by R. D. Brady
Victoria stiffened. No, he hadn’t found him. He couldn’t have.
Jorgen smiled. “You’re wondering if I’ve found him, aren’t you?”
She struggled to keep her face expressionless.
Jorgen laughed with genuine joy. “Do you realize that I know every expression on your face? I know you better than anyone else on the planet. After all, you are my mother.”
Victoria lashed out. “I am not your mother.”
He stood and brushed his hands on his pants. “You are my mother as surely as if you had birthed me from your own loins. You created me. You are responsible for who I am.”
“You are responsible for the man you have become. Not me.”
“Ah—that same old tune. I’m afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.” He walked over to her and raised an eyebrow. “But admit it, you are happy to see me. After all, we are the only people we can truly be ourselves with, aren’t we?”
Victoria looked away, not wanting him to see the truth in her eyes.
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “It is actually good to see you, Mother.”
Victoria cringed but held her tongue. It’s good to see you too. The thought appeared unbidden in her mind. But she couldn’t argue the truth of it.
Jorgen turned and walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. Victoria sagged against the wall. She glanced out the window again, thinking of Henry and Laney and imagining them in a battle with Jorgen.
A battle they couldn’t possibly win.
Please don’t come looking for me.
CHAPTER 18
Baltimore, Maryland
Laney was going over the books from Sebastian Flourent’s home in the Red Canyon. She closed the journal in front of her and looked around Dom’s office. It was modern, with all the technological touches. Almost makes you forget that you’re locked in a bomb shelter a hundred feet beneath the surface.
They had decided to keep the books down here as a security precaution. There was simply no safer place on the estate. She’d been slowly making her way through them since yesterday.
It had been a full day since Victoria had gone missing, and they still had nothing. They knew that there were fourteen men who had infiltrated Victoria’s home, but they had no IDs, no affiliations. Based on some of their tattoos, Jake thought some of them might be international mercenaries. But so far, Interpol hadn’t had any luck identifying them.
“Hi, Laney.”
Laney looked up; Max stood uncertainly in the doorway. She opened her arms, and he grinned and ran across the room.
Laney closed her arms around him. “This is what I needed.” She pulled Max up into her lap, keeping her arms around him. “So tell me, what have you been up to?”
“I was practicing my writing with Mom. I can do all my letters now.” He grinned broadly.
Laney squeezed him tight. “I’m so proud of you.”
Max glanced at the journals on the desk. “Are you reading those again?”
Laney nodded. “Yup. But these are different ones from the ones I was reading last time you were in here. They all look alike.”
“Have you found what you’re looking for?”
Laney glanced at the old books, her mind traveling over what she had found. She and her uncle had discussed what the references meant, but she wanted to go over them one more time before they shared that information with anyone else. To be honest, she was looking for an alternate explanation, because the one they had come up with seemed so impossible.
“I’m not sure. I think so.”
Max nodded. “You’ll figure it out.”
“I hope so.”
Max sat straight and looked at her, his expression serious. “You will. You’re the ring bearer. You have to.”
Laney searched his face for a moment. “Max,” she began slowly, “what do you know about the ring bearer?”
“You’re important, Laney. More important than anything.” His face clouded for a moment. “Or anyone.”
Laney narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean—”
“There you are,” Kati Simmons said as she stepped through the doorway. Kati had the same brown hair as Max, the same small stature and high cheekbones. They were practically doubles of each other. The only difference was their eyes: Max’s were a bright blue while Kati’s were brown.
Max hopped off Laney’s lap. “Hi, Mom.”
“Lunch is ready.” Kati looked at Laney. “There’s extra if you want some. Meatloaf.”
“Sounds good.” Laney glanced back at the desk. “I’ll be out in a little bit. I just need to finish up a little more.”
“Okay.” Kati held out her hand and Max clasped it. The two of them disappeared through the doorway.
Laney turned back to her desk with a sigh. She picked up the journal she’d been reading. Okay. I finish this one and—
The patter of little feet had her turning to the door. Max burst through the doorway and threw himself at Laney. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his head in her chest.
“Max, honey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” But he didn’t let go.
“Max?”
He looked up at her. “I love you, Laney.”
Touched, she pulled him tight. “I love you too.”
“Hey,” Maddox said from the doorway. He glanced at Laney and raised his eyebrows. She shook her head, shrugging back at him.
“Max?” Maddox said, stepping in.
Max glanced up at Laney. She stared into his little face, remembering when she’d first met him—the day he was born. His little fingers had reached out and grabbed one of hers and that had been it. She was in love. And that love had only grown over the years.
“You need to remember you’re important,” Max said.
Laney stared at him, surprised by his intensity. “I will, Max. I promise.”
He nodded, releasing her. “Goodbye, Laney.”
Laney felt her heart clutch. “You mean see you later.”
Max looked at her over his shoulder and then took Maddox’s hand.
Laney stared at the empty space. Max hadn’t corrected her. But his look had spoken volumes. And what it had said loudest of all was that she didn’t understand.
Laney had a sinking feeling he was right.
CHAPTER 19
“Hey, Laney,” Maddox said from the doorway.
Laney glanced up in surprise. “Hey. Tell Kati I’ll be right out.”
Maddox laughed. “Laney, we finished eating an hour ago.”
“What?” Laney glanced at the clock above the desk. Almost two hours had passed since Kati had been in here. “Wow. Sorry. I totally lost track of time.”
“Gripping reading?”
“Actually, yeah.”
She had been going through more of the Council records from Flourent’s home. And she’d found more references to a woman who looked incredibly like Victoria. But the journals didn’t hint at an actual identification.
But that wasn’t the biggest surprise in the books. Jorgen was in there—a lot. In most of the drawings, his eyes had been covered, but in some they weren’t—and they were pitch black, just like she remembered.
“Well, Kati, Max, and I are heading back to the cottage. Max said he wants to take a nap,” Maddox said.
“Really? He usually fights tooth and nail to avoid a nap. Is he getting sick?”
Maddox shrugged. “I’m not sure. He’s been having some trouble sleeping at night.”
“Why?”
“Nightmares.”
Laney felt pressure in her chest. Damn it.
Pain crossed Maddox’s face as well. Laney knew that Maddox would do whatever he could to protect Max. But he couldn’t protect him from his own subconscious. And Max had been through more trauma than any little boy should ever have to bear.
Maddox shook off his concern. “But we’ll put him down for a nap and see how he’s doing when he gets up. See you later?”
“Yeah
. See you later,” Laney echoed as Maddox turned to leave.
Goodbye, Laney. Max’s words floated through her mind, and a chill ran down her spine. She shrugged it off. Max was fine. He was with Kati and Maddox and on the estate. No one would be able to get to Max, because everyone on the estate would fight to the death to keep him safe.
Laney turned back to the books. So why do I feel so worried?
She lined up the journals on the desk. She had about four more to read, but she was pretty sure her uncle had already read those. She thought back on their conversation from this morning.
It wasn’t possible, was it? Her mind twisted the information they had learned, pulling it this way and that, looking for an alternative. But nothing came.
Her stomach growled, and she shook her head, clearing it. Okay. Food—then back to work.
She stood up and stretched. She’d been at it since yesterday, only taking time off to sleep, and even that had been more just resting her eyelids than actually sleeping.
Guilt at her inability to find Victoria weighed her down. They had yet to find even a single lead. They had traced the SUVs that had been used in Maine, but they had all been stolen just before the abduction. There had been no ransom demands. No sign of either Ralph or Victoria. Jen had even paid the head of the Council another visit. But they all agreed he wasn’t behind this; he was too scared of Henry and Jen to do anything this gutsy.
And of course they’d tried to find Jorgen Fuld—but he’d dropped off the grid again. They knew Jorgen had taken Victoria.
Laney frowned. Which makes no sense. Jorgen seemed to be very good at hiding himself. So why had he stuck his head out so blatantly to get Victoria? It’s almost like he wants us to find him. Or at least wants us to know he has her.
Laney shook her head and picked up one of the journals, then headed to Dom’s kitchen. She didn’t feel hungry, but she knew she needed to keep her strength up. Lord knows I’ll probably be sprinting across a parking lot soon, avoiding gunfire in some town I’ve never heard of.
Laney had just finished warming up some meatloaf when the bomb shelter blast door beeped. She pulled the hot plate out of the microwave and had just placed it on the counter when Henry and Jake appeared.
They made their way over to Laney and eyed her plate.
“Any chance there’s more of that?” Henry asked.
Laney noted that a little color had returned to Henry’s cheeks. She nodded. “I think I could rustle up a couple more plates.”
Jake hugged her. “I’ve got a woman who cooks. I’m a lucky man.”
She hugged him back. “You’ve got a woman who microwaves. Be content.”
Henry and Jake got the drinks and silverware together, and Laney warmed up three more servings, just in case anyone else showed up. Sure enough, as soon as they sat down, Dom appeared. And for a few moments, everything was normal. Just a family having a meal together. By unwritten agreement, no one mentioned Victoria.
Finally, the dishes were cleared away and Dom disappeared back into his lab. “Anything new?” Laney asked.
Henry shook his head. “No, not really. Both the Fallen and Jorgen have gone to ground. Of course, they both seem to have incredible resources, so I’m not all that surprised.”
Jake clapped Henry on the shoulder. “We’ll find her.”
Henry nodded, looking around. “Where’s Patrick?”
“Right here.” Laney’s uncle appeared from the hallway that led to the bedrooms. Patrick had been exhausting himself trying to find something on Victoria. It was only a few hours ago that Laney had finally forced him to go take a nap. And even with the short rest, his already pale complexion looked unusually colorless, and his blue eyes looked exhausted. Laney’s uncle and Victoria had formed a bond over the last few months. And Laney knew that her disappearance was affecting him as much as it was the rest of them.
Henry stood up, offering Patrick his chair.
Patrick waved him back. “I’ve been sitting all morning. It feels good to stretch my legs.”
Laney stood and gave him a hug. “Are you hungry?”
“No. I’m fine.” He glanced at Henry and Jake, who were busy clearing the table. He spoke quietly, his eyes on Laney. “Did you find anything else?”
Laney shook her head, speaking just as quietly. “Nothing different.”
Patrick nodded, his shoulders drooping. “I was hoping we were wrong.”
“Me too.”
Laney re-took her seat and looked up at her uncle. “Henry and Jake were just asking about our progress on the books.”
Laney knew her uncle hated to give out incomplete information. He liked to find all the necessary information, synthesize it, and only then return a verdict. But right now, they needed to take some leaps if they were going to find Victoria.
Patrick nodded. “It’s interesting.”
Henry and Jake looked at him expectantly.
Laney bit back her smile, knowing her uncle was lost in his own thoughts. “Uncle Patrick?”
They’d spoken this morning in detail about their conclusions, but Laney had wanted more time. Now that time was up—and nothing new had come to light.
Patrick started. “Oh, sorry. Well, like I said, it’s interesting. The books are from the Council, as you know. It’s their record of their different searches throughout time for the relics and riches of Atlantis. And what we’ve found is that Victoria—or at least someone who looks like Victoria—is seen throughout the books. All the books.”
Henry frowned. “How’s that possible?”
Patrick shook his head. “I don’t know. And they don’t seem to either. She appears, and they note that she’s involved with people associated with the relics. But all they seem to know about her is her name.”
“And let me guess: different names?” Jake asked.
Laney nodded. “She appears in different times and even at different ages, but there’s no denying it’s her.”
Jake frowned. “What do you mean different ages? Like different eras?”
“No, I mean her own age.” Patrick gave Laney an encouraging nod. She took a breath. This was the part of the reveal she had been dreading. “The youngest we’ve seen her in the books is around the age of fourteen. The oldest, probably in her eighties.”
Henry started beside her. “Her eighties?”
Laney’s look showed that she shared Henry’s confusion. “I know—I don’t understand it either.”
“Could it be someone who just looks like her?” Henry asked.
Patrick shrugged, but his tone conveyed his doubt. “I suppose, but the similarity is too striking. And again and again, throughout history, always involved with these relics? No. It’s her.”
“The earliest record in any of the books is from the year 1118,” Laney said. “Victoria, or her doppelganger, is first mentioned in 1234. Then again in 1456 and 1619, and several dates after that.”
“How many mentions of her have you found?” Henry asked.
Laney swallowed. “Since 1118, she’s appeared in the book at least eight times.”
Everyone was silent for moment while they digested that. Finally Jake spoke. “So what does that mean?”
Laney glanced over at Patrick again. He nodded. They’d debated this point time and time again, but had always circled back to the same conclusion. Laney took a deep breath. “It means she’s lived at least eight lives. That we know of.”
CHAPTER 20
Henry and Jake both looked shocked. And Laney couldn’t blame them. She had probably looked the same way the first time she’d seen the double of Victoria in the books. But unlike Henry and Jake, she’d now had a little time to get used to the idea.
“So what are you saying? She’s immortal?” Jake asked.
Patrick shook his head. “No. Like I said, in the journals she’s different ages. But it does appear as if she’s lived quite a few lives.”
“From what we can tell,” Laney said, “she lives a full life and then comes back
in the next one looking exactly the same. Usually in a different country.”
“How is that possible?” Henry asked.
Jake raised his eyebrows. “Really? You have a sister who’s a half angel, who can control the Fallen, animals, and the weather. You’re a half angel as well. Your father was one of the all-time most powerful angels. You, Laney, and I are part of some triad that appears when the Fallen are making a play for global domination, and yet the idea that your mother has lived a few times is stretching believability?”
A smile flashed briefly across Henry’s face. “Okay, when you put it that way. My mother is some type of immortal being who has lived thousands of lifetimes. No problem.”
Laney smiled too, but the smile disappeared just as quickly as it had from Henry’s. They had wondered about Victoria for a long time, and the truth was, they were still just guessing. But this explanation made a certain amount of sense. Victoria knew too much about the Fallen. And when she spoke of the past, she always sounded like she had been an eyewitness.
But nowhere in the books did anyone say what she was—angel, human, alien. The journal writers appeared as stumped as they were.
“There’s something else,” Patrick said.
“What?” Jake asked.
“There was one other person who kept appearing in the books multiple times over the centuries,” Laney said softly.
“You mean like Mom? Different ages, different time periods?” Henry asked.
Patrick shook his head. “No. This man—he’s always the same age.”
“Who is he?” Jake asked.
“We know him as Jorgen Fuld,” Laney said.
Jake’s and Henry’s eyes grew wide.
“Wait, did you say the same age?” Jake asked.
“Yes.” Laney glanced back at her uncle, who nodded at her. She turned to Henry and Jake. “Did you two notice when Jorgen had his glasses knocked off at the airfield?”
“I saw it happen. Why?” Henry asked.