Page 10

Chapter Ten

I unlocked the door to my apartment and nudged it open. “Go on,” I said, knowing Rathiel needed permission to enter, thanks to his vampiric nature. “Get inside.”

There weren’t many rules about vamps that humans had right. Fangs? Yes. Feeding off the living? Absolutely, though they fed in secret to keep the humans from learning about—and extinguishing—them. Beyond that, most of the myths missed the mark. Crosses didn’t faze them, holy water was a joke, sunlight didn’t reduce them to ashes, and they certainly didn’t turn into bats. But one rule held true, no matter what: they couldn’t enter a home without an invitation. That was non-negotiable.

I once watched a vampire slam face-first into an invisible barrier, denied entry because they hadn’t scored a proper invite. The impact was glorious—like a bug smacking into a window, then slowly sliding down in defeat. I nearly doubled over laughing, knowing I’d never forget that splattered, baffled look from my mind.

Rathiel stepped in with deliberate slowness, his eyes scanning the room with quiet intent. I watched him for a beat longer than necessary before following him inside and closing the door behind us.

Just like that, I was alone with Rathiel. The one who had shaped me into a soldier, who epitomized strength and authority. I’d never really liked him—more like tolerated him. But he’d commanded armies of hellspawn over his long, long lifespan. And now, he stood in my apartment, with its mismatched furniture, peeling paint, and worn flooring.

With a quiet sigh, I dropped my keys on the small table next to my entrance and faced him, crossing my arms over my chest.

He didn’t meet my gaze. Instead, he entered my home and started roaming about, taking in every detail with what looked like great fascination. When his gaze landed on Purrgatory, he blinked and cocked his head.

“It’s a cat,” I told him. “Or what humans call a cat here on Earth.”

Hellcats were far larger and much fiercer, more akin to tigers but with demonic eyes and twisted horns. I’d only heard them described before, never laid eyes on one, probably because no one ever tangled with a hellcat and survived.

I walked to Purrgatory and touched his chin. His head rose a notch, and he closed his eyes, his chest vibrating with a pleased purr.

“They’re harmless,” I said. “Well, mostly.”

Rathiel shook his head, a bemused smile playing at his lips. But then his gaze shifted, and he froze, his eyes widening as he spotted Vol. The imp stood on the living room windowsill, his beady eyes narrowed on Rathiel.

“What in the nine hells is that?” Rathiel asked, his voice a mix of shock and incredulity.

“That’s Vol. He’s an imp,” was all I said.

The creature in question crouched and snarled, baring his tiny fangs. Rathiel quirked a brow. Then, as if to assert dominance, snarled back, flashing his own vampiric fangs, which were far larger and more menacing than the imp’s. Vol’s eyes widened, but instead of cowering, he puffed up his little chest, looking more like a ruffled pigeon than a threat.

Before I could react, Vol shot off the windowsill and darted toward Rathiel. In a blur of movement, the imp scurried up Rathiel’s body, using his clothes as a makeshift ladder, until he perched precariously on Rathiel’s shoulder.

Vol grabbed Rathiel’s nose with both hands, turning his head left and right as if examining a piece of fruit at the market. Finally, with a look of intense concentration, he lifted Rathiel’s top lip and peered at his fangs.

“Oh, for crying out loud,” I muttered, trying to suppress a laugh. “Vol, would you leave him alone?”

But the little pest ignored me, his dark eyes narrowing as he poked one of Rathiel’s fangs. Rathiel’s expression was a mix of annoyance and disbelief, his body rigid as he tolerated my imp’s antics.

“What is he doing?” Rathiel asked around Vol’s fingers.

“Inspecting you, apparently,” I said, unable to hold back a chuckle.

Vol gave a satisfied nod before patting Rathiel on the cheek. “Welcome to the club, Meat Sack.”

Rathiel jerked, as though stunned Vol could speak, and shot me a wide-eyed stare.

I just shrugged.

Vol scurried down Rathiel and hopped back up onto the windowsill. Something had caught his interest out there, and I had no idea what it was. So long as his attention was no longer on us, I was happy.

Rathiel rubbed his nose, his brow furrowed. “I’ve faced legions of hellspawn, but that was a first.”

I shrugged, still grinning. “Welcome to my life.”

He shook his head, a bemused smile returning to his lips. “And what an interesting one you have here, Lily.”

“Yeah, well, Vol definitely keeps me on my toes,” I replied.

The imp in question glanced our way and preened like a smug little bird.

“Well, now that we’ve dispensed with the pleasantries,” I said, crossing my arms, “let’s get down to business.”

Rathiel’s deep chuckle rumbled through the apartment. “No offer to sit first?”

I muttered something sharp under my breath and gestured vaguely toward the couch. “Fine. Sit. Stand. Lounge on the floor, if you want. I don’t care. Just start talking, and if you don’t, I’m going to kick your sorry ass out onto the curb, and you can sleep in the freezing cold snow. But not before I stab you a few times just for dramatic effect. Okay?”

“Fair enough,” he said, daring to stride into my living room, completely unfazed by my threat. “But if stabbing is on the table, perhaps I should remain standing?”

“Oh, ha-ha,” I snapped. “Now, what are these so-called reasons of yours?” I demanded.

Rathiel circled my living room, as though searching the best spot to sit. “Well, as you know, your father gave the order to kill you.”

I impatiently tapped a foot.

“What you don’t know,” Rathiel continued, “is who he gave that order to.”

My mouth twisted. “Are you serious? That’s your big reveal?” I tipped my head back and blew out a frustrated breath. “My father controls all of Hell and the spawn he creates. I think I have a good idea who he delivered that order to. Deidre didn’t say she was here to kill me, but if he’s sent one Hellspawn through, then I’m sure he’ll?—”

“He gave the order to the other fallen,” Rathiel cut in, his voice low and steady.

Annnnd… boom . His words hit me like a punch to the chest. I froze, my thoughts grinding to a halt as my entire body went cold. My mouth dried, and I couldn’t find enough air. It felt like the floor had vanished beneath me, like I was falling through a void. I reached out, my hands brushing the nearest wall to steady myself as my legs threatened to buckle.

Rathiel closed the distance between us, his hands held out as though prepared to catch me should I fall. “Breathe, Lily.”

The sound of my name snapped me back to reality, but the weight of his revelation still pressed down on my chest, muddling my thoughts. A part of me simply refused to believe Rathiel. My father would never send his most dangerous warriors after me. They were his guard, his people, his inner circle. In all my life, they’d never left his side. And now Rathiel wanted me to believe that Lucifer had sent them all here? Just to kill me?

“You’re saying my father has sent his most fearsome after me?” Gremory, Zera, Gavrel, Tavira, Miriel, Ezrion, Calyx, Raelia… Their names flooded my mind like a curse. With each name came a face, and with each face came a wave of gut-wrenching dread.

These weren’t just soldiers—they were my father’s elite. I’d trained alongside them, fought beside them, and witnessed their sadistic skills firsthand. Their cruelty knew no bounds. They were ruthless and relentless. Alone, each of them was terrifying. But together, they were unstoppable.

The thought of Lucifer unleashing them on Earth with one single command… I wanted to vomit.

Rathiel stepped closer and touched my elbow, grounding me. “Their orders are not to return until you’re dead. That’s why I escaped Hell, Lily. To tell you that they’re already here, hunting you. I’m just grateful I found you first.”

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. “How? No one escapes Hell.”

“It wasn’t easy,” he admitted. “It took some help, but I couldn’t not come for you. Not when I heard what was happening.”

I opened my eyes and looked at him, my heart racing. “Why?” I asked, my voice louder, more forceful. “What changed? You were my father’s right-hand for millennia. The most dedicated of all his generals. And now you expect me to believe you’re no longer loyal to him?”

“That’s a conversation for another time,” he said, avoiding my question, his gaze steady but unreadable. “Right now, all you need to know is that I’m not on his side anymore. I came here to protect you, not to harm you.”

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. “How can I believe anything you say when you spent centuries at his side, when you won’t tell me why you’ve abandoned him? How am I supposed to trust you?”

His eyes darkened, but he didn’t move. “If you want to survive, you need me.”

I hated how right he was. I needed all the help I could get—I knew that. And having Rathiel at my side was far better than going at this alone. But was he truly my ally? He claimed he was, but that damn voice in my head reminded me that I’d once thought the same of Deidre, only to learn she’d been spying on me for my entire life.

“I have more questions,” I said. “And if you want me to trust you, then you need to be completely honest with me. No more evading, no more half-truths.”

His jaw clenched, but he eventually nodded.

I stepped into the living room and sat on the couch, needing a moment to gather myself. Purrgatory took advantage and crawled on my lap. Rathiel followed and took the chair across from me.

“Let’s start simple,” I said, trying to focus on the practical. “How did you find me?” Because however he’d done it, his brethren would likely use similar tactics. Best to prepare ourselves.

“It wasn’t difficult,” he admitted, his eyes flicking to my balcony window. “This city is big, but Hell is bigger. I’ve tracked many through harsher, more unforgiving terrain.”

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.

He didn’t disappoint. “It took me a few days, but I picked up on your scent yesterday. Once I had that, it was just a matter of following the trail. It led me to this odd place called a coffee shop.” His mouth twitched in what might have been amusement. “Inside, there was a blonde woman who, after a little…persuasion, pointed me in your direction.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Persuasion?” Jazz knew better than to give up my location. But I had a feeling Rathiel’s ‘persuasion’ had less to do with charm and more to do with his supernatural abilities. He did have those vampiric hypnotic eyes, after all. I’d never personally experienced their full power, but I’d seen him use them on misbehaving hellspawn more than once.

“You tracked my scent?” I couldn’t keep the incredulity from my voice.

He nodded, unapologetic. “The city masked it. But you’re not untraceable.” His voice softened. “Not to me.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “And I’m guessing you came through the portal at the Alberta Legislature Building?”

He quirked a brow.

I grabbed my phone and quickly searched for the building. After finding an online photo, I held it up for him to see.

He nodded after studying the image. “That’s the place.”

“Is that the only portal?” It terrified me to think there might be others scattered across the Earth.

“There are many portals between all the realms. But this is the only one I know of that’s currently working.”

I wish his words had brought me a measure of relief, but they didn’t. Just because he only knew of this one didn’t mean others hadn’t also opened. “Okay, so who unlocked this one? Deidre?”

Rathiel shook his head. “When Heaven sealed the portal gates, they used celestial power to lock them down. That means only celestial power can open it, and even then, it’s damn near impossible. However, Deidre is a hellspawn?—”

“Was,” I corrected.

Rathiel’s brows shot upward. “Truly?”

I nodded.

His expression changed, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he seemed almost impressed. He gave another small nod and continued. “Since Deidre was a hellspawn, she wouldn’t have been able to open it. Someone would have had to do it for her. And the only one who would want Deidre here?—”

“Is Lucifer,” I finished. But I already knew that. That Infernal Eye of his would haunt my nightmares forever. “So, he finally figured out how to open one up.” Memories from my childhood came to mind, of my father trying—and failing—to break through Heaven’s locks. It had been a constant source of rage for him.

Rathiel didn’t say anything to that.

Another question nagged at the back of my mind. “Why didn’t Lucifer come through himself? For as long as I can remember, he’s wanted to unleash an apocalypse on this this realm. Heaven intervened before, but if he’s figured out how to open a portal, why hasn’t he crossed over?”

Rathiel lifted his hands. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m not part of his inner circle anymore.”

I moved past that, knowing he would simply evade that question again . Besides, I had more important questions to ask.

“I was at the portal a few days ago, and it felt closed to me.”

“Think of it like a door,” Rathiel said. “Heaven locked it, and your father, no matter how hard he tried, couldn’t break their seal.”

“Until now,” I mumbled.

“The portal isn’t what it used to be. It doesn’t stay open for long, and it takes an immense amount of power to force it open each time. More than your father is likely willing to sacrifice to keep it open indefinitely. When I crossed through, it drained me for a full day—and that was just me. The more who try to come through, the greater the cost.”

“So, if it felt closed when I was there, then it probably was?”

“Exactly. Lucifer would’ve only opened it long enough to get his fallen through, then let it close again to conserve his strength.”

“Can we seal it again? From this side? Preferably for good this time.”

Rathiel sighed, shaking his head. “It took the combined might of Heaven to seal it last time. Neither you nor I possess that kind of power, especially not for something permanent.”

Disappointment swelled within me, crushing all my newfound hopes of closing the portal and saving Edmonton—and Earth. Damn it.

“I guess that explains why my father hasn’t sent his entire army through yet,” I murmured.

“Lucifer has a plan—one I’m not privy to,” Rathiel said. “But I know he has one. And he will follow that plan to the absolute letter. And I would bet my last feather that step one of that plan is eradicating you. Afterward…” Rathiel lifted his hands in a helpless gesture.

My stomach twisted at his words. “If he wants me dead so badly, why not just do it himself? Why send the fallen?”

“Your father surrounds himself with followers who would die for him without question,” Rathiel said. “They don’t know any other way. To him, they’re just tools—resources to be used without risking himself.”

“But why? What danger am I to him?” I asked, frustrating bubbling to the surface. “Sure, there’s a prophecy, but I’m here . Not in Hell. What could I possibly do to him from here? The portal separated us. Why send the fallen after me now?”

Rathiel leaned forward, his gaze searching mine. “What do you remember about your life before you arrived on Earth?”

I blinked, thrown by the sudden question. “What?”

“Just humor me,” he insisted. “Before all this—before you arrived here—what do you remember?”

“I remember Hell. Training with you and the others, learning to fight,” I said, unsure of where he was going with this.

“And?” Rathiel pressed. “What else? What do you remember about the prophecy?”

I blew out a heavy breath. “Just that it claims I’ll destroy Hell and Lucifer.” I shuddered as that memory surfaced and I closed my eyes. “He was so angry,” I whispered. “Deidre had just betrayed me. She’d told him everything. I remember his power, the weight of it, the pain—it was unbearable. He nearly broke me. Then, there was a lot of darkness, falling, me screaming, pain. And then I woke up here.”

“Do you remember escaping the throne room? With me?” Rathiel’s voice grew almost eager, eyes searching mine for any hint of recognition.

I frowned deeply, closing my eyes against the pounding that began in my skull. “Escaping with you? No. That never happened. At least, I don’t think so. I don’t remember—no. You…you weren’t there. Or were you? Maybe? I can’t—” Agony assaulted my skull, and I dug my fingers into my hair with a frustrated groan. “Please…don’t make me try to remember. It hurts.”

Silence.

When the agony finally receded, I opened my eyes to find Rathiel staring at me, a different kind of pain alight in his gaze. He instantly blinked it away, but I’d seen that flash. Just as I was about to ask him about it, I realized something. Something that had my heart dropping to my feet.

His question…the way he’d worded it.

Before you arrived on Earth, what do you remember?

Such an odd way to phrase that question.

“How did you know?” I murmured, one piece of the puzzle suddenly coming together in my head.

“Know what?” He cleared his throat and averted his gaze—a clear sign he was nervous.

“How did you know I can’t remember everything?” I repeated, my words loud and pulsing with rage. When he didn’t respond, I kept pushing. “You wouldn’t have phrased your question that way if you didn’t already know.”

Rathiel grimaced, his jaw tightening.

My blood boiled. “Answer me!” I snapped, pushing Purrgatory off my lap as I stood, fists clenched at my sides. “How did you know?”

He didn’t speak. Then, with a sigh, he raised his hands, as though trying to calm a raging storm. “Lily, let me explain. It’s not what you think.”

Oh, I had a feeling it was exactly what I thought. But I wanted to hear it directly from him. “Spit. It. Out,” I commanded.

After a deep breath, he nodded. “Before you arrived on Earth, some of your memories were erased to protect you.”

“Protect me,” I repeated with a dry laugh. “Who did it? Who wiped my memories?”

Rathiel’s expression shuttered, and he lowered his gaze. The silence that followed was suffocating, thick with tension, as if the air itself held its breath.

“You,” I whispered. “It was you, wasn’t it?”