Kill the Dead

“It could be, but don’t count on it. Magical weapons have a way of revealing a fatal flaw at exactly the moment you need them the most. The Druj is powerful, but don’t ever get dependent on a single weapon. Who knows? You might not be able to keep it.” “What do you mean?” “You figure it out, nephilim.” “Am I still being trained?” He pushes himself up and manages to stand this time. I put out a hand to steady him. “Consider it a last homework assignment before graduation.” “Hold on to my arm and I’ll take you through the Room.” He pulls me back. “Don’t leave the athame lying there. Just because you shouldn’t rely on weapons doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have as many as possible.” I get the athame and slip it in my coat next to the black blade. “That goes for my armor, too. At some point you’ll need it. If Mason has it, you’ll have to take it from him.” “I’ll only need it if I go back to Hell and I’m not. Ever.” “No. Of course you aren’t.” “Let’s take you home, old man.” “Thank you for this, James.” “I’m not James.” “I know. But I liked James better. I hope I get to see him again someday.”

I LET HIM through the door, but I don’t go in with him. He’s on his own Downtown. I honestly don’t know if I want him to make it to Heaven or not. Like me, he’ll have to rise or fall on his own. Only one of the angels will die by my hand, Aelita said. She was coming here, so she had to have meant Lucifer, right? But she didn’t come. I dial Kasabian. No answer. I dial Kinski and the call goes to voice mail. Shit. I should feel something more than this. Fear. Rage. But I don’t. I just see the microscopic elements of the universe vibrating. The clockwork wheels turning behind the stars. I can go and look for them or I can go back and deal with Koralin. I suppose Lucifer was right about some of the things he said about me. Especially now with these angel’s eyes, ruthlessness seems like good common sense. I step through a shadow and back into the hotel lobby. A few of the hotel guests, who were bitten but not completely eaten, are awake. Adorable baby zeds. I herd them into the elevator, punch three, and take a few of them into Lucifer’s hotel suite with me. Aki’s eyes go wide when he sees us. I tear the tape off his mouth, cut one of his hands free, and give him my phone. “Don’t worry. The Drifters won’t bite. For now. Call Koralin. Tell her where you are and that her prodigal son is going to be tonight’s all-you-can-eat buffet if she doesn’t get her ass down here fast.” When he’s done, I tape him back up and go through a shadow to Vidocq and Allegra’s place. I need to get things ready.

KORALIN STEPS THROUGH the clock and into the room slowly, like she’s expecting a firing squad. I turned off most of the lights, just leaving on the ones that illuminate Aki and the area by the sofas. She spots Aki. “Rainier, darling, are you all right? Has he hurt you?”