by Brea Essex
Part Three
Deception
“Because misery and degradation, and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart- you have broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine.”
~Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
Chapter Seventeen
“I’m not sure where to start,” Andrei admitted.
“How about at the beginning?” I said. “Explain how Logan is your brother but has no idea.”
“We were both born before the Fall of the angels.”
“How is that possible? Wasn’t the Fall thousands of years ago? Logan’s only seventeen. And you only look like you’re eighteen or something.”
“Logan is only seventeen.”
“This isn’t helping, Andrei.”
“Sorry. Okay, I was born quite a while before Lucifer and his followers were cast out of Heaven. I sided with my mother and grandfather in the Great War. Logan wasn’t born yet, so he obviously didn’t fight, or even take sides. He wasn’t held responsible for our mother’s or our grandfather’s actions. He was born in the Shadow Imperium, but he isn’t Fallen.”
“But you don’t look that old,” was all I could think to say.
“Devils age well. It’s one of the few things we retain from when we were angels. I’m a lot older than I look.”
“But Logan really is seventeen? How?”
“He was raised in the Shadow Imperium with me. When my mother found out that you were going to be born, she consulted a witch. The witch was able to turn Logan into an infant. He was then left on the doorstep of his earthly adoptive parents.”
“That’s terrible.”
“It’s what my mother felt she had to do.”
“So Logan was sent here because of me? Why?”
“Remember the prophecy?” he asked.
“Oh, I remember the prophecy all too well.” I laughed bitterly. “You said that’s why you kidnapped me and took me to the Shadow Imperium. Only, you never really explained it.”
“I’ve never known the actual prophecy. My mother does. All that she has told me is that it concerns a female Nephilim that will petition Heaven on our behalf.”
“So how do you know it’s me?”
“No female Nephilim has been born for a thousand years.”
“Oh.” I paused. “How does your mother know all of this but you don’t?”
“Let’s just say that my mother is… more important than I am.”
“O-kay.” That didn’t make sense to me, but I could tell he wouldn’t elaborate. “So why doesn’t Logan remember that you two are brothers?”
“Well the witch’s spell was flawed. When she turned Logan into an infant so he could be brought to the earthly plane, his memory was unintentionally wiped.”
I had to laugh at that one, although I felt bad for Logan. “Sounds like a great and powerful witch. If I were your mom, I would have gotten my money, or whatever it was, back.”
“She is a powerful witch. That was when she was still in training. She’s gotten a lot better since then. Her spells are more accurate.”
“What? You guys still have contact with her? After a mess up like that, I would imagine it would kill the working relationship. So this witch is still around?”
“Yes, and you know her.”
I gulped. I only knew one witch. “Sera?”
“Yes.”
I jerked the wheel unintentionally. The car swerved a little before I got it under control again. “Wait! So was Logan’s memory loss on your orders? Is this your fault?”
He grimaced. “Technically, my mother issued the orders, but I contacted Serafina.”
“How dare you pretend you wanted to help me! This is all your fault.”
“I realize that and I want to fix it,” he said.
“Why?”
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Because I realize now that I’ve been wrong. I want to change sides.”
I shrugged his hand off. “What?”
“My mother needs to be destroyed. The Shadow Imperium needs to be destroyed.”
“I don’t understand.”
“My mother doesn’t intend to have you beseech Heaven on our behalf as she led me to believe. She wants to use you as a blood sacrifice.”
I could feel the color drain from my face. “She wants me dead?”
“Yes, but she wants to make it look like an accident, or like the angels killed you for being a Nephilim. Most of them don’t like Nephilim any more than they like devils. She thinks it will bring Logan over to our — her side.”
I had to ask, although I was afraid of the answer. “And then what?”
“She wants to use Logan to lead a war on Heaven.”
It was a good thing I was already sitting. I might have collapsed if I wasn't. I pulled the car over slowly. My head spun with the implications. “Why does she need Logan to lead a war on Heaven?”
“I thought that was obvious,” Andrei said.
“You’re going to have to enlighten me because it’s not obvious to me.”
“I think Logan is the son of Michael.”
“Michael?”
“Yes, the head Archangel. The Guardian of Heaven. Don’t you read?”
“Hey, I read! I just… I’m not all that religious.”
“Well, you’d better find some religion fast. You need to at least do some research so you know what you’re up against.”
“I guess it’s time to go see the priest,” I said.
Andrei perked up at that. “What priest?”
I didn’t know if I should tell him, but he sounded sincere. “Umm… the priest at the Catholic church.”
“You know this priest?”
“Sort of. Logan knows him better. He’s… well, he’s the one that helped Logan find me.”
Andrei nodded. “So he knows of the Shadow Imperium.”
“Yeah, apparently. He seems to know all about angels and devils and the Fall and whatnot.”
“Take me to him,” he demanded.
“I thought you were trying to help now.”
“I am.”
“I don’t understand why you need to see the priest.”
“He may know something I don’t. Something about my mother, my grandfather. He may even know about the prophecy.”
I stared at him. “You really want to help?”
“Yes, I do! I swear. But please, Raena, take me to the priest. He may be able to help too.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because if you help me with this, I’ll tell Serafina to break the spell on Logan.”
I gave him a skeptical look. “Why would you do that?”
“I told you. I only want to help! How many times, how many ways must I tell you? I know you want to be with my brother again. I don’t understand it, but I can feel your desire to be with him oozing from your very soul. I can make that happen.”
I wanted to believe him more than anything. “All right,” I finally agreed. “Let’s go.”
“You’ll take me now?” he asked incredulously.
“You’re so insistent upon going, we might as well get it over with.” I executed a three-point turn that was more like a five-point turn, and headed back in the direction of the church. There was one more big question I had to ask him. “Andrei? What if Sera won’t remove the spell on Logan?”
“Then I will make her.”
“How do you do that?”
“I’ll remove her head.”
Whoa. “Don’t you think that’s going a little too far?”
“The witch has done enough damage. She deserves to die.”
“There has to be another solution,” I told him.
“She may do it willingly. I don’t know. She is my mother’s creature, not mine.”
“Maybe the priest will know a way?” I asked hopefully.
“Perhaps.”
“Well, Ismene is working on a wa
y to reverse the spell.”
He snorted. “The psychic? I wouldn’t trust that woman if my life depended upon it.”
“Why?”
“She only looks out for herself. Trust me. The only reason she has offered to help you is because she thinks she will get something out of it.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. Favor, immortality… it could be anything. Who knows what she might want of you?”
“She’s been more help to me than you have.”
“Really? And how has she helped you?”
I held up the stone that rested at my throat. “She gave me this.”
He glanced at it out of the corner of his eye. Then he did a double take and looked closer. “You must get rid of that right now!”
“What? Why? It’s just a protection gem.”
“No, it’s not! Can’t you sense the black magic around it? It’s draining the very life from you.”
“Andrei, if you think you’re going to scare me, it’s not going to work. It’s not draining my life.”
“How do you not feel it? Can’t you see the darkness swirling around it?”
“I feel fine and I don’t see anything. Now I’m taking you to the priest, so do me a favor and drop it.”
“I will, but promise me that if you begin to feel unnaturally tired or weak, you’ll destroy it.”
“Fine.” Better to humor him. “If I feel sick or weak or whatever, I’ll get rid of it.”
He seemed pacified. He didn’t say anything more as we pulled into the parking lot of the church.
We got out of the car and headed for the front door. Father Matthias was standing outside. “Raena! Come in, daughter.”
He gave Andrei a strange look. “It’s you.”
“You know me, Father?”
“Yes. You are of the Shadow Imperium. You are the one who took Raena.”
“How do you know this?” Andrei asked.
“He has visions,” I said shortly. “Now ask him what you wanted to ask him.”
“Daughter, why so impatient? The devil has sought me out. Let us see what he wants,” the priest said.
“He wants to ask you about some prophecy. He says his mom is planning to sacrifice me and that you can help us stop her.”
“I was afraid things would come to this,” the priest said. “So, devil, you have come to aid us?”
Andrei nodded quickly. “Yes, Father, I have.”
“Tell me your name.”
“I am called Andrei Petrov, but my true name is Abaddon.”
“Ah, the angel of destruction. Yes, I know of you. What has caused you to turn away from Lucifer and back toward the light?”
“The girl has shown me the way.”
“Okay, why are you two speaking all archaically? And I have a name, remember? It’s not even a difficult name.”
“Sorry, Rae,” Andrei apologized. “When I speak of these things, I tend to revert to a more ancient way of speech.”
“Fine. Can we all go inside now? It’s getting hot out here, and we probably shouldn’t be speaking of these things in the open.”
They both came to attention at that. “Very well,” the priest said. “I never thought I would say this, Abaddon — to any devil, let alone you… please enter.”
As if he had been held back until the priest had given him permission, Andrei crossed the threshold of the church and entered into the building. Tears were filling his eyes. “To be standing in the sanctuary after all this time…” He broke off. “I’m sorry. I never thought I would see the inside of a church again… or any place that the Creator had touched.”
I was getting confused again, but I didn’t want to interrupt what was obviously a significant moment for Andrei. Hopefully he would explain later. Or maybe the priest would.
Andrei walked slowly up the aisle. When he reached the front, he fell to his knees; tears streaming openly down his face. Father Matthias and I hung back. “What’s going on?” I whispered to the priest.
“Abaddon is being redeemed,” he said.
I sat down on one of the benches. “I don’t understand.”
“Abaddon has chosen the side of the Creator again. He is no longer siding with the Morningstar.”
This wasn’t helping. “Who’s the Morningstar?”
“My grandfather,” Andrei said. I hadn’t noticed him walk up.
“Your grandfather?”
“Yes. Humans know him by another name — Lucifer.”
Now that name I knew. “Lucifer is your grandfather?”
“Yes, and Logan’s.”
Oh wow. My boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, was the grandson of the worst devil of all time. I didn’t know what to say.
“Lucifer wasn’t always bad,” Andrei continued. “He just had… large dreams.”
“He tried to overthrow Heaven,” I said. “I know that much.”
“Yes, and I helped him, as did my mother.”
“But Logan didn’t,” I clarified.
Andrei turned and paced up the aisle. “Why is it always about Logan?” he yelled. His voice echoed through the church. “Sorry, Father,” he said, lowering his voice.
“That’s okay, son.”
Andrei turned back to me. “I don’t mean to yell. It’s just… ever since Logan was born, it was all about him. Logan the angel… Logan the perfect child. He shone brightly even in the dismal realm of the Shadow Imperium. For thousands of years, my mother babied him. My grandfather favored him. He was the one who would turn the battle in our favor.” He walked close to me and leaned down, effectively barring me in the bench. “He was the one who would help us finally overthrow Heaven.”
I stood quickly. Andrei lurched back out of my way. “Logan would never do that!” I exclaimed.
“I know, but they still hold hope. The old Logan, the one that came bursting into the Shadow Imperium in all his glory, wouldn’t do it. But this Logan? The one under the spell of Serafina? Now he just might.”
I could feel the color drain from my face. “What do you mean?”
“When the witch cast her spell, it not only canceled Logan’s memories of being with you. It also seems to have radically altered his personality. Surely you have noticed this?”
“Yeah, he’s acting like an obnoxious jerk again.”
“But isn’t there something different?” he asked.
“Actually, yes. He seems meaner… crueler even.”
“That is his devil nature taking over, overshadowing his true personality.”
I felt as though my legs couldn’t hold me up anymore. I sat down heavily. “So what do we do?”
“The spell must be broken,” the priest said.
“What happens if it can’t be broken?” I asked.
“Then the world as we know it, and Heaven itself, could be in danger.”
“Andrei, I still don’t understand why you’re helping us. What do you get out of it?”
“I’ve already gotten it,” he said.
“What did you get?”
“Redemption. Freedom from my mother, my grandfather, and their plans.”
“But you helped them before. How do I know that you won’t again?”
“Their plan was never my own. They lied to me. They said that they sought redemption, and then re-entry to Heaven, but their real plan will lead to much bloodshed and unneeded death. That’s never what I wanted.”
I was still a little skeptical. “Andrei, I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I believe you. You did throw me in chains. You starved me, you threatened to kill me… you tried to kill your brother. I need to know that you’ve really changed. I need to know that you won’t switch sides again.”
“What do you want me to do? Get down on my knees and beg your forgiveness? Just say the word and I’ll do it!” He knelt on the floor and took my hand. “If you will just say that you’ll forgive me, I’ll spend the rest of my immortal life trying to make it up to you.”
“All right, I’ll forgive you. Now, pleas
e get up.”
As he stood up, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had made the right decision.
Chapter Eighteen
“Raena?”
I turned toward Nuada. She was perched on my bed in her human form. She raked long, claw-like fingernails through her waist-length, jet-black hair. There was an almost hypnotizing rhythm to it. I wondered if she would start licking her hand and using it to smooth her hair. A giggle escaped before I could stop it.
“I can hear your thoughts, you know. I’m not going to lick my hand,” Nuada informed me.
Now I began to laugh in earnest. She looked annoyed. “Just because I’m a cat sometimes, doesn’t mean that I retain feline characteristics when I’m in my human form. This is my natural form, after all.”
“I’m sorry,” I told her after I caught my breath. “It’s just — the mental image of you bathing your hair like a cat was just too much!”
She laughed as well. “It is quite funny. But as I said, I am fully human in this form.”
“Then why the nails?”
She frowned and stared down at her hands, spreading her fingers before her. “What’s wrong with my fingernails?”
“They’re just… long.”
She turned her hands over, palms up, and curled her fingers toward her. I noticed how her nails dug into her palms. She winced. “They’re not that long.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Well, they make good weapons.” She looked up with a mischievous grin on her face.
“Seriously? Weapons?”
“Yes. Now, will you focus on something other than my nails? It’s imperative that I tell you something.”
I tried to sober. “What is it?”
“Serafina is not what she seems.”
“No kidding. I could have told you that.”
She stood and crossed my room to stand in front of me. Her eyes were directly level with mine. Her eyes were strange, almost cat-like. I thought she said that she didn’t retain any cat characteristics when in human form. Best not to bring it up now. She obviously thought she had something important to tell me.
“You must stay away from Serafina as much as possible. She is…”
A knock sounded on my door before Nuada could complete her sentence. “Just a second!” I looked back at Nuada, but she had already shifted back to cat-form and jumped up on my bed.
