Sweet Reckoning (35 page)

Both of the guys turned toward Kaidan and hesitated.

“Do it!” Thamuz yelled.

“We have no weapons,” one of them said.

Thamuz’s eyes went wide with anger. “Since when do you need a weapon? Two of you against one knife is no contest. Kill him!”

As they moved toward Kaidan, panic welled up inside of me and I pressed my will out to them:
Do not harm him! You don’t have to obey your father!
Their steps slowed and they stopped. I could not believe it. One of the sons grabbed his head as if it hurt.

Thamuz let out a terrible yell and punched his nearest son in the temple, knocking him out cold. The other one fell to the floor and cowered before him.

“I don’t know what’s happening, Father! I think we’re being influenced!”

“
Idiota!
Your will to kill should be stronger than any influence.”

Rahab shook his head. “No Duke would dare to influence you against your father’s wishes, and no Neph is powerful enough—” He stopped, and his head slowly turned to me. Then all eyes were on me. Pharzuph’s grip tightened to the point that I could barely breathe. It wouldn’t be long before I passed out if he didn’t loosen his hold.

“
You
did this!” Thamuz said to me. I was feeling so faint I could hardly manage an ounce of fear.

Until Rahab stepped in front of me.

“Do not forget with whom you are dealing, child,” he said. His demon self came half out of the top of his body, leaning into my face like a wraith and shrieking. His gigantic horns twisted around the shadowy spirit head, making me shrink back into Pharzuph.

I felt Rahab pressing into my mind, and though I fought it, he was too strong. A chilling sense of evil filled me as his words rang out in my head.
How does it feel to know you’ll be burning in hell this very night as we bask in your suffering? You chose wrong when you chose against the stronger force
.

I remembered the peace of my mother, Mariantha, and her words of love.

You’re wrong about the stronger force,
I silently said to him.
Now, get out of my head!
With huge effort I pushed my mind, like moving a brick wall, and I forced him out. His demonic eyes bore into mine, shocked that I was able to extract him. He pulled his soul completely back into his body. Pharzuph was clutching painfully hard around my throat. I grabbed his forearms, trying to pry him away or at least loosen his hold before I suffocated, but he didn’t budge.

“Your feistiness was endearing at first, but it’s starting to wear thin,” Pharzuph said.

“Her mind and will are strong,” said Rahab, “but there are ways to disable any person. Everyone has a weakness . . . something that makes them question their Maker.”

I didn’t like the way he was looking at me. Like he had some knowledge or secret that could “disable” me.

“Excuse me, Duke Rahab,” called Marek from the doorway.

All heads spun to him.

“I apologize for the interruption, but I believe Duke Belial approaches.”

Just then a loud knock sounded. The faces of the Dukes hardened, and my heart soared high above the summit.

“By all means,” Rahab said. “Let him in.”

The door was quickly opened, letting in a wash of sounds from the club, then closed and locked again as my father strode in wearing a navy blue pin-striped suit. His hair was neatly cut and he looked amazing. At his side was Zania in designer jeans and heels. She crossed her arms and glared at the Dukes. Her father, Sonellion, let out a growl.

“Now you just hurt my feelings,” Dad said in that gloriously deep voice. “I didn’t even get an invitation.”

“Traitor!” Sonellion yelled. He looked poised to strangle my father, but neither he nor any of the other Dukes made a move to seize him. “You were behind all of this! You stole my daughter!”

Dad laughed at the ridiculousness of that.

“You came here to mock us?” Pharzuph demanded, and in his preoccupation with my father, I felt his hold on me loosen. My lungs filled with air, and a surge of energy accompanied the oxygen.

“I ain’t here to mock you,” my father said. “We got a lot to talk about. ’Cause I know I’m not the only one in this room who knew after the Fall we’d been used like a bunch of fools. Lucifer’s the one who did us wrong—”

“How dare you!” Rahab said.

Sonellion reached into his jacket for a gun and my dad pointed at him. “I don’t think you best do that, my man. You see my son-in-law over there?” He nodded toward Kai. “That’s right. He got a damn good aim with that knife, as y’all have seen. And it’s a straight shot to the back of your big ol’ head.”

Red eyes galore.

Dad went on like he hadn’t been interrupted. “We served hell all this time out of fear, or maybe our own greed, and it didn’t look like there was no option of anything better. But there is. Y’all know we can’t stay on earth forever. But we don’t have to go back down there either. I don’t know about you, but I’m making the right choice this time.”

The Dukes showed their frustration and anger as they tried to speak over one another. They didn’t know what to believe. The Neph stood in silence, sidling closer together, farther from the Dukes. Kai had moved forward, getting closer and sizing up the scene. Rahab was shouting, trying to regain control. Pharzuph let go of me with one hand, and I gasped for air through my sore throat. He grasped me only by a wrist now as he stepped toward the mob to better be heard. Fierce arguing ensued, and eyes were bloodred in every direction. Kaidan caught my eye, then looked toward where Pharzuph held me. I could see the gears working in his mind as he tried to figure out how to free me.

I barely heard my name being called from the other side of the room in a familiar European lilt. When I turned toward Marek’s voice, his hand was behind his back, and then a blur of glimmering metal was soaring into the air. Pharzuph turned at the sight of it, but he was too late. I snatched the hilt from the air with my free hand and felt a jolt go up my arm. Marek winked at me, and I smiled, more grateful than I’d ever been in my life. Kaidan moved into the circle at my side.

Blinding light shot from the end of the hilt and expanded to reveal a shimmering blade. It was huge, yet virtually weightless. Pharzuph leaped away from me, and rushed to his fellow Dukes. The entire room turned toward the shocking light, and the demons hissed at the memories it invoked. More than six hundred dark spirits stirred in agitated fright above us.

The twins, Blake, Kopano and his brothers, Marek, Zania, and my father all joined the circle now. I grasped the hilt with both hands.

“You have thoroughly betrayed me.” Pharzuph was incredulous as he looked at his son.

“We don’t have to be divided,” Kaidan said. “You were an angel of light once—”

“I will not return under these conditions to be the laughingstock of the heavenly realm!”

“Pride was Lucifer’s downfall, too,” my father said.

A handful of Dukes hissed at him, showing their bright red eyes. As scary as they were, I was happy that the spotlight was off Kaidan.

“I tried to warn you all about the Nephilim,” Rahab said to the Dukes, though his eyes were on me. “They are the worst kind of beasts, willing to bite the very hands that feed them.”

“We’re not
beasts
,” I said. “And we’re tired of being fed lies. We don’t belong to you.”

While we spoke, my father, Zania, and Marek pulled out weapons and passed them down the row of Neph—several guns and knives, which were now aimed at the Dukes, who only had eyes for the Sword of Righteousness. They wouldn’t go near its glowing blade, but I could see the ideas spinning through their evil eyes about how to take me down.

“You’ve underestimated us,” Kaidan said, looking at his father.

Astaroth muttered something about a bloody uprising and spat on the floor.

Rahab stepped toward us, and I jutted the sword out in response.

“Now, hold on just a minute,” he said, raising his palms. “That is no mere toy, child. Surely you are not prepared to commit murder here tonight?”

“That’s not my intention, but I will if you make me. All I want is for everyone to listen.” I spoke as calmly as I could manage. I looked around at the watching Dukes and up at the circling black cloud of spirits above. “You have all been deceived. Again. You don’t have time to think it over. You have to make a decision tonight—”

“
Will we stand here
,” interrupted Rahab, with boiling red eyes, “and allow this Nephilim to attempt to separate the ranks of our valiant leader?” His voice cracked with emotion. “Will we tremble in the presence of a solitary flaming sword wielded by a child?”

More tumultuous shouts sounded.

“Let’s kill her!” bellowed Thamuz, rushing forward.

“Let her speak!” Jezebet pushed Thamuz back, stronger than she appeared.

“It’s blasphemy!” someone cried.

“But what if it’s true?” asked Melchom.

“I propose a test,” Rahab said. The room hushed. “She would only be sent to do a task of this magnitude if she were of flawless faith. If we can get her doubts to surface, then she will lose the power of the sword.”

Doubts? I didn’t like the sound of this.

“How do you propose to test her faith?” Jezebet asked.

“I came prepared.” Rahab grinned, and a shiver raced through me. He gave some sort of signal with his arm, and two Neph men entered from a back stairway with the bang of a metal door. The two Neph were holding someone between them. I nearly convulsed when I recognized the pinkish skin and wavy strawberry-blond hair. Her mouth was gagged, but her nurturing eyes stabbed at my gut.

“
Mom!”

At the sound of my voice, love ballooned out from her aura, and when it burst, it was replaced by the lavender of peace.
Not her
, I begged,
please not her
!

The irony was not lost on me that the first time I called her
mom
could be the last time we’d ever see each other.

Dad’s eyes grew in dread and surprise.

Ginger’s hand flew to her mouth to cover a strangled cry.

“Where’s Jay?” Marna whispered, frantic. I looked around, but Jay definitely hadn’t been brought in.

I adjusted the hilt in my hand, trying desperately to think of a way to get her out of this.
Let her go
, I willed to Rahab. His eyes tightened, and he turned.

“Is that you sending a thought into my mind? That may work on these worthless Nephilim toss-outs, but not me.” His eyes shone at the unfolding of his evil plot. “Some humans are not afraid of death or suffering for themselves,” he said. “But when those same people are forced to watch their loved ones suffer and die, well . . . their faith wavers. Even disappears. I wonder? Are you one of those, Anna? Will you become bitter and angry as you watch us kill this woman? When your glorious savior doesn’t save her?”

I wanted to scream, to cry.
Not Patti!
I didn’t want this test. I silently begged for an army of angels to burst in like they’d done before. This atrocity couldn’t be allowed to happen! She didn’t deserve this. It wasn’t fair.

I felt Kaidan beside me, raising an arm ever so slightly, at the ready.

No angels were coming. I felt panic welling. I needed to pass this. My faith was my shield. Their torture of Patti would be their flaming arrows at me.

I would have preferred actual arrows to this.

“You’re not allowed to kill humans,” I stammered in a last-ditch effort. As far as I knew, it was their only “rule.”

“My dear, this is war!” Rahab laughed at me. “Normal rules no longer apply.”

“Be strong, Anna,” my father urged.

“Oh, shut up, Belial.” Rahab cursed in French then nodded toward Thamuz. “You may do the honors.”

Thamuz’s black badge grew as he knelt down by the body of Mammon and pulled the knife from his eye.
Oh crap
. My allies stirred around me with apprehension, but I couldn’t look away. Thamuz stalked toward Patti and grinned as he swiped her from temple to chin with the blade. I screamed in horror. She let out a small cry and slumped forward as blood seeped from her face, down her neck. Her guardian angel circled her in desperation.

“Stop it!” I screamed, shaking my head side to side. “No more!”

And then I noticed with amazement that her color never wavered. She was still at peace, so filled with love for me. My gut ached at Patti’s willingness to sacrifice herself. As I looked at the lavender surrounding her, I knew Patti wouldn’t have me choose any other way, but I hated it. I hated myself for not being able to save her.

“Pray for it to be stopped,” Rahab teased. “See if it happens.”

“Please, God,” I begged. “Please, make it stop. Save her!
Please
.”

The room stilled. I watched the walls, the ceiling. Nobody was coming. My hope fizzled and I felt the beginnings of anger, frustration, and doubt creeping in. For one second the hilt dimmed. When Rahab smiled, I realized his plan was working.

He was baiting me to lose faith through an unanswered prayer. Patti would not be saved. I had to come to terms with that, and quickly. She was perfect in my eyes, but in the scheme of the world she was one woman. A woman who’d lived a good life and would be revered by all who’d known her. If this was her time to go, I had to find peace with that in order to preserve my faith. I had to believe there was a bigger reason for it all.

Inhale. Exhale.
I smacked away horrid feelings of bitterness and unfairness and loss as they hurled themselves at my heart, threatening to break me.

It took every bit of my energy to speak. “You can see she’s not afraid to die.” I swallowed hard, trying not to cry. “And I am not afraid for her. I know where her soul will go.”

“Well then.” Rahab’s eyes were maniacal. “Let’s send her there now! First-class!”

Ginger shrieked, “Nooo!” She tried to rush forward, but Blake grabbed her tightly around the waist.

“Don’t watch,” Kaidan warned me, touching my face to try and turn my head to him, but I couldn’t look away. Thamuz stabbed her brutally in the stomach once, twice, three times.
Oh God,
I begged,
make it stop! Take her quickly!
I bent slightly at the waist and felt my stomach contracting in a heave, but I forced myself to stand straight again. Kaidan’s arm went around me, holding me. I tried to focus on the freedom Patti would soon have, free of pain and tears. Fighting the urge to dive into a pit of angry vengeance at that moment was the hardest thing I’d ever done.