Legacy of the Watchers Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Nancy Madore

  “Which species do I belong to?” she asked.

  Will smiled, and she was a little startled to see something like pride shining in his eyes as he regarded her. “You’re one of the special ones,” he said. “You belong to both.”

  Chapter 29

  Delta Junction, Alaska

  Amanda would have liked to have been able to weep. Anything to release this despair. It had been a long day, and it would be a longer night. How long could this go on?

  It had called itself a ‘horrible demon’ in its little confession to Catherine. Was it just being facetious? It had seemed like it at the time. But then again, there were plenty of people who would insist that ‘possession’ was precisely what demons did. What else, really, was there for them to do? And yet, Amanda had always subscribed to the belief that the possessed individual had to do something to encourage the demon. They had to deserve it. That was how the whole god-devil thing was supposed to work. You ‘reaped what you sowed.’ The bad were punished. For Amanda, this was where the demon theory fell short. Amanda hadn’t been that bad, had she? Whatever her faults, she certainly didn’t deserve this! Hell, compared to some of the girls she’d gone to school with, she was practically a saint!

  So if it wasn’t a demon, what was it then? Amanda’s thoughts went back to her original impression that it was an alien. The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. She worked for a top secret government organization—in Alaska, for crying out loud! People were continuously calling in UFO sightings here. Claims of the government hiding aliens were too numerous to count. Was T.D.M.R. one of the facilities where they were hiding them?

  Amanda recalled the reflection in her window that first night, and too, the creature she beheld in the eyes of her co-worker. They seemed like two entirely different species—except that they both looked so…evil. This seemed to support the demon theory. But then again, if they found aliens from one planet, it was possible that they’d found them from other planets as well. Perhaps there were several different species of aliens.

  She recalled the creature’s words to her. Don’t panic little one, it had said, in a little while we’ll have him eating out of our hand.

  This comment offered hope to Amanda’s despairing soul. And yet, why would an alien want to help her? It wouldn’t. But a demon might. Perhaps it was going to use Tommy to barter for her soul. What would she do, in that instance? Did she want him bad enough to trade her soul for him? She couldn’t help thinking of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.

  These thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a loud noise coming through the static. Though Amanda didn’t really notice the static anymore, she was aware that it drowned out much of what was happening around her. She could feel herself becoming more and more disconnected from the ‘outside’ world as her soul drew inward. Her world was growing smaller.

  She realized that the loud noise was the sound of someone knocking on the door. Amanda came out of her shell when she saw who it was.

  “Oh, it’s you,” she heard herself say.

  “Yes, it’s me!” said Tommy, stepping into her apartment and closing the door behind him. “Who else would it be at this time of night…one of your demons, maybe?”

  Catherine must have gone to him a second time! Amanda’s hopes rose again. If she could only find a way to send him a sign!

  “Maybe,” came the mocking rejoinder. Tommy’s eyes were slowly moving over her, and Amanda suddenly realized that the creature had been expecting him. That’s why she was wearing her most provocative teddy. “Was it naughty of me to tease her like that?”

  Tommy’s voice was husky when he replied. “Yeah,” he said, with passion simmering in his eyes. “That was very naughty.”

  “So naughty that I deserve to be punished for it?” Amanda was shocked by the words that were coming out of her mouth, but Tommy’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head. Meanwhile, the demon—for the moment that’s what Amanda decided it was—appeared to be enjoying itself immensely. Amanda could feel herself smiling from ear to ear.

  “Yeah,” agreed Tommy eagerly. “That naughty.” Amanda could see that his arousal was quickly getting the better of him.

  “Hmmmm,” murmured the demon demurely. “I wonder who’s going to punish me?”

  “I’m going to punish you,” said Tommy, unbuttoning his pants. “And I’ve got something right here to punish you with.”

  “Are you sure that’s all you’ll need to handle a naughty girl like me?” the demon purred.

  “Oh yeah,” said Tommy, letting his pants fall down around his ankles. “I’m sure.”

  But before he had time to step out of his trousers, Amanda felt herself lung forward to kick him in the back of the leg, using just enough force to make him stumble forward. He made a valiant effort to right himself, but with his feet still trapped inside his pants, he dropped to the floor with a loud thud.

  “Oops!” exclaimed the demon, positioning her body so that she was standing over him. She nudged him playfully with the big toe of the offending foot. “Was I naughty again?”

  Emotions were running amok over Tommy’s face as he gazed up at her. He was incredulous of course, but there were also embarrassment, confusion and even a little horror. And yet he was still aroused! It took him a minute to get up, and he tenuously held his pants around his knees, as if debating if he should pull them up or take them off. He looked warily at Amanda.

  She was still smiling. “I thought you were going to punish me,” she teased.

  A determined gleam came into his eyes as he dropped his pants again. “I am, by gaaauuu…!” His proclamation was cut short by another blow to the very same leg. This time he went down even harder. “What the…! Jesus Amanda!” he cried. He was, by now, losing some of his steam—and his erection.

  “Darling!” she heard herself exclaim. “I’m so sorry!” One of her hands reached out to help him up.

  He took it—reluctantly—and stood up a second time. “What the hell’s gotten into you?” he demanded, pulling his pants up all the way this time.

  “I don’t know,” the demon replied innocently. “I think deep down I must still be angry about the other night.”

  Tommy examined her face for a long moment before his eyes moved wistfully over the flimsy negligee.

  “It’s okay, Shug,” he said, reaching for the door. “After tonight we’ll call it even.”

  Chapter 30

  Long Island, New York

  Something was gently prodding Nadia awake, pushing its way into her consciousness from what seemed like very far away. She instinctively resisted it, preferring to linger in the blissful world of her unconscious mind. It was so peaceful there! And she felt so content—although the intruding sensation was not altogether unpleasant. And it was persistent, too. It kept at her until she was forced to acknowledge the tender coaxing—which she’d identified as warm, slightly abrasive kisses—by reluctantly opening one eye.

  Will was smiling down at her between kisses. “You sleep like a child!” he exclaimed.

  Nadia opened her other eye while yawning, stretching and laughing, all at the same time. The way this felt made her laugh harder. “It’s weird,” she said. “I used to be a light sleeper. But since you guys came along…”

  “It’s probably all the stress,” said Will. “It affects everyone differently.”

  Nadia glanced at the clock and gasped. “Five-thirty!” she exclaimed, bolting up in bed in sudden alarm. However, seeing Will in such a good mood dispelled her fear almost as quickly as it came. Now her curiosity was stirred. “Did you wake me up at this ungodly hour to discuss my sleeping habits?” she asked.

  “No,” he replied casually. “I woke you up to tell you to pack a bag.” He said this as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

  “Pack a bag?” she echoed. A quiver of excitement rippled through her.

  “Yes,” said Will. “And make sure to bring plenty of warm clothes.”

  “Warm
clothes?” She felt dense, simply repeating everything he said, but her brain didn’t seem to be working this early in the morning.

  “Yes, it can get cold in Alaska this time of year.”

  Nadia threw aside the covers, suddenly wide awake. “Alaska?”

  Will laughed. “I’ve been awake since you came and got me last night,” he said. “I’ve mostly been thinking…but I also spent a lot of time talking to my supervisor.” Nadia just stared at him, uncomprehending. “I’ve been trying to convince him that we have a case.”

  Nadia didn’t know what to say. “Do…Gordon and Clive know?”

  “Yep,” he replied. “We’re just waiting for you.”

  “What?” she cried. “How can they be waiting for me?”

  “We’re always packed and ready to go anywhere at a moments’ notice,” he said. “I’m assuming you have some warm clothes at your father’s house?”

  Nadia nodded. “Yes…it gets chilly on the beach sometimes,” she said. Suddenly excited, she jumped up on her knees in the bed and grasped Will’s shoulders. “Really?” She asked, searching his eyes. “We’re really going to Alaska? But…what made you change your mind about there being a case?”

  “I didn’t,” he said.

  Nadia stared at him. “Then…why?” she persisted.

  “Because I feel like you need this to move on,” he said. “I know what it’s like to not know…to always wonder.” He paused, and she knew he was thinking of his own father. “And who knows?” he added lightly. “Maybe we’ll discover something important—or perhaps even find Lilith. Gordon seems to think so. But then again, I haven’t seen the lead Gordon wouldn’t chase. But Clive’s convinced there’s something here too.”

  Nadia embraced him, her whole body shaking with sobs. He waited for her tears and trembling to subside before gently pulling away so he could look at her face. His expression was suddenly grave.

  “I want to help you find the truth about your father,” he said. “Do you understand that you might not like what we find?”

  It was hard to contemplate this question honestly while under the influence of the piercing blue stare.

  “Will you be able to accept it, Nadia, even if it isn’t what you want it to be?” he persisted.

  She felt lost in his eyes. “Yes,” she said. “If you can do this for me, I can promise that much for you.”

  “Fair enough,” he said, smiling again.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, and embraced him again. “Thank you, thank you, thank you…” She pulled away suddenly, her expression inquiring. “Where’s Gordon and Clive now?” she asked.

  “In the café,” he replied. “Waiting for us.”

  “Oh my god!” she cried, jumping out of bed. “Tell them I’ll be down in fifteen—no, make that ten minutes. And can you order me a coffee and an egg sandwich to go?” Before Will had time to answer she was already stepping into the shower.

  *

  “Finally!” Clive exclaimed when she rushed into the café twenty minutes later. She could see that he and Gordon were almost as excited as she was. She wondered if they started out all their cases like this. Had they been this pumped the day they set out to kidnap her in her office restroom?

  Do you understand that you may not like what we find?

  Nadia brushed this question aside. “What time does our flight leave?” she asked.

  “We’re meeting the jet at the MacArthur airport in Ronkonkoma,” said Will. “It’s about an hour away from your father’s house. We have to be there by nine-fifteen.”

  “Which means we have to hurry up,” added Clive.

  Nadia mixed the sugar and cream in her coffee and attached the lid. Then she picked up her egg sandwich and several napkins. “I’m ready!” she said.

  “How long is the flight?” she asked as they walked to the car.

  “Just over nine hours,” said Gordon. “We’ll arrive at a small airfield in Gakona, Alaska, just after seven P.M.”

  “We’ll make up four hours on the other end,” added Will. “It’ll be just after three in the afternoon in Gakona.”

  “Which will give us enough time to see my buddy at HAARP,” said Clive. “If I were you I would start sifting through recipes.” He took the front passenger seat next to Gordon, leaving the back seat to her and Will.

  Nadia groaned. Cooking a gourmet dinner for Clive was the last thing she wanted to think about.

  “How’d you convince them to re-open this case?” she asked Will, as Gordon pulled out of the parking lot of the Hotel.

  “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be,” said Will. “I basically just laid out the facts of the case—with a few embellishments. I told them about the one-way chartered flight, and the encrypted messages that were sent to Asmodeous from a dead man over at T.D.M.R. I really played up the Armageddon thing—though I had to say it came from you, and the probability that Asmodeous sent Lilith on some kind of a mission. They agree that we have to identify that formula, but for the time being they want us to keep T.D.M.R. out of it—which means that we have to keep this investigation quiet for now. We’ll get as much information as we can without telling anyone why we’re asking. We’ll start with Clive’s friend at HAARP in Gakona, and then head over to Fort Greely—where T.D.M.R. is located—first thing tomorrow morning. Fort Greely is in the middle of nowhere, several hours away from Gakona. It has a population of less than six hundred people…most of whom are military. Depending on what Clive’s friend tells us, we’ll just kind of snoop around quietly. Do a little research on Ethan Blevins maybe. See if anything pops out at us.”

  “If Lilith’s there, she should stick out like a sore thumb,” said Clive.

  “In a small town like that!” agreed Gordon.

  Will took Nadia’s hand. “We’ll take this one step at a time and see where it leads us,” he told her. His was, as usual, the voice of reason.

  Chapter 31

  It was turning out to be a lovely day. The sky was a deep, rich blue that contrasted beautifully with the fall foliage. Nadia took a deep breath, analyzing the pleasure she felt, as if to keep it with her always. The feel of the autumn air, the exquisiteness of being cared for, the exhilarating thrill of anticipation; all of these she would have liked to have etched in her memory forever.

  MacArthur airport was much larger than Nadia expected. Referring to notes he’d scribbled onto a scrap of paper, Will directed them to their private jet. Seeing the familiar aircraft brought a wave of déjà vu, but it was not entirely unpleasant. Nadia was even able to joke about it. “The last time I flew Raphaelian Airlines I seem to recall that the service was better,” she said. “The attendants never took their eyes off me for a minute! Although I think I prefer not being chained to the seat.”

  “You wanna try it one more time…just to be sure?” asked Clive.

  “No thank you,” she said, strapping herself in. Will sat next to her and did the same.

  Clive plopped down in the row in front of her and Gordon chose a seat across the aisle. They were all turned toward her, reminding her once again of that earlier flight.

  “Ever been to Alaska?” Gordon asked her.

  “No, never,” said Nadia.

  “Me either,” he said. The doors to the plane were closing and it began slowly moving along the strip.

  “Here goes nothing,” said Clive.

  They were all quiet while the plane took off.

  The sun was terribly bright, and Nadia closed her window with a little sigh. “Nine hours!” she said. “It’s going to be long flight.”

  “Ninety nine bottles of beer on the wall…” sang Clive in a deep baritone.

  “God no!” objected Nadia. “Anything but that.”

  “Wow,” said Clive. “You really know how to hurt my feelings.”

  “I’m sorry, but I would rather do anything besides listen to that song.”

  “Is this in reference to my previous offer to join the mile high club?” Clive asked.

&
nbsp; “Almost anything,” she amended.

  “Jeez, I’m running out of ideas here,” said Clive. “You’re lucky we brought our own in-flight entertainment.” He tipped his head in Gordon’s direction.

  “That’s right!” exclaimed Nadia, turning to Gordon. “You have the ring!”

  “Dig out the masks,” said Clive, “and let’s get that fluffy little tick back out here to entertain us.”

  Chapter 32

  Jerusalem

  10th century, BC

  In spite of Ornias’ misgivings about the Israelites, he had to admire their resourcefulness and tenacity in getting what they wanted. They were not crippled by ignorance and fear, as were the vast majority of the sons of men. They valued information, regardless of the source. They collected ideas. They had put all those years of wandering to good use, and now they were finally ready to claim their paradise, believing, as they did, that they had simply been awaiting the will of God. Against all odds they had got their promised land, and now they would combine the best ideas they had gathered to create that perfect nation.

  The Israelites would adopt a concept no matter their feelings about its origin. Despite their hostility with Egypt, for example, they incorporated many of the Egyptian customs into their present way of life. This was true of all their enemies, even the ‘djinn,’ as they called them. Though they had not spared a single Nephilim soul in the many cities they ravaged, they kept—and revered—every document that had been authored by them or their fathers.

  Having conquered nearly all of the predominately Nephilim regions, the land of Israel spread over most of Canaan. Though they had one king, the nation had grown so great that it had become necessary to divide it into twelve individual tribes.

  King Solomon gave his djinn bodies and immediately put them to work on a massive temple for their God. Ornias learned much about the Israelites while working side by side with them. He was a bit surprised to observe that their faith seemed to run according to rank, with the strongest devotion existing in the lowliest among them, and steadily diminishing as their status went up. He had seen this side of religion before, of course, but he had started to believe that the Israelites might be different, special, possibly even chosen by the one true God. But even he expected more from a real God than the characteristic venality of man. Why, the rumors of corruption during the rule of David—Solomon’s predecessor—were legendary. To Ornias, Solomon’s very birthright to the throne seemed questionable. Solomon’s mother had been married to another man when David fell in love with her! Undaunted by the rules of his god, King David had taken the woman called Bathsheba to his bed. When she became pregnant, he furthered his offense by arranging for her husband to be killed in battle. These were severe crimes in the land of Israel. While it was not unusual for a married man to stray from his marriage vows (David had many concubines in addition to his numerous wives), it was strictly forbidden to touch another man’s wife. Many a man had been put to death for it. But when it came to the King, the priests allowed ‘God’s will’ to do the judging, and in this case, ‘God’s will’ was considerably more lenient than King David was with the people of Israel.