Gates of Paradise (Blue Bloods 7)

Jack remained impassive. There was no change in expression, no sign that the information had dug deep into his heart. Stay strong, Mimi sent. Don’t let him see.

Jack did not reply. His stance was relaxed, and his tone conversational. It was as if he had expected to hear as much. “My lord, forgive me. You are correct in that I once had feelings for this half-human girl. But there is nothing between us. She was merely a passing fancy, a plaything. I realized my mistake and severed our ties. She means nothing to me. Do with her as you will.”

“That is good to hear.” Lucifer smiled. “Distractions can be very harmful. Her mother, as well, was nothing but a distraction. And an annoyance.” He regarded Jack thoughtfully. “You will bring the gatekeeper to me. Her blood is in your veins, and will call to yours when you are aboveground.”

“Yes, my lord.” Jack bowed.

“I hope you will not be tempted to drain her completely before you bring her to the gate. We will need her alive for the sacrifice.”

“Indeed, my lord, I shall resist the temptation.”

“Danel will join you in this task and make sure everything proceeds smoothly.”

“Yes, my lord. I will be glad for the help. He was instrumental in acquiring the grail. I could not have done it without him.”

“Schuyler Van Alen should never have been allowed to live. Her life is a mockery of our glory,” Lucifer declared. “She is her mother’s greatest mistake, and will prove to be her deepest sorrow. I will enjoy draining her life’s blood and subsuming her spirit.”

What a hypocrite, Mimi thought. To call Schuyler an Abomination when you yourself unleashed the half-demon Nephilim into our world. Silver Bloods mating with human women to create a half-mad race of demon children. And good luck with that plan to kill Gabrielle’s daughter. I’ll believe it when I see it. Schuyler Van Alen is nothing if not hard to get rid of.

“I want nothing more than to please you, my lord. Her blood is yours.” Jack bowed.

“And me?” Mimi piped up. “I mean, and me, my lord?”

“Yes, Azrael?”

“Am I going with them?” Mimi asked.

“No, I trust they will be able to handle this on their own.”

Can you? Mimi asked Jack, using their bond. Handle this?

But Jack did not reply. His face was impassive and as hard to read as ever. It couldn’t have been easy, listening to the Dark Prince’s plans for him. What do we do now? she sent. Talk to me.

Jack? Hello? Jack? she sent, standing with a rigid smile in front of Lucifer. What are you going to do?

What I have to do, he finally replied

.

Mimi wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Would he do what he had to to survive? Or what he had to in order to make sure Lucifer failed and Schuyler was kept alive? Mimi couldn’t imagine any reality in which Jack would actually kill Schuyler, of course. His great love for her had ruined both of their lives. He had bonded to her. No, of course not. Jack would find a way to make sure it never happened.

Mimi found the thought of being rid of Schuyler once and for all somewhat appealing. But she knew that, after everything, she would never allow the Dark Prince to touch a hair on that girl’s head if she could help it. Just as she knew Jack would never allow Lucifer to hurt Kingsley. They would protect the people they loved. They were in this together.

I’ll help you in any way I can.

TWENTY-THREE

Tomasia (Florence, 1452)

ow that Andreas had returned, Tomi wondered how she could have doubted him. She should have trusted herself, but she had not, and now she would pay the price. But the reason for her misgivings could not be dismissed: it lay in the memory of what Andreas—Michael—had done so long ago. The last time they had encountered the Dark Prince. Though she had tried in her heart to understand, she had never accepted his choice. She had never forgiven him for what he had done during the Crisis in Rome.

What happened in Rome should never have been allowed. She had tried to accept, had tried to understand, but now Tomi had to admit that after the crisis passed, it was too late. Ever since then, she had mistrusted Michael’s capacity to lead them.…She had wondered if he still understood the reason for their sacrifice. The reason for their existence was to seek redemption for their people, to bring hope to the banished, to bring light to those who had been cursed into darkness.

They had come so close to victory in Rome. Michael had been so close to ending it.

Now they had both been punished. As the centuries passed, Tomi’s doubt had only grown; and in that doubt, Lucifer had found a way between them, to unmake what could not be unmade.

Their great love for each other.