The Blackbird's Song by Billy Wong

Author:Billy Wong [Wong, Billy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2015-05-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

They had scarcely even entered Septapolis before Henry realized something was wrong. The streets were so empty, and those who did dare go outside hurried from point to point as if fearing the reaper might come for them at any moment. His breath quickened as he drew close to the restaurant and took in the damage to its facade. The most likely explanation was also the worse case scenario. "The church must have found us out," Andrew said, echoing his thoughts. "I hope our friends got away..."

They asked around, and gathered that three angels had been slain a few nights ago when the "heretics' lair" had been raided. Their killer was still on the loose, and had been declared a demon by the Archcardinal. It gladdened Henry to know Blackbird was okay, and he wondered if she was with the others. But then he learned that despite the church's losses, they had gained a measure of success with the death of their targets' leader. Upon hearing it from a homeless woman sitting nearby, he turned away quickly before she could see his anguished face.

"Goddammit, they killed Pete!" he said in the lowest voice he could manage, and punched a wall in helpless fury. Blood stained the rough gray stone, but he hardly registered it. His eyes were tearing up, and he couldn't suppress it... thankfully, the beggar didn't notice his reaction, and nobody else would know what caused it. But how could this happen, it was too soon... they'd just gotten back, and already their family was torn apart. He didn't even know if anyone besides Blackbird survived, although he tried to convince himself that since the big news was their leader being killed, that implied the rest of them hadn't been wiped out. Still, the loss of Pete alone was almost too much to bear, and he didn't even know who else had been slain. He realized he was sobbing audibly, tried to rein it in. Even if people wouldn't know why, the sight of a grown man crying openly in public might draw too much attention...

Andrew patted his back, trying to help him calm down though he too looked obviously upset. "Get yourself under control, we have to keep our wits about us especially now. Besides, we don't even know if he's really dead. It could be that he got away and it's a ploy by the church to demoralize those of us separated from him."

Henry wished he could be so optimistic, but had a terrible feeling it was true. That speech from Pete before they left... maybe he'd somehow sensed what was to come, too. Whoever did this, Henry wanted to pay dearly for it. Death might not be enough—he wanted to see them humbled, shamed with all pride and dignity stripped away before a brutal execution. He didn't want Blackbird to do the dirty deed this time, because her death-dealing would be too mercifully swift. He'd come up with every step himself and make sure the bastard suffered, but even that.

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