Read Descent07 - Paradise Damned for Free Online

her. Put her down like a rabid animal.”
    The second tucked the slave leather clothing under his arm. They had no use for the accoutrements of Hell in the garden, so it would go into the lake for later regeneration. “We have our orders.”
    “She’s not worth it,” said the first. “No mortal is worth it.”
    “But this one’s not just any mortal. You heard what Metaraon said.”
    The trunk of the Tree groaned with motion, and the angels fell silent to listen. The branches curled inwards, dragging the woman tight against its bark. Her muscles no longer sang with struggle. Her eyelids would be fluttering with the deep dreams that their Holy Father bestowed upon her.
    The Tree seemed to give one last, low moan, and then went still. It was never truly motionless—the brittle black twigs were always twitching a little now, as though spasming with pain. But core of the Tree was calm. Restful.
    Lifting his injured hand to his mouth again, the first cherubim asked, “Do you think it might get infected?”
    “You’re pathetic.”
    “I thought she was really going to escape again. She got halfway to the gate before we knocked her out.”
    “Have faith, my brother. Nobody escapes the garden twice,” responded the other angel, opening his wings wide to take flight. “Nobody.”

II
    It was a beautiful morning, and Elise was enjoying it the way that beautiful days are meant to be appreciated: by jogging outside. She wore shorts, a tank top, and no shoes. Her ponytail bounced with every heel strike. An auburn curl had escaped to dangle over her nose, and she blew it out of her face.
    The trail narrowed and the surrounding jungle thickened. The sweet scent of ripe apples filled the air, touched with a hint of cinnamon bark. A river bubbled somewhere nearby, gurgling and whispering beyond the trees. Even though she couldn’t see where it lay, the water left the edges of the trail muddy.
    Motion and Dance emerged from the trees. She experienced a moment of confusion when she realized that the two-story brick building was being consumed by creepers. Weeds jutted through the foundation.
    It should have been near Idlewild Park, the apartments, the Truckee River. Not surrounded by ancient trees and overgrown vines, as if transplanted to the jungle.
    Elise blinked and rubbed her eyes.
    No, that was definitely Motion and Dance. It was totally right for it to be in the trees like this. She had just been confused.
    A man was waiting for her, sitting on the bottom of the stairs that led to the second floor apartment. He stood when she approached, and her heart jumped at the sight of Him. Her stride grew, devouring the remaining length of the trail in seconds.
    “Hey,” she said, unhooking the white picket fence and stepping inside. The rosebushes seemed to lean toward her, scratching at her ankles. “You’re up earlier than usual.” She couldn’t bring herself to look Adam in the eye, but she could feel the anger in His silence.
    Pale hands closed around hers. The grip was painfully tight, and she already knew that she would carry fingerprint bruises like tattoos around her wrists. “Where did you go this time?” Adam asked. “I’ve been worried about you.”
    She opened her mouth to reply, but no response came to her lips.
    Where had Elise gone? She tried to remember, and couldn’t.
    Part of her felt like she had only just slipped out of His bed an hour ago, maybe two, so that she could enjoy the early morning air with a jog. She always jogged in the mornings, didn’t she? But another part of her—one that was dwindling quickly—felt like she had been away much longer than that.
    She faintly recalled the domed roofs of Russian cathedrals, open tundra, cold lakes, high deserts with thin atmosphere, neon lights, sagebrush. Things that she never could have encountered while jogging through the garden.
    Elise shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. “I was running.” She knew that much was true. She had been