Heart Of Stone

Chapter Eight

EMILY'S POV
I roll onto my side to look at the clock on my bedside table. I try to see through my blurred vision. It's two in the morning. I haven't slept at all tonight. I had been too busy crying. I still could not  wrap my mind around the fact that Sera, the one person I trusted with every small thing in my life, every hope, every dream, every secret, had lied to me. I thought she trusted me more than that. I thought that I could be a trustworthy Seraphim just like her. I've always looked up to her like an older sister. But I guess some things are just too good to be true.
I think of texting Lute to see if she's still up but I don't know if I should bother her. Gosh I just want to be held by her right now. I continue crying silently. My heart hurts... it feels broken.
"Forget it..." I mutter to myself as I reach for my phone.
I scroll until I find her contact and click on it.
Me: Hey... you still up?
Her response is fairly quick for this time of night.
Lute: Yeah, is everything okay?
Me: I don't know honestly...
Lute: What happened Em?
Me: Sera
Lute: Oh... What did she do?
Me: Lied. Again.
Lute: Do you want me to come to you?
Me: Can you? Please?
Lute: Alright. I'll be there in just a minute. I love you.
Me: I love you too.
I put my phone down and try to wipe some of the tears from my cheeks. Glancing over at the mirror, I notice how bad I look. My eyes are very red and puffy. I'm definitely not pretty by any means right now.
After a couple minutes, I hear a soft knock on my door. I open it and have to resist the urge to throw myself into my partner's arms.
"Oh, come here you." Her voice is softer than I've ever heard it.
I finally give into my desires and go into her arms.
She moves so she's sitting on my bed.
"Ok Emmy, talk to me. I don't like seeing my Seraphim so distraught."
"Did you know we have a redeemed Sinner in Heaven?" I blurt the question before I can stop myself.
"Hold on, back up. No, I did not know about this. What are you talking about?"
"Well apparently, Sera has been hiding a soul from Hell who arrived here right after the last Extermination. I knew that he arrived, he appeared right in front of us. But I had no idea that he wasn't an average angel."
"So you are telling me that the High Seraphim has been keeping this information from the entirity of Heaven?"
"Yes! I just... I don't know how to feel Lute. She has always been like an older sister to me. I thought the only thing she was keeping from me was the Exterminations. I thought... she was done with the secrets."
"I know Em... I know. But maybe she has her reasons for hiding things. Some people keep things secretive because they don't want to risk hurting or pushing someone else away."
"She says it's for my safety or some crap like that. I don't believe it. You can only use an excuse for so long."
"Yeah... so let me get this straight. Redemption is possible, correct?"
"Apparently. Which is amazing. I think they deserve a second chance."
"Right... anyways, the sinner now turned winner resides up here amongst the rest of the angels?"
"Yes. He's been here for a few months now."
"And Her Highness has not said a word to anyone about where he is from?"
"Right. And I don't understand why."
"Well Em, it seems to me that she may be struggling with the idea of redemption herself. I mean think about it, it's not something any of us are used to. Hell, like Heaven, is meant to be forever. When all is said and done and souls leave their Earthly lives, where they live out eternally is where they stay. That is how it is supposed to work. And that is how its always  been. Redemption is an entirely new thing for us."
I knew she had a point. I let out a heavy sigh trying to keep the thoughts in my head in order.
"You look exhausted my Seraphim. Please try and rest."
"Will you stay?"
"Of course, Sweetie. I won't go anywhere."
"Thank you." My voice comes out as an almost whisper.
She lays down with me and begins to stroke my wings. I drift off into a restless sleep. My last conscious thought is of Sera and what I'm going to do now that I know about everything.
LUTE'S POV
I guess I must have fallen asleep. I wake up in a bed in a room that isn't mine. I remember that I'm in Emily's room. But Emily is no where to be found. I check my phone to see that she had texted me an hour ago saying that she was needed at the gates to welcome souls. I send a thumbs-up to her before sitting down my phone.
Seeing her last night so upset made my heart hurt in ways I never knew it could. But I can't help but think about what she had told me. There is a redeemed hellspawn in Heaven. That is completely unacceptable. That can't be right... demons belong in Hell. How the Heavens did he end up here? How can he come back from death but Adam can't?
This thought makes a wave of  hot anger flood through me. It wasn't fair. The one who deserved to come back alive is the one who stays dead. While the demon, the one who got himself into Hell in the first place, gets to come back alive, and somehow gets a spot in Heaven. I do understand why the High Seraphim kept him a secret. But I don't think Emily will understand so easily. She trusts everyone much too easily, which in this case, has gotten her hurt. But a hellspawn in Heaven is wrong. It can not stay this way. I must speak with the High Seraph about this.
I leave Emily's room and head to Sera's office. Taking a deep breath, I knock on the thick, wooden door.
"Enter." Her voice sounds tired. I can't much blame her though, there has been quite a lot going  on around here lately.
I enter the room and take a quick look around. The room is rather simple in appearance. The walls are white and overall bare. I do spot a couple of pictures of Emily and a few other angels however. The furniture is wooden and actually quite pretty. The Seraphim is sitting at her desk with a few stacks of papers in front of her.
"Greetings Lieutenant, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I must speak with you about a matter that could potentially be controversial." I am picking my words carefully, knowing that how I proceed will help me get more answers.
"Alright, I'm listening. What can I help you with?" She shifts in her chair  so she's looking at me. I notice that she has circles under her eyes.

I sit down across from her. "I have heard that there is a redeemed sinner amongst the winners."
She stiffens noticeably. "Where in Heaven's name did you hear that?"
"Emily mentioned something about it."
"Of course she did... yes, there is a redeemed soul in Heaven."
"But isn't that impossible? Hell is forever is it not?"
"It should be. That's how it has always been."

"So then why is he here?"
"I'm assuming by mistake. I'm not quite sure exactly how just yet, but I can assure you, Lieutenant, that it will not happen again."
I give a nod before responding.
"Emily is rather upset about all of this."
"I know... but she needs to understand that demons belong in Hell. They've earned their spot down there with the rest of the damned."
"I know your Highness."
"I know you are close to her Lute. May I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"I need you to make her see how wrong a hellspawn in Heaven truly is. Go to any measures necessary to do so. Please, I can't let her keep living in such denial."
"Yes your Highness, I will make sure of it. I swear to you."
And I would. I completely agree with the High Seraphim. I love Emily to pieces, but demons belong in Lucifer's realm.
"Thank you Lieutenant."
I nod and stand pushing in my chair.
"Of course. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be going.  I need to work with my soldiers today. Thank you for your time."
She nods at me with a small smile. I exit the room with a new sense of determination fueling me.