Ravens Cove, An Iconoclast Thriller (Book 1)
The Spiritual Battle for a Small Alaska Town
By Mary Ann Poll
America’s Lady of Supernatural Thrillers
Chapter 25
LEGEND OR TRUTH
Bart grabbed the keys from his desk drawer and walked down the narrow hall to the cell.
Josiah stood at the barred door, waiting expectantly.
Bart motioned Josiah away from the door and unlocked it. He turned and headed back to the main room of the office.
Josiah followed.
“Mr. Williams, I need you to tell us what you know about the chaos erupting in Ravens Cove.”
“I believe you know the answer. Your real question is: How do we stop it?”
“Back to the confounded legend, is it?”
“The truth is the truth. In order to fight this thing, though, we must first get more information from Alese Bricken.”
Bart’s brow furrowed. “Grandma Bricken? How do you know her?”
“I have not met her. I was told about her—in a dream. She holds the key to victory.”
“Really?” Ken said.
“Yes.”
“Well, we don’t have time to debate this one. Last I saw her she was praying with Pastor here,” Bart pointed his thumb toward Paul Lucas, “and other churchgoers.”
“Then we go there.” Josiah Williams grabbed his hat, plopping it atop his head.
Kat saw them coming before Grandma did. “Now what?”
Grandma put her hand on Kat’s upper arm. “I believe they are here for me, Katrina.”
She stiffened and took in a deep breath. She did not know the man beside Pastor Paul, but she saw him in a dream. She passed the vision off as an old woman’s fancy and forgot about it—until now.
She released Kat’s arm and stepped forward to greet them. “Why don’t we go to my house, and I’ll make some tea?”
Kat stared at her grandmother in shock and disapproval when Alese linked her arm through Josiah’s as if she’d known him all her life.
Alese Bricken motioned for the others and Kat to follow.
There’s a lot I need to tell you, Josiah Williams,” Grandma Bricken said, smiling into his eyes.
Josiah patted her hand. “Indeed there is, Ms. Alese; indeed there is.”
“Curiouser and curiouser,” Kat said to Bart as they followed the duo up Main, left on Willow and right on Wild Rose to Grandma’s immaculate cottage.
After she finished pouring tea in her best company cups, Grandma Bricken set the canary yellow and cream-colored teapot in the middle of her large round table.
“I believe you know the story?” she spoke to Josiah alone.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, the part of the story kept secret in my family for as long as it has been passed down, is the way to stop this thing and send it back to Hell where it belongs.”
Kat’s eyes opened in surprise. Hell was another word, no matter the context, not used in Grandma’s presence. Even when trying to discuss Dante’s Inferno, Grandma would not allow her granddaughter to use the word. Made for a more difficult than normal discussion.
Grandma patted Kat’s hand, knowing she shocked her granddaughter. “I’m not always as prim and proper as I seem, Katrina.”
“Why kept secret?” Josiah asked.
“In the wrong hands, the way to destroy this thing could be used to keep it here.”
“I see.”
“The demon has a pet, for lack of a better term. It is his lure, and it is dangerous. Looking into its pulsing lights is hypnotic. Once spellbound, it wounds the unsuspecting victim and takes possession of its prey.
“This pet must be taken from Iconoclast. If they are separated, Iconoclast’s power diminishes. More importantly, if this thing is taken from Iconoclast, he loses his reign over all the land under his dominion since the fall of man.
“If he holds onto it, then he will obtain his fifth victim, and he will destroy this town and anything living in or around it. This is bad enough. But, if he succeeds here, then he will be powerful enough to do this all over the world, wherever he has dominion.”
“And how are we supposed to get this pet?” Bart asked.
Grandma Bricken shook her head. “The legend doesn’t say. But I’m praying God makes the way.”
“In Jesus’ name!” Paul answered.
“I am more troubled by the final warning in the legend,” Grandma Bricken added.
“Things can get worse?” Kat asked.
“Yes. The tale says one destined to be God Almighty’s child must be lured by the pet to be the fifth victim. It must be a soul snatched from the very hand of God.”
“I don’t know how this thing could ever get a fifth victim, then. God’s people are never taken from God’s hand,” Paul said.
“I know, Pastor. Yet, Iconoclast must believe there is a way. Or he wouldn’t keep trying.”
“Hopefully, Iconoclast’s arrogance will be his downfall,” Josiah said.
“I do pray you are right, Mr. Williams,” Grandma Bricken answered.
“To continue, this pet’s attachment to Iconoclast is why he is allowed to continue to reside on this earth, instead of the abyss where he belongs.
“Most concerning, though, is Iconoclast has never taken four victims before. This is the closest he has ever gotten, at least from all the history handed down.”
This peculiar posse, brought together by the events of the last twenty- four hours, sat in silence. The weight of her words lay heavy on each of their hearts.
Kat broke the silence. “When I brought up the legend to you Bart two days ago, I didn’t know what I was saying.”
“I know,” Bart answered.
“If you had told me when I got here I would be in a battle with a nightmare, I would have left and never returned,” Ken said.
“You can still leave, FBI,” Kat answered.
Ken’s eyes locked on Kat’s. “I have never run from a fight with a bad guy. I’m not starting now.”
“Even when the bad guy isn’t flesh and blood?” Josiah asked.
“Even then.”
“Neither have I,” Bart said.
“Then we’re agreed,” Grandma Bricken said. “Let’s take this battle to the enemy. And take it to him where he lives.”
