By his side stood Uriel, a solid, comforting presence, and beyond him stood Haniel and Metatron. Raziel realized with a start that all four Archangels were watching, staring dumbly at the proceedings, fixed in a small group that were too frightened of failure to dare to hope.
Kokabiel dashed into the room with a large rolled-up chart and spread it out on the light table as Chloe, Penemuel, and Baraqiel carefully spread the printout over it.
“The land has changed,” Chloe said. “I can’t tell what this map is showing when I look at the current map.”
Raziel felt a boulder of disappointment lodge in his stomach. He closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping.
“But that doesn’t mean we can’t read the map,” Penemuel was saying. “It means that we simply must parse out the ancient’s words for lands that we know now. Not all is lost. Now see here”—Raziel heard the rustle of paper as Penemuel talked—“this is Africa. The shape of the land is consistent with early maps from the first mapmakers. So this should be Asia, and here, this would be Europe. The Americas would be here and… oh yes. These would be the poles. So you see, Chloe, it isn’t so difficult to read.”
Raziel opened his eyes and moved to the light table. “Show me,” he said.
Penemuel shot him a concerned look but nodded and pulled the printout of the map closer. “If you look here, my lord, you can see the land masses are identifiable, especially to one of our kind, who has lived forever and remembers how the planet looked back then.”
Raziel leaned forward, peering at the map. Penemuel was right, he saw, and a wild hope began to burn through him. “Where’s the gate to Purgatory located?”
“X marks the spot,” Chloe said, pointing at a spot on the map. “It’s almost like a treasure map drawn by pirates, isn’t it?”
“You’re right, Chloe, it is,” Penemuel said. “I wonder who made it.”
“Noah,” Raziel said. “I recognize his hand in the Aramaic and Enochian. Uri, come take a look.”
Uriel was beside him a moment later. “So that’s what he was doing,” he mused. “I remember he was drawing something while we were sailing during the flood, but I didn’t really pay much attention to it.”
“Thank God he did,” Raziel said. His hands were trembling. “Recognize this spot?” He pointed at the X.
“No,” Uriel said. “Should I?”
“Haniel? Metatron?” Raziel looked at the two Archangels who had come silently up to stand opposite him.
Haniel leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “Is that… that’s somewhere in Iran, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Raziel said. “It’s Gohar Tappeh, in the Mazandaran province. It’s in the eastern end, between the towns of Neka and Beshar. Not far from the Caspian Sea.”
Metatron blinked. “That’s quite an old settlement.”
“Ancient, even,” Uriel drawled. “Okay, so who was around that part of the world after Noah parked his boat and humans spread out again?”
They looked at each other.
“Lord Uriel,” Kokabiel began, “I don’t think any of angelkind were in that part of the world.”
Raziel snapped his fingers. “Camael!”
“What?” Uriel looked at him.
“Remember when Noah landed and everyone had a big party and got drunk?”
Uriel grinned. “Oh yeah, I remember that. So many hangovers the next day.”
“Yes, well, not really relevant. Anyway, one of Noah’s boys decided that he was going to move away from Ararat, where the Ark was, and set up a new home around where his old one was. Considering that the Flood had sort of washed away everything, he couldn’t really find the old one, so he went on a walkabout with a bunch of his animals and his wife and kids. And they ended up on the banks of the Caspian Sea. Gabe was a bit concerned they might try to walk through it, and so he sent Camael down to guide the lad and they decided to settle in Gohar Tappeh.”
“Fuck, you’ve got a good memory,” Uriel marveled. “I totally forgot about that.”
“Which of Noah’s sons was it?” Metatron asked.
“Shem,” Uriel said. “Unfortunate name, considering Semjaza used to have everyone call him Shem as a nickname—when they were in his favor.”
“Semjaza was a despot,” Kokabiel said. “He probably gnawed on his own liver while he was in Aquila when he heard the boy was called that and there was no link to him.”
Uriel barked a harsh laugh. “Fuck, I hope so. Okay, so Shem ended up around there. He didn’t stay there, though, did he?”
Raziel shook his head. “No, but some of his descendants did. They must have found the gate and told Noah.”
“I wouldn’t know about that. I was recalled to the Land of Light after Noah sobered up,” Uriel said with a shrug.
“I’m going by the handwriting on this map,” Raziel said. “So, it follows that the map was handed down through the generations, and some ancestor added the Hebrew and another added the Latin. I’m surprised there’s no Arabic on it. Actually, no I’m not. It probably ended up with the Romans.”
“So we need to go to Gohar Tappeh,” Haniel said. “And the gate is in a temple, I suppose.”
“The ruins of one, I’d imagine, yes,” Raziel said. He took one more look at the map. “Amazing,” he said. Then he began to roll it up. “If we’ve forgotten about this, which obviously we have, I bet Naamah has no fucking idea.”
“Good,” Metatron said. His voice was stern and held echoes of Heaven. “She has outlived her due date.”
“You say that with the portent of Heaven and yet your choice of words is that of a teenage boy,” Haniel said, laughing.
Metatron shrugged. “I couldn’t think of anything that sounded more full of doom. I’m tired and I was beginning to feel that we’d never find anything. My words have taken a temporary leave of absence while I recover from the adrenaline of the relief I feel right now.”
“Amen,” Raziel said emphatically. “Okay, people, let’s go to Yerevan. We don’t really have time to waste. Penemuel, can you bring Chloe, please? And you, Baraqiel, and Kokabiel take the coordinates from us.”
Everyone nodded and Raziel tucked the ancient map and the modern one under his arm. “See you there,” he said and blipped out.
CHLOE HAD brought an archaeological survey map of Gohar Tappeh’s ruins with her, Raziel realized, as he set up the maps of the world side by side on the wall of Ondrass’s boardroom. He smiled at her as she put it up next to the printout of the ancient map, and stepped back to look at their handiwork.
“Do you think this will help?” Chloe asked.
“Yes.” Raziel was firm. “I believe this is the last missing piece of the puzzle. If we did not have this information, we could potentially be in for a long military campaign. No one wants that.”
“Okay.” Chloe looked around. “Does Ondrass really live here?”
Raziel laughed. “For the moment. He likes his decadence.”
“He’s certainly surrounded himself with it,” Chloe said.
“Don’t let him fool you,” Raziel warned. “He might appear to be cultured and well-mannered, but he’s still an Archdemon, and he’s still of Hell.”
“I plan to stick close to Pen,” Chloe said.
“Good girl.”
While they were talking, the others had entered the room. The Archdemons sat on the plush armchairs by the window and the Venatores, Liam, and Declan took up positions against the far wall. The angels stood in little groups around the room, talking softly or standing silently.
Raziel spied Camael and smiled at Chloe. “Go and join Penemuel,” he said. “I need to speak to someone.”
“Okay.” She moved away from him, to Penemuel’s side, and Raziel turned his attention back to Camael.
Camael was in his armor and his expression was calm. He stood to one side of Vel and Asaf, looking around the room. Raziel made his way over to join him.
“Hello, Camael,” Raziel said.
“My lord Raziel,” Camael
said and gave Raziel a deep bow. “You honor me. How may I be of service?”
“I was wondering if you could tell me a little about your time with Noah’s son, Shem, when he went into what’s now Iran?”
Camael looked astonished. “That was a very long time ago, my lord. I’m not sure what you wish to know.”
“He came up in conversation earlier,” Raziel said smoothly. “Do you remember Gohar Tappeh?”
Camael blinked several times. “Very vaguely, my lord. I left Shem long before his sons decided to build the town.”
“Ah. So you do not know of the gate into Purgatory there?”
Camael stiffened, his expression becoming guarded, and he shifted his weight from foot to foot. He licked his lips, his eyes darting left then right before replying. “There is no such thing, my lord.”
“There is,” Raziel said. He watched Camael closely, wondering why the angel seemed so nervous. “We found it today. It’s my belief that once it was found, Noah was sent for and he mapped the area.”
“But there is no such gate to Purgatory there,” Camael protested. “There are several gates in locations around the world, but they are all closed. We know where they are. Lord Gabriel informed me,” he added.
“Gabriel didn’t have this new information,” Raziel said. “Believe me, Camael, the gate is there.”
“I mean no disrespect, my lord, but that’s impossible,” Camael said flatly.
“How do you know?”
Camael hesitated. “I do not, it’s true. I should say instead that I am certain this will be a dead end,” he finally said.
“Well, that’s what we thought about a lot of things over the course of history,” Raziel said. “And they turned out to be real.”
“Yes, my lord,” Camael said. He gave Raziel another bow. “Would you excuse me? I need to speak with Lord Gabriel.”
“Of course.” Raziel watched Camael go thoughtfully. “Uri.” His telepathic call to his lover was soft, making sure that no one else would hear his thoughts.
Uriel was at his side a moment later. “What’s up?”
“Camael,” Raziel said in an undertone. “Watch him.”
Uriel’s eyebrows shot up. “Why?”
“Because I’ve got a gut feeling. I asked him about the gate at Gohar Tappeh. He didn’t believe me. I think he was not pleased to hear this news, and I want to know why. I think something’s going on with him that we won’t like.”
Uriel frowned. “I’m spying on him because you have a hunch?”
“Yes.” Raziel was still watching Camael.
“Okay,” Uriel said.
“Stay with him,” Raziel said. “I know that once we have this meeting, we’ll all break for some time to prepare until we launch our attack on Naamah. Stick to him like glue, Uri. Don’t let him out of your sight.”
Uriel huffed. “Fine,” he said. “But you owe me for this.”
“Write it down someplace,” Raziel said.
“Don’t think I won’t,” Uriel said.
Michael stepped up to the front of the room then and called the group to order. Raziel moved to take up his position behind Michael so that he could give his report. It wouldn’t be long now, Raziel thought. Soon, they would deal with Naamah, and soon they would have the Grail back safe. Then they could take care of ridding the two pieces of their corruption and sanctifying them again.
Chapter Thirteen
GABRIEL LAY on his back on the beach, looking up at the stars. He felt the serene calmness that always came over him before a battle, the sense of rightness that came from being utterly confident in his abilities and his cause.
“Hello, da bao,” Michael said.
Gabriel turned his head to smile at his lover. “Hey. You okay?”
“I am well,” Michael said and reached out to take Gabriel’s hand in his. “It is a pretty night, is it not?”
“Aye, it’s gorgeous. The storm that came up the other day seems to have blown over.”
“And it is not as humid as it was when we met with Adramelek,” Michael said with a shudder. “I do not mind the heat, but I confess that the humidity always makes me weary.”
“Aye, same.” Gabriel rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his free arm. “And tomorrow, we’re going to a dry and hot part of the world.”
“Indeed. I am astonished that there is gate in Gohar Tappeh. I visited several times when it was a thriving city, and it was always a place full of laughter and joy. I never thought such a thing as a gate to Purgatory would be located in such a happy place.”
Gabriel hummed. “It’s a pretty incongruous place for the gate, aye. But at least it was kept well hidden by people who understood just how important it was.”
“That is true. I am relieved about that. Did Raziel speak to you about Camael?”
“Aye.” Gabriel sat up. “You know, that really bothered me. Especially with what Lilith and Agrat told us. Camael ain’t exactly well-versed in humanity, but he should know that finding a gate that we need is a damn good thing. I tried to get him to talk about it after the meeting broke up, but he’d gone. Uriel was following him, but Asaf and Vel didn’t know where Camael would be.”
“That troubles me too,” Michael said. “Did they tell you of his behavior at the home of Minnie and Max when he joined them there?”
“Aye.” Gabriel began to scowl. “He was exceedingly rude and he spent a bloody long time sitting by himself on the beach. Asaf said he was so embarrassed by Camael’s attitude that he spent a lot of time apologizing for him. Luckily, Minnie, Max, and your Venatores didn’t take offense, but still.”
“And there was a demon sighted not far from the house once Camael arrived,” Michael said. “Vel told me that Camael said he dealt with it, but he did not return.”
“Maybe it’s nothing,” Gabriel said. “I mean, Camael doesn’t really know how to behave with people. Maybe he found the personalities of our human friends not to his liking. You can’t like everyone, after all.”
“You think we are overworrying?” Michael asked. Then he answered his own question. “Perhaps. Yes, perhaps we are. Still, it does not hurt to take precautions, and Uriel following him is wise.”
“Aye, I can’t argue with it. I wonder, though.” Gabriel paused. “Maybe he’s got a girl or boyfriend?”
“That would certainly be something he might wish to hide,” Michael agreed. “Especially as everyone we seem to know seems to be incapable of resisting the urge to tease others on such topics.”
Gabriel laughed. “Teasing’s good for you. It keeps you young.”
“And yet, it feels as if I am very, very old when I am teased,” Michael said.
“Did we do the right thing? By not telling anyone other than the rest of our Brotherhood about the traitor?” Gabriel asked.
Michael heaved a great sigh. “I do not know,” he confessed. “And yet, if there is truly a traitor, the fewer who know, the better, so that we may find them through their own actions giving them away.”
“Aye, I understand the theory, it’s just….” Gabriel shook his head. “Ignore me. I’m thinking too much and I’m getting bloody paranoid. This is our night. We’re on alert for anything and Uriel’s following Camael, he’ll let us know the instant anything happens.”
“As you say,” Michael said.
Gabriel lay back down and tugged Michael to him. As Michael curled against him, Gabriel let out a happy noise. “This is nice.”
“It is.” Michael shifted and rested his cheek against Gabriel’s chest. “I like to listen to your heartbeat,” he said.
Gabriel made a small “aww” noise. “You’re so adorable, solnyshko.”
“Hush. I am not adorable.” Michael lightly tickled Gabriel’s side and Gabriel yelped in surprise.
“Hey!” He rolled them and pinned Michael to the sand. “No stealth tickling.”
Michael laughed. “Is that what it is called?”
“Aye. I just invented it.”
Michael laughed some more. “I see.”
Gabriel grinned at his lover and kissed him. Michael kissed him back, winding his arms around Gabriel, and they lay together on the sand, glued to one another, basking in their mutual love, with the sound of the sea in their ears and the benevolent light of the stars and moon shining down on them.
“Shall we go indoors?” Michael whispered against Gabriel’s lips.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Gabriel murmured. He concentrated and teleported them from the seashore to their bed.
Michael purred happily, stretching beneath Gabriel. His arms were looped loosely around Gabriel’s neck and his eyes were soft, fond. Gabriel gazed down at Michael, feeling a surge of love for his bonded, accompanied by a surge of happiness.
“You make me very happy,” he said.
“And you make me very happy, also,” Michael said. “Happier than I sometimes feel I have a right to be. But I will not question it, not anymore. I will accept it, gladly, and cherish it, as I cherish you.”
Gabriel kissed him again, slow and sweet, and Michael’s arms tightened a little around him. Using his power, Gabriel removed their clothes, and he made a soft noise of approval into the kiss as he felt Michael’s strong, muscled body against his own without clothing impeding their contact. Gabriel ran a hand down Michael’s side, his fingers carefully mapping each line and contour of muscle and sinew, running over each piece of scar tissue. Beneath him, Michael wriggled a little, and Gabriel groaned as he felt Michael’s hard cock pressing against his belly.
“Did you want something?” Gabriel asked as he continued his languid caresses of Michael’s skin.
“I do,” Michael said.
“And what would that be?” Gabriel ran the backs of his knuckles over Michael’s pelvic bone, eliciting a soft gasp from his lover.
“You,” Michael said.
Gabriel kissed him again, shifting a little so their hard cocks rubbed together. He rocked into Michael, and Michael rocked into him, and they moved in a slow rhythm, little shocks of pleasure shooting through them as they felt what each other felt through their bond. Gabriel nipped Michael’s lip and Michael ran his hands through Gabriel’s wing feathers, and then Gabriel wrapped his arms around Michael and rolled them.
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