Earlier.
Jack threw Alison an ominous glance, even though deep down he laughed at the beings present who blindly believed that Michael had captured him to be forever stuck in a place from which the fallen angels could not get out.
The moment Alison handed him over to the Archangels, he made a deal with an angelic guardian who had been working with a demon for a long time to get his sister back. He also got a sword that meant a lot to the heavenly beings. With it, they could be safe, defeat any angel or demon that would stand in their way.
Michael couldn't do it alone, so he needed an accomplice who could get into the forest. To the place where Martha was hiding along with her sword. Although she was able to be invisible to everyone, he wanted to get her out of there so that she would be safe by his side.
There were too many dangerous creatures in the forest, and Jack was the only hope to get her out of there.
Alison facilitated their plan, not realizing that even after being reborn she would still be stuck in it. It was all entangled, and the two devious creatures were just waiting for their tactics to succeed.
Overall, it remained to find Martha and Lucifer's daughter. Who was a being as strong as her father — so extraordinary that she could match the Archangels and let through their protective barrier the angels and demons that wanted to leave.
Henry grabbed Jack's forearm, forcibly lifting him from his chair. The brunet fixed a sharp gaze on Alison, ready to start his game.
- I know very well what punishment they chose for you. Don't think to yourself that I won't find you! I will, and then I will take revenge. I won't let you forget the past. I won't let you forget about me! - he shouted, and a triumphant smile appeared on his face when he noticed that she trembled with fear.
I will find you, and then I will proceed as planned. We will leave this place, Alison. Forever, he thought.
*
Michael pushed Jack deeper into the forest, and when he looked over his shoulder he saw a protective barrier that prevented demons from leaving the place.
Jack measured the angelic guardian with an enraged gaze, who smiled cheerfully at the look on his face.
- Don't look at me with that look because I flinched," he joked, massaging his shoulders. - You know we had to do it. The archangels finally appreciated me, so I got a higher position. I can't take any chances. I want to be close to them to know everything. We need to know their intentions; otherwise something might not go our way.
- Am I saying something? I know you are on my side. You won't fool me for Marthe's sake.
- Exactly... And as far as she is concerned you don't have to look for her. She will find you herself," he explained, scratching his chin.
- What do you mean? - The fallen angel furrowed his eyebrows, wondering how she could reach him when she didn't even know who he was.
- Martha was Lucifer's apprentice, so her abilities are definitely at a higher level. She has skills that we don't know.
- Are you sure she will find me on her own?
- If you are honest with me and don't scheme anything behind my back, then yes. She will find you," he stated, combing his fingers through his wavy blond hair.
Jack noticed that the angel was hiding something, as he ran his eyes from him and nervously played with his hands.
- What are you not telling me about? - He asked, squinting his eyes. Michael laughed impulsively, but under the gaze of the fallen angel, his face became serious.
- I forgot to mention to you that it may take some time, but all the better! Don't let the Archangels suspect anything, and you'll last a dozen years here, right? You're not human, so you won't die of old age.
- Excuse me? - The demon moved closer to the protective barrier, and if he had the opportunity, he would undoubtedly harm the angelic guard at that moment.
- Well, you know... This place is huge, and you can pass each other many times. There's no telling at what point you'll run into each other because Martha is good at hiding, especially since she's invisible at all times.
- I swear to you that as soon as I meet her and get the sword, I'll get out of here and the first thing I'll do is stab you straight in the heart," he threatened, clenching his hands into fists.
- You'll be fine by then, well, you have to get out of here first.
- What! - His tone of voice was so loud that Michael automatically put a finger to his lips to silence him. No one could find out about their conversation.
- Martha won't get you out of here because she doesn't have that ability. You need the blood of a sinless person. Someone with strong faith, pure as an angel.
- Are you kidding me? - Jack was furious to such an extent that if the protective barrier had not separated him from the angelic guardian, he would have done many bad things.
- Remember what I told you earlier? We will need Alison after she is reborn as a human woman.
- How do you know that she will be exactly that?
- Because Alison will never be an ordinary human being. There will always be an angelic part in her.
Jack looked around carefully when he heard the rustling of leaves. Someone was heading in his direction, so he nodded to Michael, who hurriedly walked away so no one would catch them talking.
*
Many years had passed. Time in that place dragged on mercilessly. Jack was looking for entertainment, so many times he played with people passing by the shortcut, bringing their trip to a nightmare. The place became a local legend, so the villagers avoided the shortcut by a wide margin, and it even came to the point where they eventually closed this road to prevent others from passing through.
Everything changed when he met her....
He was on a rock at the time, watching the flowing stream with boredom, when a woman revealed herself on the other side of the water. A beautiful creature who looked directly at him. Her white skin was so pale that it even reflected the moonlight, and her long blond hair blew in the wind.
- Martha," he said in a whisper as she flew over the water and stood by a rock.
- Michael locked you in here to take me with him. I know who you are," she announced in a hoarse voice that sounded like she hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time. - I read your thoughts, I saw through you before you noticed me.
- You have exceptional skills," he replied with clear jealousy in his voice.
- The woman you are thinking of... - she began, which particularly interested the fallen angel. - I will summon her in my mind. I will direct her here because she can free us from this place.
- How will you do it?
Martha raised the corners of her mouth in a slight smile and extended her hand to Jack to embrace her.
- Together we will do it. I will make her remember you for the first time.
*
He looked at her face, unable to believe that she looked completely the same as when she was an angel. However, being human, she seemed more fearful and looked around with panic in her eyes at the place where she was stuck.
She twitched when Henry touched her shoulder. The demon laughed under his breath as he realized that the angel had sensed something. Unfortunately, he couldn't decipher what was going on and wanted to send Alison far away from this place at all costs.
The fallen angel sighed with concern as she looked directly at him. It was too dark, so she wasn't able to see him between the trees, but her frightened eyes were a sight so wonderful that he felt like taking her in his arms like in the old days.
- Isn't she beautiful?
- I can't deny it because her beauty is indeed stunning," replied Martha, whom no one could see except Jack.
- It will be difficult for me to carry out this plan, but I have to do it. Even if she is harmed by me, I will just think about the fact that now she is not my Alison," he stated, crossing his arms over his chest.
- She's still the same girl, but with no memory of you and no power.
Jack furrowed his eyebrows, displeased with Martha's words.
- This way you are not helping me.
- You do realize that if we break the protective barrier, we are not the only ones who will get out of here?
- I know," the demon's answer was short, but he realized that despite the implementation of the plan, he would also have to protect Alison from Rafael, who wanted to take revenge on her for the past. Although he himself will harm her more than once, he will do so unintentionally, and other demons will want her dead.
- This angel is an exceptional pain in the ass. Maybe not now, but next time she won't bother us again. Alison will enter the forest whether he is here or not," Martha announced in a sharp voice, watching the girl get into the car and drive away.
Henry fixed his gaze on where Jack was hiding. The fallen angel raised his hand to greet him. He loved to tease him. Michael had done a good job of just recommending Henry as an angel guard, since he was completely unsuited for the job. He was too weak to fulfill that role.
*
The demon was delighted with the skills Martha had honed. She was able to induce nightmares in the human mind, which is why Alison dreamed about the place constantly. Lucifer's disciple tried at all costs to bring her back to complete the plan to free them from the prison forest.
- Did you make her acquaintance? - These were the first words Jack spoke when George stood in front of the security barrier. The boy nodded and anxiously looked around as if he sensed someone's presence; however, it was not Martha but Henry who was guarding the place. - So now you know what you should do. Before she comes back here, pick up her rosary. If she doesn't have it with her, the angel will also become weaker.
- She is still just as beautiful... - George forgot for a moment who was facing him and hastily blinked his eyelids, fearing the reaction of the fallen angel.
The demon twisted his lips in an ironic smile, which amused Marthe.
- I think you are well aware of what I think about your mindless statements.
The brunet lowered his head and, with remorse on his face, retreated backwards to get away from Jack as quickly as possible.
- It's a funny feeling to watch a jealous lover," Martha commented, patting him on the shoulder.
- I'm a demon, so I can't be jealous," he defended himself, wrinkling his eyebrows.
- And that's where you're wrong. - The woman stepped away from him and, looking deep into the forest, added. - As a demon, you feel this jealousy much more strongly. You will still remember my words.
The brunet snorted under his breath, and his attention was drawn to the sword that hung at hip height. It caught his gaze every time she turned her back on him. This thing was so precious, meant so much in their world, that many beings sought it with the hope that by wielding this weapon they would become indestructible. They would rule the world, bringing it peace or war, regardless of whose possession it was: angels or demons?
*
Fascinated, he looked at Martha, who stood motionless and focused on a single point, causing a gusty wind to break. Everything went crazy, from the trees to the animals. The birds became stunned to the point of ignoring the danger.
Henry pushed Alison into the car, locking the door and telling her to run. He didn't know what was going on, but he sensed that it was demon-related.
The fallen angel opened his eyes wider, watching as the raven crashed through the windshield of the car Alison was driving. The girl panicked, so it led to her accident. She drove into a tree with such force that Jack's first thought was that she might have been seriously hurt.
He fixed his eyes on Martha, who had stopped playing with the elements and, with a nod, pointed out to him Alison, who half-consciously got out of the car.
- She'll be fine," she declared.
The demon watched as she clumsily headed into the woods. Henry shouted for her not to do it, but when she crossed the barrier, at that moment he disappeared.
- This is your chance, go to it. You know what to do.
*
He placed the unconscious one on the snowy grass, watching Martha take the sword in her hand. She was Lucifer's disciple, so she knew how to act.
The woman crouched down beside Alison and with a deft flick of her hand cut her pants on her thigh, leaving a deep wound in her skin.
- Be alert and watch to see if anyone is watching us. Others must not know of my presence.
The demon nodded, and Martha smeared her sword with the girl's blood and approached the protective barrier.
She pointed her finger at Alison for him.
- I think you would rather not leave her here, and when I pierce the barrier, we have only a few seconds to get out of here.
The brunette was injured and freezing. The fallen angel took her in his arms, looking at her pale face. She was suffering even though she was unconscious.
He nodded his head as a sign that he was ready. Martha pointed her sword at the transparent barrier. For a moment, they were blinded by a golden glow that spread to half the forest. It was so bright and glaring that it was capable of harming demons in the first place.
However, Martha was smart, so at that moment she closed her eyes. She grabbed Jack's arm and carried them directly to the center of the city. The demon shook himself off and fixed his puzzled eyes on her.
- Why didn't you warn me?
- I didn't have to because you were there with me," she declared, sheathing her bloody sword. A passing woman looked at Jack with clear fear in her eyes when she noticed the unconscious and injured girl in his arms. - Take her to the hospital. She needs treatment. Have your people make it look like a simple accident.
Martha wanted to leave, but Jack stopped her because he required an answer to one question.
- You really wanted to get out of there? Because I don't understand something. If that's the case, why did you arbitrarily hide there hundreds of years ago, knowing that you can't easily escape from there?
- Let's say it was the only way for me to escape from someone," she replied, and a sour smile appeared on her face. - You really don't have a soul in you since you haven't taken her to the hospital yet. Asshole, this girl is suffering in your arms.... - Martha rolled her eyes and, turning her back to him, dissolved into thin air instantly.