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“Mikhail, stop.” Malloren knelt beside Broderick, appearing out of the blue. “This is unnecessary.”
The pain ceased as suddenly as it started, and Broderick collapsed to the carpet with his brother.
“Obviously, they’re forgetting about the Prince’s ability to crush their brains with a single thought.” Mikhail stepped into the doorway and leaned against the jamb. “They needed a potent reminder.” His Russian accent flavored his arrogance.
Through the slits of his lids, Rick watched Korban raise his hands in surrender.
“Wise choice, mortal.” Mikhail sauntered into the room and took the center seat along the opposite wall. Although his expensive European business suit lacked a tie, the Ancient appeared like a King on a throne, preparing to address his subjects. “And before anyone decides to leap to any heroics, don’t bother. I can keep you on your knees for as long as it takes to prove my point.” His eyes darted to Korban. “And you wouldn’t survive the ordeal.”
With Malloren’s assistance, Broderick staggered to his feet and took the chair adjacent the Vamsyrian. One glance at the prophetess told him she hadn’t had much choice in letting Mikhail through. With abilities like his, it was no mystery how he’d gotten past her, the Norse wolves and the Elementals.
“I suppose yer here to escort us to the Prince?”
“No. I’m here to stop you.”
Broderick snorted. “Come again, lad?”
“There is something more sinister going on here than what Jesse has led us to believe. This isn’t just his little power play to take over the world.” Mikhail lowered his gaze to his crossed legs.
If Broderick didn’t know any better, he’d say the subtle softening around Mikhail’s features revealed a hint of vulnerability.
The Vamsyrian met Broderick’s eyes once more. “I fear what he has planned will not end well for anyone.”
That was vulnerability, but Broderick remained guarded. “Takin’ over the world isn’t enough?”
“He’s directly in league with Lucifer, himself.”
Broderick exchanged glances with Angus and Malloren. Korban’s brows jacked toward his hairline.
Malloren shook her head. “The Dark Lord may have created Vamsyrians, but in their two-thousand-plus years of existence, Satan has never made himself known or had any direct contact with them except for his first, his creation.”
Mikhail pursed his lips. “You don’t know everything, prophetess. Since when did the King of Hell ever consult you about his dealings with the First?” He rolled his eyes. “Admittedly, I have not seen Lucifer myself, and I’ve only recently learned his demons have been working alongside Jesse for centuries. They can shape shift and have been his messengers, done his bidding from the start. Case in point, he’s been protecting both of you this whole time.”
Mikhail pointed to Broderick and Angus.
Angus shifted nervously in his seat. “How?”
“The refuge the Prince gave you when he tried to convince you to make amends with your brother?”
Angus scowled. “Ye mean when he held me captive?”
“He was saving you from trying to kill your brother and ending the prophecy.” Mikhail regarded Broderick. “And he had his demons slaughter the Illuminati after they’d killed your beloved Monika.”
Broderick bristled and grieved at the memory, but still didn’t understand. “How did killin’ them save me?”
“They were about to infiltrate your castle and learn where you slept during the day. It was only a matter of time before they would have found you, and you had not yet learned the secrets of the Illuminati’s methods. They would have tortured you. After that, Lucifer ordered his demons to get closer. Each of you had spies watching you every single moment. They helped you learn about the Illuminati’s tools and spells by putting the right people on your path.”
Now who was vulnerable? Broderick seethed at idea of being watched so closely, manipulated, and he was unwilling to admit he’d been ignorant of such efforts. “I would have known if—”
“Really?” Mikhail laughed. “The ferret that belonged to one of your crew members? The raven owned by another? Or how about the tabby cat in the castle tower where you stayed with the Prince, Angus. Do you remember her? You were very fond of her, if I recall.”
Angus glared at Mikhail and his jaw ticked.
“I can’t remember all the animals that have been in and out of your lives. All those pets belonging to the mortals you continually allowed yourselves to get too close to.” Mikhail’s eyes darkened. “The point is, Lucifer has been your guardian, and for some reason, he and Jesse have been working to fulfill the prophecy. Jesse, I can understand. Having the prophecy fulfilled while controlling the conditions of redemption means he can ensure it will unfold to suit his needs. His main goal is the throne. His father wants redemption and Jesse will give it to him, but only if the King steps down as ruler of the Vamsyrian race. He’s prepared for some kind of ritual that will take place tonight and he needs that coin to make it happen. That’s why I cannot allow you to deliver it to the Prince.”
“So, how does Satan benefit from this arrangement?” Malloren asked.
“That is the very question that has been plaguing me.” Mikhail brooded a moment. “How would having Jesse on the throne benefit the King of Hell? Why did he create Vamsyrians in the first place?”
“To trap the souls of man.” Malloren’s brow lifted as if to say, Duh! Didn’t you listen to your history lessons?
“That’s what we were told. Petty sort of revenge, wouldn’t you say?”
Korban coughed into his fist and everyone turned to him. “Pardon the interruption, but while we’re here, speculating the motives of the Prince, the clock is ticking. Davina, Cailin, James and Kahli, won’t they be killed if we don’t go?”
Mikhail shook his head. “Bringing Jesse the coin isn’t going to save them.”
“Then why the fuck are ye here?” Broderick jabbed his finger against Mikhail’s chest. “If we’re all going to die, why not just let it happen?”
Mikhail poked back. “Because that coin is a key element, and if the Prince can’t have it, then at least some part of this mad plan won’t happen.” For the first time, fear registered in Mikhail’s eyes. “I don’t know that I can stop Jesse from taking over the world. His father is at a disadvantage now that the Prince has Kahli’s spirit powers. He can imprison Judas indefinitely or perhaps even obliterate his soul. Jesse mentioned something about re-doing the covenant between him and Satan, so the previous covenant with Judas will be over. He may have promised his father redemption, but the plan is to melt the thirty silver pieces Judas used to betray the Christ into a ritual stake. That’s the seal for the contract between Judas and Lucifer. I’m sure that stake is not meant for decorative or symbolic purposes. Jesse plans to kill his father and that is what the ritual is for. But put Lucifer and ritual together, and we have an ominous outcome that could have biblical consequences. When has Lucifer ever been forthcoming or truthful about anything?”
Broderick folded his arms. In the early days of his transformation, he’d been instructed by Rasheed—not only a member of the Vamsyrian Council in Aberdeen along with Mikhail and Ammon, but one third of the triad shared between the three men. This had given Broderick a lot of time around Mikhail and Ammon. Yet, in all his dealings with Mikhail, the Ancient had never been so transparent.
He was either genuinely afraid or putting on an award-winning performance to sucker them into whatever devious plan he’d concocted.
“After all these centuries at the side o’ the Prince, what reason do we have to trust ye? Why should we listen to anything ye say?”
Mikhail straightened, inhaled a deep breath and held it. His gaze skipped around the room as those present waited for his response. Defeated, he released the façade and deflated. “I’m here because I’ve come to realize I’ve been defending the wrong side. I want to make things right. Admittedly, coming here was a desperate measure on my part. Perhaps there is nothing that can be done at all.”
Broderick’s swallowed his disbelief. No words would form on his tongue.
“Ye know yer gonna have to prove your sincerity,” Angus said.
“I know.” Mikhail nodded. “And I’m prepared to, but what can I do to convince you I’m serious?”
“Become one of the Redeemed.” Malloren stepped forward.
Mikhail’s brow furrowed. “But the Deliverer is with Jesse. How—?”
“Anyone who has been redeemed can transform another.” The prophetess smiled.
His jaw came unhinged. “The Prince has been under the impression only Davina can perform the transformations. She might be one of Jesse’s sacrifices tonight.”
Broderick saw red. “He doesn’t intend to make any trade.”
Mikhail shook his head. “I told you he wouldn’t. Sacrificing the Deliverer could have been his goal all along. That is why we absolutely cannot bring that coin anywhere near Jesse.”
“We might have to,” Korban said, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Before I reveal anything more.” He pointed at Mikhail with his toothpick. “You have to go through the transformation. It’s the only way we’ll know if you’re sincere.”
“I know what the consequences are.” Mikhail’s tears welled behind his lashes. “I saw what happened to Ammon. I fear I have lost him forever.”
“Don’t give up hope yet.” Malloren pressed a comforting hand upon Mikhail’s arm. “I can perform the transformation, if you’d like.”
He nodded and pulled his shirt aside before he bent to the prophetess.
Malloren’s pupils glowed silver, her fangs extended and she fed from Mikhail’s throat. After a few moments, she exposed her neck and he drank from her.
Mikhail gasped when he’d finished and raised his hands, flipping them from one side to the other, mumbling in Russian. “I... Extraordinary. I feel renewed.” The corner of his mouth turned up. “And clarity.”
“Wouldn’t it be grand if ye could share how the burden of the old ways has been lifted?” Broderick jerked his thumb toward Korban. “But as our mage pointed out, we’re running out of time. Korban, what’s your plan?”
He flicked his toothpick into the nearby bin and fished a fresh one from his shirt pocket. “You heard what Jesse said on the phone. If he doesn’t see the coin, everyone is dead. He’ll even need to get his hands on the coin to make sure it isn’t a fake.”
Mikhail held up his palm. “The only way to do that is to let him drop it into the smelting pot. I heard Jesse and the demon say the coins will not melt unless all thirty pieces are together.”
“I understand that, but it doesn’t matter. I can stop time.”
One moment Korban was standing on Broderick’s left. The next, the space was empty. Everyone in the room glanced around, trying to figure out where the mage had gone.
“See?” Korban poked his head through the doorway. “I just stopped time, left the room, and started it up again.”
“God’s blood.” Broderick’s heart exploded with so much hope, he reared on his heels with relief.
Korban smirked and rejoined the circle. “Once Jesse creates this ritual stake, I can pause time, steal it from him and, one by one, get everyone out of there. I can keep pausing for however long we need.”
“That is both amazing and fascinating.” Mikhail folded his arms. “And I would love to explore your powers more to understand how they work. Unfortunately, that still leaves us with what to do once we thwart the Prince. He’s not going to stop until he has his way.”
Korban shrugged. “One step at a time. We’ll think of another plan when we don’t have such a pressing deadline hanging over our heads.” The mage pointed at each of them with his toothpick. “With these minds? I’m sure we can come up with a solution. I think our bigger problem is how to defend our skulls against Jesse’s powers. The range of my abilities is about a fifty-foot radius, me in the center. That means I need to be in the room or at least close enough to make sure he’s affected. You Vamsyrians can hear a heartbeat within that range, am I right?”
Mikhail jerked his chin toward the door. “Just like I can hear the two people standing outside the room right now.”
Everyone swiveled toward Anthony as he strode inside, his arms loaded with three large tomes. “Thanks to my lovely wife, I think we have a solution for the mind-crippling ability from the Prince.”
Christine followed him into the room, carrying two more books. “I didn’t find a weapon.” Her day dress skirt pooled around her as she sat on her heels. She spread the books out before her with Anthony’s help, opening each one to places she’d marked. “But I think I’ve found a way to protect you from harm.” She laid her palm on each book, moving left to right. “This first one is Angus’s journal. Then a book of angels, a book of demons. This book contains details of the Enochian language, and this monster of a tome is filled with medieval and Renaissance records dealing with magical experiments done by monks who were members of the Army of Light. Anthony, let me have that paper and marker.”
Her husband obediently produced a few sheaves of blank printer paper and a fine-tipped Sharpie. As if in afterthought, he snatched the clipboard hanging by the door and gave that to her, as well.
“Thank you, darling. Each of these books contains snippets of information. Angus’s journal speaks of a combination of symbols used to create an invisibility sigil, which Anthony tells me all of you have tattooed on your skin?” Christine lifted her face to the group as if issuing an unspoken command.
Broderick yanked the neckline of his polo shirt down to reveal the tattoo on his left pectoral. The other Vamsyrians revealed their tattoos in various locations on their bodies.
“Excellent.” She skimmed her finger along the print in the largest volume. “This book of experiments talks about how a monk name Mederic Beaumont pieced together the symbols found in these three books here.” She tapped the angel, demon and Enochian books in turn. “He created shields and wards, and that’s how the invisibility sigil was constructed. So...” Taking up the marker, Christine pointed to a few symbols on the pages and began copying them onto the paper.
“How the hell did you figure this out so quickly?” Korban sat on the chair closest to Christine, awestruck and peering over her shoulder.
“Not only does my wife have a photographic memory.” Anthony beamed with pride. “She’s a speed-reader, too.”
A hint of a smile graced Christine’s lips, but she continued to draw, overlapping the symbols to create a single sigil. “There. That should do it. Now.” She rose from the floor and held up the paper. “Who wants to be the first to try?”
“I’ll do it.” Broderick stepped forward. “If anyone is gonna get hurt, it’ll be me.”
Christine pouted. “You doubt it will work?”
“What I meant to say was, I’m so excited about what ye’ve done, I’ll be the first to prove how ingenious ye are.” Broderick swept his daughter-in-law into his embrace. “It’s good to see ye, lass.”
Christine giggled, but pushed out of his arms. “Come on, now. I believe someone said we were short on time.” She asked Broderick to hold the paper and poised the marker over his forearm.
Mikhail closed in and lent a gentle hand under her wrist. “Pardon me, but we should probably put these somewhere Jesse won’t see them.”
“Good idea,” Christine agreed. “Perhaps on your backs or your bellies?”
“I think the back is a smart choice.” Broderick pulled off his shirt and knelt before Christine.
Mikhail raised an appreciative eyebrow. “Does he always snatch an opportunity to take off his shirt?”
“Always.” Anthony snorted.
“Delightful.” Mikhail unfurled a wolfish grin.
“Bugger off.” Broderick smirked.
Christine drew the sigil between his shoulder blades. “Okay.”
Crushing pain racked his brain, and he cried out and clutched his head.
“Wait.” She threw her arm around him and he almost knocked her over when his ass landed hard on his heels. “I have to speak them first. Good god.”
“Oh, sorry.” Mikhail shrugged.
Broderick grumbled and glared at the Ancient. “Asshole.”
“I said I was sorry.” Mikhail blinked. “I guess I was rushing. It’s already nine-thirty.”
Broderick unsteadily shoved back to his knees. “He’s right. We need to get moving.” He shook his head to try and dispel the last of the ache. Fuck.
Christine put her hands on the sigil and stumbled over the elaborate words, using the books as her guide. “I believe I said those correctly. You ready to give it a try?”
“Aye, let’s giv’ it a go.” Loathe to experience the pain again if it didn’t work, Rick braced, but the only thing to crawl over his skin was a fluttering tingle like a mild electrical current where Christine had scrawled the sigil. “Did ye just try?”
“Yes,” Mikhail answered. “Nothing?”
“No pain.” Broderick leapt to his feet. “But it tingled. Yer a genius, Christine.” He wanted to hug her but, instead, he pushed her toward Angus. “Let’s get the rest done so we can get out o’ here.”
He fought the nagging thoughts of what might happen if this whole plan failed. We’ll do what we’ve always done. Take the punches as they come.
By the time everyone had their sigils and Christine had recited the words, it was nine forty-five.
Broderick grimaced. “Korban, I hope ye can get us to the address in time.”
“Oh, he’ll get you there.” Anthony huffed. “Just hold onto your stomach.”
Rick grabbed the shoulders of Anthony and Christine, but addressed the group as a whole. “Only Angus and I are goin’. Tony, Chris...I need ye to stay here with Malloren and the rest. While we’re gone, please get this sigil on everyone we have left. Mikhail, did ye burn yer bridge with the Prince?”
He shook his head. “I did not officially part ways with Jesse, so I should be able to return.”
“Good, ye’ll be coming with us, as well.” He embraced Anthony and Christine. “If ye don’t hear from us in an hour, assume the worst and evacuate. Get out o’ town as quickly as ye can and—”
“You got this.” Anthony thumped Broderick’s chest. “Go get Mum and the others. We’ll wait to hear from you.”
“Aye.” Broderick chewed his bottom lip. Without looking back, he stormed from the waiting room. “Let’s get to the surface so Korban can fly us out o’ here.”
Once they entered the elevator, Broderick dragged his fingers across the back of his neck as they climbed toward his destiny.
Ye owe me, God. Don’t let us come this far only to let Jesse win.