Artificial Light (Evolution of Angels Book 3)

by Wall, Nathan

“Why didn’t you kill Death?” Raphael placed the Deliverance remote into his armor and paced. “Is he more powerful than we thought?”

  “I’ve taken certain assurances that he won’t be a problem.” Set nodded at Sif again. She opened a rift and vanished.

  Raphael said, “I don’t understand….”

  “Just a moment.” Set held a finger up. Sif reemerged, this time holding a human woman. Set revealed his prize. “Behold, the instrument with which Death will be brought to his knees.”

  “A girl?” Raphael scoffed.

  “Not just any. One close to Death’s heart.” Set cupped Claire’s chin. “The half-blood you allowed me to revive told us as much.”

  “If he’s telling the truth,” Raphael countered.

  “For a chance to live again and be made whole, few would gamble,” Set assured Raphael and the others. “Death was able to slay Hermes. I’ll need some men…”

  “You ask too much,” Raphael interrupted. He pulled on Claire’s hair, looking her over. “It can’t be done. You’ll have to make do.”

  “I know their destination, but not their exact location. If you want him found quickly, you’ll give me the boots on the ground.”

  “And what, you’ll create a bigger scene?” Rahael refused. “I know better than to give you an army.”

  Uriel chimed in. “Gabriel’s men need a new leader, do they not?” Raphael and Set both turned his direction.

  “As if I trust you any more than Set.” Raphael leaned in to Uriel’s face. “Tell me why you’d go?”

  “We’re rebuilding against the tyranny of those who’ve betrayed us. That’s why you constructed a key for the Light of Souls, no?” Uriel took Raphael by the shoulders. “The messengers are eager to atone for the sins of your commander. Send us. I’ll lead with Set as my adviser.”

  “He has a point.” Set nodded. “What’ll it be?”

  Raphael squinted at Uriel and the Assassins. Set waited anxiously for the answer at the tip of Raphael’s tongue. His lips opened.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Austin VI

  Austin followed a tour group through the Louvre’s Egyptian exhibit. It was a French speaking tour, but he hopped along for the journey hoping to fit in. He pulled Horus with him before the group left them behind.

  “C’mon, keep up.” He snapped his fingers. “I don’t want to get separated. I need you to keep the Assassins from killing me.”

  “Fear not for your life.” Horus scanned the space around them. “As soon as we find the chariot, we’ll be on our way.”

  “What exactly will it look like?” Austin walked up to an egg-shaped carving with three curved lines in it. “This seems familiar.”

  “This is tribute art to our starstones.” Horus touched the carving. “The lines represent the triple helix of an angel’s DNA.”

  “I’m pretty sure that should mean something.” Austin noticed the tour guide getting riled up. “I think you should stop touching it.”

  “Indeed.” Horus placed his hands in his coat.

  “You know, I’d like to pretend what this dude is saying is hitting home, but I got nothing. Even if I could speak French, he talks too damn fast.” Austin saw a statue of a bird’s head on a human body. “Hey look, that’s you.”

  “I’m sure.” Horus didn’t bother looking. When he walked by the statue, a green light scanned him. The floor rumbled and lights flickered. Display cases and exhibits fell over. The monitor on Horus’ left wrist lit up.

  “Does Paris get earthquakes?” Austin turned but Horus was gone. “Dude, seriously?” The tour guide funneled everyone towards the exits. Austin moved counter to the flow, searching for Horus. He finally found him. “What gives?” The quake stopped.

  “I was drawn to this.” Horus stared at an artifact. “Sorry for leaving you.”

  “Yeah, no problem.” Austin leaned against a large stone sarcophagus. “Just give me some warning next time.”

  “Je suis désolé, Vous devez quitter les lieux. Vous ne pouvez rester ici.” The guide tapped Austin’s shoulder.

  Austin glanced briefly at the guide before speaking to Horus. “What does he want?”

  “Says we must leave.” Horus meticulously inspected the artifacts and pressed his nose against the security glass. “How curious. Could it be?”

  “What’s that?” Austin held a finger up in response to the guide, acknowledging him with butchered French. “Uno momentum.”

  “I speak English.” The Frenchman attempted to shove Austin along but he didn’t budge. The guide pushed with all his might, but it was like Austin was weighed down with cement blocks. He stepped back, scratching his head.

  A razor thin blade materialized in Horus’ hand and he cut a hole in the exhibit large enough for his hand to fit through.

  “Non, non.” The guide scooted over to Horus, wearing a stern look. “It is not possible to touch the exhibits.”

  “What do you mean?” The artifact floated in place, glowing green. Horus scooped it up. “It quite clearly is possible.”

  “I think he means you’re not allowed to.” Austin rubbed his face in a nervous manner. “We’re so gonna get caught.”

  “You must now put it back.” The guide extended his hand, palm up.

  The artifact disintegrated, swirled in the air, and latched onto the back of Horus’ head. He grimaced, hunching over as his aurascales formed involuntarily. His helmet took shape and his wings expanded. Everything in the exhibit came to life, glowing and floating, breaking through layers of rock and centuries of dirt. The rectangular stone sarcophagus behind Austin decompressed with a hiss. He turned around and large seams opened up as it rearranged, emitting a funky odor.

  “That’s ripe.” Austin held his nose shut.

  The guide took three steps back, scanning Horus and the large statue to Horus’ left of a man with a bird face. “Mon Dieu,” he exclaimed, flashing the Sign of the Cross as he ran away.

  “Now I get what he’s sayin’.” Austin smirked, smugly pointing at the guide. “It roughly translates to ‘you look like that freaking statue’.”

  “I don’t,” Horus huffed. He looked at the statue and his shoulders sank. “Just barely, perhaps.” He brushed past Austin. “A strange path is illuminated in my faceguard.”

  The cameras in the corners of each room focused on them as they wandered through the exhibit. Austin couldn’t help but notice the hallways were cleared of people.

  “It’s not a chariot.” Horus held his right hand up and several artifacts broke through their cases and assembled around his body in random sections. The pieces of metal clicked into place to the chorus of whistling zips and clanking. The artifacts glowed and lifted Horus further off the ground, making his armor taller and larger as he walked.

  “What is it?” Austin remained still while Horus meandered, watching the pieces adhere and build around the aurascales.

  The alarms rang, making it impossible to hear anything else. The flashing lights were just as obtrusive. Austin watched the tourists gather in the Cour Carrée and flee while security directed them.

  “Evacuating already? Seems a bit excessive, don’t ya think?” Austin wondered aloud. Two vessels resembling the one Horus had used to find them—and a bit larger—lowered from the clouds and hovered over the Louvre. Austin’s eyes widened and his breathing stopped. “Oh. Maybe not.” He noticed Horus was gone. “Damn it, not again.”

  A sense that time was running out gripped him. Did Horus see the spaceships and abandon him? Who were they? The museum seemed never-ending as he searched. He slipped and landed on his back, staring up at a hole in the ceiling which led to the next floor. The ground and his breath were frozen, as if all heat had been sucked from the air.

  “Arrêter.” Twelve policemen in riot gear swarmed. Half slowly collapsed toward him. The others took defensive positions behind columns and half-walls.

  “Relax.” Austin knelt and placed both hands behind his head. There had to be an escape route.
The urge to shift gnawed at him. Vibrations in the floor warned of reinforcements approaching.

  He steadied his breathing. The scent of those most afraid entered his nose like an ocean current pushing his mind to those ready to piss themselves. He listened for those most calm. They’d have to be the first to go. The time to act was now.

  He swiped the zip-ties off the two policemen closest to him and bound them together. To his six, a dagger swung for his kidney. A quick slap dislodged the weapon. The officer’s momentum carried forward. Austin flipped him onto the floor. Palm-strike. Palm-strike. Out cold.

  Austin rolled right. Bullets ricocheted, spraying dust. He leapt steps up the wall and pushed off into roundhouse. He grabbed the next assailant by the gear, tossing him through a window. Sliding between the bound policemen, he used them as a shield. The other members of task force wouldn’t open fire.

  A radio on one of their lapels went off. Agitated and frightened, they barked at each other so fast it sounded like one long word.

  “What are y’all waitin’ for?” Austin crouched, pulling the policemen together. Every time a rifleman adjusted aim, Austin moved his prisoners into the line of fire. The door fifty yards down the hall was the only way out.

  An officer sprang forward. Austin ripped the rifle away and swiped the blunt end off the SWAT member’s mask, cracking it. A front-kick knocked the air from another officer’s lungs. Austin released several key shots, not harming any of the men. When they dove for cover, he vanished.

  Austin’s massive paws scraped across the marble floor as he ran for an exit. His heavy panting was rhythmic and soothing. He rounded a corner. Two riflemen drew their weapons. He leapt, shifted back into human form, and tackled the two, knocking both unconscious.

  Abrupt gunfire prompted cover. The sirens cut off.

  “I can hear myself think again,” he panted heavily.

  The shots were aimed away from him, probably at Horus. He peeked around the corner, noticing three men with large wings and red aurascales marching through the halls. They were a blur in pink haze. The French taskforce unloaded at point blank, not landing a single round.

  In a larger flash of pink, the human fighters froze in place. Austin recognized the two Assassins who emerged from the vapor trail with Claire in tow. He quickly pulled his head back.

  Winged shadows moved his direction until Set’s command halted their course. They turned back. What had alerted them to here? It dawned on him. When Horus was scanned, activating angelic technology, the Assassins had their beacon.

  “We’re looking to give a push,” Set ordered. “The one we’re looking for is close.”

  “Jarrod,” Austin whispered. He crawled, with his head down, until his eyes hovered over a pair of silver boots. As his focus moved up the female body, the yellow aurascales shifted.

  “The cat and her mouse.” Two short swords crackled into Sif’s hands.

  “Tom never catches Jerry,” Austin snarled.

  He morphed into wolf form and slashed. Sif evaded the strikes and easily tossed him through a display case. Glass shards stuck in his back. She skipped once and kicked his midsection. He lifted through a window into the courtyard and barreled along the concrete.

  Sif landed in front of him, cracking the cement. Five more angels lowered in from the sky with their crossbows fixed on Austin. Sif halted their descent, twirling a blade as she stalked Austin. He tried standing but collapsed under his own weight. He slowly shed his wolf skin, trying to pull the shards from his shoulder blades.

  “I’m not here to kill you,” she said.

  “Could’ve fooled me.” Austin grimaced, pulling himself onto a stone bench.

  “I enjoy this no more than you.”

  “Yeah?” He threw the broken glass at her feet. “Jab those into your spine and get back to me.”

  “I’ve a job to do.”

  “We all have jobs.” His anger flared, clearly visible through his furious gaze. The rage numbed his pain. “I was a soldier once. When we blindly follow the lies, we’re complicit.”

  “The difference between you and I is choice.” Sif reappeared behind Austin and lifted him. “You’ve my sympathies. I once knew how free will tasted. The smell lingers with me still. You and I, though, are pawns.” Her sword poked against his belly. “Forgive me.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Horus V

  The aurascales’ augmentation was complete. Horus estimated an additional metric ton of armor had fused to his exo-suit. His joints zipped-and-whizzed with a mechanical tune while moving. The suit stood almost four meters tall.

  Initiating defensive measures.

  The suit prompted him. It’d never spoken before. The technology bonded seamlessly with his, but was beyond anything he’d ever studied. How could something so ancient be light-years ahead of modern systems? Before his thoughts had finished, it responded to his questions.

  System: HALOGUARD. Design year G.C. 75m., Operation assignment: T-GCK., Pilot: Osiris.

  What was G.C. 75m.? That didn’t fit any celestial time measurement he knew. That could be anything. Maybe the future? Impossible.

  Recommendation: evasive maneuvers.

  The HALOGUARD pulled the video feed from the Louvre security system. Two angels—advancing to his six—displayed in a HUD projection. The HALOGUARD rotated, sucking warmth from the surrounding air. The right arm shifted into a cannon, releasing a super-heated plasma blast. The assailants’ red aurascales flickered, with several sections melting away.

  A magnetic pulse pushed the HALOGUARD inches from the floor and propelled it forward. Fizzing over his hands were energy blades constructed of a combination of light, heat from the surrounding air, and power from his starstone, held together by electromagnetic fields. The result was that putting them to use felt like slicing through water vapor. Both angels toppled over, severed at the waist.

  Energy weapons—unnecessary. Power conservation in effect.

  The energy blades dissipated and the magnetic lift ceased. Each step rumbled like an elephant herd. This battle-armor had once belonged to his father and must have been attracted to the power core of Horus’ starstone, which was probably why it had remained idle all these years.

  Was this how Osiris earned his legend? Sobek would encourage Horus to fight at his best in the hopes of earning the mantle his father built. Though further exploration of the HALOGUARD’s systems and history was warranted, more important business demanded his immediate attention. Heaven had found them. It was likely something to do with the HALOGUARD’s activation. Finding Austin took top priority.

  If the HALOGUARD was able to sense the other angels advancing, perhaps it had a lock on their power signature. Horus wondered why it indentified angels under Gabriel’s banner as threats. Given the timeline Horus had been taught, the HALOGUARD must have predated The Last Great war. Gabriel and Osiris would’ve been allies. No matter.

  “Can you lock onto similar power signatures?” Horus asked, barely able to believe he was talking to his armor.

  Scan radius specifications?

  “How about anything close enough to deliver offensive strikes,” he replied. “Start with closest and work further out.”

  Initiating…

  Recommend threat level prioritization.

  Continue?

  “Aren’t those two the same thing?” He wondered aloud. “Fine.”

  Scanning…

  A map of the world displayed in his HUD. A list of adversarial targets formed. The HALOGUARD pegged several Armada Cruisers hovering fifteen kilometers from the earth’s atmosphere, cloaked to human scanning, as Horus’ prime threat.

  Omega-level 8: 3 targets.

  Recommend power shutdown to avoid detection.

  “What are three Armada Cruisers doing in orbit?”

  It was highly unorthodox for the angels to be in such close proximity to the planet. Something didn’t feel right. Each cruiser had the ability to wipe the entire city from existence. Evidently the HAL
OGUARD’s logical reasoning didn’t understand Heaven’s desire to limit collateral damage to humans. Unless it had that ability, in which case the answer was all the more terrifying. Either way, there wasn’t much Horus could do about it. If the cruisers decided to annihilate the city then so be it.

  “Limit range to five cubed kilometers.”

  Reorganizing.

  Top threat:

  Unknown – unknown

  Unknown Omega-level

  Legion head: unknown

  “What in the world is that?” It displayed an icon less than a kilometer south-east of his location. The energy readings stumped the HALOGUARD. It was obviously something too new to be in the database. “Scan known targets.”

  Set – War Captain.

  Alpha-level: 5

  Legion head: Lucifer

  Sif – Primary Defense

  Beta-level: 7

  Legion head: Thor

  “That’s enough.” It was as he expected. The Assassins were at the top, though seeing his Uncle Set listed under Lucifer’s command was a bit of a shock. Obviously, Set had a knack for ditching alliances at opportune times. Several other targets registering in the lower Gamma levels were also listed. “Display location.”

  The HUD adjusted. It displayed a 3D rendering of the Louvre with color-coded dots representing each target and their threat level. Three lower level threats headed his way.

  The HALOGUARD plunged through the wall. It leaned forward, generating magnetic force shields. An angel manifested a bow, pulled back on the shimmering string, and released a crystallized arrow. The arrow shattered into dust upon impact. Horus plowed into the angel and crushed it through the wall and into the street.

  The road along the Seine was void of traffic. Local authorities were already rerouting motorists. Human officials wisely sat on the sideline. Horus’ armor registered mounting human forces at the edge of the city with an evacuation protocol already in effect. Radio transmissions were relayed into his faceguard, giving him up-to-the-second information on their plans. They kept repeating that it wouldn’t be another London or Moscow.