The Belial Stone (The Belial Series #1)(88)

Patrick looked at the stone. Laney couldn’t read his face. Fear stabbed through her. She knew Gideon was right. The power in the stone was the power of the gods. The power of God. Her uncle wouldn’t covet that, would he?

A smile was on the Fallen’s face, a smile of understanding.

Gideon’s smile wavered as Patrick looked back at him, shaking his head. “You think all men are like you. We’re not. This power is not meant for us. This was supposed to be a gift to mankind, but it’s been perverted. And you’re the one who perverted it. Mankind cannot handle this power, and you don’t get to wield it.” Keeping eye contact with Gideon, he dropped the stone into the fissure.

“No,” Gideon screeched, lunging for the edge.

Patrick backed away. Even from her distance, the fury in Gideon was palpable. She cried out as her uncle stumbled over an upturned piece of ground. Righting himself, he turned to run.

Gideon yanked him back, wrapping his fist tightly around the front of Patrick’s shirt. “So self-righteous. So moral. Let’s see your morality save you now.”

Gideon pitched him over the edge.





CHAPTER 87



“No!” Laney ran for her uncle on legs of Jell-O, terror almost dropping her to her knees. She barely registered Gideon as he sprinted away.

Henry reached the edge just as she did. Patrick had managed to grab onto a cliff edge only six feet down. He was barely hanging on.

“Grab my legs,” Henry yelled as he lowered himself head first over the edge.

Jake and Yoni threw themselves on Henry’s legs as he stretched out desperately to reach Patrick.

Laney felt like she was coming apart inside. This couldn’t be happening.

Patrick stretched up his hand. Henry was still too far away.

Trusting Yoni and Jake to keep him from plunging to his death, Henry stretched himself completely over the ledge, with only the tips of his boots touching the ground.

Laney held her breath, not daring to breath. This time, Henry reached Patrick’s fingers. Slowly, fingers crawled along fingers, until he grasped Patrick’s wrist.

“Pull us up!” Henry kept a death grip on Patrick.

Together, Yoni and Jake pulled on Henry, and Tom jumped in as well, adding the extra muscle needed to pull the two men up.

As Patrick got close to the edge, Laney leaned over to grab Patrick’s shirt and helped pull him back onto solid ground. He yelped as she grabbed onto his arm. She quickly adjusted her position and grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him over the side. She wrapped her arms tightly around him.

“You’re okay. You’re okay,” she repeated over and over, not sure who she was trying to reassure.

Yoni sat up first and looked around. “Where’d Gideon go?” he asked.

“There.” Tom pointed to the main entrance.

Yoni started to rise to go after him, but Henry stayed him with an arm.

“Gideon’s mine.” Henry’s voice left no room for discussion and he took off after him.

Laney kissed her uncle on the cheek. “I have to help him.” She turned to Yoni and Tom. “Take care of him."

Jake pulled her up. “I’m coming with you.”

“I never doubted it.” She sprinted towards the exit, Jake at her side. It was time to end this.





CHAPTER 88



Laney and Jake reached the exit seconds after Henry crossed though it. Gunfire rang out and she leaped back.

Jake grabbed her around the waist, pulling her into the wall, out of danger. “You hit?”

“No.” She peered past him. Henry was pinned down in the body ditch, climbing along the edge. Her breath caught as Gideon stepped to the edge, his boots on either side of Henry’s hands.

Henry looked up. “Azazyel.”

“So you know who I am. But do you know who you are, Henry Chandler? That is the true question.” Gideon stepped on Henry’s fingers. “How’s your mother doing? She’s going by Victoria these days, is she not?”

Henry gritted his teeth, but didn't answer.

Gideon stomped down harder. “What, no response? I’ve never understood how your mother could generate such loyalty in her children, when she’s doomed you all.”

“You know nothing about her.”

“Oh, my friend. Your mother and I go way back. And I do mean way back. But now’s really not the time for that. After all, what’s the point in chatting with a dead man?” Gideon aimed his gun at Henry’s head. “Good-bye, Mr. Chandler.”

Laney and Jake leaned out and set off a barrage of shots. Gideon dove for the ground. Bullets followed him as he crawled towards his car.

“Henry, we’ve got you covered! Get out of there!” Jake yelled.

Henry needed no further encouragement. Placing both hands on the edge, he vaulted out of the pit. He turned in the direction that Gideon had disappeared. Gideon’s car was peeling away.

Laney spied a truck. She sprinted for it and leaped in the driver’s seat. She flipped open the visor and the keys dropped into her lap. “Thank you, God.”

She turned the key as Henry and Jake jumped in the passenger door. “Hold on boys.” She slammed down the accelerator and peeled after Gideon.





CHAPTER 89