Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 114247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Styx signed something to Tank and he pulled out his cell. “Where do I get the doc to go?”
Lilah lifted her hand. “Our cabin. She can stay with us.”
“What?” Ky bit out, anger in his voice.
Lilah faced Ky. “Maddie lives with Mae. There is no room. We have plenty, and…” Lilah’s words trailed off and she took a deep breath. “Ky you do not understand. You do not understand what life is like in that commune as a young girl. How brave she is to leave that life, and at her age. She—” Lilah’s words stopped as Ky pulled her to his chest.
“Fuck, Li. Fine. She comes with us. Just don’t fucking do it to yourself. Don’t fucking go back to those thoughts.”
“Thank you,” Lilah whispered, gripping tightly onto Ky’s cut.
Lilah broke from Ky, and she and Mae approached Sarai, helping her to her feet. I did not move. And when she cried out from the pain between her legs, I thought my legs would give way.
They had hurt her.
Hurt her as they did us.
Mae and Lilah walked Sarai back to Ky’s truck. I followed behind, Flame by my side. Flame and Styx jumped into the bed of the truck, and in minutes we were pulling into Lilah’s cabin.
Mae and Lilah took Sarai straight inside, Styx and Ky following close behind. I exited the truck, and Flame was immediately behind me. Turning to face him, I said, “I had better go inside with my sisters.”
Flame did not say anything in response.
But just as I moved to walk inside, I stopped, and facing him, said, “I… I enjoyed talking with you tonight.” Flame’s nostrils flared. Fighting back nerves, I said, “Perhaps… If you would like to… we could talk more tomorrow?”
Flame’s hand tightened on the blade in his hand, and he said, “Yeah.”
My cheeks heated with excitement. Dropping my eyes, I said, “Then good night, Flame. I shall see you tomorrow.”
I walked into the cabin, helping Mae and Lilah support the young beaten girl. But it was no surprise, that when I looked out of the window, Flame was standing below.
Chapter Five
Prophet Cain
New Zion Commune
“Cain, why are you out here?”
I turned round at the sound of my brother Judah’s voice. He was walking toward me, his long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and a frown firmly on his face; the face of my identical twin.
I looked back across the gardens of our mansion, watching our people tending to the vast lawns. Judah’s consort, Phebe, was working in the herb garden. I had been out here for a couple of hours now and she had occupied most of my focus, as she silently overturned soil and planted seeds. During the last few weeks her bright personality had dimmed. She was still at Judah’s side, and still in his bed, but something in her demeanor had changed.
Judah’s hand suddenly landed on my shoulder. He kept it there as he sat beside me on the steps leading down to the garden path.
His face instantly turned to mine. “Brother? Are you okay?”
I tapped my hand on his knee. “I’m well. I needed some space. The daily sermons, the meetings with the Klan, and the Hangmen issues, are tiring.”
Judah nodded his head in understanding. He removed his arm from around my shoulder and rested it on his lap. “Now you mention it, you do seem to have become increasingly distant.”
I ran a hand down my face, my stomach rolling with the fear that I was letting Judah down. Letting our people down. “I know. There’s just so much to do. Our people are many; having their faith and expectations of our salvation solely in my hands is a great burden.”
Judah looked out over the gardens, his brown eyes drinking in the sight of our people working in the garden. I followed his gaze. A young boy, evidently feeling our attention, looked up. As soon as his gaze met mine, his head dipped and he bowed. My chest tightened as he turned back to his work, his head not rising again.
As I studied the boy, I figured he must be about fifteen. All gangly limbs and awkward movements. I thought back to what I was doing at that age. Memories of Judah and I locked in a room for hours each day, learning scripture. Our scholar made sure we knew our scriptures by heart. Our uncle—Prophet David’s—picture on the wall was our only decoration. There was no playtime for us, no relaxation. Our faith had taught us that we must constantly work hard. Work hard, so when the day came for my ascension, we would be ready.
There had been no human contact, save with each other and our scholar.
There had been no love, but for that of each other. And there had been no one to confide in, to ask questions of, than each other.
This life was all that I had known until I was sent on a mission to infiltrate the Hangmen. A mission from our Prophet. One that would secure our finances by taking their gun trade contacts from under their nose—to house and keep our people safe until the Day of Judgment fell upon us.
Judah suddenly leaned in beside me and said in a low voice, “See how our followers worship you, brother? You may have doubts about who you are to us, but we do not. Was it not the same with Jesus? He too had doubts, but his disciples kept him strong. Just as I do for you.”
Judah’s hand rested over mine. “Look at me, Cain.” I did. “You are meant for this. And I will do anything you ask of me. Anything.”
Feeling the wound-up coil of tension loosen in my stomach, I squeezed Judah’s hand and sighed in relief. “I know, Judah. I am sure that it’s you, and you alone, who makes this calling bearable.”
Judah smiled at my words, and we went back to gazing out over the gardens. Judah sat back, resting on his hands, and said, “I’ve just had contact from the Klan. They are putting our plan into action today. They’ve got word on a cash drop off, north of Georgetown, with one of their biggest buyers. It’s the perfect first target. The Klan will make it clear that anyone trading with the Hangmen is a potential target. Then, between us and the Klan’s Grand Wizards, we can reap their lost business.”