Chapter 45 - Power of an Unborn

Gabriel's gaze pinned her in place, his golden eyes narrowing as he uttered the single word that made the air in the room feel suffocating.

"Judgment."

Before Anastasia could fire back with the anger that bubbled to the surface, a thought struck her like lightning. Her hands clenched into fists as she took a bold step forward.

"How did you even find us?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade.

Gabriel's lips curled into a faint, knowing smirk as his gaze shifted to Elijah. The brightly sunlit garden seemed to darken under the weight of his piercing stare.

"Ah, greetings, old friend," he said, his tone a careful blend of courtesy and thinly veiled contempt. "It did take me a moment to notice you had slipped from my watchful gaze, Elijah. But once I did, well... locating you proved far less challenging than I expected. Perhaps you'd care to enlighten me as to why you're consorting with mortals and, more intriguingly, an Underworld Third in Command?" His piercing gaze shifted to Zython, a flicker of suspicion gleaming in his eyes. "Now that I think of it, this place positively reeks of demons. A rather curious choice of company for an Archangel, wouldn't you agree?"

Elijah smiled faintly, his expression calm but guarded. "It has been a long time indeed, Gabriel," he replied, his voice smooth and measured. "So long, in fact, that you failed to notice I dropped off your radar centuries ago."

Gabriel's jaw tightened, but Elijah continued, unperturbed.

"As for my company," he said, gesturing casually to the group around him, "I was merely partaking in luncheon with two rather important mortals and a demon to discuss potential treaties. Nothing extraordinary, I assure you."

Gabriel's golden eyes narrowed, his disbelief apparent. "You presume I would believe such a claim? No decree was issued, nor was any permission granted for you to embark upon such an endeavor."

Before he could press further, Anastasia cut in sharply, her voice laced with frustration. "You two can have your little reunion later. I want to know what's been decided for Bastian's fate."

Gabriel hesitated, his unreadable expression locking with hers. The room grew unbearably silent as everyone held their breath. Finally, he spoke, his words heavy and deliberate.

"He was sentenced to be reborn and sent to the Ethereal Battlefield… until all is lost."

Anastasia frowned, confusion mixing with dread. "The Ethereal Battlefield?" she asked. But when she noticed Elijah's expression darken into a deep frown, her stomach churned. "Elijah? Do you know what he means?"

Elijah's voice was low, almost hesitant, as he explained. "The elixir for rebirth erases a human-born angel's memories of their mortal life. It strips away their humanity entirely, leaving only their divine purpose. The Ethereal Battlefield… is where angels train to become warriors."

"Billy and Bastian mentioned it," Anastasia said, her voice trembling. "But what does 'until all is lost' mean?"

Elijah's frown deepened. "It means until everyone Bastian knows—everyone he's ever loved—is long gone. He'll be there for thousands of years, Anastasia."

The weight of his words hit her like a physical blow. A cold, seething rage began to spread through her chest, burning hotter with each passing second.

Her voice was low and venomous as she turned her gaze back to Gabriel. "You… You condemned him to that? How dare you!"

Gabriel stood tall, unyielding. "How dare I? It seems you have forgotten your place mortal. His defiance has set events into motion, and the consequences are now irrevocably in play."

Anastasia's body trembled with an unfamiliar energy, a surge of raw power bubbling up from within her. Her scowl deepened, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Gabriel frowned, sensing the shift in the air.

Elijah and Zython exchanged glances, their expressions taut with concern, while Rose's gaze locked onto Anastasia, her own anger mirroring her friend's.

Anastasia stepped forward, her voice quivering with fury. "Why are you here, Gabriel?"

Gabriel tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. When he spoke, his words were measured, like a judge delivering a verdict. "You, Anastasia, are no ordinary mortal. You—and your unborn child—pose a grave threat to the balance of our realms. It is time for the Council to decide both your fates."

Her heart stopped. Her unborn child?

"What do you plan to do with my child?" she demanded through gritted teeth, her entire body shaking with restrained rage.

Gabriel's reply was maddeningly calm. "Such matters are for the powers above to decide."

That was the last straw. Anastasia's rage erupted like a volcano, and the room seemed to ignite with a blinding, electric light. Her eyes glowed a brilliant neon blue, the intensity of the color so unnatural that it sent shivers down everyone's spines. Her voice, when she spoke, was not her own. It resonated with an ancient, otherworldly authority.

"You will not take my child from me."

Without warning, she lunged at Gabriel, her movements faster than any mortal's, her fists blazing with energy. Gabriel met her attack head-on, their collision sending shockwaves through the room.

The fight was brutal, chaotic, and mesmerizing. Gabriel's experience gave him an edge—his movements were fluid, precise, and devastatingly effective. But Anastasia's raw power, amplified by the presence of her unborn child, made her a formidable opponent.

As they clashed, Zython turned to Elijah, his voice low but urgent. "How is she so powerful?"

Elijah's gaze never left the battle. "It's the child," he said quietly. "The power of an unborn angel amplifies the mother's abilities, especially when the child is destined to be one of the most powerful beings in existence."

Rose overheard and gasped, her eyes wide with panic. "Then do something! Help her!"

Elijah shook his head, his expression grim. "She's strong. But Gabriel's skill in battle will eventually overcome her strength."

The fight raged on, the room shaking as energy clashed against energy. Anastasia was relentless, each strike fueled by her anger and desperation. But as the minutes passed, Gabriel began to gain the upper hand. His movements became sharper, more calculated, until finally, he knocked Anastasia to the ground.

She lay there, struggling to get up, her glowing eyes dimming slightly as her energy waned. Gabriel loomed over her, his expression unreadable but his intentions clear.

For a moment, he hesitated. He knew what the Council demanded: bring her to the Celestial City for judgment. But he also knew that ending her here, now, would end the threat she posed.

His hand began to glow, a sharp, deadly light forming at his fingertips as he prepared to deliver the final blow.