Harden your heart. I remembered Conquest’s words and closed my eyes. Gabriel’s long, powerful sword slashed at me, and I felt the cold touch of steel slice my cheek. I gulped for air, sensing the ground rising up to smash me to bits. I could call on my Gaia in an attempt to have the earth catch me in some softer way, but when I opened my eyes, Gabriel’s sword was raised high again. There wasn’t time.
Anger burned my insides. Then something unfurled, like a small blossom at first, expanding without thought. Just as Gabriel’s sword fell, a gust caught me, twisting me out of harm’s way. The storm gathered strength. A stream of energy moved me through the air, pushing me away from the Angel at a rate that he struggled to keep up with. My skin pushed back and my head pounded. I couldn’t breathe.
And then I was falling, dropping out of the sky once again.
Gabriel’s scream filled my ears before I landed with a splash. Cold water filled my mouth and wrapped around me.
The impact was too much. Darkness clouded my mind and bubbles pelted me.
Before the blackness was complete, I called out with my mind, “Help me.”
Chapter 3
Maddie
The sky over the football field was shades of pink as the last remnants of the golden sunset faded beyond the hills that surrounded Oldport. The heavens dimmed, taking on a grayish hue that made me shiver. I zipped up my hoodie and exhaled, feeling a heaviness in my gut that I had never felt before.
“It’ll be all right. Ember will stop it from happening.”
I stared at Preston. His unruly blond hair blew into his face from the stiff breeze, and he didn’t even bother to push it aside. We’d been friends since first grade, but lately our bond had grown significantly. We’d witnessed real Angels battling our friend, Ember, who we now knew was a descendant of Angels. We’d even met Satan and the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. As if all that wasn’t enough to give a girl a nervous breakdown, we had also been informed that we were the newest Scribes of God, and we had been given the task of recording the end of the world.
I rubbed the side of my temple, squeezing my eyes shut. Preston and I had come down from the mountain the night before, and after tossing and turning in bed for several hours, I’d finally fallen into an exhausted, dreamless sleep. When I awoke that morning, I tried to convince myself that I’d imagined the entire thing—that I probably just needed medication of some kind, or at the very least, a lot of therapy.
But Preston had dashed my attempt at delusion by showing up at my house before the sun had even risen. He wanted to talk about it, make plans about what we were going to do. I couldn’t deny the insane truth when someone else had experienced it alongside me. No, Preston wouldn’t let me pretend it hadn’t happened, even though the sounds of people hooting and hollering at our high school’s soccer game rang out around me, and the scent of roasting hot dogs and hamburgers filled the evening air. He was stoically preparing for the Apocalypse, the same as my grandpa, who was a pastor in the local Baptist church.
I opened my eyes, and Preston was regarding me with a slight frown.
“I need to speak with Grandpa. He’ll believe us and know what to do,” I implored with a dry mouth and trembling heart.
“We might not have time.” The crowd stood in the stadium, applauding a goal by our team. Preston turned to the field and began to clap, but quickly, his hands dropped to his sides. He lowered his voice and glanced at me. “Soon, this is all going to be gone—”
“Don’t say that,” I snapped. “It might not come about so fast. Ember said she was going to try and stop it.” I placed my hands on my hips. “She has an arch Angel and some other magical friends on her side. She might succeed.”
“But you argued with her about it yesterday, saying if it was God’s will, she shouldn’t interfere.” He ran his fingers over his mouth, shaking his head. “You said something to the effect that you’re ready to meet the Lord and weren’t afraid of what was coming.”
The timer on the score board counted down as our team lead by a point. Tension filled the crowd as the ball dropped and was kicked back toward our goal. People called out encouragements on both sides of the field, and the bright field lights made the transition from day to evening hardly even noticeable.
I lived for these moments at the field on soccer nights. I cheered at the football games, and being captain of the cheerleading squad meant a lot of hard work and responsibility during those games. But when I came to support the soccer players, I was able to relax and actually enjoy the game with friends. I hadn’t felt any resentment that it was all going to end until I’d reached the stadium. I tried to control my selfishness, but sadness squeezed my insides when I realized that there would be no more bundling up to join the community in support of the hometown team. There also wouldn’t be any more late night movies with Lindsey or make out sessions with Randy. I wouldn’t even graduate from high school.
Seeing Randy and Lindsey pressing through the crowd with hot dogs in hand, I sniffed. “I’ve changed my mind,” I whispered.
Preston squeezed my shoulder, but didn’t say anything.
“Did you see Colby get that goal?” Lindsey exclaimed, sidling up against me as the wind grew colder and dry leaves danced across the grass.
Lindsay was my best friend and had been since kindergarten. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but long strands had escaped and were slapping around her face. Her bright blue eyes twinkled with excitement. Colby was her boyfriend and she was beaming like a proud mamma hen.
I couldn’t help it. I swallowed a gulp and grabbed Lindsay into a tight hug. At first she was a little stiff, but I didn’t care. When her arms slipped around me, she asked, “What’s wrong, Maddie? Did you get bad news from someone?”
I clung to her for a few more long seconds and then abruptly pulled back, wiping my eyes. “No, no. Nothing like that.” Lindsay’s eyes were wide with worry. “I just want you to know you’ve been the best friend ever—” I swallowed back my tears “—and I love you like a sister.”
Lindsay’s brows rose and she threw her arm protectively around my side. She glared at Preston. “What did you say to her?” Then her gaze landed on Randy. “Or was it you who upset her?”
Randy threw up his hands. “I didn’t do anything.” My sweetheart took my hand and said, “We’re about to win, Maddie. That should put you in a good mood. I’ll treat for ice cream after the game.”
He smiled, pressing his fingers into my hand. For Randy, everything was about sports and ice cream. I laughed and both Randy and Lindsey leaned back a little with round eyes. The sound bubbled out from deep inside of me. I embraced the joyful feeling, reveling in it.
But Preston’s hard glare brought me back to my senses. I wouldn’t let him ruin the short time we had left. I pressed my lips onto Randy’s. He didn’t hesitate in wrapping his arms around me and opening his mouth to the kiss. The stadium erupted in cheers and Lindsey squealed. I knew our team had won.
The kiss deepened and I saw an image of a wedding by the river, and then one of several children running around a yard. The last picture in my mind was of Randy and me, gray haired and old, sitting on a porch swing and holding hands.
There was the sound of an explosion, followed by screams and gasps.
“What the hell?” Randy clutched my arm, tugging me backward toward the parking lot.
Lindsey was already on the field and I saw her turn, looking at the place where the goal post had stood a moment before. Dust choked the air, and bright orange flames flared up in several places. The players and coaches from both teams were running across the field, and people bumped into us from all sides.
Another blast rocked the stadium, and I blinked, trying to find Lindsey and Colby, but smoke filled my eyes. A girl from my English class fell beside us, and Preston reached down, pulling her up with a frantic tug. The girl yelped and ran by us as the crowd from the bleachers spilled out. Kids jumped from the higher seats, crying out when they hit the gr
ound. The cool autumn wind that had blown only moments before was replaced with the hot breath of fire.
“My God, what’s happening?” Randy shouted, shielding me from the fleeing bodies.
“Come on. We have to get out of here!” Preston grabbed us, pushing us sideways.
But it was too late. Inhuman shrieks reached my ears, and I glanced over my shoulder. Things were emerging from the flames. Red eyes and long teeth flashed, and then they were on top of the people, slashing and biting. The screams seared my ears. Kids I’d grown up with were dying right in front of us. Teachers and parents I knew were cut down like stalks of grass. Wherever there was fire, the Hell beasts appeared through the smoke. They were huge and didn’t carry weapons. They didn’t need them. Their claws and jagged teeth were enough.
But it wasn’t the monsters that held my attention the most. It was the line of Angels that spread out behind them. They didn’t have shimmering skin like Uriel or Michael had. Their faces were shadowed and their wings were torn and drab looking. They were like dark statues with their wings folded behind them, just watching the murderous scene unfold.
I strained to see. A lone man walked forward from the Angels. His eyes glowed blood red and his dark hair whipped about his face in the wind. His face was familiar, and I remembered him with a slap to my mind that left my insides weak.
“No, no…not this…” I cried into Randy’s arm.
Randy dragged me after Preston, and I forced my legs to work faster. The barking stopped us, even though a group of teenagers sprinted ahead into the plume of smoke. Something hit the boy running alongside me, knocking him to the ground, and when I grabbed for him, I saw the severed leg near his head. I screamed and bile rose in my throat.
Preston kicked it aside and pulled me back. The creatures surrounded us, their snarling faces splattered with blood. I heard the sounds of a baby crying and a woman shouting. Gun shots rang out and I guessed the police had arrived, or some of the inhabitants of Oldport were fighting back. Either way, it didn’t matter. Monsters poured out from holes in the earth, spreading fire in their wake. This was it. Ember must have failed.
A scaly hand swiped at me from the gaseous fog, and Preston struck at it with his fist. Randy shoved me behind him and spread his arms wide. At least Preston and I understood what was happening, poor Randy and everyone else were taken by surprise—their worst nightmares had come to life.
I heard a snarl behind me. When I turned, a giant dog’s head lunged forward, snatching Randy. I screamed, but didn’t let go of his arm. We were shook from side to side like rag dolls, and then there was a sickening crunch. Warm wetness poured onto my face.
Tears flooded my eyes and my heart froze. “Randy!” I cried out.
An eye the size of a dinner plate glinted above me, and gore dripped from the beast’s mouth. Another giant dog head sliced through the smoke, and then one more.
“Lord, please save us,” I mumbled the prayer, pressing into the grass as the twin heads inched closer.
Putrid breath pushed my hair back and made my stomach churn as their jaws gnashed at me. I squeezed my eyes shut and begged, “Please, Lord!”
Something came shooting out of the sky, fast as a bullet. The dog monster was knocked away. A hand like cold steel encircled my arm, and then I was jerked into the air. Another pair of wings flapped nearby and I spotted a glimpse of blond, bushy hair. I knew Preston was also being carried away.
Oldport was burning. Smoke and flames spread out in all directions below us, ending only where the valley reached the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, where the land was unspoiled. Another explosion shook the air and sirens wailed. I began to sob as I repeated the Lord’s Prayer over and over in my head. Our Father, Who art in Heaven…
Preston and I were set down on a ledge overlooking the town. The night was crisp and cold, untouched by the destruction below. I remembered the red haired Angel. He was Uriel, Ember’s ancestor and protector. He scowled at the newcomer, a powerfully built Angel with wings the color of the Caribbean Sea.
“Why here—why now, Raguel?” Uriel demanded, gesturing wildly at the scene of carnage below.
“I do not know,” Raguel replied tiredly. “None of this is unfolding the way it was foretold. Why would a simple mountain town be of any importance to Samael?”
Preston knelt on the ground, gripping his sides and taking deep breaths. Randy’s blood soaked his clothing, as it did mine, and tears streaked his face too.
I turned on shaky legs toward the Angels. Grandpa had taught me about the Bible and God. I’d attended church every Sunday since I was an infant, and I’d read the book of Revelation several times. I was a true believer and my faith gave me strength.
My hands balled into fists. “I saw him down there.”
“Who?” Uriel came closer with cocked eyes.
“Ember’s boyfriend—Sawyer—the one who was taken away by the Devil.”
Uriel and Raguel exchanged glances. Their faces were like unforgiving stone.
“Then this foray is an attack on Ember? A lowly Watcher, caught up in the end of times?” Uriel spat the words out angrily.
“Perhaps. But you fool yourself if you think that is what your spawn is. In only one meeting with the girl, I sensed her power, and uniqueness. There is something special about her, and Samael has surely recognized her potential as well.” Raguel rubbed his chin in a human-like gesture, giving his resting wings a little shake.
A few feathers floated away on the breeze, drawing my gaze back to Oldport. I could see the edge of the subdivision where I lived was on fire. My parents were there and they might be dying. I gasped, fresh tears filling my eyes. Preston rose and put his arm around me. I leaned my head against his chest, wishing I could wake up from this nightmare.
“Samael might have been testing the loyalty of his new subject, or maybe he picked this place because two of the Scribes are here. Nonetheless, I can’t deny it any longer. It has begun,” Uriel said grimly.
“I don’t feel right about this, brother. Something is amiss. But if it be the truth, I pray our Father shows us guidance.” Raguel’s departure was abrupt. With a single pump of his blue wings, he leaped into the dark sky, disappearing into the clouds.
“You’re not leaving us?” I pulled away from Preston, staring up at Uriel. His red hair was pulled back, and instead of the woolen tunic I saw him wearing before, copper-colored chain mail covered his chest. Strange, indecipherable writing decorated the armor.
Uriel gave me a serious look. “You must record what you saw here this night. Your memories will carry on for thousands of years.”
“But what’s the point if mankind isn’t going to be around to read about it?” Preston asked, and I swiveled around, waiting for Uriel’s answer.
Uriel tilted his head, his brow raised. “What has been written has gotten us to this place in time, and we have been instructed to protect the Scribes so they may complete their task. It is not my place to question the logic of it—” He paused, looking at the stars that still shone down, even though the world was ending. “But sometimes I have questions, and I am baffled about the events occurring around us. I can only hope that we’ll get the answers we need to proceed to the next phase, whatever that might be.”
The fiery Angel’s voice was low and humming, calming my raw nerves. The pain and shock from losing everyone dear to me had left a void where my heart had been. But my mind was still clear, and a thought came to me.
“Where’s Ember?” I dared to ask.
Preston looked up, a hopeful glint in his eye.
But Uriel’s suddenly tight muscles and deep frown dashed my hopes.
“Forces beyond my control took her from me. I tried to find her, but she is gone. I do not feel her presence any longer.”
Chapter 4
Cricket
The scent of lush grass filled my nose and I inhaled deeply. The sun was setting, bringing with it crisper air that felt good on my bare arms. I nearly bumped into War
when he stopped abruptly. The creamy-pink sky seemed to have his attention. I followed his gaze, glancing up at the scalloped clouds.
“It’s pretty, huh?” My voice sounded dry and forced. I still hadn’t gotten used to human talk. It took a long time to form thoughts and push them out my mouth. The Horsemen didn’t seem to have the same problem, though.
“It’s magnificent!” War smiled back at me broadly and my chest constricted. “I don’t remember the lands of men being so striking.”
“You’ve been here before?” I asked.
War leaned against the rock wall. He removed a long blade of grass from his mouth, twirling it between his fingers. His hair was short cropped and chestnut colored, along with his beard. His tanned skin fascinated me, as it was very similar to the color of hair that covered his body when he was in equine form.
“It’s been thousands of years ago now, and not this new world. My brothers and I were created for a single purpose—the annihilation of mankind at the time of God’s choosing. He showed us many things, and gave us instructions.” He shrugged. “But I never had the leisure time to explore on my own.” He dropped his head back and extended his arms. “Just the feel of an evening breeze on my face is new to me.”
“And you like it?” I had so many questions for War. I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough time to have them all answered.
“Oh, yes. I like it very much. But having your company greatly improves my enjoyment.”
His smile became crooked and my cheeks heated uncomfortably, something that never happened to me while I was in my true form.
War’s eyes lingered on my face until I looked away, trying to hide my embarrassment from him. I couldn’t stop my heart from madly fluttering. I shook my head.