The Lure of the Devil (The Demons' Muse #4) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,187

nor the place, Sienna."

"I disagree." Stopping in the very center of the pews, I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin. "I think this is exactly the time. I think what your fraternity is doing is a lie. I also think that using religion to cover up Delta Phi's involvement in these kidnappings is disgusting. Someone has to call you out, and I'm here to do it."

Gabriel laughed, the sound much too beautiful to come from such an evil creature. "Gotta love the joys of a bad breakup," he said, looking at the congregation as if expecting them all to understand.

"Twenty-three people were abducted from a Delta Phi party on Friday night. They were found in a park not far away, drugged, and confused about what happened. Twenty-three! One of my first friends at this campus went missing after spending time with that fraternity. I have a funny feeling that every one of those missing people is somehow tied to one or more people that you know." And I smiled, all too aware of how many phones had just been pointed at me. "I think y'all put together this parody of religion in an attempt to hide what you're really doing - abducting people for human traffickers."

A few people gasped in surprise. Others chuckled as if that was the most preposterous thing they’d ever heard. I didn't care about any of that. My goal was to make sure that this was all caught on video so it could be used later. I kinda also wanted to hear what this asshole was going to say.

He didn't disappoint. "Oh please," he scoffed. "This entire prayer service was designed as a way for us to find support. All of us have a friend who was taken, and here you are trying to turn it into some kind of bad joke? You should be ashamed of yourself. Look, I told you we’re done. Don't be petty."

"The only reason I was ever with you was to find out what happened to the missing people. I used you, Gabriel, and you never even noticed." Because, if he wanted to make it sound like I was a pissed off ex-girlfriend, then I could use that as well as he could. "But even more than that, I am not going to let you make a mockery of my faith."

"Oh, your faith?" He laughed as if that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. "Well, I’ll have you know that this is one of the most respected religious organizations on campus. We have proof that God supports us. His words pour through me every time I stand up here to address his flock. But sure, I'm not a pastor. I'm just a believer. So if the divine Lord has a problem with what we are doing, then let him give us a sign. And if we’re as wrong as you say, then why hasn't he struck us down yet?"

I smiled, because he couldn't have played into our plans any better. "The keyword there," I said softly, "is yet."

Right on cue, a tiny little clip of cloven feet could be heard. I didn't even have to look back to know that the most adorable little white fluffy lamb was walking through those doors I had left open. Just to make sure she was seen, God let out a high pitched baa. And then all of the sirens began going off at once.

The building creaked as a gust of wind slammed into it. Like a switch had been flipped, those heavy clouds finally let go, and the rain came crashing down in big, fat drops. Lightning cracked, the blue-white light of it coming in through the open doors, along with the smell of wet earth. The people in the pews scrambled, all of them seeking shelter from the tornados the sirens were warning about. Unfortunately, the only safe place in here was under the pews.

But I didn't move. I just stood there, daring Gabriel to come at me. His head whipped from side to side, trying to figure out how to control the situation. The angels assumed that religion was the best tool they ever had, but I knew one better. Here in the South, we knew that tornados were nothing to fuck around with, and they didn't turn on the sirens without a very good cause.

Right about now, dozens of phones were chirping with notifications. The whine of the sirens would have everyone in town scrambling for