What would Gabriel do to save those he cared about? Past-Death thought for a split second. Dread sank into her stomach. "Whatever it took," she whispered.
"Pardon?" Andre asked, a little too loudly.
"Hush!" Crouching beside Andre, she shoved the ring into his hand. "Take this. Learn to use it fast. Get the others and help Gabriel!" She rose and crossed to the door.
"Deidre, wait!" Andre called in a rough whisper. "What're you going to do?"
"What I should have long ago. Something I never would've done as a goddess." If ever there was a chance for her to help, it was now. These were the kind of people Gabriel needed with him, if he was going to succeed. She had nothing to offer in the way of Tymkyn's fighting skill or Karma's balancing judgments or Andre's peacemaking efforts. The best she could do: become a distraction. Give the rest of them a chance.
Show Gabriel I can be human, too. Her lover and mate had sacrificed so much for her over the years. She had the chance to even the score, or at least, take the first step in that direction.
With a deep breath, she threw her shoulders back and stepped into the hallway. "Hey. I think you guys are looking for me!"
The death dealers whirled to face her. None of them moved initially, unease on their features, as if they still feared her, even knowing she was no longer a goddess.
"Where are the others?" one demanded, starting towards her.
"In the secret passageways, where idiots like you can't reach them," she said in the haughtiest, most goddess like voice she was able to muster, the tone that made Gabriel growl. "I want to see Harmony. Now."
"That's good, because Harmony wants to see you." The death dealer stopped before her.
She craned her neck back to meet his gaze, unafraid. "Then take me to her, slave."
"You don't get to control us anymore, bitch." With a smirk, he grabbed her arm and hauled her down the hallway.
Past-Death held her breath, hoping they didn't search the cells for the remaining three. When they reached the stairs, she released it. The nine others trailed obediently. Only when they reached the top of the stairs did she start to wonder what the fuck she was going to do next.
Harmony was outside the room where the guards and keys were kept.
Determined to face her fate without flinching, past-Death reminded herself silently that she still had something to prove: that she was worth Gabriel's love. A thrill raced through her, along with fear. Facing down his greatest enemy was almost as enjoyable as funnel cake, the part of her that relished challenges and mind games intrigued to see what the hell Harmony thought she was doing.