Page 74 of The Morning Star
Suddenly eighteen thousand demons vanished from the battlefield, appearing in Hel and just as afraid as the earlier demon had been. As an added bonus, nearly five thousand demons turned and ran, ignoring fake-Samael’s screaming threats as they fled.
Next time they’d obey me. And there better not be a fucking next time.
This evened the odds quite a bit. The angels continued to fight, and more demons abandoned the battlefield as more were killed. And one-on-one, I found I could face down each foe, drive him to his knees, and teleport him back to Hel on his own, so terrified that I knew he’d not be returning.
Before long we had them on the run, and the only ones who were left were a few scattered demons and the three Ancients remaining to support who they believed to be Samael. I faced them, my sword at my side. “Kneel.”
They hesitated, blinking, staring at me in confusion before one-by-one complying.
“Leave here, and go back to Hel until I allow you to leave.”
The one with the crocodile head bowed. “Yes, Iblis.”
As they rose to walk away I heard a scream of rage. Cold sharp energy flowed out like a powerful wave and I saw the imposter, wings unfurled, glowing as he approached a nearby angel. My breath caught in my throat, because that angel was Rafi.
Raphael raised his sword, then hesitated, the blade shaking a bit as he lowered it. No! “It’s not him,” I screamed. “It’s an Ancient, an imposter. It’s Luziel.”
The archangel lowered his head, just as I’d always feared Gregory would do. The imposter raised his sword. I caught my breath and everything slowed. Teleport. Block the strike with my sword. Shove my sword through this motherfucker.
But I knew I’d be too late. That fraction of a second it would take me to get there would be too long.
Then I heard Ahia’s panicked “No!”
I screamed and felt the ground tremble beneath me. The demons who’d turned to leave dropped to the ground and began to grovel and cry. The imposter’s sword descended as I teleported.
There was a flash of light, blinding me as I appeared beside Raphael. Suddenly my own sword was no longer in my hand, it was blocking the imposter’s blade. And it was held by an incredibly beautiful Fallen angel with white hair, ice-blue eyes, golden skin, and tattered black and silver wings.
“No one harms my brothers,” the angel snarled. Then he reversed the blade and plunged it into the imposter. The Ancient screamed, his beautiful form sloughing from him to reveal a slimy, orange insect with snapping mandibles and six barbed legs.
Samael twisted the sword and yanked it free. Then he drew back his fist and slammed it into the imposter. The Ancient shattered, falling to the ground in a rain of fine, white sand.
I stared, open-mouthed. Raphael was doing the same thing, his face full of confusion. Samael turned, completely ignoring his brother as he tossed the sword to me.
“Here. I threw this fucking thing away two-and-a-half-million years ago. It’s yours if you want it. I hope to never see the damned thing ever again.” And with that he took two steps forward, wings brushing the ground as he vanished into a shimmer of air.
Chapter 24
“There are still six thousand demons this side of the gates.” Gabriel’s voice betrayed his extreme displeasure at this fact.
I took a quick tally, discounting my own household. “Five thousand eight hundred sixty-four,” I corrected him. “And angels are to do nothing about that. If there’s an issue, it needs to come to my attention. I find out any angel, Grigori or otherwise, has been delivering vigilante justice, and they’re mine to punish.”
I just flat out wouldn’t tolerate that shit. Not now. Not ever again. Demons had risked everything to fight side-by-side with angels. Not just my household, but Remiel’s, Doriel’s and several others. Ancients had stuck their neck out to help their former enemies. Never again would we be anything but equals deserving of respect.
“And I want another vote on lands here that are under demon control. I’ve tagged someone for administration who will be fair and thoughtful. I’m requesting the areas formerly seized by the Samael impersonator. That way we can rebuild them, and work to regain human trust.”
“No.” Gabriel said flatly.
I heard Lux make a disapproving clucking noise. I’d had to bring him to the meeting because all my sitters were otherwise occupied. And little shit that he was, he’d insisted on being hauled around in a baby carrier strapped to my chest.
Yes. He’d grabbed my boobs three times so far. I didn’t care, but his father was beginning to get irritated.
Gregory reached his hand out to grip my shoulder. “Cockroach, this was discussed and voted on previously. It was decided that the demons would not be allowed any claim on humans or their lands.”
Decided. I had been out-voted, and I was still bitter about it. “We fucking fought on your side. We deserve an equal stake here in the human world. I’m not asking for half the land-mass, I’m asking for three states. Oh, and I’d also like a section of western Canada, all of Mexico and Central America.”
That was far more than I’d accept, but it was always best to start with an extreme position and allow room for negotiation and compromise.
“No. The demons can be here as closely monitored visitors, but no more,” Gregory told me.
