Natural Born Angel (Immortal City 2)

Maddy was wondering how to bring up what she’d set up this meeting to discuss, but Tom beat her to it.

“So I guess you know my new boss doesn’t like Angels too much?” Tom said.

Madd

y gave him a questioning look.

“President-elect Linden. Technically he’ll be the commander in chief of the military.”

“Oh,” Maddy said. “Angels” – she’d almost said Jacks – “are pretty upset about it.”

“Upset? They have no right. After what Churchson did. . . How many innocents were murdered, just for the Archangel to try to consolidate Angel power?” Tom shook his head in disgust. “Well, it’s blown up in their faces. Did you know that just a few hours ago in DC, Congress passed an emergency measure to form the Global Angel Commission with Western Europe, China, Russia, India, Brazil, everyone? Leaders and emissaries are all flying to Washington from around the world. Linden will be sworn in as the president of the GAC tonight. He’ll be leading everyone. All of this is happening at top speed to deal with the Angel corruption crisis. The current president is taking a back-seat role. Big change is happening, Maddy. We may be here to witness it.” There was a certain excitement in Tom’s voice. “Now it’s only a matter of time before the Immortals Bill passes. They’re calling the Angels ‘fallen’. Churchson’s crime was like pouring petrol on to a flame. All Angel activities will be suspended, punishable by jail, while they determine what reforms have to be made. There will have to be huge changes to Protection for Pay. We don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Maddy was completely silent. She remembered what Jacks had told her. About decisions.

Tom looked at Maddy’s face. “What? I mean, you’re excited for this, right?”

Maddy looked off into the distance.

“We’ve talked about this before, that you wanted to help bring change to the Immortals. That’s why you started, you told me. Well, now you have a chance.”

“That’s not entirely why I started,” Maddy said. “There were many— ”

“That’s not what you told me. You told me once that a hero will fight for an idea. Now you can use your position to work with President Linden and bring real change. Now, Maddy. Not five or ten years from now. But tomorrow. Think about that.”

“But what will happen to the people who need to be protected in the meantime if the Immortals Bill passes while he reforms?” Maddy asked. “There are some Angels who think that the change needs to happen from within. Is Linden’s way the right way? I met him, you know, Senator – I mean, President – Linden. He came to the diner. He knew my father.”

“You met him?” Tom asked incredulously. “What was he like?”

“Honestly, Tom, he seemed somehow . . . good. Or at least his intentions were. But I don’t know in my gut that what he’s doing is right. Maybe he’s wrong about all this and we’re headed towards a disaster we can’t even imagine.”

“Neither you nor I can answer that. But it may be the only way.” Tom’s eyes were becoming deep and rich with a kind of fire and conviction as he turned to Maddy. “The Angels could say they’re going to change. But how can you ever trust them? They denied that you even existed. They needed to keep their image clean. That’s enough for me right there. You said yourself that they called you an abomination.”

Maddy felt unsure. She felt an old pain at the word abomination. She turned away, looking off to a small grass-covered ravine that had a trickle of a creek running down it.

“Maybe you’re right.” Maddy was shocked to hear herself saying those words. “I . . . I don’t know yet, Tom.”

The pilot had come up behind Maddy. He put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just important. This isn’t something you have to decide right now. But you may have to make the decision sone day soon.”

There was comfort in his hand on her shoulder. Maddy felt it represented something real, something concrete, something different. For some reason it also scared her.

Tom looked at her, an unreadable expression in his eyes. “I also just wanted to let you know, if you ever want to take the plane up again, just tell me. Maybe we’ll fly all the way to Santa Barbara.”

“Thanks, Tom. I appreciate it.” She held the wings in her hands. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been a great friend.”

The pilot’s gaze remained on her.

“I should go, though. It’s getting late.”

Maddy turned to start walking down the path, back towards the cars.

Suddenly what seemed like a thousand flashes fell upon Maddy and Tom at once, absolutely stunning them. A herd of photographers charged up the hill, calling Maddy’s name.

The paparazzi had found them.

Maddy shielded her face and, stunned, hurried as fast as she could towards the car park. Tom, cursing, tried to follow her through the crush of photographers to his pickup. Maddy’s mind raced a thousand miserable directions as she imagined the field day the media was going to have with this situation.

But the biggest question in her mind was, how had they found them?