The Belial Origins (The Belial Series Book 6)

by R. D. Brady

  Emotion welled up in Laney, choking off her words. Kati couldn’t be saying this right now. This wasn’t happening. Laney’s words burst out of her. “We’ll get you on the first plane back to the States. I’ll arrange for twenty-four-hour protection.”

  Kati smiled sadly. “No. We need to leave all of this. We need to leave you.”

  Laney felt like she’d been slapped. “Kati, I never meant…”

  Kati took both of Laney’s hands in her own. When she spoke, Laney could feel her pain, and her love, in every word. “I know. I know you would do anything to protect us. You’ve proved that time and again. But I don’t want you to have to anymore.”

  A tear rolled down Laney’s cheek.

  Kati wiped it away for her. “None of this is your fault. All of our fates were assigned long before we met, long before we were even born. And I thank God every day that you were brought into our lives. But I want Max to have as normal a life as possible.” Her words drifted off and she bit her lip.

  Laney knew what Kati meant. “I want that too.”

  “I know you do.” Tears glistened in Kati’s eyes. “Maddox and I are taking Max away. Maddox will look out for us. We’re going to start a new life with new identities. And the only way for us to stay safe…” Kati looked away as a tear finally tracked down her own cheek.

  Laney felt hollow. “Is to cut off all ties with us.”

  Kati nodded.

  Laney stared out at the water. It was green and polluted; a few dead fish floated on top. But here and there she saw air bubbles. Something survived in that filth. She closed her eyes, picturing Max growing up constantly under guard, without any chance at a real life. She didn’t want that for him.

  “You’ll need money. IDs.”

  “Maddox has already taken care of it.”

  “You’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

  Kati nodded.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Now.”

  Laney gasped and stared, but then nodded her head. “That’s probably best.” A little of the tidal wave of emotion she was holding back slipped through. “I’m going to miss you two so much.”

  Kati hugged Laney, her shoulders shaking. “You are my sister. And you always will be.”

  Laney nodded into her shoulder.

  They stayed clasped together like that for a few minutes. When Kati finally extricated herself, she all but fled inside. Laney watched her go, tears streaming down her face.

  Maddox, Kati, and Max were leaving. Henry was out of commission. Jake was on the edge of death—again. Everything was falling apart. And there was nothing Laney could do about any of it.

  Except watch it fall.

  CHAPTER 83

  Laney stayed at the edge of the dock for a while longer, composing herself. She needed to speak with Victoria. She needed to say goodbye to Max. She needed to check on Jake and Henry. Need, need, need. My life is all about need.

  But she couldn’t seem to make herself move. She heard footsteps behind her and turned, expecting to see her uncle. She was wrong.

  “Hi, Laney,” Max said.

  “Hey, Max.” Laney opened up her arms and Max flew across the short distance into them.

  Laney hugged him tight. “Are you all right?”

  He nodded against her chest. Laney closed her eyes, trying to savor the moment. She rocked with him in her lap. He’ll be too big to be held like this soon.

  With a start, she realized that the next time she saw him—if she saw him again—he might not even want her to hug him. He might not feel the bond the way she did; he might not even remember her. The thought made her hold him even tighter.

  They stayed locked together like that for a few moments, and Laney let herself focus only on the moment, knowing it would end too soon.

  Finally, Max scooted off her lap and sat next to her. His little legs swung back and forth under the dock.

  Laney wrapped one arm around him. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

  His expression made him look much older than he should. “I’m not safe—not yet.”

  Laney studied him. His blue eyes looked so serious, so mature. He should be a little boy, not someone who literally had to worry about the fate of the world. “Once you leave, will you be safe?” Laney asked.

  Max nodded. “Yes.”

  Laney’s heart pained to see him go, but she was overjoyed to know that he would, finally, have a chance at a normal life. She just wished she could be a part of it.

  She hugged him tight. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

  Max curled into her chest. “Not as much as I’m going to miss you.”

  Laney took in a shuddering breath. She hated that it had come to this—that she had to let two people she loved so much go away in order to keep them safe.

  And right then she hated the Fallen. She hated her damn destiny. And she hated Victoria and all her secrets.

  Max wrapped his hand in Laney’s. “She protected me.”

  Laney looked down at him. “Who?”

  “Victoria. Samyaza would have hurt me if Victoria hadn’t stayed. That’s why she walked away from you. To protect me.”

  Laney looked toward the house, trying to tamp down her anger at Victoria, knowing it wasn’t fair. Victoria had no more choice in all this than Laney did.

  “She is good, isn’t she?” Laney asked softly.

  Max looked up at Laney, and waited until she looked back at him. “She’s the best. She loves you. She loves all of us. You need to trust her, Laney. And you need to find the tree.”

  Laney had to ask Max one more question. But she was afraid to hear the answer.

  “Can I stop all of this?” she asked quietly.

  “Yes. But it’s going to cost you.”

  As Laney looked into Max’s bright blue eyes, she didn’t see the little boy she had helped raise. She saw the old soul who inhabited him.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. “It already has.”

  CHAPTER 84

  Laney walked back to the front of the building with Max’s hand clasped in hers. Tears threatened to overwhelm her, but she held them back. There’d be time for tears later. Right now, they each had jobs to do, and those jobs came before anything.

  Maddox and Kati stood waiting by an old white Suzuki, a little rusted at the tire wells and bumper, and with more than a few dents. It was no different than dozens of cars Laney had seen on their drive here. It would blend right in.

  Patrick stood waiting with his arm around Kati. He gave Laney a small smile, but she could see the moisture gathering in his eyes. He was putting on a brave face. Laney tried to keep her face blank, which was as close to brave as she could manage right now. Her emotions were too raw for anything else.

  A few feet from the car, Laney knelt down. She turned Max to face her and held his arms. “Remember, wherever you are, I am somewhere thinking about you and loving you. And if you ever need me, I will come running.”

  “I know.” He put his hand on her cheek. “Be careful, Laney.”

  “You too.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. Then she took a steadying breath and let him go, fearing that if she didn’t do it right this second, she’d never be able to.

  Patrick scooped him away and into his own hug while Laney stood and turned to Maddox. “Take care of them.”

  “With my very life.”

  Laney blinked back her tears. “Well, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” She looked at her uncle hugging Kati before she looked back at Maddox. “Just help them be happy, okay?”

  “I will.”

  Laney wrapped her arms around him. “And let yourself be happy, too.”

  “I owe you my life, Laney.”

  Laney stepped back. “No. You don’t owe me a thing. Have a good life, Maddox. And if you need us—”

  “I’ll call.”

  She nodded. “Take care of them.” Maddox hugged her quickly one more time. Then he turned, got into the driver’s seat of
the car, and started it up.

  Laney walked slowly around the car. This all felt so unreal. She was saying goodbye to Kati and Max. How was it possible that it had come to this?

  Kati waited by the open passenger door.

  “You ready?” Laney asked.

  Kati nodded, her chin trembling. “I think so.”

  Laney looked away. “Don’t you dare cry. Because if you cry, I’ll cry, and then you’ll never get out of here.”

  “Okay,” Kati said, but there was still a tremor in her voice.

  Laney pulled her into a hug. “We’ll see each other again. I promise.”

  Kati nodded into her shoulder.

  Laney pulled away.

  “Tell Jen—” Kati shook her head and gave Laney a watery smile. “I don’t know. Make up something good and tell her I said it.”

  Laney choked out a laugh. “You got it.”

  Kati climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door. Laney stepped back. Max waved at her from the back seat and Kati from the front. Laney gave them both a smile and blew Max a kiss.

  Maddox pulled away, and a car of SIA agents pulled out after them. The agents would escort them to an airfield where Maddox had arranged for a friend to meet them.

  And that would be it. From there, no one but Maddox would know where they were going.

  Laney watched the car until it was out of sight.

  Patrick came and stood next to her. “You all right?”

  She leaned in to him. “Not by a long shot.”

  He went to wrap his arms around her, but Laney stepped away. “No. If you do that, then I’ll start to cry, and there’s no time for that now.” She took a deep breath. “How are Jake and Henry?”

  “The doctor was still sewing up Jake when I last checked. But she’s very optimistic. Henry’s all right. Well, all right in the sense that he has seven broken bones and another seven fractures scattered throughout his body.”

  Laney winced. “He’s healing though?”

  “Yes, but not fast. Victoria said Henry’s abilities are immune to injuries from Cain. He’ll heal, but only at the rate of a normal human.”

  Laney closed her eyes. Henry, hurt. It wasn’t something she was used to.

  “Okay,” she said. “Let’s go check on Jake.”

  CHAPTER 85

  Laney walked into the building with her uncle. A parlor was on the right and a living room on the left. Straight ahead was the kitchen, which had been converted into a makeshift hospital suite. Laney swallowed as she caught sight of blood on the floor. Her uncle walked ahead of her, coming to a stop at the entrance of the kitchen before turning down the hall toward Henry’s room.

  Mustafa walked to the doorway to meet them. Laney’s breath held as her gaze met his. He smiled. “Jake will be all right. By some miracle, none of the wounds were to anything critical. It will take him some time to recover his strength, but he will recover it.”

  Laney sagged and reached for the wall. “Thank God. When will he be able to be moved?”

  “Barring gunfights, he should be ready to move within the hour.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “They’re still cleaning him up. Besides, he won’t be conscious for a while. When they’re done, they’ll move him down the hall to the room next to Henry.”

  “How is Henry?” Laney asked.

  “In pain. But he too will be all right. His mother is with him.” Mustafa held out his hand. “I have something for you.”

  Laney held out her own hand and Mustafa dropped a small rectangular object in it. Laney inspected it. “What is this?”

  “I took the liberty of scanning Victoria and Max when we returned. I found that sewn into the hem of Victoria’s jacket. I believe it’s how Jorgen found us on the road. It’s wired for audio. Whatever you were saying in the car, he heard it.”

  Laney closed her fingers over the bug. “Damn it. I should have thought of that.”

  Mustafa placed a hand on her shoulder. “No. It was highly unexpected.” He stepped back. “Your friends should be arriving soon. I will go make sure the guards are aware of who they are.”

  Laney nodded as Mustafa walked past her. “Mustafa?” she called over her shoulder.

  He looked back at her.

  “Thank you for everything.”

  Mustafa’s eyes twinkled and he gave her a small bow. “It is you who I should be thanking.”

  He walked out and Laney shook her head. She’d only met Mustafa once before, but she felt like he was a friend and that they had known each other for a long time. I suppose I probably have, she thought, remembering what Victoria had said.

  Taking a breath, Laney skirted the kitchen and walked down the long hall. Ralph stood outside a doorway on the right.

  Laney stopped next to him. “Have you heard from Drake?”

  Ralph shook his head. “No. I left messages at the box office and the hotel as well as on his cell. He will call as soon as he gets the message.”

  Laney looked into the room. Victoria sat next to Henry’s bed—well, beds. They’d had to add a second bed to the bottom of the first to accommodate his height. Victoria had both of her hands were wrapped around one of Henry’s. And for the first time, Laney thought that mother and son looked fragile.

  “Victoria?” Laney called softly.

  Victoria turned, wiping her eyes. “Hi. I didn’t realize you were there.”

  Laney stepped into the room. “How is he?”

  “No change. The doctor says he should be all right, but it will take him time to recover.”

  “Why is that? Why didn’t he heal automatically?”

  “Part of Cain’s curse. It supersedes any supernatural ability.”

  Laney walked over to the bed and pushed a lock of hair away from Henry’s forehead. He didn’t stir, but Laney hadn’t expected him to. They had him on some pretty heavy-duty painkillers. He would sleep well into tomorrow.

  “I’ve always viewed him as indestructible,” Laney said quietly.

  “That’s how little sisters are supposed to view their big brothers.”

  Laney took a shaky breath and looked over at Victoria. “I think we need to chat a little more.”

  Victoria nodded with a resigned sigh. “Yes.”

  CHAPTER 86

  Laney and Victoria walked out to the same dock where Laney and Kati had sat less than an hour earlier. Laney didn’t want to be too far away from Henry or Jake, but she had a feeling she would want a little space for this conversation. And before they left the house, Patrick had said he’d come find her if there were any changes in Jake’s status.

  As Laney stepped onto the dock, she realized she hadn’t told Patrick who Victoria was. With everything that was going on, there just hadn’t been an opportunity.

  Laney sat in the middle of the dock, her back leaning against the tree in its center. Victoria took a seat in an old rattan chair after checking to make sure it would hold her weight.

  A million questions floated through Laney’s mind. But first she needed a minute. She needed the peace. She watched two dragonflies chase each other across the fetid water. Soon a third joined in the game. Eventually, though, the dragonflies disappeared into the vegetation, and Laney knew she had to get to business. Time was slipping away.

  Still, she wanted to ease into her real questions. “There’s something about the creation stories that have bothered me,” she said.

  “What?”

  “In Genesis, allegedly God said man should have dominion over everything—the land, the animals.” She paused. “But then he takes it to the next step and says that humans should subjugate animals, and the world, to our will.”

  Victoria nodded. “Yes. That’s what it says.”

  “See, that’s the problem. The subjugation part. Why? I mean, Cayce’s argument is the exact opposite. That we’re supposed to be working in communion with nature and animals. Not as overlords. So why would God give that order?”

  Victoria’s eyes looked eve
n more violet in the sunlight. “You tell me.”

  Laney went silent. She wasn’t sure she wanted to say what she was thinking. But the thought remained firmly stuck in her mind, and she had to let it out. “I don’t think He did. It wasn’t God who commanded it. It was the Fallen. Animals, vegetation… all of that was here before us. And it thrived. Why would anyone tell us to subjugate it? Where is the justice in that? The fairness?”

  Victoria nodded. “The Fallen knew how to play on our doubts, our insecurities. We had been so far from the sprit for so long, many couldn’t remember what it was like. All they could remember was the physical world—and that became all they cared about.”

  “So before the Fallen, humanity was at peace?”

  “Before the Fallen, we were at peace. Then they showed up and everything was turned upside down.”

  “They claimed they were speaking for God.”

  “Yes. Subjugation of living things is right from their playbook. It benefits them. It justifies violence. It justifies their acts.”

  Laney shook her head. From the beginning the Fallen had been plotting, scheming, doing everything in their power to gain more power. It was overwhelming. But it also needed to be faced. She took a breath and let it out slowly. “What can you tell me about the tree?”

  Victoria placed her hands in her lap and took a moment to compose her thoughts before speaking. “When humanity first arrived, we ate from the tree. It is what made us immortal. But then the tree was hidden.”

  “Drake said there were two trees.”

  Victoria smiled. “Actually, there were many. But most people focus on the two trees: the tree of life and the tree of knowledge.

  “Where is the tree of knowledge?”

  Victoria gave a wry smile. “You sure you want to go down that road right now?”

  Laney paused and then shook her head. “No. You’re right. One’s enough. But when this is all over, we’ll sit down and chat about that other tree.”