The Arthur Paladin Chronicles

Chapter Three: The Angel and the Shadow Men

The safety glass in the sliding door shattered into a thousand tiny fragments — a downpour of crystal cornflakes. Having used all his weight to toss Derek, Arthur fell through after him, snarling like a mad dog.

CRUNCH!

Arthur landed on his back. Glass fragments tore through his shirt and pricked the skin all over his back. He rolled over, and scrambled to his feet — getting more shallow cuts on his hands and forearms as he did — cuts he didn't care about. The pain was nothing compared to the anger surging through him.

Derek stood and gritted his teeth. Blood dripped from cuts on Derek's cheek and hands. Arthur grinned. He was ready to fight; he wasn't running away this time. Nothing was going to keep him from beating the crap out of Derek. Sure, he'd never bested him before, but there had to be a first time, and this was going to be it.

Derek tensed his muscles and prepared to throw a punch, but then he spotted his iPhone lying on the deck — screen cracked — metal casing bent. Derek's eyes boiled.

But Arthur's anger was greater — it burned like a primal force — as if a monster's venom raced through him. All these years he had put up with Derek teasing him — tattling on him — beating him up ...

Arthur had endured more than enough.

He clenched his fists tight and stepped forward.

Grandma Nelson and Aunt Carolyn ran into the dining room. Aunt Carolyn's red face was bulging like a tomato in a microwave. Grandma Nelson's face was expressionless, but her body was coiled like a spring. Her eyes burned with hellfire ... and worse: disappointment.

All the venomous anger spilled out of Arthur.

He'd gone too far. It was military school for him ... if his grandma didn't just toss him out on the street. Before Derek could focus on him again, before his aunt and grandma could close in, Arthur did the only thing he could think of: He fled down the steps and out into the backyard.

Derek screamed something obscene and took off after him.

Blood trickling down his arms and back, Arthur plunged into the woods behind Aunt Carolyn's house. The trees grew close there, especially down in the hollow. The leaves had turned but hadn't fallen yet, so there was still plenty of darkness to hide in. Arthur just needed to find a dark tangle of underbrush and wait until their tempers cooled. But first, he had to escape Derek, who was sprinting recklessly and gaining on him with every step.

Arthur hit a slick patch of mud and leaves, and as he slid out of control, Derek caught up to him.

Derek's fist popped against Arthur's jaw and sent him reeling. Head buzzing, Arthur tried to pick himself up, but Derek kicked him in the ribs and scored a direct hit on the device over Arthur's heart —

CRACK!

The disc broke, and a shard tore through Arthur's skin and shirt. A short hiss followed, like helium from a punctured balloon.

Arthur rolled away, fought back tears, and clutched at his chest. Hot blood trickled out between his fingers. He tried to hold back his tears ... to not show any weakness. He expected another attack, but Derek just stood there ... like a statue ... with its mouth hanging open.

Was Derek even breathing?

Something was wrong. Arthur got up onto his knees and glanced around, confused. The rest of the world around him seemed normal, though it was eerily quiet.

The air shimmered, and a young woman appeared — hovering in the air — shining radiantly. Arthur gaped stupidly and fell back onto his bottom. The woman was transparent, as if she were a hologram projected from ... somewhere. Hauntingly beautiful, she had burnt-orange skin, slanting emerald eyes, a stirring dress of white silk, and flaming copper hair that fell past her shoulders and curled up on the ends. She looked ... not quite human ... like an angel, maybe. Her image flickered, as if the signal was barely getting through — maybe the reception was bad?