Before me, Xavier’s body transforms into sand once more. With a low hiss, the entire scene melts back into the desert floor. I sit back on the gray sand. My mind runs through every detail of what I’ve just seen. Armageddon’s obsession with Maxon…how the first of the Oligarchy was controlled by Armageddon…And Mom’s battle to get the threat taken seriously. Sulphur sears my lungs, wind pelts my body, but none of it seems to matter.

I wake to the sound of scraping metal. I open my eyes, seeing gray sky outside my window. I yawn, slip out of bed, and walk into the kitchen. Mom stands before the table, holding a flat block of wood with a long metal arm: a fabric slicer. She pulls the razor-sharp arm up and down, making long cuts on black cloth.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Good morning, Myla.” I examine her face. Mom’s skin is creased with lines. Her hair is coarse and streaked with gray. Her once-vibrant smile is now a look of constant worry.

What did the war do to her?

Mom makes another cut with the slicer. “I hope I didn’t wake you up. It’s faster to cut hoods this way.”

I lean against the chipped countertop. “It’s fine.”

“How’d you sleep?” The way Mom asks the question, I think what she already knows the answer.

“Not so good. Verus sent me another dreamscape. I saw you in some Senate committee meetings. Did you really know Armageddon before the war?”

“That I did. For thousands of years, ghouls and demons had never trusted each other enough to team up. That all changed with Armageddon.”

“I see him at matches sometimes.” I picture the long pointed face, blade-like nose, black stone skin, and fiery eyes. “He’s terrifying.”

“He was always frightening, but once Armageddon became a greater demon, he hit a new level of awful.” She shivers. “I’ve heard that now, no human, angel, or ghoul can stand to be near him for more than a few minutes.”

“I’d believe that.”

She makes another slice with the chopping arm. “He blackmailed or bribed all the ghouls who became the new Oligarchy. Purgatory’s defenses allow only a handful of demons to enter at a time. Armageddon convinced the ghouls to open enough portals for an entire demon army to enter our lands.”

“Wow. They didn’t teach us that in school.” Frowning, I angrily pick at the chipped counter with my thumbnail. School sucks.

“I’m not surprised.” Mom makes another slice. “The demons routed our defenses and set up a puppet government of ghouls. Since then, as long as the ghouls send extra souls to Hell, the demons support their rule.” She shivers. “But I don’t think Armageddon will be happy with a puppet government in forever. It’s not in his nature.”