“…police have identified the victim found in a back alley as twenty-nine-year-old Jackson Williams.His body was discovered after a nearby resident reported a fire in the area.Authorities are investigating the cause of death and the unusual burn patterns found at the scene.”
My stomach twisted at the mention of his name, the unwelcome knot of guilt coiling tighter.I swallowed hard, trying to push the rising nausea back down.But it wasn’t just the guilt.It was the reality crashing down on me all over again.
The reporter’s voice droned on, calm and detached, the way they always sounded when talking about something horrific.“While the fire has been contained, witnesses reported seeing unusual activity in the area.Police have not confirmed any details, but we’ve received word that investigators are looking into possible gang-related violence.There are no suspects at this time.”
Unusual activity.They had no idea what really happened.
I stared at the screen, the words becoming background noise as the image of Jack’s body lying in that alley replayed in my mind, over and over.It didn’t feel real, but the empty space in my chest told me otherwise.
“Lily?”Rathiel’s voice came from behind me.
He’d still been asleep when I’d ventured out of my room, but I hadn’t been able to resist turning on the news.
“They’re saying it was gang violence,” I murmured, not turning to face him.
Rathiel came to stand beside me.“That’s the easiest explanation for them to cling to.They don’t know what else to think.”
“Of course they don’t.”I shook my head, bitterness creeping into my voice.“They’ll never know the truth.And I can’t tell them or Jack’s family.”I clenched my jaw, turning away from the screen and moving toward the window.The morning sun had just started to creep over the horizon, casting soft light through the glass.“Doesn’t matter,” I said, my voice clear and strong.“Jack’s dead.And nothing’s going to change that.”
I turned away from the window, my gaze locking onto Rathiel’s.“I didn’t sleep much last night.I spent the whole night just thinking,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me.“Trying to decide what to do.”
Rathiel’s expression remained unreadable, but his shoulders subtly shifted, waiting for what I would say next.
“I could let this guilt swallow me whole.I could sit here, wallowing in pity, blaming myself for everything that happened.”I paused, taking a breath as the words came out, solid and deliberate.“Or I can do something about it.”
His brow furrowed slightly, though he didn’t interrupt.I could feel the weight of his focus on me, the intensity of his presence pressing in like it always did.But this time, it didn’t overwhelm me.It fueled me.
“And I know what needs to be done,” I continued, stepping closer to him, feeling the conviction settle deep within me.“We’re going to march into Hell and kill Lucifer.Once and for all.”
Rathiel’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing.“Lily?—”
“No.”I cut him off before he could get another word in.“This isn’t just about revenge or anger anymore.It’s about stopping him.It’s about finally fulfilling the prophecy.Lucifer won’t stop hunting me.Especially now that two of his fallen angels are dead.And then there’s you.”I waved my hand at Rathiel.“You chose to side with me.And that’s not something Lucifer will ever forgive.Yours is the ultimate betrayal.I’m not the only one he’s hunting here.He won’t stop until we’re both dead.”
Rathiel’s eyes darkened, the tension rolling off him in waves as he stepped forward.“Lily, no.You can’t be serious.”His voice was rough, strained, as if he were fighting to hold something back.“You have a chance at a life here.On Earth.Away from Hell, away from him.You don’t have to do this.”
I met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down.“You’re wrong.”The words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t soften them.“Staying here doesn’t help anyone.My being on Earth is dangerous.Look at what just happened to Jack.My being here puts everyone around me in danger.Humans don’t stand a chance against fallen angels, devils, hellspawn…any of it.”
“I can protect youhere,” Rathiel pushed.“Returning to Hell is suicide, and I won’t let you throw your life away.”
“I’m not throwing my life away!”I snapped, frustration and determination bubbling to the surface.“Don’t you get it?This isn’t just about me.This is about all of us.The prophecy isn’t just about restoring Hell.It’s about restoring balance.Lucifer’s war spills over into the human world every time he sends his soldiers after me.And until he’s stopped, every last human that walks the Earth is in danger.”
Rathiel gripped my arms, his hands firm but gentle.His blue eyes bore into mine, a storm of fear and fury swirling behind them.“Lily, your father nearlykilledyou last time.”His voice cracked with a raw edge I hadn’t heard before, almost panicked.“I barely saved you in time.Remember?All this is because hewon.”
“You’re the one who told me to keep fighting!”I said.
“Keep fighting as in keep living!Keep moving forward!”he shouted.“Not keep fighting as in facing your father head-on!”
The intensity of his grip sent a wave of heat through me, but it wasn’t comforting.His fear was palpable, his emotions spilling over in a way I wasn’t used to seeing.It rattled me more than I wanted to admit.
His grip tightened, to the point of almost hurting.“He’ll rip you apart, Lily.Healmostdid.And I couldn’t stop it.”His breath hitched, gaze searching mine, desperate.“Do you think I can stand by and watch that happen again?”
“It won’t be the same as last time,” I tried, but Rathiel shook his head, deaf to my words.
His grip didn’t loosen.“How is this time going to be any different?How can you stand there and say that?You were barely alive when I got to you.You don’t know what it was like to see you like that—” His voice broke, and he shook his head again.“I can’t lose you,” he whispered.“Not again.I can’t go through that again.”
My heart clenched at the pain in his words, and I reached up, cupping his face gently in my hands.His skin was warm beneath my palms, his breath uneven as he fought to keep control.“Hey,” I whispered softly, my thumbs stroking the sharp lines of his cheeks.“Take a breath.Just breathe with me for a second, okay?”
His eyes met mine, wide and filled with a mixture of fear and anguish, but he didn’t pull away.I kept my hands steady and brought our heads together until our foreheads touched.“Breathe,” I repeated, and together, we inhaled slowly.Soon, his grip on my arms loosened as he matched my breaths.
