Asmodeus(71)

He had blond hair, much like Asmodeus, and he wore it down. His eyes were blue, not black as she had thought they would be.



Though his eyes weren't black, he did have a decidedly agitated look on his face. She figured he wasn't too pleased she had summoned him. "What is it you seek, Brianna?"



"You're Michael?"



"I believe that is obvious enough, even for a human such as yourself." He folded his arms across his massive chest. "You have two minutes."



She fought the urge to stutter and wet herself. The beauty and darkness coming from him confused her. Knowing she had to pull it together, she took a calming breath. Reaching somewhere deep inside of herself, she leveled her gaze on him. "I summoned you to talk about Asmodeus."



His eyes narrowed slightly. "What about him?"



She swallowed and stood her ground. A wave of uneasiness settled in the air between them. Or was that just her? "We're in a dilemma of sorts."



"I am aware."



Well, at least she didn't have to explain the circumstances in the two damned minutes he was giving her. "I don't think he deserves to go back to the Abyss. Is there something that can be done?"



"You are a twenty-four-year-old human. How is it you can arrive at an informed decision where Asmodeus is concerned? What do you know of him?"



She felt two inches tall. "I know he's kind. Protective."



Michael's eyes turned black, and his white robe fanned around him as if he were surrounded by wind. She quickly stepped away from him. Now this was what she had expected, but it wasn't something she wanted to face.



"Come here, Brianna."



Do I have to? She almost said the thought out loud, but in a moment of pure genius she kept her mouth shut. She walked over to him on wooden legs, each step closer, each step a bit more hesitant than the last.



Without preamble, he bent down and put his forehead to hers. Everything around her began to spin, twirl and coagulate until she was hit with a vision.



In picture-perfect clarity she saw Asmodeus.

He stood with numerous demons—or angels, she couldn't tell. They seemed to be huddled in a small passageway made of white clay…or some similar substance. Unnaturally bright light surrounded them. They wore little clothing, only a pair of white, silky pants. They held no weapons, and all resembled each other. Blond hair, tall, muscular.



She recognized Naberius and Raum instantly, because Naberius was the only angel present with dark hair. Raum stood next to him, silent and regal. They flanked Asmodeus as he held his hands up to indicate he wanted silence.



As the crowd fell silent she gazed at the faces that were present. Some seemed indifferent, and others seemed terrified. There was an energy in the air, and she had the distinct feeling the energy originated from the group huddled around Asmodeus. Their powers seemed to merge together, until they were one.



"My brothers, we stand before a precipice made of our own choosing. The decision you make here will affect you for the rest of your days. Lucifer's demons were thrown from the Host, exiled to Earth with no hope of redemption. Yet I must ask you, do you see their suffering?"



Murmurs from the crowd erupted, shouts of "no" and "nay" resounding through the halls. For whatever reason, she knew they spoke a different language, but what she heard was English.



Asmodeus spoke above the den of noise, his deep voice carrying to those in the far back. "Free will. They do as they please while we, those who remained faithful even as we were dealt so little, have nothing of which to call our own. The echelon chooses not to hear our desires. We are to follow orders blindly, until when? Will there ever be an end?"



Shouts rang out in the crowd, and the awe-inspiring light around them began to fade.



She felt the crowd's fear. As the light faded, more and more of the faces wore a mask of terror. A few fled, tearing at their clothes as they did so, anguish in their voices ringing out.



Most stayed, eyeing the fading light as if they did not want or need it. Though she only saw this through a vision, she could feel the love, the utter warmth, pulled out of her as the light faded.



"On this day we shall take a stand. We shall inherit the earth. Those who are with me, make your decision now." Asmodeus brought his arms up, and she had a distinct feeling he was speaking to the light. "Those who are against me, heed my warning. I shall not be denied what has been given unto the humans. Free will."



A chorus of cheers went up, and the resounding roar gave way to only two words—free will.



That vision faded, replaced with a small, comfortable-looking domestic scene. A cauldron hung on a hook in a stone fireplace, and an older woman sat by the fire, a wooden spoon in her hand. The door to the cottage opened, and Asmodeus walked in.