Rise Of The Demons

Chapter 15

One year later

After the execution I didn't leave my room for months. Lucifer came to me every single day trying to get me to talk to him. I couldn't bring myself to even look at him. I spent the majority of that month staring at the wall. I lost my closest friend and it hit me like a truck. Eventually the tears dried up, which left me feeling numb. Then one night in a fitful sleep I had a dream. Brett came to me in it.

"Brianna." He whispered softly, sitting on the edge of my bed staring at me. "It's painful seeing you like this."

"Brett!" I sobbed, rushing forward and hugging him tightly. His arms reflexively wrapped around me and returned the hug. I pulled away and searched his face. Skin was free of any bruises or cuts from his torture. He looked just like he did the first day I met him years before. "You're not real... You died."

Brett smiled sadly at me. "You're right. This is a dream."

"What are you doing in my dreams?" I asked him curiously. Not that I wasn't happy to see him but it was weird.

"I couldn't let you wallow anymore. You need to snap out of it Brianna. The whole world is counting on you to exterminate the threat."

I threw my hands up in confusion. "How am I supposed to do that? The future doesn't look bright anymore."

"You need to stick to your original plan. Convince Lucifer to release the Grim Reaper. That in itself will solve one problem. I have a feeling Lucifer won't be hard to convince. The real challenge lies with Az'Gorath."

A bitter laugh escaped me. "Az'Gorath? He's impossible. Lucifer and him are like this." I crossed my middle finger and pointer over each other. "I mean look what he did to you!"

"Yes, that is true. Their fates are intertwined because of that deal they made. One cannot kill the other." Brett paused momentarily. "That doesn't mean you can't."

"Me?" I asked incredulously. "I'm nothing but weak."

"You're only powerless here in hell. You need to escape and go back to the company of angels. They can train you for the hard battle ahead. You can kill Az'Gorath I know you can." Brett assured me.

"What about Lucifer?"

"You have one thing that Az'Gorath doesn't. Lucifer's love and commitment." Brett said solemnly. I detected a faint trace of bitterness in his tone.

I felt my heart flutter lightly at those words. "That may be but that didn't stop him from killing me once before." Yet my words were distant and cold when they came out.

"True, but back then he was still angry. Livid with you for what he believed was betrayal. Even during my few moments seeing you together I could tell. He worships you." Brett admitted. "If anything can change his mind it's you."

I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Brett was right of course. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I needed Lucifer just as much as he did me. I didn't know how I would ever fix all the mistakes he made, but I sure as hell would try. "Okay."