Page 107 of Alastair

Alastair’s brow furrowed. “So that’s why we’re able to weaken Lucifer when our sins join together. Because theyareweapons.”

“Yes. At least, that’s my theory.” Mephistopheles washed down the cake with a drink of tea, then dabbed at his mouth. “Which brings me to the sword. I’ve heard whispers of it during my exile. Prophetic dreams, if you will. Night Fall.”

“Night Fall?” Daman asked.

Mephistopheles nodded. “What can snuff out the light but darkness itself? Just as Light Bringer was created with the first light of morning, Night Fall began to take shape the moment Lucifer’s heart darkened and he became consumed by his wrath.”

“Huh?” Gray sat crisscross on the rug, resting his chin on his hand. “Night Fall can’t be Lucifer’s soul weapon. He already has Light Bringer.”

“I didn’t say it was his,” Mephistopheles responded. “I said it began to takeshapeinside him. Night Fall fully came into being when the darkness of Lucifer’s rage, pride, envy, and all the wicked sins that led to his rebellion took its first breath.”

My chest constricted as his meaning sunk in.

“No fucking way,” Castor said seconds later. Although a major smart-ass, he was sharp. He’d figured it out too.

Alastair stood frozen beside me. He gripped my arm tighter.

“Are you implying what I think you are?” Galen asked.

“I’m lost.” Raiden glanced between his brothers. “Where are we supposed to find this sword?”

“It’s already been found,” Alastair said, his voice barely more than a whisper. He looked at Michael. “And its owner is sitting in your prison.”

“Remarkable, is it not?” Mephistopheles returned his gaze to the fire, the flames dancing in his eyes. “Night Fall is the soul weapon of Asa Morningstar.”

Chapter Seventeen

Alastair

“I was unaware he possessed a soul weapon,” I said, and the admission gnawed at my chest. But if our sins were technicallyourweapons, as Mephistopheles speculated, then it was only reasonable for Asa to have one as well, seeing how he was the ninth Nephilim born and held a piece of all our sins.

We were all connected in this fucked-up game of power and betrayal.

“I’ve seen it.” Bellamy looked at me. “When Asa attacked our mansion to retrieve Light Bringer from your vault, I saw him wield an all-black sword.”

“Yes. I saw it too when we fought. Smoke swathed the blade.”

“Shadows,” Mephistopheles corrected. “It draws its power from the dark. But, if I’m correct in my thinking, Night Fall’s true purpose has yet to be fulfilled.”

“Explain,” Lazarus said. That one word held such authority that it made my insides quiver a bit. Gods damn him.

Mephistopheles glanced at Bellamy. “When you saw the sword, did you notice any stones along the hilt?”

“Uh, no?” He moved a hand through his golden hair. “We were kinda getting our asses handed to us at the time. I didn’t stop to admire his pretty sword of death.”

Phoenix pressed his lips together. “Well, I lived with the bastard for a year. I’ve seen the sword. I just didn’t know it was a soul weapon. I never saw him summon it from his body like Belphegor does his. It was always just with him.”

“And the stones?” Mephistopheles asked.

“I thought they were diamonds,” the demon answered. “Or clear quartz. Just a fancy decoration.”

“What’s the significance of these stones?” Michael questioned.

“Right now? They are nothing more than decoration, just as the demon presumed.” Mephistopheles shifted his orange-yellow eyes to me. A second passed as he held my gaze. Then, he stood and walked over to grab another cookie. “Your blood holds extraordinary power, boys. As I’m sure you know. You couldn’t kill Lucifer without Kallias, but that power in your blood was able to seal him in his cage.”

I processed his words. “The stones are meant for us?”

“Your intellect is astounding. You came to that conclusion much quicker than I expected. Eight stones. One for each of you.” Mephistopheles rested his hip against the kitchen counter, facing us. He bit the head off the gingerbread man and slowly chewed, either savoring the bite or intentionally testing my patience.