Fallen Academy: Year Four (Fallen Academy #4)(34)
Something clicked inside my head at his words, and my mouth popped open at the realization. “Every time you sent a demon in here, it was to learn something, where I was, or how the demon alarm was triggered.”
He nodded. “Good to see you didn’t lose your intellect in this godforsaken place. Get up and get dressed. We have an appointment in Heaven.”
My face fell. He’d come to force me to make good on my promise to him. He’d brought the key—Sera. What if I couldn’t fight him off? What if I really did open the gates of Heaven for him, and he killed every angel there in his bid for revenge?
‘We’ve got this. Together,’ Sera assured me, and I was almost startled at hearing her in my head. It had been so long, and I’d missed her so deeply that it hurt now to have her near.
‘I love you,’ I told her. I knew we didn’t have time for a long conversation, and I wanted her to know how much she meant to me.
‘I love you too. Now get the hell up so we can kick his ass!’ she roared.
I forced myself not to grin. There was no one in the world like Sera. She was irreplaceable.
Lucifer let go of my ankle, and I scooted to the edge of the bed where my shoes were, slipping my feet inside hurriedly. I was wearing night shorts and a tank top, now with sneakers and no socks. Was it the best outfit for saving the world? No, but it would have to do.
“Get up slowly, and walk outside,” he directed. I glanced down to his palm, to see a sleek black gun had appeared.
‘Wait until he takes me out of the case, and hands me to you to open the gate. Then we’ll slice and dice him into a thousand pieces, starting with his balls,’ Sera instructed me.
‘Sounds like a plan,’ I confirmed.
God, I’d missed her battle strategy and winning personality.
Walking slowly through the trailer toward the door, I opened it gently, as Lucifer instructed. I didn’t know if he had anyone I cared about being held hostage, like Shea or Chloe, so I decided to do as he asked… for now.
I knew he and Raksha were the only two people who could open that case he held. If I killed him now, I’d never get Sera out—and let’s be honest, I couldn’t kill him without her.
My tongue was burning with the question of where Raksha was, if he’d killed her, or if she was still in his inner circle. Yet, the mere act of asking that would alert him that Raksha and I cared about each other. If she was still in his inner circle, and he’d believed that I’d broken out on my own, I couldn’t blow her cover.
Letting myself outside, I stepped into the cool, dark night. It was too early in the morning still, and the sun hadn’t yet risen, but a magnificent artificial golden glow was coming from behind the trailer, the opposite side from where the sun would rise.
“Come on. Our ride is waiting.” Lucy shoved my back, urging me toward the mysterious glowing light.
I walked gingerly behind the trailer, and when I turned the corner, I sucked in my breath. Raksha was there, and she’d opened a portal to what could only be Heaven.
The most beautiful light I’d ever seen was flooding out of a hole in the air.
Raksha gave me a quick look over her shoulder, then trained her eyes on the ground. Her face and arms had more scars than I remembered.
‘He beats her every day for not stopping you,’ Sera told me.
My body shook with uncontrolled rage, and I nearly snapped my teeth from clenching my jaw so hard. That bastard.
“Aw, look at this little reunion. Did you think I didn’t know about your special little friendship?” Lucy cooed in my ear. “But we’ve reached an agreement, haven’t we, Raki?” he called to my old friend.
She just nodded, still looking at the ground. She wouldn’t even meet my gaze.
A sob formed in my throat, and it took a great effort to control it. He’d broken her, broken her strong and feisty spirit. The spirit that told me to fight and stay alive down there.
The gun dug into the back of my head. “Go inside.”
He pushed me toward the portal, but I planted my feet. Should I yell for Lincoln? Should I try to create a shield around Raksha and me right now, maybe get the case from him and—
The gun cocked.
“One,” he counted.
I didn’t move.
“Two.” He pushed the gun harder into my scalp.
I knew he needed me to open the gate, but I also knew he was a psycho who could probably find my soul after I died, and still force me to do his bidding. He was the Devil, after all.
Raksha looked up then for a split second, and met my gaze, holding it firmly before looking down once more. That was my old mentor, telling me to cooperate, and do whatever I had to in order to survive. Maybe she wasn’t completely broken after all.
I stepped into the portal, and an immense feeling of love washed over me. At least if I was going to die, this was the place to do it.
Fourteen
There are no earthly words to describe the feeling that came over me when I stepped into the spiritual plane. Every single worry I had was lifted until there was just… a blankness that I realized was complete and utter peace. My mind wasn’t running through anxious scenarios as it normally was; I was just existing, breathing in and out.
I’d stepped out into what looked like a hundred-acre flower garden that went on for miles. In the distance, I could hear the trickling of water, and see a castle-type structure. Closer in the foreground was a large golden arch that looked like a gate without bars. The inside of the arch had a shimmering shield, similar to the one I made for myself. These were the heavenly gates, I knew it. That soft golden glow bathed everything, even me. The light was glorious as it warmed and tingled over my skin.