“What happened to her?”
“She began to come down to the dungeon. To talk with the prisoners Lucifer had locked away. Then she visited the mines. Each time Lucifer found her, and they argued. He grew tired of having his evil deeds thrown in his face and began to distance himself. Meanwhile, she slowly grew out of love with him. Then I was born. She saw how Lucifer wanted to make me just like him, and she refused to allow it to happen. Eventually, when I was six or seven of your years, she caught me beating one of the servant’s sons. Something broke in her that day, and she decided she had to get me out.”
I was entranced. It sounded like my grandmother had come through after all. “I’m guessing that didn’t go well.”
“No. Lucifer was having her watched. He had noticed her acting strangely. He had spies everywhere, and they learned what she had planned. He met her at the portal as she attempted to smuggle me out of the underworld. Then he killed her.”
I gaped at him. “He killed her himself?”
He nodded. “Even at that age, I could see how he regretted it the moment it was done. He screamed and howled, tearing at his hair. Then he attempted to pull me into his arms, but I was terrified of him. Something in him broke that day, and any chance he’d had of changing his path was gone. But I’d seen what he’d done to my mother, and she had her wish—I refused to be a reflection of my father. Wanted nothing to do with the way he ruled, with the agony he caused his people. Oh, I played his game while I was at court, but he always suspected I conspired against him.”
I sat on the stone floor, pulling my knees to my chest. My father sat in front of me, and I had a moment of sheer disbelief that I was talking to him after all these years.
“He must have eventually thought you were just like him.”
Agates sighed. “I’d played the game well enough that I had a sense of freedom. And then he learned of the prophecy. I knew I had to find a human woman, had to take a chance that you would be born.”
I swallowed. “You weren’t in love with my mom?”
He shook his head. “Not when I first met her.” He laughed. “I’d imagined I could do what I had to, and then return, safe in the knowledge that one day, my child would challenge Lucifer. Perhaps take his throne from him. But within days, I’d fallen for your mother. I, son of Lucifer, was in love with a mortal witch. When I realized, I used a contraceptive spell, but it was too late.”
Hurt stabbed into my chest and I pushed it away. “You didn’t want me?”
My father’s eyes warmed, and he slowly shook his head. “Never that. I didn’t want to risk another innocent. The thought of you… all I wanted was to kill my father myself so that I might be able to keep you safe. But Charlotte was already pregnant.”
“And you’ve been here all this time.”
He nodded. “Most of it.” He held up his hand, showing me the metal clamped around his wrist. “One of my closest friends betrayed me to Lucifer, Danica. I never saw this coming. Trust no one in this place.”
“I don’t. I’m sorry I thought you’d abandoned us. I thought you didn’t want us.”
He reached between the bars for my hand, squeezing it. “I would never have wanted you to know I was in this place. Something tells me you would have staged a break-in.”
I choked out a sob. “People told me you were alive, and I said I didn’t care.”
He squeezed my hand again until I was looking into his eyes.
“I’m glad for it. Truly. I would never want you to be hurt by my choices.”
“Tell me what to do. How can I get you out of here?”
For the first time, his expression hardened, and his eyes were like glowing emeralds. Beneath the grime, I could see how handsome he was. Had my mother felt the same way about him as I had about Samael? Had she been both terrified and reluctantly intrigued? Had she fallen for him in one fell swoop, or had it been a slow tumble over days?
I wished I could ask her. I couldn’t imagine how hard it had been, believing he had abandoned us both.
“You need to forget about me,” Agates said, clamping his hand harder around mine as I scowled.
“Forget about you?”
“I’ve been down here long enough that a few more weeks won’t hurt. I’ve been kept informed about who you are, Danica, and I know you’ll be planning something. That’s where your attention needs to be.”
I took a deep breath. “As soon as Lucifer is dead, I’m getting you out of here.”
His smile was sad. “You’re not alone here, Danica. There are people who are still loyal to me, even after all this time. Some of them hate Samael. Some of them have no trust for him, and others can be swayed to his side. I can’t do much from here, but Icantell you whom to approach.”
Excitement made my heart flutter. “My last attempts were… haphazard.” And I’d somehow tipped off someone who’d then told Lucifer. I couldn’t risk losing my memories again. We didn’t have time.
“So I heard,” Agates gave me a faint smile. “The first target is Pischiel.”
