Asmodeus(84)

The angel stepped forward, his white robe settling around him. "You did not kill him, as his soul remains in this realm."



"Which is exactly where it should be." She clasped her hands behind her back so the angels would not see her shaking. "I summoned Michael yesterday, and I explained to him I felt Asmodeus had been punished enough. I made my own mission after I spoke to him. I was not going to be a part of his apprehending, because I don't agree with it and I do not think it is right."



"That is not your decision to make."



"And yet I made it."



Silence fell on the room. She stood as straight as the trembling in her body would allow her.



She wanted to weep as he unrolled a scroll. "Brianna Claxton, as the individual who summoned Asmodeus, leader of the Second Angelic Revolt, out of the Abyss, you are hereby sentenced to one century in the second tier, of which you will report to immediately. Your compliance in this matter —"



"I will go willingly if you recant that order."



Brianna went bone-chilling numb when her gaze settled on Asmodeus. He wore the brown robe he'd had on the first night, as if he were humbling himself. He didn't look at her, but he didn't have to. His warmth surrounded her, and she closed her eyes, relishing the feel of him.



Within seconds she collected herself enough to react to his presence in the one way Michael had taught her. She had to prove he was capable of unconditional love, the type of love that could redeem a man of his past sins. She would not let him sacrifice himself for her while she stood and did nothing.



She took Michael's dagger out of her jeans and held it out to the angels. "I would summon Michael and obtain audience with him once more."



"That is not an option available to you."



Keeping her attention on the angels, she brought the blade across her palm as she had done yesterday. Confident in her abilities, she recalled the correct spell and once again summoned the archangel.



As before, bright light settled into the room and collected together to form Michael.



She prayed this would work.



Trying not to concentrate on the pain in her palm and the fact that Michael and Asmodeus were in the same room together, she laid it on the line. "Asmodeus is capable of caring for others, and capable of love and selfless acts. I am proof he deserves another chance."



Michael's eyes bore into hers. "You are not saving the demon with your words, Brianna. I warn you now you are condemning him."



She shook her head. Didn't he see where she was going with this? "You told me, those who are capable of love deserve redemption. He is capable of love."



"You believe he loves you?"

Finally Michael began to catch her meaning. Hoping against hope it was true, she nodded. "I do."



The light in Michael's eyes faded. It suddenly occurred to her she had said the one thing that would damn the very man she was trying to save. "Demons are not permitted to lie with humans. Asmodeus, as part of the Holy Watchers, was given the job of watching over this realm. Having protected humans for centuries, he was subject to the way in which they lived as he watched over them. He envied them. He fell for them. He condemned himself then with his coveting with them, and he condemns himself now by planting his seed within you."



Asmodeus stepped forward. "Then take me. I will go willingly. Brianna did not know the spell she was casting when she summoned me, and she was not aware of the repercussions. Her fault lies in her ignorance, not in treachery."



Michael faced Asmodeus. "For this arrangement I will require your sentence to be doubled."



"No!" she screamed, slicing the dagger through the air. How had she made the situation worse? "You cannot—"



"Silence." Michael pinned her with his powerful stare. "The decision is up to him. You both report to the Abyss, you for a century, and he for another millennium, or he goes willingly to his imprisonment with two millennia in the Abyss and you will remain here. There will be no other choice given."



Before she could respond, Asmodeus stepped forward once again. "I accept."



Michael bowed his head. "It is done."



Someone started screaming "No!" over and over again as she fell to her knees. She dropped the dagger in front of her as the angels and Asmodeus disappeared from the room. The screaming was deafening, yet there was no one else left in the room.



It was then she realized it was her.



She was the one screaming.





Chapter Twenty-One





The devastation on Brianna's face took his breath away. Asmodeus closed his eyes as her guttural cry cut though the room. It seemed as though everyone he became close to suffered because of their association with him.