Page 66 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 65

Sophia

Sophia sat up, spinning in a circle. She’d landed in her usual place, but where souls usually littered the banks and trudged through murky water toward some destination, the in-between was devoid of life. The boat—typically making anchor just around the time she arrived—was a speck on the horizon. The soldiers, normally patrolling the banks of the river, were suspiciously absent as well.

She went right. On the previous two days, she’d moved laboriously through the fog until she broke through, finding the other place where Adalaide lived. Today, gray streaks of mist hardly obscured her view in any direction, giving her hope. She’d gone in search of her coven the first day but, finding the thick mist too daunting to push through for any great length of time, had settled for learning what she could from the Naphil.

Now, though, she was free to explore. To find her sisters.

She bounded into the thinning mist and marched in a new direction. There was no way of knowing how large this place was, but if the others landed in the river each day as she did, they couldn’t be far from it. She would mark her path from the river, setting off in a different direction until she found them.

After three days at sea, she guessed they had five remaining until they reached America. That meant she had five days to find her coven and free them from this place .

Together, they would overpower Elizabeth.

As Sophia slogged over a dry, cracked landscape, the fog grew denser in places. She tried skirting it, but it always herded her back to the river.

On her third pass, she gave up searching for a way around it and plunged in. That same oppressive hopelessness weighed on her, dragging her down until it was an effort to lift a foot.

She sighed heavily, dropping to the ground. Was there a point to this search? She let her chin fall into her hands, staring at nothing. She’d been looking for her sisters, but if she found them, then what? It was hard to remember now, so she didn’t think of anything.

A twinkling light shone through the haze, catching her eye. It scratched at the back of her mind, prodding her to keep going. They needed her. Rebecca needed her. She stood, marching toward the bright spec in the distance.

When she breached the fog, her mind cleared, and she knew where she was.

Adalaide smiled brightly as she approached. “You’ve come back!” She stood, rushing to Sophia, and even her touch gave Sophia hope.

Perhaps their meeting wasn't by chance after all. After she’d convinced Adalaide this wasn’t Heaven, it was almost as if some veil was lifted, and Adalaide began piecing things together all on her own.

Memories buried by the fog—or some other magic—cleared, and visions of her past began rushing back. She’d been trapped in this place when she died but did not know how long ago that was. When she arrived at the river’s edge, Sanura had been waiting. Disoriented, Adalaide had been dragged to this spot and trapped by a dense haze.

When she tried to leave, the fog stole her memories and motivation, and eventually, she found her way back to the spot beside the tree. Tears ran down her cheeks as she remembered all the times she’d searched for anyone to help her, to free her from this prison.

Her voice quavered as she spoke of the times Sanura had visited her, times she had forgotten until now and wished she could forget again.

Sophia wrapped Adalaide in her arms.

Adalaide squeezed tightly, holding on long after the hug should have ended .

When Adalaide’s hold loosened, Sophia released her, stepping back. “Adalaide, have you seen a young girl here?” Sophia asked. “She would be around seven or eight.”

Adalaide swiped her cheeks, vision clearing. “Is the child blond and very fair?”

Sophia nodded.

“She is with Sanura sometimes. Sanura's different with her. She treats her as a daughter. Those visits are the only ones I don’t dread.”

Sophia held out a hand, and Adalaide took it, squeezing.

“I am so sorry for all that’s happened to you. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Adalaide looked down at their clasped hands. “I sacrificed myself to ensure she would never again cross the mortal plane and kill humans. Being trapped in this place with her is my immortal burden. I only hope Gabriel has made peace with it.”

“You know Gabriel?”

Adalaide swallowed, wrapping her arms over her chest. “He is my soulmate.”

Sophia frowned. “Your soulmate? He’s an angel.”

“Yes. Angels have Nephilim soulmates. I am his, though we are eternally parted. When I died, it must have been a great blow for him.”

Sophia bit her lip. Rebecca wouldn’t be happy about this.