Page 27

The world was quiet when we landed on the balcony. Rathiel tucked his wings away, but the cool night air did nothing to numb the ache inside me. He opened the door and shooed Vol and Purrgatory out of the living room before guiding me inside with a soft touch to my back, careful not to touch my injuries. The pain was still there, a dull throb, but compared to the hollow ache in my chest, it barely registered.

I walked inside, my steps slow, almost robotic. My mind still replayed the image of Jack lying there in the alley—broken, lifeless. I’d killed Zera, but was it enough? This was all my fault. I’d welcomed Jack into my life. My dangerous, psychotic life. I was an angel, for crying out loud. The daughter of Lucifer. I had no business fraternizing with humans. And he’d paid the price for my foolishness.

I dropped into the nearest chair and stared at the wall. It was as though the fire that had burned inside me had died completely, leaving only cold embers in its wake.

Rathiel stood near the balcony door, observing me closely. He hadn’t said much since we left the alley—giving me space, I suspected—but the tension in his shoulders told me he was worried. I could feel his concern, like a shadow hanging in the air between us.

He took a slow step forward, then another, as if unsure of what to do. “Lily,” he began, his voice soft, cautious.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I was too…numb. Empty.

Rathiel moved closer, crouching down in front of me, his silver eyes searching my face.

“How did you find me?” I asked, my voice completely devoid of emotion.

“It wasn’t hard,” he said. “You weren’t answering your phone, and I grew concerned. The bus would take too long, so I took to the skies. I saw the fire and knew.”

“Someone could have seen you,” I mumbled.

“I don’t care. You’re more important.”

That broke me. “I—” My voice cracked, the words caught in my throat. I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes, but I blinked them back. “It’s my fault, Rathiel. Jack…dead because of me.”

His expression tightened, his eyes darkening. “It’s not your fault,” he said firmly. “Zera killed him, not you.”

“He was looking for me,” I rambled. “I broke things off with him and left the coffeeshop. I don’t know, maybe he was watching? Waiting? He thought I was in trouble. Maybe he planned to follow me? Or maybe he stumbled across my jacket and came looking for me. I don’t know. But that’s the kind of person he was. He was kind , Rathiel. He wasn’t like us. He was the stark opposite of us.” I sucked in an unsteady breath. “I should have done more. I should have protected him better.”

I leaned forward and dropped my head into my hands, gripping the roots of my hair. Voices echoed in my head, telling me that this was all my fault. That if it weren’t for me, he’d still be alive. And the voices were right.

Rathiel peeled my hands away from my head and squeezed them tight. “Lily, stop.”

His voice wasn’t soft or gentle this time—it was steady, commanding. It cut through the fog in my mind, forcing me to lift my head and meet his gaze. I could feel the storm of emotions raging inside me, threatening to tear me apart, but there was something in the way he looked at me that kept me from spiraling completely.

“Don’t do this to yourself,” he said. “You’re going to destroy yourself if you don’t stop.”

I pulled one hand free from his grip, wrapping my arms around myself, trying to hold it all together. “You don’t get it,” I whispered.

He gave a harsh laugh. “You think I don’t understand? Me? The guy who stripped you of some of your most important memories and abandoned you here?” He shook his head, his dark locks spilling in front of his eyes. “I understand guilt better than anyone. But I also understand that blaming yourself won’t fix anything. It won’t bring him back.”

“It isn’t about bringing him back!” I snapped, the words escaping before I could stop them. “It’s about the fact that I was supposed to protect him, and I failed. Just like I’ve failed at everything else.”

“What are you talking about?” Rathiel asked softly.

“Hell? The Rebellion? The prophecy?” I gave a bitter laugh and pushed to my feet, pacing through the living room. “I failed at those too, didn’t I? That’s why I’m here. Because I couldn’t cut it. Because I couldn’t kill Lucifer. I’m a failure.”

Rathiel rose to his feet, following my movements with a calm intensity, but he didn’t speak right away. He let my words hang in the air, like he was waiting for them to sink in. When he finally did speak, his voice was quieter, but no less steady.

“We may not have won the war,” Rathiel said, “But what you did wasn’t meaningless. You are not a failure.”

I stopped pacing and faced him, fists clenched tightly at my sides, trying to steady the trembling in my hands. “Then why does it feel like everything I touch turns to ash?” My voice rose. “Jack is dead. Lucifer crushed the rebellion. You wiped my memories and sent me here. What’s left, Rathiel?”

He silently watched me.

I took a shaky breath, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “I’m just…broken. A useless, wingless angel who can’t even get her own life together. How am I supposed to fight for anything when I don’t even know who I am anymore?” My voice cracked. “Am I even still an angel?”

“Don’t do that,” Rathiel said, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t reduce yourself to that. You’re not broken, and you’re not useless. You fought, Lily. You fought harder than anyone. Yes, the rebellion failed, but that doesn’t mean you lost .” He took a step closer, his voice gaining strength. “You survived. You survived your father and you’re still here. That’s a win in my books.”

I shook my head, unwilling to let his words soothe me. “Surviving isn’t enough. I was supposed to do more than that. I was supposed to make a difference.”

“You have,” Rathiel said firmly. “You’re making one right now. Zera and Tavira are dead, and you fought off Gremory. You’re still fighting, even if you don’t realize it.”

“I’m tired, Rathiel,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’m tired of all of this. Of pretending that I have control over anything.”

Rathiel’s expression shifted to sympathy. He closed the distance between us and wrapped me in his arms. Any other day, I might have pushed him away, distanced myself from him, but today, I needed this. Needed him and the comfort he offered.

“I know,” he said. “It’s been a long battle. And even though you don’t remember it, you’ve suffered more than anyone ever should. But I know you. You’ll keep fighting because that’s who you are.” His body shook with a soft laugh. “You don’t know how to do anything else. So, take the time to feel this loss and to process it. And when you’re ready, you’ll pick up the pieces and put your life back together. Because you don’t know any other way to be.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to push back against everything he was saying, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, a cold, exhausted emptiness settled over me. Rathiel was wrong. Or maybe he wasn’t. I didn’t know anymore. My mind wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders right now.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “I’m scared of what I’ll become if I keep going. What if I’m not strong enough? Or worse, what if I end up just like him ? Tavira—she said something.” I didn’t repeat her words about me finally showing I was Lucifer’s daughter. “Something that hit a little too close to home.”

Rathiel’s expression softened, the fire in his eyes dimming as he stepped even closer. “You’re not your father,” he said, his voice quiet but filled with conviction. “You’re nothing like him, Lily. You never were. You never will be. And this right here proves that to me. Your father would never grieve the loss of a human life. I don’t think he even grieved when he killed your mother. He’s incapable of such emotions. You aren’t.”

There was truth to his words, but it didn’t stop the fear from creeping in. What if I was more like Lucifer than I wanted to admit? What if the darkness inside me was growing, festering, waiting to take over? I thought back to the fight, when I burned Zera alive, and the intense satisfaction that swept through me. It terrified me. I’d never relished causing someone intense pain like that before. But her, I’d burn again and again. For all eternity, if I could. That was dark .

“I don’t know if I believe that,” I whispered.

Rathiel reached out and gently took my hands again, pulling me closer, his gaze never leaving mine. “Then believe me. Believe in me. I’ve known you your whole life, and I know who you are. Yes, there’s darkness in you. But there’s also light. So much light. And no matter what happens, you’re going to keep fighting. You won’t become like him because you won’t let yourself.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to cling to his words and let them wash away all this guilt and pain. But it wasn’t that simple. It was never that simple.

“And if I fail again?” I whispered, voicing another of my fears.

“Then I’ll still be there,” he told me. “I wasn’t lying when I said I love you, Lily. Nothing will ever change that. I’ve seen you at your best and your worst. And I love the whole package.”

His proclamation didn’t make me feel any better. If anything, it made me feel worse.

Shaking my head, I pulled away from him. “I can’t deal with this right now,” I finally muttered, dragging a hand through my hair. “I need some space.”

Rathiel’s gaze softened, but he didn’t press. “Okay.”

I met his gaze, my stomach twisting when I found nothing but unconditional love there. I didn’t deserve it. “I need to sleep,” I stated suddenly. What I needed was to be alone. “I’ll figure out my next step tomorrow.”

“Sure,” he agreed.

I gave a tired nod, the heaviness in my chest still there but dulled. “Alright.”

Without another word, I made my way to the bedroom.

Before I stepped through the door, I glanced over my shoulder at Rathiel. “Don’t hover. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll try not to,” he said, his lips quirking in the faintest hint of amusement. “But no promises.”

I shook my head, a half-smirk pulling at my own lips despite the ache in my chest. I turned and closed the door behind me, then leaned against it. The weight of everything wasn’t going to disappear overnight, but maybe, just maybe, I’d find the strength to face it all tomorrow.

* * *

The soft hum of the television filled the quiet apartment, the only sound breaking through the stillness of the early morning. I stood in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, and stared at the screen. My body felt heavy, stiff, like the weight of everything from yesterday afternoon still clung to me, refusing to let go.

The news report blurred on the screen, but I couldn’t turn away. They were talking about the alley. About Jack.

“…police have identified the victim found in a back alley as twenty-nine-year-old Jackson Williams. His body was discovered after a nearby resident reported a fire in the area. Authorities are investigating the cause of death and the unusual burn patterns found at the scene.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of his name, the unwelcome knot of guilt coiling tighter. I swallowed hard, trying to push the rising nausea back down. But it wasn’t just the guilt. It was the reality crashing down on me all over again.

The reporter’s voice droned on, calm and detached, the way they always sounded when talking about something horrific. “While the fire has been contained, witnesses reported seeing unusual activity in the area. Police have not confirmed any details, but we’ve received word that investigators are looking into possible gang-related violence. There are no suspects at this time.”

Unusual activity. They had no idea what really happened.

I stared at the screen, the words becoming background noise as the image of Jack’s body lying in that alley replayed in my mind, over and over. It didn’t feel real, but the empty space in my chest told me otherwise.

“Lily?” Rathiel’s voice came from behind me.

He’d still been asleep when I’d ventured out of my room, but I hadn’t been able to resist turning on the news.

“They’re saying it was gang violence,” I murmured, not turning to face him.

Rathiel came to stand beside me. “That’s the easiest explanation for them to cling to. They don’t know what else to think.”

“Of course they don’t.” I shook my head, bitterness creeping into my voice. “They’ll never know the truth. And I can’t tell them or Jack’s family.” I clenched my jaw, turning away from the screen and moving toward the window. The morning sun had just started to creep over the horizon, casting soft light through the glass. “Doesn’t matter,” I said, my voice clear and strong. “Jack’s dead. And nothing’s going to change that.”

I turned away from the window, my gaze locking onto Rathiel’s. “I didn’t sleep much last night. I spent the whole night just thinking,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. “Trying to decide what to do.”

Rathiel’s expression remained unreadable, but his shoulders subtly shifted, waiting for what I would say next.

“I could let this guilt swallow me whole. I could sit here, wallowing in pity, blaming myself for everything that happened.” I paused, taking a breath as the words came out, solid and deliberate. “Or I can do something about it.”

His brow furrowed slightly, though he didn’t interrupt. I could feel the weight of his focus on me, the intensity of his presence pressing in like it always did. But this time, it didn’t overwhelm me. It fueled me.

“And I know what needs to be done,” I continued, stepping closer to him, feeling the conviction settle deep within me. “We’re going to march into Hell and kill Lucifer. Once and for all.”

Rathiel’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing. “Lily?—”

“No.” I cut him off before he could get another word in. “This isn’t just about revenge or anger anymore. It’s about stopping him. It’s about finally fulfilling the prophecy. Lucifer won’t stop hunting me. Especially now that two of his fallen angels are dead. And then there’s you.” I waved my hand at Rathiel. “You chose to side with me. And that’s not something Lucifer will ever forgive. Yours is the ultimate betrayal. I’m not the only one he’s hunting here. He won’t stop until we’re both dead.”

Rathiel’s eyes darkened, the tension rolling off him in waves as he stepped forward. “Lily, no. You can’t be serious.” His voice was rough, strained, as if he were fighting to hold something back. “You have a chance at a life here. On Earth. Away from Hell, away from him. You don’t have to do this.”

I met his gaze head-on, refusing to back down. “You’re wrong.” The words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t soften them. “Staying here doesn’t help anyone. My being on Earth is dangerous. Look at what just happened to Jack. My being here puts everyone around me in danger. Humans don’t stand a chance against fallen angels, devils, hellspawn…any of it.”

“I can protect you here ,” Rathiel pushed. “Returning to Hell is suicide, and I won’t let you throw your life away.”

“I’m not throwing my life away!” I snapped, frustration and determination bubbling to the surface. “Don’t you get it? This isn’t just about me. This is about all of us. The prophecy isn’t just about restoring Hell. It’s about restoring balance. Lucifer’s war spills over into the human world every time he sends his soldiers after me. And until he’s stopped, every last human that walks the Earth is in danger.”

Rathiel gripped my arms, his hands firm but gentle. His blue eyes bore into mine, a storm of fear and fury swirling behind them. “Lily, your father nearly killed you last time.” His voice cracked with a raw edge I hadn’t heard before, almost panicked. “I barely saved you in time. Remember? All this is because he won .”

“You’re the one who told me to keep fighting!” I said.

“Keep fighting as in keep living! Keep moving forward!” he shouted. “Not keep fighting as in facing your father head-on!”

The intensity of his grip sent a wave of heat through me, but it wasn’t comforting. His fear was palpable, his emotions spilling over in a way I wasn’t used to seeing. It rattled me more than I wanted to admit.

His grip tightened, to the point of almost hurting. “He’ll rip you apart, Lily. He almost did. And I couldn’t stop it.” His breath hitched, gaze searching mine, desperate. “Do you think I can stand by and watch that happen again?”

“It won’t be the same as last time,” I tried, but Rathiel shook his head, deaf to my words.

His grip didn’t loosen. “How is this time going to be any different? How can you stand there and say that? You were barely alive when I got to you. You don’t know what it was like to see you like that—” His voice broke, and he shook his head again. “I can’t lose you,” he whispered. “Not again. I can’t go through that again.”

My heart clenched at the pain in his words, and I reached up, cupping his face gently in my hands. His skin was warm beneath my palms, his breath uneven as he fought to keep control. “Hey,” I whispered softly, my thumbs stroking the sharp lines of his cheeks. “Take a breath. Just breathe with me for a second, okay?”

His eyes met mine, wide and filled with a mixture of fear and anguish, but he didn’t pull away. I kept my hands steady and brought our heads together until our foreheads touched. “Breathe,” I repeated, and together, we inhaled slowly. Soon, his grip on my arms loosened as he matched my breaths.

Slowly, the tension in his body started to melt away, his breathing evening out as I continued stroking his face. “I’m here,” I murmured, my voice low and quiet. “And I’m not going to die, I promise.”

“You can’t promise me that.”

“Okay, well, I’m not going to let him kill me. How’s that?” I smiled, my shoulders relaxing when Rathiel’s expression softened.

His hands dropped to my waist. He was still terrified, but the panic began to fade. “I don’t know what I’d do if—” He trailed off, his voice breaking.

“You won’t have to find out,” I assured him. “I promise. But we can’t keep hiding here on Earth. It puts too many people at risk. We have to stop him. And we’ll do it together. We’ve got this.” I just hoped I sounded confident, because honestly, I didn’t feel it. But I couldn’t let Rathiel see that. If he sensed any weakness in me at all, he’d likely lock me in my bedroom until I saw reason.

Rathiel’s eyes searched mine, as if looking for some shred of doubt that would give him a reason to stop me. When he found none, he closed his eyes, his brow furrowed in frustration. His grip on my sides loosened and he finally let go, stepping back.

“I need a minute,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I need some air.”

I watched him step out onto the balcony, the weight of everything we’d just discussed settling heavily on my shoulders. The reality of what we were about to face loomed over me like a storm cloud, and the slightest tremor of doubt shivered through me. Could we really do this? Could we march into Hell and end Lucifer once and for all? Or was I fooling myself?

Before I lost myself to my thoughts, movement caught my eye. I glanced over to the couch and found Vol sitting there, his wide, unnerving eyes fixed on me. He looked almost shocked. He sat uncharacteristically quiet, as if, for once, he had no sarcastic comment to offer.

“What?” I asked, my voice rougher than intended.

Vol blinked, his tail flicking in what might’ve been apprehension. “You’re really gonna do it, aren’t you?” His voice wasn’t mocking or sharp this time—just curious.

I nodded slowly. “Yeah, Vol. I really am.” Then I cocked my head and impulsively asked, “Wanna come with?”

Vol’s eyes lit up, the shock quickly fading as his signature impish grin spread across his face. His tail twitched, and in a flash, the devious spark I was so used to seeing in him returned. He stood up on the couch, hands resting on his hips in a dramatic pose that didn’t match his tiny stature at all.

“Hell yeah, baby!” he declared, his grin widening. “Finally, something fun. I was starting to think you’d lost your edge.”

I chuckled, the tension in my chest easing just a fraction at his ridiculous bravado. Leave it to Vol to bring some levity to the direst of situations. I crossed my arms, giving him a playful, knowing look. “You do realize we’re literally going to Hell, right?”

Vol shrugged, unbothered. “Yeah, but I was born for that.” He winked, his grin never faltering. “Besides, I’ve been bored out of my mind, always locked up in this apartment. Hell sounds…fun.”

Fun. Definitely not the word I would have used. Shaking my head, I let out a small, genuine laugh. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Vol jumped down from the couch and headed for the balcony door. “And you love me for it. Let me talk to angel-boy out there. I think I can convince him this is for the best.”

On that note, he rapped his hairy little knuckles against the window until Rathiel turned. Rolling his eyes, Rathiel slid open the door and let my imp hop outside with him. I couldn’t help but smile. The two hadn’t had an easy start to the relationship, but it seemed they were growing on each other.

With a deep breath, I turned and spotted Purrgatory sitting atop the fridge. “Hmm. What to do with you, big guy?”

An imp in Hell made complete sense to me. But a domesticated cat raised questions. It wasn’t like there were any stores in Hell where I could buy pet supplies. Thankfully, he was a mouser, so I had faith he’d learn how to hunt the many pests in Hell. But we were going to fight a literal war. What help would he be with that—other than possibly providing Vol a steed to ride into battle. The image brought a smile to my lips.

“What do you say, Purrgy? Wanna give Hell a chance?”

My cat puffed up his chest and let loose a very regal meow that I took to mean yes.

Guess we were all going then. A party of four—or maybe even six, if I could rope in Eliza and Mason—straight to Hell.

* * *

Did you enjoy Lily and Rathiel? Continue their story in The Road to Hell …

Lucifer’s rebellious daughter, driven by revenge. A vampire bound by regret. In the depths of Hell, their forbidden love could reignite—or consume them both.

Being Lucifer’s daughter comes with baggage. And by baggage, I mean a destiny I never asked for, a prophecy I can’t escape, and a to-do list straight from Hell. Literally.

Our mission? Destroy the fallen angels still loyal to my father and sever his ability to create more hellspawn. Without them, his army is finite—and beatable. But that’s not all. To stand a chance against Lucifer, we’ll need to find new allies and rebuild the rebellion he crushed the last time I dared to defy him. Easy, right?

And then there’s Rathiel. The vampire who stole my memories, exiled me to Earth, and shattered every ounce of trust I had in him. I should hate him—I want to hate him—but the way he looks at me, the way he sets my blood on fire with a single touch, makes it impossible. When he’s near, I can barely think. When he’s gone, I can hardly breathe. He’s a constant reminder of everything I’ve lost—and everything I still want.

The path forward is clear: take down the fallen, reclaim my memories, and rally an army before Lucifer crushes us for good. But the hardest battle? Facing the feelings I can’t control for the one who hurt me the most.

Because in Hell, some battles are fought with fire—and others with the heart.