The Angel of Death’s duty was to protect the souls of the departed and guide them to their next world. Azrael told Riley this path they presented led to Elysium, though he never heard Azrael accurately describe the Elysian fields. He assumed they stood in for heaven in whatever religion angels followed. If that were the case, then the creatures of heat, pain, and tortured screams must come from the place corresponding to hell.
No one remained for Riley to ask these types of things. Perhaps Strix would answer the questions, but Riley was afraid to confront the owl. He had screwed up stuff beyond recognition. The last time he and the ancient avian spoke, the bird reprimanded him for his mistake. No. He would not crawl back and ask Strix to teach him after things became complicated. He would
