Reaper

by Larissa_Ion

  She called out, but he kept coming, his sword poised to strike.

  Something hit her like a train, yanking her arm as it jolted her out of the way. She felt the stallion’s breath on her face a split-second before she saw fur, teeth, and blackness, and then blinding light as her feet hit sand.

  Mal released her, but damn, her grip was going to leave tooth dents in the armor. Worth it for a save, though.

  She took heaving gulps of fresh air that smelled like ocean and citrus, but she figured it would be weeks before she got the stench of Sheoul out of her nostrils.

  Covering her eyes with her arm as she rubbed her wrenched shoulder, she tried to figure out where Mal had brought her.

  It took about two seconds.

  Ares’ island. Yes! With a sob of relief, she threw her arms around Mal. “Why didn’t you flash me from the garden hours ago, you strange animal?”

  Mal didn’t reply, and Lilliana realized she hadn’t asked Mal to bring her here. It hadn’t even occurred to her. She hadn’t thought hellhounds could flash people, but she supposed it made sense since they were able to transport their live prey between the realms.

  The hound put up with her hug for a couple of heartbeats, and then she backed out of the embrace and slunk off into the bushes. It broke Lilliana’s heart the way it had when she’d lived here and had to watch the beast be harassed and bullied by the others. She was small for a hellhound, about half the size she should be, and hellhounds weren’t known for their accepting natures.

  After making sure that Mal was okay, she charged up the path and the stairs to the palace. One of the Ramreel guards blocked her as she reached the landing, but when he recognized her, he smiled. It was the first time she’d ever seen one smile, and it was a bit unsettling. Goat-headed things should not bare their teeth like that.

  “Lilliana,” he said gruffly. “We thought you were dead.”

  She’d thought the same thing a couple of times. “Surprise.”

  “Wait here.” He jogged away, his hooves clacking on the stone pavers.

  She waited, her face to the sky, taking in the sun she had truly believed she’d never see again. And, actually, this could be the last time. Once she was back in Sheoul-gra with Azagoth, she’d be back to abiding by the terms of her agreement with Heaven, and she wouldn’t be allowed to leave. Especially if Azagoth were punished for releasing souls.

  “Lilliana!” Cara shrieked in delight and ran toward her. “You’re alive. I can’t believe it!”

  They embraced, laughed, cried, and when they finally pulled apart, Cara looked Lilliana up and down. “I love the new look. Badass.” Her brilliant smile faded a little. “Oh, honey. Are you okay? How did you get away from Moloch? Where’s Azagoth?” Before Lilliana could decide which question to answer first, Cara gave Lilliana’s arm a little squeeze and guided her toward the front door. “I’m sorry I’m bombarding you with questions. Let’s go inside.”

  A Ramreel met them with a tray of cold drinks, and Lilliana practically pounced on the guy. She drank a glass of lemonade and a rosewater iced tea before Cara even took her first sip. All she could think was that the servant had better not bring snacks, or she was likely to eat the tray, too.

  Cara ordered sandwiches and gestured to the seating area off the kitchen, but Lilliana waved her off.

  “I can’t,” she said, reaching for her third drink. “I’m too anxious. I need to get to Sheoul-gra. For some reason, Mal brought me here instead.”

  “Yeah, about that…” Cara trailed off, and Lilliana’s gut did a slow roll, sloshing a couple of pints of liquid around.

  “What is it?” Lilliana set down her glass on the table with a shaking hand. “Cara? Tell me.”

  “Follow me.” Cara signaled to another of their Ramreel staff. “Contact Reaver. Tell him Lilliana is here.”

  Heart lodged securely in her throat, she followed Cara to the nursery. She was surprised to see two cribs.

  And two babies.

  Cara went to one of the cribs, and when she gently picked up the sleeping newborn inside, Lilliana let out a sob. She knew. Knew with all her heart and soul that the baby was hers. She couldn’t take her tear-filled eyes off the beautiful bundle as Cara walked over.

  “This is Raika,” Cara murmured. “Your daughter.”

  Lilliana’s heart burst as she took the infant in her arms. “I can’t believe it.” Tears blurred her vision, and she had to speak around the lump in her throat, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “I didn’t think I’d ever see her again.”

  “She’s perfect,” Cara said. “But let me tell you, she’s got a set of lungs on her. When she cries, the fish in the ocean hear her.” She smiled and wiggled a tiny sock-covered foot. “That’s where the name came from.”

  An anxious little twinge pinched her belly. She and Azagoth hadn’t decided on names, and she hated that he’d had to come up with something by himself.

  “Her name means ocean?” She looked up at her friend. “Please tell me it doesn’t mean fish.”

  “Ah…no.” Cara’s cheeks heated. “It means hellmouth.”

  “What?” Lilliana glanced down at the sweet little face and wondered what had gone through Azagoth’s head. “I can’t imagine what he was thinking.”

  “It’s an elvish word or something,” Cara said. “I think he just needed something to call her, and seriously, just wait until you hear her cry.”

  Well, Raika was a pretty name. Maybe it could be a middle name. She couldn’t wait to talk to Azagoth about it.

  “You asked me if I knew where Azagoth was,” Lilliana said. “What did you mean?”

  Unease put creases at the corners of Cara’s eyes. “The last I heard, he was in Sheoul, battling Moloch.”

  “So he was there.” Lilliana grinned. He’d come for her. Her elation faded, however, as Cara stood there pensively, her weight shifting from foot to foot. “What? What is it?”

  “He’s going to be in a lot of trouble, Lilliana. He—”

  “I know. He released a bunch of demons from the Inner Sanctum, and he broke out of Sheoul-gra, but I’m sure he’ll get a slap on the wrist.”

  Even to her own ears, that sounded like bullshit.

  “No,” Cara said softly. “He didn’t let just a handful of demons out. He let them all out. And then he destroyed Sheoul-gra.”

  Lilliana froze, unable to process what her friend had just told her.

  “No,” she said. “That just doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t…” She trailed off because it absolutely did make sense.

  Azagoth had always been self-destructive, and if he’d believed she was dead or that her death was imminent, he’d implode. If she knew nothing else about her mate, she knew that.

  And it was what she’d feared.

  “Oh my God,” she whispered. Holding the baby close, she sank into the rocking chair next to the crib. “What’s going to happen to him?”

  Cara went down on her knee next to her. “I don’t know much. Ares and Thanatos were drawn to the battle hours ago. I didn’t hear anything until a few hours ago when Revenant and Blaspheme showed up. He said Sheoul-gra was destroyed.” She shook her head. “We knew Azagoth was planning something big, but we didn’t know what.”

  “How?” she asked, so numb her voice was flat. “How did you know he was planning something?”

  “He sent the Memitim and Unfallen to live here with us.” She stroked Raika’s black, wispy hair. “And he gave us the baby to raise if you didn’t return.”

  A sob broke free of Lilliana’s chest at the finality of it. Everything she knew was gone. Sheoul-gra might have been a bit of a prison, but it had been a prison with Azagoth. She’d rather be in Hell with him than in Paradise alone.

  “I’m so sorry, hon.” Cara handed her a tissue.

  Lilliana nodded in gratitude. “What happened with Revenant?”

  “Last I heard, he was on his way to talk to some important angels to figure out what to do about Azagoth. Blaspheme wen
t to Underworld General. I guess she’s a fully haloed angel now so she can’t get in. I don’t quite understand how it happened, but I’m not all that well-versed in the ways of your people.”

  As a human, Cara was an outsider in their world, but she was more familiar with it than she gave herself credit for.

  “I have to know what’s happening,” Lilliana said, coming to her feet. “Azagoth needs to know I’m still alive.”

  Something beeped, and Cara dug her phone out of her shorts’ pocket. “It’s Harvester. She’s coming to get you.”

  “Why?”

  Cara grinned. “They got Azagoth.” Her smile faded. “They’ve imprisoned him, and…they need you.”

  Lilliana hurried over to Cara. “Can you watch Raika for a little longer?”

  “Of course.” Cara took the baby, and although Lilliana knew she was leaving her in the best care available, it still hurt. But it wouldn’t be long before they’d be together again.

  She just hoped that together included Azagoth, as well.

  Chapter 44

  Azagoth had gone from one prison to another. His freedom had lasted fewer than twenty-four hours.

  And he didn’t give a shit.

  Without Lilliana, he had nothing. If Heaven wanted him to rot here for all eternity, he was okay with that. But he’d rather they killed him.

  They didn’t seem inclined to do so, though. No matter how much he insulted them, or how viciously he attacked them when they tried to enter the cell, they just laughed.

  Pricks.

  They’d left him in a featureless white room that expanded so, as far as he could tell, there were no boundaries. Just…space. It was a unique kind of torture that only angels could devise.

  White nothingness. Like what was inside their fucking skulls.

  A black doorway sort of fizzed into existence, and Azagoth snarled. The cell negated his power, but he still had teeth, claws, and—

  No way. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t say a damned thing.

  Lilliana!

  Her smile when she threw herself through the doorway was the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. His heart exploded, and he charged at her, too late remembering he was about twenty feet tall and had fangs the size of her forearm.

  He should have known it wouldn’t matter to her. She threw herself against his chest and didn’t flinch as he curled his claws around her.

  “Azagoth,” she murmured against his scales. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”

  Holy shit, he couldn’t believe this was happening. “You’re alive. Oh, thank fuck, you’re alive.” His voice rumbled from the dark depths of his beast, but as he held her, his body began to morph. A few heartbeats later, it was his arms around her, not his claws, and he could feel her delicate heat against his skin. “How is this possible? Moloch said you were dead.”

  “I almost was. But I got an assist from Maleficent, and she got me to Ares’ island.” She stepped back to look at him. “And I saw Raika.” One chestnut eyebrow arched. “Hellmouth? Really?”

  He laughed. “We can change it.” Assuming he wasn’t executed—or worse, imprisoned for all eternity. Either of which was a real possibility despite Heaven’s refusal to kill him up to this point.

  “No,” she sighed. “I like it.” She reconsidered for a moment. “Well, maybe as a middle name.”

  “Whatever you want.” He’d give her anything in his power, which, right now, was limited.

  She folded herself into his arms again, and he rubbed his hand on her shiny black armor. “This is a new look. I like.”

  “Yeah?” She rubbed her palm over the worn sleeve of his coat. “Well, you’ve got some sort of hotness going on yourself.”

  Her heart beat against his, lulling him into a sense of peace he hadn’t had since before all of this began.

  “I’m so sorry about everything. Sheoul-gra, Journey, and Maddox—”

  “Shh.” He stroked her hair, too lost in the moment to want to go back to the horrible places he’d been. They’d honor Journey and his sacrifice, and he’d tell her about Maddox. But not now.

  “Oh, Azagoth,” she breathed. “What’s going to happen now?” She looked up at him, her expression fierce, matching the awesome armor she wore. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

  Before he knew that Lilliana was alive, he hadn’t cared about the answer to that question. But now, he very much had an opinion.

  “Hey, assholes,” he called out. “What’s the plan?”

  Clearly, they were waiting for a signal. The door shimmered open again. He groaned when Uriel entered, followed by Reaver, Harvester, Metatron, Jophiel, Gabriel, and that fuckwit, Phaleg.

  “Uh-oh,” he said. “All the biggies are here. Guess I’m in for a stern talking to.”

  Metatron didn’t look like he was in the mood for humor. “We lost a lot of lives in the battle, Azagoth. Between you and Hades’ fallens, our ranks were decimated.”

  “I’d say I’m sorry, but…” Azagoth shrugged.

  Uriel glared. “And I’d say you could go to Hell, but even they don’t want you.”

  “It’s true.” Harvester willed a pink tropical drink into her hand. “Revenant isn’t thrilled with the mess you made. I mean, he’s impressed—the tornado grinder was especially creative, if I do say so myself—but he’s insisting that you not come back.”

  Metatron, dressed in formal white and gold robes, still looked pretty damned steamed. Azagoth didn’t really know the archangel all that well, had only seen him twice—and that had been several thousand years ago, but he knew this was one guy he shouldn’t piss off.

  “You destroyed the Inner Sanctum and razed Sheoul-gra.” Metatron’s deep, resonant voice boomed in the space. “You released every soul. Every single one. And you didn’t just release them as souls, which have limited power in the physical world. No, you made them corporeal, so there are now billions more demons swarming the realms.”

  “That’s not entirely accurate,” Azagoth said flippantly, and so much for his earlier thought about not pissing off Metatron. “Billions were killed during the battle.”

  Metatron’s eyes glowed silver as he hit another level of angry. “And now, because you destroyed Sheoul-gra, there’s nowhere for the souls of the dead to go. You have caused immeasurable damage to the Heavenly and human realms, and you broke the terms of your contract willfully and repeatedly.”

  “On top of everything, you’re an asshole,” Phaleg added.

  “Huge asshole,” Uriel agreed. “You deserve to die for what you did, but you’re also really damned powerful, and we need you to help fight Satan, so our hands are tied.”

  “You will pay for what you’ve done.” Jophiel was the only one among them wearing armor, its pristine white plates made to repel evil, and Azagoth had to lean into the pressure it exerted on his body. “Many people will pay for what you’ve done.”

  “Not enough,” Uriel snapped. “He’s getting off easy. I still say we should put him down.”

  “The Council of Orders has spoken,” Metatron said. “He’s not getting away with anything. He’ll still be punished.”

  “I will not be caged again,” Azagoth growled, and Lilliana nodded in agreement.

  “That’s not the punishment.” Reaver, dressed casually in jeans and an untucked blue button-down, gave everyone but Harvester a don’t-fuck-with-me look, and Azagoth got the feeling he was a big reason that Azagoth wasn’t facing execution. “You’re going to have a new duty.”

  Phaleg muttered something under his breath, and Uriel looked like he’d sucked on a lemon, but his voice was strong as he addressed Azagoth.

  “As we prepare for the End of Days,” Uriel said, “we’re finding that we need more angels to help. Now, we have massive damage to repair, as well. We’re going to pull all angels from their duties of escorting human souls through the Nether to their final destinations. Since the Inner Sanctum is destroyed and there’s no place to hold demon souls, your griminions are
jobless. They can take over for the angels until Hades rebuilds Sheoul-gra.”

  Azagoth didn’t let them see his relief that they weren’t going to destroy Hades for helping Azagoth and killing a bunch of angels. Oh, he had no doubt Hades would be spanked hard, but at least he was alive. The bastard had probably gotten a lot of leverage out of the eternal hellfire artifact Azagoth had given him.

  “What about after the griminions go to work for Hades? Am I supposed to collect every human soul myself? That’s gonna create quite the backlog.”

  Reaver shook his head. “You’re going to build a team of Reapers.”

  “Reapers?”

  “Humans who aren’t shitty enough for Hell but who are too shitty for Heaven.” Harvester smiled around her straw as she took a sip of her frothy drink. “I came up with the Reaper idea. Anyhoo, you’re going to give them a chance to either redeem themselves…or doom themselves forever. Right now, they sit in Purgatory, but this will give them one last chance to wise up. Plus, it’ll save a lot of time when Judgment Day comes. Ugh. Imagine having to pore over the records of all those morons.”

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” Azagoth said. “Which means, there’s a catch.”

  “Oh, there’s a catch.” Phaleg’s smile was downright sinister, and Azagoth tensed. “By releasing all those demons from Sheoul-gra, you’ve thrown off the balance of good and evil between the realms. Someone needs to clean up your mess before the End of Days, and it seems fitting that the one who was born into this disaster be the one to fix it.”

  Lilliana went taut, her armor creaking softly in the sudden silence. “What are you talking about?”

  “Your daughter,” Phaleg said with relish. “Yours and Azagoth’s.”

  Azagoth felt the air rush from his lungs as Uriel continued.

  “Azagoth, your actions have cursed her to a future not of her choosing, but a noble future nonetheless. She will be a hunter, responsible for tracking down the demons you released and returning their souls to Sheoul-gra.”

  “Oh, hell no,” Azagoth growled.

  “Absolutely not.” Lilliana rounded on Uriel, her eyes glowing like hot amber. “My daughter will not have her future mapped out before she’s even been here a week.”