Theyll kill her.
Beloch smiled. Yes, they will. Very few survive the Truth Breakers. You were one of the rare ones. Im certain theyd love another chance at you.
He didnt move. The room was stiflingly hot, and the fire crackled like a laughing witch. He could offer Beloch a trade. He had no reason to live, no desire to continue. If Beloch would send herRachelback to Sheol, Azazel had complete faith that the Fallen would find out what they needed to know, sooner or later. It would simply take more time, but in the end the truth would come out. She would live, and he would die. It seemed a fair trade.
What do the Truth Breakers want from me? he said.
What you refused to give them the last time, of course. You dont remember? No, of course not. I saw to that. The Truth Breakers want nothing less than the secrets of Sheol. How you survive and thrive in the face of Gods disapproval. What are the walls that keep everyone out? How many are there? Who would be most likely to repent and return to the fold?
Like Sammael the traitor? He knew his voice was icy and uncompromising.
Like Sammael the martyr, Beloch returned. Your little girl could go free if you are willing to open yourself to the Truth Breakers.
There was something so familiar about that smooth, tempting voice. It would be so easy to give him what he wanted. No, he said. Those are not my secrets to reveal.
Instead youll see your lover ripped to pieces by the Truth Breakers?
His face felt as cool and hard as the marble floor beneath him. She is not my lover. And her fate is hers.
And it has the added advantage of breaking the prophecy that terrifies you so much, Beloch pointed out. Bring her to me tonight.
You said she could stay
I changed my mind. She weakens your resolve. The kindest thing I can do is remove temptation. You neednt have sex with her again, Azazel. Isnt that generous of me? Youre released from that particular punishment.
Azazel didnt move for a moment. When do you want her? he said finally, and Belochs smile widened.
Bring her to the river by seven. The Nightmen will come and relieve you of that particular burden.
He looked at Beloch, his self-satisfied smile. He was immortalit would do no good to break his neck, beat him to the ground. Azazel was trapped, and it shouldnt matter. But it did. Ill bring her, he said. And walked away.
IT WAS ALMOST DUSK WHEN Azazel returned. Id been waiting for him in the library, impatient, nervous. Id tried to read, but my eyes would glaze over,
and I would remember his hands on me, and I would end up staring into nothingness, reliving those moments. It was little wonder I was in a jumpy mood when he finally walked in.
Are you ready? As a greeting it left a lot to be desired, and I wondered if he was talking about going upstairs again.
Ready for what? I said carefully.
I want you to show me the river walk. Where the Nightmen found you.
Why?
Because.
I swallowed a growl, and rose. I didnt want to have sex with him again, and if hed suggested it I would have flatly refused. There was no reason to feel disgruntled and disappointed. How are we getting there?
Were walking. The more people who see us together, the better.
I dont know why. Besides, they barely pay any attention to us. I tried to talk to one young woman and she practically ran away screaming.
The people of the Dark City are watching us very closely. Everyone is a spy. The more time were on the streets walking, the less time were supposed to be having sex. I assume that would meet with your approval.
My stomach had jumped at his words. Again I could feel him, and again I forced myself to banish the memory. Absolutely, I said in a firm voice.
I made the mistake of looking at him, into his pale face and his blazing blue eyes, and I knew he didnt believe me. He knew I wanted him again. Just as he wanted me.
The twilight held the promise of rain in the air. I looked up into the sky, searching for any familiar sign. I had no idea where we were, if we were in some strange, alternate world that existed in another universe. I never saw any sun overhead, only the omnipresent grayness that had spread into everything. Azazel and I were still in color, our flesh alive, our mouths red, our bodies creamy. What was this world, where every spot of color was gone?
We were halfway to the river when I heard the distant rumble of thunder, and I felt a moments nervousness. Something was wrong. Not that that was anything new. It just felt more wrong than before, and my skin felt like ice. Theres going to be a storm, I said unnecessarily. Maybe we should go back.
Were unlikely to melt.
What if were struck by lightning?
It wont kill us.
Okay, I believed that. So I walked on, Azazel at my side with his hands in his pockets, occasionally brushing against me. Each time it happened my entire body reacted, suffused with warmth, and I wanted to lean against him, close my eyes and sink into him, into his bones, lose myself in his beautiful white-gold flesh.
I kept walking.
The river was in sight when the first light rain began to fall. The coat Id found in my wardrobe had a hood, but I didnt bother with it, turning my face up to catch the drops of rain. He took my arm then, steering me across the street to the embankment along the roiling gray river, leading me toward one of the empty benches that fronted it.