Around me, voices boomed, louder than before.
“Seruf, Guardian of Earth,” a man called. “You are accused of performing unspeakable atrocities on mortal children and using the gift the Creator bestowed upon youto harm those that oppose you.You are, henceforth, banned from the Celestial City, and your Essence will be removed…”
“Darling,”Seruf’s frantic voice raked across my brain. “Stop! You don’t know what you’re doing!”
A man slithered in front of me, staying only long enough for me to glimpse his lush auburn hair and the blinding white wings protruding from his back.“Our Brother’s punishment was far too harsh,”he said.“You do not deserve to Fall, Seruf. Come with me. I shall help you right this wrong.”
“Adelaide!” Seruf screamed.“STOP!”
A claw wrapped around my skull, squeezing my brain through my eyeballs. I ground my teeth, took another step, and…
Silence.
I stood in the middle of a cavernous room. Sunlight spilled through the arched windows on the left side. The floor was a bright prism tile that got rainbowy in the light. The white walls twinkled. Silver rhinestones bedazzled the furniture. Even the slippery silk sheets twinkled. It looked likeMy Little Ponyhad spewed rainbow sparkle shit all over this place.
“Where?” I started, but a strangled sob had me spinning around.
A woman sat huddled on the floor by the windows. The gossamer curtains brushed the top of her head as a breeze trickled into the room.
“Who are you?” I asked.
The woman lifted her head.
Seruf.
Her red-rimmed eyes glowered at me. She had her knees drawn to her chest, hands clasped around them.
“The hell?”I mumbled.
Seruf scoffed. Sniffled. “Congratulations,” she said hollowly as she rose to her feet. “You’ve won.”
“W-what—”
“You’vewon!”she spat, flicking tears off her face.
“The hell are you—?”
Seruf lunged, her eyes rolling in their sockets, her pale lips drawn over her teeth in a grimace. “Do you know what happens to the Fallen? The ones thatlosetheir Essence?” Spittle flew from her mouth. Before I could respond, she continued. “They’re mortal. And then they do what all mortals do.Die.”A bitter laugh tumbled out of her. “The cough took Gabriel.Tuberculosis. After a mere two years. But as he’s not human, he can’ttrulyperish. He suffers, dies, and rises. Again, and again, and again. Gabriel is a wretched creature, trapped between life and death.Thatis the true curse of the Fallen.” Her smile was pure evil.
A chill raced along my spine. I was suddenly seized with an urge, anitch,to dig my fingers into her face and rip her smug grin off.
“Once Cheriour’s heart stops beating, he’ll rise again too,” Seruf gloated. “But he won’t be the same. Oh no, no, no.” Her eyes bugged out of her skull.
My breath hitched. “He’s not dying tonight.”
“If not tonight, then tomorrow.” Her smile widened. “Or the next day. Death is inevitable. He’ll join Gabriel before long.”
“Shut up!” I yelled.
“He may not recognize you when he rises…”
“Enough!”
She barked out a laugh. “You humans love tragic love stories, do you not? Well, now you’re living in one.”
“I saidshut up!”Black spots erupted across my vision as I pummeled her face.
She didn’t stop me. Didn’t defend herself. Just took the open-handed hit and cackled as she spat out a mouthful of radiant blood. “Do it again.”
