Jacks and his Battle Angels gave loud whoops of joy as they took in the sight of their brothers, sisters, and friends on the wing, Divine Swords in hand.
Jackson strained to see who was heading up the charge. To his great, wonderful disbelief, he saw that Archangel Mark Godspeed was leading the formation.
Confused by this sight of more and more Angels materializing as if from thin air, the demons faltered. They began to pull back slightly from this section of the city and streamed out into the streets.
A few eager Angels began to give chase but were stopped short by furious demons guarding the rear.
The Angels could tell this wasn’t a real retreat, but that the demons were regrouping their forces. Either way, it would still give the Angels a chance to do some gathering of their own.
Mark landed right in front of Jacks. His face was set and determined, and he, like the Immortals behind him, wore the armor of a Battle Angel.
Jackson’s stepfather stepped forward. Dozens upon dozens of Battle Angels landed softly behind him, some of them on buildings—mostly to keep a safe perimeter, but also because there was no longer room for them on the ground. The Angel fleet also stretched out into the streets, parks, and alleyways, and on the rooftops: a full battalion.
No such numbers of Battle Angels had been assembled since the days of old.
“Mark,” Jackson said, still in disbelief.
“We’ve come, Jackson,” his stepfather said with tears in his eyes.
“How?” Jackson was stunned.
“Because of you, Jackson. And your example,” Mark said, motioning to the full battalion. “You are a true Angel. What you did, coming out here against the odds, not for fame, but for the principles behind being an Angel. You were the spark that lit the explosion.”
Jacks looked out at all the faces of the Angels, most of whom he’d known all his life. He was overpowered with gratitude, emotion, and wonder.
“These are your Battle Angels now, Jackson,” Mark said. “Lead them. It is your destiny.”
Jackson silently nodded, his face tense and set, his pale blue eyes as sharp as they’d ever been. He looked at the array of Angels in front of him, above him, everywhere. They were ready to lay down their lives for the city, and they were awaiting his command. He walked a few paces back and forth, then opened his mouth and shouted.
“Angels!”
They raised their swords and called out a response that echoed throughout Angel City. It was the call of hope for those who had been hopeless up until now. Hope shimmered across the rooftops and the city.
Jacks now found himself wondering whether, someday, young Guardians-in-training would be studying these maneuvers, the same way he and his fellow Angels had pored over accounts of ancient attacks and counterattacks between Angels and demons on the storied battlefields of old.
The Angels looked anxiously to where the demons had temporarily retreated to. Now that they had the numbers, the Angels wanted to attack. Jackson stepped away from his spot at the front of the pack and approached his stepfather.
“Where is everyone else?” he asked Mark. “Are they safe?”
“The sanctuary has been abandoned. The nonwarriors have left for the Northeast. Your mother and Chloe included,” Mark Godspeed said. Jackson breathed a sigh of relief. “There are some from the sanctuary who are still loyal to the Council. There were some . . . struggles.”
“Detec
tive Sylvester thinks there is a head demon. That if we find it and kill it, we can stop this madness,” Jackson said. “And I believe him. We’ve been trying to flush it out, but so far—nothing. Sylvester thinks we might be able to tell where the directions are coming from based on the patterns of the attacks. But we haven’t heard anything from the resistance in a long time.”
Mark looked at his stepson. “Then we need to hold them as long as we can. Give them more time.”
Suddenly a demon-bomb soared past overhead and smashed into a building. The Dark Ones had regathered and were on the attack again.
Jackson pulled his sword out and turned to his Battle Angels.
“Angels! We are fighting in full strength!” Jacks shouted. Pride and strength poured into his body as he raised his sword and was met with cheers. “They have taken many of us, but now we are stronger! Let’s give these Dark Ones everything we’ve got!”
It didn’t take any more convincing. As soon as Jacks gave the signal, streams of Battle Angels began pouring toward the Dark Ones, who were now advancing. Battle yells erupted from their demon throats, but the Angels answered with their own cries.
The battle had started anew.
• • •