11. Gabby

As the first rays of morning sunlight filter through the window of her bedroom in Mercy City, Gabby stirs from her peaceful slumber. She's enveloped in warmth, her body nestled in Colt's protective arms. It's a rare moment of tranquility she cherishes, one she's not willing to leave yet.

They arrived late in the night, heading straight for Colt's cottage beside the academy, and collapsed into bed. Their last shred of energy was used to pull the other close. It was Colt's steady heartbeat that accompanied her as she fell into an exhausted sleep.

Now, the promise of the day hovers in the periphery of her consciousness. There's Sierra and Blaise to visit and update. A happy reunion with Kalish, Maya and Klae.

And a Spear of Destiny to power.

So that order can be once more established.

The obsidian's voice is almost familiar now, but still not one Gabby wants to hear. She mentally turns away from it, now choosing the control she'll find in wakefulness. The obsidian is powerful, it knows her weaknesses. It infiltrating the space between sleep and consciousness isn't one she wants to have to fight.

But a scene rises in her mind.

One she can't turn away from.

Gabby finds herself atop a celestial citadel, her wings stretching wide. Beings from the celestial, infernal, and mortal realms bow in reverence. With the simplest of gestures, she quells wars, bringing an end to conflicts that have raged for generations. Poverty dissipates, replaced by a world filled with prosperity and abundance.

Peace blankets the three worlds as Gabby becomes a unifying force among all beings.

Why stop there?

In the next images, she doesn"t just end wars among nations; she quells the turmoil of the heart, bringing about unity among celestial and infernal entities, as well as mortals. Her actions transcend the boundaries of a single realm, harmonizing the very fabric of the cosmos.

You can make this reality. You will have the power to reshape the world.

Gabby finds she's not moving. That she wants to see more. In this dark, seductive narrative, she"s the ultimate force for good, a ruler of unparalleled might.

You'd be the supreme ruler of the three realms.

In the vision, her celestial wings glow with unparalleled authority.

The ultimate force for good. You'd reshape fate itself.

The Spear of Destiny appears in her hand, the obsidian now forged as part of it, a symbol of world-altering power. Her breathing increases, her pulse surges.

She's not stupid enough to think the obsidian isn't showing her this for a reason. That it's trying to use her dream of peace against her.

But if Gabby can control the obsidian…

If her angelic goodness is stronger than its evil…

Suddenly, Colt sits up abruptly, snapping his gaze to her. Gabby freezes. Did he sense her dream? Can he feel the obsidian?

Her wide eyes meet his, filled with concern and trepidation, but he looks relieved. With a swift movement, he leaps out of bed and rushes out.

"Colt?" Gabby asks, now even more worried.

He doesn't trust you.

He doesn't believe you're strong enough.

Gabby stops just a few feet from the bed, the words slicing through her. Colt doubts her? As the question rises, so does the knowledge that having him by her side is the one truth she's depended on.

She's stronger because of Colt.

Because of their love.

Colt strides back into the room, striking an impressive sight in nothing but sweatpants. It's as if the universe is trying to slap her in the face with Colt's physical strength, which is just as impressive as his beautiful soul.

He holds something out. "This was slipped under the door," he says grimly.

It's a piece of parchment, folded once. Gabby's gaze falls on it, then the door beyond Colt. Someone was here.

"They're already gone," Colt says, sounding frustrated. "I heard something, but by the time I got to the door, this was here. It's likely there wasn't even a messenger, just this."

As Gabby reaches out to touch it, the parchment seems to come alive. Words appear on its surface as if inked by an unseen hand.

It's time to negotiate.

An address is scrawled beneath it. Along with a time.

One glance at the clock reveals the proposed meeting is in an hour.

Gabby's gaze lifts to Colt, registering the same resolute hardness settling across his face. The reunions are going to have to wait. The Spear of Destiny is tucked deep in Veritas, the obsidian with it, safe for now.

Right now, they need to find out who sent this and why.

Gabby instantly recognizesthe old building where her first battle was fought. Although there's not much left of it, memories assault her. This is where she first discovered what she's capable of as an angel.

It's the place she first wielded celestial fire.

It's the place they first defeated the Grigori.

It's the place she first kissed Colt.

Everything started here. Somehow, they have to end it.

Colt is a vibrating mass of tension. His eyes dart around the twisted beams and blackened metal. Shards of glass catch the morning light, sparkling like diamonds in a sea of char and ash, but breaking far more easily as he stalks forward.

Neither of them has any idea who sent the message. Anyone who's an ally doesn't have a need for secrecy.

Which leaves an enemy. An archdemon? Vladimir and his cult? Another crazed angel like Samandriel?

The beings that appear instantly have Gabby and Colt contracting together. Colt's onyx wings snap but then draw in close to his back as the seven glowing bodies spread out, circling them.

The Grigori shimmer with pearly light, a mockery of their evil intentions.

Gabby and Colt move so they're back to back, circling slowly now that they're surrounded.

"Give us the Spear," the Grigori say as one, their seven voices in perfect synchrony.

"If that's why we're here, then let me save your celestial breaths," Gabby snaps, adjusting her center of gravity as she prepares to fight. "Not happening."

Seven sets of eyes flash with white light. "You don't understand."

Gabby opens her mouth, prepared to say whatever they have to say won't change her mind, but Colt presses a shoulder into hers. "Don't understand what?"

"We're only working with the cult so we can repair the past."

Gabby narrows her eyes. Repair the past? What the flock are they talking about?

The Grigori still, seven sentinels with their total focus on Gabby and Colt. "With the Spear of Destiny, we'll reverse the past. The future will be safe."

Unease crackles down Gabby's spine. The way Colt moves infinitesimally closer suggests he feels the same.

"Explain yourself," he growls. "What past?"

"We were tasked with guarding the Garden of Eden. And we've learned that history was twisted." The Grigori flash brighter with anger. "It wasn't Lucifer who entered the Garden as a serpent. It was someone impersonating him."

If it wasn't Lucifer, then who? But Gabby mentally shakes herself. The history lesson will have to wait. Right now, it's the Grigori's solution that's the most disturbing part of this story.

"You're speaking of a past that goes back to the beginning of humanity," she points out, the unease only growing.

"Lucifer is not evil. We will correct that," the Grigori say.

Colt twists quickly one way, then the other, as if he's scanning all seven, blank faceless faces. "Correct it how?"

"We will go back and stop it from ever happening."

The words are said matter of factly. Without emotion.

As if the ramifications won't ripple through the entire timeline after that moment.

"You'll wipe humanity out," Gabby whispers in horror. "Every person alive since then will cease to exist."

The Grigori all take a simultaneous step forward, closing the circle around Gabby and Colt. "If you try to stop us, you'll invite something even more deadly onto the world."

"What are you talking about?" Gabby snaps as she and Colt continue to pivot around each other, trying to keep an eye on these heartless angels.

"Because every light has its dark. There are beings in Hell which are equally as powerful as us. Our mortal enemies."

"The Sins," Colt growls.

The Grigori incline their heads. "If we are killed, the seven Sins will have a free pass to enter the mortal worlds and help the dark forces reshape this world in their image. They will turn this world into a living hell."

Gabby wishes they were lying, but the Grigori's words ring with truth. Their eyes blaze with righteous fire.

Even if it's not, they believe it is.

And they fully intend on seeing their plans through.

"We do not wish harm on humanity," they say. "The obsidian and the Spear will ensure we stop the imposter. We stop the Sins." They step forward once more. "Give them to us."

Gabby's already shaking her head. The Grigori may not be the evil she thought they were, but they're willing to kill millions of lives to do what they believe—right a wrong.

"Human lives aren't interchangeable," she says fiercely. "You can't wipe the slate clean and start again, it doesn't work like that."

Although the Grigori don't move, Gabby senses their disappointment. Their sense that this moment was inevitable.

And their fury.

They blaze brighter and brighter, making her squint. Even though the glaring light hurts, even though she wants to protect her eyes, she keeps her sights on the enemy. Colt's wings expand and hers explode, doing the same. They create a wall of black on one side, white on the other.

Heaven and Hell fighting side by side.

The Grigori flare brighter, bleaching the whole world in white. There's so much light it feels like Gabby's eyeballs are burning with it. She and Colt lift a few inches into the air, preparing them for the power being amassed. The power about to be unleashed on them.

One final explosion of blinding pearl and the Grigori disappear.

Leaving behind a world that feels darker.

Leaving behind a new circle of death.

Vladimir smiles coldly, dozens of his cult members fanning around him. "Why is it that you never seem to learn that choices have consequences?"