After Hailey thanks us over and over again, she leaves Luci and I alone. She spills her thoughts to me without question.

"There's something not right about that girl. I can feel it."

"What you feel is jealousy. It's common."

She snaps at me in response.

"I know what being jealous feels like! I'm not an idiot!"

"I'm just trying to help, Luci. I know you are frustrated, I am too."

"You have no idea what I went through! All those years of being shunned, all that mental pain I was put through, I was whipped and beaten for several years before I grew strong enough to fight against them. That's how I became the ruler of Hell. Nobody down there cared that I was an archangel! I was a fallen angel to them, a weak link, a cast-away, they treated me like garbage."

Her expression twists to one of depression and pain. Tears appear in his eyes. She starts shaking.

"I worked out every day, every minute that someone wasn't hitting me. Once I gained enough muscle to fight back, I did. Fought my way straight to the top. I put fear into each and every one of the demons and damned souls. None of them dare to defy me now. Haven't for ages. Nobody messes with me now."

The tips of her hair start smoking before bursting onto flames. I freeze watching in fear.

"Don't you dare lie to me. If you are truly frustrated, you will help me find every possible route to help me free myself."

The fire in her hair goes out, no damage evident. She drops to her knees, breaking down, letting all of her pain out. I approach her with caution taking her into my arms and stitching her back up piece by piece.

� z