Page 87 of Wicked Believer
My lip curls in frustration, the thought of Michael and Lucifer’s deal both infuriating and terrifying me.
The apocalypse?Theapocalypse? Are you freaking kidding me?
I try to silence my thoughts, try to hold myself together. But I’m barely hanging on by a string. I know from all my years of Bible study how this goes.
Or what John the Baptist’s prophetic version says in Revelation, anyway.
Though based on what Lucifer’s told me about the Bible being full of human error, I can’t be certain how much of it will prove true.
“Seven seals. One for each apocalyptic event; each one unlocks a new trial humanity will face,” I recite out loud to myself. Like I’m back in Sunday school. “The first four unleash the Horsemen. Pestilence. War. Famine. Death. Each tribulation worse than the last, until ...” The final battle. Armageddon.
I blanch.
No. Don’t go down that road.
I can’t allow my emotions to get the better of me right now without risking my newfound powers bursting out of me. The two seem to be inextricably connected, and giving in to the fear won’t help anything. I have to keep moving, keep going, in order to remind myself of that. If I have even a small chance of getting Lucifer to change course, then Ineedto show him my strength. The whole world is counting on me.
I groan, glancing up toward Heaven, or the Town Car’s cab ceiling, in any case.
“Big Guy, why me?”
By the time Dagon gets me back to the penthouse and I change into a Valentino minidress that’s better suited to the club scene, night has already fallen.
The city below glitters at my feet.
I turn, prepared to head toward the car, only to startle when I find Azmodeus already standing in the first-floor foyer, watching me.
“What’re you doing here?”
I was supposed to meet him at his club, The Velvet Fold, full security detail in tow.
Azmodeus shoves his hands in his pockets, stepping toward me ruefully. “Change of plans, lovey. A little birdie told me my brother put you on lockdown, so I thought you might need my help escaping, though I also hear congratulations are in order.” He glances at my collar.
“On lockdown?”
It’s the first I’ve heard of this, though after what happened to Olivia, and with Michael suddenly appearing in our bedroom before dawn this morning, it wouldn’t surprise me.
I march toward the penthouse’s front door, opening it to peek outside. Sure enough, two of the security team are nowinsidethe building, stationed where they weren’t previously, despite the fact that our floor requires a special security key for elevator access.
And they’re not positioned like they’re trying to block someone from getting in.
It’s like they’re trying to stopsomeonefrom getting out.
Namely, me.
I let the door snick shut, turning back toward Azmodeus. “How did you get past them?”
“Let’s call it a celestial loophole.” He shrugs. “You might want to bring it up with Lucifer in case you’re actually—”
“I’m not scared.”
It’s a bold-faced lie, but I manage to say it confidently.
If I want to be Lucifer’s queen, I can’t show any sign of weakness.
Not in front of him and his siblings.
And now that I know that Lucifer isn’t putting a stop to this apocalypse like I thought, well I’ll be damned if I won’t go down swinging. I’ll be exactly the righteous, obedient servant my father trained me to be.
