Black Night

Then I put my hand over my heart, and reached my broken hand toward his chest. He went as still as a deer that hears a wolf in the forest. I covered his heart with my hand.

“Friend,” I said.

He looked down at my hand on his chest, the one that was missing two fingers, then up at me. His gaze was still suspicious.

“Friend,” I said again.

He closed his hand around mine, and I was struck anew by his overwhelming strength. I think he meant to be gentle but he was crushing my remaining fingers in a death grip.

I nodded, trying not to show how much he was hurting me. If I yanked my hand away, he might change his mind and decide to attack.

He gave my fingers a final squeeze, and then let go. I exhaled the breath that I had been holding and stood up. Samiel stood up, too, looking lost.

“Do you know the way to Amarantha’s castle?” I asked him.

He looked puzzled.

“Faerie castle?” I tried again. There was no reason for him to know the queen’s name.

His face cleared and he nodded.

I gestured toward Gabriel. “Can you carry your brother?”

Samiel glanced at Gabriel in surprise, then back at me. I knew what he was asking.

“Same father,” I said. “Ramuell.”

Samiel closed his eyes, and it seemed that he was not reliving happy familial memories. I could only imagine what it must have been like for him, growing up in the Forbidden Lands with an insane angel for a mother and a murderous nephilim for a father.

Then he opened his eyes again, and gently lifted Gabriel into his arms. There was a heartbreaking tenderness on his face.

He smiled for the first time, and it was like seeing the first blossoms of spring after a long winter.

“Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” I said.

That was when Beezle flapped into the clearing, looking completely exhausted. Samiel tightened his grip on Gabriel and stood in front of me, as if to protect me.

I put my hand on his shoulder and made sure he was looking at my face. “It’s okay. Beezle’s a friend.”

Samiel looked doubtful, but he stepped aside.

Beezle landed on a tree branch, looking super grouchy. “What in the four hells has been taking you so long? I’ve been looking for the stupid Maze for the last two days.”

“Two days?” I said. I hadn’t realized that much time had passed. “What were you doing looking for me, anyway? I thought you’d given me up as a lost cause.”

“Don’t be a dork, Maddy,” Beezle scoffed, grooming one of his wings and studiously avoiding my eyes. “I’ve never given up on you yet.”

I blinked and felt a tear rolling down my cheek. Beezle looked up and frowned.

“Well, don’t get all sappy about it, all right? I’m here now, we’re reunited, I knew you would succeed, yay. And who’s the big fella holding on to Gabriel?”

“Samiel,” I said.

He crinkled his forehead. “The son of Ramuell and Ariell?”

I nodded.

“The one who tried to kill you?”

“Twice,” I said.

“Is there a reason why he’s walking along next to you like he’s out for a Sunday stroll?”

“He’s coming home with us,” I said. I wondered what Lucifer would think of that.

“What are we, some kind of halfway house for nephilim children?” Beezle said. “I hope he doesn’t like popcorn, because I’m not sharing any of mine.”

I smiled at Beezle as he settled on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. There will be enough popcorn for everyone, especially you.”

He glanced down at my left hand, the cauterized and bloody remains of my last two fingers. “I thought you told me you’d come back in one piece.”

“I’ve still got all the pieces that matter,” I said.

“Let’s go shock the hell out of Amarantha,” he said, shifting around to make himself more comfortable. “Wake me up when we get there.”

17

TO SAY THAT WE CAUSED A STIR WHEN WE ENTERED the throne room would be an understatement. I threw the doors open and strode ahead of Samiel. I must have been a sight to see—my torn clothes, my missing fingers, my face swollen and blackened from Samiel’s punches, and trailing behind me a strange half angel carrying Gabriel.

Amarantha was perched on the edge of her throne when we entered. Focalor sat beside her on a low stool, and he had obviously just said something to make her laugh when I entered. When she saw us, the smile faded from her face. Focalor blinked at me in surprise.

I came to a stop before them, the assembled courtiers whispering all around us. Samiel sidled up to me and pressed his arm against mine. I could tell that the crowd made him nervous and I gave him a reassuring little shoulder bump.

Amarantha and Focalor stared at me.

“Surprised to see me?” I asked.

“How did you survive the Maze?” Focalor asked, standing. “Where is Antares?”

“Antares is in the cage that used to hold Gabriel,” I said. “And I’ll be calling Azazel ASAP to pick up his wayward son, so if I were you, I would clear out of here before he arrives. You’ll probably want to pick the time and place for your groveling.”

Focalor came down the stairs toward me, and I actually could see steam emitting from his nostrils. I wondered vaguely if he could breathe fire. His breath stank of brimstone and I could feel heat emanating from his body. It was like standing too close to a furnace.