Page 107 of Greed

“I didn’t kill her, Riker. I didn’t put her in your path.”

“Lies!” Gold and Silver streaks swirled, and the noise of the blades grew faster. More sparks rose into the night sky like little bits of ash from a fire.

“Truth! I swear to you, Ri, I only got involved after the two of you met, and the spark in the prophecy began to glow. I didn’t want her to die, brother, I swear to you.” Michael ducked a killing blow, but I managed to get a boot up and kick him hard in the chest. He rolled over backward and crashed to the roof as he lost his sense of direction.

Swooping down, I landed beside him and touched the point of my sword to his neck. “You must die for the pain you caused, the pain you continue to create!” Pulling the blade back, I swung, and the sword streaked toward Michael’s neck, his eyes closed, knowing the end had finally found him.

“Promise me something.”

“Anything, it’s yours, name it.”

“Be this version of you, be the man I fell in love with.”

“I promise.”

Panting hard, I screamed in agony, a deep sorrow splitting me in two like a cavernous fault line. My arms shook as the blade touched Michael’s neck and stopped. I dropped the blade with a clang as my knees found the rocky surface of the rooftop. I gripped handfuls of the hard stone as tears ripped from my body in waves. I crawled over to Minny’s still body and gently lifted her into my arms. Reaching up, my hand shook as I closed her eyes for the last time.

Arms wrapped around my shoulder. “I didn’t want her to die. I didn’t want any of this, brother, I promise you on my own life and on my faith that his is not what I hoped for.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, my head snapping up as I jumped to my feet, shaking Michael off.

“The Ether…take care of her, I’ll be back.”

“What are you going to do?” Michael called after me.

“To get her back,” I yelled as I streaked for the Ether.

“Don’t do it, brother!” I could hear Michael yell, but I was too far lost in grief and my hope to listen to him. I needed to get her back. That was all that mattered.

I could see Lucifer and Leviathan as I swooped down into the Ether. They were probably wondering why my army stormed out of Hell, but I didn’t have time to explain right now. I raced toward the cavern of River Styx and veered into the wide opening. The inside of the tunnel was dark, but the ghostly spirits of the humans eerily glowed under the dark water and cast luminescent shadows along the ceiling.

I curled my wings down so that I could drop low over the water that would consume a demon or an angel for all eternity if one was so foolish as to try and swim. I hovered over the water staring at the thousands of faces that were passing by. With a flick of my wings, I made my way back and forth from the river’s entrance to where they divided and went to Hell or Heaven. I flew in a back-and-forth pattern from one side of the sandy shore to the other but didn’t see her beautiful face among the others. She couldn’t have passed by, could she?

My shadow reflected back at me as I made another pass, frantically looking for my Minny. I was making my third pass when a ghostly hand slowly rose out of the glittering water toward me. Veering around, I gripped the hand reaching for me. Her beautiful face came into view just below the shimmering surface. Pulling her from the water, it dripped in long streams from her body as I flew for the shore. With a gentle thrust of my wings, I lowered us down, my heart soaring as I clutched her to my body.

Her arms wrapped around me, and I buried my head into her damp hair. My body shook, the wet tears falling and mixing with her soaked gown. The simple material that was given to all those entering the river to wear looked stunning on her. She could’ve worn a paper bag, and she’d still be just as beautiful.

“I thought I lost you.” I cupped her cheeks and kissed her hard. I poured every ounce of emotion into the kiss, every unsaid I love you, every you’re my forever that I’d ever thought. She was my everything. My heart no longer wanted to beat on its own. “Please stay with me,” I said, breaking the kiss breathlessly. “Please.”

“My time had come,” she said simply and lifted a shoulder. “I thought I’d have more time to, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Minetta mimicked my position, her hands lying upon my cheeks.

“But it doesn’t have to end like this. You can stay here with me. We can live here in Hell. I have a palace.”

In that moment, it was painfully clear how she didn’t belong here. Her soul glowed brightly against the dark grey of the rock walls of the cavern while the sand shimmered like black diamonds in her presence. She was a beacon of pure light. Before she opened her mouth, I knew what she would say.

“Please don’t say it.” I kissed her soft lips, savoring her flavor. Nothing could stop the sweet peach scent that would forever remind me of her. “I have never begged for anything.” I slowly fell to my knees at her feet. “I’m begging you now, as selfish as it is, for you to stay with me. You make me a better man, you make me someone I like, you make me feel again. I love you. I love you so much. Just stay. Please stay.”

Her blue eyes softly glowed in the dim light as she lowered her face to mine. “I love you more than anything, Riker, but I do not belong here. You must know that.” She kissed my nose and then laid a soft kiss on my lips, and a whimper escaped as I contemplated just taking her and keeping her regardless of what she said. “Look at me, Riker,” her voice was soft and yet as commanding as any captain. “You have always been great, and you never needed me to be so. I just reminded you of who you were and what you let get buried in here.” She placed a hand over my heart.

“No, I was horrible. I’ve done so many terrible things. You don’t understand. You are my angel. You are the love of my life. I don’t want to breathe in a world without you. Please, Minny, I’m sorry I left, I’m sorry I didn’t see how much I meant to you, I’m sorry….” She placed a finger on my lips, and everything inside me fell apart all over again.

She smiled wide, and it was the most stunning thing, that look on her face of pure joy and love. It was something I’d never forget. “Everyone is watching you, Riker,” she whispered.

I glanced around at the demons at Charon’s. All the faces pressed to the glass as they watched the show. “I don’t care. Let them watch. Let them see me beg.”

She smiled a little wider, her sweet laugh warming my broken soul. “Don’t you see, that is the point. You’re admired. You’re more important to Hell, Heaven, or Earth than you could imagine. This version of you, this version I fell so hopelessly in love with. I’m sorry I kept what I knew from you, Riker. I never should’ve don’t that.”