Instinctively, I reached out to grab the orb to smash it, but Nora caught my hand. “Steady. Let’s see what propaganda His Holiness has for us this week.”

  We need to come up with a different title for him.

  “What if he can track us with it?” I demanded.

  “Then he would have already found us,” she replied. “Let’s get it on screen.”

  “On screen?”

  Ambrose twirled an index finger, and a gray, liquid-like clay sprouted from the floor. It solidified into a pedestal. As soon as he set the orb on its top, a ray shot out, projecting Relias on the far wall. He was robed in pristine white as always, his eyes soft and calm, as if he genuinely felt he was free of all sin.

  No. On closer inspection, I saw the tightening around the eyes. A tell of contempt for that of his fellow men. A glint of certainty that he alone felt he knew what was best for the world.

  Bastard.

  “My beloved people of Speranza,” he eventually began, bowing his head. “Three months have passed since Demon King Olethros and his wicked subordinates claimed the life of the Chosen one.”

  His honeyed voice, with a poisonous undertone, made me shudder in fury.

  “Yet hope is not lost. In her final hours, she…” He paused for dramatic effect, going so far as to allow a single tear to trickle down his left cheek. “She revealed unto me her last, pure wish. She wished to bring Paradise back to the Faithful. And I will see her wish through to the very end.”

  Everything around us rumbled and rattled.

  Absolutely everything.

  “Be not afraid, those of the Faith,” Relias said calmly through the quaking. “For Paradise now comes to Speranza. A sanctified realm where all who remain true to their Purpose will find everlasting joy.”

  I turned to Nora. “Is he… Manufacturing a heaven?”

  How?!

  Horror glinted in her eyes. “Oh no…”

  The floor continued to vibrate.

  “Long have I considered it to be my Purpose to send demons to NAUGHT for their ultimate punishment,” Relias intoned loudly. “However, why simply concede that the Faithful must endure them in life? Should demons not repay their debts to humanity? Let them suffer eternally for their sins, but not before serving man!”

  With the vibrations starting to subside, he tapped the white, marbled floor beneath him. A large magic circle sprouted, golden runes on its edges turning slowly. Then he gestured upward with his free hand. A white burst of light erupted from its center, then flickered and faded to black.

  Thick, gold chains appeared first, before the demonic form of Sergeant Bohdil was constrained within them. She screamed literal fire, her rage-filled shrieks devoid of intelligible words. She struggled with violent rattles, animus pouring from her every joint, but the chains did not yield to her.

  “This is the first blessing of many that I bestow upon the Faithful.”

  He pulled a large medallion from his robe and reached toward her, the black jewel at its center gleaming ominously. The image glitched with a shrill squeal, skipping forward to show it already pressed against her brow. Whatever her immediate reaction was, the broadcast did not show it. Her bound body went still, its flame, literal and otherwise, snuffed out in an instant. Black tendrils had grown from the medallion, burying themselves in her forehead.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Rise,” he commanded, withdrawing his hand and leaving the jewel embedded. “Serve humanity as my first Angel.”

  Bohdil’s body convulsed. Joints cracked and elongated as metallic, bladed wings tore from her back. Her limbs stretched unnaturally, metal plates rippling outward at jagged, geometric angles, erasing all traces of exposed flesh. What had once been her head was merely a featureless bulb, its only decoration the spidery gemstone of Ereborite.

  “Go forth, my Angel,” Relias said in a raised voice of benediction. “Bring unto me your ex-brethren, so that I may grow your ranks in service to the Faithful of Speranza.

  What is this that I’m feeling…?

  She had taken delight in poisoning Tetora.

  When we fought outside of Chairo, she was absolutely set on killing us.

  She always was, and would always be, my enemy.

  Except she’s been reduced to a mere tool… all under his command.

  The magic circle and golden chains faded, allowing the Angel to bow. It pressed its face to the marble for several long seconds before launching skyward, crashing through a massive stained-glass window with a shrill, birdlike scream.

  That was one of the windows in the High Temple of Paradise..!

  “To the Faithful,” Relias continued smoothly, “rest easy, knowing that the Angels serve my Purpose even as they are sent to serve humanity.” He bowed his head once more. “Remain steadfast. Paradise's gates will soon open to thee.”

  He then lifted his head, his eyes sharp. “I will speak unto you again.”

  With that, the orb went dark, but I couldn't allow the silence to build.

  “I don’t believe I’ve read about any kind of angel like that in the Bible,” I murmured, a heavy, unpleasant sensation swirling in my gut.

  “My fault…” Nora whispered, staggering backward. “That kind of Angel… is all my fault. Everything’s my fault!”

  “That monster made a monster. I don’t think—”

  “Construct, not monster! She’s built like a combat construct! That day I was talking about angels… He asked me later which form was best. I said I didn’t like the idea of angels being sentient and unable to disobey, and then we started talking about automatons, and—”

  The rest was unintelligible, her words tumbling over one another. She stopped abruptly, her hands clenched.

  I glanced at Ambrose, who had remained silent for the entire projection. He met my gaze and held it far too long, making it painfully clear he had nothing to add.

  “The idea of automatons isn’t novel,” I advised carefully. “And automaton simply doesn't sound like a word you'd use. In fact, I bet that was his, wasn’t it?”

  Nora paused, her face scrunching. “Yes… but—”

  “He doesn’t like to be questioned,” I continued. “He wants obedience. An unthinking servant is his ideal, not yours.”

  Her shoulders trembled. “So I’m just as horrible as he is for thinking robots make good—”

  “You didn’t take their sentience away as he did! You just feel better about giving commands to a command line that never had it in the first place!”

  Except… NAUGHT’s command lines and windows had seemed a little…

  And then there was Aina… Or AINA as spelled with capital letters.

  “Look,” I said, shaking my head. “He’s shown us exactly what he is. But let’s think about what he didn’t show us.”

  Nora inhaled shakily. “The glitching was deliberate, I’m certain. He doesn’t want people to know how he did it, because it’s probably the secret of undoing it.”

  I nodded. “I'd like to know whether he glowed gold, black, or both when he did it. But even beyond a hunch that it was the last option I gave... He never mentioned that Olethros was free now.”

  Ambrose finally spoke, voice low. “He must maintain the illusion of control. Admitting the Demon King is free would fracture the Faith that Relias relies upon.”

  I narrowed my eyes, but Ambrose refused to say anything else.

  You two are hiding something from me.

  “And there’s the answer then, right? I’m sure you’ve been trying to tiptoe around me and break it to me easily, but… I got it. I’m going to have to stop hiding. The idea that I’m still very much alive will crumble his entire argument about what makes him next in line for divinity, right?”

  Ambrose and Nora exchanged a very long, concerned glance.

  “I promise I’m not going to flip out about it,” I continued. “But if I’m going to stop Bodhil from intercepting Olethros or coming after me, since I’m sure we’re Relias’s biggest worries now, I’m going to need some armor along with my sword and shield. And yet, can’t help but notice none of that’s here?”

  “We have them all,” Ambrose assured me. “Your armor has been repaired. However, you have not rested in your body for a long time. Perhaps it would be best if you first—”

  “I’d be much more comfortable if they were in my possession right now, thanks.”

  Nora’s eyes darted about wildly. “We don’t even know where Olethros currently is—”

  “I’m sure Amos can find him easily.”

  Ambrose lifted his chin as he pointed a swift, bony finger. “Danger! Look behind you!”

  “Where?!” I whirled, summoning my aura.

  Except most of it didn’t come when called. Luckily, there was nothing behind me.

  “Why can’t I… What’s going on?!”

  Nora opened her mouth to speak, but Ambrose cut her off with a single, curt gesture.

  “All of Speranza was shown the bloody scythe. Vicar Thomas and Master Landon confirmed it was used against you.”

  His eyes burned as they locked with mine.

  “Captain Lightbringer, ask yourself—who here would place their Faith and Trust in the dead?”

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