Carlos stood. "We need to get him out of here. The Beast penetrated his mind, sodomized it." He walked to the far side of the sanctuary with his hands braced on the top of his head, so angry that his ears were ringing.
"Beware. Human outrage, grief, and pain at seeing one's loved ones and family tortured . . . this was what would have you call the essence of darkness in the name of vengeance. That plague resides within every man's soul and the Beast knows it-since he once had access to your spirit,"Hannibal warned. "This is what it was banking on, for you to break that next seal. Once that is opened, he can call the fallen angels that only he has the key to release-the angels of death, hell, and destruction that are to ride on the released horses of the apocalypse. But the Armageddon onlyadvances as each seal is broken and the Most Wicked obviously grows impatient."
Carlos punched a section of stone column as he passed it, sending the rubble to the floor. He almost couldn't bear to watch Damali's wings wrap around the now frail elderly man who'd been his inspiration, a warrior to the end. "Isn't there anything you can do for his mind?" Carlos asked quietly and then swallowed hard.
Aset shook her head. "We don't know the visions that were thrust into his psyche, nor can we endanger the Light by pulling them into each of us. Time will have to heal the rest of it."
"I'll call Imam Asula, Rabbi Zeitloff, and Monk Lin," Damali murmured as she rocked the distraught old man against her. "Their prayers couldn't hurt."
"Then Father Pat comes home with us," Carlos said, pacing, "especially now that daywalkers are-"
"What did you say?" Adam's gaze became hot silver as it met Carlos's eyes and then went toHannibal .
"Now you know," Eve said, lifting her chin and folding her arms over her br**sts. "The time, as I'd said, is nigh. It escaped."
"How many, name the source," Adam said, his gaze tearing away from his wife's to pin Carlos for fast answers.
"My boy, Yonnie . . . he came to me this morning." Carlos sent the Kings andQueens images quickly, now talking with his hands. "They can't pass it, so the spawn isn't transmitting the day bite yet. This came from Lilith directly as a reward for it getting away."
"The one that came to you, did you exterminate it?"Hannibal asked, folding his huge forearms over his massive chest.
"No," Carlos said, glancing away. "Yonnie . . . he's like me-an ace on the inside. He needs amnesty, but the others, not to worry, we're on it."
"Once they return to their compound," Aset said evenly, "we need to convene a joint Neteru Council meeting."
"These are the end of days, young brother. Your alliances must be solid, like your position. No one can take a stand in the middle,"Hannibal said, studying Carlos carefully. "That is a very dangerous position to be in."
CHAPTER THREE
The call had gone out, one that lifted heads and stopped the daylight gorging. Within the time span of a vapor whirl, every councilman, including the Chairwoman, was prostrate on the black marble Vampire Council floor. Only Lilith dared to lift her head as the slow, ominous echo of footfalls reverberated off the marble. She cringed.
All the signs of a painful session were there; she knew him that well. The hard clatter against the floor could only be hooves. His topside visit must not have gone as planned. Clearly her husband was in a very foul mood. The silence that surrounded them was deafening.
Bats scurried to safety and hid among the high crags in the endless ceiling above the Vampire Council table. The large transport funnel cloud of the vicious little beasts that always hovered in the vaulted ceiling awaiting commands was gone. Messenger demons and bulking Council Chamber guards were conspicuously absent. Lilith watched it all in her mind as her forehead rested on the warm marble.
As her husband passed theSeaofPerpetual Agony , even the tortured souls stopped moaning and screaming. Yes, he had that effect on anything in his wake. Twisted pride filled her, and despite her terror a smile graced her face. Fear battled with arousal, but she was never a foolish woman.
Before he could even think to reach for the doors, the fanged, golden knockers drew themselves inside the doors, trying desperately to disappear. The doors flung themselves open on their own accord and this seemed to amuse him, regardless of his mood. A low chuckle preceded his entrance, but Lilith knew better than to misread his mirth as a pass. Thrones shuddered behind her, almost coming out of their onyx marblemoorings, and the fanged crest in the center of the pentagram-shaped table screeched like an owl before burying itself into the table's interior.
"Rise," a low, even voice commanded. "I have no need of fawning sycophants with so much work to be done."
Sebastian checked with Fallon Nuit and Yonnie as each councilman warily stood, before looking at Lilith for cues to her husband's mood.
"Top of the morning to you, gentlemen."The Unnamed adjusted his white shirt cuffs beneath his jacket and loosened his tie.
The vampires before him just stared at him.
"Oh, come now. Surely one of you has the balls to say good morning?" He shook his head. "Fallon, you're the eldest, did you not enjoy the dawn this morning . . .or should I rescind the gift?"
"Yes, Your Eminence," Fallon croaked, going down on one knee and lowering his gaze. "I was rendered speechless by the power of your presence and the immeasurable debt of your gift."
The Devil laughed and shook his head. "That is such a punk bitch answer, but quite acceptable coming from you. You're welcome.Stand." He walked along the assembled row of councilmen and then gave his wife a dashing smile. "This morning while you were reveling in the sun and dining, I was walking to and fro. I found this marvelous little cathedral to stop into inLos AngelesCounty ." His smile remained easy, his tone casual as Sebastian genuflected. "Yes, I do broken houses of worship, gentlemen. Those are the best sites for stand-up comedy. Nonetheless, it was strictlybusiness this time. It was all about breaking a Neteru."
"You got Rivera?" Nuit breathed out, despite his fear.
"In due time," the Devil chuckled. "I have his heart and conscience through the demise of one old man."
"The priest," Lilith breathed out. "Oh . . . Lu . . ."