A flash of dread surged through him. He couldn’t see the old lady he’d helped. Finally, he spotted a pair of legs sticking out from under a toppled shelf.
“No!” Detrick shouted, trying desperately to lift the shelf, but to no avail. It was too large, and his back and arms ached just trying to lift it. He fell to his knees. “Ma’am, are you okay? Can you hear me?” No answer. He tore through the store and called for help, but the chaos around him bore him no mercy. He apologized to the woman repeatedly, rising to his feet.
Making his way outside, frantic shouting and pandemonium barraged all of Detrick’s senses. And then, through a haze of dust, he saw it: the Temple was totally leveled, a massive pile of splintered obsidian. Small bits of debris still rained from the sky, a hellish downpour of rock and wood.
His eyes scanned the scene before him, and a thought so frightening struck him that it tore the breath from his chest. Abandoning all regard for his own safety, he shot into the crowd and immediately began searching. “Conner!” he screamed. “Conner! Oh, Lilith, Mother above, please don’t let me find him out here.”
Paladins began to filter in, some barking orders and some tending to the fallen.
While Detrick was looking for Conner, he also saw that the Pillar of Codes that once stood proudly in the center of the square now lay in chunks strewn across the ground.
“Lismore, you need to clear out of here. This is a crime scene,” a paladin shouted at him, but Detrick ignored her. He was picking up rocks and wood and throwing them to the side, blinded by desperation. “Detrick!” the paladin said, finally making her way over to him and grabbing him by the shoulder. Detrick recognized her as one of the usual entourage who often accompanied James to his house. “Conner’s not here—I was just in the shop a few minutes before the bomb exploded. Just…please don’t say anything to the Grand Magistrate about this conversation, alright?”
Detrick was eternally grateful. He rubbed his face to let the relief sink in and thanked her several times before turning to leave.
“Aeos!” came the frantic scream of a woman from the steps of the Temple ruins. The chaos was abruptly silenced as everyone turned to look at this woman. She was bloodied and disheveled and struggling to stand. Steadying herself with a boulder that rested on the steps, she continued. “Hear me! Lilith has commanded that Her followers be punished for their heretical ways. We’re here to rectify what has gone astray, to restore Her glory. You, citizens of Aeos, have provoked an uprising the likes of which none have ever seen. Prepare yourselves! The Begotten are here, and there’s no escape from the wrath of Lilith!”
When she finished speaking, no one knew how to respond. They looked at each other and back to the woman.
She then withdrew a handgun from her clothes, pointed it straight at her head, and pulled the trigger. Her body dropped to the ground as blood poured from her skull and down the steps.
* * *
“It was insane,” Detrick said later that night. He was sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands, trying to process what he’d seen. “I don’t understand what happened.” His parents sat next to him, his mom’s hand on his shoulder. The panic from earlier in the day had all but subsided—Detrick’s heart was still going full speed, the explosion still ringing in his ears, the way the woman’s body had fallen to the ground. He didn’t understand how it wasn’t a dream.
“No one seems to know,” his dad said. “Nobody knows who she was. That’s what I heard. And what’s this group she spoke of. The Begotten?”
“No idea,” Detrick said. He’d now seen two dead bodies in less than a year. Things in Aeos were more chaotic than ever.
“I’m just so thankful you’re alright, Detrick. When we heard the explosion, we feared the worst,” his mother said, her voice shaking. She squeezed his shoulder. “What do you suppose we’ll be doing for night church until another Temple is built?”
“Not sure. I’m sure they’ll have a temporary solution in the meantime,” his dad replied.
As Detrick still ran through the day’s events, his mind turned to Conner, and he was beyond relieved that he’d been spared from harm.
CHAPTER 19
AFTER NIGHT CHURCH
The remains of the Temple had been cordoned off while renovation efforts were carried out. The Union delivered a statement to all of Aeos via radio that investigations were underway as to the identity and origin of the strange woman and that, most importantly, there was no immediate danger to anyone. They assured all that this was the action of a single, crazed individual, and that no such group called “The Begotten” existed. Detrick was no stranger to knowing that the Union worked hard to cover its own ass, but to deny the very reason that woman had killed herself…the words she’d uttered—all a lie? Who did they expect to believe that?
As it turned out, most people did. And Detrick couldn’t understand why.
Night church had been temporarily relocated to a field just outside of town. A podium had been brought in, as well as a stand with a small shrine to Lilith that someone had graciously donated. A ring of half-used candles encircled the shrine, casting a dull glow around its vicinity.
As the elderly Cleric began his sermon on trusting in Lilith’s protection, Detrick listened intently. Though he’d been at odds with the Union, his faith in Lilith had never wavered. He sought relief from the chaos that had been all too prevalent lately. And it certainly didn’t help that he was in the midst of yet another falling out with the person he loved more than anything in the world. It was all so exhausting. They’d fight, resolve their differences and make up, and then go right back to fighting. Detrick felt like he was stuck in a whirlpool. Every time he and Conner called off their friendship, it hurt even more than the last time. But what could he do about it? March up to Conner, take him by the shoulders, and confess everything—about the Union, about his true feelings? How would Conner even respond? The guy wasn’t shy about losing his temper.
Speaking of Conner, was that him making his way through the crowd and toward Detrick? Where did he think he was going right now? Conner walked right past Detrick without seeing him, so Detrick grabbed his arm. “Going somewhere?” he whispered harshly.
“Yeah, I’m leaving. Let go of my arm.”
Detrick obeyed. “You do realize that if you’re caught leaving, they’ll just bring you back?”
“Oh please, have you ever known me to follow a rule? You can’t stop me from leaving.” His stubborn words almost made Detrick burst out laughing. Sometimes Conner was a caricature of himself.
Someone near the two shushed them loudly.
Conner shook his head and began a slow walk toward the back of the crowd. Sighing, Detrick followed. They broke through but spotted the paladins posted around the exterior.
“What’s the plan, boss?” Detrick asked under his breath. If he was going to be hanging around Conner tonight, he might as well see what he was up to.
Conner studied his surroundings, probably looking for the best path around the paladins. After a good minute, Detrick gave up on waiting and walked rather briskly toward one of them.
“Detrick! What are you doing?” Conner asked.
Detrick ignored him and kept walking. “Sir?” he said to the paladin. “I just thought you should know. I think someone is trying to leave.”
“Oh? Where are they?”
“They’re, uh, way over there,” Detrick said, pointing in the opposite direction from Conner. Though he felt a little bad about lying, he couldn’t help trying to get on Conner’s good side.
“Thanks for letting me know.” And the paladin was off to search for the nonexistent escapee.
Detrick jogged back to Conner, laughing quietly to himself at his own antics. “Wow, I can’t believe you didn’t think of that, Conner. It was so easy.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Just that I saw someone trying to leave. It’s true, isn’t it?”
“Right. I’ll be going then.” Conner
headed toward the now-empty space where the paladin had been, careful not to alert the next nearest one, who was leaning against a building.
“Let me come with you,” Detrick said, keeping pace with Conner’s swift stride.
“Fine. Praise Lilith for those helmets, huh? No peripheral vision,” Conner said happily as they walked.
“Hey, you two! Where do you think you’re going? Turn around and get back to the sermon!” a paladin shouted.
“Son of a—” Conner said.
“Run!” Detrick yelled.
“What? You can’t be serious.”
“You wanted to leave, didn’t you? Since when do you follow rules? Let’s go, damn it!” And then Detrick took off running. He turned around to face Conner, who seemed to be hesitating at first, but then he broke out in a run as well.
Detrick was committed now. He’d been too caught up in trying to impress Conner, and now he had no choice but to join him in his escape. If he was caught, he’d be in trouble, and he wasn’t ready for a record of his own.
The two raced back into town, hurdling the rope that surrounded the remains of the Temple. Turning down a side road, they turned around and saw that the paladins were much closer than anticipated.
“Let’s go into your shop,” Detrick said breathlessly as they ducked behind a building.
“Are you crazy? If they see me go in there, they’ll know who I am.”
“Then what do you—”
“Freeze, you two!” One of the paladins had rounded the corner and was mere feet away from them.
Conner pushed Detrick to beckon him to keep running. Detrick hoped the paladin hadn’t recognized him but knew it was too late to care. He was now just as guilty as Conner for leaving night church.
They turned down an alley, and began trying doors, hoping for an unlocked one.
“In here!” Detrick whispered, opening a door to a small storeroom. He and Conner hastily retreated inside and quietly shut the door, just as the paladins went racing by. Detrick locked the door and heaved a sigh of relief.
“I can’t believe you,” Conner whispered into the dark, still panting.
“Surprised, are you? I can be a rebel if I want to be,” Detrick replied. He felt silly even saying such things.
“Sure, you’re a real criminal. Now what?”
“Now we wait. Can’t exactly go anywhere, now can we?” Both of them looked around the storehouse and saw that it was stuffed full of crates and cleaning supplies. There was very little standing room, and the two of them were forced to stand within inches of each other. “We must be in the back of the grocery store. It has that smell, you know?”
“I guess,” Conner said. “Why are you even here? I thought we made it pretty clear that we were done.”
Detrick could only shrug. “Someone needs to keep an eye on you.”
Conner rolled his eyes.
As they hid in silence, Detrick suddenly became aware of just how close Conner was to him. So close that he could feel his body heat…could hear the soft breaths that escaped his lips. He had to make a conscious effort to ignore it. Even so, he could feel the slow rise and fall of Conner’s chest against his own; it caused his heart to flutter and his palms to perspire.
His mind was screaming at him to escape this tight squeeze against this obstinate person who was always fighting with him. His body was begging him to give in to this guy who made his heart race, made his breath catch in his chest.
In an effort to break the tension, Detrick remarked how quiet it was now, but it didn’t help break the heat forming between them—it intensified it. He shifted his stance so he was a little more comfortable, but with Conner’s body being so close to his own, that was impossible. He felt his surroundings repeatedly attempting to melt away, like a candle in an oven.
“How long should we wait?” Conner whispered. His breath warmed the bare skin on Detrick’s neck and sent a bolt of lightning down the left side of his body.
“I—I guess we could check the alley. I’m sure they’re gone by now.”
Neither of them moved to do so. In silence they stood, unsure of what to do next. It was as if the walls were attempting to push Detrick and Conner against each other, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
Detrick was fighting a losing battle, succumbing to an overpowering desire to feel Conner’s skin pressed against his own. And now he was wracking his brain trying to come up with an excuse to touch him.
“I’m gonna take off my jacket. It’s too hot in here,” Detrick whispered. “You should do the same.”
Conner agreed and awkwardly tried to remove his arms from the sleeves. Detrick swiftly removed his own so he could help Conner. They tossed them aside haphazardly. They stared at each other, their eyes darting all over each other’s faces. Detrick could swear that, somewhere in Conner’s eyes, the same desire was present, fighting to free itself. His legs felt like they might buckle.
Unable to survive another minute, Detrick reached out to brush Conner’s hair out of his face, and then, hesitating for a moment, ran his hand down his face. The feeling flooded him with electricity, and an almost imperceptibly quiet moan escaped Conner’s lips. Oh, the desire was there. Detrick was sure of it.
And any remaining doubt fled Detrick’s mind when Conner grasped Detrick’s shirt with both hands. His own hands had migrated underneath Conner’s shirt and was caressing his lower back. Conner pulled him closer and stared up at him, his eyes filled with a hunger Detrick had never seen in him before.
Detrick’s nervous, shuddering breaths were making him feel foolish, but all the same, he couldn’t pull away. He rested his head against Conner’s to steady himself.
“What are you thinking?” Conner asked. He brushed Detrick’s hair behind his ears.
“I—I don’t know.” Detrick didn’t understand why he was suddenly so terrified of going any further.
“Are you nervous?”
Detrick took a moment to gather his thoughts. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. I think—I think maybe I should go.” And with that, Detrick broke free of their embrace, grabbed his jacket, and cracked open the door to make sure the coast was clear. “I’ll see you later,” Detrick said without looking at Conner. He felt humiliated. What was he so afraid of?
“Okay…bye, I guess,” he heard Conner call from the other side of the door.
Sleep didn’t come for Detrick that night. He was furious with himself. Why did he have to cut their encounter short? What was he so scared of? Kissing Conner? Detrick was taken with Conner; all he’d ever wanted to do for months was kiss him. But then, when he’d had the perfect opportunity, he’d been too terrified to even consider it. Conner must positively hate him now.
He wished he could go back and try again.
Tossing and turning until the sun peaked over the horizon, Detrick let his mind wander about what could have been.
CHAPTER 20
THE BEACH
Detrick spent the next morning being lectured by both Victoria and his parents. They could all tell that he was distracted by something, and he didn’t argue because he knew they were right.
“You were a very different person when you were here, Detrick. But you’ve devolved into a deplorable excuse for a Loyalist,” Victoria said to him via radio. “Your mistakes will bear heavy consequence if you don’t adjust your behavior.”
“What mistakes?”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you did at night church last night. Where’s your loyalty anymore? You hanging around that Wicklow boy is just asking for trouble. From here on out, I forbid you interacting with him at all.”
How could she possibly know about last night? Unless one of the paladins had recognized him after all?
His parents glared at him. Their judgmental looks were having more of an effect on him right now…for once. He had a sudden urge to kick the table.
“Grand Magistrate, I promise you my loyalty hasn’t faltered. I�
�m trying my best to keep up. Conner isn’t a problem, I swear it. I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me.”
“The Detrick I knew didn’t rely on his words to prove himself; he used his actions. He performed his duties with unmatched dedication, and he was one of the greatest interns I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. But look at you now. Get your priorities straight, Detrick. The next time we speak, I expect to see some progress.”
“Yes, Grand Magistrate,” Detrick said solemnly. Her words were harsh, but he had no intention of following her orders. He’d just have to be more careful was all… The only person who could stop Detrick from seeing Conner was Conner.
The conversation shifted to James’ execution.
“There are less than three months until Catharsis and James’s execution. I think he’s finally accepted his purpose,” Victoria said. “He’s been better behaved lately. It’s always aggravating when they struggle.”
Detrick saw his mother wince.
“Alright. Until next time, Lismores.”
They closed with a prayer to Lilith, offered by Detrick’s dad, and then he switched off the radio.
“Please take what she said to heart, Detrick,” his mother pleaded, smoothing a pillow on the couch. “I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but it’s for the best.”
“I agree with your mother. What you did last night was inexcusable. That boy is a deviant, son. There are much better ways to occupy your time.” Detrick’s dad placed a wide-brimmed hat on his head. “I’m going to head outside and do some pruning. You should join me.”
Detrick begrudgingly complied.
Into the late afternoon, Detrick helped his father prune the orchard. They needed to maintain their shape if they were to be acceptable apple trees. Clipping off dead or damaged branches, Detrick formed the trees into respectable beings. After all, if any of them were different than the others, it would be a disgrace. Detrick shook his head, threw down his pruning shears, and decided he’d had enough.
Powerless: Aeos Book One Page 14