"Someone with nothing to lose," Julian said. "Or someone who wants that sort of power, no matter the risks. There are plenty of sociopathic mages, you know."
"Yeah, I'm contracted to one," I said.
"Shut up, demon."
"So we're reasonably assured that Becky's safe for the moment." Caleb was sticking to the original thread as best he could. His expression was still serious. "So, we should be looking for the mage. Of course, looking for the mage means that we'll run into Azriphel too, most likely."
"Not necessarily," I said. "The mage was nowhere to be seen when we attacked Deshavin. He even said that he had called his partner in, but we never saw anyone show."
"You're assuming too much," Caleb said. "Deshavin was already wounded, they had underestimated us, and they hadn't anticipated our attack. You're assuming he was telling the truth. On the other hand, even worse, we assume that the mage wasn't there."
"What do you mean?"
Caleb's gaze turned to Tink. "There are invisibility spells, correct?"
She nodded. "Not strictly invisible, but ways to make you less easily sensed. Adept level magic there, I think." Chrissy smiled at that, but stayed silent.
"So, why are we assuming that he wasn't there? Why are we assuming that he didn't see what we did?" His gaze flicked back to me.
"Because Azriphel wants to know the secret." I said. "He wouldn't be asking for it if they already knew it. More to the point, he wouldn't be risking conflict with the Consortium over it. Sanctions would be a serious blow to any House, even Lucifer." The number of times the Consortium had sanctioned one of the Houses could be counted on one's fingers, and none of those sanctions had lasted for more than a couple of days. It was crippling to our lines of communication. Less so in this modern day of cell phones and internet, but for formal communication, demons still relied on Consortium couriers.
Caleb nodded. "So we know that House Lucifer wants to know it. That doesn't mean that the mage in question doesn't know."
"Are you saying that he knows the secret, but didn't share it with his allies?" Chrissy asked. "That's stupid. That's dumber than Jule."
Julian gave her a dirty look, but didn't rise to the bait. Caleb considered the question for a moment. "It's possible. Not likely, but possible. Maybe he's holding it back as insurance in case Lucifer betrays him."
"All right, so speculation aside," I said. "We agree on the mage being the primary target, yes?" Nods all around. "So, here's what I assume. The mage and Azriphel will stick together. He won't underestimate us again, he's smart enough to know all of what we know and more. He'll know that the mage is the weakest link, and he'll stay hidden unless needed. And when will he be needed?"
"Rituals," Tink said.
"Or defending his partner," Caleb said. "And of course, we're all assuming that Azriphel is the one contracted to the mage."
I slapped my forehead. "He never did say it outright."
"So worst case, this mage is contracted with another demon of House Lucifer, and Azriphel is involved up to his eyebrows," Caleb concluded.
"No," I said. "Worst case is that this mage is contracted with a Prince and Azriphel is simply following orders."
Silence met that statement. "This is getting worse and worse," Chrissy said.
"We need information," Caleb said. "And we don't have time to collect it."
I looked around the room. "Not quite true," I said. "I've got some sources."
Tink caught my drift and her lip curled. "You're going to call in that disgusting imp, aren't you?"
I nodded. "Kibs!" When he didn't appear, I frowned. He had to be hanging out nearby. This involved him, and there were ladies here for him to spy on. "Kibs? Where are you, my little friend? Witness!" The last word, I spoke in demonic. The mages winced and Caleb flinched.
Nothing happened for a moment, then an imp phased through my ceiling. He solidified and stood on the table, glowering at me. It wasn't Kibs. This imp was one I had never seen before. His suit was crisp and neat, and there was an emblem of sorts on his tie. I couldn't see the details. "You require a witness, Isaiah Bright?" he rasped.
"Where's Kibs?"
"Unavailable."
"Why?"
The tiny eyes burned for a moment. "Kiblognocchius has been suspended from courier duties, Isaiah Bright. I'm sure you understand why."
He had told me too much, and the Consortium had found out. Poor Kibs. I owed him a keg. "Sure, I get it. Can I get you a drink?"
"No. What do you need?"
"A message courier."
"To whom?"
"Duke Azriphel, of House Lucifer." Tink glared daggers at me, while Caleb nodded slowly. At least one of them got it.
The imp crossed his arms and shook his head. "No."
I had expected this. "What do you mean, no? Your Consortium is required to provide that sort of service."
"Not to you," the imp said. "Sanctions are in effect against you."
"Why?"
"Don't play stupid, Bright." Without any warning, the imp phased out and slid through the table. I chuckled and his eyes narrowed, just before he vanished from sight.
"That was informative," Caleb said.
"Why the hell were you going to send a message to Azriphel?" Tink snapped.
"I wasn't. I was seeing if the Consortium would do it. The fact that they won't tells me that they are seriously concerned that I'll give this secret to House Lucifer."
"Why don't you just sign a NDA with them?" Julian suggested.
"Why would they do that?" I asked. "They'll kill me if I talk about it. They have everything to lose and nothing to gain. The only reason they've let me live so far is because it'd be bad for their reputation if they kill me out of hand. If I didn't have so much attention focused on me, I probably would be dead by now."
"So how are we going to find out what the situation is?"
I looked at Caleb. "I assume you don't have a hotline to anyone in House Lucifer, do you? Or any other high ranked demon?"
He shook his head. "I'm only a Power, and I've been somewhat incognito for the past few years, as I'm sure you can understand."
I turned to the mage contingent. "No special sources of information?"
"Most of our members would rather hunt demons than chat with them," Chrissy said.
"So I guess I need to take steps I rather wouldn't," I said, taking my phone out of my pocket. I only gave it a fifty-fifty chance of working, and it'd cash in a favor that I really didn't want to lose so early. Still, I was getting down to the bottom of the barrel. I dialed the number from memory.
"Speak," a voice ordered on the second ring.
"Good morning," I said. "I'd like to speak with Prince Opheran. It's a matter of some urgency."
"Prince Opheran is not available. I will take a message."
"Tell him it's Isaiah Bright, regarding recent events."
"Hold."
All eyes were on me. Tink mouthed something. A hotline to a Prince of my house? It didn't seem likely that a lowly halfblood would have it. Maybe other Houses restricted contact to their leadership, but Asmodeus gave all of our people an emergency contact number, just in case. I was sure that there were eyes watching me, phased just out of visibility, waiting for me to even begin to speak of the secret.
The phone clicked and a strong voice spoke up. "Isaiah! Have you reconsidered so soon? I was hoping to hear from you."
"Not exactly, my Prince," I admitted. "I was looking for a favor, since the Consortium's not on speaking terms with me anymore."
"I see." The smile in the voice was gone immediately. "And this favor?"
"Azriphel of Lucifer," I said.
"Their new Duke? What of him?"
"I need to find him. He should be nearby, but I don't have the first idea of where to look. He's taken one of my friends."
"Perhaps you should ask your other friends for assistance."
"I'm tapped out, my Prince. Otherwise I wouldn't be going this far."
&nb
sp; A sigh echoed over the phone. "You're calling on the emergency line for something like this? You know this is meant for emergencies that could affect our entire House."
"It's an emergency to me."
A long moment of silence, then a low growl. "Are you mad? Don't you remember our last conversation?"
"Mad as in mad as hell," I said. "That son of a bitch took someone who saved my life. I owe her, my Prince, and I'll call in every favor I can to save her. If I owe her, our damn House owes her, even if I am some fucking useless halfblood, as you put it during our last conversation. I'm calling that debt in."
"Don't lecture me-"
"Or what, my Prince? You'll cast me out from the House? You're considering that already! I've got House Lucifer trying to get me killed, the Consortium's ready to take my head, and I've got my own House threatening to toss me out on my ass. What do I have to lose? I'm not asking for anything more than a way to get in touch with Azriphel. If asking for that much is enough to tip the scales against me, I'm already done."
"Isaiah, what are we going to do with you?" The Prince suddenly sounded old and tired. "You've plunged us all into chaos when we least need it. Enemies on every side and here you are, making more. You need to take care of this mess you've made."
"I'm trying," I said. "I know what to do. I just need this one favor to get started."
"I'll see what I can do." The phone went dead.
I flipped it closed and put it on the table. "Better than I thought."
"So now we wait?" Tink asked.
The phone rang. I grinned as everyone else jumped. As soon as I picked up, he started talking. "Ah, halfbreed. I was wondering when you would contact me. I didn't expect you to involve Opheran in the matter, though. I'm sure he has better things to do than address the whims of a fucking useless halfbreed, as he so eloquently put it."
"Nice to hear from you too, Azzy," I said. Tink leaned toward me and grabbed for the phone. I batted her hands away. "I take it you know why I'm calling."
"Of course. You have an interest in the trial and execution of one Rebekah Silvatini, yes? A human friend of yours?"
"Trial and execution? What are you talking about?"
"She killed Duke Deshavin, did she not? She admitted to it, in the presence of Consortium representatives. Accordingly, House Lucifer brought her to trial, and as her confession has already been witnessed, she is guilty and has been sentenced to death." I could hear Azriphel smiling. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"You son of a bitch, she isn't involved with this!"
"How could she not be involved, when she delivered the death blow to our dearly missed Duke Deshavin?"
I closed my eyes. The son of a bitch was right. I shouldn't have let her come with me, but I hadn't had the presence of mind to stop her. "Don't do this, Azzy. She's not involved. She was just at the wrong place at the wrong time."
"The right place at the right time, for you."
"Let her go!"
"Ask nicely, halfbreed," he hissed.
I took a deep breath. "Your Grace," I said. "I ask you, as a personal favor, to show clemency to a human drawn into a conflict that is not hers."
"Do you? I refuse."
"Please," I ground out through clenched teeth.
"No is no, halfbreed." A long pause, and then he started down the path I knew he would, from the beginning. "Of course, there is always an exchange. If you had something of value, perhaps we would consider granting her clemency as a favor. What do you have to trade, halfbreed? Anything you can part with?"
I scrabbled through the papers for a blank and grabbed a pen. I quickly scrawled out a note and pointed my finger at it. "You win, Azzy. You win. I'll tell you. Let her go."
No one reacted in surprise. No imp appeared at my throat. My head remained on my shoulders. The note read, "Faking it!"
"Capitulating so easily over a human life. You almost disappoint me, halfbreed."
"You'll get over it quickly, I'm sure."
"Of course. Now, give me the information."
"Not so fast," I said. "You promised me protection from the Consortium, and you better well hold to it."
"You have my word."
"And I'm not telling you over the phone. Face to face, your Grace, under your protection. Plus, I'll need to see Becky alive and in good health. Those are my conditions."
He sighed. "Understandable. I will call you back once the arrangements have been made." The phone clicked and went dead.
I moved to put the phone down and jumped as the phone rang immediately. "Are you satisfied?" Prince Opheran did not sound happy. Not in the least.
"Thank you, my Prince. I owe-"
"You owe nothing. Lose this number." Click.
I put the phone down on the table and put my head next to it. "I can't take much more of this," I said.
"Then you should die," rasped a voice in my ear. I turned my head. The same imp from minutes before stood on the table next to me. "You are either going to betray the secret, or you are going to lie to them. You seek death. I would be glad to hurry things along for you."
"I'll take my chances with Lucifer," I said. "I'm surprised you believed me."
"We can stop you whenever we choose," the imp assured me. "If you had spoken of it, you would be dead by now."
My phone rang yet again. Tink snatched it before I could. "Is this Assholeriphel? Don't laugh at me. I'm going to kill you, you son of a bitch. I'm going to ram my knife so far up your ass, it's going to tickle your tonsils. I'm going to-"
I grabbed the phone away. "Your Grace?"
Laughter split the phone line with static. "She is precious, isn't she?"
"If you say so." I smacked her hands away. She hissed at me and went for her knife. I jumped out of my chair and backed away. Caleb grabbed her arm. "Do you have a time and place for the exchange?"
"Yes." He gave me an address, a little less than an hour away. "One hour."
"An hour?"
"I see no reason to delay. Do you?"
"No, but-"
"You are not prepared?" He was amused. "Allow me to be clear. Your friend will be executed in just over an hour. If you have not arrived by then, you will be too late. We will be glad to exchange her body for-"
I slapped the phone closed and stood up. "We're leaving."
Caleb jumped up and grabbed his coat, but the others stared at me. "Where?"
I rattled off the address. "Got to be there in an hour, or they'll kill her."
"Well, shit, what are we waiting for?" The mages jumped up.
My car could seat five, somewhat uncomfortably. Tink took shotgun, of course, while Chrissy ended up sandwiched between Caleb and Julian in the back seat. She didn't look too happy, much less when the imp settled himself on her lap. "Do you have to?" she snapped.
"Easier to be driven than to phase and fly there," he said.
There was no time to argue. On the way to the meeting point, we tried to come up with a plan. The fact that it was a trial cast everything in a new light. House Lucifer would be there, in force. We wouldn't have any chance to sneak her out, or even to try and overwhelm them with any sort of force. There was only one thing I could think of that even had a chance, but I couldn't mention it. Not with that damned imp sitting there listening. If I gave him any reason to believe I'd give away the secret, he might just kill me now.
We arrived at the location, an office building in a small corporate park. The front of the building was covered in glass windows, much like any office building. There was no sign anywhere that it was a front for House Lucifer. Snow blanketed a large number of cars, evidence that a lot of people had stayed here overnight. When we got reached the front doors, two young men approached, holding the glass doors open for us. Both of them wore dark suits and serious expressions. "Isaiah Bright and company?" one asked. "Follow us."
To my intense amusement, the imp bounced off the open doorway as if there was an invisible sheet of glass there. "The Consortium is not invited to th
ese proceedings," said our guide. Their expressions didn't change one bit.
"Be damned with you," the imp said, and phased out. Moments later, he reappeared, bouncing off the doorway again. "What is this?"
I tried to keep the smile off my face. He couldn't even phase through? House Lucifer had come up with a way to keep imps out of certain areas. That must have been why they were offering me protection. It would physically keep the imps away from me, which would also cut me off from their services. As those services would involve immediate death, I wouldn't be missing them.
The trial was on the third floor, a conference room remodeled into a sham courtroom. There were no empty seats except at the defender's table. I had expected no less .Presiding, of course, was Azriphel himself. Becky was bound to the wall at his left, a circle drawn around her. "Bright!" she shouted as we walked in. "Leave! It's a trap!"
Azriphel spread his hands wide. The bastard was wearing the robes of a judge. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had been wearing a curly white wig. "A trap he has willingly walked into, dear human."
"You have a way to cut the Consortium off from entering certain places, don't you?" I asked. "That's how you intend to protect me?"
He nodded. Before he could explain, Tink moved. I had been expecting her to make a move, but I hadn't expected her to be silent. She bounded forward under Julian's outstretched arm, her hands both dripping blood, drawing runes in the air that moved with her. Azriphel watched her with a grin, and my hasty grab just barely missed her. Azriphel's hand came up, ichor already dripping from his palm, and a ball of hellfire blazed to life.
Before either of them could take any further action, I heard air whip around me, then white wings obscured my vision. Caleb flew forward and grabbed Tink by the shoulders, then hoisted her to the ceiling. Her runic spells faded with the unexpected movement. All around the room, demons were jumping to their feet, hellfire glowing from dozens of hands. The air filled with the stench of burning sulfur. What was the idiot doing?
Behind me, Chrissy and Julian were back to back, drawing runes that I assumed were defensive. "Do something!" Chrissy hissed. "Before they get killed!"
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