Page 108 of Daman

“That sounds ominous,” Bellamy mumbled as we ascended the steps.

Gusion opened the door. “Welcome.” He motioned for us to enter the cabin. “I put us on some tea.”

“Tea.” Gray ran inside and plopped down on a cushion in front of the fire. “Alastair’s favorite word. You think he’s still mad at us?”

“Definitely,” I said, recalling our conversation before we’d left Russia. “But he didn’t order us not to come. Which tells me that he knew I was right. He was just worried.”

“Alastair,” Gusion said, as if testing the sound of the name on his tongue. He poured a cup of tea and offered it to Gray before pouring another for Bellamy. “He’s Pride, yes?”

“How do you know that?” I scrutinized him, hand twitching at my side, itching to grab my sword. Just in case I needed to draw it quickly. This man might’ve come to me when I was a boy, but I didn’t trust him. He hadn’t given me a valid reason to.

Warrin linked our fingers and gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

“I know many things.” Gusion sat in a green armchair and stirred sugar into his tea. “Please sit. You’re guests in my home.” His eyes shifted to me when I didn’t move. “Do you remember the day we met? You broke your spine, your neck, and both your legs. I carried you into my home and gave you a safe space for you to heal yourself. If I didn’t harm you then, why would I harm you now?”

“You fed me meat stew,” I said, as more memory fragments pieced together. Still holding Warrin’s hand, I led us to the couch and sat down. Castor and Kyo sat on the opposite end, while Bellamy and Warrin’s men grabbed chairs from the table and brought them over. Lycus stood against the wall, arms crossed.

“I did. And it wasn’t poisoned. Not that poison would’ve given you anything other than an upset stomach, but still.” Gusion blew on the top of his tea before taking a drink. “It took me years to grow accustomed to the taste of food and drink. Now, I find myself craving tea every afternoon.”

“I prefer coffee,” I said.

Warrin pressed his lips together.

“I hear bitterness in your tone.” Gusion regarded me, expression unreadable. “You’re angry with me.”

“Oh, I’m not angry. I’m confused. Who the hell are you? Why give me that vague warning all those years ago? A warning I completely forgot about because two thousand fucking years passed.”

“He’s angry,” Gray whispered to Bellamy.

“You remembered when you needed to,” Gusion said. “I made certain of that. As for who I am… I once controlled the gates of the celestial realm. Reapers brought me the souls of humans worthy of Paradise, and I let them pass through, taking them to their final destination.”

The top of my scalp tingled. “You’re an angel.”

“A fallen angel,” he clarified. “I followed Lucifer to Earth during his rebellion.”

Castor shot up from his chair. “This is supposed to make us trust you?”

“Easy, Red.” Kyo grabbed his arm. “Give him a chance to explain.”

“Did you know my dad?” Gray asked. “Belphegor?”

“I did,” Gusion answered. “I knew all eight of Lucifer’s closest companions. They wanted to recreate the world. Make it better. At first, I wanted the same.”

“What changed?” I asked.

“Humanity’s suffering.” A grave expression appeared on the fallen angel’s face. “My purpose as an angel was to bring peace to souls. I never harmed anyone. When Lucifer began his reign of terror, I realized I made a mistake. His vision of a better world was tarnished by the blood of innocents. I told him I wanted no part in it.”

Bellamy scoffed. “I bet that didn’t make him too happy.”

“He was beyond furious.” Gusion nodded. “You see, Lucifer had a plan for me.” He brought his necklace forward. The glowing white stone was exactly as I remembered, a low hum filling the air, a sign of the magic flowing through it. “It revolved around this.”

Gray perked up. “What is it?”

“A key to the celestial realm.”

My blood ran cold. “A key?”

Gusion nodded. “I was the gatekeeper before the Fall. When I joined the rebellion, the stone came with me.”