by Sabra Kay
“Weird? Like how?”
“The car stopped, and Rachael pulled open the back door and grabbed Sera...”
He stopped and looked at the door again, swallowing and working his jaw. Then he looked me dead in the eye.
“The driver was on fire...” His voice shook as he spoke. “On fire. One man was trying to put him out, and another was coming at them, trying to grab Sera. A cambion...”
My heart quickened pace. A fucking cambion... why would it try to take Sera?
“Go on…”
He shook his head. “It gets crazier. Rachael tried to shove Sera out of the way and take the guy on, right? Of course, he was huge, and she didn't stand a chance, but she was going to die trying if she had to. The guy tossed her out of the way like she was nothing and grabbed at Sera…”
He swallowed again. “Sera just stood there with her hand out, like she was pushing back at him...”
He paused again. I leaned forward, willing him to hurry and spill it.
“What, Ethan? What next?” I was getting frustrated.
“She pushed her hand out at him... and he flew back. From what Rachael says he flew about fifteen feet or more. She was freaking out, and there was Sera, calmly using powers I didn't know she had. There, that's the gist of it.”
I realized I had been holding my breath. I exhaled sharply.
Ethan nodded. “I know, crazy, right?”
I collected myself, to the best of my ability. “This might be a stupid question, but just for clarity, has she ever done anything like this before?”
He shook his head.
“Okay, has she shown any abilities at all? Anything unusual?”
He thought for a moment, then shook his head. “In her first year, we sent her to the academy. Your Father tested her, just like he tests every kid. He didn't mention any abilities to me. As far as I know, she's a normal kid.” He rubbed his chin in thought. “She has kind of a weird thing with the Bunny. Rex. He tells her things, and yeah, she's showed what I would consider some psychic abilities. She has that thing, you know, that compelling energy, but so do most of us. Nothing more than that. Not that I know of.” He shrugged.
“Any idea who tried to take her? Had any run-ins with cambion?”
He shook his head. “Nope. You know I stay far away from any of that shit. I don't mess with the CDT. I stay away from politics. I stay away from trouble.”
I thought of my last job. Since when were cambion so inarticulate with their powers that they were setting each other on fire? Could Sera have been the one to ignite the driver? I didn't see how it could be possible.
“She doesn't seem to be surprised or bothered by what she’s able to do. She's just taking the whole thing in stride like it's no big deal.”
I got up and moved closer to him, squeezing his hand. “I know, but she's safe now. You'll keep her that way.”
“I've got guards. Four of them on duty twenty-four seven. I don't care what it costs.”
“Oh? I didn't see anyone.”
“Good. I don't want her to see them. I want to keep things normal. There are two posted near the front of the property and two near the back.”
I considered that for a moment. “Why did you pull her out of the academy?”
“Sian wasn't real keen on being away from her in the first place. I always thought it was a little barbaric and outdated to have kids so young at a boarding school. Then, after the accident, I pulled her out. I kept her with me while we recovered from that. Then Rachel came, and we waited until the following year to have her back at school.”
He paused, struggling to find the right thing to say before he continued.
“We tried it for a few weeks, but she was having such horrible meltdowns on the weekends when she would come home. She would beg and plead and say it scared her and that it was a 'bad place.' It was horrible, Grace. I finally decided, well, we decided, that it was best to homeschool her for a while, then maybe try a regular school. She deserves to be a regular kid and have a regular life.” He buried his face in his hands, muffling his next words. “So much for that, right?”
He stood up and paced, his face reddening. “You know, Grace. I'm about tired of this shit. This is the one reason I didn't join the CDT. I didn't want all this bullshit. I wanted to do something productive, make a difference, but live my life like a normal goddamn human. We're human, too, you know?”
I was taken aback. I had never really understood why Ethan identified more with his human side… why he rejected the CDT. It was crazy to me.
“This life, the academy, the council, worrying about the assholes coming down from the skies to slaughter us for whatever reason. Did you ever stop to think how traumatizing that shit is? I still have nightmares about the academy.”
He must have seen the look on my face.
“You know that? I'm sorry, I know your Dad runs the place. I always got along fine with him, still do. But something isn't right there. I didn't fully realize it till Sera came back. She's a tough kid. Not easily rattled, not oversensitive. For her to melt down like that...”
“How has she been lately?”
“Great. Playing, being a normal kid. Rachael's been great. I know when she showed up after Sian died she wasn't planning on putting her life on hold and staying, but she just fit in so well here, and her and Sera have grown so close, I don't know what we'd do without her.”
We fell silent for a few minutes. The television had been on with the sound down while we were talking. I looked at it while mulling over what I'd heard. And there he was. Goddamn Billy Blaine.
“Speak of the devil.” I whispered.
Ethan looked at me, cocking his head, eyebrows raised in question.
“Ugh, turn it up.”
“What's going on? New protests? What is it this time?”
He was being interviewed by an earnest young blond. He was his usual smiling, slick self. My skin crawled at the sight of him.
“So, what do you say to these protesters, many of whom are a part of your congregation?”
“Well, in this great country, we have the right to protest, Courtney. These good people are simply practicing free speech, religious freedom, and the right to peaceful protest. Surely you can't find fault with that?”
“Of course not, however there have been accusations that you have actively encouraged your followers to protest scientific research, birth control use, same sex marriage and there have been widespread accusations of financial misconduct, sexual misconduct and racism among your inner circle and your church. What do you have to say to those reports?”
His smile grew wider, which I hadn’t thought was possible.
“You know, Courtney, there have been thorough investigations into my congregation and our financial and professional practices. Unwarranted investigations, mind you. But we've been transparent, cooperative. Myself and my fellows are here for one reason: To preach the Good Word of our Lord and Savior. Accusations of misconduct are unfounded and unproven. The enemy is always acting to undo our good work. If it looks like our actions are extreme or intolerant, it might be a good time to do a little self-inventory and soul-searching. Are you putting your will ahead of His will?”
Courtney pressed on, unfazed.
“Some of your congregation have been lobbing accusations of witchcraft and satanic practices against scientists, female business leaders and women holding positions in political office. Are you actively encouraging these accusations?”
“Like I said, Courtney, my congregation knows that the enemy is always waiting. Waiting for us to be complacent. I don't know anything about witchcraft accusations, but I do know that Satan is alive and well, and you just can't be too careful.”
“And what about accusations that what you're running is a cult, not a congregation?”
This prompted a hearty dose of laughter from the Reverand that set my teeth on edge.
I'd run across plenty of demons in my life, some that appeared more sinister, more viol
ent, and more frightening than him. He was a charlatan. A man on a mission to amass wealth and reputation, and he seemed content to keep it at that.
Why was it that he inspired such revulsion in me? Such a visceral reaction? He was slimy, and his growing cult was cause for concern. The CDT needed to get their shit together on this guy before he started doing real damage.
“A cult. That's rich. Why is it that people of faith are so often targeted? Why people who are God-fearing, who put family and faith first, who contribute to society in meaningful ways, who eschew sinful acts, who live humbly and help others, are targeted? Why does this spark such fear, misunderstanding and hateful lies? I'll tell you why.”
He leaned in and fixed his eyes on the camera, intensity and insanity burning deep within. “Satan. Satan and his minions, working round the clock to discredit us, to destroy us. Are we a cult? No, the cult is here, in mainstream media, social media, the indoctrination of our youth into the evils of homosexuality, feminism and globalism.”
“Thank you, Reverend. Our time is up, unfortunately. A big thanks to the Reverend Billy Blaine of the Church of The Redemption. I'm Courtney Hart, and that's our show for tonight.”
I shook my head in disbelief. How no one could see that he himself was an embodiment of what he claimed to preach against was beyond me.
Could no one see the darkness? The manipulation?
The door opened, and Rachel and Seraphina rushed in, flushed and out of breath.
“I'm muddy!” Seraphina announced. “You should have come with us. We had so much fun!”
Rachel looked exhausted but visibly pleased that Sera had enjoyed their outdoor time. “I'm going to get her in the tub before dinner. We'll be right back.”
Once they were upstairs, we turned our attention back to the television. Neither of us should have been watching this shit. I was certain that my exposure to Blaine's maniacal morning sermons had probably contributed to my anxiety, and the last thing Ethan needed was something else to stress about.
Ironic. The guy backing all this nonsense was a high-level Demon possessor, padding his bank account with the hard-earned savings of his dimwitted followers.
***
I stayed an hour longer than I'd intended to. We talked and laughed, and for a few minutes, I at least forgot about what had transpired.
Sera ran downstairs after her bath, all fresh and towel-dried, smelling of lavender and sunshine, and flung herself at me. I tumbled backward and laughed till there were tears in my eyes. Nephilim children were always unusually strong for their age, another reason my Father felt they shouldn't be placed in regular schools.
“Grace?” Sera crawled down and sat across from me, clutching Rex Bunny to her chest.
“Yes?”
“You won't let anything bad happen to me, right?”
“Seraphina,” Ethan leaned over and wrapped his arm around her. “No one will let anything bad happen to you, sweetie.”
She shrugged and fixed her eyes on me with such intensity it gave me chills. “Right, Grace?”
“Of course, sweetie.”
She grinned and waved Rex at me. “Rex says we're going to have an adventure.”
Rachel swooped in at that point. “Rex says it's time for bed.”
Sera shook her head. “Rex didn't say that. He only talks to me. You're just making that up, so I'll go to bed.” She rolled her eyes.
“Fine. You caught me. Say goodnight, Seraphina. I'm sure Grace will come to visit again soon. Won't you?” She glanced coolly at me.
For a little while, I'd forgotten that Rachel and I didn't mesh. Oh well. I was glad she was feeling like herself again.
“Yes, I will. Goodnight Sera, it was so good to see you.”
She gave me an enormous hug. I hugged her back, and for a few seconds, I felt something I'd never really felt before. Protectiveness? It couldn't be love. I barely knew the kid, and I didn't even like kids. She was the closest thing I would ever have to a niece, I supposed, and she seemed to dig the hell out of me. Given my current situation, I needed all the friends I could get. She slid off the edge of the chair and marched over to Rachel, who took her by the hand and led her to bed.
I was curious about her, though. Curious about what had really happened at the academy, and what her history was. It occurred to me that if I could get access to her records, I might be able learn more about her. My Father had the most detailed records of anyone when it came to the Nephilim, especially those that had attended his school. They registered all known Nephilim with the CDT, and my Father was the keeper of those records. What would I find if I did a little digging?
Ethan walked me out, and I thought I caught a sidelong glare from Rachel as he guided me to the car. I got it, though. Rachel was protective, not just of Sera, but of Ethan. No doubt she was attracted to him. He was a good-looking man, that was for sure.
“Thanks for coming tonight, Grace.” He wrapped his arms around me and squeezed, burying his face in my hair. It was a warm, friendly hug, the kind between two people with history, but with no tension or hint that there would be anything more to follow.
Innocent. But to an outsider, it might look too long, or too close. I glanced toward the house and saw Rachel staring at us from the kitchen window. Great, now she’ll really hate me.
I pulled away and smiled. “No problem, Ethan. It was good to see you. I'm sorry it wasn't under better circumstances.”
“Hey, the circumstances are good. She's home. She's safe. I know it shook her, just like it shook us, but we're tough, and we'll get through this. I hope you meant it when you said you were coming back.”
I nodded. “I'll be back soon, seriously.”
I got into my car, my brain swirling with questions as I drove back home. What really happened to the driver of that car? The power to ignite wasn't a known Nephilim power. It was an unfortunate fact that Cambion had powers that Nephilim didn't. At least not anymore. Once we'd been powerful, but no more. Some Cambion were gifted with both telekinesis and pyrokinesis. But why would...? I shook my head.
I couldn't help but think of the night of the Cervantes exorcism. The Cambion had been unstable, and so was the possessed. The whole thing had gone south on so many levels, but what I did know was that things had happened that didn't add up, and all that was left of Daniel Cervantes, the Cambion, and the demonic woman who attacked Mina, was charred remains.
The real question was this: Did Sera use pyrokinesis to fend off her attacker? If she did, if it was indeed possible for a Nephilim to have that power, then did I have it, too?
Was I the one who ignited a roomful of cambion and demon possessors?
Chapter Six
I woke up with a dry mouth and a racing heart. Part of the dream was beautiful, uncharacteristically so. Flying above a green expanse, glancing up to see shimmering sunlight filtered through the trees. Laughing at the black and white dog barking and dancing on his hind legs. And then, the most beautiful face, gazing at me with loving eyes. A moment of pure joy, something I rarely experienced in either my waking or dreaming life.
Then, rough hands pulling me away from her. The screaming. The horror. Laughter and flames. Then Sera's face, her intense gaze morphing back into the familiar face of my mother. Then she was pulling me, urging me to run faster, slugs and shadows and demon hounds at our heels. Television screens, a wall of them. The Reverend Billy Blaine, spittle flying from his mouth as he pounded his fist on the pulpit, screaming at me to repent. Then, my mother again, standing with him, smiling. That last image woke me up, gasping for breath, desperate to leave the dream behind.
I lit a cigarette immediately, flicking the lighter over and over again, contemplating the flame.
Thoughts of Sera consumed me. The possibility she could possess such potent and destructive abilities made me nervous for her. And I couldn't help but wonder about myself.
My father had told me dozens of times I had no real gifts. On the one hand, this was a good thing. Nephilim were discou
raged from practicing any abilities. My father was constantly at odds with the rest of the council on this.
What I did know was that nephilim who were too powerful, could catch the attention of the upstairs. And that would put all nephilim in danger.
I grabbed a bottle of water and gulped it down, and seriously considered pouring myself a real drink.
Another thought came to me instead.
I decided to skip the booze, double up on the coffee and start getting ready.
An hour later I was on my way to the lab. It was a short drive to Daly City and traffic was uncharacteristically light for nine am on a weekday. The lab was part of a larger complex on the far end of the private university, in the old buildings before they renovated.
Besides teaching several courses on epigenetics, molecular genetics and evolutionary genetics, my Father was also the dean of the Evergreen Academy, a K-12 private boarding school for first- and second-generation Nephilim. The only university students allowed in this part of the campus were those handpicked by my Father to attend his private lectures and intern in the lab, most of these students were Nephilim as well, but not all of them.
I stepped through the double doors and, as always, felt a pang of nostalgia. The smell of the industrial cleaner used on the putty-colored tiles buffed to perfection, the mustiness of the old building, the echo of my footsteps as I walked through the hall and to the lab, all reminded me of my time at the academy.
Not much in the way of pleasant memories, aside from time spent with Ethan and Darah. We were inseparable then. She and I dreamed of joining the CDT and keeping the Earth safe from demon scum. Ethan dreamed of keeping the Earth safe from global warming and injustice.
"Well, there you are, dear." Doctor Page rounded the corner and smiled. "Your Father is in the lab, waiting. How are we doing?"
I had to fight back a groan at the sight of her. She'd always been the same. Blond hair in a sleek chignon, red lipstick, white lab coat, black pumps. She smelled of strong antiseptic and Chanel. I knew her to be nearly sixty, but a stranger would never peg her for that.