Page 51 of Rise from the Flames

Riella

Lightengulfsme,settingmy body aglow, but it isn’t the flames of Hell. Adriel glowers at me, pushing me through a portal anchored to the mortal realm and not an access point to Hell. I don’t let go of him, using my strength to ensure we don’t separate. My feet touch solid ground, and I spin, flinging Adriel into a wall.

“Riella, fuck! Get him!” Damien’s sharp voice snags my attention away from my former superior, the distraction enough to make me lose my grip.

Adriel stabs his heavenly blade into my shoulder, burning me with the light that used to be my whole existence. Agony courses through me and my vision dims, the pain far more intense than anything I could ever compare it to.

“Adriel! You fucker!” Dagan materializes in my peripheral view, and I spot him standing beside Storm, trapped in a cage of flames.

What in Heaven? How did we get here? I was certain that I would land in Hell, taking Adriel with me. But now I am...

I don’t get a chance to process anything as the world spins, and Adriel charges me, flying to push me forward. We crash through a window, and glass rains across the dirty sidewalk outside of the abandoned warehouse.

“Do not fight me, Riella. We’re on the same side. This is your purpose, and you must listen to me. Lucifer needs to be imprisoned in Hell. His reign is over, and you must be the one to do it. I cannot jeopardize my heavenly light. Your sacrifice will be worth it.” Adriel grasps my chin, staring into my eyes.

His demeanor changes, the anger flowing through him turning into a soft plea.

“You betrayed me,” I say, my words shaking. “You should’ve prepared me. Instead, you didn’t give me the choice.”

“You wouldn’t have abandoned Heaven otherwise. And mortals need you. I need you.” Adriel lowers his voice, dimming the beautiful heavenly light I miss so desperately.

“You don’t know that.” I clench my fingers into fists, using my nails to bite my skin to help ease the pain radiating from the wound on my shoulder.

“I do, Riella. You were too lost in your grace to see what is important.” Adriel puts a foot of space between us, glancing around.

He’s wrong. I know he’s wrong. Something has changed in his eyes, and I know he’s still keeping up his act. Who knew I would believe Dagan now?

“You’d have continued to hide in the protective light of the Almighty. You would have just sat there and wasted your abilities until the End of Days. I have given you a purpose that will make your eternity. Your power will be forged from the fires of Hell, turning you into something humanity has been lacking for all of eternity. Now, open yourself up to me. I will give you a gift beyond your wildest dreams. Just accept your place beneath me. All you have to do is bow. Bow and this purgatory you found yourself in will be over. Those on your side will be free of this torture. You will defeat Lucifer, bringing a new order to the Universe.” Adriel smiles, the leer of his expression striking me to the core.

I grind my teeth, summoning hellfire in my palm, preparing to blast Adriel. He’s so caught up in his own power that he misses the fact that mine has grown.

“You’re right. The world does need a new order. I’m sorry, Adriel. I’m so, so sorry.” Lowering myself to my knee, I bow down before him, playing on his pride. He carries the same vicious sin as Lucifer, and it will be his undoing.

Adriel focuses on me, missing the fiery light growing behind him. I bet Lucifer didn’t expect me to show up with his twin. It’s clear on his monstrous face as he flashes his fangs from feet away.

Adriel holds out his hand, reaching for my shoulder, but I don’t let him touch me. Jerking my hand up, I shoot fire at his chest, knocking him right into Lucifer. The two of them crash into each other, giving me the moment I need to escape them. Bending my knees, I flap my wings and launch into the air, heading back into the warehouse to my guys. Strange runes decorate the walls. Fire encircles Dagan and Storm. It also cuts me off from River and Damien. The four of them are no match for the power of Lucifer. Of Adriel. Because it’s in this moment I can see the truth. They are here because of me. I have led them to what could possibly be their end. And it shouldn’t be this way. None of us should be in this position to begin with, but it is my fate. This is my chance at redemption. This is my chance to get my heavenly light back. Things have never been clearer.

Stepping forward, I gather my hellfire and blast it at the circle, breaking it with my force. “Lucifer and Adriel are outside. We only have moments.” I turn to Dagan. “I need you to portal them out of here.”

“Like fucking hell am I going to allow you to be a martyr. I saw what you want to do, and you’re not doing this alone.” Storm pulls out his blade and swipes it across his palm. “We can use this trap against them.”

“He’s right. Everyone take a point. We’ll create a Hell portal. Right here.” River cuts his palm and follows his brother, mirroring his movements as they use drops of their blood to create a pentagram on the floor.

My heart races as Dagan coordinates everyone with me standing at the top point of the pentagram. He towers across from me, his eyes lighting with fire. Beside him and to my right, River bounces on his feet. Storm stands directly across from him, and on Dagan’s other side Damien flashes his demon form.

“My queen, you must do the honors.” Dagan dips his chin toward me, motioning toward the floor.

I swallow hard, my nerves getting the best of me. Unfurling my wings, I stretch them as I position my feet. Rubbing my hands together, I summon hellfire and blast it toward my point of the star. The room rumbles and quakes, but I don’t stop. I continue to fill the pentagram until it lights aglow.

Storm and River chant alongside Damien and Dagan, the spell cracking open the mortal realm to break Hell free. Voices ring through the air, the souls of the damned calling for mercy, and I close my eyes and concentrate.

“Riella, you must bring them here. We will maintain the portal.” Damien remains in his demonic form, his power joining mine.

A part of me wishes I didn’t have to leave them. But I know this must be done. The Almighty chose me for this task, putting me on trial to prove my strength and loyalty to humanity. I will not let Heaven down. I will not allow myself to remain forsaken.

“You can do this, my queen. You’re more powerful than you imagine. You have managed to withstand Hell. You resist it despite how hard it wants you. How much I want you. Don’t be afraid of embracing what has forged you into the strongest woman I have ever met. Use that. Lucifer and Adriel underestimate you.” Dagan shoots more fire at the pentagram, combining his and Damien’s together, taking control of the portal to free me.

“I hate fucking agreeing with demons, but they’re right. Bring those assholes here. We’ll destroy them. They will suffer for what they have done to not only the hunters and you, but to all of us and humanity. You will bring justice. I have faith in you.” River offers me a waning smile.

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