“I assume it has something to do with the Griffin girl’s escape and Thomas Benton’s involvement.”
“Precisely.” Jura sat beside Kyle—far too close—and poured a glass of water from a crystalline decanter. He handed it to him.
Kyle took a sip, recalling that this particular water always made him feel relaxed.
“I’ve devised a plan to aid you in their capture,” Jura said, placing his hand on Kyle’s leg.
A pleasant sensation spiraled up Kyle’s leg. He was not a homosexual, but something about this man did strange things to him. He cleared his throat. “I’d love to hear it.”
“As you know, some of my kind can appear to be human.” He waved a hand through the air. “It depends on how much of our DNA has combined with a human’s.” He stood, walked—or rather floated—a few steps, then pressed a finger on his chin. “I have many such types under my command.”
Kyle took another sip of water, longing for Jura to touch him again. “Yes, I am aware, my liege.”
Jura’s blue eyes turned to ice as a seductive grin raised the corners of his thin lips. “Then why not set one of them in the path of our fugitives? To join their number and report back their location and whatever deviant activities they are involved in.”
“But how will this spy find them?” Kyle scooted to the edge of his seat and set his glass on the table. “Even when he does, these Deviants aren’t stupid. They may not trust a stranger.”
Jura’s placid smile did not hide the frustration storming from his eyes.
Kyle swallowed. He should not have contradicted him.
“You will find them. We have scanners and cameras everywhere. When you do, contact me, and I will place my spy among them.” He flipped his long hair behind him. “Their weakness will be our victory, for they cannot pass up helping another human being. They will fall for it. I assure you, my son.”
Pride lifted Kyle’s spirits. He loved it when Jura called him son. His own father had been nothing but disappointed in Kyle. “It will be as you say.” Rising, he bowed toward Jura, then made for the door.
“One more thing.”
Kyle spun around.
“This will lead to your sister’s arrest and execution. Are you comfortable with that?”
A question he had asked himself many times in the past year. But she had betrayed him. She had betrayed her familyandthe world. “Of course.”
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Revelation 12:13-16
Chapter 12
They heard the drone before they saw it. The eerie hum, accompanied by awhiskandwhizzingsound sent Tori ducking behind a dumpster. Brianna and her children joined her just as Thomas rounded the corner of the empty shopping mall they’d been walking behind.
Too late. The drone lowered, heading straight for Thomas. Yanking his hood over his face, he stood frozen, unsure what to do.
“Citizen. Raise your head.” The drone spoke in a lifeless metallic voice.
Thomas's heart nearly blasted through his chest. He’d seen these drones in action. It would shoot to kill if he did not comply.
The sound of electricity pulsed through the putrid air, followed by aclank.
The drone’s gun readying to fire?
“Citizen. You will be shot on sight if you do not—”
BOOM!
Thomas instinctively dove for the ground. Heat swamped him along with the clank of metal hitting the pavement and the sizzle and spark of power.
