I turn on my heels and storm out of the cemetery, flustered and furious. We have nothing. Absolutely nothing to go on. And our only means of communicating with the supernatural world has just shut the door in our faces—because of me. At this rate, we’ll never find Gabriella, and we can forget about stopping Legion unless he provides me with a map during my next dream. This is complete bullshit, and I’m fighting back angry tears when we make our way back towards the main street.
“Slow down, Eden,” Lucifer calls a few steps behind me.
I ignore him and keep trudging forward, each step away from the cemetery sounding like another nail in humanity’s collective coffin.
“We still have a few more resources. Trust me on this.”
I shake my head, not believing him. We’ve done everything we were supposed to. We came here under the illusion that there was something to be found. We sat through Michael’s self-righteous spiel. We played Aurora’s game. And what do we have to show for it? Other than whoring myself out for information that turned into a trap and screwing over the Dark?
I’m so wrapped up in my own inner torment that I miss a step and nearly trip into oncoming traffic. Somehow, Lucifer catches me before I become roadkill and steadies me on my feet.
“Whoa. When was the last time you ate?”
I do a quick mental scan of the last couple days and shrug. “I don’t know. Day before yesterday maybe?”
“Eden, you’re pale and your skin is clammy. You’re not thinking straight. You need food.”
I shrug out of his grasp. “I don’t have time to eat.”
“Yes, you do. And you won’t be any good to anyone, especially the Dark queen, if you don’t take care of yourself. Let’s get you fed, and then we’ll head deeper into the French Quarter. I have some deals I may be able to collect on. Even though the dead witches won’t help me, the live ones may have no choice.”
I chew my lip as I weigh his proposal, although I know he’s right. I feel weak. And the oversight of my self-care may have had something to do with how Stavros got the drop on us. I won’t let that happen again.
“Fine. Twenty minutes and then we need to get back to work.”
We stop at the first open restaurant we come to, which is a feat since most of them appear to be closed. I frown and look to Lucifer, who also seems perplexed.
“Is it a holiday or something?”
He shakes his head. “And even if it were, these places would still be packed.”
We step into the small establishment and are instantly greeted by a friendly face pinched with worry.
“Good afternoon, I’m Luetta,” she drawls, leading us to a table. “I’ll be the only server today since I had to send my wait staff home. I hope you’ll be patient with us.”
I look around the restaurant. Where is everyone?
“We’re kinda in a hurry,” I say, ignoring the way Lucifer cuts his eyes at me. “What can we get that’s fairly fast and easy?”
Luetta sets a couple menus on the table, then explains, “Well, many of our items aren’t available right now. But we just made a big pot of our famous jambalaya.”
I nod. “I’ll have that. And water, please.”
“Same,” Lucifer, chimes in. “Is there something going on? Most of the restaurants are closed.”
Luetta sighs, her expression forlorn. “A stroke of bad luck, unfortunately, as if we haven’t had enough of that. There’s a big recall on all produce due to that big flu virus. They’re saying it could be infecting people’s food and getting them sick. So we had to throw everything out—fruits, vegetables, even meat since the animals are getting contaminated and dying. And whatever isn’t tainted is being rationed due to this new war we’re in. And if that wasn’t enough, there was a massive oil spill in the gulf, so all our seafood and fish are dying. Everything else is being bought up at crazy prices by the folks who can afford it. Basically, we’re all running out of food. I fear our doors will be closed by nightfall.”
She swipes under her eyes, clearly emotional. “I’m sorry, y’all. Let me go get that jambalaya for you.”
Lucifer’s eyes lock with mine. And even though my skin is crawling and I feel nauseous with panic, I need to hear him say it. I need to hear the words that I know are singeing his tongue, demanding to be uttered. Reminding us that we can run, we can hide, but destiny is an imperious bitch, and she will not be ignored.
“Famine,” he whispers. “The Black Rider is here. Saskia has been released.”
I really do feel sick, so as soon as Luetta brings us our glasses of water, I chug mine down and ask for a refill.
“Shit,” he curses quietly after she walks away to retrieve our food.
Honestly, I can’t even think about eating right now, but knowing it may literally be our last meal, I’m left feeling conflicted. If the restaurants in one of the busiest areas in the country can’t keep their food supplies up, what does that mean for regular people? For the poor? And how many will risk being infected by Pestilence just so they can feed their families?
It’s like we—the Horsemen—are not only connected by fate, but by plagues. Pestilence got the ball rolling, and when War came into place, it split the country’s resources. People went out and started hoarding food and water. And now that Famine has arrived, there’s not enough to go around. If the first three of us have inadvertently killed tens of thousands, what could I do? How could Death be any worse than disease, violence, and starvation?
Our meals arrive, and while I’d much rather give it to someone who needs it more, I scarf down as much as I can as fast I can, knowing that I’ll need my strength if we have any hope of putting an end to all this suffering.
“We should contact the Se7en,” I suggest after I’ve eaten my fill. “We need help. And maybe if Lilith knew she was causing this outbreak, she could try to fight it.”
When Lucifer shakes his head, I’m not the least bit surprised. “The closer together you are, the chances of you activating are greater. The Horsemen work like a domino effect. One ultimately sparks the other. If we were to cultivate all three in one centralized location, it would be catastrophic.”
I lift a knowing brow, understanding why Lucifer has tried to isolate me. “So that’s why you were pissed about Gabriella being here.”
“Correct,” he nods. “With the three of you scattered, one area won’t be completely slammed with plagues.”
“But certainly, the plagues will spread, right? The flu virus has already hit the east coast and cases are being reported overseas.”
“But you aren’t overseas. You’re here. If the first three Horsemen were to all show up in New Orleans, you would most certainly be activated.”
“And I would bring death to everything in my path.”
I huff out my hopelessness and push my plate away. The odds have always been stacked against us, but this is much worse than we anticipated. If Famine is here, that means that Saskia must be in the vicinity. And with Gabriella’s capture, there’s no way of knowing if she’s being held in the city or elsewhere. Lilith being across the country is our last hope, but there’s no telling how long she’ll stay there. We’ve been here for almost a week. Surely, she and Andras are on their way back to Chicago, or onto another mission. And if Toyol’s intel is sufficient, then they’ll be following Legion’s trail of murder-suicides, just like we are.
“Do you think Legion is capable of doing this? Of releasing the Horsemen?”
Lucifer begins to shake his head then shrugs. “I don’t know what he’s capable of anymore. He’s certainly powerful enough, but he’s always been more martyr than murderer. He would have anticipated that there would be mass casualties, and found another way to end his life.”
“I hope you’re right,” I nod. “Because if he knew he caused all this, he’d never be able to forgive himself. He’d have no reason to try to fight his way back.”
“Yes, he would. He has one very good reason,” Lucifer disagrees pointedly. “You.”
/>
I sigh, wishing I could breathe his words into existence.
I’d always believed that a man would never be the key to my salvation. No matter how fiercely he cared for me, I would not be made whole by his affections. His love could ease the ache of loneliness. It could soothe the sting of deep-rooted feelings of inadequacy. It could even be strong enough to stitch my shredded heart, but it would not save my soul. That was entirely up to me. And there was no amount of pretty smiles and even prettier words that could ever change that.
I’m starting to realize that it would be the same for Legion. Because broken people cannot heal broken people. No matter how deeply I feel for him, I can’t imagine trying to pick up the pieces of his life when my hands are too full of my own.
But, I’d still love him. Jagged shards and all.
Luetta returns to gather the dishes. Lucifer and I don’t pass another word between us until I stand.
“Where are you going?”
“Bathroom,” I answer. I’m still not feeling great, but now nerves have replaced the hunger.
Lucifer’s gaze sweeps over the space before he begins to climb to his feet. “I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” I insist. “It’s twenty feet away.”
“Still…you shouldn’t be alone.”
I roll my eyes and heave an impatient breath. “I need three minutes of privacy. If I don’t come back within that timeframe, you’re welcome to follow me in. Ok?”
Eyes narrowed, Lucifer purses his lips. “Fine. Three minutes.”
I make my way towards the restroom around the corner, careful to keep my eyes open for any distinguishable markings that could serve as clues. Clues to what, I have no idea. But if there’s a force here strong enough render Lucifer and Dark royalty useless in order to capture the Dark queen, then I’m smart enough to know that it won’t be the last we see of it.
With my palm pressed against the wooden door marked for the ladies restroom, I catch a blur of motion out of the corner of my eye. Then in the stutter of an immortal heartbeat, I’m being heaved inside. My front collides with the wall hard enough to slap a sting across my cheek as I’m pressed against it. But not before I grab the gun hidden at the base of my spine and press the barrel against my assailant’s belly. One wrong move and a bullet will rip through his gut and shatter his spine.
“You’re getting quicker,” he grits, his voice more gravelly than the last time we spoke.
“You’re getting sloppier,” I spit back.
The hold against the back of my neck recedes allowing me to turn around and face the scariest demon I’d ever laid eyes. I remember the first time I saw him—bulging muscles, black, dead eyes and face disfigured into a permanently scarred smirk. I thought I was looking at evil incarnate. And once I learned he was the Demon of Murder, I’d always tried to keep a healthy distance from him. However, watching him with my sister completely altered my view of him and made me regret my prejudice. I thought deceiving Phenex would be the worst part about all this, but it was Cain who I was the most regretful about. And judging by the deep frown marring his already daunting face, I know that I’ve lost his trust for good.
“You want to tell me what the fuck you’re doing in New Orleans? And why the fuck you thought you’d get away with stealing from me?”
I secure my weapon then do a quick scan of the bathroom to ensure we’re alone. “Irin sent us. I still don’t know, but Cain…shit is happening. Something terrible is coming.”
“No shit.” He scrubs a hand over his buzzed hair. “Fucking hell, Eden. Not only did you ignore a direct order and run off with fucking Lucifer, but you also committed a crime against the Se7en that’s punishable by death. Do you understand that? You know I can’t let this go.”
A rebuttal is on the tip of my tongue, but I refuse to throw Phenex under the bus. I owe him. And I won’t make him out to be a traitor to his family. He’s had my back more than a few times. I need to have his now.
“I know. I’m sorry. But you have to understand, I wouldn’t have done it unless it was necessary.”
“Necessary to what?”
To save Legion?
To kill Legion?
Either way, he won’t understand. Not unless he has the full truth. And right now, not even I can explain it.
Cain pulls out his phone. “Toyol is securing the building. I need to let the others know our location.”
Before I can stop myself, I smack the phone out of his hand, sending it crashing to the tiled floor. The touchscreen shatters into a million shards.
“What the fuck!”
“I’m sorry,” I stammer. “But they can’t come here. Especially Lilith.”
“And why the fuck not?”
“Because.”
“Because why, Eden? I don’t have time for this shit.”
On cue, as if it were rehearsed, Lucifer strides into the bathroom, his stance impassive, his expression cool. The guise he always wears when dealing with outsiders. I wonder who, other than myself, has seen the real him.
“Because Lilith’s arrival will surely be the beginning of the end.”
Cain scowls at Lucifer, looking him up and down with more contempt than usual. “And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Lilith is the first of the Four Horsemen. She’s Pestilence. And by bringing her here, you are dooming these people to a plague unlike any other.” Lucifer flicks an invisible speck of dust from his pristine suit jacket. “Now if you’d like to be responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent humans, by all means, be my guest. It’s not like the citizens of New Orleans haven’t been through enough. What’s one more surge of devastation?”
An audible growl rumbles Cain’s chest as he steps forward, nearly nose to nose with Lucifer. Of course, Lucifer is nonplussed and appears more annoyed with Cain’s presence rather than fearful.
“This is all your doing. The Horsemen are your pet project. If Lilith is Pestilence, then whatever blood has been spilled is on your hands.”
Lucifer waves a dismissive hand before gazing down at his cuticles. “Maybe so. But you’re the one who let the big bad wolf out of its cage. Who do you think activated them?”
Cain frowns, taking a step back. His eyes dart from Lucifer to me. “Legion?”
I nod. “We’re not sure if it’s The Many that did it, or him. The Horsemen are the only ones who may be strong enough to defeat him at full strength. We were either activated to unleash Hell on Earth, or to put him down.”
The crease between his brows deepens. “We?”
“Yeah.” I swallow before lifting my chin in faux courage. “I’m Death.”
“Fuck,” Cain spits. Then he turns his hard glare back on Lucifer. “And you knew about this?”
Lucifer shrugs nonchalantly. “Well, it’s not like I had any control of who the Horsemen would be. I’m powerful, but not powerful enough to rewrite history. Lilith, Eden, and the rest of the Horsemen are the first of their kind. You don’t alter the balance of nature without consequences. This curse chose them, not me.”
Cain begins to pace, his jaw ticking furiously. “Who else knows about this?”
“The Dark King and prince,” Lucifer answers. “Their queen has been captured by who I suspect is Stavros, their father and accomplice of Uriel.”
“She’s War,” I tack on. “And we have to find her. Bitch me out all you want later, but right now, we need your help.” I step forward, my palms open, hoping to reason with him despite my transgressions. “Please, Cain. I know you don’t trust me.”
“You’re damn right I don’t trust you.”
“But Gabriella…she’s good. Kind, loyal. She reminds me a lot of my sister, and one day, I hope that the two of them will be able to meet. She’s also pregnant. And if anything happens to her or her baby, I’ll never be able to forgive myself. If there’s anything—anything—I can do to start to earn your confidence, I’ll do it. Just don’t let this woman and her unbo
rn child die because I fucked up.”
Cain stills his pacing to stare at me, that jaw working overtime. He finally huffs out a sigh. “Where was she last seen?”
“A mansion here in the city. It seems abandoned, but it’s spelled with horrible magic. Even the Dark couldn’t detect it.”
“Give me The Redeemer.” When I hesitate, he adds, “If you want our help, you will give it back. Or I’ll take it back.”
I nod, then reluctantly reach into my coat and unsheathe the dagger. I wasn’t stupid enough to expect him to let me keep it, but it still sucks all the same that I can’t remain true to Phenex. Although the thought of sinking it into Legion’s chest is something that I can’t even fathom, no matter how hard I try to convince myself that I’m strong enough to do it.
“Again, I’m sorry,” I say, placing it into Cain’s hand. “I didn’t mean to betray you, and when I took it…” Flashback to Phenex’s pained face, his tears, the anguish in his voice. “I thought I was doing the right thing…for all of us.”
He purses his lips and snorts, eyes narrowed. “It wasn’t yours to take. You may have been fucking Legion, but you’re not one of us. You have no business having it in your possession.”
That stings, but I simply nod, biting down on a retort. Because I know he’s right—I’m not one of them. They may have opened their home to me at one time, but they always saw me as an obligation—a burden. And yeah, it hurts, but I can’t expect them to accept me when their sole reason for locating me was to do what they do best—to kill. I was a mission that turned into an extended houseguest. And to Cain, I was always unwelcome.
“Now,” Cain begins, securing the blade within the inside pocket of his jacket, much like the one that was designed for me. “Tell me about this mansion.”
We reenter the main dining area of the small restaurant and find that it’s empty, aside from Toyol. I resist the urge to embrace him, which is a feat when he greets me with a warm, lopsided smile.
“Hey, sticky fingers. I’ve missed you.”
“Hey yourself,” I reply, trying to keep the relief out of my voice. I was afraid of how the others would treat me after I committed such an unforgivable sin.