Destiny's Wrath (Destiny Series - Book 3) Read online

  Two days later we were at the funeral, grieving for people neither of us had ever met. I watched Max, the turmoil on his face difficult to bear. He blamed himself; I didn’t need to hear him say it - I could see it. Because Jimmy had annihilated two families in such a small community, the outpouring of friends and neighbors was heart wrenching. There wasn’t a funeral home or church large enough to accommodate all the people who had been touched by the deaths.

  We sat looking at retracted basketball hoops, a blackened score board, seated on wooden bleachers not meant to provide any comfort to those grieving from their loss. We saw mourners of all ages. Max and I sat near the top and to the right, away from the tight knit group below. We didn’t want to be comforted, nor did we feel like we belonged there.

  There were seven full-sized caskets and two smaller ones lined up on the gymnasium floor. All the caskets were closed with silver framed smiling faces placed on top of each. Flowers lined the tables up against the wall, behind the minister’s podium. The sobs coming from all directions were overwhelming.

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when an uncle was talking about the youngest victim . . . “And little Melanie only just started kindergarten. I was there the first day of school as she bounded toward the school bus, blonde curls bouncing as she skipped her way to the bus with her Barbie backpack. She rode the school bus with her big brother, Bradley. Melanie had a soft place in her heart for every stray animal that walked into her yard. Part of her nightly ritual was to leave cat food and milk on the front porch for the cats in her neighborhood. Melanie said she was going to grow up and be a veterinarian so she could help the strays that couldn’t help themselves.” The tears flowed freely from the uncle as he stepped away from the podium to lay a stuffed toy on the top of her casket: a gray plush cat. When he continued, his voice was even more strained than before, “Her seven year old brother Bradley watched a news story last year in late December, about a Christmas tree catching a family’s trailer on fire. The story touched him deeply. The next morning he announced to everyone that he wanted to become a firefighter. He also insisted that his mother give his Christmas presents to the little boy who had lost everything in the fire.” He stepped away from the podium a second time, this time to lay a fireman’s hat on Bradley’s casket. “Both of these children had such bright futures. They were the light of all our lives. Their older brother, Miles, was often seen forgoing plans with friends on the weekends, choosing instead to take Bradley and Melanie to the movies, to a ball game, or to the dog park with their Labrador. . .”

  The minister was accustomed to delivering heartfelt sermons, but even he was hardly able to pick up when the uncle found it impossible to continue. The minister chocked out the remainder of the eulogy. The sobs all around us were nearly deafening. This was a family who loved each other deeply, who couldn’t possibly have been destined to have their lives cut so short.

  The sobs seemed to diminish a little when a shorter blonde woman stepped to the podium. “When I was asked to give the eulogy for Noah and Jessie, I was honored. Although not family, I was their case worker who placed them in Miss Abbey’s home over nine years ago. The day they were first assigned to me was fourteen years ago. Noah was mature beyond his years, and I’ll never forget his unconventional greeting, ‘We only need your help because I’m too young for a job. If you try to split us up, I’ll slash your tires.’” Laugher intermixed with the sobs as the caseworker went on, “This first meeting with Noah was the epitome of the man he was to become. He was Jessie’s protector, he spoke the truth no matter the repercussions, he was a young man who set the example for all others. Over the years, I can say that knowing Noah and Jessie made me a better person. The two were well-adjusted, thoughtful, respectful, and above all – they were a joy to know. I will miss them terribly, and it is a tragedy that their lives were cut so short. Both would have become exceptional adults. Noah and Jessie had both beaten the odds that were stacked against them. A troubled, addicted, single mother somehow produced two honor students with goals, dreams, and the drive to achieve them. Noah was an athlete in high school and had been accepted to the University of South Carolina on a full-ride academic scholarship. Jessie was a beautiful sophomore this year. She had made the varsity cheer squad and was an athlete in her own right. As a little girl she was shy; she had blossomed into a lovely young woman. Both Jessie and Noah loved Miss Abbey, and I know the three are together still. . .”

  Max whispered, “We never should have let that kid take him.” This wasn’t the first time Max had shared this sentiment with me, but being here, in this moment, his pain was unrelenting. I’d had the same thought almost since the moment I’d heard of the tragedy, but something inside me wouldn’t allow me to speak the words out loud.

  He continued, more to himself than to me, “We should have found another way. We should have asked Renny for help.” I watched Max’s eyes cloud in front of me and knew his grief was crippling him.

  I mumbled, “There’s nothing we can do about it now. There is no way we could have known; stop beating yourself up. The kid’s in jail. What damage can Samael do there?”

  “I’m not sure what more damage he can do, but I think we should go see the kid, today. See if there’s anything we can do for him. The kid didn’t ask for any of this. There’s no way he could have known.”

  Something had bothered me the entire drive here from Ridgeville. “Samael didn’t have any real control over you. He couldn’t make you do something you didn’t want to do. Even Dakota told us the kid was ill-intentioned.”

  As I spoke her name, I saw her. She was sitting four rows from the front, dead center on the other side of the gymnasium. She wore a sleek black dress, satin, with a large white belt, an enormous black straw hat with black netting draped down on the front. She was sitting near the foster mom’s biological children. She wasn’t trying to comfort anyone, only sitting with them, as if absorbing their emotions. She watched Max and me for several seconds longer than was comfortable, then casually waved her gloved hand and turned her attention back to the service.

  I looked around the school’s gymnasium. It was by no means the largest I’d ever seen, but it easily held the thousand plus people in attendance. Dakota’s attendance perturbed me; though I said nothing, I wondered what her possible motivation could be.

  Several minutes passed as the music continued to play for the service; my eyes continued to bore holes through Dakota’s head. The minister finished the eulogy and the choir began walking to the opposite side of the gym. Dakota stood up calmly, straightened her outfit, walked to an aisle and began her march toward us. I could feel Max’s muscles turn rigid as he realized she was not just in attendance but was making her way toward us.

  When she was just two rows away from us, she turned her back to us and sat facing the service once again. If we really were at a basketball game, she would have been perfectly positioned to dump a soda on. I looked across the gymnasium; directly across from where Dakota had just sat down was Renny. I hadn’t noticed her before and couldn’t be sure how long she had been there.

  My thoughts were clear when I silently asked her, “What are you doing here?”

  “Lauren, I was unsure if you would acknowledge me. I am here for the same reason you are, to pay my respects to Samael’s victims.” Her answer was unambiguous - for once, and her voice sounded strong.

  Renny is the only telepathic person I’ve ever known. Until this horrific tragedy, our last conversation took place the day Dakota had exorcised the demon from Max, the same day I told Renny I never wanted to see her again. As my mind returned to that day, I confessed, “Max blames himself for this.”

  Her reply was thunderous in my head, “Samael is responsible. Max was never more than a vessel.”

  “Maybe you can tell him that after the service. He’s taking it pretty hard.”

  “I’ll be happy to speak with him after the service; however, you know it is painful for me to be near Dakota.”

>   I nodded my head, knowing full well she could see me. “She just sat down a few minutes ago, she’s not with us.”

  I could feel Renny examining me from across the room. She finally delighted in her answer, “She’s trying to block our communication. Can you feel it?”

  I shook my head that I couldn’t. Renny continued, “She is weak because doubt has no place in your mind. You are as sure as you have ever been about the circumstances, are you not?” I didn’t understand her question, so she rephrased, “You know there was nothing you could have done to stop this situation. You know there was nothing Max could have done either. This was a troubled young man who happened to befriend a demon. The results are catastrophic, but nothing you could have or should have prevented. That is what you feel, yes?”

  Ashamed that she had so easily read my thoughts, I simply responded, “Yes.”

  “Dakota will be most disappointed. Do not let her get her grips into Max. Remind him that he did the only thing he could have done to save his life.” She paused for a second before adding, “We would have killed him that day.”

  Chills ripped through my body. How could Renny so casually talk about murdering Max? How could she think I would accept her truth blindly and not start a murderous rampage of my own - on the Council.

  “It is not in your nature. There is no reason for me to lie to you or to sugar coat an ugly truth.”

  Her final comment echoed through my mind as the service ended. People were saying their final goodbyes to the caskets lined up on the gym’s floor. Max and I made our way outside. Max had made a decision of his own, “We need to go see him, the kid.”

  “Max, I’m not so sure, I think we should talk to Renny first. I don’t think you should go anywhere near Samael until we know it’s safe.”

  “There’s got to be a way to kill Samael without hurting the kid. Demons are exorcised all the time. Maybe we could find a priest or something.”

  “Didn’t you already threaten Samael with that once before? You told me he wasn’t the least bit concerned about it. What would have changed now?”

  Max said, “I don’t know, but there’s got to be something we can do.”

  We were both feeling pretty helpless. When I saw Dakota approaching us, I felt nothing. She didn’t instill fear, danger, happiness, or for that matter, even concern. Max looked as though he were bracing for even more bad news.

  As she approached, it was obvious she felt the need to stop to talk. “I am not surprised to see you two here. I hope you do not believe this to be your fault?”

  I shook my head that I didn’t believe this to be our fault, but Max stayed stoic. He asked her, “Dakota, what can we do?”

  “There is nothing you can do for those who have died.” She answered Max then directed her attention to me, “Do you question your gifts?”

  “I haven’t figured out how to change someone’s destiny, if that’s what you mean.”

  “I do not have those abilities, so I am unable to advise you. You must realize that changing someone’s course in life should not be taken lightly. When you know how to work your special gift, it should not be used unless you are willing to accept the repercussions.”

  I heard a familiar voice speak from behind me, “I’m confident, Dakota, that Lauren is not susceptible to your words of doubt. I think you’ve done enough damage. You should leave these two alone.” Renny’s words were stern, a thinly veiled warning.

  Max looked between the two women, “I don’t care who helps us, but we need to fix this.”

  Dakota was the first to respond, “I am unable to stay here with Renny so close. It pains me to leave you two in her care, but I am not strong enough to help you. There is little to be done. This was a tragedy that only the two of you could have averted, and only six months ago.” Dakota looked directly at me, “There are no destinies to be bent or to be manipulated. The damage is already done.”

  Her words sliced me. I could feel my mouth gaping open and saw the hurt look on Max’s face as she walked away. Renny’s voice took on a calming effect, “She’s very good. Do not allow her words to affect you. She is merely doing what she was placed on this earth for, to make you doubt your choices. The only thing she was correct about was there is nothing that can be done to undo this situation. Go home to your happy lives. You have both earned them.” Renny, too, walked away.

  We stood beside Max’s truck. He was the first to recover. “So the kid is possessed, Dakota says we are responsible, but there’s nothing for us to do about it now. Renny says we’re not responsible, to go home, and to have a happy life. Did you notice neither one of them was the slightest bit concerned about the kid?”

  “Yeah, they were so concerned when Samael was in you that they sent a ‘hit squad’ to our house, but now that Samael’s been involved in a series of murders, they’re both telling us to get outta’ here.”

  “Let’s go to the jail and try to talk to the kid.”

  “What about Samael? Aren’t you concerned that he’ll somehow leap out of the kid and into you?”

  “I’ve been giving that some thought. I need to run an idea past you.”

  Chapter 11

  We drove past the kid’s house. I felt terrible for Jimmy’s mother. There were reporters, news vans, massive satellite dishes, and a media frenzy waiting for any potential movement from the house. I asked Max, “So, what do you think, maybe we can just walk up the front steps?”

  “Looking to make the regional news again?”

  “No, thanks.”

  We went to the local library and Googled Jimmy Jacob’s family. He lived with his mother, a single parent who worked for the local telephone company. We were able to find his home phone number, but not surprisingly, it seemed to be off the hook. I saw the library had postage stamps and envelopes available to purchase. I decided to pen a letter, knowing it would take a full day to reach Ms. Jacobs, but absent any other ideas, this was the best I had.

  Dear Ms. Jacobs,

  My name is Lauren Davis. I met your son several months ago. I cannot imagine the pain you are going through. I would like to help, if I can, but am unable to contact you any way other than the mail. I’d rather not brave the media circus outside your home without your consent to visit. Please call me if you will meet with me.

  Kind regards,

  Lauren.

  I wrote my cell phone number at the bottom of the note. Max and I stopped at the local post office. I ran in and handed the letter to the postman just as he was ready to lock the door for the evening. He looked like he’d had a pretty rough day and seemed happy to just accept a letter rather than trying to tell someone they were closed for the day.

  I got back into the truck, and Max and I looked for a motel for the night. We found an Econo Lodge. Max checked us in while I grabbed the bags. We made our way to a room halfway down the hallway and put our things in. The sun was beginning to set when we decided to go for a drive.

  “If we can’t get in touch with Jimmy’s mom, what’s our next move?” Max shrugged his shoulders but said nothing. I thought we were looking for a place to eat, but it looked like Max just wanted to drive, as we made our way onto a lonely county road. “Dakota was a different person today, huh?”

  “I don’t know her that well. Randy doesn’t talk about her that much.” Randy was Max’s boss and Dakota’s husband. She was a member of the Cabinet, which, from what I understood, had some sort of paranormal powers. Dakota’s power was to insert “doubt” in people’s heads, making them question their decisions and actions. It didn’t seem like such a formidable force to be reckoned with, and she once told me that she is the reason that people make good decisions. Basically when she’s around, they ask themselves: Do I look okay in this outfit? Am I prepared for this test? Do I have the right qualifications for the job?

  Rewsna, a.k.a. Renny, is a member of the Council, and her big power is Confidence. Needless to say, Renny and Dakota are universal opposites, so they completely hate each other. Renny ca
n also communicate telepathically with anyone she chooses. I guess I’ve always wondered if Dakota could do the same thing, but I have never had the courage to ask her, and she’s never responded to me when I’ve asked her a question silently. Neither of these two seem supernatural to me, but the Council and Cabinet are made up of more than just confidence and doubt. I know a few of the Council members, but Dakota is the only person I’ve ever met, that I know of, from the Cabinet.

  “She seemed a little less than helpful earlier today. You don’t think she knew this would happen, do you?”

  Max shrugged his shoulders again. “She did tell us that Jimmy had bad intentions. Maybe we should have tried to keep in contact with the kid.”

  “Yeah, right! Maybe you forgot that day that all the SUVs pulled up in the driveway? They had to decoy the kid just to get him safely out of the yard. I’m sure if we had tried to contact him, we would have just blown his cover to the Council and signed his death warrant.”

  Somberly, “And one kid would be dead instead of nine people.”

  I looked at Max and could see that guilt still engulfed him. I stretched my hand across the seat and answered quietly, “Better nine strangers than you.”

  It was a good thing we were on a country road in rural South Carolina because Max slammed on the brakes. When the truck stopped and the rubber smoke from the wheels evaporated, he said, “You don’t get to decide.” Max’s voice was on the verge of hateful.

  Surprised at his response, but knowing he needed to think about this from another angle, I answered, “You’re right, I didn’t decide. But I’m not feeling guilty for being thankful you’re alive. I’m thankful every day. We both know the Council would have killed you that day. We owe your life to that murderer.”