Fall to Grace Page 6
Adriana glanced at the African Knight, and then back at Cameron.
“You have created quite the mess, Makeda Arsi,” he continued, “but that’s what happens when things change. Before you get too pleased with yourself, though, we must reminded you that you are part of a team here with the Knights. You must act as such.”
Cameron paused to let the three women absorb his words.
“The Concilium will not excommunicate you, but you will no longer serve as a praetor with the Knights.”
Gabriella gasped.
“What does that mean?” Adriana asked.
Cameron answered, “Makeda will no longer serve in a leadership capacity.”
The chastised Knight lowered her head. Her next words came in a dull monotone. “It is a fair judgment.”
“We will reassign Michael and Gabriella,” Cameron continued.
Gabriella stepped forward to speak, but Makeda grasped her arm, stopping her. The blonde Knight inhaled, gathering herself. She then turned away from the others.
“In the meantime, you will be given, and accept, a special assignment.” Here Cameron looked to Adriana. “You and Adriana.”
“You will allow me to continue my work with Makeda?” Adriana asked.
Cameron got close to a smile. “Your little game with Shealey impressed Viceroy Downing. She never liked him or his methods; it was nice to see him taken down a peg. Downing is willing to give you leeway to pursue your redemption. Just know that should you fall from the path, Negri will have twenty Knights there to send you to Hell.”
“Again, a fair judgment,” Makeda said. “I hope this special assignment is as fair.”
“I wouldn’t concern myself with fair. Many secrets remain in the dark.” Cameron’s gaze focused on Adriana. “How far will you go to bring them to light?”
###
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About the Author
The son of a sharecropper (not really), Mark Wooden has actively pursued the dream of being a Creative since his epic kindergarten work, "Ne-Ne the Vampire Panda.”
He draws inspiration from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Blade,” decades of “Batman” and “X-Men” comic books and conspiracy epics “24” and “The X-Files.” He'd be remiss if he didn't mention the influence of a certain Frank Miller-created assassin named Elektra.
Mark mines his two decades of experiences in live entertainment to instill humanity into the vampires, demons, werewolves, sorcerers and other creatures of his “Shadowdance” urban fantasy saga. The novels allow readers to confront the evil that men and monsters do from the comfort of a book.
“By Virtue Fall: A Song of the Shadowdance" is the first novel in the "Shadowdance" saga.
Look into the shadows and see horror in action.
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