It was little wonder I had always considered myself an atheist. I had firmly consigned gods,
angels, and demons to the ranks of mythology.
Wrong . I could imagine who was having the last laugh now. Trust me to have found an afterlife ruled by vampires instead of cherubic babies with bare bottoms and tiny harps. I suppose it was better than no afterlife at all, but the Elysian fields would have been preferable.
The animal howls were fadingthe walls of Sheol must have held, at least for now. Raziel was on his way backI seemed to know that as well. Was his annoying mind-fuck a two-way street? Or was it some kind of cosmic GPS? He was coming back to me, and I felt my skin heat beneath the clothing.
His clothing. I should take it off.
I did nothing, lying there on the ledge. I kicked off one loose shoe, letting it drop onto the balcony, then the other. It slipped and went over the edge, and I could hear it, bouncing, hitting against things as it fell, it fell
I automatically sat up, trying to reach for it even though it was too late, and at the last minute I sat back before I went over as well. I lay back on the ledge, trembling slightly.
I closed my eyes, concentrating on the sound of the surf. For a moment I could feel his hands on me, on my breasts, and my body lifted instinctively, then sank back, wiping the image from my mind. Where had that come from?
Two-edged sword, I reminded myself. Was it possible it had come from him? No, it couldnt be. And I was much better off thinking about Super Fudge Chunk.
Wasnt there a song about love being better than ice cream, better than chocolate? Did that go for sex as well? And, damn, why was I suddenly plagued with the one-track mind of a horny adolescent boy?
So, I wouldnt think about ice cream. And I most definitely wouldnt think about sex. Even though I could almost feel his hands on me, feel my nipples harden in the warm night air, feel him
Shit , I thought, jerking in protest.
And immediately fell over the edge.
I KNEW THE MOMENT I walked into the council chamber that things were going to take a very ugly turn. Azazel stood at the head of the table, wearing an expression that said there was no negotiating, and the others, most of them, looked equally grim. Only Sarah and Tamlel looked concerned, and that wasnt enough to keep the rest from disposing of the unfortunate female in the most logical way possible.
I didnt want to call her by name. For some reason, if I called her by name it would make the damnable tenuous bond between us even stronger. Allegra.
Allie. A thorn in my side, a pain in my ass. But I wasnt going to let them get to her.
We will discuss things in order of importance, Azazel said. Starting with the Nephilim. They are at our gate. For thousands of years weve kept Sheol hidden from them, and suddenly they have found us. They are gathering thereI do not know their number, but all it would take would be a moment of inattention, a slip, and they would overrun us.
We can fight, Michael said. I dont know why you assume they would have the upper hand. I say let them in, and well get rid of them once and for all.
Assuming we managed to prevail. Azazels voice was stern. And assuming our numbers are not too greatly diminished, we still have the problem of other Nephilim. They roam throughout the world in search of the Fallen, and if these know of us, then others will follow. It will be battle after battle, death and carnage.
So? Michael said.
Not all of us are warriors, Michael.
We need to be. We are at war, with Uriel and his legion, with the Nephilim who roam and devour at his behest. This wont be over until the Nephilim are wiped from the face of this earth.
And then what do we do? Uriel will send someone else, sooner or later, and I sense it might be sooner. He turned his cold gaze on me. What do you know of the girl?
I tensed. I was sent to take her. I was about to pass her over to the next life when I saw the flames and pulled her back. I dont know whyinstinct. She had done nothing to merit eternal damnation.
And thats your place to judge? Azazel said.
Id known Azazel too long to react. No. But we shouldnt follow blindly when our instincts say its wrong. That is why we fell in the first placebecause we questioned. We failed to follow orders but followed our hearts instead. Its bad enough when we have to face Uriels merciless wrath. If we judge each other, then we are doomed. She didnt deserve eternal damnation. Shed done nothing.
She fornicated outside of marriage. She mocked the covenants. That would be enough for Uriel to condemn her.
But not enough for us. Sarahs voice broke through, calm and assured. As the Source she had a voice on the Council, one
she seldom used. Tonight was different. Do we aspire to Uriels level of perfection? Have we ever considered mindless punishment a reasoned response?
Azazels glance softened for a moment, but he said nothing.
Theres another possibility we need to discuss. This was Sammael, usually silent during these meetings, and I looked at him in surprise. I had always been one of Sammaels closest friends, a mentor of sorts. He hadnt been among the first of the Fallen, despite folklore, but followed soon after, and his adjustment had been more difficult. Eternal damnation was never easy, but Sammael had once been an idealist. Until Uriel had done with him.