Page 102 of I Accidentally Summoned A Demon
Melchizedek leaned over the pew and opened his eyes, leaving them to their privacy. He was supposed to mark her as the target. That was it. But he couldn’t help himself. He had to know why they were different.
Settling matters like this—separating humans from demons—was no problem for him. However, this situation wasn’t like any other, so he left a kiss on her hand that allowed him to see them together. When he examined her palm, he discovered nothing tainted. When he searched her eyes, there was purity. She passed the test he set up with the child. None of his observations added up, so he wanted to watch her with Nex in private to discover what made them unique. The purpose wasn’t to invade their privacy but to understand, and what he heard shocked him.
In all the centuries Melchizedek had been alive, a demon had never said they loved anyone and meant it. He tried to deny the aura that surrounded them in the snow, but there was no denying what he witnessed.
Nex loved the human, and she loved him.
Gabriel stepped into the church. “Did you send for it?”
Melchizedek shook his head. “I’m not convinced it is the right thing to do.”
“We have an obligation under the law. That’s how we know it’s right.”
“We’re working under old laws that existed as a blanket statement for a blanket issue. When demons were manipulating the minds of humans to get what they wanted.” Melchizedek stood. “He has not manipulated her mind. I looked into her soul, Gabriel. She is the same person, just one who loves someone who returns that love.”
“Love?” Gabriel frowned. It couldn’t be. “Demons are not capable of love.”
“Are they not? Are they not brothers and sisters in a different form, from another realm?”
Gabriel gritted his teeth. “It’s not the same. They aredemons.”
“Descendants of a fallen angel,” Melchizedek corrected. “Technically speaking, they areallangels, just fallen ones. They are not so different from us. You say their titles with disgust, yet you call on them, so you don’t get your hands dirty.”
“The ones who are there want to be there. We don’t force anyone to become a demon. They find that path on their own.”
Melchizedek nodded. “That was true once upon a time. It’s not that simple anymore. Some demons do not wish to be demons. They have no other choice since humans learned they could summon and make deals. Do you know why Nex is a demon? Have you looked into his past?”
Gabriel pursed his lips. “I don’t need to know. This is our duty. It’s unfortunate, it is, but I made vows, and I intend to honor them before I get disciplined or Uriel arrives and makes the situation worse. Nex’s past is—”
“Something you don’t want to know because you’re afraid. Admit it. You don’t want to know because this has already been difficult for you, and knowing his past would make it worse.”
“Or easier.”
Melchizedek let out a breathy laugh. “You don’t think that. He’s too good to be all evil. I know you see that. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have spent so much time stalling and hoping other angels wouldn’t notice so you could look the other way. You should know better. His status is too high to be ignored.”
“Exactly why it doesn’t matter what his past is. We must handle it.”
“His sister was sick with yellow fever,” Melchizedek revealed. “She was about to die. He offered his soul in exchange for her to be well, so she could live a full life. Then he caught the disease himself and died taking care of her before he got to see her well. Does knowing that make this easier?”
Gabriel hesitated, torn between duty and personal ethics. “That is still a choice. He chose to do that. Hechosethis life.”
“He was desperate.” Melchizedek rested his hands on a pew. “Desperate people sometimes take drastic measures. He’d already lost his parents and younger brother to the same disease. I don’t think it felt like a choice to him. It was an act of love, Gabriel.”
“He’s killed and tortured people. If we don’t settle this, Uriel will. Do you want Uriel being part of this?”
“Of course I don’t.” Melchizedek crossed his arms. “Nex has killed and tortured under the same authority we follow. I’ve seen nothing in his past of him hurting innocents. He’s rarely acted outside of his duty. Of all the demons we encounter, despite his rudeness, he’s the easiest to work with. He manages several lower-level demons, and the ones under his command are the best behaved. I think we should take this problem totheminstead of abiding by old laws that do not apply.”
“I will not bring this issue tothemand have our ability called into question, then have Uriel step in and make a bigger mess,” Gabriel snapped. “If you cannot follow through, I will. Even stalling is breaking our vows. Every second we waste makes it more likely Uriel will come, and he will not handle it as tenderly as we would.”
“You already stalled, and I’m going to ask you to continue because I will not take part in tearing them apart.” Melchizedek squared his jaw. “I will not. I will take this tothemand ask you refrain from any action until I return.”
Gabriel clenched and unclenched his fists, then dropped his gaze to the floor.
Melchizedek headed to the doors of the church but paused and looked back at Gabriel. “You won’t act until I speak with them.”
Gabriel’s shoulders slumped. “I will wait.”
Chapter 36
