“Lamentably, no. Not everyone.” Frederick’s dark eyes grew darker. “There are deities who don’t believe in equality. They resist change because they consider themselves righteous, supreme beings, high above man. Most of all, they resent Deus for giving humans yet another chance at redemption. But what these egotistic gods have forgotten is how they once vowed to protect humans. Pride has poisoned them, and you, Madam Isis, are now their nemesis, and the sole target their blind eyes allow them to see.”
“Isis,” Galilea shook her head, “I swear I didn’t know what was happening. I admit, I asked for his help, but that was it.” She twisted her head to look at Frederick. “Wait a minute. Were you using me to get information on her? You told me you loved me, you jerk. I trusted you!”
“I wasn’t lying.” He lifted shoulder. “I’d convince you of it if you gave me the opportunity.”
“Sorry, Freddy, but this girl,” she used her thumb to point at herself, “is taken.”
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not the jealous type.” He grinned.
Maybe it was that I couldn’t imagine Galilea with some other guy who wasn’t Galen. Or maybe—hard to believe, as it was—I’d grown fond of David’s big brother in spite of his asinine personality. Whatever the reason, I disliked the chemistry between Frederick and Galilea. I wondered if they’d, in fact, dated. That, however, was topic of conversation for another time. Right now, I was more interested in learning about my new allies and rivals.
“Frederick,” I said, walking closer to him. “How do you know about the uprising? How can you be certain it’s members of the Council who want me dead?”
“I have informants in Caelum, one of them within the rebellion as an infiltrator in the Council,” he said. “It took long to gain the Council’s trust and get admitted into their circle. When our informant was finally in, you disappeared.” He tipped his head at Galilea. “Good job on your end. Even I couldn’t track you.”
“Well, this gets better and better.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I wasn’t expecting this at all. What am I supposed to do?”
“Lead us,” Frederick said. “Give the order and I’ll assemble your army. I’ve already sought out deities to join us. We’ll take our adversaries down before they can organize any more attacks against you.”
Easy for him to say. Who in their right mind would go up against deities and demons? My stomach tightened, and then I felt the life inside it move. I touched the hard bump on my side. How could he ask me to lead, to fight, when I was carrying this precious thing? I couldn’t risk my child’s life.
“And if your plans don’t succeed? They’ll come after me with more rage, and what then? They’ll take my baby. Rip her out of me.” The words made a lump form in my throat. “No. I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” Fredrick said. “You’re meant to do this. The Council is after you because the prophecy foretells—”
“The prophecy is wrong,” I said, firmly. “I’m not a leader. The only thing I intend to do is keep my baby alive, and you’ll have to settle for that.”
“But, madam, your—”
“No.”
“Isis,” Galilea said. “We’ve already been through this. You have to.”
“No!” I snapped. “I said no. Take me back to the estate. Now. I’ve had enough. I have to see David, and I need to find my mom.”
Frederick’s jaw clenched. He turned his back to me, strands of black hair cascading over his tense shoulders. He stepped toward the car and opened the passenger door. I slid into the front seat, and Galilea took a place in the back. Frederick buckled himself in on the driver’s side. He pushed a button, and the roofless car’s engine revved to life. The doors—front and back—were lined with tiny white bulbs. Electric blue numbers illuminated the dashboard.
“I’m positive they’re safe,” Frederick said.
“Excuse me?” I said.
“Your family.”
But how could he really know?
The car veered in the direction of the tunnel we’d entered, headlights lighting the way. I didn’t know how Frederick planned to fit the car through such a narrow channel. But as the car began to move forward, I saw the extent of his power. The dirt walls expanded just enough to let the car through. I twisted my neck to look at Galilea sitting in the backseat, but she didn’t seem at all surprised. She did look angry, though. I turned around and focused on the brightly lit dashboard. I couldn’t blame her for not understanding the decision I’d taken—to not lead their revolution. Maybe she didn’t understand my hands were tied. I couldn’t go off seeking wars when my daughter’s life was what the opposition wanted.
The car gained speed, curving and ascending through the underground pathways. We rode in silence for long, uncomfortable minutes. At last, Frederick slowed the car and shifted the gear to neutral, and the spotlights on the car’s hood flipped upward.
“This is your stop.” Frederick pointed to the roof of the tunnel. Not more than two feet above our heads, a metal square appeared out of nowhere. It was a door exactly like the one we’d come down through. “But before we go up there, I’d like you to reconsider. The more you fight fate, the harder fate will fight back.”
“Sounds like a threat,” I said.
“It’s not a threat,” Frederick said. “It’s the truth.”
“It’s true.” Galilea leaned forward between the two front seats. “When you’re meant to do something, life will have a way of giving you no option but follow the road you’re meant to walk.”
“Oh, so now life is the one threatening me?”
“Somewhat,” Frederick said. “You’d be doing this for humanity.” Fredrick touched my arm, but quickly recoiled his hand. “Don’t you care about the people of this world?”
“Of course I care. But don’t you understand the predicament you’re putting me in? I’m pregnant. My priority right now is this.” I pointed to my belly. “I need to give her the highest chance at life I possibly can.”
“By being hunted?” Frederick scoffed. “You’re living like a fugitive—running, hiding, being a prisoner in your own home. What happens when Turpis find you again, and they show up in larger numbers at your doorstep? What happens when your family hasn’t the manpower to fight them off? How much of a chance will your daughter have then? Or any of you for that matter?”
Yes, Frederick had several colossal facts weighing in. But aside from protecting my unborn child, I had another reason for not accepting to lead his army. I was scared.
“If you don’t do this, others will be affected,” Galilea said. “This is something on a monumental scale. If the Council wins, Earth turns into perdition. Humanity dies. And our kind disappears, too.” She took in a ragged breath. “Besides, Frederick is offering you protection. We really need extra help, Isis.”
“I…” I shook my head. “Look, this isn’t the time to be talking about this. Who knows what state David and the rest are in? My mom—”
“They’re fine,” Frederick said. “Your mother and the doctors included. I made sure of it. Ensuring their safety was part of the plan, as well as keeping you down here until the danger passed. That’s why I wasn’t in a hurry to bring you back.”
“See?” Galilea cocked her brow. “He’s a freaking tactical genius.”
“You’re sure?” I asked, and Frederick nodded. I wasn’t convinced. “Well, could you open the hatch?” I tried not to sound as irritated as I felt. “I’d like to see for myself.”
“Then you’ll make your final decision?” Frederick asked.
“I’m not going to change my mind.” I noted how Frederick and Galilea’s faces turned sour. “And I’d appreciate if we don’t broach the subject again.”
With pursed lips, Frederick glanced at Galilea. He killed the engine, stood up, and pushed open the square door above me.
“Wait here,” Frederick said. “I’ll do a perimeter check to make sure it’s safe.”
Frederick heaved himself up, his feet disappearin
g last through the opening.
“Isis,” Galilea said as we waited. “I think you should know something.”
“Do I want to hear it?”
“I don’t care if you do. I’m going to tell you anyway.” She leaned forward, holding up her index finger. “You’re a stubborn ass. The Council will keep coming after your daughter all her life if by some miracle she survives. And assuming she lives to have children of her own, they’ll come after them too. So I hope,” she said, “for their sake, your descendants are born with more common sense than you. And I hope, eventually, they’ll forgive you for ruining their chances at a normal, happy life.” Galilea scooted back into the rear seat. “What I wonder is, will you be able to forgive yourself for not having prevented them from such grief when you had the chance?”
***
We emerged from the hatch, surfacing between bushes behind the gazebo, which stood in the backyard of the estate.
“This entrance would’ve been convenient hours ago,” I said.
“It wasn’t safe to have you go down at such close proximity to where you could be seen and followed by Turpis,” Frederick said. “They would’ve discovered the tunnels.”
“The idea was to lead them away from you,” Galilea said. “It’s why I sent the doctors and Claire in the opposite direction.”
“You used them as a diversion? They could’ve been hurt, Galilea!”
“Nah.” She dusted her pants. “The demons don’t care about them. It’s you they want. I couldn’t hold the invisible block on all of us, so I opted to send them off.”
“We still have to go them—the doctors and my mom,” I reminded her.
“I told you I took care of it,” Frederick said.
A thin blanket of fog hovered over the backyard. Droplets of water on the grass blades glistened with the moon’s light as we walked across it on our way to the house. My mind was still on Galilea’s last words as I reached for the knob on the back door. I didn’t turn it.
“Frederick…” I look at him. “How hard would it be to keep me alive until I give birth?”
“With Galilea’s help,” he said, “the odds are good. Why do ask?”
“Because I need you to help me stay alive. And then, I need you to show me how to fight.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Galilea asked.
“I’m saying I’m afraid to lose my daughter,” I said. “I’ll do whatever’s in my power to secure a happy, healthy future for her. But in order for that to happen, first I’m going to need to clear some obstacles.”
“Which means what?” Frederick’s eyes fixed on mine.
“I don’t see any other choice,” I said, “than to start a war.”
CHAPTER 29
We walked into the house through the back door. The kitchen light was lit. The scent of chamomile filled the air. I turned off the teapot brewing on the stove as it began to whistle. From somewhere in the house, I heard raised voices. The bickering got louder as I neared the living room where I saw David sitting on the white sofa with his head between his hands. No visible injuries on him as far as I could tell. Everyone except the doctors Gunn were present, plus two unfamiliar faces. One female, one male.
As I stood there, I found it odd no one had yet noticed we were back.
“They can’t see us,” Galilea whispered the answer to the question floating in my head. “Do you want me to make you visible to them?”
I whispered back, “Not yet.”
Galen was leaning against a wall next to Eryx. The twins were scratched up, but nothing too bad. A girl with bronzed skin and big, black eyes stood next to them. Her curved framed was fitted with skintight jeans and a black turtleneck. On the other side of the room, Alezzander was deep in discussion with a man who looked to be around his late forties, maybe. The two men seemed unconcerned with Claire’s angered and elevated voice.
I tiptoed around Nyx and headed to David’s side as I listened to the argument.
“Claire, darling…” Samuel reached out to my mom.
“Oh, don’t ‘Claire, darling’, me,” Claire seethed, standing in the middle of the room. “You just keep your big, fat, lying mouth shut, Samuel. And you, Nyx? How could you keep this from me? We’re supposed to be friends.”
“We were trying to protect you and Isis,” Nyx said. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way. There were so many times I wanted to tell you. But would you have believed me or taken me for an insane person?”
Claire’s mouth tightened. She stared at Nyx for a silent moment. “Still, you should’ve told me. Isis is all I have in this world. If I lost her…”
“It’s why Onarit and I are here—to ensure nothing happens to your daughter. We’ve been searching for the Marker—”
“Ayrie,” the older man she’d called Onarit interrupted, “Frederick will be the one to explain further. Let’s wait until he arrives with the girl. We don’t want to disquiet Claire further.”
Ayrie nodded her agreement.
“And when will that be?” Claire looked at her watch. “It’s been hours. If your people don’t bring my daughter to me soon, I’ll go find her myself. None of you, no demon, or even the devil himself, will keep me from doing it. You can’t keep me here all night against my will.” She looked around the room at them. “I know about the law. This right here could be deemed a kidnapping. Do you hear me? Kidnapping!”
The people in the room—invisible and visible—looked at my mother as if she were a lunatic. I didn’t doubt she was on the verge of becoming one, which wouldn’t be healthy for anyone, especially her. I shot a glance at Galilea and nodded, letting her know it was okay to make me visible. I walked up behind Claire.
“Mom,” I said, and she jumped. “You’re embarrassing me.”
Claire gasped and pulled me into her in a big bear hug. “Isis… Oh, thank goodness! I was so worried.” She pulled me away and studied me from head to toe. “Are you okay? Did those things hurt you?”
“No.” I took her hands. “They didn’t even touch me. How’s your arm?” I glanced at the burn marks. “Does it hurt?”
“A little. Tobias put some burn ointment on it.”
“Where are they—the doctors?” I asked.
“Upstairs, resting. They’re pretty beat up. The ultrasound machine landed on them. Eileen broke an arm and Tobias his nose. He thinks some of Eileen’s ribs may be fractured.”
“I didn’t think they were so badly hurt,” I said. “They didn’t seem to be.”
“With the scare and rush of adrenaline, I don’t think they realized it either.”
“But otherwise, they’re okay?”
“They’re holding up well.” I heard David’s voice behind me, and I turned around. “How’s the baby?”
“Alive and kicking,” I said. He hugged me hard. I broke the embrace to look at everyone. “Did anyone else get hurt?”
“No, we’re all fine,” David said. “Onarit and Ayrie arrived just in time to help us take down the demons. Poor Eileen and Dr. Gunn got the worst of it.”
“Good evening, ma’am. It’s a pleasure,” I heard Frederick say. He was shaking Claire’s hand when I turned to view them. “I’m Frederick, Commanding Officer.”
“Hello, Frederick. I’m Claire, pissed-off mother,” she replied.
“I don’t blame you, ma’am.” Frederick held a straight face. “It’s been a rough night for you. I hope Ayrie was quick to find you?”
“She scared the bejeezus out of us in the old church Galilea sent us to, but otherwise, she was helpful. Thank you for sending her to get us.”
Frederick tipped his head at her, then stepped forward and shook David’s hand.
After getting acquainted with Onarit and Ayrie, we sat Claire down and had a long talk with her.
It was past two in the morning after we’d briefed Claire on everything she needed to know. Then came time to tell her about the story of the Marker of Hope, and how I planned to take down the enemy. The news did
n’t go over well. She protested. Of course. She screamed at Samuel, then at Nyx and Alezzander, accusing them of putting ideas in my head, telling them they’d driven me to the same level of crazy they were. Then it got personal. Nyx screamed back at Claire, telling her this never would’ve happened if she would’ve known better than to sleep around. Claire responded by calling Nyx offensive names, at which point, Samuel and Galilea tried to intervene, but they got shoved aside by David, who looked like he was on the verge of saying something he’d regret to Claire. I shot a desperate glance to Eryx and Galen, but they shook their heads, wanting nothing to do with the argument. Frederick and the two newcomers to our allegiance stood by as spectators of the theatrical drama taking place in the living room. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise, and the tension… It pressed down on me like a two-ton boulder.
“Shut up!” I exploded.
The room grew silent, except for Claire, who just wouldn’t quit.
“We’re leaving, Isis,” Claire informed me. “Grab your things.”
“No,” I said.
She grabbed my arm. “They’ve brainwashed you. Can’t you see that?”
“Isis isn’t leaving,” David said.
“You wanna bet, pretty boy?” Claire seethed.
“Would you stop?” I snapped. “It’s my turn to talk. The ideas in my head are mine. I’m as stubborn as you, Mom. No one influences me, but me.” I jerked my arm away from her grasp. “Wasn’t it you who taught me to protect my family, to defend my ideas, to fight for what I think is just? You’ve been brave for me all your life.” I breathed in a ragged breath and lowered my tone. “I don’t need you to be brave for me anymore. What I need is your support, because now, it’s time for me to be brave for my daughter. Can you do that—let me be my daughter’s hero, like you’ve been to me?”
“No.” Claire closed her eyes. Two lines formed between her eyebrows. She hiccupped, and streams of tears wet her face. “Dear God, why is this happening?” She curled her fists. “Isis, I don’t know how to protect you from any of this.”