Page 52 of An Unexpected Ascension (A War Between Worlds #1)

The Angel

“Briar? What the…”

I give Will a sheepish smile in greeting as I tuck my demon into my friend’s bed, a bed much more comfortable in this little quaint home.

“He just needs to sleep for a little bit and then we’ll leave. We can’t stay long.”

“Briar, what are you talking about? Why is he here? Where have you been?”

The questions come a mile a minute, shot off one after another.

I can’t leave Lynx, not again, so I sit at the edge of the bed, eyeing him every few minutes as if he’ll need me and I’ll miss it. He still hasn’t spoken to me yet and it’s been torture for me not knowing if he’ll be okay or if he’s going to give up.

I bring my gaze to the first friend I made in Heaven and debate how much to tell him. He looks at me with a wild stare, a million more questions in his eyes.

“I’ve been… damned,”

I finally tell him.

His brows knit together, and he brings his fingers to massage the bridge of his nose.

“Jesse!”

he growls.

In an instant, his sister appears, confusion and shock marring her face.

“Briar?! Holy—Where have you been?”

She rushes to me, wrapping me up in a tight hug.

“She’s been damned,”

Will answers for me.

She pulls away, her hands still on both of my shoulders and searches my face for confirmation.

Normally, my face would flush with embarrassment, but with everything I’ve learned about the Gods – about what they’ve done to Lynx, Ada, my mother, to so many others – I hold no shame.

I nod, pinching my lips.

Slowly, she backs away as if Hell is a disease one can catch.

“Look, I figured I can trust you guys. There’s a war happening between Heaven and Hell.”

“So, you came to warn us? Tell us that the Devil is going to take over Heaven?”

Will scoffs.

“I came to warn you, yes.”

I struggle with my next words.

“The Devil is not taking over Heaven, but he’s here to… right a wrong with the Gods.”

Jesse’s brown eyes widen.

“What in the bloody Heavens are you talking about?”

I sigh.

“You have to understand that the Gods, they’re not everything we all thought them to be. They’re malicious, cruel, and depraved. Worse than the Devil. Much, much worse. I’m telling you because I want you to be prepared. I don’t know what the next hours hold, but you deserve the truth.”

Will looks at me incredulously.

“So, what are we supposed to do? Hide? Fight? Why have you come here, Briar, and with him?”

There’s a bite in Will’s tone. The knowledge of my condemnation souring his feeling towards me.

Jesse glances at Will, studying her brother. I can see his internal battle between wanting to believe me and believing what he’s always known to be. I’ve just appeared out of nowhere after nearly half a year of being MIA and shared with them something quite unfathomable.

And it doesn’t help that I’m just as wrong for Heaven as the demon beside me.

Lynx stirs in a slumber that consumed him like Hell claims its souls.

“The things those Gods have done,”

I whisper, watching him.

“Lynx has suffered by their hands for the last six months. It’s taken me that long to get to him, but only because we’ve committed to this war. At this very moment, the Devil storms Primordialis with a weapon born to annihilate an undying deity.”

“I’ve seen the acts of Hermes, Briar. He deserves every bit of what’s been given to him.”

Will’s gaze hardens on me, and I match his rage, only for a different reason.

“How dare you?”

I whip.

“How dare you say something so horrible? Yes, he’s done some questionable things, but you don’t know him. You don’t know the torment he’s lived through, the treachery, the despicable torture at the hands of the Gods.”

My voice raises with each word.

“Damn you!”

I rise to my feet, the swell of fury inside of me pumping my blood so viciously I’m forced to erect.

Will only crosses his arms, standing by his words.

I don’t bother saying anything to Jesse and she doesn’t bother saying anything to me.

“I wouldn’t wish for you to endure a minute in the presence of those monsters! I can’t even believe the bitterness in your heart!”

“I’ve seen him damn our neighbors, Briar. I’ve seen him ruin families, tear them apart and?—”

“You’ve seen him follow your God’s orders and nothing more! He merely obeys the wishes of those arrogant beings. He’s done nothing but fight for justice since he’s passed the gates of Hell.”

“He’s brainwashed you.”

Throwing my hands up in a fit of anger, I cry out in frustration. As my arms fall back to my sides, fingers wrap around my wrist.

My gaze darts to the bed, Lynx’s eyes meeting mine. There’s an urgency in them; one I was hoping he’d wake with.

“We—”

His voice cracks and he clears his throat.

“We need to go.”

I nod.

“Will, I won’t bother trying to change your mind. I came to warn you and say goodbye. I don’t know if I’ll make it out of this war, but if I do, I know I won’t be back to Heaven.”

His lips tighten in a thin line. I bring my gaze to Jesse. She only frowns, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears, uncomfortably.

Lynx sits up in the bed, the blanket falling from his chest, pooling around his waist.

“Oh, can we borrow some clothes?”

I ask a bit awkwardly.