Extinction (The Divine Book 7) Read Free Page A

days old. I didn't know I would need to look for it, or I would have noticed it earlier." He held up the laptop and opened the screen. I recognized SamChan immediately. The post was a jumble of letters.
    "It's a polyalphabetic cipher," Obi said. "The kind Angels like to use."
    "Angels use SamChan?"
    "Not directly. The Touched do. That's how they communicate."
    "And you think this is related to Adam why? He's a bad guy now."
    "The text is subtle, but this is an anti-establishment propaganda piece. It's calling for recruits to speak out about unjust practices."
    "Unjust practices? In Heaven?"
    "Yeah, right? That's why it caught my eye. There's a downside."
    "What is it?"
    "It's in Italy."
    "Let me guess. Near the Vatican?"
    "Right on."
    I turned to Alyx. "Do you?"
    "Si," she replied.
    "You can't bring her, man. They'll sniff her out from a mile away."
    "Then she'll wait a mile and a half for us. She can cover that ground in about three minutes."
    "Damn. What kind of demon are you, anyway?"
    "Great Were," Alyx said.
    "No way."
    "Way," I replied.  
    "I thought you were done with those things after Ulnyx."
    "She's a special case," I said, putting my arm around her shoulders.
    Obi looked at us for a few seconds, his left eyebrow going up. "Oh. I see how it is." He looked over at Alyx again. "You said a prayer?"
    "Landon's been telling me that being born evil doesn't mean living evil," she replied. "That I can choose for myself."
    "Mephistopheles changed," I reminded him.
    "Okay. I hear you. So you'll wait in reserve nearby. It's cool. That means it's you and me up close to the action, Landon."
    "I was expecting as much. You're sure you won't be recognized?"
    "The call was for the Touched. I'm not exactly Touched, but you know I lean good. I don't think I'll stand out in that crowd. You, on the other hand?"
    "I won't stand out at all."
    "Can you teleport us to Italy?"
    I shook my head. "No. It wears me out to move like that, and if I do again now, I won't have anything left to deal with Adam if he shows up at the party."
    "We only have a few hours."
    "There's a benefit to knowing demons."
    Obi made a face. "Damn. I hate moving through rifts."
    "I've got some contacts in the area," I said. "Alyx, did you know Lylyx?"
    "No."
    "Really? She was Ulnyx's mate. She took control of their pack when he left. She helped me fight the Beast. Well, the whole pack helped me fight the Beast. There weren't many of them left, but the ones that made it out are staying out of sight out in the countryside near Rouen."
    "They won't have the power to create a rift," Alyx said.
    "No, but they'll know the fiend who does."
    "All right," Obi said. "Enough chit-chat. You have a plan, let's get moving."
    "It isn't much of a plan," I said.
    "When is it ever?" he replied. "You've always done okay making it up as you go."
    "Sarah's gone," I said, feeling the pain of it in my soul. It was going to be my fault if she went full-evil. "I wouldn't call that okay."
    He didn't try to console me, or convince me I was wrong. I had always admired that about him.  
    "All the more reason to hurry," he said.

Five

    The chateau Sarah had been living in had belonged to Gervais before she had taken residence there. I had never been in favor of her decision to make it her home base after everything that had happened in that location, but she was of a mind that she could convert all of that evil energy into something good. When she had opened her home to the changelings and started getting more serious with the only one of them that had become an angel instead of a demon, I had started to believe that she could succeed in that goal.
    Now Brian was buried out in the back with the others, and my initial fears had been realized. Normally, I preferred being right about things and having my distorted worldview confirmed.  
    Not this time.
    Being Gervais' former estate, there was a large collection of expensive cars being stored in the garage beside the main chateau. I had taken a