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“Most of us haven’t,” Sylvester said grimly. “It’s been years since anyone has encountered a Dark Angel.”
“A what?” Maddy asked.
“A demon,” Jacks said.
The word hung ominously in the tiny room.
“But there’s no such thing,” Maddy said, as if saying the words would make it so. Sylvester looked at her evenly.
“If you can accept there are Angels in the world, then you must also realize that there are demons.” His face was deadly serious. “Just as there is a world above us, there is a world below us too, Maddy.”
“But they were destroyed. Thousands of years ago,” Jacks said.
“The world is a darker place than you think, Jackson.”
Maddy thought about the thing. She felt the claw trace down her back again. A demon. It sent a chill slithering down her spine.
“Demons can be found in the darkest corners of our world. They’re in the shadows, causing catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis, even hurricanes. I think if someone went looking for a Dark Angel and looked hard enough, they could find one.”
“Even if what you’re saying is true,” Maddy said, “and even if they do still exist, what was one doing in my high school?”
Sylvester’s face faltered. “I don’t know. Ancient writings, even the Bible, describe demons attacking cities and laying waste to villages. Causing chaos. What’s going on in Angel City is entirely different. This demon is attacking specific Angels. It’s choosing its targets. It tracked Jackson there. It feels like premeditation to me, like there’s a motive behind it. It feels like a good, old-fashioned, regular crime.”
Jacks studied Sylvester intently. “Meaning what?”
Sylvester removed his glasses and began polishing the lenses against his shirt.
“Meaning I think someone could be controlling it. That’s my theory at least. We talk about demons in our lives, and we talk about controlling them. Where do these metaphors come from? I think a long time ago it was possible to hire a demon, much like Angels are hired today. Not with money, of course, but with something much more valuable. Something the demon wants. It may still be possible today. Someone might have brought a demon to the city and be using it to carry out these attacks.” He finished his polishing and returned his glasses to his face. “I know it sounds incredible, but I think someone is playing a very dangerous game with a force they can’t possibly comprehend.”
Maddy’s heart was racing. “But who would do that? Who would be using it to kill Angels? And sending it after us?”
“The Archangels,” Jacks said miserably, thinking about the stain on Mark’s jacket. “It has to be the Archangels. They must be using it to eliminate their enemies, and now that includes us.”
“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Sylvester said. “It’s one possibility. Although . . . hmm.” He got up and started pacing. “I haven’t been able to put my finger on why the NAS would want to eliminate Godson, Templeton, and Crossman. They weren’t with the anti-Angel movement. I found no evidence of ties between them and Senator Linden, say, or the HDF. But Godson was known to be a womanizer and a drunk, and Templeton had a secret drug addiction. It could be that the Archangels are pruning the tree, cutting off embarrassing branches. I’ll have Garcia look into Crossman’s background.”
“It’s the only possibility,” Jacks said through his teeth. “Kevin said the Archangels would do whatever it took to keep us apart. We’ll, that’s exactly what they’re doing. They’re going to kill us just like they killed Jacob and Regina. Just like they killed my father.”
The detective looked unblinking at the young Angel in front of him.
Jackson stared back, narrowing his eyes. “What happened to you? Did they take . . . ?”
“Yes, the NAS took my wings. Punishment,” Sylvester said. Maddy’s eyes grew wide. “Not for missing a save, like most police at ACPD would think.”
“What was it?” Maddy asked.
“It was for saving someone who wasn’t a Protection.”
“The Archangels let you live?” Jacks said, astonished.
“It wasn’t public. They didn’t consider me a threat. Found it more of a punishment to mortalize me, discredit me, send me as a ‘failure’ into the human world.” Sylvester studied him gravely. “You can be sure they won’t have the same leniency with you. You’re too involved with Maddy, everyone was watching your Commissioning. You’re just too big, Jackson.”
Maddy held her breath. The detective was silent. Jacks sat very still. She could see him thinking intensely.
“What should we do?” Maddy said finally.
“We’re getting out of here,” Jacks said. It surprised them both. “I want to get as far away from Angel City and from the NAS as I can.”
He turned to Sylvester.
