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“AI-DEN!”
I cringe when my name is bellowed. The directive bounces between all levels of Hell. There is no hiding. My father is summoning me. Why am I the second in command when Sammael and I have the same angel rank?
If only the king would stay locked away in his cage forever. I’ve been dreading this day; his release. Things have been pretty good thus far. The Knights are creating havoc in the Ordinaries’ world, natural disasters are in abundance thanks to the Marquises demons, and my plan is being executed nicely. I’m assured that Father is going to mess up my plans now that he’s free to roam the levels of Hell.
I should check on him though, in case there was a malfunction to the prison’s door. I can only hope. The Archangels locked dear old Dad in a cage since the Fall, but that doesn’t mean that his powers were sealed. The Seraph Angels weren’t strong enough to strip him of his Light. He said that he managed to draw some of their Light with him when he got locked up, which is why they can’t come to earth or even roam between the Levels. Yes, the King of Hell can still do quite a bit of damage. And I do not need that additional heat raining down on me.
If there’s a God, my father will still be imprisoned.
I chuckle at my own joke.
I vanish from the library and reappear in Hell’s throne room, where my father is shockingly not seated. I must make sure, though. Using Fire Light, I send it across the large, dark room inspecting every crevice for the king.
Could it be?
The black throne sits empty. The room is cold, even though Hell’s Fire flickers against the tall obsidian pillars that line the outer edge of the room. The king’s stone chair sits atop a dais. A thick layer of dust is undisturbed. The rot of death lingers in the stale air.
“Aiden. I know you hear me.” The voice booms as the Fire Light’s flames rise. “Do not make me wait. I gave you a command.”
“I am in the throne room, awaiting your orders.”
“I’m not there.”
That only leaves one other place where he’d be. Shaking my head, I disappear and reappear outside the door of my father’s private chambers. I pull out the large silver key that hangs around my neck, the only one of its kind, given to me as a safety precaution so many eons ago. Who knew that today would be when I use it? I had hoped this day would never come.
I slide the key into the lock and hear the click. I push the black walnut door open.
The room is the same as it has always been, ever since the Fall. I haven’t been here since then; there has been no reason. Cobwebs hang down the mirror and across the shelves of various weapons. Dust and dirt covers everything. Everything except ... the gold cage the King of Hell sits in.
I stare at my father. Neither of us says a word.
Humans think that the prison the Archangels placed my father in is similar to what they have on earth. It’s not. The king can roam free in a predetermined space—much like the vocivus room that Zoe is in. But this room is much stronger since all the Archangels infused their Light into it to create it. Even if all the demons banned together and did the same with Fire Light to counter the effect, it wouldn’t be enough.
I infused my Light in make Zoe’s room. If she becomes strong enough, she will be able to break it.
That can’t happen, not yet.
There’s the fact that the demons wouldn’t band together to assist their king, too. They want him kept in here as much as I do. Demons live by their own code and do things that only help themselves. Even if I need them to do something, they have to have something in exchange for it.
Because of that, Sammael will exact his revenge not only on the angels but many demons are on that list, too. The world doesn’t need the king’s wrath.
Sammael hunches over a large desk, pouring over paper documents. He still rules Hell and must address all situations that arise. Sometimes the Hell Hounds escape or don’t return. A lost soul wanders to the wrong level. Once in a while Hell can have visitors; it’s rare but does happen. He is the only one who can lift the veil between earth and Hell and allow entrance without having your Light stripped and your wings burnt off.
But that’s what happens when angels try to enter without an invitation. Demons can leave Hell when the veil thins on its own accord, though. Like back in the Great Fire of London, or 1871 in Chicago, or when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 1944. Dozens of demons fled the confines during those times of natural disasters. Or so we let the Ordinaries believe. The veil naturally thins every couple of centuries. There’s a balance to all things. Evil cannot be bottled forever. At some point, the top will blow, as in the case of volcanoes and Hell purges itself.
My father still does not address me. He continues to read whatever the parchment is about. No technology can be brought into the vocivus-like room, so in order to conduct Hell’s business, everything must be written down and presented to Sammael.
I breathe in deeply. My father knows I’m there. It’s a game to him. But I will not speak before my king acknowledges me.
“Am I keeping you from something?” Sammael doesn’t look at me.
“No.”
“Good. Maybe you can tell me why I’m still on this side of prison?”
“I have no idea.”
“That’s not what I hear.” Sammael raises his head and looks in my eyes.
“What is it that you hear?” I meet his gaze.
“Are you questioning me?”
“No.” I shake my head ever so slightly.
“I didn’t think so. It’s been a long time since you’ve seen me. I don’t want to think you’ve gone soft on me.”
“I haven’t.”
“Now. Tell me about the girl you have hidden away in a vocivus room.”
“I don’t—”
“Stop. I know you do. Nothing goes on in my own kingdom that I don’t know about. And that goes for you. Especially you since I left you in charge of finding her. So, tell me exactly why I am still a prisoner? Is she not the one?”
“She is.”
“And how do you know?”
“I watched her transformation. She has the tattoo and enhanced angel Light, but she doesn’t know how to use it or what else she can do.”
“You’re sure it’s her? I’ve been waiting a very long time to finally be released.”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Then how in Hell’s name am I still on this side?” Sammael stands and tosses all the items on the desk to the floor.
“I don’t know.”
“You say it’s her, but it can’t be since I’m still locked up.”
“Maybe it takes time for her to come into her full powers and you’ll be free.” I walk forward a few steps and inspect the shimmering, gold barrier. It’s definitely still intact. Power makes my wings flutter. I step back. I’ve learned my lesson the day Father was locked in. We both had tried using Fire Light to free him. All it did was zap my powers for a long time.
I would never feel that loss of my Light again.
“Could be.” Sammael’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “I’ve been pouring over the scrolls for any documentation about the prophecy. It starts with Glory. So, I know that the Ordinary will be blessed by my Father. Babe born. Self-explanatory. First and last. Meaning that it can’t be angels or fairies. Heaven and unto Earth. Could possibly mean that the one will be born of earth but also of Heaven. Receives the highest in jubilation. This could be that the angels will help. Enlightens will unite; they shall band. Never have they joined forces, so we must stop that. Triumph be if darkness is driven back. Help found who love, the world will stand.
“We will lose if we don’t find this being,” he continues. “I don’t understand this last sentence, but I guess we’ll see how it plays out. You will return to the library and bring me any book that mentions the prophesy, her, or the Archangels.”
“All right.”
“That was too easy. What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing. I will do as you ask and bring you everything, so you may continue your research. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“No.”
Maybe there is a God looking over my dark soul. I know up to the very tips of my wings that Zoe is the one who will set my father free.
So why hasn’t it happened yet?