Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78259 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 391(@200wpm)___ 313(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“Because I love Fatou?”
The angel smirked. “What does a demon know about love?”
My heart ached. “Everything.”
A screeching nose sounded from the top of the cell. Whatever being was up there, didn’t like the presence of this angel in the cell.
The angel looked up. “There is so much evil in this castle. My brother has truly embodied darkness.”
“Adae is your brother?”
The angel put his attention on me. “As you are my brother. We are all children of God.”
“But. . .who are you?”
“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand and serve before the Glory of the Lord.”
“Can you help me, Raphael?”
“You want Fatou and Jade safe?”
“Yes. Can you protect them?”
Raphael leaned his head to the side. “That is all you want?”
I held my hands together and shook them. “That’s it. Protect them. Make sure Adae never grabs Jade. He said he had plans for her. Keep—”
“And what of your safety, demon? Why not beg for your freedom?”
“I assumed I would only be granted one wish.”
Raphael’s chuckled. It sounded like several children giggling at a birthday party. The sound echoed off the cell’s walls.
I frowned. “What is so funny?”
“I am not a genie, demon.”
“A genie gives three wishes. How many do you grant.”
“Actually, genies give more than three wishes. They just never tell you because they are liars.”
“But. . .can I get more wishes from you?”
“Wishes.” He grinned. “God gives blessings.”
“Then, how many blessings can I receive?”
“God is more intrigued by your desire to protect Fatou.”
“G-god. . .” I shivered in fear and stepped back. “H-he heard me?”
“God is not a he or her. God is everything.” Raphael slowly flew around the cell as if wanting to get a closer look. “And yes, your prayers were heard. It has been centuries since a demon has prayed to God. All of heaven is talking about you.”
I held my hands out. “Then, will God help me?”
Raphael returned in front of me. “That depends on your faith.”
I searched the room as if I could see my faith in front of me. “But. . .”
“Do you have the faith that God will save you?”
“If an angel has come then I have a good chance, but. . .”
“And what is the but?”
“Why would God help me?”
“Why would he not?”
“I was told that. . .only a fallen angel could have the possibility of being redeemed. And that would depend on many circumstances. Anything the Lord created that was good but fell has a chance. But demon entities that were made by the fallen angels could never. . .”
Raphael laughed again. This time the sound was a choir of giggling girls.
I widened my eyes. “What is funny now?”
“Who told you this?”
“Lilith.”
“And you think she would be honest?”
I touched my chest. “Then. . .I can be saved? A demon?”
Raphael flew closer to me. Only a few inches ran between us. “Conversion requires a radical change of mind. Can malevolent deities regret their evil deeds and embark on a life of good?”
My bottom lip quivered. “Yes.”
“Would you be willing to serve God? Would you stand on our side when the Holy War comes?”
“T-that’s a possibility?”
“Will you, demon?”
“Yes. Yes.”
He rose higher in the air. “You must understand that serving God is not the same as serving Lucifer and Lilith.”
I raised my view to him. “What do I need to do?”
“Have faith.”
“But. . .will you break me out of here and give me a way to protect Fatou. I will also need—?”
Raphael laughed. This time the sound represented tons of men howling with joy.
I blinked. “What is funny now?”
“It is not what you need or want. It is what God wants.”
“What does God want?”
“Your faith.”
“Here.” I touched all over my chest. “Take it. Wherever it is. Grab it and then break me out of here.”
“Have faith, demon. Then God will bless you. However, I will give you this for now.” Raphael pointed behind me.
“What?” I turned around.
Soul-Breaker glowed in the corner.
Son!
Hope surged through me.
I raced that way and fell to my knees. More tears spilled from my eyes. I picked the sword up. “You’re back. You’re. . .fixed.”
I tightened my grip around the handle and turned back around. “Now what do. . .”
The angel had disappeared.
Cold darkness returned.
It was almost as if I imagined the whole thing.
However, I could still feel the angel’s presence nearby. Though, it was like having a tickle in the back of my head that I could not touch, but knew was still there.
Is he watching? Or is this my imagination?
Soul-Breaker rested in my hands.
I ordered the sword to hide.
It vanished.
I called the sword back.
It appeared again.
Laughing, I wiped the tears from my face. “God. . .I don’t know what you want from me, but what I do know is this. . .I will serve you. I will obey you. And. . .I will have faith.”
A lump formed in my throat and my eyes burned as I pictured Fatou in my arms once more.