It was done. Valeria watched the river of black souls fill until it nearly overflowed. Light glimmered a faint hue on the horizon on the other side of her river like a sun in perpetual sunset.

She turned to find her son transformed into what she’d known him to be all along. Power swirled around him as Light and Dark roared a storm at his feet. He stared up into the sky as his wings spread, ready for flight.

She hugged herself as she watched what she’d known was coming. Purgatory had been created, and now the Light would have a home. She’d made sure that it would never be alone. Demons would fill the black river and those who walked the Ether would come here, leaving a piece of themselves behind to feed her son that was Creation itself.

“You’ll be safe,” she whispered.

Her son couldn’t hear her anymore. The storm spewed its angry turmoil as Creation slipped into a deeper plane of existence.

Valeria turned and the tears came. She stepped into the fading portal that would take her home.

* * *

When she returned to Manor Saffron, she found Nile waiting for her with eyes filled with hope and dread.

Gold dust and magic drifted from her, glinting in the moonlight before slipping back into the ebb of the Ether.

Nile ignored the unspoken promise that he’d never cross that line of physical boundary between them. He drew her into his arms and buried his face into her neck.

She let him. She welcomed the feel of his love and his kindred pain as his breath puffed hot against her skin.

“He’s gone,” she told him.

“I know,” he said.

She slipped her fingers higher along his back and pressed in closer to the embrace. She knew it had been the right thing to do, even if her heart was only being held together by Nile’s arms. “Did it work?” she asked.

After a long moment to indulge in her scent as he inhaled, Nile pulled away from her and drew her to the entrance of Manor Saffron.

She gasped at the sight that spanned past the open doors. The Obsidian Sea was gone. A long span of healthy grass had appeared and a row of waiting humans rose from blankets and their faces brightened with timid smiles.

“They came as soon as they learned of Manor Saffron’s refuge.” He turned and cupped her face. “You did a good thing, Valeria. For the first time, humanity won’t have to live in fear. The Obsidian Sea is gone.”

She smiled, but she didn’t have time to savor a sense of acceptance or victory.

A four-winged angel descended from the heavens, bringing screams as the people scattered like ants.

He landed before her in a graceful swoop. His face, all sharp lines of perfection, but his glowing eyes she knew weren’t of a Hallowed’s power. His Light seemed wrong and twisted and she shoved Nile behind her as if she feared he could become infected by it.

The angel smirked at her protective motion. “Young Queen of Manor Saffron, I have come with a proposal.”

She glowered at him. “Queen?”

He glanced at the ancient structure behind her. “You’re the one who has claimed this House, yes? The humans built it for us long ago, but we’re not meant to dwell among humankind.” He rubbed his chin. “Perhaps, though, I’ve misjudged its potential.” He snapped his fingers and golden orbs appeared in the sky.

Valeria snapped her gaze up and sensed the innocent souls drifting down. The skies transformed from an elegant golden hue to the familiar fever red she’d only heard about from her mother’s memories. This was what the sky looked like when the wingless angels were cast out of heaven. This was what she’d experienced as a babe when she’d been found to have been lacking.

“It’s a test,” Nile hissed and gripped her elbow. “Call to them. Bring them home.”

Valeria knew what to do out of motherly instinct. She’d lost her son, but now her daughters drifted amongst the clouds with no one to care for them. Her heart sang and her world gleamed with gold as Light filled her chest. Her shoulder burned as she drew from the power of the Ether that ran strong in her veins.

The orbs shifted and glided to her. Taloned shadows spanned across the horizon and her heart leapt in her throat. How could there be demons? Hadn’t she banished them all to Purgatory?

She spread her fingers and reached for the sky, pushing all her love and desperate hope to shroud the children in her protection. There were three orbs and she was only strong enough to hide two. The third disappeared into a black mist and Valeria shrieked. But a moment later the orb reappeared as if unharmed.

She knew better.

When the three eggs landed, they cracked open and revealed babes that glowed with magic. Two were boys, and the third, the one that glittered with motes of reds and blacks, was a girl.

The four-winged angel frowned. “You’ll have to work on your powers if you’re to bring the Windborn safely to Manor Saffron, young Queen. Demons feed off of suffering, and if they capture a child pure in Light, this is the result.” His gaze flicked to her, his lip curling as if he’d just realized that she was such a tainted child touched by suffering and Darkness.

Shaking, Valeria gathered the girl. Nile followed and drew the boys into his arms.

“There’s a price for this gift,” the four-winged angel said. “My Hallowed spend energy and power that angelkind can’t spare to give your broken children safe passage to the surface. They can’t survive in Celestia. Their bodies aren’t able to handle the Light intended to infuse with an immortal’s soul—because they aren’t immortal. And on the surface, they must be weaned from the Light. This is a careful balance that will be your role to maintain, as well as supplying my Hallowed with compensation for this boon.” He sneered at the span of humans and swept a hand over them, sending a golden cloud to unfurl around them. Their gazes unfocused and they staggered, as if confused, before slowly walking to the horizon—to Leocivat where they’d just fled.

“Safe passage?” Valeria shrieked and clutched the crying babe to her chest. “This child was just attacked by a demon. Look at her.” Magic and suffering still wound around her tiny frame and Valeria’s heart broke to see the pain in the child’s emerald eyes.

The four-winged angel dismissed her outrage with a wave of his hand. “She will live.” He flared his wings. “I expect our first payment in one season’s time. Leave five containers that an angel can carry.” His eyes narrowed and glistened with a soft flash of warning. “If you don’t leave payment, then the Windborn will be left to die.” With those cruel, parting words, he launched into the sky.

Valeria’s mouth dropped open and she was too shocked to retaliate. The babe in her arms cried and called for her attention, making her rage melt into concern. “Nile,” she said his name with a tremor that shook her body, “get the children into Manor Saffron.”

Nile growled. “That bastard.” Power wound through his body and a single woman parted from the ground that walked away from them. “We won’t let him get away with this.”