Page 56 of Legendary

Natalia shook her head. “Oh no. It’s because those demons she’s choosing aren’t strong enough to withstand soul pulling. You can’t just rip it out and put it back in, that’s just not how that works. Lilith seems to be trying to get Isabel to manipulate what’s left of the demon, to be more submissive and willing to follow her while in that dark of a state. You can’t just do that to something that was never prepared to bear that kind of weight.”

“What about the help of a necromancerandIsabel? Could both of them change that?”

Natalia furrowed her delicate brows and then realization dawned on her face. “Ah, you did say Garrett had the power of resurrection. It is nerve wracking to know she had one of those in such close quarters, resurrection in the hands of Lilith could be a dangerous feat. It is quite interesting though since that power is nearly extinct now. Only a few ever really had it. I can’t do it myself, even being a High Priestess. Funny isn’t it.”

My eyebrows raised, but I remained quiet. “To answer your question though, no that still wouldn’t help. Resurrection might bring them back, I mean there are always no guarantees when you are working with that kind of magic, but normally they would return with their soul intact and nothing would have changed. Unless Isabel could figure out a way to manipulate the soul into not returning to its host then that would be the only way, but Lilith would ultimately be back to square one.”

“Then this doesn’t make any sense. She has plenty of demons to do her bidding, what’s even the point of any of these so-called experiments.”

“It does in a way.” Natalia brought her lower lip into her mouth using her teeth. “Those soulless demons, as fickle as they may be, are getting the job done. Distracting you while she doesn’t have to waste her other demons on you. The hellhounds are no different, with the obvious help of Isabel to manipulate them, just like she did with the angels at The Skies. Her reasons for keeping Isabel around are vast, she’ll need that kind of magic if she has any intention of trying to claim Heaven’s Gate again, if that’s even her plan at all.” I almost flinched when she mentioned that fight. I closed my eyes tightly to try to stop every single moment from erupting into my mind. “Those voided demons have no loyalties, no sense of right or wrong, no moment of clarity that what they may be doing could be seen as malevolent, if they go, they go. She likely has a million of them by now, waiting to slow you down, mess with you.”

“But for what?”

“Lilith moves in a different way than you do. You all are so direct and willing to be on the front lines. She isn’t. Lilith has made the mistake of trusting Markus to get her plans ahead and that didn’t pan out so she’staking a different route, while still maintaining her way of doing things, meticulously and moving all the pieces around at different times, having them make moves when it benefits her.” Maybe we were all pawns in Lilith’s game, just not understanding what part we played and how much importance we had when it was game over. The High Priestess looked over her shoulder as if her home with all the people who loved her was just beyond the trees. “These shadow demons aren’t the main issue; they are likely another moving piece meant to distract you from what’s really going on. Lilith always means to use them, but they aren’t what she’s after. As much as she loves watching the chaos, she loves stability, loves when everything falls into place with minimal effort on her side, when others are to blame for her actions.”

Those demons had no stability, nothing togroundthem as she said. Then why would Lilith waste her time with them? Unless Natalia was right, and those soulless demons were just a means to an end. Based on what I knew about Lilith, that wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

“If you are trying to tell me she wants Dani, then that’s old news. We know she wants her back.”

Natalia pressed her lips together as if she was trying not to laugh. “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying that she got Dani back in Purgatory, step one, now what’s next? She has the means to snatch Dani up, get her to have a conversation. She could very well just end her life and all of yours, but she isn’t. She’s letting you move along like everything’s fine. It’s actually kind of frightening if you think about it.”

“Isabel’s mentioned having to keep Dani alive, which would give your theory some merit.”

Natalia laughed, the sound almost musical. “I don’t say things unless they have merit, Nicholas. I can promise you that.” She gave me a knowing look. “Do you want to know what I think you should do as of right now?”

I was desperate at this point. “Yes. Very much so.”

“I think you should try talking to a demon that was close to Lilith. Not an Elise type, but one that would have been more in the loop than others.”

“We are staying at a hostel full of both demons and Enchanters, believe me, there are demons that were close to Lilith. They don’t love talking about their experiences.”

Natalia shook her head. The tendrils of hair in front of her face, swaying back and forth. “No, I mean a demon who may still have Lilith as an ally in some way. I would of course be cautious with whom you speak to, but you are never going to get the full story or even a sliver of it from someone who is going to filter themselves.” She tapped on her chin. “You need someone with an Elise type mouth, but without the loyalty to Dani.”

I looked at her in surprise. She laughed and it sounded like power, but every note was feathery and in tune. “Oh, please. I may have much on my mind these days, but I’m not blind. Elise talks a big game, but she has great respect for your Soul Seether.”

I tilted my head left and right, realizing how much weight her words carried and how right she was. “Well, now that they’re back to being whatever they are to each other, finding this mysterious, potentially helpful demon might be a little easier.”

“And the fact that you have some kind of—what was it…shape-shifting demon on your side?”

It was my turn to laugh. “Yeah, Beetee. She’s one of the good guys if you can call a demon that, I guess.”

Natalia adjusted one of the skinny straps of her dress. “I don’t think it matters much anymore what you are when determining good guys and bad guys, don’t you think?” Her face was serious as if she was trying to get me to understand that what I’d said went back on everything that had happened to us in the past months.

“Right.” I swiped a hand across the back of my neck nervously. “How’s my dad? Daya?”

Natalia smiled warmly. “They’re good. Worried about you, but that’s to be expected.”

“And Ariel?” She stuck her tongue in her cheek before she answered me.

“Um, he’s quite honestly the same. He is making it seem like you all aren’t coming back or won’t make it back. Whichever is the case, he has already started his training of sentries and seems to want to continue with his plan of action. The place is still intact though, so don’t worry.”

She hadn’t mentioned Jonah’s missing power, so that had to mean that he either hadn’t figured out where it went, or he had just given up on it altogether. I would bet all my celestial coins; it was the former. Ariel would never just dismiss that kind of power being up for grabs.

When I looked back at the High Priestess, she was smiling at me. The smile was small and light, but it was there. “And how is Dani?”

“Dani’s fine. Adjusting to being back in her home of sorts, but she’s fine.”

“Have you spoken?”

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