“When I learned of the rogues,” Adriel continued, “I discovered Raum was among them, and my curiosity was piqued.”
Raum narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“I knew you through Sunshine’s memories, and for the most part, your behavior hadn’t seemed particularly demonic. I found it curious that you would choose to escape Hell, and I had my suspicions as to why. So I watched you.”
Great. So not only had Sunshine found them easily, but Adriel had been sitting up in Heaven spying on them since the day they escaped.Fucking angels.
“It was clear that you behaved differently from what is assumed about demons. I began a period of study on demonic evolution and found there was almost no research done on the subject. I did learn of one book, however.”
“The Book of Gamigin,” Sunshine breathed.
“Yes.”
“Wait—” Iris spoke up for the first time. Everyone was so silent, Raum had almost forgotten they were there. “That’s Suyin’s book. That Valefor stole. That Murmur now has.”
“The grimoire is supposedly written by Gamigin, or Samigina, a Duke of Hell who I believe was destroyed. In it, he reportedly provides evidence for his theory that demons not only evolve consciousness, but they also evolvesouls.”
Everyone stared at him in mute shock.
Except Eva. She looked at Ash and said, “That’s exactly what you told me! When we first met and I found out about demons, you told me you thought you developed souls, and you were freaked out because you didn’t know what would happen if you died.”
“That question perplexed me as well,” Adriel said. “I hoped Gamigin’s text might contain answers. As I am unable to enter the underworld—”
“Why not?” Meph asked.
“Hell’s lower vibrations are not compatible with a Second Sphere angel’s physiology. Upon entry, I would either rupture into a million shards of light, or I would cause a nuclear explosion-like effect on the realm. I would rather not find out which.”
Meph’s brows shot up. “Fair enough.”
“Since I couldn’t visit Hell to retrieve the text myself, I had to send someone to get the book for me.” Adriel transferred his gaze to Sunshine, and Raum instinctively tensed. Those eyes freaked him out, honestly.
“Because of your past and what I learned in my observations, I realized that drastic changes needed to be made. I took my concerns to the Dominations, and they informed me Raum would face a test in order to secure freedom for himself and the other rogues. The Dominations love tests, you see.”
“Wait—” Raum blinked. “Freedom? What freedom?”
“And what test?” Sunshine added.
“Your encounter with Raphael, of course.”
“That was all some kind of fucked-up test?” Ash looked pissed. “Eva could have been killed!”
“I didn’t know what the test would be. I am not omniscient. I tried to inform Sunshine when we last saw each other, but the Dominations forbade me from explaining anything. The best I could do was allow her to listen in on our conversation.”
Sunshine’s eyes were wide. “That was what you were trying to warn me about.”
“I wanted to tell you more, but in order for the test to work, I couldn’t be involved.”
Raum frowned. He wasn’t sure he bought Adriel’s noble-protector charade. He wasn’t about to forget that he’d lied to Sunshine for hundreds of years.
“So…did Raum pass the test then?” Meph cut in.
“Yes.” Adriel smiled as he turned his freaky starry eyes back in Raum’s direction. “With flying colors.”
Raum blinked. “How?”
“You showed mercy to Raphael, a powerful enemy who’d done a grave injustice against you and those you consider family.”
“I didn’t do it for him,” he grumbled, suddenly regretting his so-called mercy. “I did it because I didn’t want Sunshine to have that on her conscience.”
