Huge thank you to JoVersify for helping me with this chapter! And thanks so much to all of you for commenting in the last chappie :) Can't reply reviews at the moment since I'm at another 24h shift but posting this early since my big 30 is coming up this weekend. Enjoy :D


Issa's mind felt like mush.

Her childhood memories felt like a lifetime ago and to a human, they probably were. More were returning to her—snatches of conversation, fuzzy images of the aftermath of Michael's attempt to take her life.

Adam had been bandaging her fingers—the barely healed cuts from Michael's sword—when one of the scabs tore open. Blood had trickled to the ground and at the sight of the damnable human redness, Issa had thrown one of her first fits.

Her human parents had never realised how much of a blessing her calm had been.

Her control over her glory had been rudimentary, but even that was too much. In a flash, Adam was motionless on the ground, his blood pooling around him. Eve dragged him away and shouted at someone beyond the house. Everything was on fire.

Suddenly, a glow lit up the room and the windows shattered.

The silhouette of an angel towered over Issa from the door and for a second, she quietened, her heart leaping. But her hope died when she saw his face. This angel was not her father. This angel was the one who took her away from her father.

She screamed in a temper and blasted an explosive flurry of glory at him.

Lucifer knocked her backwards, his angelfire roaring. "Child, you are insolent."

She coughed, her skin stinging from his flames, and sent another wave of glory his way. He only knocked her down again. His eyes glittered. "You would have been better suited for Heaven."

"Then take me up," she demanded, with all the authority her child self could muster.

"You lack the necessary anatomy, child," he said. "To enter Heaven's gates, you require wings."

Her eyes filled with tears.

Lucifer knelt down, studying her. When he raised a hand, she flinched. His swirling eyes followed the movement.

"Or your bastard father could have simply opened the gates for you," he murmured. With a ginger precision that suggested he'd learned the movement, he brushed the wetness away from her cheeks. "Seraphs do not cry."

She blinked the tears away. "I'm not crying."

"You are only half seraph." An oddly human humour lit up his eyes. "You are allowed."

"If I grow wings, will you take me there?" she asked.

He grinned, his expression unsettlingly cunning. "When you grow wings, you will fly there yourself and Heaven will be all yours."

Issa.

"Issa."

She jerked back into the present. "Huh?"

"You're miles away." Edvardiel's fingers tangled with hers. He was perched on the arm of the sofa, his wings flat against his back. Warmth radiated from him like a fire, his heat palpable from where she was sitting.

She gazed at him, wondering how to break the news.

By the way, Lucifer is your father. Michael kept you alive so you could kill him. Don't worry, he might not be as dead as you think. He talks to me sometimes. Yes, I hear voices. No, I'm not crazy.

She massaged her temples. There had to be a better way to tell him.

"Ice cream?" Paul held out a half-eaten tub under her nose. "Makes everything better, even the Apocalypse."

Issa's stomach was still roiling. "Thanks. Maybe later."

"You should try some," Jessica piped up. "Sue made them especially for you. You know, since you ran out on her potato soup the last time.

The world felt as though it had dropped out from beneath Issa.

Rosalie leaned against the wall. "Sue was the one who spiked the cupcakes for your unwelcoming committee," she told Issa. "That's how I managed to knock them out so quickly."

"If you hadn't stopped me, I'd have eaten those cupcakes anyway. They looked wicked good," Paul sighed.

"We should visit her," Jessica said, as she scooped out some ice cream for Paul. "She's been pretty down since the demon attack." She lowered her voice. "Her kids were supposed to have arrived days ago."

Issa was seized by a sudden urge to confess.

It was me. I did it.

She remembered the dusty antique shop, the young woman with the rifle, the boy who couldn't have been more than fourteen and the man who'd thought she was human. She remembered holding Yassper's double blades and slicing through delicate human flesh as Lilith's command overpowered her body.

There had been a river of blood.

Edvardiel's hand tightened around hers, and he murmured something about going up to rest. Issa shook her head. Hiding from the truth wasn't going to make it go away.

More human memories trickled into Issa's dizzy mind.

Her child self had cried itself hoarse and then she'd fallen asleep in a house filled with the smell of smoke.

Then she was peering through a crack in the bedroom door.

Eve was pacing. "She's out of control. She hurt Adam. He would've died if I hadn't gotten there in time."

"What did you think would happen when you made a weapon, Eve?" Lucifer asked dryly.

"Michael did something to her! You can try to hide it all you want, but this has his name written all over it." Eve's face was flushed with anger—Issa had never seen her mother so agitated.

Lucifer paused and took a slow step towards Eve. "Perhaps he did. But did you consider that she may not be as human as you are? Your daughter is half seraph. Heaven forbids us from feeling for a reason. We cannot do it correctly–Eden knows I've tried. Now you've made something even stronger than we are."

Eve's expression turned cold as winter. "Are you telling me that you agree with Michael? That Nephilim should not exist?"

Lucifer's eyes swirled impassively. "I don't know," he said at last. "My…" His lips curved around the word as though it felt foreign to him, "feelings on the matter have been compromised."

That made Eve pause.

"Eden told you."

Something shifted in Lucifer's strange eyes as he stared at her unblinkingly. "I see that I was the last to know."

Eve picked something up from the ground. Burnt bandages flapped about, sticking to a pair of melted medical scissors. She waved them at him, her jaw clenched. "Look at what Michael's done to the child. Look at what she's done to Adam because of him. Can you really blame Eden for hiding your son from you?"

Lucifer's angelfire flickered and then died. "No," he said. "I suppose I can't."

The silhouette of his wings and flaming hair faded, giving way to a single wing, which was wrapping itself around her shoulders.

Issa blinked up at Edvardiel as the onslaught of memories faded to the back of her mind and she was once again sitting on a sofa listening to her friends chatter.

"...I mean, has anyone seen Jacob?" Paul was saying.

The topic had shifted to the missing member of their rescue squad—where the hell he was and how he was missing out on everything important.

"Actually, I ran into Jacob on my way here," Jessica said. "He smelled like… well, how he usually smells. Dude was high as a kite."

Paul sighed. "He told me he didn't need any in Eden. I should've known."

Rosalie wrinkled her nose. "Three percent guy probably has more existential angst than we thought."

"Why do you keep calling him that?" Jessica looked curious.

"Well, when we first met, he wouldn't stop talking about how he's three percent angel," Rosalie said. "His catchphrase–"

"Samyaza's descendent, mixed in with a bit of guardian angel," Paul and Edvardiel chimed in with Rosalie. They looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Exactly," Rosalie said. "I don't think anyone less than a quarter angel can truly call themselves Nephilim. I can see pretty well in the dark and sometimes I glow a little, but that's about it."

"You can heal," Issa reminded her.

Six pairs of eyes swivelled in her direction. Issa fidgeted.

"Barely," Rosalie said.

"You still have something," Paul said. "And I mean, look at her." He waved his spoon at Alice, who promptly took it and helped herself to his ice cream. "She's got the powers of a full one."

"Jumpers are extremely rare," Jessica said. "We've only ever heard stories of one in Eden and we're chock full of angelblood here. Alice is the first living Jumper I've ever met."

"How do angel powers 'jump' generations?" Paul asked. "How can someone with barely any angelblood suddenly have full angel powers?"

"No one knows." Mike turned to Rosalie. "How did you find her?"

"I didn't," Rosalie said. "She found me."

"So she just ran into you and decided you were her mother?" Mike rubbed his chin. "What a coincidence. I thought guardian angels find you in your time of greatest need."

Rosalie stiffened.

A sudden, unpleasant suspicion hit Issa. Edvardiel and Paul had gone quiet too. Mike and Jessica were the only ones who seemed oblivious. Mike was still looking at Alice, his expression thoughtful.

Issa cleared her throat before he could launch another question. "Are we going to check where that demon thing came from?" She nodded to the orb that Jessica had left on the table.

"Right." Jessica nodded. "Break time's over. I'm going to find out who manipulated Tanya and killed Ezekiel. They're going to wish they'd never been born." Her hands shook slightly as she clicked open her revolver to count six shining Edenium bullets. Then she put it back into its flowery holster at her sash and rose. "I'm going to sniff around the gates a bit, see if there's anything strange."

"I'll come with you," Paul said. "Maybe we can pay Sue a visit after."

"Me too." Mike got to his feet.

Issa twisted her fingers together.

She'd taken Sue's children away from her forever. Guilt threatened to overwhelm her but this time, she stopped it in its tracks. She could drown in guilt. She could confess and beg for forgiveness. But none of that would do any good. She wrestled with everything she was—human, seraph, Acolyte. Finally, she decided none of it mattered.

"I want to help," she said, picking herself up from the sofa. "Let's use my glory. Let's do whatever it takes to stop the Apocalypse."

There was a startled pause and then several rounds of cheers, whooping and back-patting and some hugs, all of which Issa found very awkward. She felt the need to add a disclaimer. "I need to make sure I can summon it consistently first."

"You will," Edvardiel said resolutely, giving her hand a squeeze. Then he lowered his voice. "I can help."

Right. She'd almost forgotten that he was still her Keeper.

They began to trickle out of the door but when Issa made as though to follow, she was met with a pointed look from Rosalie. "Half of Eden is still out for your blood. You should stay."

"You also need to rest," Edvardiel said. To the others, he said, "I'm staying with her."

Rosalie's lips curved. "Wouldn't have expected anything less, lover boy."

After the others streamed out, the door shutting behind them, Edvardiel turned to her. "You used a lot of glory," he said. "It was your first time too. You must be exhausted."

It was far from her first time.

"I'm good," she said.

Edvardiel's gaze was penetrating. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Issa felt a surge of guilt. She needed to tell him about Lucifer—but first, she needed to confront the angel in her head. She needed to ask him how he was alive, if he were alive at all, and she needed to find a believable way to break the news to Edvardiel. On top of that, she needed to ask Lucifer if he knew how to stop the Apocalypse.

To Edvardiel, she only said. "I've decided to move forward." Then she shifted her weight. "Also, I'm sorry. I know it doesn't change anything, but I'm sorry for everything Michael did to you."

Angelfire burned in Edvardiel's wings. He took her hand. "Issa. Why would you apologise? You didn't know about him. You've been through literal Hell. Honestly, I think you hate him more than I do."

He was still defending her horrible father. Issa was about to shake him—to tell him to snap out of it—but in a flash, he'd gathered her into his arms. "Enough talking. I'm taking you to bed."

She gave him a sly smile. "You are?"

"I'm putting you to bed."

Ignoring her protests of 'boring', he spread his wings and floated them upstairs where he tucked her in.

She yawned despite herself.

"Are you going to stay?" She batted her eyelashes seductively.

Edvardiel laughed. "Not this time. You need to sleep."

Was she imagining the tightness in his eyes?

She didn't need to look further. Physical pain seared in his heart—an intensifying of the throbbing that had been there from the very beginning—and she saw him stiffen. As good as he was, he couldn't hide something of that degree from their bond. Before she could ask, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'll be downstairs."

I couldn't ascend high enough.

As she watched him hurry out of the room, one thing became clear: she wasn't the only one hiding something. They needed to talk.

But first she had to confront Lucifer.

She took a few minutes to compose herself and rehearse what she wanted to ask him. Then she closed her eyes. Maybe it was the strength of her newly unleashed glory or her returning memories, but the task was easier than she expected.

His presence hummed—four fiery feathers that circled and glowed.

Edvardiel's father was close.

"Lucifer?" she called, looking around.

What does Heaven's little princess want this time? Lucifer's voice was dry as ever.

"I need to know how to stop the Apocalypse." She looked around. "Where are you?"

A figure stirred in the recesses of her mind. Lucifer looked worse for wear, his previously wilting wings now almost bare to the bones. His angelfire flickered on and off like a broken light. Blood trickled down from one swirling eye.

She stared. "What happened to you?"

He waved a dismissive hand and she caught a brief flash of his wedding band. Nothing a seraph cannot handle. Then he grinned. I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you have decided to claim your power.

There had been many things she wanted to say to him but she forgot them all in light of his appearance.

He looked terrible.

The more she looked, the worse it seemed. He seemed to be falling apart before her very eyes, feathers coming off with every movement, his angel robe stained with deep patches of golden blood. His flaming red hair had been extinguished to a dead grey that smoked periodically. Only his eyes still glittered, alive and bright as ever.

To stop the Apocalypse, you give the queen of Hell her dues.

"Give Lilith what she wants?" Issa said. "Really?"

As far as Issa knew, Lilith wanted total and utter destruction.

Either that, or brute force. His grin widened. Fortunately, you can harness the power of the Heavens. You're going to need it.

"What does Lilith want?" she asked.

Lucifer's angelfire flickered behind his footsteps. I do not know what kind of deal your father made with her. Better ask her yourself. Then he turned his back to her. I've had my fill of snotty Nephilim children for today. Goodbye.

As he limped away, she caught sight of his raw wrists. The skin had been burned off, golden blood dripping down to the ground in a constant trickle.

The burns were reminiscent of the ones around her own wrists.

The Edenium chains.

"You got hurt fighting the demons," she said with a jolt. She didn't know why it shocked her so much, considering he was, after all, kind of dead. She looked at his wings and fading fire. "You're running out of glory, aren't you?" She frowned. "But how? You have your wings."

I am not in the mood for your foolish questions. He tried to slink away but she followed him.

"Are you alive? You're alive, aren't you?"

He shot her a vexed look, angelfire licking his feet.

Go away, child.

She watched more of his feathers wither with growing alarm.

"Lucifer. Let me help you."

I owe enough earthlings favours. I'll not dig myself into another early grave, saddled even in death with more pesky children of your ilk.

She tried a different angle. "But I owe you for helping me with the demons."

That favour has been paid for. He sounded irritable. Now leave before I set you on fire.

"With what glory?" she retorted, looking at his dismal flames.

What part of 'go away' do you not understand?

She couldn't help noticing that the more she riled him, the more human he seemed. Anger—and all its permutations—seemed to be an emotion he'd mastered. She thought about it and realised of course he'd mastered anger. He needed it to summon angelfire.

"You're in my head." Then she blinked. "Wait. Can I get you out?" Her mind worked. "Eve made humans," she said. "That means she made them a body. Can I make you a body?"

Her question was met with bemused silence.

"If I went to Heaven and retrieved your eyes, your heart and your bones, and lined up your feathers…" she trailed off.

For a moment, Lucifer looked intrigued. And then he looked spectacularly pissed. Oh, no. I am not falling for that again, daughter of Eve. Your mother has already tried that with my wings. I'll not be trapped, owing you favour after favour—

"No, you're only going to owe me one favour," Issa said determinedly. "If I do this, I'm only ever going to ask one thing of you and I'll give you wings or a body or whatever as many times as you want."

Lucifer looked distrustful. And pray, what is this one thing?

She took a deep breath and then looked him squarely in the eyes. "You're going to meet Edvardiel and you're going to tell him the truth."