The Belial Sacrifice

by R. D. Brady

  “You have chosen?”

  Laney nodded, gripping the railing of the porch for strength.

  “Who?”

  She stared up at the sky, tears clouding her vision. “Henry.”

  Chapter 96

  Scottsdale, Arizona

  The last of the dishes disappeared into the dishwasher as Jen wiped the table.

  “You shouldn’t be doing that,” Alice Witt, Jen’s mother, said.

  “Mom, I’m pregnant, not deathly ill. I don’t think wiping the kitchen table will prove too strenuous.”

  “I know, I just want to make sure . . .” Her words drifted off and she shrugged. But Jen knew what she meant. It had been a difficult two months. Losing the twins, the Witt family felt different, wrong. But slowly, they were learning to live with the new normal.

  The hole Henry’s loss had created, however, hadn’t shrunk in size at all or even shifted. It was always there, just beneath the surface. Jen tried to keep it from her mom, but she knew her mom saw more than she let on.

  “Does Danny have everything packed?”

  “I think so. The technicians will be arriving in the morning to pack up his computer systems.”

  Her mom shook her head. “I swear, I do not understand a thing he does on those computers. But it has been nice having him here.”

  “Yeah. I think it’s been good for him.”

  By the time Jen and Danny had arrived in Scottsdale, Danny was one step above comatose. He barely talked, barely ate. Jen had worried they’d have to hospitalize him if he didn’t start eating. But soon, he began to eat a little, talk a little. Leaving the estate had been a good idea. They both needed to get away. Go somewhere where the memories of Henry weren’t staring them in the face every single moment.

  But tomorrow they would head back. It was right to get away, but Jen wanted to bring their baby home to her and Henry’s house. And she wanted to give herself a little time to adjust to being back there. She wasn’t sure how she was going to react to seeing all of his things. Her parents would follow them in a few days. They were actually selling their house and moving to the estate. They wanted to be there to help Jen and the baby. And Jen was more than grateful for that.

  “I’m going to go take a walk, okay?”

  Her mother glanced out the window. “Maybe you should bring an umbrella. It looks like it might rain.”

  Jen looked up at the bright blue sky with only a few light clouds in the background and furrowed her brow mockingly. “I think we might need to get your eyes checked, Mom.”

  Smiling, her mother swatted a towel at her. “I swear I don’t know who’s cheekier, you or Jordan.” Her smile faltered, and her face crumbled for just a moment. She turned her back to Jen, her hand flying to her mouth.

  Jen walked over and wrapped her arms around her, shifting a little to the side so her belly wasn’t in the way. “Jordan was always the cheekiest. But I’ve always been a close second. Mike was always the peacekeeper.”

  Her mother patted her hand as she struggled to hold back her tears. “That’s probably true. Now go on with your walk. I’ll be all right. These moments, they just hit out of nowhere sometimes, you know?”

  Jen hugged her, leaning her head into her mom’s for a moment. “I know.”

  Her mother shooed her outside. Jen stopped in at Danny’s room, but he was engrossed in something on his computers and wasn’t interested in a walk. Moxy, however, was happy to join. Clipping the leash on Moxy’s collar, Jen stepped out the back door, turning her face up to the sun and letting it warm up the chill that had settled inside her at her mother’s words. She hated her brothers being gone. The day the Witts had found her had been the best day of her life. The day she lost her brothers and Henry had been the worst.

  Moxy gave a small whine. Jen opened her eyes and looked down. Moxy sat next to her, her mouth open, her tail wagging. “Okay, okay. Let’s go.”

  Moxy jumped a little, prancing in place before settling next to Jen as they headed down the sidewalk. Without her abilities, Jen made sure she stayed active. Every day, she and Moxy took a three-mile walk. Weight training at the local gym and working on the bag in her parents’ garage kept her nice and healthy and gave her something to look forward to each day.

  But she had never realized how much she had relied on her abilities. It was strange to struggle to run or to lift something. The pregnancy made her feel even more unwieldy, although she tried not to think of it that way. However, when you had to plan how to roll over in bed, it was hard to think of yourself any other way.

  Jen put her hand on her stomach. But it was worth it. Just another month, and she’d get to meet her daughter.

  Jen pulled out her cellphone and checked her text messages. Laney had sent her one last night. She was tempted to call her, but Laney never picked up. She only communicated by text. But she had promised to be back in time for the baby’s birth. Jen slid her phone back into her pocket. She knew she needed to respect Laney’s privacy right now. She was dealing with a lot. Henry’s death was hard for Jen, but Laney had been the one who had taken Drake’s life. What Laney was going through . . . Jen wasn’t sure how someone got over something like that.

  Ahead, Jen spied the large man-made lake in her parents’ development. Moxy became more alert, looking for the ducks that always rested along its shores.

  A squirrel darted from one tree to another ahead of them. Moxy let out a whine and looked up at Jen. Jen glanced around. There was no one around. She reached down and removed the leash. “All right, girl, go run.”

  Moxy did not need to be told twice. She took off like a bolt, sprinting for the squirrel. Of course, the squirrel saw her and immediately scampered up a tree. Undeterred, Moxy pranced around the bottom of the tree, barking and jumping.

  Jen smiled. She was never going to catch those squirrels, but she tried every single time they came here. Jen continued on the path, and Moxy caught up with her only a few minutes later. Jen reattached the leash. Straightening, she caught sight of a man sitting on a bench a couple hundred yards away with his back to her. Her heart leaped as the sun touched his dark hair. She took in a shuddering breath.

  It’s not Henry, she reminded herself, turning away from the man and heading the other way around the lake.

  It wasn’t the first time she’d caught sight of someone out of the corner of her eye and thought it was Henry. The first few weeks, it happened almost daily, then weekly. But it still shook her each time.

  She focused on her breathing, trying to stop her racing heart. It’s not Henry. He just looked like him. There are lots of big guys with dark hair. That guy probably had a hook nose and fleshy jowls. She smiled at the image, conjuring up the man’s face in her mind’s eye. Yup, definitely not Henry.

  She and Moxy crossed the halfway mark of the lake, and she glanced over. The man was still sitting on the bench. His shape, it seemed so familiar.

  Not Henry, but her heart gave a little tug nonetheless. She picked up the pace, wanting to see the man’s face, knowing it would crush her, knowing it would be like losing him all over again, but also knowing she’d rather get it over with than let this stupid illogical hope fester in her chest. By the time she had reached the other side of the lake, she was practically running. She forced herself to slow down. She’d consciously kept from looking over at the bench. She glanced there now. It was empty.

  Despair crushed through her. She shook her head, coming to a stop and running a hand over her face. It was never Henry. You don’t need to see his face to know that. You already saw Henry’s. She flashed back on seeing Henry at the base of the Great Pyramid. He was gone. She knew that. But she still had wanted to see the man’s face.

  “Okay, Moxy, let’s head back, okay?” She started heading back toward her parents’ place, but Moxy pulled her in the opposite direction. Jen turned around, looking at her. “What are you doing?”

  Moxy whined, pulling again toward the dock.

  “It’s time to go, Mox. Let’s�
�”

  With a large tug, Moxy ripped the leash from Jen’s hands and sprinted toward the dock.

  “Moxy!” Jen hustled after her. What on earth had gotten into her? She had never done that before.

  Jen spied the end of the leash disappearing down the dock ramp. She stepped on the ramp, scanning the thirty-foot dock. Moxy was at the far end, her tail wagging excitedly as she jumped and pranced around the man who had been sitting on the bench. He was crouching down, rubbing Moxy behind the ears. His hands, they looked so very large as they ran over Moxy’s dark fur.

  On autopilot, Jen stumbled forward, her hand gripping the handrail to keep from falling. The man stood with his back still to her. He was tall, so very, very tall. And his shoulders were so broad. And that shirt, she knew that shirt. She’d given him that shirt.

  No, no. It’s not possible. It’s not possible. Jen’s feet touched the dock, but she didn’t move forward. There was no railing along the dock, and she knew her grip on that railing was the only thing keeping her upright.

  Moxy spied her and sprinted over, but Jen ignored her as the man turned. Violet eyes locked on to hers. Jen’s breath left her in a swoosh. And then the man was running, and Jen was falling. He caught her before she could crash fully to the ground. He stared down at her, confusion on his face. Jen reached up and traced the lines of his cheek. “Henry?”

  He smiled. “Hi.”

  Chapter 97

  Jen stared up at Henry, not knowing what to say. Reality seemed to be splitting apart. “I’m going crazy.”

  “No, you’re not,” the hallucination that looked so real said. She had to curl her hands into fists and place them behind her back to keep from reaching out to him.

  No. Jen pushed herself up, stumbling away from him.

  “No, you’re dead. I saw your body. I mourned you.” She ran her hands through her hair. “I’ve lost it. I’m hallucinating.” She rummaged in her pocket, pulling out her phone. She needed her mom. Something was wrong. She needed—

  Her phone slipped from her fingers, crashing to the deck. She crouched down to get it. Henry’s large hand covered hers. “Jen, it’s me. I promise.”

  Jen shook her head, struggling to stand. Henry gripped her elbow, pulling her up. She shook him off, backing away and sitting down hard on the bench. She punched in a number. “Answer, please answer.”

  Danny’s voice cut through the line. “Jen, I’m in the middle of—”

  “Danny, I need you.”

  Danny’s voice immediately shifted from distracted to focused. “Is it the baby? Should I call an ambulance?”

  “No, no, it’s something else. I’m at the dock. Come quick, okay?” She disconnected the call, not waiting for his reply.

  Henry knelt down, running a hand through Moxy’s fur. “You’re not going crazy, Jen. I’m really here.”

  She shook her head but didn’t respond. You didn’t talk to hallucinations. She put a hand over her belly. Please let this be temporary. My baby needs at least one parent.

  It was only two minutes later when Jen heard a car’s brakes. Seconds later, Danny’s voice called out, “Jen!”

  “Down—” She cleared her throat. “Down here!” she called, her gaze shifting from the hallucination in front of her to the top of the ramp as Danny appeared.

  His gaze locked on to her, scanning her as he sprinted down the ramp. “Jen, are you all—” Danny stumbled, managing to grab a hold of the railing before he pitched forward. “Henry?”

  “You can see him?” Jen asked.

  Danny nodded, his mouth hanging open, his eyes wide. “Henry?”

  Henry covered the distance between them in two quick strides, engulfing Danny in a hug.

  Breath burst out of Jen, and tears welled in her eyes as she stared at the two of them. Henry released Danny, who had tears streaming down his cheeks but a giant smile on his face.

  “How?” Jen asked.

  Henry walked over toward her slowly as if he was afraid he would spook her. “I’m not exactly sure. The last thing I remember was Michael. He was attacking Laney at the Great Pyramid. I grabbed onto him, and then nothing.”

  “You died, Henry,” Danny said.

  “That’s what Ralph said.”

  “Ralph?” Danny asked. “You saw Ralph?”

  He frowned. “I think so. He said I needed to go back. It wasn’t my time. That Laney had paved the way for me to return.”

  Shock flooded Jen. “Laney got you back?”

  “That’s what Ralph said. And the next thing I knew, I was sitting on a bench staring at that lake.” Henry looked around. “Where are we? Is Laney here?”

  Jen shook her head. “No, she’s . . . she’s been having a tough time. Drake . . . he’s gone. He killed you.”

  Henry blanched. “I need to call her. Tell her I’m back.”

  Jen reached out her hands, and Henry pulled her up. He stared at her belly, his mouth dropping. “How long was I gone?”

  “Two months.”

  “That means . . .”

  Jen nodded. “She’s healthy, and she’ll be swinging by to meet us in a month.” Then Jen grimaced as pain swept through her stomach.

  Henry gripped her arms. “Jen?”

  Wetness slid down her legs. “Oh no.”

  “What?”

  “I think your daughter is going to be swinging by a little sooner than expected.”

  Chapter 98

  Baltimore, Maryland

  The estate was teeming with life. Flowers were unfolding their petals to the sun. Construction sounded from the far side of the estate. Laney walked down the path from Henry’s house to Sharecroppers Lane.

  She had flown in this morning. Jen had had a little girl last night. And she had had her on the estate. When her water broke, Jen demanded she be taken back to Baltimore. Henry had tried to talk her out of it, but there was no swaying her. So they packed up Jen, Danny, her parents, and a full medical team and made the cross-country flight.

  Jen gave birth an hour after touching down in Baltimore to a six-pound-five-ounce little girl. Jordan Victoria Chandler came roaring into the world with a cry and then promptly settled down with her mother. Jen and Henry had barely taken their eyes off their daughter since. Laney could practically see cartoon hearts floating above the three of them as they nestled together.

  Warmth spread through Laney at the picture of her brother looking so happy. Jen looking so happy. She had made the right decision.

  Then why does it still hurt so much?

  “Laney.”

  She turned as Jake jogged down the path toward her. She forced a smile to her face. “Hey.”

  “Hey back.” Jake fell in step with her, and they walked along in companionable silence for a while before Jake broke it. “So Henry’s back.”

  “I noticed.”

  “In all the hubbub, I never really did get an explanation of how that happened. Henry said you were the reason.”

  Laney shrugged.

  Jake pulled her to a stop. “Could you have brought back Drake?”

  She hadn’t told anyone about the choice she’d been given. Everyone was so happy to have Henry back that she didn’t want to spoil any of that joy. But she wanted to. She needed to. It was eating her up inside. She kept imagining how her life would be right now if Drake were here. She looked up at him and nodded.

  He sucked in a breath. “Oh God, Laney.” He pulled her into him. Tears sprang to her eyes. She loved her brother. She was glad he was back. His daughter deserved to get to know him. But she still felt like she’d had a part of her carved out. And she couldn’t show that to them because she didn’t want to dim their happiness.

  But right now she let herself cry, let herself feel the loss of Drake and the compassion of Jake. Finally, she pushed herself back and wiped at her eyes. “Thanks.”

  “I’m here for you, Laney. Anything you need.”

  “I know. Um, how are the McAdamses? I haven’t had a chance to stop by and see them yet.” />
  “They’re good. Molly losing her powers, it lifted a weight off of her. I think she’s going to be all right.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “Do you want to join us for dinner? Mary Jane said something about grilling out.”

  Laney shook her head. “Another time. I’m going to stop in and see my uncle and Cain.”

  They’d reached the end of the path. “Well, if you change your mind, just follow the smell of barbeque.”

  “I will.”

  Jake leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You will always be my hero, Laney.” He headed toward his cottage.

  Laney turned toward her uncle’s cottage. She pushed open the back gate, then paused. She wasn’t sure she was ready for this. She turned around.

  “Planning to run away?”

  She turned around, spying her uncle’s face in the window. “Of course not.” She let the gate swing shut behind her. She could hear his chuckles as he headed for the back door. It slid open. He rolled himself through and down the ramp toward her.

  She met him halfway down the path and threw her arms around him. “I’ve missed you.”

  He rested his hand against the back of her head. “And I’ve missed you.”

  She pulled back, smiling down at him. “Cain inside?”

  “Yup, taking care of a package Dom had brought up here for you.”

  Laney tensed. It couldn’t be the Omni. Had he figured out it still worked? Had he—

  Her uncle gripped her hand. “Hey, hey, sorry. It’s not anything bad. Those days are behind us.”

  “Sorry, old habits.”

  “Well, it will take a little time for all of us to adjust to this new reality.”

  “Laney!” Nyssa appeared in the doorway and ran down the ramp. Laney hurried forward, catching Nyssa as she stumbled near the bottom of the ramp. Her hair flew forward, covering her face, but she just grinned up at Laney through the curls. “Back!”

  “Yes, sweetheart. I’m back.”

  Tiger slunk out the door behind her. Laney’s breath caught. Cleo. She missed her so much. Tears sprang to her eyes. She ducked her head down to keep her uncle from seeing them.