Page 155 of Grave Revelations

“Let us bury our sister and leave this place,” she answered. “It’s not safe. We will tell you everything when we’re far from here.”

When Maria was buried, the group circled freshly dug earth and sang their prayer for her eternal rest. It was different for Sophia. She had seen her soul get on that boat and go to its final rest, but some part of her needed this bit of comfort, one familiar act in a shattered world.

Angeliki climbed on Sophia’s back, and Thalia climbed on Vassi’s.

“We’re going to the Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs.”

Sophia set her mother down beside Vassi, Helena, and Thalia at the entrance to an enormous tunnel on the side of a mountain. Overhead, the words “Cheyenne Mountain Complex” were etched into a steel semi-circle, hovering ominously above the mouth of a deep cave made wider by humans.

“What is this place?” Helena whispered, craning her head to stare at the sheer rock wall swallowing the entrance.

“This is our new temporary home.” Angeliki marched forward.

“Wait.” Sophia grabbed her mother’s arm. “Everyone’s inside there? What’s been happening while we were away?”

Her mother’s mouth turned down, and her forehead wrinkled. “Azrael has been hard at work destroying what remains of our Earth. Zadkiel says his strongest gift is water, and he has used it to wash the land clean of as many humans as he can.”

Sophia found a lock of hair, twisting and untwisting it around her finger. “Azrael. Who’s that?”

“Come, let's get inside. General Vaughn will show you.” Angeliki continued forward, and the blackness swallowed her.

Sophia grabbed Helena’s hand and strode behind Thalia and Vassi as they followed her mother.

A massive door at the end of their path was cracked open just a fraction, enough for their group to squeeze through. They passed layer upon layer of metal before stepping into a room carved from the very mountain with dim lights winking high overhead.

Metal ground against metal as the door swung closed behind them.

Her stomach dropped as she felt the weight of that oppressive door blocking any escape, and she could only hope her mother wasn’t leading them into more danger.

Chapter 105

Gabriel

Gabriel raced over land, becoming dust, and let his magic carry him on a breeze. When they’d arrived, they had landed in the heart of what was Washington, DC, but so much of the East Coast of the United States was gone that he couldn’t say where.

He reached the ocean, skimming its surface, but wave after wave rose to meet him, sending him higher into the air until he found himself back in the clouds, dodging and narrowly missing lightning strikes.

He pressed forward, racing faster until he spied the remains of Bath, North Carolina, and a funnel of dark beasts blotting the sky.

They were a beacon pointing directly to his destination.

Charging through them, he became whole as he spiraled down, down into the belly of Primoria’s tenebrous depths.

He landed, sending fissures spider veining along the ground, and raced for the throne.

Where four had been, only one remained. Azrael had destroyed the others, intent on taking this realm for himself, and they had all been none the wiser. Even Samael had been out-maneuvered by the greatest strategist their kind had ever known.

He reached Azazel’s throne, fingers curling around the stone as he strained to tear it free from the earth.

The ground shook underfoot, and he spun, coming face to face with the insubstantial form of Azrael, swirling darkness and mist. Sparks of electricity ricocheted through him, cresting atop his head in glittering points; it was clear he delighted in the way he bent his gift as the new King of Hell.

“I can’t say I’m surprised you found redemption, Gabriel,” Azrael said. “You always were His favorite.”

Gabriel lifted his air shield before him, calling to the earth to shape a spear from the stone running along the wall beside him, sliding it into his waiting palm.

“His favorite? I lost everything!” Gabriel retorted. “What’s your excuse?” He gave Azrael a disappointing once-over.

Azrael cocked an eyebrow, inching forward, and Gabriel backed up, blocking his brother’s path to the throne.

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