Elissa felt something inside her shatter.
Gabriel’s words wouldn’t leave her mind.
"The one even angels feared."
She looked at Raphael.
— Do you… really want to know who you were?
Raphael remained silent.
There was doubt in his eyes, but deeper than that… hunger.
— Yes.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
— It’s dangerous.
— That wasn’t an answer.
Gabriel let out a heavy sigh and crossed his arms.
— Fine. You asked for it.
He extended his hand, and Elissa felt the energy around them shift, thickening.
— You were one of us. — Gabriel’s voice was steady, almost detached. — One of the Highest.
Raphael didn’t blink.
— But not just an angel.
Elissa held her breath.
— You were the one who hunted us.
Silence filled the room.
— Hunted? — Raphael’s voice was dangerously low.
Gabriel nodded.
— You were the one Heaven sent to destroy those who fell. Those who dared defy its will.
Elissa felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Gabriel met Raphael’s gaze.
— You were the Executioner.
Raphael went rigid.
— Lies. — He hissed.
But Gabriel only shook his head.
— It’s the truth. You were an angel of retribution. And do you know the most ironic part?
He leaned in slightly.
— You once hunted me.
Elissa gasped.
Raphael took a sharp step back, as if struck.
— No.
— Yes. — Gabriel’s voice was calm, unwavering. — You were the first among us to fall.
Elissa swallowed hard.
— Why?
Gabriel smiled.
— Because of love.
Something inside her flipped.
— For whom?
Gabriel slowly turned his head.
— For you.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Elissa stared at him, unable to speak.
Raphael had gone pale.
— You’re lying.
But Elissa knew the truth.
She felt it in every cell of her body.
And now, there was no turning back.