Rise of the Fallen (29 page)

“What do you suggest?” Tren asked.

Validus took a deep breath. “I’ve already talked to Linari, the captain of the city, and he is spread thin as it is. He can send help in an emergency but can’t dedicate a warrior to help us continually. I need to talk to Primus Commander Malak and see what support he can spare.” He was frustrated once again that he could not get Persimus reassigned for just such a purpose. He was a perfect choice.

“Go. I’ll watch over Carter,” Tren said.

Validus hesitated. The guardian’s skill was in his intellect and discernment. Although he was skilled with the sword too, the trouble Carter got into required the best. Validus decided his trip to headquarters would be a fast one.

“Better keep your sword and a pistol ready at all times, especially at night. It’s become a routine of his.”

Tren’s eyebrow raised.

“I’m serious.” He turned to leave. Actually tonight was the night when Carter usually went to Emmanuel Church to help the Bransons with the soup kitchen, so Tren would probably be fine. After all, what could happen in a church soup kitchen? If all went well, Validus might even be back before nightfall.

“Is Reverend Ray having any influence on him?” Tren asked, hopeful.

“The reverend is definitely a positive force in his life, but it doesn’t appear as though it’s enough to turn him to Elohim. I’ve spoken with Teriel, the angel of Emmanuel Church, and asked him to keep his eyes open. If Carter has more association with the Bransons, Teriel might be a warrior we can count on. But what we really need is Sydney Carlyle back in his life.”

But that wasn’t going to happen, not with Carter hiding off the grid in a distant city.

Tren turned up a corner of his mouth.

“Be careful. I’ll be back soon,” Validus said.

It didn’t take Validus long to reach headquarters, and he returned with a promise from Malak to assign one or two of his warriors permanently to Validus for the Carter mission. He had hoped for more, but it would have to do.

By the time he made it back to Chicago, Tren was positioned across the street from Emmanuel Church, where a steady stream of homeless people were entering the doors for a free meal.

“Any activity?” Validus asked.

Tren shook his head. “Martial arts instruction with Mr. Lee—did you know that Carter is practicing dodging bullets?” Tren interrupted himself.

Validus nodded. “Yes. Just what we need, a charge who thinks he can dodge bullets and tries to save people.”

Tren continued where he left off. “And now to the soup kitchen.”

Validus noticed the blue van and the two angels standing guard outside the church. Tren didn’t wait for his question.

“A college ministry team is here to help with the soup kitchen. The warriors are here to protect them. Sydney Carlyle is with them,” Tren added almost as an afterthought.

“What? How’s that possible?”

“I started working on it during my trips to Rivercrest. I think that Ruach Elohim is drawing her here, so everything fell into place with relative ease.”

Validus was pleased. “That’s great work, Tren. Where’s Carter?”

“He’s just gone in.”

“I know those warriors; they served under me. I’ll see if they know of any threats.”

Validus briefly met with the two warriors standing guard and didn’t like what he heard. He made his way back to Tren.

“A messenger was sent to tell their captain to double their normal escort. They expect trouble.” Validus turned to Tren. “If something goes down, the Fallen won’t hold back. I’ll join the warriors, and you get to Captain Linari for reinforce—”

Validus caught himself. He was giving orders. It was a hard habit to break.

Tren held up a hand. “Look, let’s not pretend, shall we? We are both here for a reason, and I am under no misconceptions that your tactical experience as a warrior far exceeds mine. Let’s just both do our jobs when it’s time to do our jobs. We’ll co-command this mission.”

Validus looked Tren in the eye and nodded. This was a high-caliber guardian.

Carter walked out of the church and down the street just minutes after he’d entered. Validus and Tren shared a look of confusion. Validus glanced back at the warriors standing guard at the front of the church.

“I’ll go with him,” Tren said. “You’d better stay with Carlyle until she’s safe. Looks like she may be more of the target tonight.”

But just as Tren readied to leave, Carter did an about-face and came back toward the church. As a matter of precaution, Validus and Tren materialized back into an apartment building across the street and continued their observations through the barred windows of one of the apartments. Carter walked directly to the same apartment building, climbed five steps, and sat down next to the iron rail, watching.

“If we only knew what he was thinking, it would make this mission a lot easier,” Tren whispered.

Validus gave the guardian a sideways glance.

“If you’re right and he truly can see us, then what’s to say he can’t hear us?”

They turned their attention back to Carter and to the church across the street. The two warriors escorting the mission team drew their swords as multiple Fallen began appearing. Validus drew his sword.

“I’ll see who Captain Lenari can spare for reinforcements,” Tren said then disappeared without another word.

Validus watched as the two warriors across the street prepared themselves for battle, standing back to back with swords ready. His heart quickened. He hoped Carter wouldn’t do anything foolish or Validus would have to engage in the battle with his fellow warriors.

Stay out of trouble just this once
, he thought.

The group of visiting students filed out of the church and made their way to the van, and Validus saw Sydney Carlyle among them. Reverend Ray held
the door open and took a moment to speak with the college ministry leader. Distant thunder echoed off the walls of the shops and apartments that lined the street.

That was when the Fallen attacked. The two warriors met them head on, each one slicing and countering the onslaught from the vicious dark warriors. Their movements were quick and powerful.

One of the Fallen jumped on top of the van and came down at a warrior from fifteen feet above, brandishing both a grisly sword and a handgun. The warrior made one quick slice that found its mark deep in his opponent’s chest, then turned, dodged two rounds, and used the brick wall of the church to launch himself at the Fallen attacking from above. His sword deflected another round before the two combatants collided midair and crashed to the ground in a fury of steel and blows. The other warrior caught a slice off his left shoulder, his red blood staining the blade of his ruthless opponent. Now wounded and facing two fierce attackers, his fate looked desperate.

Carter started to move toward the church, but Validus couldn’t tell if he was moving closer to see Sydney or if the fight between angels and Fallen was drawing him.

Until now, Validus had successfully kept his identity from the Fallen, but this was quickly developing into a situation that would be impossible to control. Validus waited until the last possible second to reveal himself, but now he could wait no more.

He burst through the wall from behind Carter and engaged the Fallen who was about to put one of the warriors down. He arrived just in time, and once the Fallen saw not only that they were outnumbered but that they faced Validus, they hesitated.

“Release Kalgonica!” one of the Fallen shouted.

Validus turned, searching, and his blood ran cold. He knew what the call meant, and it was the last thing he had expected.

He drew his short sword as one of the worst droxans he had ever seen came charging up the street, its mouth snarling, its blood-red eyes flashing. The other warriors were engaged with the Fallen, so he would have no help.

Facing a droxan alone was suicide, but there was no choice. His first strike would be the most important.

26
 

1 BC

The last beams of golden light receded behind the hills of Israel to close the day, initiating the gathering of the warriors. Ominous figures robed in warrior garb materialized through thick stone walls. The inner court of the temple filled with the great leaders of the mighty army of Elohim.

In their midst stood Michael, leader of the Warrior Order. Twice before Validus had seen Michael in the Middle Realm, once at the Battle of the Purge and again in the battle against the Prince of Persia to accomplish the foretelling of the coming Messiah. He knew that General Danick and Michael communicated often, but never had Michael directly addressed the Warrior Order on earth.

General Danick saw Validus enter and motioned for him to come. Dread was on the face of every commander in the court.

“What is happening, General?” Validus asked.

“Apollyon himself is vexing Herod. We haven’t yet discovered his scheme, but if Michael is here …”

He didn’t need to finish. Herod was as evil a king as Validus had ever seen, a willing, gleeful vessel of destruction. He needed little goading to accomplish the most heinous of evil crimes. Apollyon had sent the vilest of his demons to vex and influence the king, but now his own leathered hand was twisting the heart of an already twisted man.

Michael stood on the steps leading to the inner court, the Holy of Holies. He looked across the solemn assembly of primus and regional commanders. Every voice immediately fell silent.

“Whatever evil Apollyon is injecting into the heart of Herod, we must
not be taken by surprise. There are no risks to weigh, no caution to consider.” Michael paused, searching the faces of his men. His gaze fell on Validus, and Validus felt the fire in the archangel’s eyes burn into his soul. It was the remnant flame of being ever present with Elohim. “Apollyon will stop at nothing to destroy the child. We will protect Him no matter the cost. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir!” came the immediate and unanimous response from his warriors.

“
The Magi were warned and have abandoned Herod, and even now, this very hour, Gabriel is speaking to the man Joseph
. Before dawn, we expect the family to be away from the city. But there is no time to waste.” Michael looked to Danick as his wings morphed, spreading across the entire sweep of steps. “General Danick will prepare you for the war to come.”

For one moment, Michael stood silent and still, a symbol of the power of God. There was no hesitation in his way or in his thoughts. Validus locked the image in his mind of God’s first standing before the Holy of Holies, leading an army of righteous warriors against an army of vile evil. There was no greater battle than this.

Michael lifted his eyes to heaven, then exploded upward in a streak of silver.

Danick stepped up so all could see him. “How many legions of the Fallen have been called to the region?”

“Last count was four, sir,” Commander Kelandar replied.

“You can expect more. Commander Brandt will oversee the redeployment of our legions. All outlying primus commanders will report directly to him.”

Brandt stepped forward. “We have six legions in place now, three more being called from the eastern front, and three more on alert. I’ve got eyes on every Fallen legion in Europe, Asia, and Africa. If they move, we’ll know.”

Danick nodded. “Commanders, the eyes of all three realms are on the Christ-child, and there is no battle that has ever been fought that is as important as this one.” He scanned the faces of his ten primus commanders, who led the remaining thirty-eight legions of angel warriors in the Middle Realm. “The very eternal fate of humanity hangs in the balance. Make sure every single warrior understands what is at stake. This is why we are here. This is why we exist. This is why we fight!”

“For the glory of Elohim!” Brandt shouted, lifting his sword to heaven.

“For the glory of Elohim!” rang the chorus of mighty angels in reply as dozens of swords pierced the night sky.

But their rallying cry of courage was cut short.

A warrior fell from the sky. He hit fast and hard, crashing into the lower steps of the temple and up against the feet of Validus. Validus knelt down to help him, but there was no help to give. The warrior was bleeding from a dozen severe wounds. Validus knew that the gray of the night was hiding the worst of his condition. He marveled that the angel was still with them.

The commanders gathered around as Danick knelt beside Validus and gently turned the warrior onto his back. The warrior grabbed Danick’s arm, fighting off the dissolution for one message.

“Six legions coming … hidden … mountains to the east.”

“Hang on, warrior,” Danick said, placing his hand over the bloodied arm that reached for him.

The angel shook his head. “Save the child …”

He exhaled, and with his last breath he dissolved into a blue vapor that dissipated into the night air, swirling upward around the bent forms of Validus and Danick.

The general rose up. “Commander Brandt, call your legions. The war has begun. I want continual updates from every legion.”

In an instant the commanders of the Warrior Order dispersed to lead their men into combat. Before Danick began coordinating the hundreds of battles that were imminent, he turned and reached for Validus.