The Belial Origins (13 page)

CHAPTER 34

L
aney raced up the path to the main house. She’d ordered Cleo to stay with Danny and Moxy at the bunker. She wasn’t sure what Ralph wanted or whose side he was on, and she wasn’t about to take a chance with Danny’s life.

Surprisingly, Danny hadn’t fought her on it.

Laney’s thoughts raced as her feet pounded down the path. Ralph. He was… something. She just didn’t know what.

She heard steps running toward her and looked up in alarm. When Jake appeared ahead of her on the path, she let out a breath.

“I thought you’d want some company,” he said.

She nodded, feeling grateful. This run was so different from their more carefree run a few hours ago.

“We’ll meet them at the main house,” Jake said.

Laney took her ring off its chain and slipped it onto her finger. Jake glanced down at her, one eyebrow raised.

She shrugged. “Just in case.”

He patted the gun at his side. “Just in case.”

When they reached the back of the house, they ducked in through one of the back entrances. The house was so large that it would be faster to cut through it than to try and go around it. They passed through the kitchen and made their way to the front entryway—the same entryway that had so entranced Laney when she’d first come to Chandler HQ. That was only two years ago. It felt like a lifetime.

Laney and Jake raced out the front door and down the marble steps. They could see the security Jeep approaching in the distance. Jake took Laney’s hand as the Jeep neared, Henry at the wheel.

Questions ran through Laney’s mind. Why was Ralph here? Where had he been since the attack at Victoria’s house? And how the hell was he alive?

The Jeep was a hundred yards away when she felt a tingle of recognition drift through her—Henry. That sensation was followed a second later by a slice of electricity so fast and powerful all Laney could do was gasp as her knees nearly gave out. She grabbed on to Jake to keep from crashing to the ground.

“Laney,” Jake exclaimed, holding her up.

Laney straightened but didn’t look at Jake. She watched the man sitting next to Henry—the man who had guarded Victoria for thirty long years. Ralph was looking straight at Laney.

Laney held Ralph’s gaze, but her words were for Jake. “He might not be a Fallen, but he sure as hell is something.”

CHAPTER 35

H
enry pulled the car to a stop in front of Laney and Jake. All the anger and annoyance Laney felt toward Ralph disappeared the moment she saw him up close. He looked like hell. Bags were under his eyes and he looked like he’d aged in just two days.

Laney stepped forward. “Ralph?”

He nodded wearily and stepped out of the Jeep. “Hi, Laney. Jake.”

Henry came around the cart. “Why don’t we head up to my office?”

“This way.” Jake led Ralph up the stairs.

Laney fell in step with Henry a little farther back. She kept her voice low. “Did you feel anything when you saw him?”

Henry shook his head. “No. Why? Did you?”

Laney’s eyes stayed on Ralph as he disappeared into the house. “It was a bolt so strong it nearly dropped me to my knees.”

Henry’s eyes grew large. “What?”

Laney nodded. “Let’s go get some answers.”

A few minutes later, they were ensconced in Henry’s office.

Laney had ordered coffee for all of them and food for Ralph. Laney wanted answers first, but Ralph looked like he hadn’t eaten since Victoria had been taken. What’s more, he appeared about to drop from exhaustion. Part of Laney thought they should order the man to bed, but Henry wasn’t willing to wait, and neither was she.

“Where have you been?” Henry asked Ralph.

“Looking for your mother.”

“Have you found anything?” Jake asked.

Ralph shook his head. “I arrived at Little Rock just after Gerard and his men found her. I’ve checked out most of the Fallen locations I know, but there are others I haven’t been able to check.” He turned his gaze to Henry. “I was hoping you and your contacts would be able to help.”

Jake stood. “Do you have a list?”

Ralph pulled a sheet of paper from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to Jake, who scanned it.

“We have operatives in most of these locations,” Jake said. “A few are pretty remote. It’ll take time to get someone there.” He glanced between Laney and Henry. “I’ll go get this started.” He headed out.

Laney turned back to Ralph, who looked like he had fallen asleep. “Ralph?” She said quietly.

He jerked his eyes open. “Sorry. I’m here.”

Henry sat with his arms across his chest. “Ralph, you need to tell us what’s going on. Why did Jorgen Fuld take Mom? And why were there Fallen at the airport?”

“It was like they were having a tug-of-war over her,” Laney said.

“In a way they are,” Ralph said. “Your mother is a very important woman.”

“
How
is she important?
Who
is she?” Henry asked.

A look of pain marred Ralph’s features. “I can’t tell you that.”

“Why not?” Laney burst out, her annoyance, fear, and frustration coming to a head.

“Because it’s my duty to keep her safe and to keep her identity under wraps.”

“Your duty? Your duty to whom?” Henry asked.

“To everyone. To humanity,” Ralph said.

Laney didn’t know what to say to that, and she could tell Henry didn’t either.

“Who are you, Ralph?” Laney asked quietly. She held up her ring. “I know you’re not a normal human. That shock nearly dropped me to my knees.”

Ralph looked at Laney for a moment, then turned to Henry. “It has been my honor to watch you grow. You have become everything your father and mother hoped you would be.”

His eyes shifted back to Laney. “Both of you.”

Laney and Henry stayed silent, waiting for answers. It felt like the air in the room crackled with energy.

Finally, Ralph spoke. “My given name is Uriel. I’m an archangel.”

CHAPTER 36

L
aney stared at Ralph. “An archangel? They’re real, too?”

A ghost of a smile crossed Ralph’s lips. “Yes.”

Henry pulled out a chair and sat down heavily. “And you’ve been tasked with what? Guarding Mom?”

Ralph nodded.

Laney’s thoughts swirled. Enoch himself was said to have become one of the archangels: Metatron, the scribe of God, although he's never mentioned in the Bible, only in the Book of Enoch. She knew that the Book of Enoch mentioned seven archangels, but the Bible didn’t recognize them. Instead, it focused on only three: Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael. And in the Bible tales, the archangels were only messengers. Laney couldn’t remember ever seeing anything about an archangel taking up residence on Earth.

“Um, is that what archangels do?” she asked. “Protect people?”

Ralph shook his head. “Not necessarily. We are each tasked with a different mission.”

“So you’ve been guarding our mother for thirty years?” Henry asked.

Ralph hesitated. “In this lifetime, yes.”

Henry spoke slowly. “How many lifetimes have you guarded her?”

“Almost all of them.”

Laney felt as if Ralph had somehow just morphed in front of her eyes. He was an archangel, one of the heavenly hosts. She had known Victoria was important, but now she had absolute confirmation. And even though Ralph had said he couldn’t reveal Victoria’s identity, Laney couldn’t help but ask. “Is she Eve?”

Ralph’s eyebrows went up, and Laney could tell he was weighing his next words carefully. Finally he shook his head. “No.”

Laney sat back, not sure if she was more relieved or confused. Who
was
Victoria then? That question seemed to be perpetually burned into her brain. Even when she closed her eyes, it flashed at her from behind her eyelids like a neon sign.

Laney looked over at Henry; he looked as lost as she felt. She reached over and took his hand. “We’ll find her, and then she’ll answer all our questions.”

Henry nodded, but Laney knew he was far from convinced. She just wasn’t sure which part of her assertion gave him greater doubt: that they would find her, or that she would answer their questions when they did.

“Actually, that’s why I’m here,” Ralph said. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a flash drive. “Your mother has something to tell you.”

CHAPTER 37

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

V
ictoria sat in the dark in the basement of the old house. When the house was first built, this basement had been a root cellar. A water heater and boiler had since been moved in, but it did nothing to warm up the dirt floor and cold stone walls.

She pulled the blanket she’d been left around her shoulders. A cot had been placed in the corner for her, along with a bucket.

She curled her lip. All things considered, she preferred being held captive by Jorgen. He at least gave her a real bathroom.

The door at the top of the stairs opened, spilling light down the stairs. “Go,” a voice ordered roughly, and then the door closed again.

Victoria heard breathing at the top of the stairs, then small creaks as someone made their way down. Victoria reached over and turned on the lantern she’d been left.

A small figure stepped into the light.

Victoria gasped.
Oh no.

She stood up, her bones creaking. She stepped forward slowly, not wanting to spook him. Her voice was soft.

“Hello, Max. My name is Victoria.”

Max wiped at the tears on his cheeks, his blue eyes rimmed in red. “I know. You’re Laney’s mom.”

Victoria nodded, looking at him more intently, trying to figure out why they would have grabbed him. Was he just a means to an end? “I’m so sorry you’re here.”

Max looked down. “It was the only way…” His voice drifted off.

Victoria stared at him.
The only way?

Max stepped farther into the light, and Victoria was startled by the serious expression on his face. It was so mature a look for—

The truth slammed into her. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared at this little boy whose shoulders were far too small for this burden.

“It was the only way for you to keep them safe,” Victoria said.

He nodded.

“You didn’t get kidnapped, did you?”

He shook his head.

Victoria’s heart felt like it was going to break. She wanted to curse fate, destiny—all of it. She was used to this burden, and even for her, it was difficult. But how could anyone expect a small child to bear such a heavy load?

“You are a very brave boy, Max,” she said, a catch in her voice.

She knelt down, holding her arms out. Max ran over to her and wrapped his arms around her neck in a hug.

Victoria closed her arms around him. She had intended to give him comfort. But somehow, with those little arms wrapped around her, it was she who felt comforted. She leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.

They stayed like that, wrapped together, for a few moments. Victoria could feel the sobs the boy was trying hard not to let out. She rubbed his back. “It’s okay to cry. I’ve got you.”

Max’s shoulders quaked and the sobs burst forth. Victoria lifted him up and sat on the bed with the boy curled in her lap. She kept her arms firmly wrapped around him and rocked back and forth. Eventually he settled down. But Victoria kept him snuggled in her arms and continued to rock.

Finally, when she was convinced he was asleep, she stopped and looked down at him. Big eyes stared back at her.

She smiled. “I thought you had fallen asleep.”

He shook his head. “Almost.”

“Well, it’s okay if you want to. I’ll be right here.”

The boy nodded. Victoria helped him stretch out on the cot. She pulled the blanket over him, cursing their captors for treating a little boy so cruelly. Then she sat on the cot next to him so she could provide him some of her warmth.

Victoria pushed Max’s hair back, remembering when Henry was his size. It seemed like it was forever ago and yesterday at the same time. “I promise I’ll protect you, Max. I hope you know you can trust me.”

Max looked up at her with surprise on his face. “Of course I can trust you. I know who you are.”

“You do?”

“You’re the mother. The mother of all.” Max closed his eyes and snuggled closer to her.

Victoria lay a hand on his back. She smiled.
The mother of all.
It had been a long time since someone had acknowledged her as such.

She rested her other hand on his head and murmured, “Yes, I am.”