Apocalypse Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

they take it as truth and react accordingly. Any poor soul trying to share the truth would be demonized within hours and would find themselves a complete pariah in days while my secret stays just that: secret."
    "I guess that does take care of the issue. In the old days it was a lot easier. You killed one or two people and the problem was solved, but now the information spreads so fast a few simple murders just won't do it." Haden was uncomfortable with any technology that was less than two-hundred years old.
    "Oh, I'm not above killing a few people to keep a secret, and if you do it early enough you can avoid all of the rest, it's just that the window is so much smaller than it was even fifty years ago."
    "Well I am certainly glad you haven't lost all sense of perspective." Haden said with a laugh. He did not question Albert's abilities or his ruthlessness. The man was utterly devoid of true humanity. Everyone, including Haden, were tools for Albert to use and throw away as he saw fit. He was not wasteful or overly cruel, he was simply practical to the point of malevolence, which was a trait Haden's masters could truly appreciate: Evil through apathy. "So how do you want to proceed from here?" Haden favored simple assassination over more complex schemes, but it was Albert's call.
    "I want the Light Touched caught and brought here. The other one can be killed and disposed of." Albert walked to the window and looked over the city. "Are we sure it was just the two of them?"
    "There was the third one, David was his name, but he has been taken care of." There was no need for Albert to know that the boy was not dead, as long as he stayed quiet.
    "Good. I want to keep this in house, Haden. This little event would not be easy to smooth over in the media no matter how much control I exert."
    "I understand, Albert. I'll play it close and keep it clean," Haden said. "I expect Hector to report back to me in the next hour or so. If he hasn't caught them I'll take a more direct hand in the hunt." Haden hoped Hector would be successful.
    "No, I need you here this morning. I have some visitors coming and I want your take on them." Albert turned back to the center of the room, facing Haden. "I don't trust the Orpheans one bit, but their cooperation would be invaluable in the coming days, and your advice here would be invaluable to me."
    "I have had dealings with the Orpheans in the past and they can indeed be a little slippery in their negotiations," Haden said before he took a drink of his scotch and let out a slow breath, "and in holding up their end of any bargain struck."
    "So I have heard which is why I want you here. I do not want any protocol loopholes left exposed. I'm not worried about them using their music to manipulate things since I had the white noise generators modified with a disruptive component, but they have a gift for finding the chink in any binding armor."
    "Very well, I'll be in my study until I hear from Hector. I need to set some more bindings on my new thrall too." Haden had picked up a soul touched by darkness on his way to the tower. He had left the drug dealer with Peter watching over him as the demon seed took hold. It was always easier to turn the twisted than it was to convert the pure, though conversion was so much more fun. "He won't be fully ready until after your meeting with the Orpheans so the timing should be just about right."
    “Another thrall, Haden? How many is that this month?” Albert laughed and smiled.
    “This will be the fourth I’m afraid.” Haden sighed and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs placed before Albert’s desk. “Honestly I’ll be surprised if this one lasts the month. He was a drug dealer.” Albert raised an eyebrow but said nothing. “I know, I know, but I was in a hurry, again, and he was available. He might make a good one once his own product is out of his system, but I have my doubts.” Peter had been a thrall for years, but he was an exception.
    "Well make sure he