by Larkin, Matt
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Author's Note
Echoes of Angels
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Shadows of Angels
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Chapter Sixty-Six
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Chapter Seventy
Chapter Seventy-One
Chapter Seventy-Two
Chapter Seventy-Three
Chapter Seventy-Four
Chapter Seventy-Five
Chapter Seventy-Six
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Chapter Seventy-Nine
Chapter Eighty
Chapter Eighty-One
Chapter Eighty-Two
Chapter Eighty-Three
Chapter Eighty-Four
Chapter Eighty-Five
Chapter Eighty-Six
Chapter Eighty-Seven
Chapter Eighty-Eight
Chapter Eighty-Nine
Chapter Ninety
Chapter Ninety-One
Chapter Ninety-Two
Chapter Ninety-Three
Chapter Ninety-Four
Chapter Ninety-Five
Wrath of Angels
Chapter Ninety-Six
Chapter Ninety-Seven
Chapter Ninety-Eight
Chapter Ninety-Nine
Chapter One Hundred
Chapter One Hundred One
Chapter One Hundred Two
Chapter One Hundred Three
Chapter One Hundred Four
Chapter One Hundred Five
Chapter One Hundred Six
Chapter One Hundred Seven
Chapter One Hundred Eight
Chapter One Hundred Nine
Chapter One Hundred Ten
Chapter One Hundred Eleven
Chapter One Hundred Twelve
Chapter One Hundred Thirteen
Chapter One Hundred Fourteen
Chapter One Hundred Fifteen
Chapter One Hundred Sixteen
Chapter One Hundred Seventeen
Chapter One Hundred Eighteen
Chapter One Hundred Nineteen
Chapter One Hundred Twenty
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-One
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Six
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Seven
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Eight
Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Nine
Chapter One Hundred Thirty
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Two
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Five
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Six
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Seven
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Eight
Fall of Angels
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Nine
Chapter One Hundred Forty
Chapter One Hundred Forty-One
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Two
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Four
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Five
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Six
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Seven
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Eight
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Nine
Chapter One Hundred Fifty
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-One
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Two
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Four
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Five
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Six
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Seven
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Eight
Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Nine
Chapter One Hundred Sixty
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-One
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Two
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Four
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Five
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Six
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Seven
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Eight
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-Nine
Chapter One Hundred Seventy
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-One
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Two
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Three
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Four
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Five
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Six
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Seven
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Eight
Chapter One Hundred Seventy-Nine
Chapter One Hundred Eighty
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-One
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Two
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Three
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Four
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Five
Chapter One Hundred Eighty-Six
Keep Reading
About the Author
SINS OF ANGELS (THE COMPLETE COLLECTION)
Books 1-4
MATT LARKIN
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, businesses, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual per
sons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.
SINS OF ANGELS (THE COMPLETE COLLECTION)
Copyright © 2014 Matt Larkin
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Edited by Brenda Pierson
Covers by Juhi Larkin
Published by Incandescent Phoenix Books
incandescentphoenix.com
mattlarkin.net
Echoes of Angels, For Brian, for making sure a fantasy geek was also a sci-fi geek.
Shadows of Angels, For Christine. You are missed.
Wrath of Angels, For Ginny, because you rock.
Fall of Angels, For Matt. Having a friend who believes in you makes a world of difference.
This volume collects the entirety of the Sins of Angels series. These books take place approximately 3200 years in the future, 3100 years after the coming of an alien threat called the Adversary. Angels arrived to save mankind, but Earth became a wasteland.
Writing sci-fi instead of fantasy has been a real learning experience for me, and a bit of a treat. I truly hope you enjoy this journey as much as I have. And I look forward to hearing from readers with their thoughts on favorite characters.
CHAPTER ONE
September 21st, 3096 EY, the journal of Rachel Jordan:
I’m keeping this journal as scientific record of what I believe will be the most important discovery since the Exodus from Eden, more than 3000 years ago. I have arrived on planet Gehenna in pursuit of a lead pertaining to the Sefer Raziel. This unlikely world with no strategic value may well become the site of the transformation of mankind.
Gehenna stank. The breather Rachel suctioned over her face allowed her to survive the planet’s sulfuric vapors and toxic atmosphere, but it didn’t quite cut out the smell—a blend of rotten eggs and a chemistry lab.
She cast a glance over her shoulder and quickened her steps down the road. Maybe there was no one back there, but she couldn’t be too careful. Every time she stepped outside, there was the chance they would find her.
Still, she had to eat, and there was no way she was taking another meal in that hotel. No matter the situation one found oneself in, one had to live. Even on a planet with a red, ash-filled sky.
The Babel Bazaar was famous, or perhaps infamous, as an underground hangout for all walks of life. The entrance, just ahead, looked like a many tiered spire. It might have seemed tall, if not for the buildings around it. The soot-colored skyscrapers rimming the street stretched a hundred or more stories up, shadowing the already dark streets of Beeroth.
Rachel slapped the buzzer and the airlock slid open. A moment after she stepped through, the outer door resealed itself and a wave of pressurized air washed over her. She waited a few breaths before releasing the suction on her breather. A few minutes of Gehennan air probably wouldn’t kill her, but why take the chance?
The inner door slid open and she was struck by a barrage of noise, sights, and smells. Just down the stairs, people hawked wares in crowded aisles, cafes offered everything from coffees and liquors to full meals, and nearly nude prostitutes beckoned men and women alike. Rachel shook her head, smirking. Her father would have a conniption if he saw this place. A ‘den of sin’, he’d call it.
The airlock opened again behind her. Rachel stepped back against the wall, hand on the MAG strapped to her thigh. A couple, probably around her own thirty years, strolled in and almost immediately followed one of the prostitutes behind a closed door.
She had to get a grip. The Redeemers might have followed her to this planet. Maybe. But they weren’t here right now. The people walking behind her weren’t Redeemers. The thought of Redeemers searching this place almost—almost—made her smile. Speaking of people who would lose their shit in the Babel Bazaar. But such mirth was short lived. If they found her, she’d wish she were dead.
Rachel waded into the crowd, keeping toward the center of the aisle until she spotted a sign for “Gourmet Triangulum Food”. Perfect.
Gehenna wasn’t part of the Mizraim Empire, so maybe she could actually find some decent Asheran food here. Not that foreign food was illegal in Mizraim, it was just so hard to come by. She slipped inside the restaurant. The owner probably intended the dim lights to be relaxing, but since he had no music playing and they were already underground, it seemed more oppressive to Rachel than anything. But she was here, so she sat at a table in the back, one where she could watch the door.
A digital display lit up on the tabletop as soon as she sat. Funny, on such a backwater planet, she’d almost expected a human to come take her order. Some of the places she went for archaeological digs still did that. She swiped through the pages and tapped on Asheran hot noodles. Something spicy would do nicely.
Ten minutes later, a girl dropped a plate of steaming noodles on the table. “Need anything else?”
Rachel needed a lot of things right now. “I’m looking for some information.”
The girl leaned in, looking Rachel right in the eye, but said nothing. Emotions roiled just behind the girl’s eyes. Greed, opportunity, an edge of fear covered with bravado. Rachel wasn’t much of a Psych, really, but she was a strong enough empath to get an idea when people were focused on her. And this girl saw a mark.
Rachel smirked and slipped the waitress a kesitah. She’d imprinted dozens of the local currency chips with small bribes for these situations. Kesitahs came cheap compared to Mizraim credits anyway. Her server pressed her thumb to the metal to check its value, then smiled like a kid with her first set of holo glasses. “Talk to Ariel, down on the second sub-level. Tell her Judy sent you.” With that, the girl spun and walked away.
Rachel tapped the water dispenser on the table and filled her glass, then sampled the hot noodles. The startling sensation of cayenne, citrus, and Triangulum bubble sauce washed over her tongue. Yeah, she’d missed this food. Yet another thing her family would likely rake her over the coals for, if they knew.
Dear old Dad called the entire Asheran Confederacy khapiru, and said they were headed straight to hell. Of course, when people talked about hell, they probably had Gehenna in mind. In the Days of Glory the planet had been a penal colony for those foolish enough to anger the Angels. In the six hundred years since the Vanishing, the world had become an independent entity. Independent because neither the Mizraim Empire nor the Asheran Confederacy would take in a toxic hellhole on the edge of the Expanse of Nod.
When she’d arrived here a few days back, Rachel had found one of the least-crowded spaceports she’d ever seen. No one in their right mind came here. Which probably meant she was a bit off rotation, too. But if the Sefer was really here… well, she’d travel to hell and back to find it.
After finishing her noodles, she left the restaurant, her fingers brushing over her MAG as she returned to the breezeway. Couldn’t be too careful. She watched the people as she headed toward the stairs to the lower level.
A pair of soldiers in feature-concealing body armor strolled by, and the crowd parted around them like a river flowing around rocks. Their armor was chromed, even the faceplates, so Rachel couldn’t judge much about them. They wore the insignia of the Gehennan government, a pegasus. As though Gehenna were claiming rights to the whole Pegasus Dwarf galaxy. Never mind that ninety percent of it was ruled by the Mizraim Empire. Rachel smirked, and kept her head down. Everybody had pride.
Something brushed against her side. She spun, but whoever it was had already disappeared into the crowd. One of the purses of kesitahs was missing from her jacket pocket. She scowled, scanning the crowd and knowing it was in vain. The money didn’t matter much, but she’d let someone walk up and touch her, and get away without a trace. This place was too crowded. There was no way to keep track of everyone. Any one of those people could be a Redeemer.
She suppressed a shudder. She was being paranoid. A
Redeemer would likely be beside himself with apoplexy here. Not too hard to spot. Still, she hurried down the stairs to the next sub-level. An Angelologist had to go where the leads were. If she could brave this planet, she could handle a crowded Bazaar.
Angel technology had advanced mankind thousands of years, maybe tens of thousands. But now the Angels were gone and they hadn’t shared freely. And Rachel intended to see mankind reap the full benefit of two and half millennia of servitude to that theocracy. Days of Glory, indeed.
The second sub-level was much like the first, except numerous side halls broke away, creating a series of loops that would make it easier to get lost down here. And this wasn’t the kind of place she should just stop and ask someone for help, though it was as thick with people as the first level. Apparently, she should have gotten more information from that serving girl. With a sigh, Rachel strode down one of the halls. She passed a weapon shop that, oddly, had more knives than MAGs. Who carried knives? Curiosity almost made her stop inside and ask what the point—no pun intended—of a knife was. But that wasn’t why she was here.
She continued on until she spotted a woman hovering in the shadows, by a closed door. Could be Ariel. Or could know how to find her if she wasn’t. All right, then, time for business. Rachel squared her shoulders and strode straight for her.
As if from nowhere, a man stepped in front of her. “I got what you’re looking for, long hair.”
“How do you know what I want?”
The man smirked. “I just know, whatever it is, I got it.” His emotions were a roil of filth—lust, greed, a burning desire for violence. Rachel had known too many men like him.
“Is that Ariel?”
The man glanced back at the woman in the shadows. “I don’t know her name, long hair. But she’s already got what you need. I mean look at her. Look at the peace on her face. I got that for you.” The man winked at her. He was probably in his late thirties—it was hard to tell—and had fairly fine clothes. The vest could have been nanomesh, or it could have been real leather.
“I don’t think I’m looking for the same thing she is,” Rachel said, and backed away, toward the center breezeway.
The man edged around her. “You ever tried Mammon, long hair?”
Rachel rolled her eyes. Her hair wasn’t even that long—halfway down her back at most. She opened her mouth, but the dealer just kept talking.
