Izzy's eyes met mine, and they were filled with pain. She had a cut on her bottom lip and scratches all over her face, from claws or a knife, I couldn't tell. All I knew was that seeing her like that made me angrier than I'd ever felt in my life before. And I could feel that anger surging through me, strengthening me. I started struggling against my bonds and found that they weren't as tight as I had originally thought. Either that or...
I pulled my arms apart just a second later, breaking the rope that had bound them together. I was astonished at the strength I had managed to acquire just from my anger. Lucifer didn't bat an eye. He stood his ground, a malicious glint in his eyes, a smile plastered on his pale face. He'd known that bringing her out would get some sort of rise out of me, and he'd been banking on that bringing out my powers. Now he knew a fraction of the strength I could have. I had played right into his hands.
What he hadn't been banking on was what happened next. The ceiling blasted open on his throne room and a giant of a man with large white wings dropped to the ground in between the two of us. He had a long sword drawn and his eyes were trained on Lucifer's face, with Azrael in his peripheral. "Let them go, Lucifer," he said, his voice deep and filled with menace.
"Or what? What could you possibly do to me that He hasn't already done, Michael? You can't strip me of my powers. Even you aren't strong enough for that."
"He is," Michael said, jerking his head toward me.
My eyes widened. Really? Could I be that powerful?
Lucifer didn't even look phased. "How could your son possibly have a power that you yourself don't have? You're bluffing, Mikey."
Michael's eyes narrowed. "I'm taking my son and his friend, and we're leaving. If you try to stop us, I will end you."
Lucifer stepped back and sat down on his throne. "Feel free to try. I could have the entire forces of Hell after you by nightfall. You'd never make it. Or...at least...they wouldn't."
"I'm willing to take that chance."
"Michael," I said.
He glanced at me. "What is it?"
"I can create portals. I can get us out of here."
"You would never make it."
"Gee. Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad."
Michael rolled his eyes. "Fine. Take her and go. I'll keep them occupied."
I grimaced. "I...uh...also kind of promised Arashi that I would get him out of here. If he promised not to attack people. He could live as a human."
"Fine. Take the fox and the girl and get out of here. Now."
He struck the cage and released Izzy and then cut Arashi's bonds. And we ran.
