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“How are things?” I ask.
“Heaven is on high alert looking for Lucifer.”
“No one knows where he is?”
“No,” Julian says. “And I’ve been lurking around the underworld as much as I can without being detected. The demons are growing restless, as suspected.”
“How long do you think we have until they do something totally reckless?”
“I’m not sure, though it’s becoming apparent Lucifer does not intend on returning to Hell anytime soon.”
“Right.” I bite my lip, mind whirling. “Would any of the other archangels go down instead? Put the demons back in line or something?”
“I do not believe any other archangels would be well-received in Hell unless they claimed the throne and stated themselves as the new ruler of Hell.”
“Like I did,” I say ruefully, rolling my eyes at myself. “And right. Angels and demons are enemies…but Lucifer is an angel, too. It’s a lot to follow.”
“For a human, yes,” he says, and I know he’s not meaning it as an insult. “Lucifer took the darkness that was already in Hell when he was cast down there and used it to create most of the demons.”
“Most of?”
“Some were there before he was.”
I take my eyes away from the road for a second to stare at Julian incredulously. “There are demons older than Lucifer?”
“Yes.”
I blink as I wait for him to elaborate, but I don’t think he got the hint. “You gotta explain this one to me. Simply, please.”
“Heaven and Hell were part of creation. Where there’s light, there is darkness. Where there is good, there is bad. Hell was a place created as a punishment, which is why Lucifer was sent there when he was cast out of Heaven.”
“That makes sense. I just hadn’t thought of it before.” I slow at a stop sign, thankful for my four-wheel drive, though it does little good when the road is icy like this. “So, these old-as-dirt demons, what kind of power are they packing?”
“A lot. Enough that Lucifer locked them away.”
“Fuck,” I mumble as a shiver goes down my spine. I’m starting to feel overwhelmed again, and I know I need to stop asking questions. The saying ignorance is bliss is true, but I can’t help myself. “If Lucifer created the demons, why do they want to overthrow him? Don’t they like him?”
“They respect him, I suppose, but I wouldn’t say they like him. Demons are evil, Callie. That’s all there is to them. They were created from darkness, and darkness is all they are capable of.” Julian twists in his seat. “This is upsetting you, I can tell.”
“It’s fine,” I shoot back, so used to deflecting any sort of negative feeling and telling everyone I’m fine, as if saying it out loud enough will make it true. “It’s a lot to take in, and honestly, it’s really frustrating that the more I learn, the more questions I have. It’s just…it’s just a lot.”
“It is,” Julian agrees.
“And if Lucifer doesn’t return, and another archangel won’t go in and put them back in their place, that leaves me, doesn’t it? I named myself queen. The crown appeared around my head.” I flick my eyes to Julian again. He’s hard to read since his expression is either blank or concerned.
“Your father won’t let it come to that. Lucifer will return to Hell.”
“I do believe that,” I say honesty. “Eventually, and what scares me is what’s going to happen in the meantime. Those other demons saw me and heard me. I feel like a ticking time bomb, and sooner or later, they will come for me, and we know it’s not going to be to congratulate me on my new position of power.”
“Even if you were to go and sit on the throne, it won’t be that simple, Callie.”
“Of course not, and I don’t expect to waltz into…into…wherever the throne is and expect the demons to bow down and submit. I purposely don’t get into politics, but even I know there has to be some sort of transfer of power, and since we’re talking about demons and Hell, probably a ritual.”
“Yes. And you would have to pick a court of demons willing to follow you. You have angel blood and can sit on the throne, but remember, demons are evil. You’ll have to prove to them you are a worthy ruler or they won’t accept you.”
“And I’m guessing that doesn’t mean come up with new and fair policies or promise free healthcare.”
Julian gives me a blank stare, not following my sarcasm. “Demons do not need healthcare. To earn their respect, you’d have to do something remarkable, like Lucifer when he led a rebellion against his father.”
“So what you’re saying is, whatever demon trying to claim the throne is going to do something dastardly?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Great. Must be Tuesday.” I shake my head and slowly turn off the main road. The downtown area of Thorne Hill is plowed and the roads are salted, but once you get out of city limits, it’s a toss-up of whether the plow trucks are going to come through or not, and usually, if they do, the snow has been so packed down from being driven over that the roads are pure ice. “And I’m almost afraid to ask,” I start. “But I need to know if anything has been said about Remiel.”
