“Thom…you’re quiet, buddy.”
I jerked my gaze upwards, finding Hunter’s stare in the rear-view mirror. Voices settled around me. The soft, bass-filled tone of Riven lingered as our headlights cut through the dark and we headed back to the sanctuary of the mountain house once more.
“You have a say in this, too,” Riven added. “This affects all of us.”
“I…” I said, my mind slow to shift gears, suddenly conscious of the weight of her stare.
Helene…
Hale.
We need you. Are you ready to hunt?
I tried to hide it. Tried to fight it. Tried to wrestle with the weight of right and wrong that weighed down my soul. “Don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Riven snarled. “What part of any of this is unclear for you?”
None of it.
I closed my eyes.
None.
Of.
It.
To act in self-defense was one thing, but to openly go to war and commit murder was a whole other thing. I wrestled with that demon. My fingers were in the beast’s mouth, yanking down on its pointed fangs, opening that gaping hole wide. I could look all the way down its throat to the festering pit of its belly, into the depths of the darkness that waited for me.
It snarled and growled. Those bright red eyes fixed on mine, desperate to swallow me whole.
“Leave him.” Hunter hit the turn signal and braked. “He has to come to terms with this on his own. Just like the rest of us have had to.”
He glanced at me in the rear-view mirror once more. That intense stare from my brother implored me to do exactly what he said…come to terms with it. He pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. But the truth was, I wasn’t sure if I could.
To react in the moment to defend yourself and those you love was one thing…but to hunt, to hurt and kill, was something else entirely.
We need you. Caleb’s words echoed in my head. You, me, and Benjamin Rossi. You can get us into places we can’t go without you. But it’s…it’s dangerous. A shiver raced up my spine at the words. It’s dangerous and bloody. Are you in, Priest? Are you ready to hunt?
Are you ready to hunt?
I climbed out of the Hummer, glanced at Riven’s gray Audi parked on the other side, and followed the others as they headed inside. Their voices carried, but I heard nothing. I was still locked in an embrace with the Devil. Red glowing eyes pierced mine. Are you ready to hunt, Priest? Are you ready to…huunnnntttt.
My footsteps hit the stairs, climbing after the others.
Helene stopped at the head of the stairs. She spoke, glancing my way. I didn’t stop. Just gave her a nod. “Goodnight,” I murmured and headed for my room, closing the door quietly behind me.
The chair still sat in the middle of the room I used, like a reminder of just how far I’d fallen.
Unseen ties tightened around my wrists.
Pray for me, Priest.
My pulse sped at her words. I turned, lifting my gaze to the doorway. Pray, that’s exactly what I needed. I spun around, finding the white clerical collar on the end of the bed, my own bite marks still imbedded in the starched fabric. I grabbed it and my jacket from the desk and headed for the door.
They were gone by the time I stepped out. Their voices carried from Riven’s room further along. But there wasn’t a flicker of jealousy. Only desperation haunted me tonight. I gripped my jacket and hurried down the stairs.
Leave him, Hunter’s voice replayed as I made for the front door, punched in the code, and waited for the locks to disengage before I slipped out. The locks gave a thud behind me. I hurried to Riven’s Audi in the drive.
Movement came from above. The blinds shifted. The shadowed silhouette of my Hunter filled the window. I turned back, knowing he watched me as I climbed into Riven’s car and pressed the button to start the engine. The keys were in the console. The sleek sports car was now used for trips into the city and war. I couldn’t forget that, could I?
I met my own haunted stare in the rear-view mirror as I shoved the car into gear and backed out, turning hard before heading for the gate.
I was going to say no to Caleb.
I’d almost made up my mind.
Still, that Devil continued to plague me, wrapping long taloned fingers around my throat so he could stare into my eyes. Are you really going to turn your back on your family? Are you going to turn your back on her…the woman you love?
I jerked my wide eyes from the mirror, fixing them instead on the white line that blurred at the edge of the highway as I pushed the car harder, driving back into the city once more. My pulse was booming as I turned, taking the on-ramp deeper into the city, heading for the one place that gave me solace.
St. Sebastian’s.
I turned the car again, took the off-ramp, and dipped low until I caught the glimpse of the bell tower through the trees.
YOUR GOD WON’T SAVE YOU HERE, PRIEST!
London St. James’ roar boomed inside my head. I clenched the wheel, stilling the shakes, and turned into the street, pulling up at the base of the wide stony steps in front of the sandstone building. I sat there for a second, staring at this place of worship. A place that’d given me sanctuary and also the place of my near-death. Shadows hung at the looming bell tower, but the face of it was bright, illuminating the colored stained glass image of Jesus Christ.
It was that image that made me move to open the door and called me to step out. I moved in a trance, hitting the fob on the keyring to lock the car behind me. My boots echoed as I climbed and fixed my collar, buttoning it in place before I slid my jacket on.
I wanted to be present here, to fall to my knees and beg for guidance.
There was a war coming for us. One that wasn’t going to stop until there was no one left to fight. I needed to make sure I was on the right side here. The only side salvation would allow. I gripped the curled black iron handle of the heavy double doors and pulled. Hinges creaked, and softly lit candles flickered at the front in the sanctuary. I pulled the door closed behind me and headed for the light.
This place was more than a haven. It was my one shining light in a world of darkness. Helene’s face rose. I winced, swallowing down the weight of guilt. It should be her, but it wasn’t. It was here amongst the hand-carved pews and the scent of frankincense and myrrh.
This was the first church I’d been assigned to. Father Peters had been hard and relentless. A massive man forced into a small, twisted frame. He’d had Multiple Sclerosis for four years by the time I’d asked to be sent here to be closer to my brothers. He couldn’t walk by then and was confined to a wheelchair. Still, I’d taken care of him, staying in the rectory at the rear of the church. The same rectory I’d sought out after being beaten almost to death. When Father Peters passed, it had sent a shockwave through the community…and me.
He was the one person who’d understood me.
He’d never touched me.
Never talked down to me.
He made me work day and night helping people, until the work helped me. I’d told him about Melody, about the night of her abduction, and now the information my brothers had found. Information that pointed to a place called The Order.
He knew about The Order, knew the men who controlled the power, as well. His last words were a warning to me, they are not men of faith. They were not. But what man truly was now? Was I a man of faith?
I didn’t know.
Not anymore.
“Thomas?”
I jerked my gaze to the confessional booth as a man stepped out. “Father Cassius.”
His brow furrowed with concern. “A little late to be working, son.”
I forced a smile, glancing at the candles. “Not working, Father. Just…seeking guidance.”
“Ah,” he motioned to the front pew. “I was just about to close up, but I have time to sit if you want to talk to me about it?”
I shifted my gaze to the confessional, wrestling with that Devil inside.
Are you ready to hunt?
My knees trembled as I stepped closer, leaving me to grasp the edge of the wooden seat before I sat down. Warmth closed around my hand as thick fingers squeezed mine tightly. I recoiled inside, desperately fighting the need to wrench my hand back, until finally he pulled away.
Shivers raced along my spine. “My soul is in trouble.”
“Trouble? What kind of trouble?”
Get her to the table.
Let’s see what four million dollars gets you.
Helene screamed and thrashed inside my head, fighting the men who pushed her head against the table and forced her legs apart. That shiver inside me turned to a quake of rage. “I find myself having thoughts of harm, especially to those who harm the people I love.”
“That’s only natural to have those thoughts. It’s the whispers of temptation that come from the Devil. You know that.”
I lifted my gaze to his. “And what if they’re not just whispers?” What if…they were screams?
No!
NO!
Get off me!
GET THE FUCK OFF ME!
Father Cassius gave me a soft, careful smile. “I think you’re stronger than you think. After all, you’re here, aren’t you?”
“There’s bad men out there, Father.” I whispered. “Real bad men and they want to hurt and keep on hurting. They’re evil. They’re so fucking evil they make my skin crawl. They need to be stopped. They need to be…”
You ready to hunt, Priest?
He flinched at my outburst. “Listen to me. You need to forget about them. You need to listen to your faith. Your place is here, within these walls. That is your purpose. That is your future. Turn your back on all others except for God, including your brothers. Only God will lead the way…his way.”
A two-way radio hooked to his belt flicked to life, crackling faintly before he snatched it free and pressed the button to turn the volume down.
“His way is the only way,” Cassius repeated, giving me a ghost of a smile. “Now, I really must go. It’s late.”
I gave a nod as I watched him rise, the two-way clutched in his hand. I’d never seen a priest with one before. “Thank you, Father.” I lifted my gaze and met his stare. “I appreciate your words.”
He gave a nod. I could still hear the sound from the device, the sound faint, so faint, before he turned away and headed for the door that connected to the rectory. His steps hit harder, moving faster. I tried to drag my focus away, forcing my attention to those flickering candles.
Candles others lit when they prayed.
My knees no longer shook when I stood.
Cassius’s words took hold. He was right. This wasn’t my battle to fight. No matter how dangerous this became, I wanted to find our sister, to ease that weight on my soul. But this…this was different. This was…sin.
I stepped forward, picked up a long, tapered candle, and lifted it to the flame.
But that two-way nagged at me. The way he’d snatched it free, the look of almost terror on his face as he’d fixed his eyes on mine…because, for a second…before his finger pressed down I was sure I’d heard the words please, help me.
My head turned on instinct, finding that door shrouded in shadows. A door I knew as well as my own heart. I placed the unlit candle down and took a step. The urge to walk to that door was overwhelming. My hand reached for the handle, and before I knew it, I was inside, closing the door behind me.
There was no sound at that moment. Only the steady thudding of my pulse in my head. I walked along the dark hallway that led to the house in the back.
“No…no, please no!” A woman’s cry came from deeper inside.
“You fucking whore. You dirty, sinful fucking whore. Do you know what God does to filthy whores like you? Filthy fucking Daughters. He saves them, that’s what he does. Now wider…WIDER!”
I froze, stopping in the middle of the hallway.
Whack!
A muffled shrill scream followed.
“Filthy fucking cunt. It deserves to be beaten. Open your legs, Daughter. Open them or I’ll shove this cane all the way in your ass.”
Revulsion rocked me. My gut clenched. My gaze fixed on that doorway at the end. The one where the faint light shone from inside. My hands curled into fists as I moved forward, until I reached out and gripped the black iron handle, the one which mirrored the entrance to the church.
Soundless.
The door swung inward.
The sight before me rocked me to the core.
He didn’t see me.
His back was to the door. A woman lay on the bed, each ankle tethered to the posts so her legs were spread wide. The cane in his hand shone with blood as he raised it once more. All I saw was that blood.
“Dirty fucking Daughter. Dirty goddamn whore,” he said, staring at the bleeding mess between her legs. “You’re all the same. Every single one of you. All the goddamn same!”
I reached out and grabbed the heavy gold cross sitting on the dresser as he drove that cane down, carving an arc through the air. Then I lunged and swung the cross.
CRUNCH!
The impact was sickening, slamming into the side of his head, throwing him sideways. His blow still hit, though, whipping into the soft flesh of her inner thigh. The woman moaned around the tape that’d come away from her mouth.
I inhaled, then glanced at the priest who clung to the bedpost she was tied to and felt that resounding quake of rage.
“God will show me the way,” I said, my voice low and sinister. “That’s what you said. God will show me the way.” I looked down at the heavy gold cross in my hand, now marked with blood. “I think I see the way now, Father. I think I see the way.”
Are you ready to hunt now, Priest?
I clenched my fist around the cross, then looked at the unblinking eyes of the woman in front of me. Her legs spread, her body a goddamn mess.
Cassius lifted his head and turned his gaze toward me. Blood ran in a rivulet down his temple and fell into a crease as his eyes widened. “No,” He hissed as I lifted the cross once more.
You ready to hunt, Priest?
I plunged the cross down, this time into the middle of his face.
CRACK!
His head snapped backward, blood spurted out of his nose. A front tooth cracked, falling into his mouth.
“NO!” He lifted his hands to protect himself. “NO! NOOOO!”
I drove that cross down again. His face became the face of so many. Hale, Coulter, and all those men who’d pushed Helene onto that table and spread her legs.
“You will never touch her again!”
Swing.
CRUNCH!
Swing.
CRUNCH!
Cassius slumped to the floor. Still it wasn’t enough. I kept hitting, kept fighting. It wasn’t the Devil who had hold of me. It was myself. The Devil was me. It was always me. Blood arced as I lifted the cross. There was no gold left now. Just a shimmering mess of red.
I sucked in hard breaths and pushed myself upwards, my gaze moving to the woman on the bed. Daughter he’d called her.
“Easy,” I croaked and stumbled to her side, my hands moving to the ties at her ankles.
Flashes of the cuffs Helene had clamped around my own body came back to me. But that wasn’t like this at all. I tugged them free and her feet hit the bed before her thighs clamped together. She was whimpering in pain and fear as I moved to her mouth.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” I whispered. “I’m going to…save you.”
Those words beat like a drum inside my chest. I tugged the tape free, then moved to her hands, untying the bonds.
“I’m going to take you to someone who can help,” I murmured as she turned on her side and tried to pull her knees to her chest.
There was a lot of blood on the sheets. The sight of that made me goddamn rage. I pulled my cell free and pressed the contact.
“Who’s this?” Caleb answered on the second ring.
“It’s me.” I fixed my gaze on her. “I’m in…but first I need a favor from you.”
“What kind of favor?”
“A damaged one.”
