Page 93 of Axton
Magnus and Irons were both waiting for me in front of the room. There was a podium, and I set what I needed down on it. It was a pretty thick file. Unfortunately, there was no Jeremiah in attendance.
“Are they all accounted for?” I asked.
Magnus confirmed with a nod.
“Who is John Henry Ashford?” I asked and a nearly elderly man stood.
“Explain how such Godly people ended up with some of the most evil men on the planet.” I demanded.
He cleared his throat. “By orders of our profit.” He answered. “All we want is our sister returned to us safely.”
“All of Belle and Koty’s brothers please stand so I can address you.”
Fucking twelve men stood. Mostly they were of average height, that was a surprise judging by Koty’s height.
“I demand to know what kind of place you are holding us!” John Henry demanded.
I stood with my hands clasped behind my back. “I’d say you’re in quite the predicament then, because from where I’m sitting, you’re trespassing and don’t get to make demands. You put the lives of every man, woman, and child in this community at risk. For what? A false profit?”
“He has received the gift of the prophets.” John Henry said.
“From what I understand, there was to be no prophet until your sister married her intended. Your father helped Belle and Koty escape because you betrayed him. Jeremiah Brown is a false profit, and Belle was never meant for him.”
The cult members started whispering to each other like that was new information to them.
“We were never told such a thing. We were told our brother Koty took her against her will.” John Henry said.
“It was never her will to stay, in fact, she was saved for me. Mind repeating your father’s prophecy for me as it concerns Belle?”
“Are you saying you claim our sister and will be our next prophet?” They laughed at me. “God will send his most loyal warrior to defeat the false prophet, that faithful soldier is Jeremy Brown. He will bear the mark that matches hers, and lead us to the holy land. Bellemy will know him when she feels his presence near.”
I swallowed hard, damn that shit was nuts, and I found myself and the Originals questioning a few things. “Does he bear the mark that matches hers?”
“That part of the prophecy is up for debate.”
“Have you not seen her birthmark?” I was confused.
“We have, but our father didn’t specify which mark it is in his official written prophecy. Jeremiah has a birthmark on his upper thigh. We have not seen her thigh, but we have been assured it is there.” John Henry said.
I did, I saw her thighs, and there was no birth mark. “But the birthmark was verbally described by your father, was it not?”
“We must go by the official written prophecy.” He said.
“Wasn’t it also in the official prophecy her intended was a soldier?”
“Yes, but that’s also up for interpretation. A soldier doesn’t mean he must serve in the military. It means he is a soldier of God, sent to us as our next prophet and bishop that will fight evil to spread the word of God and help others cleanse their souls.”
I looked down at the will printed out in front of me. “We have a copy of that written prophecy that was attached to your fathers will. Have you seen the will?”
His face turned white.
I looked at Magnus and he lowered the lights after Baros put the copy of the will and the written prophecy up on the screen. I looked at John Henry since he was the highest ranking member present. “I’m taking it that you’ve not shown many people in your cult his official written prophecy?”
Another man stood. “No, they claimed not to have the official copy on hand. It’s up north, and we are not a cult. We are members of a strict religious community that protects our minds and souls from the influence of the outside world.”
Baros snorted and Magnus elbowed him. The man literally just gave the definition of a religious cult. I turned and pointed behind me. “Who has seen this written prophecy?”
Only three people raised their hands, and I knew who the guiltiest parties were. “I believe there’s a motive behind that, so please read the third paragraph with me.” I read from the copy on the podium.
