The Church by Celia Aaron

Author:Celia Aaron [Aaron, Celia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Celia Aaron
Published: 2018-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Grace

Night cloaks me as I creep into the main house and hurry to the metal door in the basement. Castro waits inside, the tip of his cigarette glowing orange in the dark.

“What?” He leans against the wall, nonchalant even though his greatest enemy is just above us. If we were caught down here, the Prophet would kill us both.

I stand next to him, so close I can smell the stale cigar smoke in his dark hair. “Noah took Adam. He’s no longer at the Chapel.”

He glances at me. “How do you know?”

“Noah told me.”

“Why?”

“He needed a favor.” My blood boils at what I had to give up just to get this information. That whore Delilah spending time at Noah’s house. I have no doubt she warmed Adam’s bed, spread her legs and gave him whatever he wanted. That’s all she has to offer anyone—her freak pussy.

“Anything else?”

I nod. “The Chapel traitors are planning something for Sunday. I don’t know what, but it could interfere with our plans.”

“We’re moving forward no matter what. The time has come. The Father of Fire has told her—” he glances at the ceiling, as if he can see Rachel through the timbers. “The time is now, and it must happen on a holy day. This Sunday. What have you heard about the Chapel whores?”

“Nothing specific, but Chastity has been visiting more frequently.” I shake my head. “She thinks I don’t know. What a twit. Of course I know. She even chanced a visit to the Cathedral two days ago to speak with Ruth. It’s something big. I can feel it.”

“Should I pop them now and bring them to the Prophet?”

“I don’t think so. Ask her, of course. She knows best.” I feign deference to Rachel. I’m on her team, sure. But I could never bow to a woman. It goes against God’s law. Once Adam is firmly on the throne, I’ll convince him to get rid of her and this jumped-up wetback. “But it could play in our favor.”

He shrugs. “I’m fine with letting them stage their little rebellion. It’ll be more fun to shoot them down than get rid of them quietly.”

I don’t know. Seeing them swing from ropes or hang on crosses sounds like justice to me, but it’s six one way, half a dozen the other. They’re a problem that must be dealt with once Adam is Prophet. We’ll use them—either as a distraction or a scapegoat—until the time is right.

“Anything else?” He tosses his cigarette onto the concrete floor and crushes it with the sole of his boot.

My gaze wanders deeper into the room to the spot where Adam cradled his dying Faith. A chill creeps through my bones. Is she here, watching me? Judging me? I wish she were still alive. Then Adam wouldn’t hate me. If it weren’t for Faith, Adam and I would still be together, maybe already ruling over Heavenly. But that child ruined it all. I should have gotten rid of her at the first sign, but I didn’t.

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