Annabeth glanced down at her hands, embarrassed to meet Mother Rachel’s pitiless stare. She realized with a start that she’d begun biting her fingernails again. She jammed her hands into her apron pockets. “It’s worse than you know,” she confided. “There was a time, not so long ago, when I imagined I heard voices.”
“Voices?” The old woman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What kind of voices?”
Annabeth replied in a whisper. “Demon voices.”
“God have mercy!” Mother Rachel exclaimed in a shocked tone.
“I couldn’t get them out of my head.” Annabeth pressed her hands to her temples. “They were telling me to do terrible things. The diviner said because I was so weak, the Evil One had deluded me and led me astray. Satan wanted to take control of my thinking—to corrupt me and use me to corrupt others.”
“The Lord surely revealed the truth of the matter to my husband.” Mother Rachel nodded sententiously. “You should hearken to his words.”
“After the baby was born, the voices stopped. I thought I was safe. But now...” She hesitated. “This week, the whispers started up again.”
Mother Rachel tapped her finger on her chin, pondering Annabeth’s confession. “It’s obvious that your son’s death was meant both as a punishment for your idolatry and as a caution to have nothing to do with the Evil One. Listen to that warning, Annabeth, before worse things happen to you. Turn your back on Satan.”
“But how can I avoid him!” Annabeth cried, her sense of terror growing. “Those voices are inside my head, not outside. How can I fight them?”
“Get on your knees and pray, child. Pray that God will have mercy on your sinful soul and keep you from the fiery pit where all the Fallen are doomed to go on the Day of Judgment.”
Annabeth sprang out of her chair in a panic. “No, no! I can’t go there. To be cast out of the Kingdom. Never to see my son again for all eternity. It’s too horrible!”
Mother Rachel rose too. She towered over Annabeth. “Then take heed. Pray day and night for God’s mercy or else Lucifer will snatch you away in an unguarded moment.”
“I’ll try.” Annabeth bobbed her head in vehement agreement.
The old woman turned to leave, apparently satisfied that she had roused Annabeth out of her apathy. Then she paused as a new thought struck her. “All this nonsense has distracted me from the real reason for my visit. I came to tell you that you’ll be moved out of these apartments by the end of the week. This space is needed for another consecrated bride who just rose to the rank of principal wife. She gave birth to twin sons yesterday. You’ve been reassigned to your old quarters.”
Annabeth scarcely felt the sting of her demotion as Mother Rachel exited the room. All her attention was focused on the demons prowling restlessly inside her head. They were calling her by name now—inviting her to join them in hell.
Chapter 35—Baggage Transfer
Daniel trotted in the direction of the back fence where he’d been told his father was inspecting the grounds. Lately, the diviner had adopted the habit of touring the perimeter of the property just to make sure all the surveillance cameras were operational. He also made a point of examining the fencing to check for gaps that might offer a means of escape. Although the compound had always been secure, Hannah’s disappearance had turned it into a prison for the rest of its hapless inmates.
Abraham’s increasing infirmity meant that he could no longer stride across the acreage using his own two legs. He had chosen the improbable conveyance of an electric golf cart. Daniel briefly entertained the fanciful image of his father riding around an actual golf course. His funereal attire would undoubtedly put a damper on the game for the rest of the players.
The scion plunged through the woods, hoping to take a shortcut to catch up with the cart. He was due to give the diviner a progress report on his travel plans. Now that Chris had helped him pinpoint Elephanta Island and the ruined city of Dholavira as two possible hiding places for the next relic, he could be on his way to India at any time. While Daniel wanted nothing more than to quit the misery of the compound, his very desire to leave made him feel guilty. The baby’s death had cast a pall over his impending journey.
Much as he disliked Annabeth’s behavior of late, nobody should have to endure the loss of a newborn. Especially not in the shocking way she’d experienced that tragedy. His wife didn’t deserve that. He reminded himself brutally that she also didn’t deserve a spineless husband who wanted to abandon her at the drop of a hat. He felt disgusted with himself. His urgent longing to escape was unpardonable. Today he intended to ask his father to postpone the trip. Although he hardly expected the diviner to welcome the news, given the circumstances Daniel didn’t expect him to prohibit a delay either.
He spied a flash of white up ahead through the trees. The scion crashed through the remaining brush and shouted, “Father!”
He came out of the copse just as Abraham stopped the cart, squinting in his direction to see who had summoned him. The old man gave a broad smile when he recognized his son.
“Hello, my boy.” Abraham’s greeting was uncharacteristically cordial. “I hope you’re well this fine afternoon.”
The scion jogged up to the vehicle.
The old man gestured to the empty seat beside him.
Daniel slid in and turned slightly to face the diviner.
“How are your travel preparations progressing?” his father began conversationally.
“Everything’s going according to plan, sir,” Daniel replied. “All the arrangements have been made. I can leave as soon as I’ve packed...” He balked, hesitating to come to the point.
The diviner shot him a suspicious glance. “What’s the matter? Have
