The heavily muscled mercenary departed, leaving Victor to his machinations. He settled into a squat, closed his eyes, and entered the mind space where the legion was deployed stymying the Watchers. For weeks he’d managed to keep them in the dark, masking his objectives and shielding even the weakest minds of soldiers from their snooping. Not even the most powerful among them—Sarah Beth Yarnell, with her gift of second sight—suspected he was coming for her.

PART III

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.”

MARK 5:9

CHAPTER
FORTY

THE SANCTUARY

ST. GEORGE’S ACADEMY

2045 HOURS LOCAL

Sarah Beth rubbed her temples and let her chin rest against her chest. She’d heard people say, “My head feels like it’s in a vise,” but she’d never truly understood . . . until now. She’d had to leave the Bullpen an hour ago when the headache started. The noise and frenetic pace down there, which at first excited her, eventually wore her down. Being in the TOC reminded her of swimming and playing in the ocean surf—it’s fun and thrilling until it’s not. Eventually the slamming surf, the tugging undertow, the chafing sand turns recreation into a chore.

A sudden wave of nausea twisted her insides and made her salivate. The subdued lighting in the Sanctuary was too bright. Even the once-soothing sound of the water bubbling in the fountain now was akin to fingernails on a chalkboard, grating her nerves.

Is this what a migraine headache feels like? she wondered.

“Are you okay, Sarah Beth?” Pastor Dee said, placing a gentle hand on her back. “You look like you’re hurting.”

“Yeah, I just have a really bad headache,” she said.

“When is the last time you ate something, sweetie?” her Keeper said, kneeling beside her.

That’s what Pastor Dee is now, right? My Keeper?

“I don’t know,” she said. “Lunchtime, I think. I had a banana.”

“Oh, honey, you can’t do that. What you’re doing is hard work. You need to stay hydrated and eat enough to keep up your energy level.”

“I know; you’re right. It’s just the Shepherds need us. We have to help them stop the other attacks.”

“Yes, but we’ve got lots of Watchers on the job. You’ve worked hard all day without a break and now you’re paying the price. It’s time for you to rest. Head back to your dorm room and go to bed,” Pastor Dee said. “I’ll instruct your roommates to keep the lights out and no talking.”

“I can’t . . .”

“You and Corbin gave Joshua Bravo the support they needed to stop the attack in Washington, DC. You girls are heroes. Let the older kids take it from here. Your work is done for today. And if they send Joshua Bravo out again, they will need you rested.”