“I clearly haven’t been sacrificed. And unless someone kills me in training, I’m not sure you interpreted Miriam’s prophecy correctly.” I couldn’t outright say it was wrong— after all, nearly everything else had come true. I was the hidden, protected daughter of the Seven Circles of Hell. Elora had been concealed from me, and I assumed the whispering ice was either my own power or the king’s, whenever he contacted me. “Lucifer and his general want me alive.”
“Miriam is never wrong.”
I sighed, frustration creeping in. “Mom, did you ever think ‘awaiting the daughter to sacrifice’ might mean Hell was waiting for me to sacrifice something—not my life?” Her fear still ruled her. It creased her forehead and the corners of her lips.
I gently took her fists, slowly uncurling her shaking hands, trying to ground her. “You’re in a coma. We’re stuck in Hell. The only way is forward. There is no more locking me away to keep me safe, okay?” I said softly.
Her gaze slid away, avoiding mine.
“What else are you keeping from me?”
Silence.
“When will the secrets end, Mom?” I shouted, standing and stepping back. “I don’t need your protectionanymore! Your secrets have gotten us nowhere. What I need is help—help training my body and powers, and figuring out how to get on the general’s good side! Things I’m sure your secret angelic life before me could actually help with!”
She continued to stare at the wall like she hadn’t heard me. I dug my nails into my palms, wanting to throttle her. When I entered this dream, I just wanted to see her. I hadn’t realized how much anger I still carried.
But why, after everything that had happened and everything our choices had cost, did she still think it necessary to keep her secrets? What was she hiding?
I shook my head, unable to feel empathy while she remained so blinded by fear. Turning away, I headed for the door, desperate to wake up from this dream-walk before I said something I’d regret.
“Fine.”
I stopped.
“I’ll help you train when you dream-walk to me. But I’ll only share things with you when I’m ready. Deal?”
I turned. Pure white armor materialized on her body, hugging every curve, and a long sword peeked out over her shoulder—her Archangel uniform. I’d never seen her wear anything like it. It was strange, seeing her look so… imposing. During our sparring lessons, she always wore loose-fitting exercise clothes.
“Do I even have a choice in the matter?”
She placed her hand on my shoulder and met my gaze. “There are few instances when you don’t have a choice.” Then my shirt and pants shifted into a Hell Squadron uniform—black with accents of purple,instead of the usual red. “Your choices now are simple: take the deal and I’ll train you, or don’t and get nothing from me.”
For the first time, I saw the version of my mother that existed before I was born. Growing up, I’d caught glimpses of her—but never like this. Never in her armor. Never with that fierce expression.
“Now let’s go dissect the fight you had today and see how you could’ve won.”
I twisted, frowning as she strode out the door. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but I followed her out into our snowy front yard.
“Show me your stance and explain the fight in detail,” she said, squaring off in front of me.
I separated my feet, raised my fists, and tensed my core, thenbegan explaining, leaving out Theon’s insults and my taunts.
My mom nodded her approval, then jabbed at my face just like Theon had, only faster.
I bobbed to the side. She clipped my chin, pulling her punch at the last second. I’d forgotten how fast she was.
She must’ve seen the shock on my face. “Sweetie, I trained as an Archangel for hundreds of years. If you can dodge all my punches, you’ll be more than a match for most of Lucifer’s elite squadrons.” She circled me, and I mirrored her.
“Okay, but it’s not just sparring. I told you Theon used his water against me. How do I combat that when I can’t use my powers on him—or anyone else, for that matter?”
My mom hummed in thought before mimicking Theon’s punches. Except each one of hers connected, and they stung.
“If you can’t use your powers, then you need to cause enough pain to distract him.”
She flew at me, and despite expecting it, she still broke through my guard. I tried the same footwork I used with Theon, but had to remind myself—she’d taught me those moves. And I’d never once beaten her in a sparring match.
“Ready for the tackle?” she asked before slamming into me, sending me crashing to the snow faster than I could dodge.
