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I blink in confusion. “That soul is pure. How could it be from Hell?”
She sighs. “Do I look like I know? You are the angel. Why don’t you give me some answers? It was as if I turned a piece of shit into a diamond. I don’t know. I don’t care. All I know is that the energy is now mine and it’s grounded to this plane.”
“I don’t even know what to say except...you are fucking incredible. Please tell me that you managed to obliterate someone who should’ve never existed.” Without even having to ask her, I know exactly who’s soul it was. She must have had a confrontation with her ex-fiancé, and I wish I were there to see it. She is right about turning a piece of shit into a diamond. Mortals think that turning water into wine is cool, and sure, it is, but it’s nothing compared to turning a blasted, foul, irredeemable soul into pure good energy.
Whoa.
She slowly nods her head. “Yeah. I want to do it again and again. I feel like myself when I do. I feel close to my soul even. I saw it, you know. It was by accident, but I know if we look hard enough, we can find it. I saw it through this realm. I just don’t know how to truly work it. Everything seems to be instinctual and not on command. It drives me crazy.”
I open my mouth to respond, but a flash of light cuts into the shadowy haze of this sanctuary for Raven, and I see Cassius materialize before us. He would be able to find both Raven and I because he’s been here before. He’s aware of our presence and is a master at manipulating different planes.
“Which is why I have returned. I have prayed on it and listened to everything around me. And no matter what I think, my thoughts continue to shift back to you and those precious twins. Every time I close my eyes, I keep seeing you guys on this plane. I believe it is my duty to train you how to manipulate the realms. It shouldn’t be possible for a mortal, but you are far from being one anymore.” Cassius steps closer, his ethereal light radiating from him brighter against the shadows. “Will you let me?”
Raven looks from me to Cassius. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
I raise my hand and motion to Raven to hold on before she agrees with Cassius. “We need to discuss this with the devils first. I know what you would have to do to train her, and I’m not sure they will agree.”
Raven furrows her brows. “I don’t understand. Why can’t you ever just fucking tell me everything, Cass-hole? If Elias is hesitant, I know I’m not going to like it.”
Cassius flexes his fingers, the muscles on his arms rippling with the movement. “I have to take you somewhere holy. Somewhere the devils can’t follow.”
Raven groans and shakes her head. “I’m fucking weeks away from popping out these babies. I’m not going to spend them away from my devils and with you. There has to be another way.”
“There’s not.” Cassius rubs his fingers through his dark hair. “If there was, you know I would go with that. But right now? Getting your soul is the most important thing. You’re the one who will be capable of doing it. Please, Raven. Be reasonable.”
She whips her head back and forth, sending her hair sweeping around her face. “No, I—”
I touch your shoulder. “Why don’t we have a meeting? We can discuss everything first. I think Cassius might be right. If he can train you to properly manipulate the planes, Heaven won’t stand a chance. They can’t keep your soul forever.”
Raven sighs and looks Cassius over. “Fine, I’ll keep an open mind only if the others agree. We’re a team. We’re a family. I don’t want to waste time unless I have a guarantee that I can fix this.”
Cassius tightens his jaw, his light dimming with her words. Her sudden grief stabs into me, stealing my breath. I hurt on a soul-deep level. I wish there was more that I could do. Raven doesn’t deserve to talk about how everything might end with her bringing a new life into this world.
“I know we haven’t always gotten along, and I know that I have fucked up. I also know I don’t deserve to be in your presence. I get that, Raven, more than you know. But I want to earn it. I want to help you and humanity. Things are clearer now. Please, trust me. Trust that I will help you. I won’t let you down. If I let you down, that means I let the Higher Power down, and I would rather jump into Hell than do that.” Cassius reaches out and touches her cheek, caressing her skin in a way I crave to do. She leans into his hand like she can’t resist the weight of his skin, his closeness digging into her.
Raven sniffles and cups his hand, her emotions swelling through the world around us. “When this is over, I need you to promise me that you will stay by my side, Cassius. I need you to agree that this isn’t about Heaven or Hell anymore. This isn’t even about me. This is about the balance of the universe.”
“You’re right. It is about the balance. I’ll do anything to see this through. You have my word, Raven. I promise.” Cassius twists his hand, gathering light in his palm. He touches both me and Raven and shifts us from the plane and back to the Mortal World.
The ground shakes under my feet, and hellfire rips from the earth.
I tense as a wave of dark souls breaks free from Hell.
They burn everything in their path.
Chapter 6
RAVEN
The Price of a Soul
CASSIUS LATCHES HIS fingers to my shoulders and yanks me against his chest, shooting heavenly light toward the sky at the shadowy souls escaping Hell. The sunlight above disappears behind the dark cloud, and it’s as if Hell comes to Earth. My vision dims, and I dig my fingers into my palms. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe so many souls have escaped. What does it mean? What happens now?
“Seal it off! Now!” Lucian roars with his words, gathering hellfire and shooting it at the crack.
Cassius engulfs me with his wings, shielding me the best he can as Elias stands in front of us, continuing to blast his heavenly light at the souls trying to come after me. They swirl through the air, creating a funnel, and my heart pounds so hard in my chest that I feel as if it might kill me any second.
“Someone tether them. If they escape, they can possess mortals.” Andre jumps into the air, trying to create his own wind to contain the cloud of dark souls. But it’s not enough. A few of them break free and vanish.
