A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone! Really appreciate it!
I usually update at least 1 chapter a day, so dont worry about being left on cliffhangers :P If you follow it you'll be able to see each time i update! Happy reading :)

Chapter 18

Molly quickly saw the figures approaching the cave. Standing up and walking towards the entrance, she pulled Luce behind her sharply, jerking Luce's head painfully.
As the figures flew closer, Molly realised it was Ben and Sarah, she relaxed slightly more, before seeing the expressions on their faces. Her nerves began to peak again, although she wouldn't show it one bit.

"Oh...what's the news?" Molly asked, eager to find out what happened with the throne but trying to give a casual tone.
"We have good news, and bad news" Ben said breathlessly hovering above the floor, obviously they had been on the move none stop since Luce left them. He landed in front of Molly, before walking to the back of the wall and sitting next to Luce, resting his head in his hands.

"Explain" Molly said roughly.
Sarah landed at the entrance of the cave and faced Molly. "The throne wont step in to help". Luce and Molly both sighed in disappointment. Luce felt all her hope vanish slowly, like a stone had sunk in her stomached.
"And the good news?" Luce turned and looked up to Ben, who stared down at her.
"They won't step in to help against Lucifer. Yet. But they're going to try restrain the outcasts from forming a greater number for their army to get Luce." Ben smiled, although it didn't reach his eyes.

Luce sighed and looked down at the floor, circling her finger in the dusty ground making patterns. 'Why wouldn't the throne just help her? That'd solve everything, surely' Luce thought.
"So they're not even stopping the outcasts from coming for me completely? So basically we've still got the same problems we started with?" Luce looked up at Molly.
"I suppose less outcasts is better than nothing" Molly looked down at Luce, seeing the defeat on her face "We can deal with fewer outcasts".

For the rest of the day until the other angels arrived, Molly and Sarah flew off to explain details with the thrones agreement, away from Luce so she wouldn't overhear anything. Leaving Ben with Luce.
Luce turned to Ben "Why didn't you tell me you were an angel?". Ben and Luce were close friends, she felt like she could tell him everything. Obviously he didn't feel the same.

"It's not that I didn't want to. But there's complications. If I'd have told you, the outcasts could have had a reason to attack. And would you have believed me? Or ran off screaming in the other direction?" Ben smiled.
"Mmm" Luce agreed, still feeling disappointed by him.
"I'm still the same guy Luce" Ben shifted his weight a bit, obviously feeling uncomfortable with the conversation.
Luce sighed and looked up at him "I know you are". She smiled, which instantly made him feel better. They sat in silence for a bit, until Ben broke it.

"How you holding up anyway?" Ben nudged her, who was still sitting next to her side.
"I don't know. After what happened last night, pretty freaked out" Luce put her head in her hands, desperate to hold back tears she could feel welling up inside.
"Why...what happened last night?" Ben asked. His eye's widened as Luce explained what happened, about the announcers, and about her first encounter with Lucifer.
"Luce!" Ben pulled her into a tight hug "Are you sure your ok?".
"Yeah I'm fine I guess" Luce's voice was muffled in his shoulder.

A cough at the entrance broke them apart. There stood Cam and Arriane placing bags of food and water bottles on the ground. Arriane had a smile on her face and raised her eyebrows at Luce. While Cam's face was stormy and intimidating. Luce would hate to ever be on the wrong side of him.

Ben quickly jumped up "Luce was telling me about last night! Why didn't you stop her from going to Lucifer!".
Cam's jaw clenched and he balled his hands into fists. Seeing Cam's reaction Luce jumped up and stood between the two boys to break up any potential fights. Like she could really stop two angels fighting anyway, but she's give it a try.

"Ben! Cam saved me from drowning!" Luce explained, frustrated he missed that piece of important information when she was telling the story.
Ben looked down at Luce before returning a glare at Cam. "Oh, in that case...thank you. I see Luce as a little sister. If anything happened..." Ben looked down and shifted his weight "I don't know what id do".

Cam's fists relaxed and his face went softer. "It's ok. But understand this, I'd never let anything happen to her". He stared down at Luce who smiled back up at him, a slight blush on her cheeks.
At that moment Daniel, Roland and Gabbe returned to the cave, shocked that Ben and Sarah were there.
"The locations safe, no outcasts anywhere in sight" Daniel confirmed with the others, relaxing Luce slightly.

For the rest of the day Molly explained about the announcers, and Ben and Sarah explained what happened with the throne.
"So what can we do? We can't just sit around in a cave for 4 days!" Luce almost shouted. She was determined to do something to help fight Lucifer.
"We need to train you" Roland said.
"Train me? Huh?" Luce looked around confused.
"To fight outcasts Luce. You're going to help up destroy them. If we make a point that we're not going to be walked over, Lucifer will hopefully be put off visiting you" Cam placed his hand on her shoulder.

Cam had been getting much closer to Luce in the last few days. Placing a hand on her back and shoulder sent a spark of electricity through her body and soothed her instantly, and more importantly, it felt right. Its where she wanted to be, and she began to imagine herself in his arms. She quickly shook her head, she should be thinking about the next tasks, not boys!

"So while I'm being trained, what are the rest of you doing?" Luce asked. The sun had began to set, and they were all eating sandwiches, although Luce picked at hers before handing the rest to Cam to finish it off, who eyed her with concern before taking it off her.

"Actually we're doing something pretty important. There's a location on earth which holds 2 vital objects to helping us protect you and decide our fate" Daniel explained between bites of his own sandwich.

"Oh? What's that?" Luce was curious.
"A sceptre and an orb" Arriane answered before Daniel could respond, obviously excited about these objects.
"A what and what?" Luce was even more confused. Those things didn't exist apart from in fairy tales? Right?
"Haha" Arriane laughed "The sceptre, it can create a temporary circle of protection from Lucifer, although not from the outcasts, and when I say temporary i mean temporary. A few minutes or so. But those few minutes can be vital. But he's hidden it somewhere on earth. And the orb can help choose the fate of the fallen when inserted into the temples high up in china."

Luce's eyes widened with shock. Where they seriously talking about these things? Looking back at Ben, who nodded at Luce to accept what was being said.
"Ok. How on earth are you meant to find the secret location of the sceptre" Luce asked, in a mock mysterious voice.
Daniel smiled broadly at her "We happen to have 2 secret weapons, which Lucifer didn't expect". He turned to look at Ben and Sarah.

It was late at night. Luce was snuggle under her blanket with Ben next to her. He was always protective like an older brother. Soon she felt her eyelids droop and felt sleep take over her. The mutterings of the angels sending her in a lull.

"Do we start tomorrow?" Cam asked Daniel quietly, so not to wake Luce.
"The sooner the better. I think splitting up will be more time efficient too. Me, Ben and Arriane will go to retrieve the orb, Sarah, Roland and Gabbe find the sceptre, You and Molly train Luce, I don't want to spend any longer than 2 days on these, giving us 2 days to fully prepare." Daniel's voice was strict and powerful, and the other angels nodded in agreement before settling down in their beds, although none of them closed their eyes.

Cam looked down at Luce who was sleeping soundly. Tomorrow was going to be a long hard day for her, and Molly would be sure to make it challenging.