Gabriël recoiled when the creature before him drew closer. Whatever or whoever it was, it certainly wasn't Joan of Arc. It couldn't be.

"Stay back," he warned.

"Gabriël, it's me," it spoke.

"Sure it is. And I'm the risen Christ."

"Archangels really shouldn't blaspheme."

"I said stay back!"

The woman bearing Joan's face halted before him. 

"When you came to me at Resia, I didn't want to believe it was you either," she spoke calmly. "You told me things only someone who truly knows me would say."

She smiled, and Gabriël felt a pang in his heart. 

"I first heard your voice when I was sixteen. It was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard, and I had been hearing Michael, Marina, and Cate for almost three years by then. My first question to you was if you would be my friend. You answered you could be more to me if that was what I wanted. I told you that a friend was all I needed."

She raised her hand. Gabriël stiffened when her fingers touched his face.

"Yours was the first face I saw when I woke up in the Vale," she continued. "You held me close, and your ocean blue eyes reassured me I was safe. I immediately knew I was because I was with you."

Her fingers moved to his lips.

"Our first kiss was in the Hospitium, after the attack at the Gates. I thought I'd lost you. Then you opened your eyes, and you pulled me close. I was so scared of what might happen, so I tried to stay away... but I couldn't."

Their eyes met.

"I know every part of your body, Gabriël. I know it drives you crazy when I touch you on your shoulder blades where your wings are, just like it drives me crazy when I feel you move inside me. The moment we were finally together was the happiest of my entire existence. It was the moment I realised you had become more to me than I ever hoped you'd be. I realised... I love you."

Gabriël shut his eyes as he felt the gentle touch of her lips on his. Every moment he'd ever shared with Joan flashed through his mind. Meeting her in the field near Domrémy, guiding her through her teenage years and through her campaign as the defender of France, helping her adjust to life in the Vale, the kiss in the Hospitium, finally making love to her after six-hundred years of silent longing, seeing her fall only to find and lose her again...
The tears Gabriël didn't know he was holding back rolled down his cheeks. He took his lover and the mother of his child in a fierce embrace, kissing her passionately. As her body pressed against his and his hands gripped her, Gabriël truly grasped the gravity of the moment. Joan was in his arms, alive and well.

"This is impossible." Gabriël's voice trembled as he leaned his forehead against hers. "You died in my arms. H-How are you here?"

"You, Gabriël." Joan smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Me? I don't understand. How did I —?"

"When the Messenger no longer spreads the Word, when Mercy and Peace take up Justice's Sword, when the heart is stirred and what was broken is mended, through Heaven's Water, the Gift of Miracle is bestowed."

Gabriël gasped when he recognised those words. Uriël and Metatron wrote them for him in the Archangel scroll. It was the prophecy for the Messenger of the Lord. He looked down at his arm and removed his cuff. It had been some time since he had last looked at the rune, but there it was — whole again.

"You forgave Michael for what he did," explained Joan. "It was the last step after you took up the role of Lord Protector. Your bond with him was renewed, and your love for me never wavered. When you put me to rest in the Lake of Nevaeh, your tears mixed with the water, and I lived. I woke up on the lakeshore, where Uriël was waiting for me. He explained everything and said you came to the Circles to look for our daughter."

"Uriël..." Gabriël scoffed. "I should've known. I'll deal with him later. First, I need to find Anne and Thomas, and —"

"They're not in the Circles anymore. They killed Borgia, but Thomas was injured. I transported them back to the Vale, just like I did with the others at Megiddo. At least, I think I did. These powers are going to take some time getting used to."

Gabriël was about to ask what powers she was talking about when he remembered Joan wasn't a Fallen Angel anymore. In his joy and surprise at finding her alive, he'd forgotten about her new wings — six magnificent wings with glistening golden feathers. He reached for them, carefully stroking a few with the tip of his fingers. They were so warm.

"It was you," he said. "You were the creature I saw flying over Nevaeh before I went down to the Circles to fight Lucifer. You're a Seraph."

"Uriël mentioned that word as well. I'm not sure what it means, though."

"It means you're a Guardian of the Lord, a direct link between God and us. His right hand, so to speak. I guess you're the one Uriël meant when he spoke of God's new light. It would certainly explain some things. How your blood healed me, for instance."

"This isn't going to be one of those 'with great power' speeches, is it?" Joan sighed wearily.

Gabriël chuckled. "Honestly, I'm not sure. We all believed Seraphim were a myth and never thought this would happen. Or if it did, that Lucifer would be the one, as he was the LightBringer. Even Mi—My God, Michael! He was fighting at Megiddo! Is he all right?"

"Relax, he's fine. I think Michael might have known about me. He didn't seem surprised when I showed up. But we should probably hurry if we want to catch up with him and Lucifer."

"Wait, they're here? Both of them?"

"I saved them from the Hellhounds before I came to find you."

Gabriël was relieved to learn Michael was all right. But he was alone with Lucifer, in the Devil's domain. He could still get caught in a trap.

"Do you trust Lucifer?" he asked. "Did you still feel the darkness inside of him?"

"Yes," said Joan. "But I also felt his light."

"That still doesn't mean we can trust him."

"I'm not trusting Lucifer. I'm trusting Michael."

Gabriël raised a brow. "Since when are you and Michael so friendly?"

"Let's just say the Dream Realm has an effect on people. And he gave me his blessing. I didn't expect him to kiss me, but —"

"Whoa, what? Michael kissed you?"

"Let's not make a big deal out of it now. It's not like he was agreeing to sleep with me in a ruse to gain my trust."

Joan threw him a meaningful look, and Gabriël stammered, too flustered to find the right words. She burst out in laughter.

"It's all right, little trickster," she said. "I forgive you. Now, how about we get our daughter back?"

Gabriël returned her smile, taking Joan's hands in his. "Lead the way, Lady Seraph."

***

Samael crouched down to the little girl — who appeared about six years old now and just fitted the last velvet purple dress Lilith had provided — and touched her forehead with the back of his hand.

She's burning up. It's finally taking effect, then. I was beginning to fear Lilith screwed this up as well.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"I'm thirsty," replied the girl in a soft voice.

Samael conjured a cup of water with a wave of his hand. The child took it with both hands and gulped it down at once. She smacked her lips as she put the cup down. Her blue eyes suddenly looked up. Samael followed her gaze. They were alone in the cell, but if she was who she claimed to be...

"Do you see something?" he asked.

She nodded with a fearful expression. "Someone's hanging there. He's hurt. The scary dogs can smell him. They want to eat him."

Samael realised she saw that traitor Rasputin, who had been the last to die here. She really was the Angel of Death then. Seeing how a person — mortal, angel, or demon — died came with the job. It sometimes made it easier. Other times, it weighed the heart. Good thing he didn't need to be bothered by such a trifle anymore.

"Do you know who is talking to me?" the girl asked then. "It's a man, but it's not my Pappa. And it's not my friend."

"It's probably my friend then." Samael curled his lips in a fake smile. "You can listen to him. We're both trying to protect you."

"He's saying he can help bring them back. Those who went away. But Azrael said that's not possible."

"Azrael doesn't know everything. My friend is a lot older than she is. He taught me things that I always believed impossible too. He can teach you as well. You'll be able to help me then. You can be... my little sister. Would you like that?"

Her eyes pierced through him. It took everything out of Samael not to look away from her big, questioning, innocent gaze.

"I want to help you. But Pappa —"

"Your Pappa isn't here!"

The girl shrank against the wall, pulling her knees up. She was absolutely terrified of him.
Samael sighed and put his smile back on.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I'm just worried about everyone up there. They are all fighting, and I... I'm not strong enough alone. I need someone who can help me."

The girl relaxed somewhat, but still seemed cautious of him.

"See, your Pappa might get hurt," continued Samael. "He might even go away, too. But if you and I, the two Angels of Death, work together, we can help your Pappa and everyone else."

"We can?" She tilted her head curiously. "How?"

"My friend can show you. But you have to open your mind to him. Do you know how to do that?"

"Hm, I think so." The girl scrunched her nose in thought.

"Then, you just listen to my friend, okay?" said Samael sweetly. "He'll show you how I can be your big brother and what you have to do to save your Pappa. You do want to save him, don't you?"

She nodded vehemently.

"Attagirl. I knew I could count on you. Be a good girl now, and maybe, if you do everything right and listen to my friend and me, we could even bring back your Mommy."

"That's okay. She's already back."

Samael blinked, believing he had misheard her. Joan of Arc... was alive?

***

After tending to Michael's shoulder and ensuring a still unconscious Messalina was physically all right, Lucifer continued the counterspell to undo Lilith's illusion. It fell apart quicker than expected, which could only happen if Lilith required all of her magic... or if something more permanent had befallen her.

"She's dead," said Lucifer.

"I would assume so," agreed Michael. "I very much doubt Joan would show mercy after what Lilith did to her."

"I hope she made the bitch suffer."

"You never cared for her, then?" Michael raised his brow at Lucifer's crude remark.

"I cared for what happened to her after she was cast out of Paradise. I felt guilty, I suppose, for the part I played. Yet, the more Lilith accepted the darkness, the more she changed. She became a nuisance. But no, I never cared for her. Not like I cared for —"

"Margaret."

The way Lucifer pinched his lips and lowered his gaze told Michael it wasn't Margaret he had meant to name. Considering that she and the rest of humanity hadn't been born yet, it wouldn't have made sense for him to do so. But to hear Lucifer speak his name when he spent the past weeks, the past centuries, hating him would not have been right.

"We should go," said Lucifer. "I think I know where Samael might keep the girl."

Michael followed him through the dungeon until they came upon a large cell. He gasped when at the sight of the little girl sitting against the wall. Chestnut-coloured hair, big blue eyes, a scar running down the corner of her left eye... There was no doubt about it; this was the girl he had named Eve in his dreams. This was Gabriël and Joan's daughter, Ariëlle.

"There she is," he whispered.

"Her? Michael, that can't possibly be Gabriël's daughter," reacted Lucifer. "She was born not a day ago."

"It is her. She looked like this when she revealed herself to me in the Dream Realm."

"You mean before she was born?" Lucifer frowned at him. "How?"

"I will explain later."

Michael pushed him back to keep them both out of sight. Ariëlle looked pale, but otherwise okay. It seemed Lilith and Samael had taken care of her (as far as pure evil could be trusted to care for a child), dressing her and keeping her safe and sound.
At the sound of Samael's honeyed words well-practised silver tongue as he spoke to the child, Michael's knuckles turned white as he tightened his hold on his sword. He turned to Lucifer, keeping his anger at bay, before he rushed in and ripped Samael's throat out.

"Any thoughts on how to get her away from him?" he asked.

"It won't be that simple," said Lucifer grimly. "Lilith performed a ritual on her at Marib. I suspect it opened her mind and heart to the Circles. There may be hope if she hasn't given in to the voices yet. I can undo most of the spell then. The influence of the Vale and her parents will do the rest."

"What if it's already too late?"

But Lucifer didn't answer. He took a deep breath and stepped back, sheathing his sword.

"I'll distract Samael," he said. "You get the girl."

"No, out of the question."

"Michael, the girl knows you, or she'll at least sense you're an Archangel and a force of good. I'm corrupted by the Circles. She won't come with me."

"I am not letting you put yourself in danger."

"Good thing it's not up to you then."

"Lucifer, no, get back here! Godda—"

Michael covered his mouth to silence himself just in time, groaning as the Devil pushed past him and walked into the cell where the false Angel of Death kept Gabriël's daughter. He waited until Lucifer had Samael's attention before he moved stealthily toward little Ariëlle. A few feet away, he hid behind a piece of debris, picked up a pebble, and threw it at her. It landed near her hand, and the girl looked up. She smiled radiantly when she saw him, and Michael sighed in relief. He placed a finger on his lips and beckoned her.

***

Samael was about to ask the girl what she meant when she spoke of her mother, but he was distracted by the sound of footsteps. He rose to his feet and turned. His eyes narrowed, and he sneered at the visitor.

"You actually came. I didn't believe you would be this stupid."

"If you're fortunate enough to have a child of your own one day, you'll learn that nothing will stop you from saving the child," said Lucifer as he stepped into the torchlight.

"I told you; I don't want to be saved."

"I know. But it's what your mother wanted. I owe this to her."

Samael shook his head and laughed haughtily. The man's foolishness was astounding!

"Good God, man, you could have had it all! You could have had the world, nay, the universe! And look at you now! You have nothing left! Your wife met her final death, your son hates you and controls everything that was once yours, and the angels despise you and want you dead! And I haven't even mentioned your little dish on the side. How is Michael, by the way? You two merry and gay again?"

"Michael isn't your concern."

"Isn't he? You made him out to be the villain of our story. And the hero must slay the villain."

***

Michael caught a sudden movement in the corner of his eye. Samael's black wings descended on him, a silver flash between them. Michael raised his sword and parried Samael's attack before the blade came down on him.

"Well, if it isn't the knight in shining armour, come to save the little princess of the Vale."

Samael drew back and struck Michael with his wing. It was like getting hit by a boulder. Michael landed face-down on the ground, his sword clanging beside him. He shook his head to clear his senses as he pushed himself up and felt something trickle down his chin. Hurriedly, Michael wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He didn't want Ariëlle to see the blood.

"Samael, enough!" yelled Lucifer.

The Angel of Death curled his lip at his father, snarling like an animal.

"I don't follow your orders anymore. And you! Down!"

Ariëlle sank to her knees, her little body trembling in fear.

"Did you really think it would be that simple, Michael?" Samael twirled his sword in his hand. "If you want her, you'll have to go through me."

Michael gritted his teeth. He had hoped to avoid this, but it looked like he had no choice.

Lord Almighty, give me strength.

"Lucifer, I entrust Ariëlle to you," he said. "Get her home."

"No, Michael," reacted Lucifer strongly.

"Yes."

"No! I'll fight him. He's my son and my responsibility. I shouldn't have put it on you."

"You may be his father, but I'm his creator. I will end this. One way or another."

Before Lucifer could object or even stop him, Michael charged at Samael, sword raised and ivory wings spread wide.

***

As the two foes clashed, their shadows dancing furiously upon the wall, Lucifer stood torn between love and family once again. His heart pushed him to save both Samael and Michael, but he couldn't choose between them. Samael was his flesh and blood. He was all that was left of Margaret. But Michael... He was... everything.
Lucifer tore his gaze away from the fight. Gabriël's daughter made herself smaller when he came up to her. Michael confided her care to him. As had Margaret. As had Joan. Lucifer wouldn't break any of those promises. The Devil always kept his word. 

"It's okay," he said with a kind, reassuring voice. "I know your parents. And I'm Michael's... friend. I'm here to help you."

The child stared at him with her big blue eyes, and Lucifer was overcome with that same sensation he felt when he had held her as a baby. He reached out for her, but Ariëlle shrank back against the wall.

"You're the bad man," she whispered. "I know your voice. You hurt Michael when we were in that other place."

"I... I did. But we're friends again. Michael asked me to take you to a safe place."

Lucifer held out his hand for her to take, but Ariëlle fervently shook her head. 

"Ariëlle, please, there isn't time," he begged.

"No!" she yelled.

He could just take her. She was a child; there wasn't much she could do against him. But he needed her trust in order to lift Lilith's spell. If she struggled, it could do more harm than good.

"You have a voice in your head, don't you? Someone telling you that you can learn to be stronger so you can save others?" Ariëlle gave a small, hesitant nod to Lucifer's questions. "That voice is something very dark and very evil. I can take it away like Michael asked me, but I need you to trust me. Please, Ariëlle, we must go now."

But she was still reluctant to do so. Suddenly, she looked up at something on her left.

"I can?" she asked.

Who is she talking to? Are we already too late?

Ariëlle turned back to Lucifer and said, "Azrael says I don't have to be afraid of you. She says hello. Oh, and that she's sorry she failed your family. She hopes you can forgive her."

The girl rose to her feet and waited for Lucifer to do the same. But the Devil was so dumbstruck he could only stare at her. Eventually, Ariëlle's tiny hands took hold of one of his, and she pulled him up. Lucifer quickly took her into his arms and spirited her away into the shadows.
When he returned, his actions would prove who he would stand with once and for all, setting the course of the rest of his life. And that of the person he cared about most.