Page 8 of Rise from the Flames

I stay by the door of his bedroom to peek out. “I don’t believe you. Those hunters aren’t going to hurt me. Just give me a chance to speak with them. Maybe they will see that I have the situation under control and will leave you alone as well.”

Because I still want answers from Damien.

Damien scoffs and draws a line into the wood of his front door, creating a symbol that lights up with fire.

I take an automatic step back at the unsettling sensation that crosses over me, crawling from my core and into my chest and lastly to my head. I tremble as my true form breaks through and my wings shift on my back.

My revelation should be enough for them. Any mortal who sees an angel either breaks or awakens and joins the fight for salvation. I’m a warrior and not a miracle worker, but I’m still part of the pure, good energy of the universe.

“Riella, keep your shield in place. You’re not helping either of us. You’re only going to make things worse. You have to trust me.” Damien straightens his shoulders and turns his gaze from the door to me. “I know you don’t want to believe me, but it’s true. You know that angels who jump from Heaven early become a part of Hell. You were not intended to be here before the End of Times. That’s not happening right now. I would know.”

The End of Times? He’s referring to the battle I’ve been preparing for, and of course, he would think it’s not happening. He obviously doesn’t have that sort of information, considering he’s been on the mortal plane for so long. But I just came from Heaven. Adriel sent me.

I’ve known him since the moment I opened my eyes in the pure, utter light world of Heaven, and he was the one to guide me and show me the path of my righteous purpose.

I place my hands on my hips and refuse to give in to his concerns. No human intimidates me. I have my heavenly blade and my strength. I can ask them to guide me somewhere sacred, where I can meditate and call out to Adriel.

Maybe I can even do it now. I feel the holiness of the room. I just need to close my eyes and concentrate.

I gasp at the vision crossing my mind’s eye. Twins. Blessed beings. Warriors of Heaven born on Earth. My heartbeat quickens as I bear witness to their arrival, knowing they’ll be coming through the door at any second. I know of the Nephilim—of the humans blessed with angelic lineage from a battle between Heaven and Hell long ago, but it was said all of the bloodlines returned to Heaven. Nephilim shouldn’t be walking the Earth. They shouldn’t be here.

“Don’t make me use my strength against you, Riella. This is your last chance to do as I say or I can’t help you. I’m not getting sent to Hell because you refuse to believe the truth.” Damien growls with his words, and I snap from the vision and glimpse horns protruding from his forehead with fire in his eyes. As quickly as his demon flashes in front of me, it disappears. I find myself shuffling closer, my eyes locked to his as I lose myself in their blue depths.

I need to get it together.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I push the world out again from my mind and focus on the light that will connect me back to Heaven.

“Adriel? Adriel, please. I need your guidance. You promised you would fight by my side. Where are you? I’m waiting,” I whisper the words, my voice shaking as I realize that the light I used to be able to access so effortlessly flickers and turns to darkness. It’s all I can see in my mind’s eye now. Dark shadows and everything wrong in the world. It’s the same vision that Adriel had previously shown me. The vision that he warned me with and how he knew that it was my time to join Heaven’s Army and fight.

“Get ready, Riella. They have broken through the ward to the building. I can sense them getting closer. If you’re going to stay here, you need to brace yourself. You need to fight.” Damien stands tall, facing the door.

I step a foot closer. “I’m telling you. This is all—”

“Angel, go behind me then. You’re going to get yourself sent to Hell. Get it through your head. You have fallen. You have abandoned grace. These hunters will kill you and banish you from this plane. You’re not on Heaven’s side anymore.” Damien grimaces, pity lining his eyes. “You’re close to giving into Hell.”

His words stab into me as if he uses his weapon against me. I don’t have time to think about it. I don’t even have time to process what’s going on around me.

The door to the apartment explodes open, and two hulking figures rush in.

My very being screams as they shout holy words. Damien wasn’t lying. I have fallen. Heaven has forsaken me, and these hunters look as if they will send us both to Hell.

No. This can’t be right.

A wall of flames shoots up from the apartment floor. The souls of Hell scream my name.

7

The Mission

Storm

“Comeon,Storm.Focus.He’s a powerful bastard.” My twin brother’s voice prods at my attention, but I can’t seem to look away from the doe-eyed blonde frozen in fear before me, firelight dancing across her violet irises.

We came here expecting to only find an ancient demon that has been plaguing humanity with his evil for far too long. According to our source, this one is particularly nasty. Volatile and cunning. Good at manipulating his way through humanity and leaving destruction in his wake.

But as I hear him hollering, I’m not sure the information we have is correct. Not to mention he was supposed to be alone and not with an ethereal woman with the face of an angel, all pouty and wide-eyed as if she’s never seen a demon hunter in her life.

“Storm!” River shouts again, fighting fire with fire again at the demon trying to escape the cage we contained him in.

---