Marax's Pov

I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees, watching Nathanial like a hawk. The angel sat rigidly on the couch across from me, his posture unnaturally perfect as if someone had glued a steel rod to his back. Zarach leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowing on Nathanial with a dark, brooding intensity. The tension in the room was thick enough to slice with a blade, and honestly, I was over it.

"So, feathers," I drawled, smirking when Nathanial shot me a glare. "You gonna tell us what's really going on with Athena? Or are you just here to play the mysterious angel act?"

Nathanial's jaw tightened, his pale eyes steady and serious. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I snorted. "Sure, you don't. Look, she's been gone too long for just coffee. I mean, Solar's with her, and we know how seriously he takes things." I rolled my eyes, adding with mock exasperation, "It's not like the guy's reliable."

"Solar's an angel," Nathanial replied, his tone clipped. "He's more than capable of handling himself and Athena."

Zarach pushed off the wall, his wings giving a small twitch as his arms unfolded. "That's not the point. She shouldn't need handling, Nathanial. And if something's happened—if you know something—we need to hear it. Now."

Nathanial's gaze darted to Zarach, his expression impassive, but I caught the smallest flicker of discomfort in his eyes. "I don't have anything to tell you," he said evenly. "Athena said she'd be back. Until then, I trust her judgment."

I laughed, a short, humorless sound. "Trust her judgment? You mean the same judgment that's landed her in more danger than either of us can count? She's strong, yeah, but she's not invincible. And last I checked, your job's to keep her safe. So what's your plan, feathers? Wait around until something bad happens?"

Nathanial's frown deepened, and his voice dropped. "Athena is more capable than you give her credit for."

Zarach took a step closer, his tone cutting through the air like a blade. "We know exactly how capable she is, but that doesn't mean she doesn't need us. The last time she handled things on her own, she drained herself dry and killed Beleth. You remember what that means, right? She's got a target on her back, Nathanial. Higher demons won't just let that go."

The mention of Beleth's death sent a ripple of anger and fear through me, but I covered it with a grin, leaning back in my chair. "Exactly. And yet here we are, sitting around like idiots while she's God-knows-where with the least reliable angel in existence. If something happens, it's on us."

Nathanial didn't flinch, but his lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not keeping anything from you."

I raised an eyebrow. "No? Then why are you so damn cagey? Look, I get it—you're not used to working with demons. But here's the thing: Zarach and I aren't going anywhere. Athena's ours to protect, and whether you like it or not, you're part of this mess now. So if you've got secrets, you'd better spill 'em."

Zarach crossed his arms again, his dark gaze boring into Nathanial. "We love her," he said simply, his voice low but firm. "Even if we haven't said it to her yet, it's the truth. So if you're keeping anything from us—anything that could help us protect her—you'd better think long and hard about where your loyalties lie."

Nathanial's shoulders tensed, but he didn't rise to the bait. "My only loyalty is to Athena's safety. That hasn't changed."

"Then start acting like it," Zarach growled.

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of our unspoken fears pressing down on all of us. I tried to shake it off, forcing a grin that felt hollow even to me. "Alright, fine. We'll play it your way—for now. But feathers, if you're hiding something and it costs her, there's nowhere in Heaven or Hell you can hide from us."

Nathanial didn't respond, but the intensity in his gaze didn't waver. I didn't trust him—not completely. But for Athena's sake, I'd keep things civil. At least until we knew for sure she was safe.

The tension in the room was palpable as we lapsed into an uneasy silence. Nathanial sat stiffly on the edge of the couch, still as a statue, while Zarach prowled near the window, his wings twitching with barely restrained frustration.

I tried to focus, to think about what we'd do next, but my mind kept circling back to Athena—where she was, who she was with, and why the gnawing pit in my stomach felt like it was getting deeper with every passing second.

"I don't like this," Zarach muttered finally, his deep voice breaking the silence. He turned from the window, his dark gaze sharp as a blade. "She should've checked in by now."

"You think we don't know that?" I snapped, running a hand through my hair. My usual grin was nowhere to be found, replaced by a scowl I couldn't shake. "But we've got nothing to go on. Solar doesn't exactly leave breadcrumbs."

Nathanial glanced between us, his face unreadable as ever. "She hasn't called because she doesn't want us to worry. That's her way."

"She's got a funny way of looking out for us," I muttered, kicking at the leg of the coffee table. "Especially when she's got half of Hell gunning for her."

Zarach's wings flared slightly, his expression grim. "This isn't just about Hell. She's caught between two worlds—our world, and his." He gestured toward Nathanial with a nod. "She might think she can handle it, but that doesn't mean she should."

Nathanial's eyes narrowed, his gaze hardening. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't want to keep her safe just as much as you do?"

"Do you?" Zarach challenged, his tone low and dangerous. "Because I've yet to see you do anything that proves it."

Nathanial stood then, his frame rigid as steel. "You think I don't care because I'm not like you? Because I don't wear my emotions on my sleeve? You're wrong. I care more than you could possibly understand."

Zarach took a step forward, his own anger flaring. "Then act like it. Stop sitting there like a damn statue and help us find her."

I held up a hand, stepping between them before things got physical. "Alright, alright, enough of the dick-measuring contest. Let's focus, yeah? Athena's out there, and something doesn't feel right. We need to track her down, not rip each other apart."

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Nathanial's jaw clenched, but he nodded reluctantly, his wings shifting slightly behind him. Zarach crossed his arms again, his eyes still locked on the angel, but he didn't push further.

"Good," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. "Now, let's think. Solar's got to have a tell, something we can use to figure out where he's taken her. He's not exactly subtle."

Zarach huffed a breath, his brow furrowing. "The only thing he's consistent about is not telling us a damn thing."

"True," I said, pacing now as I tried to piece things together. "But he's got a soft spot for Athena. If she asked him for something, he'd probably cave. The question is... what would she ask him for?"

Zarach's eyes narrowed, realization dawning on his face. "Hell."

Nathanial stiffened, his wings drawing taut. "What?"

"She's been desperate for answers," Zarach continued, his tone grim. "And she knows Marax and I wouldn't take her. She also knows we don't trust Nathanial to make that call." His gaze locked on the angel. "But Solar? He'd be just stupid enough to do it."

Nathanial's expression darkened. "You're saying she's in Hell?"

"It makes sense," I admitted reluctantly, the pit in my stomach twisting into a full-blown knot. "She's been itching to talk to Lucifer, to figure out what Satan wants with her. Solar would've been her way in."

Nathanial turned on his heel, his wings flaring in agitation. "If she's in Hell, we don't have time to waste."

"No shit, feathers," I shot back, already moving toward the door. "But finding her's not going to be easy. Hell's a big place, and Satan's got eyes everywhere."

Zarach's voice was a low growl. "We start with Solar. If he took her there, he'll know how to get us to her."

Nathanial nodded once, his face set like stone. "Then let's move."

We didn't waste another second. Athena was out there—likely in the worst place imaginable—and if she was in trouble, we'd tear Hell apart to bring her back.

The three of us stepped into the cool night air, the tension between us practically crackling like static electricity. I could feel my nerves vibrating with a mix of frustration and dread. Athena's absence was like a hole in my chest, and the longer we waited, the deeper it seemed to get.

"We'll start with Solar," Zarach said, his tone sharp and focused. "If he's the one who took her, he's got to be close. Angels can't just hang around Hell like it's their summer vacation. He'll have left something—an energy trace, a signal."

"Then let's find it," I said, already trying to sense for any sign of Solar's angelic energy. As a demon, tracking angels wasn't exactly my specialty, but if Solar left even the tiniest ripple in the fabric of the mortal world, Zarach or Nathanial would be able to pick it up.

Nathanial's wings shifted as he closed his eyes, standing stock-still in the middle of the empty street. His hands curled at his sides, and I could feel his energy stretching outward, searching.

"He's not far," Nathanial said finally, his voice low. His eyes snapped open, their glow brighter than usual. "He's masking his presence, but there's a faint residue left behind. He didn't bother to cover his tracks entirely."

"Of course, he didn't," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "Solar's cocky like that. Thinks nobody'll come looking for him because he's the 'fun one.'"

Zarach didn't waste time with snark. "Where is he?"

Nathanial tilted his head, concentrating. "Near the old clock tower on the edge of town. He's not alone, though. There's... resistance. Something heavy. He might be guarding something."

"A portal," Zarach said grimly. "If he took Athena to Hell, he'd need a stable entry point. And he'd guard it if he thought anyone would come after them."

"Then we've got to make him talk," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Because if Athena's down there and she's in trouble—"

"She's alive," Nathanial interrupted firmly, his tone unyielding. "I would know if she wasn't."

I looked at him sharply, a flicker of hope warring with my frustration. "How can you be sure?"

"Because her essence hasn't faded," Nathanial said, his expression almost pained. "She's strong. If she were... gone, I'd feel it."

Zarach's face was unreadable, but I could tell the confirmation gave him some measure of relief. "Then let's not waste any more time."

We moved quickly, cutting through back alleys and empty streets until the looming silhouette of the clock tower came into view. The closer we got, the thicker the air seemed to grow, charged with the unmistakable hum of angelic energy. It was like walking through molasses, the weight of it pressing against my skin.

We approached the clock tower, tension crackling in the air like a brewing storm. Solar stood at its base, arms crossed, his golden wings faintly glowing in the dark. Behind him, the faint shimmer of a portal flickered, almost invisible unless you knew what to look for.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite trio of overprotective babysitters," Solar greeted, his grin sharp but lacking its usual humor.

Zarach wasted no time, his wings flaring slightly as he stalked forward. "Where the hell is Athena?"

Solar shrugged, leaning casually against the stone wall. "In Hell."

The words hit like a bomb. I froze, barely processing the weight of it. Zarach's growl filled the space, low and menacing. "You took her to Hell?" he snarled.

"She asked me to," Solar replied simply, his grin fading. "What was I supposed to do? Tie her up and keep her from going? You know how stubborn she is."

Nathanial stepped forward, his voice cold. "You had no right to take her there. Do you have any idea what kind of danger she's in?"

Solar's eyes narrowed slightly, the glow of his wings dimming. "More than you, apparently. She wanted answers, and you three weren't giving them to her."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" I snapped, my fists clenching. "What answers?"

Solar's gaze flicked to Nathanial, who was standing stock-still, his expression unreadable. "Oh, I don't know," Solar drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe answers about why she's stuck in the middle of this war? Why Satan's so interested in her? And maybe—just maybe—why a certain angel is lying to her."

Zarach's head whipped toward Nathanial, his eyes blazing with fury. "What's he talking about, feathers?"

Nathanial's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

"That's what I thought," Solar muttered, shaking his head. "Look, Athena's not stupid. She knows when someone's keeping things from her. And instead of sitting around and waiting for one of you to grow a backbone and tell her the truth, she decided to go find it herself."

"She could die down there," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "Do you even care about that, or are you just enjoying watching the chaos?"

Solar's expression hardened. "Of course I care. That's why I'm standing here guarding this portal. If things go south, I'll pull her out. But she deserves to know the truth, even if it scares the hell out of you."

"She's not ready for this," Nathanial said, his voice clipped. "She doesn't understand the dangers she's walking into."

"And whose fault is that?" Solar shot back, stepping forward. "Maybe if you'd been honest with her, she wouldn't have had to go to Hell for answers. But no, you just had to keep your little secrets, didn't you?"

"Enough," Zarach growled, his voice like a whip. "We're wasting time. If she's down there, we're going in after her."

Solar sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Not happening. If all three of you waltz into Hell, Satan will know something's up. He'll come sniffing around, and trust me, you don't want that."

"I don't care," I said, stepping forward. "Open the portal."

Solar hesitated, his gaze flickering between us. "You're not listening. If Satan catches wind of what Athena is—or who she is—it's game over. For her. For all of us."

"And why don't you enlighten us about what she is?" Zarach asked, his tone sharp as a blade.

Solar's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not my story to tell," he said finally. "But I'll say this: she's not just some pawn in this war. She's the damn board. And if Satan gets his hands on her, we're all screwed."

The weight of his words settled over us like a lead blanket. For a moment, none of us spoke. Then I stepped forward, my voice like steel. "Open the portal, Solar. We're not leaving her down there."

Solar sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But if this goes sideways, don't say I didn't warn you."

He stepped aside, the portal behind him glowing brighter. "Good luck," he said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "You're going to need it."

Zarach's eyes were cold, his voice low but filled with warning as he glared at Nathanial. "I will kill you if you have been lying about anything." His tone left no room for doubt—this wasn't an empty threat. It was a promise.

Nathanial didn't respond, but his rigid posture and the clenching of his jaw spoke volumes. He knew better than to argue. We'd made it clear that we didn't trust him, and now we were on our way to find Athena—regardless of the consequences.

Without another word, we turned toward the swirling portal before us. The air around it vibrated with dark energy, the gateway to hell waiting for us. We didn't hesitate.

We stepped through without a second thought, leaving Solar and Nathanial behind. As we crossed the threshold, I felt the heat of hell close in around us, but something was off.

Hell... was quiet.

Usually, the very air was charged with chaos, the screams of tortured souls echoing in the distance, and the faintest sound of demons prowling the darkness. But now? The oppressive silence hung heavy, like the calm before a storm. There was no wind, no movement. Just an eerie stillness that made my skin crawl.

Zarach's lips curled into a scowl, and his eyes narrowed as he scanned our surroundings. "Something's wrong," he muttered. "Where the hell is everyone?"

I could feel it too. The usually thick, sulfuric air had a strange weight to it. It almost felt like the ground itself was holding its breath. I glanced over at Zarach. "We need to find Athena," I said, trying to shake off the unease creeping into my bones. "Let's keep moving."

We began walking, the crunch of the cracked ground beneath our boots the only sound in the vast emptiness. Every step felt deliberate, like we were intruding on something much bigger than us.

The deeper we went, the more I could feel the pull of darkness surrounding us, the weight of this place pressing against us.

"She has to be here," Zarach said, his voice tense. "If Satan knows what's good for him, he won't have touched her yet. He'll be waiting for her to make a move. She's too powerful for him to ignore."

I nodded, but the thought didn't sit well with me. "We have to find her first. No more games."

As we moved deeper into the heart of hell, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching us. Hell had always been hostile, but this silence—it wasn't natural. I knew we were being hunted, but by who, or what, I couldn't say.

"Stay sharp," Zarach growled, his voice barely a whisper now as he glanced around, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. "This isn't just the usual hell. Something's changed."

The silence continued to stretch out, oppressive and unyielding. It was too quiet—too still.

Something was waiting for us in this hellish landscape. And we would face it, together, no matter what it was. We couldn't afford to fail. Not this time. Not with Athena's life hanging in the balance.