by Nathan Parks
“My brothers and sisters, we have a lot to do in a short time. I believe that most of you are aware of the Gathering that is taking place tomorrow night. I want you to know that at the Gathering we will reclaim our rightful spot as a clan within the Family and demand a seat of power within the Family.”
“Kadar,” one of the elders spoke up. “We all have known you or about you for some time, but what assurance can you give us that we can trust you and her?” He pointed at Eve. “In order to do this, we must stand as a full clan, and we have never had that since the time of exile and Rephaim was taken away. The Jerusalem Breed has never stood beside the clan.”
Kadar shook his head. “I understand and, honestly, I can’t give you any assurance. We are Assassins and have been outcast; you know that we don’t deal in assurance. Eve is just now becoming aware of who she is and of her role in our Family. She has not even had her time of turning yet.”
At that, there were a few disapproving murmurings from around the table as another spoke up. “This is what you called us out for then, Kadar? Are you mad? You are placing our reputation on the line with her, and now you are telling us that she doesn’t even know who she is?”
It was true that Eve was new to all of this. However, what she wasn’t new to was people belittling her, and she wasn’t about to start allowing it to happen again.
“Listen, you’re right. I don’t know exactly what all of this is. In fact, it all seems very surreal. In the last few days I have gone from being what you would call a ‘mere mortal’ to having my life turned upside down and discovering that childhood myths and legends have some truth to them. Not only that, but I am actually part of those myths and legends and may not even be part of the good elements. I have had my friends taken from me, for which I still have no answers regarding their safety.” With that, she turned and glared at Kadar.
“And now all of you are talking about me as if I am a pawn or game piece and that I may not even be a good piece. You can have your little clan, but I am telling you right now, I won’t be . . . and I repeat myself with a passion . . . I will NOT be put down by you or belittled. If you want my help, then you have to earn it! I don’t care if you can breathe fire out your rear or skin a puppy with your teeth; I won’t let you just believe that I am going to be your puppet!”
There was that rushing inside of her again, and this time there was a stirring and cramping in her back. She didn’t let it show, because she didn’t want them to take it as a sign of weakness; but Kadar saw her flinch and he smiled. She was so close. All he had to do was get her in the right place at the right time, and it would happen. Then . . . she would be his!
Eve got up from where they were all sitting and looked around the room at all of them. “You all sit here and talk and talk. You say you have lived in shadows and have been Outcasts. Well, try doing it as a mortal--at least, if that is what I am!”
She got into the face of the Nephelium who had been speaking. He could feel her breath upon his skin and saw anger flashing in her eyes.
“You try it! You get up every morning as the sun is breaking through the clouds, praying that everything you had remembered to that point was just a nightmare and that your Mom or Dad was going to open the door and tell you, ‘Good Morning,’ but instead, hear the screams of two adults starting up their morning fighting!”
Kadar loved this with a passion. She was on fire. She needed to burn just a little bit hotter.
Eve stood in the middle of them now. They all were sitting on stools and chairs as she circled around like a wild tiger in a training cage.
“I have had it! Mortals and immortals, demons and angels, vampires and slayers--what about little children who live with demons and wickedness every night and every day? What about those who hide beneath their beds and take their stuffed animals to fill in the spaces so that if anyone comes looking for them, they will only see toys beneath the bed? How about the little girl who has never felt the unpolluted loving touches of her father, or a son who has never known the pride of a mother? You sit here as creatures of power and might, and you wonder if you can trust me? Do you not deal in lies and deceit every day?”
They all sat in silence. There was not a single one of them who even knew what to say or do. They didn’t know if this was a good thing or bad. They could see power pulsing through the veins beneath her skin, and many could see the anger; but the words she was spewing out of her mouth seemed something that would be spoken only from a real Jerusalem Breed or even a member of the Alliance. Did she not realize that they were the creation of such vileness and that she was sitting in the midst of many who had pierced the very hearts of innocence?
Kadar’s expression had changed, too. He had not planned on her rampage to take this turn. He had to do some damage control. She still needed some molding; and if he could control her turning until the right moment, he knew that he could control what emerged to be nothing by which any previous Jerusalem Breed would be recognized. He had to make sure she would turn out of anger based on revenge or vileness. This was not it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
“Eve,” Kadar spoke quietly. He hoped he could bring her back with his voice.
Eve whirled around quickly. She didn’t understand what was going on. She couldn’t control herself. She was losing ground within. It was as if everything that had been held back for years was bursting forth right now as a mad rush of swirling water, and she couldn’t stop it. She was striking out, and she could feel a release within her soul unlike anything she had ever experienced. Beginning to find a center point in the calmness of Kadar’s voice, Eve tried to mentally focus on it. As she did, she felt the surge within her begin to subside; and she found herself calming down. She then realized that she was shaking.
“Eve, it’s all right. No one here is your enemy. We are your family.” Kadar spoke softly, still controlling her. “You are among family, Eve. You are safe here.”
She felt drained. She couldn’t stand. She collapsed out of exhaustion. As she did, Kadar caught her and motioned for a couple of the others to help him. They were able to pick her up and carry her to what had been an office in a previous time. There they laid her down on an old, torn, leather couch. She was breathing quietly, but was out.
“Kadar, that is what I mean. She is unstable, and you are staking everything on her,” a concerned elder spoke firmly.
As he emerged from the room, Kadar looked into the eyes of the others who had all stood up and gathered around the doorway. He saw that they all had the same look on their face. So this wasn’t going to be just a “walk in the park,” but he still felt he could convince them. He hadn’t lost them yet.
“Listen, have we not been a clan in hiding even without any knowledge that she or her lineage existed?”
“Sure, but we have never gone before the Family,” the elder answered.
“Why?”
They looked at each other. They were all strong and fearsome, but at this point they all seemed like school boys without their homework. None of them had an answer, and he knew that he was making headway with them.
When no one answered, Kadar continued. “Then, why not?”
“Because we . . .” The answer failed the elder.
“Because we . . . what?” Kadar asked. “Are we not Nephelium? If not, then let’s tell the others that we were wrong, and we all leave here and disappear into the night. Every once in a while we will brush past each other in the shadows, but we will go out there alone. Did you see the numbers we have? Who knew? We are just as strong, if not stronger, than any other clan out there. There are descendents here from all six children of Marduk; and even if Eve doesn’t join us, which I believe I can take care of that, we still are strong.”
There was silence for awhile, and then nods started around the ring as Kadar’s words sunk in.
“Then let’s get this thing started. I am giving each of you charge of your lineage. I want a breakdown of each lineage of Marduk’s children and how strong e
ach line is. Then we make a plan on how we will stand before the Gathering.”
“What about weapons . . . just in case?”
Kadar laughed. “I don’t think we have to worry about that. I can guarantee we have more than enough with all of these Assassins here. Let’s get started.”
“And her?” One of them motioned toward Eve.
“She will join us. I have her right where I need her right now. We will have a full Family represented.”
Eve didn’t know how long she had been out, but she did know that whatever she was lying on stunk like cat urine. She even thought she had kicked a rat as she was waking up. Sitting up, she shook her head, trying to get some clear thoughts. Her head felt as though she had been slammed against a wall. The bruises she had received the other night from the car crashing through the café still were tender, and the position in which she had been laying had them pounding with pain right now.
Eve noticed she was in an office, or at least what appeared to have been an office once, but now was just a shell that had empty beer cans, cigarette butts, and even pizza boxes lying around. The ceiling tiles had mostly fallen in or been ruined by leaks, and the only light was what made it inside from the cracked window that looked out into the actual warehouse.
Eve was exhausted. She could go for some coffee at Alfonso’s right now. Her mind jolted clearly at this thought. In the middle of everything, she realized that Kadar still had not told her where they would find Alfonso or even Megan. She had told him that she would come beside him if they rescued them first.
She was about to stand up as someone walked quietly through the door. There were shadows over the door and in the doorway, so she couldn’t make out the individual.
Whoever it was stood there for a second without saying anything, and then said, “Do you ever question God, Eve?”
She froze. She didn’t know what to do or say.
*****
“So if we deploy some of the teams to the east side of the city and then come back in from the north, they should be able to get close to The Vortex without being noticed. They can take up spots here and here.”
Evan pointed at a few points outside the area where they knew the Fallen would have their sentinels.
“And then the other teams can come into these areas.”
He pointed at several other spots that would surround the circle that the Fallen would surely have.
Leah was standing on the other side of the table, looking at the map. “The only thing about all of this, Evan, is that I have to get a team inside, also.”
He looked up at her inquisitively. “Why is that? Do you realize that if there isn’t a war about to take place, that you could create one by sending a team in there?”
“One of my guys is in there, Evan . . . a Watcher.”
He dropped his pointer and stepped back. He didn’t know what to say about this. He could feel Leah’s pain, but that was a lot to risk for one person . . . but, then again, it wasn’t his area of control. He was here only to help and to advise. If this Watcher had been one of his people, he would mostly likely be doing the same.
“That could definitely change things, Leah. Are you sure they are keeping him there?”
She turned to Ki and Troy, hoping for some kind of reassurance. “Ki? Troy?”
Ki shook his head. “I can’t be sure, Leah. It makes sense. I mean if Arioch has him for some purpose, it would be logical that it would be for the Gathering . . . maybe a leverage of sorts. I don’t know. I know that I didn’t see any sign of him while I was in there.”
Troy turned his head toward Ki. Troy could tell he was tired because his sight was not strong tonight. He could see the outline of Ki, but not the full manifestation.
“Ki, I think you need to tell her of the other thing.”
Both Leah and Evan looked with interest at Ki. He fidgeted because he wasn’t sure what they would think about what he had to say.
“Well, umm . . . I didn’t find Alfonso, but I did find a lady. She was out of her mind, drugged, but I believe on purpose. I mean, she looked like she was a user, but I think they were keeping her in a stupor for some reason.”
“Ok,” Leah stated impatiently. “What does this have to do with anything, Ki?”
“Well, we aren’t sure, but she seems to be a friend of Eve’s. She was the dancer I told you about who came bursting out of the club the night that I was on surveillance. There was something about her that made me take note. I don’t think it was just chance that she came out that door while I was there. I believe it was destined for us to meet.”
“You say she knows Eve?” Leah asked.
“Yes,” Ki answered, “and I also believe that she is the other girl that Alfonso sometimes talked about. Remember the young lady that he always stated was his ‘other’ daughter, but we never saw her at the café? I believe it could be her.”
“So not only do they have Alfonso, but they also have another person linked to Eve?”
Troy shook his head. “Let me correct you, oh, Fearless Leader.”
Leah gave Troy the chance to continue, but it was Ki that completed what Troy was going to say. “They had another person. The key word is . . .”
“Had?” Leah asked.
Ki nodded. “I couldn’t leave her there. I don’t care if she isn’t part of whatever is going on, Leah, but there was no way.”
Leah knew and understood. He had done what she would have done, given the situation. It was what they do, so she couldn’t be upset.
“Where is this lady now?”
“We have some of the medical team watching her right now. They are administering some serum that will counteract any drugs she may have in her system.”
“That’s fine. I want to talk to her when I can, but until then . . . as I was saying, I still have a man inside who is very dear to all of us.”
Evan took a look at all the notes they had compiled and some of the research that they had been able to accumulate, which Leah and the team had been picking up here and there. However, too many pieces were missing to put it all together.
“Well, what we do know is this: there is a Gathering; Arioch has slowly been gaining strength; and right now he has a Watcher who could, under pressure and torture, give up secrets that would be detrimental to our cause and be a strong gain for Arioch. We know that Marduk has escaped from the abyss, and we can only assume that he is drawing in his clan in order to make a stand at the Gathering. So, what is going on here, and what do we do about it?”
Gideon leaned forward and took a look at everything before he spoke. “I believe we are about to see a big power struggle. You say that Arioch has been flexing his area and has a few ‘game pieces’--for what purpose, we don’t know for sure, but he has them. If you take that, along with the Gathering being here and Marduk’s possible return, then I believe we are seeing a chance for a new clan to try to rise and an old clan demanding its place.”
“Which means what to us?” Leah threw out the question.
“Well, what if both are denied a seat of power in the Family, but still are determined to stand as a clan?” Ki asked. “Then that could set off a clan war.”
“Or, if somehow Arioch has discovered a way to bring back Legion, then he would clearly have the upper hand in it all . . . and that would start a clan war.”
“Where does Eve fit into all of this--or does she?” Leah asked.
Gideon spoke up again. “Well, maybe she is the variable?” he proposed.
“How?” Leah asked. “What variable?”
“I think Gideon might be right,” Evan stated. “We were excited about her because we know what it meant to us and the Alliance that she existed. If she joined the Alliance, we would once again have the strength of the Jerusalem Breed to help the mortals, and we all have seen what they have done throughout history.
“Then, Arioch may want her because . . . well, let’s face it . . . she is still Nephelium, and Arioch may be thinking that from the union of a Fa
llen and a Nephelium, they may be able to create a new generation of supernatural beings that would be able to bridge the gap between the Fallen and mortals. That would give Arioch all the power he would need to overthrow the whole Family . . . even Lucifer. I believe he is planning something along that line.
“Lastly,” Evan continued, “if Marduk is trying to regain his Family, then she is important to him for reasons I think are obvious.”
“So you are saying that whoever holds Eve, ultimately could hold the power?” Troy asked. “Sounds like we are forgetting that she is a person, an individual,” Leah interjected softly.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Leah’s words quieted all of them. It was true. Eve had almost become a prize, a possession, and they had begun to talk about her as an object.
“Sadly enough, from what I gather, that is exactly what she has been to people her whole life: just another item that has been used and thrown around,” Leah added.
“Then we stop it here,” Troy said. “Let Eve be Eve. We don’t worry about her. Each one of us is faced with choices in our life, and she is no different. If we are there along with all the others, demanding from her, then we are no different. Let her see that there is hope in the middle of confusion, and that we are here for her as a person if she needs us. Other than that, we move forward to hold off whatever is going to happen from spilling over into this city and breaking out into Armageddon.”
“Words of wisdom, Troy,” Leah responded. “Everyone knows what they have to do, so let’s do it. Gideon, you brief the teams on where they are going, and you report to Evan. I am taking Ki and Troy with me.”
Evan placed his hand over hers. “You be careful, Leah. This is not just a clan meeting. This is the big league! Anyone who was there at the start of the War of the Serpents before the casting out of Lucifer will be there. This is not a time to be a hero or avenge another young hero’s death.”
She cringed. “This is not about Joan, but I won’t lose another,” Leah declared.
“One more thing, Leah.”
