Heart Recaptured (Hades Hangmen #2)(20)
Judah gestured to the commune. “So what do you think of New Zion?” Judah’s face appeared nervous as he waited for my answer. He so desperately sought my approval, believed completely that I was his prophet.
In the two weeks following the Hangmen’s deadly raid on The Order’s previous commune—while I’d been fleeing to The Pasture, my childhood home in Utah—Judah had been working round the clock with a newly formed elder council to find us a new land to call our own. A new land to house our people, to unite our followers, and a new land to protect God’s chosen people from the evil lurking outside our gates… the evil men who murdered our sacred prophet and massacred our brave and holy men who fought back against their unwanted invasion—The Hangmen, the motorcycle club that I’d had to live with under a new identity on request of Prophet David. Judah and the council constantly reminded me that they were heathens and sinners, and they wanted me to vow to take them all down for the pain and destruction they had bestowed on my people.
I had agreed, though I had no idea how to even begin to think of taking them out. I was tired of the violence and too consumed with just the idea of how to even be all that my people wanted me to be.
But worst of all, The Hangmen had the Cursed women of Eve. They had her… Salome, the woman revealed by the Lord to Prophet David to save our people and to secure their place in paradise by the union of marriage. The woman who must be my wife. The woman who nightly tormented my dreams, but all the while lay promiscuously with him, Styx. The man I hated most. She was mine. Mae should be with me, by my side.
Ridding my mind of all thoughts, I met Judah’s expectant gaze and smiled. “Brother, it is perfect. It is truly perfect for what we have planned, as a sanctuary for both our people and the Lord’s cause.”
Judah’s expression reflected his relief, tears of joy glistening in his eyes. “I am humbled to hear you say such words.”
“Judah, there is no need for ceremony with me. I am your twin. You are the one person who does not need to seek my approval. I need you. You’re all I have.”
Judah sighed and asked, “And your quarters?”
“They are more than I could ever dream.”
“That pleases me greatly, brother.”
For the past two weeks, I’d been kept in seclusion from all except Judah and the elder council at The Pasture to ensure my protection while the new commune was secured. New Zion was an ex-military base sold to us by a Chosen who lived undercover within the political mainframe. The base was perfect for The Order’s new home. It was secure, already had a mass of housing, communal areas, and we could become self-sufficient by using the many acres of arable land… but best of all, it wasn’t too far from our old commune, from all our alliances, yet it was far enough to be unsuspecting and off the common public’s radar.
“Are the people gathering to move here now, from all of the overseas communes?” I asked, nerves suddenly racking my body at the thought.
“The elders are organizing them as we speak. They are all very anxious to meet you, to be united, and to hear the Lord’s words spill from your mouth.”
I cast my eyes down so my twin did not see my fear. “I am sure they are. It has been a very difficult time for them of late. They need guidance and strong leadership. They need a new goal, a new hope… They need comfort that our dead will be avenged. We all need to finally band together, without fear of the outside world.”
“And you will be that hope, that solider for them,” Judah said with conviction. I could see the excitement of our revenge burning brightly in his brown eyes. Judah was determined to bring the wrath of Lord on all who wronged us… and I was right behind him.
“Prophet Cain? Brother Judah? We are ready. The people have begun their journeys from afar and they are eager for the future ascension. It is a monumental time for us all! The diaspora is over; our unification is here!”
Turning, I smiled at my council of elders as they approached. They were handpicked by Judah. They had seniority, loyalty, and best of all, absolute faith in our cause. And I could not relate in any way to most of them.
“Brother Luke, Isaiah,” I greeted the more senior in age first, out of respect. I then turned to the disciple I talked with most and spread my arms. “Brother Micah!” Micah embraced me and then stepped back.
Micah was Brother Luke’s son. They had been overseeing some of the international communes for Prophet David for most of their lives, but when Judah had put out the call for the communes to unite, they’d been the first to respond, immediately traveling to this base. They had been rocks in bringing everything together.
The commune had been split into four sites, with New Zion being the biggest. All were close to Zion, so if one fell to an outside and evil intrusion, our sect would remain and our holy soldiers would be readily available to fight and defend their faith.
“Are you ready, sir?” Micah asked and laid a hand on Judah’s shoulder. The three of us were of a similar age, and he had grown into someone I could trust.
“I am ready for what lies ahead,” I replied, but could not help but feel suffocated by all of the pressure lying at my feet. Micah regarded me strangely and I panicked that he could see my inner struggle on my face, the severe doubt I had in my ability to fit into this role.
“Please give me a moment for private prayer. I have much to prepare,” I said and saw relief spread on his face.