Battle Angel (Immortal City 3)

“You mean Jackson,” Maddy said.

Linden’s gaze deepened. “He’s our best chance, Maddy. The others are too entrenched in their Angel ways, too blinded by popular opinion. Their loyalty is unquestioned. But his relationship with you . . . that’s a completely different story.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. President. I can’t do what you’re asking. You don’t know what he’s like now. He’s the most loyal and obedient I’ve ever seen him. It’s like he’s a different Angel. I don’t even know if he’ll”—emotion swelled inside her, forcing her to linger on the sentence for a moment—“want to see me. There are just some things about the situation that you don’t know. And, like I said, we don’t even know where they’re hiding.”

The president’s jaw grew tense. “Our sources say the Angels are still close to Angel City. Maddy, we don’t have another option. Under normal circumstances, I’d tell you to go with your gut. But we need you to at least try this.” The circles underneath his eyes seemed to deepen as he paused. “Maddy. You do understand that this may be our last chance? The Dark Angels will not give us another opening like this.”

Maddy nodded slowly. She knew that what he was saying was true in theory. But to go to Jackson? To reopen that fresh wound that both of them shared? It was perhaps the last thing on the planet she wanted to do.

But as she looked at President Linden, she felt a deep respect. She wanted to do what he asked, to help in any way she could. Even if it meant enduring the pain of seeing Jacks, and having to witness the pain it would cause him. She let out a heavy breath as she prepared to give him her answer.

“All I can promise is that I’ll try.”

“That’s all we can expect from you, Maddy. Thank you. The Angels have cut off all channels of communication with every government in the world,” Linden said. “They’re not answering any calls, any pleas. They’ve really just disappeared. You, and your bond with Jackson, truly are our only hope of getting to them.”

“But the phone lines are down, cell service, too. How am I even supposed to get in touch . . .”

Linden’s eyes twinkled. “We’re the American government, Maddy. We can fix that for you. That’s the least of your worries.”

And once again, like a sickness that comes in waves, Maddy’s mind cast back to the fury and agony written all over every inch of Jackson’s face as she chose Tom.

“Just don’t invest too much hope in this,” Maddy said, “because I have a feeling you’re going to be disappointed.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Jackson Godspeed wandered the quieter precincts of the sanctuary, lost in thought as his slow footsteps echoed down the empty hallway. The main portion of the complex was laid out like three wheels, one on top of the other, each one larger than the first, with numerous spoke-like passageways coming out from a central hub that connected them all. Jackson was now in the outermost ring, where he was sure he could be alone.

The hallway was dimly lit with soft lighting gleaming along the dark marble floors. He paused at one of the openings off the hall, where a small artificial stream ran along a short path, soothing as it babbled. Every so often, he saw a rainbow trout swim up and glisten in the current. But the serene scene still could not calm Jackson’s relentless train of thought.

The images he witnessed during the first demon attacks remained burned in his mind. To watch his native city endure an assault like that, and for him to do nothing about it, had affected him deeply. And, of course, he also couldn’t help wondering about Maddy, as painful as it was to even think her name.

Jacks let out a deep breath and made his way back to the center of the sanctuary. He needed to do something besides wander around the outskirts, if only to get his mind off things.

He hadn’t gotten far when he ran into Louis Kreuz walking with an assistant weighed down with files.

“Godspeed!” Louis said. Kreuz’s meaty paw overwhelmed Jacks’s fingers as the two shook hands. “Been out in the boonies?” Kreuz motioned toward the outer rings of the sanctuary.

Jackson was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected to run into the brash head Guardian trainer, and for a moment he felt like he was back in training, being chewed out by Kreuz for some small mistake.

“Just clearing my head, sir,” Jacks said.

“You don’t have to call me ‘sir’ anymore, Godspeed,” Kreuz said, grinning. “It’s just Louis these days, now that you’re a Battle Angel.” Jackson didn’t return Louis’s smile. “Seems like maybe you didn’t get too much cleared up out there. Thinking about . . . ?” Louis pointed up, toward the surface, toward Angel City, where the humans were awaiting their fate.

“I don’t know anymore, sir—I mean, Louis,” Jackson said.

“The humans did leave us hanging out to dry, you gotta admit,” Kreuz said. “We had our backsides hanging out there in the wind with Linden and that bill.”

Jackson thought he saw a strange sparkle in Louis’s eyes as he spoke.

Jacks just nodded and didn’t respond. He’d retreated once again into his thoughts.

“Well, if you’re lucky, you’ll run into Gabriel. He’s just down there,” Kreuz said. He pulled out an unlit cigar and chomped his teeth on it. “He just walked me out of another meeting. He likes getting air and visiting with the rest of the Angels. You know, he’s got high hopes for you.”

Kreuz was one of the few Angels with whom Gabriel consulted regularly. Louis had been so instrumental over the years, training generation after generation and churning out groomed Guardian after groomed Guardian, that it only made sense that he’d remain a confidant during this current crisis.

“Well, take care of yourself, Godspeed,” Kreuz said. He motioned for his assistant, who had busied himself on the sidelines while he and Jackson talked, and the two of them proceeded down the hall together.

“You, too, Louis,” Jackson called after them.