Even worse? I know for a fact that Armageddon used to lock up my father like this, too.
I rattle the bars of my cage. Solid. At least, the igni still form a protective shield around Lincoln and me. Everyone else in the Chapel isn’t as lucky, though. Just like before, they stay frozen in place, unable to fight. This must be horrible for everyone, but especially for my father. I know he’d do anything rather than see me caged by Armageddon.
Panic and shock wheel through me, emptying my mind of all thought. Some small part of me says I need to focus in order to escape. Not happening. At this point, it’s a huge effort merely to crouch in my cage and not cry my eyes out.
While keeping his gaze locked on me, Armageddon’s mouth winds into an over-large smile. Battle demons climb out of the pool behind him. I spot some manus, flying succubae, and all sorts of other Class A nightmares. Normally, that would make me a happy girl. Right now? Not so much.
I rattle my bars again and look over to Lincoln. “Are you okay?”
“Relative term, but yes.” His baculum rods lay just outside his cage. He strains through the bars, trying to reach them. Lincoln’s face flushes with the effort. It’s no use, though. Crud. I bet Armageddon did that on purpose, too.
Aldred scurries to Armageddon’s side. “There they are. Lincoln and the demon whore. Go kill them as we agreed. What are you waiting for? I already released you.”
“You did release me,” says Armageddon slowly. His cruel voice makes me shiver.
Aldred waves his tubby arms around. “Go kill them and their families, then. After that, you must return to Hell.” Aldred stares at the massive demons that keep climbing from the pit. “And take your demonic army with you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Armageddon waves his three-knuckled hand dismissively. “And neither are they.”
Aldred puffs out his bottom lip. “That was not the terms of our agreement.”
Ignoring Aldred, Armageddon turns to Lady Daria. “My dear. I must admit, I was disappointed when you and Drusus were so easily defeated at the Battle of the Gates. That said, I’ve been watching you from Hell for some time. It was you who tricked Prescott into finding Lucifer’s coin. I’m most pleased.”
Aldred steps between Armageddon and Lady Daria. “My soldiers did all the work. Lady Daria was useless.”
I roll my eyes. Way to throw your only ally under the bus, Aldred. Especially when you promised to put in a good word.
Armageddon keeps right on ignoring Aldred. “Of course, the true accomplishment was pinpointing the need for Lucifer’s coin in the first place. It was I who did that. It wasn’t easy finding a way to free myself after what that one had done.” He points right at me. Both my tail and I give him a lewd hand gesture in reply.
Lady Daria bows her head. The movement makes her long red veil shift behind her. “We are all in awe of you, oh King.”
“Of course, you are. And you haven’t even heard the full tale yet. After I discovered a way to escape Hell, I then used my agents on Earth to release you from Charybdis. I even made sure that Prescott had access to the right books and motivation.”
“Your glory is beyond words,” sighs Lady Daria.
“What a sniveling sycophant you are,” says Armageddon. “Don’t stop, though. I’ll find a suitable role for you in Hell.”
I cup my hand by my mouth. “Hey, I have an idea for a role. Maybe you two can fight alongside each other again.” I snap my fingers. “Oh, that’s right. Teaming up didn’t work out so well at the Battle of the Gates. Dad kicked both your butts.” I scan the room dramatically. “Where is Drusus anyway?”
Lady Daria hisses at me. It’s a full snake-y move where she bares her teeth and everything. “Quiet, you!”
Like that will happen. I point to Aldred instead. “What about you, buddy boy?” Some small part of me says wonders if I should shut up, but I put that part in a time-out chair. “How’s the master dealmaker doing now? Doesn’t seem like Armageddon is killing anyone or leaving.” I shoot him some mock thumbs-up. “Nice work, you!”
Aldred stomps his foot. “Kill her!”
“Of course, I’ll kill them.” Armageddon finally turns to face Aldred. “In fact, I plan to kill everyone. Except you, of course.”
“Quite right.” Aldred puffs up his chest. “You’ll kill everyone on that list.”
“Oh, you did give me a list.” Armageddon raises his right hand. A rolled sheet of parchment appears on his stone-smooth palm. “But our contract has very specific—or should I say non-specific—language in it.” He unrolls the document and points to a line. “Right here, section one, line seven. I shall kill all your enemies. The way I see it, every thrax, human, quasi, and ghoul in the after-realms are your enemies.”
Aldred takes a half-step backward. “But…We…”
“Don’t try to outsmart the devil on deals. You’ll always lose.”