Chapter 241

"Being there isn't the same as belonging there." -Rigel J. Dawson.

***********************

Heaven waited for her father, who insisted he would go in her place, ignoring her wishes completely. She found out that her grandmother had already offered herself in exchange, but her grandfather only wanted her. So Heaven hoped he wouldn't accept her father's offer.

Her grandmother started to pack her clothes. "What are you doing?" Heaven asked.

"If you are going, then I am coming with you. Your grandfather doesn't want Lucian."

"No! You need to stay. Father and mother will be sad once I leave so you need to stay with them."

"They have each other. I am not letting you go alone." She said with finality.

"I don't think Lothaire will allow you to come with me."

She stopped packing and turned to her. "Lothaire didn't accept an exchange, but he told me I could come to him if I wanted too."

"That is why you shouldn't. He will be happy to have more of us joining him."

"Heaven. We will go there but we will never belong there. We have to make him realize that." She said.

It wasn't a bad strategy. Following her grandfather to his kingdoms but not following his footsteps. Wouldn't he tire eventually and let her go if she didn't become the person he wanted her to be? She would have to keep her mind strong.

Just like her grandmother suspected, Lothaire didn't accept her father's offer. Now it was time for her and her grandmother to leave. Her mother was still not convinced, but Heaven used the mate excuse.

"Would you not do the same for father?" She asked. "I don't want to lose Zamiel or any of you."

Her mother understood her reasons, but she just had a hard time accepting them.

While her mother struggled to accept her decision, Heaven was still confused by how easily Zamiel let her go. She shouldn't be. All of them should have realized sooner that there was no way out. The devil could and would do whatever he wanted.

Zamiel watched her in silence while she packed. She tried to focus on the task and not think of anything else, otherwise, she would end up crying.

No! She wouldn't think of how the separation would feel for all of them. She would just go and leave her emotions behind.

Once she was done packing, she turned to Zamiel. She dreaded this moment, but she would have to say goodbye. She couldn't avoid him. Besides, he had been supportive, so she owed to thank him as well.

Don't cry Heaven!

She smiled at him. "I guess it is time to leave." She said, trying to sound as optimistic as possible.

Zamiel walked up to her and grabbed her face between his hands. "You don't have to pretend with me." He told her. "Just tell me what you truly want to say before you leave."

She placed her hands on top of his and looked into his silver eyes. "I will miss you." She said.

A selfish thing to say when she was leaving.

He smiled. "I will miss you too." He said, and then he leaned down and kissed her.

One kiss. Just one kiss made her feel at peace at that moment. It chased away all the fear and exhaustion and oddly; it made her feel strong instead of weak. The way his kisses usually made her feel.

He kissed her as if he wanted her to remember what kissing him felt like and hold on to that memory. When their lips parted, all the emotions she had been pushing away started to come swim to the surface.

She wouldn't be able to kiss him or hold him once she left. She wouldn't be able to hear his voice or smell his scent. She wouldn't…

Stop Heaven! She had to stop because her eyes teared up and she didn't want to cry while saying goodbye.

"Heaven. I will be happy as long as you are happy. So I don't want you to be sad."

Zamiel knew her so well. He knew why she was leaving, even though she lied to him, and he must have had his reasons for letting her go so easily. Maybe he had a plan and he couldn't tell her. Whatever his plan was, she didn't want him to be in danger.

"I won't be sad as long as you don't get yourself hurt." She told him.

"I won't get myself hurt. Lets both take care of ourselves." He said.

She nodded.

It wasn't easy to say goodbye to everyone, especially her mother, but Heaven promised to see her again. She didn't know how that would happen, but she knew it would.

Her grandmother had already made up her mind to follow her. "We will be back." She said determined. She didn't know what her grandmother had in mind, but she made her parents calm down a bit.

If there was anyone who could have a plan without Lothaire knowing, then it was Zamiel and her grandmother. She made sure that Zamiel wouldn't get himself hurt, but her grandmother worried her.

Lothaire didn't come to escort them. He had told her that once she was ready, a portal would open in her garden, and she just had to walk through it.

Heaven and her grandmother walked outside to her garden, and soon after, a portal opened. This proved that her grandfather knew their every step. Her grandmother took her hand and they slowly but steadily walked inside.

It went by fast. It was almost as if someone pushed them from behind, causing them to stumble forward, and suddenly they were somewhere else.

Heaven looked around. It felt like she was inside a castle, but with the strangest interior. Everything was dark. Mostly black, red or grey. The lights were dim, casting shadows everywhere and giving a mysterious feeling.

It was quiet until the clicking sound of footsteps echoed in silence. Heaven and Irene turned to where the sound came from.

It was her grandfather. Lucifer. The devil. He appeared from the shadows with an amused smile on his face.

"Welcome." He said.