Gabriel sighed as we chased after her as inconspicuously as we could. She glanced around a lot, obviously expecting a tail.
“She must have shaken off whoever was following her before,” I whispered.
“I am not going to carry this food all over creation while you do the exact opposite of what was asked of you,” Gabriel said.
“Why do I hear J.B. in your voice?” I said. “Just stow the groceries somewhere and we’ll come back for them. Come on, she’s getting farther away. I don’t want to lose her.”
Amarantha was drifting along the sidewalk, her head moving around constantly. I got the impression that while she was concerned about being followed, she was also unsure exactly where she was going. She seemed to be checking landmarks.
Gabriel quickly flew to the top of a multi-unit apartment building and put our groceries on the roof. The building was only a couple of blocks from our house so the stuff would be easy to find later. I can’t afford to throw away groceries, and I was glad that Gabriel was conscientious enough to remember that even when I couldn’t.
Amarantha turned on Lincoln just past the Metra tracks and went north. She went past the underpass where Ramuell had killed Patrick. I always have to swallow the lump in my throat when I pass by that place.
Gabriel murmured something and I felt a weight like a heavy cloak settle over me.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“Redoubled our spell of invisibility,” he replied. “It will better protect us from the eyes of supernatural creatures—or ghosts.”
“Cool,” I said. “When are you going to show me how to do all this neat stuff?”
Gabriel gave me a half smile. “We have plenty of time.”
We followed Amarantha for more than a half hour. She seemed to be wandering aimlessly at times, stopping to stare at sculptures or the glowing signs of chain stores.
“This is really boring,” I muttered.
“As I understand it, this is what surveillance work is usually like,” Gabriel said.
“Who told you that?”
“Beezle. It seems he spends a great deal of time watching police procedurals on television. We can always contact J.B., let him know her location and return home.”
It pained me to admit that he might be right. Amarantha seemed to have no clear purpose in mind, and my stomach had been rumbling for a while. I pulled my phone out to make the call to J.B. It was a given that he would scold me for ignoring his wishes, and I braced myself for the argument that would follow.
We followed her into Welles Park, which is across the street from Sulzer, the large regional library branch on the north side. Amarantha floated over the baseball fields, which would be crowded with leagues for the young and old in the summer. Now they were covered in drifts of snow.
There was a large gazebo in the center of the park, just south of the complex that housed a fitness center and pool. Several feet to the right and left of the gazebo were play lots filled with swings and slides and things from which children could jump. Between the two play lots was a wide, empty field.
A shadowy figure stood inside the gazebo.
Amarantha moved with purpose now, shooting across the snow directly toward the gazebo. I dropped my phone back into my pocket. This was what she had been up to all along.
She entered the gazebo, and the figure turned to speak to her. There was very little light in the center of the park this time of year. I couldn’t see the other person clearly. I had an impression of height, but the deep shadow may have been distorting my perception.
“We have to get closer,” I whispered.
“This is exceedingly foolish,” Gabriel said. “I am calling J.B. so he can deal with his mother’s ghost.”
“Call him after we find out who she’s talking to,” I hissed. “It’s not helpful if we call him with no new information.”
I again had the impression of a heavy weight thrown over me.
“Are you adding to the invisibility spell again?” I asked.
“Yes,” Gabriel said grimly. “Since you insist on staying, the least we can do is ensure that we are not detected.”
“Are we having our first argument as a married couple?” I asked innocently.
We flew closer to the gazebo. Amarantha and the other person talked in low whispers, and I couldn’t make out what they said.
“I never thought I would say this, but I wish Jude was here,” I said wistfully.
The couple concluded their business, and Amarantha exited the gazebo. The person inside lingered for a few moments longer.
“Come on, come on,” I whispered.
“Shall I follow Amarantha?” Gabriel said.
“No,” I replied. “Call J.B. and tell him where she is.”
“Which is what I wanted to do in the first place,” Gabriel muttered.
The figure in the gazebo stirred just as Gabriel concluded his call to J.B. Amarantha had resumed her slow drifting down Lincoln, and there didn’t seem to be any urgency in chasing after her now.
The clouds shifted, and the moon, which was three-quarters full, was revealed. A shaft of light fell across the person who had met with Amarantha.
It was Nathaniel.
“I’ll kill him,” I snarled, and shot forward. I had no real plan in mind other than grinding Nathaniel into tiny pieces.
Gabriel snatched me out of the air and pulled me back to him, both arms around my middle.
Nathaniel left the gazebo with a furtive look and crossed to the northwestern side of the park, disappearing into shadow.
“I’ll kill him,” I repeated. “That dirty sneaking scumbag!”
“Wait,” Gabriel soothed. “Wait. You can gain nothing by killing him now.”
“I can gain the satisfaction that comes from knowing I have squashed a poisonous bug,” I said angrily, thrashing in Gabriel’s arms. “This is what he was talking about when I overheard him on the phone at Amarantha’s castle. I figured it had to be some stupid angelic shit. I didn’t think he had the balls to kill humans and participate in rebellion right under Azazel’s nose.”
“Think,” Gabriel said. “Just think. We already have enough difficulties with the Grigori. If you murder Zerachiel’s son in cold blood, then it will cause additional problems.”
“My blood is not cold right now,” I growled. “Jude was right. Nathaniel helped kidnap the cubs. He helped take away their memories. Little kids. And they were nothing to him—just another means to an end. Like me.”
“What are you really angry about?” Gabriel said.
“I didn’t love him, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said. “I never loved him. But he used his relationship with me as a cover for his extracurriculars. I’m sure that as long as Azazel thought everything was humming along nicely on the betrothal front, he didn’t bother to question Nathaniel too closely. And his position as negotiator with the faerie court gave him leave to meet with Amarantha multiple times over.”
“We must inform Lord Lucifer,” Gabriel said.
“You mean inform Lucifer’s voice mailbox?” I said bitterly. “What’s to say that he’ll rush back from wherever he’s been holed up to deal with Nathaniel? We’ve got to do it ourselves, before any more people are captured.”
Gabriel looked at me steadily. “If I release you, do you promise not to act rashly?”
“Define ‘rashly,’” I said.
“Rushing after Nathaniel and taking his head off with Lucifer’s sword,” Gabriel replied.
“So if I do anything less than that, it won’t be considered rash? What if I rush after him, jump on him and beat him until his face is mangled?”
“I do not want you touching Nathaniel. You might catch something,” Gabriel said solemnly.
I laughed, and Gabriel relaxed, releasing me. I took his hand.
“I’ll call Lucifer. I’ll let him know what’s going on. But then I’m going in,” I said. “I won’t have Nathaniel running around doing more damage.”
&n
bsp; “Fine,” Gabriel said. “We will collect our allies, and then we will confront him.”
“You know where he’ll be,” I said grimly.
“Azazel’s court.”
Maybe now Azazel would see just what kind of man he’d tried to force me to marry. Even Azazel couldn’t overlook his favorite undermining Lucifer’s kingdom by consorting with vampires.
“I’m guessing Daddy won’t be happy to see me.”
A couple of hours later the usual suspects were assembled at my house—Jude, Wade, J.B., Samiel, Gabriel and, of course, Beezle, who seemed to have completely given up on the idea that he was supposed to be a home guardian.
“So, what’s the plan?” Beezle said, rubbing his hands together.
“The plan is we go to Azazel’s court, get Nathaniel and get out of there,” I said grimly. “Let’s try to limit casualties if possible.”
“I do not know if Azazel will allow us to limit casualties,” Gabriel said. “He will likely take offense at your presence.”
“I’m prepared for that,” I said.
“I told you that Nathaniel was involved,” Jude growled.
“And I told you that I would get Wade back,” I snapped. “Everyone’s right, so can we dispense with the I-told-you- so’s?”
Gabriel put a restraining hand on my shoulder. Wade mirrored his action with Jude. Jude was having a lot of trouble with the idea that he had to be grateful to a descendant of Lucifer.
“When we go through the portal there may be soldiers waiting for us,” I said. Azazel would know who had generated the portal in his castle and would likely interpret my impending arrival as an act of aggression. “If we’re lucky, Azazel won’t notice our arrival.”
“You have no such luck,” Beezle said.
“There’s no point in standing around talking about it,” J.B. said. “Let’s go.”
We all filed into the yard and huddled in a half circle. Beezle climbed down to the inside pocket of my jacket.
“Go team,” he said, and disappeared under my lapel.
“I’ll wake you when it’s over,” I said. “I’m going first.”
There was a general rumbling of male disagreement.
“I’m going first,” I repeated. “Azazel may interpret my presence as an attempt at contrition, and if they notice our arrival immediately, then that may save us. But if the lot of you come through before me loaded for bear, then it could get ugly really fast.”
I could tell Gabriel did not like this at all. His innate need to throw himself before any possible threat to me was warring with his common sense.
“Trust that I can take care of myself,” I said softly.
“I do,” he said.
“Then show me.”
He nodded reluctantly, and turned away to open the portal. A moment later I stepped through.
There was the familiar disorientation, the sensation of my brain being squeezed, my ears popping, and then I was through. I landed in the hallway outside Azazel’s throne room, as usual, and even managed to land on my feet for a change. I drew Lucifer’s sword immediately and spun in a circle, looking for the threat that I was sure would be there.
The hall was empty. The doors to the throne room were closed, and the sounds of a loud and raucous party drifted out.
So Azazel was likely too distracted by his guests to notice my arrival. Good.
“Although that seems like a pretty big security hole,” I muttered. “Not that it’s my problem, but still…”
Gabriel came through a second later, followed by J.B., Samiel, Jude and Wade. They all had their battle faces on and seemed as surprised as I was that no one was waiting for us.
We didn’t speak. We all understood what was about to happen. It was not very likely that Azazel would allow us to quietly take Nathaniel away.
I pushed open the doors to Azazel’s throne room for the second time that week, and the others arranged themselves around me.
A slow wave of ceased conversation started from the individuals closest to the door until everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing and turned to stare. Several angels cleared a path out of my way, leaving a direct line between my father and me.
Azazel stared. Nathaniel stood beside him, looking haggard. I didn’t feel in the least bit sorry for him.
I stalked forward. Azazel made a motion at a couple of his bodyguards, who moved to block my way. They were both quite a bit taller than me, but I looked between their shoulders at my father.
I ignored them, addressing Azazel. “We have come for Nathaniel ap Zerachiel, to charge him with the crime of stealing humans’ memories and selling them to vampires.”
Nathaniel started next to Azazel. It was small, it was subtle, but it was there. That was all the confirmation I needed.
Azazel gave Nathaniel a sideways glance. It was hard to read.
“You have evidence of this?” he said.
“Yes,” I said. “He was witnessed speaking with the ghost of Amarantha, the faerie Queen.”
“And was he simply witnessed in her company?” Azazel asked. “There may be many perfectly innocent reasons why Nathaniel was speaking with her. He has long been an associate of Amarantha’s, serving as a trusted negotiator on behalf of Lord Lucifer.”
“So what if no one actually heard Nathaniel plotting?” I said. “He was consorting with a known traitor to Lucifer’s kingdom.”
There. I said it. The T word. Azazel surely wouldn’t want the taint of rebellion on his court.
Nathaniel assumed a familiar expression of arrogance. “How dare you enter Lord Azazel’s court and cast aspersions on my character? You should not even be permitted in this place. You have behaved shamefully toward your father.”
“Don’t try to wriggle your way out of this one. I’m not afraid of you.” I looked up at the two lunkheads blocking my way. “If you don’t get out of my way, I will blast you into the next millennium. And don’t think that you’re faster than me. You’re not.”
I don’t know if my reputation preceded me or if Azazel’s bodyguards are just that cowardly, but they both stepped aside. I strode forward until I was within a few feet of Azazel. The shiny pink mark from Lucifer’s sword marred his handsome face.
“Nice scar,” I said.
Gabriel gave an almost inaudible sigh next to me.
Azazel’s mouth tightened. “One day someone will teach you to respect your betters.”
“You’re not better than me,” I said. “And this scumbag is definitely not. Now, we’re taking Nathaniel, and you can either cooperate, or you can suffer the consequences.”
I really had to stop throwing the gauntlet down in front of these immortals.
“Guards!” Azazel roared.
There was a flurry of activity from the sides of the room. Several of the partygoers jammed toward the exit. Everyone in my group quickly turned around so that we formed a loose circle, back-to-back.
“I thought we were going to try to limit casualties,” J.B. said. “Why do you have to provoke everyone you meet, Maddy?”
Azazel smirked as about three dozen soldier-angels surrounded us.
“Now, what was that about suffering the consequences?” Azazel said to me, and then addressed his guards. “Take the thrall first. Whoever kills him will be rewarded.”
“Apparently you haven’t learned your lesson,” I said to Azazel. “I’ll raze the whole building before I let you harm my husband.”
“She will, too,” Beezle said from inside my jacket. “Do not underestimate Maddy’s ability to destroy real estate.”
The soldiers inched closer. A winding coil of tension built in my stomach. No one wanted to make the first move.
I was heartily sick of fighting. I’d done more than enough of it in the past week to last me until the end of my days. But I would not allow Nathaniel to roam free, and I would not let Azazel harm Gabriel. So my options were fight, or surrender.
I don’t surrender well.
I felt the
shimmering of magic on the air that meant that Jude and Wade had turned into wolves. I didn’t turn to look behind me, but kept my eyes on Azazel and Nathaniel. The others would take care of the soldiers. These two were mine.
To my left, one of the soldiers feinted forward with a blade that looked like it was made of lightning bolts. J.B. blasted the guy with his stave, something red and sizzling.
And just like that, it had begun.
I moved forward to engage Azazel for the second time, but Nathaniel stepped in front of my father, blocking my sword with a blade of his own. Azazel perched on the edge of his throne like a child enjoying an entertainment prepared just for him.
“Fine,” I snarled. “You’re the one I came for, anyway.”
I thrust upward, aiming for his throat. He deftly parried the stroke and swung back at me, lightning-quick. I barely had time to block him before he attacked again.
I had two distinct disadvantages. One was that Nathaniel was a little more than a foot taller than me, and thus his reach was longer. He could slash at me all day long and effectively keep me blocked from reaching him.
The second disadvantage was that I was only half-angel, and Nathaniel didn’t have my mortal weaknesses. I would tire a lot quicker than he would, so the faster I took care of him, the better.
Even with the unnatural boost that I got from Lucifer’s tattoo, I was a far inferior swordswoman. Nathaniel slashed and parried with the elegance of a dancer. I could feel my anger rising as sweat dripped in my eyes and made my fingers slick on the hilt of the sword. He was toying with me.
Well, there was no law that said I had to play fair.
Nathaniel obviously expected me to fight him sword to sword. He didn’t expect me to blast him in the face with nightfire.
He threw up his arms and flew backward, landing on his butt. Behind me I heard the cries of angels, the howls of the wolves, and the crackle of magic flying everywhere. I couldn’t check to see if everyone was all right. I had to make sure Nathaniel didn’t wriggle off the hook.
I threw nightfire at him again, but he blocked it with the sword and the spell came flying back at me. I ducked, the nightfire singeing my hair. I sincerely hoped I did not have a reverse Mohawk now.
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