Majesty: The Unbound, #5

By Jeroen Steenbeeke

Telekinesis, golden fire, flight, swords that appear out of thin air, and brilliant white light flowing from my body—those things just don't happen to normal teenagers.

All of this started with a battle six thousand years ago, where the archangel Michael was defeated by a creature we now know as Thanatos. A creature who has, after millennia of waiting, taken hold of Michael.

They are hiding somewhere on Earth, gathering strength and waiting. Thousands of his Returner servants are moving across Europe, attacking any supernatural they find along the way. And now they have taken our parents, and we cannot save them on our own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeroen Steenbeeke
• Release date: Mar 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524246129

Book preview

1.

Lead the way. I moved aside, gesturing toward the Radiant Eye. Gabriel didn't move, and for a split second I could see the uncertainty on his face.

"I am a Watcher, not a Warrior. He smiled, but I could see him tense. There is nothing I can do on the ground that I cannot do from here."

"You've visited Earth in the flesh before." Uriel was amused by Gabriel's discomfort, and I was sure the others could hear it in his voice as well.

"Humanity has multiplied a thousand fold since I last walked among them."

Afraid of us, huh? Karen's arms were crossed. Why am I not surprised?

"We are not invincible. Gabriel turned to face her. We once thought we were, but then Michael created the Unbound. And humanity has come far in six thousand years. Where none of their weapons could harm us once, they now have many that threaten us. Quicksilver-filled bullets, thermonuclear weapons…"

And so you thought you'd just send us, since we've been so helpful? Karen pointed an accusing finger at Gabriel.

"Perhaps it is better if we continued this conversation in private." Gabriel turned to face me, motioning for me to follow.

Karen raised an eyebrow, and I jerked my head to tell her to come along. I looked back to where Raphael was working on Shannon. Her breathing had steadied, and some of the color had returned to her skin.

"She is in good hands. The red-haired angel to my left gently placed her hand on my arm in a gesture of comfort. She had a melodic voice, and through my bond with Uriel I knew her name to be Ashah. Let us worry about her."

I nodded and continued after Gabriel. Karen followed a second later, laughing at a whispered word by Ashah. I gave her a quizzical look.

She and Elariel used to be friends. Karen smiled. She said she was glad that Elariel had lost none of her boldness while on Earth, and that I suited her as Vessel.

"Can we please keep the pointless chit-chat to a minimum?" Gabriel asked irritably.

If we're skipping the pointless topics, why are we speaking to you again? Karen stopped and crossed her arms. I could see flickers of purple around her, and I tensed.

"Brother, can you please keep your pet Unbound under control?" Gabriel turned to face me, and I balled my fist in response. If not for Uriel radiating calm inside me, I would have swung it at him.

"She's neither my pet nor under my control. But why would I even try? It's far more fun to see her get under your skin," Uriel said.

Gabriel's eyes narrowed, giving me a cold stare, and then turned around again, walking back to the door.

What a jerk. Karen grimaced, clearly disgusted.

"Agreed. Uriel sounded puzzled. Quite unlike him, actually."

We followed Gabriel, passing through the doorway and into the bright light outside, finding ourselves standing on a milky-glass walkway. For a moment, I was blinded, my pupils constricting to compensate for the intensity of the light. When my eyes finally finished adjusting, I could not help but stare.

Tall golden spires surrounded us as far as the eye could see, with glass walkways connecting them like the threads of a giant spider web. Below us, a thick layer of white clouds obscured the bottoms of each spire, making it impossible to see how far down they went. Everywhere we looked angels were moving about, some of them strolling along the walkways, others in flight, heading in every possible direction.

"I had forgotten how wondrous it all was," Elariel whispered.

Gabriel turned around, spreading out his wings as he did. With a great beat, he launched himself into the air, heading off to our right. I focused, and saw Karen close her eyes to do the same, the purple lightning surrounding her as I felt the electricity of Uriel's power wash over me, far stronger than I had ever felt it.

I pushed myself off the floor, the motion more than familiar by now, and followed Gabriel into the sky. From the corner of my eye I could see Karen beside me.

Gabriel increased the beating of his wings, and soon we were flying at full speed. Golden spires passed us by left and right, and we covered ground quickly. Even so, the floating city seemed to go on forever in all directions.

After several minutes of flight, a larger building came into view, and Gabriel swooped down, landing on a large platform near the cover of clouds. Two angels armed with swords stood at attention next to the building's entrance, their silvery armor marking them as Warriors, and their hair and faces obscured by their helmets.

"I don't know this place." Karen raised an eyebrow at me as Elariel spoke through her.

"The Halls of the Sleepers, Uriel said through me. It was built in the years after the Radiant Eye was closed. This is where I lie sleeping."

Gabriel moved past the guards, who nodded once, and then turned to stare at us.

"Sheran, Demriel, Uriel greeted the two angels. Surely you weren't thinking of denying me entry?"

"Of course not, Lord Uriel, the Angel to the left—Sheran—responded, and then turned to face Karen. But you cannot expect me to allow one of the Unbound entrance."

"I can, and I do. I will vouch for the safety of the other Sleepers." Uriel urged me to move forward, and I did, breezing past them unchallenged. I turned around, seeing Karen smile at them apologetically, but walking past them all the same.

Paranoid bunch, aren't they? Karen asked when we were out of earshot.

"Not a bad trait for a guard, but they deserve better than this. A series of images flashed before my eyes, showing both Sheran and Demriel fully armored, brandishing their swords as they fought against some sort of scaled creature. They were never meant for this. They are supposed to be on Earth, protecting those who cannot protect themselves."

"The Earth would have been a very different place if the Radiant Eye had remained open." Gabriel stared at us, his arms crossed and his face sad.

Karen looked away, humming a song that sounded familiar.

Gabriel looked at Karen, and then gave me a quizzical look. "Land of Confusion?"

A song about leaders making a mess of things—quite fitting, don't you think? Karen put her hands on her hips.

Gabriel nodded, turning around and walking into what looked like an elevator shaft. He stepped off the ledge, spreading his wings and lifting himself up.

Guess they don't build these with humans in mind. Flashes of purple lightning surrounded Karen, and she jumped after Gabriel.

I waited a moment more before jumping after her, Uriel's power still strong within me. Gabriel and Karen were only just in front of me, and I could hear the roar of the wind increase with every floor we passed.

He's going for the top floor, Uriel shared. This is going to be…interesting.

It's where you're sleeping, isn't it?

It is, Uriel