33 A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN #2
“Why is Bel important?” Meph asked. He seemed to be the only one not shocked into silence by Adriel’s mere presence.
“His history has been recorded and preserved in the Empyrean Library. The story of Belial’s great sacrifice is well known among angels.”
“What sacrifice?” Bel cut in, looking alarmed.
“Your choice to fall from Heaven, of course.”
“My what —?”
That was news to Raum too. Most people knew Belial had been an angel eons ago, but he’d fallen and become one of the most powerful demons ever to exist. He’d never heard anything about it being a sacrifice, however.
But Adriel waved a hand before they could inquire further. “That is not relevant presently, and unfortunately, I must keep this brief. The materialistic vibrations of this plane eat away at my essence.”
They do what now? Raum wasn’t going to ask.
“When I learned of the rogues,” Adriel continued, “I discovered Raum was among them, and my curiosity was piqued.”
Raum narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“I knew you through Sunshine’s memories, and for the most part, your behavior hadn’t seemed particularly demonic. I found it curious that you would choose to escape Hell, and I had my suspicions as to why. So I watched you.”
Great. So not only had Sunshine found them easily, but Adriel had been sitting up in Heaven spying on them since the day they’d escaped. Fucking angels.
“It was clear that you behaved differently from what is assumed about demons. I began a period of study on demonic evolution and found there was almost no research done on the subject. I did learn of one book, however.”
“ The Book of Gamigin ,” Sunshine breathed.
“Yes.”
“Wait—” Iris spoke up for the first time. Everyone was so silent, Raum had almost forgotten they were there. “That’s Suyin’s book. That Valefor stole. That Murmur now has.”
“The grimoire is supposedly written by Gamigin, or Samigina, a Duke of Hell who I believe was destroyed. In it, he reportedly provides evidence for his theory that demons not only evolve consciousness, but they also evolve souls .”
Everyone stared at him in mute shock.
Except Eva. She looked at Ash and said, “That’s exactly what you told me! When we first met and I found out about demons, you told me you thought you developed souls, and you were freaked out because you didn’t know what would happen if you died.”
“That question perplexed me as well,” Adriel said. “I hoped Gamigin’s text might contain answers. As I am unable to enter the underworld—”
“Why not?” Meph asked.
“Hell’s lower vibrations are not compatible with a Second Sphere angel’s physiology. Upon entry, I would either rupture into a million shards of light, or I would cause a nuclear explosion-like effect on the realm. I would rather not find out which.”
Meph’s brows shot up. “Fair enough.”
“Since I couldn’t visit Hell to retrieve the text myself, I had to send someone to get the book for me.” Adriel transferred his gaze to Sunshine, and Raum instinctively tensed. Those eyes freaked him out, honestly.
“Because of your past and what I learned in my observations, I realized that drastic changes needed to be made. I took my concerns to the Dominations, and they informed me Raum would face a test in order to secure freedom for himself and the other rogues. The Dominations love tests, you see.”
“Wait—” Raum blinked. “Freedom? What freedom?”
“And what test?” Sunshine added.
“Your encounter with Raphael, of course.”
“That was all some kind of fucked-up test?” Ash looked pissed. “Eva could have been killed!”
“I didn’t know what the test would be. I am not omniscient. I tried to inform Sunshine when we last saw each other, but the Dominations forbade me from explaining anything. The best I could do was allow her to listen in on our conversation.”
Sunshine’s eyes were wide. “That was what you were trying to warn me about.”
“I wanted to tell you more, but in order for the test to work, I couldn’t be involved.”
Raum frowned. He wasn’t sure he bought Adriel’s noble-protector charade. He wasn’t about to forget that he’d lied to Sunshine for hundreds of years.
“So … did Raum pass the test then?” Meph cut in.
“Yes.” Adriel smiled as he turned his freaky starry eyes back in Raum’s direction. “With flying colors.”
Raum blinked. “How?”
“You showed mercy to Raphael, a powerful enemy who’d done a grave injustice against you and those you consider family.”
“I didn’t do it for him,” he grumbled, suddenly regretting his so-called mercy. “I did it because I didn’t want Sunshine to have that on her conscience.”
“Your motive was still selfless.”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you know what I did with him after I so selflessly kept him alive?”
Adriel shrugged, looking unconcerned. “All that matters is that you didn’t kill him.” Maybe Meph hadn’t been far off the mark when he’d called him cold.
“Will angels be sent to Hell to retrieve him?” Mist asked, speaking up for the first time.
“I suspect the Principalities will respond the same way they did when this happened to Sunshine. I have no say in the matter.”
“So they’ll do fuck all,” Raum said.
“It’s likely.”
“But why?” Ash was speaking now. “Raphael is like … their poster boy.”
“I can’t speak for the Principalities, but I believe Raphael went too far when he took the cuffs and scrying glass from the Court of Ceremonies and assaulted a guardian angel that I had sent on a special mission.”
“He didn’t have permission to use the items?” Sunshine asked.
“No. His actions embarrassed the Tribunal, and having him gone means they won’t have to do damage control. His disappearance is convenient.” The way Adriel was completely neutral about the whole matter was somewhat unnerving.
“So what does all this stuff about tests mean?” Meph interjected. “Raum’s a hero now or something?”
“It means that the Dominations have agreed that if Raum and his brothers do not wish to be confined to the Hell plane any longer, then they don’t have to be.”
There was silence as that sank in.
The angel was talking about freedom. Real freedom. Not the life of a fugitive, spending eternity looking over their shoulders.
He looked at Raum. “You have proven you can contribute positively to the collective consciousness of Earth, and the Dominations have declared you worthy of inhabiting this plane.”
Everyone was looking around, exchanging wide-eyed looks.
“So, you’re saying,” Ash ventured, “that we’re allowed to stay … and no one will hunt us anymore?”
“Correct.”
“But what about fucks like Raphael?” Meph asked.
“They will follow the rules. They have always followed the rules.” He looked unimpressed by that.
“So … we’re free? Just like that?” Meph looked around. “No more wards or Nephilim blood?”
“There are conditions.”
“Of course there are,” Bel muttered.
“And what about other demons?” Mist asked. Seated beside him, Lily clutched his hand, her palm dwarfed by his. “They will continue to hunt us.” Raum thought of the bounty hunters in the Blood Market and had to agree.
“It will be made known that the rules have changed.” Adriel looked vaguely amused by everyone’s incredulous looks. “You will find I’ve thought this all out very carefully. Which leads to my next order of business.” He turned to Sunshine. “You.”
“Me?” Sunshine looked around as if he might be actually addressing someone else.
“You have also passed your test.”
She frowned. “But I failed to retrieve the book.”
“The book was a task for me. It was not your test. The two just happened to coincide. The Dominations wanted to test you to see if you would follow your heart and heed your instincts. Which you did.”
Her eyes widened. “So you’re saying …”
“I’m saying, your penance is complete, and you will be reinstated to your former rank among the Principalities. Congratulations. As for the book, I still hope to acquire it, but I am relieving you of the responsibility.”
“Sir …” Sunshine’s whole body began to tremble, and her hand shot out to grab Raum’s arm.
Raum wanted to be happy for her. If he was any less of a bastard, he would have been. But instead he felt this crushing sensation. She’d gotten back her rank—what she’d always wanted.
But he wasn’t delusional. Even if he was allowed to stay on Earth now—which was going to take some time for him to actually believe—angels were still not permitted to have relationships.
Sunshine looked up at Raum with wide eyes, and he knew she was thinking what he was. He couldn’t force himself to smile or give any fake positive reaction. He couldn’t tell her he was happy for her, even though he wished he was.
Say something supportive. Even if it’s the biggest lie to ever come out of your mouth.
“You … deserve it,” he managed.
There. Not even a lie. She did deserve it. In his mind, she deserved to be crowned queen of the universe.
Her eyes filled with tears. Shit. Big fail.
And then she spun around to Adriel and said, “Thank you for the offer, sir, but I cannot accept. I have chosen to fall and become a Grigori.”
“Fuck no,” Raum snapped, suddenly finding the emphasis he’d been searching for a moment ago. Probably because this time there wasn’t a single fake thing about his reaction.
“It’s not your decision,” Sunshine said firmly.
“I’m not going to let you do something you’ll regret—”
“The only thing I’ll regret is giving up my freedom and the man I love for some role that hasn’t truly mattered to me in hundreds of years.”
She nearly had him with the “man I love” part, but he hardened himself. “I’m not letting you do this.”
“You will find that I can do whatever I wish and you can’t stop me,” she said haughtily
“Sunshine,” Adriel interjected. “Before rejecting my offer, perhaps you might wish to hear the rest of what I was going to say?”
She immediately plastered on an apologetic smile. “Yes, of course. Please excuse my interruption.”
Raum glared at her and then at the perfect angel boy across the room. She sure as fuck wasn’t that well behaved with him. Unless they were in bed, of course, but that was different.