Free Rebel Angel: A Sainted Sinners Novel by Vivian Wood Page A

States, at least, the rivers were still flowing. The lava and fires were yet distant, but not far enough for Ezra’s comfort.
    The idea of checking in on Mere Marie floated into his mind. As he got closer, the heat lessened, and he dove down toward the city skyline. At once, he could tell that things were not as they should be.
    Smoke rose from burning buildings. The Superdome was ablaze, the fire burning high and bright. He veered toward the French Quarter, to fly over his apartment. In the streets, humans ran in every direction, quick, dark demons chasing them down. Every couple of minutes, a high scream pierced the air, only to end abruptly as the human fell to a demon.
    He dropped down further, and saw one of the demons catch a young woman. Barefoot and terrified, she ran down Decatur Street, probably heading for the Cathedral. Too slow, though; the dark-robed demon caught her and slid its arms around her.
    The young woman’s cry died on her lips. She went still, pure black bleeding into her eyes until they were entirely dark. She threw her head back, the shining white mist of her soul rising from her body. The demon dropped her corpse and snagged the mist, sucking it into his lungs with one big breath.
    Snarling with pleasure, the demon shuddered, then turned and spied another victim running down the street. It was off like a shot, chasing down its prey.
    In the dream, Ezra turned away, feeling helpless. He flapped his wings and moved on, hoping to find Kirael and Vesper at their home. He’d barely made it onto the street when he saw that the entire block of buildings was on fire, already beginning to crumble, dropping smoldering chunks of wood and brick into the street.
    Where should I go now? he wondered.
    It was hot, so very hot. He wanted to get to the river, only a few blocks away. He turned and flew toward the water, passing dozens of doomed humans as he went. It seemed as though there should be more of them, but perhaps they were all hiding, taking shelter against the onslaught.
    When he crossed the broad pedestrian plazas to the riverfront, he realized that the humans had the same idea. Go to the river, stand together against the demons and the heat. A couple thousand were clustered together near the Steamboat Natchez.
    The deck of the Natchez was crammed with screaming people. Further down the shore he could see the Algiers ferry and a couple other boats shoving off. Faintly, Ezra could see demons lined up and waiting on the other side of the river. It seemed as though they couldn’t cross the water, and the humans had figured that much out at least.
    The Algiers ferry drifted midstream, maybe hoping to find a safe harbor downriver.
    On the shore, demons had surrounded the unlucky ones without a spot on the boats. Humans were fighting back, shooting guns and attacking with makeshift staves, but the demons were unaffected. Slowly but surely, the demons were grabbing people at the fringes, sucking their misty souls out of the air.
    Going back for more, and more. It was quickly growing into a feeding frenzy. Ezra touched down behind the hordes. A few of them turned and withdrew from him with a hiss.
    He looked down to find his sword in his palm, the incantation already on his lips. He’d only rarely culled demons during his tenure in Hell, but he knew it could be done.
    He moved forward, steady and sure and calm. Raising his sword, he struck at the demons, who dissolved with soft screams the moment his sword touched their shapeless, shadowy flesh or dark robes.
    The humans around him panicked and backed away, the crowd flattening toward the shore. Some started jumping into the river, quickly disappearing into the choppy current. Some were shoved toward the slavering demons, screams dying in their throats as they dropped, their souls snatched.
    “Don’t fear me!” Ezra tried to shout, but his throat was too dry, his words coming out a rasp.
    He turned to the business of the demons, his heart beginning to