I say, “It was a test.”
Vehuel touches my arm, and between Alice and me, we’re able to pull her upright.
“Yes. A test. For us, the generals, and for the damned and fallen who might want such a weapon for themselves.”
The Magistrate holds a piece of the golden wood in his hand.
“I do not understand. Why would you come all this way just to test us? If you had not appeared, we might never have found the Lux Occisor, which would render our crusade pointless. But you brought us here. Why?”
“To test you, too, Raziel,” says Vehuel. “And you failed.”
Hearing his real name does not put the Magistrate in a good mood. He grips the wood harder.
“Careful,” says Vehuel. “The wood is made from Neshiyyah Bane, the Hellion Tree of Life. Deadly to angels. Touch any part of the Lux Occisor other than the gold and you will see for yourself.”
He stares at the wood, holding it carefully in his long fingers, and stands up. He looks down at Vehuel.
“Test me you might,” he says. “But I am still here while you will soon be gone.”
Daja doesn’t seem to even register the threat. Instead, she says, “Who’s Raziel? Why is she calling you that?”
“It’s father of the year’s real name,” I tell her. “He’s an angel. An archangel, in fact. Only he snuck out the back door. Now he’s looking to kill both God and Lucifer.” I go to her. “And he was using saps like you and the havoc to get the only thing he wanted. The Light Killer.”
The Magistrate comes around Vehuel and stands by me and Alice.
“Tell me I am wrong, Mr. Sandman Slim,” he says. “I admit I did not recognize you at first. A dirty wretch lost in the desert with a mad story about Death. But when I did, I knew we were kindred spirits. You spent years in Hell killing Lucifer’s generals. Even when you were Lucifer, you kept Hell at bay. You convinced the Almighty to open Heaven’s gates, but he was too weak. I am not. You are not. God and Lucifer are one entity now. If we destroy one, we destroy the other. Imagine it. A universe without rulers. Where each soul and celestial is free to chart their own destiny. Admit it. Does that not sound like an idea you could have had?”
I shake my head.
“And I thought Samael had daddy issues, but they could do a whole college course about yours.”
“It’s true, then, Magistrate,” says Daja. “You’ve lied to me and everyone else this whole time.”
“Quiet, child. There are things you do not understand. I am doing this for your benefit as much as mine.”
“A few minutes ago you said the havoc didn’t matter! That they could all die and it would mean nothing to you. Were you serious?”
“Of course he was,” I say. “And he meant you, too, by the way. I’m sure you’re a nice pet to have around, but sooner or later he’s going to get bored with your questions or your neediness. Then off to Tartarus you’ll go. Right, Raziel?”
Angels are fast, but archangels are fucking fast. The next thing I know he’s pulled Alice to her feet and is holding the wood from the Light Killer to her throat.
“Empty your pockets,” he says. “I know that you did not spend a week in the wilderness just to come back with a false promise and a cigarette lighter. Death gave you something else. Give it to me. The great weapon may be a lie, but my crusade continues. I will destroy the despot who rules the universe.”
“Don’t listen, Jim. Please,” she says.
I look at her. She’s not afraid at all. She really is a warrior and is ready to die for her cause. The problem is, I’m not ready to sacrifice her for it.
“I know what you want. Death’s knife. Let her go and you can have it.”
“Are you mad?” says Vehuel. “He will kill us all and then storm Heaven. With Death’s weapon he will be unstoppable.”
I shrug.
“You people should have thought of that before you made the knife. And before you let assholes like this walk free. You tested him? You should have killed him the moment you laid eyes on him.”
“That’s not the Almighty’s way.”
“Well, it’s mine, and if I ever see this prick again I’m going to rip his head off.”