“Hmm, I mean a few weeks ago they were complaining of nightmares and headaches in the morning, but that’s stopped. I must admit, me and Lisa were having nightmares as well, now they come and go.”
Nudging Brennan, Alannah whispers, “Ask him if we can visit them.”
“Sorry to hear that, man.” Brennan says. “That’s terrible. Look, erm, I know it’s short notice, but we’ve got a gift for the boys here and a little something for you and Lisa, do you think we could call round with it tomorrow?”
Hitting Brennan on the arm, Alannah says, “Tomorrow?”
“Sorry, just a second, Billy.”
“Yeah, sure. Take your time.”
Placing the call on mute, Brennan looks to Alannah and says, “What happened to keeping it cool?”
“I’m sorry, but we need to go there now.”
“We can’t go now, they’re going to be busy wrapping presents for the boys. It would be too weird if I just rocked up now.”
Reluctantly surrendering, Alannah says, “Fine.”
Unmuting the call, Brennan continues, “What you think, buddy, fancy playing beer pong with me?”
William chuckles, “Good lord, beer pong, I haven’t played that since college. I’m not sure about the beer pong, but of course you can come round. Your family, Lisa and the boys will be stoked to see you. It’s been too long.”
“I know. It’s certainly been a long time. You guys still living in Morrisville?”
“Yeah. We’re still living in the dream home we built all those years ago.”
“That’s awesome. So, we’ll come before you’ve eaten dinner, is that okay?”
“Sure thing, just get here whenever you can.”
“See you tomorrow.” Brennan says.
“See you tomorrow.”
The call ends. Looking at Brennan, Alannah says, “I pray we’re not too late.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Less Than Forty-Eight Hours and Counting…”
The children are all gathered in the main hall of the orphanage, their heads held low. Eve, Lewis and Elisabeth stand in front of the Victorian styled fireplace. Everyone in the room has transformed into their true sadistic form. They patiently and silently wait for the arrival of the Dark Empress. The green flames from the candlelight and the fire cast a wicked glow upon the room.
The summons from Jezebel were unexpected, and every muscle in Eve’s body is frozen stiff. The energy circulating is equally tense. Bracing herself for the arrival of Jezebel, Eve discreetly grabs hold of Lewis’s finger. As she breathes in deep, she hears thud, thud, thud. It’s Jezebel, dragging her feet down the steps, getting closer and closer. Eve’s nerves are shot, her thoughts running wild. She’s fearful that this gathering has been ordered because of her ongoing betrayal to her superior, which she believed was secret. She’s desperately trying to keep her cool, but she is well aware of Jezebel’s capabilities. She can easily read terror in someone’s eyes, and this is what will potentially give her away.
Closing her eyes, she focuses on the one thing she is thankful for. Her daughter being safe. Tucked away inside her crib, Honey is under the watchful eye and care of Thomas. Eve has set an emergency backup plan. Should this turn out to be an ambush directed towards her, Eve has given Thomas strict instructions to remove Honey by any means possible from the orphanage. The protection of her daughter is imperative. She doesn’t fear death for herself, but Eve couldn’t imagine Honey’s soul being wide open and captured by evil. The moment she has been dreading is almost upon her. There is another thud and Eve flinches.
“What’s wrong with you?” Lewis whispers.
“Nothing.”
“Then why do you keep jumping?”
“It’s nothing.”
Elisabeth turns to the pair and shushes them. Almost coated in her spit, Eve snarls back at her, ready to shut the snivelling little toad up once and for all. Venom is circulating around Eve’s body, and all of it is directed towards Elisabeth. Believing that Elisabeth may have ratted her out to Jezebel and put her family in jeopardy, Eve has made a clear-cut decision. She’s going to personally slit Elisabeth’s throat should this be the truth, even if it results in her own immediate demise.
Her thoughts all over the place and her emotions high, Eve is battling with the overwhelming information that has recently been thrust upon her. If this isn’t an ambush, then she has no clue how she is going to continue to live a lie. Now that she knows that she too has been ripped away from a loving family, the internal pain from this newfound knowledge is eating her up inside.
Right now, however, Eve knows she has no choice. She must stay strong and continue to play the game, or face a sudden and horrific death. There is one final thud on the staircase, then Jezebel appears, scraping her nails against the wood and dragging her feet towards the front of the room. The children separate and create a pathway leading directly to Eve. Seeing her just a few steps away, Eve’s more nervous than she has ever been. She puts on a brave face, refusing to let this surface. As Jezebel glares at her through the gap in her perfectly parted hair, she smirks sadistically. Eve smirks back.
She’s now standing only a few inches from her face, and Eve can smell the rotting stench of death on her breath. She attempts to suppress the lump forming at the back of her throat so she doesn’t vomit. This is it, her time has come. Clenching her fists, Eve braces herself to lunge in the direction of Elisabeth.
“Are you ready?” Jezebel says to Eve.
Confused, Eve asks, “Ready, Dark Empress?”
Jezebel reaches out and places her cold finger under her chin and brings their eyesight to a deadlock. As they stare intently into one another’s deceitful eyes, for the second time, Eve sees what appears to be the spirits of children. Aware that Jezebel is weighing her up, Eve’s stubbornness kicks in. She doesn’t blink.
“To rule,” Jezebel eventually says.
Eve’s legs shudder as the relief hits her. Quick to rectify her body’s reaction, Eve throws her shoulders back and raises her head high. As the anxiety leaves her body, her stomach turns and she feels nauseous. Clearly, Jezebel has no clue of her disloyalty and rebellious intentions. For once, Elisabeth must have kept her mouth shut.
“Yes, Dark Empress. I serve you.”
“Huh.” Jezebel huffs as she steps in front of Lewis.
“Are you ready to rule?” she asks Lewis.
Without hesitation, Lewis replies, “Yes, Dark Empress. I serve you.”
Stepping in front of Elisabeth, Jezebel repeats the question.
Bowing, Elisabeth replies, “Yes, Dark Empress. I serve only you.”
Eve rolls her eyes at Elisabeth’s apparent dig by adding the word “only” into her reply. She is going to take great pleasure in wiping that smug grin off her face.
Turning to face the children, Jezebel raises her arms and calls out, “Children, are you ready to rule?”
In unison the children reply, “Yes, Dark Empress. I serve you.”
Throwing her head back, Jezebel then lowers her arms and scans the room.
“So loyal,” she says. Making her way into the centre of the children, she continues, “Our time has arrived. Our time to rule has been brought forward. In less than forty-eight hours, we will strike.”
The children bounce with excitement.
Smiling, Jezebel continues, “This moment right here is everything we have been working towards. And so, I will ask you all again, my loyal ones, are you ready to rule?” Jezebel shouts.
In perfect synchronisation, everyone inside the room replies, “Yes, Dark Empress. I serve you.”
Clearly basking in the glory of the obedience of those around her, Jezebel reaches her hands to the ceiling and screams out. The cruel vibrations hit Eve’s eardrums, and she feels the floor begin to shake underneath her. The surrounding walls shudder, and the fla
mes on the candles and fire ignite like a blow torch.
A sharp pain travels down Eve’s spine. She loses her footing and fights against the pain to prevent herself from dropping to the ground. Suddenly, the shaking stops and the flames return to normal. Breathing deeply, Eve places her hand on her stomach.
“Their time is almost up!” Jezebel laughs.
Feeling sick, Eve wonders how she is going to complete the mission Thomas has been sent to deliver to her.
She looks up just as Jezebel makes her way over to Rita. Placing her hand under the chin of the small child in front of her, Jezebel says, “Rita, my how you have come such a long way.”
Bowing her head, Rita stays silent.
Facing the crowd, Jezebel continues, “Tonight we will implement our final possession on our chosen souls. Be on guard and be sure to capture the final element of their existence. Leave not a molecule behind.” Dragging her feet back towards the front of the room, she continues, “Implant fear into those despicable parents. Have them urinate inside their own beds. Make me proud.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, Jezebel smiles and the thick black substance rolls down her chin.
The children bounce up and down and cackle.
“Dark Empress,” Elisabeth mumbles under her breath.
With a sharp twitch of her head, Jezebel looks at Elisabeth with daggers in her eyes. Thud, thud, thud. She drags her heavy legs towards Elisabeth. Jezebel stares at her with a less than impressed expression on her face. “Interrupting me… Someone is feeling brave.”
Eve’s heart and thoughts set off racing. This is it – this is the moment she has been dreading. Elisabeth is clearly about to rat her out in front of everyone.
“Well, spit it out,” Jezebel commands.
“Sorry to interrupt, Dark Empress, I just merely thought that this might be an opportunity to discuss what is expected of us during our take over.”
“Hmm, so eager, Elisabeth. I embrace your loyalty and your enthusiasm. However, it would be wise of you not to interrupt me.”
Putting her head down, Elisabeth replies, “I am sorry, Dark Empress. Please forgive my defiance.”
“Forgiven,” Jezebel responds sternly as she turns back to face the children.
Eve is pleased that Elisabeth has been put in her place. She must not have any information that could expose her betrayal, otherwise, she would have thrown Eve under the bus by now.
“In less than forty-eight hours,” Jezebel resumes, “you will enter your chosen homes and you will waste no time. First things first: form an alliance with the toxic mist which I have created. Work side by side. You will then take full reign over the adults inside the home. As they lie incapacitated by your commands, you will then wake your sleepers, and with their assistance, you will strike against the adults! Crush them, torture them, dispose of their life by any means possible. You just remember that whatever you do, you put their light out. Do I make myself clear?”
Eve joins in with the response: “Yes, Dark Empress.”
“It is imperative that this goes to plan. Remember, you must implement your possession as deeply as you can. Violate them internally. Creep into every molecule of their existence. Take over and do not surrender, even if their soul pleads with you.”
“Yes, Dark Empress,” they all shout.
Smiling, Jezebel makes her way towards the window. She waves her arms high and the curtains open, revealing a star-filled deep blue sky.
“Nunc tempus est nos. Ego sum princeps universum. Imperio. Liberos meos. Mea est.” Turning, Jezebel commands, “Say it with me.”
Eve joins Lewis, Elisabeth and the children in shouting, “Nunc tempus est nos. Ego sum princeps universum. Imperio. Liberos meos. Meaest.”
Jezebel laughs her sadistic laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“We’re Finally on Our Way.”
Matthew fidgets in his seat as they wait for their flight to New York to depart. As far as he’s concerned, the flight can’t be over fast enough.
“Mate,” Phil says, nudging him.
“What?” he says back.
“Do you think Hermon’s gonna be alright back there? I mean, he’s practically at the back of the bus.”
“He’s a big boy, I’m sure he’ll be alright.”
“I just feel bad, you know.”
“What else were we supposed to do? These were the only seats left, and we were lucky to all get on the same flight at such short notice.”
“True. It’s just a long time to be sat in such a small seat at the back.”
Unclipping his seatbelt, Matthew stands in the aisle. Peering down at Phil, he says, “I’m sure if he had a problem with it, he wouldn’t have come with us. It’s not like we forced him.”
“Well, we did kinda back him into a corner ‘cause we said we needed him to read the scroll thing. He might have felt pressured into coming.” Shrugging his shoulders, Phil continues, “I mean, it’s not like he has any missing children. He’s doing this out of the goodness of his heart, and we’re sat up front practically in first class, and he’s right at the back. Just think it’s a bit unfair.”
“Go swap seats with him, then,” Matthew suggests.
“I would, but I don’t think they let you do that ‘cause it’s got your name on?”
“Look, if it makes you feel better, we’ll go check on him when we take off and keep him company for a while. What you think?”
“Okay, deal.”
“Right, now that’s sorted, I need to take myself to the toilet before we take off, or I’m going to piss my pants mid-air.”
Feeling like his bladder is about to burst, Matthew heads down the small aisle to the toilet. As he washes his hands, he catches sight of himself in the mirror. His face looks just as haggard as he feels. Dark rims surround his eyes, and there are deep cuts and purple bruises all over.
“We’re going to get her back,” he says to his reflection.
Just as a smile forms, Matthew feels his phone vibrating. It’s a blocked number.
“Hello, Matthew Honey speaking.”
Silence greets him.
He removes the phone from his ear to check that he has reception. Noticing he has full bars, he returns it to his ear and again says, “Hello, Matthew Honey speaking.”
This time, a faint breathing comes through.
“Hello,” Matthew says. “Sorry, can you hear me?”
A female British accent echoes through his ear, “Hello.”
Matthew’s heart skips a beat. Surely it can’t be…
“Father…”
A gut-wrenching pain surges in Matthew’s stomach, and the colour drains from his cheeks. Shaking from the shock, Matthew drops the phone into the sink. He is unable to move. A lonely tear trickles down his cheek.
The door rattles and someone outside shouts, “Oh, sorry, didn’t see it was occupied.” Matthew snaps out of his trance.
“Please, Lord. Please let her still be there,” he begs as he grasps the phone and raises it to his ear.
“Eve! Eve, darling, is that you?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Oh my goodness, Evelyn Jade.” Unable to hold it in any longer, Matthew breaks down crying. “Please, how are you?”
“So it’s true,” she replies.
“What’s true, darling?”
But this time Matthew gets no response.
“Darling, please, are you okay?”
Again, silence.
Bawling and desperate to keep her on the phone, Matthew shouts through his tears, “Please, Eve, darling, if you can hear me, I know where you are and I’m coming to get you.”
Nothing.
“Princess, daddy is coming to get you. Just keep yourself safe, I’m on a flight now heading to New York. I’m—”
The phone goes dead.
“Eve. Eve. Darling.”
Looking at the screen of the phone, Matthew sees the call has ended.
“No, no, no, no,” he shouts. He lets out an almighty wail.
He turns to the door and frantically attempts to unlock it. The fiddly lock slides through his sweaty fingers, and he punches the door in frustration. He’s breathing at an uncontrollable rate, and his chest pains have suddenly resurfaced. He slumps to the ground, tears streaming down his face.
“Please, phone back. Please… Jesus, I beg you, please bring her back.”
Another knock on the toilet door startles him. Wiping his face to try and mask his meltdown, he calls out, “Yeah, be just a minute.”
“Hello,” says a female voice.
“Yeah. I said I’ll be out in a minute,” Matthew yells back.
“We’re about to do the safety demonstration, so if you could make your way back to your seat, sir, that would be great.”
“Okay. I’ll be out in a minute, I said,” Matthew snaps.
As he lifts himself off the ground using the support of the sink, Matthew’s stomach churns.
“Oh no,” he says before turning back around and violently throwing up into the toilet.
“Sir, are you okay in there?”
“I’m…” Matthew swallows and wipes the excess vomit from around his mouth. “I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.”
Dragging his weak body up off the ground, he cleans himself and the cubicle up as best he can, then opens the door. He is greeted by a stern-looking brunette flight attendant with a plump face. Matthew smiles awkwardly before putting his head down and rushing back to his seat.
“Mate, you alright?” Phil says as Matthew sits back down. “You’ve gone pasty looking.”
Matthew tries to find the words without exploding into a hysterical mess, then decides it’s best to say nothing.
“I knew it. I knew we shouldn’t have discharged you from the hospital,” Phil says.
Matthew turns to Phil and says hoarsely, “Please, stop.” Coughing, he continues, “You don’t understand.” He coughs again. “She just phoned me.”
The Broken IV: Vengeance Page 19