The Wind-up Forest

by L. J. LaBarthe

  Haniel stopped for a moment. “He’s really worried,” he said.

  “So I see.” Adramelek frowned. “I’ll talk to Lightbringer, but we all need to discuss this situation somewhere private.”

  Haniel nodded. “There’s a room upstairs we’ve been using as a council chamber of sorts. Come on.” He gestured toward the door and then followed after Raziel.

  Adramelek didn’t wait to see what the rest of his companions thought; he simply turned and followed Haniel and Raziel, reaching out to Hell with his mind at the same time. He was only peripherally aware of his surroundings as he entered the lobby, his mind intent on reaching for Lucifer Morningstar. He was, however, relieved to see that the rest of the Guild of Glass Knives had followed his lead.

  “Adramelek?” Lucifer’s voice in Adramelek’s head sounded surprised. “What is it?”

  “Raziel raised a rather alarming question. He asked me to contact you about it. Considering the nature of the situation, I thought it wise to do as he asked. When you were dealing with Semjaza, after the Stonehenge fight, did you see anything related to the Grail?”

  “What do you mean?” Lucifer sounded puzzled.

  “Did he have anything in him that craved the power of the Holy Grail?”

  There was a long silence, and Adramelek grunted as Lix Tetrax guided him into a cramped elevator that smelled of unwashed feet.

  “No.” Lucifer’s voice was thoughtful now. “Actually, he did not. I can see why Raziel asked. If Semjaza had gotten his hands on the Grail, that would have made him nearly invincible. And yet, there was nothing in his soul or his mind regarding it. There was simply fury at being thwarted, fear of what I would do to him, and hatred for all of us.”

  “I’m a little surprised he didn’t have any thoughts about it,” Adramelek said.

  “As am I, now that you have mentioned it. But there was nothing at all.”

  “Okay. Thanks. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Adramelek, before you go, tell me—how is Earth?”

  Adramelek took a deep breath as he replied. “It’s beginning to change, my lord. Little things, but noticeable to those of us with the eyes to see them. Here, in this city, there is so much hate that it makes me breathless. And it’s hate that hasn’t been seen here in centuries. It’s as if Time is unraveling and winding forward again, but mixing up where events in history occurred, bringing the past into the present.”

  “That isn’t good. Do whatever you can to help fix it.” Lucifer’s voice was firm. “Things cannot be allowed to get any worse.”

  “I will,” Adramelek said. “I’ll talk to you soon, Lightbringer.”

  “Thank you, Adramelek.”

  Adramelek pulled his attention back to the here and now. The scent of shoes and unwashed armpits almost made him gag. “Good Hell, what is that smell?”

  “Humans,” Melcherisa said.

  “Disgusting,” Adramelek said.

  Ondrass had a silk handkerchief pressed to his nose and mouth. “I repeat. I dislike this enormously, Adramelek.”

  “Duly noted. Lucifer says we’re to do everything in our power to fix this.”

  Ondrass sighed. The handkerchief fluttered with his breath. “I surrender. As long as you know that I am not pleased about this situation.”

  “Oh, I do,” Adramelek drawled. “In triplicate.”

  “Then I will lend my power to yours when required.” Ondrass stepped from the elevator as soon the doors creaked open. “Fresh air at last.”

  Adramelek followed him quickly, breathing deeply. The corridor was dim, but there were open windows every ten feet that let in a blessedly cool and pleasantly fragrant breeze. Haniel was already in the corridor, and Raziel was nowhere to be seen. Adramelek suppressed another sigh and followed Haniel as the Archangel led the way toward a doorway at the far end.

  “This way,” Haniel said as he opened the door. “It’s as neutral as we could make it, considering how many people are in and out of this building at the moment.”

  “Thank you,” Adramelek said. He went into the room and was surprised at what he found.

  The windows were open, and the curtains were held back with neat ties. One side of the room was taken up by a large rectangular table and chairs; the opposite side held a sofa and armchairs, and in the corner, a fridge, hot water urn, mugs, and tea and coffee.

  “Not bad,” Adramelek said. He turned in a small circle, taking it all in. “I like the application of protection sigils on the ceiling.”

  Ondrass looked up. Then he laughed. “That’s what that medium in Vancouver did, do you remember? The one who thought she was Lucifer’s bride?”

  “Oh yes.” Adramelek chuckled. “Her artwork wasn’t as neat as this, though.”

  “She probably had to do it on the cheap,” Markus said. “This is done with a lot of care and ability.”

  “Two of the shifters did it for us,” Haniel said. “Metatron directed their work.”

  “Well, my hat is off to them,” Ondrass said flamboyantly. “Although I’m not wearing any of my hats at the current moment.”

  “Can we not talk about clothes?” Raziel demanded. He had entered behind the Archdemons and Markus, his arms full of paper. “You can go shopping later.”

  “Grumpy today, aren’t we?” Ondrass noted.

  “Yes I am, and I’ve damn good reason for it. Incidentally, Uri’s in a shit of a mood, so you might want to be keep as far away from him as possible, Adramelek.”

  “Oh good,” Adramelek said. “I do so love pandering to his childish tantrums.”

  “There’s a reason for them this time,” Raziel said.

  “I know, Lucifer mentioned that things were already being affected by the Grail’s disappearance.” Adramelek frowned. “How long can the Earth survive this before the walls between realities break down completely?”

  Raziel hummed, his expression thoughtful. “Six months, tops. Maybe less, but if we’re all working on keeping things as they should be, we should be able to stretch it out to six months. I hope.”

  “Damn,” Melcherisa said. “This is worse than the crap with the war, isn’t it?”

  “I really think it is,” Raziel said. He smoothed the sheets of paper over the table. “But the difference is that this time we have no idea how to fix it. We’re reacting. Simply because we don’t know what we should do instead.”

  Ondrass and Adramelek exchanged a long look. “Do you need our legions?” Ondrass asked.

  Raziel smiled slightly. “Let’s keep them in reserve for now. Certainly we may need them to hold up the Hell side of the realities divide.”

  “All right. But let us know if you need them. Adry can call down to Hell and ask Lucifer to help, too,” Ondrass said.

  “I probably won’t need to,” Adramelek said. “He’ll already know. Incidentally, in regards to your question, Raziel, no, there was nothing in Semjaza’s mind or soul about the Holy Grail.”

  Raziel huffed. “That’s one less thing to worry about, I suppose. All right, thanks.”

  “One less, only several billion remain?” Lix Tetrax asked.

  Raziel smiled slightly. “Something like that, yes.”

  The other Archangels had begun to file into the room, and Adramelek identified others who were not of the Brotherhood—Tabbris, Angel of Free Will; Israfel, Angel of Music; and Tzadkiel’s two lieutenants, Sophiel and Brieus. He also noted that Remiel was absent, along with Gabriel’s lieutenant, Shateiel, and his wife, Agrat.

  “Close the door, will you please, Raph?” Raziel asked, and Adramelek forced himself to pay attention, realizing this little meeting was being called to order.

  He sat down on one of the chairs, his fellow Hell denizens following suit, and they sat in silence as the angels took their own chairs. Raziel seemed weary and worried, and Adramelek found that combination in the Archangel of Secrets and Mysteries to be worrisome in itself. Uriel had moved to Raziel, and they spoke briefly in low tones. Uriel did not appear pleased, but he sat
down beside Raziel without saying another word.

  “All right,” Raziel said. “We all know where things stand right now. I’m certain that there are some new pieces of information to add to the pile. I’ve put up a chart on the wall behind the door there”—he nodded to the closed door—“and we’ll add to it as we get information. I think it would behoove us to pay close attention to that, because if we forgot something, we could well be in a great deal of trouble.”

  “Aren’t we already in a great deal of trouble?” Metatron asked. “After all, we’re having a council of war with guests—Archdemons and a personal assistant demon. That’s usually who we’re having a council of war about.”

  “We are living in uncertain and difficult times, Metatron,” Adramelek said smoothly. “Believe me, this alliance is not to all of our tastes, but we all can agree that it is necessary in order to fix the situation.”

  “Quite,” Raziel said. “And so I have information from Penemuel, Kokabiel, and Baraqiel. Does anyone else have new information?”

  “We do,” Gabriel said. “About the persecution of the shifters here.”

  “Yes, I have some on that situation as well,” Adramelek said. “And on Semjaza.”

  “I have some information on the sick and injured downstairs,” Raphael said.

  “Well then,” Raziel said, “let’s begin. Who wants to go first?”

  Adramelek shrugged. “I might as well. As I said to you earlier, Raziel, Lucifer tells me that Semjaza had no intention to get a hold of the Grail for himself. The only things in his mind were revenge, anger, and fear. Most of all was the fear. Which, considering he is now enjoying eternity locked into the Sea of Frozen Souls, was quite valid.

  “Little things are beginning to fracture. Lucifer said to me that this contention between the regular citizens of this fine city and the shifters is part of that. I don’t know how you intend to fix that one, but may I suggest some sort of display of divinity? Gabriel, you’re known here as God’s messenger, why don’t you appear in glorious splendor to the priests who are leading this charge of hatred and command them to stop or else?”

  Gabriel laughed. “Or else what?”

  Adramelek quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t know, or else he’ll end up in Hell? That being a man of God and breaking that love one another commandment never ends well?”

  Gabriel looked thoughtful. “That could work,” he said. “Aye, all right, I’ll do that. Best to do it at night; they always seem to be more receptive to a visitation at night.”

  “And if they seem as if they want to resist, threaten them with your beloved and his mighty length,” Adramelek said, keeping his expression and voice deadpan.

  Gabriel gaped at him and then burst out laughing. “He means your sword, baby,” he said to Michael, who had gone red as a beetroot. “He’s trying to get a rise out of you… oh dear, wrong choice of word. A reaction out of you.”

  Michael groaned and shook his head and glanced toward the ceiling. “I am surrounded by children,” he said. “But as you say.”

  “One thing solved,” Raziel said. He made a note in a notebook that Adramelek had not seen him pick up. “That’s a relief. If this was all bad news, I’d be depressed.”

  “If I may?” Raphael leaned forward. “The injured and the sick concern me greatly.”

  “Why’s that, Raph?” Uriel asked.

  “They’re suffering from ailments and injuries I haven’t seen since the first century BC.” Raphael shook his head. “None of the usual remedies of healing spells are working.”

  Lix Tetrax coughed politely. “Take me down to see them,” she said. “It may be that Hell’s medicine will work where Heaven’s will not.” She smiled. “I am now Hell’s Physician as well as my other duties. It’s an appointment that I rather enjoy—and I am very good at it.”

  Raphael didn’t even argue. He simply nodded. “At this point, I’ll take anything. Thank you.”

  She nodded once. “Don’t mention it.”

  “Two things sorted,” Raziel said. “This is good, very good.”

  “Aye, that does make the situation with the shifters and what they’re going through easier to fix,” Gabriel agreed. “I was gonna say that things were bad out in the city, that it was a bunch of zealots acting on hate and misunderstanding, but Adramelek’s suggestion is a damn good one. I reckon it’ll work.”

  “Good,” Raziel said. “All right, I guess that leaves just Haniel and me.”

  “What did you learn?” Michael asked.

  Haniel stood up. “Quite a bit. This young man—” He reached over to pick up a pile of photographs and hand them around. “—has been seen several times. Does anyone recognize him?”

  They all looked at the photograph. From the expressions of the others in the room, Adramelek knew that none of them did.

  “Oh well,” Haniel said. “I suppose it was too much to hope for that we’d hit pay dirt right off the bat.”

  “Pardon?” Michael asked.

  “He didn’t think we’d be able to get what we needed immediately,” Metatron explained.

  “Oh. I see.” Michael considered the photograph. “Perhaps we should make more copies of this and ask the shifters if they recognize him. And give copies to Gabriel’s Seraphim to ask people about.”

  “Good idea.” Raziel made another note in his book.

  “What’s the significance of this young man?” Samael asked.

  “We’re not sure,” Raziel said. “He’s popped up in some strange places, though. I would wager that if Tzadkiel took this photo to Saint Catherine’s Monastery and showed the Father there, that this would be the man who visited before the false Grail was stolen.”

  Tzadkiel pursed his lips. “I can do that after we finish here, if you want. Just to make sure.”

  “Please do,” Michael said. “Let us be certain.”

  “All right.” Tzadkiel folded the photo and put it into his jacket pocket.

  “This man was seen in the library in London where Penemuel works,” Raziel said. “He was asking questions about the Grail and what the collection in the library had on the subject. Penemuel didn’t tell him anything, which is fortunate, I think. Penemuel is now researching the Grail and will contact myself or Haniel when he has found anything that could be of use. What I am most hoping for is something about the place it has been kept for the last two thousand-odd years.”

  “That would be helpful,” Michael said.

  “So, that was positive in that Penemuel is a good researcher and I have no doubt he’ll have something for us soon.” Raziel paused to spread out the rest of his papers, which, Adramelek saw, were large photographs of the stars. “Now, this is another mystery.

  “This photo”—Raziel pointed to one of the large charts—“shows the stars from thirty-six hours ago. As you can see, there is nothing untoward. But if you look at this photo—” He pulled the other large chart to the fore. “—you’ll see something very strange.”

  They all moved closer to the table, regarding the photo with great interest. It was Melcherisa who let out a startled oath.

  “Where are the stars?” He pointed to a part of the photo, which showed nothing but blackness.

  “Exactly.” Raziel looked around the assembled. “Where are the stars?”

  “Did Kokabiel and Baraqiel know?” Sophiel asked.

  “They did not,” Raziel said.

  They all looked at the star photo again.

  “What does it mean?” Samael wondered.

  “I have a feeling that we will find out before too long,” Raziel said. “And I have a feeling that we will not like the answer.”

  A depressed silence fell over the gathered. Adramelek returned to his seat and pulled his cigarettes from his pocket. He removed one from the pack, lit it, inhaled deeply, and exhaled toward the ceiling a moment later.

  “Whatever happens,” he said grimly, “we will not be going down without a fight. The walls of reality will not go down quietly or easily.” />
  “That, at least, we can agree on,” Michael said. “Let us go now and take care of our tasks. We should reconvene again tomorrow morning.”

  They all stood. “If anything else comes up,” Raziel said, “we should all meet here at once.”

  Lix Tetrax moved to Raphael. “Take me to your sickroom,” she said. “And I will see what I can do.”

  Raphael nodded. “This way, please.” They left the room, Israfel and Tabbris following.

  Melcherisa stretched. “I think I’ll go down into the city and see what I can learn from the lesser demons who live here. They’ll talk to me where they wouldn’t talk to an angel.” He grinned at Raziel. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

  “Good idea, thanks.” Raziel nodded.

  Melcherisa touched his forehead with his index finger in a salute and sauntered out of the room.

  “Get some rest,” Michael advised. “We can do no more tonight.” He turned to the Archdemons. “Do you have a place to stay?”

  Adramelek hadn’t actually thought about that. Ondrass, however, had.

  “Yes,” he said, smoothing a hand down the front of his expensive wool suit. “There is a five-star hotel three blocks away. We have taken the penthouse suite under the name Adrian Lek.”

  “Really?” Adramelek laughed. “You couldn’t give me a better human name than that?”

  “Time was of the essence,” Ondrass said with an airy wave of one hand.

  “And we didn’t have a lot of choice,” Markus said apologetically.

  “Oh well. It could be worse.” Adramelek grinned. “Let’s go to our hotel then. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Michael nodded.

  “Thank you, all,” Raziel said. “This is a difficult situation and I know none of us are happy about what we have to do, but the fact that we’ve set aside our differences to fix this means a lot.”

  “No more emotions.” Uriel held up a hand. It was the first thing he’d said since sitting down. “I can’t handle it.”

  Raziel laughed. “Okay, well, on that note, see you all in the morning.”

  Adramelek turned to Ondrass and Markus. “Let’s go to this hotel.”

  Ondrass nodded, placing one hand on Markus’s shoulder and the other on Adramelek’s. Then he moved them, away from the apartment building and to the trade alley behind the hotel.