47. Celix
Well, that was fucking great, and I didn’t know how we missed that.
Lucifer’s house was a mix of big open spaces and twisty hallways.
He was also an artist and a big reader, so there were alcoves for sculptures and paintings and bookcases everywhere.
Not all demons were massive. We’d never give my sister trouble for being the runt of the litter, but a demon her size could easily hide here.
And physical size didn’t mean much. You could be pint-sized and still be a magical powerhouse.
The scents in the room were acrid and overwhelming. Nero was going to be our best bet, but most of the Fallen were scared and didn’t want to be here. Mammon and Abaddon seemed to be the only ones who wanted Lucifer back and for whoever did all this to pay.
Asmodeus outright loathed him and Belphegor looked worried. Beelzebub looked like he had a drunk gerbil running on a wheel in his head and that tracked since I learned he was the dumb one. Out of all of them, I counted Beelzebub out too because he was stupid and smashed his toys when he was bored.
That left Satan. The Prince of Wrath was pissed.
But without Nero being able to get a read, no one knew if he was pissed because Lucifer escaped, Lucifer said something about no one finding him for forty-six years, or because he thought Lucifer knew who did it and was being petty by throwing a fancy dinner party to reveal it.
Because honestly, that was petty as fuck.
Nero and I ate that up and the only reason Kujo didn’t hate it was because he hated the Fallen even more.
And Lucifer was obviously being super petty because he took the head of the table, set Lilith to his left, Sydney to his right, and had us three demons sit next to Sydney and Lilith like we were more important than his brothers.
Mammon looked upset about it and I only knew it was because he legitimately cared about Lucifer from Nero.
Asmodeus and Belphegor were seething. Satan was less angry and seemed resigned to let Lucifer get on with the show.
Abaddon seemed to find this whole thing amusing.
Beelzebub was face deep in the appetizers and seemed to have no idea what was going on.
Lucifer was casually sipping his wine with his pinky up in the air. I could see he was watching his brothers over the rim.
“So, I’ve gotten the basics. Seems you all made a mess of Hell in my absence,” Lucifer purred.
“Oh, you helped with that,” Satan snapped.
“Not all of us,” Abaddon said, tipping his wine glass to Asmodeus. “Some of us went full asshole.”
“That one gives off vibes he’s always been full asshole,” Sydney said.
Mammon started choking on his wine, but it wasn’t because he was offended. He was laughing.
“I thought it was him at first too. We always think it’s him.
It’s why I’ve spent the last forty-six years around him.
He wanted Abaddon to figure out how to shore up the gates so he could keep you gone and figure out how to rule, but Asmodeus has no idea who took you.
He was trying to figure that out so he could use it to make himself king.
And Abaddon couldn’t figure out how to stop the breaches because he’s not that smart. He just fucks smart people.”
Asmodeus was starting to glow, but Abaddon just shrugged.
“Smart people are sexy. And I’m quite sure you don’t want to start a fight with me in the room and only one incubus.”
That right there. It was an obvious threat, but was it only meant for Asmodeus? Why didn’t Abaddon bring any incubi with him? They didn’t know everything, but they all knew this wasn’t a welcome home dinner. There was obviously going to be a fight tonight.
It was the perfect storm for the Beast of Eden.
Abaddon wasn’t stupid. A lot of the advances in Hell was because he funded and fostered intelligence.
He had to know if someone was willing to kill Kir and kidnap Lucifer, they’d have zero problems triggering the Beast of Eden and would use it to escape.
We’d barely looked at Abaddon because he was so easy going, helped where he could, and we all knew he wanted nothing to do with angel politics. He was the only one here who wasn’t triggering my fight or flight with his scent.
I squeezed Sydney’s leg, and she followed my gaze. She also frowned when she realized who I was staring at.
Had it been Abaddon this entire time?