My father folds his arms over his chest. “Tell me what happened.”
With that, Lincoln explains about Cryptan being dead and our codex getting stolen. My father questions every little detail, especially anything having to do with Desmond, the now-dead klepto demon. I let Lincoln do the talking. Maybe some sharing will help him break out of his funk.
Soon Lincoln gets to the bit where Desmond and the dyad demons talked about the codex and the Wheeler Institute. Dad’s been pretty chill throughout the explanation. The second that Lincoln says the word “Wheeler,” my father’s entire body tenses. “I have some information for you.”
Uh-oh. I don’t like the vibe here. “Why do I have the feeling I won’t like what you have to say?”
Dad starts unhooking his angelic armor and setting it aside. “You won’t. It has to do with Lucifer.”
In my experience, Lucifer plus Myla equals nightmare. Here’s the deal. Lucifer was once King of the Angels. These days, that’s Verus’s gig (she’s also the oracle who set up Lincoln and me.) Now, everyone’s heard how Lucifer went cuckoo and lost his job. What most people don’t know is that my father and the other archangels were the ones who had to arrest old Lucifer and lock him up. Even fewer know that Lucifer loved making super-magical bits of junk, which he then left lying around.
Like Lucifer’s Orb.
That was the last time my life crisscrossed with Lucifer’s. The guy left around a super-powerful orb that prevented me from doing my job, as in moving souls to Heaven and Hell. The Ghost Towers in Purgatory got so full, they almost exploded. Getting rid of that orb was a total pain in the ass. I don’t look forward to more creations from the Lucifer collection.
I make a yuck-face. “Don’t tell me. Lucifer left more magical crap.”
Dad’s never bullshits around when there’s bad news. “That’s exactly what he did.”
Fuck-fuck-fuckity-FUCK-fuck.
“Let me guess,” says Lincoln. “This little item, whatever it is, could free Armageddon from Hell.”
“Right again,” says Dad.
All reason flies out the window as I stomp my foot, toddler-style. “Come on!”
Lincoln works hard to hide a smile. “Myla, I thought you were trying to become more regal.”
I stick out my tongue at him, just because I can. “Okay, fine. I’m not acting like the most mature chick in the after-realms right now. But please. I worked so hard to send Armageddon back to Hell with my igni. And since I did the sending, he wasn’t supposed to get out. Ever. Do not pass go. Do not collect two hundred dollars. It was a total “stay in jail permanently” card. And now, he’s scheming with Aldred to escape again.” I grip my hands in my hair and growl. Loudly.
Dad stands frozen with his gauntlets half off. He slowly swings his gaze toward Lincoln. “You’ve known her longer than I have. Does she do this a lot?”
Lincoln shrugs. “Give her a minute.”
Demonic rage pumps through me until I’m positive my irises are glowing red. That’ll show them. “In case you forgot, “her” is standing right here.”
Dad raises his hand. “But, Myla-la—”
Lincoln cuts him off. “Don’t go there. It’s best not to talk until she cracks her neck. Just pisses off her wrath demon.”
Now, I’m pretty sure there was some more chatting about me like I’m not here, but I’m way too pissed off about Armageddon and Lucifer to process that stuff. I start pacing a line in front of the glass wall. “I sent him to Hell. Igni soul column!” Some small part of my mind knows I’m speaking in sentence fragments. I can’t seem to stop, though. “Lucifer’s orb. Ghosts everywhere. Aldred and his freaking schemes. Gah!” I exhale a long breath. Look out the window. Jog in place for a few seconds. There, that feels better. As a final touch, I crack my neck from side to side. “So, Dad. What does this have to do with Lucifer’s Orb?”
My father and Lincoln share a weird look. I make a mental note to grill Lincoln about it later on. “Yes, Lucifer liked to create magical objects.” Dad looks at me like I’m going to explode on him or something.
“I know.”
“And you realize that his objects are impossible to destroy?”
“Yeeeeeeeah.” The thrax codex system works the same way. I’m sure if Aldred had the option, he would have smashed the Rixa Codex to bits. He couldn’t, though. Hence why it’s hidden on Earth.
“Well, Lucifer made a coin that would allow the holder to open the Gates of Hell.”
“Like a ghoul portal?” asks Lincoln.
“A ghoul portal only allows people to enter single file. In battle situations, you can really only get one warrior in with each ghoul. No, what Lucifer’s coin would create is a massive gateway that would allow whole armies to troop through.”