Firstborn (The Legacy Series) by Ryan Attard Read Free Book Online Page B

bridge of my nose.
    “Are you sure?”
    “It told me it was,” she replied.
    Huh? It told her?
    Angels aren’t exactly known for their social skills. If they ever make it out of Heaven, their own dimension, then it’s only to smite some demon. Their sole purpose is to tip the balance of Earth towards order, as opposed to the demons’ chaos.
    So , when people come around saying angels talked to them, my first instinct is to check them in a loony house. There is a better chance of getting probed by aliens from Jupiter than there is to cross paths with an actual angel, let alone talk to one.
    “She ain’t lyin’ Erik,” said Amaymon.
    “Did you summon it?” I asked. That tended to happen a lot with practitioners − they see something in a book or grimoire and try it out. Half of the monsters in this world are the result of curious teenagers poking around in the wrong places. Although angels are as heavyweight as you can get. You can’t just summon them – they are way too powerful for humans, even a group of powerful wizards to contain. It just didn’t happen.
    “ No, it just appeared in a dream. It said its name is Jehudiel and it’ll be watching over Abi,” she replied with a casual shrug. Clearly she had no idea of the impact of what she was saying. She may as well have said that she had a summer residence in Shamballa and rode to school on Nessie, the Lock Ness Monster.
    I didn’t know angels had names. I mean , sure, the Bible is full of them – although most are just symbolic titles, invented by some friar who was eager to impress with his knowledge of Latin, philosophy and whatever else the clergy wanted to listen to.
    “What's the big deal?” asked Gracie. “If an angel is protecting Abi, then it's a good thing, right? I mean they are the good guys.”
    “Not exactly,” said Amaymon. He sat on her lap. “Angels have their own agenda. Conquer through law and order. Not to mention the fact that they are completely obsessed with their war with Hell. If they are showing up here, then it’s only a matter of time.”
    “ Before what?” she gasped.
    “The apocalypse,” Amaymon replied in a spooky tone.
    “Stop scaring the girl , Amaymon,” I said.
    “But it’s so easy.”
    “Give it a rest, kitty.” I looked at Gracie. “Forget everything he told you. It’s probably a mistake of sorts.”
    “They don’t make mistakes like that,” interjected the cat.
    “Shut up,” I shot back. It seemed to work – joking usually made the regular ones question how deep the grave they dug was. It worked even better when you left out the end of the world theories.
    Gracie looked from me to the cat. She was going to have one heck of a story to tell. She might even write us in a TV show: Wizard and the Kitty.
    “I'll take the case,” I said. “And do yourself a favor – disappear. Find somewhere remote and lather it in as many charms and protective spells as you can.”
    “Why?”
    “Cause, you’re in deep now.” I looked at her intently. There was no humor now − this was life and death. “You’re caught in the middle of a celestial war which humanity has avoided for years. And in every war there is collateral damage – namely people like you. So, run and hide and don’t come out until I say so.”
    She nodded and rose to leave.
    “Thank you, Mr. Ashendale.”
    I waved her off. “Call me Erik. And leave that check on the table.”
     
    *****
     
    “The money ain’t worth it.”
    I waved the che ck at the cat. “You say that now, but wait ‘til we’re out of food. Besides, I’m kinda curious to see where all this goes.”
    “So , what now then?” he asked. “Wait and see what pops out and then shoot it in the face?”
    “You got it,” I said as I picked up the phone.
    “Dialing Heaven?” Amaymon hopped on the desk beside the phone.
    “More like Hell on Earth.”
    There was a tone dial and Mephisto’s cold voice crackled on the other side on the line. “Good morning,