Inner Demons (Book Eight of the Silver Society)

Chapter Thirty

CHAPTER THIRTY

While Jade, Corey, Danny, and Clarissa worked on gathering everyone, Evan had Aideen meet him at Max's house. He broke in easily and she followed him inside.

Max smirked at the sight of them. "I wasn't expecting guests," he said. "I'd order a pizza, but we're not in New York, so it probably sucks."

"Where are Courtney and the kids, Max?" Evan demanded.

"Not here," Max replied with a shrug.

"They were," Aideen said sharply as she picked one of Courtney's rings up from the floor. "What the hell did you do to them?"

"They're perfectly fine, for now."

"Tell us where they are, Max. I don't want to hurt you. Don't make me," Evan said.

"You won't."

"Did you forget that I shot you the last time I saw you?"

"In the leg. You weren't trying to kill me. You let me walk away. Well, limp away, anyway."

"Max, it doesn't have to end like this. You're my cousin. I can help you."

"I don't need your help, Evan. I'm perfectly happy where I am."

"You thought you needed the cult to escape from your parents. I get it... But they're gone now, and you don't need a bunch of power-tripping morons to help you survive. The Unit can help you leave the cult."

"I don't want to leave the cult, Evan. I finally have a real family. You and I haven't been on the same side in a long time."

"Just tell me where Courtney and the kids are," Evan said firmly. "Come on, Max. I know you don't want the blood of a couple of toddlers on your hands. You're not like our parents were. You don't like hurting kids."

Max sighed. "Alright," he said. "Jonah took them to the woods at the edge of town. They're going to sacrifice the kids... All three of them."

"Three?" Aideen replied.

"The crazy warlock's pregnant," Max explained. "Her baby's part of the prophecy, along with Joey Collins and your niece. After they kill the kids, they're going to kill the lunatic and the Reaper. They might let Jade live, but only if she swears allegiance to the cult."

"After they kill her son? Yeah right."

"Jonah wants her at his side. She's a power house. If she wants to survive, that's her only choice."

"We need to warn Jade that she's walking into this," Evan said.

"It won't stop her," Aideen replied. "They have Joey. Nothing will stop her from going."

"I know, but she still needs to know that they're after her, too. Let's go."

"There's just one more thing, Evan," Max said. Before Evan could react, Max held a ritual knife to Aideen's throat as he pinned her against his body, holding her in front of him like a shield. "I never said I'd let you guys leave here alive."

"You don't have to do this, Max," Evan said.

"I know," Max replied. "This is just for fun."

In that moment, Evan knew without a shadow of a doubt that there was no good left in his cousin. His eyes were cold and calculating. As Max pressed down on the knife and drew a tiny amount of blood, Evan shot him in the head.

Max fell to the ground, taking Aideen down with him. Evan stared at his cousin's corpse for a moment before walking toward Aideen and helping her stand back up. Her wound was barely a scratch. "Are you okay?" He asked.