“That’s a good idea, Ondrass,” Israfel piped up. “I think you’re right, and I hate that, not that you’re right—you can be right a lot, and that’s awesome—but what I hate is that this gift these people get might be something that fades away after a while. Like, when you buy clothes that aren’t colorfast and then when you wash them the dye runs out or fades or both, stuff like that. Can healing something be like a dye that isn’t color-fast?”
“It’s as good an analogy as any,” Adramelek said. “So while Raz and Professor Blanc finish their science things, Raph, Iss, and Tabbris will go check out the other patients who survived Transom. And the rest of us should do what?”
“You’ve lived too cushy a life in Hell for far too long,” Lix Tetrax said. She smiled, however, softening the words, and Adramelek quirked an eyebrow at her, curious how she had reached that conclusion. “Adry, think like a general. Gabriel?”
Gabriel was looking amused. “Aye, I was wondering if you’d remembered my rank.”
“I would never forget,” Lix Tetrax said. “I may sometimes despise you, but I will never lose sight of the fact that you are the most talented tactician I have ever worked with—or against.”
Gabriel inclined his head at the compliment. Adramelek watched the Archangel thoughtfully as Gabriel got to his feet and moved to the head of the table where Ondrass sat, winding a cigar between his fingers.
“May I?” Gabriel asked, gesturing at the laptop that housed the maps and images that were projected onto the screen to the right of Ondrass.
“By all means, General,” Ondrass said.
“You’re too kind.” Gabriel bent over the laptop and typed a few words, the clicking of the keys sounding very loud in the sudden quiet of the boardroom. “And here we go. This”—he stood up, gesturing to the map that had appeared on the large screen behind him—“is where our megacorp of misery have got their new facility going. So far, thanks to Tzad’s friend, we know they ain’t got much there—surveyors, builders, contractors, that sort of thing. I reckon we keep an eye on that place, ’cause they’re going to be finished building it soon. I reckon it’ll be done very fucking fast and magic’ll help that. So we need Minnie and Max, and a guard to go with ’em, to check it out.”
“I volunteer to accompany them.” Shateiel’s mental voice was firm.
“Aye, that’d be grand, thank you, Shateiel.” Gabriel nodded at his lieutenant.
“I will too,” Ondrass said.
“Which means that I will as well,” Markus said.
“Be careful over there,” Adramelek said. “I’m not even kidding. Lucifer will be enraged if anything happens to you two, and I won’t be happy either.”
“I’m touched,” Ondrass said. “Deeply and profoundly. You care, Adry. I may shed a tear.”
Adramelek threw a rolled up paper napkin at Ondrass, and Ondrass ducked, laughing.
“One day, you’ll be serious and the sky will fall,” Adramelek said.
“If I get serious about emotions like that, you know it’s deadly serious and that you’d better batten down the hatches and pray,” Ondrass said. “Now, who else is coming with us?”
“I will,” Agrat said.
“And I,” Ishtahar said.
Everyone in the room turned to stare at them.
“Why is it that every time we volunteer, all who are present seem to unite in protest?” Agrat asked Ishtahar.
“They’re all very old men,” Ishtahar said with a straight face. “They have not as yet reconciled what they know in their minds with what they know in their Graces. That we are just as good at gathering information and helping others as they are, and we are also good at combat. Well, you are, dear Agrat,” she amended.
Adramelek began to laugh. “It’s perfect,” he said. “Transom will be expecting a legion, like Gabriel over there dropping in on them like the angry fist of God, which he is.”
“But with feathers,” Israfel said.
“Indeed, young Israfel, indeed.” Adramelek looked around the room. “We can’t send the Venatores. Michael would have all of our guts for garters if anything happened to them—sorry, Angelique, but it’s true.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “But we’re going to be part of the final assault.”
Adramelek inclined his head to her. “Of course. Now, Transom will be thinking demon legions, angel legions, monster legions, maybe some human soldiers with guns. They won’t be prepared for two very lovely and very sneaky immortal women, one an angel and one the mother to Nephilim. No indeed.”
Ondrass began to laugh as well. “Oh, that’s brilliant, Adry.”
“What?” Uriel demanded. “What are you on about?”
“The ladies will be able to infiltrate by guile far more effectively than the rest of you feathery bombasticists would with violence.”
Uriel frowned as he mulled that over. Adramelek could practically hear the cogs and gears turning in Uriel’s head. Finally, Uriel nodded slowly.
“Okay. But if anything happens to them—a scratch, a cold, a sprained ankle—I’m breaking all the bones in your meatsuit.”
“How… charmingly violent,” Ondrass said. “You’d have to catch me first.”
“Children,” Gabriel interrupted the two of them. “You can banter later, yeah? Let’s get to work and get our people where they need to be.”
“Before you all go,” Ahijah stood up, “Hiwa and I need to go to Colorado too.”
“What for?” Remiel asked.
Hiwa, seated beside his brother, and looking every inch as relaxed as a panther, smirked. “To be bait. And a distraction. We’re going to go and draw their attention away from Mama and the others.”
“Ahh. That’s a fine plan,” Ondrass said.
“I don’t….” Remiel was frowning as he spoke.
“Remi, it’ll be fine. You can hide in the clouds and watch us, so if anything happens, you can get us out,” Hiwa said quickly.
“Yeah, you’ve done that before,” Ahijah added.
Remiel sighed. “And the two of you will continue to lay reasonable suggestions on top of me until I capitulate, won’t you?”
Hiwa was grinning. “Of course.”
“Fine. I’ll take you both myself, then. Sammy, will you join me in watching over these two impetuous children?”
“Naturally,” Samael said. “I would have joined you even if you had not asked. You two are to be very careful,” he went on, fixing the two Nephilim with a stern look.
Adramelek had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop from laughing as both Hiwa and Ahijah gave Samael salutes, both of them wearing almost identical expressions of innocence.
Samael sighed. “I fear impending doom is almost upon us, and it is in the shape of our nephews, Remiel.”
“You might be right,” Remiel said. “Don’t take chances, boys, I’m serious.”
“We’ll be good, Uncle Remi,” Hiwa said.
“Absolutely,” Ahijah agreed.
“Are we agreed, then?” Ondrass said. “Shall we reconvene here in two days’ time?”
There was a murmur of agreement at that. As everyone shifted in their seats, preparing to rise and go off to their duties, Adramelek held up a hand to forestall them for a moment.
“I’m sure I don’t have to say it again. We all know we have to be careful here. We all know we’re up against a lot of unknowns. Yes, we have a lot of information, it’s true, but we also are lacking in quite a bit. So be careful. Keep in touch with Michael and Gabriel or Ondrass and me. All of us, if you can manage it. And most importantly: don’t get captured, tortured, or killed.”
“That isn’t on the agenda,” Hiwa said.
“Humor an old Archdemon, Hiwa,” Adramelek said.
Hiwa laughed at that. “Okay, okay. We’ll all be very good, Mr. Adramelek sir.”
“He’s very irritating sometimes, isn’t he?” Adramelek said to Remiel.
“Some things never change,” Remiel said. He grinned at Hiwa. “H
e’s a good boy, though. Generally.”
Hiwa laughed again. “It’ll be fine. We all know what we’re doing. Every one of us going out, excluding Minnie and Max, are ancient. We’ve done this sort of thing before. I’m not saying we’ll be overly cocky or anything like that, but just that you don’t need to go overboard on the worrying or the warnings. If shit happens, we’ll deal with. If not, we’ll do the job and get out. So, we’ll see you all in two days.”
“You can count on that,” Ondrass said.
“Are we done, then?” Gabriel asked. “Good. Let’s get to work, everyone.”
The sound of the exodus from the boardroom was a loud rush, and Adramelek sighed as he leaned back in his chair and watched everyone leave.
“They make me feel very old,” Ondrass said.
Adramelek turned his head to look at his friend. They were the only ones left in the room now, and Ondrass’s usually smug demeanor was replaced with a cold, hard determination. Now that they were alone, Ondrass looked more like the Archdemon of Discord he was renowned as.
“I think they do it on purpose, old friend.” Adramelek shifted a little more. “You all right?”
“Hm? Oh. Yes, I’m fine. I’m just very angry.”
Adramelek grunted at that. “So am I. So is Lightbringer.”
“Did he say what Lilith thinks?”
Adramelek was surprised at the question. “He didn’t, but I can ask. Why?”
Ondrass pinched the bridge of his nose. “It seems to me that if these people who run Transom are aware of us and what we can do—and I am including angelkind and their allies in that—they might not be aware of the abilities that Lilith possesses. Oh, I’m sure they know the stories: Lilith, the first seductress, the first wife of Adam, the mother of giants, all of that guff. But her other powers might not be so well known.”
Adramelek narrowed his eyes as he thought about that. “You might have something there. Can you hold the fort here for a few hours? I think I’d better go to Hell and have a conference with Lightbringer and Lilith.”
Ondrass nodded. “I can and I will. Good luck, Adry. With Lilith, I mean.”
Adramelek chuckled. “Thank you. You know I’ll need it.”
Ondrass grinned at him. “That’s why I said it. Safe travels.”
Adramelek winked at him and vanished.
Lucifer and Lilith were waiting for him. Lucifer wore a simple white robe and Lilith wore, much to Adramelek’s surprise, jeans and a red T-shirt instead of a gown or robe. Her long auburn hair was pulled back in a French braid and she looked like a regular human being. Adramelek bowed perfunctorily to the pair and then sat down.
“We heard,” Lilith said before Adramelek could open his mouth. “And I have a suggestion.”
“Oh?”
“I have access to the only spy to bamboozle both angel- and demonkind at the same time.” She smiled. “My nephew in Purgatory. Arthur.”
Adramelek gaped at her for a moment. “That’s brilliant, Lilitu!”
“Yes, I rather thought so.” She beamed a bright smile at him. “I suggest that we send him with Ishtahar and Agrat and the others. He and Ishtahar can find out a lot of things, especially if Ondrass can set it up so that Arthur’s an official representative of his own company. If Arthur goes to see them on the pretense of discussing a deal, then he and Ish could get a great deal of information that we all need. Such as who, exactly, is on the board of this company and why they’re doing what they are.”
“She’s bright, isn’t she?” Lucifer said.
“She’s a genius,” Adramelek marveled. “Seriously, Lilitu, this is the best plan of the lot. Give me a minute to put it to Ondrass so he can get the wheels in motion with his business.”
“Of course.” Lilith got to her feet. “While he does that, I’ll go and talk to Arthur and get him ready.”
“Thank him for us, would you please?” Lucifer said to her.
She smiled fondly at him. “I was going to anyway, but I’ll make doubly sure he’s aware he’ll have the gratitude of all the realities and their rulers.”
Lucifer laughed. “The old man upstairs might squirm a little at that.”
“He can’t argue it, though, and He knows it.” Lilith rolled her eyes. “God’s gotten almost stodgy.”
“He’s relaxed a lot,” Lucifer said.
“Well, I’ll go to Purgatory. Let me know when Ondrass is ready,” Lilith said.
Adramelek nodded. “I will. Thanks, Lilitu.”
She gave him a small curtsey and then vanished. Adramelek closed his eyes and reached out with his power, his mind seeking Ondrass’s. It didn’t take him long to explain Lilith’s idea—Ondrass saw the merit in it almost immediately. Before they’d finished their conversation, Adramelek could tell his friend was already working on creating files and identity papers for Arthur.
Ending the connection, Adramelek opened his eyes and gazed at Lucifer. His lord was looking pensive, Adramelek thought, and he moved from where he stood to sit beside him. “What troubles you?”
Lucifer smiled wryly. “Many, many things, beloved. I’m trying not to let my anger and my curiosity about these people get the better of me. I have much to do here in Hell, and you know how tedious administration can be.”
Adramelek laughed at that. “Yes, I do. So do you have an hour or so to spare now?”
“I suppose. Why?”
Adramelek moved closer, reaching up to cup Lucifer’s face with one hand. “I thought that you and I could go somewhere with a bit more room so we could stretch out our wings while we fuck.”
Lucifer purred, his expression becoming almost debauched. “I do adore the way you think, Adry.”
“Mm. I adore that you give me such thoughts.” Adramelek closed the distance between them and kissed Lucifer. It was a soft kiss, a kiss full of tenderness and caring, two things that were in scant supply in Hell, but Adramelek wanted Lucifer to know that his desire wasn’t just born of the physical, but of the emotional, and their connection to one another by virtue of them both being fallen angels. He felt rather than heard the soft sigh as Lucifer leaned into the kiss, melting into him, returning the emotions with just as much fervor as Adramelek gave them.
When the kiss ended, Lucifer rested his forehead against Adramelek’s. “I’m glad I have you, Lilitu, and Ba’al. The three of you are my most loyal and my most treasured companions.”
“I am honored to be in such company,” Adramelek said sincerely. No matter how much Lilith might irritate him at times, or how much he ignored Ba’al as a lesser demon, Adramelek was aware of how much help they gave Lucifer and how much the two of them adored and worshiped him. In Adramelek’s absence, he was confident that between Lilith and Ba’al, Lucifer would always be well taken care of.
“Ba’al has set us up a light supper in the eastern tower,” Lucifer said. “He thought we might like some refreshment.”
“I’m glad he takes such good care of you.”
Lucifer smiled. “I am very blessed. Come with me, Adry.”
Adramelek took Lucifer’s hand in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Wherever you lead, I will follow, as I have always done, my most honored and beloved lord.”
Lucifer raised their joined hands and kissed Adramelek’s fingers. “And I am honored by your faith in me, humbled by your trust, and overjoyed at your love.”
Adramelek kept his gaze locked on Lucifer’s. “Only for you, Lightbringer. Lucifer Morningstar, my one and only beloved.”
Lucifer smiled again, and pulled Adramelek into a fierce kiss that the demon lord melted into. The world shifted as Lucifer teleported them to the eastern tower of the Castle of Black Ice and the pleasures that they would share for the next hour.
“ANGELIQUE, A moment?”
“Sure, Gabe, what’s up?” Angelique turned to face him, and Gabriel smiled at her.
“Not a lot. I just wanted to have a wee chat before I send you and your pack off on a mission.”
Angelique gri
nned. “Then chat away. A mission would be damn awesome right about now. Going through those hospital waiting rooms was a damn nightmare. I think Riley’s going to be waking up in tears for the next few months.”
“Was it that bad?” Gabriel frowned as he looked at her.
“It wasn’t great, no. But what do you have in mind for us now?”
“Well, after you and me talk, I’m going to send you to Kadykchan in Russia. Piotr, Lyudmila’s consort, will join you there as your translator.”
Angelique pulled a face of disgust that was almost comical. “You want us to check out this gulag.”
“Aye, I do. And I don’t reckon it’ll be a fun job, so if you feel you need to assign any of your pack to stay behind, do it.”
“Are you sending Liam and Declan with us as well?”
“Aye, if you want.”
“I want.” Angelique paused, her expression thoughtful. “I don’t know what it is about those two, but Declan’s got a really good attitude toward Riley and Lily. He knows how to diffuse their pain.”
Gabriel felt his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “Oh, aye?”
“Aye. I mean yes, yes. When are you going to change dialects, Gabe? I keep thinking I’m talking to an English pirate, not an Archangel.”
He laughed at that. “I like it. Talking in this way makes people pay attention. Sure, they might be well pissed off, but they’re still paying attention.”
Angelique shook her head. “Whatever works for you, I guess. Anyway, I don’t know how Declan does it. He has this tone of voice that’s damn soothing, and he keeps eye contact with them as he talks them down from the proverbial clock tower. Lily thinks he’s amazing and I think Riley’s right on the verge of hero worship. He’s told Dec things about his war experiences that no one else knows and Dec just listens to him, never freaks out, never tells him to shut up. It’s amazing.”
“D’you think he’s giving them the attention that they might not get from others?” Gabriel thought about it for a moment. “Declan’s certainly got a talent for reading people. I reckon he’s probably figured out what your two pack members need most and gives it to ’em. Listening to folk ain’t that much of a hardship, especially if you want to help.”
A Candle in the Sun Page 3
