After about ten minutes of pure, awkward silence, Abaddon finally breaks it with a very blunt, “You need to report your mission completion to the Council.”
I raise an eyebrow towards Dusk in a silent question.
If he sees me, he doesn’t acknowledge it. Slowly, he sets his fork down, crosses his arms, and leans back in his chair with a careless smirk. “I’m sorry, but the last time I checked, you weren’t my superior?—”
“Surely it’s not that big of a deal,” I interrupt. I don’t even know if I’m right, but I desperately want to de-escalate before he can piss off the King any further.
Actually, now that I think about it… Maybe I can gain some more information about the elusive Council by playing the fool. It’s been a week, after all, and Dusk has been painfully unresponsive in all my attempts to prod. I can work this to my advantage.
“It isn’t,” he replies flatly. “They have more than enough angels to send on field missions, and I received my instructions directly from the Almighty for this objective.”
Wait, God? He spoke toGod?Isn’t that bad?
Abaddon narrows his eyes. “That does not place you above the Council.”
“You don’t say?” Dusk raises his eyebrows, nearly begging for Abaddon to test him further. By his sarcastic tone, I assume this is standard conduct for a messenger. Interesting. I wish I had a notebook on me so I could jot all this down and put the pieces together later.
“I do not determine when the Council hosts our meetings in the Abyss, but it is not infrequent for them to visit. If you do not report to them, they will still eventually find you here. Let it not be at Kae’s expense.” Abaddon’s gaze flicks to me, extremely briefly—as if by mistake—before looking back at Dusk.
My eyes widen in surprise.
Not only did he just acknowledge my name on his own accord, but he’s concerned about…me?He doesn’t want Dusk to make me look bad in front of their Council?
Surely I’m misunderstanding. He has to be hiding some ulterior motive. Hell, I wouldn’t be too surprised if he’s worried about a hit to his own reputation. If a dog misbehaves, it reflects poorly on the owner, yeah?
“Fine. I will report to Elohim tomorrow,” Dusk says with reluctance, letting loose a quiet sigh before shifting his eyes to me. “I may be gone for a few days.”
Before I have a chance to say anything, Abaddon responds, “You expect to return when the mission is complete?”
My fists ball at my sides, panic rising in me. No, I can’t be left alone in this place. Between Abaddon and the locusts, I might as well be isolated with complete robots. I don’t even want to consider the idea of never seeing Dusk again. The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind, not until now!
As if he can sense my immediate panic, Dusk leans in closer, making sure his eyes fall in my line of sight even though he’s not speaking to me. “Iwillreturn. You said it yourself—Kae has plenty of training to do. It would be a poor reflection onbothof usif she isn’t being properlyprepared. I just…”
He looks down, rubbing the back of his neck in a very distraught way.
Abaddon stares at him for a moment with a faintly inquisitive expression before finally stating, “You have penance.”
A fire lights in Dusk’s eyes as he throws his gaze back in Abaddon’s direction. “We had a deal. You mind your own damn business, and I stay out of yours.”
“I do not need to pry. It’s obvious as it is, but the length of your absence will speak for itself.”
My eyebrows furrow. “What penance?”
“Don’t—” Dusk starts, but he can’t finish his sentence over Abaddon.
“Anyone who wants to enter Elohim must swear the Oath of Akae. Under the oath, one’s intentions in entering the city must be pure. Council Law demands atonement for any sins committed before allowing entry.”
“Notsins,” Dusk corrects him in a low growl. “The Council does not have the authority to judge sins. Only the Almighty can do that. Penance is only for violation of Council Law, which gatekeeps the city from those they deem to be impure.”
“What penance do you have?” I speak up, worry inching into my voice. “Is it just house arrest, or something like… I don’t know. Punishment? Retribution?”
Who knows what kind of violent punishment angels would demand to cleanse an immortal of perceived wrongdoing? My imagination jumps to dark images, like Dusk being dragged through the streets, beaten, and hung on a cross. A shudder wracks through me at just the thought of him suffering like that.
“Something like that,” he mumbles.
Abaddon is all too eager to explain even further, “It depends on the law broken. Each one has a specific atonement.” His eerie stare fixes upon Dusk. “Would you care to share what your penance is for?”
“Absolutely fucking not,”Dusk hisses, standing up abruptly. Clearly, Abaddon hit a nerve. “It’s as you said. Whenever they allow me toreturn, then so be it.”
