Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Azazel

S itting among a bunch of bickering archdemons and trying not to reveal any hint of my irritation was an exercise in patience and masking.

Well, I’d long ago learned to excel at both.

It was Abaddon’s turn to host the meeting, and we were seated around a massive round table in one of his most ostentatious gathering rooms, lounging in comfortable, throne-like chairs. Nothing less would do for the seven most powerful demons below Lucifer, of course. Hell forbid we’d have to perch our behinds on anything that didn’t scream of luxury.

Though I was indeed grateful for the plushness of the chair, given that these gatherings tended to run long, due to the contentiousness with which most of the participants discussed their issues. They ranged from border disputes to exchanges of personnel and other resources, to general gossiping of the highest level and thinly veiled insults.

Like just now, when Gadreel had offered Baal help with his little problem of a bat infestation in one of his sub-territories. That comment of hers served two purposes. One, it showed she was well informed about events deep in his domain, proving she had a healthy network of spies that had infiltrated his people. And two, it was little better than a slap to his face because her offer of help clearly signaled that she didn’t deem him capable of handling the problem on his own, which meant she considered him weak.

The worst kind of insult in Hell.

Baal now had two options. Either he could trade barbs with her and subtly discredit her in front of the others as well, or he could throw down the gauntlet and escalate this to a military conflict that would be dealt with after the meeting.

Baal’s shoulder-length burgundy hair gleamed in the light of the chandeliers as he leaned forward and flashed his teeth, a slash of white in his dark brown face. “By all means, do come over and bring your people so I can thank you for your generous offer of help. My land hasn’t been watered with blood in some time, and yours would do nicely.”

And he’d just chosen option number two.

Gadreel lifted her chin, a smirk on her lips. Her honey-colored hair framed her face in soft waves, and her porcelain complexion shimmered as the light flickered. “It will be my pleasure to teach you humility.”

“You cannot teach that which you do not know yourself,” Baal shot back.

I refrained from rolling my eyes. Barely.

And to think, I’d sacrificed spending some of the precious time available with Zoe to be here, because decorum demanded I participate in this farce, this meeting that was little more than an opportunity to posture and impress the other archdemons. Most of the topics we talked about here could and would be addressed in one-on-one meetings anyway, especially the issues that related to territory or trade.

“Are you two quite finished?” Daevi asked from her seat next to me, her mahogany eyes flicking between Gadreel and Baal. “Solve your personal quarrels later. I am tired of listening to your bickering.”

Baal sat up with the air of wanting to launch into a tirade, but Tamiel, the archdemon sitting on my other side, beat him to it. Her black hair was braided into an elaborate updo, her permanently sun-kissed-looking skin seemingly dusted with gold. Narrowing eyes of amber that were slightly tilted up at the corners, she said, “I agree. Let’s move on.”

“I concur.” This came from Ashtaroth, sprawled in her chair on the other side of the table, looking every bit the decadent queen. Her hair had a striking hue, such silver-white as to appear sparkling like woven diamond threads when the light hit it at the right angle. Her coloring would have seemed washed-out had her skin not held a warmer glow, one or two shades darker than her hair, and her eyes not been of a stunning dark red.

As remarkable as her looks were, the effect was ruined by the fact that her personality resembled that of a duplicitous snake. She’d been one of the temporary lovers that had joined Lucifer and Lilith in bed over the eons, and I was honestly surprised those unions hadn’t ended with her severing his head when he least expected it.

Might have had something to do with her sharing a son with Lucifer, though.

She’d perplexed everyone by not claiming Samael for her own court when he’d come of age, instead encouraging him to stay at Lucifer’s palace. For her not to grab on to such promising offspring to strengthen her own ranks was unusual.

Then again, she and her son seemed to have a good rapport with each other, and rumor had it she’d deliberately installed Samael at Lucifer’s court in order to use him as a connection to Lucifer’s inner circle beyond her own—nowadays much cooled—relationship with the supreme ruler of Hell.

Officially, Samael’s loyalty was to Lucifer alone, but bonds of flesh and blood could scarcely be denied.

“It is of note,” Ashtaroth now said, “that our king is yet again missing from this meeting.”

Murmurs of assent from the other archdemons. I exchanged a glance with Daevi, whose slim black brows drew together.

Tamiel shrugged. “That is not news, Ash.”

“You are right.” Ashtaroth smiled grimly. “It has long been known that he has lost interest in actually ruling.”

“You dare,” Daevi hissed.

Ashtaroth’s gleaming red eyes traced to Daevi. “I do. Where is the lie?”

“He has been in mourning,” Daevi shot back. “As is his right.”

“Taking time to grieve is all good and well,” Abaddon spoke up. The host of this meeting leaned back in his chair, his curly brown hair tumbling around a face the color of Sahara sand, his massive shoulders lifting in a shrug. “But that doesn’t mean he can shirk his duties forever. It’s been years. His open disregard for his responsibilities is starting to become a cause for concern.”

“Perhaps it is not so much a question of willful disregard,” Ashtaroth purred, “but rather of potency.”

Daevi sucked in a breath, and I kept a tight hold on my energy, which churned inside me. Around the table, various sounds of visceral reactions were audible—Ashtaroth had just raised the idea that Lucifer’s powers were weakening. Not just his authority, but his actual, innate magic.

If Lucifer had been present, he would have had cause to execute her for that insinuation.

“You should hold your tongue,” Daevi said roughly.

“Why?” Ashtaroth leaned forward. “Will he come and punish me for my words?”

A deliberate challenge…going unheard because Lucifer wasn’t here.

Of course, her statement could be reported to him later, and he might act on it then. A few years ago, that would have most definitely been the case.

But even if Daevi or someone else told Lucifer of Ashtaroth’s disrespect, it wasn’t a sure thing anymore that he’d actually punish her. Not after years of him having withdrawn from public view and letting more and more things slide.

Ashtaroth knew this, which made her bold.

The others knew it, too, some shifting their weight uncomfortably. Lucifer had ruled Hell with an iron fist for thousands upon thousands of years, and this realm had never existed without him being the one in charge, powerful, fearsome, his authority uncontested.

Sure, he’d had to establish his rule in the beginning and had soaked the ground with the blood of those who hadn’t immediately shown the respect he demanded—be it to him or to Lilith. But even during those initial days of cementing his power, it had been an unchallenged fact that he would reign supreme, such had been his command of others, the air of dominance he carried. Everyone knew he was the one to control all of Hell, and whatever battles he’d had to fight at the start were not in question of that fact, but rather in order to enforce the level of respect he required of his subjects.

Daevi had spoken at length of those times when this realm had been newly born, recounting her years spent at Lucifer and Lilith’s side, which is how I’d come to know of it all. Like humans, we had our own rich history, tales of battle and blood in eons past, only the ones who’d been alive to see it were mostly still alive today, and they told the stories themselves.

At any rate, in our collective memory, there’d never truly been a time when Lucifer wasn’t the supreme ruler, and his power had never faltered.

To have that certainty challenged would be deeply uncomfortable for many of us. Like all long-lived species, we abhorred change. Especially one of this magnitude.

Others around the table didn’t seem thusly affected, however. Besides Ashtaroth, both Baal and Gadreel appeared almost eager, and Abaddon had a glint in his eye that spoke of barely hidden ambition.

Underneath the table, I clenched my hand into a fist, my magic snapping at its leash.

Part of the anger inside me was directed at Lucifer, for losing his grip on his power, his reputation, his authority. How dare he let himself go like this? He, who’d drilled the need into me to appear strong at all costs during those formative years at his court. Who’d sneered at me when the older, more powerful demons had once again made me the ridicule of the crowd.

Grow a spine , he’d snarled at me when I’d asked him for help. And banish that angel side of yours deep, boy. It will be of no use to you here. They will take it for a weakness.

Such had been his fixation on appearances, on presenting the world with an unassailable shield of strength and never letting it slip, only for him to now display an unprecedented dismissal of the very foundations on which he’d built his empire.

I didn’t believe for a minute that his powers were truly weakening. It wasn’t a matter of his magic losing potency—most assuredly, if he wanted to, he could still take out every single demon sitting in this room. He just couldn’t be bothered to care.

He likely still deemed himself untouchable, not realizing that it wasn’t a question of whether he himself believed that, but whether his archdemons did. Because as unchangingly powerful as he was in terms of raw strength, the right kind of trap and setup might yet see him overpowered by an alliance of archdemons.

And if Ashtaroth continued to spit her venom and sow doubts and discontent, she might just manage to make the general mood reach a tipping point. She’d still have to strike an alliance with the others to take Lucifer on, which would require enough of my fellow archdemons to set aside their differences long enough to act in unison—but stranger things had happened.

“Pride cometh before the fall,” I said softly, fixing Ashtaroth with a stare, unwilling to let Daevi be the only one arguing against Ash’s disrespect. “Underestimating him could prove to be your deadliest mistake.”

“Ah, Azazel.” Her wine-red lips—the same color as her eyes—pulled into a mocking smile. “I would have thought you the first to pounce on any sign of weakness in him. After all, you, maybe more than any of us, have such cause to bristle against his rule.”

Ignoring her jab at the way I’d suffered at his court, I gave her a cold smile. “Yet I seem to be among the few with enough sagacity not to dig my own grave.”

Something flashed in her dark eyes, and she tilted her head, the light glittering on her diamond-woven hair. “Pray tell, how is your lovely human doing? Wait, no, she’s not human anymore, is she? I heard she’s undergone quite a transformation, from human to angel to demon. And it seems our lord and master has claimed her for his own and pulled her into his direct service, far away from you.” She paused and added with a cruel glint in her eye, “You must be furious.”

Denying it would be useless, even if strategically, it would be more sensible to downplay my devotion to Zoe so she wouldn’t make a clear target to hurt me while she was under someone else’s control. I’d already very publicly pledged my love to her, and the string of challenges and battles I’d fought on her behalf eight years ago when I’d needed to push back against others disrespecting her had proved beyond a doubt how attached I was to her.

I’d made it common knowledge how much she meant to me, but that didn’t mean I had to rise to Ashtaroth’s goading.

“The way I hear it,” I said, scratching my jaw, “she put Samael squarely in his place. Shoved him clean through a wall, with him scrambling to pick himself up. I sure hope your son has recovered.”

From the physical injuries? Sure. From the slight to his ego and reputation? Doubtful.

“Quite curious how she came to be so powerful,” Ashtaroth replied, sidestepping my jab with Machiavellian elegance. “And even more curious the question as to what Lucifer wants with her. For it seems to be more than just to aggravate you. What is it that she does for him?”

I laughed. “Naive of you to assume he’s made me privy to his thoughts.”

Which wasn’t a lie. Lucifer hadn’t told me about the mission to find Lilith’s reincarnation—Zoe had. And while I could lie and deceive with the best of us, I’d found it better to stick to half-truths or twist my words such as to obfuscate, because adept as we all were at speaking falsehoods, we were just as excellent at sniffing them out.

“He’s keeping her close, I hear.” Ashtaroth pursed her lips, a sardonic smile taking over her face. “ Very close. In his private wing even, near his chambers. Treating her with the kind of care befitting someone more than a mere high-ranking member of his court.” She clucked her tongue and shook her head in mock sadness. “It sure seems like he’s taken all of your claims on her.”

The only reason my blood wasn’t boiling at this moment was the sure knowledge that what she insinuated wasn’t true. Zoe had told me in detail about all of her encounters with Lucifer, as well as those with Samael, who’d implied the same thing—much to Zoe’s obvious horror and disgust.

If there was one thing I was certain of in this world, it was Zoe’s unshakable loyalty to me and what we shared.

“Oh, Ash,” I purred, letting my lips twitch up in a derisive smile. “It’s unlike you to be grasping at straws. Can’t you make up a more credible lie? You used to be so creative. Or is it an error in your intelligence that makes you jump on a falsity believing it to be true, to be wielded against your opponents? I’d have expected your spies to be better informed. As it stands, their negligence makes you look the fool.”

Ashtaroth’s eyes flared with an inner fire, but before she could toss me her repartee, Abaddon spoke.

“As much as I enjoy you two at each other’s throats,” he said, rising to his feet, “this meeting has run its course, and I do have better things to do than to watch verbal sparring.” He waved a hand. “Now, if you were to disrobe and go at it in a more physical way, that I would watch. Otherwise, you have overstayed your welcome and I’ll bid you all to leave.”

Ashtaroth bared her teeth at me but didn’t immediately discount the idea of taking our argument to the sexual level. Even were Zoe not in my life and my body not pledged to her alone, the idea of hate-fucking that bitch made my skin crawl.

Which was why I didn’t even have to act to mimic throwing up in my mouth.

Tamiel laughed, Baal chuckled, and Daevi smirked. Ashtaroth’s power vibrated darkly as she stared daggers at me, then she got up from her seat and swept out of the room.

The meeting adjourned, all participants going their separate ways, and Daevi and I left together with the respective entourages we’d brought from our courts. We flew in silence until we neared the spot where our paths would diverge, our territories lying in opposite directions.

Let us speak , Daevi said, sending her thoughts directly along the link we used for mental communication.

My wings beating the hot air, I asked point-blank, Will you tell Lucifer what Ashtaroth said?

If he’ll see me.

I sent her a curious look. Are you not still close to him?

Her light brown face drew tight with concern and frustration. We barely talk. I bring him news of Naamah, but that is the extent of our meetings. Oftentimes, he won’t even face me, will demand I slide the letter Naamah wrote him underneath his door. Her red-and-brown eyes were hard as she met my gaze over the steady beating of our wings. He didn’t leave that room, or at least the private wing, for years, Azazel. From what I heard, the first time he’d been seen outside of it was only recently, in the company of a large hellhound.

That would be Vengeance , I said. At her questioning glance, I added, Zoe’s hound.

Her brows rose ever so slightly.

Apparently, he’s been taking care of the dog personally during Zoe’s travels on Earth. That’s what she told me.

Her brows rose even more. He seems to hold her in high regard indeed. What Ashtaroth said ? —

Is false , I interrupted her firmly. Zoe would rather voluntarily lay herself underneath the glass floor of his entrance hall to be eaten alive by rats than be intimate with him. I sent her a challenging look. And have you ever known him to force himself on someone who didn’t want his touch?

Because while one could accuse Lucifer of a lot of things, being a rapist wasn’t one of them.

No , was her immediate reply. He would never take pleasure without consent.

Contrary to other things he takes without permission , I murmured.

Though her head was angled slightly away, I all but felt her eye-roll. Ashtaroth is getting brazen , she said after a moment, dismissing the previous topic. She needs to be put in her place.

I fear it might not be done with bringing only her to heel. Flecks of ash swirled around me as I rode the air currents. Her treason-mongering falls onto fertile soil not so much because she is so convincing a speaker, but because there is truth to her claims. Lucifer’s negligence has become so bad that soon it won’t take much persuasion for the other archdemons to act.

Do you think it so likely that they’ll join forces? She cast me a doubtful glance. You have been among us but for the blink of an eye compared to the eons that I’ve seen pass. In all this time, there has never been a moment when more than three archdemons agreed on a big matter such as this.

And yet , I said, angling my wings to catch a stronger wind, neither has there ever been a moment when Lucifer has shown himself this vulnerable. Has there?

Daevi didn’t reply, but her power was a tangible thing in the air, prickling over my feathers with the anger emanating from her.

None of the archdemons had ever tried to take Lucifer on. Any and all attempts to attack him had been carried out by overzealous seraphim, many of them aiming to strike during the Fall Festival, which spoke volumes of their lack of intelligence. If ever there was a time when Lucifer expected to be confronted with rebellion, it was during that party.

Notably, and scarcely surprising, he hadn’t held a Fall Festival since Lilith had been murdered.

His current display of weakness is unprecedented , I said into the silence, and it’s the reason why half the archdemon council seems to be more or less openly contemplating the possibility of an attempt on his life. I paused, then added, That would have been unthinkable eight years ago, and you know it.

And what would you have me do? Her mental voice brimmed with frustration.

You need to talk some sense into him , I pushed. Tell him to snap out of it and take the reins again, or else his days are numbered.

Though there was no love lost between me and Lucifer, I didn’t want to see him toppled—mostly because the alternatives were all shit. Those who wanted to overthrow him were the worst possible replacements, all of them even more vain, greedy, and cruel than my grandfather. Just the thought of Ashtaroth, Baal, or Gadreel sitting on the throne and being in supreme command of all of Hell was fuel for nightmares. And Abaddon wasn’t much better either.

Not to mention none of them would feel compelled to respect the truce struck with Heaven, as they couldn’t care less about Naamah and her continued well-being. Which meant that if any one of them rose to power, Earth would be fair game. Another war would break out, and it would devastate the world of humans.

Daevi’s dry laugh was nearly caught and swallowed by the wind. What makes you think I have that kind of influence over him? The last time he listened to me was when I petitioned for you and Azmodea to be able to visit Naamah.

There must be something you can do , I ground out. Or someone else who can still reach him.

He has alienated many of those who would have given him good counsel , she replied, distant lightning flashing over the black of her wings and hair. Lilith was the one who could always make him see reason.

Well, we’re in this mess precisely because she is no longer here , I snapped.

Temper your tongue, Azazel . She shot me a reprimanding look. I am not the one to be angry with, and you would do well to remember that I, too, lost someone very dear to me in Lilith.

We flew in silence for a moment, then she said, You should speak to Naamah. She wishes to see you, and you could relay your concerns to her and ask her to reach out to Lucifer. Perhaps he’ll listen to her.

Different kinds of hurt overlapped inside me, folding into a nauseous ball of emotion along with regret and guilt. I had been meaning to meet with her after Zoe and I had talked, so this was one more reason to get over myself and see my mother.

Have her set the time and place, and I will be there . I nodded at Daevi, then took my leave and signaled my entourage to head home.