Zagan’s arm tightened around Anael’s shoulders as he led his mate into the Underworld courthouse. Truth be told, the building used to be a huge amphitheater but every now and then Lucifer sent out a realm-wide message and insisted on the presence of as many demons as possible. Raziel and Botis were already seated on the huge stage that housed Lucifer’s throne of bones; Haures was on the other side of the throne, his legions placed strategically around the walls.
“It’s very crowded,” Anael whispered as they made their way to the seats next to Haures.
“Lucifer’s making a point.” Showing Anael to his chair, Zagan sat beside him, his whole body bristling with tension. He was powerful enough that the coveted glances at his mate from scores of demons in the stands didn’t bother him overly much. Coveting was a sin after all, and demons were good at it. What he wasn’t happy about was the pockets of angry demons in the crowd who clearly didn’t like that Raziel and Anael were in attendance at all. Angel wings meant they were impossible to hide.
Anael didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he wasn’t saying anything. His eyes scanned the crowds, a half-smile on his face as he flicked his fingers once or twice. “There’s going to be a lot of beds rocking on this realm tonight,” he whispered happily as his fingers flicked again.
There usually are, Zagan thought but if his angel was happy and doing his job, then Zagan wasn’t going to pull him down. He sat glaring at any who looked at Anael the wrong way, his free hand tapping on his leg as they waited for Lucifer’s arrival.
“I take it things are going well with your angelic titbit?” Haures leaned close so no one else could overhear. “He definitely sticks out like a ray of sunshine among this crowd.”
“Do your men have a problem with him?” Zagan glanced at the two guards closest to them who were staring impassively at the crowds. “I wanted my men here because most of them are accepting of him but Lucifer ordered my legions to patrol the gates.”
Haures snorted. “My men think your sweet thing and Raziel being down here is akin to the second coming. I’ve got at least a half dozen requests for permission to speak with an angel on my desk, all from shades thinking they’ve done enough good in their service to be sent to Head Office.”
“And have they?” Zagan didn’t have that problem with his men. The only way to remove or cancel out a black mark on a soul, was to offer their lives in a heroic act like saving an innocent’s life. It’d happened a few times and when it did the demon concerned was given a pension and allowed to walk free among the others, find alternative employment and even raise a family. Unfortunately, innocents weren’t common in the Underworld, except among the children so the opportunities to do something like that were limited.
Shaking his head, Haures laughed. “Litter duty and cooking meals for the others is hardly enough to rid the darkness in their souls. Besides, we all know H.O. watches us like hawks. If such an act was done, the guy’s spirit would rise automatically. Talking to Anael or Raziel wouldn’t make any difference.”
“Unless it’s a trap.” Zagan’s cynical line of thinking was cut off with Lucifer’s arrival. Ten hellhounds, massive beasts with jaws that could decimate a demon in seconds, ran into the amphitheater, jumping onto the stage before sitting like stone statues of old facing the crowd. Lucifer sauntered behind dressed entirely in black as was his custom. All chatter among the crowd was silenced as they stood. No one was silly enough to draw attention to themselves and they were right to worry. Lucifer was in a mood. Zagan could feel it and Haures shuffled beside him.
Taking Anael’s hand, Zagan stood, along with the others, as Lucifer jumped up on the stage, running his hand over the closest hellhound before moving to stand in front of his throne. “So nice of you all to come on such short notice,” Lucifer said with a trace of mockery in his tone. “Be seated.”
Lucifer remained standing while everyone else perched on their seats. Usually, this meant he was about to deliver a stinging reprimand about an infraction caused on his realm, but all Lucifer said was, “Bring in the prisoners.”
Six of Haures’s men escorted four chained individuals to the dais at the center of the theatre. Two of them Zagan recognized instantly. One was the crispy critter from the day before. His wounds had healed, but the look on his face suggested he wished he’d never heard of demons. Lady Zoltus didn’t look as cocky as she did in Lucifer’s office either. Her clothes were splattered in mud and blood and her hair was completely disheveled. Zagan’s lips twitched. She hadn’t come willingly.
Casting his eyes to the other two prisoners, Zagan was surprised to see they were human. Darren and Jared to be exact and from Anael’s gasp, he’d recognized them too. Zagan pulled Anael close as Jared eyed the stage, his eyes widening the second he spotted the angel.
“Yes, my little human doormat,” Lucifer had noticed Jared’s look as well and grinned as he sat on this throne, stroking the boney arms of it. “That man you accosted and thought to fuck is a true angel. Maybe now, you have some idea why you’re here.”
“I didn’t touch him,” Zoltus yelled, her mood not improved by her situation or perhaps she just didn’t like being ignored. “You can’t do anything to me. I never laid a finger on him or anyone.”
“That’s true,” Lucifer’s voice was deceptively calm. “However, you tried to break a true mating; one approved by Head Office.” A rumble of whispers rang through the crowd. Lucifer raised his hands for silence. “You are also charged with hiring someone to kill an angel, threatening the human population and the earthly realm, and giving me a headache.”
“I should get a medal for that!” Zoltus appealed to her peers, her arms weighted by the chains on her wrists. “This isn’t earth or the higher realm. We’re demons. So what if I tried to kill an angel? They’re our enemies and as for humans, please. Those guys are fucking up the planet faster than we ever could. They were born weak for a reason; they’re there to do our bidding. It’s been the way of our kind since the beginning of time.”
Zagan was worried. Zoltus clearly had supporters in the crowd. At this stage, most of the crowd would be booing and throwing things at her by now. But the crowd was too busy talking among themselves.
“That’s enough.” Lucifer never had to raise his voice. The crowd was instantly silenced. Pushing himself from his chair, Lucifer prowled across the stage. “The criminal Zoltus talks about the beginning of time. Of course, she wouldn’t know what she was talking about as she’s only what, a thousand years old? But no matter. Let’s address her concerns, shall we? Who among you consider us the enemies of angels? Don’t be shy or worried about the ones you see on the stage with me. Raise your hand if you agree.”
Out of a five hundred strong crowd, Zagan only saw a dozen raised hands. Zoltus curled her lips in a snarl but Lucifer approved. “Very good. Now, who thinks humans are weak and deserve to be nothing more than slaves for our pleasure? That we should have free reign over earth just as we do down here.”
There were more hands raised this time, about a third of the crowd and Zagan felt a wave of sadness come from his silent mate. Wordlessly he took Anael’s hand and raised it to his lips. A move not unnoticed by Zoltus.
Lucifer chuckled as he shook his head. “You guys are so damned stupid. Why our Master cares for you all is beyond me.” He sighed. “No matter. Before we go any further let me introduce you to the angels who’ve blessed us with their presence. On my left we have the Archangel Raziel, right hand of the Archangel Gabriel, angel of wisdom and the keeper of secrets. He’s mated to Botis, who you all know as one of my legion commanders. Head Office condoned their mating.”
Ignoring the excited chatter that sprang up among the crowd, Lucifer went on. “On the other side we have King Zagan; another popular and powerful figure in this realm. He is joined by the angel Anael who is charged with forging mating connections and oversees love, passion and sexuality. They too are mates, approved by Head Office. I noticed Anael exercising his power earlier. Some of you will finally be getting the match you’ve been waiting for.”
The noise level was louder this time, but a swipe of Lucifer’s hand silenced them. Zagan was pleased to see many demons hoped to find their true match. It meant there was hope for his species after all.
“None of this is important,” Zoltus shrieked. “They’re trying to infiltrate us, render us useless. I say we rise up and fight for what’s rightfully ours.”
“And what is rightfully ours, Zoltus?” Lucifer’s gaze hardened. “What were we granted by the Master in exchange for our services?”
“We’ve got this realm,” a voice from the crowd yelled out.
“And the right to mate, form families and have children,” another one added.
“We can live as we please without social conventions and labels.”
“We can fuck in the street and no one gets arrested.”
“We make a living, build an income and live our lives without interference.”
“We can be whoever we want to be.”
One by one, voices rang out from the crowd. Lucifer’s eyes didn’t move from Zoltus, but Zagan could feel the air in the theatre get lighter. The boss’s mood was improving. Anael sat up a little straighter and even Raziel’s hard expression had softened.
“You’ve made your point, my demons, and I am proud of you all,” Lucifer said when the voices finally died down. “Except you.” He pointed at Zoltus. “Your lack of originality is frankly boring. Carmine? How many demons have wanted to kill angels and rule the earth since records started being kept?”
“Seventeen thousand, four hundred and ninety-two my lord, including the Lady Zoltus.” Carmine appeared in a puff of purple smoke behind Lucifer’s throne holding an impressive sized tablet.
“How many succeeded?”
“None, my lord.”
“How many demons have tried to take over Head Office since records were kept?”
“Two thousand, seven hundred and twenty-six, my lord.”
“Success rate in percentages?”
“Zero, my lord.”
“And why do you think that is, Lady Zoltus?”
“Because you’re so busy trying to shove your dick up Gabriel’s ass, you cut down anyone’s plans before they’ve even had a chance.”
“Lucifer keeps the balance,” Raziel said loudly, his voice monotone. Peering over, Zagan could see it was as if the angel was in a trance and Botis was holding him upright. “Lucifer and Gabriel are two halves of the whole, their positions vital for keeping the realms in balance. If one realm overcomes the other, then all is lost. Demons and angels will be no more.”
Raziel shook his head, blinking rapidly and Botis stroked his hair, whispering softly. For a second it was as though Lucifer wanted to ask more of the Archangel, but he must have realized where he was. “We’ve been honored,” he told the stunned crowd. “‘Tis not often we get a message from the Master himself. I only hope you all recognize the importance of the words delivered.”