Bartholomew still didn’t look up from his screen. “I have no new orders for the 37th.”
“Sir?”
“You are personally the diplomatic liaison between our people and the Infernal Host, are you not? The 37th is now yours. Take any actions you deem necessary to maintain the status quo. Dismissed.”
“Yes sir.” Caleb saluted again and we left the room, closing the door behind us. We walked back the way we had come in silence for a few minutes before he spoke up. “I’m surprised we got anything out of him. Something one of us said got to him.”
“It’s interesting,” I said. “Sending your particular unit to provide us with some under the table assistance? I don’t know exactly how the Host will respond, but there’s a chance it’ll be very bad. Plus, only seven angels? That’s sort of a poke in the eye.”
“I’ll have good people,” Caleb said. “I already have a few people in mind. There’s still dozens of survivors from the various Independent Choirs. I’ll start there.”
“What did he mean by third tier?”
Caleb stopped and looked around, waiting to reply until no one was in earshot. “Third tier on the priority list of those who will be allowed to have children,” he said softly. “It means they won’t have their turn for five years or more. Volunteering for this Choir will let them petition for reconsideration. That alone might be enough for some.”
“I don’t see why there’s such a rush to prioritize,” I said, equally quietly. “Both our races live for centuries, and both our races can have children for most of those centuries. Right?”
“Demons can,” he replied. “Angels cannot. Our women stop being able to bear children between two hundred and three hundred at most.”
“What?” Three hundred years old was barely even middle age for our races. Mom had gotten pregnant with me somewhere around that age. Dad had been a little shocked to find out her actual age, apparently.
“You didn’t know? As you said, your people diverged from ours for a reason, surviving Hell. Being able to have more children would be a significant advantage.” He lowered his voice even further. “Do I have your word of secrecy on what I’m about to tell you? Keep it even from Opheran.”
I nodded. “This is going to be bad, isn’t it?”
“Fertile women make up roughly five percent of our population.”
“Fuck.” I shook my head. “So you’re basically trying to keep them all pregnant all the time, right?”
“Even we aren’t so strict,” he said. “One child every two years is the current baseline to ensure enough genetic diversity to withstand another catastrophe within thirty to fifty years. If we can bring halfbloods and more into the program, it will speed up, depending on how many are willing to mate with non-pure angels.”
“Non-pure?” I asked. “Shit, Caleb. The more you talk about it, the worse it sounds.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “What would you like me to call them? They are not pure blooded angels, just as you are not a pure blooded demon, with respect to your heritage.”
“It implies purity of the race,” I said. “Barty has a point about how it would seem to humans, you know.”
“And?”
“It reminds me of some of the worst of humanity.”
He shrugged and walked on. “Some of our people will do it. Some won’t. We won’t force the issue on anyone. Bartholomew knows how far our people will bend before they break.”
I followed him for a couple of steps before I asked the question burning in the back of my mind. “What tier are you?”
He didn’t stop walking. “First.”
“So you’ve already taken your turn?” His prior phrasing felt wrong as it left my mouth.
“Zay, you’re asking a very personal question.” He looked over his shoulder as we walked on. “This isn’t something I want to talk about with you. Sorry.”
I shook my head and followed him. “Just don’t tell Tink.”
“I was never going to mention it to her,” he said. “And you should keep everything concerning our repopulation efforts secret from her.”
“She’s already pissed because she wasn’t allowed to come with us. She was raging about how the Choir was slighting her when I left. You know she’s going to torment me until I spill everything.”
He stopped again. “Why do you put up with that?”
“Because we’re in a contract, she never does anything I can’t heal up in a couple of minutes, I’m living rent-free in her spare room, and a bunch of other reasons.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
I grinned. “You know what we do when shit isn’t going down? We live. We’ve made friends, we socialize, we do our own things, we do things together. My dad came to Thanksgiving at our place last year. We’re normal people when we’re not getting into trouble.”
“But you’re not normal,” Caleb said. His expression was almost wistful. “You’re a halfblood and she’s a mage.”
“How often do those actually matter?” I asked. “Outside of a crisis, they don’t matter at all. I mean, sure, Opheran asks me to do some things now and then, but that’s all for me, and she has even less to do. I mean, you had your day job when we first met, right? Handyman by day, deacon at First Rev every Sunday. You led a perfectly normal life most of the time too. So do I.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he said. “Still, the way she treats you is unnatural.”
“Always has been,” I agreed. “We should really get moving. The sooner I get home, the less likely she’ll be to stab me, especially if I bring her dinner. She almost never stabs me if I feed her.”
He sighed and led us onwards. “At times, I’m jealous of how close you two are. At other times, like right now, I’m not jealous at all.”
Chapter Nine
“House Asmodeus calls this meeting of the Infernal Host High Council to order.” Opheran clapped three times and leaned forward on our table. The meeting chamber in Hell was a series of shipping containers welded together with hellfire and lit with torches and battery-powered lanterns, but it was safe from both the humans and the elements. “As host, House Asmodeus reminds all present that we are still in a state of hostilities with the Angelic Choir and we are bound to secrecy concerning all discussions of this meeting, upon pain of treason and death. As the situation bringing us together this day is urgent, House Asmodeus moves to expedite due ceremony and consider roll to be called and quorum present. Do any stand in opposition?”
“By Lucifer’s beard, of course we stand in opposition!” The High Prince of House Beelzebub rose and pointed at us. “How can you declare a current state of hostilities exists when a fucking angel is sitting at your table?”
“Language, my Prince.” House Leviathan’s Prince rose. “This is still a Council meeting and decorum should be preserved, especially with such an interesting visitor. Let us cut to the chase. Asmodeus, why is he present?”
Caleb sat to my side in his traditional Choir uniform. Rank insignia glittered on his lapels and everything about him was crisp and clean. His hands were in plain sight on the table. Everything about him screamed tranquility and calm. He was terrified and I knew it. “He is a guest of House Asmodeus, given safe conduct, invited to address the High Council on topics pertaining to both our people.”
“Is this where the Choir agrees to join in on this ridiculous war?” House Beelzebub sniffed and sat back down. “We’ll hear him out.”
“Are there any objections to calling quorum?” Opheran asked. No one responded and he continued. “Though it would amuse me to address other topics first, I understand there is a certain level of, shall we say, rabid curiosity regarding our guest. Marquis Isaiah Bright will do us the honor of introductions.”
I stood up, my ichor surging as dozens of full demons and their predatory instincts sized me up. “Esteemed members of the High Council,” I began. “I am Marquis Isaiah Bright, spec
ial advisor to Prince Opheran. I am also known as the First Gatekeeper and at one point, the Lord of Heaven. I am sure many of you are more comfortable with calling me halfblood.”
“We know who you are, Isaiah Bright,” snapped the Prince of House Mammon. “Just get to the point.”
Caleb stirred next to me. Our Council meetings were a bit on the informal side, which probably made him even more nervous. He didn’t know what to expect. “One of my roles is a liaison between Host and Choir, to help maintain peaceful relations after the Second War. This is my counterpart, Dominion Caleb DeMarco. We have brought him here today as he brings a formal message from the Choir. Caleb?”
My friend stood as I sat. The attention focused on him would probably have made me faint, but he didn’t even twitch. “Princes of the Infernal Host, I bear greetings from the Seraphic Council of the Angelic Choir. We reaffirm our shared heritage and our shared binding under the terms of the Pact.”
I frowned. Dozens of whispers hissed around the chamber. Caleb hadn’t told me exactly what he was going to say, but I hadn’t expected this. The Choir never liked admitting we had a shared heritage, greeting us peacefully was shocking, and the mention of the Pact was a non-sequitur. Humanity knew about us now. The Pact didn’t have any teeth anymore, if it ever did.
Caleb waited for the whispers to fade before continuing. “The Choir has been approached by representatives of House Asmodeus, seeking alliance in the face of the threat posed by the human Eternal Conclave. After due deliberation, the Choir has rejected such an alliance.”
“Of course, you’d let us burn first,” snarled the Prince of House Mammon, lurching to his feet. “Doesn’t matter if both our people die, as long as ours die first, right? Asmodeus, did you truly hope for salvation from the Choir?”
“We did,” Opheran said. Mammon sneered, but Opheran cut him off with a quick gesture. “Listen, all of you, before you render judgement. This is a guest of our Council and my House. Insult made to him is insult made to me.”
Mammon looked as if he was willing to escalate, but the High Princes of Houses Belphagor and Leviathan stood silently. “House Asmodeus’s questionable actions can be discussed at a more appropriate time,” Mammon said. “Please continue, Dominion.”
“Thank you,” Caleb said as the demons sat. “While the Choir has rejected a formal alliance, the Seraphic Council has authorized the reactivation of an Independent Choir under my command, reporting directly to the Seraphic Council and no one else. Under my personal authority, in the interests of maintaining peaceful relations between our people, this force will provide auxiliary forces to House Asmodeus, and will gladly extend our assistance to your other Houses if so requested. We will provide a link to Choir Intelligence data. We will provide any emergency surplus the Choir can afford. While our people cannot offer a full alliance against the Conclave, let it not be said we provided nothing.”
“How strong is this Independent Choir?” Beelzebub asked. For the first time in ages, all of the Houses seemed supportive. “How many angels? Seventy seven? Seven hundred?”
Caleb cleared his throat. “Seven.”
Beelzebub’s face fell and he sneered in our direction. “Seven. Seven Choirboys. This is an insult! House Beelzebub moves to rebuke House Asmodeus for their foolishness, and to reject this slap in the face!”
House Leviathan’s High Prince rose and locked gazes with me for a long moment before looking back to Caleb. “Forgive me, Dominion DeMarco, for I already know the answer to this, but it seems others may not and it’s quite pertinent to our discussion at hand. You said reactivated, not newly activated. As far as House Leviathan Intelligence knows, your people have not created a new Independent Choir since the end of the First War. Which Independent Choir do you command?”
Caleb took a deep breath and touched his left arm. “The 37th Independent Choir has been fully reactivated under my command.”
Instead of the violent outburst I had anticipated, the room fell silent. Caleb shifted his weight from one leg to the other and glanced down at me. I gestured for him to keep looking Leviathan in the eye.
“The survivors of the 37th Independent Choir?” Leviathan asked.
“All have agreed to serve under my command, and I have selected three additional members whose skills and personalities match our own.”
“And to make it perfectly clear, you were a member of the 37th Independent Choir during the First War, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“Your sword drew the blood of Lucifer himself.”
“That is correct.”
House Leviathan nodded and looked around the chamber. “House Leviathan moves to accept the honor the Choir has shown us.”
“House Amon seconds this motion.”
“House Beelzebub withdraws their movement to rebuke House Asmodeus.” Their High Prince nodded to our table. “Our understanding of the situation was lacking. I deeply regret any offense caused.”
Each of the other Houses voiced agreement, returning to their seats. Caleb sat down heavily. “I don’t understand,” he said, quietly enough so only Opheran and myself could hear.
“Audacity,” Opheran said, loud enough for the chamber to hear. “We respect the audacity and courage of the Choir to send you, and we respect your courage to stand before us.”
Caleb turned to me, confusion written all over his face. “Don’t question it,” I said. “And don’t ever show weakness, either.”
“Our second order of business is the status of the search for House Lucifer,” Opheran said. “Due to the unexpected situation with the humans, House Leviathan has withdrawn from assisting in the search, and House Asmodeus has not been able to devote as many resources as we would like. Considering these unforeseen circumstances, we request the Council allow us an extension of an additional three months to seek the survivors of House Lucifer.”
“House Mammon moves to reject your proposal.” Their Prince rose and stroked his goatee. Any unity the Host had moments ago vanished. “It is not our fault you have insufficient resources.”
“The circumstances could not have been anticipated,” Opheran repeated. Mammon shrugged and sat down. “Do any second our request?”
“House Leviathan seconds the motion to reject.” I tensed as their Prince rose. Their High Prince made eye contact with me and shook his head slightly. They had supported us before. What happened? “With all due respect, Prince Opheran, your resources should be turned to the threat at hand. Once the situation with the humans has been resolved, we may continue the search at our leisure. You will find no support for your quest in this chamber.”
“But please, continue searching for a needle in a haystack,” Beelzebub shot at us, earlier apology seemingly forgotten. “Devote your resources to this waste of time while the rest of us fight the humans.”
Opheran ground his teeth, but nodded. “House Asmodeus acknowledges the will of the Council and withdraws their request.”
Beelzebub grinned and House Mammon laughed. Before Opheran could call them out, House Amon rose, his expression cold and serious. “House Amon moves to sequester this meeting. There are things we must discuss, Prince to Prince.”
“What is the topic?” Opheran asked.
“Humanity.”
“I would ask my special advisor be allowed-“
“No. This is for our discussion alone,” Amon snapped. “Do I have a second?”
“House Belphagor seconds.” Their High Prince sat alone at their table, her expression drawn and tired.
Opheran looked around. “Unless there is protest or debate, we will sequester.” No one spoke and he nodded. “Very well. We will reconvene in five minutes, my Princes.”
He knocked on our table and everyone rose, streaming toward the exit. “Sequester?” Caleb asked me.
“Keep everyone out except the Princes,” I replied. “Apparently there’s some very top level discussions about to go on. That makes me nervous.
”
“Why?”
I looked around and pulled him aside to a corner of the courtyard. Some tarps had been hastily rigged up to protect most of the area from both the overbearing sun and Hell’s signature surprise storms. Eyes tracked us as we moved away from the crowd. “Some of the Houses advocate a more aggressive stance toward humanity,” I said. “I suspect that’s going to be the topic. House Amon is the big dog with Lucifer out of the way, and Belphagor probably has an axe to grind since they lost their Prince.”
“Aggressive, meaning, try to enslave them?”
“Basically. Some of our Houses wouldn’t mind at all.”
“The Choir would not approve.”
“The Choir wouldn’t waste their time doing anything about it. Besides, they’d only disapprove because they didn’t do it first.”
“True,” he admitted. “Is it likely to happen?”
“Not yet. I’m just guessing at the topic, though.” I turned back around to look around the courtyard. “We only have a couple of minutes and there’s someone I need to talk to. Excuse me.”
“Of course.” Caleb crossed his arms and did his best to look imposing enough to discourage conversation. I looked for the High Prince of House Leviathan. He was easy enough to spot, standing a comfortable half-foot taller than most other demons. I carved my way through groups of demons to approach him.
He noticed me, of course. “Marquis,” he greeted me.
“High Prince,” I greeted him in return, giving him a respectful bow. “If you have just a moment, I have a question for you.”
“If it has to do with House Lucifer, I’m sorry.” He glanced toward his second Prince and narrowed his eyes for a moment. “Our House cannot afford further internal divisions at the moment.”
“It doesn’t involve Lucifer, actually.” He raised his eyebrows and gestured for me to continue. “It’s a personal question, to be honest. Is Baroness Kyla still alive?”
The Demon Behind Me Page 12
