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“Elias said he was different. He couldn’t figure it out, but he said that he had a soul still.” Raven’s voice hums in my ear, and she clutches me tighter. “You don’t think he can escape, do you?”
“I wish I had the answer to that. I don’t know. All I know is that I need to get you out of here.” The world trembles around us, and I charge forward and out of the palace.
A wave of darkness crashes over us. As if we have become magnetic to souls, thousands upon thousands of them flood around us. Raven screeches, her whole body tensing as dozens of voices scream and beg for help. She digs her nails into my shoulders and releases a soft sob. I growl and throw out one of my arms, blasting away the souls trying to sweep over her with my Hell power.
“What’s happening? I feel sick. What are they doing?” Raven’s voice cuts through the cacophonous noise surrounding us. “Make them stop.”
I throw power again, sending souls scattering. It doesn’t keep them away for long. It’s as if I’ve lost control of my kingdom.
“I’m going to open a portal. I need you to go. Something about Elias and you are attracting all the souls here. I don’t think Andre is going to make it before their darkness hurts you.” Again, I throw my arm out and shoot hellfire through the souls.
Raven stifles her panicked sob. “Fuck. I’m scared. Why am I a coward? Fuck.” She says the words to herself, and the only reason I can hear her whisper is because she thinks the words at the same time.
I wish I had time to console her, but the souls grow thicker and thicker around us. I need to get her out of here. And fast.
Clapping my hands together, I send a blast of hellfire around us, and the world shimmers as I shift us from my kingdom and to the Mortal Realm. The night sky glitters overhead, the world only lit by the stars and moon and hellfire. Raven clings onto me, and I know she doesn’t want me to let her go.
“Andre will be as fast as he can. Stay in the circle.” A wave of darkness explodes around us, chaining me so tightly that I can’t fight.
Raven screams as the two of us are dragged back through the portal and into a lake of congregating souls. She gasps and hides her face in the crook of my neck, her thoughts racing, and she thinks about how disgusting and cold the souls feel. Not only can she sense they’re evil, but I’m sure she can see it too. The souls are open and hover with their wrongdoings pinned to them for scrutiny.
“Raven, I’m coming!” Elias shouts, his voice booming over the discordant anguish humming from the damned. “I’ll get us out of here. I promise.”
“Micah, do something. Please.” Raven grips me tighter, hugging me with her whole body. “I just want him to see where he belongs. I can’t believe that Hell has messed with his head so much.”
“Not Hell. Heaven,” I say, shooting bright orange fire from my palms again, clearing a path in the souls. If I can get close enough to the edge of my kingdom, Andre can help me.
“Raven!” Elias shouts, and he summons angelic light, shooting it far and wide, dispersing it through the souls to clear the way.
Raven’s body trembles and my skin begins to sting. She uncontrollably radiates with the same angelic light that Elias does. It’s as if he triggers her and she can’t do anything except allow the light to push away the darkness.
I grind my teeth, refusing to let her go. I will accept the pain of a thousand burns from Heaven before I drop her. Agony is nothing compared to what it will feel like if Elias manages to take her from me.
“Elias, stop! Please. If you can’t see what we do because Heaven screws with your head, then you need to go. Go back to Heaven. I will not let you hurt Micah like this. I will not let you take me from the devils. My place is in Hell. I want your place to be too, but I understand if you just can’t accept it right now.” Raven’s voice rises, though her voice cracks.
“You have to come. You are my soulmate. We belong together.” Elias spreads his wings made of pure light, bringing a piece of Heaven into my kingdom.
The world around us shakes with the imbalance, because Heaven doesn’t belong in Hell.
“Come any closer and I will hurt you,” I say, struggling with my rage. I will not allow him to do this. He will break Raven’s heart if he does.
“It must be done.” Elias gathers more heavenly light and flaps his wings, charging in our direction. I flip Raven behind me protectively and summon all of the power from Hell.
I crash into Elias, jabbing my huge devil hoof into his face. I don’t stop. I can’t.
Raven screams from behind me, and I try to suppress the urge to let Elias go.
“Get away from me!” Raven screams.
“I’m sorry. We have to go. You belong to Heaven. This proves it.” Cassius’s voice trickles through the air to me, stealing my breath away.
Elias’s eyes widen, his shock just as great as mine. I scramble up and spin on my heels, preparing to attack the savior. But all I see is a portal. Light consumes Raven.
It’s not Elias who takes her from me but Cassius.
I can’t believe I failed her.
I failed the universe.
