The Angel's Covenant (The Covenant series) by Lynn Landes Page B

cautiously they look out for rocks, while snaking around old blankets, buckets and trash. All movement stops at a signal from Jake.
Laughter can be heard and lights flicker ahead. Each tunnel has overhead wires running along the ceiling providing electricity. One tunnel trails to the left, Jake points for James and Eli to go in and clear it. Advancing silently the two find a group of three men sleeping. Drawing their combat knives they quickly eliminate the threats. Covering the bodies they move to rejoin the group.
    Listening they hear the sound of breaking glass and the screams of a woman from the tunnel straight ahead. The corridor to the right seems to be where the music and laughter is coming from. Jake motions for the team of three to go to the right and s ignals for Seth to follow him.
    Advancing into the stone cut room, Jakes sees his objective towards the back of the cave. Kneeling on the debris covered floor she is shackled like an animal, with a wild desperate look in her green eyes. She cradles one of her arms and from what Jake can see it may be broken. Two men are taking turns drinking and throwing empty glass bottles at her. Blood drips from her forehead as she attempts to block a bottle that is hurtled by one of the drunken men. She tries to block the next bottle with her one good arm as it explodes against the wall, rai ning glass down over her.
    With the final shatter of glass, the two men do not hear death sneaking up behind them. Seth and Jake move together behind the two of them. Heather looks up in surprise as they grab the men's heads in their hands and give them a quick twist. There is a sickening crunch as their necks snap and the men drop to the floor. "Heather, we are here to help you," Seth says as he and Jake work together to move the bodies. They hear the muffled popping of silenced guns from the other cave. "All clear" sounds in his headset. Lucas and his team set up a perimeter the hallway leading to Heather’s room..
    A scream from Heather has Jake spinning around, only to freeze in shock. "What the hell ?" Jake says. A large bat like creature is diving at her from the ceiling. At first glance it appears to be a bat, with a grey fur covered body and large black leathery wings. On the tips of each front wing appears to be a large talon like hook. Landing on the ceiling it crawls across it using its hooks and bat feet to hold on. Turning to look at Jake with its ape like features it opens its huge hinged jaw, screeching, baring its sharp teeth.
    Leaping toward Jake it makes a series of clicking sounds, and swoops down ripping his head gear off and knocking him to the ground. Seth rushes over to help Jake, not sure what is going on. Standing up Jake watches as shadows close in from the back of the cave, reaching for Heather. She struggles with her chain, trying to break free as the bat demon scrambles across the ceiling and hits her in the chest. Jumping into action, Jake rips his knife from his chest rig and running towards her yells, "Get off her!"
    At the sound of Jakes voice, the demon on her screeches in pain attempting to shield itself with its wings. Throwing the full weight of his body against the creature, Jake plunges his knife into the top of the demons skull, only to fall to the ground as it explodes in a shower of dust, dropping him hard to the floor. Breathing hard Jake crawls towards Heather to check for a pulse. She lays bleeding from a laceration to her shoulder, bruised and bloody, but breathing.
    Lucas has joined Seth and they stand back in shock trying to assess the situation. They are not sure what their team leader is doing. "Chief! Talk to me!" Lucas says as they walk toward him.
"We have to move, more are coming! We have to go now!” Jake says to them standing up drawing his pistol. Stepping back warily they each rest their hands on their own weapon. Jake shoots the chain and tells Seth "help her up!" Looking around frantically, he holds his knife in one hand and his