Armageddon curls his finger to O-72. “Come with me.”
O-72 dutifully rises to his feet and follows Armageddon from the room. He couldn’t be more under the demon’s control if marionette strings trailed from his robes. Mom watches the pair leave, her face still as stone.
I bite my lower lip anxiously. Not a good look from Mom. She’s about ready to lose her freaking mind on someone. At least, it’s not me.
Mom rounds on Xavier. “Why didn’t you back me up? Armageddon should never have been able to leave the meeting early.” She pushes her manila folder away from her, and it flies halfway down the table. “We can’t let him collude with ghouls and override the authority of this office.”
Xavier laughs. “Please. I’ve watched ghouls and demons fight each other for thousands of years. They’ll plot for a time, and then they’ll fight over some nonsense and go home. Demons are chaos and destruction. Ghouls are rules and regulations. Oil and water don’t mix.”
“I’ve told you a hundred times, Armageddon is different.” Her eyes flare red. “We can’t let him go unchallenged.”
Every cell in my body screams that she is right. I want to jump into the dreamscape and start shaking Xavier by the shoulders, telling him to listen to Mom or I’ll kick him in the shins. But I can’t do anything.
But Xavier doesn’t seem to hear my mother, let alone me. He leans back in his chair, his head gently shaking from side to side. Standing behind them both, Tim looks so mousy and frightened, I’m surprised that he doesn’t duck under the table to hide.
Xavier drums his fingers on the tabletop. “I’ve seen Armageddon’s type before. He doesn’t have the staying power to really change the system.”
Ha! Armageddon tears down the whole freaking system single-handedly. Please, listen. Please, please, please!
Mom rubs her neck with her hand. “Have you heard him go on about his son? It’s strange. He wants access to Maxon and will do anything to get it.”
Xavier laughs. “Do you hear yourself? A demon loves his son. It’s insane, Camilla.”
“I didn’t say he loves his son.” Mom sets her palms on her eyes. “He’s plotting something, something big, and he needs Maxon for it.” She lowers her hands until her gaze meets Xavier’s straight on. “Armageddon is dangerous. We’re all at risk.”
Her look of worry sets my stomach churning. I so want to jump to her side, wrap my arm around her shoulder, and tell her that I’ll be with her soon.
Xavier has the same general idea. He leans forward, his blue eyes searching Mom’s face. “I’d never let anything happen to you, Camilla. You have nothing to worry about.”
Mom reaches across the table, wrapping her hand around Xavier’s. “I hope you’re right, Xavier.” Energy flares around them when they touch.
Tim looks just about ready to puke or scream, I can’t tell which. I watch his tortured face and realize one thing: if this ghoul is my father, then he’s definitely the jealous type. His mouth presses into such an angry line, I’m shocked he doesn’t break a tooth. Maybe that’s why he isn’t part of our lives. My heart sinks to my toes. Or maybe Mom lied to me about Tim being my father in the first place. I wag my head from side to side. Not possible. Mom’s a lot of things, but a liar? Not one of them.
Mom gives Xavier’s hand a little shake. “But unfortunately, I have a lot to worry about.” She tilts her head to one side. “First on the list is you, Xavier Cross. I’m doing my job without backing from the angels. We need to be strict with Armageddon right now, and to do that we must stay in lock step–”
Xavier’s eyes gleam bright blue. “No, you don’t need to worry about Armageddon.” He grips her hand more rightly. Tim watches the movement and gasps.
Tim’s not the only one who’s shocked. Why-oh-why isn’t that angelic whatever-he-is not listening to the truth? As Xavier’s eyes glow brighter, Mom’s turn glassy and dead. My body goes on full alert. Xavier’s using angelic influence on her, the dirt bag. I want to jump into the image and kick his ass across the room. Maybe twice.
Mom rubs her forehead with her free hand. “Yes, there’s nothing…” She pauses; then she shakes her head vigorously. Her eyes flare demon-bright. “How dare you try to use angelic influence on me!”
Alright, Mom! Way to shut that move down. I exhale a ragged breath, my alert level returning to something like normal.
Mom rises to her feet. “This is outrageous. I’m placing a formal request for a new angelic Ambassador and for a censure of Armageddon.”
Xavier frowns. “They won’t listen to you like I do, Camilla. You’ll be committing career suicide. Your ideas will sound insane.”