“My baby!” Holly rushed forward, her blonde hair clinging to her glistening face. Holly didn't sweat. She was too delicate for that. She glistened. Her veins showed through her pale skin and her bone structure was as frail as a bird's. So, when she started to cry, it was gut-wrenching.
“Shh, now, love,” Luke said as he put his arm around her. “We will help him.” He pulled back the covers and went to lay his hand on his son's chest. But then he saw the manacles. “What's this? Why is he chained?”
“The Wild Magic was breaking free,” Odin said. “Itmanifested at Moonshine and turned our bedroom into a garden.”
“It also changed Az into the Faerie God,” I said. “We had to suppress his magic before he was lost to us.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Holly whimpered.
Luke nodded, staying strong for his wife. “I see. Tell me more about the accident, the god who caused it, and this trinity you created.” He looked at Odin. “Youwill explain it to me, Allfather.”
“Yes, of course.” Odin let me go to stand beside Luke and Holly.
He started explaining everything in great detail, and I just zoned out. I went back to where I'd been sitting, opposite Lucifer, and took Azrael's hand. The cord that bound us, normally bright with power, felt dull and weak. It hurt my heart to focus on it, but I had to. I had to keep trying to reach Az. I looked over at Holly and she looked up, meeting my stare.
Without a word, Holly reached across Az. I took her hand with my free one, and she squeezed it tightly. “What do you think, Vervain? What's happened to him?”
“I think he used a powerful magic before he was ready and that, combined with the force of the beaver god's attack, caused a backlash of magic.”
Odin trailed off as Luke focused on me.
I went on, “Death is the counter to Life, and Wild Magic is about as close as you can get to Life Magic. I think the backlash hit the Wild Magic inside Az. The Wild Magic defended itself, and there was an explosion. Azrael's base magic is wounded, and I'm hoping he just needs time to heal.”
“Vervain, why didn't you share that theory earlier?” Odinasked. “It makes sense.”
“It just came to me now,” I said, my stare shifting back to Azrael. “He's been fighting the Wild Magic ever since he regained control of his body. Death helped him keep it in line. But then he weakened Death and changed everything. The balance of power has shifted inside Azrael. Death is no longer the dominant force, and the Wild Magic is seizing the opportunity to rebel. I don't know if that's why Az is in this stasis. Maybe the Wild Magic is hiding him from us so it can continue to gain control. But whatever is happening inside Az, those manacles were a good idea. Hopefully, they will give his Death Magic time to recover and resume control.”
“Maybe I can help it along,” Luke said. “Where is his scythe?”
“His scythe!” Odin said. “Of course!” He spun around and went to the closet.
Azrael could summon his scythe from anywhere, but he kept the thing stored in his closet. Granted, it was locked behind a hidden panel that only his closest family members knew about. I suppose that wasn't as bad as the Devil keeping his pitchfork in an umbrella stand. At least the scythe wasn't out in the open. But it felt weird that the Angel of Death stored his greatest weapon in his closet.
“Oh, no,” I whispered and shot to my feet.
“What is it?” Luke demanded.
“The trickster is back, Luke,” I said. And that's all I had to say.
The Devil spat one of the most vile curses he ever used, “Stale sugar cookies!”
“Is it there?” I asked Odin. “Please let it be there.”
“It's here,” Odin said.
Luke, Holly, and I exhaled in relief.
Then Luke asked, “Are you sure it's the real thing? Here, give it to me.” He held out his hand.
The Devil was right to be wary. The trickster had stolen his pitchfork, then glamoured Aaron's rod to look like it.
Odin handed Azrael's scythe to Lucifer. As soon as Luke touched the handle, the angelic script on the scythe began to glow blue. It only did that for Az. But I suppose Azrael's power stemmed from his father. A direct line to the King of Hell. If he wanted to, Luke could probably use the scythe to harvest souls. Even his son's.
“Luke, can you use the scythe to draw Azrael's soul back to consciousness?” I asked.
“It only harvests, Vervain,” Luke said. “I can't pull him halfway out.”
“Oh.”
