Page 107 of A City of Smoke and Demons
‘For you, yes,’ Asmael said. ‘A child is the ultimate prize, isn’t it? Obviously, they didn’t fulfil their end of the bargain.’
Analise was frozen.
Asmael smiled. ‘I’ve collected the souls of many, many people, Analise. Physicians and lawyers, merchants, men who wanted to see their fortunes turn, women who wanted better for their families and themselves, tired of selling their bodies on the street. But a death witch—that would be a significant prize indeed.’
He stared at her. ‘You were to be mine. I knew what you would be. I knew where you were, obviously—first the convent, then your squalid room and the life you made for yourself while you tried not to get caught using your gift. I had John watch over you for me.’
Analise sucked in a breath. She licked her lips, her chest tight. ‘How did you know I’d be a death witch?’ She refused tobelieve it, but then couldn’t understand what he’d have to gain by lying.
For a moment, twin flames flared in those black eyes. ‘I made you, my dear. You are what you are because it was my power that gave you your gift.’
‘But … Lilith … she gave us our magic, not …’ Analise couldn’t finish the sentence.
Asmael smiled smugly. ‘A little bit of her magic, some of mine … an interesting combination, if I do say so myself. Of course, there might be a bit of our maker in you as well, which is to be expected, really. Life and death go hand in hand, after all, don’t they?’
Analise felt faint. The Devilmadeher. What the fuck did that mean? She couldn’t think about it now, and didn't know where tostart. She needed to keep him talking. ‘If you knew where I was, why didn't you come for me?’
‘Because that isn’t how it works. I can’t take what I want, Analise. Bargains are made, debts are paid. That’s how I get what I want. If everyone ran around taking whatever they liked, the world would be a mess, wouldn’t it?’
‘People do run around taking whatever they like,’ she replied bitterly.
He waved her comment away. ‘Yes, yes. I get blamed for that—unfairly, I might add.’
‘You want my sympathy?’ she asked, incredulous.
‘I want your cooperation,’ Asmael said. ‘You were supposed to be brought to me. I really did think I’d found the right man for the job. Self-serving, self-destructive, selfish, willing to do whatever it took to regain his sense of purpose. That’s what he asked for, you know. I got it wrong.’
Analise’s lips curled in satisfaction. He leant forward, his expression curious. ‘I am interested to know how you did it. How did you release him from his bargain? Did you kill him?’
‘Yes.’
The Devil laughed. ‘And you brought him back. Clever girl,’ he murmured. ‘But possibly not clever enough. You’ve been so focused on me, you haven’t sensed what’s in this room with us.’
Analise hadn’t sensed anything. She opened her magic, and gasped.
The room was full of ghosts, the spirits of those whom Asmael collected. As they slowly took form, her heart sank when she recognised the man who had led her to the demon mark, the one who began this journey. His expression was sad, regretful.
Asmael set his cup down and spread his arms victoriously. ‘This is my army, Analise. These souls are bound to me. They do my bidding.’
‘They’re ghosts,’ she argued. ‘They can’t do a thing.’
‘Not yet. Not until they are returned to a body.’
Analise swallowed. Her fingers trembled; she was still holding her cup above its saucer. She set it down slowly, realising Jem was right. ‘You can’t give them that though, can you? The dead are not yours to control.’
‘No. They belong to my sister, and Lilith has vowed never to help me, siding with our Father against me—even after what he did to her. I needed the next best thing.’ He paused. ‘Someone with Lilith’s magic, one of her beloved Daughters, one with the power to send these souls on, not to the next world, but back to this one—their forms given flesh once more, as I give new life to my children—my demons.’ His lips curled. ‘That last part is my gift to you. Do you like it? It makes you unique.’
Analise said nothing, aware of her thundering heart. She’d never sent a soul on to the next world. She’d tried, but it hadn’t worked and now she knew why. She watched Asmael as closely as she could. What did he mean about God and Lilith? What happened between them? She gasped as her amulet suddenly tingled against her chest, slithering towards her throat like it wasalive. She made a grab for it as it slipped free of her clothes and hung in the air.
‘An interesting trinket,’ the Devil mused. ‘Interesting indeed.’
Analise’s amulet fell back against her chest and she shoved it beneath her clothes again, heart pounding. ‘What’s interesting about it?’
Asmael ignored her, examining his fingernails. ‘Lilith rules the next world. I will rule this one.’ His smile fell. ‘I was the first, did you know that? The first my Father made. He created me before her. Earth ismykingdom—He gave it to me. Then He took it back when we had our little disagreement. That’s not very fair, is it?’
Analise didn’t know what to say. The Devil was having atantrum. She wanted to laugh, but wasn’t brave enough. The nuns never mentioned anything about earth once belonging to Asmael. ‘You’re lying.’
‘So they say. I have many names—the Deceiver, the Father of Lies, but tell me, where would the world be without its sin? Where would humanity be without it? Where wouldyoube without it?’
