Chapter 17

Okay so I found out that my mom wanted her friends' children (who lives in China) to read my story and since I'm meeting my mom's friends' children this summer, I'm dedicating this chapter to them. Once they read this story and find out what a crazy person I truly am, they won't like me. Thanks mom, I appreciate you killing my chance of having friends. Anyhoo, R&R? Oh, and to my mom's friends' children (I don't know all of your names) feel free to write a review if you love or hate this story and by extension, me. I don't care if it's in a different language, I'm multilingual. At least, I know how to use Google Translate…

Max

I was given a room. A huge room with a giant bed, a fireplace, a small pool, and a wardrobe the size of the throne room back in Rome. I knew Nudge would love this but all I could think about is that I've sold my soul. Not literally, no, because just as the Voice predicted, Lucifer didn't ask me to sign a contract or take an oath. But I did sell my soul; I agreed to become a subject to Lucifer's cause in exchange for the freedom of my friends. Selling for a noble cause was still selling. I felt horrible.

There's a knock at my door, "What?" I snarl.

The two grand double doors swing open and Lucifer stands just outside of them. I wouldn't get any privacy here, "If I didn't know better, little rose, I would think an actual demon lived in here."

I scowl and he beckons me towards him. I can't do anything but follow as he leads me through a winding maze of tunnels. Finally, he stops at a door. "Watch your step, Maximum."

"It's Max," I snap.

He looks at me very patiently as if confronting a child with a temper tantrum, "But you are the best, Maximum, so embrace it."

He pushes the door open, "The Armory," he announces. The heat hits me before my eyes adjust to the scene. In the center of the huge room is a pit of black fire. I recoil. On the walls around the pit are assorted weapons and material. All the material was black.

"What are the weapons made of?" I ask, but I knew the answer. The demons weren't going to fight us with cloud fluff and rainbows.

He flashes a grin, "Obsidian. Who knew the scraps of our forges would affect angels so much? But then again, you do know what obsidian is made of, don't you?"

"Bitter tears of an innocent," I close my eyes and begin to recite what was told to me when the angels first discovered the stone that could burn through our feathers, "Hate, anger, despair, hopelessness, and unfaithfulness."

"Which is why the stone is everywhere and why we have the advantage this time," Lucifer leads me out of the Armory, "Also, there is a lot of corrupted angels in Heaven. They would gladly join me. There are those who would turn against your Lord at a moment's notice if necessary. And your Dylan? He's corrupted. He blackmailed you, don't you realize? He's clever and he has his goals in mind. He has power."

"How do you know he blackmailed me?"

Lucifer looks at me, shocked by my naïveté, "Rose, I wouldn't leave you to fend for yourself, you're too young, too unaware."

I look away. Did he know about Fang? Did Ari tell him?

"I had Cearbh accuse you, rose, I admit it." I'm shocked when I shouldn't be.

"Why?"

"You think I would just abandon you, rose? I trained you myself, I spent all that time for you to be the best and you are but you just won't admit it."

I'm silent as we walk down the hallway. After what seemed like forever, the hallway opens up to what feels like a busy town. There are demons rushing around, a group of succubi taunting a human. I look away, my stomach churning. A legion of demons in neat rows march by, saluting to Lucifer as they pass. He nods to them in acknowledgement. Jeb appears in front of us, "The 15th cavalry is ready, sir."

"Very good," Lucifer replies, giving me a light shove forwards, "Get Maximum suited up."

I look at him questioningly. What is happening now?

Fang

I sat still as a statue as Angel sifted through my thoughts and memories. She gasps when she sees what Max had done.

"How could she?" she asks.

"How could she what?" Nudge asks.

Angel's young face is pale, "She sent us back here, to Rome, but she remained there."

"Why would she? How could she?" Nudge explodes, and then reverts to tears.

There is silence. Iggy and Gazzy are sprawled on the floor drawing a map of Hell from memory into the dirt.

"Well, what are we doing sitting around here?" Dylan appears out of nowhere, "Let's go save her."

I stand, angry. "Why are you still here? You cause nothing but trouble."

"I'm better for Max and you know it," he hisses, "I was the one who followed her and protected her when you were off traipsing around with a succubus! If it wasn't for you, she wouldn't have needed to decide, she wouldn't have needed to go back for you."

"She's not yours," I crouch down defensively.

"And right now, she's not yours either," he taunts, "Much as I'd love to fight you, we don't have time."

Someone is going to murder him very soon and I can't tell you that it won't be me. Angel reads my homicidal thoughts and sends back, Ignore him, but we really do need to find Max.

That was easier said than done. To do that, we'd have to find another portal into Hell and even if we did, we'd have to find Max who is probably at Lucifer's side in the depths of Hell somewhere and then we'd have to find a way out.

"How long does the spell hold for?" I turn to Dylan.

He looks at me with grudging respect. "Three days," he holds out his hand, "Truce?"

I take it, "Truce."

Turning to the Flock, I square my shoulders, "Up and away."

We head for the mountain, and for Max.

This is also a shortie… Oh well, promise it's better next chapter. Reviews, please! शुक्रिया (Hindi)