Page 48 of Rogue Witch

“Zedkeil? Bloody hell,” Blade curses in unison with my, “What the hell?”

Penelope glances our way but says nothing.

Zedkeil kneels and traces a finger around the hole and a sigil begins to take form in the concrete. Our attention remains glued on the angel as each stroke connects to another.

When he finishes and rises, I look at Blade and say, “The letters must be of the angelic language.”

“Yes,” he whispers.

The angelic language is a hidden language the angels share with no one. There can be only one reason angels would deign to enter the same space where Shadow magic had been cast. They came to free their god from Hell.

How can angels possibly think that angelic magic could open any kind of door to Hell? But even as I wonder, the angels lift their arms heavenward and tilt their heads backward as they chant, “Son of Hades we command you to show yourself.”

Son of Hades? Damien? I whip my head in Blade’s direction. He’s staring, open-mouthed, clearly as shocked as I.

Nothing happens.

Big surprise. Even if Damien has come out of hiding, why would he obey the command of angels?

The angels look at each other, then chant in a louder voice, “Son of Hades we command you now show yourself.”

Still nothing.

Anger flashes in Zedkeil’s eyes and the room lights up as if lightning has struck. “Damien, son of Hades, appear before us now!” he shouts.

A clap as loud as thunder rumbles. I wince, then freeze when a tall, faceless male figure appears over the hole. Damien? Have the angels actually managed to command Damien?

“Impossible,” Blade whispers.

“Who are you to command me?” the figure thunders.

Zedkeil’s eyes flash again. “We are the servants of the Most High, the Ancient One, the Creator of all that exists.”

“So that god claims.” His laughter shakes the floor.

I stumble back two paces. Penelope cries out and Blade yanks her against him and widens his stance to steady them both.

“What do angels of the Most High want with the son of Hades?” Damien demands.

“It’s him.” Blade looks at me. “So close. Had we known, we could have killed him.”

“We know you gave aid to the witch Miriam Crowe in her quest to enter hell. We command you to aid us, as well,” Zedkeil says.

“Angels? In hell? You wish to join the ranks of the demons? Have you angered your god?” Damien asks. “Or have you just seen the light and understand his true nature?”

Something in his voice gives me pause.

“We command you to give us aid as you did Miriam Crowe,” Zedkeil snarls.

“It is not I who helped the witch, but my Shadows. Do you wish their help?” An obsidian ribbon floats away from the apparition.

“Command them to open the Hell Gate,” Zedkeil orders.

“They are yours to command,” Damien replies with amusement.

My heart beats faster when Zedkeil says, “We know nothing of Shadows. I command you to open the doorway into Hell.”

Another laugh. “Foolish angel. Do you think that if I could open the door to Hell, I would’ve done so long ago—then crushed you puny angels with legions of demons?”