We were back in Manhattan in record time and dematerialized straight into the foyer of the penthouse, seeing as how we couldn't exactly walk through the lobby. Our entrance startled the Elioud walking through the foyer, causing one of them to drop her coffee, the mug shattering as it hit the floor.

"Gabriel?" she asked, the other Elioud still frozen. Our large group was certainly a surprising sight, Elioud and fellows flanked by four guard fellows in their angelic form.

Gabriel broke away from our group, walking up to her. "Everything is alright. Tell everyone to stop what they're doing and meet us here."

She nodded, gathering the pieces of the mug from the floor before grabbing the other Elioud by his arm and dragging him with her, his eyes still focused on the guards.

"Many of them have never seen a fellow in person," Gabriel explained, turning back to join us. "To see this many is...stimulating."

The four guards moved to spread out behind us, standing with their arms behind their backs as though they were statues. Chatter began amongst our group as we waited so I turned to Natalia who stood beside me. "Are they going to be watching our every move?"

She nodded. "More or less. They're the Committee's eyes and ears."

"Great." How on Earth was I going to sneak out to see Carter?

"Don't worry. We'll find a way to warn Carter."

I raised a brow at her. "Are you able to read my mind too?"

She smiled. "No. Though it isn't hard to figure out what you're thinking."

"I guess I need to work on my poker face."

"Perhaps that would help."

Before long, the foyer was filled with upwards of forty Elioud. I'd never seen them all in one room so it was an interesting sight. They ranged in looks, size, and cultural background but they all carried the same sense of confidence and entitlement. Soraya stood toward the middle and threw me a curious look, raising a brow at Gavin. I smiled lightly at her but the smile dissipated as quickly as it had come once my eyes located Lailah. She had her arms crossed and was standing just beside Soraya, her eyes narrowed at our group. She wasn't the only one put off by our arrival though as a lot of the rebels were glaring at our group, or rather the unfamiliar fellows and the guards.

Gabriel stepped forward once everyone had arrived. Unlike the court proceedings, no one here was talking. It was clear they were too anxious to know what was going on to converse. After all, this was a rebellion, and as such they did not interact with fellows.

"Thank you all for coming. I know this is a shock but I want you to know that there is nothing to worry about. We have just returned from Ezra where a revelation about Lucifer's plan has caused the Committee to rethink their methods. We have been sent back with a mission: find Lucifer's den and destroy it, therefore destroying his power." There was a small murmur amongst the crowd but it didn't overpower his voice. "I will be sending a few scouts to meet with our contacts to see if we can locate it. For now, the fellows behind me, as well as the guards, are here to stay. I know it is unorthodox for us to work with the Committee but we must work together as this affects all of us. Please show them the same respect you have always shown me. We are more alike than we are not."

It was a strange feeling but I felt a sense of pride in hearing Gabriel speak. He was a natural born leader. The way people seemed to look to him without blinking, hanging onto his every word. It was similar to the way Zion commanded a crowd, however Gabriel seemed to have more of a bond with his people. It was truly amazing to witness.

"Zuriel, Dina, Casseus, and Lailah, meet me in my office. The rest of you will be briefed once Lucifer's location is found."

Signaling the end of the meeting, everyone dispersed, half of the Elioud leaving to go back to what they were doing and the other half sticking around to mingle and throw looks at the fellows. I walked over to meet Soraya, Malek, Michael, and two other girls. They all were watching me but Soraya was the first one to speak, her voice low but still loud enough for the group to hear.

"What the heck is going on, girl? You've been in Ezra this whole time?"

I nodded, looking around at the expectant eyes on me. "Yes. I went to help a friend-"

"You mean the red-headed hunk that keeps looking over here?"

I fought the urge to turn around and look at Gavin, my eyes on Soraya. "He was the one who helped me escape and he was going to be tried by the Committee so I couldn't leave him defenseless. One of the fellows caught the traitor that started this entire fiasco and he told them everything. Lucifer wants to use me to open the gates again and take over Ezra. So the Committee sent us back to find his den and kill his army of possessed and they want us all to work together to do it. In exchange they'll continue to leave the rebellion to run as it has been, since our goal is the same: to help people."

Michael scoffed, throwing a dark look over at the fellows. "I don't believe it. Once they've used us to assist with their plan, there is no way they'll leave us be. If anything, we're easier to sacrifice which is why they're so eager to let us 'help' them. I'm not buying it."

Soraya was quick to counter his comments though her tone didn't hold the same amount of loathing. "Gabriel would never allow anything to happen to us. We may not be able to trust them but we can trust him. Ava, you know the fellows. Is this really their intention? To ask for our help and then leave us be?"

I hesitated, looking over at the fellows I'd spent weeks with and had come to see as friends, maybe even family. "I know them. I don't know the Committee. The head member, Zion, he's not exactly very warm and welcoming. I really don't know what to think. All I know is, we can't let Lucifer separate us. We have to stick together, even if that means merging the rebellion with the fellows."

One of the girls spoke, her voice slightly nervous. "I've heard of Zion. He's the one who defeated that malevolent centuries ago. He's not known to be too forgiving. My sister's guardian was sent to Abysm for a decade by him and turned out to be innocent. Rather than apologize, Zion sent him right back to guarding and that was that."

It did sound a lot like something Zion would do but I also wasn't a fan of listening to gossip. "I don't know his history or the history of the Committee for that matter, but as long as we stick together we will be alright. I doubt his next move is to send hundreds of guards to arrest us."

"He would need more than hundreds," Michael said, still in a funk.

Malek was the next to speak, his voice polite as always. "So we are expected to go to this den with them and kill the possessed? What if the den can't be located?"

I knew the answer but I couldn't find the words. I couldn't say it out loud. If I said it out loud that would make it a reality and I wanted to deny, deny, deny until absolutely necessary to accept.

Soraya put a hand on my arm. "Ava, what is it?"

"Nothing." I looked away. "I'm going to change out of these clothes. I'll meet you after."

She nodded, knowing not to prod any further. "Alright, we'll see you in a few."

I went to grab Natalia and let her know she could wear some of my clothes if she liked, and we were off to my room, receiving quite a few looks from the Elioud in the house. The feeling of being an outsider at the penthouse was returning full force and I was almost annoyed with the Committee for it. The guards were definitely overkill and I knew everyone was going to think it was my fault we were in this situation.

"I've never been to a rebel haven but I must say, it's nice. Not very welcoming but I understand."

I opened the door to my room, waiting for her to walk in before closing it. "They're surprisingly rough around the edges for a group of part angels but I've learned to deal with it."

Natalia sat gracefully on the side of my bed and crossed her legs as she watched me go to my closet for clothes. "So what's going on with you and Gabriel?"

My breath caught in my throat, her question the last thing I expected. I began to pull out a few items, attempting to cover the guilt in my voice. "What do you mean? He was difficult at first but our friendship has grown."

"Ava, don't mistake my kindness for naivety. Something happened between you two. Gavin certainly has noticed."

Shit. I had a feeling he had but I was hoping I was wrong. "I don't know what to say..."

"I'm not trying to make you feel bad. You can talk to me about it. It's just us. No prying ears around."

I sighed and tossed the clothes onto the bed, turning to face her. "I haven't slept with him. But something did happen..." I crossed my arms, feeling vulnerable despite her unprejudiced air. "I'd been upset about Gavin and I didn't know if I would ever see him again. Gabriel just...we have a connection and I was looking for an outlet. I don't know what I was thinking. I love Gavin and I will always choose him over everything but Gabriel...I hate myself for even saying this but it would just be easier if Gabriel were the one."

"Come sit down." She patted the spot beside her, waiting until I was seated to speak. "I don't blame you. An Elioud and a guardian are destined to fail due to the nature of the lives they must live. Amos and I have had our issues but we are both fellows and therefore stand more of a chance. You have the world working against the two of you. I can't see the future so I don't know whether things will work out but I do know that you never stop fighting for what or who you care for. Gavin will forgive you for this. It's just a matter of continuing to choose each other, no matter what."

She was right. And she was just the person I hadn't realized I needed to talk to. If anyone knew Gavin, she did. "I don't know how to tell him. I don't know if he's even in the same place he was before. I saw him in a dream before we went to Ezra and he was so different. Now he's...withdrawn."

Her eyes were understanding, as was her tone. "Give him time. He'll come around. When he does, you can talk. Just be honest."

"Okay. Thank you. I may or may not have been losing my mind over this. I just wish I could fast forward to the end where we're either together or not."

"Sometimes the journey is necessary to appreciate the ending."

And again with the wisdom. Did this woman ever have an off day? "I hope so." Clearing my throat, I stood and turned to the clothes I'd tossed on the bed. "Anyway, I've got lots of options for you. Mostly black because...well, this is New York."

A little while later we went to join the others. Everyone in the foyer had dispersed save for Soraya and a few others. Even the fellows were nowhere to be found. Soraya was quick to take us to where they were, in the office where I usually met with Makeda. One of the guards stood just outside while the others had spread about the penthouse. The meeting was split into groups once we walked in and I was surprised to see Gabriel, Gavin, and Ullrick in their own group. Everyone had changed as well and were now in regular dark clothing. Gabriel's arms were crossed, a sign he wasn't completely supportive of what they were discussing. I wanted to interrupt but I wasn't sure of how to do so. Lailah had also thrown me the evil eye once I'd walked in, distracted from her conversation with Amos and Rainen. Fortunately, Natalia made the decision for me, leading us straight up to the first group.

Gabriel briefly glanced at me but Ullrick and Gavin paid me no mind, causing another tug in my chest. It was killing me to feel so distant from Gavin.

"Look, it won't come to that," Ullrick was saying. "We'll find it. And we'll have enough back up from Ezra so the Elioud here will hardly have to lift a finger. I guarantee their safety."

Gabriel responded, his tone marginally exasperated. "I don't mean any disrespect but you can't guarantee something you don't know. I'll allow them to make their own decision and whoever decides to help can do so. But I won't force or try to sway them. I can't take advantage of their trust like that."

Gavin spoke next, clearly trying to mediate the conversation. "We aren't asking you to sacrifice your people. But we need all of the help we can get. Not just with your haven but all of the havens in New York. You're the one that can convince them. Without their help, our chances of winning diminish. Ezra will only send a certain amount of guards. The rest is up to us."

Gabriel shook his head. "I need some time to think about it."

Now was my chance. I knew I would probably be given looks of annoyance but persistence was a trait I was unwilling to subdue. "In the meantime, can we can discuss going to see Carter?"

Everyone was looking at me now and each look varied from frustration to sympathy. Gabriel was first to respond, his arms still crossed but his posture seeming to relax a bit as he turned to me. "We can try tonight. After meeting this guy though, I'm not sure he's the listening type."

"Absolutely not." Surprisingly, this statement came from Gavin. Not only was it straight to the point but it was firm. "Going into a Cambion den is just asking for trouble. It is also the most powerful den in the city. Criminals aren't even allowed to join because it's such a tight nit society. Only the most corrupt and successful are allowed and they control more than you realize from behind the scenes. They are not to be trusted so it's not happening."

Of everyone here, the last person I'd expected to get push back from was Gavin. What was worse was that he wasn't even looking at me but rather at Gabriel. "What? We have to. If Lucifer gets to him I don't know if I can separate them again. Carter will listen to me."

Finally Gavin turned to me, his gaze not unkind but certainly not friendly. "No, Ava. This could be what Lucifer wants. To lure you out because he knows you'll go to Carter."

"Then we go prepared. He won't listen to anyone else but maybe I can get through to him. I know him. I know how he thinks. We have to try."

Gabriel spoke up before anyone else could. "She's right. Lucifer will use him as leverage and once he has him it will be that much harder to help him. If we end up having to use Ava to find the den-"

"That won't be necessary. Your rebels have no choice but to find it." Gavin's tone was hard and unkind, certainly an authoritative tone I wasn't used to. This evidently was turning into a battle of testosterone but no one was going to speak on it.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes, his crossed arms flexing slightly. "I have no doubt they will but we have to plan for the worst. You're not seeing reason."

"I know exactly what I'm seeing."

Natalia spoke next, her voice soft. "Gavin, they're right. She won't be alone, she'll have us. She'll be safe. But we have to take away Lucifer's angle before it's too late."

Amos had joined our group some time in between the argument and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, hoping to relax the tension between he and Gabriel. "Brother, we'll all go together. The cambions wouldn't dare make a move against a fellow, let alone a group of fellows. We have to go now before Lucifer's influence takes over."

It had taken a lot but Amos' input was the final hammer swing at Gavin's stubborn wall, causing it to crumble. "Fine...I see your point. I don't like it but we will visit this cambion den tonight."

As much as they were different, Gavin was resembling a bit of Carter now in his fiercely overprotective nature. And slight amount of irrationality...

Either way, I was satisfied with the way the conversation had ended.

Rather than dwell on the decision he clearly also disagreed with, Ullrick took control of the conversation and began discussing strategy and escape if we happened to be walking into an ambush. After deliberation over the details, we all gathered our weapons and headed for the main foyer to dematerialize. A few of the rebels would be joining us, including Soraya, Malek, and Lailah who hadn't said a word to me yet. That was fine by me though as the silent treatment was certainly preferable to our usual petty arguing.

Our group of fifteen formed a circle, linking hands. In the blink of an eye we were warping out of the foyer and to the foyer of the cambion den.

And boy did it look just as evil as I remembered.

The cambion den was located in Upper East Side and occupied all twenty floors of a dark glass skyscraper. The foyer was all black, mahogany, and red. To an outsider it would have resembled a punk rockstar's abode, but the thing that gave it away was the negative aura. It was cold, as though someone were blasting the air conditioning, and sounds were echoing throughout the walls, a sort of scratching noise.

There was no sign of malevolants but the man that came walking into the room, four men in black suits following him, was certainly no innocent. He was wearing a dark grey suit with a maroon tie, his gray hair cut short and slicked back. I recognized him immediately.

Carter's father.

His electric blue eyes, almost identical to his son's, narrowed at our group as he stopped just a few feet away. "You know you all are trespassing, correct."

"We do," Ullrick said, standing at the front of the group. "We have no quarrel here Kieron. We came merely to speak to Carter."

"I know why you came. To try and impose your ways on someone who already knows who he is. It won't work; however I do enjoy watching the good guys lose." His eyes scanned our group before landing on me, a maleficent smile spreading across his face. "Ava. Pleasure to see you again."

My skin crawled. "Can't say the same Kieron."

His smile never faltered. "I never understood why my son liked you. No upstanding background to speak of. Too timid. Interesting turn of events I must say." Returning his attention to Ullrick, he raised a brow. "Well. We expected you might come. However, you all will go no further. Carter will speak to Ava but Ava alone."

Amos spoke, his tone hard. "Why would we agree to that? You overestimate your authority here."

"You're standing in my house. Not the other way around. Your journey was pointless but these are the conditions. Feel free to leave if you can't abide by them."

I really didn't want to be left alone with them but I knew that no matter how dark Carter went, he would never hurt me. Making my way to the front of the group, I nodded at my comrades. "It's alright. I'll go. He won't hurt me."

"He's not the only one here," Gabriel said from where he stood beside Lailah who seemed generally disinterested in this conversation.

"I know. If I'm not back in ten minutes you can come for me." I began walking toward Kieron, pretending not to notice the sinister look in his cerulean eyes.

"Better make it fifteen," was Kieron's comment as he turned to guide me toward a dark hallway.

No one responded as we left, probably trying to decide how long they would wait before charging in after me.

The dark wood hallway we entered had low lighting, so low it might as well have been candlelight. We apparently were headed for the only open door at the end of the hallway, the room even darker there. Kieron was leading the way and behind me walked the men in suits, silent and ominous. Once we reached the door, Kieron stopped and held his hand out, ushering me forward. He said nothing but his eyes said it all.

You're not going to like what you find.

And he was going to be righter than I was ready for.

I entered the room, nervous but determined. The room resembled the likes of an office with a fireplace, everything either mahogany or black. The fireplace off to the left corner was lit, and before it stood Carter.

His back was to me, his left hand resting on the armchair before the fireplace. He was dressed as sophisticated he usually was, in a crisp black suit, his hair immaculate. But something was different and I could sense it as soon as I entered the room.

"Carter?" I said, walking over to him. I almost felt as though I shouldn't have been approaching him but then I remembered who he was. He was someone I cared for deeply and I knew that our bond was stronger than any evil influence.

He slowly began to turn as I stopped just behind him, and the sight of him shocked me. The first thing that stood out were his eyes. Their blue had darkened and there were circles as though he hadn't slept in weeks. His skin was still flawless but dull and his hair almost seemed a shade darker as well. The most shocking though was the look on his face, or rather in his eyes. It was an empty look, void of any emotion but exhaustion and indifference. "I'll tell you now: you're wasting your time."

"You don't even know why I came," I said, holding on to the little bit of nerve I had left.

"I do." He placed his other hand on the armchair. "To convince me to come with you before Lucifer's influence takes over."

"I want to help you. We want to help you."

His voice darkened. "The only thing those fellows care about is their own agenda. They wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you."

"So what if they're here because of me? They realized it was important to come and I won't let Lucifer take you if I can stop it. Carter, you're changing. You've been changing since the gates closed and it's not going to be long before he tries to use you as a vessel again. Please, come with us. We can protect you. You don't belong here."

"Do you hear yourself?" He walked around me, strolling across the room. "I'm a cambion, Ava. Part demon. I belong here more than I belong anywhere else. This is the only future available to me and I've accepted that. You should too."

"You know me, Carter. I never accept anything I know I can change." I turned, holding back on approaching since he clearly wanted the distance. "I don't care what your other half is. I know the good in you and I know you don't want this. You only think you do because it's in your nature. But it's only half your nature and you're the one who gets to decide. Not your father. Not Lucifer. You."

He didn't turn around, almost as if he was unable to look at me or even...ashamed. "My nature is as yours. I follow the dark and you follow the light. It's why we never worked when we were together. I always knew what I was but until I found out what you were, I didn't think anything of it. The night Gavin revealed himself, he told me to watch over you. For some reason he knew that despite my malevolent side, I would protect you at all costs. I still would never harm you but I also have an allegiance to my truth. I belong with my kind. You belong with yours. That's the end of it. I can't play both sides anymore when everything I am is here."

I was done trying to be diplomatic. It was time to play my last card: appealing to his human side. The side that remembered what it was like to care about people and have those people care about him. His father was the epitome of cruelty and was the reason why Carter hoarded so much bitterness. The fact that he was a cambion explained so much more of why he hated him.

He hated the fact that he was becoming just like him.

"I'm not asking you to change your nature. I came only to keep you from doing something you're going to regret." I began to approach him, hoping he wouldn't walk away again. "It's just you and I right now. Forget the fellows or your father. Forget what Lucifer wants from you. What do you want?" I'd walked around to stand face to face with him and reached for his wrist, pulling his hand from his pocket. I laced our fingers together, forcing him to look into my eyes.

He flinched but didn't pull away, seeming to debate his answer. A moment passed before it finally came. "To be free..."

There was a loud crash and a yell, clearly coming from the foyer. It sounded like fighting and the yell sounded as though it had come from Soraya. My heart lurched but before either of us could move, the door was yanked open. Six possessed came rushing through, daggers drawn as they fanned out before us. The one in the center spoke, his eyes glowing. "We've come for the girl. Lucifer does not want us to harm you cambion."

Carter released my hand, turning toward them. "You are not welcome here. Leave now. I won't ask again."

"We were invited and we're not leaving without her. This is your last chance to step aside."

Carter narrowed his eyes. "Let's not waste any more time then."

Everything happened very quickly after that. The possessed moved first, charging at us. I was quick to retrieve the dagger I'd strapped to my thigh and Carter retrieved his own dagger from atop the desk just beside him. Two of the possessed were headed toward me so I grabbed the wrist of one, twisting and rotating him in front of me to block the attack from the other, the oncoming dagger delving deep into his comrade's stomach. I delivered a swift kick to the malevolent's back, shoving the two of them forward to the floor to give myself time to focus on the other approaching. She was quick but not quick enough, swiping her dagger at me and narrowly missing. We dodged each other, both swiping and missing until I was able to catch her in the neck.

Carter was doing just as well if not better than I was. He'd already managed to take the dagger of one and wield it as his own, slicing through the possessed with minimal effort now that both hands were armed. I'd been busy with my own fight but glancing over at him, I was impressed by his fighting ability. How long had he been training? Since he was little? Since he'd joined the cambion den? He seemed to be a well-seasoned fighter as he finished just as I did, both of us looking at each other before sprinting through the door.

I wasn't prepared for what we would find though. The foyer was swarming with possessed, almost too many for us to handle.

Too much to handle without fellows that is.

Two of the guards had come with us and were flying about the room, disposing of the possessed like yesterday's trash. Everyone else had their weapons out, slicing through the enemies around them as quickly as possible. Gabriel and Lailah had teamed up as well as Amos and Natalia, predicting one another's moves and able to kill the possessed two at a time using a combination of their weapons and their angelic energy. Ullrick was in his element of course, his moves so fast and powerful they were impossible to defend. The only ones missing in the room were Kieron and his guards.

"Son. What the hell are you doing?" Kieron was standing at the top of the winding staircase to the left, the guards flanking him. His eyes were wide in disbelief as though he'd been betrayed.

Carter's response was immediate, his tone hard. "What did you do?"

"What you didn't have the nerve to do!" He motioned to the guards standing beside him and pointed at me.

Carter grabbed my arm, turning to me. "Run."

I wanted to. I knew that Lucifer was after me and had used this opportunity to trap us. But I also knew that he wasn't here, only his minions were. No matter the number of possessed, we could kill them. The question is, how much time did we have before Lucifer did arrive?

"Ava, run!"

I turned to look over at the fighting and realized what I needed to do. I looked back at Carter. "Get back."

Realizing what I was about to do, he stepped back, looking over at his father.

Calling forward the energy in me, I allowed it to build into two balls in the palms of my hands. I was preparing to release it, ready to destroy each possessed in the room, watching as the guards approached from my left. The blue light was growing in my hand but just as it reached the power I wanted it to, a crippling pain shot up my neck and into my head. I jammed my eyes shut and cried out, dropping to one knee as the angelic energy went back into me.

'Did you think I would allow you to walk away this time?'

Lucifer.

Not here, but inside my mind. An ominous voice that made my skin crawl.

I grabbed my head, the searing pain overwhelming as it suffocated my mind. I could barely comprehend what was happening around me, placing my hand on the side of my head as my other hand pressed against the ground in an attempt to keep me upright.

"Gavin!" It was Carter's voice, far away. His hand was on my shoulder but that was all I could feel.

'You should have come to me when you had the chance. Now everyone you love will pay. I will have you even if I have to kill every last fellow to get to you.'

Someone else was standing above me but I wasn't sure who until they spoke. "What's wrong with her?"

Gavin.

Carter's voice was calm but the urgency was there. "It's Lucifer. He's close. You have to get her out of here."

"Okay." A hand touched my shoulder but I was barely aware of it, attempting to force the evil out of my head. "Ava, I've got you."

In a moment the pain was fading and that familiar feeling of my stomach twisting was taking over. We were dematerializing and only a second later were back at the rebel penthouse.

"Let's get you over here." Gavin helped me to my feet, an arm around my waist, the other holding my hand as he walked me to the nearby couch. He sat me down and kneeled before me, placing his hand on my thigh. "Are you alright?"

I started to nod then realized my head was still pounding as though I now had a major headache. "Yes," I breathed out. "Lucifer was in my head. I didn't know he could do that."

"The closer he is, the more powerful he is. He must have been coming for you."

My vision was blurry but once I looked up and saw Gavin's green eyes, it seemed to focus. "I guess now is the moment where you say I told you so."

The corner of his mouth lifted the smallest bit. "I wish I'd been wrong."

I put my hand over his, my other against my forehead as though holding the headache at bay. "Thank you for being there."

"I'll always be there for you. No matter what may be happening between us."

"So something is going on then...?" We were alone and I wasn't sure for how much longer but I was going to take advantage of it. The two guards that had been left behind had been ordered to circle the perimeter of the building to ensure no one got in that wasn't supposed to so it was just the two of us.

"Ava, this isn't the time." His eyes diverted from me.

"Yes, it is. Tell me, Gavin. Please."

"Alright..." He returned his eyes to me. "I know something happened between you and Gabriel. I know because we're connected and I could feel it."

Shit. Natalia had already confirmed it but I was still willing to live in Denial Land until he said it himself. Now that I couldn't run from it, I didn't know what to say. "Gavin. I'm so sorry. I didn't-"

"It doesn't matter now. I told you to move on. The only one I have to blame is myself."

I didn't know whether to shake him, slap him, or kiss him. I wanted to call him an idiot and tell him it meant nothing because I only wanted to be with him. Unfortunately, as always, our moment was over too soon and I wasn't going to be able to.

Lailah, Gabriel, Rainen, and Soraya dematerialized into the foyer. Shortly after them the rest of the group followed. Soraya was the first to rush to my side, placing a hand on my shoulder and asking if I was alright. Behind her came Natalia and Amos. I assured them all I was fine, my heart dropping as Gavin stood and walked away. I wasn't sure where he was headed but I didn't have much time to contemplate it.

The crowd around me parted as Gabriel approached, his body language tense. He waited for me to stand before speaking. "You alright?"

I nodded at him, the tension between us palpable in the air. I was pretty sure Gavin had left but I couldn't see through the large group that was now in the foyer, sheathing their weapons and discussing what had just transpired. "Lucifer was close so he was able to get into my head. What happened with Carter?"

"He told us he was going to stay behind and to not come back." Soraya had piped in, her voice soft. "I'm sorry, girl. We tried."

"It's alright. We did try." It wasn't alright but there wasn't much more that could be done. Carter had made his choice. "Thank you for coming."

She touched my arm, throwing me a sympathetic look. "Of course."

Gabriel spoke next. "There has been a development though. One of the possessed revealed the location of the clan. We're going there as soon as we can regroup to end this all tonight."

"Good. I'm assuming you're going to tell me to stay here?"

The smallest of smirks graced his face. "I am. And you're not going to fight me on this. Especially now with what just happened."

"You're right." I wanted to laugh at the surprised look on both his and Soraya's face but held it in. "I'll stay here. I promise. I know I'm a liability and it's best that I stay away."

"Well....good." Gabriel seemed unsure of whether or not this was a trick but he didn't speak on it. "Soraya, Malik, and a few others will stay with you just in case. If anything happens, you get out, you hear me? Don't stay and try to fight if the possessed somehow get in. Which they shouldn't because the fellow guards will be circling the building."

I nodded. "I know. I will. You guys just stay alive alright?"

"We will." He turned to join the rebels standing off to the side, ending the conversation.

Leaving everyone to converse and go over plans, I began heading for the roof. I was feeling a little suffocated so some fresh air would do me well. I was also still horrified by the fact that Lucifer was able to get into my head and literally cause me pain. Was there even a possible defense against this? Perhaps if I weren't only part angel but full. Otherwise the king of Hell could do with me as he liked.

The air was crisp as I emerged, the cloudy night sky darker due to the covering of the moon. It was almost a premonition of what was to come. Darkness.

I didn't intend to say it out loud and make it real but something felt wrong. Lucifer had been so close and hadn't tried to take me or Carter? Or sent more possessed since the Cambions had tipped him off? It didn't make sense. Why hadn't he capitalized on a clear opportunity? Was he really that fearful of the fellows?

"Girl, you know we have a perfectly good living room with heat right?"

I smiled, turning around to face Soraya; Rainen walking behind her. "I do. I like the cold."

She raised a brow at me, the three of us moving to one of the firepits and sitting in the chairs around it. "You like being uncomfortable?"

"I think I'm just used to it." I sat back in the chair, looking over at Rainen. "How are you? After the catacombs, I mean. I've been wanting to tell you how sorry I am. It's my fault we were caught. Makeda told me you were alright but..."

Rainen was in his human form again but still looked out of place sitting on a wicker chair. His posture was impossibly straight, hands rested atop his thighs as though he were ready to meditate. "I am fine, Ava, and I don't want you to hold any guilt over what happened. I am ultimately the one at fault as I shouldn't have followed Elyon. It's all over now. I don't want you to dwell on it anymore. You did an amazing thing and were incredibly brave."

I didn't feel as though I had in any shape or form but Soraya was giving me an encouraging look so I couldn't exactly disagree with him. "Thank you. I just wish there were a quicker way to get to Lucifer. His power is just so..."

"He's one of the strongest to ever live. As a fallen original, he harnesses the power of Heaven and Hell, a lethal combination. He also created Hell which I believe is the main reason why the originals and the committee refuse to destroy him themselves. He may be more powerful than any fellow to ever exist."

A shiver ran through me at Rainen's words, Lucifer's voice echoing in my head.

I will have you even if I have to kill every last fellow to get to you.

Soraya spoke, her voice low, arms crossed. "Why do you think he hasn't tried to kill anyone himself? He always uses puppets."

"I don't know. Perhaps because if he were to reveal himself we may discover his weakness, if he has one. Or perhaps because it's easier to have the possessed do his bidding since he sees them as expendable."

Her brown eyes registered his answer. "Why do a job when you can sacrifice others to do it...."

"Exactly."

I leaned forward, forcing out the question I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer to. "Do you think we can win?"

Rainen waited a moment, his grey eyes looking not just at me but in me. "I don't know."

*~*~*~*~*~*