Chapter 52 - The Need to Forget

The hours dragged by, each second heavier than the last. Anastasia sat hunched at the dining table, her head buried in her hands. The silence in the house was suffocating, thick with disappointment and unspoken words. She could feel the judgment radiating from everyone, even though no one had said a word to her all evening. They were angry, sure, but deep down, she knew they were also grateful. She'd saved Matt, done what none of them could—even if it had cost her more than she wanted to admit.

Billy had left hours ago, heading home to Rose, his presence a rare balm in an otherwise stormy day. Zython, ever the wildcard, had disappeared back to the underworld to train his demons. Even he—the one who found amusement in almost everything—was unusually serious. The plan was simple in theory but almost impossible in execution: infiltrate the Celestial City, avoid mass casualties, save the one angel they were after, and somehow convince the Powers That Be to grant mercy for a single, innocent child. Billy had insisted on joining the mission, but his family's influence made it impossible. If the Dominions or Powers discovered an archangel's son had turned against them, the fallout would be catastrophic.

Now, Anastasia was alone with her thoughts. Alone with the weight of what she'd done and the ripple effects it had unleashed.

The sudden slam of the front door snapped her out of her daze. Her heart jumped as she shot upright in her chair. Footsteps thundered through the hall, and she caught a glimpse of Matt storming past the dining room, his expression dark and unreadable.

"Matt!" she called out, her voice trembling despite herself.

He stopped. She could hear his footsteps pause, then turn. The sound of him approaching made her stomach twist. When he stepped into the room, his face was a storm of emotions: hatred, disgust, shame, and something that looked like betrayal. She had never seen her brother like this - so serious, so sad and it hit her like a punch to the gut.

"I…" she started, but her voice cracked. All she could manage was, "I'm sorry."

Matt said nothing. He grabbed a chair, dragged it to the table, and sat down across from her. The silence was unbearable, but she didn't dare break it. She waited, giving him the space to speak first. The seconds ticked by, each one clawing at her nerves.

Finally, he looked up, his eyes locking onto hers with a piercing intensity. "I know you wanted to save me," he said, his voice low but steady. "And I… I'm glad you did. Because I would have died without making peace with Jenny. And yeah, it's nice to think about going back to football, about living a full life. But…"

He leaned forward, his gaze hardening. "I can't forgive you for this. Not entirely. What you and Jenny did? What I went through tonight? It's something I can't unsee. I can't unfeel. I can't look at the woman I love the same way anymore."

Anastasia's heart sank. She opened her mouth to speak, to defend herself, but the look in his eyes froze her words in her throat.

"So I need a favor from you," he continued, his tone icy and controlled.

She swallowed hard, nodding. "Anything, Matt. Just say it."

He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of his request was almost too much to bear. "I want you to call Jenny for me," he said, his voice quieter now. "And I want you to ask her to put a spell on me."

Anastasia's brows knit together, confusion flashing across her face. "What kind of spell?"

Matt's jaw tightened. He looked away for a moment, as if steeling himself for what he was about to say. When he finally met her eyes again, the pain in his expression was almost too much for her to bear.

"One that makes me forget...everything."

The words hung in the air, heavy and final, like the closing of a coffin lid. Anastasia's heart stopped, her breath catching in her throat. Forget? He wanted to erase everything? The love, the sacrifice, the bond they'd shared?

"Matt…" she whispered, but her voice broke. He didn't say another word. He just stood, turned on his heel, and walked out of the room, leaving her alone with the crushing weight of what he'd just asked her to do.