“Please, help us,” said the little girl, her arm outstretched, a fresh tear tracking down her face. Unable to stop herself Katia stepped forward, drawn by the sadness in the little girl’s eyes. A feeling of dread washed over her as she slid her her hand into the little girl’s. A split second later that small hand clamped down on hers with the strength of ten men, yanking her off her feet and slamming her face-first into the bars of the cell. Pain exploded as she crashed down to the floor. Dragging herself up, Katia caught a flash of red eyes, and heard the scraping of metal on stone as the door opened. They were demons. Katia felt the static charge in the air as they unleashed their true natures. Their eyes flashed like laser beams as they chattered amongst themselves.
“She came as predicted.”
“Such a shame we aren’t allowed to kill her.”
“She would be such fun to play with.”
Katia lunged for the gun she had dropped, but was brought up short by a swift kick to the side of her head that flung her into the opposite wall. Stone dust rained down upon her with the force of her impact, her insides felt like they’d been put through a blender, a slow trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth. Wiping the blood with the back of her hand, Katia scrambled to her feet and unsheathed a charmed throwing dagger from her arsenal.
“Oh, look. Kitty has claws,” the little boy looked as though he’d stepped out of the pages of Oliver Twist, an evil grin playing around the edges of his lips. He launched himself at her, teeth and nails sharpening into points as he flew through the air. Katia was propelled backward as they collided, landing hard on the stone floor. One of the flags cracked beneath them as they struck, her skull connecting painfully, she saw stars. A strange warmth spread over the hand that was pinned between her body and that of the tiny demon. Realizing her attacker was oddly still, Katia raised her head, wincing at the stabbing pain, and shoved him off of her. As the body rolled to the side she saw the dagger protruding from his chest, his tar-like blood ran from the wound. Once piercing red eyes were open in a lifeless stare.
Katia was shaking. It was one thing to shoot cleanly from a distance, but this had been up close and personal. A shocked gasp from the waif-like little girl jerked her attention back to the duo standing with shocked stares. Grabbing the hand of the child beside her, the little girl narrowed her eyes on Katia and muttered something in a language Katia had never heard. A split second later they disappeared, leaving Katia staring at the space they had once occupied. Still shaking, she dragged herself slowly to her feet. Wiping blood on the pant leg of her black jeans, Katia stared down at the dead demon. The childlike face began to morph into something far more sinister, with blackened veins tracking like a roadmap under his skin as he shriveled and rotted before her eyes. Katia gagged and spun away as her stomach rebelled. A bright flash of light nearly blinded her. Katia blinked rapidly and gasped as her eyes focused on Uriel, her father, standing directly in front of her.
“Wh…what are you doing here?” She asked in confusion.
Uriel smiled and moved toward her, pulling her into a hug. “I’m here to help you, my child.”
“But you can’t be here. Luc told me angels can't enter Sheol. Something about upsetting the balance.” She replied as she hugged him back hard.
Uriel leaned back to look Katia in the eye. “The balance is no longer in force. As soon as you entered Halja, we were able to intercede in the doings of Sheol. Your arrival here has upset the balance.” Uriel cupped Katia’s cheek lightly and kissed her on the forehead. “I wasn't about to allow you to undertake this venture on your own, it's far too dangerous. The balance needs to be restored, and the only way that can be accomplished is through the rescue of your brother and the binding of your joined soul to a being other than Satan.”
Katia breathed a relieved sigh. “Thank you for coming. How did you know I’d be here?”
Uriel smiled. “Amir alerted us to your plans.”
Katia let out a relieved nervous laugh. “I could kill him...and kiss him at the same time! How many angels are coming?”
Uriel’s face settled into seriousness. “There will be several of us, though I’m unsure of exact numbers. Don’t underestimate the amount of danger you are in even with assistance. The most difficult task will still be up to you. You will have a decision to make that will change the course of reality as we know it. The future will be yours to decide.”
Katia frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Sighing, Uriel replied, “You and your brother are the lynchpin on which the future rests. Your joint decisions will set the path for the next phase of history.”
Katia let out a shaky breath. “So no pressure or anything.”
Uriel rested his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. “I have faith in you, my daughter.”
“So the fate of the world depends on us…Satan knows this, so he used my brother to draw me here?” Katia asked.
Uriel simply nodded. “I’m sorry that this has fallen to you, but Satan would have realized you would come for Keir if he were in danger.”
“I’m glad you have faith in me because, at this point, I’m absolutely terrified,” Katia replied, looking up at her father with trepidation in her eyes. “What if we make the wrong choice? What if we can’t agree on the right choice? We don’t know anything about each other. We’re complete strangers...”
Her father looked down at her with
