Before death, I would have laughed if you told me demons could cry.Because I’d been told that evil didn’tfeel.It had no heart.It had no soul.
But I felt every shake of his chest.I heard every gasp he tried to hide as he watched Miles give up his soul.
I knew Mercy could not see the demon in front of her.Because this was not solely her memory.Her consciousness was fading, and all she could see was Miles.
She reached for him, one hand held by his, the other falling too short to touch his face.
I felt her pain, her ache, like an echo of my own.
He was bleeding so much, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
There was nothing to use as a tourniquet, and even if there was...
He was trapped beneath metal and his seat.The seat belt itself was restraining his leg, cutting off his circulation.
His face was pale as the demon knelt before him, offering him his cell phone.
The lifeline.
It was an accident, but Mercy blamed herself.
“Miles, stay with me...”Her voice cracked as she pulled herself closer to him, scooting across broken glass.
The phone in his free hand lit up as he stared into her eyes, breathing one word.
Yes.
She pulled him close, her quivering lips grazing over his.
It was painful to watch.
The moment he gave up his soul.
The moment she prayed to God to save him.
But Miles could not be saved, because there wasno soul leftto save.
Yet, despite Hell’s claim on him, he had not passed.
Which meant, like Mercy...he wasalivestill.
Somewhere in this vast world, Miles still lived, disconnected from his body.
They were bound in death, Mercedes and Miles.
They were bound beyond death.
Endor buried his face in my hair, his fangs grazing my neck as a sob escaped him.
“He is bound to Hell,” I whispered.
Endor cursed.
“But he is still alive.He can still be saved,” I whispered.
“Valory...”Endor’s voice vibrated on my skin.“It is impossible, it?—”
I turned to see Endor’s dark eyes glistening with tears.
