Page 110 of Wicked Believer

Theyallare.

I incline my head in my former generals’ direction, relishing the way Seraph hisses and Uriel flinches away in disgust. As if they didn’t once throw themselves at my feet. Now they cannot fathom the idea of a creature more unholy, more un-Godly, than me. They see through my mask to my true face with ease.

They’ll never lay eyes on my angelic features again.

One of the myriad ways our Father chose to fuck me.

“Father of lies.” Raphael spits at my feet. “Filthy whore.”

I smirk. “I always fancied the old nicknames.” I turn my attention to Michael. “You’re bound by His word. We had an agreement.”

He nods to one of our other siblings, Jophiel, who steps forth and extends a small golden chest toward him. Michael opens it and removes one of the seven sealed scrolls inside. “First your penance. Onlythenwill I call the Righteous off your precious bride.”

My expression remains flat, detached, as I glimpse the human still circling overhead.

For once, I do not hold the upper hand here.

“And Mother?” I ask. “What’s your plan for keeping her on her leash?”

Michael shrugs. “What Mother does no longer concerns you.”

“You underestimate her.” I shake my head. “You and Father both.”

“Or perhaps youoverestimate her devotion to you. You’re infamous for that.”

My siblings chuckle.

“I’ve never overestimated anything.” I step closer, and Jophiel stiffens as if she’s prepared to come to Michael’s defense, but Michael lifts a hand, allowing me to invade his space. I flick my forked tongue. “When Father cast me out, He chosemeas His only worthy adversary,” I sneer, allowing my pupils to turn serpentine. “What can be said of you? That you were second fiddle?” I scoff, turning to face my other siblings. “When you all tire of Michael’s floundering leadership, you know where to find me.”

Michael growls through his teeth, causing several of his angelic watchdogs to stir, but I lift my hands in mock surrender, capitulating. To my siblings, our exchange was nothing more than a petty jab. Celestial foreplay, if you will.Exactlythe kind of prideful posturing they expect of me. But already I’ve planted the seed in their minds, sown doubt.

In Michael’s leadership. His abilities.

It’s only a matter of time before they’re loyal to me again.

After all, I was their first and favorite leader.

A few of my siblings look to one another uncertainly, murmuring in hushed tones as Barachiel passes Michael his infamous sword, the Flame of Death. I willneverforgive Azrael for forging it for him. Michael unsheathes it, performing for the crowd as he lifts both it and the first scroll above his head in show.

A triumphant roar echoes from my angelic siblings.

I roll my eyes, giving a few sarcastic, slow claps. “Yes, yes, it’s all very exciting, isn’t it?”

The first seal will soon be open, signaling what they believe will be our Father’s return, the reason they celebrate, but I pay them no mind. No heed.

If Charlotte knew what I was about to do, she would never forgive me.

But she need not know the finer details, the lengths to which I would go for her.

The level of depravity to which I would stoop.

I would commitanymanner of unconscionable acts in her name.

Iam the first true sinner. Not Eve.

And for that, they already fear me. But they will learn to fear me more.

The crowd falls quiet again.