Page 6 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 5

Rebecca

“Don’t do that, Gabriel! Make a window or something.”

His rumbling growl sent a chill down Rebecca’s spine, and she backed up, tripping on some invisible object and landing on a bed of vines.

“My name is Azazel.”

His voice was close, too close, and she scooted back on the bed. She held her breath, listening for any sound that might give away his location.

Piercing light momentarily blinded her as it shot into the room. She blinked a few times, letting her eyes adjust. Her gaze fell on the dark object hovering in the corner.

“Was it hard for you to be in the light for so long?” She genuinely wondered if it affected him as it seemed to other demons.

He winced, the most human emotion she’d seen on his face. “It’s bearable when you’re close.” He cleared his throat. “But it’s a reminder of what I’ve lost.”

Was that regret in his voice? Once, before recent events, she’d been concerned for him, worried about what was happening to him in Primoria, even if she was loath to admit it to herself. Seeing him now, she knew it was worse than she’d imagined .

“Come here.” She beckoned him forward, and he came, blending with the shadows as he crossed the room in their small space. Azazel stood, towering over her before she patted the vines beside her. “Sit.”

He did, his wings evaporating as he sat. Rebecca marveled at the convenience of wings that took up no space when he didn’t want them to.

The thought brought a memory bubbling to the surface of her mind: Gabriel, in a cramped apartment, curling shimmering white wings behind his back as he sat at her tiny kitchen table and delivered the news that she would soon lose all her memories and return to a normal life.

Rebecca ran a finger over the smooth skin on his back where wings had been moments before. He shuddered. “You said you were prepared to walk away from me before. What’s changed?”

He grabbed her fingers, stopping her perusal. “The nasdaqu-ush is up to something that involves you. She’s thwarted the angels far too well to be working alone. There is a bigger plan. I cannot see what it is, but somehow, you’re a part of it.”

Rebecca tugged her hand from his grasp. He let her, trailing his gaze down the length of her body, then back up.

She wrapped her arms around herself. “What are you looking at?”

“You’ll freeze in those clothes, and a fire would give our location away. We will need to go into town for supplies. You must be hungry as well.”

As if on cue, her stomach growled. She had lost count of the days since she ate an actual meal.

Azazel flashed that lopsided smile. “We should go now. Before dark. We must be prepared before night falls.”

“Why can’t we stay in town?”

His brows dipped. “That’s exactly where she would look for you. You’re safer here, far from any other people or creatures.”

Rebecca considered his words. “I should probably go by myself. You can’t just walk into town in daylight. You’re a demon.”

“I’m not a demon, but I’ll keep to the shadows. No one will see me. Humans are blind. ”

Rebecca shivered; whether it was from the decreasing temperature or the idea that he truly was invisible to humans, she wasn’t sure. “Or I can go, and you can stay here.”

“No!” His voice thundered through the room as he shot to his feet. “Where you go, I go.”

She rolled her eyes. “You left me on that patio a few hours ago.”

“You were safe during the day but would never make it to town and back by yourself before dark.”

Rebecca chewed her bottom lip. “What do you mean you’re not a demon?”

“Come, we can discuss on the way. Time is not on our side. You’ll freeze before the night is through.” Not waiting for a reply, he slid his arms apart, and the wall parted, revealing the forest surrounding them.

She stepped out, protesting mildly before allowing him to scoop her up and lift them into the air.

This time, he hovered just above the trees, gliding down the side of a steep mountain on what appeared to be a mostly uninhabited island.

“What’s the plan? I assume you have one,” Rebecca asked.

Azazel may have been convinced Simon was gone, but until she saw a body, she would not give up hope, and if she couldn’t shake her new bodyguard, she’d just have to convince him to help her.

“When I returned to the cell where she had imprisoned you, she and her made creatures were gone. We’ll wait out the night to see where she attacks next.”

“We can’t do nothing all night! She could kill Sophia and the rest of the coven.”

He dropped to the ground between the trees, setting her down beside him. “It would be too dangerous for you to face her now.”

Rebecca’s brow raised. “You know, don’t you? About the prophecy.”

He said nothing, moving past her, sliding along the shadow of a tall cedar tree. Was it her imagination, or did he melt into it?

Rebecca stopped, planting her feet firmly. A warm burst of earth magic ran up her leg, lending her strength. The hunger pains in her stomach diminished. Was this how she was surviving without food for so long? Was her magic sustaining her?

Azazel continued forward as if he hadn’t noticed that she’d stopped. Rebecca held her breath, waiting to see if he’d turn back.

When he’d disappeared from view, she stepped forward, wincing as leaves crunched underfoot.

Nothing moved. Had he left her?

She took another step. The forest was eerily quiet. If he was marching down the side of the mountain, this could be her chance.

When she was sure he was nowhere in sight, she bolted for a tree in her periphery and caught the bark, swinging behind it. An ache in her chest quickly sharpened into something hard to breathe around.

“Not again,” she groaned. She righted herself, took shallow breaths, and moved slowly to the next tree. Pain tore through her, cramping her stomach, and she fell to the ground, moaning.

“Make it stop, please.” She squeezed her eyes shut, wrapping both arms around her middle, praying for it to end.

As quickly as it had come, the searing agony receded, leaving only an echo of it lingering in her chest.

“Have you listened to nothing I’ve said?”

Rebecca blinked, staring at the beast of a creature towering over her, wearing pink swim shorts with bananas on them. Laughter bubbled up her chest and exploded from her lips.

It wasn’t funny. Nothing about her situation was funny. But right now, a seven-foot demon with pink banana-patterned swim shorts was the funniest thing she’d ever seen.

He tossed a thick wool coat at her, and she caught it, snorting as she stifled the next bout of laughter.

“What are you wearing?” Despite herself, she burst into another round of giggles, sliding the coat over her shoulders .

“You’ve done nothing but complain about my displeasing physique since I brought you to this island,” he said. “I grew tired of it.”

“I might have mentioned it once. That’s hardly a reason to be offended.” Was he reading her mind or something? Her cheeks flamed at the implication.

Azazel reached for her hand, but she snatched it back.

“I need answers,” she insisted. “I’m not going anywhere until you give me some.”

“You need food, Light.”

“Stop calling me that!” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know what happened to you that made you suddenly so invested in me, but I swear to you, Gab—Azazel, I’m not going anywhere with you until you give me answers.”

He sighed dramatically, leaning against a tree. “Very well, Rebecca , we will remain in this spot until my answers have satisfied you.”

“Perfect. You can start by telling me why you’ve kidnapped me.”