Neam’s long dark hair billowed out behind him as he raced through the stratosphere towards Medical Miracles Hospital. The towering warrior’s piercing blue eyes were wide and alive, scouring his environment for any sign of Schnither or his band of evil henchmen. Sword drawn, Neam was taking no chances. And he would take no prisoners. He knew that the information in his possession was crucial to the safety and survival of Phoebe and her family, and as he flew he recalled the horror of the moment he had witnessed Araco Airlines flight 434 plummet from the skies with the Wrens on board and disintegrate on contact with the earth. The memory pained him and he pledged that he would do all within his power to never let anything like that happen again.
“You will never win, Abaddon the Defiler,” Neam whispered to himself. “The Atoner’s plans for Phoebe and her family will succeed. Good will triumph over evil. Every time.”
Neam’s strong hand clenched his sword tighter and he began to descend through the atmosphere towards Medical Miracles Hospital. Below him, he could see Cosain, Lasair, Trean, Dilis, Solas and Croga dotted around the hospital perimeter, obviously on high alert and ready for the next barrage of fury from Schnither and his demonic bevy.
“Neam!” His captain was first to detect the warrior’s approach. “Any news from the airport? Schnither and his minions launched a further attack right here at the hospital as we suspected they would, although we were able to ward them off. Braygor the Pesky was here, working his devious roguery, and he may well have succeeded in harming Jack and Eva had Lasair not had the presence of mind to keep them out of harm’s way and buy us some time.”
“Captain,” Neam briefly bowed his head as he greeted his commander with the utmost respect. “You were right to station me at the airport. Braygor’s treacherous twin Graygor had been despatched to wreak mayhem there, and had I not been there to witness his schemes… Well, it is safe to say that we would have been placed at a serious disadvantage.”
The other five angelic warriors had by now gathered around to hear Neam’s news, and he proceeded to explain how Graygor had interfered with the Araco Airlines flight manifest, anticipating Jack’s phone call to the Araco attendant, and pre-empting his flight change.
“So now,” Neam concluded, “I imagine that Graygor will have reported back to Schnither, who will undoubtedly have advised Abaddon the Defiler of his antics. And in his arrogance, Captain Schnither won’t even have considered the fact that perhaps their plans are not just as covert as he would have hoped. His misplaced and erroneous confidence in the clandestine nature of their schemes will be their downfall…” Neam paused, looking from one earnest angelic face to the next. “And it will give us the advantage, brothers. We must ensure that we execute our mission as the Atoner has directed. We must protect Phoebe and her parents with our lives – they must get safely back to Ireland, no matter what.”
“Agreed,” said Cosain, his perfect features intense, golden eyes gleaming. “You have done well, Neam. You have all done well brothers! This new information will give us the leverage we need to thwart Schnither and his hordes once and for all. Now, I must speak with Phoebe and bring her up to speed with these events. Brothers, stay here and watch a while. We cannot afford complacency at any time.”
And with that, the Captain of the Heavenly Host was airborne, heading for the hospital hallways where Phoebe, Demetrius and Phoebe’s parents were saying their final emotional goodbyes to colleagues and friends.