There But For The Grace (33 page)

***

Adelaide at least still had an appetite, and she was more than happy to eat whatever was put in front of her. Azrael and Miri hadn’t left the house, much to my surprise. Miri, in fact, was quite happily sitting at the same table, kicking her feet in the chair and working on a bowl of brightly colored cereal while we ate. Azrael didn’t bother eating but sat quietly with us.

Gabriel joined not long after, settling in next to Adelaide at the table. They didn’t speak. He just glanced at her and waggled his eyebrows, which caused her to scowl and shake her head.

I suspected I’d been right about Michael having been subjected to a scathing talk from Raphael, and perhaps Uriel as well, as he was in a foul mood when he stormed into the room.

“Tabbris, I would have words. We need a war council.” His voice almost shook the room.

I nodded my agreement before finishing my last bite of food. I pushed the plate aside and calmly stood while he waited. As soon as I was on my feet, without notice, I turned, smashing my left fist across Michael’s jaw.

He wasn’t expecting it and hit the floor hard.

Given an instant more, he would have been on his feet, and in my face, if not attacking, but I managed to pre-empt it. I extended a hand to offer him help up. “Now you’re forgiven, brother. But be assured, I will act to defend her.”

He ignored my hand, rising on his own, but didn’t lash out. Raphael and Uriel appeared at the doorway as he was getting to his feet. “You should save your ire for the real enemy, Tabbris,” Michael said.

“I know what side I’m on,” I said. “And I’d welcome your help, because we have a lot in front of us. But it still starts with a commitment—I won’t be damning any souls to Hell that haven’t earned damnation by their own decisions. And besides, we need to keep Iaoel here, and away from Lucifer. We need to be smart about this fight.”

Michael’s hands clenched into fists, but he relaxed once Raphael laid a hand on his arm. “Peace, brother. I suspect Tabbris currently knows more about Hell and their current plans than any of us.”

When Azrael finally spoke, it quickly drew attention away from the tension between Michael and I. “I agree, though. We must plan for war. Hell will be delayed a time, but they will be coming for the keys. All of the Horsemen are agreed.”

“The Apocalypse?” Raphael asked, looking at Azrael, then Miri.

“Maybe,” Miri said, between spoonfuls of sugared cereal. “But maybe not. We agree that there’s a battle coming, though. And it will be a big one. There’s too much that’s still unclear, though.”

Azrael nodded his agreement but remained silent until we had stepped into the next room. Despite her agreement in the general idea of a War Council, Miri remained in the other room with Adelaide. Gabriel also had a few last words for her, before he joined us, though as was typical when it came to matters of strategy, he stayed back a bit, listening, but indicating a preference for acting to relay the decisions over helping to make them.

“She’s telling the truth,” Azrael began. “It would seem that getting the keys out of Hell didn’t clear the situation so much as we thought it might. That may have been the best opportunity for the powers of Hell, but we can confirm that they’re not done.”

Michael nodded, looking between us. “Then we need to fortify ourselves and prepare to protect the keys. They may think we’re vulnerable and at odds.”

“They would be right.” Raphael said. Michael tensed but didn’t argue the point.

There was a few moments of quiet before I finally spoke up. “They’re even worse, though. Old grudges, jealousy, power plays, and simple mistrust divide them. The circles are in chaos right now, and there’ll be blame to go around for it.”

Uriel said “And Lucifer will use all of that resentment. Offer pardons, and hold betrayal over the heads of those who didn’t turn their full efforts to his ends, until everyone is going after you.”

I nodded. “He’s going to have to. Anything more complex than that, and he’ll have trouble finding common cause—or open himself up to plotting against him. He’ll use me as a target, but I’m getting used to that.”

“You’re suggesting we use that knowledge?” Raphael asked.

“And use the time we know we have. There’s a lot of mess to clean up,” I said.

Uriel frowned, looking between the members of the group. “I agree with Tabbris’s assertion that we need to keep Adelaide out of Hell, and we need to prepare for a battle to come. I’m not agreed that just because he has the most current knowledge of Hell that we should be following his suggestions. He’s also been the most influenced by it.”

“If you mistrust his assessment of the state of Hell, Alex can—” Azrael started, before Uriel interrupted him.

“The Horseman of Pestilence is an ascended Demon and far from guaranteed to be on our side.”

Azrael tilted his head, considering Uriel for a few moments. “If what is to come truly is the Apocalypse, can you really say that any of the Horsemen are on your side? The only promise I can make is that we will be united in purpose.”

“Not exactly reassuring.” Uriel said.

“If you want reassuring, you may not want Death at your council of war,” Azrael responded, without much expression.

“I do,” I said, looking between them. “You may not trust me, Uriel, and I’ll listen to your ideas, if you have them.”

He remained quiet for a few moments before speaking. “You’re right: I don’t trust you. When your wings started going red, I was there. And they’ve only gotten darker. You want my idea? Give Michael the keys. I may think he was wrong at the gates, but he’s still our strongest. If they’re going to come right at someone, he should be the target.”

Gabriel finally spoke up, as Michael brightened just slightly at the show of support from Uriel. “You really think his having the keys would do that? Some of them will still be after Tabbris. They’re pissed at him right now.”

“So much the better,” Uriel said. “Dividing the enemy.”

“And dividing what we have to protect.” Raphael said.

“Not an option,” I said. “I’m holding onto them until we get this sorted. As soon as Adelaide is safe, and whatever possible Apocalyptic scenario is coming is resolved, I’ll consider giving them back to Michael. Not before.”

“Which still puts us at an impasse. I don’t trust you to safeguard anything except your own interests, whatever those are at the moment,” Uriel responded.

“I agree,” Michael said. “Give me the keys, and I’ll swear that no harm will come to the mortal under your care.”

I shook my head. “I don’t trust you either. You’ve done everything possible to expedite the final confrontation. Lucifer isn’t going to wade in swinging. If the Horsemen are unsure, we need to know more before we join in the rush to final battle.”

“I agree,” Raphael said, earning sour looks from Uriel and Michael alike. “We just don’t know enough yet. And this world and the current uncertainties may still be healed.”

“Sorry, guys, I’m with Raph,” Gabriel responded, with more good cheer than was probably necessary. “And more to the point, with Tabbris. Possession, laws, fractions, all of that.”

With the Archangels divided, before I could mention that I never put it up for a vote, Azrael spoke up. “Tabbris found the keys, after they’d been hidden for centuries. Then he shielded them, and carried them safely out of Hell. Until that which is hidden from us is revealed, he’s the best bearer for them.”

Uriel’s brow raised. “You didn’t precisely say you were on our side before. I’m not sure why you should have a say.”

“Because I choose to,” the Angel of Death said simply. As Uriel was about to respond, he continued, “And because, should the time come, we will be united in purpose, yes. Until I am certain, the four of us will not ride. For now, we have common purpose. And believe me, Archangel, you’ll want our power.”

“You can speak for all four of you in this matter?” Raphael asked, at the ‘we’.

“I know Miri’s mind. And that if she is uncertain about a matter pertaining to war, there is cause for great concern. I also know Alex is in no hurry for the end to come.”

“And your fourth horseman?” Raphael asked.

“Is, perhaps, the most ready for the pain to end,” Azrael admitted, “And the least likely to do anything about it until the time to ride comes.”

“So, I don’t know about you guys,” Gabriel said, “But I’m not arguing with Death. So, can we assume that Tabbris keeps the keys, and we plan around the one and only thing anyone does seem certain of, which is that a lot of pissed off Demons will be coming, either for him, or the keys... which one each one wants is kind of academic at that point, to be honest?”

“Agreed,” Michael said. “Better to have a strong position against Lucifer’s armies when they come, instead of wasting our time chasing Tabbris again. But I hope you’ll be true to your word, and consider returning them once this is resolved.”

“I’ll consider it,” I responded. Honestly, too, since, were the situation not what it was, I didn’t particularly want them.

“So, with that resolved, exactly what do we do about the situation we find ourselves in?” Raphael said, trying to bring everyone back around to discussion.

“We call the host and get ready for battle.” Michael said.

“We obviously need to prepare, but that doesn’t help with the informational portion, or with preventing the Apocalypse.” Raphael said.

“I think I have an idea that might resolve all of that,” I said. “But I’m going to need help, and allies.”

“We’re apparently agreed to protect you,” Uriel said. “But not to follow your commands.”

I shook my head. “I think, on this, Michael and I will be entirely agreed. But first, I’m going to need to do some very specific recruiting. We’ll need the host, certainly. But I think I can limit casualties on our side while we try to get more information. In the meanwhile, Gabriel, I need a favor, and then, Azrael, I’ll need to ask a question.”

Michael frowned. “Just because you got a concession is no reason to think I agree with you on anything.”

Raphael shook his head and laid a hand on Michael’s shoulder again. “Let’s hear him out, at least, before we express our disagreement.”

“You can ask,” said Gabriel.

“I’ll be the center of too much attention. I need you to watch after Adelaide, and protect her, above all.”

“I can do that, if I like the rest of this plan.” he agreed.

I shifted my attention to Azrael. “You and Miri, at least, would remain allied with us until such time as you’re sure that this is the final battle?”

“We will, but we will not betray our purpose to vain hope, if it is time.”

“Nor would I ask you to. That’s all I need to know. I need a vanguard. Just a few, who have stayed in real fighting shape. And if Alex really is committed to keeping the party going a little longer, I’ll need any information she can get us from behind the scenes.”

“What are you going to do with those few that the host couldn’t, and what’s the difference?” Uriel asked.

“Hell leads with the expendable. Samyaza and a lot of the others don’t want to die, especially not for Lucifer’s cause. If we have the right protections, and the right fighters, we can play Sparta, and hold off an awful lot of attackers with just a few people for a very long time.”

“You saw what happened in Chernobyl,” Uriel said. “What choke-point do you have in mind, exactly? You might get to choose the battlefield, but they’ll still eventually tear apart anything and anywhere.”

“They won’t,” I said. “They may not be able to storm the gates of Heaven, but I have the keys. As long as that’s the case, there’s nothing stopping me, and anyone with me, from attacking the gates of Hell.”

Adelaide

I watched them go and refused to beg Tab to either stay or let me stay with him. Instead I sighed and kept my big girl panties firmly in place. I turned to Miri, who was swinging her feet and munching happily on her Fruity Pebbles cereal, and couldn’t help but smile.

“They’re talking about me aren’t they?” I asked.

“Mm-hm!” She nodded her head emphatically.

“Do I want to know?”

“Mm-mm.” She shook her head firmly, and I sighed, looking longingly at the firmly closed door they’d gone through.

I replayed the events of waking up to Tab in my mind, from his soft ‘good morning’ all the way up through punching Michael in the face. I was a little bummed that he could get away with that so easily whereas I couldn’t, but I quickly dismissed it, his words echoing in my heart and mind…

I will act to defend her…

I’d kissed him, back in the bedroom before the party had been crashed by the Archangels. The first time had been a hard thing, packed with all of the emotion I’d needed to expel but couldn’t voice… That I was glad he was alive, that I was grateful he was healing, and most of all; that I was fairly certain that I not only was in love with him, but that I loved him too.

He’d kissed me back, much gentler, hands cupping my face, those liquid dove-gray eyes of his that so captivated me from the beginning, whirling that frightening blue before slipping shut. He’d held me as if I were some sort of dream, like when he opened his eyes, I would slip away… and I felt my mortality so fucking hard in that moment it was all I could do not to melt the fuck down and clue him in that I still believed that my time was epically short. I believed in Tabbris. I believed in him so hard, but it was kind of hard to argue when the Archangel of Death told you what was what.

“You stink.”

I blinked and looked at Miri who was giving me a disapproving look.

“What?”

“You stink! Hell is stinky and you smell like it. You should take a bath. They’re going to be a while anyways. Boys are stupid when they get wrapped up in their little war games.”

I blinked and had to laugh at her seemingly six-year-old explanations of things, even though I knew in my head that she was a being older than time. She finished her cereal and hopped down out of her chair. She took my hand, and I got to my feet.

“Come on. They’ll find you after.”

“Okay.”

I let Miri lead me through the twists and turns of the house and back to the room Tab and I had woken up in. My pack was there, by the bathroom door, when we entered this time, and Miri hopped up into one of the wingbacks.