“I know. That’s why I need some time. Can you get me an hour? We’ll do a quick patch job.”
“Sure, girlfriend. I’ll run some fresh interference for you, too. Try to neutralize Adair.”
“Thanks, but I still say you should be doing your day job. Or, better yet, hanging with Zeke.” Since Cissy became Senator, she hasn’t seen too much of her boyfriend, Zeke.
“First of all, you are my day job. Second, I spent years chasing after Zeke from afar. It won’t hurt him to be in the background for a little while. And third, neutralizing Adair is fun.”
“You’re the best, Cis.”
“Stay safe.” She gives me a big hug and then walks away at double-speed.
For a time, I watch the Cloud Carriers drift lazily about the Tower.
“You guys stay safe, too.”
Chapter Two
Over the next hour, we do the sketchiest patch job on a Cloud Carrier, ever. It won’t be a solid fix until Walker comes by, but it should be enough for Adair’s inspection. In fact, my repair team has just left the Tower when Adair appears in the doorway.
“Greetings, Great Scala.”
She’s a pale girl with pinched features, long blonde hair and the mismatched eyes that mark every thrax. She wears a butter-yellow gown, which is the color of her House, Acca. Behind her steps the Ghoul Delegate, a seven-foot tall man in a flowing black robe. He has a colorless, scarred face and pronounced limp. The Angelic Delegate is with them, too. She’s an elderly grandma-type with ebony skin and a shock of white hair. We aren’t on diplomatic terms with Hell anymore, so there’s no demon representative.
Adair marches across the floor, her mismatched eyes glaring red-hot death in my direction. Meh. She can kiss my ass.
The group stops before me. Cissy steps forward, looking very official in her Senatorial robes. There’s a glimmer in her eye that I like very much, indeed. I’ve known Cissy since we were kids, and that look means one thing: whatever interference she ran for me with Adair, it’s goooooooooood.
“Greetings, Great Scala,” says Cissy smoothly. “As the Thrax Senator for Diplomacy, I’m here to witness the inspection of this Ghost Tower followed by an official announcement from the Thrax Dele—” Cissy pauses dramatically, tapping her chin. “Ah, how silly of me to forget. Before we begin, I’ve had a rush communiqué from Antrum. A special message for the Great Scala.” She reaches into her robes and pulls out a small silver envelope. Lincoln’s seal is mighty visible. Nice.
Cissy is a genius. Now, Adair will spend her time obsessing over that message and—with any luck—not inspect anything during her inspection of the Cloud Carriers. I could kiss Cissy right now.
“Here’s the message.” My best friend offers me the envelope with a flourish. “There’s been a demon sighting in Purgatory. The High Prince will be taking care of this personally. He requests that you join him for the battle.” She looks meaningfully to Adair. “Details are in this letter.”
I take the envelope and smile, smile, smile. “Thank you, Senator.” I could do my happy dance, I’m so pumped. Cissy must’ve pulled some strings to find a demon to kill and get a rush courier over to Antrum, all in an hour. What a girl. And demon fighting with Lincoln? Today is definitely on the upswing.
Adair stares at the envelope in my hands, and then looks to Cissy. “Weren’t there any messages from Prince Lincoln for me?”
“Nothing for you,” says Cissy slyly. “Now, you wanted to perform an inspection that would be followed by a formal announcement. What in the Tower would you like to inspect?”
Adair looks around the Tower floor. “Is Lead Warden Celia here? She could give me some guidance.”
“No, she’s got the day off.” Glad I gave it to her, too, considering that Adair’s asking for guidance from her. Unfortunately, that means my Celia may be Adair’s source about our troubles with the Ghost Towers. Note to self: look into this situation ASAP. I hate the thought of firing Celia, but it may come to that.
Adair glances at the Cloud Carriers, but her gaze keeps flickering back to the silver envelope, which I’ve decided to use as a fan.
Cissy rocks on her heels. “We’re waiting.”
“Everything seems fine,” says Adair quickly. “Thank you, Senator.”
“You’re most welcome. And now, you have an announcement for us?”
“That I do.” Adair straightens the neckline of her medieval-style gown. “My esteemed colleagues, I’m here today to announce that as Thrax Delegate to Purgatory, I’ve launched a formal investigation of the Ghost Towers. I have it on good authority that these things are ready to explode, releasing millions of angry ghosts onto Purgatory’s streets. And when spirits are this furious, they can tear down buildings, break through walls, even kill people.” She makes a stabbing motion with her arm, miming murder.