Fallen (Chronicles of the Fallen, #1)

The spears inside her body vanish into thin air. Her own nightmares of darkness, death, and pain begin to subside. Quickly, her gaze turns back to Alex. Hesitantly, he climbs off of Samuel and stands to the side, massaging a fist. Looking up, he watches as the restraints are lifted and she drops to the ground in a heap. Running to her side, Alex pulls her into his arms.

“Why? Why are you doing this?” She looks up at him and tears stream down her face, streaking the dirt and grime on her cheeks.

Holding her close, Alex tilts her head up, looking into her eyes. “Because I love you. I have always loved you.”

Lisa begins to cry, her arms moving around his neck. “I love you, too.” She closes her eyes and cries on his shoulder.

The sounds of Hell erupt around her. Pulling back, she looks up at him. “I couldn’t stop what was happening with him. I couldn’t stop myself.”

“I know. You did nothing wrong.” Alex moves his hands up to her face. Looking deep in her eyes, he kisses her, his passion sinks into her heart and soul. Her hands grasp onto him and she holds tight. Finally, Lisa understands the pain Alex was experiencing when he kissed her. Pulling back, she looks into his eyes. They change to their icy blue hue and she sees the love he has for her reflecting in them. She sees what he is. He’s not a demon; he’s her guardian angel who committed the ultimate sacrifice for her.

“Alex. Oh my god, no. Please…” Lisa’s body shakes as she cries for her angel.

There’s a loud crash and the skyline of Hell explodes. The blackness above them cracks as an extremely bright light erupts throughout the skyline and shines down on her. The damned souls scream out in pain, wanting the light. Alex yelps and pulls back, the light scorching his arm. Lisa looks at him and extends her hands, but she cannot reach him. Standing inside the light, everything around her has changed. The heat is gone; the pain is gone; a white dress drapes over her body, healing her wounds, cleansing her hair and body; her gray, blood-stained eyes now shine brightly in their natural emerald green.

Alex smiles at her, black tears stream down his cheeks. “Beautiful.” He gets to his feet. “I love you, Lisa.” Before she has a chance to reply, her body is suddenly pulled away so fast that everything is a blur.

Alex gasps and runs towards where the light of Heaven has just disappeared, but nothing remains. Alex feels a change taking place inside of him. He inhales sharply and his hands grasp his chest. Something begins to change inside of him; he feels hope, love and, above everything, the essence of being an angel. The hate, the darkness, and the fire inside of him is still very much there, but now it’s in balance with his light. The wings on his back begin to pulsate. Feeling something coming out of his new skin, he looks back and watches as black, downy feathers push out of his leathered wings. Reaching back, he runs his fingers across them. They remind him of the angelic ones he had before.

Hearing a snarl, he turns to find Samuel charging, arms extended in an effort to tackle him. He wasn’t prepared for what happens next. Samuel hits an invisible wall. Flinching, Alex steps back and looks down at the fallen Samuel.

“You fucking idiot!” A voice erupts through Hell, a voice that brings the fear of everything unnatural out in Alex, and causes him to shake and fall to his knees.

Lucifer appears, rising out of the depths of Hell. His size is so large, so extreme, he takes up all of the space that Alex can see. His nose and lips erupt with smoke, he skin red as fire, and his onyx eyes glaring down at Samuel. His wings erupt in flames, burning the souls around him. Deafening screams fill the atmosphere and Alex collapses on his knees, holding his head between his hands and muffling his ears. “Do you realize what you’ve done?!” screams Lucifer. Samuel’s features hold a fear that Alex has never seen on any demon’s face. “You let her get away in exchange for his soul?!”

Samuel turns, looking down at Alex, who continues to cover his ears. Looking up at Samuel, realization hits Alex first. He watches Samuel’s face change from fear…to confusion…to understanding…to extreme panic. Getting up, he charges at Alex again, in an attempt to right his wrong. Instead, he bounces off of the invisible barrier that seems to be protecting Alex.

Panting in fear, Alex crawls backwards, away from Lucifer and Samuel. The large black eyes glare down at Alex. “You played your cards well, Fallen Angel.” His voice creates a fear inside of Alex that causes extreme pain, something so unimaginable that he wants to die to escape it. “You have no place here. Enjoy Limbo.”

Alex closes his eyes and covers his head with his hands in an attempt to keep his head from exploding from the pain. The ground shakes and rumbles beneath him, and he suddenly disappears from the pits of Hell.

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