A final note from me!

   Hey, Ziza here. I just want to thank everyone who actually took the time to read my story. Thanks for sticking with me through the years, I know I was very slow in publishing, and for that I apologize. But I hope you can understand what with me being in school as well.
   And now, this story that I began working on so long ago it seems like it was a whole other life, finally comes to an end. Right in time for me to go off to college too! How 'bout that? This may be the end for The Prayers of Angels, but I promise this is not the end for me. This was only one of my vast and ever-growing collection of stories that are just waiting to be released.
   Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! If not, well criticism is always welcome here so don't hold back :)


THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
<3 Ziza Lynn

~The End~

   I woke to see my beautiful wife laying next to me in our bed. Her eyes were already open and observing me, her fingers already weaving their way through my hair.
   "Good morning my king," she whispered. I smiled.
   "Good morning my love."
   "Adriana. Caleb." We turned to see Miranda standing patiently in the doorway. "Ai has returned." We looked at each other and smiled. Then, we stood and, taking each other's hands, we went to greet our friend.
   Ai looked much happier than she had the last time we had seen her. Whatever Liliana's news was, it must have been good. And based on the way Ai's mourning had lessened, it must have pertained to Nolan.
   Without wasting a minute, Ai eagerly told us her new found information. "Nolan is going to be reincarnated as Liliana's brother." We were both taken aback, straightening our backs and raising our eyebrows at the news.
   "That's...great," Adriana stated, obviously unsure of where Ai was going with it. I had a feeling I knew, but I remained quiet.
   Ai smiled. "Yes, it is. But that's not what I'm here to tell you."
   "Then by all means, tell us." Ai nodded and looked down at her shoes, forming the words in her mind.
   "I think I want to end my current life as an angel." Yep, there it was.
   "What!?" Miranda burst, outraged. "Are you crazy!? Why would you want to do that? He's going to be back here once he dies, why-"
   I interrupted Miranda. "She wants to live with the one she loves. I think we of all people can understand that." Adriana gently squeezed my hand, telling me she supported my words. "We will miss you, Ai, but we won't stop you. If this is what you wish, we will grant it."
   "You'll what!?" Miranda yelled. "You are practically permitting suicide!" Adriana turned her glare toward Miranda.
   "No. We are permitting her a real life with her love." Miranda opened her mouth to protest, but shut it before she did. She looked down at the ground and sighed. It was understandable. She didn't want to lose her friend again.
   "Thank you," Ai said with a smile. Then she turned to her friend. "Miranda, I'm going to return. This is not the end."
   "I know, I just- I'm going to miss you." Miranda wrapped her arms around Ai and Ai hugged her back. When she finally pulled away, Miranda wiped the tears from her eyes. Adriana stepped forward and hugged her best friend as well.
   "We are all going to miss you. Until we meet again, Ai, I wish you well." When they finally parted, Ai said farewell and left. Miranda retired to her own chambers, and my queen and I were left alone. We walked, hand in hand to the balcony outside our room which overlooked our kingdom. Adriana stopped and looked out across the visage that was Heaven.
   It was a sight I couldn't believe I forgot. The buildings were all beautifully designed homes for the residents of Heaven, in varying styles and colors, but all with their own unique beauty, and they stretched further than could be seen. The grass was always green and the trees grew tall, with flowers of every hue imaginable looking up at them. The sky was a beautiful blue with a golden sun bestowing its rays upon all underneath it. Such a breathtaking place, and it was ours.
   "It's incredible," she whispered. "I have to wonder how it's possible to ever forget a sight like this. How it's possible to ever forget such beauty. Such wonder. Such peace." She closed her eyes and took a slow, steady breath. "We're finally back home Caleb. We're finally back where we truly belong."
   "That we are," I responded, putting my arm around her waist and holding her beside me. "Back in Heaven, and, more importantly, back to each other's sides." She looked up at me. "Back where I will never again be torn away from." She turned to me and softly placed her left hand on my cheek, brushing her thumb underneath my eye. I leaned down and placed the softest of kisses on her lips, a feeling so beautiful I couldn't ever possibly forget it. And I never would.

~The Aftermath, Part 4~

   I sat on the very bench Adri had sat on the day she died. The one at the edge of the pool that spilled over into a fountain. I sat there watching the sky on this beautiful day. The sun shined bright and warm, not a single cloud tried to cover it. A cool breeze brushed against my face, keeping my temperature at the perfect balance between hot and cold. I sat there for a good fifteen minutes, just enjoying the day, the sound of the birds chirping, of nearby wind chimes singing their songs, of the water crashing. I sat and marveled at the world around me, waiting for the angel to arrive. I felt sorry for her. This realm was so amazingly beautiful, and she couldn't experience it anymore.
   But then again, I didn't feel sorry for her. Because I knew she would experience this realm once again. And soon.
   "A beautiful day, isn't it?" I hadn't realized until that moment that my eyes were closed. I opened them to take in the image of the girl who I had so suddenly become so close to. I stood and welcomed Ai into my arms, pulling her into a warm hug and letting her know that I was here to support her in her grief. Just a hug was all it took. "Thanks," she laughed, and pulled away before she could start crying. She took a deep breath and sat down on the fountain bench with me. "So, not that I'm not happy to see you or anything, but why did you call me here?"
   I smiled and returned my eyes to the sky. "I had my last vision."
   "Last?"
   "Yes, the same voice which had told me I was a protector told me last night of my final mission." I brought my gaze down to my side, looking calmly into Ai's eyes as I revealed to her the news. She watched me, waiting, fearing whatever it was that I would say next. "My mother is pregnant."
   Ai blinked. "What?"
   I smiled. "It's a boy."
   Her eyebrows creased. "Um...Congratulations?"
   "He is going to have thick brown hair and emerald green eyes. His smile, no matter how old he gets, will always keep its childish charm. His laugh will always remain light-hearted. He may not always be the most perceptive, but he will have a good head on his shoulders. He will be sweet, loving, and will cherish his love with all the care in the world. He will be loyal, strong, and will always do what he needs to do for those he cares about. And his name is going to be-"
   "Nolan," Ai whispered. As I spoke, her eyes had become watery and when she uttered his name, a tear broke out and rolled down her cheek. I nodded.
   "Nolan is going to be reborn as my baby brother."

~The Aftermath, Part 3~

   I woke in the morning to the feeling of warm sunlight shining on me through the windows. My entire being felt somehow lighter, like I wasn't always dragging my feet, weighed down by bricks on my shoulders. Weighed down by my sins. Instead, I was lifted by my good deeds. As if I was a feather, walking felt like floating, running felt like flying, everything just felt light, free, good. Better.
   I never would have known what Hell really was if I was not given Heaven to compare. Having woken up there immediately after dying, I never realized that I was dragged down by my wrongs, given extra weight to bear every minute of being there. It just seemed normal. But here in Heaven, one's sins are forgiven, dropped off, gone, and they are free to spread their wings. Here I am free.
   I still couldn't go ten minutes without remembering Kris though. I remembered the way his eyes were filled with betrayal as he died in my arms, the way his manipulative eyes had used me, the way he had become heartless upon arrival in Hell, the way that darkness was smaller but always visible in his life, the way he used to smile when he was alive, the way he was a carefree teenager living for the moment, the way he used to caress my face and smile at me like no one else existed, the way he had made me fall in love from day one, the way he had held his hand out to me that fateful day.
   I still remembered every moment clearly, could live it all out right here right now.
   Kris had happened upon a girl he had seen at school before, but never had conversed with. She was a year younger than he, a freshman at his school, who hung out with a completely different crowd. Their paths didn't really cross often. But that didn't mean he didn't see her. How could he not? When her hair so brightly resembled cotton candy.
   Most people found her hair obnoxious, told her to dye it a different color, but he liked it. He knew what it meant to her. He knew it meant she had control over her own life. She made her decisions, not her parents, not society, and most certainly not those kids at school. Her hair, her head, her mind, it all belonged to her and no one else. He understood. That's why he dyed his hair black.
   But here she was, knees scraped, long white socks from her uniform covered in dirt, long pink hair in her face, trying to pick up her books from the ground. And there he was, walking home with his best friend, merely passing by.
   He could have just passed by.
   But he didn't. He stopped while his friend, never one to notice his surroundings, continued on for a few steps. Realizing the empty space beside him, Nolan turned and asked, "Kris?"
   But Kris didn't hear him. He was kneeling down, beside the girl with the pink hair, picking up some of her books, rather uncharacteristic of him. Her see-through eyes found it difficult to see through him, getting caught in the deep sea of blue that fixed its gaze on her. With a simple smile he stood with her books in his arm and held out his hand to help her up.
   "Hey," he had said. "I'm Kris."
   "I'm Daisy," I whispered, returning to the present. Kris hadn't always been evil, at least not with me. As he reached his lowest place, he turned to manipulating me as he did everyone else, but I still had no doubt his love for me was genuine. If nothing else was real, that was.
   If nothing else, at least I could remember the goodness and purity in his love. That gave me the strength to get up and begin my new afterlife in Heaven. That gave me the will to continue.

~The Aftermath, Part 2~

   Ai. A voice appeared out of nowhere as I slept. Like a whisper in my ear, except it wasn't in my ear, it was in my head. Ai! I groaned and rolled over in bed, not wanting to deal with whatever it was. I outstretched my hand, feeling around for Nolan laying beside me.
   Then I opened my eyes.
   And immediately closed them again, tears welling up as the brick landed on my chest again. He isn't here.
   AI!
   "What!?" I yelled, clenching my eyes shut, trying to push all the bad feelings away.
   That was when the whisper in my head became a recognizable voice.
   I need to talk to you, come see me.
   Liliana. The only one left alive. The only one left unharmed in all of this.
   Well, I suppose that's not true. Her two best friends are both dead, both returned to their spots on the metaphorical thrones in Heaven. Even if she knows their souls are safely back in Heaven, she's probably mourning the loss of their human lives along with everyone else they knew on Earth. She's been left alone there, without friends to survive the rest of high school with.
   Wow, I had never really thought about how this might affect her. And now she needs to talk to me. Could it possibly be just that she needs someone to talk to? No, I feel she would have asked Adri if that were the case. Why me? What's going on?

~The Aftermath, Part 1~

   'Your job has been fulfilled, protector. You did well.'
   But I didn't do anything. I allowed her to be killed, I didn't protect her at all. Even seeing it coming, I couldn't stop it. I couldn't do anything. These abilities you gave me went to waste. I failed.
   'No. You take the title of protector too literally. You never could have protected her human life, that was destined to end. But you protected her heart, protected her from breaking under pressure. You were given your abilities so that you might become involved in the situation, so that everything was not kept from you. You were able to be there as a confidant to Adriana, trusted adviser and trusted friend. You were there to protect her sanity, her well-being, and her heart. You did well.'
   What happens now?
   'Now you must fulfill one last mission.'
   What is it?

   My wake was sudden, but calm. My head didn't pop off the pillow and I wasn't in a cold sweat. My heart beat slightly faster than normal, but my breathing came fine and my body didn't shake at all. This vision didn't scare me. No, this brought a smile to my face.

~Chapter 42~

   "Whoa, there are way too many crying people in here." Ladies and gentlemen, Miranda has arrived. Yes, yes, I know, no one really knows much of me. Here's my little bio: I'm sarcastic, rude, and not afraid to tell you the truth, but I do it all in a cute, lovable way. Like a dog or something. I died when I was 76 years old, but when our soul is reborn in Heaven we're reborn in our optimum age, soooooooo I get to be 19 again! Whoo! Anyway, back to the seriousness. I'm sure you're dying to hear what happens next. Haha, dying. Get it? Ha...okay, I get it, I'm not funny. Gosh, tough crowd.

   The dirty look I got from Adriana in that moment mirrored the dirty look I was getting from Caleb beside me in the door way. Ai and Bubblegum Head, though, were too busy crying. Oh jeez, that's a lot of blood. Oh jeez...that's Nolan.

   I sighed and softly placed my hand on Ai's shoulder. She jumped from the human contact- or angel contact?- obviously having forgotten that the world was still going on around her. Her head snapped up at me, eyes wide in distraught, rivers rushing down her face. She looked at me for only a second, and then her attention returned to her dead boyfriend. Or undead? He was already dead right? So now that he died as a dead guy, what does that make him?

   "Alive," I whispered as it dawned on me. Caleb, who was now helping up Adriana on the other side of the room, looked up at me in confusion. Adriana on the other hand, was already nodding. "Nolan is alive now." Ai sniffed and wiped her eyes, though more tears only appeared soon after. "You'll see him again." Ai looked up at me and tried to give me a smile, but it was only a crumpled mockery of one. She wasn't ready to smile again yet. And how could she be? Her love just undied.

   "Daisy on the other hand..." Adriana whispered. Daisy! Right! That's her name! The girl was still crying on the devil, new white wings folded down behind her.

   "It's okay," she whispered. She picked her head up to face Adriana, and despite the tears still escaping her eyes, she kept a strong composure as she spoke. "I loved Kris, and that made me blind. He played me the same way he played Caleb, with carefully woven lies and misleading information. But when he pushed you off that fountain, Queen Adriana, it was like putting on a brand new pair of glasses. The man I loved long ago died, and the tyrant of Hell replaced him." Daisy took a deep breath to prepare herself for the next statement, but it wasn't enough. Her voice still cracked when she said it. "Kris needed to die." She looked down at him again as a fresh wave of tears crashed on shore.

   Using Caleb's shoulder, Adriana made her way to Daisy and knelt in front of her. She placed her hand on Daisy's shoulder and looked her square in the eye. "Daisy, I can not thank you enough for this sacrifice you have made. You have not only saved my life, but the lives of a million angels as well. Truly, thank you." Adriana respectfully bowed her head and Daisy nodded in return, though the small smile on her lips came no where near her eyes.

   "I hate to ruin the beautiful moment and all," I interjected, "but Adriana, you're kind of dying."

   Adriana, who had been gripping her side this entire time, replied with, "This? Oh please, I've survived worse."

   "Yeah, yeah," Caleb said. He swept her legs up in an effortless motion and began to make his way toward the door. "You still need to get fixed up." As Caleb walked out of the awakening room, he turned to me and said, "we should leave them alone for a while. Let them mourn."
   So we walked away. Away from the room of bloodshed, death, and awakening. Away from the place where the final blood was spilled, ending this long-fought war with one short-fought battle.

~Chapter 41~

   The moment must have only lasted a few seconds, but it felt like hours. With my eyes closed I waited. And waited. And waited. But nothing came.
   Then I opened my eyes just in time to see Kris fall.
   There was a dagger in his heart and the arms which had been used to plunge it there were still wrapped around his shoulders. In his last few moments of life he collapsed back into her arms and she cradled him as he laid down on her lap. Tears were falling from her eyes and a look of pure confusion was in his.
   "Dai...sy...?" He whispered.
   "I'm sorry, Kris," she whimpered in a trembling voice. She brushed the hair off his forehead with a shaking hand. "I couldn't let you... It's not right." Her black wings were still folded down behind her from her journey here, but I saw a shimmer in the roots stemming from her back.
   Kris opened his mouth as though he were going to say something else, but his breath was taken first. Daisy hugged his head as she cried, rocking back and forth, and she kissed the top of his black hair. "I love you, Kris... I'm so sorry..."
   It was then that the shimmering I saw spread slowly from her roots. A white glow stemmed from feather to feather, eventually changing her demon wings into those of an angel.

~Chapter 40~

   Yes, this is most definitely the infamous Kris. His fighting skills are impeccable. He moves swiftly and cunningly, hitting exactly where he wants. Exactly where I would break down- if, that is, if I was any other.

   But every strike I counter, every hit I block. And in his anger, his technique isn't at it's best. He's rash and he's throwing too much of his strength in. If I can just hold out, he'll wear down. If.

   As Kris lunged at me again and again I continued to dodge and block. That is, until the earth shattering scream interrupted everything.

   Her voice was completely uncontrolled, ripping through the air in one long agonizing breath as it screamed, "NOLAN!!!!!!!" I quickly spun around to see Ai enter the awakening room, oblivious to everything around her except the now lifeless Nolan on the ground in a pool of blood. Tears streaked her face as she fell on her knees beside him, shaking him, screaming for him to come back.

   Kris chose that moment to strike. Having been distracted, I wasn't able to block him in time and he landed a rather deep slice in my side. I doubled over in pain and he easily knocked the sword out of my hand.

   "Now, Queen Adriana, it's time for you to leave." I tried to move myself back away from him, but with a simple step the gap between us was closed again. Kris raised his sword and I closed my eyes, waiting for the blade to come.

~Chapter 39~

   "You damn angels and your love," spat Kris as he approached me with the freshly bloodied knife. Nolan lay drowning in his own blood on the ground. I had begun pushing myself back from the demon but I knew a wall would hit my back soon. "I had the perfect plan. Kill Caleb in hate, turning him into a demon. Get him to kill you in hate, turning you into a demon as well. Then kill you both in your demon forms. You know what happens to demons when they die? They're gone. Forever. Done. Bye Bye." My back pressed against the wall and he lunged at me. I rolled to the side, causing him to just barely miss my neck with his hand, and I stood up, getting behind him. "The dear King and Queen of Heaven would have finally been out of the picture for me to have my success. But no! You have to go and have your light, pure, beautiful," he spoke the words as if he were sick, "love." Then he laughed as he took his eyes off me. Nolan chose that moment to kick my foot. "Love. Love! What a ridiculous notion to base an entire empire off of! Love! Ha!" I looked down at Nolan. Though he was choking and struggling and had already resigned to death, he managed to indicate to me the sword which was in hooked in his belt. Unfortunately, Kris looked back to me at that moment. "But love isn't going to save you this time. Perhaps I will have to wait yet another 14 years to do it, but I swear I will. I will taint your seemingly impenetrable heart, Adriana, and kill you the moment I do it. That darkness which was festering in you in that moment will bring you to Hell, not Heaven. And as you awaken, a demon, not an angel, I will end you once and for all." He approached me slowly, dagger raised and pointing to me, eyes wild.
   "You are mad," I whispered. This angered him and he screamed as he lunged at me once again, this time knife first. I ducked down and, as the force of his momentum took him past me, and grabbed the sword from Nolan, spinning around to face the recovering Kris. As I pushed him back, he threw the knife to the ground and unsheathed his full length sword, the same one which had once killed me.
   "Your dear Caleb isn't here to beg for your life this time, Adriana. I must admit I am a little excited. I have never fought against you," he said as he raised his sword.
   "I think you'll find that while my husband was good, I am great," I replied with a smirk.
   Kris raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?"
   "Oh yes. Even he knows my sword fighting skills far surpass his."
   "Well then," Kris said, "show me."

~Chapter 38~

   "Adriana?"

   I looked at the boy sitting next to me. He was worried and tentative. "Nolan." I looked around me. I was in the Awakening Room. It's where everyone wakes up...

   ...in Heaven.

   "I died."

   He nodded. "I had a feeling this might happen."

   "Kris killed me."

   He nodded once again.

   "Caleb?" I was surprised to find that the strength I had once displayed as Queen had all rushed back into me upon waking in Heaven once again.

   "I don't-" He never finished that sentence. How could he? With blood gargling every word he tried to say. With a knife having slit his throat.

~Chapter 37~

   A darkness surrounded me. It was deep, thick, and reminded me of a time I was six and almost drowned in the ocean. It didn't matter how I struggled and twisted, I just couldn't find up, couldn't find the surface, couldn't find air, breath, life.

   Then a brilliant light shined through everything. It was wonderful, but far, and I found myself trying to move toward it. As it got closer it lit up everything around me, making the wisps of darkness fry up much like a vampire would in the sun. It was warm, not hot, and bright, not blinding. It was beautiful. It was pure. It was good.

   Suddenly I was six again. That light was the lifeguard who had pulled me out of the rip current. Its warmth spread through me, slowly bringing feeling back. The lifeguard was breathing air into my lungs. I coughed up salt water, which burned, but the pain was what told me I was alive.

   I sprang straight up, sucking in a deep breath of air. It didn't hurt at all.

~Chapter 36~

   "No!!" My voice echoed Caleb's and a third and fourth echoed mine. I looked up to the sky to see Ai and a girl with dark hair flying down at high speed. Yes! She got my message! But...she's kind of late.
   Caleb jumped down after Adri, slick black wings blooming behind him. But as these wings spread, they changed. Feather by feather, a wave washed through them, a wave of brilliant light which fought away the darkness, leaving Caleb's wings a bright white which shined gold as the sun.
   I smiled.
   Caleb is an angel once again.
   And then my smile faded as I realized soon Adri would be as well. I failed to protect her. It was my single job in all of this, and I failed.
   Adri hit the one-foot-deep pool with a splash and a smack. She was dead within seconds.
   Caleb reached the ground right behind her and his wings folded down into his back. He picked up Adri's dead body and held it tight in his arms.
   "I'm so sorry Adriana, I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you." Tears fell from his eyes and I felt them forming in mine as well.
   Adriana is dead. My best friend is dead.

~Chapter 35~

   "He killed us!!"
   Those three words alone were enough to stop me, enough to make me drop my sword, to freeze, to actually think about what I was doing.
   Kris killed me! Not to protect me, but simply to completely destroy everything, to cause terror and wreck the lives of the angels. He killed me out of pure evil! Worse, he killed Adriana! He killed my queen, my love, my everything!
   Why am I trying to kill her?
   My love, my beautiful Adriana, why- how could I ever kill her!?
   When I paused, hope surged through her.
   And then came Kris.
   Before either of us even knew he was there, he was right at Adri's side. I hadn't even realized she was standing so close to the edge until Kris pushed her off of it.
   No...
   No!
   "No!! Adriana!" Without thinking, I ran and jumped off the cliff after her, not caring what happened to me, only wishing for one thing:
   To save my love.

~Chapter 34~

   I heard a sound behind me and remembered that that bastard was still here. I carefully laid Adriana down, then picked up my sword and stood to face the Devil.
   "You did this," I growled. He looked past me at Adri, then back at me.
   "Yes, yes I did."
   "You are going to pay."
   That wicked smile came to his lips as he said, "Once again, Heavenly King, make me pay."
   Next thing I knew I was right there, attacking him once again, putting everything I had into every single blow. But he was ducking and turning and dodging every attack perfectly. Finally I had him backed into a corner, but right as I lunged toward him, he...flew. He jumped, put his hand on my head, and two black feathered wings sprouted from his back. He did a sort of flip over my head, landing behind me and stabbing me with his sword before I could turn around. He plunged the blade so deep I saw the tip come out of my stomach. Then he ripped it right back out.
   I fell to the ground, and with me, fell Heaven.

~Chapter 33~

   He's a good fighter, way damn better than his demon followers. My attacks may be fast, but his are sneaky, cunning, like the sly fox.
   But the fox is no match for the wolf.
   I came at him repeatedly, and I was getting to him, he was breaking down.
   But he went for the one thing that would stop me. In a dodge from one of my attacks, he spun around, grabbing Adri in the process, and held his sword to her throat.
   I froze.
   "Now, what will the king do?"
   I put my sword on the ground. "Please, let her go."
   "No, Caleb-!" Kris covered her mouth.
   "Now, now, let the man speak."
   "I'll do what you want, kill me if you like, just please don't hurt her."
   Kris smiled. "You love this woman?"
   Adri's eyes were connected to mine, pleading for me to not do what he wanted. "Don't answer!" they shouted. My eyes returned with "I'm sorry."
   "I love her more than life itself." Kris narrowed his eyes. Then, he released her! Hope surged through me, and then completely disappeared when he doubled back and stabbed her in the stomach with the tip of his sword. As he stepped away I rushed to her.
   "Adri!!" She fell to the ground and I caught her by the shoulders.
   "Caleb," she said, "it hurts."
   "I know, I know it does Adri, but just... just stay strong. You're going to be perfectly fine." Strange, she was perfectly fine whereas I was shaking.
   She shook her head. "No, this is too deep. I'm going to die Caleb, you can't tell me otherwise." She spoke slow and her voice was so weak. She put her hand on my cheek and wiped away a tear. One fell from her own eye as well.
   I shook my head, "No. No, don't say that."
   "Shh..." she whispered. "Caleb, I'm going to die. But you and me, we're not done. We're going to be reborn, and I will find you." She took a shaky breath as more tears came from her eyes. "My soul will find yours and the very first time I lay eyes on you, I will know you are the one I'm meant for. You are the one for me. You are the one..." The smile on her lips faded and her body relaxed as her eyes stared off into the nothing behind me.
   "No," I whispered. "No, Adri no!" I held her tight and cried into her shoulder. "Adriana..."

~Chapter 32~

   "They're not stopping. They're killing anyone who stands in their way and they're headed straight for here."

   "How much time do we have?"

   "Not a lot," Miranda said as she rushed in. "Caleb, Adriana, you must get out of here, Heaven can not lose you."

   "We will go nowhere," Adriana said. She took my hand and we shared a look that said we were on the same page.

   "We will stay and fight," I said, "and if we do not win then we will die trying." Miranda nodded with a sad smile, then turned and ran out the door. Then Adriana turned to Ai.

   "Ai, go."

   "No." She stood firm.

   The door burst open and men with blood-stained swords and folded black wings on their backs rushed in. I immediately stood between them and the girls, defending them as the men advanced. But, of course, some got past me.

   "Ai, go!!" Adriana screamed. I heard her sword clash with another.

   "But-!"

   "No! You have to get out of here! Caleb and I will take care of them! You remember what I told you right!?"

   "Yeah, but-"

   "Ai!" I yelled. "Get out of here!!"

   Ai backed out towards the door. "I'll save you," she yelled, "both of you! I promise!"

   And then she was gone and Adriana and I were left to fight the demons. Since we died, we had both learned sword fighting skills as a fun pastime in the afterlife, and we'd gotten quite good at it. As the minutes went by, more and more demons fell around us. Just the two of us took on so many, as they kept coming and coming in waves at a time. But we held our ground, and we fought. Finally, there was not another wave. We looked at each other, completely exhausted, drenched in sweat, and covered in small drops of blood. I noticed some blood on Adri's forehead was her own.

   "You're hurt," I said. I tore off a strip of my shirt and wiped off the blood.

   "I am?" There was actually quite a bit of blood rushing out.

   "Yeah, it's a pretty bad gash. You're going to need stitches." I wrapped the strip of cloth around her head, covering the gash and soaking up the blood.

   "I hadn't even noticed."

   "Aw, did the delicate princess get hurt?" We both looked to the doorway to see a man leaning against it. He was about our age, tall, muscular, with short black hair and dark eyes.

   I turned to address him and pushed Adri behind me. "She's not a princess, she's a queen. May I assume you are to blame for all this death and destruction?"

   The man raised his eyebrows as he looked around the room. "All this death was caused by you two, not me." He took a few steps into the room. "My name's Kris, and I've taken control of Hell. Yes, I began the war. I encouraged the demons to attack.
   "You will pay for what you have done," I said as I once again weilded my sword. He slowly, deliberately took out one as well.
   Then, with an evil smirk on his face he said, "Make me pay."

~Chapter 31~

   I looked up at her. Her eyes were red, not unlike my own, and they showed an emotion I had seen on her face before. It was one of hope, but one that remained frightened. She wore it every time we made up after a fight.
   Sorry Adriana, we're not making up this time.
   "Adriana." She stood and didn't hesitate to step into the knee-deep water to walk over to me.
   "Why are you here?" She stood just barely out of my reach, afraid to approach me further.
   "Why are you?"
   "Because this is where I come when I'm frustrated."
   I nodded. "Likewise."
   "Why are you frustrated?" She looked genuinely worried. What a load of crap.
   "Isn't exactly easy to find out someone you love hates you." I looked away from her and decided to focus on the sky over the edge of the waterfall instead. She turned to look that way as well.
   "I know exactly how that feels," she said as if she had tasted something bitter.
   "Do you Adriana?" I asked, my anger reflecting in my voice. I once again turned and looked at her.
   "Yes, of course I do Caleb, or do you not remember you leaving me?"
   "I remember you turning your back on me when I needed you, whereas I would have given anything, anything at all, to stay by your side because I loved you so much."
   "Turning my back on you!? I did no such thing! You left me Caleb, you left me for...for them! For God's sake Caleb how could you do that!? How could you leave with the demons!?"
   "They have done nothing wrong! They have been forced to watch as corruption took over Heaven and were only trying to protect it!"
   She paused and looked more frustrated than ever, as if trying to wrap her mind around something. "What sort of crap have they been feeding you!? Corruption!? Caleb, corruption isn't possible! It's Heaven for crying out loud, the only souls that end up there are the good ones! You were the freaking King are you saying you were corrupt!?"
   "No!" We were both silent for a minute.
   "You're saying I was corrupt." It was a statement, not a question. And the look in her eyes was that of complete, total, betrayal.
   "Yes. And I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen again." Her eyebrows creased, and then widened when she saw the sword I pulled out.
   "No." She shook her head. "No, no, Caleb, no." Tears began to fall from her eyes. I lunged at her and she ducked out of the way. "Caleb, stop!" I lunged at her again and she ran around to the other side of me. "I was never corrupt! We were happy and at peace, as we had been for so long, until Kris took control in Hell!  Do you not remember!? He one day attacked without warning, he started the war!" I turned and lashed out at her, faster this time. I scratched her arm but she still managed to dodge my attack. "Caleb! He killed us!!"
   And then I froze.
   He killed us.
   Those three words struck me like lightning as they unlocked a memory that had been buried deep in my mind.

~Chapter 30~

   How can Liliana say that!? Caleb would never try to kill me! Even if they've twisted him into a demon that's impossible! I love him, I always have and I always will and I know he loves me too! Our love was never a lie not in this lifetime and certainly not in the last, so how could Caleb EVER try to kill me!? He couldn't! He wouldn't. That's not possible.

   In my frustration I'd ran to the town park where Caleb and I had our first date, in this lifetime that is. We hadn't even planned it. Caleb had suddenly showed up at my house with a white lily, wearing a light grey v-neck t-shirt and faded jeans. He took my hand without asking and we walked across town to the park. Then, when we were sitting on the edge of the fountain, my flower fell in the water. I jumped in to go get it, because I'm dumb like that, and Caleb came in after me. When I caught it we were in the middle of the pool, standing kind of close to the waterfall it led into. I picked up the flower and then stood up straight to find Caleb standing less than a foot away, smiling down at me. I asked what? And he said, "Miss Adriana, you are the silliest girl I have ever met." Then he paused as I looked away. "And the most beautiful." And then I looked back up at him. And he didn't put his hand on my cheek, nor on my shoulder, nor anywhere. He didn't touch me. He just bent down and kissed me. Soft and sweet and beautiful and perfect and just like a first kiss even though it technically wasn't.

   Then we of course got in trouble for being in the pool and were kicked out, but it was still the best day I'd ever had.

   That was just a year ago. Look at how far we've come.

   I sat in the very place we were sitting when the lily fell in the water. The sun was starting to set. I would need to get home soon. But my feet were glued down, my legs wouldn't move. I didn't want to leave this place, I didn't want to go home and pretend everything was perfectly fine. Not again. Not tonight. I just wanted to sit here in the park and cry. No one was here anyway, it was getting late, who comes to the park at this time? Only depressed girls.

   I heard a noise behind me in the water. I turned to look to see what it was and I saw...

   "Caleb."

~Chapter 29~

   Adriana is crying again. But this time it's different. These tears are out of frustration, not sadness. She's screaming and throwing things around her room.
   "Why Caleb, why!?" Why? Why what? "Why would you turn on me!? How!?" Me!? She  turned on me! "I loved you more than anything and you left me! You turned and walked away with HIM! Why!? How could you!? How could you betray me like that!?" I never betrayed anyone! I was betrayed!
   "I HATE YOU!!!"

   "ADRI!!" I sprang up from my bed and then immediately punched the wall next to me, where there was already a dent forming. Damn it!! Another dream! Why!? Why would she show me a dream of her saying she hates me!?
   I was suddenly dizzy and laid back down. Wooziness from sleep, I told myself. It mucks up the mind and makes it unclear. It always does.
   I hate you.
   Adri hates me.
   I...
   Adri, I...
   I sighed.
   I have no idea.
   Why!?
   A wave of anger washed through me. I left because you betrayed me Adri! I never betrayed you, it was you all along!! And now YOU hate ME!?
   No.
   That's not how this kind of thing works.
   You don't have the right to hate me, Adri. That's for me to do.
   If you hate me so much then why are you still contacting me!? Just stop it!
   Just stop it.
   Stop contacting me.
   Stop being connected to me.
   Stop.