Angel's Awakening

CHAPTER ONEA wave of powerful supernatural energy washed over Charouth as she navigated the depths of an abandoned subway tunnel. Decades ago the E train sped along these tracks carrying countless passengers during rush hour. Now it all lay in ruins. Graffiti several layers thick covered the walls. Support beams, stripped of their paint, and coated in rust, hardly looked strong enough to hang a hat on, much less keep a ceiling up. Wood and cement rubble crunched under her heavy boots as she traveled farther from the point of entry. She glanced behind her. A weak emergency bulb shed meager light on the six mortals making their way down the treacherous steps onto the platform. They needed to hurry. The rotten scent of a not so fresh corpse hit her. Ugh. Gross. This kind of work was so far below her rank. “Hurry up, guys,” she called to the struggling humans. “Dinner party’s almost over.” She reached the point where the tunnel began a sharp curve. The heavy grunts and footfalls of the humans stopped. Charouth didn’t need to see what lay ahead. The familiar slurping and gnawing sounds of demonic creatures feeding gave her plenty of information. These guys were nasty, but didn’t have enough power to even keep that piss poor emergency light going. Something worse was about to descend on them: Charouth and her hunting party. “Take this.” Jack, the leader of the humans crept up and presented her with a gun. “No, thank you. I have my own weapon.” Cool white light pierced the darkness as a sword of pure celestial flame formed in her hand. The energetic fire licked around her fingers and up her wrist, yet she remained unharmed. The weapon was as much as part of her as her blood. She held the sword up higher and frowned. The flames usually burned brighter. She wasn’t one hundred percent then. No worries. She still had enough power to get the job done. “Are you sure you're strong enough for this?” asked Jack. “Of course. These flesh eaters are no big deal.” “You could barely move yesterday.” “I'm fine now. Don’t worry.” Poor Jack. He didn't know the half of it. How could he? He was just a man. A man who’d witnessed an angel crash land in his backyard a week ago. Lucky for her Jack was a member of the Order, a select group of humans who served as Heaven's earthly exterminators. In exchange for his hospitality while she healed, Charouth agreed to help him and his merry band on their next hunt. Better to get this debt settled sooner rather than later. Gods Above and Below, how embarrassing, owing a human a favor. If anyone found out there’d be no end to the mockery. Charouth’s side still ached from the rough landing, a constant reminder of why she skulked around in the dark with humans in the first place. Note to self: No more shortcuts through Titan territory. The whole pantheon was a bunch of bastards. The nest of pests ahead didn’t bother her. That nasty something or other beyond them in the dark was worrisome, but a problem that could wait. Deal with the nest, get the humans to safety, then neutralize the real threat. With a game plan mapped out, Charouth inched ahead, with Jack breathing down her neck. He was way too close. His body heat radiated off of him and the smell of human sweat overwhelmed her. Why did they have to sweat so much? They were a hundred feet below ground in the middle of February. It’s not as though there was any heat down here. “Back up, Jack. Give me some room.” She rustled her wings to emphasis the point. “Sorry.” He fell back a little. Not enough. Charouth sighed and elbowed him gently in the ribs. “Hey!” “That’s better.” “I just don't want anything to happen to you.” A flurry of clicks signaled the humans were locked and loaded, ready for Hell to open up under the busy streets of New York. Not bloody likely. If that ever happened Heaven was in trouble and humans were doomed. She pasted a diplomatic smile on her face. “Your concern is sweet, but unnecessary. Protecting you is my job.” Not since before the Egyptians built the pyramids, but no need to tell him that. “These flesh eaters are pretty nasty.” Charouth scoffed. “The scavengers are the least of your concerns in this tunnel, Jack.” “What else is out there?” She stared into the shadows as if they could give her a clue of what awaited them. Too bad her excellent sight didn’t include x-ray vision. “Nothing I can't handle.” *******