“‘For all eternity,’” Caleb said, rising from the floor. “Sounds like he’d found a way to place the power in stasis. Or so he thought. The ritual was obviously fallible since there is evidence of the energy surfacing after that age. The woodshop incident, among others.”
“Oh, shit.” Maximus continued to scan the page. “While performing the ritual, Silas showed up. Tom held him off long enough for the ritual to be completed, but—”
“No, Dad,” Shaney sobbed through clenched teeth. His sobs escaped despite the seizing in his chest. The energy rushed him like a tidal wave and with it, the agonizing pain returned. The tingling invaded in a whoosh he swore he could hear in his ears. Searing heat washed through his veins. Why was this happening now? Was Hudson too far away from him?
“—Silas...killed him.”
Hudson, where are you?
“B-but I don’t remember any of that,” Shaney confessed as if his lack of memories nullified what was in the book.
Caleb sighed and scanned the page over Todd’s shoulder. “You were kept unconscious by Hyrum during your time there.”
Years of grief over the loss of his father spilled out. Shaney’s dad had fought to save him, was dead because of Shaney. The pictures on the walls and items on the shelves started to vibrate, as if prodded by the effects of an earthquake.
Caleb looked to Shaney. “Shit.”
Shaney’s sentiments exactly.
“We have to get you to Hudson. Come on.” Todd grabbed Shaney’s hand and pulled him to the stairs. Caleb and Maximus followed behind. Maximus pushed Shaney from behind to keep him moving.
Shaney’s sorrow competed with the heated rage burning deep in his core, coalescing and morphing into a need in his very soul for revenge. And he would get that revenge. He would make Silas pay. Nothing and no one could stop him.
Todd yanked Shaney into the empty kitchen where the backdoor was wide open. Todd released Shaney, his focus on whatever was outside of the open door. “Dan?” he asked, shocked. “What...Why...What the fuck are you doing?”
The utter pain in Todd’s voice pulled Shaney’s attention out into the driveway.
“No!” Shaney bellowed, darting out the door. Before he could reach his destination, hands grabbed his shoulders and beefy arms wrapped around his chest, holding him tight as he struggled.
On the driveway next to Mr. Anderson’s car, Silas stood next to Mr. Anderson. The Antichrist was holding a shaking Hudson upright. Across Hudson’s bare chest were two symbols rendered in black. Hudson’s chest heaved with heavy exertion. His pallid skin contrasted with the blue around his lips. His head lolled on Mr. Anderson’s shoulder, eyes wide, terrified, and filled with sorrow.
Silas held up a symbol cast in copper. “Shaney, my boy. Our time has come.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Shaney struggled against Maximus’ hold to go to Hudson. “You son of a bitch! Let him go. I’m going to kill you!” Shaney sharply shifted his focus. “Mr. Anderson, what’re you doing? Stop this! Let Hudson go!”
Mr. Anderson averted his eyes.
“Uh, uh, uh,” Silas warned, flashing the symbol he held. Shaney was fucking sick of those damn symbols.
“Shaney, don’t move,” Caleb said with that eerie calm. For someone who had just learned of his supposed friend and lover’s betrayal, he was too calm.
Silas grunted. “Caleb. Still fighting for the ‘good guys’, I see. And still in the company of my traitorous former head of security. Maximus, your betrayal still slights.”
Maximus growled. Definitely not a fan of Silas. “Where’s your muscle, Silas, or did your overinflated ego bring you here with only a traitor to have your back?”
“They’re standing by. You would know that more than anyone since I had trusted you with my security at one time.” Silas shook his head with what appeared to be regret.
“Still playing the evil bastard card, I see,” Caleb spat.
“This ‘evil bastard’ is currently holding all the aces. You see, Shaney, these beautiful symbols I have rendered on your Protector’s chest are currently interfering with the electric impulses in his heart. He’s on the verge of a massive coronary event.” Silas gave Shaney the once over. “Seems to be having some adverse effects on you as well. Just know that all I have to do is touch this symbol to his chest and your boyfriend dies from a heart attack.”
“Just like you killed my father!”
The energy inside roared with Shaney’s escalating anger. His body sucked in energy through every pore.
Silas nodded, but the self-satisfied grin Shaney expected didn’t materialize. Instead, he appeared almost...remorseful? “Clever boy. I didn’t want to kill him. After all, he was the only father you had ever known. I offered him the opportunity to maintain his role, alongside your mother. By the age of ten, you had bonded with them. Taking you away at that point would have been cruel, and more importantly, detrimental to your training. But your father was a stupid fool. He told me I wouldn’t get near his son. His son! So I removed him from my path just as I removed Hyrum.”