Lost In Time: A Fallen Novel Read Online Free Page A

of the cave, just as Calliope disappeared through a portal. Several of her brothers lay in the dirt, but she knew they were still alive by the subtle rise and fall of their chest.
    She stepped forward gasping for air. Victor took her by the arm, stopping her. “There is nothing more that can be done here.”
    “It wouldn’t come loose,” she offered lamely looking at the Sword in her hand.
    Victor nodded. “It wouldn’t have made a difference. He is testing the waters, seeing what our strengths and weaknesses are.”
    “And?” Celeste asked.
    Dante stepped forward vibrating with rage. “He knows as a collective he cannot take us. Individually, we are weak. That’s why we are two down. However, what he doesn’t know is that we have a secret weapon.”
    There was quietness at his pronouncement, Celeste could feel the air being stolen from her as she looked at her father. His eyes shown with rage, and she knew there was no getting out of this now. Calliope had broken into the Infernos. He was going to cause havoc and destruction, and someone had to destroy him. Unfortunately she was the only one that could hold the Sword, and they all knew it.
    Victor pushed past Celeste, tucking her behind him protectively. “You cannot use her that way.”
    Dante slammed a fist into Victor’s chest. He sent Victor flying backwards, Celeste barely moved out of the before he flew past into hard red stone. He fell unconscious into the dirt.
    Celeste had never seen her father so upset, and she pursued her lips together to keep from saying anything. She knew her place, knew that rushing to Victor would be showing weakness. Not something you did in front of Dante, Victor had been wrong to try to protect her.
    “You shall fight him on the mortal plane, and bring his pieces back to me.” He took Celeste by the shoulders and shook her. “Promise me you will bring him back to me for retribution. For your home? For your brothers? For your very existence,” Dante growled. Celeste nodded, and Dante threw his head back and howled to the heavens and hell with pain and rage.

Chapter 2
    “They want to speak with all the Trackers?” Marcus looked at Victor as if the Reaper had suddenly sprouted horns. Marcus couldn’t remember a time when anyone had ever asked to speak with the Trackers and Fallen at the same time. In fact until recently the Trackers, an ancient race of hunters with the ability to find any creature be it human or Other with three sense’s; taste, touch, smell, had believed to have been extinct.
    “Did I say something that would allude otherwise?”
    Victor’s dry humor not cracking even a little. “You have forty-eight of your hours to pull it together.”
    He was gone in a spectacular ball of fire causing Marcus to stumble back in surprise. When had they started doing that? It was very unlike the Reapers to call attention to themselves in such a showy manner. He couldn’t imagine what could be bad enough to warrant a meeting with both he and the Trackers. He did know it didn’t bode well for anyone.
    Swearing, Marcus grabbed his phone. He wasn’t looking forward to calling the Trackers, they didn’t take direction or demands well. And this definitely fell under the demand category.
    Falcon picked up on the first ring. “What?” he barked into the phone.
    “Good morning, Falcon,” Marcus said with mock pleasantry. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
    “Marcus, if you have something you need to say, say it or I am going to hang up this bloody phone.” He had to give it to Falcon the Tracker never beat around the bush. It was something to respect in the man.
    “I just had an interesting visitor. Victor is demanding all the Trackers and the myself be at Staten and prepared for a visit within forty-eight hours.” Marcus couldn’t wait to hear what Falcon had to say to that.
    Falcon didn’t respond immediately and the pause was enough to make Marcus just a little nervous. Would he flat out refuse? Finally he