Execution (The Divine Book 6) (5 page)

"What do I do with him?" I asked, switching my attention to Dante.
 

Dante rubbed his chin. "Hmm... I'll speak to Alichino about that as well. Perhaps we can fit two souls into the Fist of God." He smiled as though he had made a joke. He looked too hopeful to be kidding. "Leave him be for now. You may need him in case we can find no other option. Have your people keep an eye on him, and I will try to help you do so as well."

"Okay. If you learn anything useful, and I'm still in Hell, you can trust Rose or Elyse."

I looked back to the street. Both Gervais and the woman were gone. I knew he had to feed to keep his strength up, and I didn't like having to let him.

"I believe I can trust Rose. The Nicht Creidem are only a little better than the Divine."

"Dante," I said, turning back toward him with the intention of starting an argument about Elyse.

Of course, he was already gone.

I went back down the fire escape, meeting Alyx there.
 

"He is feeding," she said. "I can smell the blood and sex from here."

"Don't remind me," I replied. "Come on, we're leaving."

She pushed off with her legs, easily jumping into a stand. "Are we going to Damien?"

"We will, yes. We need to connect with Rose and Elyse first."

"Okay."

I looked her over. She was wearing short shorts that revealed the crease between her behind and her legs, and a tight halter top that did nothing to hide the shape of her breasts below it. I knew she wasn't dressed that way to be overtly sexual. It was the way Espanto had always wanted her to look and she didn't know any better. I'd tried to explain the different kinds of clothes to her, and she sort of understood, but being able to change into a massive werewolf and shred anyone or anything that offended you to pulp made the point moot under most circumstances.

"Go change into something more suited to traveling," I said. "We don't want to attract a lot of attention, and you will in that."

She looked down, oblivious to the wardrobe choice. "If you say so. What look are we going for?"

I had gotten her clothing of every kind to see what else she liked. She had tried it all and rejected everything that covered too much skin. She didn't like the feeling of cloth on her body, maybe because of her heightened senses. I think if it were completely up to her she would have disregarded modesty altogether.

"Let's go with professional and casual," I said, pushing a bit of power to morph my own clothes into a pair of jeans and a sport coat.
 

"Mini-skirts are so constricting on my legs," she said.

"You have pants."

"Pants make me look like a male."

"Shorts are out," I said.

"I can choose what I wear," she said.
 

She was still playing with me over what I had said.

"Allie, we don't have time for games."

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Fine. I'll be right back."

She climbed into the window and vanished. I remained on the fire escape, looking up now instead of down. It was a clear night, though the city's pollution left counting stars a dicey proposition.

"Diuscrucis."

Abaddon's voice cut through me, and I stumbled forward, grabbing the railing before I found myself plummeting into more pain.
 

"Abaddon," I said internally. "What's happening?"

"I am not happy."

"Can you ease off a little?"

The pain subsided. Mostly.
 

"I don't blame you. Do you know where you are?"

"It is dark. Everything is dark. My power. They take it. It hurts. I do not like pain, diuscrucis."

"I'm working on it. It's only been a couple of hours."

"Hours? It feels like ages. You must free and destroy me, diuscrucis. Do not linger."

"Trust me, I'm not. Ending a demon like you isn't quite like making an omelet."

"I don't understand."

I should have known he wouldn't. At least now I knew he couldn't hear what I heard.
 

"It isn't easy. I've got a lead. I'll update you if it bears fruit."

"What does fruit have to do with my pain? Speak clearly."

"I'll tell you when I find a way. Except you told me you won't go without a fight."

"Yes. I cannot. I want to end, yet do not want to die."

It was an odd statement. At the same time, I knew exactly what he meant. "I've been there. I'm doing my best, I promise."

"Very well, diuscrucis. I will be waiting."

The sense of him shrank back once more. I heard a rustling behind me, and I turned around to see Alyx standing naked in front of me, holding a different outfit in each hand.

"Which one do you prefer?" she asked, a coy smile on her face.
 

Again, her actions were intentional. She could have put her underwear on to ask the question. My body reacted to the sight of her, and I stammered out an answer. "That one," I said, pointing at the tweed in her left hand.

She nodded. "I like that one, too."
 

She walked over to the sofa, put them both down, and began dressing. She did it slowly, deliberately, each motion smooth and languid. It was more comparable to a jaguar than a wolf, and I had to pull my eyes away from her.

Demons.

She joined me on the fire escape a minute later, leaning up to kiss me on the cheek. "I'm sorry," she said.

"No you aren't," I replied.

She laughed. "I'm trying to be what you call behaved, but you are my mate. We should be making pups. I can see how much your body wants mine."

"If that was the only criteria, we'd be on the floor together right now."

"We are mates. I am yours. That is the criteria." She took my hand, trying to pull me toward the window. I had to use my power to pull back and remain in place.

"Allie," I said, using my I-think-you're-adorable-but-no voice. She fake-pouted for a few seconds, dropping my hand.

"I had to try," she said.

I reached out with my power, using it to pull the window closed. Then I scanned the street for signs of Gervais. "Do you know where Gervais is?"

She lifted her head slightly to sniff for him. "An alley, four blocks east. Why?"

"I don't want him to see us leave. Come on."
 

I vaulted the railing and dropped, using my power to land gently on the ground. Alyx followed me down, her legs bending slightly as she hit the ground.
 

"Rose and Elyse are over at Cheng's."
 

Alyx wrapped her arm around mine. She looked great in the tweed miniskirt and short-sleeved blazer.
 

"What are we waiting for?" she asked.

We found Rose and Elyse in a fairly secluded corner booth. I half-expected that we would be interrupting a semi-public makeout session.
 

Instead, Elyse had her arm around Rose, and Rose was crying.

"What's going on?" I asked, sliding into the other side of the booth with Alyx.

"Where are you going?" Elyse asked, noting Alyx's outfit.
 

"You probably don't want to know," I said. "Rose, are you okay?"

Rose reached up and wiped at her tears. "Your timing sucks, Landon. You should have gotten here five minutes ago."

"Why?"

"That was before I asked Elyse what she had to do to become immune to the Divine."

I glared at Elyse. "I thought we weren't telling her yet?"

"It isn't her fault," Rose said, defending Elyse. "I wouldn't let it go. I should have, but you know how stubborn I am."

"Since the cat's out of the bag, what do you think?" I asked. It was insensitive, I know. I was in a hurry.

"About drinking the blood of angels?" Rose looked sick for saying it. "Forget it. If that's what it takes, I'm not doing it. I can hold down the fort, or do some investigative work for you, or just pull the trigger and pray. I won't desecrate God like that."  The thought made her tears come harder.

"Rose, I know it's a bit of a shock, and that I'm going to sound like a total jerk here, but you've already helped me kill an archangel. It's a little late not to desecrate God. I told you when we met what knowing me meant."

"There's a difference between killing an angel and drinking their blood," she said. "Drinking something's blood is like being a demon. It's like being Gervais."

I softened my voice. "I know, Rose. And I'm sorry. I wish we could power you up another way. I used to be able to give over some of my power. I can't do that anymore. If you're against it, I respect that. It will increase your chances of dying young."

"I'd rather die young." She wiped her tears again. There was a half-eaten plate of sashimi in front of her. "Do you want it? I lost my appetite."

I passed. Alyx didn't. She grabbed the plate and starting eating.

"So, where are you going?" Rose asked.

"I already said-"

"That we probably don't want to know. I do want to know. I don't think anything you tell me could be worse than what I've already heard today."

"We're going to Hell."

Rose's face turned white. "What?"

"Hell," I repeated.

"The Hell?"

"It's the only one I know of. Yes. Elyse, I need you to keep tabs on Gervais for me. I know that can be hard to do, but I suspect he'll hang around and wait for me to come back. Rose, Dante is going to be trying to find an alternate means to assist with the Abaddon problem. I told him to contact you if he finds anything. Also, if you want to do some digging of your own, I'm sure it would help."

They both stared at me, dumbstruck.

"Okay," I said, breaking the silence. I reached into my pocket and grabbed the stone, holding it out toward Elyse.

"No," she said. "Keep it. You're going to need it."

"Elyse, the sword is yours."

"And I want you to keep it for now. Landon. Hell?"

"I know it sounds bad, but I'll have Alyx with me, and my power will work there. It's not like I'm going to be a defenseless soul. Besides, Abaddon is here, and that's a lot scarier than some fire and brimstone."

"Which is another good point. What if Hearst decides to set Abaddon free? Or what if he uses the demon's power against people instead of other demons?"

"Do you have your cell?"
 

Elyse dug it out of her pants pocket and handed it to me. I pulled out mine. "I'm putting Obi and Sarah's numbers in, along with Alichino's. If you need extra help, call Obi first and fill him in. If you're really desperate, call Sarah."

I didn't want to involve Sarah in anything having to do with fighting the Divine, but if it were a choice between that and Armageddon, it was worth the risk.

"I don't like this," Elyse said as I handed her phone back.

"I'm not in love with it either," I said. "It has to be done."

We all sat in the booth and stared at one another for an awkward moment. Elyse started sliding out of the seat at the same time I did.
 

"Be careful," she said, hugging me.

"Are you kidding? I have the easy part compared to you."

She forced the laugh for me.

Rose took Elyse's place a moment later. "Landon, I want you to know. I'm not giving up. I still want to be part of the fight. I just-"

"I understand," I said, interrupting. "To be honest, I wouldn't do it either."

She seemed surprised by that. "You wouldn't? Not even to save humankind from extinction?"

I was about to say I wouldn't. The extinction part gave me pause. "I cried the first time I killed an angel. If you were asking the same question to that version of me, I would say no without hesitation. Now? I've seen too much, done too much to rule out anything."

She smiled, offering a hug. I held her tight for a moment.
 

"Thank you, Landon."

"You said that like you aren't going to see me again."

"No. I know I will. Hell can't hold someone like you."

I broke the embrace, turning to Alyx.
 

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, darling."

"Let's go."

"Give 'em hell," Elyse said, her smile more honest this time.