Tempest’s POV

I couldn’t help but gap in shock as the door to the elevator closed. I could still feel my heart pounding in my chest, the image of Pandora’s glaring eyes haunting my thoughts. I had never seen anyone look so angry, let alone ready to kill, and the dark veins that appeared under her eyes were enough to give me nightmares. She looked so demonic that I had a hard time processing that she was my friend, and not a cold-blooded killer ready to strike someone down in revenge. Would she really have hurt Syn if Shadows hadn’t stepped in? I swallowed thickly at the thought, hoping that she would have come to her senses before things went too far.

Shadows let out a long whistle and scratched his neck, slowly shaking his head. “Someone sure pissed in her Cheerios in that chamber.”

“Wh-what happened to her in there?” I let my gaze travel away from the door to see Syn examining the ring with a deep frown etched in his face. “She was… terrifying.” I shuddered, trying to forget the way her eyes glowed as pointed the sword at Syn.

“The chambers are meant to unhinge the damned, and apparently it worked,” Shadows replied nonchalantly, studying the long dark blade in his hands. “Just be glad she didn’t actually use this thing. It’s sharp as shit. How the hell did she get this back anyway? I thought Dora’s sword was missing after the battle?”

I swallowed thickly and looked back over to see Gates pull off his ring and moved over toward the elevator. “Be damned if I know,” he grumbled before gently taking my hand and pulling me into his side. The instant our skin touched I felt a shockwave of goose bumps wash over me, taking my breath away. Why did he have that effect on me? It was like nothing I had ever experience before and it was addicting. “Let’s get out of here before Vengeance decides he’s the new ruler of Earth.”

“But what about Luci?” I looked over my shoulder toward the door, feeling my heart prang guiltily in my chest. We still hadn’t found her and I hated leaving Lumi and Drago alone down here. What if they got lonely?

Gates sighed and pressed his ringing into the little lock next to the elevator, opening the door with a loud ding. “I will send someone down to find him, don’t worry.” His hand slowly rubbed up and down my back, sending a wave of assurance through my body.

Nodding my head, I cautiously looked inside the dimly lit elevator, not know what would happen if I stepped inside. Why was everything down here so dark anyway? Did they have something against the light? I mean what not to like about the light? It’s warm, helps you see, and most importantly it shows you the way. Why anyone in their right mind chose to stay in the dark was beyond me.

“It’s okay,” Gates whispered in my ear, both of his hands landing on my hips before he lead me into the darkness. “It will take us back to my other office.”

“Your office holds the gateway between Earth and Hell?” Now I was a little confused. Did that mean the elevator could take me back to Heaven too? I quickly spun around in Syn’s arms and looked up into his dark eyes, a smile pulling at my lips. “Does it go to Heaven too? Can you take me back home?!”

Gates smirked down at me, as Shads snorted with laughter behind us. What was so funny about that? Maybe Gates was the gatekeeper angel! That made perfect sense for his name. “Unfortunately not, love. I can only get us back to Earth.”

“But you’re Hadraniel, the gatekeeper of the worlds, right? It shouldn’t be too hard to just drop me off back home.” I wrapped my arms around his neck with a smile on my face, only to see his smirk widen as Shadows exploded with laughter. What was so funny? “Isn’t that why they call you Gates?”

“Hadraniel? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” Shadows roared with laughter before he slammed his fist on the elevator wall. Just then, the door opened, revealing Syn’s office with the sun shining through the windows. Oh thanks be to God we were at least back on Earth! “More like he’s the gatekeeper to the under—”

Gates elbowed Shadows in the side before sending him a stern look. “Yes, I am the gatekeeper between worlds but don’t go around saying that too loudly. It’s a bit of a secret here,” he explained, leading me out of the elevator. “Do you think you can keep that secret for me?”

I nodded my head in understanding as I moved over toward the windows. Oh, the light felt so good on my skin I could almost cry. “Of course… I’m good with secrets.” I couldn’t help but dance in the radiant beams that cascaded through the window. The light just made me so happy! “Just ask the archangels!”

“The archangels entrusted you with secrets?” Shads raised a brow at me before exchanging a look with Syn. “What kind of secrets are we talking here?”

“Oh you know, just the normal stuff from the council meetings,” I shrugged, smiling as I moved in the sunlight, the warmth making me feel alive. Though not in the same way as when Syn’s lips touched mine. That was a whole other experience that I would gladly try again. I shivered in delight at the thought. “Some ancient prophecies… some private conversations with the Christ.”

“Huh… anything you’d be willing to share? You know, angel to angel?” Why was Shadows suddenly so curious about the archangels? It was like he’d never talked to one before. Didn’t all angels have close ties with them? I didn’t know, they kind of kept me secluded from most of the other angels in the Silver City.

I bit down on my bottom lip as I thought back. Since they were both angels walking on Earth, I guess there really wasn’t any harm in telling them some of the happenings in the Silver City, right? I mean, if I were to be successful with my purpose on Earth, they would come back with me to the Heavens when all was said and done. Or at least that’s what I expected to happen. “Well… before I was sent down to Earth, Archangel Michael was told me that they were going to have an council meeting about the rebellion of the fallen and legions on Earth. Something about stopping them before another war broke out with a secret weapon…” I mused, tapping my finger on my chin as I tried to think back.

“So the Heavens have a secret weapon?” Shadows hissed, his eyes growing wide as he looked over at Syn. He had been fairly quite since we returned to his office. I wondered if he was still upset about what happened with Pandora. Getting in a fight and having a sword shoved in your face would be enough to ruin anyone’s day, especially the gatekeeper. No wonder he seemed so upset when he couldn’t find his key to the gate.

“I don’t know,” I simply shrugged and opened the window, feeling the warm breeze blow through my long blond hair. Ahh… it felt so good! “They never said anything more… or rather I ended up here before they could tell me what happened.”

“Did they say anything else—”

“Enough with the questions,” Gates snapped, narrowing his eyes on the big brute. “Go check on the state of my affairs with Vengeance and Christ and make sure Pandora didn’t burn down my bar yet-a-fucking-gain.”

“But if she has information about the Heaven’s tactics, don’t you want to know to tell the—” Gates simply held his hand up, and Shadows let out a long sigh. I wasn’t sure what they were arguing about but I was glad that it was done. There had been way too much yelling for one day.

“Go set up a meeting and we will discuss all of that later,” Gates instructed, waving him off. “I’ve got some unfinished business to attend to with Enepsigos…” Unfinished business? What did he mean by that? Oh! Maybe he was going to help me with my purpose in saving the souls on Earth.

I still couldn’t shake the memory of all those poor innocent lives lost within the chamber. Just hearing their screams echo through the night as they all fell to their deaths and drowned in freezing water made me want to cry out in agony. I never wanted anyone to have to suffer like that again. I would do everything in my power to save the people of Earth, even if it meant losing my life in the process.

What happened to an angel when they died? Humans either went to Heaven or Hell, but no one had every answered the question of what happened to the immortals? Did we just cease to exist, or did we turn into humans, starting the whole cycle over again? I had no idea, though the thought of losing my life to save someone out somehow seemed worthwhile. It was my job to save humanity and that’s what I was going to do.

Suddenly I felt a heavy pair of hands land on my hips, pulling me backwards into a warm and hard chest. I took in a shaky breath, my nose filling with his mouthwatering aroma as I looked out the window over the city. It was beautiful in its own right, though it was nothing compared to the beauty of the Silver City.

“What are you looking at over here?” Syn wrapped his arm around my waist and I just melted into his side, looking up into his dark eyes with a dreamy smile. God, I could get used to this, especially since his smell alone was intoxicating.

“Just trying to decide where to start helping people.” I shrugged, feeling his lips moving slowly up my neck. Each little kiss left me with a jolt of electricity, and I had to close my eyes as the dizzying sensation hit. I swallowed thickly, trying not to let my mind wander to our last night together. Why did he make me feel so alive? “I have a purpose here and it’s time I start fulfilling it.”

“And what is that purpose?” His lips moving up and down my neck and shoulders were making it extremely hard to concentrate on what he was asking me. It was like I couldn’t get enough of his touch. I craved it.

I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck, his dark eyes bearing down into mine. “To help the lost souls return to the light,” I breathed, feeling him inching closer.

“You really want to help the damned?” Gates asked with a smirk, leaning into me so close that I had to lean backwards so I could still see his handsome face.

“You know I do,” I smiled, looking into those hypnotizing eyes of his.

“I want to hear you say it,” he whispered, coming closer and closer so he was almost dipping me backwards in his arms.

I raised a brow at him as he held me in his embrace, completely at his mercy. “I-I want to save the damned,” I breathed, his lips close enough to touch mine. He just let them linger there, brushing mine without actually touching my lips and driving me insane. I crave that feeling of pure bliss again. I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck to press my lips to his but he pulled away just enough to torment me, shaking his head with an amused smirk. What kind of game was he playing?

“So let’s start now,” Brian breathed, running hands down my sides. I was still wearing one of Pandora’s leather dresses and even though the smooth leather I could feel goose bumps. His lips moved back down to gently kiss the exposed skin on my neck. I couldn’t help but moan and close my eyes.
“Where are we going to start?” I breathed, feeling him scoop me up into his arms as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“There is a lost soul down the hall that you could start with,” he whispered against my neck, the warmth of his breath on my skin, almost killing me. “He just needs a little help finding the right light,” he explained, and I swallowed thickly. I felt my stomach heat up as his hands slid slowly over hips.

My eyes shot up to meet Syn’s and he was smiling down at me. Did he just say what I think he did? “Wh-what do you mean ‘the right light’?” I stammered after swallowing thickly. Was there more than one light to follow? I’d never heard of such a thing.

“The soul is just a little lost, and I think you know how to make him feel much better.” He pulled my hips against his and I could feel something hard pressing into my stomach. “You know, make everyone see the light…” He nibbled my earlobe and I felt myself losing all control as we entered the hallway.

I closed my eyes, taking in a shaky breath. “What do you say?”

“Yes,” I said breathlessly, feeling his thumb now tracing a ring around my nipple. What was this man doing to me?

“Then that is what—”

“Gates! The fallen are here to talk to you about—oh shit, sorry,” a voice called down the hallway only for Syn to let out a curse.

“Can’t you see I’m fucking busy,” Gates set me down on the floor, though his arm never left my waist. Which was a good thing, considering his lips on my skin had left me feeling dizzy. I didn’t think I could honestly stand by myself.

“I’m sorry, they are insisting on a meeting,” the guy named Vengeance sight, or at least I think that’s what his name was. Though I couldn’t help but notice the black and blue spot on his face. What happened to him?

“Fucking Hell, cant you tell them to come back later?” Gates ran a hand through his hair in frustration as I buried my face into his side. Why did he have to smell so Heavenly?

“I tried and Shads tried. They said they had important information to discuss.” Important information? Why would the gatekeeper need to meet with the fallen angels? Were they trying to get back to the Silver City to redeem themselves?

Syn let out another curse before he grumbled, “I’ll be there in a minute. Go make sure they don’t fucking kill each other.” Vengeance nodded before leaving Syn and I standing alone in the hallway.

“I’m sorry, but we will have to continue this later,” he sighed, ushering me down the hall. “How about you go find a nice book to read in the library?” he offered and I shook my head.

“If you’re meeting with the fallen about wanting to return to the Silver City, I might be able to help,” I offered, only for Gates to chuckle and shake his head.

“I appreciate the offer but they are not very open to strangers at their meetings. I’ll be back soon, just stay out of sight, okay?”

“Okay…” I pouted only for him to kiss the top of my head and gently push me into the library.

I spent the next hour looking through the shelves trying to find something interesting to read. The only problem was that my mind kept going back to all those lost souls roaming around outside. I couldn’t just sit inside and read when I could be helping someone else. It didn’t seem fair, not when I had so much work to do. But where could I start? I know Syn had an idea but my thoughts instantly traveled to the meeting Gates had with the fallen. I know he said they didn’t like strangers, but maybe if they knew I was an angel they would be able to help.

Without thinking twice I made my way back out into the hallway and down the grand staircase in the middle of the house. Where could they all have gone? Did Gates have a conference room in this giant mansion? I quickly turned to the left and started down another long hallway, only to hear voice coming from the very last room at the end. I reached out to push the slightly ajar door open, but what I heard stopped me dead in my tracks.

“What the hell are you talking about Gates?” A deep voice raged. “You’re the fucking Devil! The Lord of the underworld! Fucking Satan! You can do whatever you want! You don’t have to wait to make the next move! Let’s assemble the troops and get this shit moving before the Heavens get their supposed weapon ready!”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t do anything as the shock of the words I had just heard slapped me hard across the face. Satan? The Devil? Gates was Lucifer? I shook my head, as I tried to force air into my lungs. No… there was no way he could have been the Devil. He was Hadraniel, the gatekeeper… not God’s worst enemy.

“I need more time!” I heard Gates snap before slamming sound echoed through the room. “I may be the fucking Devil but I’m not a miracle worker! We need to have more information before we charge into this!”

No… no, he couldn’t be the Devil. He couldn’t be! He was too kind and protective to be the lord of the underworld… I shook my head, willing the tears away that were forming in my eyes. Though suddenly everything that happened between him, Pandora, and his men made sense. Oh my goodness… I was staying with the Devil!

“No” I finally gasped out, shaking my head and running the other way. I had to get out of here because I didn’t want to hear anymore. I was completely crushed.

I had been hanging onto the Devil, eat out of the palm of his hand, indulging in his every word…and now there was no way I would ever make it back to Heaven. I had been sitting on the lap of Heaven’s number one enemy… and-and I liked it. I felt so disgusted with myself that I thought I was going to be sick. I had to get out of here and quickly repent my sins and beg for forgiveness… I couldn’t be stuck on Earth forever…

I think what hurt the most was the fact that I liked the way he made me feel. There was just something about his touch and being in his presence that made me feel alive and free for the first time. But how could I like it?! I was and angel and he was the Devil! I was sick… very sick if I thought this could ever be okay. No, I had to get as far away from him before I was forever damned.

I ran as fast as I could toward the crucifix at the top of a large white building in the middle of the city. I had to find someone to help me, something to get rid of this dirty feeling that plagued my body. How could I have been so stupid? Trusting the Devil and his minions and enjoying their company? I was sick…and disgusting. God, what was wrong with me?!

Without thinking twice I burst through the doors of the church, looking around with wild eyes. Only right there in front of me was the last person I thought I would ever see in a church—Pandora. She was talking with a man dressed in black with a white collar, well until I burst through the door. Now they were staring at me with an unreadable expression.

“Teek? What are you doing here?”

Notes