As soon as our feet land on the ground, there is work to be done. But I do take a moment to look at the land before us. It’s astonishing how such a brutal realm can be so beautiful. There are mountains in the distance, and everything between is perfectly green. None of the fae live in this particular area, minus a farming town twenty miles north of here.
The stage will be set here; it’s almost a pity knowing such a picture-perfect scenery is about to be disheveled with blood and misery. But I suppose that it won’t be the first time the fae have fought here before. The valley makes it the perfect location for each opposing side to have a high ground. The sun is setting and causing a beautiful pink glow in the sky, and when I look over at Mara, I notice that she’s taking in the strange world around us as well. Elvor is stiff at her side, clearly not pleased coming back to his home realm.
There’s no time for looking at the rolling hills or admiring the field of sunflowers to the right. We need to set up camp and prepare for what comes next.
Tents are put in place, and demons go on about their duties while we wait. It’s reminiscent of my time on Earth, sitting in a barebones tent, just waiting with anticipation. It feels different this time; it feels like I have more to lose, like everything is on the line. I’ve never gone into battle feeling this uncertain before. I know that it will pass; as soon as I draw first blood, adrenaline will course through my demon body, and all I’ll be able to focus on is our victory. Because Hell knows if I focus on the dark-haired psychopath that haunts my every waking moment, we’ll all die here tonight.
I’m lying on my cot in my own tent when the flap opens, and Mara walks in.
“Can I help you?” I ask her, and she clicks her tongue.
She sits across from me, her posture loose as she crosses one leg over another. “Do you know what top-tier angels will be there?”
“No, I don’t,” I respond.
“Should we be working on that intel so we know who to take out first?” she questions.
“They’ll sit back and wait,” I reply, and Mara tips her head to the side. “This isn’t my first fight with angels, little demon. They’ll come in here guns a-blazing with angels eager to prove themselves. Once they’re slaughtered, the angels with gifts will come out. If they feel as though they are unmatched, they will go full force. If they don’t think they can win, they will retreat.”
“And us?” she prompts. It shouldn’t feel so good to talk about battle plans with her. Nor should I enjoy teaching her things, but I do
“Usually the same,” I reply, shrugging my shoulders like war is an everyday occurrence.
“I’m not sitting back and waiting. I want to be on the front lines, and we’renotfucking retreating,” she declares. I rub my eye sockets harder than I need to before I look back at her.
“Your enthusiasm will be valuable, but I’ve lived this,thisis my life. Trust me when it comes to the strategy,” I tell her. She’s not wrong about us fighting on the front lines, and even though deep down I know that she can’t be killed, there’s a deep part of me begging to protect her.I fucking hate it.
“They need to pay,” she counters.
“For what?”
“For thinking they could ever use me against my own family,” she sneers. She doesn’t look at me as she stands up and goes to leave the tent. It’s clear that she doesn’t harbor the same mistrust towards Lucifer that she once had, so why can’t she trust me? Does she despise me so much that she’ll just let me sit here, pining after her while hating her at the same time. I know she took something precious from me, and I want it back.
“Why won’t you give me my memories back?” I call out to her when she reaches the tent flap to leave.What doesn’t she want me to know?My brain knows it’s important, that’s why I’ve been so adamant about finding out what she’s hiding from me.
“It’s to protect you,” she states softly, leaving the tent without a second glance back.
“Why can’t I quit you, little demon?” I mumble to myself, wishing more than anything that I could or that she would finally give me the sign to give in.
* * *
I’m startled awake by loud cracks, far too many to be demons portalling from the realm. The angels are here, and we need to be ready.
I fell asleep completely dressed and ready to fight, so I’m outside of my tent almost instantly, ready for any threat. The noise was so deafening it woke up everyone at camp, and just like me, they are all prepared for battle. Of course, I check to see where Mara is, and I’m happy to see she’s just as prepared as me.
Mara is flanked by Elvor and Judd, and I have to stop myself from joining them. Rationally, I know she has the most armor out of all of us, but I have this deep need to protect her.
It’s nearly sunrise, and the angels are far enough away that they’re hard to see. They are on their side of the valley, and we’re on ours. The center where the two sides meet is going to be our theater for this battle. I’m already looking around us to make sure all the demons are accounted for, and once I’m pleased, I brandish my sword in my right hand.
“Get ready,” I tell them, everyone taking a weapon out of their holster.
There’s a booming voice from at least three miles away that yells, “Tell your leader to agree to our terms, and there will be no bloodshed on this day!” I take the first step forward, a line of angels at my back as I lead them towards the middle of the valley. The angels across the way do the same. We’re not storming into battle running for a fight; we walk evenly and confidently, ready to face our enemy.
“Hell is not governed by Heaven or your moral standards,” I shout back.
“You’ve made that clear with the filth and disgusting behavior you’ve spread through the mortal realms. This ends today. Leave now and bring back your leader to negotiate so that we may spare all of your lives,” the angel says.
Now that there’s less distance between us, I can make out the features of the leading angel. Mark. He’s beautiful by any beauty standard; I can’t imagine a realm where he wouldn’t be considered handsome. His skin looks like it’s been kissed by the sun, and his bright blue eyes are blazing with fury. He wants this fight.
