Beyond the Veil by Tim Marquitz Read Free Book Online Page B

expected
him to stop me, but he didn’t bother.
    Longinus was a good distance from the
portal when I popped out, pacing about in the dull haze, which was the only
good thing to come out of all this. He hadn’t been close enough to hear me out
myself as Lucifer’s son. That was a bridge I was gonna have to cross
eventually, but not until Karra was safe and sound back home. I could deal with
it then.
    Jesus appeared behind me a moment later,
and I could feel his eyes on my back. He hovered there.
    “What do you want?”
    He came around beside me. “I know it’s not
my place, but don’t you think you were rough on Lucifer? He has changed quite a
bit since you saw him last.”
    I shook my head and laughed. “You’re right,
Doctor Phil, it isn’t your place. The last thing I need is relationship advice
from you. You and your dad really nailed that father-son thing, huh?”
    Christ clenched his teeth and huffed off
without saying anything. Insulting him might not have been the smartest thing
to do, but there was an inherent satisfaction in getting to lash out at someone
on his side of the fence. It was probably something in my genes. Whatever it
was, I still needed him to lead us to Karra so I drifted off after him. He’d
turn the other cheek, right?

Six

 
    Jesus took us to another cloud building,
this one much smaller than God’s hall, both inside and out, where they’d built
a semi-permanent portal. While there were no guards standing about, there was a
gatekeeper. A tall, statuesque angel stood beside the portal as though posing
for the cover of Perfection Magazine .
Not a blemish marred his features and every tiny movement seemed to set his
muscles to rippling where his tanned flesh was visible outside of his shorter
than regulation golden robes. He was seriously trying too hard.
    “This is Calar, master of the Feluris Gate,”
Jesus said as he introduced the angel. “Feluris is the name of the planet
linked to this plane. If the creature who kidnapped your daughter is anywhere,
it would be there, most likely in the capital city of Desboren.”
    “How can you be certain?” Longinus asked,
ignoring the other angel.
    I gave Calar a nod and appreciative smile
for his soon-to-be services. It never hurt to grease the help a little.
    “The planet has been cut off from the
universe in which it resides in order to keep its loss a secret from our
enemies. Your kidnapper might well have found a way to slip down to Feluris
undetected, as it would take little effort to do so, but leaving the planet is
another matter. It would take far greater power to break the seal into another
dimension than can be hidden. My Father would know the instant such a thing was
attempted. He has seen no evidence of such.”
    “So, where on the planet is Gorath, our little
alien friend?” I asked.
    Jesus smiled, and I had the sudden realization
he wasn’t going to be as forgiving as I’d hoped. “He could be anywhere.”
    Longinus snarled. “God promised—”
    Jesus cut him off. “Only that He would let
you seek out your daughter in exchange for your cooperation, Maximus. He has
passed the order to Calar to allow you access to Feluris, which is far greater
than you would have managed on your own. Do not expect more than you have been
given, demon.”
    “You motherfu —”
    Longinus set a hand on my chest to stop me
as I started toward Christ. “You will regret making a game of this. There will
come a time when I am free of my debt to your Father, and I will repay your kindness a thousand fold.”
    “I look forward to it,” Jesus answered, a
satisfied smirk on his face. He was goading us, hoping we’d blow our cool and
do something stupid so he could void God’s edict, and I nearly had. Just as
that sunk in, Jesus motioned for Calar to open the gate, disappointment on his
face. He didn’t even try to hide it as the power welled up, and he waved us on.
“Let’s go then, if you’re coming.” Jesus stepped into the circle