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  Raphael closed the gap and took a moment to scrutinize him. Was Validus to give a report on his mission?

  The archangel’s steel gaze eased slightly. “How is Tren?”

  That was not the question Validus was expecting. “He…is well.”

  Raphael folded his wings slightly. “Before the second generation, we were friends.”

  Something inside Validus ached. He tried to deny that it was Niturni, but he could not. “He’s a strong guardian. We work well together.”

  Raphael nodded. “Tell him…tell him to be careful. There are dangerous days ahead. Lead him well, Validus.”

  Validus nodded. Raphael stepped back, spread his wings, launched into the air, blurring into a silver streak before he had materialized through the timbered roof of the castle.

  Validus glanced toward Brandt and saw the general staring at him, harsh and cold. He motioned for him to return.

  Validus approached cautiously. “Sir?”

  Brandt shook his head. “I should have known something like this was going to happen. The day you were reassigned, I should have known.”

  “What is it, General?” Validus dared ask.

  Brandt put his hands on his hips and glared at him. His words came slowly. “I have been authorized to grant you the support you need.”

  Validus suppressed a smile. It wouldn’t help. “Five warriors?” he asked a little too jubilantly.

  “Yes.” Brandt could hardly say the words. “And five hundred more when you need them,” he added.

  “What?” Validus exclaimed.

  Brandt turned to his executive officer. “Sutton, see to the commanders. I need a few minutes with Commander Validus.”

  Sutton joined the waiting commanders, and Brandt pulled Validus back into his private room so they could talk. Brandt wanted background and details on Validus’s mission with Carter. As the story unfolded, Validus felt justified by the response Brandt gave him. Finally someone other than Tren, Persimus, and he grasped the significance of Carter. Validus could see Brandt’s strategic mind working.

  “The Carter mission has escalated to global significance. You are now in command of the operation. Take your pick of the warriors you need, just don’t take all of my continental commanders at once.”

  Validus smiled. “Don’t worry, sir, I know exactly who I need, and none of them are your commanders. I don’t need an army, not yet. What I need is stealth and skill. But when the time comes—”

  “When the time comes, just say the word,” Brandt finished.

  Validus handed Brandt a folded paper. “Thank you, General. For now, I need the locations of these warriors and orders reassigning them to my command.”

  Brandt opened the paper and read the names. He looked up at Validus. “I can see why Danick chose you as his first and why this is your mission. Two of these won’t like it.”

  Validus nodded. “They don’t have to like it.”

  The corner of Brandt’s mouth turned up. “Come.”

  They walked back into the war room, where Brandt handed the paper to Sutton. “Give Commander Validus the location of each of these warriors, and prepare orders for their transfer.”

  Sutton nodded. “Come with me, Commander.”

  “Godspeed, Validus,” Brandt called out.

  Validus saluted and followed Sutton. Thirty minutes later, Validus was deep in the heart of Russia, inwardly rejoicing that, at last, he would have the men he needed to fight Niturni.

  5

  KATHRYN AND JAKE

  Late in the afternoon of the next day, Reed told Drew that his mother and Jake Blanchard had arrived and were waiting to see him.

  “They’ll be brought here as soon as they’ve been searched. I’ll need to remain in the room with you.”

  “I understand.”

  An extra chair was brought in for Jake while Drew was waiting. He hadn’t seen his mother for nearly a year. He wasn’t sure how to even begin explaining himself or how to apologize for how he had left her. The minutes ticked by and Drew became more anxious with each passing one. Would she be happy, angry, sad? Twenty long minutes later, the door opened.

  Reed entered, followed by Kathryn and then Jake. Drew’s first glimpse of his mom hurt. She looked older, much older than she should have looked. There were many lines of worry etched in her face that he had never seen before.

  “Drew!” Kathryn exclaimed. She ran to him, and Drew embraced her. He buried his face in her dark brown hair.

  “Mom!” he whispered into her ear. “I’m so sorry…so very sorry.” He swallowed the lump forming in his throat as he felt her trembling in his arms. She held on for a long while, and Reed didn’t say a word. Jake stood silently by, a pillar of support for both of them, as he had been since Drew was twelve.

  Kathryn finally stepped back and put her hands to his cheeks, tears streaming down her face.

  Drew grabbed her hands. “It’s okay, Mom. It’s all going to be okay.”

  She dropped her hands and looked toward Jake. “Drew, Jake and I are married.”

  Drew couldn’t contain the broad smile that spread across his face. He went to Jake and hugged him. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to.

  Drew stepped back and grabbed his mother’s hand. “I’m so glad! And if you don’t mind my saying, it was way overdue!”

  Kathryn leaned into Jake as he put an arm around her. They both looked a little embarrassed.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” Drew’s comment sobered the mood. “I have a lot of explaining to do, and I’m not sure how much they’re going to let me.” He nodded at Reed.

  Kathryn and Jake sat down in the chairs designated for them as Drew pulled his chair from his side of the table so he could sit closer to his mom. Reed looked like he was going to say something but instead remained silent. Kathryn had a hard time not touching Drew, so he held her hands while he talked.

  “Mom, Jake, there’s no way I can justify disappearing. The story is long and bizarre, but ultimately it was so I could find Ben.”

  He took a few minutes to explain why he and Ben had disappeared and their efforts to establish proof of industrial espionage. Both Kathryn and Jake listened intently. Drew couldn’t imagine what they both might be thinking. Did they believe him? Were they skeptical? Were they concerned for his mental health?

  “What about all the questions about the school shooting, Drew?” Kathryn asked. “And now they are saying you assaulted two federal agents and were involved in more shootings here in Chicago. Tell me it’s not true.”

  Drew looked toward Reed, who subtly shook his head.

  Jake grabbed one of Kathryn’s hands. “There are things the FBI doesn’t want him to talk about.”

  Drew hung his head. When he looked back into her eyes, his heart broke. His mother had to know that he had not walked away from the man she raised him to be.

  “Mom, what they’ve told you is true, but I also want you to know that everything I did was to save lives. I am the man you, Dad”—Drew looked at Jake with admiration and respect—“and Jake raised me to be. Please believe me.”

  Kathryn closed her eyes and more tears spilled out. “I do believe you, Drew. I just needed to hear it from you. Sydney told us what you did at Drayle. That’s why I couldn’t believe what they were saying.”

  Jake glanced at Reed. “But Drew, assaulting federal agents…there’s no get-out-of-jail-free card for that, no matter what the reason.”

  “I know, but I had no choice.”

  Kathryn’s face clouded with worry again.

  “In exchange for my confession, they agreed to drop the charges against Sydney and anyone else who helped me.” Drew glanced briefly toward Jake and squeezed his mother’s hands. Now for the really tough part. “I’m looking at up to forty years in prison.”

  “Oh, Drew!” Kathryn said.

  Drew shook his head. “But they offered me an alternative. I’m not sure how they found out about my skills, but I’ve been given a chance to train
into an agency for the government in lieu of prison.”

  Kathryn’s eyes illumined, and the creases in her face eased. “What does that mean, Drew?”

  He bit his lip. He might as well say it as plainly as he could. “It means I won’t be home for a very long time.”

  At that, Jake’s eyes turned fierce. Drew knew that Jake understood exactly what it meant.

  Jake clenched his teeth. “I’m as patriotic as it gets, but this isn’t right, Drew. This is coercion. That’s not how America operates!”

  “I don’t care what it is, Jake. It’s my ticket out of prison, and I’m going to take it. You both know that I’ve always wanted to serve.”

  Jake looked at Drew, then glanced toward Kathryn, apparently unsure how to say what he wanted without bringing more distress to her. He lowered his voice. “Drew, we’re talking CIA or even Special Operations Group…missions where your life is at stake.”

  “Like you and Dad,” Drew interjected. “I’ve already been there, Jake, multiple times. I’d rather serve my country than rot in prison. Wouldn’t you?”

  Jake took a breath and his countenance softened. “Of course I would. I just don’t like their method.”

  Drew looked at his mom, wondering how she would handle knowing what he might be doing. Her concern seemed tempered by an inner strength, and then he realized that Special Ops and living daily with a loved one serving in dangerous circumstances was part of her life. He respected her strength.

  “Will we get to see you again before you leave?” Kathryn asked, stuffing some of her emotion away.

  Drew shook his head. “This is it, Mom.”

  Kathryn looked to Jake, and he seemed to read her mind.

  “Wherever they put him, he’s going to be fine, Kathryn. I’ve seen what he can do.”

  Drew noticed that Reed took note of Jake’s last comment.

  “When do you go?” Kathryn asked.

  “Soon.” Drew shot a look toward Jake, and he nodded. If Drew were put on highly classified missions, there was no telling how long he would be away. He would let Jake explain that to Kathryn later…gently.

  Reed allowed Drew to have a full hour with Kathryn and Jake. The good-bye was difficult, and Kathryn could hardly let go of him. When Jake hugged Drew, he held him a little longer too, but it was not for the sake of affection but rather for the message he whispered in his ear.

  “Ryan Johnson, US Bank 325625775325.”

  Drew repeated the number in his mind three times. It was no coincidence that Jake had arranged an account number with multiple fives at perfect intervals, making memorization easy. The account was under the same name Jake had used for Drew’s fake IDs long before.

  Jake pulled back, put a hand on Drew’s neck, and looked straight into his eyes. “You ever need anything, you know where to find me.”

  Drew nodded.

  Jake put an arm around Kathryn to help her walk away.

  6

  THE GROUND CRIES OUT

  In all of history, never before had such a team of angelic skill been assembled.

  When Danick had asked Validus to handpick the Lineage Legion, he had learned the skills and abilities of the top five thousand angels on the planet, but for various reasons not all of them volunteered. Some felt they would serve Elohim best in their current command. Others were blunt in their opinions about the post-Messiah lineage cause. Validus would start with one such angel, Brumak.

  The Fallen had droxans. The angels had Brumak. The few times Validus had seen him in action, he was astonished. Brumak was a tower of dark, muscled, angelic force, standing a full six inches taller than Validus and half again as thick. He had seen Brumak take sword slices and bullets that would have put two angels down, but the warrior kept coming. He had never seen him smile. Never.

  Commander Porthan would be angry with Validus for taking Brumak, especially without a full explanation, but Validus didn’t have that luxury. He set down in Tobolsk, Russia, and made his way to Commander Porthan’s headquarters.

  After a brief and heated exchange, Commander Porthan calmed and shook his head. “At least tell me who else you have.”

  “Persimus, Sason, Jayt, Crenshaw, and Rake,” Validus replied.

  Porthan tilted his head. “I can’t begin to imagine what you have in mind, but that is going be the oddest detachment of warriors I have ever seen. Oh…and you get to tell Brumak.” He smiled and handed the orders back to Validus.

  “I figured so. Where is he?”

  “On the front, of course. He stops only long enough for the Curing…when he needs it.”

  Validus found Brumak eating and recovering from multiple wounds. He sat on the ground, leaning against a large tree in the city square. His eyes were closed but his hand held tight to the sword at his side. Validus made sure to stay just out of its reach. He put his hands on his hips and spread his wings, hoping it might help some.

  “Warrior Brumak.”

  The mountain of muscle stayed still. Beneath his sleek, shaved head, his eyes remained closed.

  “This is the voice of Validus,” the low voice of the angel rumbled. He slowly opened his eyes. “How goes the life of ease and comfort in America?”

  Validus ignored the insult. “Are you able to fly?”

  Brumak furrowed his brows. “I am.”

  Validus glared at him and waited just a moment, evaluating his decision to bring him into the team. “Then on your feet, warrior. You’ve been reassigned under my command, and we leave immediately.”

  Validus didn’t wait for a reply. He turned and began walking away. He heard a growl and felt heavy footsteps in the ground beneath his feet. A few seconds later, a large shadow fell over Validus’s right shoulder.

  “Porthan must think I need a vacation,” Brumak muttered.

  Validus looked over and up at the massive warrior, his wings morphing to full spread. “I promise you more Fallen and droxan in one place than you have ever seen in your life, so keep your mouth in check or you’ll be guarding sled dogs in Alaska.”

  Brumak snorted, then nodded. “Yes sir.”

  The odd duo launched into chilled air and turned east toward China.

  In Beijing, Validus collected Jayt. In Australia, Sason; in Congo, Rake; and in Venezuela, Crenshaw.

  When they arrived back in Chicago at the FBI complex, Tren was in the hall just outside the interrogation room. As the odd detachment of warriors set down around him, he lifted an eyebrow toward Validus. “Looks like you finally found some help.”

  Validus nodded. He pointed to the room Carter was in. “Warriors, our mission is the man inside this room. He can see you, so try not to be too conspicuous. Keep him alive.”

  Tren seemed to enjoy the varied responses from Brumak, Rake, Crenshaw, and Jayt.

  “Tren’s in charge while I’m away. I’ll give you a full briefing when I return. Tren, a word, please.”

  Validus walked with Tren a few paces down the hallway. Until recently, Validus had been assigned as Tren’s assistant, but recent developments surrounding Carter had changed everything. He needed to let the guardian know that the command of the operation had fully transferred to him. With other warriors involved and with the scope of the mission quickly broadening, it was the only way. He turned to address Tren, but the guardian held up his hand.

  “You need not say anything. I know…and am relieved. I was told this morning when I was presented before Elohim.”

  Validus nodded. “You’re a good angel, Tren, and I will be relying on you heavily in the days to come.”

  “Where are you off to now?”

  “Persimus is following a lead on the ancestry of Carter. It may give us insight that the Fallen don’t have. If I’m right, what we’ve seen in the last few months is just the beginning.”

  Tren looked surprised, at least as surprised as Validus had ever seen the cool, calculating guardian look. They turned to walk back to the waiting warriors.

  “Don’t take any guff from this crew,” Validus
warned.

  “I can handle them,” Tren said without cracking a smile, and Validus believed him.

  Validus launched back into the air and flew east to meet Persimus in Hamburg. When he arrived, his friend was waiting.

  “I’ve traced the family back to 367, but I’m not sure what you’re looking for. There’s nothing significant that I can see.” Persimus swiped across his pages, revealing the thousands of lines. “Going one more generation means tracing 3,242 people.”

  “That should be far enough. Is there any infusion into the family line of Jewish blood?” Validus asked hopefully.

  “I figured that’s what you were looking for, but no, I’m sorry. It’s Germanic all the way back.”

  Validus couldn’t help the sinking feeling in his gut. Perhaps he had been wrong. He looked over Persimus’s work, beginning with Carter and working backward. He pointed to Kathryn’s grandfather.

  “Frederick Kraus—the German soldier who changed his name, then killed himself.”

  Both angels became sober.

  “Those were evil days,” Persimus said as he looked on with Validus. “Especially for men like him. The death camps were Apollyon’s vilest creations.”

  Validus grunted. “That’s the intersection…it has to be. To which death camp was Frederick Kraus assigned, and when?”

  Persimus swiped across his name. “Sobibór, April 1942 to October 1943.”

  “That’s it, Persimus! It has to be. See if you can find any medical records for Klara Kraus, Frederick’s wife. Look for Liesl’s birth certificate. Then meet me at Sobibór.”

  The two angels parted, and Validus flew northeast toward eastern Poland, back in time to one of the most painful moments of his life.

  He set down near what used to be the entrance to the death camp. A museum, statues, and memorials stood on the premises now. As Validus walked, the sights and sounds of the vicious battle replayed in his mind. He remembered the mighty Yortan sacrificing himself to save Eva and her daughter Anna Wiesenthal, the last of the lineage of Simeon that General Danick was convinced remained. They lost hundreds of warriors that fateful day, but evil was too great to overcome. Validus knelt down where he had last held General Danick in his arms, remembering the words as if the general had just spoken them.