It was already nighttime when we were sitting on the floor reading more books about angels and how to close the gates of Hell when suddenly an angel appeared. “Sir,” he said, looking at Azriel.
“Yeah? What’s up?” he asked while reading one of the books on the floor.
“It’s Hermesiel, sir,” he paused.
“What about her?”
“She was found dead in an alley in New York.”
We all looked at the angel, and then he slammed the book shut, “does Raphael know?”
“Yes, sir, he does. So does Michael.”
He nodded, “okay. Thank you, Zophiel.”               
The angel nodded and disappeared. He stood up and started pacing, “this is bad. This is really bad.”
Mid pace, he stopped and just disappeared. We covered our faces as the dust flew around as Azriel flapped his wings, “watch it, you ass!” Merikh yelled then dusted himself off. The three of us bowed our heads to continue reading after Azriel left. “I found something,” Collin suddenly said. Merikh and I looked at him then he placed the book in the middle. I didn’t notice it earlier but the book Collin was reading was the one Hermesiel grabbed from me. He points to the bottom part of the book that said: Sacrificing may be ideal but not necessary however there are trials to be completed in order to seal the Gates of Hell indefinitely. 
“Whatever these trials are, we can just do that instead of sacrificing Mia,” Collin suggested.
“I agree but look here,” Merikh pointed out another fine print, “it says here only one person can do those trials and there’s a possibility for death. So I am thinking, I’ll do it myself. I’m already a demon, this shit might get easier if I do it.”
“Not gonna stop you there,” Collin chuckled while Merikh glares at him. After a few hours, Azriel came back with a white feather in hand. It was Hermesiel’s. He sat down with us again and said the blade used to kill her was the same as their swords and there was a note left on the scene. He gave it to us and it read: Bring me the Nephilim if you want your kind to be saved.
“All of the angels are now looking for Mia,” Azriel disclosed, “we need to move. They know you’re here and –“ he was cut off by a banging on the door. We all immediately stood up and grabbed all the books. Dumping them inside my duffel bag and the rest were carried by Collin and Merikh. Azriel led us to the back door when suddenly the front door busted open at the same time we ran from the back door to the truck. I rode in the driver’s seat and started the engine. I reversed the truck as the angels ran out of the house, changing the gear to drive. It was like a scene in Fast and the Furious. The adrenaline is rushing through me. The darkness of the night was lit by the headlights and faint shine of the moonlight. I was driving aimlessly when the phone’s map was leading us to Reno Beach. I tried stepping on the brakes but it wouldn’t budge. I lifted my foot up from the gas pedal, but the truck is on autopilot.
“Did you do this?” Collin asked when he saw the map leading to where his father and Beleth were. “Absolutely not!” I quickly replied.
“I think we better jump off the truck before it arrives at its destination,” Azriel suggested. Of course, I do not agree with it especially since this is my dad’s truck! Everything we both owned is in here. I was hesitating to leave it. “Mia, come on!” Merikh was already yelling at me. I didn’t notice that they were hanging on the roof rack until I looked over at Merikh to reply, “I can’t!”
“Yes, you can!”
“No! Everything I have is here. All my weapons are here!”
“Don’t worry about those! Collin’s getting them as we speak!”               
I opened my door and Merikh reached out his hand. He told me to untuck my wings so he can let go of the rack and we’ll have something to use as a parachute. Before doing anything else, I looked over at Azriel and Collin, who was getting all my things out of the compartment since between the two of them, Collin’s the only one who can access them. The moment Azriel got Collin, I untucked my wings and Merikh let go of the rack. I see it driving by itself as we hover, then we landed on our feet. Collin jogged towards us with Azriel in tow, “sorry, this is all we can get.”               
I looked inside the bag and all the important stuff are there – first aid, ammo, some Holy water, guns, knives, and most of all, my machete. I looked at them, “that’s all we’re gonna need,” I said. “Now what?” Merikh asked.“We need to plan things first before we do anything –“ Azriel was then cut off by a loud growl. Merikh took his staff from his back, trying to search who made that growl. I took my gun out and placed silver bullets in the magazine and placed it in, you know, just in case it’s a werewolf.
I walked farther away from our group, searching for whatever monster was lurking. I quickly turned around when I heard another growl, this time it was closer. Then I heard Merikh yell my name before I could run towards them, something bit me. I let out a loud wail as the hellhound ran, dragging me across the forest. My gun is still in my hand and aimed it to its stomach, pulling the trigger. The monster yelped and let go of my leg, but it came running towards me again. The animal jumped at me, I can feel its breath inches from my face. I was trying my best to keep its teeth away from my neck and even my face, then I felt the warm sensation in my belly. I saw my arms and hands glowing, slowly burning the hellhound. It started yelping, backing away from me. I laid down on the ground after watching it burn and disappear. I panted then I slowly sat up, my left leg is fucked up. I feel like I’m going to bleed to death, but then I placed a hand above it. I took a deep breath and just thought of healing myself. The bright glow appeared again, my wounds are slowly closing up. I groaned in pain, trying to stop myself from screaming.                 When my wounds are completely healed, I stood up and started walking back to the road we landed on but halfway through walking in the woods, Collin saw me and yelled for Azriel and Merikh. The three of them ran towards me, checking me for injuries. “Guys, I’m fine,” I said, “you don’t have to get all wound up.”
“You got dragged by a hellhound! Of course, we’ll get worried,” Azriel commented, “now, where are your wounds? I’m gonna heal them.”
“I don’t have them,” they all stopped and just looked at me, “I, uhm, I healed myself.”                “Y-you really healed yourself?”
I nodded, Azriel was amazed and gave me a high five. “Since you’re okay, shall we finish this?”
We went to walk in the next town. Just a few kilometers from where we were. We all know that it’s along the way to Reno Beach, but we’ve got to plan our next move before going there straight on. 
We settled in an abandoned B&B. We lighted only a few candles, careful not to show much light to the outside. We were reading and rereading everything but we still cannot piece together a plan. We’re all getting frustrated. Azriel’s been going up and down to gather more intel, both Collin and Merikh didn’t want to leave my side in case some rogue angels decide to pay us a visit. “Okay, so,” Azriel started just as he landed in the middle of the room, “the trials that these books were talking about never had any success. Anyone and everyone who tried it all died. No one ever lived to tell the tale. So, Mia can’t –“
“Mia can’t do it because I will do it,” Merikh sternly said.
“The whole trial is suicide, Mer,”
“And your point is?”
“No one’s going to do it, alright?!” I interrupted, “we can’t even figure out how Collin’s dad is here without his own body. I beheaded him, remember?”               
“Well, if Collin’s dad is in Hell and became a demon, he can possess anyone,” explained Merikh.
“So you mean he can use anyone’s body and we’ll never know it’s him?” Collin asked while scratching his chin.
“Exactly.”
“But angels possess people too, right?” I asked.
“Yes, but we cannot enter a person’s body without consent,” Azriel said.
“So, that body gave you consent?”
“Yes. And this is called a vessel.”
“Huh. Even Merikh’s vessel?”               
“Yeah,” he said softly while reading a book, “mine, too. Even Lucifer needs consent to possess someone because he's still an angel, even if he’s a fallen angel.”
I checked the clock and it was past 2 am already. I am exhausted. Azriel’s perfectly coiffed hair is now a mess like he’s been scratching his head every chance he gets as he reread the last book he’s been holding. Collin went out on a hunt for food. Merikh is laying on the couch, book over his face, snoring. I stood up from my chair and walked over to Merikh. I took the book and saw that he is handsome even when he’s asleep. I took a blanket, placed it up to his shoulder. I was about to walk back to my chair and read when he grabbed my hand. I looked over to him, and his gray eyes were staring into mine. I was about to kneel down to level with him until his brother lightly coughed, breaking the eye contact and I pulled my hand away. I walked to the kitchen to check if there’s anything I could drink or eat.               
I was about to walk back out when I heard the two of them talking. “Dude, if you’re using Mia as some sort of rebound, don’t do it. She’s a genuinely nice person, who lost her whole family. Don’t add whatever lust you have for her,” Azriel commented.
“I’m not using her as a rebound. Hermesiel and I have been done eons ago. Besides, she married Bart. I was already a fallen angel when I found out about it.”
“I think Collin –“
“Likes Mia? No, shit, Sherlock. He may even be in love with her but what is he doing about it? Nothing. So she might as well not do anything, too.”               
“Yeah, well, because I know she likes you too,” I hear Collin say, “Azriel and I know it.”
I stayed in the kitchen for a while. I didn’t know Collin felt that way. I knew Merikh does ‘cause I have been, somehow, feeling the same way, too. I was opening the cupboards and the pantry all over again, wishing that I will find something to eat. My stomach has been growling for quite a while then suddenly an arm wrapped around my waist and a handkerchief over my nose and mouth. 
Everything went black.