Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

are.”
“He said that I could be a hero even if I fought on the demon side of things.”
“Yes, you can.”
“So, you’re not mad that I’m one of Abigor’s squires.”
“Absolutely not.  He’s brilliant.  You’ll learn a lot,” Mia said.
“He likes you.”
“He shouldn’t.”
“I know.  He’s got over a hundred wives and you have that fellow.  He’s tall and skinny like me.”
“I seem to have a type,” Mia said.
Sticks laughed.
“So, is there a Mrs. Sticks on the horizon?”
“No!  Two much work keeping a wife.”
“I can see that.”
“Mia, we could slip in the river Styx, and I could float us to the other side.  I can save you.”
Mia leaned in.  “I got myself into this mess.  I must have faith that there will be a solution to the problem of the demon-with-no-name and a reasonable punishment for me.  I have caused chaos here that I have to answer for.”
“Aosoth’s brother is on the panel,” Sticks warned.
Mia sank in her chair.  “Oh dear.”
“No one blames you.  You were protecting your son.  Mbengar stood up for you even though he was publicly embarrassed by the pit handlers.”
“He was very kind to do that.”
“I liked talking to your father,” Sticks said, running out of conversation.
“Sticks, if something happens to me, if you run across my father in your travels, please could you tell him something for me?”
“It would be a pleasure,” Sticks assured her.
“Tell him that I didn’t understand this when I was young, but I now know how much he and mother did love me, that I love that he was my father, and hope he will want to continue to teach my sons.”
Sticks nodded.  “I will tell him that.”
Their order arrived, and Mia ate as much as her stomach would hold.  She didn’t want to worry Sticks.
“My friend Murphy loves eating here,” she said.  “The food is amazing.”
“I thought you would like it.”
An odd-looking fellow ran into the café and over to them.
“You’re to come back now,” he said before turning into a rat and scurrying away.
“Oh my,” Mia said, wiping her mouth.
“That’s quite common.  They are minor demons.  They can’t hold humanoid forms very long.”
“If you’re ready, I guess it’s time to face the music,” Mia said, looking at the water.  “Don’t you find it amusing that you and the river have very similar names?”
“I’ve never thought about it.  I’m glad I don’t have to work on it though.  That’s not water.  It’s tears.  It’s the tears of the parents of the children who would not listen to them.  It’s the tears of the anguish brought on by evil.  It’s the tears of the innocent who will never understand why they have been tortured.  In short, the river will never dry up, unless things change in your world.  Lately, the level has risen significantly.”
Sticks waited beside Mia at the gate.  He escorted her to where she needed to stand.  It took a few moments before the panel was settled.  Mia searched each face, trying to figure out what was going on.
Lucifer came in and sat down.  He cleared his voice.
Mia looked up.
“Mia Cooper Martin, in your short life, there have been many complaints against you.  I think most of them were due to your ignorance of the way things are done in our world.  You have had staunch supporters, and aside from a restitution you made at a minor demon court, you have pretty much gotten away without being punished.  Many would say that you aren’t a denizen of Hell, so our rules don’t apply to you.  But, Mia, you knew you were bringing a dangerous demon here without warning us first.  For this, you are guilty.  Unfortunately, the punishment is death.”
Mia wavered, but she didn’t faint.  Sticks put a hand on her shoulder.
“Abigor reminded me that you’re a warrior trained in the art of battle.  He demanded that I would be insulting every warrior in Hell and Heaven if you were given a simple execution.  He’s right.  I would like you to choose a fallen to battle to the death.”
“What if I win?” Mia asked.
“You’ll be exonerated by battle.  You will be free to go,” Lucifer said.  “But you have to kill the fallen.  There will be no draw.”
“I choose Lamia,” she said.
“But she is in spirit form,” Lucifer said.
“Does that matter?  Give me my angel steel back, and I can defeat a spirit.”
Lucifer thought a moment.  “Mia, you stand a better chance if you pick a fallen in their humanoid form,” he cautioned.
“Is she too afraid to face me after bearing false witness?”
“Please explain yourself,” Lucifer ordered.
“I was sitting there thinking about the questions that were asked, the supposed witness you had.  I thought about Lamia, her understandable hatred of someone who took her eye and transported her lover away from her.  She probably thinks I kidnapped him, that he would never leave her.  Sorry, Lamia, he was looking for a ride the moment a sensitive came close!”
“Why are you shouting?” Lucifer asked.
“So, she can hear me,” Mia said.  “If you want me to wait until she has developed a humanoid form, I will, but I’m fine with battling her in spirit form.  I’ll present myself in the same form.”
“How?” Lucifer asked.
“OOB.”
“Can you carry a sword in this form?” he asked.
“I better learn quick if I can’t.”
“WAIT!” Altair shouted from the gate.  “I want my say!”
Mia shook her head.  “He doesn’t speak for me.  Send him away.”
Lucifer angled his head.  He had a problem on his hands.  If he sent Altair away, then it would look like the chit was giving the orders.  If he let him in, he would push his friend further away.  “Open the gate.”
The gate opened, and Altair strode in.  He