Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twenty-Three (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Endpages (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One: Higher Learning (#ulink_300253e7-bfd5-5b96-9523-d15b9d75bf75)
Kaarl watched as L.A. began to brighten in the dawn’s light. From his top-floor office in Synergy’s headquarters he had the best view of the city that money could buy. Even after seven years in the Mortals’ realm the sight of the sun rising and setting had not lost its appeal.
Perdition’s Sky of Fire was a poor substitute, he thought.
Kaarl immediately regretted doing so; it was a shame that memories of that place still wormed their way into his thoughts. They had decreased over the years since his defection but it was hard to put Hell completely behind him. Kaarl had lived in Perdition for five centuries, his entire childhood, and those memories made up the majority of his past. Having a constant reminder of the place burnt into his flesh didn’t help matters either.
The eight-pointed star branded on Kaarl’s forearm made sure he never forgot where he came from. Out of sight, out of mind just didn’t work with the Mark of Lucifer, a “gift” Kaarl had received from the Master of Perdition before his first moments on Earth. Kaarl’s shirt sleeve would brush against it or his hand would drift to it and memories of Perdition and his past would soon follow. It was as if the lines scorched into his skin actively sought to ruin the small moments that made his new life so enjoyable. The Mark reminded Kaarl of the souls he had claimed in Lucifer’s name, the hundreds of thousands that he had made Damned. Those Mortals would never be able to find true peace and their fate was little more than a game to Lucifer.
To Lucifer – the Light Bearer and Son of Morning– it was merely a race to accumulate more of the Mortals than God. His “Game of Souls” was played for one purpose: to prove the Mortals flawed beyond redemption and Lucifer wasn’t above pushing them down the wrong path to win it. The Damned wouldn’t know what they’d lost; Perdition had more than enough distractions to keep them busy and content. Kaarl had seen both sides of the coin though and he knew exactly what he had taken from them before the Demon had been offered his chance at redemption.
As he turned his head to survey the city that had become his home he caught glimpses of Michael King reflected in the glass. The vessel he used in the Mortal world had black hair, deep blue eyes and a face and body crafted to excite and influence. He had used it when he’d worked for Perdition and for a time it had been his face in Paradise as well. Kaarl had shunned his Demonic appearance at first in an attempt to fit in. It had not taken him long to realise though that Paradise was not nearly as callous or shallow as Perdition. Appearances didn’t matter up there, only actions. Kaarl and his friends, the twin sisters Verin and Vetis, had done a lot to make amends for their past.
Synergy, the media giant the trio had originally built in Lucifer’s name, had been created to influence and tempt, to lead the Mortals down to Perdition. It had been so effective, so subversive that Kaarl and the twins had caught Paradise’s attention and that of its greatest guardian, Gabriel: God’s Champion and the Bane of Demons. The Council of Virtues, Paradise’s governing body, had seen something else in Kaarl though; the compassion and understanding that he had suffered for in Perdition. They were the very same traits that allowed him to understand the Mortals when the rest of his realm had lost touch and Lucifer had taken full advantage of Kaarl’s gifts.
Kaarl and the twins had been given a chance to turn things around, to stem the tide of Mortals they were sending to swell Lucifer’s ranks. It had been three years since that defection and the battle for the company that had almost claimed the trio’s lives. Synergy had proven itself an invaluable asset to Paradise and its work in the Mortal realm. With its shows, music and movies Synergy was demonstrating the path that led to Paradise without being preachy about it. If Mortals wanted sermons and scripture they knew where to go for them. Kaarl’s job was to reach the ones that shied away from churches, those who saw no relevance to their lives in tales that were hundreds of years old.
Kaarl gave those Mortals what they wanted: gripping stories, realistic settings and high definition. They craved attractive young stars they could identify with, with no hints of religion or blatant lectures on morality. Kaarl and the twins made sure they delivered. With its vast profits from the entertainment industry Synergy was funding humanitarian projects all over the globe; leading by example on screen and in the real world. The souls taken in ignorance and at Lucifer’s behest still haunted Kaarl but on reflection there was a lot to be proud of as well.
The door to Kaarl’s office flew open and Verin and Vetis stormed in, ruining the small measure of peace he had only just reclaimed. The girls were identical with long blonde hair and striking green eyes. Their clothes, a look the girls referred to as “sexy corporate”, complemented their every curve and left very little to the imagination. Their usually alluring faces were ruined a little by angry looks and furrowed brows.
‘So you know,’ said Kaarl, turning around and walking back towards his desk.
‘Yes we know,’ snapped Verin, slamming the door behind her. ‘When were you going to tell us?’
‘Today, now in fact. Just before we left.’
‘Why would you keep this from us?’
Kaarl folded his arms and leant on the back of his chair.
‘Because I didn’t want to put up with three months of moaning.’
‘You’ve known for that long?’ asked Vetis.
‘It’s not that big a deal. We’re at the age when Angels have to go anyway so it’s sort of lucky if you think about it, good timing really.’
‘It’s school,’ said Verin. ‘There’s nothing “good” about it.’
‘It’s college actually.’
‘We’re running a multinational media empire.’ said Vetis, taking a seat. ‘This isn’t some part-time job flipping burgers to make tuition. We have more than enough work to do here.’
‘I couldn’t imagine you two flipping burgers,’ replied Kaarl. ‘If you had to work your way through college I’d have thought clear heels and silver poles would be more your thing.’
Vetis reached for the closest thing on Kaarl’s desk. A bright yellow stress ball bounced harmlessly off his cheek and rolled along the floor.
‘We have to go,’ Kaarl continued, moving his stapler before Vetis could get her hands on it. ‘Sophie said it’s mandatory for everyone our age and with our…unique background it’s even more important.’
‘You’ll pay for this,’ said Verin. ‘I’m going to complain twice as long and twice as loud now, even if I don’t have anything to complain about.’
Kaarl glanced at his watch.
‘You do that anyway,’ he said. ‘The ceremony will be starting soon. You two better hurry or you might get detention or whatever.’
Kaarl shifted realms before the sisters could say a word in reply.
***
Unlike Perdition, the vast stone city that shared a name with its realm, Paradise’s settlements were spread far and wide. Some were built in and around the tops of trees and others nestled in meadows or sat close to the sun-drenched shores. Far from the forests and mountains, beyond the grasslands, lakes and beaches lay the Sea of Serenity. Kalmore floated above its clear and perpetually calm waters and was considered by many to be the greatest city in Paradise. It was also home to Heaven’s only centre for higher education. The Halls of Knowledge had been there since Humanity’s creation and were the training, testing and proving ground for Angels who wished to work directly with the Mortals on Earth.
It was tradition for the city to turn out in droves and cheer on the new arrivals and Kaarl, Verin and Vetis were the centre of attention as they made their way through the cobbled streets to the orientation ceremony with their fellow students. It was the first occasion in the school’s long and illustrious history where ex-Demons were on the roll. The twins sulked and glared at the crowd as they followed behind Kaarl. The girls’ true forms did not differ much from their vessels on Earth, the only noticeable difference was that their hair was black and their skin tones a deep, rich red. Kaarl was almost eight feet tall, as black as a moonless night with wings even darker. His eyes were soulless white orbs and his teeth belonged on a Great White Shark; better suited to savaging corpses than smiling at crowds. Nevertheless he waved at the well-wishers and warmly returned their grins. To his delight no one screamed or pointed at him in horror. Even though Kaarl had found the courage to be seen in his own skin he still feared that one day the sight of him might send a child running away in tears.
All of Paradise had heard of the trio. They knew of their past exploits and the lengths they had gone to in repairing the damage they’d caused. They were celebrities and more importantly, proof that no one was beyond redemption. Before the Rift, the war that had seen Lucifer and his Fallen cast from Paradise, they had all been one. The sight of the trio gave them hope that even the oldest of wounds had the chance to heal.
