The Second Death by T. Frohock Page B

was in firm command of her realm.
    Miquel articulated Guillermo’s thought. “That’s a lie,” he said.
    Guillermo raised a finger and Miquel fell silent. “How do you fit into all of this?”
    â€œI am a spy for Sariel.” Prieto’s eyes changed. They turned into identical orbs of crimson and silver as the angel’s power slipped again. “Sariel has experienced . . . conflicts.”
    â€œConflicts?”
    â€œIdeological intrigues within her own court. She needed to know where Los Nefilim stood.”
    Which explained Prieto’s questions to Diago each time he encountered the Nefil. Prieto probably thought that Diago was far enough outside Los Nefilim’s circle of trust that he could observe them objectively. In the angel’s mind, Diago would have nothing to lose by informing Prieto of Guillermo’s allegiances.
    Prieto turned his horrible eyes on Guillermo. “Well? Do we trust you?”
    â€œMy allegiance is where it has always been—­with Sariel. She is taking us in a new and welcome direction. I’ve made no secret of my support for her.”
    â€œGood, because you are about to acquire an entire cadre of enemies, some of whom—­you know, but still not fully comprehend—­are within your own ranks.” Prieto allowed his warning to hang in the air for a moment before he continued. “This new direction, what the Spanish call their Second Republic, is what Aker sees as weakness. He is sending members of his own court to advise Sariel’s enemies. He wants to wipe out Los Nefilim so he can bring his Messengers and Die Nephilim into Spain.”
    Miquel looked like he had tasted something bitter. “There are angels within Sariel’s court working with Aker?”
    That would explain the impunity of the Messenger, Engel, and his Nephilim.
    Prieto scowled and the mortals around them frowned. “Three generals in her army have made no secret of their contempt for her. She has banished them from her realm.”
    The angels were preparing for another war—­ideological or not, the conflict would overtake the mortal realm—­but none of Prieto’s comments answered Guillermo’s biggest question. “Internal politics I understand. But why are the daimons working with the angels?” he asked.
    â€œThey want to create a new race of Nefilim to stand against the angel-­born. They lost Diago’s allegiance, so Moloch wanted to begin again. He thought that if the angels turned the child directly over to the daimons, the boy’s loyalty would be secured. Moloch approached Sariel. He promised to design a bomb that would end all wars, but his price was the child.”
    â€œRafael.” Miquel’s eyes went hard.
    Prieto confirmed their suspicions. “Rafael. Sariel knows that whoever holds this new bomb of Moloch’s will control the eventual outcome of the war. She thought one child was a small price to pay for the lives of millions. She also suspected that Diago wasn’t as easily manipulated as the daimons thought. As he so often says, he is angel, too.
    â€œCandela didn’t want to give Rafael to either Diago or Moloch. She fled and hid the child. When she died, we found Rafael, but I made Diago’s involvement a part of the deal. I didn’t believe Diago would simply hand Rafael to Moloch. I had hoped that he would take the child and raise it apart from the daimons. Not in my wildest dreams did I see him joining Los Nefilim.”
    Prieto turned to Guillermo, his countenance severe. All around them, the mortals assumed pensive expressions. The angel patted the silk pouch. “My American counterpart is Betty Yellowcloud. She was supposed to be here days ago, but she was delayed. Had she arrived on time, I never would have been ensnared by Engel. I must get this idea to her, and she will transfer the idea to the mortal who will create the