As the light from Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael's exit fades, an uneasy stillness fills the air. Everyone is left feeling raw and shaken by the intense energy that lingers. Even though they both know that promise might not last, Anastasia feels Bastian's hand slide into hers, a silent reminder that he is here.
Wyatt's mind is still reeling from the experience, and his eyes are still wide with shock. However, there's more in his eyes than just fear of Gabriel's threat, something Anastasia is all too familiar with. No, he has been tormented by something more personal ever since the archangels departed.
He turns to her, his expression almost hesitant, and asks quietly, "Ana... your mother… she came to you?"
She feels her chest tighten. Her father's voice is barely above a whisper, like he's scared to even say it out loud. Her mom, his first love, the woman he's never truly let go of.
"Yeah, Dad… she did," she replies softly. She starts feeling the weight of this conversation as she knows this isn't just a casual question coming from her father. Her mom still holds a large part of his heart, and any hint of her return would ignite a hope he's barely kept buried. Her mind races, carefully picking her words, because this conversation has to be handled like glass.
Wyatt's face shifts between shock, anger, and something like fragile hope, and he lets out a shaky breath. "I… I don't understand. She came back, Ana. I mean, she's... she's out there?" His voice breaks a little, and she swallows hard, feeling Bastian's comforting presence beside her but knowing this part is something only she and her dad can navigate.
Her voice is soft, trying to be gentle but also firm. "Dad… she came, yes, but it wasn't like… like with Bastian." Her words linger in the air, careful and precise, feeling more like walking through a minefield than talking. "Mom... she can't just come back like that."
Wyatt's jaw tightens, his eyes misty as he looks away, clearly trying to swallow his own disappointment. "So… she's gone again," he mutters to himself and there's a sadness in his voice that cuts through her so she rests her hand on his arm, trying to ground him.
"She did what she could for me but, Dad… it's… it's not something she can just keep doing. She's not really part of this world anymore," she explains softly.
Wyatt closes his eyes, nodding slowly, trying to absorb her words. There's that familiar set in his jaw, the quiet resignation of a man who's lost his love once and has to lose her again, only this time, he's being told to let go.
"It's okay," he says, barely audible. "I just..." "I just needed to know." But Anastasia can hear the heartbreak beneath those words, the loss he feels again due to the simmer of hope that arose, only to be diminished as quickly.
"Dad," she says softly, waiting for him to meet her eyes. "Mom did all she could. She loved us and still does. But she can't come back like this." Her voice catches, but she persists, needing him to understand. "You know how much she adored you, right? "But you must let her go."
Wyatt nods, though he can't bring himself to say anything more. He gives a slight smile, but there's something hollow behind it, like he's fighting a battle inside. She pulls him into a hug, holding him tightly, feeling his pain and wishing she could ease it.
Billy clears his throat, bringing them back to the present moment. His eyes are tired, and his voice low as he says, "There's something else we need to discuss." His words bring a shift in the air, a weight that refocuses everyone.
"We're not just up against demons now," Billy says, his gaze sharp and knowing. "Gabriel, Michael, and Raphael appearing together means serious business. And they may even prepare to act."
"Wait, Angels acting against us? I thought they were on our side?" Wyatt says, frowning.
Billy's eyes darken. "Yes, if we follow their rules." He pauses to look at Bastian. "And now... we've broken a few."
Anastasia feels Bastian's hand tighten around her own. She looks up at him, his eyes hard yet vulnerable, and she realizes she feels his emotions - she could feel worry and almost fear. It was faint but it was there and he was doing everything he could to not show it. She was proud of him that he was trying to be strong for them both, not knowing she could now feel his emotions like he could feel hers.
"Anastasia," Billy says, his tone unusually serious. "When you spoke to Gabriel like that, you… you've drawn their attention in a way no one has in centuries." He sighed and shook his head. "They won't forget what happened here today."
"I don't care," she says, the defiance clear in her voice. "I'm not just going to stand by while they threaten us. They need us, don't they?"
"Ana, there are forces you don't fully understand. The archangels… they're not just rulers, they're enforcers. And they will protect their balance at any cost."
A silence falls over them as the weight of Billy's words sinks in. The thought that the angels might turn on them that even Heaven could become an enemy, hangs heavy in the air.
Before anyone can say anything more, Bastian steps closer to her, his hand moving up to cup her cheek. "Ana… if they take me, if I have to go back to Celestial City…" His voice falters, and she can see the worry in his eyes.
Her voice is firm and unyielding as she interrupts him. "If they take you, Bastian, I'll come for you. I don't care what it takes." She makes a vow that she intends to keep, and her words linger there, fierce.
At that moment, a figure moving forward, shrouded in mystery and shadow, emerges from the clearing's edge. The group tensely draws their weapons out of instinct, but the figure steps into the dim light and holds up a hand. They have a tall stature, an unearthly aura, and a soothing yet resonant voice.
"I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss allies," the figure says, eyes glinting with a knowledge that goes beyond their realm. "There may be a way out of this… if you're willing to risk it."
Anastasia's eyes narrow as her curiosity and suspicions compete within her. "Who are you?"
The figure gives a slight smile. "Let's just say that I have experienced the boundary between heaven and hell."
With his hand hovering close to his weapon, Wyatt takes a step forward. "What do you mean, a way out?"
The figure's eyes shine as they tilt their head. There is an old path that is still in use but is rarely taken. There is a relic, a weapon that could protect you from both the demons and the angels, if you can make it through. But sacrifice is necessary.
Anastasia looks at Bastian and notices that his eyes reflect her own resolve. Knowing that this is their only remaining option, they nod silently in agreement.
"Then tell us where to find it," she says, her voice steady.
The figure's smile widens, and they reach into the folds of their cloak, pulling out a small, worn map, extending it toward her. "Follow this… but be warned. Not everyone who seeks this path returns."
With that, the figure disappears, leaving the group with more questions than answers. As Anastasia grips the map in her hand, her heart pounds with anticipation and dread, knowing that they're about to embark on a journey that will test them in ways they can't yet imagine.
And just as she looks up to Bastian, steeling herself for what's to come, she hears a faint whisper echoing on the wind. It's her mother's voice, barely a whisper, but filled with urgency.
"Prepare yourselves. They are coming."