A Candle in the Sun

by L. J. LaBarthe

  Jonathon nodded. “Okay. Though I have a feeling that I’ll probably sleep for a few days now.”

  “Eat first,” Tzadkiel said. “Then sleep.”

  “Okay.”

  “We will make sure he takes nourishment,” another Ophanim said. “We will watch and protect, my lord Tzadkiel.”

  “Then we can return to base and do what’s needed. Thank you, all of you.”

  “Indeed,” Raziel said. “Thank you all very much.”

  The four Ophanim bowed low. Then they straightened and helped Jonathon from the room. Once the door had closed behind them with a soft click, Tzadkiel looked at Uriel and Raziel.

  “Simon Edwards is behind this, eh?”

  “So it seems,” Raziel said.

  “Ondrass is going to explode.”

  “Why?” Uriel asked.

  “Because Mr. Edwards is known to him. He asked for a deal.”

  Raziel gasped. “What the fuck?”

  “How do you know that?” Uriel demanded.

  “I know all the humans who try to make deals with Archdemons, it’s part of being the chief of Heaven’s secret police and the Archangel of Judgment.” Tzadkiel was amused by their responses. “He wanted a deal, summoned Ondrass, pissed him off, and Ondrass turned him down flat.”

  “What was the deal?” Raziel asked.

  “I don’t think you’ll be surprised by this. He wanted to make money out of selling weapons to the demons during the war. He wanted Ondrass to give him the ability to travel between Earth and Hell and supply the ones who were fighting. Ondrass was part of the original alliance with us and so that prohibited him from agreeing anyway, but he told Edwards that he wasn’t interested in working with a human weapons dealer, and Edwards insulted him a bit and threatened to kill him.”

  “Wow,” Uriel breathed. Then he burst out laughing. “Fuck me, his reaction is going to be priceless.”

  “We should go,” Tzadkiel said. “We need to report on this. All of it.”

  “Agreed,” Raziel said. “Shall we?”

  Tzadkiel nodded, and as one, the three Archangels moved, teleporting back to Portland and Ondrass’s office tower.

  “WHAT DID Selana say?” Declan was pacing back and forth and Liam wished he’d stop.

  “She said—and you’re not going to like this—that we need to meet with Papa Legba.”

  Declan froze. “No!”

  “Yeah, man.”

  Declan chewed nervously on his lower lip. “Why?”

  “Well, since we had that situation and two loa come and help us, Papa wants to talk to us. He could just come and deal with us as he chooses, you know. The fact he’s asking means that this is way more serious than we first thought.”

  “Which is why I’m thinking this is brown pants time. Holy shit.” Declan shook his head. “Have you ever met him?”

  “Me?” Liam stared at his brother. “Hell no!”

  “We need to get some supplies, then,” Declan said.

  “Yeah, I know. We need to find the best quality rum available around here.”

  “And some cigars.” Declan shook his head. “Where are we going to find those around here?”

  “I don’t know, dude. But we will.”

  “And where are we going to meet him? It can’t be here in Portland and it definitely can’t be in Salem.”

  “We’ll have to go out of the city a ways, I think,” Liam said. “Fuck.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. How much time do we have?”

  “Not long. Selana said he wants to talk to us before we all leave for Colorado.”

  Declan swore again. “So we’ll have to meet him tonight. Okay, let’s go down into the city, find a swanky liquor store and get that sorted. Then we’ll get some food to take with us, some cigars.”

  Liam nodded. He felt greatly relieved that his brother was taking charge. When he’d read the e-mail from Selana an hour ago, he had thought his eyes were deceiving him. His stepmom had been kind but firm, and Liam knew better than to question her. In this, as in all things magical, he deferred to her knowledge and experience completely.

  “Are we going to tell the others?”

  Declan grunted. “Either way, it’s going to end in a million questions that neither of us will want to answer. Let’s tell Gabe, and then he can tell them.”

  Liam laughed. “They’ll love that. Angelique will make a purse out of your balls, dude.”

  “And Baxter will give you that kicked puppy look, and you’ll feel a million times worse than me,” Declan retorted.

  Liam winced. “Shit, he will too.”

  “Let’s get the rum, and I’ll call Gabe,” Declan said. “We can do two things at once.”

  “Okay.”

  “If I may interject a moment.” It was Markus, and Liam started as the demon walked out of the shadows of the room. “I believe I can help you with some of the items you need.”

  “Why?” Declan asked bluntly.

  “Because we’re all in this together, little man.” Markus smiled an oily sort of smile. “Now, do you want my advice or do you want to scurry around Portland like diligent but naïve little mice?”

  “Do you have to be so damn insulting?” Declan asked.

  “The truth is often insulting,” Markus said. “Pay attention. There’s a liquor store down the road that sells very high quality rum. Now, I have no doubt that your Puerto Rican upbringing will be leading you straight to the shelf of Bacardi, but resist this time. You want a bottle of Don Q Gran Añejo. As for cigars, I would suggest the Montecristo No. 2, which is very expensive and most likely out of your meagre budget. Do your best to extend that budget, though, as these are the finest cigars in the world. Finally, here is the business card of a baker of my acquaintance, Miss Sky, who makes the best coffee mousse torte in Portland. I’m certain that these offerings will please Papa Legba.”

  Liam took the card of the baker and nodded. “That all sounds great, but I still wonder why you’re helping us with this. And how do you know so much about the loa?”

  Markus regarded Liam silently.

  “Dude.” Declan tapped Liam’s shoulder. “He’s not going to answer.”

  “Indeed I am not. Take the suggestions for what they are: the best you can offer one who enjoys such things.” Markus inclined his head. “As for location to meet him, there are several isolated crossroads… if you know where to look.”

  “And of course, you want us to ask you where to look,” Declan said.

  Markus smirked.

  Liam sighed. “You’re really irritating, you know that? All right, where should we look for these isolated crossroads? You don’t need to give us your thoughts on how to set up an altar or anything, by the way—we do know how to do that. We’re not novices, you know.”

  “I would never dream of insulting your manly Santero or Vodoun pride with such a suggestion,” Markus said. “However, the crossroads are hard to find, and so I will give you a map.”

  “Just tell us already,” Declan said with a sigh.

  “Very well. The crossroads of SE Borges Road, SE Schacht Road, and SE Rodlun Road is the best place, I believe. There were people living there some decades ago, but now it’s all deserted and overgrown. A place where you will not be disturbed. It’s not far—only seventeen miles, in the Damascus area.”

  “I know it,” Liam said.

  “Then I will leave you to your shopping, driving, and meeting,” Markus said. With that, he was gone.

  “He is such a pain in the ass,” Declan said. “Though I can’t deny that he gave us some awesome suggestions.”

  “It kills you a little to say that, though, doesn’t it?”

  “Bro, you have no idea how much. Okay, let’s get this show on the road.”

  Together they went out into the city. Finding the rum and cigars proved to be easier than Liam had hoped, although the price of the cigars made both him and his brother wince. They bought two, and then a bottle of the rum, and when they heade
d to Declan’s truck, Liam counted his money.

  “I hope this cake doesn’t cost a fortune,” he said.

  “Are we broke again?”

  “Yeah, I think so.” Liam sighed. “We’re going to have to get a job or something.”

  “We have a job. I’ll hit Gabe up for money when we get back,” Declan said. “So the bakery’s around the corner here.”

  “Okay.”

  It was easy to spot Corelli’s Sugar, and as soon as they stepped into the shop, Liam could see—and smell—why Markus had recommended it. Every sort of baked delight was spread out in a glass cabinet and a woman with honey-blonde curls tied back beneath a hairnet was smiling at them.

  “What can I get you boys?”

  “Are you Miss Sky?” Declan asked.

  “I sure am. And you are?”

  “Declan and my brother, Liam. An individual named Markus recommended you.”

  She laughed. “Ah, the demon. I know him, and Ondrass. And the Archangel, Remiel, as well.”

  “I feel a lot better knowing that angels come here as well as demons,” Liam said. He smiled at the woman. “We were told you make the best coffee mousse torte in town.”

  “Markus has a silver tongue,” Miss Sky said. “But they are popular. You’re in luck, boys, I’ve got two slices left.”

  “Just one, thanks,” Declan said. “Could you gift box it, if it’s no trouble?”

  “Sure, honey.” She bustled about and Liam returned his attention to the display cabinet.

  When Miss Sky returned, he shot a sidelong glance at his brother and said, “Can I also get a bear claw for me and a cherry pie for my brother, please?”

  “Dude….”

  “Dec, I could hear you salivating over it the moment we stepped in here.” Liam grinned at him. “And I haven’t had a good bear claw in months.”

  “We must never tell our other halves about this,” Declan said. “They’ll yell at not getting any. We can bring them here later.”

  “It’s a deal,” Liam said.

  Miss Sky chuckled as she packaged up their order. “That’ll be twenty dollars, boys.”

  Liam handed her a crumpled twenty-dollar note and Declan took the paper carry bag with their desserts.

  “Thanks,” Liam said. “We’ll definitely be back.”

  “I hope so. Have a good day!”

  “You too,” Declan said, smiling at her.

  They left the shop and Liam let out a loud breath. “Well,” he said to his brother, “all we need to do now is get to the crossroad and set up.”

  “That about sums it up,” Declan agreed. “Let’s go.”

  ONDRASS WAS in a rage and Adramelek watched him thoughtfully. Raziel had given Ondrass some information and then made a presentation to everyone. During that presentation, Ondrass had sat, silent and stony-faced, tapping his left index finger on the table in an angry staccato. Now everyone had left the room and only the Archdemons and Markus remained.

  “I take it that the news of who’s behind Transom has irked you?” Adramelek asked.

  Ondrass spun to face him, his face distorted as his demon visage shone through his human features. “Irked? Irked? What I am feeling, good Adramelek, is quite a bit more than irk!”

  “Ondrass, calm down,” Melcherisa said. “We can’t make plans with you huffing and puffing like the big, bad wolf. Take a breath, have a whisky and a cigar, and let’s get to work.”

  Ondrass glared at him. “You have no idea—”

  “No, we don’t.” Lix Tetrax stood up and moved to him, then rested her hands on his shoulders. “Andy, please. You’re angry, we can all see this. Explain things to us and then we can all brainstorm a suitable punishment for the individual who has infuriated you.”

  Ondrass snarled silently at her and tore himself from her grasp. He kicked a nearby coffee table and it exploded into splinters. Then he turned and threw himself into a chair and buried his head in his hands.

  Adramelek got up and went to the tasteful bar in the corner of the room and picked up an unopened bottle of whisky and six glasses. He returned to the main table and set everything down, then poured whisky for all of them. After he picked up one of the glasses, he touched Ondrass’s shoulder lightly and, when Ondrass looked at him, proffered it.

  Ondrass sighed and took it. “Thank you.” He lifted the glass and took a sip, swallowed, and sighed again. “My apologies. Raziel’s information angered me.”

  “We see that. But we don’t know why,” Melcherisa said. “Tell us why, Andy.”

  “It’s only because we’re in the same guild that you’re all getting away with using that ridiculous nickname,” Ondrass said. “Andy the Archdemon indeed! If I didn’t like Lily so much, I’d smite her.”

  “No, you wouldn’t, because Michael would smite you,” Lix Tetrax said.

  “Damn you all for being right.” Ondrass glared around the table, and then he shook his head and smiled ruefully. “All right, to business, then. Raziel told everyone who is behind Transom.”

  “Yeah, some family called Edwards,” Melcherisa said.

  “Indeed. Mr. Edwards senior and I have had… a previous encounter,” Ondrass said. He paused to take another sip of his whisky. “Now, this encounter was toward the end of the Seventy Years War. He and his family were feeling very unhappy because they were losing money and on the verge of bankruptcy. They’d been quite a powerful and wealthy family, making their fortune in steel and coal. With the war, everything stopped.”

  “Yeah, it was a bit weird, that,” Lix Tetrax said. “I know it’s been explained, but….”

  “You weren’t around during the first war on Earth,” Adramelek said to her. “It happened then, too. Humanity wasn’t around, true, but the monsters were, and they were slowly evolving, learning, inventing, that sort of thing. When we were fighting then—before Eden was built and after Lucifer’s fall—all of that stopped. It’s as if when there’s a war between angels and demons that all else freezes in place, as if existence can’t move forward due to the pressures from a war fought between such powerful forces.”

  “It’s something of a cautionary tale, isn’t it?” Melcherisa mused. “I mean, you’re the only one here in the room who was around for all of it—the Fall, Eden, the Flood, Jesus—all of history. And so you’ve seen what happens when angelkind and demonkind confront each other in open warfare. I think I see why God and Lord Lucifer made the treaty. Everything stops and that’s no good for anyone, regardless of who they are or who they’re affiliated with.”

  “You’ve hit the nail on the head, Melcherisa,” Adramelek said. “That is, I think, a big part of the reason for the treaty.”

  “You don’t know for sure?” Lix Tetrax asked.

  “No, and I’m not going to ask. That information is above my pay grade.” Adramelek leaned back in his chair. “To the present, then. Ishtahar, Agrat, Shateiel, Hiwa, Ahijah, Remiel, Samael, Uriel, Raziel, and Tzadkiel, along with his shadows, Brieus and Sophiel, are trotting along to Colorado to infiltrate and gather intelligence. We’re all sitting here, waiting on that intelligence before going down there to do some killing. And Ondrass is a very angry Archdemon.”

  “I am,” Ondrass said. He toyed with his glass. “Mr. Edwards summoned me ten years before the war ended. He had managed to find a spell strong enough to summon an Archdemon. Oh, don’t worry,” he added, as Lix Tetrax and Melcherisa gasped, “I burnt the spell and erased it from his memory and computer.”

  “What did he want?” Adramelek asked.

  “He wanted me to assist him in a new financial endeavor. While I do quite enjoy money, we had that little agreement with the Archangels not to enter the war or have our legions get involved. So I was constrained by that. He wanted me to help him move between Earth and Hell and sell weapons to demons, a sort of Infernal Black Market. When I said that I couldn’t do that, he stabbed me with a blade that he’d consecrated in the blood of an angel, believing it could kill me.”

  “He didn’
t!” Adramelek was stunned.

  “Oh yes. Of course, it didn’t really do much except sting, but I was quite put out by his rudeness, so I gave him a lesson in good manners and set fire to his hair, his collection of Ming Dynasty pottery I stole, and I took all of his art collection and gave it to the Louvre.”

  Lix Tetrax laughed. “I bet he was pissed.”

  “Very much so.”

  Markus wrinkled his nose. “He tried to catch me in a demon net to make Ondrass give everything back to him and do what he wanted.”

  “Kidnapping and blackmail?” Adramelek was amazed. “He really has a lot of gall trying that on with us.”

  “As he learned.” Ondrass sneered. “I repaid his thoughtfulness by killing his youngest brother in front of him and promising to kill a member of his family every five minutes until he let Markus go or I ran out of family members—whichever came first. He was very quick to free Markus after that.”

  “And then you left him and went back to Hell?” Melcherisa asked.

  “Yes. I made a report. To Uphir, who, as we know now, was not really working for the greater good, so who knows what he did with it.” Ondrass rolled his eyes.

  “Wow,” Adramelek said. “That’s quite a tale.”

  “What an ass,” Lix Tetrax said.

  “There is more, my lords and lady,” Markus said deferentially. “As you all know, we have been playing the stock market, in futures.”

  “Yes, and?” Melcherisa asked.

  “Well, Transom wanted to make a deal. So now we know who’s behind Transom, but they don’t know who’s behind Ondrass’s company….” Markus smirked suggestively.

  Adramelek began to laugh. “Oh my,” he said between his peals of laughter, “I hope you plan to clean him out of all his income.”

  “It crossed my mind,” Ondrass admitted. “And I decided that I would do that, at the eleventh hour, so to speak. I want him to think he’s winning, and then, when he feels his victory is quite complete, I will ruin him.”