Apocalypse: Rise of the Fallen, #3

By T. D. Raymond

Jack and Thin Man are trying to kill each other at every opportunity and now a new power has risen to stop Jack. Sirus Rothman.

With a pregnant wife and the political divide in the Coven, Jack is walking a fine line and the war is only heating up.

Since Jack has broken the Coven's hold on power and opened up relations with the African Umphekathi council, Thin Man has gained more support.

The hour is coming for Mephistopheles' arrival, and things couldn't be better for him. Everyone is at each other's throats, and no one trusts anyone else.

Can Jack and Gabrielle unite the various factions in time? Will the differences of their peoples be overcome before they all fall to Mephistopheles?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Haniel House Press
• Release date: Sep 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9781737418887

Book preview

Other works by D.R. Tope

The Chronicles of First Guard:

Vol.1 Out of the Ashes of Hope

Vol.2 The Remnant Shall Rise

Under the Pen Name T.D. Raymond

Rise of the Fallen:

Jack Frost Book 1

Brimstone Book 2

Apocalypse Book 3

For more information, please visit:

https://hanielhouse.com

Apocalypse

Book 3 of Rise of the Fallen

A Jack Frost Novel

by

D.R. Tope

PART ONE

CHANGES

CHAPTER 1

I was sitting on the hospital bed when Gabrielle reached out for me, steadying me. Jack! It's ok, darling. Everything will be ok. I looked at her trying to talk but it felt like my lips and tongue were numb. Breathe, darling! Breathe!

Her hand rubbed my back. Twins?

She nodded smiling, yet not letting go of me. Yes, my darling. You’re going to be a father.

Well, how the hell did that happen? I looked around confused. Why is everyone laughing?

Jack... Jack... Focus, darling. Look at me. Gabrielle turned my head to her. Everything is ok. I am fine, and yes, you are going to be a father. I stood up and paced a couple of steps and turned around about to say something then stopped. I paced again, then turned to my wife and started to say something again, but nothing came out. Sweetheart, you need to make sense. Everyone laughed again. What the hell... Jack, breathe. She said with a giggle.

Az took a step towards me when Noviskov stopped him. No, let me. I've been looking forward to this. He walked up to me and slapped me. You got my mother pregnant! He said, shaking my shoulders. Why were Brax and Az laughing?

I pulled away, shook my head and looked at Gabrielle. You are going to have a baby. No wait, two babies. She nodded emphatically, smiling. You and me, I mean. She laughed and nodded. Why two? Everyone laughed again. I sat down next to Gabrielle, and she stroked my back again. Whoa! Me a dad. No, that doesn't sound right. I wish Ma were here. Az, he would be a good father. Me? I... I... My dad was a hitman. My other dad tried to knock off God. What do I know about being a father? This should be Az.

It is you, darling, and you will make a terrific father. Gabrielle pulled me close and kissed my cheek.

I wrapped my arms around her. Brax and Novi... I mean Michel hugged and congratulated their mother. Az patted me on the shoulder telling me good job. They all left leaving only Gabrielle, the doctor, and myself.

Corvina, you’re in perfect health. You can leave whenever you like. The doctor told her, signing something with his finger on a computer tablet and handed it to a nurse. Gabrielle thanked him and finally we were alone.

Are you going to be ok? She asked me.

I will be. I'm sorry, don't think that I'm not happy. I am. I really am. It just...

You mean your attempt to kill Walter and yourself? I didn't say anything, I just nodded slowly. Her arms wrapped around me and pulled me down next to her on the bed. I know your heart. I know you were thinking of all the people of the world and most of all you were thinking of me, She kissed the top of my head. …but don't you ever do anything like that again, or you will have one very pissed off Corvina to deal with! We lay there a few moments until she pushed me up. Come, let's go home.

We were walking out of the hospital room when Az met us in the hallway. Look, I didn’t want to rain on your parade, but we need to talk.

What's wrong, Azreal? Gabrielle saw the look on his face.

I think it would be better if we talked somewhere else. Gabrielle tessered us to the office.

Someone took a shot at Jack and despite his half demon nature and his dragon charm, the bullet they used went right through.

More like it burned through. I remembered the sensation as if it was still happening. Gabrielle hugged my arm.

When you sent me after the sniper, I found her. Az went on to tell the whole story. The girl, the bullets, how they're made, how many there were, beating her to make it look like they fought, and her message for me, 'Oh, and tell your brother we’re even. My debt is paid. Next time we see each other I'll do my job and I won't hold back.'

What debt? I don't even know this woman.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything, darling. Gabrielle said thoughtfully. She summoned Bernice, Thomas and Ross. They slid in and Az recounted the story for them and showed them the bullet. Ross, tell us about Sarah Taylor.

She was special forces trained, Air Force. Later she trained with the Mossad. After that she went to work for some black ops groups stateside doing wet work. A few years ago, she was killed in an explosion, something to do with drug dealers or at least that was what her official record says.

I want you to do some digging, use whatever Coven resource you need. Find out whatever you can about her, and what she’s been doing since her supposed death. She looked at the bullet closely. She smelled it and touched the slug. It didn't do anything to her. Thomas, I want you to have this slug checked out. I want to know everything you can find out about it, and I want to know if she is telling the truth. Bernice, contact our people at the Vatican and in the Italian government. Find out if they are working with Walter, and if not, then how are these being made, and how are they getting two popes to bless them. I want to know how Walter is having this done. In the meantime, I want everyone working to come up with a way to protect the boys from these new bullets.

Corvina, what if the Vatican is helping the Rogues? Bernice asked.

First, we will determine if they are. We are not going to move on assumptions. Gabrielle cautioned them.

Ross, I want to know exactly what debt this woman says she owed me. Whatever it was it saved my life. She risked a lot to give that bullet and the information to Az, so whatever this debt is it's big. If we can determine what it is that motivated her, maybe we can use it to get her to help us again. I took a bottle of water from the mini fridge. Az, I'll let you tell Michel and Brax. Tell them to stay out of sight."

Gabrielle dismissed the meeting, and everyone left while Gabrielle and I slid home.

We got back to the apartment, and I dug around in the fridge. It was still empty. We eat out almost every meal now. We have no food in the house, so how about we order out from your family's place? We could have someone pick it up. I would have gone there no problem, but I was not going to risk my pregnant wife to some scumbag Rogue sniper who wouldn’t think twice about shooting through her to get to me or taking her out in revenge for siding with the demon spawn.

I think that would be the perfect ending to this day after such wonderful news.

I stripped and jumped into the shower, and Gabrielle climbed in with me. We soaped each other up, I may have scrubbed her a little longer than I probably had to. I was thinking.

About what?

Az is living here now, and I get the feeling that Missy will be here too, soon enough if not already. Michel and Brax are living in that cave....

Not anymore. They each have a room in my place. When I saw that cave, and the condition it was in...

I touched a finger to her lips. Let me finish... and now that we're having a family, we can't all live here. What would you say if we moved into your place, and let Az have this place?

Really? She pressed against me. Do you mean that?

Yes. I think it would be good... for our family.

Oh, Jack! You've made me so happy. She circled her arms around my neck and kissed me hard. You're so wonderful!

Great, I'll get some boxes and rent us a moving truck.

No need. I'll have my people take care of it. We'll be moved by tomorrow tonight.

I don't know about that....

She kissed me again. It will be ok. You'll see.

We went to bed. We didn’t make love. We just lay next to each other talking late into the night. We talked about our own childhoods, funny memories, and even tossed around some names. For some reason she didn’t take a shine to Lucifer Satanus Spinelli. She laughed and rolled her eyes. If we should happen to have a girl, I want to name her after Ma. Something like Sheila. Just like Ma’s name but dropping the Xi for the English spelling.

I like that idea. She stroked my arm. Her eyes had this way of showing every expression her face did, and right now they were smiling. God, I loved this woman.

You know, I have been thinking off and on, I mean, I don't know, about changing my name to Ma's, Zheng.

Gabrielle lifted her head a little. Why?

She raised me. She was my ma. I knew her longer and better than my own folks. Besides, Spinelli was my pop's name, and he wasn't my real dad.

So why don't you?

I don't know. Just something I've tossed around in my head.

If it's important to you then do it. Xi would be very proud.

I changed the subject. This one was weighing on me just a little too much. Do you realize that our child will technically be your great, great, grandchild, as well as your child, and that Michel and Brax will be brothers and uncles? She rolled her eyes stifling a groan. She kissed me I think to shut me up.

The next morning, I woke up with Gabrielle snuggled up against me and an arm draped over my chest. I gently moved her arm and slid out of bed. I skipped the shower, so I wouldn’t wake her up, dressed, and then slid out to Coven headquarters. I showered there, and when I walked out of the bathroom, Bernice was waiting for me with an armful of folders.

I couldn’t hide from you if I tried, could I.

Her lips perked just a little at the corners. I wouldn’t recommend it. I took the first folder she handed to me and started going over it as we made our way back to the office.

When we got there Gabrielle was in the office, her perfect hair reflecting the light laying loose over her shoulders, wearing a white knit turtleneck and dark form hugging slacks. She was beautiful. Why aren’t you in bed? I got this.

You were sweet to think of me, but we have to much to do. She took the folder in my hands. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was a little bothered by me taking on so many of her duties. Order me some coffee please, Bernice.

I’ll get it, I was going to get one anyway.

I left Gabrielle with Bernice. We didn't have anywhere to be until later this morning anyway, so I decided to walk down to the commissary. I liked the walk. I actually kind of missed it with all the sliding we do anymore. I stopped at the coffee bar in the commissary and ordered three lattes. I was walking back when Ross walked by. Corvus, may I offer you a hand?

Thanks. I suppose a drink carrier would have been a smarter way to go. He took one of the cups.

I hear congratulations are in order.

Thanks. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.

I have two kids of my own. Two girls. Eleven and seven.

I didn't know that.

I like to keep my home life and work life separate.

I only wish I could do that.

Ya, being Corvus would have that effect.

That's saying a mouthful. Find out anything on Sarah Taylor yet?

I've reached out to some of my contacts but haven't heard back yet.

We walked into my office. I gave a latte to Gabrielle, while Ross handed me the other and left.

Where's Bernice?

Getting some files for me, she'll be right back. Gabrielle got up and went over to the table. I sat in her chair and put my feet up on the desk. How are your people going to move my stuff when they don't even know what I want moved?

Jack, everything will be ok.

Sure, you say that now. I thought about Az. Leave all the dishes, pots, and pans, towels, hell, leave everything for Az, except for what’s in our bedroom.

If you like. She got up, took a folder off her desk, and pushed my feet off, then went back to the table. I had planned on handling the office today for her so she could rest but since she was here, I felt like a third wheel. When she was in Corvina mode, she liked to fly solo no matter what she said to the contrary.

Let’s go to France.

I have work to do.

Fine. Let’s hunt Walter.

Jack.

You can fight, let's go train.

Jack, darling. Why don't you find your brothers and go play?

Later. I took my latte, slid and came out at the shop. Az was helping Missy with freight and laughing with her as they talked. He seemed like he was happy. I slid out and found Noviskov in Italy. I could sense him with Brax. It was midafternoon there and they were having lunch at an outdoor café. They were talking it up, getting to know each other again. I slid out to the mountaintop where Noviskov, Az and I drank that bottle together. I created a warm pocket of air and took a seat. When did that happen? I was a loner my whole life. When did I become so dependent on others? I miss hanging with my friends, partying, using juice we weren’t supposed to be using, sharpening our skill, always trying to outdo one another. Getting up early on Saturdays to help Ma in the shop. Running errands to France and taking a plane to get there. Now I sign forms and kill Rogue goons. I have a family to look out for, a wife who makes a twenty year old Victoria secrets model look like a bag lady, three brothers and a couple of kids on the way. So much has changed so quickly. My life doesn't even resemble itself from when all this started. I stood up and let go of the warm air bubble then opened a slide. I came out at the Coven, checked in through Carlos' men, then made my way back to my office. I walked in and saw Gabrielle still sitting at the table. I kissed her on top of the head then took a seat opposite from her on the table. Ok. What are we going over now?

She folded her hands and leaned on the folder she was working on. Why are you back?

Where else would I be? I took a folder, opened it then glanced at the first page. She smiled that same knowing little grin at me. God, my wife is hot.

CHAPTER 2

Missy finished chatting with a customer then went into the back room. I joined her and helped her pack a box for deliveries.

Azreal.

I like it when you call me Az.

She smiled shyly. Az, what you've been doing for me, talking to me, letting me vent and cry on your shoulder. You've been a real friend. She spoke softly and was a little hesitant. She was nothing like the Missy with Jack.

I just wanted to be there for you.

Az, I don't want you to think that... I don't appreciate everything you've done for me.

It's ok. Her perfect smile faded, and she gave me a slight nod. Missy and I had spent a lot of time talking. At first things were a little romantic. She was in love with Jack, and emotionally vulnerable. I wanted to help her through it and somewhere along the way we began to like each other but it turned out to be too much for her with me being my brother’s twin and having to deal with her feelings for Jack. This was especially difficult with him still living here and being around so much. So, she asked if I would just be her friend. So here I am, just being her friend.

I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. I just think that it would be best….

Don’t worry about it. We’re fine.

As long as I am running the shop, I think it’s best to just keep everything simple, and I really like running the shop. This place means a lot to me.

I know. I’m glad you found something that makes you happy.

When she smiled, she looked away almost shyly. After a moment she said, Everyone thinks we're sleeping together.

We can set them straight.

Screw ‘em. It's none of their business. She smiled and sunk her hands into the pockets of her white coat. I'm hungry. Let's take lunch.

We slid to Dorothy’s and ordered a couple of Reuben sandwiches and beer. We talked about her working for the Coven, like how she was to keep Jack distracted from his anger and help him focus. How much it hurt when he broke up with her. How much more she felt like crap because he found out what was going on. Now she was torn between feeling like she got her just desserts and just wanting to leave. It was only the shop that kept her there. She was able to spread her wings using her talents and help people in the process. She even talked about going to a Coven school for magical medicine, but she hesitated because of running the shop and her efforts to make it grow. I just let her vent. She had been bottling this up since it all began. Thomas and the others used her to control Jack. He was right. The Coven was all about control, everyone was a pawn, and everything was a tool to them. We finished eating and went back to the shop.

The shop was busy, and Tommy was running his butt off. Missy grabbed her jacket and jumped in and started helping. I went upstairs and heard something in Jack's room. When I went to check it out, it was empty. Everything was gone. 'Jack! All your stuff is gone.' No answer. I reached out to him. He was at Coven headquarters. I slid there, coming out at one of the check points. Carlos' men scanned me in, and I went straight to Jack's office. Two Coven goons were standing at the door. When I walked up, one of them held out a hand. The Corvus is unavailable, sir.

For how long?

We don't have that information, sir.

'Jack, what the hell, man.'

'Can't talk right now. I need to focus. I will touch base with you when I'm done here.'

A second later Bernice came out. Azreal, what are you doing out here?

I came to see Jack.

He's almost finished up. It shouldn't be too much longer.

Since when am I not allowed in one of his meetings?

Bernice was warm. Don't let it bother you, Azreal. It’s Coven business, not a battle strategy session. She left continuing hurriedly on her way.

Well, I'm sure as hell not going to hang out here with a couple of bookends in cheap suits. I took off down the hall. Once around the corner I shifted into the ether. I knew they had cameras, but I didn't want to do it in front of the guards. I entered Jack’s office. He sat at the table with about a dozen others talking about freaking urinals. They're remodeling the bathrooms. How many suits does it take to have a meeting to replace toilets? Jack looked up when he sensed me.

'Of course I sense you. What are you doing here?'

'What the hell is this, Jack? You're one of them now?'

'This from the reasonable one.' He mentally sighed with a strong scent of sarcasm.

'Controlling your anger issues and not killing everyone is one thing. Putting on a suit and sitting with a bunch of high-powered pricks just to talk about toilets of all things, is another.' I shifted out of there and passed the hallway outside into the commissary. I wasn't really happy with my brother right now. Ya, he was doing what he had to and the three of us agreed to the decision, but come on, toilets? All those suits to pick toilets. Come on. I stayed in the ether and just watched people walk by, eat their lunches, and talk to one another. I kinda missed it. I grew up a spectator of human nature and interaction.

People made their way through the line with their food trays and the cashiers checked them out. Then a delivery person unknowingly walked right through me because I happened to be standing in the middle of the hall. Wait that scent. I turned to look at the figure walking away from me down the hall. Those legs. The way the delivery person walked. I caught up. They wore a baseball cap with the delivery company’s logo on it. I could smell the hair. It was a wig. They had a box under one arm and some sort of electronic tablet in the other. I could smell makeup and latex rubber on their face. I sniffed again. The sweat and pheromones. It was a woman. I caught a metallic scent coming from under her coat. A gun? I followed her as she stepped onto an elevator. I stood next to her watching. She stayed in character and got off three floors down.

Coven headquarters only went up four floors, but it went down seven with three more hidden floors that were off limits to everyone except for security and whatever elites had access. To tell you the truth I never checked them all out. I gotta remember to do that. She approached a security check point. Her hand disappeared into her pocket, and I got ready to shred her into ribbons when I heard a click and saw an aura envelop her. I almost stepped out and pulled her in then decided to wait and see where this went. She stopped at the check point and the guards scanned her. An alarm sounded but the guard manning the computer looked right at the screen that registered an alert in red and announced she was clear and passed her through. He reached for the package and told her he would sign for it, but she said she had to deliver it. Without question they both allowed her to pass. I recognized her voice. It was her. The assassin that arranged a meeting with me after she shot Jack. Sarah what’s her name? She walked into an empty lab, set the box down, and unzipped her coat revealing a nine millimeter in a shoulder holster with a silencer in a pouch next to it. She had a vest on with numerous pockets and she pulled a elcro flap but before she reached in, I stepped into the room still in my demon form. If she was going to detonate something I didn’t want to be in human form.

What do ya got there? She was a professional, I’ll give her that. Normally I would already be smelling the load in their pants. Not her. She was scared but she reacted in a trained and controlled way. She had her nine mil out and pointing at me in less than a second. You really think that pop gun will do you any good against me? You might as well be shooting rubber bands.

What are you doing here? She asked tensely.

Hey, great minds think alike. I thought to myself, what the hell is she doing here? She started to relax her stance. I knew it wasn’t because she felt relaxed around me. I could smell the ammonia on her. She controlled her fear, but it still ran through her. My voice was creeping her out. Oh, by the way, if either of your hands go anywhere near that collection of pockets, I promise you will wish you never heard the term ‘tear you a new asshole’, and the answer is yes, I can do it before your hand moves an inch. I could read it in her face and her eyes. She was actually debating on it. I reached my hand out over a metal table next to her, let one of my claws out, pressed it into the table, and pulled it toward me. It cut through it like the table was aluminum foil.

There were beads of sweat on her forehead. If you had the drop on me, why didn’t you take it?

You haven’t done anything... yet. Well, except for that stunt she pulled with the guards. The gun didn’t waiver even an inch. She was rock steady. Why are you here? She didn’t answer. Take a breath. Trust me if I wanted you dead you would be.

You know I can’t tell you.

I reached out my hand. I want to show you something. She jerked, her gun hand retracted a little, and her knees bent a little more. Relax. It’s not down south. I promise, as long as you don’t try anything, you will not be harmed. She locked eyes with me for a long moment. Then slowly her gun lowered, and she holstered it. I took a step towards her slowly. By the way if you’re thinking of taking us both out don’t. You’ll only be committing suicide and I’ll be gone before the fireball is. I gently took her hand and I tessered us to a mountain top. Not just any mountain but the top of Everest. The air bit in’o her and I saw her tense, so I made a warm pressurized pocket for us. She reached up under her neck and pulled off the latex mask she wore taking the wig with it. Her hair fell onto her shoulders a’d bits’of latex and glue on her face flutt’red in the air. Look out there. I gestured to the view. We are fighting to preserve this. Not destroy it.

You’re demons. It doesn’t matter what your intentions are. When your father shows up, so will your true colors. Her eyebrows arched a little as she paused. It’s in your nature.

We are half demon, and what species you’re born as is not a choice that anyone has ever been given in the whole history of life. Other than that, we have the same choices you do.

Have you ever heard the story of the scorpion and the frog? She was serious but calm. I remember the story from when Jack was in fifth grade. He fell asleep studying it and I read the chapter while he slept. The scorpion wanted to cross the river, so he asked the frog for a ride. The frog said no, because you’ll sting me. The scorpion swore up and down he wouldn’t. Because the scorpion was such a pain in the ass, he wore the frog down and eventually the frog agreed and let the scorpion climb on and before they got to the other side of the river, the scorpion stung the frog. When the frog asked, ‘Why did you do that, now we’ll both die?’ The scorpion said, ‘I couldn’t help it. It’s in my nature.’ The frog was too stupid to swim away or at least knock the little prick scorpion out first before carrying him across. You know, you remind me of those overweight housewives in the checkout lane at the grocery store looking at the magazines with the headlines saying, ‘president is an alien’ and ‘three headed baby found in Wisconsin’ thinking the whole time that it’s real investigative journalism.

‘You realize the same could be said about you."

Me?

Remind me again what it is you do for a living?

I fight for the good guys.

Good guys? You’re an assassin for the faction led by a mentally deranged man who bombs innocent civilians, a.k.a. the bad guys.

Her lips were sealed tightly as she frowned, and there was a slight roll in her eyes. If you’re trying to recruit me, you’re wasting your time.

I’m not trying to recruit you. Just make you see the truth.

So, the demon is going to teach me truth?

I just wanted to punch her again. I wonder if she would give me another bullet just so I could. What is it with you people? Is it because you’re born with the commonsense God gave a doorknob? Or did something happen to make you stupid?

Morality lessons from a demon?

I shifted back into my human form. Only half demon. Man, you’re hardheaded. I’m as human as you. I have choice just like you and I choose to fight the deranged, lunatic, bad guy you fight for.

She was almost as fast as me. She pulled a knife from her back and slashed out at me. I dodged and her back swing came in a stabbing motion. I grabbed her wrist. Without missing a beat, she turned and twisted, grabbing my wrist and flipping me over her back. I kept hold of her and with my superior strength I pulled her over. She already had her legs up, trying to swing them over me, and lock me in them but I punched her in the chest, shoving her back and pushing up a small mound of snow. She stumbled yet still managed to get to her feet with amazing speed. This chick put energy drink and gasoline on her corn flakes. She crouched into a martial arts stance and held the knife ready, waiting to see what I was going to do. What are you waiting for! Do it!

I stopped and stood up straight. You realize I could pull you into the ether before you could flinch and just leave you there to suffocate and burn. I could also burn you here and send you south but guess what. I didn’t and I’m not going to because I’m just trying to talk to you! She lunged at me and tried to stab me. I sidestepped her and twisted her wrist just enough to make her drop the blade but not break bone. She screamed but it was angry not pain filled. What in the hell is wrong with you!

Fight! She screamed. She punched me in the face then kneed me in the gut. Then she went for her gun. I tossed a chant, and it flew from the holster to my hand, and I threw it hard off of the top of Everest.

Tell me something, did you eat paint chips as a kid? Did your mother drop you on your head as a baby… a lot?

Screw you, hell spawn! She twisted and launched a kick. I dropped, kicked my foot out and knocked her leg out from under her. She came down on her ass. She finally actually stopped, propping herself up on her elbows. She was so angry she was spitting through clenched teeth as she sucked in air and exhaled.

I stood up, walked over to her, leaned over and offered her my hand. She slapped it away angrily. I just held it out to her again. She slapped it away again. The next time she slapped at my hand I grabbed her hand and yanked her to her feet, then let go and backed up a couple of steps. You finished?

She spit, and asked, Why, you surrendering? She wiped the corner of her mouth on her jacket sleeve eying me angrily. Defiant to the last.

You realize that I could have... ah, the hell with it. You’re so thick headed your skull must be solid all the way through.

Screw you!

Witch!

Prick! She clenched her fists and dropped into a stance again.

Dammit! The energizer bunny has nothing on this chick. I swung high making her block, then I punched her in the stomach. She exhaled hard and stumbled back but she still managed to launch a kick that I blocked then she punched me in the eye. I punched her in the gut again then in the face. She kicked me in the knee, then in the balls. I actually stumbled back inhaling so hard I almost whistled. She jumped on me flattening us both. Her fists pummeled my face and chest just as mine repeatedly hammered on hers. I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to pin my arms under her knees and pummel my face even more. I kicked up hard, grabbed her with my legs and flipped her back and she kicked me in the nuts again as she landed on her back. Fire and pain shot down my thighs and up into my gut.

I was right the first time! You are a pussy! You sure they named you right? Your name should be Pussifer or maybe Azrealla because you’re more wuss than demon! I don’t know what we were so worried about. She was up on her feet before I was. I stumbled and almost fell.

Her face was bruised, blood ran from her nose, and her lips were split and bloody. Judging from the expression on her face, she was clearly pleased with herself. I’m sure I didn’t look any better. I lunged for her and grabbed onto her vest. She elbowed me in the side. I punched her in the side of the head then pulled on the zipper of the vest and twisted against her pulling it down over her arms then I kneed her in the gut and pulled the vest off taking her jacket with it. She rebounded to her feet with a slight stumble. She was wearing a light gray, form fitting, sleeveless shirt. Around her neck bounced a chain with some kind of coin like talisman on the end of it. She opened up a slide and dove through it. Bitch! I shouted after her.

Her hand appeared back through the slide before it closed, and she flipped me off. Then her hand disappeared, and the slide closed. I stumbled over to a rock, flopped down, grabbed a hand full of snow, and stuck my hand in my pants.

CHAPTER 3

After focusing on my inner river for while the pain and numbness left so I slid into Jack’s office. What the hell happened to you? Jack stood up, went to the mini fridge and took out a couple mini bottles of whiskey. He tossed me one. First aid. I twisted the cap off and downed it. What’s that you got there?

I tossed the vest on the table. Remember that woman who shot you?

Ya.

She was here. I took her to Everest hoping to talk some sense into her. Help her see Walter for what he is.

And she did this to you? I nodded. Damn. Wish we’d gotten to her before they did.

Gee, thanks for the sympathy, and the vote of confidence, prick.

Don’t be such a…

If you call me a pussy, I’m going to beat your ass right here.

Jack held up his hands in surrender and summoned Ross and Carlos and Bernice.

They all showed up, and I relayed the story to them. Carlos called his people and instructed them to get the records from the computer at the security check point that Sarah Taylor walked through after charming the guards. Taylor that was it! I couldn’t remember her last name.

This is the vest she wore? Carlos asked.

The very one. He started going through the pockets.

She did this to you? Ross asked.

Ya.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I wonder why she took it easy on you. You should be dead.

Thanks. I shifted gingerly in the chair. Damn, my balls still hurt. I thought I might be able to get through to her. Convince her that we’re not who she thinks we are.

Maybe you did. Ross said.

Ya, you weren’t there. The more I reached out to her the more pissed off she got. She fought like a demon herself. I’m almost convinced she could have been our sister.

Kid, if she wanted you dead, you would be. You said she was wearing some kind of talisman?

Ya.

Ross reached under his shirt and pulled out a chain. Did it look like this? It was like a coin with a variety of symbols going around the edge and a large Celtic looking symbol in the center.

Similar, but the symbols were different and hers was darker.

Ross looked at Carlos. Those are issued to Coven troops. They act like a magic dog tag and GPS. They can also be used as listening devices. Basically, they’re a kind of popper. They’re called by different names. In the U.S. we call them ‘taggers’. Carlos continued searching the vest while he finished explaining.

So, you’re trying to tell me Walter was listening in.

"Either him, or one of his people. If she was