Vigilance: The Unbound, #4

By Jeroen Steenbeeke

For the first time in weeks, I felt normal. Despite the soldiers at our school, despite the creature chasing us halfway across Europe, things seemed like they could be all right again.

And then I collapsed, the bond giving me my powers nearly breaking. If not for my girlfriend Karen's help, I would have lost the connection, and I would have died. But our friend Shannon was already weakened when it happened, and now she's dying.

The only way to safe her is an ancient artifact built by a mad Roman, stored deep underground in an unknown location. We know how to find it, but others do, too. Others that may not be friendly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeroen Steenbeeke
• Release date: Feb 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524273392

Book preview

1.

You're damned right we have a problem. Karen extended her hand, purple fire flowing from her palm and materializing into the wicked dagger I had seen many times before.

Karen, what are you doing? I stepped in front of her, blocking her path to Gabriel.

Getting even. She tried pushing me away, but I stood my ground.

"Elariel, this is not the time to settle six-thousand-year-old grudges." Gabriel crossed his arms, looking impatient.

"Do you really expect me to simply forget it was you who gave the names of the Unbound to Michael?" Elariel hissed.

What? Shannon and I said simultaneously, turning around to stare at Gabriel.

"I had no way of knowing Michael could destroy your physical forms. I still do not understand how he did it."

"I remember Raphael pleading with Michael to spare us. I remember it took six angels to restrain Uriel. But you just stood there. You simply looked at us and did nothing." Karen tried pushing me aside again, much harder this time.

"Even archangels fear," Gabriel whispered.

I don't mean to spoil your revenge, Karen—God knows there are some people I want to get even with—but attacking Gabriel won't do you much good. Shannon stepped closer to Gabriel, keeping her eyes on Karen's dagger. The thing is, he's not actually here.

Shannon waved her hand, and it passed straight through Gabriel. Karen let out an annoyed grunt, and her dagger evaporated. This isn't over.

"Agreed. We will speak of this again. Gabriel shimmered as he stepped forward. Now, as I was saying, we have a problem."

Gabriel's projection shimmered again, and his voice became clipped.

"Victory…Thanatos…shockwave…Vulcan's vaults." Gabriel looked confused, and then he faded away completely.

What the hell was that? I asked Uriel, but I got no response.

Where did he go? Karen looked from Shannon to me and back again.

I walked to where Gabriel had been standing, but there was no sign of him.

Something's wrong, Shannon said. I can't feel Thalaniel anymore.

And Uriel's gone silent as well. A strange buzzing sound filled my ears, steadily growing louder. Can you guys hear that?

I don't hear anything. Karen gave me a worried look.

It hurts. Shannon put her hands against her ears.

"Thymen, Shannon, I need you to lie down right now!" I could barely hear Elariel speak to me, but I did as she said.

A deep roar filled my ears, and stars exploded across my vision. My stomach lurched, and my body doubled over in pain. I felt as if my veins were on fire, as if every single part of me was being torn apart. I screamed, even though I couldn't hear my own voice.

Instinctively, I reached for my powers, seeking the protection of the golden flames, but nothing happened.

"Thymen, can you hear me?" Was that Elariel I was hearing?

I tried responding, but could not find the words to say.

"Something is interfering with your link, Elariel sounded frantic. I need you to find Uriel and hold on to him with all your strength. Do not allow the link to sever!"

Uriel! Where are you? My thoughts were a tiny whisper in an ocean of pain.

I waited, trying to ignore the pain, to force it away, while at the same time trying to sense Uriel's presence. I felt nothing at first, aside from the overwhelming pain, but after what seemed like an eternity I felt something else. Confusion. A sense of wrongness. I focused on the confusion, sensing for the presence causing the confusion, sending my own emotions and feelings toward it: fear, panic, and pain.

The presence faded again, and I felt fear radiate back at me.

Uriel, it's me!

Hesitation. Uncertainty. The presence grew stronger, and the pain lessened. A trickle of power flowed from the presence, driving away the rest of the pain.

I woke up with a splitting headache and found myself lying in the tent Shannon and I had brought. Karen was sitting in the opening, studying me.

How long was I out? I asked.

Fifteen minutes, give or take, Karen said. You're lucky you weren't flying when it happened.

I nodded, remembering having to catch Shannon when we had fled from Thanatos a few days ago.

How did you know what was going on? I asked. With my link to Uriel, I mean?

"I didn't. Karen's voice shifted as Elariel took over, her eyes glowing purple. But with Gabriel's sudden disappearance and the fact that both you and Shannon collapsed, I figured something must be interfering with the link between Heaven and Earth."

I held out my hand and Karen came closer. I gently caressed her cheek as I tried sitting up, wanting to kiss her. The muscles in my back and abdomen protested, but I sat up anyway. Our lips touched, and I felt her hand on my shoulder.

You should probably just try to sleep, Karen said after she broke the kiss. I'll keep an eye out, but with the Returners gone I think we'll be safe.

You should rest, too. I felt guilty about her having to stay awake while I slept. I opened the zipper of my sleeping bag. You could probably fit in here with me.

I brought my own. I had time to prepare before I left home. Karen smiled at me and then looked at Shannon, who lay next to me. "Besides, Elariel gets uncomfortable around her."

How is Shannon doing? I looked at Shannon. She was pale, almost gray, and her breathing was ragged.

"She is stable, but only barely. Elariel's presence caused Karen to narrow her eyes. Whatever it was that interrupted your link affected her more severely, and only time will tell if she'll pull through. She needs to rest, even more so than you."

We said nothing for a while as I looked at Shannon sleeping, thinking I had never seen her this fragile before.

Thank you, Elariel, for helping me get through this. If you hadn't been there I don't think I would have made it.

Karen nodded, but looked away, grimacing.

What's wrong?

"I fear she may be dying, and I keep on wondering if I made the right