“Repeat after me. If I should die before I wake, I pray for Trigg my soul to take.”
You’d think I’d have learned from all the movie villains who get beat while monologuing. Guess not. Before I could pull the trigger, I caught a kick to the face. Apparently the transfer had run its course because I felt every bit of that one.
I heard my nose snap and felt a warm gush explode from it. Lightning bolts of pain shot through my eyes and I flew backwards and landed in a heap. My head felt like used Jell-o.
You figure it out.
I knew I couldn’t just sit there so I jumped to my feet, raised my guns and started blasting away at random, spinning in a tight circle. My eyes were so blurry everything was a wet blob so I aimed and shot at the darker blotches as I got to my feet. Meanwhile, I blinked hard and shook my head, hoping to clear my eyes without having to pull one of my guns from service. I managed to sluice a bit of the moisture away just as a shadow engulfed me. I growled at my stupidity. I had forgotten angels could fly.
I never had a chance. From above me there was a rush of wind just as two vice-like hands seized my shoulders. I felt myself spun about and pressed face first to the ground, a steely weight pinning me down. I was about to start bucking when I realized the maneuver hadn’t been aggressive. On top of that, I felt a woman’s boobs pressed into my back.
At least I hoped they were a woman’s. It could have been a really fat guy, but I preferred not to think of that possibility.
Right then, I felt the air pressure change. My lungs burned as the breath was ripped from them. My gasp was drowned out by the sonic boom that ripped open the sky as if a thousand thunder storms had been unleashed at once. I heard the sound of wrenching steel buried beneath the cacophony of destruction and smelled the tangy scent of burning wood and metal on the heated air. A heartbeat later, I felt the temperature drop about thirty degrees and the ground danced beneath me. I held on for dear life. Through it all, the boobs were an ever present comfort.
It ended a moment later. Everything had gone quiet. It was as if the world had been put on mute. I felt the restraining grip relax as my captor rolled off me. I opened my eyes and turned to see who’d held me. I met Scarlett’s green eyes. Her face was pensive and she seemed none too pleased.
“Was it good for you?” I asked.
She shoved me away and stood up, making an ugly face. The moment ruined, I sat up and looked to the warehouse.
It was gone.
All that was left was smoldering ruin. Like a miniature Nagasaki, the place had been nuked into non-existence. Twisted metal and pieces of smoking concrete lay scattered about the perimeter. The asphalt surrounding the warehouse was slagged into a black soup that glistened with tiny sputtering firelights. The destruction was impressive. I glanced behind me to see who’d pulled the trigger.
Rahim Alakha stood rigid with his hands extended toward the warehouse, wisps of white smoke emanating from his dark fingers. The whirling glow of his eyes faded as I watched, then disappeared. He drew in a deep breath and relaxed, his arms dropping to his side. He walked over to us, shaking his arms out as I climbed to my feet and stood beside Scarlett. Katon joined us a moment later as I put my guns away.
“Way to go, Oppenheimer.” My voice sounded wet and thick, thanks to the blood draining down my throat. “So much for low profile.”
Rahim shook his head. “I think the appropriate response would be to say thanks.”
“I was doing all right.”
He looked at my face and smirked. “I can tell.”
Scarlett drew my attention. Her eyes were wet.
“An angel died here. What happened?”
“You saw them when you got here.” I tried to look sympathetic, but I’m sure you can figure out how well that worked. “I showed up and Asmoday was waiting with a sales pitch. I told him to take a hike and the next thing I know four of your brothers pop in and start coming after me. I did what I had to.” The death had hit her hard, but she didn’t say anything about it. I think she was starting to understand it was a sign of things to come in our new age. It didn’t help to dwell on it.
Katon went to examine the wreckage as Rahim turned to me. “Asmoday has angelic assistance.” It was more of a statement than a question. I think he was disappointed more than surprised.“It looks that way. It’s too much of a coincidence for it to be otherwise. He threatened me and bailed just as the winged goon squad arrived.”
Katon shouted from the remains of the warehouse. “There’s a body.”
“Only one?” I asked back. I’d figured the other three fled when Rahim blasted the warehouse based off of Scarlett’s comments, but it didn’t hurt to be sure. I was hoping Rahim had gotten the rest. I didn’t want to run into them again.
Katon nodded as Scarlett raced to the downed angel’s side. Rahim went after her. I took a deep breath and followed behind. As we reached the dead angel, Katon turned to me.
“Three in the chest.” He nodded in silent approval. “Guess our forgers need a pay raise too.”
Scarlett growled at him and knelt down beside the body. She cradled the fallen angel’s head in her lap, her tears flowing freely. Katon took a step back to give her room, realizing he’d upset her. After a moment, she looked up at me, anger flashing in her eyes.
“This is Israfil.” As if telling me who he was changed anything.
I recognized the name, though. He was the angel destined to sound the horn that ushered in Armageddon.
“That blows.” I couldn’t help myself. Furious, she bared her teeth, the green of her eyes whirling.
I raised my hands to ward her off. “They came after me, Scarlett. It’s not like I wanted this.” The lie tasted bitter. Yeah, I admit I lost a little control after the first soul transfer, but it wasn’t like I sought them out to kill them. They attacked me. “Besides, they’re working for Asmoday. I’m sorry if I hurt someone you know, but if he’s pro-Armageddon, he’s an enemy, plain and simple. That applies to all of them. That’s just the way it is.” I tried my best to look apologetic. I never realized how hard it could be.
She sighed deeply, her expression softening as she put it all into perspective. Her anger at the angel’s death made way for sadness. She gave a shallow nod. Rahim, who’d stayed out of our philosophical debate, stood surveying the scene when he suddenly went rigid. He looked up with seeking eyes. Scarlett turned to the sky as well, her face slack with surprise. Page 114
“Move away from the body,” Rahim shouted, his voice filled with reedy tension.
I was gone in a flash. Anything that could spook Rahim was something I didn’t want to play with. Even Scarlett abandoned Israfil’s body and retreated with us. I watched the dark sky to see if I could determine what was coming our way. I didn’t have long to wait. Brilliant sparkles of light illuminated the night, washing the stars away. I shielded my eyes from the brunt of the glare and kept watching as thousands of glowing beams struck the ground at once, then dissipated. A nebulous cloud of swirling energy floated toward us, the air crackling. A chill settled around us as I heard what sounded like singing. It was amorphous, yet beautiful. I realized who it was. Gabriel.
He appeared in all his glory as I thought his name. The cloud reached the ground and broke apart, drifting away to reveal the archangel. Like the stories of old, he looked every bit the archetypical angel; flowing long hair, bronzed skin, and perfect chiseled features. Dressed in an ivory white breastplate emblazoned with a gold cross, a bejeweled sword at his side, he smiled at us. It was the smile of a predator. I saw no hint of God’s mercy in it.
His majestic wings, made of shimmering golden light, folded behind his back and faded away as he knelt beside the downed angel, his face going blank. He set his hand upon Israfil’s chest and bowed his head, muttering a quiet prayer. To whom, I had no idea. It wasn’t as if God was listening. A moment later, he stood and returned his attention to us. There was no longer even the pretense of kindness, the smile gone from his face.