Envy's Kindness (Seven Deadly Sins Book 2)

by R. A. Pollard

  She pushed that desire away. There were more important things going on right now. There were the two missing boys and something…something she couldn’t remember. It was on the tip of her tongue, something from a dream. She meant to tell everyone when she woke but got distracted by a demon and the illegal use of his voice to seduce her. She was sure the dream had been important, but like most dreams, it had started to fade as soon as she woke. The crowd seemed to be getting agitated, and who could blame them? Missing kids always riled up a mob. Selfishly, she was glad her powers were not in her hands right now, or she would be having a nervous breakdown.

  Ze kept watching her. He was standing outside the truck like some kind of bodyguard, not that she could blame him in the least. The idea of being left alone at her charred shell of a home made her nose burn with unshed tears. She would rather be here, even with all the people and their collective envy than be left alone to contemplate what had been her life.

  Phillip began to speak. Maybe if she hadn’t kept herself confined to her property, she would feel like she could be more help right now. Just watching Phillip, she felt a burn of jealousy in her stomach. It was clear how much people respected and admired him.

  “People, these are some old friends from out of town. They heard about the boys and offered to help.” A few nodded thanks.

  The sudden sound of squealing tires brought everyone’s head around. A car skidded to a halt and a distraught woman, still dressed in her pajamas and eyes red from crying, jumped out and ran to Phillip, clutching his flannel shirt.

  “She’s gone! My Marie!” The silence was palpable. Then a phone rang. The sheriff pulled out his phone and held it to his ear.

  “Kain is gone? Okay, Mrs. Abney. We’re going to get on this right away. I’ll send someone over now.”

  Panic began to erupt in the crowd.

  A woman’s voice started the domino effect of mass panic. “More kids are gone?”

  “Someone must have taken them!”

  “Okay, okay, people. We have to stay calm, or we will be of no use to the children. I want you all to call everyone you know in town. We need a head count of all the children. Find out how many are missing, and we can start from there.” Phillip held the sobbing woman as more questions were asked, fear and rage running high.

  Ze might not have proof, but he had a damn good idea why the children had been taken. Payback. Michael was doing this in retaliation for the death of one of Michael’s own. He was making his presence felt. Though the situation hadn’t directly been his fault, Ze felt guilt pinch at him. There was no chance this wasn’t Michael, and he was taking this too far by using innocent kids. Ze couldn’t even think about what he might do to those children. Surely, he was not monster enough to take their lives?

  The brothers looked at each other. Usually, they kept out of mortal affairs such as this, but something in Ze’s gut told him there was more to this.

  “I want to help.”

  Lucifer let out a long breath and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “You know I dislike us getting involved.”

  “Look, I don’t have anything to go on but my gut, and it’s telling me Michael is behind this. If you don't help me look, I will do it alone.” Ze made a move to turn, only to have Abbadon move to block him.

  “You’re not doing this alone, thickhead.”

  “He’s right, we’re all helping. Right, Lucifer?” Asmodeus chimed in, and all turned their eyes to their leader.

  “You lot will be the death of me. Fine, if you think Michael is involved we will help find these kids. I will admit, it stinks of supernatural intervention.”

  Michael wouldn’t have taken them far—he wanted the demons to know he took them. He would want to drive home the knowledge that this was punishment. So where was Michael going to hide four children? He seriously doubted the angel had any means of controlling them or any idea of how to do it either. He felt a hand slip into his, and Sera pressed herself against him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He hadn’t even heard her leave the truck. Damn Michael and his bastard Malakhim for doing this.

  “Is this because of me? Because of what I did to that angel?” Her voice betrayed her pain.

  Ze placed his hands on her shoulders, wanting to shake her. The idea that she might blame herself for any of this enraged him.

  “No, Michael is…he is taking this too far. I never believed he would take children. We’ll stop him, we’ll find those kids. I promise, Sera. Michael has lost his mind. They all have. Sick bastards.”

  Ze looked over her to where Odin was weaving his magic with the people of the town. So the old coot simply moved around the country and manipulated his way into towns, did he? Suddenly Sera went silent and grabbed his arm, her eyes wide.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t believe I forgot! I just remembered the dream I was having last night! Jophiel, he came to me!” Ze tightened his hands on her shoulders and led her to the far side of the truck.

  His voice was tight when he spoke. “Okay, so he came to you. What happened?” He didn’t like the idea that the angel could reach her after his death, in her dreams, a place Ze couldn’t go. It made him feel powerless, and that was an emotion he was not comfortable or familiar with.

  “He apologized. He told me he wasn’t in control of himself when he attacked. That he was sorry for what happened. He said there is a sickness within the Malakhim. That Michael is sick and the others are being affected. All but Gabriel.”

  Ze gritted his teeth. “We need to tell the others as soon as possible. Reach out to Gabriel.” The idea of doing that just felt like swallowing a rock. Trying to get in contact with the angel was one thing, but would he be responsive? Well, that was the million-dollar question, wasn’t it?

  “That’s not all. He had a message for you, all of you. He said your brother lives, but not in human form. Something about Michael making him a beast of rage. Then he faded.”

  Ze suddenly swept her up into his arms, forcing a squeak from her lips. The smile on his face was huge as he pulled her in for an embrace that was no doubt crushing the life from her. He released his hold but didn’t give her the chance to speak before cupping her face for a toe-curling kiss. He kissed the living daylights out of her, leaving her breathless and weak. He came up for air, the huge smile still plastered on his face.

  “That is the best news you could have ever given me. We didn’t know if Tanus was alive. Now we have somewhere to start. Thank you.” Gods, he loved the color of red she turned when she blushed.

  “I didn’t do anything. It was all Jophiel. I think the blade freed him from whatever had control over him. Which means the Malakhim may just be the fall guys for someone else’s scheme.”

  “I agree. But right now we have some missing children to find.” Ze was eager to tell his brothers of Sera’s vision, and he would, but right now they had all agreed to aid in the search. Michael was not going to harm those children, he would not allow it.

  When he and Sera rejoined the crowd, Odin seemed to have everything well in hand. The police started gathering the crowd into search teams.

  Sera’s warm hand pressed into Ze’s. “If you can, get something from the children, something that may have been touched by the kidnapper. You will be able to read it, find out what happened.” He nodded. It must have been odd for her having to explain to him how her power worked. He knew it was damned strange for him seeing his power working through her.

  He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. This woman was all contradiction. When they were alone together, she was outspoken, seductive, and a total hellcat. But now she was reserved, keeping herself hidden from the scrutiny of the crowd, using him as her wall. Not that he minded, but he wanted to see that more playful, happy side when she was around others. There would be time to work on that, though.

  “Phillip?” Using the old god’s human name, Ze moved forward so the old man could see him.

  Odin turned. Already he seemed to have lost so
me of that youthful exuberance he had exhibited earlier that morning. Ze hadn’t expected to see such a stark difference in him so quickly. Was he really so weak?

  “We can help. Get me something the kidnapper may have touched.” Damn, this was hard. It would have been easier just to tell Sera the old man was once the great god Odin than having to hide it like this.

  He smiled at Sera, reached into his pocket, and pulled out his keys. “Go to my store and grab the supplies you need. You’ll find my RV out back. It’s not as posh as some of those big motorhomes, but I think it will suit you both for the time being.”

  Ze took the keys. From the expression on her face, Sera was no doubt wondering why he and the old man suddenly seemed to be on better terms. Only last night Phillip had put a shotgun to his head, but his pixie was a smart cookie. She was going to work it out eventually. Phillip gave her a smile and quickly got back to planning the search parties.

  “What’s going on?” Sera panted, jogging to match his long stride. “Since when are you and Phillip Dunham best buddies?”

  He sighed, not really wanting to lie to her, and she narrowed her eyes, pulling him to a stop.

  “Spill it, Ze.” She poked him in the chest, and he grinned at her. “What are you smiling about?”

  “There she is.” He grinned harder, knowing she was becoming even more flustered.

  “What?”

  “That fire in your eyes. I love seeing it. Back there among all those people, you hid it. Now it blazes brightly.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, then clamped it shut and uttered an infuriated little snort. Stomping her foot, she grabbed the keys from his hand and stalked to the grocery store door. Ze joined her at the door, stifling a laugh. Well, he got out of that one. For now.

  Ze rubbed his hands together. The old bastard was going to regret giving them permission to take what they needed. They continued through the back of the building and exited to where the RV stood.

  It was okay. The Archangel Michael said it was okay. These children had been chosen, picked to be angels in heaven. He had explained it all. He came in the darkness of the night, a beacon of hope and purity. The children, they needed to come to him pure, without sin, so they had to be taken before evil had managed to sink into their perfect souls. But he had said it was to be kept secret, that the others wouldn’t understand.

  The children needed to be kept quiet. That was critical. No one could find them, not until Michael came for them. Until then, they needed to be kept hidden, safe. The bottle of allergy medication sat open on a small table in the room. Amazing what a little diphenhydramine could do. Half of it was gone already, and more would need to be bought.

  In four hastily made beds slept the small angels-to-be. Two black-haired boys, a blond girl, and a brown-haired boy. They had struggled at first, but as soon as the allergy meds took hold, they quickly succumbed to sleep.

  The angel’s instructions had been clear. They were to remain untouched, clean and pure, so that he could carry them to heaven. They would help protect the world from the sinners, from the demons that now walked among them.

  Michael had bestowed a wonderful gift for such obedient work. The visions had been painful at first, but necessary. Michael had shown the truth hidden behind the veil of evil glamour the demons used to seduce people. The vile creatures, they looked like ordinary people! They walked and talked like normal people, and they were in town now, tricking everyone. They needed to be stopped.

  That girl who lived on the edge of town was part of it. Michael had revealed the truth. She was fucking one of the demons, allowing that filthy beast to pollute her body and soul. The recluse would be purified. Michael said she could be saved. She needed to be saved. He needed her for his plans to cleanse the sins from the earth. He had entrusted her with his secret task, it must all be kept secret.

  The door to the dark cellar closed. More medication must be procured, or the children would wake. Maybe afterward Michael would give permission for the parents to be told their children were special. They were chosen by God, by Michael, to fight in his army against the darkness.

  They would understand, and eventually, they would come to praise the choice that had been made. But for now, the children must be kept safe, hidden.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The whole town had been rallied. So far, no other children had been taken. That was a blessing, but parents were now on edge. Each of the missing children had vanished from their bedrooms. No doors or windows had been unlocked or left open. No trace of the kidnapper had been found. Phillip was due to bring the blanket of one of the missing kids. If the kidnapper had taken the child while sleeping, then it would have naturally been touched.

  Sera had been worrying her bottom lip all morning, and now it was starting to bleed. With the loaned RV set up on her property, she could at least change into some of the new clothes that Ze had bought for her. The damned angel was punishing innocent people, all because she hadn’t lain down and let him take her. It was abhorrent to her. Only a coward would go after children.

  Police were combing every inch of the town, and soon they would be starting on the buildings further from the homes of the missing kids. The hellhounds were out right now with Lucifer, Abbadon, and Asmodeus. Although the hounds could find the kids’ trails easily enough, unfortunately, those trails led to school, the park, or to friends’ houses. Ze admitted that if the angel had taken them airborne, chances of them finding a trail were zero, but they held out hope the hounds would pick up on a stray scent around town.

  Ze paced the length of the small RV, his huge height making it hard for him to stand fully upright. He slammed his phone down and swore, then flopped down on the convertible seat beside her.

  “Still nothing?” He had been trying to reach his brother, Belor, since the kids went missing, but he had yet to answer his phone. The worry and strain were clear on Ze’s face.

  “I don’t know where he is. He mentioned something about asking some friends for help, then left. I’m sure he’s okay, but with one brother missing already, losing contact with him doesn’t sit well.”

  Sera didn’t know what it was like to lose a sibling, but she knew what it would be like to lose him. She needed a way to distract him from his errant brother and decided now was the best time to get to the bottom of him and Phillip.

  “So…are you going to tell me how you and Phillip became such good friends that he lent you his RV and told you to stock it with food from his store? Not to mention how on earth you managed to convince him to give you a piece of evidence from the crime scene with no explanation.”

  Ze groaned and rubbed his eyes. “I guess he can see how much I care for you. I think he appreciates that, and he likes you, so that kinda helps. As for the evidence—” Swearing, he pushed himself up and stalked over to the tiny fridge. “You know, I just said we could help. I figure he will try anything at this point.” His size made the fridge and the even tinier sink beside it seem like dollhouse furnishings. He reached in and pulled out a beer.

  Instead of opening it and taking a swig, however, he hissed and dropped the bottle, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. She was behind him in a second, her hand at his lower back. She knew he had just received a flash of memory from some random person who had touched that bottle. She also knew it hurt like a sonofabitch.

  “I’m sorry you have to deal with this. Wearing gloves helps.” Ze grabbed her and sank his fingers into her hair, before tilting her head for a kiss that curled her toes and heated her body. She swayed against him, drunk on his taste.

  “That helps. Stop being sorry. I can’t believe you lived with this for so long. I respect the hell out of you. Your strength, it’s incredible. I don’t know how you coped with it.”

  Sera watched his eyes as swirling shame beat hard at her. “I didn’t cope, I ran away. Out here, where no one would find me. Where no one could touch me. Where I controlled every aspect of what came in and went out of my life. With
my computer, I could chat online, use social media. Keep myself safe. But that wasn’t living, hell I wasn’t even surviving I was just…existing.”

  “Not true. You did what was needed to keep yourself sane. That takes more guts and courage than any warrior in battle.”

  “Thank you. You know, I told the angel that if not for him, I might never have touched you last night. I contemplated running. Knocking you out and just making a break for the forest. I thanked him for intervening in that little plan.”

  Ze pulled her into his arms. “I think I need to thank the damned angel now as well.” Sera closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of being held. She wondered at that moment how she had ever gone without it. Being held gave her a sense of strength and security. Too many people took such a small gesture for granted, but she knew she never would. Ze growled, and she felt that intoxicating sensation trickle over her skin, tempting her to delve deeper into the jealousy she could sense coming from him.

  She breathed in his scent, feeling that low-level buzz in her blood. “What on earth are you feeling jealous of now?”

  His nose brushed her hairline. “Just thinking what might have happened if one of my brothers had been sent to find you instead of me.” His voice sounded almost petulant.

  “Hmm, you mean someone like Abbadon?” Okay, she was playing a very dangerous game here. The sudden blast of envious seduction wrapped around her, enticing her to push further.

  “What about Abbadon? He is Sloth, you realize? If you could pull him away from Game of Thrones or CSI for five minutes, he might be of some use. But I seriously—” He stopped rambling and frowned, the green glow in her eyes cluing him in. “Crafty, Pixie. Trying to rile me up. Enjoying yourself, are you?”