Chapter Nineteen
“Death comes too easy these days. You remember when Uncle Delroy passed and we got everyone in the neighborhood together? If that had happened now, we wouldn’t have so much as blinked.”
–Marquise Jones, “Unnamed”. 2 Months After.
* * *
It was a total bloodbath.
Evelyn studied the halls of Mother’s Grace, her eyes widened against the carnage, and breath heavy from within her respirator. Just about every hall from the entrance to the ward they’d kept Leah hidden in was now caked in undead blood. Bodies lay strewn about, with only a handful still able to move. Many of the dead had their skulls pierced, while others had been beheaded completely. Full purges with no regard for the state of the rezzers or lives lost between.
How the hell could a small group of Inquisitors manage to inflict this much damage? This would have put most veteran Hunter groups to shame.
Evelyn ran up to Stein. “Please tell me you’ve got something.”
He shook his head. “I told Liam to use that hybrid if it came down to it, but I never expected him to leave the Styx altogether.”
“You heard him. There was no choice.”
“Well, now he’s out of radio range, so we’re just as clueless as everyone else as to where he went next.”
Evelyn clenched her fists, the nylon in her gloves digging into the flesh beneath. Of course this would happen the fucking moment she stepped away. Lacking proper medical knowledge about Leah’s condition, her and Stein had gone to the Central Bank to collect more information. When the Beholders rolled in, Liam used their encrypted radio to update them throughout.
He’d first tried to lay low, collecting everything he could fit into a pack while wrapping Leah up in their mobile carrying unit. Then Ezekiel broke through and Liam ran for the garage as planned. The goal was to meet up at the Bank to pick Evelyn and Stein up, then fall back to the Lodge where the Hunters would keep them safe.
But Liam never made it to the Bank. The streets had been too congested and the Inquisitors managed to keep up on foot. With no other choice that he could see, Liam made the bold move of driving out the Styx. He fell out of radio range soon after, though not before leaving one final message. The same that ran through her mind now, again and again.
I’ve got to do what I can to keep our daughter safe, he’d said.Even if it’s alone right now. We love you, Evelyn. Both of us. So take care of yourself until we get back, yeah?
Then the signal dropped, and Evelyn was trapped out here. Alone.
“You’ve got to get me a truck,” she said. “I need to find them!”
Stein grimaced. “It won’t be that easy now. With Leah out of town, there’s only so much I can do. She put a direct order to keep all nonessential vehicles inside the Styx. Dwayne won’t just hand any over without explanation. Even if I brought the rest of the Council into the loop about you and your family, they wouldn’t make any moves on their own. Not with the Beholders so close. Just look at Charon. He was hesitant to send anyone after them, and he stopped chasing once their trucks left the California basin. The sad truth is that we’d need Leah to put in the order.”
“And she was supposed to be back days ago. Has the Council at least heard from her since she reached El Dorado?”
He averted his gaze. “We have not. No advanced scouts have returned, and long-range telecommunications have been down for months, pending repairs.”
“There’s got to be something you can do, Stein. This is my child we’re talking about!”
“I’ll put out a contract and make it as large as necessary. Maybe try to get a Hunter as strong as Declan to take care of this until Leah returns.” He studied the blood-covered hallways. “Don’t forget that I’ve got my own score to settle here. It will take time before they’re able to mobilize, however, and they’ll be traveling on foot.”
“So what am I supposed to do in the meantime? Just sit on my ass doing nothing?”
“Do whatever you’d like, Evelyn. You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need. You’ve been gone from home too long as is.”
She breathed deep. “Thank you for the offer, Stein, but I can’t rest idly while they’re not safe.”
He nodded. “I understand. The offer remains open indefinitely, and I will do what I can to keep you updated. For now, I have got to get back to work repairing this place.” His red-tinted eyes scanned the area again with a grim acknowledgment. “Too many patients were created today.”
Evelyn grit her teeth, once again taking in the damage that had occurred. She stormed off without another word.
As much as it hurt to admit, Stein was right. Leah hadn’t become the Head Huntress for nothing, and with her still MIA, no one else would lift a finger. They didn’t know about Evelyn or her family, and even if they did, what prevented them from using her for their own ends? No, that risk was unacceptable. Only Stein could be trusted, and he lacked the resources to solve this.
That left her. Evelyn Jones. Once again on her own, with no one else to make a difference.
She pulled out the latest blood-work test for her daughter. In the cruelest irony of all, they’d managed to figure out what had caused her sickness after the attack when it no longer made a difference.
Botulism. A common bacterial infection caused by ingesting contaminated food. They’d even found the can responsible after she dug through the trash. Just a little nick on the side was all it took to bring Leah to this point.
Evelyn started considered more possibilities. Could this have been intentional? A small amount of poisoned food slipped into the rest? Chantelle was the only one with access. Maybe she’d been flipped by the Beholders? Couldn’t say for certain. Or perhaps one of her suppliers figured out what they were hiding, and that was the Beholders’ entry point in. How many people could’ve handled their food coming? Who else was in the know? A small handful? Dozens? More?
In and out, Evelyn. In and out. She breathed deep. Regardless of how Leah contracted botulism, she could do nothing to fix it. Not with her daughter stuck beyond the Styx.
There was good news, at least. Their early treatment regiment had helped her body stave off the botulism before it became too damaging, only to be replaced by a common cold through a weakened immune system. So long as their daughter remained hydrated and kept up with a healthy regiment, her body would combat this new illness as well.
But this also created a worst-case possibility. With her and Liam out there, would that even be possible?
She exhaled through her respirator. There was no way to cure Leah’s sickness, but she wasn’t completely powerless either. Her attackers were close by, and she had a way in.
Evelyn knew where she would go next.
* * *
Nathaniel remained where he’d been perched, though the crowd had thinned since the attack. Him and his entourage of white-cloaked Beholders were whispering amongst themselves. He turned and smiled wide as she approached, pious as ever.
“Oh, Evelyn,” he said. “It is good to see you again.”
“That isn’t my name,” she corrected. “I thought we went over this.”
“That’s right, Eva. My apologies.”
“At least you were closer this time. You called me ‘Annalise’ last I was here.”
He blinked. “I did?”
“Yeah. Cheryl thought it was hilarious.”
“Who?”
Evelyn tilted her head. “Don’t you remember? She’s my friend from Seaside who came for last week’s sermon.”
Nathaniel squinted suspiciously. “Perhaps it is you whom is forgetting matters lately.”
She crossed her arms. “Nope. I remember last week like it was today…” She went on from there, describing his sermon on the power of charity with meticulous attention to detail that would border supernatural for their kind. Nathaniel’s smile dissolved as her account dragged on.
“Yes, that sounds about right, Eva.” He looked away, befuddled. “I suppose you’ll be able to give sermons to your friend soon enough.”
Dance, puppet, dance. Keep focusing on the dealer’s hand. Not on the card that fell off the table. Maybe he could chalk it all up to a lack of faith. Didn’t matter. “Eva” was here to stay.
That was her greatest asset in this city. Her unhollowed mind. Even if her frail, living shell forced itself into sleep, could feel pain like nobody’s business, and would crumble with the slightest bite to the arm, her memory remained fully intact. As far as reservoirs went, not even one as powerful as Mother could held a candle to the one between her ears. It would only take a handful more of these mind games against Nathaniel before “Evelyn” disappeared for good, replaced by whatever alias she desired.
Then she’d have more options to infiltrate them further.
“Did you hear about what happened at Mother’s Grace?” Evelyn asked.
“Yes. It is a deeply unfortunate tragedy.”
“Those were Beholders from what I hear.”
He winced. “I do not know what would compel my Brothers to behave this way. They know that the Lord speaks of peace. To inflict so much devastation in a place of healing seems beyond mere heresy. It is nothing short of what the Devil would command!”
“Why do you think they did it then? I heard those Inquisitors are supposed to be the most devoted.”
He exhaled, the moisture growing. “I do not understand. Brother Ezekiel has been guarding our congregation for years. No one has ever questioned his devotion or desires for a peaceful life. I do not understand what could have compelled him to harm innocents like this.” A reddish tear sprung free. “He saved our lives, so many times before!”
“Maybe he was looking for something?”
“Like what?” another asked from behind.
Evelyn turned around. Unlike the other Beholders, this guy wore no more than a black button-down shirt over trousers, with a priest’s collar on top. His hair was thinned out above clear, pale skin, and his eyes radiated with a magenta gleam. A wooden cross hung from his neck, plain and unadorned.
Nathanial’s eyes lit up. “Oh! Father Abraham, you have come all the way here?”
This is him!? Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat.
“But of course,” Abraham said, his voice somehow soft, even with the gruff undertone that every rezzer possessed. “I could not stand idly by after hearing about Ezekiel’s treachery.”
“What compelled him to act this way, Father?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea.” His eyes suddenly fell to Evelyn. “But you there. Do you have a theory of your own?”
She cringed under the weight of his eyes. Sharp and piercing, like a priest who’d caught her laughing during Mass.
“Just a thought,” Evelyn said, her own voice controllably brusque. “Way I hear it, Stein’s got all sorts of valuables there. You could earn a lot of pics if you broke in.”
Nathaniel shook his head. “No, he would never. Ezekiel does not consort with such devilry.”
“You don’t know that.”
“And what would you know of our congregation?” Abraham asked, still with that death stare.
Evelyn could barely stand this. In spite of the three layers of clothes, respirator, and aviator shades above, she’d never felt more naked under his gaze. Part of her wanted to do nothing other than pull out her gun, shoot Abraham in the face, and run off before he could react. But she couldn’t. He had a pair of Inquisitors at his flank, watching her with those dark, sullen eyes. Ready to murder her at the slightest provocation.
“Ah!” Nathaniel said, suddenly stepping between. “This is the one whom I’ve been telling you about, Father. This is Eva.”
“Eva,” he repeated. A smile teased his lips. “Forgive my poor manners then. I’ve been hearing a lot about you.”
Control yourself. If this priest was the leader of the Beholders, then she had to play this as intelligently as possible.
She feigned surprise. “Why you talking about me? I’m just a regular worker.”
“You are blessed, are you not?” Abraham asked.
“No more than anyone else.”
“This is untrue. Eva is a derivation of Eve, the first mother of man.”
She crossed her arms. “So? Lots of people have names like that. Evita, Evie, Evelyn… I even met an Evangeline once.”
The muscles in his face grew relaxed. “Well, little missy, aren’t you quite the learned scholar?”
“Don’t read too much into it. I’ve been doing the rounds in this city for years and only picked up a thing or two. My Rez holds better than most, but at the end of the day, I’m just a gal who is good with a hammer.”
But Father Abraham only seemed to grow more curious as he watched her from head-to-toe. “Do you believe in fate, Eva?”
She considered the question. Or rather, how to most effectively answer it. “I guess I do, in my own way.”
“Then perhaps you have this same sense as me.”
“And what sense is that?”
His violet eyes twinkled. “That you and I were meant to cross paths today. Do you feel the Lord’s voice as well?”
Evelyn buried the shiver. Abraham was sussing her out, but she could do the same. Give a non-answer, take a real answer. Build trust while revealing nothing. Not anything valuable, anyway.
“I don’t hear anything, but I do feel God’s presence,” she admitted. “Moreso lately after receiving the Holy Word.”
“‘A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.’”
“Proverbs 16:9.”
He grinned wide. “So you understand then that all events are ordained by the Lord himself. Everything, from the moment of your birth until this very moment has all followed his divine plan, even as you make each choice yourself. Would you not agree that this makes our meeting beautiful?”
“I can.”
“Have you ever wondered what other beauties you’ve been denied by living in this unholy place?”
Evelyn smirked below her respirator. Time to play the tease. “Can’t say I’m too comfortable with the implication, especially after what your friends did at Mother’s Grace.”
Abraham recoiled as though slapped. “Such vile treason will be judged by God Himself. Please, do not do as your kindred might and lay blame. We believe in peace and prosperity in the name of the Lord. I would never condone such violence.”
Is that so? Evelyn tried to stare deep. Into Father Abraham. Into this leader of an Enclave that commanded thousands strong in a world where only the strong survived. She tried to pierce into his soul as he’d tried for her.
To no avail. Between her sunglasses and the vibrant sheen of his eyes, Evelyn could make nothing out.
Nathaniel took another step forth. “As I have explained many times, Eva, we wish to behold the Lord’s greatness and nothing more.”
At least she could confirm his sincerity. Evelyn had been around Nathaniel enough to know his ticks. He knew nothing of Ezekiel’s attack.
“Please,” he continued, “hear the Father’s words for yourself when next we meet for Mass. Our congregation is always willing to invite others.”
“Indeed,” Abraham echoed. “The peace that I forged with the Head Huntress must remain true, and there is no better way to show our continued unity than to remind each other of our similarities. Would you be willing to join us?”
“You want me to go to your camp? Even after the attack?”
“But of course. It is in these troubled times that we must always fight hardest for each other.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. Evelyn couldn’t make a move against Abraham. Not now. Not with so many watching. But this opportunity could not be ignored. It gave her the opening she’d been looking for. So long as she played things right.
“I’ll think about it,” Evelyn said. Being non-committal kept her options on the table.
“Do as you will,” Abraham said, once again smiling wide. “But do not forget this, Eva. No one should ever be alone.”
She nodded to maintain appearances, but her own truth remained concealed in her body language, with her fingers still pressed into her palms.
* * *
“Are you sure that I can’t help you with anything else?” Chantelle asked.
Evelyn looked into her bag of supplies and shook her head. “You’ve done everything I’ve needed. Thanks again for your help.”
She frowned. “Okay. Just give me a call if anything changes.”
I won’t. “I will.”
Chantelle exited, leaving Evelyn alone.
God, how much more empty this place became without her husband and daughter. Their suite in the Lodge never felt this large before, nor as barren. Much of their gear had been moved to Mother’s Grace when Leah first became sick. Removed from the rest of their personal belongs, this place felt so alien.
Don’t think about that. You’re on your own now. Evelyn went to one of the bathrooms, her bag in hand. The light blinked on, highlighting her face in the mirror. The long, thick hair, the healthy skin, the full lips, and of course, her living, brown eyes. She studied each with disdain.
Evelyn dug through her bag. She started with the home-made latex. Some cold water from the sink, a dash of tapioca flour, gelatin, and a small amount of coconut oil. She mixed the reagents and let them sit until ready, then brushed it across her cheeks and scalp, crunching down her skin as the mixture dried. Already, she looked about ten years older.
Makeup came next. A thick white primer did major work to brighten her flesh, while an added coat of black around the eyes gave the sunken impression she’d seen before. A layer of raven-colored lipstick helped to close the mask off. She moved slowly and precisely to get the texture and color even throughout. A single mistake would be lethal.
Once satisfied, Evelyn went for the darkened food coloring and mixed it with another glass of water. The taste was more foul than she’d expected as she sloshed it around her cheeks, but it couldn’t be helped. A black tongue and gums were just as essential as everything else. She gave herself three treatments before feeling content.
Chewing tobacco came next. Another taste that made her gag, but it would do wonders to keep her breath masked.
Almost there. The most crucial element sat by her side. Evelyn studied the thin piece of glass suspiciously, then washed it in the sink, over and over to be safe. Chantelle insisted that she’d done her job, but a single Soft pseudo-cell was all her body needed to be infected, and Evelyn refused to ever leave that to chance. Only after an hour of extra prep work did she take this final plunge, placing the red-tinted contacts into her eyes.
Evelyn looked into the mirror and no longer saw herself. Only the monster remained, with grey, wrinkled skin, blackened lips and gums, and the most important detail of all, bright red eyes.
Just like any other rezzer.
Half measures were no longer enough to see this through. If someone so much as removed her sunglasses in the Beholder camp, it would all be over. That’s what made this extra layer of subterfuge necessary. So long as they continued to think of her as a rezzer, she could get as deep into their ranks as needed.
She’d still need to take a photograph and tape it onto the fake ID that Chantelle had gotten her to slip past the Styx security, but that would be easy enough. This wasn’t her first bout beyond the walls.
Boy, did this bring Evelyn back. She hadn’t put together an ensemble of this caliber since her days with her father. Back when it was just the two of them against the world, using whatever tricks they could to keep ahead of the hollows.
Back when he’d been there to give her strength…
She blinked back the tears before they could grow. Marquise Jones was long since dead, and it had happened so many years ago. He’d died defending her life, and no amount of crying could change that truth. Only the future remained. Only the family she’d carved out from the abyss.
Evelyn drew her Sig Sauer and admired its sleek design. She removed the magazine to ensure its caliber and quantity, and loaded the rounds back into place. A quick press check revealed a bullet in the chamber, ready to kill.
One bite. That was all it took to kill Evelyn. But this weapon equalized their fight. A single shot to the head and even the strongest rezzer would die on the spot. What else did she need to defeat her enemies?
She slid her suppressor in place. The Beholders might’ve thought themselves bold enough to pull off this attack without repercussion, but they had no concept of what they were up against. They couldn’t understand the fury of mother cornered. Once she got into their camp, Father Abraham would be the first to witness that truth.
Even if it killed her.
