Page 89 of Destined for Eternity
“The sheer number of demons who infiltrated Earth, and the trouble they were causing, left us no choice,” Remiel argued.
Bartol had known them bringing Raguel out was a risky move for the angels, but he’d had no idea the desperation of their move. If they hadn’t woken his father, though, he wouldn’t have learned how to fight without losing his mind, and they wouldn’t have stopped the troubles last winter. The world would have become an entirely different place by now.
“There are always choices. You knew raising him would draw our ire more than anything else you could have done, and yet you did it anyway.” Samael’s eyes grew darker. “You will allow us passage to Earth, and the right to maintain a presence here.”
Remiel was quiet for a moment. The fact that he didn’t argue about Raguel’s return any further said he recognized bringing the archangel back had been a deal breaker.
“What are your terms?” the archangel asked stiffly.
“At any given time, a thousand demons should be allowed on the planet.” The fallen angel paused as concerned whispers rose from Heaven’s side of the tables. “There will be three portals across the world we can use. They can be administered by angels to register names and control the numbers who enter and exit.”
“You would have them come in their true forms? No, the humans couldn’t handle it,” Remiel said, shaking his head.
“The mortals will learn just as they have with the other races,” Samael said.
“In case you haven’t noticed,” Jeriel spoke up. “There are still problems since humans learned about vampires, werewolves, witches, and others. Adding demons to the list would certainly cause greater alarm and revolt among them.”
The fallen angel smiled. “All the more reason to let them meet us now while they’re still adjusting. With time, they can learn to cope with us all together.”
“Angels do not even reveal themselves,” Remiel said, lifting his chin. “Why would we allow you to do it?”
Heaven’s representatives had made a point of keeping out of the limelight. When the rare occurrences happened that they were spotted, the humans’ memories were wiped clean of it except under special circumstances such as Cori who was involved with supernaturals more than most.
“Then it’s time you shouldcome out,” Samael replied, running his gaze across the assemblage. “There’s no reason we can’t try living together.”
A round of applause came from the demon side, and even a few of the angels muttered words of agreement. Bartol had always wondered if they hated having to hide in the shadows, watching yet never a part of anything. Samael was charismatic, and as a former archangel who still served Heaven in some capacity, he was far more palatable than the others from his side.
“Do you truly think I’m authorized to give you or my people a visible presence on Earth?” Remiel asked. His features were a solid mask, hiding his emotions and thoughts.
Samael came around the table and stood in the middle of the circle of tables. “You knew what we wanted before this summit began. Countless centuries have passed where our requests to renegotiate the treaty on these particular points were ignored, and the only way to Earth has been in inhabiting human bodies—temporarily. Why meet today if you don’t have something to offer that might pacify us?”
Bartol had to agree the high demon had a point. He’d wondered the same thing.
Remiel worked his jaw. “You are correct. I can make you an offer, but not on the scale you have proposed. We will permit one portal—here in Alaska—and we must guard it. At any given time, one hundred demons will be allowed to inhabit Earth, but only if they can blend in and not frighten the humans.”
“One hundred?” Samael scoffed. The demons behind him laughed as if they found the offer to be the most comical thing they’d ever heard. “My brethren demanded far more than the one thousand I proposed, but I knew you’d never agree to the numbers they requested, so I had to negotiate down to get it that low. Hell will never agree to one hundred.”
“That is the best I can give you.”
Samael clucked his tongue. “Then the attacks on humans will continue without end, and you’ll never be able to stop us with all the portals we currently have open across the world.”
Kerbasi—dark and looming after his change—moved to stand next to Remiel. “We will stop you and continue executing your kind until none of you will risk coming to Earth, or you’re all dead.”
“What is this?” Samael frowned. “Did you create another demon slayer?”
Remiel smiled coldly. “Since the treaty no longer holds, conversions are an option for us once more. He is only the first. We can alter many more angels to track and execute your kind if necessary.”
Samael was quiet for a moment. Something told Bartol he had not considered this possibility—or at least thought it wouldn’t happen so soon. To be fair, Heaven had gotten rid of all their slayers. With Raguel out of commission, it had appeared there was no one to fight back. Bartol was a loophole since he was a nephilim, but until recently, he hadn’t been in play, either. Perhaps Hell’s minions had hoped they would not have to contend with many opponents who could actually kill them.
“Even so,” the high demon said, lifting his chin. “The conversion process is not easy, and those you recruit will require training. By my count, you only have three to fight us now—one of which is freshly made and untried. We could flood this planet with countless demons long before you could quell our numbers.”
Remiel stared hard at him. “Very well, here is my final offer. You may have two portals—one in Alaska and the other in Australia—each managed by angels. To start, there can be no more than five hundred demons on Earth at any given time, and they must be capable of blending into the native population. This is a trial basis. If your people prove they can behave themselves and not cause any major troubles after one year—to include mass murder and destruction—we can double that number to the one thousand you initially requested.”
Murmurs rose up among the demon side. Samael turned to discuss the proposition with several of those closest to him, several minutes passing before he faced the angels once more.
“We will agree to blend, either by shifting our shape or using magic to conceal our true forms.” He smoothed a hand down his suit jacket. “But we want our presence known to the world, and the right to work with human organizations who deal in the supernatural. I believe one of the agency representatives is outside now.”
“That person is not part of this negotiation.”
