of these Hammers?"
All three of my mates shook their heads as I paced. "There must be something. There are so many things in this world that not even we know about, and we're some of the most naturally powerful beings in Creation!"
"We didn't know about the hammer," Lucifer said. "It stands to reason that there are other things." He scrubbed his hands through his hair, making it stand on end. I loved it when he did that, making it so messy.
"Call Joel," Michael said. "He'd know."
Gabe winced. "He's awfully close to Raphael."
Joel was another archangel. He'd been friends with Raph since pretty much the dawn of time. "What are the chances two Archangels would go as bad as Raphael seems to have gone?" I asked. "Risk it."
Gabe shrugged and raised his eyebrows. "Okay. But I say it's a bad idea."
He disappeared, but within seconds was back with Joel in tow.
Joel looked like a textbook angel. His blond hair was so light it could only have been described as white. He even had white eyebrows. His thick, black eyelashes framed eyes so green I wanted to pluck them out of his head to make earrings out of them.
Joel looked around the room in his white tunic and scowled. "What's going on?" He whirled on Gabe. "You said it was an emergency. Why'd you bring me to humans?"
Gabriel held up his hands. "Look again, man. That's Lucifer and Lilith."
Luc and I stared at him as he studied us. "I'll be damned," he said. "How? Why?"
I threw up my hands. "We don't have time for this."
"Joel, we'll explain later, but you gotta tell us. Did you know how off the rails Raph has become?" Gabe brought the conversation to the point.
Joel narrowed his beautiful eyes. "I knew he'd gone missing, but that's it. What are you saying?"
Michael pulled the small gold hammer out of his pocket. "Raphael used this to create an alternate realm," he said.
Joel's jaw dropped. "No."
"Yes," Gabriel said. "He kidnapped Lucifer and Lilith's newborn baby and took her there."
Joel's jaw dropped as he turned to look at Luc and me again. "Human?"
"We thought. But humans aren't supposed to be able to leave the Earth realm without their bodies being destroyed," Lucifer said.
My jaw dropped. I hadn't even thought of that. I staggered backward, arms out. "She's not human."
IF Ariel wasn't human, that meant I'd caused all this. My whole basis for putting her with adoptive parents was to protect her humanity. She couldn't come to Abaddon while human.
"The realm he created could've been specially made to hold humans," Michael said quickly. "Don't do that to yourself."
Luc put his hand in mine and pulled me close. As shocked and dismayed as I was, I couldn't help but watch Joel notice Lucifer's motion. He took in everything that was going on around him. He'd always been shrewd, though.
"Can you help us?" I asked.
He was shocked. "Help you what?"
"Find our baby." I didn't give him time to sort it all out.
"In a realm created by Raphael, using a Forbidden Relic?"
I nodded.
After a few blinks and one long breath sucked in and out, Joel nodded. "Yes."
Relief spread through me. "Thank you."
"We've tried to find the Lignum Crucis and we've already depleted the power of the Scythe," Michael explained. "We don't have a relationship with any witches, and they don't have this kind of power anyway. We need someone that can break into an unknown realm."
Joel's expression went from shocked to incredulous. "The Scythe? The Scythe?"
His mouth moved like a fish.
"Yes." Lucifer stepped forward. "It allowed Lilith to have its power."
I had to laugh at poor Joel. "I'm sorry. I know this is a lot," I said. "But we're desperate. Do you know of any source of power enough to do this?"
He winced. "Maybe. Has anyone contacted the Voodoos?"
Nobody's face lit up with recognition, so I figured we were all equally in the dark. "You'll have to explain," Gabe said.
"The Voodoos are descendants of Nephilim. Their magic is real and somehow connected to the Earth. The real Nephilim are insanely powerful, but you'll never find one. They're too secretive."
"Do you know where to find these Voodoos?" I asked. "Can you take us to one?"
He looked from one to another of us and considered my question. "I know someone that does. I'll be discreet. In the meantime, can you please help with demon control?" he asked Lucifer pointedly. "The angels are struggling, especially with Raphael and these two not helping."
Lucifer nodded. "Michael and Gabriel can help