Maggie wondered if gazing at her Bible long enough could burn holes in it. It leaned tiredly against other books on the bookshelf, dusty with neglect. Her stomach clenched, and she rubbed her hands against her thighs, clenching and unclenching them in the silky fabric of her skirt. I probably shouldn't have lied to Seth about reading it every day... She curled up on the bed, staring at the book. That's a bad thing to do, isn't it?

She couldn't seem to get Seth's words out of her head either. You don't really understand the Bible if you don't know the Gospel. He can't be right, can he?

Something seemed to be gently prodding her to hoist herself from the bed's cozy softness to snatch it up. Maggie stayed still, unsure what to think. This keen pricking sensation in her soul had never occurred before. What could it mean? There wasn't really a sense of shame bringing a heaviness to her soul like guilt usually brought. Instead, there was a sweet luring and tender poking at her soul, whispers of interest shuddering through her usually stoic heart.

After several long moments, Maggie rose, her legs trembling, and took the Bible down, dusting it clean. Going back to her bed, she flopped onto the shaggy, thick carpet beside it and flipped the book open to Matthew. He says I don't know what the Gospel truly is... She ran her fingers over the words, staring down at them.I have to know he's wrong... Her chest tightened, and she opened her Bible, eyes drifting over the words.

***

Caphyzel towered over the young human woman. His broad sword rested in a sheath on his back, glowing brightly in response to the demonic energy in the room. He crossed his arms, causing his dress shirt to stretch across his chest. He shot the three present demons a harsh glare. Dep, Vani, and Mare stood in the shadows of the bedroom, cowering away from the angel and the Bible in Maggie's lap. Vani rubbed her arms, stepping further into the shadows and ducking her head. Dep snarled, his fists clenching as one foot inched forward subconsciously testing the waters. Beside him, Mare yowled quietly, his cat-like green eyes focused only on Maggie.

We're losing her, Dep said, crossing his arms.

We all know that, idiot! Vani tapped her foot against the wooden floor.

Mare, as usual, said nothing, but they both saw the vivid imagery of his thoughts. As always, it involved bloodshed and their dismembered bodies. Satan stood over them, cackling as he held their dripping hearts in his hands. Blood spattered his silver wings as his dark eyes met theirs. Dep and Vani shivered, shutting their eyes.

Thanks for the encouragement, Mare... Dep shot their companion a sharp look. You've helped me so much. He snuck closer to the light, his foot inching over the line of shadows. Dep kept his slitted eyes trained on the angel's tense form. He finally worked up the courage to step out of the shadows, legs trembling. He slunk closer to the bed, eyeing Caphyzel as he stood and observed silently. His fingers trembled against his sides as he inched nearer.

The Pneuma is working on her, Vani whimpered.

Would you shut up? Dep clenched his fists. We all know that.

Mare growled, and the other two got a wave of apprehension as images of previous saints' conversions swept over them.

I refuse to accept that she'll give in to his calling, Vani snarled, slapping Mare upside the head. Would you quit showing us depressing images?

Curse the Almighty for loving these traitorous humans enough to die for them. And not just that... Dep narrowed his eyes, watching Caphyzel as the angel's hand rested casually on the dagger on his hip. He just had to go the extra step to ensure they'd be saved because they're too messed up by sin to come. Couldn't just leave them happy in their own muck, could He? Dep glared at the angel and Maggie. Stupid humans. I hate them... He scuffed a foot against the floor, not daring to fully stamp it against the floorboards lest the angel hew him to pieces.

Vani sneered in agreement with his thoughts. And of course he had to send tall, dark, and handsome here to keep us from interfering. Idiot angel... She crossed her arms, pouting.

The angel turned a slow, unharried gaze on the thin denizen of hell approaching him. "You fools are aware I can hear everything you're saying, right?"

Dep glowered at him, a spurt of foolhardy bravery shooting through him. He stormed right up to the angel, hands on hips. "You angels and your constant prying! Stay out of this!"

"I have orders." Caphyzel crossed his arms, green eyes blazing with holy fire.

"And so do I! Yours aren't any more legitimate than mine," Dep argued, waving a hand at Maggie. "I have every right to be here."

Caphyzel raised a dark brow, reaching for his sword. His muscles flexed under the t-shirt.

"Now he's just showing off," Vani huffed, tugging on a strand of her hair.

"Unlike you and your kind, I don't actually have a corrupted nature. Pride isn't a thing, so why would I do that?" Caphyzel smiled, but the fire in his eyes went glacial as he did.

"For someone with no pride, you sure do have a superiority complex," Dep mouthed off, crossing his arms.

"Arguing with me all day isn't going to get you anywhere." Caphyzel unsheathed his sword, the blade blazing with blue and gold light.

Dep sucked in a breath, inching toward the bed, his arms out in front of him. "Now..." He waved his hands, eyes wide. "Now, no need to g-get hasty!"

"I'm not being hasty. It's called being prepared. Because somehow, I doubt you're going to take well to being told to just move on. You're no longer welcome here, regardless."

"Of course, I am!" Dep shrieked. "She invited me in."

"She belongs to the Lord. I've been ordered to ensure you quit harassing her. Now leave on your own or leave my way, capische?"

I'm going there anyway if I lose her, Dep thought, paling. "I won't leave. I have every right to—"

Caphyzel didn't even change his expression. In the blink of an eye, his sword whipped down, splitting Dep in two. Sparks of gold and trails of blue light mixed with the black mist pouring from the two halves of the demon. The wail of the vanquished demon echoed around the room, shrill and bitter. The two halves of Dep vanished, fading into mist. The smell of gunpowder and sulfur filled the room. Vani wrinkled her nose, covering her mouth with both hands.

"Will you two leave on your own, or will you join that wretch in the abyss?" Caphyzel asked.

Sorry, Mare, but you're on your own. I'd rather face Satan's wrath than end at this guy's sword. Vani vanished. Mare lingered, gurgling and reaching out for Maggie. Her soul seemed so bright now. There was so much energy. He could almost feel the warmth from here. The idea of destroying that light like he had every ray of hope in her prior to this point made his mouth water. His claws dragged across the floor as he watched her. Saliva dripped down his chin as his mandibles rubbed together, making a high, keening noise. Mare spared one glance for the angel, who was waiting beside the bed to see what Mare would do. Half barking and keening, he skittered across the floor on all fours, uninterested in the angel.

Caphyzel sighed. "Fool..." He slashed his sword down, intending to cleave Mare in two as well.

The demon split in half, letting the sword swoosh through him harmlessly. The two halves of Mare also multiplied, hissing in unison at the angel and his blazing sword. Caphyzel planted his feet, the sword pointed defensively at the demons.

There was a moment's pause, and then the demons sprang, catapulting themselves through the air. One landed on Caphyzel's back while others latched onto his legs, arms, and torso. He swung the sword, trying to destroy them, but Mare's doubles just split off, creating even more of the creatures.

"Blasted demon! Go back to the void you came from." Caphyzel snarled, sweat dripping down his back.

A screech rent the room as the doppelgängers tore at him. He finally managed to vanquish one, but by that time, there were so many others that he couldn't fight them all off. Growls and snarls filled the room. Caphyzel's eyes went to the bed where Maggie was huddled, clutching the Bible to her chest and sobbing.

He lost his footing as several demons grabbed onto his legs and pulled, yanking them from beneath him. Caphyzel went down with a shout, thudding against the floor as the demons swarmed him. Unable to even speak past the bodies covering him, he silently pleaded for help. Lord, I can't defeat the powers of darkness in my own power. Intervene!

Through the slivers of space in black, writhing mass surrounding him, Caphyzel could see a bright light. The demons screeched, hooking their claws deeper into his flesh as they scrabbled for an escape from the light. There, behind Maggie with a sword in His hand and fire in His eyes, stood the One Caphyzel had hoped to see. Several of the dark copies of Mare tried to reach out to Maggie and regain their grip on her soul. The light blazed, and the demons reaching for her disintegrated with a guttural howl. Their companions shifted, stiffening against Caphyzel's form. Light enveloped the rest of the room in a warm cocoon, emanating from His form as He stood protectively over Maggie. The rest of the demons trapping Caphyzel were immediately vanquished, vaporizing with a multi-voiced roar.

With the demons off him, Caphyzel was able to retrieve his sword and stand. And then he watched. He watched as the girl on the bed broke into sobs and gave her life to the Son as she had always been chosen to do. His eyes met his Maker's, and he nodded with a smile. "Thank You for intervening, Holy One."

The Son smiled warmly down at Maggie. "You did well protecting her, Caphyzel. Report back to Gabriel for your next orders. There are others who still need you. But first..." He purviewed Caphyzel's ripped clothing and the scratches on his torso, arms, and legs. "Let Me heal those injuries."

Caphyzel sighed with relief as the healing words swept over his body. The scratches disappeared without a trace, and the damage to his wings was repaired. The muscles the demons had torn through in his left wing repaired, and he stretched the wing, shoulders relaxing again. "Thank You, my Lord."

"You're welcome." The Son turned back to look down at Maggie.

"She sure had a difficult conversion, didn't she?" Caphyzel whispered, watching the girl cry herself to sleep out of relief.

"Yes, she did. But it was necessary. It'll be worth it in the end, and it only makes her conversion that much greater as a testimony to others around her."

Caphyzel nodded, saluting. "Glory and dominion to You forever." He turned to go.

"Grace and peace to you," the Son said.

***

Maggie stared at the words on the pages of her Bible as she dropped onto the floor beside her bed, legs crossed with the Bible in her lap. Seth is right. I don't understand at all... Her shoulders hunched as she continued reading the words of 1 John 23. "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." Maggie frowned, reading the passage again. It couldn't be much clearer, could it? It's a command for me to believe... Maggie's eyes fixated on the words where she'd finally stopped after starting in Matthew earlier. But I'm not even capable of doing that if everything else in Matthew up until this point is true. Her heart sank, and she felt sick. That isn't fair! He's asked me to do something I can't do.

Her fingers trembled on the pages. But isn't that just pride, Maggie? she asked herself. I mean, He died a horrible death for you as an individual. He did it knowing you were an enemy and not a friend. She bit her lip. Hot tears pricked in her eyes and slipped down her cheeks. "I can't believe You did all this for me. I don't deserve this love or grace..." Her voice was barely a reedy whisper as her hands hovered over the words, and her chest squeezed painfully.

Her hands covered her mouth, muffling her sobs. Her stomach clenched as she struggled to stay silent. I've failed so miserably. In every respect, I've failed... Her shoulders heaved as she buried her face in her hands. I'm such a disaster. Her eyes went back to the pages of her Bible. Through the veil of tears, she could barely read the words. However, the few words she could read were enough to remind her that there was grace in this situation. She didn't understand why God would sacrifice Himself to such an awful death for her sake. Dear God, she thought. I'm a wretched mess... It sunk in for real now. I haven't got a single good thing to offer God for what I'm being offered. And He still came for me knowing I couldn't repay and would reject Him for a time. That's... She squeezed her eyes shut, stomach clenching and rolling. That's amazing but awful all at once somehow. "I caused that suffering." Maggie's tears dropped onto the pages. "Oh, God, how could I? How could I reject like that after all that was sacrificed for me?"

Her heart sped up as she dropped the Bible onto the rug beside her and burst into true sobs, curling up into herself as she sat on the shaggy rug beside her bed. The sun's rays filtered through her white shades and washed over her, dying as the afternoon gave way to evening. "God..." Her teeth clenched to fight off the gasping sobs clawing their way out of her. "God, please do something..." Maggie wove her fingers into her curly hair, clenching them as tears dripped from her face to the rug below. "I can't..." She squeezed her eyes shut.

For a long moment, her heavy breathing was all that filled the stillness of the room. Soft, mewling whimpers tugged their way free from her tight throat. "I can't fix this myself. I know there's a problem. I know that, but I also see that nothing I do would be enough. I've believed in You my whole life, but that's not enough, God. I know that. Even Satan believes, and he's not going to heaven, so where does that leave me with my belief, Lord? Please..." She pushed herself back into a sitting position, clasping her hands to her chest. Her body shook with suppressed weeping as she fought to get the words out past the lump in her throat. "Do what only You can. Save me..." The tightness in her throat eased slightly as she finally gasped the words out.

An incredible sense of freedom washed over Maggie. She continued to cry, but it was out of a sense of relief now rather than pain. She slid up onto the bed, clutching her Bible to her chest. Eventually, her sobbing evened out into slow, steady breathing as Maggie reached her limit and fell asleep.

***

Cheers of celebration and singing rang about the broad expanse of the Throne Room. Angels and saints alike sang with ecstatic vigor because another soul had found rest in the Son. The saints played harps and lutes while everyone sang and danced. Smiles wreathed faces all around as the trumpets blew to acknowledge the salvation of a soul.

The Son watched Maggie as she slept with a quiet smile on His lips. "Finally, the battle for her soul is over, won as I always promised it would be."

The Father chuckled. "You never lose one, Son."

"I know..." The Son grinned. "But it brings a new joy with each one that finds rest in Me."

The Wind whispered gladly as He drifted around the Father and Son. The Trinity watched the celebration and worship going on around them with smiles and hearty laughter. There was no shadow to mar the perfection of this place and its joy.