Free From Heaven To Earth (The Faith of the Fallen) by Sherrod Wall Page A

time.”
    Greg took his apron off and handed it to Keep.
    “Then, why does he feel so different?”
    “Don’t worry about it. He was a devout follower of God at one time and
blessed for his deeds. I think we were talking about God’s mistake?”
    Drean’s attention drifted back to Gerald.
    “I think you were meant to be down here, Drean,” Gerald said.
    “I feel that way too, but I don’t understand all the bloodshed.”
    “I think you can change that,” Gerald said. “That’s really all I want is
change. God can see that I guess.”
    Drean nodded.
    “Once the Faithstream is recovered, everything will be different. Humans
and angels alike can look forward to a golden age of peace and harmony!”
    Drean smiled.
    Perhaps I can trust him after all.

Chapter 10
    Riell picked up the angel’s trail in the slums, tracked it all the way to
The Circ and decided she would rest her wings.
    She could see the other half of The Circ across the lake, Nuevas Cruces’
skyscrapers beyond and the haze of pollution that hung above them.
    The humans’ blatant disrespect for life almost made her hope the angel
would prove malicious. Perhaps it was Earth that needed to be saved, not
humans.
    She sighed. If Shrazz could have faith in them she would try to do the
same.
    She reached the medieval section of The Circ, waded through a sea of
people to reach The Horse and entered the pub.
    She pretended not to notice the six camouflaged skia that came in soon
after.
    Riell saw an empty table and made her way to it.
    After she sat down, a thin man in a barbarian costume approached her. His
apparel consisted of brown fur armor pieces that covered his groin and
backside, a cloak with a hood that was too small for his head and an authentic
looking short sword within a leather scabbard at his side. His dark brown color
motif brought out the paleness of his skin.
    “Hey, sweetie, can I get a drink for you?” he asked.
    There was a mug of beer in front of her face before she answered. Riell
glared at the man when he tried to sit.
    “Thanks for the drink,” Riell said.
    “Oh it’s no...”
    “Now get lost.”
    “What?”
    Riell glared at the man until he took what was left of his pride and
departed.
    Men. They think they can just get whatever they want these days . Men were the cause of this war in the first place.
    Riell took a sip of her beer.
    Of course if it weren’t for the belligerent hearts of men, I wouldn’t
be here.
    Four skia scattered to the corners of the bar and watched her. The other
two scanned the patrons for the angel.
    Riell feigned disinterest and drank.
    * * *
    After a few mugs of beer, Drean laughed at everything Gerald said. He
felt a strange energy in the air, or so he thought. He disregarded it as an
effect of the alcohol. Gerald had told him he would feel different.
    He looked around the room. People had left the bar, but somehow Drean had
not noticed until then. Drean’s gaze rested on a young woman with long, black
hair at a table in the corner. She was slouched in her chair and stared at her
table.
    He held his breath when he saw translucent wings shrouded her body. They
resembled a sheer, gray cloak, but intermittent color streaked within her
feathers: tiny chromatic lightning storms.
    It’s the woman from the alleyway. The skia.
    Drean could not help but admire her beauty; he stared at her unabashed:
her straight lustrous black hair complimented her sharp facial features.
    He imagined her slightly tan, smooth skin would be soft to touch. When
she wet her thin but pouty lips with her tongue, he felt deep want for her that
shook him to his core: a feeling only comparable to his need for his Father.
    Gerald’s hands shook, and he fought to maintain consciousness. Drean had
grown too drunk to notice, but Gerald was certain: his body was breaking down.
He needed a new host.
    I need to distract him, Gerald thought.
    Gerald followed Drean’s eyes and saw his chance.
    “Ah speaking of women... go talk to