The Antithesis- The Complete Pentalogy

by Terra Whiteman

  He frowned. “I’m not making excuses. I’m telling you how it is.”

  I said nothing, placing the half-eaten casserole aside. My appetite was gone. “You two argue more than anything. How do you put up with it?”

  “Because I owe her my life. In more ways than one.” He looked away, troubled. I waited for him to explain, but he didn’t. Instead he laughed quietly, shaking his head. “I understand why she did it. Leid was desperate. Things were escalating.”

  “Yeah, I know. She’s been a mess; even had a panic attack. But something still doesn’t make sense. I thought Belial told her about the ledger?”

  “Told her, yes. You actually think he’d give it to her? He probably pointed to who had it and the information it contained; but at the end of the day, demons protect their own. Same goes for angels. That’s why our job is so tough.”

  I took another sip of wine, lost in thought. Samael had hoped for light at the end of the tunnel, but nothing ever came free with Leid. “Poor idiot.”

  “Totally left field. Samael was a law-abiding man, but I think you and I both know what love can do.”

  “Not really,” I said, eyeing him. “Care to explain?”

  Adrial gave me a look, saying nothing.

  I finished the bottle, wiping my mouth. “Fucking demons.”

  “Don’t think angels aren’t the same,” Adrial said, wagging his finger. “There’s been more than a few times that they’ve violated the code. You should have been here for the Spanish Inquisition. Boy was that a laugh. It actually ended up working in Hell’s favor. We didn’t even know how to handle it; their humiliation was practically punishment enough.”

  I smirked. “Ah, the hypocrisy of religion.”

  He raised his glass. “Hear, hear.”

  My attention wandered to the window. “Do you think she loved him?”

  “No.”

  “She didn’t want to kill him. Since when has Leid ever hesitated over killing a violator?”

  “Since she realized she’d destroyed a good man.”

  “What happens now?”

  “Nothing. This’ll all blow over in a week or so. Hopefully Samnaea doesn’t know too much, or else we might be fighting another storm.”

  I had a feeling we wouldn’t hear much from her. No one knew about what had happened at the masquerade, but I was sure Samnaea understood that if she revealed Leid and Samael’s indiscretions, there was a good chance I’d reveal ours.

  Assuming she even knew about them, that is.

  It was hard to cast any judgment when I, too, had fucked a demon—one much sordid than the one Leid had picked. In my defense, I’d been drunk and she was dry humping me. But in the end all the creases and folds had smoothed themselves out. I’d obtained something that just might save us yet.

  Leverage.

  XIII

  THEREFORE, REPENT

  ‘With impetuous recoil and jarring sound

  Th’ infernal doors, and on their hinges grate

  Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook

  Of Erebus. She opened, but to shut

  Excelled her power; the gates wide open stood—’

  THE CLOCK STRUCK NINE. The obnoxious clang, clang, clang jarred me from my book. I thought libraries were supposed to be quiet. Why the hell was that stupid thing in here?

  ‘The first sort by their own suggestions fell,

  Self-tempted, self-depraved: man falls deceived

  By the other first: man therefore shall find grace,

  The other none—’

  “Alezair.”

  I looked up, spotting Zhevraine at the door.

  Giving up on peace and quiet, I closed the book with an aggravated sigh. “Yes?”

  She was dressed in business attire. That was pretty unusual, given the time. “You’re being summoned to the court.”

  I blinked. “What for?”

  “Commanders Raith and Telei are here.”

  I stood. “What’s going on?”

  “Nothing yet. Settle down, please.”

  “I sure wish someone would have told me sooner. I just drank an entire bottle of curosh!”

  Zhevraine grimaced at the empty bottle on my desk. “That’s disgusting. And we didn’t know until five minutes ago. They showed up unannounced.”

  The first conversation I’d ever have with The Atrium’s leaders, and I was practically cross-eyed. “Fantastic.”

  Zhevraine frowned. “I really don’t see how this is different than any other day.”

  “I don’t show up to work drunk.”

  “What about yesterday after lunch? Or a couple days ago, when you—”

  “Okay, whatever. Give me a minute, will you?”

  ***

  The walk to the Celestial Court was the longest I’d ever taken. Although most of the time I ran there because I was late.

  What did the Commanders want? Zhevraine said they’d come to speak to us about the Najudis infestation, but even she didn’t know what the conversation entailed. It seemed a little suspicious that sworn enemies would ambush us in the middle of the night. Together. Over something we had already filed, no less.

  By the time we reached the court, my pulse was erratic.

  The place looked so different in the dark, without Nephilim here to greet us. Zhevraine guided me through the hallway and toward the conference room. She tugged me aside, leaning in.

  “Pull yourself together,” she whispered, sensing my unease. “You need to be as composed as possible or they’ll suspect something. Do you understand?”

  “A little hard,” I whispered back. “The room is spinning and I’m about to be interrogated.”

  “This isn’t an interrogation. They probably know nothing. If they did, they wouldn’t be here, would they?”

  She was right.

  I glanced at the door, smoothing my hair. “Let’s do this.”

  The conference room was a circular table, black leather chairs, a projection screen seldom used, and paintings of abstract art. I’d always thought it looked out of place with the Court’s usual décor.

  Yahweh Telei and Lucifer Raith sat across from each other, while Adrial and Leid sat at either end. Their eyes rose to watch our entrance.

  “Everyone is here,” Zhevraine said. “We can begin.”

  She took a seat on Yahweh’s side, so I took Lucifer’s.

  Big mistake. The moment I sat, he stared at me. And this time, I stared back. He wore the same expression as the one at the hearing, but this time it was much more awkward because he was doing it from only a foot away. I was half inclined to ask what his problem was, but that wasn’t a good idea. Maybe he knew I was drunk.

  I glanced away, staring at the table.

  Yahweh cleared his throat, shuffling through a stack of documents. The folder read: NAJUDIS INFESTATION.

  “Commander Koseling,” he began, his voice, like his appearance, light and youthful, “could you start with what happened when you arrived at Najudis? I’d like an account of what you and your judges saw upon arrival.”

  Leid glanced at the folder. “The statement is in your hands.”

  He smiled. “I know, but I’d like to hear it directly from you, if you don’t mind?”

  The kid had a cunning air about him. Teenager or not, he at least had the demeanor of Commander.

  “The demons had taken the city. I couldn’t see anything from where I was; nothing but fire and explosions.”

  “You waited for the watchers’ report?”

  “I did, yes.”

  Yahweh’s eyes drifted over her face, studying her expression. Well, one eye did. The other was useless, cloudy and gray. The scar looked to have been caused by something sharp and clean. No doubt the injury was one made with intention. Assassination attempt? “And then what?”

  “We moved in. The four of us contained the situation in an hour. One hundred demons.”

  “Including Samael Soran,” interjected Lucifer. His voice was deep, smooth.

&
nbsp; Leid reconsidered. “One hundred and one.”

  Yahweh grazed the files. “It says here you believe it was a trap devised by General Soran?”

  She nodded.

  “Why?”

  “He attacked Alezair. Obviously he was following my guardian, waiting for the perfect time to strike.”

  All attention shifted to me. Great.

  “What did Samael do to you, Justice Czynri?” asked Yahweh.

  “Turned me into mush with a cement block.”

  Yahweh stared at me. There was something behind the stare, but I couldn’t decipher it. “Was anything said during that time?”

  “He said he was protecting his sister.”

  “From what?”

  These basic questions were grating on my nerves. “We gave you that ledger, right?”

  “You did.”

  “So why are you asking about things you already know?”

  “Alezair,” Leid said, warningly.

  Yahweh smiled. “Sarcastic, aren’t you?”

  “Sarcasm is my veil, as I’ve been told that telling people to fuck off isn’t socially acceptable.”

  “Alezair!”

  Beside her, Adrial hid his face in his hands.

  I stared at the table, shutting my mouth.

  Yahweh reclined in his seat. “I understand everyone’s frustration. I’m only trying to grasp exactly how and why Samael did what he did.”

  “I could tell you that,” said Adrial. “He gave Leid that ledger. His sister was among the list of names.”

  “Yes, I know. I’ve seen it.”

  “Leid failed to mention her plan of handing it over to the Argent Court. He thought she was going to somehow disseminate them with a more…quiet approach.”

  Yahweh leaned into a palm, appearing bored. “Yes, I understand that too.”

  Adrial paused, confused. “Er, so what—”

  “Justice Trisyien, Samael just gave Heaven fourteen thousand tallies. That’s how many Najudians were killed. I hardly believe his plan was formulated out of rational thought, do you? Even if he were seeking vengeance for his sister, that wasn’t the way to do it.”

  The kid totally had us.

  Lucifer’s eyes returned on me. “Why don’t you tell us about what happened at Durn Manor three nights ago, Alezair?”

  I glanced at Leid. She nodded.

  “Samael got physical with Leid at the party,” I said. “We fought.”

  “Physical how?”

  “He slapped her. Made a huge scene.”

  Lucifer’s attention switched to Leid. “He slapped you?”

  She nodded again, shame marking her face.

  Commander Raith said nothing else. Assaulting a member of the Jury was a violation in itself.

  “What was Samael hoping to achieve by giving you that ledger?” asked Yahweh. “What did you tell him you would do with it?”

  “I told him I didn’t know what I would do with it. I…I told him I would somehow find a way to keep Samnaea and the others on that list from being executed. But the Sanguine Court needed to be stopped.” Leid paused, battling a thought. “I thought I was doing exactly as I’d promised. I didn’t realize—”

  “You did,” Lucifer noted, his tone gentle. “And I’m really sorry that this happened to you.”

  Yahweh looked at Lucifer. “Commander Raith, could you do a background check on the demons who were sent to Najudis?”

  Lucifer eyed him, saying nothing.

  “Many of your subjects are being forced into breaking the code because they can’t pay their taxes,” Yahweh explained. “Perhaps if you had the Archdemons lower their taxes, that might not happen. It seems to me these demons are committing crimes unwillingly.”

  Lucifer’s stare hardened. There was a moment of silence. Then, he leaned forward. “Yahweh Telei, the wealth of any Archdemon doesn’t even touch that of a common angel, and you know it. Our economy is none of your business, and you’d do well to stay out of it.”

  The three of us exchanged wary looks, while the two Commanders engaged in a stare down.

  But something was up. Their show seemed…fake. They were trying too hard to hate each other. At any second I imagined they would burst out laughing.

  Yet the laughter never came, and Yahweh only smiled. “My apologies, Commander Raith.”

  Lucifer slid from his chair. “That’s all on my part.”

  Yahweh did the same. “Meeting is adjourned. Thank you all for your time.”

  As Commander Raith headed for the door, he paused and looked back. “Justice Czynri, would you care to walk me out?”

  I was beginning to wonder if this guy had a thing for me. “Uh…”

  He tilted his head, waiting.

  I cleared my throat, standing as well. “Sure, no problem.”

  As we left our seats, Leid watched us. She looked scared.

  ***

  I hadn’t realized how tall Lucifer was until he was beside me. The Commander of Hell stood over six and a half feet tall.

  Our trip to the cephalon was quiet at first, but when we reached the portals, he stopped. Lucifer leaned against a pillar, pulling a malay cigarette package from his coat. As he lit one, I rolled my eyes. Hell was in a permanent state of famine, but it never seemed to run out of designer drugs.

  “I heard you’re from the Nexus,” he said.

  “Yeah.”

  “And you have no memory of who or what you were before?”

  I gave him a sidelong glance. “Why?”

  “I like to know about our employees. I’ve never met you, even though you’ve worked here for a century. It’s almost like Leid was intentionally keeping you from us.”

  I stared at him. Where was he going with this?

  “From what I can tell, you aren’t like the others.”

  “So I’m told. Repeatedly.”

  Lucifer smiled, holding out a cigarette. I hesitated.

  I took it, not exactly being in the position to refuse an offer from the Commander of Hell. As I slipped it between my lips, he handed me his lighter, and then I saw his hand. Before now he’d always kept his right hand hidden in his coat or covered by a glove.

  It was malformed, wrapped in bandages; brown leathery fingers with long black nails. I couldn’t stop staring.

  “Ugly, isn’t it?” he asked.

  I caught myself, averting my gaze. “What? Oh…that. I, uh, didn’t even notice.”

  He laughed. “It’s okay. It’s a funny story.”

  “What is?”

  “How I lost my hand.”

  “Your hand is right there.”

  “Yes, this hand; but not the hand I used to have.”

  I said nothing, confused.

  Lucifer’s crystal, red-rimmed eyes rose to the bleak sky. “How do you like The Atrium?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “How are you finding this world?”

  He was the second person who’d asked me that. Both demons. “Okay, I guess.”

  The malay had taken effect, having snuck up on me. One second I was wondering why everyone kept asking for my opinion of The Atrium, the next the pavement was green and there was hazy light swirling around my head.

  As I stared stupidly at my feet, Lucifer entered the cephalon. “Namah Ipsin.”

  I looked up, squinting. “What?”

  “Namah Ipsin was the name of the Archdemon who contracted you from the Nexus. Code violations threaten our alliance, but keep in mind that that single crime is the entire reason you’re here.”

  I stared, speechless.

  He smiled. “And you might want to take it easy on the liquor. I could smell it the moment you entered the conference room. Goodnight.”

  And then he disappeared into Hell’s portal system.

  Yahweh appeared on my right, and I jumped. Contrary to Raith, the Angel Commander barely passed my shoulder.

  He looked up at me, brows furrowed. “Are you alright, Justice?”

  “Yeah,” I muttered. “D
andy.”

  Yahweh looked at the malay cigarette between my fingers. He frowned. “Careful with that. Malay rots your brain; I’ve seen its plight firsthand.”

  Without another word, he stepped into Heaven’s portal system.

  Well, that was weird.

  I headed back to Cerasaraelia. My head felt light, but in a good way. Strange colors filled my eyes, making everything so bright. I wanted to cartwheel all the way home.

  But then I noticed someone standing on our veranda. The shadow of the sill overhead left their features obscure. I stopped at the first step. The visitor spun.

  It was Samnaea. She was crying.

  “What have you done to my brother?”

  XIV

  SKIN DEEP

  I WAS ON MY KNEES IN OUR SOLARIUM. My shirt was bloodstained and torn, face coated in a sheen of sweat.

  For the last twenty minutes, Samnaea had taken control of my body. I did anything she willed me to. Right now she willed me to run a jagged piece of glass across my cheek, and had made me swallow one before that.

  “You better kill me,” I rasped, blood seeping from my lips. “Because if I get free, you’re fucking dead.”

  Samnaea smiled coyly. “I don’t plan to kill you, Alezair. I didn’t want to hurt you at all, but you’re not cooperating. Whether or not you walk out of here with your intestines still in your body is up to you.”

  “I’m not cooperating because I don’t know anything,” I said through my teeth. “Do you need me to spell that out for you, you stupid bitch?”

  “You’re a terrible liar,” she sighed, approaching me. She grabbed my chin and licked the blood from my lips. I forced my head away and spat. “Samael would have never done what you all said he did. Not even for me. There’s a piece of this puzzle missing and I want to know what it is. Now tell me about Leid and Samael. I know they were meeting secretly at night. I know she told him about the statue in Atlas Arcantia.”

  I said nothing, keeping my eyes ahead.

  “I already know, Alezair. All you need to do is confirm it.”

  “Okay, fine. You want to know the secret?”

  Samnaea waited, eyes widening with anticipation.

  “The secret is that your brother is a sore loser and couldn’t get over the fact that I beat the piss out of him at Belial’s party. Right before he died I told him you were the best piece of ass I’d ever had, too.” I grinned, showing her a row of bloodstained teeth.