Sweet Temptation

I’m here, I tell her with my eyes. I’m not going anywhere.

Father struts into the darkened lounge, shooting a haughty look at the other Dukes, and shoves Anna away. “Go sit down until we’re ready to deal with you.”

I want to grab him by the thick neck and deal with him right now. I feel Marna scratch me gently on the back to calm me, and we all move forward, following Anna to the long black couches along the wall. Fake stars twinkle down on us from the black ceiling. Other Nephilim from around the world filter in and sit along the walls with us.

I search the room for exits. Aside from where we entered, there seems to be a door on the side wall that blends in with all the black. It has no exit sign. The club is underground, so that door could lead to a cellar or closet. I wish I could check for certain.

When Astaroth arrives, Marna inconspicuously leans forward and glances between me and Anna, checking to see if the bond will be visible to her father. She gives a satisfied nod to say we’re okay, and I exhale. I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been, but it’s different than the last summit. We still don’t have a plan. We’ve no clue how to take down all of these Dukes and spirits. Anna keeps talking about having faith, how this battle is bigger than just her, bigger than any of us, but I just want her to live. And yes. I want the demons gone for good.

I haven’t let myself imagine what life will be like without them, but as I watch the eleven of them mingling—all present except Belial—the lot of them unconcerned and unbothered by the hell they’ve put everyone through, I want them gone so badly it burns like acid in my blood. I want them to pay.

I sit very still, as do the other Neph. We learned early on not to fidget. Not to draw attention or show weakness or disrespect. Anna starts to nibble on her nail and I nudge her leg with mine. She drops her hand to her lap.

Moments later Duke Rahab fills the open spot in the center of the room. All attention is on him as he speaks in a French accent, malice lacing each word. “I never believed this summit would be called. But alas . . . the great prophecy is upon us.” He motions to Father. I tense as Father strides straight to Anna, yanking her to her feet. My lungs constrict, watching him pull her to the middle of the room.

I slide to the edge of my seat.

“Her badge holds the white of innocence,” Rahab spits. “First the angels intervened to keep her alive, and then her father goes missing when we attempt to question him. But once we take out his offspring, we will find Belial, and he will be dealt with.”

“How can this be, Brother Rahab?” asks Blake’s dad, Melchom. Blake stares at his father in his new, young body—he looks like a Chinese movie star, and he’s modeled his hair to look just like Blake’s. “The prophecy was a myth!”

Rahab grins wickedly. “We have reason to believe that eighteen years ago a guardian angel broke ranks and possessed her human to be with a Duke. Some of you might recall the angel Mariantha and her touching bond with Belial?”

“The traitor!” bellows Zania’s father, Duke Sonellion. His eyes burn red and he bashes a fist against the table. Other Dukes follow suit, shouting their disgust.

“I am not sold on this so-called prophecy,” calls the smooth voice of Duke Alocer, Kope’s father. “How do we know it’s true? What proof do we have?”

The Dukes are so accustomed to being lied to from every angle that they break into an argument about the prophecy’s validity. I’m quite pleased about this development, as watching them squabble among themselves makes me feel that our ranks of Neph are stronger. Plus, it gives me a chance to discreetly bend my knee up and reach down, prying my knife from the sole of my boot. And then, slowly, I grab the other, sliding them both into my pockets.

The only person in the whole room who subtly glances at me is Marek, from his station at the door. His cheeks tighten as if he’s holding back a grin, and that seals my earlier wonderings. He’s golden.

The Dukes are raising their voices now over confusion about the prophecy. Rahab’s version completely leaves out the pivotal bit about the demons being given a chance at redemption—he thinks the prophecy is only about banishing them from earth, back to hell. Anna watches them intently, her forehead pinched.

The first true wave of terror hits me when I hear her speak. Her voice reaches above them all. “You’re all being given a second chance at heaven!”

Rahab’s hand flies back and he hits her so hard she falls to the floor. I am on my feet, but I’m not alone. Our entire row has stood.

“What are we waiting for?” Duke Thamuz yells. “Let’s kill her!”

If he goes near her, he will be the first to see the edge of my knife this night. I watch him carefully for any sign that he’ll pull a weapon. But he is shushed by the other Dukes who want to find out what Anna’s talking about.

Now they’re fighting over whether or not to let her talk and whether or not to believe her. They finally decide to let Anna state the prophecy in its entirety, and Jezebet, the Duke of Lies, confirms that Anna’s telling the truth. But none of this is working. They’re too thick to see this is a good thing for them. The Dukes hate hell, but they love earth. Here, they are gods. Why would they want to return to heaven, where everyone is equal? They want to kill Anna purely for suggesting it.

Father yanks Anna by the hair and grabs her, putting an arm around her throat. I move forward quickly, but Ginger grabs my back pocket to hold me in check. I push her hand away and stare at Anna—they’re scaring her to death. I can’t bloody stand here much longer.