Page 66 of Fighting for Mallory

“Your love for him is pure, is it not? It is that purity and the simple goodness of your heart that must be sacrificed.”

“I’m curious. What happens to the victims’ hearts once they’re removed?”

“If it is evil, it is thrown into the fire to be consumed by the flames of righteousness. If it is good, it is consumed by the flesh.”

Mallory’s blood quickened her pulse. “What do you mean?”

“It is eaten, and its goodness absorbed into the flesh of the eater.”

Mallory gagged, and her knees buckled beneath her. The thought of these barbaric madmen roasting her heart and devouring it made her sick to her stomach. Saliva filled her mouth, bile rose in her throat, and she vomited.

“Is the thought of your goodness being shared with others so abhorrent to you?”

“In that manner? Yes!” she gasped. “All the good hearts you’ve eaten haven’t made you a better man or filled you with positive energy. You’re a cold-blooded monster. The worst of humanity. Your heart has already been weighed and deemed evil. Luca will send you straight to the fiery flames of Hell.”

Neheb observed the vomit on her dress and frowned, oblivious to her rant. “You have soiled your gown, but it cannot be changed. The harvest moon is rising higher, Mallory Hayes. I will leave you alone now to your private contemplations.”

“The only thing I’m contemplating is how good it’s going to feel when Luca serves your heart to me on a silver platter!” she shouted at Neheb’s retreating back.

Tears of anger, frustration, and helplessness streamed down her face. She sobbed until she’d wrung the last bit of emotion from her heart and soul. Ali waited patiently for the tempest to pass. He crept out of his hiding place and knelt next to her. He tore a strip of material from his shirt and bathed her hot face with bottled water.

“Ali, please,” she whispered in a raw voice. “Please help me.”

“Do not fear, Mallory Hayes. I am resolved.”

* * *

Ali emerged unseen from the caves. Since no one ever dared to defy Neheb, he did not need to post guards. Besides, doing so might draw the attention of unwanted visitors. Yesterday, he’d observed those strange men again in the caves as he kept a vigil close to Mallory Hayes. He’d learned that a tall, dark-haired one was named Luca, the avenging angel. Ali had watched him closely, had seen for himself the respect he commanded and his determination to save the woman he loved. This Ali admired. Understanding the avenging angel’s desperation, Ali hastened as silently as unseen spirits through the darkening woods. He had a great distance to travel on foot to find Mallory Hayes’ avenging angel.

So intent was he on making it into town that he did not see the figure that stepped in front of him until a fist connected with his face. Stunned, Ali staggered but did not fall to the ground.

“Traitor!” Omar hissed and smashed his fist into Ali’s face a second time.

Ali did not have time to convince Omar that he was innocent of being a traitor nor confess and plead with Omar to come with him and save his own life. He might condemn his soul for what he was about to do, but in a quick, easy movement, Ali shoved a dagger into his friend’s stomach and yanked upward. Omar looked down at the red bloom staining his shirt, and his mouth formed an O in surprise before his eyes rolled back into his head and he crumpled to the soft earth. Ali hesitated long enough to ensure that Omar’s soul had left this plane, then continued his journey. He encountered no more surprises.

Good fortune guided him when he came upon a motel and found the army trucks he’d seen the previous day. Here he would find Luca, the avenging angel. But which room?

Ali wandered aimlessly outside a corridor of rooms. Should he knock on doors? He had to be wary, too, of Neheb locating him.

Suddenly, someone grabbed him and spun him around. A big man with blond hair and arresting blue eyes. The stranger saw the tattoo on his hand and growled like a feral animal. It was the last sound he heard before stars invaded his vision.

Ali did not quite lose consciousness. The hulking man dragged him by the waist of his pants toward a room and flung open the door. He tossed Ali inside. Ali’s heart thrilled to see Luca, the avenging angel, and another man he recognized from yesterday.

“Who’s this?” Luca demanded.

“Don’t know,” Ali’s captor responded. “I caught him lurking outside our room. Look at his hand.”

Luca saw the fanged copperhead tattoo and emitted the same feral sound as the big blond man. He grabbed Ali’s throat. “Who are you? Where is Mallory?”

“I am Ali. And I have come to find Mallory Hayes’ avenging angel, Luca. You are he.”

Luca’s hands loosened around Ali’s throat, and his body sagged. Hope filled his dark eyes. “She is still alive.”

“Yes, until the full rising of the harvest moon at 5:58 in the morning.”

“Where is the Cave of Osiris?”

“So close to where you were searching yesterday. I will show you, but I killed my friend Omar when he tried to prevent me from coming here.”

---