Page 137 of Living Legend

I was determined to make this work.

With that one thought, I heard a crackle of leaves. I circled around the car and moved further into the woods again. Another crackle and then a soft sigh of pain. The fog was starting to dissipate just a little, but not enough for me to see with complete clarity. I stepped closer, closer, closer. I reached out to hug a tree, pressing my chest against the damp wood. I peeked my head out around it and waited to hear the crackle again. This time, I heard various crackling noises, as if multiple bodies had arrived.

"You couldn't have picked any other night for this?" I heard someone say. A male.

"I can't see shit,” another one said. A female, but her voice sounded muffled.

"I will tear both of your throats out if you don't shut your fucking mouths," a female voice rang out, clearly the one in charge. "Do something about this, so you can stop complaining."

The fog thinned as if on cue. Slowly, the moon revealed itself to me inch by inch. It started to shed a light on the scene in front of me—and my breath caught in my throat.

I couldn't breathe. If I’d had a reason to speak right now, I couldn't. My heart started to hammer in my chest when I saw it. Fuck, I sawit. I sawher.

Dani was crouched down against a tree, looking as if she had been thrown from the car. There was blood coming from the side of her face, up near her hairline, soaking into her dark brown curls as it dripped down her chin. Blood was pouring from her leg, where a piece of metal lodged itself into her calf. Her shirt was ripped up and there were so many cuts and bruises, I didn't know where to look. Her shoulder looked like it had been dislocated, and there was a huge cut leaking blood on her side. She was practically sitting in her own blood. I wanted to go to her and fix her, but that wasn't an option.

The sight of her made my chest start to constrict, but it wasn't just her who caused me to want to hyperventilate. It's what was underneath her. I leaned my head against the tree and closed my eyes, opening them and wanting a different outcome. I didn't get my wish.

A white glow. A ring of light. The thing that led us angels to our appropriate souls was settled beneath her, as if it was always meant to be there. I could feel a headache coming on from the intense confusion. What in the fuck was going on?

I looked up at the three people standing before her. I recognized the man, the same demon she tortured in the Ethereal Bastille. I looked at the shorter girl with a cloak that covered her face, standing as if she was waiting for instructions. My eyes focused on the woman in the middle. She had blonde, almost white, hair that flowed over shoulders and down her spine. In the light of the moon, her eyes were almost black, with high cheekbones and a thin frame. I let out a shiver and a sense of dark dread came over me when I looked at her.

Was this Lilith? It had to be. I had never been told what she looked like or how she sounded. Most angels guessed. She took long, slow steps towards Dani's body, tilting her head downwards, examining her.

"Does it hurt, pretty girl?" Her voice was almost soothing. Trusting. Dani just let out another groan and she tried to lift herself up. "Would you like me to make it better for you? Ease your pain?"

The man, Cullen, chuckled from behind her.

Dani took a few shallow breaths and looked past me towards where the accident had happened. She looked back at the blonde woman and nodded. I noticed flashlights starting to shine in their direction.

A smile took over this woman's face that made my skin crawl. She reached out to caress Dani's cheek. "I want to help you, but you have to help me first."

Dani let out a small sharp cry and whispered, "please."

"Your friend over there doesn't have long and frankly, neither do you." She looked to the horrific accident. "Your friend could live if you'd like her to. My friend here can do away with those horrific injuries of hers." She nodded towards the girl with the cloak around her body. " I can make it so you never feel this pain again. Unfortunately, you'll have to give up your time here on Earth and come with me, where pain won't be a problem…for you."

Dani stopped moving and stared up at Lilith, as if she didn't quite understand.

"I think there is something over here," I heard one of the officers say. They were getting closer.

Dani took tiny hiccuping breaths as she spoke. Blood started to seep from her mouth. "I have to die for her to live?"

Lilith let out a humming sound. "You will die regardless, but I'm giving you the option to do something meaningful with your death. All you have to do is take my hand and give me your complete trust." She reached out her slim hand.

"You should make your decision quickly, before they get here," Cullen said, cracking his neck.

"I can take on a few police," the cloaked girl retorted. "Make them turn the other way for a moment."

Cullen clucked his tongue. "I don't mean them. I mean the ones with the pretty wings."

"They won't be an issue." What did that even mean?

Lilith shot both of them what I assume was a warning "shut the fuck up" look over her shoulder, and they both instantly tensed. She looked back over to Dani and waited. "I give you my promise that your friend will be fine, and you will be well compensated for your sacrifice." Lilith wiggled her fingers. "Take my hand."

Dani weakly reached out and slid her hand into Lilith's waiting one. Red coils wrapped around both their hands and Lilith seemed to breathe in deeply, intensely satisfied with what she had just done. The light underneath Dani's body dimmed and flickered.

Cullen watched as the light became less prominent and smiled.

The girl in the cloak walked away towards the totaled vehicle. The sound of the EMTs hit my ears. It would be too late.

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