The Impact (Book II)

Separation

My eyes hadn't left Emily's body. Distantly, I could hear Will and the others screaming. They were moving again, fighting viciously. Fire shot from Will's fingertips, striking Zane. He fell to the ground with a curse.

I was on my knees, frozen. Staring at my daughter's body. Her beautiful red hair was stained with her blood. I was grateful I could not see her face; I would not want to see the look of terror forever frozen on it. Slowly, my eyes dragged themselves up the body in front of me.

He was scrutinizing my every reaction, a triumphant gleam in his red eyes. He kicked her body and I flinched.

[He did this. Keith let him!] Rayi snarled.

With what remaining men he had left, Zane rose to his feet and ordered a retreat. He had Orlene slung over his shoulder. Legion went with the fleeing demons without so much as a glance over his shoulder.

Will knelt beside me and pulled me into his chest. I clung to him and wailed. I heard his own cries as we wept the loss of our daughter. Cole's body shook and several trees collapsed in on themselves. Zach threw his head back and screamed. The Archangels silently watched us grieve with sober expressions.

"The last thing I said to her...Dammit, this isn't fair!" Zach despaired, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. "Why her?! Why did it have to be—she never did anything!"

Soft footsteps grabbed my attention and I peeked over Will's shoulder to see Joel approaching us, his face streaked with tears. Seeing his face turned my grief into fury. I flew at Joel, punching him square in the jaw before he had time to react. A second later, one of the angels dressed in all white with a faceless mask, aimed his scythe at me, white eyes glaring. I didn't care.

"Put that fucking thing away, Luke!" Will demanded, rising to his feet.

Joel stared at me, his bruised jaw healing, and his tears did not slow. I screeched, "It's your fault! If you hadn't insisted we leave, Emily would-"

I cut myself off, unable to finish what I had started to say. Instead, he finished for me. "Emily would still be alive."

"Don't blame God when it was your own fault for not permitting me to kill the little abomination the first time!" Luke growled in my ear, the blade of his scythe nearly touching my skin. Its chill made goosebumps flare.

"No," Joel said, lifting a hand, "she is right. I should not have pushed a vacation onto them. I take full responsibility for Emily's death and as such, deeply apologize for my grievous mistake."

He bowed his head but I was not placated. I ducked under Luke's arm and grabbed my half-brother by his collar. Luke made to grab me, but Will stood in his way with a dark look.

"Apologizing isn't going to bring her back! You're God! Give her back!"

He stared mournfully at me. "I am sorry, Melanie. Not even God can breathe life back into an angel."

With a sound of disgust, I pushed him away from me and fisted my hair. My breaths grew short and shallow. "This isn't happening. This can't be happening."

When his brother made it clear he would not go after me, Will went over to me, cupping my face in his hands. He peered down at my face, tears glazing his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mel."

His thumbs gently swiped under my eyes, catching the tears that had just fallen but leaving the ones still clinging to my eyelashes. I clasped his wrists and stroked the skin over his pulse.

"I am going to declare war on Hell," Joel rasped. "It is time Lucifer is put back in his place."

Zach immediately stepped forward, face grim. "I'll join."