Page 31 of Till Death

He stood up from the desk and walked toward the window overlooking a fat load of nothingness, like he had a prime view of Central Park in fall instead.

“You know, Hank has always been such a little shit,” Amon replied, with such vehemence that I took a step back and almost bumped into Cole, who reached out a clawed hand to take a swipe out of me.

My poor heart stuttered and nearly stopped. “Oh, yeah, I got that impression from him,” I told Amon with forced lightness.

“He thinks he is entitled toeverything. Has a superiority complex like you wouldn’t believe.” Amon linked his hands behind his back, but the tightness in his shoulders betrayed the ease in which he spoke. “This whole mess was his idea, you know.”

“What? The idea to divvy up the worlds and use the mortal realm as your twisted, demented playground?” I asked.

“No, starting the war.”

“The…” I swallowed hard and almost choked.

Okay, that one really shook me. My insides began to tremble uncontrollably and my knees locked, head going light. “Come again?” I finally managed to get out.

Amon’s hands clenched into fists but he didn’t turn around. “Hank always acted like he was better than the rest of us. Purer, smarter, kinder. Thought no one gave him the credit he deserved for being such a golden child. A fat head, that’s what he has. Nothing changed.” When the demon eventually did turn to face me again, he was seething, and I caught a glimpse of pure red eyes.

As a shapeshifter, I wouldn’t be able to see his true form, because it became whatever he willed it to be. But there was no disguising the evil beneath the nice-guy exterior. This wasn’t someone to underestimate. I’d let myself be taken in by the act up until this point. I needed to stay aware. Stay focused.

This enlightening conversation might have answered a few questions for me but I also got the distinct sense that Amon wanted to keep me here for a bit longer.

“A fat head and a huge ego,” he was saying. “Then good-old Hank decided it was time to put into action his plan to rule all three realms, starting with the creation of his Archangels. Most specifically, you, as the first. He figured that through evolution of multiple lifetimes, he’d be able to craft the perfect warrior in a purely hands-off fashion. You’d grow, you’d learn, you’d eventually come to the point where you go through your Trials and ascend. Then you’d be his entirely.”

It sounded right. Damn him, it sounded right, I hated that. I hated how I actuallyunderstoodwhat this demon said to me, and I felt it deep inside my bones. I’d never asked for these powers or this fate, and I might not have any of my memories from my past lives, but this fight was mine. And I wasn’t the type of person to back away.

Everything I’d experienced until now made sure of it. The stubbornness everyone seemed to laud? Yeah.

“You’re not an innocent daisy either,” I retorted. Casting my glance over to where Cole squatted on the floor beside me, his chest and back heaving, his jaw protruding worse than it had when I first saw him.

His struggle never seemed to end, only worsen the longer I stayed here. And I did nothing to help.

“No, and I never claimed to be, unlike my brother. I let you know exactly what I am up front. I find it saves on confusion down the road. You have questions, Jade. I have the answers if you’re ready to hear them.”

“You’re telling me God started this war. Because he has asuperiority complex.” I had to see if I was getting this right. I quirked a brow at Amon, daring him to contradict me.

“What?” he asked with a chuckle. “Doesn’t mesh with your worldview?”

I bit the inside of my lip to keep from doing what I really wanted to do: shout obscenities at him. “It’s a lot to think about,” I said at last.

“And it’s better for you to know now what you’re truly fighting for, before you get any deeper. You want to restore balance. You want everyone to win, and it’s simply not possible.” Amon held his hands out to the side. “There is no way to make everyone happy.”

“Hank told me if I restored the balance, the veil would restore itself.” Now I sounded like a child.

“How does he expect you to do so? Tell me. Has he given you the answers you seek? Has he done anything except make this harder on you than it must be? You and I—”

“Please don’t tell me we’re not so different,” I interrupted. “I’m not sure I could take it.”

Besides, Amon already knew the one question I had, and he’d given me the answer. I wanted a way to save Cole and there wasn’t one, because you couldn’t escape the natural laws of the universe. The laws Hank put into place.

So, God couldburnfor all I cared.

CHAPTERNINE

Irubbed my hands together, glancing around the room for a brightly marked exit and finding none. Did I expect it? No, because hell didn’t work like Styx Corporation, no matter how similar the two looked.

To tell the truth, I’d never really felt comfortable there either. And not just because of the monster spawn receptionist or Angel of Death turned demon in charge. The whole place had struck me as not natural.

“Well, I’d love to tell you it’s been nice, but I think I’ve dawdled long enough,” I told Amon. “We’ve had our chat. You’ve been really helpful.”

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