Page 87 of The Monsters We Are

“Because she is no normal witch,” said Azazel. “She is a revenant. A powerful one. Powerful enough to inflict a curse on Aeon that is so strong its inhabitants can’t fight it.”

Ishtar’s upper lip curled. “Revenants are good at cursing things, notundoing curses.”

“You don’t know that. And, in any case, she isn’t a typical revenant.” Azazel draped one arm over the back of the sofa. “It’s possible that her presence won’t make a difference. But it definitely wouldn’t do any harm. Especially since Kali might help via Wynter.”

“I doubt that She will, since She will count waking Abaddon as ‘help’ and is likely to think that the rest should be up to us,” predicted Lilith. “There is only so much deities can interfere with, even with the assistance of their Favored. Still, I am not opposed to Wynter being present. Any help would be appreciated. Would she be prepared to offer us such aid, Cain?”

“I can’t imagine her refusing,” he said. “She wants to invade Aeon almost as much as we do.” Unfortunately.

“Are you sure that the people who reside here will also be eager to join the battle?” asked Abaddon.

“After the damage the Aeons have caused our home? Definitely,” said Seth.

Abaddon accepted that with a nod. “Do your people know about me?”

“No,” Seth told him. “We did not want to risk that some might attempt to find you while you Rested, even if only out of curiosity.”

“It wouldn’t have been the first time people sought the Resting place of an Ancient,” said Abaddon. “What will you tell them?”

“The truth, for the most part,” replied Cain. “I intend to make a speech shortly. I will publicly introduce you and explain that you have been at Rest for a long time, but I will claim it was by choice. Revealing that you were in what was effectively a coma might also give people the impression that you are currently weak.”

“And the Ancients can never be seen to be weak, I understand. I would imagine that you will not be introducing me as your uncle,” Abaddon guessed, unoffended.

“Not as my uncle, no. People believe that Adam is my father, and there are some here who have been to Aeon and so are aware that he only has two brothers. Just the same, they know that Eve is an only child.”

“After the speech, I will show you around the city, let people get a closer look at you,” Dantalion told Abaddon. “You can pick a spot for where you would one day like to build your own home. I am guessing that you intend to stay with Cain in the meantime?”

“That is my plan, yes,” Abaddon confirmed.

Ishtar shot him another sexually suggestive smile. “If you decide you would like a change of company, I have many spare bedchambers you can use.” She cast a quick look at Cain, clearly wanting to see his reaction to her offer; not looking too happy when he only looked at her blankly.

Abaddon sighed at her. “So you still like to play games.”

Widening her eyes in innocence, she put a hand to her chest. “I am simply being friendly.”

Abaddon snorted. “You’re not friendly.”

“On the contrary, I can bevery—”

“Sister,” Inanna cut in, a soft note of warning in her voice.

Ishtar gave a fake pout. “None of you are any fun.”

A short while later, Cain declared it was time to make the speech. The Ancients began to file out of the solar room one by one.

Lagging behind to fall into step beside Cain, Azazel asked him, “Do you think that Kali possessed Wynter last night?”

“It’s a possibility,” Cain told him. “She has no recollection of the last time the deity possessed her. If it happened again, she likely wouldn’t remember.”

Azazel twisted his mouth. “So Kalicouldhave taken over her body last night.”

“Yes. There’s a chance She wants to help us escape our cage, and having Abaddon certainly improves our odds. She might have used Wynter’s body to achieve that goal.”

It pissed Cain off that the deity used her over and over in such a way, but there was little he could do about it. That only made it worse for him. It caused him to feel that he was failing his consort; failing to protect her.

He looked forward to the day when Kali no longer needed Wynter. It would not only mean she would be both free and safer but that he would have her all to himself. For now, well, he had one comfort: Kali might have some hold over Wynter, but She wouldneverbe able to take his consort from him.

Chapter Nineteen

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