Thirteen Roses Book Two: After: A Paranormal Zombie Saga by Michael Cairns Page A

thought made him chuckle. He'd spent most of his many, many years revelling in such underhand and destructive pleasures. Then he'd been bound and trapped, and lived in his cage for so long he'd forgotten that's what it was. What had irked him on his journey to and from Italy, was the realisation that despite finally escaping his cage, he still carried it with him.  
    But the reason for that was obvious and more annoying than any conspiracy. His newfound humanity had him more trapped than any cage the Father made for him. His soul resided within him, newly formed and already suffering.  
    On his escape from the cage of the Flights, he'd reverted to type, believing himself finally free. But it had taken only days before the regret set in. Now every morning he woke with the faces of the three men in the bar before him, wracked with pain and anguish. The soldiers and priests in St Peter's he felt no guilt for. They had made their choices and they were bad ones. But those men had done nothing wrong.  
    Luke cursed and spat. Who cared? What did it matter who did what wrong? He was the prince of lies, the bringer of pain, why the hell did he care whether someone deserved it?
    But he did care. He cared bitterly and angrily, and with a constant argument in his skull that wouldn't leave until he resumed his place in the Flights. Back in his cage. Where he believed in helping people, in changing the world one soul at a time. He spat again. How had he done that for centuries and not questioned it? The Father had a lot to answer for.  
    He watched his feet thump along the pavement. He felt the warm sun kissing his forehead and nose, the gradual turning of the earth beneath him. These things he had never felt before, despite being part of this system for so long. There were advantages to being human. But this wretched soul and pathetic morality certainly weren't part of them.  
    His thoughts returned to the question that had being plaguing him all weekend. Why Az? What did he have against him? They were friends and had been for many decades and, despite his harsh exterior, he was trapped in the same cage Luke had just escaped from. So why send him here and curse him to a life trapped on a planet blighted by plague?
    He had a reason. He had to have a reason, but despite more hours than were healthy applied to the problem, Luke was no closer to finding the answer. Perhaps he should ask Alex and see what he thought. He stopped just short of pulling his hair out. Where had that come from? Since when had he ever listened to anyone, let alone a human? That was the soul again, bearing down on him like a strict master with a cane and eyes like gun barrels.  
    They took the train and then another, then grabbed a taxi out to the site. When they reached there it was dark and clouds filled the sky, jostling and vying for space in the crimson of the sunset. As they trudged away from the road, Luke could feel Alex's eyes upon him.  
    'What's here?'
    Luke sighed. He wasn't ever going to stop asking questions. No matter how little interest Luke showed in speaking to him, he was going to keep asking and asking and asking. He ground his teeth together. Had he pissed Az off? He wasn't the best judge of character, but he thought he'd have noticed if he did. Perhaps Az had no idea of the level of torture he was going through.  
    Luke stopped and glanced around at the spider-like trees and the hills rising behind them.
    'There are certain places in the world where the Father's power comes through stronger. They are places where the barrier between Earth and the other worlds are thinner. St Paul's is one of them and this is another. I prefer this place, it has good memories for me.'
    They trudged up the path as Alex digested what was said. Luke smiled wryly into the darkness, awaiting the usual disbelief and doubt. He was surprised by the next question.  
    'What are the other worlds?'
    'That's a big question to answer. I'm not sure you're quite ready for