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Daniel chuckled. “Right. Since then.”
Sophia appreciated that a guardian was sharing information freely and not taking their normal territorial approach.
“It hasn’t registered any activity since Haziel went through,” Daniel said.
Which was good news, because it meant no demons were trying to come through to this realm. “Any sign of the original witch who summoned Shade?”
“No.” Daniel put his fork of mashed potatoes on his plate and raised an eyebrow. “Were we expecting there to be?”
“Perhaps.” Sophia had given this a lot of thought. “Someone summoned Shade, and we know it wasn’t Eddie. Then that someone disappeared, and it strikes me as strange that a witch went to all the trouble of summoning a hell prince and then did nothing about it.”
“Hmm.” Daniel picked up his fork and resumed eating. “You make a valid point. What do you think, Dee?”
“It’s not my problem anymore.” Dee sniffed, but her objection lacked weight as she frowned in thought. “But if it were my problem, I’d have to agree with Sophia. You don’t summon a hell prince for shits and giggles.”
“For nobody to notice this witch, she would have to be someone familiar,” Daniel said. “Someone who is free to move about the theatre without raising any questions.”
Dee raised her chin. “We have over four hundred members in the Paradise Players, not to mention our regular audience members.”
“But an audience member wouldn’t be wandering backstage.” Daniel dug into his parmesan chicken.
“How would you know?” Dee snapped. “You’re not familiar with how we do things here.”
Daniel stopped chewing and stared at her. “You’re right. My bad.”
Dee huffed and went back to her dinner.
Sophia really liked Dee, but where Daniel Lee was concerned, Dee had a blind spot. She was determined to dislike a thoroughly likable young man. Dee’s barriers wouldn’t last much longer, but for the sake of all their digestion, Sophia changed the subject. “I imagine Haziel has caught up with Wrath by now.” She didn’t approve of Ramiel sending his second to track Wrath, and she’d told him so. Hell wasn’t a safe place even for archangels, and a seraph would draw all the wrong kind of attention. As per usual, Ramiel wouldn’t listen to anyone else’s opinion and smiled and waved away any objections. According to him, Haziel was very powerful and could take care of herself. Sophia hoped he was right about that.
“But there’s more bad news,” Daniel said, and forked mashed potatoes into his mouth. That he ate with such gusto was in itself a miracle. Dee was a lovely woman, but her cooking was not a leading skill. “Word from HQ is that the other hell gates are also experiencing power fluctuations.”
“Dammit.” Dee added another piece of chicken to Daniel’s plate.
Sophia grimaced inwardly on his behalf. The chicken was as dry as old boot leather, and the parmesan a burned offering on top.
“That means demons are coming through.” Dee started and then wiped all expression off her face. “Not that it’s anything to do with me.”
Sophia hated to be the voice of doom at their cozy little dinner. “If demons are running amok on this plane, it’s all of our problem.”
“What about your lot?” Daniel chewed a mouthful of chicken and turned to Dee. “This is fantastic, Dee.”
Dee hid her pleased smile and scoffed.
He looked like he meant it as well, and Sophia nearly laughed. “What about my lot?” Sophia had a nasty suspicion she already knew what he was about to ask.
He turned back to her. “It seems to me that if the hell princes are needed at the seals, the archangels should be trying to do something about the demon infestation.”
Sophia couldn’t agree more. “They are trying not to get involved.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dee dropped her fork on her plate with a clatter. “How can they stay out of this?”
“Archangels are…” Sophia tried to put it politely. “They see their role as staying neutral.”
Dee gaped at her.
Shaking his head, Daniel said, “I think the time for neutrality has come and gone. I have been watching the news, and it’s not looking good.”
“No.” Depression settled on Sophia’s chest. “And the other archangels are researching how to repair the seals. Since Eddie tried and was missing the heaven element to enact a full repair, we are trying to find something that might help.” It was little enough in the current spiraling situation. She had been watching the news as well, and humans were definitely reacting to the weakening seals. Combine that with a stronger demon presence on this plane, and things were only going to get worse.
