Uriel’s second plunge into Constantine’s mind was somewhat more pleasant.

For starters, she woke up in quite a comfortable bed. She found herself wrapped in pillows and blankets, and she couldn’t help bask in the heat for only a moment, even though they were just a bit too warm. But the longer she laid there bundled up, the more a chill began to creep up her spine. The memory of what had just transpired flooded back in. It was still too recent, the wound on her psyche still too fresh. She could not relax as much as she yearned to, her body seemed to fight back against it. There was a pit in her stomach, an aching knot that made her nauseous. Her muscles ached and a pulsing dread thumped against her skull.

I can’t linger, can’t stay in his mind much longer. Uriel realized. I should try and hurry.

With weary eyes, she stood up, passing through the blankets like a phantom. The room she was in was dark, but this was a different, more appealing kind of darkness. Merely the absence of light, and not the presence of anything unnatural or malicious. As her eyes adjusted, she caught bits of sunlight creeping through the cracks of the window blinds. She turned around, inspecting the room some more. It was small and comforting.

This is… quaint. She thought. A much better sight compared to the last. Room’s very clean, toys and posters give it a cozy feel, pleasant colors… yeah I’d love to sit here for a while… Wait, toys? Uriel peered at the toys and various devices that lined a shelf beside her. So it’s a kid’s room? Her eyes darted back to the bed, where she saw the head of an unknown person peeking over the covers. On closer inspection, she deduced the locks of hair were a powerful gray hue. Its Constantine… again. Wow, really? Outstanding deduction skills Uriel, I wonder whose fucking brain you’re stuck in right now… ugh. She thought, taking a moment to calm her frustrations. He does look… significantly older than before. And his hair is much more noticeably silver here…

Uriel glanced around the room some more, taking notice of the desk near the bed. It had many notebooks, scholarly utensils, and a backpack tossed carelessly about. She walked over and scrolled through some of the pages out of curiosity. Mathematics... Geography… Literature… seems like it has been quite some time since the previous memory. I wonder how many years it’s been?

“Wake up already, asshole!” Suddenly rang out from behind the door in the room. It was a somewhat familiar voice, one that Uriel had not heard for the longest time. Her heart leapt from her chest, as she rushed out through the door. In the hallway there she ran into Evan. It was a much younger version but undeniably it was him. Uriel smiled from ear to ear as tears began pooling in her eyes. She stared at him, and then into his eyes. There was a glint, a sparkle of something beautiful therein, a resilient hope for good. A force that Uriel believed would remain even in the face of unending despair.

Its… good to see you. Despite the fact that… this is not really ‘you’ is it Evan? Uriel looked down contemplatively, a moment of happiness, immediately swallowed by grief. The real you is trapped somewhere, somewhere far away… maybe you’re already… No. No, no, no. I refuse to accept it. You’re not dead. I saw you, you and Wrath are still alive. You’re in pain, you’re alone, but I swore I will find you. Mephisto… my father… as well. I will find all three of you and rescue you from whatever hell you’re trapped in.

“C’mon Constantine get your oversleeping ass outta bed already!” He shouted before he continued brushing his teeth and sauntered back towards the bathroom.

Uriel shook herself awake and followed him. When he came out he walked around through the house before stopping in the kitchen. Uriel watched as he began preparing some breakfast. First he reached into the fridge and took out some ham slices, a bit of aged cheese, some margarine and jar of jam. In addition, he took out a glass bottle of some orange liquid and immediately took a swig of it. His whole body violently trembled at the sensation which, to Uriel, he seemed to enjoy.

“You guys haven’t even eaten yet?” A loud, mature, voice boomed from behind after a while, startling both her and Evan. “We’re supposed to get going in twenty minutes, what are you guys doing?”

“The dumbassh ish shtill ashleep.” Evan said with a mouthful of his sandwich.

“Well, go get dressed, I'll go wake him up.” The man said.

“I’m eating, daaad.” Evan lamented.

His father sighed. “Fine, but eat fast we gotta get out of here.”

Uriel took this moment to walk closer to the man, surveying his look. He was much taller and more physically fit than Evan, but the resemblance between the two was very apparent. He was noticeably older with a buzzcut and a short, scraggly, golden beard. His outfit was simple, casual, indicating to Uriel that the event they were rushing to wasn’t something all too formal.

So… Now the all-important question, what is your name? She pondered as she started following him.

Evan’s father went back to Constantine’s room. There, he pulled the blinds open much to Constantine’s chagrin.

“Bweah… why?” Constantine wailed, burying his head in the pillows.

“Get up, son. We gotta go soon!” The man said, sitting down next to him on the bed.

Constantine suddenly vaulted straight up, his hair all messy and droopy over his face. Uriel chuckled at the look. “What’s the time?” He asked, suddenly very hasty and awake.

“Its almost time for us to go.”

“Fuck, I overslept?”

“Big time, come now, get dressed and let's go.”

Uriel blinked and suddenly she found herself inside a vehicle, presumably the family car. Constantine and Evan were to her left and right, and the father was driving. The position she found herself in was slightly nostalgic to her, remembering a time that was only a few months ago, but felt like an eternity in the past.

“Woooohooooo!” Evan’s father shouted as he turned up the melody on the radio. “I love this song! You boys ready to start summer and have some good-ass fun today?”

“Hee-e-ell yeah!” Evan himself shouted back, matching his enthusiasm.

“Mhmmmhm!” Called out the still sleepy Constantine, prompting Evan to give him a friendly shove. “I mean... hell yeah!”

The driver chuckled to himself and then began grooving to the music, singing the lyrics along with the song. Evan joined him at the next chorus, and Constantine followed soon after. Uriel couldn’t help but relax if only slightly as she enjoyed the revelry. The memory of what had transpired previously faded from her thoughts.

Such an innocent, peaceful time. She thought, buried in melancholy. I wish I could have experienced more moments like these with you all…

Soon, the car ride came to a halt and a new passenger joined them. A youthful Nikolai opened the door on Constantine’s side, pushing him over despite his complaining. Even though Uriel was unaffected, it felt strange to have a phantom pass through her, so she floated onto the seat next to the driver. Uriel then took a moment, still surprised, as she stared at her old friend again. Even then, she still had the scars, but they were hidden from sight by a black skin-tight material that covered her arm. Her eye was also concealed underneath a black eyepatch.

“Did you guys have to put me in the middle?” Constantine bemoaned.

“Heya guys!” Nikolai said, smiling heartilly. “Of course Constantine, You know I like sitting against the window.”

In her gaze and her warm smile she saw a kindness and gentleness that had been ripped away from the Nikolai she now knew. A pure compassion that had been unjustly torn from her soul. Her heart ached at the thought of what had happened to her to turn her down such a dark path.

It’s all my fault isn’t it Nikolai? Uriel thought. As I look at you three now, it just becomes more and more apparent. You’re all scattered in the wind, tormented and in pain. All because I came into your lives… Uriel wiped away her tears. I was the flame that brought naught but ruin. I hope one day you might be able to forgive me for what I’ve done to you. I hope… one day I’ll be able to save you from the hell that you’re in as well. And if I can’t… well, for the memory of who you once were, I will strike you down.

“I like sitting there too…” He grumbled to himself, loud enough for her to notice. Nikolai leaned over, faking a frown and a very sad pout. Constantine took one look and burst into laughter. She joined him right after. “Haha, okay fine, fine. I’ll just bother Evan all ride.” He chuckled.

“Hey! What’d I do?”

“Thank you, thanks! Don't worry, I’ll take great care of them all.” Evan’s dad interrupted, sitting back inside the car and starting up the engine. “Your caretaker, Miss Maveil, she’s such a lovely lady, Niko. I can see who you take after!” He said, trying to pass a compliment but unfortunately souring her mood slightly.

“Y-yeah…” Nikolai said, looking down dejected and fidgeting. “She’s great, she… tries her best.”

Evan loudly coughed, hiding the noise of him kicking his father’s seat from the back and shooting him an incredulous stare.

“Right then, everyone strapped in and ready to go? Good? Let’s go then!”

And with the cheerful battlecry, the gang was off. Uriel looked out the window and her vision became blurry. A faded mist seeped into her vision, obscuring the world as it flew by. Very soon she felt time speed up without her, as the memory of the car ride passed in a flash. She shook herself awake from the trance, focusing and bringing her consciousness back in the dream. The pieces of the memory sharpened back into focus and Uriel found herself in an empty car. She checked the time on the dashboard before floating outside and searching for the group.

Quite a long ride… Or did I just lose consciousness without realizing it? I… might be losing myself in his mind. I cannot keep stalling, and yet… I can’t leave until I find out his name.

Uriel found them all waiting in a queue, with Evan’s father at the till handing in some tickets. She took the time to inspect the area, and was perplexed by what she found. Large groups of people were walking around eating candy, chatting, dancing, laughing, and having a great time. Many children and teens alike chased each other around the fences and the trees and laughed as they walked towards what appeared to be a park. She floated high into the air, and in front of her she saw many towering structures of colorful metal and steel. People were strapped to the carts, moving across the tracks at great speeds, screaming and yelling as they did. But what confused her the most was how much fun everyone seemed to be having despite the apparent danger.

Is… this normal? This feels very… strange. I’ve never seen a place like this… It does remind me of that little carnival in Deterna… but so much bigger!

Uriel flew around determined to do some investigating. After some time she learned how a lot of the constructions, apparently called “rollercoasters”, worked. She found herself quite intrigued by them, and watched as groups of people disembarked the carts after a ride and their faces beamed with fear and joy in equal measure.

How… strange. Yet I can’t deny… it does seem kind of fun.

Remembering her task, she hunted down Constantine, and followed him as the group began riding in these machines. They went around in a circle around the park, clearing the rides one by one. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time, and the pleasant, almost intoxicating atmosphere rubbed off on her. Uriel couldn’t help but laugh and enjoy herself in the face of such unmitigated fun. She followed like a phantom as the group took photographs, tried out exotic snacks, pranked each other, made each other laugh, and dared one another to try the more “extreme” rides.

“Come on Evan, don’t be such a little pussy~!” Constantine called out as he and Nikolai tried coercing their friend into going on the machine before them. It was a massively tall tower that pierced the clouds, and the yelling of those that fell from its very top echoed throughout the whole park.

“Yeah Evan...” Nikolai joined in between handfuls of salty caramel popcorn. “You made me ride in the fucking loop-de-loop, now’s your turn.”

“I meeeean, Niko, the loop-de-loop was way closer to the ground than this! Look at this fucking thing!” He said, trying to fight against it. But Constantine and Nikolai both were pinning him like a pincer from either side, and soon, under their incessant staring, he caved in. “I hate both you fuckers so much…” He sighed as he ran to the queue.

Constantine and Nikolai remained, leaning against each other with a satisfied smirk on each of their faces. Soon they were joined again by Evan’s father, who was hiding underneath a very large and silly hat. Uriel found his appearance highly amusing, especially the way the bells on the horns would jingle everytime he took a step. It made for a humorous contrast to the man’s inherently intimidating appearance.

“Did ya guys convince him to go up there after all?” He asked them before biting into his ice-cream cone.

“Of course we did! He’s waiting in line right now.” Nikolai answered. “Ooh, while he's still there, I gotta be right back, can you hold my purse please.” She said, passing it to Constantine who casually tossed it over his shoulder. As her figure got smaller in the distance, Evan’s father placed a gentle hand on Constantine’s shoulder.

“How’re you doing my man? Having a good time?”

“Y-yeah.” Constantine replied, caught a little off guard by the question. “Honestly this might be one of the best days of my life. I…” He said starting a new thought but deciding against it.

“I’m glad to hear that. I was… really hoping that to be the case. Both for you and for Niko. I don’t want to get all sappy but here’s some advice. We can’t control everything that happens to us, you know, but we can control how we change based on what happens to us. I learned that lesson after Evan’s mom… you know… after she delivered Evan… That moment taught me a lot about being able to let go. It took time, as most things of this nature do but… eventually even I managed to learn.”

If only letting go was always that simple. Uriel thought.

“Yeah… I have… trouble thanking people when they help me but: Thanks a lot Sir. You and Evan took me when I needed friends the most. And Nikolai… especially.”

“Please, I told you you’re free to call me Antonio.” He said with a grin. Uriel perked up, the task she was given now finally accomplished. But Uriel decided to linger and listen just a bit more before moving on to the final step. “The girl means a lot to you doesn’t she, Constantine?”

“Yes Si-... Antonio. She does.” Constantine sighed and looked around. Thankfully they were in a corner of the park path and not many people were nearby. “She’s been my friend since before both of those... things happened to us… and she was there for me first. She understood the pain I went through and I understood her. In return I was able to be there when she needed me to. That understanding brought us close and… I feel like we were able to sustain one another through the guilt and pain. Now I find it hard to imagine ever living without her…”

Antonio took a sip from his canned soda. “You really don’t have to tell me, I was in love once too you know. So, what are you thinking of doing about it?”

“L-love?” Constantine mumbled, blushing a deep shade of red. “Y-you might be going a bit too far.”

“Really? Then that present you have in your vest is for...?” Antonio said.

“How do you know about that?” Constantine said, suddenly concerned. “And what, I’m not allowed to give presents without being in love?”

“I’m only stupid when I wanna be Constantine, its a useful talent.” He smiled, taking another sip.

After a few moments of pause, their silence was broken by the screaming of the park-goers falling from the machine in their vicinity. “So, you think I should do something with it? I brought it more as a… just in case.”

Antonio chuckled. “See that tall hill over there to our left?” He asked. “When the sun sets in a couple hours it’ll set over the whole park, and its quite a stunning view. I can take Evan somewhere else and you can make your move there.”

“And what sort of… move should I make?”

“Just be yourself kid, tell her how you feel. Try to be poetic about it though, chicks love that.”

“Poetic, alright… I’ll try it. Wish me luck.”

I should leave. Uriel thought, turning to the man whose name she now knew. I found what I needed and now I have to find out what happened to him but… Her gaze however, drifted back to Constantine. I want to see… Why do I want to see something that might only hurt me more?

Uriel let her curiosity get the better of her, and continued following Constantine. Time passed faster through and around her, as if spurred by her desires. Soon, the sun began to dip in the sky, and Constantine invited Nikolai to follow him up to the place that was suggested.

“Huff, huff… okay… Soo, what have you got planned, Constantine?” She said as they struggled walking up the grassy hillside.

“Who says I have anything planned, Cherry?” He said back to her, helping her up.

“Hmpf, I asked you to stop calling me that…” She pouted. “And besides, you just made me climb this massive hill for no reason? And we left Evan behind? We both know how bad of a liar you are Constantine.”

“Evan just had something to do… y'know.”

Nikolai just smiled silently at him.

“Okay, okay fine, you got me there.” He said, followed by a clearing of the throat from him. “You’ll see. Come, let's sit by this tree.”

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“Alright…” Nikolai said, her voice quieter as she was now curious about what was going on.

Uriel watched them from afar. It felt like she was intruding on a very private memory, but she couldn’t turn away her pale eyes. Still, that feeling compelled her to keep her distance.

“Nikolai I… wanted to ask, what did you think of today?” He said once the two sat down on the grass against the roots of the massive oak above them.

“Today… was incredible. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun. I wish Cait... nevermind. Don’t want to ruin the moment.”

“It’s okay… I wish she could have been here too.”

“So… what did you want to show me?” Nikolai asked, cheering herself back up.

“This view. Its pretty great isn’t it?” He said, looking up over the park.

It was a picturesque shade of orange and red that stretched across the canvas of the sky. The sun dipped halfway across the horizon line as clouds wistfully drifted by in the gentle breeze. The faraway birds flew in v-shapes over the sky. Their quiet cawing could be heard intertwined with the loud murmur of life in the amusement park below. He turned to Nikolai who stared at it, entranced. Her eye glimmered in the face of such serene beauty. The peaceful ambience filled them both with wonder and happiness.

“I… look I’ve never been very poetic, nor very… good at talking about my feelings like you know. So I’ll just say it.” He began.

“Mmhmm. I feel like… I’ve seen this view before, in dreams long ago.” She said, still entranced by the sight. “But its so different seeing it so clearly. Its like the glass barrier has finally been removed.”

“I… think I love you Nikolai.” He said, smiling directly at her.

She slowly turned her head, double-checking if she heard properly. “What...?” She whispered, her voice trembling.

“I love you. I really do. You saved my life. Maybe I’m still too young to know what love really is but... I do know that I’ve known you for ten years and every time I saw you it was like a light in my life appeared and turned away all that darkness and fear in me. I want to be with you. I can’t… bear the thought of you not being by my side.”

“Constantine… I… don’t know what to say… I’ve felt the same way for a long time.” She said, trying not to show her tears. “I’ve wanted you to say something like this for so long but I always thought…”

“What did you think?” Constantine asked, concerned.

“The… scars…” She answered between her soft cries. “I thought I could never be good enough for you. For anyone. Not anymore.”

“I got you something, something I think you’ll like.” Constantine said reassuringly, reaching in his vest and pulling out a small box with a ribbon on it.

Nikolai gently wiped away her right cheek before taking the box and opening it. She let out a quiet whimper. Inside was a white eyepatch, beautifully ornate with a stylized rose drawn on it. It was a rose surrounded by flames.

“You mentioned a while ago that you wanted something like that. Something that would show you wouldn’t be tied to what happened, that you wouldn’t be afraid. I believe this rose, being reborn out of the flames would be most appropriate to show that. That’s what you are to me Nikolai. I don’t care about your scars, you’re as beautiful to me as that undying rose.”

“Damn it Constantine.” Nikolai laughed with tears streaming down her face. “For not being much of a poet you sure know how to be evocative…”

“So… I take it, you like it?”

“I love it…”

“Thank God, I was really worried you wouldn’t.”

“...Just as I love you.” She confessed, taking off her eyepatch.

“Wait, before you put that one on, can I…” He said, unable to hide his beaming smile at her confession. He lightly brushed her dark black hair out of her face with his fingers, taking great care not to touch her scars. He saw her burnt red eye hidden underneath, how it stared back at him even blinded as it was. “You’re truly beautiful, don’t ever forget that, Cherry.”

“I swear I will always remember that. Will you swear you’ll never abandon me?”

“I swear it.”

Uriel watched as they then leaned in for a kiss, after which she turned quietly and floated away. Despite the obvious pain that was in her soul, there was an equally powerful amount of happiness within her strangely. The innocent and pure love that she saw overwhelmed the despair of knowing that she might never experience the same.

Enough of that, time to find Antonio. She thought. I’ve lingered enough.

He was not difficult to track down. Uriel found him enjoying some fries with his son under a table umbrella. Evan still seemed a little pale after his earlier ride. Uriel paused one final time before him, reaching to touch his face with the back of her fingers, but deciding against it.

Just a bit longer, please hold out for me.

She then turned to his father, kneeling to be at eye-level with him. She knew he could not see her, but it still felt uncomfortable staring so intently at someone she just met. Her mind focused on his visage, and she placed a gentle touch on his forehead. Like a droplet rippling in a still pond, his face vanished, and darkness swallowed Uriel’s sight once more. The red soul-mist passed through her, carrying her out of Constantine’s mind and into another dark place.

Find that day… that accursed day… Come on Uriel...

Her head pulsed with physical and mental stress as her mind tried searching for the moment Gausville ended. She focused on pain, suffering, and death, elements that would help her find such a powerful mark upon the world. But her concentration shattered when she hit upon exactly what she was looking for. It was like she was searching for a knife in the dark and having it suddenly driven into her forehead. She collapsed onto nothingness as her soul was swallowed by destruction unending. When her consciousness faded back in, she found herself in an empty apartment. She was covered in sweat, her muscles were on fire and her eyes bloodshot and stinging. It was a derelict sight, but thankfully not as horrible as the one from Constantine’s past.

G-gah… my head feels like its going to burst… I’m… not in Constantine’s mind anymore. This feels different. Is… is this a vision of Gausville? Uriel thought, stumbling to her feet but collapsing, her strength not fully returned yet. She crawled on her knees over to a window and peered outside. Looks like it, another part of the city. This is definitely the same dreaded gray sky I looked up at for weeks.

“No, I told you I haven’t heard a word from him yet! They’ve just started letting people out of the city. Come on where are you fuckin thing…” A familiar voice came from behind her. She spun around rapidly and found Antonio in front of her, yelling into his hand. Upon closer inspection, he seemed to be holding some device. He was also running around searching for something.

“God damn it where is the damn passport-” He shouted before a massive explosion occurred nearby, shattering the windows of his apartment and shaking the very foundations of the building. Uriel screamed in shock, but quickly remembered she was unaffected.

“What the fuck…?” Antonio shouted once he stood back up. He rushed through Uriel and to the windows. His shoulders slumped and his gaze quickly changed.

Was that…? No, the balefire was much more devastating. Uriel thought before she noticed Antonio dashing out of the building. She forced herself to stand and quickly floated after him. He made his way outside, where he immediately rushed to people that were in the street.

“You okay? What’s happening?” He shouted, helping a man that had been knocked to the ground.

“S-something! Something just exploded!” The man shouted back at him. “I’m fine, there’s people there, under the car!”

“You two there!” Antonio shouted at some bystanders, waking them from their fear-frozen state. “Help me with this car please!”

The two men sprung into action, following him down the road where they positioned themselves against an up-turned vehicle. Uriel watched helplessly as the trio began pushing the car over, straining their muscles and grunting as attempt after attempt failed. Those trapped underneath whimpered, begging for them to save them from the pain as the weight of steel pushed down on their frail bodies. She wished she could do anything to help, it would have been a fluke for her, but then she remembered this had already happened.

Close your heart Uriel… don’t let this in… this pain is not your fault… its… not…

“Come on man! Put your fucking ba-a-ack into it!” Antonio groaned as he tried to move the mass of steel and iron.

Her eyes caught a sight through the veil of smoke and soot further up the avenue towards the epicenter. Many people wailing in pain on the ground, others screaming and running in the other direction. Destruction only amplified the further along she went.

Uriel paused before a man in a half-charred police uniform laying on the ground. His skin, mainly on his face and neck, was savagely burnt a deep blackened red shade. Blisters and boils swelled scarlet, parts cracking and peeling off. In other places his skin was torn clean off, revealing the blood-red muscles and bones underneath. His breathing was shallow, faint, and his soft trembling indicated a soon departure from this world. Uriel watched with a grim, unwavering look on her face as the man took his final moments alone and in immeasurable agony.

She stumbled back, scanning the field of dead or dying that surrounded her. All in similar or worse conditions, those unfortunate few to still be conscious, wailing and crying out for relief. They begged for help, they begged for an ounce of mercy, but Uriel could offer none, she could only listen and watch. She was unable to bear any more, and turned back, tears streaming from her eyes. In the distance she could hear the roaring flames of annihilation approaching.

You’ve made your vows, now I shall make mine. I swear, I will hold you to this suffering, Nikolai. You will answer for what you have done.

Uriel turned to Antonio one last time, watching as he helped whoever he could, unaware of his impending doom. A color washed over her in an instant. It was the same serene color of the sunset she had witnessed earlier. But this was no sunset, only a smoldering flame. Smoke and ashes swallowed the world, clearing away everything before fading into the same crimson mist from earlier. But this time, when she opened her eyes, she found the familiar visage of Constantine staring at her. All attempts at a smile or breath were met with an immediate nauseating pit in her stomach. A pit that grew through her core, straining her muscles and organs and forcing her on her feet.

“U-Uriel?” Constantine’s voice rang out, causing her ears to ring from the unnatural noises of the real world.

“Give her some space, Imp!” Madame called out. Rightfully so, as Uriel rushed outside of the house as fast as she could, almost knocking him over. She went past Insect and into a nearby clearing of gray shrubbery and leafless white trees. There, she violently vomited on some of the dried roots.

“Uriel, Uriel! Are you oka-ayh…” Constantine shouted, chasing after her. “Hey, hey, take it easy now.”

“Gluaugh…” Uriel gurgled, followed by another convulsive heave.

“It’s alright Uriel. Here, clean yourself up with these.” He suggested, handing her some napkins.

“Ugh… t-thanks.” She said quietly, taking them and wiping her mouth.

“That bad huh?”

“Worse.”

“Sorry Uriel… I know my mind is not even remotely a pleasant place…”

“There are many things that I saw, both in your head and outside.” Uriel began solemnly, moving further inside the forest and leaning herself against a dried tree. She looked back at the man she loved, and the worry in his eyes immediately flashed her back to the first memory and the darkness that swallowed a lonely child.

Perhaps I-I should lead with that...

“Constantine I… don’t want to open old wounds but…”

Constantine looked at the tears that welled up in her eyes and reluctantly nodded. She continued.

“I saw… your father, Christian. I saw… what he did to you...”

Uriel looked back into his eyes, and saw an eerie coldness in them. It was like all the warmth and kindness he showed mere moments ago was sapped away.

“You… weren’t looking for… that?” He said.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know… if it was your doing… my doing… somehow, that was the first memory I saw. And…” Uriel burst into a soft sob. “She… saw me Constantine.”

“Who… saw you?”

“Lady Death. Not literally, I think she just… knew back then I would see that moment now, somehow. Knew I would witness… your father’s suicide.”

“Uriel…” Constantine began but she kept going.

“I saw her there, I saw her talking to your father. He summoned her… bound her…”

“Uriel.” Constantine said once more, this time more firm and decisive, but the angel continued nonetheless.

“She… made him kill himself. In his final moments… he begged to keep you alive.”

“Uriel, STOP!” He shouted, startling her. He stepped back wiping away his tears and the damned memories they brought back. “I don’t… want to hear this… not now. You had no right to wander through my darkest thoughts!”

“I’m… sorry. I…”

There was a pause as each avoided the other’s gaze, unsure what to say.

“I don’t care if he saved me.” Constantine said after a while, his eyes staring in the distance, away from her. “The horrible… things he put me through... the pain he caused me and my mother. I cannot forgive that just cause he thought about someone else in his final moments. The scars I bear because of him run too deep for forgiveness. I promised I would never let another soul feel as alone, as afraid as I did in those days.”

“Constantine I… also saw…” Uriel began, but then she thought for a moment.

Perhaps, I should avoid telling him about the moments in the park…

“I saw your, Evan’s… father. Antonio.”

Constantine’s grimace lightened at the sound of a familiar name. “You found him! You learned his name.”

“Yes… He’s…” Uriel paused again, but this time her pause told Constantine everything right away.

“Dead… isn’t he?” He said softly, his shoulders slumping and his body trembling at the realization.

“He died… in Gausville. The day Nikolai arrived.”

The realization spread like a shadow over his face. Uriel could see through his clouded expression, the excruciating wound that she had inflicted on him. Perhaps he still held the hope that he would live, that he had somehow escaped all this time. But her words tore it all down, stripped it all away, and now he was left bare to face the truth.

“Constantine I... am sorry.” Uriel said, walking to him and embracing him gently. He stood still, but then wrapped his hand around her. In response, she enveloped him with her dark black wings. “I saw how much he meant to you. It was only a brief memory but… I saw it still.”

“He did… yes. He helped me have a normal life after… the other things you saw.”

“Constantine…” Uriel began, breaking away from his touch. “...I cannot lie to you. I saw more than just that.”

“Tell me, please.”

“I saw death. So much horrifying, agonizing death. It was that same pain that you mentioned. The same fear, the same agony you endured, only so much more of it. It was as if I was drowning in an ocean of blood and screams.” Uriel answered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Constantine watched quietly, unwilling or unable to say anything.

“I saw her cause it to so many innocent people that day. I felt so… helpless. I could only sit there and watch as they all laid there in torment. I cannot endure idly sitting by anymore. I cannot just helplessly watch as evil claims this world. I will stop her, and bring justice to her deeds. I cannot allow her to go unpunished for what she has done there. I cannot let her walk free. Not after that. Not after what I have witnessed. This I swear to you. I swear on the blood you and I both spilled that day.”

“Uriel… What are you asking of me?” He asked.

“You have to let her go, Constantine.”

“That is not possible.” He said decisively.

“She’s evil Constantine! What she’s done is unforgivable. I saw the love you had for her before, but this isn’t the same Nikolai you knew.” Uriel yelled at him.

“You don’t understand Uriel! She’s been brought back in a twisted, malformed way. It might not be her, but I saw the real Nikolai hidden deep within her eyes. She’s being used. Why am I the only one that can see that...”

“It is you that cannot see what she’s become. Your obsession with her blinds you.” Uriel’s voice echoed through the dead branches.

“I told you before, my obsession has nothing to do with it.”

“Constantine, this path you’re headed towards will only bring you ruination. I… cannot bear to follow you and watch as you tear yourself apart for her sake.”

“I must save her Uriel, I must.” He said, his will unwavering. “For if I cannot save her from what she has done, if I cannot save her from what she has become, then I cannot save myself either. I am just as responsible for that atrocity as she is. The blood of those people, the blood of Antonio, who was more of a father to me than my actual father, stains my hands as much as hers. If you desire justice, then you can begin with me.” His voice fell like ice in a still lake.

Uriel’s pale eyes lingered for a moment, before the flare of divinity lit up within them. Golden light streamed from her outstretched hand, materializing in a white-hot blade, its tip touching underneath Constantine’s chin.

“So that’s it then?” He said calmly, a bead of sweat dripping from his brow. “You’ll kill me?”

Uriel stared into his eyes, hoping her threat would be enough. But she turned away, and the sword of light faded like mist.

“It would be hypocritical of me. My power is just as guilty for the atrocities of this world, mayhaps they’re responsible for more evil than even Nikolai’s. Besides, you know I cannot do that. My love for you is too much for me to overcome. Just like you are weak before Nikolai, I am weak before you. Accursed weakness is all I am...” Uriel looked away into the shadows of the surrounding trees. The darkness seemed to shift and turn and Uriel turned away, her gaze strong and resolute. “But know this Constantine, I will not hesitate if I meet Nikolai again. My will was broken in Gausville, and I was willing to let her kill me. But now, seeing no… feeling on my own body what she has done... there is a fire of determination alight in my soul. If I am able to, I will give everything I have to strike her down.” She said, pointing decidedly at Constantine.

A pressing silence persisted between them after Uriel’s declaration. Constantine seemed almost… afraid as he took one wobbly step back. He turned away, deep in thought over her words. When he turned back, Uriel was surprised, caught off guard by his question

“Why do you even love me?” Constantine asked. “I have been avoiding you, Uriel, ever since Gausville. I’m truly, truly sorry for that. My brain has been scrambled ever since… that moment when you… possessed me. Our hearts and minds became one. I felt that love, but I still could not understand why it existed at all. I did not know how to react to everything that happened then. I thought focusing on saving my friends would give me time to put everything in order.”

“You... You were the first to open your heart to me.” She said, stepping back, trying to realign her thoughts at the deeply personal question. “I... I lived in purgatory for thousands of years of my life. Alone, hunted, afraid. No friends. No allies. Only my mother to offer the slightest respite. And eventually, even she could not offer me anything anymore. Her last act was to cut me off from the world, put me to sleep in a coffin made of glass.” Uriel said with tears in her eyes. “And then I met you when I awoke. And you were so unlike anyone I had ever met before. But your love is not for me, no matter how hard I seem to try. I cannot save your soul like Nikolai did. You cannot offer me a love like that, the love that I want. A love that not even fate can tear asunder.”

The two sat in silence, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes. Constantine made the first move towards her, but he walked past her towards a tree behind her. Uriel followed him, and saw him walk towards a tall old tree with its bark burned near-black. He knelt at its base and plucked one of the lavender flowers that grew between its roots. Constantine walked back towards her, putting the lavender flower in her palm when he got close. He then carefully placed both of his hands around her face staring into her pale eyes. Finally, he closed his eyes and leaned forward, touching his forehead against her.

“I swear to you, when we get them back, I will try to give you the love you deserve. I know you saw that possibility in my heart. I will save you from the loneliness that you fear so much. I will save Nikolai from the evil that has enraptured her, and… she will answer for what she has done. But first, I… no, we shall save Evan, Wrath and Mephistopheles, together, like I promised you before.”

When we get them back… Uriel thought, clutching the lavender flower within her grasp. Such a naive fairy-tale ending. What's the point of fighting for a happy ever after that is nothing but a mirage? A hope so frail… fine, so be it.

“Let us save them then, together.” She said solemnly.

“Then we must continue your training.” A deep, hoarse, womanly voice came from behind them, startling both. “Each moment wasted is another moment that risks your friends’ lives. Uriel dear, you have passed this first trial, but many more await you. We begin again tomorrow at dawn.” Madame Léstrava said, before her grim somber look turned into a cheeky smirk. “But first, what would you two like for dinner?”