Page 83 of Grave Revelations (Prophecies of Angels and Demons #3)

Chapter 82

Rebecca

Adalaide’s eyes misted, and she wiped the corners, sniffling. “He always said a darkness lived in him. I believed nothing like this could happen, though.” She cleared her throat. “Did you tell him he was worthy? Did you tell him you loved him anyway, despite what he became? He would have needed that reassurance.”

Rebecca swallowed. “I…”

Adalaide’s gaze snapped to her. “Did you attempt to comfort him in any way?”

“I told him I loved him. At the end.”

The other woman crossed her arms over her ruffled shirt. “You are his soulmate. Only you can bring him any amount of peace. Did you give him nothing before… before?” A tear formed along her lashes as she broke off.

“I see you’ve found one another,” a voice said.

Rebecca whipped around, letting out a small gasp.

Sanura stepped forward, pulling Sophia with her. Sophia looked between the two girls, then down at her arm, a line of blood trailing to her fingertips and spilling onto gray, compact earth.

“I killed you!”

Sanura’s ruby lips tipped up. “Ah, but I divided my soul, just as I did with yours, and left it where it would be safe. You cannot kill a soul who is divided between realms. Even with the lance, we exist when our mortal forms are gone. I prepared for all outcomes.”

Rebecca glanced at Adalaide. Some part of her had hoped that somehow, Azazel had been wrong, that she wasn’t just a copy of someone else, but looking at the woman across from her with so many similarities but her own set of life experiences, she finally understood. Their soul lived in all of them; each had been her own person in her own lifetime.

Her shoulders drooped and she looked back to Sanura. The woman was beautiful, even with the cruel twist to her lips. What had happened to make her so bent on all this destruction? Perhaps the answer was that she was simply the mate of the devil, but Rebecca's soulmate was a prince of Primoria and she wasn't evil.

"Why?" She wrapped her arms around herself. "Why did you do all this?"

Sanura's lips curled up, but her eyes held a darkness that sent a shiver through Rebecca. Her gaze darted between the two women seeming to decide whether they deserved her truth.

"I trusted someone once. My family." Her grip tightened on Sophia's arm and Sophia inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring. "But they betrayed me. And even when all I wanted was a life with my analogous umbra, they didn't let me have that bit of happiness."

"You killed everyone in my line," Adalaine demanded. "You tried to kill me."

Sanura's gaze sharpened on Adalaide. "You were no different from the rest of your pathetic Gavras line. You all thought your line was superior to the rest of us. You would have used the necklace to end me for good."

"I did nothing to you until you came for my family."

Sanura's nails dug into Sophia's arm and her eyes went wild. "What do you know of family?! Yours killed my son. Ripped my precious child from the world before he ever drew breath. They deserved it. You all did!" She lunged forward.

Rebecca lifted her hands, wreathing them in fire. A trickle of blue flame glowed to life, and she frowned. Hadn’t Jophiel told her Nephilim could use their magic here? Hadn’t she said only they were strong enough?

Sanura drew up short but laughed. It was manic and full of disdain. “You hold no power in my realm, halfling. ”

Rebecca gritted her teeth together, pulling at the ember in her chest. Her fire leaped higher, but it was nothing compared to the gifts she wielded on the mortal plane.

“Let me,” Adalaide said, sending her own blue sparks into the air. They were impressive, but not enough to stop a creature like Sanura.

“No more games, girls,” Sanura said. “You’re here to give me what I want. And because you wasted your mortal skin, I’ll have to use this one’s body.” Sanura tossed her head at Sophia.

“She’s not Nephilim. You cannot,” Adalaide said, giving Sophia an appraising stare as if to ensure the words were true.

“No, but when I merge your blood with hers, it will be enough to bring me to my king.”

Merge. The word resonated in Rebecca’s mind. She had to merge. It was the reason Sanura was so much stronger than they were. She'd let Elizabeth's body be killed so her soul returned to Sheol and was made whole again. Her gaze darted to Adalaide, who was still watching Sanura, a wary look on her face.

Rebecca’s brow wrinkled. She had one chance to try the mad plan forming in her head, and if it didn’t work, she would become the thing that unleashed Sanura on Earth once more.

“Come, Adalaide. I will drain you first; a favor for an old friend.”

Adalaide was frozen, rooted to the spot.

Sanura dug her nails into Sophia’s arm, making her cry out.

Adalaide’s leg twitched as if to move, but Rebecca stepped forward.

“I’ll go first.” Slowly, she let her hand drop to her side, stretching her pinky toward the other girl.

“Good,” Sanura said, loosening her grip on Sophia’s biceps. “Come here, child. I promise to be quick.”

Rebecca darted a look at Sophia, whose gaze had dropped to Rebecca’s fingers. She dipped her chin imperceptibly, and Rebecca knew Sophia had figured out her plan.

Rebecca took one step and lunged for Adalaide. “Merge with me,” she said as she wrapped her arms around the girl, knocking her backward.