerusalem. The total media frenzy may have died down for now, but the world has not forgotten. And if you’re not going to give them answers, they’re going to look for answers somewhere else.”

  Laney wanted to argue with him and tell him that no, it wouldn’t come to that. But she knew the interest in her hadn’t really died down, even if the journalists at the gate had disappeared. “What am I supposed to do about this? Assure everyone I’m not the Antichrist? Somehow I don’t think that’s going to work.”

  Henry took her hand. “You could tell them who you actually are.”

  Laney shook her head. She hadn’t stayed silent simply because she didn’t want the attention. She also knew that any answer she gave would lead to more questions—and most likely, more problems. She could live with people thinking whatever they wanted about her. But if the world found out that there were Fallen among them…

  That would cause chaos.

  “If I tell them I’m the ring bearer,” she began—and then stopped, imagining the response. “That won’t solve anything. It’s just going to open a whole new can of worms. Because I can’t explain that I’m the ring bearer without also explaining what that means—which means telling the world about the Fallen, nephilim, Samyaza. That won’t put fears to rest.”

  “So what do you want to do?” Henry asked quietly.

  Laney wrapped her hand around the ring on the chain at her neck. For some reason she pictured Cleo, and she imagined what people would think if they knew about her ability to communicate with animals. Her gaze flicked back to the picture of her as the devil. “I don’t know,” she said. “But you’re right, we do live in crazy times.”

  Henry’s eyes were serious when he squeezed her hand. “Yeah. But now the question is: Exactly how crazy are things going to get?”

  CHAPTER 95

  Only a few days later, Laney had her answer—or at least the beginning of one. Protesters had appeared outside both the Chandler Estate and the Chandler School. They seemed to fall into two camps: one, people who thought she was the Antichrist and wanted her burned at the stake; and two, people who thought she was the Antichrist and wanted her to know they were on her side.

  Apparently, no one showed up to say they thought it was all big bunch of BS.

  The mainstream media picked up the protests and online chatter, and some began to remark—mostly tongue in cheek—about her being the Antichrist. And then they got word that Mike Wallace was going to do another special report on her. From the rumblings they heard, this one was not going to be as positive as the last one.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” her Uncle Patrick said from across the breakfast table.

  Laney gave him a small smile. “Sorry, just thinking.”

  “About the broadcast tonight?”

  Laney nodded. “That, but mainly all this Antichrist nonsense. I mean, I thought the Antichrist was just symbolic of the Roman takeover of Jerusalem.” She knew that at different points in history, others had already been identified as the Antichrist: P
aul of Tarsus, Emperor Nero, and frankly, almost every powerful religious or political leader. Numerologists had found it easy to “prove” that almost anyone was the Antichrist, from Adolf Hitler to Henry Kissinger to even Bill Gates. “I’ve always thought of him as merely a bogeyman that was used to keep Catholics in line.”

  Her uncle smiled. “Well, there are some who believe that, and some who believe he heralds something much more dire.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it’s complicated.”

  “Of course you do.”

  Patrick smiled. “The term ‘Antichrist’ is was only used seven times in the Bible, and a distinction was made between antichrists and the Antichrist.”

  “Antichrists? As in more than one?”

  Patrick nodded. “The word ‘antichrist’ just means the opposite of Christ. So anyone who did not believe in Christ, or who engaged in behaviors in conflict with Christ’s message, was considered an antichrist. Which meant there were quite a few at the time the gospel of John was written. But the term has since morphed quite a bit.

  “Most people now refer to ‘the Antichrist’—with a capital A. That Antichrist is the individual who arises at the end of days, when the world is about to go through judgment. The Antichrist will be a source of evil, opposed to truth, and will lead people to abandon the good in their lives. Some believe the Antichrist is not necessarily a singular person, but a group or organization of people. Others argue that the Antichrist has already come and gone, during Roman times, and that the Biblical discussion of the Antichrist is a warning for us not to be fooled again by false words.

  “But I’m not so sure that Antichrist ever existed—or ever will.”

  “Why?”

  “The idea for the Antichrist comes from Revelations and the book of Daniel. Both books address the end of days and the final battle between good and evil. The problem is—the word ‘antichrist’ doesn’t appear even once in either of those writings. Readers have taken the descriptions used in those books and just assumed they must be talking about the Antichrist. But they don’t. Instead, they speak about ‘the beast’ or ‘the dragon.’”