by R. D. Brady
That last thought brought Laney to her real question.
“Why did Cain grab you? If he had left you alone, we wouldn’t have known about any of this.”
“You’ve answered your own question. He grabbed me so you would know about all this.” Victoria looked out over the water and sighed. “Cain is a complicated man.”
Laney’s jaw fell open. “What? He wanted us to know? Why on earth would he do that?”
“Whoever controls the tree controls immortality.”
“But why does Cain care? He’s already immortal.”
Victoria watched the water for a moment before speaking. “Cain has been the sole immortal in this world for tens of thousands of years. And he doesn’t want to share his immortality with anyone. He needed you to know about the tree, and that the Fallen were making a play for it… so you would stop them.”
“Why doesn’t he just stop them?”
“Believe it or not, Cain’s not a fighter. He’s never had to be. He doesn’t want to face off against the Fallen. He wants you to do that for him.”
Laney stared at Victoria in shock. “We’re Cain’s proxy fighters?”
Victoria shrugged.
Laney shook her head. Crazy as it was, they were actually on Cain’s side in this fight. But imagining a world with immortal Fallen, Laney suspected that Cain’s interest went deeper than merely being the only immortal.
“Cain would also be the weakest immortal, wouldn’t he?” she said. “And I suppose there’s no guarantee his sevenfold injury thing would still work against them.” As she thought it through, she had another question about Cain. “But why is Cain immortal in the first place? If everyone else became mortal, how did he escape that fate?”
Victoria sighed. “When Cain was punished, he was banished from God’s sight.”
Laney frowned. “But he was punished for killing Abel. And that must have occurred after humans became mortal, or he wouldn’t have been able to kill his brother.”
Victoria nodded. “I had just made the deal when Cain struck Abel. If he had done it the day before, Abel would have survived. But on that day, Cain became the world’s first murderer. His punishment was his immortality—to walk the world forever.”
“Is that really a punishment though? I mean, people throughout time have been driven to incredible lengths to achieve immortality. Isn’t that a gift?”
Victoria shook her head. “Think about it. Everyone you ever care about will leave you. They will age, and you will stay the same—over and over again it will happen. And not only that, but Cain is marked—people will always be startled by him, frightened by him. To make any real connection with a human he will first have to overcome their revulsion. Oh, his punishment is very real.”
Laney realized Victoria wasn’t just speaking about Cain. She was also speaking about herself. “Because God didn’t want to see him.”
“And his mark made it even worse.”
Laney sat back, imagining what that would do to a person. “A mark that guarantees that everybody gives you a wide berth. Even if people don’t want to do you harm, they will still stay away from you. That must twist someone’s mind—the isolation.”
“I think it has driven him a little bit mad over the years.”
“But he’s still powerful. He could do damage if he intended to.”
“True. Cain is cursed, but he’s also the most powerful human in the world, if he chooses to be.”
Laney pictured Cain falling into the swollen river. “He’s not dead, is he?”
Victoria shook her head. “I highly doubt it.”
CHAPTER 87
Laney sat by Jake’s bed. He’d been brought in about fifteen minutes ago but still hadn’t regained consciousness. Somewhere in the house a cell phone rang and someone spoke quietly.
She reached out and took Jake’s hand. “I’m right here, Jake. You’re going to be fine,” she whispered. It was going to be a long recovery, but Jake would make it through.
Laney glanced out into the hallway. She could see Ralph standing outside Henry’s door. She knew she needed to get moving. Once the Fallen deciphered the book, they’d go after the tree. She had probably already wasted too much time. She could feel the seconds ticking away.
Elisabeta would need to translate the book but still that would only provide them with a few hours at best. Laney looked back down at Jake. There was no way either Jake or Henry was going to be able to help. There would be no rapid recovery for either one, not this time.
Laney swallowed. Which means it’s up to me.
But she couldn’t get herself to leave. Not until Jen and the reinforcements arrived. The Chandler plane had run into some bad weather, which had slowed them down. Of course, even if I left right now, it wouldn’t really help. We still have no idea where the tree is.
Patrick stepped into the room. “Do you need anything?” he asked.
Laney shook her head. “No. I’m good.”
Patrick pulled up a chair next to her. “The doctor said he’ll make a full recovery.”
“I know.” Laney’s eyes flicked to the heart monitor, needing the reassurance that Jake was still with her. Her uncle sat next to her silently.
Laney finally turned to him. “Victoria is Lilith.”
Patrick nodded, his gaze not meeting hers.
Laney stared at him in disbelief. “Yet again you know something before the rest of us.”
“I didn’t know. I suspected.”
“How?”
“When we spoke about Eve, I knew there was another possibility. And when you told me that Ralph said she wasn’t Eve… well, Lilith was the most reasonable choice.”
“You always know these things. How is that?”
Patrick took her hand. “Let’s just say that, since all of this happened, I’ve tried to keep an open mind.”
Laney studied her uncle; he seemed oddly at peace. “How are you okay with all of this? I mean, as a priest this must throw a lot of what you believe into question.”
“It does.” Patrick paused. “But it doesn’t change what the church stands for—following Jesus’s example. It just broadens the picture a little more.”
“You are way too well-adjusted.”
Patrick gave a small laugh. “It has been hard-won, let me tell you.”
They both fell silent, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact it was the opposite. It was the comfort of being with someone who knew you inside and out and loved you in spite of it.
Laney’s gaze drifted out to the hallway. She knew Victoria was sitting with Henry next door, and she could see Ralph standing guard at the door. “Do you think she’s… good?” Laney asked quietly.
Patrick considered. “I do. But what I think doesn’t really matter, does it? It’s what you think that counts. So what do you think?”
“Max said she’s good. That I should trust her.”
“Do you?”
“I think I do. I think my hesitation has nothing to do with her secrets or her being Lilith or her knowing just about everything.”
“It’s because you just found out she’s your mother.”
Laney nodded. “Yeah,” she said softly.
A soft rap on the doorframe drew her attention.
Ralph stood there, his cell phone extended toward her. “It’s for you.”
“Go ahead,” Patrick said. He nodded at Jake. “I’ll stay with him.”
Laney brushed a quick kiss on Jake’s forehead, then took the phone and headed into the hall. “Hello?”
“Ah, ring bearer. It’s lovely to hear your melodic voice again.”
Laney sank against a wall. “Hi, Drake.”
“What? Is that how you greet your most ardent fan?”
“It’s been a rough day.”
Drake’s tone turned gentle. “So I’ve heard. They have the book?”
“Yeah.”
“You were supposed to prevent that from happening.”
“Well, you know, Drake, the ring doe
sn’t make me omnipotent.”
“True enough. Well, you need to get moving if you’re going to protect the tree.”
“Happy to—except for the small fact that the Fallen have the book which has the tree’s location, and you’ve already made clear that you won’t tell me. I don’t suppose there’s any chance you’ve changed your mind?”
“I told you I wouldn’t tell you before because the tree wasn’t in immediate danger. But times have changed, haven’t they?”
Laney closed her eyes. Thank God. “Where is it?”
“Ah, right to business. I like the focus. The tree is located in Tianmen Shan, in the northwestern Hunan province of China.”
Tianmen Shan. Laney knew that name. She looked down the hall to Jake’s doorway as the recollection dawned. “Heaven’s Gate.”
Laney could hear the smile in Drake’s voice. “Happy hunting.”
CHAPTER 88
Laney only stared at the disconnected phone for a moment before she strode down the hall to talk to Victoria and Henry. An agent called to her from the front door. “Dr. McPhearson?”
She turned around. “Yes?”
“Your guests are arriving.”
Laney smiled and changed directions, feeling a little lighter. Reinforcements.
A tingle ran over her skin as she stepped outside. She nodded at the two SIA agents who guarded the door. The agents had been busy. Electronic surveillance had been strung all over the area, and guards were now hidden in multiple locations for a half mile in each direction.
It was those guards who had contacted the agent in the house to let her know the car was coming. Laney watched the old Range Rover bump across the ground toward her.
The SUV came to a halt ten feet away. Laney coughed at the dust it kicked up, waving her hand in front of her face. When the passenger door opened, a tall, dark-haired woman with Asian features got out. She made her way over to Laney and enveloped her in a hug. “I’m so sorry, Laney.”
Laney hugged Jen Witt back. “And I am so glad you’re here.”
Jen was one of Laney’s best friends, and one of the only people she trusted to protect Henry and Jake—in part because Jen was also nephilim, but also in part because Laney knew how much Henry meant to her. Jen wouldn’t let anyone get to him.
Two tall blond men also got out of the Range Rover. Laney detangled herself from Jen and hugged each of them. “Thanks for coming, guys.”
Mike Witt, Jen’s adopted brother, nodded. “You know we’d do anything for Jake and Henry.”
Jordan, Mike’s twin, nodded his agreement. The brothers had both served with Jake and were the closest thing Jake had to family. They had all saved one another’s lives at one point or another. Mike worked for the FBI, and Jordan worked for the Chandler Group—and they both would do whatever they had to in order to protect Jake.
Laney felt a lump in her throat, and for what felt like the thousandth time, she said a silent thank-you that the Witts were part of their lives.
Jordan nodded toward the door. “How are they doing?”
“They’ll make it. But it’s going to be a long recovery.”
Jordan looked around, taking in their location. “Tell me about the security in place.”
Laney quickly ran it down.
When she was done, Jordan nodded. “Okay. That’s good. The rest of the group is a few minutes behind. Is all right if we go in?”
Laney gestured to the door. “Of course. Go ahead.”
Jordan and Mike nodded at the two SIA agents standing guard as they headed inside. When they had disappeared from view, Jen linked her arm through Laney’s. “Now tell me how you’re really doing.”
Laney leaned her head into Jen’s shoulder. “I’m terrified. Stressed. Sad. Scared. And really, really angry.”
“I’m sorry, Laney. I really am.”
“How’s Danny handling all this?” Laney asked. Laney had spoken with Danny on the phone earlier, and he had said he was doing fine. But she could tell he was putting on a brave facade.
Jen shook her head. “Not good. He’s scared. Henry being hurt—it’s new to him.”
“It’s new to all of us,” Laney agreed.
“But we no longer have to worry about Cain, right? He’s dead?”
The image of Cain plunging into the river appeared in Laney’s mind. She shrugged. “I don’t know. He got pulled away in the water. I hope so.”
“Okay. So what’s the plan?”
“Step one, make sure Henry and Jake are safe.” Laney paused, seeing another few Range Rovers heading toward them.
“Step two?” Jen asked.
Laney saw a mental picture of she and Jen. She smiled. “I’ll explain it after I say hello.”
Jen grimaced. “Okay, and maybe you can shake her out of her mood. She’s been a little cranky ever since your phone call. I’ll go say hi to Jake and Henry.” She disappeared into the house after her brothers.
The Range Rovers parked in a line next to Jen’s. Some of the Chandler operatives Laney knew climbed out. She nodded at them, but headed for the third SUV without stopping. A roar sounded from inside it.
Scared.
I know, girl, Laney thought back at Cleo. She nodded to the operative who was standing next to the SUV. “It’s okay. I’ve got her.”
He gave her a nervous smile and walked away. Laney shook her head. She knew Cleo wouldn’t hurt any of them, but people who weren’t familiar with the big cat weren’t nearly as convinced of that fact.
Laney opened the back door and opened the cage. She stepped back quickly as Cleo leaped from her cell. Cleo walked around, stretching, then came up to Laney and leaned her head against her chest.
Laney rubbed the big cat’s head and ears. “I’m glad to see you too, girl.”
SIA had used their connections to get Cleo into the country. Normally it would have taken months of quarantine and paperwork.
“I need you to take care of them for me. Keep them safe,” Laney whispered into Cleo’s ear.
Cleo lifted her head and gave Laney a look that was almost human. You?
“I’ll be okay. I’m going to get the people who did this.”
Dangerous.
Laney thought about lying, but what was the point? “Yes. It will be. But I’ll be better able to focus if I know Henry and Jake are safe.”
Cleo leaned her head down to Laney’s, their foreheads resting against one another. Scared.
Laney wrapped her hands around the back of Cleo’s neck. “Me too, girl. Me too.”
CHAPTER 89
Laney walked into the house with Cleo at her side. She poked her head into Henry’s room—Victoria sat on one side of Henry’s bed, Jen on the other. Jen had her arms crossed, a frown on her face, and one eye on Victoria at all times. Apparently Jen wasn’t quite ready to jump on the Victoria bandwagon just yet.
Laney bit back a smile. “Victoria?”
Victoria looked up.
“We need to talk.”
Laney turned to find Ralph right behind her.
“You have a location?” he asked.
Laney nodded and looked past him to Jake’s room, where Jordan and Mike sat. An iPad was propped on the table in front of Jake. Dom’s face was on the screen. “The duality of transformational…” Dom droned on.
Laney stifled a laugh. “What’s going on in there?”
A smile twitched at Ralph’s mouth. “Um, Dom apparently convinced the brothers that if he read to Jake it would help Jake recover.”
The brothers probably figured that ten minutes of Dom reading to Jake would spur Jake into consciousness—if only to tell Dom to shut up.
Shaking her head, Laney motioned for Ralph and Victoria to follow her down the hall. With Cleo still at her side, they entered what had once been a formal living room. Victoria took a seat on the couch and Cleo walked over to say hello.
Victoria petted her gently. “Hello, Cleo dear.”
Content with her greeting, Cleo then took up position a
t the open doorway, her back to the room. Ralph stood only a few feet from her, also on guard.
Laney stood over by the windows, too keyed up to sit. She quickly relayed what Drake had told her.
“It must be Heaven’s Gate,” Ralph said.
Laney nodded. “That’s what I figured. When we get there, will you be able to sense it?”
Ralph nodded. “Yes. And so will you.”
Laney hadn’t expected that. “O… kay. Well, we’ll leave in thirty minutes.” Laney turned to Victoria. “When we reach the tree, we’ll contact you, and you can tell us how to destroy it.”
Victoria shook her head. “That won’t work. I’m the only one who can destroy it. I have to be there.”
“You both have to go,” Ralph said. “As the ring bearer, only you can open the doorway. And Victoria is the only one who can destroy it.”
“Yeah, you never did mention how that happens,” Laney said.
Victoria and Ralph exchanged a quick glance. “You’ll understand when we get there.”
Still with the secrets, Laney thought. “What else do you know about the hiding spot?”
“Weapons are not allowed. No one can enter if they are armed,” Ralph said.
Laney’s hope rose. “Does that mean the Fallen can’t enter?”
Ralph shook his head. “No, but they can only enter if they are unarmed.”
“Right, as unarmed as a super-powered being can be,” Laney muttered.
“Now we need to figure out who’s accompanying us,” Ralph said.
“Actually, I already decided that.” Laney had been thinking about the trip to find the tree ever since they left the temple. And Henry and Jake getting hurt had just reinforced her view.
“And?” Victoria asked.
She looked at each of them and then at Cleo, who stared back at her. I’m sorry, Laney thought to her friend, before looking back at Victoria and Ralph. “It’s only going to be the three of us.”