Read Online Apocalypse Rising by Eric Swett - Free Book Online

Haden seethed with fury, though he did his best to keep it in check, while he listened to Hector's excuses, but the response was less than satisfactory. "Well when they wake the fuck up you can ask them, but until then, I want you and your men searching the entire route of that bus. Something set those people off, and I want you to find out what!" Haden slammed the phone down on the receiver and yelled.
    Despite what he had told Hector, he did care about a couple of Hector’s thugs being mauled by a busload of passengers. It is not that he cared for the men themselves, but he did care about what such an event suggested. As a rule, people are more concerned with their own lives, than with the lives of others. One person might try to interfere in a robbery, and become a hero, but for a bus full of people to attack two armed men? It spoke of spiritual manipulation on a scale greater than an errand boy for the Host could ever manage.
    Haden hated not knowing what was going on. The irony was not lost on him. Being a creature of perpetual, and habitual, secrets and subterfuge did not lessen his desire for truth; if anything it made him treasure it more.
    He knew the event was related to the Light Touched he had seen two nights earlier, but there was no way that the Blessed in the back of the cab was capable of creating such a reaction, not even on its best day. Haden's best guess was that a greater power had stepped in to assist. But why? What did this little errand boy have that warranted so much protection?
    The day had started out rough with a summons by Albert, and it had just gotten considerably worse with the call from Hector. Now he needed to figure out what exactly Albert had stepped into. If there was a heavy hitter for the other team hanging about, then there was probably a good reason. Whatever that reason was, Haden was sure it ran contrary to his own plans. He needed someone with more knowledge, and subtlety, than Hector working on this one.
    Haden buzzed his intercom, and said, "Maggie, schedule a meeting with Mr. Vandal for as soon as possible."
    Using Vandal carried its own complications, but the man was effective, and knew how to keep things quiet. Haden would have his answers, and the Light Touched would be none the wiser. Haden looked at the small clock on the wall and grimaced. He wanted the morning done with, but the hour hand moved faster than his schedule would be comfortable with. He had half an hour until his meeting with Albert, which was not nearly enough time to get the answer Haden knew he would be asking for. Well, if Haden could not answer that question, perhaps he could find the answer to something else.
    Haden walked past his assistant, Maggie, knowing that once she had scheduled things with Vandal, she would let him know. In the meantime, he would be paying an Orphean friend of his a little visit. The negotiations had stalled, and he was unsure why. Everything had progressed well; he had even let a couple of things slide through on the contract, knowing the Orpheans would never accept a contract that did not allow them a little trickery. However, they pulled out just the same. Something was bothering them, and he would find out what.
    He did not like public transport, but taking his car would just put the chauffer in danger. Even worse, it would make him available to answer questions, and that was something Haden could not stand. He walked down the street, hands in his pockets, absorbing the hate and misery of the people whose morning had driven them to the streets. Haden looked up at the sky and smiled at the black clouds, hovering menacingly, obscuring the tops of the buildings, including the one he had just left. Dark days were upon the world, and that meant good times for him.
    Haden stepped into the subway tunnel, the artificial brightness of the place failed to mask the stink of death and decay that lingered within it. People assumed their discomfort with subways had to do with the cramped