by C. L. Coffey
I looked over to the stage. Luke was prancing around, singing, like he was completely oblivious to the crowd’s strange reaction. And then I caught the lyrics to the song he was singing.
“...The betrayal sent me hurtling to earth,
Leaving a crater sized hole in my heart.
Because I’ve been abandoned by the angels,
Abandoned by all I thought was true,
But no matter what, baby,
Heaven can refuse my entry, but I’ll never abandon you...”
What this Luke kid was singing, what the room of fans seemed to be unaware of, was about an angel falling to earth. I snatched Joshua’s hand in my own. “We need to get out of here,” I told him. “Now.”
Although Joshua didn’t seem to realize why we needed to go, he did pick up on my urgency. Without protest, he nodded. We took a couple of steps towards the door, and then something terrifying happened. Luke continued singing, but the crowd, in unison, turned to face us.
“Angel,” Joshua said, his low tone only just carrying over the music. He sounded as panicked as I felt.
We froze. The crowd stared at us, emotionless. For half a moment the idea that I couldn’t blink shot through me, but that was a different kind of angel and these were humans staring back at me. Or, I at least hoped they were humans staring back. I tightened my grip around Joshua’s hand and started to inch backwards.
I glanced over my shoulder. The crowd was all around us, but their focus seemed to be more on the area in front of us. If we were quick, we could make it to the staircase behind us. “Joshua, follow me,” I said in a low voice, before tugging at his hand. Joshua didn’t question me. Instead, he turned and allowed me to lead him through the crowd to the wrought-iron spiral staircase which led up to Heaven.
The trance kept the crowd’s reactions slow, and we managed to climb the stairs with only a few unwanted grabs. I looked over my shoulder, just as we reached the top, to see that the crowd had returned their attention to the stage.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Backstage Passes
Although the upstairs room was empty, I didn’t stop, instead heading straight for the doors to the balcony in the far corner. Heaven was one long room, just like Hell, and there was no door to close behind us. “Angel, what in Hell’s name is going on?” Joshua asked as we ran for the door.
“I don’t know,” I admitted as I reached the door. I gave it a tug. “Who locks a balcony door?” I demanded as the door didn’t open. Part of the tourist charm to New Orleans was that even if it wasn’t Mardi Gras, you could still find a balcony to throw beads off. Perhaps they were expecting crazed fans to climb up and gain entry this way.
I glanced over at Joshua. He was frowning at his phone. “There’s no signal,” he said, looking up and finding me watching him. He thrust his phone back in his pocket and stared at me. “Angel, what is going on?” he repeated. “What the hell was wrong with those people?”
“I don’t know,” I said again, raking my hand through my hair. “The murders: we thought they were creating a sigil around Bee’s,” I said, trying to work this out. “One used to raise Lucifer and return his power. Only it can’t be Lucifer because he’s dead. Your lieutenant is called Asmodeus, who is also one of the seven Princes of Darkness – but that has got to be a coincidence.”
“Much as I don’t like the idea of my boss being a fallen angel, let’s play this as worst case scenario,” Joshua told me. “I’d rather be relieved later, than get caught out.”
“Okay,” I agreed. “But I don’t think he’s the one at the center of this sigil. Whichever Prince of Darkness it is, I’m willing to bet my wings that it’s not Asmodeus. He is currently a high ranking police officer. It would make sense for him to stay in that position – I dread to think what he’s done while doing that job. Plus, you would need to be in a dark sigil for it to act as conduit.”
Joshua nodded. “A lieutenant would have access to many things in the legal system that an average person wouldn’t. Who were the other Princes of Darkness?”
“Leviathan, but he’s dead,” I told Joshua. “Beelzebub, but…” I frowned.
“But what,” Joshua prompted.
“It’s got to be a coincidence,” I muttered.
Joshua shook his head and took a step closer. “We’re playing on worst case scenario, remember. Nothing is a coincidence.”
“Pride comes before a fall,” I told him. “Seven princes, seven sins,” I added. “Lucifer was pride: he wanted man to worship him and not God. Leviathan was envy, and according to Paddy, all the men wanted to be him, and all the women wanted to be with him.”
“Asmodeus?” Joshua asked.
I shrugged. “Lust, which is why I think it’s a coincidence. But Beelzebub represents gluttony.”
“And where better to create a base, than a bar on Bourbon Street, where so many people come to drink and have a good time,” Joshua finished, his eyes wide.
I nodded. “True, but it could be Mammon: he represents Greed and you’ve got to be earning a fair bit of money to own a bar.” I shrugged. “Either way, I’m certain it’s one of the Fallen.”
There was a loud slow clap, and Joshua and I whirled around to find Ty’s father standing in the doorway, flanked by a dozen girls. “I’d say I was impressed, but given how long it has taken you to work that out, I won’t,” he said.
Instinctively, I took a step forward, putting myself between Joshua and Ty’s father. “Who are you?” I asked, cursing myself for not noticing the fact we were no longer alone.
He cocked his head at me and grinned. “Not Lucifer.” Four of the girls next to him actually swooned at the mention of his name. “I’m Tyrone’s father: Terrence. Terrence Hamilton.”
“Yes, but who are you?” I asked him, my fingers twitching, ready to reach for the dagger.
“But you were so close to working it out,” Terrence responded, folding his arms. “I’d hate to break your flow now.”
“You’re Satan?” I suggested.
“You said Lucifer was dead,” Joshua pointed out behind me. “He can’t be Satan.”
I quickly shook my head. “Satan isn’t an alias. He’s a completely different Prince altogether.”
“You know you already answered your question, don’t you,” Terrence responded, folding his arms. “Hence the round of applause, though I’m considering rescinding it given your current level of idiocy.”
“Beelzebub?” I offered, quickly running through the names I had already listed.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!” Terrence cried. He sighed and shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Ty gave you far too much credit. No, I’m not Lucifer.” Again, the girls let out a collective sigh. “I’m not Asmodeus either, although you’re right in assuming good ol’ Assy is indeed a Prince. And yes, this is my club.” He took a few steps forward and I reacted.
I reached down, plucking the dagger from my boot. By the time I was upright again, the black blade was fully extended into a sword. Simultaneously, four girls who had swooned stepped in front of Terrence. “What the hell?” Joshua cried from behind me.
“Now, ladies, let’s all calm down here,” Terrence said, his tone pleasantly cheerful. “There’s no need for bloodshed just yet,” he added.
The girls took a step back, although remaining close. I, however, refused to drop my sword, and remained in one of the defensive stances Raphael had taught me. “Who are you?” I repeated again.
Terrence grinned. “You keep asking me that, but you already know the answer.”
“You can’t be Beelzebub,” I muttered. Deep in my gut, I thought that tonight was the night Lucifer was going to reveal himself. I should have been relieved he hadn’t, but instead, I was disappointed. I couldn’t even face looking at Joshua.
“See, you do know who I am,” Terrence said with a snap of his fingers. “And for the record, Lucifer is not dead.”
“You’re Beelzebub?” Joshua asked, sounding as disappointed a
s I felt. I shook my head – this was not the time to be thinking about my personal life when there was one of the Fallen in front of me. He might not have been Lucifer, but there was certainly enough reason to fear Beelzebub for his own horrific accolades.
As I nodded my agreement, Terrence laughed. “Do you want to know the best part? It took you maybe a few months to find me? I’ve been in New Orleans for nearly three hundred years. Despite Michael moving here, he’s been completely clueless.”
“Clearly, you’re not nearly as important as you think you are,” I told him, feeling the need to defend Michael despite my annoyance with him. Two Princes of Darkness in the same city, and he hadn’t discovered either of them? Was he really that oblivious? Michael – the archangel?
“More like Michael doesn’t give me the respect I deserve,” Terrence laughed. “I’m not even insulted. It’s left me with the freedom I need to have some fun in this city.”
“What do you mean by that?” Joshua demanded.
Terrence took a couple of steps to the side and casually leaned against the bar. “Aside from opening up this empire?” he asked, gesturing around the room.
“One bar is hardly an empire,” Joshua scoffed. I was inclined to agree, but I had also seen Terrence’s house, and I was certain that wasn’t bought solely on the profits from this place.
“One bar?” Terrence repeated, seemingly amused. “Try 267 across the state.”
“What do you need that many bars for?” I blurted out.
Terrence laughed. “The problem with Michael is he’s a stubborn ass who only believes what he wants, when it suits him,” he told us, ignoring my question. “I’d bet every single one of my bars that you’ve been trying to be a diligent little angel and tell him what my girl Lilah was up to?” he asked, looking at me. I tried to keep my face blank, but something made Terrence laugh again. “I knew it. The wonderful thing about Michael is that he’s so damn predictable. The only thing more predictable than him is the chance of finding a drunk person during Mardi Gras.”
“Why are you here?” I asked Terrence. “What do you need all these bars for?”
“Drunk people are so easy to manipulate and this city already has a reputation for sin,” Terrence shrugged, looking proud. “And I’ve worked hard for a long time to maintain that reputation. Only Mammon has succeeded in creating a city with a more sinful status than this one. But that’s beside the point. Why am I here?” he repeated the question, thoughtfully.
I nodded. “You must be here for a reason?”
“In general, no. I like New Orleans. It has easy pickings, and good food. Plus I enjoy tormenting its citizens. I’m contemplating how they will handle an earthquake – you know they’re not prepared for that.” He laughed as I felt the blood leave my face. “But no, tonight I’m here for a different purpose. Vengeance.”
“You won’t be able to send Michael to Hell,” I told him, confidently.
“And why’s that?” Terrence asked. “Because he killed Lucifer once and he can do it again?” When I nodded, Terrence laughed. “He can certainly try. The thing is, I’ve been in this human body for about as long as I’ve been in New Orleans – if he killed me, he’d only kill this human I’m wearing.” He held his hands out in front of him and examined them smugly. “Michael can’t stop me.”
“Not if I stop you first,” I agreed, tightening my grip around my sword.
Terrence looked at the weapon in my hands and rolled his eyes. “Just to clear a few things up: firstly, your sword is black because you killed Lilah to release Lucifer. Thank you for that by the way,” he added, winking at me. “The fact that you saved that key’s life,” he nodded at Joshua. “That’s the only reason you didn’t lose your wings. That’s the loophole which saved you. Only if I try to kill Joshua here can you kill me without falling. And this human onesie is still alive in here, so the pain I’m assuming you felt when you killed before will be multiplied. Try living with that guilt too.”
He took a step forward and indicated to the girls behind him. “Secondly, if you try anything, you will have to go through these girls, and whichever other human is in the vicinity. If you think killing a possessed person is hard, try living with the guilt of someone innocent.”
“They’re not possessed?” I asked, looking at one of them doubtfully.
“Only with adoration for me,” Terrence said, grinning. His grin was quickly becoming annoying. “And I’ve got nothing on Lucifer and the power he has acquired through being an idol.”
“Maybe Angel can’t kill you, but I can,” Joshua said, stepping out around me, his gun drawn.
Terrence shook his head and sighed. “Let’s think that one through, shall we? You shoot me, and you will have to take down at least half of these girls.” He indicated to his entourage, and as he did so, they quickly closed rank on him. “I’m unarmed, and not attacking, and neither are they. You kill us, well, you kill them and my human onesie, and you will be arrested and put to death. I, on the other hand, will find another idiotic human because, spoilers, I’m a fallen angel and bullets can’t kill me.” The smug grin was back. “And if you try telling anyone that I’m Beelzebub, they will think you crazy; which will not get you out of the death penalty because Asmodeus is not the only strategically placed Fallen that we have in place.”
Joshua glanced at me before holstering his weapon. “So I won’t kill you, but I can arrest you.”
Terrence burst out laughing. “It should be a crime to look this good, but it’s not. There is nothing you can arrest me for.”
Joshua quirked an eyebrow. “You think?” he asked, causing Terrence to stop laughing and look at him. “Let’s start with a minor in possession of alcohol in your establishment,” he suggested, indicating to one of the girls beside him who definitely didn’t look old enough to be drinking. “I bet there are a couple thousand retweets of pictures of that kid you’ve got singing downstairs, drinking on stage. Then we can add child endangerment, soliciting alcohol, and distributing alcohol to minors.”
Terrence stared at him then burst out laughing again. “That’s a couple of hours downtown at best. Less when you consider the precinct you will have to take me to is the one run by Asmodeus. The outcome will more likely be you losing your job,” he shrugged. “Or your life,” he added, matter-of-factly.
“I don’t think so,” Joshua disagreed. “If Asmodeus wanted me dead, if you wanted me dead, I would be dead already. Asmodeus has had plenty of opportunity.”
Terrence sighed and folded his arms. “He has had plenty of opportunity. I’ll admit the reason we didn’t kill you after you had served your purpose was that I knew you couldn’t tell anyone what had happened without you being sent to some lunatic asylum. You haven’t even told anyone you’re working with an angel,” he said, pointing at me. “Much less told anyone that you’re sleeping with one.”
“We’re not sleeping with each other,” I retorted, hotly.
Terrence looked between the two of us, his expression surprised, then immediately it changed to one of understanding. “Michael,” he sighed. “I swear that guy has a stick up his ass bigger than the Burj Dubai. Well, you’re wasting an opportunity there,” he added with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Look, my point is that I had no need to kill either of you until now, and Lucifer seems to want to keep you around for a while longer. Apparently he owes you a thank you,” he let out an exaggerated sigh. “But you’re both eating into my time, and unless either one of you is prepared to do to me what all these girls are, then we’re going to have to part ways.”
“I can’t let you do that,” I told Terrence, my voice sounding much more confident than I actually felt.
“Shame you don’t have much say in that,” he told me. “If you both survive, maybe we’ll go for a beer together sometime.”
Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Raphael, was telling me that the safest thing to do was to get myself and Joshua out of there, but I wasn’t going to l
isten to the more sane part of my brain. Not when Beelzebub was charging at me with a sword.
I raised mine and deflected the blow at the last minute, knowing as I did, this wasn’t a fight I was going to win easily. With the power behind that blow, delivered from a deceptively nimble body, the strike sent tremors shooting down my arm. It was all I could do to recover quick enough to block a blow from above.
This sent another jolt through me, but I recovered faster this time, and attempted my own attack. Terrence saw it coming, ducking and punching. The blow sent me tumbling to the floor.
Recalling everything Raphael had told me about falling, recovering and retaliating, I tucked into a ball, rolling over and out of the way. Using the momentum, I leaped to my feet and whirled around, ignoring my hair as it whipped my face, and swung my sword as hard as I could at Terrence. He blocked my attack, but not before my sword nicked at his side, a crimson mark appearing on his pale pink shirt.
Terrence took a step back and looked down at himself. Then he gave me an impressed look. “Okay, you’re better than I expected, but you’re never going to be good enough to win this fight.” He looked thoughtfully at Joshua before looking back to me. “Lucifer wants him alive… I guess it wouldn’t hurt to kill you a bit later, and I guess I do have a purpose for you both tonight.”
I didn’t allow myself the opportunity to think about what he was saying. From the corner of my eye, I could see movement from his entourage and Joshua was on the other side of the room. The choice was between protecting Joshua and attacking Terrence, and I knew which of the two I was picking. I ran towards Joshua, as Terrence darted back to his female bodyguards. There was a flurry of movement from Terrence as he swapped his sword for something else.