Chapter 50

Lucifer

As the Angel of Death, Azrael made frequent trips to Hell, but he didn’t usually stop by for a visit. Though he wasn’t as arrogant as the other angels, he wasn’t exactly friendly.

“I’ll meet with him in my office,” I told Rainer.

“He’s actually standing outside your front door,” Rainer admitted. “I suggested your office, but you know Azrael.”

I didn’t like surprise visits, and I was pissed that Rainer hadn’t led with the fact the Azrael was at my door. Stalking to the door, I opened it and glared at the Angel of Death.

Azrael went to great lengths to hide his angelic appearance. His eyes were still a pale blue, but his hair was dyed black and hung around his face. His lip and left eyebrow were pierced. In his earlobes, he had large black plugs. As for his clothing, he always dressed in black. Unlike the other angels, who dressed to impress, Azrael looked like a goth teen who’d found his clothes in the dumpster behind a consignment store. There were several holes. Even his black combat boots had duct tape covering a hole near the toe.

“You don’t look happy to see me,” he said with a smirk.

“You don’t look happy,” I shot back before stepping aside so he could enter.

“Life is an endless cycle of misery,” he complained. “The only release is death. Lucky for the world, I’m here to release them from their torment.”

“Morbid as always,” Rainer muttered.

“It’s hard to be anything other than morbid considering what I do,” Azrael pointed out before his eyes moved to Beatrice and Persephone. “You have two lady friends in residence? Clearly, they aren’t from around here. They still look too innocent to be from this end of the demon realm. Seducing one innocent wasn’t enough for you?”

I wasn’t about to correct him. It was better if Azrael didn’t know more about Beatrice and Persephone. I was grateful neither responded to him. Azrael might be the angel causing problems. He could easily enter the demon realm.

“We’ll be back in a few minutes,” I told Beatrice. She nodded, and I led Azrael farther into my home where we could talk in private. Rainer followed us.

“What did you want to see me about?” I asked when we reached my den.

“I heard some dickhead archangel came here,” Azrael spat out as he sprawled out on the leather sofa.

“Where did you hear that?” I asked suspiciously, taking a seat behind my desk. Rainer remained standing by the door.

Azrael shrugged. “You know how much angels love gossip.”

“You’re not one to follow gossip,” I stated as I continued to watch his reactions carefully.

“I didn’t ask to be included in the gossip this time,” he told me. “Michael told me. He’s pissed about this whole thing.”

“He’s also one of the few angels powerful enough to enter the demon realm,” I reminded him.

“Yeah, but he’s too prissy to get his hands dirty,” Azrael argued. “Even if he’s involved with whatever shit you have going on, Michael won’t come here.”

I wasn’t nearly as convinced. “I’m still not sure why you’re here.”

“Because I am the only angel allowed to enter all realms,” he growled. “This is my domain.”

“Bullshit,” I spat out. “You know that as the messenger, Gabriel is here at least once a week. There are a few other angels who enter this realm when they have business.”

“Unlike them, I don’t need to ask anyone’s permission to enter,” Azrael argued.

“Who do you think is behind it?” I asked.

He shrugged. “It could be any of the white-winged assholes with access to Hell.”

I bit back a laugh at Azrael’s description. He happened to be one of the white-winged assholes, regardless of how much effort he put into looking different.

“You must have a guess,” I pushed.

There was a long hesitation before Azrael responded. “Gabriel.”

As a messenger, Gabriel could easily enter and leave the demon realm without anyone noticing. He had the power. Still, I couldn’t picture him associating with demons long enough to help with an uprising. “Why would Gabriel want to start a rebellion in Hell?”

“He’s bored, like most angels,” Azrael replied.

Sadly, that made sense. I tried to give fallen angels plenty of work to keep them from getting too bored with their existence. It was harder with the ones who’d been considered gods. They didn’t follow orders well. They were also my biggest problem. If Gabriel had grown bored with his existence, he might try to start a war just to give his existence more purpose.

“I know you aren’t here to warn me,” I began. “What brings you to my home?

“I want to make a deal with you,” Azrael stated.

“What kind of deal?” I asked suspiciously.

“I’ll contact you if I learn anything new about the angel causing you problems, and you’ll do the same for me,” he explained.

I considered his offer. While it would be useful to have Azrael helping us, I didn’t trust him.

“I’ll get back to you,” was my answer.

“You’re refusing to accept my help?” he demanded. Clearly, he’d expected me to jump at his offer.

“I don’t trust your help,” I told him. Why lie?

“Because I’m a white-winged asshole?” he asked, sounding more curious than angry.

“That about sums it up,” I agreed.

He stood and shrugged. “Fine, but you need me to help you stop this angel. You can’t do anything to him. I can make sure he’s dealt with.”

“Even you can’t make that happen,” I told Azrael, calling him on his bluff. “I haven’t refused to work with you yet, but I’m not about to make any hasty alliances.”

He nodded and stomped out of the room. I followed him to the front door where he exited without another word. Not because he was pissed. Azrael was just an asshole.

“The Angel of Death is a real dick, isn’t he?” Beatrice asked.

Her question startled a bark of laughter out of me. “Yes, he is,” I agreed.

She was standing by the table setting out the food. It must have been delivered while I was meeting with Azrael. I moved toward her. I couldn’t help myself. I needed to be close to her. She turned toward me, her eyes locked with mine. I leaned forward and brushed my lips against hers.

Rainer cleared his throat, reminding me we weren’t alone.

When I glared at him, he chuckled and said, “I wanted to remind you that I’m taking Persephone to work in thirty minutes.”

“Why?” Beatrice demanded. “I thought it was safer for us to stay down here.”

“She’ll have guards,” I assured her.

“I insisted,” Persephone added as she slipped a slice of the zellafruit past her lips. “Oh my, that tingles.”

“Are you eating the skin?” I asked.

There was no need to answer; her skin was already turning bright blue.

Beatrice giggled. “You’re going to work like that?”

“Like what?” Persephone asked. “Oh! I forgot about the blue skin. How do I look?”

“Blue,” I replied.

She walked out of the kitchen to look at herself in the mirror above the mantle. Her brow drew together in a frown. “This will never do.”

“You don’t like being blue?” Rainer asked with a laugh.

“I love being blue,” she replied. “It’s this green dress. It looks horrible with my blue skin. I’d better change before I go to work.”

“What about breakfast?” Beatrice asked.

“I filled up on zellafruit,” she called out as she raced up the stairs.

“She is going to make Hades crazy,” I muttered.

“From what I can tell, Hades is already crazy,” Beatrice said with a snort.

I couldn’t argue with her about that.