Tess would have screamed, except that she couldn't breathe. She was actually choking. Silas tried to help her, but she shooed him back. Instead he brought over a cup of water. Once she could breathe, she took it carefully. After taking a sip, she looked at him.

  "We have to go to Levi's grave."

  "What?" Silas looked at her like she was crazy. It was not the first thing he expected her to say after being choked. 

  "We have to go to Levi's grave, now." Tess insisted, jumping out of bed. Tess didn't even think and just began taking off her clothes to change.

  "Don't look." She said quickly.

  "What?" Silas turned around, but then covered his eyes, "Tess!"

  "I warned you!" She heard Silas stumble into the bathroom and slam the door. Tess quickly slipped on the closest clothes she could find.

  "Is it safe to come out?" Silas shouted within the bathroom.

  "Yes." Tess said. Silas came out slowly, his hand was still over his eyes.

  "Come on!" Tess grabbed his free hand and dragged him out of her room.

  "Tess, you're parents are at work and the truck is gone. How are we going to get to the graveyard?" Silas questioned, trying not to fall down the stairs.

  "We're running!" Tess shouted and sprinted out the door. Silas caught up to her easily.

  "Jump on." He said, running in front of her. Tess leaped onto his back and he boosted her up. She wrapped her legs around his midsection. Silas took off and she swore they were moving faster than a train. After about ten minutes they arrived at the graveyard. Tess scrambled off Silas's back and ran toward Levi's grave. When she saw it, she stumbled and landed on her knees.

  "No..." The grave was splintered open and the headstone was cracked in half. Silas ran up beside her.

  "It's not possible." He gasped. Tess didn't need to see that Levi's body was gone, she knew it was.

  "How did you know to come here?" Silas asked Tess. Tess looked at the grave with a vacant expression.

  "It was in the dream. The demon said the time had come." Silas kneeled down beside her and she cowarded into his embrace.

  "What now?" Tess whispered. Silas seemed to stop breathing and Tess knew he had no idea. She shivered with anxiety at the thought of Akbar running free again. 

  "We need to take you to Gabriel." Silas said finally.

  "You mean up in the clouds?" Tess looked at the sky skeptically.

  "Yes." Silas replied, a small smile played across his lips. Tess scowled at him.

  "There's one problem, I don't exactly have wings."

  "Make yourself fly, you know you have the power to." Tess cringed as if she was struck. Silas looked disappointed.

  "Now I need you to concentrate harder than you have before. Spill all your energy into the spell 'Creo ego lumen dum aer.'" Tess gave Silas a look that said he was insane.

  "Come on Tess, if anything happens I'll catch you." Tess knew he would, but she still had to ignore her conscience telling her he was crazy.

  "Fine," Tess said nervously, "creo ego lumen dum aer." Tess felt her feet leave the ground and all concentration was lost. Her feet hit the ground firmly.

  "Tess." Silas groaned. Tess whirled on him.

  "Excuse me for not having wings!" Tess growled and the repeated the spell. After a few moments Tess looked down, noticing she was feet from the ground. Pure delight mixed with fear kept her spell intact.

  "Isn't it gorgeous?" Silas said, floating beside her.

  "Yes." Tess answered, her face was filled with awe.

  "We're almost there." Silas told her looking upward. Tess looked up frowning. She couldn't see anything.

  "Follow me." Silas said, grabbing her hand gently. He took her through a white fluffy cloud. As Tess's vision cleared, she saw golden streets and towering buildings. The whole city seemed to stretch on forever. There were angels flying everywhere and they stopped in their tasks, giving Tess curious looks.

  "How do we not see this place?" Tess asked Silas, she leaned close to him, feeling insecure.

  "There is a shield placed around this part of the Heavens so that it's blocked from the human eye." Tess nodded. She looked around, noticing a giant building that had many stone pillars surrounding it.

  "What's that?" She asked, nodding to it.

  "That is the throne room, and that is where I'm taking you." Silas pulled her along the street with him and they entered the throne room. It was a long hall decorated with pillars and little paths that led other places, but at the end was a small throne, where the not too bad looking Gabriel sat. Tess cautiously followed Silas, gripping his hand like a little kid. She was sure she heard Silas chuckle. Gabriel did not see either of them approach as he was studying a scroll intently. Silas coughed to get his attention. Gabriel looked up, his golden eyes fixating on Tess and Silas. He smiled warmly, rolling his scroll up.

  "Well, well, this must be Tess." He looked down at their interlocked fingers and Silas's hand retreated from hers immediately. He turned to Silas.

  "You better have a good reason for bringing her to this most sacred place, that I might add, is not for the human eye to see." Tess frowned, that was a bit...harsh.

  "I do." Silas answered, his confidence didn't seem to waver. He gestured for Tess to tell Gabriel what she had dreamed and what they had seen today. Tess explained nervously in detail all that had happened. Gabriel's smile slowly melted into a frown. He stood silently as Tess concluded her story.

  "Tell me again about the last words of your dreams." Tess nodded.

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  "I will rise from the ground and all will be lost. The ground will cry tears of blood."

"Is that part important?" Tess asked. Gabriel looked at Silas, a look exchanged between them.

  "When night falls, darkness will escape his grave.

  The fires of hope will flicker and die,

  And the very earth will weep blood for its fate.

  As the darkness rises to take its crown,

  A Seer will come to return the light.   

  War will rage, hearts will clash

  And the world will be reborn among the ash." Gabriel stared intently at Tess, she looked at him confused.

"What was that?" Tess asked. Gabriel paced, looking away from her.

  "It was prophecy that was foretold eighteen years ago," Gabriel looked at her, "a prophecy about you." Tess froze up and suddenly it was extremely warm in the room.

  "About me?" She squeaked out.

  "The first part is about Akbar. His rising from the grave. Then it tells of war, we don't know when or how, but there will be a war." Gabriel features grew grave.

  "But one thing is clear, there will be a Seer that will save us all, and it's you." Tess backed up, finding a stone pillar.

  "You've got to be joking." Gabriel's face indicated otherwise.

  "Tell me you don't believe him?" Tess turned to Silas. The angel stared back at her, giving her an answer.

  "Tess, it all makes sense."

  "I have the same powers as all the others Seers." Tess pointed out.

  "That's why we need to test you." Gabriel said, he was holding an unsheathed dagger that seemed to have appear.

  "How?" Tess asked, looking at him skeptically. Gabriel looked at her.

  "Catch." He threw the dagger faster than humanly possible. Tess didn't have time to react, she didn't know how. She closed her eyes, flinching.

  "Good." Came Gabriel's praise. Tess opened her eyes. The daggers point levitated inches from her nose. She suddenly felt tired and the dagger clattered to the floor.

  "You okay?" Silas asked, grabbing her arm as if to keep her steady.

  "What was that?!" Tess glared straight at Gabriel.

  "A test. And you passed." Tess waited for an explanation.

  "Most Seers have to use a spell to stop things or do things, but every once in a while a Seer is born with an extra power. They are able to use the energy around and in themselves to stop things or move things like my blade. You couldn't do these things until you learned to control your first power, that's why you never discovered it. This can be an extremely useful power."

  "Wasn't there an easier way to show that she had the power? What if she didn't stop the blade?" Silas asked, he sounded like he was trying to keep his tone level.

  "I knew she would." Gabriel shrugged as if this was old news to him. Silas scowled. Tess stood straighter.

  "So I used the energy within myself to stop your blade?"

  "Yes, and in turn you spent some energy." Tess nodded.

  "You still don't think you're the one in the prophecy?" Gabriel looked at her.

  "No, but if there is a war, I want to help." Gabriel gave his nod of approval.

  "We will begin accelerating her training, starting now. Catch." Tess caught the hilt of a sword quickly, it had seemed to come out of nowhere. 

  "Demons fight the old way with darkness, swords, and daggers. When this war arrives you need to be able to handle these weapons." He turned.

  "Silas, unsheathe your sword." Silas looked horrified.

  "I will not fight her."

  "You will." Gabriel insisted.

  "Now unsheathe your sword." Silas unhappily unsheathed his blade. The light made the sword glimmer beautifully. Gabriel sat down on his throne.

  "Now fight." Tess's palms grew sweaty. She hadn't handled a sword in her whole lifetime and now she was about to get a crash course. Silas looked equally anxious as he stood there. Tess raised her sword, finding it heavier than she thought. Silas took a breath and charged at her, keeping his speed human. Tess tried to block him, but the point of his sword was at her throat easily. She forgot he was left-handed.

  "Again." Gabriel growled. Silas stepped away from her. Tess raised her sword determinedly. Silas charged again, but this time she blocked his sword perfectly and he whirled behind her.

  "You learn quickly," Silas mumbled, "but not quick enough." The point of the sword poked her in the back. Tess found herself growing frustrated already.

  "Again." Gabriel's voice held a bored tone. Silas backed away, swinging his sword back into its ready position. Tess waited for him and he charged. She blocked him and turned around so that he was not on her backside.

  "Good." Gabriel praised her. Tess glanced at him.

  "Mistake." Silas said, her eyes glanced back and a sword was pointed at her chest. In anger, Tess blew him back a few steps with her powers. Silas fell on his behind and Tess smirked.

  "No cheating." Gabriel said disapprovingly. Tess sighed.

  "Fine." She poised with her sword, waiting for Silas. He got up and charged her; she blocked and dodged him so they were facing each other. Silas lunged forward and Tess jumped back, the point of his sword scared her. Silas ran at her and she wasn't sure where he was going. Her indecision was her downfall as Silas beat her again. Tess sighed, lowering her sword. Silas smiled at the small victory.

"You know I hate this."

  "I'm sure you do." Tess raised her sword as Gabriel commanded,

  "Again."