Fear the Wicked (Illusions Series Book 2)(75)

None of it made sense and I wished it hadn’t taken me so long to see it. I could blame that length of time on the fact that I was a slow reader, but it didn’t excuse me for my ignorance and what I’d already allowed to happen simply because Elijah told me it was right.

He’d pulled me under his wing after deciding to marry my sister. He’d promised me that she was meant to help him begin the war that would rid all of us of the evil infecting this world. After instructing me to run her off on the night he was supposed to officially marry her, he’d convinced me to stay at the compound and let her run off by herself into the woods. For a full week I didn’t know what was being done to Sedra, or Eve as he made us call her. I didn’t realize until it was time to collect her from the parish that Elijah had allowed her to sleep with his own brother. It wasn’t until we walked to the parish that day that he’d told me the truth of what he’d done, but even then he’d convinced me it was all God’s plan, that her sacrifice was as beautiful and holy as God’s own Son.

Slowly, the truth had come to me, and during that time I’d watched my sister become weaker and weaker with the teas she’d been drinking. I realized over the week that she was at the compound and Elijah stayed at the parish that if I didn’t get her away from him, eventually she would die.

After watching the service today and seeing what he’d convinced a child to do to another child, I was finally to a point where I understood that there was no other choice but to run away. I didn’t know where we would go or how we would get there, but I had to believe we’d find our way. So while Elijah was distracted by the townspeople talking to him, I approached Eve where she stood silently waiting.

“Hey, Sis. How are you feeling today?”

She turned to me and the light pouring through the windows sparkled in her green eyes. I noticed her health was returning ever since Elijah claimed to have purified her by crucifying that man at the compound. What most of the family didn’t notice was that at the same time he’d purified her by killing another, he’d also stopped giving her that tea. I noticed, but kept my mouth shut. I had to keep pretending I was still the ignorant believer in the lies he’d spread since the day I’d met him. Speaking up would only position me directly in his crosshairs and I’d never be able to escape with Eve. I couldn’t even tell my parents because they were so far gone in their belief in Elijah, they would run to him in the misguided belief they were saving their daughter from the evil that infected me.

“Joshua,” she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a strong hug. It made me happy to notice that her bones were no longer as obvious beneath her skin as they had been just a few weeks ago. “I’m so happy to see you.”

Laughing, I reached up to rub at the back of my neck, my muscles were tied in knots because I knew this might be my only chance to get her away from Elijah. “Me too. I was wondering if you’d like to take a walk with me? You know, just so we can talk and catch up.”

Turning immediately to look at her husband, Eve’s mouth twisted with indecision. A few tense seconds passed before she looked back at me and smiled. “Elijah looks like he’ll be busy for a little while. And I’d like to go outside and get some fresh air. But we have to stay on the parish grounds. I’m sure he’ll be looking for me once he gets done talking to all those people.”

Thankfully, the backyard of the parish was large and bordered by the woods. If I could get her far enough away from the building, there was a chance I could quiet her while dragging her off. If there was enough distance between us and the building, nobody would hear her arguing as long as I covered her mouth. I hated the thought that I might accidentally hurt her just to drag her away from the true danger - Elijah.

“That sounds good.” Offering her my arm, I waited for her to wrap hers through mine and allow me to lead her from the building. My heart was racing with worry, but I wouldn’t let it stop me from at least trying to save my sister.

Stepping outside, the warmth of the sun brushed my cheeks, birds singing from their treetop perches as people shuffled off to their cars or to walk down the sidewalks toward their homes. Fortunately, nobody noticed we’d wandered out and I led Eve around the side of the building and across the yard toward the line of trees at the back. I knew of an old hunting lodge that was hidden deep inside the forest, one that would only be a roof over our head and nothing more, but it would have to be enough until I could figure out where to take Eve to keep her away from Elijah.

My beautiful sister was silent as she walked beside me, completely comfortable beside her older brother that had always looked out for her. She’d never been one for constant conversation and I was thankful for her silence because it gave me the time to think. Was she strong enough to walk the distance to the hunting cabin? Would she complain and fight against me once she found out I didn’t intend on letting her return to the compound?

It couldn’t matter. If I had to knock her out and drag her, I would.

Approaching the forest, her arm tightened on mine, her head swiveling back to glance at the parish. “Aren’t we going a bit far? Elijah will worry if he can’t find me.”

I patted her hand with mine, a friendly smile pulling at my lips. “Elijah knows you’re with me. I told him before I found you inside the sanctuary.”

The lie appeased her and she kept pace with me, unconcerned by the distance we traveled away from the safety and security of the building.