I want him to hug me and tell me things are going to be okay. That he can undo what I did, and I won’t be damned to sit on the throne in Hill. To tell me the baby will be fine, and I won’t die during childbirth…and that he’ll help us keep our child safe. Because I know just having me as a mother will make this child be born with a target on their back.
“Well then.” Lucifer claps his hands together. “Who’s up for a drink? Maybe we can go to a casino this time. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and all.”
Michael turns, giving Lucifer a stern look.
“What?” Lucifer asks. “When you’re on the run you might as well make it fun.” He laughs at his own little rhyme. “Though this one won’t drink with me.” He waves his hand in my direction. “Lame.”
“I don’t want to keep running,” I say, feeling tears pool in my eyes.
“If there was another way, we’d take it,” Michael tells me. “The more the demons insist there is Nephilim child, the more my siblings become suspicious. I faked your death once, I do not believe I can do it again. I will do anything to protect you, my daughter,” he says and I nod, a tear rolling down my cheek. “And right now, the only thing we can do is—”
Green light flashes though the forest, and another angel appears with a loud crack, as if he split the sky in half to come to earth. Michael stiffens, eyes widening as he looks at the angel walking toward us. It’s another archangel, I can tell from the energy coming off of him. It’s comforting and familiar, yet I know this angel is anything but.
If he finds out who I am, he will kill me.
“Remiel,” Michael says, voice steady. “What are you doing here?”
“I was concerned,” the angel named Remiel replies. He folds his brown and black wings behind his back, and they disappear from view. “Though I should know better than to doubt you, Michael. I see you’ve tracked down our brother and…” He looks at me, tipping his head as he reads my energy. “And a Nephilim. The rumors were true. Though…this one…this one is different,” Remiel mumbles to himself, stepping forward. Michael sidesteps, putting himself between his brother and me. “Her human half is witch,” Remiel goes on. “But the divinity…it’s…from an archangel,” he gasps, holding out his right hand. A knife appears in his grasp, similar to the one Julian wields, though this blade is longer and sharper, with gemstones decorating the hilt.
“I’m feeling the urge to run,” Lucifer blurts and holds his hand out. “Better take me in before I do. Cuff me and make sure to give a thorough pat-down. But I won’t go willingly. It’ll take both of my big brothers to force me back into the cage.”
Lucifer could fly away, yet he’s walking toward Remiel, purposely egging him on. His eyes meet Michael’s for just a second, but just a second is all they need. Michael puts his hand behind his back, reaching for me. I inch forward, heart in my throat, reaching for Michael’s hand. My fingers tremble, and as soon as my skin makes contact, Remiel steps forward.
“And leave the Nephilim?” Remiel asks incredulously, eyes going back to Michael. “Why aren’t you outraged, bother? One of our siblings betrayed us! One has lied to us. One has—” He cuts off, eyes flashing as he stares at Michael and I think just realized who I am.
“You!” he sneers at Michael. “You were charged with the task of eliminating the Nephilim years ago. You have also betrayed us, and for what, to protect his offspring?” Remiel’s eyes go to Lucifer.
“Callie isn’t Lucifer’s child,” Michael says slowly.
“Then who’s—it doesn’t matter. Yours or not, know the rules,” Remiel spits and pushes his shoulders back. Great wings spread behind him and I know he’s going to fly off and tell the others, alerting all of Heaven that I’m very much alive. And what they’ll do to Micheal when they find out he’s my father…I don’t even want to think about it. “Nephilim are to be destroyed. It shouldn’t have even been born let alone allowed to live on earth for all these years.”
Lucifer shuffles a little closer, tipping his head in my direction. If Michael can’t fly me out of here, he can. It’s like putting a Band-aide over a bullet wound, but it will give us time to regroup.
So we can run again.
“The others will be disappointed,” Remiel says. “If you will not give up the abomination, I will return with our brothers and sisters. Once they find out, they will not allow her to live.”
“I can’t let you do that,” Michael says, rushing forward as soon as Remiel extends his wings. A gust of wind blows my hair back and Remiel disappears from view for second. And then Michael tackles him, pulling him from the sky. They fall to the ground and the earth shakes.