Page 25 of The River of Fire

How is it possible for one person to come so close to death as frequently as my lamb does? She is a magnet for mayhem, the wolves always circling, waiting to strike.

I narrow my eyes in thought. Sheep are in danger from wolves in a field… but not when confined to a stable.

“Naamah!” I yell into the ether, my voice echoing through the empty throne room. For someone who spent eons in tight control of his emotions, I certainly am displaying a multitude of them now.

The succubus pops into existence in front of me, immediately assuming her usual alluring posture: her red-tipped fingers resting on a slim waist, curved hip cocked out, head tilted playfully, curls spilling over the generous amounts of skin on display. Her wings are out of sight today.

“Uncle, I told you already, I don’t know where Father is,” she pouts, her bright red lips dewy and glistening.

“I have a task for you,” I say calmly.

“Oh?” she perks up immediately, her spade-tipped tail swishing animatedly behind her. “What kind of task?”

I grin, already relishing the culmination of my plan. Asmodai would enjoy the lengths I am going to in order to fuck this intriguing mortal out of my system.

My grin fades and I grit my teeth. We need to find out where my brother is and staunch this exodus from Hell into the mortal realm – our existence depends on it.

I exhale through my nose and return my attention to Naamah. My niece is used to the prolonged spells of stillness and quiet that come with being older than the dirt under my bastion – time is often of little consequence to ancients.

“When the time is right, I need you to fuck a Cambion boy to distraction. I don’t want him thinking of anything but being between your legs for as long as possible. Feed until he is weak.” I pause for a beat and then add, grumbling, “Do not kill him.” The lamb seems to be fond of the lanky young male that’s often by her side, and I can always dispose of him later should he prove a nuisance.

She cracks her tail like a whip and those luscious lips spread into a siren’s call of a grin.

“It will be my pleasure, Uncle.”

Chapter 19 – Lana

Ispend the next days recovering – once again. Daniel feels so guilty for suggesting I go out to join Nick alone, that he’s refusing to let me leave his sight.

I take advantage of the downtime to read up more on the creature occupying my waking and sleeping mind. I tell myself that the next old tome I devour will be the one to explain why he saved me twice now, annihilating my attackers. All I get is more myths and contradictions.

“I think I may have invoked him somehow,” I murmur, not looking up from the open book in my lap.

“What do you mean?” Daniel asks from his position across the library desk. Reluctantly, I meet his gaze. He’s sitting in a recliner just like me but with far more dignity.

“I mentioned him by name when Nick was insulting me. And I was looking athis seal that day.”

Daniel shakes his head. “It is not that simple. There are summoning rituals, yes, ones the world has mostly forgotten. But even then the stronger demons had a choice whether to answer. Perhaps he was listening for you, but you did not willfully summon him.”

I hang my head and voice the thoughts that have been plaguing my mind at night. “It’s my fault. Maybe I could have subdued him somehow. Maybe he could have been… I don’t know. Reformed?”

The sound of a book snapping closed makes me flinch, but Daniel’s voice is soft as he replies. “From your account of the fight, you gave Nick ample opportunity to cease his madness. More than most would have given him. He would have killed you because you were unwilling to kill him instead. And I understand, child, I do. The choice, however, was taken out of your hands and I am not the only one who is glad that it was.”

Tears slide down my cheeks and I quickly move the book before they can smear the ink. I did want Nick dead in those final moments. But, I don’t think the archdemon would have spared him even if I had dropped my gaze in that pivotal moment. He would have probably just taken him elsewhere before he killed him.

“It was not your fault,” Daniel says, probably accurately reading the play of emotions on my face again. He reaches for another book, giving me space to think.

“Will everyone see it that way though?” I’ve been sleeping with a dagger under my pillow, thinking of the couple of cronies Nick had had, but they haven’t approached me. I haven’t seen them even during Nick’s funeral.

Once we got home that day, Maalik sent a few soldiers after Nick’s remains. We burned his body the day after, the majority of Purgatory’s residents in attendance. Daniel had already appraised them about the circumstances regarding his death and it took all my strength to keep my chin up, expecting insults – what Nick spewed at me and worse – expecting all the soldiers to give me hateful looks. What I got instead were curiousglances. Darla walked up to me during the makeshift funeral, squeezing my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she said, and she meant it. I told her it’s not her fault. It’s not like she told him to let his anger and jealousy twist him so much that he would kill over it. Though I expect Nick was twisted before he even came here.

We’re not born predestined to be evil, like Heaven likes to believe. We’re shaped by our experiences and circumstances, just like normal humans are. We just have to put more effort into controlling our impulses; Cambion to take the path of least resistance and Nephilim, well… to offer too little resistance, turning the metaphorical other cheek one too many times to those predators that exploit any goodness and kindness in a person. As for me, I have to struggle with both, with a temper that’s easy to rile, and a tendency to see only the best in people.

I shake myself out of my thoughts once I start worrying that I may see only the best in a certain archdemon. Daniel’s just observing the play of emotions on my face in silence until I focus on him again. “Acting in fear of the opinions of others will lead you down the wrong path, Lana.”

???

A couple of weeks after I last saw Ashtaroth, Daniel finds me in the library to let me know Kevin is waiting for me for a patrol. Not questioning the unscheduled activity, as it’s far from the first time, I get dressed and head outside to meet him.

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