Free The Rise of the Fallen (The Angelic Wars Book 2) by J.J. Thompson Page B

special about
it?” Chris was intrigued.
    “Just wait. I don't want to spoil
the surprise.” She giggled at his expression. “Come on,
Chris. Not all surprises are bad.”
    “Yeah, just the ones we've had
lately,” he replied soberly. “Okay, fine. I'll be
patient.” He looked up front.
    “Judge? Any chance we're being
followed?”
    Before the judge could answer, Stevie
jumped in.
    “Oh aye, mate. Scythe have had us
on their radar since you landed. There's no shaking them. They're
nosier than a granny at a hen party.”
    Judge Hawkes smiled at that and looked
over his shoulder. Seeing the puzzled look on Chris' face, he
elaborated.
    “Scythe is the local equivalent
of Talon. There are groups like them on all of the continents. In
Australia and New Zealand, they call themselves the Reapers. In Asia,
their Cantonese name translates roughly to Jagged Blade. And in South
America, they are the Fangs. Different names, same world-wide group.”
    He looked beyond Chris through the back
window. “They are all aware of our safe-houses and all keep an
eye on the airports and train stations in the cities where we are
active. And after the attack on the Nest, I'm sure they're even more
alert.”
    He turned around again and Chris
exchanged a glance with Natalie.
    “Big crew,” he muttered and
she nodded.
    “Yeah. It's amazing how many
people are willing to sell their souls to the Devil for a few pieces
of silver,” she said bitterly. “Short-sighted idiots.”
    Chris watched the traffic for a while
and then drifted into a light doze. The judge and Stevie spoke a few
times, but it was just background noise to him as he napped. After
what seemed only a few minutes, he was woken by a gentle shake and
sat up blearily.
    “Hey, welcome back,”
Natalie said with a grin. “We're passing through the village
just outside of the safe-house, but I thought you'd want to see it
before we arrived.”
    Chris cleared his throat. “Uh,
yeah, Sure.” He dug the sleep out of his eyes vacantly. “Where
is it?”
    She pointed ahead and to the left and
Chris peered out of his window.
    They were passing a small group of neat
two-story houses, gardens glowing in the late afternoon sun. Chris
saw people walking on the sidewalks or standing in small groups
chatting amiably.
    It all looks so normal, he thought with
wonder. None of these folks have a clue how close we are to the end
of days. He felt an odd wave of sadness for them, and a stiffening of
his resolve. If there was any way he could help to stop it, he would.
Then he raised his eyes to look beyond the houses and gasped.
    “Told you, didn't I?”
Natalie said in a teasing voice. “Some surprises are worth
waiting for.”
    It was a castle. Chris blinked away the
last of his sleep and stared. Yup. A castle. It rose above the town
on a low hill, several towers soaring above massive walls, pennants
bravely flying in the early summer breeze.
    The car turned into the drive leading
toward the towering double gates and Chris craned his neck to look up
as they drove under the main wall.
    In the courtyard, a group of cars were
parked in an orderly fashion to the left and several people, men and
women, stood about, wearing the standard dark suit and sunglasses
that Chris now associated with the judge's people. Stevie swung the
car around toward the wide steps flanked by a pair of huge lion
statues and slowed to a stop. He looked over his shoulder at Chris
and grinned a gap-toothed smile.
    “Welcome to the headquarters of
the Angelic Dominion, Mr. Wright,” he said and then looked at
the judge. “And welcome home, Lord Hawkes.”
    Lord? Chris thought with confusion. The
judge simply nodded gravely.
    “Thank you, Stevie.” He
looked out at the castle and sighed. “It's been a while.”

Chapter
7

    Stevie jumped out of the
car and ran around, opening the doors for Chris, Natalie and the
judge. He grinned at their thanks and just rambled on about his duty.
Then he hopped back into the