Page 2 of Rise from the Flames

I stumble, unable to fight against his push.

The plane cracks beneath my feet, and I can’t stop myself from flapping my wings.

But lightning strikes me.

The world explodes around me.

Adriel forces me to fall.

I feel my grace shatter.

The light and dark swallow me whole.

2

Descent

Riella

Heavenhelpme.Myvision flashes with shadows and fire. I feel my body shift and break as pain, anguish, fear, and everything negative in existence shocks me. The world blurs as I cross from one plane and into another. It happens so fast that I barely have time to process.

The misery of the earthen plane stabs at me, consuming me.

But the agony is supposed to be worth it.

Adriel said it was the only way. Because humanity wanders off the path of righteousness. Hell continues to rise, devouring and burning everything in its way. Demons walk the Earth and taint everything in darkness. Heaven is losing. It’s my job as one of its warriors to do something, anything, besides watch. I must lead humanity back to Heaven. We must fight.

I stare at the flames breaking apart and dissipating as dust fills the air. I cough and spit, the building crumbling around me as I smash my back to the concrete. My breath escapes my lungs, and tears burn my eyes. Where is Adriel? He was supposed to be here. He was supposed to guide me to Earth. It was the only way for me to join the fight.

But darkness surrounds me. Screams fill the air.

“What the hell happened?” The deep rumble of a masculine voice breaks through the clatter of the debris crashing around me, trying to trap me in the rubble.

“You think I know? Looked like a meteor. Maybe something fell from a plane.” Another voice cuts through the air.

“Move out of the way. I need to see for myself.” The world around me shakes, and the pocket I curl myself into fills even more with dust. I can’t breathe. It’s the strangest thing having to be able to. I’ve lost the most precious part of me coming here, and I’m not sure what to do now. Coming to Earth means one thing for an angel. It means I’m no longer on the heavenly plane, and I must live by humanity’s physical rules.

This body I’m in bleeds and hurts like any other mortal. But that doesn’t matter. I’m still strong. I can still fight.

“I found the hotspot. Help me move this slab.” The first voice hums in my ear again, and I tense at the sound. It’s deep, full of hate and darkness, and I know without a doubt that the creature it belongs to isn’t from this plane either. It’s from Hell.

Adriel warned me what would happen. I wouldn’t just land somewhere safe.

Contorting my body, I reach behind me and graze my fingers over my wings. They ache and sting, the fall damaging them, and I close my eyes and will them to disappear. Grabbing the hilt of my sword, I prepare to pull it free. I don’t have room to do so now, but the rubble continues to shake.

It explodes outward, and I gasp and suck in a breath of the dusty air, coughing and nearly losing my concentration. With my strength, I catapult up and unsheathe my sword completely, grinding my teeth as I face my very first demon.

The creature’s eyes widen, and he scrambles back, looking as if I’m the scariest being he’s ever seen. And hopefully, I am. I don’t feel as if I’m terrifying. All I feel is weak and afraid. I wasn’t supposed to be here alone.

Heaven, please. Hear my prayer. Help me.

“Well, what do we have here? Settle down, little angel. Looks like you took a right turn finally. You don’t need to fight. That’s unnecessary considering where you are.” The demon holds his hands up, not going after me like I expect.

I don’t let it stop me. I don’t trust him. What he says? It’s a lie. It’s not the truth. He is my enemy.

I reveal my wings, swallowing the pain while I use them to launch forward. I don’t get far. They’re too damaged to fly, but I get close enough to attack. I swing my heavenly blade at the demon, and he roars and finally breaks his human facade.

His monstrous beast unleashes, and he grows another two feet in height and bulks up at least another hundred pounds. Sharp horns escape his forehead and a dozen long fangs protrude from his growing chin. Fear nearly leaves me incapacitated. I’ve never seen such a horrid sight.

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