Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3)(84)

“I ain’t here to mock you,” my father said. “We got a lot to talk about. ’Cause I know I’m not the only one in this room who knew after the Fall we’d been used like a bunch of fools. Lucifer’s the one who did us wrong—”

“How dare you!” Rahab said.

Sonellion reached into his jacket for a gun and my dad pointed at him. “I don’t think you best do that, my man. You see my son-in-law over there?” He nodded toward Kai. “That’s right. He got a damn good aim with that knife, as y’all have seen. And it’s a straight shot to the back of your big ol’ head.”

Red eyes galore.

Dad went on like he hadn’t been interrupted. “We served hell all this time out of fear, or maybe our own greed, and it didn’t look like there was no option of anything better. But there is. Y’all know we can’t stay on earth forever. But we don’t have to go back down there either. I don’t know about you, but I’m making the right choice this time.”

The Dukes showed their frustration and anger as they tried to speak over one another. They didn’t know what to believe. The Neph stood in silence, sidling closer together, farther from the Dukes. Kai had moved forward, getting closer and sizing up the scene. Rahab was shouting, trying to regain control. Pharzuph let go of me with one hand, and I gasped for air through my sore throat. He grasped me only by a wrist now as he stepped toward the mob to better be heard. Fierce arguing ensued, and eyes were bloodred in every direction. Kaidan caught my eye, then looked toward where Pharzuph held me. I could see the gears working in his mind as he tried to figure out how to free me.

I barely heard my name being called from the other side of the room in a familiar European lilt. When I turned toward Marek’s voice, his hand was behind his back, and then a blur of glimmering metal was soaring into the air. Pharzuph turned at the sight of it, but he was too late. I snatched the hilt from the air with my free hand and felt a jolt go up my arm. Marek winked at me, and I smiled, more grateful than I’d ever been in my life. Kaidan moved into the circle at my side.

Blinding light shot from the end of the hilt and expanded to reveal a shimmering blade. It was huge, yet virtually weightless. Pharzuph leaped away from me, and rushed to his fellow Dukes. The entire room turned toward the shocking light, and the demons hissed at the memories it invoked. More than six hundred dark spirits stirred in agitated fright above us.

The twins, Blake, Kopano and his brothers, Marek, Zania, and my father all joined the circle now. I grasped the hilt with both hands.

“You have thoroughly betrayed me.” Pharzuph was incredulous as he looked at his son.

“We don’t have to be divided,” Kaidan said. “You were an angel of light once—”

“I will not return under these conditions to be the laughingstock of the heavenly realm!”

“Pride was Lucifer’s downfall, too,” my father said.

A handful of Dukes hissed at him, showing their bright red eyes. As scary as they were, I was happy that the spotlight was off Kaidan.

“I tried to warn you all about the Nephilim,” Rahab said to the Dukes, though his eyes were on me. “They are the worst kind of beasts, willing to bite the very hands that feed them.”

“We’re not beasts,” I said. “And we’re tired of being fed lies. We don’t belong to you.”

While we spoke, my father, Zania, and Marek pulled out weapons and passed them down the row of Neph—several guns and knives, which were now aimed at the Dukes, who only had eyes for the Sword of Righteousness. They wouldn’t go near its glowing blade, but I could see the ideas spinning through their evil eyes about how to take me down.

“You’ve underestimated us,” Kaidan said, looking at his father.

Astaroth muttered something about a bloody uprising and spat on the floor.

Rahab stepped toward us, and I jutted the sword out in response.

“Now, hold on just a minute,” he said, raising his palms. “That is no mere toy, child. Surely you are not prepared to commit murder here tonight?”

“That’s not my intention, but I will if you make me. All I want is for everyone to listen.” I spoke as calmly as I could manage. I looked around at the watching Dukes and up at the circling black cloud of spirits above. “You have all been deceived. Again. You don’t have time to think it over. You have to make a decision tonight—”

“Will we stand here,” interrupted Rahab, with boiling red eyes, “and allow this Nephilim to attempt to separate the ranks of our valiant leader?” His voice cracked with emotion. “Will we tremble in the presence of a solitary flaming sword wielded by a child?”

More tumultuous shouts sounded.

“Let’s kill her!” bellowed Thamuz, rushing forward.

“Let her speak!” Jezebet pushed Thamuz back, stronger than she appeared.

“It’s blasphemy!” someone cried.

“But what if it’s true?” asked Melchom.

“I propose a test,” Rahab said. The room hushed. “She would only be sent to do a task of this magnitude if she were of flawless faith. If we can get her doubts to surface, then she will lose the power of the sword.”

Doubts? I didn’t like the sound of this.

“How do you propose to test her faith?” Jezebet asked.