Page 76 of Grave Revelations

Rebecca’s brow pinched. “It’s hazy.”

“I can see what your mind shields from you. Just remember.”

She bit her lip and closed her eyes, thinking back to the night she woke on the table in Elizabeth’s cave.

The room was dark, lit only by faintly illuminated shapes hovering along the walls. Elizabeth screamed, shoving an old leather book to the floor. Rebecca knew that book: her father’s journal.

The small girl crossed the room, climbing wooden stairs beside the dais. “You will awaken your seraph side, or I will turn you into one of my pets. Then, we can do this dance forever.”

A shudder rolled through Rebecca.

Elizabeth looked up and said, “Good. Bring her,” before her gaze returned to Rebecca strapped to the table. “I’ve brought motivation.”

Someone was there, someone she knew. She tried to focus on the memory, but it slipped away.

A witch Rebecca didn’t know stood over her, pressing her hands to Rebecca’s skin. Rebecca screamed, and the image flickered in her mind before going dark.

Rebecca moaned; the places pain radiated from were too numerous to count.Azazel.She wasn’t sure if she’d called for him out loud or only in her head.

Her mind flashed to a new scene.

The tremors racking her had stopped. With each new bite, her heart slowed. She was dying. Soon, the pain would end.

Sophia appeared over her. Her face twisted in some expression of wild, desperate need. Rebecca tried to say her name, tried to reach out to her friend and beg for help. But Sophia only blurred forward, and sharp pain bit into her neck. Warmth spread over her body, her heart beating once, twice…

Rebecca’s eyes flew open. Azazel’s were glazed in a rage she couldn’t put into words. It stole her breath. It was the first time he’d ever truly struck fear into her.

She would have killed you.

“Elizabeth must have been controlling her,” Rebecca said. “She would never do that on purpose.”

She wasn’t.

You don’t know that.

If I see her again, she's dead.The absolute promise in Azazel’s words sent another thrill of fear through her.

“Did you learn why she wants her to awaken?”

Rebecca blinked up at Jophiel, remembering the angel was with them in the room.

“No, but it might be the lance,” Azazel began. “Elizabeth had it when I found Rebecca. She may have planned to use her seraph blood to unlock the chest. It's the only reason I can imagine she’d want to make Rebecca stronger.”

Rebecca nodded. “But once I change, she won't be able to capture me again, right?”

Azazel’s focus returned to Rebecca. “She seems to think she has a method for holding you once you change.”

Jophiel rested a hand on the ancient chest beside her. “It would be best if I took it.”

Azazel’s gaze shot to her. “No. I’ll keep it. Elizabeth can’t take it from me.”

Jophiel grimaced. “Brother. You’re… You aren’t…” She didn’t finish. She didn’t need to. They all knew what she was thinking:

A Prince of Hell couldn’t be responsible for a weapon that could end angels.

“Rebecca will keep it safe, and I will keep Rebecca safe,” Azazel said. They’d come full circle and right back where they’d started. He looked at her, squeezing her fingers tightly. “It’s your choice.”

Rebecca’s gaze ran over Jophiel, taking in her concerned expression, and back to Azazel.

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