The other Avengers nodded in agreement.
“I can make that happen.” Az looked around the room. “And I recommend that any of you who decide to do the same contact me immediately. You'll be safer once you're bound to my father.”
The Archangels exchanged heavy looks.
“I'll do it,” Michael said. “I should have done it ages ago.”
“We're in as well,” Thaddeus said with a nod at Ira and Samuel. “We've been leaning toward the Devil's side for a while now. Might as well make it official.”
“Why bother?” Cassiel asked. “Jehovah's hold on you is weak at best; your stories have taken on their own power, giving you strength greater than most Archs. And as for the rest of us, Jehovah can't kill us through our connection to him. All he can do is cut us off from his power.”
“He's right,” Zachariel said. “I'm sorry, but I don't know if I want to go from one master to another. I'll fight beside you against Jehovah, but I will not give your father my allegiance, Azrael. If that's a requirement, I will remain neutral in this war.”
Every angelic eye focused on Az.
“It isnota requirement,” Azrael said. “It's an option that I recommend for your protection. If you don't want to make that decision now or you'd rather not break your vows at all, I understand. We will not turn away any Angel who wants to fight beside us for freedom.”
“I will think about it.” Cassiel walked out.
“A bit of drama queen, that one,” Mike whispered to me.
“I don't need to think about it,” Zachariel said. “I will join your rebellion. Jehovah is acting rashly and irrationally. He must be stopped before he destroys the Heavens.”
Raphael grunted. “I agree. I'm with you.”
The other Archangels were split; some said they would think more about it while others sided with us. Those who were undecided left. The ones who remained gathered closer to Azrael.
“Now, we can speak more freely,” Michael said as he looked around the pared-down crowd. “We need to spread the word through the Heavens and recruit as many Angels to our side as possible. Maybe we can shift the balance without Jerry noticing.”
“We've got the governors of nearly every Heaven in this room,” Samael said. “Only Cassiel and Sachiel are missing.”
Rafael snorted. “Sachiel isn't missing, he's dead.”
Samael shrugged and glanced at Azrael.
Az had killed Sachiel for torturing me. Of course, the torture had been at Gabriel's command, and even Gabriel was only passing on Jerry's orders. Not that either Angel was against torturing me. And not that I was the least bit upset about Sachiel's death. For that matter, neither was Azrael.
“Jerry never assigned a new ruler for Zebul after I killed Sachiel?” Azrael asked.
Raphael shrugged. “With the University there, it doesn't really require a governor, it has the headmaster.”
“Weren't you going to school there?” Michael asked Az. “You should know this.”
“I was attending the University, but I never thought to check on who was governing the territory.”
“What about a ward?” I asked. “Wouldn't the previous ward have vanished with Sachiel's death?”
“It's not as if we're worried about the University being attacked,” Zachariel said. “The only army who might invade it would be the Horde of Hell, and we all know that Lucifer has paths into many, if not all, of the Heavens. A ward wouldn't keep him out.”
A memory of a sparkling road flashed in my mind—the Diamond Path connecting Hell to Zebul. The roads to Hell are paved with many interesting things. Granted, diamonds were the best of the bunch, but that particular path was reserved for Hell's Royal Family.
“Why don't you handle the Angels of Zebul?” Michael suggested to Az. “I'll speak with the Angels here. They're already primed to switch sides.”
“All right, but first, let's get you and the other defectors to my father.”
Chapter Thirteen
As I mentioned earlier, there are many paths to Hell, all paved with interesting things. I would have far preferred to take the Diamond Path, but we were in Shehaquim and there was an entrance to Hell just across the territory from Azrael's palace. So, I found myself on the Bone Path with the Avengers and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
