Extinction (The Divine Book 7) by M.R. Forbes Page A

The form was immediately recognizable to me, despite the hood that covered her face.  
    "Landon," Josette said, lowering her cowl and looking up at me. "Uriel isn't here. Raguel has ordered him to stand with the Council. We need to get you out of sight before he knows you are here."

Twenty-One

    I didn't respond. How could I? I was too busy staring at her, suddenly unable to breathe. Josette. I had never thought I would see her again. Even being here, I had never imagined I would have the chance.  
    She wasn't the child I had known on Earth. Not anymore. She was older now, an adult, but still as naturally beautiful as she had always been. More so. The wisdom of her age was written on her flesh in a way that suited her much better than the immaturity of youth.
    I moved toward her, leaning over and wrapping her in a tight hug. I felt her hands tighten around my back. I had missed her more than she would ever know.  
    "How?" I said, letting go. I couldn't get any of the other words out.
    "We are bonded, you and I. I knew you had come the moment you arrived. In my heart, I knew I had to come to you, to warn you. It isn't safe for you here. It may not be safe for any of us."
    "What do you mean?" Alfred asked.
    "The Council is meeting over what they are calling the Massacre. Raguel and some of the others are arguing for immediate action, while Michael is urging peace and calm. Many of our brothers and sisters are upset that so many were killed, and we cannot retaliate. They say by attacking so many she attacked us all, and we should be permitted to fight back. Michael states only the Will of the Lord."
    "Retaliate against what?" Obi said. "Sarah? By the way, it's good to see you again, Josie."
    "You as well, Obi-wan." She smiled at the name, and then returned her attention to me. "Yes. They want to track down Sarah and kill her."
    "They do know they don't have the power, right?"
    "I don't think so. They believe they can overwhelm her. And if that fails, Raguel is willing to risk being discovered on Earth."
    "And create Armageddon, all because he doesn't want me to take care of this?"
    "All because this is the best chance they'll ever have to push their agenda," Obi said.  
    Josette shifted her gaze, looking past me, scanning the sky. "They took Uriel because Raguel knew you would keep trying to come here, and as long as you can't reach him, you can't reforge the blade. It was a mistake to tell him about it."
    "Hindsight," I replied.
    "Perhaps. They also took him so that if they can get the blade from you, Raguel can use it to increase his power and challenge Sarah directly."
    "Like Michael did to Lucifer," I said.
    "Yes. Only if Raguel gains that much power, I fear he will become like Lucifer. He is too angry. Too vengeful."
    "We need Uriel if we're going to do anything with the sword," I said. "What are we supposed to do?"
    "First, we must get you away from here. Follow me."
    Josette ducked back into the house. We trailed behind her, following as she made her way through the structure. It was definitely the home of a hermit. The stone was dark and damp, and there were few windows to allow the light in. Only the burning embers of a forge that had been long ignored gave the space any illumination at all.  
    "Where are we going?" I asked.  
    "Back to the Convent. There is a special passage from here to there."
    "What was Uriel doing with a secret passage to the Convent?" Alfred asked.
    "The Sisters would meet him daily for confession," Josette replied. "Even after all these years."
    I heard a thump from the front of the house. Someone pushed the door the rest of the way open.  
    "They must have seen you," Josette said. "Hurry."
    She picked up the pace, and so did we. I could hear the footsteps behind us, moving through the house, searching for signs of our passing. I couldn't believe I was running away from angels. Then again, this wasn't Earth. The Archangels had full reign here. Even if they didn't kill me, they could still