I pinch the bridge of my nose. “And why would he do that, pray tell?” It’s like the guy sat around brainstorming stupid shit to create. What’s next? A magic plunger that sucks us all into outer space?
“This was at the beginning of time. Hell was still called the Garden of Eden then. We thought that when human kind was ready, we could lead them out of the Garden in a great parade of achievement. Hence Lucifer’s coin.”
I smack my lips. “Oops.”
Dad finishes taking off his golden armor. Now he stands in a brown leather tunic with matching pants. It’s a pretty badass look, actually. “Yes, that didn’t turn out as planned. The coin remained. It was still around after we…” His eyes get that sad, glassy look that always happens when Dad talks about Lucifer. The two of them used to be great friends.
I steal up to his side and speak in a soothing voice. “You were saying something, Dad?”
“Yes. The coin was still around after we placed Lucifer in prison. The archangel Aquila was put in charge of hiding it. Turns out, she placed it in what is today Nova Scotia.”
“Let me guess,” says Lincoln. “At the Wheeler Institute?”
“Precisely,” replies Dad. “She also named a protector to watch over the coin, but she lost touch with that person. As you know, protectors are immortal, yet not immune from injury.”
I picture poor Cryptan. “No, they can certainly be hurt like anyone else.”
“I understand that this coin can open a gateway,” says Lincoln. “But is it really more powerful than igni? Myla’s abilities placed Armageddon in Hell. He shouldn’t be able to escape.”
I shoot Lincoln a thumbs-up. “Huzzah.”
“Unfortunately, the coin was made before igni came into being. That means its magic isn’t subject to igni energy. Armageddon can still be released.”
Unfortunately, my father has the whole “been alive since the dawn of time” thing going for him. If he says that Lucifer’s coin trumps my igni, then it’s the truth. It’s just super depressing.
I force myself to take in a few calming breaths. “Let me get this straight. Lucifer’s coin can release Armageddon from Hell. For sures.”
“I’m afraid so.” Dad’s face is all droopy and sympathetic. “The coin is incredibly powerful. In fact, that’s why we had to hide it in the first place. Even we archangels couldn’t destroy the thing. So yes, the coin is probably the only way Armageddon could escape from Hell.”
I’m not sure I like the use of the word “probably” in that sentence, but I have bigger things to worry about right now. “How does Aldred fit into all this?”
“I can answer that,” says Lincoln. “The place where the Wheeler Institute is located has been Acca demon patrol territory for centuries. Aldred’s people have had plenty of time to learn about Lucifer’s coin and its protector. They must have a good idea where the coin is hidden.”
“So if they’re looking for the coin, why send the codex there, too?”
“My guess?” Lincoln scratches his neck. “Having his patrols search around for an archangel artifact is one thing. It’s not illegal. But hiding a thrax codex? Now that’s a big deal. Aldred could go to jail. Demon patrols are switched out every eight hours or so. This patrol is probably Aldred’s most trusted group of warriors. By having this one disappear, he could have his best team look for the coin while hiding the codex. It’s not a bad plan, really.”
I raise my pointer finger. “For the record, this whole situation sucks.”
“It gets worse,” says Dad.
My mouth falls open. “There’s more than the Hell-opening coin?”
“According to Aquila, the coin also requires a long incantation in order to start working.”
“That’s good, right?” A little bubble of hope swells in my chest. “It means that even if they find the coin, they can’t use it.”
“Not exactly. Aquila left the incantation with the coin’s protector. If what Lincoln says is true and Acca knows this territory so well—”
“It’s true,” says Lincoln.
“Then, Acca may have already found the incantation. If so, they know how to activate the coin, too.”
Aaaaaaaand the bubble bursts.
Lincoln scrubs his hand down his face. “So the Acca demon patrol that disappeared is hiding the codex and searching for the coin. And since they didn’t reappear, I’m guessing that they’re probably still looking.”
That little insight takes a huge load off my shoulders. “Good point, babe! Otherwise, Armageddon would be running around trying to kill us already.”
“Unless he’s lying in wait,” says Lincoln.
Bad point, babe.
“That’s unlikely,” explains Dad. “If that portal had opened, we would know it. All the after-realms would quake from the release of that much primal power.”
A realization hits me. “Wait a second.” I snap my fingers. “We have a total ace in the hole here. Does Aquila know where the protector or the coin is?”
Dad huffs out a breath. “Not exactly.”
I set my fist on my hip. “What do you mean, not exactly?”
“How much do you know about Aquila?”
“She’s my great-grandmother,” offers Lincoln.