Innocence and Evil (The Arcadia Falls Chronicles #6) Read Free Page B

top of a mountain in the
middle of a downpour.”
    She followed me to the truck and we hurried
to open our doors. But then, a deafening crack of thunder sounded
and we both covered our ears as we looked upward again. The black
storm parted directly above us and a shaft of blinding light burst
through the opening.
    “It’s him!” Christina yelled over the wind.
“It worked!”
    I didn’t believe her at first, but then, I
saw the sandaled feet of the Warrior Angel appear. The blade of his
sword was the only other thing that I could see right then. The
steel shimmered, reflecting in light that wasn’t there.
    Before we knew it, he was on the ground. His
black and white feathered wings lifted and then spread wide,
covering an expanse of probably eight feet or more. He had dark
hair and piercing dark eyes that seemed to bore right into my very
soul.
    I had expected to see him in robes, like you
would imagine an angel would wear, especially since he did have sandals on. But, he wore clothes that were on the more modern
side, blue jeans, but no shirt. He probably couldn’t wear a shirt
because of his wings.
    “My child,” he boomed as he landed atop the
earth. “Why have you called for me?”
    I couldn’t speak at first. I hadn’t really
thought this would happen.
    “You have called for me and I have come at
your request. Speak now or I shall take my leave.”
    I cleared my throat and tilted my face up to
meet his dark glare. “I have called you because of the gift you
have given me … the powers and the urge to kill. I don’t know if
what I am doing is the right thing.”
    The Warrior Angel’s eyes narrowed. “You do
not appreciate the gift I have given you? I gave you life and a
purpose. You have the heart of a warrior, a good soul, and a soul
like yours should not go to waste.”
    Damn, he was offended. The last thing I
wanted to do was piss off someone like the Warrior Angel. “I do not
mean to disrespect. I truly appreciate everything you have done.
But … I’m worried that I may be doing it wrong. That maybe the gift
is leading me in the wrong direction. I … I’m afraid of hurting
people.”
    “Listen to me closely, Zander the Warrior.”
The angel tilted his head and tightened his grip on the hilt of his
gigantic sword. “You will know. This gift will not let you harm
those who have not committed ultimate crimes. It does not matter
that you have learned one sin is as terrible as the other. That is
not true, someone who steals bread to live is not the same as a
murderer. Your gift will know the difference.”
    “How can I be sure?” I asked.
    “You will simply know.”
    “I am afraid.” That was the first I have
admitted that to anyone … ever, and it wasn’t easy to say.
    “Do not fear. You are a young warrior and
your gifts are still developing. They will grow and prosper, just
as you will as a man. You have a purpose now and lying in fear will
not accomplish what you are meant to do. It is time to move onward
… you are forbidden to hide any longer, my child.”
    Forbidden. What?
    “So you don’t want me sitting around the
house anymore, is that what you’re saying?”
    “That is correct.”
    “What should I do then?”
    “I shall give you a mission, to ease your
conscience.” The Warrior Angel took a step toward me. “You will
hide no longer. In the city is where the evil is breeding. It grows
with each passing moment. A particular group of humans have taken
allegiance to the vampires. These humans have not decreased since
Korina’s vampire line was eradicated. If anything, the amount of
people who are pledged themselves to evil is growing. They are
hiding the remaining vampires, being their eyes when the sun shines
upon the earth. These humans will lead you to large numbers of
vampires. Find the humans and there you will find the demons.”
    I shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. “I don’t
want to kill humans.”
    “Hopefully you will not have to. They are
merely being led