The first sign came three days after Metatron's retreat.

Azrael woke in the parking structure to find a symbol burned into the concrete beside where he'd been sleeping. Not carved or painted—burned. Demonic script that still smoked faintly, spelling out a message in the Underworld's trade language:

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"What is that?" Maya asked, approaching with morning rations. She saw the symbol and stopped. "That wasn't there last night."

"No." Azrael studied the script, feeling residual essence ...