Angels Defying (Angels Rising Book 3)

by Harriet Carlton

  “Michael!”

  Imorean’s shout came too late. Michael had already vanished in a flash of green. For a moment, Imorean stood completely still.

  “He’s nuts. He’s finally gone ‘effing nuts.”

  “You guys are never going to believe this,” said Imorean, walking into the lobby. Most of his squad were doing miscellaneous activities already. Colton and Dustin were the only ones missing.

  “What’s up?” asked Roxy.

  “Michael’s finally snapped.”

  “We’ve always known he’s insane.”

  “No, I mean, I think he might have actually lost what’s left of his sanity this time.”

  “Why?” asked Mandy.

  “Apparently he discovered something in me just a few minutes ago. Something that’s really given us a head-start on Vortigern.”

  “What?” asked Baxter, looking up from the television.

  “No idea. He got so excited he couldn’t tell me.”

  “So we’ve finally got an ace in the hole and he keeps it to himself?” asked Toddy.

  “Yeah, basically.”

  Roxy shook her head in irritation. “He’s unbelievable.”

  “I think this is even more unbelievable,” said Colton, entering the lobby. Dustin was only a few paces behind him.

  “What’s up?”

  “Michael’s left Felsenmeer. He’s on his way to Upper Morvine.”

  “What?” shouted Imorean. “He’s gone and left us?”

  “According to Uriel,” nodded Colton.

  Imorean’s heart sank. He stepped sideways and looked out at the world beyond Felsenmeer’s windows. It was snowing again. Suddenly, he felt very isolated. Michael had vanished.

  Chapter 31

  Imorean could practically taste the tension in the lobby. His squad was silent. Weak morning sun shone down dull yellow on the slush snow outside. The fires that normally heated the lobby were out. Everything was cold and gray. Not even the sun cast light in the room. Haroel stood near the front doors, looking nervous and uncomfortable. Imorean’s eyes flicked to Roxy, then back to the central focus of the room. Uriel.

  “Michael has told me that you are all under orders to temporarily step away from academics and physical training. We are taking today to fix all of you up with your battle uniforms and any last-minute supplies you will need for a full-scale battlefield. Late tonight, we will be moving to Iceland and meeting up with Michael and much of the Host.”

  “Why?” asked Imorean.

  Uriel’s lip curled, but Haroel stepped forward, his russet wings quivering. “Uriel, they deserve to know. Don’t bite the boy’s head off for asking a question. He is the squad leader. It’s his job.”

  “We have intelligence that Vortigern is planning an attack on the area near Upper Morvine as revenge for our Teufelsschloss offensive. He needs to be headed off before he reaches Norway. Michael has chosen the battleground and plans to intercept Vortigern before he makes his maneuver.”

  “So, Michael isn’t coming back here between now and then?” asked Mandy.

  “Why would he? He has a battle to prepare for. To come back here would be idiotic. We will go to him.”

  “And us? Where will we be?” replied Imorean, resisting the urge to snarl. Uriel never failed to get under his skin.

  “That is entirely up to Michael. Now, Haroel will take care of you as you get your equipment ready.”

  Imorean glared as Uriel strutted out of Felsenmeer’s front doors. He still didn’t feel comfortable with Uriel in charge. The entire environment had changed.

  “So,” said Haroel, rubbing his hands together. “We will be leaving late tonight, like Uriel said. Most of today will be spent with us taking inventory of everything you will need. How’s everyone feeling?”

  Imorean looked at Colton, feeling worried. If any of his squad was at risk, it was Colton. The small boy’s face remained impassive, but Imorean was certain that his blue eyes were wider than everyone else’s. Imorean swallowed and spoke for everyone.

  “I think we’re as ready as we can be.”

  “Well, that’s all we can ask for, isn’t it? Any questions?”

  “More than you can imagine,” muttered Toddy quietly.

  Haroel smiled sadly. “Get your packs ready. We leave at twenty-one hundred tonight.”

  “Yes, sir,” nodded Imorean. Only Ryan and Baxter’s voices joined his own. Imorean paused for a moment as the room dissolved into activity. His squad darted out in different directions, rushing to get everything ready, but he remained still. He frowned as he gathered himself and extended his senses. There was a heavy fog of fear hanging over the room. All his squad was afraid. For a moment, Imorean looked for Haroel, wondering if there was any way they could avoid this battle. If he could barter for more training time. Haroel was looking at him, eyes dark with worry. A sudden bite of anger rose in his throat and Imorean swallowed his own anxiety. These were his orders. They had been instructed to join Michael and head off Vortigern. He didn’t have a choice, nor did his squad. White wings flared as Imorean prepared to make the leap to the second floor, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Roxy. He smiled at her, hoping the expression would drive away fear.

  “What’s up?” asked Imorean, throwing an arm around her shoulders.

  “Imorean,” said Roxy quietly. “Do you really think we should go through with this?”

  “What do you mean?” asked Imorean, furrowing his brow as he looked at her.

  “Listen… I’m scared. I don’t want…”

  “You don’t want to what?”

  “I don’t want to die, Imorean!” Roxy took a sharp, shuddering breath. “I wanted to go to university. I never thought that… I never thought that accepting that scholarship might be me signing my own death warrant.”

  Imorean raised his chin. He knew what she meant. He hadn’t thought that accepting the Saving Grace Scholarship would start him on this path either. He looked around. None of them had.

  “I know. I understand. What’s made you so afraid?”

  Roxy turned to him sharply. “Why do you sound so much like Michael?”

  Imorean looked away. “What I mean is, what’s brought this on? You didn’t seem afraid during training.”

  “That’s training! Look, the last time you faced Vortigern in open combat, you ended up in the hospital. I know you want revenge for what he did to your family… and to you, but do you think, maybe, you should take it easy for a little longer? You’ve been training too hard lately. I don’t know if you’re ready for something like this.”

  Imorean snorted and his smile dissolved into a frown. “Vortigern didn’t take it easy on my family when he killed them. There is no reason for me to take it easy.”

  “Imorean, you’re missing what I’m saying. You should take some more time to recover.”

  “No. Raphael said after he dealt with my last set of injuries that I would be fine to go back into the field, so I’m going. I want to do this.”

  “Imorean,” snapped Roxy, pushing his arm off her shoulders and standing firmly in front of him. He hadn’t seen his friend look this angry for a long time. He inclined his head. She reached out and grabbed his left wing, pulling it open. Black tatters stood out likes gaping holes against the naturally white plumage.

  “Look at what’s already been done to you. Imorean. I’m scared. I’m scared of losing you. I’m scared of what’s happening to you. Can’t I stress that enough?”

  He scowled and tore his wing from Roxy’s grasp. He took a deep breath and calmed his voice, hoping all the venom had gone from it. “What’s brought this on?”

  Roxy folded her arms and Imorean raised his eyebrows. The last thing he needed right now was a fight with one of his squad members. Then Roxy buckled.

  “This desperation for revenge is driving you. I’m worried about you,” she said, placing her hands gently onto Imorean’s upper arms and looking at the floor. “I know I’ve been distant lately, but that’s because�
�� I don’t want anything to happen to you. I don’t know what I’d do if anything did happen. That terrifies me. When we saw you getting dragged down toward the water by Vortigern, I thought… I thought I had just lost my best friend. I didn’t know what to do. I can’t lose you again, Imorean. You and me have already had so much taken away from us. We’ve both had our families taken from us and neither of us have a place that we can call home anymore. We can’t lose each other.”

  Imorean smiled softly, his defense melting away. He took in his friend’s forlorn expression. He knew that Roxy hadn’t seen her family since they had abandoned her when Bethany and Vortigern attacked in North Carolina. Both of them had had to be taken in by the angels. In a strange way, Felsenmeer was their home. It was the only place they had now.

  Imorean dropped his smile and sighed sadly, pulling Roxy into a tight hug.

  “You won’t lose me,” said Imorean, resting his head on top of hers. “We’re going into this all together. You, me, the squad, Michael, Gabriel and we’ll come out of it the same way. All together. You’ll see.”

  The white-haired squad leader quirked a small smile as Roxy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was glad that for the time being he seemed to have been able to calm her. He knew she was worried and she had every right to be.

  “Go on now,” he said, dropping his embrace. “We need to get packed. We’ve got a task we need to perform tomorrow.”

  “You say it like it’s scripted,” said Roxy, stepping back slightly.

  “I didn’t mean to,” replied Imorean. He raised his gaze and looked out of the window at the half landing. Outside, the sun had been quelled behind a bank of clouds and a dreary gray had settled over the landscape. Imorean blinked slowly. Tomorrow, he would see Vortigern again. He quelled the rising feel of terror that gripped his stomach. He couldn’t afford to think about his own fears right now.

  Chapter 32

  Imorean stood in front of his squad in the gym. Their rucksacks were on the floor at their feet. They were all clad in their camouflage uniforms, complete with protective vests. Imorean shook his head, his helmet feeling foreign on his head.

  “Everyone okay?” he asked, tightening the straps of his gloves and reaching back to rest his hand on the metal pommel of his sword.

  “I think so,” nodded Toddy.

  “Everyone been to see Haroel for the final checklist?”

  “Yes,” said Dustin, smiling tightly. “Imorean, stop worrying.”

  Imorean quirked a small smile of his own. Brown eyes flicked to the gym doors. They were motionless. No faculty were coming through them yet.

  “How are we all feeling? Be honest.”

  “We’ll be fine,” said Ryan, darting a glance at Roxy, Baxter and Dustin. Colton, Mandy and Toddy all exchanged more nervous glances. Imorean took a deep breath. He hated to do this, but he needed a clearer read all of them. He extended his senses and explored the room. There was neither nervousness nor confidence in the air. It was nothing but fear. Imorean put his shoulders back and ignored the talons of anxiety that gripped them at the thought of seeing Vortigern again.

  “We’re going to be fine. This is just for experience. We shouldn’t be scared. I’m sure we’ll know exactly what’s going on when we see Michael this evening.”

  “If we see him,” muttered Mandy.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Imorean, no offense, but if anyone’s seeing him tonight, it’ll be you.”

  “He’ll accommodate for his favorite,” said Ryan.

  “The only reason he does this is because I’m half Archangel. He made me. I’m the squad leader. Of course, he spends time with me and fills me in on plans.”

  “He didn’t fill you in on how our patrol over Greenland would go,” said Colton, his small voice echoing loudly across the gym.

  “He nearly got you killed,” said Toddy. “We don’t know that he isn’t planning the same thing here.”

  “Why should we trust him?” asked Ryan. “You don’t trust him yourself.”

  Imorean opened his mouth to reply, but no words came. There was nothing he could say to defend Michael or himself. There was nothing he could say to reassure his squad members. The gym doors squeaked as they opened and Haroel and Uriel stepped inside. Imorean couldn’t help but feel relieved. The moment of their departure was at hand.

  “Trouble in paradise?” asked Uriel, folding his arms.

  “No,” replied Imorean. “We’re just feeling a little anxious.”

  “Well, stop feeling anxious,” sighed Uriel. “We have a long trip to make. Haroel, you’re taking first teleport to Greenland. I’ll take the second. I would ask Imorean to do one, but he’s incapable.”

  “I still haven’t been taught how,” replied Imorean, struggling to keep his voice calm.

  “So sad that you must be taught things that normal Archangels are born with and know inherently.”

  Imorean bristled, his wings flaring wider. Uriel smirked, his dark eyes shimmering with a pale light.

  “Let’s get on the move,” said Haroel, walking forward. “Michael is expecting them no later than twenty-three hundred hours. We can’t afford to linger here.”

  Uriel seemed to shake himself and his eyes darkened. “Everyone ready?”

  Imorean looked at his squad. There was a sense of darkness over them, though whether fear or mutiny, he wasn’t sure. White hair slipped from under his helmet and fell into his eyes as he nodded at Haroel. There was a flash of russet light and Felsenmeer fell away.

  Chapter 33

  The world spun around Imorean as he felt ground beneath his feet again. Colors were blurring. Bright, white lights flashed all around. Garbled voices. The heavy, sluggish feeling of nausea was in his stomach, his mouth slick. He fell hard to his knees, sharp stones catching him as he collapsed.

  “You okay, Imorean?” asked Roxy, settling beside him.

  “Yeah,” breathed Imorean, his own voice weak in his throat. “Just disoriented, I guess.”

  “We don’t have time or safety to do this. On your feet, Frayneson,” hissed Uriel, lowering his arm, hand curling into a fist at his side.

  Imorean grimaced and pushed up to his feet, legs still shaky. He smiled as Roxy placed her hand on his shoulder and looked around. They were in front of two large tents. A handheld floodlight hung outside each one. Beyond the illuminated ground was overwhelming darkness.

  “Iceland,” said Uriel. He motioned with one wing to the larger of the two tents. “Michael’s waiting inside.”

  Imorean nodded and turned to his squad, still feeling nauseous and unsteady. “Come on.”

  Inside, it was only marginally warmer than the dark world outside, but Imorean barely noticed the change in temperature. The tent was lit with a soft, yellow orb of light that seemed to hang of its own volition over a central table. Michael and Gabriel stood around the table, heads bent. Imorean cleared his throat and Gabriel turned. The hazel-eyed Archangel smiled and snapped his fingers. The sole orb split into multiple pieces and the tent suddenly seemed much brighter.

  “Hello, everyone. Michael, I’ve been telling you it’s too dark in here.”

  The only reaction was a grunt of acknowledgement.

  “What’s up with him?” asked Imorean. His squad began setting down their packs near the entrance. He set his own down and moved across the tent toward Michael.

  “Oh, he’s been like this all day,” sighed Gabriel. “Always does this before a battle. He’s impossible. Irritating, really.”

  “I do, in fact, have ears, Gabriel,” snapped Michael, not looking up from the table.

  “Take a look at this, everyone,” said Gabriel, waving the rest of the squad over.

  “A map?” asked Ryan.

  “Topographic,” replied Colton. “We’re fighting around… is that what I think it is?”

  “Oh, yes, it’s a volcano,” smiled Gabriel.

  “What?” snapped Roxy, looking at Mandy in horror.

&nbs
p; “Volcano,” said Michael, finally looking up. Imorean couldn’t help but notice that his mentor deliberately avoided his eyes.

  “Why?” asked Dustin.

  “I need it.”

  “What for?” asked Baxter, his big, dark wings quivering.

  “Stop being cryptic, Michael. Tell them,” said Gabriel, shaking his head.

  “I need enough power to do serious damage to Vortigern’s forces and I need a ground where I will have the advantage. The Eyjafjallajökull Volcano will provide me with this.”

  “What about the surrounding area?” asked Roxy. Imorean glanced at her. There were bright streaks of fear in her eyes. He turned back to Michael. The Archangel was still staring hard at the map. Finally, the emerald wings shrugged.

  “You’re going to do so much damage,” whispered Mandy.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” sighed Gabriel. “That is a risk we have to take. If it’s any reassurance, full-scale eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano will be difficult to bring into existence. Most likely, it will just be cloud and ash, more of a steam eruption, which is what we want. Provided someone keeps everything in check.”

  “I can contain the eruption. Nothing will go wrong,” snapped Michael, looking up with narrow eyes.

  “You said that about Pompeii as well and look what happened there, but I’m not going to argue with you, Michael,” said Gabriel. “I’m not in the mood.”

  “Where are you putting us?” asked Imorean. A strange hope burned in him that Michael may look at him, address him directly. He needed to know his mentor wasn’t leading them into another situation beyond what they could handle.

  Instead, Michael’s finger jabbed hard at a place on the map some distance from the volcano’s crater.

  “Here. Secondary unit. Uriel’s command. You will wait as reserve unless otherwise ordered. Am I clear on that, Frayneson?”

  Imorean started at the use of his last name. For some time now, he and Michael had been on a first-name basis.