No Shadows Fall (20 page)

“Hell is rather lovely,” Adramelek said whimsically. “I’m being serious,” he added hastily as Lucifer cocked an eyebrow at him. “Hell is home. Hell is freedom. Heaven was never either. Not for me.”

“Nor for me.” Lucifer’s expression grew pensive. “I rather imagine a lot of dusty, dry philosophical scholarship will be made very redundant when the truth eventually comes out. The shrieks of those who believe such scholarship will be nearly deafening.”

“I hope that by then one of the humans has invented a perfect set of earplugs,” Adramelek said, deadpan.

Lucifer burst out laughing and clapped Adramelek on the shoulder. “This is why you are my closest friend and ally, Adry. Even in the darkest or most annoying of circumstances, you manage to lift my mood.”

Adramelek bowed gracefully. “I agree with you. I did then, I do now. Nothing’s changed since those first days of rebellion.”

“Let’s not get too cloying, eh?” But Lucifer ruffled Adramelek’s hair, and the two Fallen Ones grinned at each other.

“So, who did you send Ba’al for?” Adramelek asked.

“Your latest allies and colleagues. Ondrass, his personal assistant, Markus, Melcherisa, and Lix Tetrax. They have performed admirably in the last century.”

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised,” Adramelek agreed. “I take it that this new council you wish me to form with them as members is separate and above the Council of Devils and the Order of the Fly?”

“Yes.” Lucifer nodded. “Things change. We need to be flexible. Most of my Archdemons can’t see beyond their own desires, and there’s more to the universe than that. We must change and keep an open mind.”

Adramelek hummed in agreement. “I’ll have Sprite set up something for me to use as a council chamber. As I gather, you’ll have duties upstairs on Earth for me?”

“You were always quick.” Lucifer nodded again. “I want you to go to the Archangels and make them an offer they can’t refuse.”

“And this offer would be…?”

Lucifer grinned, showing his teeth. “In exchange for providing aid in hunting down Semjaza and warding a spot so Gabriel can kill him, I want Semjaza’s soul.”

Adramelek whistled. “Well now. That’s a bold proposal.”

“Tell Michael he can think of it as a birthday present,” Lucifer said. “I receive so few birthday presents these days.”

Adramelek snorted as he imagined how Michael might react to that. “I’ll work on my sales pitch,” he said. “So where are the Archangels?”

“I don’t know.” Lucifer scowled. “Which vexes me greatly, Adry, because I am supposed to know everything. How can I know everything if those great feathery idiots are hiding from me?”

“They must be on one of the holy places in the world,” Adramelek mused. “If you can’t sense them, that would be the reason, I’d imagine.”

“I have faith you’ll find them,” Lucifer straightened. “The others arrive. Ba’al brings them.”

Adramelek nodded and took a few steps back from Lucifer. He didn’t particularly want anyone to know how close he was to the Lord of Hell. There would be too many who tried to use their relationship for currying favor. Adramelek wasn’t interested in demon politics, finding them petty and ridiculous.

Ba’al appeared then, leading the three Archdemons and one regular demon. All four of them were wide-eyed, and Adramelek could smell the fear rolling off them in waves. He realized that this was probably the first time that any of them had ever been to the Castle of Black Ice, let alone seen Lucifer in person.

“Your majesty,” Ondrass said, bowing. He was trembling, Adramelek observed. Behind him, Markus was also bowing, and Melcherisa and Lix Tetrax were quick to bow as well.

“Ondrass.” Lucifer smiled. “Rise, my children.” He looked at Ba’al. “I trust Asmodeous and Belial are completing the task I set for them.”

“Yes, my lord,” Ba’al said. “The noise should stop in a few moments.”

“Good. I hate to have to shout.” Lucifer cocked his head as the singing was abruptly cut off. “Ah, wonderful. Have them report to me later today, Ba’al.”

“Yes, my lord.” Ba’al bowed and withdrew.

Adramelek sighed as he looked down toward the castle. The ice shimmered in the waves of heat from the Lake of Eternal Fire, looking like a mirage. Adramelek knew it would be some time before he was able to return to Hell—the job Lucifer wanted him to do was going to take him a while. Convincing Archangels of anything was tiresome on a good day; finding them first was going to wear his patience to a nub.

“I have duties for you,” Lucifer was saying, and Adramelek forced himself to pay attention. “Adramelek is going to be going up to Earth directly. Ondrass, Markus, you will accompany him. Lix Tetrax, Melcherisa, you will provide backup assistance.”

“As you command, your majesty.” Ondrass licked his lips. “May I ask what it is we are to do?”

“Adramelek will fill you in.” Lucifer looked at him, and Adramelek inclined his head.

“It’s not that interesting a story, really,” Adramelek said. “I’ll tell you when we’re outside. Fewer ears.”

“Ah,” Ondrass nodded, getting the point immediately. “I understand.”

Lucifer nodded and waved a hand in dismissal. “You may go. Adramelek, I trust you know what to do?”

“Do you really need to ask?” Adramelek said, an eyebrow shooting up.

Lucifer chuckled. “No, I suppose not. Report when you’re finished.”

“I will.” Adramelek bowed. “I’ll keep you posted as we go about the task too.”

“Good. Go now.” Lucifer turned back to gaze at the fire and ice of the two bodies of liquid that ebbed and flowed and crashed against the walls of the castle.

Adramelek made a discreet gesture and led his companions from Lucifer’s presence. He didn’t stop once they were out of the castle, instead moving quickly toward his own part of Hell. He moved quickly enough that it would be impossible to hold a conversation, but not so fast that it appeared strange. Demons moved swiftly in Hell most of the time anyway, a restless haste that described their condition as either torturer or tortured.

Once Adramelek had led his companions into his private domain on the Seventh Level of Hell, he issued orders to his sergeant-at-arms to double the guard and use Hellhounds. The demon bowed and went to do as he was bid, and Adramelek went into his dacha.

In the living room, Adramelek flopped gracelessly into his favorite armchair and let out a slow breath.

“Sit,” he said, waving a hand vaguely. “Make yourselves at home.”

“Opulent,” Ondrass remarked, looking around the room.

“We all like a bit of opulence in our spaces.” Adramelek grinned. “You’ve got a Chinese palace, Lix Tetrax has one of those terribly modern glass and chrome square monstrosities, and Melcherisa has a replica of the Crac de Chevalier castle.”

“True, I suppose,” Ondrass said as he sat down.

“I may change mine soon,” Lix Tetrax said as she too sat down. “I’m beginning to get bored with it. A new arrival in Hell is a former master architect. I may commandeer him to design me a palace.”

“And that is a wonderful bonus of creating our abodes with our power,” Adramelek said. “When we grow bored, we change the outside.”

“Are we going to discuss architecture all day?” Melcherisa demanded as he sat on a priceless wooden chair that dated to the fifteenth century. “Or are we going to get to the point? Which is to say, what the fuck is going on?”

Adramelek crossed his legs and steepled his fingers, resting his chin on them. His cat wandered into the room, tail raised high, and ambled toward him, pausing only long enough to sharpen its claws on a Ming dynasty rug that lay beside Adramelek’s priceless Iranian one.

“Sprite,” Adramelek sighed, “must you do that there?”

The cat ignored him, yawned, and stretched out on the rug, resting its head on its paws.

“Don’t go to sleep, you fuzzy ingrate,” Adramelek added. “I have orders from Lucifer for you too.”

The cat looked at him sharply and sat up. “As you wish,” it hissed.

“Thank you.” Shaking his head, Adramelek used his power to bring refreshments into the room and close the doors and windows.

“We were honored today,” Lix Tetrax said, pushing her long blonde hair back. “I never thought I would ever have the blessing of laying eyes on Lucifer Morningstar.”

There was a murmur of agreement at that. Adramelek used the moment to prepare tea for everyone, including a saucer of weak, sweet, milky tea for his cat.

“Tuna? Or chicken? Or pigeon liver?” Sprite asked hopefully in its sibilant, hissing voice.

“Later, greedy,” Adramelek said.

The cat pinned his ears back and started lapping at the tea in the saucer.

“I’m sure you all heard the ghastly noise earlier,” Adramelek began, “the sound that passes in some quarters for singing. It was the Grigori, singing hymns to their beloved leader, Semjaza.”

Melcherisa looked revolted. “Is that what it was? They couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

“Agreed.” Adramelek grinned. “In any case, it wasn’t a random desire to suddenly sing the praises of the Grigori prince. Semjaza has managed to find his way out of his prison in Aquila. How the Grigori down here know of it is unknown to me. I find that I don’t particularly care. If it’s relevant, Lucifer will let me know and deal with it accordingly.”

“Semjaza is free?” Ondrass frowned. “That’s not good news.”

“No, it isn’t.” Adramelek paused to take a sip of his tea. “You and I, Ondrass, and Markus too, are to go topside to Earth and find the Archangels. We are to deliver a message from Lucifer. Melcherisa, Lix Tetrax, you’re our backup.”

“And what, pray, is this message?” Ondrass quirked an eyebrow.

“Lucifer would like us to convey to the Archangels that he will lend his power to shielding an area of their choosing so that Gabriel may kill Semjaza without anyone trying to interfere. In exchange, Lucifer wants Semjaza’s soul.”

Silence met that pronouncement. Adramelek smiled and took another sip of tea.

Ondrass broke the silence. “Gracious” was all he said, but his expression of surprise spoke volumes.

“What does Lord Lucifer want me to do?” Sprite asked suddenly.

“Ah yes. I am creating a new council. Us, in this room, are it. You all now answer to me and to Lucifer. No one else can command you. Markus, of course, you are still subordinate to Ondrass, but apart from him and myself, no other demon can tell you what to do. Sprite, while we’re gone, I want you to create a council chamber attached to the dacha. I want it secure, and I want it guarded.”

The cat nodded, licking its whiskers. “Understood.”

“Excellent.”

“So, are you saying we’re this new high-level council in Hell? Higher than the others?” Lix Tetrax’s eyes were wide.

“Yes.” Adramelek grinned at her.

“Gracious,” Ondrass said again. Then he laughed in delight. “How marvelous!”

“Yes, I thought you’d like that,” Adramelek said, amused.

“Do we have a name?” Melcherisa asked.

“Yes. The Council of Glass Knives.”

“I like it.” Melcherisa’s face split in a broad grin.

“Not bad,” Lix Tetrax said, nodding thoughtfully. “I should commission one of the master armorers to make a set of glass knives for us.”

“It does have a certain ring to it, I agree,” Markus said. He grinned at Lix Tetrax. “Carrying one of a unique set of glass knives would certainly be a significant and attractive status symbol.”

Ondrass nodded. “I have to agree with the others. Do we get plaques for our doors?”

Adramelek looked amused. “If you really want to, I’m sure one of the smiths down on the Eighth Level could make something up for you.”

“Splendid.” Ondrass grinned at him. “So when do we go up to Earth?”

Adramelek looked at his companions. “As soon as we finish here. Do you have anything else to do?”

“Nothing that I can’t postpone.” Ondrass pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Do we have any idea where the Archangels are?”

“Somewhere holy.” Adramelek rolled his eyes. “Somewhere that’s hidden from us because of that holiness.”

“Hm. That doesn’t really narrow our options down,” Ondrass said. “What are the holy places on Earth?”

“There’s Lindisfarne, Stonehenge, Iona Isle, Vatican City, Ring of Brodgar, Uluru, Mecca, Dome of the Rock, Mount Sinai, Saint Catherine’s Monastery, and many, many others.” Markus shook his head as he rattled off the list of possible places the Archangels might be.

“I know. There are a lot of places to check.” Adramelek sighed, feeling a little glum at the enormity of the task ahead of them.

“Perhaps we should find a medium with some talent,” Markus suggested. “Entreat him or her to seek the Archangels out with their gift.”

“That would cut down on pointless wandering the planet,” Adramelek said, brightening. “The question is now, though, where’s a good medium?”

“I’m sure we can find one easily enough.” Ondrass shrugged. “It isn’t as if they have a phone book or website directory, but we can pick out the ones who serve Hell through their rituals and gauge their abilities.”

“All right, let’s do that.” Adramelek stood up. “Sprite, take care of the place while I’m gone.”

The cat flicked its tail at him.

“Shall we go?” Adramelek looked at his companions.

“Why not?” Ondrass stood up. “Where shall we ’port to?”

“How about Phoenix, Arizona? It’s a reasonable climate, after all.” Adramelek straightened his jacket.

“Fine. Meet you there, then.” Ondrass, with Markus in tow, vanished.

Adramelek turned to Lix Tetrax and Melcherisa. “Keep yourselves hidden from sight. If anything or anyone attacks us, you’re to come to our aid.” Then he grinned and gestured grandly. “After you.” The two Archdemons bowed to him as they rose and disappeared.

Adramelek took a moment to look around his living room. He bent down to scratch behind Sprite’s ears and the cat purred, rubbing its head against his fingers. “Be alert, old friend,” Adramelek said.

“I always am, Adry,” said the cat. “Go and do the job. And bring home some really good fish. Something like a barramundi from Australia.”

Adramalek laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then he too vanished, to meet up with Ondrass and Markus in Phoenix.

Adramelek found Ondrass and Markus in a burger bar on the outskirts of the city. He stifled a laugh as he joined them, for Ondrass’s expression was one of barely concealed disgust as Markus ate a burger and fries and slurped from a large cup of soda.