“No.” His expression turns to stone. “And not because I’m afraid of what she’ll think of my actions. That part, I’m pretty sure she’d cheer on. If Laken knew, she would feel obligated to spread the word to all the wrong people.” His lips flicker. “With that being said, I’m going to tell her.” A smile glides over his face. “When the time is right. When I can figure out exactly how this should play out to benefit my people.” He leans in, his eyes telling me off all on their own. “You see, Wes, I am privy to something no one else knows. Not even you.” A dull laugh pumps from him. “The irony? You gave me this knowledge. You were just too stupid to procure it for yourself.” He takes a step back and lets me marinate in his incomprehensible words. “You never held the cards, Wes. I simply let you think you held them until I got what I wanted. And now that I have her, all bets are off the table.”
He starts to take off, and I yank him back by the shirt.
“You’re going to tell me what you know, Coop. You’re either going to tell me now or tell me later. Either way, you will come to me because you will need my help. In the grand scheme of things, I am in charge. Not you. You have your place—as a thorn in my side, nothing more, nothing less. You are of exactly that much importance. When the Justice Alliance gave me that vision of Laken and me enjoying a restored relationship, I don’t believe for a minute that it had anything to do with what transpired last year. In fact, I believe it is very much in the future. So you see, Flanders, your days are numbered. I have time on my side. I have Laken to look forward to. All you have is a secret that I’m guessing could, and should, benefit our people. And if you can’t figure out what to do with it just yet, then that assures me I need to analyze the situation because God knows this must be a whopper.”
He takes a deep breath, and I can see him contemplating this with that faraway look in his eyes.
“You’re right about one thing, Wes. It would be nice to have you by my side to pick apart what I know. It is a secret for the ages and I am baffled, not only by what it means, but what it can do, and how it might work. And yes, I will have to find the best scenario for it to benefit my people before I go wide with this. It would have been nice to see your thoughts on the matter. But contrary to what your ego chooses to believe, you are not all that necessary. I don’t think so. Candace doesn’t think so because she gave Laken to me. And Demetri certainly doesn’t think so because he gave the kingdom to Gage. Who thinks so highly of Wesley Edinger? That would be you. Newsflash: Ezrina doesn’t need you either.”
He takes a step toward the door before turning my way once again. “And we both know where Laken stands. You are not only unnecessary to her, you are unwanted.” His chest pumps with a dry laugh. “Your kids love you—for now. When Mally grows up and finds out you were ready to throw her away, she might feel differently. When Eli finds out the things you put his mother through, you will have one hell of a war on your hands. Same with Wesley Cooper. Charlie will despise you for keeping her away from her true father. And Tobie? I guess she’s the true wild card, isn’t she? With Chloe’s blood mingling with yours, her Fem lineage battling it out with the Celestra within, she will have to be a firecracker just to survive. Her teen years just might send you to an early grave. I’ll enjoy a cold beer and watch you implode. I don’t need you either.”
He shouts a quick goodbye to Ezrina and Nev before heading up the stairs, and I listen as his thundering footsteps dissipate.
As much as I hate to admit it, his words stung like shards of glass rolled in fire.
Cooper knows a secret. And he all but admitted he needs my help to make heads or tails out of it. I’m going to make damn sure he tells me sooner than later. With my brother off the chain, God knows we need the edge in this war, and we need it now.
I roll up my sleeves and head for the lab.
Now to nail that serum to the wall.
The hell Ezrina doesn’t need me. Candace wishes she could control me. Demetri would have been better off putting me in Gage’s place, and Laken still loves me. I will fight to keep my children’s love and respect no matter who I wronged along the way.
Sorry, Coop. I am a changed man who succeeds in all I do.
First, I’m going to secure the win for Celestra, and then I’m going to secure Laken for myself.
I almost feel sorry for you, Coop.
Almost.
A Web of Deceit
Candace
The Falls of Virtue thunder behind the sapphire amphitheater as the magistrates from both the Fem and the Sector armies come together.
Delphineous, an angelic being from the order of the prognosticators, stands before me, tall, pale, and wholly transparent, leaning heavily toward the ghostly. His broad forehead and sharp nose bow my way as we consider the task at hand.
“We have five Factions to contend with, Your Grace,” his deep voice rumbles.
“Ihave five Factions to contend with,” I correct him. “Rothello, Aramous, and Delario of the Decision Council are in agreement that I hold the power alone. There will be wars,” I warn as my voice electrifies over the hum of the masses that have gathered before me. “Delphineous will be utilized to offer foreknowledge to Celestra.” I sigh. “Or whichever Faction sits supreme at the time.”
A chuckle comes from the left and my eyes magnetize over to find Demetri seated with his cohorts, Barnabas, Belshazzar, and Micah.
“Dare you laugh at me?” I muse. “Must I press you under my thumb for all to witness?”
A low groan comes from the crowd as I gleefully deliver the barb.
Demetri knows no better sparring partner than me, and he expects nothing less while we’re alone. However, it seems he’s underestimated my ability to spar out in the open.
Demetri glowers my way, but that smile remains trained on his face.
“My dear”—he starts in that falsely soothing tone he loves to exclude at the expense of his own sanity—“allow me to lend my expertise in the matter. It is I who is in charge of the Fems and have tempered them to be a frightful army that no one should dare contend with. I should rule the Nephilim with a fair but firm hand, and I will see to it that this breed of creatures—that mind you, I had a hand in creating, rules alongside the Fems in the heavenlies.”
Sector Marshall balks, “You had a hand in creating them, did you? Are you now in the position of God? What you meant to say is that you coerced our angelic brothers to enter into a carnal relationship the Lord had not ordained for them. You caused a problem to appear, and now, we are here, trying to navigate the destinies of a people who should perhaps have never existed.”
“He is right,” I say to Demetri. “You merely pushed the stone that caused the avalanche. These beings you called to life with your wicked enticing—even the great flood could not extinguish them. They insist on existing. Shall you be the father of these people? No. I shall be their mother. To quote the Master, ‘I will declare myself your enemy, Demetri. I will raise my fist against you. I will knock you down from your heights.’ Though He was bent on destroying Babylon, I choose to destroy you.”
