Leaning back in my chair, I take a long look around. Lincoln, Verus, the Oligarchy, and I all sit in a circle. Verus’s guard Levi stands behind her. Walker has taken up position behind me. Mom, Cissy, and Zeke are in the antechamber, sorting through supplies. Adair’s doing…Eh, who cares what she does?

I inhale a deep breath. Here’s where the plan really begins. Straightening my shoulders, I try to ignore the little butterflies with big sledgehammers that have taken up residence in my stomach.

Remember, Myla: just get through today.

I clear my throat. “We’re all here to represent the four peoples affected by Armageddon’s attack on Purgatory: angels, ghouls, thrax, and quasis. Our goal’s to come up with a plan to defeat Armageddon and change how Purgatory’s run.”

The Oligarchy snarl. “Change Purgatory?”

I bite my lips together. “I’m pretty sure something needs to change or we wouldn’t be sitting in a bunker with Armageddon pounding over our heads. But first things first. Who knows what’s happening outside?”

My gaze flips to the ceiling as I think about Armageddon and his demons roaming the lands above. Pangs of worry and anger strum through me. My home, under attack.

“I can make a report,” says Verus. “The demons from the Arena have fanned out all over Purgatory, killing quasis and ghouls alike.” Her eyes flare blue. “They’ve used their inspections to scope out exactly how and where to strike. It’s a precision bloodbath.”

Lincoln shakes his head. “Do we know how many are outside the bunker right now?”

Verus nods. “A few hundred. About five thousand in total roam Purgatory.”

Lincoln gestures to the Oligarchy. “Can your ghouls transport those demons out of here?”

My head bobs up and down. That’s a good idea. Millions of ghouls live in the Dark Lands. It’d take only a few hundred to portal outside the bunker, grab the demons and go.

The Oligarchy tilt their heads to one side. “We can open portals, but getting demons to step into them in another matter. With few exceptions, ghouls aren’t warriors.” The Oligarchy shoot a knowing look at Walker. I suck in a quick breath. Of course. Walker’s a descendant of Aquila, and she kicks ass in a big way. Walker and the Aquilinea are probably the best fighters the ghouls have.

Behind my chair, I hear Walker shift his weight. “It’s possible to call the Aquilinea, though that’s only a few dozen warriors. Can the Dark Lands supply the rest?”

“Sadly, no.” As they say this, the Oligarchy don’t look sad in the slightest. They’re so full of it. “We’d like to discuss other options for appeasing Armageddon. Perhaps if the new Scala were to journey to Hell, then Armageddon and his army would vacate–”