Page 75 of Old Secrets

“There’s no right or wrong answer to it.”

“There really isn’t,” he agreed. “It is all a matter of circumstances. How many other people would have lost their lives if they had not allowed them to kill their children?”

“I didn’t think of that.”

“I’m assuming that’s the case because of what that Rosalie woman said. Disobedience was punished with sacrifice. I don’t think these assholes care how many children they kill, although I am concerned there might be a sorcerer among them.”

“A sorcerer?”

“Someone who harvests pain and suffering for magic. How better to get a good harvest than to slaughter the children of fanatical worshippers? The agony of the parents’ grief, the suffering of the children upon death, it all points to something a sorcerer would do—and a sorcerer might be able to block your parents from using their powers.”

Fuck. “So that could be real?”

“A sorcerer might be in a position to make global domination plans a reality with enough cannon fodder—or infant sacrifice.”

“How do we kill a sorcerer?”

“Aim a gun at their head, fire. They’re human, and they have human weaknesses. As long as the sorcerer doesn’t take you over or paralyze you, you’ll be able to tear them apart easily. It’s entirely possible your parents were unable to act, overpowered by a sorcerer who’d just gained power from the slaughter of their children. It’s harder for a sorcerer to overwhelm numerous people at one time. I’m betting he expects his flock to do as told. If the flock is on our side but the sorcerer believes that the flock is on his side, they can do what we might not be able to.”

“I’ll make certain they know they’re to get the kills as soon as an opportunity allows.” Never again would these people hurt another soul. Sorcerer or not, their days were numbered, and I would enjoy crossing out each day as we got closer to our goal. “I’m not against being some goddess of retribution right now, Jake. In fact, it’s quite to my liking. That’s precisely what these assholes are going to get. They will pay.”

“They will.” Jake reached over and gave my leg a pat. “How are you holding up otherwise?”

“I’m not looking forward to this trip. We’re going to drown during the day and freeze during the night. It gets cold here even in the summer.”

“Well, we’re going to be venturing into the mountains. It’s to be expected. I’m more concerned about what you’ll do if you happen to come across a tree or a cliff to climb.”

“Asshole,” I muttered.

“It’s a great joy of my life being the one you call an asshole.”

“I’m going to have to ask your father if he dropped you on your head as a baby.”

“I’m pretty sure I wasn’t dropped on my head as a baby. They just expected me to be the king of their castle when the only castle I want to rule is yours.”

“I have a castle?”

“Bedroom, castle… close enough.”

My parents fidgeted, and before they could jump out of their skins, I got out of my seat, hopped over to them, and said, “We’re going to your refuge, and we’re taking a bunch of turncoats with us. They’re going to make arrangements for the problem to come pay us a visit, after which they won’t be a problem anymore.”

Jake took his time coming to join us, and he laughed. “If you had a tail, you’d be whipping it back and forth in glee, Karma. Please don’t mind her. After a bunch of people started literally worshipping her, it did the exact opposite of going to her head. They’ve dubbed her a goddess of retribution, and she finds her role to her liking, but she’s determined worship is not something she wants aimed in her general direction.”

“What do you mean?” my mother asked.

Taking a deep breath to soothe my nerves and calm myself, I filled my parents in on what had happened upon reaching the airport. Once done, I said, “We had people on hand to verify the truth, and they seem to be genuine.”

“Us, worshipped?” my mother blurted.

“You have a case of thousands of years of people being brought into a cycle, convinced it’s essentially a religion, and you’re the center of it. I’m guessing Greenwich’s leadership hasn’t realized they took some elements of their controlling a little too far. Because I’m alive, some parts of the group have fallen into a state of religious fervor over the matter.”

My father regarded my mother with a frown before staring at me. “We did not have much exposure to many people, just the one that would kill our children and a few others.”

“The few others are likely the masterminds being Greenwich—and why you can’t use your powers in the refuge.” I eyed Jake. “He knows of some people who gain power from killing innocents, and I think his idea is sound.”

My father’s cheek twitched.

Meeting my gaze, my mother asked, “Are you sure about this?”