Page 22 of Faith and Damnation

“There’s always a choice. Right now, I don’t believe the snake in my jails came here for altruistic reasons, so I’m not inclined to make the choice to release him.”

“I still don’t know much about him. I don’t know how he got his marks, what happened to him, or what he did to make everyone so afraid of him, but I know there’s good in him. Iknowthere is. He wouldn’t have risked his life coming out here if there wasn’t.”

“Are you vouching for him?”

“I am. Let me handle him. I’ll make sure he doesn’t cause any trouble.”

She sighed, deeply, but resigned herself. “IfI release him… andifI put him in your care… what then? Will you leave?”

I nodded. “I’m not sure yet… but I know the longer I stay here, the more danger I put you all in.”

“But you…” Micah paused. “You just got here. Sara, this could be your home.”

“Not if it’s burnt to the ground.”

“We have Warriors here, Guardians; this place is a bastion. Medrion wouldn’t just attack, and even if he did, we could beat him back.”

“And if we can’t?” I shook my head. “I’m not an Oracle, Micah—I’m a Lightbringer. I don’t know what’s coming down the road.”

“Then let’s summon an Oracle, get them to help us figure out the best course of action.”

I shook my head. “Medrion has his own Oracles shielding him from angelic sight.” I smiled weakly. “I know it sounds like I have an excuse for everything you’re saying… I wish I didn’t, believe me. But I know who we’re dealing with, and I don’t want to invite him to this place.”

“If what you’re saying about Medrion is true,” said Helena, “It may already be too late. He may be on his way here right now.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. Medrion lost a lot of angels to the Wretched. He’s likely still licking his wounds, regaining his strength.”

“You might be right. Still, we should prepare, at least.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll go and get the Tyrant myself. I want to make sure he knows I’m the one who vouched for his release. I may let him sit in the cells for a little while, though… you know, so he doesn’t think he has too much pull around here.”

Helena nodded, her lips pulling into a slight grin.

I left her and Micah in the grand hall and headed outside. I had wanted to tell them about Medrion’s last words to me, what he’d told me about Lucifer, but part of me didn’t feel like I could trust them with the information.

Not yet.

First, I needed to get the Tyrant out of the cells… because if Medrion really was on his way here, we would need his help fending off the archangel and his band of cronies.

CHAPTER NINE

MEDRION

Idid not enjoy taking lives.

To watch the life go out of the eyes of an enemy did not bring me comfort, or peace. But if the killing was to further a purpose, then it was right. Throughout all of time wars have been fought, blood spilled in the name of one cause or another.

From my perch in Heaven, I had witnessed some of the most brutal conflicts unfold. The battle of Verdun, Okinawa, Normandy, and Gettysburg—to name a few. The first wars were fought with rocks and flint, then iron, then steel, until mortals ushered in the age of explosives.

That was when death tolls truly began to soar.

Every battle fought, every war, turned the tides of history. In all cases, those fighting truly believed their actions were justified, and that justification allowed them to take the life of another.

I could not begrudge them that, because I understood it.

Violence was the only way forward, especially if in service of aholypurpose. My purpose was holy, and righteous. If I had to leave a trail of bodies in my wake, then so be it. I was not a murderer. I was not a conqueror.

I was a savior.

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