The Belial Origins Read Online Free Page A

words had been on an unending loop ever since Henry had told her she’d called. Those were the words Victoria had said to Laney before she disappeared for a week.
    Jake sat behind the wheel. His brown eyes were focused on the road, but Laney knew he was worried too. Victoria telling them everything was wrong was the equivalent of the beginning of Armageddon. Which usually would be hyperbole, but in this case…
    Henry glanced back at her. They’d only learned they were siblings within the last year, but Laney knew she would do anything to keep him safe, and vice versa. “You okay?”
    Laney looked into his violet eyes and nodded. “Yeah. Just a little nervous about what she’s going to say.”
    Laney and Henry didn’t look anything alike. Henry had dark hair like their father—the angel Metatron, also known as Enoch; Laney had their mother’s once-red hair. But they had switched when it came to eye color. Laney had her father’s—a deep green—and Henry had his mother’s violet eyes.
    And while Laney barely topped out at five foot four, Henry was an astounding seven foot two. His stature came from nephilim nature. It also provided him with incredible speed, strength, and healing ability.
    Laney’s nephilim nature came with a different skill set—she was the only one in the world who could wield the powers of the ring of Solomon. The ring’s name wasn’t entirely accurate—the ring actually pre-dated Solomon by thousands of years—but Solomon was the figure it had become most associated with.
    With the ring, Laney could control the weather, animals, and angels. She hadn’t, however, received any of the skills Henry had. She wasn’t sure who had gotten the better deal. After all the gunshot wounds and other injuries she’d received over the last two years, she couldn’t but think that Henry’s gift of fast healing would have been a nice little bonus.
    Laney glanced out the window. They were heading to Victoria’s estate in Rockland, Maine. Laney had learned about her nature here, learned that the parents who had raised her until the age of eight had not been her biological parents. Months ago, when she had learned that Victoria was her biological mother, Laney had been wracked with questions. Why had her own mother given her up? Who was Victoria, really?
    And how had she brought Jake back to life?
    But Victoria had sidestepped every question. And now that Victoria was ready to talk, Laney couldn’t help but worry about what she would find out.
    Three black SUVs sped past them as they turned onto the short lane just before Victoria’s road.
    “What the hell?” Henry said.
    A feeling of foreboding crawled over Laney. She twisted the ring on her finger, but she got no inclination that any of the individuals in the SUVs were Fallen. “Henry.”
    “I’m on it.” Henry picked up his phone as they turned onto Victoria’s Lane.
    Victoria’s home was located at the end of the block. There were only two other homes on the road, so it was possible the SUVs were from one of those.
    Henry’s eyes shifted to Laney and then back to his phone. “She’s not answering. I’ll try Ralph.”
    Laney pictured the massive garden Victoria had created in her back yard. She loved it out there. She’s probably just out in the garden and didn’t hear the phone.
    Henry held the phone to his ear for a few beats before pulling it away with a frown.
    A sinking sensation began to develop in Laney’s stomach. “What’s wrong?”
    Henry slowly lowered the phone. “He’s not answering either.”
    Jake pushed the gas pedal farther to the floor. Laney’s anxiety grew worse, but she tried to shake it off. It’s nothing. They’re both just away from their phones.
    Jake rounded the curve in the road, and Victoria’s gate came into view.
    It hung from its hinges, gaping open.
     

CHAPTER 7
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    D isbelief flooded Laney as she stared at the destroyed gate. Victoria was beyond security-conscious.