Eve throws her shoulders back, grits her teeth and replies, “I serve you and only you, Dark Empress.”
Eve can feel the aggression bubbling up inside of her. She wants nothing more than to strike back. She knows she is powerless right now, and she would almost certainly be destroyed in an instant. There’s not a doubt in her mind that Jezebel is much stronger than her. Timing is everything. And now that her daughter’s safety has a big question mark looming above it, more than ever, Eve’s ready to hear what Thomas has to say.
Chapter Seventeen
“Blood Must be Sacrificed.”
“Baby, before you get started in here, are you gonna come eat something?” Brennan says as he enters the study. “I’ve made breakfast… It’s your favourite – pancakes with a side of crispy bacon and syrup.”
Her sight fixed onto the front cover of A Curse to Behold, Alannah doesn’t turn her head or acknowledge her husband’s entrance into the room. “No thanks. All good. I’m working,” she quickly replies.
“Please, it’s Christmas Eve. Can’t you just break away for like thirty minutes?”
Alannah is eager to start reading the book of secrets and unknown tales, but she knows her husband, and he won’t leave her alone until she agrees to eat something.
“Look, I know I’m not going to see you for pretty much the rest of the day, and I’m okay with that. I’ve got to wrap the rest of your presents that got delivered yesterday…”
The words “your presents” instantly spark Alannah’s interest. “Oh, really now,” she says as she puts the book on the desk and makes her way to Brennan. Flinging her arms around his neck, she continues, “And what might those be…?”
“Oh, now someone’s interested in me, hey?”
Alannah kisses his neck and playfully nibbles his earlobe.
“Someone’s perked up. Hmm, now you wanna come have some fun because you heard presents – why didn’t I just say that sooner?”
Running her fingers through his hair and kissing his lips gently, Alannah replies, “Honestly, I’d love to, handsome.” She kisses him again. “But I’ve really got to get started with this book. I’m sorry, I just have to do this.”
“Right, well I’ll leave you to it… but, and this is a big but, that’s only if you come have breakfast with me... deal?”
Looking at Brennan, with his oh-so-handsome face, Alannah smiles. “Fine,” she says as she surrenders to his cuteness. “I’ll come eat with you. But, and this is also a big but, you have to keep your promise and leave me alone for the rest of the day. Deal?”
“Scout’s honour.”
Leaving the study, Alannah seats herself at the dining table. The tastebud tingling, mouth-watering scent of cooked smoky bacon journeys its way up her nostrils, igniting the rumbling in her tummy.
“See, told you, you needed breakfast,” Brennan says with his know-it-all expression.
“Okay. Okay. Maybe I am a little hungry.” Rolling her eyes, she puts her hands in the air in a sign of surrender. “You were right, as always. I was wrong.”
Brennan places the platter of pancakes, bacon and a selection of colourful fruit in the middle of the table and plants a kiss on top of Alannah’s forehead.
“Happy Christmas Eve, my baby,” he says as he pushes his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. “Now eat up, because you’re going to need it, judging by the size of that book you’ve got in there. Looks like it’s got some heft to it, that one.”
“Yeah, that it has,” she replies. “Hmm, this smells great. Thank you so much handsome. And it looks amazing by the way.”
As he retrieves the maple syrup from the cupboard, Brennan says, “You were quiet when you got back from the library last night. Is everything okay?” He sits himself across from Alannah at the table. “Anything I need to know about?”
“Oh, no. Nothing to worry about at all.” Alannah can feel her face going slightly red from the lie that has just blurted out of her mouth. “It’s just a bit of research Matthew wants to me do. No biggie.”
“Oh really. What’s the subject?”
“Just a verse from the Bible, that’s all.”
A confused expression crosses Brennan’s features. “Wait, you need to research the Bible? Haven’t you already like blasted your way through that when you got initiated into nun-ism?”
Caught off guard by Brennan’s choice of words, Alannah almost chokes on the huge piece of pancake she’s shoved in her mouth. “Nun-ism… What’s that, then?”
“You know what I mean…” Brennan replies, joining in with the laughter. “You know, like being a nun and all that – nun-ism, like Judaism or something.”
Alannah breaks out laughing.
“No, like didn’t you guys have daily Bible study meetings on that sort of stuff?”
“I love you so much,” Alannah says. Her heart warms at Brennan’s innocence.
“I love you, too,” Brennan says, hanging his head.
“To answer your question, yes, we did conduct Bible studies. We would dissect the Bible as much as we could with the children. And, well – because we were with the children most of the time, it was never studied in any depth. I have, during my own time, studied the Bible myself. However, this specific verse that Matthew has requested, I don’t have much knowledge on.”
“Okay, well what’s it about?”
“I’m not sure really.”
Alannah doesn’t want to scare Brennan and potentially have him on her case every day, trying to talk her out of her mission to help get the children back, so she decides it’s best to play the subject down and not tell him too much about what she’s up to.
Brennan frowns. “You’re going to a lot of effort for something you’re not sure about.”
“No… erm, well…” Alannah stutters. “It’s not that I’m not sure about it – I know that it’s a certain verse, I just don’t know an awful lot about that specific verse.”
“Ah, okay. Well, what verse is it?”
“Why do you want to know?” Alannah asks suspiciously.
“What…” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “Is it a crime to take an active interest in what my wife is spending all her time working so hard on?”
“Of course, it isn’t.”
“So, what’s it about, then?”
“It’s just this verse – the Smashing of the Clay Pots.”
“What’s so special about that one?”
“I’m not sure. It’s just that Matthew said that the guy he is meeting mentioned this verse and he wanted to know if I knew anything about it. So, to cut a long story short, I told him I didn’t, and he asked me if I would look into the verse and see what information I could find. I went to the library yesterday and a very helpful young lady called Julianna showed me where I could find the book. And that’s it. Now I’m about to lock myself away and research it because last night when I got home and you woke, I wanted to give you my undivided attention because I love you so much and you just looked exhausted.”
Alannah shovels an oversized mouthful of pancake and bacon into her mouth. Giving Brennan a cheeky smile, she secretly hopes that she’s satisfied his curiosity and that there will be no more questions on the subject.
“Aww, I know, my baby. I really was exhausted. I’ve not stopped worrying about you for days now. But I just want you to know that I appreciate you putting me first last night. Having you snuggling with me watching movies and giving me your undivided attention was just what the doctor ordered.”
Stretching out his hand on the table, Brennan gestures for Alannah to hold his hand. Taking the hint, Alannah smiles as she places her hand inside his and their fingers intertwine.
“So, Julianna…”
“Huh?”
“Julianna. It’s nice.”
Wondering what on earth he’s talking about, a confused expression
crosses Alannah’s face.
“You’ve met a new friend. It’s nice. So, what part of New York does she live in?”
Alannah swallows and says, “I wouldn’t really say a new friend, she just helped me get the book. That’s all.”
“That’s a shame. It might have been good for you to have made a new friend to go off and venture into the city with.”
“I’m not really too fussed about all that stuff, you know that” Alannah says as she ploughs the last forkful into her mouth. She gets up and kisses Brennan on the cheek. “Thanks again, handsome.”
Closing the study door behind her, Alannah settles down at her desk and picks up the book. On the very first page, she sees an emblem. Grabbing a pen and paper, she traces its outline. She has always been taught to stay away from anything representing evil and not to taunt unknown entities, and she senses that this emblem represents something far from holy. She decides that it is best to pray before she ventures any further into the book. Clasping her hands together, she closes her eyes and bows her head and says the Lord’s Prayer.
Alannah’s eyes well up with tears. A pain like no other surges through her heart. These precious words have triggered her. The last time she spoke the Lord’s Prayer, she was with all her sisters and the children, and they were all very much alive, safe and well. She swallows the huge lump that has developed at the back of her throat.
Squeezing her fingers tighter together, Alannah continues with her prayer: “Father, please, I ask for forgiveness. I know it has been some time since we last spoke. Please know that leaving the convent was not something I thought about lightly. And Father, I do believe that you were looking over me, and I do believe that you saved me so that I can save all the children from the evil that is walking amongst us. The path that I am on is not going to be easy, but with you by my side guiding me along the way and the love of my sisters who are with you now, I know that I can achieve this. I will save the children. And when that day arrives, it is my solemn vow to look after them always. That is my promise. Please, Father, and my sisters, I ask for you guidance, I ask for your love, I ask for you to keep my soul safe whilst I embark on this journey into darkness. Keep the evil that seeks me from finding me. Thank you, Father. Thank you, sisters. With you by my side I can do this. I will get justice for us all. Amen.”
Feeling slightly more empowered, Alannah gathers herself and stares down at the emblem once more. It’s the outline of an eye. And in the centre of the pupil is a shape. It looks like an upside-down cross. Underneath are the words Circum Vertere. A quick search on the internet reveals that they mean “Turn Around”.
A shudder runs down her spine. She jumps and looks over her shoulder, scared that she might have awoken or summoned something. Thankfully, there’s no one or nothing there. Getting the creeps from the image, Alannah flicks to the next page.
Breathing deeply, Alannah whispers to herself, “Well, here goes nothing…”
She turns the pages and comes to the following passage:
Darkness will strike upon the reader of this book. Entering the realms of the unknown may seem like a brave and noble decision to make, but do not underestimate the powers of darkness and your words thereafter.
We are here to tell hidden secrets of an equitable ending that is to come to mankind.
Mankind created its own fate and mankind is its own biggest downfall.
Mankind only has mankind to blame.
Thank your ancestors for your karma, for they have awakened something unholy and unforgiving.
We request that you retain a clear certainty before turning these pages, for what is seen can never be unseen and what is read can never be forgotten.
Hell exists and you are an occupant.
Undeterred by the warning, Alannah turns to the next page. Here there is another entry, but the words aren’t printed. They have been written with blue ink. Beautiful, cursive handwriting, on a golden, worn-looking page. As Alannah scans the contents, she realises the words aren’t written in English. It appears to be in the same unknown language that was under the emblem. She types the passage into the internet translate search bar, then copies and pastes the results onto a blank document and prints it.
A Curse to Behold
Darkness has been cast by my cold hands upon those who have wronged the young, the innocent and the vulnerable.
Wronged them by inflicting pain, covering their screams and watching for their own greed.
Your cruelty and your shame have kindled my internal flames and you will not only feel my wrath, you will suffer the consequences of your brutality.
Children, come forth.
You are the righteous ones.
You will live forever within my sight.
You are the children of the night, and you will give our universe eternal fire and you will remain by my side, and I will reign supreme.
Children, you always were and always will be the innocent ones.
Fear me not. Fear me not.
I am your saviour and together we will seek vengeance on their souls.
Welcome to the dark side.
Welcome home.
As she reads the last word, Alannah’s heart begins beating uncontrollably. Her temperature rises and she feels faint, her stomach churning. Unsure of what is happening to her body, Alannah’s attention is soon focused on the intense amount of saliva that is generating inside her mouth. Freaking out, she feels as if she’s about to vomit any second now.
She dashes to the window, opens it, launches her head out into the open air and retches. Thankfully, for those on the streets below her, nothing comes up. Practically hanging out of the window, Alannah takes deep breath after deep breath of the freezing cold air. Slowly, the contracting feeling in her stomach is beginning to wear off.
Tap tap tap.
Alannah jumps at the sound of tapping on the door.
“Baby, are you okay in there?” shouts Brennan through the closed door.
Gathering herself, she replies, “Yeah, I’m fine, just getting some fresh air, that’s all.”
“I heard a bang and it sounded like you were being sick. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“No, honestly. All good. I’m fine. Just choked on some water. It went down the wrong hole.”
“Okay. If you’re alright, I’ll leave you to it. Shout me if you need me.”
“Will do.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Looking up at the grey overcast sky, Alannah whispers, “Please help me.”
Her temperature has cooled thanks to the wintry air and she slams the window shut. She folds the sheet of paper and places it in the back of her notepad, then sits down. Just as her fingertips grace the roughness of the paper, she hears a whisper from a very faint female voice.
“Moycullen.”
Startled, Alannah scans the room. There’s nothing and no one else inside the room with her. The only sound she can hear is that of her heart beating and Brennan’s terrible Christmas carol singing from the room next door.
“Hello…” she whispers nervously.
Silence.
“Please don’t be afraid. If you can hear me, erm, if you can just move something, so I know you’re here with me.”
Again, there’s nothing but silence and no movement inside the room.
With her anxiety easing, Alannah bravely says, “If you said Moycullen, can you move something for me?”
A pen rolls off the table and hits the floor.
“Oh, shit,” Alannah says. She jumps so far, she falls off her chair.
She quickly picks herself up, her chest thumping, and her hands begin to shake.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” She doesn’t know what to ask next. “Erm. Are you from Moycullen?”
Again, there’s no movement and silence.
“Moycullen, Moycullen, what could this possibly mean…?” Alannah whispers to herself.
The computer screen lights up. The internet search engine page is open.
“Crap. Okay, it’s okay,” Alannah reassures herself. “If you want me to search Moycullen, then please, can you give me a sign.”
A bang comes from the direction of the window.
Alannah leaps across the room as far away from the window as she possibly can, her heart pounding faster than ever. Bending over and placing her hands on her knees, she desperately tries to regulate her heart rate and breathing.
“Right, come on. You got this girl. Pull yourself together. Alannah, remember, this is only the beginning.”
She slowly makes her way towards the window. As clear as the daylight, Alannah sees the purest white dove perched on the ledge of her window, gazing through the window at Alannah. As soon as she makes eye contact with the enchanting bird, it spreads its wings and flaps off.
In all the months that she’s been in New York, Alannah’s never seen any doves randomly flying around the streets or on any of the buildings. Certain that this is a message from her Father, and her sisters, she makes her way back to the computer and types in the word Moycullen and hits the search button.
Article after article about the recently built Moycullen Orphanage in Morrisville, Bucks County, fill up the screen. The headlines praise the selfless owner who dedicates his life to looking after neglected and vulnerable children. And this amazing pillar of the community is also the principal of Grange Park Kindergarten and Elementary. His name is – Principal Jesiah.
Alannah is stunned. This is it, the break she’s been searching for. She clicks the top link and scrolls past the headline. Underneath is a picture. And in the picture is the person named Principal Jesiah. And right by his side is none other than Eve, who is cradling Honey, Lewis, who has hold of Hope, and Elisabeth. In the background are the rest of Phil’s children and every single child from the nunnery. Alannah puts her hand to her mouth. She cannot believe her eyes.
Seeing the children’s smiling faces and knowing that they are okay and appear safe overwhelms her with relief. She prints the article and rushes into the living room.
The Broken IV: Vengeance Page 15