The Demon Beside Me (6 page)

“As far as I am aware, that assumption is correct.” Opheran stood up and transformed back into his fully demonic form, dark leathery skin and bat wings folded above his shoulders. He reached down and picked up Victor, then shook him. Purity oozed from the archangel’s nose, but Opheran didn’t seem concerned. “I am reluctant to do this, but I need to awaken him.”

I felt magic flare, thumping through my bones. Tink hissed and Jase groaned. Victor’s eyes shot open and he gasped, then yelped as Opheran dropped him on the ground. He staggered to his feet, just to find Opheran’s face inches from his. “Who-”

“Who gave you leave to stand, Archangel?” Opheran roared. “On your knees, you pathetic wretch! You are not given leave to stand before me.”

Victor’s mouth moved, but his legs didn’t. I cleared my throat. “Victor, this is Prince Opheran of House Asmodeus, Lord of the Americas, Head of the Callisto Bloodline, warrior without peer. You are in the presence of someone significantly senior to you. I suggest you tread carefully.”

“I do not acknowledge the ranks of demons-”

Opheran placed one huge hand on top of Victor’s head. His claws reached from ear to ear. I grinned. “I suggest you make an exception.”

Slowly, Victor sagged to his knees. Equally slowly, Opheran removed his hand, crossed his arms over his chest, and glared down at the Archangel. “I understand that you have orders to bring a member of House Asmodeus before a council of Cherubim. Not even Seraphim, simply Cherubim?”

“Yes.” Victor produced the letter and offered it to Opheran. “He is considered to be under our jurisdiction for this crime. The Seraphim do not concern themselves with crimes of this nature.”

“Crime?”

“He has taken possession of property that does not belong to him.”

Opheran grinned. “Abandoned property.”

“So is Hell, in that case!”

“And if you conquered Hell, we would kill you and take it back without this farce.”

Victor didn’t say anything, simply stared. I looked over to Jase, who seemed to be fully conscious again and listening. His expression revealed nothing. Opheran leaned forward slightly. “Little angel, tell me. Do you have orders to kill this halfblood?”

“No, I do not.”

“Do you have orders to witness his death?”

“No.”

“What do the Cherubim plan on doing with him?”

“They will render judgment.”

Opheran chuckled. “They will kill him.”

“That’s-”

Before he could get his protest out, Victor was dangling in the air again, held up by one massive fist. “Little angel,” Opheran said, “you will not lie to me. Is that understood?”

Victor squeaked something that sounded affirmative. Opheran lowered him to the ground and waited. Victor bowed his head. “It is likely to be as you say. They did not make it explicit.”

“Indeed. How surprising. I have a task for you, little angel. Run back to your masters and tell them that House Asmodeus rejects their jurisdiction. If they wish for the return of Heaven, we are willing to negotiate an equitable agreement. We will consider any further attempts on the life of a member of House Asmodeus as bad faith for negotiating purposes. Advise them to remember that this is their home at stake. We have little interest in it, but understand it is valuable to them. While we understand the loss of face they may risk, this may be valuable enough to accept such a small concession.”

“I cannot-”

“You can. Or I will send your body back to them with a message attached.”

Victor swallowed hard, and then nodded. “By your leave.”

Opheran nodded in return and the Archangel rose to his feet. He turned around, golden wings unfolding from his back. His head turned slightly and he gazed at me, expressionless. I smiled and waved. A silent snarl crossed his face, and then he kicked off from the ground and vanished.

“All’s well that ends well, right?” I asked.

“Pastor Pruitt,” Opheran said. Jase’s head was down, but at his name, he looked up. Tears stood in his eyes. “With all due respect, this situation could have been averted if you were stronger.”

“But he had a suggestion planted by that damn angel!” Tink protested.

Opheran looked at her. “Did he?”

“Yes! There was something foreign in his thoughts. We expelled it.”

Opheran’s gaze turned back to Jase. “A suggestion is strongest when it draws upon something the victim believes. It was a strong suggestion, wasn’t it?”

Jase’s head dropped again.

“Don’t pick on him!” Tink stepped between Opheran and Jase. “He was doing it to protect his congregation. We’ve abused his sanctuary in the past. There was even a fight here, right in that parking lot. You were there. He doesn’t need to be involved in this one.”

“But you came here,” Jase whispered. “You came to me for help, and I turned you away. Lord, forgive me.”

Opheran didn’t say anything else, simply watched him. There wasn’t anything left to say. I stood up, stretched, and walked toward my car. I didn’t get more than a few steps before a heavy hand grabbed my shoulder. “I am not done with you yet, Isaiah.”

“Shit.”

“How far do you trust that one?” Opheran jerked his head toward Caleb, who was still motionless.

“We’re friends. I’d fight for him and he’d fight for me. Hell, he risked censure from the Choir, fighting Victor like that. I trust him more than I do most demons, to be honest.”

“Rare to see a friendship like that.”

“An angel separated from the groupthink of the Choir isn’t that different from us,” I said. “If they were all more like him, we wouldn’t have a war in waiting.”

Opheran sighed. “Keep your friends close, Isaiah. You will need them, I suspect. This Gatekeeper thing. What more is expected of you?”

I turned to look up at him. His face showed concern. “Do you think I will need additional guidance or protection?”

“Do you think you will?”

I considered what was forthcoming. War, Famine, and Death. I would have to command each one to do something, to change the world. The next one would come in just over two months. If I told Opheran, would he try to influence what my command would be? Would he try to command me to do something that would disadvantage the Choir? If he did, that would make me betray Caleb. Or would it?

“I don’t know, my Prince. I simply don’t know.”

Caleb got out of the car and headed for my apartment, leaving me in the parking lot with Tink. I walked her to her car. Instead of getting in and driving off, she leaned against the side and sighed. “It’s been a while since my life’s been this exciting.”

“I thought after Purgatory, we’d be done with this.” I leaned against the other side of her car. “Wish Kibs had warned me about what would come next. This is too exciting for me.”

She laughed. “Your life’s been far more exciting than mine, demon.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hikari.” Tink’s tone held nothing but scorn. “Didn’t know what you were getting into with that, did you? I could have warned you.”

“Could you?”

I waited for her response and felt the car shift behind me as she moved. “I suppose not,” she finally admitted.

“If you were able to warn me, I think you would have.”

“Are you sure? Maybe I like seeing you miserable.”

“I’m not miserable.”

“Really?” She laughed.

I pushed off the car and turned around. She was already facing me, grinning across the trunk of her car. “Really,” I said. “Yeah, it’s not the healthiest relationship in the world, but we get along well enough.”

“Well enough.” She mimicked my tone of voice. “So you’re settling. Is that what you’re trying to say? On the one hand, she’s a bitch up, down, and sideways, but then on the other hand, the sex is great, right?”

“Let me tell you about this thing she does with her tongue-”

She held a hand up. “Too much, demon.”

“Don’t ask if you don’t want to know.”

“In all seriousness, you’ve been with her for almost two years now, right? Every time I come over unannounced, she’s bitching at you for something. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. There’s no love there. Hell, I don’t even know if she likes you at all anymore. I don’t know why you can’t see it.”

I turned around and leaned back against the car again. “She’s got a temper.”

“I know. I have a temper too. That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it.”

I did know it. I knew exactly what she meant. The first few months after moving in together had been great. We worked well together, slept well together, supported each other, and just simply got along. The first incident had been ridiculous. She blew up at me for not putting the dishes away. The fact that they had still been drying didn’t make a difference to her. It was petty, and I didn’t know why it had gotten her so angry, so I shrugged it off. “Everyone’s entitled to a bad day now and then,” I said.

“Sure, but not every day.”

“It’s not every day.”

“Bullshit. I don’t believe that. It’s just coincidence that whenever I drop by, she’s screaming?”

“What’s your point here?”

“Why the hell are you still with her, you idiot?”

I looked over my shoulder. Tink had her hands flat on the trunk, leaning forward, glaring at me. When my gaze met hers, she flinched backwards. I looked away. “I didn’t think you cared so much,” I said.

“Shit, demon. Like you said, if you die, so do we. I have a vested interest in your self-preservation this time around. The last thing I want is for you to get smoked just because you’re all screwed up in the head because your girlfriend’s being a royal bitch!”

That was it. I smiled. “Don’t worry so much about me. I can deal with her.”

She sighed and I felt a thump as she hit the trunk of her car. Softly, of course. “Why do you stay with her?”

“Maybe I love her.”

For a moment, I thought I had won. “You know love alone won’t solve your problems, right?”

“Maybe not, but it’s better than being alone.”

“You’ve got friends.”

“Do I?” I drummed my fingers on the side of her car. “You and Caleb are busy with your own lives. My co-workers are in construction, they’re either burned out meatheads or solid family men. I hardly see Becky anymore after her dad sent her out to chase that new contract. Jase has a different social circle than I do. Who else is there?”

“Is your circle really that small?”

“Are you feeling sorry for me?”

“Maybe.”

I smiled, though she couldn’t see it. “I’m fine, Tink. Hikari has her issues, but you know I do too. We honestly do get along most of the time. She’s just frustrated and takes it out on me. I can take it.”

“It’s not ok for her to do that.”

“It’s ok as long as I can take it.”

“Demon-”

“It’s fine, Tink. So have you moved in with Caleb yet?”

She snorted. “Are you kidding me? First of all, I have a house, he has a tiny little shithole apartment. Second, he wouldn’t dare.”

“Seriously?”

“He’s not into me like that.”

“Are you?”

Again, I waited for her response. I felt her move, the car bouncing slightly under my fingers. “I wish I knew,” she finally said. “He’s not a pretty guy, but he’s got his charms. There’s some tension between us. I don’t know. If he weren’t a centuries-old angel, maybe I’d go for it. I just can’t get past that.”

“So what you’re saying is that you don’t go for older men.”

“Demon, I’ll hurt you.”

I laughed and walked up to the passenger side window. “So, when’d you get this car? Last time I saw you driving, it was a Camaro.”

“About three weeks ago,” she said, running her hand along the roof. “Got a great deal, they gave me above book value for the Camaro, so I picked this up for only a couple thousand. Maybe someday I’ll be able to afford the Veyron I’ve always wanted.”

“So are you getting this slow increase in value just by nature of your good looks and sunny disposition?” I looked over the top of the car at her. She glared at me and I chuckled. “Don’t let Hikari figure it out. I’m sure she’d turn you in.”

“It’s not like I’m making a profit doing this. Depreciation kills the value as soon as you drive off the lot. I’m still losing money, just making sure that I don’t lose all that much. You know what it’s like. Have to be frugal.”

“You? Frugal?”

“On occasion.”

“Where do you get all this money, Tink?”

She glared at me again, but then sighed. “Do you really want to know? It’s a family trust fund. I found out all about it once I came of age and got a letter from the family lawyer. Leverage it as hard as you can. They always pushed me to save money when I was a kid, and Azriphel was the reason why. Save up so the next generation could focus on how to beat him without worrying about money.” She snorted and patted the roof of her car. “The letter said not to worry about making it to thirty years old. Make sure you’ve added a few grand to the accounts. I worked for a few years, up until shortly before we met, actually. Use magic to enhance your income without getting caught. From when I was eighteen until about twenty-four, I added about a hundred grand to the account.”

“That explains a lot,” I said.

“No, it doesn’t. That was about one percent increase.”

I did the math in my head. “Holy shit.”

She gave me a tight smile. “And now, demon, there’s no reason to save anymore. I can burn through that trust fund if I want to. I can buy all the toys I want. My ancestors were ruthless, apparently. Figured that if we were going to die young, might as well enjoy it as much as possible until then. I don’t ever have to work. Hell, if I have kids, they won’t have to work either. So what’s a few thousand bucks on a new car every few months? Some of our investments produce more than that in interest every couple of months.”

“I wish I had your problems,” I said.

“What problems?” She leaned on the roof of the car. “What’s a girl to want if she’s independently wealthy like this and her entire reason for living hard and fast is gone?”

“Find a new reason to live.”

She looked at me, directly at me, her eyes wide. Then she smiled. “Want to go for a ride, demon?”