Chapter Forty-Four

 

The Shadow demons slithered back into the crevice in the earth. Smoke choked the amphitheatre with a sulfuric glaze, making those left behind gag on their own spit.

“The demons are leaving.” Blaize forced the words out between hacking coughs.

Barachiel stood in a golden shimmer of light, his weapon poised. He had arrived swooping down to chase the demons back to the open portal. He closed the opening as the last Shadow demon disappeared within the void.

Juliet ran to Owen, scooping him up in her arms. The boy moaned. His eyes fluttering open to stare up at her. “It’s okay,” she told him. “You’re safe.” Owen’s eyes opened fully now and he threw his arms around her in a fierce hug.

Zaiden wiped his face with the back of his hand as he searched the amphitheatre. “Where’s Lucca?”

Barachiel’s gaze swept the perimeter. “He is no longer here in this realm.” He then leveled a look on the Archangel in the witch’s trap. “You have been avoiding us, Raziel.”

Raziel’s dark gaze didn’t lighten as he stared at Barachiel, but he didn’t defend himself either.

Zaiden fumed in a pace of frustration. “Lucca tricked us.”

“So it would seem,” Barachiel said, egging on the situation for no particular reason. “I am on your side, Nephilim. I want justice, too. Two humans unbalanced the portals.” He shook his head dismay. “Kasadya is free because of it. The timeline cannot be changed without consequences.”

Raziel’s silver blue eyes frosted with anger. “You are wrong.”

“Am I?” Barachiel lifted his brows.

“Why should we believe you,” Zaiden countered. “You, or one of your Archangel friends, fried two Time Guardians. How do we know you weren’t responsible for releasing Kasadya, too?”

Barachiel’s expression showed his annoyance at being questioned. “I have not fried the Time Guardians. That was Kasadya’s doing.”

“Angel fire was used. Only Archangels possess it.” Zaiden lifted his brows. “Go ahead, talk your way out of this one.”

“You know nothing, Nephilim. We knew the Time Guardians were jeopardized when the portal for the underworld opened. We traced the breach to Arizul, but Kasadya cloaked him.”

“An Archangel tortured the Guardians for answers,” Gideon accused. “I read the imprint.”

“You’re a clairvoyant,” he said with surprise.

“Yes,” Gideon said not backing down.

Barachiel looked away first. “Leroy had a vision of Arizul and Kasadya using them to free the other Satans. I was making sure he remembered everything before I released him.”

“They do not know of Apparitions,” Raziel said. “And did you find out everything you wanted?”

Barachiel turned his look on Raziel. “No, if I had, I’d know where your offspring is hiding.”

Raziel shook his head. “Tell the Watcher why you had to free the Apparitions. Go on. Tell them how it was you who tipped off Kasadya who the Time Guardians were. You’re so obsessed in finding my child, you don’t care who you harm in the process.”

Barachiel looked like he wanted to kill Raziel. His eyes blazed brighter and his hand rose.

“Tsk, tsk,” Raziel shook a finger at him. “Michael won’t like it if you fry me.” He sat down on the stage, sitting with his legs crossed in a comfortable manner. “Finish the story.”

Barachiel looked at the Watchers. “The Time Guardians inhabit human hosts, so that they grow old as the human’s do, but once they’re compromised they must be released to be reborn. We needed new hosts lined up and a quick extraction. I got to Leroy first, but Kasadya took out Purcible before I had the chance to release him. I’m sure Kasadya’s intent wasn’t to let the Apparition go, but his over zealous torturing accomplished the freeing process anyway. Leroy and Purcible are inhabiting new bodies.”

“Did anyone see what happened to Lana? She’s gone.” Everyone turned toward Ryden. She’d come down from her perch, atop the bleachers to see if her cousin survived Kasadya’s attack. Apparently she had. Eli was covered in demon blood, but Ryden didn’t care as she eased into his embrace.

“The witch slinked out without my notice,” Raziel said. “But I can assure you, Lucca did not go with Kasadya willingly.” He met Zaiden’s gaze and held it with a challenge.

Zaiden’s nostrils flared, looking as if he wanted to say more, but Blaize interrupted him.

“Raziel is right. Lucca gave the code that he was in trouble.”

“What code,” Eli asked.

“Poet was our code word back in the day. He told Kasadya the poet had the book.”

“So he used a code word. What does that mean? Does Lucca have Raziel’s book or not?” Sarice demanded. Her hands were on her hips, her gaze pinning her brother down for the answer.

“He has it. And before you ask, I have no idea where he hid it.”

“I might be able to answer that.”

All eyes turned toward Eli.

“Lucca gave the book to me.”