She was quick on her feet and instantly had me pinned underneath her.
“It’s either you or him, Holland,” she screamed wildly.
“I will die before I let you touch him.” I clawed at her face leaving deep scratches on her cheek.
“So be it!”
“Leave her alone, Lilith!” Roman yelled out, racing towards us just as she brought the knife down and buried the blade into my stomach. He looked at me in horror at what she had just done.
The burning pain shot throughout my stomach, stinging as though a thousand fire ants had been freed inside my body where the blade rested inside my flesh.
She turned to look at Roman ready to pounce on him next. I yanked the dagger out of my stomach, and shoved it hard into her back despite the excruciating pain seething through my insides. She screamed in agony and I pulled it out stabbing her over and over again until her screams stopped and then I fell back onto the ground, blood pouring from my wound.
Roman slid on the sand next to me, pulling my body against him. “Holland, stay with me. No, no, no, come on, baby, don’t leave me now.” He leaned down kissing me as tears fell from his eyes. “I love you, Holland.”
“I love you...too, Roman.” I coughed, feeling the warm blood trickle down my chin. “I would die a hundred times again just to experience the love I had with you if even for a short time.”
He cradled my head in his arms, rocking back and forth and begging me to be okay as the entire world around me fell silent.
CHAPTER 9
“I believe you have finally learned how to put someone before yourself, Holland Ellenberger.”
The man's voice was strangely familiar. I sleepily opened my eyes to Azriel standing before me. Heavenly light surrounded his smooth tanned body and his crystal hazel eyes looked down upon me from where I lay on the sand. I was slowly bleeding and feeling myself getting weaker.
A look of shock and confusion overcame Roman’s face to see Azriel, the angel of death, standing before us. I imagined this wasn’t a common occurrence Roman was used to.
“May I?” he asked Roman who was still holding me against him.
He nodded, gently laying me down and moving away for Azriel to bend down next to me. He placed his glowing hands over my wounds instantly filling my body with an angelic warmth. The wound in my stomach began to heal and after a few moments, it disappeared completely leaving me feeling as though nothing had ever happened and I hadn’t just been dying in Romans arms moments before.
I sat up with newfound strength and rushed to Roman so he could wrap me in his strong, comforting arms.
“Why are you here, Azriel? Why did you heal me?”
“You were cast from Heaven because of your selfishness. You lived your entire life thinking about nothing except for your own desires and wants. When Lilith posed a threat to someone who you felt real true love for, you were willing to give your life to save him even if it meant you would never be with him again. You sacrificed yourself to save another. That is an unconditional and Godly love that is worthy of Heaven.”
“So, what does that mean, Azriel?”
“It means God has sent me here to retrieve you and bring you back to live with us in the kingdom of Heaven.”
I looked at Roman who smiled warmly at me, knowing this was what I had been hoping would happen since we arrived on earth. I had come back to earth with a solid plan to win my way back into Heaven despite him telling me it was impossible, yet here we were with an angel, the same angel who was responsible for sending me straight to Hell, standing before us and coming to bring me back to the pearly gates where I had been exiled from when I first died.
“Give me your hand, Holland, and we shall return home.”
“But what about Roman? He was willing to give his life for me too. I can’t leave him behind.”
“Roman has not been pardoned from his sin. I don’t have the authority to make the decision as to who is allowed into Heaven. I’m sorry, but I can only take you.”
My stomach clenched into a thousand knots. I wanted to go with Azriel so badly, but when I thought about never seeing Roman again, I couldn’t imagine leaving him behind and continuing on without him by my side. In my entire lifetime on earth, I had never felt love for a man –
actually for anyone – the way I felt love for him. Azriel was right, I had only thought about myself for so many years, but all of that had changed and the man sitting next to me was the one who changed my selfish heart. He taught me how to love someone other than myself.
I looked at Roman feeling the sorrow in his eyes deep inside my soul.
He grabbed my hand holding it tightly in his. “You got what you wanted my love; you need to go with him.”
“I...I can’t leave you, Roman. I love you.”
“I love you too, but Hell isn’t where you belong, my love. When we were sent to earth, this was exactly what you wanted to happen and now here is your chance waiting right there in front of you and ready to take you to eternal happiness. You need to go with him. I told you this never happens, and you have proved me wrong; don’t give it up.”
“But if I go, I will never be with you again and I don't think I can live without the man my heart belongs to.”
“You must make a choice, Holland.” Azriel's voice was patient but firm.
“Okay.” I stood to my feet and looked at Roman one last time before walking towards Azriel so we were face to face. “I’ve made my decision.”
He reached for my hand, but I pulled away.
“I choose him, Azriel. I love him.”
“If you choose to stay with him, there will never be a second chance to get into Heaven.”
I looked at Roman again whose eyes were wide in shock by what I had just done.
“I understand. As much as I want to frolic around on clouds and roads paved in gold, I’m staying. Thank you for coming for me, but I belong with Roman even if it is in Hell.”
He nodded, smiling a warm smile showing that he understood the choice I made.
“You reached a milestone in death that you couldn’t reach in life.”
“Yeah, I guess I have. Who would’ve thought? Holland Ellenberger changed her selfish ways for a man.” I laughed, making Azriel smile and shake his head.
“Take care of yourself, Holland, and know that our lord is so proud of you.” And with that he was gone.
“Why the hell did you do that!?”
I sat down next to Roman and kissed him. “Because I love you. Besides, I don’t think I’m cut out for the holy life. I may have fallen in love with you, but I’m still going to be a huge pain in the ass and I’m sure I would have gotten cast out again, so I just saved them the hassle.”
He laughed, wrapping me in his arms, and kissed the top of my head. “I don’t expect anything less from you, heiress.”
“I swear, if you ditch on me like you did Lilith, there will be sooo much hell to pay. Don’t make me regret my decision.”
He laid back on the sand, pulling me down to him. “It’ll never happen, my love. You’re stuck with me for eternity. Can we go back home now?”
“Yes, but I want to spend at least one more night here on earth.”
He looked at me with concern.