What the hellhad my brother just gotten himself into?
CHAPTER TWO
Lennox
“I’LL REMIND YOU of Revelation 21:18. ‘Those whopractice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars. They will be consigned tothe fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.’ Can’t you see, Dr.Groth? God is calling us to deliver the first death of these admittedmagicians. Then He will deliver them to their second death.” My father turnedto face the Cauld Ane prince with a look of pure hatred.
“Do you havea response for Mr. Trask?” Mr. Larson asked Prince Liam.
“Only that Iwish to counter his religious based hate speech with words of love andadmiration to all who occupy our shared, fragile planet. The Cauld Ane areraised to believe that all souls are good and can only become evil if we chooseto walk the paths of hate and anger. I too have read the words of Jesus, ashave many of our people. In fact, most ancient Viking civilizations convertedto Christianity over the centuries. We have no quarrel with Christians, theHand of the Cross, or Mr. Trask himself. However, I feel I must publicly warnMr. Trask that he will not intimidate the Royal Family, nor will we stand stillshould he ever strike out against us or any Cauld Ane. King Kade Gunnach’sprotection extends to the edges of the world.”
I was sittingwith my mother and younger brother, Jedediah, in our family room, trying tokeep myself from reacting outwardly to my father’s hateful words coming fromthe television screen. We also had an older brother, Levi, who was with myfather in New York, but I tended to avoid him as often as I could. He could bemean and although I didn’t hate him, I was afraid of him. Jed and I were theclosest. He wasn’t just my brother, he was my best friend and confidant.
“Furtherproof of Cauld Ane intimidation tactics,”my father said into the camera.
“My peoplearen’t the ones standing outside this building holding signs and shoutinghateful slogans.”
I frowned. “Ithought Daddy only took—”
“Hush, Lennox,”Mom admonished. “It’s none of our concern.”
I wanted toscream. How could it not be our concern? My father was spouting hatred toward arace of people who had done nothing to warrant his hostility. He was doingeverything the Bible saidnotto do.
I almost burstinto tears as an overwhelming rage burned in the pit of my stomach and I feltan empathy toward the Cauld Ane I never had before. No sooner had that firebegun to rage again, when it was just as quickly quelled by a wave of peace I’dnever felt before, calming me, and I let out a quiet gasp.
“What’s wrong?”my mother asked.
“Nothing,” Isaid, then improvised. “I just remembered something I need to do tomorrow.”
“Well, make sureyou write it down. I often have to write things down, so I don’t forget.”
“I will, Mama,thank you,” I said, pushing my glasses back up my nose. I seriously needed toget a new pair, but I just hadn’t found the time to get to the optometrist.
She focused backon the screen, and I closed my eyes, trying to find the ‘peace’ again. It wasthere… I knew it.
Where areyou?
Unfortunately,Mr. Larson’s booming voice shut down my peace search and my attention was onceagain pulled back to the television.
“My produceris giving me the signal that it’s time for us to take a quick break. Pleasestay tuned as we continue with our conversation with Prince Liam Gunnach. Whenwe return, we’ll discuss Blue Fang, and how the so-called Cauld Ane miracledrug has changed all our lives.”
“Mrs. Trask?”Stuart, one of my father’s security, knocked on the open family room door.
“Yes, Stuart?”
“Pastor wantedLennox in bed by nine.”
I glanced at Jedand his body locked.
“Thank you,Stuart,” Mom said. “We’re on our way.”
“I’ll be happyto walk her.”
“No, it’s cool,”Jed said. “I can do that, brother.”
Stuart walkedaway and I glared at my mother. “I’m not twelve.”
She sighed,turning off the television. “I know, honey. He’s just watching out for you.”
