Tumbling in Time Read Online Free PDF Page A

making a sound. He waved away the lingering smoke and peered out into the hallway. Angels and warriors scrambled to mount a defense and hold back the invaders.
    “The hallway is demon-free. We need to get back upstairs where we have more room to fight. Down here, we’ll just be trapped. Fish in a barrel, so to speak.” Rafe motioned with his hand that Arikk and Tasha should follow.
    “Hang on a sec, Rafe. Sunshine, the Sogorhoms are powerful and have a fire and chemical fetish. They are known for their brutal, widespread attacks. Anything they launch at us will be very painful and destructive.” Arikk grasped Tasha in a bear hug. Despite her earlier frustration with Arikk, she was happy for the reassurance as he wrapped her up in the shield of his body.
    “What can I do to help? I need a weapon.” Tasha’s voice was muffled by Arikk’s chest. Despite her damp, shaking hands and fast-beating heart, she would swallow her fear to do whatever she could to help the fallen angel and his warriors.
    The dagger Rafe pulled from his boot was stunning. The blade looked to be four inches long and was a matte gunmetal color. The handle appeared to be inlaid with ivory. It was in pristine condition as though it had never seen battle before. “None of Arikk’s weapons will help you. These demons were sent by Beelzebub. Only angel produced and enchanted weapons will harm them.”
    She stepped from Arikk’s embrace to accept the knife, nervous about what lay ahead.
    “With any luck you won’t have to use it, but even angels believe in the saying better safe than sorry .”
    The trio, armed as well as they could be, headed up the stairs with Rafe in the lead. Tasha kept alert, the knife held tightly in her right hand. Her left hand grasped Arikk’s belt. There is no way I am going to lose him in this mess, she thought.
    They no sooner cleared the stairs than a swift and furious attack came. Tasha had never seen red-skinned demons with multiple arms before this. Watching the warrior angels battle them was like watching a violent two-step of good versus evil. The horned demons wore some kind of thin black suit that provided a measure of protection. The angels worked twice as hard to pierce their skin. It was definitely costing them time and manpower. The demons reeked of sulfur and gunpowder. They were no match for the warriors in size, but they were quick and flexible.
    A hand grabbed Tasha’s upper arm and shoved her behind a wood column. “What the—”
    “You need to stay down and remain focused.” Arikk’s voice strained, laced with concern. “See that angel with silver and black stole?” Arikk pointed to the far side of the room where a lone angel stood erect behind two other warrior angels.
    “Yes.” Tasha kept it short. She didn’t want Arikk to hear the fear in her voice.
    “He is imbued with magic. I need to add my power to help in the battle. Whatever you do, stay down.” Arikk paused. “Be safe, Sunshine. I’m sorry you got dragged into this.”
    Tasha moved behind a nearby desk. Using all her strength, she slid it a couple of inches to her right. This created what she hoped was a nice, safe cubby hole. With any luck she could blend into the surroundings and remain unnoticed by the demons.
    Even though Tasha couldn’t see the battle, which raged around her, she had no problem hearing, smelling, or tasting it. Swords clashed while fireballs hissed and soared. Fire roared on the far side of the room. She could just imagine it stealing the oxygen in the room and growing larger, climbing the walls and scorching anything in its path. Wisps of magic, resembling shimmery dust moats, floated in the air. She associated the smell of sulfur and death with the Sogorhoms ; it left a bitter taste in her mouth. The magic of the angels was not as potent; it smelled light and crisp like bed linens hung outside to dry on a warm spring day. Tasha prayed the angels would gain the upper hand, that Arikk and Rafe would escape