Mortal Sin (60 page)

He’d seen the tapes and believed they’d manipulated their way out. He was still struggling with the whole witchcraft/magic thing, but far too many strange things had happened in the last six months to wholly dismiss the supernatural.

There were no visible marks on her body, and she looked almost peaceful.

He rose and shined his light around. Where was Rico Cortese? Why hadn’t he stopped this?

Hank walked over to a group of cypress trees that had grown together to create a canopy. It would make a good hiding place. He shined his light back and forth, back and forth, until he found Skye’s friend.

He was lying face-down in the sandy soil.

Hank reached over to check his pulse. As soon as he touched the man’s skin, Rico grabbed his wrist and had a knife pointed at his throat. But his eyes were wild, unfocused.

“Put the weapon down, Mr. Cortese. I’m Acting Sheriff Hank Santos. Skye sent me to check on you.”

Rico hesitated, then slowly lowered his weapon and let go of Hank’s arm. He pulled himself up, grunting, then sat down heavily and rubbed his wounded leg.

“What happened here? How did the girl die?”

“What girl?” Rico shook his head. “What time is it?”

“Ten-thirty.”

“I lost three hours. Can you help me up?” He extended his arm, so Hank helped him, though he wasn’t quiet sure what was going on. “Take me to her.”

Hank hesitated.

“I know you’re suspicious, but something happened to me. I had some unusual dreams. Nightmares. I should have been more alert.”

Hank led Rico to the body. The candle still burned. Rico stared at it, then stared at the girl. “Who is she?”

“Brianne Graves. Moira claims she’s a witch. A triad. I don’t know what that means.”

“I do. Three points of a triangle. Dammit, we should have seen this. I just didn’t think they’d sacrifice their own.”

He bent over the girl and took out holy oil from his pocket. He gave her last rites. As soon as he was finished, the candle flared and went out.

“What just happened?” Hank asked.

“I’m not sure. Except—the coven’s going to know the bodies were found. We need to leave.”

“I can’t leave her here.”

“I have to go,” Rico said. “The others are in grave danger. Give me your keys.”

Hank hesitated.

“Dammit, deputy, your son is one of those who are in trouble. Let me help him.”

Hank handed Rico his keys. “I can’t leave a body unattended. I’ll call it in.”

Rico took the keys. “Call someone you trust. Call that M.E., Rod Fields, Shields… ”

“Fielding.”

“Moira trusts him. Tell him to be careful.”

Rico limped briskly to Hank’s truck and drove off.

Hank hoped he hadn’t made a huge mistake.

#

It took Skye far longer to climb onto the roof and access the water tank than she’d thought.

First, she couldn’t climb up with all six jugs. Carrying six for two blocks was hard, but doable; climbing a fire ladder holding even one was difficult. Six trips up, and Skye was exhausted. Finally, she was on the roof. She could see everything on the eastern side of the school. No cars, but several people walked up to the gym while Skye was was watching.

How many of these damn witches were in Santa Louisa? They seemed to be having a party tonight.

It was cold, and windy, and Skye was scared. She tried not to think about the fear because she was a cop first. Protect and serve. And protecting her town from these bastards who wanted to destroy it was the first order of business.

Except, now that she was up here, she realized she’d have to take six more trips to the top of the water tank.

Great.

But she did it. It took her nearly an hour to climb, open, pour, climb down. Repeat. Fortunately, she wasn’t scared of heights or she’d never have been able to do this.

When she was done, she sat at the base of the water tower to catch her breath. She’d spent well over two hours on this task and didn’t even know if it would work. And how was she supposed to set off the fire alarms? She’d have to go inside to do that.

That at least was possible. But
when
should she do it? That was another matter.

She decided to leave the jugs on the roof. It wasn’t like she needed them for anything, and she’d have to make at least two trips to get them all down. It was late, time to go back and check in. She hadn’t heard anything from Hank, or Anthony, or Rafe. She checked her phone. No signal.

That certainly wasn’t good.

She walked around the school and as soon as she was a hundred yards from the gym, her cell phone started vibrating. She had multiple messages. From Anthony. Rico, Jared. Rafe.

But not Moira.

She started jogging toward the rectory. A minute later, a shadowy figure leapt from behind a tree and tackled her, knocking the wind right out of her lungs.

“Hello, Sheriff. Or is that
former
sheriff?”

It was Deputy Gonzalez, the cop who’d imprisoned Juan at the sugar factory.

“Asshole,” Skye said.

He hit her in the face.

Damn, that hurt.

She fought, but he had a gun and she didn’t. She’d had to turn in her service weapon, and she hadn’t thought of bringing her private firearm. Okay, she’d
thought
about it, but didn’t want to get caught when there was so much tension among her unit. She wanted her job back and didn’t want to put anyone in an awkward position.

She should have thought more about herself and her own survival than the sensitivities of three dozen cops.

“Bonus points,” Gonzalez said.

“What?”

“You, McPherson. Bonus points. Icing on the cake. Whatever you want to call it, they’re going to be happy.” He handcuffed her and pushed her forward down the sidewalk, away from the rectory.

“Who are
they?
”

“You know exactly who they are.”

They walked past the school, toward the gym on the far eastern side of the campus. Skye smiled. Maybe she
did
have a legitimate way to trip the fire alarm.

She might even be able to do it while handcuffed.

#

Phineas almost intervened when he saw a cop handcuffing Skye McPherson and pushing her toward the high school. Then he stopped. Why tip his hand?

He discretely followed, saw them enter the gym, and considered his options. He snapped his fingers and ran back to the rectory. “Jared,” he called.

The kid stepped out of the office. “Where is everyone? Why aren’t you with Gideon and Rafe?”

“Rafe sent me here.”

The kid didn’t believe him. Phineas scowled. “I don’t care if you trust me, but Skye was just grabbed by one of her cops and handcuffed. I need help. We need to gather up all the supplies we can carry and take the gym by force.”

“I have a better idea,” Jared said.

“What?” he snapped.

“Skye put six gallons of holy water she found in the sub-basement into the water tower on top of the gym. Let’s find a way to trip the alarm and spray the gym floor.”

Phineas was surprised. “Smart.”

“She thought it might be too diluted.”

“It’s a shot. We don’t have much else at this point. And even the surprise of the sprinklers might give us the distraction we need.”

“I have a program to activate the sprinklers without calling the fire department, but I need to get into the main security room at the school. And there’s a night guard.”

“I’ll get you in,” Phineas said.

Lily had been in and out of consciousness since Jezebel first invaded her. It was like sleep, but deeper, and every time she slipped out, it was harder to come back.

I’m dying.

Jezebel laughed at her. “You’re not dying, little girl, not yet.”

Lily’s mother was fascinated by Jezebel, which made Lily want to disappear. “Are you really
the
Jezebel?” Elizabeth asked.

“You’ve already asked me that twice, do you think the answer will change?”

“You have so much history.”

“My history has been locked up in that damn dagger for hundreds of years. The times I’ve been free—they were fascinating. But I like now the best.” She ran her hands up and down Lily’s body. “Not bad. She could use larger breasts, and she’s too skinny. Men like breasts. They are so easily led. But as soon as I’m free, I’ll do something about it. An innocent little girl like her—the men I can lead! It will be like it was before.”

Lily knew what Jezebel wanted with her body, and she also knew that when the ritual tonight was complete, Lily would cease to exist. She’d have her soul ripped out, given to the Seven Deadly Sins as their reward.

She cried, but Jezebel laughed and mocked her. “Poor little girl.”

“I raised her exactly as Fiona told me,” Elizabeth said.

“She’s weak and helpless,” Jezebel said. She got up and paced. “Go back to sleep, Lily, your emotions are tiring.”

Lily almost did as Jezebel commanded, but she needed to be alert. She might be able to help her friends. Save Jared and the others from a horrific fate.

“You can’t save any of them,” Jezebel said. “I have complete control over you. And it benefits you to let me do as I please. Because if I leave, those two big, bad demons will take over. Lust would love to take you out for a ride. You’re safe for now.” She laughed. “Oh, the irony of that statement!”

Lily saw everything through her own eyes, clouded by Jezebel’s perception. Her mother Elizabeth sitting on the couch, captivated by a spirit possessing—and planning to sacrifice—her own daughter. If her father were here, he would never have allowed this.

Jezebel laughed. “Father! Elizabeth, you never told Lily who her father really is?”

“It was best she didn’t know.”

“Tell her now. Please. I can’t wait to feel her pain.”

Elizabeth hesitated. “Matthew said never to tell.”

“It doesn’t matter now. I’ll tell her. Lily, you were conceived in a ritual. Your mother was possessed by a succubus who seduced seven men over seven nights, killing them after they orgasmed.”

No. That’s not true!

“It is! And the best thing? Each time she fucked them with an audience. Who was there, Elizabeth? I know Matthew was there. And Jeremiah. And Garrett. Oh, he’s dead now, isn’t he? So Lily, no one knows who your father was, but we know he’s dead. Dead so you could live and serve as the
arca.
You should be happy.”

Lily didn’t want to believe Jezebel, but everything she’d said so far was the truth. She had no filter, as Jared would say.

“Your mother’s always been a whore, Lily. After that week, the succubus gave her an insatiable appetite for sex. It’s why your father—the guy you thought was your father—left. He couldn’t take her needs. She calls upon an incubus every month just to survive. Didn’t you wonder why you spent so much time with your cousin Abby? Your mother needed more than any human man could give her.”

Elizabeth was crying.

“Aw, poor Elizabeth. You made the deal, you pay the price.” Jezebel tensed. “Quiet, whore. Someone is outside.”

She got up and tried to suppress Lily, but Lily forced herself to stay alert.

“Fiesty little bitch, aren’t you?” Jezebel muttered, but she was more concerned about who was outside than shutting Lily out.

She opened the front door. No one was there. But Jezebel was not fooled. She stepped out and looked. Stepped back in and closed the door. “It reeks of the Order.” Then she smiled. “The pure heart.”

No. No!

“Gideon’s mine.”

Lily had to warn him, but didn’t know what to do. Jezebel stood in the middle of the room, waiting for something.

The back door opened and Gideon walked in.

“You found me,” Jezebel said.

“
Sed et lingua mea tota die meditabitur iustitiam tuam: cum confusi et reveriti fuerint qui quærunt mala mihi ad,
” Gideon said.

Jezebel twisted and scowled.

“Run!” Lily screamed. “Run!”

Gideon repeated the phrase and Lily’s entire body felt like it was on fire.

“Stop!” Lily screamed. “She… she…”

Lily collapsed, exhausted from fighting to speak.

But Jezebel smiled.

“You are so cute, Gideon Arturo. I see your soul. It is a bright light. The purest I’ve seen in a long time.”

She walked up to him. He tried to speak, but she put her hand up and shook her head. “It’s really sweet that you think you can save poor Lily. But she was dead before she lived. Her soul had already been marked. You can’t undo that. No one can.” She kissed him hard on the mouth. “It’s why you can follow her.”

Gideon’s mouth twisted. “You. Are. Wrong.”

She raised her eyebrow. “Oh? I am? Then how did you find her?”

“I found
you
.”

She shook her head. “I don’t believe you. But when I carve the soul out of your body, I will know the truth.”

Gideon attempted the exorcism and Jezebel squirmed, but put her fingers to his lips. He stopped speaking. She pointed to the floor and he fell to his knees. “Stay,” she said and smiled. “See, Lily, I told you men were easy to command.”

#

The only cemetery in Santa Louisa, other than the one at St. Francis, was at the far southeast corner of the county at the base of the mountain. A small non-denominational church and small mortuary completed the property. It had been built shortly after California became a state, and was added to as needed. New graves were cared for with mowed grass, trimmed trees, and clean headstones. The older graves were in disrepair. There were several mausoleums along the border between the old and the new, but they were all at least eighty years old.

The grounds were silent. Rafe picked the lock at the gate and jogged up and down each aisle, looking for a freshly dug grave. There were many—many had died over the last two weeks. He couldn’t possibly dig all of them up.