For a treasure room, it was spacious and neat. No piles of gold on the floor. Instead, metal shelves held labeled wooden boxes and crates. It looked like the storage room of a museum. An empty table stood in the center of the room and that was it.
“It was kept in this box.” Samael went to one of the shelves and motioned at an open wooden box.
The design was simple. You'd never know a soul-stealing noose had lain inside. It wasn't even lined in velvet. Samael obviously had no reverence for the Pasha. He simply wanted to keep it out of the hands of those who would abuse its power. Fair enough.
I went closer, then drew back. The scent of bleach was stronger there. “Ugh. They doused the box in bleach.”
“Yes.” Samael grimaced and waved his hand toward the room. “And they took nothing else.”
“Did they disturb anything else?” Odin asked. “Is there a residue of bleach on anything other than that box?”
Samael blinked. Looked around. Finally, he said, “No.”
“Now, that is interesting,” Arach drawled. “They went straight to what they wanted.”
“Who else knew that you kept the Pasha in that box?” Odin asked.
“No one,” Samael said firmly. “Not even Lilith knew where I kept it.”
“He wasn't keeping secrets from me. I simply didn't care,” Lilith drawled.
“You told no one?” Re asked. “And yet the trickster went right to that box. Impossible. Someone must have seen you or you told someone and have forgotten.”
“I assure you,” Samael said stiffly. “After the battle with Katila, I returned here with Lilith. She went upstairs to bathe, and I came down here to secure the Pasha. No one saw me. No one else was present, especially not down here. And I would remember sharing the information.”
“Not if you were confused,” Viper said. “My memories of being dazed are very sketchy.”
“I would remember being dazed. I was not dazed. I haveneverbeen dazed.”
“Then how would you know what it feels like to be dazed?” Viper grinned.
“Viper, please,” I said.
“Sorry. Trying to lighten the mood.”
“The mood is appropriate,” Samael said. Then he looked at Az. “Should we warn the Demons?”
“Oh, for Satan's sake,” Azrael growled. “I didn't think of that. The damn Pasha.”
“You didn't think of it because we've already discussed this,” Odin said. “The Pasha was not made to be a soul stealer.Katila was a unique god. I don't believe another god will be able to use the Pasha as he did.”
“With all due respect, Odin, you don't know this god,” Samael said. “I've only just been informed of the goings on, and I already know that this trickster should not be underestimated. If they can get past my ward without alerting me, they can find a way to use the Pasha in whatever manner they wish.”
“I'll take that as a yes, I should warn the Demons,” Lilith said and drew out a phone—from where I couldn't tell you. Her outfit was skintight, and I hadn't seen any bulges that weren't put there by nature. Or magic, rather. Whatever. Lilith started texting, her long nails tapping the glossy screen. “There. Group text. Done.”
“What did you tell them?” Samael asked, his tone wary.
“To be on guard for soul-stealing ninjas.”
“Oh, Lilith.” Samael rolled his eyes.
“What? Vervain said they were covered from head-to-toesies. I assumed they were in black. All villains wear black when they are up to no good. It's an unwritten law. A person creeping about, covered in black equals ninja. And you just said they could steal souls. Therefore, soul-stealing ninja.”
“But that was a unique ability that Katila developed,” Odin said.
“Why else take the Pasha?” Samael countered. “It has only one purpose—to extract souls.”
“Yes, to extract souls, but not to consume them. That was Katila's twist on the magic.”
