Prophecy

Chapter 65: Angel

*Grace's POV*

As I knelt next to the next human in need of healing, my hands glowed with a soft, warm light. My divine energy flowed through me as I mended torn flesh and shattered bones. I lost count of how many humans I had helped, and it was refreshing to show my supernatural abilities and not have people be afraid.

Once I finished healing the woman—the last human in severe pain—I helped her stand, and she hugged me. I returned it with a smile and watched as she regrouped with the rest of her surviving family members.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes briefly, and stretched my body.

Soon, a police officer stood beside me, his face etched with the heavy burden of the day's horrors. I couldn't imagine how witnessing the battle of a Horseman truly affected the humans, and I knew everything that happened tonight would be formidable. Let alone the many deaths that surrounded us—I knew it took a toll on everyone. The officer that I worked with exchanged a grim look with me.

I knew it was hard for him.

It was hard for everyone involved.

Sadly, I glanced toward the unfortunate pile of the nearby bodies that had been collected—lives that no amount of my power could bring back.

Those souls were too far gone for any help.

"They'll need to be identified," I murmured, my voice thick with sorrow for all those I couldn't save. Looking back at the officer, I added, "And their families... they'll have to be notified, too."

The officer nodded solemnly, his expression hardening as he readied himself for that specific task. I couldn't imagine how hard that was for a human to tell unexpected families that they lost their loved ones... their grief, tears, cries of pain... The thought of what that police officer had to do was utterly heartbreaking.

I had hoped he had help as well or at least someone to talk to once he finished his daunting task. Just as I was about to move on to the next task, a soft voice echoed in my mind, pulling my attention away from the scene.

It was Xavia.

Her voice was faint but filled with a desperate urgency as she said, "B-baby... I... n-need... you..."

An odd feeling crept over me.

I felt a sense of dread that I couldn't shake.

It was clear... Xavia was in danger.

I could feel it deep in my soul.

My mate was weak, her voice trembling, and I knew I couldn't afford to ignore it.

I turned to the officer, my voice urgent as I said, "I'm sorry, I can't stay. I have to go."

Without waiting for his response or even a reaction from him, I leaped into the sky and spread my wings. I took off as fast as supernaturally possible, the air whipping around me as I flew out of the city. My heart was pounding with fear for my mate's safety, but moreover... anger dwelled within... someone was at fault for her pain, and... I would be their consequence...

I was ready to kill.

When our balcony was in sight, I used my enhanced vision to observe what was happening. An armored individual relentlessly attacked Xavia, and as Zechariah's words permeated my mind, I had to let my love take over and harness it. With haste, I crashed through the balcony window, the glass shattering around me in a cascade of glittering shards.

In an instant, my eyes locked onto the figure hovering over Xavia's beaten form, and without a second thought, I launched myself at the assailant. My hand gripped the intruder's armor, and with a ferocity born of pure frenzy, I hurled them across the room like a worthless rag doll. The crash of the intruder's body against the wall was satisfying, but it did nothing to quell the wrath burning inside me.

As I saw Xavia lying there, battered and broken, on the cold floor, my vision turned red with rage. My heart ached to see her in such a state, and I felt my power surge, desperate to be unleashed on the one who had done this. The collision she made with the wall knocked her helmet off, and... the familiar figure of an angel stood before me... the same one I had seen in Heaven a few times. Realization dawned as I understood that this betrayal had been planned all along.

"Raquel," I snarled, my voice low and dangerous. "So, this is what you planned while I wasn't in Heaven?"

The angel's laugh was cold and mocking.

Her voice dripped with contempt and pride as she said, "I stole the Pestilence poison just for that devil bitch."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, the sound unsettling even to me. The best part was that Raquel's eyes resonated with fear.

"You don't know what you've done," I hissed, my eyes narrowing with a deadly intensity. "Do you want to know what someone will do to protect their mate? How far they're willing to go? Well then... I suggest you pay attention."

But Raquel wasn't done yet.

The angel attempted another strike at Xavia, her purpose clear.

I wasn't having that.

I created a dome barrier around Xavia in an instant, the golden light shimmering as the angel's blows bounced off it harmlessly.

"You really dare to attack her again after what I said?" I growled, my voice dripping with lethal intent. "Your life ends now."

Not giving her a chance to respond, I reached out with my telekinesis, my power wrapping around the angel's throat, lifting her off the ground. She gasped and struggled against the invisible force, her hands clawing at her neck as she fought for breath. Without hesitation, I phased into my Nephalem form, my wings unfurling to their whole span as I held her in place.

Oh yeah...

It was time to make amends.

An eye for an eye, right?

I lunged at her with everything I had, my body moving faster than the speed of light itself. I then leaped out of the broken balcony glass, carrying her with me as I ascended into the sky, high above the city. With a mere thought, I summoned all of my ranged weaponry—blades, daggers, shurikens, arrows—anything that could cause pain—and... I began to impale her, one after another, each one sinking into her flesh with a sickening crunch. I didn't care where they landed.

I just wanted to make her suffer.

Oh, and I was doing a fantastic job at that, too. Raquel's screams pierced the night, echoing across the sky.

She even had the audacity to beg me.

"Have mercy, please," she choked out, tears streaming down her face. "Let me go, and I'll just split; I promise you'll never see me again."

My eyes narrowed at her words. In fact, I clung to a specific word that she uttered...

Split, huh?

That's a terrific idea, actually.

Thanks, Raquel.

A cruel smile curled my lips as I whispered, "As you wish."

With a final, savage pull, I ripped her entire body in half, like tearing a piece of paper from top to bottom. Raquel's body glowed brightly as it started to vanish, almost as if she had never existed in the first place. I let the halves of her body fall, watching them disintegrate before they would even hit the ground below.

Now that she was gone, I took a deep breath and flew back to my mate.