Page 27 of Absolved In Death

“Diana, meet your sister, Tabitha,” Lucifer drawled while he gestured at said corpse on the floor. “She’s dead to me because she tried to kill me and take my throne centuries ago. Then she murdered Oisín’s lover. Instead of punishing her for eternity, I allowed him to seek the vengeance he was due. He killed her, or so we thought…”

I wasn’t sure why I was so shocked. Lucifer did tell me I was his onlysurvivingdaughter once. I just didn’t think she’d ever resurface. Or that she’d be such a cunt. Or that I’d have a hand in her actual death. My men were locking eyes with each other, no doubt talking amongst themselves about what to do next. It stung that I wasn’t included in the conversation.

“Don’t you dare feel guilty about this. She was worse than our brother. I killed her because she was living garbage and the world is a better place without her. Technically Poseidon killed her…” Oisín assured me.

“I had no clue Tabitha was your kin, but I’d do it again. She was targeting magical communities for decades on Red’s behalf, slowly poisoning the Council and turning people against you. As soon as she caught wind of Marilyn, Raphael and I knew we had to adjust our plan.” Poseidon snapped his fingers, magically changing from his blue robe to an ocean blue suit with a crisp white shirt and a light pink tie.

“Does anyone ever stay dead?” I asked. It always felt like everyone came back from the dead around here.

“Not for long,” Q quipped from behind me. He snuck up on meagain. “Figured you needed a clean up crew?”

“Um, yes. But please have someone discreet take care of it.” I didn’t want it getting out around the compound where we killed a member of the Council.

Q gave me ahold my meadlook, and laughed to himself. A bright opalescent white light streamed from his hands, surrounding Tabitha’s body until it wrapped around her completely. The light pulsated, moving like a living, breathing thing as her body shrank. The light got brighter the smaller her body became. When the light snuffed out, she was gone.

“You’re welcome,” he quipped.

“Fae PA to the rescue,” Michael exclaimed. It sounded like a tagline in the making.

“Diana, it’s good to see you again,” Raphael said, offering his hand to me.

As I shook it, I said “We haven’t met.”

“I was there when your soulbond with Azazel was formed. My magic forged the bond with Michael’s. If you ever need me, say the words.”

I wasn’t sure what to make of the archangel. He was only my height, with brown hair and eyes. He was average looking to a fault, but he had a very casual, inviting air to him. It was hard to believe that this was the man who voted for Zaz to be disgraced. Did his undercover mission mean that God was on our side? Maybe they weren’t as neutral as Zaz and Michael thought they were.

“This is further proof that someone on the inside is feeding information to Red. I think it’s time we move. Until we know more about Red’s whereabouts, this compound isn’t safe,” Judas suggested.

“We need to make a battle plan. Do recon. Train. Get on the offensive,” Ares thought aloud as he paced. “But where would we go? And how would we keep the rat from broadcasting our whereabouts?”

“We’d need a place that was concealed, or magically protected to keep outsiders away,” Mal added as he paced with Ares.

“Or a place that’s so secure, no one can leave…” Q suggested, a smirk blooming across his sharp face. “Lucifer…”

“Absolutely not,” my father barked. “Don’t you dare say?—”

“Pit 13?” Michael filled in the blank. “That would be a great idea, if it wasn’t a one way in with no escape kind of pit.”

“Yeah, and it’s a barren torture wasteland down there,” Mal said as he took my hand. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with Diana, or any of us, being down there again…”

“Lucifer and I made the place, so we can alter the magic and build an escape. Red was able to trap you in there, but even he can’t come inside—I’d know if he was in my pit. But unless anyone has other suggestions, it’s the only place I know about with the kind of security we need,” Q said. He had a point. Pit 13 was practically a fortress.

“What about the prisoners that are already down there?” Oisín asked. “They’re not going to like the man who put them in there suddenly setting up shop.”

“I didn’t put many of them in there, actually. I made Pit 13 toward the end of my time as Satan.” Lucifer scratched his beard in thought. “Quelier, can you show me the stats on who sent the most prisoners to the pit?”

His tablet appeared in his hand, and a few swipes later he announced, “Red!”

“I was telling Desmond that we should try to convert the prisoners down there to our army. We can give them a deal—they join our forces for a commuted sentence. Any misconduct on their part, and they’re destroyed.”

Lucifer looked to Judas, a few moments of silence passing between them before saying, “We’ll take the rest of the night to decide. Either way, spread the word for everyone to pack their things and be on high alert.”

8

MAL

It had been a week since the council members came to visit. Lucifer, Quelier, Desmond, and Bash had been working tirelessly to renovate Pit 13. It was all they talked about at meetings, meals, and even the few spare hours we had at night. The very thought of returning to that place made my stomach sour, so I spent my evenings in the compound’s library. The room was the size of the training facility, with two long rows of shelves toward the center. The decor was starkly different from the rest of the barrack-style compound. Dark woods, rich velvets, and a plush rug added an air of splendor that drew me in. The corners were lounge areas with couches, chairs, and poufs where people could relax while they read. It was smaller than the library I once had on my estate centuries ago, but it was a deserted fortress where I could take time to myself. Every time I left proved more difficult than the last.

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