“Tell me again, Eden, and try to recall every detail. What did you see?”
Cain is pacing the floor in Irin’s lounge as he grills me about my dream, while Lilith takes notes from her place on the sectional. Toyol is tapping furiously on his laptop, and Andras is searching national news reports on an iPad to see if anything indicates high-level demon activity. It almost feels like it did before…before we lost Legion to The Many. However, there is a noticeable void where Phenex and Jinn once sat. According to Lucifer, Phenex hasn’t left Jinn’s side since they arrived. And I can’t help but notice how empty it feels in here without Niko and Crysis. Even when we were on the brink of war with Uriel, there was something comforting about having them all here. Aside from Lucifer and Irin, I had everyone I cared for under one roof, Sister included.
I look over to Irin who seems more preoccupied with being fed fresh fruit by one of her young man-servants. At least some things never change. Except for Lucifer, who now sits in the space beside me, which was deemed Niko’s seat.
“The first thing he showed me was the lights, like those strobe lights at a club. Pink, green, yellow. Then it was the broken booze bottle.”
“What kind of booze? And what color were the glass shards?” Lilith questions.
“I don’t know. Scotch? Whiskey? I didn’t see a label, and I think the glass was green.”
Cain nods, considering whatever inconsequential details I could offer. “Ok. What about the sign?”
I go through it all with them again, trying to conjure any buried specifics I may have missed. When I get to the unreadable symbol, it’s Toyol who pipes up.
“Do you think you can draw it for us?”
I haven’t even uttered a response before Lilith is shoving a scrap of paper and a pencil in my hands. “Yeah. If you could, we may be able to pull it up online.”
I frown and reluctantly put the pencil to paper. “I don’t know if I can get it right.”
I concentrate on drawing the set of symbols just right, although it all looks like meaningless shapes and curved lines to me. Before I’m even done with the last foreign character, Lucifer snatches the paper from my hands.
“It’s Demoori Sheol,” he remarks, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
“Demo…what?” I ask. Surely, my terrible drawing can’t actually mean something.
“Demoori Sheol. Ancient demon language. It’s a dialect of Enochian, the angelic tongue. It’s long been abandoned, and only really old or really skilled demons can decipher it.”
Cain takes the paper from Lucifer, ignoring the glare that follows. He quickly reads it and passes it off to Toyol. Judging by the look on each of their faces, whatever it means, it can’t be good.
“So…what’s it say?” I question.
“The fallen shall reign,” Lucifer answers gravely.
“The fallen? Like…fallen as in—”
“Demons. It’s the sign of the rebellion. It’s starting.”
“Actually, it’s already started,” Toyol refutes. He’s typing on his computer like a man—a demon—possessed. “You can’t control them anymore, and if they’ve found a way to break those shackles, we have to assume that they’re planning something big.”
Lucifer waves off the comment but I can tell the reminder of his lack of influence bothers him. “They’re far too stupid to organize a coup all on their own. They would have destroyed each other in the process. They had to have had help.”
“Like, a leader?” Andras chimes in. “A fallen angel just as powerful as the great and mighty king of darkness?”
I look to each of them, searching for confirmation of what I already know, yet no one meets my eyes. “Legion? You think Legion is doing this?”
“I think they’re at least taking their cues from him.”
“But it’s only been a couple days. Surely this would have been in the works for some time. He was here with us.”
“Legion was here,” Cain explains. “But The Many…who knows how long they’ve been gaining strength. Even before he regained his power, they could have been communicating with lesser demons without him even realizing it.”
“Knowing that soon enough, he would be overcome by them,” Lilith adds.
A beat of silence as we all think back to every time Legion was alone on missions or had disappeared from the Se7en’s old headquarters to blow off steam. Could he have known? Of course not. He wouldn’t let them do this. There has to be a reasonable explanation.
Cain turns to the resident tech genius with an order. “Toyol, do an image search to see if that symbol has popped up anywhere else. I’m talking every security and traffic camera in the country. Hack into personal footage if you have to.”
“Already on it, and getting multiple hits,” Toyol replies, his dark eyes still glued to the screen. “They’re everywhere. New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, St. Louis. Mostly in big cities where it’s easier to blend in. Chicago, of course, but that’s not surprising. They’ve already done their worst here. My guess is that they’ll move across the map, wiping out each city one by one.”
“Shit,” Cain spits. He finally stills his pacing, and stands in the middle of the room, head slightly bowed with his hands on his hips. Frustration is etched in his hard features.
“Uh, guys. I got a hit on a story that struck me as odd,” Andras states. “A bar in Queens, New York. Seven dead, no witnesses, no suspects. Still under investigation, but the most recent ME report is saying it looks like the humans drank themselves to death. Like they literally chugged alcohol until their organs corroded.”
“When was this?” Cain queries.
“Yesterday morning. Just hours after…”
He doesn’t have to finish. We know exactly what he means. Just hours after Legion murdered dozens of demon-possessed humans before plunging The Redeemer into Jinn’s chest.
“I’ve uploaded the photos of the crime scene, but I don’t see any Demoori Sheol symbols.”
“Keep looking,” Cain advises.
“So he could be there? In New York?” I ask, feeling more and more anxious.
“It’s likely,” Cain answers.
“But I doubt he’ll be there for long,” Lucifer answers. “He’ll leave the rest up to the lessers. Do just enough to rouse them from hiding and unleash them unto the city.”
“And how do you know that?” Cain challenges.
“Because it’s what I would do,” Luc explains, his tone dripping with condescension. “If I had a limited amount of time to inflict mass destruction, I wouldn’t stay in one place for very long in fear of being caught. The Legion of Lost Souls absorbs the souls of the lost, the wicked, the depraved. He’ll want to surround himself with as much immorality as possible in order to maintain his strength. So we go where the sin is.”
“But there’s only four of us,” Lilith notes. “Phenex won’t abandon Jinn’s side, and we need him here to oversee his healing. The warlock prince is gone, and Crysis and the Alliance are trying to save what’s left of Chicago. We don’t have the manpower or the resources to be everywhere at once. By the time we get to one city, he could have moved on to the next.”
“So we split up,” I suggest. “And you don’t have four. You have six. Lucifer and I will help.”
Cain shakes his head. “It’s too dangerous. And there’s no telling if and when Uriel will regroup and strike again.”
I sit up straight, preparing for another round with the scarred demon. “This is my fight. I’m not going to sit on the bench while you all run into a battle. Hell no. I told you, this all started with me and it’s going to end with me. So either work with me and utilize whatever skills I may have, or I’ll do it on my own.”
Cain gives me one of his infamous death glares, but I don’t back down. If he wants to waste time with a staring contest, fine by me.
“And I’ll keep an eye on her,” Lucifer cuts in. “You all may know the self-deprecating Legion that so pathetically wanted to earn his way back to grace. But I know the Legion who would slaughter entire villages before breakfast for sport. She’s safer with me than with anyone else.”
“And we’re supposed to trust that?” Cain’s murderous scowl falls on Luc, who is nonplussed as always.
“You can do whatever you want with it. But I’m here, aren’t I? He’s commanding my flock. Don’t you think I’d do everything in my power to put a stop to that?”
Cain huffs out an aggravated breath before grumbling, “Fine. We’ll split up and try to get ahead of him, hitting the most likely cities first. Toyol and I will go to New York. Maybe he’ll still be there. Lil, Andras…Los Angeles. And you two…” He acts as if even acknowledging us angers him. “Take Detroit.”
“And how will we defeat him, considering we have one weapon between us that might be strong enough to stop him?” I question.
“If we find him, we immediately alert the others. No one does anything but assess the situation and search for clues. If one of us lays eyes on him, we trail him until we all reconvene. The Redeemer is out of play for now. Hopefully it won’t come to that.”
“And if it does?”
“Then we will handle it. No matter what, Legion was one of us—one of the Se7en. You’re not.”
His words sting but I school my features, refusing to show that my mortal heart has been wounded.
“Whatever you say,” I mumble.
Cain looks to his brothers and sister. “We need to leave within the hour. Get what you need.”
“How are we supposed to get to our locations?” Lilith asks. Good question. We can’t all dematerialize.
“I may be able to help with that,” Irin chimes in, the first indication that she’s even been listening this whole time. “I may or may not have an underground hangar on my property. Nothing spectacular, just a few jets and a helicopter. They’re at your disposal. I can have my staff prepare them for travel immediately.”
An underground hangar? Holy shit. What doesn’t Irin have? And how has she amassed so much?
“Thank you, Irin,” Cain replies with a bow. “Alright. Is everyone clear about the mission?”
Lucifer gives him a mocking salute. “Aye, aye, captain.”
Cain throws back a one-finger salute of his own then goes back to pretending he doesn’t exist. “Ok. Let’s get ready.”
The remaining Se7en immediately file out to prepare and I turn to do the same. However, Irin’s soft, sing-song voice stops me in my tracks.
“Eden, dear. A word?”
Oh shit. I should’ve known I wouldn’t get away with my outburst from before so easily. I was already skating on thin ice with her. She doesn’t seem like the type to dole out second chances too freely. I shoot Lucifer a glance, wishing he had followed behind the Se7en. I don’t need an audience for another dose of humiliation.
I’m already reciting the apology in my head, hoping to defuse the situation before it begins, but before I can get the words out, Irin reaches out to grasp my hand.
“Have you ever been to New Orleans?”
Huh? Here I am, prepared to take a tongue lashing, and she comes out of left field with a random ass question.
“Um, no?” My eyes go from Irin to Luc then back to Irin. Is this a trick question?
“You should visit some time. Beautiful, vibrant city. Teeming with life. You’d enjoy it.”
“O-kaaay. Uh, I’ll do that.”
“Yes. Yes, you will.”
I frown. Maybe this line of questioning isn’t so random after all.
“Don’t you think Eden would enjoy New Orleans, Lucifer?” Irin smiles. Her tone is off. And the way she’s grasping my hand…no, definitely not random.
“I believe she would,” Luc answers.
“Good! Then it’s settled.”
“But there was no mention of strange demon activity in New Orleans. Cain wants us in Detroit,” I counter.
“Pffft. Not nearly as fun. Who would want to go there?”
“You know the scarred one won’t take kindly to us defying his orders,” Lucifer remarks with a snicker. Oh, I bet pissing Cain off would be reason enough to change course. Plus, taking orders from demons is not something Lucifer would ever do.
“Then I guess you better leave before he makes it to the hangar,” Irin sweetly suggests.
Lucifer and I look at each other and nod. So it’s settled.
“Your jet should be ready in twenty minutes. I wouldn’t waste any time getting to it,” Irin tacks on.
I don’t know what else to say, so I mutter a thank you, and Lucifer and I exit the room.
“Don’t speak about it,” he mutters under his breath as soon as we hit the hallway. “Not to anyone. Just get your things and come to my room as quickly as you can.”
I nod and quicken my pace. Something is seriously up, and I’m not about to get caught with my pants down around my ankles. I’m always the last to know, always the one left in the dark even in matters pertaining to my own life. Not anymore. If I want to be in control of my own fate, I have to act like it was mine to control.
As soon as I’m in my room, I gather my already packed bag and add the cache of weapons to it, leaving some out to store on my body. We need to be prepared for anything from anyone, friend or foe. I’m done in five minutes flat so I decide to head to Luc’s suite, hoping to get out of here before any of the Se7en detect our departure. However, when I open the door to leave, Phenex is standing on the other side.
“Eden,” he breathes, his soft, accented voice graveled with grief. “I was hoping to speak with you before you left for your journey.”
I peer out into the hall, confirming that he’s alone, and open the door wider. Shit. I need to go, but if I appear rushed, he’ll know something is off. I can’t risk him going back to Cain.
“Sure. Come on in.”
He enters, and I notice that he hasn’t changed since we got back to Irin’s compound. Dried blood still streaks his smooth, mahogany skin and his clothing is torn and stained. He literally hasn’t left Jinn’s side. Until now.
“I wanted to tell you…I’m sorry,” I begin, knowing this will be my one and only chance to make amends. “For yesterday. For what happened out there in the park. I’m so sorry, Phenex.”
He nods solemnly. “You shouldn’t blame yourself. There was nothing any of us could do.”
Yes, there was. I could have done something.
I can’t say it though, so I just nod. He doesn’t deserve my self-loathing.
“He is more than a friend,” Phenex utters softly. “He’s my brother. We’ve fought side by side for centuries. He doesn’t deserve this.”
I don’t know if he’s referring to Legion or Jinn, so I just stand in silence, giving him the floor.
“I remember what it was like in the beginning. After we fell…I remember what he was like. Your world will not survive him again. He must be stopped.”
He lifts his sleeve and reveals the sharp tip of a blade. My hand instinctively goes to the knife secured at my side. But it’s premature, because I realize that the knife he has stowed against his forearm isn’t necessarily meant to harm me. It’s The Redeemer.
“He must be stopped,” Phenex repeats, tears welling his eyes. He extends the dagger towards me.
“Are you…are you giving this to me?” I stammer, unsure if I should take it. Jinn nearly died from it, and Cain made it very clear that it would stay in the hands of the Se7en. This is what they had risked their lives for. Handing it over to me would be marked as a grave betrayal.
“No,” Phenex replies shaking his head. The first of his tears trails down his cheek. “I’m giving you a head start.”