Page 106 of Not Today, Satan
I smile back. “I appreciate that, Atty.”
“What do you need from us?” Nate asks.
I’d concocted a plan on my flight home. Well, “plan” is a definitely more solid than what I’ve come up with.
“Weapons,” I say. “I have my sword, but that won’t be enough to beat Ferus. He’s strong. And determined. That’s a bad combo.”
“I think I can help,” Mom says. “Why don’t you change out of those wet clothes and meet us back here? Nate, Attero, come with me?”
Atty gives me a nod before following the others down the hall. Closing the door of my room, I lean my forehead against the wood, my breath shallow. A tear races down my cheek, and I swipe it away with the back of my hand.
Saying the words is one thing. Actually doing this is going to be harder than breaking Nate out of Hell. I’m leaving everything I’ve ever wanted for the one thing I’ve never wanted.
I walk to my closet and select the dress I’d taken from the castle. Mom’s patched it and slit it where the rips were, so it hangs like ribbons around my legs.
She’s also cut an inch off the bottom and added gold beading that matches my wings to the bodice so that it sparkles when the light hits it. The final touches are the loops sewn into the fabric on either side for my weapons.
I tie my hair into a high ponytail with one of the extra pieces of fabric she trimmed from the dress and head back into the kitchen.
Nate’s jaw widens when he sees me. He combs the hair from his forehead. “Damn, Dev. You look… I mean, wow. But it’s missing one thing.” He holds out my sword, and the blade glints as it catches the light.
“Thanks.” I take it without looking at him, sure my face is the color of my dress at his stare. It slides into the loops easily. Of course it does. I wouldn’t expect less from an angel. I swallow the lump threatening to choke me into staying and gesture to the wooden chest on the table. “What’s that?”
Nate laughs. “Your momdefinitelyhas weapons.”
“How?” I ask. “You’re an angel.”
“Demons may be more notorious for violence,” Mom says. “But never count out angels. We aren’t exactly known for peaceful transactions. Some of these were even used in the famous war against your father, I believe.”
She lifts the lid of the chest, and I gasp as the kitchen light catches the contents. Weapons fill the box to the brim—broadswords that seemingly glow by themselves. Bows made of pure silver with matching arrows. Small daggers with diamond-encrusted handles.
“Holy crap,” I breathe.
“Literally,” Nate says, holding up a dagger with a cross carved into the hilt. “It’s a chest of ‘holy’ crap.” He stabs at the air, his brows furrowed and his voice low. “Take that! I told you you’re no match for my blade. Not today, Satan. Not today.”
Shaking my head, I lay my hand over his. “This isn’t one of your action movies, Nate. Ferus isn’t going to fall at one of your jokes.”
Nate shrugs and drops the blade on the table. “It’s not my fault he doesn’t have a sense of humor.”
I lift a large sword from the chest. It appears to be pure silver, but it glows white within the blade when I touch it. The handle is etched with feathers, making it easy to grip, as my fingers sink into their divots. A sword this large should be heavy, but it’s as light as the feathers that decorate the hilt.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe. “What’s making it glow like that?”
“All of these are forged with angel blood, meant for banishing evil,” Mom says. “They’ll make quick work of anything in Hell.”
I slip it into the second loop of my dress as Mom grabs a round bag filled with silver arrows and a matching bow. She hauls the quiver over her shoulder and slips her arms through the straps.
I frown. “Mom, you know you and Nate aren’t coming with me, right? It’s not safe. You’re both mortal now. You could get hurt in Hell. Or worse.”
“We can help, Dev.” Nate shoves the dagger into his belt. “Something tells me your mom knows what to do with this stuff, and I can handle myself. I know kung fu, remember?”
“Saying something over and over doesn’t make it true.” I tug the blade from his belt and point it at his chest. “I’m sorry, but I’m not willing to chance your life, Nate. I worked too hard to make sure you have one. And I’m doing this to make sure you get a proper afterlife, too.”
Nate grimaces. “Morbid, much?”
I place one hand on my hip and raise my eyebrows. “I’m about to fight a rebellious demon in literal Hell so I can become its ruler. I think it’s safe to say I have morbid covered.”
Rounding the table, I hand the dagger to Attero. He shrieks as his skin hisses and drops it onto the floor, clutching his hand to his chest.
