Josette. She had been almost silent since I had woken up. Her presence was a constant familiar companion, and she had never been as outspoken as Ulnyx, but I knew there was something more to it.

  “Josette.” I called out to her.

  “Yes, Landon.” She responded right away.

  “Is everything okay?”

  She took more time to answer. “If I tell you it is, I think you’ll know I’m lying.”

  “Sarah?” It wasn’t a lucky guess. I knew we would have to have this conversation, but I had expected I would be the one to initiate it.

  “I can feel what you feel. I can hear your thoughts. They are mumbles and whispers, and I don’t understand them all, but I understand enough.”

  “You didn’t know?”

  She sighed, the action echoing in my soul. “I’ve always known. Every angel knows, whether it is something they ever think about or not. What angel falls in love with a demon, after all? Yet, there she sits, and look at how beautiful she is. It doesn’t matter how she came to be. She still is.”

  I glanced up at Sarah. She was looking out the window now, watching the countryside, but I could still see the edge of her smile.

  “I love her unconditionally. Yet, I know there can only be one true end for her. I had hoped to save her. I had hoped Izak could save her. A demon, a favorite of Lucifer himself, his heart softened and molded by love. I forgive her for releasing the Beast, but her complicity has shown me that Izak was not enough. Even you were not enough, and I can never be enough. The madness is in her, and there is no way to get it out.”

  “She told me that she has seen herself killing me, and Charis. That it’s the future she felt will come to pass, and she was terrified of it. Looking at her now, I can’t believe it is the future she’s still seeing.” Except, what if it was? How was there any way to know her mind, when it was shifting like a sand dune?

  There was a long silence. It sat uncomfortably, but I knew Josette well enough to know what it meant. She was deciding how to say something she didn’t want to have to say.

  “I believe it is the future that will come to pass, if you let it.”

  “You mean I’ll have to stop her?”

  “Yes.”

  I glanced over at Sarah again, trying to picture myself pushing a knife into her chest, or taking her head in the Were’s massive paws and snapping her neck. I had to fight against the tears that threatened to fall.

  “How can I live with that?” I asked. “How can you? How could we together, and have you never resent me for doing it?”

  Another long silence. “I don’t know,” she said at last.

  Three words were never harder to hear. Josette had always trusted in God, and had always pointed to His will and plan whenever I questioned the path we had to walk. She had even invoked His name the last time the thought of killing Sarah had entered the conversation. Had meeting her daughter eroded her faith? Or had her love of something tangible and real, a part of her, a mother’s love, grown stronger than her love for her Lord?

  “What if killing her was a kindness?” I asked. It was something I had thought about at length. I had seen the way Gervais had broken her, just by his very presence. I had been inside of her soul, and witnessed the way she battled herself. Given a choice, would she really want to live that way?

  “Landon, I don’t know.” Her voice was soft and sad.

  I didn’t know if I could do it, either. Even as a kindness. I knew Charis could. She didn’t have the connection to Sarah I did, even sharing my memories of her. I wanted more than anything for that to be good enough, but I had my own feelings getting in the way and turning the equation back on itself. Could I watch Charis kill her, and forgive her for it? Could I love her then?

  The word came unbidden to my mind. Love? I snuck a glance over at her, leaned back in her seat, staring at the ceiling. My heart jumped just to look at her.

  “What?” she asked, her eyes staying focused on the soft gray plastic above. She hadn’t needed to see me, to know I was looking at her.

  “Nothing,” I said unconvincingly.

  There was no doubt she had feelings for me too, but did they stretch as far into the horizon as my own? It seemed too soon, too fast for such a thought, but I knew everything about her, and she knew everything about me. There had been a connection since the first time I had set eyes on her, though at the time I couldn’t begin to guess what it was. I had just thought she was insanely attractive. Now she was attractive, intelligent, cunning, loyal, smart… I could just keep rolling the adjectives all day. Which brought me back to love.

  I had never been in love before. I thought I had cared for Rebecca, and a part of me did, but it wasn’t love. More of an infatuation, with an unhealthy dose of lust thrown in. She was gorgeous, and dangerous, and she had been interested in me. Me? A washout ex-con security guard who couldn’t be trusted with anything beyond old cups. She had saved my life when I had no idea what I was doing. I had an appreciation for what she gave me, but I knew now it wasn’t love.

  Charis had stayed behind to try to save me, and risked the entire future of the world to do it. I realized that if I were in her shoes, I would do the same thing. Seeing the world destroyed before letting someone be killed? If there wasn’t some manner of love in there, I was hopeless.

  “Seriously, Landon,” Charis said. She turned her head now to look at me. “What?”

  It must have been my expression. Her face turned red, and she smiled.

  “You still owe me.”

  That was all she said.

  Chapter 17

  “I should have known the rift would be in the Tower of London.” I held the cab door open while Sarah and Charis slid into the back seat.

  We had arrived in London without incident, and I had decided not to say anything to Charis about the feelings that had been percolating during the trip. After all, they had spent the remainder of the ride sparring with my agony over Sarah’s potential future and the fear of what one of us might have to do. Swimming in that soup, there was just no way to be sure what my true emotions were for anyone, and I wasn’t about to go spouting such a powerful word to someone unless I was completely sure I meant it, and could back it up full-time. Besides, we both knew there was something there. Words could wait.

  “Under the White Tower, to be specific,” Charis confirmed. “There’s a basement, under the basement.”

  “Of course there is.” I lowered my voice, so Izak wouldn’t hear. “How many demons can create their own rifts?”

  “Very few on Earth. Maybe a dozen of the most powerful archfiends? Which is why most of the circles are tucked away in old places.” She whispered back, and I hoped Izak either couldn’t hear, or wasn’t paying attention. I had no doubt the loss of his hand was painful in more ways than one, whether he would ever show it or not. “I made the rift in Thailand, with Vilya’s help, but it took me nearly a week. Reyzl knew the secrets, but even he would be hard-pressed to draw one from scratch in less than a day or two. Izak’s skill was amazing.”

  And now it was lost, at least temporarily. I expected if we survived, he would learn to do it with his other hand.

  I focused on my Sight, pushing it out around us. I found some bit of comfort in catching the familiar waves of heat and coolness that reflected the Divine factions of the city. A vampire here, a Touched there. It seemed the Beast’s war hadn’t made it here yet, but I didn’t expect it to last. He knew we were headed here, and I was sure he wasn’t happy.

  “Oy, Tower of London.” The cabbie’s shout broke me away from my thought.

  I looked out the window. We were stopped in front of the main tourist entrance to the landmark. “Do you know who put it there?” I asked Charis.

  “The rift? No. Maybe it was Izak.”

  The demon heard that, and he shook his head, then tapped it. He hadn’t done it, but he knew who did.

  Charis paid the driver, and we exited the cab. We all approached the tourist gate together. Sometimes, the most straightforward route was the best one. Charis paid for our entry, and four American tourists shuffled onto the grounds.

  I focused on my Sight again, and cast my eyes out towards a throng of visitors. At the same time, one of them turned their head and focused on me.

  Charis noticed an instant later. “Do you know him?” she asked.

  “I don’t know him,” Josette said.

  “No. I should go introduce myself.”

  We met halfway, the angel and me. He was tall, and strikingly handsome. His hair was cut short around a model’s angled face, his polo and jeans hugging tight to his lean, muscled form. He hadn’t hesitated to approach when he caught wind of me, and that told me a lot. Especially considering the company I was keeping.

  “Diuscrucis,” he said, putting a slight flourish in his bow. “My name is Adam.”

  “Not the Adam?” I asked. I had already met Mephistopheles, so I couldn’t be too sure.

  He laughed. “No. I was named after the first mortal.” He looked over my shoulder to where the others waited. “Quite a crew of miscasts and misfits you’ve assembled.”

  “Desperate times,” I replied. “Did you know I would be here, or is it just your lucky day?”

  “All of Heaven knows you’re here. We got a tip from one of our Touched that you were on the Eurostar, bound for London.”

  Except there hadn’t been any Touched on the Eurostar. “If that’s what you want to believe. You have to know I won’t attack you.”

  “We do. Which is why we haven’t assembled in force. In fact, it was decided that we should pass your whereabouts over to the Inquisitors. They’re quite eager to catch up to you, and not bound as tightly to our laws.”

  I looked up, half-expecting Kassie to land on my head.

  “I was charged with delivering the message to Kassie,” Adam said. He started laughing. “I understand she’s in New York, chasing after you.”

  Interesting. “So, what are you doing here, instead of there?”

  “The Beast.”

  I could have laughed myself. “You believe?”

  He shrugged. “I was there when they brought Melody in. She’s pretty raw, but she’s a spunky one, and I believe in her faith. She was insistent that the Beast was real, that it was free, and that we needed to leave you alone because you’re the only one who can stop it.” His eyes searched me. They were looking for acknowledgement that what Melody had said was true.

  “Do you believe her?”

  “I don’t not believe her,” he said. “Which is why I’m here. I’d like to tag along with your motley crew.”

  “A spy for the Inquisitors?” I asked, sending the thought along to Josette.

  “It is possible,” she replied.

  “Even better.”

  I turned my attention back to the seraph.

  “What about delivering your message?”

  “I promised that I would deliver it,” he said. “I didn’t say when.”

  Now I did laugh. The games of angels were always worth it. “You’re okay with going through a rift?”

  That was my test for him, to see how serious he was about following. Angels weren’t forbidden from traveling the rifts, but they hated it.

  “The idea doesn’t please me, but I will do what I must. If what Melody says is the truth, she will need allies to convince the others.” His face was serious and he put his hand out, resting it on my shoulder. “Whatever you think about Heaven, diuscrucis, not all of us are so wrapped up in laws that we cannot see the storm for the clouds. Even Inquisitors.”

  His openness was unexpected, but refreshing. “So you are an Inquisitor?”

  “Yes. I was up until recently referred to as a ‘Tenth’. There are nine active Inquisitors at any one time, and many of us who wait to serve in that role. I became Ninth when Callus was killed. I was still being briefed when Melody was brought in, which is why I’m not with Kassie now.”

  “I didn’t do that,” I said. “The Beast did.”

  He removed his hand, and cast his eyes back to where the others waited again. “We shall see. She carries his sword.”

  “Desperate times,” I said again. “I’m sure she’ll trade with you, if you’d like. Anyway, I don’t have your Blade. Charis did, but we lost it to the Beast. Sticking with us is probably your best chance at getting it back, and if you don’t… it won’t matter, because the Beast will be running the show.”

  “So you’re saying I can join you?”

  “Welcome aboard,” I replied, holding out my hand. There was only a small hesitation before he took it and shook. “Whatever you think about me and my crew, Adam, we aren’t against Heaven or Hell. We’re for the billions of mortals that have populated this world, and who deserve to survive and thrive here regardless of what your master, or the other wants. The Beast, though… the Beast doesn’t care about any of us. He wants to see all of us enslaved or destroyed. He doesn’t have a side other than his own, and he has a lot of followers, both angelic and demonic. I need you to think about that, because you may need to fight and kill someone you thought you knew, before this is over.” I saw an image of Rachel in my mind, slumped in her chair. I let the wave of sadness wash over me. “I have.”

  His look was that of startled fear, but he gave me a short nod.

  “Let me introduce you to the club,” I said, leading him back to where they waited. “Everybody, this is Adam. He’s an Inquisitor. He asked to come along so we can prove the Beast is real.”

  I looked at Adam. His eyes were fixed on Izak’s mangled hand. “I’ve heard you travel with the demon Mephistopheles.” He turned to me, his startled fear enlarged to full-blown. “Whatever did this to him, I fear you won’t have to work very hard to prove it.”

  Izak glared at him while Charis shook his hand. When Sarah approached, I could see the flush of her face, and smell the pheromones.

  “I’m Sarah,” she said, her voice shaky.

  “A true diuscrucis,” Adam said, giving her the same bow he had given me. “It’s an honor.”

  I knew he was lying. She probably would have too, but she was too busy being a teenage girl in the face of an adonis. “Thank you,” she squeaked.

  “Adam,” Charis said, unslinging Callus’ blade. “I took this from your brethren’s corpse in order to defend myself. I’d be happy to swap with you.”

  Adam seemed surprised. “Return it to me when you no longer need to defend yourself from the Beast,” he said. He scored a lot of points for that one.

  We made our way up into the White Tower with the other tourists. While we wasted a little too much time plodding ahead as part of the larger group, I considered what Adam had said. The Beast had told the angels where I was going. Why? What could he hope to gain by having them descend on us en masse, unless a decent number of them were sure to be servants, and he could possess one and snatch Sarah during the ensuing chaos? That was the point where my brain stuck. How many of God’s army were even fighting for Him? Or maybe the Beast had known they would pass the buck to the Inquisitors, and they were the ones who were on his side?

  I watched Adam walk alongside Charis. Had I taken him in too easily? Who was it that said to keep your friends close, and your enemies closer? Except, Callus hadn’t been a servant, so there were holes in that theory too. Too many balls, again. There was nothing to do but go forward and hope for the best.

  “He’s so handsome,” Sarah whispered.

  It was undeniable. He was. So much so that even Sarah could See it. I didn’t completely understand how she viewed the world, but it seemed to reflect pretty accurately. “If he didn’t think we were useful, he’d be more than happy to stick that sword of his into your chest,” I said. It was cold, but the last thing I needed was for Sarah to be hung up on a crush.

  “So you say, but Melody likes Obi.”

  Ugh.

  We broke off from the main tour when we hit the basement, following Charis to what the mortals probably saw as an unbroken part of the stone floor. What I saw was a block of cement with a loop of iron driven into it.

  “Down here, I assume?” I said.

  “Yep.” Charis put her hand on the ring, and lifted the cement like it was made of foam.

  Adam took it from her, and held it open. “Ladies first.”

  Charis gave him a polite smile and moved to the opening, mounting a wooden ladder down. When she saw me looking at her, she rolled her eyes. I held back the tempting smirk, and ushered Sarah to the ladder.

  “Thanks, Adam,” Sarah said as she started climbing.

  “Of course, my lady,” he replied. Who was this guy?

  Izak went down after Sarah, and I followed behind him. We all waited at the bottom while Adam maneuvered himself onto the ladder while holding up the stone door. It was an impressive feat of strength for a seraph.

  One he reached the bottom, we approached the rift. It was older than many I had seen and been through, a ring of hewn stones with the runes etched along them, drawn on all sides of the rock.

  “So, where in Egypt is this going to land us?” Sarah asked.

  “You’re going to love this,” Charis said.

  “Where?” she repeated.

  Izak leaned in, using his good hand to draw new connecting runes, the master key.

  I had Charis’ memories, so I knew the answer. “Cairo. The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. They have a rift there that they pulled out of one of the tombs. They have no idea what it is, but they took it apart and put it back together with perfect precision. They’ve never told anyone about it, because the writing is clearly not hieroglyphic.”

  “The Egyptians had rifts?” Sarah asked.

  “Remember, child, our kind predates the mortals by many millennia,” Adam said, “and the differences between what your historians believe and what is the truth can at times be pretty stark.”

  “You’re saying the Egyptians weren’t pagans?” I asked.

  Adam shrugged. “I’m saying that they were worshipping the same God, though their understanding was not as complete as it is today. They saw different faces of the same surface. They also idolized those who were Awake, much unlike today’s societies.”