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MOTHER ROSE STOOD IN THE SHADE OF A MASSIVE COTTONWOOD TREE. Brother Alexi stood behind her, his massive hammer standing on its head, the handle leaning against the tree trunk. Other reapers—all trusted members of her inner circle, her chosen ones—stood in a loose ring around them. In the middle of this ring was a ragged prisoner, a stocky man with a Hawaiian face and curly black hair. He knelt directly in front of Mother Rose, and she towered over him, dominating him with her personal power as well as the evident control she held over his life.
The Hawaiian bowed his head.
“—and this girl who was leading you,” said Mother Rose, “h
er name was Riot?”
“Yes, ma’am,” mumbled the prisoner.
“She was leading all of Carter’s people through the woods?”
There was a pause before the man said, “Carter wasn’t our leader. We’re all from Treetops. No one elected him ‘king.’ We all fought our way out.”
Mother Rose flicked a glance at Alexi, who mouthed the word “Bingo.”
“What is your name?” she asked.
“Mako,” said the Hawaiian. “Like the shark.”
“It is my belief, Brother Mako,” said Mother Rose, “that Carter presumed leadership of your group only because he had a relationship with Riot.”
“I guess. Carter’s always been an arrogant . . . ” Mako let the rest go. “The two of them were thick as thieves, ever since we met her.”
“They are both sinners,” said Mother Rose.
Mako hesitated, then nodded. “I guess so.”
“I know so. Sinners and heretics who care only for themselves. Tell me what happened.”
Mako glanced at the reapers, then risked a look up at Mother Rose, who gave him an encouraging smile.
“I don’t want to die,” said Mako. Fear and defiance warred on his face. “I don’t owe a damn thing to Carter. I . . . don’t want to die.”
“Death waits for all sinners,” said Mother Rose. “But for those who serve the will of God . . . there is always a chance for a new life.”
Mako blinked in confusion. “But . . . I thought . . . the reapers . . . ”
Mother Rose bent and caressed the man’s bruised cheek. “The world is full of mysteries, and the Lord Thanatos moves in such unexpected ways.”
“Wait . . . I . . . ”
She bent closer still and whispered in Mako’s ear. “A new world is waiting to be born. If there is something you know—a word, a name—something you ache to tell me . . . then that name will buy your way into a new paradise. And no, my friend, I am not talking about the darkness. This is no trick. This new world will be right here. This world. Our world.”
“You promise?”
“On my life,” she assured him. “Now . . . tell me.”
Mako leaned back and studied her face, looking for the lie. Finding none.
“I know where Riot was taking Carter and . . . the rest of us. A place called Sanctuary.”
“I already know that she was taking them to Sanctuary,” said Mother Rose with a sigh. “Is that all you know?”
The big Hawaiian man shook his head. “There were four of us. Carter, his wife, Riot, and me. Two nights ago, Riot drew a map in the dirt to show us the best routes in case we ran into trouble. In case we got separated from her.”
Mother Rose waited, holding her breath.
“I know how to find Sanctuary,” said Mako. “I can take you there.”
