“I'm not following.” Azrael frowned.
“What does human belief say 'bout demons?” Brigitte asked. “Specific'ly, what it say about conquering dem?”
Azrael frowned as he thought it over. “Belief in God is supposed to protect you, and enough belief will give you the power to cast out demons; even control them.”
Brigitte smiled at him as if he had answered his own question.
“But that's what exorcists do,” Azrael said. “They cast out demons, and then the demon spirit returns to its body. It's only projecting itself into the human. So, when the priest convinces the human that the demon has been exorcised, the human releases its hold, and the demon goes home.”
“It goes home unless another vessel has been made for it,” Samedi said. “Now, this just be guessin' but I think if someone did make a soul vial and they enchanted it right, when they exorcised a demon they could call it right into that vial. But first, they'd have to cut the cord that binds the demon's body to his soul.”
“Can that be done?” I asked; hoping to hear a no.
“Sure,” Sam said. “All you need is a soul slicer. A harvester. You got one of dem, don't you, Death Angel?”
“The scythe,” Azrael whispered. “And it holds souls too. I don't need a vial to harvest.”
“There you go,” Samedi said. “If you have one, then someone else could too. Maybe the vial is just for show.”
“Thank you, Sam.” Azrael held his hand out to the Baron. “You've been very helpful. If I can ever repay the favor, don't hesitate to call. You can find me at Pride Palace.”
“It ain't no thing; we just talkin',” Sam said as he shook Azrael's hand. “I hope it does help, and I hope you all come back when you're not in such a bad way.”
“We will,” Azrael promised. “We can talk about scythes and top hats.”
Samedi laughed. “I look forward to it.” He looked at the rest of us and said, “But for now; bonjour mes amis.”
“Goodbye, Sam.” I hugged Sam first and then Brigitte. “Goodbye, Brigitte.”
“Goodbye, V,” Brigitte said. Then she turned to Az and blew him a kiss. “Bon chans, sweet angel.”
Azrael bowed respectfully to Brigitte; smiling at her softly. We left the Vodou Gods to their peace and headed back into the house. In the corridor, I grabbed Re's hand.
“You're telling Pan that it's time to go,” I said to him.
“My pleasure,” Re said and started forward.
“No.” I yanked him back. “No pleasure for you; just deliver the message.”
“I have to at least look or I might fall in,” Re said as he kissed my hand and then sped away.
I sighed deeply.
“That's what you get for sleeping with a pervert,” Trevor said.
There was nothing I could say to that; he was absolutely right.
Chapter Nine
“Where's Pan?” Horus asked as soon as we walked into the dining room.
The rest of the God Squad was waiting for us to return; having a meal with some of the Intare. My lions liked to entertain—especially if grilling was involved, there's something about lions and meat—and there was a feast laid out on one of the sideboards. The others looked up at Horus' question; just in time to see me grimace.
“He stayed, didn't he?” Horus shook his head. “I knew I should never have let him go to that house of debauchery.”
“Oh, he's having fun,” Re said as he went to the sideboard and started making himself a plate. “He'll be back in a few hours... or possibly a few days.”
“A few days?” Horus growled. “How could you leave him there alone with those heathens?!”
“Heathens?” Kirill mouthed at Trevor with amusement.
“He's perfectly safe, Horus,” I said gently. “The Gede are into having a good time, not killing their guests.”
“One of them is the first man who ever committed murder,” Horus growled. “His name is literally a misspelling of 'criminal.'”
“That's just the myth,” I said, although I cringed internally. “Krim isn't going to hurt Pan; they all adore him.”
“I'll bet they do,” Horus huffed.
“I'll take you over after I have some lunch, and we can pick him up,” Re offered.
“Thank you,” Horus said stiffly and simmered down.
“Did Samedi give you any leads?” Odin asked as he set Lesya down.
Lesya came toddling over to me with her arms outstretched. I scooped her up and plopped her on my hip automatically.
“I think I'd better take her upstairs first,” I said with a warning look at Azrael; I didn't want Lesya hearing any of this.
Azrael nodded as Lesya pouted and started to whine about staying. I shushed her with a mommy-look and started for the elevator.
“Why can't I stay?” Lesya asked as the elevator whirred softly and we headed up to Samantha and Fallon's suite.
“Because that's grown-up talk and it's too serious for little lion girls,” I said.
“I can be serious,” Lesya said as she scowled at me; giving me her most intimidating look.
It wasn't half-bad for a little girl. I kissed the wrinkle between her brows and smoothed back her thick, ebony hair. It was halfway down her back already; at this rate, she'd have hair like her father by the time she turned two. I knew I should cut it, but I couldn't bear to. I loved how much she resembled Kirill; a little miniature, female version of him. But taking care of that hair on a child as active as Lesya was a pain in the patootie.
“You look very serious,” I said. “But you're still too young.”
“I'm not,” she insisted. “Lions grow fast.”
“Yes, they do.” I sighed; lamenting the baby-time I'd been cheated out of with all of
