"Good trump card." He pointed to the black one. "Dark One?"
"Darkyn's predecessor. As soon as Zamon lost Hell, I collected his soul and brought it here," she said. "It's not the same with all of them. Some just appear when the deity dies-dead." She closed her eyes, trying to recall the exact importance of the closet. The sacred room was hidden behind the door in her bedchamber, a place every Death must first go and place his soul in with the rest of the deities. "Death's domain extends beyond what most think of it. I just can't remember what else is here."
Lifting her eyes to the entrance, she shivered as the cool magic humming within the room grazed the back of her neck. There were two dozen smaller bowls along one table, and she paced to it. Each one was filled shallowly with water and contained flickering images.
"Sanctuaries and the shadow world," she murmured, studying each. "Portals maintained by Death for use by deities and Immortals."
Jared said nothing and walked the perimeter of the closet, trailing his hand along the wall, as if he were looking for other hidden doors.
Past-Death returned to the caldron, a sense of longing and uncertainty floating through her as she took in the souls once more. Her past was erased, the entirety of her reign as Death missing. She recalled the last twenty-six years only. They were like distant memories, with the human memories of the past week all that seemed real.
They'd know what I can't remember. She studied the lantern-like souls in the bowl. Did she want to recall everything she'd ever done? By the reactions of those around her, she wasn't certain.
Gabriel knew what she was and was willing to take a chance on her. If she didn't want to do it for her, didn't she owe it to him to see if there were any secrets she should've known as a former deity to help him?
"Jared, you said I will always be who I am. What did you mean?" she asked. "Something more than a philosophical outlook? An Immortal secret I forgot?"
"I don't give a shit about your self esteem." He was in front of the door, his ear pressed to it as he listened. "Something happened out there. I smell food."
"Are there dealers waiting for us?"
"No. Nothing living."
"Good. Now, I want to know what you meant, seeing as how you've never met me before."
"Come with me to Hell, and I'll tell you."
"Damn demons. You can't just answer this one question?"
"Does it matter to you?" he asked, facing her.