Dyabèssa.
No, itcouldn’tbe.
They didn’t mean...
A reed of an angel slithered forward. Tall as a tree, lithe as a feline, the angel slipped through the folds of air as quiet, and undisturbing, as the fall of feathers. Shrouded from head to foot in endless layers of velvet red, the angel looked as if clothed in a veil of blood. A gilded faceplate covered the length of their face. A narrow slit revealed pools of umber that writhed with a hatred that made my skin burn. Long, golden chains hung from the angel’s neck to its chest, and others to its knees. Over the gilded faceplate and chains lay another layer of satin in the brightestred, covering their head and hanging down to the ends of their robes.
Dyabèssa.
The Demonèss of the Ouanaviel Empyrean.
Tracker.
Hunter.
Executioner.
The Farasees hadn’t come for me alone. They’d brought the Dyabèssa.
If she was here, then so was the Ivory Rain, the elite legionnaires employed by the Empràr to hunt down everyone they deemed a great danger to the empyrean. Papi once said I would have to fight my way out if I ever faced a situation like this.
I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin.
The Dyabèssa watched me from that small slit that barely showed her eyes. She looked amused.
Slowly, oh soslowly, I pushed to stand on my feet. The Farasees took a better look at me. Pious pigs. I took the chance to see my staunch opponent.
I found exactly what I’d feared.
Behind the seventy Farasees floated a sea of scarlet and gold.
The Ivory Rain.
And behind them all was one enormous golden cage.
My seven hearts stuttered.
A scuffle through the trees of the forest made my ears twitch, but I wasn’t dumb enough to take my eyes off the army of angels who had me surrounded. A furry head shoved into my side as a familiar growl slipped into the air. Leave it to Bones to show himself at thewrongtime.
Eyes still on the Dyabèssa, the Ivory Rain, and the Farasees, I reached with my hand and rubbed the top of my cinderwolf’s head. The dog was bigger than bloodhounds, reaching higherthan my hips, with blood-red eyes, smooth obsidian fur, and teeth made to shred flesh and bone.
“What is this?“ Bones asked.
Cinderwolves could bond to angels through blood oaths. Once bound, both angel and wolf could communicate telepathically. A matter of convenience, especially in moments like this.
“A burial ground if I don’t escape.”
The cinderwolf snarled viciously, lowering his head when he looked at the Dyabèssa. The Demonèss didn’t flinch. Didn’t move. Hèls. I don’t even think she breathed.
“Why are they here, Emie?”
“Remember when Papi came a few weeks back and told us that funny little story about the Farasees hunting for Nebulari across the Empyrean? How they launched the Starfellien Ascent and brought in a new order of Disciples into their Temple to start their hunt?”
Bones glowered at the angels, but his tail swished, hinting at his confusion.
“But Nebulari are myth and legend, my Emie.”
“Not to these Farasees, they aren’t.”
