Dark Haven Illusion (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Book 47)

by I. T. Lucas

  In Ana’s opinion, it was an improvement on the original model.

  As she’d told Sam, this kind of life wasn’t for everyone, but it was for some.

  Was it right for her, though?

  Ana wasn’t sure. Perhaps a week away was just what she needed to make up her mind. The problem was that she didn’t trust Sam’s promise to bring her back at the end of it if she so wished.

  She was an adult, and no one had the right to keep her from returning to Safe Haven if she wanted to, but her father might do something insane like locking her up in the house. He might even believe that he was doing it for her own good.

  Why he cared, though, was beyond her. It wasn’t as if he was missing her presence in his life. She hadn’t been a part of it for many years.

  49

  Lokan

  As Lokan entered his father’s reception room, seeing Losham sitting across from Navuh at the chess table was an unpleasant déjà vu.

  When Losham had still been his father’s top advisor, that was where the two of them usually had their talks. But it had been a long time since Losham had been demoted and charged with supervising the drug and prostitution businesses the Brotherhood depended on for income these days.

  Wars and conflicts around the world had dried out, and there was little demand for mercenaries.

  “Hello, Lokan.” His adopted brother’s smug expression didn’t bode well for him either.

  What had Losham been plotting? Had he been the one who had hired the detective agency? It was in a different league from the first one he’d engaged with, which was why Lokan had dismissed him as a suspect, but perhaps he shouldn’t have.

  “Greetings, Father.” He bowed low. “Losham.” He nodded at his brother.

  “Lokan, my son.” Navuh’s welcoming smile thawed some of the ice that had grown thick around his heart. If his father was smiling, he wasn’t planning on executing him. “Pull out a chair and join us.”

  “Chess is a two-player game.” Lokan lifted one of the heavy chairs and put it down next to the game table. “I see that the two of you have been playing for a while.”

  Losham was losing, but Lokan knew that he was doing that deliberately. The guy was a master chess player, and he could outmaneuver Navuh with ease. Which was why his presence on the island could mean trouble.

  “The game is almost over.” His father made a move. “And as usual, Losham is letting me win.”

  Navuh seemed to be in a superb mood, which was rare, and also worrisome.

  “I am not, my lord,” Losham protested. “You are just better than I am.”

  Taking his drink with him, Navuh leaned back in his chair and focused his intense stare at Lokan. “You are probably wondering about the unexpected summons.”

  Lokan nodded. “Indeed.”

  “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about the state of the world we live in, and I came to the conclusion that the days of the United States as a superpower are numbered, and so is its control over the world’s economy.”

  Lokan wondered where his father was going with that. “I don’t think we are there yet. But isn’t that what you wanted to achieve?”

  Navuh took a sip of his drink. “It’s getting close. I’ve lived a long life, and I’ve seen enough empires rise and fall to recognize the pattern.” He chuckled. “And as you know, the Brotherhood played an active role in their rise to power and then their subsequent demise.”

  Losham, who had been the mastermind behind that, smiled smugly. “Indeed, my lord.”

  Things were starting to become clearer. Losham must have come up with a new strategy for the Brotherhood’s world dominance ambitions, and he had convinced their father to adopt it.

  The question was what was Lokan’s part in it.

  “The Brotherhood’s goal has always been to destabilize and divide the human world, and we have done a good job so far. But as is usually the case, once one empire falls, another takes its place, and China is the new rising star.”

  “They still have a long way to go.” Lokan reached for the whiskey bottle and poured himself a drink. “They are not an immediate concern.”

  Navuh nodded. “I was under the impression that their ambitions were limited to economic superiority, but it seems like their long-term plan is the same as ours, and we cannot allow them to beat us to it. The only way we can achieve our objective is if the human world is divided, and conflicts are raging all over the globe. If China takes over, the lines of division between countries will become irrelevant, conflicts would be brutally squashed before they have a chance to flare, and it would become impossible for us to cause its downfall. The new Chinese empire might last indefinitely.”

  His father was painting an overly dark future, and Lokan wondered if that was also Losham’s doing. “How do we prevent it from happening?”

  “We immediately start working on establishing a presence there and gaining connections to the higher echelons of power. I should have sent you there ten years ago, but I didn’t realize how fast their rise would be. We don’t have much time left.”

  Navuh wanted him to move to damn China?

  “I’m not the best candidate for establishing a new base there. Losham is a much better choice.”

  His brother dipped his head. “Thank you for the compliment, Lokan, but I don’t have your unique talent. Your compulsion ability would be invaluable in establishing contacts with the Chinese administration.”

  What the hell was in it for Losham?

  What was he missing?

  Establishing a new base in China was going to be extremely difficult, but it was also a great honor. It wasn’t like Losham to pass up an opportunity like that and give it to one of his brothers, especially Lokan, who he had always envied for snagging the cushy Washington position.

  Perhaps that was Losham’s game? He needed Lokan out of the way so he could take over the coveted station.

  After several failed missions, Losham had been basically banished and demoted to managing the drug trafficking and prostitution businesses. No wonder that he was doing everything in his power to move back into Navuh’s good graces.

  He was probably the one who had hired the detective agency, but since he hadn’t been able to find proof that Lokan was neglecting his duties to the Brotherhood, he’d come up with another scheme to get rid of him.

  Except, Lokan didn’t look Chinese, and unlike Kalugal, he couldn’t maintain shrouds indefinitely. He also didn’t speak the language and was unfamiliar with the culture. Still, all of that was inconsequential compared to how it would affect Carol. She would hate being so far away from her family.

  Lokan needed to wiggle out of it as gracefully as he could.

  “I’m honored to be entrusted with such an important task, but I think that Losham’s ability to foresee his opponents' moves fifty steps ahead is more valuable than my compulsion talent.” He turned to his brother. “You are a brilliant strategist, Losham. You should be the one in charge of establishing a new base of power for the Brotherhood in China. I’ve worked long and hard to acquire our contacts in Washington. Who could possibly replace me?”

  Losham smirked. “After you introduce me to your contacts, I’ll have no problem taking over.”

  Bingo. It was precisely what Lokan had suspected.

  “I have had second thoughts about that,” Navuh said. “Lokan has made a valid argument, and I think that both of you working together would yield faster and better results. I can send Kolhud to Washington.”

  This time, both Lokan and Losham turned to look at their father, but Losham was the one who spoke. “No offense, my lord, but Kolhud is not qualified for such an important job.”

  Navuh waved a dismissive hand. “He’ll learn, just like the two of you had to do each time I moved you to a new position. Besides, Washington is no longer a top priority for the Brotherhood.” He leaned forward. “We need to do everything in our power to destabilize China and prevent its rise. The best way to do that is to create i
nternal political unrest and change the way they govern themselves. As it is now, their leaders hold too much centralized power, and since China is not a democracy, we can’t influence what they do from the sidelines by manipulating their population. We need to have access to the leaders themselves and control them directly.”

  Lokan leaned back. “You mean to compel their cooperation.”

  “Precisely. If we don’t act quickly, the world will soon become a much different place than it is now. Just imagine what would happen if their brilliant social credit system gets implemented globally.”

  “I don’t see what’s the problem with that.” Lokan crossed his arms over his chest. “What do we care if they limit the world population’s freedoms. We would still have access to the leadership, political and economic, and as usual, those in power would be exempt from those limiting measures.”

  Losham shook his head. “It’s not the control itself but the means to achieve it. They will do away with cash and monitor all financial transactions. That’s a big problem for us. Also, their scoring system requires that they have the ability to watch everyone. I expect that every room in every home and office would have recording and transmitting devices, and in addition to that, they will create a network of satellite watchers to monitor outdoor activity. Artificial intelligence will be used to analyze the data and produce their social scores. Forget about privacy, or about personal rights. Not that we care, but it would inhibit our ability to move freely among the humans as well. We would be paralyzed. Not only that, it would become impossible to hide our island. We would be exposed, and as strong and capable as our warriors are, they are no match for an army of over one and a half million human troops.”

  Losham’s predictions were alarming for several reasons. The social scoring system was already being implemented, and it worked. Also, the technology to achieve such a level of global control either already existed or was getting close to that. But more to the point, Losham’s predictions had always been spot on.

  Navuh put his empty glass on the table and motioned for Losham to refill it. “You’re just proving my point, Losham. I need you both in China. Furthermore, I’m going to send you out with a large contingent of men. We need to start inciting hot spots of trouble wherever we can.”

  “North Korea?” Lokan suggested. “Singapore?”

  “Those too. But I meant trouble within China’s mainland. Divide and conquer.”

  “That’s not going to be easy.” Losham sighed.

  “If it were, I would have sent Kolhud to build the new base for the Brotherhood there. Instead, I’m sending my two most talented and accomplished sons.”

  50

  Leon

  The last workshop had ended at nine, and Leon had two hours to kill before his rendezvous with Anastasia.

  If she showed up.

  He could have joined Peter and Eleanor on their snooping expedition, but his mind was all over the place, and he would have been probably more of a hindrance than a help.

  Besides, Leon was starting to think that there was no dirt to uncover other than the usual shenanigans common to all cults. Money and power were the obvious motives behind Emmett’s so-called ideology, doubts were unacceptable, and misconduct was punishable by means of social pressure and isolation.

  A scolding from Emmett was considered the equivalent of a whipping and was greatly feared by the community members, but it wasn’t anything that should concern the clan on any level.

  It seemed that no one was being forced to stay, and they were all adults who were free to live their lives as they saw fit.

  So far, everyone Peter and Eleanor had thralled and compelled to tell the truth about the guy had nothing but praise for him. Most of the staff members were apprehensive about their work and worried that they weren’t doing a good enough job even though they were working their butts off and had practically no free time. Their supervisors didn’t dispense praise often, if at all, and getting praise from Emmett was the ultimate reward. Every member of his cult lived and breathed for it.

  According to Eleanor, who had read up on cults, that was a common thread. The members were kept in a state of insecurity on purpose, so they would do more and more to please their leader. She’d explained something about disorganized attachments and dissociation, but it had flown over his head.

  All those psychological terms were confusing.

  Perhaps he just wasn’t the scholarly type.

  The Art of War, which was the only book he’d brought with him, was resting face down on his chest, and Leon couldn’t bring himself to read even one more page. Perhaps the translation sucked. Brundar had loaned it to him, saying that it was one of the best military strategy texts ever produced, but Leon couldn’t read more than a couple of paragraphs before his eyes refused to stay open.

  He didn’t realize that he’d dozed off again until a knock woke him up.

  Bolting out of bed, he rushed to open the door, and for a split second just gazed at Anastasia. Her reddish-blond hair was down around her shoulders, and she was holding her pink scarf in her hands.

  “Hi.” Her lips kicked up in a smile.

  “You came.” He took her hand and pulled her inside.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

  He closed the door and took her into his arms. “I didn’t know what to think.”

  She pushed on his chest. “Don’t distract me. We need to talk.”

  “Yes, of course.” He didn’t let go of her. “But we can kiss first.” He dipped his head, but she lifted her hand and put two fingers over his mouth. “Talk first. Kiss later.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Reluctantly, he released her.

  Anastasia pulled out the only chair in the room, sat down, and motioned for him to sit on the bed.

  “I’ve done a lot of thinking, and I came to the conclusion that I would like to take a week off and spend it with you. It will give me a chance to get some perspective and decide if life in Safe Haven is truly right for me.”

  Leon let out a breath. “You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me.”

  She lifted her hand. “I’m not done. The only obstacle to that is my fear that this is a ploy, and that my ability to choose my future will be taken away from me. I need a guarantee that’s not going to happen.”

  “The only guarantee I can give you is my promise. I swear on my honor that your wishes will be obeyed.”

  “What if my father pressures you into handing me over to him?”

  Leon smiled. “Your father has no leverage over me.”

  “That’s good to know.” She drew her teeth over her lower lip. “I guess that’s the best you can do, and I will have to trust you.”

  There was still fear in her eyes, and he didn’t like it. “Do you have friends on the outside whom you trust?”

  “My old roommates. Why?”

  “As soon as we are out of here, and I get my phone, you can call one of them and explain the situation. If you don’t call her in a week to tell her that everything is okay, she will go to the press with the story that your father is holding you prisoner. He’s pretty well-known, so I assume that it would be newsworthy.”

  “I like your idea. Provided that you will really let me call her.”

  How a woman with such a suspicious nature could have fallen for Emmett’s crap was a mystery. Perhaps there was something to Eleanor’s explanation about disassociation.

  “My phone is in a locker room at the train station. If I don’t let you use it, you can raise hell and attract the station security's attention.”

  “That’s a bit excessive, and I’d rather not, but you’re right about it being an option. I accept your guarantee.”

  “Hallelujah.” He lifted his eyes heavenward.

  “Hold on.” She lifted her hand again.

  “What now?”

  “If I can’t make up my mind after one week, can I stay with you for another week? Or a month?”

  “That’s even better.”

&
nbsp; “But will you honor your vow no matter when I ask to go back?”

  If she transitioned, there would be no going back for her. But hopefully, once she turned immortal, Anastasia would realize that the clan was where she belonged.

  “Of course. I didn’t put any conditions on my vow. Your wishes will always be obeyed. Anything else?”

  She shook her head. “What’s the next step?”

  “Arranging for the emergency call to come in tomorrow. I’ll get Devlin on it.” He pushed to his feet. “Can you wait for me here? It will only take me a couple of minutes.”

  Hopefully, Eleanor and Peter hadn’t been delayed and were back already in Peter’s room, waiting for further instructions from him.

  “How is Devlin going to do that? Is he going to steal a cellphone from the storage room?”

  Leon winked. “We have our ways.”

  “One day, you will have to show me those ninja moves you keep boasting about.”

  “I will.” Opening the door, he lifted his finger in warning. “Don’t go anywhere. If I come back and you are gone, I’m going to come to get you.”

  She waved a hand. “I promise not to move from this chair.”

  “You can move to the bed.”

  She laughed. “Go on already.”

  51

  Eleanor

  “Do you have anything to read?” Eleanor paced the length of Peter’s room. “I’m so bored that I started counting the daisies on that picture.” She pointed to the print hanging over his head.