“Ticktock,” Lucifer said.
“All right,” I said.
I needed to take one problem at a time. First Titania and Oberon, then Azazel’s plot, then Azazel himself. Somewhere in there I’d have to find time to unknot Lucifer’s motivations and figure out if the Agency was conspiring against me.
“Beezle is not going to be happy about this,” I said.
“I will speak with your gargoyle, and your guard dog,” Lucifer said.
“Um, I don’t think you want to talk to Jude,” I said, thinking of their history.
“Do not worry. Judas and I have dealt with one another before.”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of,” I muttered. I didn’t want Jude to get himself killed going after Lucifer.
Lucifer smiled, and it was not a nice smile.
“Wait here for a moment,” he said, and went toward the house. He paused on the threshold, calling Jude’s name.
Even Lucifer couldn’t get into my house without an invitation. That made me feel a little better.
Jude, Samiel and Beezle must have been lurking just inside the foyer. The door opened immediately.
Nathaniel went down the steps and came to stand near me. I watched Lucifer and the other three confer in quiet tones at the door. I couldn’t see Lucifer’s expression or hear what was said, but Jude was purple in the face and Samiel’s jaw was set.
“He’s controlling them by threatening your life,” Nathaniel said softly.
“He wouldn’t risk me,” I said, not mentioning the baby. As far as I knew Nathaniel was still unaware of the pregnancy. “He wants me for some purpose of his own.”
“They won’t risk you,” Nathaniel said. “No one can see into Lucifer’s heart, and they love you. So they will not take the chance that Lucifer might harm you out of spite.”
“Would you let him?” I asked, giving him a sidelong glance.
“No,” Nathaniel said firmly.
I was surprised. I’d expected the usual nonsense about having to obey the wishes of his master and whatnot.
“Whatever you may think, whatever my other motivations, you have come to mean something to me. I would not let anyone harm you if I could prevent it.”
He seemed sincere, but I didn’t know what to think. Just about every angel I’d ever met had seemed one thing and been another. Except Gabriel. He’d always been exactly what he seemed to be.
I didn’t know what to say to Nathaniel, so I just nodded in acknowledgment. This seemed to satisfy him for the moment, and we both looked away.
Lucifer approached us with a satisfied look on his face. Apparently he’d gotten his way. Jude, Samiel and Beezle all appeared angry and frustrated.
“Are we ready to depart, then?” Lucifer said, clapping his hands together.
“Just a moment,” Nathaniel said. “I have to discuss something with Samiel.”
Nathaniel went up to the porch. I watched him go, bewildered. What on earth could he have to discuss with Samiel?
Lucifer turned to me. “I hope you are prepared, granddaughter, for the trial ahead of you.”
“Titania and Oberon can’t be worse than you,” I said.
He smiled at me. “Not many are.”
“Normal people aren’t proud of things like that.”
Nathaniel returned a moment later, nodding at Lucifer. “My lord.”
“Off to see the wizard, then,” Lucifer said.
He took hold of my hand and Nathaniel’s, and a second later we winked out of sight.
It wasn’t like traveling through a portal. Portals are noisy, and windy, and painful. This was like passing through the heart of the universe. It was peaceful, and quiet. Above and beneath and beside us all the worlds unfolded like a beautiful string of pearls. Images passed by at a rapid rate, a flickering film of people, gods and monsters, cities and countries, mountains and oceans. And in one of them, I thought I saw, just for a moment…
“Gabriel!” I cried out, and tried to slip Lucifer’s hand, to go to him.
“Madeline,” he said firmly. “Do not let go, or you will fall into time and space and be lost forever.”
“I saw… I thought I saw…” The wound that I’d thought was scabbed over was bleeding anew. I’d seen him. I was sure of it.
“You saw what you wished to see,” Lucifer said.
I didn’t say anything further. The moment was gone. I didn’t even know which of the dozens of places I’d seen had held Gabriel. But I had seen him, even if Lucifer didn’t want me to believe it.
I don’t know how much time passed. After a while Lucifer said, “This is the place.”
And we were there.
The three of us stood on a high hill. The hill was split down the middle. One side was rocky and barren, and stretched away into an icy tundra covered by a gray sky. The other side was lush and green and dotted with sunshine. We were on the rocky, icy side, and a bitter wind bit through my coat.
“Once you cross this line,” Lucifer said, indicating the split, “you will have entered the kingdom of Titania and Oberon, and there is no turning back.”
“How will we get home without you?” I asked.
“Either you will negotiate your own safe passage, or…” He trailed off.
“Or we won’t come home at all,” I said.
“I have every confidence in you, granddaughter,” Lucifer said, taking me by the shoulders and kissing my forehead.