DEATH (The Justice Cycle Book 1) by J Kiefer (best classic books to read TXT) 📗

his fists together, then drew his hands apart. A long glowing curved sword of energy materialized in his hand.

“I will tear you to pieces, fledgling,” he spat.

Jared was suddenly behind the demon lord. All Jeremy registered from the movement was a slight gust of wind as Jared seemed to materialize from thin air. Before the demon had time to perceive what was happening, Jared had struck him so forcefully in the back, he hurtled to the ground like a meteor.

“Oh, crap!” Jeremy muttered as the demon meteor streaked directly at him. He threw up his arms and shouted a quick prayer to the Lord. “Okay, God, now would be a good time to make Yourself known.”

Jeremy squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself for the impact, but nothing happened. After a few seconds, he tentatively opened one eye to survey the scene. Since he had not felt himself being ripped apart by a cataclysmic explosion, he was sure that he would see the pearly gates of heaven with Saint Peter beckoning to him.

“You okay?” an angelic voice asked.

Jeremy looked up and squinted at the person who had spoken to him. Upon seeing who it was that had saved him, he stood and heaved an exasperated sigh. Sanctuary stood over him, his two flaming swords glowing fiercely as the remains of Dominion dissipated into blood-red smoke.

“If it had been any other angelic being standing here, I would have said yes, but since it’s you, that would be a definite no.”

“Your gratitude for saving your life is duly noted,” Sanctuary dryly replied as he replaced his twin swords in their scabbards on his back.

Jared’s feet touched the earth. He collapsed and fell to one knee. He braced himself on his sword.

“What happened?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“You nearly killed me, that’s what happened,” Jeremy fumed.

Sanctuary reached down to help Jared up. Jared took his hand and allowed the big man to lift him to a standing position.

“Tzedakah took control of you during the battle,” Sanctuary replied. “I assume that the bond you two share is still tenuous at best, so he felt the need to intervene.”

It was only then that Jared became aware of the surrounding destruction. His black eyes went wide as he surveyed the scene. “Oh God, did I do this?”

Sanctuary nodded, his golden eyes examining the small man standing before him. He could still see Tzedakah’s power surging around him. “You will need to learn to control the link between you and the sword so it will not feel the need to supersede your will in the future.”

Jared’s eyes went from disbelief to anger in a flash. He lifted the sword up and glared at the still glowing blade. He gritted his teeth and growled audibly at the weapon. To Jeremy and Sanctuary, it looked like he was only staring at the weapon. Both men knew that Jared was having it out with Tzedakah through the mental bond they shared.

Out in the cold night, sirens wailed.

“I hate to break up this touching moment,” Jeremy said, “but we really need to go.”

More sirens could be heard now closer and coming from many directions, and the people who had been controlled by Dominion were beginning to stir.

“Now would be preferable.”

Sanctuary turned and put his hand on Jared’s shoulder. “We need to go. Your issue with each other can be addressed somewhere more private.”

Jared blinked his eyes and looked up at Sanctuary as Tzedakah’s glow faded. “We agree. Who are you, anyway?”

“Introductions and pleasantries can wait till we are far from here.” He turned his gaze from Jared to the sword. “If you would be so kind, please teleport us away from here before we are discovered by the humans.”

Tzedakah’s radiance flared until the energy exploded in a bright blue flash. A cop car followed by an ambulance pulled into the parking lot just as the flash blinked out. The police officers shielded their eyes from the light burst and slammed on their breaks, the ambulance screeching to a halt behind them. When they were finally able to see again, the three men had vanished.

Thirty-Six

Still agitated from her confrontation with Steve, Dana headed for her car. While she had a hard time fathoming that he was involved with Jared’s murder, but she couldn’t ignore the very loud warning screams of her instincts every time he came around. She made it halfway to her car before she heard an explosion thunder in the distance.

She scanned the horizon, searching for the source of the noise. Car alarms blared somewhere in the distance and she heard the faint sounds of sirens. The other officers stopped packing up their gear and they looked slightly confused as they discussed what they had just heard. She cautiously made her way to where they were congregating.

“Did anyone see what happened?” she asked.

Officer Lee shook his head. “Sounded to me like an explosion and possible impact tremor.”

Lee’s alert but composed demeanor told Dana that he was a combat veteran. Most of the remaining officers seemed unsure of what to do and meandered around talking quietly amongst themselves.

Suddenly Lee pointed to the sky at about two o’clock. “There. It’s a bit of a ways off, but I think I saw residual flashes that could have come from an explosion.”

Dana turned to look in the direction Lee was pointing and what she saw was so absurd, that at first, she did not believe her eyes. Forks of blue-black lightning streaked up from the ground, striking an object hovering in the air. The light show was brilliant and fantastic and easily visible for miles around.

Just as quickly as the dazzling display of radiance had begun, it ended.

“Did everyone else just see that?” a female officer asked.

A few officers murmured replies. Then everyone’s radios and cell phones went off at once.

“All available officers, 10-33 at the Red Roof Inn on 590 Fairview Street. Officers and emergency services already on route,” said a calm female voice.

Dana glanced down at