Page 63 of Echoes of Fear

“How else is it supposed to sound, Mr. Wood?” Bobby asks.

“Just give me a chance to explain.”

“Honey, is he hurting you?” I ask, ignoring the bastard she’s sitting on.

“No,” she whispers. “I think he saved me.”

“You think?” Bobby asks.

“Explain,” I demand. “Why did you kidnap her?”

“I’m part of group called the Divine Ascendance Society,” he says.

Not caring if he can hear me or not, I start researching.

“Nothing,” I mutter to myself. “Divine Ascendance?” I repeat out loud. “As in divine spirituality?”

“Yes,” Donavan answers.

“A cult? You’re part of a religious cult? Donavan, I know everything about you and not once is there mention of a cult.”

“No, there wouldn’t be.”

The evil smile from before is replaced with exhaustion.

“Since you know everything about me, tell me, computer nerd, what do I do for a living?”

“You own the utopian retreat, Harmony Heights,” I answer easily, ignoring his nerd remark.

Freaking proud of it, dude!

“The employees and members of Harmoney Heights are the members of Divine Ascendance,” he explains. “We’re a society that practices in secret. The law states no leaving the retreat unless it’s planned ahead and with many members. Absolutely no electronics.”

“Harmoney Heights doesn’t use electricity,” I say. I remember first reading that and thinking people were nuts if they wanted to spend a few days at that retreat.

“The whole point is to harmonize yourself with nature and the people around you,” Donavan says. “Anyway, that’s what we tell strangers who come asking about us. But we’re actually seeking divine ascension.”

I remove my glasses and rub my eyes in frustration.

I’m angry at myself for not knowing that it was just a ruse for a dang cult.

“You know,” I say, replacing my glasses. “The last one who sought divine ascension was ultimately cast into a pit of fire and brimstone, right? Along with all of his followers.”

“It’s not the same thing,” Donavan says. “We’re not seeking to be God. Just to be like God.”

“I’m renaming you, Lucifer Morning-Star,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You believe whatever you want to believe. Where does DeeDee come into play?”

“It’s okay,” Donavan whispers softly to the poor girl.

Hmm. Maybe he isn’t the one she fears.

“I’m the leader of our Society and it’s time for me to take a wife.”

“Don’t say it,” Bobby cries.

“DeeDee was born with the mark,” Donavan says. “Her eyes. One is brown, and the other one is split right down the center with green on one side and blue on the other.”

“Heterochromia Iridum,” I state. “Amazing. It’s rare but not unseen. Wait, are you telling us that your cult is expectingyou to marry this nine-year-old little girl because her eyes are different?”

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