Sweet Reckoning

by Higgins, Wendy

  “Good evening, Brothers . . . and Sister,” he said. “Thank you for your presence on such short notice. We hope to resolve a delicate issue as quickly as possible so that we can all move on to more pleasant things. Our favorite city awaits.” There were chuckles and smiles. “We begin by calling forth the messenger Azael to oversee this summit and report back to our Lord Lucifer at the conclusion of our events.”

  I braced myself as an incredibly frightening hissing filled the air. Azael with his lionlike features ascended up through the shining black floor right in front of Rahab. His wings spread wide for one moment before closing tight to his hazy back. The sight was jarring, but I was so glad to have Azael present.

  “Thank you for joining us, Azael,” Rahab said. “We hope not to keep you long.”

  The demon spirit inclined his head in a nod.

  To the Dukes, Rahab said, “Let us summon the Legionnaires.”

  Again with the horrible cacophony of hisses. On cue, the black walls began to spew smoky spirits into the lounge from all directions. I couldn’t wait for them to be gone. Forever.

  The room dimmed as it filled with the spirits, and I turned my night vision on full.

  When everyone was still, Rahab looked toward the doors.

  “Son of Shax,” he said to Marek. “You are in charge of listening for interferences during these proceedings. Tonight’s events will require the full attention of the Dukes. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir,” Marek said, with a slight bow at the waist.

  Regret filled me as I thought about our lost ally, Flynn, and how the door watch would have been his job. It would have been a huge advantage.

  Rahab looked over the crowd, a scowl on his face as he surveyed the hundred-plus Nephilim. When his eyes stopped on me, they turned a vivid red.

  “Truly,” he said, “I never believed this summit would be called. But alas . . . the great prophecy is upon us. We can thank Brother Pharzuph for his quick work in bringing a traitor to justice this night.”

  Murmurs erupted around the room, Dukes and Nephilim alike. Rahab motioned for Pharzuph to join him.

  Instead of going to Rahab’s side, Pharzuph bypassed the dance floor, strolling toward me with a cocky grin.

  Here we go. My insides fell to my feet.

  I sat up straight, not moving, keeping my eyes locked on Pharzuph’s as he approached. When he got to me and saw that I wasn’t going to cower, he grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet.

  “Think you’re brave even without your weapon, huh?” He eyed me with disgust. “We’ll see.”

  I kept up with him as he pulled me to the center of the room. My chest and face heated, but I worked not to show any fear. Pharzuph let me go, wiping his hand down his dress shirt and leaving me between the two of them. Rahab peered at me with sheer loathing.

  “You can all see her badge,” Rahab said. “We had hoped it was a by-product of being ignorant of her legacy for so long, but even after working these past two years, her badge still holds the white of innocence.” He spat the word. “First the angels intervened to keep her alive, and then her father goes missing when we attempt to question him. But once we take care of his offspring we will find Belial, and he will be dealt with. He will burn for his traitorous ways.”

  I expected the Dukes to cheer at this, but they were quiet, watching with shocked faces as they digested the way they’d all been deceived by one of their own and his offspring.

  “How can this be, Brother Rahab?” Blake’s dad, Melchom asked. “The prophecy was a myth! It called for a Nephilim of both light and darkness. We all know that is not possible.”

  “Really?” Rahab asked smoothly. “We have reason to believe that eighteen years ago a guardian angel broke ranks and possessed a human to be with a Duke. Some of you might recall the angel Mariantha and her touching bond with Belial?”

  “The traitor!” bellowed Sonellion, Duke of Hatred. He slammed a fist against his table, making it rock. Sonellion’s eyes lit up like glowing blood, along with several other sets of eyes among the Dukes. My breathing shallowed as their voices rose in anger toward my father. This was unscrupulous anger. There’d be no reasoning with these demons.

  Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe. I looked above me where Azael hovered, watching me closely.

  “Wait,” called a smooth voice. Everyone turned to Alocer, Kope’s father. “I am not sold on this so-called prophecy. How do we know it’s true? What proof do we have?”

  Rahab frowned. “As you know, I have always been in the confidence of our Prince of Darkness. He called to me himself to tell me of the prophecy spoken through the apostle Paul. Do you dare to doubt him?”

  “Of course not,” Alocer responded, narrowing his eyes at Rahab. “But I dare to doubt his source for this information. Who was witness to this prophecy? Besides the guardian angel of the apostle?”

  “A trusted whisperer.” The Dukes broke out into groans, and Rahab had to raise his voice. “Our Lord took the prophecy with the utmost seriousness, and you should as well!”

  “Tell us, Brother,” Jezebet said. “Remind us once again of the words of the prophecy.” She leaned on the table and tapped a French-manicured fingernail against her bottom lip.

  “The prophecy stated,” began Rahab, “that a Nephilim born of both an angel and a demon would be the instrument used for a treacherous end to our kind. It foretold that this child would send every dark angel into the chains of hell for the rest of eternity.” His eyes were savage, and my head began to spin. “This . . . infant is the prophetic Nephilim sent by God to rid the earth of us! This”—he dramatically ran a hand up and down my profile—“is the best that God could do in His moment of desperation!”

  A loud racket of shouting and laughter rose. I waited for Rahab to tell the rest of the prophecy, but he didn’t. He only stood there looking smug. And then I wondered . . . did he even know the whole prophecy? The part about their possible redemption?

  I glanced toward my allies, who were all sitting up straight on the edges of their seats. Kaidan looked ready. Kopano gave me the slightest nod, almost imperceptible. The intensity of their eyes on me was a push. It was time. A boldness took me by the vocal cords.

  “There’s more!” I loudly interrupted the Dukes. “You’re all being given a second chance at heaven!”

  I stumbled sideways to the floor at the force of Rahab’s backhand to my face. My cheekbone throbbed with pain. I’d forgotten how much he loved to hit.

  My allies were on their feet now, and sudden fear shot through me for Kaidan. He was poised to fight.

  Rahab stood over me, staring down with pure malice.

  “You. Will not. Speak!”

  “What are we waiting for?” cried Thamuz. “Let’s kill her! No angels to stop us this time.”

  Shouts of assent filled the air. I stayed on the floor, watching to see how it would play out.

  “Wait!” hollered Melchom. “What is she talking about?”

  “Lies against our Lord!” Rahab said.

  “Let Jezebet decide if she’s telling truths or not,” Alocer suggested.

  Grumbles sounded, but nobody stopped Jezebet as she stepped gracefully onto the circular floor in front of me. I stood, and she grasped my jaw in the thin fingers of one of her hands.

  “Speak,” she said, and watched my eyes.

  I talked as loudly as I could with her nails digging into my skin, but I kept my eyes locked on her crystal blue ones so that she could sense my full honesty.

  “There is more to the prophecy. God is willing to forgive you and take you back to heaven. But those who still choose to stand against him will be damned to hell forever, just as Rahab said.”

  The room was silent as Jezebet’s eyes narrowed at me, but the whisperers above us shifted like storm clouds. She watched me as she spoke, loosening her hold and then letting go.

  “She speaks the truth.”

  The Dukes rose to their feet now, yelling over one another about this new poss
ibility. I looked over at Kaidan, who watched the scene unfold with a keen-eyed steadiness. I then thought about Patti and Mariantha, and all the love I’d been given in my life. I’d been saved once from death at a summit. Who was I to doubt the same sort of miracle wouldn’t happen again? And if it didn’t? Then it was my time. Fear of death had no place in my heart anymore. I shed it, let it go, and allowed the confidence that stemmed from that freedom to pour through me.

  “Thank you, Jezebet,” Pharzuph said, motioning her to take her place again.

  Jezebet took one last look into my eyes, no traces of wickedness in hers, and then went back to the other Dukes. They were turning to one another, voices becoming more frantic and impassioned.

  “What if it’s true?” asked Alocer. He looked toward his sons, who met his hopeful eyes.

  “After all this time?” Melchom, asked in disbelief.

  “Who cares?” Kobal, the Duke of Gluttony, shouted. “I’m not going back there!”

  “Why would you leave this out, Rahab?” Shax asked.

  “I told you the entire prophecy as it was told to me.” Rahab’s patience was wearing thin.

  I gasped as my head was yanked backward by the hair, pulled against Pharzuph’s body with one hand on my throat while the other arm circled my rib cage, pinning my arms to my sides.

  “Who gave you this information?” he demanded.

  I could hardly breathe the words. “A nun—a Nephilim descendant of the apostle Paul’s angel.”

  “Impossible!” Rahab shouted. “We would know if there had been a descendant of old on earth.” But his tone was marred by his own doubts. The crowd was beginning to unravel, and he had to know he was losing them. He threw his head back and let out a freaky hiss, calling one of his whispering spirits down to him.

  “Is this true?” Rahab asked it. “Was there a Neph of light?” Everyone was quiet as the spirit whispered directly into Rahab’s mind and he answered it out loud in return. “Oh, you didn’t think it was important? Really? An unsupervised angelic Nephilim? I don’t give a damn how harmless she seemed, or if she never left the nunnery! Get away from me, you insipid idiot!” He threw out a hand, and the spirit shot back up into the dark cloud of Legionnaires.

  “It doesn’t matter now,” Pharzuph said. “We have the girl. And what a rare treat it is to foil a plan of God.”

  Rahab addressed the Dukes louder now, as Pharzuph continued his tight hold on my neck and body.

  “None of us here can enter heaven again unless we take it by force! This stupid girl is mistaken. Lucifer holds the power now. We have no loyalties to the weak one. He thought we might be fooled by this sweet face, but we have proof that she’s out for our destruction! She was in possession of a flaming Sword of Righteousness. She killed three of our spirits just this week!”

  There were gasps of horror and shrieks from above.

  Pharzuph continued to hold me tightly against him as Rahab stood close.

  “Where is it?” Sonellion asked.

  Through clenched teeth, Pharzuph began, “It was retrieved—”

  “By my son,” Shax cut in proudly.

  “And disposed of,” Rahab finished. The Dukes and whisperers swelled with relief.

  “How was she able to wield the sword?” asked Alocer.

  Pharzuph huffed and shook his head. “We don’t know. But she did. A whisperer witnessed it.”

  More murmurs and whispers as confusion and fear spread.

  Thamuz’s eyes glowed a sickening crimson as he looked me over. “Enough games. I want blood.”

  “Yes, Brother, there will be blood,” Pharzuph chuckled. “We will savor her.” He licked my earlobe and I cringed. “I won’t even have her first,” he graciously offered. “She’s my little gift to you, Brothers. Just be careful not to kill her yet because she needs to suffer in every possible way. Heaven is watching. Let’s give them a show.”

  I closed my eyes.

  “Me first,” one of the Dukes offered. I recognized that Australian accent.

  “Of course you would say that, Mammon, you greedy bastard,” said Pharzuph, and there was laughter.

  I opened my eyes again, trying to see my allies. They were all standing now, Kaidan having moved forward, but the Dukes didn’t seem to notice or care.

  Mammon stepped into the circle, followed by Thamuz and Sonellion. Unadulterated hatred filled their red eyes.

  Oh, God, please help me. I didn’t know how much torture I could take. Would they cut me? Rape me? Burn me?

  No. Kaidan and the others wouldn’t let it get that far.

  I stupidly struggled against Pharzuph’s strong hold as he turned us toward the three Dukes.

  “Father . . . ,” Kaidan called from behind us. I recognized the warning in his voice.

  Without turning, Pharzuph yelled, “Not now!”

  It was a testament to how focused they were on their blood-lust that none of the Dukes seemed to care that a Neph had spoken out at this summit.

  Mammon loomed over me like a giant, salivating monster with a savage hunger and thrill in his eyes. His gold watch and necklaces lacked any luster in the darkened room. He moved closer, unbuttoning his pants, which answered the question of what his chosen form of torture would be.

  “No,” I moaned.

  “Yes.” Pharzuph chuckled.

  Mammon reached out and grabbed around the back of my neck to pull me to him, and that was when it happened. In my periphery I saw a rapid twist of silver, end over end. There was a whir close by my face, and a wet, crunching thunk. One minute Mammon was a foot in front of me, and in the next moment he was staggering backward with a blade lodged deep in his eye.

  His mouth was a round O, and he fell to his knees, leaning back as his shrieking, dark spirit fought to get out of the body. Pharzuph wrenched me backward by the neck and spun us in the direction of Kaidan. He turned on his son with rage that shook the room.

  “What have you done?”

  Kaidan squared off, standing his ground, another knife already in his hand. He spun it on his palm before gripping it again.

  “Just a bit of holy water on the blade.” He spoke casually, but his eyes were fearsome.

  Mammon’s face hit the floor with a thud and his spirit thrashed above the body as if on fire. That’s for your son, Flynn, I thought.

  “Return to hell, Brother,” Rahab called to the spirit. “The holy effects will burn from you there.”

  Mammon’s spirit dove through the floor, and the room filled with a dreadful silence.

  “You,” Pharzuph whispered to Kai. His eyes were bright red. He moved closer to his son, dragging me. “I trusted you.”

  “No, you didn’t,” Kai said.

  Pharzuph’s eyes widened, and the room gasped at Kai’s audacity to talk back.

  “You filthy, weak idiot! You had more potential than all my past sons combined! How could you let yourself be charmed, like a dog, by a Neph girl? You’re a failure!”

  Kaidan’s face was pained for a fraction of a second.

  “Kill him,” Rahab demanded. My heart jumped hard in my chest. No! I tried to push away, but it wasn’t necessary.

  As Kaidan wove the blade through his fingers, nobody made a move.

  Cowards, I thought. All of them. They could have taken Kaidan down if they had wanted, but they knew he would have time to kill one of them if they reached for their weapons, and none were willing to sacrifice themselves. Even Pharzuph used me as a shield, facing me toward Kaidan and keeping his face close against my head. What would Lucifer say if he could see his fearless leaders now?

  Their selfish motives worked in our favor, and for that I was grateful. Kaidan watched me as his father moved us from side to side in a sickening dance.

  “Brother Pharzuph,” said the dapper Astaroth, “I’m afraid this is more dire than we thought. Your son and the traitor’s daughter are quite . . . in love.”

  “You jest,” whispered Pharzuph, squeezing my throat harder.

  �
�Not in the least,” Astaroth said. “And they’ve acted on it. They’re married.”

  The Dukes let out scandalized sounds of disbelief. Even surrounding Neph gasped.

  “So, that’s how you did it,” Pharzuph hissed.

  In a careful voice Astaroth said, “Marna and Ginger, move away from the son of Pharzuph. You will have nothing more to do with him.”

  The girls stared at their father, unmoving.

  “I said, get over here!” Astaroth commanded.

  “No,” Ginger said.

  Astaroth’s stunned expression was priceless.

  “What the hell is the problem here?” Thamuz snarled. “Andre, Ramón!” His two sons stepped forward, standing just outside the circle. “At least one of us can control our children!” Thamuz bragged to the Dukes, then looked at his sons. “Take care of him!”

  Both of the guys turned toward Kaidan and hesitated.

  “Do it!” Thamuz yelled.

  “We have no weapons,” one of them said.

  Thamuz’s eyes went wide with anger. “Since when do you need a weapon? Two of you against one knife is no contest. Kill him!”

  As they moved toward Kaidan, panic welled up inside of me and I pressed my will out to them: Do not harm him! You don’t have to obey your father! Their steps slowed and they stopped. I could not believe it. One of the sons grabbed his head as if it hurt.

  Thamuz let out a terrible yell and punched his nearest son in the temple, knocking him out cold. The other one fell to the floor and cowered before him.

  “I don’t know what’s happening, Father! I think we’re being influenced!”

  “Idiota! Your will to kill should be stronger than any influence.”

  Rahab shook his head. “No Duke would dare to influence you against your father’s wishes, and no Neph is powerful enough—” He stopped, and his head slowly turned to me. Then all eyes were on me. Pharzuph’s grip tightened to the point that I could barely breathe. It wouldn’t be long before I passed out if he didn’t loosen his hold.

  “You did this!” Thamuz said to me. I was feeling so faint I could hardly manage an ounce of fear.

  Until Rahab stepped in front of me.

  “Do not forget with whom you are dealing, child,” he said. His demon self came half out of the top of his body, leaning into my face like a wraith and shrieking. His gigantic horns twisted around the shadowy spirit head, making me shrink back into Pharzuph.