The Devil's Daughter

Chapter 20 ~ Hating Him

Chapter 20 ~ Razakiel

"Where are you taking us? What are you doing? We're trying to find our friends; we need to get to Hell. Would you let me go?" The demanding voice reaches us in our isolated cell and immediately we are all on our feet.

"Isa?" I shout through the bars, "Isa is that you?" Silence ensues as soon as the words leave my lips.

"Zak?" My name falls from Abby's lips on a disbelieving gasp moments before the Shadow Reapers come into view, Abby and Isa firmly within their icy hands. Within seconds they are being shoved into the cell with the rest of us, the gate slamming back into place with a clang. Instantly Isa wraps her arms around me attempting to squeeze the life out of my body. A part of me wishes Abby had reached me first, a desperate desire to ensure she is unhurt surging through me, guilt bubbles up with the thought and I tighten my arms around Isa.

"Razz you're okay. We were so worried about you guys." Isa says pulling back from my grip and moving to see the others. As soon as she leaves my arms I move to Abby, my eyes flicking up and down her frame searching for injuries I cannot see.

"Abby," I breathe, stepping closer and slowly running my hands down her arms, her eyes move up to meet mine and her lips tilt up into an almost smile.

"Zak," I pull her into my arms before she can finish the name, "I'm glad you're okay," She mumbles into my chest, her smooth hands gripping the back of my shirt as she tightens her hold and releases a deep breath. The feel of her body relaxing and molding perfectly into mine sends a shiver running down my spine; I never want to let her go ever again. I rest my cheek on the top of her head, wanting to just breathe her in forever.

"I'm glad you're okay too. What happened to the three of you anyway?" I ask, not ready to let her go yet.

"What happened to Milli?" Isa's voice cuts off any answer Abby may have given me, breaking the trance the two of us are in before I'm ready. Abby releases her grip and steps away, slight colour rising in her cheeks as she realises what she has just done, the sight of the strongest angel I know blushing brings a smile to my face and I turn to Isa before Abby can notice my grin.

"Apparently, Milli and the Shadow Reapers..." Something almost resembling a growl cuts me off and all attention turns to Carita where he sits, slouched against the wall.

"She shouldn't be out there with them," He bites out, "The Shadow Reapers aren't creatures that anyone should be 'friends' with." The frustration lacing his tone has sympathy swirling through me, but Abby and Isa both have confusion swirling in their eyes. With a huff Carita runs his hands through his hair a few times before letting his head rest in his hands and I take that as my cue to continue the explanation.

"Milli, is the daughter of Pride. So she has the personality trait humility and that manifests as the ability to not be seen if she doesn't want to be and to hide pretty much anything she wants from anyone she wants. It's a trait similar to the Shadow Reapers, who live in the shadows not visible to anyone unless they need you to see them. Apparently she can see them even when they're hiding and they, her. When they realised they somehow decided to recruit her," Another groan sounds through the cell at my words, choosing to ignore it this time I continue, "She helps them watch The Seven and their offspring and assists with the reaping process when any of them break the law."

"So she's out there with them now?" Isa asks, her voice holding a combination of disgust and awe as she stares out between the bars and into the shadows as if expecting Milli to appear before us at any moment.

"Yeah, they let her out almost as soon as she woke up from the drop down here. We haven't really seen her since. Hopefully she's trying to convince them to show us how to get to Hell, or at least let us out of this cell," Frustration seeps into my words toward the end; I don't even now how long we have been trapped down here anymore. With a sigh I take Abby's hand, feeling her hesitation at the movement I gently tighten my grip before moving over the wall opposite Carita and sliding down. A smile ghosts over my lips as she sits by my side.