Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles by Karen Dales Read Free Book Online Page B

bloody mess to stain the wooden floor. It was a surprise to the Chosen, forcing them to take a step back, when the remains ignited to leave only black powder on the stage.
    Silence thundered down. Notus was horrified at the reaction his precious God blessed water had created, but there was no dispute now. Vampires were as real as the Chosen, and as different as day was to night.
    Slowly all eyes descended upon the Angel, who could not tear his gaze away from the remains.
    “ Crediamo. Caro dio nel cielo, crediamo, ” gasped Alfonsina. She halted in the middle of crossing herself, eyes wide. She found Notus ’ sad hazel and dropped to her knees. “ Per favore, padre. ”
    “ Sì, la mia figlia, ” replied Notus, tears filling his eyes. Carefully, so as not to step on the blackened smudge, the monk came to stand before the Mistress of Italy. Laying one hand upon her head, he made the sign of the Cross once more with the other, “ In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. ”
    The Angel turned away from the display and the tears that ran down the Mistress ’ face. There could no longer be any doubt about the existence of Vampires. Now it was up to the Grand Council to decide what to do.
    Carefully the Angel made is way down the steps, intending to leave the Council to their heavy responsibility. He halted as Hugo called out.
    “ L ’ Ange , you have proven your point and you have proven mine. ”
    Turning, the Angel faced the Master of France.
    “ What are you talking about, Hugo? ” asked Bridget, worry widening her blue eyes.
    “ L ’ Ange is clearly not Chosen, ” sneered France ’ s Master. The others murmured their surprise at the accusation, but the evidence could not be denied. Too many irregularities through the centuries set the Angel apart no matter where he and Notus travelled to, leaving the question opened.
    “ If l ’ Ange is Chosen, ” continued Hugo, “ then it is clear he must be Destroyed. ”
    The murmurs became shouts of protest mingled with agreement. Not all were friends of the Angel no matter their feelings for his Chooser.
    The Angel looked up at the Chosen, his face blank of all emotion. It was a gamble he took when he summoned the white-faced demons and he could feel Fernando and Bridget ’ s panic about what they may be forced to declare.
    “ Before any sentence is carried against the Angel, ” shouted Fernando over the din, “ Let his Master and Mistress ask him this: What are you? ”
    If he had not been expecting this from his friend, the Angel would have declared himself a fool. He had spent too much time with the Noble and been asked that same question over and over through the ages. Never before stating that he was Chosen was enough to dissuade the speculations. Now he knew he could not stand here before the Grand Council and claim to be one of theirs. Again, he was outcast, different, set apart.
    Straightening his stance, he pulled on the glamour that had always fit him and felt so right. Fear percolated through the Chosen and he knew now how to answer.  Allowing his burning gaze to slide from one to the next, he settled onto Notus for it was he who deserved the truth more than the others.
    “ I am the Angel of Death. ”

Chapter III
     
     
     
    F ather Paul Notus carefully turned over the vinyl long playing album, gently blew the minute particles of dust from the other side and placed it back down onto the turntable. It was his favourite Christmas album, a collection of crooners from the early part of the last century whose voices plucked warmth into his body with each note. It was a Christmas present from the boy when the album was first released decades ago. Notus played it every year and though the vinyl was beginning to wear, creating static to mix with the songs, still he played it.
    Checking the needle for fuzz, he placed it down onto the large black disk. Expectations of Frosty the Snowman sung by Sinatra made him smile. First the silence, then the