Page 94 of Grave Revelations

The woman’s brow furrowed. “Pardon?” she asked in a strange accent. It was English, but unlike any English accent Sophia had heard before.

Sophia straightened. “I’m sorry. You look like someone I know.”

The woman smiled. “I apologize. That must have given you a fright. Will you sit with me? I don’t get many visitors.”

Sophia glanced around at the soft glow encircling them. It was as if the lone flower, or perhaps the woman who looked very much like Rebecca, gave the place new life. “Where are we?”

“This is Heaven,” the woman said. “Though I had hoped more people would be here.”

Sophia eyed her, noting the striking similarities to her friend. There were differences, too, though. She was softer somehow; her features rounded where Rebecca’s were sharp edges, and her hair was long, rolling down her back.

“Have you seen anyone else here?”

The woman blinked. “This is the part of Heaven reserved for Nephilim. Humans aren't allowed here.”

Sophia frowned. “I’m not Nephilim.”

“But you must be. Only our kind are permitted.” The words were spoken with an aching sadness.

Sophia laid a hand gently on the woman’s arm.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you, but this isn’t Heaven.”

Chapter 62

Azazel

Azazel tugged Rebecca’s arm, pulling her into his embrace. She was drained, and it showed in the shadows under her eyes. “Come, you need rest, Light.”She let him lead her, even as her tired mind argued that she should do something. Anything other than rest.

You have awoken your seraph side, and that gives you many of our gifts, but your mortal form cannot sustain it forever. Rest.

“I don’t feel like a superhero,” she grumbled.

He snorted. “A superhero?”

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be? Powerful. Invincible.”

Azazel scooped her into his arms, carrying her up the stairs to her room.Powerful, you most certainly are. But invincible, no. And if I lose you, you’ll be out of my reach for eternity. Give me this small piece of forever with you.

His soul—hersoul—stretched, filling the cavernous space inside him. Rebecca blinked as she leaned back, looking up, and he burned that look of contentment into his mind. He would carry it with him into the darkness. Into the recesses of Hell when she was taken from him, finding her place in Alaxia with all the other pure souls who belonged there.

It’s our soul, she whispered dreamily into his mind.If Ideserve it, so do you.

Azazel set her gently on the bed, watching her chest rise and fall. He longed to crawl in beside her, wrap his arms around her, and protect her from this horrifying world and all that was to come. But she hadn’t crossed that line, hadn’t invited him into her bed—or her heart.

He sat uncomfortably in the too-small vanity chair beside the bed, letting his wings evaporate. Even as he shrunk to the size of a man, the chair poked his thighs and rammed into his back. The discomfort faded as Rebecca’s mind filled with her dreams, and Azazel let himself in, watching as she stepped through the iron gates into the cemetery at the back of her estate.

Gargoyle-like creatures circled her on one side, pawing the earth, snorting, tethered by some invisible force. On the other side, towering trees formed a wall behind her, their water-speckled branches dotted with bright red, orange, and yellow flowers.

The world was dark, covered in a deep blanket of snow.

Rebecca squared off against a shadow creature. It swiped, drawing a line of blood across her cheek. Everywhere her blood fell, green vines unfurled, rising to meet her. They wrapped around her legs, pricking her skin in places. Where blood welled, blooms in shades of blue erupted.

She held out a hand, conjuring a ball of fire in her palm. As the flame grew, petals drooped and fell from the flowers at her feet.

Passing her flame to Azazel, he joined her in the dream, no longer a spectator but a shadow at her side.

He caught the flame, mirroring her movements as he flung it at a massive shadow wreathing Elizabeth. The flame landed, burning holes through the creature, shriveling it until nothing was left.

---