Chapter Thirty-Five Charlotte
Chapter Thirty-Five
Charlotte
We reconvene a few hours later to formulate a plan together.
Well, “together” is a relative term when it comes to Lucifer’s siblings.
He, Mimi, and Wrath are at each other’s throats the entire time, arguing over the particulars of the strategy in passionate Angelic battle terms I can hardly follow, while Gluttony and Envy look increasingly bored, despite that they literally have nowhere else to be and half the city is currently without power.
Azrael and I interject occasionally amid the chaos with considerations about, well, the minor inconvenient detail of how many human deaths might result from some of Lucifer and Greed’s more elaborate plans, and it isn’t until Imani—or should I say Salome?
—stops in to deliver some food and other company-related news that we all get a break from the chaos.
She’s quiet mostly, save for a few times when Lucifer directly addresses her, and I don’t get a chance to speak to her about what I overheard from Michael, or how the PR coverage might affect our current negotiating.
Even if we’re no longer opening the seals for Michael, I can’t risk the other Originals defecting to his side.
And Azmodeus still hasn’t returned after he fucked off to . . . who knows where.
I’m going to have to reconnect with him eventually.
I sit curled up on Lucifer’s lap, my head resting on his shoulder as I do my best to follow along, but I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy from what he did to me on top of the boardroom table, and despite what pains in the asses they are, suddenly I’m struck by the fact that this ragtag group of celestial rebels has become my family.
More than my sperm donor could ever be.
I smile.
By the time we’re through, I’m all strategized out, and family or not, I’m feeling increasingly concerned at the thought that the bulk of the world’s economic and celestial power is not only concentrated in this room but controlled by a bunch of billionaires who can’t seem to agree upon anything.
Except that the rest of us are far less important than they are.
But like it or not, they’re on board with helping me for now, so I guess I have no choice but to let them off the hook.
Team No Apocalypse is looking up.
We’re not all going to die and fade away into the Nothing, so that’s something, right?
Granted, it’s all contingent on Azrael and me successfully getting Jax out of the In-Between where Lilith’s holding her, which is far more complicated than it sounded initially, but it’s the best plan we’ve got.
I’m so hopeful about seeing Jax return home that not even Envy’s whining about how much he’s dreading the rapid approach of Haute Couture week can get me down.
Who hates Paris?
I’ve never been, and I already know I’ll love it.
When our meeting disperses, I manage to catch Imani out in the hall and pull her to the side. “We need to talk.”
“I know.” She nods. “I know, but . . .” Her gaze darts from the boardroom door to the window and out onto the darkened streets.
Sometimes I forget that her entire life doesn’t revolve around Apollyon.
“Wednesday,” I say, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. Our usual time.
She nods. “I’ll bring coffee.”
“Decaf please.” I place a tentative hand on my stomach.
I still haven’t confirmed anything, but . . .
Imani smiles at me, patting my arm.
No matter what her story is, it doesn’t change anything.
She’s still helped me more than any other person I know.
I head back into the boardroom.
Greed and Gluttony are the only two Originals who’ve lingered.
“About the Holy Fire you wielded earlier.”
I wince. “I’m sorry about your Schiaparelli.”
“Don’t.” She raises a hand. “I can’t stand apologies. They’re so . . .” She wrinkles her nose.
“Selfless?” her twin supplies.
She snaps her fingers. “Exactly.”
“Well, Lucifer is fine in any case.”
“More than fine, I’d say.” He pulls me in for a teasing kiss.
He’s in a good mood, pleased about the idea of getting his powers back.
When he releases me, I open my mouth, prepared to point out the massive loss of human life that happened today, when Greed suddenly says, “You summoned the Holy Fire far better than any other celestial abilities we’ve tried.” She gives me a pointed look.
“Meaning?”
Lucifer shakes his head, like he’s not sure whether to be disappointed or amused. “Those were holy powers, Charlotte. Some of our Father’s.”
“Your Father’s?”
Lucifer looks at Azrael, who gives a curt nod before they turn back to me. “We’ve been training you from the wrong side of the celestial divide, I’m afraid.”
“But I can wield your shadows too.”
“Not as easily.”
He has a point.
Which means I’m . . . more like God than I am like Lucifer.
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“It might be a better idea for someone else to train you. Someone who’s a bit more angelic, you might say.” Lucifer nods toward the door, and I turn to find . . .
“Seraph,” I breathe.
It’s the first time I’ve met one of Lucifer’s angelic siblings up close. At least one who wasn’t threatening to kill me or who was only there for a few brief moments.
Seraph extends her palms to me, and I round the conference table, taking her hands in mine as I try to stifle a grin. If only my dad and his congregation could see me now.
I’m more holy than they’ll ever be.
“I’ve been praying for this moment.” Seraph smiles, but somewhere behind me, I hear Mimi gag dramatically. Seraph squeezes my hands. “I’ve heard your prayers.”
“You’ve heard them?” I glance at Lucifer.
Seraph’s lips curve. “I’m the guardian of our Father’s throne, so in His absence . . .”
She’s been the one answering me.
“I think we’ll get along well, Charlotte.”
I can’t help but grin.
Already, I have a good feeling about this.
“Though you’ll still be training with me,” Greed adds.
“And me,” Lucifer says. “And Azrael, of course.”
“Four training schedules. Great.” I force a smile, trying not to panic at the thought of all the scheduling. Particularly without Mia.
My heart sinks.
“Our Father’s power is fueled by divine justice,” Seraph explains.
Divine justice?
I cut a look between Lucifer and Azrael again.
I’ve been viewing my abilities the wrong way this entire time, trying to connect them to my anger, to the darkness inside me, when what I really needed to connect them to was the injustice underneath.
I exhale.
“Anger can be righteous.” Lucifer smirks.
“A powerful force for positive change.” Seraph casts him a pointed look. “Or conversely, destructive when turned inward.”
Lucifer frowns at her.
Suddenly, Lucifer’s rebellion, Eve, the apple, all of who he was before makes a whole lot more sense to me. As well as who I’m becoming.
“Divine justice,” I repeat, turning toward Seraph and squeezing her hands excitedly. “I like the sound of that.”