Page 83 of Indecent

Menadel frowned lightly, her lips pursing. “No, an angel cannot kill an angel. Not in the sense that you’re talking about.”

She took a breath to say more, but Ira suddenly inhaled, snapping a hand out to grab Wolf’s arm. His gaze was fixed at a distant point on the wall.

Chaol frowned, glancing from face to face. The whole room waited with bated breath.

Daniel leaned over and whispered in his ear, “He’s having a vision.”

Oh, thank fuck. Maybe it was the one they needed.

When Ira blinked back to the present, he frowned, looking around the room.

“Well?” Talon asked.

“I don’t understand what it means. It wasn’t… It was different. It sounded like words. A few flashes of images. I usually see an actual scene from the future.”

“Okay, what did the words say?” Alex asked. “What images did you see?”

“The words… ‘He who was reborn in hellfire shall slay the angel Ramiel.’ And I saw a boy. There was fire all around him. I don’t know who he was.”

On Daniel’s other side, Draego shifted.

Chaol looked at Daniel. “Reborn in hellfire,” he repeated, arching one brow.

Daniel looked at him, uncomprehending at first. When it dawned on him, he shook his head, turning imploringly to Ira and Menadel. “What? No, it can’t be. You said demons can’t kill angels.”

“That is correct,” Menadel said. “Whoever this boy is, or was, he is the one who will kill Ramiel.”

“It could be anyone,” Talon said. “You said this was going to happen soon. How is a little boy going to kill Ramiel?”

“I don’t think he’s still a little boy,” Ira said thoughtfully. “I think that was the moment he was ‘reborn in hellfire.’ I don’t think that was recent. It didn’t… feel recent.” He frowned uncertainly.

“How do I leave a comment card for the prophecy-givers?” Talon drawled. “Their messages leave something to be desired.”

Menadel smiled patiently, though there was little humor behind it. “All I know is that I must mitigate the damage Ramiel is doing until such time as the prophecy unfolds how it’s supposed to.”

“So why can’t we just, like, shoot him with a rocket launcher?” Isaac asked.

“Besides the fact that we don’t have a rocket launcher?” Nathan pointed out.

Isaac scoffed. “Shadrach would get me one if I asked.”

“I would,” Shadrach agreed.

“He could simply disappear before the rocket made impact,” Menadel pointed out. “It wouldn’t work. It’s been foretold, and it will unfold how it’s meant to. The one who kills Ramiel will be human. We just have to wait for him to reveal himself.”

“And Ramiel just continues to kill people until then?” Alex asked, wrinkling his nose. “The more demons he kills, the stronger he gets, right? We can’t just let him run around the city using demons as personal power-ups.”

“That’s why I am here,” Menadel said. “To prevent that.”

“Then do a better job,” Talon snapped.

Menadel had the grace to look sheepish. “I will. You have my word. I thought chasing him was the best option, but he cloaks himself from me. You’re right; staying close by will be better.”

“We need somewhere to stay,” Julian said wearily. “Our house is…” He sighed.

“There are unused penthouses above the club,” Talon said, then gestured to Daniel and Chaol. “I was going to offer one to you guys anyway, so you didn’t have to keep living in their guest room. They’re unfurnished, but we can arrange for some deliveries.”

“That’d be nice,” Daniel said, and Chaol nodded his agreement.