Page 11 of Scorched Earth

“My superior,” I say slowly. “I was given orders directly from him.”

“Anyone else?”

“I assume he received orders from his superior.”

“And who’s that?”

“I…” My mind draws a blank. “Well, I suppose there are a number of them.”

“And who dotheyget orders from?”

“We have a lengthy chain of command, just like you,” I say, turning my body toward her. “Where are you going with this, Agrat?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve seen Satan, but that was…I don’t know. Eons ago at this point. We’re told we’re following orders, but we have no way of knowing for sure. Which means we don’t know who’s really in charge.”

“Yes, we do,” I counter stubbornly, but I can’t ignore the sickly feeling in my stomach as her implication takes root.

Agrat meets my gaze. She knows I know what she’s getting at. “No, Zephaniel, we do not. We assume it is our kings. But we have no way of knowing for sure. Something is happening in both of our realms to keep those of us at a lower rank—which is most of us—obedient and in the dark.”

“You’re implying a mutiny?”

“I’m clearly stating a conspiracy,” she replies. “Not my side against your side. Our sides together againstus.”

I peer into her face. “That is a grave accusation. One that could get you killed.”

“Why do you think I brought us here?” She waves a hand around our environment. “A realm between ours. One of the last safe spaces to commune in private.”

“Why would our realms join forces against us?” I ask, toying with a lock of her hair.

“To carry out some larger plan,” she says, then looks away. “Or die refusing.”

“Do you have evidence?”

“I’m working on that,” she says with a sigh. “But I believe they’re using the humans as bait. As pawns. I don’t know why yet, but I’m going to find out. In the meantime, I refuse to listen to anything I’m told by someone who outranks me.”

“That’s certainly a surefire way to get killed,” I say dryly.

“Zeph.” She cups my face. “I need your help. That woman, Katie—there are many others like her. Influential humans who must be saved that are being used in whatever scheme is going on. You and I can save them.”

“Why do you suddenly care so much about the humans?” I ask quietly. “This isn’t like your kind.”

“Because if I can thwart some conspiracy against our kings, our worlds, I will.” Agrat’s jaw tenses. “Think about it. Heaven’s soldiers are being ordered to stay off Earth. Hell’s soldiers are being ordered to trample it. The entire treaty was created to allow humans free will. Heaven wants to prove that humans need intervention.”

I stare at her. “Are you suggesting that…Heaven isallowingHell to run rampant on Earth?”

She nods slowly. “Instead of seducing souls to Hell, demons are going to simply…take them. The way they almost took Katie. They’ll be slaughtered. Then Heaven will declare the war they’ve always wanted.”

“Why would Hell be willing to agree to a war with Heaven?” I demand, leaning forward in my chair. “You’ll lose. It’s written.”

“It’s been rewritten, love,” Agrat says softly. “The war is for show, to take out the loyal forces to each side. That means me, you, and everyone like us. The endgame is to create a joint force of high-ranking officers on both sides. The remnants of Earth will become their new realm. The new Purgatory. Any who survive will become slaves.”

“And God? Satan?”

She pauses briefly. “Exiled. Maybe executed. Maybe exiled, then executed.”

There’s an oily knot pulling tighter and tighter in my gut with every word she says. I can’t detect an iota of deception in her words.

“How do youknowthis?” I demand.

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