WHEN HEAVEN CAME FOR HER
1298 Words
The sky was burning.
Naya stood frozen beneath it, staring at the thousands of white figures descending through the clouds.
Angels.
She had always imagined angels as beautiful creatures with gentle faces and glowing wings.
These were nothing like that.
Their armor gleamed like polished silver.
Their wings stretched across the sky like enormous white storms.
And every single one carried a weapon.
Swords.
Spears.
Bows.
Some carried weapons Naya couldn't even name.
They weren't coming to save anyone.
They were coming for her.
Naya's fingers tightened around Azrael's.
She suddenly realized something.
He was still holding her hand.
His grip was firm.
Protective.
Almost possessive.
"Azrael."
He didn't answer.
"Azrael!"
His eyes remained on the sky.
"Don't let go."
Naya stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because the moment you leave my reach, they will take you."
She swallowed.
"Where?"
"Heaven."
"Isn't that supposed to be good?"
Azrael finally looked at her.
"No."
Something in his expression made her stop asking questions.
The angel who had spoken earlier descended until it hovered several meters above them.
"Azrael Veyron."
His voice echoed across the entire street.
"Hand over the girl."
Azrael's expression remained cold.
"No."
"You have no authority over her."
"I don't need authority."
The angel's wings spread.
"She is dangerous."
Azrael glanced at Naya.
For the briefest moment, something unreadable crossed his face.
"I know."
Naya's mouth fell open.
"Excuse me?"
He ignored her.
The angel continued.
"Her soul belongs to the First Gate."
Azrael's jaw tightened.
"The Gate was sealed."
"It was."
"Then why are you here?"
The angel's gaze shifted toward Naya.
"Because she is the key."
Naya felt a chill run through her.
"The key to what?"
Neither answered.
She looked between them.
"I think someone needs to start explaining things to me."
The angel looked at her.
"You don't remember."
"Apparently everyone knows something about me except me."
The angel's eyes narrowed.
"You will remember soon."
Naya's stomach tightened.
"And when I do?"
The angel raised its spear.
"You will remember why you must die."
Naya's breath caught.
Azrael stepped forward.
Darkness rolled from his body.
The streetlights shattered.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
The angel's expression changed.
"You would fight Heaven for one human?"
Azrael smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile.
It was terrifying.
"I have fought Heaven for less."
The angel lifted its spear.
"Then you will fall with her."
Hundreds of angels raised their weapons.
Naya instinctively stepped backward.
Azrael's hand tightened around hers.
"Stay behind me."
"Why?"
"Because I won't ask twice."
For once, Naya obeyed.
The angel shouted.
"ATTACK!"
The sky exploded.
White fire rained down.
Azrael raised one hand.
A wall of black flame erupted from the ground.
The heavenly fire collided with it.
BOOM!
The shockwave threw Naya backward.
She hit the ground.
"Zuri!"
She looked around.
Her friend was nowhere.
Panic seized her.
"Zuri!"
A shadow moved beside her.
Azrael.
He appeared instantly.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.
"Where is your friend?"
"I don't know!"
His eyes scanned the battlefield.
Then he stopped.
His expression changed.
"Naya..."
"What?"
"Don't move."
She froze.
Something was behind her.
She could feel it.
Cold breath touched the back of her neck.
A voice whispered:
"Found you."
Naya turned.
A creature stood there.
Not an angel.
Not a demon.
Something else.
Its body was covered in black scales.
Its eyes were white.
Its mouth opened far too wide.
Naya screamed.
Azrael moved.
He didn't walk.
He vanished.
One second he was beside Naya.
The next, he stood between her and the creature.
The creature lunged.
Azrael caught its throat with one hand.
The creature thrashed.
Azrael's eyes burned red.
"You were told to stay beyond the Gate."
The creature hissed.
"She belongs to us."
Azrael's fingers tightened.
"No."
The creature laughed.
"You cannot protect her forever."
Azrael's expression became deadly.
"Watch me."
He squeezed.
The creature's body began turning to ash.
It screamed.
And then it disappeared.
Naya stared at him.
"What..."
Azrael turned toward her.
"Are you hurt?"
She couldn't answer.
He stepped closer.
"Naya."
"I'm fine."
His eyes moved over her face.
Then her arms.
Then her body.
Checking.
Making sure she wasn't injured.
She noticed.
"Why do you care?"
He went still.
"I don't."
Naya frowned.
"You just destroyed that thing."
"It attacked you."
"Exactly."
"I would have done the same for anyone."
Naya looked at the burning battlefield.
"Would you?"
Azrael said nothing.
She knew the answer.
No.
He wouldn't.
Suddenly, a cry came from behind them.
"NAYA!"
Zuri.
Naya spun around.
"Zuri!"
Her friend was standing several meters away.
But she wasn't alone.
An angel stood behind her.
A sword rested against Zuri's throat.
Naya's blood ran cold.
"Let her go!"
The angel shook its head.
"Come with us."
Azrael's expression became murderous.
"Release her."
The angel smiled.
"You cannot save both."
Naya looked at Zuri.
Then at Azrael.
The angel pressed the blade closer.
"Choose."
Naya's heart shattered.
She took one step forward.
Azrael grabbed her wrist.
"No."
"They'll kill her."
"I know."
"Then let me go."
"No."
Naya stared at him.
"You said you wouldn't let them take me."
"I won't."
"Then what do we do?"
Azrael looked at the angel.
Then at Zuri.
Then back at Naya.
For the first time, Naya saw something in his eyes.
Fear.
Not for himself.
For her.
He leaned toward her.
"Listen carefully."
"What?"
"If I tell you to run..."
He paused.
"...you run."
Naya shook her head.
"I'm not leaving Zuri."
"You may have to."
"No."
His expression hardened.
"Naya."
"No!"
The angel suddenly lifted its sword.
Zuri screamed.
Azrael's eyes flashed.
Time stopped.
Everything froze.
The falling rain.
The flames.
The angels.
Zuri.
Even the smoke hanging in the air.
Everything.
Except Azrael and Naya.
Naya stared around in disbelief.
"What did you do?"
Azrael looked at her.
"I stopped time."
Her heart pounded.
"You can do that?"
"Only here."
"Why?"
"Because this place belongs to me."
Naya frowned.
"This place?"
Azrael looked at her.
For the first time, he seemed to realize he had said too much.
Naya's eyes widened.
"What do you mean?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward Zuri.
Naya followed.
The frozen angel stood motionless.
Azrael raised his hand.
A black flame appeared in his palm.
Naya stared.
"What are you going to do?"
"Something necessary."
"No."
He looked at her.
"You don't understand."
"Then explain."
His expression softened.
"If I don't destroy this angel, it will take your friend."
"Can you save her without killing it?"
Azrael was silent.
Then he said:
"Yes."
He touched the angel's forehead.
The creature vanished.
Time resumed.
Zuri collapsed.
Naya rushed toward her.
"Zuri!"
She caught her before she hit the ground.
"Are you okay?"
Zuri nodded weakly.
"I think so."
Naya hugged her tightly.
Then she felt something.
A strange warmth against her chest.
She pulled away.
"What is that?"
Zuri looked confused.
"What?"
Naya reached beneath her shirt.
Something was glowing against her skin.
She pulled out a necklace.
A necklace she had never seen before.
It was an old silver chain with a black stone hanging from it.
Azrael stared at it.
His face went completely pale.
Naya noticed.
"You know this?"
He didn't answer.
"Azrael."
Still nothing.
She held it up.
The black stone suddenly cracked.
A thin line of red light appeared inside it.
Azrael stepped backward.
For the first time since Naya had met him...
the Devil looked afraid.
Then a voice came from the necklace.
A woman's voice.
Soft.
Broken.
Ancient.
"Azrael..."
His eyes widened.
The voice whispered again.
"You promised you'd find me."
Naya looked at him.
"Who is that?"
Azrael didn't answer.
Because he already knew.
The woman spoke one final time.
"I'm back."
The necklace exploded.
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