Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
RUE
The sword, which hummed with power a few hours ago was now silent and inert against my back.
But it had worked when we’d needed it. I wasn’t in on the metaphysical mechanics, but it reacted to the Morningstar power when I opened the channel, allowing me to will open a door back to our world.
I’d imagined the forest near the church, and it had taken us there.
There’d been activity in the church.
Celestials.
Gabriel’s hunch that the wards might fall had been right. We’d managed to sneak away undetected and gone on foot for a few hours before taking to the air.
We’d expected a warm welcome here. To find everyone inside the base safe and warm, but no, they had the watchers locked outside.
We’d used a second entrance to the base. One only Gabriel knew of and had access codes to. Still, alarms had been triggered, and I was certain we’d have been shot if the head of security hadn’t been in the team come to counter us.
He knew Gabriel.
We were safe for now. I had Bastian with me again, and I’d managed to push some Morningstar power into Tumiel. He was with Bee, healing properly now. Although it had been harder to draw from the channel this time, as if it was resisting me, or as if someone was blocking it.
The Dominion must be doing something to the relic, which meant that time was running out.
There was no time for a proper reunion with Bastian and Bee before General Storm had me, Gabriel, and Bastian in her office, demanding answers.
The silence in the room was almost deafening once Gabriel finished briefing the general.
She sat, chin tucked in, head bowed as if the weight of our failure was pressing down on her.
She couldn’t be much older than me, maybe mid to late twenties.
But she had a weary look in her eyes. One that spoke of responsibility and burdens.
Bastian stood by some shelves, his arms crossed almost defensively.
Oliver, the head of security, stood in the shadows behind Storm. Older, jaded. Silent. He watched.
Was he thinking the same thing as me? That the time for talking was over. That it was time for action.
“We must act now,” Gabriel said, echoing my thoughts. “We must free Lucifer from the Dominion’s grasp. She’s our only hope.”
Storm looked up at him, the beginnings of a sneer forming on her lips. “You said she doesn’t know how to reclaim the power in the Morningstar relic.”
Was she implying that Lucifer wasn’t worth saving? It took everything I had not to step in and say something, but I clamped my mouth shut, allowing Gabriel to take the lead.
This was his forte. This was his base, and damn, did he look the part. Even with his auburn locks mussed and streaks of dirt on his face, the celestial radiated authority that was formidable to watch.
“We can figure out how to reclaim the power for her once she’s free,” he said firmly.
Storm made a soft mocking sound. “You want me to risk my people to free a celestial who might not be able to help us? You want me to send my men and women on a mission they may not return from based on a maybe?”
My hand itched to slap her.
“People have fought for less,” Gabriel said coolly. “It’s called hope.”
She raised her chin, eyes glittering. “Not my people. Not our hope.”
Was she serious right now? “Shemyaza sacrificed his life because he believed that we could fix this world. I went to hell because I believe we can fix it. And Lucifer believes she can too. All we need is a little time. If we can get her away from the Dominion, we can figure out the rest. Otherwise, how long do you think it’ll be before the Dominion find you? How long before they take this base?”
“We’ve managed up until now,” she said.
“Because of me,” Gabriel snapped. He exhaled through his nose to rein in his emotions, and when he next spoke, his tone was cold and cutting.
A tone I’d never heard from him before, one that both sent a shiver up my spine and excited me.
“I kept you safe. I kept their eyes elsewhere, but I’m no longer there.
I’m here, and there is nothing stopping them scouting this region.
It won’t be too long until they find you. You think you’re safe? Think again.”
She looked away, pressing her lips together.
My gaze went to Oliver, who’d taken a step forward then back again, as if rethinking his interference.
“Your father and I had a deal,” Gabriel continued. “I gave him autonomy of this base. I gave him control, and he gave me his word that when the time came, he would fall under my command.”
Her head whipped up, her eyes narrowing. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that this base belongs to me,” Gabriel said bluntly. “I’m saying that Gregor was my second-in-command, and now so are you.”
She pushed back her seat and stood, body vibrating with indignation. “You think you can force us to fight? Use us?”
“No,” Gabriel said. “I can’t force you. If you don’t help us, then we’ll do this without you. And once we win, once this world is free of the celestials, I can promise you that your people will not be welcome in the free cities. You can remain here, underground, hidden like the cowards you are.”
“If I’m not mistaken, won’t all celestials be pulled back to heaven when the balance is restored?” She arched a brow, her tone cocky. “Which means you won’t be here to stop us.”
Yeah, I didn’t like this bitch. I didn’t like her one bit. “You don’t know that. None of us do. Lucifer could help make it so that some celestials stay. Maybe she’ll restore the watchers and have them stay. You want to take the risk, then on your head be it.”
She dropped her chin again. “You’d make all these people suffer because of my decision. How is that fair?”
“Fair? What fucking world do you live in? Life isn’t fair, but maybe being tucked up down here, all safe and warm, means you’ve forgotten that.”
“Your father knew better,” Gabriel said, reminding me that I was supposed to let him take the lead. I stepped back and snapped my mouth shut as Gabriel continued. “Gregor knew what was at stake and what needed to be done. We had an agreement.”
Storm’s throat worked for a moment. “Yes, well, he’s dead, and the agreement died with him.”
“Only because you choose to let it. Gregor was a good man. An honorable man. A courageous man who believed that this world could be saved. I’m sorry to see those qualities didn’t pass to you.
” Gabriel turned to the door. “My people and I leave tomorrow evening. In the meantime, we’ll be occupying the eastern sector of the base. ”
“What?” She leaned forward, fingertips pressed to the desk. “That sector is closed. Father said it was off-limits due to radioactive—”
Gabriel gave her a flat look.
She straightened, comprehension dawning on her features. “He lied.”
“He told everyone what we agreed that he would. The east sector is for me and my soldiers. I have the codes to access it. If you decide to honor the agreement, you can send troops to join us there at 1700 tomorrow.”
“You can’t bring those monsters in here!” She rounded the desk toward us. “I won’t allow it.”
“I don’t want to hurt any of your people, but if you attack mine, then we will retaliate.”
“So much for wanting to protect humanity,” she sneered.
I was so done with this bitch. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, and if you sneer at him one more time, I’ll slap your mouth off your face.
” I looked across at Oliver, still standing silently in the corner.
“Well done on choosing a leader. You did fucking great. I bet your buddy is super proud right now.”
Storm made a soft sound of indignation, but we were already exiting the room.
“Slap her mouth off her face?” Gabriel said, amused.
“Whatever. I was angry, okay?”
“Well, I’m flattered that you jumped to my defense. Those sneers she was throwing my way were beginning to get painful.”
Bastian smiled. “Your face went all red.”
I touched my hot cheeks. “I just don’t get it. What is her real problem?”
“Whatever it is, I hope she reconsiders,” Bastian said. “We could do with the numbers.”
“I know,” Gabriel said. “But just in case she doesn’t, let’s plan with the numbers we have. I’ll get the watchers down into the eastern sector, you print out the schematics for the hub, and we can get to work on our extraction plan.”
It was going to be a long night.