Apocalypse Soldier Read Free Page B

guttural words in an ancient and terrible tongue. And as the life ran out of his sister’s heaving form in a river of red, the dark apparition watched from afar — an entity not of this world or time, but eternally haunting the borderlands of his awareness.  
    No amount of booze or sexual escapades could ever fully erase the horror of the memory.
    Lately, though, Casca was growing increasingly impatient with his own decadent lifestyle. He still appreciated the momentary reprieve that earthly pleasures could provide, but he found himself devoting more and more of his spare time to his esoteric interests. Demonology, ancient religions, FBI reports on recent cult activity and occult crime; delving into these fields dominated his waking hours. Maybe if he could come to know the unknowable and master the forbidden knowledge beyond the grasp of most men, then his nightmares might stop.  
    So far, it had worked at lot better than his mad pursuit of earthly pleasures. The more he learned about the dark forces, the less sway they held over him.  
    Casca smiled at the two beauties even though his mind was still somewhere else. They were talking up a storm, trying valiantly to hold his full interest, but spicy Hollywood gossip couldn’t compete with the mysteries of the paranormal. Seducing Autumn the other night had been more of a reflex action than real desire. It was becoming increasingly clear that the last few months had irrevocably changed him. The mask of the playboy was crumbling.  
    Ever since joining forces with Talon in San Francisco, Casca had been reading a lot about soldiers and getting to know many veterans in his quest to get a better feel for the Delta operator. Talking to these warriors made him wonder why so many of them were willing to repeatedly put themselves in harm’s way. The answer he kept hearing was that they missed the sense of mission and purpose their service provided. After the drama of war, returning to civilian life seemed meaningless and empty, dominated by mundane goals and distractions that paled in comparison to the life-and-death decisions that defined the battlefield.  
    Casca was beginning to understand how veterans must feel. Declaring war against the forces of darkness had given him new purpose and direction. The last three months were the most thrilling and terrifying of his life. After defeating Zagan, Casca had turned to other reports of occult crimes. So far, none of the cases had involved real black magic and the cultists were easily dispatched. The perverted Hollywood cult was just the latest in a long string of similar cases. Innocent lives were saved and monsters in human disguise would never harm another innocent soul again. But the real danger of the darkness remained. It was only a matter of time before one of these sick practitioners of the dark arts would succeed where the other dabblers had failed and tap into a vast power that bullets alone wouldn’t be able to stop.  
    Both Autumn and her friend Lynn reacted to something, eyes widening. Looks like the guest of honor is here, Casca thought as he scanned his Apple watch. Two o’clock, on the dot. Talon wasn’t the tardy type.  
    “He’s standing right behind me, isn’t he?” Casca asked his female companions with a sly grin. The girls giggled. Casca turned and flashed his new partner a broad smile. He’d hoped that Talon might show some interest in Autumn’s friend, but the military man’s face remained indifferent as he shot the two intrigued beauties a blank look. Casca didn’t expect Talon to fall in love; his wounds were still too fresh, but he was still a man and a man had needs. The momentary comfort found within the arms of a beautiful woman was the least he could offer this dedicated warrior.  
    Casca worried about Talon’s mental well-being. He’d become a man possessed, embarking on one mission after another with no time for a break or chance to reconnect with his own humanity. He’d talked to