The Elder Prophets (To Absolve the Fallen Book 2) Read online

  Elizabeth gasped. “He couldn’t have been.”

  “Dear girl,” Sophie said, shaking her head, “he most certainly was. Even prophets succumb to the power that demons offer. Jeremiah offered him the world. What does he offer you?”

  “He’s changed,” Alex promised.

  “I believe that you truly think so, Alex, but I’m afraid I am not convinced. His motives are questionable at best.”

  “He doesn’t get back to Heaven unless he changes,” Alex retorted.

  She laughed. “Get to Heaven? I find it hard to believe that God will forgive Jeremiah’s sins. You cannot begin to fathom the pain he has caused.”

  “God can forgive anyone,” said Alex.

  “I can’t. You are suggesting absolution, and you intend to help him get it. I will not help Jeremiah get into Paradise. He doesn’t belong there. I hope for your sake, as well as Abbie’s sake, that you succeed, but I think I could be contrary to some of your goals.”

  “What, then, do you suggest?” Alex pressed. “Should we abandon him to work with you? It’s my belief that Jeremiah is a critical part of this operation.”

  “Is it?” she asked. “Why?”

  “He knows them better than any prophet—even you.”

  “What you do is of no concern to me,” she admitted. “Abbie called me two hours ago with the same request. I declined then, as well. But many of the people in this house owe some allegiance to Abigail Martin. When she calls for them, they will come.”

  Alex was at a loss for words, but Elizabeth wasn’t.

  “If Jeremiah died, would you help?”

  Sophie laughed with little mirth. “You don’t want me to leave this place, anyway. Metatron knows that, as long as I am here, I am a constant threat. It should steal a little of his attention from what you are doing in Nevada.”

  Alex got up, and the other two followed suit.

  “I appreciate the time you’ve given us,” he said. “And I respect your decision. I look forward to the day that we will work together.”

  A sad smile formed on her face. “As do I,” she returned. “Alex,” she added hastily, “there is something that I feel I should tell you.”

  “What?”

  “When you were born, many people realized your significance. Many prophets watched over you as you grew. Fourteen years ago, one of the prophets who had watched over you was taken by Metatron. It is then, we believe, that Metatron first knew of your whereabouts and significance. We know that Metatron has a base of operations nearby, and, through it, Patheus has also been watching you for some time. It was no coincidence that Jeremiah took you so far away from your hometown. He didn’t want it to be an issue.”

  “What do you mean, ‘issue?’”

  She sighed deeply. “Alex, Metatron already has ties in Kingstone. We think that he intends to make the town a battleground.”

  “What?!” Alex exclaimed. “Why hasn’t anyone done something about that?”

  “There is nothing that can be done.”

  Alex turned to walk out the door. “We’ll see about that.”

  Sophie appeared in front of him, startling the younger prophets. “Alex, you must not go back to Kingstone.”

  Alex composed himself. “But something has to be done.”

  “I agree, but not by you.”

  “It’s because of me that they’re in danger,” Alex reasoned. “I have a responsibility to help them.”

  “Going to Kingstone will cause your death to be sooner than it needs to be,” she said as she walked past them, back to the furniture. “But I’m afraid I already know what you will do.”

  Alex kept walking toward the door. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

  “The warning,” she added before he got to the door, “is for each of you.”

  ***

  Yuri got on his flight, alone, and with very few possessions. He was used to traveling this way, as this was always the method his master called for him to travel. Each new assignment required Yuri to create everything from nothing. He was becoming quite good at it.

  But this was the farthest he had ever been called to go. He’d rarely ventured past Russian borders. Now, he was headed right for the middle of the United States.

  He was confident that his master would be proud, though. His English was perfect. He was familiar with American current affairs, including politics, economics, high society, and popular entertainment. He had been given a list of names, phone numbers, addresses, and brief descriptions of potential allies all over Missouri. This was, perhaps, not going to be simple, but his master’s faith in him was deserved.

  Yuri flipped through the stack of papers he’d been given. Any statistic or vital piece of information about Kingstone and his mission could be found there, and he knew all about Alexander Tanner. That boy was going to be an unpredictable element.

  Yuri hoped, very much, that he would get to meet Alex. The two of them were alike in many ways. Too many ways, Yuri decided. Yes, he wanted to meet with this young prophet, then kill him. There was not room enough in the world for both. Yuri believed that there were two sides with aspirations of creating a world leader out of this small Midwestern town, and he was one of the contenders.

  The other was too young, inexperienced, and foolhardy to be of any real consequence. He was sponsored by that misguided soul, Jeremiah. His allies were weak and few. And it was going to become increasingly more difficult for him to concentrate after Yuri plunged Kingstone into a drug-induced trance.

  Yuri admired the pictures of his new house. It was magnificent, and it overlooked Kingstone Lake, the community’s pride and joy. He was close enough to have a nice view, but far enough away that he didn’t have to worry about tourists or other unwanted visitors.

  The lake, itself, was a major draw for the town. It was created by a work-for-food program after the Great Depression. In recent decades, it had become a nice, centralized place for water-related activities, such as fishing tournaments and boat races. More often, though, it was merely a place for people around the area to get out on a relatively small body of water and relax.

  Of course, the lake and the community’s fascination with it was ludicrous, but it would provide the anonymity he was looking for. For a while, he would be ignored—just another vacationer. That would give him the means to operate discreetly.

  The town had potential for the decadence that Yuri offered, but it would be tough to get it started. As a community in the Bible-Belt, Kingstone might resist some temptations more than other places would. The size was a concern, too. Kingstone was small, but growing. He was going to have to get the support of everyone in the town to start the imminent larger campaign. But this was Yuri’s forte, and he had been given a chance to prove himself. He was determined to make this the only chance he needed.

  ***

  “So when were you going to tell me?” Alex asked.

  Jeremiah looked into his lap for a minute, then responded, “If I would have told you that Patheus was nearby, you would have never come to Las Vegas. We all felt that it was better to tell you when you were more prepared. Evidently,” he added with a look of disgust, “Sophie decided that time is now.”

  “Well, at the moment, she’s been completely honest with me, which is more than I can say for you.”

  “Alex, even I have directives. You aren’t the only one with a mission to perform. In Las Vegas, you can do so much more; you can affect more people. Kingstone will be fine, as long as you aren’t in it.”

  Alex laughed. “My parents are there. How can you expect me to just go back to Nevada, when I know that they are in danger?”

  “There’s more at stake,” Jeremiah insisted. “You are needed. If your parents are a concern, I will fly them to the mansion. We don’t have the resources to defend Las Vegas and Kingstone.

  “Look, I’ve got tickets for all of us to catch the next plane to the United States. Let’s figure all of this out when we get home. A lot has happened, and we need to think a
bout what we’re going to do now.”

  Alex shook his head and smiled. “Home. I am needed at home, Jeremiah, so that is where I will go.”

  “Alex,” warned Matt, “you remember what Sophie said.”

  “Yeah, Matt, I remember.”

  Jeremiah’s eyebrows furrowed. “What did she say?”

  “Then, you can’t go,” Elizabeth protested. “You can’t risk that.”

  “Risk what?” The demon was becoming agitated.

  “It’s my fault they’re in this situation,” Alex said. “I accept the consequences of my actions.”

  “Will someone please let me in on the secret?” Jeremiah asked.

  “She said that we would die if we went to Kingstone,” Matt replied.

  Jeremiah looked confused, then relieved. “I suppose it’s settled, then.”

  “She didn’t say that we would die,” Alex corrected. “She said that we would make our deaths happen sooner than they would have. But it is settled. Matt and Elizabeth, you need to go with Jeremiah. If I can make it back, I will return to the mansion to discuss strategy. Jeremiah, I still plan to lead in any way I can, but this is something I have to do.”

  “Alex, I don’t think you understand. Sophie is clairvoyant—much more so than Lao Shi, and he was powerful. She sees and interacts with the future. Time doesn’t behave the same way for her. If she says you will place yourself in mortal peril by going to Kingstone, you should believe her. That’s the reason I could never catch her. She just knows. And even she’s saying you shouldn’t go. If you can’t trust me, at least trust her.”

  “You said you would let me go back when I was ready. You said that. Now, I’m ready. I don’t need you to tell me what to do anymore. I know how to choose for myself.”

  “You are not as ready as you think,” Jeremiah argued. “You’re strong enough to threaten any demon; that much is true. But when he comes, he won’t come alone. He’s already got the resources he needs to take that town. The only thing that has been keeping him back is that Kingstone has been quiet since we left. If you’re there, you will make it an immediate concern for Metatron. He will spare no expense to get you, and he’ll never stop trying.”

  “Alex, don’t go,” Elizabeth pleaded. “We can protect it from Vegas.”

  “No, we can’t,” Jeremiah said. “I won’t lie to you or keep the truth from you again, Alex. Kingstone is, and probably will forever be, in danger. I told you that we don’t have the capabilities to protect both, and that is true. Otherwise, this would have never been an issue.”

  “Then, you know what I must do.”

  Jeremiah sighed. “No. But I think I know what you’re going to do.”

  Alex smiled and disappeared.

  ***

  “At this point, Son, you don’t physically exist in any world. You are only a thought.”

  Alex’s father was sitting in his favorite recliner. The footrest was fully extended, and he looked very comfortable indeed. He patted the chair that Alex only then realized was next to him. Alex chuckled and sat down.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re somewhere in between. Here, you may feel free to explore possibilities.”

  Alex nodded and said, “I understand, but I know what I must do.”

  “You are at a significant junction. Your range of options has expanded greatly. You’re more powerful, and you think you have inadvertently placed innocent people in harm’s way. Therefore, you believe that it’s your responsibility to protect them. However, something has been started in Nevada that requires your attention as well. It may all seem overwhelming, but, in this place, you may have as long as you’d like to think about it.”

  “Are you trying to talk me out of going back to Kingstone?”

  Alex’s father slowly shook his head. “No. I merely want you to carefully weigh both sides before making a decision. Maybe it would help for you to better understand your fear.”

  “Fear?”

  “Yes. Fear is motivating you to go back, and fear makes you want to stay. You need to sift through that before you make a final decision.”

  “You say that like I’ll die immediately after I get there. ‘Final decision’ sounds pretty hopeless.”

  Alex thought for a moment, then added, “You asked me whether or not I would change my path if I knew that the price of my actions would be death. I got angry then, but now I understand. I understand that you don’t force us down any paths. This is what I am choosing for myself. I know and accept what will probably happen. I will die to protect them if I have to.”

  His father stared straight ahead, into the white nothingness that surrounded them. He folded his hands together and placed them in his lap.

  He turned to Alex and, very seriously, replied, “You don’t have to do this. I told you that I have angels watching over your parents. And the people of the town are good, strong people. They will resist Metatron.”

  “For how long?”

  Alex’s father said nothing. He looked sad.

  “Not long,” Alex answered his own question. “He’s too powerful. He can persuade, threaten, or bribe almost anyone. Kingstone can’t stand up to that for long.”

  “You could find other ways to do this.”

  “But they would all run the risk of being inefficient or too late. If I were there, I could make a difference. This is a sacrifice I willingly make.”

  His father closed his eyes, and, when he opened them, he was smiling. It seemed forced, but it was a smile. “I will support your decision.”

  ***

  Abbie’s phone started ringing, which startled her.

  “I’m sorry, Salmar,” she said. “I have to take this. It should only be a minute.”

  She pulled the phone out of her pocket. “Matt,” Abbie acknowledged when she put the phone to her ear. “I hope everything is still all right.”

  “It’s me,” Jeremiah responded. “He’s gone again.”

  “What?”

  “Alex,” Jeremiah said. “He’s gone to Kingstone.”

  Color flushed from Abbie’s face. “She told him.”

  “Yes, she did. I think she did it to spite me.”

  “Maybe, if we go there and take him away, he’ll still be safe.”

  “So she told you about her prophecy for them?” Jeremiah inquried.

  “Yes,” Abbie admitted. “I asked her not to say anything. Apparently, she felt otherwise.”

  “Yeah,” Jeremiah agreed. “I would say that’s a safe assumption. Why was I not given this helpful piece of information?”

  “Jeremiah, I already tell you more than the Elder Prophet Council is comfortable with. We thought we wouldn’t have to worry about Alex going back to Kingstone this early.”

  Jeremiah laughed. “Well, it is inconceivable how wrong a group of old, and presumably wise, individuals can be. So you didn’t plan for this possibility at all?”

  “You expected us to know how fast Alex’s powers would mature? Where were you when all of this was happening? Where was the wisdom of someone much older than I?...I’m sorry. This isn’t the time for accusations. I will go to Kingstone and retrieve him myself.”

  “I want you to stay in Las Vegas. We need more prophets, and they’re only going to listen to you. I’ll take care of Alex.”

  “If Alex won’t come back,” Abbie continued, “we will have to go to him. Everything revolves around his involvement.”

  “No,” returned Jeremiah immediately. “For now, Las Vegas is our bastion. We must accumulate all the resources we can to wage a war against Metatron.”

  “But this is his war, Jeremiah. If he wants to fight it from Kingstone, that’s where we should be.”

  Jeremiah thought on this for a second. “He hasn’t said that, yet. I don’t think he wants Kingstone to be involved at all.”

  “What should we do?”

  Jeremiah sighed and said, “We will keep doing what we had planned and follow his lead when he reveals it to us.”

&
nbsp; “And if he dies before that happens?”

  “He won’t.”

  “Jeremiah,” Abbie replied after a short silence, “I believe your faith is getting stronger.”

  ***

  Alex stood before his home in Kingstone. He was yards from the building in which he had spent most of his life. He saw the SUV parked in the driveway. It was his mother’s car. Alex thought that she might be home, but all the lights inside were off.

  He walked up to the door and mustered his strength to knock three times. Patiently, he waited for a reply, but none came. He went to the yard ornament his mom always hid an extra key beneath. Sure enough, he found one. He put it in the deadbolt, unlocked the door, and opened it.

  His mother stood in front of him. She was in a bathrobe, and she looked like he had just woken her. She also looked thinner than he remembered her. Her eyes had dark bags under them. And Alex noticed that she seemed a little hunched over, as if she were carrying a great weight.

  Multiple looks of shock flowed across Mary Tanner’s face in the next few seconds as she looked him up and down. She walked up to him, silently, and touched his shoulder. Upon grasping something substantial, she moved her hand to his face. Tears sat upon her eyes, suspended.

  Time seemed to freeze as Alex contemplated what his absence had done to his mother. He could feel her pain through the touch. Life in the last month had been brutal. Fear and sorrow threatened to overcome Alex. He and Jeremiah had broken her. And now, he would have to explain something very difficult to her.

  Normalcy, and perhaps happiness, could never again be expected. Pain would continue to follow Alex in everything that he did. He realized that, now. And bringing his family into it seemed unjust, but he was convinced that they had to know the truth.

  Time slowly began moving again, and a tear fell from her eye. Mary nearly collapsed when she threw her arms around Alex. She started rocking, gently, from side to side, weeping.