Pick a door, kid, I thought to myself.
“Mistress Constance mentioned furniture,” he croaked through gritted teeth, looking so uncomfortable and nervous that he almost looked angry.
I smiled, gesturing for him to come closer. He remained firmly rooted in place, his shoulders quivering with frustration. Hell, maybe I had actually netted Envy, and he was having trouble thinking straight at the casual display of wealth before him. “I won’t bite,” I teased, reaching out to grasp him by the wrist and gently tug him towards the table of jewelry. I really cheesed it up, pointing at a ruby necklace consisting of three blood red orbs that were even larger than the sapphire I was wearing. “Is red a better color on my skin?” I asked, holding it up beside the sapphire with a thoughtful frown.
“I…” he stammered. “I c-can’t be here,” he croaked. “I mean, I shouldn’t linger. Mistress Constance will be expecting me back,” he choked, averting his eyes, and puffing out his cheeks. I caught a momentary flicker of anger in his frantic, darting eyes. “The f-furniture?”
But I had to be sure.
I reached out and lifted his chin. “Pick one,” I said, flashing him my brightest smile. “There is no wrong answer,” I said, lowering the jewelry as I stared into his eyes, looking for any telltale sign. He truly was handsome, but not perfectly so. Then again, I knew an archdemon would use a disguise to hide that inhumanly beauty or everyone would notice him.
Sanguina leapt up onto the vanity, and the valet let out a sharp gasp, not having noticed her until now. With all the bling on the table, her molten silver eye sockets had been overlooked. She sniffed at the air as she drew closer to the servant.
He is hiding something, but I cannot tell what, she told me. I cannot sense whether he is Envy, much the same as I could not sense anything unusual with Wrath, she added, almost angrily.
The valet twisted his head as if I was fitting him with a noose, gasping for air as his nostrils flared. He took an instinctive step back from Sanguina. “Furniture?”
I sighed, pointing at a small ottoman. He stared down at it, and this time I definitely could see a flash of anger. A child could have moved it. I pointed to a spot a few feet away, against the wall. “Over there is fine. I keep tripping over it. I have no idea why it’s spelled.”
He hurriedly shoved it to the new spot, slamming it into the wall. “There.” He made as if to go, not bowing, or apologizing for his behavior.
I grasped his elbow, halting him, and he tensed. “Which one?” I asked softly, close enough to lean in and kiss his ear.
“R-ruby,” he finally whispered in a strangled cry. Then he practically sprinted for the door. He gestured at the rolling table beside him and almost knocked over the plate of food in his haste. He practically tore the door from the hinges in his desperate attempt to escape. Then he slammed it closed behind him without a word.
I frowned at the door thoughtfully. “Would a valet leave without bowing, or slam the door?” I mused out loud, tapping my lips with a finger.
Definitely the sapphire, Sanguina said in a dry tone. I continued staring at the door for about five minutes, thinking and scheming and waiting to see if anything happened as a result of my fishing net. Finally, I turned to the mirror, pursing my lips.
“Definitely the sapphire,” I agreed. Then I unclasped it and set it inside the chest. I slowly removed the earrings, feeling as if I was peeling away a part of my soul.
Then I made my way over to the cart, grabbed the plate of food and a towel, and carried my stash to the bathtub, smiling to myself. Sanguina hopped up onto the bed. I sensed nothing suspicious, but my assessment is not helpful with their kind, Sanguina said.
I nodded. “Your move, Envy,” I muttered.
Because if Envy was walking around disguised as a valet, he would have fought tooth and nail to be the one to deliver my food and towels after my show in the kitchens. If, on the other hand, Envy had a few servants on his payroll, they would have been desperate at the chance to get him some potentially helpful reconnaissance. And showing off my jewelry to Envy seemed like the safest way to piss him off. Because the Seven Sins were overly emotional. Their namesakes seemed to actually be their weaknesses. Envy didn’t just like nice things, he coveted nice things. Lounging around my rooms in a sexy robe, having food brought up, and obviously preparing for a long bath meant I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Buying me time.
Of course, the poor valet could have been totally innocent and not even remotely involved with the archdemon. I shrugged, picking up a chunk of cheese and popping it in my mouth. “Then you got a free show, kid. You’re welcome,” I said out loud, grinning an evil grin. Sanguina’s dark chuckle echoed in my mind.
I slipped into the tub and let out a long, relaxing sigh. As I soaked, I caught Sanguina up on Pride’s suggestion that she help be our anchor for the Gateway to Purgatory. She’d agreed, sounding almost eager to use her powers after being cooped up in the Keep without me for so long. She saw merit in Pride’s argument that their powers could work together without issue, which made me feel a whole lot better.
In fact, she seemed impressed by the plan in general, and she was one to poke apart anything not suggested by herself. That didn’t mean we were guaranteed a win, but it sure helped boost my confidence.
I pondered the metal card, the two rings, and the intricately carved wooden phoenix and tiger figurines that I’d placed on the edge of the tub, occasionally inspecting them or testing them with tendrils of my magic—all to no avail. I thought about my Spear, but I came up with no new insights on how they were a part of saving the Divines. I had a few hours to kill until I was certain the Keep was quiet and news of my extravagant night in had reached Envy’s ears.
Only then would it be safe for me to leave for Purgatory to try and save Bai and Zoe.
So I went back to the beginning, pondering the metal card…
What was my mother trying to tell me?
49
I stood in the twilight field, admiring the cherry blossoms trailing up into the purple sky. The bluish-gray grass swayed back and forth like rolling waves. I’d meditated in my suite at Castle Dracula for two hours after my bath. Then, in honor of my mother, I’d donned her black slaughtering outfit. I’d also tucked away the pair of rings and the metal card in my weapons belt, hoping to channel whatever psychic energy I could. Maybe if I brought enough of her with me, I’d have a better chance of success. The black pants were snug and sleek, and the seemingly simple black top felt like weighted silk, hugging my body much the same as Aphrodite’s gear. The weapons belt went on last, and then I was ready to go.
I’d scooped up Sanguina, and Shadow Walked to Xuanwu’s home. I had told the Black Tortoise that it was time to go collect Pride and Michael from Roland’s church while I caught Ryuu up to speed on my plan.
Xuanwu and Qinglong had been less than courteous in dropping off the archangel and archdemon at my feet in this adjacent realm to his backyard—the two Divines had quite literally dropped them off from ten feet above the ground. I had wanted to be off the Earthly realm in case anything went wrong, and I hadn’t wanted to do this at Castle Dracula—not if Envy was watching my every move.
And with the rebirth pond, the two Divines I intended to save would have quick access to healthcare, which they would sorely need. We might all end up needing it, in fact.
I glanced over at Sanguina to see her staring at Pride and Michael. She seemed to be muttering under her breath, but in her mind, repeating the same three words over and over.
Torn. Severed. Split…
I frowned, hefting my Silver katana in both hands. “You okay?” I asked her.
She jumped two feet, snarling in multiple directions. Then she promptly sat down as if she hadn’t just suffered a stroke. I am excellent, as always.
I frowned. It’s just that you kept repeating—
She curled her lip at me in warning. I. Am. Excellent.
Right. Touchy subject. If it had been relevan
t, she would have said something. She wanted a success here as much as anyone. I was her only family.
“Okay. You sure you are ready for this, Sanguina?” I asked out loud, gesturing at the area I had picked for our Gateway.
You need an anchor, she said. I will keep the Gateway open from this side.
“And the Purgatory souls won’t be able to crossover?” Ryuu asked her dubiously, striding up beside us. Aala remained close to Ryuu—making me a tad jealous—and staring at things no one else could see. Especially when her eyes drifted to Pride or Michael, who were studiously silent as if something had happened during their sleepover that they didn’t want to talk about.
Why was everyone staring at them? Was I just so jaded that I wasn’t impressed by the archangel and archdemon, but everyone else was terrified?
I listened to Sanguina’s response in my mind and then translated for him. “Not unless they have a body to ride. Sanguina the Silver is playing a foxier, scarier version of Gandalf the Gray.” He stared at me blankly. “None shall pass? Heathen,” I muttered.
“Hey!” Pride grumped, finally deciding to break his vow of silence. “I resent that.”
Ryuu sighed, dropping the topic as he gave me a resigned nod and handed me a familiar scarf—as if he was concluding an errand I had asked him to do for me.
I stared at the scarf in silence, smiling. Then I slowly looked up at him. “When did you get this?” I asked.
“In your mother’s laboratory. It’s one of your Templar scarves that protects against magic. You left it there one night last week,” he said, casually. “I wanted to make sure you are safe.”
I hugged it close to my chest, deeply touched that he had done this all on his own without saying a word. Then I rose up on my toes and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Ryuu.”
He froze, staring straight ahead. Then he nodded stiffly and walked away, checking the field for…I don’t know. Rocks or something. Aala giggled at the two of us, and then left to follow after him. A looped, segmented chain hung from her belt, and one of the ends was affixed with a wicked spearpoint. I shuddered. Chain whips were no fucking joke.
I sighed forlornly at my ninja, wondering if he was just shy, or if it had something to do with the fact that I hadn’t personally, officially ended anything with Nate yet. I tied the Templar scarf around my neck, and then I focused on the matter at hand.
I knelt down to the ground. “You up for this?” I asked Sanguina in a soft, concerned tone, glancing pointedly at the archangel and archdemon. The rings in my pocket hadn’t reacted to their arrival, seeming about as inert as the first time I had seen them. “You’re sure your magic won’t nullify each other? Because we can’t afford for you to fizzle out at the worst possible moment—which is when it will happen if it’s going to happen, according to Murphy. Can you hold on?”
I was born in magic that would melt your mind. Just because you dominated me does not mean I can’t dance circles around you in the realms of power. You do your part, I’ll do mine. I smirked at her, relieved by her feistiness. It was reassuring. Do you know how to do what I asked? she asked.
I nodded. “I’ve got it.” I turned to find Ryuu about three inches away from my face. I yelped and stumbled back a step, but he caught me firmly by both shoulders. I regained control of my breathing and stared into his eyes, waiting, daring him to make a move. Ryuu stared back at me with an intense, frustrated look, obviously wanting to say something. I arched an eyebrow and he finally shook his head, releasing me and then retreating.
Aala sighed at the angsty ninja, annoyed. She’d been standing nearby. She shrugged her shoulders at me in a what do you do gesture, and then joined Ryuu as they made their way towards Xuanwu and Qinglong who were waiting beneath the massive glowing tree.
I turned to Pride, who looked entirely too amused at Ryuu’s strange behavior. He opened his mouth—
“Okay,” I said, cutting him off before he could suggest something horribly inappropriate. Then I summarized the plan the three of us had formulated over the last thirty minutes with Sanguina. “Pride, first. Then me, and then Michael. Remember to anchor your Gateway to my katana, and then layer it on top of the pile, weaving them all together as best as you can,” I told Michael, since he was going last. Pride had the easiest job of going first.
“You do remember that we came up with the plan together, and that you’ve already reminded us five times since we wrapped up our huddle, right?” Pride asked, dryly.
Instead of answering him, I closed my eyes and gathered my will, drawing deep on my bond with Sanguina as I called up the Eternal Metal.
It was time to go to the Neverwas.
I opened my eyes to see my katana rippling like water. I took a deep breath and then yelled at the top of my lungs as I slammed it down into the soil, burying it to the hilt.
I felt Sanguina lash out, solidifying her tether to the long hilt of the katana like a chrome lasso.
“Now!” I shouted at Pride.
The air seemed to darken and the breeze stopped entirely as a ball of wicked black thorns drifted out from his palms. His arms shook and he gritted his teeth as he maneuvered his writhing tangle of thorns a few feet away, using his outstretched hands to shape and control it. He shot me a look and I gave him a firm nod. He roared, the sound ripping through the air like it had come from the throat of an actual lion, and then flung his arms wide. The knot of thorns screamed in protest as it was stretched apart to create an oval window in mid-air. One particularly thick vine lashed out and wrapped around the hilt of the katana so that the shifting ring of thorns looked like a kite in the wind.
Except in the center of that window was a world of embers and sparks rather than Xuanwu’s tranquil field. I drew deep on my memory of the land of embers and sparks from my brief visit across the crystal bridge to Castle Dracula with Samael. Seeing it clearly in my mind, but not focusing directly on that exact location, I created a ball of roiling, molten Silver. Then I hurled it at Pride’s Gateway, coating the living black thorns in liquid chrome. My power made the air hum as the liquid metal raced down Pride’s thorned anchor, strengthening the bond to my katana. My knees wobbled at the surprisingly massive expenditure of power—and the lack of practice I had as using Sanguina’s magic in any significant manner.
We both turned to Michael and nodded. He flung his hands forward and blasted the Gateway with glowing white fire. The Gateway of Silver thorns erupted in flame as if it had been doused in gasoline, and I had to leap back a step as the flame raced down the anchor to the katana.
I walked up to the Gateway, admiring our work. Pride and Michael joined me, shaking their heads with awed looks on their faces. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Pride murmured. “Who knew we could work together so well, eh, brother?” He asked out the side of his mouth, elbowing Michael lightly.
Michael was smiling and nodding, staring through the portal in awe. “It’s three stacked Gateways, but woven together to create one,” he breathed. He met my eyes. “I don’t think magic like this has been done…ever,” he admitted. Then, “Except for that one time, of course,” he said, smiling guiltily as he recalled God creating the universe. Pride nodded somberly—for once, not having a quip ready at hand.
I smiled smugly. “Well, for our next trick, we get to jump through a ring of fire like circus animals, so don’t give us too much credit.” They nodded grimly, looking more like brothers than at any other moment. I checked the two figurines in my pocket one last time, paranoid that I might have lost them in the last two minutes. I hadn’t. “Let’s go save the White Tiger and the Vermillion Bird.”
“Just say red,” Pride muttered. “Vermillion sounds like a made-up word.”
Michael nodded his agreement.
“People from Kansas City do not say Red Bird. On principle, because we were raised Royals. Let those poor souls from St. Louis keep their cardinal,” I argued. It was glaringly obvious that they had no idea what I was talking about, which made it even funni
er. Must not have baseball in the afterlife.
I leapt through the ring of fire and into the Neverwas. No way in Heaven or Hell was I going to let them go first. History always remembered the first person, rarely the others.
Sidenote—ninety-nine-percent of the time, the first person died.
50
My boots hit the ground and seemed to stick like I’d landed in thick clay—although the surface was bone dry and sent up a cloud of seemingly weightless ash. I quickly lifted the Templar scarf into place over my ears to cover my mouth and nose so I wouldn’t breathe any Purgatory particles into my lungs. Call me paranoid.
Embers and sparks danced through the air like swarms of insects, reminding me of the apocalyptic pink cherry blossoms on the other side of the Gateway. I tried lifting my boots, realizing that they hadn’t been stuck to the surface, they just felt twice as heavy as normal. In fact, my whole body felt heavy and sluggish, as if it was being pulled down to the ground. The laws of gravity were very different from home, making each step a strain. My shoulders and lower back ached at the pressure.
Which was weird, because the ash seemed to exist in zero gravity. I felt a shiver roll down my spine as my mind entertained any number of horrible theories.
Michael and Pride landed beside me and I watched the effects of the new gravity hit them hard, making their faces noticeably sag as if they’d each aged twenty years. Good lord. I was glad the scarf covered my face or all three of us would have looked like melting candles.
Their wings ripped out of their backs, and I cringed to see that they, too, seemed to sag towards the ground. They clomped around, trying to get familiar with the new environment, and I risked a glance back through the Gateway to see Sanguina snarling at me. Well, at the Gateway, but it sure didn’t look that way. I remembered her strange mantra, and grew uneasy.
Anghellic: Feathers and Fire Book 8 Page 29