Page 92 of Legacy of Chaos

“Days?” His surprise overcame his annoyance at being restrained, his powers blocked. The Ligorial might look like a plain piece of jewelry, but it both restricted the use of angelic powers and would also, with a single thought from its owner, wrap around the wearer’s body like a python.

“Nearly a week has passed in the human realm. What took so long?”

A week? The evil fog must have leaked into the Earthly realm from a region of Sheoul where time ran faster, trapping theSea Stormin its time warp.

“Just take me to Zaphkiel.”

Petulas craned his neck to look behind Gabriel. “Where is Hutriel? We were told he would be accompanying you.”

Gabriel schooled his expression, summoning the cool, superior nonchalance all Archangels had perfected. It wasn’thard. He was numb right now. Everything was great. Just great. Fucking peachy.

“Hutriel’s not coming.” Hutriel wasnevercoming.

The toady looked at him but said nothing as they flashed to Throne HQ. Gabriel entered Zaphkiel’s chamber, where he was seated on a dais with two other high-ranking Thrones.

Zaph stood, his formal purple robes swaying around his jeweled slippers. Man, Gabriel missed Metatron. He usually wore breezy, casual clothes and wasn’t a douchebag.

“Finally,” Zaphkiel said. “What news have you?”

Gabriel chose his words carefully. “The Gehennaportal is no longer a threat.”

“So, you destroyed it?” At Gabriel’s nod, Zaphkiel’s mouth pursed. “Did Azagoth willingly give you the tools to do so? And where is Hutriel?”

A shadow passed over Gabriel’s soul at the mention of the other angel’s name, twisting and writhing as it wove itself into his very being.

“He was killed,” he said. “In battle.”

“Killed?” Morasha, the female on Zaphkiel’s right, flowed to her feet, her crimson robes swishing. “How?”

The scene came back to him in slow motion and with crystal clarity. Demon teeth, flashing swords, blood, and feathers. His normally iron stomach roiled.

“Demons attacked the platform.” He swallowed. “Hutriel…fought valiantly.”

“What of his body?”

An image of Hutriel’s body sinking beneath the waves flashed behind his eyes and brought bile to his tongue. “Lost to the seas.”

“This is unfortunate,” Morasha said. “He was one of our greatest warriors.” She narrowed her eyes at Gabriel. “Were there any witnesses to his death?”

He pegged her with a hard stare and summoned Archangel attitude. “Are you questioning my account?”

“I’d simply like to know exactly what happened. He was my friend.”

“He was my friend too,” Zaph said. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. But first, I want to know everything that happened while you were gone. Who you talked to. What Azagoth said. What his residence looked like, right down to the color of his walls. Understand?”

“And then what?”

“Then you will be returned to your cell until your Ordeal.”

No. He had too much to do and few ways to accomplish it. Absolutely nothing would get done if he was imprisoned. But how could he—?

“I want to see Reaver first,” he blurted.

“Reaver?” Zaph looked startled. “Why? He’s not responsive.”

“It’s my pre-Ordeal right to see anyone I want. I choose Reaver.”

The idiots looked between each other and finally shrugged. “We will agree to thatifour laws allow that person to be unconscious.”

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