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MAGGIE'S POV

Laudon's mother not only knows how her son will die, but she also knows who his killer will be.

This is most definitely troubling news.

I remember last time you had said something about Laudon being in danger, but we were cut off before you could give me more information.

To start, you should know that Laudon is only alive today because God spared his life, having chosen to punish Lucifer and I for the sin that we took part in.

The sin of you two being together?

Correct. Over the years, as the other deities fell, God continued to pass many laws, one that explicitly prohibited the angel and demon race from coupling. Though, there was a loophole he had not considered. When it comes to fate and destiny, laws mean nothing. True love exists in this universe, and when you find your soulmate, no law will keep you from being together.

Wow... I never would have guessed that the whole soulmate thing is actually legit.

It is. Lucifer and I fell in love at first sight, and it mattered not that he was of the demon race, and I was an angel. Everyone in this universe has a perfect match. And despite the power that God holds, he cannot manipulate the fate of soulmates.

I guess my biggest question now is how did you know to risk it all for Lucifer? How does it feel when you first meet your soulmate?

It is hard to put into words, but when Lucifer and I first met on Edreial, I felt an immediate pull. An intense desire to be near him at all times. Suddenly, the laws meant nothing. I cared for and wanted only Lucifer. After we got together, for our own safety, we kept our relationship a secret and met only at night. When I later discovered I was pregnant, Lucifer was so thrilled.

But that celebration didn't last long...

No, it did not.

I know Laudon grew up without you, which means God found out about you and Lucifer. You were taken away before you could properly raise Laudon, right?

Yes. After my relationship with Lucifer had been exposed, a bloody battle ensued. Lucifer and I had been caught off guard on Edreial and were outnumbered by angels. We had broken the law and God had every right to punish us. Even still, I begged him to spare my Laudon. By his grace, he listened.

That's interesting.

Only later did I find out there was a catch.

Ah, figured.

As for Lucifer and I, God broke our bond before forcing me back to Heaven. I can only imagine what Lucifer assumes has happened to me. Instead of paying for my sins with my death, I was locked in this cage to dwell on them indefinitely. I cannot spend the rest of my days with my soulmate, and I will never be able to be a mother to my son. That, out of everything else, is what hurts the most.

I am so sorry that you had to go through all of that. You truly deserved better.

That is what I choose to believe, though I tell you all of this for a reason.

I'm listening.

When I returned to Heaven a sinner, many turned their backs on me. I have few friends left, and I can count on one hand how many angels there are that I can trust. Borion, a lifelong companion who never judged me, sneaks in here to visit me once a year. During his latest visit, he informed me that some angels have secretly been planning a coup to dethrone God and take over Heaven.

What in the world would make them do such a reckless thing like that when God is... well, God?

This all comes after the startling news that was leaked and has since caused quite the ruckus in Heaven. Borion has a sister that is deemed one of God's favorites. God only converses with a few angels, and she is one of them. Borion told me what he learned from his sister, information that he received only because she had been so distraught upon hearing it that talking with others seemed to be the one thing to help console her.

What kind of information did he receive that would make the angels want to turn on their creator?

It is important to know that when God created my kind, he meant for us to be perfect. Unlike his toy humans, angels do not have free will. We were designed to abide by God's word and nothing else. Though, occasionally, there have been a few who strayed from the path we were meant to walk, such as myself. Borion's sister overheard God speaking about making alterations to a curse; one he placed on the angels at the time of our creation to aid in keeping us obedient. The curse is triggered from the moment we first sin.

And you never knew about this?

No. I knew nothing until after Borion performed a reading of my soul, revealing the curse's presence and how it specifically affected me.

This doesn't make any sense. Why would God curse your kind, not tell you why, and then punish you by enacting that curse as a... what, a 'this is what happens when you don't follow the rules' type of thing?

Something like that. Angels were told from the beginning that there are worse punishments than death, and they await all of us if we choose to disobey God and his word.

I suppose that's a cryptic enough message to make someone not want to mess up.

Yes, but a curse, however, was something that no one had anticipated.

How does it work?

The curse is tailored to the sin an angel commits. My sin involved love. I fell in love with the wrong man; therefore, my lineage has been condemned to death upon meeting their soulmate. If ever I am to be freed from this place and have more children... five hundred days after my child meets their soulmate, they will be marked for death and killed. A punishment and constant reminder of the sin that I, their mother, committed.

That is so fucking sick!

This twisted cycle will go on and on until I die or stop having children entirely.

I can't even... How could God do such a thing? It's almost as if this is some kind of game for him... repeatedly killing your offspring as punishment for you falling in love with someone that he didn't like.

And this is why I fear for Laudon's safety. My son has already found his soulmate. I felt it through our last connection that another being has imprinted on his soul, though I know not their identity. When Lucifer or God discovers this, they will surely kill him.

No! That can't be right. God, I understand, but Lucifer wouldn't actually kill his own son... would he?

Lucifer, like many, is far from perfect. He has his faults and, at times, can be as ruthless as God. When he discovers Laudon has been cursed, a curse that Lucifer will not be able to break, if only to spare our son from getting struck down by their enemy, Lucifer will not hesitate to kill Laudon first.

This can't be happening...

I told you previously that I caught a glimpse of Laudon's future. Before his five hundred days are up, he will face a test that will either make him stronger or send him to an early grave. By his side aiding him along the way, I saw a powerful woman. I believe that woman is you, Maggie Brumfield. I have no way to confirm, but it is no accident that your paths have entwined. My son needs you—

The air suddenly drops in temperature and the clouds darken in color, signaling our connection is about to end. I reach through the cell bars and grab hold of her hands. They're warm and thrumming with an energy that almost makes me lightheaded.

Please tell me your name! In case Laudon doesn't know already, I'm sure he'll want to know it...

My name is Neira, and you must warn Laudon of everything that I have told you. Lucifer is coming back and—

Our connection abruptly ends, and within the blink of an eye, I'm back in my bedroom.

My head is throbbing, and my eyes are tearing up. I slowly sit up in bed, focusing my gaze forward. I nearly piss myself upon seeing Laudon standing at the foot of the bed. Impulsively, I get up and throw myself at him. He hugs me back, and I hate how good he feels around me. I'm terrified that what Neira had implied about us might actually be true.

"There's so much that I have to tell you..."

Laudon says nothing right away, only pulls back to examine my face. He caresses my cheek with one hand, wiping away my tears while staring down at me with furrowed brows.

"Do you often have nightmares?" he asks softly. "How long has this been happening, and was it before or after we met?"

"What? N-No... I wasn't having a..." I pause, realizing just how close we are. I panic and push him away, crossing my arms over my chest. "Why are you even here? Because you have a lot of nerve to show your face after doing what you did to Krista. How could you send Zul to come here—"

"I haven't sent Zul anywhere, and especially not here to visit you," Laudon cuts me off, and for a split second, it looked like his eyes had flashed red. "Has he done something? Has he harmed you in any way? If he..."

"It wasn't me," I swiftly interject, noticing how his hands start trembling. Maybe he and Zul aren't as close as I had assumed? "It was my friend, Krista. He went after her the other day while threatening me about not taking my end of our deal seriously."

Laudon closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling deeply. "I apologize on his behalf. When we get to Hell, I will personally see to it that he is punished for acting without my permission."

"Wait! What do you mean by we..."

Laudon opens his eyes, face expressionless. "I require your assistance in Hell. There's something I need to do that I cannot do alone."

"Y-You're saying that you need my help?"

Without you by his side, he will die. You must help him until the very end...

"Yes, only you can help me," Laudon answers, distracting me from his mother's panicked words. "I know we have our differences, but will you come with me? I have no one else..."

"I'll go with you since I seem to have wrongfully blamed you for what happened with Krista," I say, burning with embarrassment. "But Laudon, there's something I need to discuss with you first. It's about your..."

"It can wait. What I need to do is much more important." Laudon grabs me by the hand while waving his other one at my bedroom door. It opens on its own, nothing but pitch black darkness waiting for us on the other side. "Let's go."

Without protest, I follow Laudon into the darkness.

. . .

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