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Maybe so, but it wasn’t as simple as that for Seth, no matter what he wished to believe.
“And here they are,” said Azazel, rolling his shoulders.
Cain took in the newcomers, all of whom had formed a circle on the cliffs that enclosed the town. There wasn’t just one single row of people, there were several. Among them was motherfucking Abel. He stood almost directly opposite Cain, his face set into a mask of cruel delight.
Given that many of Aeon’s residents had relocated, Cain suspected that Abel had hired mercenaries. Especially since Abel was likely here against Adam’s wishes—it didn’t seem probable that Abel would have been able to convince so many others to do the same.
“Some of his people are Aeons,” said Lilith. “Mostly third and fourth generations.”
“How many Aeons in total?” asked Dantalion.
“Approximately eighteen,” she replied. “They’re sporadically placed around the circle so that they can come at us from each angle.”
Cain recognized them easily enough. Going by their sneers, these were obviously people who felt the same as Abel; that the Ancients should have been executed eons ago.
“Given the number of troops he has with him, it’s safe to say he definitely hasn’t come to adjust the size of our cage,” said Azazel. “He’s come for a battle.”
Abel skimmed his gaze over the town, dismissing it with a sniff.
Dantalion sighed. “I really do hate that pompous prick.”
“Don’t we all,” muttered Lilith.
Abel homed in on the Ancients, his mouth curving into a cruel smile. He called to the wind, forming a small breeze. “You didn’t think I would truly come, did you?” he taunted, letting the breeze carry his voice to them.
Seth leaned into Cain. “He truly believes he’s taken us off-guard,” he said quietly.
Yes, the Aeon had no clue that he’d been played like a cheap harmonica. Cain conjured a small shimmering wave of power that would serve to amplify the voices of the Ancients. “It’s not much of a surprise,” he told Abel. “You’ve done enough stupid things in the past to make us consider that you might add this to your list. And it is stupid.”
Abel’s upper lip curled. “On the contrary, obliterating all of you and this godforsaken place makes perfect sense. It should have been done long ago.”
Lilith let out a low, barely audible snort. “It seems he has forgotten that God has forsaken us all, including him,” she said too quietly for her voice to carry to the invaders.
Azazel directed a smirk at Abel. “Does your daddy know you’re here?” When the Aeon snapped his mouth shut, Azazel’s smirk widened. “Ah, he doesn’t, does he?”
Seth glanced at Cain. “Looks like we succeeded in getting Abel to rebel after all,” he said, his voice low.
Abel jutted out his chin. “Do not bother asking for mercy. You will get none from me. Nor will I offer you one final opportunity to give me what I want. I am done giving you chances.”
“If you obliterate this place,” began Inanna, “you will kill your own children, not to mention your mother.”
Abel’s face hardened. “Those traitors are already dead to me. They can rot here with you for all I care.”
Then just maybe those Aeons weren’t part of a plot after all.
“Speaking of rot,” began Dantalion, “Aeon will fall for certain if Wynter Dellavale dies here tonight.”
Abel gave a dismissive flick of the hand. “We will find some other way to lift the curse. She is not as important as my father seems intent on believing. There is no possible way that she is the only person on this Earth who can help Aeon.”
Seth cast a frown at Cain. “He isn’t bothered about her at all,” he said quietly. “He isn’t referring to her as your consort. Weird. It’s like he doesn’t know. Maybe Saul didn’t tell him.”
Or maybe the two Aeons hadn’t had the conversation that took place in Demetria’s vision. Maybe they hadn’t come into contact at all.
Abel’s gaze landed on Seth. “Things didn’t have to be this way between you and me, little brother. But you chose to side with him.”
“So you’re finally acknowledging that I wasn’t brainwashed,” said Seth.
“I will never understand why you threw your lot in with him,” snarled Abel. “He shouldn’t even exist. The deities didn’t put that right, but I will. And then you will watch as I destroy all you have left of this world.” He gave a signal to his troops, who then pulled out bows and arrows.
