“What makes you so sure Lucifer is telling the truth?” Shade didn’t want to believe the fucker, but he was starting to lean in that direction. Self-preservation was the only motive you could trust with the imp.
Yesterday stuck his chest out. “I followed him.” He grimaced. “And it was not easy following that chariot of his.”
Shade stared him down.
“He visited all seven demesnes.” Yesterday’s confidence wavered. “And he spent time at all seven seals.”
Eddie got to her feet. “That doesn’t prove he had nothing to do with my kidnapping.”
“No.” Yesterday’s bravado crumpled completely. “No, it doesn’t.” He dug in his ear. “I thought maybe it would, but now I see that it really doesn’t prove anything.” He brightened. “But he did have trouble with those mixed hordes, same as you did.”
Shade moved closer to Eddie, ready to provide physical support if she needed it.
She threw him an exasperated glance. “And it was a mixed horde who provided the distraction so Ashe could spirit me away.”
“Something he shouldn’t have had the strength to do.” Shade hovered near her. He couldn’t help it, so she could glare at him all she wanted.
“In fact.” Yesterday took a strut to the wall and back. “He was almost beaten by one group of mixed demons and only the speed of that chariot saved him.”
“Hmm.” Eddie hobbled toward her bathroom. “So maybe he isn’t working with the mixed hordes.” She looked at him from the far side of the door. “Then what is he doing?”
The door shut in Shade’s face. “That is the question.”
“Shade,” Yesterday whispered and tugged on his pants leg.
“Go away, imp.” Or Shade would do his best to forget his promise to Eddie.
Yesterday tugged again. “There is more I need to tell you.”
“What?” Shade made a mental note to create no more imps.
“I knew you wouldn’t want her to hear.” Yesterday glanced at the bathroom door. “But I have heard whispers of a meeting on earth.” He beamed at Shade, bloated with self-importance. “A meeting of some of those traitor demons.”
Shade’s brain tripped into overdrive. A meeting where he could find out what the fuck was going on here. “Are you lying to me?”
“No.” Yesterday took a step back. “Or I swear you can set those hounds on me, and I will merely stand still and let them feast.”
It could still be a trick. Imps were masterful liars and the longer they existed the better they became. Still, a chance to find more information on who had taken Eddie was not to be overlooked. He crouched eye level with Yesterday. “You will find out where and when this meeting is to take place.” He held up a finger to stop Yesterday’s reply. “And you will not tell Eddie what you find.”
Yesterday nodded.
“And if this is a trick, you will pray that the hounds find you before I or Wrath do.”
Sophia sat in the silent theatre as the other actors left for their homes and lives outside of The Importance of Being Earnest. As Lillian had played Gwendolyn several times before, they were rehearsing Sophia in as Cecily. The play would take place once the run of Macbeth was over. Sophia did love acting, and from what everyone was telling her, she was good at it as well.
Of course, they probably didn’t realize they were responding to her angelic glamour. So she could be useless without having any idea.
A human male entered the auditorium and shifted into the light. The telling whisper of power told her he was a guardian.
She mentally braced for another unpleasant conversation with Chris Fellows. He had arrived earlier that day with a contingent of guardians and been incensed that they had missed the gathering.
“Sophia.” He made his way down the central aisle to where she sat and took the seat next to her. “About earlier.” He cleared his throat. “I apologize for my anger.”
It took a moment for her brain to decode the words. She had never thought she would hear Chris Fellows apologize, and to a supernatural. And in fairness to the treaty, she had to admit, “We should have waited for you.”
“Yes.” Chris shrugged. “But after recent events, I suppose I can understand why you didn’t.”
She turned and examined his face. Some of her angels could detect human lies, but she didn’t have that ability. “Does that mean you’re going to reinstate Dee?”
Chris chuckled. “Like we could ever get rid of Dee.” He indicated the auditorium. “As much as it galls, her family name is on the deed to this place.”
“Right.” Sophia had trouble understanding the human desire to own bits of land and call it their own, when all life was so interconnected that every place belonged to every life. “But Daniel seems to be a competent guardian.”
“He is.” Chris nodded. “He has a tendency to make up his own rules, but he does the job.”
He stared at the silent theatre. “I’m keeping Daniel here to assist her. With the action this hell gate is seeing, we have no way of anticipating what nasty surprises might come through it.”
“Then why not simply tell Dee that?” Sophia studied his face, trying to discern the truth.
Chris threw her a speaking glance. “Would you tell Dee that you left a guardian here to help her?”
Sophia had to smile. He had a point there. Dee with her fierce independence would not take kindly to being told she was being assisted.
They sat in an awkward silence. She had nowhere to go, so she waited him out.
Chris shifted in his seat. “I saw you earlier.” He cleared his throat. “Acting.”
