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KING OF SHADOWS
My ears ring with the force of my screams.
I heave my body over top of Luke’s, stopping anyone from getting near him.
“Help,” I yell, to no one in particular. “Help.” My voice is hoarse and my heart thumps in my chest.
Luke doesn’t move underneath me, and terror threatens to pull me under.
“Help,” I say, one more time.
Someone falls to their knees beside me. I peer over to see a grief-stricken Lilith.
“Help him,” I beg. “I’ll give you whatever you want. Just help him.”
I would give my own life to save Luke.
A tear falls from the wicked woman’s eyes, and her head shakes. “I can’t,” she cries. “It’s beyond any powers I possess.”
My head swivels on my shoulder, looking from one archangel to the next. Each of them lowers their gaze to the floor.
“Michael,” I say, walking on my knees until I’m in front of him. “Please do something. I know you can. If anyone can, it’s you. Please help him.” My pleading is no use.
“Victoria, if I could, I would, but I don’t possess that power. The black witch’s magic is beyond my comprehension. By the time I could uncover what she’s done, it would be too late.”
“But he... he can’t die. He can’t!”
“I’m sorry, child,” Michael says, running a hand soothingly down my hair.
I jerk out of his grasp. “Don’t touch me,” I bark. “Don’t you dare touch me. This is all your fault,” I yell, growing more erratic.
It’s not his fault. I’m misdirecting my anger.
Grief will do that to a person. We need someone to blame. Someone to hold accountable, even when there’s no reason.
But there’s plenty of blame to go around. It’s just not Michael who deserves it placed on his shoulders.
“It’s my fault.”
The words fall brokenly from my lips for the entire room to hear.
“He stayed on Earth because of me. This war happened because of me.” The words continue to spill out, pulling me further into despair.
On my knees, I bow my head, close my eyes, and fold my hands.
Dear Heavenly Father, please hear me. It is I who deserve punishment. It was me who turned my back on Heaven. It was me who tempted the Devil and held him captive.
I’m the reason he was away. I repent, and I’m willing to take his place. Save him. End my existence if you must take a life.
A deluge of tears falls down my cheeks and sobs rack through me. My heart breaks with every moment that goes by. He’s dying, if not already dead, and I can’t do anything to stop it.
I cry over his lifeless body for several minutes, and nobody tries to pull me away. For that, I’m grateful. I would fight anyone who tried.
“My child, stand.” God’s booming voice has my head snapping up.
“God,” I say, scrambling to my feet. “Please. Help. I—”
He cuts off my words with a raise of his hand. “Victoria, this was all for a reason. Greater powers are at work. Lucifer is needed here in Hell. I cannot allow him to perish. However, an example needed to be made, because war is coming, and he has deserted his post far too many times.
