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MAGGIE'S POV

I've never been able to lucid dream.

Tonight is my first time doing so, and I suspect my newfound powers are to blame. Ever since I struck Laudon for the first time all those weeks ago, I've been changing gradually. And in the past twenty-four hours, my vision and hearing have sharpened. At certain times, I could tell whether it was my parents or my brother coming to see me before they even knocked on my bedroom door.

Then there's what's happening now with this eerie, hyper-realistic dream.

It feels like I'm in a movie. One where I'm apparently dead and am on my way to meet whoever my maker is because around me is nothing but big, fluffy, white clouds. The sky is clouds. The ground is clouds. Everywhere I look, it's nothing but clouds.

I think I'm alone here. That ought to scare me but it doesn't. I don't really feel much of anything, not until I see it. There is something starting to form in the distance, something I have to reach. I don't know what it is yet, but my gut tells me that I need to keep walking until I reach it. So, I keep walking.

I walk for so long that I should be out of breath and ready to collapse. Neither happens. I sense nothing but the softness of the clouds beneath my bare feet. I pick up the pace and run the rest of the way. Getting closer and closer, a large cell finishes materializing right before my eyes. If there was a jail strictly for the affluent, it would look identical to what I see in front of me right now.

The single cell is about the size of a master bedroom, if said bedroom was part of a luxurious supernatural mansion. It's several meters high, the metal bars are bright gold and covered in faded black words that I can't decipher. The ceiling has angel artwork on it and the floor is made of marble, the color off-white with gold streaks. There is no furniture or bedding in the cell. Nothing but a tall woman curled up in the center. She has long dark hair and is dressed in a dingy white gown that stops at her ankles, signaling she's been here for a while.

This can't be her home, I think to myself. This must be her prison.

The massive lock on the cell door confirms that. I touch it and immediately get shocked. I hiss from the pain and quickly pull my hand back. The commotion stirs the woman awake. She sits up slowly, pushing her frazzled dark hair out of her face, then she stares at me. Gold eyes locked on mine. Her beauty renders me speechless.

When she stands to walk towards me, her height nearing eight feet, metal handcuffs and chains that weren't there five seconds ago suddenly appear around her thin pale wrists and ankles.

My heart aches for the poor woman. How long has she been here? Who put her here? What crime did she commit that warranted her to be punished like this? Looks can be deceiving, but so far, I'm not picking up any bad vibes from her. She can't possibly be dangerous enough to where she needs to be locked down inside of a locked cage.

"Who did this—"

Quiet, child. The woman raises a finger to her dry lips, speaking to me telepathically. If they sense your presence and find you, they will kill you.

My legs almost give out. Is she serious right now? Who are they? Is my life truly at risk here? If I die, will I also die in the real world? Fuck. Maybe this isn't a dream. Maybe this is something else entirely.

I don't understand what's happening. Why am I here? Who are you?

I am unsure why you are here. For hours, I have been trying to connect with my son, but instead, I have reached you. This is a pleasant surprise considering you are the reason why I was able to connect with my son in the first place. For that, I thank you, Maggie Brumfield.

How do you know my name?

I know many things.

That's rather cryptic... Fine, then. Tell me who is your son?

The Prince of Hell.

Laudon?! My eyes widen as I begin to see the resemblance. My Laudon is your son?

Yes, your Laudon. She smiles at that. After I was taken from him, I have tried to connect with him weekly, but I could never get through. Then you happened, and finally, I was able to meet with him through fleeting visions. Although our connection remains weak, I managed to catch a glimpse of his future. It does not look good.

I'm afraid to ask what you mean by that...

Laudon is running out of time. Without you by his side, he will die. You must help him until the very end. He will need you and your power...

My power comes and goes! I don't know how to master it. Laudon couldn't even figure out what I am. My blood kills demons just like angel blood, but the color is off. He wasn't sure if I'm a halfbreed or something that's never been here before. Evidently, Hell's library doesn't have any books on my kind.

That is because all writings related to God and his sister reside here in Heaven.

Here in...

I suddenly look at the bracelet that Laudon gave me. It's glowing brightly, signaling that I'm in the presence of someone pure. I look back at the woman with a stupefied look on my face.

So you're saying that we're in... and you're a...?

Yes. I am—was—an angel.

Forgive me if I'm overstepping, but where are your wings?

Because of who I fell in love with, my wings were removed and I was sent here as punishment. This place is Heaven's version of Hell. Angels who go against God's word are sent here. Most are forced to stay indefinitely, eventually succumbing to insanity unless God decides they have suffered enough and He puts them out of their misery. Others whose sins are unforgivable are sent directly to The Void.

This isn't The Void, so I take it you're here indefinitely?

Correct. I have tried to escape and have been punished for trying many times. My soulmate, Lucifer, we formed a bond that could only be broken by death. After God discovered that we were together, he performed a dangerous, ancient spell that successfully severed our bond. I have been unable to connect with Lucifer after that. I know not if he believes that I am dead or still alive. And I know not of what Lucifer told our son regarding my absence in his life, but I hope Laudon knows that I love him. In case he does not, will you tell him for me? When I am able to connect to him, we can never hear each other.

It's a struggle to keep from crying. She has no clue that Lucifer, her soulmate, essentially lied and threw her under the bus by forcing Laudon to believe that his mother had abandoned him when in reality, she's been locked up here withering away.

I will tell Laudon what you said. You can count on me.

Bless you, child. There is more that I wish to discuss with you, more to tell you about who it is that you are, but I fear we do not have much time left. This day will be over soon, and I am unsure when we can meet again.

We have to figure out a way! I have so many questions...

God rests only on Sunday. That is when I can safely communicate to those outside of Heaven. I have been here for years and have used power that cannot be replenished; I am very weak, soon to be immotile. I used what little power I had left to reach out to Laudon, to warn him about...

The air around us goes cold, shivering cold. The clouds darken in color and my vision starts to blur. I assume our connection is about to come to an end. Looking desperate, the woman reaches through the gold bars and grabs me by the wrists.

You are stronger than you think, Maggie. There may be another way for me to help you.

A warm, yellow light surrounds both of us. Her eyes begin to glow, then images and memories that don't belong to me begin to pour into my brain at a lightning speed, like the transferring of data.

Seconds later, everything goes black.

When my eyes open again, I'm staring at my bedroom ceiling. I get up and race to the bathroom to throw some cold water on my face. That's when I see it. Bloody, red burn marks on my wrists. Red mixed with silver. I'm changing again. My hands shake as I watch the wounds heal themselves.

I look back in the mirror and see a new version of Maggie Brumfield. A version that, according to the memories gifted to me from Laudon's mother, existed many centuries ago. A version who was loved and revered by her creations. A version who her opposers labeled as a savage queen.

. . .