He cupped my chin. “Lily, he’s killing her body anyway. She’s running out of time. And so is the world. I need you with me, looking for the key. And you need Rose free of Johnson. This is the way, Lily. It’s the only way.”
“But a demon body . . .” I protested.
“It’s not about the body. It’s about the essence. You know that, Lily. You of all people know that.”
He was right. I did. I didn’t like it, but I knew it.
“All right,” I finally said. “Where is it?”
He frowned. “Well, that’s the problem. I don’t know. I’ve been doing research, but I haven’t located it yet.”
It was my turn to frown. “Not exactly helpful.”
He traced his fingers lazily up and down my arm. “Too bad we don’t have access to a map that can find lost objects.”
I lifted my brow. “Great idea. I’ll just ask Clarence to tell me how to figure out the incantation for conjuring a portal.”
He aimed a significant look at me. “You don’t have to ask.”
I took an involuntary step backward. “No way. You want me in his head? I don’t have any control. He’d know I was in there. Shit, Deacon. I’d have to kill him.”
“If it gets Rose free, isn’t it worth it? And if you kill him, you’ll have his essence. You’ll be an Incan tor, Lily.”
I bit my lower lip, weighing my options. Weighing the risk. Because as tempting as the plan was, unless I was certain it would work, I couldn’t risk my sister.
On the floor, the stains from the two demons seemed to call out to me, reminding me of the danger of the world I lived in. I toed them, looking up at Deacon and deliberately changing the subject. “Why do they want me dead? All these demons. If they know I’m looking for the Oris Clef, shouldn’t they be cheering me on from the sidelines?”
“Depends on the demon,” he said casually. “The portal’s open, so Armageddon is coming, and most of the demons are happy with the status quo. They don’t want any one demon to have the Oris Clef. They don’t want a demon king in the ranks.”
I nodded. I hadn’t considered that before.
“Others do want the power. They’re not trying to kill you, but to capture you.”
“But I’m no good without Clarence’s incantations.”
Deacon shrugged. “Maybe they don’t know that.”
“At least that explains the tattoo-faced demon. The one we ran into in China,” I said, in response to Deacon’s questioning look. “That was the second time I’ve met up with him, and I’m still alive.”
Deacon was looking at me with the strangest expression.
“What?”
“You don’t know who he is?”
“Why would I?” I asked, completely baffled. “He didn’t stop to introduce himself.”
“That was Gabriel, Lily. The archangel.”
NINETEEN
“Wait, ”I said, completely freaking out. “An angel wants me dead?” I was doing all this fighting for good, and a freaking angel wanted me dead? What was wrong with that picture?
“I’m sorry, Lily,” Deacon said, after I’d kicked one of the barstools so hard it went careening across the room.
“Was Johnson right?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Have I really sworn fealty to the demon side?”
“You haven’t,” Deacon said, putting his arms around me. “No more than I have.”
I twisted back to look at him, because once upon a time, that was where his loyalty had lain.
“I renounced,” he said, his voice harsh. “Believe me or don’t, but I swear it’s the truth. I renounced the dark, and still I was pushed away from the light.”
I believed him. For better or for worse, I trusted Deacon. I could admit that finally, as he held me tight in his arms. I did trust him. But I still wanted inside his head. I wanted proof that my trust wasn’t once again misplaced.
“I know angels aren’t all white gowns and halos and harps,” I said, “but warrior tats really weren’t what I was expecting.”
“But that’s what he is,” Deacon said. “A warrior.”
“Then why does he want me? He could have killed me a half dozen times over—I’m certain of it. But I’m alive. And yet he still keeps coming. So what does he want with me?”
Deacon shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“I mean, I’m trying to do good. Doesn’t God know that I’m trying to do good? Didn’t he tell his angels?”
Deacon’s mouth twitched. “I’m not sure heaven is run on a memo system.”