Page 40 of Fear the Fall
Bad Blood
A hordeof zombies slink through the dark alleys two blocks from Jackson Square. Our group has managed to trap them between two deserted parking lots, away from humans, and a ward has been put in place to keep the area free from passersby.
On the way over, we divided ourselves into groups of three. Chad—the apparent leader of the Savannah group—leads one, and Zeke and I manage the others.
Zeke’s team, comprised of Charlie and Joe, appears to be the weakest of the Savannah crew, but they’re still light-years ahead of where I thought they’d be. With some training, they’ll be very useful.
This leaves me and the remaining two humans, John and Tyler, to take on the last group. It’s clear that Zeke left me with the two most competent mortals as they swing their blades overhead and crash into one zombie after another, barely breaking a sweat. They’re even able to help Zeke’s crew with the remaining zombies.
I’m almost disappointed that they don’t need me. I live for the fight, and being sidelined isn’t sitting well, but they need the practice more than I do. So I lean against the wall, bored and ready for this to end. Zombies are easy to exterminate.
Chad and Ethan almost have our lot cleared when a raucous noise sounds from the old cemetery bordering the abandoned spot.
“Can you handle this?” I yell to Tyler, who nods in return.
I’m making my way toward the gates of the cemetery when the noise escalates to a fever pitch.
“What the hell,” I say out loud, scanning the area, coming up empty-handed.
The ground shakes, and slits in the ground open up to holes where bodies were likely buried. It’s then that I put the pieces together.
The zombies are being risen from the grave.
Only one being is capable of such atrocities—a necromancer. If corpses are being exhumed from the ground, the city is in deep trouble. There is no way that Zeke and I, with our band of misfit humans, can stop whatever voodoo is being enacted.
“Victoria,” a familiar voice calls from behind. I don’t need to turn to know who it is. I should’ve known something this dire for Earth would bring them.
“Leeanna,” I reply. “Glad you finally saw fit to intervene.”
She lets out a humorless laugh. “I’m surprised you care. I thought your fall from grace would have you preoccupied with other things.”
Her voice is laced with venom, but I don’t have time to analyze the angel’s issues. I knew that my first run-in with my past would be awkward at best and painful at worst. Right now, despite the issues between us, we need to work together.
She stands beside me, surveying the scene. The dead are crawling from their crypts at a snail’s pace. The one nice thing about zombies is that they’re painfully slow-moving.
“Can I trust you?” Leeanna snarls, and I roll my eyes.
“I trained you, and fallen or not, I could still kick your ass.” She bristles at my words but nods her head once.
“For the sake of Earth, I’ll allow you to fight with me.” I want to growl and shake her until her wings molt, but there are more pressing matters than revenge on my traitorous ex-sister-in-arms.
I pull Solis from my back and prepare to fight.
It’s a bloodbath as additional angels fall from the sky, joining the battle. Our swords slice through the air, lopping off heads and severing limbs. The zombie bodies fall in heaps to the ground. One by one, we take them out until none are left and the cemetery is littered with the decomposing carcasses.
I wipe Solis clean, basking in the afterglow of an intense fight.
“Wipe the smile off your face, traitor,” Malachi sneers, and I inhale deeply, willing myself to calm down.
I brought their hatred on by my own actions. I know this, yet it doesn’t stop me from wanting to challenge each and every one of the angels currently glaring at me. I just helped them; couldn’t they just leave me in peace?
“Leave her alone, Mal,” Leeanna chides, and I am just about to thank her when she continues, “She’s filth.”
I growl, stalking toward her.
“Careful, traitor. We can end you with one blow of our blades,” Malachi threatens.
“Fair fight,” I snap. “You and I both know, with my blade, you don’t stand a chance.”