“What about your mom?” I asked Gello.
“She's at home preparing for the battle. She wasn't up for a party.”
“No, of course not. I completely understand.”
“I imagine you do,” Gello murmured. Then, in a stronger voice, “Jerry has really fucked up this time. He's angered both Heaven and Hell. He won't live to see the sun set tomorrow.”
Several Demons murmured their agreement.
“We must be smart and careful about this,” Luke said. “Jerry has people we care about. Family. If everything goes well tomorrow, they won't be put at risk. But if it goes poorly, we will have to act fast.”
“We all know our roles,” Cid said. “You go after Jerry while the rest of us search for the imprisoned Angels.”
“And you will stick to those plans, no matter what happens between Jerry and me,” the Devil said.
The Demons exchanged worried looks.
“You're sending the entire Horde after the Archangels?” I asked.
“Yes, we talked about this, Vervain. They are my priority.”
“But I didn't realize that you wouldn't be bringing any Demons to the fight.”
“I'm fighting,” Gello said. “I can't go running around Heaven and not hurt anything. Not in this state.”
“But no other Demons?” I asked.
“We'll be fine,” Luke said.
Cid grimaced. “I'm with V on this, Boss. I think you should have more of us with you.”
“I will be with him,” Azrael said.
The Demons looked at each other and nodded.
“What was that?” Satan squeaked furiously as he pointed at his Demons. “You think my son is stronger than me?”
No one spoke.
Except for Cid. “Uh, yeah, Boss. He is.”
Luke's eyes widened and his cheeks turned red.
“Honey, he's right. Az has Wild Magic now. He's very powerful,” Holly said gently.
“He's not the Devil!” Luke stamped his foot and smoke rose around him. “I am! He doesn't funnel the world's evil through his territory. I do!”
“Um, Satan, could you reel it in a bit?” I waved at the ground. “You're singing the grass.”
“Oh, darn it,” Lucifer muttered as he waved his hands at his feet, dispersing the smoke. “Sorry about that, Vervain.”
“It's all right. And I don't think Azrael is stronger than you. You have millions of humans backing you with their belief and evil acts.”
“Thank you.” Satan straightened and smoothed the lapels of his suit.
“You beat me before,” Az said. “With my own weapon, no less.”
“No, I didn't. That was Vervain.”
