Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
RUE
Something was wrong. Something bad. “It’s been too long. Something must have gone wrong.”
“It’s fine,” Gabriel said. “Bastian will radio us any—”
The alarm stopped, leaving us in heavy silence, which was broken a moment later by static followed by Bastian’s voice. “All clear. Over.”
Gabriel lifted the radio to his lips. “Great work, Bastian. Now get to the sewers. Over.”
“Will do. Over.”
My scalp pricked. He sounded odd. I grabbed the radio off Gabriel and pushed the button. “Bastian? Are you okay? Over.”
“I’m fine. Go. Save Lucifer. I’ll see you soon. I love you. Over.”
But my gut was telling me something was off. “Bastian? Are you hurt? Bastian, where’s Bee? Over.”
Static followed and then silence.
“Something’s not right. We have to go find him.”
“There’s no time,” Gabriel said. “Rue, we have to save Lucifer.”
“You sense it too. You know something is off.”
He gripped my shoulders. “We have a mission. People are depending on us. Rue, the decoy team won’t last forever.”
Every atom of my being wanted to break away from him and run toward the security room, to Bastian.
“Shem died for this, and Bastian…” Gabriel inhaled through his nose, his expression stoic. “If something has happened, you need to make his sacrifice worthwhile.”
Something had happened, I knew it with every fiber of my being, just as I knew I had to keep going. Had to move forward against the gnawing pain inside me. I swallowed a sob.
“We can’t let Michael and the Dominion win,” Zaq said.
I was surrounded by watchers willing to risk their lives. There was no room for selfishness, not now. Not here.
“Let’s move.”
If Bastian was hurt, then we’d fix him. He’d be fine. Tumiel and Bee were with him. Everything would be okay.
The sooner we got Lucifer and got out of here, the better.
Asbeel, Kokabel, and the other two watchers peeled off from our group, stopping at the intersections that led to the central chamber.
No one stopped us. No sentinels attacked. The decoy was working, but it wouldn’t work for long. We had to move fast.
Zaq took the lead with Sarq. Gabriel and I followed close behind. He held my hand in a reassuring grip, channeling that same soothing aura that he seemed to exude.
Yes, everything would be fine.
The corridor became a tunnel that led to a single metal door with a keypad lock. If Bastian had disabled the security, then the door would open without a code. Zaq grabbed the handle and tugged.
The door opened with a soft hiss.
My body broke out into gooseflesh. There was power beyond this door. “Lucifer. I feel her.”
“Then let’s get her,” Zaq said.
We filed into a room filled with light. Light that streamed from the center of the room where Lucifer was suspended midair.
Light coming from the relics and…Jilyana…
The djinn was tied to a post, light pouring out of her abdomen, eyes white and unseeing, and beside her was another figure—large and crimson, wings folded tight, head bowed.
My heart stopped for a beat then broke into a gallop. “Shem!” I rushed toward him, but a figure landed in my path.
Gold-tipped wings flared, catching the light, glowing so brightly I had to throw my arm up to shield my eyes.
The light dimmed after a moment to reveal Michael, chin tipped up, looking down his nose at us imperiously.
“Rue, so nice to see you again.”
I craned to look past him to Shem, unconscious but alive. He was alive, and he was here, and my heart felt as if it would burst. “What have you done to him?”
Michael’s lip curled in disgust. “Nothing, despite my best efforts. Apparently, Shemyaza can’t be killed by a celestial sword. But he serves a purpose here. A handy anchor to help channel the relic power back to its source.”
“You plan to use Lucifer’s power to fuel the celestials,” Gabriel said. “You want to use her as a battery.”
Oh, fuck…
“We can, and we will. Shutting down the security systems has no effect on how this room works.”
Because this room was powered by the relics. By Lucifer herself… “The huge orb on top of the building…that’s where the power is going, isn’t it?”
“Ah, Rue, you are so smart. So perfect. Come here.” He held out his hand, beckoning me. “Come to me, and I’ll make sure you live. I’ll protect you, and in time, maybe we can arrange for you to visit Shemyaza.”
He was serious? He actually believed I’d join him. “Fuck you, Michael.”
His eyes darkened. “You will respect me!” His voice echoed around us, a terrifying boom of authority. “Come here now!”
Gabriel stepped in front of me, wings flaring, and Zaq and Sarq joined him, creating a barrier between him and me. “You want her, you’ll have to go through us.”
Michael’s eyes lit up as he smiled widely. “Gladly.”
He threw out his hands, and twin streams of power shot out and slammed into Gabriel sending him flying backward.
My cry was cut off by Sarq’s and Zaq’s bellows of rage as they charged at Michael. I ran to Gabriel, my heart in my throat.
He clutched his blackened chest. “Wake Lucifer.” He pulled himself to his feet and joined the attack on Michael.
Three on one should have been a breeze, but Michael looked unfazed. He batted at them, laughing. He was playing with them. Their power was no match for his.
We needed Lucifer and Shem.
I rushed into the center of the chamber, into the light surrounding her. “Lucifer!” I grabbed her legs and pulled, but the force that had her in its grip refused to let up. “Wake up, you have to—”
A loud shockwave hit me, flinging me away from Lucifer and onto the floor. Soul Reaper dug into my back painfully, and I rolled onto my front, scrambling to stand.
Gabriel, Sarq, and Zaq were on the ground across the chamber from me. Unmoving.
Michael strode toward me, a dark look on his face. “Enough! You come with me. Now!”
I reached over my shoulder and gripped the hilt of Lucifer’s blade. A rush of power coursed down my arm as the sword that had been inert since leaving Gehenna surged to life.
I drew it from its holster and stepped away from Michael. “Stay back.”
His gaze flicked from the sword to me, then a mocking smile curled his lips. “Holding a sword is very different to wielding one.”
My stomach trembled. “I trained as a sweeper before I was a scout. I know how to wield a fucking sword.”
He reached over his shoulder and drew his glowing weapon. “Let’s find out, shall we?”
“Rue!” Gabriel ran toward us.
Michael flicked his wrist, ejecting power that knocked Gabriel off his feet, sending him flying back to hit the wall. He struggled to be free but was held by an unseen force. Zaq and Sarq met the same fate.
Michael was too powerful. There was no beating him. No winning this. But even as my hope died, determination rose to take its place. I’d fight him. I’d force him to expend his energy, and with his focus on me, maybe…maybe the others would be able to break free.
He twirled his sword, circling me. “Go on, Rue, attack me.”
“No. You want me. Come and get me.”
His eyes lit up in a smile that said he thought this was some cute game. The Michael I knew was gone, and this creature standing before me was corrupted by power. Insane from it.
He ducked his head and rushed toward me, sword arching in a swing.