The Belial Ring (The Belial Series 3) (36 page)

She walked up the three steps to her porch.
Her legs felt heavy. She sank into the porch swing.
The General of the good
. This couldn’t be real. And how was she supposed to do this without Jake?

Helen had succeeded
—but her trio had remained intact. Joan of Arc’s trio had been broken and things hadn’t ended so well for her. Was Laney’s success also doomed? Were they all doomed?

Laney dropped her head into her hands.
Was she going to lead everyone to the slaughter? How on earth were they going to take on an army of nephilim and Fallen? Even with a few super-beings on their side, they were grossly outnumbered.

The picture of Amanda and Maddox drifted through her mind.
Laney knew Maddox was a grown man now, but all she could picture was the tall lanky kid with the big grin, his arms wrapped around his little sister.

She stood.
She couldn’t let him die while she sat around and did nothing. She wouldn’t let one more person die.

Laney strode to the front door
and opened it. She could hear the ping from her computer. Someone was trying to call her. Frowning, she made her way to the kitchen.

Turning on the computer,
she clicked on the Face Time link.

A man
of Indian descent, in what looked to be his late forties, appeared on screen. “Dr. McPhearson, I thought it was time we met, so to speak.”

Laney went still.
“Amar Patel.”

CHAPTER 82

O
n screen, Amar nodded at her. “Ah, good. This would have been very awkward if you didn’t know who I was.”

Laney pulled out one of the island chairs before her legs gave out.
Samyaza was calling her. Whatever he wanted, it couldn’t be good.

Fear charged through her but she kept her tone gruff.
“What do you want?”

“
Politeness really is a dead art, isn’t it?”

Laney crossed her arms and stared at the screen, saying nothing.

“Very well. Straight to business. I know you have the ring.”

Laney struggled to keep her face unmoved.
“And?”

“
And I want you to think about all the people you’ve lost so far. Including Jake and your friend Rocky. Not a very feminine name, but you people do seem fond of boyish names for girls in this age.”

Hearing
Jake’s and Rocky’s names come from that bastard’s lips nearly undid her. She gripped the sides of her chair, narrowing her eyes. “And why do you want me to think about them?”

Amar gave a little laugh.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I misspoke. What I meant is that I want you to think about all the people I’m still going to kill. Henry. Your friends, Jen and Kati. And what are those two boys’ names? Ah, yes. Danny and Max.”

Laney nearly growled.
“I won’t let you near them.”

Amar smiled.
“Now that’s the spirit I’m looking for. You ring bearers always live up to your reputations. Helen, now she was my favorite.”

“
Really? Because I heard she killed you.”

Laney
’s guess paid off. Amar’s face darkened. “But I went on to live another day, didn’t I? You know, I’ve really never understood all the animosity humans have shown us. After all, we gave you medicine, power. You were meaningless bits of walking carbon before we came along. No goals, just existing. We gave you purpose.”

“
Really? Because the way I hear it, humanity didn’t need medicine before you came along. And people were living rather long, healthy lives until you showed up, sowing dissent.”

Amar paused, giving Laney a calculating look.
“Let me guess. You’ve been chatting with a certain purple-eyed witch?” He shook his head. “She’s always sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong. And she hasn’t even told you the whole story. Why don’t you ask her about her part in humanity’s downfall? Now
that
is a really interesting tale. But I digress. We were chatting about how I’m going to kill all the people you care about.”

“
Not going to happen.”

“
Good, good. Love the spirit. So I thought I’d offer you a deal.”

“
A deal?” Laney couldn’t help but recall the stories of the devil offering deals to people. It never worked out in their favor—always in the devil’s.

“
Yes. How about we take everyone else out of the equation? We meet, mano-a-mano, as they say.”

“
Meet?”

Amar laughed.
“I misspoke again. I meant fight to the death. Me versus you and that little ring of yours. We’ll see who the most powerful actually is.”

Laney stared at him.
“When and where?”

Amar smiled.
“Wonderful. I’ll call you with the coordinates once I set it up. And I promise, you meet me and I let all your little friends live.”

Laney heard the actual promise in those words: And I
’ll kill you.

“
Deal.” Laney clicked off the screen and pushed back her chair. She wasn’t going to let anyone get killed, not if she could help it.

“
You are not actually going along with that.” Yoni stepped out from the living room.

Laney sighed.
“I wondered where you’d gotten to.” She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. She tilted one toward Yoni. “Want one?”

He ignored it. “
Well?” Yoni demanded.

Laney unscrewed the cap, taking a drink. “
No, of course I’m not going along with whatever his little plan is. I’m not actually suicidal. But if it keeps him content, so be it.”

“
So what are you planning?”

Laney looked at Yoni, taking in his eyes, still red from grief.
“You’re my friend, right?”

Yoni nodded.
“I’m a little hurt you even have to ask.”

“
Sorry. But I need a favor. Can you get me a helicopter, without anyone knowing?”

“
Yeah,” Yoni drew out the word. “But why would I do that?”

“
I’m going after Maddox.”

Yoni shook his head.
“Absolutely not. That’s crazy. You can’t take them on. I don’t really get all this crazy talk about abilities and that ring, but I know you’re outmatched. You need to bring Jen’s brothers, Henry—hell, everyone.”

Laney shook her head.
“No. No one with any abilities. They can sense one another. I’m not letting anyone else get killed.” She held up her ring. “Besides, I have my own weapon.”

“
Laney—”

She
cut him off. “Please, Yoni. No one else is going to die. No one else is going to put their life on the line for me. It’s my turn now.”

Yoni looked at her for a long minute,
then turned and headed to the front door. “Fine. I’ll call you when I have it.”

Laney ran after him and grabbed his arm.
“You can’t tell anyone, Yoni.”

“
Laney—”

“
I mean it. If you tell anyone, I’ll find a way to go on my own. I won’t put anyone else at risk.”

“
God damn it, Laney. You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“
Better me than anyone else. I die, this all goes away.”

“No, Laney. I understand that much. You die and all this
begins.”

“
Promise me, Yoni. For Jake. Promise me.”

He didn't speak for a long moment and Laney worried she'd lost him.  “
Fine,” he growled. “But I’m going with you.” He turned on his heel and stormed down the hall.

“
Of course.” Laney called after him. The front door slammed shut after him.

No chance in hell
, Yoni
. Laney returned to the kitchen and sank back onto the stool.

“
I wish you were here, Jake,” she whispered.

Jake had
always had faith in her, no matter what. And his strength gave her strength. Now she had to be strong on her own.

No.
Not on her own. She had Jen, Henry, and all the others that would stand by her side in this fight. She imagined those she cared about going against the Fallen and getting torn apart. She wouldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t.

She stood up.
It was time to do what she apparently was born to do.

She headed up the stairs.
She just needed a few supplies first.

CHAPTER 83

Johnson City, Tennessee

A
mar clicked off the computer with a smile.
Well, that was fun.

“
Was taunting her really necessary?” Gerard asked.

Amar
’s good mood dimmed. The blond wonder had stopped by for another surprise progress report. It was as if the man didn’t understand how to use a phone.

“Necessary? Probably not.
Fun? Absolutely.”

“
We are not doing this for your amusement, Amar. You were warned not to bait her.”

Amar
’s eyes narrowed. “You do not need to remind me about the goal, Gerard. I am well aware.” He shook off his resentment. “Besides, enjoying one’s work makes for a happy life. Don’t forget who told you about the next stage. Without me, you two would know nothing about—”

Gerard raised his hand.
“Quiet. There are people everywhere.”

Amar smiled.
“So there are. But sometimes you guys seem to forget my role in all of this.”

“
We don’t yet know what your role
is
in all of this.”

“
But I’m guessing it’s pretty important—or you wouldn’t be here, would you?”

Gerard sighed.
“Fine.” He gestured toward Amar’s tablet. “But you’ve just incited her.”

Amar gave a bitter laugh.
“Hardly. She just lost two people close to her and she just got the ring. Even if she has time to practice with it, she’s got to be off her game. And now she’s even more rattled by the threats to the rest of those she holds dear.”

“
Was it wise, though, to bluff that way?”

Amar smiled slowly.
“Who said I was bluffing?”

CHAPTER 84

H
enry placed his phone down and closed his eyes. He’d arranged everything he could think of that they might need for the coming battle.

He had all his operatives on the move to him
or to Tennessee, depending on where they were coming in from. Most would be ready to go within the hour, although Clark wanted them to hold off until he could get all his own people into play.

He
nry stared at the clock. Six p.m. Time had flown.

The door opened and Jen walked in.

Tall, strong, she was an incredible woman. Henry felt energy flow into him at the sight of her.
He knew that part of that was their nephilim connection. But there was something else there. Something, he hoped, he’d one day be able to act upon.

“
How’s Danny?” Henry asked.

“
Eating. He pulled up the schematics for Shady Creek and then I sent him downstairs for some food. Kevin’s with him,” Jen said.

Henry nodded. Good.
Ever since Jake’s death, he hadn’t wanted Danny to be alone. Jake had been like a big brother, and Danny was taking his death hard. “I spoke with Dom and Maggie. After Danny’s finished, he and Moxy will head over to their place and stay until everything’s over. Kati and Max are already there.”

Jen sat on the edge of Henry
’s desk. “He’ll be okay, Henry.”

“
I don’t know, Jen. He’s been exposed to more violence in his short life than any kid should have to deal with.”

Jen covered Henry
’s hand with hers. “As long as he has you, he’ll be fine. So just make sure you come back.”

A spark went through him at her touch.
For a moment, time seemed to stop.

A knock at his door broke the spell.
Jen jumped off the desk and Henry yanked his hand back.

Jen
’s twin brothers, Jordan and Mike Witt, walked in. Both were six feet tall with sun-highlighted blond hair. They were almost perfectly identical, right down to their matching expressions of grief.