There was silence as Leech finished reading.
“Any thoughts?”
Lilith took the paper from Leech and reread it.
“It’s clearly disturbing, but we should weigh the issues after we hear from Reaper. I think it’s time to bring him in.”
The other council members nodded. Leech signaled to the guards and they brought Reaper through the doors, his chains clanging against the floor.
CHAPTER 40
Bumalin and Coconut threw their arms in the air as a group of angels surrounded them.
“I am the great Coconut, major demon of the southern fourteenth of Hell! Fetch Gabriel for me! I want to talk to him!”
The angels broke out in laughter.
“Maybe my name means something to you laughing morons. I’m Bumalin, the memory thief.”
One of the angels continued laughing.
“What… no crazy titles?”
The other angels lowered their weapons.
“He doesn’t need them, Rainblade. You may have been lucky enough to escape his agents, but Bumalin has sensitive information about the rest of us. What do you want, Bumalin?”
Bumalin grinned.
“That’s better. I’m not here to mess with you guys. Your secrets are safe as long as I am alive. Oh and you can’t kill Coconut either. He’s a moron, but he works for me.”
Coconut nodded.
“Damn right! Don’t laugh at me ever again!”
Bumalin ignored Coconut and continued.
“We’re here to talk to Gabriel. I’ve met him once before. I need a private audience with him. Can you take me to him?”
The angel the others had called Rainblade kept his weapon drawn.
“We’re just going to let him run around Heaven? Where do we draw the line? I’ll bet he’s here to blackmail the Archangel Gabriel! We can’t let that happen.”
“It’s important. I’m trying to save Michael’s grandson. I just need to speak with Gabriel. Will you take me to him?”
One of the angels hovering next to Rainblade nodded.
“I am Daniel, the commander of this band of angels. We will take you to Gabriel.”
Rainblade opened his mouth to protest, but Daniel shot him a furious look and Rainblade shut his mouth. He sheathed his sword and reluctantly followed his commander. Daniel led Bumalin and Coconut into an orchard. Gabriel stood in the center, eating an apple he had picked from a nearby tree. Daniel and his band of angels bowed.
“Archangel, these demons have requested to see you. We don’t know how they got in, but Bumalin said he knows you.”
“Yes. I remember the blackmailing memory thief demon. I would say that you should have killed him, but that might have crippled our society. I’d like to speak with the demons privately. All of you may leave.”
The angels turned to leave. Coconut took a good look at Gabriel and turned to leave with the angels. Bumalin held out his arm and stopped Coconut.
“This is one of my servants, Coconut. He’s an idiot and I’ll remove this conversation from his memory right after we’re done. You don’t need to fear anything from his presence here.”
Gabriel grinned.
“I don’t need your assurances, Bumalin. If I don’t like what I hear, I’ll kill you both regardless of the effect it will have on the world. You’re a disease. Just because you’ve spread doesn’t mean I won’t root you out.”
“Well that really sucks because I’m pretty sure you aren’t going to like what I have to say. I’m trying to remove Abaddon’s soul from Shadow so I can bring Shadow back. I understand that the angels have done procedures like this before.”
“You’re right. I don’t like what you have to say. I also don’t want Shadow to come back. He defiled my granddaughter and brought another nephilim into this world. He’s more of a disease than even you.”
Gabriel drew his sword and held it to Coconut’s throat.
“I don’t think we have anything else to discuss if that’s what you came here to say.”
Gabriel brought up his sword and prepared to strike.
“Wait!”
Gabriel looked at Bumalin.
“The memory you didn’t want me to see. The memory Raphael tried to block off when I partially wiped his memory. I have it.”
“You’re bluffing. You don’t have that level of power.”
“I know what Raphael saw on the day he became an Archangel. I’ve seen who sat on the throne of God on the day Raphael received his highest honors and powers.”
Gabriel sheathed his sword.
“That just confirms that I should kill you now.”
“You know me better than that. The memory is stored and will be released on news of my death. I gave instructions to Leech to start looking for me if I’m now back in two weeks. If he doesn’t find me, your secret will be unleashed. Leech doesn’t have it. I won’t tell you who does. How long do you think Heaven will last with that kind of information out in the open?”
“I could torture the information out of you, Bumalin.”
“You underestimate me, Gabriel. I can retreat inside my own mind until the secret is out. It wouldn’t be the first time I put myself in a coma for two weeks. Torture will get you nowhere. So are you going to help me or am I going to tell the world who sits on God’s throne? This isn’t even a difficult choice. I could ruin the angels forever.”
Gabriel reached inside a hollow part of the apple tree and pulled out a book.
“The information you seek is in here. I knew you would seek me out at some point and suspected you might have Raphael’s locked memory. Just know that I do not roll over to blackmail. You will be dealt with. You gave me information today that I didn’t have before. Raphael’s memory will be returned to us one day.”
“I didn’t give you anything. You have no idea where the memory is.”
Gabriel smiled.
“You’ve lived a long life, Bumalin, but you’ve grown sloppy. You don’t even realize where you screwed up today. Just keep it in the back of your mind. The book I gave you will be bought with the secret that you stole. We will take it back.”
“You’re getting senile in your old age, Gabriel. Thanks for the book. We’re leaving now.”
Bumalin and Coconut turned and headed back towards the spot where they had left Razorburn and Monkey.
CHAPTER 41
Reaper fell on his knees in front of the council. Leech looked down at Reaper and Reaper met his gaze without flinching.
“Reaper, son of Steam and Selene, you stand accused of beating your brothers and killing Fade. You also stand accused of ignoring protocol and attacking a rogue band of nephilim without backup or authorization. How do you plead?”
“Not guilty… except for the last part. I did kill a rogue band of nephilim because they killed my brother. I won’t apologize for that.”
“We’ve heard testimony from one witness that is both for and against you. I would caution you not to lie. We’ll know if you’re lying. Go ahead and tell us your side of the story.”
“Who was the witness?”
“Not important right now. Let’s hear what you have to say.”
Reaper thought about pressing the point, but calmed himself and realized that wouldn’t be a good move. He just needed to stretch the truth a little and get through this.
“Let’s start with my brothers. I never seriously hurt them. They liked to pick fights with Shade and they lost over and over. I was only trying to toughen them up so that they would be stronger. I was never happy about Backlash being injured and I’m angry that those rogue nephilim took Fade away from…”
Reaper realized he was breathing heavily and he calmed his breathing. He looked the council over and couldn’t get a read on anyone.
“So you don’t deny beating your brothers, just the severity of the beatings. Let’s talk about Fade’s death.”
“Fade completed a mission as team leader with Ares and Enyo. I told them to stay at the outpost and await fur
ther instructions. When I returned, there was a note pinned to the door. It said that two of them were already dead and that I could buy the other’s freedom for 100 coins. I immediately started tracking.”
“You didn’t ask for help? You didn’t think it would be a good idea to contact the council or even wait for Lucia?”
“I figured time was of the essence, Leech. I considered contacting the council. I felt it would waste too much time. I should have waited for Lucia. Going off on my own was a mistake. It ended up not mattering, though.”
Steam stood up in his seat.
“It didn’t matter? You let my son die!”
Reaper looked in his father’s eyes, matching his anger.
“Fade was already dead! They were going to ambush me and take the coins! They had no intention of giving him back!”
Lilith raised her hands.
“Let’s everyone calm down. Steam, please take your seat. So you got the note and didn’t ask for help. What did you find from tracking the rogue nephilim band?”
“I found…”
Reaper looked at the ground and waited. He hoped he was putting on a good enough show. He couldn’t bring himself to cry, but his face was red with anger when he looked back up.
“I found my brother hanging from a tree!”
Without saying anything, Selene let a tear fall from each eye. Reaper looked back at the ground. Leech looked over at Selene.
“I know this is painful, my friend, but we need to power through this. What happened after you found Fade’s body?”
“I cut him down from the tree and found Nightmare. He introduced himself and offered to help me. I asked why and he told me that the nephilim had stolen something from him. I initially told him to piss off, but then realized my mistake in not finding Lucia and taking her with me. It seemed like my interests were temporarily aligned with Nightmare’s, so I used that to my advantage. He led me to the nephilim and the two of us slaughtered them.”
“Did you help Nightmare find what he was looking for? Do you even know what he was looking for?”
“He was looking for his scythe, Rage. I didn’t help him look for it. He found the box that contained it on his own.”
“And the box wasn’t locked?”
Reaper remembered the witness that the council said had already spoken and wondered if he had been seen helping Nightmare get into the box.
“The box was magically sealed. I opened it for him. It was the least I could do after he helped me get justice for my brother.”
The council members looked surprised and Reaper thought it had nothing to do with the fact that he had helped Nightmare. They were surprised that he admitted it. They clearly had another source who reported the story to them.
“You realize that you just admitted to aiding a powerful major demon who…”
“Oh please. He’s an outcast. He just wants to rage out in the woods and be left alone. He commands no one. He befriends no one. He’s not a threat.”
Leech hit the table.
“You don’t decide who’s a threat and who isn’t! What the fuck do you know about Nightmare?”
“I just… don’t think he’s as bad as you’ve said, Leech. He helped me get justice for my brother. If I understand the situation correctly, he is also no longer a major demon. He hasn’t even been to Hell in years.”
“You’re lucky he decided not to kill you, Reaper. He could have. Easily.”
“Well I hope I am lucky because I’ve told you all the whole truth and I don’t think I should be punished. My one mistake was not finding Lucia to go with me, but it wouldn’t have mattered. They had already killed Fade. Was it against protocol to slaughter those nephilim? Maybe… but who here would have done any differently?”
Reaper’s question was met with silence.
“Right. That’s what I thought.”
Leech motioned for the guards.
“Wait! Is Lucia going to testify for me?”
“My daughter is going to testify, but I have no idea what she’s going to say. You’ll wait out the rest of your trial in your cell.”
Leech pointed at the door and the guards took Reaper away.
CHAPTER 42
As Bumalin and Coconut made their way back to where they had left Razorburn and Monkey, they heard the sounds of a fight. Both demons started sprinting towards their friends. One of the angels spotted Bumalin.
“That’s the demon that messed with our minds! Kill him!”
Razorburn grabbed the angel out of the air and crushed him between his palms. Hanniel, the middle angel commander, pointed his blade at Razorburn and started diving from his spot high in the air. Bumalin cupped his hands over his mouth.
“Stop! I know about your daughter!”
Hanniel stopped his sword midswing.
“What do you know, demon?”
“I know the place on Earth that she frequents. I won’t tell anyone if you just let us go.”
“My daughter’s reputation has nothing to do with me.”
“I find that hard to believe based on the fact that Sarah was cast out of the heavens for being a nephilim and she’s an Archangel’s granddaughter. You absolutely care about your reputation. You get one chance. Call of your men.”
Hanniel turned to the three still living angels behind him.
“Report to the nearest Archangel. Demons have entered the heavens.”
“Before they go, send them to me. I’ll wipe their memories so they don’t question you about your daughter or report anything to the Archangel.”
Hanniel nodded.
“Do as he says.”
The angels hovered in the air, looking at each other. They weren’t sure what to do. Razorburn plucks all three out of the air in one giant fist and brought them down to Bumalin. Bumalin touched each of their heads and wiped their memories of everything that had happened so far that day. Bumalin told them all to go home.
“Don’t involve the Archangels any more than they already are, Hanniel. Gabriel knows we’re here. He didn’t kill me. He let us leave. I even have one of his ritual healing books.”
“If you ever tell a soul that my daughter…”
“Let us go. Don’t come looking for us. Your secret is safe.”
“Now that it’s just us, I could kill you. You couldn’t tell my secret to anyone before you died other than your demon friends and I can kill them too.”
Bumalin rolled his eyes.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Of course the secret is in my head, but I also left all of my secrets at various places on Earth. When I die, they all get released. I’m not a moron. Honestly, I’m really sick of explaining all this. If I die, your holy kingdom comes crumbling down.”
“Fine. Get out of here.”
Bumalin and Coconut climbed on Razorburn’s shoulders. Monkey was still laying on the ground.
“Monkey! Get up here!”
Monkey didn’t respond. Bumalin climbed down to kick him but then saw the gash across Monkey’s stomach. Monkey was losing blood and was nonresponsive. Bumalin quickly wrapped Monkey’s wound as best he could and handed him to Razorburn. He quickly climbed Razorburn’s back and stood on his shoulder.
“Monkey’s hurt. Get us to Necropolis. Quickly.”
Bumalin tossed the refilling wine cup to Coconut. Coconut absent mindedly placed it in his backpack, but couldn’t take his eyes off his brother.
Razorburn ran as fast as he could to Necropolis. Monkey lost a lot of blood in the process. Lucia saw the demons approaching and met them in front of the gates.
“What happened?”
Razorburn placed Monkey on the ground and Bumalin hopped down.
“It’s Monkey. We were attacked by the angels. Monkey’s hurt. We need someone to try to heal him.”
Lucia called up to the guards.
“Where is Steam? How quickly can he get here?”
“He’s in the council hall for Reaper’s trial.”
Lucia turned back to Bum
alin.
“He won’t be able to get here in time. Monkey’s lost too much blood. I can try to heal him.”
Bumalin nodded. Lucia started casting a healing spell, but Coconut waved for her to stop. He looked up at them with tears falling freely from his eyes.
“He’s gone. We didn’t get here in time.”
Razorburn yelled into the air. He took both of his fists and drove them into the ground. The ground shook and everyone fell over.
“I couldn’t keep them away. This is my fault. Monkey was always so funny and amusing. He shouldn’t have died.”
Razorburn turned to Lucia.
“Fix him.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t. He’s gone.”
Coconut picked up his brother’s corpse and walked into Necropolis. He stopped briefly without turning around.
“Razorburn, what was the last thing Monkey said before he died?”
Razorburn thought for a moment in between heavy breaths.
“He said he went down looting and plundering the heavens like a real pirate. He was very happy.”
Coconut nodded and continued walking. Bumalin turned to Razorburn.
“Old friend, I can make the pain go away. I can help you forget about Monkey or I can make you think he’s still alive. Would that help?”
The gears in Razorburn’s head finally clicked into place and he realized something that had evaded him for years.
“Lexi’s dead and you don’t have a son. They never get any older, Bumalin. You already messed with my memory once, didn’t you?”
Bumalin looked at the ground.
“Yes, Razorburn. You were in too much pain when Lexi died. I never had a son. I helped you with your pain. I can do the same thing again.”
“Don’t touch me.”
Razorburn turned and started stomping away.
“Razorburn!”
“Don’t come looking for me. I don’t need your kind of help. I’m going to smash things until I feel better or until I die. I want go where Lexi and Monkey are.”
Minor Nephilim Page 14