Angel Dust Read Free Page B

the ceiling, drenching the girls crowding forward. But my mood was spoilt. I wasn’t even remotely thrilled any more. In fact I didn’t see the point in any of it. What was it all? This being born and celebrating birthdays, this living and dying, this going up to Heaven or down to Hell? If this was God’s amazing creation
–
why had he created death? I know all the excuses: Eve, the apple, Free Will – but when all’s said and done God created death.
    It was the first time I’ve ever thought like that. And it spoiled everything. Earth was supposed to be fun and beautiful. Human life a sacred thing. Suddenly I wanted out. I was a bit shocked at myself.
    As I waited I thought of Heaven, of the endless soft zephyrs that blew across its wide fields, of the delight of the Seraphim, our sheltered cloisters, our laughter. And I was confused. We Collected souls too, didn’t we? That was our job, wasn’t it? We killed people.
    A car screeched to a halt outside the club door. I think even human ears could’ve heard it. It brought me back to earth. I focused my attention. And I saw everything. So this was how it was going to happen.
    The guys in it were dressed in black. They had hoods on, sleeves rolled up, black gloves. The biggest one sprang out of the front passenger door. He was amazingly light for one so huge. In a single motion he drew two Mac 10s. He held them at hip height and kicked open the front door to the club. With angel’s ears I heard the splinter of wood, the squeal of metal.
    The main guy, massive, dark, hook-nosed, with thick jetty brows, paused, laid a finger over his lips, then ran down the stairs on tiptoe. Like a thief he crept through the arches and stood next to the large mirror by the exit. Marcus didn’t see him. He was too busy toasting himself in bubbles. But the girl did. She screamed.
    Marcus lifted his beautiful face up and looked at his killer.
    â€˜Yo bruv?’ he said very softly.
    The girl screamed again. She yelled at the huge guy with the guns. ‘Stop it, Crow,’ she yelled. ‘It’s his goddamn birthday. Can’t I go to any goddamn birthday I want?’
    â€˜Any except his,’ said the Crow, raising the guns.
    I prepared myself. This was it. I opened my mouth and said the words.
‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Turn and look upon your death.’
And Marcus did. He turned.
He looked straight at me and smiled.
    I didn’t know what to do.
He could still see me.
How could that be?
It had to be a sign.
    In two strides the guy, the Crow, crossed the dance floor and reached the girl. She tried to resist. He yanked at her, pulled at her until she was in his line of fire. The Crow levelled his guns. With a shudder I realised he was going to kill them both.
    The demons crowded forward.
    â€˜No!’ yelled Marcus. He swung the girl behind him, shielded her with his body, faced the Crow.
    â€˜
Stop!
’ screamed the girl.
    Dazed, I moved in. Yes, this was how it would happen. Marcus would be shot, protecting the girl. She wasn’t scheduled to die. I knew. I had the Manifest in my raiment. His blood would coat my wings. I would hold him as each throb of his heart beat and bled and ebbed.
    But he’d seen me, and somehow we were destined to be together.
    I wasn’t ready. I was caught off guard. I didn’t step forward far enough. I’d only ever done sleepers. I’d never seen a violent death, nor been to any with one so young. I froze. I was confused.
    He’d seen me
.
    I got the timing all wrong. I stepped forward too late. So when the guns went off
I wasn’t there.
    Everything went very quiet, except the music. It wound on, stuck on a phrase.
    Go . . . go . . . go . . . go . . . go . . .
    But I wasn’t there.
    And then all Hell broke loose.

Serafina 3
    Demons skulked forward. Shadows descended. Oily phantoms slithered down