Hades

21 Big Daddy

BACK at Hotel Ambrosia, Jake’s demons gathered for a crisis meeting. They refused his offer of the boardroom and stood in the lobby arguing loudly like schoolchildren in the playground. I was largely ignored, but I heard my name bandied around along with phrases like massive screwup and we’re cactus. The dispute continued to swell until I felt Jake grab hold of my elbow and steer me toward Hanna, who watched from the wings and nervously wrung her hands.

“Get Beth upstairs,” Jake said, propeling me into her arms. “Don’t stop and don’t speak to anyone.”

“I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble,” I stammered. I couldn’t bring myself to say I was sorry … I wasn’t. I just hadn’t expected this kind of pandemonium. “It sort of just happened.”

Jake ignored me. “Now, Hanna!” he roared.

“I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal,” I said, resisting Hanna’s attempts to bustle me away. “At least tell me what’s going on.”

Jake lowered his voice and fixed me with his smoldering gaze. “Things are about to get ugly. I’m trying to save your skin and my chances of doing that are much better if you get out of the way.”

Looking around I saw the tar black eyes of every demon present blazing with bloodlust. My presence was no longer being viewed with the customary amusement or curiosity. The faces around me looked manic, like they wanted nothing more than to dismember me limb by limb. I watched as Jake turned to face my jurors. He looked tall and formidable in his black tailcoat with his hair unbound and falling free around his shoulders. I could see by his aggressive stance that he was bracing himself for a fight.

“Come away, miss.” Hanna was becoming flustered. This time I didn’t argue but hurried after her. Even inside the elevator, fragments of the raging argument floated over to us.

“This is a travesty!” someone was shouting. “You should never have brought her into the Third Circle.”

“She’s young,” I heard Jake growl defensively. I felt a little guilty for leaving him to face the music alone. His own kind was turning on him because of me. “She’s new to this life. She needs more time to adjust.”

“How much time? She’s upsetting the balance here,” someone countered. “You wanted a kitten to play with — now teach it the house rules.”

“She isn’t some animal I can train to do tricks.” Jake was seething now.

“What do you want with her anyway?” someone else chimed in. “Is it worth jeopardizing our reputation for a little private amusement? The other Circles are laughing at us.”

“I do not answer to you.” Jake’s voice was low and throaty.

“Perhaps not, but you are not the highest authority here.”

“You really want to disturb him? Over this?”

“No, but I will if you can’t keep your little bitch under control.”

The room seemed to go deathly still. I watched Hanna hit the button for our floor in rapid succession as the elevator stalled.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me.”

“You might want to consider retracting that comment,” Jake said. It was hard to miss the underlying threat in his voice.

“Bring it on, big shot. Let’s see what you got.”

TUCKER was already waiting for us when Hanna let us into the room. He immediately flipped on the chrome security lock even though we all knew it wouldn’t be much use in keeping demons out.

I sat cross-legged on my bed, hugging a pillow for comfort. “What do you think is happening down there?”

“You mustn’t worry, miss,” Hanna replied dutifully. “Mr. Thorn will talk them round. He always does.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said. “I didn’t realize they’d get so worked up.”

“They’re demons, they always overreact.” Tucker shrugged, trying to make me feel better.

JAKE stayed down in the lobby deliberating for what seemed like hours. In the end, just after midnight, both Tucker and Hanna went to bed. I was getting sleepy and about to change out of the velvet gown when I heard Jake outside my door, calling my name. It was the first time he’d knocked rather than just let himself in.

“I’m glad you’re still up,” he said as soon as I let him in. “We’ve got to go.”

He sounded apologetic rather than commanding, and a garment was bundled under his arm. There was a strange look in his eyes and if I didn’t know better, I’d have said it was fear. He hadn’t looked like that even when Gabriel had wrapped him in tongues of fire and commanded the earth to swallow him alive. He’d only looked defiant in defeat. What could have happened to rattle him so badly?

“Where are we going?”

Jake pressed his lips together and tried to repress his mounting anxiety. “They’ve called a hearing.”

“What? Why?” I was fully awake now.

“I didn’t expect it to go this far,” Jake said. “I’ll explain on the way.”

“Can I change first?”

“No time.”

Outside the lobby, Jake’s motorcycle waited for us, purring with a life of its own.

“Why the bike?” I asked.

“I want to avoid drawing too much attention,” he said. “Here, put this on.” He tossed me the brown cloak he’d been carrying.

“I thought attention was just what you wanted,” I said, recalling the humiliating parade of only hours before.

“Not this time.”

“Why should I listen to anything you say?” I said.

“Beth.” Jake sighed as if he were in pain. “Hate me as much as you like but trust me … tonight I’m on your side.”

For some reason I believed him. I slipped on the cloak and pulled the hood over my head. Jake helped me onto the bike and we sped soundlessly through the tunnels that unspooled and interweaved before us, as intricate as a spiderweb. I pressed my face into his back to hide from whatever horrors lurked in the dark.

Before long Jake pulled up abruptly in front of what appeared to be a derelict warehouse at the end of a narrow alley. We dismounted and stood facing the ruins of a building that was several stories high despite the fact that it was underground. Vandals had smashed most of the windows and they’d been boarded up with cardboard. Graffiti was scrawled across the external walls. Jake hesitated for just a fraction before moving forward. The look on his face suggested he was trying to come up with a game plan.

“This is it,” he said looking at me with uncharacteristic seriousness. “You get an audience with Big Daddy himself. There aren’t many dead or alive that can claim that honor.”

“Whoa, what?” I cried. “You’ve taken me to Lucifer? Are you crazy? I’m not going in there!”

“We have no choice,” Jake breathed. “We’ve been summoned.”

“Why? Is this about the butterfly?” I asked desperately. “I won’t do it again, I swear.” Whatever confidence I’d regained by the end of the parade deserted me then.

“You’re not the one they’re angry with,” Jake said. “They have assembled to judge me and decide my punishment for bringing you here.”

“Well, good,” I snapped. “You were wrong in bringing me here. It’ll serve you right when they send me back.”

“I hope it’s that simple,” Jake murmured, his eyes distant. “But we’d be getting off lightly.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, let’s go inside.” Jake drew himself up. “We’ve kept him waiting long enough. Remember, don’t speak unless spoken to. Got it? This isn’t the time to get fresh.”

Jake had barely got the words out when a black-suited bouncer much like the others I’d seen in the underground clubs pulled open the heavy doors. There was the grinding sound of metal sliding on metal as he motioned for us to step inside.

“C’mon in,” a voice that reminded me of smooth, rich whiskey called from inside. “I don’t bite.”

Inside, the warehouse had been set up to look like an improvised courtroom. Seven dark, shadowy figures were seated in a semicircle on what appeared to be upturned crates. Some had their arms crossed like they’d been kept waiting too long. I knew instinctively that they were the Originals and Jake’s equals. As I scanned the faces I saw Diego, Nash, Yeats, and Asia lurking in the dim light. I assumed that they too had been summoned — perhaps as witnesses.

When my eyes adjusted to the dim light I saw that presiding at the head of the group was a significantly taller figure. He was seated in a high-backed Tudor-style chair that had seen better days. He wore a white linen suit with a red silk tie and his feet were encased in white cowboy boots. Although his face was still in shadow, I was sure he was the rousing speaker I’d overheard in the boardroom. He held an ivory-topped cane that he tapped softly on the cement floor, as if he were already bored. When Jake and I entered all conversation died on the spot and for some minutes no one spoke. It gave me a brief opportunity to assess the derelict space and those who occupied it.

Apart from the shattered panes of glass there were cobwebs hanging in sheaths from dust-coated machinery. The rustling of wings overhead suggested that bats had made their home in the timber rafters. Like Jake, the fallen angels surrounding me were images of faded beauty. The gender of some was indeterminate, but they shared the same chiseled features; fine lips the color of peaches, slightly aquiline noses, and strong jaws. They had the wasted, vacant look of those who had devoted their lives to idle pursuits. They were incapable of feeling surprise yet I knew my presence surprised them. There was something about the way they held themselves and the air of superiority they radiated that distinguished them as the Originals. They were the equivalent to royalty in this world. Only now they regarded Jake coolly, as though he were no longer one of them but an outcast who had wandered from the pack.

When the face of the white-clad man came into view, I saw he was older than others and more weather-beaten. His skin was tanned and leathery and his eyes were a pellucid blue but devoid of any expression. He was immaculately groomed and wore his silver hair tied back loosely with a gilded clasp. Even I had to admit, he was extremely beautiful. Angels were not supposed to age, but I guessed that the constant propagation of evil was bound to take its toll. Despite having aged some, Lucifer’s face was radiant, his eyes sharp and every angle perfectly sculpted. His brow was broad and his eyes held such electricity it made the hairs on my arms stand on end. I knew that in Heaven, he had once been among the most revered of our kind, elite in beauty and intelligence. When he spoke, his voice rang out, slow and musical.

“Well, hello there, little angel,” he said. “How’s this for a family reunion?” Some of the Originals tittered in response.

“Father.” Jake stepped forward in a business-like way. “This is all a misunderstanding. If you would grant me the opportunity to explain …”

“Oh, Arakiel, my dear boy,” Lucifer crooned in a paternal tone. “You have much to answer for.”

It took me a moment to realize that he was addressing Jake by his angelic name. As always, I found myself startled by the reminder of Jake’s former life. It was so strange to think that long ago, before I’d ever come into existence, they had all dwelled in Heaven. Gabriel would remember it with clarity and in his mind it wouldn’t feel like so much time had passed. I knew he’d witnessed the uprising of the rebel angels and their ultimate expulsion from the Kingdom. I knew the evil they had perpetrated since, yet one word kept ringing in my mind: brothers. And look what had become of them now. For a moment all my fear and anger dissolved and I felt only a deep sense of sadness. Lucifer’s voice drew me back to the proceedings at hand.

“You owe this court an explanation, Arakiel,” he said. “This little escapade of yours has caused much dissension among our ranks. Some fear it may undermine all we have worked to achieve. We must, at all costs, preserve what is ours.”

“Father.” Jake bowed his head. “I mean no disrespect, but it was you who sanctioned this assignment to begin with.”

“Indeed,” Lucifer agreed. “I applauded your boldness in bringing her here, but it seems your emotions have since gotten the better of you. I fear this is no longer strictly business for you.” His eyes narrowed mischievously. “In fact, I suspect it never was.”

“Excuse me, I have a question …” I stepped forward and the glowing eyes of the demons flashed in unison as they fixed their gazes on me. I dug my nails into my wrist to keep from trembling and continued. I was in way over my head, but at the same time I needed answers and ironically, I had a feeling Lucifer would tell me the truth. “I’m a little confused. I understand it was you who wanted me here, but what I don’t understand is why.”

Lucifer’s lip curled up in a smile. “It’s true,” he said. “It was with my consent that Arakiel brought you to us.”

“But I’m no one important. Why me?”

Lucifer leisurely drummed his fingers together over the top of his cane. “You’re a pawn, my dear,” he said. “As you know, Heaven has launched another one of its pathetic little healthe-world schemes.” Lucifer rolled his eyes. “The whole thing is incredibly tedious — we make a mess, they clean it up and so on and so forth. And we’re bored of the whole thing, which is where you come into it.” His pale eyes watched me lazily. “I used you to send out a message.”

“What message?”

The swarthy Diego suddenly stood up, taking it upon himself to clarify. “That it’s game on.”

“What does that mean?” I asked weakly, struggling against the rising panic in my chest.

“Well, I guess it’s safe to let you in on the secret now that you’re here,” Lucifer drawled. “Let’s just say it’s time this little family feud was brought to a head.”

Jake, who had so far remained silent for the duration of this conversation, chose this moment to speak. “Dragging an angel into Hell against their will is a sign,” he said. “It marks the beginning of the war.”

“There’s going to be a war?”

“There was always going to be a war,” Lucifer said, “ever since my self-righteous prick of a brother had me evicted.”

“We’ve been waiting a long time,” Diego added in his clipped Spanish accent. “To show them who’s boss, to let them know just how fragile their precious little planet really is.”

I swallowed hard and shook my head. “No,” I said. “It’s not true.”

“Oh, yes,” Nash piped up, enthused by the turn the hearing had taken. “We’re talking about the final showdown, the face-off between your daddy and ours.”

“You better believe it, little angel,” Lucifer added. “We’re on a one-way road to Armageddon. And what a show it promises to be.”

I stood rooted to the spot, hardly daring to breathe. Part of me hoped the demons would suddenly burst out laughing and reveal I was the butt of some cruel joke. But deep down, I knew it was no joke. They were deadly serious and the world was in dire trouble. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. They believed my capture was going to work as a catalyst, the final straw that would tip the angels over the edge. Would it really work? Hell had lashed out, would Heaven now have no choice but to retaliate? Lucifer had condoned my abduction to rally against My Father and stir things up to trigger a final confrontation that would be bloodier than ever. He knew it was a step too far, but that was the point. He was throwing down the gauntlet and waiting for Heaven to take up the challenge. He was opening the gates and inviting war in.

The hearing seemed to have gone off on a tangent. Jake brought it back to what was uppermost in his mind.

“So will you leave us be?” he asked. “Father, the angel has served her purpose and poses no threat. I ask that she be entrusted to me.”

“Oh, dear,” said Lucifer with an exaggerated sigh. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He lifted his cane and pointed it directly at me. “Not after the little show Miss Church put on for us yesterday.”

“She belongs to me!” Jake’s voice was too strident in the lofty warehouse. I was no strategist, but even I could see that he was losing ground. He needed to curb his emotions if he wanted to get anywhere here.

Lucifer sat up straighter and Jake dropped his head humbly, showing regret for his outburst.

“When I put you in charge I wasn’t aware you had invested emotionally in the project.” Lucifer spoke these last words as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.

“I … I haven’t,” Jake said. “I knew she would be a prize, and I thought only to add to our conquests—”

“Don’t lie to me, boy!” Lucifer roared so unexpectedly that those assembled jumped. “You have coveted her right from the start. I would never have trusted you with this had I known the extent of your obsession.”

Jake looked up to meet his father’s gaze. His jaw was twitching now. “It’s what you taught me to do: Reach out and take what I want.”

Lucifer gave a hollow chuckle and his tone softened. “To want is different than to need,” he said. “You wanted the boy with the lame leg and the brat from Buchenwald. But Bethany … you need her and your attachment is weakening you, siphoning your strength. It disturbs me to see one of my strongest fall like this.”

“I will redeem myself, Father,” Jake said.

“You will indeed,” Lucifer replied. “I will see to it personally that you do.”

“What can I do?” Jake bowed his head and Lucifer clicked his tongue softly.

“You are my child, one of my most accomplished children. Don’t worry.” He smiled indulgently. “Daddy will fix everything.”

“He’s not one of your children,” I cut in, unable to stop myself. My mouth appeared to have made a decision independently of me and kept moving even though I knew with every fiber of my being that I should shut up. “If you recall it was My Father who created him … and you, by the way.”

Jake spun on his heels and flashed me a deadly glare. Lucifer only cocked his head to one side and regarded me with mild amusement.

“Look around you, little angel,” he said. “The world is in ruins and you are in Hell. Where is your father now? Why doesn’t he come and save you? Either he doesn’t care or he isn’t as powerful as you seem to think.”

“He had the power to cast you out of Heaven,” I said brazenly.

“And why do you think he did that?” Lucifer flashed me a brilliant smile. “Why do you think he built this underground cage to contain me? It’s because he was scared. One does not need to lock up that which is not dangerous.”

“If you’re so dangerous why don’t you bust out?” I challenged.

“Can’t.” Lucifer shrugged and waved a hand around him.

“But I can breed an army and send them out in my place. It’s called a loophole, darlin’.” He turned his attention to Jake.

“I admit I can see the attraction. She’s quite spirited, isn’t she?”

“I’m sorry, Father,” Jake implored. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying, do not take offense.”

“I’m not offended,” Lucifer said, “but I’m afraid you cannot keep her.”

Jake’s eyes filled with alarm despite his efforts to appear composed.

“Is it true what your brothers tell me … did she conjure life?” Lucifer asked.

“Yes, but it was an accident. It won’t happen again, I’ll make sure of it,” Jake insisted.

“You’re not following me, boy. Her presence has raised hope. You introduce hope in Hell and everything we’ve worked for goes up in smoke.”

“I’ll keep her under lock and key. I’ll do whatever it takes. You have my word.”

“I can feel the righteousness rolling off her in waves. It’s nauseating. Is it just me or can anyone else feel it? She’s already infected our world with her compassion and that dreary lovethy-neighbor attitude. Her very presence here is an aberration.”

“But, Father, think of the gains.”

Lucifer looked dismissively at Jake. I could see he was ready to bring the proceedings to a close. “I gave you permission to bring her here; I never said she could stay.”

“You cannot take her from me!” Jake sounded like a petulant child and even stamped his foot.

Lucifer leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “There is nothing I cannot do if I so desire,” he replied. “You are at my mercy here and don’t you forget it. I could strip you of your powers for this. Lucky for you, I don’t like to see my sons downtrodden.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “I can’t help my paternal instincts.”

“So you’re going to send her back?” Jake sounded crushed.

“Send her back?” Lucifer arched an eyebrow. “This ain’t some fairy tale, boy. We don’t work that way down here, you of all people should know that.” He shook his head in dismay. “See the damage she has done to you already.”

Jake turned to me, his eyes wild with panic.

“Do something,” he mouthed fervently.

I stood numb with confusion and a penetrating fear. First he had instructed me not to speak and now he wanted me to react. What did he think I could do?

Lucifer stood in one fluid movement. “I’m sorry, Arakiel, but this plan of yours has been very poorly executed. From the moment she descended into Hades you knew it would come to this. Never love that which you cannot keep. Your angel was always condemned to die.”

Suddenly an idea came into my head. “It won’t work,” I stammered. “I can’t die here. Those are the rules. Killing me will only send me back to Heaven.”

“No, my dear.” Lucifer shook his head. “Your death on earth would send you back to Heaven. It’s a whole different ball game down here. Hellfire is strong enough to annihilate an angel for good.”

“What if she agrees to convert,” Jake said desperately. “What if she becomes one of us?”

“Highly unlikely,” Lucifer said languidly, inspecting his manicured nails. It was evident he was bored with the whole discussion. “She’s shackled to the A-Team, I can tell.”

“At least offer her the choice.”

Lucifer gave a heavy sigh. “My dear Bethany, would you like to consider the option of renouncing Heaven and using your powers to assist us?”

“No,” I said. “A thousand times no.”

“Satisfied?” Lucifer said to Jake.

“Father.” One of the unfamiliar Originals stepped forward. It was a woman with coils of glossy raven hair that fell to her waist, ruby lips, and brilliant hazel eyes. She had a face like a porcelain doll’s and her skin was so milky pale she looked as though she had never seen the sun. Maybe she hadn’t, I thought absently. I wondered why I wasn’t filled with panic, why I wasn’t crying or begging for leniency. I felt like time had stopped, the seconds were crawling by and my emotions seemed to have shut down as if someone had pulled out a plug. The female demon continued, “I think we could make an example of her.”

“How so, my lovely Sorath?” Lucifer asked.

“If we are to undo her influence and restore the balance of power we must show the people that we mean business,” Sorath swiveled her swanlike neck to look me in the eye. “We must punish her publicly.”

Lucifer tapped his chin and looked pensive. “Interesting idea. What do you suggest?” He smiled at the seven demons like an indulgent parent. “I will let you decide the method.”

I watched in silent dismay as the Originals scampered out of their seats like a swarm of vultures to form a huddle. They conversed together in hushed voices. Diego and Nash cast sly glances in my direction and Asia looked smugger than a cat that had just stumbled upon a saucer of cream. Lucifer waited patiently while Jake paced compulsively, looking like he wanted to say something. He kept opening and closing his mouth, the perfect argument eluding him. Eventually, Sorath stepped out of the circle.

“We have decided,” she said with a satisfied grin.

“And you are all agreed?” Lucifer sounded almost disappointed. “There’s no need for lively debate?”

“No, Father,” she said.

“Then by all means, declare your verdict!”

Sorath turned to face me and the others slunk forward to flank her. Her eyes gleamed like blades and her lips pulled back into a smile of delight.

“Burn her,” she purred.

Lucifer clapped his hands in approval. From behind me, I heard Jake let out an agonized moan.