Natural Born Angel (Immortal City 2)

“It’s my wings,” he said deliberately. “The Archangels have found a way for me to fly again.”

“What? How?” Maddy asked in disbelief. “That’s amazing!”

“There’s a new technology. My wings will be part natural, and part . . . metal or something. They’ve developed the technology for strategic uses. I’m going to become a Battle Angel.”

“What technology? I don’t understand, Jacks.”

“Apparently they’ve been developing it for years. I was trying to tell you the other day, but you weren’t listening to me.”

“Jacks, I— ” Maddy said.

“Just like you haven’t been there for me the past few months,” Jacks continued.

Maddy’s face burned. She knew he was somewhat right.

“The procedure is happening next week,” Jacks said. He looked out of the window as brazen red streaks from the sunset cut across the Angel City sky and then turned to Maddy, his eyes glinting in the light. “Maddy, I’ll be able to fly again.”

CHAPTER 32

r /> As Sylvester sat down, he examined the marble frieze that ran around the four walls of the domed hall. Light knifed down from a narrow skylight at the top of the dome, dust motes dancing in the stark sunbeams. The beams glared on the polished marble floor. The frieze, a wide horizontal band running the length of the walls, was stunning in its detail and artistry. In marble relief, it showed the ancient stages of the Angels’ history and scenes from the Bible. It also depicted other moments in Angel history that humans would never have known about. There was Greek text under each of the scenes.

One section of the frieze, which was carved in deep red marble and had been restored from an ancient Angel ziggurat, had a language Sylvester had never even seen. He recognized the scene, though: the epic final battle of the Angels over the Dark Angels, who had just become demons. What had started as a civil war had quickly turned into an all-out struggle for Angel survival. Those rebelling, the fallen Immortals, had become grotesque, distorted and demonic, and obsessed with destroying Angelkind. Untold amounts of Angel blood had been spilled in the Demon Struggles.

The panel showed an Angel in full battle dress plunging the tip of a blessed battle sword into the heart of a demon. Whoever the artist was, he had been extremely meticulous in creating the detailed flame that actually was the demon. Sylvester was impressed with his level of skill. And dedication. It must have taken years, just that small section.

His eyes took in the whole scene. He was alone in the expansive hall, waiting.

He had never been here before, but then again, not many had. Not many Angels even knew this place existed, although of course they had heard rumours. This temple had been carved deep out of the earth over a century before. The light high above came from a latticed and intricate skylight at ground level.

The detective coughed. It echoed loudly throughout the marble hall. Reaching in the pocket of his old overcoat, he extracted a throat lozenge and popped it in his mouth.

Soon he heard footsteps. An almost ethereal young Angel woman appeared, walking across the hall. Her skin was milky, almost translucent, her hair so blonde it was nearly white, and her eyes a ghostly blue. She wore a strangely modern robe, its golden threaded detail along the seams gleaming as she passed through a beam of light from above.

“The Council will now see you . . . Detective Sylvester.”

“Thank you.”

Detective Sylvester stood up, picking up his thick folder full of documents, photos and testimonies. Smoothing his overcoat, he followed the Angel woman across the hall towards two large double oak doors. Each door had a long, black iron handle. She pulled them at the same time. The doors creaked as they swung open, revealing to Detective Sylvester a chapel – he had seen footage of it this year during Maddy’s Commissioning. Thick Grecian columns ran the length of the room, and in the centre was a table, shimmering under the candlelight. The Council of Twelve sat around it. Sylvester’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the resplendent Twelve, those original Archangels who had brought Angels out of hiding, established Angel City, and founded the entire system on which the Angels ran today.

“David Sylvester,” the Angel woman announced before retreating. She closed the doors behind her.

“Welcome, David. Please, approach.” The voice was distinctive and authoritative. Gabriel’s. He sat at the centre of the table, wearing a golden robe that seemed to glow all on its own. He had surprisingly youthful features for the sleek mass of trademark white hair atop his head. Archangel Mark Godspeed sat to the side of Gabriel. He was wearing his normal uniform of designer suit and sharp tie. He had got Sylvester the meeting after the detective’s heads-up on the Churchson bombing scandal. Godspeed owed him one.

Walking forward, Sylvester had more of an opportunity to see the room. On the opposite wall were two enormous flat-screen TVs built into the marble walls of the private chapel of the Council. Closed-captioned news footage of President Linden’s inauguration, as well as Maddy’s unsanctioned save, was playing on the TVs. All the corners of the room hid in shadows. The Council watched him as he approached.

Gabriel studied Sylvester with his piercingly sharp eyes before speaking.

“Mark says you know something of importance that may affect the very existence of Angels.” He looked at Mark beside him. “It is to him you owe this extraordinary audience with us.”

“Thank you,” Sylvester said. He polished his glasses on his shirt. “I will get straight to the point. It is my belief that Dark Angels are emerging at a greater and greater rate across the planet. That incidents of death and destruction around the globe have been caused by these demons. I’ve uncovered dozens of cases that could be linked to these demons.” He held the manila folder aloft. “The crack created last year has led to this – they were waiting some time for an opening between their world and ours. For an opportunity. In fact, according to my reading of The Book of Angels, I believe demons have spotted their chance first to conquer humanity, and then to overtake Angels and replace them on earth as the dominant supernatural power. It is only a matter of time before the war begins. The war between good and evil.”

The detective’s words hung in the chapel air. The members of the Council remained silent in their beautiful finery and golden robes. They eyed the detective. Gabriel’s gaze remained unwavering on Sylvester.

“Detective,” Gabriel’s voice was full and slow, magnificent, “you are aware of what’s happening right now?” Gabriel nodded to the large screens playing footage of President Linden and the scandal surrounding Maddy’s save of Lauren.

“Yes,” Sylvester said. “Of course.”

“Good. Then you will understand how precarious of a position we are in at this moment,” Gabriel said. “The humans are turning against us, their very benefactors. We stand, in short, at a crisis. It is imperative we maintain our rightful place, here, in Angel City, on earth. This threat from the humans is real. It is before us right now. This instant.”