Chapter 37

Perdition wanted to check on Camilla Dawn and the babies. Key was with her.

“Is she ok?” Perdition asks. Key shakes her head. “I do not know what is wrong with her. Mrs. Bee thinks it has something to do with the black magic, and honestly, I do too. I think she is drained.” Key says.

“I think I can wake her.” Perdition says.

“Why did Sam bring her here?” Perdition asks as Sam enters the room with Angie.

“I thought she would be safe here.” He says.

“Well, I am not so sure about that.” Perdition says. Perdition keeps staring at Sam. “You’re not being truthful, Sam. Why are you really here?” she asks him.

Sam looks out the door of Camilla Dawn's room. He sees Mayhem waiting patiently.

“Look, this all happened fast. We got word where Camilla Dawn was and where Mayhems kids were and we just … well, we just ended up here.” Sam stammers.

“Where exactly do you think Mayhems children are?” she asks.

Sam stares at Perdition for a moment. He waits for her to volunteer the information. “Well, we thought they were with you.” He says. Perdition growls at Sam. She walks out of the room.

“Well, you were wrong!” she says as she walks out to confront Mayhem. “I cannot believe you! What kind of game are you playing Mayhem?” She yells at him as she comes face to face with him. “I do not have your kids. I also know they are not mine. I know everything about you and what you did to get out of the void. Why are you here?” she screams at him.

“I told him you had them so they would come here.” Mrs. Bee says. “I need all of you together. There is a war coming.”

“There is always a war coming. I will be uptown if anyone needs me!” Perdition says.

“Wait. We need you to stay here in the case or really when the watchers return.” Mrs. Bee says.

“Do you have any idea what the watchers and Damnation are doing?” Perdition asks.

Perdition waits for her to respond. “Your silence is deafening.” Perdition says. “I am going to the café. If you want answers, meet me there! Come on, Chaos! We are done here!” Chaos joins her as they slip out the back alley to the Devils Café.

“Well, I guess we better go talk to her. At least we will be in public. Mayhem should be safe.” JJ says. He slaps Mayhem on the shoulder. “You pissed her off.” Mayhem shakes his head.

“I think my existence pisses her off,” Mayhem says.

Mayhem, Sam, and JJ walk to the Devils Café. Angie and Tiffany stayed behind with Camilla Dawn and Key. The three were eager to hear what Perdition was going to tell them about the Watchers and Damnation.

They walked into the Devils Café, Bob was still working behind the bar. He waved at them and pointed to the stairs. They went up the stairs to the upper bar. It wasn’t being used today. It would be perfect for the meeting.

“We are here,” Sam announces as they reach the top of the stairs. Only Perdition was present.

“Where is Chaos?” Mayhem asks. “He is uptown. He sent him to get me a few things.” She responds.

Perdition goes behind the bar and gets a bottle. “You guys might want a shot before I tell you what’s going on. I honestly think I need a couple.” Perdition says as she pours four double shots of whiskey. “Don’t worry, JJ. I have something special for us.” She says. She adds Heaven’s nectar to hers and JJs shot. They each take their shot.

“The watchers are trying to repopulate the earth with more watchers.” Perdition says. The three are in shock.

“Wait, what?” JJ says. “How did you find this out?” he asks.

“My brother told me.” She responds. “The watchers don’t want an apocalypse. No, they want to rule the topside. They think if they can produce enough new watchers, they can.”

“I need another shot,” Sam says.

“Me too,” Mayhem says in agreement.

“Perdition just put the bottle on the bar.” JJ chimes in.

“Let me make sure I understand what you are saying,” Mayhem says.

“Let me break it down for you nice and slow.” Perdition says. “My brother and Jaza are trying to repopulate the topside with watchers.” She pours all of them another drink. “And my brother Damnation told me all this when he was here last week. He came to see me.” She says. “He still wants me to join his fucking cult.”

“Where are all the children? All the ones Labith took. Where are they?” Sam asks.

“Jaza has them. Before you ask, Venus is still locked in the garden. Isaac is still there too. No one has even attempted to get her out.” Perdition says.

“So it does not involve Venus at all,” Sam says. “I thought she was in charge of all this.” Sam continues to drink.

“She is not. It is Labith, Damnation, and the watchers. I am sure Venus has some part in it. But it’s the watchers trying to take over.” Perdition says.

“But why?” Mayhem asks. “why would Labith want the watchers to take over topside? It makes little sense.”

“They want to go back to the way it was when they were powerful. They were like gods here on earth until they were punished for having human orgies.” Sam says.

“It was more than that.” Perdition says. “They taught humans about magic and nature. They had families here.”

“You think it might be revenge,” Sam says. “Why would they harm the humans if they were the ones they were in love with?”

“It is a lot more complicated than that too.” Perdition says. “My father is weak. This could be their chance to completely break out of hell.”

“What happens if Lucifer falls?” Mayhem asks.

“It means Perdition or Damnation will take over,” JJ says. “Perdition will be the Queen of Hell or Damnation will be the King of Hell.”

“Damnation will not give up his cushy life here on the topside. He wants it to be me.” Perdition says.

“But the watchers want it to be Jaza,” JJ says. “It will take an army to uproot you from that spot.”

“Exactly! A watcher army!” Perdition says.

The four of them continue to drink for a few hours. It seemed as if they had buried the hatchet and maybe Perdition would help them. We need her, JJ thought. He knew Perdition would rule hell properly. Damnation would not be a superb choice. He would leave it abandoned for demons and watchers to do as they please.

Jaza would destroy topside if he had the demons and watchers under him. JJ did not want to see Perdition stuck serving the underworld. He wasn’t sure what the best choice would be. JJ knew it wasn’t Jaza. Jaza could not rule the underworld. Even if it meant he had to go to the underworld and protect Lucifer himself. Jaza would not rule.