"Let us have her." The demon pressed his face to the dirt before the Great Throne as it descended into the forest before him. Beside him, Dep and Vani also knelt with their heads to the ground. Dep growled, clenching his fists in the grass. Vani whimpered, barely audible in the wind breezing through the clearing.

Silence reigned in the clearing for a long while. Then a voice, quiet yet stern, said, "Why should you have her, Satan?"

"She's a pitiful mess... Why should I not?"

"She is my pitiful mess. I've allowed you to torment her thus far because there is a purpose. But I will not let you take this any further."

"She isn't yours yet," Satan said, his voice rising in pitch. "Why not let me do what I want to with her?"

"She isn't fighting us." Vani glanced up then returned to cowering. "If she won't even stand up for herself, who cares what happens to her?"

The Almighty's voice clapped like thunder through the clearing. "Silence!"

The three demons glanced up just enough to look at each other. Dep swallowed hard, stilling. Vani wrapped her arms around herself, whimpering. Only Satan ignored the command. "Their reasoning is sound. She isn't interested in your ways."

Lightning cracked across the sky as it darkened. "She is mine. I paid her price. In case you hadn't noticed, you've already lost. You have lost her and everything else."

"I'll take her yet!" He sneered, looking up for a moment.

Brilliant emerald-like rainbows surrounded the throne, and the light seared into him. The cherubim surrounding the throne glared at him with their many eyes. The one with a man's face pressed its lips together. The other three only kept their animal-like eyes trained on him. He hissed, covering his eyes and returning his face to the ground, eyes burning.

A voice like a trumpet boomed from the Great Throne. "You will not. You will do no more to Maggie Macleon. You could hurl every minion you possessed against her, but she will not fall. Her name is written in my Book of Life, and I have paid her price. No more will be be said on the matter." He nodded to the cherubim surrounding His throne.

The winged, four-faced creatures picked up the throne with clawed feet and lifted Him into the air.

"Begone, demon. Her time has not yet come. And when it does, she will be welcomed home with all rejoicing."

Satan hissed, flapping his wings and launching a few feet into the sky, shaking a fist toward the sky. "I will destroy her! If You weren't protecting her, she'd already be mine. Maggie is a walking train wreck. And that's all she'll ever be!"

Silence met his words. Satan's dark eyes flashed, his pale skin flushing as heat burned in his stomach. I deserve to be listened to, he thought, unfurling and shaking his silver wings. A few feathers fluttered to the ground as the Prince of Demons glared up into the sky. You'll see, he swore. You'll see. I swear by the depths of hell, I will destroy her.

***

From His throne, the Almighty watched His creation storm off into the clouds. He shook His head with a weary sigh. "I gave him everything... He was the most beautiful of my angels, but instead of being content, he tried to exalt himself to a position he could not have... And so it always goes with him, his followers, and the people I created..."

The Son stepped forward at the Almighty's right hand. "That is why I went after the ones you gave me." A faint smile twitched on his lips. "Satan may do what he has been allowed to do. We won't lose Maggie."

The Almighty laughed. "I know you won't. All that I have given you will be secure no matter what he hurls their way. We have assured that..."

The two looked down at earth, watching Maggie walk from one class to the next, her book bag slung across one shoulder and head bowed.

"She has such a long, difficult path ahead of her," the Son mused. "But she will be a beautiful testament when she reaches the end..."

***

Maggie flopped onto her bed, tossing her backpack on the floor. She pulled out her history textbook and stared at it, barely comprehending what was being said on its glossy pages. The day of classes was filled with dealing with professors for projects and college kids who acted like high schoolers. Despite that, today hadn't been terrible and being home felt wonderful, which made her History of England homework seem more monotonous than usual. Huffing, she slammed the book shut and went to sit in her chair beside the window.

The warm afternoon sunshine streamed into the room, heating Maggie's cold hands. She could almost feel the comforting glow spreading to the darkest parts of her soul. Closing her eyes, she let out a long, slow breath. Perhaps I can actually get some sleep now, Maggie thought. She turned her face toward the sun and let herself relax, hoping that perhaps she might finally be able to recharge after the crazy month she'd been having.

Dep let out an annoyed grunt, running his cold hands down Maggie's face and tilting his head to the side. "We're losing her." He threw his hands into the air and began pacing, toying with his lip ring as he did.

Mare let out a hiss, grasping at her hair and tugging on it with a bitter grimace.

Vani rolled her eyes and folded her arms. "So what? She always comes back. She's had these bouts before. We all know it doesn't mean anything."

"But..." Dep bit his lip, crossing his own arms. "I saw them hanging around here today... They," he spat, "are the reason she's doing better. They're ruining our mark's susceptibility to us..."

"It doesn't matter what they do." Vani snarled, but she too blanched a bit at the revelation. "She isn't his yet... And she never will be if we have our way."

"You know we can't affect that," Dep snapped.

Mare huffed in agreement.

"I refuse to accept that." She put her hands on her hips, jutting out her chin.

Dep glared at his companion. "Vani, we all know that refusing to accept the truth doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

"We can change it."

"If she is one of his chosen, it doesn't matter what we do. We won't be able to hinder her coming to him when he decrees it's time... That's the way it's always been. No one—demon or otherwise—will be able to do anything."

"Well, she isn't one of them. Her parents aren't, no matter how religious they are..." Vani said in a firm tone. "So she has no model to base anything on. She thinks she's fine. Sure, she's depressed and suicidal. Sure, she has awful nightmares and visions every night. But she's a Christian. She prays... And she goes to church. Obviously, that's enough."

Dep rolled his eyes. "Oh, will you shut up? Just because you're dysfunctional and only have sarcasm and your body to use as a coping mechanism when things get bad, doesn't mean we want to put up with you." He eyed her with a frown. "You're even depressing me, and I thought that was impossible! Especially since I'm the one who's really in charge here."

Vani whirled to face him, storming over to get in his face. "What did you just say? You have no right to say that to me!"

Dep glared at her. "I have every right, you hare-brained succubus. Or have you forgotten who you report to? Have I been too lax? Is that it?" He rubbed his chin. "I shouldn't let you get away with so much banter if this is how you'll repay me. But enough of this! You're just angry because there's a good chance she was never meant to stay blinded to the truth by her religion."

"Oh, please! You've never really been in charge here. You're the only one who doesn't know that." Vanity shook her head, sneering. "As for Maggie and her religion, who cares about all that? I mean, it'd be better if she were living a life of debauchery, but short of that, this is..." She waved her hand in the air. "I don't know. The second-best thing. She's never going to come to him. I don't care what you say. I'm not scared. Either of you or of the outcome with Maggie."

Dep and Mare eyed each other, irritation with Vani sparking between them. Finally, both of them just disappeared, leaving Vani to continue ranting while Maggie slept peacefully for the first time in weeks.