“Because,” Michael said, “the bloodline links the Triune and the Sacrarium together. She is their purpose. Why not make her the messenger between the two groups? Besides, I’m sure Sister Helen knows everything that is going on—she just can’t implicate herself. As a sister, she has duties to the church to uphold, and I’m sure being a member of a covert group is not one of them. If anyone found out about her involvement, she could be divested. She needs an intermediary between the two groups to protect herself, and it seems Sophia is more than capable of handling the role.”
Uriel brought up another point of contention. “When she says scepter pieces, what does that mean?”
“It seems to have been broken apart,” Zadkiel said. “This has Father written all over it. I mean, He did everything in his power for the spheres to never be united. Why not the same with the scepter? Breaking it apart makes it even more difficult to find.”
I rubbed a hand over my face. All of this was so complicated. But the thought of Sophia could not escape my mind.
“I’m going to see Sophia,” I announced. “I don’t care what arguments you all have about it, no one can stop me from going. I’m healed, I’m trained. Either you come with me, or you let me go alone.”
Their silence left no doubt in my mind.
We were going to see Sophia.
Together.
38
Jordan
New York State, Present Day
Between my four-hour lesson with Zadkiel and now this shocking news about my best friend, I could feel a headache forming. I told the angels I would be back, but they followed me into the kitchen, talking with one another to figure out next steps. To them, it was obvious we had to go after the spheres. But I wouldn’t let that happen until I saw Sophia.
Drowning out their voices, I grabbed a glass from the cabinet near the sink and went to the fridge for the pitcher of water. I had just finished pouring when Martha arrived back.
“Oh, hello,” she said.
The angels stopped their conversation.
“Hi, Martha. How was your book club?”
“Great!” She set her purse and book on the counter. “What have you all been up to?”
That was such a loaded question, I didn’t know how to answer her. The angels didn’t know either. Thankfully, the ringing phone saved me from any further explanation.
Martha picked it up. “Hello?”
I sipped my water and rubbed my aching forehead while the angels loitered.
“Sophia, slow down. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
My head whipped up at Martha’s words. Setting down my glass, I drew closer, hoping to hear the conversation, but she moved into the living room and turned the television on, then navigated the channels until she found the local news. Slowly lowering herself onto the ottoman, she whispered, “Oh, my god.”
It seemed there was some kind of explosion at a church in the city. The news anchor wasn’t reporting much information yet because no one knew what had happened. All they were showing was an aerial view of the wreckage, a building completely burned to rubble.
Martha’s sharp intake of breath brought my attention back to her. She dropped the phone and started to cry. Chamuel went over to offer Martha some comfort as the other angels stared. I took the opportunity to pick up the phone.
“Sophia, it’s me…Jordan.”
“Jordan!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing there?”
“It’s a long story.” I paused to look at the television screen. “What’s going on?”
“Do you have the TV on?”
“Yeah.”
“That church, the one that exploded in New York…it’s the Sacrarium headquarters.”
I sat down on the couch, struck by the gravity of the situation.
Sophia continued. “They’re calling it an accident, a gas explosion. But it’s not.”
I didn’t ask how she knew this. It was obviously inside information. Instead, I remained silent and turned to look at Michael. His face was so contorted by pain, anger, and sadness, it only confirmed my suspicions.
Satan had used the map in Michael’s office to attack the Sacrarium and declare war.
“Was Sister Helen inside?” I asked, anxious to know.
There was silence on the other end, and I knew Sophia was holding back tears. Finally, the word I dreaded arrived through the receiver.
“Yes.”
And just like that, the stakes were raised. I would fight in this war.
No matter the cost.
Acknowledgments
There are so many I want to thank for helping to make my dream a reality. First, I must start with my family.
Mom, there are no words sufficient enough to express how grateful I am to have you in my corner. You are my rock, my best friend, and my all-time number one supporter. You believe in me when I don’t even believe in myself. You push me when I start to doubt because you know I can do it. You jump in full-force, extending all your effort and energy. You were the first one I told about my book before I wrote a word and it was just an idea. Most people would be alarmed when their thirteen-year-old child describes Satan’s fall, but you weren’t. In fact, you encouraged me to be curious and to pursue my ideas, providing me with the proper tools to succeed. You were the first to actually read anything I wrote. When you told me how good my writing was, how it felt like you were reading someone else’s book but had to remind yourself it was mine, I was determined to continue on because your excitement thrilled me. I mean it when I say it, I could never do this without you.
Dad, thank you for always being there, ready to help and support me in any way, no matter how crazy or absurd my ideas are. You were the second person to read anything I wrote, and I will never forget the look of enjoyment on your face after reading three chapters and wondering, “What’s in the backpack?” Little did you know I intended for nothing to be in the backpack, but your question was the first and best critique I could ever receive since it helped to develop my story.
Anthony, thank you for being my brother and my stress reliever. Our countless excursions to movies, trips to conventions, and quests for collectibles is always the right amount of fun I need. The majority of my inspiration and research comes from the world of pop culture, and you’re the one who I share that world with. I’ve always seen my book like a movie playing in my head, and when you felt that too, I knew I had accomplished what I set out to do. And you may not know this, but some of my best writing came from your advice and edits, so thank you for unknowingly pushing me to be a better writer.
Also, thank you to Uncle Frankie, Uncle Anthony, and Aunt Sherrill for being beta readers and book champions. You read, you fell in love with my words, and your enthusiasm revealed to me I had to start sharing this story with others. Thank you to grandma and grandpa for loving me and supporting me. I always want to make you proud, and I hope this book goes a long way in doing that.
A special shout-out to my cousin Nicole, who not only read early drafts but also committed herself to the cause. You have been there throughout the entire process, and I will forever appreciate the support you have shown me. In addition to Mom, you’ve seen me at my worst in great moments of self-doubt and fear, but you’ve also seen me at my best and cheered me on. I know we’re family, and sticking around through thick and thin is in our DNA, but you went beyond that to help me succeed.
Pop, a big thanks goes to you as well. You started this journey with me years ago, giving my characters life and my ideas power through your drawings. Thank you for your patience by redrawing things until I found the right shade of blue. Thank you for your detail oriented mindset by perfecting every stroke of calligraphy. Although you never knew the full extent of my story, I am so happy you were a part of it, and continue to be a part of it through your drawings and memory. I wish you were around to read my book because I know you would love it. But even though you’re not here in person, your spirit is with me each and every day, so I kn
ow you must have read it because you’ve been with me as I’ve written each word. Thank you for your love, support, and acceptance throughout my life. I march to the beat of my own drum, and you always appreciated that and encouraged me to do it. This book is a product of that encouragement as I continue to be uniquely me.
Thank you, Albert, for not only reading and critiquing, but also raising me. You’ve been there since the beginning, all the way back to when I had to go to reading camp with the nuns. Ever since, you’ve been an important part in helping me learn and grow intellectually as a person. Our philosophical talks are always intriguing, and I must say you do give the best book recommendations when it comes to research. I appreciate your additional help with proofreading the pronunciation guide and glossary. They definitely needed some work, and I’m glad these components can now benefit other readers.
Thank you, Franklin, for always being a great mentor and friend. You were the one who set me on the path of graphic design, and I will always be grateful for that. You gave me the tools and resources that allowed me to learn how to design, create, and edit my own work. This book would literally not be a book without the knowledge and training you passed along. Also, thank you for your work on the book trailer. I appreciate the time and effort you put in. You made an awesome video that everyone can enjoy.
A special thanks to Bryony Leah (www.bryonyleah.com), editor extraordinaire. The universe was working in my favor the day I randomly discovered your editorial services because you are an excellent editor and an amazing person. You have been a believer and champion of my book from the first time you read it, and in the time since, you have become such a good friend. You are so dedicated to polishing and perfecting that I can rest easy knowing you have gone through my book not once, but multiple times. I appreciate you and your work so much, especially as you not only contributed your editing magic to my book, but also to countless query letters, book descriptions, and synopses. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
While we’re on the topic of editing, I must say thank you to Nancy Allen, beta reader turned copyeditor, whose questions, comments, and critiques were the absolute best. You pushed me and made me think about story elements that never crossed my mind. I appreciate all the hard work you put in to reading and editing, and I am so grateful you were willing to do this. It took me months to get through your edits, but it was a truly wonderful experience that has since made me a better writer.
Thanks to Kimmie and M.E. for being beta readers. Your comments were so helpful as I continued to develop my story and they definitely contributed to the final product. Also, thanks to Starr, Erin, and Mike for being readers as well.
I want to extend a huge thanks to Jude Naples and Sue Paré. The both of you are always willing to assist me with design and formatting questions, and I cannot thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to work with you. I was able to create an early form of my book with the tools and resources you provided, and I will forever cherish that experience since it was the first time I held a physical copy of my book in my hands.
Thanks to Adrianne (www.adriannetamararachne.com) for being a fantastic artist. The symbol artwork and concept art you did for this trilogy was amazing, and it was only a small glimpse into the work you can do. Our collaboration was truly beneficial because it made me realize what I wanted my book to visually look like.
Another shout-out to three of my college professors, M.E., Eleanor, and Scott, who contributed to my learning and made me a better scholar. The material each of you taught in your classes influenced my thinking and imagination, and subsequently contributed to this book. All of you made me a better writer by pushing me. All of you made me a better thinker by allowing me to explore and discover new ideas. Essentially, all of you helped spark a curiosity in me that has made me a better person who can view the world from multiple angles. You all are great inspirations. Thank you for the hard work and countless hours of teaching.
If you’re reading this, I want to thank you, the reader. You picked up my book, and that alone means the world to me. I hope you are able to enjoy this book as much as I do, and I hope you can find something inside these pages to connect with. A large part of why I published it is because I wanted to share this story with others, so I am excited you can now be a part of the journey too.
Wings up!
About the Author
Sara M Schaller is a paralibrarian, publishing professional, and young adult author. She lives in Colorado with her mom, dad, brother, and four furry canine siblings. Sara loves the world of pop culture and the performing arts, so when she is not reading or writing, she is either watching movies and shows, attending conventions, or going out to see live performances. She likes to write stories for all ages in the fantasy genre, and her writing usually contains elements of speculative fiction and features a large cast of characters. Sara has a Bachelor’s degree in English, Art History, and Religious Studies from the University of Denver, and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University. For five years, Sara worked as a graphic designer, and her creativity in design carries over into other areas of her life like writing. You can visit her online at www.saramschaller.com.
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