The Thrice Born Page 26
“You’re sure you’re going to be all right?” Scott’s tone took on less severity. “Hey, I’ll give you some men to –”
“No!” Jason shook his head, feeling a trap in the general’s demeanor.
“I’ll keep them at a distance. I’ll –”
Jason gave him a wary, angry look and left out the door. He wanted nothing to do with the general or the soldiers. He wanted out of the hospital, away from any poking or prodding doctors. He wanted Enoch away to safety.
He also wanted Estelle at his side. He denied himself the moment to think more on her.
Instead he made his way down the hospital corridors as quickly as he could, sword in hand. At his chest Enoch had turned his face to Jason’s chest, his small fist clutching his shirt with all the baby strength he could manage.
“We’ll be all right, son,” Jason murmured to him, eyes still on the hospital staff now watching him, but also not interfering.
He made it to the lobby on the main level and stopped abruptly. The information center and entry were swarming with soldiers. All heads turned to Jason as he crossed the floor, a hush falling over the crowd.
No one moved, not even to reach for a weapon.
Jason went past the lobby to where the Emergency entrance was located nearby. There a soldier with a blue beret stood. He glanced to Jason, eyes dropping to the sword for only a second.
“I’m leaving,” Jason told him, expecting some resistance.
Instead, the soldier shrugged. “I wouldn’t go out there if I were you.”
Jason looked outside. The circular drive before the Emergency doors was empty, the sun casting strange shadows for the afternoon over the pavement.
“It looks safe enough to me.” Jason nodded, recognizing the soldier as one who’d witnessed the Nephilim assault a week ago. “I think it looks safe enough.”
The soldier nodded. “It was ten minutes ago.”
“I’m going home.”
“Suit yourself, pal.” A tremble came to the soldier’s tone. “I ain’t going out there.”
Jason gave him an odd look, and walked past him.
The Emergency doors slid open and he stepped through them, hearing them slide closed behind him.
The sun was warm, but the shadows stretching over the drive seemed odd, out of place to Jason. At his chest, Enoch grabbed a tighter fist of his shirt.
“We’re okay, son,” he said, looking around at the shadows. “I’ll protect you.”
A twitchy, insect sound hissed as Jason took a few steps onto the circular drive in front of the Emergency entry. The shadows on the pavement moved, silhouettes sharpening in the sunlight, and Jason felt a thousand eyes staring at the back of his head.
A cold chill went up his spine, and he clutched Enoch closer as he turned around to look back at the hospital.
The hissing grew louder, and he nearly stumbled when he saw the Emergency entrance.
Draped above the large red letters reading ‘Emergency’ on the hospital’s exterior were the Nephilim. They were plastered to the building windows, perched on the rooftop and cars in the lot to the side.
The hissing sound got louder, the Nephilim crouching for attack, their fierce glares on him and the child.
Jason gathered Enoch to his chest tighter, his hand grasping the sword in a death grip, and waited for the first strike.
He didn’t have long to wait.
Authors Biography
Carlos Lopez Avery is the co- author of the series "Pray For the Angels," whose first novel in the series, The Thrice Born is fated to be a New York Times Best Seller. Lopez Avery is a Panama Canal Zone native, born to a revolutionary father and mother. Lopez Avery is a Software Support Engineer by day working with the likes of DARPA, US State Department, the Pentagon, and every branch of the armed forces to name a few, fixing some of the most complex issues in Information Technology and an Author/Entrepreneur by night, slightly insane all day long as he ponders new ideas and stories hunkered down in his Cube. He currently hails from Deerfield Beach, Florida
Johnny Blue Star, co-author of the The Thrice Born of the “Pray for the Angels” series, is currently CEO of New Galaxy Enterprises, Inc., a full service media company specializes in content development and promotion for individuals and businesses. His company handles promotions of companies and business projects of all kinds. Blue Star’s special interest is in creating film and book franchise projects and songwriting. He is also Director of Media Content and Relations for WeLeadUSA, an organization dedicated to providing tools and resources to empower voters in the United States. He gives special credit to Lopez Avery’s original concept for the series and his dedication to its development and marketing.