Michael raised his eyebrows even as Gabriel let out a quiet whistle of surprise.
“Lightbringer’s more pissed off than I thought,” Gabriel mused.
“Yes, well, one does not try to hide one’s bad behavior from the Devil,” Ondrass said urbanely. “They have to pay the piper, so to speak.”
“I find I can bear that with enormous fortitude,” Samael said.
“Quite,” Ondrass agreed.
“All right, well, we might as well get on with this,” Gabriel said. He looked toward the horizon, noting that the sky was slowly beginning to lighten. “I reckon dawn’s maybe half an hour away.”
“As you say.” Michael drew his sword and his dagger. “Shall we?”
Gabriel whistled and six Seraphim flew to join them, forming a V-shaped wedge behind the four Archangels and Israfel. Walking quietly beside Michael, with Uriel on his other side, Gabriel could hear the soft crunch of sand beneath his boots and, in the distance, the discordant howl of a dingo.
The sky grew imperceptibly lighter, and as they reached the boulder, Michael raised his sword to the sky, muttered a single word, and released his power, swinging his weapon down and plunging the point of the blade into the sand.
A hole opened up, and dust and debris crashed down into the cave beneath. Michael, with Gabriel on his heels, jumped down into the hole.
As the hole continued to expand, unroofing the cave system and revealing its contents to the sky, Gabriel and Michael moved through it with Uriel, Tzadkiel, Samael, Israfel, and the Seraphim in their wake.
There were humans, shocked and frightened humans, who leaped to their feet and started yelling. Gabriel let Uriel deal with them; his attention was fixed on the sight of Uphir not five feet away from him.
“You!” the Archdemon cried as Gabriel moved to him. “How… what…?”
Gabriel didn’t bother to answer. Instead, he punched his gauntlet-clad fist into the side of Uphir’s head. Uphir’s eyes glazed over and he dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Grunting, Gabriel turned and looked for Marchosias.
He could hear voices from his left, and a quick glance revealed that Michael had found Raphael and Agrat. As Uriel and Samael moved to join Gabriel, he gestured to Tzadkiel and Israfel.
“They’re through there. Go.”
Tzadkiel nodded and hauled Israfel with him through the rough opening that led into the room beyond.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the caves, the pile of unconscious, bleeding humans, and the twitching form of Uphir.
“Where the hell is Marchosias?”
Uriel scowled. “If that pretentious fucker has ’ported out….”
Gabriel growled. “Then it’s up to Adramelek to catch him. Let’s check out the rest of this lot of caves.” He didn’t wait for an answer, moving out and walking through another ragged opening into a room beyond.
It was a large room, with tables and camp beds set up for the use of the kidnappers. There were several unattended computers on the tables, and a handful of openings that led into other, smaller rooms. Gabriel moved swiftly, reaching out with his power, and as he investigated each room, he became more and more convinced that Marchosias had escaped.
Gabriel was therefore astonished to find Marchosias in the last of the rooms, hiding behind a barrel.
“Really?” Gabriel quirked an eyebrow as he strode to Marchosias, moving the barrel away with his power. “Are you so bloody dumb that you think a barrel’s going to hide you from us?”
Marchosias gibbered incoherently for a moment, terror on his face as he gazed at the three Archangels.
“Oh screw this,” Uriel said. “Let’s just hit him a bit.”
“Tempting,” Gabriel said.
“Please!” Marchosias wailed.
“Please what?” Gabriel demanded.
Marchosias whimpered. “It wasn’t me. I swear! It was all Uphir’s idea. He forced me to help him!”
“You seriously expect us to believe that?” Gabriel was amazed. “All that Hell living’s made your brain go soft.”
Samael shook his head. “Marchosias, you were ever a schemer,” he said. “I remember well how you sniveled and curried favor with us even as you simpered and fawned over Lightbringer, before the War in Heaven. You have not changed. You are planning something.”
Gabriel paused. “That’s a bloody good thought. Well.” He suddenly grinned. “Let’s send him upwards.” He raised his hand.
Quickly realizing what Gabriel meant, Uriel and Samael did the same. As Marchosias began to shriek and beg, pleading to be let go, that he was innocent, the three Archangels used their power to levitate Marchosias’s form up through the broken roof of the cave.
From above, there came a confused welter of voices, a shrill scream, and then Adramelek peered down at them.
“Thanks,” the Archdemon said. “Where’s Uphir?”
“Back there.” Gabriel jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I hit him in the head.”
“It was to be expected, I suppose,” Adramelek said. “Either you or Uriel were going to do that.”
“I’ll go and hit him again if you want,” Uriel said.
Adramelek laughed. “No, that’s fine. You”—he turned to two of his warriors—“go down there and get Uphir. Bring him to me.”
The demons bowed low, and as Gabriel stood aside, they jumped down into the cave and headed for the other room. They returned a few moments later, dragging Uphir by his feet.
“Splendid,” Adramelek said as his soldiers pulled themselves out of the cave with their power. “I believe this concludes our business, gentlemen. Do give Agrat my regards and respect.” He snapped his fingers, barking orders, and then silence fell as he left.
“They’ve gone back to Hell,” Uriel said.
“No, really?” Gabriel rolled his eyes.
“Shut up,” Uriel said. “You’ve got a smart mouth.”
“Takes one to know one,” Gabriel retorted.
“Uriel, Gabriel, please,” Samael said, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “Let us go see to Raphael and Agrat.”
The three of them turned, and Gabriel sheathed his sword.
In the room that held the cells, Gabriel paused. The collars had been removed from around Raphael and Agrat’s necks and lay discarded, shoved to one side. They glistened faintly, the shimmer coming from the potion that Gabriel guessed Michael had slathered over the buckles and locks to remove them. Curious, Gabriel moved to the collars, bent, and picked them up.
Michael moved to join him. “What will you do with those?” he asked.
“Give ’em to Raz.” Gabriel folded the collars and tucked them into his belt. “I think Raz would be annoyed if we didn’t bring him back a present. How’re Raph and Agrat?”
“Raphael is well,” Michael said, running his hand through his hair. “He and Israfel are… canoodling.”
Gabriel looked over at the pair and saw that they were, indeed, wrapped tightly around each other. He grinned. “Canoodling?”
“Yes.” Michael blushed, looking firmly at the floor. “They are… pleased to be reunited.”
“No doubt. You can’t say you’d be less pleased if I were in Raph’s shoes, though.”
Michael’s head jerked up, his expression one of iron determination. “If you had been kept within these cells, I promise you, Gabriel, none of those humans would yet live, and this wasteland would no longer exist.”
A little surprised at Michael’s vehemence, Gabriel blinked. He pulled Michael close and kissed his cheek. “You’re a love, love.”
“Gabriel.” Michael pulled out of the embrace. “Public.”
Gabriel started to laugh.
“Please, Gabriel,” Michael said, blushing again. “Refrain.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Gabriel couldn’t stop grinning, though. “So, Agrat?”
“She… will be all right, eventually. She needs rest. And she needs to be taken to Shateiel.”
Gabriel
nodded. “I’ll do that.”
“As you say. Did Adramelek collect Uphir and Marchosias?”
“Aye.” Gabriel nodded. “He were quite chuffed, I reckon.”
“Chuffed?”
“Aye. Pleased, happy, like the cat who got the canary.”
“I see.” Michael shook his head. “I shall take Tzadkiel with me and, with your permission, your Seraphim, and deal with these humans.”
“Of course.” Gabriel gestured grandly. “My army’s your army.”
“You are most kind.” Michael smiled. “You will take Agrat to Shateiel now?”
“Aye. I don’t think we’d better leave it too long.” Gabriel hummed. “I’m glad I can feel her and Raphael through our link with the rest of the Host again. I hope Shateiel can feel her as well.”
“As you say.” Michael nodded. “I will see you soon.”
“Aye.” Gabriel gave Michael another quick kiss and gestured to Uriel. “Uri, grab Raph and his boyfriend, and come back to Tzad’s with me.” He took Agrat from Samael’s arms and looked up at the Archangel of Death. “Do you wanna help Michael and Tzadkiel clean up here?”
Samael nodded. “I do. We will see you soon.”
“Aye.” Gabriel turned to Uriel and bit back a laugh as Uriel, face like a thundercloud, clapped his hands on the shoulders of Raphael and Israfel.
“This is ridiculous,” Uriel said. “I feel like I’m moving a pair of lovestruck teenage carbon apes.”
Gabriel chuckled. “Lovestruck, aye, that they are. C’mon, let’s get out of here.”
Uriel disappeared, pulling Raphael and Israfel with him, and Gabriel, grinning and carrying Agrat carefully, followed him.
15
“SO, I took a look at those collars.” Raziel was sprawled beside Uriel on Tzadkiel’s white leather sofa. Uriel rested one arm along the back of the sofa, and his expression as he looked at Raziel was fond.
“What did you find out?” Gabriel asked. He sat on the floor, legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. Michael sat beside him, close enough that they touched. It was a big concession for Michael, Gabriel knew, as Michael was not one to show affection in public at all.
Gabriel cast a quick look around the living room. Agrat and Shateiel were cuddling in an armchair, weak but alive and happy. Israfel curled up next to Raphael on the sofa across from Agrat and Shateiel, and Sophiel sat on the other side of Israfel. The rest of the Archangels and Brieus sat on chairs or the floor.
There was an atmosphere of relieved contentment in the room, and as the sun set in a glorious display of color, Gabriel couldn’t stop the smile from crossing his lips.
“Typical demon-made work.” Raziel sniffed. “Very sloppy. I bet they needed to replace them every time they got a new angel. Speaking of which, did we get the first five out of their bondage?”
“Yes.” Sophiel nodded. “Once Bri and I cracked their little bidding site, we got the information we needed. Then we set loose a rather virulent computer virus to take the whole thing down. We sent detachments of Ophanim to get the angels away from those humans who had bought them.”
“Excellent.” Raziel leaned back. “Are you all right now?” He looked at Raphael, then at Shateiel and Agrat.
“I am well,” Raphael said with a warm smile. “Very glad to be free and to be here with you all. And, of course, with Israfel.”
“I’m glad you’re here too.” Israfel clung to Raphael. “I missed you, Raph.”
“I missed you.” Raphael cleared his throat. “I believe we should go home, unless there’s something I am needed for?”
“No, everything is fine.” Raziel smiled.
“Yes. You should rest.” Michael nodded. “You will need it.”
“Oh, resting will come later,” Raphael said with a wicked grin. “Coming, baby?”
“Hell yeah.” Israfel straddled Raphael’s lap. “Let’s go home.”
Raphael wrapped his arms tight around Israfel and kissed him. They vanished a moment later.
“I fear I do not understand,” Michael said. “He needs rest. He has been under a great deal of stress.”
“Michael,” Gabriel said gently, “he and Israfel need to be together more than he needs to lie on his back and gaze at the ceiling. He’ll be fine.”
Michael frowned. “As you say,” he said, although his voice was unsure. “Perhaps I should go and see if—”
“No,” Tzadkiel cut Michael off. “No, he’s fine. I’ll go and see him in the morning.”
“I suppose that will do,” Michael said.
Tzadkiel and Gabriel exchanged an amused look.
“And we’re fine, by the way,” Agrat put in, laughing. She winked at Tzadkiel and Gabriel; then her expression became one of innocence as Michael turned his head to look at her.
“Truly? I worried for you both,” Michael said.
Agrat made a soft “aww.” “Oh, Michael,” she said fondly, “you’re a sweetheart.”
Michael colored and ducked his head. “I fear you are mistaken,” he said. “However, you are both well?”
“Weak, but that’ll pass.” Agrat leaned into her husband. “A few days of resting and we’ll be fine.”
Shateiel nodded his agreement. “Thank you. All of you.” He looked around at the assembled. “I do not imagine keeping me from willing myself from existence was fun for anyone. Thank you for stopping me. Thank you for finding my wife and bringing her back to me.”
“Naught to thank us for, Lieutenant,” Gabriel said with a gentle smile. “We were worried about you both. And now you’re back where you belong and that disgusting angel trade ring is shut down, you should both take some time to relax and recover.”
“Ishtahar is checking out your safe houses,” Remiel said to Agrat. “She’s making sure that the residents are safe and that they weren’t harmed during the period you were collared. I’ve got two of Tzadkiel’s Ophanim with her.”
Agrat looked indescribably relieved. “Oh, good. I’d been worrying about them. Ish is the perfect one to make sure they’re all right.”
“Yes.” Remiel’s smile was warm and fond. “Ish has a way about her.”
“So do you, Remi,” Agrat said, her smile broadening. “You should go and join her.”
“You know? I think I will.” Remiel got to his feet. “I’m glad we got this taken care of before things became disastrous. Are we sure that medicine works now?”
Raziel nodded. “Yes, everything is back to the way it should be.”
“Then I’ll take my leave and see you all later.” Remiel waved and vanished.
“It does concern me that this is the second time we have had to ask Archdemons for assistance,” Samael said, his rich voice thoughtful. “To be sure, they approached us first, before the war, but we all know that we would not have succeeded at all if it had not been for their assistance. I find it… uncomfortable that once again we sought out their aid.”
“Agreed,” Tzadkiel said with a sigh. “Sure, my duties take me all kinds of places and I see all kinds of things, but there’s a discomforting feeling about getting my reliable intel from an Archdemon. Or any demon at all, for that matter.”
Raziel nodded. “I can understand that. But consider—they are on the same side. Hell, Heaven, we want the same thing.” At the shocked expressions of the Brotherhood, Raziel shrugged one shoulder. “Okay, well, specific residents of Hell, some of the Fallen—like Adramelek—and some of the Archdemons are in agreement with Lucifer. And Lucifer, despite having fought against us in the War in Heaven, believes in keeping this plane strictly neutral until the Final Days. Avaricious souls like Uphir and Marchosias don’t factor into Lucifer’s intentions. Vengeful souls like the Grigori don’t either. Lucifer sees the long-term goal, which is the final fight between him and Mike. Until then, this place should remain neutral.”
“I suppose,” Michael said slowly. “However, it seems very odd.”
“Unnatural,” Samael agreed.
“We’re old,” Raz
iel said. “It’s a new concept, and it’s going to take a while to adjust to. I understand that. But it is what’s happening.”
“Adramelek said he were taking Uphir and Marchosias to Lucifer in the Castle of Black Ice,” Gabriel mused.
Raziel quirked an eyebrow. “Then we’ll never be bothered by those two again. The Castle of Black Ice is Lucifer’s favorite stronghold, after all. Once he’s dealt with them, handed them over to Adramelek for their final dispensation, that’ll be that.”
“I had not previously thought Lucifer and Adramelek were so close,” Samael said.
“Brothers-in-arms.” Raziel smiled slightly. “Adramelek’s Lucifer’s oldest friend and his most loyal. I can’t see either of them betraying the other. Ever.”
“Hm.” Samael drummed his long fingers on his knee. “That I can see. Yes, I do remember that Adramelek and Lightbringer were close before the War in Heaven. It was so long ago.”
“It was. And yet, that’s why we’re where we are today. Now”—Raziel stood up—”if you don’t mind, I’m going to go and get a pizza with all the meat and cheese on it that is possible, eat it, then take Uriel somewhere quiet for a lot of loud, hot Archangelsex.”
Uriel also stood, grinning. “You had me at Archangelsex, babe.”
“I’d hope I’d had you longer than that,” Raziel teased.
“Of course you do.” Uriel laughed.
“Raziel!” Michael gasped. “Language! There are ladies present!”
Agrat and Sophiel exchanged a long look, and then they laughed. “We’ve heard worse, Michael,” Agrat said. “And Raziel’s suggestion does have a lot to recommend it. Take me home, husband,” she said to Shateiel. “Take me home and let us eat food, then have a lot of non-Archangel sex.”
Shateiel laughed soundlessly and kissed her cheek. “How can I deny such a request?” He inclined his head to the Brotherhood of Archangels and, with Agrat in his lap, vanished, just as Raphael and Israfel had before them.
Michael, his cheeks flushed crimson, still looked shocked. “Raziel, in future, modify your language.”
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