He nodded, grinning.
“So now it’s off through this portal to the unknown again?” Nathaniel said. “Do you really think that’s wise?”
I glared up at him. “What other option do we have? I won’t leave the missing Agents to Azazel.”
“But—”
“No,” I said. “I’m tired of being crossed every time I make a decision. We have a lead. We’re going. If you don’t like it, then go back to Lucifer and explain why you’re not with me.”
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes at me. “Your gratitude didn’t last very long.”
“Are you coming, or are you going?” I asked.
I appreciated that Nathaniel had saved my life, and that he had healed me. But I was sick of arguing with all and sundry. They’d made me the leader, so they’d damned well better follow or go the hell home.
“Of course I am coming with you,” Nathaniel said.
“Fine,” I said, and looked at the charm in my hand. “Take us to Azazel.”
I threw the charm in front of me, and a portal appeared in the air where the charm had been. All of the men immediately shouldered their way in front of me. I didn’t even try to argue. Let them work out who would go first.
Samiel won, followed by Jude, and then Nathaniel.
Beezle climbed inside my coat.
“Wake me when we get there,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is this cutting into your naptime?” I said.
“I already missed my snack time,” he grumbled. “I’m not missing my nap, too.”
I stepped into the portal, felt the familiar squeeze of air pressure, fought the nausea that rose with it.
And emerged a few minutes later in a tumble. No one was there to catch me. They were all facing away from the portal.
I stood up, grumbling, and dusted myself off. “So much for chivalry. What are you all staring…”
My voice trailed off. We were on the back lawn of Azazel’s mansion, just inside the shelter of the forest there, and hidden from the sight of anyone in the house.
It was the middle of the day, and the house buzzed with activity. I could see the shadows of many creatures passing to and fro behind the windows.
The lawn was covered in tents. Demons and fallen angels bustled back and forth carrying supplies. I smelled woodsmoke, and heard the ringing of metal on metal.
This was an army. Azazel’s army.
“I can’t believe he came back here,” I whispered.
“Doubtless he assumed it was safe. We have been here once before, and found him gone.”
“A smart rabbit knows how to circle back behind the wolf,” Jude said.
“He’s no rabbit,” I said, watching the tremendous amount of activity going on before us. “Is he planning on storming Lucifer’s residence?”
“Whatever he’s planning, we can’t let him do it,” Jude said. “Anyone who gets in Azazel’s way will be crushed.”
“But how will we stop an army with just the four of us?” Nathaniel said.
I stared hard at the orderly movements of the soldiers, thinking. Then I smiled.
“By causing chaos, of course.”
“This isn’t another stupid snowman plan, is it?” Beezle said from inside my coat.
“That plan worked,” I said, and explained what I was thinking. “Remember, the important thing is not to destroy the army. It’s to find the Agents, and neutralize Azazel.”
“I love it when you use euphemisms,” Beezle said.
“Just stay inside the coat,” I said. “On the count of three. One, two, three!”
Nathaniel, Samiel and I simultaneously blasted different sections of the lawn. Tents immediately caught fire, and there was a moment of confusion as everyone ran around trying to figure out what had happened and where the threat was coming from.
Jude ran up the center of the lawn, taking out demons whenever he encountered them. The rest of us followed, swords clashing and spells flying.
By the time we reached the side door of the mansion, almost all the tents were ablaze, and several soldiers lay dead behind us.
The door was open since so many soldiers and demons were coming and going from the house to the tent city. Several more soldiers were emerging in response to the cries for help from outside.
Samiel led the charge through the door, blasting whatever was in front of him. Nathaniel followed, and I came behind them, slashing with the sword. Jude galloped in behind me, blood on his muzzle.
Nathaniel and Samiel had engaged fighting the soldiers in the room, but I didn’t care about them. If we got caught here, we would be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Azazel’s men.
“Forget about them!” I shouted. “Keep going! Jude, can you sniff out Chloe?”
Jude barked and dashed through the room, pausing only to tear the throat out of a charcarion demon that made the mistake of getting in his way.
I expected Jude to lead us toward the top of the house and Azazel’s labs. After all, he already had cages ready for new prisoners there.
But instead Jude led us through a large kitchen I had never seen before. We shocked the hell out of one of Azazel’s soldiers making a sandwich. I slit his throat so he wouldn’t raise an alarm.
“Wow, that was cold,” Beezle said.
I felt a pang of regret. He hadn’t threatened me or mine, and maybe he didn’t deserve to die in a pool of his own blood while doing something as mundane as making a sandwich. For a moment I wondered where my humanity had gone.