“The dungeons,” Samael said. “I need you to determine who is a credible threat, who engaged in actual criminal behavior, and who was merely being punished due to their defiance of Lucifer.”
I’d already freed the Dearg Due, as per our agreement.
Garadiel nodded. “Gladly.” He turned his gaze to me. “I feel I need to apologize for that day in your bathroom.”
“No. What you said to me that day… it got me off the floor.” I blushed, knowing the demons were listening intently, but I wouldn’t hide from the truth. “You were right.”
“Your father would be proud.”
“Thank you.” I kept my voice low. “Do you… do you know what happened to Cellen and his sister?”
Sorrow flickered through Garadiel’s eyes. “Lucifer—”
“He killed them both, didn’t he?” Nausea made my gut clench. Cellen deserved it. But his sister had been a pawn. I didn’t even know her name.
Garadiel nodded, and I took a deep breath. “I don’t understand how I have Lucifer’s powers.” I could feel them, merged with my own, and the sheer amount of power scared the shit out of me.
Garadiel looked like he was deciding whether or not to keep speaking, and Samael gestured for him to step closer. He walked up the stairs and leaned down to murmur to me.
“Will you follow me?”
I nodded, and a small part of me wasn’t surprised when he led to the room behind the throne room. Where the scroll lay, still under the glass. Samael stalked behind us, never one to be left out of anything to do with me.
“I can’t read that thing,” I said. Behind me, Samael had gone very still as he stared at it. He wrapped his arm around me.
“Allow me to read it to you, little witch.”
I opened my mouth, but he was already speaking.
“On the night of a hundred thousand stars, the morning star will drink of its bloodline, until even kings will bow to greatness.”
I scowled. “See? The morning star is dead.”
Garadiel smiled. “Your mother named you well. I’m unsure if she knew the exact wording of the prophecy… however…
“Huh?”
“Danica. Your name means ‘morning star.’”
“Well. Shit.”
Samael placed his chin on my shoulder, still gazing at the scroll. I pinched him. “What else does it say?”
His breath caressed the shell of my ear, and I shivered as he spoke. “After the war of stars, peace shall reign in the underworld for five hundred years.”
I grinned. “Now that’s a prophecy I can get behind.” My grin fell. “I just wish my father was here to enjoy it.”
Garadiel moved in front of me, his eyes serious.
“Your father had a prophecy of his own, Danica. When he was young, he went to a market where an old witch had a vision. She told him he wouldn’t meet his daughter until days before his death. The moment he found out Lucifer had brought you to the underworld, he knew his days were numbered.”
My chest twisted. “He could have made sure he didn’t meet me. Instead, he had you tell me to go to him.”
“He would have given anything to see you. And he was done, Danica. Done with being caged like an animal.”
“But if I hadn’t seen him then, maybe we could have freed him and sent him on his way.”
“Attempting to circumvent fate never works well. Your father had made his peace.”
