The Belial Library (The Belial Series) (31 page)

“No.  But they should be leaving any minute for the airfield.”

She nodded, once again watching the trees go by.  A memory of six-year old Henry handing her a bouquet of dandelions flitted through her mind.  His smile had stretched from ear to ear.  He’d hugged her, his little arms unable to reach all the way around her. 

She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the ghost of that embrace.   Her chest tightened.  “Intercept them.”

CHAPTER 72

Jake gripped the steering wheel, staring at Laney’s little cottage.  Flowers crept up the lattice on the side, spilling over the porch roof.  The bloom of colors contrasted brightly against the pale brown stone façade and black shutters.

He wanted to turn his truck around and drive to the airport without her.  He knew, though, that she’d never forgive him.  But he hated the idea of her being put in harm’s way again.  It was like a knife to his chest.  In fact, he’d rather be stabbed than let her get hurt.

With a muttered curse, he pushed open his door and stomped up the three steps to her door.  He was about to knock when the door flew open. 

Laney stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, her face pale.  “I’m ready.”

He pulled her into his arms.  “We’ll get him back.”

Laney nodded against his chest.  He felt a shudder run through her.  He knew how much Henry meant to her. 

And the fact was, Henry meant just as much to him.  Jake didn’t have much of a family.  He and his brother Tom had only recently started reconnecting.  For a long time, he’d been on his own.  His father was gone from his life and his mom had been dead for twenty years. 

Henry was alone, too.  That loss had helped cement their bond.  Henry was part of his family. A big part. 

Laney pulled away.  “Let’s go find him.”

Jake kissed her on the forehead.  “You got it.” 

After tossing her suitcase in the back, he got in the driver’s seat.  They drove in silence for a while. 

A few miles from the estate, Jake thought he should try to talk her out of coming one more time. “Laney, I know you want to help, but-“

“Jake, I’m going.  And anything else you say about me staying is going to lead to a fight, so just accept it, okay?”

His eyes flicked over to her.  “Okay.”

She gave him a small smile, but then her eyes darted away.  Alarm flashed across her face.  “Jake, look out!”

Jake whipped his head around.  An SUV blocked the road.  He slammed on the brakes.  The truck jolted to a stop.

The black Escalade idled quietly on the road, blocking the way.  No one got out. 

Jake glanced behind him and then looked over at Laney, pulling his Beretta from its holster.  “Laney, I tell you to run, you run.  No arguing, got it?”

Laney nodded, pulling her own Beretta from her bag.  “Yeah, sure Jake.”

Jake held in the growl.  The backdoor of the passenger side opened.  A tall, striking, woman with pale red hair, run through with grey, stepped out.

Jake looked down as Laney gripped his arm, her face growing pale. 

"It can’t be."  She scrambled for the handle of the door, her weapon left on the seat.

“Laney, no.” Jake tried to grab her but she slipped out of the door.

Laney rounded the hood of the SUV as Jake leaped from his door, his gun trained on the woman.  Two men stepped out of the SUVs, their weapons now aimed at Jake. 

Jake swore silently.  “Laney, get back in the car.”

She ignored him, stopping when she was ten feet away from the woman. 

Jake looked between the woman and Laney.  Shock was splashed across Laney’s face. 
What the hell is going on?

Laney seemed to struggle to find words.  "Why are you here?"

"Henry," the woman said.

Jake stared at her.  "Lady, who exactly are you?"

"Victoria Chandler.  I'm Henry's mother."

CHAPTER 73

Jake followed Victoria’s SUV to a little park just a quarter-mile from where Victoria intercepted them.  “You recognized her from the photo in Henry’s office, didn’t you?”

Laney nodded.  “Yeah.”             

Jake gripped the steering wheel.  He wasn’t thrilled with surprises, and Henry’s mom showing up back from the dead qualified as a huge one.  He glanced over at Laney sitting next to him.  “I don’t like this.”

Laney reached out and took his hand.  “I know.  But we need answers and she may have them.”

Pulling into the empty parking lot, he turned off the engine.  The park was only about a half acre.  It barely had room for a small play set and two wooden picnic tables. 

Jake watched Victoria exit her SUV and make her way to one of those tables. “She’s supposed to be dead.”

Laney looked like she wanted to say something, but then she just shrugged and reached for the door handle.

Jake grabbed her arm.  “You still have your gun?”

She nodded, pulling up her shirt to reveal it tucked into the side of her waistband.

Jake let her go, reaching for his own door handle.  “Good.  This time, keep it on you.”

Victoria was sitting waiting for them.  “Please sit.”

Jake shook his head, eyeing the two men now standing next to the SUVs.   “I think I’ll pass.”

Victoria met his eyes for a second before turning to the two men.  “Gentlemen, please take a ride.  Come back for me in ten minutes.”

Without comment, the two men got into the SUV and took off.  Victoria looked back at Jake.  “Better?”

Jake nodded, but he didn’t sit.  His eyes darted around the park.  Trees and wild growth surrounded the manicured area.  Snipers could easily be in any one of those trees or lying in wait in the tall undergrowth.

His eyes flipped to Laney who sat calmly at the table across from Victoria.  Her hand rested on the butt of her weapon.  At least she was a little cautious.

Victoria glanced between the two of them.  "I believe an explanation is in order."

"You got that right." Anger punctuated Jake’s words.  He knew he should calm down, but right now, he just couldn’t.  "Does Henry know you're alive?"

Victoria nodded.  "Yes.  He's always known."

Betrayal sliced through Jake.  Why had Henry never told him?  He distinctly remembered the conversation they’d had about the deaths of their mothers.  Henry had lied to him.

Reading his feelings, Victoria leaned towards him.  "Henry wanted to tell you the truth.  Both of you.  But there were reasons why I had to disappear and those reasons haven’t changed.  It’s in everyone's interest if I remain dead.  Coming here, I am risking your lives, and mine."

"Then why are you here?" Laney asked.

Pain crossed Victoria’s face.  "Henry."

Jake ignored the pang of sympathy he felt for the woman.  If she’d been in hiding for almost two decades, that meant whoever was after her was serious.  Perhaps serious enough to grab her son if they knew or suspected she was alive. 
God damn it
.  Jake's voice was harsh.  "Why was Henry taken?  Was it because of you?"

"No.”

"So whoever’s after you hasn't grabbed Henry to get to you?"  Laney asked, her expression guarded, arms crossed across her chest.

Victoria shook her head.  "No.  I am very good at hiding.  No one besides Henry, and now you two, know I am alive.   Not even Danny knows.  And it's important it stays that way."

Jake nodded down the road to where the Escalade had disappeared.  “What about your friends?”

“Ralph knows.  In fact, Henry knows Ralph.   He’s been with our family since Henry was a child.  Andrew does not.”

Jake wasn’t sure he believed that.  But right now, there were more pressing issues.   “Look, I don't know you and I don't give a crap what you want.  We already know Henry was taken because they believe he can read the books from Ecuador.  What we don’t know is why they think that.”

Surprise flashed across Victoria face.  "You’ve uncovered more than I realized.  Do you know Henry’s nature?” 

“He’s a nephilim.”

Victoria nodded.  “Yes.”

Jake’s own father was no prize, but learning your father was a Fallen was not going to be easy for Henry.  Jake didn’t look forward to telling his friend.  “So, Henry’s father was a Fallen, right?”

Victoria shook her head.  "Not exactly."

CHAPTER 74

Las Vegas, NV

Henry’s arms ached.  His head and chest leaned forward, his bound arms holding him upright.  He’d been in this position since he’d awakened. 

He thought it might be close to twenty-four hours since he’d been taken.  But he didn’t really know.  Time seemed immeasurable when you were being tortured.  It could easily be a week. 

His eyelids started to close.  He couldn’t remember ever being this tired. 
Guess I finally get to test my limits.

Yesterday had been the ‘getting to know you’ stage of interrogation.  Every time Hugo didn’t like an answer, he sliced.  And he didn’t like most of Henry’s answers.  Half the time Henry could swear he was just making up questions to make him bleed. 

Henry closed his eyes, hoping for a few minutes of sleep before the pain in his arms once again wormed its way through his subconscious.  The door opened. He dragged his lids back open.  Hugo entered, followed by a small, frail older man. 

The older man walked over to Henry, stopping three feet away.  “Do you know who I am?”

Henry shook his head.  “Not a clue.”

Hugo raised his hand to strike him.  The old man put up his hand.  “No need.  That was an honest answer.  My name is Sebastian Flourent.”

The man looked at him expectantly.

“Still not ringing any bells,” Henry said.

Hugo punched him in the jaw.  “When you speak with Mr. Flourent, it’s with respect.”

Henry’s head swam, his legs went weak.  The weakness passed quickly and Henry was just left angry. 

Sebastian spoke as if the violence hadn’t occurred.  “Years ago, my father was interested in your family.”

Henry’s head jolted.  “My family?  Why?”

Sebastian waved the question away.  “In time.  For now, tell me what you know about your abilities.”

Henry hesitated, debating what to say.  He realized, though, the futility of lying.  They’d already seen what he could do.  “I have enhanced strength and speed.  And I heal quickly.”

Sebastian nodded impatiently.  “Yes, yes.  But what cognitive abilities have you retained?”

“Cognitive?”  Henry asked.  What on earth was he talking about?

“Come now, Mr. Chandler.  I know your history.  You’re an intelligent man.  You know what I’m asking.”

Henry looked back at him, clueless.  What did he think he could do?

A piercing pain in his right side shook him from his thoughts.  He let out a gasp.  Hugo stepped back from him, his knife slick with blood. 

Henry watched as blood dribbled down his side.  Then it slowed and stopped.  The wound began to knit close.  Henry ground his teeth.  “I don’t have any extra cognitive skills, that I know of.”

Sebastian shook his head, disappointment on his face.  “But you see, that’s not possible.  Not with who your father was.”

Henry stilled.  “My father?”

Sebastian paused, inspecting Henry’s face.  A cruel smile spread across his own. “You don’t know, do you?”

Henry’s mind raced.  His father?  His father was James Chandler, a normal man.  But . . .

His whole life, Henry had wondered at his father’s last words: Don’t let anyone know what he is.  Did these monsters have the answers?  Henry looked at the old man.  “As far as I know, he was just a man.”

Sebastian watched him for a moment.  Henry sensed he was weighing the truthfulness of Henry’s response.  Finally, he turned.  “Bring in the book,” he ordered.

Two guards walked in, struggling under the weight of a silver book, one foot by two. 

That must be one of the folios from the Ecuador cave
, Henry thought.

Hugo carried a table from the side of the room and placed it in front of Henry.  The book was laid on top. 

The cover seemed to be made from silver, although Henry didn’t understand why it hadn’t tarnished after all its time in the cave.  The pages, which were the same color, were slimmer than the cover. 
Maybe made of silver leaf?
he wondered.

Symbols were engraved on the front cover.  At first glanced, they appeared to be Greek.  But upon closer inspection he realized that wasn’t right.   The book was written in Enochian.  An electric tingle began to slide over his skin.  The hairs on his arms stood straight up.

The symbols on the cover almost seemed to come alive.  The cover read “The Alian Treaty”.  He didn’t know how, but he knew that was what the title said.

Sebastian watched him closely.  “So Mr. Chandler, can you tell us what the symbols on the front cover say?”